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Let My Heart

When I first read through Psalms 119 I took notes along the way.  Basically I took note of any lines that stuck out to me.  Tonight I sat down with that list of lines after taking these past several days to ponder on my studies of Psalm 119.  As I was looking at these lines of scripture they just began to come together in a song.  This new song is called "Let My Heart" and it's a synthesis of some of my favorite lines out of Psalm 119.  This passage of scripture has impacted my life in big way this past week and I had to express that somehow.  Hence, I was given this song.  I began work on this song probably about 5 hours ago and after a dinner break I decided to sit down at my little workstation to whip up a rough cut of this tune.  I'm eventually going to go back and do a lot more with this song but this is the skeleton of it.  I just had to share it with my family because I feel like God really did a powerful thing with me tonight.  These words from His scripture have just really hit home with my life experience.  So below you'll find the lyrics to this song as well as the link to download it.  I hope that these words can minister to you as they have ministered to me.

Let My Heart:

Verse:
Open my eyes to see
Revive me by your word
How sweet are your words to my taste
I need the guidance of your hand
I rest my hope in your words
On your path is where my joy is found

Chorus:
Let my heart speak of you
Let my heart shower you
Let my heart beat wild for you
I will thank you by living your word

Verse:
Your word is a lamp for my feet
And a light for my path
Your gifts are my treasure
You've been the music of my life
Surround me with your mercy
So I may be your hearts delight

Repeat Chorus:

Bridge:
I faint with longing for you
You're boundless...beyond compare
Come salvation
Make me true for you
Make me true

Repeat Chorus:

Download let_my_heart.mp3

God is Beautiful

I took that picture in the top left-hand column yesterday morning when I walked out my front door. The words that came to mind as I prayed with the kids before school was, "God is beautiful." Brock and Kaylee agreed, and then added... "Red sky at morning, sailors take warning!"

God's means of communication to sailors.

Portrait of My Creator

Our fellowship has recently started a walk through the Old Testament.  The first week, prior to that Sunday's gathering, we were challenged to read through the book of Genesis.  I did so, and was surprised that it had such an impact on my daily walk.  I have read those stories before, but this time it was different.  God truly revealed Himself to me, in new ways.  I was touched to think that God used these people, whose lives were just as messed up as mine has ever been, and even more so, in some cases.  That gave me hope. It affirmed my faith, and reminded me that God truly loves me and can use me too.  I also caught a new glimpse of my wonderful creator.  That in turn has caused me to write a new song called "Portrait of My Creator", hence the title of this article.  I am now putting some music with the lyrics, a job that I usually ask Chris or Chad to help with. (I still may need some help, but I have the tune in my head).  I believe that God has inspired these words. It has really ministered to my spirit, and  I hope that it will do the same for you.  The song goes like this:

By your word, you spoke life into creation. Earth and stars were gently hung in place.

Oh God of mine, I stand in awe, as I behold your mighty power, and marvel at the miracle of me.

Chorus:

My God who made the universe triumphant, who separated earth and sky and sea, but greater than all this, is when you bowed and kissed, the dust, and thus created even me.

With love and care we're formed into your image, for fellowship and worship we are made,

Oh God please cleanse our hearts, so we can still be part, of what your wisdom deemed that we should be,

(Chorus)

Bridge: You long to hold us in your arms, caress our brow and keep us warm, so we can have sweet peace, tranquility....  We're thankful for your loving heart, and by your grace we're still a part, of all that you designed that we should be.

(Chorus)

Well, that's it.  All I can say is this. Our God is an awesome God, and I thank Him for allowing me to write words, that I pray will encourage and uplift others.   

Demonic Voices???

Just so you know up front, I am kidding when I say "demonic voices." They are actually truckers... I think. As I was editing the teaching audio for the MP3 download I could hear these strange sounding voices just like out of The Exorcist. Somehow our amplifiers must have picked up a Ham Radio frequency or something. It's faint, so hopefully it won't be too distracting. Download here: "The Books of Wisdom and Poetry".

Ice & Snow... Will it get worse?

Well, this morning I sent an email to my Oasis list reporting that Athens was under a Level 3 state of emergency caused by black ice on the roads and a possibilty of more snow cover by the evening. Right now it is 3:30 pm, the roads are clear, and there is no snow in sight. I just went out to the store (those who know me know that I can't sit still in one house for more than 4 or 5 hours) and the highways were in great shape. This is good news so far. It means we will get to drive down to Middleport in the morning and worship with our friends and family (those who are also brave... err crazy, enough to battle the elements). So far so good.

However, contemplating a Sunday gathering cancellation is a thought-provoking issue. In the email I sent this morning I wrote the following words...

What Will We Do If We Are Unable To Gather On Sunday?

If you think about it, that is what I have been asking you... nearly every week. In fact, you may be getting tired of me reminding you of what it means to simply be the church without having to go to a big Sunday gathering. Obviously we love those gatherings, but our home church meetings and simple ways of being the church in our various neighborhoods and communities is the nutrition of the Christian life. Are you healthy? If so, not meeting on Sunday will not phase you one bit.

Practically speaking, you may have questions like... What about our study? Will we still continue as normal with the Wisdom Books and Psalms? Will Amy be leading worship still? What about my offering and my tithe? What about the children's teachers' schedule?

The answers are simple. Yes, we will not skip our scheduled study, therefore we will still study Psalms and worship when we are together again. Yes, Amy will still lead worship when we meet again. As for your offering and tithe, you can either give it at your house church meeting or just add it to your regular giving next Sunday. The children's teaching schedule will just pick up as normal the following week.

All in all it really will not affect us much. The Kingdom of God still marches on whether the church meets on Sunday or not. And the church is still the church whether it meets on Sunday or not. Imagine it. Imagine if every week for six months were cancelled. What would we do? How would we function? Kind of an interesting thought to ponder, huh?

A Perfect Circle

In geometry a circle is defined as follows: A plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, the center. In a nutshell the Bible is based around one central thing…namely God. All the various components of scripture are inextricably bound to it’s center…namely God. The Bible has an undeniable “interwoven” quality. This isn’t always easy to see, especially when you’re making you’re way through the Bible for the first time. I remember when I hit Leviticus. When I say hit I literally mean it was like hitting a reading wall. I had flown through the New Testament (NT) because every narrative was so gripping and stirring. Genesis and most of Exodus is the same way. Then you get to...THE LAW…(dramatic pause)…DUHN DUHN DUHN!  When I got about halfway through Numbers I threw my hands up and said, “Somebody shoot me…good lord it’s like reading stereo instructions!” After my little drama queen-esque moment I continued reading. The going was slow but as I got deeper and deeper into this monster we call the Old Testament (OT) something began to feel right. I wasn’t sure just what that was but I went with it thinking that eventually I would put 2 and 2 together (I was never good at math so I was a little nervous). Then somewhere in the depths of Ezekiel I was smacked in the face by God’s special edition Louisville Scriptural Slugger. I looked at my Bible and realized that I wasn’t holding some big bulky rectangular object but rather I was holding in my hands a perfect circle.

When I think of a circle I think of every part being essential to the integrity of the entire structure. Though the center may appear empty it is within that emptiness where we can comfortably place our faith because God is the center even when our eyes would attempt to convince us otherwise. Everything said and all things done within scripture cry out the name of God. It’s the same kind of goal that we all hope our own lives echo in that all we do reflects the nature of God. The Bible is a vibrantly breathing testament not only of God’s genius but His compassion as well. When we read Genesis we see humanity in its frail infancy. Our faults and our needs are starkly revealed. Yet in that beginning God made a solemn vow to His creation that he would never abandon us. This promise holds true all throughout the 1,000 page plus text that helps to teach us why and how God is the center of all things. He is the still beating heart that we hear in the essence of life.

Keeping the concept of the center in mind, think of the whole of scripture in a circular fashion. In other words, each individual part feeds into the next in a never-ending cycle. The force driving this juggernaut that is the Bible, ultimately God’s story, is the enigmatic but undeniable will of God. I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the Old Testament and the New Testament as if they were completely different animals. So I sat down and tried to define the OT and the NT in simplistic terms. The OT is, to me, the struggle between God’s will and the will of humanity. That seems to be a very, and I do mean VERY, common theme in the OT. So what’s one of the greatest lessons to be learned by studying the OT? For me that answer seems very simple: God’s way is always best. The NT is, to me, about fulfillment. In other words, God is true to His promises and He demonstrates that in Jesus. God’s passionate desire to have a relationship with us is unstoppable and the will of God, which is so well represented in Jesus, was simply unconquerable. So what’s one of the greatest lessons to be learned by the studying the NT? For me the answers seems not only simple but also familiar: God’s way is always best. Inevitably scripture has brought my mind back to God; hence I’ve read a circle back to what is important. By this rationale scripture is not individualistic within itself but rather an inseparable conglomeration of God’s ultimate plan.

The practicality of this idea for me is one of keeping my mind, heart, and soul firmly attached to what I need in order to learn the absolute most from scripture. There is not a more perfect guide amongst the heavens or the earth than God. Reading, and particularly studying, scripture can be incredibly daunting and intimidating. But I believe that God can help clear our vision when He wants us to learn something that we need to know. The problem is trust. Especially in this society, we have the idea of independence thrust upon us while in the meantime dependence is treated as something to be scoffed at. That idea now seems somewhat ridiculous to me. Our will always has the strong possibility of being flawed whereas the will of God is without even the scent of flaw. As I walk my own circle in life I try to keep eyes rigidly fixed on the center of my existence, which is God. If I can do that then seeing the road ahead becomes unnecessary because God is my eyes and my way. I need to see or know nothing else.

Who Were These Prophets?

Prophets were pivotal figures during many of our most beloved Old Testament stories. Not only did the prophets stand out as important political figures, they were, more importantly, devices of God that sought to keep the nation spiritually centered. Yet sometimes it’s difficult to keep these important figures chronologically straight in the context of scripture. So since we’ve recently been engaged in a study of the History Books of the Old Testament, and since we’ll be moving shortly to the major and minor prophets, I thought it might be useful to provide a chronological listing of many of these prophets. This post is more of a study tool than it is anything else. Here is the information that you will find listed below: Who?, When? (B.C), Ministered during the reign of these kings, Main Message, Significance. While this list is not completely comprehensive it covers the primary prophets that functioned in the northern and southern kingdoms before the downfall of each respective kingdom. I hope that this list will aid you in placing the messages of each of these prophets within their respective historical context. The words of these prophets continue to echo through the halls of our modern consciousness and their words are still as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

Who?: AHIJAH

When? (B.C.): 934-909

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jeroboam I of Israel (1 Kings 11:29-39)

Main Message: Israel would split in two and God had chosen Jeroboam to lead the10 tribes. Warned him to remain obedient to God. 

Significance: We should not take lightly our God-given responsibilities. Jeroboam did and lost his kingdom.

Who?: ELIJAH

When? (B.C.): 875-848

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Ahab of Israel (1 Kings 17:1-2 Kings 2:11)

Main Message: In fiery style, urged wicked Ahab to turn back to God. Proved on Mount Carmel who the one true God is (1 Kings 18).

Significance: Even giants of faith can’t force sinners to change. But those who remain faithful to God have a great impact for him.

Who?: MICAIAH

When? (B.C.): 865-853

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Ahab of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah (1 Kings 17:1; 2 Chronicles 18:28)

Main Message: Ahab would be unsuccessful in fighting the Arameans.

Significance: It is foolish to move ahead with plans that are contrary to God’s word.

Who?: JEHU

When? (B.C.): 853

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Chronicles 19:1-3).

Main Message: Jehoshaphat should never have allied himself with wicked Ahab.

Significance: Partnerships with immoral people can lead us into trouble.

Who?: OBADIAH

When? (B.C.): 855-840?

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jehoram of Judah (The book of Obadiah)

Main Message: God would judge the Edomites for taking advantage of God’s people.

Significance: Pride is one of the most dangerous sins because it causes us to take advantage of others.

Who?: ELISHA

When? (B.C.): 848-797

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash, all of Israel (2 Kings 2:1-9:1; 13:10-21

Main Message: Expressed by his actions the importance of helping ordinary people in need.

Significance: God is concerned about the everyday needs of his people.

Who?: JOEL

When? (B.C.): 835-796?

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Joash of Judah (The book of Joel)

Main Message: Because a plague of locusts had come to punish the nation, called the people to turn back to God before an even greater judgment occurred.

Significance: While God judges all people for their sings, he gives eternal salvation only to those who have turned to him.

Who?: JONAH

When? (B.C.): 793-753

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jeroboam II of Israel (2 Kings 14:25; the book of Jonah).

Main Message: Warned Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, to repent of its sins.

Significance: God wants all nations to turn to him. His love reaches out to all peoples.

Who?: AMOS

When? (B.C.): 760-750

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jeroboam II of Israel (The book of Amos).

Main Message: Warned those who exploited or ignored the needy. (In Amos’s day, Israel was an affluent and materialistic society.)

Significance: Believing in God is more than a personal matter. God calls all believers to work against injustices in society and to aid those less fortunate.

Who?: HOSEA

When? (B.C.): 753-715

Ministered during the reign of these kings: The last seven kings of Israel, Azariah (Uzziah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah (The book of Hosea).

Main Message: Condemned the people of Israel because they had sinned against God as an adulterous woman sings against her husband.

Significance: When we sin, we sever our relationship to God, breaking our commitment to him. While all must answer to God for their sins, those who seek God’s forgiveness are spared from eternal judgement.

Who?: MICAH

When? (B.C.): 742-687

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah (The book of Micah).

Main Message: Predicted the fall of both the northern and southern kingdoms. This was God’s discipline on the people actually showing how much he cared for them.

Significance: Choosing to live a life apart from God is making a commitment to sin. Sin leads to judgment and death. God alone shows us the way to eternal peace. His discipline often keeps us on the right path.

Who?: ISAIAH

When? (B.C.): 740-681

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Azariah (Uzziah), Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh of Judah (The book of Isaiah).

Main Message: Called the people back to a special relationship with God-although judgment through other nations was inevitable.

Significance: Sometimes we must suffer judgment and discipline before we are restored to God.

Who?: NAHUM

When? (B.C.): 663-654

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Manasseh of Judah (The book of Nahum).

Main Message: The mighty empire of Assyria that oppressed God’s people would soon tumble.

Significance: Those who do evil and oppress others will one day meet a bitter end.

Who?: ZEPHANIAH

When? (B.C.): 640-621

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Josiah of Judah (The book of Zephaniah).

Main Message: A day would come when God, as Judge, would severely punish all nations, but afterward he would show mercy to his people.

Significance: We will all be judged for our disobedience to God, but if we remain faithful to him, he will show us mercy.

Who?: JEREMIAH

When? (B.C.): 627-586

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah of Judah (The book of Jeremiah).

Main Message: Repentance would postpone Judah’s coming judgment at the hands of Babylon.

Significance: Repentance is one of the greatest needs in our world of immorality. God’s promises to the faithful shine brightly.

Who?: HABAKKUK

When? (B.C.): 612-589

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah of Judah (The book of Habakkuk).

Main Message: Couldn’t understand why God seemed to do nothing about the wickedness in society. Then realized that faith in god alone would one day supply the answer.

Significance: Instead of questioning the ways of God, we should realize that He is completely just, and we should have faith that he is in control and that one day evil will be utterly destroyed.

Who?: DANIEL

When? (B.C.): 605-536

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Prophesied as an exile in Babylon during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus of Persia (The book of Daniel).

Main Message: Described both near and distant future events. Throughout it all, God is sovereign and triumphant.

Significance: We should spend less time wondering when these events will happen and more time learning how we should live now so we won’t be victims of those events.

Who?: EZEKIEL

When? (B.C.): 593-571

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Prophesied as an exile in Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (The book of Ezekiel).

Main Message: Sent messages back to Jerusalem urging the people to turn back to God before they were all forced to join him in exile. After Jerusalem fell, he urged his fellow exiles to turn back to god so they could eventually return to their homeland.

Significance: God disciplines his people to draw them closer to him.

Note: For those of you who are using the New Living Translation Study Bible you can find this list in chart form in 2 Kings (pages 594-595).

Slow Blogging Time

I recognize it has been a rather slow blogging time these past couple of weeks. Maybe everyone is still just getting back into the groove from the holidays. Looking forward to seeing more insightful writings from my friends.

Last Saturday this bunch of goofballs "walked for the homeless" (absent April who was taking the picture). We all had a great time. Whenever Mike Kennedy is in your company you don't even realize it's only 20 degrees outside.

It just dawned on me that yesterday's Oasis gathering in Middleport was nearly entirely facilitated by women. And gifted women they are. I absolutely love Amy Perrin as a worship song leader. She chose a list of songs yesterday that... it just felt like this... that made everyone want to pour out their heart to God. Thanks Amy, for creating a safe place for people to encounter their Creator. Then my wife, April, led the teaching through the books of History of the Old Testament, and we landed on the Ruth narrative. Now you can see why I love this woman. She has taught me so much in eleven years.

If you'd like to download the teaching from yesterday you can get it here.

The Story of God and His People

This morning we began our journey through the Old Testament Scriptures. Our goal is to work through them in just four weeks of Oasis gatherings combined with House Church studies and discussion. Obviously it is not going to be an exhaustive study of all of the specific stories and details of the Old Testament in just four weeks. But at the end our goal is to have the big picture of how our Creator and God carefully crafted all of the events of this world, and how we fit into His story.

Today we looked at the first section of Old Testament Scriptures, The Books of Moses (click this link to listen). And more specifically we focused in on the book of Genesis. If you would like a copy of the notes you can get them here.

Today the Oasis Fellowship was challenged to read the entire book of Genesis this week as a "homework" assignment. Genesis is a book of 50 chapters, approximately 55 pages, which means you will be reading nearly one chapter per page. When you hold the book of Genesis in your hand it is about half the size of an issue of Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, or People Magazine. If you read 7 chapters (8 pages) a day you could easily read all of Genesis by next Sunday.

Take the challenge.

Next week we will look at the History Books of the Old Testament, and focus on the book of Ruth.