The Sounds of Glory have a new album, Signature Sounds. If you like traditional a capella, you'll like this. Rodney Britt is the bass. Their website is Sounds of Glory
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The lion's friends
At one time the animals didn't fear humans. Even a lion you ask? Yes, even lions. Consider this video.
Friday, July 25, 2008
I was coming home the other night. I had the window down; it was about 85 F outside (my air conditioning is gone). The speed limit is 65 mph. I'm cruising at that and come up on some traffic--two cars and a motorcycle; they were going 60. I didn't want to pass, so I just enjoyed the time before I would be happily at home with my family (it takes about 26 minutes to get home).
I glance into the rear view mirror and see a car coming at me--fast. He has to slow down because of the traffic. Finally it is clear, and he takes off wanting to pass all of us. Only one problem, though, a hill was coming up and the double yellow lines were almost present. It didn't stop him; he did it anyway. Just before the top...he pulls back in, no one was coming the other direction.
What if there had been someone coming the other direction? Would there have been a head-on, a side swipe, maybe forcing the motorcycle into the ditch. I don't know.
What he did was assume. He assumed he could make it safely. He assumed there was no one coming the other direction. He had no evidence, no proof, no facts, no science; he just assumed.
I thought about myself and others; how often do we assume something. An atheist assumes there is no after life, so eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. They claim science, but what does science know what happens after death? Maybe there is nothing; maybe there is.
What about other things in people's lives. Some smoke and assume what happens to others will not happen to them. So with alcohol, drugs, free sex--people just assume and don't care.
But...
What if they're wrong--then what?
I glance into the rear view mirror and see a car coming at me--fast. He has to slow down because of the traffic. Finally it is clear, and he takes off wanting to pass all of us. Only one problem, though, a hill was coming up and the double yellow lines were almost present. It didn't stop him; he did it anyway. Just before the top...he pulls back in, no one was coming the other direction.
What if there had been someone coming the other direction? Would there have been a head-on, a side swipe, maybe forcing the motorcycle into the ditch. I don't know.
What he did was assume. He assumed he could make it safely. He assumed there was no one coming the other direction. He had no evidence, no proof, no facts, no science; he just assumed.
I thought about myself and others; how often do we assume something. An atheist assumes there is no after life, so eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. They claim science, but what does science know what happens after death? Maybe there is nothing; maybe there is.
What about other things in people's lives. Some smoke and assume what happens to others will not happen to them. So with alcohol, drugs, free sex--people just assume and don't care.
But...
What if they're wrong--then what?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Why Me Lord?
Messed up? Made mistakes? Turned from God? Sinned?
Now that you've repented; you can rejoice and be thankful.
Now that you've repented; you can rejoice and be thankful.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Lord Jesus Is Worthy
Today Paul (one of the men in our fellowship) spoke on worship. He read Revelation 5 and 6. One thing that struck me was the question of whom was worthy to open the seals to the book?
Certainly if I was there, I could never be considered worthy. What about the 24 elders? Certainly they would be worthy, but not one stepped forward or raised their hand. What about the 4 living creatures? If any would be worthy, they would. Since the day of their creation, they have not ceased to be there near God and praise Him, but not one stepped forward or spoke out--not one!
No one is worthy.
But the scene turns to the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God. He has been found worthy.
They sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race. (Revelation 5:9)
Certainly if I was there, I could never be considered worthy. What about the 24 elders? Certainly they would be worthy, but not one stepped forward or raised their hand. What about the 4 living creatures? If any would be worthy, they would. Since the day of their creation, they have not ceased to be there near God and praise Him, but not one stepped forward or spoke out--not one!
No one is worthy.
But the scene turns to the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God. He has been found worthy.
They sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race. (Revelation 5:9)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Power
It seems as if people like power, authority, the ability to influence situations and people. The concept of power over oneself to lose weight, gain knowledge, and reach goals. The concept of power over things outside oneself would include influencing others and situations for one's own satisfaction and pleasure. It could be power over a problem (say a test in school), over people (to get them to do what YOU want them to), over business associates to get to the top, political power, power over others.
This can be seen in many instances. A pastor may brag that he has 10,000 members while another only has 5,000. It gives a sense of superiority, a view that others are looking up to YOU, and so being better than others. A business man may brag that he sold 50 contracts each worth over 1 million dollars, so he/she feels they are better than another who sold 10 contracts. A musician looks to the number of albums sold. An actor/actress looks at the dollars made and awards received.
This lust for power seems to be inherent. People want to be the top dog in something. For some it is passive. This is seen when people manipulate others. They may manipulate by appearing to be helpless or rejected. For others it is active. This is seen when people threaten others. They do this verbally or physically.
The Bible labels this as sin. It is the sin of Lucifer (Satan, Devil): "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' (Isaiah 14:12-14).
It is the sin of kings: About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, "Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!" (Daniel 4:28).
It is the sin of humans: The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, "God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. I go without eating for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn." The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, "God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner." Then Jesus said, "When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored." (Luke 18:11-14)
Please note who it was that God was pleased with. God is against pride.
"I, the LORD, refuse to accept anyone who is proud. Only those who live by faith are acceptable to me." (Habakkuk 2:4).
In truth only God can have that power, that authority. "Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11).
We need to be humble and give ALL the glory to God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
This can be seen in many instances. A pastor may brag that he has 10,000 members while another only has 5,000. It gives a sense of superiority, a view that others are looking up to YOU, and so being better than others. A business man may brag that he sold 50 contracts each worth over 1 million dollars, so he/she feels they are better than another who sold 10 contracts. A musician looks to the number of albums sold. An actor/actress looks at the dollars made and awards received.
This lust for power seems to be inherent. People want to be the top dog in something. For some it is passive. This is seen when people manipulate others. They may manipulate by appearing to be helpless or rejected. For others it is active. This is seen when people threaten others. They do this verbally or physically.
The Bible labels this as sin. It is the sin of Lucifer (Satan, Devil): "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' (Isaiah 14:12-14).
It is the sin of kings: About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, "Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!" (Daniel 4:28).
It is the sin of humans: The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, "God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. I go without eating for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn." The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, "God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner." Then Jesus said, "When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored." (Luke 18:11-14)
Please note who it was that God was pleased with. God is against pride.
"I, the LORD, refuse to accept anyone who is proud. Only those who live by faith are acceptable to me." (Habakkuk 2:4).
In truth only God can have that power, that authority. "Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11).
We need to be humble and give ALL the glory to God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Comfort
What would happen if all your children died? How would you handle it? What comfort will science offer the atheist? They have no hope of EVER seeing their children again (so they think). A Christian has hope. A person may be a Christian and go to church and do all sorts of religious stuff, but when tragedy happens, the true Christian is separated from the false.
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:18-23)
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:18-23)
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