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| "Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself." -1 Samuel 18:1
I have been reflecting lately on how God has designed us to be people of community. The longing of my heart is to live in relationship with other people, which I think is universal. In this verse I am reminded of the amazing grace of God as He forges relationships between people in friendships - "kniting the soul." The picture is one of stitching thread into a fabric that is inseparable, like making a quilt or blanket. This kniting of souls produces a love that is self-less and other centered.
As I met with Billy/Will this week to discuss the scriptures and pray together, the Lord made me realize that I have a friend, like Jonathan, and a kniting of soul in our friendship that has been used by God to encourage my walk with Christ. The ability to reveal my heart, confess sin, rejoice together in the gospel, and glory in Christ with this brother will have eternal significance, as well as the earthly encouragement to continue the fight of faith. This friendship is a microcosm of the way that the church should function (as well as a marriage relationship - which I will have one day, Lord willing). And today I just wanted to give thanks to God for such a friendship and unity of heart and soul with a dear brother. May God give everyone this type of bond in friendship so that the kingdom will be expanded through it.
So as a means of sharing in this grace of God, we are starting a purposeful community of discipleship in the home we are going to buy (TBD). The hope is to build up men in Christ to the glory of God. So if you are a male and interested in this vision, let me know. | | |
| As I'm working on the 15th draft of my economics paper, I read a superb article entitled, "Markets and Morality" by Jonathan Sacks, a Rabbi from Britain. While he is no economist, I enjoyed reading several points he made in his article and he concluded with this quote:
"The market, in my view, has already gone too far: not indeed as an economic system, but as a cast of thought governing relationships and the image we have of ourselves. A great rabbi once taught this lesson to a successful but unhappy businessman. He took him to the window and asked him, What od you see? The man replied, I see the world. He then took him to a mirror and asked, What do you see? He replied, I see myself. That, said the rabbi, is what happens when silver covers glass. Instead of seeing the world you see only yourself. The idea that human happiness can be exhaustively accounted for in terms of things we can buy, exchange, and replace is one of the great corrosive acids that eat away the foundations on which society rests; and by the time we have discovered this, it is already too late."
You can read the article in its entirety here: http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0008/articles/sacks.html | | |
| William Cowper lived from 1731 to 1800 and was a contemporary of John Newton, John Wesley, and George Whitefield. In an attempt by Newton to encourage Cowper, who battled with severe depression, they began to write hymns together. While Cowper at times thought he was reprobate (eternally damned and unable to receive eternal life by grace through faith), below is a hymn he wrote during a season where he was encouraged by the truth that God justifies the ungodly (see Romans 4:5, 5:6, and 1 Timothy 1:15). This hymn, along with God Moves in a Mysterious Way, is among my favorite hymns and the reason why I love Cowper so much. This is my tribute to Cowper and to God who uses even the most unlikely and arguably the most unhealthy of believers to encourage the church for many years.
There is a Fountain Filled With Blood
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine. | | |
| There is nothing quite like the feeling of running long distance in hot and humid weather with no refreshments along the way. Let me suggest to anyone who thinks this is a good idea to think again. I enjoy proving to myself that i'm not the smartest guy in the world. And today I managed to do it again. After two weeks of slacking off on my training, I am finally able to put in a few good runs. It's less than two weeks away- yikes! Music City Marathon, here I come!
It's so nice to have some time off work. This is my first vacation from the job in almost a year! I get to do all the enjoyable things that I have be forced to put off because of the overload of work. Running, Tennis, Golf, going to parks, reading for fun... then there is always the not so fun, but you have to do type tasks- cleaning, washing cars, laundry, writing econ papers, shopping, etc.
I think i'll go do some more enjoyable things today and put off everything else until tomorrow... | | |
| These words of Spurgeon have been so helpful as I consider my own need of grace and how God supplies it all in Christ. It's all about receiving by faith alone...
2 Corinthians 5:21
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Mourning Christian! why weepest thou? Art thou mourning over thine own
corruptions? Look to thy perfect Lord, and remember, thou art complete
in Him; thou art in God's sight as perfect as if thou hadst never
sinned; nay, more than that, the Lord our Righteousness hath put a
divine garment upon thee, so that thou hast more than the righteousness
of man-thou hast the righteousness of God. O Thou who art mourning by
reason of inbred sin and depravity, remember, none of thy sins can
condemn thee. Thou hast learned to hate sin; but thou hast learned also
to know that sin is not thine-it was laid upon Christ's head. Thy
standing is not in thyself-it is in Christ; thine acceptance is not in
thyself, but in thy Lord; thou art as much accepted of God to-day, with
all thy sinfulness, as thou wilt be when thou standest before His
throne, free from all corruption. O, I beseech thee, lay hold on this
precious thought, perfection in Christ! For thou art "complete in Him."
With thy Saviour's garment on, thou art holy as the Holy one. "Who is
he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us." Christian, let thy heart rejoice, for thou art
"accepted in the beloved"-what hast thou to fear? Let thy face ever
wear a smile; live near thy Master; live in the suburbs of the
Celestial City; for soon, when thy time has come, thou shalt rise up
where thy Jesus sits, and reign at His right hand; and all this because
the divine Lord "was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
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