Lord, Be Glorified

I've got an old worship song going through my head tonight. Wish I had a recording of it, but the version in my head is pretty good. I'm remembering the chapel back at North Central University, and the band laying down a very tight rock groove, straight 4 with the descending bass pattern locked in with the kick. Larry Bach pulls a thousand faces from prayer to song with a quiet piano intro and some encouraging words. Three part BGV's are ready at the mic as hands and passion shoot to the sky.

Lord, be glorified in the life of your servant

I am your child, teach me to walk in your ways

May my sacrifice be a sweet smelling savor

Lord of my life, teach me how to praise

And the praise goes improv as the band vamps it once on our own. (I'm on bass by the way. Right in that side door corner at the bottom of the stairs.)

One Accord 1988, North Central Bible College Chapel

Lord, Be Glorified

I've got an old worship song going through my head tonight. Wish I had a recording of it, but the version in my head is pretty good. I'm remembering the chapel back at North Central University, and the band laying down a very tight rock groove, straight 4 with the descending bass pattern locked in with the kick. Larry Bach pulls a thousand faces from prayer to song with a quiet piano intro and some encouraging words. Three part BGV's are ready at the mic as hands and passion shoot to the sky.

Lord, be glorified in the life of your servant
I am your child, teach me to walk in your ways
May my sacrifice be a sweet smelling savor
Lord of my life, teach me how to praise

And the praise goes improv as the band vamps it once on our own. (I'm on bass by the way. Right in that side door corner at the bottom of the stairs.)

One Accord 1988, North Central Bible College Chapel

The music wasn't about the style, although we loved that. The style just meant that the praise was coming from  us, from who we were. And jocks and brains and profs and babes, mostly we were all into it. Chapel was an amazing privilege. And God met us there over and over. And we were becoming men and women, servant leaders from kids.

Lord, be glorified in me still today. Let my life be a sweet smelling savor still today. Still teach me how to walk and how to praise.

Lead Me to the Rock

Psalm 61

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

 ¹ Hear my cry, O God;
       listen to my prayer. ² From the ends of the earth I call to you,
       I call as my heart grows faint;
       lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 ³ For you have been my refuge,
       a strong tower against the foe.
 ⁴ I long to dwell in your tent forever
       and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
       Selah
 ⁵ For you have heard my vows, O God;
       you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
 ⁶ Increase the days of the king's life,
       his years for many generations.
 ⁷ May he be enthroned in God's presence forever;
       appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
 ⁸ Then will I ever sing praise to your name
       and fulfill my vows day after day.

Welcome to Our World

We had the kids Christmas musical at church this morning. Jason hasn't been able to be part of it this year, but he said he enjoyed watching it just as well. The highlight of the morning was a song that gets me every time: Welcome to Our World, sung by Michael W Smith, written by Chris Rice.

(right click on the above link and click "open link in new tab/window" to listen while reading)

Northwoods Vineyard Church, Tomahawk, WI

I'll be honest, the impact of the song was mainly the memory of waiting for Jason to be born. We were preparing for the annual Christmas production down at Racine Assembly and Bekah Mokry was hanging out at the church quite a bit to rehearse the song. I had never even heard Michael W sing it, so it was Bekah's song all the way.

Lord You're Near - Vineyard Music

Let's go with a song link tonight. I love our church band rendition of this song, and the original by the Vineyard UK is really great. Right click on this link and click "open link in new page/tab" to have it play along.

Lord You're Near

Lord You're near to those who are discouraged
You save those who have lost all hope
You've taken my sorrow and surrounded me with joy
You're here with me, Your touch gives me life

To You, oh Lord,
Must the glory be given [repeat 4x]

Lord, You're near, I feel secure, nothing can take me
I know Your love will be with me for all time
Oh Lord You know what I long for
You're all I want in this life, don't leave me


Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him, praise Him


I look in the eyes of broken people every day. Financially broken, physically broken, socially broken, relationally broken, spiritually broken...we all carry a degree of brokenness, and usually much greater than we're willing to admit. And rightfully so. Just because we don't unload our problems on every person who walks through our door, doesn't mean we're hypocrites! There's definitely a line out to be drawn between being authentic and being inappropriate.


That said, there's plenty of brokenness in our path most everyday. And God is near. God is near the discouraged. He brings hope and healing and joy. And those are just words until you've felt suffocating despair, crippling illness or devastating loss.


It's stunning to me that God would come here! That he'd come here as a helpless baby, into a world presenting more danger than rush hour traffic to a runaway stroller. And his reputation was not at risk, it was a guaranteed loss.


My favorite name for God is Emmanuel, meaning God with us. When I was young I liked it because it started with an E, like Evan. It has the same feeling today but for different reasons. God is the near one. And Christmas means that the creator of the universe has broken in and shown up! He's near.


He's near when you're alone. He's near when you're bankrupt, or homeless. He's near when you have everything, but you have no fulfillment. And he surprises us with good things.


To you, oh Lord, must the glory be given!

Jimmy Buffet - Margaritaville

OK, to listen to the song while reading the post, just right-click on the link below and click "open link in new tab" or "open in new window". The music should magically play whilst you read. Make sure your sound is on...groovy!

Jimmy Buffet - Margaritaville

So if Jesus showed up on the beach with Jimmy and gang, what we he say?

Nibblin' on sponge cake

Watchin' the sun bake

All of those tourists covered with oil

Strummin' my six-string

On my front porch swing

Smell those shrimp they're beginnin' to boil

Chorus:

Wastin' away again in Margaritaville

Searching for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that there's a woman to blame

But I know it's nobody's fault

Yep, let's start here. Wastin' away isn't really Jesus' style, but he never seemed to hammer people who were wasted...or on the way. "Wastin" has the idea that there was something really great and worthwhile here and now it's broken or missing. And it seems like there's a relationship gone bad, whoever's to blame. So this is pretty much why Jesus even showed up on earth.

I don't know the reason
I stayed here all season
Nothin' to show but this brand new tattoo
But it's a real beauty
A Mexican cutie
How it got here I haven't a clue


Goofiness. My life stinks so who cares if I end up with a little chickie permanently stamped on my body by mistake. It's meaningless.

Wastin' away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
Now I think
Hell, it could be my fault

Pretty interesting that the realization is dawning that dude in the story might have actually contributed to the problem.

I blew out my flip-flop

Stepped on a pop-top

Cut my heel had to cruise on back home

But there's booze in the blender

And soon it will render

That frozen concoction that helps me hang on

Stupid as it sounds, I can relate to this...life is about half an inch deep when you're talking about flip-flops and pop-tops. And the booze (or insert whatever medication or addiction here) helps you just get to another day, which beats the alternative. And in a way the hopelessness has hope to it, because he's hanging for something...for the possibility of a turn for the better.

Wastin' away again in Margaritaville

Searching for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that there's a woman to blame

But I know it's my own damn fault

Yes and some people claim that there's a woman to blame

And I know it's my own damn fault

To the wastin' away, Jesus says "I've got a plan and purpose for you that's so much more than this." To the relationship that went bad, Jesus says "Hang out with me and we'll find a way to do relationships without all the drama." To the "it's my own damn fault", Jesus says, "So what if it is?! The only perfection comes with forgiveness and fresh starts."

Jesus said in Matthew's Gospel (11:28) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." He brings forgiveness, healing, purpose, strength...

Jesus loves us enough to find us in Margaritaville and help us start over with him in the real world, with real life.

And why not go back to the tropics with someone you care about and try a different approach!

Oswald Chambers: Test of Faithfulness

Thoughts from Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest:

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . —Romans 8:28

Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.

The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.

I don't want to be a loser or failure in any sense of the word, but I've got to pick my loyalties and stick to my guns! To try to be a "winner" in every aspect of my life only means sacrificing priorities and principles. That's true in many places, and certainly true of being a Jesus-follower.

"All things" working for the good requires a long view of life, and patience. And Hebrews 11 says that some of the faithful never saw the fruit of their sacrifice...on this side. I love when we see awesome God stuff, and I think "suffering well" is only one part of a much bigger picture.

But it's definitely part of it. God help me to be faithful!

God-shaped Vacuum

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, and it can never be filled by any created thing.  It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.” (Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662)


I've been blessed to grow up in a godly home. Can't tell you how thankful I am for that. Some would say, and I sometimes felt, that I was sheltered and naive. Still, there's been PLENTY of opportunity to breathe the culture of Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota and Wisconsin...with modest ventures beyond. I'm not an isolationist.



But I do think there are times when my devotional connection with God has been a neglected and weak, and I've felt at least a bit of that God-shaped vacuum. Sometimes it takes a few days to realize that the funk I'm in is of my own doing, since I'm not giving enough attention to my inner life, my spirit.


Filling that God-shaped vacuum is a lifelong pursuit, one that requires faith, trust and time. That's one thing I like about the pensive Pensees of Pascal: they're deep, reflective, meditative. That's a powerful channel for God to move through in the filling of our souls.


Solomon of ancient Israel said it like this: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

Facedown Worship

From Matt Redman’s Facedown:

“Facedown worship always begins as a posture of the heart. It’s people so desperate for the increase of Christ that they find themselves decreasing to the ground in an act of reverent submission. When a soul is so captivated by the Almighty, to bend low in true and total surrender seems the only appropriate response.

On several different occasions, the Bible allows us a glimpse into an open heaven. Each time is a window of revelation through which we discover more of what worship looks like before the heavenly throne. And there’s a whole lot of facedown worship going on. In Revelation, John encounters the risen and exalted Jesus, whose eyes blaze like fire and whose face is shining like the sun in all its brilliance. Overwhelmed to the core, John shrinks to the ground in reverence and fear (see Revelation 1). A few chapters later, the elders too are falling down in holy devotion.”

God, increase in my life today. Help me decrease, not in my wholeness and personhood, but in my arrogance and selfishness. Lift me up to be humble.

American Christmas

We had our American Christmas tonight, 10 days early so it works with our Canada trip. Our whole family was home, including Megan’s boyfriend, Tim. Grandpa John and Grandma Joanne were over too. 

Colleen’s Japanese Chicken was a huge hit at dinner. Megan and Tim played some LOUD games of Dutch Blitz with each other. Then, after dinner but before presents, the Christmas story: Luke 2:1-20. I read it myself this year and then prayed blessing over everyone in the room, and thankfulness for the coming of baby Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

And then it was presents, hugs, pictures, coffee and dessert, and bedtime on a school night! Thanks God for an amazing evening. Jesus, thanks for stepping into our very needy world…and for making a way.

In Repentance and Rest, In Quietness and Trust

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
       "In repentance and rest is your salvation,
       in quietness and trust is your strength,
       but you would have none of it. (Isaiah 30:15)

God, tonight I don’t want “none of it”; I want “it”. I want your salvation and your strength through repentance and rest, through quietness and trust. As I lay down, I rest in you. However my day measures up, I’m yours and I’m “in”. Come, rest. Come, Lord.

Merrilyn Frying Bruce's Fish Filets

Walked through the kitchen just now and Col is griddling up some chicken as part of her Japanese Chicken dish for tomorrow night. It’s a spectacular meal! We’ll be celebrating our American Christmas tomorrow night since we’re leaving Christmas Eve for Canada.

Seeing the chicken battered up and sizzling took me right back to Kenora, Ontario in my high school years. Dad loved to throw the canoe on top of the car and head out the Jones Road for a few hours of quiet time with the fish. He’d come back with three or four and clean them on top of the freezer, just out the back door of the house on Tetroe Road. I can see the fish eyes looking at me as they waited their turn, fins flipping back and forth just a bit.

Then Mom would take those filets and flour ‘em up and fry ‘em up. It smells quite a bit like that right here and now. And we were home.

Thoughts on Heaven

So I'm having a peaceful moment before I start into a big project this afternoon. I love peaceful moments. They have a heavenish feel. I'm home, in my office, watching the December snow melt and drip a bit on my south-facing windows. I'm surrounded by walls of books, and officey things, and I'm thinking about heaven. Heaven must be a bit like an English manor.

Manors are often grand, like a castle, but still personal and warm. I can see the window where my office would be. Somehow I'd have responsibilities, the kind of responsibilities that you feel you have the resources to look after. But there would always be time to sit around a warm fire with family and friends.

Heaven's not going to be about the mansions, though I think we'll be well accommodated. There will be a palace and throne more majestic than The White House, Neuschwanstein Castle and the Taj Majal rolled into one. But if what I know of God is true, we'll be awestruck by the gentle humility that comes together with the power of Creator God.


Jesus, the Humble King, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world...we'll be overwhelmed by the love of our servant monarch.


Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. Grant us your peace.


 ¹Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.²And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
 ⁶Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits^[a] of God sent out into all the earth.⁷He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song:
   "You are worthy to take the scroll
      and to open its seals,
   because you were slain,
      and with your blood you purchased men for God
      from every tribe and language and people and nation.
 ¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
      and they will reign on the earth."
 ¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they sang:
   "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
   to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
   and honor and glory and praise!"
 ¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
   "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
   be praise and honor and glory and power,
         for ever and ever!" ¹⁴The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Revelation 5:1-14

Wow, the peaceful moment gets pretty raucous! But everything is set right, and Yahweh is the LORD, and the peace is both transcendent and imminent. It's out of this world, and it's right here.

Heaven must be a bit like an English manor.