Personally, I find many of the older hymns speaking more clearly about the Gospel of our Christ and the attributes of our God more clearly than much of the music that is being produced in main-stream Christian music today.  Often the hymns bring with them a patience and imagery that newer composers neglect. However, not all that is old is good, and not all that is new is bad. Many of the older hymns do not even speak of God or the Gospel directly. Instead, they speak of past remembered or future anticipated experiences. There is nothing necessarily intrinsically wrong with experiences, but our faith is not built on our experiences. It is built on the person and work of Christ our God. This is the reason the main subject of our songs should not be us, but rather God.

Kevin DeYoung talks through this subject and provides some food for thought. In the end, it is not music that should be the issue, but rather it should be the heart and mind of each worshipper. Each person’s thoughts and affections should be saturated with the clear truths of God and the Gospel. Songs can either establish our thoughts toward these truths or direct them unsuspectingly away.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/11/30/remembering-memory-2/

this is “grace at work”

When I consider what is important to me, I immediately submit essentials such as God, the Gospel and the Body of Christ – the Church. Any follower of Jesus Christ will quickly affirm these as subjects of ultimate importance. After all, they are the core topics about which the Christian Bible is written.

But, what is truly important to me? What do I make much of? When I become the subject of a conversation by others, what is it that people say I am all about? Sure, it is easy for me to quickly pledge allegiance to the central truths of the Christian faith. But, is my allegiance obvious to others when they observe my life? I find that I do not always make a big deal about the same things about which the Bible makes a big deal.

The health of the Body of Christ is dependent upon believers emphasizing the big deals of Scripture. The Bible calls the Church to unite around the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the express image of God. The whole Godhead is pleased to live in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Head of the Body. His Name will be exalted above every name. And it pleased the Father to crush Jesus in our place. Jesus represents all that God is; therefore, He represents the big deals of Scripture. Unfortunately, I throughout my life, like many other,  have fallen victim to the influence of spiritual leaders who make a big deal about things of little or no importance. They build their life and teaching around things that are insignificant or even irrelevant to the Name of Christ. They die on hills that are far from the battle and take down their own comrades in the process.  Ultimately, the legacy of their life is that which takes away from the Name of Jesus rather than magnifying it. This will cause damage to the Body of Christ.

So, I ask myself again, “What do I magnify?” I  now find myself  in a sphere of influence over people who are looking to me for guidance. What are they gleaning? The psalmist encourages me by saying, “O Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exult His name together.” The parallelism here leads me to believe that magnification is tied closely to exultation. It must be my goal in all I do and say to lift up specifically and clearly the character and works of the Lord.

This is possible only through a complete submission to the Word of God. I must first acknowledge that I am prone to wander and naturally desire for my name to be exulted rather than the name of Jesus. So, humility must be  my constant state of being. I must saturate my mind and affections with the whole Word of God so that God’s thoughts and affections become mine. And finally, I must plead with the Spirit of God to lead me and teach me daily so that I become a living channel of worship to God.

So, what do I magnify? My prayer and plea is that it is the Lord. “O God, kill me, that is my flesh, and make me a boisterous instrument used to proclaim those things which are your big deals.”

this is “grace at work”

In the initial chapter of this book, Carson suggests journaling as a discipline to help build an effective prayer life. I remember back when I was blogging regularly that I profitted greatly from the meditation that came with writing posts. It helped me to think through much of what God was doing in my life and put thought into a solid form. The absract took on form, if you will. Although I doubt no one cares to know the details of the cares of my mind and heart, I hope to write here general thoughts and ideas that are currently shaping my life. Due to the extended absence of my presence here, I am banking on the fact the few, if any, will be reading anyway. However, for those who may accidently stumble back here, I would appreciate your encouragement and accountability.

As for now, I am learning more and more of my dependence on God. He continually moves me into the realm of uncertainty where I find Him to be all that I have. Even the physical things that I trust are benefits which He has given to me. Some days where I find that I am trusting God much. Then, other days I am anxious and sinfully independent. This I am learning and is increasing my prayer life. I would much rather be here, humanly vulnerable and divinely dependent, than the contrary. God is working this in me.

So it goes, once again I am back – hopefully to stay. And as usual…

this is “grace at work”

On June 29, 2008, I turned 30.

On  October 4, 2008, I gained my very first sister-in-law. My brother was married.

On October 18, 2008, I entered the covenant of marriage with my wonderful wife Karlyn Tipmore Blaha. The ceremony was beautiful and wonderful. It took place in Fremont, MI, among the gorgeous autumn colors. We spent our honeymoon in a cabin in Colorado. We flew into Albuquerque, NM, drove to Pagosa Springs (where we spent the week), and finally drove to Denver where we flew home. It was amazing!

In November, Karlyn and I spent our first Thanksgiving holiday in Madison, WI, with Karlyn’s best friend. What a wonderful vacation.

In December, Karlyn and I spent our first Christmas together in our own apartment. Karlyn gave me a watch and a few other cool gifts.

In January, Karlyn and I went to  Maryland where we ministered at a teen retreat. The theme was “Shaped by the cross.”

Then, there was our first Valentine’s Day married. We celebrated Karlyn’s  birthday in March – she turned 24. And, of course, there have been so many other small blessings that have shaped the last 9 months of my life. Although I have not been able to blog these memories here, they have been logged into my mind and life and will continue to shape my life.

My desire is to begin to blog regularly once again. This has been a good discipline for me in the past, and I am always encouraged to go back and read what God has done in my life over the years. I have been encouraged by the response that I have received from you as you have commented. Please continue. I hope to encourage you and provoke you to find grace and truth in life. The most complete message of grace and truth comes through Jesus; but, as a follower of Jesus, I want to reflect His message through my life communicated in this blog. Just as the last 9 months have taught me much about God and His will, I pray that the next 9 months and following will teach me so much more.

This is “grace at work.”

Well, God, through some unusual and specific circumstances, chose to remove this particular opportunity of ministry from me. The removal happened because of the consequences of an action of a third party. In my pride I began to exalt myself and criticize the third party for what they had done. I thought that they didn’t understand ministry like I did, or else they would not have done such a thing. Anger was pouring out in my hearts toward them, only, it was not righteous.

After thinking about it and be counseled about it, I realized that I was thinking that God needed me to do His work in this person’s life. No one else could do what I could do. I was the chosen vessel to minister to their life. However, – ding, ding, ding – there are no vacancies in the Trinity. God is still God, and I am finite man. He is the Master Potter and I am the clay. He is Sovereign; I am subservient. I am in every case the lowest of the low. God reigns above all. He alone is God. If He chooses to remove someone to whom I have been ministering from my influence, He has every right to do that. God is more jealous for His glory than I could fathom. He arrests men’s hearts so that they might be amazed at the God of the universe. He alone does this.

God in His mercy has shown me His grace and love both in my life and in the life of this one to whom I had been ministering. What a kind and faithful God! It is times like this when I feel that I understand the truth of the Gospel of Christ, but then He places me on the testing ground to see what God’s great Gospel looks like through my life. Many times His mercy looks like misery, His grace looks earned, and His lovingkindness looks temporary. But God still uses me to do His work, to carry His Good News. And then I am reminded that it is not my acts of faithfulness and righteousness that God depends on, it is the Gospel at work in my life. He chooses me and uses me because of the imputation of Christ’s completed work on my behalf. The same Gospel that God gave me to minister in another life is at work in my life too. The Wisdom of the Lord is wonderful.

So here I am, not God, but an heir of the riches of God because of the work of Christ imputed on my behalf.

this is “grace at work”

Christ said that he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. This not to say that righteous people do not need Christ’s call. On the contrary, the Pharisees considered themselves to be righteous, yet they were only righteous in their own eyes. Before God, they were condemned. As a matter of fact, it was the view of their own righteousness that condemned them. They were self-righteous, not Christ-righteous.

This may seem obvious to most (or maybe not), but it is one thing to agree with the bare facts; it is another thing to live this way. People who promote morality rather than (and/or) without Christ, run a high risk of winning others to self-righteousness rather than to Christ. Christ came to deliver us from our self-righteousness. “HE became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God IN HIM.” I fear that there are many people who view there own lives as good and moral, and may even have had at one point an experience of prayer and confession, but they have never heartily repented of their trust in themselves and turned their trust to Christ’s perfect and complete work on the cross. I am saying all this so that it is clear that a striving for morality may, in fact, turn others from freedom in Christ rather than to Him. A complete trust in Christ is necessary before anyone begins to address godly living.

Christ addressed immorality on many different occasions, but every time it was with the intention of turning people to trust in Him, not to make them moral. Good works, godliness, morality come because of a complete dependence on the righteousness of Christ.

Gal 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. (2) Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (ESV)

The work of Christ is what we need to begin and to continue. Without complete dependence on Him, we are striving for a righteousness of our own. However, a dependence on our moral living will only damn us.

In conclusion, we are urged to call people to dependence in Christ, not to morality. Morality will damn. So, I whole heartily agree, that “that America does not need morality, they need Christ!”

this is “grace at work”

Mark 5 tells the story of Christ’s interaction with a woman who has had a major problem with internal bleeding. She had suffered from it for twelve years. She had been to see many doctors but her problem had only gotten worse. Having spent all her money on doctors her situation seemed hopeless. (Sounds very similar to the ones to whom Isaiah is calling in Isaiah 55)

This particular day she recognized Jesus; one who could heal her from her infirmity. However, because of the nature of her sickness, according to the Mosaic law she was considered to be unclean. And any whom she touched also would be considered unclean. Yet, in spite of the looming circumstances she continually told herself that if only she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed.

Fighting through the crowd, the woman managed to come close enough to Him to touch His hem. Immediately, she sensed that she had been healed. Rather than the unclean defiling the clean, the pure one had cleansed the impure. (Matthew’s account of this story is told in Matthew 9:20. Surprisingly enough, at the beginning of the chapter Christ is eating with Matthew, the publicans and sinners. Christ tells the critical Pharisees that those who are healthy do not need a physician, but those who are sick. Then He told them to learn what he was saying. Immediately He gives them a lesson of faith and an incredible demonstration of God’s power.)

Christ sensed in Himself that power from Him had gone out. He immediately turned around and asked who had touched Him. Walking in the middle of a crowd of people, Christ’s disciples thought that it was ridiculous for Him to ask who had touched Him. (This has been the difficult yet wonderful part for me.) Many people had been pressing on Him. Many bodies and hand brushed up against Him, and many people made contact with Him. The crowd pressed on him. (It would be similar to the few experiences I have had in NYC where I had to keep my hands continually on my wallet and other valuables because of the many people that were crowded around me during rush hour.) But among the Many who had made contact with Him, only one had truly touched Him.

How often people claim to have had an encounter with Jesus. On September 11, the whole United States was praying (or so they thought.) But how many were just brushing Him rather than touching Him. Every weekend many go to church and pray, but they are just moving past Him or crowding Him but never truly touching Him in faith. Augustine said, “multitudes still come similarly close to Christ in the means of grace, but all to no purpose, being only sucked into the crowd.”

So, when I pray, as I live, I must remember my desperate need. I must recognize that I am bankrupt. I have no resources of my own. I am completely dependent on Him. And just as the woman, I must fall down and confess to Him the truth of my situation and the truth that He is God. My helpless, hopeless, resourceless state is the theater of His glory (borrowed slightly from Calvin.)

this is “grace at work”

I hope that what tried to explain here is clear, The thought that I had reminded me that this world, this universe, operates within the sphere of Christianity, not the other. The very essence of the universe is present because Christianity exits. Other religions exists because of man’s treason and rebellion against the Lord and God of Christianity. Therefore any form of religion, even agnosticism and atheism, are elements that operate under the umbrella of truth which lies at the core of Christianity. They are not equally competing and opposing forces that are vying for there place in the universe. There is not a separate existence apart from Christianity. They exist because God exists; and, therefore, Christianity exists.

This may seem like a mess of obvious and scattered thoughts. But, the reason that this is so significant to me is because I so many times think and behave as though I have an option to operate either within or without the umbrella of Christianity. I am often very aware of my righteous standing before God and my life predestined to Christlikeness. But, at times I pursue idols of the heart (Calvin called our hearts “idol factories”) thinking that I somehow escaped out from under the umbrella of God. We cannot operate outside of the truth of God and the existence of Christianity. Again, idols are idols, Islam is subservient, and atheism is rebellion, etc., because the world is Christian.

Please share any thoughts.

this is “grace at work”

Another parallel theme seems to be Christ as hope and healer. Jesus is vindicated as Messiah by being One who meets peoples needs. He is not only the Savior of the physical but Savior of the spiritual. Christ says, “Is it harder to heal the body or to say your sins be forgiven?” Christ demonstrated the power of God in physical ways proving that that He too has the power of God to heal spiritual sickness.

But are these truly two separate themes or are they one in the same? Christ did go around healing sickness and forgiving sins and people were commended for their faith. Is the answer to true healing faith or is it Christ?

I find that often, in my life, I pursue a better understanding of faith rather than a greater understanding of Christ. Christ is who heals, not faith. Faith produces the physical response that brings me to Christ, but faith does not provide the power to heal. When a man’s daughter is dead, his hope is not in his faith, his hope is in Christ. When a woman has been sick from birth and desires healing, she doesn’t pursue faith, she pursues Christ. Faith is the vehicle that brings her to Christ.

Therefore, the answer to my deficiency is Christ not faith. When I am struggling for hope, I need to be reminded of the sufficiency of Christ. When I am lured by sin’s enticement, I must see a more beautiful Christ. When I am overwhelmed by sin’s oppression, I must embrace a more powerful Christ. The man in Mark 9 even acknowledges the source of one’s faith. He said “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Christ is the answer to an unbelieving heart.

We must embrace Christ. He is our Hope.

Pursuing,
Ricky

I have wrestled through understanding if “standards” for the Christian are Biblical. I know that this may be a “no brainer” to some, but it has been a issue that I have wrestled with and, by God’s grace, have recently come to better understanding.

I struggle with the fact that people set up standards in certain areas of life, and then act as if those self-made standards determine their level of holiness. Somehow the standard that they have created makes them acceptable to God and others. Standards also produce a mindset of duty toward God. People bind themselves to a particular standard which ends up being their motive for holy living, rather than a heart motivated by love to God. The greatest commandment was to love the Lord God with all our heart, not become a duty driven Christian. Anyone who views standards this way will never meet up to God’s standard of holiness. Standards do not determine holiness.

This was my struggle. I did not want to be characterized by my standards; I wanted to be characterized by Christ. He met the holy standard that God demands and imputed His righteousness to me. I wanted my life to be motivated by genuine love and worship for God, not an artificial robotic legalism.

But still, something was missing. Even with all my “good intentions,” I still found my self becoming susceptible to temptation. I truly desired holiness, but temptation was hard to battle. I knew scripture, I knew that the Spirit of God was in me, I loved God, but I was struggling. Was I wrong? Are standards the way to go? Do I not love God enough (definitely a factor)?

In the midst of this battle, God drew my attention to this verse from Proverbs. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Other versions translate the first part of this verse, “a man that does not rule his own spirit,” or, as the ESV puts it, “a man without self-control.” A wise man rules his own spirit; not for the sake of being declared righteous by it, but rather, to guard himself from areas of temptation where he is weak.

In Bible times, walls were built around cities to protect the city from invaders. Invaders would find it difficult to execute a successful attack on a city because of its walls. A city without walls was virtually defeated. A ruler would be foolish to think that his army was strong enough to defend his city from invaders at any given time. There are times when his army would be asleep, weak, tired and vulnerable. In that state, that city could be overrun without much difficulty. A wall was built to protect the city in those times of vulnerability.

Even so, boundaries set up in ones life serve as a wall of protection in times of vulnerability. Most people are aware of areas in their own life where they are weak. With holiness as the ultimate goal, a person must set up “walls” of protections that will lessen the effectiveness of temptation. This is what is meant by “ruling ones own spirit.” Standards should not determine our level of holiness, but rather, they should serve as a wall of defense against temptation. This is the way of the wise man.

I have not mastered this. I have so much more to learn. But, God has been so kind to begin to reveal to me, a rebellious sinner, the way of wisdom. I am praying fervently that God would continue to grow me and empower me to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

“Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1 I must rely completely on the power of God. Even my walls are weak, but God is my strength. Praise God that is not ashamed to be called our God ,and that He leads us as a loving Father.

By His Grace,