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My Favorite Contemporary Song September 30, 2007

Posted by Eddie in : Blog, Great Christian Hymns , 5comments

There are very few songs out today that move me as deeply as this one. Not only that, but there are also very few songs in the contemporary Christian music genre that is as rich in it’s theological depths as this one. There is a lot of “fluff” out there on Christian radio air waves, but this song is not one of them. I have to give props where props are due. This song helps me keep my focus on Christ and His cross. I hope this will encourage those who struggle with assurance, and bring further joy and admiration to those who don’t.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

The True Gospel September 26, 2007

Posted by brian in : What is the Gospel?, J I Packer, American Christianity , 1 comment so far

I read again the section of writing by J I Packer that inspired us to start the site, I want to share it with you again. I commend it to you for careful examination.

I also added a Paul Washer Sermon that addresses some of the same issues.

” There is no doubt that evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor’s dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are and or equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. Without realizing it, we have during the past century bartered that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar enough in points of detail, is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty. Why? We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men Godcentered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be ‘helpful’ to man - to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction - and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was ‘helpful’, too - more so, indeed, than is the new - but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first concern was always to give glory to God. It was always and essentially a proclamation of divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its center of reference was unambiguously God. But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was religious in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach people to worship God, the concern of the new seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and his ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.

From this change of interest has sprung a change of content, for the new gospel has in effect reformulated the biblical message in the supposed interests of ‘helpfulness’. Accordingly, the themes of man’s natural inability to believe, of God’s free election being the ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for his sheep are not preached. These doctrines, it would be said, are not ‘helpful’; they would drive sinners to despair, by suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (The possibility that such despair might be salutary is not considered: it is taken for granted that it cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem.) However this may be (and we shall say more about it later), the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth. Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to receive Christ at any time; we speak of his redeeming work as if he had made it possible for us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God’s love as if it were no more than a general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet impotence ‘at the door of our hearts’ for us to let them in.

It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical gospel. The Bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. To recover the old, authentic, biblical gospel, and to bring our preaching and practice back into line with it, is perhaps our most pressing present need.”

Lampmode September 25, 2007

Posted by brian in : Holy Hip Hop , 5comments

Lampmode is a ministry that has in the past and still continues to bless me. The music is some of the most gospel saturated music out there. Lampmode guys, when is the next CD coming out?

Some of my favorite songs from lampmode:

My Portion

“The Temptation”

“The Sinfulness of Sin”

Liberation:

Check them out at www.lampmode.com

Beware of Those Who Claim
“Irreconcilable Paradox”. September 24, 2007

Posted by Lane in : Cross TV, Modern Christianity, Apologetics, Avoiding Deceit, Mark Kielar , add a comment

Dove Soap September 21, 2007

Posted by brian in : John Piper, Holy Hip Hop, Biblical Manhood , 1 comment so far

From Desiring God:

“There are three great realities that come into being when people trust Christ as their Savior and King and Treasure and are thereby united to the risen Lord. Three great realities arise from our being “in Christ” by faith. And each one builds on the other.

1. Justification Because We Are in Christ
First, “in Christ” there is no condemnation. Romans 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Another way to say this is that we are “justified,” that is, declared just and righteous, because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to us in him. “[God] made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). So our imputed righteousness is the first reality that comes with being “in Christ.” And that is the foundation of everything that follows in the Christian life, and is distinct from everything that follows.

2. Sanctification Because We Are in Christ
Second, “in Christ” we receive power to bear fruit for God and serve others with the help of the Holy Spirit. In other words, not only is justification a reality because we are “in Christ,” but also sanctification. Romans 7:4, “You also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another [there’s union with Christ], to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” When we were joined to Christ, his righteousness was imputed to us, and then his power was imparted to us to fight sin. This is probably what Romans 8:2 refers to when it says, “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

So when we are united to Christ by faith, first there is instant justification and then there is progressive sanctification. Christ’s righteousness is imputed to you and Christ’s power is imparted to you. One is declaration and the other is liberation.

3. Members of One Body in Christ
The third reality that comes into being when God puts us into Christ through faith (1 Corinthians 1:30) – and it is built on the first two! – is our membership in the body of Christ. That’s the small leap to Romans 12:5, “So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” In Christ we find righteousness to be justified. In Christ we receive power to be sanctified. And in Christ we are united into one body and are members of one another.

Biblical small groups are not a therapeutic method. They are not a psychological strategy. They are not an organizational technique. They are a living expression of a supernatural new creation in Christ – the body of Christ, which gets its exalted standing and its practical power from union with the crucified and risen Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ. The solid rock of truth on which our small-group ministry stands is the great double reality of God’s justifying and sanctifying work.”

I thank the Father for the men God has raised up in my life to walk with me and encourage me and bare my burdens. These men continually bring the light of the Gospel to my life and encourage me to fight as a justified sinner!!!!

Tori
Miguel
Eddie
Lane
Barrett
Howard
Brett

Dove Soap from Redeemed Thought:

Steve: (Hello) Yo what’s up dude/ I know it’s been a minute long time no talk to/ you must be busy with work church and school/ how are things goin’ between you and your boo// (oh you must not know I guess nobody told you/ she’s been pregnant for about a month or two/ I feel terrible, but I know what I gotta do/ I’ve been prayin’ to God to give me the strength to// put sin aside and be an example/ man it’s gotta be hard yo I’ve been there too/ but back then I was unsaved and confused/ trapped in a dream I didn’t think it was true// wrestlin’ with thoughts of havin’ to quit school/ sixteen years old no job and no clue/ kept in on the low though only her moms knew/ even to this day there’s still a select few// took the easy way out thought it would be cool/ let her take pills and forget the issue/ a little while later the baby was removed/ an innocent victim of irresponsible fools// didn’t learn either the sin continued/ now thoughts of lust haunt my mental/ a thorn in the flesh like Paul the apostle/ but God let it happen to prove the Gospel// yeah you messed up but you knew who to turn to/ never stop prayin’ and readin’ your word dude/ remember you repented the Lord forgave you/ there’s no condemnation Romans eight: one and two// all men are sinners but God’s merciful/ bringin’ up a child’s hard but wonderful/ let your consequences keep you humble/ learn from the Lord when ever you stumble// and if you need help you know that I’m there for you/ what ever you need whether it’s prayer for you/ and your fam or just food/ your still a brother in Christ and I love you and God does too//

muze: yo, what up kid/ it’s been a minute since the last letter I sent/ I think about you often, wondering how you’ve been/ keeping you in prayer everytime my knees bend/ ever since I left I heard you’ve been struggling//creepin on your wife, leaving on the weekends/ it obvious to all that you’ve been cheating/ so, what’s the deal with the night in jail that you spent/ for physically hurting the one you should be cleaving// everyone at chuch is wondering where you went/ you were walking a straight path but suddenly it bent/ I’m not chewing you out, yo that’s not my intent/ for real kid, you of all should know the time I spent// I had anger worse than 10 raging men/ you knew how often I was cheating on my girlfriend/ you knew every club fight I’ve ever been in/ we were tighter than an MC’s pad and pen// one heart from the start, call it friends till the end/ but that seemed to change when I got born again/ I came to the cross and put my life to an end/ repented for my sins new life then begins// in the eyes of Christ I’m forgiven and cleansed/ God restored what the locust had eaten/ no longer focus on seeking after ends/ don’t harden your heart, bro please just listen// it seems you have a twisted definition of “repent”/ a simple apology’s not what God ment/ we all fall short no matter how big the sin/ but if you got the heart to never do it again// he’s faithful and just to renew and to cleanse/ please, dog you’ve seen the light, now step in/ your whole life you’ve been afraid of commitment// but God doesn’t leave or forsake his children/ true faith is not an emotional feeling/ sip the living water and be refreshened/ trust in Him, let Him start rebuilding, please dog repent//

Hook: Sometimes life is like a Soap Opera/ there’s no breaks though the time won’t stop bruh/ but if you repent and your sick of the drama/ the Holy Ghost got soap for you to wash up// at the cross where the lamb of God’s blood flows/ forgiveness waits no matter what you’ve done bro/ you can trust in the Lord His love’s dope/ first John one: nine the Christian bar of Dove Soap//