Indeed, it is Good

The entire week we have been reading and re-reading the passages in the gospels about the events that led up to the death of Jesus as well as his crucifixion. This morning during my quiet time I read it again, including His resurrection and ascension.

As I read aloud, I pondered the actions of Peter. His fearful and angry interaction with the servant and the sword. Can you imagine? Jesus being led away by the Roman guard and his disciples are fighting for their Lord... in their desperation, one turns, flailing his sword, panting, sweating, screaming and cuts off an ear of a servant. Amidst the struggle, gasps and painful cries, Jesus turns and rebukes Peter and heals the injured man! Right there in the garden... He heals him. He placed his ear back on miraculously.

Truly, can you imagine this servant's reaction? We don't know what happened to him. We don't know if he became a follower of our Lord that very night. But I will tell you this, you cannot have the healing power of the Divine rush through your body without being affected.

We all have our own personal testimonies about our interaction with Majesty. Our Creator God has spared us from the consequence we so rightly deserved. He has spared us from an eternity in Hell, separated from Him. Praise Him! Indeed, it is Good!

Response: Christianity & Conservatism "Defined" Pt 2

If you haven't read the first part of this response, please scroll down to the youtube video of Charles Barkley and then come back.

I realize that this was an interview that revolved around the politics of Mr. Barkley, but as was brought out more than once- he has a deep irritation, if not anger, with those who call themselves Christians. Mr. Blitzer asked if he was concerned about the response to his blatent remarks and he (Barkley) responded, "They can't touch me...they can't do anything to me".

What would be the response worldwide if Barkley had said "Muslims" in place of the word Christians? I think President Bush himself would be involved in demanding an apology. To my knowledge, however, there has been nothing said. It has been swept under the rug. Even worse, perhaps forgotten. Worse yet, people just don't care. There is such apathy toward religious 'persecution' of Christians.

Allow me to first lay my thoughts on the line regarding true Christianity and the Body of Christ. In the name of 'Christianity' horrific and unmentionable atrocities have been done in our history, preachers and evangelists have fallen into sin, those claiming Christ as their master have been hypocritical and hurtful.... All the while- the world watches. We know this. We are saddened by this. It is, however, what it is: "sin". We are human and are fallen in our humanness. This is why Christ has conquered; because we will never achieve perfection until we are with Him in Glory. Those who are 'soundly saved' will still err and may even, unfortunately, do it in the wake of the public eye.

Those who do not know Christ are daily reminded of their need for Him. Their justification of problems and blame falls on 'the hypocritical church' and this is only heightened by their desperate realization of the Holy Spiritis' conviction of their own sin. They are daily searching for a reason (other then their own failings) as to why they are at enmity with a Holy God. It is an absolute error to think that due to the unlawful sin of others, you might one day not stand accused before a righteous and just God. We will all give an account one day and there will be no one standing next to us that we can point to.

As Believers, we are reminded in Matthew chapter 7, that we should not be judging or correcting other Christians if our own life needs to be examined first. Christ goes onto say in other passages that we should correct and bring those that have strayed away back onto the path of righteousness.

We must be careful to always see scripture in light of the context that surrounds it. It would not behoove me to "judge" an unbeliever's sinful actions (homosexuality, drunkeness, etc.) however, because they already stand condemned before a Holy God. We must show them in love their need for redemption through the mirror of the ten commandments. Remember, "grace to the humble and law to the proud".

Happy Valentines Day

ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE

A MAJESTIC AND HOLY CREATOR
FORMED AND DESIGNED ME AND YOU

WE WERE BORN INTO SIN’S SLAVERY
THROUGH ADAM (AND YOU KNOW WHO)

OUR DESPERATE NEED FOR A SAVIOR
HAD PROVEN LITERALLY QUITE TRUE

SIN HAD BOUND AND OVERTAKEN
WE NEEDED GRACE AND LIFE ANEW

THIS LOVING FATHER SENT HIS ONLY SON
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, A PERFECT JEW

HE TOOK OUR PENALTY, DEATH IN OUR PLACE,
PURCHASED HEAVEN, ETERNITY WITH A VIEW

HE HAS RISEN AGAIN, SITS AT THE RIGHT OF THE FATHER
HIS DESIRE THAT ALL WOULD HEAR AND KNOW THE GOOD NEWS

I URGE YOU, DEAR SAINT, DON’T BE A LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN
PREACH THE WORD ON THE STREET, NOT JUST FROM THE PEW

DO AS JESUS DID SO MANY YEARS AGO
GET UP AND GET OUT! THEY’RE WAITING ON YOU!

Written by: Angelena 2/14/08

Are You Telling Them?

(*Please Pause Sonific Songspot Prior to Playing Videos)

"Then Jesus said to them, 'So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News'."

Mark 16:15

Sometimes what I want to write I feel can be better expressed by sharing with you through music. I think that the Nickleback video ("Saving Me") is intriguing, but I do not wish to promote this particular band as 'Christian' in any way, shape or form. I do, however, think that they are putting forth a topic that is on the minds of many who do not know the Lord- "death". We are all going to die some day...when will it be? Are you ready? Are they ready? Are we telling them? Be looking for the analogy in the video in reference to evangelism...




I have always loved this song "I Wish We'd All Been Ready". First sung by Larry Norman- now by DC Talk, it always gets me thinking. I pray that we would take advantage of every opportunity to witness before our Savior returns. Remember, as you share the gospel with those around you, their 'response' is not your responsibility. We are only to be obedient to the commission given to us as believers. Share in love, but always in truth.

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!"

"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."

Luke 2:8-14

(Just for the record...the photograph depicts female angels, but the Bible only mentions male angels. I wish I had a true picture! )

"Hark! the Harold Angels Sing" (1855)
Words by Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Music by Felix Mendelssohn, 1809-1847
Adapted by William Hayman Cummings
from "Festgesang" (24 Jun 1840)
Tune: Mendelssohn
from the 2nd mvt. of the cantata "Vaterland, in deinen
Gauen brach der gold'ne Tag einst an")

1.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild--
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'an-gelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

[REFRAIN]
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

2.
Christ, by highest heav'n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail th'incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

3.
Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild he lays His glory by.
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

4.
Come, Desire of Nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conq'ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.

What amazing words! What blessed words! How many times have we bellowed the song or hummed the tune, but ignored those precious words full of life and meaning!?

I just attended a fantastic Christmas concert performed by a local body of believers. I loved the layout of the program. They emphasized that the baby Jesus not be left in the manger...that the story of "Christmas" is only the beginning of God's plan for mankind. They went on to talk and sing of his life, ministry, death and resurrection. The pastor gave a beautiful evangelistic invitation at the end and reminded us that our eternal destiny was imminent. It was very refreshing and encouraging!

Let us take a moment to look at some outstanding statements in the four stanzas of the song!

1) "Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild-- God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th'an-gelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem"

*God and sinners reconciled!*...Oh, goosebumps! Christ was sent so that God could make a way for us to be with Him! He wants us to be with Him! His desire is that we be reconciled to Him! (To reestablish a close relationship between. 2. To settle or resolve)

2) Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th'incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

*Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail incarnate Deity*...He was fully God, but yet completely human/flesh. Jesus Christ is our atonement. Our penalty is death. Defined, Christ's death on the cross made amends or reparation for our 'wrong' ..our sin.

3)Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings. Mild he lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

*Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth*... Christ's emphasis was on 'being born again'. We must die to self to be able to live fully in Him. Read with me Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus.

John 3:1-7:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again

4) Come, Desire of Nations, come! Fix in us Thy humble home; Rise, the woman's conq'ring seed, Bruise in us the serpent's head. Adam's likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place; Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.

*Come, Desire of Nations, Come!"... There is so much to be said in this verse, but I'll just choose a small snapshot. Israel was under such oppression and had been for many years. Driven from their homes for generations, these were a people truly in need of a Savior. Sadly, many still wait for the coming Messiah even today. They wait for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Praise the Lord that we know our Redeemer came 2000 years ago as a baby...humbly... and is now seated next to the right hand of our Father God! We wait for the return of our Messiah as well, but this will be a second coming, unlike the first! Every man will know Him... every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Hark! I can't wait to hear those angels sing on that glorious day!