Prayer Request

This song really hits home for me

This song really hits home for me. I find myself continually struggling with sin, from my old self, and the new creature that I am in Christ. Like Paul explains in Rom. 7:15-20 I struggle to do what is right, but my sin nature still prevails. The rhetorical question in the second verse "Did you really have to die for ME?" always gets to me. For how much I have sinned I do not deserve to be saved, but God sent His son for me anyway. "It takes all I am to believe in that Mercy that covers me"

I am the only one to blame for this 
Somehow it all adds up the same 
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride 
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide 
With a world I try so hard to leave behind 
To rid myself of all but love, 
To give and die 

To turn away and not become 
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves 
More deeply than the oceans, 
More abundant than the tear 
Of a world embracing every heartache 

Can I be the one to sacrifice 
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow 

To love you - take my world apart 
To need you - I am on my knees 
To love you - take my world apart 
To need you - broken on my knees 

All said and done I stand alone 
Amongst remains of a life I should not own 
It takes all I am to believe 
In the mercy that covers me 

Did you really have to die for me? 
All I am for all you are 
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart 

And I pray, 
To love you - take my world apart 
To need you - I am on my knees 
To love you - take my world apart 
To need you - broken on my knees 

I look beyond the empty cross 
Forgetting what my life has cost 
And wipe away the crimson stains 
And dull the nails that still remains 
More and more I need you now, 
I owe you more each passing hour 
The battle between grace and pride 
I gave up not so long ago 
So steal my heart and take the pain 
And wash the feet and cleanse my pride 
Take the selfish, take the weak, 
And all the things I cannot hide 
Take the beauty, take my tears 
The sin and soaked heart and make it yours 
Take my world all apart 
Take it now, take it now 
And serve the ones that I despise 
Speak the words I can't deny 
Watch the world I used to love 
Fall to dust and thrown away 
I look beyond the empty cross 
Forgetting what my life has cost 
So wipe away the crimson stains 
And dull the nails that still remain 
So steal my heart and take the pain 
Take the selfish, take the weak 
And all the things I cannot hide 
Take the beauty, take my tears 
Take my world apart, take my world apart 
I pray, I pray, I pray 
Take my world apart 

Worlds Apart.

Jars of Clay

Statement of Faith?

   Ok, I'll come clean on the statement of faith. Did that look familiar to any of you? (I hope not =) That statement of Faith is from the Lakewood church located in Houston, Texas (I added the references to validate the statements). All of those statements sound really good, and when looked at and studied should lead an unbeliever to the Lord (with the Bible references). The church on the other hand is possibly doing the opposite.

   On June 16, 2006 ABC's Nightline did a special on the church and its pastor Joel Osteen. Through out the interview there was no substance or anything of positive spiritual relevance discussed, or brought up, either by the interviewer, Joel Osteen, or anyone from the congregation that was interviewed. Instead, other things were brought up like the history of church, its size, and what Mr. Osteen feels that God wants for believers.

   The very first question opposed to Mr. Osteen was why is it (the church) working (numerically/attendance)? Mr. Osteen responded with "I don't know..." and then proceeded to say I don't know, I just don't know, on and on (five times total). How can this church be of God, if the pastor doesn't even know why it is "successful"? If the church is of God, shouldn't a response have been along the lines of  "God is really blessing us"  or "People are being drawn to us and convicted". Based on  I Cor. 3:7 ESV "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth", Joel should know why HIS church is successful. That is if it is of God.

    Near the middle of the program Nightline states some of the things that aren't taught/preached about: sin, Homosexuality, and abortion, among many others. Joel says that he wants to focus on the positives of what he claims is Christianity. A man who traveled from Nigeria said that he likes the Lakewood church, and Joel Osteen because they teach a "gentle message, soothing and nice to hear".  Might this church and its pastor guilty of         II Tim. 4:3 ESV "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound (or healthy) teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,"?

      Joel says that he preaches that with salvation comes Gods blessings such as "Having a good relationship with your wife, having children that are healthy, having a good attitude, having good health". In his book he writes about how God blesses him (for his works), by upgrading his plane ticket. Now two of things he list should be true with salvation (a good relationship with your spouse, and having a good attitude), but where does God guarantee that with salvation comes healthy children, good healthy, or earthly things (upgrades in tickets)? Isn't a believer suppose to experience trials, and be joyful when confronted with them (James 1:2)? Is being persecuted for your faith considered "good health"? Maybe Joel is unaware of how the disciples lives on earth came to an end, with eleven of the twelve being martyred, and John being imprisoned. Or maybe those being persecuted today are confused and they are not as obedient as they should be, or they certainly would be receiving "good health".

   That was just a little to ponder about where the church is today. I will probably post more about that interview later, but I have to go for now.

Currently Listening Lifesong By Casting Crowns #7 "While You Were Sleeping" The last verse says it all. see related

Statement of Faith

Well, I figured now would be a good time for me to post a statement of Faith. Please let me know what you think.

WE BELIEVE…the entire Bible is inspired by God, without error and the authority on which we base our faith, conduct and doctrine.          (1Tim. 3:16)

WE BELIEVE…in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to this earth as Savior of the world. (Jn.1:1, Jn. 14:16-20)

WE BELIEVE…Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins. We believe that salvation is found by placing our faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross. We believe Jesus rose from the dead and is coming again. (Is. 53:5, Rom. 3:24-26)

WE BELIEVE…water baptism is a symbol of the cleansing power of the blood of Christ and a testimony to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.   (Mt. 28:19, 1Jn. 5:6-12)

WE BELIEVE…in the regular taking of Communion as an act of remembering what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross.               (1Cor. 11:23-28)

WE BELIEVE…every believer should be in a growing relationship with Jesus by obeying God’s Word, yielding to the Holy Spirit and by being conformed to the image of Christ. (1Pet. 1:15)

WE BELIEVE…as children of God, we are overcomers and more than conquerors and God intends for each of us to experience the abundant life He has in store for us. (1Jn. 2:13)

Time to Reform

Hello all. This is my first time doing a post (so bear with me), and it might be quite a while before I do another one, but here we go. The most recent posts that I have read have been about music and the doctrine contained in it. Therefore I will post a song or two of which I find very theologically sound. The first one is my all time favorite hymn: It Is Well With My Soul. For me the chorus of this hymn is great response to any adversity, trials, or tragedy that we may witness or experience in our lives or the lives of friends and family. The verses are an excellent progression through the tough times in our personal lives into Gods justice and Christ's return to earth. I especially like the the third verse "(MY sin) Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, PRAISE THE LORD, praise the Lord, O my soul!" Here are the lyrics in their entirety:

It Is Well With My Soul Hymn

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

On a lighter note, I have written one of my own, sung to the tune of "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus", not as popular but much more Theologically sound: "Jesus Decided To Let Me Follow Him" =)Xanga

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