Quote of the day

"As God's only Son, Jesus came to Earth and gave His life so that we may live. His actions and His words remind us that service to others is central to our lives and that sacrifice and unconditional love must guide us and inspire us to lead lives of compassion, mercy, and justice."
George W Bush, Presidential Christmas address 2002.

Maybe the guy's not so bad after all!

S M Lockridge : "That's my king!"

If you've not seen these videos of S M Lockridges famous exultation/exaltation try the links below.
The first one is free:
That's my King - 4-14.org.uk

This next one is a preview of one of the igniter videos that costs real money!("Together", about the father and son Hoyts is on another of these vids.)
That's my King - igniter video

Finally , here's the transcript - it's inspiring stuff!

The Bible says my King is a seven-way king
He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king
He's the King of Israel; that's a national King
He's the King of Righteousness
He's the King of the Ages
He's the King of Heaven
He's the King of Glory
He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King.
Well....I wonder, do you know Him?

David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork."
My King is a sovereign King.
No means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply.
No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings.
He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.
Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He's God's Son.
He's the sinner's Savior.
He's the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands in the solitude of Himself.
He's august and He's unique.
He's unparalleled.
He's unprecedented.
He is the loftiest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He is the supreme problem in higher criticism.
He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology.
He is the cardinal necessity for spiritual religion.
He's the miracle of the age.
He's -- yes He is -- He is the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Savior.
I wonder if you know Him today?
He supplies strength for the weak.
He's available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He strengthens and sustains.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleansed the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent....and He beautifies the meek.
I wonder if you know Him?

Well, my King....He is the King!
He's the key to knowledge.
He's the wellspring of wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness.
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory.
Do you know Him?

Well, His office is manifold.
His promise is sure....and His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
And His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable -- Yes He is!? He is God!
He's incomprehensible.
He's invincible.
He's irresistible.
Well, you can't get Him out of your mind.
You can't get Him off of your hand.
You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him.

The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him.
Yea!!!, that's my King, that's my King.

Yes, and Thine is the Kingdom....and the Power....and the Glory....Forever....and ever, and ever, and ever -- How long is that? And ever, and ever.

And when you get through with all of the forevers, then. AMEN!
Good God Almighty! AMEN! AMEN!

Unity in diversity

Brodie wrote last week: "Indeed when I think of God being big or powerful it leaves me cold, but here [in a God of poverty and weakness], here is a God before whom I have no response but to fall on my knees and worship."

Personally, I've always loved astronomy and gazing at the stars, finding the constellations and the planets. The more I learn of science and cosmology (and I know very little) the more I'm filled with awe and wonder at God who created the heavens and the earth and yet loves me. I love Psalm 8 :
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?"
Yes, considering this "I have no response but to fall on my knees and worship."
Personally, I find these different worship experiences things to be celebrated not anathemetised. This diversity should be embraced, not rejected. There can still be unity in diversity. We worship the same God and Saviour. That's good enough for HIM - it should be good enough for us too.

Freedom

With the youth at church today Brodie used one of my favourite Augustine quotes: "Love God, and do what you like". I think this is a paraphrase of Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." not in the sense that God will give me what I want - but by delighting in HIm he gives me new desires. The proof of loving God is living a life that demonstrates it. Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandments". Doing what I want, if I truly love God, means doing what HE WANTS. I love the Augustine quote because to me it speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, changing my heart.

I think, particularly today, that there's often a tendency to confuse freedom with licence. Christian freedom is loving
God and doing what He likes. Licence is loving yourself and doing what you like.
Freedom in Christ isn't the freedom to sin. It's not the freedom to have right doctrine and wrong heart attitudes. It's not the freedom to remain bitter and cynical. It's not the freedom to be the same as every Tom, Dick and Hamish.
No.
It's the freedom to be all that God intended. It's the freedom to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. It's the freedom to reach out rather than withdraw. It's the freedom to boldly enter into God's presence in full assurance of faith. It's a freedom to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever" as the catechism says.