sojourns with Jesus

In about 30 minutes I
will turn 30 years old.
I never thought I would
make 30.

Pick a reason.

Wars.

Stupidity.

Fate.

Nearly dying once.

Yet here comes 30.

24 is fiction but in a predominantly Christianized country how come Jack never meets a Christian? What if Jack Bauer met Jesus?

I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen…God is in control of my life…I am standing on the Rock. » Read the rest of this entry «

We planned both our kids but the following is too funny. » Read the rest of this entry «

I had this cued to post for a few days in hopes of keeping my website routinely updated. It is ironic that such a light hearted post came up one of the hardest moments in my life. I figured this was a better use for a tie than a pitty or noose knot. » Read the rest of this entry «

Originally I was going to just blog on what it means to be a Dad for Christian fathers. Today I learned of two prominent TV personalities that are professing Christians and I thought that I would use them to take my blog in a different direction than what I originally intended to write. Today’s blog post is about the consequences of failing to be a Godly dad. » Read the rest of this entry «

What if God had text messaged the 10 Commandments? It might look like this:

no1 b4 me. srsly.
dnt wrshp pix/idols
no omg’s
no wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r)
pos ok – ur m&d r cool
dnt kill ppl
:-X only w/ m8
dnt steal
dnt lie re: bf
dnt ogle ur bf’s m8. or ox. or dnkey. myob.

M, pls rite on tabs & giv 2 ppl.
ttyl, JHWH.
ps. wwjd?

from being presbyterian

Derek Webb of Caedmon’s Call does a wonderful version of Washed in the Blood by Woodie Guthrie (1912-1967) inspired by the hymn writer Elisha Hoffman’s (1839-1929) classic hymn Are you Washed in the Blood? Below are the lyrics to the song by Guthrie. As I lay here redoing my blog theme, trying to let my back ease off enough for sleep, I am reminded that my pain has one good benefit. It reminds me of the one whose pain bore for me my sins, saved me for eternity, and redeems my pain and my entire life now. In the midst of pain there is joy for those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Peyton L. Palmore III in a article for the Christian Century notes that the linguistics of being washed in the blood of the lamb is to many anachronistic at best and barbaric at worst. Yet Peyton points out that the symbolism may be lost on many. He personally doesn’t embrace the symbology instead he “experiences” afresh the beauty of God from meditating on the story and imagery of the prodigal son. Peyton mistakes though a central key. Peyton views the whole issue from man’s view toward God. Yet the symbology of the blood of the Lamb is most beautiful because it is God’s view towards us. He loves us so much that he is willing to die like a helpless lamb for us. He is willing to take our place. To pay the penalty for our sin. And yes most amazingly wash us in the blood of the lamb (Revelation 7:14) washing us pure from all our sins. If we can’t find joy in that then we can’t find joy. It is also the most amazing symbol of the love of God. Interestingly we celebrate both of those in baptism and communion. Their is joy in the blood of the lamb.

Blood Of The Lamb

Are your garments all spotless?
Are they white as the snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
Is your soul all spotless?
Is it clean as the snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

I am washed, yes i’m washed
I am washed in the blood
I’m all washed in the blood of the lamb
I’m all clean i’m all spotless
I’m pure like the snows
I’m all washed in the blood of the lamb

Have you laid down your burdens?
Have you found peace and rest?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
I’ve laid down all my troubles
I’ve found peace and rest
I’m all washed in the blood of the lamb

Have you learnt to love your neighbors?
Of all colors, creeds and kinds?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
I’ve learnt to love my peoples
Of all colors, creeds and kinds
I’m all washed in that blood of that lamb

Words: woody guthrie (1955) -
Music: jay bennett/jeff tweedy (1997)

I just read these lyrics from Ben Harper’s album Diamonds on the Inside. It’s a powerful CD. Musically it has some great songs and it has been on my playlist for months. It would be so easy to just say “Yes this is how Christian music should be!” Some even propose that this is Christian music because it talks about themes that are found in Christianity. The problem is Ben Harper isn’t singing Christian music because he doesn’t know Jesus. Harper’s faith is like his music. It’s eclectic, honest, and moving. Yet, that doesn’t make it truthful or make him right with God. The problem is not that it does not represent Jesus fully but it doesn’t represent Jesus truly. Ben Harper sings “Burn One Down” and “Sexual Healing” with the same passion he sings Picture of Jesus. It appears that Harper’s faith is more influenced by Rastafarian than biblical Christianity. “Jah work is never done” in the song Jah Work is about the Rastafarian god Jah. Rastafarian is a mixture of Christianity and pagan religions that include the use or narcotics or mind altering drugs. Sacred sex can be mixed in as well. God help us when we don’t know the difference between biblical Christianity and that. Ben doesn’t call himself a Christian for a good reason. He isn’t one! His view of God is both quasi personal yet intrinsically pantheistic which is far from what Scripture tell us about God (John 1:1-14). To quote Harper:

“The God I am speaking about is Creation. It’s a force moving on the Earth. It’s the creator of Heaven and Earth, the King of the angels and the Father of light. It’s the Father in the Gospels, it’s nature, trees and valleys… Everything that comes from the earth. I know that one must have faith in a spirit greater than a single individual. I know that we have to learn to give instead of taking. I know that each person must be worthy of what he asks for. You have to know how to respect others. I dedicate my life with faith and love to the Great All that desires only peace and goodness but I am not religious. At first I wanted to become a priest or pastor, something like that, but then I realized that even if I had this immense love of God in me, it wasn’t enough to start a life of abnegation and semi-frustrations.”

Hopefully one day Harper will discover Jesus and that will be a awesome day for music in the Kingdom of God. Harper knows that his gift comes from above. That is a great start. Yet he needs to learn who God is. Sincerity is never a substitute for truth. The music Ben Harper sings now is not Christian music nor should it be confused as such. The only bases of Christianity and the music that represents should be the following question. Does the musician and music clearly exalt Jesus? In his song “Picture Of Jesus”, he sings with passion but it isn’t of the true Jesus who was God made flesh. Instead it is the picture of Jesus that Harper’s mind has constructed. Ben has done what all of us so can easily do create a god that is palatable to us. When we can picture Jesus on our own terms he ceases being our Lord and becomes just another religious object. He’s reduced to a picture in our wallet that comforts us instead of a Savior who delivers us. Christians need to pray for men like Harper to become Christians so that he can realize that his chief end should be “To glorify God through Jesus and enjoy Him forever.”

Adam
Good man but problems with his wife. Also one reference told of how his wife and he enjoy walking nude in the woods.

Noah
Former pastorate of 120 years with not even one convert. Prone to unrealistic building projects.

Abraham
Though the references reported wife-swapping, the facts seem to show he never slept with another man’s wife, but did offer to share his own wife with another man.

Joseph
A big thinker, but a braggart, believes in dream-interpreting, and has a prison record.

Moses
A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.

David
The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor’s wife.

Solomon
Great preacher but our parsonage would never hold all those wives.

Elijah
Prone to depression. Collapses under pressure.

Elisha
Reported to have lived with a single widow while at his former church.

Hosea
A tender and loving pastor but our people could never handle his wife’s occupation.

Deborah
Strong leader and seems to be anointed, but she is female.

Jeremiah
Emotionally unstable, alarmist, negative, always lamenting things, reported to have taken a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of a foreign river.

Isaiah
On the fringe? Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language.

Jonah
Refused God’s call into ministry until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.

Amos
Too backward and unpolished. With some seminary training he might have promise, but has a hang-up against wealthy people–might fit in better in a poor congregation.

Melchizedek
Great credentials at current work place, but where does this guy come from? No information on his resume about former work records. Every line about parents was left blank and he refused to supply a birth date.

John
Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn’t dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.

Peter
Too blue collar. Has a bad temper-even has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.

Paul
Powerful CEO type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with younger ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.

James & John
Package deal preacher & associate seemed good at first, but found out they have an ego problem regarding other fellow workers and seating positions. Threatened an entire town after an insult. Also known to try to discourage workers who didn’t follow along with them.

Timothy
Too young!

Methuselah
Too old . . . WAY too old!

Jesus
Has had popular times, but once his church grew to 5000 he managed to offend them all, and then this church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he’s single.

Judas
His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We’re inviting him to preach this Sunday. Possibilities here.