Caedmon's Call
We are called out; we are ransomed
We are not of the world were in
we are chosen; we are blessed
to bring light to the lives of men
so father sow your seed
give us life in community
wake us from our sleep
this is your time; this is your place
We are vessels for breaking
under your grace we are led by your spirit
you have redeemed us by the
blood of your son
send down your word we are eager to hear it
ready our hearts to carry your love
you are sunlight you are morning
you're the hope of a brand new day
you are comfort; you are blessing
and you wipe all our tears away
so change us from within
render miracles from our sin
remind us once again
this is your time; this is your place
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Glory of It All
A relationship with God doesn't make sense.
1. Even before you believe there is a God, logic says that if a God existed, then he probably would be in favor of everything that happens in the world. Otherwise, he'd stop it, obviously.
2. If you ever get around to believing in a God, it doesn't make sense that he would want to be in a relationship with you. He's probably got better things to do.
3. If you ever actually believe that God loves you, then you're probably going to get caught up with the difficulty of needing a relationship with a God that you can't see or touch, especially if you're an introvert like me who has trouble needing a relationship with anyone.
I like what C.S. Lewis says on the topic of God, and the whole concept of Christianity, making sense. He says that that everything in the world around us seems like it should be simple, but nothing is. When we examine anything, we see complexities and intricacies that all work and rely on each other--but no one could have guessed them. You can't argue that a relationship with God is too complex to be true--that Christians try too hard to explain it into existence. The truth is, if a God like the God of the Bible was simple, I couldn't help disbelieving in Him. Nothing true is simple.
I think I understand how to have a relationship with God. I don't understand God. All I think I know is the next step. Here is what I know about God.
1. God is everywhere. Rob Bell states very convincingly that "everything is spiritual" and that to label parts of your life spiritual are to label other parts not spiritual. That's powerful. In Psalm 139 David exclaims about the omnipresence of God. God is everywhere.
2. Prayer is not talking. Prayer is action directed toward God. Eugene Peterson writes, "Prayer is elemental, not advanced language. It is the means by which our language become honest, true, and personal in response to God. Is is the means by which we get everything in our lives out in the open before God." Prayer is more a lifestyle and less a moment. It's all part of that everything is spiritual thing. For example, imagine I've been backpacking for 30 miles and I sit on the top of a mountain enjoying a well-deserved vista. I think to myself, "Breathtaking! This view brings something in me to life. It makes me what to be a better person." The looking is the prayer, and the thought is God's response. That's not to say that talking to God on your knees in not praying. But thankfully prayer is much more than that. It's a lifestyle directed towards God. It's keeping a direct line of communication open with God. Simply, it's recognizing that everything is spiritual and treating them that way.
Yes, God and Christianity are both complex to understand. But I don't think they're complex to practice, after you have a basic understanding of how they work. I'd like to end with the lyrics with one of my favorite songs, David Crowder Band's song, "The Glory of It All." Every time I hear the line "for the rescue of us all" I imagine Jesus rappelling from a top anchor and gathering a little child from a ledge into his arms. We all have our pictures of Christ. We all need our pictures of Christ.
"The Glory of It All"
At the start
he was there, he was there
In the end,
he’ll be there, he’ll be there
And After all our hands have wrought
He forgives
Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
For the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
All is lost
find him there, find him there
After night
Dawn is there, Dawn is there
After all falls apart
he repairs he repairs
Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh he is here
for redemption from the fall
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
After night
comes the light
dawn is here
dawn is here
it’s a new day
it’s a new day
everything will change
things will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
Oh, The glory of it all is
you came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
Oh you are here
with redemption for us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
1. Even before you believe there is a God, logic says that if a God existed, then he probably would be in favor of everything that happens in the world. Otherwise, he'd stop it, obviously.
2. If you ever get around to believing in a God, it doesn't make sense that he would want to be in a relationship with you. He's probably got better things to do.
3. If you ever actually believe that God loves you, then you're probably going to get caught up with the difficulty of needing a relationship with a God that you can't see or touch, especially if you're an introvert like me who has trouble needing a relationship with anyone.
I like what C.S. Lewis says on the topic of God, and the whole concept of Christianity, making sense. He says that that everything in the world around us seems like it should be simple, but nothing is. When we examine anything, we see complexities and intricacies that all work and rely on each other--but no one could have guessed them. You can't argue that a relationship with God is too complex to be true--that Christians try too hard to explain it into existence. The truth is, if a God like the God of the Bible was simple, I couldn't help disbelieving in Him. Nothing true is simple.
I think I understand how to have a relationship with God. I don't understand God. All I think I know is the next step. Here is what I know about God.
1. God is everywhere. Rob Bell states very convincingly that "everything is spiritual" and that to label parts of your life spiritual are to label other parts not spiritual. That's powerful. In Psalm 139 David exclaims about the omnipresence of God. God is everywhere.
2. Prayer is not talking. Prayer is action directed toward God. Eugene Peterson writes, "Prayer is elemental, not advanced language. It is the means by which our language become honest, true, and personal in response to God. Is is the means by which we get everything in our lives out in the open before God." Prayer is more a lifestyle and less a moment. It's all part of that everything is spiritual thing. For example, imagine I've been backpacking for 30 miles and I sit on the top of a mountain enjoying a well-deserved vista. I think to myself, "Breathtaking! This view brings something in me to life. It makes me what to be a better person." The looking is the prayer, and the thought is God's response. That's not to say that talking to God on your knees in not praying. But thankfully prayer is much more than that. It's a lifestyle directed towards God. It's keeping a direct line of communication open with God. Simply, it's recognizing that everything is spiritual and treating them that way.
Yes, God and Christianity are both complex to understand. But I don't think they're complex to practice, after you have a basic understanding of how they work. I'd like to end with the lyrics with one of my favorite songs, David Crowder Band's song, "The Glory of It All." Every time I hear the line "for the rescue of us all" I imagine Jesus rappelling from a top anchor and gathering a little child from a ledge into his arms. We all have our pictures of Christ. We all need our pictures of Christ.
"The Glory of It All"
At the start
he was there, he was there
In the end,
he’ll be there, he’ll be there
And After all our hands have wrought
He forgives
Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
For the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
All is lost
find him there, find him there
After night
Dawn is there, Dawn is there
After all falls apart
he repairs he repairs
Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh he is here
for redemption from the fall
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
After night
comes the light
dawn is here
dawn is here
it’s a new day
it’s a new day
everything will change
things will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
Oh, The glory of it all is
you came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
Oh you are here
with redemption for us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)