This morning on the way to the office I heard a song on the radio (been using Pandora lately, it's awesome) that floored me. I had never heard it before, but it so aptly and so fully describes where I am. It is by the group Casting Crowns:
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Chambers on the Power of the Gospel
"If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality." -Oswald Chambers
And yet, this is what happens over and over again. We make the gospel our pet, our servant. The history of the church is a history of taming the gospel. We fear it's power.
I want people to get on board with my cause, sign up for my class, propagate my philosophy, but come in contact with the raw power of the gospel? Without me controlling it and mediating it? Are you kidding?
Forgive me God. May your fire of love purify my ministry, burning off anything that stands between me and the power of the gospel for those that I lead.
And yet, this is what happens over and over again. We make the gospel our pet, our servant. The history of the church is a history of taming the gospel. We fear it's power.
I want people to get on board with my cause, sign up for my class, propagate my philosophy, but come in contact with the raw power of the gospel? Without me controlling it and mediating it? Are you kidding?
Forgive me God. May your fire of love purify my ministry, burning off anything that stands between me and the power of the gospel for those that I lead.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Standing With...
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Ecclesiastes 4:10
I have been reminded a couple of times this week of the importance of standing with someone. So many people go through a lot of very difficult times alone. As disciples of Jesus, who never leaves us and as members of a faith community who claims to be Jesus' body, I believe we have the opportunity, dare I say the responsibility to stand with those who have no one to stand with them.
It is often not easy. At times it is messy.
Standing with someone does not mean we have to have all of the answers for them. It just means being with them.
Standing with someone does not mean we have to fix them or change them. Transformation is God's work.
Standing with someone does not mean we condone their behavior. Just because we accept someone, does not mean we have to approve of what they are doing.
Standing with someone does not mean we enable them by rescuing them from the natural consequences of their actions. It might, however, mean we journey with them through those consequences.
Who have you stood with? Who stands with you?
I have been reminded a couple of times this week of the importance of standing with someone. So many people go through a lot of very difficult times alone. As disciples of Jesus, who never leaves us and as members of a faith community who claims to be Jesus' body, I believe we have the opportunity, dare I say the responsibility to stand with those who have no one to stand with them.
It is often not easy. At times it is messy.
Standing with someone does not mean we have to have all of the answers for them. It just means being with them.
Standing with someone does not mean we have to fix them or change them. Transformation is God's work.
Standing with someone does not mean we condone their behavior. Just because we accept someone, does not mean we have to approve of what they are doing.
Standing with someone does not mean we enable them by rescuing them from the natural consequences of their actions. It might, however, mean we journey with them through those consequences.
Who have you stood with? Who stands with you?
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