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It is very humbling when the worship services that are the most meaningful are those in which I have the most limited role.  This past Sunday was a great example.

John 3:30 (NIV)
He must become greater; I must become less.

Podcast for Sunday, July 31st

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

“Jacob, Job, and Habakkuk all declared war on God.  They all stormed the battlements of heaven.  They were all defeated, yet they all came away from the struggle with uplifted souls.  They paid a price in pain.  God allowed the debate, but the battle was fierce before peace was established (144).”

“Indeed, for the transforming power of God to change our lives, we must wrestle with Him.  We must know what it means to fight with God all night if we are also to know what it means to experience the sweetness of the soul’s surrender (139).”

“Yet Job was satisfied.  Even though God gave no answers, Job’s questions were put to rest.  He received a higher answer than any direct reply could have provided.  God answered Job’s questions not with words but with Himself.  As soon as Job saw who God is, Job was satisfied.  Seeing the manifestation of God was all that he needed.  He was able to leave the details in God’s hands (142).”

“With the appearance of God, all of Habakkuk’s angry protests ceased.  Suddenly the tone of his speech changed from one of bitter despair to one of unwavering confidence and hope:  “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior”  (Hab. 3:17-18).  Habakkuk was now as fierce in his joy as he had been in his despair.  He was able to rest absolutely in God’s sovereignty (143).”

 Why in the world did I think I could

Only get to know You when my life was good?

When everything just falls in place

The easiest thing is to give You praise.

Now it all seems upside down

‘Cause my whole world is caving in

But I feel you now more than I did then

How can I come to the end of me

And somehow still have all I need?

God, I want to know You more

Maybe this is how it starts

I find You when I fall apart

Podcast For July 10, 2011 (Romans 7:1-6)

Podcast For July 17, 2011 (Romans 7:7-13)

When I Lay My Isaac Down:  Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances by Carol Kent.

“Most of us who have walked with Christ for a few years find it relatively easy to trust God for “the small stuff”–occasional financial reversals, minor physical challenges, relationship struggles, disappointments, lost opportunities.  But an Isaac experience puts our relationship with God to the test.  Do we really believe He is good and loving when our life is irrevocably altered in a way that causes hardship and heartache?  When we experience a debilitating disease, accident, addiction, or heartbreaking loss due to another’s choice or our own, will we still love, trust, obey, honor, and worship the God we’ve claime to love, even in this?  Even if nothing changes (94)?”

It has been very humbling to have so many people praying for me.  Words cannot express how much I appreciate that.  Here is an update on what is happening physically:

1. I had  MRIs taken of  my mid and lower back on Friday.

2. The neurosurgeon called Monday to say that he saw no problems in those MRIs.  So, from his perspective, the issue with my numbness and tingling in the extremities is not with my spine.  So then, what is it?

3. I have an appointment with a second neurologist a week from today at USC for another perspective.  They will perform more tests.

4. I have an appointment with a second neurosurgeon August 3rd.

5. In the meantime, the symptoms seem to be worsening in my arms and hands.

So, please continue to pray.  Pray most of all that I would trust God completely.

When I Lay My Isaac Down:  Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances by Carol Kent.

“A seed has to give up its familiar form as a seed, allow itself to be buried in the dark earth, and trust that God will bring new life–even lush life–when the seed sprouts.  In the same way, we need to be willing to give up whatever is most familiar, comfortable, and precious to us, allow ourselves to sink into the darkness, and trust God to bring life out of what feels like death.  This is the mystery of fruitfulness:  Life multiplied many times over from what seems like death (55).”

Last week, Paul had some pretty harsh things to say about The Law.

In Romans 7:6 he says that we were in bondage to the Law.

Romans 7:5 (NLT)  When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death.

He seems to directly connect The Law with sin.

This raises the question, “Is the Law sin?”

Paul answers this important question in Romans 7:7-13.  Come tomorrow to find out the role God’s Law is to play in the life of people living under God’s grace.

When I Lay My Isaac Down:  Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances by Carol Kent.

“When we fully understand that we are in a spiritual battle, that the world is not our home, just a “stopping off” place, we can begin to get excited about having a short time to engage in the battle raging around us (27).”

True heart sacrifices involve:

• identifying something precious to us (our Isaac)
• letting go of our control over the situation, event, or the person as an act of worship
• embracing God’s love in the process of the release
• resting in the outcome, even if in this lifetime we are not allowed to understand the reason behind the need for the sacrifice and the pain involved (43).”