February 23rd, 2010 There a lot of little phrases that we tend to think are in the Bible but really aren't. In fact, in most of these cases, these phrases contradict the nature of the gospel. Instead of repeating these mantras, we've got to turn them on their heads as a way of preaching the gospel to ourselves every day: Wrong: God helps those who help themselves. Right: God helps those who know they cannot help themselves. Wrong: Birds of a feather flock together. Right: The blood-bought destiny of the church will be "from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5). We are all created in His image (Genesis). Also, Galatians 3 says we are all one in Christ! Wrong: This too shall pass. Right: This might not pass. But God is faithful to uphold the weak. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 Wrong: Cleanliness is next to godliness. Right: Don't worry so much about outward cleanliness; we've got bigger problems, namely the dirt of the heart. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9 Wrong: Jesus Christ is my personal savior. Right: Jesus Christ has saved me, but He does not belong to me. I belong to Him. And though I am individually rescued, I'm not the only individual that hs been rescued. I have been saved into a family - a community of believers. (John 3:16-17) *Parts of this post I got from other blogs, mostly I expounded on their thoughts February 11th, 2010 Busy day at work today.. but I had an amazing breakfast casserole, hash browns, and fried apples for dinner at Mark and Katherine's house and now I'm about to go catch up on some sleep. Be sure and check out this neat link for a "verse card maker" : http://www.mcscott.org/. Also, check out Lecrae's new Haiti-provoked rap/video. "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted" (Psalms 34:18). February 8th, 2010 I. PRAYER ADDRESSES THE PERSONAL GOD A. God's glory is personally revealed 1. In his works 2. In his name 3. In his presence B. The response of prayer is personal 1. Prayer by persons in God's image 2. Prayer by the whole person C. The response of prayer is effective II. PRAYER ADDRESSES THE COVENANT GOD A. Prayer in the bond of the covenant relation 1. Prayer is grounded in God's covenant 2. Prayer pleads the covenant relation 3. Prayer and the ceremonies of covenant worship 4. Prayer in the community of the covenant B. God's covenant Lordship shapes prayer 1. God's zeal for pure worship 2. Our zeal for our Lord a. Expressed in submission to his will b. Expressed in confession seeking forgiveness c. Petitions d. Thanksgiving, praise, and hope C. The renewal of the covenant restores and renews prayer III. PRAYER ADDRESSES THE TRIUNE GOD A. The renewal and fulfillment of prayer in Christ 1. Fulfillment of the petition of the faithful remnant 2. Fulfillment in Christ transforms prayer a. Christ comes as Lord to receive prayer b. Christ comes as Servant to offer prayer 3. Christ's teaching renews prayer a. Prayer to the Father b. The prayer of trust c. Prayer in the name of Jesus 4. Christ the Mediator of Prayer a. The Mediator foreshadowed b. His mediatorial office c. His mediatorial sacrificed. d. His mediatorial ministry B. Prayer in the Spirit 1. The presence of the Spirit 2. The gifts of the Spirit 3. Union with Christ in the Spirit C. Prayer to the Father 1. Prayer to the First Person of the Trinity 2. Prayer to the Father in the Son through the Spirit ---Taken from Edmund Clowney's classic 39-page essay, "A Biblical Theology of Prayer". It was originally published in Teach Us to Pray: Prayer in the Bible and the World, ed. D. A. Carson (Baker/Paternoster, 1990), 136-76, 336-38. February 4th, 2010 So, 2010 has been off to a good start so far. This is my first post as a married man! The wedding was great. It was nice, small, short, and sweet. There should be pictures up on facebook and at saragphoto.com as well. I will post a few below. We went to the mountain in Tenneessee for the honeymoon and rented a cabin. It was very relaxing! Then we came home and spent Christmas and New Years with the families. My best gift was probably a new columbia jacket from Lauren and her parents. I am now back to the grind at work and getting back into the old routine. Or should I say new routine? Lauren landed a job at the same place she was interning at previously, and its full time too! We have been busy putting the new home together and enjoying life together since our wedding day. Fellowship Raleigh is doing well also! Pat Downing was scheduled to lead worship for our Sunday service last week, but due to the snow and ice, we cancelled the service. Also, we have recently hired a new full time Fellowship Groups and Assimilation pastor named Ben Pun. He should be here next week to move in, I can't wait! The band has also added Erin to our lineup of singers, it is great to have a female vocalist to sing with me! Fellowship groups are starting back up soon.. and I am also pretty excited for our worship and prayer night this Friday. Mark is playing mandolin, Joe is bass, and Dan is playing the cajon. It should be a pretty fun time! I also have recently started planning a trip to Four Oaks church in Tallahassee, FL to play with my buddy Josh Hughes at their new facility. I am also going to be going back down to Pembroke to play at the BSU tuesday night celebration on Tuesday, March 25th. I am trying to update my chord sheets page more often now since they are changing so much nowadays. I am going to try and have the Title, Author, Key, Tempo (bpm), Scripture Allusions, Year(s) written or composed, Calls to Worship, Order, and story for each hymn/song on the site pretty soon. Needless to say, I am staying pretty busy!