tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51556010566580078872024-03-13T00:41:40.308-04:00shawn-thoughtsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-68658779740286374452013-08-28T13:15:00.002-04:002013-08-28T13:15:48.270-04:00My New Blogging HomeAfter 5 years and a 100 posts I've decided to pack it up and move over to wordpress.com. My new blogging address is <a href="http://everywheregospel.wordpress.com./">everywheregospel.wordpress.com.</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-27024558257797910072013-08-04T20:38:00.003-04:002013-08-04T20:38:17.320-04:00words to live by...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6520030976/h56755BFF/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6520030976/h56755BFF/" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-32340559196443434202013-07-18T15:55:00.003-04:002013-07-18T15:55:54.220-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQFTS90CCWw/UehH-nKAjCI/AAAAAAAAAGo/-1-KtbLiOXw/s1600/995396_551066341618919_584384307_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQFTS90CCWw/UehH-nKAjCI/AAAAAAAAAGo/-1-KtbLiOXw/s400/995396_551066341618919_584384307_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For the real story go <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/17/pope-indulgences-twitter_n_3610775.html">here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-18276271584630603382013-06-04T16:41:00.001-04:002013-06-04T16:41:15.808-04:00Great quote from Mark<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DWMrK4o2t9c/Ua5Q6flrxpI/AAAAAAAAAGA/o8Vi9BpNkxA/s1600/IMG_20130604_163805.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DWMrK4o2t9c/Ua5Q6flrxpI/AAAAAAAAAGA/o8Vi9BpNkxA/s640/IMG_20130604_163805.jpg' /> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-14011576497670907342013-06-03T10:00:00.000-04:002013-06-03T10:00:05.963-04:00Weakness is the WayAnother great quote from J.I. Packer's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weakness-Is-Way-Christ-Strength/dp/1433536838/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1370267832&sr=8-1">new book</a>:<br />
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"The truth, however, is that in many respects, and certainly in spiritual matters, we are all weak and inadequate and we need to face it. Sin, which disrupts all relationships, has disabled us all across the board. We need to be aware of our limitations and let this awareness work in us humility and self-distrust, and a realization of our helplessness on our own. Thus we may learn our need to depend on Christ, our Savior and Lord, at every turn of the road, to practice that dependence as one of the constant habits of our heart, and hereby to discover what Paul discovered before us: 'when I am weak, then I am strong' (2 Cor. 12:10)." -pg 15-16</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-77563887390636565792013-05-28T15:14:00.003-04:002013-05-28T15:14:51.487-04:00"Weakness is the Way"A great quote from J.I. Packer's new book:<br />
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For all Christians, the likelihood is... that as our discipleship continues, God will make us increasingly weakness-conscious and pain-aware, so that we may learn... that when we are conscious of being weak, then--and only then--may we become truly strong in the Lord. And should we want it any other way? What do you think?</blockquote>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/seBsfKi-v2w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-77025644668664050652013-05-23T14:48:00.001-04:002013-05-23T14:48:10.020-04:00Moore Prayers - White Horse Inn Blog<a href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/2013/05/23/moore-prayers/">Moore Prayers - White Horse Inn Blog</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-64271555800166401242013-05-23T13:27:00.000-04:002013-05-23T13:28:30.098-04:00Vampire Weekend takes on God: Part III<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2013/05/vampire-weekend-takes-on-god-part-i.html">Part I</a> & <a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2013/05/vampire-weekend-takes-on-god-part-ii.html">Part II</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Everlasting Arms, track number seven on "Modern Vampires of the City," is a lyrically convoluted song </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with a plethora of mixed references. Under most circumstances this would be frustrating, but in this song's case it perfectly fits the message that it's trying to convey.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carl Laamanen over at <a href="http://mbird.com/">mbird.com</a> beautifully describes this song's nuances. He writes:</span><br />
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<a href="http://thebonustrack.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/vampire-weekend-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://thebonustrack.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/vampire-weekend-22.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; line-height: 18px;">“Everlasting Arms” is one of the most profoundly spiritual songs I’ve heard this year, as Koenig’s lyrics vacillate between faith and doubt, often within the same line. With repeated refrains and a sporadic organ, “Everlasting Arms” reminds me of a hymn, even though its lyrics are the uncertain ramblings of broken man. In that regard, perhaps it is a perfect hymn..."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I couldn't agree more. Personally, this song paints a picture of someone like Job or the author of Lamentations trying to find comfort in God in the midst of conflicting realities. Check out the similarities:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">I took your counsel and came to ruin, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">Leave me to myself, leave me to myself...</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">I thought it over and drew the curtain, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">Leave me to my cell, leave me to my cell...</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">"-VW</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Job 7:16-19 "I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath. What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, 18 visit him every morning and test him every moment? How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Job 10:20 "leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer" </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">"Hold me in your everlasting arms, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">Looked up full of fear, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.766666412353516px;">Trapped beneath a chandelier that’s going down" -VW</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lamentations 3:7-13 "He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains heavy; though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer; he has blocked my ways with blocks of stones; he has made my paths crooked. He is a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in hiding; he turned aside my steps and tore me to pieces; he has made me desolate; he bent his bow and set me as a target for his arrow. He drove into my kidneys the arrows of his quiver..."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lamentations 3:21-24 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here, as the <a href="http://mbid.com/">mbid.com</a> post hinted, Ezra <span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; line-height: 17.981481552124023px;">Koenig </span><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;">oscillates between faith, doubt, anger, and frustration towards God. I love this, because the Bible does the same thing. More than this, any honest person of faith does this as well. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="line-height: 17.94444465637207px;">Another thing that makes these contrasts all the more compelling are the two hymns that are referenced in this song: "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and the "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)." Look at the contrasts:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Everlasting Arms</u> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">What a fellowship, what a joy divine,</span><span style="background-color: white;">Leaning on the everlasting arms;</span><span style="background-color: white;">What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,</span><span style="background-color: white;">Leaning on the everlasting arms.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,</span><span style="background-color: white;">Leaning on the everlasting arms;</span><span style="background-color: white;">O how bright the path grows from day to day,</span><span style="background-color: white;">Leaning on the everlasting arms.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">What have I to dread, what have I to fear,</span><span style="background-color: white;">Leaning on the everlasting arms;</span><span style="background-color: white;">I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,</span><span style="background-color: white;">Leaning on the everlasting arms.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Dies Irae</u> (Day of Wrath) </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">When from heaven the Judge descendeth,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">On whose sentence all dependeth.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Worthless are my prayers and sighing,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Yet, Good Lord, in grace complying,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Rescue me from fires undying!</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">My prayers are not worthy:</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">however, Thou, Good [Lord], do good,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">lest I am burned up by eternal fire.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here it appears that <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;">Koenig is </span><span style="line-height: 17.94444465637207px;">simultaneously</span><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;"> yearning for God's grace (i.e. Everlasting Arms) and fearing his wrath and Judgement (i.e. Dies Irae). Thus, as it was with the song "Unbelievers," Koenig is wrestling with themes of law and gospel and judgement and grace. It seems as though Koenig in this song and the whole album for that matter is, to barrow a phrase from Martin Luther, </span><span style="line-height: 17.94444465637207px;">experiencing</span><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;"> the Agonizing Struggle (Tentatio) where God teaches us new things. Paraphrasing Luther, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Martin-Luthers-Theology-Contemporary-Interpretation/dp/0802827993/ref=la_B001J95C68_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369329951&sr=1-1">Oswald Bayer </a>writes:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;">"It [the Agonizing Struggle] brings one into the situation in which 'everything disappears/ and I see nothing but my nothingness and destruction,' in which I become and enemy to myself and the entire world becomes my enemy; ye, even God himself causes agony for me..."</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"For the agonizing struggle 'teaches you not only to know and understand, but also to experience how right, how true, how sweet, how lovely, how mighty, how comforting... God's Word is.'" </span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;">In this way Koenig's song "Everlasting Arms" gives us a voice in those moments when we're crushed by the law and yearning for grace. One's faith is not a </span><span style="line-height: 17.925926208496094px;">straight </span><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;">ladder to heaven, but is more often then not; like this song; a </span><span style="line-height: 17.94444465637207px;">convoluted</span><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;"> mess that </span><span style="line-height: 17.94444465637207px;">simultaneously</span><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;"> runs from and toward God. The comfort for the Christian in all of this mess is that while we're running God is pursuing us in grace. Or to quote the words of Lamentations again:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lamentations 3:22, 23 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.</span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-62181816746319231002013-05-21T17:06:00.002-04:002013-05-22T16:19:27.906-04:00Vampire Weekend Takes on God: Part IIVampire Weekend begins their faith pondering with an infectious groove entitled "Unbelievers." In this song<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; line-height: 18px;">Ezra Koenig seems to be wrestling with the message of condemnation he hears from Christianity (and maybe religion in general). He writes:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/4498420/Vampire+Weekend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/4498420/Vampire+Weekend.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">"We know the fire awaits unbelievers</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">All of the sinners the same</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">Girl you and I will die unbelievers bound to the tracks of the train</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">I’m not excited</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">But should I be</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">Is this the fate that half of the world has planned for me?"</span></span></blockquote>
The last line is quite the punch in the gut. Koenig perceives that the world of Christianity is actively planning his condemnation.<br />
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Now, a brief listen to this song could lead us to write it off as a simplistic rant against the nature, reality, and/or message of hell in the Bible; but if we dig a little deeper a different theme emerges. This song is rather a poignant lament of the weight of the law and a yearning for a message of grace from the church and God.<br />
<a name='more'></a>This theme comes out loud and clear in one of my favorite lyrics from the entire album:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">"If I’m born again I know that the world will disagree </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">Want a little grace but who’s going to say a little grace for me?"</span></span></blockquote>
From what I can gather, Koenig seems to be lamenting the fact that even if he were to declare himself born again, he believes his behavior would disqualify him from the acceptance of the believers and salvation in general. Here Koenig is crying for grace, but whatever message he has received from believers is anything but. Simply put, for Koenig, being born again would only add to his sense of condemnation. Thus, he would rather die an unbeliever bound to the tracks of the train.<br />
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Upon hearing this song, I couldn't help but be reminded of two powerful quotes from Paul Zahl's work "Grace in Practice" concerning the lack of grace that comes from the church. He writes:<br />
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<a href="http://www.fillmoredetroit.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/vampire-weekend-fillmore-detroit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://www.fillmoredetroit.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/vampire-weekend-fillmore-detroit.jpg" width="320" /></a>"This way of thinking has had a long life in Christian history. We hit people with the law (that is, with a proper diagnosis of their fallen condition), and they get softened up for grace. Grace is then offered and everything changes. But <i>now</i>, in the new sphere of the so-called 'Christian life,' they are hammered once again by the law. Once saved, in other words, people are on their own again, to work and prove." (53)</blockquote>
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Simply put, "Want a little grace but who's going to say a little grace for me?" in most cases not the church. Zahl continues:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"A time of trouble leads them towards the grace of God. But right after they receive grace, they get punished with the law again. The church punishes them with the law. Here lies the problem, an unburied one." (91)</blockquote>
This, I believe, is the problem that Vampire Weekend is lamenting in their song "Unbelievers." Koenig desires grace, but the message he receives is condemnation through and through... <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-83091119577489606382013-05-20T17:21:00.001-04:002013-05-22T16:16:31.344-04:00Vampire Weekend Takes on God: Part I<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/images/album_review/vw-1366657735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/images/album_review/vw-1366657735.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I read Rolling Stone's review of Vampire Weekend's new album "Modern Vampires of the City" </span>prior<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to its release I couldn't wait to get may hands on it. About the album Nathan Brackett writes:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"God, of all people, looms large: He is a foil on "Unbelievers," where Koenig sings about the fundamentalist half o</span><span style="background-color: white;">f the world wanting to throw him and his lady under the tracks of the train. The sweet "Everlasting Arms" is partly inspired by a 19th-century church song; "Worship You</span><span style="background-color: white;">" references </span><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Paradise Lost</em><span style="background-color: white;"> (and Nick Cave). "Ya Hey" (rhymes with "Yahweh" – get it?) retells the Old Testament story of the burning bush, over a dubby groove." </span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/modern-vampires-of-the-city-20130507">http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/modern-vampires-of-the-city-20130507</a></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a fan of the past two albums, I was excited to see how this irreverent and whimsical band would deal with the heavier subject matter. Well, after listening to the album for about a week now, I have to say I'm quite impressed. "Modern Vampires of the City" is a big step forward for the band both lyrically and musically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This said, what catches my attention the most is the honest way </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">E</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">zra K</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">oenig</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> and crew deal with faith. Because of their transparency themes of grace, law and gospel, mortality, and downright disappointment with God emerge in a </span></span><span style="line-height: 19.185184478759766px;">piercing</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> way. It's these themes that I want to explore in the coming posts starting tomorrow with their single "Unbelievers."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVO53jiqA3Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-6728458785234754662013-05-13T15:36:00.000-04:002013-05-13T15:41:09.919-04:00"Blogger" stats are killing my will to blogThe other day I was listening to <a href="http://liberatenet.org/">Tullian Tchividjian</a> give a talk called "One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World" at the <a href="http://mbird.com/">Mockingbird</a> Conference. During this talk he gave a piercing personal illustration. He confessed that after publishing his first book, he became obsessed with his Amazon Rating to such an extent that on days his ratings were high he'd be happy and on days they were low he'd be depressed. Through this Tullain discovered that he was trying to find his identity and worth in things other than Jesus' finished work on his behalf.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_f9cYvn7LI/UZE9e8L-j7I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/-hbnSenzJM8/s1600/blog+stats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_f9cYvn7LI/UZE9e8L-j7I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/-hbnSenzJM8/s400/blog+stats.jpg" width="400" /></a>I watched this talk after checking my "Blogger" stats for the twelfth time that day and it got me thinking.<br />
<a name='more'></a> My enjoyment of and productivity in blogging has taken a major tumble ever since Google introduced this technology back in August 2010. In fact, stats reveal that as soon as I starting obsessing about stats my stats and blogging took a major tumble. Now, it's important to note having my first two kids played a major role in this as well, but truth be told I enjoyed blogging much more before this technology was introduced in August 2010. After this date I no longer blogged for pure enjoyment, but rather I now had something to prove. I had an audience to grab. I had a needy self to validate. "What a wretched blogger am I..."<br />
<br />
So what do I do now? How can I rid myself of this obsession? How can I blog for the pure enjoyment of blogging once again. "Who will deliver me from this blog of death!"<br />
<br />
Check out Tullian's talk...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/64888689#at=0">http://vimeo.com/64888689#at=0</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-44826154042093133282013-05-10T11:17:00.001-04:002013-05-10T11:34:57.682-04:00That's about right...<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_jx055hAGJo/UY0Tn2PHIuI/AAAAAAAAAFA/xVnCwKAhV9E/s1600/95facebook95132932983295.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_jx055hAGJo/UY0Tn2PHIuI/AAAAAAAAAFA/xVnCwKAhV9E/s640/95facebook95132932983295.jpg' /> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-20659480716172073882013-05-07T15:17:00.000-04:002013-05-07T15:17:02.016-04:00Karl Holl on the Newness of Jesus<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Karl_Holl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Karl_Holl.jpg" width="240" /></a>"The God who rigorously insists on the highest does not will that any man should come within range of His judgement... Therefore He seeks them out. And the means by which He lays hold on them is His pardoning grace.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In all other doctrines of salvation the belief in liberation is founded on the conviction of the ineradicable nobility of mankind... The god-like in man must come into its own. Jesus, however, instead of this, sees a deep gulf between God and man... <b><i>Jesus stress is laid... on the fact that man has forfeited his worth but that nevertheless God accepts him</i></b>.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>Jesus' conception of God was new</i></b>...<a name='more'></a> the idea that a pathway to God was available to the impure, to the sinful, could appear only as a reversal of all religious and moral conceptions, as an outrage on the most fundamental feelings for the dignity and sublimity of the Godhead.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
With Jesus... <b><i>God takes the initiative: with His forgiveness He creates something quite new, out of which arises at once a real, close, and warm relationship to God</i></b>, and with it at the same time a morality which ventures to take even God Himself as its model... Pardoning grace overcomes, because at the same time it encourages and humbles. <b><i>It creates an inner affection, a feeling of gratitude which must find expression, and for which the highest is not too much to do</i></b>."</blockquote>
Holl, Karl. "<a href="http://karl%20holl%20the%20distinctive%20elements/">The Distinctive Elements in Christianity</a>" pg 16-17, 21-23<br />
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</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541556160974192561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-26781177393630586732013-03-25T10:30:00.004-04:002013-05-06T22:42:04.551-04:00an interesting critique of the "radical" faith movement<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"The reliance on intensifiers demonstrates the emptiness of American Christianity's language. Previous generations were content singing "trust and obey, for there's no other way." Today we have to </span><b style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i>really</i></b><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> trust and truly obey. The inflated rhetoric is a sign of how divorced our churches' vocabulary is from the simple language of Scripture.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">And the intensifiers don't solve the problem. <b><i>Replacing belief with commitment still places the burden of our formation on the sheer force of our will.</i></b> As much as some of these radical pastors would say otherwise, their rhetoric still relies on listeners "making a decision." There is almost no explicit consideration of how beliefs actually take root, or whether that process is as conscious as we presume."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16.981481552124023px;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/march/here-come-radicals.html?paging=off</span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-69861670890757358132013-02-12T14:51:00.000-05:002013-02-12T14:51:54.702-05:00Paul David Tripp QuoteGreat quote from Paul David Tripp in his book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Calling-Confronting-Challenges-Pastoral/dp/1433535823/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360698661&sr=8-1&keywords=paul+david+tripp" target="_blank">Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry</a>."<br />
<br />
<img height="400" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/5716_10151405163922380_685397499_n.jpg" width="400" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-48577141831446759952013-01-28T11:36:00.000-05:002013-05-07T10:33:01.431-04:00gravity always wins: Radiohead and Christianity Part IV<a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/gravity-always-wins-radiohead-and.html" target="_blank">Part I</a>, <a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/gravity-always-wins-radiohead-and_29.html" target="_blank">Part II</a>, and <a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2012/11/gravity-always-wins-radiohead-and.html" target="_blank">Part III</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<sup>19</sup> For
what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same;
as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no
advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.
<sup>20</sup> All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust
all return. <sup>21</sup> Who knows
whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down
into the earth?</div>
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-<b> Ecclesiastes
3:19-21 </b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<sup>2</sup> It is
the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked,
to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices
and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he
who swears is as he who shuns an oath. <sup>3</sup>
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens
to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness
is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. <sup>4</sup> But he who is joined with all
the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. <sup>5</sup> For the living know that they
will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the
memory of them is forgotten. <sup>6</sup>
Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever
they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
-<b> Ecclesiastes
9:2-6 </b> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This
might seem weird, but I’ve always found it oddly comforting that the Bible
doesn’t sugarcoat death. Unlike other
religions or worldviews that see death as a way of transcending our earthly
shells, the Bible views it as an unnatural enemy and curse that must be
destroyed (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2015:26&version=ESV" target="_blank">1 Cor 15:26</a>). For me, this
affirms the ghastly reality that is death.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<a name='more'></a> It
is here that we come to our final intersection of Radiohead and
Christianity. In the music of Radiohead
death is always lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce. Whether in songs like “<a href="http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/hail-to-the-thief/there-there/" target="_blank">There There</a>” where
Yorke proclaims, “We are accidents waiting to happen,” or “<a href="http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/the-bends/fake-plastic-trees/" target="_blank">Fake Plastic Trees</a>”
that painfully warns, “Gravity always wins,” Radiohead pulls no punches when it
comes to our last enemy. They state
death as it is. As I’ve said in previous
posts, they call a spade a spade. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This fact is particularly true
in their heart retching song “<a href="http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/the-bends/street-spirit-fade-out/" target="_blank">Street Spirit (Fade Out)</a>.” Commenting on this song Thom Yorke has said:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Street Spirit has no resolve. It
is the dark tunnel without the light at the end. It represents all tragic
emotion that is so hurtful that the sound of that melody is its only
definition. We all have a way of dealing with that song. It’s called
detachment. Especially me; I detach my emotional radar from that song, or I
couldn’t play it. I’d crack. I’d break down on stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Our fans are braver than I to
let that song penetrate them, or maybe they don’t realize what they’re
listening to. They don’t realize that Street Spirit is about staring the f**king
devil right in the eyes, and knowing, no matter what the hell you do, he’ll get
the last laugh. And it’s real, and true. The devil really will get the last
laugh in all cases without exception, and if I let myself think about that too
long, I’d crack.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In comparing a song about death to “staring the f**king
devil right in the eyes, and knowing, no matter what the hell you do, he’ll get
the last laugh,” Yorke does justice to the curse that is death. The song itself is much of the same:</div>
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Cracked eggs, dead birds<br />
Scream as they fight for life<br />
I can feel death, can see it’s beady eyes<br />
All these things into position<br />
All these things we’ll one day swallow whole<br />
And fade out again and fade out again.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here I’m reminding of the words in Ecclesiastes 3:19: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“<sup>19</sup> For what happens
to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies,
so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over
the beasts, for all is vanity.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” Radiohead looks at death on
its own terms and the reality they uncover is one that should make us gasp.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8TbaBmQIgA/UQamvYIoa1I/AAAAAAAAA5U/-MMn6BJaMKk/s1600/radiohead+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8TbaBmQIgA/UQamvYIoa1I/AAAAAAAAA5U/-MMn6BJaMKk/s320/radiohead+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a> This
song has much to say to Christianity, especially in light of the fact that often
we use our religious words to downplay the horrifying curse that is death. We often fall into a “worldly” way of looking
at death. Rather than calling a spade a
spade, we say, “So and so has passed away…” which oddly enough is a phrase
coined by the Christian Science cult. Again,
for Christians death is not simply a “passing away,” an illusion, or some sort
of means to transcend our mortal bodies; rather it is a curse and an enemy that
must be destroyed. In this way Radiohead’s
“staring the devil right in the eyes…” leads us to call a spade a spade. Death is awful…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The
good news is that in looking at death right in the eyes we’re led to cling to
Christ all the more. Theologian Michael
Horton writes, “Downplaying the seriousness of the foe (death) only trivializes
the debt that was paid and the conquest that was achieved at the cross and the
empty tomb.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>” The words of the Apostle Paul are instructive
here:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 </b> <sup>13</sup> But we do not want you to be
uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as
others do who have no hope. <sup>14</sup>
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus,
God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Simply put, as
Christians we are to grieve death. It is
an unnatural separation from our bodies that is part of the curse. The difference is that unlike Thom Yorke and
others, we don’t believe that it will get the last laugh. Although death hurts, we know that God’s love
and life are more powerful than its grip.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> We echo the words of Paul when he celebrates:
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“<b>1 Corinthians 15:55-57 </b> <sup>55</sup>
"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" <sup>56</sup> The sting of death is sin, and
the power of sin is the law. <sup>57</sup>
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the here and
now we look to our Savior who died and rose again, knowing that he is our forerunner. We also cling the prophetic words of John the
Revelator: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“<b>Revelation 21:3-4 </b> <sup>3</sup>
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling
place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,
and God himself will be with them as their God.
<sup>4</sup> He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Perhaps this is
the reality that Radiohead was unconsciously bearing witness to when they finished
off their hopeless song with the words, “Immerse yourself in love…”</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/the-bends/street-spirit-fade-out/</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
ibid</div>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Horton, Michael. “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Christian-Faith-Systematic-Theology/dp/0310286042/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359390128&sr=8-1&keywords=the+christian+faith" target="_blank">The Christian Faith: aSystematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way</a>” pg 911</div>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20IV_1.28.13.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid</div>
</div>
</div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-66164121519241902972012-12-18T17:17:00.001-05:002013-05-07T10:40:19.772-04:00Letting God be God in Light of Sandy Hook<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Originally
I was going to stay silent on the blogosphere concerning the tragedy in
Connecticut. The last thing I thought we
needed was a bunch of pastors and wannabe theologians (like myself)
theoretically waxing on why God would allow such a tragedy to happen. As the days progressed though explanations
began to surface that to me seemed contradictory, unbiblical, and even cruel.<br />
<a name='more'></a>First, there was the “free will” argument that
goes something like this:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
God will not force us to love
and follow him. We are not his puppets
therefore he allows things like Sandy Hook to happen. Although this is the case it breaks God heart
or as Rob Bell says, “God Cries.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The problem with this argument is ultimately the buck
still stops with God. In refusing to
intervene during tragedies like Sandy Hook he’s still making a choice. If it were in my power to stop someone from
killing my loved one, what would you think of me if I chose to let the homicide
happen? The same could be said about
catastrophes like Sandy Hook. According
to the “free will” argument it was in God’s power to stop it and he made the
choice not to. So God is still carries
some degree of blame. More than this it
ignores rough Scripture passages like Isaiah
45:7<b> </b>which says, “ <sup>7</sup> I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these
things.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The
other explanations that floated around the web throws the responsibility back
on us. Here’s a classic variation of
this argument:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dear
God, </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Why do you allow so much
violence in our schools?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Signed,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
A Concerned Student</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Dear Concerned Student,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I’m not allowed in schools.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
God </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As if God is some angry bullied middle school kid going
“I’ll show you. You’ll miss me when I’m
gone…” Although pundits like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR39j1KMOsE" target="_blank">MikeHucakbee</a> offer a somewhat more “refined” version of this argument with some
grains of truth, they still paint an inaccurate picture of God. In her <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/god-kept-out" target="_blank">insightful post</a>, blogger Rachel Evans
writes:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i>God can be wherever God wants to
be</i></b>. God needs no formal invitation. We couldn’t “systematically remove”
God if we tried. If the incarnation
teaches us anything, it’s that God can be found everywhere: in a cattle trough,
on a throne, among the poor, with the sick, on a donkey, in a fishing boat,
with the junkie, with the prostitute, with the hypocrite, with the forgotten,
in places of power, in places of oppression, in poverty, in wealth, where God’s
name is known, where it is unknown, with our friends, with our enemies, in our
convictions, in our doubts, in life, in death, at the table, on the cross, and
in every kindergarten classroom from Sandy Hook to Shanghai.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I couldn’t agree more.
In the words of the Psalmist, “<b>Psalm 139:7-8 </b> <sup>7</sup> Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence? <sup>8</sup>
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you
are there.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The worst thing though about the
“we’ve systematically removed God” explanation is its cruelty. Imagine if you were a parent of one of the
slain, grieving over the corpse of your child.
Here’s what this argument says, “Your child died because God wasn’t
given a formal invitation to his kindergarten classroom.” What would you think of such a God in that
moment?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ultimately,
all these explanations boil down to one thing: we feel the need to make excuses
for God. Instead of letting God be God,
we feel the need to be his publicists and make him in our own image. Like Job’s friends in the Bible, we think we
can peer behind the curtain and ascertain God’s divine plan forgetting that, “<b>Isaiah
55:9 </b> As the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your
thoughts…” and “<b>Romans 11:33-34 </b> How unsearchable are his judgments and how
inscrutable his ways! <sup>34</sup>
"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” The reasons we do this are many, but the
outcome is the same: we make excuses for God when he never asked us to.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This
being the case, how do we let God be God in the face of tragedies such as Sandy
Hook? We start by both acknowledging the
terrifying, mysterious, and oddly comforting sovereignty of God while at the
same time focusing on those places where God has made himself clearly
known. Let me explain. One does not have to read Scripture long to
be confronted with God’s sovereignty.
The word sovereignty points to the reality that his dominion is total: “he
wills as he chooses and carries out all that he wills, and none can stay his
hand or thwart his plans.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>”
One does not have to search Scripture real long to see this reality affirmed
again and again. Here’s a sampling:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Proverbs
16:9 </b> <sup>9</sup> In his heart a
man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Proverbs 19:21 </b> <sup>21</sup> Many are the plans in a man's
heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Proverbs 21:30 </b> <sup>30</sup> There is no wisdom, no insight,
no plan that can succeed against the LORD.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Lamentations 3:37 </b> <sup>37</sup> Who can speak and have it
happen if the Lord has not decreed it?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Ecclesiastes 7:14 </b> <sup>14</sup> When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Isaiah 45:7 </b> <sup>7</sup> I form the light and create
darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these
things.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Lamentations 3:38 </b> <sup>38</sup> Is it not from the mouth of the
Most High that both calamities and good things come?<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In these Scriptures we are confronted with the terrifying
and oddly comforting fact that nothing occurs outside God’s decree. It’s terrifying because when we’re faced with
tragedies like Sandy Hook we’re left with the question, “If nothing occurs
outside of God’s sovereignty, then is he really good?” It’s comforting because at least we know that
Sandy Hook didn’t take him by surprise.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Martin
Luther referred to this aspect of God’s sovereignty as the hiddenness of God. In his classic, “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bondage-Will-The-J-Packer/dp/0800753429/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356035180&sr=8-2&keywords=bondage+of+the+will+j.i.+packer" target="_blank">The Bondage of the Will</a>,” he
writes:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
We must discuss God, or the will
of God, preached, revealed, offered to us, and worshiped by us, in one way, and
God not preached, nor revealed, nor offered to us, nor worshiped by us, in
another way. Wherever God hides himself,
and wills to be unknown to us, there we have no concern.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What Luther means is that when we talk about God in his sovereignty
we must be careful how we speak. We
acknowledge his sovereign dominion over everything, while at the same time recognizing
our limitations in understanding of how and why calamities like Sandy Hook
occur. In the simplest sense, it means
we stop being God’s publicists. We stop
making excuses for God which remake him in our own image. We stop trying to make up reasons as to why
it occurred. Instead we let God be God
and allow him to speak where he has spoken.
When it comes to tragedies like Sandy Hook and the countless troubles in
our own lives we are often not given a reason.
It is at these points that we must be very careful not to try and peer
behind the curtain to ascertain the mind of God, because unless he chooses to
reveal himself, our explanations will be wrong.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is
here that we point to where God has made himself known: the life, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Ruin-Suffering-Sets-Free/dp/1434704025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356035210&sr=1-1&keywords=glorious+ruin" target="_blank">Tullian Tchividjian</a>
writes:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The most vile, treasonous,
darkest moment in the history of the world—the very event that appeared to be the
most brutal defeat and failure—turned out to be the most gloriously life-giving
event in all eternity. The salvation of
the world taking place under the auspices of the most grotesque and tragic
crime in human history.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Simply put, if God’s plan for salvation culminated in the
death of Christ on the cross, then he is surely present and working out his
salvation even in the midst of something as heinous as Sandy Hook. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Being-Theologian-Cross-Reflections-Disputation/dp/080284345X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356035235&sr=1-1&keywords=on+being+a+theologian+of+the+cross+forde" target="_blank">Gerhard Forde</a> writes:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Since the cross story alone is
their story, they are not driven by the attempt to see through it, but are
drawn into the story… So theologians of
the cross look on all things ‘through suffering and the cross.’ They, in other words, are led by the cross to
<i>look at</i> the trails, the sufferings,
the pangs of conscience, the troubles—and joys—of daily life as God’s doing and
do not try to <i>see through</i> them as
mere accidental problems to be solved by metaphysical adjustment.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the terms of our current crisis this simply means that
we stop trying to look behind Sandy Hook to discover the reasons why, but
rather understand and believe that even in something as unthinkable as this
tragedy God is still present working his promises to completion. Because of this, when someone asks, “How
could God still be good and allow Sandy Hook to happen?” or “Why did this
happen?” you can say, “I don’t know.
Ultimately God has chosen not to reveal that to us, but let me tell you
what I do know. God showed his love for
us in that while we were his enemies Christ died for us. Therefore, we can cling to that goodness even
in the midst of this tragedy. I know it
hurts, but trust me, God is moving. He
showed that on the cross.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This
approach to calamities like Sandy Hook is best expressed by a poem/hymn written
by the ever depressed <a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2010/05/video-about-william-cooper.html" target="_blank">William Cowper</a>. In
it he holds God’s sovereignty and goodness together in beautiful tension. I can think of no better example to finish
this post off with. He writes:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
God moves in a mysterious way<br />
His wonders to perform;<br />
He plants His footsteps in the sea<br />
And rides upon the storm.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Judge not the Lord by feeble
sense,<br />
But trust Him for His grace;<br />
Behind a frowning providence<br />
He hides a smiling face.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Blind unbelief is sure to err<br />
And scan His work in vain;<br />
<b><i>God
is His own interpreter,<br />
And He will make it plain</i></b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage
take;<br />
The clouds ye so much dread<br />
Are big with mercy and shall break<br />
In blessings on your head.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
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<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="edn1">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Packer, J.I. “Concise Theology” pg 33</div>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Scriptures compliments of Jerry Bridges “Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts”
pgs 36 & 51</div>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Luther, Martin. “The Bondage of the Will” pg 170</div>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Tchividjian, Tullian “Glorious Ruin: how suffering sets you free” pgs 150-151</div>
</div>
<div id="edn5">
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<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/The%20Hiddeness%20of%20God%20in%20Light%20of%20Sandy%20Hook.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Forde,
Gehard “On Being a Theologian of the Cross” pg 13</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-463156898122186052012-11-30T14:31:00.000-05:002013-05-07T10:41:00.795-04:00gravity always wins: Radiohead and Christianity Part III<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/gravity-always-wins-radiohead-and.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> and <a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/gravity-always-wins-radiohead-and_29.html" target="_blank">Part II</a>.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
“<b>Ecclesiastes 1:15 </b> <sup>15</sup> What is crooked cannot be made
straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These
words penned by Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes are some of the most penetrating in
the entire cannon of the Bible. In one
sentence the great teacher poignantly expresses what we all know: something is
wrong that we can’t quite fix. Thousands
of years later the Apostle Paul expanded on Qoheleth’s observations by plainly
stating just what is crooked and lacking.
<br />
<a name='more'></a>In a diagnostic stroke of genius Paul writes:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Romans 3:10-20 </b> "None is righteous, no, not one; <sup>11</sup> no one understands; no one
seeks for God. <sup>12</sup> All have
turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even
one." <sup>13</sup> "Their
throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The
venom of asps is under their lips."
<sup>14</sup> "Their mouth is full of curses and
bitterness." <sup>15</sup>
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
<sup>16</sup> in their paths are ruin and misery, <sup>17</sup> and the way of peace they have
not known." <sup>18</sup>
"There is no fear of God before their eyes." <sup>19</sup> Now we know that whatever the
law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be
stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. <sup>20</sup> For by works of the law no
human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes
knowledge of sin. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The theological
term for Paul’s diagnosis is original sin.
These two words express the idea that every man and woman who has ever
existed is infected to the core of their DNA with the tendency to think and do
wrong<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20III_11.29.12.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>. Anyone who is remotely self-aware, regardless
of their religion or lack thereof, usually on some level can agree with this
definition. G.K. Chesterton once
cleverly wrote that original sin, “Is the only part of Christian theology which
can really be proved.” What he means is
that to prove original sin you simply have to look out your window and see all
the chaos and violence in the world. If
you’re brave all you have to do is look into your own heart. No matter who we are, we’re capable of some
pretty nasty stuff. Just take a look at
this year’s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rivL5KYeBvk" target="_blank">Black Friday rush</a>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sK9a6Kn_4rE/ULkITtuLTtI/AAAAAAAAA4s/s3MPWQzbLC4/s1600/JustCD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sK9a6Kn_4rE/ULkITtuLTtI/AAAAAAAAA4s/s3MPWQzbLC4/s320/JustCD1.jpg" width="320" /></a> Whether they know it or not,
Radiohead’s music bears witness to the reality of this dark force within
humanity. The first song that comes to
mind is “<a href="http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/the-bends/just/" target="_blank">Just</a>” found on “The Bends.” In
this song Thom Yorke sings of the distorted behavior of a compulsive narcissist
(in this way it’s about all of us to some degree) who just won’t go way. The chorus speaks to sinners of all shapes
and sizes:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You do it to yourself, you do<br />
And that’s what really hurts<br />
Is that you do it to yourself<br />
Just you and no-one else<br />
You do it to yourself.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here Thom’s
definition of the narcissist’s behavior is strikingly similar to the definition
of Original Sin found in the 39 Articles of religion in the Anglican Communion
which read:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Original sin… is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man,
that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far
gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so
that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every
person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation. <a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20III_11.29.12.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></div>
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Simply put, when it comes to original sin, we do it to
ourselves and that’s what really hurts.
As much as we try to shirk off our culpability, our conscience often
bears witness to this fact. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nos0zYXNXfI/ULkIYJjzHLI/AAAAAAAAA40/zMw3tZMGXLw/s1600/Radiohead_-_Hail_to_the_Thief_-_album_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nos0zYXNXfI/ULkIYJjzHLI/AAAAAAAAA40/zMw3tZMGXLw/s1600/Radiohead_-_Hail_to_the_Thief_-_album_cover.jpg" /></a> Another
song that comes to mind is “<a href="http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/hail-to-the-thief/backdrifts/" target="_blank">Backdrifts (Honeymoon is over)</a>” from their album “Hail
to the Theif.” I think this one is
Radiohead’s most profound treatments of human paralysis when it comes to sin. Just take a look at some of the lyrics:</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
We’re rotten fruit<br />
We’re damaged goods<br />
What the hell, we’ve got nothing more to lose<br />
One gust and we will probably crumble<br />
We’re backdrifters</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
This far but no
further<br />
I’m hanging off a branch<br />
I’m teetering on the brink<br />
Oh honey sweet<br />
So full of sleep<br />
I’m backsliding</div>
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In listening to this song I can’t help but hear the Apostle
Paul’s words in Galatians:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“<b>Galatians 5:17 </b> <sup>17</sup> For the desires of the flesh are
against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for
these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to
do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Simply put, when it comes to the control of our libidinal
desires we don’t have as much control as we think. The Bible and Radiohead both bear witness to
this fact.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The
good news in all of this is that when we understand just bound we are to our
sin, we become all the more astounded at the depths of God’s salvation revealed
in the Gospel. Jesus died for our sins,
by taking our place on the cross (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20peter%203:18&version=ESV" target="_blank">1 Peter 3:18</a>). We our forgiven (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%201:7&version=ESV" target="_blank">Eph 1:7</a>)! More than this he brings us into his family
as adopted children and heirs(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians%204:4-7&version=ESV" target="_blank">Gal 4:4-7</a>).
If this wasn’t enough, God deals with our original sin by creating us
anew. Paul says it this way, “<b>2
Corinthians 5:17 </b> <sup>17</sup>
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed
away; behold, the new has come.”
Although sin remains in us and at times seems to have never lost its
grip, we can be confident that even in the midst of this intense daily struggle
God has begun something new in our hearts.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IDD0zFBcjtc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p> </o:p> </div>
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<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="edn1">
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<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20III_11.29.12.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Zahl, Paul. “Grace in Practice.” Pg 95</div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20III_11.29.12.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> http://anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-23732043176435669892012-10-29T16:58:00.000-04:002013-05-07T10:43:25.374-04:00"gravity always wins:" Radiohead and Christianity Part IIView Part I <a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/gravity-always-wins-radiohead-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnPT2B-PCVo/UI7spcPj-4I/AAAAAAAAA4c/D0Cl4lSqq5o/s1600/creep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnPT2B-PCVo/UI7spcPj-4I/AAAAAAAAA4c/D0Cl4lSqq5o/s320/creep.jpg" width="320" /></a> Outside
of Christ we are all under the law.
Whether we wish to acknowledge it or not, this is a universal fact of
existence.<br />
Now, when I say law, I’m not
speaking of any particular laws found in the Bible, but rather any form of
outward standard that plays the voice of accusation in our lives. Sure, the laws found in the Bible are
included in this, but the fact of us being under the law is something we all
know deep down (Romans 2:14-16). Paul
Zahl is insightful here:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The principle of the divine
demand for perfection upon the human being is reflected concretely in the
countless and external demands that human beings device for themselves. In practice, the requirement of perfect
submission to the commandments of God is exactly the same as the requirement of
perfect submission to the innumerable drives for perfection that drive everyday
people’s crippled and crippling lives.
The commandment of God that we should honor our mother and father is no
different <i>in impact</i>, for example,
than the commandment of fashion that a woman be beautiful or the commandment of
culture that a man be boldly decisive and at the same time utterly tender.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Simply put, the world is full of laws. We can see this in every facet of life.<br />
<a name='more'></a> Using the example of identity Tullian
Tchividjian writes, “Identity is an area of life frequently mired in
legalities: ‘I must be a ______ kind of person, and not a ______ kind of person
if I’m ever going to be somebody.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>” Have you ever thought like this? We hear the law’s voice every time we think
thoughts like, “If I could just be a more patient husband,” or “If I could just
achieve this or that level of success.”
This is particularly true when something becomes an idol in our lives
(i.e. something we base our entire lives around). When this happens, the object of our
adoration becomes a harsh taskmaster.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The
problem with the law is that it never ends and it always accuses. No matter how much wealth one accrues he/she
will always want more. No matter how
good of a father I become, I could always be better. Again Zahl’s insight is priceless:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The law, even the law when it is
thoroughly unhinged from theology, accuses, and it accuses always. The principles of law in secular dress are
not any different from their theological framing in the way that they are
heard.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For example, the demand to be a mother who has it all
together is no less accusatory than God’s saying, “Be perfect, as I am perfect.” In the end both reduce their object to
despair.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This
dynamic of humanity under the law is poignantly played out in Radiohead’s
famous song “Creep.” This breakout
single tells the story of a man who tries to get the attention of a woman he is
attracted to by following her around. In
the end though, he lacks the self-confidence to pull it off.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> This said, “Creep” is more than another
boy-chase-girl song. In it we are
treated to the despair of one who failed to meet the law and his idol’s
demands. Just look at the <a href="http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/pablo-honey/creep/" target="_blank">tortured lyrics</a>! The law accuses its subject to
the point of non-existence. When Thom
cries out, “What the hell am I doing here?
I don’t belong here…” we hear the cry of humanity itself under the
burden of the law. In a similar way,
concerning the law’s burden, the Apostle
Paul wrote, “<b>Romans 7:24 </b> <sup>24</sup>
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” In the face of the law’s demands, be them
from God or man, we are helplessly in need of a deliverer.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Qw26VPSl8c/UI7smul2AHI/AAAAAAAAA4U/5Ra78-XYRfE/s1600/120922-radiohead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Qw26VPSl8c/UI7smul2AHI/AAAAAAAAA4U/5Ra78-XYRfE/s320/120922-radiohead.jpg" width="320" /></a> I
opened this post by saying outside of Christ we are all under the law. The inverse of this statement is that in
Christ we are no longer under the law.
Paul writes, “<b>Romans 10:4 </b> <sup>4</sup>
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” What this means is that in Christ God has
dealt with our failure to fulfill the Law of God. This accomplished fact then renders all other
laws, be them from God or man, silent in their ability to accuse. Tchividjian writes, “The internal voice that
says, ‘Do this and live,’ gets shouted down by the external voice that says, ‘it
is finished.<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>’”</div>
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The
consequences of this are almost beyond description. Because of Christ, I’m no longer defined by
my failures, but rather I’m defined by Christ’s victory on my behalf. The law has mired me a “Creep and Weirdo,”
but God the Father says, “This is my child with whom I am well pleased.” No longer do I have to look for approval and validation
for my existence from a million different sources. All approval and validation is already mine
in Christ Jesus. This is all because of
the profound mystery that, “<b>2 Corinthians 5:21 </b> <sup>1</sup> For our sake he made him to be
sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” To put it in the terms of Thom Yorke’s cry, “I
wish I was special,” the answer would be, “You are special, not because of
anything you have brought to the table, but simply because of the fact that God
has loved you through Christ.” As Luther
writes, “The love of God does not find, but creates, that which is pleasing to
it.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;border-right:none;padding:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>When you were here before,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>couldn’t look you in the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>You’re just like an angel,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>your skin makes me cry.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>You float like a feather,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>in a beautiful world<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I wish I was special,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>you’re so very special.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>But I’m a creep, I’m a weirdo.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>What the hell am I doing here?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
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<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I don’t belong here.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I don’t care if it hurts,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I want to have control.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I want a perfect body,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I want a perfect soul.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I want you to notice,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
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mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>when I’m not around.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>You’re so very special,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I wish I was special.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>She’s running out the door,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>she’s running,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>she run, run, run, run, run.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>Whatever makes you happy,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>whatever you want.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>You’re so fucking special,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-top-themecolor:background1;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid white 1.0pt;
mso-border-bottom-themecolor:background1;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in'>
<i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:gray;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-themetint:127'>I wish I was special,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<div id="edn1">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Zahl, Paul. “Grace in Practice” pg 28-29</div>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Tchividjian,
Tullian. “Glorious Ruin” pg 64</div>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Zahl,
Paul. “Grace in Practice” pg 22</div>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ibid. pg 29</div>
</div>
<div id="edn5">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> http://www.greenplastic.com/radiohead-lyrics/pablo-honey/creep/</div>
</div>
<div id="edn6">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Shawn/My%20Documents/Student%20Ministries/Sermons,%20messages,%20lessons,%20blogs/blog/gravity%20always%20wins_Part%20II_10.29.12.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Tchividjian,
Tullian. “Glorious Ruin” pg 67</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-12713330328765171142012-10-25T13:33:00.001-04:002013-05-07T10:42:00.370-04:00"gravity always wins": Radiohead and Christianity Part I<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrAX60ZheRM/UIl149TiCAI/AAAAAAAAA4E/J6M9j4WxpFM/s1600/radiohead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrAX60ZheRM/UIl149TiCAI/AAAAAAAAA4E/J6M9j4WxpFM/s320/radiohead.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I
really like Radiohead. They’re not my
favorite, but they never fail to move me.
The first reason is because their music is from another planet. From the aggressive guitar work and multi-instrumental
genius of Jonny Greenwood, to the rhythmic bass of his brother Colin, to the
subtle brilliance of Ed O’Brien’s guitar creativity, to the drum machine precision
of Phil Selway, and the utter id like artistry of Thom Yorke; Radiohead is second
to none when it comes to stretching the musical horizons of rock.</span></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-USk9wsxztmI/UIl10DNoxqI/AAAAAAAAA38/_Fz76xGefSY/s1600/2563424565_f7e85ab915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-USk9wsxztmI/UIl10DNoxqI/AAAAAAAAA38/_Fz76xGefSY/s200/2563424565_f7e85ab915.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Along
with this, as a Christian, Radiohead has always fascinated me with their realistic
view of humanity’s conflicting desires and somewhat evil animalistic
base. To paraphrase Martin Luther Radiohead
“says what a thing is.” They don’t try
to paint some utopian view of things. “All
You Need is Love” is a false optimism you won’t find from this band. Simply put, they call a spade a spade. They have a correct and realistic
anthropology in their music. As a
Christian this excites me because the Bible does the same thing. From the teacher’s cry in Ecclesiastes
1:14-15,<b> “</b><sup>14</sup> I have seen everything that is done under the
sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. <sup>15</sup> What is crooked cannot be made
straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted…” to the Apostles Paul’s indictment
on humanity in Romans 3:10-12, “None is righteous, no, not one; <sup>11</sup> no one understands; no one
seeks for God. <sup>12</sup> All have
turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even
one…” the Bible presents an anthropology of rescue. We cannot help ourselves, we need a
Savior. Now of course the Bible and
Radiohead part ways at this point. The
Bible presents Jesus as our Savior and Radiohead presents… I don’t know I think
they’re still waiting for an answer.
Although this is the case, because Radiohead and the Bible share a
strikingly similar anthropology (i.e. understanding of humanity’s hopelessness
on her own terms) I’ve always had the desire to explore these connections. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This said, over the next month
or so I want to do just that. I will be
diving into individual songs showing both the truth of them and the way the
Gospel (the story of God’s one-way love) interacts with them. Right off the bat I will admit that I may
butcher the meaning of some of the songs, but I’m looking at the way they have
spoken to me and I think the good people at Radiohead would be OK with that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my next post I’ll be
exploring the themes in Radiohead’s most recognizable hit, “Creep.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-55964730844471424352012-10-08T11:50:00.000-04:002012-10-08T11:50:50.506-04:00Afterthought: "Pulpit Freedom Sunday"To last week's Colbert inspired post on <a href="http://shawn-thoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/colbert-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday.html" target="_blank">Pulpit Freedom Sunday</a> I'd like to add this bombshell of a quote from Kierkegaard:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znaGFT2GPsI/UHL19WsUtqI/AAAAAAAAA3E/JclmkLXzrAE/s1600/220px-Kierkegaard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znaGFT2GPsI/UHL19WsUtqI/AAAAAAAAA3E/JclmkLXzrAE/s320/220px-Kierkegaard.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"What Christianity needs is not the suffocating protection of the state; no, it needs fresh air, it needs persecution, and it needs God's protection. The state only works disaster, it wards off persecution and thus is not the medium through which God's protection can be conducted. <b><i>Above all, save Christianity from the state. By its protection it smothers it to death</i></b>."</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-36175462237744804312012-10-03T13:26:00.000-04:002013-05-07T12:36:38.522-04:00Colbert on "Pulpit Freedom Sunday"I thought Colbert had some interesting insights last night into the intersection of politics and religion. This is true particularly in his interview (see second clip).<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Background Info:<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: 11px arial; height: 340px; width: 512px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Colbert Report</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/419723/october-02-2012/pulpit-freedom-sunday" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pulpit Freedom Sunday</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 512px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:419723" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height: 100%px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video Archive</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Interview with Pastor Jim Garlow:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: 11px arial; height: 340px; width: 512px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Colbert Report</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/419724/october-02-2012/pulpit-freedom-sunday---jim-garlow" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pulpit Freedom Sunday - Jim Garlow</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 512px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:419724" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height: 100%px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video Archive</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Insightful quotes:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“Yes I don’t need the government protecting me from speech. I am a mature free-thinking American, capable
of making my own rational decisions about which candidate my priest says God
wants me to pick.” </i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"I do believe that preachers or priests or any other religious leader should be able to say anything they want because freedom of speech should be absolute and I believe that. But one of the reasons I really love it (i.e. Pulpit Freedom Sunday... Note Cobert's signature sarcasm) is that A. I don't believe there is enough religion in our politics, but more importantly <b>there's not enough politics in our religion. Because I know now if a preacher says vote for X candidate or Y candidate and that candidate loses I know I've got a loser God. Okay. Or if that candidate turns out to be corrupt, I know that my God was false and I can move onto a new one. Don't you think that is one of the nice things about getting politics all over religion is that we can get that kind of acrimony and hate toward each other over our religions in a fresh way</b>."</i></blockquote>
On a personal note, I'm not too big of a fan of "Pulpit Freedom Sunday." On the surface I get and even agree with their complaint (i.e. free speech and separation of church and state), but in practice I believe it falls into American power religion (i.e. a Theology of Glory) and runs counter to the Apostle Paul's advice:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Romans 13:1-4 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good.</blockquote>
Also, I think it runs counter to what Pastors are commission to do. We are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded. We are not called to endorse Candidate X or Candidate Y!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><i> </i></span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-65916458854524172482012-10-02T10:35:00.001-04:002012-10-02T10:35:31.038-04:00Keller, "Center Church""Though we may have an area or ministry that we tend to focus on, the gospel is what brings unity to all we do. Every form of ministry is empowered by the gospel, based on the gospel, and is the result of the gospel... <br />
<br />
When the preaching of the gospel is either confused or separated from the other endeavors of the church, preaching becomes mere exhortation (to get with the church's program or a biblical standard of ethics) or informational instruction (to inculcate the church's values and beliefs). When the proper connection between the gospel and any aspect of ministry is severed, <i>both</i> are shortchanged"<br />
<br />
-Timothy Keller "Center Church" pg. 36, 37Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-18895689741688149412012-10-02T09:58:00.001-04:002012-10-02T09:58:39.204-04:00Thoughts on the "Parody Of Our Modern Church Service" VideoYesterday I came across a rather hilarious video that parodies the "Seeker Sensitive" or "Willow Creek" formula of Church. Here it is:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JZclDots5f0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Besides making me bust a gut laughing, this video also got me thinking. <b><i>How do you avoid this trap in your typical modern worship service? Can you seek to speak to a culture in its own language without looking like this? If so, how do you do it? Have you ever actually seen it work?</i></b><br />
<br />
I ask these questions as one who firmly believes the local church should worship in a way that engages its surrounding culture. To argue that in one particular time and space worship was right, as those who argue for going back to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Why-Johnny-Cant-Sing-Hymns/dp/1596381957/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349185285&sr=8-1&keywords=why+johnny+can%27t+sing+hymns" target="_blank">a organ/hymn based worship do</a>, is a misnomer. This mindset often tends to be both ethnocentric and idolatrous of a particular time, style, and culture (Although I do agree that the words were much better in those hymns). This said, we're back at square one. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155601056658007887.post-20202036803172098422012-09-27T15:23:00.000-04:002013-05-07T12:36:02.812-04:00Reblog: What’s so uncool about cool churches?Here are some snippets from a recent post over at <a href="http://thegospelside.wordpress.com/">http://thegospelside.wordpress.com</a> entitled, "<a href="http://thegospelside.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/whats-so-uncool-about-cool-churches/" target="_blank">What’s so uncool about cool churches</a>?" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atG2kRb8jaw/UGSnMjg4pFI/AAAAAAAAA20/acMtPGxScBc/s1600/martin-donovan-pastor-skip-mgms-saved-514229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atG2kRb8jaw/UGSnMjg4pFI/AAAAAAAAA20/acMtPGxScBc/s320/martin-donovan-pastor-skip-mgms-saved-514229.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"We look at our youth group now and we feel good. But the youth group of today </span><strong style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">is</strong><span style="line-height: 24px;"> the church of tomorrow, and study after study after study suggests that what </span><em style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">we</em><span style="line-height: 24px;"> are building for the future is empty churches."</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> "<em style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What are we doing in our Youth Ministries that might be making people less likely to attend church as an adult? ...</em><span style="line-height: 24px;">I believe it is “preference.” We have embraced the idea of market-driven youth ministry. Unfortunately, </span><strong style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">giving people what they “prefer” </strong><span style="line-height: 24px;">is a road, that once you go down it,</span><strong style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> has no end. </strong><span style="line-height: 24px;">Tim Elmore in his 2010 book entitled </span><em style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Generation iY</em><span style="line-height: 24px;"> calls this “the overindulged Generation.” </span><strong style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They ask for more and more, and we give it to them.</strong><span style="line-height: 24px;"> And more and more the power of God is substituted for market-driven experience. In an effort to give people something “attractive” and “relevant” we embraced novel new methods in youth ministry, that 20 years later are having a powerful shaping effect on the entire church."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"The opposite of giving people what they want is to give them what they need. The beauty is that Christianity already knows how to do this... </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Once upon a time our faith thrived in a non-Christian empire. It took less than 300 years for 11 scared dudes to take over the most powerful empire the world had ever seen. How did they do it? Where we have opted for a relevant, homogenously grouped, segregated, attractional professionalized model; the early church did it with a multi-ethnic, multi-social class, seeker INsensitive church. Worship was filled with sacrament and symbol. It engaged the believing community in the Christian narrative. This worship was so God-directed and insider-shaping that in the early church non-Christians were asked to leave the building before communion! With what effect? From that fellowship of the transformed, the church went out to the highways and byways loving and serving the least, last and lost. In </span><em style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that</em><span style="line-height: 24px;"> body of Christ, Christians shared their faith with Romans 1:16 boldness, served the poor with abandon, fed widows and took orphans into their homes. The world noticed. We went to them in love rather than invited them to our event."</span></span></blockquote>
Matt Marino's post is another one among many concerning the failings of youth ministry. If you've read any of my previous posts you'll know I agree with his diagnosis almost 100%, but I still struggle with seeing what youth ministry might look like if we follow the alternative that Matt and many of the more "Reformed" minded practitioners are offering (I say this as someone who is quite Reformed/Lutheran/Anglican in theology). I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one. <br />
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On a related note, I've just started to read Timothy Keller's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Center-Church-Balanced-Gospel-Centered-Ministry/dp/0310494184/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348771847&sr=8-1&keywords=center+church" target="_blank">Center Church</a>" and I couldn't be more excited about some of his insights. Concerning cultural engagement he writes:<br />
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"All cultures have God's grace and natural revelation in them, yet they are also in rebellious idolatry. If we overadapt to a culture, we have accepted the culture's idols. If, however we underadapt to culture, we may have turned our own culture into an idol, an absolute. If we overadapt to a culture, we aren't able to change people because we are not calling them to change. If we underadapt to a culture, no one will be changed because no one will listen to us; we will be confusing, offensive, or simply unpersuasive. To the degree a ministry is overadapted or underadapted to a culture, it loses its life-changing power" (24) </blockquote>
Even though I'm only 30 pages in, I think Keller's work is going to offer some powerful insights into navigating the current crisis in youth ministry. Even from the small snippet above we could say that much of the crisis in youth ministry is due to the fact that it has overadapted itself to culture. Along with this, I think many of the more "Reformed" (not Matt's by the way) responses to this crisis are often underadapted to culture. Either way they lose the "life-changing power." <br />
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