“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  -Philippians 4:13 

Ash Wednesday begins in about an hour, and this Lenten season will be quite extensive and intensive.  maybe i’m being too legalistic, fundamentalistic, conservative, or what not… but the goal is simply, to embrace the Grace and Mercy of my LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Also, to start of the season, I am fasting from food on Ash Wednesday, so please pray for me.

• no tv show/movie watching (except for the Passion of the Christ)
• no reading of others blogs, except for those of Pastors/on Christian theology
• no shopping, except for bare necessities
• no mindless, useless surfing
• no sappy music, only Christian/worship music
• no coffee
• in bed/sleep by 2am
• starting and ending each day with prayer on my knees
• morning devotions/reading of Word
• read Christian books! a lot of them!
• study diligently–i mean really!

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
-Matthew 4:4, ESV

Please help keep me accountable by checking out on me LOL!

I only wish our CCF did something for it this year…and part of me wishes to forgoe fellowship tomorrow night for an Ash Wednesday worship service.  anybody know of a good church to attend for this?

Since my last post on Saturday, I’ve been hiding from writting/posting…I’ve a million things to say, and ….this is me hiding from saying what I truly wanna say again.  I’ll split these thoughts up in multiple posts…

 

CCF Winter Retreat 2006 - memorable moments:

• Literally, waiting for God to speak, would not sleep until He spoke.   “How long, how long, how long O LORD” Psalm 13.  Ended up discussing theology and stuff with a bunch of people; I think my questions to God is still unanswered here.
• The last night when we had split guys/girls time of sharing & prayer:
  being vulnerable with all the guys in sharing about our sexual sin, and hamburgers.
• Sharing and praying with Jeff Chan: complete honesty in it all.
• Openly sharing with a younger sister in Christ why my heart still aches and breaks today; being vulnerable to a fairly new friend is something I haven’t done in a long time; fixing up her misunderstanding of my situation was definitely needed; dark eyes–very dark eyes, like literally black!
• Crying and pouring my heart out to God during evening worship.
• Wrestling with Jono; what motivated me–only I know why; lost but had lots of fun!
• Just about 0mins spent in heart-to-heart, face-to-face talk with the Square.  Thanx Almond, tho, for the brief but necessary chat.  we really should do it more often…if you have time.
• Not needing to “do” anything (serving) during a Retreat; the 1st time in the longest time I don’t have to worry about anything; such a relaxing time that allowed me to be honest, genuine, unhypocritical before Christ in the solemn manner that was required of me for this season of life.  sorry if I brushed anybody off due to my seriousness, my apologies–that’s just life doing it’s thing on me: being serious.

that’s about it for now.  if there’s more, i’ll be sure to edit this.

We suffer from poor I-sight.  Not eyesight, a matter of distorted vision that lenses can correct, but I-sight.  Poor I-sight blurs your view, not of the world, but of yourself.

Some see self too highly.  You wonder who puts the “air” in arrogance and the “vain” in vainglory?  Those who say, “I can do anything.”

You’ve said those words.  For a short time, at least.  A lifetime, perhaps.  We all plead guilty to some level of superiority.  And don’t we know the other extreme: “I can’t do anything”?

Forget the thin air of pomposity; these folks breathe the thick, swampy air of self-defeat.  Roaches have higher self-esteem. Earthworms stand taller.  “I’m a bum.  I am scum.  The world would be better off without me.”

Two extremes of poor I-sight.  Self-loving and self-loathing.  We swing from one side to the other.  One day too high on self, the next too hard on self.  Neither is correct.  Self-elevation and self- deprecation are equally inaccurate.  Where is the truth?

Smack-dab in the middle.  Dead center between “I can do anything” and “I can’t do anything” lies “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

Neither omnipotent nor impotent, neither God’s MVP nor God’s mistake.  Not self-secure or insecure, but God-secure—a self-worth based in our identity as children of God.  The proper view of self is in the middle.

But how do we get there?  How do we park the pendulum in the center?

Worship.  Honest worship lifts eyes off self and sets them on God. Worship adjusts us, lowering the chin of the haughty, straightening the back of the burdened.

Breaking the bread, partaking of the cup. Bowing the knees, lifting the hands.
This is worship.

Worship properly positions the worshiper.  And oh how we need it!  We walk through life so bent out of shape.  So sold on ourselves that we think someone died and made us ruler.  Or so down on ourselves that we think everyone died and just left us.

Treat both conditions with worship.

From “Cure for the Common Life”
Copyright 2005, Max Lucado

Over the Ryerson CCF retreat, I had a little discussion debate with my friend Almond.  Basically, I said I believed that there is only one GOD who exists as 3 distinct & seperate persons/entities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit/Ghost.  Almond however believed there to be only 1 God, but with 3 different roles (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).  (Brother, please correct me if I’m mistaken by your understanding.)

I know our infinite Almighty God is not fully comprehensible by our finite human minds, but still, man has to a good extent grasped God’s character, as described in His Word and through His Word who became Flesh.  Feel free to comment on this, as with all my posts.  I offer to all who read this some historical and Biblical writtings that I’ve come to know as true, in support of our LORD God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

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THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646)
CHAP. II. - Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.
III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.[38] The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father[39]; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son[40].     

[38] (Traditionally, 1 John 5:7 is placed here, but we have, for obvious reasons, omitted it in our online edition) MATT 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. MATT 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. II COR 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 

[39] JOHN 1:14,18 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

[40] JOHN 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me. GAL 4:6 And Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
    the Creator of heaven and earth,
    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
    and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
    whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
    the communion of saints,
    the forgiveness of sins,
    the resurrection of the body,
    and life everlasting.

Amen.

*The word “catholic” refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

 

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
2. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
3. Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance
4. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son and another of the Holy Spirit.
5. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
6. Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Spirit.
7. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Spirit uncreate.
8. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.
9. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.
10. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
11. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensibles, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.
12. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty;
13. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.
14. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;
15. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
16. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;
17. And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.
18. ….Total of 43 points, continued here.

 

WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only,[18] the living and true God.[19]

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;[20] and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.[21]

[18] Deuteronomy 6:4. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Isaiah 44:6. Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 45:21-22. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

[19] Jeremiah 10:10. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. John 17:3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 1 Thessalonians 1:9. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 1 John 5:20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

[20] Matthew 3:16-17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 28:19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 2 Corinthians 13:14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 1 Peter 1:2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

[21] Psalm 45:6. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 17:5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Acts 5:3-4. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Romans 9:5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Colossians 2:9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Jude 1:24-25. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

Rules for Christian Households –Colossians 3:18-19, ESV

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

-See also Ephesians 5:22-33

This is long overdue, but still, I think it’d be edifying to share this with you all.

Pastor & theologian on Ligon Duncan said it best once:

“God has created men and women equal in their essential dignity and human personhood but different and complimentary in function, with male headship in the home and believing community, that is the church, being understood as part of God’s created design.”

If ever we need a Scriptural foundation for what Biblical manhood and womanhood is, it is found in these passages we just read.  God requires wives especially to submit to their husbands, and husbands especially to love their wives (and not be harsh to them = be really really nice to them!).

Have you ever wondered why God demands this of us?  Why didn’t Paul write “wives love your husbands” & “husbands submit to your wives” instead?  I’ve wondered about this, and found that God has much reason to do so.  It’s not that wives shouldnt love their husbands, or that husbands should never submit to their wives (of course, we know this to be a must in 21st century relationships)…but I think it is that because of who we are, men / women, God has made us differently & have different weaknessess, different areas of the husband-wife relationship that we are specifically responsible to God for.  Scripture specifically tells us of this.

It’s about Biblical order, and not about what we value.  Pastor Voddie Baucham put it nicely in his series “Love and Marriage” at 722.. The wife must be submissive to the Lord.  In the same way, she is to be subjective to her husband…  Submitting to proper Biblical authority.  Similarily, husbands must love their wives; “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”  He must be a loving leader; a leader in love, in the Word, in righteousness, in selflessness, and in intimacy.

May we all grow in loving & forgiving each other, as Christ first loved and forgave us, so that the world will know that we are His disciples.

“Love is an act of the will, accompained by emotion that leads to action on behalf of its object.”

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
   and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
   light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
   lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
   my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
   because he has dealt bountifully with me.  

-Psalm 13

“David begins in the clutches of despair, discouragement, and unbelief. Four times he questions how long he’ll have to endure God’s seeming unfaithfulness, his own sorrow, and the triumph of his foes. Can this be David, the man after God’s own heart, the sweet psalmist of Israel? Yes. Here he is feeling depressed and forsaken, with no end in sight. How kind of the Lord to include words like these that we can relate to so easily. And how kind of Him to show us what steps to take when we find ourselves in a similar situation.

David’s response is as exemplary as it is rare. Rather than curse God, turn to his own resources, or seek relief by indulging his flesh, he appeals to the only One who can deliver him – God Himself. His prayer is simple, undemanding, and honest: keep me alive. How often my list of what I want God to do reveals my self-centeredness rather than a humble faith. Do I really think God knows what is best; or do I suspect He could benefit from my counsel?

It almost seems as though a complier ripped the last two verses from another psalm and tacked them on to the end of this one. “I have trusted…I will rejoice…I will sing.” But sudden changes of perspective in the Psalms aren’t unusual. They occur when we stop listening to ourselves and start listening to our God. David’s opening words describe what he’s hearing from his heart. “God has forgotten you. You’re hopeless. Your enemies are too powerful for you.” But in verse 5 he remembers the God of covenant love – love that is eternally grounded in God’s promises and faithfulness.

His view is so clear that he already imagines himself responding hopefully. “My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” David’s joy isn’t dependent on his circumstances changing, but in the unchanging salvation God has promised. If David could find such hope before the Messiah ever appeared on earth, how can we fail to rejoice in the Savior who has come, who has died, and who has risen as our substitute and gracious Redeemer?

Finally, in the midst of his trials, David says he’ll sing to the Lord. Why? Does he want to feel closer to God, or think that music will help him forget his troubles, or because music is emotionally uplifting? Music can produce all those effects, but that’s not why David sings. Perhaps he seeks to encourage himself through songs that speak of God’s goodness and greatness. That would certainly be appropriate, and is something that we can relate to. But that’s not why he sings either. “I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” David realizes that his present circumstances are overshadowed by the mercy and grace God has already shown him.

Why do WE sing? Are we looking for some new emotional experience, or are we already so affected by God’s power, wisdom, and loving kindness, that we can’t help but sing?

May God keep our minds and hearts focused on the love that He so lavishly demonstrated at the cross, where all our sins were nailed to the tree, all our enemies were overcome, and our eternal joy was forever secured.”

-Bob Kauflin

When you try your best but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can’t sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can’t replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you’re too in love to let it go
But if you never try you’ll never know
Just what you’re worth

Tears stream down your face
when you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you