Monthly Archives: August 2010
I want to tell you the good news!
Tenth Avenue North has a new CD! Okay, it actually released in May, but after waiting so long for their next “new” stuff, this still feels fresh. If you’ve not yet met this band, you must. Do it now. They’re music is amazing. The soulful lyrics evoke true worship while their sound both haunts and rocks. This, however, is not really my point, just a happy little side-plot to what I really want to tell you.
Sometimes God orchestrates a number of details to “coincidentally” reiterate the same point. A sermon message may cover the same passage you read the week before which tackles the exact issue you’ve been struggling with. Or maybe a friend unwittingly recommends a song that perfectly reinforces a point made in the book you’ve been reading and the movie you rented last week. Lately I’ve encountered a collision of “coincidences.”
This not-spanking-new CD has resonated with the very theme of three novels, a nonfiction book and a perpetual personal hurdle.
Here’s the good news: Salvation does not depend us, but solely on what Christ has done for us.
This may sound elementary to you. Decades-old Christians may roll their eyes and whisper under their breath a desire for something new to ponder. But think about it: isn’t that the best news you’ve ever heard?
Too often the Gospel is reduced to a discussion of hell, death, sin and work. You have to believe, confess, repent, and then work out that salvation. There’s no dancing, no cursing, no drinking, no lying. You have to dress appropriately, talk the right way, give the right answers and never let anyone see the truth behind your ever-present smile.
The problem is that none of this sounds like “good news.” God’s Message, the Gospel, is indeed good news. It’s GREAT news! And I fear the joy of that news too often gets lost in theological details. The Gospel is simple, yet we find wonderful ways to complicate it.
Some want to have a part in salvation. They want credit for the good they do and the doctrine they preach. The delight in the attention and admiration their “perfect” lives receive.
Others simply can’t believe salvation could be that easy.
How could something so valuable be free?! Does God really know what I’ve done?
How could He forgive ME? Maybe He’ll forgive me once, but not again and again and again.
I have to get this right! And what happens if I don’t? What happens when everyone sees how imperfect I am?
One group struggles with pride and a reluctance to give grace too easily. The other struggles with insecurity and fear. One doesn’t want to accept grace; the other doesn’t feel worthy of it.
Let me tell you the good news again: Salvation doesn’t depend on us, but solely on what Christ has done for us. It’s not about who we are, but who He is and what He has already done. He did it all. It’s finished. Complete. There’s nothing more to do, nothing more to earn.
“You are more than the choices that you’ve made. You are more than the sum of past mistakes. You are more than the problems you create. You’ve been remade. This is not about what you’ve done, but what’s been done for you. This is not about where you’ve been, but where your brokenness leads you to.”
“And He’ll break through the clouds to save those who cry out His name.
The One the wind and the waves obey is strong enough to save you!”
All this because of His unfathomable, unexplainable love for us. He is strong enough, his love extends far enough to save even me. Even you. Now that’s good news! I can think of nothing better.
~~~~~
If you want to enter into my recent collision, here is a link to the CD titled “The Light Meets the Dark.” (The lyrics quoted above come from tracks 3 and 2, “You Are More” and “Strong Enough to Save”, respectively.) And here are links to the books I’ve been reading: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (a nonfiction book) by Joanna Weaver and The Noble Legacy series (a trilogy of contemporary Westerns, subcategory: romantic suspense) by Susan May Warren.
You still with us?
How’s everyone doing? Are you still reading??
I am still reading — SLOWLY — but I’m still reading. More importantly, I am not allowing myself to become discouraged with my less than stellar pace. It’s been an insane summer. Faithfulness and consistency declare some measure of success – right? I may be months behind, but I’m still in the race.
Kellie has graciously agreed to cover the rest of this month’s Read with Me check-ins. I’ll be back in September, hopefully with some regular blog posts, too. Take a minute to hop over to Kellie’s spot. She’s got a great blog and you’ll love getting to know her better! Then you can go back next Friday to chat up with her all about what you’re gleaning from your reading.
Listen— I mean READ with Me!
Since our last Read with Me check-in, I have finished Joshua, Judges and half of Ruth. Ruth is short, so I fully plan to knock her out before the end of today. It sounds like I’ve done nothing, but read my Bible this week, but I must admit I’ve listened to much of it (a la The Bible Experience) while cleaning, unpacking, folding clothes and ripping down wallpaper. I have a few notes.
First, I do not like the voice they put to Naomi. I don’t know exactly why; I just don’t.
I also did not like the productions interpretation of Ruth’s speech. Where’s the passion, people? Ruth – widowed, 10 years barren, bankrupted and alone — is clinging to her last thread of hope and yet the actress played her with such serenity and calm. I don’t think so. Were I in Ruth’s shoes, I would have been sobbing, clutching the legs of dear Naomi, throwing dust on my head and begging for any respite from the pain. Anything. This lady (the actress playing Ruth) obviously did not understand the context of the story.
That’s all about the CD version I have and really has nothing to do with the actual Scripture. Let me try to get some meatier notes here.
I have no idea why Samson is a childhood hero. Did you see anything redemptive in his story? (I know most of you are way ahead of me. Humor my very tardy discussion.) I mean, he bossed his parents around; he married outside God’s chosen people; he repeatedly lied to the woman he “loved” and foolishly trusted her after her repeated attempts on his life. He doesn’t seem like the sharpest knife in the drawer and the dude has a serious problem with anger management! Sure, he was strong and, yes, his parents responded beautifully to God’s instructions, but I’m still confused. What was honorable about this man?
To be honest, most of Judges reminded me of children. People fighting over stuff, throwing tantrums, acting irresponsibly … everyone did what was right in their own eyes. They did not have a king. In such a state, they were left to their own depravity. The whole thing is quite despicable.
The thought of which makes me rejoice that we DO have a king. And when we do what is right in His eyes, rather than our own, we can be protected from the depravity that lurks within us. Oh, and thank you, Jesus, for grace!! Only by His grace can we be saved and only by His salvation may we garner the strength to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
You’re turn. Talk to me! How are you doing with your reading? Any notes you’d like to share?
