It's Good to Give Thanks

Lydia Sings "It's Good to Give Thanks"

Lydia sang this song with her pre-school classmates to start Zion Lutheran's Saturday evening service tonight. Five years ago at basically the same time Lisa and I were eating mostaccioli at Sarah and Matt's house, watched Iron Man and drove the whole way home talking about how the baby inside was going crazy and flipping all around. We thought we might be headed to the hospital that night. Lisa had contractions basically all night and the next day we finally made our way to the hospital (via a trip to Sam's and then the doctor's office).

It is good to give thanks.
I am thankful to God for this wonderful little girl who is growing up so quickly...

Jesus, Friend of Sinners - TuesdayTunes

Lyrics to "Jesus, Friend Of Sinners" by Casting Crowns:

Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

Jesus friend of sinners the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and love like You did

Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet

 'Cause You are good, You are good
And Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast 
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

Return to College Night

Last night I was at the REALM for college night for the first time since Adelaine was born. The number of students attending over the past few months has greatly increased. I saw quite a few familiar faces and a lot more than I did not know. The musical worship time was very well done, with songs that were very appropriate for the evening's talk, which focused on Love and was wonderfully given by Freddie Williams.

After the talk I had the chance to catch up a little with some of the students that I have some history with. I didn't have the opportunity to go into to much depth with many of them, but it was good to see them and get a chance to begin reinserting myself into that community.

I had a very good discussion with one of the students I know regarding the Christian life and how we are to live in the world, but not of it. Our conversation touched on a variety of ideas and issues, but we kept circling back around several important questions:
- How are Christians to live for the Kingdom?
- Are we to forsake all possessions and live lives of poverty for Christ?
- Is it wrong to have "stuff"?
- How can a Christian be wealthy and not give to the poor?

All of the questions that we talked about were solid questions that Christians have been wrestling with since Christ walked the earth. We did not come to any consensus or conclusions in our time-limited discussion last night, but I believe that our conversation was edifying, challenging and encouraging for everyone involved.

I'm thankful for students who are trying to figure out how to live for God.

What's Next For Francis Chan?

I have found these three men to be great teachers and preachers of the Word and have learned a lot from listening and reading their thoughts on a wide variety of topics.

In this video, Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris sat down with Francis Chan and asked why he resigned as senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California, and what he plans to do next.


(HT: Justin Taylor)

The Parable of the Sea

Sea Parable from ilovepinatas on Vimeo.

The Church - TuesdayTunes

This is not the original version, which I cannot find anywhere online, but it is not bad either.

Lyrics for "The Church" by Derek Webb (song background):

I have come with one purpose
To capture for myself a bride
By my life she is lovely
By my death she's justified
I have always been her husband
Though many lovers she has known
So with water I will wash her
And by my word alone
So when you hear the sound of the water
You will know you're not alone

'cause I haven't come for only you
But for my people to pursue
You cannot care for me with no regard for her
If you love me you will love the church

I have long pursued her
As a harlot and a whore
But she will feast upon me
She will drink and thirst no more

So when you taste my flesh and my blood
You will know you're not alone
There is none that can replace her
Though there are many who will try
And though some may be her bridesmaids
They can never be my bride

An Emotional Hell

"I was shocked the other day to read at the current rate, one in three American women will have at least one abortion by the time they reach age 45. Interestingly, 78% of these women report having a religious affiliation.

Anyway you spin the stats here’s the reality, our churches are full of women who are carrying a tremendous amount of guilt regarding an abortion they’ve had."

(HT: Pete Wilson)