Eeee-I-Eeeee-I-Ohhhhh
The duck says, "Quack, quack"
Eeee-I-Eeeee-I-Ohhhhh
If it had been light outside instead of dark, I probably would have enjoyed the song more!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
This morning's alarm
This morning the rest of the Hill household was greeted by the youngest Hill singing loudly in her bed...
If it had been light outside instead of dark, I probably would have enjoyed the song more!
If it had been light outside instead of dark, I probably would have enjoyed the song more!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
There is a fountain
Friday I will be speaking from Luke 23:39-43 concerning the "dying thief." Perhaps, apart from Scripture, the best rendering of this story with personal application is found in one of William Cowper's Hymns originally called, "Praise for the Fountain Opened."
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The next few days
This week I will have the privilege of sharing thoughts from God's Word in three different forums. It seems that the Spirit has drawn my heart and attention to look at the Gospel of Luke during this Holy Week. So...
- On Wednesday night, I will be leading a Bible study here at the church comparing the beginning of Luke with the end of Luke.
- On Friday (at noon), I will be speaking at a Good Friday service at Faith Baptist Chuch on Limestone Road, about the words of Christ to the thief on the cross from Luke 23.
- On Sunday, Lord-willing, we will look at Luke 24 and the account of the first Resurrection Sunday.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Things that surprise you (but shouldn't)
A clip from the Hill household this afternoon...
Anonymous Hill: "Tooting in someone's face is NOT appropriate, is it, Daddy? We shouldn't talk about it."
Daddy: "I guess you're right."
Hard-to-detect idols
I have been working through Daniel 3 this week. The story of the three Hebrews being thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not "fall down and worship" the image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up.
They didn't do it, because that sort of act would violate Exodus 20, which says that our allegiance should be to God alone. God spelled it out clearly and any other allegiance is idol-worship.
As I have probed, thought, and meditated on this more, I realize how easy it is to worship idols. John thought so, because he ends his first epistle with a warning about it. I don't think his words are limited to statues and figurines, either.
In many ways the default position of the human heart is to worship something, isn't it? That is how we were born, that is how we live! Show me a 9-year-old, and I will show you someone who is awed by the latest game, toy, or thing. Show me a 39-year-old, and I will show you someone who is loving and sacrificing for a (higher-priced) toy, a relationship, a career, etc. We were made to worship, and our decisions, attitudes, motives, etc. reveal what we are worshipping.
I can honestly say that a big statue really doesn't do much for me on the worship meter. I am really not tempted. But if we say that you worship "the most important thing in the world to you," then my heart is challenged. If we are to look at what we are most concerned about, what we think about, what makes us sad if we can't get it, what affects our life, we are even digging deeper.
Based on those kind of thoughts, something may be good and proper in its place, but the moment it goes from being nice to ultimate, it has become an idol.
If I begin to define idol-worship in those categories, I may not be as far from "falling down and worshipping" things as I would like to be. I may be more like the crowd on the plain of Dura in Daniel 3 who mindlessly bowed before the image, and less like three men who chose to order their life based on God's truth.
Where am I vulnerable? What are some things/feelings that could become idols. I will share those at another time, but God seems to be working me over in that area!
They didn't do it, because that sort of act would violate Exodus 20, which says that our allegiance should be to God alone. God spelled it out clearly and any other allegiance is idol-worship.
As I have probed, thought, and meditated on this more, I realize how easy it is to worship idols. John thought so, because he ends his first epistle with a warning about it. I don't think his words are limited to statues and figurines, either.
In many ways the default position of the human heart is to worship something, isn't it? That is how we were born, that is how we live! Show me a 9-year-old, and I will show you someone who is awed by the latest game, toy, or thing. Show me a 39-year-old, and I will show you someone who is loving and sacrificing for a (higher-priced) toy, a relationship, a career, etc. We were made to worship, and our decisions, attitudes, motives, etc. reveal what we are worshipping.
I can honestly say that a big statue really doesn't do much for me on the worship meter. I am really not tempted. But if we say that you worship "the most important thing in the world to you," then my heart is challenged. If we are to look at what we are most concerned about, what we think about, what makes us sad if we can't get it, what affects our life, we are even digging deeper.
Based on those kind of thoughts, something may be good and proper in its place, but the moment it goes from being nice to ultimate, it has become an idol.
If I begin to define idol-worship in those categories, I may not be as far from "falling down and worshipping" things as I would like to be. I may be more like the crowd on the plain of Dura in Daniel 3 who mindlessly bowed before the image, and less like three men who chose to order their life based on God's truth.
Where am I vulnerable? What are some things/feelings that could become idols. I will share those at another time, but God seems to be working me over in that area!
Palm Sunday
A couple thoughts on this Friday morning...
26 years ago to the day (It was Easter Sunday), I was baptized as a follower of Jesus Christ. I still have some memories of that morning, even though I was pretty young. I am grateful that God's grace worked in my heart at a young age, drew me to see the need for clear forgiveness of my sin, and pushed me to trust in God's Son as my righteousness. I am also grateful that it was the Holy Spirit pushing, not my parents. My parents were there guiding my heart, but not rushing the grace-filled work in my life. My need for the gospel seems to grow over time, and so does my appreciation of it.
This coming Sunday will be a special Sunday at OBC.
26 years ago to the day (It was Easter Sunday), I was baptized as a follower of Jesus Christ. I still have some memories of that morning, even though I was pretty young. I am grateful that God's grace worked in my heart at a young age, drew me to see the need for clear forgiveness of my sin, and pushed me to trust in God's Son as my righteousness. I am also grateful that it was the Holy Spirit pushing, not my parents. My parents were there guiding my heart, but not rushing the grace-filled work in my life. My need for the gospel seems to grow over time, and so does my appreciation of it.
This coming Sunday will be a special Sunday at OBC.
- It is Palm Sunday, and we will remember the entry that Jesus had into the city of Jerusalem.
- We will be looking at the stories of Daniel in the Lion's Den and Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego (actually I prefer Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah).
- My mom will be here. (always a little added pressure when the parents are in town) :-)
- Tyler and Jenny Somers will be leading our 9:00 service (and having a concert at the OEX Sunday evening)
- We will be celebrating Communion.
- I will be saying something in the introduction of my sermon on Daniel 3 and 6 that I have NEVER said before in a sermon.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Scripture and impact
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable, so says 2 Timothy 3, but sometimes particular Scriptures stand out in my mind and challenge my heart. They have come up in conversations and in prayers. A few of those recently have been...
I couldn't help but sharing! Are there some Scriptures that have impacted you recently? Feel free to comment!
- Romans 15:14-21 - This has given me more insight into how Paul viewed pastoring and ministry.
- Psalm 118 - The allusions to Palm Sunday and Matthew 21 are so encouraging.
- Psalm 119:32 - This verse shared with me by someone this week. I am using it as a platform for prayer for our church corporately and myself as well.
- Deuteronomy 4:7-8 -I mentioned these verses before, but I am still grateful that God speaks and that God is near!
- James 1:5 - This has been a regular part of my prayers in recent days.
- Jeremiah 29 - Jeremiah tells the Jews exiled in Babylon to seek the peace of the city. That certainly has an application for us.
I couldn't help but sharing! Are there some Scriptures that have impacted you recently? Feel free to comment!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Daniel resources
In preaching through Daniel, I have been blessed to find several study helps.Commentaries
- The Message of Daniel by Ronald S. Wallace (Bible Speaks Today)
- Daniel by Tremper Longman (NIVAC)
- Hope in the Midst of a Hostile World by George Schwab
- Daniel by Stephen Miller (NAC)
Bible Study Guides
- Kingdom of Dreams by Andrew Reid and Karen Morris
- Seeing Things God's Way by Bryson Smith
Other Relevant Books
- Christ and Culture Revisited by D.A. Carson
- The Gospel and Revelation by Graeme Goldsworthy
- American Gospel by Jon Meacham
- Living with the Underworld by Peter Bolt
9 reasons why Daniel and the Lions Den is worth a re-reading
I was studying for Sunday's message and I came across a summary of some of the highlights of the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den in Daniel 6.
- Daniel was faithful even in old age (he was near or over 80)
- Daniel is a godly example (v. 5)
- Daniel was faithful to pray (10)
- Daniel was faithful in trials (16)
- Daniel was faithful in his testimony to God (16, 20)
- Daniel was rescued by God (22)
- Daniel saw a special manifestation of God (22)
- Daniel had a platform for a strong witness to God's rule (26-27)
- Daniel was blessed for his obedience (28)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Painful times, encouraging words
I was reminded yet again yesterday that life can be very tough, and sometimes we struggle with knowing what God is doing and where God is taking us.
One of the OBC family has shared some strong, faith-filled words as she wrestles through living in a world that hurts. I am so grateful for the hope she shares from Romans 8. And I am grateful for faith that can persevere in and through pain.
One of the OBC family has shared some strong, faith-filled words as she wrestles through living in a world that hurts. I am so grateful for the hope she shares from Romans 8. And I am grateful for faith that can persevere in and through pain.
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