The Soul of a Man

Won't somebody tell me, answer if you can!
Want somebody tell me, what is the soul of a man
I'm going to ask the question, answer if you can
If anybody here can tell me, what is the soul of a man?
I've traveled in different countries, I've traveled foreign lands
I've found nobody to tell me, what is the soul of a man
I saw a crowd stand talking, I came up right on time
Were hearing the doctor and the lawyer, say a man ain't nothing but his mind
I read the bible often, I tries to read it right
As far as I can understand, a man is more than his mind
When Christ stood in the temple, the people stood amazed
Was showing the doctors and the lawyers, how to raise a body from the grave

Blind Willie Johnson

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me

Galatians 1:15,16

God has often used the words of Oswald Chambers to soothe my soul in times of spiritual crises. His daily devotions have helped me get through many work days as I've read them before going into work. But recently, I was asked my thoughts on Chamber's devotion from October 6, entitled, The Bent of Regeneration. Here is what Chambers wrote based off the verse in Galatians 1:15,16.

"The New Testament teaching about regeneration is that when a man is struck by a sense of need, God will put the Holy Spirit into his spirit, and his personal spirit will be energized by the Spirit of the Son of God, "until Christ be formed in you." The moral miracle of Redemption is that God can put into me a new disposition whereby I can live a totally new life. When I reach the frontier of need and know my limitations, Jesus says - "Blessed are you." But I have to get there. God cannot put into me, a responsible moral being, the disposition that was in Jesus Christ unless I am conscious I need it."

Chambers has made a grave error in asserting that "man must be struck by a sense of need" before God will impart His Spirit to effectively save. Paul tell us in Romans that "none seek God" and in Ephesians that we were dead in sin and made alive in Christ. Lets look at Paul's letter to the Colossians. 1:21,22 "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death." Paul says we were once alienated and hostile in our minds. If our minds our hostile to God, then when not only see no need for Him, we despise Him! This is true of all of us, for at one time, we were all hostile in our minds toward God. In the second chapter, Paul follows up with the state of man before salvation. "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands." Not only were our minds hostile and we were alienated toward God, but we were dead in our sins and uncircumcised in our hearts. There was nothing good in us. The uncircumcised heart does not seek God. It may sense the need that something is missing, but it does not seek God. Chambers also says that man is a "responsible, moral being." Scripture does not testify to man being "moral" for there are none good. When the rich young ruler approaches Christ, he calls him good. Christ rebukes him by asking, "Why do you call me good? There is none good but God."

Coming to Christ is not about sensing a need and knowing my limitations and deciding to let God help me. Coming to Christ is something done solely by the Triune God. In John 3, Nicodemus asks Jesus what man must do to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus says that man must be born of the Spirit. What does this mean? Does this imply the freedom of man's will plays a role in this birth? The answer is a resounding No! For a dead man cannot choose to be reborn. Slaves cannot choose their masters. Prisoners cannot choose to be justified. Blind men cannot choose to see. It is a dangerous error to assume that man plays such a great role in the saving of His soul. Martin Luther said, "If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright." John Calvin said. "Indeed the Word of God is like the sun, shining upon all those to whom it is proclaimed, but with no effect among the blind. Now, all of us are blind by nature in this respect... Accordingly, it cannot penetrate into our minds unless the Spirit, as the inner teacher, through his illumination makes entry for it."

So, if this is true of our fallen state, how is anyone saved? God answers this in the book of Jeremiah. "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Regeneration is God changing the heart of those that he has foreknown and loved before the foundation of the world. The Westminster Confession of Faith beautifully sums up the doctrine of regeneration.

"I. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.

II. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it."

Chambers is right that regeneration is a work of the spirit and He changes our disposition, though the Holy Spirit does so much more in us than that. But, according to scripture, he is absolutely wrong in attributing this regeneration by man's sense of need and his morality. He says that God will not change our disposition against our will. But I know that in my life I was not seeking God until He effectually called me and neither was Saul on his way to Damascus. The beauty of the gospel is that God saves sinners in spite of their sinfulness. Praise God that He saved me otherwise I would have never came to Him.

Burn in Hell

"Well, fell on knee

Take to drink

Pray this prayer

And pray no more

I don't doubt, Lord

Don't let go

Don't let go"

Junior Kimbrough

He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3b

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Does it mean that I try my best to love Him and my neighbors, spend time with Him, pray, and repent when I sin? I think that it includes all these things, but as a sinful man I find myself waging war with these activities and seeking my own comfort and needs. And subtly, I find myself measuring my spiritual growth by how often I am successful at performing these acts. What a wretched man, I am!

I have noticed that I tend to look back at where God brought me and I like to look forward to the fulfillment of God's work, but it is very hard to look at the here and now and how to get from point A to point B. In this very real world, where I fight a very real enemy, how do I allow myself to be lead down paths of righteousness for His name's sake? I often find myself saying, "If I just had a better job with a nice boss and weekends off, life would be so much better." Or, "once my car is paid for, my mind will be at ease on regards to finances." What a hollow and shallow view of life I have!

Recently, I have been experiencing some problems at work. I have let these problems at work define who I am. I have let this boss have control over me by allowing a bitter root to spring up and trip me up in feeble pursuit of Christ. The good news of the Gospel is that I am already victorious, that I am Christ's possession and that He has given me everything I need in this life to live holy and blameless, content in all things, and resting in His joy. Without knowing, I have often reduced my Redeemer to my therapist. I only allow Christ to meet the needs that I have defined as opposed to allowing Him to define my true needs. So many people are unemployed, yet in my sinfulness, I would rather quit my job than love my boss. The need perceived is not really a need but a selfish desire that is seeking to allow sin to continue to have a root in my heart instead of submitting to Christ and allowing Him to change me into His image. How can I become more than a conqueror, for His name's sake, if I run from every uncomfortable and difficult situation? It is these little details of life that we must focus on in this war against sin. Christ will lead me through all sorts of uncomfortable and very challenging circumstances. If I view him as anything less than my victorious Redeemer King, then I will always seek to turn to the right or left when the going gets tough.

I am reminded of the words of Isaiah the prophet. "In repentance and rest you will be saved. In quietness and trust is your strength."1 My prayer is that I would fervently cling to the cross.

1. Isaiah 30:15

It's My Soul

Why do I sit and cry
Without a reason
I don't know why
It's my soul
Oh, it's my soul
I don't know why, people
Wooo, it's my soul

Johnny Winter

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25:40

I have spent many nights wondering what Christ means when he tells us to "lose ourselves" and to "serve one another." Practically speaking, what does this look like? Do we sell our possessions and walk the earth? Do we go on a mission trip? Is it staying late after work to give a co-worker a lift? I think it encompasses all of these things but more importantly, I think it's an attitude, a mindset. It is part of transforming our minds to the mind of Christ. When we renew our minds, we seek opportunities to serve others, to give, to love, and to glorify Christ.

One way to glorify Christ is go to the facebook page for Project 25:40 and become a fan. It doesn't sound like much, but if they get to 5,000 fans by the end of August, then their ministry partners will donate 50 ducks, 20 goats, and dig a water well overseas. So it's quite a simple task. Just go to their facebook page and become a fan and people in need will receive help in the name of the Lord. They could also use our prayer, which is our most effective weapon.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-2540/32604073500?ref=ts

300 M.P.H Torrential Outpour Blues

I'm bringing back ghosts
That are no longer there
I'm gettin' hard on myself
Sittin' in my easy chair
Well, there's three people in the mirror
And I'm wonderin' which one of them I should choose
Well, I can't keep from laughin'
Spittin' out these 300 mile per hour outpour blues

Jack White

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2-3a

The good news of the Gospel is that by His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ, has secured salvation, redemption, adoption, and sanctification for His people. Jesus says in the Gospel of John, "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture....I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."1 I believe this. I know this. Yet in my mind, there is a war waging. The crucified flesh, the old man, rises up and causes unrest in my soul.

Often times we misunderstand what it means to walk with the Lord. We go to church, we read our bibles, we pray before each meal, but we live defeated lives, waiting for the Lord to come and rescue us. Waiting for the Lord to "show up" while we drown in a puddle. This is not the life intended for us. Surely, the battle with sin, though it be dethroned, is still a hard battle. The trials of life can be tedious and knock us off the path intended, but we must always remember two things. The Lord has secured the victory and the Lord is present with us. It is in this victory that we can approach the throne of God with confidence that our prayers will be heard and our needs met and it is with this confidence that we can assert that not only is the Lord presently with us, but carrying our burdens. It is a hard thing to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, but this walk we must do if we expect to reap the benefits of being one of God's children.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipian church, giving them this command based on an eternal promise. "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."2 The command is to work out our salvation. To seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, to be holy and blameless, to walk in a manner worthy and so on and so forth. The promise is that God will work in us, to will us to seek Him and to work through us, producing much fruit, quieting our souls, and destroying indwelling sin, conforming us to His image.

So let us not fret. Let us not be overcome by our defeated flesh. Let us KNOW and LIVE like the sons and daughters of God. If you feel stuck in a rut, do not wait for a miracle. Do not wait for the thrill or the "God goosebumps" or any other emotional experience to shake you out of your doldrums. Do not be like one of five thousand fed by five loaves and two fish, and yet still demand a sign or a miracle. Live in the reality that Christ is present, working in you, for his own good pleasure. He will make us lie down in green pastures and restore our souls. He is with us and working in us. Let that be all we will ever need.

Spoonful

It could be a spoonful of diamonds
Could be a spoonful of gold
Just a little spoon of your precious love
Satisfies my soul

Howlin' Wolf

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want

Psalm 23:1

How often do we preoccupy our minds with the trivial things of this world? Often times when I go to bed, my mind rambles with injustices done to me that I want to make right, or with my plans for the next day, the next week, or the next month. I set up confrontations in my mind and then formulate a conversation or action where I come out as the victor, and my enemy is left feeling shamed. I plan out what I am going to do or how I am going to respond to certain situations that I think are unfair. Or I make grandiose plans and hope they come to fruition. Worry about tomorrow not only keeps me awake all night, but is blatant sin against my Holy Father, who has provided a way and a path, and has set all things in motion to work for my good. David realized this when he wrote this Psalm.

When we think of "want" it is often associated with some sort of material possession. I can't think of one "material thing" that I want. But I can think of thousands of "wants" that keep my mind rambling all the day. I want to be right. I want to show them who's boss. I want to make them pay. I want to be liked. I want to be thought of as smart. I want to be respected. I want my revenge and I want to use sinful means to accomplish it. I want to do nothing when I should do something and I don't want to do the things I ought. My wants ensnare my mind and make it hard to take captive my thoughts and make them obedient to Christ.

I want, better yet, I yearn for the Lord to be sufficient and to want nothing but to know him. Christ spoke about the emptiness of our worries and wants in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6:25-34.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. My prayer is that seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness will be my only want, my only desire. Then I will truly know what it is to trust the Good Shepherd and to not want.

Commit A Crime

I'm gonna leave you woman, before I commit a crime.
I'm gonna leave you woman, before I commit a crime.
You tried so hard to kill me, woman it just was not my time.
You put poison in my coffee, instead of milk or cream.
Howlin' Wolf

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I have been in many relationships that I like to refer as relationshits. I've spent many hours crying, praying, hoping, and yearning for these relationships to work, but one thing that I never did was place God at the head of my relationships. It was not until I started a relationship with my fiancee, Marrissa, that I went into the relationship with the goal of not only making God the priority over the relationship, but the supreme authority over all things pertaining to my life. It was not until I did this, that the Apostle Paul's verses rang indelibly true and a foundation for the relationship was built on the immovability of God's grace and love. In other words, being in a healthy relationship for the first time in my life is quite awesome.

I write these words not for my own edification, as most of these postings are written for my own sanity and accountability. Lately, I have been put in the middle of one of the most one sided and destructive relationships that I've ever witnessed. It is quite the contrast to hear both sides rant and rail against each other while my bride to be and I are in the midst of pre-marriage counseling and reading through a book entitled, When Sinners Say I Do.

The principles that Paul lays out in 1 Corinthians 13 are principles that I have tried to emulate in my relationship. These principles are noticeably ignored and not practiced in the relationship between my two friends, whom we shall call "Jack" and "Meg".

It is clear in their relationship that the only communication between the two is full of malice and anger and resentment. There is no trust, there is nothing that resembles affection for each other. Why are they even together? I do not know. I suppose that in both of their minds, it is better to be miserable with someone than alone. Based on that premise and the fact that neither will listen to my pleadings to break up and move apart, I now feel the responsibility to lay a groundwork of a healthy relationship, if not for their benefit, then for the benefit of anyone currently seeking to turn their relationshit into a healthy relationship.

Love is patient. Love does not seek to have its own way. One of the most destructive and frustrating things I have ever experienced was an argument through text messaging. I have been on both sides, both instigating and defending in this matter, and it is something that I never want to go through again. Love does not seek to have an answer right away. In it's patience, it can wait out the storms, keep the emotions in check, and will wait for its turn to either make it's complaint or defend it's actions. Patience will take someone by the hand and walk with them, no matter how long or arduous the road is. Patience does not demand a verdict.

Love is kind. Love does not seek to hurt another person. Love seeks to serve without the motivation of getting anything in return. The kindness of love is satisfied in and of itself.

Love does not envy. Love is content with itself. Love only wants the best for others and never for oneself. I am far more happier if Marrissa has a good day despite my bad day. My love rejoices in her blessings.

Love does not boast. In a healthy relationship, there is never any need to remind the other person how much you contribute to the relationship. Love does not hold the sins of the other over their heads. As a wretched sinner, I can only boast in the cross. Boasting in the fact that I make more money or that I do the bulk of the traveling is irrelevant and counter-productive and causes a rift in the relationship.

Love is not arrogant. True love, as laid out by Christ in the Gospels, seeks to exalt the other above one's self. Marrissa's well being is far more important than mine. In this humility, we are able to serve one another and meet each other's needs. Love does not seek to change another person. "Meg" asked me one time how she could change "Jack". This was supremely arrogant. First, "Jack" needs to change on his own. How do you change him? You love him! You serve him! You seek after his well being! The biggest folly that women continually repeat is this notion that bitching and complaining will change a man. Love is about compromise, not behavior modification. The man may modify his behavior, but it is usually to shut the woman up. No change in his heart has taken place and therefore, when he has had enough of the one-sidedness of the compromise, he will inevitably revert to his way.

Love is not rude. Love does not seek to injure the other with their words or their actions. "Jack" one time told "Meg" to go play in traffic. I did not doubt his seriousness. As far as I know, he never took it back. One thing "Jack" needs to realize is that he lives in "Meg's" house. Would she be justified to change the locks and throw his stuff in the yard? Taking someone's kindness for granted is one the rudest and evilest things that people do. I've certainly done it before, so who am I to judge? Yet, if it were me in "Meg's" shoes, he would be homeless. This is why I thank God everyday for a girl that has never once been rude to me or by her actions, inspired me to be rude to her. And if we were rude to each other, we have built a foundation of respect and forgiveness.

Love does not insist on it's own way. As mentioned earlier, love seeks the well being of others before it's own needs. "Meg" once asked me when I quoted this verse to her, "should he then be able to get away with whatever he wants?" Well, quite frankly, if you believe the relationship is salvageable, then yes. What he is getting away with was never defined, but we have the choice. Stick it out or leave. If you feel the relationship is worth sticking it out, then you must not insist on your own way. Compromise is key and that involves both parties applying these principles to their lives first, the relationship second.

Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not hold the sins of the other over their heads. As Christ said, "remove the plank from your own eye." In my relationship, I am the biggest problem. It is the fundamental truth of relationships. "Meg" would like to think that if "Jack" would be this way, all would be good. And vice versa. What they both need to realize is that they, themselves, are the biggest problem in the relationship. When we look in the mirror and see ourselves for what we really are, we no longer puff ourselves up and blame the other person. We see that we are the cause of our own problems. We are our own worst enemies. In that context, how dare I hold her crankiness over her head or resent her for it? What am I doing to make her less cranky or ease her crankiness should be my question to myself. I should love her more when she is cranky because she NEEDS my love more! Anything else is throwing gasoline onto the fire.

Love does not rejoice at wrong doing, but rejoices with truth. As I said earlier, I've been a part of many destructive relationships, but one so destructive as the time I was the "other guy" for a married woman. Currently, I tread very carefully in my conversations with any ex's or other women. I merely do not trust myself and respect Marrissa too much to even plant the tiniest of thoughts in her head, that my eyes may be wandering. With that being said, I am completely transparent. She has access to my Facebook account. My cell phone is never locked and always on the counter. The beautiful truth of our union is this. Because I am transparent, she has no desire to snoop and does not snoop. When my ex's would hack my accounts and go through my phones, I was furious. Why? Because I was hiding something. Innocent people have no need for the games that people play in relationships. They do not rejoice in them and I personally find the back and forth quite nauseating. It is liberating to be loved and trusted!!

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love is the greatest gift that God has given to man. Man in his sinfulness has perverted love and tainted it's goodness. It is this kind of love that changed me, that brought me to my knees, that puts Marrissa before my own interests, that seeks to serve her and edify her. I can say that we have probably had 3 or 4 arguments in our time together. We will have many more. But never has a voice been raised or a hurtful word been said. Never has resentment been allowed to manifest itself nor sins of the past been used to injure. Never have we let the sun go down on any issue that offended one of us and never have we refused to communicate. This love has helped to bring sanity into my life, given me a clearer vision of God's own love for me, and helped to restore my faith. My prayer is that we both stay faithful to Christ and to each other, for it is by His grace, does such a love exist between us.

Most Things Haven't Worked Out

O LORD, you have deceived me,
and I was deceived;
you are stronger than I,
and you have prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all the day;
everyone mocks me.
For whenever I speak, I cry out,
I shout, "Violence and destruction!"
For the word of the LORD has become for me
a reproach and derision all day long.

Jeremiah 20:7-8

I was recently speaking to a pastor/friend about an accountability group he attended with three other local pastors from different denominations. The pastors talked about their struggles within their ministries and relationships. The theme of their conversation seemed to be surrender. This idea that if I can fully surrender to God, then things will work out. My friend described this surrender as elusive to them, for some of the pastors were quite older than him, yet they still haven't figured it out how to fully surrender. I asked him a two part question. First, what does this elusive total surrender to Christ look like? Second, what expectations do these guys have when they finally reach full surrender? I think those questions have different answers based on one's theology, and depending on how far off one's doctrine of God is, can have dire consequences for one's faith.

So many christians base their spiritual growth on how well behaved they are or on how well they can play church. But this is not what the christian life is all about. Sanctification, or being made holy, is not about achieving some moral victory. The truth is, we will never be good enough for God. So why would we judge growth based on a checklist of good deeds when we were saved by grace to begin with? What does full surrender look like and is it maintainable? I honestly don't know what full surrender looks like and I am certain that it is not maintainable. This is why the cross is so important. We are poor dejected sinners striving to be holy, but we will always fail. As the great puritan theologian Thomas Watson said, "To deny [we]sin is to devalue grace."

Men from all ages have often sought their own plans by their own will instead of seeking after God. I don't doubt the hearts of these three pastors my friend met with by any means, but they relayed a feeling that total surrender would equal good things in their life and their ministry. One of the greatest lies the Devil has infiltrated into the church is the idea that if I'm good, God will bless me. And if I'm bad, I will be punished. Let us look at the lives of two of God's greatest prophets from the Old Testament. In 1 Kings 18, we find the prophet Elijah, challenging the prophets of Baal to a contest to see whose god will show up. In verse 36-40, we see Elijah victorious.

And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God." And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

In the next chapter, we find Elijah's life being threatened by Jezebel. Israel has seen Elijah's miracles, yet they did not repent, and now Elijah decides to flee for his life. Elijah meets God on the mountain and wants to give up his ministry. Surely, Elijah must have thought by God's miraculous display that Israel would repent, that Ahab and Jezebel would be overthrown, that the peace of the Lord would fill the land and that the people would return to him. Instead, the exact opposite occurs. How does our faith stand the test when we fully surrender and the unexpected happens?

The prophet Jeremiah lived a life of full surrender, prophesying the destruction of Judah and the exile of the children of Israel. These were not the words he wanted to say but the words of the Lord burning inside of him. He was beaten and scorned. Shouldn't God's prophet be prosperous he must have thought. Jeremiah went as far as to say that the Lord deceived him. That curses should be laid on the man that congratulated his father when he was born and curses his own birth. What if we fully surrender and lose our ministry? This is why theology is important. Because we do not always get what we want and most things don't work out the way we want them.

One summer I went to Romania on a missions trip. God provided the money to go but when I returned I barely had enough to pay rent. Needless to say, my faith struggled. I openly argued to God, "I went overseas to serve you. I gave up my summer for you! How can you not at least provide a job so that I can make enough money to pay rent!?!" How foolish I was then. My roommate helped bring me back down to humility when he asked me, "If God were to take everything, and you became homeless, would you still follow Him? Furthermore, would he be any less loving or just?" He was right. In my full surrender to God's will, he taught me something that summer that I did not expect to learn. God owes me nothing. In my absolute worst, when I ran from God as fast as I could, I've had jobs where I prospered. And in my surrender, in the same job, I was not prosperous. Living in full surrender to God's will is not a recipe for an easy life with a great ministry. If Christ was persecuted, if Paul was shipwrecked and chained, if Peter was crucified upside down, then where in the hell did this idea that full surrender equals prosperity come from? God's blessings are not dependent on my morality. And I'm thankful for that because I am a miserable sinner, waging a war against my flesh that I cannot win on my own. Praise be to God for His grace and mercy!

So let us seek to fully surrender our lives to God, but not to prosper our ministry, or make more money, or feel good about our faith. Let us fully surrender because God is good and he is worthy of our surrender. He has saved us from the pit, numbered the hairs on our heads and knows us by name. And when times get tough, cling to the cross and know that God works all things for the good of those whom he loves and has called by name.

Freedom

You got my heart
speak electric water
You got my soul
screamin' and howlin'
You know you hook my girlfriend
You know the drugstore man
But I don't need it now
I was trying to slap it out of her head

Jimi Hendrix

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

I was recently directed to the blog of New York Times Bestselling author Donald Miller. Donald Miller has written bestsellers titled Blue Like Jazz and Searching For God Knows What. The latter which I have read at the request of my girlfriend who is a big Donald Miller fan. After reading the book, I found Miller's writing style engaging, but the content held as much theological truths as The Purpose Driven Life. Miller likes to take a simpleton's view of spirituality and attempt to make it culturally relevant. The blog that Miller wrote that I want to address is titles "Are People Basically Good?" and can be found at this link.

http://donmilleris.com/2010/04/22/ar...asically-good/

Before I address the content of this blog, I want to give a little background on the theology of Donald Miller. He is part of the Emerging Church, which derives a lot of its theology from the Postmodern hermeneutic of Deconstructionism.Deconstruction generally tries to demonstrate that any text is not a discrete whole but contains several irreconcilable and contradictory meanings; that any text therefore has more than one interpretation; that the text itself links these interpretations inextricably; that the incompatibility of these interpretations is irreducible; and thus that an interpretative reading cannot go beyond a certain point.1 The Emergent Church has denied vital doctrines such as penal substitutionary atonement, hell and eternal punishment, and places more importance on living like Jesus than being led by Jesus. According to monergism.com, "Emerging Churches usually define themselves as those who like to take the life of Jesus as a model way to live, welcome those who are outside, share generously, participate, create, lead without control and function together in spiritual activities or communities who practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures. While all of these activities may be good, please notice that all of the above emerging principles are not about what Christ has done for us, but what we do for him. So the the very central core of Christianity is left out. The true gospel, rather, is news about what Christ has already done for us as a Savior, rather than instruction and advice about what we are to do for God. The primacy of His accomplishment, not ours, is the essence of our faith. The gospel of Christ above all brings news, rather than instruction."2

Now whether or not Miller ascribes to all of these beliefs is debatable. His writings convey the message of a relational dynamic with Christ and its importance over above believing certain doctrines. He rarely quotes scripture and takes an 'Aw shucks, I don't know about theology but I know that Jesus ate with sinners, and that seems pretty important.' While eating with sinners and living as Jesus lived is important, the salvation of a fallen man is not dependent on those things. Christianity without a cross ceases to be Christianity.

Onto Miller's blog, Are People Basically Good? Miller opens the blog with this line. I’ve always wondered why people who believe in total depravity say things to their kids like “good job” when they catch a baseball. Shouldn’t they say something like you caught the ball, but you still deserve to go to hell?

Miller quickly shows his severe lack of intelligence in regards to theology. As someone who holds dear to the doctrine of total depravity, his conclusion is quite offensive and it shows not only how ignorant Donald Miller is, but also how lazy he is. Even those who deny the doctrine of total depravity don't even take it to the conclusion that a man would tell his son, "Nice catch but you still deserve hell." He continues displaying his ignorance with this gem of a statement.

I’ve never really trusted people who believed we were totally depraved, for obvious reasons. How can their view of the world be trusted? They are totally depraved, after all.

Quite Frankly, Mr. Miller, I've never trusted Christians that believed they were good enough to earn salvation or that by just living a good moral life, Christ would be pleased. The worldview of a christian that holds on to total depravity is a cross centered worldview. There is none righteous, no not one. Knowing the evil that lives inside of me and its POWER, my only recourse is to cling to the cross. Miller continues....

A pastor friend told me recently, though, that the term total depravity doesn’t mean you aren’t a good person, or aren’t capable of doing good, but that you aren’t capable of redeeming yourself. You are totally depraved, he said,at being able to access God.

This pastor was correct, but it shows the lack of respect that Miller has for doctrine. As a writer and one who has influence, Miller never says he went to scripture to then research this idea or sought to read what the reformers had to say. I guess I should at least be thankful that Donald Miller clearly knows a pastor that could talk some sense into him. He continues...

That made more sense to me, to be honest. And besides, I’ve met plenty of people who don’t even know God who are good people. And I mean really, really good. I mean they love and care about people, they are moral, they are charitable, so the whole idea there is nothing good in them doesn’t seem to jive with reality.

This is where Miller's postmodern view of scripture shows itself. Who is he comparing these people to? Himself? Clearly, he is not comparing them to Christ. He takes great care to mention that they are "really, really good." and they "love and care" for people. Mr. Miller, loving and caring for people is not enough. While it is good and noble, it does not save. And when you start to look at yourself in comparison with Christ and not your friends, you will see that there is no good in you. Your buddy and life model, Jesus Christ said himself in John 15:4-6 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." So according to Jesus, no man can do any good unless he abides in Him. Those that do not abide in Him or know Him, are like branches that are thrown away and burned. So I ask Miller, what good are these non-believers doing? Do you believe the good they do saves them? Makes them righteous? Are their works not like filthy rags? Furthermore, the account of the rich young man in Mark 10:17-18, Jesus has some interesting words about what is good. "And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." Miller concludes his blog with this:

Sometimes I wonder if God has an enemy and that enemy is trying to get us to not like people, because if we don’t like them, they won’t listen to anything we say. And sometimes I wonder if the idea of total depravity has been skewed to get us to not like people. Ever thought about this? And do you think people can be good? I don't know what type of christian Miller has dealt with, but I have never in my life met someone who used total depravity to not like people. The reason the church has lost its relevance is because it has forsaken sound doctrine and traded it for a snake oil salesmen. The emerging church and seeker sensitive churches think they have figured out the church's cultural crisis by fleeing from sound doctrine, watering down the Gospel, removing it's offensiveness and preaching a Gospel of acceptance and making Jesus as cool as possible. The truth is, this gospel does not save anyone. It does not change anyone. Donald Miller writes about a weak Jesus that doesn't care what we believe about him, he just wants us to hold hands and sing around the campfire. This is not a freeing gospel. The Gospel teaches us that we cannot attain righteousness on our own. We cannot do good in God's sight. We cannot love like God. We are under the power of sin and God has sent his son to free us. Ultimate freedom is found in service to the Cross. It is found by being led by the spirit. How can the church be led by the spirit if the wolves in sheep's clothing like Donald Miller tell us that we are good and scripture isn't that important to knowing Christ. We just need to follow His example. It is no wonder his simpleton writing is so popular in an age where the offensive doctrine of the Cross is replaced by the buddy Jesus. So let us seek the truths and mysteries of Christ and be led by His spirit. Let us seek to know more of Him so that the fruit we bear, we bear by being led by His Spirit. I will close with a quote from the great Puritan theologian John Owen. "Without absolutes revealed from without by God Himself, we are left rudderless in a sea of conflicting ideas about manners, justice and right and wrong, issuing from a multitude of self-opinionated thinkers."

1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstructionism 2.http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/qna/emerging.html

Trouble Will Soon Be Over

Oh, trouble’ll soon be over, sorrow will have an end
Oh, trouble’ll soon be over, sorrow will have an end

Well, Christ is my foot and fellow, He’s my only friend
Till the end of my sorrow and tells me to lean on Him

Blind Willie Johnson

The Gospel of Mark

Chapter 1 verses 1-13

A commentary

v. 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ...

The beginning of the good news was not necessarily the virgin birth. Mark begins with John the Baptist preparing the way as does the Gospel of John. The most important news of the coming of the Messiah is not the birth of Christ but the start of his ministry as prophesied by the Old Testament prophets and the aforementioned John the Baptist.

v. 1 ...the Son of God.

Mark opens his gospel not only claiming that Jesus was the promised Christ but also the Son of God. Because he refers him as the Son of God, he deviates from the Gospel of Matthew, who referred to Jesus as the Son of David and Abraham, showing the kingship of Christ as heir to the Davidic throne. Mark writes his gospel to a primarily gentile audience which is probably why he left out the the heirship of the Davidic throne, which would be appealing to a Jewish audience, as Matthew's Gospel was written to.

v. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

Matthew quotes not only Isaiah 40:3 but also Malachi 3:1, using passages from the Septuagint, to not only exalt John as a prophet but to exalt the one that John preaches about as the promised Savior. The Old Testament is the Gospel's beginning and source and Jesus is the final inspired interpretation.

v. 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness...

The ministry of John in the wilderness to remind Israel of her covenant with God. It is through the wilderness that He led them to the promised land and through the wilderness, John will lead the people of God to Christ, the promised Messiah.

and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

This baptism was a symbolic ritual cleaning and a proclamation to repent and seek God. This baptism did not forgive sins but was a sign of a new covenant that was to come.

v. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Clearly, not every Israelite came to him, but many did. Enough to attract Herod's attention. This renewal, that occurred throughout the region, was the preparation of hearts and minds to receive the Messiah. God was drawing his covenant people to Himself to give them His son.

v. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

Why was it important for Mark to tell us what John wore and what he ate? 2 Kings 1:8 describes what the prophet Elijah wore. Mark wanted to draw a connection between Elijah and John. John is the new Elijah, preparing the way for the Lord. The rise of the prophets in Jewish history started with Elijah. The last great prophet to come was John, nearly 400 years after the last book of the Old testament was written.

v. 7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

John recognized his role as an emerging prophet whose role was to prepare the way for the Messiah. v. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Jesus is coming not to wash the outside, but to purify the hearts and mind of God's people. This new covenant will renew the people through Himself and through the Spirit.

v.9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee...

Galilee was not a place held in high regard. It was a place of mixed race and the law was not zealously observed. Nazareth was a small village. No mention of Nazareth exists in the Old Testament. It is befitting of the Savior to come from a place of insignificance that the Pharisees would have disdain for. See John 7:52.

and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Matthew 3:15 says that Jesus was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus' baptism was part of His process of bearing the sins of the world. For the christian, we are baptized into His death and resurrection. The baptism instituted by Christ is more than just a symbolic representation. It is a powerful command from Christ that identifies one as part of the new covenant.

v. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Just as in christian baptism, all three persons of the trinity are involved. The initiative of the Father, the work of the Son, and the enabling power of the Spirit are present. In Jesus' baptism, the Spirit descends as a sign that the Christ is indeed the Messiah and that the preaching of John was validated, thus validating the Old Testament prophecies concerning John.

v. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

The Father validates the coming ministry of Jesus. Because in Jesus, all things were created, the Father knows Jesus on a personal level and has sent Jesus to fulfill His initiative of a new covenant.

v. 12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

The importance of the wilderness in the Old Testament cannot be understated. It was in the wilderness that Elijah fled from Jezebel and hid. It was in the wilderness that Israelites wandered for forty years. While those instances occurred, God used the wilderness to refine and purify and make Himself known. Christ, the embodiment of all perfection, did not need to be refined. It was in the wilderness where God made a covenant with the Israelites and where Christ reminds them of where they came from and how He will intercede to the Father for their sake.

v. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days,

The number 40 in the scriptures is a symbol for new beginnings. 40 years in the wilderness, 40 days of rain, and Christ, fasting and being tempted for 40 days. God was going to start a new covenant with His people.

being tempted by Satan.

God does not tempt us, James 1:13 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil and He, Himself does not tempt anyone. Though Jesus was God incarnate, he was still fully man. This temptation was a temptation of his humanity. In Luke's Gospel, Satan uses Jesus' hunger to tempt him to turn stones into bread. Jesus' responses to Satan's temptations were quotations from scripture. If this is how our Lord would respond to temptation, how much more should we?

And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

In comparison to the Exodus, we see God providing for the Israelites during the journey. Just as manna fell from heaven to feed starving bellies and angels ministered to our Lord, we can be confident that God will provide for us when we are tempted and tested. This is why James extols us to consider our trials pure joy. For in the midst of trials we can see God's hand at work.