Well, after spending my free time this semester in meetings, practices, voluntelling schemes, and miscellaneous worship leader/student organizer tasks, the first Easter service at Eaton Chapel on campus in decades has passed. Praise the Lord.
The day started at 8:45, when worship team members arrived at the chapel in our Sunday best for
one. last. practice.
Slowly, the choir filtered in.
And then, pews began to fill.
Familiar faces blended with the unfamiliar and I tried really hard to talk to as many people that I knew as I could. If I missed you, I'm sorry, there was a lot going on.
I taught my co-guitarist how to fist bump and explode (this is hilarious because he has white hair and has been playing the guitar significantly longer than I have been alive).
This was such a beautiful day. Pretty sure this will make it into my top five Beloit moments.
I never thought I would get to proclaim "He is risen indeed" on my campus, with my friends, church, and college faculty.
The music was fantastic, the Scripture was so well done, and powerfully brought to light, and Pastor Tim did a great job with his message.
Also, I didn't trip, and if you weren't there you cannot appreciate this accomplishment. I had to walk across a stage criss crossed with chords numerous times.
What a wonderful day, and what a wonderful Savior is Jesus!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Worship that Means More
With all the uncertainty swirling around, I remembered Betsy's words of advice: if you have obligations that you need to dip out of, this takes priority.
I went to our Easter rehearsal, not sure if I was going to stay the whole time. Who can sit and worship when you feel like this?
But what else can you do?
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night!
I played those chords and sung those words with everything that I am, because I so desperately need that to be true.
The tomb may be full now, but Sunday is coming
The darkness is harsh now, but the light is coming
I went to our Easter rehearsal, not sure if I was going to stay the whole time. Who can sit and worship when you feel like this?
But what else can you do?
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night!
I played those chords and sung those words with everything that I am, because I so desperately need that to be true.
The tomb may be full now, but Sunday is coming
The darkness is harsh now, but the light is coming
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-14
Friday, March 29, 2013
A Night for the Ugly Beautiful
My heart drops to my stomach as I hang up the phone; I suddenly feel as though I'm gasping for every breath.
It's a night for the ugly beautiful.
Can I, right now, say, the lines are falling for me in pleasant places? Can I say my inheritance is beautiful?
It's a night for red eyes and labored breath and avoiding your hall-mates on the way to the bathroom so they won't have to ask what's wrong
It's a night for fleece blankets and the ugliest sweater and softest leggings
It's a night to replay the soothing words like broken cassette tapes that won't stop repeating
I open my journal to write it out, and I see a quote from the Jesus Storybook Bible
But God's plan was still working
Heart still heavy, I pick up my guitar, foolishly thinking I can sing and play and worship but not actually have to feel anything or mean what I'm saying
I know what I should play, but I don't want to - I can't say that
But as I lean away from God, He draws me into the Holy of holies, and I sing,
I'm trading my sorrows...I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes, Yes Lord
Yes, Lord. I will take what You give me, and I will be grateful, because
One act of thanksgiving when things go wrong with us is worth a thousand when things are agreeable to our inclinations - Saint John of Avila
It's a night for too much ice cream
It's a night for hearts pounding
It's a night for breathing like you just finished a 5k
It's a night to sing,
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me gla-a-ad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
It's a night to stare up at the biggest ugly-beautiful, the cross, the tomb and remember how the story ends; hope is coming.
It's a night for cell phones on loud and charged and not out of your sight for a second, just in case
It's a night for waiting and wondering and helplessness
It's a night for the ugly beautiful
It's a night for the ugly beautiful.
Can I, right now, say, the lines are falling for me in pleasant places? Can I say my inheritance is beautiful?
It's a night for red eyes and labored breath and avoiding your hall-mates on the way to the bathroom so they won't have to ask what's wrong
It's a night for fleece blankets and the ugliest sweater and softest leggings
It's a night to replay the soothing words like broken cassette tapes that won't stop repeating
I open my journal to write it out, and I see a quote from the Jesus Storybook Bible
But God's plan was still working
Heart still heavy, I pick up my guitar, foolishly thinking I can sing and play and worship but not actually have to feel anything or mean what I'm saying
I know what I should play, but I don't want to - I can't say that
But as I lean away from God, He draws me into the Holy of holies, and I sing,
I'm trading my sorrows...I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes, Yes Lord
Yes, Lord. I will take what You give me, and I will be grateful, because
One act of thanksgiving when things go wrong with us is worth a thousand when things are agreeable to our inclinations - Saint John of Avila
It's a night for too much ice cream
It's a night for hearts pounding
It's a night for breathing like you just finished a 5k
It's a night to sing,
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me gla-a-ad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
It's a night to stare up at the biggest ugly-beautiful, the cross, the tomb and remember how the story ends; hope is coming.
It's a night for cell phones on loud and charged and not out of your sight for a second, just in case
It's a night for waiting and wondering and helplessness
It's a night for the ugly beautiful
It Was My Sin That Held Him There
Today is the remembrance of the greatest paradox in perhaps all of history:
Good Friday
What is good about Jesus dying?
What is good about a man who did no wrong to anyone, hanging on a cross, bleeding and slowly suffocating to death?
It's the very purest of all goods: my sin absorbed by His righteousness, my guilt covered by His blood.
Jesus became sin, my sin, and died to put it to death.
One of my favorite songs is How Deep the Father's Love for us, and I thought I'd share the lyrics with some of the Scripture that backs it up.
How Deep the Father's Love for Us by Stuart Townsend
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth Ephesians 3:18
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5
Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Luke 23:35-37
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Luke 12:50
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
I will not boast in anything
No gifts no power no wisdom
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lordwho practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19
His wounds have paid my ransom
Good Friday
What is good about Jesus dying?
What is good about a man who did no wrong to anyone, hanging on a cross, bleeding and slowly suffocating to death?
It's the very purest of all goods: my sin absorbed by His righteousness, my guilt covered by His blood.
Jesus became sin, my sin, and died to put it to death.
One of my favorite songs is How Deep the Father's Love for us, and I thought I'd share the lyrics with some of the Scripture that backs it up.
How Deep the Father's Love for Us by Stuart Townsend
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth Ephesians 3:18
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5
Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Luke 23:35-37
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Luke 12:50
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
I will not boast in anything
No gifts no power no wisdom
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lordwho practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19
His wounds have paid my ransom
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Let Us Love
Do you know why it's called Maundy Thursday?
Quoting from John Piper's Holy Week devotional,
"Today is Maundy Thursday. The name comes from the Latin mandatum, the first word in the Latin rendering of John 13:34, 'A new commandment (mandatum novum) I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another'. This commandment was given by Jesus on the Thursday before his crucifixion. So Maundy Thursday is the 'Thursday of the Commandment'"
I've long been interested on the depth of what it means for us to love as Jesus loved. Love is about so much more than being nice to someone, but that's part of it. What is Jesus' love really like?
It is sacrificial
It is humble
It is self-denying
It is non-discriminating
It is non-judgmental
It is all-encompassing
It is forgiving
It is tender
It is convicting
It is ever-present
Hannah More, a friend of William Wilberforce, writes of love,
"Love never reasons, but profusely gives; it gives like a thoughtless prodigal its all, and then trembles least it has done to little."
There's no concern as to whether it's too much, or unnecessary. There's no "just enough". Love is not about doing the minimum to get by. It's about being there, and growing through every moment.
Maundy Thursday is all about that radical, incorrigibly giving kind of love. This song's been running through my head all day: Let Us Love by NeedToBreathe
Quoting from John Piper's Holy Week devotional,
"Today is Maundy Thursday. The name comes from the Latin mandatum, the first word in the Latin rendering of John 13:34, 'A new commandment (mandatum novum) I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another'. This commandment was given by Jesus on the Thursday before his crucifixion. So Maundy Thursday is the 'Thursday of the Commandment'"
I've long been interested on the depth of what it means for us to love as Jesus loved. Love is about so much more than being nice to someone, but that's part of it. What is Jesus' love really like?
It is sacrificial
It is humble
It is self-denying
It is non-discriminating
It is non-judgmental
It is all-encompassing
It is forgiving
It is tender
It is convicting
It is ever-present
Hannah More, a friend of William Wilberforce, writes of love,
"Love never reasons, but profusely gives; it gives like a thoughtless prodigal its all, and then trembles least it has done to little."
There's no concern as to whether it's too much, or unnecessary. There's no "just enough". Love is not about doing the minimum to get by. It's about being there, and growing through every moment.
Maundy Thursday is all about that radical, incorrigibly giving kind of love. This song's been running through my head all day: Let Us Love by NeedToBreathe
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Be Still Wednesday
Sunday, palms were waved.
Monday, the Passover began.
Tuesday, the Pharisees plotted.
Thursday, Jesus is arrested.
Friday, He hangs.
Saturday, He rescues.
Sunday, He rises.
But Wednesday, what happened on Wednesday?
Jesus knew what was to come, and yet, there is no record of this part of Holy Week.
Ann Voskamp writes about it here.
Be still
Stop trying to achieve great things
Receive grace.
Today, my wall came down. I feel like this huge burden has been lifted. I still have the exact same number of things to do and the same concerns, but they aren't in control of me right now.
Be still, my soul.
Monday, the Passover began.
Tuesday, the Pharisees plotted.
Thursday, Jesus is arrested.
Friday, He hangs.
Saturday, He rescues.
Sunday, He rises.
But Wednesday, what happened on Wednesday?
Jesus knew what was to come, and yet, there is no record of this part of Holy Week.
Ann Voskamp writes about it here.
Be still
Stop trying to achieve great things
Receive grace.
Today, my wall came down. I feel like this huge burden has been lifted. I still have the exact same number of things to do and the same concerns, but they aren't in control of me right now.
Be still, my soul.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Marriage and Morality
I have an interesting blend of perspectives represented in my blog readership, so this is going to be a fun post.
Just in case you've been hiding under a rock, throngs of people are gathered today and tomorrow in DC as the Supreme Court hears testimony regarding the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8. People across the US are supporting marriage equality, even if only by changing their profile picture on facebook.
I was scrolling through my newsfeed, and saw a link to an article with the 60 best signs from the rally today.
This one caught my eye, because it's something I've been thinking about lately:
Maybe I've been hanging out too hard with my thesis, or ethics class, or certain great people, but the legal case against gay marriage kind of blows. I think we're kidding ourselves if we think it's strong. The issue then comes down to a specific code of morality. Sometimes we have to legislate morality, for example, murder. But I don't think all kinds of morality can be legislated, especially when they have no distinct, compelling universal necessity to them.
I like this sign a whole lot, actually, because divorce is a serious issue both in our society and in the Bible. And it has already been proven to have the possibility of significant ramifications for those whose parents divorce. But if our case against gay marriage is biblical, the biblical case against divorce is even greater. This weekend, my friend Christina said something very poignant about divorce. She said, "If marriage is the gospel, that means you don't quit. You don't stop pursuing". The beauty of the sanctity of marriage rests in the fact that it is a metaphor revealed in the book of Hosea, as well as Isaiah and Revelation for God's great love for us in Christ. Divorce, then, stains the glory of the gospel in our world.
That being said, there aren't serious legal grounds against divorce. If there were, half of this country would be in a pretty crazy limbo right now.
The biblical standard isn't about marriage, it's about purity. Purity is about sanctification. It's about holiness. And it's personal. The Lord convicts each of us differently, and some people never at all. It's a sad truth. If the Supreme Court were debating the legality of divorce right now, that would be insane. Or let's extrapolate further - what if they were debating the legality of premarital sex? Really? Not only would that be impossible to regulate, but it would blatantly undermine the standard for freedom and personal choice we've established in this country.
There are a lot of things I believe go against God's standards, which come from my belief that the Bible is active, inspired, and my base for morality. I don't advocate on their behalf, or necessarily encourage them, but I also don't campaign for them to be illegal. Do you know what I do, do about them though?
I just don't do them.
It's not my business. It's between each individual and God. I am not here to judge, that's simply not my job.
Just in case you've been hiding under a rock, throngs of people are gathered today and tomorrow in DC as the Supreme Court hears testimony regarding the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8. People across the US are supporting marriage equality, even if only by changing their profile picture on facebook.
I was scrolling through my newsfeed, and saw a link to an article with the 60 best signs from the rally today.
This one caught my eye, because it's something I've been thinking about lately:
Maybe I've been hanging out too hard with my thesis, or ethics class, or certain great people, but the legal case against gay marriage kind of blows. I think we're kidding ourselves if we think it's strong. The issue then comes down to a specific code of morality. Sometimes we have to legislate morality, for example, murder. But I don't think all kinds of morality can be legislated, especially when they have no distinct, compelling universal necessity to them.
I like this sign a whole lot, actually, because divorce is a serious issue both in our society and in the Bible. And it has already been proven to have the possibility of significant ramifications for those whose parents divorce. But if our case against gay marriage is biblical, the biblical case against divorce is even greater. This weekend, my friend Christina said something very poignant about divorce. She said, "If marriage is the gospel, that means you don't quit. You don't stop pursuing". The beauty of the sanctity of marriage rests in the fact that it is a metaphor revealed in the book of Hosea, as well as Isaiah and Revelation for God's great love for us in Christ. Divorce, then, stains the glory of the gospel in our world.
That being said, there aren't serious legal grounds against divorce. If there were, half of this country would be in a pretty crazy limbo right now.
The biblical standard isn't about marriage, it's about purity. Purity is about sanctification. It's about holiness. And it's personal. The Lord convicts each of us differently, and some people never at all. It's a sad truth. If the Supreme Court were debating the legality of divorce right now, that would be insane. Or let's extrapolate further - what if they were debating the legality of premarital sex? Really? Not only would that be impossible to regulate, but it would blatantly undermine the standard for freedom and personal choice we've established in this country.
There are a lot of things I believe go against God's standards, which come from my belief that the Bible is active, inspired, and my base for morality. I don't advocate on their behalf, or necessarily encourage them, but I also don't campaign for them to be illegal. Do you know what I do, do about them though?
I just don't do them.
It's not my business. It's between each individual and God. I am not here to judge, that's simply not my job.
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