As I stood between the gas pump and my car today, the church across the street caught my eye. And drew my eye up. Up its steeple toward the heavens that surrounded it. Instantly, I thought of the God who inhabits those heavens, and I was reminded how architecture can be used to literally point the heart back towards its Maker.

Then I realized, “That’s not really that high.” Compared to skyscrapers I’ve stood next to - heck, compared to the other (newer) buildings in town - that steeple just doesn’t stand as uniquely as it did in an earlier era. And I just paused to wonder for a moment if skyscrapers are the new “steeple.”

I won’t try to answer that (except to say that I think that steeples - and all such “sacred space” - hold a unique value that can never be replaced).  But at the very least, it got me thinking: shouldn’t all Christian artists and artisans seek to give their very best to create works that point others toward Jesus?  It’s a worthy use of our gifts.

I know because today, somebody’s imagination, design and hard work drew my attention to my God, and reminded me that I am small, but He is big.

Any thoughts?  Any artists or artisans out there?  I say, go create a Spirit-inspired masterpiece for His glory.

In light of God’s perfect and proactive plan to grant forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life to the unworthy (including the “chief of all sinners”), it’s time to celebrate and say, as the Apostle Paul did to his Roman readers, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? For I am sure that neither death nor life… Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31,38-39 ESV).

Selah,
Chris

(Oh, here’s my meditation on this. Lord willing, we’ll be singing this in 2 weeks -the choir sounds great on it!)

My God is for me, He’s not against me
And if God is with me what shall I fear?
He who died for me - Emmanuel to me -
Lives today in me, drawing me near

CHORUS
Nothing can separate me from the Father’s love
I am secure in Him whatever may come
He who was crucified and was raised back to life
Always stands by my side in power and love

My God has loved me, gave himself for me
Set His seal on me, washed in His blood
No great Accuser of things behind me
Can stand in the presence of my saving God

CHORUS

BRIDGE
I belong to Him
He’s my God and Friend
To the very end ever near me
I am not my own
I am not alone
He has told me He’s never leaving

This week I’ve been reminded in a potent way of how powerful and how central the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to the Christian church. And how easily it slips away from us, and we begin to oh-so-subtly rely upon our good works, efforts and intentions to secure the approval and love of God. I suppose it happens to all of us sometimes. But what tragedy and idolatry can result from that.

May His Gospel transform our affections, our intellect and our will. May God’s people love and serve and surrender to Him with all our heart, mind and soul. And may He be glorified for the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us so that He could take on our sin and God’s wrath against that sin, and bequeath His pristine holiness, His righteousness to those who come to Him in faith.  It is by grace we have been saved!

Thank You, thank You, thank YOU, Lord Jesus!

Amen.

Is it an exaggeration to say that, for at least a few hours, the world was rocked by the news of Jacko’s passing?  And then yestereday Billy Mays (of OxiClean fame) suddenly passed away.  We all expected to hear news about Farrah soon.  But not Michael.  Not Billy.  Nobody saw that coming.

Well, not nobody.

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

If the hand of God is sovereign (and it is) and the mind of God is all-knowing (yup), then He is not surprised by the events of the last few days.  In Psalm 31:15, the psalmist said, “Our times are in your hands,” and these recent deaths serve to remind us that this is ultimately true.  God alone holds our lives - every minute of the day - in His hands.

Any reflections on Michael’s life or work?  Or (if you’re into OxiClean) Billy Mays’?

I wish you see the behind-the-scenes prep going on for Sunday night’s service (Momentum 2009)!  Praying for each other across ministry & church lines. The meetings with the GREAT Whittemore Center staff. Budgeting, graphic design*, stage design, stage plots, input lists. Prayer. People volunteering time & talent. Students organizing & advertising. Rehearsals with people who radically love Jesus. Pastors asking pastors for input on the words they’ll share. Hundreds of phone calls & emails. More prayer…

What a joy it is to see so much giving and serving in such a spirit of unity. May God bless the night as He has blessed the preparations.  And may He get all the glory He so richly deserves!

See you there!

*By the way, the great design work for the Momentum logo was done by Pastor Rod Kesselring of the Journey Church in Rochester, NH.  Nice work, Rod!

I hope you had as great a day of worship as I did. First of all, I love the sight of the church in worship. Psalm 33:1 says,

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright. (ESV)

or

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. (KJV)

And I have to agree: praise makes the church look great!

But I especially loved the chance to lead the kids in worship. They are some of my favorite people in the church, and they were lifting it up to Jesus today:

He knows me
He loves me
He wants me
He hears me when I call

He formed me
He sees me
Never leaves me
He hears me when I call.*

Yeah, today was a great day.  God is a great God.  Hosanna!

*from Tommy Walker’s “He Knows My Name,” 1996 Doulos Publishing (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by Music Services]

[update 4/8/09: changed category]