The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot.
Acts 23:12-13
I wonder what went through their heads when they saw the 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen that accompanied Paul that night…
LORD
keep us in step with Your Spirit
unite us in the common rhythm of love, Your rhythm for You are love
guide us in the common time of faith, for we trust in You
fulfill us in the common anthem of hope, for You are our hope
unbind us in Your common rhyme, for Your rhyme is truth
and Your truth sets us free
May the pounding hooves of the horses on the prairie
May the crashing ocean’s waves and the wonder they create
May the quake of the earth and the eeriness of the quiet
draw us nearer to You.
-Brian
Its funny to me the reactions I get toward my cd title. It reminds me of the chapel services I used to lead at GLCC. After almost each one I would have some students thank me while other students would tell me how I offended them. The last few reactions I’ve had toward my cd have had a similar split. I had one guy read it who was obviously rich (or in serious debt and denial), laughed and just kept walking. Another fellow picked it up, read “prayer, and sinner” in the song titles and became offended and said, “I don’t like to talk about those things,” and promptly walked away. “Who does?” I thought to myself. And still I’ve had others thank me for the music and the honesty.
I was thinking of the guy who got offended and the Spirit whispered something- Probably the most devastating claim to the evangelization of the Gospel, especially in a culture that worships “self”, is that we are sinners and that we need Someone greater than us.
It is a tough pill to swallow, but the side effects are blessings. We have the opportunity to become something more than what we could make of ourselves. We take part in a greater cause than recycling, feeding the poor, or world peace, because with Him we are dealing with the eternal.
I want to run down this path even if I am an insult to some and a joke to others, because I serve a God who makes water into wine, who takes a meager meal and feeds thousands. My God makes paupers rich.
God bless,
Brian
Blessed is the Man who walked to counsel the wicked,
who made a way for sinners and ate with them,
and sat in their seat and got mocked for it.
His delight is to fulfill the law of the LORD
and to live it day and night.
He was nailed to a tree,
and from Him come streams of living water,
which yields the fruit of the Kingdom in season
bringing eternal life to the believer.
Whatever He does is good.
Even for the wicked there is hope.
They are priceless and not to be thrown away.
Therefore the wicked have a chance at salvation
for Jesus died for both the righteous and the sinner
and invites them all into His assembly.
For the LORD watches over us all,
and doesn’t want anyone to perish
but to believe in Jesus and live.
1. Beard gets caught in zippers.
2. Food gets in it (could be good or bad)
3. No one smiles at you, probably because they think you’re a biker or viking.
4. You look like a Geico cave man.
5. Attracts cougars, true story.
6. Kids pull on it.
7. Hair gets in mouth and throat.
8. Ingrown hairs.
9. Get mistaken to be old enough to be your wife’s dad, another true story.
10. It doesn’t really give you special powers.
1. Getting slapped doesn’t hurt.
2. Protects face from sunburn.
3. You no like, shave.
4. People think you’re a biker or a viking, either way they leave you alone.
5. Instant fellowship with other beard growers – like Chaco people have with other Chaco people or motorcyclists.
6. Braiding it makes you look like a pirate.
7. Keeps you warm in the winter.
8. Traps water during summer.
9. No zits.
10. It pretty much gives you special powers.
Today at church I witnessed a 3 Star General from Saddam Hussein’s army get baptized. The lead pastor at Trinity has been talking with him about Jesus for a while now. He learned a lot about the General’s past as a soldier under Hussein’s rule. When Saddam ordered his men to kill innocent people, the General wouldn’t obey. He went to prison for his actions. As a devout Muslim he read the Koran and followed it closely. It says (more or less) that to kill innocent people is to anger Allah.
Through their conversations, the General found Jesus to be who he was seeking for and decided to commit his life to Him. His conversion brought up thoughts to me about Osama. When the General came up out of the water, I was one of the first to stand clapping. My emotions caught me off guard, I didn’t realize how compassionate I was to his story. Truly the victory was greater.
I couldn’t help but feel pain at Osama’s fate. It would’ve been an even greater victory to have witnessed that tyrant seek forgiveness for the atrocities he had committed. It would’ve been an even greater victory for him to have submitted to the One who already had holes in his hands and feet for us rather than to receive the one he got in his head.
I fully respect and appreciate the work of the Navy Seals and what they accomplished for the sake of the rest of us still here. But after witnessing the General, I wished it could have been Osama’s story too. I understand that conversion for Osama wouldn’t have saved him from the justice he was due here, and he may still have been killed, I’m simply saying that the victory would have been greater.
Earlier this week, I had the honor of celebrating my Grandpa’s life with my family; a life spent in the Word, seeking to glorify God and further His kingdom in this world. It was a very somber yet uplifting time as his sons, my uncles and my Dad, each spoke about his imprint on their lives.
It was also earlier this week that I heard news of Osama bin Laden’s death. It struck me soundly the difference between these deaths. One a loss to us but gain to him, the other a gain to us but loss to him. On the one hand, a man who sought to serve, and on the other a man who sought to slaughter. Both deaths were celebrated, both with tears and cheers but for very different reasons. Both deaths were celebrated with a feeling of fulfillment, both deaths brought news of a bit of peace, but again for very different reasons. One we celebrated as his just reward brought him before the Lord to reside with Him in heaven, the other we celebrated as his just reward brought him to hell.
If you are wondering about the second villain, it was Hitler. My Grandpa was 30 when Hitler committed suicide, if April 30 1945 is the correct date, and was 95 the year Osama died. Hitler died at age 56, Osama at age 54. Both died ingloriously. If these were the world’s dark book ends to my Grandpa’s life, they only helped to reveal the luminous presence of Christ in him.
I know all three of these men have influence that will stretch far beyond their years here, but I rest in the confidence that the Light will prevail. I am grateful for my Grandpa and the work that the Lord did in his life, the presence of Christ has spread from his life to the rest of us, glory be to God.
Brian
I got the chance to enjoy a nice quiet moment while Betsy gave the trips a bath. I was out listening to the evening sounds when the songs of birds give over to the chirps of frogs. When the sun’s last light fades from the blue and takes with it her color. I began to share thoughts with my Creator by the river Grand.
I will always be impressed with those who strive to be more than they are, more than what their circumstances would permit, more than what life in this world tries to make of them. This evening, my hat went off to all those who struggle. My heart went out to brothers of mine who face issues in common yet daily take up their cross in pursuit of becoming more. Then it went out to all who face weaknesses of all kinds in their own character, in their own mind, heart, and body.
To the faithful and unbeliever, God bless you. May your striving produce fruit to give you strength for your journey. In your steps, one after another, you follow the One who paved this way whether you know Him or not. May His grace invite you to lay down that which you cannot change by yourself, may His strength encourage you to walk in higher steps than in an endless cycle of failure and regret, and may His love surround you with the confidence that He will bring you through.
Again God bless you, and Christ be with you, may His Spirit guide you in a direction that leads beyond this life from all that entangles. And in the words of Bono, “walk on”.
Peace,
Brian
It was a great time tonight with all those who came out to hear us. It especially was an honor because I knew most of the people there. Thank you all so much. I was going to claim the right to take a bathroom break at any time during the show but I held together pretty well so it was a good night. 🙂 Plus you guys were so much fun, this concert has ranked as one of the best ones we’ve done.
Wally Lowman, the worship guy at SLCC was an incredible help. He did our sound and made us sound great. Thanks man, you rock. Frank, SLCC’s senior minister, was there too which was cool. Most of the time, the church leaders take the night off when I come in, but not Frank. He was there trading stories of Rich Mullins and other memories. Lots of fun, plus he drove the bus which brought in the GLCC students. Thanks Frank.
Thanks to Megan Kidd who ran the merch table. She did a great job and the T-shirts she made were very fun.
And thanks to Susie Finkbeiner, she came and represented Better Way Imports- a company devoted to helping those freed from sex slavery. She gave an encouraging message of how we can get involved to change what is going on around the world to free those enslaved in such a demoralizing practice.
Thanks again to everyone who came out, you made it a blessing to us. God be with you.
Brian