Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath

There is more to this book than just a cool title.
My friend Janel had this book at her apt when I went to visit in January. I had just started reading through the Bible doing B90x (which I'm still doing by the way) and this aided in my understanding of some of the Jewish laws. With all the fun that we had that wknd, I only got about halfway through it before I left (I'm not a fast reader). But, I was so intrigued by it that I had to pick it up later and finish it. I just did.
This book was helpful in learning more about the laws and customs of Judaism, modern and ancient. This was helpful in seeing a Christian Jew live out her faith but not be under the obligations of the law. Helped to see how community and the law are so important to folks who are devout Jews.
Winner covers many different aspects: food, the sabbath, hospitality, death, doorposts, weddings, candles, etc. All offered insight into what was practiced, what is still being practiced, and how a Christian can incorporate these practices into her life.
On Fasting: "People who have fasted for years tell me there will come a time when I look forward to fasting." (88). Man - this is hard. I remember in recent churches I have been in when the pastors would call the church to a corporate fast. I would try to do it. Most of the tie, I did it out of trying to please certain pastors. Not in an effort to pray and seek the face of God as part of the beautiful Bride of Christ. So, I did it more out of pride, man-pleasing, and legalism and I always failed at it.
On Fasting: "When I am sated, it is easy to feel independent. When I am hungry, it is possible to remember where my dependence lies." (91) This applies to more than just food. Yes, food is the way Lauren talks about it here - but more recently I come to recognize this in finances and material goods. God has been more than gracious to me in so many ways and there is nothing for which I want. But, even toward the end of the month where I have to be more careful and rely on him for guidance on spending and scheduling - I realize that I need to do that all through the month and not just the last week. God is good.
On Aging: "Christianity and Judaism both offer narratives that make sense of death." (101). A few months ago I thought about this paragraph (yes, before I read it). There were a coupld of deaths in my life that occurred all in a short span of time. And I was also helping others through greiving, etc. I started to think that we would never understand death. I came to the conclusion that we were never meant to understand death because we weren't created with death in mind. Adam and Eve were created to live with God in the garden in perfect harmony forever. Then...SIN. Sin is what brought death. God made a way to conquer death - but He never said he would explain it to us.
On Candles: "Even when I am lighiting two thin tapers over dinner, I like to think about the light of Christ rectifying the sin by which came death to the world. The Light of Christ, I sometimes say to myself, Thanks be to God." (119) Most of the time when we have lit candles in our homes they are to create ambience or help eliminate odor. I wonder what would happen if Glade or Yankee Candle Co started marketing to Christians as way a remember this Light of the World. Probably what would be the result is some cheezy fish candle or cross candle just like Testamints or other silly things like that. But, what would happen if we lit candles in our home and made it an intential part of that lighting to thank God for sending the Light of the World to use so that we could behold his glory and truth?

Bondage Remembered

The Old Testament is really a cool book. I like reading it straight through rather than hit or miss - bigger picture is at hand. Like I have mentioned, I'm reading it through with the Sojourn body and listening to their pastor preach through it in 2009.
Today's reading was found in Dt. 23-25. Good stuff. Mostly laws and regulations of worship, but then came little tid bits that Moses (through the Holy Spirit) put in there.
"but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there" - Dt 24.18 (as well as many other places in the OT).
I love this. God writes his Law, gives it to his chosen special treasure possession - and then tells them to obey it. Not because He is a hard driving, egomaniac God (although He is just and jealous), but He wants them to obey it out of a remembrance of grace that He has poured out on their lives by rescuing them from years of bondage.
Same goes for us 4000 years later.
God has freed us from the bondage of sin and law (Rom 5-8) and has given us love and redemption and freedom. He gave us His word to obey and follow - because of this grace.
I was saved at an early age. I am grateful to God alone because of that. But, I still continue to live in daily sin. I am grateful for the Spirit for sanctification. But, I also know that if I didn't have the Spirit I would daily live in bondage to: food, performance, pride, fear of man, materialism, showmanship, fear of rejection, perfectionism, and many other things.
When I choose to live in those sins - I am crippled. When I choose to live in the freedom of Christ under His grace in the shadow of the Cross - then I am freed from the bondage of sin.
I am so thankful to know freedom and not have to live in bondage anymore.

Killing Detestable Things

I'm reading through the OT this year with Sojourn (as Pastor Daniel goes through his BC series).
Honestly - Numbers was probably the hardest to read, but great sermons from the book. Leviticus wasn't as bad as I would have thought. And really, I'm getting a ton out of Deuteronomy - (whoda thunk it?).
So here are three thoughts from my readings the past few days (and then I'll get to listen to the sermons this weekend as I drive to B'ham).
1. Deut 17.1 (NLT): "Never sacrifice a sick or defective ox or sheet to the Lord your God, for he detests such things." My question to myself after reading this (knowing I'm not bound by the law because Christ has set me free) - what sick or defective sacrifices do I bring before the Lord? Do I offer him the last of things or the first of things? Do I offer to him things that I really want or half-heartedly give him things that really don't mean that much to me.
2. Dt 20. 16-18 (NLT): "As for the towns of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing in them. You must completely destroy the ... (all the countries), just as the Lord your God has commanded you. This will keep the people of the land from teaching you their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God." Ok - so God hasn't given me lands to conquer or people to slaughter - but he he put me in a world that does some pretty awful things. And I think to myself - those things are good for me. But, what detestable customs have I picked up that I need to kill (better to go into heaven with one eye) so I can live a life more pleasing to the Lord out of a heart of right obedience?
3. Praise Jesus I don't live under the law anymore. I read these and each chapter it seems to be punctuated with "follow and obey all these laws so you will be pleasing to the Lord" - or something about full obedience. My full obedience came in the substition of Christ on the Cross on my behalf, His special possession, special treasure, chosen generation. I am loved by a God who doesn't see my sin anymore to make me right before Him - but sees the crucified and risen Jesus standing in my place. Oh, how sweet the substition of Jesus is on my behalf. And a great thing to think about come Easter this weekend.

Living Life "Pharoah, Pharoah" style

During the sermon last night at Sojourn, I thought of the youth song we used to sing "Pharoah, Pharoah, o baby, let me people go, ugh" - complete with arm motions and everything. But, the song was just a passing thought - definitely more convicted by the Word that was preached than by the cheezy song.
Daniel Montgomery, pastor of Sojourn Community Church, is preaching through the OT in 2009. It has been great and convicting so far. I am thoroughly enjoying the series and growing from it.
Here are some points from last night:
"If Tomorrow Never Comes" - think Garth Brooks, late 80s when that song came out. Ok, songs are stuck in my head right now. Or how about Little Orphan Annie singing "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow" - or for that matter, Tom Hanks' Aunt in You've Got Mail singing that song. Don't know which is worse!
Anyway, I digress. In the plagues, specifically the plague of the frogs....Think about it - frogs everywhere. I mean everywhere. Magicians of Pharoah - they just make more frogs to prove their power. And Pharoah gets fed up with all the croaking (probably couldn't sleep or do much else for that matter). So, he tells Moses to call upon his God and get them out of his country. So, Moses just tells him to name the day. So, what do you think Pharoah says "right now, this instance" - NO. He says "Tomorrow." Are you for real? Seriously...(Exodus 8)
But, how often do we as Christians live in the foolish world of tomorrow. Meaning, we'll keep on sinning, living foolishly, living like Pharoah (not really convinced of the Lordship of Christ) today - but tomorrow we'll change, we'll want things differently.
This usually goes for people around New Years with all the resolutions. But, it can go for any day. Whether in spending, eating, exercising, not spending time in the Word, watching things you shouldn't, etc. How do you need to stop living like Pharoah TODAY?
Exodus - the book as a whole - (just like all of Scripture) is a story about God's Redemption, God's Power, and God's choosing a people. Simple.
Music - you knew there had to a point to all the music thoughts? Right? I know two of the songs we are going to be singing in Heaven - and I can't wait to get there and sing them. The Song of Moses (Exodus 15) and the Song of the Lamb (Revelation). So, we need to memorize Scripture now. My question - will the Holy Spirit need to bring to our remembrance (John 14-16) those verses, what version will they be in, do the Saints in Heaven sing in KJV, NIV, ESV, NLT, NAS, NKJV, Message, JBPhillips, etc? Of course, I hope you hear the sarcasm. But, the point is still made. We will be singing in heaven, we will be worshipping the only Risen Lamb, Jesus, and we will get to do it forever!
So excited!
You can hear the mesage here.

Mercy, Grace, Giving, OT, and "Be Merciful to Me"

Last night I heard a new-to-me song. It is on Caedmon's second In the Company of Angels CD. But, very simple and lyrically rich - thought I would add them here:
Be Merciful to Me - Randall Goodgame

Out of the deep I call,
to thee oh Lord to thee
Before thy throne I fall

Chorus
Be merciful to me
Be merciful to me
Be merciful to me
Through shadow dark and valley deep
Be merciful to me

From the garden to the cross
Thy mercy did endure
My soul purged of all dross
In blood made pure

Thy mercy lord is true
As ever truth shall be
And still I cry for you
Be merciful to me

Yesterday morning, Dustin preached from 2 Cor 8-9 about giving out of a grateful heart in response to the grace we have been given - in abundance. These were the key words I wrote down: grace (8.1), abundance (8.2), beyond their means (8.3), act of grace (8.6), EXCEL in this act of grace (8.7). These were very convicting to me. "How do I excel in this act of grace?" was my question to myself. The follow-up question to that was "How can my giving out of grace be a blessing to others?"
Then last night the second message from the BC series at Sojourn. I really hadn't seen so much grace in the 3rd chapter of Genesis before. We often hear it as the "First Gospel" or something to that effect, but last night the richness of grace came through. God curses Satan, but as Daniel pointed out - He didn't curse Adam and Eve - He cursed the ground, he said childbearing would be painful, that marriage would be hard, etc. But, he gave us grace. Also, to point out that death is grace. We don't have to live forever in this sinful atmosphere and culture. We can die and if saved only by Jesus - we can be in a perfect place that Matthew West sings so wonderfully about in "There Will be a Day". God is so gracious. I look forward to reading through the rest of the OT this year, then hearing it preached - so I can continue to learn more about grace in the OT. I call it underlying grace.
This song above was pre-sermon at Sojourn last night. I have no right in and of my own merit to stand and even sing with hands lifted to the Holy Creator of Everything God. That alone is mercy because I should receive death. But instead, I can call out to Him, plead with Him to show me mercy - and He gets blessed and He is magnified when I do that (see famous John Piper line).
I left renewed in grace last night. Loved the sermons yesterday that focused on grace.
"Your Sovereign bounty is the spring, where all my blessings flow. My God your benefits demand more praise than I can give." - Maker and My King - Sojourn.