The following is an excerpt from a response to a friend who is questioning the existence of God. For a Christian, it's not new news but rather the Good News. Thanks to my sister-in-law for reminding me of the heart of the matter.
"...I was talking to my sister-in-law earlier this week about how she came to believe in God and she concisely answered “Jesus.” There are countless accounts of Jesus life, only 4 of which I have read, but according to those writings, he lived a perfect life: He thought of others more than Himself at all times, even to the point of death; in other words, He loved perfectly. When I match myself up to him, I don’t measure up. If there is a God, then it was a pretty smart idea to beget a perfect being that would reveal His true wishes for humanity. His mission was to love and to set people free. Those who choose to follow Him won’t lose the battle…they won’t be plagued with fear and loneliness, stifled by guilt, controlled by anger or jealousy, or any other damaging human experience. So, why did (do) people reject him? Because they saw that His power and authority threatened their own. Now, the weak have a defender and justice reigns over injustice.
There are many reasons why I believe in God, but, I agree with my sister-in-law: Jesus is the best reason to believe in God."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
All men are like grass...
If grass had a voice,
what would it say?
Watch your feet, show respect or,
don't be shy, I'm not for display.
If grass had a choice,
where would it go?
To the seaside shore
or gracing peaks of old?
Where is your voice
and what is your choice?
For like the grass of the field
to death we must yield.
Like Ruth, I had a choice
to stay behind or go,
turn my back on my gods
for a God I did not know.
Like Ruth, I had a voice
to plead for his protection,
asking him to be
my savior from destruction.
We are like grass...
when will we breathe our last?
But we have a choice
and we have a voice.
what would it say?
Watch your feet, show respect or,
don't be shy, I'm not for display.
If grass had a choice,
where would it go?
To the seaside shore
or gracing peaks of old?
Where is your voice
and what is your choice?
For like the grass of the field
to death we must yield.
Like Ruth, I had a choice
to stay behind or go,
turn my back on my gods
for a God I did not know.
Like Ruth, I had a voice
to plead for his protection,
asking him to be
my savior from destruction.
We are like grass...
when will we breathe our last?
But we have a choice
and we have a voice.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A rap, given up to Kim & Matt
The pivot in the middle: be balanced, be still
One minute I'm healthy - and the next I am ill
Lookin' to God to make my body be well, so I'll tellya
There's no God like our God,
No God like our God.
He heals all our diseases,
just look to Jesus.
There's no God like our God,
No God like our God.
One minute I'm healthy - and the next I am ill
Lookin' to God to make my body be well, so I'll tellya
There's no God like our God,
No God like our God.
He heals all our diseases,
just look to Jesus.
There's no God like our God,
No God like our God.
Monday, May 31, 2010
A speculation from an onlooker
Like a ship and its sail are a man and his wife...
Lay down your oars,
save your strength,
for the battles instead.
Let her catch the God-breathed wind
to carry you ahead.
The Living Word a map, His Spirit a compass,
and the rudder is at your command.
"Do not fret," so she says, "With strength of bow and sail,
together, we'll safely reach Land."
Lay down your oars,
save your strength,
for the battles instead.
Let her catch the God-breathed wind
to carry you ahead.
The Living Word a map, His Spirit a compass,
and the rudder is at your command.
"Do not fret," so she says, "With strength of bow and sail,
together, we'll safely reach Land."
Monday, May 17, 2010
Burden
Chorus
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And place it at the foot of the cross.
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And fill me again with you.
Vs. 1
When the news of his death got around,
A town not just a family fell down.
When he took the game of life in his hands,
I found out the weakness of man.
(Chorus)
Vs. 2
Have the lies and the hurts of this world left you torn
wishing you had never been born?
Have the pains of life been too hard to bear
that the thought of life not death is what you fear?
(Chorus)
Vs. 3
As the winds blow the clouds from the sky
you've wiped away the sin from my life.
As the sun chased the moon from the night
you swept away the darkness with light.
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And place it at the foot of the cross.
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And fill me again with you.
And fill me again with you.
...This is a song my Dad and I wrote in the mountains of Tennessee. Originally a Gospel tune, it was later produced and doctored up by Neil. Check it out at the Family Band Eckstein and other great tunes recorded by Neil and Steve. (Kim, Christy...where you at?) http://www.myspace.com/thefamilybandeckstein
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And place it at the foot of the cross.
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And fill me again with you.
Vs. 1
When the news of his death got around,
A town not just a family fell down.
When he took the game of life in his hands,
I found out the weakness of man.
(Chorus)
Vs. 2
Have the lies and the hurts of this world left you torn
wishing you had never been born?
Have the pains of life been too hard to bear
that the thought of life not death is what you fear?
(Chorus)
Vs. 3
As the winds blow the clouds from the sky
you've wiped away the sin from my life.
As the sun chased the moon from the night
you swept away the darkness with light.
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And place it at the foot of the cross.
Lord, take this burden from my soul,
And fill me again with you.
And fill me again with you.
...This is a song my Dad and I wrote in the mountains of Tennessee. Originally a Gospel tune, it was later produced and doctored up by Neil. Check it out at the Family Band Eckstein and other great tunes recorded by Neil and Steve. (Kim, Christy...where you at?) http://www.myspace.com/thefamilybandeckstein
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Speak
If I thought words were weightless
then why should I speak
no sign of origin nor receipt?
When I pause before I speak
I'm not without thought
bored, embarrassed, confused, or distraught.
When I stare blankly, lips sealed
don't think I'm a fool
each word can be a piranha or a jewel.
then why should I speak
no sign of origin nor receipt?
When I pause before I speak
I'm not without thought
bored, embarrassed, confused, or distraught.
When I stare blankly, lips sealed
don't think I'm a fool
each word can be a piranha or a jewel.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Foreign Tongues
In the last couple of months, I've been learning new languages. Though previously foreign to me, they have begun to take on familiarity in my heart, mind, and spirit.
My heart has picked up a new language, speaking of things which I cannot decipher. I suspect that it is trying to dodge the critique of my mind. But, I will be its student, poking and prodding around in its desires until I find their root. Those that have strayed from the truth and the light, I will uproot and replant in the Promised Land.
My body has taken to a new expression of worship to God: dance. My Indy Church (as I will refer to it, so as not to disregard my grateful membership in a Cincy Body of Believers) has invited any willing members to join in an Easter dance, and I have eagerly accepted. It is a choreographed hip hop dance to Yolanda Adam's "Victory," specifically chosen for this occasion to celebrate the victories that we have won through Jesus. I've been attending practices weekly in Indianapolis to prepare. In our studies of the dance, we haven't neglected its ultimate purpose: to bring glory to God. Each practice begins with corporate and individual times of dance in the likeness of singing worship songs with the Church and praying alone on our bedroom floors. Then, we practice the dance, not just as a serious of movements mimicking the rhythms of a song but as a declaration of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and a testimony of how He has changed our lives. If you would like to attend, you are welcome.
My tongue has even tasted the language of silence, one in which has found its use in the classroom. Several weeks ago, a battle cry broke out in my classroom when I tried to convince one student to practice pre-writing despite her obvious misgivings. My argument was that writing is bound to be better when preceded by gathering and organizing thoughts. She vehemently replied in a loud voice that she WOULD NOT pre-write. She has tried before. It has come to no good. It serves no purpose. And, she finds it to be absolutely pointless and stupid. By God's grace, my strong will was silenced in that moment and for the next several moments. After seconds which dragged on like minutes, the silence was broken by the same voice of which it had followed. The newly repentant young girl dropped her guard and openly apologized to me. I was relieved. One battle had ended with no casualties, and I had gained new artillery.
My heart has picked up a new language, speaking of things which I cannot decipher. I suspect that it is trying to dodge the critique of my mind. But, I will be its student, poking and prodding around in its desires until I find their root. Those that have strayed from the truth and the light, I will uproot and replant in the Promised Land.
My body has taken to a new expression of worship to God: dance. My Indy Church (as I will refer to it, so as not to disregard my grateful membership in a Cincy Body of Believers) has invited any willing members to join in an Easter dance, and I have eagerly accepted. It is a choreographed hip hop dance to Yolanda Adam's "Victory," specifically chosen for this occasion to celebrate the victories that we have won through Jesus. I've been attending practices weekly in Indianapolis to prepare. In our studies of the dance, we haven't neglected its ultimate purpose: to bring glory to God. Each practice begins with corporate and individual times of dance in the likeness of singing worship songs with the Church and praying alone on our bedroom floors. Then, we practice the dance, not just as a serious of movements mimicking the rhythms of a song but as a declaration of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and a testimony of how He has changed our lives. If you would like to attend, you are welcome.
My tongue has even tasted the language of silence, one in which has found its use in the classroom. Several weeks ago, a battle cry broke out in my classroom when I tried to convince one student to practice pre-writing despite her obvious misgivings. My argument was that writing is bound to be better when preceded by gathering and organizing thoughts. She vehemently replied in a loud voice that she WOULD NOT pre-write. She has tried before. It has come to no good. It serves no purpose. And, she finds it to be absolutely pointless and stupid. By God's grace, my strong will was silenced in that moment and for the next several moments. After seconds which dragged on like minutes, the silence was broken by the same voice of which it had followed. The newly repentant young girl dropped her guard and openly apologized to me. I was relieved. One battle had ended with no casualties, and I had gained new artillery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
