The Theater of God Conference

John Calvin may be one of the most highly misunderstood & under appreciated men of our time. I suppose that those who misunderstand him, highly misunderstand him & fail to realize the impact he has made upon their lives. I imagine that many who would staunchly rebuttal against Calvin have rarely read his pages. In his day, even those whom disagreed with John Calvin held him in highest esteem. It is said that Jacob Arminius believed Calvin to be the greatest expositor of the Word to have ever lived. I personally have developed a tremendous amount of affection towards his work & ministry... mainly because he encourages me to love Christ more dearly & helps me understand my Lord more fully.

The Desiring God 2009 National Conference was titled, "With Calvin in the Theater of God." I would encourage you to listen to the excellent sessions from the conference. Click on the image below for access to the audio/video sessions.

Cover Designs Submitted for Rick Warren's New Book

For several days now I have been meaning to tell everyone that I jumped at the opportunity to submit a cover design for Pastor Rick Warren's new book, The Hope You Need. Rick Warren decided to use 99 Designs to host a cover design contest open to the public. As you may imagine, this is a wonderful opportunity for everyone... especially for those of us who have been highly influenced by Pastor Warren. I found out about the contest 1.5 days before the contest end, so I rushed like crazy to submit some of my artwork & photography. I am really interested in seeing how this contest turns out due to the submission requirements & the sheer number of entries... 3189 at submission end. In particular to the contest rules was that no stock photography could be used, only original artwork & photography. I am not sure how they will be able to sort through the stock photos but we will wait & see. But from my end, I thought it was a wonderful way to showcase some of my photos that I thought would make great book cover designs. Can you imagine being able to see one of your photos on the cover? Very cool. So... If you would like to see my portfolio at 99 designs, click here. Otherwise, here are some of my favorite submissions to the contest.

(And... bear in mind... I am trying not to get my hopes up because there were some wonderfully talented designers who submitted cover designs as well. Regardless of what happens, it was a fun project.)

Don't Boast but Boast

"... we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." | Romans 5:11

In essence, Paul is saying, "Boast in God." He even uses the word kauchaomai, "boast." Stott says, "It is identical with the Jewish attitude which Paul has condemned in Romans 2:17... 'You... brag about you relationship to God' (Stott 147). Is Paul saying "don't boast, but boast?" Emphatically, yes!

But here is the difference: Boasting in God (humility) is distinct from boasting in God (pride). One boast is from a heart of humility, the other from a heart of pride. Let me explain.

Paul had a problem with the Jewish persons who boasted in God (pride) as though He were their 'exclusive property'... as if to say 'they had a monopoly interest in him.' Their lives were not centered on God but rather themselves (although it appeared otherwise). Yet what Paul is saying in v.11 is antithetical to their prideful boast in God.

Rather, Paul is suggesting an exultation in Christ birthed from a heart of humility. A major fruit of the person who has been justified by faith through grace is that they have joy in God himself. As pastor Bill Kittrell said several weeks ago, "lack of joy is not right for a Christian... it is common, but it isn't right." Rather than boast as though we exclusively own God, rather we boast in amazement that He would even own us.

I must conclude with John Stott's most excellent summary statement:

"Christian exultation in God begins with the shamefaced recognition that we have no claim on him (G0d) at all, continues with wondering worship that while we were still sinners and enemies Christ died for us, and ends with the humble confidence that he will complete the work he has begun. So to exult in God is to rejoice not in our privileges but in his mercies, not in our possession of him but in his of us." (Romans, 147-8)

Song Spotlight: "All I Have is Christ" by Jordan Kauflin

I've been meaning to do this more often... to spotlight some of my favorite tunes/hymns/etc. Today I wanted to draw attention to the song "All I Have is Christ" by Jordan Kauflin, recorded by the Na Band (New Attitude). Check out these lyrics:

I once was lost in darkest night Yet thought I knew the way The sin that promised joy & life Had led me to the grave I had no hope that You would own A rebel to Your will And if You had not love me first I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell bound race Indifferent to the cost You looked upon my helpless state And led me to the cross And I beheld God's love displayed You suffered in my place You bore the wrath reserved for me Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.

Now Lord I would be Yours alone And live so all might see The strength to follow Your commands Could never come from me Oh Father use my ransomed life In any way You choose And let my song forever be My only boast is You

The Sovereign Grace link has free guitar chord/lead sheets as well as the option to download the song: http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/Search.aspx?Keyword=all+i+have+is+christ
The iTunes link is: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=280701875&id=280701491&s=143441

Living Water International

In the past our family experienced such pleasure in the opportunity to give to Living Water International. They are very grateful & have called us personally numerous times to express their gratitude towards our giving. I am pleased to share this video with you & hopefully encourage & compel you towards good works. I am quickly sobered & humbled. For more info, go to: http://www.water.cc/. The website is unequaled in informative & inspiring content.

Trials & Suffering | A Context that reveals God's Love

"If you live long enough, you will suffer" - DA Carson

I imagine it sounds sort of masochistic ("the sickness of finding pleasure in pain") to many to say that we should rejoice in our sufferings (Romans 5:3-8). But as the topic of suffering/trials/"pressure" (GK: thlipseis) seems to find its way into my readings (& yesterday's sermon) as of late, I have had to face the topic head on. Specifically I have been studying justification by faith in Christ & its results. And Romans tells us that as a result of our justification ("Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have..."), "we rejoice in our sufferings" (v.3).

But it is not masochism... "It is rather the recognition that there is a divine rationale behind suffering" (Stott, 141).

Stott offers 3 "reasons" or "divine rationale" behind suffering:

1. Suffering is the one and only path to glory. It was so for Christ; it is so for Christians.
2. If suffering leads to glory in the end, it leads to maturity meanwhile. Suffering can be productive (to conform us to the image of Christ), if we respond to it positively.
   
3. Suffering is the best context in which to become assured of God's love.
   

Yet as I read & hear this I must ask, "How does suffering reveal God's love & care for my life?" I will attempt briefly to help bring insight to this difficult question.

I am reminded throughout Scripture that God is near to the broken-hearted... to the broken & contrite in Spirit, He has yet to refuse. Suffering ought to lead to humility. And humility is a soil in which God produces wonderful fruit. In desperation, we find that God is near. Suffering quickly sobers us to what is important in this life. And anything that leads us to gain Christ is a good thing.

As one of our pastors, Walt Alexander, stated yesterday (my paraphrase), "Trials are not deviations in God's purposes, rather are integral to His plans for our joy & His glory."

Yet we can only have this mindset if we trust God & His character. If we do not believe in the goodness of God on our behalf, we may sink to despair. Yet, God has proved His love for us in several ways. Consider the ways that He proves His love:

1. "He has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (5b).
2. He has proved His love by Christ's death on the cross (Romans 5:8).
   

Christ died for sinners (enemies of God). Many would die for a friend, yet rarely would one die for an enemy. Sanday & Headlam state, "We infer that the natural explanation of the passages which speak of enmity & reconciliation between God & man is that they are not on one side only, but are mutual" (S&H, 130). Hodges added, "There is not only a wicked opposition of the sinner to God, but a holy opposition of God to the sinner" ( Hodges, 138). Hence, Christ died for those whom God's wrath was pointed toward.

What does this have to do with suffering? Well, it reminds us of the character of God. We can trust God; He alone is trustworthy. God does not waste our time & uses (& orchestrates) events in our lives to mature, care, & shepherd us. I am reminded of Brennan Manning's quote, "Whatever God does not protect us from, He will use to perfect us through." All suffering in a believer's life is for their good (conformity to the image of Christ) & for His glory (us being conformed to the image of Christ).

And, we must conclude as Stott says, "Objectively in history & subjectively in experience, God has given us good grounds for believing in his love. The integration of the historical ministry of God's Son (on the cross) with the contemporary ministry of his Spirit (in our hearts) is one of the most wholesome and satisfying features of the gospel" (Stott, 146).

Recommended Resources:

• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper and Justin Taylor (Paperback - Sep 13, 2006)
• The God I Love: A Lifetime of Walking with Jesus by Joni Eareckson Tada (Hardcover - Aug 1, 2003)
• http://www.monergism.com/directory/search.php?action=search_links_simple&search_kind=and&phrase=suffering&B1.x=0&B1.y=0&B1=Search
  

The Most Compelling Sermon on Missions I've Heard (... maybe)

Monday evening as I drove home from Scottsboro, AL from a photo shoot I was reminded of a sermon I have listened to countless times (I mean... dozens of times!). The name of it is: "A Mission Only the Church Could Stop" by David Platt (The Church at Brook Hills | Birmingham, AL). It has fundamentally impacted my life... so much so that I believe it is the most compelling sermons on missions I've heard... maybe. Hence, I wanted to share it with you. Access the media files (audio & video) by clicking on above image or watch the sermon below.