The War Within Continues

The War Within Continues - LeadershipJournal.net

The War Within: A Call for Purity

I received an article yesterday from Leadership journal. It's quite long, brutally honest, painful and yet encouraging as we seek to see and follow Christ.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8 ESV)

An Anatomy of Lust - LeadershipJournal.net

Praying is living

Prayer leads you to see new paths and to hear new melodies in the air. Prayer is the breath of your life which gives you freedom to go and stay where you wish and to find the many signs which point out to the new land. Praying is not simply some necessary compartment in the daily schedule of a Christian or a source of support in time of need, nor is it restricted to Sunday morning or as a frame surrounding mealtimes. Praying is living.

---Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996)

Unity in Worship

One hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become “unity” conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. – A.W. Tozer

Worship

Glorious God,
It is the flame of my life to worship thee,

the crown and glory of my soul to adore thee,

heavenly pleasure to approach thee.

Give me power by thy Spirit to help me worship now,

that I may forget the world,

be brought into fullness of life,

be refreshed, comforted, blessed.

Give me knowledge of thy goodness

that I might not be over-awed by thy greatness;

Give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God,

that I might not be terrified,

but be drawn near with filial love,

with holy boldness;

He is my Mediator, Brother, Interpreter,

Branch, Daysman, Lamb;

him I glorify,

in him I am set on high.

Crowns to give I have none,

but what thou hast given I return,

content to feel that everything is mine

when it is thine,

and the more fully mine when I have yielded it to thee.

Let me live wholly to my Saviour,

free from distractions,from carking care,

from hindrances to the pursuit of the narrow way.
I am pardoned through the blood of Jesus-give me a new sense of it,

continue to pardon me by it,

may I come every day to the fountain,

and every day be washed anew,

that I may worship thee alwaysin spirit and truth.

Valley of Vision, p. 196

Leader's Insight: Pastoral Ambition

I want to talk about pastoral ambition. I do so with some apprehension.
A few years ago, our church was "successful" enough for me to be invited to a small, elite group of pastors of large churches who were being mentored by one of the more successful and talented pastors in the country. It was a heady few days for me. I got to mix it up with some of the biggest names and up and coming stars in the large church subculture. I felt very important.
At the end of the conference, I rode back to the airport with the pastor who was at the bottom of the food chain in this little group of successful pastors. He was a bundle of insecurity and authentic enough to admit it to me. He was three years into his church plant and he only had 750 people coming to his church. He didn't feel he had the right to play with the big boys yet. Even back then, in the midst of my most ambitious days, I remember thinking that something is very wrong with a church culture that would make someone like this pastor feel insecure.
Something has happened in the past thirty or so years that has shifted our pastoral ethic from one of faithfulness to one of productivity and success. I believe this has stirred the fires of ambition. Given the nature of our American culture, this doesn't surprise me. It also doesn't surprise me that the battle with ambition will be a ferocious one, for the tendency toward self-absorption plagues every one of us. I just wonder why this is not a front burner item that is being addressed with greater passion in the popular Christian media. It would be so refreshing to hear Christian leaders in some panel discussion copping to the fact that they struggle with it and it often drives their ministry. We all know it's there. If only we could start being honest about it.
Pastoral ambition is not new. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians told us, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others."
Christian spiritual giants down through the centuries have pounded away aggressively on this theme. For example, that Puritan divine, Richard Baxter, said it this way: "Take heed lest, under the pretense of diligence in your calling, you be drawn to earthly-mindedness, and excessive cares or covetous designs for rising in the world."
I walk into this issue with loads of apprehension. There is no way to talk about pastoral ambition without sounding (and, I suspect, being) judgmental. After all, who am I to know the thoughts and intents of another person's heart? The inner motivations that drive all of us are a tangled web of sincerity and self-absorption, nobility and narcissism. This topic is, therefore, a land of cheap shots, often entered into by those intellectually lazy and simplistic souls who enjoy building straw men of those with whom they disagree and then tear them down.
In addition, I would like to make it clear, that I would rather follow an ambitious pastor than a lazy one. I would rather follow someone who wants to change the world than one who simply wishes to throw stones. And while many pastors who are leading thriving ministries are passionate, sincere, hungry for God, and brimming with integrity, I must raise the question. Is our ambition godly?
For more than twenty years I have attended church conferences. I have observed as we sized each other up to see how quickly we could find out who had the highest attendance, the largest staff, the biggest budget, the most property. The secret that hardly anyone talks about is that most of us want to win the "largest church game." Or at least make a good showing. I am convinced from first hand experience, as well as from paying close attention to the darkness of my own heart, that if all-of-the-sudden thought bubbles appeared over all our heads, we would all fall to the ground in repentance.
I am convinced that personal pastoral ambition, and a pastoral ethic centered around productivity and success is brutal to our souls and destructive to the souls of the people we lead. I believe there is a better way. But it requires us to walk right into the messiness of our own ambitious hearts, ready to die to those ambitions. We must become skilled at detecting the odor of personal ambition, then flee from it as if the church's future depends on it. For I believe it does.

Kent Carlson is co-senior pastor of Oak Hills Church in Folsom, California.
To respond to this newsletter, visit our blog and join the conversation.Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.October 2, 2006

Why Memorize Scripture?

This is an article I just read by John Piper, thought it is worthy of being shared, and will hopefully serve as a challange to all.

September 5, 2006

First, a few testimonies: I have it third hand, that Dr. Howard Hendricks of Dallas Seminary once made the statement (and I paraphrase) that if it were his decision, every student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses word perfect before they graduated.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization” (“Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person” in


Vocatio, Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7).

Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified” (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61).

One of the reasons Martin Luther came to his great discovery in the Bible of justification by faith alone was that in his early years in the Augustinian monastery he was influenced to love Scripture by Johann Staupitz. Luther devoured the Bible in a day when people earned doctorates in theology without even reading the Bible. Luther said that his fellow professor, Andreas Karlstadt, did not even own a Bible when he earned his doctor of theology degree, nor did he until many years later (Bucher, Richard. "Martin Luther's Love for the Bible"). Luther knew so much of the Bible from memory that when the Lord opened his eyes to see the truth of justification in Romans 1:17, he said, “Thereupon I ran through the Scriptures from memory,” in order to confirm what he had found.

So here are a few reasons why so many have viewed Scripture memorization as so essential to the Christian life.

1. Conformity to Christ

Paul wrote that “we all, . . . beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18)) If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must steadily see him. This happens in the word. “The Lord


revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus steadier and clearer.

2. Daily Triumph over Sin

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. . . . I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9, 11). Paul said that we must “by the Spirit . . . put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). The one piece of armor used to kill is the “sword of the Spirit” which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). As sin lures the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation with the superior worth and beauty of Christ over what sin offers.

3. Daily Triumph over Satan

When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight (Matthew 4:1-11).

4. Comfort and Counsel for People You Love

The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart has unusual power. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God’s love can draw on the mind full of God’s word, timely blessings flow from the mouth.

5. Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers

Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under four main headings (1) God’s holiness/law/glory; 2) man’s sin/rebellion/disobedience; 3) Christ’s death for sinners; 4) the free gift of life by faith. Learn a verse or two relating to each of these, and be ready in season and out of season to share them.

6. Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways

The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help to live a life that reflects the value of these attributes. Therefore, storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to him as he really is. For example, imagine being able to call this to mind through the day:

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14)

I used the word “enjoyment” intentionally when I said, “communion with God in the enjoyment of his person and ways.” Most of us are emotionally crippled—all of us, really. We do not experience God in the fullness of our emotional potential. How will that change? One way is to memorize the emotional expressions of the Bible and speak them to the Lord and to each other until they become part of who we are. For example, in Psalm 103:1, we say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” That is not a natural expression for many people. But if we memorize this and other emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less emotionally crippled and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God.

There are other reasons for memorizing Scripture. I hope you find them in the actual practice.

(end of article)

My wife (Amanda) and I recently purchased a program from the Desiring God web-site. It is called "fighter verses", it is a plan for 5 years to memorize scripture. It has cards for each verse and it is very well organized in how it is layed out.

It is also a wonderful bonding time for us as we say these verses back to each other. I challange you do to the same, just as someone challanged me awhile back.

May God be your all,

Joel Sewell

Please Pray!

Brothers,
I am writing to you all to ask you to please pray for our church, The Pearl, as well as Multnomah Bible College. a very sad thing that I can not disclose as of right now has come about. Please pray for strength for the people of The Pearl to endure these difficult times. Pray also for the Elders of our Church, that they will be able to shepherd and make good decisions for us. Pray for the Students, staff and Professors at Multnomah. Also if you hear any rumors, please do not spread them, thank you.
Grace and Peace,
Jonas

Starving Jesus

Hey Guys,
The guys from xxxchurch.com are on a forty day fast, they are calling it "Starving Jesus Tour". They are traveling across the US speaking in churches and chaining themselves to a pew in protest to all the church goers who just sit in pews every Sunday and do nothing. Check it out at http://starvingjesus.com. I'm courious as to what you guys think about this?
Grace and Peace,
Jonas

Welcome Joel Sewell

Let me introduce Joel and Amanda Sewell, missionaries with Interact Ministries. Joel and I worked together in Alaska, back in the day! Joel's our newest member of the BAND of Brothers, it's good to have you on our side. Check out the Sewell's Blog to find out more.
Sewell's Sentiments

The Fountain

by Jonas R. Knudsen

All who are thirsty,
All who all weak,
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life.
Let the pain and the Sorrow,
Be washed away,
In the waves of his mercy,
As deep cries out to deep.

For so long, and even now I have come to the fountain to gaze at it’s beauty and to admire it’s structure. I take measurements and calculate how much water it produces, but I dare not touch it! It’s only for admiring, for great men before me have put up the velvet ropes and the “NO SWIMMING OR DRINKING ALLOWED” sign. It’s for our protection because we couldn’t possibly bare the cool, clear, deliciousness of this water. So books have been written about it, and people have developed theories of what the water would actually taste like. There have been debates, divisions, and arguments concerning its nature, but very few have really tasted and touched this water.
I come to the fountain time after time to study it and every time I do I get a sudden urge to jump in. It pulls me to step over the velvet ropes and drink, to bathe in it. Now I go to a school of the Fountain, we study its maker, and the reason it’s there, we even take field trips just to look at it. We have speakers come and talk about how delicious the water tastes, but even so I doubt they have actually tasted it. I have read stories of men and women of old who have drank from the fountain. It sounds like the most wonderful experience, I’ve even heard of men that have never left the cool running water eventually becoming the water itself.
Sometimes I dream about the fountain. I can feel it’s cool water cascading down my face washing my soul clean. I can taste its crisp, clean water; so pure it refreshes the entire body… Then I wake up, and I feel dry and parched, like a fish out of water.
I came to the fountain today and as I sat amazed by it’s beauty I heard a voice. It was like the sound of many waters, it was coming from the fountain. It said “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” I got up and I stepped over the velvet ropes, which the great men before me had placed there. I began to take off my clothes and the voice said “Stop, come as you are!” so I stepped into the fountain, a rush of cold went thru my body, at first painful. “It hurts!” I cried “Yes, but only for a moment my child,” replied the voice. I began to feel an unspeakable joy wash over my body and I found myself diving in. The fountain had depths I could not fathom. I walked to the cascading flow and I drank. The water so pure I thought I would never have to drink again. And there beyond the velvet ropes I tasted and found the Lord to be good indeed.

“The fountain of the Word is not meant for looking, it’s meant for drinking!”
-Prof. David Needham

Which way do I go?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13

It's Monday morning, August 7th. The end of August in coming nearer and nearer at which time we have several questions to answer:

1. Where will we live?
2. How will I provide for my family?
3. Are we making a mistake?

It's interesting to me that during the "un-known" times in my life that I exercise my feeble faith more, like during the "normal" times I don't need faith? Foolish, very foolish! God calls me to trust Him, everyday, during every situation, so that in my faith, His righteousness is revealed! For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

Bree and I seek your faith and prayers for our family today. Would you pray with us:

1. For faith to trust our Lord.
2. For faith to model godliness to our boys.
3. For faith to Draw near to Him.
   

Solitude

Taking Care of Busyness
How to minister at a healthy pace.
John C. Ortberg

Solitude is a more traditional practice to cure hurry sickness. Jesus engaged in it frequently. At the beginning of his ministry, he went to the wilderness for extended fasting and prayer. He also withdrew when he heard of John the Baptist's death, when he was going to choose his disciples, after he had healed a leper, after his followers had engaged in ministry. This pattern of withdrawal continued into the final days of his life, when again he withdrew into the garden to pray. He ended his ministry, as he began it, with the practice of solitude.

Ministry must be done in a rhythm of engagement and withdrawal. Wise followers of Christ have always understood solitude to be the foundational practice.

What makes it so important? Solitude is the one place where we gain freedom from the forces of society that otherwise relentlessly mold us. It is (in one old phrase) the "furnace of transformation."

Dallas Willard noted an experiment done with mice a few years ago. A researcher found that when amphetamines are given to a mouse in solitude, it takes a high dosage to kill it. Give it to a group of mice, and they start hopping around and hyping each other up so much that a fraction of the dosage will be lethal—so great is the effect of "the world" on mice. In fact, a mouse that had been given no amphetamines at all, placed in a group on the drug, will get so hyper that in 10 minutes or so the non-injected mouse will be dead. "In groups," Willard noted, "they go off like popcorn."

You'd think only mice would be so foolish as to hang out with other mice that are so hopped up, so frantically pursuing mindless activity for no discernible purpose that they put their own lives at risk.

But what exactly is solitude? Some people ask, "What do I do when I practice solitude? What should I bring with me? The primary answer, of course, is "Nothing."

Not long ago, a man told me about preparing for his first extended period of solitude: he brought books, message tapes, CDs, and a VCR. Those are the very things you go into solitude to get away from.

At its heart, solitude is primarily about not doing something. Just as fasting means to refrain from eating, so solitude means to refrain from society. When I go into solitude, I withdraw from conversation, from others, from noise, from media, from the constant barrage of stimulation.

"In solitude," Henri Nouwen wrote, "I get rid of my scaffolding." Scaffolding is all the stuff I use to keep myself propped up, to convince myself I'm important or okay. In solitude I have no friends to talk with, no phone calls or meetings, no TV to entertain, no music or books or newspapers to occupy and distract my mind. I am, in the words of the old hymn, "Just as I Am": not my accomplishments or resume or possessions or networks—just me and my sinfulness, and God.

Solitude requires relentless perseverance. Unless I pull my calendar out and write down well in advance when I am committed to times of solitude, it won't happen.

I think about solitude in two categories: I need brief periods of solitude on a regular basis—preferably each day, even at intervals during the day. But I also need extended periods of solitude—a half day, a day, or a few days—and this is possible only at greater intervals. Frances de Sales, author of the classic An Introduction to the Devout Life, used the image of a clock:

"There is no clock, no matter how good it may be, that doesn't need resetting and rewinding twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. In addition, at least once a year it must be taken apart to remove the dirt clogging it, straighten out bent parts, and repair those worn out. In like manner, every morning and evening a man who really takes care of his heart must rewind it for God's service. … At least once a year, he must take it apart and examine every piece in detail, that is, every affection and passion, in order to repair whatever defects there may be."

As much as we complain about it, there's part of us that is drawn to a hurried life. It makes us feel important.

I try to begin my days by praying over the day's schedule—meetings I'll attend, tasks I must perform, people I'll be with—and placing them all in God's hands. Through the day, I try to take 5-minute breaks, close the door to my office, and remind myself that one day the office will be gone and I'll still belong to God.

At the end of the day, I like to review the day with God: to go over the events to see what he might be saying to me through them, and to hand any anxieties or regrets over to him. One of the great benefits of this exercise is that you begin to learn from your days.

When I was in athletics in school, we used to watch videotapes of our performances. They were sometimes painful to watch, but it was worth it to be spared from making the same mistakes over and over.

It's the same here. For instance, when I began this daily review, I discovered I experienced much more anger than I ever thought. I began to be aware of the attitudes and responses that were guiding my life.

Wreaking Havoc? by Bridget Willard

Have you ever felt like taking a vacation from church? After a conflict, did you decide not to go back to church? Have you left the fellowship of the brothers and sisters? Have you ceased from the work of God? Have you been in a cave, claiming to be the very last one left of all those serving God? Are you afraid to come out?

When I became a believer a decade ago, I had put everyone in a neat schema, a properly placed category in my mind, and had figured that the church life would be a contemporary of Disneyland; the happiest place, and all that. Shortly after, I became disillusioned; and wallowing in my disappointment in man (not God), my disillusionment had turned from a lack of illusion to darkness.

Why had I become disillusioned? I had forgotten one important factor. We are all in a process of transformation. In English the -ion suffix signifies a process—we are all being changed and when He appears we will be like Him, but not before. I suppose my expectations were far higher than were realistic—even for a believer aiming at perfection in Christ. A study of Ephesians, viewing the church-life from Heaven’s perspective, often causes us to expect everyone to be on the exact same walk at the same place as us: and we never sin—right?

Read the rest of the article at worshiptogether.com

United

Greetings Brothers,
This is my first post on this blog, and I must say that I am very excited about this. I love the series “Band of Brothers”, not because it’s about war, and being a guy, I obsess over guns and war activity, but because it’s one of the most stirring war epics ever made. Lately I have joined a group of men from our church, the Pearl, that are reading thru the whole NT over the summer. I have gotten behind and haven’t been able to attend my small group for some time, but I continue to press on. I am currently working thru 1 Corinthians and I am admonished by Paul’s call for oneness; “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” I Cor. 1:10. I am convinced that I am a lot like Corinth. I am not of the same mind nor do I agree with other brothers. I judge others who call on the name of Christ. I divide over doctrine; I blow about like chaff in the wind. How can I share the Gospel of peace with others when I am at war with my fellow brothers? The men of Easy Company fought with one mind, one goal, one purpose, they were one. Brothers, Christ cannot to be divided by denominations, doctrines and ideologies. He is Christ the King, and we must unite under Him and Him alone! I am excited to see where this blog goes and I pray that it will be an encouragement for us, and a place for us to be united for the sake of the Gospel! I close with the Apostles Creed a creed that proclaims what we all believe and can agree upon!

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. A-men!

Grace and Peace,
Jonas

A little history..... a call for MORE!

BAND OF BROTHERS tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. Drawn from interviews with survivors of Easy Company, as well as soldier's journals and letters, BAND OF BROTHERS chronicles the experiences of these young men who knew extraordinary bravery and extraordinary fear.

They were an elite rifle company parachuting into France early on D-Day morning, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and capturing HitlerÂ’s Eagle'’s Nest at Berchtesgaden. They were also a unit that suffered enormous casualties, and whose lives became legend.

..... in a similar way, Jesus calls us up to service - only He knows the outcome of our "conflict", and how different His Call. May you live legendary lives for Christ TODAY!

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:1-16 ESV)

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http://www.historychannel.com/bandofbrothers

Refiner's Fire

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years."

Malachi 3:1-4

Lord, thank you for giving us the righteousness of Christ. Do the refining in us that needs to be done. May the offering of our lives be acceptable to you in Christ Jesus.

Create in me a clean heart, O God

We are singing "Create in me a clean heart" this morning at New Life Church and I re-read the passage this morning. I love these verses, "O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
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Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
(Psalms 51:1-19 ESV)

Where it Started - the Band of Brothers

In Toccoa, Ga., 1942, a disparate group of young men begins voluntary training to become members of one of America's newest military regiments - the paratroopers. Under the harsh leadership of Lt. Sobel (David Schwimmer), members of the newly formed Easy Company go from green civilians to some of the Army's most elite soldiers. As training progresses, a rivalry flares between Sobel, whom the men despise, and Lt. Winters (Damian Lewis), a junior officer who's earned the respect and admiration of Easy Company.

After enduring basic training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, Easy Company heads to Aldbourne, England to prepare for the invasion of Europe. In the weeks before D-Day, Easy Company heads to Uppottery, England to prepare for the drop into Europe.

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January 11, 2005, from my journal

"...it has been six months now and you (God) have continued to put them in my life and I have resisted the urge from you, fearing failure.

I am renewed in spirit to seek support and accountability from a "Band of Brother" who would support me in 1.) Daily prayer 2.) Ask me personal questions regarding my life and conduct 3.) support me in times of trouble.

• Jim Small
• Kevin Churilla
• Nathan Pylate
• Jonas Knudsen
• Joe Laxson
• James Warrick
• Ken Calhoon
• John Moore
• George Churilla
• Dave Rohner

The Band of Brothers: To life a life holy as unto the Lord.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.... on Christ the solid rock I stand!"

I'm developing this blog to be a place for us to encourage, challenge, carry each other like Easy Company had to do. I too quickly forget the war we are in, the journey of faith is not to be taken alone. Would you stand with me? You are in my prayers.

For HIS Glory!

--- Tim

I'd Rather Have Jesus

I'd rather have Jesus then silver or gold,
I'd rather have Him than have riches untold, I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain Or be held in sin's dread way; I'd rather have Jesus than anything, this world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

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George Beverly Shea / Rhea F. Miller
1922, 1939. Renewed 1950, 1966 Word Music, LLC
Word Music Group, Inc.