“We do not want to be found naked, but clothed; so that what is mortal will be transformed by life.” 2 Corinthians 5:4 “Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.” Colossians 3:10 … More Dirty Laundry 1: Introduction
Remember Drivers Ed class? Remember Behind-the-Wheel? In the “Student Driver” series, Jeremy shares some of the profound similarities between learning to drive and the road to discipleship. Jeremy writes from the unique vantage point of both a certified Driving Instructor and a pastor. This excerpt is called “Fatal Distractions.” Buckle up!
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In The Father’s Song series, Jeremy guides us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync. This excerpt is called describes the 40-year stubbornness of Moses and Israel in the desert. I spent several years substitute … More Moses & the 40-Year Band Rehearsal
Jesus lived his entire life completely swept up in the rhythms of The Father’s Song. Remember that in the very beginning, before the creation of the world, all that existed was the eternal dance of the Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit enjoying pure, self-giving, mutual joy and love between their three eternally distinct persons. … More FATHER’S SONG (13): Dancing Together As One (Paul & NT Letters)
As the OT comes to a close, God’s plan to bring a tone-deaf and clumsy footed people back into the harmonious rhythms of The Father’s Song seems a giant failure. If only these notes on a page could become music in one’s ear. If only someone could learn to play each note perfectly, perhaps the … More FATHER’S SONG (12): More Than Sheet Music (Jesus)
There is the right song for every situation. There is music for every mood. And everyone’s musical library should include a good collection of quality break-up songs. Country music provides plenty of options for this category. My go-to-guy for heart-wrenching, gut-punching break-up songs is without question Chris Isaak. I bought Chris Isaak’s Forever Blue album … More FATHER’S SONG (11): Country Break-Up Songs (Prophets)
If you want a powerful image of what it looks like to living in tune with The Father’s Song and in perfect step with the Spirit, watch an episode of Dancing With the Stars. The dancers must be in perfect step with one another; but even more importantly they must be intimately familiar with the … More FATHER’S SONG (10): Elevator Music (Solomon)
I have over 2,000 songs in my iTunes library. I also have a much smaller “Playlist” of all my favorites: songs that make me smile and move me to dancing, songs that evoke significant memories, songs I’ve shared with special friends, songs that comfort me and songs that move me to tears. Skimming through another … More FATHER’S SONG (9): Israel’s iPod (Psalms)
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync. The winner of the second season of the ancient Near Eastern version of American Idol was the electrifying, rags-to-riches shepherd boy … More FATHER’S SONG (8): David Sings the National Anthem
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync. The Patriarchal and theocratic years of the Old Testament (Genesis-Judges) have provided the first several musical tracks of the Father’s Song. … More FATHER’S SONG (7): Before American Idol: Saul (1 Samuel)
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync. I spent several years substitute teaching in the public schools to pay my way through seminary. Substitute teaching is not for … More FATHER’S SONG (6): The 40-Year Long Band Rehearsal (Exodus-Judges)
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in tune. The crowds came with great anticipation to the mountain amphitheater. Many great and awesome rumors preceded the night’s long awaited spectacle. … More FATHER’S SONG (5): A Masterpiece in Written Form (Moses & Torah)
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in tune. A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January … More FATHER’S SONG (4): Whistling Alone in the Dark (Abraham)
Since the creation of the world God’s perfect melody, the Father’s Song, has been clearly heard, it’s harmonious rhythms and soothing beats echoing forth from all that God has made, so that people are without excuse. For although we knew the Father’s Song — which is written on our hearts — we chose to deafen … More FATHER’S SONG (3): Cosmic Dissonance (Fall)
The Creator could have chosen an infinite number of methods to bring the universe into being. God chose to sing. Well, we don’t know if God actually sang, but the creation narratives make plain that the first stars, moons, trees, oceans, platypuses and people danced into existence through the spoken word of God. (“And the … More FATHER’S SONG (2): Creation Song (Creation)
SERIES INTRO: One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy guides us through the main episodes of the biblical narrative with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync. Leave the dissonance of the world and join the Dance of the Trinity as we catch a glimpse … More FATHER’S SONG 1: The Dance of the Trinity
Now for a second key point to Jesus’s “cosmic landfill” image of Hell. We should not speak of eternal damnation as something God imposes on us against our will, as if we had no choice in the matter. Jesus has taken our trash upon himself, his offer of forgiveness is always before us and he … More GARBAGE DAY 11 – Locked From The Inside (Hell 3)
What then does Jesus’ graphic allusion to Jerusalem’s garbage dump tell us about the nature of hell? First, as we have already discovered, each person has been created for the common purpose of bringing glory and praise to the Creator. We were made to be showcases of God’s majesty. We fulfill this role whenever we … More GARBAGE DAY 10 – Scissors That Won’t Cut (Hell 2)
Earlier I mentioned the unpopularity of the topic of repentance both inside and outside the church today. An even more hair-raising, gut-wrenching topic, offering a greater challenge to our culture’s sensibilities is the idea that an all-loving, all-merciful God would send people to some hell for all eternity. Shall we pour a cup of coffee and talk about Hell for a moment?
… More GARBAGE DAY 9 – God’s Cosmic Landfill (One Hell of a Mess)
Are we willing to let go of certain things we love in order to gain something of even greater value? This is the whole concept behind a rummage sale, is it not? Clear out the old, unused clutter to make room for newer, better things? The Apostle Paul was faced with the same question, and made his decision abundantly clear…
If we take a quick glance at the lifestyles of Christians in America today, they are hardly distinguishable from those who don’t know God. We are a church of Marthas, fussing about in our own respective kitchens. But Jesus invites us to clear away the clutter and find time and space to sit at his feet along with Mary (Luke 10:38-42). Herein lies the key difference between spiritual garbage and spiritual clutter…. … More GARBAGE DAY 7 – Boasting in our Busyness
While continuously ridding our lives of sin’s toxic presence is of central importance, there is another type of spiritual waste that needs to be kept at bay. I call it spiritual clutter. If spiritual garbage represents the sin polluting our lives, spiritual clutter represents the numerous distractions that constantly compete for our immediate attention, drawing our focus away from God’s kingdom purposes…. … More GARBAGE DAY 6 – Spiritual Clutter
There was a day when God went dumpster diving. Some 2,000 years ago God so loved the world that he sent his only Son into the dumpster of sin and death, so that everyone who believes in him shall not go to waste but have the eternal kind of life (John 3:16). Jesus came and took out our garbage for us; for we had let it pile up so high that it was now too heavy for any man to carry. As Isaiah said, “We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags” (Isa 64:6). But Jesus exchanged our trash for God’s treasure (1 Pet 1:3-5)…. … More GARBAGE DAY 5 – The Day God Went Dumpster Diving
The Bible says, “Come back to God Almighty and he’ll rebuild your life. Clean house of everything evil” (Job 22:23 MSG). This requires a concrete plan to rid ourselves of sin patterns in our life, to make a clean break of it. Yet, many of us prefer to sweep our sins under the rug or hide them in the back closet. We fail to deal with it completely. When we fail to regularly clean up after ourselves, or handle it completely, the spiritual mess only grows worse, making it harder to clean the next time. Listen to Jesus’ words…. … More GARBAGE DAY 4 – Cleaning House
Garbage is simply that which goes to waste. It has no positive value, serves no meaningful purpose and is therefore good only to be discarded or burned up. When we let our trash overflow with useless waste, the mess only inhibits the freedom and joy the “abundant life” (John 10:10) wants to give us. Waste gets in the way, it smells up the house, and detracts us from the beautiful, rightly ordered life God has made us for…. … More GARBAGE DAY 3 – Ooh, What’s That Smell?
