Johnny Cash, Derek Webb, and Our Savior

"Help Me" by Johnny Cash (written by Larry Gatlin) - is a song that exemplifies the condition of man. This is the cry of our soul. We have nothing to offer God. The lyrics are simple and are similar to the tax collector's prayer of Luke 18:13. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" This prayer is not just for the atheist in need of salvation, but for all men and women, everywhere, in every moment of their lives. If God has not done so yet, may God break your spirit to cry out to Him, and to continue to do so as long as you have breath. 

"Lover" by Derek Webb - is a song that exemplifies the heart of God. He sees our condition and He acts. He sees our need for a Savior, and He comes to save... and He is resolved to do so. The lyrics are from the perspective of Jesus, and are a beautiful reminder of God's love for us. If you are broken and cry out to God for help, be assured that He hears you. I found comfort when God answered my cry for help in salvation. Yet, I find more comfort knowing God continues to answer my cry for His help, for if He took His hand away from me, I would surely wander away in an instant. 

Listen Here:



"You bring all your history; I'll bring the bread and wine... 

and as surely as the rising sun, you will be set free."

02.03.99 – Cancer, Death, and Glory

12 years, 9 months, and 10 days –

 That’s how long ago my brother Kevin died.

 And that was my age when he died.

I have officially spent half of my life without him in this world. Time presses forward like a freight train.

   Cancer – My brother was just a kid when he was diagnosed with cancer. He spent the next three years in and out of hospitals. He had a disease that was destroying his body. The doctor’s could only prolong his life, but the cancer would inevitably kill him. I do not know what it must have been like to suffer as he did, but it was painful to watch him suffer.

Cancer is a killer, though he had a disease much worse than any tumor. He had a disease no man can cure. There was something else wrong inside of him that had already killed him. Kevin, like the rest of us, was a broken man. He was dead in his sins. Please know that as the little kid who wanted so much to be like his older brother, I do not say this lightly, but I say it in truth: One beautiful thing about his cancer was that, through it, the Lord saved him. God, who is rich in mercy, reconciled my brother to Himself. My brother Kevin died long before that dreadful Wednesday morning in the hospital bed. Through faith and repentance, Kevin died with Christ and rose with Christ as a new creation. Though he still had cancer, which was destroying his body, he was cured of the disease that was destroying his soul.

   Death – After three years, at the age of 16, the Lord took Kevin. But I do not grieve as the world grieves. Scripture reminds us to have hope when our fellow believers die. Yes, Kevin was my brother because we shared the Carmack/Huron family blood. But a truth that is even more comforting is that Kevin will always be my brother. He is my brother because we share the blood of Christ, which saves sinners. The blood of Jesus provides a family bond stronger and longer than any earthly blood tie.

   Glory – My brother is no angel. He has no wings. He is not floating on clouds. He is much more than this. Jesus didn’t die for the angels. He didn’t die so we could spend eternity playing a harp and singing songs. What is he doing then? Well, I don’t exactly know, but I am confident of this: my brother is experiencing the joy of the presence of the Lord beyond anything imaginable. One day, when Jesus returns, my brother will receive glory with Christ, rising with a body that is imperishable and undefiled. He will have a body that will never get sick or decay. We will meet again. We will look back on our 12-70 years of separation and wonder how it went by so quickly. We will rejoice in the Lord that He manifested His glory through our salvation. Though there was nothing good in and of ourselves, the Lord showed His grace to us through Jesus.

So, yes, I grieve in remembrance of him, but I do not grieve as one who has no hope. I ask you… when you die, will your friends and family have something to hope in? Will they be able to say with confidence that you are in heaven with the Lord? How can you have this confidence? All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Turn to Christ, my friend.

We all have a disease that is killing both our body and our soul. Your sin is killing you. All of our bodies will one day fall in death. Will your soul also fall into eternal death? Or will you drink of the blood of Christ, which was poured out for sinners and eat of the flesh of Christ, which was broken for sinners? Will you suffer and die with Christ, that you may also be raised in glory with Him?

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Scripture references: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Romans 8:11, 17, 23-24; John 6:37; Isaiah 55:6-7; Romans 10:9; Luke 24:46-47; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 49, 54-55; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 14:13; John 11:25

Dust

What am I but dust in need of Your great mercy?
What can I give that's not already Yours?
Empty hands before the God of all
Bowing, onto my face I fall.

Did I choose to live in that secret place?
Will I choose to tell my heart to stop?
But a breath that passes by
I'll join the rest of them that die

Do I know more than the Ancient of Days?
Do I question the source of all light?
Too old to know Your older
Too high to see Your higher

Oh Father, my Father, 
Listen to Your son.
I have nothing to bring,
but a plea for your love.

You are my King, 
And of You, I will sing

Yes, I will sing,
for You are my delight,
Once I was foolish,
Now, I am saved.

In Christ, sin atoned and paid,
Died in Him and In Him raised.
When I choose to water the bitter seed,
Let me think of Your Son and what more I need.

Universe, by the Word of Your mouth
You hold all things together everywhere
And I worry about tomorrow?
I praise Your Wonder

What am I but dust in need of Your great mercy?

Hitler, God, and the Bible

Viewer Discretion Advised

www.180movie.com

Striving After Wind

"A young man, whom he had known as a boy, came to an aged Professor of a distinguished continental University, with a face beaming with delight, and informed him that the long and fondly-cherished desire of his heart was at length fulfilled- his parents having given their consent to his studying the profession of the law. As the University presided over by his friend was a distinguished one, he had repaired to its law school, and was resolved to spare no labor or expense in getting through his studies as quickly and ably as possible. In this strain he continued for some time; and when he paused, the old man, who had been listening to him with great patience and kindness, gently said, 
"Well! and when you have finished your career of study, what do you mean to do then?" 
"Then I shall take my degree," answered the young man. 
"And then?" asked his venerable friend. 
"And then," continued the youth, "I shall have a number of difficult and knotty cases to manage: shall attract notice by my eloquence, and wit, and acuteness, and win a great reputation." 
"And then?" repeated the holy man. 
"And then!" replied the youth, "why then there cannot be a question- I shall be promoted to some high office in the state, and I shall become rich." 
"And then?" 
"And then," pursued the young lawyer, "then I shall live comfortably and honorably in wealth and respect, and look forward to a quiet and happy old age." 
"And then?" repeated the old man. 
"And then," said the youth, "and then- and then- and then I shall die." Here his venerable listener lifted up his voice, and again asked, with solemnity and emphasis– 
"And then?" Whereupon the aspiring student made no answer, but cast down his head, and in silence and thoughtfulness retired. This last "And then?" had pierced his heart like a sword- had darted like a flash of lightning into his soul, and he could not dislodge the impression." -Octavius Winslow (book: "No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")

Potential

The crystal ball reveals too much,
I fear what I see,
I have great potential lying ahead,
I feel the heavy weight of who I could be.

I can't grab the letters that flow off my tongue,
what's said is said, what's done is done,
too quick to utter, too eager to speak,
too haste to act on selfish gain.

Then I go to the mind where it gets much worse,
darker and darker, I ride in that hearse,
thoughts so dark, I wonder, is this me?
How do I take captive what does not want to be caught?

A desire to be great among the dead,
to have what I want, to let me be free.

Oh, to be free, and be a slave again,
to live in the ease of my stockholm syndrome.

So willing to wander, how do I sleep?
Where does the fool gain peace?
Why does a mistake-makin, death-drivin, fickle man
get out of bed with such potential to lose?

My potential is great, but there is a greater, 

a guarantee of who I am to become.

The Spirit of God, my King, my Creator,
is smarter and wiser than I.

He nailed my potential to the cross.

The hopeless man who wandered in death,
united with Christ, has took his last breath,
he fights in vain; fire burns the dross.

He who began is faithful to complete,
each day, I see the mystery of His love for me,
a Love that pursues when I lose what I know,
a Goodness and Mercy that goes where I go.

He who promised is sure and true,
what He sends forth will not return til it finishes,
He always keeps His Word,
and it is in His word that I hope.

A Neglected Essential

I encourage you to watch the following video of Rev. Alistair Begg preaching at Southern Seminary chapel on the ascension of the Lord Jesus.



"Let the pessimist look down; let the fearful look around, and let the Christian lift his eyes and look up. Christ is our ascended King."