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Lord, now indeed I find thy power and thine alone,
can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone.
Jesus Paid It All, by Elvina M. Hall, 1865

The Bible proclaims and calls for the spread of God's kingdom. However, how it spreads, and particularly, how it should spread has been a matter of debate and sometimes debacle. Plenty of theological errors related to the kingdom of God have led to grave consequences. The crusades, for example, are low hanging fruit. More recently, you could add Reconstructionism and several abuses related to Patriarchy to that list. 

This Sunday we will ask how the kingdom spreads. It should come as no surprise that it's mainly by changed hearts and not by military action, political wrangling, or activism. Our worship service will call us to focus on lifting up our hearts first and foremost. We will confess that the Lord directs the kingdom by spreading light in darkness. But mainly, we are reminded that the kingdom of peace takes hold by breaking up the hard and stony ground of the heart. 

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Worship Notes For Sunday, July 5, 2020 at Christ Covenant Church, Matthews, NC

We are in the midst of a health crises, race crises, financial instability, and more. Of course, we don't expect a complete melt down, but what would our response be if that were the case? Habakkuk knew that destruction was coming. As a prophet he was sure of it; he'd 'seen' it. His response was two fold. 

Response One: Cry for Mercy
In Hab. 3:2 the prophet cries out for mercy. He now knows the end result of sin: destruction. As we taste just a bit of chaos and destruction, it is right to cry out for mercy. As we recognize our sin and the result of that sin, it is good to cry out for mercy. 

Response Two: A Resolve to Rejoice
Responding to promised destruction with rejoicing is not natural. But, destruction is not all Habakkuk foresaw. He also saw the ultimate end, which was salvation. I think his response of rejoicing was both a resolve to give God praise in the face of chaos and an ultimate sense of hope. Perhaps part of the key to the call to rejoice in severe mercies is to find hope in ultimate promises. We are not left with just "bad" providences. Instead we know they lead somewhere. Therefore, rejoicing is a choice now as well as the end game.

This week in worship I'm using passages from Habakkuk for the call to worship and confession. Plus, the Numbers passage mirrors Hab. 2:14. And, we will sing from Hab. 3:17-19 again (listen here). From beginning to end, this book leads us on a gospel path. In chapter three we will see the cry for mercy and the resolve to rejoice. May the Lord build both responses in us as we grow in our sense of eternal hope. 

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Worship Notes For Sunday, June 28, 2020 at Christ Covenant Church, Matthews, NC

This month (June 2020) at Christ Covenant Church we are working our way through Habakkuk, which is one of my favorite books of the Bible. This week in worship I will introduce I Will Rejoice, based on Hab. 3:17-19. 

Part of what I love about this passage is how it prepares our hearts to give thanks even in the face of providence that we don't understand. Seems appropriate to most times. 

Back in 2006 I released my album Rise in the Darkness. For this update I have redone the vocals, and  smoothed out a couple phrases with congregations in mind. Plus, I gave the melody a lift at the end of the chorus. Finally, I was able to add my kiddos on background vocals!

Stream or download I Will Rejoice (2020 Version) here. There's a lead sheet with chords too. Enjoy!

P.S. My son, Elliot is working out some string parts, and I look forward to singing this with our choir once we are back to whatever normal will look like. 

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Worship Notes For Sunday, June 21, 2020 at Christ Covenant Church, Matthews NC

My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine;
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly thine. —Lowell Mason

I need this song. Truthfully, I often look down at my own toes rather than "up to thee." I get bogged down in the mundane. I wonder about the importance of my position. I sometimes exhibit a distracted faith, a self focused faith. But biblical faith calls me to set my eyes on things that are above. 

This old hymn captures a lot of what we will focus on in worship this week. Biblical faith is not a contentless faith or a self focused faith. Rather, it is a "looking" or trusting faith in someone beyond myself. It has content, requires assent, and brings about assurance (Heb. 11:1) to the point of a new walk. Not only this, but our opening hymn this week will remind us that the Lord is sovereign in faith, and that therefore we can cast all our cares upon him, even if those cares arise out of the valley of the shadow of death.

Thankfully, as I look to Christ it's harder to look at self. And, once 'self' is out of the way, walking by faith is a real possibility. This is something we need amid all the pain which is currently sweeping our country. 

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Worship Notes For Sunday, June 14, 2020 at Christ Covenant Church, Matthews NC

Here's an old song recorded with my family. We like to take it in a quasi-bluegrass vein, but it would be a great congregational song too. Enjoy!

1 I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, or to defend his cause, 
maintain the honor of his Word, the glory of his cross. 

2 Jesus, my God! I know his name, his name is all my trust; 
nor will he put my soul to shame, nor let my hope be lost. 

3 Firm as his throne his promise stands, and he can well secure 
what I’ve committed to his hands ’til the decisive hour. 

4 Then will he own my worthless name before his Father’s face, 
and in the new Jerusalem appoint my soul a place. 

Text: Isaac Watts, 1709 Music: PISGAH, from Kentucky Harmony, 1817.

2 Samuel 22:36 reads, “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.” 

This short snippet in the midst of David’s last words is striking. The poetry is full of war talk -troops, bows, battles, torture, enemies – with themes of meekness and mercy sprinkled throughout. But it’s the shield and gentleness that grabs me. 

When I think of a fight, salvation and gentleness are not the weapons that first come to mind. Yet, as Martin Luther noted, the cross of Christ turns everything upside-down. In the Lord’s economy, rather than burying dirt to save your career or smearing your opponent as an offensive tactic, salvation is a shield and gentleness makes one great. That’s countercultural. 

A Shield 

If I am honest, self-defense and pointing the finger is my gut instinct. But shielding oneself and being a bullish accuser rarely protects. At best it provides the opportunity for more dirt to stick, and, at worst, it is mimicking the devil. My best defense is not self-defence or accusation, but the breastplate of righteousness in Christ (i.e. salvation). 

Gentleness 

On the one hand I am tempted to lash out. It feels good to use sarcastic and cynical offensive tactics. On the other hand I’m tempted to be silent and passive. But principled gentleness does not allow for either. The greatness of biblical gentleness is that it accompanies the strength to work for a principled and true peace without using those principles as clanging gongs. 

Therefore, to restate the verse above, resting in God’s salvation is a shield against ultimate harm, and greatness comes with principled gentleness. 

Real Armor 

This week our worship service will include some “war-talk” and “war-songs.” Some folks are uncomfortable with this, and rightly so given certain historical events. But when you consider that our ‘armor’ should actually be things like truth, peace, righteousness, salvation, and even gentleness if we borrow from David, it transforms both our discussion and our actions. This week at Christ Covenant, among other things, we consider Ephesians 6:14-17 and the putting on of the helmet of salvation and the readiness of the gospel of peace. 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 
Or, to paraphrase David: blessed are the gentle, for they shall be made great.

When we feed our dog, Dottie, we tell her to ‘Sit!’ and ‘Wait.’ Dottie obeys, and as she waits, begins quivering with anticipation. Dottie will wait a very long time, fully expecting good things to come. She is quite strong. 

This Sunday our congregation, like so many others, will be scattered around town and tuning into our worship service digitally. It’s strange to say the least. For the moment we will have to wait to get back together. Until then join us and sing along in your living room: https://christcovenant.org 

Our service has been developed around Ephesians 6:10-11, which is a call to be strong. Other than that the current virus scare is generally a result of the fall of man (See Kevin DeYoung’s post here), we don’t need to say that it’s specifically a “scheme of the Devil”. Yet the fear and worry that might accompany it could be. All kinds of darts are thrown at us: distraction, fear, impatience, etc. 

So we will sing of hope (My Hope is Built on Nothing Less), thankfulness (My Heart is Filled With Thankfulness), our refuge (O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer), and the Lord’s strong arm (We Praise Thee O God, Our Redeemer). 

Psalm 27:14: Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! 

We wait on the Lord, and with strength we anticipate worshiping together and forever.

A good friend brought this hymn to my attention, and it’s a good one. I don’t know that I have ever used the word languid. However, it sure does capture the idea of weakness and fatigue well. In times of uncertainty or doubt, the text of this old song is wonderfully encouraging. “Is he sure to bless? Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs answer yes.”

Text: John Mason Neale, 1882 
Music: STEPHANOS, by Henry W. Baker, 1868 
For the arrangement I simply adjusted the chord structure and an added refrain using the last verse of the text. 

Chorded Version: Download 

Capo Chorded Version:  Download 

Text: 

 Are you weary, are you languid, are you sore distress’d? 
“Come to me,” says One, “and, coming, be at rest.” 
Has he marks to lead me to him, if he be my Guide? 
“In his feet and hands are wound-prints, and his side.” 

Finding, foll’wing, keeping, struggling, is he sure to bless? 
“Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs answer yes.” 

Is there diadem, as Monarch, that his brow adorns? 
“Yes, a crown, in very surety, but of thorns.” 
If I find him, if I follow, what his promise here? 
“Many a sorrow, many a labor, many a tear.” 

If I still hold closely to him, what has he at last? 
“Sorrow vanquished, labor ended, Jordan passed.” 
If I ask him to receive me, will he say me nay? 
“Not till earth and not till heaven pass away.”

This post begins a series of posts based on a Sunday School class I am currently teaching entitled True Spirituality: How to Have Communion With God.  Artwork: Cammille Pissarro’s Conversation By the Fence. 

Tone Obsession 

Guitar tone is a bit of an obsession of mine. I can wax eloquently (at least I think so) about the nuances of guitar projection and subtle differences of certain tone woods.  People who have known me for a while would say I’m obsessed with finding good tone. Maybe obsession is not the best term to bring into this discussion, but at the very least it helps me realize that I have not always given a similar kind of devotion to my Lord. Perhaps I have at times, but consistently? 

Likewise, around Valentines Day, it was brought to my attention that though I am faithful in my marriage, being devoted to my wife and family to the point that they “feel and know” they are cherished is another level altogether. My guitar, if it had feelings, would. 

When dealing with the subject of spirituality Sinclair Ferguson (Devoted to God) and Allan Chapel (True Devotion) obviously center on the idea of devotion. The term is quite helpful when thinking through a subject like spirituality and communion with God. 

Foundation 

It may be pedantic to say it, but our understanding of what spirituality is should be founded in the Scriptures. However, with the wide interest in “spiritual things” from Hollywood to modern Spiritual Guidance movements, it bears repeating. If Scripture is the “only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy [God]” (Westminster Shorter Catechism), then it should shape our view of what spirituality actually is. It gets to define the terms. 

Definition of Terms 

Exciting, eh?! Actually, yes, I do get excited about definitions of terms. The more clarity we can bring to the the limits and extent of a term the more we can communicate. Some might say defining terms is too reductionistic, but I would simply reply that some understanding of what we are talking about is a necessity for communion. We are not striving for an emptying of the mind or heart, but a filling of it. Add to this the unfortunate reality that common words are often the most difficult to define (words like person, heart, feeling, emotion, etc), and the need for simple definitions becomes evident. Several very common words are below, along with an attempt at a few easy-to-understand descriptions. 

Spirit: While some, like William a Brakel, often use the term synonymously with ‘non-material,’ he and other solid theologians equate the term with “living being” or “living mind.” Of course, as soon as you dig in, you find that the terms heart, and mind are very, very similar in the Scriptures. 

Mind: Obviously, there is some overlap with the term spirit. The way we use term mind in everyday language is varied, but often we mean the place that holds information, the place of computation or reason. The Bible’s use of the word is much more fluid and is often synonymous with heart. Our common heart/mind distinction is often represented as lip-service versus a heart or mind truly following after the Lord in the Bible. 

Heart: The idea of heart does go beyond the mind in at least one area. It seems to be the place of belief that moves the will. Again, there is clear overlap with mind, but often includes affection, trust, and will (volition, strength) as well. 

Communion: Likemindedness, thinking alike, having the same will or purpose. For example, if God wants you to be sanctified, and you would rather stay lazy, you do not have communion with God in that area. 

Devotion: Loyalty, regularly attend to, dedicated, unwavering love. 

Devoted and Cherished 

Things that moth and rust destroy easily win my devotion (or worse, obsession); things like guitars, cars, comfortable shoes (why are they oh so elusive!), etc. Instead, I want to cherish and be devoted to my Lord, his word, my wife, my family, and the church with my whole being; i.e. spirit, mind, and heart. There is a lot packed into that last sentence. Hopefully this class will unpack some of it, for this is true spirituality. Oh how much I need to grow in my communion with God.

A biblical worship service should reflect good news, tell good news, and propels us toward gospel service. Neither the service nor the Christian life should be static. This week Kevin DeYoung’s sermon series takes us to Acts 13:1-12 in which Barnabas and Saul/Paul are sent out – they are on the move. 

Here’s a link to our Sunday order of worship. Below are my notes to help prepare us for the service. 

Today our service progresses from a plea for mercy to confidence in our calling to tell of our Redeemer. We move from requesting that the Lord would shine upon us to confessing that Jesus does reign wherever the sun may rise and set. We are called to turn from disobedience unto obedience. We ask “is Christ worthy?” and sing with confidence that he is. We move from darkness to light, from shame to salvation, from hearing to speaking, from receiving to sending. We are not a static church, but a church on the move that the Lord’s glory might fill all the earth.