'Grace' in a Broken-Down House

"Grace is the most transformational word in Scripture. The entire Bible is a narrative of God's grace, a story of undeserved redemption. By the transformational power of his grace, God unilaterally reaches into the muck of this fallen world, through the presence of his Son, and radically transforms his children from what we are (sinners) into what we are becoming by his power (Christ-like). The famous Newton hymn uses the best word possible for that grace, amazing.

So grace is a story and grace is a gift. It is God's character and it is your hope. Grace is a transforming tool and a state of relationship. Grace is a theology and an invitation. Grace is an experience and a calling. Grace will turn your life upside down while giving you a rest you have never known. Grace will convince you of your unworthiness without ever making you feel unloved.

Grace will make you acknowledge that you cannot earn God's favor, and it will remove your fear of not measuring up to his standards. Grace will confront you with the fact that you are much less than you thought you were, even as it assures you that you can be far more than you had ever imagined. Grace will put you in your place without ever putting you down.

Grace will enable you to face truths about yourself that you have hesitated to consider, while freeing you from being self-consciously introspective. Grace will confront you with profound weaknesses, and at the same time introduce you to new-found strength. Grace will tell you what you aren't, while welcoming you to what you can now be. Grace will make you as uncomfortable as you have ever been, while offering you more comfort than you have ever known. Grace will drive you to the end of yourself, while it invites you to fresh starts and new beginnings. Grace will dash your hopes, but never leave you hopeless. Grace will decimate your kingdom as it introduces you to a better King. Grace will expose your blindness as it gives you eyes to see. Grace will make you sadder than you have ever been, while it gives you greater cause for celebration than you have ever known.

Grace enters your life in a moment and will occupy you for eternity. You simply cannot live a productive life in this broken-down world unless you have a practical grasp of the grace you have been given." (Broken-Down House, Paul David Tripp, Ch. 3, pages 42-43, emphasis mine)

I couldn't have possibly said it better myself. And in case you're curious, yes, the whole book is this good.

A Brief Insight from Lloyd-Jones on the Supremacy of Truth over Emotions

From his book, Spiritual Depression

"Avoid the mistake of concentrating overmuch on your feelings...Above all, avoid the terrible error of making them central. If you put them there you are of necessity doomed to be unhappy because you are not following the order that God himself has ordained...After all, what we have in the Bible is Truth; it is not an emotional stimulus, it is not something primarily concerned to give us a joyful experience. It is primarily Truth, and Truth is addressed to the mind, God's supreme gift to man; and it is as we apprehend and submit ourselves to truth that the feelings follow."

"Put at the centre the only One who has a right to be there, the Lord of Glory, Who so loved you that He went to the Cross and bore the punishment and the shame of your sins and died for you. Seek Him, seek His face, and all other things will be added unto you."

I stumbled across these two excerpts from his brilliant book,

while reading this post over at girltalk...

For A Moment...

The icy wind pushes the mournful, dark clouds
that creep slowly across the night's mystical ebony cover.

Stars pierce their lights through the darkness

and into the eyes of those looking into

the tranquil heavens above.

The icy wind freezes the world's life

and for a moment, fighting ceases

Violence between loved ones stops

to witness the magic

of God's crystalline tears

gently cascading

over his children's heartaches.

An ivory blanket reveals

the pure, loving simplicity

of His eternal power and love.

So, in these winter holidays,

let us never forget

God's sacrificial gift of his son,

Jesus Christ,

in a manger in Bethlehem.

To learn from his love

and someday, for a moment...

Share it with each other.

Kristine Grotte (Thraen)

Winter 1996

An Unexpected Gift

I've been an aspiring writer since the first grade; 'aspiring' being an essential word to emphasize. As the designated playwright of the neighborhood, I would write, produce and direct some of the oddest sort of stories, emerging from my over-active third grade imagination. My first journals proved to be the perfect and safest outlet for my young insights, inquiries and earliest philosophical views and suppositions. Nothing was off-limits for me; from poetry, short stories, my unhappy diatribes and criticisms, to the most primitive and simple of "dear diary" declarations, I wrote.

My teachers were relatively swift to take notice of the eagerness with which I took up my pencil and wrote, and offered ample encouragement for me to continue doing so. Middle School brought much of the same support.

And then High School Happened.

I continued to write, but it seemed clear that I was overshadowed by surpassing talent. Though I was always considered for and enrolled in the Advanced Placement English courses, my teachers consistently chose to nurture the unquestionable talents in my fellow students. My writing, so I was told, lacked the depth, clarity, and originality of the others. I regularly submitted my writings to the school's magazine for writers and artists, but was just as regularly rejected.

I got the hint.

I never stopped writing, but I've since struggled with allowing others to see it - especially my poetry. When it comes to this blog, most of what I write is analytical in nature. My teachers never struggled to accept my logic, methodology or reasoning. It was simply my creative writing that lacked necessary luster.

Unfortunately for me, it was the creative writing that I loved most.

An Unexpected Gift


I purposed this morning to finally take on my filing cabinets and bedroom closet. The two may initially appear unrelated, but as my closet has slowly morphed into it's own filing cabinet over the controlled chaos of the last two years, I assure you - they're not.

I pulled from the cabinet, my first file. In it, were my earliest report cards and other school documents. Apparently, according to my first teachers, I had a problem using my time wisely and always seemed to be living in another world, which only added to my problem with finishing my tasks in a given day. I found this funny.

The time spent proved to be worth it. Remember that magazine from high school I referenced? The one I never seemed competent to be published in? I found one. On the top was a handwritten note,

"To: Kristin Ann Grotte, Merry Christmas. Love, Angel"

I've known Angel since those middle school years. Her, and a couple of friends and myself would gather around this obnoxiously huge 3-ring binder, every day at lunch, to read from the make-shift soap opera which we were writing. Yes, we were very cool. I love her. I get to see her in a couple of weeks when my family and I drive down to Houston, and I've been overwhelmed with excitement to hear her voice and see her face. I smiled when I saw this - even if it did conjure unpleasant memories of rejection.

I opened the cover, to the Table of Contents and was shocked by what I saw. My name. I was actually in this. The issue was titled, "Winter Illusions", so clearly it was published around the winter holiday season. My entry was titled, "For a Moment" and I would find it on page 54. I nervously found the page, fearful of what I would find. I couldn't recall this poem as I initially read the title, and was unsure of what I might have found poetic about the winter, as a 16 year old. To those of you who know the details of my story, I wasn't your typical 16 year old girl -whatever that may actually be, but nevertheless....

I was stunned by what I wrote. Again, for those of you who know my background, specifically my spiritual one, it almost seems impossible that I would've written this. But clearly I did.

And for the first time in 13 years, I'm encouraged in a way that I haven't been, to begin writing my poetry again. Sure. It's undoubtedly unlikely to shake anyone's world, let alone ever be published, but after reading that poem, lovingly preserved through Angel's gift to me, I remembered my love of it and for it. She never could have known then, the gift of encouragement it would be to me now.

So what does this have to do with any of you? Nothing really. HOWEVER, I encourage you to read the poem. I became a Christian when I was 26. This was written when I was 16. It oozes theology - which in itself isn't shocking since we all posses a theology of some nature, but the kind of theology I decided to write about... that's more surprising.

Check it out: "For a Moment..."

When our Readiness to Follow Him Anywhere, is Answered with a Call to Go Home

With absolutely no time to elaborate, I'm simply posting the conclusion of a brief article I came across this morning, over at DG's blog. I strongly suggest that you read both the scripture passage from Luke 8:26-39 as well as the article in its entirety, but if you have only time enough for one, read the passage.

It struck me, profoundly. I intimately identified with the very real and intense struggle, Jesus' call for us to return 'home' is capable of being.

I'd be very interested in hearing if or how any of you identified with this brief commentary on Luke 8.

"The man jumped up and said to him, Sir, please, may I go with you? I'll follow you anywhere!'

Jesus looked hard at him without speaking. Then he put his reassuring hand on the man's shoulder again and said, 'Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.'

The words 'return to your home' must have made this man's heart sink. Home for him was not a warm place of sentimental memories. Home was a place of memories so dark and pain-filled that he likely just wanted to escape them and never go back.

But sometimes following Jesus means being sent back to a place where we once knew desolation and indescribable pain. The thought of returning there conjures up fears of our old demons and the people who knew us as we were back then. But it is there that the grace of God in our lives will shine the brightest.

What Jesus wants us to know is that his salvation and his protection extend to those old, horrible haunts. If he can break the death-grip
Satan once had on us and set us free, then he can redeem the places of our former slavery and make them showcases of God's omnipotent race.

Do not be afraid. The Good Shepherd will walk with you and protect you on the darkest road (Psalm 23:4). Declare how much God has done for you. You are being sent because there are other tomb-people to free." -- Jon Bloom, Desiring God Ministries

Shocking, Overwhelming, Stunning, Astounding Grace

Grace defined as : Undeserved acceptance granted by an Unobligated giver

It shocks me to know that I've received it from my perfectly holy, perfectly loving, perfectly gracious, merciful, and faithful God - who I've sinned against in the most offensive, unfaithful, distrusting and unloving ways - by simply relying on Christ's perfect life, atoning death and His resurrection.

It overwhelmed me as I learned what it meant to fight a bitterness I'd learned to justify; to reject the lie that my pain and guilt could enslave me, and extend the same kind of reckless grace and forgiveness I'd been freely given, outside of myself.

It stunned me, when I was once more an undeserved recipient of this grace from the man whose child I aborted, as he offered his forgiveness to me earlier this year.

And my heart is speechless, astounded, yet again, as grace and forgiveness that I don't deserve is offered another time, by a person who's heart was exceedingly hurt by my sin and that of others around us.

In only the three short years that I've been enrolled in the school of God's grace, I've never been so shocked, overwhelmed, stunned, or astounded in all my years before.

Our God is a God of Abundant Grace.

Nothing less.

Alister McGrath vs. Richard Dawkins - Uncut Interview from "Root of All Evil?"

This is the kind of thing I get to watch when I'm sick. I'm not particularly a fan of Dawkins, but I am a huge fan of McGrath. Any opportunity I arrive at to read or listen to this brilliant man, is an opportunity I take full advantage of:

Bah.

I can't get the embedded code to work, so for now, just go here to enjoy the interview.


From "Root of All Evil? The Uncut Interviews" 3-DVD Set B. The interview was filmed for the TV documentary "Root of All Evil?" , written and directed by Dawkins, but was left out of the final version. Time restrictions dictated that not all interviews filmed could be used. This was especially regrettable in the case of the McGrath interview, which is therefore offered here now, unedited.

My New Brother in Christ

Ten years ago, I married Nick.

Four years ago, I divorced Nick.

Three years ago, I became a Christian.

Two (+ a few mos.) years ago, I remarried Nick.

One year ago, I was staring straight down the barrel of the darkest, most intense depression I'd ever known.

Six months ago, God lifted the clouds and enabled me to know, once again, a joy independent of my circumstances.

One month ago, on Labor Day morning...

I was awake, but my eyes were still stubbornly closed. However, the aroma of fresh coffee was unusually near , and mere curiosity compelled me to force them open. My curiosity was soon satisfied, but only for a moment, because though the fact that my husband was drinking a cup of fresh coffee in bed, answered the aroma question, the fact that my husband was drinking a cup of coffee in bed and reading, raised several others. For starters:

1. I get up first - almost always.


2. As it was Labor Day, his office was closed - translation: sleeping in would be S.O.P


3. I make the coffee


4. So he's up. Okay. Not completely unheard of. BUT, where's the video game controller that he ought to be snuggling up with on the couch?


5. Not only is there no video game controller, there's a book.


6. And not just ANY book, he's reading C.J. Mahaney's, The Cross-Centered Life

Nick glanced down in my direction. Obviously, I looked puzzled. I asked a few preliminary questions, to not just satisfy my initial curiosities, but my early suspicions as well. I couldn't help but think that it could have all been some kind of ploy to convince me we needed a new game console or something similar.

There was no ploy. He was serious, and after graciously answering my questions, he began to quote sections from the book's introduction that seemed to "grab him" (his words). Up to this point, my husband was the picture of spiritual indifference and general disinterest. Nothing moved him about the gospel, nothing ever "grabbed" him.

He read for a while longer, and then got up to enjoy the remainder of his day off from work. The week that followed was relatively quiet - on the spiritual front that is. As I had done countless times before, I cried out for God to work in my husband's heart, for Christ to be revealed to the eyes of his heart, for God to save my husband.

The following weekend, I awoke to a similar experience. He was awake early, propped up in bed, sipping a cup of freshly brewed coffee and reading. This time, I quietly found my bible and a small book, made myself my own cup of coffee and sat next to him to read. But in all honesty, I was having an impossible time concentrating; plus, he would randomly interrupt my thoughts to quote a section of the book he felt was exceptional. He read a couple of chapters that morning. One in particular struck him as weighty; in his own words:

"I came to a chapter about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The author began to explain how the Father had to abandon His Son, and how Jesus fully knew what He had to do. Being a father myself, I can't imagine just giving my son to save my enemies. That really moved me and weighed heavily on my heart."

The following weekend, the men from our church went out on their annual men's retreat. About 30 men attended, and Nick was one of them. He recalls his time there this way,

"The theme of the weekend was the gospel: living in it,standing on it. During one of the messages, Pastor was talking about knowing who we are, and as he stuck his hands in his pockets, making the keys and change inside jingle against one another, he said that we're the ones, still with the nails in our pockets. For the first time, I saw myself as the one whose sins nailed Jesus to the cross. Previously, I always believed it was someone else who put Him there, back then in the past - not me."

God opened the eyes of my husband. He goes on to explain that even though he saw himself there at the foot of the cross for the first time, he could find no comfort or relief from the guilt he now had. As he shared this with one of the men attending the retreat with him, his friend insisted he speak with Pastor. Pastor explained to Nick that all he had to do was ask for forgiveness and accept it as a free gift.

He'd heard all this before. Many times before. But this time - this time, all the lights were on.

From what I could gather, once Pastor announced Nick's leap of faith into the arms of Christ to the rest of the men there, a baptism was apparently in order. However, before a baptism could be preformed, my wise Pastor realized that Nick's wife may want to be present for such an event.

The Sweet Fiasco

So, it was scheduled for this past Sunday, to be conducted just before our church family celebrated the Lord's Supper. As I walked towards the front of the auditorium though, Pastor had a unusually placed look of uncertainty on his face. Due to an "administrative mishap", the water was never turned on. Apparently, it takes a couple of hours to fill - we had 30 minutes.

We discussed the matter for a few minutes and then decided that we'd fill it the best we could. He wasn't going to be swimming laps afterall- we just needed it deep enough to immerse him! Before I knew it, there were 30 (more probably!) people of ALL ages running through the church with anything that could hold water - pitchers, buckets, stock pots, and yes - the trash cans. Every faucet in the church was being used. There were people assigned to holding open the restroom doors so that those of us running with full pitchers of water wouldn't have to do it ourselves. The water hose outside the building was on, and was being used primarily to fill the large trash cans. I'd say it was a controlled chaos, but there wasn't much control about any of it. It was insanity - pure, crazy, sweet insanity. And what a sight it was! The entire church was now officially involved in Nick's baptism!

And would you believe it, after running around the church for a good, solid 20 minutes, we were able to find our seats to witness this:


Nick's testimony was video taped, and he's given me permission to put that up on the blog as soon as it's available. Additional pics will be available soon as well, since his very excited wife was too busy watching her husband be baptized to remember to use the camera sitting on her lap. Thankfully, there were others snapping a few pics during his wife's absentmindedness.

To listen to Nick describe what life is like now as a Christian, simply induces awe and praise in my heart. My heart is just speechless. In his words,

"He's given me a peace that I've never known. I have a desire to know Him more and love Him more - to adore Him."

He closes his testimony with Romans 5:1,

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ"

He wakes me up in the morning so that we can read our bibles and pray together, and initiates conversations about things God continues to reveal about Himself in scripture. In addition, his whole demeanor has changed. There seems to be even a physical change that others have mentioned to me. You can just see the peace that has settled on his heart, and it's beautiful.

Praise our sweet, amazing, merciful, gracious God in heaven.

My husband is now my brother in Christ :)

A Story I Can Hardly Wait to Share!

It's in the works. And it's a good one - not because of me (in spite of me would be more like it, I'm sure), but because of the exceeding, abundant, over-the-top grace of God!

For those of you who thought I was done blogging: not yet. I'm afraid you'll need to tolerate me a bit longer, because even if I write just one more post, this one last post will be one of the most profound in the story of God's Hand so powerfully at work in my family's life....

And I can't hardly wait to share it. I mean it. I'm like a little kid on Christmas morning, and I cannot wait to show all my friends what I got to see as the wrapping was torn off!

So please bear with me just a little longer as I make the finishing touches to it!

P.S. - for those of you who know (and you know who you are): no spoilers allowed ;)

The Blog...

Updates on Justified to come soon!

Everyday Blogging Continues

Though I announced a very casual blogging break in yesterday's post, I wanted to briefly clarify that the blogging break is being applied to this particular blog only - so far.

To anyone remotely interested or just plain curious, I'm continuing to post the lessons to a bible study on 1 John, over at Everyday Theology. The posts there are insanely time and thought consuming, which is the other reason why posting around Justified has been so light for the last month or so.

My latest entry was on a lesson titled, "Called to Love". Phenomenal stuff and even if you may not have the time to read my own ramblings (otherwise referred to as 'commentary & notes'), take a look at the questions. Really good material.

Well, it's another gorgeous day, and enough time has been spent in front of the computer already! Off to play....

Ciao!

Fun in the Sun!

Summer is always a favorite time of year for me - especially since moving to Minnesota and knowing that in just two short months, the cold air of winter will begin blowing in. The children and I have tried our very best to make the most of our time together, and have had an amazing time of it so far!


This would help to explain the larger-than-normal gaps of time between posts, but I'm pretty confident that many of my readers have been spending some time playing outside too!


I could possibly get something written in the next week or so, but we've got another busy week looming ahead, so I doubt it. I know. People like me should never start blogs! I am reading some fantastic books though, so an occasional book review (or something resembling one) may pop up!


I do hope your summer has been a time of fun and refreshment with your families, and that God is using this time to knit families closer together.


I'll more than likely be away until the fall. See you then!

Why I Dream of Attending L'Abri One Day....

A very cool friend just alerted me to the fact that there's a L'Abri located in Rochester, MN. Which, is only about an hour or so from where I live right now. At the bottom of the page she linked me to, was this little gem (which consequently led to the title of this post):

The centrality of L'Abri teaching is that Biblical Christianity is true, and that it offers sufficient evidence to say 'it is the Truth'. It can be proclaimed and known without committing intellectual suicide or simply having to say 'just believe'. Because Christ is Lord of all life, Christianity speaks to all areas, not to only what might be called 'religious'. True spirituality is seen in lives, which, through Christ's redemption, are free to be fully human. Therefore, Christians can and should realize the implications and relevance of a Biblical worldview in the arts, sciences, politics, etc. If Christianity is 'the Truth', it will stand up to examination and provide satisfactory answers, and on this basis your questions will be taken seriously and addressed honestly.

So, I want to go. Anyone willing to fund my stay and care for my husband and children while I'm away, please don't be shy about letting me know ;)

To anyone who is completely lost at this point in the post, go HERE. One of my all-time favorite reads was Schaeffer's True Spirituality. I highly recommend it.

To Be Known

Timid

or

Fearless;

Peace-loving

or

Contentious;

Reserved

or

Boisterous;

Out-going

or

Detached;

Emotional
or
Callous;

A Goody-two-Shoes

or

Out of Control;

Uptight

or

Undisciplined;

Naive
or
a Know-it-All;

Innocent

or

Tainted;

A Mother

or

just a Kid;

Meek
or
Arrogant;

Young at heart

or

Too old for my age;

Quiet

or

Loud;

Sweet
or
Malicious;

Broken-hearted

or

Manipulative;

Victim

or

Instigator;

Godly
or
Worldly;

Submissive

or

Bossy;

Feminine

or

Tomboyish;

a Conformist
or
Eccentric;

Giddy

or

Heavy-hearted;

Contemplative

or

Impulsive;

Well-adjusted
or
Dysfunctional;

A Good Listener

or

Too Talkative;

Introverted

or

In Your Face;

Wise
or
Foolish

Teachable

or

Haughty;

Forgiving

or

Vindictive;

Honest & Transparent
or
just a Fraud...

Father,

my heavenly Father...

When I feel lost

in the maze

of the world's perceptions of

who I am...

When they,

often with such conviction,

handle me,

And I'm

plagued with confusion

as I attempt to discern

who they think they're handling;

When I'm overwhelmed

by the weight

of this loneliness...

I can cry out to You

with tears that drip sore

And know

You know

who I am.

And to be known

like this,

And loved

like this,

Obliterates the Masks

I'm tempted to wear;

Softens the Sting

of a Rejection;

I don't understand;

Humbles a heart

tempted to rise up

in prideful anger;

And ultimately

Calms a young woman,

who needs to remember

this divine loyalty.

You know me.

You understand me.

You never respond to me

from a wrong interpretation of

who I am.

Because of what your Son,

My King,

My Brother,

My Advocate,

My Savior,

Accomplished for this

complicated,

not-always-easy to read

young woman,

I am Yours

and

You are Mine.

And that is

who I am.

Is Jesus Enough?

As part of my commentary on Lesson 3 (Opposing Forces in the Battle) in our study of 1 John, over at Everyday Theology, I wrote this:

Until you come to understand that the ultimate purpose for your intrinsic needs for intimacy, love, joy, community and identity is to ultimately have all those needs met and fulfilled, Supremely and completely in God through Christ as revealed in the gospel - you will remain lost on a futile path towards happiness and fulfillment that will never be found in the world.

The great lie that humanity [and not just those outside the church and professing Christianity!] has swallowed, is that you don’t need Christ as the supreme treasure in your life. Satan doesn’t need to convince you to dismiss Christ entirely, he only needs to convince you to wear Christ as an accessory. Yet the biblical gospel is that Christ is to be worn, not as the accessory, but as the whole garment – covering us with His beauty and His righteousness. The Christian life is to be lived in such a way that our lives reflect the radiance of that beauty. He is to be seen by the world in us as more far more worthy than anything it or anyone can offer.

“Jesus is Enough!” is the answer the gospel exclaims to a world of restless, empty and broken hearts.

I write that knowing, intimately and profoundly, the great difficulty with which our wandering, forgetful hearts learn this lesson. BUT God, in His great mercy, orchestrates the events in the lives of believers to teach us this lesson – over and over and over again. And it’s a lesson that will grant you more freedom and more contentment than anything or anyone in this world can charm you with.

I had written and re-written this particular portion of my commentary numerous times. There were so many ways to say it. And I brought it over here because I cannot even begin to tell you how often these specific truths are included in the conversations I have with people with whom I’m sharing the gospel with – whether they’re professing believers or not.

The reason being of course, these are the things that lie at the very heart of the Christian faith. I was curious as to how willing my readers over here would be to share how God has taught this profound, essential lesson, in your own lives.

A New Fave of Mine :: You'll Want to Check Her Out

PLUMB: I've known of her for some time and always considered myself a fan, but she's recently become a favorite - as indicated on the ever-increasing counts on her songs played on my ipod.

She's remixed a couple of older, precious hymns ("God Will Take Care of You" & "Children of the Heavenly Father"), and her songwriting continues to inspire, encourage and move me. The music which accompanies the amazing lyrics, is absolutely breathtaking.

She won't be everyone's cup-of-tea, but she certainly is mine. If you click on the image below, you'll be connected to a site where you can sample her newest cd and the story behind each song, in an interview she did.

It's softer than her previous cd, "Chaotic Resolve", and highlights her life as a wife and mother to two young boys.

Enjoy!

Opposing Forces in the Battle

Fellowship with God, the seriousness of sin, what do the biblical writers mean when they speak negatively concerning "the world" and "worldliness", what are the characteristics of the "antichrists" of whom John writes about in 1 John 2:18-27, why are false teachers so dangerous and why is it so crucial that we know that the Christian life is a battle.....

All of those things and then some are discussed in my commentary for Lesson 3, "Opposing Forces in the Battle", on 1 John 2:15-27 over at 'Everyday' as part of our series in 1 John.

And it all but completely did me in these last few days, so I apologize for not having much substance left to write about over here! You'll have to travel over there if that's what you're in the mood for ;)

Born Again (with Lyrics) by Third Day

I heard this in my car for the first time yesterday.

My conversion to Christ as my Treasure, my King, my Savior was in the summer of 2006 - just shy of 3 years ago. The memory of what that felt like is still quite fresh.

Since that time, God has placed many people in my life who I've had the unspeakable blessing of sharing the gospel with and the equally incredible blessing of becoming a part of their lives and loving them - oftentimes, witnessing the miracle of new birth in them - watching on as God's Spirit breathes new life into their souls and moves to transform them into the image of His Son. It's true that we can't see into their hearts, to see how or even if the gospel has truly taken root, but when you get to see their perspective (towards people, towards God, towards pain and suffering) and their attitudes change; and their softer, more humbled responses to the word of God -it's breathtaking.


All that to say that this song - the music and the lyrics - touched my heart... I hope you take 3 1/2 minutes out of your day to listen....

Today I found myself

After searching all these years

And the man that I saw,

he wasn't at all who I thought he'd be

I was lost when you found me here

And I was broken beyond repair

Then you came along

And you sang your song over me

***

[Chorus]

It feels like I'm born again

It feels like I'm living

For the very first time

For the very first time

In my life

***

Make a promise to me now

Reassure my heart somehow

That the love that I feel is so much more real than anything

***

I've a feeling in my soul

And I pray that I'm not wrong

That the life I have now,

It is only the beginning

***

[Chorus]

***

Wasn't looking for

Something that was more

Than what I had yesterday

Then you came to me and you gave to me

Life and a love that I've never known

That I've never felt before

***

[Chorus]

The 'New' Atheism: Primitive, Boring, and Whiny

That's Charlotte Allen's assessment anyways, as indicated in her recently published article for the LA Times' Opinion page, titled "Atheists: No God, no reason, Just Whining".

The tagline reads, "Superstar atheists are motivated by anger -- and boohoo victimhood."

It's not clear where Charlotte's spirituality resides, but it's quite clear why the 'new' atheism (think: Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris) annoys her so. To simply quote a few things she wrote:

"I can't stand atheists -- but it's not because they don't believe in God. It's because they're crashing bores."

"My problem with atheists is their tiresome -- and way old -- insistence that they are being oppressed and their fixation with the fine points of Christianity"

and then there's....

"The problem with atheists -- and what makes them such excruciating snoozes -- is that few of them are interested in making serious metaphysical or epistemological arguments against God's existence, or in taking on the serious arguments that theologians have made attempting to reconcile, say, God's omniscience with free will or God's goodness with human suffering. Atheists seem to assume that the whole idea of God is a ridiculous absurdity, the "flying spaghetti monster" of atheists' typically lame jokes. They think that lobbing a few Gaza-style rockets accusing God of failing to create a world more to their liking ("If there's a God, why aren't I rich?" "If there's a God, why didn't he give me two heads so I could sleep with one head while I get some work done with the other?") will suffice to knock down the entire edifice of belief."

It was while I was perusing Dan Philips latest blog entry that I found this little gem. If nothing else, it's terribly interesting. To those of us who seem to be engaged with these 'new' atheists on a continual basis, , the author wasn't sounding anything new or earth-shattering, but I did find a measure of satisfaction in seeing that I wasn't the only one to feel this way.

You should read it, if just to read how she concludes her thoughts on the matter.



I'll go one step further, however: though I can become irritated and annoyed with the ridiculous arguments made against Christianity by this group, more than anything else my heart is broken. Spiritual blindness is spiritual blindness and unless the Spirit of God opens the eyes of anyone's hearts, the gospel is going to be foolish and unbelievable.

Yeah, I know - it's awfully annoying to hear the same, old, primitive, regurgitated mess of philosophical dead-ends that've been discarded over the centuries for very good reasons, BUT....

Keep engaging them. Keep loving them. Keep praying for them.

But for the grace of God, we would all be stumbling around in that same dark dungeon, yes?

Freedom for Obedience & a Couple of Other Things...

I just wrapped up my commentary and notes on Lesson 2 for 'Everyday' 's study into 1 John!

This one was published with much less drama than Lesson 1, and I'm beyond relieved.

I also added two new features over there, that I will be adding here as soon as time makes itself available. If you check out the right hand sidebar (over there, not here obviously), you'll find "The Prodigal God" and "The Reason for God" button/links which will take you to Tim Keller's free sermons on the two phenomenal subjects. Like I said, I'll be putting them here soon, but if you can't wait (or whatever), you can go over there of course....

Since the commentary for those lessons seems to feel like the equivalent of writing 10 posts at once, I've been spending most of my 'blogging energy' over there. So, if you're looking around here and curious as to what I've been up to (because obviously it's been a little quiet over here on 'Justified'), feel welcome to check out 'Everyday'.

That, and I can always use your feedback. I have so much respect for my readers on this blog, and strongly, strongly value your opinions!

ciao