My pastor referenced matthew 16:18 in a sermon yesterday where he explained the reference to "the gates of hell" as signifying the Church overcoming death. I have heard this phrase explained in a different way in the past. I have been taught that the gates of hell refer to the spiritual forces of evil, namely Satan, demons, and every argument, image, or attraction that is contrary to the rule of Christ.
So, I decided to research the meaning using the resources available to me to learn for myself the best way to understand this passage. The sources I used for my initial research include commentaries by, John Gill's Exposition of the Bible(JG), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible(MH), and Jameson, Faussett, and Brown's Critical and Explanatory Commentary(JFB). I used crosswalk.com to view the of these commentaries online.
Jameson, Faussett, and Brown
and the gates of hell--"of Hades," or, the unseen world; meaning, the gates of Death: in other words, "It shall never perish." Some explain it of "the assaults of the powers of darkness"; but though that expresses a glorious truth, probably the former is the sense here.
Matthew Henry
The gates of hell shall not prevail against it; neither against this truth, nor against the church which is built upon it. (1.) This implies that the church has enemies that fight against it, and endeavour its ruin overthrow, here represented by the gates of hell, that is, the city of hell; (which is directly opposite to this heavenly city, this city of the living God ), the devil’s interest among the children of men. The gates of hell are the powers and policies of the devil’s kingdom, the dragon’s head and horns, by which he makes war with the Lamb; all that comes out of hell-gates, as being hatched and contrived there. These fight against the church by opposing gospel truths, corrupting gospel ordinances, persecuting good ministers and good Christians; drawing or driving, persuading by craft or forcing by cruelty, to that which is inconsistent with the purity of religion; this is the design of the gates of hell, to root out the name of Christianity (Ps. 83:4), to devour the man-child (Rev. 12:9), to raze this city to the ground. (2.) This assures us that the enemies of the church shall not gain their point. While the world stands, Christ will have a church in it, in which his truths and ordinances shall be owned and kept up, in spite of all the opposition of the powers of darkness;
John Gill's
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The Jews speak of the gates of hell: sometimes of the gate of hell, in the singular number; and sometimes of the gates of hell, in the plural number. They say, that
``(Mnhygl vy Myxtp hvlv) , "hell has three gates", one in the wilderness, one in the sea, and one in Jerusalem.''
They talk of
``an angel that is appointed (Mnhygd yert le) , "over the gates of hell", whose name is Samriel; who has three keys in his hands, and opens three doors.''
And elsewhere they say, that
``he that is appointed over hell his name is Dumah, and many myriads of destroying angels are with him, and he stands (Mnhygd axtp le) , "at the gate of hell"; and all those that keep the holy covenant in this world, he has no power to bring them in.''
Our Lord may allude to these notions of the Jews, and his sense be, that all the infernal principalities and powers, with all their united cunning and strength, will never be able to extirpate his Gospel, to destroy his interest, to demolish his church in general, or ruin anyone particular soul that is built upon him. Again, the gates of "Hades", or hell, sometimes seem to design no other than the gates of death, and the grave, and persons going into the state of death; see (Job 38:17) (Isaiah 38:10) where the Septuagint use the same phrase as here; and then the sense is, that neither death, nor the grave, shall finally, and totally prevail over the people of God, and members of Christ; but they shall be raised out of such a state, and live gloriously with him for ever. By it here is not meant Peter himself; though it is true of him, that Satan, and his posse of devils that beset him, did not prevail against him, so as to destroy his grace, hurt his estate, and hinder his salvation: nor could death, in all its frightful appearances, deter him from holding, and preaching, and maintaining the doctrine of Christ; and though death, and the grave, have now power over him, yet they shall not always detain him: but rather, it designs the doctrine Peter made a confession of; which, though it may be opposed by hell and earth, by Satan, and his emissaries, by the open force of persecutors, and the secret fraud of heretics, it may be brought into contempt by the scandalous lives of professors; and though the true professors of it may die off, yet truth itself always lives, and defies the power of death, and the grave: or else the church in general is meant, and every true believer. These words do not ascertain the continuance of anyone particular congregated church, but secures the church universal, which will continue as long as the sun and moon endure, and the perseverance of everyone of God's elect; and assure that death, and the grave, shall not always have the dominion over the saints, but that they shall be rescued from them. Once more, this "it" may refer to Christ the rock, who, though he was brought to the dust of death, by the means of Satan, and the powers of darkness, yet to the ruin of him that had the power of death; and though death, and the grave, had power over him for a while, yet could not hold him; he rose victorious over them, and ever lives, having the keys of hell and death, to open the gates thereof, and let his people out when he thinks fit.
I have used these commentaries in the past to great benefit. On this small portion of Scripture JFB and MH disagree while JG presents both understandings and some basis for each. At this point in my search for understanding, it seems that honest disagreement is possible since both interpretations reflect truths that are supported elsewhere in Scripture.
I'll need to look into this further. The sources that I intend to research next include
1) Bible dictionaries
2) Different English translations of the Bible
3) Strong's
4) An interlinear bible
5) Writings and/or sermons from history regarding this passage, especially from the Church Fathers if they can be found.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Lessons I'd like to teach
I was communicating to a friend of mine two fundamental lessons that I learned while leading a ministering to women for the first time. (These are featured in an earlier post)
(1) Being cared for is more important than being challenged
(2) Being loved is more important than being admired
After explaining these to her, I thought, "Is this any different from what everyone wants? Do men want something different? Do i want anything different?" So, I've been mulling it over. What lessons would I want someone to keep in mind as they try connect to me?
Here is what I came up with:
(1) Recognize and respect what I have to offer, and invite me to contribute.
(2) Believe in me by extending the gift of trust when I lead or when I follow, and I want the benefit of the
doubt that I can handle a challenge.
Is this a typical?
(1) Being cared for is more important than being challenged
(2) Being loved is more important than being admired
After explaining these to her, I thought, "Is this any different from what everyone wants? Do men want something different? Do i want anything different?" So, I've been mulling it over. What lessons would I want someone to keep in mind as they try connect to me?
Here is what I came up with:
(1) Recognize and respect what I have to offer, and invite me to contribute.
(2) Believe in me by extending the gift of trust when I lead or when I follow, and I want the benefit of the
doubt that I can handle a challenge.
Is this a typical?
Saturday, June 27, 2009
126
Riding through the township in a small Honda which was so low to the ground that the bumps on the road scratched the bottom of the car as the nursing team rode along the dirt roads with Hillary and Kristin along for the ride. Children in faded, unwashed clothes played in front of their homes in the dirt patches that substitute for front yards in this township. We are looking for a home with the address of 126. This is the address that the man wrote down at the ThembaCare facility where he was treated [how long ago] for HIV.
It is hard to find his address. Looking carefully at the chalk marks on the side of the houses we see in blue the number "120" scribbled on one then the number "134" drawn onto another. Finally, in pink marks we see the number 126. The care giver gets out of the car to deliver the medicines.
The nurse knocks on the door to the small home built from sheets of cardboard and tin. A woman answers the door. it is the wrong address. it is a common mistake. Addresses change often in these shanty towns. These homes are so flimsy that they catch on fire easily. It could be caused by a cooking fire or a heater. Once one home catches flame the fire quickly spreads to other homes nearby. This can change the address system.
The nurse said, "I hope that we find this guy. If we don't find him today, he will be dying in his home."
This is a hard job. You can't help everyone who needs it. There is just so much that needs to be done. She went on to explain how she lost her first patient who, knowing that he needed to take his medicine with food, would eat dirt because he had no food. just so he could have something in his stomach. When, he was found dead his organs were stuffed with dirt.
They look for 126 in the six other townships that they visit that day.
They never find the man. They have to move on.
There are more people who need their medicine today.
The above story was told to me by a young lady who went on a missions trip to South Africa with me. One out of every four adults in South Africa is infected with HIV.
It is hard to find his address. Looking carefully at the chalk marks on the side of the houses we see in blue the number "120" scribbled on one then the number "134" drawn onto another. Finally, in pink marks we see the number 126. The care giver gets out of the car to deliver the medicines.
The nurse knocks on the door to the small home built from sheets of cardboard and tin. A woman answers the door. it is the wrong address. it is a common mistake. Addresses change often in these shanty towns. These homes are so flimsy that they catch on fire easily. It could be caused by a cooking fire or a heater. Once one home catches flame the fire quickly spreads to other homes nearby. This can change the address system.
The nurse said, "I hope that we find this guy. If we don't find him today, he will be dying in his home."
This is a hard job. You can't help everyone who needs it. There is just so much that needs to be done. She went on to explain how she lost her first patient who, knowing that he needed to take his medicine with food, would eat dirt because he had no food. just so he could have something in his stomach. When, he was found dead his organs were stuffed with dirt.
They look for 126 in the six other townships that they visit that day.
They never find the man. They have to move on.
There are more people who need their medicine today.
The above story was told to me by a young lady who went on a missions trip to South Africa with me. One out of every four adults in South Africa is infected with HIV.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Acts 2-4
makes so much more sense after this last time that i read acts. In chapters 2-4 Paul is appealing to his Jewish brothers to see that God is not concerned with circumcision or following the law. The funny thing is that he is in prison in Rome. He is there because these same brothers mobbed him and caused him to be put in chains.
He is appealing to his enemies to see the truth about faith in Christ. That there own revered forefather Abraham was not circumcised, did not have the Law to follow, yet was accepted by God because of his faith. Why can't grant that God is doing the same for their Gentile brothers?
It hits me hard that Paul was endangered because of his fellow believers locked into the traditions:
"And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him,
"You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs".
"What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and (AR)purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law."
"But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote,having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them. When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out,
"Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place "
Acts 21:18-28
In an effort to appeal to his brothers who were married to their customs Paul put himself in harms way. he ran into some enemies who had been out for his blood in Asia and they turned a crowd against him. In Romans, Paul is still appealing to Jewish brothers captive to their customs, despite the injury that these kinds of people have already caused him.
When I read Romans this time, i can hear heart behind the intellectual arguments. i hear love not reasonings, appeal not commands
He is appealing to his enemies to see the truth about faith in Christ. That there own revered forefather Abraham was not circumcised, did not have the Law to follow, yet was accepted by God because of his faith. Why can't grant that God is doing the same for their Gentile brothers?
It hits me hard that Paul was endangered because of his fellow believers locked into the traditions:
"And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him,
"You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs".
"What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and (AR)purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law."
"But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote,having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them. When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out,
"Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place "
Acts 21:18-28
In an effort to appeal to his brothers who were married to their customs Paul put himself in harms way. he ran into some enemies who had been out for his blood in Asia and they turned a crowd against him. In Romans, Paul is still appealing to Jewish brothers captive to their customs, despite the injury that these kinds of people have already caused him.
When I read Romans this time, i can hear heart behind the intellectual arguments. i hear love not reasonings, appeal not commands
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Confessions
I was rummaging through an old journal, and came across these statements that I wrote around October of 2007. I'd just accepted the position of Campus Director of ENCM at Augusta State University and was still not sure why God had me here. These statements represent the few things that I knew for certain amidst a lot of uncertainty.
---------------------------------
"I believe that I must obey God by doing my best to build at ASU
I believe that God will give me wisdom to manage well.
I believe that the lives of students will be altered and steered Godward by my service here.
I desire to give my life away.
If God approves that my life is worth giving,
He'll permit it,
and I'll marry my purpose
Jesus is worth everything
I don't deserve anything
I'll always have enough to give something
GO FOR IT!
Love Courageously Hope Fearlessly"
---------------------------------
"I believe that I must obey God by doing my best to build at ASU
I believe that God will give me wisdom to manage well.
I believe that the lives of students will be altered and steered Godward by my service here.
I desire to give my life away.
If God approves that my life is worth giving,
He'll permit it,
and I'll marry my purpose
Jesus is worth everything
I don't deserve anything
I'll always have enough to give something
GO FOR IT!
Love Courageously Hope Fearlessly"
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Keep your friends
Keep your friends.
Love them,
how they need it.
Ask God for help.
Say you are sorry.
Say it a lot.
Keep an open heart.
It will be pierced.
Ask God to heal it.
It will grow stronger.
You need to love.
Love them,
how they need it.
Ask God for help.
Say you are sorry.
Say it a lot.
Keep an open heart.
It will be pierced.
Ask God to heal it.
It will grow stronger.
You need to love.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Strong People
Strong people take care of weak people.
People who think themselves too strong to be bothered with or "held back" by weaker people are really just too weak to handle the responsibility.
People who think themselves so strong that they can prey on weak people are really just too weak to handle taking care of themselves.
Strong People are upholding families, churches, governments, and other institutions.
Strong People guard the weak and defenseless from the spineless and the gutless who would harm them.
Strong People lend strength to others making them strong as well.
People who think themselves too strong to be bothered with or "held back" by weaker people are really just too weak to handle the responsibility.
People who think themselves so strong that they can prey on weak people are really just too weak to handle taking care of themselves.
Strong People are upholding families, churches, governments, and other institutions.
Strong People guard the weak and defenseless from the spineless and the gutless who would harm them.
Strong People lend strength to others making them strong as well.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
No Regrets
Almost exactly one year ago, i posted about "5 things I've Never regretted." In this post, I list them and I expand how I understand what they mean below.
Loving God
Loving People
Dreaming BIG
Being Diligent
Being Patient
Loving God is essential. It means intentionally directing my affections by making lifestyle choices that diret my thoughts and actions towards things that give God pleasure. It means persistently realigning my passions so that I can pursue the thngs that are on my Father's heart.
Loving People is one of the ways that a genuine love for God is expressed. It means remembering to love others to the same extent that I love myself and treating people as well as I'd like to be treated. It also means holding others in higher regard than I hold myself.
Dreaming BIG is about being hopeful. It's about me continuing to believe that no matter how great I imagine something can be, God's going to top my wildest imagination. It's about meeting disappointment with an even bigger dream.
Being Diligent means translating passion and imagination into consistent effort. Love without action is just emothion. Dreams without implementation are merely fantasies. Diligence turns possibilities into performance and aspirations into achievement.
Being Patient is about knowing that anything I want to happen will probably take awhile. It's about learning to want only things that are worth waiting for.
When I think about decisions that I've made and the way I made them, I'm not always proud. Today, some of them make me wince with pain as I have come to understand how others were affected by my choices. However, I don't regret any decisions that I made loving God, loving people, dreaming big, being diligent, and being patient.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Father Abraham
Anything that kids do is cute. This is especially true, if they have an african accent. I met these kids on my recent trip to South Africa. They are performed this song for us before we began to work to help improve their education center called Graceland. These kids live on nearby farms and come to Graceland everyday to learn. Without Graceland these kids would not be receiving an adequate education. in the Stelenbosch region of South Africa. They live on nearby farms and
Monday, July 14, 2008
Freedom?
To protect your freedom, we will read your email.
To protect your freedom, we will listen to your phone calls.
To protect your freedom, we will watch your every move.
To promote freedom, we will hold secret trials.
To promote freedom, we will torture.
To promote freedom, we will imprison as many people as necessary.
To protect and promote freedom, we will remain unaccountable.
To protect your freedom, we will listen to your phone calls.
To protect your freedom, we will watch your every move.
To promote freedom, we will hold secret trials.
To promote freedom, we will torture.
To promote freedom, we will imprison as many people as necessary.
To protect and promote freedom, we will remain unaccountable.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Cautionary note on Strengths Finder themes of talent
It has come to my attention that there is a tendency to use the results of the strengths finder evaluation in ways that are unnecessarily limiting. I don't believe that your themes should be seen as disqualifying you for things, nor should it be used as a way to cop out of certain responsibilities.
I'll give you an example using my own themes which are Input, Intellection, Responsibility, Context, and Connectedness. you will notice that none of these themes are obviously relational. I don't have Woo, Relator, Includer, Empathy, or some other theme that might mark me as someone who is good at relationships. However, I am pretty good at building and maintaining relationships. How I build and maintain relationships is affected by my themes in the following way.
{Input} I listen to people. I love talking to someone one-on-one and asking them quesitons about their life. I try to figure out someone's personality by observing their reactions in different situations or listening to certain phrases that they repeat like "It's the right thing to do." or "I had a hunch she felt that way."
It's even better if I can get them to take a personal evaluation test like Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, Love Language Test, Gifts Test, or Strengths Finder. If so, then I'll research everything i can find out about them based on their evaluation results.
{Input, Context} I like to find out about where people are from. I love to learn historical information about someone such as how someone came to Christ, how they met their spouse, or how they landed a certain job.
{Intellection} I turn over in my mind all of the things that I've learned about someone by listening, observing, and researching their themes or personality type. I look at things from different angles. I reinterpret situations that I've observed this person in and notice how personality influenced response.
{Intellection,Connectedness}I make connections between different thengs that they have revealed about themselves. How does being raised up in a country church relate to their Belief Theme? Does their spiritual gift of mercy have a parallel in their preferred love language? Is their personality fit their profession? On and on I go.
{Intellection} I try to understand how the person fits in the larger group. I also imagine how this person would fit in other groups and environments.
{Responsibility} Then, I think of ways to use this understanding of a person to tailor my style of communication. I try to encourage them based on who I understand them to be. If I can, I recommend experiences that I thing that they would enjoy and connect them with other people who may be able to help them pursue their goals or fulfill their desires. I'm often asked for advice because people feel like I 'get them' and can help them get a better perspective on situations. I relate Scripture, using my own teaching gift, to them in ways that make God's Word relevant to someone based on what I understand about them and about their situation.
The point is that I am not people-focused because of my themes, but because God commands me to love people. I use my themes to serve people in my own way. Don't let your themes define your mission. Let your themes serve your mission.
I'll give you an example using my own themes which are Input, Intellection, Responsibility, Context, and Connectedness. you will notice that none of these themes are obviously relational. I don't have Woo, Relator, Includer, Empathy, or some other theme that might mark me as someone who is good at relationships. However, I am pretty good at building and maintaining relationships. How I build and maintain relationships is affected by my themes in the following way.
{Input} I listen to people. I love talking to someone one-on-one and asking them quesitons about their life. I try to figure out someone's personality by observing their reactions in different situations or listening to certain phrases that they repeat like "It's the right thing to do." or "I had a hunch she felt that way."
It's even better if I can get them to take a personal evaluation test like Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, Love Language Test, Gifts Test, or Strengths Finder. If so, then I'll research everything i can find out about them based on their evaluation results.
{Input, Context} I like to find out about where people are from. I love to learn historical information about someone such as how someone came to Christ, how they met their spouse, or how they landed a certain job.
{Intellection} I turn over in my mind all of the things that I've learned about someone by listening, observing, and researching their themes or personality type. I look at things from different angles. I reinterpret situations that I've observed this person in and notice how personality influenced response.
{Intellection,Connectedness}I make connections between different thengs that they have revealed about themselves. How does being raised up in a country church relate to their Belief Theme? Does their spiritual gift of mercy have a parallel in their preferred love language? Is their personality fit their profession? On and on I go.
{Intellection} I try to understand how the person fits in the larger group. I also imagine how this person would fit in other groups and environments.
{Responsibility} Then, I think of ways to use this understanding of a person to tailor my style of communication. I try to encourage them based on who I understand them to be. If I can, I recommend experiences that I thing that they would enjoy and connect them with other people who may be able to help them pursue their goals or fulfill their desires. I'm often asked for advice because people feel like I 'get them' and can help them get a better perspective on situations. I relate Scripture, using my own teaching gift, to them in ways that make God's Word relevant to someone based on what I understand about them and about their situation.
The point is that I am not people-focused because of my themes, but because God commands me to love people. I use my themes to serve people in my own way. Don't let your themes define your mission. Let your themes serve your mission.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
My Favorite Lyrics
I got these off of the site lyricsdir.com. These lyrics are from a rap by E'Miner and the Pilgrim featured on the album "Human Emergency". It is presented as a prayer and is entitled "Lord"
These lyrics were my prayer for about 1.5yrs.
[The Pilgrim]
Lord Jesus You're the King
And You reign over everything
Nothing is impossible to You not even anything
Forever never perishing
You're beauty never blemishing
You are the song that we sing
when we're worshipping
You're word is nourishing
and You're kingdom ever flourishing
Eternal never finishing, never ever diminishing
I'm relishing my relationship I'm daily cherishing
Through fellowship my thirsty soul You're replenishing
Lord, because You're just sin and lust You'll be punishing
Astonishing, how man rejects the admonishing
But knees will be knocking, hard nuts will be cracking and trembling
All high heels You'll be leveling
Mans long list of short comings
You'll be measuring and threatening
Over drawn accounts You'll be settling
Prodigal sons and lost souls
You'll be beckoning and tethering
And then will welcome them into the bretherin
[E'Miner]
Lord release Your power from on high through our lives
coz when we grip the mic we want to drop this right
we bring our bodies as a living sacrifice
that the deaf ears might be opened
and the blind receive their sight, and recognize
the way that they can identify
with You the Christ who Died
so that we could come into the light
and realise that You took away our sin
the way to You is open we can now freely come within
You're Holy veil
Lord, no more livin stale,
Lord, we can know You for ourselves for real
Lord and be secure in who You are
in everything we do worship
You and know that we is cool
that's why we, want to state plainly
the liberty that You have given us by You sovereignty
gratefully received
Cross Movement and MOD merge together as one like melody and harmony
a Godly symphony
sounding out the ghetto liturgy
globally, we bring encouragement to all You're family
faithfully, we want to serve You side by side with sword and trowel
till before You're throne on both our bended knees we take our bow
[Chorus]
Lord we declare humbly that You are here
We recognize ya
We raise our praise to Your name
Hallelujah
We come to represent You with no shame
because we love ya
There's nobody else who is above ya
[The Pilgrim]
Lord I thank You that to us Gentiles
who sat in the darkness You brought us light
through Christ
no less, sitting in the shadow of death
Lord this world is a mass grave
a tomb headed for doom, give me room
spreading from the left to the right
no depth or no height
holding forth the word of life yo
takin this game to the street, kicking tradition to the kerb
enlightening those who never heard bringing the word
faithfully spittin the truth, we're cuttin them loose
the sceptics providin them proof yo
we aint timid and scared, we're fully prepared
we're ready and keen 1Peter 3:15
me and my team
hit targets and getting annoyed
while The Word of God is accurate it never returns void
and if you're looking for Guns we ain't carryin
but I've got a Bible and some tracks in my hand you understand
[E'Miner]
Lord People wrestle You and try to fling You off like Dr Spock
Instead of gripping You like Jacob
Truly You are in this place and they know it not
like Clarke Gable, Frankly my dear the mans don't give a... what!?!
Do they know not
that they're headed for that hot spot
and when their flesh rots
they will still be burning non-stop?
We try to reason, but they treat us like we're talkin treason
wanning (going on) like they is the cream of the crop
so we use the hip-hop
to preach non-stop
rinse the Bible from bottom to top
Blaze the Word till we drop
because we can't stop makin it clear
that You are here and You truly care
and our burdens You'll truly bare
but beware because we know
You're judgement is drawin near
if we turn from sin, You'll bring us in
out of despair
You made the way clear
yet it does makes You're heart bleed
to see the gals dem bunnin the weed
driven by greed, mans out sowin wild seed
yet more wild flowers a breed
when will the people take heed
tell me when will the people them see
Lord You're here full of Grace and Mercy
us Your keen to receive
Tell me when will the people them see, Lord
You're here and You're wrath is ready if we refuse to believe
These lyrics were my prayer for about 1.5yrs.
[The Pilgrim]
Lord Jesus You're the King
And You reign over everything
Nothing is impossible to You not even anything
Forever never perishing
You're beauty never blemishing
You are the song that we sing
when we're worshipping
You're word is nourishing
and You're kingdom ever flourishing
Eternal never finishing, never ever diminishing
I'm relishing my relationship I'm daily cherishing
Through fellowship my thirsty soul You're replenishing
Lord, because You're just sin and lust You'll be punishing
Astonishing, how man rejects the admonishing
But knees will be knocking, hard nuts will be cracking and trembling
All high heels You'll be leveling
Mans long list of short comings
You'll be measuring and threatening
Over drawn accounts You'll be settling
Prodigal sons and lost souls
You'll be beckoning and tethering
And then will welcome them into the bretherin
[E'Miner]
Lord release Your power from on high through our lives
coz when we grip the mic we want to drop this right
we bring our bodies as a living sacrifice
that the deaf ears might be opened
and the blind receive their sight, and recognize
the way that they can identify
with You the Christ who Died
so that we could come into the light
and realise that You took away our sin
the way to You is open we can now freely come within
You're Holy veil
Lord, no more livin stale,
Lord, we can know You for ourselves for real
Lord and be secure in who You are
in everything we do worship
You and know that we is cool
that's why we, want to state plainly
the liberty that You have given us by You sovereignty
gratefully received
Cross Movement and MOD merge together as one like melody and harmony
a Godly symphony
sounding out the ghetto liturgy
globally, we bring encouragement to all You're family
faithfully, we want to serve You side by side with sword and trowel
till before You're throne on both our bended knees we take our bow
[Chorus]
Lord we declare humbly that You are here
We recognize ya
We raise our praise to Your name
Hallelujah
We come to represent You with no shame
because we love ya
There's nobody else who is above ya
[The Pilgrim]
Lord I thank You that to us Gentiles
who sat in the darkness You brought us light
through Christ
no less, sitting in the shadow of death
Lord this world is a mass grave
a tomb headed for doom, give me room
spreading from the left to the right
no depth or no height
holding forth the word of life yo
takin this game to the street, kicking tradition to the kerb
enlightening those who never heard bringing the word
faithfully spittin the truth, we're cuttin them loose
the sceptics providin them proof yo
we aint timid and scared, we're fully prepared
we're ready and keen 1Peter 3:15
me and my team
hit targets and getting annoyed
while The Word of God is accurate it never returns void
and if you're looking for Guns we ain't carryin
but I've got a Bible and some tracks in my hand you understand
[E'Miner]
Lord People wrestle You and try to fling You off like Dr Spock
Instead of gripping You like Jacob
Truly You are in this place and they know it not
like Clarke Gable, Frankly my dear the mans don't give a... what!?!
Do they know not
that they're headed for that hot spot
and when their flesh rots
they will still be burning non-stop?
We try to reason, but they treat us like we're talkin treason
wanning (going on) like they is the cream of the crop
so we use the hip-hop
to preach non-stop
rinse the Bible from bottom to top
Blaze the Word till we drop
because we can't stop makin it clear
that You are here and You truly care
and our burdens You'll truly bare
but beware because we know
You're judgement is drawin near
if we turn from sin, You'll bring us in
out of despair
You made the way clear
yet it does makes You're heart bleed
to see the gals dem bunnin the weed
driven by greed, mans out sowin wild seed
yet more wild flowers a breed
when will the people take heed
tell me when will the people them see
Lord You're here full of Grace and Mercy
us Your keen to receive
Tell me when will the people them see, Lord
You're here and You're wrath is ready if we refuse to believe
Monday, April 28, 2008
lesson learned leading women's ministry
For a large number of people the following hold true:
(1) Being cared for is more important than being challenged
(2) Being loved is more important than being admired
(1) Being cared for is more important than being challenged
(2) Being loved is more important than being admired
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
a subtle deceit
It was an easy thing to regard that initial commitment that I made to Jesus as a significant moment to be memorialized. Once I became His, I had only to enjoy the benefits of this amazing association. I had learned the new rules.
With this accomplished, I looked to occupy myself with other pursuits. New adventures, achievements, and relationships absorbed my attention and passions. I carefully applied the new rules to the same pursuits that I had before I began to follow Jesus. This, I supposed, was what it meant to believe.
This attitude is subtle and subversive. The truth is that the commitment that I made to Jesus was not about the moment of decision. It was to a lifestyle of seeking and yielding. I am unfaithful to that commitment when I am too concerned with my own desires and ambitions to seek God's pleasure and too tied to my own goals and pursuits to yield to His purpose.
In that moment, obedience becomes an inconvenient obligation to avoid if possible and endure when necessary.
With this accomplished, I looked to occupy myself with other pursuits. New adventures, achievements, and relationships absorbed my attention and passions. I carefully applied the new rules to the same pursuits that I had before I began to follow Jesus. This, I supposed, was what it meant to believe.
This attitude is subtle and subversive. The truth is that the commitment that I made to Jesus was not about the moment of decision. It was to a lifestyle of seeking and yielding. I am unfaithful to that commitment when I am too concerned with my own desires and ambitions to seek God's pleasure and too tied to my own goals and pursuits to yield to His purpose.
In that moment, obedience becomes an inconvenient obligation to avoid if possible and endure when necessary.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Someone just died
I can hear my mom calling relatives in the next room. I know the drill by now. Calling relatives across the nation means that someone has died. At best, someone is in the hospital.
In the first six months of last year we have had 3 deaths in the family. I am familiar with the routine. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
My dad just came in my room to tell me the news. My cousin, D., her husband was killed in a car accident last night. Our family is very close. I grew up with her being more like a sister than a cousin.
Please pray for D. she now has 2 teenagers, a baby, and a house to care for.
In the first six months of last year we have had 3 deaths in the family. I am familiar with the routine. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
My dad just came in my room to tell me the news. My cousin, D., her husband was killed in a car accident last night. Our family is very close. I grew up with her being more like a sister than a cousin.
Please pray for D. she now has 2 teenagers, a baby, and a house to care for.
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