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Blog Archive: 2007

June 20, 2007

The Lamb deserves the reward of His sufferings:

From my daily study in scripture and the film "Revival Hymn"

Isa 60:21

the branch of My planting, the work of My hands,...

This is the work that Jehovah will bring about, ending their mourning (vs 20)making the people righteous and inheriting the land forever.  This cannot be done through man's effort.  Our best attempts are gone in a generation or two.  Only God will built an everlasting kingdom free from sin and death when He comes in judgement and vanquishes His foes. 

... so that I may be glorified.
The reason He will do this is for His Glory.  I watched a film with a number of audio clips from great men of the last century; I don't know who said it but he was a missionary to Africa who though had the best of intentions found out they were indeed humanism.  He didn't want to see people lost or living apart from God.  But he found people who loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil (Joh_3:19).  Wanting to quit he cried out to God and when he listened, he heard the witness of God's Spirit as a voice rejecting his motive but affirming God's. 
"The Lamb of God deserves the rewards of His suffering."   Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem lost sinners.  He deserves His reward:  Redeeemed lost sinners!

Pray therefore to the Lord of the Harvest that He may send laborers into the harvest. (Luk_10:12)

We wish to make everything about us; God made everything for Him.


May 13, 2007

Mother's day:
This Mother's day I would like to honor two women in my life who are special to me.  My Mom and the Mom of my children. Friday and Saturday we had a brief time with my parents visiting and helping to pack.  They are leaving my childhood home for a place much better suited to their current needs.  It was fun to sort and look through stuff from years "way" gone by but I am sure for my Mom it doesn't seem so long ago.  She has held on to some things we have long forgot and beamed with joy to see them.  We laughed and remember how we used to look.
It must have been hard having 5 kids so close in age but she did her best to make a shoestring bug stretch and stretch.  Today I want them to enjoy what they have, but it seems their children and grandchildren is what they cherish the most.  Happy Mother's day Mom.  I know you probably will not read this as you do not have a computer, but I wish you the best for all to read if anyone stumbles across this page.

For the Mom of my kids, my beloved wife I also which a joyous Mother's day.  We hope the weather stays nice to enjoy family time together outdoors.  Like my Mom,  Jannelle cherishes family time together and seems to be the catalyst for our times together.  She too is a special lady and sees things from a different perspective that graciously complements my own.  While I seemed called to complete my task list, she will seize the moment and make it special rather than letting it be trumped by the daily challenges of life.  I am so grateful to have had so many years together (22 so far).  I shed a tear Friday night as a you man sang "I will be here" by Stephen Curtis Chapman, the only song I ever sang solo at church (or for that matter anywhere but the shower) and that to her.  I am still here and plan to be as long as the Lord gives us time together.  May God richly bless you Jannelle!

Take time today (even if not Mother's day) to honor that special Mom you know or have.

His Only,
Tom
March 20, 2007

More Doctrinc in Hymns of Old...
There is more doctrine in some old hymns that in many modern evengelical sermons these days.  Some people avoid docrtine because it divides.  Without true doctrine to be unified around, we will all happily go together to Hell!  The truth is that God created us and in His unfathomable love, provided the only way to be saved from His wrath, the judgement of sins we committed against a holy God.


I was prompted in my spirit to find and read 2 Cor 3:18 this morning:    "But we all, with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord Spirit."  Doing a word study on face I looked up the Strongs definition:

G4383   πρόσωπον prosōpon pros'-o-pon
From G4314 and ὤψ ōps (the visage; from G3700); the front (as being towards view), that is, the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication presence, person: - (outward) appearance, X before, countenance, face, fashion, (men’s) person, presence.

The word visage reminded my of the hymn "O Sacred Head Now Wounded"  and remembered the use of the word "visage" and did not know what that meant.  It was refering to the countenance or face of our Lord and Savior Jesus.  It languished* under the sorrow of our sin at the cross:  Read slowly the words that follow:

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown; How pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

The second verse contains the Gospel message NOT preached in "Positive, Upbeat" churches today who are afraid or the bitter reality of true Gospel, they rather tickle the ears of their flock to grow larger and more popular.

"Mine, mine was the transgression"  The repetition forces emphasis on the second "mine"  as to almost shout.  Mine sin put Him their!  My sin put the nails in His hands and feet.  My sin put the thorns through His brow.  My sin caused the Father to look away and leave our savior to face the wrath.  I SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS PUNISHMENT! 

What response should that provoke in us?  "Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace".

It is godly sorrow that leads to repentance.   2 Cor 7:10  With this in mind I can't imagine a conversion of the heart in great sorrow and tears!   Does this sound like the Gospel taught in your church?  It is the Gospel of the Bible and Bernard of Clairvaux understood this in 1153. (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/s/osacredh.htm)

We can learn a lot from those old hymns.  Jesus has not changed the Gospel since He was lifted up into the clouds, neither should we.

* Websters 1828 Dictionary "4. To pine or sink under sorrow or any continued passion;"