I just finished reading Christless Christianity by Michael Horton host of the White Horse Inn radio show. I just thought I would leave you with a quote and a link to the book website. It is a deep and thought provoking read that dips into some of the error of some popular churches and pastors. I hope you will check it out.

"Based on this history of the apostolic witness, the church is successful in its mission to the extent that it proclaims Christ, baptizes, teaches, gathers around the Lord's Table, and is then scattered out into the world as his witnesses. Because believers remain saint and sinner simultaneously, they never outgrow their need to be fed by the gospel through these divinely instituted means of grace."

Matt Chandler at Desiring God Pastors Conference

The Runner

When a sheep goes astray it's like a dagger to my heart,
I speak words to turn them to You, its only my part
The point is to turn them around
humility is nowhere to be found
But sometimes You speak, and they run all the more
There seems to be no forgiveness in store
They don't just run, but they try to get others to go too
And when others don't go they get even more mad at You
I've been there I know
I needed Your anger to show
It has been my only hope time and again
So I pray for this one that You'll get the win
And they'll come running to You
Because You're just waiting to run too

No Escape
1 Thess. 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

I was listening to the new Rush of Fools album, Wonder of the World, when I was reminded of this verse. The song Escape lead me to worship our great God.
The words are...
Everybody crashes down
Sometimes
Everything comes falling down
Sometimes
I don’t even know how,
Or know why

CHORUS
The thing I can’t escape is You
The promise that You made is You will pull me through
You’re never far away no matter what I do
The thing I can’t escape is You

At times I try to hide away
From Your eyes
At times I’m covered up in shame
From my lies
You sweep me into Your embrace
And I cry

CHORUS

It’s You
Your grace
Irresistible
It’s true, it’s true
Your grace
Irresistible

Sherri and I sang this song at church sunday and I made this video to show as we sang. Enjoy!

I am Lazarus

I am Lazarus
Diseased beyond paralysis
Four days down the road: dead end
Impossible to mend
All desire for godliness dead
Not giving a care for the letters in red

Then Jesus' commandment spoke
And I awoke

I am Lazarus
Brought to the day light marvelous
Alive, Raised from darkness
No more hopelessness
Freed from my chains
'Til all that remains
Is the desire to please Him
Now there's joy and peace within

Pastors ought to Desire to Prosper
If you would prosper in your work, be sure to keep up earnest desires and expectations of success. If your hearts be not set on the end of your labours, and you long not to see the conversion and edification of your hearers, and do not study and preach in hope, you are not likely to see much success. As it is a sign of false, self-seeking heart, that can be content to be still doing, and yet see no fruit of his labour; so I have observed that God seldom blesseth any man's work so much as his, whose heart is set upon the success of it.
Richard Baxter
The Reformed Pastor