John Piper says, “To get justification right is a matter of eternal life and death.  I want Jesus Christ to get the glory for being all that he is for me and my salvation.  Not part of it.  Not just blood covering my sin, but righteousness providing my righteousness.”

Amen.

Today, the thought occurred to me that the one and only John Piper should weigh at least 400lbs., if not more. I don’t get it, though.  To look at him, the man can’t weigh more than a buck fifteen, soaking wet.

Why would I expect him to be morbidly obese? Why, I’m glad you asked.

Today, like so many other days in recent history, John Piper ate my lunch.  Plus, I am almost positive that I’m not the only one he’s done this to, either.  So how is it that this bad man doesn’t weigh 400lbs. by now?

Because, when it comes down to it, John Piper is not the one “eating my lunch.”  It’s the Holy Spirit through John Piper.  That very thing happened this morning while listening to Piper’s sermon, “Songs That Shape the Heart and Mind.”  Piper makes clear God’s purpose for passing down these holy songs and stresses their importance (along with the rest of Scripture) in the lives of believers.

I encourage you to go read / listen to this sermon for yourself.  It was certainly impacting to me.

In the meantime, I pray that I continue to have my lunch eaten, if you will, by the Holy Spirit — through both John Piper and John Owen.

Do your ears and your spirit a favor and go to iTunes and drop the $6 they’re charging for Brooke Fraser’s album, Albertine. After you do, listen to it immediately — you can come back and thank me later.  I’ll wait…

When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t “feeling” that great.  I had awakened 2 hours earlier than I had planned and had a very hard time going back to sleep.  That made my morning get off to a slow and bumpy start.

However, the Holy Spirit came along as I was making my morning rounds on the ‘net and reminded me that no matter how I feel or how much sleep I did or didn’t get, that I had awakened to the awesome truth that:

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
- Psalm 145:8 (ESV)

Even though I didn’t take the time to open my Bible this morning, God used my blog and some RSS to remind me of what I was walking in — and that is His grace, mercy, and love coupled with the absence of His condemnation.

And what a sweet walk it is.

Over the past several months, I’ve had difficulty with my prayer time.  It’s not something I’ve been too keen on sharing with many, but now that God has broken so many chains in my life during recent days, I can speak without shame.

This morning, I was using The Valley of Vision as an aide during my prayer time and the entry entitled “The Deeps” was a great help to me and God spoke to me (loudly) through it.  I wanted to share parts of it here.

Give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely to flee it, and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone.

Give me more sweetness in the Word, deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.

I have no Master but thee … no peace but that thou bestowest.
I am nothing but that thou makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.

Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
and then fill me to overflowing
with living water.

(emphasis mine)

Amen and amen.

Today, my wife and I decided to take the day (while it was still nice out) and go see WALL·E and spend the rest of the afternoon walking around Huntsville’s new Bridge Street Town Centre.  I’ll post more about the film later, but it is officially my favorite Pixar film to-date (Pixar is über creative).

Bridge Street was nice, as it was not too crowded — but it was a very sunny (i.e. hot) afternoon.  So that called for some ice cream.  I got to visit an Huntsville’s own Apple Store, but didn’t stay too long as the girls aren’t as geeked up on the fruit as yours truly.

We finished off our stay with a ride on the carousel.  With that, we ended our day and headed home as the rains headed in.  It was a wonderful day spent with a wonderful family full of simple, yet wonderful things — all given to me by a wonderful God (including the rain).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

-James 1:17 (ESV)

After a few fruitless searches by both myself and a friend, I’ve finally found a solid copy of the sheet music and chords to “Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin.

“Jesus Messiah” Chords and Sheet Music

Nine years? Has it been that long?

You’ve been with me through more than I could have ever imagined anyone sticking with me.  You really do live up to your name — you truly are angelic.  You have been an instrument of grace, of mercy, and you’ve yet to give up on the task of teaching me what unconditional love really is.  I would not trade a single second of the past nine years for the world and everything in it.  I cannot imagine my life without you and hope I never have to.

Happy anniversary, my bride.

Are we not missing the point when we praise the author more than we praise the Object of worship music?

For example, one of the most moving songs that I have heard in recent memory was released a week or two ago by Chris Tomlin — Jesus Messiah.  EMI, of course, put out a press release to go along with Tomlin’s latest hit.  However, reading over it today, the above thought struck me while reading the following quotes:

“Chris Tomlin strikes gold again in his beautiful ballad ‘Jesus Messiah.’ Chris seems unable to pen a bad or even mediocre song. It is simply always spectacular.” –Jon Rivers, music director KLOVE Radio Network

“Chris never disappoints. ‘Jesus Messiah’ is another example of his deep songs that are easy to sing and still keep the focus on the One who deserves the glory.” –Jim Beeler, music director, KSBJ-FM

“I knew Chris Tomlin’s new song, ‘Jesus Messiah’ was going to be an ‘add,’ but I’ve run out of superlatives. It surpassed all our expectations; wow!” –Scott Valentine, program director, KCMS-FM

“Tomlin does it again! It’s honest. It’s sincere. It connects. It’s worship not just for Sundays, but for life lived every day. It’s here, and will be for years to come!” –Chris Lemke, GM/PD WCSG-FM

“I am not sure how Chris keeps doing it, but once again we have a song that is going to be huge! This one is easily on the short list for song of the year already.” –Jeff Cruz, assistant program director, WPOZ-FM

I’m not sure that we “get it” with Tomlin’s work.  Reading the quotes above, it’s one for Chris and one for Christ and so-on.  To me, it’s almost like those who praised and followed Paul or Peter (or follow Driscoll or Piper to be more up-to-date) for their words instead of the true Author of those words.  Knowing that Tomlin is just an instrument and his work is merely the work of the Almighty could help keep us from creation worship and more focused on Creator worship.

My wonderful wife, she had to remind a bunch of teenagers of the same sort of thing when they were awe-struck by Louie Giglio’s appearance at Big Stuf Camp this week.  Her response to them?  “He’s just a pot of clay…“  The same goes for Tomlin and I’m convinced that both of them would tell you that with a strong affirmation.  So let us worship the Object of worship music (or amazing sermons, stories, etc.) and not the author(s).

May it be so it my life first and foremost.

By the Holy Spirit and the hand of the apostle Paul, I have a new life anthem.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

-Galatians 5:1 (ESV)

(Free by Hillsong)

(I am Free by Desperation Band)

Enough said.