more postings

Hey,
just posted the second part of 4 in the depression series. I know i started thinking that i could do this in three...but i was feverish... i couldn't talk about how to handle specifice emotions before i talked about the expectations that fuel our emotions.

i also posted the message "Moses and Joshua" that was renamed "keep your hands up" that was venacularly renamed "pray like aretha not like brittany."

so pick a name, any name... at the very least it has been discussed.

also, the message "Suffering Servant/ Crucifixion" hasn't gotten much attention...but that was the message where i make the point that "Jesus didn't die for you."

Enjoy- sean

podcasting

Hey- i am getting podcasting set up at

http://sermon.net/LivingHopeSpokane

enjoy.
sean

both sides now

Megan just posted the lyrics to "both sides now" to her blog.

http://megannotkasey.blogspot.com/

Also attached is the youtube clip of joni performing the '03 arrangement live.

The only better performance of that is when she did it on her album "standards" and she has Wayne Shorter on soprano sax instead of the "miles" muted trumpet at the end.

If you do watch this clip (and i dare you not to tear up), note the strings ambivalence in the first verse. She is taking her note and singing with out any connection w/ what is happening in the accompaniment. The background music never connects w/ her until she goes into the first chorus. BRILLIANT! STINKING BRILLIANT DARING ARRANGEMENT!! Key means little, minor seconds mean nothing dissonance comes and goes...she's singing about clouds, and we are hearing what it sounds like to be IN A CLOUD. BRILLIANT!!!

Here's my question... what is the best verse (four lines) of the song and why...i have my thoughts but I'd love to hear yours...

i keep coming back to...is this the best marriage of music, melody and lyric of my lifetime? if not WHAT? lets leave it at those three issues...arrengement will be saved for a different discussion.

i can think of one that clearly gives it a run for its money...but i will give it further thought.

sean

quick follow up

I've just finished working on my message for Sunday where i tell everyone that Jesus didn't die for you...

He died for God.

Part of my proof is in Rom 3.26 where Paul tells of how God used the death of Jesus to ensure that God was "just and justifier."

Jesus' death allowed God to be just and fulfill the curse of the broken covenant with Israel through the Law (Ex 24)...and bring mankind to justice for the sin that ravaged all of humanity.

BUT because God took the punishment upon Himself (as the person Jesus who was fully God) He enabled Himself to be the justifier.

Just AND Justifier.

Is good...does good.

Because Jesus died for God, we can have open access to all that God has in store for those who love Him.

Is good...does good.

even i can't complicate that...and i can complicate anything.

that is what brings us back to worship day after day.

"You are good and Your mercies endure forever..."

oops...i tipped my hat.

More later


sean

Worship in eternity and Eden.

The Bible tells us that Lucifer was the worship leader in heaven. Before our world began, before we had the potential of singing praise to God, Lucifer stood before God and orchestrated the heavenly hosts in songs of praise and worship.

Yet at some point, this angel of light felt the worship directed to God would be better directed to him.

Somehow, he was able to convince 1/3 of the angels to follow him to rule and reign over a small planet, circulating a third rate star in an unremarkable part of the universe.

And so it began.

Lucifer’s name would change to Satan, the devil, the accuser, the serpent…and his goal was to stop any of these bi-nature bipeds from joining the remaining angels in heaven in articulating worship to the God he despised.

After earth was created, his first victory came when he popped the duel questions.

“Did God really say that?”

“What good thing is He hiding?

Underlying those questions was “is God Good…does He do good.”

If the enemy could get mankind to doubt the very goodness of God’s nature and dealings, and then act accordingly it would be game, set, and match. Never again would he have to hear the worship of the Creator come into his created ears.

All the theology, debates, anger, confusion and frustration surrounding religion and Christianity come down to this:

Is God Good…does He do good?

What will you do with that information?

So what happens when their offspring approach God in worship?

That’s next….