GroshLinkBecome part of daily conversations on living in the Biblical Story here & now . . . |
|
How about Flow as a conversation starter to talk with others about God?
Yes, I'm currently listening to Paul Smith, Director of Marketing and Design for Global Short Film Network at CMDA Connections. Moving onto Control Z.
"Every notable advance in the saving work of God among men will, if examined, be found to have two factors present: several converging lines of providential circumstance and a person" -- A. W. Tozer. Quote shared by Jeff Amstutz, DDS, VP for Dental Ministries, Peter E. Dawson Chair of Dentistry, at the CMDA Connections Conference (5/22/2012).
Go Outside by Robbie Seay Band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSgIxiez4Xk), was submitted by a first year who writes:
I love this song because it just brings me so much peace. I thought of this song because the beautiful weather we've had lately reminds me of how awesome and beautiful God's creation is. I also love the imagery of gathering around with people you love (aka CMS!) praising our King! This song also has a pretty convicting message with it, in that we should be making an effort every day to tell others about Christ and what He's done for us. The video I found for this has some pretty powerful images in it, which I think takes the song to a whole new level. I hope you guys enjoy!
May you find the video a blessing and encouragement as you pray for the students who are wrapping up the term with graduation on Sunday, May 20th. Penn State Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA alumni will be sent forth to their residencies and teaching/research across a large part of the United States. In addition we have students traveling in mission internationally.
Summer brings lots of transitions to all the programs and classes at PSU-Hershey. Personally I can't wait to hear all of what's unfolding as we hang out at summer Bible studies and activities (including a social at our house in June). To God be the glory.
"Better Than Life" by Hillsong was submitted by Nick, who led us in worship at this weekend's PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA retreat:
It is my prayer that we may continue to draw near to God, to never stop falling in love with Him. He is better than our wildest dreams and better than all that this world has to offer. I pray that CMS would be the body of Christ that strives to remind one another of this truth and stir up one another to love Christ through the good times and bad.
Amen! May it be so. I invite you to pray for PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA as today we gather on for lunch lecture outreach, leadership team meeting (6:15 pm), and Bible study (7:30 pm). We will wrap up our spring term activities next week and transition to a summer format on Tuesday. Pray for discernment as the leadership team meets on Wednesday, May 16 to seek the Lord's leading for the summer and the coming academic year.
"House of God Forever” submitted by a member of the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA leadership team:
“This song, based on Psalm 23, is so calming and reassuring to my heart - gently reminding me that God is my Shepherd - I won't be wanting and I will not fear because He is sovereign, wise, and loving and He cares for me. I can rest wherever He leads me because He is with me. The simple, peaceful and repetitive nature of the piano accompaniment reminds me of the constancy of my Shepherd's character and care in the midst of life that can be overwhelming, chaotic, uncertain, and ever changing. Let us fix our eyes on this Great Shepherd, Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and live in awareness of His Spirit's presence with us. . . . Enjoy!”
When taking the twins over to Bible quizzing practice, "He Reigns"* blared out the radio. I just had to join in with a holy fire and pass along the blessing to you as we begin a week of singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
He reigns, He reigns!
with God's children, a holy choir, from every tongue, tribe, and nation wherever we are sent in our home, neighborhood, workplace. . . . rooted in the work of God across time, creation/space, consciousness, being . . .
PS. As I begin pulling together a research paper on Psalm 139:13-16*, my first thought is how God reigns in our lives in the womb . . . each human being created in the image of God -- whether or not born -- begins in relationship with God even before they are woven together by the hand of God in their mother's womb.
Take a moment to reflect upon that nugget! I find myself humbled and joy-filled when I reflect upon being fearfully and wonderfully fashioned by God in concert with the cycles of the created order. Glory, glory, hallelujah!
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
*the Newsboys. Adoration: The Worship Album. 2003.
**OT532 Historical & Poetic Books (Professor: David A. Dorsey. Evangelical Seminary)
Richard Foster, founder of Renovaré and author of Celebration of Discipline, along with Chris Webb, president of Renovaré and an Anglican Priest from Wales, will be the featured leaders at a today's Renovaré Essentials Conference at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Can't wait! Pray for my younger ones to be okay with conference childcare, after enthusiasm yesterday I'm not surprisingly facing resistance this morning.
PS. You may remember I interviewed Nathan Foster, Richard's son, for a series on the ESN blog. Look for some material from Richard to also make the blog :)
David Crowder Band's Like a Lion brought to you by a first year graduate student who serves on the leadership team of the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA. He shared:
This song is something I play in the background and serves as a reminder of who God is. I find the song encouraging and brings me comfort as I work through each day.
On Easter Sunday I posted Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! (Groshlink. 4/8/2012).
Today Mike Hickerson posted on the Emerging Scholars Network Blog: Easter Isn’t Over (4/10/2012).
If you haven't already done such, check his post out.
An Emerging Scholar pointed out on the Emerging Scholars Network FB Wall, Mike Teevee was wrong...
I responded, Hadn't really thought about it before, but I guess in this case Willy Wonka's "kind of" wrong too . . . as he responds along the lines that they're getting ready for next year ;)
After reading The Easter Story (Brian Wildsmith, Eerdmans, 2000), we turned to several Jesus Storybook Bible videos. Beautiful. To God be the glory!
Join me in prayerful reflection upon Isaac Watts' classic hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (1707). Note: based upon Galatians 6:14, “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Holman Christian Standard bible)
Aufrey Assad's Restless, brought to you by a first year medical student who serves on the leadership team of the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA:
Audrey Assad has recently emerged as my favorite Christian after a friend recommended her to me. I just love the chorus of her song, "Restless" because it is such simple truth. "And I am restless, I'm restless, Til I rest in You, Til I rest in You." Especially in an academic setting such as medical school, we are constantly under scrutiny and tested/judged on a daily basis. And if you remember the story a 2nd year shared about the wooden people and Punchinello, it seems as though we can never collect enough gold stickers to outweigh the gray dots. At the end of the day, we cannot find our rest in the opinions of others, but only in the loving embrace of our heavenly maker.
Updated: 4/15/2012.
Another quote from Randy Newman's* Questioning Evangelism:
“I once did a study of how Jesus answered every question that was asked of Him in all four gospels. Answering a question with a question was the norm. . . . At times, I’ve answered questions with biblically accurate, logically sound. . . . answers only to see questioners shrug their shoulders. My answer had in fact hardened them in their unbelief rather than softened them toward faith. I realized that, instead of moving people closer to a salvation decision, an answer can push them further away. . . . So I started answering questions with questions and have gained far better results” (27).
Father, Enable us to share the good news of the Kingdom of God with joy and boldness, to grow in "Christ-likeness"/being like Jesus by at times provokingly answering questions with questions. In Jesus' name and to your glory, Amen.
*Randy Newman is a Teaching Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He has been with the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ since 1980 and currently serves with Faculty Commons, their ministry to university professors. He ministers on campuses and elsewhere in our nation's capital to students, professors and policy-shapers. He is an honors graduate from Temple University and has a Masters of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he is also engaged in doctoral studies. Randy is a Jewish Believer in Jesus and is the former editor of The Messiah-On-Campus Bulletin. He lives in Annandale, Virginia together with his wife Pam. He is the author of numerous articles and the books Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People's Hearts the Way Jesus Did and Corner Conversations: Engaging Dialogues about God and Life, both published by Kregel Publicatios, and Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others Who Know You Well, forthcoming from Crossway. -- http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/blog/2011/07/why-i-read-c-s-lewis-2/. Newman's Bringing the Gospel Home is on the self and I look forward to reading it after the end of this term :) An excerpt from the newer book is posted at here. Would you like to join me?
Note: Related posts include Our culture’s secularism silences sharing the Gospel, Randy Newman's "Questioning Evangelism" -- back again, Questioning Evangelism, and Christ of Christmas.
Last week I prayed Hebrews 13:20-21, this week I encourage you with this strong exhortation from the New Testament Book of Hebrews.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”-- Hebrews 12:28-29
May you taste the power of the Kingdom of God and be refined by the God's all consuming fire, leading you to no other response than thankfulness, worship, reverence and awe in all of your life. May worshiping with the people of God, sharing testimony of God's work over the course of the past week, and a longing for God's redemptive work in the coming week, be a sweet/urgent longing for tomorrow.
As the Father guides and is present with you every step of the way, may find yourself dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. -- Psalm 23.
Keeping you up-to-date:
This year I'm once again posting a Lenten Reflection Series on the Emerging Scholars Network Blog. I started the seres with Entering Lent: “I Want” in Higher Education (2/23/2012), based on Kent Annan’s recent visit to South Central PA.* The second post Lent brings me back to reflections on loss, grief, suffering is an expansion of Sweeping Up the Heart: A Father's Lament for His Daughter.
*You may remember After Shock saturated my 2011 Lenten reflection. Additional material on Kent's visit is posted at What gives Kent Annan focus as he shares on campus?
Earlier in the week I prayed the below prayer from the New Testament Book of Hebrews for a a brother in Christ and it spoke powerfully to both of us. Today, I pray for the people of God across the creation.
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. -- Hebrews 13:20-21
Amen!
Thank-you to my friend who posted from "John Wesley's Covenant Service: For Those Who Would Make or Renew Their Covenant with God, 1780" [Wesley Hymns, Compiled by Ken Bible, Lillenas (Nazarene) Publishing Co., 1982]. May you also find it a blessing.
Lord Jesus, if Thou wilt receive me into Thy house, if Thou wilt but own me as Thy servant, I will not stand upon terms. Impose on me what condition Thou pleasest; write down Thy own articles; command me what Thou wilt; let me be Thy servant. Make me what Thou wilt, Lord, and set me where Thou wilt. Let me be a vessel of silver or gold, or a vessel of wood or stone; so I be a vessel of honor. I am content. If I be not the head, or the eye, or the ear, one of the nobler and more honorable instruments Thou wilt employ, let me be the hand, or the foot, as one of the lowest and least esteemed of all the servants of my Lord.
Lord, put me to what Thou wilt; rank me with whom Thou wilt.
Put me to doing; put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for Thee, or laid aside for Thee, exalted for Thee, or trodden under foot for Thee.
Let me be full; let me be empty.
Let me have all things; let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily resign all to Thy pleasure and disposal.
O most holy God, I beseech Thee, accept the poor prodigal prostrating himself at Thy door. I have fallen from Thee by my iniquity and am by nature a son of death and a thousandfold more the child of hell by my wicked practice. But of Thy infinite grace Thou hast promised mercy to me in Christ if I will but turn to Thee with all my heart. Therefore upon the call of Thy gospel, I am now come and, throwing down my weapons, submit myself to Thy mercy.
And because Thou requirest, as the condition of my peace with Thee, that I should put away my idols and be at defiance with all Thy enemies, I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all. I firmly covenant with Thee not to allow myself in any known sin, but conscientiously to use all the means that I know Thou hast prescribed, for the death and utter destruction of all my corruptions. I humbly affirm before Thy glorious Majesty that it is the firm resolution of my law.
And since Thou hast told me I must suffer if I will reign, I do here covenant with Thee to take my lot, as it falls, with Thee and by Thy grace to run all hazards with Thee, purposing that neither life nor death shall part between Thee and me.
Now, Almighty God, Searcher of Hearts, Thou knowest that I make this covenant with Thee this day, without any known guile or reservation, beseeching Thee that if Thou seest any flaw or falsehood therein, Thou wouldst reveal it to me and help me to put it right.
And now, glory be to Thee, O God the Father, whom I shall be bold from this day forward to look upon as my God and Father. Glory be to Thee, O God the Son, who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in Thy own blood and art now become my Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to Thee, O God the Holy Ghost, who by Thy almighty power hast turned my heart from sin to God.
O eternal Jehovah, the Lord God Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou art now become my Covenant-Friend, and I, through Thy infinite grace, am become Thy Covenant-Servant. And the Covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen
Thank-you to my friend Glenn who passed along the below texts with the title/comment, "Not admired by the world's eyes? . . . This is a compilation of Scriptures verses which helps remind me, that many things which do not receive the world's admiration, are of great value in the Kingdom of God!"
Isaiah 53:2-3
2 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
John 1
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
I John 4:5
5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
In preparation for Kent Annan's February 13 - 16 visit, a number of people have shared with me how much they have been challenged in their faith by reading Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle: Living Fully, Loving Dangerously (InterVarsity Press, 2009) and how his early work prepares one to digest After Shock: Searching for Honest Faith When Your World Is Shaken (2011). Today, I am reminded that Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle is a helpful word to me as I turn 38.
As I begin a new year of life, I have the opportunity to live "One More Day" to the glory of God. This is not a time to slack in "Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle." Hold me accountable to live out this commitment with a deliberate, daily passion for Christ alone.
Opening of Bruce Kuhn's "One man recitation of the gospel of Luke," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNSTtILNygg.
What's your experience of Bible reading in your local assembly, various public settings, in your house?
On Friday, December 23, I received "the call." I was invited to do a Bible/Scripture reading which provided the overarching narrative for Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church's Christmas Eve Service, comprised of a creative mix of drama and worship. What an opportunity! Question: what hymns/songs would you place in the various sections (keep in mind various children choirs were singing).
As I thought about the great opportunity, I was also struck by the great responsibility to read the Word in such a setting. Inspired by this consideration, I performed a quick on-line search regarding "Bible" reading. I found these two posts of value.
No, I didn't do all the preparation discussed by these pieces, but they complimented some of my thoughts stirred by memories of Bruce Kuhn's One Man Show of The Gospel of Luke (below pictures of Kuhn as Tolstoy and in a drama training in 'da Burgh a few years ago when we hosted him for a campus outreach at Pitt and CMU). By God's grace, the evening offered a unique opportunity to bless the many in attendence including my family, my parents, Theresa's parents, and wife's sister (along w/one of her three boys) -- who provided plenty of care for Lily who enjoyed the whole service. To God be the glory!
PS. Maybe it's time to invite Bruce Kuhn for an outreach series in South Central PA . . .
Recently received an enthusiastic reply regarding the resources available through Planning worship with CCEL.org and Hymnary.org, particularly the link and the tools found at Hymnary.org. May I commend them to you (and those involved with leading worship at your local congregation) once again?
Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship Jehovah in holy array (I Chronicles 16:29).
Amen!
Enjoyed reading The CCEL Times 7.1 (Planning worship with CCEL.org and Hymnary.org, January 2, 2012) and passing along the e-newsletter to our local assembly's Director of Music Ministry. I encourage you to do likewise.
Note: As you may have already noticed, I've found Christian Classics Ethereal Library an excellent resource not only for personal study, but also to share with others. If you haven't already, time some time in the new year to "check out" the writings of the faithful who have gone before us.
Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love (Psalm 147:8-11).
Are you mindful of, exploring, and soaking in the gift of God by which you're surrounded? It's not just another day . . . it's given to you, it's a gift . . . the only appropriate response is gratefulness . . . Are you cultivating gratefulness today, as you enter a new year? I pray you spend this day well, framed by the lens of Scripture. I read Psalm 145 and Psalm 147 with my children this morning. May such texts (and not the vauge spirituality of Louie Schwartzberg) be a guide for you as you embrace "One More Day" as a gift from God in the stunning beauty of creation, the relationships you find yourself in the midst of (maybe even more so during Christmas/New Year season), and material shared by Louie Schwartzberg/others.
A friend recently reminded me of the dangers of the last days. May you not find this to be the case in your household during the celebration of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany. Praying for the Father to grant the Body of Christ the grace through the ministry of the Word & Spirit to truly be salt, light, and leaven during dark times given a happy-faced veneer. . . .
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! -- II Timothy 3:1 - 5
“your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” From the Lord’s Prayer we ask for the coming of God’s kingdom and that God’s will be done here on earth. -- Matthew 6:10
A Scripture text (and prayer) which led me to prayer (and a meditation upon the Kingdom of God) while writing Finding Calcutta: Prayer and Our Calling -- based on a Sunday School which explored Mary Poplin's Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service (InterVarsity Press. 2008). Please join our family in praying the Lord's Prayer today.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one,
for yours is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
PS. Beginning Black Friday with The Lord's Prayer (Nov 25, 2011).
Invest in a cutting edge local expression of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's transformational ministry focused upon scholars, emerging scholars, and health care professionals (current/budding) through partnership with local congregations, individuals, the community, and Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA).
Powered by Lime Daley
and LifeType
Original Design By Michael Heilemann,
modified for LifeType by Knight
