hinkleblog

Word

2010-05-02T12:06:00.000-05:00

"The Word possesses such power, however seriously considered, heeded, and put into practice that it never remains barren of fruit. It always awakens new thoughts, new pleasures and devotions and cleanses the heart and it's meditations."

- Martin Luthur

Earth Day 2010

2010-04-22T11:25:00.000-05:00

Here's how I celebrate EARTH DAY... by giving thanks to the One who created it and sustains it... "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31a)

Symbols

2010-04-03T12:11:00.005-05:00

Last night, some dear friends gave me this writing that really moved me. It was written by St. Ephrem the Syrian who died in 373 AD in the city of Edessa. He was "the foremost writer and theologian in the Syriac tradition" of early Eastern Christianity. He ministered among the growing congregations (of that time) in what is today Iran and Iraq.

Cut stone becomes by its suffering a bulwark for men.
In calamity and in battle it stands before him and preserves his treasures.

Wood by means of its harsh treatment resembles the cross.
It carries on the sea; it bears on dry land;
It increases by its uses and enriches by its helps.

Strong iron is weak in the fire; it is malleable and yields to human strength.
And when it had been well-beaten, it repays the one who struck it.

Noble gold is beaten without offense.
To all those who beat it, it gives its sides...
Its insult is for honor, its suffering is for glory.

And who will tell of the suffering of a grain of wheat?
Indeed, how many scourgings and afflictions it encounters.
By its torment, it gives life to its tormentors.

The crusher also abuses the cluster of grapes.
By its blood, filth is washed away; with its juice it sweetens men.
And if it ages with him, it makes him merry with its wine.

When a fruit is eaten, by means of its suffering taste pours into the mouth.,
This is a symbol of that fruit that brings to life his eaters when his body is eaten.

Incenses are cast into the fire. Their scents rise up like their good Lord
Who by means of His death exhaled the scent of His vitality.

So also when a bird beats the air... the back of the air is subjected to it,
And like a bride the bird is carried on high by the power [of the air].

So also the farmer by means of iron rends and cleaves the earth,
But she is not angered by her suffering,
Her treasures and her womb she opens up by her sufferings.

The sheep in its shame strips off its garment and cloak,
And gives all of it to its shearers,
Like the Lamb who divided His garments for His crucifiers.

So old is the teaching that its time is not known...
All these things teach by their symbols:
They open by their sufferings the treasures of their riches,
And the suffering of the Son of God is the key of His treasures.

Dilemma

2010-02-22T13:11:00.006-06:00

Okay, this post is completely in jest. A friend sent me some funny pictures today and I had to pass them on. I'll share them in the form of two questions...

1. Should I get a dog?

2. Or, should I have children?

Come what may, Liz and I are happy we went with option #2!

Back to Reality

2010-02-01T20:01:00.000-06:00

My wife and I just returned from a wonderfully relaxing, week-long holiday consisting mostly of napping on a sunny beach in Mexico. I won't lie; it was glorious. To save you from needing to repent of a covetous attitude, I won't say any more.

On the way back to the airport, Liz looked at me and smiled as she sighed, "Well, back to reality." I thought about it and said, "Yes, but what a great reality it is..." Our 10 month old son, Titus. Our home. Our family. Our church. Our friends. Etc., etc., etc...

Yeah, Liz and I enjoyed a great time away, but we both agree we love "our reality" and are ready to get back to it.

Light the Lamps of the Past

2010-01-25T07:21:00.000-06:00

I was encouraged by reading Spurgeon's devotional this morning. Referring to the times in life when it's difficult to see God's faithfulness in the present, he says...

"Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now, light up the lamps of the past, they shall glitter through the darkness, and thou shalt trust in the Lord till the day break and the shadows flee away."

-- Post From My iPhone

I Change Not

2009-11-03T21:31:00.004-06:00

Today, a friend encouraged me with a quote from Charles H. Spurgeon. I looked up the post in its entirety and was encouraged all the more...

"I am the Lord, I change not." – Malachi 3:6

It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. All things else have changed-all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the worn-out vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only hath immortality, of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change. The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth-"I am the Lord, I change not."

The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian’s hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." What ever his attributes were of old, they are now; his power, his wisdom, his justice, his truth, are alike unchanged. He has ever been the refuge of his people, their stronghold in the day of trouble, and he is their sure Helper still. He is unchanged in his love. He has loved his people with "an everlasting love"; he loves them now as much as ever he did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the last conflagration, his love will still wear the dew of its youth. Precious is the assurance that he changes not! The wheel of providence revolves, but its axle is eternal love.

Here's a Clue...

2009-04-24T12:09:00.003-05:00

Here's a clue that you're experiencing technological over-saturation...
You sign on to Facebook with your iPhone, then hold it up to your ear to hear your messages. And look at it twice because you wonder why you're not hearing anything.

Here's a clue that you're too deep in thought...
You drive into you driveway, press your garage door opener, and wonder why your neighbor's garage door is going up. Yep, you pulled into the wrong driveway.

Here's a clue that you have too many mobile control devices...
You arrive at work, and as you're walking toward the office door you're clicking your car remote to unlock it. Repeatedly.

These are true life experiences in a week of a sleep-deprived new father (who is loving every minute of it). Thank you for reading.

Goodness In A Dish

2009-04-09T19:08:00.003-05:00

Okay, I have to give credit to whom credit is due. A couple years ago, Liz and I got this great recipe from Rachel Ray. Well, not personally, but from her magazine! ;-) It had been a while, so I made it last night for dinner. Mm, Mm, Mmmm! I posted a picture of it and a few friends asked for the recipe, so here it is. BLT Rigatoni. Sorry, I can't tell you the calorie count. But who wants to think about that, anyway?! Let me know how you like it...

INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 pound pancetta or bacon, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 4 ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into a large dice
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
- 3/4 pound rigatoni, cooked until al dente
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1 bunch arugula (about 2 cups), tough stems removed, leaves coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium skillet, cook the pancetta over medium heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and coarsely chop.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat the 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked rigatoni with the sauce. Add the pancetta, basil and arugula; toss. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the cheese.

Lamb Butter?

2009-04-09T16:00:00.003-05:00

This is one of the weirdest things I've seen since moving up north from Oklahoma. But it seems pretty normal to everyone in the Chicago area. Hmmm. They also do Lamb Cakes. The first time I heard someone talking about it, I thought it was a cake made out of a lamb (gross). No, it's just a cake in the shape of a lamb.

Asleep in Daddy's Arms

2009-03-31T13:29:00.000-05:00

Making an entrance into the world is quite exhausting! All three of us are napping. It's just that Daddy and Mommy don't look quite as cute when they sleep as baby Titus does...

-- Posted From My iPhone

Here Comes Baby!

2009-03-29T17:05:00.003-05:00

Because of Liz's high risk for blood clotting, the doctor wants to monitor labor and delivery as closely as possible. This week is week #39 so the baby is healthy and ready to come. We arrived at Lutheran General Hospital about an hour ago. Liz is doing well - cool, calm, and collected. I think I am, too. It's all very surreal! The induction process will begin sometime this evening, so Baby Hinkle will be here soon. We can't wait for you to meet our Little One...

Perspective

2009-03-21T13:29:00.000-05:00

We're making final prep for Baby Hinkle's arrival. I looked at the changing station and saw these "napkins.". Then I realized that those "napkins" are really diapers. I asked Liz, "Are these for real?!" So tiny. Just another reminder of this sweet small one that's about to change our lives forever...

-- Posted From My iPhone

Stressed? Try Waving.

2009-03-13T09:35:00.003-05:00

This brochure caught my eye as I was leaving Tacos el Norte, my regular Wednesday lunch spot. I couldn't resist picking it up. Maybe I'll give it a try? ...nah!

If You Think God Is Ignorant...

2009-03-10T08:44:00.003-05:00

Do you think God stands far away? Do you think He hides Himself in times of trouble?
When you see the poor pursued and seized...
...the innocent murdered....
...the helpless crushed, sunk down, and fallen.

God does see. He notes mischief and vexation and will take it into His hands.
He will break the arm of the wicked and evildoer...
...call wickedness into account until there is no more...
...incline His ear to do justice for the fatherless and the oppressed...

Read Psalm 10 today and let it cultivate trust in the faithfulness and sufficiency of our God.
He does not forget the afflicted...
...is the helper of the fatherless...
...hears their desires and strengthens their hearts...
...is King forever and ever!

Three Technological Tools

2009-03-09T12:09:00.003-05:00

I've never been a big reader. One of my younger sisters, Elizabeth, could spend an entire week doing nothing but reading and never get bored. That's not me. Not to say that I never read; I do! It just takes a certain amount of discipline. Here are three technological tools I've found that have been helping me read more regularly...

Google Reader. Using this, I can subscribe to blogs I like to read and it gathers them all in one place so I don't need to keep checking multiple websites. I've recently discovered Abraham Piper's blog, 22 Words. Check it out.

The Amazon Kindle app for my iPhone. Now I can get books downloaded directly on my iPhone, bypassing the need for a $339 Kindle device (although it would be cool to have). Books cost less, no shipping fees, and I can begin reading in a matter of minutes. I just started Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Mark Driscoll).

Audio books on iTunes. Even cheaper than Kindle, I can now listen to a book read anywhere that I can take my iPod. Currently I'm listening to Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin With Superior Pleasure (John Piper) while I'm on the treadmill at the gym.

25 Things I Hate About Facebook

2009-03-06T09:33:00.002-06:00

My sister sent this to me last week. What I've seen of this guy is pretty funny. This video is brilliant!

The Mystery of Godliness

2009-03-02T16:35:00.004-06:00

Our small group just began studying 1st Timothy, and last night's discussion was the overview of the entire letter. Great content (but then, isn't that true of the entire Bible?). Very much looking forward to it. Some potentially controversial issues lie within, but I'm praying God will lead us and that we will have hearts to hear what His Word says. It will be "all good."

Right now my favorite part of the book (and I'm sure that will change week to week) is the beautifully poetic exposition of the gospel that Paul recites immediately following his purpose for writing (3:14-15). He calls it the mystery of godliness. I don't have any brilliant commentary to share; the gospel is brilliant on it's own...

"Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on by the world,
taken up in glory."
(1 Timothy 3:16)

Mmm, Saucy!

2009-02-27T10:48:00.003-06:00

Is a caption even necessary?

Help A Daddy Out!

2009-02-26T15:27:00.004-06:00

Technically, I guess you could say that I already am a father. Though Liz and I haven't met Baby Hinkle face to face yet, he/she is very much alive, reminding Mommy of his/her existence through a steady display of gymnastics!

But the anticipated arrival of Baby Hinkle, and my official title of "Daddy", is roughly 5 weeks away. By God's grace, I will be strive to be the best father I can be. I think that part of learning to be one is just the practical experience of doing it, but another BIG part is learning from others. What to do. What not to do. What works. What didn't.

So, I'm asking you to help a Daddy out! It doesn't matter if you are one or not; we've all had a father or been impacted by one. So, using only a couple sentences, what is your best advice for a new Daddy?

The Holiest Bible?

2009-02-23T20:50:00.005-06:00

One of the features of my new iPhone that I'm geeked about right now is the ESV Study Bible app. I picked up a hard copy last fall at a conference (which I have thoroughly benefited from) and this little app has all the notes, maps, charts, etc. in it - all at my fingertips and at a fraction of the weight! I've been enjoying reading and studying from it the past couple weeks, and really finding fresh joy in the Scripture (that sounds a little funny to say). And yes, joy in God's Word, not in technology!

Last night during our small group, the discussion turned to the pros and cons of using an "electronic" version of the Bible (like on my iPhone) rather than a "hard copy". For example, is it more beneficial to read from an actual book rather than a mobile device? Am I losing something by clicking buttons rather than turning pages? Am I making God's Word "common" by using it on the same device as I do to make calls or find the nearest Starbucks? Is it better, more holy, or more profitable when read from a printed copy? Or is the Word of God just as powerful and life-changing, no matter what form it's in (spoken, handwritten, printed, etc)? Doesn't it really depend on the heart of the reader who is interacting with it?

Another friend and I were talking about it this morning, and acknowledged many possible views on the matter. I decided that I'm curious to know what more people think about this. So, what are your thoughts about the benefits/disadvantages of reading and studying the Bible in electronic form as a primary source, be it on the internet or an app for a mobile device?

Saving Faithfulness

2009-02-17T14:20:00.003-06:00

"But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness." (Psalm 69:13)

I'm happy to report that Liz has been released from the hospital this afternoon to come home. Our little pre-born Baby Hinkle is safe and healthy, and so is Liz. Because of the deep clotting in her left leg (the right leg is clear) she will be on a blood-thinner until delivery and up to 6 weeks after. The hematologist will continue to do some tests (pre and post labor) to determine the actual cause of the clotting. We meet with him and the obstetrician next week.

For now Liz will be at home resting and not going back to work, at least for the rest of this week. We'll see about next week, depending on the pain. We are hoping that the swelling will steadily decrease and the pain will subside. Other than that discomfort, Liz is doing as well as can be expected. She is weary from dealing with everything but is in good spirits, as usual. Her parents were able to make the 8 hour drive through the night, and will be with us for a while to help out. Already, it's been a relief having them here; they are a blessing.

Again, thank you for praying for Liz and Baby Hinkle. This means more to us than we can express. Thanks for your messages. This morning, I read to Liz the list of facebook posts, both public and private, from you all, as well as the texts, emails, and voicemails. We are humbly grateful for you and for the fact that God, in the abundance of his steadfast love, has answered us in his saving faithfulness.

Update on Liz

2009-02-16T20:36:00.000-06:00

I know that many of you have been praying for Liz, and we are so grateful for your care and concern. Thank you! I wish I could talk to each of you, but I think posting an update here will be more expedient...

For the past week Liz has been experiencing a good deal of pain and swelling in her left leg. The doctor thought this was due to the baby sitting on a nerve. We went to the doctor this afternoon because the pain was persisting and they did an ultrasound of her leg. They found deep vein clotting all throughout her upper left leg so they sent us immediately to a hospital that specializes in high-risk pregnancies/births (Lutheran General in Park Ridge, IL). She'll be 33 weeks pregnant tomorrow.

We've been here since about 4:30pm Bottom line, the baby is healthy and fine. Strong heartbeat and plenty of movement. But they will be keeping Liz here resting for the next few days. They have started her on a blood-thinner and the hope is that this will remove the clotting. She is still in some pain but the swelling has gone down a bit.

I'm not sure what's next. We'll probably know more when we speak with the doctors in the morning. Please continue to pray! If you know Liz at all you know she is one strong woman and has really been a trooper. We know that we are held securely by Jesus, so we are praying for God to increase our trust in His sovereign care.

Thank you again for praying and calling. I'll send another update soon. Peace to you...

A Letter to Baby Hinkle

2009-02-12T11:25:00.003-06:00

Oh, Baby Hinkle, you have so much going for you... You have parents who love each other and who have made Jesus the center of their home. They are so happy that God is entrusting them with such a precious gift. And they will love you, nurture you, shelter you, defend you, and lay down their very lives for you. You have the most beautiful mother in the world; just wait until you see her! And your father will write you lullabies and sing them to you every night; have you already heard him singing? They both love to laugh, so you will have a lot of fun growing up, experiencing new and different things and living life to the fullest! Your parents were raised in families who knew and loved Jesus, and still do. And, oh, your grandparents and great-grandparents have waited quite a while for you. I assure you, you will never lack for love or attention when you are with any of them! And more than all this, you have been fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of the universe! He knows the number of hairs on your fuzzy little head. It is He who conducts the beating of your heart in perfect rhythm. He has already mapped out all the days ordained for you. Even now, you are being handmade by God in your mother's womb. Yes, indeed, you have so much going for you!

But, oh, Baby Hinkle, you have so much against you... This world that is waiting to greet you is one that is wounded and broken. There is heartache. There is sadness. There is pain. It is a world created in the beginning by God to be good, but because of sin there are many things in it that are not good. Yes, I know sin is a big word for such a little baby. But it’s not too soon for you to know about it. For you see, not only will you be living in a world damaged by sin, but you yourself have inherited sin, just like your mother and your father. If we could change that for you, we would, but there is nobody who can escape it. Every person has sinned and has not measured up to God’s perfect standard, and must pay the cost. Every person, that is, except one. Jesus lived a perfect life, and though He didn’t deserve it He paid the cost of sin for us so that anyone who trusts in Him will be rescued from sin to live forever with Him, just as God planned in the beginning. So while there is hope, indeed, you have so much against you!

That is why your mother and I will preach the gospel to you, teach the gospel to you, sing the gospel to you, live the gospel in front of you. Because we know firsthand that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Yes, we will take every opportunity we can, using every way we know how, to point you to Jesus so that you may trust in Him and be rescued from sin to live forever with Him!

Oh, Baby Hinkle, we can't wait to meet you face to face. We can't wait for the surprise to see if you are son or a daughter! We can't wait to tell you your name! And we can't wait to hold you, to figure out whose eyes and nose and mouth you have, and yes, even to change your diapers and hear you wail! You'll be here soon enough, so for now just rest and grow. And try to take it easy on Mummy these last few weeks; she's doing a lot for you, you know! We’ll see you soon…

I'll love you forever,
Daddy

peek-a-boo!

2009-02-06T11:33:00.003-06:00

here's a peek at pre-born, mystery baby hinkle at 31 weeks inside the womb! we can't tell if this kid is shy or stubborn. we're going to go with stubborn! the technician tried about 7 times to get a good shot of the face, but this little one wouldn't move his/her hand away from the eyes.

fearfully and wonderfully made, wouldn't you say? we can't wait to meet this little one! hopefully only 8-9 more weeks!

remembering and reaching

2009-01-27T08:11:00.003-06:00

this morning i've been swimming in psalm 143, written by david. while the enemy is pursuing his soul, crushing his life to the ground, making him sit in darkness like those long dead (v. 3) he cries out to God, saying...

"i remember the days of old; i meditate on all that you have done; i ponder the work of your hands. i stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land."

currently, i'm not aware of being pursued, crushed, or in left in darkness. honestly, i feel like i'm in a "land of plenty / streams of abundance / sun shining down on me / world's all as it should be" time of life. but i know that i can never forget to remember all that God has done - not just in my life, but his wonderful works throughout history. i can never forget to stretch out my hands to him, to reach for him and express my dependence on him. even in these "good times" i need to practice the discipline of remembering God's faithfulness and reaching for his sustenance.

baby butternut squash

2009-01-21T12:37:00.002-06:00

well, it's been a while since i've posted anything. thought i'd give an update on how baby hinkle is growing...

this is week 29! our baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and the head is growing bigger to make room for a developing brain. to meet increasing nutritional demands, liz is getting plenty of protein, vitamins c, folic acid, and iron. and because the baby's bones are soaking up lots of calcium, liz is drinking lots of milk (and other good sources of calcium, like cheese and yogurt). this trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in our baby's hardening skeleton each day. fearfully and wonderfully made!

as you may or may not know, we don't know if we're having a boy or a girl! we want to be surprised! and we're keeping our name choices under wraps, too! the due date is april 7th, only 11 weeks away! we're eagerly awaiting baby hinkle's arrival!

psalm 139:13-16
"for you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
i praise you, for i am fearfully and wonderfully made.
wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
my frame was not hidden from you,
when i was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them."

XYZ

2008-12-21T14:08:00.004-06:00

do you remember saying that as a kid? XYZ (examine your zipper) PDQ (pretty darn quick). well, maybe i should still be saying that to myself as an adult. here's a helpful tip for anyone earning their living or fulfilling their calling regularly in front of people... make sure you have a good knowledge of - and you put that knowledge to good use - how to work the devices that hold your pants up (buttons, snaps, zippers, etc.) i'm 33 years old and yet this morning i felt like i was 3 (or 13) when i happened to notice that my suit pants were unzipped. i was sitting next to my wife and it was towards the end of the sermon. what does one do in that type of situation. it's never easy to nonchalantly maneuver a 'zip-up" while remaining seated. oh yeah, and i was on the front row... awkward. my wife just laughed at me. i've actually done this before, um, on the day that i announced our engagement to our church. well, i was able to quickly dart into my office between services and correct the problem. fortunately, i was wearing a suit coat so i don't think anyone noticed. (of course, if they're reading this, they know now.) at least for the next few times before i stand in front of a large group of people i will remember to examine my zipper pretty darn quick.

here's to the situations in life that keep us humble! :-)

Hark! What's a Welkin?

2008-12-19T10:35:00.004-06:00

This morning I woke up humming the familiar Christmas hymn "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". This song has taken on more meaning for me this year when I came across the complete collection of verses, not usually included in most hymnals.

This kind of Christmas song is my most favorite. Including the full scope of the gospel, this is what Christmas is all about! One of my friend's status on facebook recently was "BJ is thinking Christmas isn't about presents, its about a promise made long ago..." Thank God for His promise not to leave us in our sin, but to draw near to us as Emmanuel, and to give His life as a ransom for many. So, "Merry Christmas! We have been rescued!"

Below are the full lyrics for Charles Wesley's 1739 song, the first two lines being altered by George Whitfield in 1753 all set to Felix Mendelssohn's 1840 tune. (See! Co-writing is awesome!) You can find Wesley's original words and original tune at "Hark, how all the welkin rings". (For those of you who might be wondering what a welkin is, I didn't know either. From Old English, it's "the vault of the sky, the firmament.")

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies;

With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;

Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity,

Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.

Refrain

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die.

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Refrain

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home;

Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display Thy saving power, Ruined nature now restore;

Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, Stamp Thine image in its place:

Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the inner man:

O, to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

the new cd is out!

2008-08-29T15:14:00.004-05:00

well, the new record is finally available for online purchase. while bookstores and iTunes won't be stocking product until december of this year, you can get your copy today.

visit blue myrtle records to make your purchase. i hope you enjoy the music, but more importantly i pray that you will be drawn closer to Jesus through these songs. may God bless you and keep you! in His love... stephen

resting in righteousness

2008-08-13T10:30:00.002-05:00

here is another excerpt from “a gospel primer for christians: learning to see the glories of God’s love” by milton vincent. another one of the many reasons to rehearse the gospel daily…

“the gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me.[A] i never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God![B] freed from the burden of such a task, i now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God’s amazing grace to others. the gospel also reminds me that my righteous standing with God always holds firm regardless of my performance, because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus and not mine.[C] on my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God’s unrelenting grace toward me.[D] on my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness and not mine.”

[A] - romans 5: “(1) therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” I john 2: “(1)…and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; (2) and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…”

[B] - romans 4:5 “but to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,” hebrews 4:3 “for we who have believed enter that rest…” matthew 11:28 “come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

[C] - romans 5: “(18) so then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. (19)…through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”

[D] - romans 5: “(20)…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (21) so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (6:1) what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace might increase?” 1 john 2: “(1)… and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (2) and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…”

continual spiral reinforcement

2008-08-13T08:55:00.003-05:00

I was encouraged by a quote in this month's edition of Christianity Today. It's by David F. Ford and Daniel W. Hardy, from Living in Praise: Worshiping and Knowing God. Read it at least three times to help it sink in...

"Faith in God is an experience that lives and grows by praise. There is continual spiral reinforcement: praising God helps us appreciate what one is praising God for."

foolish. scandalous. incredible.

2008-08-03T16:21:00.002-05:00

at the worship conference, everyone was given a small book by milton vincent called “the gospel primer for christians: learning to see the glories of God’s love”. it is not lengthy, only 97 pages, but it has already encouraged my heart as i’ve read it. in the book, the author gives several reasons why we as followers of Jesus should consistently remind ourselves of the truth of the gospel. the bible tells us as christians to be continually established and steadfast in the gospel and to refuse to be moved from there (colossians 1:23). the gospel message is much more than a prologue to the christian life, and it is something that we can never get over. i am praying that my awareness of the gospel’s transforming impact will grow as i learn to rehearse it, replay it, recount it, and see it affecting every aspect of my daily life. what a great little book to help direct me to such wonderful truth. thanks, mr. vincent and sovereign grace ministries! i encourage you to buy the book and read it (you will not regret it!), but allow me to share an excerpt here from page 14. just one of the many reasons to rehearse the gospel daily…

“the gospel is so foolish* (according to my natural wisdom), so scandalous* (according to my conscience), and so incredible (according to my timid heart*), that it is a daily battle to believe the full scope of it as i should. there is simply no other way to compete with the forebodings of my conscience, the condemnings of my heart, and the lies of the world and the devil than to to overwhelm such things with daily rehearsings of the gospel.”

*foolish – 1 corinthians 1: “(21) for since… the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe… (23)… we preach Christ crucified, …to gentiles foolishness.”

*scandalous – 1 corinthians 1:23 “…we preach Christ crucified,… a stumblish block [gr. skandalon]…

*timid – 1 john 3: “(19) we will know… that we are of the truth, and will assure our hearts before Him (20) in whatever our heart condemns us…”

worshipGod08

2008-08-03T16:06:00.003-05:00

my time at the worship conference hosted by sovereign grace was wonderful. i just returned yesterday evening. i could write a LOT here! mostly, for me, it was a time of being freshly encouraged by the truth of the gospel, and refreshed by participating in praising Jesus with other believers from all over the country. i am consistently impressed by sovereign grace ministries. they are gospel-centered, they display humility like no others i know, and everything they do is well-planned and high-quality. their new music release, psalms, is now available. deep lyrics and engaging music combined with great production! well, like i said, i could write paragraphs, but my head and heart are so full that i think i will save my thoughts for other posts in days to come...

gonna soak it up

2008-07-29T13:50:00.007-05:00

"God, please make me like a sponge. help me soak up all that You would have me learn about You this week. help me see You more clearly, love You more deeply, and obey You more readily as a result of this unique time away with You."

while that is a good prayer for every week, it's what i have been specifically asking of God as i make preparations to attend the worship conference hosted by sovereign grace ministries this week at covenant life church in gaithersburg, md. i love the privilege of leading corporate worship, but it is a special treat when i can join in as a participant. i was able to attend this conference in 2006 with my senior pastor, dan weyerhaeuser, and this year i'm excited to bring 3 guys from lakeland with me - matt condron, kyle sprecher, and david van nostrand. the theme for this year's conference is worshipGod08: rediscovering the psalms. i'm so excited i can hardly stand it! we fly out wednesday morning (jul 30) and return saturday evening (aug 2).

please join me in praying for this conference and the four of us who are going...

(1) pray for safe travel to and from gaithersburg, md

(2) pray for our families while we are away from them

(3) pray that our fellowship would be Christ-centered and mutually edifying

(4) pray for those leading the conference, and those attending the conference

(5) pray for discernment for us to perceive what God is speaking from his Word

(6) pray for our hearts to be challenged/convicted/comforted as we encounter God in His Word.

for those of you at lakeland, i look forward to seeing you and worshiping with you on sunday morning. i will post a report when i return. take care...

intercession

2008-07-27T12:22:00.004-05:00

this morning at lakeland we sang a song that my dad wrote a little over a year ago. God is so faithful. He has made a way for us to have fellowship with Him through the perfect atoning sacrifice that Jesus offered. and not only that, when we have no idea what we are supposed to pray, God has gifted us with the Holy Spirit who "intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27)

knowing that, may we make haste to come before God in all situations, with all our requests, even when we can't put them into words. hs is a good and faithful God.

the title is "intercession" and it's sung to the tune of the hymn "come thou fount of every blessing".

there's a throne that's high and holy where the glory can be seen
visible to holy angels prompting heavenly choirs to sing
"holy, holy, hallelujah, holy is the great I AM"
only pure hearts there can enter; who will rescue sinful man?

only Jesus, only Jesus bids the sinner enter in
freely saving those who cry out, blood atoning for their sin
ever living, interceding by the power of endless life
He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high

pray with us, oh Holy Spirit as we come before the throne
when our longings cannot find words Holy Spirit, make them known
pray according to the pleasure of the Father's perfect plan
in our weakness, when we falter Holy Spirit, help us stand

world's best burger

2008-07-26T20:45:00.005-05:00

since my wife has been away visiting her family in canada these past 2 weeks, i've begun finding things to do to keep myself occupied so i don't miss her so much. i still miss her much, but at least i'm keeping busy. so tonight i had dinner with some friends of ours, greg and deidra.

greg had told me about this awesome burger he had at mickey finn's, a place in downtown libertyville, not too far from where i live. he called it the world's best burger, and i had to find out for myself. imagine with me, if you will, eight ounces of ground tenderloin with crumbled bleu cheese on a soft egg roll bun accompanied by sweet potato fries! oh man, i do have to say that if it's not the world's best burger it sure does come close. and all for only $10.25! (listen to me, i sound like a commercial!) but seriously, truly one of the best i've eaten.

we had a nice time with good conversation and good food. sometime soon after liz gets home i'll be taking her to try the world's best burger. red robin is a big favorite of ours, but this might prove to be some competition. we shall see...

did adam and eve go to heaven?

2008-07-26T16:12:00.011-05:00

earlier this week, lakeland's staff received an email from one of the families in our congregation. their 7 year-old child had asked an intriguing question, and they were seeking pastoral advice on how to best answer. i though it was great question, and wanted to share it here. the family gladly gave me their permission, but I've kept them anonymous. here's the question their child asked... "did adam and eve go to heaven?"

jim donald was first to respond...

I believe no one knows for sure; but there is good ground for presuming that Adam & Eve went to heaven. While they were banished from the Garden and kept from eating from the Tree of Life, God did provide skins for them (a gracious gesture, I think) and the knowledge about God was obviously passed on to their offspring. I don't read as much into the "skins" thing as some have. Adam and Eve had a wonderful relationship with God before the Fall; and I cannot imagine them not wanting that restored, nor God not allowing for their repentance and full restoration via the (anticipated) blood of Christ.

Genesis 3:21 - The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove them out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

i responded second...

Pastor Jim has some good thoughts. I agree with him, and also had some additional thoughts. (this is a really good question, by the way.) Like I said before, we know that Abraham is counted righteous by God (saved) because of his faith in God's promise. Hebrews 11 tells us of him and many others from the Old Testament before Christ. Also, Romans 4 tells us that it was Abraham's faith in the promise of God. 4:21-22 "...and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Read
Galatians 3 for more insight into Abraham's salvation by faith.

In addition to what Pastor Jim said, I think that we can assume (and 'assume' is the key word here, but nevertheless I do think it's safe in this case) that Adam and Eve believed God's promises as well, resulting in their salvation. I take this from Genesis 3:15 when God, in the middle of laying out the consequences (curse) for their sin, gives a wonderful promise of hope, often referred to as the proto-gospel. "And I will put enmity between you [serpent] and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he [the woman's seed] shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." Here is God's wonderful promise that He will not leave mankind in their sin, but make a way to redeem them (save them). How could Adam and Eve know what that redemption would eventually look like? Well, we know now because of our place in history. We can look back and see how God's story of redemption has unfolded, and the fulfillment of God's promise of redemption through Jesus. But in their limited scope of knowledge, all they could do is hang on to the promise that God made. And that promise would come through a seed (or offspring, descendant).

Eve makes two statements that I think give us reason to assume that she believed God's promise to bring deliverance through her seed. First, when she gave birth to Cain she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." (Gen.4:1) I think this is more than general thanksgiving for a son. Second, after Abel is killed and she gives birth to Seth she said, "God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel; for Cain killed him." (Gen 4:25) Both phrases "gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD" and "God has appointed me another offspring" seem to echo God's promise of the woman's seed crushing the head of the serpent, indicating that Eve continued to hope in and believe God's promise. Also, we know Jesus came from the line of Seth (Luke 3:38) Perhaps this last statement is irrelevant in the question of Adam and Eve's salvation, but it nonetheless proves God's faithfulness to keep His promise.

Another thought I had was that this is not just about finding a good answer for your child's wonderful question, but yet another opportunity for you to point to the gospel and to define what saving faith is. The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, show us that putting our faith and trust in the promise of God brings salvation, and that great promise we have from our faithful God is that he has sent to us Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sin. And that salvation is found in Christ, and in Him alone.

at the present time, jim and i were the only ones to respond. i said that our children's ministry director, judy crockett, would probably be very helpful in putting all this into an answer that would be appropriate and accessible for an inquisitive young child. how cool that a 7 year-old is asking these kind of questions!

hand update

2008-07-25T12:52:00.000-05:00

well, i just got back from seeing the doctor about my hand injury. it has almost been 1 month exactly since i fell and hurt it while liz and i were running in italy. this was a follow-up visit. x-rays were taken on my first visit, and thankfully it's not broken and nothing is dislocated. the doctor said it's probably a bad sprain or a bruised bone. it has improved so much, though. every day it feels better. he was a little concerned that it had been a bout a month and was still hurting. if, by the middle of august, it is still sore he wants me to come back in for another x-ray.

i can play the piano just fine, but it is a little frustrating that i am unable to lift weights. i asked the doctor about push-ups and he suggested doing them on my fists. so, i just tried regular push-ups a minute ago which are still painful, and then on my fists which alleviate some of the pressure, but not all of it. sheesh, i was doing so well staying in shape. oh well, gotta think of some other ways until this hand completely heals.

looking forward to worshipgod 08: rediscovering the psalms

2008-07-24T16:56:00.000-05:00

well, i've spent most of today working on details and final arrangements for next week's sovereign grace worship conference that i'll be attending. i'm really excited to be able to go back. in 2006 i had the pleasure to attend with my sr. pastor, dan weyerhaeuser, and this year i'm taking three guys with me. i always like having someone else attend a conference with me so we can discuss it after we've left, and this group of guys will be good. and i have a couple friends that live in the d.c. area, so i'm hoping that we'll get to connect while i'm there.

the conference is held in gaithersburg, md, at covenant life church. i remember how refreshed i was after leaving the conference in 2006, and i'm excited for these other guys to experience that. this year's theme is 'rediscovering the psalms'. some favorite speakers will be talking in the general sessions, including mark dever and thabiti anabwile. also, sov grace will have their new worship record, called 'psalms', available.

i'm back

2008-07-23T14:59:00.001-05:00

it's been exactly one month since my last entry, and a lot has happened. i'm not gonna try and play catch up, so i'll just summarize...

italy was fantastic. liz and i had such a great time. beautiful art, great weather, cool history, tasty food, and of course a romantic 2 weeks with each other. we spent the first week in florence, and the second week in rome. we ate gelato at least once a day, sometimes twice. probably the most fun we had was a day bike tour in the tuscan countryside. we toured a winery and saw some magnificent scenery. i did fall once while we were running in the morning (i won't go into the whole thing), and hurt my left hand pretty bad. not broken or dislocated, but a reall y bad bruise. i went once to the doctor and had x-rays. will go back again the end of this week.

liz and i came back from this vaca so rested and relaxed. although we thoroughly enjoyed our time away, we were ready to get back home. i eased into work, still recovering from the time difference. it was very good to be back at church that sunday morning. it was brad andersons really-for-real last day before they moved, so i had him play drums one last time. good times.

a week ago yesterday, liz drove up to her parents' house and they left together to visit her sister and brother-in-law up in new brunswick. they just moved there a couple weeks ago and liz and her parents are helping them get set up and visiting with them. i've talked with liz a few times and she is having a good time. i'm keeping busy here at home so i won't miss my wife too bad. (but i do!) i've had the opp to hang out with some good friends, which has been nice. liz will return on august 2nd, just as i'm returning from the sovereign grace worship conference in gaithersburg, md. very much looking forward to that. (the conference, and liz returning!)

okay, i'll consider myself caught up. i always love summer because of the time to rest and rejuvenate, but i always find myself ready for the structure that the coming change of season will bring. back to preparing for tonight's worship rehearsal. i love my job! :-)

arrivederci

2008-06-23T22:05:00.000-05:00

we just finished packing! i can't believe that we're leaving for italy tomorrow. it's a trip that we've been looking forward to for so long and now it's here. passport? check. comfy shoes? ipod? check. plenty of underwear? check. i have this feeling, though, like i'm forgetting something, but we don't leave for the airport until noon so there's still time to get any last minute items.

i think this vaca will really be good for us. i've been tired the past several weeks, just going at a fast pace, and even though we'll be traveling and seeing a lot of beautiful sights we're taking 2 weeks to do it so we can be relaxed. no cell phone. no laptop. to be honest, i'm feeling a little anxious about not having those, but we've left all our info with family and friends just in case they need to get in touch with us for an emergency. it will be really good for me to unplug and spend some unhurried time with liz and with Jesus.

i'm not taking a whole lot for reading - my bible of course, psalms 1-72 and psalms 73-150 (from the tyndale old testament commentary series), according to plan by graeme goldsworthy. got my ipod loaded up with music and some new sermons by david platt, dever, and piper. also, downloaded a rick steve's podcast of a walking tour through rome and florence. it came with maps of the different sights. that will be interesting, we'll see how helpful it is.

gotta head to bed now, i'm not really sleepy (too excited for tomorrow) but i'm dead tired. i'm going to try to write at least once while we're in italy, but i may enjoy my unplugged condition so much that i don't bother. arrivederci!

back home

2008-06-22T15:23:00.000-05:00

even though i hadn't missed a sunday at lakeland, i felt like i had been gone for a while. so it was really good to be back this morning. liz flies in tonight from chattanooga so i went to lunch with some friends. olive garden. i killed the tour of italy, but i can't wait for REAL italian food beginning tuesday! gonna try and get a quick nap in this afternoon...

honk 4 Jesus

2008-06-21T19:09:00.000-05:00

today was a first for me; did something i've never done before - i honked 4 jesus. and not only once, but twice. i know, i know, i shouldn't overdo it especially the first time. but i'm not sure i'll do it again... after a great week leading the worship for Woodland Park's youth camp in TN I was driving the 10 hours back home. i was in high spirits, listening to this new music artist i stumbled across this past week (paul stephens, look him up), and also some mark dever sermons (which you should also look up). anyway, i drive by this car that had a sign on the back window "honk 4 Jesus". it was written on a piece of paper and was on the inside. in the spur of the moment i though, "cool" so i honk-honk-hoooonked my VW as i drove past them. to say the least, i was surprised when the drive looked over and scowled at me. hmm? i thought it kind of odd. but here's the funny thing. about an hour later i see this mini-van with stuff painted on it. and this one said, "honk if you love Jesus". i thought, "cool, i get another opp to honk". same thing!!!! this time as i pass and unashamedly honk, it's a man who's glaring at me. i still smiled, but didn't wave that time. funny, huh? i think now i've honked 4 Jesus all i need too. i'm glad to be home, and looking forward to my wife arriving tomorrow! :-) we leave for our italy vacation (2 weeks!) in just a few days. can't wait...

remembering

2008-06-20T12:53:00.000-05:00

last night at camp during the main session we led the students in taking the Lord's Supper. amazing. i led them in singing a few songs, and then david lawson spoke. nothing he said was really 'new' but for some reason the Lord allowed me to come to His table in a fresh way, with renewed gratitude for the fact that my sin has been completely paid for by Jesus, that i have no fear of the wrath of God because i've received unmerited favor. what a gracious God.

after the session, we headed down for the bonfire for a "say so" time. several people shared their testimonies; they bragged on God. it was so cool to hear how God had rescued them, has changed them and made them new creations. it was such an encouraging evening.

today is the last day of camp. i drive back to gurnee in the morning. but i'm so glad that i was able to be a part of this camp. i've received so much and have been refreshed even as i've been ministering. thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness and your goodness.

always learning

2008-06-19T12:31:00.000-05:00

i'm in newport, tn, this week, leading the music for a youth camp. it's been really good; the students seem to be engaging and responding as i lead them in worship. i'm also teaching a session on worship every morning for about an hour and a half. every time i get the opportunity to teach on worship or talk about it i feel (1) really inadequate to speak as an authority or an expert; i just try to convey what i've learned about worship from what the Bible says. but i also feel (2) like these are opportunities for me to grow in my understanding. i like the interaction that comes from group discussion, the give and take, the clarification that naturally occurs when i'm talking with a group about worship. it sharpens my own thoughts.

today was a great discussion, talking about what the content of our songs should be. the Word of God needs to be central, informing and shaping our lyrics, conveying objective truth and also helping us express a subjective response. we talked about healthy tensions - vertical and horizontal focus, historical and contemporary styles, the multi-faceted character of God that we should always be exploring. a lot of students had sincere, valid questions about songs that are significant to them and i think it was a profitable time for us to take a close look at them through the lens of God's Word. anyway, a lot more i could say, but it's right after lunch, and i'm sleepy... but hey, day two and i actually wrote something. points for hinkle! :)

to begin, or not to begin?

2008-06-18T15:59:00.000-05:00

i have at least 5-7 different journals that i've purchased with the intent of filling with my daily thoughts, prayers, and remembrances. i think the first page of each journal goes something like this... "well, here's another attempt at journaling". i've gotten further along in a few more than the rest, but usually i just quit trying. not bragging about that, it's actually a little embarrassing because it seems to me that journaling should come easy to me. i really do like to write, once i get started. but i also like to procrastinate, so yeah, that's a problem. again, not bragging, more like confessing.

i've decided i'm going to try this blogging thing (listen to me, i sound so naive and unexperienced, haha). it's not that i'm thinking this different venue is going to make a world of difference for me. i know that if my thoughts are ever going to make it out of my head onto 'paper', it will depend on me actually giving them a voice. but maybe, just maybe, since this is a much more public forum than the (really cool looking) journals that i've purchased (and well-meaning friends have purchased for me) sitting dusty on my bookshelf, i'll do better this time.

so, here's to another attempt at journaling. i hope to share my thoughts honestly and openly, yet always honoring Jesus Christ with what i say and the way i say it.