The Cave

Over the past few days I was able to attend a Baptist History conference at Southern Seminary.  It was a fun time to get away and learn some things about our past from some of the leading minds in the Baptist world.

One of things on the schedule was a Baptist Hymn sing that focused on the spirituality seen in so many of our historical baptist hymns.  Coming into the conference I was not too excited about this part of the schedule, but it turned out to be one of the highlights.  We were able to sing several old hymns that I had never heard before and learn of their stories that made them so special to our brothers and sisters of ages gone past. It is sad to know that some of these hymns are being lost to the baptist world.  I pray God raises up folks who will care about these hymns that are so powerful and full of good biblical doctrine!

My favorite hymn we learned about and sung was one by Anne Steele entitled “Thou Lovely Source of True Delight.”  Ms. Steele endured some tough times in her life and yet through it all was able to use these times as the motivation for some great hymns of the faith.  Here are the words to this beautiful piece:

Thou lovely source of true delight whom I unseen adore.  Unveil thy beauties to my sight that I might love Thee more, Oh that I might love Thee more.

Thy glory o’er creation shines but in Thy sacred Word I read, in fairer, brighter lines my bleeding, dying Lord, See my bleeding, dying Lord.

‘Tis here, whene’er my comforts droop and sin and sorrow rise, Thy love with cheering beams of hope my fainting heart supplies, Oh my fainting heart’s supplied.

But ah! Too soon the pleasing scene is clouded o’er with pain.  My gloomy fears rise dark between and I again complain, Oh, and I again complain.

Jesus, my Lord, my life, my light. Oh come with blissful ray. Break radiant through the shades of night and chase my fears away, Won’t you chase my fears away.

Then shall my soul with rapture trace, the wonders of thy love. But the full glories of thy face, are only known above, They are only known above.

A few weeks ago I posted some thoughts by Thom Rainer on the importance of personal commitment to the Great Commission Resurgence in the SBC.  Today in his blog Dr. Rainer has some more good thoughts to consider on this topic.

You can find the entire article here: Questions for a Personal Great Commission Resurgence

He gives us 10 tough questions to consider if we are serious about seeing a resurgence in our own personal lives:

1. Do I read and study my Bible daily so I can know what the Word says about a Great Commission lifestyle?
2. Do I pray each day that God will lead me to a Great Commission lifestyle?
3. Do I need to reconcile with someone so that God can truly use me in the fulfillment of the Great Commission?
4. Am I willing to change my lifestyle materially so I might give more and be less dependent on the things of the world?
5. Do I really show concern for the poor and hurting in this world and in my community?
6. Would my family testify honestly that I lead a Great Commission lifestyle with them?
7. Do I have a gentle and loving spirit that reflects the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life?
8. Do I major on minors?
9. Do I see the speck in others’ eyes without seeing the plank in mine?
10. Does my life reflect genuine joy?

May we all be seeking to reflect on these questions and be looking for what God wants to accomplish in our personal lives, our churches, and our denomination.

Are you and I as odd as we ought to be?

A.W. Tozer writes:

A real Christian is an odd number anyway.  He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep.

It seems that every day goes by faster and faster.  I can remember being  a child and thinking that the school year would never ever end and it seemed that time just went by so very slow.

It is hard to imagine that it is August 2009 already, where has this year went?  Where has the last 5 years went?  Not sure what to make of this, but as I think about it Psalm 90 comes to mind.  I guess there is nothing to do but trust in God and His time.

Psalm 90

¹ Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.

² Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³ You turn men back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”

⁴ For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-

⁶ though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.

⁷ We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.

⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

⁹ All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.

¹⁰ The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

¹¹ Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

¹² Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

¹³ Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

¹⁶ May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

¹⁷ May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.