The Gospel. {period}

A Letter To My Daughter At Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:56:00 +0000

Our daughter left for camp yesterday, and I stuck this letter in her suitcase. I'm hoping she found it . . .

Praying she will grow deeper in the Gospel during her time away.

[For explanation, "Mr. Knuckles" is my five fingered friend who lives at the end of my right arm who is always willing to meet a boy who should come around! It's a running joke between me and my daughter . . . at least she thinks it is a joke.]

Dear Anna Ritchie,

Well, girlfriend . . . you’re at camp! Wahoo!!!! I am so excited for you, and I can’t wait to hear about all you did and all you discovered!

You are simply THE BEST daughter any dad could EVER, EVER have . . . and I can’t believe that out of all the dads in the world God could have chosen to be your dad . . . He chose ME! Wow!!! What a gift of grace you are.

As you start camp, the best thing I could say to you is this . . . trust God.

If you get a little nervous . . . relax, God is with you! Trust Him.
If someone needs a friend . . . let Him love others through you! Trust Him.
When the shaving cream and slime starts to fly everywhere . . . have fun and get messy, knowing God enjoys seeing you laugh and carry on! Trust Him.
When you are singing . . . sing loudly and freely, knowing He has created you to worship Him! Trust Him.
When you are given opportunities to learn about who Jesus is and what He has done for you . . . open up your heart and mind to Him! Trust Him.

Anna Ritchie . . . you have a Father in heaven . . . and a father on earth who are both CRAZY about you! Rest in His love and mine . . . and have an exhausting, slimy, wet, loud, FUN time!

Your mom, brother, and I will be praying for you many times each and every day!

I love you,

Dad

P.S. – Mr. Knuckles can be there in 30 minutes if you need him.

P.S.S. – You don’t mind if I throw in an extra $5 do you?

“God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life.” - 2 Peter 1:3

For Those Who Have Lost A Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:15:00 +0000

Father's Day can be difficult if you have lost a dad. I know from experience.

The lyrics to this song, sung spontaneously by Bob Kauflin, deeply ministered to me tonight. The song can be downloaded here.

No longer a hand to hold you

No longer those eyes to look to
Looking back at you
Telling you “I love you”
Or maybe you never knew them
They were gone before you were born
And you’ve lived all your life
Wondering what went wrong

Well maybe in the night
As you lie on your bed
You cry out, “Why did they have to die?
I want to know the reason why
Because it hurts
The pain is deep inside me.”

There are times and there are seasons
And everything I do is for a reason
And the loss you feel right now will fade one day
When you stand before me and see my face
And I want you to know
I have seen your tears
And you have a place to go
For I am always near you
Saying, “Trust in me again.
I am faithful to the end.”
And though you wonder
If it could have been different
My plans are always good for you
I know just what to do
For you

And I am your Father
Who cares for you each day
I always have my way
And my ways are good and wise
And I am your Father
Holding you each day
I never let you go out of my sight
And the loss you feel
One day you will see
That I had planned it
To draw you close to me.

Forget About Your Own Spirituality

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:08:00 +0000

"Those who have almost forgotten about their own spirituality because their focus is so exclusively on their union with Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished are those who are growing and exhibiting fruitfulness. Historically speaking, whenever the piety of a particular group is focused on OUR spirituality, that piety will eventually exhaust itself on its own resources. Only when our piety forgets about us and focuses on Jesus Christ will our piety be nourished by the ongoing resources the Spirit brings to us from the source of all true piety, our Lord Jesus Christ."

- Sinclair Ferguson

The Reality Of The Resurrection

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:36:00 +0000

Odd Thomas on the Gospel of Jesus . . .

What Is Right With Our Son

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:33:00 +0000

This video captures why I know Wrestling With An Angel to be the best book I know of on walking with Jesus . . . and a child with disabilities.

Link to video is here.

"We may not fully know what is wrong with our son, but I think we have discovered what is right with him."

"Surrender all of your strength for all of His grace."

A Place To Stand

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:06:00 +0000

“We stand in grace through the access that Jesus has gained for us. Jesus not only rescues us from the wrath to come, he not only forgives our sins, but he has obtained for us a place to stand in grace, a place of total acceptance and security, fully qualified and not fearing sudden disqualification or forced removal.”

— Terry Virgo
God's Lavish Grace
(Oxford, UK: Monarch Books, 2003), 13

HT: OFI

Pickin'

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:33:00 +0000

I have a new hero . . . namely this 8-year-old banjo player!

Five Things To Stake Your Life On

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Sat, 14 May 2011 16:12:00 +0000

Jared Wilson:

1. God's words are true.

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
-- Psalm 33:4

2. Even if you let him down, he will never return the favor.

If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
-- 2 Timothy 2:13

3. He is never late.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
-- Romans 5:6

4. He is not slow.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
-- 2 Peter 3:9a

5. He loves you.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
-- 1 John 4:16a

Mesmerizing

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:53:00 +0000

uMove

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:42:00 +0000

Go play outside!

Three Keys To Abiding In Him

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:23:00 +0000

"Without bowing in the intellect, in thinking after God; without acting upon the finished work of Christ in my present life; and without bowing in the will in practice, as the waves of the present life break over me, there is no sufficient communion with God. Without these things I am not in my place as the creature in a fallen and abnormal world. These three things are absolutely necessary if there is to be real and sufficient communion with God in the present life."

- Francis Shaeffer

Up And Out

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Fri, 06 May 2011 11:00:00 +0000

"The gospel causes us to look up to Christ and what he did, out to our neighbor and what they need, not in to ourselves and how we’re doing. There’s nothing about the gospel that fixes my eyes on me. Any version of Christianity, therefore, that encourages you to think mostly about you is detrimental to the faith – whether it’s your failures or your successes; your good works or your bad works; your strengths or your weaknesses; your obedience or your disobedience."

- Tullian Tchividjian

His Life Is As Important As His Death

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:55:00 +0000

“Let us beware of regarding the Lord Jesus Christ only as one that is dead.

We ought to remember that He not only died and went to the grave—but that He rose again, and ascended up on high, leading captivity captive. We ought to remember that He is now sitting on the right hand of God, to do a work as real, as true, as important to our souls, as the work which He did when He shed His blood.

Christ lives, and is not dead. He lives as truly as any one of ourselves. Christ sees us, hears us, knows us, and is acting as a Priest in heaven on behalf of His believing people. The thought of His life ought to have as great and important a place in our souls—as the thought of His death upon the cross.”

— J.C. Ryle, Christ's Power To Save

(HT: OFI)

Now That's A Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:44:00 +0000

Where's Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:52:00 +0000

"For our heart is glad [joyful] in Him, because we trust in his holy name." - Psalm 33:21

Thought: Joy doesn't come from trusting in myself . . . my reputation, efforts, successes, or any lack thereof. Joy comes only by trusting in Him.

Contentment

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:59:00 +0000

This sounds like a book worth reading. And re-reading.

The Greener Grass Conspiracy: Finding Contentment on Your Side of the Fence by Stephen Altrogge (Crossway, 2011):

In the gospel we have full, free, open access to God. This isn’t “come once a year, kill a lamb, and hope you don’t die” access to God. We don’t need to whip ourselves into a twirling religious frenzy or to light sticks of incense. There’s no need to walk ten miles with broken glass in our shoes or wash ourselves clean in a sacred river. We can come into the presence of God at all times and at all places.
This is the greatest benefit of the gospel. Forgiveness of sins, a new heart, and eternal life are only a means to this magnificent end. Jesus Christ ushers us into the presence of God, and it’s in the presence of God that we find our soul’s deepest satisfaction. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
A speedboat, job promotion, or beautiful, loving spouse who likes long walks on the beach can’t bring fullness of joy. Eternal pleasures can’t be purchased with a platinum credit card. Full, overflowing, eternal joy and pleasure are found only in the presence of God, and in the gospel we have access to his joyful presence....
If we’re not consistently spending time in the presence of God, we won’t be content.
Period.
(pages 65-66)

Open Wide

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:09:00 +0000

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." - Psalm 81:10

Father, in view of who You are . . . the LORD my God . . .

And in view of what You have done . . . delivering me from bondage and bringing me into freedom . . .

May I seek You with eagerness and dependence . . . opening my heart, mind and mouth wide . . .

And by grace, may You fill me to overflowing.

May I look nowhere else to be filled by You. Amen.

How We Should Live

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Great wisdom from Luther . . .

We should live as thought Jesus was crucified yesterday, risen today, and is coming back tomorrow!

(Almost) Saved

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Lyrical poetry from poet Ezekiel Azonwu at Passion for Christ Movement.

We've all worked in sin, and death was minimum wage.

But if it weren't for Christ, we would have ALMOST got paid.

An Endless Resource Of Strength

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:30:00 +0000

“Grace is not an excuse for weakness; it is an endless resource for strength.”

— Ray Ortlund
'Strengthened By Grace'

The Gospel Sets You Free From . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:17:00 +0000

Justin Buzzard:

The gospel doesn’t just free you from what other people think about you, it frees you from what you think about yourself.

Two Songs, One Savior

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:30:00 +0000

This week, as we focus on the great sacrifice made and paid by a great Savior, I find myself being drawn to Him through two songs.

One perhaps familiar. One most likely not.

One country. One rap.

One Nashville. One North Philly.

One old school. One new school.

Two very different songs . . . one glorious Savior.

The Old Rugged Cross (performed by Brad Paisley)

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.

[Note: Unfortunately, the above verse got chopped from Paisley's rendition]

The Humility of Christ (by Timothy Brindle)

He who had infinite joy and pleasure,
became a Man of Sorrows so we could join forever.
He took a cosmic plunge, put on some lungs
On the Cross He became to God a sponge
to soak up His wrath
so the wicked wouldn’t be sifted and blown into chaff.

Light In The Shadow

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:32:00 +0000

In reading a few Psalms (specifically, the Psalms written when David was being pursued by Saul), two phrases stuck with me . . .

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1

"For you delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." - Psalm 56:13

It dawned on me in a fresh way . . . the light of life is found only in the shadow of the Almighty.

May I remain in His shadow . . . allowing Him to lead . . . remaining in the background . . . and in so doing . . . walking in the light of life.

Hump Day Humor

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:17:00 +0000

This Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Lewis) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:20:00 +0000

These words from 1 Samuel stuck me this morning in a fresh way:

Do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. - 1 Samuel 12:20-21

Lord, today presents an opportunity to walk with you, my Deliverer . . . or to chase after empty things, which never deliver. This day, by your grace, may I follow you. In Jesus name, Amen.