Unbreakable Joy

The Answer to Why

2018-09-12T20:53:00.000-04:00

In order that

you may know

that I am God

It may very well be, that all of our why's shall find their answer here.

Variations of this phrase are widely used throughout scripture.

Storms of life will come.

But the reasons are bigger than you or I.

Paul & the Plague to Pride

2018-03-10T07:36:00.001-05:00

What do you have that you did not receive?

If then you received it,

why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

- 1 Cor. 4:7b (ESV)

Profound Implications:

2018-02-22T18:56:00.000-05:00

“It is not the strength of your faith

but the object of your faith

that actually saves you.”

- Timothy J. Keller

Afflictions 101

2018-02-20T15:37:00.002-05:00

"I believe in homiletics. But not much.

A thousand sorrows teaches a man to preach."

- John Piper

Wading Through Glory

2018-02-18T07:55:00.001-05:00

"Study your Bible with a pen in your hand." A wise silver haired man repeatedly encouraged this practice. It is probably safe to say that no other particular endeavor (there are others) has helped me more in regards to growing in the understanding and appreciation of Scripture.

This effort compels one to interact with the text slowly, meditate upon it, and solidify thoughts upon paper. Otherwise such thoughts would no doubt fade away into the fog of forgetfulness. There is something about the exercise of writing that helps embed the meaning of the text deeper into the soil of our hearts and minds.

Sure other methods are beneficial as well, such as hearing Scripture taught by a solid teacher, memorization, listening to Scripture (audio book - or listening to someone read it), praying, engaging with commentaries, and more. Yet again I contend that the pen and the Scriptures have a profound relationship. The two companions are ancient and prolific.

Too often we read Scripture fast, as we would a novel, or the news paper. Yet this book is intensely different. To wade slowly through these waters is to gather diamonds and gold, which would be missed if one preferred to speed by in a boat.

If well used, journaling Bibles can become a blessed map to the vast landscape of Scripture. To journal through an entire book of the Bible is to emerge on the other side with a deeper and more substantial understanding of that particular book. To do so in more than one book at a time (especially in both the Old Testament and the New) often results in finding beautiful connections which would have otherwise passed unnoticed.

I've been on this journey for many years now, slowly wading through glory. Praise be to the King for this specific grace.

The Birthplace of the Praise of God

2017-10-15T13:29:00.000-04:00

"He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God."

- Psalm 40:3a (ESV)

God is the author,
of this song of praise to God.

Delight in God always originates in God.

The praise of God flows out from God,
and back to Him. It is His purpose in salvation:

"For my name's sake I defer my anger;
for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,

that I may not cut you off."
- Isaiah 48:9

"Sing to him a new song..."
Psalm 33:3a

"Sing to God, sing praises to his name..."
Psalm 68:4a

See also: Psalm 9:11, 22:23, 30:4, 47:6, 95:2,
96:1, 98:1, 98:4, 98:5, 100:4, 105:2, 106:1,
111:1, 112:1, 113:1. 117:1, 135:1, 146:1,
147:1, 149:1, and more.

All Scripture is inspired by God.
Therefore the praise of God,
is planned and purposed,
arranged and designed,
by him and for Him.

Because nothing else will satisfy our hearts.
He made us that way.

Wickedness, Justice, & the Wrath of God

2017-10-14T12:52:00.002-04:00

The Edomite

Betrayer shall be betrayed

The violent will meet the wrath of the Lord

Deceiver undone by Truth Incarnate

The schemer shall encounter the Sovereign One

Lover of evil behold Justice

As you have torn down, so shall He you

You have wrought finite wickedness

"But God will break you down forever;

He will snatch and tear you from your tent;

He will uproot you from the land of the living."
- Ps. 52:5 (ESV)

A meditation upon the three
references to Doeg the Edomite
(1 Sam. 21-22, Psalm 52)

The Deadliest of Ideas

2017-07-05T18:14:00.002-04:00

One of the deadliest thoughts,

is also extraordinarily common;

"I know everything that I need to."

Whether conscious or subconscious, we live in the midst of this well established lie. We breathe in the air of this idea so often that we cannot comprehend the desperation of our situation; we walk every day, blind to the depth of our own ignorance.

The antidote may be found in the humble confession of and repentance for our foolishness, and in the beginning of a new journey onto a new path; purposeful lifelong learning. Relentless are the portions of Scripture which teach about wisdom, and the pursuit thereof.

Eternity may in fact be forever learning about and increasing in knowledge of the Almighty, that we might evermore experience new reasons to praise him.

The beginning of wisdom of this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
- Proverbs 4:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
- Proverbs 9:10

Priorities

2017-07-01T18:52:00.001-04:00

The first, great, and primary business

to which I ought to attend every day was,

to have my soul happy in the Lord.

- George Mueller

The Enduring Purpose of Proper Fear

2017-06-18T16:59:00.000-04:00

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever;

nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it.

God has done it, so that people fear before him.

- Ecclesiastes 3:14

Life: Travels Through Treacherous Territory

2017-05-31T15:32:00.002-04:00

Weighty Wisdom

2017-04-27T21:16:00.000-04:00

"Probably all the failures of my life

can be laid at the feet

of my failure to be happy in God."

- Dr. John Piper

The Chief End of the Gospel

2017-04-02T21:11:00.001-04:00

For Christ also suffered once for sins,

the righteous for the unrighteous,

that he might bring us to God

1 Peter 3:18a (ESV)

Pain, Perspective, and Pulitzers

2017-01-25T16:02:00.003-05:00

If you have ever thought we live in troubled times,

this book may provide some much needed perspective.

1776 is an exemplary book, written by a two time Pulitzer Prize winner.

On September 30th, 1776, George Washington, General of the Continental Army faced a mountain range of distressing situations, while carrying the weight of the would be Nation upon his shoulders. He confided in a letter to his brother, Lund:

"Such is my situation that if I were to wish the bitterest curse to an enemy this side of the grave, I should put him in my stead with my feelings." The General wrote that he was "wearied to death" and "In confidence I tell you that I never was in such an unhappy, divided state since I was born."

- McCullough, p. 227

Washington's words were strikingly similar to the Apostle Paul's in 2 Cor. 1:8-9:

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.

Yet the Apostle brings a deep theology of hope to the issue of despairing afflictions:
But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Great people have trodden

upon paths of deep darkness.

You are not alone in facing dreadful

heartache and the most bitter of circumstances.

Rather, you have joined the ranks of the
myriads who have traveled such broken roads.

The pages of history are full

of the accounts of these travelers.

One day such agonies shall be no more.
Until then:

When your strength is gone,

there is more to be found

outside of yourself;

in Him who is not

ever wearied.

Uncharted

2017-01-18T19:56:00.000-05:00

The Captain

forever untroubled
in stormy waters.

The seafaring crew terror-stricken;

no longer fearful of the breakers or tempests,

yet rather at the uncharted nature of the Captain.

Who is this?

Even the winds

and the waves

obey His voice...

A meditation upon
Mark 4:41

Images

2017-01-13T21:49:00.000-05:00

He is the

Image of the Invisible

God

Col. 1:15 ESV

Preeminence.

2017-01-09T12:40:00.000-05:00

66 Books
40 + Authors
Approximately 1,500 years of writings.
All of which exists as a commentary built upon

the first four words in the English translation of the Bible:

In the beginning God...

Restraining Arrows

2017-01-01T12:32:00.000-05:00

Emotions unrestrained loose arrows which should never fly

Yet grace and patience shall restrain them

Dining on Words

2016-12-17T20:40:00.002-05:00

Your words were found, and I ate them,
and you words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.

- Jer. 15:16 (ESV)

7 Biographies: To Turn the World Upside Down

2016-11-10T16:09:00.001-05:00

The implications from these biographies are astounding.

These books describe massive evils of humanity from fairly recent history, and tell of those who stood against the darkness.

The murderous nazi government, the conjoined evil twins of communism and atheism, and the horrible atrocities of slavery, and the ignorance breeding, controlling, theiving evils of God-less religion (which looks nothing like Jesus), each display a depth of darkness that abides in humanity. These eyewitness accounts each have something important to communicate to us in our day.

These seven also testify about the light that overcomes great darkness.

I commend these books to you, your friends, and your family. Invest in knowing history.

- Unbreakable Joy

On Faith & Obedience

2016-11-05T13:28:00.001-04:00

There is a unique relationship between faith and obedience.

Obedience does not equal faith, nor is it necessarily evidence of it.
The Pharisees proved this to be true.

Yet can faith exist apart from obedience?

The thief on the cross did not have an opportunity to obey, yet he was nailed to a cross. But he believed Jesus was who he said he was. The thief's spiritual eyes were opened to behold the Lamb of God. Had the thief not been nailed to the cross, he would likely have been found among the disciples of Christ, being obedient.

So there may be rare circumstances, deathbed type circumstances, where faith remains alone.

Yet the old saying is true: We are saved by faith in Christ alone, yet faith that saves is never alone.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' yet do not do what I tell you?"
- Jesus (Luke 6:46 ESV)

Marveling...

2016-10-25T19:40:00.000-04:00

Why loose Your majestic grace upon those who deserve it not?

Why should Infinity have anything to do with the temporary?

Why does the Holy One care so much for the sinful ones?

Why is righteousness given to those so unrighteous?

Why would Light come to live in such darkness?

Why are You so good to those who are so not?

Why lavish Your merciful kindness on us?

Why let the blind behold so much glory?

Why give what cannot be deserved?

Why make a way for such as us?

Why would You give Yourself?

Why such musical majesty?

Why love the unlovely?

Why the incarnation?

Why so concerned?

Why such grace?

Why Jesus?

Why God?

Why?

?

No Greater Enemy

2016-10-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

No greater Enemy exists

No one more to be feared

None more terrifying

When You rise to make war

Armies become useless

Every weapon futile

Those who anger You

Stir up eternal wrath

Awaken unimagined fury

A Meditation on Isaiah 2:19-21

3 Gifts For You...

2016-10-12T20:54:00.000-04:00

If I could give each of my children only 3 gifts;

these would be identical to the gifts that

I would give to my closest friends,

and beloved family members alike.

These same gifts I would offer to a stranger.

Indeed these gifts I would hold out to an enemy.

First

First, I would give you Jesus.

Yet I cannot, for He alone gives the gift of Himself.

Yet I would tell you; Jesus is God (John 1:1, Col. 1:15).

He is the great treasure hidden in a field (Matt. 13:44).

Sooner or later you shall find that He is the King of Kings.

I pray that it may be sooner.

Second

I would give you a thorough knowledge of the Bible.

The church throughout history has held that this

book contains the very words of God himself.

That this book is the self-revelation of God.

Those who have been found by Christ, have

dearly loved the words found in this book.

Our Declaration of Independence

was literally birthed of it's ideology.

Many people have died simply

for possessing one.

Multitudes have suffered for it,

in various ways throughout history.

So powerful are it's messages, that some

governments even today outlaw it.

Yet sadly often it sits unread

and dusty upon so many shelves.

Third

I would give you the wisdom of a hunger to learn.

Countless inspiring and interesting people have lived and

innumerable books have been written either by them or about them.

History has devastatingly important lessons to teach us,

if only we are willing to sit at it's feet.

To peer into the past through literal pages

as if through a lens.

The unique thing about each of these gifts,

is that I cannot give any of them to you.

Yet you could have them if you desired.

The beginning of wisdom

is this; Get wisdom.

And whatever you get,

get insight.

- Proverbs 4:7

One Fear

2016-10-11T12:56:00.001-04:00

Man can no more fear both God and man in the same moment,
than he can face two opposing directions at once.

A meditation upon Isaiah 2:22 & 51:12