Integrity - A Destination

What do I Know of Holy?

Mack — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:57:14 +0000

This song hits the heart , it will challenge you. Are you ready to be challenged? What do I know of holy? I love the lyrics to this Addison Road
song.

I have lived this. What do "we" know of holy?

We all like sheep have gone astray, each unto his own way. And God laid on Him the sins of us all. ( my paraphrase) Isaiah 53:6.

Here are the lyrics to this poignant song. You can also follow the links to hear more from this talented band.

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were might to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life it's name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

Obama says America is Not a Christian Nation

Mack — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:31:01 +0000

I have tried to stay silent and let this man show whether he really is the bad person for our country that I thought he was. Sure enough, I can't stay quiet.

Today he tells people America is not a Christian nation. Say What?

How about " one nation, under God", In God We Trust, etc.

Our nation is a Christian nation. Wow, I am still in awe that we have stooped so low as to elect this man. Shame on all of you who voted for him.

We can only hope to take this land back in the legislature in 2010., before it's too late.

What Would Jesus Do?

Mack — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:37:15 +0000

I know you remember this. It was on bracelets, necklaces, wristbands, etc. It was all the rage. WWJD?
Well, I guess you may have noticed, it's not that popular anymore. Not that it ever had any legs as a movement anyway. I mean, even the well meaning people that wear the WWJD apparel mostly have no clue what Jesus would do, in a given situation.

There, I said that.

Jesus would eat with the poor , not look down on them. Jesus would spend most of His time with sinners, felons, drug users, the "sick". What do we do? We try to stay away from these people, and secretly maybe say a prayer for them. Sometimes Jesus was angry and he caused a big disruption in church, turning over tables and yelling. Did you know that?
If I did that, in the right situation, I would be doing what Jesus did.

I know we all want to 'think' we sort of know what Jesus would do, even if we don't care to do it ourselves.
The fact is, (at least the facts the way I see them) we don't know what Jesus would do, because we don't know Jesus.
What I mean by that is, some of us know Him as a savior and that is very important, but we don't know what He would do in our day to day circumstances. Why don't we?
He gave us a way to know Him. He gave us a chronicle of His life that we can read. We can get to know Him by reading about how He handled situations that happened in His life. In fact, the entire Bible is what God wants us to know about Him.

I said all that to encourage you to get to know Him this year. I am talking to myself even more than to you. I need to learn about Him more and to know what He would do...

What Would Jesus Do? How can we say we love Him and at the same time have no idea what He thinks about certain things. We should know. If you know me, really know me, you have a good idea what I would think about a given situation. Those who have only heard of me, or maybe know my name , don't really know me. Often we say we know God, but we act like we don't. Or we don't really care what He says for us to do.

This is a matter of deep thought and urgent behavior change. I am going to try to get to know Him this year.

Maybe you will join me?

Slow Fade by Casting Crowns

Mack — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:22:53 +0000

If you haven't heard this song, you are missing a good one.
I love the line " The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking"... So true. Lyrics are below.

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Jeremy Camp There Will be a Day

Mack — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:13:08 +0000

You can now buy this CD as a preorder and it will get shipped as soon as it is released! This title will be released on November 25, 2008. Speaking Louder Than Before
promises to be Jeremy Camp's best CD to date.

This is an awesome song. Enjoy!... Buy it when you can! Support this man and his mission.

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that trys to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

(Chorus)

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing

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Spiritual Pride

Mack — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:39:19 +0000

"It might be a shock to some of us if we could know why we are disliked and why our testimony is rejected so violently. Could it be that we are guilty of a deep sinfulness of disposition that we just cannot keep hidden? Arrogance, lack of charity, contempt, self-righteousness, religious snobbery, fault-finding--and all this kept under careful restraint and disguised by a pious smile and synthetic good humor.

This sort of thing is felt rather than understood by those who touch us in everyday life. They do not know why they cannot stand us, but we are sure that the reason is our exalted state of spirituality! Perilous comfort. Deep heart searching and prolonged repentance would be better.

Yet let us not assume that if we are persecuted it is because of our faults. The opposite may be the fact. They may hate us because they first hated Christ, and if that is so, then blessed are we indeed. The point is, let us take nothing for granted. We may be better than we think we are, but the likelihood is not overwhelming. Humility is best."

The above is a devotional from "Collective Writings from the Books of A.W. Tozer"..

This is really rich and deep. I hope I have not been guilty of this type of repulsive pride, but I fear I may have. We have to constantly check our motives for how and why we say the things we do to those around us. I am afraid we often get prideful and judgemental, then we wonder why Christ is rejected. How would Jesus say this or that? That should be our heart check, before we speak.

God is Love – and So Much More

Mack — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:27:59 +0000

If you have read anything here, you may feel that I am a little "too serious". I know that I don't write many posts about the love of God. Oh, I know God is love. I feel His grace in my life everyday. I think those of us who have been 'saved' from something, feel it more than maybe those who have 'always led a life full of God's presence'. That was just not the way I found God.
So, not to be gloom and doom, but I like to try to balance the scales about what God is and what He is not.

At least in my world, there is a lot of talk of the love of God. So much so that I wonder sometimes if we are missing some of very important attributes of God. An example came to me the other day. Since there is nothing 'new under the sun', I would say that I must have heard this somewhere, but it seemed like a new thought to me. God is love, true. But God is not only love. This is a point that seems to get missed in some Pollyanna circles of this life. The illustration that came to my mind was as follows.

We could say blood is red. We can't turn it around and say red is blood. When something equals something else, we can turn the equation around and it will still be true. I have heard speakers try to convince people that Love is God, just as God is Love. I say no. Just as red is an attribute of blood, it is not 'equal' to blood. Love is an attribute of God, but it is not God. God has so many more attributes. Say , for example, God is Just. I doubt anyone would argue that is not true, but Justice is not God.
God is Holy. God is Perfect. God is Righteous.
But God so loved the world ( you and I) that He demonstrated His love for us in this, that God sacrificed His own Son, so that we might become His children.
God is love. And God is so much more.
I am afraid the whole "God is Love, so Love is God" thing can mask the true question that must be answered by everyone. Who is God to me and why would He want a person like me to live with Him eternally. Or put another way, if I die today, what then?

Fire Insurance or Relationship

Mack — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:09:15 +0000

Have you ever thought about this? I am sure you have if you are the kind of person that tries to seriously look inward and see what you are really made of. I heard a sermon once about people "gettin' saved" and how they were really just interested in the "fire insurance". It cut me to the core. I was that person. This was back when I was a young adult. I had made excuses for everything that conveniently allowed me to do whatever I wanted and still be going to heaven. The object of the sermon was that maybe if you just have fire insurance, you really don't. That is a scary thought. I mean, I had said all the lines that a Christian has to say to be redeemed, so I thought. I had been baptized and I was a member of the Palestine Baptist Church! My dad was a leader in the church. So I must have assurance that I would go to heaven. I figured I was just taking advantage of all the grace and mercy and forgiveness that Jesus offered.

The only relationship I had was one of pleading for forgiveness when the guilt was too great

. I didn't really know God, and I certainly didn't want Him getting into my life. Somehow, I thought it would all work out, and I'd have some fun , then I'd say I'm sorry and that was that. I wanted to keep God in a small box in my room, and I'd talk to Him if I needed Him. It is funny how my conscience got less and less bothered by my actions. I can see now how a person could go so long in this way of thinking that the conscience would no longer be a factor.

Well, I have since come to know a Savior. My point is that a relationship is much different than fire insurance. I am not sure if fire insurance exists really. If a person thinks that they can accept Jesus as their savior, then continue to live like the world and maybe ask forgiveness now and then, well, I'm not sure that is real. Jesus said in John the following:

John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."

Are we obeying? That is a question we can all ask of ourselves and I'm sure we all fall short. But are we trying to obey? Some things are pretty simple. Are you seeking to know Him? Reading His word? ( And when I say you, I mean me too). How can we know Him if we are not seeking Him and reading His word? We can't.

Are you listening to good music? Music can speak to a part of your heart that nothing else seems to touch.Are you trying to fill yourself with good things? Whatever you put into yourself is what you will become. We have to turn our eyes away from the very things that will poison our souls if we linger.

As sure as I am writing this right now, we are all going to die. I hate to break that to you, but you are going to die. What then?

Romans 14:11 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

11 It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God."

All will confess, but not all be saved. God has given all, but He will not be mocked. Talk to Him today. Begin a relationship if you have none. Strengthen your relationship if you have one. Help a struggling friend find Him.

Tenth Avenue North Love is Here Lyrics

Mack — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:25:11 +0000

I have fell in love with this group. You have to listen to them and read the lyrics to this song.
Love is Here.

Also called the "Come to the Waters" song.
You can buy it on Ebay here.

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Come to the waters, you who thirst and you'll thirst no more.
Come to the father, you who work and you'll work no more.
And all you who labor in vain and to the broken and shamed:

Love is here.
Love is now.
Love is pouring from
His hands, from his brows.
Love is near, it satisfies.
Streams of mercy flowing from his side.
Cuz love is here.

Come to the treasure, you who search and you'll search no more.
Come to the lover you who want and you'll want no more, no.
And all you who labor in vain and to the broken and shamed,

Yeah:

Love is here.
Love is now.
Love is pouring from his hands, from his brows.
Love is near, it satisfies.
Streams of mercy flowing from his side.

Yeah

And to the bruised and fallen,
Captives, bound, and broken hearted.

He is the lord
He is the lord,
Yeah

By his stripes he's paid our ransom
From his wounds we drink salvation

He is the lord
He is the lord

Love is here.
Love is now.
Love is pouring from his hands, from his brows.
Love is near,
It satisfies.
Streams of mercy flowing from his side.
Streams of mercy flowing from his side.
Cuz love is here
Love is here.

Acting In Unbelief

Mack — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:57:16 +0000

Recently, I have been thinking about how people who call themselves "Christian" seem to be unwilling to believe in the word of God. I know we all have doubt from time to time, but it should be the exception, not the rule. I often hear it from "church folks", who are scared of being sued, or scared that something bad may happen in the church, or just scared to take a chance on life.

How can we as Christians, constantly run and hide from all the scary things in life. I don't think we are called to play it safe. We love ourselves too much. Face it, you have been bought a very steep price. You are not your own.

I implore you, think about all the things you are worried about right now, and decide which of those things God can't handle. Are there any? If so, you need to seriously consider your level of belief in the God of the universe. He is not wringing His hands, hoping things will come out all right, trust me.

Trust Him, for once in your life, give Him your trust. I am talking to myself now, but if it applies to you, then you know it.

I was reading this devotion today by AW Tozer. Read it. Think about it. God is closer than you think.

Human sin began with loss of faith in God.

When our mother Eve listened to Satan's sly innuendoes against the character of God she began to entertain a doubt of His integrity and right there the doors were opened to the incoming of every possible evil, and darkness settled upon the world. The Bible talks about mans being alienated from and an enemy to God.

Should this sound harsh or extreme you have only to imagine your closest personal friend coming to you and stating in cold seriousness that he no longer has any confidence in you. I do not trust you. I have lost confidence in your character. I am forced to suspect every move you make. Such a declaration would instantly alienate friends by destroying the foundation upon which every friendship is built. Until your former friends opinion of you had been reversed there could be no further communion. Only a restored faith could bring about a restored friendship.

Now, it is well known that people do not go boldly to God and profess that they have no confidence in Him, and no one except the rare professional unbeliever is willing to witness publicly to his low view of God. The frightful thing, however, is that people everywhere act out their unbelief with a consistency that is more convincing than words.