The world is often dubious, brothers and sisters. The world is dubious of the claims of Christ and His followers. There are so many things that are listed as excuses. The world at large finds the tenets of Christianity to be only what a fool believes. Of course, if we're out of our minds, it's for Christ. And He takes the vain and foolish things of the world and confounds the wise. Yes, it may seem like foolishness to believe that God would love us all so much that He became a man and died on the cross for us and rose again in order that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Heaven instead of the eternal damnation in hell we deserve. But what if you believe what the world calls foolishness? Explore the evidence and truly consider the words of Christ- and you might find it making more and more sense minute by minute as God reveals Himself to you. This song talks about the encounters of Jesus with His first disciples and the miracles He showed to Nathanael and all the others who dared to believe. They left what they knew and believed on Christ. Now what if you believe?
"What If You Believe?"
(parody of "What A Fool Believes" performed by The Doobie Brothers and written by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 2/11/2017)
(John 1)
He came in somewhere back 2000 years ago
The quintessential Yule log scene
Triune God is incarnate
Creator joins the created- Here comes Jesus Christ
His cousin's so wild-
Jesus' Messianic herald
Saw Him coming near- Johnny called out to say
"Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes sins away"- Jesus!
They seek the place of the Christ
The Baptist's made ID twice
And disciples move there- (both) following
Son of God asks what they want to know
They're wanting to go
"Well, come and you will see"- They see
What wise men and the prophets all so longed to see
Andrew then leads
His own ol' brother (named Simon)
To Jesus Who calls Peter- fisher of men
Come way back in here- John 1- go!
Where in Galilee Jesus just states His invite
"Come follow Me"- Philip's on board
He went to Nate- "We've found Christ"
Nathanael balked but went to Christ
He surprises him, "Saw you under fig tree"
"Son of God," Nate says- How else would He know?
"You're the King of Israel!"
But what if you believe? You will see
Some wild things- so much powers far greater than these
Angels ascending
Come down like a ladder on Son of Man
With Heaven opened
Now that all you believe- you will see!
But what if you believe? You will see
Some wild things- so much powers far greater than these
Angels ascending
Come down like a ladder on Son of Man
With Heaven opened
Now that all you believe- you will see!
Friday, May 26, 2017
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Why not? (poem)
To the brothers and sisters of the Dispersion in the time of their exile....
"I will sing His song in the land of my sojourn....."- Rich Mullins
"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Though Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:12-16)
Why not?
(copyright by Nathan Ludwick 1/16/2017)
(Job 38-40, Hebrews 11-12, Psalms 73, 84 and 137, the book of Ecclesiastes, Romans 8, 1 Peter 1:17-19, Matthew 13, Psalms 119:19, Hebrews 13:10-16, Revelation 21:5, Revelation 21-22)
Why shouldn't I expect suffering in the world?
What makes me special and exempt?
Why do I expect perfection in a quite imperfect world?
Sometimes I feel so restless- I can't sit down or stand up or lie down
I've got to run around or I'll explode...
Restless legs and a reckless heart
Are a wanderer's trademark
Not all who wander are lost,
but not all who are lost wonder while they wander.
Some trade priceless treasure for their precious things
Some pierce themselves with many griefs in search of so many schemes.
The wind flitters and floats this way and that
We think we're walking on air as we strive and strain for it
But even on Cloud 9, it's still just beyond our grasp
If we ever caught it, we'd find that it's just empty air
Just like the pinnacle of our lives' pursuits have only an empty heir
Vanity, vanity- everything is vanity!
If a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,
Why do we strive after wind and wind up reaping the whirlwind?
If anything, we should labor like Ruth in the Kinsman-Redeemer's harvest
So that our thorny soil might get pruned and yet bear fruit
Fruit that The Lord of the Harvest can use to sow what He reaps
But rather than grow spiritual cucumbers, the cares of this life
Keep us encumbered instead.
We want our best life now on our terms rather than waiting
for the coming glory.
Why do I want this world to be perfect when I have a perfect one waiting?
Now is the winter of our discontent and rather than bury it in the snow
we must embrace it.
Hug tight all the scars and bruises of this world and flick off
all our rotting bandages.
There's only One who holds all things together and He's still got
the whole world in His hands.
And while we look forward to standing with Him in Heaven
First we must stand with Him in Gethsemane.
Let us weep with Him who weeps rather than just fall asleep.
In our struggles with sin, we haven't yet resisted to the
point of shedding our blood- but He did.
The Father poured the cup of His wrath on His Son
And the blood-stained cross speaks a better word than the blood of Abel or any of us.
Yes, by faith we share His glory in the Resurrection, but first we bear His reproach.
As Moses left Egypt's palace and chose to suffer alongside his people,
So Christ left Heaven's throne and chose to suffer alongside His people.
Thou didst leave Thy throne, O Lord- help me to leave my throne as well.
Like captives in Babylon, we are exiles on this planet- wanderers
looking for a new city- a real home.
May the restlessness in our hearts keep us from ever being
content with poor substitutes on earth.
We're all panning for gold in life, but let us pan the fool's gold that abounds.
Let's sell it all to buy the field and get the real gold treasure we've found.
He is the abundant life that flows in us and reminds us of what
this world was made to be before sin's catastrophe.
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
We all live in our present suffering, but we dream of the restoration coming.
And while we live so that His love might leave others with
the mark of the Divine that points us all back to Christ,
may we all solider on, steady further up and further in-
aliens and strangers on the road that's straight and narrow, all the way to Him!
We must solider on in the land of our sojourn
and fight the good fight, knowing that He's already won the battle.
Even amidst all our struggles and sorrows, we know
The Man of Sorrows knows and feels every one and helps us through them
And one day He will take all those old battle scars and
give them a full healing through and through when He makes all things new!
"I will sing His song in the land of my sojourn....."- Rich Mullins
"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Though Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:12-16)
Why not?
(copyright by Nathan Ludwick 1/16/2017)
(Job 38-40, Hebrews 11-12, Psalms 73, 84 and 137, the book of Ecclesiastes, Romans 8, 1 Peter 1:17-19, Matthew 13, Psalms 119:19, Hebrews 13:10-16, Revelation 21:5, Revelation 21-22)
Why shouldn't I expect suffering in the world?
What makes me special and exempt?
Why do I expect perfection in a quite imperfect world?
Sometimes I feel so restless- I can't sit down or stand up or lie down
I've got to run around or I'll explode...
Restless legs and a reckless heart
Are a wanderer's trademark
Not all who wander are lost,
but not all who are lost wonder while they wander.
Some trade priceless treasure for their precious things
Some pierce themselves with many griefs in search of so many schemes.
The wind flitters and floats this way and that
We think we're walking on air as we strive and strain for it
But even on Cloud 9, it's still just beyond our grasp
If we ever caught it, we'd find that it's just empty air
Just like the pinnacle of our lives' pursuits have only an empty heir
Vanity, vanity- everything is vanity!
If a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,
Why do we strive after wind and wind up reaping the whirlwind?
If anything, we should labor like Ruth in the Kinsman-Redeemer's harvest
So that our thorny soil might get pruned and yet bear fruit
Fruit that The Lord of the Harvest can use to sow what He reaps
But rather than grow spiritual cucumbers, the cares of this life
Keep us encumbered instead.
We want our best life now on our terms rather than waiting
for the coming glory.
Why do I want this world to be perfect when I have a perfect one waiting?
Now is the winter of our discontent and rather than bury it in the snow
we must embrace it.
Hug tight all the scars and bruises of this world and flick off
all our rotting bandages.
There's only One who holds all things together and He's still got
the whole world in His hands.
And while we look forward to standing with Him in Heaven
First we must stand with Him in Gethsemane.
Let us weep with Him who weeps rather than just fall asleep.
In our struggles with sin, we haven't yet resisted to the
point of shedding our blood- but He did.
The Father poured the cup of His wrath on His Son
And the blood-stained cross speaks a better word than the blood of Abel or any of us.
Yes, by faith we share His glory in the Resurrection, but first we bear His reproach.
As Moses left Egypt's palace and chose to suffer alongside his people,
So Christ left Heaven's throne and chose to suffer alongside His people.
Thou didst leave Thy throne, O Lord- help me to leave my throne as well.
Like captives in Babylon, we are exiles on this planet- wanderers
looking for a new city- a real home.
May the restlessness in our hearts keep us from ever being
content with poor substitutes on earth.
We're all panning for gold in life, but let us pan the fool's gold that abounds.
Let's sell it all to buy the field and get the real gold treasure we've found.
He is the abundant life that flows in us and reminds us of what
this world was made to be before sin's catastrophe.
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
We all live in our present suffering, but we dream of the restoration coming.
And while we live so that His love might leave others with
the mark of the Divine that points us all back to Christ,
may we all solider on, steady further up and further in-
aliens and strangers on the road that's straight and narrow, all the way to Him!
We must solider on in the land of our sojourn
and fight the good fight, knowing that He's already won the battle.
Even amidst all our struggles and sorrows, we know
The Man of Sorrows knows and feels every one and helps us through them
And one day He will take all those old battle scars and
give them a full healing through and through when He makes all things new!
Sunday, May 7, 2017
The Truth's Lying in Plain Sight
As a precursor, I want to note that I generally strive to avoid
political posts and this one is no different. I don't hold to any
particular party (just Jesus above all)- and this is not about parties
and politics- it's about purity.
I was thinking earlier today about the truth and how it has so many interesting manipulations, particularly by American presidents in recent memory. President Nixon- "Tricky Dick"- claimed boldly, "I am not a crook." Maybe not, but he was unfortunately a liar. (He was smart enough to resign before he got impeached.) President Clinton- "Slick Willy"- needed clarification on the meaning of the word "is" during his impeachment hearings. (He was eventually acquitted, as there were not enough votes for the perjury and obstruction of justice charges to stick.) Of course, President Bush (I'm not aware of pejorative nicknames for him, though I'm sure people assigned him some) sold the whole Iraq war on what was shown to be a false presumption about the presence of weapons of mass destruction there. Numerous charges of questioned truth claims were leveled at President Obama and I suppose his biggest faux pas would be the whole debacle over the handling of the healthcare bill. President Trump's administration talks about the plethora of "fake news" floating around, but also talks about the existence of "alternative facts". How does that even work?
In years past, we had President "Honest Abe" Abraham Lincoln and President George Washington, who had the famous story about cutting down cherry trees- "I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry tree." Of course, I'm sure one could find untruths true of all political leaders and people in general at some point or another. The point here is that we are all sinners and all in need of The Truth. Romans 1:25 says that we exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. That is indeed the problem- we've moved from a picture of grace and nature being held as the ideas guiding our society to non-rationality and rationality being the two guiding ideas- and we escape from reason as the basis for truth to embracing feelings as the basis for truth instead. [Note: I've been reading Francis Schaeffer lately. ;-) I have to credit him for a lot of this post, and ultimately to God for inspiration for both of us.]
As Relient K said, "Sometimes when you're trying to sleep and all your doubts and your faith don't agree, it's cause sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth."
It's important to note that Jesus identifies Himself not only as The Way and The Life (in John 14:6) but also The Truth. When we come into relationship with Him through faith in His death and Resurrection, we find ourselves in The Truth and come to understand that our identity in Christ is our true selves that the Fall has driven us away from. We live now as shells- men with hollow chests as T.S. Eliot said and C.S. Lewis alluded to as well. Colossians 3:1-4 says that when we come to Christ, we die and our true life is then hidden with Christ in God. His Way of Life really is the only Life- living in line with the design God had for us all along- to be loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Romans 2:9-18 makes it abundantly clear that none of us are righteous- none of us are pure. Yet it's the pure in heart who shall see God, according to Jesus in Matthew 5:8.
That's exactly why Jesus, the pure and spotless Lamb of God, had to intervene and live out the requirements of the Law that we could never keep. And when we put all our faith into Christ's righteousness and completed work, our falsehoods are recognized for what they are and our eyes are unveiled and we can see the Truth of Jesus for Who He is- and know The Truth who sets us free. (John 8:32-36) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4)
I was thinking earlier today about the truth and how it has so many interesting manipulations, particularly by American presidents in recent memory. President Nixon- "Tricky Dick"- claimed boldly, "I am not a crook." Maybe not, but he was unfortunately a liar. (He was smart enough to resign before he got impeached.) President Clinton- "Slick Willy"- needed clarification on the meaning of the word "is" during his impeachment hearings. (He was eventually acquitted, as there were not enough votes for the perjury and obstruction of justice charges to stick.) Of course, President Bush (I'm not aware of pejorative nicknames for him, though I'm sure people assigned him some) sold the whole Iraq war on what was shown to be a false presumption about the presence of weapons of mass destruction there. Numerous charges of questioned truth claims were leveled at President Obama and I suppose his biggest faux pas would be the whole debacle over the handling of the healthcare bill. President Trump's administration talks about the plethora of "fake news" floating around, but also talks about the existence of "alternative facts". How does that even work?
In years past, we had President "Honest Abe" Abraham Lincoln and President George Washington, who had the famous story about cutting down cherry trees- "I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry tree." Of course, I'm sure one could find untruths true of all political leaders and people in general at some point or another. The point here is that we are all sinners and all in need of The Truth. Romans 1:25 says that we exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. That is indeed the problem- we've moved from a picture of grace and nature being held as the ideas guiding our society to non-rationality and rationality being the two guiding ideas- and we escape from reason as the basis for truth to embracing feelings as the basis for truth instead. [Note: I've been reading Francis Schaeffer lately. ;-) I have to credit him for a lot of this post, and ultimately to God for inspiration for both of us.]
As Relient K said, "Sometimes when you're trying to sleep and all your doubts and your faith don't agree, it's cause sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth."
It's important to note that Jesus identifies Himself not only as The Way and The Life (in John 14:6) but also The Truth. When we come into relationship with Him through faith in His death and Resurrection, we find ourselves in The Truth and come to understand that our identity in Christ is our true selves that the Fall has driven us away from. We live now as shells- men with hollow chests as T.S. Eliot said and C.S. Lewis alluded to as well. Colossians 3:1-4 says that when we come to Christ, we die and our true life is then hidden with Christ in God. His Way of Life really is the only Life- living in line with the design God had for us all along- to be loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Romans 2:9-18 makes it abundantly clear that none of us are righteous- none of us are pure. Yet it's the pure in heart who shall see God, according to Jesus in Matthew 5:8.
That's exactly why Jesus, the pure and spotless Lamb of God, had to intervene and live out the requirements of the Law that we could never keep. And when we put all our faith into Christ's righteousness and completed work, our falsehoods are recognized for what they are and our eyes are unveiled and we can see the Truth of Jesus for Who He is- and know The Truth who sets us free. (John 8:32-36) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4)
Sunday, April 16, 2017
He's Gone (song)
Psalms 126:6 says that those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. I hope this parody song that's hauling oates will bear some seeds for sowing and see sheaves brought about that I and those who let the seed of God's Word grow in them will all come Home with shouts of joy! :-) And this is definitely a song of joy as, though it starts on a dour note, the sour taste of death sweetens into a triumph of life and life eternal over death. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Jesus has conquered you forever and He's gone from that tomb! And because He lives, we can live also. :-)
"He's Gone" (parody of "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 12/11/2016)
(Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, John 13-21, (particularly John 20), Romans 10:13, Romans 6:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 6:14)
Everybody's crying- needs consolation
Son of God's dying to save me
But The Christ must bleed, yeah
Receives a drink and He yields His spirit
Now we're scattered sheep, ooh, what will be?
Chorus 1:
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
I better learn how to face it
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
I'd say the devil's celebrating
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
What went wrong?
Get up Sunday morning- look in on Saviour
Empty tomb- just linen- Mary's sad
About face and thinking it's the gardener
Woman, why do you weep?
Lord's taken away from me
Chorus 2:
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
She said, "Sir, where have you laid Him?"
In John, in John
20- Rabboni!
You see, the devil only bruised Him
Praise God! Praise God!
He's alive!
God has won!
Now I'll spend eternity in the Heavenlies
'Cause the cross of the Crucified took my wrongs away
And anybody that will call His Name is saved
Grave- where's your victory? 'Cause Jesus' gone from thee!
Chorus 3:
He's gone! He's gone!
The Christ did rise!
And in our turn, He will raise us!
He's God! He's God!
The Lord Jesus Christ!
One day the devil's gonna say it
Then he's gone
And we're gone
With Christ
In Heaven!
(Repeat Chorus 3)
...................................................................
"He's Gone" (parody of "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 12/11/2016)
(Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, John 13-21, (particularly John 20), Romans 10:13, Romans 6:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 6:14)
Everybody's crying- needs consolation
Son of God's dying to save me
But The Christ must bleed, yeah
Receives a drink and He yields His spirit
Now we're scattered sheep, ooh, what will be?
Chorus 1:
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
I better learn how to face it
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
I'd say the devil's celebrating
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
What went wrong?
Get up Sunday morning- look in on Saviour
Empty tomb- just linen- Mary's sad
About face and thinking it's the gardener
Woman, why do you weep?
Lord's taken away from me
Chorus 2:
He's gone, He's gone
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
She said, "Sir, where have you laid Him?"
In John, in John
20- Rabboni!
You see, the devil only bruised Him
Praise God! Praise God!
He's alive!
God has won!
Now I'll spend eternity in the Heavenlies
'Cause the cross of the Crucified took my wrongs away
And anybody that will call His Name is saved
Grave- where's your victory? 'Cause Jesus' gone from thee!
Chorus 3:
He's gone! He's gone!
The Christ did rise!
And in our turn, He will raise us!
He's God! He's God!
The Lord Jesus Christ!
One day the devil's gonna say it
Then he's gone
And we're gone
With Christ
In Heaven!
(Repeat Chorus 3)
...................................................................
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Hosanna (song)
Note: Here is another entry from the archives, just barely in time for Palm Sunday, depending on what part of the world you're in. :-) And I just thought it might be worth noting- I wrote this song back in 2009 or so and then about 2 years later, I heard ApologetiX release their own take on this same song with the same parody title. (And theirs is a great version too, of course!) But just for the record- I wrote this before I ever heard their version. And if you haven't heard this group- go check them out!
This is a classic early 1980s song. This is a song of praise to Jesus, describing the reaction of one who greeted Him at His triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. God so loved the world that He gave His Son to die for us and rise again! I can never get over God's love for us! It's so amazing! :-) Jesus Christ is worthy of all praise! Enjoy this musical account of the events of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem- how quickly the crowds went from shouts of praise to shouts of "Crucify!" Thankfully, the story continues past there. Like Toto and Dorothy got home at the end of the story, Jesus made it back from the grave so that He could one day take us all Home in the end!
(Note: "bg vocal" just means "background vocal")
"Hosanna" (parody of "Rosanna" by Toto; copyright by Nathan Ludwick circa March 2009)
(Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12, Psalms 84, James 1:17, Luke 6:23)
All I wanna do when I wake up in the morning is feel alive!
Hosanna, Hosanna
I never thought that a God like You could ever care for me- Hosanna
All I wanna do in the middle of the evening- behold Your might!
Hosanna, Hosanna
I didn't know You were looking to be all I could ever need!
Chorus 1:
Not quite a cheer since it meant "Lord, save"- Hosanna, yeah!
Twenty-one Matthew has to say:
Greet You on the way- Greet You Palm Sunday-Hosanna, yeah!
He comes in the Name- Greet You, Son of Dave- Hosanna, yeah!
I can see God's grace still riding through Jerusalem on a donkey's hide
Hosanna, Hosanna
I didn't know that a God like you would take a humble ride- Hosanna!
All I have will praise You- now You'll never ever have to bleed stones dry
Hosanna, Hosanna
11 Mark, 19 in Luke and 12 John- so rad!
(Repeat Chorus 1)
(Instrumental break)
Chorus 2:
Not quite a cheer since it meant "Lord, save"- Hosanna, yeah!
Now read on and I have to say:
Read through all of James (Yeah!)- One, one seven (1:17) says- Hosanna, yeah
He gives all good things (Hoo!)-Give Him all the praise-Hosanna, yeah!
Read Luke 6 today- Twenty-three- it's a Bonanza, yeah!
Leap pews- Jesus saves! Need You all my days- Hosanna, yeah!
........................................................................................
This is a classic early 1980s song. This is a song of praise to Jesus, describing the reaction of one who greeted Him at His triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. God so loved the world that He gave His Son to die for us and rise again! I can never get over God's love for us! It's so amazing! :-) Jesus Christ is worthy of all praise! Enjoy this musical account of the events of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem- how quickly the crowds went from shouts of praise to shouts of "Crucify!" Thankfully, the story continues past there. Like Toto and Dorothy got home at the end of the story, Jesus made it back from the grave so that He could one day take us all Home in the end!
(Note: "bg vocal" just means "background vocal")
"Hosanna" (parody of "Rosanna" by Toto; copyright by Nathan Ludwick circa March 2009)
(Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12, Psalms 84, James 1:17, Luke 6:23)
All I wanna do when I wake up in the morning is feel alive!
Hosanna, Hosanna
I never thought that a God like You could ever care for me- Hosanna
All I wanna do in the middle of the evening- behold Your might!
Hosanna, Hosanna
I didn't know You were looking to be all I could ever need!
Chorus 1:
Not quite a cheer since it meant "Lord, save"- Hosanna, yeah!
Twenty-one Matthew has to say:
Greet You on the way- Greet You Palm Sunday-Hosanna, yeah!
He comes in the Name- Greet You, Son of Dave- Hosanna, yeah!
I can see God's grace still riding through Jerusalem on a donkey's hide
Hosanna, Hosanna
I didn't know that a God like you would take a humble ride- Hosanna!
All I have will praise You- now You'll never ever have to bleed stones dry
Hosanna, Hosanna
11 Mark, 19 in Luke and 12 John- so rad!
(Repeat Chorus 1)
(Instrumental break)
Chorus 2:
Not quite a cheer since it meant "Lord, save"- Hosanna, yeah!
Now read on and I have to say:
Read through all of James (Yeah!)- One, one seven (1:17) says- Hosanna, yeah
He gives all good things (Hoo!)-Give Him all the praise-Hosanna, yeah!
Read Luke 6 today- Twenty-three- it's a Bonanza, yeah!
Leap pews- Jesus saves! Need You all my days- Hosanna, yeah!
........................................................................................
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Sweet Ol' King James (1611 mix) (song)
This song felt appropriate to post around April Fool's Day, even though I'm a day off. (April Fool's! Not that being late in posting something counts as much of a joke.) And even though I do treat this song in something of a joking manner, I do want to make clear that I don't mean it with any disrespect. The reason I feel that this kind of song is almost, dare I say, Taylor-made for this holiday, is because it's a parody of a song by a guy called James singing about another James- and my version sings about yet another James- King James. Some Christians feel very strongly about his Bible translation and hold to it to the point of excluding any other translation- to the point of even denouncing other translations as demonic works of some sort because they don't render God's Word exactly as the good ol' Textus Receptus. I just find the argumentation to be ridiculous at times because it's only divisive to the church. Sometimes we have to just agree to disagree agreeably.
2 Timothy 3:16 says that all of Scripture is God-breathed and it's useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. And I believe all the translations of The Holy Bible are useful for the same purposes as well. In 1 Corinthians 1, the issue is raised about some following Paul, and some Apollos, and some Cephas (i.e. Peter) and still others saying, "I follow Christ." I think that's the important thing to remember- we who follow Christ above all else need to love each other and serve as one united body of believers in Christ, just like Jesus prayed in John 17- and as yet another James wrote about, by the Holy Spirit's guidance. (see James 3)
So whether you dig the New Living Translation or you're down with the New International Version or the North American Standard Bible or the English Standard Version- or you're rocking out with 1611 King James Version- come together as one in Christ and let's seek to love each other above all. After all, Jesus said the most important commands for us- "Thou shalt love The Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength and love thy neighbor as thyself."
"Sweet Ol' King James (1611 mix)" (parody of "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 1/29/2017)
(Proverbs 30:5-6, Psalms 119:89-90, Psalms 119:96-97, Psalms 119:160, Romans 13:8-14, 1 Corinthians 9:15-23, Psalms 18:30, Matthew 18:15-20, Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 5:9-15, Matthew 7:1-6, Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, John 15:12, James 1:19-20, Hebrews 12:14, Psalms 133, Philippians 1:15-18, James 3, John 17, Mark 9:38-41, Luke 9:49-50, 2 Timothy 3:16, Luke 9:55 (in the footnotes), Romans 14, Romans 12:9-21, 1 Corinthians 3, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Galatians 5, Ephesians 2:18-22, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:8, John 15:8, John 13:34-35, Titus 3:1-11,1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Colossians 3:11-17, 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, 1 Corinthians 1, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Corinthians 10:7)
There was this one Calvinist, in England he reigned
He ordered a Bible- KJV-only folks champion
He spoke in the natural good King's English canon
Writing for commoners, translators arranged
Erasmus dude's write-up assists all the scribes there
52 top men- about 7 years
In 1609, then the whole thing's reviewed there
The chief one of all, Rich Bancroft- overseer
And then came 400 odd years
Chorus 1
Goodbye, all you new translations
Rocking out (with) sweet ol' King James
"Thees", "thous", "verilys" too- vernacular I use
Won't just let you read out of NIV
I'm rocking out 1611 James
Now there're verses you remember because of the flow
Jesus spoke just like in Cambridge sixteen oughts then (i.e. 1600s)
His birth, prayer, baptism- we recount like that James king
It's been filed inside thee- 'cause the Western mores did mold
Philippians 1:18- well, we praise when Lord Christ's preached
They're wrong if using NASB (or) ESV(?)
It's wrong 'cause they leave off verses most others can't find(?)
They're included in footnotes? If it helps you to read-
Olde English works just fine for me
Chorus 2
So, goodbye, all you new translations
What about wisdom?- 3 James
133 in Psalms- united brothers- How cool!
Can't we just please agree to disagree?
Be unified like Jesus prayed
.......................................................................................................
2 Timothy 3:16 says that all of Scripture is God-breathed and it's useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. And I believe all the translations of The Holy Bible are useful for the same purposes as well. In 1 Corinthians 1, the issue is raised about some following Paul, and some Apollos, and some Cephas (i.e. Peter) and still others saying, "I follow Christ." I think that's the important thing to remember- we who follow Christ above all else need to love each other and serve as one united body of believers in Christ, just like Jesus prayed in John 17- and as yet another James wrote about, by the Holy Spirit's guidance. (see James 3)
So whether you dig the New Living Translation or you're down with the New International Version or the North American Standard Bible or the English Standard Version- or you're rocking out with 1611 King James Version- come together as one in Christ and let's seek to love each other above all. After all, Jesus said the most important commands for us- "Thou shalt love The Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength and love thy neighbor as thyself."
"Sweet Ol' King James (1611 mix)" (parody of "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 1/29/2017)
(Proverbs 30:5-6, Psalms 119:89-90, Psalms 119:96-97, Psalms 119:160, Romans 13:8-14, 1 Corinthians 9:15-23, Psalms 18:30, Matthew 18:15-20, Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 5:9-15, Matthew 7:1-6, Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, John 15:12, James 1:19-20, Hebrews 12:14, Psalms 133, Philippians 1:15-18, James 3, John 17, Mark 9:38-41, Luke 9:49-50, 2 Timothy 3:16, Luke 9:55 (in the footnotes), Romans 14, Romans 12:9-21, 1 Corinthians 3, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Galatians 5, Ephesians 2:18-22, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:8, John 15:8, John 13:34-35, Titus 3:1-11,1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Colossians 3:11-17, 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, 1 Corinthians 1, 1 Corinthians 8, 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Corinthians 10:7)
There was this one Calvinist, in England he reigned
He ordered a Bible- KJV-only folks champion
He spoke in the natural good King's English canon
Writing for commoners, translators arranged
Erasmus dude's write-up assists all the scribes there
52 top men- about 7 years
In 1609, then the whole thing's reviewed there
The chief one of all, Rich Bancroft- overseer
And then came 400 odd years
Chorus 1
Goodbye, all you new translations
Rocking out (with) sweet ol' King James
"Thees", "thous", "verilys" too- vernacular I use
Won't just let you read out of NIV
I'm rocking out 1611 James
Now there're verses you remember because of the flow
Jesus spoke just like in Cambridge sixteen oughts then (i.e. 1600s)
His birth, prayer, baptism- we recount like that James king
It's been filed inside thee- 'cause the Western mores did mold
Philippians 1:18- well, we praise when Lord Christ's preached
They're wrong if using NASB (or) ESV(?)
It's wrong 'cause they leave off verses most others can't find(?)
They're included in footnotes? If it helps you to read-
Olde English works just fine for me
Chorus 2
So, goodbye, all you new translations
What about wisdom?- 3 James
133 in Psalms- united brothers- How cool!
Can't we just please agree to disagree?
Be unified like Jesus prayed
.......................................................................................................
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Giving up rights, cheeks, cloaks and comfort- Golden Rule
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the ones who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." - Jesus in Matthew 5:38-48
"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."- Jesus in Matthew 7:12 (see also Luke 6:31)
- These guiding Bible verses can certainly teach us a lot of things, but a few key things I take from them is Jesus' teachings on not seeking our "rights". We all have this idea of what things we are owed and what rights we should have bestowed on us by virtue of being born. However, when we put faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, we give up our rights to ourselves. Colossians 3:1-4 say that we actually have died and our lives are now hidden with Christ in God. Galatians 2:20 says that we are crucified with Christ and it's now He who lives in us. We are not our own; we've been bought with a price- therefore we must honor God with our bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:20) We must count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11) We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness instead. (also in Romans 6) We must let God renew our minds and offer our bodies as living sacrifices to Him as our spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1-2) If we are to come after Jesus, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. (Luke 9:23) The Bible tells us over and over again that we no longer have autonomy to do as we please- we have surrendered our lives to Jesus and we seek to do His will instead. (Ephesians 2:8-10 makes clear that this was God's plan all along- for us to do the good works He prepared for us to do in advance.)
Thus, if all these things are true- why do I still act sometimes like I can insist on my rights? Why am I so generous with grace to myself for my own faults but so stingy with offering it to others for theirs? Jesus said, "Freely you have received; freely give." (Matthew 10:8) Thus, I can't help but readily offer God's grace to all. I must speak the Truth in Love to them (Ephesians 4:15) and share the Gospel at all times- ready in season and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:1-2) I am certainly not always the best at sharing God's love with others, but I try to speak whatever I can of God's truth anywhere I can in love. I want people to know that we are all sinners who constantly do wrong- and that's why the world's all messed up. Adam and Eve passed that down for the whole world through their sin. God loved us all so much that even while we were still sinners and rebelling against Him, He sent Christ to die for our sins. (Romans 5:8, John 3:16) Whoever believes in Him- calls upon The Name of The Lord- will be saved. They shall not perish, but have eternal life. If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) And it's His grace and kindness that leads us to repentance (as Romans 2 says) and we seek to do the good works He made us to do all along in gratitude to Him for His grace- not in an effort to get it- because He's already given it to us for free!
So I have at times found myself choosing to do some things that the world may regard as foolhardy. (I've certainly done plenty of things that are genuinely foolhardy and just plain foolish too. ;-)) However, I tend to believe strongly, especially as the quotes from Jesus in Matthew that I mentioned at the start state, that I am sometimes called as a Christian to simply let myself be taken advantage of. I think I am called to give up all my rights and give up on what I think I am owed or what should be done for me. I seek to do for others what I'd like them to do for me. Whether they actually would do them or not or whether they actually do them or not does not really matter. It makes no difference. Whether they receive acts of grace with gratitude and thankfulness or with greed and callousness, it makes no difference to my call to be gracious. I feel I need to keep turning the other cheek, give away both my shirt and cloak and go the extra mile with someone who asks in practical ways, just as Jesus commanded. Give to the one who begs and lend to the one who wants to borrow. Other translations render that verse as saying, "Don't even try to get things back." (Or something along those lines, like in that new-fangled "The Message" version or something. [As I'm sure Dracula would agree, some probably prefer those old-fangled versions instead. But whether you're kicking it with Bram Stoker or Stephanie Meyers, let's make sure the blood we're drinking is Jesus' and not each other's. [see John 6].])
At the same time, Jesus also tells us to be "wise as serpents and gentle as doves". (Matthew 10:16) I don't think these verses mean that we should be a doormat. But sometimes I think maybe we should be a footstool where people rest and lean upon us for a while while we serve them. It may feel sometimes like we're getting walked all over upon, but when we consider the Saviour who endured such suffering, rejection, suspicions, false accusations, torture, and ultimately death on the cross for our sakes- and then triumphantly rose again- maybe we should be more willing to toughen up some and take one for the team. Jesus was willing to make the sacrifice bunt so we all could get home. It seems the least we can do is be willing to take the charge coming down the court. (Let's hear it for mixed sports metaphors! :-)) I don't claim to be the best at this- many times I am not. Many times I am a complete failure at this and am nothing but a spoiled little brat whining when things aren't going my way. And that's where Philippians 2:14-15 hits so hard- "Do everything without complaining or arguing." Wow! That's a hard one to do. But when we let the Holy Spirit do it through us (all things are possible through Him- Matthew 19:26), we shine like stars in a dark world to a twisted and crooked generation so that they can see the light of Christ which lights up the world- and when Christ is in us- that light is us! (Matthew 5:13-16 and John 8:12)
As 1 Corinthians 9 gives us an example, we should be like Paul and give up our rights and thus endure anything rather put an obstacle in the way of the Gospel of Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:12) Instead, we become all things to all people so that we by all means God might save some through us. (1 Corinthians 9:22)
As 1 Peter 3:13-17 talks about, it's better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." (1 Peter 4:14) Verse 13 of that same chapter even says we should rejoice insofar as we share in Christ's sufferings so we can also be glad when His glory is revealed.God's world is very much backwards from what we know. But when we start letting His Spirit live it through us, we come to find out that it's our world that's messed up and backwards from what it should be. "Curiouser and curiouser", said Alice. This abundant life and eternal love stuff is trippy, man! But don't be tripping- Jesus is a stumbling stone and rock of offense, but blessed are all those who aren't offended by Him. (That's like a couple of passages there- Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 21:42-44, and Luke 7:23) But it's just that kind of topsy-turvy world Jesus calls us to live in and we find out that it's really just the kind of world we've been longing for all along- one that we'll have when our groanings are realized like Romans 8 talks about- the glory coming outweighs all the junk we go through here. In the mean time, here are some of the attitudes that Jesus said are becoming of us and that we should be becoming- (hence the name- the Beattitudes :-))
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:3-12)
Keep reflecting the Son and shine on! :-)
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