Release our hearts to soar with freedom and to dance with praise...

Too much praise? Is it religious to declare so much adoration for "the LORD"?? This poet notices that all things praise Him and so must we. Is this a Psalm to read, a mere page to memorize and study? Or is this an invitation to FEEL the same deep praise!? OH how high, and wide, is HIS LOVE for us. How can we help but join the sea creatures, the sun and moon; and all the shining stars in praise? How can we help but love him in return? Thank you, most high LORD for giving us voices to praise you. Release our tounges and hands to freedom. Release our hearts to soar with freedom and to dance with praise for you everyday of our lives!! Too much praise? Is that even possible?
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Psalm 148
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.

The Spirit is "HE"

Another favorite passage of scripture here. This is such a pivotal point in the ministry of Christ on the Earth. The disciples were beginning to get that Jesus was not here to setup another Earthly Kingdom and topple the Roman empire. He kept talking about dying in Jerusalem, and rising, and leaving. So Christ comforts them with these words. Notice that the Spirit is "HE", not "it." This first person pronoun is very important. I've heard so many Christians refer to the Spirit as an "it." HE is not an "it." HE -- the Spirit -- is God.... and HE is LIFE.

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Jesus the Way to the Father

 ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
 ⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
 ⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

    ¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  ²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
 ²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone 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.
   ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
   ²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

-John 14

Missionary vs Evangelist

Quote: A missionary takes time to listen and learn, to discern the culture around him and his situation and context. A missionary feels called to people, not just to a message or just to preach. A missionary falls in love with these people and challenges them to leave their land and people for the kingdom and the church. A missionary seeks to remove cultural barriers, not create them. A missionary is willing to change his own stripes, as much as he can, to become all things to all men, to win them to Christ. A missionary seeks to learn, humbly, about a people before he tries to teach them.

Read more...HERE: http://www.brittmooney.com/2011/06/missionary-vs-evangelist/

Excellent post, Britt! Truly God is speaking volumes to His people around the world and in America. May we all become more like Christ--missionaries; strangers; in the world but not of it; lovers of God and people; friend of sinners; servant leaders; humble, gentle, kind and compassionate; healers; forgivers; missionaries; martyrs with unconditional love. That's our Christ! 

Erasing Hell Video Promo (and another funny one by Chan)

I've tried to write a review of Rob Bell's "Love Wins" a few times, but without success. Then comes Chan's new book Erasing Hell, where humility wins the day! Humility is the missing ingredient in most doctrinal disputes, esp. this one. So here's a fantastic video promo for his book released a few days ago. This approach --- the humble "i don't know everything" approach -- is truly the most Christian. IMHO



Oh, and here's just a great funny little vid from atop a walking beam....

Worship

[mobile post] I was encouraged many years ago to learn that the original meaning word for worship is "to kiss towards." Since then I've always thought of worship as a lifestyle marked as kissing towards God. There are intentional times of worship for sure. But every time is affection for God time as well. However, we cannot really even worship him. We are helpless without His Spirit. If we try to discipline ourselves to do anything for God we will fail. Or worse, we will succeed, and thus become self-righteous. So we can only ask God each day for His Spirit to come -- that we might love Him today, and worship and kiss towards. Only then can He be truly All in All and only then can hearts be lit on fire with a daily desire for God.