“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am”

John Newton is one of my heroes.  His life, a marathon for King Jesus, was one that reflected the grace of God in the face of Jesus from the time he was saved until his death.  Newton was very instrumental in the life of William Wilberfore, who tirelessly and victoriously fought for 40+ years to end the slave trade in Europe.  Newtwon’s most famous work — Amazing Grace — is still known across the world as one of christendom’s most famous hymns.

I pray this video is edifying to you.

How are you using your passions and gifts to serve the LORD today?  You might feel like a lonely sinner who would never be able to accomplish such a thing like write a song that would reach millions.  You never know though — we could be singing your song 300+ years from now all over the world.  Many are the plans of a man, but it is the LORD’s that remains.

As a relatively new pastor, I have come to realize to a greater degree the pervasiveness of sin–the tight grip it has on the world and even its influence over Christians. Quickly, I am coming to recognize the essentiality of being skilled in biblical counseling. Sin, with all of its evil, continues to give rise to one of the most common subject matter for counseling–broken or damaged relationships. It sincerely breaks my heart as a pastor, and especially as a fellow-Christian, to see disunity among Christians. This is particularly and pronouncedly true when it comes to broken and damaged marriages.

Why are broken marriages so painful for me to observe? Honestly, it has to do with the fact that “Christians” have lost their fear of God. Consequently, when a man and woman exchange vows on their wedding day, the promise or covenant that that they make with each other, with God, and with the observing congregation becomes nothing more than a formality for many. When people make the decision to get a divorce, they act as functional atheists as they disregard this covenant and promise and spurn the authority of God. Neither is God the foundation of the relationship, nor does He prove to be the Lord or Master of the individuals involved in the relationship. Covenant and promise have sadly lost their significance in this functionally atheistic and pseudo-Christian church culture.

I have recently been encouraged by two videos–one, a conversation between pastors and theologians, and a second, a music video. In these videos, what is made central and foundational to a marriage relationship is not health, comfort, sex, money, romance, chemistry, or anything material or physical; it IS covenant and promise. Marriage relationships will always be wrought with difficulties and challenges, but as Andrew Peterson says, “That’s what the promise is for.” If marriage can be founded on this promise and covenant, then (and only then) will they be able to experience the true joy that the marriage relationship can bring as they seek to live out the Christ-church marital dynamic for the glory of God and their joy. For those of you who might be struggling with your marriage, don’t give up. And look to Christ who has given himself for us, instituting an unbreakable covenant with us in order to save us from our sin. Covenants and promises are not made to be broken. God will never break his. Neither should we.

When I first became a Christian and attended worship services the song leader would instruct us to “close your eyes and think of this time as just between you and God.  Act like no one else is around and just worship God.”  In numerous worship services since then I have heard similar things.  Perhaps you have also heard something similar in worship services you have attended.  In this blog I want to consider whether or not this kind of thinking is correct. [...]