Hearing the Music

I've Got Nothing.... But Jesus is Everything

This morning I opened up my computer to try for the hundredth time to write the Friday letter. I wanted to say something great, something eloquent, something meaningful and wise. The screen was blank, and I realized my heart and mind were feeling pretty blank, too. 

Arts & Rec starts this coming Tuesday evening, and with all the preparations and busyness, it would seem that my mind would be overflowing with thoughts and ideas. So how is it that I’ve got nothing?

That’s really all I’ve got. A whole lot of nothing. 

Then it occurred to me that there is something oddly great about “a whole lot of nothing.” In God’s economy, that’s precisely what is required of me. “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” So I write to you from a place of emptiness, clinging to the cross, trusting in God to fill me up, and trusting in God to fill you up as well. 

So today I want to point you to Jesus. 

That’s it. 

And that’s everything.

Sunday’s coming! And because of Jesus, we can fully hope and expect to be encouraged and filled up by his Word and his Spirit, and through the fellowship of God’s people as we worship him together.

Arts & Rec is coming! And because of Jesus, we have every reason to hope and expect to be encouraged and filled up by gathering there, too. 

Everyone, both on Sunday and at camp, will be arriving with different needs and in different places in their walk with Jesus. Our church will be filled with people who together are looking to Jesus, our God of endurance and encouragement, who helps us live in harmony with one another and thereby glorify him together with one voice.

Romans 15:5-7 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Rhythms

As we move into summer schedules and rhythms, I thought I would reprise some thoughts from 2016 on the rhythms of a day. These come courtesy of a former colleague of mine, Zach Eswine, who wrote a very honest pastoral theology entitled The Imperfect Pastor. In it he takes the measure of a day (among many other things). I find his Biblical construct of a day to be very helpful and think it is worth passing on. So whether you are old or young; changing diapers, organizing meetings or plumbing a house; walking through your day thoughtfully can help you stay connected to the God of your day.

Mornings (6-12) are for Praise — "in the morning songs of praise and thanksgiving can rise because God’s strength has gotten us through the night. The night didn’t win! We awake and see once again that God’s love hasn’t quit on us, and we ask that he will go with us and guide us into what awaits us." Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8)

The Noon hours (12-6) are for Persevering in Wisdom. During these hours we are often in need of wisdom in work and with people to persevere through the “burden of the day and the noon day heat”. Often the wisdom with which we traverse the noon day will set a course for the remains of the day. By God’s grace, justice and righteousness will shine like the noonday sun (cf. Ps. 37:6)

Evenings (6-10) are for Hospitality — "extending kindness and the protection of a peaceable presence to our neighbors .. by enjoying the blessings of ordinary goodnesses.” This is done with friends or family. There is a breaking from the “work” of the day as we prepare our bodies to rest, enjoying all that God has to offer (cf. Mark 6:35-41)

Night Watches (10-6) are for Solitude — "not simply being quiet or resting, but taking into the presence of God the very real thoughts, emotions, or questions of the day." "Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. ... In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:4, 8)

This is obviously very abbreviated and perhaps you want to fill out your own rhythms of the day, but there is beauty and practicality here for those who have eyes to see:

1. There is a path through each day. We shall not be overwhelmed for we can take it one “watch” at a time.
2. There is grace to be sought and grace to be dispensed throughout the day. As we look to God for joy, wisdom, strength, and love, we are mindful of the Holy Spirit and the power he so powerfully works in us.
3. But there is grace also when we have “blown” one of the “seasons” of the day. A faithless morning can give way to a wise noon. A grumpy noon can be repented of as we gladly reach out to Christ again for evening hospitality. God’s grace is new, each morning, noon, evening, and night!
4. Mark your days by pausing to pray reflecting on the passing hours and bringing in the waiting hours in the hope of the risen Christ.

Speaking of rhythms, as we move into the summer, we move away from Hebrews back into the narrative of David's life that we started last summer. We pick up the story this week by looking at 2 Samuel 2 In which Saul has died and the kingdom begins to move in David's direction. But as we will see, and as we observe from our own lives, all does not move smoothly as trouble looms within David's own camp as well as obstacles from without his camp.

Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

And They're Off

And they're off!  We recently have come through Kentucky Derby and the Preakness season and this weekend is the Indy 500.  In races of this nature it is common to hear the commentator announce the start with the aforementioned phrase.

 I have this phrase on my mind this week with respect to Gracehill and their particularization.  As we have announced, this coming Wednesday, we will host a particularization service on behalf of the Great Lakes Presbytery to officially celebrate the fact that in the Lord's providence Gracehill is moving from church plant status to that of it own stand alone church in the PCA.  It is a great testimony to the Lord's faithfulness that has stayed with this fledgling church since its conception in 2017.  The Lord has navigated this group through ordinary challenges of a church plant along with the extra-ordinary challenges of pastoral changes, location changes and Covid.  The Lord has provided for them financially and with local leadership.  So they stand now, ready to continue on as a particular church.

Part of the reason the phrase "And they're off!" came to mind is that, like a wedding ceremony, this service is not the end of the road for Gracehill, but rather it is a new beginning.  It is our prayer that they will continue as a faithful church well into the future, preaching the word, administering the sacraments, practicing hospitality, drawing hurting, confused and needy people to the sweetness of a relationship with Jesus. 

It is to this end that even as we celebrate this milestone with Gracehill, we want to remain committed to church planting.  As the American landscape adjusts to in excess of 40 million de-churched people in the last decade, having fresh Gospel centered, grace motivated, well governed churches is essential in inviting people to return to church or to even try it for the first time.

Photo by Fábio Alves on Unsplash