The Sweetest Frame

I love the Passion albums and this one is no exception. I don't know what it is, but Tomlin, Crowder and the gang seem to have their pulse on the heart of God and the heart of the Church. So far, here are the songs I'm really enjoying... God of This City - the title track brings so much hope. It makes me want to get together all of the churches in our area and remind them that God is still at work and He has plans for us. O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing - David Crowder brings the old and makes it new again. He adds a great refrain to this majestic Hymn... So come on and sing out Let our anthem grow loud There is one great love... Jesus Hosanna - So far this is my favorite song on the album. I heard it from Hillsong United, and Brooke Fraser does such a great job on this song. But I must say that Christy Nockels is incredible and this song fits her well. The bridge on this song is amazing... Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to...

Back in October, my wife and I found a product that we had never seen before. Hillside has some self-heating beverages. We decided to buy the kids some hot chocolate and I bought a French Vanilla Latte. Basically you open the bottom of the can and it allows some water to mix with some limestone and a little pink button on the side will turn white in about 6 minutes. If you want to see a demonstration check out Hillside's website . The next morning I tested out this coffee. I hadn't had coffee in probably 20 years. That morning I also had a pretty emotional discussion with a friend who needed a lot of help. I noticed that I had an unusual amount of energy. I thought it was just because of my emotions. As the morning went along I found myself wanting to run places instead of walking. I went to Walmart and I was tapping like crazy on a CD case while I was waiting in line. Then it finally dawned on me - Caffeine. The coffee was delicious and I was hooked. Ever since ...

I love Moses' stubbornness in this passage. He has decided that he must have God's presence if he is to lead this people. He will not move without Him. Exodus 33:15 And he said to him, “ If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here . 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Lord, please help me to live like this. Help me never to move ahead of your presence.

Do you ever make excuses for sin? From today's reading , here's one of the better ones that I've ever heard... Exodus 32:24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf. ” I can hear Aaron now..."You know how these people are. What could I do? So I threw the gold in the flame and BAM! A calf appeared. I really didn't have anything to do with it." I can't be too hard on Aaron, he's not the only one who's justified his sin. I'm afraid the person writing this post has done this before too.

Do you clap in church? I've been with clappers and non-clappers and wanna be clappers too. :) The last group are the most fun to be with. Unless your the song leader of course! Today I found a cool little app, but it's not free. $20 from http://www.theapplausemeter.com/ You can hook it up to your laptop and then have your own applause meter at church. This has got be useful for some youth event or something doesn't it? Let me know if you have any ideas how you might use the Applause Meter in church.

Busy week this week, so just a few links for this weekend... Mr. Kruse has shared some more data to feed the global warming discussion. What are the least favorite things you've heard in the church house? Randall House is breaking out a new logo for a new program... Greg Gilbert is ready to remove music from church . (not really) Lee McDerment from NewSpring has got some new music on the way.

What does it mean to fear the Lord ? Solomon tells us that one way of demonstrating your fear of God is through hating evil . Why are we so afraid to hate? ( You can check out my earlier post on this topic ) Proverbs 8:12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Do you think that we hate evil? I think we dislike it, we may even fear it, and we avoid it, but I wonder if we really hate it. Dear God, help me to love what you love and hate what you hate. Help me to especially hate pride and arrogance as it crops up in my own heart.