my burg

New worship song by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.  For lyrics go to the GettyMusic site .

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'"  (Revelation 1:17-18 ESV)

"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left."  (Luke 23:33 ESV) "And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain..." (Revelation 5:6 ESV) "There stands the mysterious cross—a rock against which the very waves of the curse break. He who so mercifully engaged to direct this judgment against Himself hangs yonder in profound darkness. Still He remains the Morning Star, announcing an eternal Sabbath to the world. Though rejected by Heaven and earth, yet He forms the connecting link between them both and the Mediator of their eternal and renewed amity. Ah, see! His bleeding arms are extended wide; He stretches them out to every sinner. His hands point to the east and west; for He shall gather His children from the ends of the earth. The top of the cross is directed toward the sky; far above ...

Dr. Thomas Constable's Notes on the Bible (Scroll down to Hebrews -- free pdf download) Dr. Jack Arnold's teaching notes on Hebrews . (Free online, downloadable.) The New International Greek Testament Commentary (NIGTC) The Epistle to the Hebrews , by Paul Ellingworth.  (Book, technical, excellent.) F F Bruce is always good on the text and background.  (Book.) Various commentaries on Hebrews , online, free, verse by verse. Commentary on Hebrews, by John Calvin .  (Online free, or download as pdf for small charge.) Ligonier's top 5 commentaries on Hebrews (blog) Audio MP3s... Dr. S. Lewis Johnson's teaching series in Hebrews (at Believers Chapel in Dallas, TX) John Piper's messages on Hebrews. 

This is a third missive from a close friend who moved away from our community and his first real home church, relocating to a new community.  Their search for a solid evangelical church has been eye-opening to me, as to the options in our American culture.  My friend is not extreme, nor too curmudgeonly, but is very perplexed by the three-ring-circus display of the kinds of churches which call themselves evangelical. His first two installments are found here and here . It occurs to me this morning that [ our former church, a good experience, he says ] also needs to prepare its congregants for moving out into the larger world beyond it.  There should be a program guiding such folk in finding their next church and how to live among the cacophonous mess that calls itself Christianity.  [ My daughter ] has been invited to join a homeschooling house church. Fortunately, she has declined. One of their foundational beliefs is that creation occurred in six literal days ...

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  (Mark 10:42-45 ESV) From Men's Fraternity , "the Quest for Authentic Manhood", comes a list of ways to be a "servant-leader" to our family.  (NB. This is not a check list for this week, but rather objectives for a lifetime.) The husband has a leadership role in marriage - the role of "servant leader." 1. A servant-leader includes his wife in envisioning the future. 2. A servant-leader accepts spiritual responsibility for his family. 3. A servant-leader is willing to say "I'm sorry" and ...

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.  (1 Corinthians 3:21-23 ESV) One remedy for "boasting in men" is to realize that the people we boast about, or unduly admire, or put our trust in -- whether teachers, preachers, mentors, counselors, leaders, musicians or artists -- are actually given to us by one God for our own advancement in glory, not for the glorying of celebrities.  But to go further: "all things are yours" .  Included in this... "The world is yours."   (If we belong to God, we will inherit the earth.  Even now, all things that happen in the world happen for the good of God's people.) "Life is yours."   (We have the gift of life, now and eternally.  This cannot be lost.) "Death is yours."   (This is important to remember, too, that following Jesus may...