Shout

Isn’t it interesting how you can think about things without really thinking about them?! I mean that it is common for us to think about things without really thinking through the implications of what they really mean or are really all about.

In the church, we sing the worship song ‘Shout To The Lord’. It is taken from Scriptures that we have read a number of times. And yet, I have to say that I don’t recall really thinking that through in the past as to what it is all about.

Shouting is generally not a good thing to do. I have often when speaking to couples given the advice that the only time a child should hear a raised voice in a home is when there is a fire. But now I’m having to rethink that advice because there is at least one other time that it would be good and that is in times of pure, unadulterated excitement of joy!

The Bible says shout to the Lord. Isn’t that fascinating! Why would God want us to shout to Him? It isn’t because He has poor hearing and it isn’t because we are mad at Him or because there is a fire somewhere that we want Him to know about. Then why? What good reason could there be?

I can only really think of one and the implications are truly profound - God wants us to be appropriately excited (read ‘pumped’) about what He does in our lives. That thought challenges me to the core of my being. What about you? Think about it. When’s the last time you shouted to the Lord?

Trusting God With Our Now

Music is such a powerful medium and it just blesses me how many new songs are being written for the glory of God and the help of His people in our day. Really inspired stuff.

There is a song getting radio play right now that is just that kind of anointed song. Perhaps you’ve heard it, but you might not realize that it is inspired by the true life story of Tim and Paula Beale. The song is Josh Wilson’s ‘Before The Morning’. It’s powerful. And if you have ten minutes today, why don’t you check out their story here. You’ll be glad you did.

Josh Wilson, Tim, Paula & Jayken


Josh Wilson: Before The Morning

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you
If there’s a God who loves you where is He now
Maybe there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending
Someday somehow you’ll see you’ll see

Would you dare would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning
My friend you know how this all ends
You know where you’re going
You just don’t know how you’ll get there
So say a prayer

And hold on cause there’s good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time but you’ll see the bigger picture

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory

Would you dare would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

Come on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It's just the hurt before the healing
Oh the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

More From The Mountain

This past Sunday morning we spent some time on the 'Mountain of Transfiguration' trying to appreciate what that passage has to teach us and what God wants us to take away from it. We looked at the account in Mark 9 and then at Peter’s later reference to his experience there in 2Peter 1. We didn’t have the time to go to a few other passages that would have been helpful so I have decided to share them here. If you were able to hear the message on Sunday then I urge you to consider the ending you didn’t hear:

James didn’t get to write a whole lot about the experience, maybe because Herod had him killed early on. John simply said it this way, “We have seen His glory.” Jn 1:14

Paul was a little different. He met the glorified Christ after He had risen and ascended. When Paul (then known as Saul) was on the road traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians there, Christ appeared to him in all His glory and Paul’s description of his experience then was very similar to that of Peter, James and John … “I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun…” (Acts 26:13)

Now, as regarding the greatness and significance of Christ and what He means to us as we seek to live for Him, here is what Paul had to say in his letter to the Colossians:

Col 1:15-20
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Col 2:6-10
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

That is where I was really hoping to end up on Sunday but, as I say, the time just wasn’t sufficient for it. But these passages from Paul’s pen go a long way towards helping us appreciate what it means to live a ‘Christ centred’ life. Our focus needs to be always upon Him. What is needed in our lives is not 5 keys to an effective prayer life or 6 steps to a healthy marriage or any other list. Sometimes this type of ‘principle’ approach can produce some desirable results and as such can be part of the big picture. But so often they take our focus off of the main thing upon which everything else depends. If we focus on performance or activity we will not get the results we are ultimately looking for in our lives. The lives we are called to live for Him depend upon us getting to know Christ better every day and trusting Him more in every way. The same goes for those we are trying to reach for Him. We need to consistently be pointing them towards Christ, “… for in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ”.

All Thumbs Up

Some pictures are significant moments captured in time – history in the making. This is one of those. As I look at the picture I can’t help but think of the significance of that moment in time captured. I see even the children with their little hands in the air. Merrik gives two thumbs up and Liam gives all five fingers! They don’t understand a whole lot now but just think - years from now they can look back at this picture and say I was there when … Personally, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, and I mean that.

Today, our church membership stepped out in faith in a way that we believe will have very significant ramifications for the future of our church and the people that, by God’s grace, we hope to reach out to in the coming years. Our membership gave unanimous ‘thumbs up’ to what we believe is God’s direction to call Doug Campbell to serve as an associate pastor here at FBC as part of our pastoral team. It’s a huge step of faith but completely in keeping with how God works here at FAITH Baptist Church.

The decision was unanimous and I can only say that I am a part of the greatest church on the planet. You guys just are the greatest – your enthusiasm, your commitment (taking your Sunday afternoon to own this for example!), your vision for the future and your faith in God inspires me.

You guys are just the very best and I love you all dearly and appreciate you so much.

Doug, if God is speaking to you like He is speaking to us, then this train is leaving the station so welcome aboard!!!!!!!