arithmetic

love song to the Lord.

"i won't find what i am looking for if i only see by keeping score. i know now You are so much more than arithmetic.
if i add, if i subtract if i give it all try to take some back, i've forgotten the freedom that comes from the fact, that You are the sum. Lord You are the One i want..."

tim keller

i'm in a small discipleship group and we're going over the 'promises of God'
we talked about the foundation of our study and that is the gospel. we went over Tim Kellers vision statement for his church out of New York city called Redeemer. in his vision statement he has 6 gospel-centered parts to being part of a community.


it's pretty amazing. oh for grace for the Body of Christ to look like this...

"1. an accepting community that reflects the grace we've been given from Christ.
2. a holy community that urges one another to live God-pleasing lives.

3. a truth-telling community that is free to repent, and free to allow others to repent, because of the gospel.

4. an encouraging community that builds one another up.

5. a sacrificially generous community that spends its life and wealth on the needs of others.

6. a suffering community that loves and forgives others even when it harms us."

rock of ages.

i've been thinking about grace and how often i say i understand it but ignorantly go day to day thinking that somehow I can add to the gospel of Christ crucified, by things I do for the Lord. bah. isn't that so much like a finite creation.
but He is well pleased with me only because He is well pleased with His Son...not in anything I do. that means anything!
You are the righteousness of God in Christ. That's your new identity...

" I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! Galatians 2:17-19


no act of worship
no tears of repentance
no bible memorized
no confession to others
no beautiful prayer
no steps of faith
no finite love for others
no amount of hall ministry
no good discipleship
no selfless deed
no evangelizing
no blog entry
no law followed...will ever add to the cross of Christ. In this I will place my trust and will I glory.
His blood alone can atone...It is finished.

the ferryman

i cannot get enough gaelic music:)amen.