Higher Ground

The story of the song "Higher Ground" is more the story of its writer, Johnson Oatman Jr. Oatman was born and raised in a devout Christian home in the mid-1800's. His father, Johnson Oatman Sr., was a towering man with a booming voice and was very much in demand as a gospel singer. As a young boy, Oatman Jr. wanted nothing more than to be just like his father. As the years went on, he became a part of the family firm- Johnson Oatman & Son. 

But something was missing from his life. 

Oatman felt God's call to be in some form of full-time ministry. After years of study, he was ordained as a Methodist minister. But he never was able to realize his two biggest passions, even through ministry. He desperately wanted to sing like his father. But he didn't have the booming voice that his father had, let alone the singing talent in general to become a much-wanted gospel singer. 

His other passion was to witness to all he came across. But in a small Methodist church, there were many restrictions on him and his time that prevented this. He became a circuit-riding preacher for years, going from church to church and across denominational lines preaching and teaching. But he was never a great preacher, even though he did still feel called to minister in some fashion. 

At the age of thirty-six, he found his calling. In 1892, Johnson Oatman Jr. began to write hymns. He wrote hymns for years, with songs like "No, Not One" and hundreds more being sung in churches around the world by 1895. For years, he continued to write, including songs like "Count Your Blessings" in 1897. He wrote over 5,000 songs in his lifetime. 

In 1898 he wrote the song that we are looking at today- Higher Ground.

V.1
I'm pressing on the upward way,/New heights I'm gaining every day/Still praying as I'm onward bound:/Lord plant my feet on higher ground

C.
Lord lift me up and let me stand/By faith on heaven's tableland./A higher plane than I have found,/Lord plant my feet on higher ground.

V.2
My heart has no desire to stay/Where doubts arise and fears dismay;/Though some may dwell where these abound,/My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

V.3
I want to live above the world,/Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;/For faith has caught the joyful sound,/The song of saints on higher ground.

V.4
I want to scale the utmost height/And catch a gleam of glory bright;/But still I’ll pray till heaven I’ve found,/“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”

Oatman reached his "higher ground." He found what God had called him to do. It was not to be the next great gospel singer. It was not to be the next great preacher/soul-winner. It was to do both through the songs that he wrote. His songs have been a blessing and an inspiration to so many. This one, in particular, has blessed my life in a special way. Will you continue to pray with me to God the words of Oatman- "Lord, plant my feet on higher ground!"? 

I Dare You!

"I dare you!"

"I double-dog dare you!"

"I triple-dog dare you!"

The highest form of peer pressure experienced on the elementary school playground. If you were triple dog dared to do something, you did it no matter what it was, or you were regarded as uncool. Some of us may not have understood what we were saying or doing, but we would dare each other to do anything and everything! You would think that as we get older that this form of peer pressure wouldn't have as much of an effect on us.

And yet, as I have grown older, daring someone to do something has never lost its effectiveness. 

We still dare each other to do stupid things, we just aren’t as forthcoming to say the word. We'll say "I bet you can't jump over that fence" or "I bet you can't eat a whole pizza." That challenging of who we are and what we can do pushes us to extremes. A popular book a few years ago was "The Love Dare," challenging married people to learn how to truly love their spouse. So why is this dare concept so effective, and are there principles in the Bible that we should follow concerning taking on a dare?

I believe that as humans, our natural inclination is to take on these dares for our own pride and self-esteem. Like many things in life, there can be both good and bad dares.

The main point that drives these dares is peer pressure. Peer pressure is defined simply as being influenced by one's peer group to do something. Again, like anything, there can be good and bad peer pressure. So how do we know when we are experiencing good or bad, and how do we deal with that? The answer can be summed up in Psalm 1 and Proverbs 1. 

In Psalm 1:1, we read, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Proverbs 1:10-16 says, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, 'Come, with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:' My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood."

These 2 passages set forth principles of avoiding bad peer pressure at any age. When we think of peer pressure, we often think of those dares on the playground in elementary school or something stupid that we did on a school bus in high school. But peer pressure exists at any age of our lives. Peer pressure could come from a boss telling us to do something wrong to advance our job. Peer pressure could come from a co-worker making unwanted advances. I ask the question again, how do we deal with these influences?

1.  We must listen to Godly counsel. 

Who is the Psalmist in Psalm 1? Why the man after God's own heart- King David. Who is the write of Proverbs 1? Why it's the wisest man who ever lived- King Solomon. These two men, despite all of their flaws and all of their mistakes still honored God with their lives. They were kings that God used to execute justice and keep Israel safe from its enemies. And they wrote words down that God gave them for the people of Israel and for their own children. 

Unfortunately, Solomon's son, Rehoboam did not follow this advice from his grandfather, father or his father's Godly counsellors. He had all of the Godly influences he could have asked for. His father had built a temple to God and had written books and proverbs and songs that would lead someone to follow God. But he chose rather to listen to his peers. He chose to foolishly say, "I will crush these people under my iron fist because I deserve to be feared," rather than saying, "I will respect these people because I want to be respected by them and feared by all other peoples around us."

Is there someone in your life who is experienced as a teacher/studier of God's Word? Is there someone that you can go to for advice who has lived for God for years? If there is, you must most certainly listen to their advice above someone who is not following after God. 

2. We must be careful who we walk with.

Rehoboam was to be the next king of a full kingdom of Israel. He was approached by the elders of the people and was asked if he would be a king who would care for them or if he would crush them like his father did. Rehoboam went to his father's counsellors first, like we saw above, but just as we also saw above, he went to his friends as well. And after he did both of these, he followed the advice of his friends.

These "friends" who did not honor God with their lives. These "friends" who had no desire to serve Jehovah. Because Rehoboam followed this advice, he saw the kingdom split. He listened to  those who he thought were his friends, but rather they just caused him trouble.

Who are your friends? Who do you walk with? The Bible presents a very clear progression for us in Psalm 1:1. If we start walking with someone and keep heading down a path with them, eventually we will stand with them. Pretty soon standing won't be enough, and we will be sitting with them, committed to that same lifestyle. If we are not careful about who we walk with, who we are friends with, we may find ourselves in the counsel of the ungodly, the way of sinners, and the seat of the scornful, rather than in the counsel of the godly, the way of believers, and the seat of the righteous. 

Take these principles from God's Word. This advice that was given to Rehoboam by his father and grandfather. He didn't listen and it cost him many blessings from God. If you want to receive God's blessing you must take it.

I dare you!

Proverbs and Ecclesiastes: Our Wisdom

Proverbs 2:6

6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

When one thinks about wisdom in the Bible, his mind almost automatically goes to the book of Proverbs. The author of most of this book, as well as Ecclesiastes, Solomon, is known as the wisest man who ever lived. And while this fact is true, there is only one reason why Solomon was able to be this great wise man: God gave him that wisdom.

If you know the story, Solomon had taken over the throne from his father, David. He was now preparing to lead the great nation of Israel. He was very nervous and overwhelmed with the great task that stood before him. But God appeared to him in a dream. God asked Solomon what the young king wanted. Whatever Solomon asked for, God would give it to him. Solomon came, by his own admission, as a little child. He wasn't ready to lead a country! So he asked God for a wise and understanding heart. Because he asked for this good thing, God promised him so much more, including that none would ever have arisen or would ever rise who would be wiser than Solomon.

God was the source of Solomon's wisdom. We credit Solomon with so many great sayings, such as:

"5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (PROV. 3:5-6)."

"13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (ECC. 12:13)."

Solomon was so wise, yet even he, with all of his intellect, with all of his wisdom, with his great understanding heart, was nothing without God. When we look at these two books, it is like apples and oranges- two completely different men, yet it's the same author. The words of Solomon in Proverbs come from the heart of a man who is wise in the things of God. Yet the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes come from the mind and the heart of a man who has been wise in the things of the world.

So what happened? Why did Solomon, who had gained his great wisdom from God, turn away from that wisdom- turn away from that God? Well, Solomon disobeyed his own words in Proverbs 3:5-6. He didn't trust in the Lord anymore. Rather, he relied on his own understanding. He married foreign women, some with countries that could have tried to wipe out Israel. And while marrying the daughter of the ruler of his largest neighbors to form an alliance may be smart or wise in man's eyes, in God's eyes, it was downright wrong! He had commanded the Israelites not to inner-marry with foreigners. He knew that these women would turn the hearts of Israel away from God. And that is exactly what they did to Solomon. He took his eyes and trust off of the one who gave him wisdom, and trusted in his own understanding.

This is why Solomon came to the end of his life and wrote, "2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." That word vanity there means emptiness or unfulfilling. Solomon used that word in 29 different verses. Several times he used it multiple times in the same verse! He had lived through the world's wisdom and came to the realization that life without God is empty, it's unfulfilling, it's pointless! In Ecclesiastes 2:26, Solomon writes, "For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God." You see God is the only one who gives good wisdom. And because God is wise in all matters, because God is all-knowing, we as Christians can know that he is wisdom. And when we trust in Him, we can know that he is our wisdom!

 

Still, My Soul Be Still

Click the above picture to listen to this song on Spotify

Music is so versatile.  Think of any emotion or movement that you want to describe better than words can  There is always a sound or harmony of sounds that will match it exactly. Moving from one end of the spectrum to the other, today we transition from the fired-up rally cry to stand for a biblical cause to the quiet whisper-call for biblical rest.

Keith & Kristyn Getty are yet another husband/wife music duo that I am sure many of you have heard before.  They are best known for writing the very popular worship song, “In Christ Alone.”  But what sets them apart is that they are one of the few groups out there today trying to make NEW, original hymns – songs meant to capture the rich truth of the Christian faith, but set to modern music.  Their success is warranted and their philosophy is admirable:

“There are two reasons we write modern hymns,” explains Keith.  “First, it’s to help teach the faith. What we sing affects how we think, how we feel and ultimately how we live, so it’s so important that we sing the whole scope of truth the Bible has given us. The second reason is to try to create a more timeless musical style that every generation can sing, a style that relates to the past and the future.”

The song, “Still My Soul Be Still” isn’t entirely original, since it is inspired by the old Katharina von Schlegel hymn: “Be Still My Soul” (1752).  The spirit of both songs is an encouragement to believers to cling to the unique and unending peace of Christ.  The Getty’s song pairs Kristyn’s gentle, angelic voice with Keith’s masterful orchestration.  The result is a marriage between good artistry and the ageless message of being still within God’s rest:

Still, my soul be still and do not fear 
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow 
God is at your side 
No longer dread the fires of unexpected sorrow

God, You are my God, and I will trust in You and not be shaken 
Lord of peace renew a steadfast spirit within me 
To rest in You alone

Still, my soul be still. Do not be moved 
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows 
Hold onto His ways with shield of faith 
Against temptations flaming arrows

Still, my soul be still. Do not forsake 
The Truth you learned in the beginning 
Wait upon the Lord 
And hope will rise as stars appear when day is dimming

My favorite part of these lyrics are the pictures from nature that illustrate the magnitude of God’s rest.  Dwelling upon the rages of fierce wind and roaring fire can be terrifying, but God considers these to be “lesser lights and fleeting shadows” compared to His greater offer of supreme shelter and safety.  While we are still dwelling in this land of fearful night and doom, we must look up and remember that “hope will rise as stars appear.”

Beyond physical anecdotes in nature, the Scriptures offer us a solid invitation to the bountiful Rest that God offers through Jesus Christ.  Listen to these excerpts from Hebrews 4: “…the promise of entering His rest still stands…For we who have believed enter that rest…Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God…Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest…let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

These pieces of biblical text do not unpack the entire meaning of Hebrews 4, but rather isolates the language of God’s rest.  The idea is to help us better see that Christian peace is different and better because it is based on promises, the finished work of God and the orientation of God’s grace towards sinners. We don’t deserve rest and we don’t live in a world that allows us to enjoy complete rest, but our hope is strong and our confidence is based on the sure character of God in Christ.

Therefore, we can enter His rest and hold fast to His grace. We are called to strive for rest (which sounds like an oxymoron) because God does give us a measure of Heaven and a taste of future full rest in our hearts as God’s Spirit dwells within us today – activating God’s truths from the inside out.  God’s rest is tremendously useful and vital towards every aspect of our lives and no other religion offers anything like it.

Today, let this song (and it’s truth) be a balm over your anxiety and a soothing agent of trust in God over your doubts and fears.  Still.  My soul be still.

This story originally appeared on Truth in Tunes. See this story and more at https://truthintunes.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/still-my-soul-be-still-keith-kristyn-getty-2009-awaken-the-dawn/

The Saving of the Magician

No fan of the Philadelphia Eagles was happy this past week, as the team traded fan favorite player, Long Snapper/Magician Jon Dorenbos. Up until this past year, no one outside of Philadelphia would have known who he was. He plays one of the most seemingly insignificant positions on the football field. But he was a leader in the community and in the locker room. When he went on America's Got Talent and showcased his skills as a magician, along with telling his story, the whole country knew his name. Jon had a rotten childhood- he testified in the trial of his father's murder of his mother when he was twelve years old! But he pushed through all of that. Magic and football became safe havens for him. He signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent and spent some time with the Tennessee Titans before signing on with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006, where he has been playing and performing ever since.

Fast-forward to August 2017. The Eagles trade Dorenbos to the New Orleans Saints for a 7th round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Outrage ensues. People were flooding social media with questions like, "Why did we trade this leader in our locker room?" and "Why did we only get a 7th rounder for him?" All signs pointed to him losing his job as long snapper, but Eagles fans didn't care. We loved this guy. He was the longest tenured Eagles player at 15 years of service for them. We loved his magic, his humor, his story, his commitment. But that all went away in a matter of moments.

Now, on Friday, September 8, 2017, we hear more news from Jon Dorenbos. After a follow-up physical to the one Dorenbos took to complete the trade, the Saints announced that Dorenbos has an aortic aneurysm. He will require open heart surgery that will end his season, and could possibly end his career. 

Would the doctors have caught this at a routine physical at the Eagles facility? Probably not. The Saints were doing checks on him as he was a new player and that is why they caught it. This trade, while Eagles fans have hated it, saved their magician's life!

Just as Eagles fans (myself included) did not understand this trade when it took place, it was done for a purpose. Did Coach Doug Pederson of the Eagles know of an aortic aneurysm when he made this trade? He says he did not. I don't believe that General Manager Howie Roseman did either. But God worked the timing of this trade out so that the doctors would find this major health issue in this man.

I don't know if Jon Dorenbos is a Christian or not. But I do know this: God is working in our lives the same way he has worked in this situation. It may not be something as life threatening as an aortic aneurysm. It may be His simply helping a student bring a D up to C in a class or leading us to that special someone when we had no idea who that person was before that day. One of the most quoted verses on this is Romans 8:28 -- "For all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." When we love God, when we exhibit a lifestyle that is responding to His calling, He will help all things -- the good, the bad, the ugly -- work together for good. All of the circumstances in our life will come together and work out His plan. His will. 

Approved unto God

It's that time of year: the beginning of the school year is upon us all. Many of us college students started school over a week ago, while many pre, elementary, and high schools are beginning this week. Some of you reading this would have started even before that. Tonight, I would like to offer you an encouragement and a challenge as you begin a year of learning.

As you go throughout this year, there is no doubt that you will be doing a lot of studying. In the Bible, the word study is specifically used five different times. Here are those five times:

Proverbs 15:28
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Proverbs 24:1-2
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Ecclesiastes 12:12
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

I Thessalonians 4:11
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What principles can we take into this school year from these five Bible passages?

1. Study so you are able to give an answer.

When we study, we should be studying so we can give an answer. What is the point of studying otherwise? But this is more than just studying for the purpose of giving an answer. This is studying so that we do not look like fools when we have not studied.

I was a student who didn't have to study much in elementary or high school. But when it came to my final exams, I had to study hard so that I did not look like a fool when the test was placed in front of me and when the grade came out. Even now in college, there are times when I do not have to study as much- because I have studied something out or know it already- but there are still times when I absolutely need to study, or I will look like a fool.

2. Study what is right.

What is the point of studying if what we are studying is wrong? We have already seen that we need to study to give an answer. If we study the wrong material though, we will be giving the wrong answer. 

In the context of this passage, the wrong "material" is the way of the wicked. The wicked desire to do just that- wickedness. Mischief. Evil. If we study to be like them, we will be on a path that is leading to destruction. But if we study the right material, the righteous way, we can live on that righteous path for all our lives.

3. Study the Word of God above all else.

Now I know what many of you thought when you read Ecclesiastes 12:12-- "MOM!!! THIS GUY JUST SAID TOO MUCH STUDYING ISN'T GOOD FOR ME!!!" But we have to realize where Solomon, the author, is coming from here in this book. This is the same author and book where it is said, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" And obviously, everything is not emptiness. What Solomon is saying here is that much studying of topics outside of God's Word without finding and reading the commandments of God, along with obeying them, is not good for a follower of God. It makes us weary- tired. It's why PCC insists that all students take a Bible class every semester. The Bible refreshes us when we are in the middle of studying other topics and is the most important book for each of us to study.

4. Study quietly and diligently.

We may hate to do our studying quietly and diligently, but there are definite benefits in doing this. Verse 12 of I Thessalonians 4 explains these benefits, one of which we have already somewhat looked at.

Benefit number 1 is that we "may walk honestly toward them that are without. . ." This verse is referring to those people who are unbelievers- without, or outside, the body of Christ. When we have diligently studied, especially God's Word, we can honestly answer unbelievers and help them understand God's Word.

Benefit number 2 is that we "may have lack of nothing." When God says this, He is saying that He will supply for all of our needs. He expresses this throughout the Bible. This is the principle found in Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." When we focus on our study of  God and His Word, He is more than able to supply our needs.

5. Study to be approved by God.

II Timothy 2 speaks of how we should study. We should study in a way that God approves of us and our actions, specifically in how we study His Word. We should be "rightly dividing the Word of Truth"- or rightly going through the Bible, taking its teachings, and learning to apply them to our lives in a way that's honoring and pleasing to Him.

So this school year, take these principles on studying from God's Word to heart as you looked to be approved by God as good workmen and students.

Constant through Craziness

The above picture, taken from a boat in the rising floodwaters of Hurricane Harvey by my uncle, is just a part of one example of the craziness that our world--our country--has gone through in the last few months. From the Charlottesville riots to terrorist attacks to great natural disasters, there is no doubt that many are wondering how to respond. Many Christians see this and think, "How do I act now that something has happened?" The truth is that as Christians often are this way and this should not be the case. The Bible says in I Peter 3:15, "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" So how do we do this? How do we look at our crazy world and show people what it means to be a Christian through everything that we go through?

1. We must act like Christ.

Now I know what some of you are thinking: This guy is doing a series all about pictures of Christ and how we should be like him. Why is he bringing that into this topic? To be quite honest it's because we need to hear it. I need to hear it. As Christians, we are called by our very title to be "little Christs." And how did Christ respond to things like we are going through now? Well, for starters, he calmed storms on the sea of Galilee and walked on water. He took Peter's hand and raised him up from drowning. He quieted a mob that was trying to kill a woman and then took compassion on her. 

Where does his example leave us? We can't walk on water or control the weather. We can't always reach down and pick someone up off the edge of the water to save them from drowning. And calming a mob with simple words is not going to be everyone's forte. But what did Jesus have and give during each of these situations that we can emulate? He gave hope and he gave peace. He gave the disciples hope that they could make it through the storm and peace once the storm was gone. He gave Peter hope that he could walk on the water and peace when he lifted him from the waves. He gave the woman caught in adultery peace that there were no more accusers around her and hope that she could live a life that honors God. We can give people that same hope and peace through Christ. 

2. We must maintain our testimony.

So often we look at our world and it causes us to lose our testimony. It may be in an expletive-laden rant on social media. It may be in how we approach someone on the street in the middle of a crisis. It may even be in what we don't do for someone- not helping an unbeliever who knows we are a Christian when they need it can damage the cause of Christ. It is unfortunate in our day and age when the children of God do nothing to help. James 1:27 reads, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." The first part of what God sees as pure and undefiled religion is doing just that- helping those who are in great need. And the second part of pure religion is taking this whole point and living it out by keeping our testimony clean. 

3. We must watch for Christ's coming.

"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch (Mark 13:35-37)." 

In this passage, Jesus was talking with the two sets of brothers in his inner circle: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. They had asked him, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?" They wanted to know what would happen in the future. Through the whole chapter, Jesus told them of many events to come. His one admonition to them through it all was said in two different ways: "take heed" and "watch." Take heed is basically our modern "look out!" It was a warning to be looking for those who would attempt to decieve them. But the watching is specifically mentioned four times in the final five verses of the passage. Jesus wanted his disciples then and now to watch for Him to come back. Verse 37 shows that He wanted them to watch, and He wanted everyone else to watch. 

Jesus is coming soon. As each day comes and goes with all of its craziness, we should become more like Him. We should maintain our testimony before God and the world. We should watch for His coming. 

Free Online Bible College!!!

Updated: 9/3/17

If you are like me, then you can't get enough of studying the Word of God. I am currently a Missions Major at a Christian college and I do daily devotions, but I am always wanting more. I decided to look online for Bible studies and even free Bible college classes or degrees. DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to agree with everything that these free Christian courses teach. Discretion must be taken, along with careful Biblical study outside of the classes. Here is what I've found so far:

• iTunes U: This is offered in the iTunes store. Many colleges have provided videos for free in this application. There are various Christian colleges and seminaries who have provided free classes, including Liberty University and Dallas Theological Seminary.
• Faithful Baptist College: This is a college run by a local church and is free online. Even though they have only one track of study, they provide a bachelor, masters, and doctoral degree. 
• http://biblecollegevideos.com/
• Great Commission Bible College: A more charismatic Bible college, GCBC provides lessons and quizzes and goes from 2 diplomas to an associate, bachelor, masters, and finally doctoral degree. Outside study should be used here especially. 
• http://afoledu.us/
• Jesus Moment Bible Institute: This Bible college offers free courses from several different sites. All of these courses can combine to equal an associates degree or up to a bachelors degree.
• http://onlinebibleinstitute.org/
• Online Bible College: A free online Bible college that offers 25 courses for certificates/diplomas, as well as 2 longer courses that are completely optional, and not required to receive the diploma.
• http://www.onlinebiblecollege.com/new/index.php
• The School of Biblical Evangelism: While normally $150, if you have a financial hardship that would restrict you from taking this course OR are a missionary, they will allow you to take the course for free. It is 101 online lessons with 45 audio lessons all about how to share your faith more effectively.
• http://www.biblicalevangelism.net/

If you know of any others, please comment below with both the link to the site and any details that you can provide.

Psalms: Our Shepherd

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

In the book of Psalms, there are two passages where the Lord is referred to as a shepherd. Psalm 23 is the most common one. If one has any semblance of a Christian education, he is taught the 23rd Psalm. Many Christians and Catholics alike have committed it to memory. Psalm 80 is a much lesser known Psalm. 

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.

3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?

5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.

In these passages, both David and Asaph speak to God from the perspective of sheep calling out to a shepherd or sheep being led by a shepherd. They so desperately want to see God take their own lives and the lives of their people and lead them through life. Through previous pictures, we have seen God lead as king and judge, but how does he lead as the shepherd?

First, a shepherd leads gently. In verse 2 of Psalm 23, David says that God leads to green pastures and beside still waters. These green pastures are not rough like the mountains of Israel, but rather they are the fields that surround the homes of the people. And while sometimes the mountains come, when we have passed through those mountains, there is green grass for us to lay down in- gently. The same applies to the waters. The waters that God leads us by are not rushing rivers that would scare us away so that we cannot drink. Rather these waters are calm streams, creeks, lakes, and ponds. The water is still. The water is peaceful. It provides us with a sense of comfort that we would otherwise not experience without the gentle hand of God leading us.

Secondly, a shepherd leads while guarding. Psalm 23:4 talks about the valley of the shadow of death. But, David says, even though we pass through this dreadful valley, we don't need to fear because the Shepherd is right there leading us with His rod and with His staff. The rod was typically a shorter piece of wood and was quite thick at times. The rod's purpose was striking. David very well may have used the rod when he struck the animals who would have tried to kill his sheep. It could have been used as either an offensive or defensive weapon against enemies. The staff had a completely different purpose than the rod. The staff is the stick that we often picture shepherds with. A long pole with a large hook on the end. Its purpose was to corral the sheep and to keep them away from the edge of a cliff or a thorn bush. With the hook, the shepherd could easily grab one of his sheep while keeping a safe distance away from the danger himself. This was used against traps. Both are effective in guarding the sheep against any dangers that they may face. 

Finally, a shepherd leads while giving. When one comes to the end of Psalm 23, he encounters two verses that spread out four gifts from the shepherd: the set table, the anointing of oil, the full cup, and the eternal home. The set table is just what it sounds like- it is the food that we enjoy. Not only are we enjoying it, we are enjoying it in the presence of our enemies. His guarding that we saw in the previous verse now allows Him to provide for our needs. This table is not necessarily overly-abundant at this time. But it is a table that fulfills our need.

The anointing of oil was a sign of respect whenever one entered another's home. This gift was designed to show love and acceptance as long as the person was in the home. And daily, we can approach God and be accepted as anointed believers.

The running over of the cup was another custom when one would be a guest in someone's home. A family would give their guest a cup and be careful to make sure that they filled it to the point where it overflowed. This symbolized that as long as the guest was in their home, they would have plenty- abundance.  In the same way, God not only provides for our daily needs, but he also provides us with abundant blessings when we follow His leadership.

The final gift of Psalm 23 is the eternal home. Just like we may have stray dogs and cats today, at some points there would be stray sheep in Bible times. They wouldn't have a fold to call home or a shepherd's voice to follow. But this is where we connect the words of Jesus to the words of the Psalmist. When Jesus spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd, or as the Door of the fold, He spoke of this leadership and of the welcoming into the fold that each of his sheep receives. It doesn't matter where they've come from or what they have seen, they can be welcomed into the fold of God and find a forever home. And today, if you have not done so already, you can be welcomed into the fold of God.

The Heart of Worship

The Heart of Worship

One of the most popular praise and worship songs of the early 2000's has to have been this song written by Matt Redman. "The Heart of Worship" is a deep song of praise to God with an even deeper back story.

In the late 90's, Matt's home church was in the midst of a spiritually apathetic time. Their worship time was very much stagnant. It had no purpose. His pastor, Mike Pilavachi, made a decision that would change the way the church worshipped. He took away the sound system and the band, everything that the church would have viewed as important to the worship "experience." He wanted to strip the church of its facade and focus on worshipping God. This allowed the people to see why they were really in the building- why they were really worshipping. 

They had come to the heart of worship.

Matt Redman wrote this song after having this experience with his church. They had restored the band and the sound system by the time he'd finished, but the meaning still held true for him and the congregation:

VERSE 1

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come./Longing just to bring something that's of worth that will bless your heart.

PRE-CHORUS 

I'll give you more than a song for a song in itself is not what you have required./You search much deeper within through the way things appear you're looking into my heart.

CHORUS

I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus./I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it when it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus.

VERSE 2

King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve./Though I'm weak and poor all I have is yours every single breath.

PRE-CHORUS & CHORUS

They had come to love God so much. They knew now what it meant to honor and love him in their worship. I preached a message earlier this year on this very subject. Just as the song says, God does not want our songs. He doesn't require it. Our songs are a way of showing our heart to Him, of showing Him how much we love and adore Him. When we realize this and put it into practice, we have reached the heart of worship.