How did Noah look at it?

I have worked in the construction industry. In and of itself it is an entirely different world than most are used to. Just think, the typical home fix it job lasts twice or three times as long to complete as expected and requires two trips to the hardware store. Multiply that thought by Pi for each job subset. Now add the interruption of phone calls, incompetence of others with poor listening skills and or work habits, weather permitting, and you have the construction industry. It would look like this

Finished product = (est $ + Lowe’s*2)*Pi + Press # for more options + (Break time and not my job man) / Acts of God.

Personally, acts of God are your only hope. So getting into this project I had some experiential expectation of what I would encounter.

You see, memorial day our basement flooded. We did not have flood insurance, and the insurance did not cover the loss in any fashion. So Bank of dad to the rescue. After three estimates we chose a contractor and paid a deposit. We have ordered by price comparison shopping all the materials to finish the job, paint, carpet, baseboards, the endless rollers, and odds and ends. All of it stacked in my garage on top of the furniture from the flood. So far I count four trips to Lowe’s. I have rearranged the garage three times to be able to get stuff in and to be able to paint baseboards for the install. My air compressor quit working too. Sounds like I could sing the twelve weeks of remodel. On the first day of remodel my contractor gave to me, much false hope….

The saying is true, “If your marriage can survive a remodel it can survive anything”.

Our house is a wreck. Things are lost. Cleaning merely involves rearranging the deck chairs and turning out lights. The sarcastic joy of it all is that old line “Why won’t he return my call”?

My solution, its all stuff. Wood, hay, stubble. I am fed up with it keeping me from my time with God by rescheduling and false hopes, but isn’t that the point. It is a testing to see will I keep perspective and seek God’s help (acts of God remember) rather than doing it my way. Noah had to persevere too. The main thing was not the ark but the promises and name of God.

Tomorrow, I fight dirty, I will get the church to pray.

Music Part 3

As the third part of my installment on music that inspires us to persevere I wanted to spotlight Sovereign Grace Music. They can be found on Facebook as a group page at http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/

Last December I discovered them through C J Mahaney's web log. I have found that these musicians are biblically sound and challenging. The music itself is quite separate from the world, even though it may be meditational, rock sounding, or other categories. All that I have listened to has captivated my mind to the things of God.

Personally, I love their Come O Weary Saints CD. It may be my favorite, but also the Psalms CD brings your wandering thoughts to plateaus of peace. If I were to recommend a third disk, one you can actually read the bible with and have undistracting background fill, is the CD THe Valley of Vision.

Sovereign Grace is reasonably priced, ($6 to $12 range) and you will find the quality and depth greater then most other resources. I love that their Facebook group will often offer free MP3 downloads. I just ripped 7 songs this week. When you visit the store you will find you can listen to a sample of the songs, and often frin further free MP3s. Included in their website are PDF downloads for guitar chords, lead sheets, piano arrangements and lyrics. All you need for Sunday praise band.

I hope you will take advantage of this great music. It has quickly become the soundtrack for all I do.

My Songs of Perseverance

>My Favorite Songs of Inspiration to Persevere

As I look to perseverance I find that songs that are consumed with scriptural truths tend to be the most powerful. It seems most of the best ones were written several decades ago. Currently I am finding some contemporary songs that wow me too. Tomorrow I hope to share with you a great source for God centered contemporary music.

My music tastes are varied, but to inspire they must be God centered. I personally dislike “In the Garden”, and “Love Lifted Me”. Both seem much of a self centered aspect of I am special above all others tone. Self esteem is promotion of self over God (Remember deny self, take up your cross, and follow Jesus) But this blog entry is not meant to be a critique.

Now, please keep this in mind. I find that we need Christian music for two purposes. One purpose is for pure entertainment. Why should we listen to AC DC, Big and Rich, MC Flavor of the week, or any other “artist” who fails to glorify God but stands opposed to Him? There are times in the car or cleaning house where music is a good background for what we are doing. Mind you the entertaining Christian music we listen to ought to be theologically sound. One contemporary hit has great melody and guitars, but one line talks as if the cross was motivated by a desire to save me alone. That is so wrong, I don’t know where to begin. The cross was all about God showing His nature, not my merit or worth. (I digress)

Then there is the need for music to draw us to the cross. As a caveat, a few months back I attended St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida. This is where R. C. Sproul pastors. As we walked in a small orchestra, strings, horns and an organ played selections from Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart. Never had I been so moved by such orchestration. My heart leaped with anticipation for worship. This music was different than that of the general world. It was pregnant with otherness. Music that is soli Deo Gloria ought to be other.

So music ought to draw us to the cross. It should remind us of who God is and who we are in that perspective. Often it should be just like the Psalms, here am I a wicked sinner, I plead for you to hear my prayer. Great worship music ought to have an otherness, but that is not to say it can not include guitars, drums, and choruses. It also should not be solely about how it makes me feel but how does it lead me to look at God?

That being said, here is my list of songs that motivate me to persevere….

And Can it Be, Charles Wesley

Amazing Grace, John Newton

Holy, Holy, Holy, Reginald Heber

Silent Night, Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber

A Mighty Fortress is our God, Martin Luther

Blessed be Your Name, Matt and Beth Redman

In Christ Alone, Keith Getty & Stuart Townsend

Mighty is the Power of the Cross, Chris Tomlin, Sean Crain, & Jesse Reeves

There is None Like You, Lenny Leblanc

The Wonderful Cross, Isaac Watts, Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and J D Walt

Tomorrow I hope to share a source of some new music that hs been greatly lifting me since January!