Friday, July 22, 2011

Luther on the Cross

"This is the love of the cross, born of the cross, which turns in the direction where it does not find good that it may enjoy, but where it may confer good upon the bad and needy person. 'It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:25).' says the Apostle." Martin Luther quoted in Gerhard Forde, On Becoming a Theologian of the Cross.

I love the way that Luther includes the quote from Acts 20. I'd never thought about that statement in that way. Of course it is more blessed to give than to receive because that is the model of what God has done. He didn't seek out worshippers to enhance His life by their gifts but He created so as to give the eternal love of the Trinity. And having created He didn't seek fit receptacles for that love but renewed those who were wholly unfitted by their sin.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Karitos Worship Poems

I just finished the Karitos 2011 conference tonight. This year during the worship times when we were encouraged to participate in free unguided worship I chose to use the time to write. I'm not a dancer nor a very free ad hoc composer/songwriter/harmonizer, so I chose to do what I could to praise God. I ended up with several rough poems. These are the two that are the most finished.

The Syro-Phoenician Women (written Thursday night and based on Mark 7:24-30)

Was I a dog? Did it matter?
My little girl was locked in the power of evil.
He had the power to set her free.
He was a Jew and I should care what he calls me?
But he wasn't just a Gallilean passing through,
He was the one with the power of life and death.
He was the one who spoke and demons fled.
Was there any name he could call me and I would turn away?
He was my daughter's hope
And He was her salvation!
I'll be his "little dog."
I'll be his swine!
And I will proclaim his power forever.

Body Praise

Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings,
Lord of lords, God Most High,
Without whom nothing was made that was made.
In the freedom of muscle and bone
Ligament and tendon we will praise you.

Will the rocks sing and the trees clap,
Will the mountains and hills break forth
and skip like lambs
And our bodies praise only with the tongue?
Rather with leaping and twirling,
Bowing and throwing hands on high
They will exult in the freedom you give.
They will extol the glory that is yours from all time.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Not Dead

For the record, this blog is not dead. It's just been enjoying a very long nap.