God promises us “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1). Some people leap to the conclusion that God will simply throw the present creation onto the scrap heap, so to speak, and start over again from scatch. But this cannot be right. We ourselves are part of this present creation. And if we trust in Christ, we know that we will not end up on the scrap heap!

A real Christian life is one infused with the qualities of Christ himself. But we have replaced submission, service, and sacrifice with salesmanship, self-help, and success.
Here is an excerpt from a challenging article written by someone who may surprise you. Read it first, and I will tell you who wrote it after.

When Martin Luther lamented at the end of his life that he might not be justified, he must have seen something dark in himself in relation to the Scriptures, something that we in the modern church might be overlooking.

The Scriptures say that we are to be known as followers of Christ by the evidence of our love for one another, but we’re not (see John 13:35).

The Scriptures say that we are not to boast about what we have or what we have done, but we do (see Jer. 9:23-24).

The Scriptures say that in the last days people will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, and we are (see 2 Tim. 3:5, NKJV).

Very often we charismatics rejoice in the power of God, and rightly so. But we subject ourselves to ridicule when we boast that we are not among those “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).

We claim that we have spiritual power and others don’t because of our openness to accept and operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

But our words fall short when our marriages don’t work, our children are wild and disobedient, and we refine the art of giving and receiving money to the point that we could qualify as the experts in greed that Peter warns about in his second letter (see 2 Pet. 2:14).

We have a credibility problem. We have some wonderful churches, but increasingly, people do not seek to be connected . . .

. . . Maybe we’re not Christians. Maybe we’re just the most popular religion of the day, using the power of persuasion, the force of our numbers, and the strength of our money to advance our ideology.

Maybe we just believe whatever makes sense to us by default, and we don’t truly—as individuals and as communities of Christians—seek to be genuine disciples and to do God’s work of caring for the fatherless and the widow of our day.

Could we be Pharisees? Our own books, television programs and prophecies should make us wonder.

I believe that we all know and love the Word, but we live in earthly vessels with a fallen nature. We feel and see the hopes of the Spirit within, but we also end up doing the very things we do not want to do.

When we preach, write, lobby, raise money, build, broadcast, threaten, sue and spin, we present conflicting images that don’t stand up very well against the tests of time and scrutiny. We are confusing the world, other Christians, and our families.

This isn’t something that can be changed with a list of practical exercises. This is something that has to be dealt with deep within us by exposing ourselves to the wisdom of the Scriptures, to one another, and to God.

“Maybe we’re not Christians.” Ouch.

He has a very real point. As long as our churches — religious, irreligious, and anti-religious — keep preaching Jesus as one who makes your life better rather than Jesus who makes dead people live, as long as we keep teaching Christianity as the gospel of personal fulfillment rather than the call to self-crucifixion — we are proclaiming Christianity as an unneeded cure for a mythical ailment.

The truth is not that we don’t like ourselves enough, have enough success, get happy enough, etc. The truth is that we are sinners in need of resurrection. If no less a giant than Martin Luther could acknowledge this, what makes us stumble over admitting it for ourselves? I think it is because we are prone to believe the problem is everyone and everything else — but not us. It is not safe or “nice” to talk about this stuff. Sin is a forbidden word in the American church. We don’t want people to be uncomfortable or feel judged.

But if we are not honest about the real problem facing us — inside of us — we cannot be truthful about salvation. And if we are not truthful about salvation, the people we are so fearful of offending or irritating will face a discomfort and a judgment that is eternally more uncomfortable and judgmental than some hurt feelings this side of the second coming.

Christianity is life or death stuff.

The writer of the above article excerpt is Ted Haggard. Three years after its publication, he would resign from the pastorate of his Colorado megachurch because he was cheating on his wife with a man. This is how he concludes his article:

We have to get this right. Even though the global church is stronger than we’ve ever been, we in the American church are showing early signs of impotence. We are in a global theatre now, which means that our words, actions, investments and thoughts have greater impact. Thus, we have the opportunity to do unprecedented good, but also the dangerous ability to do unparalleled damage.

Let’s make the right choice. If you are like me, you are conflicted. I don’t like this column. Granted, there is a part of me that does. But most of me likes the comforts of the church I serve, the way I travel, the way I’m treated by both the public and the body of Christ. I enjoy the political platform we Christians are given.

But at the same time, there is a dark cloud in the back of my mind woondering if God isn’t stirring another Martin Luther to nail his theses to our church doors.

I would rather have us return to our foundations of integrity by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the illumination of the Scriptures, rather than have us defending our lifestyles, edifices and power to future generations as they read history books recounting our demise because of our own hypocrisy.

We need to ensure that we are not the whitewashed tombs and snakes of our day (see Matt. 23:27, 33). We need to be sure.

Are we willing to embrace this sort of Christian integrity? Haggard’s words here are piercing, penetrating. They are also chilling in retrospect. This is obviously a man wrestling with sin, a sin that, as the Bible promises, “found him out.”

Can we be honest with ourselves and about ourselves? Are we willing to trade in the gospel of personal fulfillment for the gospel of Jesus Christ, who was pummeled and pierced for our brokenness? Will we trade our right to happiness for real joy? Will we trade in our desire for conflict-free lives for real peace? Will we trade in our selfish optimism for real hope?

Will we trade our Christianity for Jesus’?

That is God’s call upon the life of the follower of Jesus. That is God’s call upon the life of His churches.

via gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com

Are we growing in godliness? (*2 Pet. 1:3-11)

This is an e-mail I sent our musicians and vocalists last week. I’m hoping will be useful to you and your worship team as well.

Leading people in worship—whether you are behind a kit, keyboard, guitar, violin, cello, sax or microphone—is something that should be taken seriously. Being a husband, wife or godly single is something that should be taken seriously. Being a mother or father is something that should be taken seriously. Being a Christ-follower is definitely something that should be taken seriously.

Some of us have been together for 10 years, some of us for one weekend. No matter the time period, I want to ask a difficult question: “Are we growing?”

Are you increasing in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love (2 Pet. 1)?

The Holy Spirit not only defends against sin, but He attacks it by producing godly character in believers. Do you reflect the character of God with love? Are you joyful? Are you a person of peace? Are you patient, kind, good, faithful and gentle? Do you resist the flesh with self-control? Do you lead in humility? (So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col. 3:12) Do you love the Bible? (I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great spoil. Ps. 119:162) Are you growing in godliness? If not, do you desire to grow in these areas?

Are we growing in preparedness?

Pre•par•ed•ness refers to the state of being prepared for specific or unpredictable events or situations. It is an important quality in achieving goals and in avoiding and mitigating negative outcomes.

It is expected that we arrive for rehearsal on Sundays prepared. This means opening Planning Center Online earlier in the week, show up on time and have our parts practiced. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of being able to play with the same band every week, which means you show up once a month with a new group of people. In a two-hour period, you are expected to not only hammer out each of the songs, but to gel with one another and actually worship—the reason we gather each Sunday anyway. I’m certainly not speaking of the weeks I get the songs out too late. I’ve done this over the years and I’m sorry. I am working on getting that list out earlier each week.

Are you growing in preparedness? If not, do you desire to grow in this area?

Are we growing in our gifting; are we improving?

We’re all presented with the challenge of how to improve our capacity for creative expression and grow in our gifting.

The key to improving is recognizing your weaknesses on your instrument, and not shying away from them; rather, face them head on. This may require a great teacher and is certainly something that any musician should be considering, regardless of ability or experience. A good teacher will point you towards areas for improvement, and give you strategies and practice techniques to move forward.

Here are just three areas to consider:

1. Ear –
   Often a musician will be more proficient at one of these and the other will lack somewhat. Listening to a song and working out the parts on your instrument is a great way to learn to play what you hear. This is a really helpful skill for playing within our team, but also writing parts for songs.
2. Timing –
   Every musician/vocalist should own and practice with a metronome. Start by singing or playing a song you already know. Break it down into small pieces—an intro riff or verse melody—and practice one of these with the click repetitively for at least 2 minutes. Work on articulation, precision and rhythmic accuracy. Change the tempo and try the same line again.
3. Creativity –
   Practice being creative. Improvisation and writing parts, making melodies on the spot is one of the great aspects of music. Like any other activity, practice improves your ability to create what you want to create. I recommend doing this with other musicians. One of you might play chords under a singer/other instrumentalist and then switch it around. Practice coming up with parts over different chords. Buy a recording device, and you can do this anytime. Enjoy the process of honing your skills and opening new possibilities for creative expression on your instruments.

Know and understand your role. You are a worship leader (musician/vocalist) standing on a stage in front of many people who will either think about you or about God. Though we can’t control the thoughts of others but we can certainly keep from being a distraction as we point others to God as we worship Him. Do you want people to think about you, or is the worship of God your desire?

Understand the big picture. Is there is a spot where you can let the song breathe a bit, or will you have to fill that hole? Less is more.

Here is some help in the area of growing in our musical gifts:

+ Vocalists, are you singing on days other than Sundays? Are you strengthening your vocal cords? Just as you lift weights to strengthen certain muscles at the gym, you should be singing often and learning to breathe well in order to strengthen your vocal cords. Check out this website for more information on voice functioning, as well as videos of what’s actually going on when you’re singing (pretty interesting).

Are you using the Vocal Coach CD, or something comparable, to warm up your voice and expand your range? If not, I would highly recommend you do so.

Resources:
Vocal Technique
Basic Vocal Techniques
Vocal Training in Dallas – 1
Vocal Training in Dallas – 2
How to Breathe When Singing
How to Sing With Your Diaphragm

Recommended Listening:
Passion (Christy Nockels), Hillsong (Jill McCloghry & Brooke Ligertwood), Joy Williams, Sara Bareilles, Natalie Grant, Regina Spektor , Kendall Payne, Christina Aguilera and Sarah McLachlan.

Listen for things like pitch (sharp/flat), rhythm, when and how they breathe, diction, crescendo (to get gradually louder), decrescendo (to get gradually softer), staccato (singing the notes in a short and detached way, usually used for fast or happy and lively songs) and legato (singing in a smooth and jointed fashion), vibrato (a rapid, slight variation in pitch) and when and how they choose to belt their voice and or soften it.

+ Guitar players, are you working on scales, picking, strum patterns, making space, etc. Are you playing our style at The Village? Do you think about tone? Do you think creatively?

Resources Electric:
The Pursuit of Tone
Electric Guitar Amps/Pedal Boards (by Jeff Capps)
Amp Settings
Guitars, Riffs and Songwriting
Nigel playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)

Resources Bass:
Bob playing ‘Desert Song’ (Hillsong)
Ads playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)
Ads playing ‘Run’ (Hillsong)

Recommended listening:
U2 (The Edge), Hillsong United (Nigel), Chris Tomlin (Daniel), The Fray (Joe King)

+ Drummers, are you listening to drummers that have our style? Are you practicing?

Resources:
Finding the Pocket
Exponential Motivation
Rolf playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)
Rolf playing ‘Run’ (Hillsong)

Recommended listening:
‘Absolute’ & ‘You Found Me’ by The Fray, ‘You Won’t Relent’ by Chris Quilala & Kim Walker, ‘Hosanna’ by Starfield, ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay, ‘My Love, My Enemy’ & ‘Someday, Sarah’ by Dave Barnes, ‘We The Redeemed’ and ‘You Hold Me Now’ by Hillsong, ‘God of Justice’ by Tim Hughes, ‘Love Invades’ by Robbie Seay Band and ‘Move’ & ‘Free’ by Mercy Me.

+ Keys, are you listening to creative keys players? Are you practicing? Have you ever thought about using delay?

Resources:
Approach to Keyboard Playing
Pete’s Gear List
Listening/Musical Influences
Playing ‘Stronger’ (Hillsong)
Playing ‘Desert Song’ (Hillsong)

Recommended Listening:
Hillsong (Great use of pads, piano, Rhodes, delay, etc), Coldplay, Tim Hughes (esp. ‘God of Justice’ it’s tough timing and ‘When I Survey’ from the “Happy Day-Live Worship” CD), The Fray, Jamie Cullum (Twentysomething), Josh Drew (Call or email him. He is an amazing teacher) and Keith Jarrett (The Koln Concert).

Are you growing in your gifting? Are you improving? If not, do you desire to grow in this area?

Are we serving for the right reasons and in the right ministry?

I know that serving in the worship ministry takes time and energy. I know it’s a sacrifice. You give up at least one night of the week of your rotation to rehearse the songs on your own, and then you show up on Sunday and give up that whole day. I know that some of you have families and other responsibilities that wait for them as soon as they get home on Sunday night and/or Monday morning. I know you can grow weary; but I also know that the Lord will provide. I know if you are serving for the right reasons, in the right ministry, God will be glorified. Are you serving for the right reasons? Pray and ask the Lord.

Let me know if serving in this ministry is too time consuming or wearisome.

Please answer these questions:

Are you growing in godliness, preparedness and gifting/creativity?

If your answer is “no,”are you willing to pursue these things?

Are you serving for the right reasons and in the right ministry?

I love you and am honored to serve alongside you at The Village making much of our great God and King!

* 2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

via fm.thevillagechurch.net

I do not want to go to Wintercamp this year, I have no desire to go, not even the slightest bit, I tried to find it but failed and it’s all because my mind is filled with so many other things and worries about the future that cripple my thoughts, that the camp does not even enter my mind, the promo videos just seem cheesy to me (no offense haha… just my heart is not right). I was sulking like a baby with hands folded, you know God, you haven’t helped me in a,b,c,d,e,f… (you know what I mean). I was complaining at the long waiting times for the answers to some of these prayers like God has mimicked the Australian immigration policy in delaying for PR approvals, as if God was my divine butler, whenever I ring the bell and he comes swiftly to me like Alfred in Batman, “Yes, Master Wayne which designer’s suit would you like for tonight’s date?”, as I imagine Alfred would say, but all I hear is silence, deadly silence. I’ve learnt that God is not Alfred.

Let’s sidetrack a bit, my church has been focusing on the topic of prayer for the past two months, essentially because we’ve treated prayer like it is secondary, when my main reason to pray is just because it’s what Christians do (religious rituals) and not because I’m desperate for God and weak, fragile, bankrupt spiritually, lacking in all things without it! There have been many times, if not most times, where I’ve ignored the voice of His Spirit calling on me to pray, because the glowing pixels on my macbook are more attractive than the glow of His glory. My prayers are first and foremost corrupt and misguided, dominated with promises that I’ll be a good boy for Jesus and asking Him to do more stuff for me and asking for how to solve the many problems in life. My prayers are filled with desires for blueprints from Heaven Inc. instead of the imprints of God’s hands. You see my poor prayer life has detrimental effects, as my spirit hungers, I’ve become tired of chasing shadows, I want the real thing and Wintercamp just doesn’t feel real to me anymore. It feels like the hype of Justin Bieber on steroids.

Why you ask? It’s because to me it’s very predictable, I already know what the pastor will do, he’ll play soft music and make us meditate on the words, if he was feeling like it then he would ask us to lie down on the floor to be more intimate with God he says, just like he did right as the old saying goes, if it’s not broken then don’t fix it, all the same things will happen, the mini-revival on Thursday night just doesn’t last, every year I already know what to expect, we’ll sing one song repeatedly for 72 times and people will cry, commit their lives to Jesus, rededications happen on the spot, heaven is so real, people jumping around because we’re apparently “on fire”, facebook accounts are deleted, guys stay off porn sites at least for 2 weeks, at best a month. I grief over these thoughts that somehow these mini-revivals I’ve witnessed can be programmed by human methods, by the wave of emotions that come and go. My false focus on the programmes, music, atmosphere, the goose bumps feelings and speaker turn me off coming to camp. 

So I pray, please don’t just remind me of the predictable things, but I beg You, change my mind! Isn’t that what true repentance is? The genuine change of mind! I realise that trying to resist God is like a sponge trying to resist liquid and as His Spirit woos me ever more, The Holy Spirit is not the flu which I occasionally catch from the air I breathe, He is a Person that I must embrace, wholly, completely and devotedly. When did privilege of being called become a burden, when did passionate service become mere boring rule keeping, when did my affection for God turn to afflictions of duties and obligations? Why am I fixated on my ministries, my mind immediately goes to the sessions (especially those early morning ones) where I’ll be leading worship so many times, I’ll lose my voice and if I held back, I’m afraid of looking like I’m not filled with the Spirit enough, look how wicked that is, the focus is on me, what I can do for God and for show to my friends. So I would give my all and be sick for the next 3 days, satisfied that another good show has been put up. I attend multitudes of church conferences, retreats, seminars, workshops, meetings like all year round, and I cannot believe that there is not more to this. 

Please God, rescue me from this cycle of endless predictability, purify my heart and thoughts from the wicked motives I harbour, for my hungry heart is discontent and I want the Christ not just the silhouette. Expect Jesus, wait on Jesus, seek Jesus, desire Jesus, yearn for Jesus, hunger for Jesus, thirst for Jesus, call upon Jesus, Jesus never disappoints and Jesus is not predictable. Nothing else and no one else but Jesus is acceptable.

I am going to Wintercamp, I want to meet Jesus.

Posted via email from PaulusC.Tomas Moleskine

Twenty-four hours to 2010, welcoming it with an inspiring song. Dreams push me forward and destiny pulls me ahead. Bring it on!

via youtube.com

Posted via web from PaulusC.Tomas Moleskine

It’s funny how you learn biblical concepts in daily life setting. Watch this short clip for what I mean..

(5277 KB)
Watch on posterous

Do you feel like half of my office feels when you watch this lil birdie as it has tried all night to escape from its “glass” prison?

Do You feel sorry even amazed that it’s not flown down to the door just below it? My colleagues have even attempted to make it aware of this way of escape, but it’s ignored us like it knows better.

But how many of us are like this poor lil birdie? (not wanting to dehumanise you readers in any way :p). How many of us are still trying with our own strength to break free from our laziness, addictions, un-Christlike characters etc? I’ll leave you with this verse to ponder, God’s eternal promise so we don’t have to be like this lil birdie

 ¹³No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. (1 Cor. 10:13)

Posted via email from PaulusC.Tomas Moleskine

via vimeo.com

An evangelistic short film (10 minutes) from St. Helen’s Bishopgate in London on whether or not the Christmas story happened and what it means—featuring New Testament scholar Paul Barnett.

Posted via web from PaulusC.Tomas Moleskine

The most amazing & thoughtful marriage proposal I’ve ever come across. Read on and be amazed at the amount of hours this guy has put in for this!

via guyshield.blogspot.com

Posted via web from PaulusC.Tomas Moleskine

via youtube.com

Posted via web from PaulusC.Tomas Moleskine

What’s that three letter word again? Wow…

via youtube.com

Posted via web from PaulusC.Tomas Moleskine