The Blog

Get it.

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 09:42:32 -0500

I’m always hesitant to recommend things to people since my last fiasco, but this one really needs mentioning.

The best album released last year (hands down) was David Crowder Band’s Church Music. It’s 17 songs are: part history (of 2000 years of Church music), part rock, part disco, part dance music, part mathematics, and all worship. Okay, that’s a little scattered.

It’s a worship album first and foremost. That is abundantly clear; the band doesn’t hide behind a veil of vague coolness - it’s about Jesus and His greatness.

Musically and lyrically it’s one of the most genius (that’s right: most genius) albums ever made. They integrate different aspects of church history in every song, beginning with Phos Hilaron (Hail Gladdening Light), which is the oldest worship song written outside of the Bible. Then continuing through to the end (In the End) each song has some sound, thought, or lyric associated with a different time in church history.

With all that said, there is continuity in the music. In fact, there’s not a single break or moment of silence in the whole hour-plus it takes to listen to it, including between the songs.

Musically (not lyrically), imagine a rock album with these overtones:
Green Day - Kesha - Lady Gaga - Led Zeppelin - Kansas - and Van Halen.

But lyrically, there is no doubting where they stand. Jesus is King above all.

I cannot recommend this album enough. Get it.

Pastor Nick Jones

Nets and Fathers

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 13:29:32 -0500

We sang Martin Luther this past Sunday: “Let goods and kindred go...”

But let’s rephrase it now for our 21st Century ears: “Let stuff and family go...”

Your stuff - your iPod, your bed, your shoes, your xbox 360 - let it go.
And your family too: your dad and mom, sister, brother, aunt, cousin - let them all go.

Why? To have something better. Hard to believe, I know, but there is something cooler than your iPod, more comfy than your bed, more fun than your xbox, and more loving than your family.

What is that something? Mark 1 gives a good picture.

Jesus is walking by the sea and passes a fishing boat. He sees Simon and Andrew and says to them the now famous words: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Verse 18 shows their response: “immediately left their nets and followed him.”

But Jesus isn’t done, he walks a little further by the sea and sees James and John and calls them out too. Verse 20 shows their response, “they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.”

Simon (whom we know as Peter) and Andrew leave their nets - their income, their work, their life, their security. They simply left them behind to follow Jesus.

James and John, they leave the family business, their servants, and especially their father. Twice Mark mentions that they are the sons of Zebedee. It seems as though they are defined by who their dad is - and they left him. All to follow Jesus.

Jesus himself later says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37-38)

What has following Jesus cost you? It cost Peter and Andrew their nets. It cost James and John their father.

You can’t follow Jesus and hold onto your stuff. You can’t follow Jesus if something else is more important than He is, even family.

Are you clinging to something? Are you ignoring the call of Jesus to hold on to a relationship? Is there something that you own that is keeping you from walking with Christ?

If so, let it go. Jesus is worth it. Hear His voice. Follow Him. Let it go.

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
- Jim Elliot

How do you measure a year?

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:38:09 -0500

There are 525,600 minutes in a year.

That's not how we usually measure a year, though; we normally think in terms of days, weeks, and months. Why? I know for me, it’s because it’s a lot easier to look busy. I didn’t waste three days - I worked hard for four! September was crazy-busy for me because I had four massive things happen...

But when you think in terms of minutes, redeeming the time seems a bit more daunting.

Here’s another number for you: 1189. No, that’s not a time measurement, but it is a way to redeem the time. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible. What if you committed yourself to reading all 1189 in the next year? It’s a great time to start!

But if you’re anything like me, starting isn’t the problem, it’s the continuing, the finishing that’s the main pain for me. So below are a few links to some great resources that can help you stay on track.

Will you join with me? 1189 in 365?

pastor nick
----------------------------------
ESV Bible Reading Plans - Here are ten different plans, some straight through, some chronological, and many others. These are great because your daily reading can be emailed to you or sent to your electronic calendar! This year I’m going to use the ESV chronological.

Bible Reading Plan for Shirkers and Slackers - I like this one. It’s designed to help those of us who get bogged down when you miss a day.

The Discipleship Journal’s Reading Plan - This gives you five days each month to catch up. It’s also available in four bookmarks to keep in your Bible.

The One Year Chronological NLT Bible - This is the one Pastor Matt does.

Andrew Peterson: Song of the Week 3

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 09:06:08 -0400

The concert/outreach is coming soon! I am so very excited about this opportunity to outreach, hear the gospel, and for you to hear some really great music! Please join us at FBC on
SUNDAY, JULY 19TH, AT 6:30 PM !

Here’s the song of the week off of Andrew’s album:
Resurrection Letters, Volume II. It’s called Hosanna

I am tangled up in contradiction.
I am strangled by my own two hands.
I am hunted by the hounds of addiction.
Hosanna!

I have lied to everyone who trusts me.
I have tried to fall when I could stand.
I have only loved the ones who love me.
Hosanna!

O Hosanna!
See the long awaited king come to set his people free.
We cry O Hosanna!
Come and tear the temple down.
Raise it up on holy ground.
Hosanna! 
I have struggled to remove this raiment,
tried to hide every shimmering strand.
I contend with these ghosts and these hosts of bright angels.
Hosanna!

I have cursed the man that you have made me,
as I have nursed the beast that bays for my blood.
Oh, I have run from the one who would save me.
Save me, Hosanna!

O Hosanna!
See the long awaited king, come to set his people free.
We cry O Hosanna!
Come and tear the temple down.
Raise it up on holy ground.
Hosanna! 
We cry for blood, we take your life, Hosanna.
We cry for blood, we take your life -
It is blood and it is life that you have given.

You have crushed beneath your heel the vile serpent.
You have carried to the grave the black stain.
You have torn apart the temple’s holy curtain.
You have beaten Death at Death’s own game.
Hosanna!

O Hosanna!
Hail the long awaited king, come to set his people free.
We cry O Hosanna!
Won’t you tear this temple down, raise it up on holy ground.
O Hosanna!
I will lift my voice and sing:
you have come and washed me clean.
Hosanna!

Andrew Peterson: Song of the Week 2

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:44:08 -0400

As I mentioned last Tuesday, every week leading up to the Andrew Peterson concert (July 19th) we’ll put up a new song from Andrew’s new album: Resurrection Letters, Volume 2.

This week’s song is probably my favorite on the album. It’s written from the perspective of Gomer, Hosea’s wife. If you don’t know the story of Hosea and Gomer, I encourage you to read it (found in the book of Hosea).

But here are the basics: God tells the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute, so he does; her name is Gomer. Despite becoming his wife, Gomer again and again leaves her husband to go back into prostitution. In spite of this adultery, Hosea pleads with his wife to come home, and actually pays for her (redeems her), so that she will be his again.

The reason God tells Hosea to go back and redeem his unfaithful wife is because it points to a haunting truth. God’s people have been unfaithful again and again, yet he still loves us, he still redeems us, and he still brings us home. This is only possible because of the life, work, death, and resurrection of Christ!

Every time I lay in the bed beside you, Hosea,
Hosea, I hear the sound of the streets of the city.
My belly growls like a hungry wolf and I let it prowl till my belly’s full.  Hosea, my heart is a stone.

Please believe me when I say I’m sorry, Hosea,
Hosea, you lovable, gullible man.
I tell you that my love is true till it fades away like a morning dew.
Hosea, leave me alone.

Here I am in the Valley of Trouble.
Just look at the bed that I’ve made: badlands as far as I can see.
There’s no one here but me, Hosea.
 I stumbled and fell in the road on the way home, Hosea.
Hosea, I lay in the brick street like a stray dog.
You came to me like a silver moon with the saddest smile I ever knew.

Hosea carried me home again - Home again.
You called me out to the Valley of Trouble
just to look at the mess that I’ve made,
a barren place where nothing can grow.

One look and my stone heart crumbled--it was a valley as green as jade.
I swear it was the color of hope.
You turned a stone into a rose, Hosea.  I sang and I danced like I did as a young girl, Hosea.
Hosea, I am a slave and a harlot no more.
You washed me clean like a summer rain
and you set me free with that ball and chain.
Hosea, I threw away the key.
I’ll never leave.