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Monthly Archives: July 2008

It’s grace, grace, God’s grace.

Thanks first of all to the grace of God. The grace of God is freely given to those who believe and the righteousness of Christ is credited to him. We read in Romans 4:1-8:

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.

Secondly, a big hat tip to Scott at Through The Veil for finding this incredible video that says it all.

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Posted by barrydean on July 31, 2008 in God, grace, Jesus Christ, righteousness

Kutless – To Know That You’re Alive

29 Jul

I have been a fan of Kutless since they first appeared with their first video “Your Touch” on TVU in 2002. (Check out the previous video link to “Your Touch.” It is the video where the two guitarists simultaneously sling their guitars around their back) Not only is their style of music right up there in the upper echelons of my favorite sounds, their lyrics are also uncompromising. When many Christian rock bands abandoned using references to Jesus by name Kutless has not. Like so many Christian bands, Kutless formed out of their local church worship band. The original band members, James Mead (guitar), Nathan Stuart or Stu (bass), Kyle Mitchell (drums), Ryan Shrout (guitar), Jon-Micah Sumrall (vocals), all attended the same church, Athey Creek, in Portland, Oregon. They have mentioned influences from Christian bands like O.C. Supertones, as well as secular bands like Creed, Staind, and Incubus. Stuart, and Mitchell have since left the band to pursue other endeavors. Last year Ryan Shrout decided to leave the band to be with his family more. His daughter was diagnosed with a rare eye disease. Ryan’s spot has since been filled nicely by Nick DePartee their former guitar tech. I have often wondered about the origin of the band’s name and found out that Kutless chose their name because of a specific Bible verse. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NRSV). Because of this, the band says, “He took our cuts for us… leaving us ‘Kutless’. I will mention just a couple of the accolades given this band. The second single “Run” from their debut album became the longest charting song in the history of the R&R top 40 charts. The song “Run” was also the most played song in the first 5 years of ChristianRock.net.

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Posted by barrydean on July 29, 2008 in Kutless, Music Review, To Know That You're Alive

Blogging from Cincinnati

26 Jul

I just wanted to post a small update. This weekend we are in Cincinnati, Ohio for the Schneider family reunion. Yesterday we met with some family I haven’t seen in years and Robin has never met. We had a nice dinner at the hotel last night and visited with my cousin Judy and her husband Howard (nicknamed Ole Weird). Howard raises bees for a hobby and he had some interesting information about the nature of bees. My Rib was quite interested, so we may have some hives in our yard before long. I would suspect she will blog about it sometime soon. Today we went to Jungle Jim’s, which is a huge international market. We also drove downtown to the Ohio river so we could get some photos. Please pray for opportunities to present the gospel to those family members who are not believers, and pray for sweet fellowship with those who are believers. We are having a blessed time with family. All glory belongs to God. Soli Deo Gloria!

New York, what gives?

22 Jul

While addressing the NAACP in Cincinnati, Ohio, New York governor David Paterson suggested that “the defeat of Senator Obama by Senator McCain in the presidential contest would be a victory for racism.” You can find the story here. Governor Paterson, doesn’t that also suggest that voters who don’t support Senator Obama are racist? Come on! Do you really think that the citizens of this country are ignorant enough to only vote based on color and not on policy? If that isn’t enough from the great state of New York, their “distinguished” newspaper The New York Times has refused to in turn publish an op-ed piece for Senator McCain as they have done with Senator Barak Obama. You can link to that op-ed piece via my wife’s blog here.

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Posted by barrydean on July 22, 2008 in Barak Obama, David Paterson, John McCain, New York Times, Politics, racism

Could Jesus be more popular?

22 Jul

Nearly forty-two years ago to the day, July 29th, 1966, the teeny bop magazine DATEbook published the excerpt of an earlier John Lennon interview where he stated that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.” Although the remarks were really on the subject of Christianity and taken somewhat out of context, the outcry and response from the United States was loud and clear. “How dare you say something as bold as that.” It was as though Lennon made those statements of our country instead of Jesus. People flooded to the streets in protest by piling Beatles records up and burning them. Television stations broadcast public smashing of Beatles records. To this day it remains as one of the biggest pop music scandals in history.

Reading about this event in history prompted me to consider the question. Should Jesus be popular? In the context of the whole world I would not affirm this. There are passages in the bible that state otherwise concerning the popularity of Jesus. In Isaiah 53:2,3 of the Old Testament we read of Christ:

2 For He grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

In 1 Corinthians of the New Testament Paul wrote that the “cross of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing” and “a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” He also writes later in verse 28:

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

In the American church today we are trying our best to make Christianity popular. We are are watering down the gospel of Christ to make it more palatable and attractive. In doing so the true gospel is not being preached. For if it were, it would not be attractive and popular in the world’s eyes.

So in one sense an enthusiastic YES, Jesus Christ should be the most popular thing in the life of the believer. We should be living and breathing the gospel of Christ. Our whole being should point the lost to Jesus Christ. In another sense, it is a fool’s road you travel if your intention in ministry is to make Jesus popular in the eyes of the world.

For further reading please check out the reading links below.

A huge Hat Tip goes to Jason J. Stellman and his article “Where Is Grace Found” in Modern Reformation. I especially like the section entitled “What Hath Saddleback To Do with Geneva?

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Posted by barrydean on July 22, 2008 in Christianity, Jesus Christ, John Lennon, The Beatles

Where are those encouraging words?

19 Jul

I love this comic strip. If you don’t read it, it is a syndicated comic strip called “Baby Blues. Their son Hammie is such a riot. I have another strip featuring him coming up in a few days. I really had to Laugh Out Loud when I read this but it also prompted another thought

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3)

My beautiful wife, of sixteens years now, has been doing the Proverbs on her blog. After seeing the comic strip above I was reminded of the Proverbs. For years my wife and I have tried to instill in our children the habit of saying encouraging words to each other. Now I will admit that on more than a few occasions those exhorting words of “Now how encouraging was that?” have come back to haunt us when we have expressed our dislike of their activities. But for the most part all we have to do is clear our throat and they know exactly what should happen. Not saying it always happens, but they do know. Try to create those habits in your children as well. Also preach it to yourself. Guard those lips!

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Posted by barrydean on July 19, 2008 in Baby Blues, encouraging words, Personal, Proverbs

The money shot

16 Jul

Last Saturday my lovely wife Robin (or Rib) and I went for a photo walk around Lake Wehrspann near Omaha. As we walked, we tried to take some nice photos of flowers, birds, and other wildlife we observed along the path. When we first began the walk I saw some butterflies and told Robin that I would dearly love to capture a monarch butterfly in a digital shot. Sure enough we found one with large enough wings to warrant spending some time to get a nice shot. I spent close to 10 minutes trying to get just the right shot of this beautiful creature. Below are three pictures of my efforts. The final one is the “money shot”.

Click the thumbnail to enlarge them.

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Posted by barrydean on July 16, 2008 in butterflies, creation, nature walk, photography

The Perils of Apostacy

16 Jul

This past Sunday Omaha Bible Church (my home church) had a guest preacher filling the pulpit. It was filled by Timothy Juhnke, a good friend of our Sr. Pastor and himself a Sr. Pastor of Faith Community Church in Kansas City. Pastor Tim brought us a great sermon out of Hebrews 6:1-9. One of the things that struck me was what he said about how this section of verses is often avoided or used in the context of eternal salvation. He said that if you try to use it this you will come to two answers. One would be wrong. (That it is possible to lose you eternal salvation). The other would gut the very power of this Hebrew text.

According to the text, you could only lose your salvation experience once.

It is impossible to to renew them (Heb. 4:6)

Did you catch that word experience? Think about it. Every believer thinks they are true believers. Not one believer would consider themselves to be a false believer. But according to the text here in Hebrews you can have an incredible religious experience and still walk away from that faith. Pastor Tim would contend (and I seem to agree) That it may have only been a religious experience and not true saving faith.

So a question comes to mind. What about back-sliding? Many true believers go through a spiritual drought, where they are burned out or discouraged in their faith. Apostacy and back-sliding are not the same. Apostacy comes when you are so driven away from attending church, fellowshipping with other believers, producing fruit, and making a decisive rejection of Jesus Christ. Now, we should still continue to gospel them so that they may possibly repent of their rejection. But be warned by the text here. If it is a decisive rejection, chances are God has already hardened their heart. For He is a sovereign God and does what he may with His creation. Lest we forget.

Basically, the intention of the author of Hebrews here is to serve warning to the true believer. For when we sin, we never, ever, forget where forgiveness can be found. Run to the cross. The cross is where eternal salvation can be found. Please take the time and click on the sermon link above or below to listen to it.

Thank you Pastor Tim for this awesome and often avoided sermon.

The Perils of Apostacy

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Posted by barrydean on July 16, 2008 in Apostacy, Hebrews 6, Timothy Juhnke

Relient K – The Bird and the Bee Sides +

15 Jul

When you release an EP product as a musician it is assumed you understand that EP represents Extended Play. Most folks know this means the release is either too long to be a single and not long enough to be a full-length album. But who are Relient K to adhere to those stinking standards. These guys from Canton, Ohio have been reinventing the standard in modern, alternative punk, song writing, and song titles for 10 years now. So if Relient K releases a 26-track EP, who are we to smirk and say that they just don’t get it. I have been listening to Relient K since I heard their album “The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek” which featured such popular songs as “Pressing On”, and “Sadie Hawkins Dance”. My biggest attraction to the band has always been their no-nonsense, don’t-take-us-too-seriously, lyrics. I also like the music singer and song-writer Matt Thiessen composes. Just when you get hooked by the quirky rhythm he always throws the song for another curve.

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Posted by barrydean on July 15, 2008 in Music Review, Relient K, The Bird and the Bee Sides, The Nashville Tennis EP

We will miss you Tony Snow

12 Jul

As I got online for the first time this morning I read a headline from Yahoo News that made my heart sink. Long time Foxnews anchor, White House press secretary, and Rush Limbaugh Show fill-in host Tony Snow had died early this morning. I almost immediately went to my fellow blogger, and brother in Christ, Leo’s blog to see if he had picked up on the news, and sure enough he had. I would recommend that you go read his posting because he references some nice articles by John MacArthur on “True Belief”, and John Piper called “Don’t Waste Your Cancer”. One of the things Leo brings forward is Tony Snow’s faith in Christ. Like most conservative, bible believing, Christ uplifting, born again Christians, I would like to believe that Tony was a believer. Since I did not know him personally, I set about to find something to support this notion. I found an interesting article written by columnist Cal Thomas that gives us a nice look inside Tony Snow and his relationship with Christ. As believers we are not the ones to judge a person’s heart concerning Christ, for only God knows the heart. But we can be fruit inspectors, and it looks as though Tony had some fruit in his life. My hope is that he is a true believer because my mother adored Tony Snow and now she can finally meet him.

Before I close this posting I’d like to leave you with a video of Tony Snow. It is a very appropriate video here @ BarryDean4Christ. Tony Snow plays “Stormy Monday” with Leslie West of Mountain at the Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy Camp.

Rock on Tony!!