Ray Ortlund|1:00 am CT
#4: Brothers together in Christ

Intensely felt, openly demonstrated love between manly men of God – who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Three ways to create that culture in our churches:

One, “Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10). No flippant put-downs. No undercutting. Not even waiting for the next guy to make the first move. But me getting out of my self-concern to lift the next man up with high honor. Doing this verbally, unashamedly.

Two, “Bear with one another” (Colossians 3:13). Not trying to change one another. Who appointed us to that role? Our privilege is to bear with one another’s “weaknesses and oddities, which are such a trial to our patience, . . . to break through to the point where we take joy in [the other man’s quirkiness]” (Bonhoeffer, Life Together, page 101).

Three, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths but only such as is good for building up” (Ephesians 4:29). Nothing could be more unAmerican than denying ourselves our right of free speech. Men of God filter every word by a higher standard. Even if the words wanting to come out of my mouth are factually true, the real question is, Are my words positively helping the man listening?

Manly men of God loving one another intensely and openly are a life-enriching social environment.
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Amazing post...

Thoughts on a Blog

Ray Ortlund 1:00 am CT
#8: My dad’s message to me on the day he died

Sunday, July 22, 2007. Dad woke up very early in his hospital room in Newport Beach. He knew it was finally his day of release. He had the nurse call the family in. Jani and I had just arrived in Northern Ireland for ministry there. We didn’t know what was happening back home. But the family gathered around dad’s bed. They read Scripture. They sang hymns. Dad spoke a word of patriarchal blessing and admonition to each one. He pronounced over them the Aaronic blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). He fell asleep.

I asked my sister about dad’s message to me. It was this: “Tell Bud, ministry isn’t everything. Jesus is.”
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May i always have this on my mind!! It is because of Jesus I live. HE HAS RESCUED ME!! Jesus is EVERYTHING!! Because of Him everything is different. The overflow of anything I do has to start with Jesus, then comes family, ministry, work, fun, friends, etc... If any of those priorities ever get shifted, they become idols. Scripture is clear on idols...Ex. 20:4-5, Lev. 19:4, Deut. 4:15-19, Is. 42:17, Rom. 1:22-25, 1 Cor. 10:14, 1 John 5:21. That is not exhaustive, just a few i found. I pray that nothing takes the place of Jesus in my life, or in anyone else's. Those idols are not satisfying. Only one thing is truly satisfying.............JESUS!

All we like sheep have gone our own way
And distanced ourselves from our only help
One righteous man, God’s perfect plan
To pay for our guilt, tear down what we’ve built

Seeing His face, nothing would catch you at all
The world that He loved, despised him, this man of sorrows

First He’s betrayed, then taken away
His friends turn their backs and hang by their necks
Silent He goes, as one one who knows
Despite any plea, the verdict will be:

‘Guilty as charged! Now, beat him till no one can tell...
Who He once was, then hang up His body with nails!’

Surely up there, our sorrow He bears
See how He shakes, life slowly escapes
The King is crushed, collapsing His lungs
Showering the...nations in blood

Yet this is the way His Father has chosen to pay
One righteous Man has many more righteous men made

Written By Red Letter based on Is. 53


How powerful is this!! Think about it! listen to it if you like.
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/good-friday-music/preview

Blogging

I hope that through these inconsistent ramblings that our Lord Jesus Christ would be glorified. Through my botched speech, dumb words, and sometimes arrogant pride. He has SET ME FREE!!! Now i say as Jeremiah, "If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." - Jer. 20:9