Sketches 7

Not a Review

This is more of an observation from my time at Mars Hill in Seattle when my wife and I had an opportunity to visit this past week.. I was really excited to get to go to Mars Hill Ballard Campus and see the place that I see online all the time. Though we walked in a couple minutes late it was still not completely full. We weren’t sure if that was due to the summer, the fact that Mark Driscoll was out or if its always that way. Once we found a seat I had a chance too meet a couple that had been a member for about 6 years now of the Ballard Campus of Mars hill. They were showing me some of the things around the room and what it was all for. Essentially the room was a big open area that kind of looked like it was a warehouse because of the way the beams were set up. They have tv’s set up on about 6 of the support beams scattered throughout the room that had the video and scriptures along with the words to the songs.
The couple I met also showed me where communion would take place.

Pastor Bubba got up and told us to do a slight meet and greet and the speaker Bill Clem came up on stage and spoke on
Identity in part two of the series “Is all about Jesus“. The Stage that he preached on isn’t anything spectacular although on screen it looks great it really does not in any way distract because it really looks like most other stages except for the create with a tv on it for the questions and sermon notes.
After the sermon the campus pastor returned and prayed over the following moments and then the band began to play while the offering buckets were passed (which is new this year since he’s teaching the church about tithing). After the offering was taken then the band continued playing while people with juice, wine, and bread came forward. Each person that wanted to participate went up and dipped the bread in the wine or juice. After everyone was done the band continued to play. It made for one continuous cooperate worship time with offering and communion as part of worship.
I’m not saying that this is how every church should do their service but I did enjoy offering, communion and worship all being in response to the preaching of the word.
After the service and talking to the people we met a bit longer we proceeded to the lobby where the Mars hill Book shop is. Mark always says the book store but its a section of the lobby where they sell stuff. Its really cool though because they sell the Mars Hill music along with other local Christian bands. Obviously there is a section of his books that are all really really cheap along with a whole section of suggested reading at discounted prices (Piper, Sproll, Carson, History of the church, Puritans).
All in all it was not what I expected as far as “relativity” is concerned but really I was impressed because from the service and the time there if a visitor comes in there its not intimidating but it is very clear what the purpose is.
That was my experience at least.

Step 3

On the last day of the Step summer program Xai Xai and I met with the group and we had an opportunity to play some games to kick off the night. First we played a game that was meant to help everyone memorize the memory verse. It was a really fun game that basically was the wave were Mr. Y went around the circle pointing at each person and gave them a word in the verse. So when we went around the circle each person got a chance to hear and be a part of the verse. After the game got rolling and things went faster Mr.Y told us that if we got caught messing it up then we were out of the game (it made the game more interesting). Unfortunately Xaivor went out in the second round, but he had fun.
Then we played another game with cups trying to turn them over. Followed by the blob game which is hard to explain. After the games and pizza we went to bible study. Xia Xia and I went and had a good study time where we tried doing the bible study but he wasn't able to follow the story very well. So i started asking him what he learned through the week and what he knew about Jesus. Even though he did know too much I think we came out have a better understanding of the cross, Jesus and the bible study. Immediately after we went downstairs and all the kids recited their verse before we said our goodbye's.
After the kids had left we were informed about the mentoring program and that you would come once a week and it looked alot like the summer program that I have been telling about only spread over a longer time period. If your interested check out www.stepministries.org.

step 2

On day 2 Xia Xia and I got the opportunity for a scavenger hunt. we were doomed from the beginning due to his love for showing me all the things he can do (Handstands, the wave, dancing).
We started off in our group time eating and getting to know each other by going through a bunch of questions that they gave us. Basically it was a simple conversation guide. But while doing the form we got a pretty amazing Chic-fil-A chicken sandwich each and some chips. Then we all loaded up in the van and took a field trip to the mall.
At the mall we went off with our list of questions for the scavenger hunt. We got a pretty good jump start and finished half the page pretty quickly. The rest of the time we spent looking for a few other stores. In the end we realized that we didn't see the other side of the page which had a bunch of questions left and there were a couple of stores that had closed down since the form was made. All in all I think it was all for the best because we had a blast looking around the mall and chatting about all sorts of things.
The mall trip was great for getting to know a bit more about his family and friends as we past the stores that each person likes. Ultimately it let to what his main influences are.
When we arrived back at the church the adults went back into a room where we found out a little bit about the opportunities that are a little bit less involved directly, like mentoring, or encouraging, but are still important (such as creating curriculum, giving financially, or any other talents that you might want to donate).
Obviously this second night doesn't sound like a challenging evening out. but He had tons of fun and it made our friendship a bit closer. I highly recommend checking out www.stepministries.org to see if any of this looks like something you can do.
It doesn't seem like this was a very deep conversation day but i learned about his family life wich gave good insight on where Xia Xia was coming from as far as bible knowledge goes. For an Eight year old he knows quite a bit.
Thanks,

Step 1

The blog has been on hold recently due to a lacking in ability to do the blog at home. Thankfully Sarah and I have been blessed with a new computer that was more than reasonable financially. The Soli study will continue but since there was a break I am going to share what God has done in my life this last week.

I recently had the privilege of participating in the Step ministries summer mentoring program. It was one of the coolest things to get to have three evenings with a young man playing games, eating, teaching a lesson. and just spending time together. The first evening we got to meet all the kids and hag out for a bit before going into a mentors meeting where we learned what was going to be happening over the 3 night program. A sheet was given to each mentor that told their kids name and what they liked. My kids name was Xavier who placed on the form that he's 8 and loves to draw, swim, and wants to be a police officer. Which is cool to me because I would most likely have filled the form out the same way as an 8 year old. We got to meet the kids after that and it was quite funny to see my kid when he first saw my name tag and then looked up at my face realizing that I alot taller than him. The immediate challenge was that little Xavier or Xia Xia liked to talk but he liked t be quite with it. The height difference made talking a back braking exersize to lean in and talk. But that was ok because eventually we compromised and he spoke louder and I leaned half way.
During dinner I realized that there was no way that this kid was going to eat and talk in the amount of time given so we ate and went to see the KKA (Kids Across America) who put on a little demonstration. Shortly after that we had bible study time (there was a game some where in the mix). Xia Xia and I went up stairs and started the lesson which much to my suprise was on Genesis 34... Dinah and the Shechemites. I'm not sure if your aware of this scripture but luckily the word circumcision was replaced for ceremony that made you hurt for 3 days. nobody else seemed to have an issue but little Xia Xia couldn't let go of that until he understood why you would be in pain for 3 days. We got through that without to much information and moved on to the memory verse where I found out ephesians is not a word that every kid can say immediately.
So all in all the little guy was fun and I was very much looking forward to the next day. Especially when before I left he made sure to say goodbye several times.

That was day one with Step. If you want to know more about Step visit www.stepministries.org. If you can see if thats something you think you can get into.

Sing 8

Tough 7

In the New Testament, the message is equally clear. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). The apostle Peter proclaimed to a hostile audience, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The apostle John wrote, "... but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36). Again and again, Scripture stresses that Jesus Christ is the only hope of salvation for the world. "For there is one God [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). Only Christ can atone for sin, and therefore only Christ can provide salvation. "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life" (1 John 5:11-12). - John MacArthur

Sing 7 again

Looks like last week was too busy to even post other than the first day. So I'm going to do Sola Christo again.

None But Jesus

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won't refuse
Each new day again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You're Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won't delay
This my song through all my days

All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore

Sing 7

"In Christ Alone" Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all— Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied; For ev'ry sin on Him was laid— Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine— Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death— This is the pow'r of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home— Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Sketches 6

Tough 6

The psalmist wrote, "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul" (Psalm 19:7). That means Scripture is sufficient. Apart from the truths revealed to us in Scripture, there is no essential spiritual truth, no fundamental doctrine, nothing essential to soul-restoration. We do not need to look beyond the written Word of God for any essential doctrines. There is nothing necessary beyond what is recorded in God's Word.

This, of course, is the Reformation principle of sola Scriptura -- Scripture alone. According to the Bible itself, no supposed spiritual authority outside "the sacred writings" of Scripture can give us wisdom that leads to salvation. No papal decrees, no oral tradition, no latter-day prophecy can contain truth apart from Scripture that is genuinely fundamental.- John MacArthur

Sing 6

O Word of God incarnate

O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky:
We praise You for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
A Lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.

The Church from You, our Savior, received the Gift divine,
And still that Light is lifted over all the earth to shine.
It is the sacred Vessel where gems of truth are stored;
It is the heaven drawn Picture of Christ, the living Word.

The Scripture is a banner before God’s host unfurled;
It is a shining Beacon above the darkling world.
It is the Chart and Compass that over life’s surging tide,
Mid mists and rocks and quicksands, to You, O Christ, will guide.

O make your Church, dear Savior, a lamp of purest gold,
To bear before the nations Your true light as of old.
O teach your wandering pilgrims by this their path to trace,
Till, clouds and darkness ended, they see You face to face.

Will­iam W. How, 1867.

Speak 5

I think my grace ppost is summed up in my good friend Jonathan Danforths Song “Light Of Love”.



Your Love has changed me, You've opened my eyes to what couldn't be seen before.
In purity is freedom, so take away every bit of darkness that I try to hold on to.

Like the rain falling from the heavens is Your grace.
I hear Your loving voice calling me to come out from the dark.
Like the morning star You shine Your light into my soul.
Father You lead me into the light of love.

You've brought me here to You, You're everything I need, oh God give me faith, give me grace.
Your love went to death for me, may I be ever willing to leave this life behind for You.

Like the rain falling from the heavens is Your grace.
I hear Your loving voice calling me to come out from the dark.
Like the morning star You shine Your light into my soul.
Father You lead me into the light of love.

See 5

Without Faith we are the world. Without Grace where would we be? I'm pretty sure just as human minded as this (I'm not making reference to Johnny Mac).

Sketches 5

Tough 5

"But, then, thanks be to God, by the grace of God and the working of the Holy Spirit the truth about salvation begins once again to dawn in the heart of the church. Saul of Tarsus thought he was a Christian - if I may use that language - he thought he was right with God. He then learned he was not. He came to realize that all of his religious life and activity was a false trail, taking him away from God. His discovery of that fact revolutionized his life and then the world.

And it was precisely the same 1500 years later with Martin Luther. He thought he was a Christian. The church told him he was. But he learned by his study of God's Word that he was not: that all the things he had been counting on - all the things he had been taught to count on - had nothing to do with obtaining peace with God. His discovery of the grace of God, of salvation as God's gift, revolutionized his life and, through him, revolutionized the world. He began preaching the message that Paul taught with all the zeal of a man who had found the truth and had been set free by it and countless others encountered the grace of God through his writings and, in turn, began preaching it to others."- Rev. Dr. Robert S. Rayburn

"All of this, Paul never tires of saying, means that our salvation from start to finish is God's doing, is God's gift, is God's love, is God's power, is God's decision. That is, salvation is sola gratia, by grace alone!"- Rev. Dr. Robert S. Rayburn



http://www.faithtacoma.org/sermons/Ephesians/Eph_2.1-10.Oct28.01.htm

Sing 5

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

Speak 4

Don’t be intimidated by the length. Its mostly scripture.


Romans 5:1
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ...

Such a thing to grasp, that by no merit of your own, by nothing you bought or did, by nothing you thought or said did your cleansing come. Simply by faith, by the enlightenment of Christ (John 1: 9-12). And God grants not only the not guilty sentence but He reconciles us to Himself. There really isn’t anything I can say except... Dwell on the fact that God reconciles us, not by anything that we’ve done so that we can’t even boast. But now that we have nothing to boast in ourselves about we can boast in our Lord (Gal 6:11-16). Not simply because we have something far better than others have (though it would be true to say such a statement), we boast because God is amazing, Indescribable by human words, gracious to grant us redemption through faith. And give us enlightenment through creation and His word (we will get there in Sola Scriptura).

Here is another video. The conference is over but the promo is good.



Galatians 3:7-14 (English Standard Version)

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Ephesians 2
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

See 4

Can you comprehend "Not Guilty" by faith alone?
I can't

Sketches 4

Tough 4

To the Reformers' doctrine of justification by faith alone Reformed theology has held down the centuries, maintaining it to be both scriptural in substance and life-giving in effect. This tenacity has, however, involved constant conflict, as it still does. Two things have long threatened the truth as stated: first, the intruding of works as the ground of justification; second, the displacing of the cross as the ground of justification. Both are familiar weeds in the church's garden; both express in very obvious ways the craving for self-justification which lurks (often in disguise!) in the fallen human heart. Something may be said about each. - Dr. J. I. Packer

http://www.the-highway.com/Justification_Packer.html

Sing 4

"O Lord, We Praise Thee" by Martin Luther

1. O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee,
In thanksgiving bow before Thee.
Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish
Our weak souls that they may flouish:
O Lord, have mercy!
May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary,
That our sins and sorrows did carry,
And Thy blood for us plead
In all trial, fear, and need:
O Lord, have mercy!

2. Thy holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven.
No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;
May this feast thereof remind us!
O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee
That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.
All our debt Thou hast paid;
Peace with God once more is made:
O Lord, have mercy.

3. May God bestow on us His grace and favor
To please Him with our behavior
And live as brethren here in love and union
Nor repent this blest Communion!
O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heavenly-minded He make us;
Give Thy Church, Lord, to see
Days of peace and unity:
O Lord, have mercy!

See 3

I like shorter videos. But I love this one more than I like convenience. 5 minutes is all I ask.

See 3

Tough 3

“Environmentalism is one of those places where if your not careful you can step into wrong views of God and into wrong ideas about creation. You can elevate creation to such a degree that you lose a view of Gods difference, Gods greatness, and that’s not appropriate. In fact one of the leading writers on this issue has begun the process of diminishing God by what is called openness theology. It is a way of diminishing Gods knowledge and understanding. And he’s done that simply through because of his view of elevating creation. He’s lost site of who God is in this whole discussion. We as Christians need to maintain a balance in which we understand God but we also understand creation.” - Dr. Timothy Pierce

“God is not identified with the world, for He made it.” - Joseph Sitler
(Understand that we are not to put God in a box and say God needs us to do something. God does not need us to fix anything. We have the privilege to worship God through his creation and preservation if need be)

“Environmentalism is a call to acknowledging the earth is special, not because the earth is special, but because it proclaims a God who’s special.”- Dr. Timothy Pierce

Sing 3

Last week my wife and I listened to a seminar titled "Is God green" It did not end up being what I thought it would be and actually ended up being rather convicting in many areas of my personal life. This week I want to set the tone for my post on Friday which is a reflection of what I've been learning. No worries, I'm not a new found fanatic thats going to be telling you how we are killing the earth. But it is an interesting thought process. Give your thoughts as you have them.


Joyful, joyful

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day

All Thy works with joy surround Thee
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flowery meadow, flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee

Mortals, join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began
Father love is reigning o'er us
Brother love binds man to man
Ever singing, march we onward
Victors in the midst of strife
Joyful music lifts us Sonward
In the triumph song of life

Chorus:
We sing in jubilation, adoration to a joyful King
You are spinning and You are singing
Zealous love over all Your children

Continued

So just to bring some thoughts on where I intend to be going next week is to Start with a spacial post on Green Christianity. Then following the re opening post will be a series on the five sola's.

Post-Pone

It seems that blogging the last couple weeks has been tough. I fully intend on being consistent but at the moment I need to spend the next few weeks dedicated to home life.
I'm not if i have any readers if you do read this then you will be happy to see me start up again in April.
Thanks,
JB

See 2

Sketches 2

In order to be missional, we must engage culture through its individual domains. Practically, that means that doctors are to be doctors to the glory of God and use that position in ways which serve the kingdom. Artists are to be artists to the glory of God and use that position in ways which serve the kingdom. We are all ministers within the unique contexts of our time, place, talents, abilities, etc. - Geoff Ashley

Tough 2

When we come to the New Testament church, people often assume a switch of direction from “drawing in” to “going out.” But in fact the attractional missiology of the Old Testament continues. God’s new covenant people are to be a light to the world, attracting people to God’s reign (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9-12). What has changed is the center! The center is no longer Jerusalem, but hundreds of small communities of light, littered across the world. We simultaneously draw in (through our community life) and move out (through church planting).

The problem with a lot of attractional churches is not their missiology, but their ecclesiology. Church is seen as a meeting. Attracting means attracting people to an event or even a performance. But biblical mission is about a community life, ordinary life, lived under God’s Word that attracts people to God.
Mark Driscoll

Sing 2

This song is good. Please watch the video and hear the music as well. The views of this church and mine may or may not be the same on everything. But I think we can all agree on this.

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

Speak 1

You could be wondering why I would post a blurry picture from my wedding day. You could also wonder after reading this why I would make my first “Speak” post on marriage when I’m only 2 months into it. Over the last two months something has become very clear through reading in Ephesians, reflecting on a sermon I heard by Russell Moore, and also reading through John Pipers book “Momentary Marriage”. It seems that this picture that of Christ and the church is supposed to be slightly more accurate than I had even thought. It is by grace that am even able to have a woman that would want to live with me (God has abundantly blessed me there). With that grace being known I am to love her “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish”. This is where it gets challenging. I’m supposed to love her as Christ loved the church... and Christ loved the church knowing that it was full of people who are prone to sin. He gave his life to cover those sins which separate us from God. I am to love my wife, forgive her, wash her with the word so that she will be without blemish knowing that she is sinful like me. I am not only to love her but on top of that she is supposed to submit to me as the head of the house like Christ is to the church. How simple is it to realize that I have to be right and walking in the light for her to have anything to submit to without the whole thing collapsing? Its all so very simple and I doubt that anyone who reads this will find new knowledge here. But the picture of Christ in marriage is much stronger than any other analogy that I have ever heard. Its almost like God made it to show a picture of something...
My question to you and to me is how blurry is the picture in your marriage? If your not married, how are you killing the foxes from the vineyard in preparation for marriage? I encourage you to have a blurry picture from your wedding as a reminder of what you don’t want things to look like. If not it might be just as good to think about it.
Paul ends Ephesians 5 with “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband”.
Good stuff, hope it helps as a simple reminder.

See 1

Sketches 1

Worship is an outward expression of an inward obsession

Tough 1

"If sinners be dammed, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."
- Charles Spurgeon"

Sing 1

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Structure

Each week I will attempt to post 5 times. Because of my life consisting of working at an ad agency, helping out at church, and being a newly wed (married almost two months now) I will be posting with a structure that will be easy to blog while still being use full with my space and schedule.


Day 1 of each week will be titled “Sing”. “Sing” will be a post consisting of song lyrics and a brief explanation of the song if I know it or it is an original. Hopefully you if you know the song it will be a lyrical reminder to sing praises. If you don’t know the song then you should read it and think about. Or you could do what I tend to do and add my own tune if I don’t know it (warning this particular method, while fun, can often times mess you up during the middle of someone trying to teach you the song).


Day 2 will be titled “Tough”. This will most likely be the harder one for me to write. This will simply be hard words written by someone else other than me. Truths or something to think about, reply about, or even discuss.



Day 3 is called “Sketches”. By far this will be the post in the week that gave me the idea for blogging. Every week I will try my hardest to create Original art pieces to illustrate the blog for the week. If the art is not original I will credit the artist (send me art if you would like to be a guest blogger).


Day 4 is titled “See”. See is a video that I would like to share. The goal is to keep it short. Please let me know if they become to long. Once again these will be other peoples unless its a special occasion.


Day 5 is “Speak”. “Speak” will be the original blog post from me. This could very from week to week as to what I blog but once again I will try keeping it short. I’m new to the blog world and not sure if anyone would enjoy this very diverse assortment of short blogs. I do how that you feel free to comment or email your thoughts.

Jonathan Bean

Introduction

I find titling a blog to be a very difficult task because you have to live with that title for quite some time. So I figured I would make sure it was something very fitting to my purpose in writing. I love my job, and the coolest part about it is that people come to my company and ask us to illustrate with images what they are trying to communicate (I’m a graphic designer). In the same way I love to write. My joy in writing is to illustrate with words when a picture can’t (or would be less effective) be used.
The blog title Design 1:24 is taken from 1 Peter 1:24-25
1Peter 1
13Therefore,preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

I love this passage as it is packed full of the Truth of Christ and our redemption and finished with an illustration from Isaiah. Completed with the statement “but the word of the Lord remains forever”.
Stay tuned for periodic posts.