This weekend I am excited as I think about the cross. I’m concluding a 6 week series this week by talking about salvation. We’ll look at the purpose of salvation, the passion of salvation and the perils inherent when we think about salvation. Next week we start a series of 3 messages that look at the cross in some detail leading up through Easter Sunday when we’ll conclude the series by seeing how Jesus cancelled the written code against us while on the cross. All of this studying has just driven my head and heart to the cross and so this week, for Weekend Worship, I wanted to post a song the reflected the cross and caused us to think more deeply about the cross.

This video, of the classic hymn “When I survey the wondrous cross”, is not typical in that it’s not a live video. In fact, I didn’t even watch the video when I played it. It is a great opportunity, however, for you to just sit back, close your eyes and think about the cross.

I hope it encourages you this weekend. I’ll see many of you on Sunday!

I desperately wanted to attend the Text & Context conference this week but previously scheduled obligations precluded me from attending. I was visiting the site today watching a few video clips that were prepared beforehand to help promote the conference I viewed this short clip from Dr. John Piper. I highly encourage it to you.   

I continue to get a variety of questions from people who ask whether we should like or dislike the Emerging Church movement. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you will know that I don’t believe there is much of an answer to that question. I believe that the EC movement is too diverse and too large to be labeled as simply “good” or “bad”. We’ve essentially got to consider each church on an individual basis.

Pastor Mark Driscoll, of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA preached a message this past Sunday dealing with the topic of the EC movement. It wasn’t new material for me but enough of you have asked about it that I think it would be good to post it so that you can consider it.  

In a recent post I pointed you each to the writings of an IMB missionary to Ecuador, Guy Muse. Guy and his wife, Linda have been featured in a Baptist Press article today. BP particularly looks at some exciting church planting efforts that they are leading. I would encourage you each to run over and take a look at what God is doing through their efforts. It’s encouraging! 

Click here to read the article.

Larry Norman is probably to be credited with the advance of contemporary Christian music more than any other figure in recent history. Songs such as Why don’t you look into Jesus, I wish we’d all been ready, Why should the devil have all the good music & the one I’ve posted below, The Outlaw. Inspiring legions of musicians to write not only music that sounds good but music that inspires. Unfortunately Norman passed away yesterday morning, at 60 years old.

…his two year old son, Caelen, was treated last year for cancer. They thought he was out of the woods but at a doctor’s appointment yesterday found out that his cancer may be back. Please pray for them as they perform a procedure next week to determine if the cancer is back. You can read more at Alan’s blog which is located here.

This week I am excited to talk about Jesus. As much as there is to talk about in our faithwalk with Christ, there is nothing more simple yet more profound than the person of Jesus Christ. Our faith rests squarely on the shoulder’s of His grace. The song this week is one that I’ve just recently found entitled “Glorious Impossible” by Worship leader, Carl Cartee. Cartee is very new to me. In fact, as of three weeks ago I had never heard him but I am quickly becoming a big fan. In an even more exciting twist, he has made 6 of his songs available online for free as a download. Check it out at his website www.carlcartee.com. The song Glorious Impossible, however, focuses on the person of Jesus and the impossible reality that He loves us and offers us His grace. It’s a powerful reminder this weekend that we are really nothing and He is everything. 

I hope it really encourages you this weekend! 

…but it is probably about what I look like on the court anymore. This poor guy wins the prize for the Worst Dunk Ever…. 

HT: Ariel