The P in Tulip

I am confident that all good Calvinists will join me in supporting the Saints in the Super Bowl this weekend.

As the Westminster Confession says:

This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own freewill, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof. (6.095)

Of course, if the Colts prevail, there's always this passage:

Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and for a time continue therein: whereby they incur God’s displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit; come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts; have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded; hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves. (6.096)

Spanish Lessons

One of my favorite church signs ever.

Music Rehearsal Prayer

Holy God, you have gathered us here
to glorify and enjoy you through your gift of music.
Unite our voices and instruments
in a hymn of thanks and praise.
As we prepare to lead your people in worship,
prepare us to join the ceaseless song
of saints and angels, earth and heaven in harmony;
through Jesus Christ our Savior.

New Lenten Hymns

The Presbyterian Outlook asked me to compose a series of new hymn texts for the season of Lent. They're available for purchase with full musical accompaniment here.

M is for Missa Sicca

Missa Sicca. Latin, literally "dry mass." A mass in which the offering, consecration, and communion were omitted, sometimes said at funerals or weddings in the afternoon, or for devotional purposes. Variations include the missa nautica and missa venatoria, performed on rough seas or hunting expeditions, respectively.

Sending, Healing

Today at the Presbyterian Center I had the privilege of participating in two wonderful worship services. In both cases, I had been asked to help with music leadership, and in both cases I feel like I received so much more than I had to offer.

The first, organized by Presbyterian World Mission, was a commissioning service for three missionaries on their way to central Africa. What a joy to hear their testimony, to hear stories of challenge and encouragement from other mission personnel, to lay hands on them and pray for God's blessing in their ministry. A young man sang a beautiful gospel song that expressed his sense of call. Later in the service, we all sang a special song (composed by a mission worker) that allowed us to pray for the missionaries and their specific places of service by name, along with others already currently serving in the mission field.

The second was a closing worship service for a gathering of the Presbyterian Health, Education, and Welfare Association, meeting in Louisville this week. After the scripture readings (Habakkuk 3.17-19 and Mark 2.1-12), there was a time when people shared reflections on the lessons. One story was especially moving: A woman caring for her husband, who was in the later stages of a debilitating disease, kissed him goodnight every evening. She found that, increasingly, she had to strain and contort her lips to match his. Reflecting on this, she remarked that it was the best image of the incarnation she knew—God's Word made flesh, an awkward, yet tender, kiss for the world that God so loves, stretching to meet this broken and hurting world. I was reminded of something Calvin said: that in scripture God is forced to "lisp" in order to accommodate our limited understanding.

Found Prayer

Walking down the street this week I spotted this tiny prayer of thanks, written on a post-it note.