It seems that one of the biggest turn-offs to non-Christians is the perception that there are a bunch of rules and that they would be missing out on something if they attempted to follow these rules. Even among believers it is common to find this same attitude. But this is not the picture that Scripture paints at all. Take Psalm 119 for example, the writer is not complaining that God's Laws are a burden to keep, but instead thanking God and praising Him for His mercy of giving His people direction through the Law. This whole Psalm, which is by no coincidence the longest chapter in the Bible, is nothing but praise for God's Laws, Decrees, Statutes, Word, and Commandments. Even in the beginning, before the fall, God gave His people directions(Gen. 1:26,28,29,2:15,16,17). God wasn't trying to spoil their fun, He was showing them how to live. Otherwise, how would Adam have known to take care of the garden, or what he could eat, or how to reproduce. Without God's direction, which is life(John 6:63), Adam and Eve would have died. The LORD was being merciful. After the fall, when the people of Israel were freed from slavery, God spoke to Moses giving them the Commandments and Laws. When first reading the books of the Law, such as Leviticus, it's easy to be overwhelmed with what all they have to keep. But like in the garden, Israel, after being enslaved needed to relearn how to live. So God, in His grace and mercy, told them what to do to be sanctified, or set apart. He told them how to make sacrifices that would be pleasing to Him and put them back in right standing with God. He gave them practical commandments so that disease wouldn't spread throughout the people. These Laws were not so much a burden on the people as much as they were God teaching His people how to truly live and be His people. Let us reflect and meditate on God's Word and the ways that He is mercifully giving us direction so that we no longer view what He says as a burden, but instead praise Him that we're not left to figure this life out on our own.
Grace and Peace,
matt j
The (Re)View From Here
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Monday, October 28, 2013
Beyond the Frame by Andy Gullahorn
GENRE:
SINGER/ SONGWRITER
LABEL: ST. JEROME MUSIC
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 13, 2013
LABEL: ST. JEROME MUSIC
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 13, 2013
Andy Gullahorn is a special kind of artist. He has a
way of creating music that is beautiful and extremely personable. Every album
of his has been filled with witty songwriting, humor, and depth. Gullahorn’s
fifth album, Beyond the Frame, is no exception.
The album opens beautifully with “I Will,” where Gullahorn promises the listener
a companion while going down this road of brokenness where many souls have gone, “if you want someone who will just cry with
you, I can/ some say, there’s nothing they’re ashamed of/ they cover up the
tracks from the hell where they’ve been/ if you’re looking for something
broken, I am.”
“Any Less True”
is one of those songs that puts into words feelings that resonate so true, “I said I’d love you all my life/ I never
want to fail you/ and though I’ve done it a thousand times/ that doesn’t make
it any less true.” This particular song is a personal favorite.
“Skinny Jeans”
boasts the humorous songwriting that has come to be expected from
Gullahorn. Not to mention it has a catchy tune.
Even “Line in the Sand” has a familiar feel to his
past records, mixing a little humor with real life depth.
Beyond the Frame is full of songs about
wrestling with God during heartbreak (“Nowhere to be Found”), love (“My
Language”), and the only thing that matters in this life (“The Other Side”). There
is such depth to this album that with each listen I pick up on something new.
As great an album as this is, I still skip a few
tracks. “Same Song” becomes a bit mundane after a few listens and “Flash in the
Pan” has little musical appeal to me. But even these songs are not bad; they just are not as good as the
rest of the album which make them stick out.
Beyond the Frame is an absolutely
fantastic record. Andy Gullahorn seems to get better with each release, and
this album shows a real maturity both musically and lyrically. For existing
fans of Gullahorn, this is a no-brainer. For those unfamiliar with his work,
this is a great place to start.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Gospel Transformation Bible
PUBLISHER:
CROSSWAY PUBLISHERS
RELEASE DATE: September 30, 2013
RELEASE DATE: September 30, 2013
I have been a fan of Crossway’s work for a while
now, investing in many books and Bibles, so when they announced they were
coming out with the new Gospel Transformation
Bible (GTB), I was extremely excited.
The GTB is
a bit of a niche Bible. I do not think it is meant to be the one stop shop of
Bibles where you learn everything about a particular text using this one book.
But what the GTB does, it does very well
The ESV Study
Bible was one of the first study Bibles that I ever really used (and still
use) on a daily basis. It has become my gold standard for study Bibles; so,
much of this review will be comparing the ESV
Study Bible to the GTB.
The first thing I noticed when comparing the two
were the notes. While the ESV Study Bible’s
notes focus mainly on explaining the text in an exegetical fashion, the GTB shows how all of the Bible points to
Christ. Then, it uses the gospel as motivation for applying the truths of Scripture.
And it is absolutely beautiful. Flipping through the pages my heart swelled
with joy as I saw Christ everywhere I looked.
Another noticeable difference between the GTB and the ESV Study Bible is that the GTB
takes whole sections of Scripture and unpacks the gospel goodness whereas the ESV Study Bible pays closer attention to
each individual verse. This took some getting used to since I was more familiar
with the ESV Study Bible’s approach,
but once I did I found it helped me read a bit more of the Bible, seeing the
overarching sweep of the gospel rather than getting tied down to any particular
verse.
As I said at the beginning of this review; the GTB is a niche Bible. For me, it is not
the only Bible I’ll ever need, but it certainly has its place. I have found it
most helpful during my devotions. This is usually not the time I am trying to
decipher tough verses or do a deep study. I’ll pick up the ESV Study Bible for
that. Instead, I try to use my devotional time to help my soul be happy in the
LORD. To be glad in Him. And the Gospel
Transformation Bible has a special way of making my soul happy.
I received this book for free from Crossway in
exchange for an honest review.
Labels:
Bible,
Crossway,
ESV,
Gospel Transformation Bible,
Review,
Study Bible
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Wesley on the Christian Life by Fred Sanders
GENRE:
BOOKS, NON-FICTION
PUBLISHER: CROSSWAY
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 31, 2013
PUBLISHER: CROSSWAY
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 31, 2013
John Wesley is one of those historical figures I
feel like I know though I know little about him. I have heard his name
throughout my Christian walk but outside of writing some hymns and defending perfectionism,
my knowledge about Wesley was lacking. That is why I think Fred Sanders’ book Wesley on the Christian Life is a
perfect beginner’s guide to learn about that which made Wesley unique.
Wesley
on the Christian Life continues the Crossway series highlighting
key historical figures that have been influential in the continuing of the
Christian faith. What makes this particular book worthwhile for those ignorant
about Wesley, is that Sanders let’s Wesley speak for himself while Sanders essentially
just facilitates the conversation.
The book starts with a short biography of John
Wesley, highlighting some key moments of his life, most importantly his
conversion. I found it interesting that like many in today’s church, Wesley was
a religious man without being a saved man.
Luckily for
us, once his conversion took place and his heart was changed, he was
unnaturally productive. As mentioned before, Wesley wrote some of the Church’s
most beloved hymns as did his brother, Charles. But Wesley was more than a hymn
writer. He was an evangelist. I loved reading about his passion for spreading
the gospel and training laymen to do so. I respect the fact that he was willing
to think out of the box to spread the good news. Though, I think some of his
rules for his lay leaders were a bit stringent, I would have liked to sit in
one of their meetings.
There were many aspects of Wesley’s theology I did
not quite agree with but the thing that disappoints me most about him is his
failed marriage. To hear of such influential leaders (and he is not the first
to be sure) be great evangelist but terrible husbands causes me to wince a bit.
I do not expect any man to be perfect, but allowing a marriage to fall by the
wayside makes me question how successful one really is at ministry. Not to
discredit the work Wesley did, but marriage is kind of a big deal.
Wesley
on the Christian Life is a great introduction of Wesley and
his theology. Sanders’ writing style is inviting and he does a good job of
allowing Wesley to speak for himself. He also is successful in being careful
not to place Wesley on a pedestal, but takes the opportunity to point out areas
in which Wesley’s theology may have been misled. Overall, this is a great read.
I received my copy of this book from Crossway for
free in exchange for an honest review.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Pastor's Justification by Jared Wilson
GENRE:
BOOKS, NON-FICTION, CHRISTIAN LIVING
PUBLISHER: CROSSWAY PUBLISHERS
RELEASE DATE: JULY, 31, 2013
PUBLISHER: CROSSWAY PUBLISHERS
RELEASE DATE: JULY, 31, 2013
I am not a pastor. I have no desire to be a pastor. So what was the motivation
behind me reading Jared Wilson’s latest book, The Pastor’s Justification? Well, for starters, I enjoy the
writings of Wilson. I have read Gospel
Wakefulness as well as Gospel Deeps
and enjoyed them both very much. His writing style is casual, as if talking
with a friend, yet has a theological meatiness to it that stirs my soul for the
LORD.
The other motivation behind reading this book was my
strange infatuation with what it looks like to lead a church. And The Pastor’s Justification did just
that. It peeled back the curtain and let me get a behind-the-scenes look at the
pastor’s life.
I had no idea how demanding it is to be a pastor. I
always knew it was a busy job, but like most church members, I have been too
focused on myself. To think that they have to deal with the normal trials and
growing pains of the Christian life and then help shepherd others deal with
theirs sounds overwhelming. I have a newfound respect for the daunting task of
my own elders after reading this book.
I especially loved the personal stories Jared Wilson
tells of his experiences of being a pastor. He does not hold back with his own
failures and struggles. These stories felt like they were coming from a place
of sincerity and honesty rather than a false humility. They also helped to put
some meat on the bones, so-to-speak, of the points Wilson was making.
This book seemed less about pragmatic steps to being
a better pastor or tips on growing your church, and more about refocusing the
pastor on the goal and means of pastoring. Though The Pastor’s Justification is definitely directed towards pastors,
I believe it would be beneficial for all church members to read it. Some of the
topics are pastor specific while other topics would benefit the layman. Definitely
(and strangely) one of my favorite books of the year.
I received this book for free from Crossway in
exchange for an honest review.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Weakness Is the Way by J. I. Packer
GENRE:
BOOKS, NON-FICTION, CHRISTIAN LIVING
PUBLISHER: CROSSWAY PUBLISHERS
RELEASE DATE: MAY 31, 2013
PUBLISHER: CROSSWAY PUBLISHERS
RELEASE DATE: MAY 31, 2013
J. I. Packer is one of the most well-respected
theologians around. Author of the highly popular, Knowing God, when Dr. Packer speaks, he oozes Christ-exalting wisdom.
So when I heard he was releasing a new book on weakness, I was immediately
interested. Weakness Is the Way is a
small book that packs a big punch; and the swings might not come from the
direction you would expect.
Based on 2 Corinthians, Dr. Packer begins by laying
a foundation of what weakness is in its very practical, as well as theological
forms. The reader is taken to the mind and motivation of Paul as he is writing
to the church in Corinth. This section is solid.
Where Weakness
Is the Way takes an unexpected turn for me, is when addressing the
Christian’s giving in chapter 3. Dr. Packer takes a look at the role money should
have for the Believer. Now, if I am writing a book about weakness, I am not
sure I would spend a 1/4 of the book on money. However, to Dr. Packer’s credit,
he ties it in beautifully to the theme of the book. And to be honest, the fact
that so many of us seek security, comfort, and strength in money shows that this portion of
the discussion is much more needed than I would have given it credit for. Way
to go Dr. Packer.
The book closes with a focus on where we “weak”
beings can find our hope. These sinful and broken bodies are not the end. There
is something better, after this, to look forward to.
All-in-all, this is classic Packer. Deep thoughts,
broken down to the point that just about anyone can understand it. He is relatable,
gentle, humorous, and ferociously about glorifying Christ throughout. It might
not take the reader long to get through this little book, but the depth of the
content is likely to have a lasting impact.
I received this book for free from Crossway in
exchange for an honest review.
Labels:
Bok Review,
Crossway,
J I Packer,
Non-Fiction,
Theology,
Weakness Is the Way
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Lyrical Catechism by Benjamin the Esquire
LABEL: CHRISTCENTRIC RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 30, 2013
This has been a good year for theology-focused hip-hop. With releases from veteran emcees shai linne, The Collective, and Evangel already, it’s hard to believe there could be anymore releases of the same caliber. Enter Benjamin the Esquire. Ben is an emcee who has popped-up here and there throughout some of Christcentric’s albums over the years, but never has he released a full-length album. Instead, he has been busy being a family man and practicing what he preaches on his debut album, Lyrical Catechism. I would even argue that he may have taken all this time to master his craft because when it comes to wordplay, Ben is on point.
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 30, 2013
This has been a good year for theology-focused hip-hop. With releases from veteran emcees shai linne, The Collective, and Evangel already, it’s hard to believe there could be anymore releases of the same caliber. Enter Benjamin the Esquire. Ben is an emcee who has popped-up here and there throughout some of Christcentric’s albums over the years, but never has he released a full-length album. Instead, he has been busy being a family man and practicing what he preaches on his debut album, Lyrical Catechism. I would even argue that he may have taken all this time to master his craft because when it comes to wordplay, Ben is on point.
Lyrical Catechism is based on the popular
Westminster Shorter Catechism, a theme I have never heard put to music, let
alone, hip-hop. He covers topics such as, the chief end of man (“The Chief
End), the character of God (“What is God”), the fall of man (“Sin and Misery”),
and the offices of Christ (Prophet, Priest, & King”). The topics may not be
revolutionary, but I do not think they are meant to be. Ben starts the album
off by explaining that the practice of catechizing has been going on long
before us (“Standing Tall on Their Shoulders”) so it’s no surprise that the
song topics are generally familiar; Although, the verbal applause on “A
Mother’s Interlude” and the explanation of “The Esquire” stood out as a fresh
ideas.
While listening to Lyrical Catechism, it seemed to me there were two goals set by
Benjamin the Esquire (three, if we count exalting Christ which we will assume
is a given). The first, I believe is to take some of the questions from the
Westminster Shorter Catechism and answer them in song form. This is clear on
songs such as, “The Final Word,” “He Goes Way Back,” and “The Chief End.” I
think the second goal for Ben, is to encourage the listener to take up the
practice of catechizing their families, and more specifically, their children.
One of the biggest surprises for me on this album
was the level of lyricism and wordplay. He came out sounding hungry, like he
had something to prove. That type of hunger is rare in CHH. It definitely
increases the replay value trying to catch all of the little nuances of the
skill.
The only place the album lacked for me was in some
of the production. For the most part, the throw-back, classic, hip-hop feel
really worked for the album. There were, however, a few exceptions such as, “A
Mother’s Interlude.” The slow, awkward piano loop made getting through the song
pretty tough. I really enjoyed the content but the beat makes this a song I
often skip. The production as a whole is not bad by any means, but it is easily
outshined by Ben’s delivery.
For a debut album, Lyrical Catechism is pretty impressive. Benjamin the Esquire offers
something worth checking out for fans of theology-focused hip-hop, witty wordplay,
and that classic boom-bap vibe.
Labels:
Ben Otero,
Benjamin the Esquire,
CHH,
Hip Hop,
Lyrical Catechism
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