Mr. Tall

just for fun

If you read my blog, or have stopped in sometime, even if I don't talk to you often (or even if we aren't friends anymore... or never were), please comment with a memory of me. It can be anything you want. It can be good or bad, just as long as it happened. Then you're welcome to post this in your own journal, if you want. See what people remember about you.

Or just say HI!

In Christ Alone

This is one of my most favorite songs ever. I went to Steve Pettit's evangelistic service at Hampton Park last night, which was good for a hellfire and brimstone evangelistic service. I was really excited that they sang a rendition of this song! The words are so powerful. I especially love the last stanza.

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 every 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 power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Meet my Parents

These are my parents, Jerry and Linda Glass. I was just searching through some pictures on my harddrive and found this one. They have been faithful missionaries in Uruguay since before I was born. Just wanted to let you know that I'm very proud of them.

I love you both very much! I pray and think about you a lot.

Presence (My Heart's Desire)

I lift up my voice to The King, The King of glory
I hold out my hands to The One who is worthy
I long for Your presence
I long, Lord, I need Your touch

Come, oh Lord, and fill up my life
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart's desire
oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
this is my heart's desire

I long to be washed in the well of Your mercy
I long to be warmed by the fire of Your glory
I long for Your presence
I long for Your healing touch

Come oh Lord and fill up my life
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart's desire
oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
this is my heart's desire

Newsboys - "Devotion"

Blood

"For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? " Hebrews 9:13-14

I'm reading through Hebrews today, and these verses just really jump out at me. The last phrase, that I bolded, is very convicting and encouraging at the same time.

Short Story

In legend there is a place referred to as Shaelo. Its beauty is beyond compare, yet it is said to be inaccessible and its location unknown. At least, anyone who has found it never returns. Where the legend originated, can only be guessed at…

The winds and bitter cold snow, lashed at the struggling man. He knew which way he was going or so he thought... He’d taken this trip a million times and in worse weather. His method was to keep a consistent pace and just use his inbred sense of direction to do the rest. The cold would force his eyes closed from time to time, to keep from freezing and in a futile attempt of warming them. During one particular time, blinded by the blizzard he continued to walk with his eyes closed…
Suddenly something wasn’t right… His feet didn't sink through the snow…The ground was actually firm…
He must be imagining. There was no way!
He couldn't believe it so he kept his eyes closed and took one more step.
The next step was even more unexpected than the first.
His feet sunk in, but... no... it couldn't be... He no longer felt the storm, not necessarily warmth, but lack of increasing coldness. As he slowly opened his eyes...
It was true!
He was standing knee deep in grass! There was a slight warm breeze and green everywhere!
He couldn't believe it so he took several steps forward... then the thought occurred to him as to how he got to where he was at... so he turned... nothing! It was green as far as the eye could see... what was going on?
There was green everywhere except for one place...
In the middle of the field, a soft hill rose. So he started towards it.
Right at the top of this hill was a most curious tree, arched just like a huge seat!
He settled back into it and because he was so weary, slowly closed his eyes...
A second later his eyes opened really quick. No! He couldn't fall asleep... maybe he was dreaming and the blizzard had turned him completely numb...
Then again, it was really comfortable here... and... it was really green and warm... it all felt real... and... an.. a...
Just as he was slipping away, it dawned on him... he had reached Shaelo.

"Shaelo" by Me

Doubting Thomas

D.A. Carson spoke in church this past Sunday on ME! ...well my name anyway. I'm going to give you a brief of the sermon, because it was really good!

The point of the sermon was not doubt, this passage John 20:24-31 is many times mistakenly used to assuage people's doubts. The Bible's answers for doubts are dependant on the cause.

The cause of Thomas' doubt was that he was a skeptic.

1. Cry of the Disappointed Skeptic - vs. 25
Everything else that we know about Thomas from the Bible shows that he was a devout 1st Century Jew that believed that the Old Testament was the word of God. He was just disappointed by the fact that he believed that Christ was dead. He was struggling because he didn't want to confuse FAITH with GUILIBILITY. For example: He felt like he had fallen for a "faith healer" shyster and didn't want to fall for that again. He didn't want to be known as one that would believe anything.

2. Adoration of an Astonished Skeptic - vs. 26-28
"My Lord, and my God!" What an answer! He didn't say: "Oops, you ARE alive" or "Bummer, I made a mistake." Instead he gave a confession of Christ's Deity. Why did Thomas do this? If you think about it, he did have a week between the time that the Disciples told him of Christ's Resurrection and when he finally saw Him. He had a week to think that maybe the other Disciples were right, maybe Christ WAS alive. A week to mull over all he had seen Jesus Christ do and teach. And when he finally saw Jesus Christ in the flesh... "My Lord, and my God!" came forth. His faith was sealed!

3. Example and Role of a Converted Skeptic - vs. 29-31
Faith is what it comes down to. Not to be confused with today's definition of a private belief not connected to truth. Our Faith is connected to something tangible, it is based on evidence. Vs. 29 can sometimes be taken as: "Those that believe without seeing are MORE blessed that those that have to see." All are blessed who believe. We are the ones that have to believe without seeing. We won't be able to put our hands in His side or feel the nail prints. Our faith has to be based on the truth told to us by the witnesses to the truth.

Nutshell: The Bible doesn't ask us to believe an untruth. And in believing, we will have life!

Blue like Jazz

"I never liked Jazz music because Jazz music didn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked Jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."

Donald Miller