A great song by Jon Foreman. The lyrics are a paraphrase of Isaiah 1:11-17. The Lyrics are below.
Here are the lyrics:
I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stomp on my ears when you’re singing ‘em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
Your eyes are closed when you’re praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There’s blood on your hands
You turned your back on the homeless
And the ones that don’t fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There’s blood on your hands
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
Let’s argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let’s argue this out
You’ll be one of the clouds
Let’s argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can’t love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can’t stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
The past two years have taught me many things. Creating and maintaining momentum is very difficult in a simple church. Recently I have been reminded of Jesus words to Nicodemus:
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spiritgives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
I have planted many seeds over the last two years and very few have grown. However, I am not discouraged but challenged to find better soil.
Living in a foreign place that does not share your faith, customs, or values is extremely difficult. This why Peter tells his friends in Asia Minor that it is going to require a new type of community. First, tells them to prepare their minds for action. Literally, he is telling them to gird the loins of their minds. They need to prepare their minds for some difficult things ahead. They need to be prepared, ready for action. He is getting ready to tell them about a new way forward into this new and difficult life they have entered.
In addition, he tells them that God judges each man’s action impartially. Each one of them have been saved by God through Jesus Christ. It was not a cheap price. God’s only son gave his life so that they could live. What God has done for them through Jesus, cost more than silver or gold. His advice is to live their lives in reverent fear, knowing that the one who set them free will judge the way they live.
The life should now be characterized by love. He says, “By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart . . .” (HCSB). The word translated “earnestly” is ektenos. The picture is that of a runner stretching out their neck to cross the finish line. It is a love that strenuously and intentionally seeks the best of their brothers and sisters.
Peter prescribes this type of love because he knows it is not going to be easy. Most likely they are small Christian communities spread throughout Asian Minor. And as such the need to be able to depend on one another, to look past indifferences, and to help one another. It is not easy to love, but love is necessary for our survival and our witness.
C.S. Lewis said, “Loving one another is a great idea, until you have someone you don’t like that you are summoned to love.†This is why Peter described love as the result and outcome of their salvation.
As we live in this strange place that consistently challenges our faith and values, may we strive towards a love that will build each of us up.
Sometimes he takes “time out” way to seriously! He had just hit his sister and I told him to sit in the corner. It only took him about 30 sec. to fall asleep! I couldn’t resit taking a snap shot.
“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. Whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause. Who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.â€
Getting a glimpse of the last page has a huge impact on how the story is read.
That was Peter’s hope as he wrote the words,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, Read the rest of this entry »
Our church is currently reading and studying our way through the first letter of Peter. I have started a thread on our church website that i am going to reproduce here.
First Peter is a tremendous letter that, if we allow it, can have a tremendous impact on our thinking and actions in regard to our mission in the world. The letter is written to believers who are described by Peter as temporary residents of the dispersion. These believers seem to be asking the question, “How are we to respond to and live in this foreign society, as followers of Jesus?” It is a question that many of us have asked and struggled with as we have sought to bring Jesus to those who live in our vane and selfish society.
It is not something new to see lines outside stores or theaters with people waiting to purchase the latest thing or watch the premier of a movie. This time it is the iPhone a “revolutionary” phone that has many new technologies. However, what does it say about humanity when we are willing to wait in line for days to purchase something that will be available the following day or the day after that. It is hard to wrap my mind around sometimes. Do people think their lives will be that much better with the product? Are they doing it out of a sense of adventure? Are they just hoping for some “air time.”
I have no doubt that consumerism is a huge problem in society and even a larger problem inside the church. The questions I am asking are: is this striving for the latest and greatest a sin problem? Does it manifest itself in other ways that effect our relationship with others or with God? Should we do something about it?
August 16, 2008 
Posted in Missional Living 
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Living in a foreign place that does not share your faith, customs, or values is extremely difficult. This why Peter tells his friends in Asia Minor that it is going to require a new type of community. First, tells them to prepare their minds for action. Literally, he is telling them to gird the loins of their minds. They need to prepare their minds for some difficult things ahead. They need to be prepared, ready for action. He is getting ready to tell them about a new way forward into this new and difficult life they have entered.
It is not something new to see lines outside stores or theaters with people waiting to purchase the latest thing or watch the premier of a movie. This time it is the iPhone a “revolutionary” phone that has many new technologies. However, what does it say about humanity when we are willing to wait in line for days to purchase something that will be available the following day or the day after that. It is hard to wrap my mind around sometimes. Do people think their lives will be that much better with the product? Are they doing it out of a sense of adventure? Are they just hoping for some “air time.”
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