Worship Evangelism Justice

From the introduction to Worship Evangelism Justice, by Mike Pilavachi, with Liza Hoeksma. Pilavachi is the founder and leader of Soul Survivor, in the UK. The book is an good read, and the perspective of what God is doing across the pond always interests me.
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"Jesus told us that loving God and loving our neighbor should go hand in hand. We've often separated out our spiritual activities from our secular ones; we go to a home group, that's spiritual; we buy a pair of sneakers, that's secular. Or is it? If we do our part to ensure that the person who is making our sneakers gets a fair wage and works in reasonable conditions, isn't that an act of loving our neighbor and therefore a spiritual activity? God is interested in the whole of our lives and He wants access to everything so that we can make choices that reflect Him better.

I believe that worship, evangelism and justice are close to God's heart and that they belong together. If we continue to ignore them, or even separate them, we will continue to see the numbers of people following God decline and te church's voice grow weaker. If we bring them back together, could it be that the church will again be right at the heart of the community and God will again be worshipped as He deserves?"

Devotion to Christ

This is what we learn from Mary Magdalene, whose feast the church has historically celebrated on July 22.



Much of her story is shrouded in mystery and misidentification, as well as recent ficitional (highly fictional) attempts to further change her story. What we know about her speaks to her wholehearted devotion to Jesus. She accompanied Him on His final trip to Jerusalem, stood at the cross, and then went to the tomb. And her reweard, of course, was that she was the first person our risen Lord spoke to.



Lord, give me the devotion of our sister, St. Mary of Magdala.

Even in the Darkness

A terrific song from an alternative folk duo, based out of Chicago, but touring the EU during the through November.
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Even in the Darkness
by Rue Royale (Brooklyn and Ruth Dekker)

Oh, I will follow you
Even in the darkness know your truth
Oh I will follow you
Walking in the light you’ve called me to

‘Cause I love your name, it is like honey on my mouth
I love your name
I love your ways, they are so beautiful to me
I love your ways

Oh, I will trust in you
Offer up my life to be made new
Oh, I will trust in you
I will cast my every care on you

Oh, I believe in you
I believe your every word is true
Oh, I believe in you
I will give my life, my love, to you

‘Cause I love your name, it is like honey on my mouth
I love your name
I love your ways, they are so beautiful to me
I love your ways

Even in the darkness, know your truth
Even in the darkness, know your truth

Book Review

The Reason For God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Timothy Keller.

The Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, Keller walks the reader through an accessible apologetic for basic Christian beliefs, such as sin, the crucifixion, and resurrection. He also takes on criticisms of the church and God, such as the problem of evil and the Church's historic role in causing/promoting injustice. Keller takes his experiences pastoring in "godless" Manhattan to balance an academic approach to the topic with modern (and post-modern) language and examples to reach 21st century skeptics.