(sola)s hattiesburg

In the past month I’ve come across one of the sweetest websites on the internet – Noisetrade.com.  Here’s the concept: as a way of getting their music into the hands and ipods of the public, various artists will host their music on the sight.  To download an artist you simply select the music you want and then choose to either tell 5 friends or pay what you want for it (ranging between $1-$25).  The site will immediately send you a download code and within minutes you’ll have their music in your itunes library.  You should definitely check this one out.  I’ll be adding it as a resource on the site for sure.

Starting this Thursday, (sola)s gatherings will be in the Activities Center.  The AC is located on the same premises as the East Campus in the corner of the parking lot.  I hope everyone makes it to (sola)s this week as we take a look at the idea of the cross being our means of forgiveness and righteousness.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  In this section of Scripture, the apostle Paul is teaching the church at Corinth an important truth for us to learn as well.  He is helping them to see that we must not go throughout life without giving thought to God – even in matters of food and drink.  Everything exists for God’s glory.  So whether you are writing a paper or working at Lenny’s, you should do it to the glory of God.  A good of example of this that I’ve experienced is a coffee shop in Louisville called Sunergos Coffee.  These guys make incredible java!  They produce an excellent product that attracts people, and it just so happens that the owners are believers.  Part of what it means to be salt and light is to do whatever you do with excellence, as for the Lord.  This is how you glorify Him no matter what you find yourself doing.  Check out the Sunergos website: http://www.sunergoscoffee.com/index.html.

This commercial is currently being run by a Catholic

       pro-life organization.  It’s worth watching.

There are few places in my life that I’ve enjoyed more than Lake Forest Ranch.  I can’t think of a place that has been more significant as a memorial for my spiritual growth.  It’s nothing about the particular location, although it is beautiful and serene, but there is just something about time set aside for worship and discipleship, time set aside for enjoying God.  That’s what LFR is all about.  On January 27th, Rich Malone, the director of LFR, will be in Hattiesburg recruiting counselors and work staff for this summer.  He is looking for college students who are serious about their faith and would like to invest their lives into kids for 11 weeks.  If you are interested, there will a time to meet Rich and learn more at the west campus on the 27th at 6:30.  

Check out LFR’s website:  www.lakeforestranch.com  (or just click on the logo)

This Thursday we will start back with (sola)s – 7 p.m. at the east campus.  To kick of the year we will spend a few weeks looking at the cross of Christ.  What was really accomplished by Jesus’ death?  Was the cross the only possible way?  How does understanding the cross help us in everyday life?  We will deal with these and other questions as we examine the atonement.  This should be an awesome time of worship and encouragement as we focus on the gospel.

To go along with our study, there are a few resources I’d suggest to you:

Death by Love, by Mark Driscoll – This book is awesome!  I’m in the middle of reading it right now.

The Cross of Christ, by John Stott – This is a very helpful and good book on what Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished.  

Christ on the Cross, Mark Driscoll audio sermons – access these at marshillchurch.org; search: cross

So I just finished John Piper’s new book Spectacular Sins and found it to be a very good read.  Piper introduces the book by saying that much of American christianity is “fluffy” and that there is a great need in the States for “tire iron” theology – deep, perhaps even difficult, truths about God, but truths that can be lifesaving (like a tire iron).  The rest of the book addresses one of those deep, challenging truths, namely, God’s relationship to sin.  

The title of the book is a paradox – how can sin ever be spectacular?  Answer – God uses sin for His global and ultimate purposes.  Piper contends that God is in no way guilty of ever committing sin, yet somehow He is sovereign over it.  And what’s more, He uses the most grievous sins (and every sin) for His ultimate purpose of glorifying Himself.  This is heavy truth, but truth must be held onto.  The only way that you can embrace promises like God works all things together for good (Rom. 8:28) is if you believe that He is working in the midst of sin and using it in His sovereign plan.  

Oh, the depth of the riches and swisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!   Romans 11:33