"Salvation"

Reaching out for a hand I can't see,
I feel a hope that I can't believe.
I know the way you work is strange,
So I think it's time for me to change.
To start a life the won't slow down,
And let you turn this life around.
To trade this death for your perfect life,
And know what it's like having You inside.
You've given me more than I'll ever know,
And so Your love to them I'll show.
The line's been drawn and it's time to choose sides,
The side of hate or one where love resides.
You've made it clear which sides will stand or fall,
So I choose You as my all in all.
You are my God, my hiding place.
I raise this life to Your unending grace.
I lift this bleeding soul to only You,
The perfect Healer, please make me new.
Mend the broken heart inside my chest,
And pour Your mercy and my contempt.
I cannot keep this life of sin,
This pit of lies I've been living in.
I hear Your voice calling my name,
And I know it was for me that, to die, You came.
For all the nails I've driven in,
Show me new ways to begin.

God is not a secret!

The other day on my way over to my girlfriend's house I was listening to one of my favorite cds. The song that came up displayed a whole new meaning to me when I heard it playing fairly loud over my stereo system in my car. I will post the lyrics below.

"God is not a secret" by The Newsboys

You don't understand
this is not what you think it is
You don't get it, man
you want to boil it down to show biz
Your in-depth research shows:
drop the God, emphasize the beat
I've heard that positive pop you dig--
I'd rather be buried in wet concrete

Take back your free advice
I don't accept
I will not play those games
God is not a secret to be kept


You don't understand
I'm not talking multiple choice
You don't get it, man
if the crowd's offended you find another voice
I am not running for office here
I won't keep it purposefully vague
I've heard New Age Life-force trip
I'd rather be dipped in bubonic plague

Take back your free advice
I don't accept
I will not play those games
God is not a secret to be kept


If we keep silent
If we mass defect
These very rocks will scream
God is not a secret to be kept


And would I wash my hands again?
Would I deny my savior when
he hung inside the public square?
Did not my silence put him there?

When I heard this song for possibly the millionth time I no longer related it to the music industry, despite that being the song's intention. Instead I kept relating all of the words to the modern church. Think about the lyrics to this song and see how sickeningly true it is when compared to your local church. What will you do to change that?

I do, therefore, I am.

This, as you can see, is my first blog post on here. I'm not sure how often I'll be doing this but I deleted my other blog on myspace to make this one so I guess it should be fairly consistant. I just recenty participated in the most transformational experience in my entire christian life. Yesterday I got home from the first of 2 training weekends that are designed to tear down people's preconceived notions about theology and christianity and teach them how to become tools for God that they'd never even imagine.

While at this training I saw people make commitments to change and transform their lives that only God could have motivated them to make. I saw people released and empowered to use their spiritual gifts that disbelieving critics would write off as passed away. I saw teachings that are never taught in churches because it would ruin their division, doctrine and systems that they cling more dearly to than the movement of the Holy Spirit. I cannot wait until the second half of this training so that I can learn what my gifts are and how to use them for the betterment of the Kingdom of God.

The title of my blog is translated from LATIN as "I do therefore I am." So my question to you is "What do you do?" Is what you do the same as what you profess to believe? Do you argue theology in one way then perform it in a completely different way? Having asked those questions I'll leave you with a quote from BRENNAN MANNING.

"The single leading cause of atheism in the world today is 'christians'. They acknowledge Jesus with their lips then turn, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds so unbelievable."