Less G.O.P. and More G-O-D

I spent the first couple days this week at a pastor’s conference/rally.  I call it that because it seems the duel purpose was to be an encouragement to pastors, to offer some useful information regarding the church and political involvement; but then also to “hype” us up about this year’s election.

Being a conservative and hanging out with conservative folks, being on conservative mailing lists, this was obviously a conservative event.  But more than that, it seemed to have a subtle undercurrent of being a Republican event.

Now, I understand that for the most part, conservative folks are going to be Republicans.  Those who are pro-life, pro-faith and pro-family tend not to align themselves with the Democratic side whose party platform confesses an outright attack on all those issues and then some.

Still, with all that’s happened in recent years in the GOP, with the constant barrage of “moderate” candidates being shoved down our throats, and with an ever increasing lack of genuine commitment to those truly conservative social issues, it’s frustrating to have a “pastor’s conference” that so closely aligns the Gospel and the GOP.

One of the best speakers of the whole conference was Laurence White, a well known Lutheran pastor from Houston, and speaker on the issue of the Sanctity of Life.  I’ve heard Pastor White before and I thoroughly enjoy his impassioned pleas to remind us that the issue for today; rather THE ISSUE for today, is the issue of life.  If we continue slaughtering millions of unborn children each year, then it really doesn’t matter what else we do.  I agree and support him when he says that it is sin for Christians to vote for anyone who would condone such murder.

However, the issue Pastor White brought up that really got my attention was this.  He was remarking on the fact that politicians have by and large seen religion as a tool.  People of faith are a demographic to them, nothing more, and they “use” us for their own purposes.  He then made the point that the Republican party has for years now simply “used” people of faith to promote their own agenda.  

And again, he’s right.  I’ve said here over and over that the GOP just assumes we will vote for them, simply because they are not Democrats.  Therefore, they can throw John McCain or Mitt Romney at us, neither of whom is truly conservative, and we’ll have to support them just because.  We’re being used.

Pastor White then said this.  It’s time we had less G.O.P. and more G-O-D.  The point was that godly, Word based churches needed to focus less on supporting the Republican Party and more on supporting the Gospel and Biblical values.   And I couldn’t agree more.

Here’s the thing.  As he is preaching this good word, pastors all over the room are yelling “amen.”  When he tells us that we need to stop being patsies for this party and support true godliness, people are again yelling “amen.”  And yet, by and large, these same folks will go right out and support Romney in spite of the fact that he is not the godly “shepherd” we were told at this meeting that our nation needs.  But they’ll support him because he’s Republican and not Democrat.

When will we wake up?  Everything I heard (at least most of it) at this meeting was dead on.  We need to wake up the people in our churches, have them get in the fight, have them get involved in the political process, stand for truth, stand for life, stand for families, etc.  We need to seek godly men and women who reflect our values and support them in public office.  But here’s the thing, Mitt Romney is not that man.  He doesn’t reflect my values, he’s flip-flopped on major social issues like life and health care, his “faith” is not the same as mine.  So why should I support him?  In the end, his values are not mine any more than the other side. And so I'll support Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party instead.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  There are some good godly men and women running for office in the GOP.  Men like Todd Akin, running for the US Senate here in Missouri.  Yes, I know he made a really dumb statement.  So have I, so have you, and so has every other public figure ever put on the spot.  We’re human.  But I know the guy well enough to know his true beliefs and commitments, and I support him 100%.  

However, I also know there are a lot of folks on the ballot who are not worthy of my vote, or yours.  Moral issues, “issue” issues, stand in the way.  Meanwhile, here in Missouri, we have alternatives like Cynthia Davis running for Lt. Governor on the Constitution Party ticket.  This is one of those races where I can’t support the Democratic Party period, and I can’t really support the GOP nominee because of those issues, but we have an alternative.  So I’m not giving in to the lesser of two evils, I’m going to vote my conscience.

In fact, that’s what this meeting was all about: voting our values.  And I agree.  But where these folks assumed that voting our values would automatically mean a vote for the GOP candidates, truly voting my values means finding a candidate, where possible, that genuinely reflects those values.  More often than not, those candidates are on the Constitution Party ballot.

We heard a lot about our nation’s origins and the godly foundations and the solid foundation of our Constitution.  And again, I agree that we need to return to all of these.  But as we’ve seen in recent years, Republicans and Democrats alike have trampled the Constitution under foot; and it is indeed time for a change.

As I have said here repeatedly, go and check out the Constitution Party platform.  Compare it to the platform of the other parties.  Look at the candidates from ALL parties who will be on the ballot in November and truly vote your values and your conscience.  Pastor White was correct:  It’s time for less G.O.P. and more GOD in our churches and in our elections.  

(NOTE: the above post reflects my personal opinions, not those of any other party, person or organization.  While I approve this message, they may not, but it’s not their fault!)

C of O, Hobby Lobby, and Other Constitutional Heroes

For the record, my daughter is a current student at College of the Ozarks (C of O), so I’m hardly unbiased/uninvolved in what follows here.  The college recently released a statement which begins:

On September 17, 2012, the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, College of the Ozarks sought to enforce its Constitutional rights by suing those federal agencies…tasked with implementation of the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”).

I must say my heart soared with pride when I read that.  The statement goes on to outline the specific reasons for this action, which I strongly encourage you to read. (go here)

Then, I also read that Hobby Lobby, a Christian owned company, had likewise filed a suit over the impending ObamaCare and its requirement for employers to provide funding for contraceptives, abortions, etc.   Of course, the liberals are calling for boycotts, etc.   It seems that free speech and acting on your convictions is only allowed if you are liberal and support liberal causes.  All others, keep quiet or we’ll boycott you.

I must say I am proud of C of O and Hobby Lobby and the many others like them who are taking this action.  As the C of O website puts it:  The Constitution…It Matters.  

Our government is pushing harder and harder for more and more control of our lives.  Just witness the “sugary drink ban” going on in New York.  Now, we apparently want to the government to tell us how much soda we’re allowed to drink.

It’s getting out of hand, folks.  Call me Chicken Little, but the Constitutional sky really is falling.  Fewer and fewer people have even read the thing, let alone understand its principles.  Chief among them are the politicians who take an oath to support it, but then routinely trample it under foot.

I have no idea how these lawsuits from C of O and Hobby Lobby will turn out.  With the track record our justice system has of promoting the liberal agenda and “legislating from the bench” I don’t hold out much hope of true Constitutional justice.  Still, I have a great deal of respect for those who are making the effort to defend the Constitution and religious liberty.

And wouldn’t this be a good time to remind you once again of the Constitution Party.  All this is just one more example of how both Democrats and Republicans have completely lost touch with Constitutional reality and they need to be called on it.  The time has never been more right for a third party and so I’ll say once again, as I have many times, go to the party website, read the party platform, and then go and vote for presidential candidate Virgil Goode.

Then, run out to your local Hobby Lobby and buy up a bunch of stuff and let ‘em know you appreciate your stand.  I’m even going to wear my C of O hat when I go!  The Constitution…It Matters!!

Makes Me Wanna Sing

I know I might lose my membership in reformed circles for mentioning this, but back in the day I was a big Stryper fan.  In fact, truth be told, I still am.  Sorry.  Can’t help myself.  I know a lot of their lyrics are shallow, even cheesy.  But hey, I like thin cheese. 

Anyway, one of my favorite songs was “Makes Me Wanna Sing.”  The chorus simply says:  Jesus, King, King of Kings; Jesus, Make me wanna sing.  Not quite the depths of Calvin’s Institutes perhaps, but true none the less.  Jesus does indeed make me want to sing.

I thought of that song as I opened my Blogger “dashboard” and looked down the list of blogs I follow.  Two titles, back to back, had to do with singing.  As I’m reading down the list, here’s what I saw:  “American Men Don’t Sing – Alistair Begg”, and “That Thorny Doctrine Makes Me Sing.”

The first is an observation from Pastor Begg that American men are not by nature singers, as opposed to European men who sing at the pub, the game, etc.  He says this is how he knows when a man is truly saved in the American church, when he starts to sing.  

The second is a reference to the doctrine of predestination, a “thorny” issue to be sure, but when reminded of God’s Sovereignty, something that leads us to worship.

Those are two relatively different blogs, but in one sense they both come to the same point.  That point being that when we come to know Christ, like it or not we agree with Stryper:  Jesus makes me want to sing.

So here’s my beef.  Why do we have so many in the church today who are so reluctant to do that very thing.  Sometimes it seems like only half the congregation is truly singing, and sometimes it even seems like those are only singing half-heartedly.  What’s wrong with us?  Jesus should make us want to sing.

To be honest, I think I sometimes embarrass my family.  I don’t sing so well.  In fact, after one semester in college as a music major, my voice teacher and piano teacher together suggested I might be better suited with another major.  Lots of folks say they can’t sing, but I have the opinions of professionals to back my claim.

But I can’t help it.  I like to sing, and I like to sing loud.  I sometimes miss notes.  I sometimes even miss words, even though they’re printed right there in front of me.  But I don’t care.  I just want to sing.  When I think of Christ, when I think of what He’s done for me, when I think of His Sovereign hand in saving me, when I consider my sin and His sacrifice to redeem me from that, I can’t help but want to sing and praise His name.

I want to be careful here.  I don’t want to put on some kind of spiritual elitist attitude that says your experience has to be just like mine.  But I also know that the testimony of Scripture is that God’s people have always been a singing people.  Read just about any story, and at some point, someone’s going to break out in a song.  It’s like a bad musical or something.  Singing seems to be a natural expression of our love, devotion, adoration, gratitude, etc. to our God.

So why don’t we sing, folks?  Why don’t we just let loose and praise His Holy name? Why are we so worried about what others around us think about the quality of our voice?  Why are we so stifled by the whole “I don’t know this song” thing?  Learn it!  Sing.

Again, I don’t think everyone has to be just like me.  I’ve addressed that before.  But folks, Jesus makes me wanna sing, and if you know Him, He’ll make you wanna sing.

And so, for you listening enjoyment (or torture!) here are those deep and thoughtful boys from Stryper with a classic.  (Go ahead and tap your foot and sing along…you know you want to!)

Discouragement - "On Being a Hypocrite" Redux

Almost exactly four years ago I posted a short little confession on being a “hypocrite.”  You can read it if you really want, but in essence I was simply referring to those times when as a pastor I stand in front of our church and proclaim the truth of God’s Word, while at the same time knowing that I don’t always match up to the very standard I’m presenting.

In particular, I think at the time I was talking about anxiety, my ongoing struggle with it, even though we teach and preach the truth of God’s Word to renounce it, avoid it, etc.  It’s not that I present myself as someone who has it all together, because I don’t.  I know I don’t.  Others know I don’t.  And yet I’m still called to proclaim the truth of God’s Word, to present the standard, even though I fall short myself.  It’s a real struggle sometimes.

And here I am again.  Last night we looked at Paul’s admonition to “not lose heart” in 2 Corinthians 4 and I presented several means of encouragement from that text; reasons to not lose heart.  And yet, this morning I find myself struggling with the very thing I preached against last night:  discouragement.

Maybe it’s coincidence.  Maybe it’s some psychological suggestion that in thinking about it, it comes true.  Maybe it’s an attack from the enemy.  Maybe it’s just Monday.  Maybe God just has a sense of humor.  I don’t know.

I just know that I get so tired and weary of the multitude of issues in the church.  When Paul tops of his list of suffering in 2 Corinthians 11 with his ongoing concern for the church, I can identify, as can most pastors.  Families that are falling apart, individuals struggling with sin, situations that need to be addressed that no one wants to address, constant undertones of bickering and discontent from that one or two individuals, plus the regular stress of wanting to see growth, wanting to see ministry happen, wanting to see people come to Christ, etc.  It’s just a bit discouraging at times.

Now, lest you think we have the world’s worst church or something, I’m just mentioning things that are in every church, that we all struggle with.  All in all God has blessed us with a wonderful church family, with some amazing friends and people who are a genuine encouragement to me and my family.  Which just makes this whole issue even bigger: if we do have so many blessings, why do I let myself get so discouraged?

And the answer is probably as simple as this:  discouragement is a favorite tool of the enemy.  As I said last night, he can often get us here when he can’t get at us in any other way.  So why don’t I listen to myself? 

In that post several years ago I stated that maybe this was just some kind of cathartic confession, and I guess it is.  But more than that, I also want to try and offer a bit of encouragement to someone else.  I know I’m not the only one here.  I know others deal with this, and even today might be fighting that discouragement. 

So let me just offer Paul’s encouragement to you:  Don’t lose heart.  God is at work here, doing bigger things than we can possibly imagine.  Keep your eye on the treasure and not the vessel.  Move forward in faith, trusting in His power and knowing that He is faithful.  Pray for me, and I’ll pray for all those out there who may be facing a little discouragement this morning.  

So there, I said it all again.  And maybe if I keep saying it, I’ll start to believe it.  In fact, maybe I’ll just go and play the recording of last night’s message and “preach to myself!”  In the end, let’s just remember with Bunyan’s Pilgrim as he languished in Doubting Castle under the Giant Despair:  “What a fool am I, thus to lie in a stinking Dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty. I have a Key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any Lock in Doubting Castle.”  God is so good!!!

Grow Up, Already!

OK, so here’s the deal.  In high school, I was a band and drama geek.  This was way before recent movies and TV shows made this a popular thing.  But believe it or not, in our high school, it actually was fairly “in.”  

We went through a stage where our marching band and jazz band won competitions right and left, whereas our football team…well…didn’t.  (In an 8 year stretch the team was a combined 17-63). In fact, we had several football players wanting to be in the marching band.  They would actually march with their pads on during half time shows.   So, being a band “geek” wasn’t the term.  We called it being a “band jock.”  

The point is that we had success.  As I said, our bands usually took a trophy at every competition we entered.  I was no slouch myself,  earning top ratings at state contest several years doing solos, etc.   

 Yeah, that’s me on the saxophone.  Don’t you love the hair and glasses?   Anyway, I enjoyed those things.  Just as I enjoyed the plays we did in school.  I had major parts in most every production we did during my high school years.

 Wow, look at those guns I’m showing off! Who did I think I was?  Once again, I’ll say, “Anyway….”  There’s a point here, somewhere.  I enjoyed high school, for the most part.  I met my sweetheart (not pictured here, BTW) in those days, and that worked out pretty well!  But, you know, I don’t really think about those days all that much.

It seems some folks think about stuff like this all the time.  It’s like they never left.  Things like Facebook have highlighted just how much some folks have never left high school.  They still act, think, talk like they did then.  They still fixate on the same things.  It’s like their identity is trapped 30 years in the past.

I mean, sure, I’d love to go back to the days when I was that skinny.  Heck, I’d even take that haircut again if I could lose that much weight!  But seriously, that’s all in the past.  And I like it there.  I’m not dependent on the band and drama geek, I mean jock, for my sense of identity.  Today I’m a husband, father, pastor, etc.  There has been years and years (and years) of growth and maturity since then.  OK, so maturity might be stretching it a bit, but you get the point.

And here is that point.  We can’t live in the past, good or bad.  It seems that so many people are trapped by their past.  Either they can’t get beyond those “glory days” of high school or college, still trying to get by in life on past success; or they can’t get beyond the hurts and struggles of the past, allowing those things to continue to bring them down.

Here’s some great good news.  In Christ, all things are new.  In Christ, the old is gone and we are new creations.  And as such, we ought to be living as new creations.  We ought to be growing and maturing into His likeness.  The past is gone, and while it certainly has some influence on who we are, it doesn’t define us.  Our identity should be in Christ, in who He is making us now.

Sadly, even in the church, too many folks haven’t made it out of high school.  Not only do many people, especially in small towns, fixate on high school sports, etc.; but our attitudes are still the same as high school.  Bickering and gossiping and looking for status in all the wrong places.  On the other end, some folks can’t seem to get past things that happened years ago, old hurts, old offenses.  Grow up, already!

Or as Scripture puts it, our goal should be that “we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:13-15, ESV)

We ought to be growing in our faith to the point that when we look back 10, 20, 30 years, our Christian faith and practice then seems as embarrassing to us now as those old pictures from high school do.  We should look back and see so much growth, so many changes, and our confidence should be in who we are now, who Christ is making us to be through the power of His Spirit.

So, looking back is good…from time to time.  Just stop living there.  Let’s all grow up.

The Need to Remember

"We wish we could remember better. Not just the blood-soaked events in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. But also the blood-soaked events at Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha"

So says David Murray in this wonderful article on our need to remember the truly important things of life.  Yes we need to remember the events of 9/11, but as he points out, we also need to remember a few other things as well.  He already said it, so I don't have to.  On this Day of Remembrance, I encourage you to go and read this wonderful article...

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Figthing Procrastination - the Rest of the Story

As you may have heard, Thursday was “Fight Procrastination Day.”  I was going to post all this then, but I didn't get around to it.  No, seriously, I sort of waited on purpose because if I had actually done a post on procrastination on the scheduled day, I would have lost my membership to the Procrastination Society.  This is a big deal for me, because as far as I can figure it, there are only two members in this prestigious group.  Here's the true story.

In college, my roommate Bob was doing a little research in the library, reading through some old magazines (this was before the internet, folks).  He came across an ad in one magazine for joining a Procrastination Society (I forget the actual name, sorry).  This was about 1986, and the magazine was dated 1983. 

He showed it to me, and having joked about our own procrastination problems before, we thought it would be some fun to send in a three year old ad for a Procrastination Society.  We thought we could make a copy of it, send it in with the date on the magazine and all, and wait for the laughs to begin.  Good joke, right?

Now, here's the honest truth about how things turned out.  We never got around to sending the thing in!  Seriously.  We talked about it more than once, really intended to do it, but just never got around to it.  Therefore, we figure that this means we are the only two “real” members of the Procrastination Society.  I mean, if you get around to joining, you sort of disqualify yourself, right? 

Now you know why I couldn't possibly post on procrastination until at least two days after the scheduled day; even if the day was intended to fight procrastination.  Some things are worth fighting for, and some aren’t I guess.

So here's to me and Bob, the only two official procrastinators we know of.  Of course, if you have a similar story, I’d love to hear it and make you a member, too…if you ever get around to telling me about it!

Fight Procrastination Day

Today is a day set aside to Fight Procrastination. 


I'll come up with a post for it later.

More Hymn Attempts

Thinking about hymns in my last post has prompted me to post a couple more of my weak attempts at the subject.  I must have read too much Dr. Seuss as a child, because sometimes I just get the urge to rhyme things.  Over the years I've cranked out silly poems for my wife, goofy greeting card couplets, and even a few poor attempts at songs.  None of it has been all that great, but it's something I have fun with.

Being someone with an interest in church music/hymns, it's only natural that occasionally this drive would head in that direction as well.  Awhile back I posted one attempt at a hymn, well actually one "real" attempt and one just for fun.  Our generous and sympathetic worship leader even had us sing the serious one in church one Sunday. 

Anyway, since I've been thinking in those terms again lately, I thought I'd toss these out.  The first is a short meter verse that I envisioned with a tune like "St. Thomas" (you music nerds will know about tune names, or you can google it).  The other I wrote to fit the tune "Loriann" which was written for the hymn "All to Thee."  Richard Baker named the tune after his daughter.  We didn't know that when we named our own daughter LoriAnn, but since there is a tune with her name, I thought I'd give it a shot.

God Help Me  (Short Meter)

God help me, I am weak

Apart from You I’m done

I need your grace, your mercy sweet

That comes through Christ Your Son

God help me see Your love

Which in Christ You displayed

He came and died a sacrifice

My sin on Him was laid

God help me trust in You

And in the hope You gave

Though dead in sin, You gave me life

And by Your grace I’m saved

God help me, lift me up

I still need grace each day

To live and serve and praise Your name

Oh help me, Lord, I pray

Praise His Name (8.7  8.7  with refrain)

1. Many years I had been seeking

For a purpose in my life

Sin had led astray, deceived me

Till Christ opened up my eyes

Refrain

Praise His name, O praise His holy name.

Praise His name, Sing only of His fame. 

Praise His name, I’ll never be ashamed

His grace I’ll ever claim, O praise His name

2. Jesus died to pay my ransom

Rose again to set me free

By His grace I have the promise

That one day His face I’ll see

Refrain

3. Now each day I seek to serve Him,

Give my life to make Him known.

I’m so grateful for His mercy

Glad He claimed me as His own

Refrain

Songs copyright 2012, Servantheart Music, Used by Permission

Speak, O Lord – Do We Mean It?

Over the last several months there is a song that has quickly become one of my favorite hymns:  Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s “Speak, OLord.” (I know, it’s been around awhile and I’m behind, but anyway…)

If you haven’t heard this wonderful hymn, here are the lyrics:

“Speak, O Lord”

1. Speak, O Lord, as we come to you  

To receive the food of your Holy Word.

Take Your Truth, plant it deep in us;

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness;

That the light of Christ may be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us

all your purposes for Your glory.

2. Teach us, Lord, full obedience,

Holy reverence, true humility.

Test our thoughts and our attitudes

in the radiance of Your purity.

Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see

Your majestic love and authority.

Words of pow’r that can never fail;

Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

3. Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;

Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,

That will echo down through eternity.

And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises;

And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.

Speak, O Lord, ‘til Your church is built,

and the earth is filled with Your glory.

I think this is a wonderful prayer for the church, one that we ought to have in our hearts every time we come to God’s Word, every time we gather for worship and to hear that Word proclaimed…Speak, O Lord.

But as I’ve thought about it, I wonder if we mean it even when we say it.  Because usually when God does speak, it requires some change in our lives in order to be conformed to that word.  It’s one thing to say we want to hear a word from God, that we want God to speak.  It’s one thing to say, “Speak, O Lord.” It’s another to be willing to follow what He says, to be obedient.

A lot of us say we want to hear from God.  We find ourselves in this or that predicament, and we say, “If God would just tell me what to do.”  Or we’re looking for direction in this or that decision and we say, “If God would just show me which decision to make.”  Or we just want to know His will in general, and we think, “Oh, if God would just speak to me.”

That all sounds great.  But are we really seeking Him and His will for His glory.  Or are we just wanting God to show up and do our will, confirm our ideas, give us the green light to do and believe what we wanted in the first place?  Do we desire His will?  And do our actions show that our desire is truly for His will?

How often do we make plans based on our ideas, based on worldly wisdom, based on pragmatic ideas of “what works,”  and then once we’ve made our plans, then we go to God and say, “OK, God, here are our plans, would you please bless these plans for us?” Is that how things are supposed to work?  Is that what the song says?   “Teach us Lord, full obedience.  Take your truth, plant it deep in us, shape and fashion us in your likeness.” His truth, shaping us.  Not quite the same thing, is it?

Another hymn we sing, “wherever He leads I’ll go.”  We sing it over and over, “Wherever He leads I’ll go.”  But do we mean it?  Do we really desire His will?  So often, we say we want to hear from God and when He speaks our reaction is, “Whoa, that’s not what I wanted to do.”

“God, speak to me and tell me what direction to go.”  God says, “Sell everything you own and move to the mission field.”  Wait a minute, that’s not what I meant.

“God, speak to me and show me your plans for my life.”  God says, “My plan is for you to live at poverty level, barely eeking out a living, struggling to pay your bills, so that I can demonstrate to those around you what it looks like to live in total dependence on Me for your every need.”  Whoa, I thought we were all supposed to be wealthy and comfortable.

Paul prays repeatedly, “God, speak to me and remove this thorn, this messenger of Satan sent to torment me.”  God says, “Paul, my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Not the answer he was looking for, I’m sure.

Do we really want God to speak?  Are we listening for His voice? Do we recognize His voice as distinct from those false voices that surround us every day?  And do we truly desire His will, for His glory?  Are we His servants?  Are we willing to be obedient even if it’s not what we wanted, even if it’s not popular in the world in which we live? 

“Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us all your purposes for Your glory.”  I hope that is our daily prayer; I hope it is my daily prayer; and I truly hope we mean it. 

If for some reason you've not heard it, here is Keith and Kristyn Getty leading in worship with this wonderful hymn.