DYAF: The Infamous Stringdusters singing a train song...in a subway!

When I first went to Southern Seminary, in Louisville, I was introduced to this bluegrass group.  Somehow, these guys took a style of music that I did not particularly like and made it very approachable and cool!  Do yourself a favor and check out this great song--My Destination--recorded in a New York City Subway.

You can see it and hear it here.

DYAF: Alistair Begg preaching on "Personal Life of the Preacher"

Begg preached this sermon at the 2009 Preach the Word Conference.  If you are a pastor, you do well to pay careful attention to this excellent exposition.  If you are a lay person, you do well to listen and commit to pray fervently for your pastor(s).

You can give it a listen here.

DYAF: For King and Country singing "THE PROOF OF YOUR LOVE"

I have recently been reminded that our belief in Christ must look like something.  The motivation of our life is the glory of Christ while walking in and demonstrating his love.  Great song by a couple of Aussies to remind us of this truth.  Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

You can give it a listen here!

DYAF: Tim Hughes leading worshipers in signing "Happy Day"

When Jesus saves you from you sin, it is a good, good thing.  Tim Hughes song "Happy Day" reminds us to worship Christ for this happy event.

Hear Tim lead it here!

DYAF: John Piper Interviewing Rick Warren

Do Yourself a Favor.  See John Piper interviewing Rick Warren on doctrine.

You can see it here.

A Free and Open Place to Walk

Ever had a big decision to make but were unsure about what to do?  Ever had a difficulty in a relationship and were unsure how it might get any better?  Ever found yourself in the midst of a circumstance that was robbing you of peace and overwhelming you with anxiety and fear?

Over the last few weeks, my bride and I have been reading and praying through Psalm 119.  It broken down in eight verse segments and centers on the glory of God's Word.  It has been a journey seeing the Psalmist talk about his own attitudes about God's Word.  He begins with a less than stellar commitment to keeping what God says (see vv. 5-6) and that has led him to a place of conviction and shame.  In God's grace, he begins a journey in his sanctification that leads him to view God and His word differently.

He begins to see the immense value of God's Word.

He begins to see his own life from a different perspective. 

He begins to desire God in a new and intense way.

He begins to long for the Bible in a way he had not in the beginning of the journey.

The journey is real and emotional and deep.  He does not hide how he begins to see his own sin.  He does not hide how he sees those who are against him.  He does not hide a passionate longing for more of God and more vision to see the truth.

It has been a growing journey for my bride and me in praying through the verses of this Psalm.  One verse continues to haunt and challenge and comfort me.  Psalm 119:45...

"I will walk freely in an open place because I seek your precepts."
(Holman Christian Standard Bible - HCSB)"

The Psalmist uses a variety of words to describe God's Word:  statutes - precepts - law -instruction - decrees - commands. - judgments.  Right here in v. 45, the Psalmist cries out that because he has been seeking God's Word, HE IS WALKING IN AN OPEN PLACE.  A few other translations rener this way...

⁴⁵ I will lead a full and happy life,
      because I've tried to obey your rules. (New International Readers Version)

⁴⁵ I will walk in freedom,
      for I have devoted myself to your commandments. (New Living Translation)

⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.  (New King James Version)

⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts. (New American Standard Bible)

45 And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces
      as I look for your truth and your wisdom;  (The Message)

⁴⁵ I will walk around in wide-open spaces,
   because I have pursued your precepts. (Common English Bible)

The big take away from Psalm 119:45 is the immense blessing that comes from being a pursuer of God's Word.  Blessing comes when we are Jesus-followers that delight in the Word.

The other evening, I attended a Prayer Summit in our area.  The Leader, Mark Mirza of Common Threads Ministries, challenged us with a thought.  As we are living this life, we want to be committed to praying God's will.  We are confident that when we pray God's Word that we are praying what God desires.  He want on to say that the Bible helps us know what is true.  God is not interested in keeping us in the dark.  He is committed to building faith in us.  He is leading us to walk in wide-open places.

Meditate on God's goodness.  Read and pray Psalm 119.

Consider Your Life as Nothing

Today's USA Today sports page had a small blurb about the death of Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke.  She died after a crash in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 11.  The cause of death being "irreversible damage to her brain because of a lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrect.  She was 29.

Most people will not hear this news.  Some will think it a shame that a young woman died from a skiing accident.  "Why should people fling themselves down a mountain on two thin sticks?  Why should anyone die for skiing?"

Here's the thing.  I am convinced that Sarah Burke, more than likely, understood that life was a gift and adventure.  However, if she saw herself as a china doll, there is no way she would have engaged in the sport of freestyle skiing. 

Can thinking too much of yourself be a hindrance to your Christian life?

Paul said this in Acts 20:22-24 to a gathering of Ephesian pastors before he was to head off to Jerusalem.  "...I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflications are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace.

Paul understood some important things.  To over-value himself would create a barrier to him finishing the ministry he had been given by Jesus.  He understood that suffering and difficulty were closely related to his calling of telling the Gospel of Jesus.  Paul got put in jail because he was a Christian preacher.  Paul was beaten because he was a Christian preacher.  Paul was criticized...ganged up on...shipwrecked...and, ultimately, killed because he was a Christian preacher.

Paul valued Jesus.  He kept himself in a right perspective.

We have seasons of life where it seems that our responsibilities require different things of us.  I think about my own responsibilities now as a husband of nearly 18 years and a father of four kids under the age of 13 versus what they were when I was as a single unmarried man. 

Here's what I know.  If I am not careful, I will be tempted to compromise the Gospel when there's a chance if might affect my kids comfort.  I might avoid saying what needs to be said if I love getting a paycheck too much.  If I love my comfort too much.  If I over-value my life.

A warm place to sleep is good.  Food is good.  Children being safe is good.  However, if I love those things more than the Gospel of Jesus, I will never sacrifice much for it.  Paul, surely, did not enjoy getting beat up and arrested and driven out of towns.  Yet, he did!  Why?  Because he treasured Jesus above all things.  The treasuring of Jesus and his gospel led him to sacrifice much for the gospel's sake.

Life is an incredible gift.  Paul would, obviously, tell us that the Gospel is the most valuable gift.  Therefore, live accordingly.

Rodney Bradford - Arabi, Georgia

Twelve Things to Pray for This Year

A real good guy, Mark Mirza of Common Threads Minsitries has been challenging folks to pray through Psalm 119 to begin this year.  Yesterday, I preached on a few passages from the Psalm during Morning and Evening Worship.  From the Psalm, here's a few things to pray for this year.

One - Pray you will be committed to God's Word (Psalm 119:5)

Two - Pray you will offer honest worship and service to God (Psalm 119:7)

Three - Pray you will be pure and keep God's Word (Psalm 119:9)

Four - Pray you will sin less (Psalm 119:11)

Five - Pray you will speak God's truth (Psalm 119:13)

Six - Pray you will love God's Word more than money (Psalm 119:14)


Seven - Pray you will think about God's Word more and more and more (Psalm 119:15)

Eight - Pray you will DELIGHT in God's Word (Psalm 119:16)

Nine - Pray God will open your eyes to see His Word for all its' worth (Psalm 119:18)

Ten - Pray God will overwhelm you with His Word (Psalm 119:20)

Eleven - When depressed, pray you will find life in God's Word (Psalm 119:25)

Twelve - Pray for God to keep you from being deceitful (Psalm 119:29)

Great Psalm.  Many, many things to pray for your life this year.  It would do your soul well to meditate again on Psalm 119.  You can also check out Mark's ministry website here.  Click his ministry blog tab.  If you are planning to be in the Greater Cordele, Georgia area, he will be leading a Ministry Leader Prayer Summit on Monday, January 23 at Northern Heights Baptist Church in Cordele and Tuesday, January 24 at Vienna First

Baptist Church.  Dinner served at 6:00 p.m. with Summit 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Rodney Bradford - Arabi, Georgia

The Psalms Teach Us To Pray

The Psalms continue to shape me in my pursuit of God.  They show me how to cry out to God when I am completely experience ALL that is good!  They show me how to pray when enemies are about to destroy me!  They show me how to pray when I believe I am losing faith and hope!  They show me how to pray when I am unsure of how to pray.

Last evening, my bride and I began what will be a nightly practice for the next several weeks.  We are praying through Psalm 119.  The idea came from a ministry partner, Mark Mirza.  Mark does his good work through Common Threads Ministries.  He comes alongside congregations and teaches about prayer along with helping them start intentional prayer ministries.  You can find out more about praying through Psalm 119 at his blog.


Psalm 119 deals with the Word of God.  Verse one states...

HOW HAPPY ARE THOSE WHOSE WAY IS BLAMELESS, WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LORD'S INSTRUCTION!

A promise of happiness for those that live according to the Lord's instruction.  This is a similar beginning that you find in Psalm 112.  This connection between fearing the Lord, taking seriously the Lord's commands and being happy.

Last night, as we were praying through the verses (and in re-reading them this morning), I was struck by Psalm 119:5-6...

5 IF ONLY MY WAYS WERE COMMITTED TO KEEPING YOUR STATUTES!  6 THEN I WOULD NOT BE ASHAMED WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL YOUR COMMANDS.

Now here is the Psalmist making an incredibly honest confession.  "If only..."  Fully admitting that, right now, his ways are not committed to keeping God's words.  Right now, when he thinks about what God says in his word, he gets ashamed and convicted and guilty because his commitment is not where he would want it to be before God.

I appreciate the Psalmist's honest confession.  At least he cares about God's Word!  At least he is fully aware that he needs to have a deeper commitment to loving and doing God's Word.  Even though his commitment is lacking, he knows that God's Word is truly valuable.  It would be one thing if he were saying, "Well, it's JUST God's Word.  No big deal!"  He is humble and teachable and ready for his heart to grow and change.  He is like clay ready to be molded.  That is a good place for us to be.

This sincerity is shown by a God-ward desire in the last few verses.

7 I WILL PRAISE YOU WITH A SINCERE HEART WHEN I LEARN YOUR RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS.  8 I WILL KEEP YOUR STATUTES; NEVER ABANDON ME!


God, I want to offer You praise that is sincere.
God, I want to learn Your Word.
God, I will, by your grace and strength, live Your Word.
Father, I am asking that You will graciously stay with me.

That is a fitting prayer for the beginning of 2012.

Rodney Bradford - Arabi, Georgia