… Before I die I wanna burn out bright
Here’s 3 of the songs from Lecrae’s new album. I really like Don’t Waste Your Life, but all are good.
Click here to pre-order “Rebel.” Releases 9/30/08.
I’ll post lyrics as soon as I get them. Here’s the album cover:
-Ben
Do you know why I often ask Christians, “What’s the biggest thing you’ve asked God for this week?” I remind them that they are going to God, The Father, the Maker of the Universe, The One who holds the world in His hands. What did you ask God for? Did you ask for peanuts, toys, trinkets, or did you ask for continents?
I want to tell you … it’s tragic! The little itsy-bitsy things we ask of our Almighty God. Sure, nothing is too small — but also nothing is too big. Let’s learn to ask for our big God some of those big things He talks about in Jeremiah 33:3: “Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not.”
- Dawson Trotman
The Cross doesn’t show us how amazing we are. The Cross shows us how amazing God is.
I don’t go out of my way to get you to use Google Talk, Gmail, Google Docs, etc. because I think you’re amazing. I do it because I think they’re amazing. My love for you, as demonstrated by me commending Gmail to you, is not based on how amazing you are. My love for you plays itself out by me working for your good - using Gmail :-).
Gmail is pretty amazing, but it isn’t that amazing. I wouldn’t die so that you would use Gmail. But there is something worth dying for:
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. - 1 Peter 3:18
Why did God die for us? Because He loves us:
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
How does that love play itself out? By working for our ultimate good. By bringing us to God!
How much is God worth? How good/satisfying is God? We get a glimpse of that when we see what God was willing to do to bring us to himself.
The incomparable terror of God pouring out his wrath on Jesus points to the value that God places in Jesus. Jesus was terrorized so that we might be satisfied in Jesus above all things, and see that Jesus is satisfying above all things!
-Ben
God gives us many good gifts, but it is easy to treasure gift above Giver.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. - Romans 1:24-25
What is the “truth about God”? That he is good, that he is the ultimate satisfaction, that he is not just the ticket to the show… he is the show!
I noticed a few times today how I keep looking for satisfaction in things other than God - music, blogs, CNN, food, wandering around talking to my family, Olympics, Wikipedia, packing, cleaning, etc. And all of those can be used to glorify and point to God. But God kept pointing out to me the state of my heart: Jesus wasn’t enough for me, so I kept running to other things.
What are you trying to satisfy yourself with right now? Olympics or Jesus?
If all else were to disappear right now and it was just you, your Bible, and Jesus, would that be enough?
Can you say with the Psalmist, “I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight” (Psalm 119:174)?
Praying that Jesus would satisfy our souls,
-Ben
ps. here’s what God drew me to late this evening:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
- Colossians 1:15-23
[Note all the theology packed into verse 2... ]
Verse 1:
Good evening brethren, let’s go a special direction
Look back, let’s meet a young’n that was born in 87
His parents was so happy, rejoicing at they new blessing
He breathes life, at the same time death without a question
His parents gazed in his eyes, adoring him as he hollers
He got his eyes from his mama, he got his nose from his father
Its crazy how this baby, is so precious but I’m saddened
He got his name from grandfather, his depravity from Adam
That’s how it goes and hey look as he grows
You can see he’s so blind, his eyes seem as they closed
He’s so weak and it shows, he can’t keep from what He knows
Is wrong, he knows it’s bad but dag he wants it though
And all throughout his years, he looks good to his peers
And his parents, and his self but if we could only peer
On the inside, we’d see that from the start it was dark
Until a Savior stepped in and gave Him a new heart, eyes opened!
Hook:
I know I once was blind, Oh Lord but now I see
You sent your Son from above to come and rescue me
He’s the light of the world, maker of you and me
His Spirit shines so bright for all of us to see
Now that my vision’s clear, Oh Lord we sing your praise
And pray that those in the world would turn and seek your face
Father we thank you for eyes to see so we can know you and love you forever
So that we can love you forever (2X)
Verse 2:
Yeah I was blinded in the past, like my mind was in the trash
Incapable of doing good or even finding him the task
Was beyond what I could grasp, my righteousness is rags
So He had to do all the work, by His design you do the math
The math, who get’s the glory, hey who get’s the praise?
Predestined, I was elected, resurrected from the grave
Plus His loved was never based on my past or present state
On anything that I obtained I was a mess but blessed with grace
By grace, I’m in love with Him
He gave me something within
He doesn’t love me cause of me nope He loves me because of Him
No He didn’t have to save and raise me when I was dead
But He dragged me out the morgue, now the praise of His name is spread
He died for all He would save, it’s crazy the Savior bled
Erasing taking my dread, and gave me some grace instead
The kind I wouldn’t resist, I came praise be to Him
And I’m confident if I’m in Him Ima make it to the end with eyes open
Hook:
I know I once was blind, Oh Lord but now I see
You sent your Son from above to come and rescue me
He’s the light of the world, maker of you and me
His Spirit shines so bright for all of us to see
Now that my vision’s clear, Oh Lord we sing your praise
And pray that those in the world would turn and seek your face
Father we thank you for eyes to see so we can know you and love you forever
So that we can love you forever (2X)
Now that my eyes is open, gotta keep that Bible open
Not just so that I can quote Him, I’m hopin that I’ll behold Him
Until I lay in the grave, I’m praying I’ll stay in motion
Gazing with eyes of faith He gave me baby, I’m focused
I’m praying all through my 20’s I’ll see Him in 20/20
Looking at Him till I look like Him almost like His twin He’s
So merciful, His Word is so packed I’m telling many
About the glory of Christ, tryna rep Him with all that’s in me
Hook:
I know I once was blind, Oh Lord but now I see
You sent your Son from above to come and rescue me
He’s the light of the world, maker of you and me
His Spirit shines so bright for all of us to see
Now that my vision’s clear, Oh Lord we sing your praise
And pray that those in the world would turn and seek your face
Father we thank you for eyes to see so we can know you and love you forever
So that we can love you forever (2X)
How do you define “love”?
First John 4:9 warns us NOT to try to define it based on ourselves: “not that we have loved God but that he loved us.” We do love God and love people, but the Bible says that we can’t use our meager loving to define love. We are to use God’s love for us and God’s love for himself.
The Ben Hutton paraphrase of 1 John 4:9-10: “This is the most loving thing ever, and should be an example of how to love: a Father sent his Son on a mission to die, and as part of that death, the Father punished the Son for the sin of many people by pouring out his righteous fury on him.”
God’s chief example of love involved wrath and death. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t comfortable. But it was glorious. The objective fact was that God’s actions were loving.
Too often we rely on our subjective feelings to determine whether actions are loving. But often, we feel wrong. Just as our thoughts and our actions need to be sanctified, so do our feelings. And what is most loving might also be what is most painful, and not feel loving at all - especially in the short-term. Looking back, things are often different.
Back in the day, some of the guys in Crusade liked to throw the term “bricking” around. It consisted of speaking truth, in love, into each other’s lives. It often felt, at the moment, like you were getting hit with a brick. But that’s how it has to happen sometimes. Life is war.
First John 4:7 is startling: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Love is distinctly Christian. Nonchristians “love” each other… but according to the Bible, not really. There must be something distinct about the Christian way of “loving” that makes it love. What makes it distinct is that Christian love is not about subjective feeling (though it often includes that), but about objective Fact.
One way to describe God’s love: “his commitment to do everything necessary (most painfully the death of his only Son) to enthrall us with what is most deeply and durably satisfying—namely, himself.”
It works the same for us - we love others by working to “enthrall them with what is most deeply and durably satisfying.” We love others by pointing them to that which is the greatest good and the greatest joy: God. We love others by making them happy in God! This is our goal with both Christians and nonchristians - that they would be know God.
Verse 7 says that love comes out of “knowing God”. To help others know God, we need to know him first. Love necessarily flows out of knowledge of God.
Verse 12 says, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” We make up for the fact that nobody has directly seen God’s face by loving them - showing them God!
Verse 10 says, “he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” The ultimate loving act was God doing what was necessary for us to be with Jesus forever in heaven. God gave us himself by taking our sin and punishment upon himself.
Why? So that we would know and enjoy God forever.
Does your definition of love match up? Are you really loving people? Christians? Nonchristians?
-Ben
It is as hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia as it would be to tell you how the fruits of that country taste. Perhaps you will get some idea of it if you think like this. You may have been in a room in which there was a window that looked out on a lovely bay of the sea or a green valley that wound away among mountains. And in the wall of that room opposite to the window there may have been a looking-glass. And as you turned away from the window you suddenly caught sight of that sea or that valley, all over again, in the looking glass. And the sea in the mirror, or the valley in the mirror, were in one sense just the same as the real ones: yet at the same time there were somehow different — deeper, more wonderful, more like places in a story: in a story you have never heard but very much want to know.
The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that. The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more. I can’t describe it any better than that: if ever you get there you will know what I mean.
It was the Unicorn who summed up what everyone was feeling. He stamped his right fore-hoof on the ground and neighed, and then he cried:
“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that is sometimes looked a little like this. Bree-hee-hee! Come further up, come further in!”
- The Last Battle
If you haven’t listened to Piper’s message called The Triumph Of The Gospel In The New Heavens And The New Earth, you should check it out. Other than Prayer: The Work Of Missions, it’s the Piper message I’ve listened to the most.
-Ben
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. - James 4:8
-Ben
Your boy’s been a Christian, quite a few years
Victory and faith, but I failed in my fears
I heard a lot of words that have tickled many ears
That’s why I praise God for the Word that we adhere
The Word became flesh, lived for thirty years
Died at 33, but after days reappeared
Jesus Christ anointed one ascended in the air
Or you can say the air where the Father made Him heir
Of all things the throne know it’s more than a chair
But after our redemption yes He did take a chair
Greater than the angels name superior to theirs
This is Hebrews Chapter 1 if you cared
I’m leaning to the right
The light is where I’m running
I thought I wanted life, drunk, sexed out and blunted
But all I really wanted was the One who really won it
Fought death, beat it gave His life to the public
I love it!
Angels surrounding His throne and
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
The whole earth is full of His glory
All nations bow to His name
His majesty fills the Heavens
Our hearts give thunderous praise
Declare the Lord is forever
Make a joyful noise in this place
Man I’m trying to lift Him high
Higher than the stars
I am not of this world like I’m from the planet mars
I love to preach Jesus you can read it in my bars
I’m pretty straight forward when I’m speaking bout my Lord
He paid the sin price being beat by Roman guards
But when He resurrected gave us life free of charge
Now me and my boys need to be in a psych ward
Cause we went crazy for God our lives was scarred
Now in the Book of Life, our names have been written down
We’re casting our crowns before His feet on the ground
It’s such a holy melody and a heavenly sound
Hearing holy holy holy coming out of the mouth
Of the four living creatures by His throne all around
Can you picture the scene this this is how it’s going down
You just need a little faith and a new set of eyes and a telescopic lens to look in and see God
I love it!
Angels surrounding His throne and
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
The whole earth is full of His glory
All nations bow to His name
His majesty fills the Heavens
Our hearts give thunderous praise
Declare the Lord is forever
Make a joyful noise in this place
One day we gon’ be out man, like three strikes
And home son like a homerun CHRIST
IS - KING - LION - LAMB - GOD - MAN - SIN CONQUEROR - GRAVE CONQUEROR - SATAN CONQURER
Can take a sinner, atheist sinner to God conscience
Can take nothing
Make creation and lives honor
The same God that came through a fetus as Jesus
Limited to breathing
Got believers singing
Angels surrounding His throne and
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
The whole earth is full of His glory
All nations bow to His name
His majesty fills the Heavens
Our hearts give thunderous praise
Declare the Lord is forever
Make a joyful noise in this place
[Video is at the bottom]
Saturday, July 26th
Rajiv: is tomorrow. Is anyone gonna cake him? I feel like he needs to be caked real good. Every part of his face should be covered.
Joe: Yo, he’s gonna get cakes so hard. So whats the gameplan? Do we have a digital camera (daniel)?
Rajiv: “He’s gonna get cakes so hard?”
I think it’d be cool to trick Ben into thinking he’s not going to be caked. And then cake him late at night.
So … if Daniel could arrange for a little party at work, then he could play it off as if the caking isn’t going to happen. Daniel can mention that he called Joe to come hang out, but Joe said he couldn’t make it.
Later at night, Daniel lets Joe into his apartment. Joe ambushes Ben with a cake.
Joe: Yo, I think ben is so smart that he’ll suspect we are going to try to double-fake him…so we need to be extra-crazy smart to out-wit him. Here’s what we should do: daniel should secretly let me into the apartment, I’ll hid in their bath tub and pull the shower curtain shut. when ben comes go “#2″, I jump out and get him while he is “most vulnerable.” how does that sound?
by the way, i’m half serious about my plan.
Rajiv: Didn’t I just say you’re not gonna do that?
Daniel: I definitely think i should let you in and hide you. Got a cake?
Joe: i can get a cake….at ALDI’s!!!!!!!!!!!!
[A bunch of stuff transpired (that's not as funny), and caking got put off til Tuesday]
Rajiv: You should get Piper to cake him.
Daniel: 
That strikes me as… unlikely…
Ray: YO NICE NICE NICE
Monday, July 28th
Daniel, to Jon Bloom: Mr. Bloom… Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to cake Benjamin Lanning Hutton at Desiring God Headquarters after 1300 hours on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008. The method of attack will be delivered by Joseph Scott Tehrab to the door at that time, and he will remain to film the deed. It remains to be determined how the goose will be lured to the pond… I will pay you a visit soon after my own arrival to seal the cracks in the plan.
May the sugary goodness of the frosting in Ben’s beard be acceptable in the sight of our God.
Daniel: Jon Bloom has agreed to cake Ben. The deed will be done tomorrow (Tuesday), time TBD.
Liang: sweet! make sure jon doesnt pull a ray li and miss ben’s face… maybe train him in the art of caking beforehand by the power of the Spirit? just make sure to remind him of 1 peter 4:11 - “if anyone serves (cake), let him do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God might be praised through Jesus Christ.”
Rajiv: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe: Alright, I just bought the cake from Cub foods, we are locked and loaded….
Daniel: Excellent… Ben said that Joe and I had fallen out of the good graces of many a tiny asian girl because we didn’t cake him yesterday. We’ll have to make it extra good. I’ll make sure the rest of DG is notified…
Joe: Yo, We should get Piper to cake Ben on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 29th
Ray: yo take pictures and video
Liang: might wanna de-knife him b4 you try to cake him… little boys w/ knives can get fiesty when caked
Rajiv: Use chloroform.
Jon Bloom: Very funny! I will cake in the strength the Lord supplies.
Jon Bloom, to me: After today I’m gone the rest of the week for a conference, and I have a dental exam at 1 PM. I have a couple quick questions regarding the M:A things you’re working on. Could I meet with you guys at 11:45 am? Sorry about the very short notice. Just come to my office. Won’t take long.
For some reason, my digi-cam didn’t record audio. I’ve added a bit of commentary.
Thanks guys. I was completely surprised. Well done!
