Common Sense

"Common Sense is where logic, life experience and gut instinct meet together."

Gracie Girl

Happy 6 months Gracie girl : )

God is Our Refuge - Psalm 46 on 9/11 and Throughout History

Today the President of the Unite States of America read Psalm 46 at the tenth anniversary of 9/11 tragedy.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxFj4mv0rRQ&feature=relmfu


Billy Graham was actually the first to refer this Psalm in relation to 9/11 right after it happened ( here ).


And, in fact, this Psalm has been a comfort and encouragement to many 


At nine years of age,  Wolfgang Mozart composed "God is Our Refuge," based on the psalm, in 1765. 


John Stott notes  'The name of Martin Luther will always be associated with this psalm. His famous hymn "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott" (*known in English as "A Mighty Fortress is our God") is a free paraphrase of it. He and Philip Melancthon would sing it together in times of dark discouragement.


A man named after the 15th century Martin Luther is also said to have loved this Psalm -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


When reading the Psalm below, note the Hebrew verb "Selah". It is "a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause or interruption." (Strong's)


It basically means -  "pause and meditate for a moment on what you just read - drink it in"

 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. 

A Song for Alamoth.

 God is our refuge and strength, 

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 

 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

 Selah

 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 

 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; 

He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 

 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

 Selah 

 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. 

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; 

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; 

He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 

 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. 

Selah    

Allegiance

As Christians, our allegiance must always be first and foremost to Jesus Christ Himself. 

Any allegiance to country, culture, race, politics, personal philosophy, family, group or tradition must be laid before His feet.

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist….. that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:17-18

To be Preeminent means : “having paramount rank, dignity or importance”  Webster’s

The Greek word prōteuō simply means:

1) to be first, hold the first place

Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed [us] into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood,  the forgiveness of sins.

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Col 1:19 For it pleased [the Father that] in Him all the fullness should dwell,

Col 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Should Women Rule the World?

 Now that I've got your attention, this is not about feminism or chauvinism.  Rather its about a short conversation I recently had with an older friend.

We were discussing the new arrival of my child ( 5.5 months :) and the upcoming arrival of his in September.

I had mentioned how amazed I was at the process of conception, pregnancy, birth, breast feeding and everything that goes along with having a baby and specifically being a mother.

He noddingly agreed and then said to me " You know, I often think that we should have more women world leaders."

I  inquired why.

He said ( and I paraphrase a bit due to memory)  " They know how difficult and miraculous it is to bring a human into the world - I think they'd be much less likely to engage in wars and such that take a human out of it."

I thought - "Wow, thats an amazing insight."

And thats why I thought I would share it with you in this blog post.

The lesson here for me is threefold ( at least)

Women are amazing.  Life is sacred.  And men need to tune in a bit more to this.

As men we need to not just be worried about reproducing an heir but more so on being a role model for that child and raising, disciplining and nurturing them ( I can think of a few kings in history who could have worked on that).

Its been said, somewhat crudely but very accurately, that " Any dick can make a baby, it takes a man to raise a child."

I'm hoping and praying I can be that father my daughter ( and wife) needs, all the time recognizing that I need my own Heavenly Father to accomplish that.....


"Lead Me" by Sanctus Real :