Moments in Time

I purchased Steven Curtis Chapman's new album "Beauty Will Rise". It is the much-anticipated first release from Chapman since the tragic death of his 5-year old daughter, Maria, just 18-months ago.

Simply put, this album is a musical masterpiece. It contains 12 beautifully-written, mostly acoustic songs with understated accompaniment that accents the intimate, personal nature of the lyrics. This album is primed to actively minister to all who listen to its melodies.

Indeed, listening to this entire album in one sitting is a moving, worshipful experience. The songs segue together to form a kind of Psalm of Lament--questions, cries, and pain are heard in every song. Yet the heartache expressed is couched within a deep faith and steady hope in the absolute, good sovereignty of God. Chapman sings through the suffering, pointing us to a God who sees and knows and controls all things; to a God who will carry us through to That Day when it all be made right (Rev. 22:3-5). Taken as a whole, this album unequivocally echoes the refrain of the prophet Isaiah: "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock" (Is. 26:4). In this respect, "Beauty Will Rise" is a tremendously God-honoring work.

Undoubtedly, this album will minister in profound ways to many who are suffering. It gives emotional expression to what it means to grieve in faith; to be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10).  I recommend it highly. I already have several people in mind to whom I intend to gift the album.

While each track is uniquely powerful, the current high-point of the album for me is Track 7, "Our God Is in Control". I cannot find the lyrics online, so I've transcribed them below.

Coupled with a beautiful melody and Chapman's evocative vocal quality, the lyrics of this song epitomize the theme of the entire album which commends to its listener this important truth: life is very hard, but God is very good and he is worthy of our worship.


"Our God Is in Control"

This is not how it should be
This is not how is could be
But this is how it is
And our God is in control.

This is not how it will be
When we finally will see
We'll see with our own eyes
He was always in control.

And we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
And we will finally really understand what it means.
So we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
While we're waiting for That Day.

This is not where we planned to be
When we started this journey
But this is where we are
And our God is in control.

Though this first taste is bitter
There will be sweetness forever
When we finally taste and see
That our God is in control.

And we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
And we will finally really understand what it means.
So we'll sing holy, holy, holy is our God
While we're waiting for That Day.
We're waiting for That Day.
We'll keep on waiting for That Day.
And we will know our God is in control.

Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
Our God is in control

Holy, Holy, Holy
Our God is in control

Holy, Holy, Holy

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(I don't plan to do any more major updates after this, unless there is a dramatic change in our situation. Twitter (@anderson_scott) will be the main channel for keeping people informed. Thank you all for your prayers and support and inquiries).

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The summary: On Sunday Jenn gave birth to a boy: Asher Augustin Anderson. He landed in the NICU for two days due to complications during birth (torn chord and placenta). He improved, and we were discharged yesterday afternoon. We had a few hours at home with the family, but by midnight we had to bring Jenn back to the ER. By 7 AM we were in the ICU ward.

After a long day in the ICU, Jenn has been diagnosed with Postpartum Cardiomyopathy. In her case, the left side of her heart is performing at only 20% capacity (it should be in the 50-70% range). This underperformance results in excess blood and fluid buildup around her heart and into her lungs. This, of course, can have tragic consequences.

We've been told that Jenn's condition is chronic and will require an extended time (they are saying "months") of recovery with multiple medications and other lifestyle changes. They are, however, hopeful that over time her heart will return to a strong state though she will always need to be "aware" of the leading-indicators of a problem.

They plan to keep her at the hospital at least one more day to experiment with different meds and evaluate her condition. One of the challenges is finding medications that will not adversely affect baby Asher.

Asher is allowed to stay in the room with Jennifer as long as there is another adult present. So, my mom and I swap-off turns caring for the other three boys and then sitting with and serving Jennifer and Asher here at the hospital. 

PRAYER
- Please pray for Jennifer's heart to respond well to the meds. Pray that God would provide massive, strengthening and healing
- Pray that she would maintain strength and energy as she cares for her 3-day old newborn.
- Pray that her shingles would heal in a miracle-fashion amount of time.
- Pray that she would be able to sleep, and that the sleep she does get would be deep and refreshing.
- Pray for Jenn's spirit; she is understandably troubled and tempted toward discouragement. Pray that she would find comfort in Jesus, who loves her and gave himself for her.
- Pray for our other boys, who are missing their mom and dad, and are growing a bit apprehensive about Mom still being in the hospital.
- Pray for Karsten, who came down with an earache today.
- Pray for Asher, just one day out of the NICU, that he will keep eating well and sleeping lots.
- Pray for my Mom, who also didn't get any sleep last night, and yet continues to faithfully labor here cooking and cleaning and caring for the boys.
- Pray that the Lord would continue to minster grace upon grace, and that we would have eyes to see and ears to hear all the marvelous things he intends to do through these challenging circumstances.

Our hope is in the Lord. Habakkuk 3:18,

Scott

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"Humility, it turns out isn't the kind of thing that can be spotted in oneself and prized.

Humility senses that humility is a gift beyond our reach. If humility is the product of reaching, then we will instinctively feel proud about our successful reach. Humility is the gift that receives all things as gift. It is the fruit not of our achievement but of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is the fruit of the gospel—knowing and feeling that we are desperate sinners and that Christ is a great and undeserved Savior.

Humility is the one grace in all our graces that, if we gaze on it, becomes something else. It flourishes when the gaze is elsewhere—on the greatness of the grace of God in Christ."

-read the whole post on the Desiring God blog.

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Today, at the Marketplace One Leadership Institute, our class had the interesting opportunity to do about 40 minutes of Q&A with Kurt Warner, quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

The story of Kurt's life is fascinating (get the real scoop here). His career highlights are well-known. His foundation, First Things First, does lots of good.

Oh, and today was his birthday (he turned 38). 

Kurt seems like the real-deal. Gracious, humble, articulate--a super nice guy. I enjoyed the privilege of hearing him answer questions. The questions ranged from the generic, "How do you define Leadership?", to the specific, "As a believer, how do you deal with salary negotiation?"

Then, it was my turn to ask him a question:

"Kurt, as a professional football player, what aspect of your vocational calling gives you the most joy in life? What is it about the 'job of football' that you love the most?"

His answered came instantly and unequivocally:

"Without question, the greatest joy about my calling as a professional football player is seeing the barriers it breaks-down in giving me the opportunity to talk about Jesus."

He elaborated on this by noting how all the privilege and all the status and all the fame simply serves to give him access to people and places to talk about the Lord that he otherwise would not have had. In essence he made it clear that, to him, the job is an amazing platform from which he gets to steward his main joy in life--telling people about Jesus.

How very encouraging and refreshing to hear that that is what Kurt Warner likes best about being a professional football player. 

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As some of you know, my brother and his family are missionaries in Mongolia. You can read more about them, and the amazing work that God has called them to do, on their website, Remember Mongolia. 

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Thanks be to God that soon, the Bethlehem Baptist Church North Campus will enjoy the benefits of a 'real' church bookstore. As these pics make clear, progress is well-underway, and things are looking good.

               

Click here to download:

Construction_on_the_new_DG_Boo.zip (1029 KB)

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