The Wonder of It All (Awaken Worship)

From Awaken Worship, one of the most powerful songs I've heard, especially in the context of corporate worship in one of the best venues I can imagine (at the Peabody in Daytona Beach; Bible & Beach in 2016). 

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The skies speak in the darkest night

With wonders far beyond our eyes

The whispers of an ageless voice

When you spoke and life was formed

The waters of the deep resound

They tremble when your voice calls out

The longings deep within my soul

Will be stilled in you alone

Oh the wonder of it all

Oh the wonder of it all

Is that your mercy was great enough to bear my sorrow

Love laid upon the cross

Your spirit moves within my soul

This mystery; my life reborn

Oh the wonder of it all

Oh the wonder of it all

Is that your mercy was great enough to bear my sorrow

Love laid upon the cross

Oh the wonder of it all

Oh the wonder of it all

Is that your death broke the chains of sin now and forever

Jesus, the risen one

Oh the wonder of it all (x3)

Your love has ransomed my heart

Such wonder I’ve never known before

Found in your mercy

Your grace has opened my eyes

Now my song will ever be lifted high

Matchless in glory: Jesus, you are

No eye has seen

No ear has heard

No mind conceived

The wonders still to come

(x4)

Your love has ransomed my heart

Such wonder I’ve never known before

Found in your mercy

Your grace has opened my eyes

Now my song will ever be lifted high

Matchless in glory: Jesus, you are

Oh the wonder of it all

Oh the wonder of it all

Is that your mercy was great enough to bear my sorrow

Love laid upon the cross

work and Gen 2 vs. welfare and idolatry toward govt, safety, and Mammon

Enjoying this film from Arthur Brooks. Reminds me of Charles Murray in his phenomenal book "In Pursuit" where he uses Maslow's Hierarchy to discuss self-actualization, etc.

Most provocative observation (for me): both the Left and the Right often see work as a "punishment": something from which people are to be exempted or inflicted upon. A Christian worldview insists that "work" is a pre-Fall / Gen 2 institution that is essential to our well-being.

It also reminds me of the consensus on welfare by the 1990s that it sucked, leading to the Clinton/GOP reforms. On the Right, it was inefficient; on the Left, it was seen as dehumanizing. Both were/are right. 

We're working with a handful of able-bodied young people these days, where welfare payments to them (for SSDI) are so debilitating. Sad to watch; hard to help. #ThanksGovt #WhoWillBuildTheRoads

Russell Moore on Uganda's RR/LM problem

Russell Moore in CT on not "legislating morality" in Uganda...

I remember giving RM a copy of my book on this (TNRNL) at a conference back in the day (in DC, I think). Maybe he read it! Or maybe he got to this position on his own (eventually?). 

A few thoughts:

-Key line/thought: not everything that is wrong should be illegal (corollary: not everything that is right should be mandated or subsidized). If everyone could understand this, the (policy) world would be a much better place.

-This used to be a deal for the Religious Right in the U.S., but has faded with some combo of declining political power and reduced political idolatry.

-Ironically, this approach is quite popular on the Secular Left these days!

-Along the same lines: Although Christians are called to a higher standard (e.g., through the 3rd Commandment), this is a nearly-universal problem and not uniquely Christian. Only a tiny fraction of people have a coherent political philosophy and only a small fraction have appropriate knowledge of the public policies where they advocate (often dogmatically). Of course, it's quite rational not to have this knowledge; just make sure to be careful about dogmatism and if you're a theist, misusing God's name.