TOPIC

This is going to be a different sort of Lifespring. I owe you an explanation for the long absence, and it’ll take a while to do that, so let’s call this episode of Lifespring the State of Steve Address. I promise to try not to bore you like some presidents do with their state of the union addresses, and I hope to even inspire you with a message of hope. So hang on!

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 57:1-12

MUSIC

Artist: Helen Yousaf

CD Title Child of Mine

Song: Meets You Where You Are

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Artist: wahba

CD Title The Beautiful Effect

Song: Giver

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LINKS

Matt and Mareena’s Wedding Website

100 Best Spirituality Blogs

Kenny Metcalf Interview

Del Brixey Interview

Kathi Brixey Interview

Hosted by Steve Webb

Perseverance is something that many of us need to focus on in these troubled times, and the Bible has many things to say on this subject. Steve Webb shares many of the scriptures dealing with this. We open today’s show with a powerful statement by Dr. S.M. Lockridge on who Jesus is…you gotta hear this! And we hear the debut episode of “Life Out Of Step“, a new show hosted by Bryan Duncan and Steve Webb.

My King

INSPIRATION BY DR SM LOCKRIDGE

Dr. Lockridge, a retired Baptist pastor was spotted in the audience at the beginning of a Baptist convention. The organiser of the convention asked him to come up to the stage, and open in prayer.

What followed was a stunning description of what God means to Dr. Lockridge.

We begin the show today with Dr Lockridge’s powerful and inspiring statement of who Jesus is. Below is the text. If you listen or read this, and are not moved, you had better check to be sure you have a pulse!

My King

The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King. He’s the King of the Jews - that’s a racial King. He’s the King of Israel- that’s a National King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King.

Well I wonder if you know Him.

David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork. My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

Well, well, He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my King. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s honest. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s pre-eminent.

Well, He’s the grandest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in high criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my King. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s strong God and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

Do you know Him?

Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes. He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, yeah.

His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable.

Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.

Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King. Yeah. Praise the Lord. That’s my King.

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen.

With all the turmoil and loss of financial and many other types of stability, we take some lessons from Solomon and the book of Ecclesiastes.

Music On Today’s Show

Jimmie Bratcher’s “One Rock”

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Big Stuf
“Keep Singing” (mp3)
from “Storms : Songs for the Heart When It Hurts”
(IMI)

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More On This Album

Have you read J.I. Packer’s book, “Knowing God”? I highly recommend it. Among other topics, today’s show is based somewhat on this great book.

Do you “know” God, or do you “know” God? Are you like the Hebrews in your knowledge of God, or like the Greeks?

Listen to the show to have your concept (and maybe your viewpoint) of the knowledge of God challenged!

Other Stuff On The Show

Here is the link to the interview with George Beverly Shea, who just celebrated his 100th birthday!

Had a bit of a debate at Wired. Here’s the article.

New web host, Lunarpages. They’re GREAT!

Bold Christian Clothing from C28

Are you a better person now, at the beginning of 2009 than you were a year ago, at the beginning of 2008? Are you happy with yourself as a follower of Jesus, as a spouse, a parent, a friend, an employee? Is there room for improvement in one or more of these areas? How about your fitness level, physically, mentally, spiritually? Have you fallen into a pattern of behavior that you know is not the best, is there a sin that you’ve gotten, shall we say, comfortable with? Something that you know should not be a part of your life?

I am not a person who makes New Year’s resolutions, but the beginning of a new year is a good time to take inventory, to do some introspection, get the magnifying glass out. The end of a year is like the period at the end of a sentence, and New Years Day is like the start of a new chapter. So let me ask you again: Are you a better person now, at the beginning of 2009 than you were a year ago, at the beginning of 2008?

Was there something that you had big plans to acheive in 2008 that didn’t get done? Did something happen during the year that threw you for a loop, that pushed you into a behavior that you would like to quit? Is there something new that you want to start in your life?

If you can think of something that you would like to accomplish or change this year, then I can think of no better time to start than now, and no better example of how to go about making it happen than Jesus.

Today, we’re going to look at the life of Jesus to see how he changed the world.

Seven Steps To Achieving Your Goals

1. SET A GOAL

First, know what it is you want to accomplish. or to put it other words set a goal: Know what you want to accomplish or change. I know, it seems obvious, but many of us just go through life from day to day without a plan, something to rev our engines about. And be specific so that you know when you have achieved it.

How do we know that Jesus had a specific goal? Because of what we see here:

John 12:27 “… it was for this very reason I came to this hour.”

What was Jesus’ goal? To bring salvation, or to make it possible for you and me, imperfect…flawed…sinful…, to have intimate, meaningful relationship with a perfect, holy, sinless God. To make it possible for there to be peace between man and God. Scripture tells us that as long as we fall short of what God requires, there can be no relationship with God and man, and that there is no possible way for man to close the gap because perfection is not in us. The only way to close the gap was for God Himself to become a man here on planet earth, live completely up to the standards required with absolutely no compromise, and pay for my failures by sacrificing his life. That’s pretty huge, but the basic goal is simple…to bring salvation to anyone who will receive it.

Notice something. You have to be specific with your goal. In the case of Jesus, his goal was not to save “the world” in a general sense, but to bring salvation individually to each person. That is specific. That’s me. It’s you.

John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

So how did Jesus acheive his goal? And what can we learn from His method?

2. BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY WITH AN EVENT

Do something different that you can look back on and say, this is when I began. It’s like in an athletic event, there’s an opening kickoff, a jump ball, or a first pitch. This is where you put your stake in the ground to say the old ended here, and now I’m moving forward!

What event marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry? It’s something that changed his life, and it was so important that we are commanded to do as believers. Jesus was baptized. On that day, his life changed. He had been a carpenter, and probably lived a fairly normal life, helping his widowed mother, socializing with friends and neighbors, going to synagogue, paying taxes. But the day he was baptized, his life took a completely different course.

From what scripture tells us that at the baptism…

Mark 1:11 …a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,”

So what happened there? Of course we know that he spent forty days and nights there. Scripture says that during that time, he was tempted by Satan. Now this next part is conjecture, ok? I have an active imagination, and I can easily see that perhaps Jesus was not constantly tempted during this entire forty days.Maybe he was, but forty days is a long time, and from what we know of Jesus before and after this period of his life, I think he spent a large part of this time in prayer, communing with the Father. And it would not surprise me a bit if during this time, the Father spoke to him about the shape his ministry was to take, or the strategy to accomplish his goal.

3. DEVISE A STRATEGY

So what was Jesus’ goal? Of course it was to die on the cross, for my sins and for yours, but if He were to die, with no one knowing who He was or why He did it, an arguement can be made that we would not be talking about him today. His ministry might have died with him.

The strategy is the “how” of your goal. What does it take to achieve the goal. Break it down into steps. What are the tools? What are the actions. When do they need to be done?

Why do I think the Father spoke to Jesus about the strategy during His time in the wilderness? Because when He came back, he didn’t go back to his old life. We are never told that he did any carpentry after his baptism.

Mark 1:13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

So when he returned from the desert, he came back a man on a mission. Focused on the message. He knew his goal, and he began implementing the strategy to get it done.

4. GO PUBLIC

In Luke 4, we see the next thing that Jesus did after His forty days were completed…

Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,

21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus proclaimed His goal publicly at this point. By making this announcement here, in this place…the local synagogue…He was going to the place that would have the biggest impact. Jesus knew that the word would quickly spread. There was no going back.

When we make our goals known to others, it’s very hard to just forget about them, or give up on them. No one wants to look like a quitter, right? Who wants everyone to know that we lack discipline? Or that we didn’t have what it takes? Or on the positive side, once you tell the world, you’ll probably have some people who will encourage you!

5. BUILD A TEAM

Going back to Mark’s account, of this part of Jesus’ life gives us the next step we should take. Let’s see what Jesus did.

Mark 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Build a team around your goal: people who will help you, people whom you trust, people that you can enlist. Help them be excited about your goal so they will continually support you. Keep them up to date on your progress. Jesus’ goal was to die on the cross, the lamb of God, the Messiah, the only One who could save the world from their sins. And we know that he spent a lot of time teaching them about His goal, encouraging them, even convincing them.

Mark 4: 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

This entire event took place to convince them, to focus them on the goal. They had to believe that Jesus was who claimed to be, so that they would enthusiastically preach the message. We know from scripture that this was not the only time He had to do something big to convince them, which tells me that we will often need to touch bases with our team in order for them to help us to our goal. Let them know how you’re doing in relation to the goal. Your progress, challenges, failures, adjustments, victories.

6. MAKE TIME TO REST

Mark 6:31 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

We need some time to just simply rest. Jesus knew the importance of rest. There are many examples in scripture of Jesus going off to be alone, to rest, to pray. It was important for Jesus to rest, how much more so for us?

God created the world in six days, then took the seventh to rest, instituting the Sabbath. Rest is good, it is important, it is healthy.

So now we see what happens when the goal is acheived.

7. CELEBRATE

Luke 15: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety?nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety?nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

So we see here that when Jesus’ goal is achieved, when one person responds to the love of God, there is a party in Heaven!

Who rejoices? What’s that? You say the angels rejoice? Is that what the scripture says there? Let’s look at it again:

“there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God”.

Now, the angels may indeed rejoice, but the focus is not on the angels here. The literal translation of that passage is

“there is joy BEFORE the angels of God”

Well, who or what is before, or in front of, the angels? GOD IS! God rejoices. We know that God the Father sits on his throne, with Jesus, or God the Son, sitting at his right hand! There is celebration when the goal is achieved, each time the goal is achieved!

It is good to rejoice, to celebrate, to revel in the good that comes from a job well done.

So again I ask: Are you a better person now, at the beginning of 2009 than you were a year ago, at the beginning of 2008? Will you be a better person at the end of 2009 than you are now? What will you do? What will you change? How will you do it? When?

Your comments are welcome.

ANNOUNCEMENT

There is a new Lifespring Media project coming this year! It’s the Lifespring Audio Bible, which you can find out about here.

David Phelps…”Hallelujah!”

Greener…”Christmas Song”
Greener
“Christmas Song” (mp3)
from “Christmas Song”
(Two Lions Media, Inc.)

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Doug Boldt…”Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with Angels We Have Heard On High”

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Steve McDonald…”Happy Christmas”

Steve McDonald
“Happy Christmas” (mp3)
from “Winter in Scotland a Highland Christmas”
(Etherean Music, Inc)

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Chuck Girard…”The Heart Of Christmas”
Chuck Girard
“Heart Of Christmas” (mp3)
from “Heart Of Christmas”
(Seven Thunders Records)

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The Rad Dudes…”Christmas In Malibu”
The Rad Dudes
“Christmas In Malibu” (mp3)
from “Christmas in Malibu”
(Radude Records)

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Dean Martin…”Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix)”
Dean Martin
“Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix)” (mp3)
from “Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-Grooved”
(Rock River Music)

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Woody Phillps…”The Twelve Days Of Christmas”
Woody Phillips
“The Twelve Days Of Christmas” (mp3)
from “A Toolbox Christmas”
(Gourd Music)

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The Swingle Singers…”Last Christmas”
The Swingle Singers
“Christmas Song” (mp3)
from “Unwrapped”
(The Sound Corporation)

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Yes Virginia…”The First Noel”
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Bryan Duncan and The NehoSoul Band…”Silent Night”
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Stacey Kent…”The Christmas Song”
Stacey Kent
“The Christmas Song” (mp3)
from “The Christmas Song”
(Candid Productions)

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Bruce Cockburn…”Adeste Fidelis”
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Podsafe For Peace…”If Every Day Were Christmas”
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Cat Jahnke…”What Child Is This?”
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Karmyn Tyler…”I’ll Be There On Christmas Day”

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.Karmyn’s Vocal Coaching HERE. Tell her you heard about the lessons from Steve at Lifespring!

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Mark Lowry…”Mary Did You Know?”

This is a real departure for the show! Kenny Metcalf, whom I interviewed on Lifespring!176, used to cohost aradio show with Mark Christian. On today’s show you’ll be hearing an interview they did with Habib Bardowell, which never aired. It’s an entertaining listen!

Find Habib’s music here.

We listen to a call from Matt Mattero, too.

Folks, as I record this, we are two weeks away from Christmas, and I really feel like we need to be encouraged. We need to hear from God. Let’s face it, as we listen to the news, or read the paper, or scan through our RSS subscriptions, the world is in pretty bad shape. The economy, pretty much world wide, is in a decline. Just last month, over a half million people in the U.S. lost their jobs. The U.S. government is shoveling billions and billions of taxpayer dollars…your money and mine…into failing companies, with doubtful benefit to you and me. 401k account balances are in the tank. Thankfully, gasoline prices are lower than they have been in years, but do you think that’s going to last? Personally, I don’t.

I could go on, but that’s not what I want to talk about today. I want to encourage you. If your family is anything like mine, or millions of other families in this country, there will be fewer gifts under the tree this Christmas, because of the things I mentioned a few moments ago. Should we be sad because that? Should we be fearful because of the economy?

Who is in control? To whom do we go for advice, for reassuring words, for strength, for courage? I think you know my answer. We go to the Lord. God is still on throne. He hasn’t lost His job. He is not surprised by falling stock prices or the big three auto makers on the brink of bankruptcy. Jesus is still our salvation, our redeemer. The Holy Spirit is still our Comforter.

Today, I want to look at several scriptures that remind us of what God has said. I’ll be reading a lot of scripture today, and commenting a little. His words are much better than mine, and I just really think that we need to hear from God today, and not so much from Steve. I hope that’s okay with you.

Listen to the show to hear the what God has to say to lift our hearts.

Music on today’s show was Northern Light Orchestra singing “Celebrate Christmas”.

Today you are going to hear some of the best music out there because I’m going to share a conversation I recently had with Mr. David Phelps.

Perhaps best known for his 8 years with the Gaither Vocal Band, he’s been solo since 2005, releasing five or so CDs since then. He has an amazing tenor voice, with a three octave range. His audiences have included George W. Bush, massive crowds at Billy Graham Crusades, four Dove Awards, two Grammy Awards, and over 13 gold and 15 platinum-selling projects.

If you have never heard him, you are in for a treat today, and if are familiar with his work, I think you’ll enjoy getting to know him better today.

You’ll hear some songs from his two newest projects, and he talks about his childhood, how he decided that he wanted to make singing his life’s pursuit, how he met Jesus, and lots more.

Here are the two CDs we talked about on the show…

Chuck Girard was one of the founding members of the group, Love Song, which first started singing at Calvary Chapel Bible studies in Costa Mesa, California. This was at the very beginning of the Jesus People movement, which began at Calvary Chapel.

Even before this time, however, Chuck was there during the early days of rock ‘n’ roll, recording with several bands, including The Castells and The Hondells.

This interview is full of music clips and several full songs that you are sure to enjoy.

Chuck’s newest CD, Evening Shadows,is available now. Click here
to buy!

Chuck Girard
“Evening Shadows” (mp3)
from “Evening Shadows”
(Seven Thunders Records)

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More On This Album