Flawed Logic

Trouble is, this makes all the sense in the world to some people I know.What the postmodern world needs most is a true way to reckon reality.

Nature/Grace/Glory

Remove the sandals from your feet
To the land of milk and honey come and feast
We’ll only walk worthy when we find
We are walking in the light of His presence divine

So we tell the story
Nature to grace and glace to glory
We tell the old old story
Nature to grace and grace to glory
The power of Christ is changing lives
Do you want to be healed?
Then pray to the Lord He will make you wise
And the truth shall be revealed

How many times must I thrust my hand into his wounded side?
How many times has my wounded heart raised its head in pride?
Holy despair in our own self is hope’s best proving ground
For in our weakness He is strong and there’s where grace is found.

For he is tender to the weak
He will comfort all who seek
But those he loves he will chastise
For God is merciful and wise

So we tell the story
Nature to grace and glace to glory
We tell the old old story
Nature to grace and grace to glory
The power of Christ is changing lives
Do you want to be healed?
Then pray to the Lord He will make you wise
And the truth shall be revealed

Anthony Foster
April 18, 2010

There is None Other

There is none other who has the Word that will save
Where can we go? Where can we go?
There is none other who arose from the grave
Where can we go? Where can we go?

None other has come down from heaven to earth
Where can we go? Where can we go?
None other has the power to empower new birth
Where can we go? Where can we go?

None other, there is none other sacrifice
None other, none other than Christ
The living God displayed to us
The holy God conveyed to us
The most High God portrayed to us
None other than Jesus Christ.

None other has the righteousness to rend the veil.
Where can we go? Where can we go?
None other has the keys to death and to hell
Where can we go but to the Lord?

None other, there is none other sacrifice
None other, none other than Christ
The living God displayed to us
The holy God conveyed to us
The most High God portrayed to us
None other than Jesus Christ.

April 18, 2010
Anthony Foster

You Are I AM

Bread of Life in you we delight
Light of the world you give us sight
Door of our entry open wide
Good Shepherd be my only guide

You are I am,
You are I am
You are the first and the last
Beyond the future and the past
Source of reality
Our sufficiency
All found in you
You are faithful and true.

The way the truth and the life we’ve found
The resurrection and the life abounds
In our living vine we will abide
To your holiness we flee and hide

You are I am,
You are I am
You are the first and the last
Beyond the future and the past
Source of reality
Our sufficiency
All found in you
You are faithful and true.

Anthony Foster
April 17, 2010
John 6:35; 8:12;9:5;10:9; 10:11; 14:6; 15:1; 1 Pet 1:16; Rev 1:8; 19:11

Hallelujah Hallelujah

My eyes were blind but I thought I could see
And in my own miry mind I planned my destiny
My heart was chained but I thought I was free
Sought to have my way but that way had me

I was dead within my sin
Careless of the state that I was in
I was yet your enemy
When you bled and died for me

And then there came a time
There was once a place
It was by God’s design
An entry into Grace

It was not the counting of the cost
But by the devastating power of the cross
There I saw the love beyond my dreams
There I saw what lovingkindness means

All my guilt for all my Sin
All the wrath He bore
All my vain attempts to win
Shall bankrupt me no more

I was lost but now I’m found
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Once hellbent, I’m heaven bound
Hallelujah, hallelujah

It was not the counting of the cost
But by the devastating power of the cross
There I saw the love beyond my dreams
There I saw just what lovingkindness means

I was lost but now I’m found
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Once hellbent, I’m heaven bound
Hallelujah, hallelujah

Anthony Foster
April 18, 2010

My Only Boast

There is no grace I have within
My self has nothing to commend
All that is in me all that I am
Alll that I own is in the Lamb

I have no goodness of my own
There’s naught in me but Christ alone
No other worthiness to claim
Except the faithful and true Name

I have no claim on purity
I have no claim on the holy
I have no lofty place to stand
I only plead the risen lamb

The lamb who was made sin for us
He bled and died to win for us
All we need to be reconciled
For he was righteous, undefiled

My only boast, my only aim
My only hope in In His name
My only cause, my only trust
Is in the One who calls me Just

Christ is my only place to stand
Two things are graven on his hands
His scars eternally remain
There alongside we read our names

So in that weakness now I boast
I am the least He is the most
All that I am, all I will be
Is hid in Him eternally

My only joy my only plea
Is in the lamb who died for me
My only choice is found in Christ
My security, his sacrifice

I have no words; I am defiled
He knows the weakness of this child
So I have fallen at his feet
My only boast, that I am weak.

My only boast, my only claim
Is in the power of His name
My only hope, my only plea
Is that His blood was shed for me

To live is Christ, To die is gain
So live for Christ while we remain
Our Master soon brings His reward
Our heritage be the Lord

My only plan, all I believe
All I have is what I received
My only boast, my only plea
Is that His blood was shed for me

Anthony Foster
April 16, 2010

Written in meditation this evening after a long week

Life and Death

Sin brings death, sin brings death
It will break your heart and steal your breath
For sin requires that blood be shed
You’ll never live till sin is dead.

Christ brings life, Christ brings life
By the pow’r of His One sacrifice
He laid life down and took it up
We are fed by His bread and cup

The author of life was crucified
And in his dying death has died
In His resurrection so we rise
A body that now never dies.
There is only one sacrifice, only one name
Only one deliverance from age to age the same
Only one refuge from the guilt and the blame
Only one Savior praise God that He came!

Sin brings death, Christ brings life
The cure for the sinsick souls’ strife
Forgiveness and Christ’s own righteousness
Are ours when His name we confess.

Christ brings life. Christ brings life
He shapes us with His pruning knife
To guide our growth and make us strong
To flower and bear good fruit e’re long.

April 16, 2010
Anthony Foster

Put in the Sickle

The seed that's in the wayside cast
Will never root and never last
The birds will snatch away the seed
For untilled ground is where they feed

The stony ground of a hard heart
Will receive the seed but will not start
To see it grow and soon it dies
When troubles come and fears arise

The thorny bramble will choke out
The seed cast there is crushed by doubt
But saving faith will bear much fruit
When life springs from Christ's righteous root.

The Spirit ploughs the stony ground
The Word of God the Tiller sounds
For man's heart is but fallow dust
But broken brambles yield forth trust

The seed that's sown now sprouts and grows
And how this happens no one knows
The Lord Himself sees that it is done
Put in the sickle, the harvest has come.

It is men's hearts that are the soil
And so the heart is where Christ toils
It is to us to sow the seed
For Christ provides all that you need

The seed that's sown now sprouts and grows
And how this happens no one knows
The Lord Himself sees that it is done
Put in the sickle, the harvest has come.

April 14, 2010
Anthony Foster
Written while attending a sermon by John MacArthur at T4G

Beardification and Credibility

News of a new study that says beards make men seem more trustworthy. Or in the case of number 6, more like a bassett hound.

T4G

This has been an excellent conference- sorry I had to cut it short to get back to pressing matters at work.

This was denoted as the largest gathering of Southern Baptist pastors of the year, but it was noted that this is also the largest PCA and Sovereign Grace pastors' conference as well. Lots of ladies there too and many of the folks I spoke with were not pastors or on a church staff.

We almost didn't drive back to the Convention Center last evening for the session, but I am so glad we did. Linked up with Stephen Keene and Rob Turner. It was so good to sit with those dear brothers in the midst of the crowd. Been to a load of conferences through the years but this one will be memorable. R. C. Sproul yesterday, John MacArthur this morning and Piper tonight. I was hungry for good spiritual food. You can get this in the comfort of home over the internet, but being there live with 7000 plus and seeing friends in the process is much better in every way...except for the inconvenience of Louisville drivers:-(

I listen to quite a lot of John Piper and have read most of his major works, so just when I think I've heard most of what he has to say, he pulls out one of those sermons that will be a watershed for me for years to come. It'll be on the T4G site after the conference and I will link to it here.Scroll down the page once there!

Beautiful Thorns

Hideous crown, horrible thorns,
Piercing Christ's brow as a sign of man's scorn
The bramble becomes a crown as it's worn
By the King of the ages, forsaken, forlorn

Hideous crown, horrible thorns
Made beautiful by the one they adorn
My ransom brought forth like new wine
Outpoured as men bruised the living vine.

We weep with the weeping, with the mourners we mourn
As the Holy lamb is struck and his body is torn
But Your sovereign pleasure is served even now
As the beautiful thorns are piercing your brow.

Here in the bramble
Is the source of all thorns
Down here in the bramble
Is where life is reborn
You exchange beauty for ashes
Bring a dance to those who mourn
Exchange beauty for ashes
Bring a dance to those who mourn

The obscenity of His broken body
Raised up for all the world to see.
Is changed at the cross
Where His suffering and loss
Is exchanged for holy beauty in His sacrifice
How beautiful now is the body of Christ.

Beautiful blood, beautiful thorns,
Into a victor's crown transformed
My sins are forgiven as the blood now flows
And none may know
The wisdom of His woes.

Anthony Foster
April 4, 2010

Easter services

What a difference a day makes. Last night we went to a VERY edifying and meaningful service at the BIG church in Louisville. We just returned from a Saturday evening contemporary Easter service at the BIG church in town. Heard a very unsatisfying message on appropriating the resurrection power of Christ. The whole sermon focused on getting your needs met. Word to the wise: do NOT commodify the power of the Most High God. He is not a cosmic power outlet to plug into when and if you need Him.

Take My Heart

Take my heart to where it’s s’posed to be.
Take it apart in spite of me
And deliver me to a place
Where it can apprehend your grace.

Take my heart to where it’s s’posed to be
Set it apart and set it free
By the power of your will
May my heart your spirit fill

Oh take my heart to where its s’posed to be
Set on the blessed hope for eternity
Full of your love
Sent from above
In a secret holy place
Beating to the drumbeat of grace

You made it from the miry earth
That I could come to know your worth
And to follow my heart into your way
Here in the blazing light of day.

Oh take my heart to where its s’posed to be
Set on the blessed hope for eternity
Full of your love
Sent from above
In a secret holy place
Beating to the drumbeat of grace

Anthony Foster
April 2, 2010

Oh Holy Lamb, my offering

Oh Holy Lamb, my offering
In my place you were disgraced
Oh final sacrifice
Reconciliation’s price
You have conquered holy lamb
Victorious you stand
You are Faithful, you are true,
And I will follow you.

Oh bleeding lamb who stood again
Struck down by men like me
Men like me There on the tree
The beauty of the blood
The reconciling flood
From the sacred substitute
So resolute
My grace, my peace
Covenant feast
Who cleansed me of my guilty stains
And now only peace remains

I place my hands
Upon the lamb
Who was sent into my wilderness
And met me there in my distress

He holds the keys of death and hell
And all authority indwells
The holy lamb who was slain
He lives again so we proclaim

He is the one who lives who once was dead
He rose again just as he said
He lives forevermore
Now hear him roar.

Anthony Foster
April 2, 2010

Cyborg me...

Get Your Cyborg Name

Some thoughts just short of a review

Spoiler alert!

We saw Alice in Wonderland and the first thing I want to say is- don't avoid the books because you "saw the movie". They are not the same. This is actually based more on the nonsense poem Jabberwocky from Through the Looking Glass, but it has familiar (but not all) characters from Alice in Wonderland. The movie diverges from both Looking Glass and Wonderland.

The books are much richer in a literary and a philosophical sense and Carroll's use of language is all but lost in this. Most of my favorite lines and passages are missing in action, especially from the Cheshire Cat. One discerns the influence of the original illustrator of the book, John Tenniel, on the visual design of the movie. Some of the scenes derive directly from Tenniel's pen.

That being said, it is still wonderful cinema and visually stunning. This wonderland is much more gothic and dark, first of all from Burton's vision and secondly as it borrows from the themes covered in stories such as Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe or other stories that feature an evil queen who devastates the land after deposing the good sister.

Johnny Depp steals the show, but the other actors are exceptional as well. I especially liked Mia Wasikowska as Alice, and the maniacal if conflicted Red Queen played by Helena Bonham Carter. Anne Hathaway as White Queen was a bit irksome and contrived. Blue Caterpillar by Alan Rickman added a nice touch.

As for the CGI effects, they missed big time on the horse animation, I thought. Some of the 3D effects didn't work for me either- seemed pointless. The lack of differentiation in the Army of Cards was noticeably disconcerting as well.

And one more thing. I would have rather seen Mock Turtle (who was altogether missing) dance his dance than the Hatter doing the futterwacken, which was extraneous and contrived.

Dissertation Dayze are gone...

I am so blessed.

Dissertation defense turned out to be celebratory and a chance to talk about what I learned in the prolonged process. I said in another post that my advisor and reader's kindness left me a bit humbled- I think it is more than a bit, in fact having affirmation from people you respect is just about as good as it gets this side of heaven... I stand amazed at God's goodness in all of this...

So... I didn't get much sleep last night, my heart was so full. Today has been an exercise in trying to get back into a flow, wrote several thank you notes, followed up with coworkers on several issues, but mostly getting re-grounded. And I posted quite a few lyrics, most of which are still in search of melodies. Life is also like that at times, but songs have been reigning in our lives for the most part lately!

Thanks again to all who have been praying for us, and to all who have been communicating to us via Facebook as well!

The strangest part was when Dr. Bredfeldt called me Dr. Foster. Don't think I'll be using that much in anything other than an official work capacity.

Earnie observed that yesterday was a turning of a page in the book the Lord is writing for our lives. The page will never come again, but we can return to it in memory. It's the very satisfying culmination of a journey that started October 1967 when I submitted and committed my life to Jesus. I remember preaching my first sermon in 1974 on Youth Sunday at MWFBC. I remember the affirmation I received from Dr. Duane Litfin in 1986 as we began our seminary experience at Mid America in Memphis. Thank you Second Pres of Memphis library for letting me devour thousands of messages from Schaeffer, Boice, Sproul, Guinness, Roger Nicole, Packer, Metzger, and many others who were my surrogate teachers. I think I gained a better theological mind than I ever could have realized at seminary alone because of these resources.

Then we took the journey through Midian and several great churches in Dallas- and men who influenced me there- Gary Inrig and Ray Bohlin at Reinhart Bible Church, Bill Lawrence and Howard Clark at Northwest Bible Church, and finally Bob Palmer at our dear New Covenant. Thank you all, and especially the Mary Lou's whose prayers have sustained us all these years.

That led to both of us attending Covenant Seminary starting 1996 and being blessed by Jerram Barrs' courses, then grad school in 1999 and our five creative and valuable ministry years at FBC Maryville before meeting Tim Lewis, the pastor that encouraged us into receiving this blessed phase. Under Tim's guidance, Bethel Baptist gave me the opportunity to be licensed to the Gospel ministry, for which I am incredibly grateful.

Then there was the unforeseen and astounding opportunity- as our initial intention was finishing up the MDiv I had started at Mid America and continued at Covenant. I remember Dr. Bredfeldt asking me why I wanted to do that when I could go directly into the PhD after going through the levelling process in less than a year to gain equivalency. Three theology courses later and I was in.

It's been like wandering in both wonder and wilderness and crossing the Red Sea. God closed up the window of opportunity as surely as he opened it and led us through. We are anticipating the blessedness of knowing the Lord is ordering our days.

Thoughts on when He takes me to His side

Sure I want to hear “well done” Faithful servant , enter in.
But I have a greater longing
Just to draw near to the side of the Son
To be called His beloved
And to gaze into His face
To seek a glance from the eyes that saw me from before the foundations were laid.
God didn’t give us a legacy
He gave an inheritance, and that inheritance is the same of the Levites- the Lord Himself.

My Treasure in Heaven

Gold and silver, precious jewels, treasure of great worth
But stored up in heaven is treasure far greater than on earth
Not many here will find it for they’re blind from what they’ve got
They never think to dig deeply where the cross marks the spot.

Insatiable

Make my holy hunger increase
May my thirsting never cease
The more I drink and the more I eat
Whets an appetite that’s incomplete

I hunger for your righteousness
To dwell in me here in my breast
I thirst for water that ever flows
The more I drink my desire grows

Insatiable is my righteous need
The need for you to intercede
The need for your presence evermore
This is what I was created for.
For an insatiable heart toward you I plead

I need you Lord, and that need never ends
Though I am indwelt by you, it all depends
On a humble heart that apprehends your spirit here in me
Oh Jesus help me see reality the way you see…

Until I see with unveiled eyes
Until I see the reasons why
That day when you’ll reveal to me
The depths and heights of your mercy
Till then we live in the unseen light
Till our hearts are satisfied by sight.

Anthony Foster
March 23, 2010

Turn Now and Call Out

A good salvation message from the pulpit at Little Flock this past Sunday... and this emerged.

There is one way to salvation
One way to be redeemed
Only one way to deliverance
One way alone has been deemed

Helpless and hopeless and futile
By the world and the devil deceived
All of your goodness is filthy
His judgments are to be believed

Turn now and call out to Jesus
Turn and call out through your tears
Call for forgiveness and mercy
Call out and Jesus will hear.

A wide way that leads to destruction
By the flesh and its passions defiled
Turn now and call out to Jesus
Repent now and be reconciled.

How close can you get and miss Jesus
How close can you get to the cross
And yet never have His blood touch you
Close, yet remaining so lost.

Turn now and call out to Jesus
Turn and call out through your tears
Call for forgiveness and mercy
Call out and Jesus will hear.


March 21, 2010
Anthony Foster

Our sins were Borne

Our sins were borne
Before we were born..
On our behalf
Christ bore the wrath
My deliverance made sure
Though conceived needing the cure
Before I believed it was secure…
Redeemer of the world

All glory to Christ’s Name
All glory to Christ’s Name
I will never bear the blame
To live is Christ and to die is gain.

One died in the place of all
Turned back the curse, reversed the fall
He died for us
In Him we Trust
A substitute so resolute
He tore my sin out by the root
He took my place
Now he pleads my case
The iniquity of us all
On his head it did fall
Redeemer of the world

He bore our sins in his body
On the cross, on the tree
Purchased the Church by his blood
Oh crimson flood, oh crimson flood
He died and God was satisfied
He died and I was justified.
He died for all who died in him
Sufficient savior for all men
Efficient for those who have faith in Him
Redeemer of the world.


Anthony Foster
March 7, 2010

His Glory IS Our Good

Set your heart fully on the grace brought to you
Lay aside the futile way for the freedom bought for you
Lay aside the worldly pursuits that will soon fall away
Pursue the glory of the Lord, seek Him and obey.

For His glory IS our good
Once this truth is understood
It changes all our hopes and dreams
To gold and jewels from hay and wood
For His glory is our good.

We have seen his glory,
The glory of the Only ONE,
Who came from the Father,
Full of grace and truth, God’s precious SON.

He made the riches of his glory
known to the objects of his mercy,
Whom he prepared in advance for glory
And so we sing the marvelous story.

And we, who with unveiled faces
Reflect the Lord's glory and graces,
We are being truly transformed
Into his likeness we’re being conformed
His ever-increasing glory is shown
And it comes from the Lord alone

For His glory IS our good
Once this truth is understood
It changes all our hopes and dreams
To gold and jewels from hay and wood
For His glory is our good.

2 Cor 3:18
Romans 9:23

Anthony Foster
March 23, 2010

Voice of Thunder

The voice of the LORD is over the seas;
The God of glory thunders,
After it, a voice roars;
And we respond in wonder

He thunders with His majestic voice,
And His lightnings are not restrained
Whenever His voice is heard
Wondrous things are ordained

God is doing great things
Things which we cannot comprehend.
God is doing great things
In a world without end!

And the Most High uttered His voice,
The LORD also in the heavens thundered
Hailstones and coals of fire
That tear our sins asunder.

God thunders with His mighty voice
And we are filled with wonder
And so we sing now and rejoice
For wings we shelter under


Psalm 18:13 Job 37:4-5

Anthony Foster
March 20, 2010

Precious Pathway

Through the garden fall, through the purging flood
Through the Red Sea’s walls by the power of the blood
You opened up your heart, men opened up your veins
Deliverance you impart and so the path remains

Take us through the tribulation
Spare us from the coming wrath
That will fall upon the nations
Through persecution make a path
Deliver us from passions that would secure our defeat
Keep us from the evil one and from our own deceit

See us through, see us through
When we cannot see the way, let us see our way in You
Open up a precious pathway when we have no place to turn
Make the road a straight and narrow way to that place for which we yearn

Here at our Jordan see us through
Into your promised land
Lord bless us as we rest in You
As before your throne we stand

Take us through the troubled times
And help us pass each test
Help us read the travelling signs
And keep us as we rest

Your deliverance now demands
Your direction we must heed
Step by step at your command
As we now follow your lead.

See us through, see us through
When we cannot see the way, let us see our way in You
Open up a precious pathway when we have no place to turn
Make the road a straight and narrow way to that place for which we yearn


Anthony Foster
March 21, 2010

Think About Such Things

Set your mind on things above
And so you are set free
For truth and light and righteousness
Are there for all to see
Set your mind on the things above,
Not on the things that are on earth.
And you will see the blessedness
Of knowing their true worth

Whatever is noble, whatever is true
Whatever is right, whatever is pure,
Whatever is lovely, and is to be admired
These are the things that you should desire
If anything is excellent or worthy of praise
Think about such things for all of your days

Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:8-9

Anthony Foster
March 21, 2010

According to His Plan

Our faith and hope is in the Lord
We are held within His hand
According to His purpose
According to His plan
In the sending and the rending
Of the precious Son of Man.
According to His purpose
According to His plan

For we know that we know
And we know that we know that we know
Our God has authored the story
God will take evil
And use it for our good and His Glory

Our faith and hope is in the Lord
We are held within His hand
According to His purpose
According to His plan
In the sending and the rending
Of the precious Son of Man.
According to His purpose
According to His plan.


Anthony Foster
March 21, 2010

God Uses Whom He Chooses

I want to please you my Lord
I want to draw near to you
Not do something For you Lord
But to love and trust and fear you

Give me a heart to help others
To be a light to these dark times
Make me a door opening servant
Who knows his God makes the rhymes

For the sake of the obedience of faith
For the sake of the name of the Son
For the sake of the glory of the Father
By your Spirit, I am undone.

I want to rest in your presence
To be a branch that trails where You send
Filled by the power of the life of the vine
A bruise reed that has learned to bend

God uses whom he chooses
Whether you know it or not
It all belongs to Jesus
So let the carpenter cast your lot.

For the sake of the obedience of faith
For the sake of the name of the Son
For the sake of the glory of the Father
By your Spirit, the victory is won!


Anthony Foster
March 22, 2010

Gratitude for Glory

Unbreakable love, unshakeable love I see
Incomprehensible love rule over me
And this love will make me be a man
Who dares to lose and dares to stand
Compel my heart to be an offering
My gratitude to Jesus I will sing
With humility then We persuade men.
In gratitude for Glory In gratitude for Glory.

Make my whole life an act of gratitude
As I start each day may I conclude
That I will strive with all your might
That I will seek to be made right
Break out in a new doxology
O’er the riches of your glory.
With reverence then We persuade men.
With gratitude for Glory In gratitude for Glory.

Oh manifest mystery
The riches of your glory
Christ’s power works in me and thee
This, the true testimony
This, the manifest mystery
Christ in you the hope of glory
With reverence then We persuade men.
With gratitude for Glory In gratitude for Glory.

So let us tell the story
Of the riches of your glory
So that men may be complete
This is the testimony
That transforms all of history
Christ in you the hope of glory
With power then We persuade men.
With gratitude for Glory In gratitude for Glory.

Proclaim Him and admonish men
With all wisdom teaching them
To present every man complete
Manifest before the mercy seat
To obey whatsoever Christ commands
We are now his voice and feet, his hands.
With gospel then We persuade men.
In gratitude for Glory In gratitude for Glory.

Anthony Foster
March 7, 2010

Heart Wide Open

Look into my heart's depths
My heart is open wide
My sight is clear
My motives pure
His Truth shall be my guide
We exalt the one we worship
Exalt the worthy one we praise
Exalt the worthy one we honor
With an upward call His name we raise

A heart wide open where love begins
Where love flows out and enters in
Yield to the love we have come to know
Oh love that will not let us go

We live in Him
We died in Him
We rose with Him
We hide in Him
He died for our unrighteousness
And so this truth we shall confess
He rose to make us righteousness
And so this truth we shall confess.

A heart wide open where love begins
Where love flows out and enters in
Yield to the love we have come to know
Oh love that will not let us go

Anthony Foster
March 9, 2010

Green Growth

I see new green growth in the wormwood
And resurgence of the flame
Lord we need more than revival
Resurrection is our aim.

For the bones of former glories
Have descended to the dust
Now our sepulchres are whitened
And our swords are red with rust.

To see new life from the cesspool
And new passion spark the fire
From the culture’s conflagration
Birth a holy new desire

See the glory of the Lord arise
Putting the old ways to shame
Bring the sacrifice to the altar
And see it consumed by your flame

Lord in this generation
Raise a remnant filled with power
Who will call upon the nation
To repent in this dark hour

For the smoke is on the water
And the workmen wear their wage
But our Lord is at the rudder
As we navigate this age.

Anthony Foster
March 8, 2010

Battle Song

There’s a war going on in our nation
And our culture has bent it’s knee
We must mount the battle stations
For o’er the land flows iniquity.

Get up every morning and put your armor on
Set your heart upon the battle,
Break out the battle song
Put on the shield and breastplate
Put on the belt and sword
Put on the shoes and helmet
And the battle is the Lord’s.

The clothing of Messiah will provide the sure defense
The just and justifier- on His mount we pitch our tents
He fills them with His Spirit- He commands; His Word is done
For believers, when they hear it, the victory is won.

Get up every morning and put your armor on
Set your heart upon the battle,
Break out the battle song
Put on the shield and breastplate
Put on the belt and sword
Put on the shoes and helmet
And the battle is the Lord’s.

Anthony Foster
March 8, 2010

Rest

I would rest here in your hands
Take my comfort in your plans
And when day is done at the setting sun
I will commend my nights to your command
I would rest here in your hands

I would rest in sweet repose
Kept securely through my woes
When the battle calls and when trouble falls
I will not lose my peace to my foes
I would rest in sweet repose

I will rest here 'neath your wings
And hear as your heartbeat sings
A sweet gentle song with a cadence strong
Held secure in the strength it brings.
I will rest here 'neath your wings

I will rest here in your peace
Where my soul shall find release
From what's less than best, to a life that's blessed
Where my vision is increased.
I will rest here in your peace

I would rest here at your feet
Here beneath your mercy seat
I will be your child, resting reconciled
Here my life shall be complete
I would rest here at your feet

Anthony Foster
March 15, 2010

The Day of Grace

We must be faithful to proclaim
The grace of God is not in vain
There will come a time when He will not hear
There is a time when He will not draw near

But this is still the day of Grace
Come and rest in Christ’s embrace
God is still on His throne in this place
This is still the day of grace!

This is the day of God’s favor
This is salvation time
Sinner, sit at His feast and savor
The bread and the new wine.

This is still the day of Grace
Come and rest in Christ’s embrace
God is still on His throne in this place
This is still the day of grace!

Believer, work while the day still lingers
Singing redemption’s song
Night shall fall on both the sinners and singers
And ears will grow deaf e’re long.

This is still the day of Grace
Come and rest in Christ’s embrace
God is still on His throne in this place
This is still the day of grace!

This is still the day of Grace
Come and rest in Christ’s embrace
God is still on His throne in this place
This is still the day of grace!

Anthony Foster
March 12, 2010

Gold and Silver, Precious Stones

Gold and silver, precious stones
Not wood nor hay nor straw
Build a life that God condones
A temple raised in awe.

Gold and silver, precious stones
Not wood nor straw nor hay
Build a life where God alone
Will say well done on that day

For the greatest work, the exalted aim
Is to hear “well done, you are without blame”
The highest goal and the noblest end
Is found in the role of pleasing Him.

Gold and silver, precious stones
Not wood or hay or stubble
Build a life on the Rock alone
That endures in the day of trouble.

Wood and hay and straw are burnt
When tested by the fire
Gold and silver, Precious stones
Are what our lives require.

For he is the power that works in Us
So strive with all of His might
We are God’s workmanship made just
Our ambition is to walk in the light-
To be pleasing in His sight.

Gold and silver, precious stones
Not wood or hay or straw
Build a life that God condones
A temple without flaw.

Anthony Foster
March 12, 2010

Reason 1342-why not to join a cult

Gross-out alert!
The most high God does not require ritual, just a humble spirit and contrite heart, which he will not cast out. It's simple enough- cry out to Him in repentence, believe the good news that man can be reconciled to God though faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and receive His salvation...

Redemption’s Fountain

Flowing blood, Precious blood
Covers the ransomed redeemed
Saved from sin’s chains
Loss becomes our gain
Made low, He shall be esteemed

Flowing love, precious love
Covers the sinsick soul
Saves from sin’s chains
The blood attains
To restore and make us whole

Redemptions fountain ever flows
Out from the mercy seat it goes
To a dry and weary land it sends its stream
At redemption’s fountain cleanse
All your filthy rags and sins
For the fount contains the power to redeem.

Flowing love, precious blood
Renews our lives each day
He became our sin
We’re God’s righteousness in Him
Christ is The Truth that Lights the Way.

Redemption’s fountain ever flows
Out from the mercy seat it goes
To a dry and weary land it sends its stream
At redemption’s fountain cleanse
All your filthy rags and sins
For the fount contains the power to redeem.

Anthony Foster
March 7, 2010

Lost Ark?

I've been reading of the Lemba people for years, but I was interested to see this article recently.
I can't make our what it would look like in 3D as it looks sort of like a lumpy bowl in the picture. Guess I would look lumpy too if I was made of 2500 year old wood...

Belated Birthday 7

OOPS. Missed the fact that I have been blogging seven years as of January 18th. So much for seven being the number of perfection.

I hope the blog will be a bit more focused and vital going forward, and as much fun as it was to start. Not much of value here recently, I realize, but that is on my to do list to change!

News for Educators

I generally read more in a month related to industry developments than I have recently. However these articles are worth pointing out for general interest and comment.

• 10 Demographic Trends offering Opportunity and Challenges- Education

Dynamics' Market Research and Advisory Services Identifies Key Growth Areas

Some highlights:
o Growth areas in higher ed will be at the associates and graduate level, ranging up to 25 percent growth
o Younger students are likely to be working on a project with other students the age of their parents.
o Men are underrepresented and schools need to find ways to market to their needs.
o The age demographic is becoming less and less relevant to how students learn.
o By 2020 minority students will outnumber Caucasian students.
o Online highschool courses are booming.
o Enrollment in the 2 year public sector will exceed supply.

• Google to push Google Voice and Google Wave to Businesses

Google is marketing to businesses, but this has implications for education as many of their innovations are in the areas of collaborative work environments.Mobile technologies are becoming more enabled as a one stop communications center in the process, which has potential application in the learning environment. The chrome OS is driving netbook and Google apps development. The future holds new third party software applications that will hook into Google collaboration apps.

• The seventh annual Sloan Survey of Online Learning reveals that online enrollment rose by nearly 17 percent from a year earlier.

The growth exceeds previous years, but the thing that strikes me most is the relative lack of headway schools are making in getting faculty buy-in. Less than one-third of chief academic officers believe that their faculty accept the value and legitimacy of online education. This percent has changed little over the last six years. The proportion of chief academic officers that report their faculty accept online education varies widely by type of school but reaches a majority in none. Yet nearly 20 percent of schools offer no training for their online instructors. From my experience, once faculty have had a bad online experience they tend to fault the medium rather than the methods or their abilities, and it is difficult to get buy in from teachers who are getting burned by lack of support and no evangelistic exemplars to motivate them.

Personal Responsibility and Aimless Apologies

Another commentary from Thomas Sowell that has the "ring of truth", I think. It also makes one think on the nature of forgiveness.Is there such a thing as aimless forgiveness? And what is the relationship of accountability, responsibility, grace, and forgiveness?

I have been encountering these thoughts in the context of defining the proper and just modus operandi when it comes to the restoration of leaders (of all stripes) who have moral failures.

Here's a point of contention: while Dr. Sowell is definitely worth reading, pondering, and even discussing, I do think that anyone in a role model or leadership situation DOES need to acknowledge their failures corporately as well. The other side of the coin of personal responsibility is responsibility as a citizen of society, culture and the moral universe.

In regard to the Tiger Woods apology, morality is not found in renouncing all desire, as TW pointed to from his Buddhist perspective, but in desiring the divine forgiveness and redemption found in the ONE who is the worthiest of all desires.

Not sure what the point of this is, but it is interesting.

Pew study on the variance in income based on religion I can't tell if this is household income or individual- I don't see that they clarify this point.

The Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie is the most effective, inexpensive and stylish way to combat psychotronic mind control.

Thought I would see what I looked like in the latest mind control deflector attire. I figured I could save some $$$ with a do it yourself version instead of buying this...

Sojourners (Bring Us Through)

The waters lay before us and there was no bridge in view
And crossing seemed impossible and a foolish thing to do
But we could hear you calling us to wade into the deep
The river opened up and you revealed your path so steep
You took us through as surely as the promises you keep

Sojourners must sojourn
Strangers must be strange
Pilgrims must make pilgrimage
And so changed men must change.
Aliens must travel
In a dry and weary land
Put one foot in front of another
Until we learn to stand
There is joy in the journey
But the travellers must roam
Press on toward the heavenly mark
Until God takes us home

The mountain we were given required that we must climb
And as we were ascending it has taken us some time
To overcome it and subdue its heights
But you preserved us from it perilous plights
But only as we’ve kept you in our sights.

A valley lay before us, the bridges burned behind
Its briars and brambles tore us, as they overgrew our minds
In the valley of death’s shadow the perils e’re increase
The slough of despond threatens to steal our righteous peace
In the valley there’s a vista and a vision of release

Open up a way that’s far beyond our view
Make us a miracle in ways that only you can do
Then all who see will know all glory is to You
Bring us through, bring us through, bring us through!

Sojourners must sojourn
Strangers must be strange
Pilgrims must make pilgrimage
And so changed men must change.
Aliens must travel
In a dry and weary land
Put one foot in front of another
Until we learn to stand
There is joy in the journey
But the travellers must roam
Press on toward the heavenly mark
Until God takes us home

Anthony Foster
February 13, 2010

Redefining Normal

Turned in the defense draft of my dissertation yesterday. There's more to do in terms of preparation for the defense in March, and prepping for graduation in May, but I am mostly done, and am having to readjust to getting up on a Saturday morning with no research to do. I think I can adjust quite nicely, given a little time. We are ready to fly the coop and the weather is not cooperating. Bad, weather.

I am sitting and thinking back on the last five years that have flown oh, so quickly. The outstanding feature of this process is that it became an act of worship and sacrifice somewhere along the way. The discipline of simply doing something "as unto the Lord" changes your life. I thought I knew all about that before we started this process, but new lessons were surely learned.

New challenges lay ahead as we transition again to a new phase. We don't know whether that means staying put or sojourning to a new situation or even a physical relocation. I am sure that God will make it obvious in our lives and the call will be clear. This has become a reality for us and I never want to live life any other way than that.

Reading List just got Longer

Looking forward to a couple of good reads- both by Thomas Sowell,Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow at
The Hoover Institution, Stanford University...Intellectuals and Society and The Quest for Cosmic Justice.

Ordered our Tickets

Looking forward to this at ATL next Sunday-

This musical tribute to Ella Fitzgerald is an amazing performance that takes a trip down memory lane with a legend and her band. It’s a trip you won’t want to miss! Featuring breathtaking songs like “That Old Black Magic” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and stories of her extraordinary life and personal resilience, Ella captures the essence of the woman behind the microphone, delivering a sensational live concert that channels her remarkable voice.

When the veil shall part

When the veil shall part, Christ will rend our hearts
And the truth shall be revealed.
When the veil shall part, then repentance starts
And we shall be truly healed

When our minds are confronted with a new reality
When the hearts of the hunted are given eyes that truly see
And the shadows of darkness lift and give us clarity
We shall then be free, yes truly free…

When the veil shall part, we will fill our hearts
All the cravings that have been concealed
By our fallen minds and eyes that are blind
In His light our spirits shall yield
For then we shall see him as he truly is
We will bend the knee and in one accord believe
As we see, finally see and bend the knee
Clearly see with clarity
So part the veil so we may truly see!

Anthony Foster
January 26, 2009

Free Spirit

In the final analysis, when it comes down to dust,
There only one way to be free, one place to place your trust

Free to serve the mighty King
All else becomes our slavery
Bound to passions that will clip your wings
But whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

There’s only one way to be free
And that is as a prisoner of love
Held fast forever is the true liberty
Bound by the chains forged above.

There’s only one way to be free
And that’s to be held captive by grace,
God’s heart’s desire and yours agree
That is the only unencumbered place

For his yoke is easy and his burden is light
And this is the only place where all is right
Your spirit soars as it is freed
Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Anthony Foster
January 25, 2009

Earthbound

Earthbound follies leave us vacant
Earthbound follies leave us lost
For we were never created
To suffer such a cost
Missing the glory
Missing the beauty
Missing the profound way,
Made for dancing in the deep
But sitting in decay.

So curse God and die… if you must
But it’s so much better to tie yourself to trust

There’s only One that is faithful
Only One that is True
Only One Savior
He’s waiting for you.

There’s only One that is faithful
Only One that is True
Only One Savior
He’s waiting for you.

There’s only One that is faithful
Only One that is True
Only One Savior
He’s waiting for you.

Anthony Foster
January 27, 2010

Bless my Memory

I awaken with a start, pulse a- pounding with my heart
As I’ve dreamed another nightmare of the soul
Like a vision dark but clear I am flushed with fiery fear
And I’m on the verge of losing all control.

For a moment I’m a prisoner of a still fresh memory
My past life rears its ugly head as my mind plays tricks on me
And I need a check on my reality.

For in those moments chains of doubt
Come to my heart and find me out
I surely need your Grace to see me through
For I was lost but now I’m found
That former life can’t keep me bound
But sometimes Lord I find it hard to trust
You understand that I am only dust.

So I will remember the day when you taught me how to pray
And pray I will until my knees are sore
For there is no lack in you- my hard heart hasn’t got a clue
Yet you dwell inside me at my very core

That’s what you have promised, and that’s what I believe
I’ll trust, adhere, rely on this thing impossible to conceive
This gift that I have received

There are moments chains of doubt
Come to my heart and find me out
I surely need your Grace to see me through
For I was lost but now I’m found
That former life can’t keep me bound
But sometimes Lord I find it hard to trust
You understand that I am only dust.

But I see the transformation and I see the evidence
And I’ll walk by faith and not by sight in growing confidence
As I cast myself upon your mercy seat
I pray my consecration be complete.

Forgive my sin as I confess
Restore my soul to righteousness
Help me Lord to bless this test…
And bless my memory.

Anthony Foster
January 25, 2010

Life Preserver

Preserve our life, secure us, your own
Preserve our life-consecrate it to you alone
Not to us oh Lord, not according to our ways
But to You be all the glory, all honor and praise!

Preserve our life within your holy place
Reserve our life as vessels of your grace
Defend our cause, plead our case
Deliver us from the Evil one
Until your Kingdom Comes.

If we glory let us glory in the way that we are weak
For power is perfected in the powerless who seek
To cast their all upon the living altar made of flesh
The sacrifice made once for all- this bread that’s ever fresh.

Preserve our life within your holy place
Reserve our life as vessels of your grace
Defend our cause, plead our case
Deliver us from the Evil one
Until your Kingdom Comes.

January 28, 2010
Anthony Foster

The Faithful Fiery Few

Like Gideon’s army who were held to a higher account
Change us from vacant visionaries to a never flagging fount
Living water flowing through us in directions that are true
Lord hasten your arrival, make us the faithful fiery few

From broken cisterns that are stagnant cause your river now to flow
Turn our passion to compassion as we rise against the foe
Rend our garments in our outrage put on raiment that is new
Quicken now our broken spirits make us the faithful fiery few

Lord revive us as your remnant and our numbers multiply
Fill our wineskins with your Spirit as we overturn the lie
May your power mount within us, by your Spirit make us new
We your purpose powered priesthood make us the faithful fiery few

Lord then take this revived remnant and let the fire grow
Until we’ve become a multitude of soldiers on the go
Till we cover all the nations and we do what we must do
Until many see and fear you, make us the faithful fiery few.

Anthony Foster
January 26, 2009

The Ark Sails On

Timeless and eternal, no markings or measures
In an endless flight toward endless pleasures
Mark one, mark two, mark three, mark four.
We sail through the way who is the door
We soar, we soar, we soar-
Through endless wonder evermore.
All aboard, all aboard
Open the ark fling open the door.
Come inside and abide
In this ark we shall glide to that peaceful shore.
The flood is arising so come inside.
Oh sinner, what are you waiting for?

Endless journey, endless flight
Riding o’er chaos into that sweet night
Gone is the turmoil on this glassy sea
We would drown in the depths of His serenity
He still hovers over the deep as He sings
And we hover with him beneath his sweet wings
So gone is the legacy o’er which we weep
Gone is the fear of the eternal sleep
For lo we are waking to eternal dawn
And with our soul’s captain we sail on and on.
Now the tumult that would take us under
Is quiet and peaceful and still
For all us voyaging pilgrims
Who would sail to the end of His will.

Timeless and eternal, no markings or measures
In an endless flight toward endless pleasures
Mark one, mark two, mark three, mark four.
We sail through the way who is the door
We soar, we soar, we soar.
Through endless wonder evermore.
All aboard, all aboard
Open the ark fling open the door.
Come inside and abide
In this ark we shall glide to that peaceful shore.
The flood is arising so come inside.
Oh sinner, what are you waiting for?

Anthony Foster
January 27, 2010

Slow in the Wonder (Idle My Soul)

Take me on a journey,
Take me down the road
To Emmaus or wherever
Just as far as we can go

May the walk clear my vision
Let it idle my soul
May I slow in the wonder
As I see what you show.

Take me on a journey,
Take me down the road
In step with your Spirit
As I carry a light load

Keep me from the detours
Keep me from the slough
Make my path a straight one
As I’m following You.

The walk will clear my vision
Let it idle my soul
May I slow in the wonder
As I see what you show.

Anthony Foster
January 28, 2010

Be Our Sight

I’ve the memory of a prisoner, in a life that’s been unbound
These memories of being lost now help me know I’m found
I remember well the precious day
When Lord Jesus taught me to pray
And I was transformed from darkness into light
And the change was made complete
As I cast myself on His mercy seat
Then desolation gave way to vibrant sight

Show us your plan and purpose, show us your mercy sweet
Show us the road before us where compassion is complete
From memories of darkness guide us to the glorious light
Where despairing cries of anguish turn to songs that fill the night.
Be our sight, be our sight, be our sight.

Now the tremors in our souls give way to pure and profound peace
Resting in your righteous refuge Where the prisoner is released
Fathomless fear gives way to faith as we’re held safe and secure
No more nightmares of our former ways, sweet dreams instead endure.

Show us your plan and purpose, show us your mercy sweet
Show us the road before us where compassion is complete
From memories of darkness guide us to the glorious light
Where despairing cries of anguish turn to songs that fill the night.
Be our sight, be our sight, be our sight.

Anthony Foster
January 27, 2010

Starting a fire takes practice

This struck me as analogous to evangelism at many levels...

The important lesson to learn is how to properly use a firesteel in combination with cotton tinder, followed by effective fire building skills at home or in a controlled camping environment before you embark on a backcountry journey in which a lack of these skills could inhibit your safety.

* Practice sparking the firesteel onto tinder at home
* Practice adding kindling to the tinder
* Practice building small fires from the kindling
* Practice keeping a fire going

There is a theme that seems to be occurring here - practice, practice, practice. Use the following informative photos as a starting point. Keep in mind that the striker has an 'up' and 'down' side. The method by which the metal is pressed creates a sharp edge and a dull edge. The side marked 'up' should be facing you when you strike so that the sharp edge causes sparks.

Godmodes

Here's a link to an artcle on hidden access points to Windoze 7, notwithstanding delusions of grandeur.

Musings on God's Will

Just posted this to Rob's site... who is...

"pondering the much taught principle of knowing God's will BEFORE we make decisions."

Paradox here. We walk by faith and not by sight. It's much harder to become aligned with God's will than knowing God's will, I think, but a "prayer for alignment" is one God will answer with an "amen" (James 1:5). Staying clean by the power of the Spirit before Him gives us sensitive ears to hear Him shout the obvious. But I find He often says "...trust me, not your senses." We may even come to points where we doubt in the darkness what we heard in the light but 2 Chronicles 16:9 still attains. Holiness implies devotion, and we often like Abram have to engage in going without knowing. There are many levels of trust that reveal themselves in different contexts, by grace. Power is perfected in weakness, and grace is ever sufficient. So the better we know His character the better we can apprehend His will.

Christmas Epiphany Theophany

January 6 is celebrated variously as Christ's birthday (Armenia), the revelation of the Trinity at the baptism of Christ (Theophany), or the celebration of the Incarnation (Epiphany). Here's a little ditty in remembrance of Him...

Whom have we, Lord, like you?
The Great One who became small,
the Wakeful who slept,
The Pure One who was baptized,
the Living One who died,
The King who abased himself to ensure honor for all.
Blessed is your honor!
It is right that man should acknowledge your divinity,
It is right for heavenly beings to worship your humanity.
The heavenly beings were amazed to see how small you became,
And earthly ones to see how exalted.
~ St. Ephrem the Syrian

E sursum Agnus mittitur
laxare gratis debitum;
omnes pro indulgentia
vocem demus cum lacrimis.

The Lamb descends from heaven above
to pardon sin with freest love:
for such indulgent mercy shewn
with tearful joy our thanks we own.
~ Prudentius, Vox Clara