ShepherdsFest

ShepherdsFest was a big success this year. I initially expressed interest because I always like to support anything that I can come alongside related to Christians taking responsibility in the arts. I ended up actually exhibiting a number a pieces, from drawings to midsize sculptures (see two of them here). For its second year, it was well attended- I would guestimate 5000 people by midday. Not bad for an unseasonably warm weekend. I posted a mini-video on the Facebook site as well.

Temple Grandin

I bought this video on the recommendation of a friend. When I was checking out at Borders the sales clerk gushed over the movie.

A remarkable story of human intervention on par with The Miracle Worker. This is the story of an autistic child and the power of intentionality in bringing light to darkness. Rather than give up and heed the advice of experts a mother perseveres through the pain of pushing her child to reach what might otherwise be unimaginable goals. This is a great biopic- fascinating to the end- that reveals the details of the thought processes of the person it renders on the screen. It is filled with unexpected, but unsentimental emotional power.

Part of the power is the peeling of the onion that occurs as we are dropped into a life to encounter explanations and circumstances in situ.

It is also touchingly human to follow Temple’s development through challenges at every turn. She see the challenges as doors to go through to emerge on the other side. We can all learn and be inspired by her tenacity in the face of opposition and ignorance. The mother's role cannot be underestimated in this process. We hear her demand respect for her child who is "different, but not less." Indeed, Temple seems to have savant capabilities in visual thinking which she is able to leverage to compensate for her extreme dysfunction in verbal and social ability.

It is also a testimony to the power of teachers to provide a platform for transcendence to their pupils. In the case of Temple, her science teacher saw with sage eyes the potential of his very special student- “trust me, we know how special she is”. And this depiction of the power of deferring presuppositions is inspiring as well.

And yes, I was completely choked up by the celebratory ending, which also testifies to the profound worth of the film.

How I dood it.

Some of you have asked how I went about losing weight. I just got the most important news: my bloodwork came back and I nearly lowered my blood sugar to under 105- it is now 109 down from 155 in three months. Everything else is within acceptable range for the first time in probably 20 years.

For those who are asking how I did it, it was mainly the old fashioned way- caloric intake and output maintenance. I had a mixture of strategies, but key things were getting the Eat This Not That books (all of them) to help with grocery shopping and with eating out because we loves us our restaurants. Rocco Dispirito has a great cookbook called Now Eat This- both of these approaches give low calorie, good tasting alternatives that are reasonable and available. Also checking out the online calorie count sites for things at other restaurants.

Walking 1-2 miles on the treadmill at least 5 times a week is important to get the muscles toned. In the next phase I will have other exercises, but walking was all I did for the first 35 pounds.I didn't totally eliminate anything so I didn't obsess on not having sugar, fat, etc. I eat light 6 times a day- with 3 meals around 3-400 calories and 3 snacks not exceeding 300 calories total so I have not been hungry ONCE in the three months.But I am learning to count to 1500 calories in a general way without getting obsessive with it. It's more of an average of 1500 with some days 1800 and some days 1200.

God bless Splenda. There are many alternatives from Hershey's chocolate to ice cream to cookies to pickles to fruit cocktail sweetened with Splenda now. A banana and 2 Snackwell cookies is a great treat under 200 calories. Once in a while a McDonald's ice cream which is under 200 calories. Severely limit empty calories like Cokes. I still have Diet Dr. Pepper and Diet A&W occasionally but have even limited "diet foods" that are highly processed- they seem to make me retain fluids which is a killer at the weigh ins.

I weigh in a couple of times a week early in the morning and CHART it. That way I can make corrections, which has been the case several times. I always figure there is at least a 1 percent fluctuation to expect any given day in weight, so for me that means plus or minus 2.5 pounds. I don't worry if it's within that range when weighing at odd times. After a month the stomach shrinks to its intended size- about the size of your fist- and then it hurts to eat more than that.

Smaller plates help. Also only eating HALF of most anything I get at a restaurant- and the other half gets to be lunch the next day for either Earnie or myself. Grilled chicken and fish have been a staple. BUT another huge help from the Don't Eat This books has been the discovery of Chili's Old Timer Hamburger on a wheat bun with a side salad and lowfat honey mustard dressing for under 600 calories. This is my red meat fix as I don't like steak, which is also lowfat. The difference in a wheat versus white bun is incredible. Mustard and ketchup and dill pickles/peppers/onions are freebies.

Oscar Mayer thin sliced Turkey and Ham with 45 calories a serving (6 slices!) on 35 calorie veggie fiber bread has become a staple at lunch along with fresh tomatoes and baby spinach salads. Bob Evans veggie Omelet with fruit. There are several low calorie dressings out there by Vermont Farms that actually taste better than the high fat alternatives. Something hard to find locally is Marzatti's low fat honey mustard dressing. They have this at Cracker Barrell, but I had to load up on some when we were visiting friends in St. Louis last time as I cannot find it in the stores here. It's just about the only thing-salad with Marzatti's- I can eat at Cracker Barrell anymore- they won't even put calorie counts online because they load stuff with hidden fat and salt. Whole wheat, whole grain, fresh unprocessed stuff,are the ticket... very few potatoes and rice go into my mouth these days.

Drink plenty of water and go light if at all with the salt shaker, which causes fluid retention. I can gain weight eating very lowfat pretzels because of the salt..and I discovered Lays new light potato chips (75 calories a serving) that taste like the real thing, so there's another treat once in a while. But watch the salt there too.

More Mp3

Added another collection of 16 song demo's written some years ago. It's my good intentions to start adding a few more every month as I can. With nearly 2000 songs written, this will likely take a lifetime to do.

Announcing

You may have noticed a new link over at the right called "Anthony's MP3 Songsite-beta."
It's beta because it has not been prettified yet. All the links are currently working, I think.These first 54 demo's are songs I wrote during a 40 day intensive Bible Study I did a few years back. Lyrics are at the old blogsite. As such, the quality is a bit uneven- some of the songs are pretty good, some mediocre, and some stink, imho. They give insight into the process of writing songs though, I think. Also my vocals and guitar wax and wane in regard to quality. You know, I think my voice is actually a bit better now than then.

Kabod

Oh the glory set before your eye
Was a heavy weight and a means to fly
It sheds a grace that cannot be ignored
It makes me the raging love that is love’s reward.

Shine on our lives and make us aware
Of the profound power that we bear
Upon your Word and Will we wait
Help us to bear your glory’s weight.

Living to die and dying to live
We stand or fall by the power to forgive
So in your power we participate
Make us to bear your glory’s weight.

A furious and ferocious fire
A devastating draught of divine desire
Lord let it consume the haughty heart
There is no power that can tear us apart.

Fashion a fortress of forgiveness divine
Set us in a tower of your power’s design
We persevere, prevail and participate
As you make us bear your glory’s weight.

Anthony Foster
August 25, 2010

Blood-Bought Bride

We commit our hearts to thee
Bound to you we are set free
To love and to cherish and obey
We embrace your covenant today.

Protected in the mighty rock of offense
Bastion our spirits with love that never relents
Brand us with fervor to see you glorified
Make us the beautiful blood bought bride.

And nothing shall ever separate
Us from the love that is our fate
No power of heaven or on earth
Can change our heart of change your worth.

And so with the bridegroom we are one
One flesh, one spirit conformed to the Son
We betroth our souls to the One who died
Make us part of the beautiful blood bought Bride
The bridegroom draws us to His side
We are the beautiful blood bought bride.

Anthony Foster
August 25, 2010

Reduce Me To Love

Reduce and refine me
Put my idols behind me
Set my mind on things above
Reduce and refine me
Kindly remind me
What I am made for and made of
Jesus, reduce me to love.

For life will confound
Distract and leave bound
But your love will humble us
For your love simplifies
And in You pride dies.
And love becomes our trust.

Reduce me to love
Reduce me to love
Simple and pure
Love will endure.
Render my heart
Or rend it apart
Until my reason to be
Is to be conformed to Thee

Your raging love
Sears my soul of
Distraction and dross
Until gain becomes loss
When you become Lord
We become loves reward.
Jesus reduce me to love.
Jesus reduce me to love.

Anthony Foster
August 22, 2010

We Name the Name

We declare the power of our strong and steadfast tower
We declare the glory that is age to age the same
He has risen from the grave and He is mighty to save
So we tell the story and we will name the Name.

For He is Jesus- the mighty King
Jesus is the name we sing
To Jesus all praise we will bring
We profess His honor and fame
And we will name the Name.

Filled with wonder, tearing Sin asunder
Heart’s beat and soul’s breath
Name that conquers Death
Darkness is driven out
And in its wake despair and doubt
So in His Name we live and move
And by His name we learn to love.

The Name of Jesus frees us from our sin
There is no other name and there has never been
A name that is our living head
A name that raises from the dead
The only name that is the hope of men
By His name we are forgiven and begin

To name the name of Jesus, Glorious Jesus
Jesus Mighty Jesus, Jesus Holy Jesus
Jesus is His name

We who are called by your Name
Who now stand without blemish or blame
Can only lift our eyes
We are the foolish made wise
One unholy mess who will confess
The One by whom we are named
The name above all names.

The Name of Jesus frees us from our sin
There is no other name and there has never been
A name that is our living head
A name that raises from the dead
The only name that is the hope of men
By His name we are forgiven and begin
To name the name of Jesus, Glorious Jesus
Jesus Mighty Jesus, Jesus Holy Jesus
Jesus is His name
For He is Jesus- the mighty King
Jesus is the name we sing
To Jesus all praise we will bring
We profess His honor and fame
And we will name the Name.


Anthony Foster
August 11, 2010

To Count the Cost

How will we fathom the profound price
Of an all sufficient sacrifice?
How do we count the terrible cost
Of our God hanging on a cruel cross?

Before the mystery profound
Before the Glory that is found
When all else is counted as a loss
We must count the cost, count the cost.

And how will we measure
The depths of Father’s pleasure
In bruising his beloved Son
So that we may be undone?
How can we ever hope to plumb
The depths of a grace that leaves us numb?

The cost that shows the power of
We strength of weakness bound in love.
How can we ever hope to count
The worth of wonders that surmount
Every other value in this Earth?
We can only start to ascribe worth
By falling down in mercy’s dew
We’ll not comprehend the shame he knew
For glory set before Him he endured the cross
How can we ever count the cost?
The wage of the work that redeems the lost
How can we ever count the cost?

Anthony Foster
August 11, 2010

Genealogies and spiritual heritage

The Apostle Paul admonishes us in 1 Timothy 1:4 not to "pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith." Again in Titus 3:9, "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." On the other hand the genealogy of Christ serves a purpose in the Scripture. At the very least we must not presume to rely in any way upon the righteousness of our ancestors to accord any merit to us in our walk. However I think it is proper to understand that we stand on the shoulders of giants and if we do we have a godly heritage that CAN inform how we walk as well.Recently I have bee doing a study of five pastors from the past hundred years of my ancestry who played a major role in the shaping of the spiritual landscape I now find myself in, as well as the upbringing I had in the Church. I have found that five local churches were founded and supported by family members, and five pastors of those churches were related to me as well. Then I ask myself- what have I been doing, or will I do, to continue that Kingdom impetus in my generation in this community? Is that a part of my calling from the Most High? These are not easy questions, but ones I must ask as I move forward with seeking the Lord's will.

Why Call Me Lord?

A voice comes to me, One I know well
Conviction is the story it must tell
To confront and rebuke and reprove it comes
To train me in righteousness till I am undone

"There is really only black and white
Not many shades of grey
There is only wrong and right
But you go your own way
If you don’t even trust my word
Why in My name do you pray?
Why do you call me Lord, Lord
And do not do the things that I say?"

"The only sacrifice that I desire
Is for you to do the things that I require
To do justly and love mercy
To love one another in charity
And from this wicked world to walk away
Why do you call me Lord, Lord
And do not do the things that I say?"

I hear the word fall on my hard heart
And I pray that it will break it apart
I want to do your will but I have gone far astray
Give me the faith and the power to stand and stay

"Your prayers they have become
A game that you play
I don’t want your sorry sacrifice
I want for you to trust and obey
Why do you call me Lord, Lord
And do not do the things that I say?
Why do you call me Lord, Lord
And do not do the things that I say?"


Luke 6:46
Anthony Foster
August 9, 2010

Thought for the Day

I am one unholy mess
Becoming perfect righteousness.

Christ forever intercedes

Golden bowls of incense pure
Outpoured before God’s throne
Prayers of the saints that e’re endure
To make his glory known.

So let us lift up holy hands
To glorify his name
For the one in whom his presence stands
Boldly without blame

Christ forever intercedes
He forever intercedes
His very blood he pleads
And He ever intercedes.

Out great high priest has prophecied
Our reigning King has bled and died
So in Christ we are crucified
In His resurrection we abide.

Healed by His stripes and Christ’s alone
The curse is broken, we are blessed
And standing boldly before His throne
In confidence and peace we rest.

The righteous prayer he hears and heeds
For his good pleasure’s sake
For grace and mercy intercedes
And lives, our chains to break

So transform every one of us
Make us more than dying dust
Though die we will and die we must
In hope eternal now we trust

Christ forever intercedes
He forever intercedes
His very blood he pleads
And He ever intercedes.

Anthony Foster
August 7, 2010

Urgent Obedience

We so easily pray, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

To live and move and to have our being in Christ demands that we live in increasing alignment with His imperatives, found in His expressed will. There is no other way to joyful fulfillment of our purpose. He who would be great in the Kingdom must evidence the humility of the obedience of faith.

Without faith a man cannot please God, to be sure, but it is also true that the measure of God’s pleasure in His sovereign reign over His Kingdom is the rule of obedience. Each increment of that rule is an identification with Christ in his obedience or in His suffering, None of us stand in s state of stasis against that rule. This is a lesson taught in Gethsemani that still must be learned in each heart on a moment by moment basis. Pure submission to the authority of Christ is the only way forward into delight, and this must be effected with earnest fervor and urgency. There is no laissez-faire way to our destination.

When Loss is Gain...

I started a new way of eating May 22. I hesitate to call it a diet, as I am actually eating better and more than before, just being very aware of calories and adding more exercise to my lifestyle. It's working, as I have pulled off 27 pounds thus far, an average of three pounds a week. I have a long way to go, but I am encouraged! At this rate, Santa will need to bring a new wardrobe for Christmas.

Earnie has joined me in the quest and she has lost 17 pounds as well. You GO girl!

WHEN THE DAY OF TOIL IS DONE

The original words were written by John Ellerton in 1870.They still speak to me today, so I have adapted them to a new song.

When the day of toil is done,
When the race of life is run,
Father, grant your wearied one
Rest forevermore.

When the strife of sin is stilled,
When the foe within is killed,
Be your gracious Word fulfilled:
Peace forevermore.

When the darkness melts away
At the breaking of the day,
There where glory lights the way:
Light forevermore.

Lord, in Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Lord, in Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

When the heart by sorrow tried,
Feels at length its pain subside,
Bring us, where all tears are dried,
Joy forevermore.

When for vanished days we yearn,
Days that never can return,
Teach us in Your love to learn
Love forevermore.

When the breath of life has flown,
When the grave must claim its own,
May we live before your throne,
Life forevermore.

Lord, in Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Lord, in Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Music, new words, and chorus Anthony Foster
July 20, 2010

Lord Help Me Hear

So many voices fill this place
Lord shout your will out loud
Above the din I hear mercy and grace
Where before I heard only the crowd

Lord help me hear from you
For Your Word is True
You have spoken, it is clear
So now give me a listening ear
Lord help me hear, help me hear…

Every one that is of the truth hears your voice
So I want to make faith’s obedient choice
Help me your Covenant to keep
As I hear your cry within the deep

May there be no other voice
To distract me from your word
That beckons me to hear its noise
Or challenge the Truth I have heard

Lord help me hear from you
For Your Word is True
You have spoken, it is clear
So now give me a listening ear
Lord help me hear, help me hear…


Anthony Foster
July 25, 2010

Holy Hiding Place

Oh we wrestle then we rest
Try so hard to pass the test
Anxious spirits need Your grace
Here in our Holy hiding place

We’re exhausted by our best
Our self effort’s rarely blessed
We need to cease to state our case
And come to the Holy hiding place

We would cease to wrestle
As we seek to nestle
Safe beneath Your winsome wing
Here in peace we safely sing

Here Your perfect peace attains
Here our losses become gains
Where peace in righteous fullness reigns…

We will only cease the quest
When our weakness we’ve confessed
Retiring from the pace of the race
Here in our Holy hiding place

Oh we wrestle then we rest
By life’s turmoil we are stressed
We would fall in Christ’s embrace
Here in our Holy hiding place
Here we see God face to face
Here in our Holy hiding place.

Anthony Foster
Julay 23, 2010

Oh For the Day

Lord in these days of darkness and doubt
Make our lips quick to confess and cry out
Profound and sincere repentance from deep in our heart
May we bring open eyes and hearing ears
From tender hearts may love cast out our fears
In the brightness and the glories of the cross set us apart.

For the darkness is blinding and the shadows are deep
Through the now and the not yet You are our keep.

Oh for the day when our faith becomes sight
Oh for the day when our souls cease to fight
Oh for the day undimmed glory shines bright
Oh for the day, oh for the day

Oh for the day all our Sins are confessed
Oh for the day -When we pass the last test
Oh for the day When Christ is fully blessed
Oh for the day He comes
Oh for the day Christ comes!

Oh for the day of glory divine
Oh for the day That we transcend all time
Oh for the day Sight comes to the blind
Oh for the day He comes
Oh for the day Christ comes!

Anthony Foster
June 27, 2010

Standing in the Need of Grace

Here we are-casting our needs upon you
Here we are-confessing our deeds before you
As we go casting your seed- sowing it for you
Unto you and through you and to you alone.
Your forgiveness and mercy will forever overflow
And we can rest in this trustworthy truth that we know…

We are standing in the need of grace
Standing in the need of grace
Trusting in a risen savior to plead our case
Standing in the need of grace.

Standing- standing, standing in the need of grace…

Here we are- are casting our cares upon you
Here we are-casting our selves upon you
As we are casting our crowns before you
Unto you and through you and to you alone
Your lovingkindness will forever attain
And all we cast off will surely lead to our gain

We are standing in the need of grace
Standing in the need of grace
Trusting in a risen savior to plead our case
Standing in the need of grace.

Standing- standing, standing in the need of grace…


Anthony Foster
James 4:6, Titus 2:11
June 25, 2010

More

We already have your fervent favor
We already have your marvelous love
Our hearts are filled by your presence
But we will never get enough

The more we receive the more we perceive
And we see our desire increased
We taste and see that Christ is good indeed
So we would join the feast.

Forever hungering for all our Lord gives
Forever thirsting for the water that lives
A holy gluttony grows we are wholly satisfied
In a paradox of pleasure we forever abide

More, more of you, all that we can receive
More, we need more of you, so help us to perceive
The Presence you have secured for us before your holy throne
And let us boldly enter in to that place where we know as we’re known
We need more of you alone.

We would apprehend
With all the saints comprehend
what is the length and breadth
And height and depth,
And to know the love of Christ
which surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled up
to all the fullness of God.

More, more of you, all that we can receive
More, we need more of you, so help us to perceive
The Presence you have secured for us before your holy throne
And let us boldly enter in to that place where we know as we’re known
We need more of you alone.

Anthony Foster
Ephesians 3:19
June 25, 2010

Treadmill of Faith

Put one foot in front of the other
One foot in front of the other
One foot in front of the other
Press on toward the mark

There is an upward calling
And there is a fear of falling
There is no point in stalling
Press on toward the mark.

The path is narrow The path is steep
The mountains are high and the valleys are deep
We rejoice with the rejoicing and weep with those who weep
As we press on step by step toward the mark.

Worthy is the way to walk
By one who’ll do more than just talk
The world is spinning as we balk
So press on toward the mark.

Step by step and case by case
Steady you must keep your pace
Till you come to that final place
Press on toward the mark

Don’t grow weary in well doing as onward you press
Each step a trial and a trust as we face every test
The sacrifice of sojourn leaves the traveller blessed
As we press on step by step toward the mark.
As we press on step by step toward the mark.
As we press on step by step toward the mark.

June 21, 2010
Anthony Foster

Oh You Souls Who Cling To Dust

Oh you souls who cling to dust
Oh you souls who shortchange grace
Live your privilege and trust
Christ would fuel a fiery faith.

Oh you souls who love your sinning
Oh you souls who go your way
Your end is closer than your beginning
Number yet another day.

Oh you souls who serve your passions
Oh you souls who discount worth
Why subsist on meager rations
Till your bones return to the earth?

Oh you souls turn now and waken
Come to Jesus lest you die.
Else you find your self forsaken
Dead and damned and wondering why.

Oh you souls who are heavy laden
Cast your burdens on His grace
May your hearts be truly gladdened
As you seek his glorious face.

Jesus, he will run to meet you
He will heal your sinsick soul
By his mercy grace will greet you
As you come, ye’ll be made whole.

June 21, 2010
Anthony Foster

Tomorrow's Song

The morning dew has fallen, the morning sun’s aglow
The whippoorwill is calling and the rooster starts to crow
The daylight is a –breaking over on the Eastern view
This morning is awakening seen by but a chosen few.

The advent of a new day
And a fresh start comes e’re long
The nigh has flown in dawn’s display
Till we sing tomorrow’s song
New every morning is your mercy to us
New every morning In you promise still we trust.

Great is your faithfulness Lord, Great is your mercy sweet
We savor each note in creations chord, our hearts follow every beat
The daybreak is a calling we’re reminded you are True
And when nighttime is a falling, there will follow days anew.

The advent of a new day
And a fresh start comes e’re long
The darkness flees in dawn’s display
Till we sing tomorrow’s song
New every morning is your mercy to us
New every morning In you promise still we trust.

Until one day when sunrise will no longer be required
The risen lamb will light our eyes and the sun shall be retired.
The new Jerusalem descends to abide eternity long
In the glory that shall never end we shall sing tomorrow's song!

Anthony Foster
June 21, 2010

Faith Becomes Sight

We shall walk by faith in a world dark and dreary
And sometimes we may stumble and sometimes we grow weary
Put one foot in front of the other as we walk in the light
As we walk by faith it becomes sight.


We walk in the footsteps of a living guide
And we journey a pathway where we must confide
In a Savior that’s unseen to show us what is right
As we walk by faith it becomes sight.

But Christ shall be our vision
And his Word is our light
He still mandates the mission
So we’ll fight the good fight
For our master has overcome
The battle is already won
And by faith we shall see it is done

Bye and bye all our blindness shall be wholly healed
And we’ll bask in the glory that is being revealed
And the darkness shall flee with the Son shining bright
We walk by faith that becomes sight
We walk by faith that becomes sight.

As we are sifted the veil becomes lifted
And what glorious sights we may see
We shall see, we shall see glory as we walk in the light
And our poor faith shall become sight
We walk by faith that becomes sight.

Anthony Foster
June 21, 2010

Nail Scarred Embrace

When I was a young man
I thought I had a plan
God took me to the desert
So I could find out who I am.
And then I saw the truth
And my deceitful youth
And devastated by reality
I cut a covenant that set me free.

I am no longer mine
My heart, my soul and mind
Are consecrated to the Living Lamb.
Now I live and move and breath
Though an outcast on my knees
I find myself delivered and not damned.

This sinners soul
Loves a spotless lamb
This hypocrite who is so unfit
I cast myslf and all I am
To depend on his mercy
I depend on His grace
Now I am held securely
In a nail scarred embrace.

June 21, 2010
Anthony Foster

Holy Love

Can't believe it's been over ten years since I wrote this one...

Holy Love can heal a broken body
Holy peace can make the demons flee
Holy Joy releases sin's poor captives
And gives new strength to hearts set free

Holy fruit of the Spirit crowned with power
Crowned because God is the source alone
The fruit bears the seed that soon will flower
Into the greatest harvest we have known!

So the pot of the manna of your provision
And the resurrection life of Aaron's Rod
And the Tablets of law are our vision
Written on hearts prepared by our God!

Our hearts are the ark of your presence
Your covenant is kept within this place
Your presence goes with us where're we're carried
Our hearts are but vessels for your grace!

Anthony Foster
September 7,1999

GRADitude

Here's the video from a major life event for the Fosters. We thank all our friends whose prayers have strengthened and sustained us on this five year journey to a terminal degree in Leadership, and say with great humility- Soli Deo Gloria!

Wonder in the Wilderness

In this desert wilderness
Every heart is parched and dry
Amidst the trials and the tests
We wander as we wonder why
In this barren wilderness
Where there’s nothing to sustain
The starving soul is left to guess
If life will still remain

There is a fountain and there is a feast
And there is a mountain rising in the East
Where the Savior shall stand when the trumpet shall sound
In a dry and weary land life will surely abound.
But till that day we shall confess
These lessons of the wilderness
And in the midst of this wasteland
A pillar of cloud and of fire sifts the sand
Christ’s presence still abides
In the heart that will seek Him as guide.

And Jesus floods our thirsting hearts
In a wilderness we are set apart
Jesus feeds our hungering souls
When His presence is our highest goal
Jesus fills our searching minds
And manna from heaven we will find
He feeds our faith when we confess
His wonder in the wilderness.

And Jesus floods our thirsting hearts
In a wilderness we are set apart
Jesus feeds our hungering souls
When His presence is our highest goal
Jesus fills our searching minds
And manna from heaven we will find
He feeds our faith when we confess
His wonder in the wilderness.

Anthony Foster
May 16, 2010

This memory verse is on the treadmill...

"He (Christ) is able to save to the uttermost those
who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to
make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25

Unto the Uttermost

Unto the uttermost the victory's won
Unto the uttermost for all who to Him come
He ever lives, ever intercedes for each of His own
Unto the uttermost-unto the uttermost His salvation is done

The Love of God is shed abroad
By his Spirit in our hearts
When we were weak he came to seek and to speak
And to vouchsafe the peace he imparts

What he started he will accomplish
That good work he began in you
He will perform it and make it complete
Till the day of Christ Jesus is due.

Unto the uttermost- He intercedes
Unto the uttermost His own blood He pleads
Unto the uttermost-He'll meet all our needs.
Unto the uttermost, unto the uttermost
We're freed indeed!

Unto the uttermost, He is able to save-
Unto the uttermost Even to the grave-
Unto the uttermost, He gave and gave
Unto the uttermost, unto the uttermost
Jesus will save!

Anthony Foster
March 24, 2006

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