House of Their Dreams

I have come to really like this song.  I think there are a lot of songs that point out just how isolated that we have become.  There are even some really good songs that show us a life or a family turning around because of Christ.  What makes this song any different?  For me, it is the fact that nothing is ever fixed.  The song tells of the brokenness in the family and of how it seems like everything is falling apart, and then the good part.  Nothing is miraculously fixed, it isn’t a “we’ve got Christ so we have it all figured out” but instead tells of how the family is broken and they fall on their knees, knowing that they are broken and ask God to save their family.  That is more like real life than what we usually see.  And in their brokenness, we see togetherness.  In this case, we see that the prayer is already starting to be answered when the tears pour down their face and the family comes before God together.

“House Of Their Dreams”
Casting Crowns

A corner office was his dream
More like a prison now it seems
Somewhere on the corporate climb
He left his warrior behind
Now he’s just a worker at a daily grind
Steals his years and numbs his mind
His strength is fading, his dreams are blind
This is not the life he had in mind

She lies awake cause he’s up all night
Staring at a screen that tells him lies
That the grass is greener on the other side
So she’s at the gym fighting off the years
To be young again and calm her fears
That she’ll never be enough for him
Just as a young man catches her eyeNow they’re trapped in their own worlds, in their own wars
With their cell phones and the closed doors
It’s funny how quiet and peaceful that it seems
But they’re all alone together
In the house of their dreams

Little sister, she’s a sixteen-year-old princess
Lost somewhere between the swing set
And her brand new crush’s chariot awaits
And big brothers rooms glowing with trophies that shout his name
But he’d trade all his high school fame
For some backyard catch with his hero again

So now they’re all dressed up in Sunday best
Sit up straight just like the rest
And they sing the songs of peace and rest that Jesus freely gives
And then their kids look up as daddy stands
And he takes his bride with trembling hands
Brother kneels at his father’s side as princess looks in the mothers eyes
Their tears tear down the walls as daddy prays

Were trapped in our own worlds and our own wars
With our cell phones and our closed doors
God, only You can save our family
And on this Rock, well build
On this Rock, well build
The house of our dreams

Progressive?

I recently found this picture and caption and felt a little confused:

Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva, a man scarred by a genetic disease. This was one of many progressive acts that the new leader of the Church made. [2013]

Did you pick up on my confusion?  The claim that the picture was of the pope being “progressive” was kind of unsettling and eye-opening.  Who did Jesus come to save?  I think the answer is everyone.  Therefore, who should we be bring Jesus to?  Again, I would say that is everyone, no matter their illness or how they are different than we are.   How then is this picture capturing a “progressive” act?  I would guess that it seems progressive because we, as Christians, too often fail to do Jesus’s work to THE WORLD and only bring grace and love to the places that are safe…  It just seems sad… What can we do to change the reputation that we have come to be known by?

The Hurt and The Healer

“The Hurt & The Healer”
by Mercy Me

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn’t come from being explained
Jesus please don’t let this go in vain
You’re all I have
All that remainsSo here I am
What’s left of me
Where glory meets my sufferingI’m alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

Breathe
Sometimes I feel it’s all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through

So here I am
What’s left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I’m alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

It’s the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all our scars are understood
When mercy takes it’s rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say “It’s over now”

I’m alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take this heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into your arms open wide
When The hurt and the healer collide

[x2:]
Jesus come and break my fear
Wake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Wake my heart and take my tears
And find Your glory even here