the husband speaks

Up till now, I've just been a bystander in the process of our adoption. You haven't heard from me, and some might think I'm being pulled into this against my will. Far from the truth. I get really excited at the thought of having a son in the near future. Margo's first post stated that back in June I got the word from God via Louie Giglio that we should adopt. I wanted to elaborate on that a little more.

We were in California, and I was attending the Purpose Driven Worship Conference at Saddleback Church. I was learning a lot about a lot of different worship things, and this wasn't one of the things on my list of things to learn more about. Louie was the last keynote speaker on Friday. I've heard him in person many times, and I always walk away from his messages thinking I've gotten just about as close as I'll get to hearing the audible voice of God [this side of life]. Louie is passionate. And the point he made that rung most loudly in my ears was:
"If we [Christians] don't do what the Bible considers to be "good religion" we can be very sure that God will not hear our songs."

Now to explain what I/he mean/s by "good religion" I'm going to share some Scripture that I feel says it all...

• Ephesians 1:4-6 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." We call ourselves the "children of God" alot. But really, we're not his literal children. He only had One of those. We're not a bunch of little god-lings running around here. No, what better describes us is that we are His adopted children. Adoption is a very beautiful picture of making someone who is different than you a part of your family. Getting a new name, a new home, and a new future.
• Amos 5:21-24 [GOD speaking] "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" Not directly related to adoption, but I think it makes Louie's quote biblical. This is one of my favorite passages. I think it says God can easily get fed up with our worship if we're not backing it up by the way we live. He desires justice & righteousness...but what exactly is that?
• Hebrews 13:15-16 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." So the sacrifice/worship God really desires is continual, and includes doing good and sharing with others.
• James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Ok, so now we see what just and righteous religion is to God: taking care of the orphans, widows, and maintaining purity in a filthy world.

Ok, so that is where I'm at. Also some more great news. A phone call from Judy revealed that because I am a full-time minister, we get a 50% discount on our program fee. This means we'll save like $2,100!!! I think that means God must aprove of what we're doing.