Brant Hansen and Underdog Theology

I like Brant Hansen because he likes underdog theology.

Hunted Down

I have derived much spiritual benefit from Dr. David P. Murray's sermons. Though the Scottish accent does certainly please my ears a lot, and though his able use of alliteration in sermon titles and sermon points further serve this, it is his keen exegesis and application that have brought the Gospel home to me over and over again in times of need.

In his latest blog post, insightfully entitled, "God's been hunting me down," he bares his heart wide open, reflecting on the ways God has been dealing with him lately through physical affliction. He realizes that he has been pushing his body to its physical limits and, though he has certainly helped a lot of people through his fervent activity (I've never chanced upon anyone else with as much sermons as him on sermonaudio.com), he acknowledges that he has erred by having engaged in "ministry without spirituality."

Read the post here.

The Blows Beckon Us Back

"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes" (Ps. 119:71).

Why is it that something which would be absent in future glory be deemed by the Psalmist as something good?

Because suffering brings us back to God. It is reality on a megaphone blaring in our ears, "Creature!" It puts us in our rightful place—close to God, in a relationship of humble and grateful dependence on Him for everything pertaining to our well-being: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Ps. 34:18).

It Came in the Morning

"For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

The night time, with its cessation of noise and busyness, is the opportune time for reflection. It is the moment of the day when we come to greater grips with our problems.

The Humility of Tears

"One of the reasons God loved David so much was that he cried so much."

"It is a beautiful thing when a broken man genuinely cries out to God."

- John Piper, When the Darkness Will Not Lift, Ch.2

Early Morning Brokenness

Ps 5:3
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Ps 143:8
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

How can a new day be started pure? By being at once in the mode of repentance and humility as consciousness dawns. It is being antagonistically aware of the various sinful thoughts that now seek realization, and beseeching God for the mercies, fresh everyday, that will gird oneself against early-morning disobedience. It is being on one's knees before God, with a lowly heart, asking Him for the grace to be able to put a smile on His face. God, beholding the soul hungry and thirsty for righteousness, is faithful and will satisfy this holy desire that burns in the heart of every child of God.

May we offer the Lord a broken and contrite heart every morning. Be assured that this, in no way, will He despise.