I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Derek Webb is a modern day Keith Green. When I listen to his music, I feel compelled to worship and draw closer to God, as I'm being challenged to be more like Jesus. He steps on toes and he shines the light of Scripture on the real life around us (ignoring the homeless, loving our enemies, being fake and without substance). The guy rocks.
And I'm still praising God for the wireless network at Cornerstone Festival. I'm out here in the middle of Bushnell, Illinois, on an old pig farm, and I have a high speed connection to the internet! How cool is that?
My church back at home (Calvary Austin) is likely going through Mark 13 this weekend. It's an interesting passage where Jesus describes "signs of the End of the Age." His disciples point out the beautiful architecture around the temple and Jesus goes off, describing how no stone will be left unturned. They'll be wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and whatnot. "These are the beginning of birth pains."
He tells us (His disciples) to be on our guard. He states that the Gospel will be preached to all nations. (This is close to being fulfilled, as missions agencies reach out to "unreached" people groups) He says that no man, not even He, knows the hour upon which He will come. Some of what He described (the abomination of desolation) could have said to have been fulfilled when Rome fell and Nero was in the temple; but the return of Christ on the clouds in the air, where His angels will gather the elect from the "ends of the earth" has surely not happened yet.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back -- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"
Even though I have lived through the late 70s and all its worldwide political turmoil, and the early 80s (and all its "promise" or "signs" that His return was just around the corner), I still must keep watch.