Let Me Count the Ways...

Wrong on so many levels:

HFW: Colossians 1:21-27

We're working through a study this summer to celebrate Ephesians 3:10:

So that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

This series will run from June 22-August 30, with four readings per week.

This week (2), the second reading is Colossians 1:21-27. After reading this text, answer the following questions, then you can watch the video for a 5:00 thought from the text. (I recommend you work in the text first before watching the video. However, be aware, the video is not intended to be the back of an algebra book--supplying answers to the questions--but rather, is just sharing some thoughts from the text.)

Questions:

1. What was our former condition?

2. How do we continue in the gospel?

3. Why did Paul become a minister to the church?

4. What does Paul mean when he says “the church?”

5. What is the hope of glory?

Fidelity Follow-up

The following are some statements that show the need for an active/proactive pursuit of purity in a marriage, so that we can reflect the faithfulness of Christ. The statements come in a Washington Times article about the Senator Sanford crisis:

I developed a relationship with what started as a dear, dear friend from Argentina. It began very innocently, as I suspect many of these things do, in just a casual e-mail back-and-forth in advice on one's life there and advice here," he said at a news conference at the statehouse in Columbia.

"But here recently, over this last year, it developed into something much more than that," Mr. Sanford said.

Ending a bizarre episode that began with reports of a governor who had disappeared over Father's Day weekend, Mr. Sanford admitted that he had told his staff he was heading for the Appalachian Trail to recover from a bruising legislative session. He also said he had told his wife about the affair five months ago, and they were working on their marriage.

He said he had seen the woman three times in the past year, but did not explain why he went to Argentina or the status of his relationship with the woman.

"I spent five days crying in Argentina," said Mr. Sanford, who said his friendship with the unnamed woman began when he counseled her not to leave her husband for the sake of her two boys.

Guard your relationships while they are innocent! (And pray for those who have fallen, that they might see the glory of Christ.)

HFW: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

We're working through a study this summer to celebrate Ephesians 3:10:

So that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

This series will run from June 22-August 30, with four readings per week.

This week (2), the first reading is 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. After reading this text, answer the following questions, then you can watch the video for a 5:00 thought from the text. (I recommend you work in the text first before watching the video. However, be aware, the video is not intended to be the back of an algebra book--supplying answers to the questions--but rather, is just sharing some thoughts from the text.)

Questions:

1. What did Paul's calling look like? What was its purpose?

2. How was Paul's calling similar to the calling of the saints of Corinth?

3. What words describe the work of God for the believers in Corinth?

4. How is this true of all believers?

5. How will Jesus present them someday?

Your Star is at Home!

Sporting News Magazine* provides a Profile Page (What you won't find on Facebook...even if you are approved as a friend, they claim) in each print magazine as well as in their daily e-zine. It's usually an interesting way to peek into the lives of a professional athlete and find out some of the daily things they do. They ask all kinds of things about favorite movies and music, to what's on your walls or what do you least like about yourself. Many of the answers say very little, but in each issue, there is usually an answer or two that provides a little bit of unique insight.

However, one question usually leaves me disappointed: Dream Date

I'm amazed how many of these athletes will mention they have a wife and kids, and then will turn right around and mention some celebrity as their dream date. (An ink covered transforming lady seems to be the choice du jour.) Occasionally, a person will choose a celebrity and then name a feature other than appearance as their motivation, but even that is usually rather weak (Such as, "Miss USA, because I'd like to hear how she really plans to accomplish world peace through winning her crown.") Their motivation is almost always visual, make that lustful, and the concept of it being a dream date clearly suggests an evening alone together...I don't need to say more.


This has been bothering me for a while, and then I see today's feature (note, this article is written days before it is published on my blog...it is not actually today's). In this feature, the athlete gives the following answers:

Status: Married
What I'm reading: Bible and Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado (He lists his Bible as part of his game day superstition too, but that's for another post.)
Dream Date: My wife, I'm living the dream

I was thrilled to read his answer so I went ahead and read the rest of his profile. Unfortunately, he also stated:

Love to trade places for a day with... Jay-Z, so I could kick it with Beyonce. My wife understands. LOL.

Beloved, it just does not make sense to play these sort of games. Surely, this man probably thinks this is a harmless exercise, for what are the odds Beyonce is ever going to come knocking on his door? However, the battle does not begin when he's unexpectedly approached by the starlet, the battle is already lost when the man allowed himself to entertain thoughts about someone other than his own wife.

"You have heard that it was said, `YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.--Matthew 5:27-28

It may seem like harmless fun, but the battle for purity requires a steadfast devotion. (Check out the verses which immediately follow to see this point!) And remember, the standard is not for you to avoid intercourse with some other woman, your call is to model Christ's love for the church.

Seriously, can you ever imagine the Savior playing whimsical games of fantasy about another bride. (And remember, His devotion is not based upon the Bride's faithfulness, for if it were, Christ would have a valid excuse to look elsewhere.) No, Christ's love is an exclusive, faithful, jealous love. He will not entertain even the slightest fancy, but remains wholly focused and devoted to His bride.

If you've fallen into this unfaithful trap, what is a person to do to get out?

1. Focus on the Love of Christ. Meditate of passages like Ephesians 5:22-33. Then act upon it. Confess your unfaithfulness to the Lord and rest in the forgiveness granted you by the work of Christ on the cross. Repent of your unfaithfulness and ask God to develop in you a heart which is faithful unto Him and your spouse.

2. Begin speaking of your spouse as your dream date. Ah, you say, that's hypocritical if I don't really mean it. Actually, the hypocrite is one who knows what he ought to do but claims self-righteous reasons for not obeying. Instead, speak and act with the faithfulness you know your spouse deserves. You'll be amazed that as you quit entertaining these unfaithful lusts, the battle will actually diminish and you will see your spouse as your Dream Date.

3. Confess to your spouse. If you've ever played a stupid "List of 5 celebrities you'd be allowed to cheat on me for" type game (or any variant) with your spouse, you should confess that as sinful and wrong. If you ever playfully speak of another person as being a temptation you would not be able to resist, that is sinful and should be confessed. You begin the process of being faithful to your spouse when you confess the ways in which you have not and allow your spouse to know that by God's grace, you are turning from those ways.

4. Quit viewing that celebrity for a period of time. Even the celebrity is one made in God's image, so with growth, you should be able to sit at a table and talk with the person without thinking lustful thoughts. However, if you've entertained impure thoughts about someone for a period of time, and it is now difficult to think/see the person without naturally going to the impure, quit looking for a period of time. Are you really going to claim your "right/freedom" to entertainment over your desire to be faithful to your spouse and Savior? Be smart. Give your heart a break for a while while you work on refocussing your affections where they belong.

For it's not enough that your spouse become your dream date, but God is glorified when you see your spouse as a gift from God that exceeds your dreams!

Alternative to Spanking

An elder in our church sent this to me via email the other day:

Most of the American populace thinks it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk.

Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, iPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. The eye to eye contact helps a lot too.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.

Sincerely,
Your Friend

Convicted [and Confused]

Since it really doesn't effect me, and I am privy to only a select amount of information, I have typically had very little to say about Mark Driscoll. (Click here to see my only post--and click the comments--to see my schizophrenic perspectives on Driscoll.

I can tell you this:

His "Advance09" message, Ministry Idolatry, is absolutely brilliant. His best message I have ever heard and a very challenging, convicting and edifying sermon. Don't take my word for it? Here is Piper's comments at the introduction of his sermon (which immediately followed Driscoll's):

Before I pray and ask for the Lord's help, just to empathize with you, I found Mark's message to be devastating, and uh, don't have too much left. That's not a joke.

Driscoll began his message stating his desire to be more priestly than prophet-like. This does not mean he was vague or sugar-coated things. If a word search could be applied to his sermon manuscript, you'd find words like sex, pornography and masturbation still appeared in this sermon. However, there was not even a hint that these words were used to produce shock or gain attention. Each was appropriately and maturely handled. Mark has also confessed that ministry, stress and opposition can create a harshness and cynicism in his preaching...elements which are not remotely present in this sermon. Whatever your view (and what the true verdict may be) on Driscoll, I think you'll benefit from this sermon.

The sermon also created other thoughts for me:

To clarify from this post, I do not think sobriety requires a lack of humor. Driscoll and Piper both preached very sober messages, yet each of them took a playful (and appropriate) jab at the other during their messages.

Secondarily, this playful interaction suggests a strong relationship between Piper and Driscoll. At Alistair Begg's Basics Conference, Piper stated that he would be with Driscoll soon, and had several things he wished to address about Mark. As far as what has been published, it seems that Advance09 was that very moment where the two were together. Did Piper have some words that helped shape Driscoll and prepare him for such a message? It certainly seems possible.

Lastly, the question of public repentance/confession becomes an issue. Quite frankly, if Driscoll continues to preach as he did in this message (from here forward), his messages would be quite fruitful. Could such fruit be the evidence of repentance that has taken place and could the trajectory show that he has learned from his sin and turned from it? Or, is it necessary for him to publicly state his turning from sin?

Do yourself a favor, ignore these last three points until after you've listened to message and allowed it to work within your heart (killing idols that the Lord might reveal). Then, after you've allowed that process to happen, let me know your thoughts on these issues as well.