The Fight

Is TV Destroying Your Soul?

2011-02-05T10:24:00.001-06:00

I want to start this post by saying that I used to think Piper was a nut. Who in America does not own a TV? My thought has always been that if you can afford one, get one. It is what you do when you have free time. It is how you pass the evenings and how you spend quality time with your friends and family. Right? I also used to think that Piper was just too serious. "Alright Piper", I used to say, "get off your super spiritual high horse and come back down to reality". But, as I read the scriptures more and put them into practice (action) I, and Jessi, have found that WE are the nut. We are the ones that are not too serious about our faith. Piper is the normal one. He is the one who is "throwing off the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1). He, through the Spirits power and conviction, is saying with his life, "Jesus is more pleasurable and a better pursuit that anything else...even TV". So, as you read his quotes below, be slow to anger and quick to listen. Do some introspective thinking because...you might be wasting your life.

Piper on TV:

Just think how new TV is. In the 2000 years since Christ, TV has shaped only the last 2.5 percent of that history. For 97.5 percent of the time since Jesus, there was no TV. And for 95 percent of this time there was no radio. It arrived on the scene in the early 1900s. So for 1900 years of Christian history, people spent their leisure time doing other things. We wonder, what could they possibly have done? They may have read more. Or discussed things more. For certain they were not bombarded with soul-shrinking, round-the-clock trivialities.

We need to apply ourselves to form the habits of active seeing rather than passive watching.

I know that in my preaching I am addressing a visually oriented and TV influenced people. I know that 98% of you have televisions, and in 1971 the average adult in America watched 23 hours a week. I believe John Stott is right in his new book on preaching when he says that lengthy exposure to television tends to produce physical laziness, intellectual flabbiness, emotional exhaustion, psychological confusion, and moral disorientation. What this means for us preachers (especially me) is that we must improve our ability to communicate effectively and hold attention with no antics, no stringed orchestras, no violence, and no sex. But it does not mean that we can abandon our calling to preach the whole counsel of God. And therefore it should be expected that preaching will sometimes be the most demanding thing you hear all week. I can’t see how it would be otherwise, unless I make easy what the apostles couldn’t.

It is not necessary for relevance. And it is a deadly place to rest the mind. Its pervasive banality, sexual innuendo, and God-ignoring values have no ennobling effects on the preacher’s soul. It kills the spirit. It drives God away. It quenches prayer. It blanks out the Bible. It cheapens the soul. It destroys spiritual power. It defiles almost everything. I have taught and preached for twenty years now and never owned a television. It is unnecessary for most of you, and it is spiritually deadly for all of you.

Television is one of the greatest life-wasters of the modern age. And, of course, the Internet is running to catch up, and may have caught up. You can be more selective on the Internet, but you can also select worse things with only the Judge of the universe watching. TV still reigns as the great life-waster. The main problem with TV is not how much smut is available, though that is a problem. Just the ads are enough to sow fertile seeds of greed and lust, no matter what program you’re watching. The greater problem is banality. A mind fed daily on TV diminishes. Your mind was made to know and love God. Its facility for this great calling is ruined by excessive TV. The content is so trivial and so shallow that the capacity of the mind to think worthy thoughts withers, and the capacity of the heart to feel deep emotions shrivels. . . .

IF ALL OTHER VARIABLES ARE EQUAL, YOUR CAPACITY TO know God deeply will probably diminish in direct proportion to how much television you watch. There are several reasons for this. One is that television reflects American culture at its most trivial. And a steady diet of triviality shrinks the soul. You get used to it. It starts to seem normal. Silly becomes funny. And funny becomes pleasing. And pleasing becomes soul-satisfaction. And in the end the soul that is made for God has shrunk to fit snugly around triteness.

Do you ever ask, “What could I accomplish that is truly worthwhile if I did not watch TV?” You see, it isn’t just what TV does to us with its rivers of emptiness; it is also what TV keeps us from doing. Why not try something? Make a list of what you might accomplish if you took the time you spend watching TV and devoted it to something else. For example:

You might be inspired to some great venture by learning about the life of a noble saint like Amy Carmichael and how she found courage to go alone to serve the children of India. Where do such radical dreams come from? Not from watching TV. Open your soul to be blown away by some unspeakable life of dedication to a great cause.
You might be inspired by a biography of a businessman or doctor or nurse to work hard for the skills to bless others with the excellence of your profession devoted to a higher end than anything you will see commended on TV, which never includes Jesus Christ.
You might memorize the eighth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, and penetrate to the depths of his vision of God, and discover the precious power of memorized Scripture in your life and ministry to others. No one could estimate the power that would come to a church if we all turned the TV off for one month and devoted that same amount of time to memorizing Scripture.
You might write a simple poem or a letter to a parent or a child or a friend or a colleague expressing deep gratitude for their life or a longing for their soul.
You might make a cake or a casserole for new neighbors and take it to them with a smile and an invitation to visit some time and get to know each other.

So there are good reasons to try a TV fast. Or to simply wean yourself off of it entirely. We have not owned a TV for thirty-four years of marriage except for three years in Germany when we used it for language learning. There is no inherent virtue in this. I only mention it to prove that you can raise five culturally sensitive and Biblically informed children without it. They never complained about it. In fact they often wondered out loud how people found the time to watch as much as they do.

Jessi and I have gone 3 months now without TV. In fact, I took the cable box to Time Warner just the other day. We officially only have a Blu-Ray player hooked up to our TV. So, has it worked? We have never talked more, read more, discussed the scriptures more or prayed more. Yes, it has worked. Our affections have turned from TV back to Christ and his Gospel. It was hard and painful. TV has been engrained into our system for the past 24-25 yrs. A 25 year addiction is not easy to kick, but like all who get sober...it was so worth it.

Fight On

At Present: Contemplative

2010-11-18T14:13:00.000-06:00

Jessi and I try to make a point of reading through books of the bible together at night. We don't do it every night (which is weird...why don't we?) but we try to do it at least once a week. So, last night we decided to start Titus.
Titus was written by Paul as a message of encouragement to Titus, a fellow servant and follower of Christ. Titus was experiencing ongoing opposition from the ungodly and legalistic people within his congregations; so Paul sent him some words of instruction, primarily relating to elders, qualifications of church overseers (deacons) and for the "older women" to live as examples for younger women to emulate.

The way we read through books of the bible is simple:

I read Ch.1...Jessi reads Ch.2...and we alternate until the book is over (which can take longer than one night...don't get all spiritual and try finish Isaiah in one night).
After I read Ch.1, we discuss it. After Jessi reads Ch.2, we discuss it. Does it get awkward at times? yes. Is that ok? yes. You do not have to give a complete exegesis on how the original greek influenced the authors intent in regards to the message of the Gospel. What is the author saying? Where are you convicted? Where do the scriptures call you out? What challenged you? What are we doing well?, etc. This is a time to connect with each other.
Side note...not married? Do this with friends, roommates, your kids, your uncle (not the crazy one), your landlord, your brother/sister.

So...back to Titus:

I read this in Ch.1 V.7-9

"For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant, or quick tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

Jessi read this in Ch.2 V.3-5

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."

Here were our thoughts after discussing these two passages:

"What if we took this serious? What if for the first time EVER we took the bibles commands and instruction serious? What if I strived to be this kind of guy, and what if Jessi strived to be this kind of women?"

We thought about it more and came to the conclusion that we are not striving to be these people. We go to church, I preach, I teach, Jessi prays, we love Jesus and know that his blood has covered our sins...but we are not taking steps to be what the SCRIPTURES have called us to be. I do not want to strive towards what "christian culture" says men and women are to be...I want to strive towards what the SCRIPTURES say we are to be.

So, at present we are contemplative. Soaking in this charge from scripture. Getting our minds filled with the Word and not with the world (Rom. 12:2). Being contemplative is a good place to be...it means that change is likely on the horizon...not change for the sake of change...but change for the sake of God and his glory.

His Glory our joy

His Word our guide

His Grace our hope

Fight On

Christianity in the Mud

2010-11-17T12:01:00.002-06:00

Christianity in the mud is defined as: being busy, being active, making movement, but going nowhere.

While we know that this is not how Christianity is to be lived, or the Christianity we want to live...it is sadly the Christianity that we do live. It is the Christianity that leaves it's followers frustrated, and it is the Christianity that a lost world looks at and says, "yeah...thanks for the offer, I mean...I can see that it is working for you (sarcasm), but I am going to have to pass". Now, I am not saying that what you do or don't do is going to determine someones eternal destination (you are not powerful enough to control that), but I am saying that what you do or don't do, in regards to your Christian walk, is going to determine your joy. The Scriptures say that in His presence there is "fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11). It does not say, being busy, being active or making movement brings joy. Joy alone is found in his presence.

John Piper touches on this in his book Desiring God, when he says "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him". So, how do we get there? Here is one way to maximize Gods glory (The Cake) and your joy (the icing).

Be in Gods will. Be where God wants you to be and no where else. When we are outside of his plan, it is we who miss out. God's plan is ultimately for His glory, but through him getting his glory, we get our joy. The fullness of joy that God offers is only found when you are found where he desires us to be. How do we do this?

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

I used to think that this verse meant that if I gave God some lip service, did some duties for him, sang a few songs and helped a few old ladies across the street that he would give me what I desired. I quickly found out I was retarted and wrong. Here is what it means: When God is our hearts true desire and nothing else is sitting on the seat of "god" in our heart (money, toys, phones, popularity, friends, fun, good times, kids, safety, rebellion, pride, false humility, hatred, fear) then He wll begin to put desires on your heart. When we (personally) are satisfied in him, he is glorified in us...because he is getting out of our lives what he desired. He is getting his will done in your life...and that brings him glory and us joy. But please remember that his glory is ultimate...it is the cake...our joy is secondary...the icing...it just makes it that much better. We do not serve a God who is completely selfish, demanding from us and giving nothing in return. Rather, he is completely good. Who do you know that can get glory for themselves and joy for you in the same action? The answer to this question will be left blank unless God is your answer.

Francis Chan wrote a book titled Forgotten God "Reversing Our Tragic Neglect Of The Holy Spirit". I would have to agree with the subtitle. I know that I definitely grew up with a lacking understanding of the Holy Spirit; all I knew was that he lived in my heart. I have lived most of my life under the illusion of the "Little Engine that Could". I always thought that I could do it. When the going got tough...I would try harder. I would muster up the strength and give it my best shot...it sounds good and noble...but it wasn't. I always believed "I could do it!"...but doesn't the heart of the gospel say "nope...quit trying...you can't do it"? Now, I am not saying don't try...but I am saying, don't try alone.

"I am sending the promise of my father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with the power on high." Luke 24:49
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, the Helper will not come to you. But, if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7

So, all you "Christians in the mud"...it is time to get out. For the sake of your joy, get out and get into His plan. Delight yourself in Him, give Him glory and thus get your Joy. You have "power from on high" and a "helper"...don't let your pride keep you from calling out.

Fight On

Remember Lot

2010-11-08T14:23:00.001-06:00

  I heard a sermon yesterday by Austin Stone's Halim Suh. The essence of the sermon was that we can be like Lot, a lot. You see, Lot was a believer (2 Peter 2), but he loved the world too. He had not fully given into the whole "Christianity" thing. He was saved by grace, atoned for and free, but he was still slave to the world. He still found the world to be fulfilling, and had yet to take his walk serious...sounds familiar huh? Lot knew that God was hot with fury towards Sodom, but he "lingered" when told to leave. He could not give up the world in order to follow God.This story is found in Genesis 19.
  In his sermon Halim referenced an article by J.C. Ryle in which Ryle focused on Genesis 19:16, where it says Lot "Lingered" or "Hesitated". I found the article Halim referenced and was met with a feeling of great encouragement as well as great conviction once I finished reading it.
  On a side note: I really love how old pastors talk and write. Ryle died in 1900 and you can see how words back then were used in beautiful ways. There seemed to never be a wasted word, or an out of place sentence. Writing was so much purer back then and people seemed to be more in touch with themselves as well as the Holy Spirit. I have a hard time seeing the Luther's, Spurgeon's and Ryle's of history spending their time on much else than studying, preaching, loving their families and living out what the scriptures demanded of them. It appears that they had a much different focus than I do on life.
  Basically, I think we have a lot we to learn from them. They were committed to nothing else but the cause of Christ and were not caught up in the fleeting pleasures of the world.

Below are some excerpts from the article that hit me hard:

"I say that there are many Christian men and Christian women in this day very like Lot. They believe in heaven, and yet seem faintly to long for it;—and in hell, and yet seem little to fear it. They love the Lord Jesus; but the work they do for Him is small. They hate the devil; but they often appear to tempt him to come to them. They know the time is short; but they live as if it were long, They know they have a battle to fight; yet a man might think they were at peace. They know they have a race to run; yet they often look like people sitting still. They know the Judge is at the door, and there is wrath to come; and yet they appear half asleep. Astonishing they should be what they are, and yet be nothing more!"

"There are many real children of God who appear to know far more than they live up to, and see far more than they practise, and yet continue in this state for many years. Wonderful that they go as far as they do, and yet go no further! They hold the Head, even Christ, and love the truth. They like sound preaching, and assent to every article of Gospel doctrine, when they hear it. But still there is an indescribable something which is not satisfactory about them. They are constantly doing things which disappoint the expectations of their ministers, and of more advanced Christian friends. Marvellous that they should think as they do, and yet stand still!"

"They spend their lives in trying to make the gate more wide, and the cross more light. But they never succeed."

"These are they who are always trying to keep in with the world. They are ingenious in discovering reasons for not separating decidedly, and in framing plausible excuses for attending questionable amusements, and keeping up questionable friendships. One day you are told of their attending a Bible reading: the next day perhaps you hear of their going to a ball. They are constantly labouring to persuade themselves that to mix a little with worldly people on their own ground does good. Yet in their case it is very clear they do no good, and only get harm."

"Ah, reader, if you are a lingering soul, you are not happy! You know you are not. It would be strange indeed if you were so. Lingering is the sure destruction of a happy Christianity. A lingerer’s conscience forbids him to enjoy inward peace."

Fight On

My Phone Story

2010-11-03T14:35:00.001-05:00

I found this picture the other day and thought it was sadly, all to real.

It all started when Jessi and I were at a Texas Stars Hockey game last season and we decided to go to the concession stand to get some dinner. Being the suave, whimsical, extravagant man that I am, I told Jessi to pick out something nice from the concession stand, seeing how we were on a date and all. She remarked with a sarcastic "WOW, this sure is a romantic date...I can pick out anything?" I replied with a yes and we proceeded to order and then make our way back to our seats. 3 minutes into our return I had my iPhone out, checking some "VITALLY IMPORTANT, LIFE THREATENING, NOW OR NEVER INFORMATION" on Facebook, when Jessi leaned over and said in her "sweet but I am not joking voice", "I thought we were on a date?". I was caught. I was found out. I had tried to pull a quick "keep the phone by your thigh look", but to no success. I said something dumb like, "whoops" or "almost done"...I was unaware that the proper response was to put that bad boy up and NOT take it our for the rest of the night.

Jessi is an amazing wife. She knows me and is all too aware of my addictive personality. So, she never said anything about it for the rest of the night. Because, after all, this was not the first time I had been on my phone when I shouldn't have been.

Driving
At lunch with friends
Eating dinner at home
In the bathroom (that is just gross, but true)
Talking to my boss
Talking to my mother-in-law
Hanging out with kids I work with
At the red light
At the green light
At the yellow light
Training at work as a presenter is talking
Church as the pastor is talking
Church as the worship band is playing
Church as announcements are going on
At a funeral (yes, true)
At a wedding (not as offensive as a funeral)

I did a lot of thinking that night after we got back from the hockey game. I told Jessi that I was sorry and that I really had no good reason to be on my phone. She asked me what was so intriguing about being on my phone and honestly I could not say anything better than "it is something to do". Which when told to someone you are hanging out with comes across "you are boring and my phone is more interesting that you cause you, my sir or madam, are LAME".

I told Jessi that when I woke up in the morning I was going to sell my iPhone on craigslist and get a regular "call & text" phone...and to my shock and hers, I actually did it.

This is not necessary a "spiritual" post, just something to chew on and think about.

Don't be lame like me and have an affair with your phone.

Fight On

Theology 101: What is Man?

2010-11-02T11:22:00.000-05:00

After God created the plants and animals on the earth, he had one more thing to create, the pinnacle of his creation:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:27-28

God did not create us because he was lacking or needing anything. He wasn’t lonely, nor did he need someone or something to bring him praise or to give him glory. Rather, he chose to create us, which was for his glory. In Isaiah 43:7, God says, “Everyone who is called by my name…I created for my glory.”

This fact is supposed to give our lives significance and meaning, but if it is misunderstood it seems empty and meaningless. To give God glory means to give him great honor and praise, which can do that in various ways.

Created for Gods Glory

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

An abundant life is a life that gives God glory. Because we were created for God’s glory, our ultimate goal in life should be to live for his glory. Giving God glory with our lives will give our lives purpose and meaning; it will give us the joy in our life that we all long for.

Nothing will satisfy the soul like living for the praise of God. Money is fleeting, fame ends, recognition cease’s, popularity stops, jobs come to a close, cars rust, homes fall apart, technology becomes obsolete, fashion’s come and go, but God is everlasting. His promises are true. Living for his glory never comes to a close, becomes obsolete or falls apart. It is what every person is longing to do.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

“In his presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Living in God’s presence, for his glory, is the only way to have fullness of joy, rest and life in all of its abundance. The ultimate life is lived for God.

Created in God’s Image

If all the bible told us about ourselves is that we were created for God’s glory it wouldn’t really distinguish us much from the rest of creation. Part of our uniqueness, however, comes from the fact that we are the only part of God’s creation made “in the image of God.” Genesis 1:27

But, because of sin, God’s image in us is distorted. His image is not seen as clearly as it once was. Sin distorts our moral judgment, clouds our thinking, and hinders our fellowship with others. Although the bible is clear that man is still “made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9), that likeness, defiled by sin, doesn’t look like it is supposed to.

The Good News

God’s image is being restored! God redeems (rescues) his children through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus so that we can be “conformed to the image of his son” (Romans 8:29), who is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

God became a man, the man Jesus, who came on a rescue mission to save his lost sons and daughters. The sinful man can now be the restored man! Jesus bore mans sins on the cross. He substituted himself in mans place. Mans sin deserved a punishment. Jesus took mans punishment. Jesus took your place.

Our response is to put our faith in Jesus, and to live for his glory.

The Son of God became a man, so that man could become the son’s of God.

The perfect man, Jesus, became sin, so that the sinful man could become perfect.

Jesus took mans place, so that man could take Jesus’ place.

Jesus entered earth, so man could enter heaven.

Responsibilities as Creatures in God’s Image

Christians are to be God’s representatives on the earth. Much like a king places images (through statues and pictures) of himself around his kingdom, so God, through us, has placed images of himself across his world.

As God’s image bearers we have the awesome responsibility to help restore his people to the way they were meant to be. We get to walk alongside the king who is “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Therefore, we have great hope and respect for all people, regardless of their state. They have the potential to return to the beauty of Jesus Christ, the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), by turning away from their sin and turning to their Creator.

As we joyfully work towards this goal, we give God the glory we were created to bring him.

Bad News

2010-11-01T12:48:00.000-05:00

Although many churches are worried about offending people by sharing the gospel, less than 1% of the population complained that Christians are too aggressive in their evangelistic efforts. (Barna Group www.barna.org)

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The Great commission is surrounded by two great truths. 1.) All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. 2.) I am with you always. Jesus (in my opinion) has set this thing up extremely well. He has the authority needed to change hearts and he is with you. Let me say it again, HE IS WITH YOU. The God who spoke the world into being is with you. The scriptures say “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And we usually stop there with Hebrews 13:5, but in Hebrews 13:6 we read this, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” It appears that nothing should stop us in sharing the gospel. Jesus has all the authority, he is with us, he is not going to leave us and he is our helper. But, we still do not share.

Maybe you are afraid of sharing, "Do not be afraid...for the Lord will be your confidence" (Prov. 3:25-26).

Maybe you are afraid to speak up, "do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour" (Matt. 10:19)

Maybe you have forgotten what the gospel did for you, "You have forgotten the love you had at first" (Rev. 2:4).

Maybe the consequences are too much, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21).

We are told to GO and to MAKE DISCIPLES, not to save. God is the one who saves, "it is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help at all" (John 6:63).

The Barna quote mentioned at the beginning of this post needs to change. The best news in the world is not too aggressive? Crappy news about Snooki and Brett Favre is spreading like wild fire, but the God who came on a rescue mission for the lost and dying is being kept a secret? Following Jesus is personal, but not private. Salvation and Discipleship happen with others in the public square. Get to stepping and get to talking. God is all around this thing, even our fears.

Fight On

Theology 101: What is Prayer?

2010-10-27T14:27:00.000-05:00

One of the ways God allows his creation to stay involved with him is through prayer. Prayer is personal communication from us to God.

Through prayer we can

Communicate our requests to God
Confess our sin
Give adoration, praise, and thanksgiving to God

The Reason for Prayer

God does not want us to pray so that he can find out what we need. Rather, God wants us to pray so that our dependence on him can increase

Jesus said “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matt. 6:8)
When we come to God in prayer about something, we express trust in him, a trust that he will hear and answer our prayers.
We should pray like a child asking his father for an egg or a fish (Luke 11:9-12). As a child trusts and expects his father to provide for him, so we ought to expect, in faith, that God will provide for us.

God wants us to pray because it allows us to be a part of a story that is greater than out own

Prayer allows us to be involved in activities that have eternal significance.
When we pray, God’s kingdom is advanced and his will is done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

The Effectiveness of Prayer

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10).

On our own we have no right to boldly ask God for anything

Our personal sin should disqualify us from requesting anything from a holy God.
But if our faith is in Jesus, the Bible tells us he stands as the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Tim. 2:5).
Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
God is under no obligation to answer the prayers of those who have rejected his Son. Although, in his mercy he chooses to answer them at times, he does not promise to answer the prayers of unbelievers. But he does promise to answer the prayers of believers who pray in accordance to his will.

Our Attitude of Prayer

The effective prayers that Jesus answers must be prayed “according to his will” (1 John 5:14)

Praying according to Gods will often requires humility on our part, because it requires that we pray not simply for what we desire but instead for what God desires.

When we sin, God urges us to use his gift of prayer to seek his forgiveness

When we confess our sins, God is “faithful and just” to forgive those sins and not punish us for them (1 John 1:9). Christ already bore the punishment of those sins on the cross.
James encourages us to confess our sins to one another and to “pray for one another” so that we may be healed (James 5:16).

When prayers are not answered you are joining the company of men like Jesus and Paul

Before Jesus was crucified, he asked the Father to “remove this cup” from him. But his humility and submission to God’s will were shown in the second part of his prayer: “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
“Three times,” Paul “pleaded with the Lord” to take away his affliction; the lord did not do so, but instead told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corin. 12:8-9).

God still promises us today, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Therefore, regardless of the situation, we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I shall not fear; what can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:6).

Fight On

The Best of Judges Pt.1

2010-10-26T13:27:00.000-05:00

Judges is found in the Old Testament that covers about 350 years of Israel's history. The basic theme of the book is God raising up "Judges" to rule over and protect Israel, but like clockwork as soon as the Judge dies, Israel goes back to serving other gods until the true God raises up another Judge; and so the cycle continues. Judges showcases Gods love for his people. Even though they chase and whore after other gods, he is faithful. There is great hope to be found in the book of Judges, as well as some amazing stories. These stories are sad, funny and a few are just downright weird. I am going to share 2 stories in this post, with more to come. Enjoy.

Ch.1

Judges starts off with a bang. Judah and Simeon (people on Gods team) are pursuing Adoni-bezek (who had previously gone on a rampage of cutting off the thumbs and big toes of Kings in the area). So, once he is caught Judah and Simeon cut off his thumbs and big toes. Adoni-bezek's response lets us in to his personal life (which is a little freaky) "Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me."

This guy is a total weirdo. He goes around cutting the toes and thumbs off of Kings and then makes them lie around and eat the scraps that fall off his table. This dude has got some issues. This is something you would expect to see on CSI or Criminal Minds, but nope...it is right here in Judges 1.

Note to self: if you meet a guy named Adoni, watch your thumbs

Ch.3

Here we meet Ehud-the studly guy who God called Israel's "deliverer." Ehud apparently likes Splinter Cell and decided to use some of the moves from the game to kill Eglon, the King of Moab (who had been messing with Israel). Ehud made a short sword and attached it to his leg under his robe, and went to meet King Eglon for dinner. Before Ehud left the King for the night he told him that he had a "word from the Lord" to share with him. So, Eglon got up and went to Ehud to hear this "word from the Lord". As soon as Eglon got close Ehud took the sword from his thigh and thrust it into Eglons belly. It says that the hilt (handle) of the sword went in after the blade and that the fat of Eglons belly closed up over the blade...which was immediately followed by "dung coming out" of Eglon.

Appearantly, he got the crap scared out of him.

Ehud walked out like a stud and locked the door...and who wouldn't have? He went medieval all over the king. When Eglons servants saw that the doors were locked they thought "surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber". And they waited until they were embarrassed. But we all know that the dude was stinky dead

Eglon a.k.a. Jabba the Hutt, was a punk who messed with God's people which got him manhandled by Ehud. I like to imagine Ehud saying something like "The Lord says SUCK IT EGLON" as he stabbed him. He better have said something cool. My favorite part was when Eglon relieved himself after being stabbed. I am quite sure that Ehud had not planned for this to happen, and even more sure that Ehud was wearing a new pair of Jewish Flyers (so he could run faster and jump higher after killing Eglon)...which probably got crap all over them...which probably made Ehud mad. The funniest part was when the servants waited until it got embarrassing. You know how weird it gets when someone goes to the restroom and has not been back for a while...the thought of them struggling on the porcelain throne is hilarious.

"Hey...ummm...the King has been in there for a while Charlie, you think he's having a hard time?"

"Man, all I know is that the dude can eat, he can choke a donkey man"

"Yeah, it's official...this is embarrassing"

The scriptures are great.

Fight On

Is anything too hard?

2010-10-25T13:44:00.000-05:00

Abraham was 100, Sarah 90, and God shows up with a crazy promise "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son" (Gen. 18:10). Hum, really God? You said that Sarah the 90 year old woman with whom "the way of woman had ceased to be with" is going to have a baby? The tired old lady who has gone through menopause and more than likely quit having sex with Abraham because of their old age is going to have a baby? I think Sarah's response was proper...she laughed at God. But God responded with seven amazing words "is anything too hard for the Lord?" Excuse me, Sarah, maybe you do not remember who you are talking to. I spoke the world into being, breathed life into man, flooded the earth, turned an ocean into blood, split the sea and now giving you a child is suddenly too hard for me?

That time next year God showed up and Sarah bore a son, and she named him Isaac, which means laughter. Isaac was a constant reminder to sarah that NOTHING WAS TOO IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER GOD!

Fight On

Passover Reminder

2010-10-25T11:07:00.001-05:00

Really great song by Joe Day an artist at Mars Hill...the song is called "Passover", check it out

Keep fighting to give Him the "firsts" of your life

The Sun and The Iron

2010-10-24T09:26:00.000-05:00

“And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped…” Joshua 10:13
“…when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float”
2 Kings 6:6

God made the sun stop and the iron float; and why couldn’t he?…he created all three. He sustains every heart on the planet and knows every sparrow that falls from the sky. He has never been surprised or taken off guard. He cannot be tricked or made to look foolish. He is eternal.
Psalm 43 tells us that when all seems to be falling apart and when our soul is “cast down”, that we are to “hope in God.”
Maybe you haven’t been hoping in God…if you are like me and see the glass half empty and full of poison, you know how hard it is to hope in God. But he made the son stop and the iron float…if there was ever anything to hope in, it would be Him.

Fight On

Quotes on Evangelism

2010-10-22T10:10:00.001-05:00

•“A Christian is a guide to Heaven”
C. Spurgeon
•“Make me a fork (in the road in peoples lives)”
Jim Elliott
•“Our one aim is to win souls; and this we are not to talk about doing, but to do in the power of God”
C. Spurgeon
•“I would think it a greater happiness to gain one soul to Christ than mountains of silver and gold”
Matthew Henry
•“You must go into the fire if you are going to pull others out of it; nor can you man a lifeboat without being covered in the waves”
C. Spurgeon
•“We should never stop at having won a soul for Christ. By this, we have done half the work. Every soul won for Christ must be made to be a soul winner”
Richard Wurmbrand
•“Work as if everything depended on you. Pray as if everything depended on God”
St. Augustine

Fight On

Theology 101: What is Creation?

2010-10-20T13:12:00.000-05:00

Where did the universe come from?
Why was I made?
What is my purpose?

Where did the universe come from?
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”
John 1:3 “All things were made through him”
Colossians 1:16 “By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible”

God spoke ALL of creation into existence-the land, water, plants and animals but not man
(Gen 1:3-25)

Why was I made?
You and I were not spoken into existence; we were created by God’s very hands and received life from God’s very breath.
Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature”
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them”

Humans are the only aspect of creation made in God’s image. To be in God’s image means to be like God and to represent God. As Gods image, man is the pinnacle of all creation, more like God than any other creature.

Scientific theories that do not see God as the Creator fail to give us the dignity that is given us in the biblical account.
Evolution: man evolved from monkeys
Big Bang: material collided and now we have earth

God did not need to make us. He is completely fulfilled within the trinity. The amazing part of creation is that HE CHOSE to make us.

What is my purpose?
Before creation nothing existed but God.
Therefore, nothing but God is eternal.
Nothing but God can ultimately rule over that which he made.
Therefore, nothing but God is worthy of our worship.

We are special products of God’s creation and this should give us a sense of awe!

Creation was a totally free act of God. He created the universe to show his greatness, to demonstrate his excellence and to delight in his work.

You are his work, his most prized work, so the question begs, is he finding delight in you? Is your life bringing him glory? Is your life being lived in the awe of his creation?

Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created”
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”

As we take spontaneous delight in God’s creative activities, our creative activities, and the creative activities of others, we are giving glory to God by imitating the delight he takes in his creation. We should joyfully use the abundant earth God has given us and seek to develop it in a way that brings glory and honor to God’s name.

Theology 101: What is the Trinity?

2010-10-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

Sometimes people use 3 different names when referring to God:
God the Father
God the Son
God the Spirit

These are not just 3 different names, these are 3 distinct persons. All three have existed as three distinct persons, but there is only one God. This is called the trinity.

Biblical Evidence for the trinity
God said, “Let us make them in our image, after our likeness”. These are not angels, because only humans were made “in the image of God”
(Genesis 1:26-27)

When Jesus was baptized, “the heavens opened to him, and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and coming to rest on him”…and a voice from heaven said “this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

What were all 3 members of the trinity doing at this time?
God the Father was speaking
God the Son was being baptized
God the Spirit was resting on God the Son

When Jesus sent his disciples out, he told them “to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

The meaning of the trinity
The trinity is three distinct persons, but one God.

God the Father is God. When you read “God” in the bible, you are more than likely reading about God the Father.

God the Son is Jesus. He is fully God, but in the form of a man. He had to come as a man to do what Adam could not do, life a sinless life and die for our sins.

God the Spirit is the Holy Spirit. He is given to live inside you when you become a Christian. He is your connection to God the Father. He convicts you of sin, teaches you how to pray, read, and live out the Christian life.

The role of the trinity
In creation
God the Father spoke the world into being (Gen 1:9-10)
God the Son carried out those words (John 1:13)
God the Spirit keeps Gods presence in creation (Gen. 1:2)

In Salvation
God the Father loves the world (John 3:16)
God the Son came down from heaven (John 6:38)
God the Spirit was sent to complete and sustain Jesus’ work (John 14:6 and John 16:7)

Examples of the trinity
Church
“Many members” all with different skills but “one body” with one purpose (1 Corin. 12:12)

Marriage
Two distinct persons come together and become “one flesh.” (Eph. 5:31)

The unity and diversity that exist in this world are simply a reflection of the unity and diversity that exists within the Trinity

Fight On

2010-10-14T23:01:00.002-05:00

A secular world view:

Secular is from the Latin “Seculum” which means “NOW". We live in a now society
There has never been a culture like ours set up for disappointment, depression and despair.

Peggy Newnan
“Our ancestors believed in two worlds and understood this one to be the solitary, poor nasty one. We are among the first to believe that we can find our happiness here completely on earth”

Our search for it has actually produced unhappiness. If you do not believe in a second world, you believe this to be the only place to find happiness and when it lets us down it produces utter despair.

Fight On

Take Up Your Cross

2008-11-10T10:57:00.004-06:00

And he said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, let him DENY himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life FOR MY SAKE will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."
Luke 9:23-27

So much hangs on this passage of scripture.

Self examination is not just something you do to help prevent breast cancer. It is spiritual. With the pace of life right now it is likely you have not slooooowed down much lately. This passage calls us to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses daily. This may make the definition of a Christian, a "little christ" mean a little more to you. What have you denied yourself from lately? The most likely answer is sleep, which was your fault. I will ask the question in another way, what have you denied yourself from for God? I'm not talking about whipping yourself for sining or seeing that you have gained a few pds and not drinking Dr. Pepper for Jesus. Im talking about idols, sin- in your life that for some reason you think is ok to be there. So today do some self-examinating and slow down and GAIN God today-not more of the world.

Question of Faith

2008-10-21T13:33:00.002-05:00

Has Jesus become a reality in your life, not just a religious idea, but a real person you interact with? When people move from their parents' faith to their own, they have a new energy. Faith to them is not about having all the answers-because they don't-but faith is about connecting with the resurrected Jesus.

Should Christians be perfect?
We should try to be, but will we? Uh, no. Does that destroy our testimony? It shouldn't, because it was never about us to begin with. Christians are not morally better than non-christians. We shouldn't claim to be. We are people who have entered into a realtionship with Jesus Christ and found forgiveness for our sins. We keep finding forgiveness as we continue to make mistakes. And maybe that's the most powerful testimony we can offer, not living a perfect life, which others will try to shoot down, but being honest about our failures, claiming forgiveness from God, and asking it from others, and moving on from there.

It is very important to live "in alignment" with "who we say we are."
It's a matter of consistency, making sure our live's don't contradict our beliefs. It's about honest confession, not proud posturing.

God is alive and i'll tell you why...

2008-10-08T11:14:00.004-05:00

Every Sunday night I teach 48 kids ranging from ages 3-18, plus adults. Talk about a nightmare. I have to make the bible appeal to kids who are learning to tie their shoes, High School students who only can only think about sex, and parents who have heard every sermon under the sun. I hope this gives you a glimpse into my perspective.
Every week I talk about a Simple Truth. Such as- Who is God? Who is Jesus? and this week-What kind of Life do you Want? Nothing complex, just some basics for the shoe tiers, and some meat for everyone else. I am beginning to understand the verse that says "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy" (Philippians 1:4). So after the service this Sunday a little girl named Bailey Tompkins who is 10 came up to me and said "I want to become a Christian and get baptized". WOW! There is really nothing in life better than that. To see someone, even a young girl, realize that they have a void and that nothing can fill it but the love of Jesus is SO awesome to see. God is alive!
Then on the following tuesday a boy named Grayson had the same realization as Bailey and decided to make Jesus his boss. God is alive!
Every kid at the Texas Baptist Children's Home (TBCH) is here because their parent/guardian is not fit to take care of them. EVERY kid here has issues and has been through some CRAZY stuff. And if you do not believe me try to imagine being 10 years old and realizing that your parents are nuts and there is no chance you will ever get to live with them again, but knowing that they live only 15 miles away. There are so many hardships here, but God is alive!
Keep these kids in your prayers and know that prayer and faith change lives.

Fight On