Christmas morning is quickly approaching...and on that morning families across the world will open presents that have been sitting under the Christmas tree. The fact that there will be presents for you to open shows that God has been gracious to you...but it is also something we must approach with care. Sometimes, when you have all that you need, it is hard to really believe that all you need is Jesus. You might say it, but often life shows that we need Jesus and _____. So here is the question I want to you ask this Christmas: IS JESUS ENOUGH? Truly ask yourself that...without the lights, without the presents, without your health...if all that were gone would this still be a time to celebrate because Jesus is enough?
Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust surviver who suffered and lost everything, says: "You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have." Know this Christmas that he is enough. That if you lost everything except Jesus...you would have everything you ever need!
Read this blog post by Matt Chandler. He is the pastor of my home church, who reflects on his fight with cancer one year after he was diagnosed. Click Here to Read Matt Chandlers Blog Post
Is he enough? Is He why we celebrate?
Merry Christmas!
Our mission is to make disciples and to teach them to follow Jesus. This blog seeks to help fuel that mission.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Dwelling on the Nativity
It is hard for us to even begin to imagine what it was like for Mary and Joseph at the time of Jesus' birth. The great reformer, Martin Luther, articulates well some thoughts about the nativity that I would like to share:
"Truly it is marvelous in our eyes that God should place a little child in the lap of a virgin and that all our blessedness should lie in him. And this Child belongs to all mankind. God feeds the whole world through a Babe nursing at Mary's breast. This must be our daily exercise: to be transformed into Christ, being nourished by this food."
On Mary: "There was a poor young wife, Mary of Nazareth, among the meanest dwellers of the town, so little esteemed that none noticed the great wonder that she carried."
On the journey: "How many great ladies and their daughters there were at that time, living in luxury, while the mother of God, on foot, in midwinter trudged her weight across the fields! How unequal it all was!"
On the birth: "There she was without preparation: no light, no fire, in the dead of night, in thick darkness. No one came to give the customary assistance. The guests swarming in the inn were carousing, and no one attended to this woman. … There was the maid of fifteen years bringing forth her first-born without water, fire, light, or pan, a sight for tears!"
On the newborn Jesus: "They must have marveled that this Child was the Son of God. He was also a real human being. Those who say that Mary was not a real mother lose all the joy. He was a true Baby, with flesh, blood, hands and legs. He slept, cried, and did everything else that a baby does only without sin."
On Mary after the birth: "Think, women, there was no one there to bathe the Baby. No warm water, nor even cold. No fire, no light. The mother was herself midwife and the maid. The cold manger was the bed and the bathtub. Who showed the poor girl what to do? She had never had a baby before. I am amazed that the little one did not freeze. Do not make of Mary a stone. It must have gone straight to her heart that she was so abandoned. She was flesh and blood, and must have felt miserable-and Joseph too-that she was left in this way, all alone, with no one to help, in a strange land in the middle of winter. Her eyes were moist even though she was happy, and aware that the Baby was God's Son and the Savior of the world."
"Mary was not only holy. She was also the mother of the Lord. With trembling and reverence, before nestling him to herself, she laid him down, because her faith said to her, 'He will be "the Son of the Highest."' No one else on earth had this faith, not even Joseph, for although he had been informed by the angel the word did not go to his heart as to the heart of Mary, the mother."
May these thoughts about the nativity bring us to worship! To realize the humility it took for the God in the flesh to born to such a situation.
*from Martin Luther's Christmas Book translated by Roland H. Bainton © 1948 The Westminster Press
*from Martin Luther's Christmas Book translated by Roland H. Bainton © 1948 The Westminster Press
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Common Objections to no Santa (Santa, Part 4 of 4)
Here are some common objections I get when people find out that we will not do Santa in our house (note: this is just how we decided to do things in our house based on our convictions. This is not the only way to do things. The purpose of this is to help you think through things to make the best decision for your family based on your Biblical convictions. The goal is not to get more people not doing Santa, rather to get more people thinking intentionally at Christmas.)
Objection: But it is so fun and magical for the kids.
Response: True. But I am willing to have my kids miss out on this joy in hopes that they see a greater joy at Christmas. And lets be honest...what is magical about it isn't the reindeer dust or the cookies...its the fact that they get tons of toys. That doesn't have to change.
Objection: You can have both Santa and Jesus. You don't have to choose.
Response: True. Many people do both and it works out fine...but many people do both and it doesn't. The problem is you don't know which side you fall on until your kids are grown. For us, it isn't worth the risk. The stakes are far too high. (side note: Santa and Jesus are so intertwined in our culture that other countries sell a cross with Santa on it in their marketplaces. This isn't to mock us, rather it is what they think we believe based on what our culture has communicated.)
Objection: I don't want to be over the top. People who don't do Santa are the super conservative Christians who don't get out much.
Response: Don't decide what you do based on the type of people that do it. Base you decision on how you feel you can best raise you children up in the ways of the Lord.
Objection: They will ruin in for others.
Response: They might. You can try to explain to your kids what Santa is and tell them not to tell. They may or may not listen...but if you do choose to not do Santa, you need to try your hardest to protect others who do Santa.
Objection: So we shouldn't do Santa?
Response: You can still do Santa, but if you choose to do it, do it cautiously. The Santa you communicate shouldn't be omniscient, he shouldn't be about giving gifts to only the good children, he shouldn't be used to scare kids into behaving, he shouldn't be central.
Objection: I am a grandparent...what am I supposed to do with this information?
Response: Remember, it isn't about doing or not doing Santa (or other traditions). It is about communicating things Biblically. There are people who do Santa and an incredible job of communicating the purpose of Christmas and making Christ central, while at the same time there are people who don't do Santa yet don't communicate to their kids the true purpose of Christmas. It as all about what you communicate. Talk to your grandkids about what Christmas is about. Take the time to really sit down with them, you may not think they are listening, but they are. It is amazing how many people I have talked to who consider their grandparents role models and a vital part of their spiritual growth. Make this time of year an opportunity to fuel the spiritual growth of your grandkids.
Hope this helps. Happy thinking!
Objection: But it is so fun and magical for the kids.
Response: True. But I am willing to have my kids miss out on this joy in hopes that they see a greater joy at Christmas. And lets be honest...what is magical about it isn't the reindeer dust or the cookies...its the fact that they get tons of toys. That doesn't have to change.
Objection: You can have both Santa and Jesus. You don't have to choose.
Response: True. Many people do both and it works out fine...but many people do both and it doesn't. The problem is you don't know which side you fall on until your kids are grown. For us, it isn't worth the risk. The stakes are far too high. (side note: Santa and Jesus are so intertwined in our culture that other countries sell a cross with Santa on it in their marketplaces. This isn't to mock us, rather it is what they think we believe based on what our culture has communicated.)
Objection: I don't want to be over the top. People who don't do Santa are the super conservative Christians who don't get out much.
Response: Don't decide what you do based on the type of people that do it. Base you decision on how you feel you can best raise you children up in the ways of the Lord.
Objection: They will ruin in for others.
Response: They might. You can try to explain to your kids what Santa is and tell them not to tell. They may or may not listen...but if you do choose to not do Santa, you need to try your hardest to protect others who do Santa.
Objection: So we shouldn't do Santa?
Response: You can still do Santa, but if you choose to do it, do it cautiously. The Santa you communicate shouldn't be omniscient, he shouldn't be about giving gifts to only the good children, he shouldn't be used to scare kids into behaving, he shouldn't be central.
Objection: I am a grandparent...what am I supposed to do with this information?
Response: Remember, it isn't about doing or not doing Santa (or other traditions). It is about communicating things Biblically. There are people who do Santa and an incredible job of communicating the purpose of Christmas and making Christ central, while at the same time there are people who don't do Santa yet don't communicate to their kids the true purpose of Christmas. It as all about what you communicate. Talk to your grandkids about what Christmas is about. Take the time to really sit down with them, you may not think they are listening, but they are. It is amazing how many people I have talked to who consider their grandparents role models and a vital part of their spiritual growth. Make this time of year an opportunity to fuel the spiritual growth of your grandkids.
Hope this helps. Happy thinking!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The anti-gospel (Santa, Part 3 of 4)
"He's making a list, And checking it twice; Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice; Santa Claus is coming to town"
This is the climax. If I could name the biggest issue I have with Santa, this would be it: Santa communicates an idea that is the complete opposite of the gospel...so opposite that it is an attack on the true gospel. But know that this isn't something that just Santa communicates, this is something our culture is saturated with.
Here is the Readers Digest version of the gospel: All of us have sinned and fallen short of what God commands. The penalty for our rebellion in death and separation from God. It is too late for us. There is nothing we can do or work up that can get us back into right standing with God. Our only hope is that God himself pays the penalty. Since the sin was against God, someone equal to God must pay it. Since the sin was committed by man, a man must pay it. Thus, Jesus Christ is our only hope: fully God and fully man. He paid our penalty because he is gracious and merciful, not because of anything we have done. And to receive this gift, all we have to do is believe in the person and work of Jesus. Nothing will earn the salvation he gives.
So here is the gospel and Santa contrasted:
Santa's gifts are given to the good kids. Christ's gifts are given to the bad ones (which is all of us).
Santa's gifts are based on works. Christ's are based on faith.
Santa tells us we can do it on our own. Christ tells us we can't...but he already has.
Santa weighs the good vs. bad. God looks at the good: Jesus
Santa is all about "stuff." Christ is all about relationship.
Santa cares about your actions. Christ cares about your heart.
Santa makes us feel entitled (we earned it). Christ makes us feel grateful (we don't deserve it).
Santa makes Christmas about gifts. God makes Christmas about the giver.
Karma is everywhere, and this is no exception. It is the idea that if we are good we should get good, and if we are bad we get bad. But how do you explain the fact that thousands of "good" people die each day unexpectedly. Karma is the idea that if my good outweighs the bad then I can get to heaven. But if you commit a crime it doesn't matter how many time you served in the soup kitchen or how much money you gave to charity. The jury is looking at the crime you committed. We have committed a crime against God and that penalty must be paid.
Please, if nothing else, protect the gospel this Christmas season. Teach of God's grace. Teach of how everything we have been given...everything...is a gift from God. Teach of how we fall short of what God commands, and how we need a Savior. Teach that we cannot do good apart from Jesus. That we can't earn our way to heaven. Teach that Jesus is enough. Teach the gospel in all you do, and let nothing get in the way of this precious gift we have been given!
This is the climax. If I could name the biggest issue I have with Santa, this would be it: Santa communicates an idea that is the complete opposite of the gospel...so opposite that it is an attack on the true gospel. But know that this isn't something that just Santa communicates, this is something our culture is saturated with.
Here is the Readers Digest version of the gospel: All of us have sinned and fallen short of what God commands. The penalty for our rebellion in death and separation from God. It is too late for us. There is nothing we can do or work up that can get us back into right standing with God. Our only hope is that God himself pays the penalty. Since the sin was against God, someone equal to God must pay it. Since the sin was committed by man, a man must pay it. Thus, Jesus Christ is our only hope: fully God and fully man. He paid our penalty because he is gracious and merciful, not because of anything we have done. And to receive this gift, all we have to do is believe in the person and work of Jesus. Nothing will earn the salvation he gives.
So here is the gospel and Santa contrasted:
Santa's gifts are given to the good kids. Christ's gifts are given to the bad ones (which is all of us).
Santa's gifts are based on works. Christ's are based on faith.
Santa tells us we can do it on our own. Christ tells us we can't...but he already has.
Santa weighs the good vs. bad. God looks at the good: Jesus
Santa is all about "stuff." Christ is all about relationship.
Santa cares about your actions. Christ cares about your heart.
Santa makes us feel entitled (we earned it). Christ makes us feel grateful (we don't deserve it).
Santa makes Christmas about gifts. God makes Christmas about the giver.
Karma is everywhere, and this is no exception. It is the idea that if we are good we should get good, and if we are bad we get bad. But how do you explain the fact that thousands of "good" people die each day unexpectedly. Karma is the idea that if my good outweighs the bad then I can get to heaven. But if you commit a crime it doesn't matter how many time you served in the soup kitchen or how much money you gave to charity. The jury is looking at the crime you committed. We have committed a crime against God and that penalty must be paid.
Please, if nothing else, protect the gospel this Christmas season. Teach of God's grace. Teach of how everything we have been given...everything...is a gift from God. Teach of how we fall short of what God commands, and how we need a Savior. Teach that we cannot do good apart from Jesus. That we can't earn our way to heaven. Teach that Jesus is enough. Teach the gospel in all you do, and let nothing get in the way of this precious gift we have been given!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Omniscience is for fairy tales? (Santa, Part 2 of 4)
"He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake, He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!"
One of characteristics of God that distinguishes Him from anyone/anything else is his omniscience. He knows all. This shows his greatness, for what else can know even the intentions of our hearts? Well, this song would put Santa into that all knowing camp. But this is just for fun...it is harmless right?
There will come a day when Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Toothfaily, and all the like will cease to be believed in. There will come a time when kids realize that that is silly fairly tale stuff. Logic will tell them there is no way for a man to deliver presents all around the world in one night, that deer can't fly, that Santa can't fit through the chimney, and that there is no way for anyone to know everything we do.
Did you see that? If Santa is fake then what he does is fake...and one of those things is his omniscience. While it is true that Santa isn't omniscient, could it be that the whole idea of omniscience is put into the fairy tale category? On the surface this may not be seen as a big deal, but anytime we credit what is reserved for God to someone else, than it is a big deal to Him. He alone is God, set apart from everything else.
When the "magic" is over, what do we and our kids believe? This is what we must think about. Of course they enjoy it at the time...they would also enjoy eating cookies for dinner every night. But what is the long term effect? We are instilling in our kids and grand kids ideas that will affect them, even if they can never put a finger on where that viewpoint came from.
If you choose to do Santa this year and in years to come, this, and all the other Santa blogs, hope to help you seriously think through how you communicate Santa and Jesus to your kids and grand kids. Make it fun, but not spiritually dangerous.
One of characteristics of God that distinguishes Him from anyone/anything else is his omniscience. He knows all. This shows his greatness, for what else can know even the intentions of our hearts? Well, this song would put Santa into that all knowing camp. But this is just for fun...it is harmless right?
There will come a day when Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Toothfaily, and all the like will cease to be believed in. There will come a time when kids realize that that is silly fairly tale stuff. Logic will tell them there is no way for a man to deliver presents all around the world in one night, that deer can't fly, that Santa can't fit through the chimney, and that there is no way for anyone to know everything we do.
Did you see that? If Santa is fake then what he does is fake...and one of those things is his omniscience. While it is true that Santa isn't omniscient, could it be that the whole idea of omniscience is put into the fairy tale category? On the surface this may not be seen as a big deal, but anytime we credit what is reserved for God to someone else, than it is a big deal to Him. He alone is God, set apart from everything else.
When the "magic" is over, what do we and our kids believe? This is what we must think about. Of course they enjoy it at the time...they would also enjoy eating cookies for dinner every night. But what is the long term effect? We are instilling in our kids and grand kids ideas that will affect them, even if they can never put a finger on where that viewpoint came from.
If you choose to do Santa this year and in years to come, this, and all the other Santa blogs, hope to help you seriously think through how you communicate Santa and Jesus to your kids and grand kids. Make it fun, but not spiritually dangerous.
Monday, December 13, 2010
You better watch out? (Santa, Part 1 of 4)
"You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why...Santa Clause is coming to town."
What do we celebrate on Christmas? This is the first question we must ask. Christmas is a time we celebrate the birth of our sweet savior, Jesus Christ. The world awaited his coming, and this is the day we worship Him. We praise Him, for in His grace and mercy he humbled himself to leave his heavenly home, take on flesh, so he could one day die in our place for our sins. What a glorious time to celebrate! How can this be, that Jesus has done this for me...for you...
But I turn on the radio and hear lyrics such as one one above and cringe. This song is teaching us to primarily worry about actions. Are you jealous? Well just don't pout about it...keep it to yourself. Are you mad? Don't cry and make a scene about it. This is completely counter to what Jesus teaches. Jesus is after the heart, not merely actions. The issue is not the pouting, but the jealousy that caused it. He is not after externally moral creatures...for if he was he would not have so viciously attacked the Pharisees. Jesus is after the heart. In a marriage, a husband desires his wife to truly love him, not just do things for him out of obligation...and Jesus is the same way. He doesn't want merely actions, he wants a heart of love. This is why Jesus motivates not from fear (if you aren't good you get coal), but love (you aren't good, but I love you) Don't let Santa influence to try to be perceived a certain way. Let Jesus motivate you to BE a certain way.
[The Santa series intent is to help us think deeply about the things we celebrate and do. Since Santa is a deeply ingrained tradition in most households, this blog series will unintentionally pinch some nerves inside you. This is not the intention. The intention is to have us think Biblically about everything, which is increasingly more difficult in our culture. The things addressed in this series are not just issues seen at Christmas, rather I am using Santa and this season to bring to light a general worldview our culture bombards us with.]
What do we celebrate on Christmas? This is the first question we must ask. Christmas is a time we celebrate the birth of our sweet savior, Jesus Christ. The world awaited his coming, and this is the day we worship Him. We praise Him, for in His grace and mercy he humbled himself to leave his heavenly home, take on flesh, so he could one day die in our place for our sins. What a glorious time to celebrate! How can this be, that Jesus has done this for me...for you...
But I turn on the radio and hear lyrics such as one one above and cringe. This song is teaching us to primarily worry about actions. Are you jealous? Well just don't pout about it...keep it to yourself. Are you mad? Don't cry and make a scene about it. This is completely counter to what Jesus teaches. Jesus is after the heart, not merely actions. The issue is not the pouting, but the jealousy that caused it. He is not after externally moral creatures...for if he was he would not have so viciously attacked the Pharisees. Jesus is after the heart. In a marriage, a husband desires his wife to truly love him, not just do things for him out of obligation...and Jesus is the same way. He doesn't want merely actions, he wants a heart of love. This is why Jesus motivates not from fear (if you aren't good you get coal), but love (you aren't good, but I love you) Don't let Santa influence to try to be perceived a certain way. Let Jesus motivate you to BE a certain way.
[The Santa series intent is to help us think deeply about the things we celebrate and do. Since Santa is a deeply ingrained tradition in most households, this blog series will unintentionally pinch some nerves inside you. This is not the intention. The intention is to have us think Biblically about everything, which is increasingly more difficult in our culture. The things addressed in this series are not just issues seen at Christmas, rather I am using Santa and this season to bring to light a general worldview our culture bombards us with.]
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Book Recommendations for Christmas Gifts
Here is a list of books that would make great Christmas presents. They are organized by category to help you sort through them based on who you are buying for. See blog post "What You Didn't Ask For" for my reasons of why books make a great gift.
You can click on all the book titles below (all are linked) to read more about the book on Amazon.com (free shipping if you spend $25.) An "*" by the book puts it in a top tier category for me. These are books I feel every house should have/read. I have made comments on some, which will be in parentheses.
You can click on all the book titles below (all are linked) to read more about the book on Amazon.com (free shipping if you spend $25.) An "*" by the book puts it in a top tier category for me. These are books I feel every house should have/read. I have made comments on some, which will be in parentheses.
For the Couple:
å *What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp
å This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence by John Piper
å Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
For the Parent:
å *Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting by William P. Farley (gets to the heart of parenting. This should be one of the first books parents read)
å *Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp (complements the book above really well. This one is more on the practical side whereas the above book is more focused on the heart of parenting.)
å Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski
å Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce A. Ware
å Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper
å How Children Raise Parents: The Art of Listening to Your Family by Dan B. Allender
For the Kids:
å *The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago (incredible children's Bible! Every story points to Jesus, showing kids what the Bible truly is about. Every house with kids should have this in it)
å Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers by Joey Allen (There are 4 books in this series: The Trinity, The Gospel, The Scripture, The Mission. They do an amazing job of explaining these essential Bible docrines in a way kids can understand. Amazon.com is running a deal where you can buy all 4 for the price of 3!)
å Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic by Helen Taylor
å The Big Picture Story Bible by David R. Helm (another great Bible, has great illustrations)
For Spiritual Growth:
å *Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper
å Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
å Overcoming Sin and Temptation - by John Owen (edited by Kelly M. Kapic, Justin Taylor)
å *The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
å The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A. W. Tozer
å Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts by Harold M. Best
å *The Grace Awakening: Believing in grace is one thing. Living it is another. by Charles R. Swindoll
å The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out by Mark Driscoll
å Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment by Linda Dillow (for women)
å Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp
å Leading with a Limp: Take Full Advantage of Your Most Powerful Weakness by Dan B. Allender
å *God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself by John Piper
For the Story Lover:
å Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Chrisian Spirituality by Donald Miller (very casual approach. Fun and easy read that will get those no interested in God to think)
å *Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (for women)
å The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers (for women)
For the thinker/theologian:
å Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (rational basis for Christianity)
å *Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
å The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation by Bruce Demarest
å The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission by Edmund P. Clowney
å In His Image by Philip Yancey and Paul Brand (A doctor examines the body, and relates how it was created in God's image. Profound insights.)
For the Biography lover:
å Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland Herbert Bainton
å Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography by Jonathan and Darlene Edwards
å William Tyndale: A Biography by David Daniell
å Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper
These next four books are each contain several short biographies in each book. All written by John Piper. (great way to read about many different heroes of the faith in a reasonable amount of time)
For the History Lover
å *Pocket History of the Church by D. Jeffrey Bingham
å The Story of Christianity: Volume 1, The: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation by Justo L. González
å The Story of Christianity: Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day by Justo L. Gonzalez
å Lost Letters of Pergamum, The: A Story from the New Testament World by Bruce W. Longenecker (this is also a great one for the story lover)
å Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times by Paul Barnett
For the Student of the Bible
å Living By the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible by Howard Hendricks
å *Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne A. Grudem
å Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary by Charles W. Draper
å The New Unger's Bible Handbook by Merrill F. Unger and Gary Larson
å New Bible Commentary by Gordon J. Wenham, J. Alec Motyer, Donald A. Carson, and R. T. France (great 1 volume commentary)
Friday, December 3, 2010
What You Didn’t Ask For
What do you want for Christmas? That is the question we are asking our parents, spouses, kids, and grandkids. We want to make sure the gift we get them is something they want. So much thought and money are put into these gifts that will, in a year, be obsolete and collecting dust. What if it were different? What if we thought like Peter?
Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray when they saw a crippled man being carried to the gate to beg for money. Every day this man was carried there to beg, because it was money he needed to survive (being crippled he couldn't work). Or so he thought.
As Peter and John passed the crippled man, he begged them for money. Peter's response began how we normally respond, "Silver and gold I do not have." Translation: I don't have any money. But Peter continued with these words that should fill us with awe: "but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" The man leaped to his feet and began praising God as he walked away. He got something he didn't ask for…but something he needed! (Acts 3:1-10)
What we all need is God. We were made for Him, so deep within us is a longing for Him. Augustine puts it best in saying "Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee?" He is what we all truly want. He is what we all truly need.
Therefore, we must ask ourselves how our gifts, conversations, traditions, and everything else this Christmas can point to Christ. Peter's main purpose in healing the crippled man was not that he would walk, but that he and others would know Christ. This act led to people wondering how this happened, giving Peter the opportunity to preach one of the greatest sermons ever preached in Acts 3:11-26
Here are some ideas of gifts that can point to Christ: One of the best gifts for this is a book that challenges, encourages, and fuels your passion for Christ. Check the blog this month – I will be posting recommendations of books to give as gifts for different types of people, i.e. kids, couples, parents, thinkers, etc. For other gifts, think of things that stir their affections for Christ. Is it listening to music? Buy a CD and put a note about how you hope the creativity and art of song would help them fall deeper in love with the wonder of God. Is it creating music? Buy an instrument, equipment, or lessons and tell them your hope that this ability would cause them to worship God much deeper. Is it art? Buy a canvas and tell them you hope that in painting that would see the beauty of God and His canvas. Is it being around family? Gardening? Photography? Coffee?
The key here is finding what makes them know and love Jesus more. This gives purpose to giving. It makes it not just about the receiver, but about the ultimate giver. We live in a world now that has hijacked Christmas, and it will take everything in us to display the true meaning of Christmas to our family.
Don't give the gift they ask for…give the gift they need.
*adopted from December 2010 Newsletter
*adopted from December 2010 Newsletter
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Bible and the Boy
Yesterday I went to Starbucks to get inspiration. For some reason when I am at Starbucks my mind kicks into gear and the Lord really speaks to me as I prepare sermons. When I arrived I found a table and set my Bible and backpack on it before walking up to order a drink.
As I wait in line I keep looking over at my table, where an 8-year-old boy keeps hovering and staring at my Bible. I smile at him while I wonder what he is doing by my stuff. He then opens the Bible up, looks at me, then closes it...realizing he got caught. But he stays close, touching it one more time before his mom comes by with is hot chocolate.
When the boy was hovering around my table, I was worried. What is this boy going to do? Where are his parents? It is just a book...why is he so interested?
When I walked back to the table with my coffee I looked at the Bible on the table and it hit me. This boy was not just getting into whatever he saw...he was curious to see something he had never seen. Leather cover, gold edges, and a bookmark ribbon. This wasn't a normal book! Of course he was curious, because books don't usually shine gold. My heart sank.
How young was I when I saw my first Bible? I don't even remember...I grew up knowing what a Bible was and looked like. This boy, on the other hand, probably had never even seen one. It is not his fault that his parents don't believe and have a Bible...but it is his reality.
This Thanksgiving, really think about how blessed you are. To be able to hold the word of God in your hands, to read it, to be changed by it, and to pass those wonderful truths on to your kids. To know and love God is the greatest gift we have been given.
I am often overwhelmed with how good God is towards me, and I can't help but ask, why? The list of my sins is great, but God's mercy and grace are far greater! Celebrate that this Thanksgiving!
As I wait in line I keep looking over at my table, where an 8-year-old boy keeps hovering and staring at my Bible. I smile at him while I wonder what he is doing by my stuff. He then opens the Bible up, looks at me, then closes it...realizing he got caught. But he stays close, touching it one more time before his mom comes by with is hot chocolate.
When the boy was hovering around my table, I was worried. What is this boy going to do? Where are his parents? It is just a book...why is he so interested?
When I walked back to the table with my coffee I looked at the Bible on the table and it hit me. This boy was not just getting into whatever he saw...he was curious to see something he had never seen. Leather cover, gold edges, and a bookmark ribbon. This wasn't a normal book! Of course he was curious, because books don't usually shine gold. My heart sank.
How young was I when I saw my first Bible? I don't even remember...I grew up knowing what a Bible was and looked like. This boy, on the other hand, probably had never even seen one. It is not his fault that his parents don't believe and have a Bible...but it is his reality.
This Thanksgiving, really think about how blessed you are. To be able to hold the word of God in your hands, to read it, to be changed by it, and to pass those wonderful truths on to your kids. To know and love God is the greatest gift we have been given.
I am often overwhelmed with how good God is towards me, and I can't help but ask, why? The list of my sins is great, but God's mercy and grace are far greater! Celebrate that this Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Finding a Parking Spot
Dependence on God is hard in our American "yes you can," "pull yourself up by you bootstraps" culture. We are all about independence, which is why stories that display true dependence on God can really help open our eyes to what true dependence looks like. Here is one of those stories, as told by Paul Miller in "A Praying Life":
After raising 5 children on a meager pastor's salary, Rosa "went with her husband the share the gospel in the slums of Uganda and the streets of Dublin." She is now 82 years old and a full time missionary in London. Her son read a book on prayer that said that we shouldn't pray for things such as parking places because those requests are selfish. After hearing this, Rosa "looked a little incredulous, coked her head, started laughing, and said 'how else would you find a parking place?' "
The experiences this woman has had through raising 5 kids on a pastor's salary and doing missionary work in Uganda, Dublin, and London have made her completely reliant on God for everything, and she has stories to tell about God answering those prayers.
We don't pray for things that are normal to everyday life, such as finding a parking place. Maybe becasue we lack dependence or maybe because we are cynical and assume we will get a spot anyway, so why pray. But if we completely changed our view of the world we would realize, like Rosa has, that everything is dependent on God...otherwise...how else would we find a parking spot?
After raising 5 children on a meager pastor's salary, Rosa "went with her husband the share the gospel in the slums of Uganda and the streets of Dublin." She is now 82 years old and a full time missionary in London. Her son read a book on prayer that said that we shouldn't pray for things such as parking places because those requests are selfish. After hearing this, Rosa "looked a little incredulous, coked her head, started laughing, and said 'how else would you find a parking place?' "
The experiences this woman has had through raising 5 kids on a pastor's salary and doing missionary work in Uganda, Dublin, and London have made her completely reliant on God for everything, and she has stories to tell about God answering those prayers.
We don't pray for things that are normal to everyday life, such as finding a parking place. Maybe becasue we lack dependence or maybe because we are cynical and assume we will get a spot anyway, so why pray. But if we completely changed our view of the world we would realize, like Rosa has, that everything is dependent on God...otherwise...how else would we find a parking spot?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Where your Confidence Lies
"If you are not praying, then you are quietly confident that time, money, and talent are all you need in life. You'll always be a little too tired, a little too busy. But if, like Jesus, you realize you can't do life on your own, then no matter how busy, no matter how tired you are, you will find the time to pray." -Paul Miller
It is true. We are far too confident in ourselves. We don't realize how dependent we really are. But in reality, there is not a muscle I can move or a thought I can think without God granting it to be so, for all things are held together by Christ (Col 1:17). Our lack of praying reveals more than we want it to. Our lack of praying says we don't need God, but God says we do.
Martin Luther truly understood his dependence in God, as seen in quotes such as this: "Tomorrow I plan to work, work, from early until late. In fact I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." May our hearts attitude towards prayer be like his! That the more we have to do the more we depend on God and seek Him in prayer!
It is true. We are far too confident in ourselves. We don't realize how dependent we really are. But in reality, there is not a muscle I can move or a thought I can think without God granting it to be so, for all things are held together by Christ (Col 1:17). Our lack of praying reveals more than we want it to. Our lack of praying says we don't need God, but God says we do.
Martin Luther truly understood his dependence in God, as seen in quotes such as this: "Tomorrow I plan to work, work, from early until late. In fact I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." May our hearts attitude towards prayer be like his! That the more we have to do the more we depend on God and seek Him in prayer!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Snippets of Prayer
"While being constant in prayer is an important way of praying, this is no substitute for focused times of prayer. For example, a husband and wife who only talk in snippets to one another throughout the day would have a shallow relationship. You'd be business partners, not lovers. You can't build a relationship on sound bites." -Paul Miller
Life is busy and often times the only time we make for prayers are snippets throughout the day. Thanking God for a safe trip to work, praying for you spouse when you think about them, praying a meeting goes well, etc. While this is good to do, when do we spend time in concentrated prayer? When was the last time you sat in prayer for an hour? That sounds like a long time, but only because we put everything else ahead of our relationship with God. We can spend hours watching the Rangers game, hours on a date, hours with our kids...but an hour in prayer is difficult!
I invite you to join me in this challenge: Purposefully plan out an hour this week that you will spend in prayer and follow through with it. Set an alarm so you don't keep looking at your watch. Pray, listen, and just enjoy your time with God. It might be awkward, but that is okay...most first dates are awkward, but it will get better. After your hour, look at your daily schedule and plan a time each day where you can spend time in concentrated prayer. It doesn't have to be an hour...just needs to be concentrated time, like 15-20 minutes.
Happy Praying!
Life is busy and often times the only time we make for prayers are snippets throughout the day. Thanking God for a safe trip to work, praying for you spouse when you think about them, praying a meeting goes well, etc. While this is good to do, when do we spend time in concentrated prayer? When was the last time you sat in prayer for an hour? That sounds like a long time, but only because we put everything else ahead of our relationship with God. We can spend hours watching the Rangers game, hours on a date, hours with our kids...but an hour in prayer is difficult!
I invite you to join me in this challenge: Purposefully plan out an hour this week that you will spend in prayer and follow through with it. Set an alarm so you don't keep looking at your watch. Pray, listen, and just enjoy your time with God. It might be awkward, but that is okay...most first dates are awkward, but it will get better. After your hour, look at your daily schedule and plan a time each day where you can spend time in concentrated prayer. It doesn't have to be an hour...just needs to be concentrated time, like 15-20 minutes.
Happy Praying!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Criteria is Weariness
"When we slow down to pray, we are immediately confronted with how unspiritual we are, with how difficult it is to concentrate on God...Nothing exposes our selfishness and spiritual powerlessness like prayer."* But this is okay. We are called to come to God like little children, and little children never hesitate or try to hide their selfishness. They come as they are.*
When I was learning to walk, my older brother would quickly notice I was getting the attention so found thought it would be a pertinent time to pracitce his football skills and throw me to the floor. My parents didn't just roll their eyes because I couldn't handle his blow...no...they cheered when stood without the help of the table and would help remove the obstacle of my brother (after capturing it on film of course). They were excited to see me take a step and fall, because that was who I was and that is what I could do.
God is the same way. He gets exited when we come to him. We may get thrown to the ground on the way or fall down after a few steps...but unsteady prayers is often what we have to offer, and that is okay. Jesus doesn't say to come to him when we have prayer life figured out, he says "come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28). "The Criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wondering mind. Come messy."* But please...COME!
*From "A Praying Life" by Paul E. Miller
When I was learning to walk, my older brother would quickly notice I was getting the attention so found thought it would be a pertinent time to pracitce his football skills and throw me to the floor. My parents didn't just roll their eyes because I couldn't handle his blow...no...they cheered when stood without the help of the table and would help remove the obstacle of my brother (after capturing it on film of course). They were excited to see me take a step and fall, because that was who I was and that is what I could do.
God is the same way. He gets exited when we come to him. We may get thrown to the ground on the way or fall down after a few steps...but unsteady prayers is often what we have to offer, and that is okay. Jesus doesn't say to come to him when we have prayer life figured out, he says "come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28). "The Criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wondering mind. Come messy."* But please...COME!
*From "A Praying Life" by Paul E. Miller
Monday, November 1, 2010
Don't Seek the Experience
"Deep in our psyches we want an experience with God or an experience in prayer. Once we make that our quest, we lose God. You don't experience God; you get to know him. You submit to him. You enjoy him. He is, after all, a person" -Paul Miller
We all have those times in our life where God felt so close...so real. We can't help but think about those times and want to experience them again. But what happens when we pursue this experience? It becomes about an emotional feeling, and not about God. And just like a roller-coaster, the thrill is amazing while it lasts, but once it is over you must ride another roller-coaster to feel that way again. This leads us into a cycle of experience instead of a deeper relationship with God.
Laura and I have some great memories together. We have flown over the longest water fall in the world, snorkeled at the 2nd largest barrier reef while touching sting rays, toured London in 10 hours during a layover...but the moments that are the sweetest and most meaningful are the ones where we have been lost in conversation. It didn't matter where we were or what we were doing...it was those times that matter. Yes, the experiences we have had are amazing, but it was the deepening of our relationship that has mattered most. Through my pursuit of Laura there will be many great memories and experiences, but those are just a result of my pursuing her, not the purpose. This is the same with God. We should seek not the thrill of the ride but rather the beauty of the deepening relationship.
I am not saying those experiences are wrong, just that pursuing them is, because it makes it the goal to use spiritual things and God to make me feel a certain way. This makes me central, and not God. I am the created one, therefore my life needs to be about Him: loving Him, obeying Him, and pursuing Him.
Pray for the purpose of knowing God, not to just experience what He gives.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
A Conversation with God
"When your mind starts wandering in prayer, be like a little child. Don't worry about being organized or staying on task. Remember you are in a conversation with a person. Instead of beating yourself up, learn to play again. Pray about what your mind is wandering to. Maybe it is something that is important to you. Maybe the Spirit is nudging you to think about something else." -Paul Miller
This is a common problem for me. I sit down and my mind wanders. For some reason though, I have it in my head that I need to get back to my intended list of what I was going to pray for. I came to prayer time with an agenda, and I need to get through it.
Prayer is not a staff meeting, it is a conversation. Knowing this is so freeing, and it makes so much sense. Laura and I have conversations all the time that begin on one subject and we end up somewhere completely different. Do I pound a gavel on the table and say "Lets get back on the topic of such-and-such, because that is what is on the agenda at dinner tonight." No! We let conversation go where it goes. Why? Because that what a conversation does in a relationship, it develops.
This should be the same in our prayer life. Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue that just needs to be said. We need to be okay with the conversation developing, be okay with topic changes, and be okay when it doesn't go as planned. The purpose isn't to get through a prayer list, it is to know God. And besides, God already knows what is on your list, you don't need to recite it in formal ways each day. He just wants to talk with you...like what you do at the dinner table with you family.
So start the conversation, and see where it takes you.
This is a common problem for me. I sit down and my mind wanders. For some reason though, I have it in my head that I need to get back to my intended list of what I was going to pray for. I came to prayer time with an agenda, and I need to get through it.
Prayer is not a staff meeting, it is a conversation. Knowing this is so freeing, and it makes so much sense. Laura and I have conversations all the time that begin on one subject and we end up somewhere completely different. Do I pound a gavel on the table and say "Lets get back on the topic of such-and-such, because that is what is on the agenda at dinner tonight." No! We let conversation go where it goes. Why? Because that what a conversation does in a relationship, it develops.
This should be the same in our prayer life. Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue that just needs to be said. We need to be okay with the conversation developing, be okay with topic changes, and be okay when it doesn't go as planned. The purpose isn't to get through a prayer list, it is to know God. And besides, God already knows what is on your list, you don't need to recite it in formal ways each day. He just wants to talk with you...like what you do at the dinner table with you family.
So start the conversation, and see where it takes you.
Prayer: the medium and the object
"Many people (oddly enough) struggle to learn how to pray because they are focusing on praying, not on God." -Paul Miller
I have always been a doer, which makes doing nothing difficult. Deep down I know praying isn't nothing, but often at the end of it I have nothing to "show." When I read a chapter in a book, write a song, or do a Bible study I feel as if I have just done something. But with prayer, it is a struggle. Am I doing it right? Did I pray long enough? Was I focused or did my mind wander? Was that time at all fruitful or was it a waste?
Prayer can be hard and often frustrating. This frustration led me to reading a book called "A Praying Life" by Paul E. Miller (We will be talking about some of the main points of the book in the coming blog posts). When I read this quote it hit me. There are a lot of good tips on prayer out there, but the first thing I must to do have a praying life is to focus on God, not on prayer. This sounds so simple, but to me it was profoundly insightful. It is so easy when we are struggling in a particular area of our Christian walk to run to methods on how that area can improve, instead of running to God and allowing him to penetrate our hearts and change us.
So I don't want to be a better prayer...I want to be a better lover. I want to love Jesus more deeply, and this will be accomplished through prayer and a relationship. So as we speak on prayer, let us not focus on the medium (prayer) but the object (God).
I have always been a doer, which makes doing nothing difficult. Deep down I know praying isn't nothing, but often at the end of it I have nothing to "show." When I read a chapter in a book, write a song, or do a Bible study I feel as if I have just done something. But with prayer, it is a struggle. Am I doing it right? Did I pray long enough? Was I focused or did my mind wander? Was that time at all fruitful or was it a waste?
Prayer can be hard and often frustrating. This frustration led me to reading a book called "A Praying Life" by Paul E. Miller (We will be talking about some of the main points of the book in the coming blog posts). When I read this quote it hit me. There are a lot of good tips on prayer out there, but the first thing I must to do have a praying life is to focus on God, not on prayer. This sounds so simple, but to me it was profoundly insightful. It is so easy when we are struggling in a particular area of our Christian walk to run to methods on how that area can improve, instead of running to God and allowing him to penetrate our hearts and change us.
So I don't want to be a better prayer...I want to be a better lover. I want to love Jesus more deeply, and this will be accomplished through prayer and a relationship. So as we speak on prayer, let us not focus on the medium (prayer) but the object (God).
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Walking Trees
"[Jesus] had spit on [the blind man's] eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." Mk 8:24
Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't just heal the blind man completely the first time? I doubt it was because the first attempt "didn't take". So there must be an intentional reason, which is why Jesus probes him after the partial healing, asking if he sees anything.
This is a loaded question, because yes, the man can now see, but no, he really can't. You can't say this man is still blind, but you also can't say he can now see. His sight is fuzzy, enough to know things are there, but not enough to know what they really are and how they really look.
The partial healing was meant to represent the state of the disciples. They aren't completely blind as to who Jesus is, but still don't quite get it. In Mark 6 we are told about Jesus feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish...then in the first part of Mark 8 we find the disciples doubting that Jesus can feed 4,000. The disciples lack true faith in Jesus. Despite what Jesus has done amidst them and for them, they still don't get it.
Are we the same? How quickly do we forget, and doubt, question God when things get tough? I can't help to wonder how many of us, spiritually, are still seeing trees. Are our eyes opened to clearly see Jesus, or do we still have this fuzzy idea about him? The answer to this question does not come from what you just thought in your head, but rather how you are living. If you are living as if He is who He said he is, and He will do what He has said...then you can see! But most of us live is this state of believing in our heads but not really trusting with our lives. Most of us walk around seeing trees.
Lord, gives us the eyes to truly see and follow you!
Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't just heal the blind man completely the first time? I doubt it was because the first attempt "didn't take". So there must be an intentional reason, which is why Jesus probes him after the partial healing, asking if he sees anything.
This is a loaded question, because yes, the man can now see, but no, he really can't. You can't say this man is still blind, but you also can't say he can now see. His sight is fuzzy, enough to know things are there, but not enough to know what they really are and how they really look.
The partial healing was meant to represent the state of the disciples. They aren't completely blind as to who Jesus is, but still don't quite get it. In Mark 6 we are told about Jesus feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish...then in the first part of Mark 8 we find the disciples doubting that Jesus can feed 4,000. The disciples lack true faith in Jesus. Despite what Jesus has done amidst them and for them, they still don't get it.
Are we the same? How quickly do we forget, and doubt, question God when things get tough? I can't help to wonder how many of us, spiritually, are still seeing trees. Are our eyes opened to clearly see Jesus, or do we still have this fuzzy idea about him? The answer to this question does not come from what you just thought in your head, but rather how you are living. If you are living as if He is who He said he is, and He will do what He has said...then you can see! But most of us live is this state of believing in our heads but not really trusting with our lives. Most of us walk around seeing trees.
Lord, gives us the eyes to truly see and follow you!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Your Mind is a Sponge (Part 3)
What we have discovered the last 2 days is that our minds our sponges, and we are probably soaking up things we shouldn't. Statistically, we are spending 100x more time in front of a TV than at church. What we now turn to is some practical things we can do to be influenced by Biblical rather than cultural influences. These are just ideas. What you need more than a few ideas is the desire and commitment to saturate yourself with biblical influences and rid yourselves of much of your negative influences.
1. Know what your influences are and list them out. If it is TV, what about it is influencing you? Are you watching too much, are you watching things you know you probably shouldn't? If not TV, it may be a hobby, the culture you live in...whatever it is, if you don't know it is influencing you, how can you combat it?
2. Intentional Schedule: We schedule meetings, events, parties, vacations, etc., yet never seem to schedule our free time. I know, scheduled free time doesn't sound free...but it is! My deepest desire is to know and follow Christ, yet I have often found myself wasting time, watching TV, or doing something else that doesn't line up with that desire. To combat that, I try to schedule some of my free time. When and what are you going to read? What time will you watch TV and what time will it be shut off? When will you work on house projects and hobbies? The problem most of us have is if you are left without a schedule, we come home hopping to really get into the Word and find ourselves 3 hours later still watching TV. If you schedule your time each week (and stick to it), this can be avoided.
3. Book List: The truth is, we all need to spend more time saturating ourselves in the Bible and other Christian books. We are spending too little time in this area, which has a major impact on our spiritual growth. So make a list of books you want to read and when you will read them. Have categories, so you can be reading about and working on many different areas of your Christian life. Example: I read a biography on Saturdays, marriage/parenting book on Wednesdays, devotional everyday, personal growth book on Saturdays, and ministry related books throughout the week. At any given time, I am reading between 6-10 books at a time. I will admit that this is a lot and I am a little crazy...but there is no reason why you can't have 2-4 books you are reading at a time. There is no reason you can't substitute a TV show for Christian book.
4. Let Technology work for you: Laura and I have shows we like to watch, but instead of watching them when they come on TV, we wait. Then we either watch in on our own time at hulu.com or we wait until it comes on DVD and rent it from netflix (TiVo works too). What this does is allows us to watch what we want, when we want it. We are not locked into a specific time slot and we don't have to worry about missing a show. Some people watch a show each night, get hooked, so they can't find time for other things since they "have" to watch their show.
5. Change your mindset. Have a mindset that works towards eternity, not one that just works for getting through each week.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1Cor 10:31
1. Know what your influences are and list them out. If it is TV, what about it is influencing you? Are you watching too much, are you watching things you know you probably shouldn't? If not TV, it may be a hobby, the culture you live in...whatever it is, if you don't know it is influencing you, how can you combat it?
2. Intentional Schedule: We schedule meetings, events, parties, vacations, etc., yet never seem to schedule our free time. I know, scheduled free time doesn't sound free...but it is! My deepest desire is to know and follow Christ, yet I have often found myself wasting time, watching TV, or doing something else that doesn't line up with that desire. To combat that, I try to schedule some of my free time. When and what are you going to read? What time will you watch TV and what time will it be shut off? When will you work on house projects and hobbies? The problem most of us have is if you are left without a schedule, we come home hopping to really get into the Word and find ourselves 3 hours later still watching TV. If you schedule your time each week (and stick to it), this can be avoided.
3. Book List: The truth is, we all need to spend more time saturating ourselves in the Bible and other Christian books. We are spending too little time in this area, which has a major impact on our spiritual growth. So make a list of books you want to read and when you will read them. Have categories, so you can be reading about and working on many different areas of your Christian life. Example: I read a biography on Saturdays, marriage/parenting book on Wednesdays, devotional everyday, personal growth book on Saturdays, and ministry related books throughout the week. At any given time, I am reading between 6-10 books at a time. I will admit that this is a lot and I am a little crazy...but there is no reason why you can't have 2-4 books you are reading at a time. There is no reason you can't substitute a TV show for Christian book.
4. Let Technology work for you: Laura and I have shows we like to watch, but instead of watching them when they come on TV, we wait. Then we either watch in on our own time at hulu.com or we wait until it comes on DVD and rent it from netflix (TiVo works too). What this does is allows us to watch what we want, when we want it. We are not locked into a specific time slot and we don't have to worry about missing a show. Some people watch a show each night, get hooked, so they can't find time for other things since they "have" to watch their show.
5. Change your mindset. Have a mindset that works towards eternity, not one that just works for getting through each week.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1Cor 10:31
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Your Mind is a Sponge (Part 2)
"The average adult who spends 50 hours a year in a pew will also spend 2,000 hours at home watching television" –Brian Chapel in "Christ Centered Preaching"
The American culture is defined by busyness. Our schedules are packed and we rarely have time for things that haven't been planned into our busy days. Or at least that is what we try to communicate to others, but the impression we give of being busy doesn't line up with this statistic. If this statistic is true (which lines up accurately with other statistical research) than this means average Joe American spends 5.4 hours a day watching TV. That is over 37 hours a week, which is just shy of being the equivalent of a full time job.
Going off what we said yesterday, if we are so heavily influenced by the things we see and hear, than this shows why our spiritual lives are such a struggle. You may not watch this much TV, but however much you watch I am guessing there is more time spent in front of the TV than a Christian book. We are being heavily influenced by the media, and rarely influenced by the Bible, church, and things of the like.
So when the preacher gives a 30 minute message about living for others, that same listener is bombarded with countless hours of media telling them to serve themselves: buy this to make you look better, this to make you feel better, you deserve this and that. They are opposing messages, yet the message from the culture is taking center stage!
This is going to be a struggle for us, because obviously we can't just be in church 5 hours a day to combat this. But there are some things we can do to live in such a way that our influences are Biblical ones, so when we are around media and culture, instead of being influenced by it, we begin to see things through the lens of Scripture and seek to influence the culture itself. This is what we will tackle tomorrow.
The American culture is defined by busyness. Our schedules are packed and we rarely have time for things that haven't been planned into our busy days. Or at least that is what we try to communicate to others, but the impression we give of being busy doesn't line up with this statistic. If this statistic is true (which lines up accurately with other statistical research) than this means average Joe American spends 5.4 hours a day watching TV. That is over 37 hours a week, which is just shy of being the equivalent of a full time job.
Going off what we said yesterday, if we are so heavily influenced by the things we see and hear, than this shows why our spiritual lives are such a struggle. You may not watch this much TV, but however much you watch I am guessing there is more time spent in front of the TV than a Christian book. We are being heavily influenced by the media, and rarely influenced by the Bible, church, and things of the like.
So when the preacher gives a 30 minute message about living for others, that same listener is bombarded with countless hours of media telling them to serve themselves: buy this to make you look better, this to make you feel better, you deserve this and that. They are opposing messages, yet the message from the culture is taking center stage!
This is going to be a struggle for us, because obviously we can't just be in church 5 hours a day to combat this. But there are some things we can do to live in such a way that our influences are Biblical ones, so when we are around media and culture, instead of being influenced by it, we begin to see things through the lens of Scripture and seek to influence the culture itself. This is what we will tackle tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Your Mind is a Sponge (Part 1)
"The average adult who spends 50 hours a year in a pew will also spend 2,000 hours at home watching television" –Brian Chapel in "Christ Centered Preaching"
This quote was given to make preachers aware of what they are up against. The people we preach to spend 100 times more time in front of a TV than a preacher, which makes a preachers job an uphill fight.
I truly believe we are heavily influenced and guided by what we fill our minds with. If I am watching TV shows filled with drama, I will be more likely to cause or find it myself. If I am listening to rap music filled with cursing and sexual imagery, my mouth will begin to swear more and my mind will become more sexual corrupt. If I am reading financial magazines all the time, my mind will often be concerned or think about what to do with my own finances. If I am hanging out with certain people a lot, I will begin to act or talk like them (teenagers are a perfect example of this). The truth is, we think and act like what we fill our minds with. We cannot avoid this, but we can do something about it.
So what are the implications we should draw from this? That is where we will go tomorrow, but for now I want you to ask yourself:
What is the primary thing I am feeding my mind? What things I am listening to, people I am hanging out with, or things I am doing that are affecting me negatively?
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