Couture

No one athlete has inspired me like Randy Couture. Couture is a Greco-Roman wrestler and a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. As well as being a member of the UFC Hall of Fame, Couture is the only athlete to have held championship titles in both the heavyweight an light heavy weight divisions of the UFC. What impresses me the most about Couture is his HUMILITY, his kind-heartedness combined with a fierce, rugged competitivness. Because of the way he conducts himself both in and out of the cage he has drawn millions of fans his way as well as brought credibility to the controversial sport of MMA.

This Christmas I was given his book, Becoming The Natural-My Life In And Out of the Cage. In the final paragraph of chapter one he wrote this: "Years later, as an Ultimate Fighting Championship icon entering the last fight of my career, it felt like I had the entire world's attention. But, as a young boy, I would have traded that all to have one particular man notice me." That one man was his dad. WOW!

How easily dad's (me included) forget the HUGE IMPACT we have on our kids, both good and bad. A gentle reminder for all us dads. Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged (Col. 3:21). Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord (Eph. 6:4)

Wayward Children

Abraham Piper is the son of Pastor John Piper. Recently, I read a post from him regarding his rebellion from his parents and God. It spoke volumes to me so I to want share it.

Many parents are brokenhearted and completely baffled by their unbelieving son or daughter. They have no clue why the child they raised well is making such awful, destructive decisions. I’ve never been one of these parents, but I have been one of these sons. Reflecting back on that experience, I offer these suggestions to help you reach out to your wayward child. For the full article click HERE.

Money

Mike Bullmore was a professor of mine while I was in Seminary.  He now serves a church as the Senior pastor.  Recently, he preached a message from 1 Corinthians 16.  Here are the highlights.  Warning:  What you are about to read may be detrimental to how you think about giving.

1. Our giving should be a planned priority.
2. Our giving should be proportional to our income. Give obediently, generously, and sacrificially. Cf. C. S. Lewis: “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusement, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our giving does not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say it is too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our commitment to giving excludes them.”
3. Our giving should be marked by prudence. It should be transparent, above board, and marked by integrity. For example, a church’s giving should have public accountability.
4. Our giving and our teaching about giving should be simple and straightforward. No pressure, no gimmicks, no excessive emotion. Simply put: don’t waste your money; rather, use it for God’s purposes and for his glory.

World AIDS Day

The 1st of December is  World AIDS Day.  It is the day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.  For a multi-media presenatation of what it is like to have AIDS as a child in Africa, click here.

A1689-zD1

Scientists with the aid of the  Hubble Telescope have discovered a galaxy which they named A1689-zD1.  They believe A1689-zD1 to be one of the first galaxies.  This galaxy is 13 billion light years away.   A light year is how far light travels in 365 days.  A light year equals 5.8 trillion miles.  What this means is, galaxy A1689-zD1 is 13 billion times 5.8 trillions miles away.  A number so big we can’t even get our minds around.  Now, according to some scientists the universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old.   What does  all this mean?  It means the light from galaxy A1689-zD1 has spent all of time itself getting to us.  FEELING KINDA SMALL?

Think of this-if there were no God,  we would be lost in the cosmos.  A product of chance, insignificant, without meaning or purpose.   But,  GOD IS!  The beauty and the enormity of the universe declare it.  "The heavens (A1689-zD1) declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."   Psalm 19:1

How do we fit in?  Jesus said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from YOUR father.   But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than any sparrows."

Isn't is staggering to think that God can manage galaxy A1689-zD1 and billions like it and still have the energy and time for what is small.  God has time for us.  He has time even for each hair on our heads.

Fight

Willpower, scary negative arguments or threats-even from Jesus  won't work to fight sin. We need to replace sexual sin with longings for what is actually beautiful. A few years ago, John Piper wrote some strategies for fighting sin in our minds. They are an acronym, ANTHEM. Here is a summary:

A - Avoid temptation as much as is reasonably possible.

N - Say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds.

T - Turn your mind forcefully toward Christ as a superior satisfaction.

H - Hold the promises and pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until they push out the other images and ideas.

E - Enjoy Jesus. Sin cannot keep its appeal when it is compared to the pleasure of knowing Christ.

M - Move into a useful activity away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors.

Read the whole article HERE

John Piper

No one person has shaped my life like John Piper. I've read just about everything he has written. I quote him more than anyone else on Sunday Mornings. I respect his life and ministry greatly. But, I have to admit I got a huge kick out of a YouTube video that is floating around that pokes a little fun at him. I think he even got a hoot out of it. Check it out below!

Expelled

"Expelled:  No Intelligence Allowed"  is a controversial independent film hosted by Ben Stein, which promotes intelligent design.  (Intelligent Design asserts that because of the complexity of the universe and other livings things that an intelligent designer best explains why things are, and not some undirected process such as natural selection).    Lor and I watched the film recently and give it an enthusiastic four thumbs up.  I did not know what to expect,  and was somewhat skeptical considering my bent toward the action adventure genre and not documentaries. 

The film makes considerable use of vintage film clips to convey it's message and Stein provides narrative for the film.  Throughout the film Stein visits a sequence of universities to question scientists and professors on both sides of the debate between evolution and creation.  The film makes it very clear their is a widespread persecution of educators and scientists who promote intelligent design, and a conspiracy to keep God out of the nations laboratories and classrooms

Stein says this, "It's not just the scientists who are in on it. The media is in on it, the courts, the educational system, everyone is after them."

After watching  the film I couldn't help feeling frustrated.   Stein and so many others (myself included) just want intelligent design a hearing at the table.  Let both sides make their case and then go where the evidence leads.    What are the evolutionists afraid of?  What ever happened to the freedom to express ideas?    Watch the movie and you decide.  If nothing else I promise it is 2 hours of engaging entertainment. 

Ben Stein RC Sproul Interview

j1724

Few verses in the bible have altered the course of my life like John 17:24.  This verse answers life's most important question.   WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MY LIFE?    

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world (Jn 17:24).

There it is!  What life is about!  You and I exist to see the glory of Christ.  In other words we are meant to see, savor and spread Jesus  infinite worth and value.   All meaning and purpose is wrapped up in those 4 simple words.    You see, God the Father has delighted in Jesus the son for all eternity (John 14:26),  and  now, you and I are meant to share the same inexhaustible pleasure in the son, that the father has.   If you miss this,  you've  missed the point of life.

Those 4 words literally turned my life around.   The mind-blowing reality of Christianity is this:  Jesus died to save sinners AND to give us eyes to see.  For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, "  made his light shine on our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.   Following Christ is a journey to know, enjoy, and  treasure that which is most enjoyable-namely Jesus.  

two ways to live: the choice we all face

Two Ways To Live www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wt  is a memorable summary of the Christian gospel. Or to put it more accurately, it is the Christian gospel including some of its necessary presuppositions and background.

In the New Testament, the word 'gospel' usually refers to the proclamation of Jesus Christ crucified. It is the announcement that God's kingdom has arrived in the person of his Son, the powerful Messiah, who inaugurates his worldwide reign by dying and rising again so that repentance and forgiveness can be preached to all nations. This Jesus Christ now rules at God's right hand, from where he will come again to judge.

In other words, Jesus himself is the focus of the Christian message or 'gospel'. However, Jesus does not arrive in a vacuum. He arrives as the culmination of God's plans, and their outworking in history. He comes and dies and rises, "according to the Scriptures". He arrives in the context of all that God has already revealed about himself and humanity.

All this is part of the background or 'worldview' that the biblical authors took for granted, but which many modern (or postmodern) people do not share. If we are to know and tell the gospel in a world where these basic assumptions about God and human guilt are no longer shared, or even common, then we need to fill in some of the rest of the story. We need to provide some of the background.

This is what Two Ways to Live seeks to do. It fills in some of the wider story of the Bible, some of the biblical theology, so that the message about Jesus makes sense. If you want to see the Two Ways to Live Gospel presentation you can do so below.

Why Blog?

I confess it's the last thing I wanted to do.  It's hard enough keeping fresh every Sunday.  My wife questioned by sanity.  "Do you really want to be responsible for writing something EVERY WEEK?"  But then  I bumped into a web post--6 Reasons Pastors Should Blog.    Here is a quick take on that post.  Why Pastors' Should Blog...  1)... to write.  Writing has value for thinking.   If you strive to write well, you will strive to think well.  2)...to teach.  A blog is a perfect place for 30 second nuggets of truth that can't be shared in other venues.  3)...to recommend.  Blogs are great places for for suggesting and recommending.  4)...to interact.  It is a great way to stay abreast of people's opinion's and questions.  5)...to develop an eye for what is meaningful.  A blog nurtures a habit of looking for insight and wisdom and value in every situation, no matter how mundane.  If you live life looking for what is worthwhile in every little thing, you will see more or what God has to teach.  6)...to be known.   A pastor is far more then his ideas.  He is a husband and a father, someone's friend and other people's enemy.  People need some access to you as a person.  A blog is one of them.   

So there you have it.  I'm in!  I'm officially part of the blogging world.  YAHOO!