A Modern Day Parable About Heaven:

“Nothing impure will ever enter [the city], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”- Revelation 21:27

Ruthanna Metzgar, a professional singer, tells a story that illustrates the importance of having our names written in the book. Several years ago, she was asked to sing at the wedding of a very wealthy man. According to the invitation, the reception would be held on the top two floors of Seattle’s Columbia Tower, the Northwest’s tallest skyscraper. She and her husband, Roy, were excited about attending.

At the reception, waiters in tuxedos offered luscious hors d’oeures and exotic beverages. The bride and groom approached a beautiful glass and brass staircase that led to the top floor. Someone ceremoniously cut a satin ribbon draped across the bottom of the stairs. They announced the wedding feast was about to begin. Bride and groom ascended the stairs, followed by their guests. At the top of the stairs, a maître d’ with a bound book greeted the guests outside the doors.
“May I have your name please?” “I am Ruthanna Metzgar and this is my husband, Roy”.
He searched the M’s. “I’m not finding it. Would you spell it please?” Ruthanna spelled her name slowly. After searching the book, the maître d’ looked up and said, “I’m sorry, but your name isn’t here.” “There must be some mistake”, Ruthanna replied.” I’m the singer. I sang for this wedding!” The gentleman answered, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you did. Without your name in the book you cannot attend the banquet.” He motioned to a waiter and said, “Show these people to the service elevators, please.”

The Metzgars followed the waiter past beautifully decorated tables laden with shrimp, whole smoked salmon, and magnificent carved ice sculptures. Adjacent to the banquet area, an orchestra was preparing to perform, the musicians all dressed in dazzling white tuxedos.

The waiter led Ruthanna and Roy to the service elevator, ushered them in, and pressed G for the parking garage.

After locating their car and driving several miles in silence, Roy reached over and put his hand on Ruthanna’s arm. “Sweetheart, what happened?” “When the invitation arrived, I was busy,” Ruthanna replied. “I never bothered to RSVP. Besides, I was the singer. Surely I could go to the reception with returning the RSVP!”

Ruthanna started to weep-not only because she had missed the most lavish banquet she’d ever been invited to, but also because she suddenly had a small taste of what it will be like someday for people as they stand before Christ and find their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

In conclusion, throughout the ages, countless people have been too busy to respond to Christ’s invitation to His wedding banquet. Many assume that the good they’ve done-perhaps attending church, being baptized, singing in the choir, or helping in a soup kitchen-will be enough to gain entry to Heaven. But people who do not respond to Christ’s invitation to forgive their sins are people whose names aren’t written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. To be denied entrance to Heaven’s wedding banquet will not just mean going down the service elevator to the garage. It will mean being cast outside into Hell, forever.

_Excerpt taken from Heaven by Randy Alcorn

An Unanswered Prayer:

It is often said there is no such thing as “unanswered prayer.” This, however, will seem a facile formulation to people who have prayed to God to keep a loved one alive and then found that the person dies nonetheless. Some requests that God turns down are shattering. After such an experience, how can we maintain the confidence to pray again? How can we really believe that God is hearing and responding to us, if he denies such desperate, heartfelt requests?

When we look at David’s Psalms, we see that David maintained his confidence in prayer despite many deep disappointments in life and despite many denied requests, such as when his infant son died. How did David maintain the heart to pray after that? He had his helps. He had his experience with God over the years in which God saved him again and again, and he also had revelations of the Spirit of God in his heart. We who live after Christ and believe the gospel, however, have even greater resources for assurance that God will hear our petitions. We know God will answer us when we call because one terrible day he did not answer Jesus when he called.

Jesus prayed in Gethsemane that the “cup” of suffering on the cross be taken from him, yet his request was turned down. On the cross itself he cried out, “My God,” but he was forsaken. How could that be? Jesus was the perfect man-he served God with all his heart, soul, and mind, and loved his neighbor as himself and so completely fulfilled the law of God. Elsewhere in the Psalms it says: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”.

Sinners deserve to have their prayers go unanswered. Jesus was the only human being in history who deserved to have all his prayers answered because of his perfect life. Yet he was turned down as if he cherished iniquity in his heart. Why?

The answer, of course, is in the gospel. God treated Jesus as we deserve-he took our penalty-so that, when we believe in him, God can then treat us as Jesus deserved. More specifically, Jesus’s prayers were given the rejection that we sinners merit so that our prayers could have the reception that he merits. That is why, when Christians pray, they have the confidence that they will be heard by God and answered in the wisest way. When Jesus taught his disciples on prayer, he gave them this illustration:

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. (Luke 11:11-13)

Jesus is saying something wonderful and powerful. If earthly fathers, who are sinful, ordinarily want to make their children happy, ”how much more” committed is our perfect heavenly Father to our well-being and happiness? That means there has never been a parent on earth who wants joy for his or her children as much as your Father in heaven wants joy for you, his child. There has never been a human father who wanted to answer his child’s petitions as much as God wants to answer yours Yet we know that God is not only loving but holy and just. How can he shower blessings down on sinful people who deserve the opposite? The answer is that Jesus got the scorpion and the snake so that we could have food at the Father’s table. He received the sting and venom of death in our place.

In conclusion, we know that God will answer us when we call “my God” because God did not answer Jesus when he made the same petition on the cross. For Jesus, the “heavens were as brass”; he got the Great Silence so we could know that God hears and answers. We should ask God for things with boldness and specificity, with ardor, honesty, and diligence, with patient submission to God’s will and wise love. All because of Jesus, and all in his name.

Who is Sufficient for These Things?:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."-2 Corinthians 12:9

I was ordained into Gospel ministry on Friday, September 12th at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Pastor Jeff Hill (Julia’s uncle) and one of my mentor’s travelled down from New Jersey and preached my ordination sermon. He began his sermon with a question, “who is sufficient for these things?” He proceeded to walk through several daily scenarios highlighting the difficulty of Gospel ministry and the flexibility needed as a Pastor. I politely listened as he was talking but to be honest I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. In the days, weeks, and months since Pastor Jeff’s sermon I have found myself constantly asking, “Who is sufficient for these things?”

Every day I am learning first-hand about the difficulty of Gospel ministry and the flexibility needed as a Pastor. In a typical week I find myself making hospital visits, going out to lunch with fellow Pastors in my association, attending funerals, preparing sermons, Sunday School lessons, and blogs. I am meeting with committee’s to make changes to our constitution and policy & procedure manuals, evangelizing those who don’t know Jesus Christ, meeting with deacons to cast a vision for our Student Ministry department, talking to an older couple about the dangers of living together before marriage, praying, visiting students in local high schools, attending sporting events, putting up posters/taking down posters of various activities in the church, choosing Sunday School curriculum, picking out new mats for the entrance way of the Sanctuary, updating our webpage, Facebook and Instagram, and visiting the shut-in and the home-bound. Every week I find myself asking, “Who is sufficient for these things?”

My job is constantly changing and at times it feels as if I am going a mile a minute and attempting to juggle various activities. While I enjoy working hard at times I am outside of my comfort zone and gifting. It is during these times that I meditate on 2 Corinthians 12:9, “my grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” It is during the times when I am outside of my comfort zone and gifting that God is most glorified. It is when I am weak, that God is able to show Himself strong. I am thankful that though in my own power I am insufficient for these things, God is sufficient and He will provide me with wisdom and power to accomplish His calling on my life.

In conclusion, I am learning to stop relying on myself and instead rely on the one who called me. I am learning to trust God that He is sufficient to provide wisdom and power to be a Godly Pastor.

Tough Question: Will There Be Coffee in Heaven?

Trust in God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.-1 Timothy 6:17

I am a coffee coinsure. I absolutely love to drink coffee. I could drink coffee morning, noon and night if it didn’t interfere with my sleep schedule. I was sitting in Starbucks the other day and my mind began to wander to Heaven and as I smelled the coffee brewing and listened to conversations going on around me I began to wonder whether or not there will be coffee in Heaven. Some may say, “I sure hope there’ll be coffee in heaven.” But it’s a statement that few would attempt to defend biblically.

But consider the facts. God made coffee. Coffee grown on Earth, which God made for mankind, put under our management, and filled with resources for our use. When God evaluated his creation, he deemed coffee trees, along with all else, to be “very good”. Many people throughout history have enjoyed coffee-even in a fallen world where neither coffee nor our tast buds are at their best.
God tells us that he “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). Does “everything” include coffee? Paul also says, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5). Again, does “everything” include coffee?

Given these biblical perspectives-and realizing that caffeine addiction or anything else that’s unhealthy simply won’t exist on the New Earth-can you think of any persuasive reason why coffee trees and coffee drinking wouldn’t be part of the resurrected Earth?

Will the New Earth have fewer resources for human enjoyment than Eden did or than the world under the Curse offers? If you’re tempted to say, “But in Heaven our minds will be on spiritual things not coffee”, your Christoplatonism detector should go off. It’s fine if you don’t like coffee, but to suggest that coffee is inherently unspirtual is…well, heresy. It directly contradicts the Scriptures just cited. God made the physical and spiritual realms not to oppose each other but to be united in bringing glory to him.

On the New Earth, we will “drink… from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6). God will prepare for us “a banquet of aged wine… the finest of wines” (Isaiah 25:6). Not only will we drink water and wine, we’ll eat from fruit trees (Revelation 22:2), and there’s every reason to believe we’ll drink juice made from the twelve fruits from the tree of life. So, along with drinking water, wine, and fruit juice, is there any reason to suppose we wouldn’t drink coffee or tea? Can you imagine drinking coffee or tea with Jesus on the New Earth? If you can’t, why not?

In conclusion, if for health reasons you shouldn’t drink coffee now, then don’t. But aside from personal preference, the only compelling reason for not having coffee in Heaven would be if coffee were sinful or harmful. But it won’t be. Therefore, drink coffee to the glory of God now and know that one day you will be able to share a cup of joe with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Do You Find People Amazing?:

I used to think people liked compliments and so I gave compliments. And it was true. People liked them. But the older I’ve become and perhaps the more healthy I’ve become, the more I’ve realized my compliments weren’t given in actual kindness.

I’d have to say, without knowing it, I really just used compliments in order to make myself more likeable.

Flattery is less evil than, say, stabbing somebody in the eye, but it’s not to be confused with true altruism.

And what people really need is true kindness.

When you read about Jesus in the Bible, He rarely if ever flatters anybody. Instead, He speaks truth into their lives not only with His words but with His actions. He rebukes and corrects, but mostly Jesus honors the value of individuals by serving them. Jesus feeds them, teaches them, washes their feet and contributes to their happiness (wine at a wedding).

Flattery is fairly easy, but truly believing in the remarkable beauty of the people around us is something more. It’s not that it’s harder, because it isn’t. What it is is a paradigm shift.

When we flatter somebody, it’s still about us.

We are saying something nice in order to be perceived as a nice person. But when our hearts get changed by God and we see the people around us as His works of art and His kids, a love for them pours out of us. We are delighted at every person even as we are amazed at works of art on a wall at a museum.

When you get into an elevator with strangers, do you wish you could just hit the stop button and get to know each of them? I truly know people like that, and they are some of my favorite people. I think people who interact with others like this are a little bit like God. I think God shines through them and when others are around them, it’s as though they begin to grow the way a tree does in the sun.
Flattery has a short battery life.

But reminding people they are amazing and precious and wanted and works of art can truly change their lives.

I want to be a little more like this. I want the people around me to grow, to flourish, in part, because a truth is shining through me that is giving them life.

I don’t think God flatters anybody. I think He simply finds people to be amazing.

I think He delights in His creation. I think we should too.

Heaven: What We Will See & What We Will NOT See:

Have you ever wondered what Heaven will be like? A month ago I had the privilege of teaching a Senior Adult Bible Study which meets on Thursday mornings at FBC Stanleyville. I taught on Heaven. I spent the week leading up to the Bible study immersed in material about Heaven and was greatly encouraged. Below is just a small sample of what we will not see/what we will see in Heaven.

In Heaven we will see nothing harmful, hateful, upsetting or unkind. Nothing, sad, bad, or mad. Nothing harsh, impatient, ungrateful or unworthy. Nothing weak, or sick, or broken or foolish. Nothing deformed, degenerate, depraved or disgusting. Nothing polluted, pathetic, poor or putrid. Nothing dark, dismal, dismaying or degrading. Nothing blameworthy, blemished, blasphemous or blighted. Nothing faulty, faithless, frail or fading. Nothing grotesque or grievous, hideous or insidious. Nothing illicit or illegal, lascivious or lustful. Nothing marred or mutilated, misaligned or misinformed. Nothing nasty or naughty, offensive or odious. Nothing rancid or rude, soiled or spoiled. Nothing tawdry or tainted, tasteless or tempting. Nothing vile or vicious, wasteful or wanton!

In Heaven we will see only and all that is adorable and affectionate, beautiful and bright, brilliant and bountiful, delightful and delicious, delectable and dazzling, elegant and exciting, fascinating and fruitful, glorious and grand, gracious and good, happy and holy, healthy and whole, joyful and jubilant, lovely and luscious, majestic and marvelous, opulent and overwhelming, radiant and resplendent, splendid and sublime, sweet and savoring, tender and tasteful, euphoric and unified!

What a glorious day that will be!

I Am Never Eating At Chick-fil-A again:

I love Chick-Fil-A!

We eat there at least two or three times a week (not kidding…we’ve actually pushed that number up to 6-7 a few times.)

My daughter carries around a large Chick-fil-A stuffed animal everywhere she goes.

The food is ALWAYS good, they get the order right nearly every time and their customer service is second to none.  It is always clean and no matter how long the line seems to be people are always served as quickly and efficiently as possible.

So, imagine my surprise when my wife came home the other day and, as we were catching each other up on the things that had taken place while we had been apart all morning and afternoon she told me about a bad experience she had at Chick-Fil-A.

I was immediately frustrated!  (Any husband would be!)  AND…before I knew it I had literally told myself in my mind, \“Well, if that’s the way things are going to be then I guess we just won’t be going to Chick-Fil-A anymore, they’ve lost my business."

TIME OUT!!!  How stupid was THAT thought?  Seriously, let’s review…
#1 - They ALWAYS deliver great food!
#2 - They ALWAYS have friendly people!
#3 - They ALWAYS have a clean environment!
#4 - What my wife had experienced was not in line with what normally happens.

I lost my mind!  I was literally going to allow one bad experience with one employee ruin a reputation of excellence that had been consistent for years!  (AND…no one knows what was going on in that employees life…she could have had one of the worst days of her life and was trying her best to just hold it together until she could clock out!)

Before you agree with me too quickly…I think there are people who have done the same thing to the church!

It has become quite popular, even in some “Christian” circles, to bash the church for all of the dumb things that she has done.

I have met people that have the same attitude with the church that I almost had with Chick-Fil-A! They will attend, serve, be devoted to a local church for months or even years…and then, all of a sudden…
Someone didn’t call them when they were out for two weeks.
Someone said something hurtful to or about them.
They didn’t like what the preacher said.
They didn’t like what the youth group was doing.

I could go on and on…but you get the point.  There are times when people will allow one thing in the church to trump the decades of ministry and impact that have taken place through that body of believers, and that’s a bit insane.

Yes, if you stay in a church long enough I promise you that you will see hypocrisy.

Someone will say something to you or about you that will hurt you.

Decisions will be made that you do not like.

There are going to be sermons that make you mad.

When that happens the enemy is going to try his best to convince you to just walk away…because he knows that the first step away from God is usually getting people to step away from the people of God.

Yes, the church, EVERY church, has made some unwise decisions and, in the process have hurt or disappointed people along the way…but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater…
She’s STILL being built by Jesus—that makes her important!
She’s STILL reaching out to the broken, the forgotten and the poor.
She’s STILL making a difference that’s going to be seen for eternity.
She’s STILL GOD’S PLAN for reaching the world.
She’s STILL necessary for believers!  (If church is not necessary then why did Jesus say He would build it, died for it, will one day redeem it and spends so much time in the NT talking to it and about it?”

No, the church is NOT perfect…but neither are you (or me!)  So, when we’re tempted to walk away because of the one thing that seems to hurt us or trip us up we should simply ask, “is this consistant with this churches character?”

Stay in a church long enough and you will have a bad experience…but let that push you closer to Jesus as you recognize that HE uses imperfect people in His plan, which means sometimes they get it wrong, and then beg the Lord to teach both them and yourself how to best deal with the situation…because, she’s STILL the church and STILL His bride.

Now…anyone want to go to Chick-Fil-A with me?  :-)

AUTHOR: Perry Noble
ORIGINAL DATE: November 23, 2011
ORIGINAL POST: https://perrynoble.com/blog/my-wife-had-a-bad-experience-at-chic-fil-a

Disturbing Behavior: Obesity

In the year 2000, obesity was the cause of 400,000 deaths in the United States. The most recent statistics show that over 15 percent or nine million of our youth are overweight, triple the number from 1980. If this isn’t enough to worry about, studies also show that nine out of ten youth are inactive. Consider the following: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poor diet and physical inactivity are among the leading cause of death that can be prevented. In fact, poor diet and physical inactivity rank as number 2 for leading cause of preventable death among teens.
It doesn't take much effort to figure out why we have an obesity problem among teenagers. On one side of the problem, we have supersized everything in our culture with fast-food restaurants on every corner and quick-fix convenience foods that don’t qualify as proper diet and nutrition. On the other side, we have video games, the Internet, and cable and satellite television that drain the physical activity out of our kids.

What’s the answer? Consider the following approaches to take with your youth or to pass on to someone you know. The following list is from Dr. Diana Sullivan, coordinator of Cardiac Preventive Medicine Services at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

1. Be positive! Let your children know they are loved and appreciated whatever their weight. Overweight children know better than anyone that they have a weight problem. Overweight kids need support, acceptance, and encouragement from their parents.
2. Focus on your children’s health and positive qualities, not their weight.
3. Try not to make your children feel different if they are overweight. Focus on gradually changing your family’s physical activities and eating habits to help make a difference.
4. Be a positive role model. If your children see you enjoying healthy foods and physical activities, they are more likely to do the same.

While we need to give the above suggestions serious attention, we also need to call on teens to change their lifestyles and to abandon the media-charged, fast-food world they live in. This will not be easy. It will take all of us-parents, educators, youth workers, and significant others in the lives of our kids-to move them to more healthy lifestyles.

Dr. Diana Sullivan suggests these ways to help teens change their eating habits:
1. Follow the dietary guidelines for healthy eating
2. Guide your family’s choices rather than dictate what foods they eat.
3. Encourage your children to eat only when hungry and to eat slowly.
4. Eat meals together as a family as often as possible.
5. Carefully cut down on the amount of fat and calories in your family’s diet.
6. Encourage teens to drink water and to limit the intake of beverages with added sugars, such as soft drinks, fruit juice drinks, and sports drinks.
7. Buy healthy snacks
8. Aim to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
9. Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV.
10. Eating a healthy breakfast is a good way to start the day and may be important in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

In conclusion, Proverbs 23:20 admonishes us to “not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” The bottom line is that we have to get our teens off the couch, away from the computer and video games, and on their feet. Be creative and think about ways to help them become more active and eat right.
 

Netflix, Blockbuster and American Church

 I recently stumbled across an article in USA Today on the rise of Netflix and the fall of Blockbuster. (You may read the article: here). There were several interesting observations made by the author.

 In 1996, DVD's and Netflix were brand new. If you wanted to rent a VHS a consumer would have to rent one from Blockbuster. Netflix functioned as a site where consumers could purchase "DVD's. In 1996, DVD's were relatively unheard of and there were only DVD's for 300 movie titles. Netflix was receiving 95% of their revenue from selling DVD's. In 1996 the CEO's of Netflix made a strategic move to no longer focus on "selling" DVD's but moved to a simple online streaming model. A model where consumers could stream online from the comfort of their homes. Netflix developed complex algorithms to customize the homepage of every consumer to highlight their favorite movies, or movies which they would like based on their preferences. The CEO's of Blockbuster in 1996 heard what Netflix was doing and believing that online streaming of movies would never take off chose instead to invest in more stand-alone stores and began to offer candy and popcorn to be purchased at the counter before check-out. While Netflix simplified their business model, Blockbuster made their's more complex. The results of both decisions are evident today. Netflix is a thriving company and Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

There is a lot to be learned concerning Netflix and Blockbuster. There are a lot of lessons and warnings which we as the church should heed. Christians; especially, Christian leaders must understand the times in which we live.

 For centuries, our model for ministry has been: the church is the center of society, people trust the church, therefore the church should host a large event, invite people to the church for the best event EVER, people come, hear the Gospel, become Christians and join the church. This is how the church has operated for centuries. 

Unfortunately, the above scenario is no longer the case in our culture. The church is viewed with suspicion. Individuals do not have a respect for the church, the church is no longer viewed as the center of society; therefore, individuals do not want to attend events at a church. Because of this we (the church) need to go to society. We as the church need to wake up to our call to be a community in the community, the streets, and in the gutter with people. We need to be engaging people where they are, simplifying our programs, customizing our message to answer societies questions, and ministering to non-Christians on their turf. 

Here is a video explaining what I mean:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: The Missional Church

The church is losing the next generation and our communities. We have two options to this problem. We may go the way of Blockbuster (and so many churches) and increase programs, marketing budgets, and events or we may go the way of Netflix and 100% change the way we "do" church. We can simplify programs, and spend more time empowering and equipping believers to live as the church on mission in their community, work and school. We can begin to teach our church members that all of life is to be lived all for Christ and Christ has a mission for them to fulfill among their circles of influence. Below is another video highlighting a church which is seeking to live on mission in their community.

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Dope Church

In conclusion, the churches which follow in the footsteps of Netflix changing and adapting to a new generation will thrive while churches which put their head in the sand continuing to do the same old thing and run the same old programs will follow in the footsteps of Blockbuster and will go bankrupt. Whose philosophy will you choose to follow Blockbusters of Netflixs?

Wednesday Worship:

If you are watching this on a phone here is the link: Wednesday Worship

Wednesday Worship:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Wednesday Worship

Wednesday Worship:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Wednesday Worship

Wednesday Worship

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Wednesday Worship

Wednesday Worship:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Wednesday Worship

Wednesday Worship:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Wednesday Worship

Monday Morning Humor:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Monday Morning Humor

Monday Morning Humor:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Monday Morning Humor

Monday Morning Humor

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Monday Morning Humor:

Monday Morning Humor:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Monday Morning Humor

Monday Morning Humor:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Monday Morning Humor

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: 9 Months in 4 Minutes

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Life In The Womb (9 Months in 4 Minutes)

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.1
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

—Psalm 139:16-19

In January of 1973 the Supreme Court decision of Roe v Wade (taken in conjunction with its companion decision, Doe v Bolton) effectively permitted the legal destruction of the life you see above at any point in the pregnancy, from conception until birth.

Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

—Proverbs 24:11

Richard John Neuhaus:

We contend, and we contend relentlessly, for the dignity of the human person, of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God, destined from eternity for eternity—every human person, no matter how weak or how strong, no matter how young or how old, no matter how productive or how burdensome, no matter how welcome or how inconvenient. Nobody is a nobody; nobody is unwanted. All are wanted by God, and therefore to be respected, protected, and cherished by us.

We shall not weary, we shall not rest, until every unborn child is protected in law and welcomed in life. We shall not weary, we shall not rest, until all the elderly who have run life’s course are protected against despair and abandonment, protected by the rule of law and the bonds of love. We shall not weary, we shall not rest, until every young woman is given the help she needs to recognize the problem of pregnancy as the gift of life. We shall not weary, we shall not rest, as we stand guard at the entrance gates and the exit gates of life, and at every step along way of life, bearing witness in word and deed to the dignity of the human person—of every human person.

Against the encroaching shadows of the culture of death, against forces commanding immense power and wealth, against the perverse doctrine that a woman’s dignity depends upon her right to destroy her child, against what St. Paul calls the principalities and powers of the present time, this convention renews our resolve that we shall not weary, we shall not rest, until the culture of life is reflected in the rule of law and lived in the law of love.

Original Article: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: 9 Months in 4 Minutes

Disturbing Behavior: Shoplifting

Last week two teenagers (female: 13 years old, male: 18 years old) made National Headlines for their crime spree which spread over multiple states in the South. There crime spree caused me to begin thinking about stealing, car-jacking and shoplifting. Shoplifting is a huge problem in the United States today and negatively affects everyone. "In the United States, shoplifters steal about $25 million in merchandise from stores each day! That breaks down to an extra $300 each year that you and your family have to pay in higher prices to cover the losses caused by shoplifting." Over $10 billion worth of goods are stolen from retailers each year. Approximately 23 million people shoplift in our nation today, and ten million have been caught in the last five years. Statistically, 25 percent of shoplifters are teenagers, and 75 percent are adults.

Teenagers shoplift for different reasons: depression, anger, insecurity, the need for attention, the thrill, need, or to relieve stress. Even more is the desire to be accepted by their peers; in fact, 86 percent say their friends are involved in it. According to Cimbora, "A high percentage of children with conduct disorders act out their delinquent behaviors with their peers. The pressure to rebel in order to be accepted by one's peers can be incredibly strong."

What steps can be taken to reduce teenage shoplifting:

1) Teens need to accept responsibility for their actions and make better personal decisions. They need to be shown that they have the ability to make right choices.

2) Most of all, teenagers need good interaction with their parents. David Kayes says that the "parent's best prevention is to keep the lines of communication open and to be involved in the teen's life." Chuck Seenewald adds, "parents must continually model standards of conduct while discussing notions of right versus wrong with their children."

3) Guilt is a healthy and effective tool when helping students to stop stealing. Most adolescents have a moral obligation, and when parents apply pressure to the psychological guilt of breaking a moral law, it can affect students positively. "A little humiliation goes a long way," says Britney, who was caught shoplifting as she left a store with her unsuspecting mother.

4) Another great agent in helping teens overcome the urge tot steal is discipline and punishment. One counselor advises: "Discipline needs to be consistent and followed through to completion. When you begin to discipline and fail to follow through, you teach your children that rules and standards do not have fixed consequences."

5) The Bible gives strong answers to shoplifting. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Cor. 10:13). If teens seek God, he will provide a way out of temptation. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who have been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin" (Heb. 4:15).

Tough Questions: How can we say "their" sin of homosexuality is bad while "our" sin of gluttony is no big deal?

Last week Perry Noble published a blog entitled "Ten Convictions I have About The Church" his 8th conviction was, "the world would change in an unbelievable way if the church would attack the issue of obesity as relentlessly as it attacks the issue of homosexuality! (It would also be more relevant to the church!)"

That’s a statement you hear a lot of us these days and one you should expect to hear again and again, posed in a hundred different ways, in the years ahead.

Why are we asking about gays in heaven when we should be asking if there will be fat people in heaven? How can we say “their” sin of homosexuality is terrible while “our” sin of gluttony is no big deal? Everyone’s a biblical literalist until you bring up gluttony. Besides, the Bible contains three times as many exhortations against gluttony than against homosexuality.

How should Christians think about these claims? Well, the operative word in that question is “think.” We can’t settle for gotcha headlines and arguments that are more slogan than substance. We have to be open to reason, open our Bibles, and think this through.

1. Do we really want to suggest that one sin is no biggie because we’ve been pretty lax about a different sin? If it’s the case that Christians are wrongly intolerant of unrepentant gluttony–or any unrepentant sin–then shame us. Sins separate us from God. When we choose to embrace sins, celebrate sins, and not repentant of sins, we keep ourselves away from God and away from heaven.

2. Is it really wise to equate gluttony with being fat? People are overweight, underweight, or fit as a fiddle for all sorts of reasons. Can we be sure that those with a few pounds to shed are worse sinners than the fried-food loving bean pole blessed with an amazing metabolism? If we want to draw a ramrod straight line between gluttony and corpulence, Job has three “friends” we can hang out with.

3. It bears repeating, the reason Christians are talking about homosexuality is because everyone else is talking about homosexuality. Strange coincidence that evangelicals did not become “obsessed” with homosexuality until about 40-50 years ago when the culture became obsessed with sexual freedom. If the Supreme Court finds a constitutional right to jab people in the kidneys with poison-tipped spears, we’ll get worked about that too.

4. Gluttony is a favorite vice to throw into the rhetorical mix because it is one of the so-called Seven Deadly Sins. As Will Willimon explains, the earliest formation of the list of seven comes from Evagrius of Pontus, a desert monk and follower of Origen (who was later condemned at the Fifth Ecumenical Council in A.D. 553). It’s not surprising that an ascetic who lived in a commune separated from the world might consider the temptation for food one of his chief maladies. One can detect more than a little monkish asceticism and some Stoic disdain for the body in the Fathers’ abhorrence to gluttony.

Throughout church history, theologians have understood the sin of gluttony in different ways. For some, immoderate desire is the issue. For others, eating more than we need is the problem. According to Augustine, food was not the problem but how we sought it and for what reason.

The Catholic Catechism does not call them seven “deadly sins,” but “capital sins,” because they engender other sins and other vices (art. 1866).

C.S. Lewis, with typical insight, has the devil Screwtape note how persnickety old ladies–the kind who always turn aside whatever is offered and always insist on a tiny cup of tea–are just as guilty of gluttony because they put their wants first, no matter how troublesome they may be to others. Health conscious foodies beware: the problem of gluttony, according to Lewis, was not too much food, but too much attention to food. We might say, in the broadest ethical sense, gluttony is using food in a way that dulls us from the spiritual and distracts us from God. That’s certainly a danger for most of us, but it’s not the same as enjoying a meal, feeling stuffed, or being overweight.

5. And what does the Bible say? Some will be surprised to learn that “gluttony” appears in none of the New Testament vice lists. In fact, most of the Bible is overwhelmingly positive about food. There are Old Testament feasts and visions of heavenly feasts. Jesus finished his ministry with a meal and instituted a supper for his remembrance in the church. If the New Testament has an overriding concern with food, it is that God’s people not be overly concerned about it. Food does not commend us to God (1 Cor. 8:8), and the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink (Rom. 14:17). No honest reader of the New Testament can deny that Jesus and the apostles were much more concerned about what we do sexually with our bodies than with the food we eat (Mark 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-5).

In the English Standard Version, the word “glutton” appears four times and in every instance is paired with the word “drunkard” (Deut. 21:20; Prov. 23:21; and in a slander against Jesus Matt. 11:19; Luke 7:34). The word “gluttonous” shows up once, again alongside a reference to “drunkards” (Prov. 23:20). Two other times we have “gluttons,” once in a quotation from a poet speaking of lazy Cretans (Titus 1:12) and the other time in reference to the company a shameful son keeps (Proverbs 28:7).

The other passages often associated with gluttony are much less than meets the eye. For example, the point of Proverbs 23:2 (“put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite”) is about not being ensnared by the deceptive hospitality of rich hosts. And the saying in Philippians 3:19 (“their god is their belly”) is either a euphemism for sexual sin (see the next phrase, “they glory in their shame”) or a reference to the Judaizer’s legalistic demands regarding Mosaic dietary restrictions.

So what does the sin of gluttony look like? When we take time to open our Bibles and read the relevant passages, we find that gluttony is much more than eating a McRib sandwich, and that partaking in food is much less of a concern than partaking in sexual sin. The composite picture from these verses suggests that a glutton is a loafer, a partyer, and a profligate. He’s the prodigal son wasting his life on riotous living. She’s the girl on spring break who thinks the pinnacle of human existence is to eat, drink, and hook up. A waistral living for the weekend. A big city high flyer who cares for nothing except for indulging in high society. A ne’er do well who takes lifestyle cues from the Hangover franchise.

So, absolutely, the church should speak against the sin of gluttony. But once we understand what the sin entails, I’m guessing most people would say they have a good idea where the church already stands on these issues.

An Open Letter to Parents on Family Devotions:

Dear Parents,

I have noticed a problem among our teens and I need your help. I have noticed a lack of basic Bible knowledge among our teenagers. Now, before you become upset and claim that these are teenagers who have never been to church, you must know that I am concerned about the teens who have grown up in our church. They have been through the children’s ministry, sat under hours of preaching from the pulpit and they are still suffering from a lack of basic Bible knowledge.

As the Minister of Students I take responsibility for this failure and I will be working very hard to correct this. We will begin teaching basic Bible knowledge in the children’s, youth and college department. Our children’s director has already started teaching Bible stories and teaching an overview of the Bible in a age appropriate way. CREW is working through a study examining basic Christian Doctrine and the college department is utilizing “The Gospel Project” curriculum put out by Lifeway to help to teach Jesus from every page of Scripture.

We are doing our part to teach our students the Bible; but, our part is not enough to teach the Bible. As a youth pastor, I only see teenagers to teach them the Bible, two hours out of the week. I am asking you as a parent to begin teaching the Bible in your home. Please take five-ten minutes every morning, afternoon or night to teach the Bible to your children and teenagers.

In Deuteronomy 11:19-21 Moses encourages the Israelites to teach the Torah (First 5 books of the OT) to their children to ensure that they are following God’s word and receiving God’s blessing. For the children and all subsequent generations, God’s great acts had not been seen “with their own eyes,” as had been the case with that first generation; therefore, the parents were to teach their children. As parents one of our main responsibilities is to teach our children and teenagers the Bible.

Below is a video by Pastor John Piper talking about how he did family devotions when his children were young…

Video Link if on phone: How to do Family Devotions:

Another video encouraging dad's to step up and lead in family devotions:

Video Link if on phone: Encouragement for Men

In conclusion, the couple of hours teenagers spend in church and youth group is not enough to teach them the Bible. Bible teaching needs to be coming from mom and dad. Every family should have family devotions but every families devotion time will look different. Please take time today to talk with your spouse and your teenagers about how to best implement family devotions. If you would like to start doing family devotions but don't know how to start please email or call and I would love to provide direction.

Reaching, Teaching and Releasing,

Pastor T

Disturbing Behavior: Oral Sex

It comes as no surprise that adolescents today have a greater struggle than ever with sexual temptation. From the Internet to explicit lingerie commercials, sex is seen everywhere. With such blatant, unbiblical sexuality dripping off virtually everything, it’s harder than ever for teenagers to keep their purity in check.

The problem seems to be what students are defining as “sex.” A growing trend among high school students is to have oral sex in place of intercourse since it’s “not really sex.” These teenagers are sadly mistaken and apparently ill informed scientifically, emotionally and biblically.

Micah (name changed) is an eighteen-year-old student who graduated from a public high school. In Micah’s school, oral sex was a disturbing problem. He guessed that about 70 percent of the sexual encounters among his peers were related to oral sex and 50 percent of the entire school. Many students blamed their lack of other activities for increasing sex lives. “There wasn’t a lot to do and not a lot to think about, so their outlet is sex if they don’t have another hobby.” Next to boredom, one of the biggest reason so many teenagers are involved in oral sex is because of the pressure to act like adults. Teachers and adults demand that students act like they’re twenty-three when they’re eighteen. “They’re always pushing us to grow up too fast, so this is a way they try to do it. Adults aren’t the only problem, though. TV shows constantly glorify immorality and making light of serious issues such as oral sex. Micah said honestly, “It seems so appealing right now. TV talks about it all the time. They preach protection, but that’s it. TV makes it real causal; it’s just something you do.” Apparently teenagers indulge in oral sex for the physical feelings rather than the emotions. Few students bother with the “love” concept anymore when dealing with sex. Oral sex is becoming a game. Guys make bets with themselves to see if they can “get any” from girls as personal goals to be reached. Girls play this as a mind game; to them it is more of a dominating factor. Girls like to dress skimpily to get boys’ attention and then tease them to make themselves feel sexy. For them, oral sex is more of a subject of self-image. Sex is no longer a guy issues, because girls seem to be instigating oral sex more than boys right now. Even then, girls rarely tell anybody. “Guys tell everyone, but girls keep quiet, because if they go around saying that they [have oral sex], then they’ll be called sluts.” Micah said. That seems to be the general consensus-if a guy has oral sex, then he’s a “regular guy,” but if a girl has oral sex then she is a whore.

As Christians, what are we to do? For starters, we should realize that not just unchurched kids have this problem. There is a slim difference between churched and unchurched kids having oral sex. They only difference is that church kids might be a little more aware of the consequences. They are more likely to think about the chances of getting pregnant, disease, or their parents finding out. “Friends with benefits” is becoming increasingly common.

Much of the answer lies in the home. Many girls who give themselves freely to guys have a common bond-a distant, complicated, or nonexistent relationship with their fathers. Healthy father/daughter relationships are essential. Another aspect of this begins at childhood. Children need to be raised knowing how to respect other people. Chivalry for the most part is dead. Rather than going out of their ways to protect girls purity, many guys will do anything to get what they want, even if the outcomes are devastating for the girls. Parents also need to take an active interest in their children’s lives.

Disturbing Behavior: Television

Examine any home in America today and you will discover that it contains more than one television. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, nearly 99 percent of homes have at least one television, and 62 percent have three or more. Options never before in history include satellite television with hundreds of channels, major networks competing against each other, cable channels that push the limits of decency and Web television. Programs can now be seen on cellular phones and carried anywhere. Recent surveys tell us that three out of four youth spend four hours per day viewing television. That is an amazing twenty-eight hours per week. More alarming is the content of the programs being consumed by children or teens. Television has moved from neutral entertainment to vulgar programming that kids are tuning in to in large numbers. Just sit and watch MTV, ABC, CBS, AMC one evening, and you’ll discover that little music is played. Rather, what you’ll see is nothing short of soft pornography and reality television that depicts young people engaged in sexual promiscuity and using foul language.

The problems in addition to sexual activity and foul language are that our kids learn wrong ways to deal with problems and to treat others based on what they see on TV shows. Other problems include academic underachievement, influence, and self-fulfilling prophecy as youths act like and/or act out what they see on television. The four hours each day watching television could be better spent reading or being involved in some other activity. The television cannot be trusted to babysit our youths any longer.

So what can we do? The easy answer is to unplug the television; however, that might not be realistic. The next best solutions are boundaries and communication. By boundaries I mean that parents should set rules concerning the utilization on television in their homes. These rules can center around content, channels viewed and time spent watching television. As they formulate these boundaries they’ll have to communicate these to their children.

Here are some further suggestions for parents: Talk openly about the choices teens make and the shows they watch. Don’t be afraid to change the channel or turn it off completely. Whatever rules you make, take time to talk through them with your children so that they learn what’s appropriate and what isn’t. I encourage you to sit and view their favorite program with them, then talk about the content and situations presented. Sources such as Focus on the Family’s “Unplugged” will give you and your teens valuable insight into the content of television programming.