What could it be?

Why don’t young guys desire God? Or why don’t young guys desire a God-centered life?

I sit here and am thinking about these questions. They’re thought provoking, at least for myself. And now that I have finally sat down to think about them, I don’t believe that I can put my finger on the answer.

What could it be?

I look around at the fellow church going friends (guys) and am comforted that they attend regularly. But that comfort leaves when I know that all they do there is chat with friends and horse around. Where’s the reverence to God? The Almighty, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe? Where? It’s no where to be found.

What could it possibly be?

God Unchanging

They tell us that the Bible is the Word of God--a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. They tell us that we shall find in it the knowledge of God and of His will for our lives. We believe them; rightly, for what they say is true. So we take our Bibles and start to read them. We read steadily and thoughtfully, for we are in earnest; we really do want to know God.

But as we read, we get more and more puzzled. Though fascinated, we are not being fed. Our reading is not helping us; it leaves us bewildered and, if the truth be told, somewhat depressed. We find ourselves wondering whether Bible reading is worth going on with.

What is our trouble?

Finishing Well

As I was reading this prayer written by Scotty Smith on another blog, I was really moved by it. It touched my heart just by reading it. So thus, I wanted to share it. It begins with this passage:

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. Hebrews 3:12-14

Dear Jesus, this portion of your Word is both sobering and encouraging. It leads me to think about friendship this morning and the gospel-posse you’ve given me. I’m so very grateful for the friends you’ve woven into my life. Being an introvert, the journey of investing my heart in long term relationships has required, and still requires the work of the gospel in my heart—a grace work you’ve been faithful to provide.

I’ve already gripped the handle of a couple of friend’s caskets and they’ll do the same for me one day. More than ever, I want us to finish well together in the gospel. What does look like and what will it require, Jesus?

My temptation is to treat my easiest friendships like a broken-in pair of Birkenstocks—I just enjoy these relationships without much thought or effort. It’s a great gift to have a few friends who can finish each other’s sentences, endure one another’s jokes, appreciate each other’s quirks and accept one another’s weaknesses. Surely, this is a gospel-gift.

Yet, Jesus, we’re still foolish men—capable of acting out in very destructive ways, prone to wander, easy targets for temptation. Sin is exceedingly deceitful. With all of my heart, I believe in the “final perseverance of the saints,” but I equally believe that it’s the saints who will finally persevere. Your Word is very clear—continuance in the gospel is a sign of being rooted in the gospel. That doesn’t scare me, but it does humble me.

Help us know how to hold each other accountable for believing the gospel. Help us to take each other’s heart-struggles seriously. Don’t let us confuse flattery with encouragement. Help us never to minimize nor marginalize the hardening power of sin. Help us know how to preach the gospel to our own hearts daily and to each all the time, until Today gives way to the Day. So very Amen, I pray, in your all glorious name.

X-TRA

Kansas weather remains to me, by far, the strangest. It was over 80 degrees no more than ten days ago! Now, a thin layer of snow lay over the cold ground as I returned back home.

Matrix - This is really interesting. Click the boxes and make music!

Why is Hell forever? - Russell Moore talks about the subject.

5 Ways to Make Your Kids Hate Church -  An article for parents on ways to make your kids hate church (for parents obviously, but still interesting for those hoping in the future)! Also note, this is a warning not a recommendation to actually do this.

Glorious Freedom - Ligonier Ministries talks about the new identity Christ gives us. Worth the quick read.

Who's the most typical person? National Geographic let's you know!

"Without Christ, not one step; with Him, anywhere!" -David Livingstone

X-TRA

I will be gone friday-sunday. I'll be attending a Youth Conference in Minnesota. But, I still have the opportunity to post an X-TRA for today! It'll be lighter than usual:

Rapper Lecrae - Interesting interview of a Christian Rapper.

Innocent Abroad - Humorous story of one man's observations of Canada.

Sistine Chapel - Awesome virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel. You can zoom in on any painting!

This video made me laugh. Hope it can do the same for you!

This is facinating. A man with a disability, yet with a special ability.

"Educate men without religion and you make of them but clever devils." -Arthur Wellesley

Pride: Contending with God

Reading Humility by C.J Mahaney, I have been guilty of many things he writes is "manifestations of pride". Here's an excerpt from the book:

"Why does God hate pride so passionately?

     Here's why: Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence upon Him.

     Charles Bridges once noted how pride lifts up one's heart against God and 'contends for supremacy' with Him. That's a keenly insightful and biblical definition of pride's essence: contending for supremacy with God, and lifting up our hearts against Him.

     For purposes of personal confession, I began adopting this definition of pride a few years ago after I came to realize that, to some degree, I'd grown unaffected by pride in my life. Though I was still confessing pride, I knew I wasn't sufficiently convicted of it. So rather than just confessing to God that 'I was proud in that situation' and appealing for His forgiveness, I learned to say instead, 'Lord, in that moment, with that attitude and that action, I was contending for supremacy with You. That's what it was all about. Forgive me'.
    
     And rather than confessing to another person, 'That statement was prideful on my part; will you please forgive me?' I began saying, 'What I just did was contending for supremacy with God,' and only then asking for the person's forgiveness. This practice increased a weight of conviction in my heart about the seriousness of this sin.

     Pride takes innumerable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That's the motive and ultimate purpose of pride--to rob God  of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contending for supremacy with Him. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worth to receive.

     No wonder God opposes pride. No wonder he hates pride. Let that truth sink into your thinking..."

Hell

What is hell? There has been much controversy about this subject. ''Doe's it exist?' ''Is it really eternal?''  many ask. So where does the Bible actually teach that hell exists and that it's a place you dont want to be at? Lets take a look.

First, let's define hell by using everything the Word says, then we'll look around.

Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.

SCRIPTURAL BASIS

At the end of the parable of the talents, the master says, "Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth" (Matthew 25:30)

So we see that it is a conscious punishment, one of extreme pain. Weeping and gnashing of teeth is a sign of only that.

Even more, the King will say at the final judgment, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

Furthermore, we see that the punishment will be through "eternal fire". Through this special fire, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus also says that those condemned "will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46).

Now we see the parallel between "eternal life" and "eternal punishment" which indicates that both states will be without end.

More notable parts of Scripture are when Jesus refers to hell as the "unquenchable fire" (Mark 9:43), and says that hell is a place "where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48).

In Revelation, it speaks of when the devil himself will be through into the lake of fire (For he and his angels will be judged in the end, and will be punished eternally as well), "...and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).

This is a place where those that never accepted Christ as Lord and Savior in their earthly lives will be at. In eternal punishment, in eternal agony.

WHAT ARE WE TO THINK?

What are we to think of this doctrine? It is hard--and it should be hard--for us to think of this doctrine today. If our hearts are never moved with deep sorrow when we contemplate this doctrine, then there is serious deficiency in our spiritual and emotional sensibilities.

And the reason it is hard for us to think of the doctrine of hell is because God has put in our hearts a portion of his love for people created in his image, even his love for sinners who rebel against Him. As long as we are in this life, and as long as we see and think about others who need to hear the gospel and trust in Christ for salvation, it should cause us great distress and agony of spirit to think about eternal punishment.

Yet we must also realize that whatever God in his wisdom has ordained and taught in Scripture is right. Therefore, we must be careful that we do not hate this doctrine or rebel against it, but rather we should seek to come to the point where we acknowledge that eternal punishment is good and right, because in God there is no unrighteousness at all.

Also, it may greatly help to say that if God were not to execute eternal punishment, then his justice would never, never, ever be fulfilled.

So let this, the fate of all who dont accept Christ, motivate you in your evangelism. Look around at the people close to you. Your friends, family, and acquaintances. Have they heard the gospel, more specifically, from you?

For more information on hell and why it exists, click here.

Service Reflection

Today's service was a little interesting. So, for today's Service Reflection, I just want to talk about one verse:

"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation." (James 5:12 ESV).

This was what the main message was about. So listen (and read, if you want) to STOP SWEARING by Pastor John MacArthur for an inside look at what the general message was at our service. Enjoy!

X-TRA

Being born in Ohio, I have a natural inclination towards rooting for their sport's team. That said, Ohio State is ranked #1 overall in college basketball, so perhaps I will spend some leisure time watching them play in this "March Madness" tournament. Japan, on the other hand, is still struggling. Pray for them, to be able to recover from this in a way that is God honoring.

The Big Picture -  More images from the devastation in Japan.

Is Eternal life always Eternal? - See what Fred Butler from GTY has to say.

Fedex v.s UPS - If your interested in werid facts, like I am, you might like!

The Morning I heard the Voice of God - Listen ( or read ) John Piper's "shocking" experience. You will enjoy this.

Self-Test - Read these 50 signs that indicate you have sinful pride in your life. This convicted me of my own.


Here's some fun with the language. Grammar has indeed gone far downhill!

"There is no fatigue so wearisome as that which come's from lack of work." C.H Spurgeon

5 Reasons You Need To Join A Church

In Mark Dever's Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, he gives us Christians 5 reasons to join a Church, or more specifically, why we need to join a Church.

1. For Assurance.

While a person should not feel he needs to join a church in order to be saved, he ought to join a church to be certain that he has been saved. Christians, those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, will naturally gravitate towards other Christians and will desire to be with them, to learn from them, and to serve them. A person who professes Christ but feels no desire to be among his believing brothers and sisters is not a healthy Christian. Thus, eager participation in a local church and heartfelt attempts to measure our enthusiasm for that group of believers is a God-given way for us to assure ourselves that we are truly saved.

2. To Evangelize the World.

The gospel can best be spread through combined and collaborative efforts. Throughout the history of the church great men and women have attempted great things on their own and have often been successful. But more often, great things have been accomplished through the collaborate efforts of Christians working together. If we are to reach this world with the gospel message of Jesus Christ, we must share our efforts with other believers.

3. To Expose False Gospels.

As we interact with other believers, we will see what true Christianity is, which ought to expose the common belief that Christians are self-righteous, selfish individuals. As we labor, fellowship, and serve alongside other Christians, and as we observe the lives of other Christ-followers, we will see what biblical Christianity looks like. The more we see of genuine Christianity, the more the counterfeits will be exposed.

4. To Edify the Church.

Joining a church will help Christians counter their sinful individualism and teach them the importance of seeking to serve and edify others. The benefit of being a member of a local church is not primarily inward, but outward. Christians attend a local church so they might have opportunities to serve others and thus to serve God. Every Christian should be eager to serve within the church and to edify others through teaching, serving, and exercising the spiritual gifts.

5. To Glorify God

We can bring God glory through the way we live our lives. God is honored when we are obedient to him. He is glorified when his people come together in unity and harmony to find assurance, to evangelize the world, to expose false gospels, and to edify one another. God is glorified in and through the local church.

X-TRA

It's getting warmer out. Today should be just over 70 degrees, perfect for something outside! Anyhow, here are the links for this morning:

Are you a “Nice” Christian? - Find out exactly what Mr.Mounce is talking about!

1895 School Exam -  Test from 1895! Incredible how schooling has changed. I wouldn't do so well on it...

National Geographic Science - Some cool science pictures from 2010. Check them out!

Comparing the Earth - This is very, very amazing! We are very small...

Tom Martin - I couldn't find this on youtube so take 6 minutes, follow this link, and watch this video of Tom Martin sharing his testimony. It's an awesome story of how God found him.



"Whatever a person may be like, we must still love them because we love God." -John Calvin



The Atonement - Part 3

We talked about the necessity of Christ's sacrifice last time. In this last post about The Atonement, let's look at exactly what effects it has on us.

     The New Testament uses different words and terms to desribe these effects but let's just examine four of the most important ones.
     These four terms show how Christ's death met the four needs that we have as sinners:

1. We deserve to die as the penalty for sin.
2. We deserve to bear God's wrath against sin.
3. We are separated from God by our sins.
4. We are in bondage to sin and to the kingdom of Satan.

These four needs are met by Christ's death in the following ways:

X-TRA

Here is X-TRA for the day. Keep Japan in your prayers, if you can, for God to have mercy on them and also for them to turn to Him in the midst of this crisis.

The Big Picture - Boston.com has put together about 40 or so pictures of the devastation of Japan.

Not all should be bloggers - Interesting post I came across.

25 ways to pursue joy in Christ - Mark Altrogge offers them.

When the Earth Moves - Pray for the people of Japan.

Interesting comic - A comic I enjoyed.

What does Facebook do to us? - Tim Challies lets you know.


An uplifting video. This made me realize: We are so fortunate to have the Word in our language.

"Nobody outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years." C.H Spurgeon.

Service Reflection

After some short fellowship, worship was underway. Then brother Alex said a short first word, leading us in prayer afterward. He reminded us of Matthew 5:13:

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall it's saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."

     Great verse huh? We are to be the salt of the world, and not only that, but the light of the world (v.14).
It was a time to anaylze our hearts in prayer, and time for those struggling to renew their focus.

     A very touching poem was said today also. It was about how God is merciful and forgiving despite our sin. Sure, I'm sure all of you heard about that many times. I have. But the vivid language and examples touched me today and gave me a different outlook than I had before.

     Finally, the meat of the service, the main message. Today's sermon was the coninueing of the James series. Today, our Pastor continued in James 5:7-11. The theme of the message: The coming of the Lord. Or more specifically, the Second coming of the Lord.

     One important aspect of us waiting for the coming of the Lord is patience. Long patience.

"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord...you also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

     The coming of the Lord is at hand. We are to live in expectancy of the coming of the Lord. For example: The teacher has left class. All students are left alone (Elementary school). Of course, one student gets up to do something. Afterall, no one was watching. He takes a mini ball and throws it at a nearby friend. Then he gets on his desk and plays catch with his friends. The class gets rowdy and just as the kid on the desk gets ready to jump; the teacher walks in. That boy, was someone I know (name wont be mentioned). He was punished, of course.

     Now the point is: that young boy would not have jumped on the desk and threw a ball across the room if he knew the teacher was about to come quickly back. Now take the point to us as Christians. The coming of the Lord is at hand. He is going to be quickly back. He really is. That knowledge should filter our actions and filter our way of living. Our teacher, Christ, will quickly be back.

Are you ready?

X-TRA

X-TRA is a new feature I want to bring to this blog. Essentially, this is just headlines from around the web. I am thinking to post X-TRA's 1-2 times a week. Here's some this morning:

Breaking the bread code - Information you need to know. Well, not exactly, but it's good to know!

Awesome Art - Some amazing art. I would definitely enjoy having one of these!

Abstinence on the Rise - Abstinence is on the rise among young adults. I'm glad!

A Clash of Worldviews - A great story of knowing your boundaries.

Deadly Earthquake - Deadly earthquake hits and effects Japan and Hawaii.


This video was created for the relationship rehab series at centralchristian.com. Yes, I did get a laugh out of it. Hope you dont have these troubles now or in the future!

 "An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly."
-A.W Tozer

The Atonement - Part 2

Last time, we defined atonement and talked about its cause. Then I stopped at a question:

"Was there any other way for God to save human beings than by sending his own beloved Son to die in our place?"

Good question. It deserves answering.

The Atonement - Part 1

The atonement is the work Christ did in his life and death to earn our salvation.

Theologically, we may define atonement in that way. We see in many churches the "Jesus loves you" signs and "God is love", all referring to how he sacrificed himself on the cross.

The question is: What was the ultimate cause that led to Christ's coming to earth and dying for our sins?

Hello!

Hello! This is my first blog. I wanted to create a blog to share my thoughts about various things I see, hear, and/or think! Further posts will be made in the future...