Monday, February 20, 2006

The Necessity of Sound Doctrine

I encourage you to take a moment to visit CCM artist Steve Camp's blog to read the following article: CAMPONTHIS: The Necessity of Sound Doctrine...the great test of American Christianity

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

I have found that it is vitally important for us to pass along a legacy of proper theology. I got married in September of last year and in dealing with life as a married Christian man I've found several areas where I fall so miserably short. I see examples of this where I have been trying to affirm my wife's self-image verbally, but in a few circumstances my actions have torn apart all that was built. And there are times when I am strong enough to lead my family and make the best decisions only to be crushed under the pressure of resolving a conflict, buckling down, and compromising my integrity. I'm a lion in the mirror and a mouse in the real world.

When I misunderstand the nature of God and my responsibilities toward Him, it is reflected in every area of my life. When driving down the highway of life, if my understanding of God's Word is impaired, I cannot "fix" problems with my driving until I fix the problems with my eyesight. The analogy applies to many areas of life -- from why a Christian has a problem sharing his/her faith, to why a woman has a hard time picking a good man -- there are many fitting examples.

Personally, I wasn't clearly taught much about being a man... so when I see problems with being a Godly husband, it would be really stupid of me to try to fix them without also dealing with what God says about being a man. I now have a Godly father-in-law as an example to follow and I hope to learn a lot from him. I pray that God will give me the grace to learn what was never passed down to me.

You can download a free PDF copy of the book "Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood" by John Piper and Wayne Grudem which has been helpful to me in dealing with this issue. All of the authors in this book are well-established scholars, and each chapter provides a book’s worth of insight. The entire book is available in this one Adobe Acrobat file that you may view on-line or download: http://www.cbmw.org/rbmw/rbmw.pdf

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Practical Tools for Self-Discipline

I got a reminder recently of why my internet filter is important to me. I clicked on what I thought would be a link to a "Christian" website but my filter blocked the page. I don't know what was really on that page because I had no desire to over-ride it, but I would have known and possibly been trapped into something I don't want to see if I had not had a good web filter. That incident caused me to re-evaluate and reflect on my level of self-discipline.

Proverbs 5:22-23 says:
The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.

Revelation 22:10-15 warns us:
And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Let us be faithful to humble ourselves, practice self-discipline, submit to the Lord and walk in holiness. Let's use all the resources available to us to avoid being "unequally yoked with unbelievers" and to seperate ourselves from worldly lusts.

- Free Internet Filter
http://www.k9webprotection.com/
- How to Control what you watch on TV
http://www.controlyourtv.org/
- Rebuild Christian Family Culture
http://www.visionforum.com/about/welcome/
- Remain Committed to God's Word
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/
- Cultivate Your Personal Prayer/Devotional Life http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/02/122902.html http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.pdf

Friday, February 03, 2006

Yes, TV Loves Me!

Here is a funny song about the influence of Television:

http://www.ttwministries.com/media/TV%20Loves%20Me.mp3

Enjoy!