Class Notes_Obeying...Surrendering

Our reference for the discussion this week was 1 John 2:1-6, and our focus was on the theme in verse three. Here we have John telling his congregation that “they have come to know him, if [they] keep [God’s] commandments.” The tendency is to look at this passage of verses and think “If I really love God, then I would not break His commandments...am I really saved?” But I urge you to dig a bit deeper and consider the context.

We discussed chapter one last week, in which we found out that we are not called to be perfect, but to continually confess our sins (admit it, be sorry, be real, ask for change) and walk in the light (pray, read, learn = “see”). And yet you may ask, “Why the heck would John say ‘if we say we have no sin...the truth is not in us’ and then turn around and say we must always obey all the commandments in order to really love God?”

The answer? John’s not saying that at all! The issue here is that our salvation results in an inward change that enables us to change our actions—and to want to change them. Obeying the commandments are actions we perform out of reverence for God because we slowly lose our selfish nature. Our godly actions are the result not the reason---the effect rather than the cause. Do you get it?

The bottom line is this: If we love Him, we will seek to know Him and grow closer to Him. He is the all sufficient fountain of living waters---we are asked time and again to turn to Him in all things, rather than digging our own cracked wells (Jeremiah 2:13). As we grow closer to him through the Word and prayer, we can’t help but begin to follow the commandments---to be like Christ! This is part of what’s called “sanctification,” a life-long process that begins with our daily submission to God.

This brings me to the other part of our Sunday discussion...the rich young man (see Mark 10:17-32).

This guy had a ton of wealth (v. 22) and had obviously been a pretty good guy (v. 20) all his life, but he wanted confirmation that he was on the right track to Heaven. When asked “how can I inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied “you know the commandments.” Indeed he did, and when Jesus ran over a portion of the commandments, the young man responded that he had “kept these from [his] youth.” But Jesus turned the tables on him.

Jesus knew his heart, and in verse 21 he looked him in the eye, “loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing’...” Jesus demanded he sell all he had, give it to the poor, and then follow Him. A huge demand! You’ve heard the “camel through an eye of a needle” story before, and like me you’ve probably been confused as to its meaning. But let’s get one thing straight here---Jesus is not saying that there are to be no well-to-do Christians out there.

You can very easily look at this verse and see that Jesus makes a good point about how we can get too comfortable---too reliant on our stuff. He had also said that we should not “store up treasures” here on earth, since they are perishable in light of eternity---this is part of it. And yes, we have heard that riches do not bring satisfaction. But there is still more to it...

Again, Jesus knew this man’s heart. Look at the commandments that He listed: all of these deal with his “neighbor” (adultery, stealing...etc.). What was his first charge to the man? “Sell all that you have and give to the poor.” Only by giving it all away could he be released from his self-centeredness. Jesus wanted him to go deeper than the law and go to the meaning behind it---“love thy neighbor! And by doing so, release yourself from what prevents you from doing Commandment #1---‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart!’”

He had spent his life being good, following the rules, earning his money the hard way rather than cheating to get to the top, but he missed the spirit of the law! Remember Mark 12:30-31?

But this was his specific problem. Wealth may not be your problem (if it is, then how about hooking a brother up?). So what is your idol? What gets your focus/your attention? Is it a job? College? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Or does it go deeper? We can hold on to wounds and to the hatred for those who caused them, too. Jesus wants it all, no matter what it looks like...

Jesus called this man’s hand---hitting him in his precise weak spot. He loved him, remember? So instead of beating around the bush, he went straight to the root of the issue: “I love you, young man...but you can’t love me as long as you are holding on to all that stuff. And that stuff won’t get you eternal life!” (Jesus always went to the heart of the issue...consider the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:1-30---“go get your husband” was a cut to the bone, as she had not one husband but a string of failures and was living in sin---he knew that she was trying to replace God and fill the “God-shaped hole” with Mr. Right or even Mr. Right Now...you see the parallel?)

But the man’s response showed his heart. He desired Heaven, but could not see that his loyalties lied more in the acquisition of wealth than in honoring the God he had prayed to since his youth. He was a good man, but he “lacked one thing”---an desire to give God what He deserves.

It is still my opinion that if the young man would have responded by throwing up his hands in desperation and said, “Oh my Lord, I can’t do that...how is that possible? I really desire to honor God...but help me, Lord...what you are asking me to do is too much for me!” then Jesus would have answered him with the answer he gave his disbelieving disciples. But instead he ran off all busted up over what he thought was unfair.

What if he would have hung around for another five minutes? The disciples had trouble with Jesus’ answer, too. They were “amazed at his words” and “exceedingly astonished”---in other words, they were saying, “what the heck, Jesus? That’s crazy!”

But what’s the difference between their reaction and the reaction of the young man? Their hearts! They were committed---they were going to listen and believe no matter how hard the message became. They hung around for an explanation, and when they questioned him honestly, Jesus gave them the straight answer---“With God all things are possible.”

God can enable us to release what binds and blinds us from knowing Him. Rather than running off and feeling bad that we can’t be good enough for God, we can say, “Jesus, this thing (this hurt, this job, this girl, this guy, this sin, this stuff...whatever has the majority of my attention) that I am holding on to is too big for me. Can you help me do the impossible?”

Confession (still more class notes)

1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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Are we to be perfect? How can we be “in the light” not walking “in darkness” unless we are perfect? If light and dark cannot exist together, how can God and I fellowship when I sin? Aren’t we told we are never going to be perfect?

We can start with the first one: NO, we are not asked to be perfect. But we are very much asked to strive to imitate God (Eph 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God...”). But what about when we fail?

Verse 9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us...” But what is confession? Think about when you were a kid---we faced consequences for breaking the rules as kids. When confronted, or if you were bold enough to admit it without coercion, did you really seek forgiveness for dishonoring your parents, or did you “confess” to merely avoid or diminish the effects (the punishment) of the wrong?

The difference is huge! Sure, God knows we sin...but He allows us to come to Him, admit the error, and then offers His strength to help us change! This type of confession makes us vulnerable in the world---people have to choose to forgive us and don’t always let us off the hook---BUT GOD ALWAYS DOES. When we come to Him and say, “Lord, I have fallen...I have committed a sin against your perfect will...I do not want to do this again, but I must have your help to change...”---then He is “faithful and just to forgive us."

This kind of confession brings repentance...it brings change...and above all, brings PEACE.

Walking in the Light (more class notes)

1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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Remember, light and dark are two opposing forces. One cannot co-exist with the other (flipping on a light switch removes all the “dark” from the room...). God is here and in many other places illustrated as light---guiding our path (Prov 3:5-6), turning our darkness into light (2 Sam 22:29), in His face (Psalm 4:6), and tons of others (see Psalm 119:130, Isaiah 2:5, Matt 5:14, for more).

When we live in darkness, we are living in ignorance of God and all that He would have for us. What is the result of our darkness? SIN... whether intentional or unintentional, separating us from Him (“...what fellowship has light with darkness? 1 Cor 6:14) and leaving us unsatisfied.

But notice here the root of the problem is not the actions of “sin,” but the INACTION of not living in the light--walking with God every day in the path he illuminates in effort to know Him and learn His will for our lives. To use John’s words, we must “practice the truth.”He deserves our time. He deserves the reward of His suffering—the life that he bought by the death of his Son for us, “even while we were yet sinners.”

Circles (class notes from Sunday)

We discussed “circles” this past week. A circle, according to Webster’s is “a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a fixed point within the curve.” (Quite a mouthful...) There are three special features of a circle that we can look at: the central, fixed point; the enclosure of space; and the boundary.

First is the “fixed point” in the center of the circle. We discussed in class the use of a “compass” that allows you to accurately draw a circle by placing a sharp point on the paper and rotating the pencil around it. Without the fixed center, the circle could never come out just right.

Second, a circle is really not much more than a definition (or enclosure) of a particular space on a paper. When you use the compass, you adjust the radius arm to place the pencil at your desired distance before drawing the circle. By this, you are defining a certain portion of space that you wish to enclose within your circle.

Finally, a circle has a boundary. After you’ve determined the diameter of space you wish to define on the paper, you place your pencil on the paper and rotate around the fixed point, leaving a circular line on the paper. This boundary defines the limits and breadth of your circle. Think of a playground: placing a fence around a kids’ playground defines the playing area, dividing this special place from the rest of the world (the parking lot, the street, and so on...), giving them a safe place to play and be kids.

Questions to consider:
(1) What should our center be as Christians? What are some other “centers?” Now, honestly answer for yourself, “What is my center, really?” Can we even begin to draw our lives without this focus?

(2) After thinking about #1, how do we define our lives as Christians? How do we know how far to adjust the radius arm in our lives (that is, how do we know what we are supposed to be? To do? How to act?)

(3) Once we know our radius (our measuring stick), can you think of how we can place boundaries in our lives?

(4) The boundary of the circle is also what we notice when we look at a circle on a piece of paper, not the empty white space inside. What do people see when they look at you?

a new foundation...

Okay everybody...I found it!

I have been meaning to scratch out something coherent that would summarize my passion, or more accurately, the "stuff" that God has been speaking into my life in the past 2 months that fuels this passion. Well, today I was digging around in the website of a church in Texas, finding some really cool resources and ideas for founding and growing a discipleship vision in my home church, when I ran into this church pastor's "Pastoral Prayers." I was stopped dead in my tracks when I read these. Have you ever had a time when you met someone with whom you shared the same ideas, background, history, and interests? Someone who you feel you can connect with on a deeply satisfying level? Well, a lot like that love at first sight moment when you meet the person of your dreams, here I found all of the things I have been thinking and studying and searching out in the Scriptures. So rather than me re-write what is already a comprehensive list of what kindles my fire, I will simply allow this pastor to relate them to you for me.

Read on...

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What the Pastoral Staff Emphasizes in Their Teaching

OUR NINE PASTORAL PRAYERS

While traveling the country as a speaker, experiencing the challenges of itinerate ministry, Matt Chandler asked himself: If I ever get the chance to invest in one group of people, what would I want them to learn in life? In November 2002, Matt was called by God to become lead pastor of The Village. In his sermons, Matt expands upon the nine answers he wrote in his journal. His prayers for us, as a congregation, are:

• That we would see that the greatest problem in the universe is not mere moral failure, but a failure to honor God (Romans 1:21)

• That we would understand that discipline will never bring about love, but love always brings about discipline (Galatians 3:5)

• That we would realize that children of God are not under wrath, but mercy (Romans 9:23)

• That we would find that the fullness of all things, including life and joy is in Christ (John 10:10)

• That we would experience a holy discontentment with where our lives are, and espouse the hope of what our lives can be (Romans 8:20)

• That we would recognize that God has purposefully placed us here at this time, in this place, for His glory (Acts 17:26)

• That we would develop a taste for truth, even difficult ones (Psalm 119:11)

• That we would embrace Biblical Christianity, not American evangelicalism (2 Timothy 3:5)

• That we would believe in the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and desire them earnestly (1 Corinthians 14:39)

(copied from http://www.thevillagechurch.net/firstTime/emphasis.html)

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Holy smokes, I just read them again and I'm excited. This is the direction that God is taking me in my personal ministry--because of things like these, I have a purpose, direction, and motivation for my life in God, through Christ. Through the verses provided above and many others, my life has been fundamentally and forever changed!!

One last thought for the moment for you to consider:

--We should love, serve, preach, teach, and seek to save the lost not because they deserve a chance in Heaven--no, but only because He deserves the reward of his suffering.

Chew on that one for a while...if we can embrace that truth, we can "do all things through Christ who strengthens" us.

...there's so much more to tell you, but I'll "save some more for later" (a quote from Willy Wonka--remember Agustus Glute's mother? the chubby, German kid?)

I love you guys!--Jeremy

love me like a song...

ever notice how much more you appreciate and enjoy a song once you've heard the background behind the song? or, if the song is written by someone you know, the deeply personal relationship doesn't give you a chance to doubt the greatness of the tune?

I wonder if this is true of our interactions with people...

I don't like certain people--judging only by the external and the opinions of others, and sometimes this is further solidified by an actual experience in the person's presence

but I've found myself shocked and amazed at how differently I can view one or another of these people once I am able somehow (and typically against my wishes) to get to know them

people are jacked up for so many reasons--the baggage is not convenient and exists without regard to our comfort

but like a song that I love--that I listen to in the quiet times, times of inspiration and tears and remembering and forgetting--people (God's joy, full of some divine spark I suppose and the reason for that Sacrifice) can become a treasure, if for nothing more than the pleasant surprise of being humbled

and making me consider Jesus

breaking squelch...

(emerging from the depths...it has been a while...perhaps all should view the frequency of my postings as a thermometer for my spiritual health)

you know, if I continue to work to provide/please my wife, my children, my boss (and bosses), while denying myself (at least feeling that I am denying myself something) then I will have cause for resentment at some point in my life (indeed I already feel this way some days)

(pause...) and yet, in all this, aren't I doing all for self, albeit indirectly? plugging away for those in my care--to what end if the spiritual debt goes unpaid?

the only solution is to do all for the glory of God (man, how that phrase sounds so elevated) and naturally all other things will fall into place--I am trying to learn and make sense of this idea

(I'm not talking about "sin" here, at least not in the popular sense...I'm more concerned about laboring towards some undefined end...

you know, the funny thing about dreams is that they always seem disjointed and confusing, having no purpose but appearing like one of those movie ransom notes with letters all over the place--like the paint-strewn Pollock paintings...I suspect that the "American Dream" may not be much different)

and the first step is forcing myself to pray...then believing that God will provide the time to read His word....and then doing it again...and again...all the while attempting to have faith that God honors my commitment

great...now let's get to it (doesn't seem so darn complicated, but Man am I tired this morning...what else is new?)

some things I want to know_Part 6

16. Do you have a daily quiet time? If so, how long have you had it going? How long are your sessions usually? What time of day works best for you? and so on...

David:

Try to. Couple of years. 15 to 20 minutes. Morning.

Justin:

I used to have one regularly. I am trying to get back to that consistent time with God. The best time for me is early in the morning before anyone else wakes up. Grab a cup of coffee, the Bible, and listen to the creator. It is amazing how that quiet time with God can be so refreshing, yet it becomes the first thing I cut from my schedule when life gets busy.

Greeley:

I talk with God everyday, throughout the day. I do not have a set time that I have the traditional "Quiet Time".

Eric:

By God’s grace, right now I do. But I realize how wicked I am and this could change at any moment. It is much easier to rely on self rather than God. I usually spend about 15-20 reading and praying when I get home from work at 4am. But do to the nature of schoolwork, I can also use school studies for personal growth. Don’t get me wrong; school is not devotion to God. But it definitely helps.

Jeremy:

I have lately begun to experiment with trying to saturate my day with God-centered, or aimed, thoughts. I’ve been listening to David Jeremiah and John Piper online, reading CS Lewis/Philip Yancey/and My Utmost for His Highest, and talking to my friends about God-centered issues as much as possible. I am trying to hammer out a specific time for prayer and study. I believe I am going to try and do it first thing in the morning. Lately I’ve done it when I arrive to work or over lunch, but there are quite a few distractions that hinder that.

some things I want to know_Part 7

13. On which political pole do you lean? Left? Right? Democrat? Republican? Independent? Esssplain it, will ya?

David:

Conservative.

Justin:

Independent..gotta love those right wing Christians. Man they make the church look good!

Greeley:

Independent. Being that I am in an international relationship (wife from Denmark), and have lived in and visited many other countries, my views: political, Christian and cultural go beyond the borders of the south & America. My prayer and heart has been to see the world and people through God's eyes and not my own. God is bigger than Alabama, Baptist, Methodist, Muslim, Republicans, Democrats, America, and ME. We often place our limitations on God, and try to fit and manipulate Him into our little boxes.

Eric:

I’m a flaming conservative. I’m not a republican. I’m not a democrat. But I do support the democratic republic form of government (hehe). Seriously, I am conservative. I vote issues, not parties. So if the next republican candidatefor whatever position is pro-choice, he or she will not get my vote!

Jeremy:

Let’s say I am a Christian first and that, I believe, makes me naturally an Independent. But I believe I am primarily conservative, but with some liberal tendencies (social). If I’m a Republican, I’m lumping myself in with every Tom/Dick/and Dirty Harry that supports the right to tote shot-guns, “eye for an eye” and the right to “get drunk and screw”; if I’m a Democrat, I’m lumping myself in with every gender-confused, tree-hugging, baby-killer who wants to have the right to “get drunk and screw…”

some things I want to know_Part 5

6. Any quotes you find thought-provoking?

David:

None come to mind at the moment.

Justin:

1. "Never, Never, Never Give Up" Churchill
2. "If you have nothing to die for, you probably have nothing to live for" Martin Luther King Jr.
3. "Since childhood's hour, I've not been as others were, I've not seen as others saw" Edgar Allen Poe.

Greeley:

"Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change of attitude."
-Katherine Mansfield

"Hate the sin. Love the Sinner." -Gandhi

"We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are."

Eric:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which cannot lose. – Jim Elliot, missionary murdered by the Auca Indians.

I am not, but I know I AM. – Louie Giglio (if confused, read Exodus 3 and John 8)

I am your servant, but you are not my master! – Alistair Begg, in a sermon to his home congregation (Parskide Church, Cleveland, Ohio)

Jesus Christ is not safe, but He is satisfying! – John Piper

Golgotha is not a suburb of Jerusalem! – John Piper on Hebrews 13:13

Why do liberals protect the guilty (death row inmates) but destroy the innocent (unborn children)? – Mark Lafluer

Some people say I have a swagger. In Texas, we call that (brief pause) walkin’. – George W. Bush

Jeremy:

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

“You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.” From Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

From Lonesome Dove (a paraphrase):
[referring to the Hat Creek Cattle Company sign] Woodrow Call: ...and if that ain't bad enough you got all them Greek words on there, too.
Gus McCrae: I told you, Woodrow, a long time ago it ain't Greek, it's Latin.
Woodrow Call: Well what does it say in Latin? [Gus blusters some gibberish]
Woodrow Call: For all you know it invites people to rob us.
Gus McCrae: Well the first man comes along that can read Latin is welcome to rob us, far as I'm concerned. I'd like a chance t' shoot at a educated man once in my life.

some things I want to know_Part 4

7. Peeves (making you want to curse, spit, or flip the bird at someone)?

David:

Gaps in traffic as people turn at a signal. People who don’t use signals especially in heavy traffic.

Justin:

Racism, Hypocrisy, Close Minded People.

Greeley:

Hatred, Racism, Xenophobia, Propaganda, Self-Righteousness, Arrogance, Narrow mindedness, Manipulation & People who are fake. I am trying to show God's love to these people as well, but it is not always easy.

Eric:

Christians without convictions. Christ stood up to the culture.

Also, when people say that Bobby Cox is a terrible manager. The man is brilliant. A wife beater yes; but he is a brilliant baseball manager. Who would you rather be: A Marlins fan with 2 World Series championships and a terrible franchise or a Braves fan with 1 championship, 14 division titles, and a stable franchise? I’ll take the Braves!

Jeremy:

(1) Racism (especially that “look over my shoulder before you make a comment—‘I ain’t uh racist, but’” stupidity that lingers around here”); (2) people whose importance in life is dictated by their rank or position; (3) superficiality; (4) ungrateful customers; (5) SMACKING (sorry for yelling); (6) my wife messing with my belly button; (7) walking with a full, uncovered coffee cup; (8)my wife popping gum while I’m trying to FRIGGIN DRIVE! (9) when you iron your clothes for 30 minutes and notice no effect on the wrinkles; (10) my kids whining; (11) my dad taking a crap with the bathroom door open; (12) my brother-in-law walking around the house with all of us there in his friggin underwear and his “TITTIES (no offense…)” hanging out; (13) my brother stripping his towel less than 2 inches from my face and farting a semi-moist fart while I was watching TV; (14) telemarketers who call EVER and insurance agents who call after 6 pm…to name a few

some things I want to know_Part 3

8. What about songs that mean something to you?

David:

“Imagine”, “Amazing Grace”

Justin:

1. Awesome God - Rich Mullins
2. Fix You - Coldplay
3. You Are My All in All - Dennis Jernigan
4. God of Wonders - Caedmon's Call
5. History Maker - Delirious

Greeley:

1. World on Fire - Sarah McLachlan
2. Take it as it Comes - Grand Avenue
3. Hear I am to Worship for Kids
4. Come Now Is the Time - Vineyard UK
5. Break Dividing Walls - Live from Holland
6. The Name of Jesus - Kirk Franklin
7. Baby's got back - Sir Mixalot

Eric:

In Christ Alone – I want this played at my funeral.
Before the Throne of God Above
It is Well With My Soul
And anything by David Crowder!!!

Jeremy:

“Held” Natalie Grant; “Where are the Fathers?” Israel; “Daughters” John Mayer; “God Weeps Too” Eli; “If We are the Body” Casting Crowns; “When You Say Nothing at All” Alison Krauss version; “My Hope is You” Third Day; “In the Name of Love” U2

some things I want to know_Part 2

3. Moving Bible verses?

David:

(1) Psalm 56:4 “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”

(2) Proverbs 1:33 “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil”

(3) Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.” There are others that I have read that really meant a lot to me at that time. One of the beauties of the Bible is it has a solution for every problem. It’s hard for me to take just a few verses and say it applies to everything in my life.

(4) John 3:16 may be the only exception. As you can see, I have some ideas and feelings about fear.

Justin:

Phi 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Col 2:6 My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him.

1Co 13:2 If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 1Co 13:3 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 1Co 13:4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, 1Co 13:5 Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 1Co 13:6 Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 1Co 13:7 Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.
1Co 13:8 Love never dies.

Greeley:

John 8:7 "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her."

1 Corinthians 13 "If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate."

Eric:

Romans 8:1-2 – Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 8:33 – Who will bring a charge against God's elect?As a matter of fact, the entire 8th Chapter of Romans is unbelievable!

Philippians 2:5-11 – Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped , 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ephesians 5:25-32 – Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BEJOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Psalms 31:14 – But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD,I say, "You are my God."

Psalms 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalms 34:8 – O taste and see that the LORD is good;How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Jeremy:

Colossians 3: 23-24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Matthew 25: 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

1 John 1:7 …but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Psalm 25:1-7 1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. 4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

Romans 8: 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

some things I want to know_Part 1

2. Any unrelenting convictions (religious, moral, whatever)?

David:

Yes

Justin:

1. The Braves will never again win the world series. Very sad. 2. God's Love/Forgiveness is much greater than we can imagine. 3. So many of my convictions are actually traditions that have been passed down. I am trying to seek God in every area of my life. God - how do YOU feel about this topic. Not my parents, not my pastor, not my friends, not America, not republicans, etc..

Greeley:

My convictions are to be a compassionate, loving, and humble man that does not judge and condemn others. A man that seeks and stands on God's truth and not mans truth. I do not want to be a cultural Christian. Jesus was a radical man, who rattled the religious foundation of his time. He showed grace, love and mercy to the humble, and he showed law to the arrogant and proud (Religious leaders of His time). John 8:7 "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her." Now, was Jesus a man without convictions because He showed grace to her and many other sinners?

Eric:

Religious: The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God. If this is not so, then everything else is fair game (creation, sin, virgin birth, death,resurrection, second coming just to name a few).

Moral: see religious conviction. Again, if we do not have a clear revelation of morality, then who decides what is moral or immoral? Nature? I sure hope not. Ask a gazelle if nature should decide morality while Mufasa is chewing out its spleen! God is the source of all morality, whether we like it or not. And if the Bible is not inerrant, then our morality has no foundation.One more example: some (non-Christians) argue, “whatever advances humanity is what is moral” (this allows them to answer to crimes like murder, rape, child abuse). They say the greatest good is living. Ask a Christian martyr if there is anything greater than living. They will answer of course! Faithfulness to God is more important. Union with Christ is more important! The naturalist decides morality based on his or her own personal agenda. But who is to saythat their agenda is right. This is why we must have an outside source of morality. And this source must be perfect! If you wrestle with the inerrancy of Scripture, please consider the devastating implications (just a food for thought).

Jeremy:

I'm working on them as we speak. I've had what you might call "unrelenting convictions" in the past, but their foundation was too shaky to be meaningful.
The phrase “you’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything” keeps popping into my mind (it is, however, slightly tainted since Aaron Tippin sang it years back, and I think he’s a dork). I worry about not having a foundation. I worry that if I don’t take a stand somewhere (you pick your issue), defaulting solely to the blank check of tolerance, I’ll find myself too much of the world.Convictions, to me, mean uncompromising beliefs. Being still a “babe” in my Christian walk, I too am afraid to stand firm on an issue, and I feel reluctant to be labeled as a hypocrite or as being guilty of a closed, legalistic mind. But I hope to find that balance. After all, Jesus took a stand. He stood for justice and forgiveness, charity and love…but he also called for repentance while at the same time he brazenly cleared the temple of the hypocrites and legalists.

at face value

I despise that part of me that puts on a face when I encounter new people. The subconscious defense mechanism of superficiality has to be peeled back (or lifted, like a cardboard mask) before any real connection can be made.

Life is too short (a cliché, but the first thing that comes to mind) to skim the surface.

“Human Touch” is sharpening, comforting, and illuminating. My purpose this very moment in the personal space of Acquaintance XYZ or Buddy ABC is to walk on the wild side of vulnerability.

I have found it deeply satisfying to challenge my superficiality and pursue meaningful connection with the people God puts in my path.

And this, I believe, is the only way that Grace has a chance in such a cynical world.

some thoughts on pleasure

The chief end of man is not happiness, in the sense that we are to seek pleasure at any expense.

Ultimately, this life, regardless the level of pleasure one attains, still ends in a death of rot and decay.

Life is apparently a short trial, an obstacle course run. Earthly life is short, whether 10 or 90 years, in comparison with the unfathomable eternity to come, be it in Heaven or Hell.

We who are still typing or reading or breathing should count it joy and a blessing that we are still here. God has a purpose, for good or for bad (our choice) to use us for the furthering of His kingdom. Our choice to follow and learn, and from here to serve and share, is the difference between death and perfection.

The story is written. It is as if the visions and notions and voice that we sense is his direction is but a dream of the future life. He wrote it, we are in it. We are to seek that glimpse of guidance and make the choice to press on.

All life in pursuit of pleasure is doomed to fail. Each new obstacle is seen merely as a barrier to the pleasure that I have worked so hard to enjoy.

What of our occupation? To what end our striving and conniving for position and influence and salary? Material gain? The broad grin of smug self-satisfaction? All is selfishness and pointless. Should not our jobs, if not directly an in-your-face ministry, be but vehicles by which we obtain the resources to further God’s kingdom and purpose?

What’s wrong with pleasure? Nothing.

God wants us to experience pleasure. But God has such an awesome pleasure in store for us that the so-called “pleasure” of this temporary trial is not worthy to be considered. We hold this pleasure as sacred and fight to keep it. Instead, thankfulness for the moments of pleasure during the trial is perhaps more accurate. But ultimately, no earth-born pleasure fills the insatiable void. Closeness to God, through attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, guiding us to reach out to others in their emptiness—that is the call.

And to that call God answers with Heaven and perfection and resurrection and redemption and salvation and Grace. A reward none of us could ever come close to earning…and the fruit of which will prove so much more than fulfilling, so much more than we’ve ever imagined in our wildest, most beautiful dreams of snow-crested mountain hideaways.

If we don’t imagine Heaven as being so amazingly terrific and rewarding I cannot see the benefit for such a trial. Without such an awesome reward, I cannot see childhood cancer as the by-product of a caring God…I cannot see bouncing back from the death of a child as a choice worth considering…I cannot support the delay of any gratification that the heart can conjure.

ERIC:

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your hearts." - Psalm37:4

"Yes Lord, walking in the ways of your truth, we wait eagerly for you. For your name, and your renown are the desires of our souls." - Isaiah 26:8

"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." - Westminster Shorter Catechism. (By the way, the "and" could also rightly be "by" instead. Man's purpose is to glorify God by enjoying Him.)

Piper says, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." AMEN!

God is our treasure. Not His gifts. He is the treasure! For God to give anything less would prove Him to be unwise and unloving.

God would be unwise because He would not know that He is of ultimate value - So He gives Himself.

God would be unloving to with hold that which is best for us - So He gives Himself.