Is it any wonder?

I remember a tv ad encouraging the purchase of some chocolate something-or-other and praising its "decadent sensation" or something similar. Do we now imagine that decadence is merely harmless, self-indulgent pleasure?

In fact, decadence leads to decay or is a form of it. Is it any wonder?

Still

I still find it difficult to be still.

Sacrifice of Prayer

We've heard of sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15). I remember when I was more prone to prayer. As I give thanks to God for the food I'm about to eat, I remember that I once had the practice of praying with a sacrificial attitude. That sounds odd, I know. But what I mean is, I did not rush through it. Even with steaming hot, delicious food in front of my face, I got still. I prayed without any concern for how long it might take. The food wasn't the issue, I suppose. I prayed not out of duty, but out of desire. I relaxed, sat still, and waited AS I prayed, having submitted to God with a prayerful attitude, as opposed to being in a hurry to eat. Just now I felt more truly in prayer than I have in a long time. I want that to be the norm again. Am I making any sense?

Can corporate marketing be a good thing?

I enjoy that Coke has embraced, at least for public relations purposes, an ethic that is contrary to some current cultural trends. I additionally enjoy the fact that, by creating a parody of a video game wherein the player's goal is to role-play a bad guy as bad as he can be, Coke has expressed their ethic by directly confronting another company that has embraced the opposite ethic.





But who wants to be a bad guy anyway? What is the mindset behind this desire? On the other side of the equation, what is the mindset to which Coke's commercial appeals? Are we, as a culture, reaching the saturation point for violence, promiscuity, and pride? Can we offer an alternative? In fact, do we not have with the Gospel the only solution?

Planned Parenthood Exposed

Read the article: Planned Parenthood: Wanting fewer blacks 'understandable'

TV vs. Relativism???

Wow! Television dealing with real life honestly? What a pleasant surprise! I'm not at all a fan of "ER", but I'm tempted to believe the end of this episode might be worthwhile.

The Bad News

We all know that a lot of contemporary Christian music is fluff. I can live with that. There's a lot of good music to be found and a lot of good messages as well. Besides, who is perfect, anyway? We are all "in process", "under construction", being sanctified.

I may pay more attention to fluff than I have because I was shocked at Natalie Grant's In Better Hands. Now, wait a minute! I'm not calling for a boycott or excommunication or anything like that. I am only calling for your attention.

The first time I heard this song, my attention was instantly caught by Natalie's plaintive and sincerely grandiose style, which I often find beautiful and moving. But I was stunned to hear her sing "You can't love if you don't love yourself"! What? Did I hear that right? Can I rewind the radio? Isn't this a Christian station? Who is that? What's the name of that song?

In Better Hands is typical, nearly vacuous, contemporary Christian fluff, though better for having been sung by Natalie Grant. I don't mind at all that there is only incidental doctrinal content or that no figure of the Godhead is mentioned, though "the breath of Jesus" can be found in one line. I don't expect that kind of content in what is, essentially, pop music.

I'm sure no more thought was given to the line I find alarming than to others like "It’s like the world is silent, though I know it isn’t true". But, really? "You can't love if you don't love yourself"?!?!

BALONEY!!!

We learn just the opposite from the Bible. If you can't love, it is most certainly because you do love yourself.

Some of this worldly thinking must come from the common confusion between love and joy. Many don't enjoy their identity, but that's only an issue because they love themselves so much. What does it mean to enjoy who you are, to enjoy your identity, to exult in yourself? It means to be proud and self-centered! Contrary to loving oneself, rejoicing in Jesus miraculously results in humility and love for others.

I love Natalie as she is our sister in the Lord. I stand behind her profession of faith. I have no desire to call her to account. May the Lord keep her, bless her abundantly, and continue to grow her up in Christ. May we all be discerning to see, smell, and taste before we swallow whole.

The Good News

Ginny Owens's debut Without Condition was released way back in 1999, but it may as well be new. In Ginny's lyrics, I find lessons for me today. Be Thou My Vision begins the record and its theme. There's a big lesson there!

I'm still growing and learing and so forth, but I am humbled by the words of I Wanna Be Moved because the first verse describes me and the rest does not:

The Road is winding, narrow and steep
And I can't keep walking with frozen feet,
My spirit is not willing;
My heart is cold as ice;
Thaw out my convictions;
The passion's left my life

I don't wanna be a flame
I wanna be a raging fire
Tired of my will, my way,
Your calling's higher!
Oh, I know it's time I stopped running from the truth
So I'll stand here still, until I'm filled
I wanna be moved I wanna be moved by you!

Wanna be a rebel with a Holy cause,
Stand against the Devil and hold up my cross,
You have a mission for me; a reason why I'm here,
To radiate your glory, with sweet songs to your ears

Unlocking the Mystery of Life

I frequently enjoy watching movies. I enjoy interesting stories, fantastical visual effects, and vicariously participating in activities I may never have the opportunity (or the inclination) to experience.

As a result of my interest, I have come across a very few fiction movies worth sharing with others and a rapidly growing number of documentaries of quality.

I have just viewed Unlocking the Mystery of Life and I highly recommend it. I have too little patience for traditional reviews, but in order to encourage you to see it - no, to own it yourself - I will be brief.

In the same way that The Privileged Planet promotes Intelligent Design generally, rather than a particular God or religion, Unlocking the Mystery of Life lays out the overwhelming evidence without being critical of opponents.

Better yet, the issues at hand and the evidence are presented with refreshing objectivity, in 'plain language', with common sense reasoning, but without skimming over the details. As a result, the viewer is not only informed, but equipped to discuss the subjects addressed.

In addition, viewers are treated to some of the awe inspiring beauty of the world in which we live.

Buy this DVD. Watch it with your children, your friends, and your neighbors. Then talk it over!

Love is a Four-Letter Word

"Love is patient, love is kind..."

Paul teaches us how to love. But, I now try to recall if I have been patient and kind to my ice cream. Because, of course, I love ice cream. How can I be kind to ice cream? If I did find a way, would it know? Would it care?

What's that you say? It's not the same?

Well, of course not exactly the same. I can be kind and patient with people whom I love. But I still love ice cream, don't I? It tastes so good. I've even been known to have a bowl of ice cream for supper. I admit I don't love all flavors equally. I'd even say some flavors I'm indifferent toward, but that's only because the flavors I do enjoy are readily available. I love butter pecan and mint chocolate chip. Yum!

And I love some of the people I know. I love talking with them, playing with them, just being around them. I seek them out to enjoy them – just like I do with ice cream.

But it is different. For my close friends, I have feelings I do not have for ice cream. I desire their good. I seek to serve them and please them. I am (at least sometimes) patient with them and kind to them. I don't do this with ice cream (God help me, I hope not!). Then, do I really love ice cream?

Well, let me check. Paul tells us what love is. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking..." That's quite enough. I obviously do none of these things with regard to ice cream. Since this is what love is, and I do not do this to ice cream, then it cannot be love that I do to ice cream!

I certainly enjoy ice cream. But if love means to be patient, kind, etc., then how can I talk about love for food, a movie, a song, an amusement park, the beach, or any number of other things I commonly say I love? These are all things I enjoy, which is well enough. And, there is nothing wrong with enjoying people, but have I limited my concept of loving people to merely enjoying them? Doesn't that mean I have distorted love into something entirely selfish and (if that weren't bad enough) entirely passive?

Have I become a casualty of selfishness and juvenile hyperbole? I imagine (pre)teen girls talking about some new item of clothing, "This dress is to die for!", or, "I just adore these shoes!"

::sigh::

I'm a silly man.

To enjoy those whom we love is most likely an indication of a healthy mind and healthy spirit. But to love that which we enjoy is to personify, or even idolize, that which has no life in it. And shouldn't our regard for those whose souls are eternal and who bear the image of God be so much greater than our regard for that which is temporary and soulless?

When you hear me say, "I love ice cream", then please remind me, "No, you don't."

The Madness of Anger

The etymology of mad points to an original meaning of "insane". But we use it commonly and more frequently to mean "angry". This is a correct usage. So, what does that tell us about anger?

Interestingly, anger comes from a Norse word meaning "sorrow". Might this also tell us something about anger?

I Miss Fred, Too!

Christ's Festival

I finally decided "what to do for Christmas". I'm still not prepared to entirely reject all this gift giving. In part, this is because I don't want to behave in a way that could reasonably make friends and family feel alienated. I think simply abstaining from giving gifts would do just that. I am still giving gifts also because I do not yet have an alternative. Christ's Festival should be celebrated in some way, surely. Finally, giving gifts isn't exactly an inappropriate way to celebrated God's Gift to the world, it's just gotten way out of hand.

I discovered . While this may not be the perfect solution I seek, it is very pleasantly a step in the right direction. At this site, you can donate to a vast array of charities. The wide selection includes Pregenancy Support Services and Campus Crusade for Christ, so I consider the endeavor legitimate. In addition, it is a member of the Better Business Bureau.

But, you can also purchase a gift card and have it shipped or emailed to whomever you desire to give a gift. They then donate the value of the card to the charity of their choice.

Brilliant.

'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

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.'

It is his birthday, after all.

James 4:13-15

Mutual Submission

I've heard the phrase "mutual submission" used to describe the message of Ephesians 5:21: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

This phrase always reminds me of a pair of Looney Tunes cartoon characters. They are chipmunks who speak with what I thought as a child was an English accent. But, their speech can more accurately be described as "high society" or genteel. Whenever the pair approached something they could not do together, like passing through a narrow opening, one would motion toward the door with his palm up and say to the other, "After you." The other would then reply, "No, after you." The first would then say, "You're too kind. Please, go ahead." This went on for a while until, finally, one would say, "Let's go together, shall we?" The other would reply, "Oh what a wonderful idea. Yes, I think we shall." Then, they would both painfully squeeze through the door together.

But even this is an understated demonstration of "mutual submission". Truly mutual submission would require us each to obey every other. This would result in near chaos as we, in our flesh, would compete to be first to give a command so that the other would be required to submit rather than vice versa. In fact, "mutual submission" is no less an oxymoron than "partially surrounded", "jumbo shrimp", or "six-month anniversary".

While I have heard it said, by those who have yet to be sanctified to the extent that they do not despise the word of God, that the subsequent verses confirm the fantasy of "mutual submission", in fact, these verses decisively demonstrate precisely the opposite.

The following verses, 5:22 - 6:9, are examples in which submission is already expected and part of the society of that time. There is nothing new in the fact of submission. The command is in how to submit. The examples give us details we can follow to give us an idea what it means to submit well. We are also encouraged and reminded in each example that our command is not merely to submit to the one who is in authority over us, but that both we in submission and those in authority are under the authority of Jesus, Lord over all.

The submission referenced in this passage is not mutual. No submission can be mutual. There is no such thing. Neither is the teaching here primarily about submission. But relationships wherein submission must occur are revealed as a context for the glory of God.

Christmas

What have Frosty the Snowman and toys to do with Christ's festival?

Growing up, Christmas was all about the toys I anticipated receiving. Later, it became more and more about gifts I would give to others. This seems so much more honorable, mature, and generous. But, I gave for my own glory and satisfaction, not for that of others. To my shame, I gave certainly not for the glory of God. What a shame indeed that a festival of The Almighty God's ultimate grace to us -even us- has been twisted and soiled until it is now, even for Christians, a selfish frenzy of worship for a false god, material wealth.

As a child, I was mystified by the elderly who often said when asked that they didn't want anything for Christmas. I have finally come to relate to boredom with the world and all the gifts it offers.

If only Christmas can be a Festival of Christ, then where can boredom live? And what becomes of the body of Christ when it worships in Spirit and Truth?

But how do we do such a thing? Not only so but how to we transition to it, whatever it turns out to be, from the materialist, idolatrous worship of this world that we do now?

Last year, I gave to some a set of CD's describing the scientific evidence debunking the myth of biological evolution. I consider this insufficient, but at least better than what I have always done. This year, I intended to give a gift, the proceeds of which would support adoption of orphans through a Christian organization. Unfortunately, the website for such purchases (the only method available, as far as I know) is down for maintenance. But this is much better, I think. Still, the mere giving of a gift can hardly be called a celebration or festival.

Even now, we have a Christmas Eve service at church. But this does not inhibit or replace our year long idolatry as we prepare for the annual worship of the money, celebrated by giving all that it can buy to those who will also give to us.

I seek to replace what we have been doing, but perhaps I cannot learn what I should be doing instead until I fully and sincerely repent. Otherwise, I might endeavor to serve two masters. Our gracious Lord deserves better.

Defining the Infinite

Define means to determine limits or boundaries and Infinite means without limits or boundaries. Can infinite God be defined?

Gravity of the grave

Gravity is the natural force that pulls us into a grave.

gravity
grave¹
grave²

Willful & Lackadaisical

If one is "obstinately bent on having one's own way" when one is merely willful (that is, when one is full of one's own will), then should we be empty of will and passive and lackadaisical?

Perhaps we should instead be full of another's will; perhaps not just any other, but God in particular. "Obstinately bent on having one's own way" is the sin we see in ourselves and each other even from birth!

The alternative is not boring or defeated. As ever, the spectrum is perpendicular to what we may imagine. At one end are both willfulness and lackadaisicalness, which equally bear focus on man, while at the other is obedience to God. That is, being filled with God's will. This cannot produce boredom or disillusionment. Neither does it produce a hard heart. The true alternative to willfulness and lackadaisicalness liberates us from boredom and callousness.

News about Persecution!

COMPASS DIRECT
"Compass Direct is a Christian news service dedicated to providing exclusive news, penetrating reports, moving interviews and insightful analyses of situations and events facing Christians persecuted for their faith."