Saturday, April 28, 2007
desire & self-control
04 desire vs. selfcontrol
Desire is like a coin. It is a coin with a positive and negative side. On the positive side you find healthy desire. Healthy desire generates commitment and propels accomplishment. It is healthy desire that causes us to be unsatisfied with the life we live and strive to live as the LORD desires. On the other side of the coin you find unhealthy desires. Unhealthy desires fuel lust, addiction and destruction! It is our own unhealthy desires that cause us to sin.
The authors of the texts in the Bible have a lot to say about how our evil/unhealthy desires lead us to sin. I feel that the letter written by James puts it best
"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each of you is tempted when you are dragged away by your own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1.13 - .15 (TNIV)
This text shows us the cycle that sin takes in our lives. Sin is started by our own evil desires. When we give into those evil desires it leads to sin. The sin grows and matures and gives birth to death! Sin is serious business.
So what can be done? Two things, first turn your life over to Jesus Christ and let him rule in your life. Let the blood of Jesus wash you clean of your sins. Let the Holy Spirit fill you and give you the strength to overcome your evil desires through self-control. The second thing you can do is to live that self-controlled life. The writings of Paul are full of encouragement to live a self-controlled life that will give glory to the LORD. We are not to live lives guided by our own selfish desires and wants but lives that are controlled.
In our discussions on Sunday Nights dealing with sex and sexuality, the importance of self-control is critical. It is easy for people to allow their sexual desires to control them. It is easy for people to allow a sexual situation to go farther than they intended by not staying in control. We are human beings created in the image of the LORD. We are not animals who have no self-control. God's intent for sex is not simply to make new human beings, but to bring a man and woman together into a union. This union is what we call marriage. Using our self-control to wait until we are married to have sex is what the LORD wants. We also use our self-control to keep our marriages pure by not committing adultery.
It is important to remember that if you have already surrendered to your unhealthy desires and committed sin that the LORD offers us grace and redemption. We have to repent of the sin we have committed and live a self-controlled life through the Holy Spirit.
Friday, April 20, 2007
03 intimacy
People seek intimacy. People need intimacy. We are made to live in a community, a community where we can be ourselves and not be judged. We were created to live in relationships, relationships that are mutual and allow us to be vulnerable without fear. We need a place to be real and share our deepest dreams, desires, hopes, fears and thoughts. This is true intimacy. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be hard to find true intimacy and people sometimes settle for whatever they can get. They settle for intimacy lite.
Why do they settle? Intimacy, true relational intimacy, can be hard to find and hard to accomplish. First it takes energy and attention. A close intimate relationship doesn’t happen by accident and you don’t just stumble into them. No they are intentional! You have to devote energy to make this kind of relationship work. You have to pay attention to it and keep it alive through open and honest communication. This all takes time. You have to spend time and energy together. It requires “face time” one on one time in the same actual physical space and not just on the phone or instant messaging someone. (I am a big web 2.0 fan but I know that I will not find true community or intimacy through a social networking sight, on Second Life or in a chat room.) Finally, you have to be willing to be vulnerable. In an intimate relationship each person has to be open and honest and take the risk! You will never know people for who they truly are unless you allow them to see you for who you really are. The masks come off. Time together builds the trust the relationship needs for vulnerability to exist.
Many think this is too much to risk, so they take short cuts. The most used short cut is to use sex as a substitute. Sex is not intimacy. It makes people feel intimate and close but it does not create true openness, honest and vulnerability required for true intimacy. Our society has sexualized intimacy and fed the lie that you can substitute physical intimacy for the real thing.
Our society has perverted the word intimacy by making it mean something that it is not. Intimacy is not a physical act. Intimacy is a relationship where you can be real and vulnerable. It is a relationship that costs each member time, energy and attention to make it work. It is a relationship that opens us up to the biggest risks but it offers the biggest rewards.
My point is this: men and women can have a close intimate relationship without being sexual active. It is normal and healthy for men to have close relationships (not sexual) with other men just as it is normal for women to have these close relationships as well. This is how we were created and what we need. The LORD created us to live in a community or friendship where we can be our true selves. He does not want us to settle for something that might feel good for a moment but is fake.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
virgnia tech shootings
bbc new on vt shooting
wtop news on vt shooting
abc news on vt shooting
npr news on vt shooting
npr: blog of the nation on vt shooting
chris is ok
Friday, April 13, 2007
02 sexual identity
02 sexual identity
Who we are as sexual beings is not an accident but our sexual
identity is formed over years. Sexual identity is more than just if we are
just gay or straight but it is who we are as sexual beings. How we behave
as men, women, boys and girls. What forms our sexual identity?
One factor that forms our sexual identity is our physical
form. This is the body we have. Our hair color, our eye color, our
height, our weight these are factors we can not control but that we are born
with. If one is blind or has a physical handicap either from birth or
later in life due to an accident or illness. We inherit some of these from
our parents and some of them are changes that take place later in life.
Depending on your physical form will help shape how you see yourself as a sexual
being.
Next there are our experiences, things that have happened to
us or that we have done in our past or present. Rape or sexual molestation
have a big impact on people sexuality. A prolonged illness. A teen
or young adult who has had a bad break up or was in an abusive
relationship. Consentual sexual activity in the past or that is on
going. This experience factor is one which we have a little more control
over.
Then there is our families. Boys look to their father
as models of what it means to be a man. Boys look to their mothers to see
what to expect a woman or girl to be like. Girls look to their mothers as
models too. They also look to their fathers to discover what to expect
from men or boys. An absent parent either physically or emotionally absent
can be damaging. Unfortunately many time people have to unlearn what they
learned about sexuality from their families.
Our culture is another influence. We live in a culture
with a broken idea of sexual identity. Our culture is saturated with
sexual messages. Girls are seen as sex objects more and more in-spite of
the feminist movement. Our culture labels sensitive and caring boy as gay
or not manly. Boy grow up with an image of a man as someone who is tuff,
chiseled, gets the girls and is self reliant. Girls and boys are faced
with “perfect” men and women on billboards, movies, tv and the internet.
These “perfect” people are all illusions. There is no way we or our young
people can live up the illusions our culture presents.
The final and most important factor in forming our sexual
identity is the LORD! HE is the creator of men and women. He created
sex. He created sexuality and our sexuality is a gift from Him. He
also gives us the power to over come the brokenness of the other factors that
form our sexuality! He redeems us from our sinful nature that pulls us
away from the beautiful sexual identity the LORD has for us!
The teens and students in the Upper Room are at a stage where
their sexual identity is still forming they are in the process of becoming what
they will be! The choices they make now may not affect them right away but
will down the road! That is why this class is so important. This is
why parents talking to their teens about sex and modeling a healthy sexual
identity is so very important. They need to know they can make good
choices now that will help them form a healthy sexual identity in the future.
Monday, April 09, 2007
01 sex talk
01 sex talk
Our culture is filled with sexual messages. These messages come from our parents and our friends. These messages come from the movies we see, tv shows we watch and the magazines we read. Messages are sent from schools and the church. Some of these messages are positive and some are negative. Unfortunately many of the messages I see tend to be on the negative side.
For example, many popular tv shows portray causal sexual activity among friends and coworkers as something normal. It is shown as something to be expected. It is something that is harmless and doesn’t hurt anyone at all. This is a lie! Casual sex outside marriage is harmful. People’s feelings are hurt and expectations are not lived up too. If it involves a boss and employee, all kinds of problems can happen. Usually a tv show uses this for humor or glosses over the reality of an office affair.
Another negative message I see comes from the school system. Instead of treating teens and students like human beings with self-control and feelings, they are treated like animals who have no self control. They are given the mechanics of sex but not the truth. With this mechanical knowledge they are simply told to be careful because they could get a disease or pregnant. (On a side note it is tragic that pregnancy is equated to an disease.) The truth is we, are not animals who have no self-control but we are humans created in the image of the LORD. It is one thing to know the mechanics of sex but it is a different story to know the spiritual and psychological ramifications of sexual activity.
A final negative message comes from an unexpected place: the Church. Now I am not talking about the Church of Christ in Falls Church specifically, but the Church in general. For too long, this has been a subject we have neglected to discuss openly and honestly or it has been a topic we answered simplistically. The simplistic answer is “Don’t have sex until you are married or you’ll burn!”
In the Upper Room’s Sunday Night Live, we are discussing the topic of sex and sexuality openly and honestly. We are discussing the fact that the LORD created sex. He created it not just for procreation, but to bring a man and a woman into a wondrous and mysterious union. We call this union marriage. It is for marriage and in marriage that the LORD created sex to take place. Sexual activity outside of this context is not what he planned. It is a sin. We are called to live sexually pure lives not because of some disease we may contract, or because of some psychological damage we may face, but because we are the LORD’s people, striving to live the life he has called us to. If you have strayed from this path, the good news is you can find forgiveness, grace and renewal.
This is part of the positive message about sex and sexuality we are communicating in the Upper Room’s Sunday Night Live during our 7 week series on sex and sexuality we started last Sunday night.
sex
i am also writting a series of articles in the our bulleting (the family life) i am also going to post the articles here during the next 5 weeks or so.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
igniter video volume 5
here is some more info on the video
guiroo made me do it!
You Are 35% Left Brained, 65% Right Brained |
![]() The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports. |
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
hebrews: Jesus the High Priest
10 Hebrews
Hebrews 7.1 - .28
The primary job of a Levitical priest was to connect the Israelites to the LORD. The priest stood in as our representative. He offered sacrifices for us. He asked the LORD to forgive us. Unfortunately the priests of old died so a new priest had to come along and take his place. Over the centuries the Israelites had thousands of high priests and probably millions of “regular” priests. Their priesthoods were temporary. Long before the LORD set up the Levitical Priesthood thru Aaron there was a priest named Melchizedek. The Aaronic priests were priests because they were born into the tribe of Levi. Melchizedek had no such heritage. He was a priest without genealogy, without mother or father. The LORD made Melchizedek a high priest. (Hebrews 7.1 - .10) Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek.
The author of Hebrews refers to the fact that Melchizedek resembles the Son of God as a high priest. (Hebrews 7.3) Neither of them are descendants of Aaron or come from a priestly tribe. Both of them are kings. Both of them are greater than Abraham and by proxy the Levitical priesthood. (Hebrews 7.4 - .10) This is not to say the Melchizedek was supernatural in any way. He walks into the story of God’s people in Genesis 14 and then walks out*. It is Jesus who is the focus of what is being written.
The text quickly shifts to Jesus as the High Priest who truly meets our needs. Jesus is eternal and therefore he is the permanent high priest. Unlike the other priests he will always be there interceding on our behalf to the Father. Unlike the priests of old who had to offer sacrifices for themselves and the People of God over and over again, Jesus offers himself once and for all as a sacrifice for sin. He saves us completely. He is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinner and exalted above the heavens. (Hebrews 7.23 – 28)
He became the true High Priest by way of an oath that the LORD made. As we saw earlier the oaths and promises of the LORD are always fulfilled and are greater than any oath or promise we can make. Unlike the People of God in the past who had to rely on other people to represent them before the LORD we have the Son who is the permanent Great High Priest Jesus Christ. Unlike the People of God in the past who had to rely on continual sacrifices for the forgiveness of their sins, our sins have been forgiven by the once and for all sacrifice the Son made on our behalf. This is a great and awesome comfort to know that we have security in our life as on of God’s People and don’t have to fearful but should live pure and holy lives as his people. For a world with so much darkness and bad news this is light and truly good news.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Melchizedek Take One
09 Hebrews
Hebrews 6.13 - .20
Everyone has made promises. We have made promises to our children. We have made promises to our spouse. We have made promises to our friends. We have made promises to our parents. We have made promises to ourselves. We have even made promises to God. We have people make promises to us as well. We have all kept our promises and we have all failed to keep our promises. That failure to keep our promises is the main characteristic of promises made by us. That is why we make oaths, sign contracts and make legal agreements. These documents spell out the punishments we will suffer if we do not live up to our obligations. We break promises and we need a higher power to make sure we honor our agreements or promises.
The LORD on the other hand never breaks His promises! We have a certainty about the promises and covenants of God that we do not have about the promises people make to us. The author of Hebrews after warning the original readers to not walk away from the salvation they had reminds them to wait patiently for the LORD to fulfill His promises. (Hebrews 5.11 – 6.12) The author does this by referring to the LORD’s promise to Abraham. (Hebrews 6.13 - .15) Makes two promises to Abraham: a promise of a blessing and a promise of many descendants. To do this the LORD made an oath by swearing on Himself. Since there is nothing greater than the LORD and to reassure Abraham, He swore on Himself. The promises the LORD made to Abraham have been kept but he had to wait patiently and faithfully to see the fruit of the promise. This example of patiently waiting for the final salvation is for us as well. It has been nearly 2000 years since the Lord Jesus Christ promised to return and take us home but His return is taking longer than we expect. Like Abraham we need to wait patiently and faithfully because the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY never lies.
The author goes on to explain how people need to make an oath on something greater than then to keep the accountable to the promise but no one is greater than GOD. (Hebrews 6.16) The LORD swore by himself to make the unchanging nature of His purpose or promise clear to the heirs of the promise. The purpose or promise are the promises to Abraham and we are the readers of Hebrews were the heirs as well as us today. (Hebrews 6.17) So it is clear to us that God’s promises and purpose have been fulfilled. Abraham was blessed in his life. Abraham does have many decedents by faith and by blood. These decedents or heirs include us today.
Then the author writes some really interesting stuff. First he writes about God making this oath to show us He cannot lie. There are two unchangeable things, which are evidence of the impossibility of God to lie. (Hebrews 6.18) Those are the promises to Abraham. We have fled or run to take hold of this hope that encourages us. This hope or certainty in the LORD’s promise is an anchor that helps the soul stand, hold firm and be secure. This hope, Jesus, entered the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in the Tabernacle. Jesus our hope is our forerunner who goes ahead into the Most Holy Place on our behalf and becomes the High Priest forever. (Hebrews 6.19 & .20) He leads and we are to follow the one true High Priest. In the past only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place and only then once a year on the Day of Atonement. These high priests were in the order of Aaron but Jesus the true High Priest is in the order of Melchizedek.
What does it mean the Jesus is the true High Priest in the order of Melchizedek? The author of Hebrews will expound on that in the following sections of this letter but we will see more about that in the next few weeks.
Today leave with the knowledge that you and I can be certain in the LORD’s promise and that it is impossible for Him to lie to us. We have security in that knowledge. Leave today with the knowledge that our hope is not some vague idea but our Hope is the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Hold on tightly to the HOPE cause nothing else can save you in the end or bring the blessings of God to you today!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
snow day!
ice sleet and snow feel last night and we have more than 2 inches of this slippery stuff on the ground.
pictures to come.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
promises oaths covenants and priests
09 Hebrews
Hebrews 6.13 - .20
Everyone has made promises. We have made promises to our children. We have made promises to our spouse. We have made promises to our friends. We have made promises to our parents. We have made promises to ourselves. We have even made promises to God. We have people make promises to us as well. We have all kept our promises and we have all failed to keep our promises. That failure to keep our promises is the main characteristic of promises made by us. That is why we make oaths, sign contracts and make legal agreements. These documents spell out the punishments we will suffer if we do not live up to our obligations. We break promises and we need a higher power to make sure we honor our agreements or promises.
The LORD on the other hand never breaks His promises! We have a certainty about the promises and covenants of God that we do not have about the promises people make to us. The author of Hebrews after warning the original readers to not walk away from the salvation they had reminds them to wait patiently for the LORD to fulfill His promises. (Hebrews 5.11 – 6.12) The author does this by referring to the LORD’s promise to Abraham. (Hebrews 6.13 - .15) Makes two promises to Abraham: a promise of a blessing and a promise of many descendants. To do this the LORD made an oath by swearing on Himself. Since there is nothing greater than the LORD and to reassure Abraham, He swore on Himself. The promises the LORD made to Abraham have been kept but he had to wait patiently and faithfully to see the fruit of the promise. This example of patiently waiting for the final salvation is for us as well. It has been nearly 2000 years since the Lord Jesus Christ promised to return and take us home but His return is taking longer than we expect. Like Abraham we need to wait patiently and faithfully because the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY never lies.
The author goes on to explain how people need to make an oath on something greater than then to keep the accountable to the promise but no one is greater than GOD. (Hebrews 6.16) The LORD swore by himself to make the unchanging nature of His purpose or promise clear to the heirs of the promise. The purpose or promise are the promises to Abraham and we are the readers of Hebrews were the heirs as well as us today. (Hebrews 6.17) So it is clear to us that God’s promises and purpose have been fulfilled. Abraham was blessed in his life. Abraham does have many decedents by faith and by blood. These decedents or heirs include us today.
Then the author writes some really interesting stuff. First he writes about God making this oath to show us He cannot lie. There are two unchangeable things, which are evidence of the impossibility of God to lie. (Hebrews 6.18) Those are the promises to Abraham. We have fled or run to take hold of this hope that encourages us. This hope or certainty in the LORD’s promise is an anchor that helps the soul stand, hold firm and be secure. This hope, Jesus, entered the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in the Tabernacle. Jesus our hope is our forerunner who goes ahead into the Most Holy Place on our behalf and becomes the High Priest forever. (Hebrews 6.19 & .20) He leads and we are to follow the one true High Priest. In the past only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place and only then once a year on the Day of Atonement. These high priests were in the order of Aaron but Jesus the true High Priest is in the order of Melchizedek.
What does it mean the Jesus is the true High Priest in the order of Melchizedek? The author of Hebrews will expound on that in the following sections of this letter but we will see more about that in the next few weeks.
Today leave with the knowledge that you and I can be certain in the LORD’s promise and that it is impossible for Him to lie to us. We have security in that knowledge. Leave today with the knowledge that our hope is not some vague idea but our Hope is the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Hold on tightly to the HOPE cause nothing else can save you in the end or bring the blessings of God to you today!
Monday, January 29, 2007
my crib and my ride
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
rocketeering!
me and austin took a rocket he got for christmas up on the hill behind our house to launch his rocket! ashley was our camera girl and she did a great job.
click here to go to sparkyphilms to see our 3rd and final launch of the day.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
losing your salvation!?!
Hebrews 6.4 - .6 maybe the harshest and most controversial part of the book of Hebrews. Take a moment and read those few short verses and you will see what I mean. The controversy seems to focus on the fact that someone can lose their salvation. There is a debate as to whether these were true believers or not. To me the most astonishing part of these verses is not that we can lose our salvation but that someone would walk away from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The author of Hebrews reminds the readers what these people have walked away from. First, they walked away from the heavenly gift. Then they walk away from their share in the Holy Spirit. Next they spit out the word of God after tasting its goodness. Finally they leave behind the powers of the coming age. By doing this they once again crucify the SON of God and subject him to all the disgrace he already suffered on their behalf.
They have no means of return. There is no repentance left for them! They have experienced all the blessings that the LORD has to offer us in this world. They had the heavenly gift of salvation that the Son bought us. They had a share in the Holy Spirit, that part of God that lives in each of His people. The tasted the goodness of God’s word and enjoyed it teachings. They experienced the power of the coming age. Instead of remaining faithful and holding on the all this goodness they walk away from it. In doing that they punish the LORD Jesus Christ again. How could someone do this!
This wasn’t an accident, they did not just slip away from their faith on the other hand they deliberately rejected their only hope! The author makes an agricultural analogy to help describe what they are like. (Hebrews 6.7 & .8) It is as if they were ground that received rain daily but instead of producing a useful crop they only produce thistles and thorns. They received the blessings from God and instead of producing a good crop they produced weeds. The blessing weren’t the problem but they were.
But, the author is confident that the readers are not like this! (Hebrews 6.9 - .1 The author looks at their lives and sees them producing a good crop. They are taking the blessings of God and are growing. They have repented of their past sins and are changing the direction of their lives. They received the heavenly gift and walk in it not away from it. They rely on the power of their share of the Holy Spirit, to have the wisdom and courage to live a life pleasing to the LORD. They not only tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the coming age and they are eating it up. They are not humiliating the LORD Jesus Christ again instead they are glorifying him with their lives.
Who are you? Are you walking away from the blessings of God? Are you producing weeds, thorns and thistles? Are you crucifying the Son of God all over again?
Who are you? Are you walking in the blessings of God? Are you producing a useful crop? Are you crucifying your old self and bringing glory to the Son of God?
The choice is yours but after experiencing all the blessings the LORD has shown me I will always walk in the way of the LORD and nothing will cause me to walk away from Him!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
at which table are you sitting
At Which Table are You Sitting?
The Adult’s Table or the Kid’s Table
Hebrews 5.11 – 6.3
At most family gatherings there are at least two tables: one table will be for the adults and parents; while the other table is for the kids. This way the adults can have mature conversations without having to worry about the children interrupting. The kids are able to eat as the please and have immature conversation without parents telling you to stop. If you sit at the adult table you are considered to be mature and old enough to behave like an adult. If you sit at the kid’s table you are considered to be immature and not old enough to behave like an adult. The goal is to move from the kid’s table to the adult table. There are two ways to make this move. First you can grow up and this takes little effort. The second way is to become very mature. This can take a lot of effort but it can be worth it!
Those who first read Hebrews were sitting at the kid’s table spiritually even though they were supposed to be at the adult table! They are still drinking milk and eating baby food when they should be moving on to steak and coffee. (Hebrews 5.12b – 14) Milk and baby food is for infants and spiritually immature who are not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. (Hebrews 5.13) Coffee and steak are for the spiritually mature who by constant use of the teachings about righteousness have learned to tell good from evil. (Hebrews 5.14)
They are warned that they have gotten slow, lazy and have stopped trying to understand. The author wants to teach them about Jesus as the Great High Priest in the Order of Mekchizedek and what this means to them but they aren’t ready for it! (Hebrews 5.11) In fact they should be ready to teach but need a refresher course! (Hebrews 5.12) They are stuck at the kid’s table but should be at the adult’s table instead.
The author wants to move them from the kid’s table to the adult table. The author wants to move them from elementary teaching to some advanced teachings. Using the elementary teachings as a foundation to build on. Leads to understanding the advanced teaching the author has for them. (Hebrews 6.1 - .3) It also leads to them being the teachers they should be.
We face the same challenge. Many in the church have grown lazy and just stop trying to learn when they should be teachers themselves. They do this by stop coming to Bible studies that challenge them to think deeper. They do this by continually going to milk and baby food Bible classes when they should sit down to a big piece of Bible study steak. They do this by not putting the teachings into use and training themselves how to tell good from evil. They do this by not teaching when they are perfectly able too.
Our challenge is to listen to this warning! Don’t just sit at the kid’s table where it is fun and safe. Move to the adult table where you are challenged and learn to use what you learned. Teach others to move from the kid’s table to the adult table. I have been going to Bible classes since I can remember and many of you have too. Isn’t it time to move on and teach or at least sit at the adult table?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
card board man


i got creative with an old cracker box one morning and this is the result! i think i might use the head shot for my buddy icon for ichat.
by the way i am now on facebook so i can be kewl!
i seem to be the only 1990 graduate from north springs high school on facebook