Culture

252 posts

This Christmas, What Is Your Good?

What makes a Christmas a good Christmas? Think about that for a  moment. There is danger that lurks for Christians when we evaluate the quality of life with the standards of our culture. Using the world’s standards as the measure of what is good in your life will bring dissatisfaction. This is exactly what happened to the psalmist in Psalm 73. His overwhelming discouragement came directly from evaluating life the way God’s enemies do. Parents, this applies to you, as well. If you work hard at your parenting, but use the culture’s standards of success, you will become like the psalmist—embittered and discouraged with life and with God. What is good cannot be found by looking at our culture. Christians have a […]

Whose helper are you?

Your children know everything about you. They see when you are sleeping, they know when you have been good or bad, they know when you pout and when you shout. Your kids know all of this without your ever having to say a word. When you stumble and ask God for help — they learn. When you stumble and snap or make excuses — they learn from that, too. If you value your relationship with God above all else, your children will know that as well. What does this have to do with being Santa’s helper? Just this: in Psalm 72:18 we read that “God alone does marvelous things.” However, at Christmas time, for little children someone else is portrayed […]

Dying To Worship

Would you risk your life and the lives of your children to come to church this Sunday? It is a serious question! For William Bradford, the answer was yes. Bradford was 33 years old. He was the leader of a group of people who sailed for a new life in the new world. The group experienced famine, cold and sickness. Yet, Bradford, called everyone together for thanksgiving and worship. 495 years ago, Governor Bradford proclaimed that Thursday, November 29th, 1623 would be a day of Thanksgiving and corporate worship. This day marked the third year since these pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. Over half of their group died in the brutal first year of their new colony. Why did they […]

Fear the Real Walking Dead

There is a popular TV show about walking dead people. These are not the kind of people that you want to hang out with. Yet, in real life, there are walking dead that we hang out with everyday. We trust them to tell us how to live, how to spend our money, how to have fun and even how to love. I know, you are thinking who would be that crazy. Why would any one trust walking dead people?   Well, for one thing the real walking dead don’t appear dead. They aren’t necessarily scary in appearance. They may even be extremely attractive. They are often indistinguishable from those who are truly alive. Here the TV show has one distinct […]

The value of suffering

Secular culture faces suffering with fear and dread. Affliction is something to be avoided. Suffering is regarded as an interruption to life. Suffering is not a meaningful part of life. In a biblical vision, suffering comes from the hand of a God who is good and working good in us through all that he brings. Our suffering may seem overwhelming. Afflictions are often unfair. We may see our adversity as random and meaningless. In reality our suffering is meaningful. God has a purpose in it. If we face it rightly, it can deepen and strengthen our love for God. These afflictions can produce more spiritual stability, deeper graces and greater spiritual growth than we could imagine. —Tedd Tripp [hr] [hr]

The Power of Music 

Music is powerful. Read this account of a young and popular musician. He was as concerned about the way he appeared when he performed as the music he played . . . Around him young women swooned, others fought for and tore articles of his clothing . . . The musician encouraged such conduct because it made his legend grow. Who was this wild man after whom young women clamored? Is this a scene from today, the 90’s, 80’s, 70’s or 60’s? Actually, it is from the 30’s—the 1830’s. The musician was Franz Liszt, the noted classical pianist and composer. No, he wasn’t the first rock musician. His music is neither loud nor raucous by today’s standards. It is not […]

Tedd Tripp on manhood

In 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul connects leadership with parenting. In doing so he gives a primer on both what it means to be a leader and what it means to be father. Paul begins the discussion of a father’s role in 1 Thessalonians 2:9 by reminding them of his toil and hardship for them: Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. This is a window into Godly manhood. True manliness is marked by deep sacrifice and hardship to provide for those under his care and never be a burden to them. Dads work out their […]

The Pleasure Trap

Most of the difficulties that you and your children face are not caused by a lack of information. Most arise because of a lack of sound judgment. This is illustrated by the experience of Israel after Joshua died: Israel became a spiritual train wreck. Why? They knew about God but they didn’t know God. Here is what Judges 2:10 says about this time: And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. As you read through the book of Judges it becomes apparent that the people knew about God. You hear him talked about all the time. […]

Celebrate Your Dependence 

Regardless of laws, judicial decrees, executive orders and public opinion, independence from God is not possible. Isaiah reminds us of God’s total control and man’s total dependence on him in Isaiah 40:21-23: Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. The prophet’s words are as true today as they were 2,800 years ago. It is […]

Falling In Love With Time 

John urges us not to love the treasures of this world.  Another way of saying this is not to fall in love with time. Time has do with the earth. Yes, time is important, but it is not a thing to be worshipped or to serve. If time becomes your master, you will not be able to serve God.  If time becomes your treasure, your heart will be enslaved to the wrong master.  How can loving time be a bad thing for your family?  Time is the enemy of building relationships that address the issues of the heart. Schedules, appointments, practices, tee-times are all good things that have their place. However, when they take precedence over healing the wounds of […]