The headlines from the sports world have forced themselves into the national headlines. Men are violently attacking women. Owners and players alike are using recreational drugs, performance enhancing drugs and engaging in sexually immoral behavior. The NFL has enacted new policies and punishment protocols. The NFL is heavily involved in educational programs to prevent these problems. Yet they persist. There is one politically incorrect initiative that the NFL has not embraced. The league would receive harsh, scathing criticism if they chose to follow this strategy. Yet, it is the only option available to the NFL, to colleges and other sports organizations that will bring genuine change to the hearts of those involved. If the NFL were to urge […]
Gospel
Ruth lived in a land of darkness. In some ways her world was not unlike ours. Babies were sacrificed in order to gain personal well-being. Moab was a godless country. Despair reigned instead of hope. The one bright spot in Ruth’s life was her mother-in-law, Naomi. There is irony here. Naomi had lost her husband and two sons as a result of her husband’s ill-advised plan to find a better life in Moab. Yet, even in Naomi’s bitterness and sadness, she still retained her faith in the Lord of Hosts. This faith was observed by Ruth and began to grow within her. Ruth embraced Naomi’s God, the God of Israel, as her own God with these famous words: […]
School has started. Even though summer has another month on the calendar, it has already ended. Schedules, grades, behavioral concerns, homework, and extra-curricular activities once again have center stage. Of course, all of life’s regular challenges are still present: financial issues, home and car maintenance, issues at work, relational struggles, problems at church, appointments, etc. In the midst of all this day-to-day turmoil your children can begin to feel less like a blessing and more like a burden. It is one thing to say that your children are a blessing to you and that you delight in them. It is another for them to actually believe this. Don’t misunderstand, failing to discipline and teach your children is not […]
Can the people of the earth, of a particular country, ignore the person and rule of God without fear of consequence? In America it is permissible to speak of any god as long as that god is not the God of the Bible. We can pray in any name as long as it is not the name of Jesus Christ. We claim to be a spiritual people, but we refuse to be illumined by the words and laws of the Holy Spirit. In the name of sexual freedom God’s instruction of what constitutes a family has been savaged. Let me ask again, can God be ignored without fear of consequence? The answer is no! God will not be ignored. His […]
In 2012, the E L James novel, Fifty Shades of Grey became a best seller. This book was the first of a trilogy by this same author. Many claimed that these books formed a new genre of literature, mommy-porn. The books are about the dark world of pain and sexual perversion. At Amazon, Fifty Shades of Grey was the most popular book of 2012. Not surprisingly, the book is being made into a movie to be released on Valentines’ Day, 2015. The trailer for the movie was released this past week. Americans immediately responded by making this book, once again, the number one best selling book on Amazon. The news headlines are dominated by events in Ukraine, […]
God’s commands are to be taught heart-to-heart. Heart change is the work of the Spirit. Teaching what that change looks like is the job of parents.This means bringing Christ to your children. Paul says that if you do not bring Christ daily, constantly to your children you will provoke them to anger. Look carefully at Ephesians 6:4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. By calling fathers to bring up, or nourish children with the Lord’s instruction he is referring to what he had just taught to the Ephesians. So, failing to follow this instruction will actually provoke our children to anger. This instruction is needed to […]
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 3 On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.Malachi 4:2-3
God provides many opportunities to speak of Christ. For example, when someone says, “thank God, that was close!” Take this opportunity to talk about what really happened. Perhaps something like this: “Hey Paul, that really was a close call.” “Yep, the man upstairs was looking after me.” “You really think so?” “Absolutely, how else do you think I got out of that mess!?!” “Paul, I think you are exactly right.” “Of course I am, that was too close for comfort!” “Paul, you and I have been friends for years, right?” “Of course, you have seen me dodge the bullet many times.” “Well, as your friend let me ask you a question. You just said God bailed you out. Why wouldn’t […]
Whatever, it doesn’t matter. You have heard these words before, perhaps even from your own lips. These words are not words of encouragement or optimism. They are said when we feel let down, betrayed, discouraged. The irony is that often these words really mean that something matters very much. We continue to be surprised at being disappointed. People have this problem called sin. Sin comes from rebellion to God. At its root, rebellion starts with believing a lie. We believe we can be happy apart from dying to ourselves. We believe that the people we love will not hurt us. We believe that we deserve what we desire. We believe things will be better next time. We believe that we will […]
As parents we rightly focus on teaching our children to obey God. But, we must be more focused on teaching our children to love God first. This is where it is easy to turn away from the gospel in parenting. Whether you read Deuteronomy, Matthew or Colossians, the first thing that God desires is that he is to be loved. Too often, when it comes to raising children, loving God is tacked on as an after thought to obedience. The thought process may run like this: “I can’t force my children to love God, so I will teach them to obey, because I can require that.” Teaching obedience appears to be a more doable task than teaching […]