Thursday, November 30, 2006

Biblical Clothing, Part 2

Notice in Colossians 3:10 " and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him."

"Put on" is the Greek word enduo once again (cf. v.12) which means to "clothe yourself." Here it is in the aorist participle giving the idea that believer have put on the new man. Paul exhorts the believers in Colossae to make certain this is the case.

He goes on to say how he wants them to grow. In v. 10 they are to put on the new man by being renewed in the knowledge of the image of Him who created him. In other words, the Colossian believers were called by Paul to (1) put off the old man (v.9); (2) put on the new man; (3) be renewed unto a knowledge according to the image (Lit. "the eikon") of the One who created him.

This is Paul's goal = Christlikeness. This is Biblical clothing. Notice it is not external, but internal. Not outward, but inward. Not from the hips, but from the heart. Paul assumes that the inside will inevitably change the outside. If one is radically transformed from the inside-out, then the outside transformation will inevitably conform to that inward change.

May God grant us the grace and mercy to make these inward changes and put on the proper biblical clothing.

Your Framework for Seeing Life

In my Marriage and Family Counseling course yesterday, my professor said this, "The bible must set the parameters and framework for which we see all of life. The bible is that which frames our methodology."

Immediately after he spoke this, he said, "Take your Bibles and turn to..." This has become a normal and, shall we say, habitual thing to do in our class.

WHY? Why do we make such a big deal out of the Bible? Why are we obsessed with the Bible? Why do we just have to incorporate the Bible into all that we do?

Simple.

Because the Bible is indeed the very breathed out Word of God. Just like Dr. Street said, it is the Bible - not some other idea, ideology, methodology, postmodern conviction, mythical thought - that alone must set not only the parameters but also set the framework for which we see all of life. This is a statement that I hold dear to because the Scriptures have so gripped my heart and my soul that I want to do nothing in life but know the Word of God because I want to know the God of the Word.

I hold to this statement with 100% conviction. It's sad that 95% of other "Christian institutions" in the states may claim to hold to this, but when you speak of biblical counseling (if that phrase is even used), it is more of a psycho-therapeutic philosophy of helping you feel better of getting over your issues.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Biblical Clothing, Part 1

Colossians 3:12-14 12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

The verb "put on" is from the Greek, enduo meaning "I put on" or "I clothe." It is used in the NT most often for "putting on clothing" or "putting on the Godly person."

So what is the biblical clothing? Is God really, I mean...really, concerned about me wearing a tie in the pulpit? Is God really concerned as to whether I wear baggy jeans or flip flops to church or not?

I make the radical answer by saying, "NO." God doesn't care what I wear. This is not to neglect the importance of being a leader and an example to the people of God. But I often hear in circles that I'm in about how the pastor must do this, or he must do that, or he must wear this, but he must never wear that, it grieves me.

May we never lose sight of the fact that the biblical clothing that God is concerned with is the following:
1. Compassion
2. Mercy
3. Kindness
4. Humility
5. Gentleness
6. Patience
7. Bearing with one another in love
8. Forgiving one another
9. Love

So, biblically speaking, how are YOU dressing?

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Externals are Not Enough

External Conformity to the Law of God is NOT enough. A wealthy man once approached the Son of God and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17). Jesus answered and said, in essence, "if you would enter life, then keep the commandments" (Matt 19:17).

The problem with the rigorous law-keepers of that day, and cultural fundamentalists in our own day and age is that they (and we) focus on the externals ALONE.

The problem with the wealthy man was that there was a serious malady in his heart. He lacked one thing. What was it? In essence, the attachment of that one man to his possessions needed to be replaced by an attachment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Could this be said of you and me?

We must understand that if we want to keep externals, then the standard of the law is perfection - and nothing less (cf. Matt 5:48). Jesus does not and will not ever lower that standard.

So how does Jesus solve that dilemma if we as humans cannot keep that perfect standard? Jesus removed the wrath of God on behalf of us. That is the theological doctrine of propitiation. Propitiation is defined as "removing the wrath of God." This is what Jesus did by enduring the punishment that we deserved and paying the debt we could never pay.

As a result of this propitiation, a person is then justified. Justification, therefore, is more than being declared not guilty. It is not only being acquitted faults but it goes deeper. It has the idea of declaring one absolutely righteous. Jesus Christ does not make a defendant righteous. He recognizes and declares him to be righteous. Thus, to be justified is in our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ we are counted as perfect, even though we are still sinners in this life.

So, let us come to realize that externals and mere conformity to the Law's standards are not enough - nor will they ever be. We are sinners. That's it...plain and simple. Yet because of the Lord Jesus Christ we can be saved from the wrath of God (propitiation) and be declared absolutely righteous before God (Justification) because of what Jesus has done in our place.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Do we lead with love?


Alexander Strauch in his book "Leading with Love" has some good quotes that are worthy of mention:

Strauch quotes Jonathan Edwards who once said, "[God] delights in little things when they spring from sincere love to himself. A cup of cold water given to a disciple in sincere love is worth more in God's sight than all one's goods given to feed the poor, yea, than the wealth of a kingdom given away, or a body offered up in the flames, without love" (p.15).

Strauch continues by saying, "Since love is absolutely essential to the survival of the local church, its leaders must guard their own heartfelt love for Christ and continually monitor and encourage the church's love" (p.23).

So how are we doing?

Favorite Dessert

Tonight, I (once again) had Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner. It was a feast. I feel like I've eaten just as much food the past four nights as I had for the Thanksgiving Day dinner!

In any case, tonight after my turkey, sweet potatoes and dressing, I had this absolutely fabulous pumpkin cheesecake. I don't know where it came from or who made it (or bought it from someplace), but it was excellent.



This leads me to my favorite dessert place in all of L.A. If I could have dessert at just ONE place, I would (no doubt, no hesitation, no second guessing) go to the Cheesecake Factory and have a piece of their cheesecake. A Few of my favorites are:

Dulce De Leche


Vanilla Bean


White Chocolate Peanut Butter


One word sums it up: delightful.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Because I'm Young?

My verse while working in a leadership sort of position at Christ Community Church is this:
1 Timothy 4:12 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Because I am a young guy on staff, I need to constantly remind myself of this verse. I am in a similar position to young Timothy - whom Paul wrote this letter to. Paul commanded Timothy to be a man and to be an example (a tupos); literally, a type for the believers there in Ephesus.

Furthermore, the context of this verse is worthy of mention: 1 Timothy 4:13-16 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Verse 13 - As a young preacher, I am called to focus on three specific points through which all other ministry should flow: (1) to read the Scriptures; (2) to exhort people from the Scriptures; and (3) to teach the Scriptures.

Verse 14 - Paul here is reminding Timothy that he was called by God and that his ministry gifts were evident to all and so Timothy is to not become so timid that he neglects the spiritual gift in which God called him to use there at the church in Ephesus.

Verse 15 - Paul says: (1) Take pains with these things; (2) be absorbed in them (lit. "Be in them"). And as a result of this the progress of young Pastor Timothy and the progress of the church will be evident to all - it will be a solid, biblical and Christ-exalting church.

Verse 16 - Paul concludes the excurses by noting personally to Timothy - as a preacher - to pay close attention both to himself and to his teaching (doctrine; didaskalos). Timothy is to persevere in them. In so doing, he will be preaching the Gospel and will ensure his own salvation and will save others through the Gospel that he is preaching.

May the Lord grant me this mindset as I serve Him at Christ Community Church. May I keep the main thing the main thing.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Hebrews 9 and 10

This is a must watch here.

Special thanks to Todd and Bob for making this post known to me.

Watch the whole video- it is only 11 minutes. It'll be an encouragement to you.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Biblical Discernment

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

The Sacred vs. Secular is an ever-present schism in the Christian community today. It is - let me say - a false dichotomy. There is nothing that is secular that can be divorced from something else that is sacred.

We were saved out of the world when we were saved, but we were left in it. It is our responsibility as NT believers to neglect this ideology that everything that I do in life is secular except for my religious activities. I am convinced that this philosophy is not honoring to the Lord.

If I say that I have to drop a class because my life is too busy with ministry activities - bible study, youth group, worship band practice, youth retreats, small groups, accountability groups and my personal bible study time - then I have completely categorized all of these activities in a spiritual sphere while everything else is left in the secular sphere.

Does not a man named Paul say 31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 And not again in Colossians 3:17 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

In Paul's mind there is no dichotomy. Our classes are spiritual. Our eating habits and times of relaxation are spiritual. At the same time, we must not say that everything is innately secular and everything is spiritual. Paul said that if I drink - do it to the glory of God; thus it is spiritual. Paul said that if I eat - do it to the glory of God; this is spiritual worship. Paul then encapsulated everything by saying whatever you do (this excludes NOTHING) - do it to the glory of God; this is a life of spiritual worship.

We must be those who live in the world, study the world, understand the world, recognize the world and live life in the world yet we MUST do this through a biblical mindset.

The point? We must so saturate our minds with the Word of God, to fall so in love with the truth of this special revelation as revealed in the pages of Scripture, that everything we see in life, do in life, read about in life, watch in life, whatever, is interpreted THROUGH the lens of the pages of Scripture. This is biblical discernment and this is what Paul is talking about here in 1 Thess 5:21-22. We must test (or approve; Gk. dokimazo) ALL THINGS. It is an imperative. Then he says, hold on (or hold fast; Gk. katecho) to that which is good. After so doing, literally it reads, "from every form (or image) of evil, you constantly be abstaining from it." How does one do this if there is no biblical discernment going on? I urge you, be saturated with the word of God.

Askew View of Marriage

In an article today posted here entitled "Woman Tells of Forced Marriage at Polygamist Hearing," it reads:

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Nov. 21) - A woman who says she was forced to marry her cousin when she was 14 told a judge Tuesday that she sometimes used sex to get favors from her husband, such as money and the freedom to see friends.

And more,

I would just try to be a willing, submissive wife so that he would feel good about letting me do these things and have these things," the woman, now 20, testified under cross-examination...Jeffs, 50, is charged with two counts of rape as an accomplice for his suspected role in arranging the marriage between her and her 19-year-old first cousin. The woman was testifying at a hearing for the judge to decide whether there is probable cause to send Jeffs to trial.

Finally the wife said,

The ceremony at a Nevada motel in 2001 was "one of the most painful things I've ever been through. I just want to move on with my life and forget it happened," the woman testified...She said she refused to say "I do," take her groom's hand or kiss him. Finally, she relented, submitting to a "peck" and then locking herself in the bathroom..."I felt completely trapped and defeated," she said.

This is unfortunate. The fact that a newly wed bride would have to say that my wedding was one of the most painful things I've ever done is hideous. Furthermore, the bride refused to say "I do." Then he finally relented to kiss her groom but then had to go lock herself in a bathroom because she felt defeated. This is painfully the reality of our world and its view of marriage. It is now "culturally wrong" to say a covenant of marriage because the world does not know what a true covenant really is.

This is another example of how skewed our world's view of marriage truly is. What happened to the biblical mandate of Matthew 19:5-6 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh '? 6 "Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." And then again in 1 Peter 3:7-8 7 You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. And even in the same context, Peter notes 8 To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

We need to re-teach, from square one, what the biblical mandate of marriage is, namely, a covenant of companionship for a man and a woman for a lifetime of service(notice not a man to a man or a woman to a woman) so as to bring honor, glory and praise to God.

SOURCE: http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/woman-tells-of-forced-marriage-at/20061120224709990011?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Apologizing for the Bible?

Last night I was at the University of Judaism here in L.A. for a Lecture. Avi Faust was the lecturer on the topic of Biblical Archaeology, the prophets of Israel, and the poor. It was a good lecture, but I was floored when I heard something that the introductory speaker said.

Before Avi came up to lecture, a man recapped what last week's lecture, talked about next week, and then gave some background information of Avi. Then the introductory speaker read a Scripture from the OT on loving the poor, fatherless and widow and then he quoted a verse from the "Christian Bible" (or the NT) about loving your enemies and when Jesus said that the "poor you will always have with you."

Then just as he introduced Avi to speak, he concluded his introduction by saying, "Please forgive me for quoting either from the Hebrew Bible or from the Christian Bible."

What? Are you serious? Is this man apologizing for the Bible? Is he ashamed? Does he think the Bible will offend? Of all places, I was at the university of Judaism, you think they would - if anyone would - quote from the Hebrew Bible and not be ashamed of it.

It caused me to think as I was driving home as to how desperately sick our culture is. The world we live in today is entirely afraid of absolute truth. The day and age in which we live is completely against offending anyone. It is about comfort. It is about not offending others.

Or is it?

Are we called, as believers in the Messiah Jesus, to make certain that people feel comfortable and never offend them? Is it my responsibility after I read a passage from the Bible in church, or better yet preach in church, to apologize to the listeners for quoting from the Bible for fear that it may offend someone.
Listen, if a person is NOT offended, then they will NOT get saved. The Gospel is offensive. Hear the Apostle's words:

1 Corinthians 1:18-24 18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

If there is anything in our culture that is (and MUST BE) offensive, it is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must never apologize for using, quoting, memorizing, praying through, meditating on or reveling in the Scriptures. If that is the case, then we fear man more than we fear God.

May we take a step of faith and be heralds of this Gospel unashamedly without ever apologizing for quoting Scripture. God be merciful on our generation.

The Infinite and the Finite

Thou Great I AM,
Fill my mind with elevation and grandeur at the thought of a Being
with whom one day is as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day,
A mighty God who, amidst the lapse of worlds,
and the revolutions of empires,
feels no variableness,
but is glorious in immortality.
May I rejoice that, while men die, the Lord lives;
that, while all creatures are broken reeds,
empty cisterns,
fading flowers,
withering grass,
he is the rock of ages, the fountain of living waters.
Turn my heart from vanity,
from dissatisfactions,
from uncertainties of the present state,
to an eternal interest in Christ.
Let me remember that life is short and unforeseen,
and is only an opportunity for usefulness;
Give me a holy avarice to redeem the time,
to awake at every call to charity and piety,
so that I may feed the hungry,
clothe the naked,
instruct the ignorant,
reclaim the vicious,
forgive the offender,
diffuse the gospel,
show neighborly love to all.
Let me live a life of self-distrust,
dependence on thyself,
mortification,
crucifixion,
prayer.


Anonymous, A puritan prayer

Monday, November 20, 2006

Your Philosophy of Ministry

Do YOU have a philosophy of ministry? This is of utmost importance in the local church. Do you even know your church's philosophy of ministry? Every church (and ministry) is in desperate need for a philosophy of ministry because it will help keep the main thing the main thing. Paul says in 1 Cor 9:26, “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.” He understands the necessity of running with an aim or a purpose in mind. If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it.

The necessity of the philosophy of ministry is crucial. If the church does not have a purpose or a goal, and especially a means of attaining and reaching those goals, then it is probable that the church will become sidetracked with other issues that will either divert from the correct path or slow down the process of attaining the goal. A philosophy of ministry will keep the ministry focused on the core elements of the church and it will determine the respective pros and cons of a new prospective ministry.

In my philosophy of ministry, I have encapsulated eight points. They all begin with:
The Purpose of the Church is to:
1. Exalt God
2. Evangelize the Lost
3. Edify Believers
4. Expositionally Teach
5. Encourage Christlikeness
6. Equip Missionaries

May we be those who are faithful to the call with which we have been called. May we be those who rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15) and Preach the Word (2 Tim 4:2). God is good. His Word is worthy to be heralded. May we never forget the purpose of the church. May we always to that which will aid us in attaining those goals to the honor, glory and praise of our great God and Savior.

We Flew

Literally. I have a friend from church who is getting his pilot license and he took Elizabeth and I flying - though it was a surprise to her :=)

We went to the El Monte airport (down near Pasadena) and then hopped on a four-seater and flew to Santa Barbara. We walked to the pier, had lunch, played on the beach and then went back to the plane and flew home. It was amazing weather.

Here are a few pics capturing the day:







We had a sand-castle building contest. Now tell me - honestly - who's castle is better?



OR



But the best part of the day, I got to spend the whole day with my best friend. We had a blast.



We were able to see the glory of God's creation: Psalm 36:5-6 5 Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Thy faithfulness reaches to the skies. 6 Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are like a great deep. O LORD, Thou preservest man and beast.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Hospitality gone old?

Last night Elizabeth invited a professor of ours and his wife over for dinner and I helped her set the table while she did all the hard work in preparing the delicious food :-).

It always strikes me when I'm spending time with people over a meal (or whatever) in someone's home as to how wonderful and sweet fellowship really is. Great conversation. Great fellowship. Great stories. Great laughs. Great food.

After dinner, we talked for awhile and then played some rounds of "UNO." I hope everyone knows what this card came is. We played guys vs. girls first (and the guys one - of course) and then we played individually (and I won - of course :=) ).

As Elizabeth and I were cleaning up after they left, we were talking about how wonderful it is to have people over and enjoy the privilege of serving others by inviting them into my environment. There is something personal, intimate, and vulnerable when we invite others into our territory.

Paul knew this and he expressed it thus in Romans 12:10-14 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing (dioko) hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute (dioko) you; bless and curse not.

Paul's point? We must pursue hospitality with the same degree of fervor that enemies have when they are pursuing a victim. That is the same Greek word, dioko. Are we that fervent to be hospitable? May the Lord give us strength to accomplish this NT command.

Telling the Truth About Truth

This is a must see. Al Mohler has been invited to dialogue with a panel of individuals undertaken by the Washington Post and Newsweek magazine. The issue is entitled, "Visit on Faith: Arrive with one perspective. Leave with many."

The webpage is here.

May we all be as bold as Mohler is in declaring the truth about the truth to this soceity that is afraid of the truth.
The blog has only been up for three days and it already has over 150 comments - most of whom are hostile to the truth - it is worth perusing.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Eternal Security or Not?

I was talking with a friend yesterday and the issue of eternal security came up. My heart has been drawn to the book of 1 John because that is what I have been preaching through the last year at a rehab center. I go to this rehab center to preach, I am not actually in the rehab center :=) ).

In any case, we finished the book last week from 1 John 5:13-21 and i was amazed at verse 18. Here is what it says: 1 John 5:18 18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.

I am convinced from this verse (and a host of others) that no person can ever, EVER lose their salvation after truly being regenerate. Yes I take a Calvinistic view on eternal security, Lord-ship salvation and the like, but here is the issue:

This verse says that "he who was born of God keeps him." Let me make a few observations that may help out:

(1) He who was born of God = this is the second member of the triune God, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an Aorist Passive Participle which shows that it was a one time act in the past. In other words, it is contrasted with the Perfect Passive participle earlier in the verse ("no one who has been born of God sins" = this is the believer). So we know that the subject here in v.18b is the Lord Jesus Christ.

(2) Jesus then keeps him. The word for keep is tereeo. It has the idea of keeping, preserving, holding, or guarding. This is in the context of eternal issues. This is what the Apostle John began in the context of 5:13- 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. The context here is the eschaton - not simply physical life or physical death.

(3) Jesus is the one who keeps him. This pronoun here (auton) refers back to the Perfect Passive participle "he who has been born of God" = the Christian.

Here is what this verse is then teaching. We know that every single believer in God does not continually (as a habitual pattern) live a life of sin. But on the other hand, He who has been born of God (namely, the Lord Jesus Christ), is continually keeping him and the evil one (Satan) is not ever going to touch him.

I made this statement yesterday, why don't we all chew on this today: I am utterly convinced - from Scripture - that if I could ever lose my salvation; if it were possible to forfeit the grace of God after being regenerated and justified; if I can genuinely once be saved and then at a later point in life lose my eternal security, then I would. In other words, if Geoff Kirkland could ever lose his salvation (from the Divine perspective), then I would, because there is no way that Geoff Kirkland could ever keep himself in the power of God. Geoff is a sinner. Geoff has a sinful nature. Geoff is still in this fleshly, sinful body. Yet it is because of the power of God and the security I have - not in Geoff Kirkland - but in the Lord Jesus Christ that I can confidently say with all 100% confidence that I am a believer and I am SURE that I am destined for heaven when I die - or when the Lord returns, whichever comes first.

May the Lord grant us humility and perseverance in our Christian lives.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Judge by the Outward Appearance

I was in the Jaguar dealership today cause there is a Starbucks there doing some studying because one of my classes was cancelled today. As I was sitting at a round table with nice, leather, comfy chairs surrounded by people with loads of more money that I’ll ever have, a man walked in who was obviously homeless and he walked in and sat down on a chair in front of the TV in the Starbucks section of the dealership.

Within one minute, two security officers came up and escorted the man out. He didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t bother anyone. He just came in and sat down. Yet simply because of his appearance and the realization that there is a “lower-class citizen” in the “upper-class citizens” turf, he was immediately escorted out.

Is this right? Is this wrong? Was it safety precautions? Was it for the sake of preserving the professional appearance of the dealership? But I was surprised how quickly the situation unraveled. May I not be one who judges on the outward appearance but be a person who loves everyone.

The pastor on par with a car salesman

One does not have to go back very far in history to recognize that the pastor was once a highly esteemed and respected figure in society. Yet today, the pastor, I would venture to bet, is barely on par with a car salesman. Why is this the case today in our 21st century post modern culture?

I think it is because we as Christians (those who are truly regenerate and those who claim the title “Christian” but who are truly unregenerate) do not live a life that is worthy of the calling to which we have been called (Phil 1:27; Eph 4:1; Col 1:10; 1 Thess 2:12).

Take one of these verses for example: Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is “that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10).

If we truly took this verse to heart and we, as born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, would truly make it our passionate pursuit in life to walk worthily of the Lord. Remember the biblical concept of walking is the idea of a lifestyle, a pattern, a consistent habitual course of action. In other words, a “Christian’s” life is to be characterized by the reality of walking worthily of the Lord.

What does that mean? Paul continues by elaborating so we are not in need to speculate. He says that this means that we:

(1) please him in all respects. Not in some ways. Not when we feel like it. Not only when we’ve had a full night of sleep and feel rested. Not only when we have had a meal and are energized to live for him. This means that we make it our conscious determination in life to please God in everything that we do (cf. 1 Cor 10:31; Col. 3:17, 23).
(2) bear fruit in every good work. We bear fruit as we live to the glory of God. We can bear fruit by discipling others. We can bear fruit by consciously remembering that we must remain (though it is a dual responsibility – both the divine and human) in the vine, namely, Jesus Christ. We are to bear fruit in every good work. This cannot be done in a half effort, lazy attitude going through life. Rather, this takes a deliberate desire to serve God to the maximum and accomplish the most for His glory and His glory alone.
(3) increase in the knowledge of God. This does not come by the bible sitting on the shelf throughout the week. This requires diligent study. It requires pouring into the Word of God to find the deep truths of God so that we can be transformed by the Spirit of God. This is what Paul intends to get across to the believers in the city of Colossae. That means picking up a theology book and seeking to plunge the depths of both the riches and wisdom of God that are revealed in the pages of Scripture. This is a lifelong endeavor. It will never be exhausted. May we be men and women who study diligently and regularly the Word of God so that we may be approved and growing in the knowledge of God.

If we as protestant, evangelical, Christian people would understand and be gripped by this reality, our lives would be radically different. This difference would thus invoke persecution. It would beg for suffering. It would beg for ostracizing. Yet God is faithful. What are we afraid of? Why would one not want to give their life to serving God and being the man that God has determined to be his representative in our culture. May we seek to live lives that are different. May we be those who are respected in our culture; those who are revered; those who are looked up to; those who model their lives after; those who seek to pray for; those who long to imitate. May it never be said of us that we – as Christians – are no different than a car salesman. Let’s transform our world. This can be done with one soul that is willing to be wholly submissive to the will of God. May we set our affections on this. God help us.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Coffee Addiction

So I go through a pound of coffee really fast. I don't know how I do it. But it just sorta happens! My roommate works at Starbucks full time and so I always am on his case about bringing his "free pound of coffee" home each week for the "roommates." :-)

Just to give you a taste as to what goes IN my coffee:

In my refrigerator I have 5 creamers - not the small dinky ones, but the real manly ones:

(1) Vanilla Chai Latte (this is my new favorite one)
(2) Hazelnut
(3) French Vanilla (fat free)
(4) Gingerbread
(5) Pumpkin Spice

Folks, I normally don't boast about my addictions, but I felt that this was a necessary issue to bring up. I am a proud lover of Coffee-mate creamer as well as Starbucks and Trader Joe's coffee.

Elizabeth helps me drink it too, so it makes it all the more worth it :=)
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