8 Social Media Resolutions for 2014

Consider this a friendly post as the year closes for how to make 2014 a year of winning friends and influencing people. We all see stuff in the social media world that makes our eyes roll, our blood-pressure rise, and our mouth's drop (oh no she didn't). Often we wonder to ourselves (or aloud), " are they clueless?" So as the New Year approaches, I wanted to offer a friendly PSA to perhaps head off frustration from your friends, make you more enjoyable on social media, and keep you from being "that guy/gal."

Some playful, yet kind of serious, social media resolutions that should be made for 2014 (or at least many of us wish you would make):

1. Aim for one less selfie per week. 

I'm 87.4% sure that the world would be a better place if the number of selfies were reduced. Real statistics tell us the number of selfies taken now outnumber the number of photos of others things. Pretty crazy, huh? We all know you love some you. We also know you love to show your duck face, kitten-purr face (aka the Glamor Shot), and the pretty-smile, girl-next-door face. However, when we go through your pics or see your timeline and there is nothing but selfies on there, we begin to conclude you think more highly of yourself than you ought. Trust me, one less selfie - but don't use one as a rule, by all means reduce the number by more if you are feeling led of the Spirit - will be good for you.

2. Remind yourself that you don't have to post everything you think. 

You do not have to tell us every single thing you are thinking the second you think it. Some things are actually better left unsaid. Facebook is THE place where the TMI was invented. I know you are behind a screen and do not have to look at anybody, nor do you have to see their staring glares back at you, but when you post how stupid your spouse is, or give us the play-by-play of why you are fighting with your boyfriend/girlfriend, or share your details from your doctors appointment, or tell us some of the 12,000-60,000 thoughts per day that travel through our brains, of which some would be better left unsaid, it is time to learn some self-control. Adopt a Facebook buddy, and give them permission to send you a message, at any time, to say "TMI," when you cross the line, so you know to delete your status. You would find yourself looking a lot less crazy if you did this.

3. Reduce in half your number of food pics for the year.

Everybody has been guilty of the food pic. Let's just all confess together and repent. I think we forget sometimes that everyone has seen food. We are usually not showing anyone something they've never seen before. I say the new rule of thumb is: if you're eating something exotic, something that you won't find at just any restaurant, then post away. But if you are posting a pic of your steak or pizza or hamburger, just remind yourself: I bet they've seen one of these before.

4. Ask a friend to spell-check your angry rant.

Nothing makes you look crazier or less educated than an angry Facebook rant riddled with misspelled words. Your status loses its potency when we read, "I jus wish sumbody wood say sumthang!" We are no longer threatened by your angry rant because we highly doubt you could ever find your way from your house to ours. I know you don't think it matters, but when half of your status is spelled wrong our eyes are glued in on that reality and we forget what you're even talking about.

5. Give up the passive-aggressive pot shots at people.

This one annoys me the most. On social media this form of back-biting is common. When you don't have to see the person face-to-face, or you are sitting behind your screen, it is easy to be snarky to people. But passive-aggressive snarkiness is the worst type. Passive-aggressive pot shots come at you without directly coming at you. These are the kind where you know it is aimed at you, but it doesn't say your name. If you confront the person or send them a message, they can say they weren't talking about you, after all, they left wiggle room in how they worded their status to deny. Hence, the passive-aggressive pot shot. I say we make a rule: if something you are doing is annoying me, I'm either going to A. tell you via private message or B. block you so I don't have to see it anymore. At least that way we can avoid the passive-aggressive mess.

6. Cover up and keep your pics modest. 

We know you love your body. You're proud of those abs, arms, boobs, legs, __________, but the rest of us don't need to see them/it. While your attempt to get the "Wow, your beautiful" certainly aides the self-esteem, the question you should ask is, "At what price I'm I willing to pay to garner that compliment?" I'm not saying posting a nice pic of you dressed up and looking good is wrong (however, see resolution #1), I'm saying you do not have to flash a bunch of skin for us to notice you or see your beauty. One day you may have someone in your life (or perhaps you already do) who would prefer they be the only one to see your half-covered body. Not to mention, I do not believe you will find your soul mate and best friend via your swimsuit pic luring them in. You'll lure someone in, just not the person you probably want. 

7. Don't be a troll.

This one is almost self-explanatory. Don't get on someone's status and start complaining or arguing with them. This is a troll move. Nobody likes a troll. If you are a troll, people will eventually just block you.

8. Avoid massive religious and political debates.

Okay, so this is the one I want to work on the most. I think Facebook can be a good place to have some discussion, but it is not the place to hash out major disagreements. The best place for religious and political discussion and debate is face-to-face. One reason for this is people talk with less bravado when they are in front of people instead of a screen. Not to mention, it is easier to listen to someone as they talk, as opposed to reading tiny print on social media. I believe Facebook is where we talk about life and culture, and part of that is talking about things like religion and politics, which are a part of our lives and culture. However, I believe at a certain point in discussion, you reach the it-is-only-going-to-be-an-argument-and-nothing-good-it-is-going-to-emerge limit. At that point, I believe it should either go to private message or face-to-face. If you are unwilling to meet face-to-face about what you are so passionate about on Facebook, you probably are not as passionate as you would like to think.

Well, that's my list. What things would you add to the list that are missing from mine? What things do you need to be better at that are mentioned on my list? I'd love to hear from you in the comment. 

We all know somebody who needs to read these (that guy/gal), so increase their chance of seeing it by sharing with the buttons below

The Calamity of Conceding Our Voice

It is safe to say that I will probably not be giving any Presidential Inauguration prayers in my lifetime. Is it possible I could be invited? Sure, I guess it is. But it is probably just as possible that I'll lead a space mission to explore Jupiter or be the next skipper of the Chicago Cubs to lead them to a World Series title (side note: we will probably be inhabiting condos on Jupiter before any skipper leads the Cubs to a World Series title). Bottom line: I don't have to worry about being asked for this honorable task.

But let's pretend for a moment that I was asked. Let's imagine for a moment that for some reason, some newly elected president had heard of me or knew me - it would probably have to be a hometown friend, but growing up in Lebanon, TN probably rules this theory out too - and wanted me to give the Inauguration Day prayer. Wow! What a privilege! What an honor! What an opportunity! It's ashamed I wouldn't be allowed to do it. 

"Why wouldn't you be allowed to do it?," you wonder. Legally speaking (at least right now), nothing would be able to keep me from doing it. However, the censorship police and mafia-like bullies represented by organizations like GLADD and others like them, would quickly pounce on the president-elect's choice of having me give the prestigious prayer. Why? Because I have written, spoken, and support the Bible's teachings on homosexuality being a sin. This would disqualify me for such a role in our ever-changing culture. The track-record is proving this.

The Silencing of Christians

Consider what happened to Pastor Louie Giglio in January of 2012. Giglio was asked by President Barak Obama to give the Inauguration Day prayer. Incredible! One of my guys (conservative evangelical) is given an incredible platform and opportunity. Yet, quickly after the announcement was made, Giglio rescinded the offer and issued a statement. He cited not wanting to be a distraction from the Inauguration. Giglio had been asked to participate because of his amazing work with Passion and leading a movement to end sex-trafficking and slavery around the world. What in the world could possibly make Louie Giglio offering a prayer a "distraction" on Inauguration Day? 

Are you ready for this? He preached a sermon speaking against homosexuality 15-20 years prior. There you have it. The censonship police and mafia-like bullies went rummaging through Giglio's past, searching tirelessly to find their silver bullet. They found it. A message where Giglio affirms Scripture's teachings on the sinfulness of same-sex practices. Hence, I will probably never be doing an Inauguration Day prayer.

While we are eliminating things I will never do, we can add being on a reality tv show now, especially on A&E. With the Phil Robertson/Duck Dynasty dust-up last week, we were reminded again that Christians are not allowed speak out or against homosexuality.  

The Bully Tactics

How did these things happen? How did Giglio get pressured into rescinding his invitation? How did A&E succumb to pressure to suspend Robertson? The answer: from the pressure of groups like GLADD and others. Their mission is to target and eliminate all views that oppose homosexuality. They intentionally target news media and entertainment media to push their agenda and to rid any conservative or biblical values on the subject from the discussion. 

How are they able to do this? Simple: they bully. They, along with the media, and others with liberal ideology, revert to bully tactics. They are not interested in rational conversation where ideas are exchanged and debated. They have one agenda: exalt their idea and demolish opposing ones. They have succeeded in winning some public opinion, not because they have debated ideas well, but because they have castigated their opponents. They name call: bigot, homophobe, racist, intolerant, judgmental, hate-monger. That's the strategy. Yet interestingly, amidst all the name-calling, they never provide evidence to back their accusations. This is classic bullying.

And before you are duped into thinking that the pro-choice, pro-homosexual movements are about tolerance, multiculturalism, and diversity, consider the truth. They are not tolerant of any view but theirs. GLADD exists to rid the media and entertainment of different views. Multiculturalism is a sham too. They do not want a culture with multiple streams of beliefs and values. Again, they want one - theirs. And if it is not self-evident already, diversity is not a value either. The conservative, Bible-believing Christian's ideas are not welcome or wanted by those on the left. There is no desire for a diversity of ideas; it's all lip service. It is a smoke-screen. It sounds good. But it is empty of any substance. 

Draw a Line in the Sand

At a time when Christians need to be speaking out, we find ourselves with a serious case of laryngitis. We have lost our voices. Many are silenced out of ignorance, they simply do not know what to say or how to say it. Others are silenced out of choice. The former issue is corrected through being taught about the issues and shown how to engage in them. The latter is only fixed when we get courage. Many do not want to speak out because they fear being rejected and/or persecuted by men. Many thought leaders in the evangelical world are making it a mark of spiritual maturity or gospel-nobleness to not fight this fight. I think they are wrong. (Doug Wilson makes a stinging case about this)
 
We need Christians and churches who stand strong and intelligently proclaim truth. We need not make homosexuality are only focus; however, we refuse to be bullied into silence. We need Christians who demand their pastors and leaders not be cowards. One of the saddest parts of the Giglio story often not discussed is the fact that detractors of Giglio had to search back 15-20 years to even find a sermon where he dealt with this issue. This issue has been raging in the culture for sometime now, and that type of extended silence is why we are in this current cultural landscape. It is a calamity to concede our voice. The church, which is made up of believers, needs to learn to speak again. 

The Voices of Saints From Old

Listen to Martin Luther's famous words when pushed to recant his beliefs that went against the power-structure of the Catholic Church: 

"Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."

Consider Calvin's words: 

“A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."

In a sermon Charles Spurgeon preached about the jeer of critics he said:

"Whenever the world reproaches you, say, "Well, I thank you for that word, I will strive to deserve it and you shall be more displeased, if you will. If it be a vile thing to serve Christ, I will serve him more than I have ever done, and be viler still; if it be disgraceful to be numbered with the poor, tried, and afflicted people, I will be disgraced. Nay, the more disgraced I am, the more happy shall I be; I shall feel that disgrace is honor, that ignominy is glory, that shame and spitting from the lips of enemies, is but the same thing as praise and glory from the mouth of Christ." Instead of yielding, go forward, show your enemies that you do not know how to go back, that you are not made of the soft metal of these modern times."

And later in the sermon,

"I pray God to send a few men with what the Americans call "grit" in them; men who when they know a thing to be right, will not turn away, or turn aside, or stop; men who will persevere all the more true to their Master because they are opposed; who, the more they are thrust into the fire, the hotter they become; who, just like the bow, the further the string is drawn, the more powerfully will it send forth its arrows, and so, the more they are trodden upon, the more mighty will they become in the cause of truth against error."

I'm afraid Mr. Spurgeon's desire for his London congregation to reflect American "grit" would be unfounded today. We have lost our "grit," at least in the church. Yes, we are to preach the gospel. But we are also to speak truth to the culture we live in. Preaching the gospel should not be our excuse to sitting on the sidelines while our culture is imploding. The church needs a recovery of her voice. It begins with her leaders. It will then spill into the rest of the seats. If the leaders will not speak and lead the way, then the church needs to find new leaders. May God give us the courage to clear our throats for such a time as this.


Want to exercise your voice? Share these thoughts with others via Facebook & Twitter using the buttons below

You're a Christian, huh? Hmm...

 I know what some of you were already thinking as you read the title of this post, "Who are you judge who is or who is not a Christian?" This is a natural question to ask, I suppose, but I do not believe it is really what you are asking. "Who are you to judge," is really seeking to find out by what authority I can make a definitive claim about somebody being a Christian or not. The answer to that question is easy: nobody. I'm nobody. I do not carry any inherent authority which makes what I say the rule of the day. However, before you type another domain into your browser and move on, that does not dismiss the issue.

Just because I am nobody, and lack inherent authority in myself, does not mean the right to identify as Christian is a free-for-all. Fundamentally, "Who are you to judge," is the wrong question. The more appropriate questions begging to be asked: is there any way to judge who is or who is not a Christian? Is there an objective standard by which Christians can be identified or is it simply a subjective endeavor? I believe the Bible and historic, orthodox Christianity answers without hesitation: yes, there is an objective standard!

So what?

Why do I raise this issue? We currently live in a cultural climate of debate and division over many hot-topic issues. Things including homosexuality and abortion are a couple of mainstream examples. In the midst of many of these debates the line drawn is between Christian beliefs vs secular beliefs. As a Christian, I find myself distinctively on one side of the dividing line in these arguments. Yet surprisingly, I often will have someone who is taking a stance distinctively rooted in secular philosophy claim to be a Christian. This makes no sense to me. 

**WARNING: This is the point in the article where your modern sensibilities may get aggravated, a seat belt or bit in your mouth may assist you in finishing** 

For someone to claim they are Christian, though they hold distinctly non-Christian views and have non-Christian behavior patterns, is absurd. Again, this raises the vitriol of folks to say, "Who are you to say?" My previous answer remains, "nobody," but that doesn't void my claim. There is a standard, an objective standard, by which a Christian can be deciphered. We do not make or move that standard. It is given through Scripture's revelation and teaching. "Yeah, but interpreting the Bible is so subjective; one group believes this way and another group that way," you quip. However, again, there is an objective standard on interpreting the Bible. You do not approach the Bible and impose your view on to it (though many do), there are rules and guidelines which inform interpretation (this is the discipline and field of hermeneutics).

But back to my point. To claim to be a Christian, while holding very clearly stated (from Scripture) non-Christian beliefs and behaviors, is a contradiction. The Bible would call this person a hypocrite. The word 'hypocrite' is from a Greek word meaning 'actor.' In other words, people who claim to be Christian while holding non-Christian beliefs and behaviors are actors. They are posers. Pretenders. I'm not afraid to say this. It may ruffle your feathers and send your politically correct alarms off, but it is only because you have been conditioned to respond this way. In actuality, it's nonsense, and there needs to be a recovery of the ability to call out nonsense. 

An Analogy

Suppose you met a guy at a crowded dinner party and proceeded to strike up a conversation. The two of you have a lot in common and are mutually enjoying the conversation. But at some point in the discussion he informs you he is a football player for the Tennessee Titans. He claims he is a tight end for the Titans, your favorite NFL team. You think to yourself, "this is amazing." Eventually the conversation is halted by his need to go to the bathroom and he lets you know he'll be right back. In your excitement, you pull your phone out and begin looking up the Titans roster to find your new pal (and to send out texts and tweets bragging to your friends). However when you pull it up, he's not there. You keep digging and looking, you search Google, nothing, he's nowhere to be found. You scan NFL.com, which lists every NFL player, nothing.

You think to yourself, "I bet none of his information has been loaded to the internet yet." No you don't. You think to yourself, "I've been duped." Most of you, if this happened to you, would conclude very quickly, this guy was a fraud. He was a pretender. He claimed to be a NFL player with the Tennessee Titans; however, all the things that objectively determine that (a contract, access to team facilities, on the team roster) are missing.

Your fake NFL player friend returns and begins to strike up conversation again. At this point you are attempting to probe deeper into his identity and whether he is telling the truth. Eventually you point blank ask him, "Did you actually have a contract with the Titans, because I tried to find you and couldn't?" 

To your surprise and dismay, he answers back to you, "No, I haven't signed any contracts." 

You fire back with frustration, "Then you're not really an NFL player or on the Titans." 

Thinking you could not be shocked by anything else he could possibly say, he hits you with, "Well who are you to judge whether or not I'm on the Tennessee Titans?" 

Unable to continue acting like this is a reasonable conversation, you passionately explain, "I'm nobody to judge, but the issue is very clear. If you have not signed a contract with the team or are not on the roster, then you're not a part of the team. Period. That is not debatable. That is a fact. It is an objective standard."

As you walk away you hear him mutter, "Well, that's your opinion and interpretation."

Not An Unfamiliar Scene

What I have described is a made up story, but the scenes and logic in this story resemble every day life. In the same way this guy claimed to be a NFL football player, but did not meet the objective standards for validating such a claim, many today profess to be Christians while believing and behaving in definitiely non-Christian ways. Many fail to meet the objective standards.

Some will say, "Well, those people claim to believe in Jesus, doesn't the Bible say that is sufficient for salvation? Doesn't that make them a Christian?" True, we are called to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation, but that belief, true belief, transforms us, not leaves us the same as before our belief. Believing a set of facts or premises is not what makes you a Christian. Even the Devil believes the right facts about Jesus. Doing this thing or that thing, or believing this fact or that fact, makes you no more a Christian than being in a garage makes you a car. 

Jesus says in Matthew 7 that a tree is known by its fruit. In other words, your life will tell the story of who/what you are. If you are a Christian, your life should reflect the beliefs and behaviors that are distinctively Christian. You are not free to make up your own rules or forge your own way and call it Christian. You are not free to slap your own operators manual to this thing we call the Christian life, it has already been written.

The Objective Standards

What is a Christian? Am I a Christian? These are not subjective questions. There is a distinction between being a Christian and not being one. This distinction is not determined by an individual's feelings or personal interpretation. It is objective. So what is it?

To determine whether someone is truly a Christian there should be evidences of two events in their life. First, there is the event of being born-again. Jesus himself teaches that unless a person is born-again he or she will not enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3). This event is also described as regeneration (Titus 3:5) or being saved (Romans 10:1-13). When we are born-again, saved, and experience regeneration, we are justified before God, pardoned of our sin, adopted into His family, and indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who testifies to our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). This is not a subjective feeling, this is an actual event. This is not believing a few facts about the Bible or Jesus, this is a profound changing of our heart of stone with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27). It has either happened or it hasn't, no in-between.

This leads to the second event, transformation. Not only are we saved, born-again, and experience regeneration, this first event leads to the second event, we begin to change. Believers do not remain the same upon conversion. We do not go back to our old ways of living. We begin the process of transformation (Romans 12:1-2). We take off the old self and put on the new (Colossians 3:1-9). We pursue and strive for holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We do not go back to our former ways when we walked in ignorance, but instead, we seek to be holy in all our conduct, just as the One who saved us and called us is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). This event of transformation is not one time, but ongoing. We continue transforming in godliness for the rest of our lives. This is not subjective, it is measurable. (See Galatians 5:16-24)

Two events. We are born-again and we are transformed. These things are non-negotiable, objective standards of determining a Christian. If you have not been born-again, you are not a Christian, Jesus says so. And his opinion on the matter trumps your feelings about it. If your life is not being transformed to reflect more and more of God's will, as revealed through Scripture, then you are probably not a believer. True believers do not seek to justify their sinfulness by misinterpreting or reinterpreting the Bible. They humbly submit to God's Word and are transformed by it.

Who's Arrogant?

Finally, in the midst of all these debates in our culture, true believers will side with the Bible, not against it. True believers will reflect a biblical worldview, not the latest whims of the culture. True believers will see their lives transformed to reflect God's will, not remain in rebellion. True believers submit underneath God's Word, not stand above it.

John Piper has pointed out, and I believe him to be spot on, that believers are often charged with being arrogant because we try to teach everyone what the Scriptures teach concerning God and His will for mankind. But they are wrong. The opposite is true. Real arrogance is found in those who refuse to submit to an authority outside themselves, and instead, do whatever they please. Real arrogance is believing you make the rules. Refusing to submit to Scripture's teaching, and thinking you have the right to decide what a Christian is; that my friends, is the height of arrogance.

Amidst all the debates happening in our culture, it is time we call phooey on claims to be Christian that do not meet the criteria. As much as this raises the blood-pressure of some, it is time to give the Family Feud [X] (cue annoying buzzard sound) when folks self-identifying as Christians are living in habitual sin, without remorse, and holding distinctively non-Christian beliefs, without regard. Just ask them, "So you're a Christian, huh? Hmm..."

If you believe this article could be helpful for others to read, then love your neighbor as yourself and share it via Facebook, Twitter, or email with the buttons below.

I welcome your reactions and thoughts in the comment section below. Keep your responses mature, reasonable, and constructive.

Rays of Sunshine Through Clouds of Gray: Remembering the Legacy of Sadie Davis

One year ago this day, I received a text from one of our elders at The Journey Church that caused my heart to sink in my chest. "Sadie went to be with the Lord" were the words that met my eyes. The text had been sent by her father, Tim Davis. I was devastated. She had been fighting a rare form of leukemia for nearly two months. She had undergone surgeries and chemotherapy and was battling against this sudden and unexpected diagnosis. The church had rallied behind Sadie. The community had rallied around Sadie. Folks from around the country and world were hearing about this girl. And just like that, she was gone.

I told my wife and children and we all cried together. We sat down and prayed for Tim and Amber and the entire Davis family. Through sobs of sorrow we petitioned the Lord to be gracious to the family and comfort them with supernatural comfort. I then prepared to go to the hospital to be with the family.

The ride there was a blur. I was crying, praying, collecting my thoughts, and driving down I-40 in a daze, zoned out as I looked forward. When I arrived at the hospital, I went to the floor where Sadie had been and upon coming out of the elevators I ran into Amber, her father, and her step-mother. We all embraced and began to cry. They had all their belongings that had collected over time during the stay loaded up on a cart and were taking it out to the car. It was time to go home.

We reached the floor that leads you out of the hospital and we stayed there to wait for Tim. Tim had personally carried his daughter's body to the hospital morgue. My heart ached and mourned. We finally saw Tim coming up the hallway, a man to be most pitied, yet walking with a strange sort of faith and strength, though he probably did not recognize it. When he reached us, he and I embraced and sobbed together. As a father of two daughters, one daughter at the time, I could not imagine what this man was going through and feeling. The arms of this man around my shoulders were just moments ago carrying his diseased daughter. I had no words. Only tears. My heart was in a million pieces. 

We all grabbed hands in the middle of the crowded and busy hospital lobby and prayed. I don't remember any of the words spoken, just some mumblings and groans and sobs, it was the closest thing I had ever experienced to Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."

The Aftermath

The coming days would be difficult for everyone, but most especially for the Davis family. They quickly made the funeral arrangements and began to share those details out. The flood of support and love being shown to them was amazing. People were not just mourning for the Davis', but with them. Sadie's life and battle had left an effect on many people. The Davis' faith and courage throughout the entire process had resonated with countless thousands who were observing it through personal interaction, social media avenues, and blogs. 

When the funeral visitation arrived, me and a few other Journey pastors and leaders arrived before the public would be able to visit. We joined the Davis family in the viewing room after giving them some time together as a family. We then gathered and prayed together. We asked the Lord to give the Davis' strength and courage to endure the embraces, memories, and sadness. That night was amazing. I do not know the final count of visitors, but the line was out of the door the entire evening as hour after hour passed, and the line was unrelenting. A flood of love and support had come rushing in to remember Sadie and embrace the Davis'. 

The funeral was held at The Journey Church in Lebanon. We all knew it would be a difficult day. The visitation prior to the service was, once again, lined out the door with people. Pastors from other churches, people who had never met the Davis', and many friends and acquaintances showed up to pay their respects. When time for the service arrived, the place was absolutely packed. There was not an empty seat in the building. The parking lot and field across the street were filled with cars. The livestream broadcast we were providing had over 300 people who were watching from around the country. It was a sight to see.

The service was absolutely amazing. There were video slideshows, special songs, friends who shared words of encouragements, worship, and perhaps the most amazing part, Tim Davis' eulogy for his daughter. Oh friends, if I heard a million more sermons, eulogies, and speeches in my lifetime, none would surpass what was spoken that day. To witness a man stand with such courage, grace, wisdom, sorrow, and faith was a sight to behold. I felt as though I were seeing an act of God up close and personal.

He spoke about a night, the last where Sadie would still be able to walk and have energy to play. That night they played trains, did the hotdog dance, had a tea party, she rode in the play car, and they strolled the halls. Tim said he will always remember that night. That night, he took a lifetime of rides with his daughter, a lifetime of tea parties, a lifetime of walks together, he even danced at his daughter's wedding. The place melted. I still melt, even as I write it.

Lessons to be Remembered

All of these things I have described happened a year ago today. Ms. Sadie Caroline Davis went to be with the Lord. Her life of sixteen months has made more of a difference than many who will live to be seventy. But as we remember Little Sadiebug, I believe there are still important lessons for us to keep in focus. Her life and the Davis family have provided us with some incredible truths to ponder on, so I want to share them for us to consider.

1. Life can change forever in an instant

We all know this in our minds, but we do not actually live like this. We know that it can happen, but we do not live like it will happen. Sadie's life and death is a reminder that things in this life can and will happen. The Bible says our life is like a mist, here in the morning and then gone (James 4:14). We should cherish both the life we have and the life of our loved ones. We are not promised a certain number of years. We do not have the security of always having our loved ones around. Things can change from the normal in the blink of an eye. It did for the Davis family, and things have never been the same. Let this reminder cause you to mend broken or damaged relationships. Let this stir you to express your feelings to loved ones that perhaps you have a hard time sharing them with. Let this cause you to hug your children a little tighter or kiss your spouse a little longer. Say "I love you" often and cherish those God has given you. 

2. God is sovereign over our lives and He is good

I spoke about this point at Sadie's funeral. We must not see Sadie's life as being tragically cut short. Her life was not cut short. She lived the number of days the Lord so decreed from the beginning (Psalm 139:16). She did not live one less day than she should have, and she did not live one day more. Sadie's life has always been a part of the sovereign plan of God. This was not a wasted life, nor a senseless loss. Yes, we mourn her loss. And we do so rightfully. But we do not mourn as those who are without hope, for we know it is our God who reigns. He reigns over the life of Sadie and everyone else. 

Our God is sovereign and rules over all things, and He is good. God not only rules, but He does so out of His goodness. Yes, there will be things that hurt in this life. Yes, there will be trials and tribulations, but God is sovereign over those trials, and according to Scripture, uses them for our good (Romans 8:28). Would the Davis' love to have Sadie back? Yes, absolutely. But they also rest peacefully knowing that Sadie's life has always belonged to God. God was Sadie's Creator. He had rights over her life, to accomplish His purposes. We do not always see what those purposes are, nor do we have to, but we know from Scripture that neither her life nor death were senseless, they were a part of the sovereign plan of a good God from the foundation of the world.

3. These present sufferings should point our eyes to future glory

I also spoke about this at the funeral. Nothing in this life has ever caused me to long for heaven and the return of Christ like Sadie's death. It was through her death that God sealed in my heart the reality that believers are not to cling to this life, but to long for Christ's coming and for the City of God to be established for eternity. The City of God is our eternal dwelling place with God. In glory there will be no more tears, no more death, no more cancer; God will wipe away every tear and we will reign with Him forever. We must remember that as we live presently on this earth. We were made for heaven. We were made to be with God forever. Earth is not our home. We are merely sojourners, passing through. Yes, we have work to accomplish here, but we are citizens of heaven, through Christ. 

In this life we will experience troubles. Jesus told us to expect this. Be also told us to take heart for he had overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18 that these present sufferings are not worth comparing to the eternal weight of glory awaiting us in heaven. Paul reminds believers that the sufferings on this earth are real, but the troubles and hurts, do not measure against the glory of heaven. One day we will see with perfect vision just how small our trials were, compared to all-surpassing glory to be our inheritance in heaven. Believers in this life must live with our eyes on the city of God. It is how we fight through the trials we face today. 

4. Our God is the God of all comfort and He is faithful

One thing that I have witnessed first-hand in the life of the Davis family is that God is faithful. God, by His grace, has kept this family in tact. He has supplied them with the graces needed to carry on each day. He has provided for them the strength to keep standing in days of sorrow. God has been faithful. He has comforted this family with a comfort that only He can provide. We should expect this, for the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 1 that our God is the God of all comfort who comforts His people in their afflictions. Yes He does! Sometimes His hand is undetected, but it is there. He caresses, embraces, pats, and grips with His comforting hands. He upholds His children in their afflictions. 

Whatever you may be facing today in your life, stand firm on this: our God is a comforting God and He's faithful. He will not leave you nor forsake you through your trial. He is there. He provides rays of sunshine through clouds of gray. He is faithful to do this, not once or twice, but continuously for His children. Lean on Him today, friends. Those who mourn Sadie's loss today, rest in the God of all comfort. Seek the One who promises to give sufficient grace in the hour of need (2 Corinthians 12:9). He will meet you in your suffering and He will carry you through it. 

Closing Words

One year later, I still cannot believe that little blue-eyed beauty is gone. My heart aches today for Tim and Amber and family. Nobody can ever understand what their daily life must be like, the ebbs and flows of emotions that come. The nights of waking up, only to be unable to return to sleep. This family has been through so much. Let's pray for them today. Let's ask God to continue providing comfort to this family. Let's thank God for the gift of Sadie. She was a gift to our own lives. For God has providentially used her life to teach us more powerful lessons than a 30 minute sermon can provide. Her life is still speaking. The lessons are still being taught. God has and is still being glorified in this precious child's life. One year after her passing, we still have much to say when it comes to the legacy of Sadie Davis.

share with others the memory and lessons from Sadie's life by using the buttons below

Stand Firm!...But Don't Be An Idiot

As most of you reading this are aware, Phil Robertson of nationally acclaimed "Duck Dynasty," has gotten into some trouble. In an interview with GQ magazine, Robertson expressed his beliefs about homosexual behavior. In a nutshell, Robertson quoted Scripture about homosexual practice being sinful, and without repentance, something that will keep individuals from inheriting the kingdom of God. He also goes on to list other sins besides homosexuality, and he expresses that he too was a sinner who needed Jesus Christ as his Savior. 

The outrage from the LGBT community and organizations like GLADD led A&E to suspend Robertson indefinitely from the television show. Which - on a side note - I'm not sure how that is going to work considering the show is filmed at Robertson's house, business, and among his family. A&E immediately rushed to separate themselves from Robertson's comments by expressing that his words are an expression of his personal beliefs, not their beliefs.

A&E's decision yesterday went viral. Every other post and comment on Facebook and Twitter is talking about this decision. Many people are writing articles and blog posts, like this one, to give their opinion on the matter. Most of the people I follow, and are friends with, are outraged. Of course, there is a large segment of people in the country who are happy to see this decision made because the comments from Robertson were offensive to them. So once again we have a nation divided over morality, particularly over homosexuality. This issue is simply not going to go away or die down. 

A Piece of Advice

There are many good things written today about this topic (here and here). What I want to offer is a piece of advice for Christians on how to handle this and other situations that are sure to arise over this topic. 

1. Stand Firm. Christians may not be in the moral majority on this topic, but we must continue to stand firm on Scripture's teachings, not the culture's ebbs and flows. We do not take our cue from the opinions of man, but we lean in to what God has to say, through His Word, and allow that to form our worldview. 

2. Don't Be An Idiot. There is not a gentler way for me to say it. Yes, as Christians, we think Phil Robertson got hosed. We see this as an attack not on just his family, but us. We feel attacked. We feel ostracized. We feel muzzled. However, "how" we stand up in this world to represent Scripture's teachings is just as important as "what" we are standing up for. 

I have already witnessed Christians on Facebook and Twitter ranting and raving about how the culture just wants to make us all love homosexuality. I have seen people ready to boycott A&E. I have seen people quoting Scripture about homosexuality's sinfulness. I'm not saying that any of these people are wrong in their response to Robertson's suspension/firing, but I am saying we could easily cross over into sin in our response if we are not careful.

Consider Jesus' Example

Did Jesus affirm sin or wink at it from a distance? No. He stood firm on the truths of God's Word. But we do not see Jesus protesting in order to be heard. We do not see Jesus demonizing the sinners he was trying to rescue from bondage. Think about the woman caught in adultery in John 8. She was thrown at Jesus' feet, apparently caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders want Jesus to condemn her according to the law. But instead of grab stones to hurl at her, Jesus confronts the religious leaders about their own sin. He gives them permission to stone her, if they are able to say they are without sin. When they are unable to lift a rock, they leave. However, Jesus, before parting with the woman, says to her, "Go and sin no more." 

Jesus showed compassion to the woman. He did not demonize her as "one of those people." He did not excuse her actions or say that it was okay. He gave her a strong command to go and sin no more. He called her to repent and leave her sin behind. He called her to a new way. But he also demonstrated a humble compassion for her. He showed gentleness. 

The Pharisees were outraged at her. Jesus was calm and kind. The Pharisees wanted blood, to prove they were right and to stand up for God's Word. Jesus, stood up for God's Word, but did it in such a way that is was less about being proven right, and more about the person.

Closing Thought

I give this example as a guide for us believers. Do I believe homosexuality is a sin? Yes. Do I believe Scripture teaches very clearly about this topic? Yes. Do I believe Phil Robertson is getting a raw deal? Yes. Do I believe Christians are being increasingly muzzled in our culture about our beliefs? Yes. So let's stand firm in our support of Phil. Let's stand firm in our beliefs about what the Bible teaches. Let's stand firm on our rights to voice our opinions and exercise free speech. But let's not act like idiots in the process. 

Not every gay person or non-believer is out to get you. Believers, not everyone in the world has a bone to pick with us. In the aftermath of the "Duck Dynasty" controversy, let's not respond sinfully in our responses. Let's fight for our responses to honor God, show compassion, and exercise wisdom. People in the LGBT community are fighting for what they believe is right. They do not believe the way we believe. They do not have the eyes to see the truth. To them, the gospel way is foolishness.

However, gay people are not our enemies...and even if they were, we serve a Master who commands us to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Let's remember this in our social media and water cooler conversations. 

Share this article with others by using the buttons below

Wisdom Cries Aloud: The Foolishness of the Sexting Craze

Where has wisdom gone to hide? She is noticeably absent and missing. Everywhere you turn you feel the void her absence brings. Like Kevin waking up to find out he is all alone while the rest of the McAllister family is cruising at 30,000 feet Paris bound, it seems we awaken to find ourselves looking around to discover wisdom is nowhere to be found. We appear to be home alone. 

Wisdom is interesting. You cannot touch wisdom. You cannot buy wisdom. You cannot smell, taste, hear, or see wisdom. Yet, interestingly, we all know when we encounter wisdom, and, as I hope to highlight, we all know when it is missing. A simple description of wisdom would be: the ability to connect cause and effect. Wisdom is knowing how decision x will produce consequence y. If I do this, this will happen. If I fail to do this, this will happen. Wisdom is the ability to see these factors and conditions, and with all the information, make the smartest and best decision. That is wisdom.  

What is the evidence that wisdom has long left us to our own devises? There are endless examples that could be pointed out to support the claim that wisdom, along with Elvis, has left the building. 

The Sexting Dilemma 

One such craze happening right now all over the world, and in all age groups, is sexting. This is a particular practice among young adults. For those who have been hanging out in a bunker somewhere and are not familiar with sexting, it is simply take nude photographs of yourself and sending them to someone via text message. Yes, this person is usually a boyfriend/girlfriend or someone trusted, and not a stranger. But it is unwise nonetheless. 

Why does this demonstrate a lack of wisdom? Okay, let's evaluate: taking a picture of your genitals or breasts to send to someone who then has the image on their phone, for as long as they desire, to show anyone they please, to send to infinite numbers of people...hey, you're right, what could go wrong? 

This phenomena has and continues to wreak havoc in countless people's lives. People are having their nude selves broadcasted to their entire school, or worse yet, online for endless millions. "How dare someone violate my trust by sharing my photo with other people?," you say. How foolish! What did you expect would happen! Forget the fact that you should not be showing your naked body to anyone other than your spouse - which means if you are spouseless you should not be showing your naked body to anyone - taking pictures with your electronics and sharing them with others is just plain dumb. 

Do you really think the person you are sending these pics to respects you? Do you think that the person you are sending these pics to wants to have a relationship based on friendship and something of substance? No way! Not when your willing to act like one of Hugh Hefner's insecure ladies who try to garner the affections and attention of others using their bodies.

Will your future spouse - because I can almost guarantee you the person your sending these pics too is not the one - going to be excited to know your genitals have had 5,698 views via the internet sites created to house such photos? What is your plan for when the "relationship" doesn't work out? Are you going to send a friendly text that says: "Hey, sorry it didn't work out, would you mind erasing that picture of my boobs I sent you? LOL #embarassing" I hate to break the bad news, by the time you have sent that text, your lady parts have already been shown to all his buds, plus a few of his female friends (who all think you are a skank now).

Foolish, Foolish, Foolish

"I just didn't think he/she would hurt me like that. I can't believe they shared my pics with others." This is spoken by a fool. If wisdom is defined by the ability to connect cause and effect, the fool is defined as someone who cannot make this connection. The fool is the person who acts without thinking of the consequences. The fool keeps repeating mistakes because they never learn to assess how one decision may bring about a set of consequences they do not desire. 

At the heart of the sexting craze is rampant foolishness. Guys and gals alike are both acting foolishly. Because they hear of other couples sharing pictures with each other, it becomes the thing to do. Many are just burning with lust, seeking to find fulfillment through sexual contact and exploitation, rather than relationships built on friendships and shared beliefs. The truth is, everyone knows it could backfire and that it's wrong, but they do it anyway. This is why it is foolish. Friends, when you press "send," you can never ever get the picture back. You no longer have control as to who will see your naked body. This is also why you should not be surprised when your worst fears have come true and your desire to run and hide far outweighs the adrenaline rush you had when sending the pics. 

A Closing Plea

As a father of three younger children, two being girls, I greatly desire to teach them to be wise. I do not want them doing things simply to blend with the crowd and culture. I want them to respect themselves enough to not broadcast the body God gave them to people who have no business seeing it. I want them to know their dignity and respect is far more important to keep than some zit-face kid with raging hormones and desire to impress his buds. 

What I would say to them, I say to you. Exercise wisdom. The Bible says that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Fearing the Lord is about reverence and honor to Him as your Creator. He made your body. You were made in the image of God which is what gives you dignity and worth. You deface that dignity and worth when you seek your value from your body. Your body was made by God. Your body is not God. Your body has worth because you are made in the image of God. You do not find your worth in your body. This is crucial to understand. 

Wisdom cries aloud in the streets (Proverbs 1:20). She is seeking for all who will listen to her. She desires to protect us. We must heed her instructions and listen to her pleas. She'll return to us again if we would open our ears. If we would stop and think, she will dwell among us. Unlike Kevin, I do not think we will survive long with our house absent of her presence. We need wisdom to return and take her rightful place in our lives. I have smelled the repugnant fragrance of foolishness in our culture long enough.

If this article has been helpful, share with others by using the buttons below

Balancing Discipline & Mercy in our Parenting

Yesterday I wrote on Facebook/Twitter: "Parents, if you allow unruliness to persist in your kids when they're young, don't be shocked when as an adolescent they're intolerable. To discipline is to love. To ignore is neglect." At last glance, the status had been shared sixteen times. This tells me it is a topic of interest for many folks. 

If I'm being fully transparent, I do not think my generation does a very good job of parenting. I certainly do not think I have it all figured out, but when I look around, I see parents, of all ages, who let their kids talk back, hit, pitch hissy-fits when they don't get their way, and many of them, instead of disciplining, laugh. We may get a kick out of their rebellion now, but it will be no laughing matter within a few short years. 

I believe parents, especially Christian parents, must learn to balance discipline and mercy. We must learn to discipline our children when they are being disobedient. We must also learn to give mercy, so our homes are not confused with Paris Island, and our family doesn't mirror a platoon in the Marines. Discipline and mercy. They sound like opposites, but they operate together in the task of parenting.

The Goal of Discipline

The object of this post is not to discuss whether spanking is a good thing or a bad thing. There are many who immediately turn a conversation about discipline into a debate over the merits or horrors of spanking. My family spanks. We don't beat our children, but when necessary, we spank them as a punishment for disobedience and willing rebellion. Whether you spank, ground, do timeout, or whatever else, the goal of any discipline is to teach the reality of consequences for decisions. This is fundamental to their being functional adults later in life. 

The definition of wisdom is: the ability to connect cause and effect. Simply stated, a wise person is someone who can understand what will happen if I make this choice or that choice. A person of wisdom can see the consequence and fallout of a decision and can choose correctly. The problem with parents who fail to discipline their children, is they are not teaching them this valuable lesson and trait. They are not instilling the idea that when I make a decision I should not make, there are real consequences. This is why we are hearing horrific stories all around the country of children doing things in schools and on buses that we would have never dreamed of in years past. The reason these things are happening is because kids are no longer learning about the consequences of foolish decisions.

We demonstrate love to our children by disciplining them when our standards go unmet. The Bible tells us that God disciplines those whom he loves (Hebrews 12:6). Discipline is an act of love. Correction is a stern way by which God conforms our lives back to his standards. Discipline is loving, because it rescues from the potential deadly consequence of foolish choices. This is the goal of disciplining our children. It is an act of love that seeks to conform foolish behavior so that we might spare them short-term and long-term devastation from such choices.

The Goal of Mercy

Mercy must also be a part of our parenting. Mercy is defined as withholding what is deserved. We cannot be all discipline, all the time. This does not mean we act like pushovers when our children misbehave. Giving mercy actually gets to the heart of how we love our children as we discipline. Children need parents who hug them tightly. They need parents who express verbally and physically their love for them. Children need to know that they are accepted just as they are. Their uniqueness needs to be highlighted and celebrated. Their gifts and strengths need to be sharpened and encouraged. Parents play a vital role to their kids in this way. 

However, being merciful as parent does not mean we let our kids run over us. Showing mercy does not mean we ignore rebellion or disobedience. Demonstrating mercy is not picking and choosing, at random, when we are going to discipline our children. Mercy is about how we interact with our children and how we show love to them, even as we give discipline. 

An Example

So how does this play out? Let me give an example of what this may look like in practice. A few months ago, my son Kaleb was asked to go up to his room before bed and do a few chores. I waited about fifteen to twenty minutes before going upstairs to get him in the bed. When I got upstairs and went into his room, I discovered not only had he not done what I asked him to do, he had taken a short-cut and tried to make it look like he did what he was asked. In other words, he disobeyed by not doing what he was asked, and on top of it, he attempted to deceive me into thinking that he had. 

So when I discovered this, I was upset. I began with giving an impassioned speech about my displeasure with his actions. I then proceeded to layout his punishment: no bedtime movie and no electronics the next day. This was the discipline portion. I did not spank him on this occasion, because I did not feel that this particular offense merited a spanking. However, I enforced a discipline that would still have the intended effect of making him feel the consequences of his choice. After my lecture, he was tucked into bed, and I started to walk out. But then he stopped me, and asked, "Dad, can you pray?" This is where the mercy side of things can be difficult. I did not want to pray. We usually pray every night, but I did not want to tonight. I was mad. He willfully lied and attempted to deceive. I wanted him to feel how mad I was. However, this is taking it beyond the goal of discipline. So I came back to his bed, sat down beside him, put my on him, and prayed. I gave him a kiss, told him I loved him, and left the room. 

Parenting is a tough balance. Discipline was absolutely necessary in this situation. Can you imagine if I let his behavior and actions go unpunished? That is the recipe for a teenager who will be unbearable, and an adult with serious problems. Yet, giving mercy alongside of discipline is hard. I could have easily walked out, slammed the door, and refused to pray with him and tell him I love him. "That will teach him," I could have reasoned to myself. The goal is not to shame or shun my child. Discipline is about love. So giving mercy is necessary as we discipline. I prayed with him, told him I loved him, and gave him a hug and kiss. This is an example of how the two must operate together.  

Parting Thoughts

John Piper said in a sermon once that the goal of parenting is to be the role of God in the child's life until they are old enough to realize you are not God. This is a profound thought. He is not suggesting for us to really think of ourselves as God. Instead, he is showing the vital role parents play in shaping the thoughts and lives of their children. The parent is supposed to be a picture of God to their child. A disciplinarian who shows loving mercy; this is what every child deserves to have in their parents.

God perfectly displayed this reality of his nature and character at the cross of Jesus. There at the cross, the discipline of God poured forth on Jesus as he was punished in the place of sinners as a substitute. But at the cross, we also find mercy. There is mercy for all who place their faith in Jesus and God withholds from them what they deserve, judgment. We are to strike this balance with our parenting. There are times when we need to discipline our children, because we love them. But we also need to be givers of mercy, not winking at their sin, but showing them that their mistakes do not keep back our love or make them anything less than our beloved child. 

If this article has been helpful to you, share it with others using the buttons below

5 Everyday Sins That Stunt Spiritual Growth

When many of us think of sin, we think of big things: murder, adultery, perhaps idol worship. In our own minds we rank those sins up there as the big dogs. Unfortunately, when we make this type of distinction, we actually desensitize ourselves to the reality that we sin everyday in many different ways. Each of these sins are real sins which contain the power to separate us eternally from a holy God and required the sending of Jesus to sacrificially atone for at the cross. These sins, when not dealt with, can stunt the growth of a Christian, and will stand to condemn the unbeliever. 

In this post I want to highlight 5 common, everyday sins we need to be aware of, begin to identify in our lives, and repent from. 

1. Worry -- Everyone has worried at some point. Some people live in constant worry. Worry is a sin. At the root of worry is unbelief in the reality that God cares for His children and provides for them. Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 6 when he teaches that God sovereignly cares for the birds of the air, feeding them, and aware of their livelihood. He then concludes by asking, "How much more valuable are you than the birds?" Jesus' argument is that worry is silly. First, your God is sovereign over everything, including your life. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. Second, worry is the result of not knowing something or not being in control of something. When we recognize we are not in control of something, it can produce worry; however, this is where faith should be present. We should put our faith in the Lord, who knows all things and rules with power over them.

Confess that you are a worrier, admit that it is sin against God, and repent from worrying by placing complete trust of your life in God's hands, knowing He is good, wise, and powerful.

2. Loose Lips -- What do I mean by loose lips? A number of sins can emerge from loose lips: gossiping about others, slander, lying, and angry outbursts. All of these are examples of sins that flow from loose lips. James 3:5-6 speaks of the tongue being able to set fires. This is metaphoric for the great damage the tongue can do when not tamed. If we do not learn to tame our tongue, it can damage relationships, cause us trouble when angrily lash out at people, or lead us to lie our way out of accountability for things we have said or done. Many things on a daily basis come out of our mouths that are not glorifying to God or encouraging to people around us.

Confess that your mouth causes you problems, admit that it is sin against God, and repent by watching closely what things you speak and in what manner you speak them. Train yourself to ask the question: would I say this if Jesus were present with me in this room? (By the way, he is.)

3. Poor Stewardship -- This issue, like the last one, has multiple components that may be present. Poor stewardship is our mismanagement of all that God has given us. This manifest itself through mismanagement of our money, time, resources, and spiritual gifts. This may look like wasteful spending. It could look like failure to serve God with your gifts and talents. It may be failure to tithe your money to a local church as Scripture outlines. Or it could manifest itself in laziness. Maybe you complain about wanting to spend more time in the Word or prayer, but you waste countless hours on Facebook, Twitter, or Pintrest. Jesus tells the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) to remind us that he who manages well what he has been given, will be given more. Those who waste and squander will have what they've been given taken away. 

Confess that you have been guilty of poor stewardship, admit that it is sin against God, and repent by evaluating all the areas you have been given to steward (time, money, gifts, resources) and make the changes needed in these areas to bring them into alignment with God's will and Word.

4. Unforgiving -- Many sin daily by holding grudges against people and failing to forgive. Not forgiving others who have hurt us is sinful. Why? Because those who have been forgiving infinitely more by God Almighty, have no grounds or right to withhold forgiveness from others. No matter how wronged you have been, you still have not been sinned against the way each of us have sinned against a holy and perfect God. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 18 if we fail to forgive others, we will not be forgiven. It is that big of a deal. Many think forgiveness means reconciliation, but it is not (more about this here).  

Confess that you struggle with being unforgiving, admit that it is sin against God, and repent by taking your struggle to forgive to God, ask God to be your vindicator, and release the person or people who have hurt you by choosing to no longer let their actions hurt and define you. 

5. Lack of self-control -- One of the fruits of the spirit is self-control. This is not talked about a lot in church. There are not many books written on this subject. However, self-control or lack of it, is at the heart of many struggles people face. Whether it is our eating habits, exercise routines, how we dress, the way we represent ourselves on the internet, or many other issues, self-control is often at the heart of whether we're honoring God or sinning. Self-control helps us to be slow to act. It aides us from having to immediately give our opinion or saying things we will later regret. Self-control is important in a marriage. If there is a lack of self-control with one or both people, it can cause serious problems. This issue plays out in different ways with different people. 

Confess that you need more self-control, admit that it is sin against God, and repent by beginning to lean more heavily on the grace that God supplies when we seek Him in prayer for help in this area. Rely on the Spirit's power, available to all believers, to begin operating with more self-control in your life.

With all of these everyday sins, it can be helpful to enlist the help of a friend or loved one that can offer accountability and ask hard questions. With the grace of God, the forgiveness Christ offers, and the Spirit's power, we can labor to rid our lives of these issues. I believe our lives would look very different, and our spiritual growth would be noticeable, if we dealt with these common issues. I invite you to join me in making these issues a priority. 

This list is not exhaustive. If you can think of other everyday sins that you or others struggle with, list them in the comments below. 

If this article was helpful, then help others by sharing it with the buttons below

Pastors, We Are Not Martyrs

I know after reading the title of this post, many are popping their fingers, ready to fire off a correction to my post. But first, give me a chance to explain myself. The title is not implying we could not or should not be martyrs for the faith. If placed in that position, to renounce Jesus or die, I believe pastors and all believers should affirm with Luther, "Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God." I am emphasizing something entirely different, namely, that the difficulties we face as pastors do not equal martyrdom. We should stop acting like martyrs. This is particularly true for those of us in the United States.

Fake Martyrs

I see a growing trend with pastors and ministry leaders who want to portray being in ministry as if it were a daily burden. We often go from one over-exaggerated crisis to the next. Yes, being a pastor is incredibly difficult, I do not belittle that. I have been a senior pastor for nearly eight years. I get it. I know what it feels like to have a burden for the lost, who think you are foolish. And I know what it feels like to have a burden for the church, who can often assume your incompetent. I have been called names in the community by unbelievers because of my beliefs. I have also been publicly talked about by other pastors in the community because they do not like our church's music style or clothing attire. Regardless of who you are, this is never fun. 

However, as much as these things can hurt and frustrate you, it is not martyrdom. Friends, we are not to desire or seek the pity of others for the difficulties we face. And we should definitely now wallow in self-pity.

Real Martyrs

There are believers and pastors today, around the world, who are truly being persecuted and martyred for their faith. When you look at the plight of believers in places like Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, North Africa, and parts of Asia, you actually find individuals are dying for their allegiance to Jesus. Seventy-Five Christians were killed a few months ago in a church in Pakistan after two suicide bombers blew the place up. It is reported that nearly eighty people were executed in North Korea in the last few weeks, supposedly for being found owning Bibles. 

Friends, these stories could fill pages and pages. Christians are truly experiencing persecution around the world. Yes, there is some opposition to our beliefs in the United States. Yes, we are becoming a minority on particular cultural hot-topic issues. But brothers, we are not martyrs. 

There are believers and pastors around the world dying for the name of Jesus, not simply being called bad names because of Jesus. We need to keep that in perspective as we talk with others, interact on Twitter/Facebook, write our blog posts, and preach our sermons. Your ability to complain without fear is evidence you are not as persecuted as you think. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts...why do you think so many in ministry today want to portray their life as so incredibly difficult? 

Like and Share the post with others by using the buttons below

Karma, Really?

If you are a Christian or Materialist Atheist who references karma, you are bearing witness that you are inconsistent in your worldview.

Karma is the concept of an immaterial force in the universe which exacts justice and vindicates wrongs. The idea is if you are mean to people, karma is going to get you back. If you are nice to people, karma will reward you. Karma is a tenet of Hindu and Buddhist religious belief. These Eastern religions teach of this impersonal force that governs people's actions and regulates the affairs of the world with the scales of justice.

What is most disturbing about this idea is that many professing Christians talk about and reference it. Karma is not a Christian belief. We do not believe in karma. We do not believe in an impersonal force operating in the universe to right wrongs and reward good. We believe in a God who rules and reigns over the universe. Galatians 6:7 teaches that we reap what we sow. This means that if we sow sinful actions and behaviors, we will reap the consequences such actions bring. Likewise if we sow godly actions, we will likely experience the blessing of such actions. This is a far cry from karma. Galatians 6:7 supports the idea of cause and effect. If I train extremely hard to run a marathon, eat right, and prepare myself, I will reap the benefits of a solid race. If I sow the habits of laziness, eating unhealthy, and fail to train, I will reap the consequences of a miserable day if I attempt to run 26.2 miles. However, life doesn't always work that way. Sometimes the guy who trains for months for the marathon gets hurt as soon as the race starts and is unable to finish. That is life. 

Christians who talk about karma are demonstrating they do not read their Bible's very often. At a minimum, they demonstrate they have been seduced by unbiblical thinking and ideas. For Christians to speak of karma is to syncretize unbiblical beliefs into a Christian belief system, which is creating an entirely separate system - a melting pot of contradictory ideas. 

For the non-Christian, particularly the Materialist Atheist, speaking of karma is also inconsistent with their worldview. The Materialist Atheist believes the world consists of matter. All that exists is physical in nature. For this same person to speak and reference karma, which is an invisible and impersonal force in the universe which brings about justice, is a contradiction. The Materialist Atheist cannot account for such a belief within the framework of his/her belief system. He is borrowing from Eastern religions and incorporating it into his worldview. 

Karma does not exist. Sometimes good people suffer much in this world. Sometimes bad people have it made. Great parents can have unhealthy children and negligent parents can have healthy children. The guy who gets drunk every night and cheats on his wife may catch a lot of business breaks and strike it rich. The guy who is faithful to his wife and family may get fired by the previous guy. 

There is no impersonal force in the world governing the universe. There is a God, Triune in nature, who is personal, who rules the universe. Wrongs will be made right one day, He promises so. But on this side of heaven, sometimes good guys lose, and bad guys win (read Asaph's psalm - Psalm 78). Karma is a joke. Do yourself a favor and eliminate it from your vocabulary and way of expressing the happenings in the world. It is simply not a reality.