Man was told by God in Genesis 1 to subdue the earth, to tend the garden and to do work that was only joyful, and to rule over the animals ... and as a first time home owner, I think I am starting to see a small glimpse into this pre-fall paradise that Adam and Eve were able to live in for a time before the curse. You see when I was younger I had to do all kinds of yard work, and I even worked at a tree nursery for a living for a time in my young adult life. None of it was what I would call fun. All of it resembled to post-fall type of subduing of the earth by the sweat of my brow and it producing nothing but thorns and thistles for me (Gen 3:17-19) ... with task masters (my parents - not the Egyptian slave owners of the Israelites) breathing over my shoulder telling me what to do and how to do it. Mow the lawn like this. Hedge the bushes like that. And so on. "God has created us to find joy and satisfaction in co-creating." But now when I work in a yard of my own (and there are no Egyptian slave masters), there is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that I feel that has caused me to take pause and think; where is this satisfaction coming from? Whether it is landscaping beautiful gardens, or building bridges and amazing skyscrapers, or simply organizing your desk and workspace, God has created us to find joy and satisfaction in co-creating. Making us in His image (Gen 1:27), God has given us the ability to be co-creators. Not only in the ability to make human life (go and increase in number Gen 1:28) but also in the ability to "subdue the earth" (Gen 1:29), meaning that we have dominion and control over our environment and that we are the stewards and masters of it (a biblical reason for taking care of the earth). All that God creates is "good" and "pleasant" (Gen 1), it has been us as fallen humanity that has marred that beauty (Gen 3) and brought about death and decay (although we will regain the perfect ability to work and create without the destruction, decay and death of sin in the new Earth), however when we are making something beautiful again (making something useful, pleasing, and restoring to life) we are tapping into that goodness of God and His creator-ship, sharing in the joy and satisfaction that he feels when creating something "good" and "pleasant". This is a great joy and grace that the creator God would allow us to not only share in the ability of co-creating, but also share in the divine joy and satisfaction of doing so. #theology #biblestudy

I have always heard that is difficult to explain and that I wouldn’t understand until I have one of my own. Of course I didn’t think these clichés were lies, but I didn’t think they were very helpful because of course if it was something I couldn’t understand until I was there, then what did I do need to do about that now? Four months after having my first child I have now of course realized that it is in fact an experience unlike any other and that it cannot be fully appreciated or conceptualized until you have an experiential frame of reference for yourself. It’s as though there was a dormant part of me that I was not aware of and that I did not conjure up, fabricate, or elicit, but that somehow was automatically turned on at the moment of my son’s birth. Something buried so deep that it was beyond my conscious recognition and awareness, was turned on like a light switch and brought forth to the surface, leaving me weeping and speechless. I have concluded that this was simply some sort of divinely hardwired component of my being. The amount of love, care, concern, and readiness to sacrifice for a being that had never spoken to me, never done anything for my pleasure, had never benefited me in any tangible way, is in some regards irrational and illogical, but nonetheless powerfully true. When I learned of my wife and son’s car accident a few months after he was born, and I didn’t know yet that no one was significantly injured (for which I praise God), the anxiety, fear, and intense sense of emotional pain, loss, and devastation were near overwhelming. I am of course coming to a greater understanding, and becoming more in touch with the analogies that the Bible uses of God being our Father. The perfect Father. The love that he feels for his creation and his children, The anguish and pain that he feels when his children are endangered, hurting, hopeless, and suffering (Ps 10:14; 22:24; Deu 10:18). I have also come to a greater appreciation of the fact that a father disciplines his child and even though it is painful, it is born out of love (c.f. Heb 12). "The discipline you and I undergo, even though it is painful, it is born out of love." For many years as a single Christian with no children, I struggled to relate to God as a loving Father because of my own broken earthly familial relationships, now I am better able to view God as a Father who loves me because of the love that I feel for my son, and incidentally I’m able to better appreciate the love, albeit imperfect, that my earthly fathers had for me. I know that I am far from perfect and that my son will need to have plenty of grace with me as I try to love him tangibly in line with the measure of what I feel emotionally for him. Thank God that He is able to love us perfectly, and perfectly in line with how he feels about us. #family #spirituality #relationships #biblestudy

I can appreciate Jay-Z's lyrics ... at least partially. I can relate to him, I do have "99 problems", of an assorted variety ... but all of them of temporal (2 Cr 4:17), but I'm grateful for the call to mind of what problem I don't have. The one problem I don't have, is a fear of death (Heb 2:14-15). In my view, this is actually the most important problem to resolved in human existence, but I guess we are all welcome to continue trifling with small problems. I often find even in the Christian community that believers still live with a real fear of death. This should not be the case. The apostle Paul tells us that to die and be with the Lord is actually better than life (Phil 1:21), but my experience for the past decade as a minister has taught me that this is not most Christian's actual belief system or experience. Their actual belief system looks more like the American Dream, where to die would be terrible because of their loss of their "good American life" with their microwave ovens, 3 cars, flat screen television, and endless entertainment options. It hurts me to even write this. "Their actual belief system looks more like the American Dream than Christianity." Of course their are many things here to enjoy in this life, and given by God to be enjoyed (!) (Jn 10:10; Jam 1:7), but we cannot let these good things (that are ultimately temporary) encapsulate our hearts to the point that we are not really wanting to depart with them in death. Of course we can only speculate what we would ever do or feel in a situation until we are ultimately in that situation, but I want to challenge you Christian: Take some time to meditate and think about death. What do you feel? Is there fear, or is there an assurance, even an eagerness to have what is greater? If you feel a sense of fear or hesitation about death (this is not to be confused with the genuine and right love and affection you feel for people - not things), pray that God will increase your faith to the point that the fear of death departs from you (1 Jn 4:18). #spirituality #theology #culture

"Americans rent upwards of 800 million pornographic videos and DVDs (about 1 in 5 of all rented movies is porn), and the 11,000 porn films shot each year far outpaces Hollywood's yearly slate of 400. $4 billion a year is spent on video pornography in the United States, more than on football, baseball, and basketball. One in four Internet users look at a pornography website in any given month. Men look at pornography online more than they look at any other subject. And 66% of 18 to 34-year-old men visit a pornographic site each month." (Time journalist, Pamela Paul, "How Porn Became The Norm," in Stoner and Hughers, Social Costs of Pornography) Pornography has become completely mainstream, whether considering prime time television and the acceptance of 'soft-porn', or the slow shift of what is considered PG, PG-13, R, or to the more obvious hard-core porn, sexuality in the Western culture has changed dramatically in the past 50 years (for a great short read tracking this shift in America, see "How America Lost Her Innocence"). This of course traces its roots back to the sexual revolution of the 1960s for our culture, but ultimately traces itself back to the roots of Genesis 3:7 and the centrality of man and woman's sexuality in the Fall (the recourse of knowing the difference between good and evil resulted in "their eyes being opened and realizing they were naked"). "Despite our culture's easy acceptance of pornography, The growing tide of researchers, counselors, neuroscientists, pastors, and other professionals are ringing alarm bells on the basis of the devastating effects of pornography they see in their clinics, churches, and research studies. Some describe it as the 'new tobacco.' Just as most people considered smoking benign before the mid 1960s, there is a similar disconnect between scientific research and popular perspectives regarding the influence of pornography." (Jonathan Grant, Divine Sex pg. 105) "The strong stigma of shame attached to pornography means that we will only see it if we are deeply involved in the confessional lives of others. The sad truth is that whether we see it or not, pornography has become a major issue for many people within the church." (Jonathan Grant, Divine Sex pg. 105) The statistics of pornography use is staggering (see recent Barna research about use amongst the youth), but what is most alarming is that the statistics really are about the same both in and out of the church. Christians are using pornography just about as much as everyone else. I know I can attest to this from my own experience personally, and because I am deeply involved in the confessional lives of others throughout the church. And don't think that pornography is just for men. Statistics show that female use of pornography is steadily rising, and the social acceptance of pornography amongst women is becoming more mainstream as well. Just as The Truth Project set out to show a younger generation the truth about the damaging effects of tobacco and cigarette smoke, we now must take up the mantle in showing the truth about the damaging effects of pornography. This of course is damaging to the Christian's spiritual life (and is forbidden as sin in the bible - c.f. Mat 5:27-28), but it is also damaging physically, something that the secular authorities are now finding out conclusively through research. They are finding that porn effects the brain in very similar ways as cocaine and other hard drugs, creating addictions for users in the same ways as other drugs (for more information on the negative effects of pornography, see Fight The New Drug). In my opinion, modern technology, the innovation of the internet, and smart phones have introduced the largest chasm between co-existing generations than any previous one. This is perhaps no where seen more clearly than the general naivety from parents about what their children are being exposed to, partaking in, and becoming addicted to, and the ages at which this is happening (most research shows that the average age of exposure to porn is now 8-11 years old). Christians, our enemy is real, and he is cunning. It is time for us to wake up. #sex #pornography #relationships #culture

More terrorists attacks have happened, this time Brussels, Belgium was the target. You can read more on the attacks here. A day after the attacks, I share some thoughts: Indeed we are warned that we would hear of wars and rumors of wars, but to not be alarmed (Mat 24:6). My heart goes out to those affected by this tragedy, and as a Christian I am reminded of a few things: This world is not my home (Heb 12:14-16) Life is fragile, and is a mist (Jam 4:14) God is good, and sovereign (Rev 6:10) In the midst of apparent injustice and horror, God is just, and His vengeance will be poured out (Jer 46:10; 51:6; Nah 1:2; Rom 2:6; Heb 10:30; 1 Pet 3:9) The take away? Don't delay. Seek God urgently, with all your heart, mind, soul, and body. Don't delay. And tell your loved ones you love them today. Don't delay. And be nicer to someone than you feel like being or than they deserve today. Don't delay. #culture

The practice of fasting permeates the Scriptures, but is something that is rather counter to our American culture of "dreaming thin and living fat". There are no direct instructions given in the New Testament on how to fast, but we see that the practice was consistent amongst people in both Testaments (c.f. Ex 34:28; 2 Sam 12:15-22; 2 Chrn 20; Est 4; Daniel 9; Neh 1; Matt 4:2; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:13-24). What is fasting? Fasting is primarily associated with voluntary abstinence from food (not some crash diet to lose weight) in order to draw near to God and spiritual purposes. And while you can fast from other things than food for the same purpose (movies, television, cell phones, Internet, some specific foods, sports, hobbies, etc.) this is what is most common in the Scriptures. Fasts in the scriptures usually abstained from food anywhere from 1-40 days, and occasionally refrained from all liquids as well (c.f. Ez 10:6; Est 4:16; Act 9:9) and could be done privately (Mat 6:16-18) or corporately (Joel 2:15-16; Acts 13:2). The most common fasts amongst Christians today is probably abstaining from food but drinking water privately, and occasional fasts (when a special need arises - c.f. Mat 9:15) Why do we fast? Fasting is a spiritual discipline in which one undergoes self-discipline (through the power of the Holy Spirit, not one's own will power however - c.f. Luke 4:1-14) for the purposes of seeking God, for God's own sake, not for what you want God to do for you. Fasting is not some spiritual rubbing of the genie's bottle in which we bargain with God for something; I will give up x, if you give me y (unless "y" is to become more like Jesus). This is never the purpose of fasting in the Scriptures, and such an understanding of the God of the bible is incorrect and even blasphemous (c.f. Isa 42:8; 48:11). Fasting is to draw near to God, and to ultimately become more like His Son Jesus, which in and of itself will bring much to us; surrender, peace, insight, wisdom, repentance, love, compassion, etc. Here are some possible reasons we fast: To humble ourselves before God and to show our dependence on him To devote more time and focus to our spiritual lives. The time we would've spent eating or preparing food can be used in prayer and Bible study To ask for God's guidance as we face important decisions Task for God's help in a crisis To ask for God's help in overcoming spiritual dullness, lukewarmness, and numbness To help us rebuild our relationship with God if we have wandered away or have sinned grievously To have a special focus time of prayer weekly or monthly To pray about some particular need in the church or as a means of group repentance To express gratitude in Thanksgiving for a remarkable blessing, answered prayer, or spiritual victory To ask God for breakthrough or for the change of heart Why don't we fast? Fasting is a very difficult thing emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It places our most utter dependence upon God, and brings our frailty and weakness front and center. And we don't like being weak. I don't know about you, but fasting for me is quite difficult and I can find many excuses to not discipline myself to eat no food for the purposes of seeking God. The act of fasting is humbling, but who likes to be humble? Yet if we humble ourselves, God will lift us up (1 Pet 5:6). Fasting Resources: Fasting: Opening the door to a deeper, mor intimate, more powerful relationship with God - Franklin ​Matching 21 day Journal Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Whitney Be Still My Soul: a pracitcal guide to a deeper relationship with God - Laing #biblestudy #discipline

On the internet, you can find the 10 top supposed reasons that Jesus Christ did not exist as a real historical figure. How would you defend the idea that Jesus really exsisted? Here are some excerpts from extra-biblical writings about the historical figure Jesus of Nazareth: JEWISH SOURCES ON JESUS Flavius Josephus, Antiquties of the Jews written about 94 A.D. He (Annas the Younger) convened a judicial session of the Sanhedrin and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ -- James by name -- and some others, whom he charged with breaking the law and handed over to be stoned to death. - Antiquities 20.200 Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He was the Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again at the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and 10,000 other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, is not extinct at this day. - Antiquities 18.63-64 (Greek) Epitome from Church History of Agapius (Arabic) At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good and he was known to be virtuous. And many from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah concerning who the prophets have recounted wonders. Babylonian Talmud On the eve of Passover Yeshua was hanged. For forty days before the execution a herald went forth and cried, "He is going to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Anyone who can say anything in his favor, let him come forward and plead on his behalf." But since nothing was brought forward in his favor he was hanged on the eve of Passover. - Sanhedrin 43a ROMAN (PAGAN) SOURCES ON JESUS Gaius Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars written about 100-125 A.D. He expelled the Jews from Rome, on account of riots in which they were constantly indulging, at the instigation of Chrestus. - Claudius 25.4 Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a body of people addicted to a novel and mischievous superstition. - Nero 16.2 Cornelius Tacitus, Annals written in the 2nd century A.D. But neither the aid of men, nor the emperor's bounty, nor propitiatory offerings to the gods, could remove the grim suspicion that the fire had been started by Nero's order. To put an end to this rumor, he shifted the charge on to others, and inflicted the most cruel tortures upon a group of people detested for their abominations, and popularly known as "Christians". Their name came from one Christus, who was put to death in the principate of Tiberius by the Procurator Pontius Pilate. Though checked for a time, the destructive superstition broke out again, not in Judaea only, where its mischief began, but even in Rome, where every abominable and shameful iniquity, from all the world, pours in and finds a welcome. - Annals 15.44 Mara bar Serapion, Letter to Son Serapion What advantage did the Athenians gain from putting Socrates to death? Famine and plague came upon them as a judgment for their crime. What advantage did the men of Samos gain from burning Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand. What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise king? It was just after that their kingdom was abolished. God justly avenged these three wise men: the Jews, ruined and driven from their land, live in complete dispersion. But Socrates did not die for good; he lived on in the teaching of Plato. Pythagoras did not die for good; he lived on in the statue of Hera. Nor did the wise king die for good; he lived on in the teaching which he had given. Pliny the Younger, Letters to Trajan It is my rule, Sire, to refer to you in matters where I am uncertain. For who can better direct my hesitation or instruct my ignorance? I was never present at any trial of Christians; therefore I do not know what are the penalties or investigations, and what limits are observed. I have hesitated a great deal on the question whether there should be any distinction of ages; whether the weak should have the same treatment as the most robust; whether those who recant should be pardoned, or whether a man who has ever been a Christian should gain nothing by ceasing to be such; whether the name itself, even if innocent of crime, should be punished, or only the crimes attaching to that name. Meanwhile, this is the course that I have adopted in the case of those brought before me as Christians. I ask them if they are Christians. If they admit it I repeat the question a second and a third time, threatening capital punishment; if they persist I sentence them to death ... All who denied that they were or had been Christians I considered should be discharged, because they called upon the gods at my dictation and did reverence, with incense and wine, to your image ... and especially because they cursed Christ, a thing which, it is said, genuine Christians cannot be induced to do. Others named by the informer first said they were Christians and then denied it, declaring that they had been but were no longer, some having recanted three years or more before and one or two as long ago as twenty years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods and cursed Christ. But they declared that the sum of their guilt or error had amounted only to this, that on an appointed day they had been accustomed to meet before daybreak, and to recite a hymn antiphonally to Christ, as to a god, and to bind themselves by an oath, not for the commission of any crime but to abstain from theft, robbery, adultery and breach of faith and not to deny a deposit when it was claimed. After the conclusion of this ceremony it was their custom to depart and meet again to take food: but it was ordinary and harmless food, and they had ceased this practice after my edict in which, in accordance with your orders, I had forbidden secret societies. I though it more necessary, therefore, to find out what truth there was in this by applying torture to two maidservants, who were called deaconesses. But I found nothing but a depraved and extravagant superstition, and I therefore postponed my examination and had recourse to you for consultation. - Letters 10.96 ibid., Trajan's Reply The method you have pursued, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is extremely proper. It is not possible to lay down any general rule which can be applied as the fixed standard in all cases of this nature. No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian, and shall give proof that he is not, that is by adoring our gods, he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion. Information without the accuser's name subscribed must not be admitted in evidence against anyone, as it is introducing a very dangerous precedent, and by no means agreeable to the spirit of the age. - Letters 10.97 #theology

#sex #pornography

#sex #pornography

One of the greatest challenges we'll face in life is perseverance. In almost everything we do in life that we wish to do well and that we wish to do for any length of time takes a great measure of perseverance and consistency. This is true in our careers, relationships, hobbies, and our walk with God. I have trained many people in the gym and I coach them that in the long run consistency is always greater than intensity. Many people get highly motivated for a short period of time and want to push themselves intensely in the gym (this typically happens when someone's health and fitness has gotten to an all time low and they are in the worse shape of their life - the wrong time to try to be intense) but I tell them that the key to success in achieving their fitness goals is to commit to being consistent. But of course going hard one time is a lot easier then going all the time. (This is also why "dieting" doesn't really work because it's not something that is sustained over the long haul). Start by implementing some small change in your life consistently for 3 weeks I tell them. Like limiting yourself to no more than one soda for 3 weeks for example. "Long term consistency trumps short term intensity." Bruce Lee God wants to be close to us at all times, not just during special occasions. Jesus said, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Mat 28:20) and Paul reminds us to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Don't just confine your relationship with God with some specific set time in the morning but rather learn how to walk with God throughout all of your day and in every circumstance (for a great resource on this concept see The Practice of the Prescence of God). Is having a specific set time to read and pray and try to connect with God a bad thing? Of course not, much of this practicing of the presence of God is built upon the foundation of time with him every day, so remain committed to the practice of "daily quiet times". But don't let it stop there, learn how to be in continual conscious fellowship with God, learn to pray in the moment as life happens as we see Nehemiah doing before the king (Neh 2:4-5), learn to meditate on and allow scripture to dwell in your heart throughout the day (Ps 119:10-11), and learn to recognize that God is with you, even when you might not be aware of Him (1 Ki 19:12). Of course the key to consistency and perseverance (in any arena) really comes down to self-control and self discipline. The incredible news is that no matter how much self-discipline we have right now or whether or not we have cultivated self-discipline from our childhood, God has given us his own Spirit which is a Spirit of self-control (2 Tim 1:7)! So you CAN grow in your self-discipline because it is already there in you! This self-discipline does not come however from your own "white-knuckling" effort, your straining and striving, but more from humbly submitting to, and being in step with God's Spirit! #biblestudy #discipline