10 Oct 2017 - The Multiplying Community (pt 1)

Radical ch 5 - The Multiplying Community (pp. 85-93)

"He was not only optimistic enough to think he could actually affect the world around him, but he was also confident enough to know how he was going to do it. He really believed that in obeying Jesus' command to make disciples, he was going to impact the world." - p. 86

Man, what happened to us as the American church? This is a kid in Sudan speaking with such confidence and assurance that he would make an indelible mark on the world following Christ!

"I am concerned about a general vagueness that has existed in contemporary Christianity regarding the next step." - p. 87

"You don't need to have inordinate skill or unusual abilities to make disciples. You don't need to be a great communicator or innovative thinker to make disciples. That's why Jesus says every Christian must do this." - p. 90

 Acts 2:1-13

"When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven and it filled the whole place where they were staying. And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. ... And they [the crowds] were astounded and amazed, saying, 'Look, aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language?'" - vv. 1-4, 7-8

God didn't leave us on our own on this work of obedience in discipleship. He provided His Spirit to empower and guide us. We're not going blind or running on our finite energy. God is in the business of seeing His work through.

9 Oct 2017 - The Great Why of God (pt 3)

Radical ch 4 - The Great Why of God (pp. 78-84)

"I have blessed you for my glory. Not so you will have a comfortable life with a big house and a nice car. Not so you can spend lots of money on vacations, education or clothing. Those aren't bad things, but I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory. - p. 84

Acts 1:15-26

8 Oct 2017 - The Great Why of God (pt 2)

Radical ch 4 - The Great Why of God (pp. 69-78)

"The message of biblical Christianity is not 'God loves me, period," as if we were the object of our own faith. The message of biblical Christianity is "God loves me so that I might make him - his ways, his salvation, his glory, and his greatness - known among all nations.'" - pp. 70-71

"It's a foundational truth: God creates, blesses, and saves each of us for a radically global purpose. But if we are not careful, we will be tempted to make exceptions. We will be tempted to adopt spiritual smoke screens and embrace national comforts that excuse us from the global plan of Christ." - pp. 71-72 

"But where in the Bible is missions ever identified as an optional program in the church? ... We have taken this command, though, and reduced it to a calling - something that only a few people receive." - pp. 72 -73

"Certainly there are great needs here. But must we insist on dividing the Great Commission into an either-or proposition? Who told us that we had to choose to have a heart for the United States or a heart for the world?" - p. 76

 Acts 1:9-14

"All these were continually united in payer, along with the women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, and His brothers." - v. 14

7 Oct 2017 - The Great Why of God (pt 1)

Radical ch 4 - The Great Why of God (pp. 61-69)

"God blesses his people with extravagant grace so they might extend his extravagant glory to all peoples on the earth. This basic, fundamental truth permeates Scripture from beginning to end. Yet I wonder if we unknowingly ignore the great why of God." - p. 69

 Acts 1:1-11

6 Oct 2017 - Beginning at the End of Ourselves (pt 2)

Radical ch 3 - Beginning at the End of Ourselves (pp. 53-60)

"The church I lead could have all the man-made resources that one could imagine, but apart from the Holy Spirit, such a church will do nothing of significance for the glory of God." - p. 54

"God our Father delights in this. He delights in giving us himself. He puts his very power in us so we might have all we need to accomplish his purposes in the world." - pp. 58-59 

"Surrounded by the self-sufficiency of American culture, we can convince ourselves that we have what it takes to achieve something great. In our churches we mimic our culture, planning and programming, organizing and strategizing, creating and innovating - all in an effort that will show what we can accomplish in our own ability." - p. 59

Titus 3:1-15

5 Oct 2017 - Beginning at the End of Ourselves (pt. 1)

Radical ch 3 -  Beginning at the End of Ourselves (pp. 43-53)

"This is how God works. He puts people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness." - p. 48

Titus 2:1-15

3 Oct 2017 - Too Hungry for Words (pt 2)

Radical ch 2 - Too Hungry for Words (pp. 33-41)

"At the Cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God, and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, 'It is finished.'" - p. 36

"You will not find a place where a superstitious sinner's prayer is even mentioned. And you will not find an emphasis on accepting Jesus. We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced him to a poor, puny Saviour who is just begging for us to accept him. Accept him? Do we really think Jesus needs our acceptance? Don't we need him?" - p. 37

"Biblical proclamation of the gospel beckons us to a much different response and leads us down a much different road. Here the gospel demands and enables us to turn from our sin, to take up our cross, to die to ourselves, and to follow Jesus. These are the terms and phrases we see in the Bible. And Salvation now consists of a deep wrestling in our souls with the sinfulness of our hearts, the depth of our depravity, and the desperation of our need or his grace. Jesus is no longer one to be accepted or invited, but one who is infinitely worthy of our immediate and total surrender." - pp. 38-39

"We realise that we are saved not just to be forgiven of our sins or assured of our own eternity in heaven, but we are saved to know God. So we yearn for him. We want him so much that we abandon everything else to experience him." - p. 39 

Titus 1:1-16

1 Oct 2017 - Too Hungry for Words (pt 1)

Radical ch 2 - Too Hungry for Words (pp. 23-32)

"What if we take away the cool music and cushioned chairs? What if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated? What if the air conditioning is off and the comforts re removed? Would his Word still be enough for his people to come together?" - p. 27

"We already have a fairly high view of our morality, so when we add a superstitious prayer, a subsequent dose of church attendance, and obedience to some of the Bible, we feel pretty sure that we will be all right in the end." - p. 32

"The modern-day gospel says, 'God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Therefore, follow these steps, and you can be saved.' Meanwhile, the biblical gospel says, 'You are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not even able to see that you nee life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. Therefore you are radically dependent on God to do something in your life that you could never do.'" - p. 32

2 Timothy 4:9-22

30 Sept 2017 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pt 3)

Radical ch 1 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pp. 12-21)

"[W]e are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist Him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with. A nice, middle-class, American Jesus." - p. 13

"We are molding Jesus into our image. He is beginning to look a lot like us, because, after all, that is whom we are most comfortable with." - p. 13 

Some things that are just too long to quote touched on the value of the exchange, the promise of Christ that surrendering everything to Him yields benefit in eternity. For example, in the parable of the field with the treasure, the man sells everything he owns for what appears to be an empty, barren field, but the man knows that in that field lies a greater reward than the value of everything he just sold. That needs to be our approach to Christ. In His demand of sacrifice and His promise of reward, we need to keep the perspective that the eternal reward of Christ is far greater than the sum of all our lifetime possessions and assets.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

"For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves, because they have an itch to hear something new." - v. 3

"But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship , do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." - v. 5

28 Sept 2017 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pt 2)

Radical ch 1 - Someone Worth Losing Everything For (pp. 4-12)

"Become homeless. Let someone else bury your dad. Don't even say good-bye to your family. Is it surprising that, from all we can tell in Luke 9, Jesus was successful in persuading these men not to follow him?" - p. 8

"Give up everything you have, carry a cross, and hate your family. This sounds a lot different from 'Admit, believe, confess, and pray a prayer after me.'" - pp. 10-11 

"[T]he kind of abandonment Jesus asked of the rich young man is at the core of Jesus' invitation throughout the Gospels. Even his simple call in Matthew 4 to his disciples - 'Follow me' - contained radical implications for their lives. Jesus was calling them to abandon their comforts, all that was familiar to them and natural for them. He was calling them to abandon their careers. ... Jesus was calling them to abandon their possessions. ... Jesus was calling them to abandon their family and their friends. ... Ultimately, Jesus was calling them to abandon themselves." - pp. 11-12

 "In a world that prizes promoting oneself, they were following a teacher who told them to crucify themselves. And history tells us the result. Almost all of them would lose their lives because they responded to his invitation." - p. 12

 I guess the big question echoes the chapter title. Is Jesus someone worth losing everything for? Is He worth losing my wife and/or unborn child for? Is He worth losing my schooling and future job for? Is He worth losing my home and possessions for? Is He worth losing my abilities and faculties for?

With my head, I know the answer is yes, but in my heart, I'm trying to intellectualise it so I don't feel the weight of these questions. My heart is in denial somewhat that the cost of following Christ could be this big.

God, please help me to let go. Please help me to put you in a place of higher honour and esteem in my heart, that my affections would not be fixated on these worldly treasures - relationships, people, jobs, income, senses - but on you. Teach me to be poor in spirit, holding the gifts and blessings you have given with an open hand, content in you, such that, should you take them, my joy and satisfaction would still be full. Oh Lord, allow me to sing to you the hymn: "Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Naught be all else to me save that thou art. Thou my best thought by day or by night. Waking or sleeping thy presence my light." Amen

27 Sept 2017 - Someone Worth Losing Everyone For (pt 1)

Radical ch 1 - Someone Worth Losing Everyone For (pp. 1-3)

"I am convince that we, as Christ followers in American churches, have embraced values and ideas that are not only unbiblical, but that actually contradict the Gospel we claim to believe." - p. 3

2 Timothy 3:10-17

"But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." - vv. 10-13

26 Sept 2017 - What Is My First Step?

A Practicing Christian ch 23 - What Is My First Step?

Questions

1. Look at Acts 2:21-27 and describe some of the healthy characteristics of a local congregation.
1. I'm not sure this is the right passage. Perhaps 41-47?
2. They devoted themselves to meeting, to teaching/learning, to community, remembrance of Christ, and to prayer. They performed miracles. They donated their possessions to the poor. They were joyful in praising God.
2. There is a problem developing in the Jerusalem church in Acts 6:1. What is the problem?
1. The widows of Greek Christians were being overlooked in fvour of Jewish Christians
3. How was the problem addressed in Acts 6:2-7? What was the positive outcome?
1. They appointed specific, trustworthy individuals to oversee that ministry
2. The church continued to grow

2 Timothy 3:1-9

25 Sept 2017 - Do You Let Your Emotions Get the Best of You?

A Practicing Christian ch 22 - Do You Let Your Emotions Get the Best of You?

"I knew I held on to some bitterness against someone, but there was no way I was going to admit I was wrong and ask for forgiveness. I thought the other person should be the one at my doorstep."

Questions

1. How does Philippians 4:8 relate to a Christian having healthy emotions?
1. Paul gives here a list of qualities to use as a checklist or standard of comparison for the things we dwell on. I think this can be particularly useful when addressing "stewing" emotions, like anger, bitterness, frustration, irritation, shame, guilt - all these negative, unpleasant emotions that we feel we can't actually express and so, end up in the emotion pot, being stewed, ruminated on, and dwelt on.
2. Explain what we are to do with bitterness in light of Ephesians 4:21.
1. "Assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus." I don't think this is the scripture intended. Verse 31, maybe? "All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice."
2. It's pretty straightforward, if this is the verse intended. We are to rid ourselves of bitterness.
3. What does the author of Hebrews mean by "root of bitterness" in Hebrews 12:15?
1. I would guess he means any source of bitterness, though the imagery of a root is very appropriate, making me think of a dandelion's tap root - it is extremely long and difficult to remove and, if it is not removed in its entirety, will result in a new dandelion growing back in its place.
   Bitterness is like that. The long root worms itself delicately into deeper corners of our hearts with small filament strands that are difficult to pull up without disturbing the soil, without bringing the contents of one's heart to light, sometimes painfully.

2 Timothy 2:14-26

"The Lord's slave must not quarrel..." - v. 24

But, God... Don't you see the foolishness of this people? The injustice? The idolatry?

"But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord's slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth" - vv. 23-25

So, God, what you're saying is we need to leave the heart work to you? Just take our time teaching gently and leave the conviction all in your hands? That's hard to do sometimes...

24 Sept 2017 - What's on Your Plate?

A Practicing Christian ch 21 - What's on Your Plate?

Questions

1. How does Philippians 4:4 relate to enjoying and utilizing all the opportunities God sets before you?
1. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice." If we're going to rejoice in something, we celebrate it in its entirety. If we are going to be rejoicing in God, then we are praising him for the fullness of Himself, the blessings He's poured out, the work He has accomplished, and for the blessings and work he will complete in the future.
2. Why do some Christians not move forward when they know God is calling them?
1. Fear and doubt.
1. They fear the response and negative consequences that may come from being a bold witness
2. They doubt the sufficiency and will of God to see His work through and to provide what is needed. So, they say "I can't", because, in their doubt, they see no way it can be accomplished
3. Give an example where you have responded in faith to an opportunity God has given you.
1. Honestly, I'm not sure. For a very long time, I've been a fear and doubt Christian, not one walking in faith, trust, and courage.

2 Timothy 2:1-13

"Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. This is according to my Gospel. I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God's message is not bound. This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." - vv. 8-10 (emphasis added)

23 Sept 2017 - Are You Pretending to Be Someone You're Not?

A Practicing Christian ch 20 - Are You Pretending to Be Someone You're Not?

Questions

1. How have you "put on a mask" pretending to be someone you're not?
1. I try not to do this anymore and just be myself, but I sometimes find myself hedging whenever I find myself doing poorly, whether academically, financially, spiritually, emotionally, etc. I don't want people to realise what state I'm in; I'd rather them think I'm keeping up with the pack.
   Increasingly, though, I find I have more freedom in being transparent of where I am.
2. How can being phony hurt your Christian witness?
1. How we deal with hardship is part of our witness. How can we show the power of God in every situation if we mask the situations in which we need God?
3. Relate 1 Samuel 16:7 to how we sometimes judge others by outward appearances.
1. I mean it's pretty clear. God has indicated that He considers the contents of a person's heart to be of greater value than their external appearance. To judge by outward appearance it to judge incompletely or too early.

2 Timothy 1:13-18

"Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you." - vv. 13-14

Something that stands out here is the example Paul makes of Onesiphorus in contrast to the believers who have left the faith. Onesiphorus, it appears, was a great comfort to Paul in Rome, seeking him out to share in his company and encourage him while he was imprisoned/under house arrest .

20 Sept - Who Do People Say You Are?

A Practicing Christian ch 19 - Who Do People Say You Are?

Questions

1. How do we "pull people down" to our level when we sin?
1. We justify our sins by comparing them to worse or equal sins in others.
2. What does it mean from a Biblical perspective to have a spotless reputation?
1. To have a spotless reputation means that Christ is giving Hi reputation on our behalf, because, "There is no one righteous, not even one." - Rom 3:10
3. Must we attain perfection to have a good gospel witness?
1. No, but we must be willing to be transparent in seeking forgiveness for our faults.

2 Timothy 1:8-12

19 Sept 2017 - Do You Need to Hold Your Tongue?

A Practicing Christian ch 18 - Do You Need to Hold Your Tongue?

Questions

1. According to Psalm 19:14, what we focus on (meditations of my heart) and what we say (words of my mouth) are elated. How are they connected?
1. Well, Jesus himself said that out of the overflow of the mouth, the hearts speaks. What you are dwelling on and investing in will prove itself in your speech.
2. What steps should a Christian take if he or she is prone to saying offensive words or foul language?
1. Hold your tongue. Consider whether what you are about to say is edifying to you, the person you're talking to, or to God. If the answer is "no" to any of those, then perhaps you should reconsider.
3. Is it wrong to lose your temper?
1. Short answer, yes.
2. Long answer, let's take a look at what temper is. Nowadays, we just use temper to mean our anger, but temper, in this context, is a loanword from blacksmithing, it's also used in music. In blacksmithing, after the tool or blade has been shaped, ground, and hardened, it is then tempered, which means is undergoes a second head treatment that prevents the metal from being so hard is shatters with forceful impact and so soft it bends or dents. We see the same meaning applied when talking about tempered glass - it's glass that has been made to be able to withstand extremes of temperatures and rapid changes in temperature. In music, a "well-tempered" instrument is an instrument made and tuned in such a way that it sounds in tune when played in any key.
   So, then, one's temper, emotionally, is the internal fortitude to withstand extremes of emotion. It's theoretically possible to lose one's temper in extremes of sadness or joy, but the expression nowadays refers to that anger that is so intense it surpasses the threshold of one's temper, such that, like a metal that loses its temper, they snap.
   In that context, keep in mind the verse that says, "In your anger, do not sin."

2 Timothy 1:1-7

17 Sept 2017 - Are You Greedy?

A Practicing Christian ch 17 - Are You Greedy?

A lot of thoughts here...

"People's lives have a tendency to get wrapped up in accruing possessions, and they lose focus on life's main objective, or at least what should be their objective. For an example, take a person who works from sunrise to sunset trying to get ahead in life ... That person's reasoning is they want to provide the very best for their family - most of the time it's a house bigger than they need with a two car garage filled with very expensive cars."

In many ways greed is like Anorexia Nervosa. Just as in AN, where an already-underweight person is convinced they're overweight and need to lose weight, so with greed a person who already has sufficient wealth is convinced he or she doesn't have enough.

"A good Christian saves and invests for the future, but there are extremes to greediness."

There's a difference between wise stewardship of the financial gifts God has given and the selfish accumulation of money and assets. The former puts the gift of God to work to reap better returns for the kingdom, while the latter sacrifices time, energy, and sometimes relationships to fill an eternal void with finite material.

"The Bible teaches us to trust God for our needs as the birds of the air do, because we are more important to Him than the birds." 

Right. God is the Father, the Author of all things, the Shepherd. In none of these roles does He neglect His creation or His children.

"The problem we have is that we want to live better than He may provide for us, or we simply don't trust Him as we should."

We humans are so easily dissatisfied, comparing our blessings with those given to others, desiring what we don't have or consoling ourselves that we have more than the person next door. Not to mention that, in the cycle of greed, we gradually take our eyes off of God as our provider and we begin to view our gifts as things we worked for, that we would have more if we just worked harder. Of course, that's not how God works - we could never work hard enough to merit any blessing. So, then, we should learn to be satisfied with what God has given at each stage of life, trusting that it will be sufficient for our needs.

"Nothing is wrong with wealth, except when it takes time away from God and you lose your focus of why you were put here on this earth."

Bingo. Wealth is ultimately a tool to be used for furthering the kingdom. Many times, Christians vilify those who have wealth as though they are some kind of evil, immoral people. God's Word says, however, that it is the love of money that is the root of all evil, not the money itself. Money is the currency by which the world runs. So, why would God not gift certain of His children with wealth so that they could contribute to the spreading of His word? It's only when we begin to love money, when we begin to put it above God, our callings, our families, etc. that it becomes an idol.

Questions

1. How are "covet" and "greed" related in the context of Exodus 10:17?
1. Coveting is wanting what someone else has. Greed is not being satisfied with what you have. In that sense, covetousness is a subtype of greed.
2. Re-read Matthew 25:14-29. How does this parable relate to greed and good stewardship?
1. I don't se the relation to greed, but I definitely see the command to steward money well - as with any other gift, for that matter - that it may return to the master having grown in value and impact.
3. Is greed idolatry according to the Bible? Why? 
1. Yes. When one is greedy, one places himself as the provider, instead of God. Additionally, when one is greedy, one spends all of one's attention focused on ways to satisfy that greed - essentially worshipping it - sacrificing one's life at greed's altar. Lastly, when one is greedy, one values the object of desire above God and attributes to it qualities that belong to God only.

1 Timothy 6:17-21

"Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy." - v. 17

Basically, what was said above. I need to take this to heart, though, because, while I may not be rich right now, later on in life, compared to most of the world and much of the US, I will be and I need to learn now that my wealth is not the end, but merely something transient and temporary, as fleeting as this present life.

"Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so they may take hold of life that is real." - v. 18

To continue from the thought above, my wealth is not the end, but merely a tool to God's ends. This statement encompasses what the godly use of financial resources and blessings looks like.

 

16 Sept 2017 - Have You Read Anything Good Lately?

A Practicing Christian ch 16 - Have You Read Anything Good Lately?

"There are times when each spouse needs to escape from the world by relaxing with a magazine or  book or a game. There is nothing wrong with that. You just need to be careful that it doesn't get out of control. It becomes wrong when all your other responsibilities are no longer priorities."

I can attest to this. Just this last week, I used amounts of time that should have been reserved for studying to take "reading breaks" to try and finish a book I was reading. As a result, while I am not behind, I am definitely more pressed to try and finish my work by the deadline.

"You become what you read and consume. ... If we are only reading things that are detrimental to our Christian walk, we will struggle to be practicing Christians."

What you sow is what you reap. If you are constantly filling your mind with ungodly concepts and items, then that's what's going to come out - and I don't mean just pornography. We need to be careful even when reading philosophy, science, economics, politics, etc. If the writer is an unbeliever, he or she will be speaking from a very worldly perspective, often with some very convincing arguments and it's easy to compromise our faith in favour of  these rational arguments.

 Questions

1. Why do we need to make the Bible part of our daily reading?
1. We need to do as the psalmist wrote: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against You." We cannot obey God, we cannot know His voice if we do not spend time in His word.
2. How can some non-Biblical reading hurt our walk with Christ?
1. It can fill us with ungodly images or thoughts that can lead us to sin.
2. It can teach us ungodly manners of thinking that can lead us to trust in our own understanding and can lead us to ungodly premises and conclusions.
3. What does Mark 9:14 mean in the context of what we read?
1. I'm not sure that this is the passage the author intended, but I'll run with it. If we're not careful in how we read what we read, we can end up like the disciples within our own minds, surrounded by a crowd of spectators and debating with learned scholars, conflicted in the thoughts and ideologies we should use or ascribe to.

1 Timothy 6:11-16

"But you, man of God, run from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness." - v. 11

It's interesting to me how these two segments have come together at the same time and when they've come together. I've just finished reading a rationality Harry Potter fanfic, called Harry  Potter and the Methods of Rationality (HPMOR). I have a decently strong history with rationality, logic, and logical debate/argument and have maintained a fairly strong interest in these things, wanting to learn the various aspects of philosophy and applied reasoning that contribute to ethics, metaphysics, origins, and epistemology, particularly in the public sphere and how we, as Christians, can better address the zeitgeist of modern society.

As I mentioned above, it can become very dangerous and tempting to drink deeply from the humanistic leanings of the rationality community, but it is important to remember that man is not the source of all wisdom, that all wisdom is God's wisdom and that, in learning the varying bits of jargon, thought experiments, and arguments, I need to remember that many of these authors do not appear to believe in God. In many ways, many of these thought experiments seek to provide deeper nuanced answers to things many believers take for granted, because we sometimes put them under the blanket explanation of "God made it that way," or "all of mankind is innately depraved and sinful." As such, many of these arguments unintentionally  seek to supplant God while they intentionally refuse to consider the existence of God as any contributing factor.

In addition, there can be a negative attitude towards the general society by some modern internet rationalists as "sheeple", unable to think and see clearly the deceptions and realisations of the governments, religions, etc., meanwhile thinking of themselves as the saviours of humanity, separate from the crowd and clear-sighted, sometimes blind to their own inabilities and faults. This, of course, stands in contrast to the word of God that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, that no-one is righteous, that Christ is the way, the truth, and the light, the only way to God, and that the attempts of man to reach Godhood, as evidenced by the tower of Babel, will ultimately fail.

So, then, the reminder to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness stands as a reminder to keep Christ as the focus and to measure the degree to which I buy into the arguments and explanations given, as some, but not all, may contradict with what God has written and I will need the God-given discernment to see what ideas fall into which camp.

 

15 Sept 2017 - Do You Share God with Others?

A Practicing Christian ch 15 - Do You Share God with Others?

Questions

1. How did the early church in Acts share the love of God? See Acts 2:41-47.
1. Amongst themselves, they met for the sake of fellowship, teaching, and prayer
2. Amongst others they performed miracles and were generous in giving to the needy
2. What are some ways you can share the love of God in your life every day?
1. First, I can testify to the changes that the love of God has wrought in my life and marriage. Second, I can share with others the truth that God does indeed love them and pursues a living relationship with them. Third, I can model the love of God in how I engage with and treat others.
3. What are some special initiatives you can make to share the love of God?
1. Honestly, I'm not sure. I'm still looking for the best opportunities to witness to the patients I see and the preceptors over me.

1 Timothy 6:2b-10

14 Sept 2017 - Are You Scared of Rejection?

A Practicing Christian ch 14 - Are You Scared of Rejection?

This topic hits home for me, because fear of rejection is the number one reason I hesitate to share the Gospel. I definitely agree with the author when he states that it seems easier to evangelise in a distant country than in your own hometown. After all, if you are rejected, turned down, or mocked, it's a pretty safe bet that you won't see those same people the next morning, the morning after next, the one after that, etc.. Rather, you might see them once or twice in the span of a couple weeks and then never see them again.

Of course, as the author also suggested, it can be an amazing training ground to be able to witness at home, too.

Questions

1. Why do some people fear rejection when sharing the Gospel?
1. I can't answer for all people, but for me, conflict stresses me out - especially perceived conflict/grudges/bad feeling. So, then, I find myself living in a manner, not necessarily to appease everybody, but to keep the peace and not foster any ill will or resentment towards me. Of course, this isn't quite what Paul had in mind when he exhorted Christians to keep the peace.
2. So, then, I end up hiding my witness so as to not create a sense of conflict with others in my daily life, particularly if I perceive they are areligious or disdainful towards religion or Christianity. I find myself constantly looking for signs that say "It is safe to be a Christian here," whether they be Christian books on a shelf, a cross on a wall, a piece of jewelry, etc. instead of just being bold and forward in my witness and speaking out without those reassurances being in place.
2. What are some ways you can be more active in sharing your Gospel witness?
1. I need to grow my security and trust in God. I find that my fear of rejection indicates that I place the opinion of men far too highly in my personal validation and identity - above even the validation of God - and I think part of that has to do with the fact that while I interact with God on a fairly regular basis, I don't physically interact with God like I interact with the people in the world around me. There is a cognitive bias in me towards perceiving the immediate, present, and physical as of greater relevance and value than the eternal, intangible, and invisible.
3. What types of rejection did Jesus endure for sharing His good news with others?
1. Societal rejection
2. Familial rejection
1. From God, while on the cross
3. Physical punishment
1. Including death
4. Social and ideological oppression
5. Isolation

1 Timothy 6:1-2

As the white husband of a black woman, scriptures pertaining to the conduct of slaves and masters can be a very touchy subject, given this country's history and how, many times, these passages have been twisted to try to keep slaves passive and subservient.

I will be up front and honest here: The slavery endorsed and enacted during the early colonial period through the entire British Empire, particularly in the British American colonies (but also (and reportedly worse) in the Spanish American colonies) up through the end of the Civil War - most notably the institution of Black-only slavery, as instituted by Gov Berkeley of the Virginia colony following Bacon's Rebellion.

The type of slavery permitted in the Old Testament was a limited-term indentured servitude based on the proximity to the semicentennial "Year of Jubilee", which was a year following the seventh set of seven years, during which the restoration of both property and freedom was written into the Levitical law. That being said, I see no evidence in scripture that many of the Israelites actually obeyed this practice.

Additionally, I see nothing in Scripture endorsing the institution of slavery. Every scriptural reference I know of in the context of slavery deals with how to navigate the pre-existing evil of slavery in a Godly way.

Regardless, until Bacon's Rebellion, a similar indentured servitude-type of slavery was the manner of slavery practices in America, but without the certainty of a Year of Jubilee manner of release and freedom.  After Bacon's Rebellion, with Berkeley's passage of the Virginia Slave Codes of 1705, the already questionable existence of slavery became drastically immoral and ungodly.

In this context, then, we read:

"All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and His teaching will not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved." - vv. 1-2

So, we have an instruction to those who are already enslaved, that, for the sake and reputation of the name of God, they are to love their masters as themselves, to turn the other cheek, to walk the extra mile, to love and pray for them (to reference different statements Christ made about loving our neighbours and loving our enemies). If the master is not a believer, the idea is that this type of action - loving respect that is otherwise unearned - should bring the master to Christ. If the master is a believer, then Paul writes that slaves should serve their masters as though they were serving their own family.

It's pretty easy to see how this can be taken out of context in support of slaves serving their masters, who call themselves Christians, particularly because this specific passage does not also include an injunction to masters for how they are supposed to be treating their slaves. However, we must remember that this was not the original intent of the passage, but rather it was to encourage those who were already under the institution of slavery to be a witness for Christ in how they served their masters.

13 Sept 2017 - Are You Involved in Missions?

A Practicing Christian ch 13 - Are You Involved in Missions?

"When I think of the word 'missions' it brings images of people who go overseas to work and spread the Gospel. This is what I have always been taught in church. This is one definition, but it can be only a small part of the completed word."

"I was so wrong in my previous thinking. We need to go to other countries to spread the word of God. We need to be great disciples. We need to hear the Word of God preached. We also need not to give up on the people of America, but to reach them all and be open to what God may require of us. You don't have to go to a foreign land to do missions work. You can do missions work at your church, in your community, and at your workplace."

Questions

1. What is the Biblical concept of a missionary?
1. A missionary is one who has picked up the task of furthering the mission of God through the Great Commission. They have been historically distinguished from pastors and evangelists by the fact that they have usually gone where there is no record of Christians having ever been - that is, they are the first witnesses of Christ in a community.
2. Today, missionaries encompass more than just foreign missionaries. A missionary is someone who moves from one place, their home, to another with the intent of embedding themselves in the community, sharing the Gospel within the context of that community and their culture. A missionary could move one town over or halfway around the world. What distinguishes a missionary is the calling.
2.  Explain Acts 1:8 in the framework of missions.
1. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you - You're not doing this alone, but through the power of God
2. And you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem - The city you're from, the towns and places you're comfortable in
3. Judea - Your country
4. Samaria - Those parts of the world that you dislike and that dislike you in return. So, for an American, somewhere in the Middle East; for an Indian, Pakistan; etc.
3. How has the United States become a mission field?
1. Increasingly there is a lack of knowledge about what true Christianity says, looks like, and believes. There is a large region of "cultural christianity" in which everybody assumes they are and is assumed to be a Christian, but few would probably be able to stand under close scrutiny. There is a growing population of professing christians who have fallen for progressive theologies, false gospels that exonerates sins God does not and that believe popular philosophy primarily into which they fit the Gospel. There is also a growing number of (honest) agnostics and atheists. There are many who believe in the existence of a spiritual realm, but who have false ideas of what it looks like or how it operates. There are many, even, who believe in other religions masquerading themselves [the religions, not the adherents] as just another brand of Christianity.
2. The harvest in the US is huge and there are many who are seeking who would be receptive to the true Gospel, but it seems like many Christians have become used to being the punching bag of popular angst and are increasingly muttering amongst themselves instead of reaching out.

1 Timothy 5:17-25

Paul seems to be giving direction regarding measures by which to show honour and respect to faithful elders in the church for their service

• Those who put in many hours of preaching and teaching should be considered worthy of an "ample honorarium" (lit. "double honour") and the immediate context suggests a financial gift might not be a bad consideration
• I know this passage is often used in support of a pastor's salary, but, seeing this, I wonder how many churches recognise faithful, dedicated deacons who have put in years of service, particularly in leading a Sunday School or Home Group ministry.
• Those who, by virtue of their testimony and service, have been offered the title and/or role of elder should be afforded a measure of confidence, that is, in the case of a singular accusation against an elder, the elder should be able to trust his leadership to have his back.
• I understand that sometimes matters of personal misconduct do not have witnesses readily available and may present as a singular accusation. I would agree that the best course of action for the leadership would be to investigate the matter, but it is still possible to treat the elder as innocent until proven guilty, whether by the discovery of evidence, eyewitnesses, or other offences that would warrant a temporary to permanent removal of eldership during the remainder and following the conclusion of the investigation. 
• Additionally, if church leadership is exercising a robust means of scrutiny and a great deal of wise, discernment-seeking prayer for those raised to and maintained in the role of elder and if the candidate for eldership and the present elder alike continue to pursue God, then such offences should not be anything but a rarity.
• Lastly, Paul gives instruction to Timothy to publicly rebuke those who sin. This action allows the church body to see that the leadership takes sin and conduct seriously, particularly for its leaders, allowing them to trust the leadership during times of internal investigation. If a leadership is in the habit of concealing sins, then uncertainty and doubt can easily set in to the congregation
• Those who have been appointed to the role of an elder must have been done so maturely, with thorough consideration of their character, witness, and testimony and through prayer, seeking the inspiration and affirmation of God. To do any less discredits the validity of the title and role. For, as Paul previously instructed Timothy, the elder is supposed to be a mature, wise, consistent, fruitful believer and a man of integrity (which, again, addresses one of the sub-points above)
• Paul specifically cautions Timothy in this context that some people's sins are not as obvious as others, coming to the surface later. Similarly, not everyone's good deeds are obvious immediately, but will eventually be made known. It is definitely for this reason I believe that much prayer should go into the appointing of an elder.

Remuneration, confidence, and a robust vetting process. These are the three ways Paul gave for Timothy as a means of honouring the elders in his church and, when all three are in place, it definitely seems that none of this is done blindly.

12 Sept 2017 - Do You Give?

A Practicing Christian ch 12 - Do You Give?

"God does not need your money. Tithing is a sign to God that you have put your faith in Him."

Questions

1. What does the Bible teach about tithing?
1. That tithing is the means of supporting our pastorate
2. That the 10% tithe is the bare minimum
2. Explain Malachi 3:9-10 in the context of your own life.
1. Tithing is an important way to show honour to God. It says that we place our finances and our financial well-being lower than we place God. It also says that we trust God to take care of our finances. To withhold tithes, whether out of direct greed or fear of hardship, is to tell God that we no longer trust Him supremely to take care of us.
3. What does your money have to do with your walk with God?
1. It is the indicator of where my heart is. The more I come to trust God and His provision, the more freely I give

1 Timothy 5:3-16

"But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice Godliness toward their own family first and repay their parents, for this pleases God. The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives." - vv. 4-6

With this passage, and the ones following, Paul gives instruction regarding the serving of widows. We see the ideas of stratifying by need and merit. First, by need - those widows who have family, let the family support them and honour God in the process. Second, by merit - those widows who work to the service and honour of God, not to their own gain, are the ones who are worthy of being helped. Does that mean that all others are not to be helped? Not so. It just means that those who best fit the two criteria make the highest priority.

Later in the passage, we see further instructions about setting an age threshold and about encouraging young widows to remarry. Again, part of this helps with the stratification, but there is a moral argument given here, that the young women have not yet learned the discipline of keeping busy and, if allowed to be a registered widow, will become idle gossips and busybodies. Now, Paul isn't being blanketly misogynistic here. There must have been some measure of trouble that Timothy was having with people abusing the widows' ministry and it's important to keep that mindset in place.

11 Sept 2017 - What Do Your Kids Say about You?

A Practicing Christian ch 11 - What Do Your Kids Say about You?

Questions

1. Explain Proverbs 22:6 as a practice for your life.
1. I mean, it's a practical reminder of the goal of parenting - to raise up a child that loves, desires, and seeks out God.
2. How do children emulate their parents?
1. In every way possible: In their way of thinking, speaking, and holding themselves; in their actions, habits, relationships, pastimes, discipline, values, and goals.
3. How does our view of God  affect our view of our parents?
1. Usually I think of this question in reverse, but I think having a right view of God lets my parents off the hook a bit. Because I receive perfect love, teaching, and discipline from the perfect Father, I do not hold my parents to the idol of parenting perfection, rather that they pursue modeling, reflecting, and pointing towards Christ in all their ways.

1 Timothy 4:11-5:2

10 Sept 2017 - How Do You Handle Social Media?

A Practicing Christian ch 10 - How Do You Handle Social Media?

"If you live for Jesus, be an example for Jesus to the best of your abilities. ... Let people see Jesus in your social media posts, not just what they see of you in church on Sunday."

Questions

1. Does the Bible relate at all to our activity on social media?
1. Oh yes. There are a number of passages talking about how our witness needs to be  ready and prepared at all times, that we need to be consistent in our faith and action, that we need to always be aware of what we speak, etc. Social media is just another arena in which we live our daily lives.
2. How can social media be used for the glory of God?
1. By curating and maintaining a presence that glorifies God.
2. By actively using the various platforms to be a voice pointing towards God and rallying others to the cause of God. 
3. How can social media be a stumbling block to others? 
1. By what you post - If what you post is not consistent with the Christ you claim, then it may turn people away from Christ or share a false Gospel about who Christ is and the effect He has on His followers
2. By what you follow - Social media is a tool and, just as good can be done with it, it can be used to spread many ills. Beware, especially on visual platforms that you are not compromising yourself and your integrity in setting yourself up for temptation and sin. Additionally, consider your witness if others see your list of whom you follow.

1 Timothy 4:6-10

"But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in Godliness." - v. 7

First, we see that we are not to keep our minds and eyes on things, particularly beliefs and doctrines, that are not of God. Instead, we should seek Godliness. Now, since Godliness is such a Christianese word, I looked up the definition:

1. Conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious
2. Coming from God; divine

So, we should be seeking and pursuing the things that come from God and that conform to God's ideals

"[T]raining of the body has a limited benefit, but Godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." - v. 8

Okay, so, we recognise that Paul recognises the benefit of exercise for its health benefits in this earthly life, however, Paul is saying that while exercise is beneficial in this life, pursuing Godliness is of an even greater benefit in that it benefits both this earthly and the later eternal life.

"In fact, we labour and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of everyone, especially of those who believe." - v. 10

And here we have Paul's explanation of why it is that we are to pursue Godliness above exercise and healthy eating: it is because we have put our hope in the living God. Think about it. Most of the super-crunchy health and fitness nuts that I know of usually have put a decent portion of their identity into their physical appearance and health. What they have put their hope in, what they are leaning on to get them through life, is that idea of being in good health and/or being attractive. If we, as Christians have truly put our hope in God, then we should pursue God.

Come to think of it, in many ways I have put my hope in being "smart" and being able to do everything on my own/think my way out of any circumstance. I'm gonna go and take some time to deal with that.

7 Sept 2017 - What Are You Doing at Work?

A Practicing Christian ch 9 - What Are You Doing at Work?

This chapter/reading hits on a very good point - how we represent our faith and protect our families and marriages while we are at work.

First, the author speaks to the manner in which we are viewed by our coworkers and how that influences the way our faith is viewed, discussing both the coworkers that go out of their way to test you because of your faith as well as the coworkers that become interested and engaged in what you believe.

Second, the author discusses how we socialise at work and how we engage in our work relationships so as to protect our marriages and prevent ourselves from initiating an affair.

Questions

1. What challenges to your Christian walk do you face at work?
1. For starters, I try and do everything in by own strength. Medical school is tough, y'all - far tougher than I realised - and the competition is at another level. You're taking the top 10-20% from undergrad and pitting them, not against the masses, but against each other. Suddenly, that high B is at the bottom of the class...
2. Secondly, in any science field there is going to be a measure of opposition to faith, especially Christianity.
3. Thirdly, I'm currently in my psych rotation. The psych world is notoriously opposed to the Christian world at a worldview level.
2. What steps can you take to overcome these challenges?
1. I really need to re-frame how I lean on God, trust in God, and listen to God for better insight in where I stand and how I need to study to excel
2.  (and 3) I need to dig deeper into my relationship with God, to make sure I stand on solid footing and to be better encouraged and empowered to outwardly live my faith.
3. How can you reduce the temptation, or even the perception, of an extramarital affair at work?
1. This one hits home, because I've walked partway down this path once before. I cannot express enough how important it is to be cognizant of how one engages with one's coworkers (what one is saying and what the unspoken communications one is sending are saying) as well as the state of one's marriage and how one is feeling in that marriage.
2. The biggest factor, after being aware of your work and home communications and relationship statuses, is to communicate your dissatisfactions to your spouse in a loving, Godly way. If you take care of your marriage, you will be far less likely to try and seek satisfaction in relationships outside your marriage.

1 Timothy 4:1-6

Here, we have Paul's encouragement to Timothy to be aware of those bringing false teachings - in this instance teachings that forbid the good things given by God in marriage and for food - and that, in pointing out the falsehood of these doctrines to his fellow believers, he would be a good servant of Christ.

6 Sept 2017 - How Do You Contribute to Your Marriage?

A Practicing Christian ch 8 - How Do You Contribute to Your Marriage?

Questions

1. What is your biggest challenge with your marriage?
1. My ability to allocate my time appropriately between school and home. That includes trying to balance maximal time studying, trying to find the most time-efficient manner of studying well, setting aside time to help my wife with chores around the house, and setting aside intentional time to spend with my wife.
2. What is your responsibility in eliminating that challenge?
1. I need to continually be seeking God's wisdom in how to approach my day.
3. According to the Bible, what is your role in marriage?
1. To love my wife as Christ loves the church. That means sacrificially, totally, purely, and righteously loving her and that, then, includes remaining faithful, supporting her, cherishing her, encouraging her, leading her, ministering to her, praying with her, praying for her, forgiving her, seeking forgiveness from her, etc.

1 Timothy 3:14-16

5 Sept 2017 - How Long Do You Look?

A Practicing Christian ch 7 - How Long Do You Look?

Hmm... For the sake of privacy. I'm not gonna post my reflections for this topic. I will post the unanswered questions, though. Just know the section is discussing temptation and how we respond to it.

Questions

1. When do you find yourself most tempted to look?
2. How does falling into these temptations hurt your relationship with God and others?
3. How can you create an accountability structure for these temptations?

1 Timothy 3:1-13

"An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not addicted to wine, not a bully, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy..." - v. 2 (emphasis added)

So, in case you didn't think the above topic was relevant or important...

4 Sept 2017 - How Is Your Prayer Life?

A Practicing Christian ch 6 - How Is Your Prayer Life?

Prayer 2 days in a row? Okay, God, What are you trying to tell me?

"The National Day of Prayer was put in place for all Americans to come together to lift this country and ask God for His guidance in dealing with its problems and to pray for its leadership."

I mean, this is pretty much the exact command given in yesterday's passage:

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." - 1 Tim 2:1-2

 "First Thessalonians 5:17 says to 'Pray without ceasing.' I pray by just talking with God. I can be driving my vehicle and praying at the same time. Giving thanks for His Son absorbing our sins is a major part of prayer. I never get tired of telling Him this. To thank Him for taking care of us, for His guidance and being with my family and taking care of them and keeping them safe. I pray for my church to keep the pastors strong and healthy, to let the church do His will. I give thanks in prayer for the blessings that He has given me during my days' walk. I pray for the wisdom to lead in my personal and professional life. I ask God for forgiveness on anything that I may have specifically done wrong. I ask for help so that I may not fall again. ... I tell God of my needs even though He knows before I ask. ... I ask for other people's needs as well so that they may be blessed. I ask for His blessings, His gifts, His 'extra stuff' that He may give me even if I don't know I need it or want it."

That's a lot, but I want to highlight a few key points from the above excerpts:

• We need to be praying ceaselessly.
• That means being in constant communication at all times and in all settings with God .
• We need to give thanks.
• For our atonement
• For His provision
• For His guidance
• For His attention
• For His blessings
• We need to pray for our church
• For our pastors
• For the church's obedience
• We need to pray for our country
• For our leaders
• We need to ask
• For wisdom
• For forgiveness
• For help
• For our needs
• For others' needs
• For His blessings

Questions

1. How is your prayer life?
1. Honestly, it could be miles better. I'm not consistent in prayer and I'm not intentional with praying for more than a ten second bullet point. That aspect of communicating, of talking, with God is lacking.
2. How can you pray without ceasing?
1. I'm not fully sure. I get so caught up in whatever I'm doing at the moment that it's the only thing I think about. To a degree, it's like I  need to retrain myself to be constantly aware and in the presence of God.
3. What do you think the text in 1 Chronicles 4:10 means?
1. God listens to and answers prayer. So, go ahead and be bold in what you're asking for.

1 Timothy 2:8-15

Whenever I read passages like this, where it's talking directly to men and women in the church and how they should act, I always wonder what was going on in the church at the time. The men are being told to pray and to not get angry and argue. The women are being told to stop trying to get attention by how they dress, to be silent, and to submit to Godly leadership.

Kinda sounds like some churches I've been in... 

3 Sept 2017 - Do You Have a Quiet Time?

A Practicing Christian ch 5 - Do You Have a Quiet Time?

"You should also have some sort of devotions with your spouse on a regular basis."

Y'all, this is both super important and super difficult. My wife and I have just started going through Psalms and Proverbs - 1 chapter each - every night before we go to sleep and it is the hardest thing to keep consistent with. I mean, I definitely see that it's valuable, in part because of the communication and intimacy it fosters, but also because of the way it is attacked to make it not happen.

"When you give [God] a prized possession, such as your time, it can be a religious sacrifice. How, when, or where you spend time alone with God is not as important as the fact that you do actually spend time alone with God."

Questions

1. How often do you spend one-on-one time with God?
1. I try to have intentional time with God once each day. That being said, I have been accused of putting God in a scheduling block and not meeting with Him elsewhere throughout the day. It's definitely something I need to work on.
2.  What are your challenges to have a regular quiet time?
1. If my schedule's thrown off (i.e. I oversleep during the weekday or sleep in on the weekends) then It's really easy to not stop and make time to make up that time with God.
3. How will you overcome those challenges?
1. I need to prize that time with God more highly than I do. It needs to be that form of worship that doesn't get tossed out because of my scheduling mistakes, but is always of such importance that I prioritize it for the first available block of time.

1 Timothy 2:1-8

"First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone..." - v. 1

This I how I know God has a word for me. First, in my devotional, the topic is having a quiet time. Then, in Scripture, God opens up with a word on prayer.

"Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument." - v. 8

The "Therefore" is speaking regarding the benefit of praying for our leaders and the purpose of God being to salvation. That isn't what stood out, though. What stood out to me is that Paul is calling the men to stand in prayer. Let me pause and rewind there.

He is calling the leaders, the heads of households, the business owners, the role models, the fathers and grandfathers - the men - to pray.

How often do we see men in our churches today taking the lead in prayer (with the exception of the pastors), especially the younger men? I have seen many Godly men, often elderly deacons, display a rich, dedicated, servant-minded, humble walk with God through their prayers. I have also seen many men my age and slightly older who hang back and let their wives do all the praying. Oh God, let my witness be that I spent more time on my knees than any other posture. Let me set the example for my wife and children of Godly leadership - leadership that begins in humility and stems from God.

1 Sep 2017 - Do You Harvest Good Fruit or Bad Fruit?

A Practicing Christian ch 4 - Do You Harvest Good Fruit or Bad Fruit?

"If you believe in Jesus and accept His way of life, then you should be producing good fruit. A person who claims to be a Christian, but shows no evidence of good fruit in his or her life needs to be questioned in their motives and beliefs."

Questions

1. How do you recognize fruit in your life?
1. First, through prayer and reflection. Second, I find that marriage is a wonderful tool of God in that it helps show me my flaws that I can better address them. This may occur through my wife speaking directly to me on an issue or through God pointing out the effects of certain behaviours and attitudes on my wife and marriage in general.
2. What steps do you need to take so that more fruit is produced from your life?
1. Well, I first need to take stock of what fruit is being produced. Then, I need to seek God to increase the crop of the fruits I display and to work in me to produce those fruits I lack.
3. What is the Biblical definition of fruit in a person's life?
1. Manifestations of character evidencing a person's heart and standing with God.

1 Timothy 1:18-20

It appears that Paul is explaining to Timothy his rationale for sending him this letter - that he would be "well-equipped for battle, having faith and a good conscience." He also makes mention of a couple individuals who have rejected the same doctrine and teachings and whose faith has taken a downturn. 

30 Aug 2017 - Are You Fearful of God?

A Practicing Christian ch 3 - Are You Fearful of God?

"Fear of God is a profound reverence for God and a dread of His punishment."

 Questions

1. What does it mean to fear God?
1. To me, fearing God means to be imminently aware of the magnitude of God and the scope of His power, keeping in mind, by comparison, the smallness of myself.
2. How is the fear of God healthy for your Christian walk?
1. It keeps me from treating God as if He is my peer, from being so familiar that respect and reverence is lost.
3. How does your fear of God correlate with your love of God?
1. I don't love God in the same way I love my wife or my friends. Instead, the manner of love I have towards God could be called devotion - I am devoted to the cause and work of Christ. My entire life, my body, mind, heart, and soul, is devoted to God, in love, for His purposes to all eternity. That's a very different type of love than what I show to my wife or my friends. It's a very different type of love than what I show my unborn son.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ... But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of [sinners], Christ Jesus might display His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life." - vv. 13b-14, 16

Paul was brought to Christ by the magnitude of God's grace, mercy, and patience. Here, in Paul's own testimony, we get a glimpse of the awe-inspiring greatness of God in comparison with the miniscule state of man. It is this unwarranted redemptive work, that the majestic God would reach across the gap of sin and provide atonement for a meagre man, the self-appointed "worst of sinners, that prompts Paul to end his testimony with a statement of reflective praise:

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen." - v. 17

28 Aug 2017 - Do You Worry?

A Practicing Christian ch. 2 - Do You Worry?

"No one knows God's reasoning and we will never understand exactly until He tells us when we see Him face-to-face. God does keep His promises by giving us heaven. He also provides for us here on earth during good times and bad.I think God was in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and I think  He was with the child lost in the woods who froze to death during the night. He has a reason for everything, though it may not be the way we want or what we think we need." (Emphasis added)

 This paragraph reminds me somewhat of Leibniz's statement that we live in the best of all possible worlds. Do we trust the wisdom of God that He has allowed certain catastrophic, bad events and situations to happen, because they were on the path with the smallest catastrophe and/or greatest glory to Him? If we believe that God is omniscient and removed from time, then we can believe that, from all the possible timelines, events like the Holocaust were the least evil and catastrophic of all potential events that could have happened had they not occurred. Frankly, it's mindblowing to begin thinking in that manner, that God allowed a lesser evil or hardship to prevent a greater one, that He allowed us to see the consequences of our ideologies in the least destructive manner possible so that He could discipline and shape us as we turn away from our sin - and this isn't just on a global scale. I can think of many times where God has intervened in my life by allowing me to suffer small consequences of my sin that would get me back on track and prevent me from committing worse sins and suffering worse consequences. We can see in the histories and prophets in the Bible that God did the same with Israel and Judah, from the beginning in Egypt through to the 400 year period of silence and the coming of Christ.

Questions:

1. What causes you the most worry?
1. The financial well-being of my family and being able to support them.
2. What does it mean to cast all your anxiety on God?
1. It means to remove the weight of attending to these stresses from myself and give them over to God - and not to try and pick them back up. It also means to trust that God will take care of the things you are anxious about.
3. What is holding you back from placing your worries on God?
1. Frankly, trust. I know the plans that I make to address my worries. I can make a tangible plan and see it in my mind. Having that plan, even if it's rough and imperfect, gives me peace. When I give my worries to God, God doesn't always make His plan known to me. He calls for me to trust Him that He will lead me by green pastures and still waters, that He will provide, but the means by which He plans to do that are usually unknown to me. Therefore, the part of me that loves making plans and feels secure in having plans panics and tries to seize control of the anxieties instead of trusting that God is good.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

"But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of [sinners], Christ Jesus  might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life." - v. 16

Man, is God not good? Is He not merciful? That God extends grace to us, that He chooses to discipline us out of His love, deferring His wrath and vengeance for a time that we may turn in repentance - that's beautiful.

Just as a surgeon inflicts a wound to heal, so God uses discipline to bring about change and healing in us. I reflect back on the Holocaust example I used earlier. The Holocaust was terrible - a great tragedy and horror - but it also shook the Western world from a greater evil lurking beneath the surface. In the Holocaust, the evils of the eugenics movement first reared its head into the public sphere. This was nothing new, though. the ideologies of eugenics had been touted and supported in many circles in the US for decades before WWII and I wonder, if the Holocaust had not happened, would we have seen a greater tragedy elsewhere in the world, perhaps in the US, fueled by this same evil?

On a smaller scale, had God not intervened in the smaller consequences of certain sins I hadn't dealt with, what would my marriage look like today? What type of sin would I be indulging in, had I not been cut short and shown the hurt I was causing?

27 Aug 2017 - Are You a Better Christian Today than Yesterday?

A Practicing Christian: Ch 1 - Are You a Better Christian Today than Yesterday?

I really do need to be asking myself that question on a more consistent basis. I mean, for someone who has made "In Studio Excellentiae" his personal motto, not taking the time to daily see whether I have improved and grown and, if I have not, in what ways I can improve, seems very short-sighted. This is definitely a question I need to incorporate into my daily walk. Honestly, turning it into a nightly prayer isn't a bad idea - more prayer is never a bad thing.

Questions:

1. How do you view yourself in light of Romans 3:23?
1. Honestly, I see my sins in terms of being short-tempered, inconsistent, easily irritated, and needy for attention.
2. Recently, what steps have you taken to become more like Jesus?
1. Nothing, really, in the last week.
3. What steps do you need to take?
1. First, I need to step up the consistency in spending time with God, reading the word and praying. Second, I need to be more proactive in outwardly living the Gospel, particularly the Great Commission. Third, I definitely need to be listening more for the direction of the Holy Spirit and acting accordingly

1 Timothy 1:1-11

"These promote empty speculations rather than God's plan, which operates by faith. Now, the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have deviated from these and have turned to fruitless discussion" -vv. 4b-6

Could these verses apply to discussions and debates of higher theology? Granted, good theology can lead to love coming from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith ("For we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately." - v. 8) just as bad theology can lead to a warped image of God and Christianity, but what I'm wondering is whether or not it's useful and purposeful to get lost in debates of theological minutiae, like precisely when the rapture will happen. I am reminded of a friend's Facebook post commenting on how, for many, the academic pursuit of the knowledge of God replaces the relational pursuit of the person of God.