"The Problem with Same-Sex Marriage"

In response to Washington State's newly approved right for same-sex partners to marry I share this documentary "The Problem with Same-Sex Marriage." In the case that knowledge is power, it should be our posture to take captive both the pros and the cons in consideration before we decide how we are to take action. As a fundamental Christian, I firstly submit to the Bible to renew my understanding of same-sex perspective. As such, I must and wish to seek the approval of my God, not only because of who He is to me, but how my renewed understanding is detailed in my affection for humanity. Though I have many wonderful friends who are and who support the union of same-sex endeavors it is my conviction that same-sex happenstance is not beneficial for our union with Jesus Christ and not suitable for the state of Washington. For the sack of utterance, I do not share this documentary in order to condemn anyone, but to inform. I wish you all nothing but the very best. Sincerely, Kelby Steele

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egxB0dTajb4&feature=related

What Proceeds From The Mouth

In Matthews gospel, chapter 15, Jesus speaks of what defiles a person. Why is it that we say that “no one is perfect,” without argument we can assume that its because no one is. For who can say, “I am perfect.” It is impossible to justify one self as being perfect. And the reason for no one being perfect is because what Jesus says in Matthew 15:11, “what comes out of the mouth defiles a person.” In order for Jesus’ words to be true and for there to be no one perfect must mean that every person has said some article of speech that is defiling. I would propose for each person, whether Christian or not that there be some ground of ill-refutable acknowledgement of Jesus’ admonition. A person, defiled or not, is regarded either way by what they choose to say or what they don’t choose to say. But can a person be redeemed of such defilement? Are there such things that can absolve what comes out of ones mouth and tarnishes the whole person? And what are the implications of Jesus’ admonishment and what we find to be unscrupulously true.

For starters Jesus called a group of people to himself in Matthew 15 and implored them to “Hear and understand: It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11 ESV). What we know is that what goes into the mouth does not defile the words that come from our mouth, besides of course if we put something too hot in our mouth and choose to express some form profanity, than perhaps, but still it is the words coming from our mouth that defile. Growing up you probably heard the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I have never met anyone who admitted that that phrase held any such truth. 

Think. Has anyone defiled you? Wronged you? Cheated you? Manipulated you? Said something that caused you to respond negatively, either with words or bitterness in your heart? I know people who have held on to hurtful words for 40 - 50 years. I still have bitterness in my heart for some of the things that have been done to me and I have chosen to speak bitterly to others. The things I have said have not improved my circumstances, they’ve made them worse and made me worse as well. We have all said and done things that would defile us. So its not what goes into our mouths that defiles us, but what comes out our mouths that defiles us. 

So what are we to do? We are defiled human beings, what is left? What would Jesus have us to do? Is there a way to absolve the words that we have spoken and the tarnishing effects of our actions? The truth is there is nothing we can do to remove or erase what we’ve said. We can’t wish upon a star, say a little prayer or confess our sins to a hundred priest. What is done is done. What Jesus commands from us now is that we lay down ourselves for our friends. We die to self, repent of sin and ask for forgiveness from those we’ve wronged. First we go to Jesus and repent for the bitterness in our hearts. Then we go to the people or person that we have committed the evil against and ask for their forgiveness, naming our sin for what it is and reconciling what we can to what has been previously severed. All of a Christian’s life is a life of repentance. Not until we die to self will we ever find ourselves.  

Indeed in calling you to repent there will be those of you who are offended and who will choose to oppose. But listen, every Christian before they became a Christian was offended by the gospel. We are not to be offensive, but we will offend. The Christian life will offend. After all they killed Jesus because he offended people. So be true to the Word, knowing that you will offend, but do all that you can to not be offensive. Love your neighbor as yourself and be willing to offend that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Be willing to offend that they may see Jesus and choose to follow after him. Jesus’ disciples came to him and told him that the Pharisees were offended by what he was saying. “He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit’” (Matt. 15:13-14). Be willing to offend so that no one may fall into a pit.

Hear and understand. What goes into the mouth passes through the stomach and is expelled, but what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart and this defiles a person (v18). Repentance is more than watching what we say. Repentance and humble obedience is a turning a way from sin and its effects. Jesus says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person” (v19-20). So the issue is a heart condition, because what proceeds from the mouth comes from the heart. All that the Father has planted will not be up rooted and repentance comes from being planted in good soil. Repentance is then an active change of heart and an up rooting of sin. Therefore to absolve sin requires that we turn to Jesus and turn a way from sin and its effects.  

Freshology

Refreshing the mind, the body, and the spirit

Do you ever find that when you get up in the morning and start your day, there are the things you know you should do and the things you would prefer to do instead of those things? You might say, "I'd rather go for a run in the mornings" or "I'd like to go downstairs before anyone else and make myself a cup of hot coffee and sit in my chair as I read the headlines in this mornings paper." I think if each one of us was asked what his or her's perfect morning would be, we all might answer this question slightly different from the other. I know for me a morning exercise of some sort (perhaps cycling or kaiaking or lifting), reading my Bible and the latest news report complimented with a cup of coffee with coconut cream and if possible on the shore over looking some calm water sounds copacitically benign. I know some of you, like Jamie (my fiancée), are probably thinking something entirely different, like sleeping in! Waking up early in the morning, going for a run, and reading are the farthest things from your mind when you think of your perfect morning I understand. But however you like to spend your morning, remember to take time at some point in the day to refresh.

Among a lot of things that fill our day or the long list of things that we would prefer to do, don't forget to eat. Now all the same, you never forget to eat at some point in the day, so don't forget to read, pray, and give thanks for the living daily bread that we have by the gospel in Jesus. 

From our physical bodies to our minds and to our spirits we need to take time to refresh ourselves. You might be thinking, "Well, I don't have time to read my Bible or do any extra curricular activities. I barely have time to eat." I understand, believe me. But if you don't soon begin to make time, you will run short of time. Physically if you refuse to eat, no matter how busy you are, your body will shut down and eventually die. The same is said psychologically, as well as spiritually. Really all three of these tightly intertwined elements of our lives are insurmountably bond, so that if one fails or is depleted it will soon look to the others for support. 

And when you are depleted and you can't find that extra "unff" that you are so desperately looking for, you will begin to compromise and soon forget who you are, because its been so long you've forgotten where or what your identity is in. This is how people reach points of "burnout" or physical collapse or divorce or loss of identity in anything other than what they are exerting all their energy towards. So at some point today even, make time to do what you forgot to do this morning and begin today to go into the quiet places of intercessory prayer and ask Jesus to help you refresh - to help remind you where your identity is and where it ought to be. Only then will you find peace, when you are able to refresh yourself in Jesus; mentally, bodily, and spiritually.  

Sorrow: Why did I not die at birth?

"'Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God.' Job received his answer when the Lord spoke to him out of the whirlwind, and said, 'Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?' What God said to him was not so much a vindication of the ways of providence, but a revelation of his matchless power as the Creator and the Ruler of the universe; and, though men may not like to hear it, yet there is, in the thunder of God's power, an answer, which, though it may not always answer the sceptic, but ultimately overpower and silence him. As for God's child, he sits down in the shadow of that black cloud which is the canopy of Deity, and he is well content to be still in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." - C. H. Spurgeon, The Sorrowful Man's Questions


 Look to imitate him who sits down in the shadow of that black cloud, that canopy, and be still in the presence of the Lord. He is more than capable to deliver you from trouble. Rest and be satisfied in him, who is the Vindicator of our souls and the drink that restores our thirst. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Do not build up your store house on earth. If God taketh from you, do not question accuse him of taking what doesn't belong to him. Do not accuse God with your lips or within your heart of being crafty and artfully devious. For it will not go well for you! 


John 10:10, Jesus came that your joy may abound and that your store house might be laid up in him. Friend, do not question and ask, "Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire (Job 3:11)?" How could you, oh Lord, take from me? Can I not discern the cause of my calamity? Spurgeon says, "Divine Sovereignty is an ocean without a bottom." I shall not be in want. The Lord is my refuge, my salvation, and my everlasting. Say, "I will rejoice in the Lord, the Savior of my delight. I shall never lack or despair in the night of my most darkest moment."

Good Reminder: Repent & Delight

 
At this very moment you and I are either committing [selfishness], or about to commit it, or repenting it." - C. S. Lewis


C.S. Lewis also said that the life of a Christian is one of repentance. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and Charles H. Spurgeon said variations of the same thing. Let us always be reminded on this simple truth, that our lives are to be continually basking in the reverence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our  thanksgiving should come from our contrite heart that God may delight in.  

When Belief Becomes Epistemology

"Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion." - dictionary.com. Like the present statement is written, epistemology must be investigated to justify our belief. Our opinions are not enough to justify our lives, rather our lives are only ever shaped and justified when belief becomes epistemology.

Proverbs 1:4-9

for giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

They will be a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

Why I want you to meet Christ?

Christ is the King. He is the drink of water that man thirst after, but spends his whole life pursuing without quenching thirst. Christ is the God man. He’s deity, nothing less. He’s all satisfying, nothing less. He’ll take you as you are and change you from the inside out. We all know there’s something wrong with us... it takes something greater than ourselves to fix us, God is enough to do that. At the end of the day, I can say, “God is enough,” because I know His gift. No, I’m not perfect. No, I’m not even deserving. I’m deserving of anything He’s given to me or for me. Christ is everything. I make my boast in Him alone, I don’t have anything else worthy of credit. He showers me like a son. All that I have is only an extension of His gift to me. 

Now as you’re sitting there, thirsty, ask the King to give you his water and He’ll fill you with living water. He’ll give you that peace to say, “He’s enough.” “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10 ESV). Ask, receive and know His gift to you.