Is certainly up there in the list of Biblical characters who fall really short:
"Curse God and die." (Job 2:10)
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Irony
A person with a gun to their head, we put in a hospital.
A person with a cigarette to their lips, we put 20 feet away from our building entrances.
Just because it's slower, doesn't mean it's not as bad.
A person with a cigarette to their lips, we put 20 feet away from our building entrances.
Just because it's slower, doesn't mean it's not as bad.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Lord, help us
"The pornography industry has a big stake in defending itself against legal challenges and restrictive laws, and it has been stunningly successful in doing so. One of the leading legal defenders of pornography has been David Ogden, a lawyer who can only be described as a First Amendment extremist, who has even argued against laws against child pornography.
President Barack Obama has nominated David Ogden as Deputy Attorney General of the United States. This nomination is both ominous and dangerous. Given David Ogden's high visibility in defense of pornography, this nomination sends a clear and unmistakable message. The pornography business will have a friend in high office in the Department of Justice."
~albert mohler
President Barack Obama has nominated David Ogden as Deputy Attorney General of the United States. This nomination is both ominous and dangerous. Given David Ogden's high visibility in defense of pornography, this nomination sends a clear and unmistakable message. The pornography business will have a friend in high office in the Department of Justice."
~albert mohler
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sorrowful yet always rejoicing
Lately I've been feeling the weight of the fallenness of this world: neglect, death, sin, suffering, disease, unfaithfulness, sorrow, pride, mistruths, abuse....the list goes on and on.
My heart is heavy with these things, in myself and those I love.
But His Word is good and true. And so I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
My heart is heavy with these things, in myself and those I love.
But His Word is good and true. And so I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Route 15
If you've ever driven on it, you know the abundance of pornography stores ("adult bookstore" makes it sound far too sophisticated) that you encounter.
Every time I drive past one, I pray for the people there. That they may see their sin and folly and that they would Jesus would save them. Every time. There are between 5-10 stores between Harrisburg and Williamsport.
One time, a car was turning into the parking lot, and I prayed that they'd flee from that sin. And they didn't go in. I watched the car turn back onto Rt. 15 in my rearview mirror. They went back the way they had come. Perhaps it was someone who just missed their exit and was circling back. Perhaps the person forgot their wallet. Perhaps God touched their heart. Perhaps that was a turning point for them. Perhaps they've never gone back.
Today, I had 2 very different experiences in my driving:
The first wasn't too far from home. Driving past a store I prayed for the people inside, and for the owner. But there were no cars there! I was thrilled! How wonderful it was to see no vehicles parked outside a pornography store!
And then I passed one on my way into Williamsport. And the parking lot was sickeningly full. And it made me really sad.
And so I keep praying.
Every time I drive past one, I pray for the people there. That they may see their sin and folly and that they would Jesus would save them. Every time. There are between 5-10 stores between Harrisburg and Williamsport.
One time, a car was turning into the parking lot, and I prayed that they'd flee from that sin. And they didn't go in. I watched the car turn back onto Rt. 15 in my rearview mirror. They went back the way they had come. Perhaps it was someone who just missed their exit and was circling back. Perhaps the person forgot their wallet. Perhaps God touched their heart. Perhaps that was a turning point for them. Perhaps they've never gone back.
Today, I had 2 very different experiences in my driving:
The first wasn't too far from home. Driving past a store I prayed for the people inside, and for the owner. But there were no cars there! I was thrilled! How wonderful it was to see no vehicles parked outside a pornography store!
And then I passed one on my way into Williamsport. And the parking lot was sickeningly full. And it made me really sad.
And so I keep praying.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
You know what's disturbing?
The fact that you can't even look at a sermon on youtube without being inundated by smut. Mars Hill Church is currently doing a series on Song of Solomon, which I applaud them for. It's in the Bible, it needs being taught, and it takes guts to do so.
With the book itself being (shall we say?)controversial in a lot of churches, it's not surprising that they would have a segment entitled: "Why preach a book about sex?" (Which if you want to watch go here- their website- and not youtube.)
Which brings me to the source of my writing. I see this video in my subscriptions. I click on it, knowing that it's perfectly legit and everything. And because there's the word "sex" in the title all of the side bar suggested viewing videos are...bad. Very bad. Pornographic is not too strong of a word in this case.
I'm beyond words. But it's frustrating. Sites like youtube are such a good place for people to plug in to get sermons and such. And yet they're so filled with sketch that you're bound to run into it sooner or later.
With the book itself being (shall we say?)controversial in a lot of churches, it's not surprising that they would have a segment entitled: "Why preach a book about sex?" (Which if you want to watch go here- their website- and not youtube.)
Which brings me to the source of my writing. I see this video in my subscriptions. I click on it, knowing that it's perfectly legit and everything. And because there's the word "sex" in the title all of the side bar suggested viewing videos are...bad. Very bad. Pornographic is not too strong of a word in this case.
I'm beyond words. But it's frustrating. Sites like youtube are such a good place for people to plug in to get sermons and such. And yet they're so filled with sketch that you're bound to run into it sooner or later.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
It literally scares the hell out of me
"First, the online response has been shocking and we are grateful for all our Internet friends who have tripled traffic to the Mars Hill Church website (www.marshillchurch.org) and also pushed our iTunes podcast as high as #4 under Religion and Spirituality, just behind Oprah, Joel Osteen, and the LDS national conference."
Woah. Dang.
It takes MHC to do a series on sex to come in BEHIND Oprah, Joel Osteen, and the Mormons???
Are you freaking serious?
As Driscoll would say: that's just fresh toilet water.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" Romans 9:20-24
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16
Sunday, October 26, 2008
God is good.
God is good.
Hell is bad.
God is omnipotent.
God can do whatever He wants.
God is good.
People go to hell.
Jesus died so we wouldn't.
But people still do.
God is good.
Jesus' death could have covered it all.
But people still go to hell.
God....is.....good....
I know it's Biblical, but i just can't reconcile it in my brain.
Hell is bad.
God is omnipotent.
God can do whatever He wants.
God is good.
People go to hell.
Jesus died so we wouldn't.
But people still do.
God is good.
Jesus' death could have covered it all.
But people still go to hell.
God....is.....good....
I know it's Biblical, but i just can't reconcile it in my brain.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Biblical character
So, reading thru the OT, you meet a lot of people. A LOT of people. (I kind of wish my Bible had a Silmarillion-style index in the back so I could keep people straight.)
And having a zillion years of English lit classes, and now Spanish lit classes, I find myself asking all the time: Who's the protagonist? Who's the good guy in this story? And quite frankly it's hard to find a good guy. You have Saul, who starts out pretty good, but then goes all mad-crazy and tries to kill David a zillion times. David seems like a good guy, except for his...erm...womanizing, shall we say? His son, Amnon is a pretty straight-forward bad guy: we don't know much other than he rapes his sister. And then there's Absalom (which is an awesome name), who loves his sister and takes care of her, and avenges her...by killing his brother. And then he repents, but then he tries to overthrow his dad's kingdom!
Which makes one ask: Who's the good guy? Is there a good guy?? Even the good guys have a lot of bad in them.
It's the perfect question, that even the youngest child can answer. And it applies as much today as it did then. None of us are doing any better than Saul or David or any of them.
Who's the good guy?
Jesus.
And having a zillion years of English lit classes, and now Spanish lit classes, I find myself asking all the time: Who's the protagonist? Who's the good guy in this story? And quite frankly it's hard to find a good guy. You have Saul, who starts out pretty good, but then goes all mad-crazy and tries to kill David a zillion times. David seems like a good guy, except for his...erm...womanizing, shall we say? His son, Amnon is a pretty straight-forward bad guy: we don't know much other than he rapes his sister. And then there's Absalom (which is an awesome name), who loves his sister and takes care of her, and avenges her...by killing his brother. And then he repents, but then he tries to overthrow his dad's kingdom!
Which makes one ask: Who's the good guy? Is there a good guy?? Even the good guys have a lot of bad in them.
It's the perfect question, that even the youngest child can answer. And it applies as much today as it did then. None of us are doing any better than Saul or David or any of them.
Who's the good guy?
Jesus.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Just when you think it can't get worse...
From Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, Seattle:
"The big issue I’m dealing with now is the Hump Fest coming up next month. It’s the amateur porn festival. Everyone gets together in a theater and votes on which porn is the best. To make it in the festival, you need to have something in the film that shows that the film was made for this festival. This year, that’s me. People are trying to have sex around our church and in the bathrooms."
Yeh. Like terrorists hold up daily newspapers to show the authenticity of a video, apparently for this there's a different trademark of sorts that you have to have. And this year it's Mars Hill.
How much more depraved can we be?!? Isn't it bad enough to have any such "festival"??? Isn't that enough sin? That people get together and vote on what smut is the smuttiest???
Apparently not. Apparently, they can't just use their freedom of assembly to watch porn. They have to attack the Church. Christ's bride. *
It's an interesting point too: in this day of so much youtube, these videos will now be mixed in with regular MHC video. So people who are already struggling enough, who get on youtube to listen to sermon clips (imagine!) will be inundated by porn videos.
How evil can you get?
Prayers for Mars Hill. I can only imagine how difficult it is/will be for them.
*John Piper (rough quote): 'Can you imagine the mountains of wrath that are being stored up against such atrocities?' from somewhere in Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
"The big issue I’m dealing with now is the Hump Fest coming up next month. It’s the amateur porn festival. Everyone gets together in a theater and votes on which porn is the best. To make it in the festival, you need to have something in the film that shows that the film was made for this festival. This year, that’s me. People are trying to have sex around our church and in the bathrooms."
Yeh. Like terrorists hold up daily newspapers to show the authenticity of a video, apparently for this there's a different trademark of sorts that you have to have. And this year it's Mars Hill.
How much more depraved can we be?!? Isn't it bad enough to have any such "festival"??? Isn't that enough sin? That people get together and vote on what smut is the smuttiest???
Apparently not. Apparently, they can't just use their freedom of assembly to watch porn. They have to attack the Church. Christ's bride. *
It's an interesting point too: in this day of so much youtube, these videos will now be mixed in with regular MHC video. So people who are already struggling enough, who get on youtube to listen to sermon clips (imagine!) will be inundated by porn videos.
How evil can you get?
Prayers for Mars Hill. I can only imagine how difficult it is/will be for them.
*John Piper (rough quote): 'Can you imagine the mountains of wrath that are being stored up against such atrocities?' from somewhere in Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Friday, September 12, 2008
There are certain things that should just not be fooled around with.
Spirits, ghosts, demons, and demonic possession are some of those things.
It's very strange. For whatever reason a handful of people on my floor are really into that kind of stuff. (They won't drink or do drugs, but they'll go to graveyards seeking out spirits and demons....???)
A handful of them have been (supposedly) possessed. Here on campus and when they're out visiting graveyards. I've never seen it, but they say so.
They've performed exorcisms too. Apparently all you need is a Bible, a cross, and some "holy water". I didn't ask what they counted as holy water, or how the water became holy....again it's just what I've heard.
A cry for attention? The blind leading the blind? Something to kill time? For laughs? Or is it real?
A part of me wants to know. Wants to go on one of their little outings just to show them how lame they're (probably) being.
Having taken various psyc classes, I'm even more skeptical. There's a whole list of fallacies in "believing" in ghosts, and a longer list of *why* people do.
-Power of suggestion
-Expectation influences outcome
-Coincidence
-Mob mentality
-Needing attention.....etc etc
And a large part of me is skeptical. Because I know that when there were witch hunts in the days of yore, that they came and went in waves. There wouldn't be any talk of witches for years, and then ONE case would come up and everyone and their mom was a witch (ie, Salem, MA). Then after awhile it died out for a few years.
On the other hand, that sort of thing does exist. Jesus performed exorcisms. People can really have demons.
And if this is *actual* demonic possession, 1. I don't know why they're seeking it out and 2. I don't want any parts of it.
It's very strange. For whatever reason a handful of people on my floor are really into that kind of stuff. (They won't drink or do drugs, but they'll go to graveyards seeking out spirits and demons....???)
A handful of them have been (supposedly) possessed. Here on campus and when they're out visiting graveyards. I've never seen it, but they say so.
They've performed exorcisms too. Apparently all you need is a Bible, a cross, and some "holy water". I didn't ask what they counted as holy water, or how the water became holy....again it's just what I've heard.
A cry for attention? The blind leading the blind? Something to kill time? For laughs? Or is it real?
A part of me wants to know. Wants to go on one of their little outings just to show them how lame they're (probably) being.
Having taken various psyc classes, I'm even more skeptical. There's a whole list of fallacies in "believing" in ghosts, and a longer list of *why* people do.
-Power of suggestion
-Expectation influences outcome
-Coincidence
-Mob mentality
-Needing attention.....etc etc
And a large part of me is skeptical. Because I know that when there were witch hunts in the days of yore, that they came and went in waves. There wouldn't be any talk of witches for years, and then ONE case would come up and everyone and their mom was a witch (ie, Salem, MA). Then after awhile it died out for a few years.
On the other hand, that sort of thing does exist. Jesus performed exorcisms. People can really have demons.
And if this is *actual* demonic possession, 1. I don't know why they're seeking it out and 2. I don't want any parts of it.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Not a big deal
"Nothing happened. Well....not nothing. But not....well you know what I mean" -Bob
"Well. Not really... Okay so to be tremendously blunt, so that I see what you're saying... you made out with her but didn't sleep with her?" -Me
"Yeh. Pretty much. So it's not a big deal." -Bob (who, you may have guessed, isn't actually Bob. his name's not important for this.)
It's.
No.
Big.
Deal.
It's no big deal??
------
I remember when 'sleepovers' were a bunch of girls getting together on someone's birthday. You ate tons of food, talked a lot, and watched movies.
Such is not the way of things anymore. People frequently don't return to their own rooms on a nightly basis. But that doesn't mean they're sleeping on the floor in another building. Or that they've stayed up all night talking.
But its no big deal.
------
My girlfriend is somewhere else entirely, so I can take advantage of this girl who's naive enough to think that I'm just in this for friendship. And I'm going to see if I can have this girl here, and my girlfriend at the same time. The girlfriend doesn't need to know about this girl. I can pull it off.
It's no big deal.
-Jim
------
Him- I have a close friend. She's pretty nice, and we get along pretty well. We got to the same church, have a lot of similar interests.
Her- But he won't date me. He says I'm "crazy" just b/c I have ADD and depression.
Him- Yeh, it's no big deal.
------
Yes, the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong. But its not in the red letters. So it's not a big deal.
------
I can't even comment on these, I'm so frustrated. I had to just get them out of my head before I got too upset.
It is a big deal.
Lord, please help them to see that. Help your children to show them that.
"Well. Not really... Okay so to be tremendously blunt, so that I see what you're saying... you made out with her but didn't sleep with her?" -Me
"Yeh. Pretty much. So it's not a big deal." -Bob (who, you may have guessed, isn't actually Bob. his name's not important for this.)
It's.
No.
Big.
Deal.
It's no big deal??
------
I remember when 'sleepovers' were a bunch of girls getting together on someone's birthday. You ate tons of food, talked a lot, and watched movies.
Such is not the way of things anymore. People frequently don't return to their own rooms on a nightly basis. But that doesn't mean they're sleeping on the floor in another building. Or that they've stayed up all night talking.
But its no big deal.
------
My girlfriend is somewhere else entirely, so I can take advantage of this girl who's naive enough to think that I'm just in this for friendship. And I'm going to see if I can have this girl here, and my girlfriend at the same time. The girlfriend doesn't need to know about this girl. I can pull it off.
It's no big deal.
-Jim
------
Him- I have a close friend. She's pretty nice, and we get along pretty well. We got to the same church, have a lot of similar interests.
Her- But he won't date me. He says I'm "crazy" just b/c I have ADD and depression.
Him- Yeh, it's no big deal.
------
Yes, the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong. But its not in the red letters. So it's not a big deal.
------
I can't even comment on these, I'm so frustrated. I had to just get them out of my head before I got too upset.
It is a big deal.
Lord, please help them to see that. Help your children to show them that.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A lament
I had a disturbing conversation with a friend today. He was talking about his ex-girlfriend, and how things had been since the two of them broke up at the end of last semester.
The conversation, in paraphrase:
Yeh, after we broke up she started dating another guy. And after 3 months of dating him she says she loves him just as much as she loved me before. Which tells me one thing: she never really loved me as much as she thought she did. And the thing is, she said she's breaking up with him before she comes back to school because she doesn't think she'll be able to stay faithful to him...
What?!?!
again, i say
WHAT?!?!!??!?!?
Does the word "love" mean nothing these days? I mean honestly! How can you say that you love someone, but not enough to be faithful to them? Isn't that contrary to what it means to love someone??
*sigh*
Oh college. Here I am. Back for another fun-filled year. By God's grace, I'm getting to see this friend that I was talking to make some serious changes in his life. Turning towards God after years of being an atheist.
I pray that God continues to make such changes in people. That more may come to know Him every day.
The conversation, in paraphrase:
Yeh, after we broke up she started dating another guy. And after 3 months of dating him she says she loves him just as much as she loved me before. Which tells me one thing: she never really loved me as much as she thought she did. And the thing is, she said she's breaking up with him before she comes back to school because she doesn't think she'll be able to stay faithful to him...
What?!?!
again, i say
WHAT?!?!!??!?!?
Does the word "love" mean nothing these days? I mean honestly! How can you say that you love someone, but not enough to be faithful to them? Isn't that contrary to what it means to love someone??
*sigh*
Oh college. Here I am. Back for another fun-filled year. By God's grace, I'm getting to see this friend that I was talking to make some serious changes in his life. Turning towards God after years of being an atheist.
I pray that God continues to make such changes in people. That more may come to know Him every day.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Don't you understand? He saved me!
A video I don't believe I can watch too many times.
How great is our God. That He comes to us when we are so shameful, so ugly, so evil and claims us as His own. He takes us in His arms and heals our wounds and loves us even when we don't love Him.
How great is our God? Someday we'll be able to fully express it to Him.
How great is our God. That He comes to us when we are so shameful, so ugly, so evil and claims us as His own. He takes us in His arms and heals our wounds and loves us even when we don't love Him.
How great is our God? Someday we'll be able to fully express it to Him.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Closet Skeletons
I had relatives who committed suicide. Far back enough that I never knew them, but close enough that currently-living relatives did.
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