In blog post entitled "Husbands: Headship Means Taking the Lead in Reconciliation" Justin Taylor quotes some profound points regarding Biblical Headship made by John Piper that I thought all of you would find interesting. I am often encouraging men that we need to be constant pursuers of our wives, regardless of the circumstance. PRIDE is the only thing that prevents us from seeking to restore fellowship with our wives and you know what pride leads to. You fill in the blank.
Leadership means we must take the lead in reconciliation.I don’t mean that wives should never say they are sorry. But in the relation between Christ and his church, who took the initiative to make all things new?
Who left the comfort and security of his throne of justice to put mercy to work at Calvary?
Who came back to Peter first after three denials?
Who has returned to you again and again forgiving you and offering his fellowship afresh?
So husbands, your headship means: Go ahead. Take the lead. It does not matter if it is her fault. That didn’t stop Christ.
Who will break the icy silence first?
Who will choke out the words, “I’m sorry, I want it to be better”?
Or: “Can we talk? I’d like things to be better.”
She might beat you to it. That’s okay. But woe to you if you think that, since it’s her fault, she’s obliged to say the first reconciling word. Headship is not easy. It is the hardest, most humbling work in the world. Protect your family. Strive, as much as it lies within you, to make peace before the sun goes down.
"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry," Ephesians 4:26
Feb 23, 2011
Feb 22, 2011
Fresh Start - God is in the Restoration Business
[By Andy Richardson]
God loves to fix things. Sometimes our lives are broken because of sin and judgment. Sometimes the world falls apart all around us. But, no matter what the case, God wants to make a new future for His people. The prophet spoke of this desire of God to the nation of Judah: “So I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25).
Pray that you will trust God for your future, no matter how you messed up your past.
God specializes in overcoming our mistakes. You say that we must reap what we sow, and that is true. Nevertheless, God is still in the restoration business. Have you given up trusting that Jesus can bring good out of the bad? Have you forgotten that He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28)? The locusts are full and have eaten enough. God already has the new grain growing again. Don’t doubt it for a moment.
God loves to fix things. Sometimes our lives are broken because of sin and judgment. Sometimes the world falls apart all around us. But, no matter what the case, God wants to make a new future for His people. The prophet spoke of this desire of God to the nation of Judah: “So I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25).
Pray that you will trust God for your future, no matter how you messed up your past.
God specializes in overcoming our mistakes. You say that we must reap what we sow, and that is true. Nevertheless, God is still in the restoration business. Have you given up trusting that Jesus can bring good out of the bad? Have you forgotten that He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28)? The locusts are full and have eaten enough. God already has the new grain growing again. Don’t doubt it for a moment.
Feb 14, 2011
New Pledge of Allegiance
Since the Pledge of Allegiance And The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most Public schools anymore because the word 'God' is mentioned..... a kid in Arizona wrote the attached.
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene..
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all..
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong..
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles..
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene..
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all..
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong..
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles..
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
Feb 12, 2011
κόσμος (Kosmos)
John MacArthur is a prolific Christian author. He has written numerous commentaries and study guides. I've been studying the book of James lately using MacArthur's study guide James: Guidelines for a Happy Christian Life. In the chapter covering verses 4:1-12, James is addressing one's attitude toward the world. MacArthur says "the central truth in this passage is, 'Friendship with the world is enmity with God (4:4).'" There are several great points to MacArthur's commentary on this portion of text I thought I'd share with you, but first let me give you MacArthur's explanation of the word "The World."
The World: The Greek word used here is Kosmos. It does not refer to the physical earth or universe but rather to the spiritual reality of the man-centered, satan directed system of this present age, which is hostile to God and God's people.
1. A continuing, habitual friendship with the world is grounded in human wisdom and is evidence of unbelief.
2. The goal of the world is self-glory, self-fulfillment, self-indulgence, self-satisfaction, and every other form of self-serving, all of which amounts to hostility towards God.
3. The world's philosophies, ideologies and much that it offers may appear attractive and appealing, but that is deception.
4. True joy, peace, happiness, meaning, hope and fulfillment in life come only from God; unbelievers are unwilling to ask for them on God's terms because they refuse to submit to Him or acknowledge their dependence on Him.
5. Those with a deep and intimate longing for the things of the world give evidence that they are not redeemed.
6. Those that live in worldly lusts give evidence that their faith is not genuine.
7. All people are either under the lordship of Christ or the lordship of satan; there is NO middle ground.
MacArthur ends the chapters of this commentary with the "Truth for Today" and so I will end this post with this chapter's "Truth for Today."
"Friendship with the world and friendship with God are mutually exclusive. Christians have a nature so utterly distinct form the lovers of the world, the followers of satan, that they should never entertain any of the ways or hold any of the loyalties that characterize unbelievers. For believers to pursue worldly things goes against the grain of their new nature, and they cannot be comfortable or satisfied until they renounce those things and return to their first love."
The World: The Greek word used here is Kosmos. It does not refer to the physical earth or universe but rather to the spiritual reality of the man-centered, satan directed system of this present age, which is hostile to God and God's people.
1. A continuing, habitual friendship with the world is grounded in human wisdom and is evidence of unbelief.
2. The goal of the world is self-glory, self-fulfillment, self-indulgence, self-satisfaction, and every other form of self-serving, all of which amounts to hostility towards God.
3. The world's philosophies, ideologies and much that it offers may appear attractive and appealing, but that is deception.
4. True joy, peace, happiness, meaning, hope and fulfillment in life come only from God; unbelievers are unwilling to ask for them on God's terms because they refuse to submit to Him or acknowledge their dependence on Him.
5. Those with a deep and intimate longing for the things of the world give evidence that they are not redeemed.
6. Those that live in worldly lusts give evidence that their faith is not genuine.
7. All people are either under the lordship of Christ or the lordship of satan; there is NO middle ground.
MacArthur ends the chapters of this commentary with the "Truth for Today" and so I will end this post with this chapter's "Truth for Today."
"Friendship with the world and friendship with God are mutually exclusive. Christians have a nature so utterly distinct form the lovers of the world, the followers of satan, that they should never entertain any of the ways or hold any of the loyalties that characterize unbelievers. For believers to pursue worldly things goes against the grain of their new nature, and they cannot be comfortable or satisfied until they renounce those things and return to their first love."