Things I am learning

• I really don't like Wal-Mart but I cannot stop shopping there. I have really come to enjoy Meijers far more, but the bottom line keeps coming down to price. I guess I am to blame in part for the fall of Marsh.
• Home Depot is my favorite big hardware store. I did ejoy St. Matthews Hardware store in Louisville, but all the small ones are gone here Indiana now. We got our Christmas Tree and a Never Fail Tree Stand (bought at 9:30 last night after our tree decided to rest against the wall, while being poorly supported by our old stant) for only $21 total. I find that the people at Home Depot are easier to find than in Lowes and generally know what they are talking about.
• I must be getting older because Wendy's now tastes much better than McDonald's.
• Behr Pain is the best, buy it at Home Depot.
• The Christian in Complete Armour is my favorite devotional.
• Memories don't last forever, I am already forgetting things I don't want to forget.
• IU Basketball may be back. We will find out tonight.
  

Gambling A Sin?

Through a recent post by Steve McCoy, a Southern Seminary friend, I recently found the blog of one of my SBTS Professors, Hershael York. He has linked a good article for thought on the issue of gambling. I can remember great debates in my business ethics classes at Cedarville on this issue. Many argued that it was no different than any other form of entertainment and that since it was never specifically forbidden in scripture, no one could call it wrong. I never bought that argument, and I think it takes several illogical skips in its logic. Here is the conclusion of the article found on Dr. York's Blog.

Gambling shows no concern for God’s glory. A Jesus-follower should try to glorify God in everything (1 Cor. 10:31), and use his or her money to accomplish good for the kingdom (Matt. 6:19-21, 24). Gambling is not an act of faith but a game of chance. Paul wrote that “Everything that is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). The Christian life is to be lived in dependence on God to meet all needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). Jesus wouldn’t do it. Can you picture Jesus sitting at a slot machine with a cup full of quarters? He was interested in doing His Father’s business, alleviating suffering and grief, not contributing to it.

We must be careful as Christians under grace and living in liberty, that we use this grace and liberty for the glory of God and the service of others.

Christian Outlet

Yesterday, we had a long drive back from my Papa's funeral in Georgia. On the way back, Heather spotted a sign that struck us both as funny. It simply said Christian Outlet exit 50. "Christian" Outlet? What would one buy there? Are the Gladiator days coming back? Instead of paying full price you can get your own gladiator for 50-70% off retail! Or maybe for those single Christian Girls out there you could pick up a "Christian" husband for 50% off. Be careful though, all of the Christians at the outlet are refurbished. However they come with a guarantee, "Once saved, always saved, guaranteed for as long as you both shall live or eternity, whichever is longer."

Battle of the Bands

I have never really thought of Marching Band competitions as a contact sport. I don't really follow marching bands that much, but this article from the Indy Star caught my eye this week. What Drama!

The competition was so tough that Avon senior Megan Hovious, 17, came back to the field for Saturday night's finale after her nose was broken during the semifinals when another guard member's airborne rifle came down and landed on her face.

"I had to (come back)," Hovious said as she walked off the field after the band's final performance. "I didn't have a choice -- we had a show to do."

That was her plan all along, even right after the accident, while she was sitting on a stretcher in the first aid office at the Dome.

Pillow Talk: Intentional Kingdom Living

Last night Heather and I were talking before we went to sleep about how to solve all the world's problems. We got on the subject of where to buy a home and school systems. Through that discussion one of two thoughts that continually float around in my head, but I seldom verbalize came to mind. Today, I want to convey that thought for some to ponder.

What if we were far more intentional as a church about effecting our communities through being tied into them? What if we really put into practice community living? And I mean community in a two fold sense, the community of the local church as well as the geographical area and people surrounding where we live. This would involve, buying houses near one another, sending our kids to the same school as others in our neighborhood, living in our world while being sold out to the kingdom. This may not involve everyone in the church living in the same area. Take a church of 200 and divided it into 4 groups, 50 people intentionally living in 4 different communities! I know there are many schooling choices and some systems seem beyond repair, but here in the rural Midwest, there are still some great public schools and communities. What if a small group of members at our church collectively determined to live and educate their children in a specific community? Instead of just having one family in this school, and one kid and two parents, you have 3 or more families with children in the same school. That would give you maybe 6 children, 3 sets of parents. The ties and the influence could be tripled! All with the intent, of being lights for the kingdom. I am not saying that our kids would be our lights, (I do think they will be a reflection though) the parents would be the lights. In our community people notice when you live there and don't send your kids to school with their kids. They sometimes take it as a statement that you think you are better. It is tough in a small community to say you love your neighbor, and then say there is something so wrong with them as a teacher or with their kids by not letting them go to the same school. This was a much more fine tuned argument last night in bed, but this kind of thinking about the community of church and kingdom living excited me, but can it happen?

Sports and Christianity: Dr. Mohler's Funny Side

Here is an article by Dr. Mohler reviewing C.J. Mahaney's new book on humility. He draws out a few excerpts of caution about raising your children with a love for college and professional athletics. As much as I love to watch college football and basketball, I have to admit that the truths of this article cannot be denied.

Nowhere is the word 'great' mentioned more often in our culture than in the context of professional sports. If you watch any game this weekend and listen to the announcer's commentary, then like a mantra you'll probably hear the word 'great' repeated throughout--great, great, great. Yet it may well be that nowhere in our culture is the absence of true greatness more evident than in professional sports. So be careful about cultivating an excessive love for professional or collegiate athletics in your child.

It is a good reminder that the character and philosophy which the world promotes fall far short of the qualities a Christian should be striving to see in their own life as well as their children's lives.

Pastoral Leadership Fads

Here is pretty good article from Touchstone Magazine on Pastoral Leadership and Church Fads
A seminary friend Dee Reju quoted it on his blog today. As Dad and I have talked over the years I often heard him say in response to the newest way to do church, that he has seen too many things come and go to chase after this and that fad. Sometimes being in the ministry feels a bit like Junior High when you just had to get the latest swatch watch with the rubber guard or a Coke Shirt with jeans and red suspenders. Eighth grade came along and what you had last year was so seventh grade. You look back at the pictures and say, what was I thinking? It is tempting to run after many new approaches, we like things that are new because they are exciting. However, they are not the answer. The fads leave the people hungry after awhile and looking for a newer approach to hold. The answer remains the hope of Jesus Christ. Faithfulness to preaching and teaching the word must be the focus.

Quote of the Week: Finances

Work in your life to magnify the cross of Christ and not to be self-absorbed in your finances, but to give generously to God's work. Remember, our generosity is measured not in how much we give, bu in how much we keep.

Pastor Mark Dever, CHBC & 9 Marks

Another Laurenism

Rachel has already made mention of this on her Xanga site, but since Lauren is my daughter I thought I would post it as well.
In Children's Church they are learning a verse for every letter of the alphabet. The "A" verse is "All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us have turned to our own way." Lauren was ready to say hers Sunday as I came down to get her. She quoted, "Each of us like Black Sheep have gone away." Honest, we do not pound the doctrine of total depravity into our 4 year old.

For those of you who believe in the Great Pumpkin

 

Wisdom

Which man is wiser?

1. He who trusts his own judgment.

or

2. He who submits to the authorities over him.