Here we are at the beginning of November already. Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away and before you know it Christmas and the beginning of another new year. The main focus of this year so far has been on developing a biblical worldview. We have talked about the importance of guiding our lives with the truth found in God's Word. We've learned that not only does our sin make us blind to the truth, but Satan continues to put lies before us that because of our blindness we so easily follow. We have now started to look at specific issues and discussing the lies that are in the world as compared to what the bible teaches us. We have already talked about the environment, other religions, atheism and truth. Coming up we will be going over topics such as the Church, self, abortion, friends, ethics, and discrimination just to name a few.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Coming Up This Year
Well our groups are about to begin again. High school students will meet on Sunday nights from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Jr. High students will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm-8:15pm. I hope this will be a year of spiritual growth for our students as they are challenged to live out Romans 12, which calls us to give our lives as a living sacrifice to God, to be transformed and seek to do what pleases Him.
This year our Jr. high students will be learning what it means to abide in Jesus. We'll be talking about what it means to be a "new creation", to walk with Christ daily. We'll talk about how to trust in God through different times in out life and how to be satisfied in Jesus. It's my desire to see students move deeper in their walk with Christ as they learn to walk with him daily.
Romans 12 calls us to discern God's will and to know what is good and acceptable to him. Our high school group will be spending the year learning how to use God's word to understand how God would want us to respond and act to a variety of situations. We will discover what the Bible teaches us about everything from truth and what it is, to abortion and economics.
This promises to be an exciting year. I'm looking forward to seeing how God will work in the lives of our students this year!
This year our Jr. high students will be learning what it means to abide in Jesus. We'll be talking about what it means to be a "new creation", to walk with Christ daily. We'll talk about how to trust in God through different times in out life and how to be satisfied in Jesus. It's my desire to see students move deeper in their walk with Christ as they learn to walk with him daily.
Romans 12 calls us to discern God's will and to know what is good and acceptable to him. Our high school group will be spending the year learning how to use God's word to understand how God would want us to respond and act to a variety of situations. We will discover what the Bible teaches us about everything from truth and what it is, to abortion and economics.
This promises to be an exciting year. I'm looking forward to seeing how God will work in the lives of our students this year!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
End of Summer... Already?
Well the heat's not over but for many school is about to begin. For those of us in Tulare this summer hasn't been all that hot yet it seems like over the summer there have been some very hot topics in the news. In CA one major event was the passage of SB48 which mandates the use of "textbooks and other teaching materials that cover the contributions and roles of sexual minorities" (sfexaminer.com), namely the LGBT community. The bill has been presented as an effort to stop the bullying of people living a LGBT lifestyle. The problem for many Christians myself included, is the effort to portray what I believe is morally wrong, as being totally normal and right. Needless to say there has been much heated debate as to the merits of implementing SB48. I don't see the debate ending anytime soon even though this has been signed into law. So now as Christians we are faced with the question of how to respond with truth and love, not backing down from our convictions. It is hard as an adult and will be even tougher for our kids as they are immersed into a culture that rejects God's standards.
The other topic that has more recently dominated the national news scene is the "debt crisis". What should the country do to save the economy and keep from defaulting on our nations debt. Do we simply raise the debt limit borrow more in crease taxes or do we cut spending to match the revenue that currently comes in. There has been a lot of worry and anxiety about what the future holds, and many dire predictions as to what it might. I hope as Christians that we don't get to caught up in this. Our trust and hope is not in our government or the money that our country does or doesn't have. Our security is in Christ through whom we've been reconciled to God and have eternal life him. I hope we don't get to downtrodden about the temporary and forget about the eternal. We must press on and run the race with endurance to the end keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:14)
The other topic that has more recently dominated the national news scene is the "debt crisis". What should the country do to save the economy and keep from defaulting on our nations debt. Do we simply raise the debt limit borrow more in crease taxes or do we cut spending to match the revenue that currently comes in. There has been a lot of worry and anxiety about what the future holds, and many dire predictions as to what it might. I hope as Christians that we don't get to caught up in this. Our trust and hope is not in our government or the money that our country does or doesn't have. Our security is in Christ through whom we've been reconciled to God and have eternal life him. I hope we don't get to downtrodden about the temporary and forget about the eternal. We must press on and run the race with endurance to the end keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:14)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lake Trip 2011
Coming up this June from the 21st to the 23rd our Jr. and Sr. High youth will be camping and boating at Millerton Lake. This year we want to ask ourselves who or what controls us? 2 Cor 5:14-15 tells us that because the love of Christ controls us we no longer live for ourselves but for Him. To follow Christ means that we no longer control our own lives. It means that we now make decisions not based on our own desires but on God's word and the example Christ set before us. We have to give up control and trust in Christ. That brings us to the next question. What does it look like to have a life transformed by following Christ? We find many examples in scripture but one section we will focus on is found in Romans. Romans 12:9-21 gives us a list of traits that should characterize our lives. Things like love for on another, prayer, joy, humility and hospitality to name a few. Being away at the lake will give us a chance to look at our own lives and see how the stack up. It will give us time to think of ways that we can live out transformed lives amongst our friends and neighbors. This should be a tremendous time of fun, fellowship, and worship as we enjoy time away from our normal routines and have an adventure on the lake!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Test Every Spirit
Well I think it is safe to say that the world has not ended and the rapture has not yet occurred. Harold Camping sure managed to stir up quite a buzz with his prediction. This was not his first time making such a bold claim, and it doesn't seem that it will be his last. It's sad for a couple of reasons. First there have been many thousands led astray by his predictions. Many have given significant amounts of money and time following his claims that the end was to come on May 21st. Secondly I'm sure there are those out there so hurt by this that they will never trust sound biblical teaching because of his false teaching. 1 Timothy 6:3-4 states that, "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing." Those are indeed harsh words for anyone who would teach something outside of what Jesus taught. That's why it is so important for those who teach to carefully watch and be sure that their teaching lines up with the Bible. But it is also the responsibility of the audience to check and test against scripture what they are hearing. In Acts chapter 17 we see that the Jews receiving the gospel in Berea accepted it with eagerness but daily examined the scriptures to see that it was true. Unfortunately most people don't examine things they hear in any situation. That's why we spent so many weeks trying to get kids to ask questions and think about the messages they get through movies, t.v., music and the internet. We've got to examine things especially when someone claims that those things come from the Word of God.
The third way in which I see this false prediction hurting people is that it gives fuel to the thought that the end will never really come. This hurts both believers and non-believers. First believers may become to relaxed and not be ready, like we are commanded to be, for the return of Christ. We find in scripture both calls for perseverance along with the expectation that Christ will return and judge the world. But rather than living with the very real expectation that his return could happen any time people can get caught up in thinking, "see it didn't happen this time and it will never happen while I'm alive." Which might be true, but we are still called to live ready to stand before Him at any time. For non-believers the risk is that they will disregard all bible teaching now on account of one false teacher. I pray that is not the case, and that this failed prediction of God's judgement will not over shadow the truth that we all stand condemned before God and need the forgiveness that only comes through Jesus' death and resurrection.
The third way in which I see this false prediction hurting people is that it gives fuel to the thought that the end will never really come. This hurts both believers and non-believers. First believers may become to relaxed and not be ready, like we are commanded to be, for the return of Christ. We find in scripture both calls for perseverance along with the expectation that Christ will return and judge the world. But rather than living with the very real expectation that his return could happen any time people can get caught up in thinking, "see it didn't happen this time and it will never happen while I'm alive." Which might be true, but we are still called to live ready to stand before Him at any time. For non-believers the risk is that they will disregard all bible teaching now on account of one false teacher. I pray that is not the case, and that this failed prediction of God's judgement will not over shadow the truth that we all stand condemned before God and need the forgiveness that only comes through Jesus' death and resurrection.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Think About It
This week we'll be ending our series about "minding our media". We've been talking for a few weeks about what it means to be a mindful consumer of art/media that invades our lives in countless ways everyday. The over arching goal for our group is to live out Romans 12:1-2. This passage calls us to live our lives as an act of sacrifice and worship to the Lord. It also calls us to renew our minds and be transformed (v.2) so that, "by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." We're called to use our brains. To renew them in Christ and his word, so that we might know how to live. So we have got to start looking at things through the "lens" of scripture.
One key verse that we have looked at is Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." These are the types of things that will prepare us for right action, for godly living. What we think about directly affects our behavior so we must be careful about what we spend time taking in. There is so much that can take up our time and I hope we will begin to think about what it is that we're watching and listening to. Ask questions about what values are being promoted and what view of the world is it giving us if any. To think critically we must ask these types of questions. Then depending on the answers we can decide if something is worthy of our time.
Engage Your Brain and THINK!
One key verse that we have looked at is Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." These are the types of things that will prepare us for right action, for godly living. What we think about directly affects our behavior so we must be careful about what we spend time taking in. There is so much that can take up our time and I hope we will begin to think about what it is that we're watching and listening to. Ask questions about what values are being promoted and what view of the world is it giving us if any. To think critically we must ask these types of questions. Then depending on the answers we can decide if something is worthy of our time.
Engage Your Brain and THINK!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
A Time to Remember, A Time to Rejoice!
With Easter being right around the corner we've spent the last couple of weeks talking about why we celebrate Easter. Easter is a time to remember that Jesus Christ suffered and died as he bore OUR sin. It's also a time to rejoice in the fact that Jesus rose again conquering death. R. Kent Hughes points out when commenting on John 19:17-22 that it is "easy to become desensitized to the reality" of Christ's death. He goes on to say that,
"As Christians we must steel ourselves against desensitization. Christ's passion was real. True, we should
not be overcome with a morbid preoccupation with the gore of the cross. Still, Christ's agony must never
become a matter of dispassionate interest. His physical sufferings have always been, and will remain, a
window through which we see his greater agony as he bore the world's sin."
It's interesting that in Philippians chapter 2 when Paul is writing about the humility of Jesus in verse 8 he says "he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,..". But he doesn't leave it at that, the end of the verse says, "even death on a cross." Paul is driving home the point that not only was Jesus willing to die but to suffer the most humiliating, agonizing, and brutal way to die.
So this Easter remember that it's not just some nice fairy tale, but an event in history that really happened. Rejoice in the fact that through Christ's death we might become the righteousness of God. Rejoice that he overcame death and rose again. Rejoice in the hope that it brings to those who would believe in him and receive a new and everlasting life.
"As Christians we must steel ourselves against desensitization. Christ's passion was real. True, we should
not be overcome with a morbid preoccupation with the gore of the cross. Still, Christ's agony must never
become a matter of dispassionate interest. His physical sufferings have always been, and will remain, a
window through which we see his greater agony as he bore the world's sin."
It's interesting that in Philippians chapter 2 when Paul is writing about the humility of Jesus in verse 8 he says "he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,..". But he doesn't leave it at that, the end of the verse says, "even death on a cross." Paul is driving home the point that not only was Jesus willing to die but to suffer the most humiliating, agonizing, and brutal way to die.
So this Easter remember that it's not just some nice fairy tale, but an event in history that really happened. Rejoice in the fact that through Christ's death we might become the righteousness of God. Rejoice that he overcame death and rose again. Rejoice in the hope that it brings to those who would believe in him and receive a new and everlasting life.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Church Talent Show
This is why some people should not rap. Enjoy!
Crazy Chris, Mad Man Mendoza, and Doc Peipgrass are not professionals and luckily no one was injured in the filming of this video.
Crazy Chris, Mad Man Mendoza, and Doc Peipgrass are not professionals and luckily no one was injured in the filming of this video.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Mindless Media Consumption
If we're honest with ourselves most would fall into the camp of "mindless media consumer". Or at least we can remember a time or two when we got to the end of a movie and thought "why did I watch that"? Or finally see the lyrics to a song and realize that it says some surprising things. That's what can happen when you "listen to the music not the words", which I don't believe is entirely possible, but we'll give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. Today we are constantly flooded with all sorts of media. There are sounds and images that come at us everywhere we turn, some we can't filter but there is plenty that we do have some choice about. So the first step in combating "mindless media consumption" is THINKING about what we watch and listen to. We need to think about the message it's giving. What is being promoted and what values are being held up.
Once we're thinking more critically about what we're consuming then we need to hold it up against what we know is unchanging truth, the Bible, the word of God. Then we can see where it lines up, where it get's of track, or where it intentionally opposes the truth. Since Ephesians 5:11 tells us to take no part in the works of darkness we need to decide at what point are we doing that by what we watch and listen to. As Christians we've been called out of darkness and into the marvelous light of Christ, so as scripture exhorts us to let's walk in the light rather than the darkness we've been set free from.
Once we're thinking more critically about what we're consuming then we need to hold it up against what we know is unchanging truth, the Bible, the word of God. Then we can see where it lines up, where it get's of track, or where it intentionally opposes the truth. Since Ephesians 5:11 tells us to take no part in the works of darkness we need to decide at what point are we doing that by what we watch and listen to. As Christians we've been called out of darkness and into the marvelous light of Christ, so as scripture exhorts us to let's walk in the light rather than the darkness we've been set free from.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Honor Marriage?
Honoring marriage is not something that we see very much of today. I can't help but think of some recent movies that have come out, Hall Pass and No Strings Attached. (No, I have not seen either movie but am confident that the previews give me enough of the message.) Both movies hold up situations where people are "free" from marriage or really any commitment at all, for at least a time. In particular No Strings Attached, feeds the idea that sex does not need to be confined to marriage. Both movies also promote the idea that things are more fun when there is no commitment or relationship to worry about. Although the movies both conclude in the end that things don't really work like that, they take a very long, very crude way of getting there, while promoting many activities that do not in any way honor marriage.
Hebrews 13:4 tells us to hold marriage "in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled". This is a struggle in a culture that is seeking to redefine what marriage is. And a culture where "sexual freedom" is the norm. We now even hear the term "starter marriage", as if we were talking about a car or house. There seems to be no real honor for marriage, and no expectation that sexual relationships be confined to the marriage bed. Youth today really do face an uphill battle in towards purity. I pray that it would be the love of Christ that controls our youth. Realizing that Christ has died for them and they no longer live for themselves but to bring glory and honor to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Hebrews 13:4 tells us to hold marriage "in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled". This is a struggle in a culture that is seeking to redefine what marriage is. And a culture where "sexual freedom" is the norm. We now even hear the term "starter marriage", as if we were talking about a car or house. There seems to be no real honor for marriage, and no expectation that sexual relationships be confined to the marriage bed. Youth today really do face an uphill battle in towards purity. I pray that it would be the love of Christ that controls our youth. Realizing that Christ has died for them and they no longer live for themselves but to bring glory and honor to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Beauty is Fleeting... Part 2
It is true that physical "beauty", is fleeting, or vain, depending on the translation, but there is a beauty that never perishes. 1 Peter 3:4 says that women should adorn themselves with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. We should never let our physical appearance be our main concern. Paul writes to Timothy that bodily training is of some value, but it is training in godliness that has value for this life and the life to come. So a vain beauty that only looks at the surface is fleeting. There's no denying that our bodies are wasting away, and won't be the same year after year. God's concern is our our inner beauty. Do we clothe ourselves with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, patience and forgiveness? Or are we concerned with fitting in and conforming to the standard that the world has put up as beautiful? I hope we can see past the make-up, photoshop-ed, computer generated, images that our society tries to conform us to. I hope our young men will view women for their inner beauty, respecting them as members of the same body in Christ. Young women I hope strive to develop their inner beauty that time can't take away, a gentle spirit seeking to do good works, not longing after the passing fashion of this age, or year or even week in some cases.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
7Twelve High School Group
Another great night spent looking at truth of God's word. Tonight we talked about what real beauty is.
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Saturday, February 26, 2011
Beauty is Fleeting...
It is true that physical beauty is fleeting. That's probably why so many millions and in fact billions of our dollars are spent on products to make us look "youthful". So what is real beauty? What does God consider beautiful? These are the types of questions we'll be answering this week at 7 Twelve, High School meets Sun. 6:30-8:00pm, Jr High- Wed. 7:00-8:15pm. Hope to see you there.
Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Mike Davis
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Potluck with Mike Davis
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
What Women Want
I bet most men wish they new what women wanted. Or maybe it is better to be in the dark about it, although that can be frustrating at times. Our youth group recently tried to answer this very question. We separated the guys and girls let them each come up with lists of what they thought women were looking for in a man. Then we put the lists together to see what overlapped. That was fairly entertaining. The answers ranged from looks to money and from hygiene to humor.
Although that was a fun exercise I really wanted to help the students see what characteristics women should be looking for in a man. That means for us guys, characteristics we should be striving to put in our own lives. So like in my last post I mentioned we looked at 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-10 and found a whole heap of what makes a great guy. Things like, temperate, respectable, above reproach, self controlled, gentle, just, not easily angered, faithful... and so the list goes on. Ladies need to keep the bar set high and look for men with these types of qualities, not settling for anything less. And guys need to work hard at developing these qualities in their own lives so they can be the men God desires them to be, and possibly the husbands he calls them to be.
We also looked at Ephesians 5:25-31 to see what the role God intended for the husbands. God calls husbands to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loves the church. Just as Christ gave himself up for the church, husbands are called to put the needs of their wives ahead of their own. We also see that husbands are to be the spiritual leaders of the household. R. Kent Hughes askes some probing questions in his comentary of Ephesians, regarding verses 25-27. He asks, "Is our wife more like Christ because she is married to us? Or is she like Christ in spite of us?" Men need to be students of the Word ready to lead and teach their families and encourage them in their Christian walk. So ladies, be sure to look for men who are rooted in the Word, and able to lead, encourage, help motivate you to be more Christlike.
I truly hope these are the types of things that the next generation of women will want and expect to find in men.
Although that was a fun exercise I really wanted to help the students see what characteristics women should be looking for in a man. That means for us guys, characteristics we should be striving to put in our own lives. So like in my last post I mentioned we looked at 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-10 and found a whole heap of what makes a great guy. Things like, temperate, respectable, above reproach, self controlled, gentle, just, not easily angered, faithful... and so the list goes on. Ladies need to keep the bar set high and look for men with these types of qualities, not settling for anything less. And guys need to work hard at developing these qualities in their own lives so they can be the men God desires them to be, and possibly the husbands he calls them to be.
We also looked at Ephesians 5:25-31 to see what the role God intended for the husbands. God calls husbands to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loves the church. Just as Christ gave himself up for the church, husbands are called to put the needs of their wives ahead of their own. We also see that husbands are to be the spiritual leaders of the household. R. Kent Hughes askes some probing questions in his comentary of Ephesians, regarding verses 25-27. He asks, "Is our wife more like Christ because she is married to us? Or is she like Christ in spite of us?" Men need to be students of the Word ready to lead and teach their families and encourage them in their Christian walk. So ladies, be sure to look for men who are rooted in the Word, and able to lead, encourage, help motivate you to be more Christlike.
I truly hope these are the types of things that the next generation of women will want and expect to find in men.
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Next Generation
So as we've seen men and women were created different for a reason. God had different roles for each to fit into. We have recently been talking about what it looks like to be a Godly man. We looked at some passages out of 1 Timothy as well as Titus. Here you will find that men should have qualities like being sober-minded, be above reproach, not violent, not quarrelsome, and able to teach to name a few. We've only begun to scratch the surface of what the next generation of men need to strive towards.
I recently read a section out of Dr. James Dobson's book, Bringing Up Boys. He offers up some great practical tips on what fathers should be teaching their sons. He says,
"I'm going to throw some suggestions at you now in rapid succession, assuming you are the father of one or more boys. Here we go: If you speak disparagingly of the opposite sex, or if you refer to females as sex objects, those attitudes translate directly into dating and marital relationships later on. Remember that your goal is to prepare a boy to lead a family when he's grown and to show him how to earn the respect of those he serves. Tell him it is great to laugh and have fun with his friends, but advise him not to be "goofy." Guys who are goofy are not respected, and people, especially girls and women, do not follow boys and men whom they disrespect. Also, tell your son that he is never to hit a girl under any circumstances. Remind him that she is not as strong as he is and that she is deserving of his respect. Not only should he not hurt her, but he should protect her if she is threatened. When he is strolling along with a girl on the street, he should walk on the outside, nearer the cars. That is symbolic of his responsibility to take care of her. When he is on a date, he should pay for her food and entertainment. Also (and this is simply my opinion), girls should not call boys on the telephone-at least not until a committed relationship has developed. Guys must be the initiators, planning the dates and asking for the girls company. Teach your son to open doors for girls and to help them with their coats or their chairs in a restaurant. When a guy goes to her house to pick up his date, tell him to get out of the car and knock on the door. Never honk. Teach him to stand in formal situations, when a woman leaves the room or a table or when she returns. This is a way of showing respect for her. If he treats her like a lady, she will treat him like a man. It's a great plan."
I'm sure for many these things seem like pretty normal behavior. Unfortunately it is not for many of our youth who lack the example of a good father. I hope however that the next generation of men will be filled with those who respect women and treat them the way they deserve to be treated. I also hope that young ladies will expect to be treated this way and not settle for any less from the guys.
I recently read a section out of Dr. James Dobson's book, Bringing Up Boys. He offers up some great practical tips on what fathers should be teaching their sons. He says,
"I'm going to throw some suggestions at you now in rapid succession, assuming you are the father of one or more boys. Here we go: If you speak disparagingly of the opposite sex, or if you refer to females as sex objects, those attitudes translate directly into dating and marital relationships later on. Remember that your goal is to prepare a boy to lead a family when he's grown and to show him how to earn the respect of those he serves. Tell him it is great to laugh and have fun with his friends, but advise him not to be "goofy." Guys who are goofy are not respected, and people, especially girls and women, do not follow boys and men whom they disrespect. Also, tell your son that he is never to hit a girl under any circumstances. Remind him that she is not as strong as he is and that she is deserving of his respect. Not only should he not hurt her, but he should protect her if she is threatened. When he is strolling along with a girl on the street, he should walk on the outside, nearer the cars. That is symbolic of his responsibility to take care of her. When he is on a date, he should pay for her food and entertainment. Also (and this is simply my opinion), girls should not call boys on the telephone-at least not until a committed relationship has developed. Guys must be the initiators, planning the dates and asking for the girls company. Teach your son to open doors for girls and to help them with their coats or their chairs in a restaurant. When a guy goes to her house to pick up his date, tell him to get out of the car and knock on the door. Never honk. Teach him to stand in formal situations, when a woman leaves the room or a table or when she returns. This is a way of showing respect for her. If he treats her like a lady, she will treat him like a man. It's a great plan."
I'm sure for many these things seem like pretty normal behavior. Unfortunately it is not for many of our youth who lack the example of a good father. I hope however that the next generation of men will be filled with those who respect women and treat them the way they deserve to be treated. I also hope that young ladies will expect to be treated this way and not settle for any less from the guys.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
"male and female he created them."
Yes!! When God created man he created both male and female. How great it is that he created both men and women with different traits and qualities that wonderfully complement each other. That's what we talked about in youth group this week and we will continue to explore the roles that God's has given both men and women in the weeks to come.
Our culture (and mankind's sin) has distorted and twisted the roles of men and women. Men are viewed as weak, women as strong and superior. Pop star Christina Aguilera was recently quoted in Redbook saying
“Every woman has the ability or the drive to do it all and have it all. Men aren’t as strong and capable as we are. We’re machines.”
And if you pay much attention to what our culture is telling us through what they put on TV you'll find more of the same. Men playing the role of the thickheaded, numb-skull, while women hold it all together playing the role of the "smart" one who really knows whats going on.
Guess what people it's not about one sex being better than the other, who the smartest or works the hardest. Guys we need to quit abdicating our responsibility. The responsibility to be leaders to set the example. For those men who are married it means to love our wives the way Christ loved the church and gave himself up for the church. (Eph. 5:25) Talk about a tall order!
And ladies rather than concerning yourselves with fitting into the mold of what society says is beautiful, how about adorning the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit which is precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4)
We have a lot to learn about who God has designed us to be. Students I hope you will join us as spend a few more weeks gaining a biblical perspective of "manhood" and "womanhood".
Our culture (and mankind's sin) has distorted and twisted the roles of men and women. Men are viewed as weak, women as strong and superior. Pop star Christina Aguilera was recently quoted in Redbook saying
“Every woman has the ability or the drive to do it all and have it all. Men aren’t as strong and capable as we are. We’re machines.”
And if you pay much attention to what our culture is telling us through what they put on TV you'll find more of the same. Men playing the role of the thickheaded, numb-skull, while women hold it all together playing the role of the "smart" one who really knows whats going on.
Guess what people it's not about one sex being better than the other, who the smartest or works the hardest. Guys we need to quit abdicating our responsibility. The responsibility to be leaders to set the example. For those men who are married it means to love our wives the way Christ loved the church and gave himself up for the church. (Eph. 5:25) Talk about a tall order!
And ladies rather than concerning yourselves with fitting into the mold of what society says is beautiful, how about adorning the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit which is precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4)
We have a lot to learn about who God has designed us to be. Students I hope you will join us as spend a few more weeks gaining a biblical perspective of "manhood" and "womanhood".
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Beach Trip 2011
We just got back from a weekend at Pismo Beach with a great bunch of Jr. High students. The weather was perfect, a bit cool at night, but sunny all day. We had fun around the campfire at night, playing on the beach and driving through the dunes during the day.The students were challenged to walk humbly before the Lord knowing that we all stand "naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."(Heb 4:13) To know that God sees all of our actions as well as our thoughts should cause us all to shudder. Yet it is amazing that while we were still sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8) Oh what love the Father has given unto us that we might be called children of God. (1 John 3:1)
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