Forrest Gump and Psalms 55:6-8

It seems the writers of Forrest Gump may have inadvertently quoted Scripture. One of the most memorable moments from that movie is when Jenny's dad is going to abuse her and Jenny and Forrest escape to the fields and stoop down to pray. Jenny says, "Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far, far away from here". In Psalm 55:6-8 the psalmist writes "And I say, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.'" Interesting to think that a memorable movie quote was written far long ago. It reminds me that Scripture has more to offer than any pop-culture offering. And this passage in particular reminds me that we can cling to God for rescue and for shelter in times of distress...

Church Camp Lesson

Well it's almost that time! Church Camp is just around the corner and I'm praying about which lesson to teach. Each of the topics on the poll to right are messages I'm going to be doing soon, and I couldn't decide which to do during camp, so I thought I'd let you vote on them and have a say in what you will hear at camp. Hurry up and vote!!! The poll closes Tuesday the 7th!!!

Get Outta My Face - Chapter 4 & 5

I apologize to any who have been following this update. Two Thursdays ago I was preparing for a camping weekend with my Sr. Guys, and last Thursday I was packing for the move. So here is a general synopsis of chapters four and five and what points stuck out to me.

Chapter 4:

Chapter four focused on dealing with every conflict (especially teens) with the end goal of glorifying God and being aware of your own sinfulness. This was his five benefits to approaching your teen with the end goal of glorifying God above all else:

1 - It will help protect you from fear and intimidation in the face of your teen's threats (threats to leave, hurt you, or hurt themselves, or to play one parent against another).

2 - It will give you boldness and courage, should it come time to make difficult decisions (having to remove a child from school or your house, allowing the law to run its course without interfering, etc.).

3 - It will clothe you with humility and openness to see your own failures and sins more clearly (sharing our weaknesses points to God's glory, see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

4 - It will energize you with confidence and hope as you continue to live faithfully with other members of your family, your church, and your world (a good reminder is that however bitter or disrespectful your teen may be, the situation is never out of God's control, and it is certainly not within ours).

5 - It will make your prayers Biblical and effective (God delights when His people display a holy jealousy for his glory.

With working with teens for only a short three years at MCC. I've truly realized and benefited from the times where I've been obedient to God and been humble and open with the teens when they do have an issue arise in their lives. It helps them see that I'm human and I can connect with them.

Chapter 5:

Chapter four focused on God's glory while chapter five focuses strongly on our own personal sin and how we can deal with this in a way that is productive to our teens. He lists five ways that acknowledging your own sin will help your stance in a conflict:

1 - It can help you take a humble approach, as one sinner speaking to another (notice the theme here? ... humility leading to God's glory)

2 - It will make you a realistic model of how a needy person can admit his failures and move on to make better choices (this is especially true of parents and leaders who tried to hide their past in an attempt to "help" their teens)

3 - At times this will initiate mutual confession by your teens (no guarantees here, but remember God is in control of this situation, we are not ... trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding)

4 - It will help you be thoughtful, just, and realistic about actions you need to take or support (at times the justice may have to take place in your life as well as the teens, being open to discussion about sin, means being open to discipline, education, and correction about that sin).

5 - It can help demonstrate the richness and freedom that comes with Christ's forgiveness and acceptance. (we are called to forgive as Christ forgave us, when we do this to our teens they not only experience grace, but are pointed to the greater picture of Christ).

Be open with your sins, past and present. It helps the teens see that you can come through some of the same troubles by trusting in the Lord and walking with His church. This also shows them that even though we are justified by grace through faith, we are are daily being sanctified until we are glorified in the presence of our King.

On my way to WV for Sr. Guys camping weekend!!!

Summer Reading List

I thought I would post what I'm working through this summer:

Bible Doctrine - Wayne Grudem

Get Outta My Face - Rick Horne

The Gospel According to Jesus - John MacArthur

God is the Gospel - John Piper

Life as a Vapor - John Piper

John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology - Buck Parsons and others

What is a Healthy Church - Mark Dever

What is a Healthy Church Member - Thabiti Anyabwile

Psalms

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God - John Piper & Justin Taylor

Lectures to My Students - Charles Spurgeon

Finally Alive - John Piper

Just because it is summer doesn't mean we can put our brains to sleep, it's time to dig deep and prepare for the school year, because that is when we face many battles. Take the summer to refuel, re-equip, and grow in Christ!

Get Outta My Face - Chapter 3

I like reading slowly through several books. It helps me to share thoughts weekly with others as I go through them and flesh out all that is being said in each. I'm going through a couple now and meet with corresponding groups to discuss them. The third chapter of "Get Outta My Face" is about the "wise wants" that all people, especially teens, have because of God's common grace. His main point was that teens act based on their felt needs, but many times their is an underlying "wise want" underneath, and at time so deep that it takes time and digging to get to them.

Teens will sin, it is important for us to think about how we deal with this sin whether you are their parent, friend, teacher, or pastor. The author says "For parents, the best question to ask is not 'Do we deal with the sin or do we not?' The question is, 'When and how is the sin to be dealt with in the way that will be most effective?" It is important to remember that we are all works in progress. To the unconverted teen their stage is lost, and unaware of the eternal aspect of their sin. To the born again teen their stage is a battle with their flesh. God IS working in our lives through the sanctification by His Holy Spirit. We need to trust in that and remember that sin needs to be dealt with always. ALWAYS. How we deal with it and when is where we have some freedom, because our influence on teens like ministry in general is a marathon. We can't forget that we have time to deal with teens. We did not get "right" all at once, to say that we did is to say that we are essentially God Himself. We (teens included) will never be "right" until we are glorified by God.

Remember that Christ Justifies us, the Holy Spirit is Sanctifying us, and one day God will glorify us. Trust in that when you are dealing with teens. Trust in the fact that you can't do it, and need His guidance and help. Look for the right times to deal with the right issues and not every issue at once.

Leave comments below!

Get Outta My Face - Chapter 2

Sorry for the hiatus last week, but I'm back now and want to just jot down a brief summary of chapter 2 and tell you what stuck out to me the most.

The Chapter  is labeled "Understanding Your Teen Biblically".  It is based on 8 Biblical lenses for us to look through to see angry teens clearly:

1 - Teens, just like parents and counselors, are sinners.

2 - Teens can be respected as young adults.

3 - Common grace, God's general goodness to all, allows any sinner to make some wise choices.

4 - God's goodness accounts for "wise wants" that lie (often deeply) within our teens.

5 - Help that brings about change in angry teens often begins at a surface level but must aim deeper.

6 - Teens can and must think about their choices in light of goals and consequences. 

7 - Scriptural principles cover both how to speak and what to say to angry, unmotivated teens.

8 - God gives us others to support us and to help us counsel our teens.

This chapter was a good overview of some good reminders that Scripture lays out for us.  I personally like the first "lens", that "teens, just like parents and counselors, are sinners".  It makes all the difference when approaching people going in with an attitude of humility because you know that while their sin is evident at the moment, I am just as guilty as them.  Of those 8 lenses listed, which would make an impact on you and your dealings with "angry, unmotivated teens"?

Click on the comments link to post your thoughts!

Miscarriage, Misfortune, and God's Will

     I've had a pretty good and comfortable life.  I have had nobody near me pass away, I have had no intense sickness, I'm pretty healthy (although If i continue to eat out this much I could scratch the last comment).  Things have always seemed to go "my" way.  I graduated college and had a job less than a month later (very rare).  Anytime Jill and I have been in a pinch financially there has been this money that has came to help us.  I have experienced nothing out of the normal.  

     All of this changed last Monday when Jill and I learned that Jill had a miscarriage.  Monday and Tuesday are probably the worst two days of my life.  I sat in doctors offices, emergency rooms, waiting rooms, hospital cafeterias and all the while knowing my hoped for child was gone.  I don't cry, but I did last week.  I don't remain quiet, but I did last week.  I don't sit and watch, but I did last week.  

     We had hoped for a child, but it is not happening at the moment.  I was reminded of things throughout all of this that were from God and His word, so that I would not waver.  I experienced Him keeping me through a time of suffering.  I was reminded that this is not our fault in any way.  It is another result of a fallen world.  God's perfect world that is not tainted with sin is not full of death but life only!  I was reminded that this situation could be worse.  We could have lost a child.  We didn't lose a child, we just didn't get what we hoped for.  It doesn't make it fine and cheery, but it was important for us to remember that God allowed us to experience only this.  Through all of this I was constantly reminded in my heart and soul that God is sovereign and in control.  I want to give him praise through this situation, and rejoice in Him at all times, including times of suffering and hardship.  He is my treasure, my satisfaction, and my hope.  

     This week at youth I will talk more about this and look forward to sharing in the greatness of God in the midst of hardships of the world.  

Get Outta My Face - Chapter 1

Thursdays in the coming months I will update chapter by chapter from a book I'm reading, "Get Outta My Face! How to Reach Angry, Unmotivated Teens with Biblical Counsel" The first chapter is entitled "There is Good Reason for Hope"  This chapter introduces the premise for the book, that essentially we are weak sinful people trying to work with other weak sinful people who happen to be younger(23).  Even though this was an introduction type chapter there was a few good nuggets.

1. The importance of presentation is key.  The author says "your first words to an angry teen will strongly push that interaction toward one of two outcomes: your words being received, thus beginning a conversation, or a 'Get outta my face' response, thus shutting it all down.  Presentation, the way we approach our teen and start to talk, can make or break effective communication"(19).  It's one thing to help someone out it's another thing to present the help in a harmful or misleading way.  
2. "It's a 'truth' matter that the Spirit alone can bring to lodge in our teen's heart so that he may be 'set free' (John 8:32) from the angry, complacent, self-destructive, and hurtful patterns of his life" (22).  What a good reminder that even if we do all the "right things" it is the sovereignty of God's spirit that will move in a person's life to set them free.  
3. "Biblical principles are timeless, cross-cultural, cross-gender, and not limited by learning disabilities or ADHD diagnoses" (23).  It's good to be reminded that no behavioral issue is to big to overcome the work God and His word can do in one's life.  And these issues do NOT render the Word of God ineffective.  

Feel free to leave comments about this below!  I will respond to comments!  Chapter 2 will be up next Thursday.

No TV!

Jill and I just took the plunge, no more cable TV.  This is for a couple of reasons: 1 - The cost (we will save close to $1000 in the next year by not having cable), 2 - The content anymore is just ridiculous and I'm tired of letting my eyes see things that my heart is not called to glorify,  3 - It gives more time for Jill and I to grow closer together, 4 - It frees up time that should have been spent growing in the glories of Christ, that were spent wasted in front of the TV.  

Baby Update - We have an appointment June 3 and we will hopefully get to see the first sonogram!!!  We are so excited and can't wait to see the picture of the new life that God is forming inside of Jill! 

The Newest Wingler

     There is a new Wingler in our family.  Today it is roughly the size of a blueberry and is due in mid-December!  I usually post things that interest me on my blog like videos I've seen, sermons I've heard, book's I've read, or just random stuff.  The thing that will interest me for the next 7 and a half months will be the addition of a child to Jill and I.  This is a blessing from a gracious God.  We are excited for what He is going to do through this new adventure.  I am excited to get to teach my child daily about the glories of Christ and walk alongside of him/her as Christ would.  We know very little and will find out soon that we know even less.  We are humbled that God would do this in us and that we will have the privilege to spread His good news to our child.  I will post updates for now.  Below is a baby at 7 weeks...amazing...

Another Reason I Enjoy how God is using John Piper

CHRISTIAN:

Hello, Death, my old enemy.  My old slave-master.  Have you come to talk to me again?   To frighten me?  I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened.  Let me ask you a question, Death.  Where is your sting?

DEATH, sneeringly:

My sting is your sin.

CHRISTIAN:

I know that, Death.  But that's not what I asked you.  I asked, where is your sting?  I know what it is.  But tell me where it is.  Why are you fidgeting, Death?  Why are you looking away?  Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question.  Where is your sting?  Where is, my sin?  What?  You have no answer?  But, Death, why do you have no answer?  How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?  O Death, I will tell you the answer.  Where is your sting?  Where is my sin?  It is hanging on that tree.  God made Christ to be sin—my sin.  When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken.  I bear it no more.  Farewell, Death.  You need not show up here again to frighten me.  God will tell you when to come next time.  And when you come, you will be his servant.  For me, you will have no sting.

O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Great Luther Quote

"In truth you cannot read too much in Scriptures;

and what you read you cannot read too carefully,

and what you read carefully you cannot understand too well,

and what you understand well you cannot teach too well,

and what you teach you cannot live too well."

-Martin Luther

What a good quote to remind us that we are small and God is big.  At the end of the day in our feeble attempts to know God more, we can rest and rejoice in waking up and knowing that God still has more to reveal to His people.  

Sunday Sermon

I got to preach Sunday at our church, here is the link to our sermons:

MCC Sermons

Enjoy!

Book Review: Spectacular Sins

     John Piper put out a book near Christmas of 2008.  The title of the book was "Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ".  This is a book that takes a look of how sin is used/allowed by God for His ultimate purpose, even though it may be terrible at the time it happens.  It is a book that challenges us to view things, with God, in light of eternity.  

Readability: A

     As with any Piper book if you are a excited about growing in your knowledge of God He will please you.  It is always good to keep a Bible or a Bible dictionary near by if you are a new believer though.  I enjoy his writing style.  He typically poses questions and then uses scripture and insight to answer them, it makes it flow well.  

Scriptural Depth and Explanation: A

     This is a book that takes examples of sin in scripture and shows them for what they truly are in light of eternity.  The scriptural depth is not as deep as some of Piper's books, but still very good and the explanations as always are enlightening.  

Practicality: B

     This is not a book written to be practical.  It is a book that shows how God is ruler and controller over all, even things that seem terrible.  The application of this book would be worship.  I read this book and thought "Wow, God is so good I can do nothing else to apply this but to worship His awesomeness."  That is the application, not 12 steps, not a journey to being better, but truths that brought me to a place of worship.  

Content: A

     Piper looks at several sins in Scripture and then shows how they served the ultimate purpose of glorifying God.  These Spectacular Sins were:

• The Fall of Satan
• Adam's Disobedience
• The Tower of Babel
• The Selling of Joseph into Slavery
• The Sin of the Murder of Christ

The book also touches on the fact that all things, even evil and sinful things, were created by Jesus and through Jesus.  It is a great book!

Recommendation:

     If you have questions in regard to sin and suffering, and how they could exist to glorify God this is the book for you.  It is a quick 106 pages full of beautiful truth that points to the glory that God gets through all things forever.  

Book Review: Sex 180

     This is a review about a book that is written to encourage teens and young adults to live 180 degrees different from the world in regards to sexuality.  I went through this with one of the students in the youth ministry and we both really enjoyed it and learnt from it. 

Readability: A+

     This is a very easy read.  Chapters are short and packed with easy to follow personal stories, Biblical truth, and application.  

Scriptural Depth and Explanation: B-

     This was not meant to be a deep theological book, but rather a book that makes young people think differently about honoring God with their sexuality.  Their is scripture through out, but the basis is more on living opposite (1 John 2:15) from the world, rather than taking a passage of Scripture and learning from that truth.  The authors have went the opposite way of taking an idea and backing it up with Scripture.  There are deeper books out there on the same topic.  

Practicality: A-

     The book is practical because almost every chapter calls the reader to make a change in their life and ends with questions to get the reader to prepare to apply truth to their life.  

Content: A-

     This book is worth getting for a couple reasons, but their were two big reasons as I read. The first is the pyramid they give on what a relationship should be built on: Spiritual, Psychological, Social, Emotional, Physical.  The second was the chapter on Love vs. Infatuation.  Many young people today think they are in love and are truly infatuated.  This chapter gives a good definition of both and gives twelve ways to determine if what they are feeling is love or infatuation. 

Recommendation:

    If you have questions about how to date or seek a relationship with God as your center, this is a good book to get you started in the right direction.  There is a lot of application and is written for and to young people.  Teens desiring Christ-centered relationships, or teens who have messed up and want a better way - this book is for you!

Book Review: The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism

     I'm a Calvinist.  To some this is offensive, to me this is just a view of salvation that shows the beauty of God's mercy and grace.  I am first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ.  I agree with John Calvin, perhaps the best expositor of scripture of all time, on his view of how a person becomes saved.  In this book, "The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism"  the author (Craig R. Brown) looks at the main questions people ask in regards to calvinism.  Steve Lawson, in regard to Calvinism, says "This is not hard to understand, this is hard to swallow".  It took me a while to accept these teachings, I had to spend many hours digging, and questioning.  I had to truly seek God as to what HE says in Scripture, rather than what my feelings and desires would want to be true.  

Readability: A+

     This book is very easy to read and is a very quick read.  I think I read it in about two days (for me that is very quick!).  There is about 125 pages to the book and they are full of scripture and explanation of those passages.

Scriptural Depth and Explanation: A-

     An "A-" because the scriptural depth is incredible, but the explanation is lacking in some areas.  The book is mainly scripture, which is strong when a person is making a case for a doctrine, but at times there is a lack of explanation for every scripture used.  

Practicality: A

     This book is practical because most people who have wrestled over the view of Calvinism have asked all these questions that the book is based around.  To make it more practical the author could have given ways to share the information with others.

Content: A+

     All the questions I will list are answered in this book:

• What is the historical basis for Calvinism?
• What are the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism, and what does the Bible teach?
• If God is in complete control of everything, to the point of predetermining all human actions, how can man be held accountable for what he does?
• If we are saved by grace and not by works, why should we do anything good?
• What purpose do good works serve?
• Are there rewards in heaven for what we do here on earth?
• If God has predetermined everything that comes to pass, why should we spend valuable time in prayer or evangelism?
• If God is both sovereign and good, how can evil things happen in the world?
• If people are born totally depraved, as Calvinism says, where do babies go when they die?

He asks these questions, then gives a short summary, and then backs up all his points with scripture.  It is very clear and easy to understand.  

Recommendation:

If you are a Calvinist then read this to help clarify when you get questioned.  If you are not a Calvinist read this to see some truths in regards.  If a person wants to get an even bigger picture in a much deeper, harder to understand book then you should check out "Chosen for Life" by Sam Storms.  

     

Book Review: The Pleasures of God

     John Piper is one of my favorite authors.  I have now read a couple of his books and am growing in the grace of God more and more because of the way God is using Him.  I'm thankful for his pursuit of pleasure in God in all things that has driven his ministry.  

     The "Pleasures of God" along with "Desiring God" and perhaps his new book "Finally Alive" will be hard to beat as far as challenging a person to view God in the highest.  These three will all be books that I will read and reread.  This will be the criteria for book review: Readability, Scriptural depth and explanation, Practicality, Content, and Recommendation.

Readability: A

     This is a book that is easily read, but will take some sorting through at times.  A new Christian will be able to follow along and gain valuable insight for foundations of their faith.  The occasional word may have to be looked up, but for the most part it is a straight forward read.  A mature Christian will be refreshed by the truths inside.  

Scriptural Depth and Explanation: A+

     One of the reasons I enjoy Piper's writings and sermons is that they are not focused on the culture or our surroundings.  They are focused on the most important thing, God.  Piper bases all his stances and major points around scripture for every chapter.  

Practicality: B

     I read books that are mostly filled with depth of scripture.  I learn from these depths and know to put them into practice.  I don't typically read books that have ten steps on how to do something.  God has given me a mind for a reason, so I will use it.  I give this book a "B" because it does not have those step by step ways to enjoy the Pleasures of God, but what it does do is give discussion questions to every chapter in the back.  This would be a great way to use this book in a small group setting!  The other thing I like about this book as well as every Piper book is that He has a Scripture index.  In essence every book he writes is a commentary on many scriptures and his insight is very helpful in clarifying and understanding God's Word.

Content: A+

     The essence of this book is "The Pleasure of God in Himself".  I will not summarize the entire book, but give you a few key points.  Piper lists out the Pleasure of God in: His Son, in all He does, in His creation, in His fame, in Election, in Bruising the Son, in doing good to all who hope in Him, in the prayers of the upright, in personal obedience and public justice, and in concealing Himself from the wise and revealing Himself to infants.  There is also an appendix that is incredible "Are there two wills in God? Divine Election and God's desire for all to be saved".  This is a must read!!!

     The chapters that meant the most to me were "The Pleasure of God in His Creation" and "The Pleasure of God in Election".  Piper points out that even the smallest thing that was created and is not yet discovered God made so that He could take pleasure in it, and it has to be this way, because we haven't found it yet.  The opposite is true, the largest stars, billions of light years away have always been there, and for who and what?  They have been there for God and for His pleasure in them.  The Pleasure of God in Election is the starting point for the Appendix on the two wills of God.  This chapter is a must read for anyone wondering the process of regeneration or salvation.  In today's church man has been given a higher role than scripture depicts in regards to salvation.  Piper shows the Biblical aspect of God's election of men to Himself, and it is absolutely beautiful.  

Recommendation:

      If you want to grow deeper this is a book you need to pick up.  There are few books I will re-read in my life, but this is one of them.  Buy this book!

New Addition

I have just added something to the top right of my page.  It's the scripture I'm memorizing, along with our church, weekly.  At our church we have decided to memorize scripture weekly together and during the service someone will recite it for the congregation.  It's a great practice to write the word on our hearts and something I would encourage anyone to do.