"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless." -- Ephesians 5:25-27
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -- Hebrews 12:1-2
Fathers, bring your children up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord!!
Fathers, Men, Disciples of Christ: Following Christ is not a passive lifestyle. It is crucifying yourself and your affections of the flesh and pursuing with endurance the race marked out for you. All the time...
Your Home should be the "Holiest" place that your wife and children know....NOT the church!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Entitled
As "American Christians" we really enjoy our religious freedom. We are free to express our faith and worship to God when and how we desire. What a great priviledge! We live in a country where we have the freedom to pursue dreams and make something of ourselves. "The Country of Opportunity". So doesn't it just irke you when you feel like our government is seemingly trying do everything in their power to destroy those "opportunities" and destroy the very foundation from which we are built upon? And don't many of us begin to foam at the mouth when we start talking about all the people that are cyphoning and living off government welfare and foodstamps? Doesn't it seem like these same people feel a sense of entitlement in getting constant government handouts that enable their lazy existence and represent the very stereotype of what is wrong with our America today? Their sense of entitlement to this kind of lifestyle goes against everything this country was founded on and our government enabling programs make you wanna vomit. Am I right?? I would venture to say that most of us have said or thought things like this before.
Now let me for a second throw you something to chew on (it may not be profound to you, but I have been challenged) Before I say anything, let me just say I am not against anyone that trys to invlove themselves in politics in trying to "right" the ship of our government that seemingly has been sinking fast in recent years.
Nonetheless.....I want to quickly speak specifically to the word entitlement and the context that I mentioned above. We get so bent out of shape when speaking about the entitlement demonstrated by these lazy people, that we utterly FAIL to realize that we ourselves are speaking and operating from the same self-indulgent, self-gratifying, entitled worldview (just with a different face). We believe that because we were born / live in America we are entitled to our freedoms. We are entitled to the "pursuit of our dreams". We achieve because this country was founded on the premises of individual liberty and the pursuit of our own happiness. People suck the system for all it is worth because they feel that they are entitled to do that. Other people wake up everyday and choose to make something of themselves because they feel they deserve and are entitled to do so. So what on earth is my point? I do not neglect the foundational principals that this country was founded on. It is a fact that we are not operating as the original founding fathers dreamed. But I am specifically talking to YOU christian. My point is this: with our self-indulgent worldview so many of us talk and strive to do everyting we can to rescue our entitlements and freedoms from disappearing in a cloud of smoke. We will bash everyone that stands opposed to us and we will vow to put all of our energy into making sure that we put someone in power that will ensure us of keeping our EASY life! My dear christians brothers and sisters, we fail to realize why you are breathing right NOW! Who gave you your breath? We fail to realize that as a Christian you are entitled to NOTHING of this world. You are not entitled to religious freedom, the pursuit of your dreams, or a great government t live under. The ONLY reason your were born into this world in this country is because God willed that you do so. If you die free or die as a martyr it is because He wills it. I know I am rambling, but let me share some verses with you:
"He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, As prepared for those whose feet slip." -Job 12:5- (Do not be so comfortable with your "entitlements" and freedoms that when things seem to not go your way you freak out!!) why???
"The tents of the destroyers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure, whom God brings into their power." -Job 12:6- (Good things happen to bad people because God wills it!!)
"In whose hand (the Lord) is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind." -Job 12:10 -(God holds your breath and beats your heart, as well as every living wicked person out there)
"With HIM are wisdom and might; to HIM belong counsel and understanding. Behold, HE tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; HE imprisons a man, and there can be no release. Behold, HE restrains the waters and they dry up; and HE sends them out, and they overturn the earth. With HIM are strength and sound wisdom, the misled and the misleader belong to HIM.....HE MAKES THE NATIONS GREAT THEN (HE) DESTROYS THEM; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away." -Job 12:13-16,23-
Friends let us not forget who is our Master! Let's not forget that we exist, our country exists because God has not destroyed it yet. If we live the rest of our lives with religious freedom then praise the Lord for His mighty Grace and Mercy. If we lose everything tomorrow and are physically persecuted for our faith then praise be to our God for His mighty Grace and Mercy; that He saw it fit that we were worthy of His name!!! This place is not our home, we deserve nothing! Do not spend all your time fighting for things that you feel you deserve. Beg for God's mercy and fight with all you have to rid yourselves of the stench of this world. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Not sure if my thoughts were cohesive, come chat sometime and I can share more clearly (hopefully)
In need of His Grace
Matt
Now let me for a second throw you something to chew on (it may not be profound to you, but I have been challenged) Before I say anything, let me just say I am not against anyone that trys to invlove themselves in politics in trying to "right" the ship of our government that seemingly has been sinking fast in recent years.
Nonetheless.....I want to quickly speak specifically to the word entitlement and the context that I mentioned above. We get so bent out of shape when speaking about the entitlement demonstrated by these lazy people, that we utterly FAIL to realize that we ourselves are speaking and operating from the same self-indulgent, self-gratifying, entitled worldview (just with a different face). We believe that because we were born / live in America we are entitled to our freedoms. We are entitled to the "pursuit of our dreams". We achieve because this country was founded on the premises of individual liberty and the pursuit of our own happiness. People suck the system for all it is worth because they feel that they are entitled to do that. Other people wake up everyday and choose to make something of themselves because they feel they deserve and are entitled to do so. So what on earth is my point? I do not neglect the foundational principals that this country was founded on. It is a fact that we are not operating as the original founding fathers dreamed. But I am specifically talking to YOU christian. My point is this: with our self-indulgent worldview so many of us talk and strive to do everyting we can to rescue our entitlements and freedoms from disappearing in a cloud of smoke. We will bash everyone that stands opposed to us and we will vow to put all of our energy into making sure that we put someone in power that will ensure us of keeping our EASY life! My dear christians brothers and sisters, we fail to realize why you are breathing right NOW! Who gave you your breath? We fail to realize that as a Christian you are entitled to NOTHING of this world. You are not entitled to religious freedom, the pursuit of your dreams, or a great government t live under. The ONLY reason your were born into this world in this country is because God willed that you do so. If you die free or die as a martyr it is because He wills it. I know I am rambling, but let me share some verses with you:
"He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, As prepared for those whose feet slip." -Job 12:5- (Do not be so comfortable with your "entitlements" and freedoms that when things seem to not go your way you freak out!!) why???
"The tents of the destroyers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure, whom God brings into their power." -Job 12:6- (Good things happen to bad people because God wills it!!)
"In whose hand (the Lord) is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind." -Job 12:10 -(God holds your breath and beats your heart, as well as every living wicked person out there)
"With HIM are wisdom and might; to HIM belong counsel and understanding. Behold, HE tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; HE imprisons a man, and there can be no release. Behold, HE restrains the waters and they dry up; and HE sends them out, and they overturn the earth. With HIM are strength and sound wisdom, the misled and the misleader belong to HIM.....HE MAKES THE NATIONS GREAT THEN (HE) DESTROYS THEM; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away." -Job 12:13-16,23-
Friends let us not forget who is our Master! Let's not forget that we exist, our country exists because God has not destroyed it yet. If we live the rest of our lives with religious freedom then praise the Lord for His mighty Grace and Mercy. If we lose everything tomorrow and are physically persecuted for our faith then praise be to our God for His mighty Grace and Mercy; that He saw it fit that we were worthy of His name!!! This place is not our home, we deserve nothing! Do not spend all your time fighting for things that you feel you deserve. Beg for God's mercy and fight with all you have to rid yourselves of the stench of this world. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Not sure if my thoughts were cohesive, come chat sometime and I can share more clearly (hopefully)
In need of His Grace
Matt
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