1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”
We live in a vain world that seeks to undermine God’s authority in creation. This is seen constantly in the area of physical appearance. People attempt to change their outward appearance for the explicit purpose of vanity.
As I continue with this blog, hear me at the outset say that taking care of how you look is necessary and needed. There is no scripture that would advocate being and looking your worst. We should take care that we dress and look APPROPRIATE for the occasion.
But, is there any doubt that our society has an obsession with physical appearances. And the means people will go to achieve a particular look is absurd.
We have lost the biblical ideals of beauty. Beauty is not found in a particular size or shape. It is not in a hairstyle or shade of make-up. It is not in how thin and buxom someone is. Beauty begins from within and emanates to the outward appearance.
Some of the ugliest people ever had what many consider to be a pleasing outward appearance.
So what do people do? They try to fix their outward appearance and forget to fix their inward appearance.
I have been a consistent exerciser at Boot Camp(see my previous blogs on this subject). I do not work out so that I will look more like Mr. Buff-the-football-jock. Honestly, I will never achieve that type of stereotypical muscular appearance. I work out to be healthy. I exercise because scripture says that my body is God’s temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
I don’t want to dishonor His temple. I work out because I want to live as long and fruitful as the Lord wills.
Many workout to be looked at by others. And this is just the beginning. People willingly have themselves mutilated to better their appearance. From breast implants, to toxic facial injections, to all kinds of surgical procedures, vanity is rampant.
This is a tough environment for a father of two girls. As a father, of course I believe that my girls are physically beautiful. But I have prayed and will fervently work by the grace of God to instill in them the understanding that there value does not come from their physical appearance. This will be hard because of the society in which I live, but I will fight this battle. I want them to know that what makes them beautiful is their character and faith, not their dress size.
And at the same time I want to teach them the benefit of healthy eating, regular exercise, and appropriate dress.(I’ll have to do another blog about the topic of the way girls dress.)
1 Timothy 4:8 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
The Beauty of God
Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple.”
Psalm 96:6
“6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
As scripture declares, God is beautiful. But, we so often confuse what true beauty is. And we must not allow the common misconceptions of beauty to infiltrate our understanding of the beauty of God.
The beauty of God is not a physical attractiveness. It is not like looking at a eye-pleasing picture, or a sunrise, or a baby. It is much deeper than that. God’s beauty is the aggregate of His qualities that are more than we could ever imagine. His holiness, loving-kindness, justice, mercy, goodness, power – are what makes Him beautiful, lovely, wonderful, and worthy of worship.
God’s beauty is different from common ideas of beauty in another way. You have heard the common cliché “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” That may be true when it comes to a painting, but not when it comes to God.
His beauty is not subjective. It is not dependent on the tastes and opinions of anyone. His character is the supreme constant in all the universe. This means that His beauty, His identity is not dependent on anyone or anything.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
I have heard this passage quoted and sung at many weddings. What many fail to realize is that this is a passage about the coming Messiah. It is about Jesus Christ. He is the one that is bring good news, publishing peace, happiness and salvation.
Here is a great example of the beauty of God not being physical attractiveness. The Messiah did not have physically attractive feet. The beauty is not in appearance but in His character and His actions.
The beauty of God is on full display in Jesus Christ and His cross. The most gruesome pictures of Jesus on the cross is the beauty of God. That cross displays the fullness and perfection of so many of God’s intrinsic qualities. It shows His justice, righteousness, goodness, wrath, holiness, kindness, mercy, grace, and His great love.
People may choose not to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name, but they will one day. People may opt not to behold the beauty of the Lord now, but they will one day – in all the awe and fear that His beauty deserves and demands.
I choose today.
Psalm 96:6
“6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
As scripture declares, God is beautiful. But, we so often confuse what true beauty is. And we must not allow the common misconceptions of beauty to infiltrate our understanding of the beauty of God.
The beauty of God is not a physical attractiveness. It is not like looking at a eye-pleasing picture, or a sunrise, or a baby. It is much deeper than that. God’s beauty is the aggregate of His qualities that are more than we could ever imagine. His holiness, loving-kindness, justice, mercy, goodness, power – are what makes Him beautiful, lovely, wonderful, and worthy of worship.
God’s beauty is different from common ideas of beauty in another way. You have heard the common cliché “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” That may be true when it comes to a painting, but not when it comes to God.
His beauty is not subjective. It is not dependent on the tastes and opinions of anyone. His character is the supreme constant in all the universe. This means that His beauty, His identity is not dependent on anyone or anything.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
I have heard this passage quoted and sung at many weddings. What many fail to realize is that this is a passage about the coming Messiah. It is about Jesus Christ. He is the one that is bring good news, publishing peace, happiness and salvation.
Here is a great example of the beauty of God not being physical attractiveness. The Messiah did not have physically attractive feet. The beauty is not in appearance but in His character and His actions.
The beauty of God is on full display in Jesus Christ and His cross. The most gruesome pictures of Jesus on the cross is the beauty of God. That cross displays the fullness and perfection of so many of God’s intrinsic qualities. It shows His justice, righteousness, goodness, wrath, holiness, kindness, mercy, grace, and His great love.
People may choose not to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name, but they will one day. People may opt not to behold the beauty of the Lord now, but they will one day – in all the awe and fear that His beauty deserves and demands.
I choose today.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Study: Church Benefits Kids
From the Baptist Press:
Posted on May 1, 2007 by Michael Foust
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Church is good for children.That's the message of a new study that says young children of churchgoing parents fare better behaviorally, emotionally and cognitively than do children of parents who never attend church. In fact, the more often the parents attend, the better off the kids are.The study by sociologist John P. Bartkowski and a team of researchers at Mississippi State University examined data from the nationwide Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, which evaluated first-graders by interviewing parents and teachers. In the data Bartkowski used, some 9,500 parents and 8,800 teachers were interviewed. The ECLS study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.Examining the ECLS data, Bartkowski and his team concluded it is "quite clear" that religious attendance impacts children positively. His research -- which claims to be a "first of its kind" study on the subject using "nationally representative data" -- will be published in the journal Social Science Research."[R]eligion does seem to be good for young children," the study says. "The religious attendance of parents and a cohesive religious environment in the home yields significant benefits for children's behavioral, emotional, and cognitive development, and such outcomes are most pronounced when both partners attend services frequently.""Religion" in the study includes all religions -- the ECLS survey did not ask specific faith questions -- so there is no way of knowing if there are differences among, say, Baptist, Catholic or Jewish families.But Bartkowski's study did determine that while church attendance is good for children, parental debate over religion is not. In fact, the study found that when parents argue about religion, it can "significantly undermine" a young child's development. However, when they are in agreement, it can be very beneficial. The study also said parent-child discussions about religion "often yield positive affects on child development."Regularity in attendance can make a difference, too."In many of the developmental domains featured here, the children who are doing the best are in households where both parents attend worship services frequently," the authors wrote.The frequency of attendance may make a difference, the study says, because it gives other adults -- for example, in Sunday School settings -- the opportunity to "reinforce parental values" taught at home.
Posted on May 1, 2007 by Michael Foust
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Church is good for children.That's the message of a new study that says young children of churchgoing parents fare better behaviorally, emotionally and cognitively than do children of parents who never attend church. In fact, the more often the parents attend, the better off the kids are.The study by sociologist John P. Bartkowski and a team of researchers at Mississippi State University examined data from the nationwide Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, which evaluated first-graders by interviewing parents and teachers. In the data Bartkowski used, some 9,500 parents and 8,800 teachers were interviewed. The ECLS study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.Examining the ECLS data, Bartkowski and his team concluded it is "quite clear" that religious attendance impacts children positively. His research -- which claims to be a "first of its kind" study on the subject using "nationally representative data" -- will be published in the journal Social Science Research."[R]eligion does seem to be good for young children," the study says. "The religious attendance of parents and a cohesive religious environment in the home yields significant benefits for children's behavioral, emotional, and cognitive development, and such outcomes are most pronounced when both partners attend services frequently.""Religion" in the study includes all religions -- the ECLS survey did not ask specific faith questions -- so there is no way of knowing if there are differences among, say, Baptist, Catholic or Jewish families.But Bartkowski's study did determine that while church attendance is good for children, parental debate over religion is not. In fact, the study found that when parents argue about religion, it can "significantly undermine" a young child's development. However, when they are in agreement, it can be very beneficial. The study also said parent-child discussions about religion "often yield positive affects on child development."Regularity in attendance can make a difference, too."In many of the developmental domains featured here, the children who are doing the best are in households where both parents attend worship services frequently," the authors wrote.The frequency of attendance may make a difference, the study says, because it gives other adults -- for example, in Sunday School settings -- the opportunity to "reinforce parental values" taught at home.
Church, Children, Parents - Connection
It has been common knowledge that a parent's commitment or lack of commitment to God and His church will influence their children. Now, there is a study that confirms this.
Scripture repeatedly reinforces the important impact that parent's have upon their children's faith. Deuteronomy 6 could not contain more clear language outlining parental responsibility to teach their children their faith.
Of course, children learn most clearly what they see in their parents. If mom and dad are lackadaisical about Christ and the church, then that is exactly what the kid's will learn. If they see that a sporting event is more important than church that is what they will learn.
For years I have seen children and teens who are dropped off at church while the parents stay home. The parents think that they are doing something good for the kids by leaving them at church. The church does have some impact, but it cannot parent. The pastor or youth teacher cannot parent other's children. Children will learn from their parents.
It has been my observation that these kids when they come of age leave the church way behind. This normally starts to occur late in high school or early college. These future adults have received the message loud and clear: "God is not important enough to us to be regularly committed to His church."
I will include the complete article in the next post.
Scripture repeatedly reinforces the important impact that parent's have upon their children's faith. Deuteronomy 6 could not contain more clear language outlining parental responsibility to teach their children their faith.
Of course, children learn most clearly what they see in their parents. If mom and dad are lackadaisical about Christ and the church, then that is exactly what the kid's will learn. If they see that a sporting event is more important than church that is what they will learn.
For years I have seen children and teens who are dropped off at church while the parents stay home. The parents think that they are doing something good for the kids by leaving them at church. The church does have some impact, but it cannot parent. The pastor or youth teacher cannot parent other's children. Children will learn from their parents.
It has been my observation that these kids when they come of age leave the church way behind. This normally starts to occur late in high school or early college. These future adults have received the message loud and clear: "God is not important enough to us to be regularly committed to His church."
I will include the complete article in the next post.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Bible Reading
Do you have a Bible reading plan?
Someone once made this statement, "You plan to fail, when you fail to plan?"
I know that every person is different. Some people are much more disciplined than others. Some things that come easy for one individual is extremely difficult for others. This is not an excuse to neglect important things it is just a reminder that you have to find whatever works best for you.
That being said, what is it that works best for you to keep yourself consistently in God's Word? If you have no plan in place at all, then you probably aren't in God's Word.
Here is what I do. I try and read through the New Testament twice a year and the Old Testament once. This is separate from my personal study of the word, and my sermon preparation study. This is a time that I just immerse myself in the Bible.
You can find all kinds of systematic Bible reading plans. They will generally have you reading through a NT and an OT passage each day. Just google "bible reading plan" and you will find a myriad.
My reading is not that regimented. What works best for me is if I just break down my reading into monthly blocks. I need to read about 3 NT books and 2 OT a month(give or take). Then I just pick something that I want to dive into, or something that I feel God wants me to read.
Sometimes as I do my reading this will lead to a deeper study. I will be reading a passage and feel like I want to spend more time studying it for myself. Other times I will find a verse or two that I want to put into memory. I will make that a memory verse. Other times it leads to just a time of worship or prayer, or conviction.
It also helps if you make a time and place to do your reading. It does seem to work well while watching t.v. or when the kids are vying for your attention. I like to read in the morning, and in the evening. It doesn't always work out that way, and on those occasions I will try and find some time in the middle of the day.
That seems to be what works for me. What works for you? Find out, so you won't be missing out.
Someone once made this statement, "You plan to fail, when you fail to plan?"
I know that every person is different. Some people are much more disciplined than others. Some things that come easy for one individual is extremely difficult for others. This is not an excuse to neglect important things it is just a reminder that you have to find whatever works best for you.
That being said, what is it that works best for you to keep yourself consistently in God's Word? If you have no plan in place at all, then you probably aren't in God's Word.
Here is what I do. I try and read through the New Testament twice a year and the Old Testament once. This is separate from my personal study of the word, and my sermon preparation study. This is a time that I just immerse myself in the Bible.
You can find all kinds of systematic Bible reading plans. They will generally have you reading through a NT and an OT passage each day. Just google "bible reading plan" and you will find a myriad.
My reading is not that regimented. What works best for me is if I just break down my reading into monthly blocks. I need to read about 3 NT books and 2 OT a month(give or take). Then I just pick something that I want to dive into, or something that I feel God wants me to read.
Sometimes as I do my reading this will lead to a deeper study. I will be reading a passage and feel like I want to spend more time studying it for myself. Other times I will find a verse or two that I want to put into memory. I will make that a memory verse. Other times it leads to just a time of worship or prayer, or conviction.
It also helps if you make a time and place to do your reading. It does seem to work well while watching t.v. or when the kids are vying for your attention. I like to read in the morning, and in the evening. It doesn't always work out that way, and on those occasions I will try and find some time in the middle of the day.
That seems to be what works for me. What works for you? Find out, so you won't be missing out.
Famine
Amos 8:11-12
“ Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
“ when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,
but they shall not find it.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Am 8:11).
This text out of Amos is a passage of judgment. The Israelites had developed a pattern of rejecting God and His Word. They were given, by the gracious hand of God, a covenant. They were privileged to have the voice of God’s Word. And instead of heeding and listening to this gift, they rejected it.
Amos was announcing the judgment of God. It would be a famine. A famine is when there is a scarcity of resources. Generally brought on by a drought, nothing grows. There is no grain or grasses. So the crops and the herds die out, and food is scarce.
This is not knew. There are many times in scripture when God sends a famine on the land in judgment on the sins of the people. He would judge His own people and even other nations by means of a famine. No food.
In Amos, this famine is different. It is not a lack of food, it is a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
Every where I go I have access to a Bible. They are so abundant. Everyone has at least one, probably more. In fact, it is so accessible that I am afraid that there are times that I take it for granted. In doing so, I am no better than those being chastised in Amos 8.
I was thinking about this famine of the word of the Lord. It sounds absolutely dreadful. When I truly meditate on how God has used His word so profoundly in my life, it humbles me. It makes me grateful for the Bible. In the pages of that book I have met one-on-one with God! He has fed my soul, encouraged me, corrected me, instructed me, lifted me, and shown me Himself. What a tremendous blessing! How foolish I am to ever, for even a moment, neglect the precious gift of God’s Word. A famine of His word would be devastating!
“ Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
“ when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,
but they shall not find it.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Am 8:11).
This text out of Amos is a passage of judgment. The Israelites had developed a pattern of rejecting God and His Word. They were given, by the gracious hand of God, a covenant. They were privileged to have the voice of God’s Word. And instead of heeding and listening to this gift, they rejected it.
Amos was announcing the judgment of God. It would be a famine. A famine is when there is a scarcity of resources. Generally brought on by a drought, nothing grows. There is no grain or grasses. So the crops and the herds die out, and food is scarce.
This is not knew. There are many times in scripture when God sends a famine on the land in judgment on the sins of the people. He would judge His own people and even other nations by means of a famine. No food.
In Amos, this famine is different. It is not a lack of food, it is a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
Every where I go I have access to a Bible. They are so abundant. Everyone has at least one, probably more. In fact, it is so accessible that I am afraid that there are times that I take it for granted. In doing so, I am no better than those being chastised in Amos 8.
I was thinking about this famine of the word of the Lord. It sounds absolutely dreadful. When I truly meditate on how God has used His word so profoundly in my life, it humbles me. It makes me grateful for the Bible. In the pages of that book I have met one-on-one with God! He has fed my soul, encouraged me, corrected me, instructed me, lifted me, and shown me Himself. What a tremendous blessing! How foolish I am to ever, for even a moment, neglect the precious gift of God’s Word. A famine of His word would be devastating!
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