But I still wonder what this country would be if the cost of studying God's word was much higher.
March 31, 2011
What If?
This past year I have been listening to many different pastors and have gained a great respect for David Platt, pastor of Brook Hills church in Birmingham Alabama. One thing that they have started doing in their church is what is called the Secret Church which is where they gather for 6 straight hours to do nothing but study the Bible. He came up with this idea while in a closed country where he was teaching the bible to underground church pastors in that country and he was so taken by how they wanted nothing but to study scripture even in a packed room in great heat, and the question he poses is if the cost for studying the Word of God was much higher in America would we still be willing. And so the Secret Church was born.
But I still wonder what this country would be if the cost of studying God's word was much higher.
But I still wonder what this country would be if the cost of studying God's word was much higher.
March 29, 2011
March is Maddness
March is the month of basketball. College basketball goes on a month long intensive tournament where productivity across the country drops significantly. In fact an organization estimated that as a result of the tournament American firms would suffer a $1.8 billion loss in productivity. That's incredible, and I am realizing this month more than most just how easy it is for us to place something ahead of God on our priority list. Especially for myself, because I am a huge sports buff and can spend hours looking up nothing on espn.
Idols are everywhere in our American society, and we are oblivious to them, It's just normal. Just a thought how many hours this month did you spend watching the tournament, now think about how much time you spent in the Word of God and in prayer. Does it even reach half the total amount of time you spent watching basketball? If your not a big sports person what about other TV programs, or perhaps video games, whatever it is that is leisure activities. What kind of a ratio is it between that activity and reading the Bible.
For myself I realize that I have cared so much more about basketball than I have about my God. I was more interested in my Ohio State Buckeyes winning it all that I forgot about the God of the universe. When Ohio State did lose I was shocked and devastated, and I got this same shock of how much I idolize Ohio State, just how much time I spend caring about a basketball or football team rather than worrying about learning of the God of the Bible.
I also got to thinking are we as a society more shocked when our basketball teams lose or when I tell you that 13,000 children die from hunger a day? Are we more shocked when VCU goes to the Final Four or when you hear that there are over 2.4 billion people who haven't even heard the name of Jesus. Where are our priorities in this country?
I pray that we would let go of our idols and set our sole focus back on God and advancing his gospel. The devil has brought upon American an apathetic and unconcerned attitude for the lost, and I hope that we can break out of such an attitude.
Idols are everywhere in our American society, and we are oblivious to them, It's just normal. Just a thought how many hours this month did you spend watching the tournament, now think about how much time you spent in the Word of God and in prayer. Does it even reach half the total amount of time you spent watching basketball? If your not a big sports person what about other TV programs, or perhaps video games, whatever it is that is leisure activities. What kind of a ratio is it between that activity and reading the Bible.
For myself I realize that I have cared so much more about basketball than I have about my God. I was more interested in my Ohio State Buckeyes winning it all that I forgot about the God of the universe. When Ohio State did lose I was shocked and devastated, and I got this same shock of how much I idolize Ohio State, just how much time I spend caring about a basketball or football team rather than worrying about learning of the God of the Bible.
I also got to thinking are we as a society more shocked when our basketball teams lose or when I tell you that 13,000 children die from hunger a day? Are we more shocked when VCU goes to the Final Four or when you hear that there are over 2.4 billion people who haven't even heard the name of Jesus. Where are our priorities in this country?
I pray that we would let go of our idols and set our sole focus back on God and advancing his gospel. The devil has brought upon American an apathetic and unconcerned attitude for the lost, and I hope that we can break out of such an attitude.
March 26, 2011
In The Beginning
The significance of the Title of this blog is it is from a song I heard, talking about how we were once prisoners to sin, but by the blood of Christ we are set free. Also that reference comes from Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed," (ESV)Yet, in that freedom we as Christians are still called to go to the nations and spread the news of our redeemer, whether that be in the states or in another country. What we must not do is be content in living our lives, for valuing life above Christ is a tragedy as John Piper would say. My one great fear is that I would come to the end of my life and looking back say "I've wasted it!" So, if you believe the Bible I pray that we as a nation would live it out in our lives. That others will look at you and see the difference in the way we as Christians walk in daily devotion to God. Be the moon reflect the Son. May Christ shine out in all we do, and may he get all the glory. Through this blog I will be posting anything that I find interesting, and I hope to encourage anyone who reads this.
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