We started a new sermon series this week where we will be examining some of the essential or foundational beliefs that we hold as Christians.  We started this week with God.  Here are some key things we covered:

What we believe matters- our beliefs are what determine our actions

Where we start matters-if we don’t get our foundation right, everything will be wrong

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God. . .

Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Westminster Shorter Catechism
What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever

Colossians 1:16
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Romans 11
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

It’s not about me, It’s about God

You can go here to read more about Shannon and the book.

A lot of things stood out to me but as I reviewed the book, this is the one sentence that resonated with me the most.

“but the gospel isn’t an invitation to walk down an aisle and pray — it’s a call to transformation.”

I think that sums up where God is trying to take us, and where I am trying to lead my family and the church I pastor.  Too many people claim to be following Jesus but our lives haven’t been fully transformed by His message.

I long to see more stories of complete transformation.

The way young girls and ladies dress today should make us all blush.

There are times when I don’t know where to look. Awkward times when some young girl, lady or aging lady trying to be younger lady walks by. And I’m embarrassed, not for me, but for them. The way that they have dressed tells me to look certain places, but my heart, God’s Word and my undying devotion to my wife tell me instead to look at their countenance, who they really are.

I know that it’s “just the style,” “it’s normal.” I’m sorry, just because something is normal doesn’t mean it’s right. Jesus said that what we talk about and how we talk about it tells us something about what’s in our hearts. He said that where we place our treasure tells us something about what’s really in our hearts. I would suggest that how we dress tells us something about what’s in our hearts too.

The young girl who wears tight jeans or short-shorts is showing us more than just her body. She is showing us something about her heart.

The lady who wears tight or low-cut shirts is showing us more than her cleavage. She is showing us something about her heart.

The aging lady who feels compelled to spend out-of-balance efforts on her body is showing us more than just her desire for attention. She is showing us something about her heart and what makes her fell valuable.

The desire for attention, appreciation, affection, affirmation. The desire to feel beautiful. Desires that were never intended to be fulfilled through choosing to turn yourself into an object. Desires that should be fulfilled through a relationship with the lover of your soul and other godly relationships.

I understand how things could get this way in the world but shouldn’t the church be different? Shouldn’t the church be a place where young girls and women don’t feel the pressure that they do everywhere else? A place where who they really on the inside is affirmed, appreciated and celebrated? A place where men and young boys don’t have to face constant temptation at every turn?

I’m not suggesting skirts down to your ankles and turtle necks (not that there is anything wrong with that) but there are certain things that you shouldn’t want anyone to see besides your husband. You shouldn’t want anyone other than your husband to see your underwear because your jeans are cut so low. You shouldn’t want anyone other than your husband to see every curve of your body because your clothing is so tight. You shouldn’t want anyone other than your husband to see your breasts because your shirt is so tight or cut low.

Now that most of you ladies are offended and on the defensive, I want you to know that I don’t think it’s your fault. I place the blame squarely on the shoulders of us men. On the shoulders of us husbands and fathers.

Why have we allowed things to go this far? Why are we okay with our daughters and wives walking out the door dressed in ways that will attract attention to their bodies rather than their character and soul? I believe that this too says something about what’s in our hearts.

What if instead we created an environment and culture where they felt beautiful not because of what their bodies were like or how they looked but because of who they were in Christ? What if they felt so secure in who they were because of how well we loved them that they didn’t care what that teenage boy or middle-aged man thought of them?

That’s the culture that I’m trying to create in my home. That’s the culture that I hope to see cultivated in the community of faith that I pastor.

Why do you think girls and ladies dress the way they do?

Do you think things have gone too far or am I off base?

¹Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. ²I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? ⁴For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

“Mere infants” there are times when I wonder if I’m not just a big baby spiritually thinking.  There’s some growing up to do in my life but it’s so much easier to make excuses!

I’m hoping that I can respond to the apostle Paul’s challenge to “grow up!!”

So, you know how the story goes.

Two brothers.
Abel’s offering was acceptable to God,
Cain’s wasn’t.
Cain gets angry and
kills his brother.

And then we see the following exchange:

Genesis 4:9
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Am I my brother’s keeper?  I believe that to be one of the central questions that mankind has been asking ever since. Do I have a responsibility to care for those beyond me?   Beyond my own family?  Beyond my own kind?  Beyond my own country?  Beyond those that I can see?

We see the same question come up again from a man in an encounter with Jesus in which he was reminded to Love his neighbor as himself.
Luke 10:29
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

There it is again.  Who is my neighbor?  Who am I responsible for?

I believe the Bible spends a great deal of time dealing with that very question.  Jesus seems to give us an answer  in the parable of the Good Samaritan immediately in Luke 10 as well as the story of the Sheep and the Goats.

Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

I guess this is the question that I’ve been wrestling with in new ways, not just looking for theoretical answers but practical answers.

Am I my brother’s keeper?

Who is my neighbor?

What does it look like for me to be my brother’s keeper?  What does it look like for me to love my neighbor as I love myself?

I invite you to wrestle with me.

I would love your input and insight.  Any helpful resources would be appreciated as well.


I just received this short video showing the first of those wells.  I’ll be honest, I couldn’t keep the tears from rolling down my cheek as I watched the water being pumped out of a well in Ethiopia.  “. . . I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. . .”

Orchard Community Church well in Miktalnebsi, Ethiopia. from charity: water (special donors) on Vimeo.

I have found that the best thing that I can do for someone who is in pain, is to enter into the pain with them.  Romans says to mourn with those who mourn.  Just being there, being human.  Seeing their pain and loss as if it were mine because in some sense, their loss and pain really are mine.

The next time you encounter someone in the pain of loss, don’t worry about what to say, enter into their pain.

Romans 12

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.   ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.   ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.   ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.   ¹³ Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.   ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.   ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.   ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.   ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;  if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.