2 Scriptures -- Contentedness in Adversity ; Jesus the Advocate

"So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -- 2 Cor. 12:7-10

Lord teach me to be content with adversity for the sake of Christ. In my weakness please be my strength...

"But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, [...]" -- 1 John 2:1b-2a

He is the Advocate...

(boldness added)

Plans, plans

So today's sermon was entitled "The Truth about Planning," covering Proverbs 16:1-15.

Here are some of the points from today's 'fill-in-the-blank' outline that came in the bulletin:

"HUMAN PATHS:
Are ultimately determined by God.

In your planning: Be guided by, and consistent with God's clear work.

In your planning: Transparently roll out each decision before the Lord.

In your planning: Bear in mind, you answer To God.

HUMAN PATHS:
That delight God defuse hatreds."

Some of the verses and some of my sermon notes:

• Verses 1-9 are about the course, the way of one's life.
• Verses 1 & 9 capture the theme
• Verse 1: "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD." --> It means the last word is from the LORD.
• Verse 9: "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." --> "steps": procession or parade
• Aspire, but then rest
• Verse 3: "Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established."

Thoughts & Questions:

Yes, everything is ultimately under God's control. But decisions can be made that run contrary with what the Bible says. So, can big decisions about jobs, etc. be made contrary to what God hopes? Does God's desires = His will = His plan = ultimately what will happen? Is His "Plan" what will ultimately happen, and is His "plan" stuff he desires to happen but may not always happen? Is that possible? He is ultimately in control, but how does our decision-making play into that? Yes, it is ultimately God who "establishes his steps" (vs. 9b) & "the answer of the tongue is from the LORD" (vs. 1), but how does it all pan out? Basically is the solution in vs. 3 (committing to God)?

Missions

Feel free to skim this article called, "Why Mission Trips are a Waste of Time (And how to make sure yours isn't)," which can be found here:

http://www.rca.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=1579&srcid=1580

While even if people think certain missions trips might not be the most worthwhile use of time, of course God can still work. But it might be good for people to question their motives/purposes/intentions of missions trips, to some extent. But maybe they don't need to overquestion things to an extreme extent, because we aren't perfect, and God can still work in spite of our imperfections...

"Don't Wait (lazy day)"

an Adie Camp song on http://adiecamp.com/music.htm:

"Lazy day
Just room enough for me to think and
pray about each new day
Draw me from my drowning apathetic
state

Stormy day
Just watch the rain melt all my doubt
away
Fire away the heated arrows to my
lukewarm state

Don't wait
Don't wish away
Today is going to be the day He made
Don't waste
One day is all that we've got to give and
take

Bend and break my mind and heart to
feel the urgent need
To take all I see and pour my life into
eternity
And take it all today and give
everything
And take it all today
Lazy day
You're in everything that comes my
way"

Cloud replacement

Exodus 13:21 (New International Version)

"By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night."

If only mind-cloudiness would more often be replaced by the One in the cloud who once guided his people, who can lead now as He did then.

Hymn chunks

a sampling from a couple of hymns...

"Crown Him the Son of man;
who ev'ry grief hath known
That wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own,
That all in him may rest."
**************************************
" 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved"

"'Thru many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought my safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home."

Rock of Ages

"Rock of Ages,
cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;

[...]

make me pure.

Could my tears forever flow,
Could my zeal no langour know,
These for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
In my hand no price I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee."

Distracted Martha

"But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (in vs. 39, it says Mary "was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.")

-Luke 10:40-42

The subtilities of manipulation & brain-washing & influence

I shouldn't take a lot of time to dwell on this concept right now, but, I think manipulation happens a lot, perhaps in both good ways and bad.

Through tones, attitudes, words.

Perhaps when it happens for the good, perhaps it's 'positive influence' rather than 'manipulation'...

Hmm.

And then why are people sometimes so easily manipulated or influenced?

Hmm.

Culture & Christianity

The following selections are from an article entitled "Grunge Christianity? Counter culture's Death-Spiral and the Vulgarization of the Gospel" by John MacArthur. My comments follow in italics. http://www.gty.org/resources.php?section=articles&aid=231576

"It’s possible to be overexposed to our culture’s dark side. I don’t think anyone can survive full immersion in today’s entertainments and remain spiritually healthy."

"It’s like a radioactive toxicity, so while those who immerse themselves in it might not notice its effects instantly, they nevertheless cannot escape the inevitable, soul-destroying contamination."

"Even when you marry such worldliness with good systematic theology and a vigorous defense of substitutionary atonement, the soundness of the theoretical doctrine doesn’t sanctify the wickedness of the practical lifestyle. The opposite happens. Solid biblical doctrine is trivialized and mocked if we’re not doers of the Word as well as teachers of it."

"When Paul spoke to that culture, he didn’t adopt Greek scatology to show off how hip he could be. He simply declared the truth of God’s Word to them in plain language. And not all of his pagan listeners were happy with that (v. 18). That’s to be expected. "

"Whenever Jesus spoke of believers’ being in the world, He stated that if we are faithful, the world will be a place of hostility and persecution, not a zone of comfort. He also invariably followed that theme with a plea for our sanctification (cf. John 17:17-19)."

Perhaps we should be careful about how much culture we embrace. While it might seem attractive, and while the use of particular cultural elements may indeed serve as valuable evangelistic tools, it might be good to stay guarded and maintain our uncomfortability to some extent. As we slowly let down our guard, it's possible our 'moral filters' or convictions may subtly change to allow more junk to infiltrate our minds.