Craig Groeschel had a great blog post this week about being willing to fail big, but never to fail fatally by cheating on his wife and ruining his family.  He threw out a few things that he never does:

I never travel overnight alone.
All my internet activity is monitored.
We block television stations with bad shows.
We have the highest governing standards for financial accountability.
I am never alone with a woman.

He asked what we did.  My response was this:

X3watch on the Mac plus weekly accountability and prayer with a trusted partner.

Whenever I meet a new female anywhere, I give myself 1 minute to bring up the fact that I am a happily married man.

Maybe some people with think that’s religious and crazy, but this way, I can’t hide ANYTHING.  I’m not into failing fatally.

Do you think I’m crazy?  Is this a little overboard?  Are you being honest with yourself?  Who are you flirting with?  What relationships need to end today?  What boundaries do you need to enforce immediately?

Maybe that means deleting a bunch of Facebook contacts today.  Maybe it means dropping some names from your cell phone.  Maybe it means finding a different route to work or the water cooler.  Maybe it means you stop hanging out with that crowd, or staying off that computer once the sun goes down.

Do not fail fatally this weekend.

There’s a notion in most contemporary Christian circles that gives me a little bit of the heebie jeebies. Now I’m not too sure what the “heebie jeebies” are or where they originated but that’s not what I’m writing about today. So it’s better to just accept my terminology.

The reality is we all have a bit of this notion in us. It can all be summed up in a thought everyone lives on earth has had independent of ethnicity, geography, or relgion… “I cannot wait for heaven”.

Now I am quite aware that heaven’s not the bad guy here. I mean who wouldn’t be just a little bit interested in going to a place that has the credentials it does that are mentioned in the Bible?  No, the fault lands in our court.

The term that most accurately reflects this situation is “Escapism”. That we just need to, endure this life. I think the faults in this way of thinking are quite obvious. If it’s just about getting somewhere then what’s the point of the journey?

It’s even more interesting when you look at what Jesus talked about in the Bible. You’d think that if the only important idea he wished to deliver was to believe in him and simply wait for heaven that it would be all over those pages.

But it’s not.

Jesus lived. I think that maybe that alone shows how much God cares about this world, this life, you. He healed, cared, cried, and spoke about something called the Kingdom of God. That it was moving. Expanding. Growing. And Jesus was giving people a chance to join it. It was here, on earth.

You see we’re not waiting for heaven anymore. When Jesus came down. He lived, died, and rose again. And he forever joined heaven and earth. We’re not perpetually waiting for God now. He is now always here.

There is no “Heaven vs Earth” to Jesus. There is only his Kingdom, which has forever joined earth and heaven together. The Lord Jesus Christ did this. How does this affect the way you live? See life? Are you helping bring heaven to earth?

Sometimes we need to restructure our thoughts. It’s part of life. We are called to be part of redeeming… everything

Guys, redeem the term Man. Be part of the kingdom of God. Value competition but don’t let pride bind you. Let us control ourselves in a world that will go to any length for gratification. Pray, you are not by yourself.

May you embrace heaven and earth
May you know the one who joined them forever
May you live in such a way that all spectators see Jesus, Heaven, and the redemption of Earth

Rich

I got SLAPPED in the face today.

I read another “DANG” verse in the Bible.  You might not like it either…

Luke 3:8 “Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God.”

The big question God is asking me today: how am I proving that I have turn from sin and turned to God?

This morning I deleted more than a few female friends from Facebook just because I don’t want their to be a hint, not even a temptation, for me to go ‘looking at their profiles’ (it’s called LUST, and God hates it).  I had to get really honest- that I was leaving that door open just enough for Satan to drive a wedge in.  NOT WORTH IT.  It’s just one of the ways that I’m proving that I hate sin and love God.

I’ve started to give to the poor (verse 11 actually talks about that one).  The actual poor.  Those who need water and food and clothes and Jesus.  It’s just one of the ways that I’m proving that I hate sin and love God.

I read and pray daily, meet with an accountability partner weekly, even though it’s RARELY convenient for me to do either!  It’s just one of the ways that I’m proving that I hate sin and love God.

Have you REALLY turned from your sins?  Have you REALLY turned to God?  Seriously, stop and actually be honest- what would Jesus actually say if He looked at your life? I suspect that many of us would give ourselves passing grades, not realizing how BLIND we are to what really matters.

Most of the time, we act like we don’t even care.

You name yours…

…Addicted to masturbating

…Always looking at porn

…Flirting with a dozen different girls

…Being absolutely addicted to video games, movies, or the internet

…Cutting corners and short-changing our integrity, being a little less than honest

…Questionable morals

…Lazy, apathetic, unwilling to change and grow

…Self-centred, egotistical,

…Having our dream as our idol, our goals as our gods.

…Living like we are the only thing that matters in life.

Luke 3 is talking about God separating the wheat from the chaff.  The diamonds from the dirt.  The saved from the unsaved.  AM I GOING TO MAKE THE CUT???

We have a major choice to make dudes- you can either reject God, live comfortably, and keep on sinning, or you can put your money where your mouth is and prove that you love God by the way you live.

So what is it going to be?  HOW is it going to be?

Today’s post is from PJ Wong, a youth pastor in Waterloo…he’s a good friend and a great writer…thanks PJ!

One of history’s characters that ways amuses me is Samson. We know this guy as a big tough guy who stayed away from alcohol and grew out dread and a beard and decided not to touch any dead bodies. If Samson were alive today, he’d look like this:

Although mighty in speech and deed, Samson did have one downfall—women. Samson loved his girls; especially those of foreign taste. Philistine women to Samson were kryptonite. The Bible gives a brilliant picture of Samson and how the Spirit of the Lord would continually fall on Samson to give him victory over the Philistines, but the first words out of his mouth destroy his credibility as a leader and judge of Israel: “I have seen a woman”.

From there, we know that Samson is doomed. Although he does many great things in the power of the Lord, he continues to fall into sin as glimpse dwells on thought, thought turns to touch and touch forms into a habit. Throughout what is recorded about this Nazarite (a person set apart for the work of YHWH), we observe Samson’s morality fall lower and lower.

Nearing the end of his life, he romances woman named Delilah (this is after his first wife is burned to death and after indulging in a slew of prostitutes). Knowing that the Philistine woman will bring trouble, Samson continues to stay in her company. Three times Samson obviously finds out that this woman is bad news as she tries to hand him over to the Philistines. But something is driving Samson to Delilah—and no, although it beating with blood, it’s got nothing to do with what is in his chest or skull.

Philistine attempt #4—Great Success…

Delilah and the Philistines subdue Samson by removing his deadlocks. The Nazarite is then taken away, made a spectacle of and then ultimately in one push ends up killing himself with the enemies which had captured and provoked him.

What can we learn from this foolish young man?

1. If you think you’re strong enough to beat pornography, sexual fantasy and sneak peeks at woman walking down the street on your own, think again. Single, married or engaged, this is going to be something you’ll have to fight against. Samson was set apart by God and still fell into temptation. Although his wishes to marry were of the Lord’s work, his first words are a give away of the trouble he was going to get into: “I’ve seen a woman”. Do yourself a favour: talk to a friend, get accountability, internet software, heck… even fess up to the boys at your church or youth group… just don’t admit in front of both the guys and girls… those always end up getting really awkward.

2. Although you may not be sleeping with prostitutes 3 times a week, internet porn is less expensive and easier to access—and it still doesn’t mean you’re not whoring yourself out to somebody else in the process. In today’s world, many young men who are set apart by God are trapped in a secret life where they flirt with danger, knowing the consequences but still choose to go deeper and deeper into a lifestyle that takes control of them. If you don’t believe me, try going a month without masturbating and looking at porn. I dare you!

3. God gives us a ton of warnings and lets us off easy… a lot… But by continuing to go this way, you’re only setting yourself up for disaster. 3 times, Samson has the choice to walk away from Delilah. She even blatantly asks how he can be subdued by his enemies! How stupid do you have to be?

Ironically, the first thing that the Philistines do when they have Samson: gouge out the eyes of the perverted sod! He’s seen and done enough for his day!

But how many times has God smacked you over the head saying “this is going to mess you up!”? Eventually, your sins will find you out. In the words of the late Johnny Cash “sooner or later God’ll cut you down”. But for now, He’s hoping it wont get that far. It’s your choice…

It’s up to you. Are you going to walk away from internet porn and sexual fantasy?

Or are you going to keep looking, flirting and rolling in the mess you’ve made until something or someone cuts you down?

Are you going to be a pansy and fall into a trap that will hold you well into your old age?

Or will you fess up and do what it takes to stop in order to save yourself from ruining your life?

(trust me, a 40 year old addicted to porn will tell you that it is ruining his marriage and if the secret gets out, will ruin his personal and work life)

I challenge you to be a true Nazarite—set apart for God’s work, choosing to keep yourself away from what is going to take you out!

Keep it fresh and clean!

-PJ

Let’s face it…as a dude, it’s pretty hard to please a feminist.  I’m not quite sure what they want.  I’m willing to tell them that they are better than me.  I’m willing to do the dishing.  Vacuum the house.  Bear the children.  I’m willing to be a stay-at-home dad.  I’m willing to do pretty much anything.  Heck, I’ll even stop holding open doors.

On second thought, maybe it’s easier to tick em off then to please them. Try this one on for size:

“You know _______, I don’t think you know your place in this world.”

That should get her going!  “What can that possibly mean?” she will angrily snap back.  To which you say, “well, I think someone as smart as you will eventually figure out that the box that you’ve put yourself in is way too small.”

Let me explain for those of you that aren’t quite following:
Feminists are trying to escape.  From being a stay-at-home-mom.  From being silent in the church.  From being labelled, stereotyped, told what to wear, what to act like.  It’s a world of escaping from boxes.  It’s a world of ‘nots.’  Feminism tells girls everything that they shouldn’t be.  It tells them to be rebellious.  But not to what end.  It’s a world without any definition whatsoever.  It doesn’t provide much hope or vision or calling.  Feminism is hopeless.  Because it’s not God’s will. (did he just go there?!)

Many girls that seem like feminists are just being overprotective/over-defensive, probably because of past hurt which has turned to bitterness.  A godly man can break down this wall.  A godly man can foster a godly femininity in the girls
who interacts with, simply by calling them to explore all that they could be.  A godly man will help his wife define who she is in God’s terms.

Which begs the question, do we even know what a godly woman could actually do?!  What is womankind capable of?  What are our sisters, moms, girlfriends, fiances, and wives capable of?  How can we help them get there?