TV, Videogame, and Internet “Addiction” or “Idolatry”?

This may sound harsh at first, but people want to claim that excessive videogame playing is an “addiction” but that is not true if you begin with the Word of God. The Bible says it’s  a sin. Specifically, it’s idolatry, or a false god that they are completely devoted to more than anything or anyone else.

Sadly, any SIN causes problems in a person’s life. God hates sin because it separates the sinner from Him and from others who love the sinner. Such is the case for a very successful tennis player according to this article on Yahoo:

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/blog/busted_racquet/post/Andy-Murray-gets-dumped-for-playing-too-many-vid?urn=ten,206655

It’s not a sin to play a videogame; however, it is a sin to play for 7 hours a day or more since the sinner is neglecting to fulfill his/her God-given responsibilities.

The real problem is what the sinner is FAILING to do while playing the games, or watching TV, or surfing the internet. It’s a sin of omission.

But there’s good news for this famous tennis player and for all of us: Confess your sin &  ask God to forgive you through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and He will (I John 1:9). Then, when you are right with God, ask others to forgive you and begin repenting (changing your thinking and acting) by fulfilling your God-given responsibilities and you will find blessing. There is an abundance of grace and mercy found in the Person of Jesus Christ!

When we call sin “sin” and not an “addiction,” we find the forgiveness of Christ. Correct terminology is vital to biblical counseling and salvation!

-Mark (thankful the Lord forgives my idolatry and all of my sins – past, present, & future)

My prayer today is…

“Lord, You know my will, please show me Yours.”

What’s your prayer today?

-Mark (asking God to conform my will to His will)

Resource Thin?

Financial Resources are Thin

Biblical counseling is such a tough field to be in because the financial resources for our discipline are so very scarce since the WORLD does not embrace biblical counseling. In fact, many in the church world today do not embrace biblical counseling. It’s sad.

The world will support secular agencies. Government funds are allocated to secular agencies yet biblical counseling is ignored. Many in the secular counseling world do not even acknowledge biblical counseling as legitimate so we often do not get invited to have a “seat at the table” at various counseling events. However, we KNOW that biblical, compassionate, Christ-centered counseling that preaches the Gospel is the ONLY legitimate form of counseling where the Holy Spirit deals with the heart to bring real transformation!!!

Spiritual Resources are NOT Thin!

Biblical counseling, or intensive discipleship, is the most legitimate form of counseling that the world and the devil stole away from the church. We point people to Christ and lead them to a knowledge of the truth so that they can know Him.

We want people to know Christ Who is not resource thin! Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. In fact, He is the Owner of everything!

Please pray about how you can give to support TIL and other biblical counseling ministries that are willing to stand up for the all-sufficient truth of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit working to transform the hearts of people all over the world.

Are we financially resource thin in the worldly sense? Yes.

Are we spiritually resource thin? NEVER! We have the Lord’s resources and they are mighty to save!

We cherish your support both financially and prayerfully. We desperately need both.

-Mark (grateful for many of you who have given sacrificially to TIL)

P.S. Thank you again for your year-end donations to TIL that have already come in!

How does the Lord measure success for TIL?

I Samuel 16:7 states: “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -  The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Sa 16:7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Like God looked upon David’s heart, so He looks upon the heart of churches and ministries like TIL. Thank the Lord that He looks at the heart of Truth in Love Ministries and not our outward appearance!

Outwardly, Truth in Love is challenged. We need lots of help!

For a year now, we’ve been praying – not for money or for people – but for a CHURCH to cover us. We want to “give” our ministry to a local church that will lead us and support us prayerfully and financially. We want to submit to a local body of believers and ask them to provide leadership and direction. We are NOT fans of para-church ministries (we are under my church’s leadership currently but we could technically be considered a para-church ministry – it’s a long story!). We are for the local church.

Jason, Ronny, and I are extremely tired. We love what we do, but we are spread too thin and our resources are very thin. We are so thankful for the many who have donated their precious time, prayers, and financial resources to help TIL do the Lord’s work to strengthen the body of Christ, replicate leaders, and to heal hurting souls.

Which brings me to this: the Lord measures the success of Truth in Love Ministries by the fruit that HE produces through us and it is INCREDIBLE fruit. I counted the couples we’re CURRENTLY counseling and 16 of them are reconciling. There are probably several more that I am unaware of, too, but Jason and Ronny would know exactly!

Many counselors in our ministry are watching people come off of drugs/alcohol sucessfully and lives are being transformed by the power of Christ. Also, people are getting saved AND baptized – just ask Bethel Baptist Church about baptisms in their church! Eternal souls are being reconciled to Christ which is lasting fruit and defines success in God’s eyes! We are merely His hands and feet.

While we might be outwardly challenged in terms of finances and administration in that we are not “polished” yet, we are mightily producing fruit by the power of His might, not ours. For this reason, we boast in the Lord and what He is doing through this 2 year old ministry.

Look at the people who are currently active in TIL ministries (sorry if I have left your name off – unintentional, I assure you): I’m proud of the hard work and sacrifice that Jason, Ronny, Shirley, Sonya, Kim, Jeri, Jan, Joyce, Genna, Martine, Jack, Hal, Jeff, Jackie, Cheryl, Phyllis, Brad, Nancy, Sharon, Rick, Stephanie, Don, Tonya, Judy, Judy J., Karen, Andy, Donna, Angela, Barb, Caroleen, Mary, Luis, Barry, Tim, Richard, Joseph, Eugene, Connie, Brian, and I have put forth to minister to hurting souls in the B’ham area through TIL Ministries!  Wow, praise the Lord for this ARMY of 41 committed Christ followers! All volunteers except for Jason and me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please pray for us now as we are nearing the end of the year and in urgent need of financial support. We are prayerfully seeking the Lord for a church to adopt, lead, and support this ministry that is bearing much fruit. Please pray for us to keep our eyes on Jesus in coming days and to keep this ministry as pure as is possible!

-Mark (learning that a little is much when God is in it)

TRACK 1 Class for TEENS in 2010

I am so looking forward to the new direction the Lord is leading TIL in 2010. God is casting His vision for us!

For the past year, I’ve been praying and wondering how TIL was going to train teens to do biblical counseling. I think I know how now. I’m looking forward to implementing this in 2010.

Please pray that God will continue to provide the finances we need to do His work as He has so faithfully done in the past but I do not want to presume upon His grace. I want to continue to ask Him to lead us.

Primarily, pray that God will keep our eyes on Jesus and our ministry pure so that we can continue to have a powerful impact upon the kingdom. I think TEENS are a key and am excited to teach them!

-Mark (drawn to authentic ministries like TIL)

2 of the Hardest Working Men I know…

Most of you know how hard I work (at least, I hope you do!) but there are 2 other guys in this ministry who get after it every single day: Jason and Ronny. I’m so thankful for these men in my life. They love Jesus and are following hard after Him (not me!).

We all feel privileged to be able to do the Lord’s work through TIL and thank you for your support (note: 100% of your donations to us go to furthering the kingdom and not to overhead costs- praise the Lord!).

Please continue to lift us up in your prayers! We are under attack right now but God is bigger!

-Mark (serving a BIG God of love!)

Please pray for Ronny – TIL office manager – as he grieves death of his mother today.

Ronny Shaw, our office manager extraordinaire, lost his mother today at about 4:30 p.m. We believe she was a Christian so she is now with the Lord which is where we all want to be one day!

Please pray for him, his two surviving brothers, and extended family as they grieve their loss. Victoria Shaw was 95 years of age so she lived a long life. She was outgoing like Ronny, very friendly, extremely funny and fun to be around, loved to play cards with me, competitive, loving, sacrificial, and giving. She had a very hard life as many in that generation did. She also lived with me and my wife for a year and a half after our second child was born, who was named after her (Victoria) before we ever knew she’d live with us. It was a special time for us and my wife was grateful for my grandma’s training!

Thank you for your prayers for our family during this time!

I Thessalonians 4:13 says: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, [Lev 19:28; Deut 14:1; 2 Sam 12:20-23; Mark 5:39 ] that you may not grieve as others do [Eph 2:12] who have no hope.”  – ESV 

-Mark (I lost a grandmother, Ronny lost his mother so it’s a difficult time but we do not grieve as those without any hope!)