A Christmas Paradigm Shift

You know why most of us like Christmas? I think part of the reason is because the season gives us a reason to splurge on ourselves! We give with the expectation of receiving in return.

Think about it: what do children do? Make a list of things THEY want and give it to Santa. You know what this does? It breeds disappointment with high expectations when the child does NOT get what is on the list. 

So how can Christians like you and I be counter-cultural and biblical since the Bible teaches self-denial NOT self-esteem or self-fulfillment apart from Christ?

My wife and I didn’t do the list thing this year. Instead, we made a list of people we could give TO. We also listed things from our home we could sacrificially give away to needy families we know. Not our worse things, but some of our better and best things that we are still using!

We want our children to be givers not consumers. Self-less rather than selfish. Don’t you want your children to be like Jesus Who gave without an expectation of return? I do. Otherwise, I’m just bringing up children who are going to be consumed by consumerism and just like this world rather than like Jesus Christ.

Was Jesus a consumer or a giver? Can you imagine Jesus making a Christmas list of His wants to mail to Santa? Ridiculous thought yet we are to be LIKE HIM.

Make your children’s expectations low this year by teaching them to be like King Solomon when he prayed in I Kings 3 for wisdom – not for himself – but so that he could serve the Lord by serving His children better!!! This prayer was inspired by God, the great Giver of all good gifts according to James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.“ - The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jas 1:17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Let’s give this Christmas with no expectation of receiving! Let’s be like our Father of lights and be a light that realizes it’s much better to give than to receive! Let’s glorify the Lord and not get caught up in a secular season that has made it all about SELF rather than about Jesus HIMSELF.

-Mark (wanting to shift our thinking from self to Christ, especially during Christmas!)

P.S. We say, “Jesus is the reason for the season” but we sing about Santa, reindeer, mistletoe, snow, and all the stuff we get in this life that is temporary. Let’s set our minds on things above (Col.3:1-3), especially now during Christmas!

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)

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)

The meaning of “atonement”

Generally understood, the atonement is a reparation for an offense, wrong, or injury that brings reconciliation between two parties. It establishes a right relationship between the offended one and the offender.

In Christianity, we believe that we have sinned against God thus offending Him. The only satisfaction for His just wrath as He required was a perfect, sinless, and voluntary sacrifice and the shedding of blood.

Because we could not satisfy His wrath ourselves, Jesus did so.

Lev. 17:11-12 warned the Israelites about the importance of the blood in God’s eyes: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.“**

For this reason, Christ’s blood was shed at Calvary as the perfect Lamb that was slain (with no broken bones) to atone for our sins according to John 19:33-37:

“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness— his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth— that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Isn’t God good to us? He provided His blood to forgive us from our sins! Amazing love, how can it be? What an amazing truth we can tell our counselees so that they can trust in Christ for the atonement of their sins, too!

** The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

-Mark (always amazed at God and His great love for redeemed sinners like me)

Where’s the Bible say “trust yourself”? (part 1)

Where in the Bible does it say to trust yourself?

Prov. 3:5 tells us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”

The Bible teaches us to trust in the Lord completely and fully.

Proverbs 3:6 goes further: “In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” This tells us to acknowlege God in ALL areas of our lives, not just “spiritual” ones.

Proverbs 3:7 warns us: “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.”

We are warned NOT to be wise in our own eyes!

So, is the phrase, “Trust your heart” biblical or unbiblical?

Jeremiah the prophet had a better heart than any of us and he said this about his own heart in Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?”

If Jeremiah considered his own heart to be deceitful, how much more should we NOT trust ourselves!?!

Trust the Lord. Doubt yourself.

-Mark (trusting God at His Word)

NANC Conference 2009

I wanted to tell you about the upcoming NANC Conference in South Carolina in just a few weeks (Oct. 5-7).

James MacDonald and Howard Dayton are featured speakers as well as David Powlison, Jay Adams, Randy Patten, and others.

There are excellent workshops on a wide variety of issues related to biblical counseling. You will learn a lot at this year’s conference!

Go to www.nanc.org to find out more information!

-Mark (grateful to be involved in an organization that makes a strong stand on the Word of God)

Wrong Question

People ask: “Why does a good God allow suffering, pain, sorrow, and death?”

Voddie Baucum says that’s a wrong question and he’s right! Man’s sin brought all of these consequences upon mankind – it’s a result of man’s disobedience. It’s wrong because it starts with man and not our Holy God. Man is not the source or starting point for truth! God is.

The correct question starts with a Holy God and asks: “Why didn’t a Holy, Righteous God kill me in my sleep last night due to all of my sinful, disobedient thoughts, words, and actions yesterday, the day before, and for all of the years of my life before now?”

God is holy. We are to be holy like Him by the power of the Holy Spirit and the blood of Christ that redeems us (Lev. 17:11). But we still struggle with the presence of sin.

God is good. God is gracious. God is patient. God is long-suffering with us who continue to choose sin and self over our Holy King. God is love (I John 4:8).

Ask Him the right questions so you can get the right answers!

-Mark (thankful the right answer is always “Jesus!”)