A Tale of Two Brains (Male & Female)

It's only funny because its true. Every person considering marriage, or presently married should watch this video.

Recommended Reading on the Topic of Marriage...

The Five Love Languages

Love and Respect

Women are Like Spaghetti; Men are Like Waffles

iMarriage

MOTIVATION!

Two years ago, Adam Walters transformed his body in only 84 days. He still blogs with daily pictures of himself to keep himself accountable and to motivate other "shedders." He originally created this video with a tune by Guns and Roses. It was good, but it is tough to beat the theme from Rocky to get you moving. Watch and be motivated.

Adam Walters' Motto, "Eat Clean, Shred Hard, Think Big!"

Some wisdom from David Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

Dave on SAVING!

Two Dogs

Colossians 3:5-16 says,

“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

A preacher who used to work with Native American tribes as a church-planter and missionary, once recounted a story of a Native American who had come to Christ. It was after a Sunday morning service and the preacher asked the Native American how he doing.

The man responded that it was hard not to go back to his old sinful ways, both the old religion and the old fleshly nature. He said, “Its like two dogs are fighting within me. Some days the dog of the new me seems to getting the upper hand, but other days the dog of the old me is stronger and he does better. Oh, preacher these dogs are always fighting.”

The preacher responded, “Well, which dog wins?”

The Native American paused and then replied, “The dog I feed the most! That dog wins.”

Colossians 3:5-16 is not a calm passage about only doctrinal concerns. It is a violent story of two dogs fighting for their very lives. In one corner is a dog who has been around longer, and knows the fight. This dog is the old self, the fleshly sinful nature. Sadly, this dog is wins by default in many dog fights.

But, when a person gives his heart to Christ, He puts a dog of His own in the ring: the new spiritual nature. Now, there is a fight.

The spirit dog is fresh and he dominates at first. But, the flesh dog very strong and this is going to be no easy battle. Both prepare for a long fight with many rounds and battles. But, take this to the bank; the dog that gets fed will triumph. And, the dog that is starved will not do well.

How is the dog fed? The battle takes place inside, in the mind and the mind must do the feeding. Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” He also writes in Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me[Paul], practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

By constantly putting the good things of God (Scripture reading, prayer, quiet time, worship, fellowship with other believers, ministry, service, etc.) in the mind the good dog of the spirit is fed and made strong. But, when the fleshly things of this world (Secular TV, coarse jesting, obscene music and movies, commercialism, etc.) are put into the mind, the evil dog of the flesh is fed and made strong.

If you don’t feel spiritual or close to God, then look at which dog you are feeding the most. That dog will surely win. What dog are you feeding the most? What changes do you have to make to start feeding God’s dog more?

Forest Gump Theology

Yes, I said Forest Gump. He was one of the greatest philosophical minds of our time. Read on.

I was converted in a church, where I heard from the pulpit, "I hate the doctrine of predestination!" That Baptist church and the writings of Billy Graham colored my view of the world and the Bible. I entered college a confirmed Armenian. "Free Will" only! I acknowledged the Sovereignty of God side of spectrum, but in the end it was all about our decision to follow God. Goodness, we ask people to "choose God", "Give their lives to Jesus", etc. We must have free will, right.

Then, I actually read the Bible. I underlined passages I liked, like those where a man chooses God or where Jesus died for the whole world. But, I was confused about the words of Paul. If I had anything to do with my salvation then I might have a reason to boast, but Paul said that I was left without a reason, by reason of God's divine choice. (see 1 Cor 28 & 29) Jesus himself said that "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." (see John 6:44) So, confronted with these passages and others, I had to change my mind to be in line with the Scriptures. Now, I'm a card carrying 5-Point Calvinist.

But, what about those passages pleading with us to choose God's way? What of my own decision to follow Jesus? Did I really choose Him?

Enter Forest Gump. We've all seen the movie. Remember at the end, where he is standing beside Jenny's grave, waxing eloquent. You probably had a tear in your eye; I admit I did. He said he didn't know if LT Dan was right and we all had a destiny, or if Mama was right and we are all just floating around on the breeze. Then, a moment of clarity - "Maybe both are happening at the same time." Destiny vs. Chance and Sovereignty of God vs. Free Will; the connection isn't hard to make. GOD IS SOVEREIGN. Yet, it feels like we have more pull in the matter then is accurate. We don't see God enabling us to come to faith or to choose Him, but that doesn't change the fact that he did it. And we choose the Son and put our faith in Him because God sovereignly choose us before the creation of world to be His children.

I'm a sovereignty of God freak and a 5-Point TULIP Calvinist, but I don't get into arguments with Armenians. I understand that Forest Gump was right. Objectivity, God did it. Subjectively, it sure felt like I had to give my life to Him. I understand the reality and am left without a reason to boast. "Maybe both could be happening at the same time."

“That’s all I have to say about that.”

Ministry Demands Proximity!

How did Jesus set out to accomplish his ministerial purpose? First, He chose twelve men. Many will say He chose them to preach. But, an examination of Mark 3:14 will demonstrate that the work of proclamation was his long-range plan for these students. Also embedded in this passage is His short-range plan, except the words are so simple that one may miss their implication. His short-range plan was simply, “that they should be with Him” (Mark 3:14). It is easy to ignore these key words “with Him” because they are so common.

In terms of the western model of transmissive education, “with Him” would not be a significant issue. Modern people only want to hear Him and read Him. But in terms of the Biblical model it becomes crucial. The heart of the ministerial approach of Jesus is found in the teaching relationship. It was all important to be with Him and to absorb His values system as a child absorbs the values of a Parent. Robert Coleman, in his book The Master Plan of Evangelism, has pointed out the importance of this factor of association as a critical aspect in Jesus’ training method.

Consequently, if Jesus deemed proximity critical and employed it so religiously, than disciple-makers aught to have no other view. Ministry demands proximity!

The Purpose of CHRISTIAN EDUCATION!

Although Jesus clearly stated his discipleship purpose, the modern American mind usually misses the point. Americans have so thoroughly tuned out the educational approach found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament and used by Jesus, and have so tuned our thinking to the educational mode of the west, that they fail to see His point.

In Matthew 10:25, Jesus said "It is sufficient when the student has become just like his teacher." A paraphrase reads, "Graduation time has arrived when the student is mistaken for his teacher."

But Americans do not send their children to school to become like the teacher; rather they expect them to reap the teacher's head full of facts and handful of skills. Jesus did not promote that kind of education.

In Luke 6:40, Jesus stated that the student/apprentice "is fully trained, [he] will be like his teacher." Does the typical American Sunday school teacher work so diligently at becoming so much like Jesus that he/she would feel comfortable about challenging the students to become just like him/herself? And would the teacher assert self as a major tool for changing lives and characters?

That is precisely Paul's approach! See 1 Cor 4:16 and 11:1.

In secular education the purpose of the teacher is to help the student KNOW what the teacher KNOWS. In Christian education the purpose is to help the student BECOME what the teacher IS.

The purpose of CE (Christian Education) is CL (a Christ Likened Changed Life).

1 Cor 4:16 - "Therefore I urge you to imitate me."
1 Cor. 11:1 - "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”