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Tim Keller's Mini Guide to Proverbs

In an effort to meditate and think upon Scripture in a deeper, more meaningful way, I am going to be blogging through the book of Proverbs over the next few weeks. I thought this breakdown of chapter 3 by Tim Keller and his description of it being a bit of a road map for the rest of the book would be a good way to start this:

Here is how he opens:

In my regular, daily Bible reading over the past year I read through Proverbs 3, a passage I've studied and preached through many times. But during this reading, I realized that in verses 3 through 12 we have all the themes of the rest of the book, and therefore a kind of mini-guide to faithful living. There are five things that comprise a wise, godly life. They function both as means to becoming wise and godly as well as signs that you are growing into such a life:

The 5 points he sees are:

1. Put your heart's deepest trust in God and his grace. Every day remind yourself of his unconditioned, covenantal love for you. Do not instead put your hopes in idols or in your own performance.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart (Prov 3:3-5a)

2. Submit your whole mind to the Scripture. Don't think you know better than God's word. Bring it to bear on every area of life. Become a person under authority.

Lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov 3:5b-6)

3. Be humble and teachable toward others. Be forgiving and understanding when you want to be critical of them; be ready to learn from others when they come to be critical of you.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Prov 3:7-8)

4. Be generous with all your possessions, and passionate about justice. Share your time, talent, and treasure with those who have less.

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Prov 3:9-10)

5. Accept and learn from difficulties and suffering. Through the gospel, recognize them as not punishment, but a way of refining you.

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Prov 3:11-12)

For the rest of this article click here.

For more from Pastor Keller's new blog/church planting resource site, Redeemer City to City, click here.

A Good Word for Spouses with Children

Such an important and maybe even controversial word for those of us with children, from C. J. Mahaney:

"How common is it today for people to say things like, "My kids are the most important thing in the world to me." Well guys, for you and me, as Christian husbands, that's just an unacceptable attitude because it's so clearly unbiblical. A husband's love for his wife, as Puritan preacher John Wing put it, "must be the most dear, intimate, precious and entire that heart can have toward a creature; none but the love of God...is above it, none but the love of ourselves is fellow to it, all the love of others is inferior to it." In short, the love of husband and wife for one another should plainly exceed, in intensity and scope, all other human loves." (C.J. Mahaney, Sex, Romance and the Glory of God, pg. 90-91)

Click here to purchase this great book for husbands

The Future is Now!

And you thought the iPad was sweet, check this out...Hellllo Jetsons...



Props: Mike Anderson Blog

7 Miles

Sermon jam from Matt Chandler that touches on what Ryan Kelly spoke on this past Easter Sunday regarding the reality of the resurrection.

Enjoy.


Props: Z

John Piper Responds to Why He Asked Rick Warren..

..to speak at this year's Desiring God conference. I am so encouraged by Dr. Piper's response and willingness to cross lines and upset/challenge fundamentalists. There is a lot we can learn from John Piper including theology, lifestyle and how to hold things with a closed hand and open hand.

Christmas Means Nothing Without Easter

"...if the death of Christ on the cross is the true meaning of the Incarnation, then there is no gospel without the cross. Christmas by itself is no gospel. The life of Christ is no gospel. Even the resurrection, important as it is in the total scheme of things, is no gospel by itself. For the good news is not just that God became man, nor that God has spoken to reveal a proper way of life for us, or even that death, the great enemy, is conquered. Rather, the good news is that sin has been dealt with (of which the resurrection is a proof); that Jesus has suffered its penalty for us as our representative, so that we might never have to suffer it; and that therefore all who believe in him can look forward to heaven. ...Emulation of Christ's life and teaching is possible only to those who enter into a new relationship with God through faith in Jesus as their substitute. The resurrection is not merely a victory over death (though it is that) but a proof that the atonement was a satisfactory atonement in the sight of the Father (Rom 4:25); and that death, the result of sin, is abolished on that basis.

Any gospel that talks merely of the Christ-event, meaning the Incarnation without the atonement, is a false gospel. Any gospel that talks about the love of God without pointing out that his love led him to pay the ultimate price for sin in the person of his Son on the cross is a false gospel. The only true gospel is of the 'one mediator' (1 Tim. 2:5-6), who gave himself for us."

-James Montgomery Boice

Ponder and Mediatate on Him Who Hung on a Cross

"Take this to heart and doubt not that you are the one who killed Christ. Your sins certainly did, and when you see the nails driven through his hands, be sure that you are pounding, and when the thorns pierce his brow, know that they are your evil thoughts. Consider that if one thorn pierced Christ you deserve one hundred thousand.

The whole value of the meditation of the suffering of Christ lies in this, that man should come to the knowledge of himself and sink and tremble. If you are so hardened that you do not tremble, then you have reason to tremble. Pray to God that he may soften your heart and make fruitful your meditation upon the suffering of Christ, for we of ourselves are incapable of proper reflection unless God instills it.

But if one does meditate rightly on the suffering of Christ for a day, an hour, or even a quarter of an hour, this we may confidently say is better than a whole year of fasting, days of psalm singing, yes, than even one hundred masses, because this reflection changes the whole man and makes him new, as once he was in baptism."

-Martin Luther

Church Planting Update

About a month ago Ryan Kelly, Desert Springs' teaching pastor, mentioned that I will be planting a church in a couple of years. Since then many have asked questions, such as, exactly when, where and what the church would look like. Not much has been said, by DSC or myself, but much has been simmering. More on that to come in the future, but this picture should give a hint as to what Jesus seems to be guiding us to...

"Cancer was the best gift God has given me": Zac's Story

Powerful.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

How To Stay From Being Creative

My Anti-Creativity Checklist from Youngme Moon on Vimeo.

Brooks on Obama and the Left and Right

I am not super political, I am not a passionate Republican or Democrat, and I find the constant arguing and debating a bit sad and embarrassing.

There are things I really disagree with the President on, and things he has done I am really supportive of, and that was the same with our previous President too.

I know being a Christian, a Christian minister on top of that, people assume I would be a strong right wing conservative, well you know what happens when you assume...

David Brooks, op-ed writer for the NY Times hits this on the head.

In a sensible country, people would see Obama as a president trying to define a modern brand of moderate progressivism. In a sensible country, Obama would be able to clearly define this project without fear of offending the people he needs to get legislation passed. But we don’t live in that country. We live in a country in which many people live in information cocoons in which they only talk to members of their own party and read blogs of their own sect. They come away with perceptions fundamentally at odds with reality, fundamentally misunderstanding the man in the Oval Office.

Click Here for the whole column

Move Over Rob Bell

Francis Chan has some "Nooma" type videos called Basic, coming out this summer...they look pretty sweet!

Click here for a preview

Great Post Game Interviews with Lobo Players

If you are not from NM, or understand Lobo Basketball, you may not realize how big of a win the game at BYU was. Growing up in NM, going to Lobo games since I was 9 years old, I can tell you, it was one of the biggest wins in NM history. To give you a little hint of the enormity of what is going on in Loboland, the day after the win over 1000 fans (some estimate 2000) showed up at the airport to welcome back the team.

Yeah, this is a special time to be a Lobo fan!

Here are some great post game interviews from guys on the team:

Props: KRQE 13

March Madness Is Here

This pic says it all...

Pic from: ABQ Journal

Thank You Mom

This video that Josh Harris posted made me aware of how thankful I am for mothers.

My own mom, who is currently battling cancer, who is a rock of faith and love. She is one of the main people who shaped and pushed me, who showed me what true love and compassion is.

My mother-in-law who raised up 3 great kids, one being my wife.

My wife, Lauren, who is an amazing mother, she is patient and gentle with our kids.

This video reminds me how important it is to say "Thank You" to mothers around us.

Props: Josh Harris

Update #7 From Matt Chandler

Via: The Village Church Pastor's Blog

Mark Driscoll Really Dislikes Avatar

Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and Albuquerque, thinks Avatar is not amazing, mind-blowing and enlightening, instead he thinks it is demonic, dark and evil.

I have not yet seen the movie, but other than Mark's view, all I have heard was how amazing the movie is and looks.

Is Mark onto something, and if so, are we watching movies with Biblical discernment, or are we just as distracted by pretty lights and sounds like the rest of the world?

It Is Fun To Be A Lobo

I have had the privilege of being the chaplain for the UNM Men's Basketball team for the past 3 seasons. This season has been a very special one for the team. They are currently 26-3 and heading for a huge showdown on Saturday in Provo, UT, against BYU. They are currently ranked #10 in the A.P. and the nation is taking notice.


USA Today featured a story about them today.

Here is an excerpt:

The chemistry is unreal," Alford says. "It's as good as I've had."

Selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament is 17 days away, and the Lobos are all but guaranteed an invitation for the first time since 2005. That's surprising because the season began with uncertainty. For one, the Lobos were inexperienced. The team's three leading scorers, who helped New Mexico reach the NIT's second round, had graduated, leaving one senior: Roman (row-MAHN) Martinez, a 6-6 forward who had deferred to others in the past but is the second-leading scorer and rebounder with averages of 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Click Here for The Whole Article

Dumb But Funny

To help you get through Monday...