Trick or Treat....

John Piper on the Upcoming Election

John Piper talks about some main issues when approaching this upcoming election:

1. Womanhood
2. Race
3. Abortion
4. Prophetic Perspective
5. God's Sovereignty
6. Gospel

Watch this video, whatever side you are on! Let the truth he speaks sink in and may it change how we approach Tuesday!


Props:JT

Already and Not Yet According to Martin Luther

"This life, therefore,
is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness,
not health but healing,
not rest but exercise.
We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it.
The process is not yet finished, but it is going on.
This is not the end but it is the road.
All does not yet gleam in glory but all is being purified."

The Day that Shook History

Today in 1517 a small German monk, named Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the doors of Wittenberg's castle church. That spark transformed the landscape of Christianity that whether you realize it or not has had profound impacts on today. You can read about it here

Also Below is a cool video:


Props for Video: Cranach

David Powlison on the War Against Lust

"The war is longer, wider, deeper, more subtle than we might imagine. It is no accident, therefore, that the height, depth, length, and breadth of the love and work of Jesus is more wonderful than we understand at first. What is God after in remaking our lives? Is his purpose merely that we would just stop sinning? That we would become more involved in religious
activities? Yes, stop sinning. Yes, use the means of grace. But neither is an end in itself. The point is to become more like Jesus." (Sex and Supremacy of Christ, pg. 102)

Joy for the Sexually Broken

The 2004 Desiring God National Conference had the title, "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ". One of the speakers at this conference was David Powlison, a Biblical Councilor, the title to his message was "Making All Things New: Restoring Pure Joy to the Sexually Broken". I just finished reading an chapter from the book that was inspired by this conference, the book is titled the same as the conference. Powlison's chapter is such a great read for all those who deal with sexual temptation and sin, which is everyone reading this. The answers given in this chapter are not the run of the mill 10 steps towards victory. Instead the chapter goes at the heart of the problem, sin and the heart. I found this chapter refreshing, encouraging and very convicting. It is amazing how books that bring such light to an issue often times illuminate the dark corners of sin that exist in our own hearts.
Powlison also did not deal with just lust or internet pornography, but showed how this sin is usually accompanied by many others. A metaphor that Powlison used was that of a movie theater. While lust is often playing in the main screening room, often there are many other screening rooms that are playing other sins that we often do not see. Looking at sin in this light, and seeing that it is wider and deeper than believed makes us rely on a bigger God whose grace is infinitely wider and deeper than we could ever have imagined.

Below are a few quotes from this chapter:

"The bold-print sins point in the direction of the fine-print versions of the same sins. Many varieties of flirtation, self-display, foreplay, and entertainment don't necessarily 'go all the way' or orgasm: dressing to attract and tease the lust of others, looking voyeuristically, suggestive remarks, crude humor, erotic kissing, petting, and the like. All these actions suggest an intention toward immoral sexual intercourse, whether the intention is consummated or not. Such behaviors (whether occuring in daily life or portrayed on film or page) cross the line of love. Whether or not our cultural context views such things as acceptable, or even as entertaining, they are evils. Love considers the true welfare of others in 'the eyes of Him with whom we have to do' (Heb. 4:13)." (page, 69)

"Jesus Christ looks better and better the more we see what he is about. He is not simply in the business of cleaning up a few embarassing moral blots. Deepening the battle deepens the significance of the Savior. He alone sees your heart accurately. He alone loves you well enough to make you love him." (page, 94)

I strongly encourage you to
Listen to the conference message here
or
Watch it Here

You can buy the book here

Joel Osteen on Sin, Fearing God and Speaking in Tongues

How can we embrace the love of Jesus and God's amazing grace, if we do not know the seriousness of what we have been saved from. Joel is not loving or caring when he skirt around the issue of sin, or the wrath of God, just like a doctor does not care for his patient when he gives him a cough drop for his lung cancer. Joel is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Props: Pure Church