Where do we get our guidance

This Sunday morning I will show the prayer vigil slideshow from Virginia Tech, (courtesy of BlueFishTV.com). The verses used are from Psalm 19:14. The book of psalms is filled with heart-shpaed passion of a God-follower who seeks to know more about God. In the wake of the tragedy, many students and families are looking for hope. Some may be looking for guidance. That's what you will gain from coming to church this Sunday. You will know how to get guidance for your life, even when life is "walking in the shadow of death, you can fear no evil (Psalm 23:5)." So come join us and discover God's guidance for your life.

Pastor D

Biblical Communication

Be quick to listen, slow to speak

I am changing how I interact with people. Often I take my time responding to what others ask. I ponder what to say. In fact, I may even give a one-word reply. Then continue contemplating my response. The challenge is that the other person continues on with the conversation. Either they did not wait for my reply, or they were processing what they wanted to say while not listening to what I was saying anyway. Whatever the case, I am so thankful for God's truth. James 1:19 is so clear. I memorized it first in the King James Version of the Bible. But I discover that if I read it in another version, then I can revisit God's truth in a fresh way.

"Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with
your ears, follow up with your tongue (James 1:19 The Message)."

I am re-learning how to communicate with others. God's Word gives me guidance. His truth directs my life. I want to follow Him everyday.

Do you?

Then live the truth that you already know. Implement the things that you've learned from the Bible. Act upon it. God will help you.

"However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all
truth. (John 16:13)."

As a Christian you can get guidance for your life from the Bible for the Holy Spirit who indwells you will help you like a Friend. You can follow God everyday. It is time to do so.

Pastor D

Wisdom from Proverbs

Today's chapter in Proverbs counteracts the challenge facing everyone in our sex-saturated culture. God's Word warns against adultery. The story in chapter five is an earnest plea from a father to a married son regarding the pressures of seeking a wayward women to commit adultery. Walt Mueller, President of CPYU (Center for Parent and Youth Understanding) shares how this present culture has shifted away from the sanctity of marriage. The culture portrays in the media that casual sex is normative, that "cheating" on someone is okay as long as you are not caught, that hooking up is normal.

I concur with Walt Mueller's comments about giving deep thought to the Christian response to this shift. He wrote on his blog concerning the prominence of casual sex as normative,

“Saddened, but not surprised.” Most of the time, people look at me like I’m nuts. I hope I’m not. Instead, I’ve tried to be informed by the truth of the Scriptures in a way that I hope has caused me to avoid the extremes of blind optimism and extreme pessimism in order to embrace a third option – biblical realism. Illness, destruction, death, violence, rebellion, idolatry, sin, the things kids do. . . . none of it should be surprising. A posture of biblical realism serves to give us perspective, and always should shape our response – emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Read more of Walt's full comments from his archived pages here by scrolling down to his houghts dated 03.07.2007.

In his blog he links to an interview on NBC by Meredith Vieira, "Is hooking up unhealthy for teens?" She interviews Laura Sessions Stepp author of "UnHooked," and Amber Madison author of "Hooking Up." This interview highlights the new culture of casual sex and its effect on young women. After viewing this interview you may be shocked or unaffected. But I trust you would feel both some discouragement while at the same time feel tempered by biblical realism. Anchored to a biblical worldview where sin and its manifestation in our culture is not surprising because it is not God -centered.

But victoriously, sin is remedied in Jesus. What better season to reconsider the awesome truth of Christ's death and resurrection! So proclaim with me that this world needs Jesus in spite of cultural trends to the contrary.

All disturbing cultural trends will continue to emerge on the radar screens of Christian minds who foster a biblical worldview. I wonder how you will respond. Unless a person seeks to follow God's truth, then he or she may cave-in and follow the pressure of the dominant culture. How will you shape your response? Something to seriously think about.

Pastor D