Read This: Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart
I am a frustrated single young man in the 21st century. The world’s various philosophies on dating relationships, marriage, and sexuality are clearly disastrous. I see the walking wounded from my position in ministry and long for a better way. My way has been to opt out of most of the relational games that my peers have played. Playing it safe in this way has left me with a lonely longing to fulfill God’s plan for marriage. Not long ago I began a search for a better way. That better way was found in John Ensor’s book Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart from the gospel-focused publishing house Crossway.
A glance at my Facebook Newsfeed tells me that my “Christian” peers have overwhelmingly chosen the way of the world. We were taught what not to do, but the message of what to do was forgotten. It appears that many have abandoned the faith.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. – 1st Timothy 4:1-3
John Ensor’s book starts with what we want:
“Women want a healthy, tender, passionate, enduring, mutually satisfying relationship with a good man. And men want the same with a good woman.” –pg. 41
Ensor then simply and beautifully explains a complimentarian view of gender. He quotes the bible-soaked wisdom of John Piper:
“At the heart of mature manhood is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for, and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing relationships.”
and
“At the heart of mature womanhood is a freeing disposition to affirm, receive and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men in ways appropriate to a woman’s differing relationships.” –pg 75
Looking at the chapter headings for the second part of the book clearly indicates the direction of and wisdom of this book.
5. Doing Things Right
6. He Initiates … She Responds
7. He Leads … She Guides
8. He Works … She Waits
9. He Protects … She Welcomes Protection
10. He Abstains to Protect … She, To Test
11. His Unmet Desire Drives Him toward Marriage …. Hers is Rewarded with Marriage
12. He Displays Integrity … She, Inner Beauty
13. He Loves by Sacrificing … She, by Submitting
14. He Seeks His Happiness in Hers … She Seeks Hers in His
15. He Is the Primary Provider for the Family …. She, the Primary Nurturer
Ensor builds off of our desires, then our gender identity and provides us God honoring values to pursue a healthy marriage. This is a simple book that should be used in every college, young adult, and singles ministries to the Glory of God. It will be a book that I turn to for biblical guidance as I remind myself of God’s values. This is a book that I commend to you to read.
Fighter Verse App
Above is a short video from John Piper discussing the Fighter Verse Application for both iPhone and Android phones. I share his enthusiasm for this great tool, in just a few days it has already had a huge impact on my trust in the Gospel and love for God.
In the past I have been intimidated by scripture memorization but this application has made this spiritual discipline much more accessible. The software was developed by Children’s Desiring God and if kids can do it you know that you can as well.
I downloaded the application while at winter camp with a group of High School students and in just a couple of hours I had the scripture mostly memorized. I have been working on nailing the verse word-for-word the past few days and am confident that with this tool I will do a much better job of committing God’s word to heart.
“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11 English Standard Version
It seems that if you want God’s word in your heart, getting it into your brain is the first step.
Driscoll interviews Dave Kraft
I'm currently re-reading Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft. Below is a short interview Mark Driscoll conducts in regards to the book launch last year.
First Sermon
On December 26th 2010 I preached my first sermon at a formal worship service.
Previously my speaking experience has been limited to youth and young adults. I cannot count how many times I have preached to teenagers and I cannot recall the last time I was nervous to speak. But at this service I shook with nerves but also awe at the task before me. I take any teaching opportunity seriously recognizing that it carries both honor and responsibility.
My nerves got the best of me during the welcome and announcements. If an official representative of Guinness were on hand I would surely have an entry in their record book for speed talking. Listening back I’m embarrassed at my delivery.
It was by the grace of God that my nerves were lifted as I approached the pulpit to preach the sermon. Listening back I am thankful for God’s faithfulness at allowing me to speak coherently at all after the rushed welcome.
I am blessed to serve at West Valley Presbyterian and grateful for the support of the congregation and leadership. Their prayers of support and kind words after the sermon have been a blessing.
I share my first sermon with you today that it might be an encouragement to you. If you think anything positive of the delivery of this sermon know that like the gospel message I preached it is God the Father who deserves the glory.
Read This: Marta’s Legacy
While working Christian retail I had heard a lot about Francine Rivers and her perpetual bestseller Redeeming Love. Eventually I read it for myself and found that the accolades were well deserved. I passed several copies around to friends and family. Redeeming Love has strong Gospel themes and deals with sexuality in an honest and helpful way; a great book for adults and older youth of both genders.
While I have read and enjoyed other books by Rivers’ I have not found her other works as powerful as Redeeming Love until now. Marta’s Legacy, a two book series, is a rich story played out through several generations. Primarily a look at mother-daughter relationships the books deal with generational hurt and misconceptions. Rivers portrays a family of women who deeply love each other but are also deeply misunderstood. The books leave the reader with a desire to better understand their own family history as a way of framing their own family experience.
A fan of Rivers I enjoyed the length and time she gave to each generation. I found that I felt a part of the family. However, the extended-length required one over lapping arch of redemption to be divided between two books. My fear is that by not reading the series as one continuous book readers will miss some or all of the gospel impact.
Rivers writes rich fiction with strong redemptive themes. It’s hard not to fall more in love with God while reading her writing. Marta’s Legacy is an encouragement to hurting family relationships and a challenge to the individual to pursue healing through understanding. Buy both books today!
Christianity as Mystery Religion
Christianity is full of mystery. All the great doctrines of the faith are, in the last analysis, mysteries. Who can explain creation? (“He spoke and it was done.”) the origin of evil? (“By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin.”) the nature of God? (“God is spirit, infinite, eternal, unchangeable….” the nature of man? (“made in the image of God…and God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” incarnation? (“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”) passion? (“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”) resurrection? (“He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”) ascension? (“A cloud took him out of their sight.”) Theology labels and describes these things. It does not explain them.
– Elisabeth Elliot, The Mark of a Man
Prodigal
From the ministry of Sovereign Grace a little animated music video with a powerful message.
Listen Up: Wayfarer
My friend, Dan Koch of the band Sherwood, has a new side project Wayfarer. Wayfarer seeks to "to re-write or re-arrange traditional hymns, either maintaining their poetic lyrics while updating their outdated melodies or re-arranging the music in a new way around their beautiful and timeless melodies, with the intent of bringing these songs to a wider and younger audience.
My iPod features many hymns, rich with theology, updated for modern audiences. Wayfarer is among the best.
For a couple more days you can download the above song for free.