Widows, Beauty, Forgiveness and Jesus

At church this morning, Pastor Dave gave a moving sermon about our responsibility to widows from Mark chapter 12.  So many things went through my mind: my selfishness in not replying to the dozens of letters from my late Grandmother (the thought of my extreme selfishness and in this situation brings me nearly to tears just thinking about it...Jesus, please forgive me), not spending more time with my great-grandmother who was a widow for 35 years, how difficult a life would be losing Jenn, and how many widows and widowers are out there who just want some companionship.  

In the middle of the service, a video came on from one of the widows in the congregation talking about her favorite hymn and how it can be hard for her, but how appreciative she was for knowing her late husband and in knowing that she will see him and the Lord again one day.  This video touched me and really made me think about "beauty" of all things.    

When we hear the word "beauty" many different things can come to mind.  To the average male (myself included) we tend to immediately think of physical beauty.

Worldly Womanly Beauty
Jennifer Lopez (who is reportedly a Scientologist) is undeniably a physically beautiful woman.  People Magazine named her the most beautiful person in the world in 2011.  I would be lying if I would say that I do not think she is physically beautiful as well.   

Many men will spend their lives either chasing after physical beauty, or will fight their attraction trying to avoid the sin of lust.  It is a constant battle and one that will tear many people and relationships apart in the process.  We must spend more time looking past physical beauty.  Proverbs 31:30 tells us that "Beauty is fleeting".  ALL of us will lose our physical beauty over time.  It does not last, so it is something that would be foolish to use it as the prime attribute we look for in lasting romantic relationships.  

TRUE Womanly Beauty

Proverbs 31:30 also has some other great things to say about beauty as well: "a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."  1 Peter 3:4 says this: "[{Beauty] should consist of] the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes." I must say that the women on the videos demonstrated true beauty that will take many of us decades of walking with the Lord to achieve.  They are truly an inspiration.  

Want to know what TRUE womanly beauty looks like?  Here it is:

The ULTIMATE in Beauty

And finally, we come to the beauty of Christ.  THE DEFINITION of beauty: Selflessness, wisdom, sacrifice, love, grace and integrity.  Who, in our place, took the punishment for our sins, so that we might spend eternity with Him.

Let us focus on what beauty really is: Love that reflects the Love of Jesus Christ.

Kneel    

  

   

Courageous the Movie

Today, my wife and I went to go see the movie "Courageous" with the Christian club at the school I teach at.  The movie was great: Heartwarming, convicting, though provoking, funny (the "Snake King" part had me in stitches) and biblical.  I was really impressed with the quality of the film given the small budget and I really hope that the team behind this movie continues to make more.  Movies like these are SO needed in our culture today.

There were men (MORE than one) in the audience that were visibly touched and convicted by this film's powerful call for biblical fatherhood in our society today.  The gospel was pretty well presented (could have been a bit more clear) and the dependence upon God was a reoccurring theme throughout.

I URGE you not to just wait to see this movie on DVD.  PLEASE make the effort to go see and support this movie in the theaters so that it sends a message that Americans want more Christ-centered movies!

God bless,

Kneel

My very first time open air preaching: Luke 23

My very first time open air preaching.  It is NOT easy to do.  But it is even harder for me to suppress the urge to share the gospel.

Something I have learned about open air preaching since this time is how important it is to pray and to have others pray for you.  When I went to the Ambassador's Academy, I tried open airing a few times, and every time I did so with no prayer or very shallow prayer, my preaching was awful.  I would forget things, you know important things, like the Resurrection (duh?).  But when I really prayed, had others praying for me, and relied on God and not myself, the message was much better.

I really encourage you to get out there an try it, at least once.  It is scary but also incredibly satisfying to literally shout the gospel to a dying world.  Radically obeying God IS radically satisfying!

Are you a good person?

Are you a good person?  Good enough to get to heaven?  This is the basic strategy I take when evangelizing.  People must see the seriousness of their sin before the gospel can ever be considered "good news".

180 Movie

Outstanding video on the abortion issue.  Truly a must watch.