Captured Thoughts

Mr. Hatfield of Voice of Vision, reminded me of a kind of epiphany I had awhile back. Of course it was recent enough that it's kind of embarrassing to admit that it took so long to get "It".

I have seen many areas of growth in my life as a Christian. But there are other areas that are a constant fight. One of these areas is my thought life. Knowing I was supposed to hold every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), I would try to put the full nelson on every evil thought that came to mind and put it out of commission before it could grow into action. It was a rough life, full of failure.

Then one afternoon I was meditating upon Philippians 4:8. That is when it struck me. I was trying to hold the wrong thoughts captive! My wrestling with the wrong thoughts left little room to wrestle with the thoughts of God.

It has been amazing. The more I fill my mind with thoughts of God, really soaking in His Word, the less room there is for evil. As I think of my family, I see God at work more often. As I look at the world, I see more opportunity and less temptation. I see my works less and less and Christ in me more and more.

Scars of the Past

As you might imagine, the first time I read Romans 13 as a new believer my old identity was smashed to bits. If you haven't guessed it yet, that's my arm in the picture. A lasting reminder of the old man.

During the last eight years of my old life, I picked up my Bible less then a dozen times because I knew it was the word of God. I knew it would show me where I was in error, and I would be compelled to change. At the time, I wanted to pursue the pleasures of the world. I know what it means to be a stiff-necked (2 Chronicles 30:8) person.

In a sense, reading the Bible still scares me, because there I encounter God, the ultimate authority... one to whom all glory is due and to whom every knee shall bow. It is the faithfulness and mercy of God that gives me courage. This is the kind of courage needed to read Colossians 3 and be encouraged to leave the old man behind.

There's is an older Stavesacre song lyric that nails it for me.

Holding Nothing

I figure every one knows the story of the wealthy young man of Matthew 19:6-22. I realize that the common view is that he went away sad and was never redeemed. While I admit that is very likely, the text leaves me a little short of that conclusion.

Let me reveal a little about myself, and how these verses have ministered to me.

About twelve years ago, I was alone in my room. Under the influence of some pretty harsh drugs, God smacked me upside the head. (No, I don't think it was the drugs talking.) I had made a profession of faith some thirteen years prior in a Jr. High youth group. But this night, I had the distinct impression that I was "self-medicating" to cover the pain caused by my own disobedience. Namely, I had tried to take back the life I had already given up to God.

God condescended to rescue me that night. It was a night of immense joy. It was also a night of immense sorrow. After the "Yes, LORD, I am Your possession." I asked, "What more must I do to be complete?" I understood I had to leave everything behind and follow Him. This included all my friends...the type of friends that would not only die for me, but kill also. We were closer than kin. The cost to me, at that time, seemed high. It was all I had, and it broke my heart to obey. But as you know it was but a momentary and light affliction when compared to the glory set before me (2 Cor 4:17).

My brothers and sisters, this is not the only time I have found it necessary to give up that which I loved for the cause of drawing close to my Savior.

More recently, I left a church that is, in my opinion, dying on the vine. But it was a church that allowed me to work on my gift (as modest as it might be) of preaching and teaching. Yet, the majority of the preaching left my family unfed. I could not continue to neglect the spiritual health of my family. I believe my family is my primary ministry, and preaching is secondary. Therefore, even though it saddened me (in some respects) to do so, I moved my family to a wonderful and vibrant church... one where my chances of preaching or teaching (given the depth of talent available) is slim to none. But the resulting spiritual growth in my family (self included), has meant that my "sacrifice" was no sacrifice at all.

By now, I suppose, you can understand why I don't necessarily see "he went away sorrowful" as "he went away to never obey and be condemned to hell." May we all, if called to, give up whatever holds us back from being complete.

Links; Gratuitous and Otherwise

I'm hoping my favorite international commenter Ann, can shed some light on this one(third snippet down), what do some Swedish girls have against guys? (Actually, I just wanted an excuse to throw a link her way.) Talk about the feminization of men, who will be left to take out the trash or work on the car? All I have to say is Jack won't sit and neither will I.


I'm really glad that Dan Phillips, a blogger who's readership greatly exceeds my own has taken up the cause, the eradication of the most annoying catch phrase of the decade.


I'm also quite pleased that Frank Turk has taken up the other cause of the decade. Go ahead, sign it. All the cool people are doing it.