Courtship vs. Dating
One debate that is growing in today’s American society is that of courtship vs. dating. How do two young people of the opposite sex pair off and eventually become one flesh in the covenant of marriage? Is dating the way this happens? Or is courtship the more appropriate way? Or perhaps is there a mysterious third alternative that has yet to be named?
I personally believe that the debate between courtship and dating is overrated by both parties. Those who reject the idea of courtship as silly, outdated, or too romantic for today’s time are often ignorant of the many dangerous associated with the way many people date today. However advocates of courtship who call dating “ungodly” or “unbiblical” often replace wisdom with rules – rules that are often times not found in Scripture in the first place.
The Bible is not a handbook on how to get married. Although we can use creative logic and principles found in Scripture to give us certain ideas of what the “falling in love” process should look like, it is never appropriate to make such legalistic rules as if Scripture demands them. Many who advocate courtship complain that while one person is dating, they may be dating several people at one time. These same people complain when two people get committed to each other so quickly. These people are often unable to understand all of their rules. How are we going to expect hormonal teenagers to understand them?
I do believe the way many people date today causes problems. I am not advocating we keep the world’s standards of dating, and that any attempt to revise the system is foolish. Many of the ideas that courtship offers are good ideas and should be taken into account. But what some people would call courtship, others may only call a wise form of dating. And some radical people who push for courtship push for what is close to arranged marriages, which is not Biblical either.
What are the differences in dating and courting? Essentially the goal of dating is to get a girlfriend, whereas the goal of courting is to get a wife. Courting usually promotes more family involvement. But other than this, the general idea of courting is not that much different than the idea of dating. It is foolish dating and fundamentalist courting that has its differences, and both are dangerous.
So what are the problems in today’s world of paring off a man and a maiden? I believe we push dating too early and marriage too late. Think about it: boys and girls reach the age of sexual maturity (or you could say sexual immaturity) at about age twelve. Now days, it is not uncommon for two twelve or thirteen year-olds to start “going out.” And somehow we expect them to not get married until their late twenties. So we have about fifteen years for boys and girls to date each other, all while their hormones are most rampant. This is no safe way to expect abstinence. On top of this, we have more divorces. Some people push for late dating and late marriages. This too has its problems in that children fail to grow up the way they used to. Beyond this, keeping older children who want to date from dating may cause rebellion. Pushing for early dating and early marriages would work, except we must then take the responsibility of maturing much quicker than we are now in today’s society.
I do not believe one should date, court, or whatever else you may call it, until marriage is at least in sight. Some fundamentalists believe that no one should date until one is completely ready for marriage. I believe this is too tall of an order. But I do believe marriage should at least be in the seeable future. One should not date someone without at least considering the possibility of marrying them. Recreational, directionless dating only goes south.
I also believe that it is wise to not simply do things alone. I am not against being alone on a date if you are mature enough to, but going in groups is important for various reasons as well. I believe the families should know who their children as well. Family relations is one thing that destroys relationships. I have seen family relations tear down one relationship, and both parties wound up getting hurt.
The problem is not, I do not believe, whether we date or court. It is that we are not preparing people for marriage. Conventional wisdom tells us that people should not think about marriage until their twenties. But I believe marriage should be on people’s minds from a very early age. We should be preparing ourselves to be emotionally, mentally, spiritually, financially, physically, etc. ready for marriage. Men should know how to treat women (with respect), and women should know how to treat men (by not always clinging to them for attention). This way we will be more prepared to date (or court), and beyond that, to marry.
What do you think?
God bless America
Pray for our Troops
December 14, 2008
Ryan Hampton
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving: The Forgotten Holiday
We are gearing up for another Iron Bowl, a day of turkey, and a time for college students everywhere to come home and finally re-unite with their family and enjoy some good ole home cooking from their momma. That’s right, it is Chri. . .oh never mind, Thanksgiving (the forgotten holiday) time again!
Of course, underneath all of this, is a time to be thankful. Sometimes it is good just to ponder on our blessings. We live in a nation, that despite her problems, is still a relatively safe and free place to live. We can go to church and not fear for our lives in the process. We can watch college or pro-football over a big plate of turkey and dressing. We can spend time with our families. We should be thankful for any work God has entrusted to us, and seek to be wise in how we use our money.
Not everyone in the world is blessed in these ways. Those of us who have good families, decent incomes, a free nation, and many other blessings should be thankful for all of this. However it is often those with the least who are the most thankful. Those of us who are rich are often times not thankful. Everyone is blessed to simply be alive, and have a chance to have a relationship with God and people.
I say this, and I am probably somewhere in between. I do not have everything I want all the time. But I have far more than I deserve. Even when times are tough financially, or when it is easy to give up pursuing a Christian life, I realize all I have been blessed with. This Thanksgiving, however, I am going to attempt to look at myself as rich, and not middle-class. Compared to what I deserve, I am rich.
What applications can we take from this? I believe that if we were more thankful, many parts of our lives would become better. Particularly, I believe that our politics and evangelism would change. I believe that if we were more thankful for what we had, we would not rely on the state as much. We would work harder and work more. We would have a real family, instead of the state being our family.
Furthermore, if we realized how fortunate we are to have our blessings, we may treat other less-fortunate people with more respect. We may be able to identify with them more. Sometimes our problems in evangelism and communication is that we fail to put ourselves in each other’s shoes. If we did this, we would be more competent communicators and witnesses, and would probably take more responsibilities for ourselves instead of relying on the state to take care of those financially or emotionally troubled.
In short, I encourage everyone this Thanksgiving season to be thankful. Don’t get too excited too quick about Christmas. I love Christmas and look forward to it. But how can we appreciate Christmas as much if we are not thankful first? Thanksgiving has become the forgotten holiday, and thus, we have forgotten to be thankful. The first Thanksgiving was probably the most thankful Thanksgiving. Yet it came at a time when people were starving and freezing to death. I encourage you to look at what you have, thank God for all you have in specific detail, and allow that to influence every part of your life, not just now, but also into the future.
What do you think?
God bless America
Pray for our Troops
Be thankful!
November 24, 2008
Ryan Hampton
Of course, underneath all of this, is a time to be thankful. Sometimes it is good just to ponder on our blessings. We live in a nation, that despite her problems, is still a relatively safe and free place to live. We can go to church and not fear for our lives in the process. We can watch college or pro-football over a big plate of turkey and dressing. We can spend time with our families. We should be thankful for any work God has entrusted to us, and seek to be wise in how we use our money.
Not everyone in the world is blessed in these ways. Those of us who have good families, decent incomes, a free nation, and many other blessings should be thankful for all of this. However it is often those with the least who are the most thankful. Those of us who are rich are often times not thankful. Everyone is blessed to simply be alive, and have a chance to have a relationship with God and people.
I say this, and I am probably somewhere in between. I do not have everything I want all the time. But I have far more than I deserve. Even when times are tough financially, or when it is easy to give up pursuing a Christian life, I realize all I have been blessed with. This Thanksgiving, however, I am going to attempt to look at myself as rich, and not middle-class. Compared to what I deserve, I am rich.
What applications can we take from this? I believe that if we were more thankful, many parts of our lives would become better. Particularly, I believe that our politics and evangelism would change. I believe that if we were more thankful for what we had, we would not rely on the state as much. We would work harder and work more. We would have a real family, instead of the state being our family.
Furthermore, if we realized how fortunate we are to have our blessings, we may treat other less-fortunate people with more respect. We may be able to identify with them more. Sometimes our problems in evangelism and communication is that we fail to put ourselves in each other’s shoes. If we did this, we would be more competent communicators and witnesses, and would probably take more responsibilities for ourselves instead of relying on the state to take care of those financially or emotionally troubled.
In short, I encourage everyone this Thanksgiving season to be thankful. Don’t get too excited too quick about Christmas. I love Christmas and look forward to it. But how can we appreciate Christmas as much if we are not thankful first? Thanksgiving has become the forgotten holiday, and thus, we have forgotten to be thankful. The first Thanksgiving was probably the most thankful Thanksgiving. Yet it came at a time when people were starving and freezing to death. I encourage you to look at what you have, thank God for all you have in specific detail, and allow that to influence every part of your life, not just now, but also into the future.
What do you think?
God bless America
Pray for our Troops
Be thankful!
November 24, 2008
Ryan Hampton
Friday, January 18, 2008
Look What Just Hit Me!
Now that post-highschool life is approaching for me, I have spent the past year or so trying to decide what I will do, where I will go to college (or if I'll go to college), and the other questions that inevitabely arise. I have spent time sending in my application to Samford University, as well as applying for scholarships, etc.
And although I am looking foward to this side of life, it comes with much fear. Not so much the fear that I feel uncomfortable with what is to come, but moreover the fear of losing that to which I have become accustomed to.
So with this comes a couple of emotions into play. For one, I desire the good of humanity, and the family and friends around me. For two, I do want to live life to the fullest - not in a bad sort of way that justifies evil in the name of "personal freedom," but live it to the fullest in a God-fearing way. I try telling younger people not to underestimate these times in their life, and their happiness is at the chief of my concerns.
I realize that there are people not much at all older than me who are in the Middle East fighting in war. I have just recently registered to vote, and it seems odd that now I have a vote in determing who would be the President, among other things, of this nation. I am doing this all while I am stuck to the older days of my life, albeit elementary school or middle school. My how the times change, and my how they probably will in just a few (or so) months from now.
So I write this for a few basic reasons. I want to relate to those who feel the same way, and encourage them not to underestimate these times. I also encourage all of you to remember the memories that God has given you, and appreciate the future memories that are the realities of today. I encourage you all to have a firm foundation in what you believe. Remembering who you are - your core identity - is the chief foundation to knowing where you are going. For a Christian, it is to remember your Christian worldview and foundation.
People say I'm turning into an old man, and maybe to a degree I am. But old men are often the one's who act the most like children. So that's what I'll do while I can, but all the while be prepared for when reality comes. All of these emotions are really starting to hit me (now that I'm in the final semester of high school). But I would rather this than rather the realities of these emotions and inevitable facts to hit me in life. That is much more dangerous.
What do you think?
God bless America
Support our Troops
January 18, 2008
Ryan Hampton
And although I am looking foward to this side of life, it comes with much fear. Not so much the fear that I feel uncomfortable with what is to come, but moreover the fear of losing that to which I have become accustomed to.
So with this comes a couple of emotions into play. For one, I desire the good of humanity, and the family and friends around me. For two, I do want to live life to the fullest - not in a bad sort of way that justifies evil in the name of "personal freedom," but live it to the fullest in a God-fearing way. I try telling younger people not to underestimate these times in their life, and their happiness is at the chief of my concerns.
I realize that there are people not much at all older than me who are in the Middle East fighting in war. I have just recently registered to vote, and it seems odd that now I have a vote in determing who would be the President, among other things, of this nation. I am doing this all while I am stuck to the older days of my life, albeit elementary school or middle school. My how the times change, and my how they probably will in just a few (or so) months from now.
So I write this for a few basic reasons. I want to relate to those who feel the same way, and encourage them not to underestimate these times. I also encourage all of you to remember the memories that God has given you, and appreciate the future memories that are the realities of today. I encourage you all to have a firm foundation in what you believe. Remembering who you are - your core identity - is the chief foundation to knowing where you are going. For a Christian, it is to remember your Christian worldview and foundation.
People say I'm turning into an old man, and maybe to a degree I am. But old men are often the one's who act the most like children. So that's what I'll do while I can, but all the while be prepared for when reality comes. All of these emotions are really starting to hit me (now that I'm in the final semester of high school). But I would rather this than rather the realities of these emotions and inevitable facts to hit me in life. That is much more dangerous.
What do you think?
God bless America
Support our Troops
January 18, 2008
Ryan Hampton
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Origin of Economics
The following is an excerpt from a greater piece I am working on. This deals with looking at economics philisophically, and with a Christian worldview. May you enjoy.
The Origin of Economics
We have talked greatly about what economics is in relativity to the world today, but we have not really failed to grasp where the origin of economics comes from. To follow the logical coherence, we force ourselves to ask where the origin of life as we know it comes from, or the origin of the basic principles of human action, inaction, and relationships comes from, given that this is essentially what economics is the study of.
I remember once my younger sister asking the question to my Father, "Why do we have money?" She argued, "Why can't we have stores where people just go get what they want?" My Father answered her asking back, "How much is too much for the people? What if I get something I do not earn?" She answered back, "I guess that the they can make you get only a certain amount." When my Father asked her who "they" would be, my sister said, "I guess the government."
Although the economics my sister brought forth and proposed to my Father were full of fallacies, and was essentially communism, I do not wish for this little section to merely criticize her. She was young, and at least she was thinking about economics. Furthermore, her basic question really spawns us into the entire origin of economics altogether. The basic principles my Father argued against her answered her question, and the question of the origin of modern-day economics altogether (economics as the course of human nature, not the modern economic thought).
A (The Fall of Man)
The origin of modern-day economics, at least according to a Christian perspective, comes in the Garden of Eden. This is where the origin of human relations and actions and inaction as we know it began. But it did not begin at creation. After creation, there was another level that came to humanity, that changed our economic laws altogether. This was the Fall of man. The Fall in a way was almost an altering of the Natural Law that existed. Due to the Fall of man, our principles on government, justice, and economics have changed.
It is interesting that Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, in order to become "like God." They ate the fruit to increase dominion and liberty. Even though there was an abundance of fruit, animals, and many other blessings of the world as they knew it, they wanted to increase their liberty the little more that they could. As a result, they fell into a world of pain and sorrow. The world essentially went from ever living to ever dying. Only by super human action to remodel creation could the world return to the stages of that it was in before the Fall. Even though man was in the world to remodel creation before the Fall as well, there was now much more work needed to be done. The world, in a way, needed resurrecting.
Because the world was ever dying, we entered a world of scarcity. That which Adam and Eve had was now scarce. Furthermore, it would be by the "sweat of [their] brow" that they would enjoy the fruits of the trees and all the other blessings. Now they must not only work, but they must work at the expense of giving up that which they want so that the world would be a better place, and they would be better people.
B (Our Economic Purpose)
All of this is consistent with the New Testament teachings of Paul and Jesus. Our liberty comes from our bondage to God. I have quoted 2 Corinthians 3:17 much before, stating, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Furthermore, the act of giving up something for something greater in return in also Scriptural. Christians are supposed to give their all for the sake of God's Kingdom, to enjoy in His righteousness and glory.
By this same token, the only way to decrease the scarcity of that which is on earth is to give up a portion of that which we have, in order to get it all back and more. Without sin, our economics would be different. The sinless descendents of Adam and Eve would not take the property of others. It would be immoral, and man would not be immoral creatures. But also, there would be abundance in the world, so why should we steal property in the first place? We would claim what we have, and give up much less for our rewards. Having real "money," though perhaps not being non-existent, would have less reasons for its existence.
In the grand scheme of things, we are equal partakers of the world with certain unalienable Rights (Natural Rights). This is something that did carry through over the Fall. Among these Rights is the Right to property. My sister was actually (even in her very flawed economics) getting to a good point. We are equal partakers of this world. Therefore, that which we earned, we went and got ourselves. But we did not go get it from a store. We got it from the world and claimed it.
But if it is claimed by someone else already, it is not ours. Not unless we trade. This is why we have money. We work hard for something, only to give it up to another person. But we do this to have something even better for us. We do this privately, helping ourselves, with only us as the attention. But in the grand scheme of things, we each help society in this. Ultimately, Christian economics is really the study of reclaiming what we had before the Fall of man. It is restoring the Christian way. Through this, we give up what we want, in order to have something even better. This is both personal and public.
C (The Purpose of Government)
Along with the Fall of man, we required a necessity for government. Now, government exists to protect our natural Rights, including the Right to property. This is why we punish those guilty of theft. The government, at some level, has the Right to stop of us from totally destroying the planet and defeating the purpose of restoring that which we had before the Fall. Government is force, and even my sister realized this in saying that the government would tell us when too much stuff from the store was "too much" (even though this is an unnecessary use of force, so that part of her logic is flawed). But far too often today, the government in the politically correct name of "environmentalism" defeats the purpose. They fail to understand that in order to have that which we want, we must give up that we have - even if it is scarce. Cutting down trees gives us a use for our natural recourses. Through this use, we may perhaps find something that accomplishes the same goals as cutting down trees, but does it more efficiently and economically. This enables us to restore ourselves to that day in which our economics is full of abundance and pleasure.
Fortunately, we see some of the blessings of good economic policy today (even with a big government). This is called technology. We are constantly coming up with new ways and better ways to do things, making the world less and less scarce. These things are essentially a great aspect of the American Dream, and are done mostly without government.
What do you think?
God bless America
Pray for our Troops
January 13, 2008
Ryan Hampton
The Origin of Economics
We have talked greatly about what economics is in relativity to the world today, but we have not really failed to grasp where the origin of economics comes from. To follow the logical coherence, we force ourselves to ask where the origin of life as we know it comes from, or the origin of the basic principles of human action, inaction, and relationships comes from, given that this is essentially what economics is the study of.
I remember once my younger sister asking the question to my Father, "Why do we have money?" She argued, "Why can't we have stores where people just go get what they want?" My Father answered her asking back, "How much is too much for the people? What if I get something I do not earn?" She answered back, "I guess that the they can make you get only a certain amount." When my Father asked her who "they" would be, my sister said, "I guess the government."
Although the economics my sister brought forth and proposed to my Father were full of fallacies, and was essentially communism, I do not wish for this little section to merely criticize her. She was young, and at least she was thinking about economics. Furthermore, her basic question really spawns us into the entire origin of economics altogether. The basic principles my Father argued against her answered her question, and the question of the origin of modern-day economics altogether (economics as the course of human nature, not the modern economic thought).
A (The Fall of Man)
The origin of modern-day economics, at least according to a Christian perspective, comes in the Garden of Eden. This is where the origin of human relations and actions and inaction as we know it began. But it did not begin at creation. After creation, there was another level that came to humanity, that changed our economic laws altogether. This was the Fall of man. The Fall in a way was almost an altering of the Natural Law that existed. Due to the Fall of man, our principles on government, justice, and economics have changed.
It is interesting that Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, in order to become "like God." They ate the fruit to increase dominion and liberty. Even though there was an abundance of fruit, animals, and many other blessings of the world as they knew it, they wanted to increase their liberty the little more that they could. As a result, they fell into a world of pain and sorrow. The world essentially went from ever living to ever dying. Only by super human action to remodel creation could the world return to the stages of that it was in before the Fall. Even though man was in the world to remodel creation before the Fall as well, there was now much more work needed to be done. The world, in a way, needed resurrecting.
Because the world was ever dying, we entered a world of scarcity. That which Adam and Eve had was now scarce. Furthermore, it would be by the "sweat of [their] brow" that they would enjoy the fruits of the trees and all the other blessings. Now they must not only work, but they must work at the expense of giving up that which they want so that the world would be a better place, and they would be better people.
B (Our Economic Purpose)
All of this is consistent with the New Testament teachings of Paul and Jesus. Our liberty comes from our bondage to God. I have quoted 2 Corinthians 3:17 much before, stating, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Furthermore, the act of giving up something for something greater in return in also Scriptural. Christians are supposed to give their all for the sake of God's Kingdom, to enjoy in His righteousness and glory.
By this same token, the only way to decrease the scarcity of that which is on earth is to give up a portion of that which we have, in order to get it all back and more. Without sin, our economics would be different. The sinless descendents of Adam and Eve would not take the property of others. It would be immoral, and man would not be immoral creatures. But also, there would be abundance in the world, so why should we steal property in the first place? We would claim what we have, and give up much less for our rewards. Having real "money," though perhaps not being non-existent, would have less reasons for its existence.
In the grand scheme of things, we are equal partakers of the world with certain unalienable Rights (Natural Rights). This is something that did carry through over the Fall. Among these Rights is the Right to property. My sister was actually (even in her very flawed economics) getting to a good point. We are equal partakers of this world. Therefore, that which we earned, we went and got ourselves. But we did not go get it from a store. We got it from the world and claimed it.
But if it is claimed by someone else already, it is not ours. Not unless we trade. This is why we have money. We work hard for something, only to give it up to another person. But we do this to have something even better for us. We do this privately, helping ourselves, with only us as the attention. But in the grand scheme of things, we each help society in this. Ultimately, Christian economics is really the study of reclaiming what we had before the Fall of man. It is restoring the Christian way. Through this, we give up what we want, in order to have something even better. This is both personal and public.
C (The Purpose of Government)
Along with the Fall of man, we required a necessity for government. Now, government exists to protect our natural Rights, including the Right to property. This is why we punish those guilty of theft. The government, at some level, has the Right to stop of us from totally destroying the planet and defeating the purpose of restoring that which we had before the Fall. Government is force, and even my sister realized this in saying that the government would tell us when too much stuff from the store was "too much" (even though this is an unnecessary use of force, so that part of her logic is flawed). But far too often today, the government in the politically correct name of "environmentalism" defeats the purpose. They fail to understand that in order to have that which we want, we must give up that we have - even if it is scarce. Cutting down trees gives us a use for our natural recourses. Through this use, we may perhaps find something that accomplishes the same goals as cutting down trees, but does it more efficiently and economically. This enables us to restore ourselves to that day in which our economics is full of abundance and pleasure.
Fortunately, we see some of the blessings of good economic policy today (even with a big government). This is called technology. We are constantly coming up with new ways and better ways to do things, making the world less and less scarce. These things are essentially a great aspect of the American Dream, and are done mostly without government.
What do you think?
God bless America
Pray for our Troops
January 13, 2008
Ryan Hampton
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Lessons in Character: The Character of Abraham
This is for a school paper in Ancient Civilizations & Literature. It is on the true faith and character of Abraham.
The Character of Abraham
Ryan Hampton
December 2, 2007
Throughout history, God has always preserved His people, and He does so through ordinary, faithful men and women. God’s people are those who fear His name, who trust in Him, and call upon His name. The City of God are comprised not of those who are good in and of themselves, but those who realize they are sinful, and wait upon eternal glory, a new creation, and everlasting community with God and others. This principle sets God’s Kingdom apart from other false kingdoms.
One such faithful member of God’s covenant people is a man by the name of Abraham, or originally, Abram. Abram was an ordinary man, but a faithful man. Abram trusted in God. Abram has been considered one of the heroes of the faith. God made a covenant with Abram that has lasting effects even to this day. Abram was one of the patriarchs of Genesis. To support the case for this man’s character toward God, let facts be submitted to a candid world, outlying his faith, love, and commitment to God.
The story of Abram is recorded for us in the book of Genesis in chapters 12-25. The story begins with God just telling Abram to “leave.” Leave! Leave everything he had. His land, the place where he was raised, and his possessions. But God wanted to make something new in Abram. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great…” said the Lord to Abram. He promised to curse those who curse him, and bless those who bless him. God entered into covenant with Abram, and Abram followed God. The Bible says that Abram simply followed God. He left his land at the age of seventy-five.
God had told Abram to move West, which is actually more significant than many people may realize. Throughout the Bible, we see “going West” as a sign of goodness, or Holy progression. “Going East” is a sign of sinfulness or moving away from God. This is a sign already that Abram is a man of God. Abram was moving West, and moving closer to God. God wanted to make something new out of Abram. Would Abram continue to respond with the love and fear of the Lord, or would his faith and patience wear thin?
Being that the story of Abram is recorded in fourteen straight chapters in the Bible, and is mentioned in many other places in the Scriptures, we should know that this is a long story, requiring much faith and patience from Abram. God gave Abram great promise. He told Abram that he would find a land, and his descendents would inherit the land. Those who blessed Abram’s name would be blessed, and those who cursed his name would be cursed. On one hand, it would seem good for Abram to do what God said.
But many crises came into Abram’s journey. As Abram was wandering toward his promised land, he passed through the land of Egypt. At this time, there was a famine in the land, so Abram dwelt in Egypt, while the famine was severe. This must have been another problem and crises for Abram, and yet another chance for him to lose his faith.
And according to some Christian scholars, it was about this time that Abram did lose his faith – or at least part of it. Abram saw that Sarai was still beatiful. He knew based on the custom of the day, that the Egyptians would see Sarai, want to take her, and kill Abram, assuming Abram was her husband. It seemed as if Abram could not stay out of trouble. Isn’t God too gracious to allow Abram to go through this? Abram must have thought these things. Abram then asked Sarai if they could deceive the Egyptians, to tell them that Abram and Sarai were brother and sister. This would save Abram’s life, and Sarai could remain his wife. “I do not want to die, with all my promised possessions, and I also do not want anyone to take my wife,” Abram must have thought. Abram and Sarai did fool the Egyptians, and even despite further frustration, Abram and Sarai were saved. Many fault Abram for this, but one that does not fault Abram is the Bible. The Bible never faults Abram. Abram consulted first with his wife (12:13), and saved himself and his relationship with Sarai. Abram handled this in a God-fearing way, especially given all the troubles he was going through.
But as Abram continued on his journey, he and Sarai grew old. This seemed odd. God already promised them descendents (12:7). How could they have descendents? What could the Lord mean? They were too old. Abram must have wondered these things.
But then God came to Abram and reassured him that he would have a son. “A son, for me and Sarai, even in our old age. How could that be?” That must have been Abram’s reaction. But even in his questions, Abram still continued on in faith and patience. After each question, Abram always answered it in light of the grace and power of God. But as time wore on, Abram must have lost patience. God had entered into covenant with Abram, and already promised him a son and land to his inheritance. But God’s time schedule was a lot different than Abram’s. Would Abram continue to follow God?
Abram did give in one time. After Abram had been in the land of promise, Canaan, for ten years, Sarai had arranged for Hagar, Abram and Sarai’s maidservant, to sleep with Abram and conceive a child. Abram in hearing of this did not object. He followed and he failed. Hagar conceived and had Ishmael. This reminds of the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve committed the first sin. Both the husband and wife each sinned. Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden, but Adam did not teach Eve well enough not to eat of the fruit. Then, he ate the fruit himself. Adam failed as a leader, teacher, and husband. Eve failed as a follower, a listener, and as a wife. She ate the fruit, and she did not give thanks to God. If she was in question, she should have at least consulted with her husband, Adam. Adam was present watching Eve eat the fruit, and failed to intervene and prevent what God forbid.
This is similar to the case of Abram and Sarai. Sarai failed to consult with her husband and reassure him to have faith and patience in the Lord. Abram failed to teach Sarai to have faith and patience in God. Sarai went on her own initiative to bring Hagar to Abram to have the child of promise. In reality, this was not the child of promise. Abram after failing as a leader, agreed, and slept with Hagar, and she conceived. Then she had Ishmael. Adam and Abram both followed something, but did not follow God.
This makes Abram like another Adam. Once again, this Adam sins. This shows us that we still need a much greater Adam. But this does not mean that God can not still use Abram. God desires to work through his sin, making him new. God still wants to send the promised son, and to elevate Abram as a Father, and his promised son, to once again, point us to the ultimate New Adam.
With this in mind, we see that Abram sinning does not cancel out God’s plan. In some respects, it fulfills it even the more. But we still must hold Abram accountable, and we still must remember that continuous sins by Abram may prevent the covenant from being fulfilled – not by God’s unrighteousness, but by Abram’s. Once again, we are faced with the question – how will Abram respond? Will it be in the fear of the Lord, or in rebellion?
We saw at the beginning that God’s people – the City of God – are not those who are good in and of themselves, but those who seek God in recognizing their sin. Abram recognized his sin, and sought after the forgiveness of the Lord. Abram was righteous, and perhaps learned from his sin. The effects of his sin still exists today, but so does his faithfulness.
God continued to lead Abram to the Land of Promise, and Abram continued to follow God. Abram submitted to God’s time and plan, and not to his own. Abram did not say he would worship God only if God followed Abram’s time plan. Rather Abram followed God’s time plan, and worshipped Him no matter what it was. Living this way always works good. We are reminded of this in the book of Romans. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Abram followed God, and as we shall see, “All things work together for good.”
These things worked together for good in a two-fold relationship. This two-fold relationship was centered around God’s love and mercy toward Abram, and Abram’s love and fear of God. God first loved Abram, and Abram loved God because of God’s love. 1 John 4:19 says that “We love Him [God] because He first loved us.” Abram’s love for God only came by first the Love of God. Without God’s Love, Abram would not have loved God or other people. But this relationship goes further than this. God’s continued mercy comes from Abram’s faith in the Lord. God does not forget His end of the covenant, but a covenant is incomplete without man’s responsibilities upheld. Abram responded to God’s Love with faithful obedience and patience. God continued to show mercy to Abram.
So after many years of suffering, God led Abram to the promised land and gave Abram the promised son, Isaac. This was the sign of the covenant. The descendents of Isaac and the descendents of Ishmael are enemies to this day. This reminds us that good and evil are always enemies. Then we read in chapter seventeen that God changed the name of Abram to Abraham. The name Abraham means “A Father of many nations.” Abram was no longer. For now Abraham, a Father of many nations, had come in. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. This shows us more of God’s covenant. A covenant is shown by five steps. God first presents Himself. God then separates, in order to make something new. God then speaks, giving a new order, making new what was to be made new. Fourth, God gives a sign and seal of the covenant. Fifth, God prepares for the future. In the story, we see this played out with Abraham. God made Himself known to Abraham, then Abram. God told Abram to leave. This is the second step. In leaving, Abram was divided from his home, all in order for God to make something new. Then God spoke to Abram, telling Him the new respective roles. Abram would be a Father of many nations. By the same token, God gives a sign to Abram by changing his name to Abraham, which means “Father of many nations.” All that is left now is for God to prepare for the future. God does so by sending the promised son, Isaac. Now, Abraham is not so much an Adam, but something newer. He now must be a Father. The covenant is fulfilled it seems, but there is still something missing. Abraham faithful by sojourning through lands to find the promise land. But he must have a real “Fatherhood” test. Will he once again follow God under the new order, or would he go to childish and selfish ways. Would he love his son, Isaac, to the point of selfishness and idolatry, or would he love him only in light of the grace of God, remembering he is God’s gift, and placing God even before his pride possession of his son Isaac?
As God put Abraham in tests while he was yet Abram, so he would put him in a test now as a Father. God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham was most certainly confused, but still followed God, as did Isaac. Abraham took Isaac to a mountain to offer him up to the Lord. But the Lord intervened, and saved Isaac but sending an angel. This points us to Jesus again. Abraham was not perfect, nor was Isaac. This would not be worthy to save God’s people. But God gave us a sign of the faith it takes to follow God, and Abraham proved matured and faithful. Perhaps Isaac’s death shows Abraham’s maturity and forgiveness for sleeping with Hagar, as if points us to Christ dying for our sins in Adam. Only Jesus could fulfill the new covenant, but Isaac was now a picture and typology of the promised Son to come. Isaac would later be put through more tests, and would have to prove himself as a Father to his sons. But that is a different story.
Abraham lived faithful until his death. There is plenty we can learn from the story of Abraham. We learn about a faithful man, who placed his moral character rooted in God. We see a man who loved God, and walked according to His ways against insurmountable odds. Hebrews 11, known as the “hall of fame of faith,” mentions Abraham and his faith. It reads “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (vv 8-10). God is good by giving us a model for which we are to live by. He gives us the ultimate model in Jesus, but He also gives us models of sinners, who continued to live in faith. We can learn that God’s people, even the greatest and most recognized of Saints, are still imperfect humans and sinners. This separates Christianity from other religions. Abraham was a sinner, but he is a prime example of the Christian faith. We also see that good and evil are enemies. Moreover, we see that good always wins. Both the descendents of Isaac and Ishmael exist well in this world today, but Ishmael has no original stories. Isaac’s line is a story of God’s blessing. It has a name, and will continue crush the serpent’s head. We can learn a lot of theology of covenants and typologies from the story of Abraham. But this theology is not separate from the moral character we see in Abraham. If Abraham had not followed God, and if he would not have had patience in the Lord, then the covenant would not have been fulfilled. The typology to Christ would have been inadequate, except to see how not to react to God’s callings. We see these stories in the Scripture as well, but the story of Abraham is about a faithful man who put his trust in God, and is a great example to Christians everywhere today. Abraham put his trust in God, and may we do the same.
What do you think?
God bless the church
December 2, 2007
Ryan Hampton
The Character of Abraham
Ryan Hampton
December 2, 2007
Throughout history, God has always preserved His people, and He does so through ordinary, faithful men and women. God’s people are those who fear His name, who trust in Him, and call upon His name. The City of God are comprised not of those who are good in and of themselves, but those who realize they are sinful, and wait upon eternal glory, a new creation, and everlasting community with God and others. This principle sets God’s Kingdom apart from other false kingdoms.
One such faithful member of God’s covenant people is a man by the name of Abraham, or originally, Abram. Abram was an ordinary man, but a faithful man. Abram trusted in God. Abram has been considered one of the heroes of the faith. God made a covenant with Abram that has lasting effects even to this day. Abram was one of the patriarchs of Genesis. To support the case for this man’s character toward God, let facts be submitted to a candid world, outlying his faith, love, and commitment to God.
The story of Abram is recorded for us in the book of Genesis in chapters 12-25. The story begins with God just telling Abram to “leave.” Leave! Leave everything he had. His land, the place where he was raised, and his possessions. But God wanted to make something new in Abram. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great…” said the Lord to Abram. He promised to curse those who curse him, and bless those who bless him. God entered into covenant with Abram, and Abram followed God. The Bible says that Abram simply followed God. He left his land at the age of seventy-five.
God had told Abram to move West, which is actually more significant than many people may realize. Throughout the Bible, we see “going West” as a sign of goodness, or Holy progression. “Going East” is a sign of sinfulness or moving away from God. This is a sign already that Abram is a man of God. Abram was moving West, and moving closer to God. God wanted to make something new out of Abram. Would Abram continue to respond with the love and fear of the Lord, or would his faith and patience wear thin?
Being that the story of Abram is recorded in fourteen straight chapters in the Bible, and is mentioned in many other places in the Scriptures, we should know that this is a long story, requiring much faith and patience from Abram. God gave Abram great promise. He told Abram that he would find a land, and his descendents would inherit the land. Those who blessed Abram’s name would be blessed, and those who cursed his name would be cursed. On one hand, it would seem good for Abram to do what God said.
But many crises came into Abram’s journey. As Abram was wandering toward his promised land, he passed through the land of Egypt. At this time, there was a famine in the land, so Abram dwelt in Egypt, while the famine was severe. This must have been another problem and crises for Abram, and yet another chance for him to lose his faith.
And according to some Christian scholars, it was about this time that Abram did lose his faith – or at least part of it. Abram saw that Sarai was still beatiful. He knew based on the custom of the day, that the Egyptians would see Sarai, want to take her, and kill Abram, assuming Abram was her husband. It seemed as if Abram could not stay out of trouble. Isn’t God too gracious to allow Abram to go through this? Abram must have thought these things. Abram then asked Sarai if they could deceive the Egyptians, to tell them that Abram and Sarai were brother and sister. This would save Abram’s life, and Sarai could remain his wife. “I do not want to die, with all my promised possessions, and I also do not want anyone to take my wife,” Abram must have thought. Abram and Sarai did fool the Egyptians, and even despite further frustration, Abram and Sarai were saved. Many fault Abram for this, but one that does not fault Abram is the Bible. The Bible never faults Abram. Abram consulted first with his wife (12:13), and saved himself and his relationship with Sarai. Abram handled this in a God-fearing way, especially given all the troubles he was going through.
But as Abram continued on his journey, he and Sarai grew old. This seemed odd. God already promised them descendents (12:7). How could they have descendents? What could the Lord mean? They were too old. Abram must have wondered these things.
But then God came to Abram and reassured him that he would have a son. “A son, for me and Sarai, even in our old age. How could that be?” That must have been Abram’s reaction. But even in his questions, Abram still continued on in faith and patience. After each question, Abram always answered it in light of the grace and power of God. But as time wore on, Abram must have lost patience. God had entered into covenant with Abram, and already promised him a son and land to his inheritance. But God’s time schedule was a lot different than Abram’s. Would Abram continue to follow God?
Abram did give in one time. After Abram had been in the land of promise, Canaan, for ten years, Sarai had arranged for Hagar, Abram and Sarai’s maidservant, to sleep with Abram and conceive a child. Abram in hearing of this did not object. He followed and he failed. Hagar conceived and had Ishmael. This reminds of the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve committed the first sin. Both the husband and wife each sinned. Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden, but Adam did not teach Eve well enough not to eat of the fruit. Then, he ate the fruit himself. Adam failed as a leader, teacher, and husband. Eve failed as a follower, a listener, and as a wife. She ate the fruit, and she did not give thanks to God. If she was in question, she should have at least consulted with her husband, Adam. Adam was present watching Eve eat the fruit, and failed to intervene and prevent what God forbid.
This is similar to the case of Abram and Sarai. Sarai failed to consult with her husband and reassure him to have faith and patience in the Lord. Abram failed to teach Sarai to have faith and patience in God. Sarai went on her own initiative to bring Hagar to Abram to have the child of promise. In reality, this was not the child of promise. Abram after failing as a leader, agreed, and slept with Hagar, and she conceived. Then she had Ishmael. Adam and Abram both followed something, but did not follow God.
This makes Abram like another Adam. Once again, this Adam sins. This shows us that we still need a much greater Adam. But this does not mean that God can not still use Abram. God desires to work through his sin, making him new. God still wants to send the promised son, and to elevate Abram as a Father, and his promised son, to once again, point us to the ultimate New Adam.
With this in mind, we see that Abram sinning does not cancel out God’s plan. In some respects, it fulfills it even the more. But we still must hold Abram accountable, and we still must remember that continuous sins by Abram may prevent the covenant from being fulfilled – not by God’s unrighteousness, but by Abram’s. Once again, we are faced with the question – how will Abram respond? Will it be in the fear of the Lord, or in rebellion?
We saw at the beginning that God’s people – the City of God – are not those who are good in and of themselves, but those who seek God in recognizing their sin. Abram recognized his sin, and sought after the forgiveness of the Lord. Abram was righteous, and perhaps learned from his sin. The effects of his sin still exists today, but so does his faithfulness.
God continued to lead Abram to the Land of Promise, and Abram continued to follow God. Abram submitted to God’s time and plan, and not to his own. Abram did not say he would worship God only if God followed Abram’s time plan. Rather Abram followed God’s time plan, and worshipped Him no matter what it was. Living this way always works good. We are reminded of this in the book of Romans. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Abram followed God, and as we shall see, “All things work together for good.”
These things worked together for good in a two-fold relationship. This two-fold relationship was centered around God’s love and mercy toward Abram, and Abram’s love and fear of God. God first loved Abram, and Abram loved God because of God’s love. 1 John 4:19 says that “We love Him [God] because He first loved us.” Abram’s love for God only came by first the Love of God. Without God’s Love, Abram would not have loved God or other people. But this relationship goes further than this. God’s continued mercy comes from Abram’s faith in the Lord. God does not forget His end of the covenant, but a covenant is incomplete without man’s responsibilities upheld. Abram responded to God’s Love with faithful obedience and patience. God continued to show mercy to Abram.
So after many years of suffering, God led Abram to the promised land and gave Abram the promised son, Isaac. This was the sign of the covenant. The descendents of Isaac and the descendents of Ishmael are enemies to this day. This reminds us that good and evil are always enemies. Then we read in chapter seventeen that God changed the name of Abram to Abraham. The name Abraham means “A Father of many nations.” Abram was no longer. For now Abraham, a Father of many nations, had come in. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. This shows us more of God’s covenant. A covenant is shown by five steps. God first presents Himself. God then separates, in order to make something new. God then speaks, giving a new order, making new what was to be made new. Fourth, God gives a sign and seal of the covenant. Fifth, God prepares for the future. In the story, we see this played out with Abraham. God made Himself known to Abraham, then Abram. God told Abram to leave. This is the second step. In leaving, Abram was divided from his home, all in order for God to make something new. Then God spoke to Abram, telling Him the new respective roles. Abram would be a Father of many nations. By the same token, God gives a sign to Abram by changing his name to Abraham, which means “Father of many nations.” All that is left now is for God to prepare for the future. God does so by sending the promised son, Isaac. Now, Abraham is not so much an Adam, but something newer. He now must be a Father. The covenant is fulfilled it seems, but there is still something missing. Abraham faithful by sojourning through lands to find the promise land. But he must have a real “Fatherhood” test. Will he once again follow God under the new order, or would he go to childish and selfish ways. Would he love his son, Isaac, to the point of selfishness and idolatry, or would he love him only in light of the grace of God, remembering he is God’s gift, and placing God even before his pride possession of his son Isaac?
As God put Abraham in tests while he was yet Abram, so he would put him in a test now as a Father. God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham was most certainly confused, but still followed God, as did Isaac. Abraham took Isaac to a mountain to offer him up to the Lord. But the Lord intervened, and saved Isaac but sending an angel. This points us to Jesus again. Abraham was not perfect, nor was Isaac. This would not be worthy to save God’s people. But God gave us a sign of the faith it takes to follow God, and Abraham proved matured and faithful. Perhaps Isaac’s death shows Abraham’s maturity and forgiveness for sleeping with Hagar, as if points us to Christ dying for our sins in Adam. Only Jesus could fulfill the new covenant, but Isaac was now a picture and typology of the promised Son to come. Isaac would later be put through more tests, and would have to prove himself as a Father to his sons. But that is a different story.
Abraham lived faithful until his death. There is plenty we can learn from the story of Abraham. We learn about a faithful man, who placed his moral character rooted in God. We see a man who loved God, and walked according to His ways against insurmountable odds. Hebrews 11, known as the “hall of fame of faith,” mentions Abraham and his faith. It reads “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (vv 8-10). God is good by giving us a model for which we are to live by. He gives us the ultimate model in Jesus, but He also gives us models of sinners, who continued to live in faith. We can learn that God’s people, even the greatest and most recognized of Saints, are still imperfect humans and sinners. This separates Christianity from other religions. Abraham was a sinner, but he is a prime example of the Christian faith. We also see that good and evil are enemies. Moreover, we see that good always wins. Both the descendents of Isaac and Ishmael exist well in this world today, but Ishmael has no original stories. Isaac’s line is a story of God’s blessing. It has a name, and will continue crush the serpent’s head. We can learn a lot of theology of covenants and typologies from the story of Abraham. But this theology is not separate from the moral character we see in Abraham. If Abraham had not followed God, and if he would not have had patience in the Lord, then the covenant would not have been fulfilled. The typology to Christ would have been inadequate, except to see how not to react to God’s callings. We see these stories in the Scripture as well, but the story of Abraham is about a faithful man who put his trust in God, and is a great example to Christians everywhere today. Abraham put his trust in God, and may we do the same.
What do you think?
God bless the church
December 2, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The Forgotten Holiday
The Forgotten Holiday
Happy Thanksgiving! Or are you too sucked into the “Christmas spirit.” It is easy to. I am looking forward to Christmas myself. I enjoy the Christmas music, the presents, the tradition, the Christmas story of Jesus, and believe it or not, even the hectic Christmas shopping. But right as you are getting ready for Christmas, we have another holiday that seems ever so forgotten- Thanksgiving.
We don’t know the story of Thanksgiving that well – nor do we know how it applies to us today. We hear a little “Let’s be thankful” speech from our parents that lasts about five minutes, we eat a little turkey, and then….dream more about Christmas, and enjoy the few days off we have of school. But do we thank God for these few days off to give us just enough rest? Do we thank Him for the turkey? Do we thank Him for the upcoming holiday – Christmas – that is approaching us? Not often do we do these things.
But I encourage you not to forget about Thanksgiving this year. Maybe I’m writing this a little later than I should, but then again it is never too late to be thankful. Oh yeah, now we have another thing that will get in the way of our thanks (at least here in Alabama) – the Iron Bowl. And all over the nation there is a rivalry this weekend of some sort. But perhaps we should be thankful for football, and all of its rivalries.
I could probably be more thankful than what I am. But I do try to remember what I have that I don’t have to have. My food. Food provides us meal, but also taste. God could have given us food that tasted nasty ain which we would only eat to fill us up. But instead He gave us macaroni & cheese, pizza, steak, fried chicken, juicy cheeseburgers, and of course, turkey! Are you hungry yet?! What else is there to be thankful for? How about churches open every Sunday morning where we can go to not only praise God, but enjoy the fellowship with others that He gives us. What about any friendship and fellowship we have. What about our work – the fact we can help others, and make money in the process! Our hands, feet, clothing, shelter, appliances (including the computer I write this on, and TV’s to watch the Iron Bowl on). What about salvation itself?!
So we have plenty to be thankful for. I too often complain. I have been trying to get some money in, but any work I try to do has been kind of dry lately. But I remember not to complain. God always does His part for me, and it would only be my own laziness that would prevent me from reaching my full potential. So don’t complain – especially this time of year – Thanksgiving. You have plenty more to be thankful for. Don’t forget Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
War Eagle!
What do you think?
God bless America
Pray for our Troops
November 21, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Happy Thanksgiving! Or are you too sucked into the “Christmas spirit.” It is easy to. I am looking forward to Christmas myself. I enjoy the Christmas music, the presents, the tradition, the Christmas story of Jesus, and believe it or not, even the hectic Christmas shopping. But right as you are getting ready for Christmas, we have another holiday that seems ever so forgotten- Thanksgiving.
We don’t know the story of Thanksgiving that well – nor do we know how it applies to us today. We hear a little “Let’s be thankful” speech from our parents that lasts about five minutes, we eat a little turkey, and then….dream more about Christmas, and enjoy the few days off we have of school. But do we thank God for these few days off to give us just enough rest? Do we thank Him for the turkey? Do we thank Him for the upcoming holiday – Christmas – that is approaching us? Not often do we do these things.
But I encourage you not to forget about Thanksgiving this year. Maybe I’m writing this a little later than I should, but then again it is never too late to be thankful. Oh yeah, now we have another thing that will get in the way of our thanks (at least here in Alabama) – the Iron Bowl. And all over the nation there is a rivalry this weekend of some sort. But perhaps we should be thankful for football, and all of its rivalries.
I could probably be more thankful than what I am. But I do try to remember what I have that I don’t have to have. My food. Food provides us meal, but also taste. God could have given us food that tasted nasty ain which we would only eat to fill us up. But instead He gave us macaroni & cheese, pizza, steak, fried chicken, juicy cheeseburgers, and of course, turkey! Are you hungry yet?! What else is there to be thankful for? How about churches open every Sunday morning where we can go to not only praise God, but enjoy the fellowship with others that He gives us. What about any friendship and fellowship we have. What about our work – the fact we can help others, and make money in the process! Our hands, feet, clothing, shelter, appliances (including the computer I write this on, and TV’s to watch the Iron Bowl on). What about salvation itself?!
So we have plenty to be thankful for. I too often complain. I have been trying to get some money in, but any work I try to do has been kind of dry lately. But I remember not to complain. God always does His part for me, and it would only be my own laziness that would prevent me from reaching my full potential. So don’t complain – especially this time of year – Thanksgiving. You have plenty more to be thankful for. Don’t forget Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
War Eagle!
What do you think?
God bless America
Pray for our Troops
November 21, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Friday, September 28, 2007
God's Grace and the World's Curse of Marriage
Men, Women, and Relationships
Not too long ago, our Pastor, Reverend Rich Lusk, did a sermon series on the Christian family, largely centered on the husband and wife. The history of this series goes back a while. At the season of lent (just before Easter), he was doing a series on the seven deadly sins- doing one each week. But he went out of town one of those weeks, and left out the last of the seven deadly sins- lust. After he preached on six of the seven deadly sins, he began preaching in accordance to the church calendar, particularly the Easter story. Finally he was able to preach on lust. His sermon on lust led into the beginnings of his series on the family. After preaching on how not to look at and judge the opposite sex, he began to preach on how to look at the opposite sex, especially in the relationships of husband and wife. Essentially, he preached on looking at marriages through the lens of Jesus Christ, not through the lens of worldly desires. Keep this point in mind as reading below.
He brought up some good points, but perhaps what he stressed most was the marriage between Jesus Christ, and His bride, the church. Our earthly marriages should resemble this, and the world should see Christ in the marriages. He preached a while on the similarities and differences between men and women. He preached on the Trinity, and how our relationships, whether as family, husband and wife, or any relationships with people in general, should resemble the Trinity. There should be two people or two groups of people, connected by the love that they share, hence making a Triune relationship. God the Father and God the Son are joined by the Love of God the Holy Spirit. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are joined by the Love of God the Son. God the Holy Spirit and God the Son are joined by the Love of God the Father. God is a Trinity. God is love.
All of these are great points that he brought out, but this blog is more than just a mere retelling of what the Reverend Lusk said. I believe that if we put these points to the test, and put the Bible to the test, in reference to the world, these points and the Bible pass the test. To do this, let us look at the world today, both from the Christian worldview and from the world’s worldview, seeing if the Christian worldview holds up. We shall begin with some basic points, and then proceed into looking at the dangers of the relationships of men and women, as shown through the world’s worldview.
Men and women are different. The differences are not just skin deep. The very essence of who men and women are, are different. Modern science tells us that. Common sense tells us that. Women act differently, look at things differently, interpret things differently, and reason things differently than men do. This, however, does not mean that the way women see and perceive things is below or superior to the way men do. It just provides a different approach to things. Often times, men see things rationally while women see things emotionally. Both rationality and emotions are important, and neither one should be taken out of its context- whether taken away or given too much of.
For this reason, in one very real sense, men and women complete each other. The woman is supposed to submit to the man. The man is supposed to be the ruler over the household, while the woman may be the ruler within the household. This is why men go to work outside the house for the family more than women, but women may work more within the house more than men. The man is judged by how the family is corporately, while the woman may be judged by the way the house looks inside. Men do not necessarily always mind going to work for the family, but they like coming home to a clean house and a warm plate of supper! This does not mean that men can not work inside the house, or that women can not work outside the house, but men take pride in their work and women take pride in their relationship. Men take pride in being a leader and protector. Women take pride in being protected and worthy of being protected. It all sounds great doesn’t it? Each person does their part to make a happy family.
But we don’t live in this utopian society. We live in a fallen world with fallen people. Men take pride in their work, which is good. Women take pride in their relationships, which is good. But what do we see come from that in a fallen world? Women emotionally give into many relationships that they should not be in. Men find it okay to get involved in casual and meaningless relationships for the means of casual sex. Men become jealous because they want to be the protectors. Women get jealous because they want to be protected. Men, being rationally minded, believe in searching for the right person, while women, being emotionally minded, long for that "perfect someone" to come like prince charming, so that they don’t have to search. But even beyond all of this, we see pride. Men and women both look too lightly on their jobs. They seem to talk about one small mistake their spouse makes, while forgetting about their own responsibilities (Matthew 7:3). As Reverend Lusk said, "Sometimes the best attitude to have is to shut up and serve."
But with a fallen world, humans begin acting like the other animals. Men look for choices and opportunities. This is what leads them to casual sex, casual and meaningless relationships, and "using" girls for their own personal benefits. They want to appear attractive because of the people they are around, both in number and in their appearance. Women on the other hand, look for one relationship. This is good until they fall too easily. You know the classic saying that parents tell their little kids who think that they have found love: "You don’t know what love is." In reality, not many people do- but they think they do. Women fall so fast, only to be used by another guy. Women justify casual sex by claiming it is not casual, when in reality it is. When men cheat, it is because they go and "scout out" other women, trying to be dominant and prove what they see as man-hood. They may be carrying on more than one relationship at a time. Women fall more emotionally. After they have been with one guy a while, and another one comes along and seems more "exiting" they are easily swept in. Men may end up with many girlfriends or sex partners at a time believing it makes them dominant. Women may say they only have one, but they bounce around so much it doesn’t seem to matter anyway. The end results are essentially the same, but men and women reach them differently. Men seek to be dominant. Women fall too easily. As Reverend Lusk said in his sermon on lust, "Men lust, and women want to be lusted."
Ouch! I have heavily criticized both men and women! Was I too mean? I write all of this from the standpoint of fallen man. This is how things work between men and women in a sinful world- at least from the world’s point of view. But what about things from God’s point of view?
The way men and women are, in many respects, is how God created it to be. Adam was to be a ruler and a leader. The Bible told him to guard and subdue the garden and the land of Eden (Genesis 1:28). He was to cherish Eve and protect her. Eve was to assist Adam in his important task. Mankind in general was head of the animal kingdom (Genesis 1:26). Ultimately, though, they were both to submit to God, and protect the house as if it was God’s house- because it was. Adam and Eve were joined by the love that they shared- love which would resemble God’s love. They were to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). They were created in God’s very image [Genesis 1:26 (also note the usage of the terms us and our to describe the one God)]. It is evident from Scripture that creating both male and female is an essential aspect of how man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). God had dominion over man, but He entrusted man to have dominion over all other animals. There was almost like a system of hierarchy going on. The animals were similar to man, and man was similar to God. But the animals were not man, and man was not God. Nor were the animals really comparable to God Himself.
Chronologically, Adam was given his duties even before God formed Eve. In Genesis 2:16-17, God tells Adam to eat from every tree of the garden except for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Interestingly enough, it is in that very next verse, verse 18, that God "realizes" that it is not good for man to be alone. After searching every beast, bird, and all other creatures, God realizes that there is no one comparable to Adam to be his helper. In verse 21, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep taking out one of his bones in order to make woman. Verse 25 tells us that they were both naked and unashamed. There was nothing they were hiding. They were both one before each other and before God Almighty.
So Eve was made for Adam. Adam was first given work, but Eve was made to assist in the work and to complete Adam. Eve is also very dependant on the relationship with Adam. Adam may seem to have a natural tendency to want to be alone, being the head, and the one who has been given the chief responsibility of subduing the garden and the land and the world. But even yet, when Adam was faithful and wise, he realized not only his dependence to God directly, but also indirectly by what God had given him, especially in Eve. Adam realized that Eve was Adam. Adam even said, "This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" (Genesis 2:23). Unfortunately, however, Adam failed in his task by not guarding and protecting the garden. He allowed the evil serpent to come into the garden and tempt Eve. Even after this, he fell even more by eating of the fruit.
But these are all very similar to the general way we perceive things today. Man is the leader and protector. Man has a higher calling on his job, while woman has a higher calling to the relationship. The two are joined together to be made one, but very much as a Trinity- the two people united by the love that they share. Genesis 2:24 tells us that "Man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh." This is the same commandment that Jesus gives in Matthew 19:5. We saw in Genesis that woman was made for man. That is exactly what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:9, which reads, "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." Paul makes clear in Ephesians chapter five what was showed in Genesis. Ephesians 5:22-25 reads, "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it."
We have concluded here that what was intended in Genesis is still intended today, even after the fall. We are not perfect, but that does not really mean we have a different calling (in some areas we do because we are to preach to the lost, whereas before the fall there was no lost- but the obligations of men and women’s relationship is the same). Now let us compare these things to what the world offers. Above I said that essentially we see the same basic obligations, so why would God command something that obviously has bad results as shown above? The world would agree that a man shall leave his parents and cleave to his wife, and they shall, by some standard, become one. The world would agree that women think more emotionally, and that women seek relationships more, while men seek work more and are more rationally minded. In the world, women want men both strong physically and internally to be a good protector. This also seems Biblical. A lot of what the world wants is exactly what is offered in the Bible by God.
But even yet, relationships that are founded completely on Christian principles seem better, purer, and happier. What is the difference, or is there one?
There is a difference- not in the general principles, but in the lens that people see them through. Do people look to the marriage of Christ and the church as the ultimate standard of marriage? Or is it found in money, sex, and appearance?
There is plenty of Biblical reason to see things this way. Ultimately, anything we do should be done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Psalm 127:1a reads, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." Psalm 128:1 says, "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways." Proverbs 1:7 tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom." Perhaps most relevant of all though, is what Joshua says in Joshua 24:15- "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Ultimately, a Christian marriage is about placing God first. Joshua, as the leader of the house, takes the responsibility of speaking in behalf of his family by saying that they will serve the Lord.
I believe that this blog can show us a few things. For one, our marriages should be centered on the marriage of Jesus Christ and the church in light of the Gospel. This great comparison is shown clearly in Ephesians 5:22-25 as quoted above. Unless our presupposition to our marriages are found in the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our marriages will suffer. I believe it can also show us that the Bible is accurate, and that God’s way is best. The world even mimics God’s way of marriage. It does not work because the world does not place their hope through Jesus Christ. As Reverend Lusk pointed out (paraphrased), "It looks so great and so beautiful when marriages are lived out in light of the Gospel." The world can only try, but unless they put their hope in Jesus, they will always fail. Finally, we can better understand the seriousness of the fall of man. Even when man does things according the basic patterns of God’s will, it does not work as sufficiently under the fall, and it does not work at all when our hope is not found in Jesus Christ.
Our marriages are a strong representation to the Christian faith, and the Christian faith should be the representative in our marriages.
You may hear some of Reverend Lusk’s sermon audio at http://trinity-pres.net/audio/sermonindex.php
What do you think?
God Bless America
Pray for our Troops
September 28, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Not too long ago, our Pastor, Reverend Rich Lusk, did a sermon series on the Christian family, largely centered on the husband and wife. The history of this series goes back a while. At the season of lent (just before Easter), he was doing a series on the seven deadly sins- doing one each week. But he went out of town one of those weeks, and left out the last of the seven deadly sins- lust. After he preached on six of the seven deadly sins, he began preaching in accordance to the church calendar, particularly the Easter story. Finally he was able to preach on lust. His sermon on lust led into the beginnings of his series on the family. After preaching on how not to look at and judge the opposite sex, he began to preach on how to look at the opposite sex, especially in the relationships of husband and wife. Essentially, he preached on looking at marriages through the lens of Jesus Christ, not through the lens of worldly desires. Keep this point in mind as reading below.
He brought up some good points, but perhaps what he stressed most was the marriage between Jesus Christ, and His bride, the church. Our earthly marriages should resemble this, and the world should see Christ in the marriages. He preached a while on the similarities and differences between men and women. He preached on the Trinity, and how our relationships, whether as family, husband and wife, or any relationships with people in general, should resemble the Trinity. There should be two people or two groups of people, connected by the love that they share, hence making a Triune relationship. God the Father and God the Son are joined by the Love of God the Holy Spirit. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are joined by the Love of God the Son. God the Holy Spirit and God the Son are joined by the Love of God the Father. God is a Trinity. God is love.
All of these are great points that he brought out, but this blog is more than just a mere retelling of what the Reverend Lusk said. I believe that if we put these points to the test, and put the Bible to the test, in reference to the world, these points and the Bible pass the test. To do this, let us look at the world today, both from the Christian worldview and from the world’s worldview, seeing if the Christian worldview holds up. We shall begin with some basic points, and then proceed into looking at the dangers of the relationships of men and women, as shown through the world’s worldview.
Men and women are different. The differences are not just skin deep. The very essence of who men and women are, are different. Modern science tells us that. Common sense tells us that. Women act differently, look at things differently, interpret things differently, and reason things differently than men do. This, however, does not mean that the way women see and perceive things is below or superior to the way men do. It just provides a different approach to things. Often times, men see things rationally while women see things emotionally. Both rationality and emotions are important, and neither one should be taken out of its context- whether taken away or given too much of.
For this reason, in one very real sense, men and women complete each other. The woman is supposed to submit to the man. The man is supposed to be the ruler over the household, while the woman may be the ruler within the household. This is why men go to work outside the house for the family more than women, but women may work more within the house more than men. The man is judged by how the family is corporately, while the woman may be judged by the way the house looks inside. Men do not necessarily always mind going to work for the family, but they like coming home to a clean house and a warm plate of supper! This does not mean that men can not work inside the house, or that women can not work outside the house, but men take pride in their work and women take pride in their relationship. Men take pride in being a leader and protector. Women take pride in being protected and worthy of being protected. It all sounds great doesn’t it? Each person does their part to make a happy family.
But we don’t live in this utopian society. We live in a fallen world with fallen people. Men take pride in their work, which is good. Women take pride in their relationships, which is good. But what do we see come from that in a fallen world? Women emotionally give into many relationships that they should not be in. Men find it okay to get involved in casual and meaningless relationships for the means of casual sex. Men become jealous because they want to be the protectors. Women get jealous because they want to be protected. Men, being rationally minded, believe in searching for the right person, while women, being emotionally minded, long for that "perfect someone" to come like prince charming, so that they don’t have to search. But even beyond all of this, we see pride. Men and women both look too lightly on their jobs. They seem to talk about one small mistake their spouse makes, while forgetting about their own responsibilities (Matthew 7:3). As Reverend Lusk said, "Sometimes the best attitude to have is to shut up and serve."
But with a fallen world, humans begin acting like the other animals. Men look for choices and opportunities. This is what leads them to casual sex, casual and meaningless relationships, and "using" girls for their own personal benefits. They want to appear attractive because of the people they are around, both in number and in their appearance. Women on the other hand, look for one relationship. This is good until they fall too easily. You know the classic saying that parents tell their little kids who think that they have found love: "You don’t know what love is." In reality, not many people do- but they think they do. Women fall so fast, only to be used by another guy. Women justify casual sex by claiming it is not casual, when in reality it is. When men cheat, it is because they go and "scout out" other women, trying to be dominant and prove what they see as man-hood. They may be carrying on more than one relationship at a time. Women fall more emotionally. After they have been with one guy a while, and another one comes along and seems more "exiting" they are easily swept in. Men may end up with many girlfriends or sex partners at a time believing it makes them dominant. Women may say they only have one, but they bounce around so much it doesn’t seem to matter anyway. The end results are essentially the same, but men and women reach them differently. Men seek to be dominant. Women fall too easily. As Reverend Lusk said in his sermon on lust, "Men lust, and women want to be lusted."
Ouch! I have heavily criticized both men and women! Was I too mean? I write all of this from the standpoint of fallen man. This is how things work between men and women in a sinful world- at least from the world’s point of view. But what about things from God’s point of view?
The way men and women are, in many respects, is how God created it to be. Adam was to be a ruler and a leader. The Bible told him to guard and subdue the garden and the land of Eden (Genesis 1:28). He was to cherish Eve and protect her. Eve was to assist Adam in his important task. Mankind in general was head of the animal kingdom (Genesis 1:26). Ultimately, though, they were both to submit to God, and protect the house as if it was God’s house- because it was. Adam and Eve were joined by the love that they shared- love which would resemble God’s love. They were to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). They were created in God’s very image [Genesis 1:26 (also note the usage of the terms us and our to describe the one God)]. It is evident from Scripture that creating both male and female is an essential aspect of how man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). God had dominion over man, but He entrusted man to have dominion over all other animals. There was almost like a system of hierarchy going on. The animals were similar to man, and man was similar to God. But the animals were not man, and man was not God. Nor were the animals really comparable to God Himself.
Chronologically, Adam was given his duties even before God formed Eve. In Genesis 2:16-17, God tells Adam to eat from every tree of the garden except for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Interestingly enough, it is in that very next verse, verse 18, that God "realizes" that it is not good for man to be alone. After searching every beast, bird, and all other creatures, God realizes that there is no one comparable to Adam to be his helper. In verse 21, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep taking out one of his bones in order to make woman. Verse 25 tells us that they were both naked and unashamed. There was nothing they were hiding. They were both one before each other and before God Almighty.
So Eve was made for Adam. Adam was first given work, but Eve was made to assist in the work and to complete Adam. Eve is also very dependant on the relationship with Adam. Adam may seem to have a natural tendency to want to be alone, being the head, and the one who has been given the chief responsibility of subduing the garden and the land and the world. But even yet, when Adam was faithful and wise, he realized not only his dependence to God directly, but also indirectly by what God had given him, especially in Eve. Adam realized that Eve was Adam. Adam even said, "This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" (Genesis 2:23). Unfortunately, however, Adam failed in his task by not guarding and protecting the garden. He allowed the evil serpent to come into the garden and tempt Eve. Even after this, he fell even more by eating of the fruit.
But these are all very similar to the general way we perceive things today. Man is the leader and protector. Man has a higher calling on his job, while woman has a higher calling to the relationship. The two are joined together to be made one, but very much as a Trinity- the two people united by the love that they share. Genesis 2:24 tells us that "Man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh." This is the same commandment that Jesus gives in Matthew 19:5. We saw in Genesis that woman was made for man. That is exactly what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:9, which reads, "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." Paul makes clear in Ephesians chapter five what was showed in Genesis. Ephesians 5:22-25 reads, "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it."
We have concluded here that what was intended in Genesis is still intended today, even after the fall. We are not perfect, but that does not really mean we have a different calling (in some areas we do because we are to preach to the lost, whereas before the fall there was no lost- but the obligations of men and women’s relationship is the same). Now let us compare these things to what the world offers. Above I said that essentially we see the same basic obligations, so why would God command something that obviously has bad results as shown above? The world would agree that a man shall leave his parents and cleave to his wife, and they shall, by some standard, become one. The world would agree that women think more emotionally, and that women seek relationships more, while men seek work more and are more rationally minded. In the world, women want men both strong physically and internally to be a good protector. This also seems Biblical. A lot of what the world wants is exactly what is offered in the Bible by God.
But even yet, relationships that are founded completely on Christian principles seem better, purer, and happier. What is the difference, or is there one?
There is a difference- not in the general principles, but in the lens that people see them through. Do people look to the marriage of Christ and the church as the ultimate standard of marriage? Or is it found in money, sex, and appearance?
There is plenty of Biblical reason to see things this way. Ultimately, anything we do should be done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Psalm 127:1a reads, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." Psalm 128:1 says, "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways." Proverbs 1:7 tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom." Perhaps most relevant of all though, is what Joshua says in Joshua 24:15- "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Ultimately, a Christian marriage is about placing God first. Joshua, as the leader of the house, takes the responsibility of speaking in behalf of his family by saying that they will serve the Lord.
I believe that this blog can show us a few things. For one, our marriages should be centered on the marriage of Jesus Christ and the church in light of the Gospel. This great comparison is shown clearly in Ephesians 5:22-25 as quoted above. Unless our presupposition to our marriages are found in the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our marriages will suffer. I believe it can also show us that the Bible is accurate, and that God’s way is best. The world even mimics God’s way of marriage. It does not work because the world does not place their hope through Jesus Christ. As Reverend Lusk pointed out (paraphrased), "It looks so great and so beautiful when marriages are lived out in light of the Gospel." The world can only try, but unless they put their hope in Jesus, they will always fail. Finally, we can better understand the seriousness of the fall of man. Even when man does things according the basic patterns of God’s will, it does not work as sufficiently under the fall, and it does not work at all when our hope is not found in Jesus Christ.
Our marriages are a strong representation to the Christian faith, and the Christian faith should be the representative in our marriages.
You may hear some of Reverend Lusk’s sermon audio at http://trinity-pres.net/audio/sermonindex.php
What do you think?
God Bless America
Pray for our Troops
September 28, 2007
Ryan Hampton
Friday, June 29, 2007
VACATION!!
Well tomorrow, me and my family are off for vacation. No, it's not the beach, it's actually Branson, Missouri. Some of the extended family is going to be there as well, and it should be real nice. You usually think of vacations as going to the beach, not somewhere in the middle of the nation! But from what I hear it should be a good trip.
It's good to occasionally get away from life for a while- well, from the main part of life. We can't ever escape life. Often to do this, I go up to the lake, although it has a life of it's own sometimes. But occasionally, it's good to be away for a while on an actual vacation. The lake is a home away from home. Vacationing, wherever it is, is a great place to get away from home in general.
Although there is a trip there, and a trip back, and we will constantly be doing something, I think of this as somewhat of a rest. Vacationing is a time to get away from work, and other general things one frequently does at home. Vacationin is a time to relax, but yet go and have fun.
We all need rest, from time to time. Even God Himself rested, after six days of work. God did not have to rest. He was not tired. But He set into motion are method of life. Always take the time to rest. One of the most important things you can do in music is to rest! The same is for life.
But at the same time, we should remember the other truths to this. Resting is not all of life. In fact, it is not even the majority of our life. Out of seven days, God only used one to rest. He rested only to come back and realize that though what He had was good, it was insufficient without a helper for man. Thus, He made woman.
In music, you rest your lips (or your wrists if you are a drummer). But you don't rest your mind. You only prepare yourself for what is to come in the piece you are playing. We all need our times to forget about life for a while, but there are some things we should never forget. We should always stay focused on God, and reming ourselves that when the rest is over, we must go back to work, and try to improve ourselves from before our rest.
Perhaps the greatest thing you can do during resting is to give thanks. We should always be thankful to be working, and to be able to rest when need be. As for myself, I have plenty to be thankful for. I have a home, that I will come back to after vacation. Even if everything about this trips messus up, and it is not much of a rest after all, I still have a home to come back to. I have a family. If it all goes well, we have great memories as a family. If it all messus up, we still have great memories. We may laugh at them one day. I have money. I'm not rich, but God always seems to give me what I need. Beyond all of this, I have salvation, for which I am most thankful for.
I am looking foward to this trip, and I hope for it to be a great trip! But I must also remember to give thanks, which is perhaps the best thing you can do during resting. When God rested, He looked over His creation, that He created. When we rest, we must not only look at what we have done, and be glad we can rest from it now; we must also be thankful for God giving us the opportunity to accomplish what we accomplished.
So while this vacation is a time of rest, it is also a time of reflection, thanksgiving, and the exercising of the mind and body, and in all ways, giving glory to God. I hope this is a great vacation, and I hope to have a good time, and a good rest, preparing me for the next week to come.
-Ryan
It's good to occasionally get away from life for a while- well, from the main part of life. We can't ever escape life. Often to do this, I go up to the lake, although it has a life of it's own sometimes. But occasionally, it's good to be away for a while on an actual vacation. The lake is a home away from home. Vacationing, wherever it is, is a great place to get away from home in general.
Although there is a trip there, and a trip back, and we will constantly be doing something, I think of this as somewhat of a rest. Vacationing is a time to get away from work, and other general things one frequently does at home. Vacationin is a time to relax, but yet go and have fun.
We all need rest, from time to time. Even God Himself rested, after six days of work. God did not have to rest. He was not tired. But He set into motion are method of life. Always take the time to rest. One of the most important things you can do in music is to rest! The same is for life.
But at the same time, we should remember the other truths to this. Resting is not all of life. In fact, it is not even the majority of our life. Out of seven days, God only used one to rest. He rested only to come back and realize that though what He had was good, it was insufficient without a helper for man. Thus, He made woman.
In music, you rest your lips (or your wrists if you are a drummer). But you don't rest your mind. You only prepare yourself for what is to come in the piece you are playing. We all need our times to forget about life for a while, but there are some things we should never forget. We should always stay focused on God, and reming ourselves that when the rest is over, we must go back to work, and try to improve ourselves from before our rest.
Perhaps the greatest thing you can do during resting is to give thanks. We should always be thankful to be working, and to be able to rest when need be. As for myself, I have plenty to be thankful for. I have a home, that I will come back to after vacation. Even if everything about this trips messus up, and it is not much of a rest after all, I still have a home to come back to. I have a family. If it all goes well, we have great memories as a family. If it all messus up, we still have great memories. We may laugh at them one day. I have money. I'm not rich, but God always seems to give me what I need. Beyond all of this, I have salvation, for which I am most thankful for.
I am looking foward to this trip, and I hope for it to be a great trip! But I must also remember to give thanks, which is perhaps the best thing you can do during resting. When God rested, He looked over His creation, that He created. When we rest, we must not only look at what we have done, and be glad we can rest from it now; we must also be thankful for God giving us the opportunity to accomplish what we accomplished.
So while this vacation is a time of rest, it is also a time of reflection, thanksgiving, and the exercising of the mind and body, and in all ways, giving glory to God. I hope this is a great vacation, and I hope to have a good time, and a good rest, preparing me for the next week to come.
-Ryan
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Romanicism, A Way of Life
This is for all of the romantics in the world, especially those who TRULY know what a romantic is, and also for all those who are interested in learning about romanticism. Romanticism is not just about loving a specific other in a real intimate way, although that is part of it. Many romantics are not even considered "romantic" people. Candlelight dinners has some roots to romanticism, but is not what romanticism is all about.Romanticism is really about symbolism, not rationalism; emotionalism within intellectual ideas, not pure intellectualism; love, not lust or war; bravery, not running in fear; social manners, not rude behavior; having certain roles in authority, not total equality; chivalry and proper ways of 'courtship' or treating a spouse; not the same roles of the sexes; theism, not athesim. Romanticism teaches that a man treats a woman as princess, and a woman treats a man as an honorable prince. Romanticism teaches lasting love, not just for spouses, but mankind. Romanticism teaches reliance on others, but also a semi-private lifestyle. Romanticism appeals to the emotions more than the intellect.The origin of romanticism can be debated, but there are some good ideas. Romanticism probably has it's origins to the middle ages, where the Feudal System began to take hold. There was a constant struggle between many Christian, or in the least, theists ideas, and agnostic or humanistic ideas. Chivalry was a major part of the lifestyle as well, as men would be brave to go to war to protect their families. Romanticism could be seen in literature as well, such as many of Shakespear's writings.The conflicting ideas had different movements toward the end of the middle ages and early modern time. Theistic ideas were seen in the Great Awakening, and the Protestant Reformation. Intellectual and individualistic ideas had it's movements centered in the Enlightenment, but probably also other small movements. The Founding Fathers of America were influenced by both theistic, romantic movements, as well as humanistic, intellectual movements. Many of our founding fathers were Christian, but there were some who were theistic humanists, and perhaps even a few Deists. These two seemingly conflicting views, however, did find common ground in the Founding Fathers- even those who battled between both sides. Both movements wanted change or reform to the modern Christian Church. One movement wanted it from within, to make a better church, while the other movement wanted to do away with it all together.But these views did not find common ground for long, as as Protestantism swept throught the Southern United States, romanticism began to be heavily dominant in the South, and intellectualism began to be heavily dominant in the North. These culture differences did eventually even lead to the War Between the States. Although the war is noted for being a war on slavery, it was really the cultural differences that instigated a lot of the war. The cultures were entirely different.After the North won the war, they began to use reconstruction, to try to unify the differences. However this came more as a forceful unifying, where the North wanted Southern culture to be like the North. This never worked, and pure romanticism is still alive today. But it did shake romanticism up a bit as well. Now, there are many false forms of romanticism, such as the overly-emotional romantic, the hypocritical romantic, and the lacking romantic. The names pretty much describe themselves. If there was any good in the shaking of romanticism like this, it would be that it made different views on romanticism, and different outlooks to life within one worldview. However, many of the other forms of romantics are false romantics, and do not understand what romanticism really is. It is a way of life, giving proper social structure, through a theistic outlook.The true romantic man treats a woman as a princess. The ture romantic woman respects this kind of man. The true romantic believes in God, and believes that He is working in the world today. The true romantic brings optomism to a pessamistic world, and hope to a world of fear and hate. The true romantic brings proper structure and form, if nothing else for the sake of symbolizing something much more greater. The true romantic believes in right and wrong- morality, as it is commonly called. The true romantic strives to love his neighbor as himself. The true romantic submits to authority, and relates to the emotions of men. The past is never dead to the romantic either. The true romantic realizes that those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. He always remember his past, because it is a learning experience, and it is who he is. The true romantic has heritage, and is not ashamed of it. The true romantic in all ways, defends himself, his family, his life, his fortunes, and his sacred honor.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
You Only Live Once!
I have been thinking a lot lately about the saying "You only live once." Often this is used to make the point that one should live a full, active life, living it to the fullest. This is in and of itself a good way of looking at life in a lot of ways, but sometimes this supports useless spending, and life of doing bad things.
But if we look at this in light of God, then it can be a good thing. If we realize that we only live once and that it is short, and we remember our Lord, then we should live a full life, giving glory to God. We were given a second chance at the fall (original sin that we are all born into) you could say, but now there is not a "second chance" beyond this life. Obviously this means that if when we die, we are not followers of God, then we will not enter into His kingdom, but it also pertains to those of us in Christ already. What will God say to us if we were in the Lamb's Book of Life, but we did not live like it; if we did not spread the Gospel according to God's will, and if we did not humbly give a helping hand whenever possible. What will God say to us? In the least, this is something to think about and ponder on.
As I ponder on it, I ask myself some questions: "Did I tell someone about Jesus when I had the chance, and felt it was on my heart,?" "Did I give at least 10% to church, if not more, and do so humbly,?" "Did I spend enough time with my family and friends, or act like I didn't care about them,?" "Did I hold the door open for that old man or woman, or assume that they can get it themselves?" I realize that even on my good days my answers are not what they should be, and these are just very basic questions. Did I go the extra mile for others? Often, I don't. Often, I often limit myself to a strict 10% on Sunday's, and sometimes, I feel tight on money after that, and I almost wish I didn't give. Then I ask myself, "What better way to spend my money than to spend it on the advancement of God's kingdom?" Then I realize that whether it be tithes and offerings, a night at the movies, a trip to lunch or dinner, or a birthday gift, all money I spend I should ask myself if it gives glory to God. In fact, I should ask myself the same question to every part of life. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (I think it is- correct me if I'm wrong), says "Whatever you eat or you drink, do all for the glory of God." If even what we eat and drink is looked at by God as either going or not going to His glory, how much more the way we spend our money, and give our time, two of the most valuable things to people today.
So I ask you and myself to live a little- or a lot- but to do so only in light of God's gift of life and salvation. We have this one shot, and then we hit eternity. Spend more time with family and friends, give a little more, work a little harder, praise God's name more, and spread the good news more. Sin is not only what we do that we should not do, but also failing to do what we should do. That is sin just as doing the things we should do is. Live life to the fullest- to please God first, others second, and you third. You will probably find that the more you do this, the happier you are anyway. Obey the Great Commission Jesus gave us (recorded at the end of Matthew). You have one life and one shot! Go for it!
What do you think?
-Ryan
But if we look at this in light of God, then it can be a good thing. If we realize that we only live once and that it is short, and we remember our Lord, then we should live a full life, giving glory to God. We were given a second chance at the fall (original sin that we are all born into) you could say, but now there is not a "second chance" beyond this life. Obviously this means that if when we die, we are not followers of God, then we will not enter into His kingdom, but it also pertains to those of us in Christ already. What will God say to us if we were in the Lamb's Book of Life, but we did not live like it; if we did not spread the Gospel according to God's will, and if we did not humbly give a helping hand whenever possible. What will God say to us? In the least, this is something to think about and ponder on.
As I ponder on it, I ask myself some questions: "Did I tell someone about Jesus when I had the chance, and felt it was on my heart,?" "Did I give at least 10% to church, if not more, and do so humbly,?" "Did I spend enough time with my family and friends, or act like I didn't care about them,?" "Did I hold the door open for that old man or woman, or assume that they can get it themselves?" I realize that even on my good days my answers are not what they should be, and these are just very basic questions. Did I go the extra mile for others? Often, I don't. Often, I often limit myself to a strict 10% on Sunday's, and sometimes, I feel tight on money after that, and I almost wish I didn't give. Then I ask myself, "What better way to spend my money than to spend it on the advancement of God's kingdom?" Then I realize that whether it be tithes and offerings, a night at the movies, a trip to lunch or dinner, or a birthday gift, all money I spend I should ask myself if it gives glory to God. In fact, I should ask myself the same question to every part of life. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (I think it is- correct me if I'm wrong), says "Whatever you eat or you drink, do all for the glory of God." If even what we eat and drink is looked at by God as either going or not going to His glory, how much more the way we spend our money, and give our time, two of the most valuable things to people today.
So I ask you and myself to live a little- or a lot- but to do so only in light of God's gift of life and salvation. We have this one shot, and then we hit eternity. Spend more time with family and friends, give a little more, work a little harder, praise God's name more, and spread the good news more. Sin is not only what we do that we should not do, but also failing to do what we should do. That is sin just as doing the things we should do is. Live life to the fullest- to please God first, others second, and you third. You will probably find that the more you do this, the happier you are anyway. Obey the Great Commission Jesus gave us (recorded at the end of Matthew). You have one life and one shot! Go for it!
What do you think?
-Ryan
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