Recovery Works Video

Here's a video I made for The Bridge. Let me know what you think.

Noise

We all have things in our lives that are distractions. Noise, in my view, is not limited to annoying sounds or crappy music. Noise is anything that takes up your time or diverts your attention. What is the noise in your life?

I haven't written in a while, not here anyway, largely due to other demands on my time. As the new year began, I started thinking about the noise in my life. Sometimes, distractions can be so ingrained in your routine that you no longer see them as a cause for concern. This IS a cause for concern.

You cannot dismiss negative things in your life or write them off as part of your routine. I know this is a bit late for a resolution article but it is never the wrong time to take a look at the noise in your life.

• Negative people

• Negative thoughts

• Addictions (these can be anything)

• Bad habits

• Stress

• Anger

• Resentment

I've listed a few things that can be noise in your life. If there is anything that takes up too much of your time for little to no reward or if there is anything that places you in a bad mood; take a moment to evaluate why it is in your life. I am not going to write an article promising to go on a diet or exercise more because when (not if) I fail to do those things, that will cause me to get distracted from my real needs. I am going to take a moment every day and focus on the noise in my life and let go of things that serve no purpose.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,  but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

10 Questions with Bama Hockey Assistant Coach David Noble

I got to do an interview about Alabama Hockey. If you are interested in that, read up! Let me know what you think.

10 Questions with Bama Hockey Assistant Coach David Noble

It's Okay to Expect a Miracle | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

It's Okay to Expect a Miracle | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Have you ever had a problem believing stories about God acting in a direct way in someone's life. It is hard to grasp in a rational world but do we miss the miracles going on around us because we have dismissed their possibility?

Baptist Press - Americans' view of Southern Baptists studied - News with a Christian Perspective

Baptist Press - Americans' view of Southern Baptists studied - News with a Christian Perspective

What are your thoughts? Does denomination matter? If you found out a church was Baptist, Methodist, etc. would you change your mind about attending? Comment below and let me know your thoughts.

New CD From A Friend

A few weeks ago, I got an email from a work friend announcing the release of his new cd on iTunes. I was surprised to learn that they were a musician outside of work. Even more than that, I was happy to listen and find out that the music is very good.

If you are into Christian rock, you should check out Scott Parker's new release, Speechless. It is only available on iTunes at the moment, but that is where I get most of my music these days anyway. Scott wrote all of the songs and plays guitar as well. It's only $4.95. You won't be disappointed if you like this genre.

The Sermon on the Mount

This is the lesson I wrote for my small group for August 7, 2011. They are a great group of people and they tolerate my perpetual typos and the way we inevitably wander off course in our discussions. They are family and I look forward to seeing them each week.


Introduction
The Sermon on the Mount (Mark 5-7) is the longest collection of the teachings of Jesus in the Bible. The sermon takes place early in the public ministry of Jesus. Some scholars compare it to the sermon on the plain (Luke 6:17-40). Some suggest that it is the same sermon because it is at about the same point in the narrative. Others suggest that Jesus spoke on this theme often.

The Beatitudes
The word Beatitude comes from the Greek word “beatus” which means happy, fortunate or blissful. It is often translated as “blessed.” In this section of the sermon, Jesus describes the current condition and the resulting spiritual reward. There are 8 “blessings” in the sermon. In Luke, there are 4 blessings and 4 woes.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth"
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled"
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy"
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God"
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God"
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"


Discussion
What does it mean to be “poor in spirit?” If a person is physically poor, they know specifically what they need (money, food, clothing, a job, etc). Therefore, if a person is spiritually poor, it does not mean that they lack faith it means they understand they need God to provide for them.

What does it mean when Jesus says the “meek” shall inherit the earth? Many people confuse meek to mean poor, but it means humble, submissive, gentle. Discuss how this can relate to the lesson of turning the other cheek, being slow to anger or quick to forgive.

After the last beatitude, Jesus speaks directly to his followers and warns “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Did you notice that he included the conditional phrase “because of me?” You should have noticed since I put it in bold. Do you ever feel persecuted for your faith?


The Parables – Salt and Light
After the Beatitudes, Jesus speaks a few brief parables to illustrate his message. Parables can be short sayings or somewhat longer stories with a moral message. They are not literal, but illustrate a greater point.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

How is a Christian life like salt?

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

How can we be a light unto the world without being in conflict with what Jesus says later in the sermon? Matthew 6:1 says “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

The Rest of the Story
The Sermon contains many other lessons after the beatitudes. These all expounded on the teachings of the Law being taught in the temple. Jesus elevates the Law to a higher standard. He tells us to avoid anger, lust, divorce, swearing oaths, seeking revenge and more.


These lessons of The Sermon on the Mount focus on love, grace, and forgiveness. Jesus speaks also on The Law and says that it shall not disappear. Clearly, there are many things in the law that we do not do. Read Matthew 5:17-20. What do you think he means when he says “accomplished?” Read Galatians 3:23 and see if that helps you understand the relationship between Law and Grace.


Playing Church
The Pharisees often made a public display of their religion. Jesus warns against such things in The Sermon on the Mount.

Secret Giving
"When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Secret Prayer
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Secret Fasting
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Discuss ways we can give to others without making a public display of our deeds. What can we do for the kingdom?

The Sermon on the Mount can take on deeper meaning every time you study it. I cannot do it justice here and we could never discuss it long enough. Read it again and again. Make it a regular stopping point in your study. You won't regret it.

Let Every Day Be Independence Day

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

People celebrate freedom on the 4th of July. Some people spend time grilling or swimming and others look forward to fireworks. No matter how you celebrate freedom, take a moment today to give thanks for the true source of your freedom — Jesus.

Just as the founding fathers of our nation wrote a declaration of independence from the tyranny of a king who had lost his sense of justice, Christ lived a declaration of independence from a different set of laws. Not everyone was willing to change in either instance. Resistance to change is human.

Many people live in bondage today. Around the world, humans suffer from hunger, slavery (yes, it still exists), oppression and fear. It is our duty to help our neighbors in need, but we have to understand the freedom we have been given. Our founding fathers stood up against an oppressive government, but our real freedom is in spirit.

The “yoke of slavery” mentioned in Galatians is the old testament law—the great stumbling block that ushered in grace. However, Jesus brought a greater freedom for us today than could have been imagined by the early evangelists. He gave us freedom from ourselves, from our pasts, from the burden of our own destructive thoughts.

The Bible tells us that God created good and evil. Without both we could not have free will. Freedom is not absolute. We are still bound by a different set of laws. If you don't believe that, try exercising your free will to jump out of a window and see how quickly you find yourself in bondage to the law of gravity. You see, every choice has a resulting reward or consequence.

Consider the child who wanders away from his mother in the grocery store. He has a choice: stand next to the buggy or wander off. We have the freedom to wander off but, like that child, we soon find ourselves a prisoner of our despair. The lost are never free.

What are you choosing today in terms of your spiritual freedom?

If you are binding yourself to your past because of guilt, shame, anger, resentment, or dejection; let it go. You are free. If you are spending time on things that turn your focus away from your purpose, let those things go. Let go of that person you are trying to fix. Let go of that limitation you have built up in your mind. Let go of that friend or relative who persists in telling you that you are not good enough—that you don't live up to their standard. Jesus thought you were good enough to die for.

Happy Independence Day every day.

What Are The Dry Bones In Your Life? -- Christian Blogs | Everyday Christian

What Are The Dry Bones In Your Life? -- Christian Blogs | Everyday Christian

Nice article on New Year's and how to change your life for the better.

Amazing Grace with Steven Tyler

I just thought this was worth sharing.