I am aware of churches which are holding super bowl parties in their churches. In view of the sexualization and idolatries and wicked personalities which are promoted at this event, I would encourage them to consider I Cor 6:15-18
What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. 18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.
The meaning of Paul’s statement “What fellowship has Belial with Christ” hinges on the meaning of the word “belial.” Belial is translated, “worthlessness, reckless, lawlessness. The expression son or man of Belial must be understood as meaning simply a worthless, lawless fellow – the personification of all that is bad.”. Eastons Bible Dictionary and Smith’s Bible Dictionary
January 28, 2006
Not Your Daddy's Super Bowl
Remember when you started feeling like you had to turn off the commercials on the Super Bowl? It finally got so bad that the Federal Government tried to get involved and that didn’t help all that much.
40 years ago the ads were mild. There was a harmlessness about the whole event. Those were the days! But today the whole context is completely anti Christian.
How does Christian fellowship mix with cheerleaders, Mick Jagger, NFL role models, and sexualized commercials? What was the process that made this appropriate or even desirable? I suggest that it was a slow process of desensitization to the enemies of Christ. We have experienced a cultural drift seemingly unnoticed by the church. We got used to smelling a little garbage and then a little more and then we couldn't smell it anymore as do all people who live near the dump.
Ephesians 3:3-14
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks... 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
40 years ago the ads were mild. There was a harmlessness about the whole event. Those were the days! But today the whole context is completely anti Christian.
How does Christian fellowship mix with cheerleaders, Mick Jagger, NFL role models, and sexualized commercials? What was the process that made this appropriate or even desirable? I suggest that it was a slow process of desensitization to the enemies of Christ. We have experienced a cultural drift seemingly unnoticed by the church. We got used to smelling a little garbage and then a little more and then we couldn't smell it anymore as do all people who live near the dump.
Ephesians 3:3-14
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks... 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
January 27, 2006
Protecting the Flock Through Wise Counsel Regarding Entertainment
Because of the nature of modern entertainment, the kind of counsel we give to our children in our care matters. And, in the area of lustful content that is embedded in much modern entertainment, it matters enormously.
On the subject of entertainment, our counsel and our silence can cause the sin and stumbling of our children.
Jesus words in Matthew 18:6-10 speak of the issue of one causing another to stumble.
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. 10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 18 makes at least five points regarding causing others to sin:
1. People will be held responsible for causing children to sin, v6
2. The opportunities for stumbling are pervasive, v7
3. The measures necessary for avoiding offenses are extreme, v8-9a
4. The consequences of stumbling are extreme, v9b
5. Causing children to sin is the same as despising them, v10
In the same way church leaders are called to be protectors of the household of faith. And, they are responsible in some ways for the lives of those under their care.
This is why the apostles had so much to say about purity in their teaching to the church - the dangers were everywhere in their day just like our own. It is appropriate for church leaders to speak to their people regarding fleeing immorality when it is presented to them.
This is true of hundreds of areas that scripture speaks about. Shepherds are in the business of taking "heed to the flock' because of the "Savage wolves" (Acts 20) by teaching what scripture says about relationships, work, anger, marriage and time… God calls elders to speak the words of God to keep the church family from sin.
The position that church leaders take on the issue of entertainment will make a difference in the worldliness and the sanctification of their people. It will affect their marriages and it will affect the purity of the young people who are not yet married.
By our silence and by our counsel we can participate in the offenses of the children in our households as well as the people in the larger household of faith.
I believe that many of the pornography, fornication and marriage problems in the local church are directly related to the unclear and unbiblical pastoral counsel regarding entertainment.
And, I believe that Jesus' words in Matthew 18 mean that we will be held accountable for our counsel. And if in our silence or our counsel, we cause them to stumble the consequenses will be severe.
On the subject of entertainment, our counsel and our silence can cause the sin and stumbling of our children.
Jesus words in Matthew 18:6-10 speak of the issue of one causing another to stumble.
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. 10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 18 makes at least five points regarding causing others to sin:
1. People will be held responsible for causing children to sin, v6
2. The opportunities for stumbling are pervasive, v7
3. The measures necessary for avoiding offenses are extreme, v8-9a
4. The consequences of stumbling are extreme, v9b
5. Causing children to sin is the same as despising them, v10
In the same way church leaders are called to be protectors of the household of faith. And, they are responsible in some ways for the lives of those under their care.
This is why the apostles had so much to say about purity in their teaching to the church - the dangers were everywhere in their day just like our own. It is appropriate for church leaders to speak to their people regarding fleeing immorality when it is presented to them.
This is true of hundreds of areas that scripture speaks about. Shepherds are in the business of taking "heed to the flock' because of the "Savage wolves" (Acts 20) by teaching what scripture says about relationships, work, anger, marriage and time… God calls elders to speak the words of God to keep the church family from sin.
The position that church leaders take on the issue of entertainment will make a difference in the worldliness and the sanctification of their people. It will affect their marriages and it will affect the purity of the young people who are not yet married.
By our silence and by our counsel we can participate in the offenses of the children in our households as well as the people in the larger household of faith.
I believe that many of the pornography, fornication and marriage problems in the local church are directly related to the unclear and unbiblical pastoral counsel regarding entertainment.
And, I believe that Jesus' words in Matthew 18 mean that we will be held accountable for our counsel. And if in our silence or our counsel, we cause them to stumble the consequenses will be severe.
The Starvation Principle
When we say, "Starve the Lust Monster" we mean that if we starve lust it will get weaker. We cannot completely kill the monster, but we can severly weaken him.
We reap what we sow. If we sow seeds of lust, we will reap a harvest of like kind.
My counsel to men is to starve the lust monster into insensibility by giving him nothing to feed on.
We reap what we sow. If we sow seeds of lust, we will reap a harvest of like kind.
My counsel to men is to starve the lust monster into insensibility by giving him nothing to feed on.
Starving the Lust Monster: Extreme Measures for Extreme Consequenses
Lord Jesus issued the most extreme example of taking extreme measures to flee immorality.
"whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matt 5:28
The most obvious principle from Jesus words is that extreme measures are required to avoid extreme consequenses. This is why Paul said "flee' immorality... meaning run from it wherever it might show up.
My message to men is mild by comparison: get rid of your television because you cant' predict when lady lust will jump out of it.
"whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matt 5:28
The most obvious principle from Jesus words is that extreme measures are required to avoid extreme consequenses. This is why Paul said "flee' immorality... meaning run from it wherever it might show up.
My message to men is mild by comparison: get rid of your television because you cant' predict when lady lust will jump out of it.
Starving the Lust Monster - Not Your Average Sin
The sin of lust is not your average sin.
I Corinthinians 6:18-20 makes this clear enough,
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
I Corinthinians 6:18-20 makes this clear enough,
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
January 25, 2006
7 Reasons Not to Entertain Lady Lust
My friend Dr. Peter Schemm has provided us excellent help in seeing the importance of fleeing lust when it presents itself.
His tone is that we flee immorality because it steals the best things in life; that the ways of Christ are more wonderful than the pleasures of the world; and that purity offers a better reward.
Seven Reasons Not to Entertain Lady Lust
1. My God to enjoy (Ps 4:7; 16:11; 1 Tim 6:17; Col 1:10)
2. My Heart to guard (Prov 4:23; cf. 5:2, 8; Rom 6-7)
3. My Wife to honor (1 Peter 3:7; Exod 20:17)
4. My Sons and daughters to train (Prov; Eph 6:1-4)
5. My Men to sharpen (Prov 27:17)
6. My Sermon to verify (Phil 1:27; 1 Tim 4:16)
7. My Church to protect (Eph 4-5; Pastorals; 1 Peter 2:1-5)
His tone is that we flee immorality because it steals the best things in life; that the ways of Christ are more wonderful than the pleasures of the world; and that purity offers a better reward.
Seven Reasons Not to Entertain Lady Lust
1. My God to enjoy (Ps 4:7; 16:11; 1 Tim 6:17; Col 1:10)
2. My Heart to guard (Prov 4:23; cf. 5:2, 8; Rom 6-7)
3. My Wife to honor (1 Peter 3:7; Exod 20:17)
4. My Sons and daughters to train (Prov; Eph 6:1-4)
5. My Men to sharpen (Prov 27:17)
6. My Sermon to verify (Phil 1:27; 1 Tim 4:16)
7. My Church to protect (Eph 4-5; Pastorals; 1 Peter 2:1-5)
Super Bowl – An Open Letter to Fellow Christian Leaders
“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” Psalm 101:3
I would like to submit the idea that the Super Bowl game and commercial broadcasts are of such a nature that Christian pastors should speak freely about them and offer pastoral leadership for the care and the beautification of the flock.
My thinking on this has changed through the years. Several years ago, I was part of a men’s ministry team that presided over Super Bowl parties in the church sanctuary. The idea was to bring a lost neighbor for the purpose of evangelism. During this time there were some really uncomfortable moments, with the obvious inappropriate content. We began to think that not only shouldn't we bring our lost friends into that environment, but we would be best served in our spiritual walks to remove ourselves from it as well because of the immoral and idolatrous content. So we quit doing them because there was the conviction that it was wrong for leaders to participate in and encourage this kind of activity.
I. It is important that we argue from scriptural principle
The passages of scripture below form some of the biblical guidelines which I believe should be applied to all entertainment. I trust that we will boldly and consistently and patiently and unswervingly declare these to our families throughout the course of our ministries. The scriptural arguments for this are as follows.
Psalm 101:2-4
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Job 31:1-8
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Matthew 5:28-30
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
As a fellow elder, I want to warn us to take these very seriously in our counsels to the families under our care. The sexual lives of our families are at stake and we dare not be the kind of men who wink at the content of their viewing. It matters if we play it soft on these principles because whole families will be indelibly affected. It is urgent that we appeal to men to “set nothing wicked before their eyes.” If we are liberal in our treatment, we will find more stumbling into sexual sin and perhaps the sin of wasting precious time on irrelevant things. What men and women and boys and girls watch is transforming to their souls, which is why the above scriptures are so important.
I would appeal to you to stand with me in this area.
Elders have a dual responsibility both to commend and to warn. Acts 20 makes it clear that we protect the flock by both of these responsibilities.
On the one hand, we have a responsibility to “commend to God and the Word of His grace.” On the other hand, we have a responsibility to warn of the pitfalls and the “savage wolves” that lurk for the destruction of the soul and the defrauding of the life of a Christian.
For this reason, elders must have a good grasp of the threats to the purity of the flock. In the case of the Super Bowl (or any other entertainment offering) these threats to purity usually come through the brandishing of the sexual revolution and the winsome promotion of idols.
Is it appropriate for elders to speak on this issue? I believe that it is not only appropriate, it is our biblical obligation to speak out about anything raised up against Christ that might become appreciated by our people and cause them to stumble.
II. It is important to understand and expose the true nature of the Super Bowl
Five facts about the Super Bowl:
1. There will be sexually seductive content played during the commercials at the super bowl. There will be immoral connotations promoted through direct immodesty as well as innuendo. I viewed some of the commercials at home last night and there are multiple promotions of lust.
2. There will be sexually seductive content delivered through the cheerleaders. This is the equivalent of looking on the nakedness of a woman. There is little difference in hiring a stripper into your living room.
3. There will be the promotion of the lives and messages of wicked men. Last year it was Paul McCartney, and this year it will be Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.
Who is Paul McCartney? He is one of the most influential individuals of the twentieth century and a renowned and highly prolific song writer. He was one of the key figures to proliferate the drug revolution, the free sex revolution and the anti family revolution and more recently the animal rights revolution. His band, The Beatles were arguably (along with several other rock and roll groups) the most important agents of change that sought to obliterate Christian culture. They have been responsible for the loosening of morals that has been the chief agent behind the murder of 46 million babies, the dissolution of millions of marriages and the plunging into perdition almost an entire generation.
Paul McCartney (in spite of his winsome sounds) is an enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ and the church.
Who is Mick Jagger? I am assuming that you are aware of the global debauchery that the Rolling Stones have promoted since the middle sixties.
4. Historically, the Super Bowl majors on the glorification of the idols of the sexual revolution. The owners of the Super Bowl are consistent so you don't have to wonder what they are going to do. They always promote the personalities who have devoted their entire lives to immorality and the proposition that sex without boundaries is good. It is a package deal of sex, drugs, rock&roll framed in the medium of athletics.
5. The winsome promotion and appreciation of the idols of the age.
From start to finish, you will be able to see with your own eyes the major idolatries of our day. The advertisers of the products will seek to engage the idolatries of the heart which have so helped them sell their products. Idolatries like materialism, entertainment, leisure, power, pride, sex, beauty… will be promoted in a most appealing manner.
The NFL halftime show is the most-watched event worldwide each year with eighty million American viewers and a billion worldwide. Advertisers pay over million dollars per thirty seconds to sell their wares.
III. Understand three convictions that I believe arise from the principles above.
1. Christian leaders have no business promoting the idols that the super bowl presents and neither should they sit in silence while their people are affected.
2. Christian men should be advised about the issues since such wicked things are presented in such an appealing and “harmless’ light when in reality they are the spirit of the antichrist.
3. We should caution people about abusing their liberty and lowering the bar in an area of morality. This puts others in jeopardy, particularly when we are not talking about things that go into the body (as in Romans 14 and I Cor 8), but what goes into the heart. These things are of distinctly immoral nature and should be seen in a different light than “meat sacrificed to idols.” We have no freedom in Christ to look upon immoral things.
I would like to submit the idea that the Super Bowl game and commercial broadcasts are of such a nature that Christian pastors should speak freely about them and offer pastoral leadership for the care and the beautification of the flock.
My thinking on this has changed through the years. Several years ago, I was part of a men’s ministry team that presided over Super Bowl parties in the church sanctuary. The idea was to bring a lost neighbor for the purpose of evangelism. During this time there were some really uncomfortable moments, with the obvious inappropriate content. We began to think that not only shouldn't we bring our lost friends into that environment, but we would be best served in our spiritual walks to remove ourselves from it as well because of the immoral and idolatrous content. So we quit doing them because there was the conviction that it was wrong for leaders to participate in and encourage this kind of activity.
I. It is important that we argue from scriptural principle
The passages of scripture below form some of the biblical guidelines which I believe should be applied to all entertainment. I trust that we will boldly and consistently and patiently and unswervingly declare these to our families throughout the course of our ministries. The scriptural arguments for this are as follows.
Psalm 101:2-4
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Job 31:1-8
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Matthew 5:28-30
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
As a fellow elder, I want to warn us to take these very seriously in our counsels to the families under our care. The sexual lives of our families are at stake and we dare not be the kind of men who wink at the content of their viewing. It matters if we play it soft on these principles because whole families will be indelibly affected. It is urgent that we appeal to men to “set nothing wicked before their eyes.” If we are liberal in our treatment, we will find more stumbling into sexual sin and perhaps the sin of wasting precious time on irrelevant things. What men and women and boys and girls watch is transforming to their souls, which is why the above scriptures are so important.
I would appeal to you to stand with me in this area.
Elders have a dual responsibility both to commend and to warn. Acts 20 makes it clear that we protect the flock by both of these responsibilities.
On the one hand, we have a responsibility to “commend to God and the Word of His grace.” On the other hand, we have a responsibility to warn of the pitfalls and the “savage wolves” that lurk for the destruction of the soul and the defrauding of the life of a Christian.
For this reason, elders must have a good grasp of the threats to the purity of the flock. In the case of the Super Bowl (or any other entertainment offering) these threats to purity usually come through the brandishing of the sexual revolution and the winsome promotion of idols.
Is it appropriate for elders to speak on this issue? I believe that it is not only appropriate, it is our biblical obligation to speak out about anything raised up against Christ that might become appreciated by our people and cause them to stumble.
II. It is important to understand and expose the true nature of the Super Bowl
Five facts about the Super Bowl:
1. There will be sexually seductive content played during the commercials at the super bowl. There will be immoral connotations promoted through direct immodesty as well as innuendo. I viewed some of the commercials at home last night and there are multiple promotions of lust.
2. There will be sexually seductive content delivered through the cheerleaders. This is the equivalent of looking on the nakedness of a woman. There is little difference in hiring a stripper into your living room.
3. There will be the promotion of the lives and messages of wicked men. Last year it was Paul McCartney, and this year it will be Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.
Who is Paul McCartney? He is one of the most influential individuals of the twentieth century and a renowned and highly prolific song writer. He was one of the key figures to proliferate the drug revolution, the free sex revolution and the anti family revolution and more recently the animal rights revolution. His band, The Beatles were arguably (along with several other rock and roll groups) the most important agents of change that sought to obliterate Christian culture. They have been responsible for the loosening of morals that has been the chief agent behind the murder of 46 million babies, the dissolution of millions of marriages and the plunging into perdition almost an entire generation.
Paul McCartney (in spite of his winsome sounds) is an enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ and the church.
Who is Mick Jagger? I am assuming that you are aware of the global debauchery that the Rolling Stones have promoted since the middle sixties.
4. Historically, the Super Bowl majors on the glorification of the idols of the sexual revolution. The owners of the Super Bowl are consistent so you don't have to wonder what they are going to do. They always promote the personalities who have devoted their entire lives to immorality and the proposition that sex without boundaries is good. It is a package deal of sex, drugs, rock&roll framed in the medium of athletics.
5. The winsome promotion and appreciation of the idols of the age.
From start to finish, you will be able to see with your own eyes the major idolatries of our day. The advertisers of the products will seek to engage the idolatries of the heart which have so helped them sell their products. Idolatries like materialism, entertainment, leisure, power, pride, sex, beauty… will be promoted in a most appealing manner.
The NFL halftime show is the most-watched event worldwide each year with eighty million American viewers and a billion worldwide. Advertisers pay over million dollars per thirty seconds to sell their wares.
III. Understand three convictions that I believe arise from the principles above.
1. Christian leaders have no business promoting the idols that the super bowl presents and neither should they sit in silence while their people are affected.
2. Christian men should be advised about the issues since such wicked things are presented in such an appealing and “harmless’ light when in reality they are the spirit of the antichrist.
3. We should caution people about abusing their liberty and lowering the bar in an area of morality. This puts others in jeopardy, particularly when we are not talking about things that go into the body (as in Romans 14 and I Cor 8), but what goes into the heart. These things are of distinctly immoral nature and should be seen in a different light than “meat sacrificed to idols.” We have no freedom in Christ to look upon immoral things.
January 19, 2006
Charting a Roadmap for Biblical Fatherhood
Vision Forum is sponsoring a conference in Wake Forest North Carolina, entitled, "Charting a Roadmap for Biblical Fatherhood." in April 28-30 in Historic Downtown Wake Forest.
For more information contact, missblairbrown@aol.com
Scott Brown
For more information contact, missblairbrown@aol.com
Scott Brown
Workshop on Expository Preaching Conference
Vision Forum will be holding a conference designed to train men in the craft of expository preaching entitled, "A Workshop on Expository Preaching" on March 17-19 2006 in Wake Forest North Carolina.
For more information contact, missblairbrown@aol.com
Scott Brown
For more information contact, missblairbrown@aol.com
Scott Brown
January 18, 2006
"Papa, There is a Boy Outside"
A red helicopter landed off the back porch of my house the other day.
A young man in a cowboy hat stepped out and asked if he could take my daughter Kelly away. When she returned, there was an engagement ring on her finger.
Peter and Kelly spent many months going through a process to determine if they should be married. They found that they were united in love and in their pursuit of the Kingdom of God by fulfilling the transgenerational vision to which He has called them.
Deborah and I and Blair and David and Claudia are so very very very pleased with this happy saga with Peter and his family. We do so love these Bradricks...
It is pure joy to announce that after a five month courtship, Kelly Jeannette Brown will be married to Peter David Bradrick on August 26, 2006 in Wake Forest North Carolina.
January 13, 2006
Woman Power
Newsflash: Millions of Jews, are the descendants of only four women. I like this statistic, because I have three young daughters who have massive potential to affect history.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/01/12/jewish.descent.ap/index.html
The power that so many women in our world long for is sought after in a place where it will quickly pass away in a short term burst of corprate management or expressing her "gifts" in a company that will soon slip off the edge of the cliff. It is a matter of record that most companies simply dont last very long. This is why I believe that women are wasting their lives there.
But if a woman sees her life as a key contributor as a child bearer in the stream of history, her ministry will be far reaching... that her "days may be prolonged" (Deuteronomy 6:1-9). This is why Rebekah's brothers burst out, And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: "Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them." 61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man.
So it should not surprise us that there are around thirty million documented descendants from the seven pilgrim women who survived the first winter in Plymouth.
Of course, all of this this is small potatoes in view of the fact that the entire world population descended first from Eve and then from the eight people of Noah's family on the Ark.
Therefore..."be fruitful and multiply"
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/01/12/jewish.descent.ap/index.html
The power that so many women in our world long for is sought after in a place where it will quickly pass away in a short term burst of corprate management or expressing her "gifts" in a company that will soon slip off the edge of the cliff. It is a matter of record that most companies simply dont last very long. This is why I believe that women are wasting their lives there.
But if a woman sees her life as a key contributor as a child bearer in the stream of history, her ministry will be far reaching... that her "days may be prolonged" (Deuteronomy 6:1-9). This is why Rebekah's brothers burst out, And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: "Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them." 61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man.
So it should not surprise us that there are around thirty million documented descendants from the seven pilgrim women who survived the first winter in Plymouth.
Of course, all of this this is small potatoes in view of the fact that the entire world population descended first from Eve and then from the eight people of Noah's family on the Ark.
Therefore..."be fruitful and multiply"
January 09, 2006
Fatherless America
Several years ago, a friend of mine brought me a book, “Fatherless America, by David Blankenhorn. What I read there deepened my growing conviction that the greatest leverage for the spread of the gospel and the healing of our broken world is found in nothing more than the work of ordinary fathers.
“Never before in this country have so many children been voluntarily abandoned by their fathers. Never before have so many children grown up without knowing what if means to have a father…Fatherless ness is the most harmful demographic trend of this generation. It is the leading cause of declining child well being in our society. It is also the engine driving our most urgent social problems, from crime to adolescent pregnancy to child sexual abuse to domestic violence against women”. (Blankenhorn, Introduction)
He reported that "40% children in America go to bed each night without a father in the home." He asked, “does a child need a father? Our feminist culture says “no” or “not necessarily” This is why, one third of all childbirths happen outside marriage (p10). It gets worse, “Families headed by single women with children are the poorest of all major demographic groups regardless of how poverty is measured”…The best anti-poverty program for children is a stable, intact family”. (p 43)
“In sum, over the past two hundred years, fatherhood has lost, in full or in part, each of its traditional roles: irreplaceable caregiver, moral educator, head of family, and family breadwinner”. (p 16)
“With each passing year, fewer and fewer men are living with their children, fewer and fewer fathers are willing or able to sustain cooperative partnerships with the mothers of their children”. (p 18). See graph on p18 and 19
In another book “Growing Up With a Single Parent", the author reports, that fatherless children are “twice as likely to drop out of high school, Twice as likely to have a child before age 20 and One and a half times as likely to be “idle” out of school and out of work. (Growing Up with a Single parent, Mclanahan&Sandefur. P2)
What fathers do matters immensely!
“Never before in this country have so many children been voluntarily abandoned by their fathers. Never before have so many children grown up without knowing what if means to have a father…Fatherless ness is the most harmful demographic trend of this generation. It is the leading cause of declining child well being in our society. It is also the engine driving our most urgent social problems, from crime to adolescent pregnancy to child sexual abuse to domestic violence against women”. (Blankenhorn, Introduction)
He reported that "40% children in America go to bed each night without a father in the home." He asked, “does a child need a father? Our feminist culture says “no” or “not necessarily” This is why, one third of all childbirths happen outside marriage (p10). It gets worse, “Families headed by single women with children are the poorest of all major demographic groups regardless of how poverty is measured”…The best anti-poverty program for children is a stable, intact family”. (p 43)
“In sum, over the past two hundred years, fatherhood has lost, in full or in part, each of its traditional roles: irreplaceable caregiver, moral educator, head of family, and family breadwinner”. (p 16)
“With each passing year, fewer and fewer men are living with their children, fewer and fewer fathers are willing or able to sustain cooperative partnerships with the mothers of their children”. (p 18). See graph on p18 and 19
In another book “Growing Up With a Single Parent", the author reports, that fatherless children are “twice as likely to drop out of high school, Twice as likely to have a child before age 20 and One and a half times as likely to be “idle” out of school and out of work. (Growing Up with a Single parent, Mclanahan&Sandefur. P2)
What fathers do matters immensely!
January 04, 2006
The Greatest Untapped Evangelistic Opportunity Before the Modern Church
I am praying that God would use us in the rescue of millions of lost children who live in their parents households as a result of recovering the biblical role of the father in the church and the home.
Here is an article I wrote recently that explains:
http://www.trinitybaptist-church.org/equip/Articles.php?ArticleID=80
Here is an article I wrote recently that explains:
http://www.trinitybaptist-church.org/equip/Articles.php?ArticleID=80
January 02, 2006
Powerpunch From The League of Grateful Fathers
My dad is a constant strength to me. And, I still want him to be proud of me... I was recently in the midst of some debate from some things I had said, and he wrote to me, "Scott you are right, hold your position, and it will be a blessing to all those around you."
When your father stands with you, it helps you to stand taller and feel better.
On New Years Day, I opened a letter my dad wrote to me saying:
"Dearest Scott,
You may be a charter member of "The League of Grateful Sons", but I am a charter member of "The League of Grateful Fathers."
The joy of having a son follow the Lord is a most precious gift.
Dad"
When a father delights in his son, the world is a better place. And, it makes the son more ready to rumble.
It Matters What We Feed Our Senses - In an Entertainment Obsessed Culture
The writer of Hebrews issues a very stern rebuke because the people were spiritual babies when they should have been teachers by then. He blames the problem on laziness and a wrong use of their senses. Hebrews 5:9-14
He contrasts these with the mature "who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)
It matters how we entertain our senses.
Let me propose some questions to ask about every activity: How are my senses being exercised? Am I exercising them so that they would be full of the “word of righteousness? Is my reading, listening to music, conversation, movie going, giving or stealing from exercising the senses for the "word of righteousness."?
It is a Christian's sacred duty to examine everything we are doing in the mind and body in light of it’s affect on our maturity. Is there anything in your affections or practices that puts you at a disadvantage for spiritual growth. Is there any occupation of time which makes you immature and keeps you there unless you stop your practice or kill your affection. There are often many “good” things in which we indulge our senses which hold us back.
Nothing has a neutral impact on us. Even if it is harmless, it is important because it may steal from something of greater value.
Advice for the New Year: Build your entire calendar for maturity in light of the fact that we live in a world where people spend massive amounts of time in entertainment and games.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows so shall he reap”
He contrasts these with the mature "who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)
It matters how we entertain our senses.
Let me propose some questions to ask about every activity: How are my senses being exercised? Am I exercising them so that they would be full of the “word of righteousness? Is my reading, listening to music, conversation, movie going, giving or stealing from exercising the senses for the "word of righteousness."?
It is a Christian's sacred duty to examine everything we are doing in the mind and body in light of it’s affect on our maturity. Is there anything in your affections or practices that puts you at a disadvantage for spiritual growth. Is there any occupation of time which makes you immature and keeps you there unless you stop your practice or kill your affection. There are often many “good” things in which we indulge our senses which hold us back.
Nothing has a neutral impact on us. Even if it is harmless, it is important because it may steal from something of greater value.
Advice for the New Year: Build your entire calendar for maturity in light of the fact that we live in a world where people spend massive amounts of time in entertainment and games.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows so shall he reap”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)