I was less than surprised to hear about the happenings of Palmerfest '09 here in Athens, Ohio. What is yearly a day for mass alcohol consumption got way out of hand as thousands of OU students lived up to our less than stellar reputation.
Color me old fashioned, but I'm disgusted by what went on. Setting fires like a bunch of mindless slugs… Assaulting police officers and horses with beer bottles and cans…
Some people will complain about the use of force by Athens and OU Police; I think they would have been justified to use a whole lot more. This was not a case of civil disobedience, or even protest. It was a case of irresponsible, reckless consumption of alcohol gone terribly wrong. There’s a pretty awesome video on YouTube of a mounted officer plowing into a drunken antagonizer.
My heart hurts for how lost so many on this campus clearly are. As deplorable as the events of Palmerfest ’09 were, sin is sin and it shows just how much we all need God’s grace.
The Post's coverage of Palmerfest.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
He is praying for me
“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” —Robert Murray M’Cheyne
Hebrews 7:25: Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Be encouraged, Jesus Christ- GOD HIMSELF is praying for you.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Until we don't want to work it out do we part.
Marriage in the United States is in bad shape, according to recent reports by Focus on the Family.
The information, which was released in September 2008, stated that while divorce rates have leveled off and even slightly decreased over the last few years, statistics still show that between 40 and 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. A similar report, released by the US Census bureau, showed that one in two marriages will fail and that the United States has among the highest divorce rates globally.
The median age for men to get married is 27.4 years of age, with women marrying slightly younger on average at 25.6 years of age. Typically, divorce happens within the first 8 years of marriage. There is also a trend in the United States for people to get married later in life. While 33.8 percent of the population is married between the age of 20 and 34, the married population balloons to 63.7 percent in the 35 to 44 year age range. This means that couples who marry younger and divorce around the eight-year average will likely end their marriage before the 35 to 44 year olds even get married.
Ron Edmondson, a pastor at Grace Community Church in Clarksville, Tenn. says one reason the divorce rate is so high is a general lack of knowledge about marriage, a problem that has always been there. “I share this story all the time, but both my boys have more training to drive than is usual for somebody to be trained to enter into marriage,” he said.
Edmondson said that there are very few solid marriages for couples to learn from any more. This is partly because we have become more mobile and therefore geographically scattered. As people move further away from family, they need to have people with strong marriages to walk along with younger couples, especially in the early, often difficult years, Edmondson said.
He also said that the general cultural acceptance and increasing ease of divorce from a legal standpoint combined with a decreasingly loyal population are contributing factors to such high divorce rates.
Edmondson believes churches should shoulder the responsibility of reducing cases of divorce, and said this needs to begin with good pre-marital counseling. “Churches rarely have anything available. You’re doing good if you get an hour or two of your pastor’s time,” he said. Churches also have to start teaching about healthy marriages, he said. “I don’t think we need to sugar-coat the issues. We need to deal with real problems. Marriage is tough…so we need to address the reality of what’s going on in our society."
Finally, Edmondson said problems in marriage need to be de-stigmatized, encouraging people to work things out. “It’s easier to walk away than to get help,” he said.
The information, which was released in September 2008, stated that while divorce rates have leveled off and even slightly decreased over the last few years, statistics still show that between 40 and 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. A similar report, released by the US Census bureau, showed that one in two marriages will fail and that the United States has among the highest divorce rates globally.
The median age for men to get married is 27.4 years of age, with women marrying slightly younger on average at 25.6 years of age. Typically, divorce happens within the first 8 years of marriage. There is also a trend in the United States for people to get married later in life. While 33.8 percent of the population is married between the age of 20 and 34, the married population balloons to 63.7 percent in the 35 to 44 year age range. This means that couples who marry younger and divorce around the eight-year average will likely end their marriage before the 35 to 44 year olds even get married.
Ron Edmondson, a pastor at Grace Community Church in Clarksville, Tenn. says one reason the divorce rate is so high is a general lack of knowledge about marriage, a problem that has always been there. “I share this story all the time, but both my boys have more training to drive than is usual for somebody to be trained to enter into marriage,” he said.
Edmondson said that there are very few solid marriages for couples to learn from any more. This is partly because we have become more mobile and therefore geographically scattered. As people move further away from family, they need to have people with strong marriages to walk along with younger couples, especially in the early, often difficult years, Edmondson said.
He also said that the general cultural acceptance and increasing ease of divorce from a legal standpoint combined with a decreasingly loyal population are contributing factors to such high divorce rates.
Edmondson believes churches should shoulder the responsibility of reducing cases of divorce, and said this needs to begin with good pre-marital counseling. “Churches rarely have anything available. You’re doing good if you get an hour or two of your pastor’s time,” he said. Churches also have to start teaching about healthy marriages, he said. “I don’t think we need to sugar-coat the issues. We need to deal with real problems. Marriage is tough…so we need to address the reality of what’s going on in our society."
Finally, Edmondson said problems in marriage need to be de-stigmatized, encouraging people to work things out. “It’s easier to walk away than to get help,” he said.
Idolatry is stupid.
Psalm 135:15-18 says:
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes but they cannot see; they have ears but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes but they cannot see; they have ears but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
We become like what we worship. The people described here create these idols to worship, but idols are worthless. They hold no power other than what we give them. The idols are ineffective and the Psalm states that by worshiping idols, we too will become ineffective. Idols are not beings. We cannot have relationship with an idol. Not only is idol worship against the second commandment, it's just plain ridiculous! Aside from the fact that there is one true God whom we should worship, there is absolutely no point in worshiping a stupid, little, powerless, impersonal idol.
And yet we do.
We have all, at some point, elevated "things" higher than the God of the universe. Of course, they are only higher than God according to us, because He is in fact above and before all things.
See, though, the thing about God is that he won't compete with whatever trivialities we idolize.
Twice in Isaiah 2 (vv. 11, 17), it is prophesied that the arrogance and pride of man will be brought low and humbled. Each time this statement is followed with this:
And yet we do.
We have all, at some point, elevated "things" higher than the God of the universe. Of course, they are only higher than God according to us, because He is in fact above and before all things.
See, though, the thing about God is that he won't compete with whatever trivialities we idolize.
Twice in Isaiah 2 (vv. 11, 17), it is prophesied that the arrogance and pride of man will be brought low and humbled. Each time this statement is followed with this:
...the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:18 goes on to say:
...the idols will totally disappear.
Idols are stupid, worthless things that will disappear. There is one true and everlasting God. Who is really worthy of our lives?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
April showers bring fire and brimstone
'Tis the season...
The swine flu has been getting people fired up across the world. Some here at Ohio University have found another reason to freak out- the open-air preachers!
They come every spring, yelling about hellfire, homosexuality, drunkenness and fornication (among a host of other sins) and commanding repentance. Every spring they are met with students yelling right back at them.
I'm convinced that a lot of the people who stop to listen to these guys are searching only for an argument. They fire questions at him with no interest in an answer. They are more concerned with making noise. The thing is, no matter how much either side yells at the other, no one's mind is getting changed. The "sinners," as the preachers less than affectionately call them, are put on the defensive and will not react with repentance and the preachers, if they have an authentic faith in Christ, will not be swayed from their beliefs.
True, Christ is being preached, but I seriously question the effectiveness of their evangelism. "You watch Hollywood movies, you're going to Hell" is probably not the best way to lead people to a saving faith in Christ. I'm just sayin'...
Something that gets me is that even when these guys preach about grace, they sound so angry. How can you be angry when you're talking about grace?!?
Colossians 4:5-7 says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your words be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
Salt is used to season food, to make it taste better, right? I think these guys could use their salt much more effectively.
The swine flu has been getting people fired up across the world. Some here at Ohio University have found another reason to freak out- the open-air preachers!
They come every spring, yelling about hellfire, homosexuality, drunkenness and fornication (among a host of other sins) and commanding repentance. Every spring they are met with students yelling right back at them.
I'm convinced that a lot of the people who stop to listen to these guys are searching only for an argument. They fire questions at him with no interest in an answer. They are more concerned with making noise. The thing is, no matter how much either side yells at the other, no one's mind is getting changed. The "sinners," as the preachers less than affectionately call them, are put on the defensive and will not react with repentance and the preachers, if they have an authentic faith in Christ, will not be swayed from their beliefs.
True, Christ is being preached, but I seriously question the effectiveness of their evangelism. "You watch Hollywood movies, you're going to Hell" is probably not the best way to lead people to a saving faith in Christ. I'm just sayin'...
Something that gets me is that even when these guys preach about grace, they sound so angry. How can you be angry when you're talking about grace?!?
Colossians 4:5-7 says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your words be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
Salt is used to season food, to make it taste better, right? I think these guys could use their salt much more effectively.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Not afraid to die.
Hebrews 2:14,15 "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
Talk about freedom in Christ! We're all going to die, but we don't have to be afraid of that. In fact, when we do have fear, we're allowing Satan to exercise his power. Christ is above all things (nihilist deceivers like Satan included) and conquered death to bring the possibility of eternal life.
Mark Driscoll pointed out that for those in Christ, what we experience in this life is as bad as it will EVER be. After we die it only gets better. Conversely, those who have not received Christ should be terrified of death- because apart from Christ this life is as good as it gets, and it gets A LOT worse when you die.
Talk about freedom in Christ! We're all going to die, but we don't have to be afraid of that. In fact, when we do have fear, we're allowing Satan to exercise his power. Christ is above all things (nihilist deceivers like Satan included) and conquered death to bring the possibility of eternal life.
Mark Driscoll pointed out that for those in Christ, what we experience in this life is as bad as it will EVER be. After we die it only gets better. Conversely, those who have not received Christ should be terrified of death- because apart from Christ this life is as good as it gets, and it gets A LOT worse when you die.
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." [1 John 5:11,12]
Monday, March 30, 2009
God is WAY bigger than the Holiday Inn
Yes. I know it's been more than three months. But I'm back, hopefully more frequently.
We just had Spring Break and I went with around 90 other people from Ohio University Campus Crusade for Christ to Panama City Beach, FL for the Big Break '09 Conference. It. Was. Awesome. Not only were some amazing relationships built, God taught us a TON.
We spent the days doing evangelism on the beach in a variety of methods; we used surveys, photos and even iPods to draw people into spiritual conversations. We also heard from Roger Hershey in our main meetings. He gave some awesome insight into what it is to be a Warrior for Christ- I may post about that later.
Cool story from sharing on the beach:
The Holiday Inn does not like us to go onto their part of the beach and share the Gospel. As such, we had to "go stealth" whenever we did venture onto their sand. On Wednesday I went out with a freshman guy and a freshman girl. Despite their limited experience with initiative evangelism they were up for the challenge of "going stealth" and infiltrating the Holiday Inn's grounds with the message of Christ.
We approached a couple sitting on towels and struck up a conversation with them, the conversation transitioned to the Gospel and one of them (we'll call him Guy) prayed to receieve Christ! Even though I could not use any materials in my sharing with him, Guy was tracking with me the whole time and when I asked him if he wanted to pray to receive Christ he said "Absolutely!" After I said "Amen" I looked up and he was sitting their smiling. "That's a great prayer! I feel so good right now- you need to tell other people about this!" YES!!!!
It was so awesome to see that even without materials to lead us we had the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation and understanding Guy came to.
God is so much bigger than the Holiday Inn.
In total 4,661 conversations were initiated 2,088 heard the Gospel and 262 people prayed to receive Christ.
Praise God!
We just had Spring Break and I went with around 90 other people from Ohio University Campus Crusade for Christ to Panama City Beach, FL for the Big Break '09 Conference. It. Was. Awesome. Not only were some amazing relationships built, God taught us a TON.
We spent the days doing evangelism on the beach in a variety of methods; we used surveys, photos and even iPods to draw people into spiritual conversations. We also heard from Roger Hershey in our main meetings. He gave some awesome insight into what it is to be a Warrior for Christ- I may post about that later.
Cool story from sharing on the beach:
The Holiday Inn does not like us to go onto their part of the beach and share the Gospel. As such, we had to "go stealth" whenever we did venture onto their sand. On Wednesday I went out with a freshman guy and a freshman girl. Despite their limited experience with initiative evangelism they were up for the challenge of "going stealth" and infiltrating the Holiday Inn's grounds with the message of Christ.
We approached a couple sitting on towels and struck up a conversation with them, the conversation transitioned to the Gospel and one of them (we'll call him Guy) prayed to receieve Christ! Even though I could not use any materials in my sharing with him, Guy was tracking with me the whole time and when I asked him if he wanted to pray to receive Christ he said "Absolutely!" After I said "Amen" I looked up and he was sitting their smiling. "That's a great prayer! I feel so good right now- you need to tell other people about this!" YES!!!!
It was so awesome to see that even without materials to lead us we had the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation and understanding Guy came to.
God is so much bigger than the Holiday Inn.
In total 4,661 conversations were initiated 2,088 heard the Gospel and 262 people prayed to receive Christ.
Praise God!
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