Just Thinking...

11.25.2008

Just thinking...
Over all the mistakes I have made in the past, and the recurring nature of them.
About how my life has been following a pattern, and what that pattern looks like.
Of why I keep making the same mistakes.
About how to get out of the cycle.
And wondering if the patterns in my life are all bad, all good, or a mixture.
About how to break bad patterns in my life.

Why do I make the same mistakes? Over and over I see myself do something that I have done before with bad consequences. My action may not be sin, but it is not beneficial either. Just because I can do something doesn't mean that I should. Mark Driscoll has mentioned several times in his sermon series on the Song of Solomon (The Peasant Princess) three criteria that should be considered before doing something:

• Is it lawful? Meaning, is it not just strictly legal, but does the Bible expressly say that it is a sin? Does the Bible imply that it is a sin? If the Bible either expressly or by intimation says that it is a sin, then don't do it.
• Does it violate your conscience? Not just your conscience, but anyone else who is or would be involved?
• Is it beneficial? Not just not harmful, but does it do you and other good?

If I start applying these to my everyday life, to all of my actions, then I think that I will be able to break the bad patterns that I have been following. I will need to replace them with beneficial habits and patterns.

Done with my musings for now. The next few days are gonna be crazy - I will post on that tomorrow!

What's coming up/Some thoughts on Driscoll's recent sermons

10.29.2008

I will be campaigning for Mike Sodrel for Congress starting on Friday. It will be a rough campaign against Baron Hill in District 7, around Jeffersonville. I intend to post daily a digest of the day, what God has shown me, what I have learned, prayer requests, etc. Lord willing that should be up before midnight every night. I will also try to post some pictures and short posts from my phone of interesting happenings or people.

Listening to Mark Driscoll's sermons on the Song of Solomon has been revealing. I am learning how I need to treat my future wife, while at the same time I am learning how to prepare myself for my future wife. Some randomish thoughts, not neccesarily in order of sermon:

• My standard of beauty is my wife. 
• If I don't have a wife, then I can't have a standard of beauty. This extends to my wife before we are married - when I know who God wants me to marry, that is my standard of beauty for the rest of my life.
• As my wife changes, my standard of beauty will change.
• I must serve my wife.
• While I am to be the leader of the home, I am to serve my wife. Serving my wife will include spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
• Mark Driscoll: "See, it isn't French kissing at all. It's Biblical kissing." (On Song of Solomon 4:11)
  

Session Four - Mark Driscoll (How Sharp the Edge? Christ, Controversy, and Cutting Words)

9.30.2008

Christians are to feed the sheep.

• Not be friendly to wolves
• Rebuke the pigs (swine)
• The pigs are people who don't act like Christians

"We use good words for good things and bad words for bad things and when we use good words for bad things it just confuses everybody." - Mark Driscoll

Shoot the wolves (false teachers)

• Wolves need to be blown up, but sheep need to be shepherded. (Matthew 23 - "Jesus shoots the wolves")

"The problem is some people won't fight; the problem is some people won't stop fighting." - Mark Driscoll

"They were saying a little circumcision brings you closer brings you closer to God, he [Paul] was saying that they should go varsity." - Mark Driscoll on Galations 5:11-13

"You say a Pharisee's mom shagged the Devil and it's on. Always." - Mark Driscoll on Matthew 23

"Good morning Lord, it's me again. CURSE ERASMUS!" - Mark Driscoll paraphrasing Martin Luther

• Bark at the dogs
• Religion is not ridiculous
• Jesus and religion are different

"...those white-shirted boys driving their bikes to hell." - Mark Driscoll defining Mormons

• Pray for the Shepherds
• Pastors have a difficult job - they have to decide who is a sheep, pig, or wolf.
  

Session Two - Driscoll, Ferguson, Piper (Speaker Panel)

Points on session one:
   - Teachers will be judged more strictly than those they teach.
   - The first step must be asking God for wisdom.

Communication is:
   - Instant
   - Constant
   -Global
   - Permanent
Be careful what you say, you have to live with it forever!

Micah 7 - God will execute judgment for me, even in His displeasure with me.

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
   - Oprah, many others
   - Feel-good religion