Journey to The Journey

Read that verse above very carefully. What comes to mind when you read it? If all you learned from that verse was, "do what your dad says," then you have more digging to do. There’s a lot to think about in that little verse, which is typically the case for a sentence in the book of Proverbs. Ultimately the verse is about gaining wisdom. How does one become wise? The answer

I have a confession. I have been struggling for quite some time with contentment, particularly in regards to my vocation. I have shared this with numerous Christian friends and family. I've sought counsel. I've asked for prayer. I've fought to gain healthy perspectives and to wage war on my sin. I desire genuine repentance in this area. And yet, I still struggle.

With everyone stuck at home (myself included), I figure it may be a good time to share some midweek encouragement. In many ways, just a few short days into this "experience," if you are like me, it probably already feels like the walls are suffocating and time is crawling by...and I'm an introvert and an acknowledged homebody! For a society that has become so accustomed to having an endless supply of options, this real lack of choices may feel like a prison sentence. But I think that a simple change in perspective may lead us to see our current circumstances as less of a burden and more of a blessing. Allow me to list several that I think we may be missing...

As you may have heard, today Ohio Governor Mike DeWine passed an executive order closing all public and private schools from March 16th through April 3rd in response to growing concerns over the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We received additional clarification today from Marietta High School administrators that this will also prevent us from using the school building for our weekly church gathering.

The great 21st century philosopher Eminem once said "my words are weapons." I may say that tongue in cheek, but the reality is, he was on to something very true there. Jesus himself taught this truth to his disciples when he said, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person" (Matthew 15:11). Our words have great power. With our mouths we can build up and bless, but we can also harm and destroy. The Ninth Commandment focuses narrowly on bearing false witness against your neighbor, but the larger teaching on the command in scripture, as Cody pointed out in his sermon, greatly expands this focus to include all types of lying, of course; but also to provide us instruction for how we are to wield the great power found in our words for the good of others and the glory of God.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the biblical teaching on money. The scriptural imperatives for stewarding our time, talents, and treasures flies in the face of our sinful inclinations. History testifies to our innate desire for more...we want what we don't have (this is next week's lesson) and we want more of what we do have; and we will beg, borrow, and steal to get it.

Despite the many ways in which sin has perverted it, sex is a good and beautiful part of God's creation. It was given to man for his flourishing, and so that it might be enjoyed. But like all good things, it must be enjoyed within the boundaries that God has established for it...namely, within the safe an loving confines of a male-female marriage relationship.