The Implications of Dating an Unbeliever

I've seen a great number of young Christians and church-goers show a great interest in dating a young girl or boy who is not a follower of Jesus Christ. When I encounter this situation, I will invariably offer my opinion on the wisdom of such a situation, and usually, I am ignored and treated like a big jerk. So with this post, I do not seek to lay out the wisdom in not dating unbelievers (although there is much wisdom there). Instead, I seek to ask a question that gets to the root of the issue.

How important is Jesus to you? Is He the central focus of your life? Do you make a habit of reading the Word so you can learn about Him? Does the Bible inform all of your decisions and opinions? Or is Jesus just an add-on in your life. Is Jesus like the stereo in your car? It is always on and blaring. You turn it down to talk on the phone or if other people are in the car. But if the radio stops working, the car continues to function just fine. The ride just isn't as much fun and you have to find other ways to distract yourself. (Ok, maybe that analogy limps a little.)

So if you want to date an unbeliever, ask yourself what is your motivation. What is making you want to date someone who doesn't have the same core convictions and probably has a lot of values that are antithetical to your own? Why date someone who is unable to encourage you in Christ and point you toward Him? You're answer should reveal to you how important Christ really is to you, and hopefully will tell you if dating an unbeliever is really the right choice.

Passing Along Biblical Values to the Next Generation

Bob Kauflin had some great thoughts about how we can worship in a way that passes our Biblical values along to the next generation regardless of musical tastes.

Asaph and his descendents were purposeful and intentional in passing on the practice and understanding of musical worship to future generations. And their focus was unmistakeable: “God is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.” They took seriously the command to proclaim that truth to coming generations.

How seriously do we take the command to tell the coming generations what we know of God and worshiping God?

How many of our thoughts about music and worship revolve around what we like, what we prefer, what interests us, and what we find appealing? And how often is that attitude passed on to the next generation, who then focus on what appeals to them?

I suspect this may be one of the reasons churches develop separate meetings for different musical tastes. In the short run it may bring more people to your church. But in the long run it keeps us stuck in the mindset that musical styles have more power to divide us than the gospel has to unite us.

How do we pass on biblical values of worship to coming generations when we can’t even sing in the same room with them?

Read the whole thing here.

Anger Management Fail

How not to deal with your anger:

Leaving a Legacy

I've been reading through Genesis again, and I am reminded that, while the patriarchs were men of great faith, they were also men of great failing. One instance stands out in my mind. Abraham moved to a new place and he was afraid that men would want his wife for themselves. So he said she was his sister so no one would try to get him out of the picture. But God exposed his lie.

Years later, Abraham's son moved into the same city, and he did the exact same thing. He too was exposed and was forced out of town.

It seems more than a coincidence that both father and son showed the same character flaws. That leads to the point for you and me. Are there areas in your life that God wants to refine, but you are holding on to? Abraham's cowardice and lying were passed on to his son. What character flaws do you not want to pass on to your children? Whether you are single or a married father, now is the time to address the sins in your life that you don't want to see passed on to the next generation.

10 Things You Don't Want to Run in to Out in the Wild

1. Sasquatch - Imagine hiking through the woods, and up on the ridge you see Sasquatch himself. You'd better run when he begins chucking live deer down the hill at you.

2. A Clown - So you are cresting a hill, and over the horizon appears a lone clown. Is there anything more frightening than a clown? Yes. A clown in the woods and nothing to protect you.

3. Ned Beatty - If you come across Ned Beatty (or Burt Reynolds) in the woods, run. Inbred yokels are sure to follow.

4. Magneto - Never mind. There's not enough metal in the wild for him to hurt you with. Just don't let him know you have a knife on you. You do have a knife in the wilderness, right?

5. T-Rex - Even if you are driving an electric Ford Explorer, you can't out run T-Rex, and he will easily flip your truck when he catches up. It's only a matter of time before he eats you.

6. Magua - Even though the Huron are generally a kind and peaceful people, this guy will try to scalp you or steal your girlfriend. You'd better hope Chingachgook shows up with his war club, or you are toast.

7. Ents - They'll probably think you are an orc and smash you. Or, they'll tell you long stories that go nowhere until you die of boredom.

8. Smokey the Bear - If you see him, it means you just started a fire and he's out for revenge. He's nice to kids, but he's an arsonist's worst nightmare.

9. A Lone Dilapidated Cabin - What movie has ever had a good thing come out of a shack in the middle of the woods. There are axe murderers, bears, zombies, and necronomicons. If you see a lone cabin, leave it alone.

10. El Chupacabra - Sure he prefers goats, but he may drink you dry of all your blood if he doesn't have the option. Plus, even if he doesn't kill you, he won't be a very good companion unless you know Spanish.

Welcome men and aspiring men

Here's the straight poop. This is not a blog about how to kill grizzly bears with your bare hands and climb 90 degree cliff faces without a rope. You won't find any quotes from Mild at Heart or guns n ammo, though you will probably find the occasional picture of me with a shotgun or tale of daring-do.
And I am no shining example of what a real man looks like. I'm just learning, and I invite anyone wanting to learn to come along with me.
My aim is to look at what God really wants you and me as men to be like. What is the character of a Godly man? How do I do my job, how do I find and love a woman, and how do I stand against all the lies the culture tells me about manhood?
Oh, and there will be fart jokes and automatic weapons.