Monday, February 28, 2022

It's Almost Time!

Shepherds' Conference Streaming

It's almost here!  I don't know about you, but I get excited around the time of the Shepherds' Conference, because some of my online friends go to it and I get to watch some of the sessions.  This year, it's scheduled for March 9th to 11th, and the theme is "Unashamed."  You can check out the scheduled streams and speakers already listed on their site HERE.


Pray for Christians Around the World

A war is raging, freedoms are being demolished, and Christians are being persecuted in various parts of the world.  Christians around the world need encouragement and prayer that they will walk as children of light as well as be reminded that God is with them...with all of us who are in Christ. Also, please pray that people will turn to Christ while there is still time.


Books Soon to Be Released

There is a set of books by Chris Mueller soon to be released about Christian men and Christian women.  It seems that this is a controversial topic these days, but it shouldn't be for Christians who want to follow what the Bible says.

Learn more HERE.


Sing Along

Here is an older hymn (1887) that you can sing along to in these tumultuous times in the world.  No matter how awful or crazy things get, God is using these times to conform Christians to be more like Him.  We can still trust Him and remember His mercy and goodness toward us. 

Monday, February 14, 2022

Modesty & Sexual Immorality

Not long ago there was a kerfuffle on social media (on a site that I am not currently able to be active on) where a pastor named Brian Sauvé (whose music I shared before) had a post that was about modesty.

Again, I don't know a lot about him other than glancing at the church website (and I believe there was some disagreement that was not salvific that I could easily see). 

 So, I'm not giving him an unreserved recommendation, but what he said on this tweet has merit.

Here is what he said:

 

A firestorm of attacks reportedly came at him.... wrongfully accused and nasty pictures sent.
One or more of the negative comments came from Beth Moore (one was deleted by her).
I highly would urge women to avoid listening to Beth Moore for her false teaching in general, but that's another matter.


The guy addressed men in further posts, but naturally people threw accusations like he is a "patriarchal control freak" or "hyper fundamentalist dudes objectifying women" or worse yet, sent immodest pictures to him.


Christians,
If you knowingly and purposefully dress in a way to draw lust after it has been pointed out to you that you are tempting your brothers who desire to not sin (not speaking of those who have not been made aware and are willing to change when it is pointed out), don't accuse the opposite sex of objectifying you.


You are objectifying yourself.


The messengers whether they are men or women are not the ones to be shot at, and it doesn't mean that we consider ourselves as sinless or superior people (most certainly we are not).

Men and women are responsible for sin if they intentionally continue to look at what draws them to sin or dwell on what they've unintentionally seen or sin in their minds even when nobody is dressed seductively, but those who are immodest can be responsible for enticing someone to commit adultery or fornication (lust in the heart).

And behold, a woman comes to meet him,
Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
Proverbs 7:10 LSB

You may say that you don't intend to commit adultery (or fornication) when you share photos or go out in public like the woman in Proverbs did, but are you drawing someone to commit adultery in their heart? 
If you are seeking men to look at you sensually, you are also sinning. 
You are also not showing love to the brothers who are seeking to avoid or break from a sin that they do not want to continue in.
Low shirts, tight clothes, lots of skin showing...these things even make victorious men have to look away from women to avoid sinning.
Men are visually stimulated, and a lot of women know this and use this fact...not all do it consciously, but many do.
There are women who also struggle with thoughts.
Christians shouldn't be like the person waving a red flag at a bull and telling it not to look or charge at us.
More mothers & fathers and churches need to address these things...matters not only of the clothing but of our hearts.  

I'm not speaking of people wearing uniforms like the Amish, Mennonites, or the rules of some Independent Baptists, or any churches that get to the point where you might be considered an unbeliever or outsider for wearing nice slacks as a woman rather than a long skirt (though long skirts aren't a bad thing).
To make the assumption that it does mean that would be incorrect...a false charge that any mention of modesty or examples of things that tempt men makes one a legalist.  
It doesn't mean you should quickly charge someone with hypocrisy or even use what you've seen as actual hypocrisy as an excuse for your own heart and behavior and sinful attitudes toward other Christians.

Christians need to flee youthful lusts, and they need to fight sin with Scripture and prayer and removing and fleeing from things that tempt them.... the same is true of women as of men. 
We all need to spend time in Scripture and fight and flee whatever sins might tempt or entangle us. 
We need to pursue what leads to sanctification. 
God is present at all times, and Christians need to remember Him in everything and seek to honor Him. 
We can only be successful as believers through the power of the Spirit...with His help and in His strength.
Let's do what we can to be modest and discreet and to not put a stumbling block in front of another Christian.

I'm not anybody important, and I know that I have a long way to go in sanctification.
I hope the verses are helpful, and the message below them will also be helpful to you.

Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, with modesty and self-restraint, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly clothing, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women professing godliness.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 LSB

But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want. 
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Galatians 5:16-18 LSB

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:24-25 LSB

“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; nevertheless, woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into the fiery hell.
Matthew 18:7, 9 LSB

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22 LSB

“I have cut a covenant with my eyes;
How then could I gaze at a virgin?
Job 31:1 LSB

Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
Proverbs 6:25 LSB


Pastor Don Green (who I would definitely recommend) gave an excellent message on Sunday about adultery/sexual immorality where he had a quote in the message that also pointed out about the way women dress.  
Some weeks there seems to be a theme on things.... whether intentional by people or not... though there are no coincidences with God.  
Don Green's messages on the moral commandments of Scripture gather from other places in Scripture to show the depth of our sins that the commandments point to.  The Law points out sin, and they show our need of a Savior.  They also are a guide to believers who desire to walk by the Spirit.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

American Puritans & Psalm 30 to Music

American Beginnings 

I was able to get a free download (sorry, I doubt you can find it free now) of The American Puritans book (Nate Pickowicz/ Dustin Benge), and I started chapter 2 this week about John Winthrop. 
I'm really enjoying it so far. I sit there trying to do the math in my poor brain about some of the facts (figuring out ages of death or how much older one person is than another). The poor guy's first two wives died, and he's on his third one at the point that I stopped reading today. It looks like the third one lived longer...maybe 56 years?

The first chapter was about William Bradford, and it was also very informative of how people immigrated to more than one place, and how there were successes and failures in their trips and people left behind.  I found myself discussing something of what I learned from the book in a conversation online.  

I have an interest in my own ancestry, but so far, I've not found a connection with one of these groups of people...though there were some people from a different group of immigrants that I wasn't thrilled about due to some errant beliefs.  Reading this may keep me digging to see if I find any who were connected to some of these groups of immigrants mentioned in the book.

I realize I have not given a complete book review, but it should whet your appetite if you like biographies or history!


Psalm 30 to Music

Recently, I shared a song based on Psalm 2 which I really enjoyed the tune of.  
I was introduced yesterday to music with Psalm lyrics by someone else.  
Of the ones I tried by this person, this one was my favorite.
I enjoy sharing music by people that are not well-known, and all the better that this has lyrics from the Bible!
Apparently, the music was borne out of the loss of a friend, and I read how a family member of that friend read this Psalm around the homegoing of that loved one. 
(You can see his description on the site with the video.)