What is your Rock?

As we all know, the financial world is going through turbulent times that are literally being felt all over the world. More than 30 have died in the last days due to a string of bombings in Baghdad. Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe has caused more than 80% of the population in that country to live below the poverty line. Up to 1 million people have been killed in Somalia in the last 15 years as a result of uprisings. Life on a fallen planet, inhabited by sinful people, is not always a walk in the park. In the midst of all this, among many other difficulties that life may throw at us, what is our Rock? What is our security?

What we run to in times of trouble reveals where our heart truly is. Do we run to the true God, or to a finite, temporal god (money, work, family) when the pressure is on? There's nothing wrong with family or work or money, but when they take the place of God, they become idols. What we naturally turn to in difficulty shows what we value the most, and therefore, what we worship. Becoming more like Christ means that there is a continual process of amputating the idols (remnant sin) that are present in our lives and to instead worship God in every area of life. This is a lifelong process that will not be perfectly complete until our ultimate glorification on the last day.

Think about this passage from Psalm 46:1-3: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

Look at what you turn to in times of trouble. Is it to God? or to something else? God has promised to provide strength in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9) and He is trustworthy. Worship Him. If you have questions about this, feel free to email anyone on staff at Copperhill.

Kirk Cameron only kisses his wife

This is a great article where Kirk Cameron talks about his commitment to his marriage.  In a business where people move through spouses faster than running shoes, Kirk Cameron is a huge breath of fresh air.  Read about it here.

See the trailer for Kirk Cameron's new movie, Fireproof, here.

There is No Neutral

We have a choice as we go through this life: will we live for our story or God's story? From an eternal standpoint its an obvious decision. I once heard it described this way. We can be the main actor in a movie that shows once and everyone forgets as soon as they leave, or we can have a secondary role in the greatest movie ever produced and will be remembered for all eternity. It may sound good to have the name of being the main actor in a movie, but what if the movie is never watched?

We, as people who have embraced the gospel of Jesus, are called to the greatest cause that has ever existed on this planet. This is the original cause. The best cause. We're called to display God's name throughout the earth, for His glory, so that the world can see and know and divert all their pre-existing, but misplaced, worship to the only Being worthy of it: the Creator God. Then, and only then, will the world be satisfied. We're to be crying out with Isaiah to the dissatisfied populace looking for joy in the desert; "come to the waters, come buy and eat. Why do you spend your money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Come delight yourself in abundance." (Is. 55) The gospel is the only cause worth living for.

We are to reflect Christ, who is reflecting the Father, and the world sees the glory of the grace of God through Christ in our lives as we, through the power of the Spirit, radically amputate the petty, selfish worship in our lives and instead live lives of missionary sacrifice that look to the world like our treasure is in heaven and not on the earth. Our goal in life is to have a joy in Christ, (not in the world) that is shaken by no pain, (because He is our Rock in times of trouble) and competed with by no earthly pleasure (because He is the Creator and giver of joy and peace).

So the choice is ours today in 21st century America: will we live for our name and our pursuit of the American Dream? or will we dwell in the world as living representatives of God's glory and for the unending remembrance of His name? In the end we're either promoting God's cause, or the devil's cause.

"Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You; for Your name; and Your renown are the desire of our souls." Isaiah 26:8

Listen to the sermon from Sunday 9/21/08

Evolutionary Theory on the Decline? Or is it?

The Church of England officially apologized to Charles Darwin for "misunderstanding" him. Apparently they have accepted as true the theory of evolution as the explanation for the origins of mankind and the universe. But surprisingly enough there is quite a stir in the UK and US surrounding the debate of creation vs. evolution as foundations for world-views. Below are some quotes from the article, or, to read the full article click here.

"Science does not have to be taught in conflict with faith or religion," he says. "I believe the current debate over creationism versus evolution is beginning to draw more and people over to our side (creationism) of the argument."

"The materialist explanation of the creation has nothing to offer - if we came from nothing and go into nothing, then that encourages people to lead reckless and materialistic lifestyles."

"Evolution is a world-view that leads to futility. It's no wonder people are dissatisfied with it."

In Defense of Losing Your Virginity?

Though I didn't see it, I read today about a couple of comments made about purity rings during the MTV VMA's. I am posting an interesting article here for you to weigh in on. In case it isn't obvious, the perspective in the article does not reflect a Christian worldview.

Here is a quote:

"Virginity till marriage isn't a solution, it's a slogan. People should be free to make this choice, obviously. I'm not going to say they should be celebrated, because our sex lives are private. Neither side deserves cake and balloons.

But the idea of saving it for marriage is only so useful, and it's the sort of thing that will no doubt lead to starter marriages between horny 18-year-olds who don't have any idea what "till death do you part" really means.

Virginity itself is actually way less important than self respect, self control, and the ability to keep both intact in tough situations. Those are the lessons parents ought to teach. Ultimately, that's what will keep our kids safer in a big, bad world."

Read the whole thing here and feel free to comment