Below is a link to a great read from Jared Wilson. Here a couple of great quotes from the post.

“Christianity is not a life system, a religious code, a set of tips or instructions for more successful living and modified behavior. Christianity is about the raising of the dead.”

“Both irreligion and religion are fundamentally self-salvation projects.”

“…it is much easier to gather up “decisions.” But the work of heart change we are actually supposed to be after comes only from God’s Spirit. The gospel that saved us from sin and death ought to be a reminder that Christianity is sourced in God himself. Christianity is supernatural.”

Read the entire post here:

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/when-the-prodigal-church-comes-home

A great overview of the Bible for kids (or adults). Check it out:

It’s Friday. But Sunday is coming…

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted… Psalm 34:18
This is a very comforting truth when we’re hurting, but especially when we are hurting for others. When our friends hurt, we want to DO something, as we should! We should encourage and give all that we can…But we also face the realization that we can’t take away the pain. It’s as if we can SEE their hurt, but can’t REACH it. But God can. He is NEAR to the brokenhearted in ways we can’t be.
As we do all that we can to be there and help those who are hurting, we can also pray, with great confidence, “Lord, be near to my friend(s) as they hurt.” He hears, and answers. He is near to the brokenhearted.

Ever been frustrated when you hear someone say something like “Christians pick and choose what parts of the Bible they obey. Why don’t Christians abide by all of the Old Testament rules about cleanliness?” Or maybe you have been confused yourself about this topic. The post  by Tim Keller at the link below addresses this topic in a very clear, concise way. Definitely a read worthy of your time!

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/making-sense-of-scriptures-inconsistency

I’m a parent of teenagers. My older 2 kids are 16 and soon to be 14. I’M SO…OLD!?!? Parenting teenagers is an adventure to say the least. Mark Twain once said, “When a boy turns 13, seal him in a barrel and feed him through a knot hole. When he turns 16, plug the hole” Haha. That’s a funny quote, but I truly enjoy parenting my teenage kids! I agree with author Paul Tripp who refers to the teen years as an “age of opportunity.” It’s a great privilege to be a part of these formative years of their lives, filled with great challenges but also, great joys.

This is a learning process for me, but one thing I know for sure is that teens STILL need parenting. To watch many of today’s TV shows aimed at teens, you’d think that you spend age 13-18 constantly surrounded by friends your age with a bottomless frappuccino in your hand. Not the case. Obviously, the role of a parent is different during teen years, not necessarily less, but definetly different. “Helicopter parenting” will frustrate and drive a wedge between us and our teens. We have to embrace our ever-changing role without abandoning it.

Paul told young Timothy to “flee from youthful lusts”. The Apostle Paul acknowledged that there are sinful lusts unique to youth, and they are to be avoided. The notion that teens need to “sow wild oats” is not from God. The thing about sowing anything is that it grows. What teens do today and the habits they form, those things matter, a lot. They matter for their current life, their future, and most importantly, to God and eternity. As parents we get to be a part of guiding students away from destructive behaviors and pointing them towards a god-glorifying, self-sacrificing, service oriented, joy filled life that God desires for them.

Charles Spurgeon said the following, and I believe it is as true when our kids are 15 as it is when they are 5…
“Parental teaching is a natural duty–who is better fit to look to the child’s well being as those who are the authors of his actual being? To neglect the instruction of our offspring is worse than brutish. Family religion is necessary for the nation, for the family itself, and for the church of God.” ― Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
The teen years are an opportunity to glorify God by being good stewards of HIS children that he has temporarily entrusted to us. What a privilege!?!?

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… John 1:12

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”  John 14:1-2

…the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:27

The time is long overdue for Christians to embrace and glory in the the fact that because of Christ we ARE different. A dying world around us is LOOKING for different, looking for peace with God that only Christ can give. If we, the church, fail to present Christ, who will? If we wanna be TRULY “seeker sensitive”??? We give them the gospel. Give them Jesus Christ…Not “cool”

“The marginalization that occurs because we love Christ shouldn’t be run from. We don’t live for this life alone. In fact we are the counter-culture to this culture. You never gonna make Jesus so cool that everybody thinks he’s cool” -Chandler