Thou Doeth Vanity

Through the study on Ecclesiates that Pastor Sean is going through, a key principle that must be underdstood, is that much of what we do 'under the sun' is vain. Our driving to and fro, watching the newest video release, reading of novels, playing of video games, shopping for clothes, spending time on the computer (which ironically, is what I'm doing right now), allotting time out of one's day to watch the lastest installment of the cool new television series, all of these will not matter when you come to the end of your life and are about to enter into eternal life, either in heaven or hell. Only that which serves to Christ's glory is what will be of any consequence. Without Christ we have no reason to live. He is to be the only fountain out of which we drink, for only He can provide satisfaction and pleasure for a lifetime and beyond.

Richard Wurmbrand is a pastor of Jewish origin who was born in 1909 in Romania. When the Communists seized his native land in 1945, he became a leader in the underground church. In 1948 he and his wife, Sabrina, were arrested, and he served fourteen years in Soviet prisions, including three years in solitary confinement in a subterranean cell, never seeing the sun, the stars, or flowers. He saw no one except his guards and torturers. Christian friends in Norway purchased his freedom for $10,000 in 1964. He was written a couple of books, including Tortured For Christ.

Pastor Wurmbrand writes this concerning Ecclesiastes 1:2 -

In this world, where everything passes away, there is one thing that stands: it is what Christ the eternal One did for us on Golgotha. Other works ultimately will be of no avial. the cross of Christ saves sinners, imparting to them the eternity which the Son of God possesses.
Don't scorn those who spend their time in amusements, when the earnest labor you take pride in will bring no better results for eternity. Serve Christ, the crucified and resurrected. This the only work that is not vanity.

Learning to Think

I am not young enough to know everything.
- Oscar Wilde

This quote shows how almost every teenager seems to think they have the world in control and they know the consequences for everything. It also shows how as you get older, you get wiser and realize that you don't know much at all and instead we are only finite humans with much still to learn. Be a humble learner. Seek to know more today than yesterday.

A Man in Boyhood

There are a couple implications to the title that I chose. It implies that number one, I am a man in contrast to a woman, and number two that I am an immature male (boy) in contrast to a mature one (man). I have come to this conclusion after the Lord has been pounding it into me all year. S. Kiley's sermons on the myth of adolescence and the men's night many moons ago prepped my mind for this radical change that is taking place. Originally, I think the change should have, and was intended to, come about as a result of listening to them, but my immature, foolish mind couldn't quite grasp it. The Bible calls masculine men to be not-boy men. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." That call, now more than ever, weighs heavily upon my heart.

I am living in a culture where college students and beyond are living with the priorities of a freshman in high school (i.e. find a girl, watch TV, do what I want) and yet with the freedom of someone in their twenties. They think that being mature means having your own money to spend on yourself, being able to buy tabacco and alchohol, or being able to watch a nudity scene in a movie and not be affended, among other things. The line between a man a woman have been so skewed that many don't see a difference between being attracted to a female or to a male, no matter what gender you are. They make money, but spend it only on themselves, because they are still discovering themselves and aren't ready to commit to marriage. They make excuses for the mistakes that they make and won't step up to responsibility. I am no different than these. Daily I make excuses for things that I need to take responsibility for.

The world, and more specifically the church, need young men to be leaders, men of conviction. They must take charge and be willing to sacrifice and use their authority for God's glory. This doesn't mean that they are to be domineering over others, but they are to serve with a selfless attitude of love, as Christ did for His church. I want to join the men of history who understood their calling to be men and have let the Lord use them for His glory.

Music for God's Glory

This is the first part of Steve Camp's (thanks Sean!) 107 theses for a reformation in Contemporary Christian Music.

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Part One:

To Do All to the Glory of God

1. All our works, both musical and written, must produce a high view of God-with our chief aim being to glorify God and worship Him forever. (Job 40:6-41:34; Psalm 29:1-2; Jeremiah 9: 23-24)

2. This means we are to represent God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in the fullness of Trinitarian character and attributes revealed through the Scriptures. (Romans 11:33-36; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Revelation 5:12)

3. This is paramount-for it brings glory to God to reverence Him in the totality of His worth and works. It elicits holiness and obedience in the life of the believer. (Psalm 96:9; 103)

4. Even in God's redemptive plan for man…salvation never begins with man and his need but with God and His glory. And no one ever lives greater than his or her view of God. (Ephesians 1:3-14; Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 1:7)

5. Whether, then, [we] eat or drink, or whatever [we] do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

6. We fail to glorify Him when we praise the servant through awards and accolades rather than exalt the Master. "I was but a pen in God's hand and what praise is due a pen?" (Baxter) God will not share His glory with another. (Psalm 115:1; Isaiah 42:8)

7. We fail to glorify Him when we speak of God out of our own vain imaginings or recreate Him in our own image; instead of honoring Him by how He has revealed Himself through His holy Word. (Psalm 50:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13-16)

8. We fail to glorify Him when we make money a prerequisite for ministry; some to their own destruction teach that godliness is a means to financial gain. "Freely you have received; freely give." (Matthew 6:24-34, 10:8-10; Acts 3:6, 20:33; 1 Timothy 6:5)

9. We fail to glorify Him when we publicly honor Him with our lips, but privately have hearts that are far from Him. (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:7-9)

10. God cannot be glorified where sin is pacified; and He cannot be extolled where sin is entertained. To live in and tolerate unrepentant sin is to write Ichabod across the doorpost of our lives and industry-"the glory of God has departed." (1 Samuel 4:21-22; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8)

11. We fail to glorify Him when pride struts like Nebuchadnezzar across the Babylonian palace of our accomplishments thinking our own hand has made us, our own hand has delivered us, our own hand has provided for us, our own hand has promoted us and our own hand has saved us. (Daniel 4:28-37; James 4:6)

12. We fail to glorify Him when we strive to please men rather than to please God. (Galatians 1:10: 1 Thessalonians 2:4)

13. We fail to glorify Him when we speak and sing of the benefits of the gospel, but fail to proclaim the Gospel itself. (Matthew 4:17, 7:13-27, 9:13, 16:24-26; Luke 14:26-33; John 1:12-13; Acts 20:27; Romans 3-5, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:2, 9:16; 2 Corinthians 4:5, 7:10; Galatians 1:6-8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 2: 9-18; 1 John 2:22-23, 4:1-4, 5:1-3)