People have been asking about traffic in India. One word describes it: Crazyinsanitymadnessnorulesatall!
I am shocked that we never got in a wreck. I did not take the above or below videos. I tried, but, it is hard to capture from a back seat of a car.
This video is probably not from Ahmedabad, but it does represent it fairly well.
Except, the roads in Ahmedabad were typically more crowded.
Anyway, you get the idea….
Enjoy!
It is hard to believe that I have now been home from India for one week. Sleep has returned to normal which is a welcomed event. I also had the extreme joy of worshiping with Trinity C.C., my home church, on Sunday. I am grateful to God for the weekly worship with my church! Sadly, this can so easily be taken for granted.
As I sit here in my hotel in Paris, it is difficult not to see the drastic 
contrast of where I was a few days ago (India) and where I am today (Paris). Oh, the contrasts! This brings me to the greatest of contrasts this world has ever known!
is like. It is my 5th time here, but the poverty never gets easier to take in. It’s everywhere; it’sContinue reading Learning Generosity…. From Those Who Have Almost Nothing
Again, quick post as I am writing at 2:30 a.m. India time / it is 5:00 p.m. EST.
While, I do desire to post about the mission trip itself, I also think it is important for me to share a few personal items in an effort to give praise to God. So, here goes…..
There are 5 aspects of grace that I am thanking God for regarding this trip.
Continue reading 5 Aspects Of Grace That Stand Out For Me Here In India
I wanted to shoot out a quick post from India. Our schedule is very full so perhaps I can make a few quick posts when there is time.
The road to arrive in Ahmedabad, India was long (Travel time was in excess of 26 hours) As you might imagine, it is an exhausting trip and yet, we have felt the Lord’s strength. Upon arriving at the ministry (the
Let’s get right to it.
1.) Not Surprised
I don’t think we should be surprised by the two undercover Planned Parenthood videos that have been released. When I first viewed the videos, I was speechless. What we see being discussed casually over a salad and wine is absolutely deplorable. Is it illegal? Yes! Is it amoral? Absolutely! Have we lost our minds as a society? Most certainly! But, is it surprising? I don’t think so.
Kiss the wave?
I am fairly sure that is not the way I would think of a wave that throws me to the rocks.
Hmmmm…. Hit the wave, run from the wave, curse the wave…. I don’t know, anything but kiss the wave.
Would you like a gospel refill?
Yes, Please!
By Grace Through Faith And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved
Ephesians 2:1-5 ESV
“We have an unchanging gospel, which is not today green grass and tomorrow dry hay; but always the abiding truth of the immutable Jehovah.”
C.H. Spurgeon
“As the early church fathers delighted in saying, Christ took what was ours so that we might receive what was His.”
Sinclair Ferguson, In Christ Alone
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
“The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.”
C.H. Spurgeon
“The gospel is not ‘God loves us,’ but ‘God loves us at the cost of his Son.’”
Derek Thomas
“Preaching the gospel to myself each day mounts a powerful assault against my pride and serves to establish humility in its place. Nothing suffocates my pride more than daily reminders regarding the glory of my God, the gravity of my sins, and the crucifixion of God’s own Son in my place. Also, the gracious love of God, lavished on me because of Christ’s death, is always humbling to remember, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the Hell I deserve.”
Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8 ESV
“Grace-driven effort is violent. It is aggressive. The person who understands the gospel understands that, as a new creation, his spiritual nature is in opposition to sin now, and he seeks not just to weaken sin in his life but to outright destroy it. Out of love for Jesus, he wants sin starved to death, and he will hunt and pursue the death of every sin in his heart until he has achieved success. This is a very different pursuit than simply wanting to be good. It is the result of having transferred one’s affections to Jesus. When God’s love takes hold of us, it powerfully pushes out our own love for other gods and frees our love to flow back to him in true worship. And when we love God, we obey him. The moralist doesn’t operate that way. While true obedience is a result of love, moralistic legalism assumes it works the other way around, that love results from obedience.”
Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel
“Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Do not believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted.”
C.H. Spurgeon
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV
“Let this be to you the mark of true gospel preaching – where Christ is everything, and the creature is nothing; where it is salvation all of grace, through the work of the Holy Spirit applying to the soul the precious blood of Jesus.”
C.H. Spurgeon
“If God does not save men by truth, he certainly will not save them by lies. And if the old gospel is not competent to work a revival, then we will do without the revival.”
C.H. Spurgeon
It’s what I need. I wake up in the morning and my dry soul must have it. “A double shot of Gospel, please”! Because, I am dull and I forget the glories of what Christ has done for me. Today is a new day in which I am inclined to drift towards my works and efforts. I want to trust in myself. And so…. I need to be reminded of Christ’s work on that cross! The gospel is a double shot for my soul. I need it daily, regular, and often. “Why”, you ask? Because it seems that while I slept last night gospel truths began to lose its grip on me. Like the sand I hold in my hand at the beach, it slips through my fingers.
So, join with me and refresh your soul with the truths of the gospel.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Stuart Townend & Keith Getty Copyright © 2001 Thankyou Music
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
1 Timothy 1:15
“If the Lord’s bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach.”
C.H. Spurgeon
“The man who does not glory in the gospel can surely know little of the plague of sin that is within him.
J.C. Ryle
Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel is the only hope for humanity. Wherever you go, ask God for wisdom on how to get that Gospel in, even in the toughest situations of life.
Ravi Zacharias
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
Romans 1:16 ESV
The best news of the Christian gospel is that the supremely glorious Creator of the universe has acted in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection to remove every obstacle between us and himself so that we may find everlasting joy in seeing and savoring his infinite beauty.
John Piper
“If we think the main mission of the church is to improve life in Adam and add a little moral strength to this fading evil age, we have not yet understood the radical condition for which Christ is such a radical solution.”
Michael Horton, Christless Christianity
The Righteousness of God Through Faith But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
Romans 3:21-25 ESV
“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”
Augustine
“The reason that marriage is so painful and yet wonderful is because it is a reflection of the gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
Timothy Keller
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Ephesians 5:25-28 ESV
“My work with teenagers has convinced me that one of the main reasons teenagers are not excited by the gospel is that they do not think they need it. Many parents have successfully raised self-righteous little Pharisees. When they look at themselves, they do not see a sinner in desperate need, so they are not grateful for a Savior. Sadly, the same is true of many of their parents.”
Timothy D. Lane, How People Change
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…
I Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV
“The marker of those who understand the gospel of Jesus Christ is that, when they stumble and fall, when they screw up, they run to God and not from him, because they clearly understand that their acceptance before God is not predicated upon their behavior but on the righteous life of Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death.”
Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel
Christian, are you comfortable in your own skin?
You gotta love the apostle Paul! He was comfortable in his own skin, meaning, he knew who he was and what he believed. He knew what he was saved from, he knew his Savior, and he made no excuses for it. Paul did not set out to offend. But, neither did he water down truth… A watered down truth is no longer….truth. Sometimes, truth offends.
So I ask you again: Christian, are you comfortable in your own skin?
What was the result for Paul being true to who he was and what he believed?
It was lashings, periods of time in prison, his friends abandoned him, and so much more.
But, like a beaten boxer, he kept getting back up to be “hit” again.
What drove Paul?
Was he ever tempted to give up the fight and call it a day?
We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
(1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV)
Paul understood that to some, his preaching of Christ crucified would be a stumbling block or foolishness, and he seemed to be ok with that.
We want a salvation that does not offend my desires, and a Savior who not only accepts me “just as I am” but accepts my ongoing blatant rebellion against Him as well.
Why was Paul ok with preaching the Word that caused stumbling blocks and was viewed to be folly? The next verse tells us why.
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24 ESV)
Christ crucified was what drove this man. He was a man aware of the death to life reality for himself. Once Saul (persecutor of the church) now Paul (church planter, preacher, evangelist, and inmate).
We live in a day where pastors and church leaders are seeking to make God’s Word more palatable. Palatable is good…. isn’t it? Yes and No. Yes, because we need to help people understand God’s Word. And no, because we are not at liberty to change or to water down God’s Word to conform to this world.
And this is where we get it wrong. God’s Word calls us to conform to the Word, rather than the Word conforming to the world. Sadly, ours is a day when believers water down the Word to help the Word conform to the world.
When the Word and the World collide, we are to go with the Word!
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
3 Reasons why we are conforming more to the world than to the Word.
1.) The desire for growth. So strong is the desire today to be a pastor, or a member, of a large church that compromise soon follows. In the name of adding people, many are willing to compromise God’s Word.
Sure, I want the church to grow just as much as the next guy! However, we have to ask ourselves: Is the addition of people that comes from watering down the truth of God’s Word actual growth?
While it may be growing “our” kingdom, we must consider, is the kind of growth we are experiencing in our churches, growing God’s Kingdom?
I submit to you that if it is built on the world rather than the Word, it is not growing God’s Kingdom.
This is, perhaps, worse than no growth at all? If we are adding people to a false gospel and to man’s kingdom, are we not serving ourselves rather than God?
People might be added, but not converted.
I often hear: “you can’t argue with success.” Which means, because there are a lot of people attending, God must be blessing the church. How foolish that we define success with a number of people in a room as opposed to what the Bible clearly states.
(For example: Matthew 28:19-20)
2.) Because of fear
Difficult days lie ahead for the church in America. I am afraid that Christians are afraid. We fear people, government, and political correctness more than we fear God. We lust to be accepted and approved by people.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
(Galatians 1:10 ESV)
Now, that is a man comfortable in his own skin. When preachers toe the line of political correctness, they do so out of fear of man rather than fear of God.
3.) Because we have forgotten
We have forgotten that Christ calls us to “deny ourself, and take up our cross and follow Him.” We want an easy salvation, one that requires no repentance, no change, and no Savior. Christianity 101 calls us to repent from our sin. The church then is not called to make life more comfortable for us in our sinfulness. The church is a place of repentance and transformation.
And, nothing less than Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection makes this possible!
I enjoy Facebook. Sometimes, I enjoy it too much. It is a curious social thing, an experiment of sorts, that we won’t know the full effects for years to come . It would be difficult to deny that Facebook has changed us. Not all for the bad, but not all for the good either.
I wonder, how much are we seeking to be defined by Facebook? As I write this last sentence, I had a train wreck of thoughts in my head…..
“No…. seriously?!?
Come on Tim!
Defined by Facebook??
That is over the top!
Who, in their right mind would let a status update, a number of distant friends, or ones latest profile pic define them?”
So, I grabbed some scrap paper and pen, and began to scribble down a quick list of how Facebook might be defining us.
Here is that list in no particular order:
1.) You have been contemplating turning Facebook off, or getting away from it for a season. Fueled by a desire to spend time in more worthwhile places….. but you just can’t quite seem to pull the plug or make any significant changes.
2.) You find yourself more connected to people you hardly even know or, checking the status of a friend that you have not spoken to in years becomes over and above the friends and family that you know genuinely love you and care about you.
3.) Checking the status of a distant Facebook friend, while having coffee with a face to face friend, is more important to you than the friend that you have in front of you.
4.) The number of social friends (who really do not know you, or truly care about you) is of greater value than the few genuine friends a person can actually have. (There, I did it! I just checked my Facebook and I have 728 friends. Wow, how impressive am I?!? What…. you are not impressed? Why? Because you know a person can only have so many genuine friendships.) Don’t let the number of people who befriend you or Add you as their friend…. Define you! And for that matter, don’t let those who “Un-friend” you define you either.
5.) Ladies…. Hearing “you’re beautiful” “beautiful family” or “you deserve it” can take on an inflated meaning when Facebook defines you. Is it ok if people do NOT tell you “beautiful family” or “you deserve it”? Or, are you defined by those sentiments made by “friends” who are flying through their News feed and are compelled to leave a “You’re so beautiful” comment.
6.) You just realized…..I wasted how much time on Facebook today?
7.) You are no longer bothered by how much time you spend on Facebook.
8.) You regularly over react by defending yourself and your Facebook time to your spouse, parents, or friends who, ever so gently mention: “it seems like you spend quite a bit of time on Facebook.”
9.) You no longer send Birthday cards or write letters that express your feelings or affection.
10.) You’re offended by this blog post! :-)
11.) You do not read books like you used too because Facebook is a distraction. (Personally, I have been using my iPad less as my book reader because there are too many distractions… Facebook being one of them. I am considering going back to the Kindle.) (PM me ;-) if you have one you want to sell.)
12.) You are unwilling to admit your lack of self – discipline and cannot walk away from it.
13.) The number of people who “like” your status update matters far too much. This is revealed by how often you check in to see who liked your post and how many likes you have amassed.
14.) You feel the need to document your life on Facebook as if there is something in you that says people need to know that you are on vacation or out with your family.
15.) Selfie, selfie, and yet another….. selfie.
The above may be offensive to some. Please know, that is not my intent! Nor is it my intent to, in some way, come across as if I don’t struggle with any of this myself. And lastly, it is also not my intent to start the “Shut down the Facebook” club. There are some benefits to Facebook. Maybe I will write about Facebook benefits in a future post. Again, this is not a Facebook bashing of those who like Facebook. It is however, a call for serious and sober reflection. And, if for some reading this post, decide to walk away permanently or for a season, I don’t think their life will suffer for it and perhaps it will benefit instead.
I would love for you to add to the list above. You can comment below on other ways Facebook can define us. Or if you disagree with this post feel free to share that as well.
It is ok to disagree with me….. because, this post doesn’t define me. :-)
Is your Christianity….Spectacular? NO? Well, why not? Where is your faith? What is wrong with you?
That was the email thread that I was engaged in years ago, and I seem to be re-engaged in of late. And, it is a theme that God seems to be keeping in front of me for much of this past year.
So, here are more questions to help you get the gears moving:
See past blog post: To All Those With A Boring Testimony
And the list goes on…. Christianity in our day lusts for the spectacular under every rock. But, what if yours and/or my Christian walk with God is just…. average? What if the spectacular, as we define it, avoids you like the plague? Are we to think we are something of a “lesser” kind of follower of Christ?
2 Quick Examples of UN-spectacular followers of Christ:
1.) Simeon of Luke 2.
So, tell me…. who is this Simeon guy? What great things can you tell me about him? What has he done for the Christian faith? Did he write scripture, or heal a blind man, or perhaps he preached and 1,000’s came to saving faith? Surely, he did something spectacular to make his way into the Word of God.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God…..”
(Luke 2:25-28 ESV)
That’s it?!?
This is all we have on this guy Simeon. No record of the miraculous or radical faith. Simeon is anything but spectacular. I am sure you and I have read this story many times without even pausing to consider this man.
And I am wondering……. Why?
Well, Simeon is not amazing enough to capture our attention.
So, now nearing the end of his life Simeon holds Jesus in his arms and…. (ready for this?) HE BLESSES GOD! Are you kidding me?!? I try, in vain, to imagine the joy of this moment for the faithful plodder, Simeon.
Listen to a sermon on Simeon here: iPlod.
Simeon has been faithful. He has consistently waited on God to move like His Word said He would in Malachi 3.
Exciting? Spectacular?
At first blush, I think not! But upon closer and further review, nothing could be further from the truth. You see, in our lust for the “spectacular” today we seem to be missing something of what it means to follow Christ.
Let’s reconsider the Simeon. Simeon is a man who waited on God his entire life! He is surrounded by apostasy. The religious leaders of the day are leading people away from God, in the name of God.
This is where we find Simeon. He is trusting in the Word of God that was given to the prophet 400 years prior! He is faithfully….. waiting! Perhaps waiting is more spectacular than we first thought! When no move of God is taking place, Simeon waits and waits and waits some more. When no hope of a Messiah is before him, he waits. Why? Because God’s Word promised a Savior would come! Now, when life has nearly passed him by and he now is nearing his own death, Simeon is found faithfully doing what? Waiting for the Savior! Wow!
If that is not spectacular, what is?
O, that it would be said of you and me that we faithfully waited for the Lord to our dying day!
2.) Timothy
How unspectacular is Timothy’s conversion!?!
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
(2 Timothy 1:5 ESV)
Timothy, it seems, was taught the gospel at a young age. He has a gospel heritage that he grew up in that came from momma and grandma. What a gift! But, Timothy’s conversion is not exactly a “go to” conversion story. We would rather look to Saul, who is persecuting the church, knocked off his donkey, meets Jesus, blinded, etc…! Now that is a conversion story, right?
Well, yes. But, is Paul’s conversion any more spectacular than the next guy? Does Paul’s conversion require more grace or more substitution or more of Jesus than Timothy’s? When we create these categories of what is and is not spectacular, are we not dismissing the spectacular hand of God, the very glory of God?
It matters how we think about these things. If waiting for Jesus to come the first time (Simeon) is unspectacular then waiting for Him to come the second time (me and you) will be plain vanilla as well. If your salvation story is unspectacular (in your mind), your view of Christ’s sacrifice for you will lack luster as well.
Join with me and pause today: