From Dr. Mohler’s Blog

I am scheduled to appear on tonight’s edition of NBC’s Nightly News to discuss younger evangelicals and the Emerging Church movement. I discussed these issues with NBC’s Tom Brokaw earlier this week, and I was very encouraged by the quality of the discussion and by Mr. Brokaw’s interest in the story and knowledge of the background. It will be interesting to see how the segment comes together. The segment is scheduled for tonight’s edition of Nightly News. Check television schedules for your area.

Derek Thomas has a great article about the joy marriage is supposed to be, the dangers of sin within marriage, and our objective of having our marriage bring lasting glory to God. It is brief and a bit choppy, but calls attention to the many threatening views our society holds about marriage. It is both an encouraging and convicting read. His thesis statement is pivotal for all to understand:

None of our family relations will be right unless we fear God. This is the soul of godliness – fearing Him

Much of the article is aimed at men, but there is application for all.

If you see this cutie, wish her a happy birthday. She is 35 today!

I turned on the TV this moring to get a check on the weather and this headline was the first thing I heard.

MIAMI (AP) — Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died early Tuesday, a day after the Pro Bowl player was shot at home by what police say was an intruder. He was 24.

I had heard the news yesterday that he had been shot in the leg and was in critical condition, but seemed to be improving. The story seemed to just stick with me because someone was critically near the point of crossing over the river of death. He has a girlfriend and one year old daughter that are now left behind.

It is an interesting thing after someone has crossed from this world to eternity. Many people are convinced that by simply dying their loved one is in a better place. They speak in those terms quite freely, but then they quickly go back to living with no real thought of eternity. Often times they will comfort themselves by saying something like, “He would have wanted us to go play golf, or fish.” I can already hear the comments in the media surrounding the Redskins, “He loved football, and would have wanted us to play.” Eternity was in mind for a split second, but how quickly we go back to the trivial as significant. It is true of many, that they would have wanted us to go on idolizing the things of this world. However, few give thought to what their loved one would want us to do now in light of the eternity they are in. Without exception, they would want us to believe in God, for they now do, and they would want us to turn from our sin, for they regret all of it, and they would want us to turn to Christ, for they now know that he is truly the only way to a better place (Luke 16:19-30). I don’t know much of anything about Sean Taylor, nor do I know if he is in heaven or hell. I do know that his chief concern is not about a football game on Sunday.

We are installing a new basketball goal and the kids wanted to get down in this 48″ deep hole.

Tim Challies wrote a convicting post today. It is about seizing the opportunities we have with the everyday people in our life, asking about their spiritual condition, and telling them about Christ. This is a personal story about one of his co-workers named Mike who died of Leukemia.

As far as I know, Mike does not know the Lord. We had plenty of opportunities to talk about spiritual matters when we worked for the same company and I don’t think Mike ever understood the value of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If anything I’d say Mike was more a follower of Dr. Phil than of Jesus. There is not much I wouldn’t give at this point to be able to go and and ask him exactly what he believes. The imminence of death would surely give me the boldness I lacked even a couple of months ago when I last sat with him.

So now I sit here at the time when it is too late, wondering why I did not do more. Sure I told the family that I was praying for them and asked if I could pray with them. And sure I tried to get Mike to think about preparing for eternity. But I did so in such a pathetic way. Such a half-hearted way. I burn with shame as I write these words thinking of all I didn’t do and didn’t say. I feel burdened with guilt that Mike is days or maybe even hours away from standing before God, and that I did not make one clear, strong presentation of the gospel. I failed him. And I failed God.

Do you know what may be even worse? The likelihood that I’ll get over it. Two days from now I probably won’t even think of Mike. I’ll get busy with my life and the guilt will ease away. In a week or two I guess I’ll attend his funeral and feel this guilt again, but a few days after that I’ll conveniently put Mike out of my mind and go back to life. But you know what? I don’t want to get over it!

It is so simple and yet we often fail God in this way. If we love Christ the way a Christian should, we should love to talk about him. If we love our neighbor in the least, we should care enough to at least ask once where they are spiritually. If they give an answer that will not stand before God, we need to point them to the only hope, Christ.

I just finished typing up the prayer sheet for our church, and we have had 3 deaths connected to our body this week. In light of these deaths, here are the words of Puritan Richard Baxter on his death bed upon being asked asked, “How are you?”

Almost well and almost home.

To all those who are aware, Heather came through surgery well this morning. Her recovery went well until the car ride home, but now she is doing much better. Thank you for all the prayers, concerns, and help that have been offered and given. For those who are unaware, Heather and Tyler were wrestling two weeks ago. he went to tackle her and lead with his head right into the bridge of her nose. It broke the nose and they had to reset it this morning.

I know this has been around the blogs a lot lately, but for any who have not seen it, enjoy! This video goes with the finance video I posted earlier in the year, Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford. This video helps one to learn to stop damaging behaviors. I was considering auditing The Midwest Center For Theological Studies‘ J-Term class on Pastoral Counseling, but I guess now I don’t need to.

(HT: JT)

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