I hope you all enjoy celebrating the birth of the Christ child with your own traditions!  One such tradition that some steer clear of and others partake in is good ole saint Nick!  Mark Driscoll had an interesting historical post on him today that we read with our children tonight.

Nicholas was born in the third century in Patara, a village in what is now Turkey. He was born into an affluent family, but his parents died tragically when he was quite young. His parents had raised him to be a devout Christian, which led him to spend his great inheritance on helping the poor, especially children. He was known to frequently give gifts to children, sometimes even hanging socks filled with treats and gifts.

While much of what we think of when it comes to Saint Nicholas is myth, it was interesting to read his true legacy.  The myth part has taken on a whole lure of its own, and John Piper reminds us why the true Christ child is the only hope in contrast with Santa Claus.

Again, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

The solutions men come up with for the problems we face in life often create greater problems rather than truly solving anything. Take for instance this guy:

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – Fire officials in New Bedford, Mass., say a man using a blowtorch to melt ice on his back porch ended up setting his house on fire, causing up to $30,000 in damage.

Kruger says the man was using a torch hooked up to a 20-pound propane cylinder. He got too close to the building’s wood frame and ignited the vinyl siding. The fire quickly spread into the building’s second- and third-floor apartments.

It took 25 firefighters to subdue the blaze that damaged bedrooms in the upstairs units, and caused damage to the structure and wiring.

It seems logical, fire will melt the mass of snow.   While this is a sad but funny story, the solutions men come up with to deal with sin are no better, while the plan of salvation God has created through sending his Son to die for our sins seems too simple or too radical.  Don’t burn your life down while trying to deal with your sin in your own way, turn to Christ for forgiveness and live!

Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

John Piper lays out his concern for the popularity of the “reformed” movement taking place right now in our country.  It is worth a listen.

Guys may have a legitimate reason to say no to watching  the next chick flick that comes along.  Here it is:  You need to say no to save your relationship, and because you love your woman too much to let some movie destroy your communication and love.  Dr Bjarne Holmes, Heriot Watt University, has released a recent study that demonstrates that chick flicks promote unrealistic expectation when it comes to love and may have an impact on couples failure to communicate.

“Marriage counselors often see couples who believe that sex should always be perfect, and if someone is meant to be with you then they will know what you want without you needing to communicate it.

“We now have some emerging evidence that suggests popular media play a role in perpetuating these ideas in people’s minds.

“The problem is that while most of us know that the idea of a perfect relationship is unrealistic, some of us are still more influenced by media portrayals than we realize.”

Is the real answer to stop watching chick flicks?  Should we have ever been watching them?  I will leave those questions for your own discernment.  Seriously, the idea of the influence of media portrayals having more influence than we realize is what I take away from this study.  Blatant sin is not always as dangerous as subtle eroding messages of immorality.  In other words, a movie should not need content which gains an R or PG-13 rating for a Christian to stop and think, “maybe the message of this film will dull my thoughts and love for God”.  Sometimes “innocent” love stories will damage our thoughts of what is true and right.  This study is another reminder to filter everything through the lense of God’s Word.  It is true and will not fall to the ground or return void.   Most media is filtered through the human lense, which means, it will appeal to our flesh and the logic of the flesh, but does not mean that it is ultimately true or right.

Well last year Ben Hoak had to make good on this standing bet, now it is my turn to return the shameful favor.  Due to IU’s loss Saturday I must post a picture of Kentucky on my blog.  I believe the picture below should suffice and tells the story well:

Go Crean and Crimson!  Get em next year!

We have discovered Amazon!  For any Sixpence None the Richer fans or lovers of Christmas music, you can download the MP3 version of Angels We Have Heard On High at Amazon.com!  For those unfamiliar with their sound, it is unique, somewhat earthy/folk/alternative.  The instrumentation on this particular song is well done.  Enjoy!

In Blasted Gourd news, I don’t know how much I will be posting over the next few weeks.  I am trying to prepare for a couple youth retreats and really need to focus on that right now.  Hopefully I will be back to full strength after New years, but don’t fear or stop checking in because I still plan on throwing out a few posts as I come across thing.

One of the deep questions asked at Edgewood during this time of year is, “What exactly are “festive” snacks and sandwiches?”  For years we have been asked to bring them to Christmas fellowship gatherings, and have done our best to prepare them.  However, is it possible we have been misled in our practice throughout the decades of festive celebrations?  For many years I have mistakenly believed festive snacks to simply be pink meat sandwiches with the crust removed.  After much study it is time to clear up this error.  What exactly are “festive” snacks?

Upon selecting our first site in our Google search upon the subject, the blog Thimble (what more authoritative, festive snack voice could there be!) apparently and enthusiastically suggests a dish called Tapanade which seems to us to be a delightful resemblance of canned cat food upon first impression.  However, there is more, if one wants to properly prepare a “festive” food, one must wear the proper apron…

Upon furthur seeking, we found a result that may be a bit less daunting to some:  simply decorate a bowl of chips and dip by setting a few red and green 7Up bottles next to it. As always, we will be looking forward to the Sunday festive fellowship time!

Every had a one of those days where things just don’t seem to go right?  Welcome to these guy’s world:

Sometimes we just need to laugh.

Thabiti Anyabwile had an article on divisiveness that was very helpful both on understanding when someone is being divisive and how to deal with someone who is being divisive.  The context of his article dealt with how to deal with one elder who is being divisive against the other elders, but his insights are helpful in dealing with any divisiveness.  As an introductory note, this article and Thabiti’s are aimed at churches that are faithful to the Word of God, not churches in deep theological error or heresy.  However, even in those cases some of the truths will still apply.

First, when is someone being divisive?  Scripture warns about this both positively and negatively.   Positively, it continually sets before us how, as members of a church body, we are to strive for unity (Rom 15:5, Eph. 4).  Negatively, it gives stern warnings against sowing discord (Prov 6:19, 1 Cor. 3:3-4, 1 Cor 1:12, Titus 3:10).  However, sometimes it is difficult to see divisiveness.  What is it?  Divisiveness or Discord would be the opposite of striving for the unity of the body.  In the case that Thabiti was dealing with he has this to say:

 I can well understand why you feel “uneasy” about an elder “breaking ranks” with the other elders by speaking with others about his divergent views. There are biblical words for that: “sowing discord among the brethren” (Prov. 6:19), “carnal” division (1 Cor. 3:3-4), and “contention” (1 Cor. 1:12). He is dividing the body in his actions, and claiming to not want to offend while spreading what he knows will be an “offensive” view is plain hypocrisy. In the end, left unchecked, he will simply undermine the authority of the Word and the teaching ministry in that church by having these conversations outside the eldership with others who are not leaders.  I can’t tell you how serious this situation is or can be in terms of jeopardizing the unity and effectiveness of the ministry in your church. Your elder is chipping at the nerve center of the ministry, the preaching ministry.

Divisiveness in this case took the form of one man airing his own opinions.  Are we not allowed to have our own opinions?  Proverb 18 warns us,”A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.”  In this case this man was more concerned about his opinion and preference on how things should be done in that particular church than the unity of the Spirit and the gospel ministry of that church.  Do you see how easy this can be to fall into to?  On issues that deal with how the church is run and what is taught from the pulpits we must be vary careful to put the gospel ministry above our own opinions. 

Second, how do I deal with one who is divisive?  Thabiti give the following advice:

1. Insist that he raise these issues with the elders directly (Matt. 5:22-25; 18:15) and immediately cease talking with others outside the elders about this (Rom. 16:17; Titus 3:10).  In other words do not allow the conversation to continue with you are anyone else.  A sympathetic ear often lends itself to gossip and discord.  A discerning ear lends itself to true love and unity. 

2. If he refuses to address things with the eldership, let him know that you will go directly to the other elders along with two or three witnesses, others who can testify to his spreading his basic disagreement with the rest of the leadership (1 Tim. 5:19). 

3. Pray for and support your elders if they must rebuke this man publicly and sharply. 

4. In all of your interactions and reactions, seek to love deeply from the heart (Col. 2:14), watch and continue in prayer (Col. 4:2), and joyfully submit to those in authority (Heb. 13:17). Be a model of joyful membership in the church. Do everything to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4).

I love the next to last line, Be a model of joyful membership in the church!  What a wonderful privilege to be a part of the universal church and a local church.  We, by grace, get to be a part of the family of God!  Even if everything in your church is not done the way you want or it is not like some other church, never forget you have the privilege of being a part of a church that is serving the kingdom of God and His purposes.  God has you where you are for a reason, be a model of joyful membership in the church.  What a difference it would make if we all would focus our energies on that.  
Human relationships rarely work when parties are focused on what they wish were different with their spouse, friend, etc., but when we focus on loving that one for who God has made them and even in spite of some shortcomings the relationship and our joy grows.  It is the same within the church.  There is no perfect pastor and no perfect church, but the churches that truly thrive are the ones where the body bears with one another, is patient with one another, is not self seeking, not easily angered, keeps no records of wrongs, rejoices in the truth, protects, trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  If we have all the gifts, but not love, we gain nothing.  (1 Cor 13)

Last night I tried to quote form an article on a 78 year old woman still serving God, but could not remember a few parts of it.  It is a reminder to not grow weary in doing good, and to be a good steward of all God has given to us.

“remember your creator in the days of your youth” (12:1). I take this to mean:

Taste and see the goodness of God while all your senses are in full function, and your strength is still intact.

Savor him while you can—before your teeth fall out (the grinders cease) and your eyes fail (the windows are dimmed) and your bones ache with every move (the grasshopper drags itself along); before the fears of dying assail you and sap your strength and try your faith one last time before they are swallowed up in victory.

Evidently, at 78, my mother is still in the days of her youth. Since August, she has prayed and fought for her health.

Last week she left for Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. She joined a team of trainers for a Leadership Development Conference in which 90 teachers from around the country took their school vacation week to learn to study and teach the Bible through an inductive-study method.

Read the whole article here