Truth/scripture -> conviction -> action -> Love

We read scripture to understand the things that God desires, what breaks His heart. We then become convicted in our hearts. But conviction is not enough with action, to live out the Gospel instead of just hearing it, making disciples and preaching the Gospel to all nations. Then when we encounter people in certain situations, such as inequality or poverty or pain, we can show them Love and provide for them. That is what fighting the good fight means. That is what running the good race means. We live for God. Without God, all things are really meaningless...morality is meaningless...showing kindness is meaningless...loving others is meaningless.

Truth without conviction is useless in a person's life. Conviction is useless without action, else its all wishful thinking and good intentions. Action without love is meaningless, both in the sense that there is no foundation or source for the action, and the action will not feel or look real. Thus action without love is meaningless and directionless.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-11

Hitting Rock Bottom

I have hit rock bottom before. Physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually. In all aspects of my life. But hitting rock bottom has a different meaning as well, because falling to the bottom literally means finding the rock. And who is that rock?

Isaiah 26:3-5
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust

1 Samuel 2:2
There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,

And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

I have watched many sermons, read many theology books, served in many fellowship of believers, and read the Bible one book at a time, but let me not boast in any of these but continue to peach the Gospel to myself.

Daniel, there is absolutely no point in any of this conviction if it doesn't become real in your life and if you don't go out and take action!

 

 

O_O (He said to share)

Hi family and friends,

Hoping this message finds you well!  I wanted to email you all and share a warning about a false-doctrine group I encountered here over the past few weeks, in case they're part of a larger push east.  

It all started when I visited the Arlington branch of McLean Bible Church (formerly Frontline) for its Monday service.  It's been four years since I last worshipped there, and I was wondering how things were different.  Afterwards, a guy around my age approached me and struck up a conversation, saying he was new to the area, staying with some friends, and was interested in checking out churches/Bible studies.  

Now, as a bit of background, since I've moved here it's been difficult figuring out what church to stick with.  In all honesty, the transition has also been rough on my motivation some Sunday mornings.  School and work have so far been an obstacle for me to check out more than a few small groups on weeknights, let alone visit consistently.  So, given my recent lack of regular Christian community, it was honestly nice to be approached by a seemingly genuine person.  He initiated a morning meet over coffee and shared about how he'd moved from southern California where he'd been involved in setting up three or four ministry groups at schools.  He shared a bit about how he had a Presbyterian background and spent some time in South Korea before coming back to the States.  When the conversation turned to my involvement in InterVarsity, he said he knew what it was--but the first red flag appeared when he incorrectly mentioned the reason why the IV chapters in California were derecognized.  Hindsight of course brings clarity, but at the time while I did think it was strange, I assumed it was probably because he was with a church group and not on campus as much.  He also indicated he was here for work and also ministry efforts, but didn't really elaborate.  Red flag #2.    

After, he asked if I wanted to get dinner that night with him and his two friends, which I agreed to join.  Overall it was nice having conversation and they were friendly enough.  While trading small talk though, it appeared that while one friend had a familial connection to the DC metro area, they'd both moved from southern California around the same time frame (1-2 weeks) as the first guy.  Cue red flag #3.  Again odd, but not unheard of.  Then they invited me to a Bible study last Tuesday night, which I figured I should check out just to see what their deal was.  But still, red flag #4, because the first guy's initial pitch was an interest in McLean's SG.

     

When I arrived, they were meeting in the conference room of an office in Alexandria, not a church.  Red flag #5.  They shared that they'd found out the owners of the building were Christian and that they (the owners) were letting them use the space for ministry work.  I met five or six other members, who were originally from all over the country and world.  But their common denominator was they had all moved out here from southern California a couple weeks ago.  Red flags at this point were popping up everywhere (Even though they had snacks!).  Aside from me there were maybe 5-6 other visitors.  At this point, I was wary, but considered that maybe I was just over-thinking it all or being judgmental.  If anything, the message would be revealing.

We started with an icebreaker, and then sang two songs ("Oceans/Where Feet May Fail" and "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever").  The person who gave the talk, to my surprise, couldn't have been older than me by much (late 20s at most), and yet the others called him a pastor, despite his one denial at the beginning of the talk.  He shared how he had previously been in the Philippines doing missionary work and wanted to give us insight into the lessons he learned.  "Seeking God" was the topic, and it started innocently enough.  However, the passage he first mentioned (Psalms 14:2) was not the foundation of the message.  Rather, he started jumping around to different books, making connections between the English words and phrases.  It was telling that he did not refer to the original/pre-translation terms.  Nor did he bring historical/cultural context about the verses into his exposition.  (At this point my note taking lessened until at one point I just stopped.)  Towards the end, his main point was that if you break up the hardened ground of your hearts and seek God with all your heart, He will reveal things about Himself that you didn't know, which leads to finding life and thus finding favor with Him.  He then shared generally about their goals to build up the body, rather than outreach, and then go out and impact the area.  

When we were in discussion groups afterward, I remembered there had been no mention of Christ or sin or grace or redemption.  And even though the songs are common in Christian settings, the lyrics conveniently don't mention Christ by name either.  So, when we were going around sharing prayer requests, I decided to test my mini-hypothesis.  I mentioned a request for humility in breaking up that ground, following Christ's humble example of being obedient to God the Father.  When the group leader prayed for each one of us, he repeated the humility part for me but did not mention Jesus.  Thankfully I had a paper due at midnight, so I used that as an excuse to leave soon after we finished.  My initial impression from all this was that it was some kind of charismatic meeting with gnostic influences.

The other red flags:

- The original guy I met went to different churches with me the past two Sundays (McLean Bible at Tysons Corner, and Capitol Hill Baptist) since I'd previously invited him along to visit upon initially meeting him.  In both he did not take notes or participate much during the sermons, aside from the occasional nod.  (He actually was pretty late to the former and fell asleep during the latter.)  However, on Tuesday evening he was diligent in transcribing everything written on the whiteboard.

- Receiving confirmation that the whiteboard style was used during each Bible study.  It reminded me of some similar false movements that relied on chalkboards or whiteboards to emphasize 'connections' between verses to reveal hidden 'truths'.  However, I haven't been able to remember the style's name.  (If anyone does, please let me know because it's bothering me, haha.)

- Digging around the original guy's Google+ page with the email address he'd provided.  One of the tabs showed his YouTube account which listed some enthusiastic comments he made on videos featuring several speeches given by a Man-Hee Lee.  Looking that guy up was the final confirmation needed to determine that whole thing was most definitely a cult.  Here's a wiki page and an article I found with some background on his Shinchunji movement.  A clarification worth noting is that neither this Lee figure nor the movement was mentioned at all during the Tuesday session.  However, considering last week was the first gathering, anything is possible going forward.  

Needless to say I will not be returning to that group.  Retrospectively the similarity to everything I knew from my church background was alarming.  From a worldly sense though, it was an appealing group.  They were all well-dressed/fashionable, young (mid-20s), and very outgoing/affirming.  They had a respect and enthusiasm for "the word" and used NIV Bibles.  However, thinking about all the other clues revealed a group not following Christ.     

Anyways, thanks for being willing to read this long email.  Hopefully this will be an encouragement to remain vigilant for these individuals in your churches and fellowships.  Perhaps they want to target DC given its proximity to government, but please be aware regardless of your location/circumstances.  If you've just moved somewhere, don't put off or waffle on your church decision.  While I'm grateful for the experience to know what to watch out for, I'm even more grateful for the Spirit's gentle but insistent urging that something was off before it was too late.  And despite all this, it was certainly a situation I could have prevented by making a faster effort to get plugged into a church and meet people.  All glory to God for His protection.   

Feel free to forward this widely to others you know.  Again, hope you all are doing well and would love to catch up sometime!     

Best,

BH

The Kingdom of God is not about the feelz, but about the realz.

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight.

The "sight" here represents not only physical senses, but the emotional senses as well.
(This reiterated in the context of chapter 5 with the preference of being away from the body)

Like I said before, emotions are not a bad thing. For one thing, they give us the energy to worship (but not the motivation, God Himself is). But there is also a tendency to idolize them. They can even betray us, and do so often. In times when God doesn't feel like He is there, that is our flesh wrestling with the Truth that God is always there. So let us tone down the feels and remember that Jesus Christ is real(s).

http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols10-12/chs677.pdf

If there is not another world to live for, I must say that this life is a most unutterably empty kind of thing. It is not worthy of a man! But oh, to believe what God tells me, that there is a God, that God became flesh to bear me up to Himself, to believe that I am God’s son, that I have an immortality within myself which will outlast the stars, that I shall one day see His face, and sing His praise forever with cherubim and seraphim—why, there is something here. The man who believes this feels as if he begins to grow; he bursts the poor engrossments of his flesh, and expands into something worthy of a man who is made in the image of the Most High! The principle of seeing everything, and of liking only to get what I can see, and touch, and handle, is the poor instinct of beasts and birds, but the principle of living upon what I cannot see, and upon something that I can believe, is one worthy of a man. As much as man is higher than the beast, so much and yet more a thousand-fold is the life of faith superior to that of mere sight and feeling. - Charles Spurgeon

Noah and the Reasons of Faith - Tim Keller

You may ask, ‘if we cannot imagine a three-personal Being, what is the good of talking about Him?’ Well, there isn’t any good taking about Him. The thing that matters is being actually drawn into that three-personal life, and that may begin any time – tonight, if you like.

What I mean is this. An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get in touch with God. But if he is a Christian he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God: God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God – that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him. Ye see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying – the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on – the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole threefold life of the three-personal Being is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man is saying his prayers.

- C.S. Lewis

Manipulation. It is near impossible to avoid it in preaching the Gospel. There is a tension between us sincerely and dearly trying to love our neighbors by preaching the Gospel to them (whether it's by word of mouth, giving Gospel tracks, dragging them to fellowship) and them dearly trying to not accept it. That is why we still aren't reaching the people in the United States even though there is basically a church on every block...kinda.

Therefore there are really only two ways of revealing the Gospel to onlookers without manipulation: loving one another in the church (John 13:35), and through the sacrifices and sustaining of the covenant/testimony of marriage, which is an analogy of Christ and the Church.

That is why unity within the Church is so important. Paul recognized this and that's why he wrote the entire book of Ephesians. Only only has to look at Ephesians 4 for it to hit home. One body. One faith. One Spirit. One God. Yes there different ministries and an allocation of different gifts. Do not be jealous of one another. All have a purpose and all need to be sustained by the rest of the Body. This is spiritual physiology guys. If you have spiritual imbalance, the entire Body is going to collapse. Homeostasis!

The point is this: loving others is hard. Loving all the time in a selfless manner is literally impossible. The world knows this. People know this. Everyone knows this. That is why people give up on it, because its impossible. But for Christians, we know that we are too weak, that's why we call upon the strength of the Lord through Holy Spirit in faith. With God's strength, we can do the impossible. That's where Philippians 4:13 comes in. So when the world sees us doing the impossible, they are going to be like "holy moley, how are they doing that? How are they selflessness loving their wife in that fashion? How are they giving up dreams and goals and laying down their lives for one another? I want in on that!" They see something so unnatural, unearthly, supernatural, and beautiful, they cannot help but be shaken. Sure there is no guarantee they will turn their face to God, but they will be shaken.

That is why we need love and unity in the Church. I know it is so hard to reconcile Truth and Love, and I don't know where to draw the line on that still, but we are called to die to ourselves. Same with suffering, especially unjust suffering where others take advantage of your kindness or abuse you for being loving. But we face these things not without hope. Jesus lives! Like they say, a Christian who has fallen as a kernel in to the dirt who refuses to die, is the most miserable being in existence. Surrender, and you will be set free!

1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

(Love must come from the heart, probably through obedience)

1 Peter 2:12  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 

(We are living testimonies for the Gospel)

1 Peter 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

(As Christians we are to be respectable and honoring to worldly governments)

1 Peter 2:19-21 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

(When we suffer unjustly, it brings glory to God)

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

(This is how we die to ourselves to love others. This is what we need to give up)

1 Peter 3:13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

(People aren't likely to harm you for doing good, but there isn't fear in suffering either)

1 Peter 3:15-16 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

(When people ask why you live as a Christian, doing good without receiving any rewards, be sure to tell them about Jesus Christ)

1 Peter 4:3-5 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

(When you live apart from the world, they will notice and ask, and they might hate you for it)

1 Peter 4:8-11 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 

(When we serve or do anything for one another, it is with God's strength)

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

(When we are persecuted, we will be blessed. "Oh now I know how Jesus feels")

1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

(When we suffer, it should remind us who we are as Christians)

1 Peter 3:18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

(It is hard for a Christian to be a Christian (to love), but it is impossible otherwise)

1 Peter 5:10-11 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

(God will strengthen us through our suffering. That is probably why He gave us suffering in the first place)

(somehow this became a 1 Peter study...)

 Remember: Suffering (for Christ) is NOT optional 

There can not be any coincidence...both episodes (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso ep 6 and Naruto ep 386) pointed to the exact same thing. Damn the feels. I'm not in any 3 way triangle am I?

Who cares about music. Who cares about words. We have the long, long time that we've spent together, and we have so many tiny, precious memories.

In both episodes...memories are the source of strength. One of simple friendship and love. The other the paramount battle between good and evil, which hinges on the phrase don't hide your wounds, I am always watching you. The reasons to save the world. The reasons to destroy it.

What about my own memories? Do they empower me? Or do they lead me into bitterness?

My parents danced together, her head on his chest. Both
had their eyes closed. They seemed so perfectly content. If
you can find someone like that, someone who you can hold
and close your eyes to the world with, then you’re lucky.
Even if it only lasts for a minute or a day. The image of them
gently swaying to the music is how I picture love in my mind
even after all these years.

I hope they spent those last few hours well. I hope they
didn’t waste them on mindless tasks: kindling the evening
fire and cutting vegetables for dinner. I hope they sang
together, as they so often did. I hope they retired to our
wagon and spent time in each other’s arms. I hope they lay
near each other afterward and spoke softly of small things. I
hope they were together, busy with loving each other, until
the end came.

I hope one day my wife and I can be like this. Being at peace with each other. Learning to love one another despite our weaknesses and flaws and ability to change like the wind.

To dance. To Sing. To say sweet nothings to one another. To lay near each other until eternal rest comes do us apart.

"God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.” -Jonathan Edwards

Yessss great minds think alike aka if it is the truth then it will be revealed time and time again throughout history, since it is constant.
 

I don't know why...but just now I remembered a picture I once saw on the internet. It showed a (asian) dad who was well dressed and was sitting at the end of a table full of delicious and expensive looking food. Alone. His head was resting on his hands while he remembers the past where he and his wife and young boy sat around a small table eating instant ramen. They were all smiling and laughing.

I don't ever want to be like that man.

I feel like I am going down the path towards that end.

I wonder how I can make this Biblical...

FOUND IT!