More notes of the week

God doesn't care whether u get an A or a B, but He cares greatly about the heart in which you pursue your grade.

In our depravity, we have a track record of being poor judges of character...

Hebrews 12

Discipline is good

It teaches moral right from wrong

It teaches one to avoid mistakes, but also how to learn from them and grow

It prepares one for hard work in the future and how to handle stress

It teaches respect and honor 

But discipline must be done out of love

It cannot be emotionally abusive

It cannot be done in a cold way

Never discipline out of selfish anger

The reason for discipline must be explicitly said or known

The act of discipline must hurt the one disciplining more than the one receiving (even if this reality is hidden, and should be for the meaning of discipline to stick)

Positive reinforcement is always stronger than negative reinforcement; discipline as necessary

The argument that seeing good come out of a situation or decision automatically justifies it as good/acceptable/right is extremely flawed

I am not impressed...

I am not impressed by your musical talents.

I am not impressed by your skill at sports.

I am not impressed by your ability to buy expensive clothes or make them match.

I am not even impressed by your ability to move people with your speech or zeal.

I am impressed when you care and give beyond your ability, because I know that I am really being impressed by God.

That is what I seek in my fellow brothers and sisters. That is what we all need to seek.

 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

There is no reason at all for a christian to have a big house or buy a fancy car or living way beyond what is necessary to sustain them. Being rich? That is fine. But living without giving what you can give to the poor and needy? That goes against EVERYTHING in the bible. You cannot justify living in a big house scripturally, biblically, or realistically. There isn't any justification for it at all. I can only imagine how Jesus' heart breaks to see rich Christians living lavishly in an age of hunger and suffering.

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. - Proverbs 28:27

Francis Chan always talks about "the Holy Spirit only taught me this now, even though I've read this before (many times)." That's how I should be with scripture, realizing the true message can only be revealed by the Holy Spirit.

What moves us is not God's majesty or sovereignty. We see it and know it. Not impressed. It is natural for us to blow it off. What shatters us is the reality of that God sending His son to die and save us. That is what truly moves us to long for Him and worship His glory.

Too many seekers come to Church seeking a radical and counterculture community, but leave jaded seeing something possibly worse than what the world teaches. Why oh why...

"When you are well prepared for your sermon, you cite a variety of sources, but when you aren't well prepared, you just quote C.S. Lewis" - Member to Tim Keller

We must live with the decisions we make, as well as the decisions made for us.