I watched Bob Ross the other day. If you’ve never seen Bob Ross, you really need to spend some time on the Public Broadcast Station. He is a painter who starred in a television show in the seventies. He was a white guy with an afro, a sweet disposition, and the happiest trees and clouds you have ever seen. Really great television. Well, I was watching him the other day, and I was struck by how much he praised one of his tools, his “friendly little fan.” The little fan brush he was using could do some amazing things. It could create a lighting pattern on the edge of bushes, create leaves on trees where there was once only a branch, and even spread out the ripples in a pool of water. It was truly an amazing little brush. Most of my brushes don’t serve me half as well. As I thought Bob Ross and his amazing brushes I was convicted about my admiration for John Piper. Strange, I know, but stick with me as I explain this a little more. [...]

As the end of the summer draws near, many of you will have to face the (perhaps) dreaded reality of going back to school. With this comes the reality of heightened responsibility, a busier schedule, and greater demand on your life. In my days of school, the magic word has always been “balance”. That is, how is one to strike a balance between all of the responsibilities that vie for our time? I am not sure that anyone knows how to answer this question sufficiently. Almost without fail, when life gets busy, something important takes the back seat. And for many of us who are students, that thing in the back seat is sleep. How are we as Christians to think of this thing called sleep? I simply want to offer three main thoughts for you to consider as you approach the upcoming semester of school and the blessing of sleep.

Sleep and Health

Students who deal with the character flaw (i.e., sin) of perfectionism may struggle with making time in their busy schedules for sleep. They are oftentimes overly meticulous with their school work and are willing to sacrifice just about anything (including sleep) in order to make the grade. “All-nighters”–those 24+ hour marathon study sessions that require several pots of coffee to get one through the night–are a common practice for these types of students. In effect, they are functioning as practical gnostics as they focus on the immaterial to the neglect of the material; that is, they give attention to the development of their minds while failing to maintain the health of their bodies. While Paul places greater emphasis on the cultivation of our souls, he also emphasizes the value of training and maintaining the health of our bodies (1 Tim 4:8). Friends, while studying is certainly important, don’t neglect your bodies by neglecting your duty and privilege to sleep. [...]

It’s that time of year again when gobs and gobs of money are spent appeasing and pacifying the wants and wishes of small children (and 40-something-year-old kids) across the globe. On December the 25^th millions of men, women, boys, and girls throughout the world will receive their yearly injection of that oh-so intoxicating drug called materialism. While I’m all for giving gifts—and receiving them—I would like for us to at least give thought to the sorts of gifts that we are giving to our loved ones this year. [...]

“But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? Consider now: who being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish.” Job 4:5-8

The book of Job is one of the most vexing and profound works in scripture. One cannot help being troubled and yet amazed when reading the story. Job was a blameless, upright man. His righteousness was such that he actually offered sacrifices for sins his children had possibly committed. But logical deduction fails to vindicate Job. God took up Satan’s challenge that Job only loved God because of the good life he had been given. God tested Job through a series of unparalleled adverse situations. Among them: friends who, far from being sympathetic and consoling, continually condemned Job as a man who must have sinned to have received the terrible tribulation given him. [...]

I don’t want you to think that I am about to tell you what I think Jesus would think. That would be rather pointless. And stupid. If someone tries to base their opinion on their opinion of someone else’s opinion, leave them to it. What I want to do is examine a situation in which Jesus talks about marriage. From there we can dialogue about how his view of marriage relates to the homosexual community.

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What are we to believe about the mother of Jesus? Who was the Virgin Mary? Was she in any way divine? Do we owe her any special tribute? As it stands today, there are two major schools of thought when it comes to answering questions like these. The Roman Catholic Church represents one of these schools, while Protestants represent the other. As a Bible-believing-conservative-evangelical-Protestant, I here gladly offer my analysis of the Roman Catholic Church’s position concerning Mariology. Though these two schools of thought have much in common regarding this area of doctrine, the differences are many. The Roman Catholic teachings to be examined are as follows: Mary’s Immaculate Conception, her sinless life, her perpetual virginity, her bodily assumption, her role as mediatrix, and her reception of super-veneration.

Summary of Roman Catholic Position

Pope Pius IX, in 1854, pronounced infallibly the doctrine of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, saying that Mary was conceived without the taint of original sin.[1] By reason of her natural conception, she, like all children of Adam, was subject to inheriting original sin; however, God intervened to prevent it. Catholics argue from Luke 1:28 that the title “full of grace” is a title expressive of her essential character. Again, in Luke 1:42, it is believed that Elizabeth’s declaration that Mary is the “most blessed among women” suggests a parallelism to Christ, who was likewise free from sin. The Lateran Council of 649 refers to Mary as “Immaculate Mary.”[2] The Council of Trent referred to her as “the Immaculate Virgin,” but  Pope Pius IX did not deem this doctrine infallible until 1854.

The doctrine of Mary’s Immaculate Conception logically led to the belief that Mary was free from sin throughout her entire life. The Council of Trent explained that no justified person could live his life without sin; however, God has granted Mary this special privilege. The doctrine can be reduced to the Latin Vulgate translation of Luke 1:28: “Hail, full of grace!” Grace is understood here to be extensive and preventative. The Latin Patristic writers are said to have taught this doctrine unanimously.[3]

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Yeah, so what. I did it. Five parts in a four part series, I’m just keeping you on your toes.

Really, I just wanted to extend this based on my personal time in the Word of God. I have been reading through Jeremiah and I have trucked along to chapter 34 so far. I have to confess, it’s tough reading. It’s not chronological and I don’t get some of the allusions and word pictures that Jeremiah uses. But I do know this, Israelites were Idolaters. They put marriage, prosperity, and community all above their worship and righteousness to God.

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In the last two posts, I covered you with statistics to convince you of the vast impact on our culture that sports and music have. But, I don’t think I need stats this time. I know by every human’s experience, you will understand the impact of relationships. From the time of birth, to some degree, we find identity in the relationships we establish.

Infants cling to their mom and dad, not only because they provide food, but because they provide laughter and entertainment as well. Middle school students begin to find identity in their friendships. Popularity becomes a big deal because kids want to be known. College campuses are the hyper-speed of community as it’s possible to meet new people every day. Then, once you get out of the hyper-speed and graduate, it can be difficult for some to adjust to a smaller realm of relationships. Relationships affect every part of our life, but it’s when relationships define our life that we slip into idolatry.

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I can wake up to my favorite radio station. I don’t, though, because it takes more than Brad Paisley singing another sappy love song to wake this monster. When I make it out the door and turn my car the radio immediately starts playing. When I work at “O’Charleys” there is constantly a song playing to entertain people while they eat. When I study, I listen to music. When I work out, I listen to music. If my dang speakers were working, I’d be listening to music right now. Music is everywhere.

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