Why Twitter is Such a Good Example for Your Marriage

By: Jim Umlauf

By now, we’ve all heard people dogging Twitter, the networking service that lets you communicate in short bursts of a hundred forty characters or less. The dissenters will say that it’s impersonal, empty, and void of true connection.

I’m suggesting the exact opposite, and that by following its example, your marriage and family can be enriched.

On the surface it may appear that these short comments are superfluous or self-serving. There’s surely an element of that, and like any form of communication, there are both good and bad uses. I’ve recently received such tweets as:

“I wish I had a jet pack.”

“It feels like it’s 4 in the morning.”

“Dude. Danny Gokey. Dude. You can sing.”

“I’m trying, tough week.”

“The burbs are a noose.”

“Finishing last is for losers.”

“You don’t need a new spouse, you need a new marriage.”

“Only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone.”

“More and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness.”

“Not too much going on today, only a short ride, long routines, chores, tasks.”

Having read those, you’ve already made observations that perhaps supported your former position on Twitter. Some were amusing, some contemplative, some spiritual, some deep, some light. But the one thing they have in common is that they are actually things going on in someone’s life. They are real thoughts and feelings, much like one would share if one were walking or driving or talking side by side with someone.

Here’s how the concept can influence your marriage and family. What your loved ones need most from you is not two solid, quality hours per week. Big events are important, but they can actually produce resentment unless accompanied by frequent, ongoing points of contact. Contact about both the big things and the little things. Things that are springboards unto deeper communication the next time you connect. Those little moments have a cumulative effect in building intimacy.

Husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters: Shoot for many, many, many points of contact through the myriad means we have available today. They just may add up to closeness.

Song of the Week (04.29.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

Feeling broken? weary? battered and bruised?
Or perhaps you feel lost and abandoned. Maybe frozen with shame? Or burning with guilt?

Guess what: Jesus makes all things new. (Isaiah 65:17)

Sure, things are bleak right now. The world is fallen - This much is obvious, not only from looking around ourselves, but even more so when we look within ourselves. Oh, it's ugly out there, but it's downright horrific in my heart.

But guess what: Jesus makes all things new. (Revelation 21:1-8)


This week's Song of the Week is by Andrew Peterson, and it's called All Things New (Click the song title to listen to this song, and his entire album, Resurrection Letters, Vol. II).

All Things New

Come broken and weary, come battered and bruised
My Jesus makes all things new, all things new

Come lost and abandoned, come blown by the wind
He'll bring you back home again, home again

Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake!
The light of the dawn is upon you
Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake!
He makes all things new, all things new

Come frozen with shame, come burning with guilt
My Jesus loves you still, loves you still

Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake!
The light of the dawn is upon you
Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake!
He makes all things new, He makes all things new

The world was good
The world is fallen
The world will be redeemed

So hold on to the promise, the stories are true
Jesus makes all things new (The Dawn is upon you)

Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake!
The light of the dawn is upon you
Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake!
He makes all things new

Christians & Depression

By: Johnny Coggin

Our pastor, Dr. Jimmy Young, is currently preaching through a series called, "Spiritual Depression: Its Causes & Cures." His messages couldn't be more timely, as fear, uncertainty, and depression are skyrocketing all around us - and even within us.

Along the same theme, I read the following excerpt by pastor John Piper recently. I hope his wise words will build you up as well.

Does being depressed mean that something is wrong with our hope?

Every Christian who struggles with depression struggles to keep their hope clear. There is nothing wrong with the object of their hope--Jesus Christ is not defective in any way whatsoever. But the view from the struggling Christian's heart of their objective hope could be obscured by disease and pain, the pressures of life, and by Satanic fiery darts shot against them.

We all have to fight the same way, by getting our views of Christ and his promises clear every hour of every day.

All discouragement and depression is related to the obscuring of our hope, and we need to get those clouds out of the way and fight like crazy to see clearly how precious Christ is.

Stringing Pearls - Enriching Your Bible Study

By: Russell Jeffares

There was an ancient Jewish teaching technique called “stringing pearls” that linked well known passages of the Old Testament together by making reference to one word or phrase. When we recognize that this technique is used frequently in the New Testament, our understanding is clarified and enriched.

For example, the Father spoke from heaven at Jesus’ baptism: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). This familiar verse actually alludes to three passages that come from the three different sections of the Old Testament:

• “You are my Son” is from Psalm 2:7: “He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’”
• “whom I love” is from Genesis 22:2: “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.”
• “with you I am well pleased” is from Isaiah 42:1: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.”

When you take the context of each of these passages together, they show that God was saying three things about His Son. Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42 were both known as powerful messianic prophecies, Isaiah 42 speaks of God’s servant, and Genesis 22 speaks of Abraham’s sacrifice of his only son. So, in these three allusions to Scripture, Jesus is shown to be the promised messiah king, servant, and the sacrifice.

When you're reading the New Testament, try to notice any Old Testament references in the footnotes. There may be a goldmine waiting to be discovered.

Song of the Week (04.22.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

I hear a lot of music – good music and not-so-good music. Not surprisingly, a lot of the good music I hear isn’t exactly God-honoring in its message. In fact, even some so-called Christian music (including worship music!) tends to be God-belittling, or just plain unbiblical (and no, I’m not naming names... this time).

So I get pretty excited when somebody gets it right – weaving great music with poetic, soul-gripping, scripture-soaked, gospel-rich, Christ-exalting words. And thankfully, there’s plenty of this kind of music out there.

So I’d like to share some with you. Each week (Lord willing) I’ll be posting a Song of the Week. I’ll include the lyrics and, if available, a link to where you can preview or purchase the song.

My main goal is to give you rich truths to sing and to hang onto during the week, truths that resonate in your soul and increase your joy in Jesus.

With that explained, here’s the very first Song of the Week: It's called, O Great God, and is based on a Puritan prayer called Regeneration, from The Valley of Vision. It’s written by Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Music, who you unknowingly know if you worship at Grace Evan, because you’ve sung his song, Grace Unmeasured.

*3 suggestions:
(1) Read it slowly.
(2) Notice the high view of God and his work in us, and the humble view of self.
(3) Pray it yourself.

O Great God
From the Sovereign Grace Music album, Valley of Vision

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

Dieting and the Fall of Man

By: Landon Ditto

Last Tuesday night during my semi-interested viewing of American Idol, my soul’s longing to know goodness and satisfaction was fulfilled. Well, that’s what the advertising department of a well known dieting product told me. By viewing “before and after” pictures and listening to tearful testimonials, I was promised (on the box) that I would “feel good about myself and be totally satisfied.” How did I filter this marketing ploy?

God is the author of good. After shaping the world and breathing life into man, He assessed what He had created as “very good.” James 1:17 tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above.”

God is also the author of satisfaction. Psalm 145:16 says of Him, “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”

So when did humanity decide that the creating God’s definition of satisfaction had holes in it? Well, Genesis 3. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were the first ones to buy into a well-marketed ad campaign. In buying into the enemy’s ad that promised satisfaction, purpose, and stability, they left God’s perfect provision and ventured out on their own to find “better” things. Things that would satisfy.

Isn’t that what drives the ad world? “Driving this car will satisfy.” “Owning this real estate will satisfy.” “Wearing this or looking like this or being this will satisfy.”

Here is what Adam and Eve and all redeemed people have found to be true about things that promise to satisfy outside of God’s boundaries: They don’t. And the results are bad.

After Genesis 3, the rest of the Bible tells us about God’s plan to redeem those people who go outside of His bounds to find satisfaction.

That’s us. He’s a gracious God, isn’t He?

So enjoy creative advertising and catchy marketing tactics. But enjoy them with the knowledge that you’ve been designed to find complete and total satisfaction in the God who created you through knowing His son Jesus Christ.

Duty and Promise

By: Will Savell

In Romans 8:13, Paul calls the believer to make a decision between life and death. He writes, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

As I was studying this verse, I came across a sentence from the old Puritan, John Owen. He describes the duty of every true believer in Christ:

"True believers, who are definitely free from the condemning power of sin, must still make it their business throughout life to put to death the remaining power of sin in them."

The decision or business of putting sin to death is motivated by a wonderful promise too easily overlooked: Life! And not just eternal life, as glorious as that is. Putting to death the deeds of the body will allow the Christian to experience what the Christian life means for today.

Despite what popular culture might think, there is great benefit experienced today by being united with Christ. Owen continued on this subject saying,

"You will lead a good, vigorous, comfortable, spiritual life while you are here, and receive eternal life at the end."

So Christian, as the deeds of the body look to daily overtake you, consider the great promise of our God. Consider life and then by the Spirit put to death those very deeds.

Eternally Significant Evaluation of Parenting

By: Johnathan Todd

My sixth grader’s assignment consisted of a 2-page report on ten different religions – Judaism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and others. She dutifully searched, read and deciphered information concerning all ten religions and finished the report.

As her father, I experienced a concern over her exposure to false religions, but held firm to my parental philosophy of allowing my children to live in the world while training them to define the world based upon the truth of God. So, I never vocalized my concern and when she needed help deciphering what she was reading, I participated in her grasping an understanding of the material – even when it was material on a false religion.

On the morning the report was due, she brought it to me and excitedly encouraged me to look at her finished product. As I was looking through the material, she commented, “It seems like all the other religions are all about good deeds and trying to make yourself good. Christianity is the only one that is different.”

Here is evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in my child. As the truth of God is planted (at home and at church), the Holy Spirit is growing that truth and her faith.

Parents, let us keep on presenting the truth “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deut. 6:7). For we have been instructed to train our children in the truth of God and to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit for salvation. An eternally significant evaluation of our parenting asks whether our children are being exposed to God’s truth, not whether our children are happy.

TECHsplanation: RSS in Plain English

By: Johnny Coggin

You may have noticed that on the right column of this Blog page, there are 2 options for "subscribing" to the Blog:

1. Subscribe to receive Email updates (simply type in your email address to begin subscription)
2. Subscribe in a Reader

If you're online and reading the church blog, I'm guessing you have email, and understand that concept. But you may not be familiar with the "Reader" option.

So here's a brief (and entertaining) video explanation of how RSS works (that's "Really Simple Syndication"), why it's a convenient time-saver (if you read blogs or news online), and how you can get started using a Reader.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

By: Will Savell

Conferences, women’s Bible studies, accountability groups, youth camps, men’s fraternities!!! You name it, and no matter what your age or stage of life, there’s a program just for you. And they’re good, right? They’re all designed to help you maintain a strong walk with the Lord.

Have they worked? Of course you enjoy them, but do you find yourself satisfied? Or, do you find yourself jumping from one program to another hoping to walk away truly fulfilled?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote,

“There are large numbers of people in the Christian Church who seem to spend the whole of their life seeking something which they can never find, seeking for some kind of happiness and blessedness. They go round from meeting to meeting, and convention to convention, always hoping they are going to get this wonderful thing, this experience that is going to fill them with joy, and flood them with some ecstasy. They see that other people have had it, but they themselves do not seem to get it. So they seek it and covet it, always hungering and thirsting; but they never get it.”

Maybe the problem is that we hunger and thirst after being satisfied, and we use these good programs as a means to that end.

Christ says in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

This difference is subtle, yet life-transforming.

A Strange Beginning — the Genealogy of Matthew

By: Russell Jeffares

Why would you start a story with a genealogy? To the modern mind this is senseless, but in the ancient world (particularly the ancient Jewish world) this was the perfect place to start.

Matthew starts his Gospel by placing Jesus within the vast and extremely rich history of Israel. Matthew starts by making a profound statement. Jesus wasn’t just some insignificant peasant Galilean; Jesus’ story is Abraham’s story and this means that it is our story! It is because of Jesus that we (Gentiles) are included in God’s story of redemption.

There are four things that jump out of the genealogy at the beginning of Matthew’s gospel:

1. God is on Mission—God has a plan to redeem the world. From Abraham all the way to Jesus and his mission here on earth, God has been working and moving through history to save the fallen human race.
2. God uses the Broken—Matthew makes it a point to add in those of ill repute and even women (oh, my!). If you’ve ever said, “God can’t use me because I’m not…” or “God wouldn’t use me because I did...” think again. Throughout history, God has used the seemingly calamitous actions of even the most wicked to accomplish his purposes.
3. God uses the Mishaps—Right in the middle of this genealogy is the exile to Babylon. Can one say there is a more calamitous event in history than when God poured out judgment on his own rebellious people?
4. God invites us to the Story—Through Jesus Christ we are invited in on his grand story of redemption. The good news of Matthew’s genealogy is that it ends with Jesus our Savior who invites Jews and Gentile, male and female, slave and free.

So the next time you're reading along in your Bible and you run into one of those “boring” genealogies, don’t just skip over it. Grab a concordance and see if you can find what gems are lurking beneath those names.

Upcoming Sermon Series: Spiritual Depression

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

(Upcoming Sermon Series: Spiritual Depression)

How You View Every Single Thing in the Universe

By: Jim Umlauf

“If your action is out of tune with your beliefs, you tend to change either your actions, or your beliefs. You cannot maintain integrity (or your mental health) for long if you make no effort to resolve the conflict.” Albert M. Wolters

Careful! It would be easy to turn this quote into a little moral lesson, full of cheesy machismo about “doing better.” The quote actually refers to the issue of a worldview. That word has been over-used, but it’s still important, and simply means how a person thinks about life.

So the tension the writer is talking about is how you package the world around you.

Is it:
A) A nebulous blob of random actions and reactions?
B) A rigid, fatalistic storyline that cannot be altered, even by Benjamin Linus?
C) A cool, intergalactic video game played by aliens, and you’re someone’s avatar?
D) Fashioned, sustained, and ultimately redeemed by God himself?

A Christian worldview, succinctly put, is the belief that God made the universe and it was good. Human beings are the most important part of creation because we are created in God’s image. Sin affected that creation and nothing has ever been the same. God intervened because of that and devised a way by which creation can be restored to its original intent.

So as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, that’s how the gospel fits integrally into the days and hours and minutes of your life. View it that way.

Why does God focus so much attention on Himself?

By: Johnny Coggin

John Piper answers this question brilliantly in this short video clip.

Happy Crossmas!

By: Johnny Coggin


Slate magazine recently ran an article on Easter, titled Happy Crossmas! Why Easter stubbornly resists the commercialism that swallowed Christmas.

Granted, Slate is not known as a "Christian" publication in the online news world - it's owned by the Washington Post Company. And I don't necessarily agree with everything the author says. But overall, I found it to be a surprisingly (and unintentionally) worshipful read, and I commend the article to you as you prepare for Easter this Sunday.

Here's a particularly stunning portion:

Even agnostics and atheists who don't accept Christ's divinity can accept the general outlines of the Christmas story with little danger to their worldview. But Easter demands a response. It's hard for a non-Christian believer to say, "Yes, I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, died, was buried, and rose from the dead." That's not something you can believe without some serious ramifications: If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, this has profound implications for your spiritual and religious life—really, for your whole life. If you believe the story, then you believe that Jesus is God, or at least God's son. What he says about the world and the way we live in that world then has a real claim on you.

Easter is an event that demands a "yes" or a "no." There is no "whatever."