As many of you may or may not know….Gary Lamb of Revolution Church in Canton, Ga had an affair with his assitant who worked at the church with him. The truth came to the surface this past Friday and was announced at the church on Sunday and to the world wide web yesterday. I do not know Gary well at all. I actually shared a meal with him some 6 years ago in Anderson, SC, but I am not even sure he would remember that. I do know this…he sinned, he disqualified himself as a pastor (1 Timothy 3:2), he hurt his church, he hurt his family, he hurt the church at large, BUT God loves him deeply and forgives him. Pray for him, his family, the other woman involved & her husband, and the church.
So what can we learn…there is plenty…Geoff Surratt does a great job putting some truth on his blog about it here. READ IT.
I will do a series of post based on both scripture and simple practical advice that I think can help us. I am not an expert and do not have it figured out and I am NOT above falling what so ever and need your advice, help, and accountability as well. Today I will throw some practical stuff out there that is laced with scripture. And add to the list if you got something.
Practical Stuff
- Never be alone with a women who is NOT your wife or another family member (mom…sister…etc.) LIVE ABOVE REPROACH
- When meeting with a female bring someone else into the meeting or leave the door wide open. If there is no one else at the office….then don’t have the meeting. Change the time. NO EXCUSES.
- Put computer software or something like Covenant Eyes or X-Watch on your computer to keep you accountable from NOT looking at PORN. (Mark 9:43) I challenge you to make your wife and your mom your accountability partner.
- Have a date night with just you and your wife. PLAN the thing…love her well.
- Have a cook together night. This is just healthy. You save money from eating out…you work together…you talk about your day…it’s just a good.
- Have a hospitality night where you have other folks over for dinner. NOT only is hospitality a biblical thing, but it also brings accoutability to your marriage. I don’t care what you say but having people in your home puts your marriage on display and if things are NOT right then you will have to get things right…make sense?
- Pray together….especially before bed. Why before bed? The bible says NOT to let the sun go down on your anger. If there is tension with your wife then I promise you praying with her will be the toughest thing you could ever do. That is just hard to fake. So it leads to you guys getting things right before the head its the pillow.
- Get away with one another every quarter. YES…4 X a year. Now I am not talking a week at a time but take a weekend take a night and just get away. You don’t have to leave town…get a hotel in town and order in dinner.
- Have sex with your spouse frequently. Read this…1 Corinthians 7:3-6 – ENOUGH SAID! Don’t leave time and space for Satan.
- Talk on a consistent basis about what God is teaching you.
- Read your bible. NOT for the hope of a great new sermon but for the sake of your own soul.
- Put men around you that keep you accountable that have FULL FREEDOM to speak into their life. I didn’t say tip toe around you or walk on egg shells….NO….MEN who speak FREELY into you and are around you daily.
- Repent a lot.
There is plenty more but I will bring a part 2 on Wednesday….do you have any thoughts???
Let’s learn and grow together or you can just sit and do nothing and eventually fail. Apathy leads to great failure.
Categories: Biblical Thoughts
Deuteronomy 24:19-21 – When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.
Verses 19-21 basically communicates that we should work hard with our hands, but NOT to build our own wealth or our own little kingdom. Rather, we take what we NEED (not what we want) and then use the surplus for those who find themselves in a place of real need. As we meet their needs we are no longer building our self centered little kingdom but rather we are selflessly seeing His Kingdom built.
- Are you doing this?
- Are you using all you have for you and your family?
- Do you really have to have the new TV?
- Do you need this seasons jeans or could go to the sales rack?
We must change the way we think if we are going to DIE TO OUR OWN NEEDS and actively live out the gospel.
BUT WHY WOULD WE DO THIS?
Above you read verses 19-21, now look at verse 22.
Deuteronomy 24:19-22 – 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
Within the context of this passage the writer it talking to God’s Chosen nation who were once held in the chains of slavery in Egypt, but now have the freedom to enjoy their own land of freedom. He explains in verse 22 to REMEMBER where you were…because it was GOD who GAVE FREEDOM to you FREELY. So as followers of Christ we should be driven to live below our means so that we can give to those in need. When we do that we communicate the giving heart of our Savior. We do all of this because we REMEMBER what it was like to be a slave to sin and NOW know what it feels like to live in the freedom of Christ that is found through His Cross and the empty tomb.
So if you are NOT living generously with all that God has given you then you probably need to check your memory.
REMEMBER the GOSPEL…that is why WE GIVE.
Categories: Biblical Thoughts
Friday
- Hung out for a bit studying the word at the Starbucks in The Vista in downtown.
- Lunch at Tokyo Grill with my friend and Life Group leader Matt.
- Renie and I had a date night of gift cards. Dinner at Olive Garden (gift card) and then we went and saw the movie (gift card), State of Play. The movie is ridiculously good. A MUST SEE in my opinion and then on to Marble Slap (no gift card, but worth $8)
Saturday
- Renie and I got up and took off to head to Birthing Class at the hospital (videos and all). Then we got there and the door was locked even though it had posted on the door that the class was scheduled for 9am Saturday morning. We still are NOT sure why or even if it was moved or cancelled. O’ well….
- Renie and I came home and took a great nap.
- Lunch at The Gourmet Deli Shop in 5 Points.
- I came hope and painted the porch…it turned out well.
- We had dinner in the food court (choices people….choices) with our friends the Kakaras’ and Lauren.
- From there we made our way to Frankie’s Fun Park for a little putt-putt. Things went well for me.
- Then I watched as Lebron went down…I was sad. O’ well, GO MAGIC at this point.
Sunday
- Pre-marital counseling this morning with a couple who is getting married in July.
- I spent the rest of the morning putting the finishing touches on the message for The Gathering.
- I preached Mark 6 3 X at The Gathering. I talked on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Overall it was long but God worked. The power of the Holy Spirit was especially evident in the 7:15pm Gathering….Praise God.
- Then I went through the drive through at Sonic for a late night snack.
- Then BED…very TIRED after preaching for 3 hours.
Categories: Uncategorized
please cut me some slack and understand I will expand beyond his world soon when it comes to sharing my thoughts here on the world wide web.
loving, hot, serving, cute, beautiful, athletic, sensitive, discerning, gifted, amazing character, more blunt than she used to be, caring, faithful, mesmerizing, committed, stubborn (I actually like it), going to be a great mother, talented, Godly, unique, & much more.