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You've heard the joke, "enough about me - what do you think of me?" Narcissism is the new religion that suffocates even as it seems to comfort. And it stands completely opposed to the Christian worldview that denies the self. Something has to give.
Recent Entries
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Me, Myself and I
March 12, 2009
......in the last days people will be lovers of themselves... 2 Timothy 3:2
The following words by Walt Whitman in his preface to Leaves of Grass represent the thoughts of a man cut off to all outside influences, feeding of the off the desires of his own imagination.
There will soon be no more priests. Their work is done. They may wait awhile … perhaps a generation or two … dropping off by degrees. A superior breed shall take their place … the gangs of kosmos and prophets en masse shall take their place.
A new order shall arise and they shall be the priests of man, and every man shall be his own priest. The churches built under their umbrage shall be the churches of men and women. Through the divinity of themselves shall the kosmos and the new breed of poets be interpreters of men and women and of all events and things.
What did this kind of thinking lead to? In Song Of Myself he wrote.....
I hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least, nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself. (#48)
And what does thinking like this look like a hundred years later? Did he get his wish?
Christopher Lasch in his book The Culture of Narcissism, quotes from a story by Donald Bartholme, that puts a spotlight on sef-consciousnes run amock.
"After the concert, she put on her suade jeans, her shirt made of a lot of colored scarves sewn together, her carved-wood neck bracelet, and the D'Artagnan cape with its silver lining."
"Perpetua could not remember what was this year and what was last year. Had something just happened, or had it happened a long time ago? She met many new people. 'You are different,' Perpetua said to Sunny Marge. 'Very few of the girls I know wear a tattoo of the head of Marshal Foch on their backs.'"
God is watching it all. Nothing escapes his attention. And at some point, when his patience is exhausted and he can take no more, he'll step in, to clean up the mess. He always does.
Previously, in Israel's history, God 'snached away' finery. Bangles, headbands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume bottles, charms, signet rings, nose rings, fine robes, capes and cloaks, purses, mirrors, lines garments, tiaras, shawls, it all was taken away.
Men would fall by the sword, warriors would be slain. There would be lamenting and mourning. Misery everywhere. Horrible things. But that was not the end. God is a God of mercy, and within just a few verses, God is pouring out his mercy again.
In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.
Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.
The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.
It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:2-6
The God who promised such a revival for Israel is the same God who can pull our culture out of its suicide plunge. It might be nasty in the process. It could be ugly. It may take a while, or happen overnight. But God is a God who saves, who delivers, who loves to show mercy. That hasn't changed one iota. Just ask the people of Ninevah.
The following words by Walt Whitman in his preface to Leaves of Grass represent the thoughts of a man cut off to all outside influences, feeding of the off the desires of his own imagination.
There will soon be no more priests. Their work is done. They may wait awhile … perhaps a generation or two … dropping off by degrees. A superior breed shall take their place … the gangs of kosmos and prophets en masse shall take their place.
A new order shall arise and they shall be the priests of man, and every man shall be his own priest. The churches built under their umbrage shall be the churches of men and women. Through the divinity of themselves shall the kosmos and the new breed of poets be interpreters of men and women and of all events and things.
What did this kind of thinking lead to? In Song Of Myself he wrote.....
I hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least, nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself. (#48)
And what does thinking like this look like a hundred years later? Did he get his wish?
Christopher Lasch in his book The Culture of Narcissism, quotes from a story by Donald Bartholme, that puts a spotlight on sef-consciousnes run amock.
"After the concert, she put on her suade jeans, her shirt made of a lot of colored scarves sewn together, her carved-wood neck bracelet, and the D'Artagnan cape with its silver lining."
"Perpetua could not remember what was this year and what was last year. Had something just happened, or had it happened a long time ago? She met many new people. 'You are different,' Perpetua said to Sunny Marge. 'Very few of the girls I know wear a tattoo of the head of Marshal Foch on their backs.'"
God is watching it all. Nothing escapes his attention. And at some point, when his patience is exhausted and he can take no more, he'll step in, to clean up the mess. He always does.
Previously, in Israel's history, God 'snached away' finery. Bangles, headbands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume bottles, charms, signet rings, nose rings, fine robes, capes and cloaks, purses, mirrors, lines garments, tiaras, shawls, it all was taken away.
Men would fall by the sword, warriors would be slain. There would be lamenting and mourning. Misery everywhere. Horrible things. But that was not the end. God is a God of mercy, and within just a few verses, God is pouring out his mercy again.
In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.
Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.
The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.
It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:2-6
The God who promised such a revival for Israel is the same God who can pull our culture out of its suicide plunge. It might be nasty in the process. It could be ugly. It may take a while, or happen overnight. But God is a God who saves, who delivers, who loves to show mercy. That hasn't changed one iota. Just ask the people of Ninevah.
