Does God Really Hate Sin?

I know that sounds like a stupid question to most of you who read this and you are quick to say, "Of course God hates sin." I am quick to agree with that He does hate sin but too many times I am quick to justify that what I might be thinking or wanting to do is "not really all that bad". It is called justifying my thoughts and actions in order to please me rather than honoring God.

The last few months I have been praying, asking, pleading with God to remind me just how much He hates sin. In fact my prayer has been, "God, help me to see sin as You see sin." It has been refreshing, painful, frustrating, energizing, etc. I wish I could say that I have a full understanding of God and sin and that sinful thoughts and actions are no longer a part of my life, but I cannot say that honestly yet. I know that my heart breaks when I watch others who love Him become deceived by their own desires and choose sin over His best for their lives. I know my heart breaks when I am confronted with my own sin. I long to honor Him in everything. It is my desire to do so because of my love for Him, not so that I can somehow get Him to love me more. He already loves me as much as He can. I cannot do anything to to effect how He loves me or anyone else.  I can take that pressure off of the table.

Today I heard of another one who has chosen to chase sin and its pleasure who has been incredibly effective in ministry. I do not say anything in judgment and pray that this individual will allow God to reveal to Him again how much He hates sin, but is so in love with the sinner. I am thankful that God accepts us the way that we are and that He loves us way too much to allow us to stay that way.

Sin cost Him His very Son's life. God help me to better understand how much You hate sin, and allow me to be the first to come alongside of those I know who need You to remind them how much You love them.

October 26, 1985

Since the World Series game has been postponed for this evening (Weds., 10/26) due to inclement weather in St. Louis, I thought I would do a short World Series '85 blog entry. It was on this day in 1985, in Game 6 of the Series, that most Cardinal fans would love to forget, Denkinger made his famous bad call. Now, being a Royals fan, I know that I benefited from it but what goes overlooked is what happened in the 4th inning of this very same game.

Jorta is called safe - Denkinger

Granted, the game was marked by controversy. In the fourth inning of the scoreless game, the Royals' Frank White appeared to have stolen second base, but was called out. The following batter, Pat Sheridan, hit a single to right field. Through 7 innings, Danny Cox and Charlie Liebrandt pitched a couple of gems until Liebrandt gave up a hit to Brian Harper that scored Terry Pendleton in the top of the 8th. Cards fans were excited until the blown call in the bottom of the 9th on the squibber by Jorge Orta where Denkinger called him safe. The Royals ended up scoring two runs in the 9th and taking game 6 to even the series. That next night, Sunday, October 27, 1985 the Royals won their one and only (to date) World Series 11-0. It was a complete melt-down by the Cards. It probably did not help matters that Denkinger was behind the plate calling balls and strikes and Andujar came completely unglued arguing balls and strike calls. He would later stick his hand in a fan and get suspended 10 games in the '86 season for charging Denkinger.

I am not a Cardinals hater. I am a long-suffering Royals fan. Go Rangers in the 2011 World Series!

Parenting Notes - Festival of Marriage - Ridgecrest

Here are the notes from our breakout that we promised to put online for you.

Parenting Teenagers

Facilitated by Sondra & Paul Turner

Biblical foundation of parenting

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Our primary role as parents is to teach our kids to love the Lord your God with all their heart, soul and strength. These have to be in our heart in order to pass on to our kids.

                What does it profit if we teach our kids to love the world and lose their own soul?

Even the best parents don’t always get everything right –

   ⁴¹ Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. ⁴² When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. ⁴³ After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. ⁴⁴ Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. ⁴⁶ After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. ⁴⁸ When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”       ⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I must be involved in My Father’s interests?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what He said to them. - Luke 2:41-50

When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together in the same place. ³⁵ And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: ³⁶ “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” ³⁷ He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the greatest and most important commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:35-40

Practical Steps to Getting Most of It Right

1.      Start where you are – evaluate where you are in the greatest commandment

2.      Commit to finding three – five people who will pray for you and for your kids. (parents, grandparents, people in your church, people whom you trust, etc.)

3.      Commit to having one spiritual conversation with your kids at least once a week.

4.      Commit to having one – two meals/week as a family

5.      Show love and respect for your spouse/the child’s mother or father

6.      Do not abdicate your role to a paid professional (youth minister, etc.)

7.      Be an advocate for other parents and students

8.      Stay in the Word

9.      Pray with and for your kids

10.  Do not be their friend, be their parent. All major research projects conclude that parents are the #1 influencer of their kids, whether positive or negative.

11.  Remember that you are a steward and not an owner of your kids. They are God’s on loan to you.

12.  Learn the dance of when to be up close and when to back off.

13.  Know that girls find their greatest security in a good relationship with their father, boys need their fathers just as much to show them how to me a man of God. Mothers are just amazing. No man will ever match how incredibly gifted God has made each of you.

14.  Never stop praying for your kids. Never! Some will choose to run, some will choose to stay and not really be there, and some will choose to be who God created them to be. Our role is to create the environment for them to see and learn how to love the Lord their God.

Some Helpful Resources

www.christianitytoday.com/parenting

www.covenanteyes.com

www.cypu.org

www.family.org

www.heartconnex.org

www.teenswithproblems.com

www.theparentlink.com

www.troubledwith.com

www.lifeway.com

www.realworldparents.com

This Will Make You Smile

I love people that love to live life regardless of how old they are or what circumstances they may find themselves. This video has been around for over 3 years but it a true delight. Enjoy

Choosing to Be . . .

Point Loma taken w/ iPhone

This past weekend I was in San Diego teaching, attending, & exhibiting at YS-National Youth Worker's Conference. I always enjoy being around youth leaders and especially those who are not in my normal circle of friends in ministry. I love being around those in our denominational tribe, but I am so encouraged to be around those leaders from other denominations. They love God and students and their families. So very encouraging.

I have found myself the last few days not really being on my game relationally. I have been quick to be short with others. Little things have set me off. I am by nature an introvert and most of my last week has been spent with many people. Don't get me wrong, I like being around people but I need a little time each day to just be by myself. All that to say. I have been choosing to be . . . nicer. I needed to choose that intentionally this past week. It has been more work than I want it to be but it is necessary, because no one deserves to be treated unfairly or for me to ever be mean to others.

I have many choices to make each day. You do too. I am choosing to be more like Christ because I do not come by that naturally. Actually my choice is to choose to surrender. I do not do that well either.

Pray for Morgan if you will. She broke her finger playing intramural football at college the other day. As she would do it, it is not a normal break and will require surgery and a couple of screws. She is scheduled for surgery on Weds am at 730. Thanks for praying.