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A La Carte (7/15)
- 07/15/09
- 12
Why Bus Stops?
My buddy PMac, summer evangelist at our church, explains why he likes to find people and talk with them as they wait at bus stops (as opposed to going door-to-door through the neighborhood).
The Day Facebook Changed
Here is a change to look out for and one with very far-reaching effects. In just a short while Facebook will make profiles public by default (instead of making them available only to friends as they are now). Just imagine all of the information about you that will now be available to the world…
Is Masturbation Sin?
Relevant has discussed this issue over the past couple of weeks. I found this article particularly compelling as it came from a person who once took the opposite stance. “If I could go back to the 23-year-old that wrote those words, I would first punch his throat because a dude trying to justify his own sin is a dangerous dude and deserves a good throat punch. Then, I would encourage him to not share his thoughts publicly yet.” You’ve got to give him points for style, anyway.
Michael Jackson’s Real Legacy
I think this article does a good job of tapping into Michael Jackson’s real legacy. I won’t give it away, but suffice it to say that it’s got little to do with fame, fortune, dancing or music.
The Master of Ancient and Modern Myth
Albert Shepherd provides a review of J.R.R. Tolkien’s latest posthumous release, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. “In these days when anyone can write a book and slap it together quickly to make some quick cash, “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun” rises as an instant classic. The shallow-minded may soak up the soft drink that is the “Twilight” series or the “Inheritance Cycle”, but Tolkien’s writing, like a fine wine, refreshes those looking for deeper, more meaningful fare.”
My buddy PMac, summer evangelist at our church, explains why he likes to find people and talk with them as they wait at bus stops (as opposed to going door-to-door through the neighborhood).
The Day Facebook Changed
Here is a change to look out for and one with very far-reaching effects. In just a short while Facebook will make profiles public by default (instead of making them available only to friends as they are now). Just imagine all of the information about you that will now be available to the world…
Is Masturbation Sin?
Relevant has discussed this issue over the past couple of weeks. I found this article particularly compelling as it came from a person who once took the opposite stance. “If I could go back to the 23-year-old that wrote those words, I would first punch his throat because a dude trying to justify his own sin is a dangerous dude and deserves a good throat punch. Then, I would encourage him to not share his thoughts publicly yet.” You’ve got to give him points for style, anyway.
Michael Jackson’s Real Legacy
I think this article does a good job of tapping into Michael Jackson’s real legacy. I won’t give it away, but suffice it to say that it’s got little to do with fame, fortune, dancing or music.
The Master of Ancient and Modern Myth
Albert Shepherd provides a review of J.R.R. Tolkien’s latest posthumous release, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. “In these days when anyone can write a book and slap it together quickly to make some quick cash, “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun” rises as an instant classic. The shallow-minded may soak up the soft drink that is the “Twilight” series or the “Inheritance Cycle”, but Tolkien’s writing, like a fine wine, refreshes those looking for deeper, more meaningful fare.”
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (12)
Your facebook link scared me at first, as my first thought was that I would have no control on my photos or updates being public, but it seems that is not the case; I just have to be diligent when I post things that my settings are set to private or friends of friends every time. A good reminder though, and good to be aware.
What I can’t get past with regard to masturbation is how ubiquitous it is and yet how it’s so conspicuously absent from the scriptures. It’s not like the writers in the Bible were uptight about addressing intimate subjects. And in the old testament we see specific prohibitions on all sorts of incestuous relations, sex with animals, sex with dead people, etc.
On the other hand, most of the old testament prohibitions (I think) came in the context of lists of crimes and their punishments. So maybe God just didn’t want masturbation to be a “punishable crime” by Mosaic law.
But still…it’s just so widespread, its kind of mind boggling that God didn’t call it out specifically in the scriptures. And I can’t believe its prevalence is just a “modern” thing.
Thanks for the link to the MJ post. He is just the most recent high profile example that the things of this world fade away and that our true treasure is found in Jesus not in all the worldly things money could buy. The reality is we all are searching for some meaning in life, but only those who truly know Jesus and are serving Him are able to rest.
I did a post called What Michael Jackson Teaches Us About Money that talks about practical and spiritual things we can learn from MJ. http://bit.ly/4XjW3
“The shallow-minded may soak up the soft drink that is the “Twilight” series or the “Inheritance Cycle”, but Tolkien’s writing, like a fine wine, refreshes those looking for deeper, more meaningful fare. ”
Tolkien was a genuis, and yet even a poor reader like myself became captured by his LOTR. I suppose I’ll have to check this out.
The article in Relevant was excellenet. A very awkward subject for me, and one I avoid. It’s difficult to talk about sexual things in the Church. And this brother wrote some well thought out words. And there are the others in the Church today who step over the line when they talk about sex. They go beyond godliness into crudeness.
Tim,I wonder what Paul Mcdonald would thik about Lucados 3:16?Mike
“Reacting to an online swell of suspicion about changes to Facebook’s terms of service, the company’s chief executive moved to reassure users on Monday that the users, not the Web site, “own and control their information.” writes Brian Stelter of the New York Times. Righto.
All I can say is that people had better bet that everything they do online is never private and being mined one way or another. These “free” databases are not so free.
I agree, J.P.H. Hard to make a law out of something that is never mentioned in scripture.
Well, at the same time, Jesus says that if you even look at a woman lustfully you’ve committed adultery. And porn isn’t mentioned in the bible per se, and we can probably all agree that’s sinful. I think what Jesus was trying to say, when he made that comment, is that you can’t reduce your relationship with God to a set of rules. The Bible is not a rule book. In other words, God doesn’t recognize any “bright line” where to the left is “not sin” and to the right is “sin”. Sin is a heart issue. Actions simply flow out of what’s already in one’s heart.
Mike, why did you mention Max Lucado here?
JackieTim and I were having a discussion by email about Lucados book 3:16 and his non recomendation of it, his review is on discerning reader, I just thought, what would P Mcdonald think of the book him being a public evangelist and all. Im just curious. I could have sent the question by email but just fired it off in comments. No big deal.Mike
Tim: I have noticed that in most, if not all, of your discussion about masturbation you have tied it directly to sexual fantasy with a woman. Here in this article the author again makes his point that it is connected to a fantasy about some woman other than his wife and therefore violates the oneness he has with his wife. Do you think it is possible for a married couple to express their love towards each other by mutually helping the other to masturbate? I do, and I think that given the age of some couples and/or physical limitations that this is legimate and meaningful. I simply do not understand why we as christians seem convinced that the only reason a man masturbates is because he is looking at pornography or engaged in some sexual fantasy with a woman other than his wife. I would appreciate your thoughts one this. Thanks.
Ron:I believe that “mutual masterbation” is not what the author of the Relevant article was discussing when he was talking about whether masturbation was sinful or not. That discussion I believe would be which sex acts are appropriate in a Christian marriage, and there are a wealth of books on the subject.