This week I’m preaching on sex and fidelity from Matthew 5:27-30. One thing I want to do is point to some resources for those who are overwhelmed with lust, especially addiction to porn.

Besides sites like Pure Online and xxxchurch.com and books like Every Man’s Battle, what other resources would you recommend?

My assumption is that I’ll be teaching this text to a group of people who already know what it says and feel guilty because they’re not living up it.

So, how does one teach this text in a straightforward, yet grace-filled way? Where is the gospel in this text?

Check out this great story from Rick Reilly.

My good buddy Sam Middlebrook has been working on a fantastic resource for worship that went live last week.

Check out Developing Worship.

Sam is one of the most gifted worship leaders I know. He has extreme musical talent. He also has a heart that is passionate for God. He’s got that rare ability in worship leaders to guide worshipers deeper into God’s presence without getting in the way himself.

I had the privilege of working with Sam many moons ago when we were both very young and had no idea what we were doing. We’re both older now and it is obvious that over the years Sam has learned more about ministry than I have.

Good job Sam!!!

Here’s a piece I wrote last year after an ice storm. I re-post it here as a final advent reflection.

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I got an email from an old friend late last week. I thought you might enjoy reading his tale.

Hey Preacherboy—How’s it going?

You’re never gonna believe what happened to us this past week. We had one of the worst ice storms in the history of the world hit us squarely between the eyes. Thousands of households all over the state lost power. Ours too.

We were actually a bit shocked when the lights went out on us. We were sitting at the table having dinner. They told us to expect it. Still, it came as a surprise. We had heard that other people were losing their power, but we never thought it would happen to us.

We’re not the kind of people that bad things usually happen to. We’ve always managed to avoid most minor and major inconveniences. We’ve always believed that we have a special relationship with God. Our preacher calls it a covenant, but we like to think of it as more of an understanding. We keep God’s commandments and God keeps us out of trouble. We thought we had been doing enough. We had been saying our prayers and putting our money in the plate. We were nice to almost all of our neighbors and we put up our Christmas lights every year, just after Thanksgiving and not a day before, just like the Bible says to do.

We had assumed that the other people who had lost their power did so because they had done something wrong. Maybe God was mad at them because they’d been skipping church.

Or maybe they’d just been foolish. Installed cheap wiring in their house or chosen to live in a bad part of town or in a remote area where they seem to lose power every time a thunderstorm blows across the sky. It gives our family comfort to be able to figure out why bad things are happening to other people. It’s one of our favorite ways of passing the time over dinner.

But there we were, sitting in the dark just like the rest. We had to rethink our theology. We also had to light a few candles and turn on the gas fireplace to keep the main living room warm.

After that we decided to play our favorite game. We call it the blame game. It’s based on the premise that you can always find someone to blame if you look hard enough.

So why were we in the dark?

Maybe it’s the homebuilder’s fault. Shouldn’t he have installed a back up system for all the critical functions of our house just like NASA does with the space shuttle?

Maybe the weatherman is to blame. He didn’t give us much of a warning did he?

We managed to pin some of the blame on the president. He always gets some of the blame no matter what happens. If the buck stops at his desk, then so must the power cord.

We passed out a lot of blame that night. We blamed the ice, the tree, the wind, the arctic air, global warming, the electric company, Ben Franklin, and yes, I must confess, we blamed God for abandoning us in our darkest hour.

We almost blamed ourselves, but got distracted by the sound of a frozen tree firing off like a gun as its limbs blew out in all directions. None of it landed on our house. But my neighbor wasn’t so lucky. It was our tree that landed on his house. I’ll come back to that later.

Blaming others made us feel a little better. So we decided to make the best of it. This isn’t going to be so bad, we told ourselves. It might even be fun.

It was a chance to go back to simple living like the preacher had been talking about recently. We’d go unplugged for a while and see how well we liked living off of the grid. We don’t need power, we said, we’ve got each other.

We were glad to have more time together as a family. We’d eat marshmallows toasted over a natural gas fire. No school, no official bedtime, no alarm clocks, we’d all sleep together in the same room. We’d make a big pot of beans and cook some skillet cornbread on the stove the next day. We started feeling like we were pioneers living on the prairie, in a little house, in the middle of nowhere.

The first night was charming. We played games and told stories by candlelight. The kids thought it was the greatest adventure of their young lives: camping out in the house, everyone gets their own flashlight. They played hide and seek in the dark deep into the night.

I decided the next day to get to know the neighbors a little better. It would be like old time community. We’d help each other out. Share our resources. Take care of each other. No one would be in need. It sounded sort of biblical.

Well, we gave all of that our best shot and it was a fine way to live for a day or two. Then it all started unravel.

We caught each other cheating at board games. We got sick of marshmallows. We cussed the superintendent for canceling school again. We no longer wanted to sleep in the same house together, much less the same room.

The kids declared war on each other. Hide and seek became search and destroy. Several times I had to remind my wife of the downside of letting the kids kill each other. By the fourth night of darkness all she could see was upside. “Let the herd thin itself out,” she kept muttering to herself.

We turned off the fireplace. We didn’t need it. Our seething anger towards each other kept the house plenty warm.

And the neighbors, they stopped being neighborly, and so did we. The guy next door demanded that I come and get my tree off of his house. I was actually going to do that very thing, but his rudeness turned me off of it and instead I told him that as soon has he started picking up his dog’s poop off my yard, I’d come over and get my tree.

Communal support grew into creeping suspicion which eventually gave way to criminal behavior.

I got caught sneaking around another neighbor’s backyard trying to plug 200 ft of extension cord into his generator. I just wanted enough power to run a few small appliances, that’s all.

We were amazed at how much we’d taken electricity for granted. One night I decided I wanted some popcorn. I already had the bag in the microwave and was pushing numbers before I caught myself.

My wife kept telling me to shave. I kept telling her that my razor needed a charge.

I needed my coffee every morning, but I couldn’t figure out a way to grind the beans. I finally tried chewing them up and spitting them into the filter, only to have my wife wonder when I had converted our coffee maker to solar power.

It turns out it’s not a good idea to feast on beans and marshmallows when there’s not a working exhaust fan anywhere in the house. The only difference between that experience and carbon monoxide poisoning is that with carbon monoxide you can’t smell death coming for you.

It was rough.

We did have a little battery powered radio and every night we’d listen to it and every night we heard promises about how help was on the way.

“Hang in there,” that disembodied voice would say, “The darkness won’t last much longer.”

The next day we’d hear the same message. “Please be patient, better days are coming, power will be restored, your house will be warm, your lights will shine once again.”

Every morning we’d wake up thinking that this would be the day when the lights would come back on. Later that night, we’d blow out the candles and wonder how much more we could take.

What made it even worse is that folks in nearby neighborhoods started getting their power back before us. We could see the glow of their lights from our house.

“How did they get their power back so soon?” we asked each other, “Who do they know? Who did they bribe?”

Then—I kid you not—some of those people in those freshly lit houses actually had the nerve to fire up their Christmas lights! We’re sitting over here in the dark and they’ve got Santa and his reindeer landing on their house in shades of red, green, blue and white.

One family had a well-lit sign on their roof that said “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all men.” We felt like they were rubbing our noses in holiday cheer. So we called down curses on their household. We wanted the righteous hammer of God to fall on them and take away their electricity. They didn’t deserve it. We wanted them to be just as miserable as we were.

I even thought about helping God’s hammer hit its mark by sneaking over there and busting up their transformer all over again. Be the answer to your own prayer. That’s what the preacher is always saying.

The worst part of this whole deal was that getting our power restored was taken out of my hands completely. I’m a do it yourselfer. I like being in control of my own destiny. I like to take charge of a situation. I was powerless to do anything about our lack of power.

During the day, I’d walk around the outside of the house looking for something to fix. I wanted to be the solution to a problem. I wanted there to be something I could do to move things along. I couldn’t stand waiting for someone else to us out of trouble. I wanted to do it myself.

But there was nothing I could do. It had to be done for us. We were totally dependent on someone else for our ’salvation.” I know salvation is a heavy word, especially for you preachers, but that’s exactly what it felt like we were waiting for.

We were tired, angry, and scared. The darkness was starting to mess with our heads. We heard strange sounds in the middle of the night and woke up seeing things that weren’t really there. We were treating each other terribly. We didn’t trust our neighbors. God no longer seemed real to us.

So yeah, after awhile we understood that we were waiting for more than just power, for more than just our lights to be turned on again.

We were waiting for something we’d lost and couldn’t get back by ourselves. We were waiting for something that we’d taken for granted, that we didn’t even know we’d miss until it was gone.

We were waiting for something valuable to be restored. We recognized its value because its absence had brought about a change in us—and not for the better.

It its absence, we became a different kind of people, a different kind of family. We forgot how to be neighbors. We could no longer see what was so plainly in front of us.

We did not like who we had become while living in the dark. We needed to be saved.

So we waited for power, for light, for warmth. And we waited for a 2nd chance, a fresh start, a new day.

Yesterday the power was restored to our home. Our lights came back on just as suddenly as they went out. Our home is warm and bright once again. Life is returning to normal.

Yet this darkness remains. And it still feels like we’re still waiting on something or maybe someone. I guess we’re waiting for a different kind of power to cut through the dark and light up the world once and for all.

Know what I mean?

Your friend,

Adam

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Matthew 4:12-16
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

John 8:12
12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 12:46
46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Selected verses from Revelation 21 and 22

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Genesis 1:3
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

I wrote in a previous post about having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. That’s not the case anymore. I’m fully in the spirit of the season and ready to celebrate Christmas. Over the years I’ve picked up a number of tricks that help me get into the spirit.

This year going to Silver Dollar City for An Old Time Christmas did the trick. The lights were amazing. It was really cold and we drank hot wassail and saw a splendid production of “A Christmas Carol.”

In years past, I’ve found the following to be helpful in getting into the spirit as well.

–A concentrated focus on the season of advent before Christmas. We celebrate Christmas too early in this country. By the time Christmas finally comes around, we’re already tired of it.
–Elvis Presley’s Christmas music. I also like Bing Crosby’s stuff. Harry Connick Jr.’s pretty good too.
–Driving around looking at lights, especially in big cities.
–Watch my three favorite Christmas movies: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story,” and “Die Hard.”
–Eating Christmas candy. The creamier the fudge the better.
–Attending a Christmas Eve service.

Once there were two brothers.

Growing up, they did everything together. They lived out in the country and didn’t have any neighbors close by, so they became best friends.

As adults, they chose separate careers, but remained close friends. They’d see each other at church, get together to watch football, and go over to their parents house for dinner.

The younger brother seemed to live a charmed life. He was handsome, popular, successful in business. He was a leader at church and in the community.

The older brother struggled. He had a prickly personality and had a hard time getting ahead financially. People tended to overlook him when his little brother was around.

Over time, this began to wear on the older brother. He started to feel bitter towards his little brother. When his little brother bought a huge HD flatscreen TV and invited him to come over and watch the game on it, the older brother thought his brother was deliberately rubbing his success in his face. So he turned down the invitation.

They started to grow apart.

The older brother stopped calling his little brother to see what he was up to. He started sitting on the other side of the room at church and using the exit on the other side of the building so he wouldn’t run into his little brother. He stopped going over to his parent’s house when he knew that his little brother was going to be there.

The wider the chasm grew, the more angry the older brother became with his younger brother. Everything his little brother said and did was an offense to the older brother. So much so that he decided to go to another church so that he wouldn’t have to see him at all.

His little brother was puzzled by his big brother’s behavior, but figured his brother needed some space. If his big brother needed to talk to him about something, he would come to him when the time was right.

Their parents were worried, but the older brother wouldn’t tell them what was going on. They begged him to talk to someone about what was bugging him.

He finally sat down with a trusted old friend who had known his family for years and told him why he was so angry with his little brother.

The friend listened carefully and then gave him some blunt advice. He said, “This really isn’t about your brother. It’s about you. You’re projecting things onto your brother that aren’t true or real. You’ve got something dark and evil growing inside of you and if you don’t get a handle on it, it’s going to destroy you.”

The older brother assumed that, like everyone else, this old friend was taking his little brother’s side. So he ignored his friend’s advice and continued to obsess about all the ways his little brother was intentionally showing him up.

One night, emboldened by a little too much alcohol, he drove over to his brothers house and confronted him. His little brother was hurt and confused and denied all the accusations his older brother hurled at him. This made his brother even more angry. Blind with rage, he called his little brother unspeakable names and charged him. His little brother stumbled and fell and hit his head against the brick slab in front of the fireplace. He was dead before his older brother could calm down and realize what he had done.

When their parents learned what had happened, they were heartbroken. In an instant, they lost two sons. One was put in the ground and the other was sent off to prison.

In their grief they struggled to make sense of what had come between their two precious sons, whose names were Cain and Abel.

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21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to that person; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:21-26 (TNIV)

As I get older, it seems I have to work a little harder to get into the Christmas spirit each year. Last year, I never really felt Christmassy. So, I’m thinking strategically about what I need to do to put myself in the correct posture to receive the spirit of Christmas.

Before I share my ideas in a future post, please help me out.

What do you do to get into the Christmas spirit?

I posted this story during Advent of 2005. I’m running it again with the permission of the author(me).

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He appeared outside one of the main entrances to the Woodland Hills Mall on the Friday after Thanksgiving. He had frizzy, red hair and a beard to match. He wore bright green overalls and a white undershirt.

When asked, he would say that his name was John.

“Like, as in ‘The Baptist?’” asked a teenager who had been to Sunday school a few times.

Not wanting to be associated with any one particular group, he said, “No, just John.”

He drank nothing but strong black coffee from a silver thermos that was always within reach. He kept his overall pockets full of Christmas shortbread–the kind that’s covered with little sprinkles. When he ate it, some of the sprinkles would fall and stick in his beard. This caused him to sparkle, like a Christmas tree.

Somewhere along the way he had picked up a cheerleader’s megaphone. As busy shoppers walked in and out of the mall, he shouted through it:

“2-4-6-8 change before it’s too late.
Repent! Repent! That is why I was sent!”

Most people ignored him.

But a few would stop and listen. When a small crowd had gathered around him, he put down his megaphone, took a quick sip of coffee and said:

“You people put up your lights and your signs saying ‘Jesus is the reason for the season,’ but the truth is, shopping is your reason. Repent!”

“You sing songs about peace on earth and goodwill to all men, but you just flipped off an old lady because she beat you to the parking spot you wanted. Repent.”

“You call yourselves Christians. Little Christs. Is this the way he taught you to live? Don’t think that just because this is a Christian holiday your sinful behavior is justified. Repent! And prove your repentance with action!”

The small crowd around him began to scatter. They had heard enough. But a few of the few remained behind.

“What should we do?” they asked.

To those who were on their way into the mall, he said, “Turn around and go back home. You don’t need to go shopping. You’re already drowning in debt and paying outrageous interest rates. Don’t use the birth of Jesus as an excuse to buy things you don’t need with money you don’t have. Go home and get out of debt as fast as you can and then you’ll have money available to help those who are in real trouble.”

To those who were walking out of the mall, loaded down with bags of merchandise, he said, “Turn around and take it back. All of it. Unless it’s for someone who really needs it. Stop trying to buy the perfect something for someone who has everything. No one needs a dresser full of sweaters. Who do you know who wears all the coats they already have in their closet?”

To the haggard parents of three little kids he said, “Go home and start teaching your kids that there is more to life than getting everything on your wish list.”

Then he grabbed his megaphone and turned to those walking by and shouted, “You’re not celebrating the birth of the Prince of Stress. Repent!”

I’ve been thinking a lot about what Jesus means in Matthew 5:17-20. He calls his disciples to a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees.

How is this possible?

I think it’s possible by following Jesus and his interpretation of Scripture as articulated through is words and embodied by his deeds.

What is the difference between a disciple of Christ and a Pharisee? A disciple follows Jesus as He embodies the ultimate intent of scripture. A Pharisee follows scripture without following Jesus. The difference between the two is massive.

We can take scripture so seriously that we miss Jesus. That’s what the Pharisees did. But if we take Jesus seriously, we will also take scripture seriously in the way that God intends for it to be taken seriously.

I was talking to a church leader recently about what kind of church he leads, how they operate, their philosophy of ministry, etc. He said, “We keep it simple, we follow the Bible.”

I understand what he means by that, but I wonder if it ultimately points us in the wrong direction?

Are we called to follow the Bible or are we called to follow Jesus? If we follow Jesus, he will teach us how to read the Bible the way God wants the Bible to be read. If we take the bible more seriously than Jesus, our desire to follow the Bible will land us in the same pit with the Pharisees.

While we were down at the ranch, we were hoping that one of the longhorns would give birth to her calf. We missed it by two days.