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It's August 15th and I'm returning from my "unplugged" status of the past 14 days. I've heard of the severe withdrawals people go through when coming off drug & alcohol addictions. I'm not sure my process has been nearly that severe but I must admit, stopping the noise in my life has proven to be harder than most would think. The noise is everywhere; life has become so noisy that it often drowns out the voice of God.
What happens when you stop the noise? Well, I played games with the kids, went for more walks with my wife, read an entire book in 7 days (big deal for me), completed the New Testament for my second time this year, and most importantly I heard God speaking more clearly than before. It's not like he ever stopped speaking, it's just that God's volume level stays the same while the noise of life seems to get louder and louder.
This experience has enlightened us to some permanent changes we need to make to ensure that the noise level doesn't get that high again. TV, movies, music, internet, and social media are all good things, but I'm looking for the great things of God. Does that mean I'm quitting cold turkey? No. But it does mean that I'm putting limits & boundaries on these things. I am deciding to turn my ear to those things which are most important; God, wife, kids, etc. (in that order). When life stinks, CSI isn't going to help me. If I need advice, Survivor isn't going to give it to me.
Let me encourage you, stop some of the noise in your life and watch how you begin to hear the gentle voice of God more clearly in your life.
Have a GREAT week!
(Our family will be gone the next few weeks on vacation. We appreciate your prayers!)
In some ways I feel like the past 12 years of my life has been a progressive process of getting more and more connected. First it was the internet in general, then email, and now social media avenues like Facebook & Twitter. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing about these things that makes them wrong in and of themselves. But at some point we can get over connected.
For the next 14 days I've decided to unplug. While also fasting during this time I've decided to disconnect from some of my most time consuming electronic disruptions. While I have to use a computer and internet to work be productive, over these 14 days I'm taking a break from TV, Twitter; and yes, even Facebook! Again, nothing wrong with these things, but in unplugging I want to see what I've really been missing. Plus, anytime you set aside with God is always fruitful.
Take the journey with me if you dare. Pick up a book, have a conversation, play a game, spend time with your family/kids, or even talk to your neighbor.
See you again on August 15th! Have a GREAT week!
Is sexual purity still possible? Yes!!! It simply requires us to abandon our rules about sex and embrace the biblical guidelines God established. Instead of shying away from the topic or the discussion of it, we need to be upfront and open. According to God's Word, sex is both a biblical & natural thing. It's not something to be ashamed of or to be marginalized to closed door discussions. It's when we refuse to discuss it that we also hinder ourselves from finding freedom from sexual situations that are commonly affecting us in negative ways.
Where are you struggling in the pursuit of sexual purity? Is it pornography, tv & movies, internet content, or unhealthy emotional connections? Wherever you find yourself, you can find freedom from the things that would love to keep you bound up. The place to begin is by asking God to help you. Resist your enemy and he MUST leave! Second, talk to someone else; a friend or pastor. You need someone to fight this battle with you and to hold you accountable. Third, there are some great resources that can help you better understand the battles you are facing and how to fight back with biblical principles. Visit www.centralchurchgb.com for a list of inexpensive resources you can buy to encourage and challenge you.
You can do this! Sexual purity is absolutely possible. Don't do this alone!
Have a GREAT week!
To listen to Pastor Aaron's message "Should Religion & Politics Mix?" visit www.centralchurchgb.com.
No matter how hard we may try, this idea of separating church & state just isn't Biblical. Christians should never consider separating their political views from the biblical morals and values of scripture. Those morals and values should be at the core of who we are not only on Sunday but also on election day.
This isn't about a specific party, candidate, or even economic situation. No church should tell you who to vote for; they shouldn't even have too. The convictions of God's Word should give every believer a clear understanding of who to select in a voting booth. Are leaders perfect? No. Are all leaders godly? No. But as Christians we've been called to elect officials who most closely align themselves with the principles of scripture.
There has never been and will never be the perfect candidate for any office. But our biblical mandate is to OBEY our elected leaders because their authority has been established by God. (Romans 13:1). The only time the Bible gives us permission to go against their authority is when the rule of law clearly goes against God's Word. It's also our mandate to PRAY. If Christians would simply take the time they spend complaining about government and use it to pray for government leaders, at minimum, it would at least change our focus and redirect our attitudes. We're also mandated to STAY. Stay involved with the system. Don't abdicate your responsibility to be aware, research issues and candidates, and most importantly go to the polls and cast a vote for Godly principles and values.
Is our government perfect? Absolutely not. But it's still the best thing this planet has to offer and we are blessed to be called Americans. Let's stand for truth in biblical ways and believe for God to intervene on our behalf as we stand for truth.
Encourage one another each day. - Hebrews 3:13 cev
The Ten Commandments of Encouragement.1. Speak to people. ~There is nothing as encouraging as a cheerful word of greeting.2. Smile at people. ~It takes 72 muscles to frown, but only 14 to smile.3. Be generous. ~Generous with praise, cautious with criticism. Recognition & appreciation are priceless.4. Be considerate. ~Considerate of feelings and opinions of others.5. Be alert to giving your time and efforts away. ~What counts most in life is what we do for others.6. Write a note of encouragement. ~Write to someone who is hurting. Include some scripture.7. Give physical affection. ~Let those you love know they are important in ways they can feel.8. Believe in others. ~Look for the good in people. Accept & encourage their unique personalities & traits.9. Life up the defeated. ~Through the promise and power of prayer.10. Give God's love away. ~Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus has written HOPE on our hearts.
It is the struggle of all struggles. Who am I? What defines me? The essence of these questions finds it's foundations in our identity and value. So many people, both men & women, struggle with this. We crave acceptance, no matter the cost. We want to be secure in something; job, family, public status, or something. And we want our lives to be significant. We want it to count for something.
If we're not careful we can make it the focus of our lives and in doing so we can ultimately get way off track as it relates to God's plans for our lives. Just like that old song says "Looking for love in all the wrong places..." we can find ourselves trying to fill the void in our hearts and lives with things instead of the person of Jesus Christ. And where we tend to end up is in a place where we've tried to please everyone to get what we need, only to find out we're still empty and no better off.
We really do look for acceptance, security, and significance in all the wrong places. Those things can't be found in a bottle, in a relationship, with the perfect body, or with a bigger paycheck. Those things can only be found in Jesus Christ. He already accepts you (Romans 15:7), you are already secure in Him (Romans 8:35), and you were created for significance (John 15:16). Just believe it! Receive it! Start living it!!! Stop looking everywhere else and start walking in the unfailing love, acceptance, security, and purpose of God!
Have a GREAT week!
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (niv)If we aren't in a war, why does the Bible talk so much about it? If we aren't suppose to be part of this fight, why did God give us armor? If we are just supposed to lay down and get run over by our enemy, why are we commanded to engage our enemy in battle? Why? Because it was always Gods plan for his church, his redeemed, his children to pick up the weapons he's provided and go to war; a war that's already been won on the cross of Calvary. It's not more spiritual to stay on the sidelines and deny the war exists. Prayer? Yes. Frozen in fear? NO! God intended for us to get in the game, obey 1 Peter 5:9 & James 4:7, and resist our enemy. Resistance not denial.
You can win the battles you are facing on a daily basis. All you need to do is take up the weapons God's provided, attack your spiritual enemy, and hack him up.
I encourage you to take advantage of some great resources that we've provided on the Central Church website. At minimum, I encourage everyone to order the audio cd's "A Battle To Fight" (men), or "Finding Freedom" (women). These great audio teachings from John & Staci Eldredge will prove to be great insight into the devils tactics and how you can defeat him. I've also made available some books that will be a great read, including "The Beginners Guide To Spiritual Warfare." Reprogram your brain so your mind can respond to the attacks!
Have a GREAT week!
It's August 15th and I'm returning from my "unplugged" status of the past 14 days. I've heard of the severe withdrawals people go through when coming off drug & alcohol addictions. I'm not sure my process has been nearly that severe but I must admit, stopping the noise in my life has proven to be harder than most would think. The noise is everywhere; life has become so noisy that it often drowns out the voice of God.
