When Christian’s get engaged to be married it’s as if they are 4th and inches from the goal line, the goal line in this instance of course being sex. I speak of this because this is a strange concept in the world, to wait to have sex until after you are married? Even in the church it is becoming more common to hear advisors saying to explore each other a little sexually before you are married to see if you are “compatible”. Whatever happened to Jesus’ teachings on looking at a woman lustfully (Mat 5:28) or Paul’s teaching about not letting even a hint of sexual immorality be among you (Eph 5:3)? This is simply the world’s understanding of relationship and meaning; it is not God’s. From the scriptures we learn from God’s point of view that marriage is about so much more than sex, about so much more than selfish fulfillment. Is there enjoyment in sex and in marriage? Of course. But these are not its primary purpose according to God. It’s primary purpose to God, like everything else, is about eternity, not about selfishness (for a great book on this topic, see here). From the world’s point of view I can understand why marriage is looked down upon in general, for what purpose does it have, what benefit does it offer? None. From the world’s point of view, to please myself, “friends with benefits” would be the most logical relationship option. Returning to the point at hand, when Christian’s get engaged, they enter a cultural ‘last phase’ before they come to know each other more intimately, sexually. And trust me, just because someone is a Christian doesn’t mean that they no longer have the hormones to help propagate sexual relations (unless of course someone has interpreted Mat 19:12 literally, which is beyond the scope of this writing). This is where I see many people (including myself) struggle, to remain sexually abstinent, indeed sexually pure (Eph 5:3, 1 Tim 5:2), for if you are marrying someone in Christ they are, and will remain, first and foremost your brother or sister in the Lord (for that is the relational connection that will last for eternity – c.f. Mat 22:30). Many people think that since they have fought to be sexually pure throughout their courtship (with whatever degree of ‘success’ they had) they tend to now think that since they are so close they can relax and loosen the boundaries and practices that got them to this place. This can be a spiritually, and even relational, fatal flaw. I have seen more than my fair share of engaged couples give in to sexual temptations, jeopardizing, and even ending at times the future of the relationship. You can imagine how hard it would be to come ‘all that way’ only to break things off because of a consistent lack of control through the Holy Spirit. That is of course if the people involved are interested in having a Godly relationship. What I have learned first hand is that Christian engagement is a time to double down the efforts to remain Godly and continue treating one another in a Godly way, not to loosen boundaries or push the proverbial envelop. It is 4th and inches from the goal line, the team in that situation doesn’t simply relax and say, “Oh we have come this far, surely we will coast in to the goal”. The reason they don’t do that is because they have an opponent trying to stop them from their goal, and as Christian’s so do we. He is a most formidable opponent and hates your Godly relationship with a passion that is difficult for us to even fathom (Rev 12:17). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He is a most formidable opponent and hates your Godly relationship with a passion that is difficult for us to even fathom. [tweet this] #TheDragon ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So if you are engaged currently, or ever hope to be (of if you were at one point, find someone to share these things with) please don’t let up the fight to be Godly when you are only inches away from when the real battle begins, marriage (even then you must maintain and fight for a Godly sexual relationship – c.f. Heb 13:4) #dating #relationships #sex #culture

In my Christian leadership context we are learning how to develop team leadership.  The scripture comes to mind where Paul talks about building with costly materials (c.f. 1 Cr 3:12) and how the quality of what you build with will be revealed by the trials of time.  Most of us are not used to trying to lead as a team, we have come from a past of single point leadership models, but now we are seeing the advantages of working together in a collaborative model.  But is much more difficult to build with costly stones. Christian leadership is not to get people to follow the Pastoral leaders but to relate together as they follow Jesus #TheEquippingPastor The secret to building great teams I am convinced is the basic quality of humility.  There are many other helpful attributes to leadership and even leadership teams, but the greatest, and most difficult, is humility.  We are taught as Christians that we must clothe ourselves with the humility of Christ (Col 3:12; 1 Pet 5:5) and that we should take on the attitude of a servant (Phil 2:3), never could this be more helpful than in leadership.  But it is quite difficult, as leaders tend to have strong convictions, opinions, ideas, and goals that can be challenging to meld together with other leaders convictions, opinions, ideas, and goals. I can see why it might have been easier for Paul and Barnabas to part ways in regards to their ideas on how (and whom) to carry out ministry (c.f. Acts 15) even if there was perhaps not a clear right or wrong in the situation. As we venture forward together I know that God will lead and guide, and my prayer is that He will fill us all with grace and humility towards one another and that we can make allowances for one another as Jesus skillfully and at times mysteriously builds His church. #ministry

When asked, Steve Jobs said he wouldn't let his children play with iPads. Why would the tycoon of the consumer tech industry not let his own children play with technology like everyone else? Jobs knew the potentially destructive power that can lie in technology. Now don’t get me wrong, I love modern technology, I’ll admit, sometimes a little too much. The speed at which I can accomplish tasks, communicate with the masses, organize to-do lists and pay my bills is amazing! And let’s not forget the ever-present cool factor, I mean who doesn’t want to eventually wear the Ironman suit!? Most technology, from the wheel, to pen and paper, to light bulbs; tend to come with a fear of their integration separating us from life. But the question is not one of technology’s inherit worth being good or evil, but one of how we choose to utilize it. Do we allow digital connectivity to participate in our sanctification and relational connection with God and people, or do we passively allow the tendencies of sin and the world to utilize these technologies to prevent or hinder our sanctification? Of course many modern connecting technologies like web chatting can allow a soldier to see his loved ones an ocean away, and platforms like Facebook allow us to have glimpses into our friend's lives even though separated by many time zones, which are great resources, but are these things helping us to connect better, or are they just easier? In God's worldview nothing in life is more important than Himself and others (c.f. Mat 22:37-40), and yet oftentimes we prioritize ourselves above everything else. And this is exactly what technology can help us to do, to be more self-centered. “Digital natives” (see Prensky, Palfrey & Gasser, and a counter by Sadowski) are people born in the year 1980 or later. They have had modern technology integrated with their lives since they were old enough to focus their pupils. [1] But what is all of this doing for the millennial generation in terms of relational development and maturation? Does this new era of technology and it’s integration into our relationships short-circuit or even cheapen what we experience between each other such as love, respect, admiration, worry, concern, and compassion? My text emoticon to my wife can express my love and care for her, but to what degree? If this is done in isolation without consistent face-to-face communication and intimacy, can the depths of human relationship be plumbed? Can you actually develop a deep and meaningful friendship with that girl from class by a text conversation back and forth all day, but speak little to no words with her in person? I have learned as a pastor, the hard way many times, that there are many things I would be wise not to communicate via email. Text on a screen can lack many of the nuances of language: communication via body language, intonation, inflection, cadence, accentuation, facial expression, etc. [2] A simple line such as "What are you doing?" on a screen lacks the evidence for someone reading it to know if I'm simply inquisitive, or if I'm angry and condescending. Through experience I have decided conflict is best to be dealt with and resolved in person, rather than through text or email. While unprecedented access and connection to information abounds through the Internet via the computer in our pockets called smart phones, I fear we are getting more and more disconnected from each other than ever before. But it has become quite normal, I even find myself disconnecting from people in order to connect with a screen. I sometimes find myself in those awkward and uncomfortable moments, using my technology as a safety blanket and scapegoat out of that conversation, or as a way to excuse myself from some situation I would rather not be in. How many times have I looked down at my phone hoping to find something important so that I can disconnect from the situation, and people, at hand? Sitting at a traffic light in downtown, seeing that vagabond approaching my vehicle, I quickly look down at my phone as though I am engaged in some life-altering important business so as to not make eye contact with him. A video game, email or text message is never more important than another human being, no matter how marginalized the person is, and unfortunately possessing technology as an extension of one’s arm from youth tends to do nothing to impart thoughtful consideration and engagement with the marginalized and poor among us locally and globally. I believe this happens because digital technologies can seduce our selfishness, laziness, and hubris. Unprecedented access and information abounds ... but we are more disconnected than ever before While there are many benefits to technology such as opportunities for increased productivity, creativity, and innovation, I imagine one of the great dangers in its overuse and dependence is how it can affect development in the early stages of a child’s life, social and otherwise - stages such as the learning of proprioceptive motor skills (not limited to thumb and index finger dexterity), social cues and relational skills, as well as self-esteem, worth and value. Technology poses a threat to rob these experiences, or at least seriously alter them to the point where these connections are happening in different ways. While it is true that the digital age has allowed for advancements in medicine, allowing surgeries without the loss of life, children are learning to connect to a digital representation on a screen of false reality. Digital pets, cities, and friends, have perhaps stunted and misaligned human relational development because it provides any easier, less vulnerable, and ultimately unsatisfactory substitute helping to create a generation that is more disconnected, isolated, lonely and hopeless than any before it. And though false intimacy is nothing new to the human race, the rapidity and volume of access to digital sex and fantasy is at a new precipice fraught with danger in how and why humans learn to connect to each other sexually. Let’s face it, as Christian’s we believe that we will one day live forever with God in heaven. This will not be a partial relationship, but one in fullness. Nor will it be in isolation; heaven will be a community, filled with risen and glorified people along with the new creation, lacking all favoritism and prejudices, with Christ himself as Lord. So how do we counter our culture to act, believe, and relate to God and each other, as he desires? First it begins with a conviction from God’s word, looking to understand how he developed humans to be in relation to Him and each other (Gen 1-3), then a willingness to discard anything that compromises or minimizes this (Luke 9:23-33). Often it will likely mean intentionally “unplugging” [3], in order to escape the bombardment of technology and listen to God, being ready to respond. “One of the costs of technological advancement,” says Don Whitney, “is a greater temptation to avoid quietness.” And so, many of us “need to realize the addiction we have to noise” (Spiritual Disciplines, 228). This “quietness” can allow us to develop and experience deeper intimacy with God. Developing intimacy with others can be achieved by putting our devices down as well. While you are in the presence of real people, try being aware of when you might be tuning out an opportunity to listen, understand, communicate, and relate with someone. I often have to remind myself to really listen to what someone is saying when I am sitting across from them and drifting, especially because my mind can wander to trivial things like what my next tweet will be. God calls us into his family, Christ’s body. This means we must connect (1 Cor 12). Next to loving him he says there is nothing more important in this life than to love others who are real and tangible, relating through verbal and non-verbal language, touch, sense, shared experiences and community. I highly doubt these can be completely replicated digitally. We can’t only shoot at aliens and snipers on the screen together, or capture our thoughts in 140 characters or less; we must actually participate in life together. Relationship takes practice, and so does unplugging. Some people may be better at relationships than others, but all of us need practice. Many times it comes in the form of “on-the-job” training, where we fumble through tough scenarios together and say the wrong things at the wrong times in the wrong ways. In this way we practice forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation, learning to imitate our Lord, living life to the full through relationship. Footnotes: [1] For example, I recently witnessed my friend’s daughter who is not yet 2 years old, perfectly swiping through and touching the interface of an iPad, trying to beat her own high score in an educational game. She can’t even speak yet. [2] Somewhere in the order of 90% of communication comes from something other than the words that are used. (Psychology Today, Sept 20, 2011, Jeff Thompson) [3] Here are some popular apps that can help in your efforts to unplug. #technology #culture

New Year's resolutions are nothing new. And for almost every single one of us unfortunately failed New Year's resolutions are nothing new as well. Have you ever started a new year not wanting to lose weight? Obesity is one of our national sin's. Many times we simply get tired of feeling like we are failing at our intended change so we just stop trying. We don't even make "resolutions" any more because why get our hopes up after we have failed to follow through so many times before? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "How bad do you want it!? New Year's resolutions can't just be about will power." (Jn 15:5) [tweet this] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I want to give some tips, not of what your New Year's resolutions should be, but how you can ensure greater victory with those decisions. Fully count the cost Many of the things that we want to change or achieve are going to come at cost, and most of the time it is going to be a pretty steep cost because let's face it, if it didn't cost us much, we would have already done it right? Do a sunset review ​A lot of times we don't have a system to help us stay on track of our goals and intentions. At the end of every year before the New Year comes, I will do what I call a 'sunset review' of the past year to see how I have done. It's a time to reflect and assess whether I stayed on track, take an account of what I did well in and made significant progress in, and what I didn't. This is also the time that I will look forward to the next year and set new goals (or re-set old goals) in many of the large areas of my life; personal, spiritual, marriage, career, etc. Have some form of accountability ​None of us can do life on our own. At least not very well. Not only do we need divine help and intervention to carry out our good desires (c.f. Rom 7:21-25; Jn 15:5) but we also need some healthy and helpful accountability from a friend. Talk to someone close to you that you have consistent contact with and employ them to help you on your journey to change this year. Check-in throughout the year​ ​A key component to being able to follow through with our goals is to have markers along the way to the destination. Goals are great to have, for "if you aim at nothing, you are bound to hit it every time", but we also need to remember to keep the goals in front of us over time because all of our memories are fairly weak. Let's face it, you have until about mid-Feb at the latest before you are going to need reminding, and perhaps re-inspiration, to stay on track. Don't Give Up​ ​One thing is for sure, this is going to take perseverance. We can't give up, no matter how badly we fail at achieving our goals. Re-adjusting, re-evaluating, re-defining, sure ... but quitting? NEVER. No one can ever take perseverance from you. #spirituality #culture

Someone recently asked, "should we celebrate Christmas as Christians because it is so steeped in pagan tradition?" This can be a really touchy subject, in fact I know a Christian who was slapped by their mother for suggesting that December 25th was not he actual birthday of Jesus Christ! For those that don't know, yes our Christmas celebration is incredibly steeped in pagan traditions, the worship of sun God's in winter solstice via Roman and Teutonic peoples before and after Christ was born (his birth would not have been in the dead of Israeli winter - no one knows for sure when Christ was born). For more on this see here. To me, the greatest way to answer these types of questions, is to look to conscience. This is what Paul seemed to put out to early Christians as the way to navigate some often times murky waters. He says that different people will have different faith about the validity of certain things (Rom 14:1-23) like religious festivals and celebrations (Col 2:16) and that we should not judge each other on such matters, and he goes so far as to say we should keep our convictions to ourselves (Rom 14:22)! Paul also says (through the guidance of God's Spirit - c.f. 2 Pet 1:21) that we should firmly believe whatever we believe, and not act out of doubt or lack of faith, which is in fact sin when we do (Rom 14:23). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Traditions are just that. As long as they do not directly contradict the word of God." (Mrk 7:6-8) [tweet this] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In regards to Christians celebrating a tradition that is steeped in pagan idol celebration and it's validity to us today, we know that there is no such thing as an idol (1 Cor 8:4) and that it does not matter to us as Christians, because we believe that whoever loves God is known by God (c.f. 1 Cor 8:3; 1 Jn 5:3) but we must be careful with those around us at the same time, not trampling their differing convictions, for that would not be acting in love. What are your thoughts about how we celebrate Christmas as Christians? #spirituality

In a society where we all want to be rich and famous and the majority of us at some point in our life think it will actually happen, but eventually we succumb to the mind numbing and spirit dropping reality that our name will likely not be in any lights anytime soon. The bible says in Proverbs 27:21 that our hearts will be tested by the praise we receive from others, similar to that of gold being refined through fire.  We all know the feeling ... when we walk a little taller, our chest gets a little puffier, our head a little bigger, and a soothing sensation of a gentle massage to our ego just after someone compliments us or recognizes us for a job well done.  "I am the man/woman", we think.  We long for that feeling like a drug.  We can never get enough. Yet God tells us that He is trying to use this very experience to refine us.  Refine us how?  To purify us.  To create in us a more valuable and rare material.  The material of a pure heart, nobility, humility, good will, compassion, and benevolence.  To burn off the vanity, hubris, selfishness, and insecurity.  To create in us ... Himself.  I am convinced that Jesus was the greatest man that has, or ever will walk the earth, and though he received many applause and adoration from many people (though admittedly there were those that responded differently), he never seemed full of himself.  Confident and secure yes.  Audacious in His claims to know God perhaps.  But not selfish.  Not proud.  Not vain.  In fact just when you think he was going to cave into the vanity of his humanity, he resisted and took the path of humility and servitude (c.f. Lk 4:1-13; Jn 6:15; Phil 2:5-8; etc.), and called others to do the same, calling them to walk in his footsteps. So the next time we feel that rush of adrenaline that comes from someone's praise of us, we would be wise to temper it with the realization that God is helping us to become like Jesus, more like Himself ... not so that we can have the 15 minutes of fame that we and our culture so desperately long for, but so that we can give fame to the One that truly deserves it. "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11

In a recent article I read the following scenario that was given in order to spark a conversation on different ways of trying to go about handling it from a minister's perspective ... what would you do? Serena and Santiago began attending Hope Fellowship after they discovered they were pregnant and that the baby, their second, would have significant birth defects. The congregation welcomed the young couple and prayed with them as they shared their fears and questions. The congregation's encouragement helped assure them that abortion was not the only option for such a pregnancy. Even though Serena and Santiago were not married, that did not prevent the congregation from welcoming and supporting the couple. "We don't pull back when people are in need," said the pastor. "We want to be where Jesus would be—and that's walking alongside people even in messy situations."We ask couples in this situation to live apart, but for the man to continue to financially support the woman and his children. We point to the truth and away from worldly ways. When Serena and Santiago expressed their appreciation for the congregation's support, it was affirming to the leaders of Hope Fellowship, who had been seeking ways to reach out to the Spanish speaking community near the church. When little Javier was born, with misshapen legs and a compromised immune system, the congregation prayed him through the treatments and surgeries, and brought meals and baby outfits to the family and toys for older brother Pedro. Within months Serena had committed her life to Christ and was in a women's Bible study, eager to grow in her faith. Santiago, however, did not find close connections at church. He stayed home with the boys on Sunday mornings, but he was supportive of Serena's church involvement. Then Serena, in response to a sermon on the value of church membership, applied to become a member. When she met with the elders to share her testimony, she happily told about accepting Christ and being discipled by the women in the church to be a faithful mom to Pedro and Javier. One of the elders asked Serena if she and Santiago planned to get married. "Oh, I would love to get married!" she said. "But Santiago says we can't afford it. I'm on Medicaid, and if we got married, his insurance premiums would more than triple. Javier still needs treatments and medical supplies. We're barely making it on Santiago's paycheck as it is. Someday we can get married, but Santiago says no way for right now." The interview ended with the elders thanking Serena for her testimony and praying for her. They said they'd be back in touch regarding the membership process. As they debriefed afterward, the elders realized they weren't in agreement. Some wanted to approve Serena for membership, and they emphasized: 1. She is a believer, growing in her faith. 2. No one is without sin, and while her relationship with Santiago may have started out as sin, Serena is now being faithful to her children and their father. 3. She wants to get married, but she can't if Santiago doesn't consent. And she is right not to make her children fatherless by leaving Santiago. The spirit of 1 Corinthians 7:13-17 applies here. Those not in support of Serena's application for membership emphasized: 1. Having sex without being married is living in an ongoing sinful relationship. 2. The church cannot endorse cohabitation as acceptable for members. Endorsing her as a church member now would be a bad example and even worse as a precedent. 3. Even if they were to marry, Serena would be "unequally yoked" (2 Cor. 6:14). A divided elder board asks you, as pastor, for your guidance. What biblical truths are most important here? What is the best decision here for both the church and for Serena and Santiago? What, if anything, can the church do to make this decision as redemptive as possible? Please comment on what types of things would you consider in your response to this scenario as a minister and why? #relationships #culture #sex

"Would you be satisfied to go to heaven, have everybody in your family that you want there, have all the health and restoration of your prime, and everything you don't like about yourself fixed, have every recreation you have dreamed possible available to you, and have infinite resources of money to spend ... would you be satisfied ... if God weren't there?" (John Piper) What a pertinent question! It strikes at the heart of what we understand heaven to be. What is the reward for those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ anyway? Is it really what we often think of it to be; endless buffet's in which we never gain a pound, getting to spend infinite amounts of time in joy and bliss with other human beings whom we loved in this life? Gold and jewels that we can possess, achieving for us status and prominence among other humans? Endless leisure, entertainment, and pleasure where we never have another day of work, frustration or pain? An eternal vacation on white sand beaches? For many of us, our understanding of heaven is shallow and immature. Heaven is not a dwelling place for you to be entertained. It is the dwelling place of God, in which He would be so gracious as to share His goodness and love with you. Being in heaven, without truly and purely loving God for who He is, would end up being Hell. You would be miserable beyond imagination. God will not share His glory with anyone or anything (Isa 42:8, 48:11) that includes you, or anything that you think God would put in heaven for you above and beyond himself, which would of course just be idols, created things like yourself. The next time we think about the struggles that we are facing (1 Cor 10:13) and the difficulties of life, and our imagination drifts to the thoughts of leaving this world and the joy's of heaven, let us be sure that we are imagining accurately (at least as accurately as we can: 1 Cor 2:9) and the eternal glories that we are excited about (2 Cor 4:17) are of God himself, and not just the vacation we hope to have this holiday season. If God is not beautiful to you, in and of himself, heaven will not be a place you wish to be. "Heaven will be inhabited by people who love God! God is our treasure (Psalm 73:25) ... behold the beauty, the glory, goodness, justice, wisdom, truth, grace, mercy, patience ... the whole panorama of the perfections of Almighty of God and let yourself fall in love with Him as the satisfaction of your soul, and that will be the pathway that leads to glory." (John Piper) #spirituality

What can one person do?  In the midst of this world, so vast and enormous in it's influence and sway … the weight of global suffering, poverty, hunger, disease epidemics, racism, bigotry, hatred, genocide.  Can one person really make much of a lasting difference?  How far can your efforts go? We look back over the course of history and we see giants that made lasting differences, for good, and for bad:  Hitler, Stalin, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Einstein, Newton, Muhammad, Mandela, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, Joan of Arc … but in the slew of historical figures that changed the world around them … there is only one who has had the impact of Jesus.  Only one who claimed to be God.  Only one who rose from the dead.  Only one who was The Truth (Jn 14:6). So the next time I am concerned about how my efforts are really making a difference; say when I am concerned with another human being, their spiritual welfare, their physical well being, or meeting their needs and providing in some way for them … or the next time I am trying to end the plight of some suffering in myself or someone else, the next time I am mounting up against a tidal wave of hatred, oppression, and bondage in any form, I can know that there was one that has gone before me (Jn 14:1-4), who can relate to me (Heb 4:15-16).  I can know that indeed I can make difference as He did (Jn 14:12) and that I can take heart amidst trouble (Jn 16:33). The next time I am in an improvised country such as South Africa to lay a few measly coats of paint on the walls and hold a few children in my arms, or the next time I am in an impoverished neighborhood around the corner from where I live to hand out toys or hugs, or the next time I am trying to mentor a teenager to not make some of the same mistakes that I made, I can remember that my Lord only had a relatively small number of followers trying to do what he was doing (Acts 1:15) after he spent himself for them.  And yet, from that small number of people, thousands of years later, he has established the true power of One throughout the entire world, for all of time (Phil 2:9-11). The power of one is found only in following The One. #theology #culture #ministry #spirituality #travel

As I have traveled internationally again this summer something came back to my mind as I re-entered the U.S. ... "wow we are BIG". Chile, USVI, Holland, South Africa, Germany, Mexico ... of all the places I have been we here in the United States "take the cake" (pun intended) when it comes to national obesity (though we are obviously not the only ones on the planet with this issue, though it might be argued that we were one of the first). I was watching a movie again last night, Despicable Me 2 (a great movie if you ask me), and there is a scene were Groo comments to a little girl about why he is overweight, something to the effect of; "I eat to much candy instead of dealing with my problems". I immediately chuckled at the quick witted humor, designed for the older audience that would be watching, but then I thought to myself, why was that funny? Well, simply, because many times it's true. Obviously there are many of us that struggle with turning to food, and American 'comfort foods in particular, as a coping mechanism for dealing with life. "Emotional eating", I believe it is called. We as humans tend to turn to many other things to help us cope other than God; sex, drugs, alcohol, nicotine, gaming, and general social seclusion and withdrawal just to name a few. Yet in my travels, I have not seen this as prevalent in other cultures (now to be sure every culture has it's own sets of 'national sins'), I wonder why this is? I'm sure there are many answers to this question; we have an over abundance of resources, we have processed and mechanized food production to an unhealthy degree, we have lots of space which forces us to travel by machines rather than some other self propelled means, gluttony preys on our laziness, etc., etc. And it's a part of our culture. We can't do anything social without food. Any type of get together, party, or meeting ... will always have food. And usually not the green leafy kind, but more towards the lil' Debbie variety. We are a culture infatuated, and bloated, at the alter of food. And yet this is something that we rarely talk about or address with any level of seriousness or diligence. We don't do this with many other sins, so why do we approach this one as such? Perhaps it is that it is one of our 'national sins', one that is culturally acceptable, and therefore somewhat off limits, because it tends to affect so many people? What else could we tend to do this with? What else do we have to walk on egg shells about, or sweep under the proverbial "rug"? Now of course Jesus himself was called a glutton and a drunkard because he came eating and drinking, and was the friend of 'sinners' (Mat 11:19), but I take this to mean that he was counter cultural to his religious environment by not giving himself over to hollow, heartless, religious ceremony (c.f. Mat 6:16-18,15:8), not that he was actually given over to gluttony or lack of self control ... nor was he likely to be incredibly over-weight. My plea, is that we would address this sin, not as special or off limits, or greater than any other, but that we would see it as God does, a lack of walking in the Spirit of self-control, which He has given us (2 Tim 1:7). Let's continue to strive to walk in the freedom that Jesus has died to give us! (Jn 10:10, 8:31-36) To read more about how this affects our spiritual lives, and in particular how this hinders us from truly being able to enjoy, see here. #culture #travel