Anonymous or Accountable?

Tim Challies has recently posted two entries on his blog about the importance of accountability in an increasingly anonymous society.

1. Drawing Out the Infection
2. Behind Closed Doors

An Excerpt from Drawing out the Infection:

"I thought of this principle while sitting with the men of my church last Wednesday night. No, none of the men there had a huge blight on his face or anything unsightly like that. We’ve been reading through Josh Harris’ Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is) and came to the chapter dealing with accountability and the kind of friendship that asks the tough questions. We talked together for quite some time about the kind of relationship that allows for deep and probing questions—the kind of relationship that offers a real level of accountability. We soon came to see that almost all of us desire to be in this kind of relationship—one where we can speak with other Christian men and have them both challenge us to put sin aside and preach the gospel to us in those times where we’ve committed that sin yet again. This is not just accountability that focuses on sexual sins, but on all kinds of sin and transgression. But though it seems that all of us felt we could benefit from this kind of relationship, I believe that very few of us actually are."

A Page is Turned...

This is my first time blogging as a married man. I'm sitting in an incredibly nice condo in peaceful Seaside, FL with my beautiful new wife. As I begin this new chapter of my life I am being constantly reminded of the grace of God... how undeserving I am of it, how desperately I need it, and how generously He gives it.
Here is a Puritans point of view from The Valley of Vision:

Blessings

Thou Great Three-One,

Author of all blessings I enjoy,
of all I hope for,
thou hast taught me
that neither of the experience of present evils,
nor the remembrances of former sins,
nor the remonstrances if friends
will or can affect a sinner's heart,
except thou vouchsafe to reveal thy grace
and quicken the dead in sin
by the effectual working of thy Spirit's power.
Thou hast shown me
that the sensible effusions of divine love
in the soul are superior to and distinct from
bodily health,
and that oft-times spiritual comforts are
at their highest when physical well-being is
at its lowest.
Thou hast given me the ordinance of song as a means of grace;
Fit me to bear my part in that music ever new,
which elect angels and saints made perfect
now sing before thy throne and before the Lamb.
I bless thee for tempering every distress with joy;
too much of the former might weigh me down,
too much of the latter might puff me up;
Thou art wise to give me a taste of both.
I love thee
for giving me clusters of grapes
in the wilderness,
and drops of heavenly wine
that set me longing to have my fill.
Apart from thee I quickly die,
bereft of thee I starve,
far from thee I thirst and droop;
But thou art all I need.
Let me continually grasp the promise,
'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'

I got a phone call from a student the other day. He told me of another student who felt convicted about watching to much T.V. using to much internet, etc. So he decided to pitch his six man tent in his backyard. He ran an extension chord, hooked up a lamp, brought his Bible and some other books and vowed not to leave until he reads his Bible… a lot. I was asked if I wanted to come and participate for a night. The answer I gave: Definite yes.

Upon hearing this, some would think of this crazy legalistic kid who is trying to achieve an incredible amount of righteousness to brag about. Some may even think that he is a little crazy. I see a kid who loves God and refuses to let something stupid like T.V. or internet get in his way of glorifying the God of the universe.

The whole thing got me thinking. What happened to being a little “crazy-eyed for Christ” (as a friend put it)? I see guys in the church today whose major concern is that they don’t spill their late on their $150 shirt. The idea of missing Lost or Desperate Housewives is frightening to them. So they Tvo whatever show it is that de-masculanizes them so they can watch it after their Bible study. Then I read of guys in the Bible who kill bears and lions, eat bugs, wear camel skin attire, and love them some Jesus.

That said, stop being weenies and start doing crazy things for Christ.


Here is Driscoll talking about a similar issue in church planting.

I spent five hours in Barnes and Noble yesterday. I have been reading a lot from The God Delusion and A Letter to a Christian Nation (Written by blatant Atheists).Without getting into too much detail, I have to say that I have been made aware of the challenging fact that America has a completely skewed view of Christ (I know... not old news). The Church needs to be actively breathing truth into the culture of today and we have totally fallen short. I don't know what I'm going to do about it, but I'm going to do something.

The One True God is worthy of all praise. I want to spend my entire life spreading the truth of His holiness with a passion for His name.

Anyone with me?

Recently, God has been taking me through the story of His Son's last days on this earth. I know, that's kind of weird... It's Christmas, right? But I have been reading through Mark and that's where I am. Today I read in Mark 14 when Jesus tells all of the disciples that they are about to bail out on Him in his final hour. They just had a nice passover feast, they sang a Him, and He tells them they're going to bail. I can imagine how they felt. "We've been Your loyal disciples for all this time and now you tell us we're gonna leave! What's up with that?" We all know what happens next. They bail out on Jesus, He conquers death and rises. They believe, I mean truly believe, and God does some amazing things through their lives.

I've been there before... recently. I give God some nice talk about how I'm there till the end, through light and dark. Of course, everything is light when I say that. When stuff gets dark I have a tendency to bail. So what happened between Mark and Acts that changed the lives of these guys? I think that they stopped being skeptics. Sure, they followed Christ all through His ministry but there were just somethings that they didn't understand. They declared Him as Lord but what did that really mean to them? The whole death and resurrection thing probably confused them a bit. Then it happened! Jesus did it and it clicked. They realized that Christ isn't just someone that offers a good way to live. They realized that He is faithful. He is Holy. He is sovereign. He is worthy. He is the resurrected Lord! Who wants to bail out on that?
That's not just something to live for. That's something to die for. Also, the Holy Spirit happened (Acts 2). The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. The same Spirit that lives in us (Romans 8:11).

So, by grace, we can stand firm in the truth that the Holy Spirit will empower us to look to God in all of His holiness, fall flat on our face in reverence, and know that only He, in His sovereignty will guide us through for HIS glory alone.

I'm Still Alive

I just wrote a nice long blog about how I have been spiritually "asleep" and how I have been awakened by a verse in Mark 13. But then I deleted it. So, just read Mark 13 and maybe you can see what I mean.

bYe

I have this place where I go to have "alone-time". I don't want to tell anyone where it is because I feel like that would ruin it. I'm not superstitious or anything. I just like it that way. It's just me and Him if that makes any sense. Anyways, I have grown rather fond of this place over the past month and a half. God has spoken to me there. He has revealed things to me... Things that need to change, things that need to be valued more...

If I had to think of one word to describe my time there it would be... Intimacy. It seems as if intimacy is being neglected by the church as a whole. Maybe we have failed to emphasize the fact that the Christian life is a constant life. It's a life that keeps going after church on Sunday or Wednesday or whenever. It's a life that's devoted to doing all things for the glory of God. It's a life that's difficult and always will be. And if there is no intimacy with God it's non-existent. The Dean of my college encouraged us yesterday with a verse from Proverbs 4.

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

I want to keep living a life that glorifies my great God. I want to know Him more and more every day and walk with Him always. It turns out that it takes some effort. I have to stop. I have to think. I have to look around and realize that this world can easily distract me from my purpose... His glory.

Find a place. Spend time with God. Why? Because your not above screwing up. Your not above conforming to the patterns of this world. The good thing is that He is.

I'll have to find a new place when winter arrives. That's ok.

PRAY!

So i'm doing this whole blog thing, keeping people updated, and letting people know what's going down. I wanted to have this thing to share with people just how awesome God has been through the ministry He has so graciously called me to. I hope and pray that this will encourage others to pray for me in this ministry. I am always in much need of prayer. Next Sunday I will be leaving for 10 weeks with the NAMB to lead worship in Puerto Rico/ Florida. Keep us in your prayers! I will miss everyone. especially my loveley fiance, Lauren. Also, pray for the ministries that I will be taking a break from because of my trip. Sugarloaf Community Church youth ministry, brighton springs apartments, Harbins Ridge Youth Ministry, the bridge church of atlanta middle school ministry... I will miss them dearly.
So pray, pray, and pray. pray without ceasing! (1 Thes. 5:17)

To God alone be the glory
Kevin

P.S. I will soon find another picture... I hope. Until then, enjoy what's here and try and figure out what those girly pastel circles at the top of the page are for. Yeah... I don't know either.