Tuesday, December 28, 2010 “There's the heart, it’s not beating. I’m so sorry.”

“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?” C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, p. 25

The BLAHs

VS. Depression

1.Described as a fog that won’t clear or getting stuck

Depression 1.Described as a fog that won’t clear or getting stuck 2.All pervasive - thought comes in but there’s place for it to exit

Depression 1.Described as a fog that won’t clear or getting stuck 2.All pervasive - thought comes in but there’s place for it to exit 3.Causation is elusive

Depression 1.Described as a fog that won’t clear or getting stuck 2.All pervasive - thought comes in but there’s place for it to exit 3.Causation is elusive 4.There may be a chemical component involved

Depression 1.Described as a fog that won’t clear or getting stuck 2.All pervasive - thought comes in but there’s place for it to exit 3.Causation is elusive 4.There may be a chemical component involved 5.Experience loss of motivation, emotional swings, etc.

The BLAHs

Home Alone Kevin: Everyone in this family *hates* me! Kate: Then maybe you should ask Santa for a new family. Kevin: I don't want another family. I don't want any family. Families suck! Kate: Just stay up there. I don't want to see you again for the rest of the night. Kevin: *I* don't want to see you again for the rest of my whole life. And I don't want to see anybody else either.

The BLAHs

The BLAHs

"The Man" is a slang phrase that may refer to the government or to some other authority in a position of power. In addition to this derogatory connotation, it may also serve as a term of respect and praise. Also, " The Man is coming" is a term used to frighten small children who are misbehaving. The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist", either openly or via sabotage. Wikipedia,

The BLAHs

➢ 50% of adults in North America will make a New Year's resolution (Norcross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60).

The BLAHs ➢ 50% of adults in North America will make a New Year's resolution (Norcross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60). ➢ The top two resolutions are behavioral commitments related to improving one's health namely to cease smoking and decrease one's consumption of alcohol (Norcross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60).

The BLAHs ➢ 50% of adults in North America will make a New Year's resolution (Norcross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60). ➢ The top two resolutions are behavioral commitments related to improving one's health namely to cease smoking and decrease one's consumption of alcohol (Norcross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60). ➢ Some discouraging information: Most people fail in adhering to their stated New Year's resolutions. Specifically, 22% fail after one week, 40% after one month, 50% after three months, 60% after six months, and 81% after twenty-four months (Norcross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60).

The BLAHs “Why does it matter?”

The BLAHs “Why does it matter?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36

The Gospel Romans 1: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The Gospel Romans 1:18 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

The Gospel Romans 1: For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

The Gospel Romans 2: But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

The Gospel Romans 2: But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

The Gospel Romans 3:9-12, 20 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

The Gospel Romans 3: But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded.

The Gospel Romans 3: But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded.

The Gospel Romans 3: But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded.

The Gospel Why does it matter?

The Gospel Why does it matter?

The Gospel in Community Hebrews 3: Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

The Gospel in Community Hebrews 3: Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

The BLAHs X Gospel Community Yes No YesNo

The BLAHs X Gospel Community Yes No YesNo

The BLAHs X Gospel Community Yes No YesNo

The Gospel in Community Why does it matter? Hebrews 3: Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Gospel Application

1.Are you believing the gospel?

Gospel Application 1.Are you believing the gospel? 2.Are you willing to reaffirm your commitment to live in Gospel community?

Gospel Application “Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now.” Dietrich Boenhoeffer

“Shock the world” X Gospel Community Yes