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Monthly Archives: January 2010

The Marks of a Godly Man – Mark 1: The running man.

I am not sure how many marks I am going to have, but I do know there will be at least four. I am basing this post on a sermon I heard recently from John MacArthur and he outlined at least four marks. I felt compelled to do this topic due to the upcoming weekend Men’s Conference called “Manning Up: in church, home, and culture“. Our local church is hosting the conference during the weekend of Feb. 19th. I am very excited about the conference so I decided to do some pre-conference research and study.

The marks of a godly man can be found in 1 Timothy chapter 6. This text is the basis of John MacArthur’s sermon “4 Marks of the Man of God“. The first mark that a godly man is known by is what he flees from.

But as for you, O man of God, flee from these things. (1 Tim. 6:11a ESV)

In MacArthur’s sermon he points out the greek grammer used here in this verse. The context of flee is a continuial action that is commanded here. We get the word running man or fugitive. We are commanded to be running relentlessly all the time. What is the man of God to flee from? The previous text in the chapter helps me answer this question. It is the lust of money found in verses 9 and 10. If you go all the way back to verse 3 we find that Paul (the author of the text) is referring to those who are deprived of the truth and assume an air of godliness and religion for personal gain. We are instructed by God, through this letter of Paul to Timothy, to flee from the draw and lust of money and it’s influences on our life for all of our lives. Never ceasing. We are never to put a price on our calling. Never put a price on your ministry. John MacArthur forms the following into a statement, but I like the question form. If you do put a price on it, will you have prostituted your calling of God into personal gain? We are to flee I say, flee. Desire to be a running man.

Running Man sketch courtesy of The Digital Sketchbook.

 

Pornography and the Male Brain: What’s Really going On?

I’ve been away for a few months and I’d like to apologize to my reader. By God’s grace alone there might be more than my one loyal reader, my lovely wife, and I apologize to them as well. My lovely wife has been prodding me to write more postings but I just haven’t been personally motivated to do so. Especially since Facebook provides a quick and easy way to post some brief thoughts. FB is nice but it doesn’t provide a very large posting media. So at my wife’ s encouragement and the added motivation from my latest commentor, I am back.

Earlier today while eating my lunch at work I listened to a recent broadcast from Dr. Albert Mohler’s radio program. The subject of the broadcast was one that has peaked my interest as one who has experienced the draw of this sinful industry in the past. Though this sin can have devasting consequences, the Lord Jesus Christ offers real hope and forgiveness to those who seek freedom from it.

The guest of Dr. Mohler’s program was Dr. William M. Struthers who has recently written a book titled “Wired For Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain“. There were three questions proposed concerning this subject by Dr. Mohler, they are as follows:

  1. Why is the male mind so attracted to pornography?
  2. What effect does it have on the male mind?
  3. Why does this matter?

These are very important questions. they are not fully answered on the radio program but the conversation does peak your interest for reading Dr. Struthers new book. There is one important piece of dialog Dr. Mohler had, and it really hit home with me. The young male response to viewing the image of a naked woman for the first time, if unchecked or misdirected, can set him up for an incorrect response to the same later in his life. Especially if the viewing is prolonged and repeated many times throughout his young life. The markers and wiring are connected in a distorted way.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Cor. 10:5)

I would recommend this book to every male believer of Christ. In the age that we live in and the amount of visual stimulation that we encounter on a daily basis it’s necessary to understand the process that goes on in our mind.