Christian movies aren’t half bad!

To the surprise of many, Christian movie Courageous recently took the No. 1 spot of the U.S. DVD charts.  It beat out Ides of March, Abduction, and Moneyball.  It just goes to show that Christian movies are becoming better and better.  All I have to say is…finally!

I remember ten years ago when I was a teenager and wanting to listen to more Christian music.  Unfortunately, at the time it was pretty bad.  It was so cheesy and lame.  So I had a really hard time getting myself to enjoy it.  Fast-forward to the present, and Christian music is often times better than secular music.  (If you don’t believe me, just check out Phil Wickham for pop/rock music, Lecrae for rap music, and As I Lay Dying for metal music).

I see the same thing happening in the movie industry.  Christian movies may have lacked in the past, but soon enough they will become on par or better than any secular films.  Courageous is a great example of how this is happening right before our eyes.

JOHN 4:27-42 OVERVIEW

“Hungry to Serve”

She Left Her Waterpot (John 4:27-30):

v.27:    Jesus knew the thoughts of the disciples.  They were shocked he was talking to a woman and a Samaritan (double-whammy!), but they didn’t open their mouths out of respect.  Ever had an experience when you know someone was thinking something but wouldn’t tell you, but its written all over their face?

v.29:    In her excitement she exaggerated.  She didn’t want to report what Jesus actually told her (embarrassing!), but what He was capable of telling her….Notice she left her waterpot.   That was the one thing she wanted to hold onto when talking to Jesus.  She must have come to her spiritual senses.  Living water (eternal life) is far more important than physical water (earthly life). 

Birthday girl =)

Today is the birthday of my wonderful wife. She has officially entered her mid-twenties as she is turning 24. I am so blessed to have her in my life and she truly emulates 1 Peter 3:3-4 which says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

Happy birthday Brittney!

It’s a Girl!!!

At 11:30am today, I got to experience something that cannot truly be described in words: the birth of our second child. No experience in life comes close to it. All parents would agree that there is nothing quite like seeing the birth of your child. Seeing new life for the first time is an awe-inspiring moment. All I could do is thank God over and over for His wonderful grace.

That’s why it is no coincidence we included "grace" in our new daughter's name. Her name is Abigail Grace Richards. Abigail is named after the story in 1 Samuel 25:1-42. There she called a woman of “great understanding and beautiful appearance.”

Our prayer for our little Abigail is that she would have a great and intimate knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That she would be courageous, virtuous, and modest in everything that she does; just as Abigail in the Bible was.

Thoughts on the Great White Throne Judgment

Yesterday I finished reading an excellent book by the late John Walvoord called Jesus Christ Our Lord. If you want to learn everything there is to know about Jesus Christ in the Bible, then pick up a copy of that book.

In his last chapter, he talks about the Great White Throne judgment. That is, the judgment all unbelievers will face when they die. They will stand before God and give an account as to why they rejected God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life found in Jesus Christ. Walvoord said something so provocative that I couldn’t get it out of my head:

“The tragic fact of this judgment is that none of these cast into the lake of fire needed to have this destiny. Christ had died for every one of them.”

Radical thought, isn’t it? No one that goes to hell needs to go there. All anyone has to do is confess their sins before God, believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, and repent of their former lifestyle. That’s it! But so many aren’t willing to do something so simple; and it will cost them so dearly.

Keep that in mind…no one needs to go to hell. Christ died for everyone and offers forgiveness to everyone. Do you believe that?

JOHN 4:1-26

The Woman at the Well

“Four Wrong Approaches to God”

v.4:      Samaria = shortest route, often avoided

v.4:      Jesus walked and was led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25, Rom. 8:14)

v.9:      Samaritan = half Jew/half Gentile (722 Assyria).  Jesus was breaking down the walls of prejudice.  God is seeking to save all (Rev. 5:9-10)

#1:       SHE WAS IGNORANT OF THE SPIRIT (V.11-12)

v.11:    Jesus was talking spiritually, she was thinking physically (1 Cor. 2:14)

v.13:    Never thirst of what?  Thirst for God (Ecc. 3:11).  Unbelievers know this emptiness.  Believers sometime cannot relate.

PROVERBS 30 OVERVIEW

“Wisdom Using Common Sense” Part 1

I.             Proverbs 30:1-3

1.   “words of Agur” (v.1):

A.  We ended the section on Solomon’s proverbs, and finish the book with some wise sayings from other wise men.  Who is Agur?  We don’t know outside of this.  All we know is that he probably was old and close to death (v.7).  So the wisdom he shares is like his last bit of advice before he passes on.      

2.   “I am more stupid…I do not have understanding” (v.2):

A.  This could be a good life verse for some of us.  The point is Agur is trying to show he’s got nothing on Solomon and all these other wise men.  He’s just a regular guy who has made some observations over the years that can hopefully help some people.