A day or two of reading… June 27, 2009
Posted by jonesy24 in Bible, Christianity, Read Through, Relationships, The Bible - it's quality stuff!, What's happening with me....2 comments
Yesterday was interesting. I’ve got a new book called ‘Desiring God’ by John Piper. And it’s brilliant. So much so that last night I went to be, couldn’t sleep from thinking about what I’d read and learned, and had to get up in the early hours of the morning to share it with people. 
Today however, I spent more time focusing on some BIBLE!
My bible reading is a bit all over the place at the minute really. I’m mixing a lot of Old testament with New, and generally reading a lot of whatever takes my fancy.Today was a section of Genesis.
I love the fact that having been through the bible several times now, there’s always something new that jumps out at me. So here’s my 3 points from Genesis 2.
1) Genesis 2:9(b)
The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now, we see a few verses later that God commands Adam, saying “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
We also see in chapter 3 that the tree was “good for food”, and that it was a “delight to the eyes”, as well as it being ‘desirable’ to make one wise.
What I found interesting here is how this ‘temptation’ is right in the centre of the Garden of Eden. Adam, would have to walk by this ‘temptation’ all the time. It wasn’t on the edge of the garden, or off in a corner… it was in the centre. Which relates to temptation today. In a culture (for guys, for example), there’s temptation everywhere. It’s not hidden from us. It’s in the ‘centre’. It’s in the spotlight. Through media, the internet, shops, billboards, the movies, pubs, barrs, etc, etc, etc.
We see in chapter 3 the ‘fall of man’. But the idea is that before that, the tree was right in the centre. It was a temptation that required walking by, and perhaps away from.
2) Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
God put Adam to work. I get the impression that ‘work’ for a guy is an important thing. Even when God curses the ground (NOT ADAM), it’s all related to ‘work’. I believe guys need to work. Some guys probably even need 2 jobs. Even in relation to the last point, I think guys that don’t work will be tempted in their bordom. Guys that are working full time, and involved in their local church, aren’t going to have as much time to be sitting in their bedrooms, in front of a computer, looking at Porn… or even wasting their time playing computer games.
3) Genesis 2: 20(b)
But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
God decides it’s not good for Adam to be alone. And that he needs help. Then after going through the possible animal companions, God creates EVE! (PRAISE GOD!). I think I would struggle with a cat as a companion. Something tells me it just wouldn’t work. I like this idea of Eve being Adam’s helper. It points towards guys not being single. It shows that we need ‘help’. It shows that we need a wife, I guess. It shows that we’re not complete without a wife.
On top of that, the idea of Eve being formed out of Adam’s rib. Eve being made out of Adam’s side. I guess that’s where guys need a wife! At their side. It would potentially also explain why ‘girls’ or ‘gurls’ enjoy cuddling so much. They’re at home. At your side. hahaha.
Anyway. Back to reading Desiring God by John Piper.
Bitterness September 3, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Relationships, You and me.Tags: Bible, bitter, bitterness, Christian, Christianity, foothold, God, gossip, In His Dust, malice, Mark Jones, slander, UNforgiveness
1 comment so far
Bitterness is a demonic foothold. If you are bitter, and you’re not dealing with it – you’re leaving room for Satan (and his demons) to get into your life.
I break bitterness down into 3 different types:
- 1) Someone sins against us – we get bitter
- 2) We think someone has sinned against us (percieved sin) – we get bitter
- 3) Jealousy/bitter envy and selfish ambition – it equals bitterness.
Unforgiveness = Bitterness
Jealousy = Bitterness
Bitterness is the possession of ‘the offended’. You don’t see the ‘offender’ getting bitter, it’s always the person that has been wronged, or who thinks they’ve been wronged. It leads to gossip, slander and malice.
The people we’re most likely to get bitter against, tend to be the people who we give access to our heart. Maybe the people who we give our trust? Or love? That means that the people you’re most likely to be ‘bitter’ against are probably going to be your parents, girfriend/boyfriend, spouse, pastor, mentor, accountability partner, your children, friends… maybe God?
People who are hurting or who get hurt – they (can) get bitter.
I’m an expert on this subject. It’s pretty much my life. That’s why I can talk (probably not blog) about it with such clarity. I haver to be extreamly careful that my anger/hurt (even whether I call it ‘righteous’ anger) does not turn into bitterness. If I get bitter, I’ve taken the bait and been captured in one of Satan’s demonic schemes. If I get bitter, the way I can end up thinking and speaking is slanderous, gossip, and malicious. It’s sinful.
We – if we are bitter – need to dig up the root of bitterness, otherwise it’ll grow up to defile many. (BIBLE! WHOO!)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every kind of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
If you’re bitter, you need to run to God’s people for help. If there’s someone you need to forgive, you need to forgive them as God forgave you, otherwise you’re living in sin, and giving Satan a demonic foothold, and your unforgiveness/bitterness will turn into slander, gossip and malice – and in your hurt, where you may have every right to be hurt – Satan will have gained a victory. Make sure and deal with it the right way – don’t let it become something it shouldn’t.
Porn and false expectations February 4, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Relationships, You and me.1 comment so far
Porn – whether that’s pictures, videos, etc – gives guy’s false expectations of what a relationship ‘looks like’. They somehow get the impression that once they’re in a relationship, or when they’re married – that’s how it’s going to be.
Porn makes guys think women are something that they’re not.
Pornography: the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction. (Webster)
This is where I turn the table. Chick flicks and romance novels/stories can and do “arouse a quick, intense emotional reaction”. It’s giving girls a false impression of what a relationship looks like, and how a guy is meant to be. It encourages you (girls that is) to dream of ‘that perfect guy’ and hope for ‘one just like him’.
Seriously… where do you get your idea of what a relationship should look like? (Guys too!). You can say your parents – but that’s a married relationship, not a dating or ‘going out’ relationship.
Guys have to be careful they don’t get unrealistic expectations in what a relationship is going to be like. Girls have to do the exact same.
Guys – stop watching porn for one. And don’t expect that your girlfriend or wife is going to be anything like the ‘pornstar’.
Girls – Be careful you’re not wanting something that doesn’t exist, or at least is very very rare. Life isn’t a fairytale. You’re never going to find a guy with no flaws, shortcomings, or insecurities.
Guard your hearts.
