Monday, September 9, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Three general categories of "can't" justifications for disobedience:
1. Forgiveness: I can't forgive this, or him, or her. But God commands forgiveness (Matthew 18:35). So we can, in fact, determine to put aside anger and soften our hearts with the knowledge of the gospel of grace, and act as though the wrong had not happened. When we say we can't, we mean we won't; that we want to hang on to our anger, our bitterness, our "right" to get even, under the excuse of being "unable."
2. Difficult truth-telling: I just can't tell him the truth. It would destroy him/me. God tells us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15,25). Often, we are excusing cowardice or pride under "can't." What we really mean is: If I tell him that, he may not like me anymore. I would be humiliated. He would be upset. I won't risk that cost - I would rather disobey.
3. Temptation: I can't resist doing this, though I know it is wrong. We must be careful here, because sin has addictive power - it is true that we may not be able, through sheer willpower, to stop doing something by ourselves. But we can get help, admit our problem, humble ourselves, cry out to God for mercy and transformation, become accountable. God always gives us a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13) - no sinful thought or action is inevitable and irresistible. If we don't, it's likely that we would simply rather keep sinning in that way, excusing it with our "inability" to do anything else.
2. Difficult truth-telling: I just can't tell him the truth. It would destroy him/me. God tells us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15,25). Often, we are excusing cowardice or pride under "can't." What we really mean is: If I tell him that, he may not like me anymore. I would be humiliated. He would be upset. I won't risk that cost - I would rather disobey.
3. Temptation: I can't resist doing this, though I know it is wrong. We must be careful here, because sin has addictive power - it is true that we may not be able, through sheer willpower, to stop doing something by ourselves. But we can get help, admit our problem, humble ourselves, cry out to God for mercy and transformation, become accountable. God always gives us a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13) - no sinful thought or action is inevitable and irresistible. If we don't, it's likely that we would simply rather keep sinning in that way, excusing it with our "inability" to do anything else.
Friday, August 2, 2013
The Absurdity of Life without God and Immortality
"If there is no God, then man and the universe are doomed. Like prisoners condemned to death, we await our unavoidable execution. There is no God, and there is no immortality. And what is the consequence of this? It means that life itself is assured. It means that the life we have is without ultimate significance, value, or purpose." ~ William Lane Craig
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Today in Marine Corps History - 1 August 1944
After nine days of fighting in a battle termed "the perfect amphibious of World War II," Maj . Gen. Harry Schmidt, commander of V Amphibious Corps, declared the island of Tinian secured. The combination of surprise, heavy preassault bombardment, and effective logistical support was responsible for Tinian's recapture with a much lower casualty rate (344 killed and 1550 wounded) than had been experienced in previous landings.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Today in Marine Corps History: 28 July 1918
Brigadier General John A. Lejeune assumed command of the 2nd Division, U.S. Army in France, and remained in that capacity until August 1919 when the unit was demobilized. He was the first Marine officer to hold an Army divisional command, and following Armistice, he led his division in the march into Germany.
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