Marriage and 2 Timothy

• What follows is a good portion from an e-mail. If anyone becomes confused or worried about me, it's likely because the whole picture isn't being painted with this excerpt. "Ask and you shall receive." Here it is:
  
  . . . But it makes me think: why isn't it immoral? Who established marriage: the state or God? Who is the one in charge of marriage: the state or God? Who are married couples accountable to: the state or God? As far as I can tell, the state making anything "legal" really isn't the issue as much as what God has made "legal," at least in the sense of marriage and family. Now, I understand that we don't want people sinning, and for that reason, getting people married off is a good thing. Nevertheless, this whole new and interesting situation among people we've known for years brings up interesting questions: Why should or shouldn't they do that? Should or shouldn't I do that when I get to that point? These questions are mostly to be dealt with between the couple and God, but listening to the advice of parents and true friends is also good. So . . . the question facing couples should not be: How can we have sex as quickly as possible in a manner that has some legitimacy (moving in together, getting a license from the state, or having a religious ceremony)? The question should be: What does God want us to do? It wouldn't surprise me at all if answering that question meant a lot of prayer, a lot of getting into the Bible, a lot of talking to each other, a lot of talking to parents, and a lot of talking to friends. It's a tough question to answer, but once you've carefully considered everything, the joy and peace you'll receive from knowing you're doing God's will will be an example and satisfaction you'll carry with your husband or wife all the way through your life.
  
  
• 2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
  
  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%201;&version=50

John Pandora

• 1 John 3:18: My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
  
  
• 1 John 4:9: In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
  
  
• Check out http://www.pandora.com/. It's an excellent place to listen to music, period.

For Further down the Road

Howdy, all. Hey, I'm not going to post my personal thoughts on Scripture anymore. I'm going to let the Spirit do that. I mean, after all, they're God's words so I'm sure He can explain them.

If you'd like me to explain my "why" further, I'll be happy to.

Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37-39: [37] Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' . . ."

These are good reminders that love is the commandment, that it encompasses and fulfills all other laws. Let us therefore be loving. Ask God to guide and to give you the strength to be loving because everything apart from Christ is fruitless and anything by Christ is profitable.

No Backsliding

Proverbs 14:22: Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

Devising evil ultimately results in some form of ruin, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. Those who have God living in them, who have good living in them, speak truth and are merciful. So, let us continually focus on our Savior and ask that He would live in a us moment by moment.

Those who slip back into a hard and ill mind against God will become like their heart, a heart that they think nobody knows of, a cold, sickly, violent heart that only lives for self. Those who continue to call on God for their strength will be filled and always joyful because their Father cares for them.

^a = Proverbs 14:22: The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above.

Espanol y Biblia

• OK, so one translation of spouse from English (duh!) to Spanish is esposo. Now, the translation for handcuffs is . . . esposas. HA! I thought that was funny.
  
  
• 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
  
  This is related to my fear-love thing (and no, I'm not even sure if I've ever written something about that on this blog). See, there is NO fear in love. It's a process: beginning in fear for fear is the beginning of wisdom and ending in love, the end of fear. In wisdom, we begin to learn of Christ's mission, His purpose, His obedience. We fear what God may do to us because we put His Son on the cross, but when we understand--when we gain insight--we gain wisdom, because our understanding has opened up to us the reality of Christ's crucifixion: obedience and blamelessness by Christ for the redemption of all who confess their nature and need for Christ through the pouring out of perfect blood.
  
  Those who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh are not to be considered truthful. They are to be considered Antichrists. Now, notice it is not that they say, "Jesus the Christ, the Son of God who is God, did not come in the flesh"; it says someone "that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" (1 John 4:3^a3). This means that the person--through which some spirit is working, whether of God or of the other--either says nothing of Christ coming in the flesh or says that Christ has come in the flesh but is not God. In other words, if people never say that Jesus came as a man and as God, he is not of God. Essentially, not saying that Christ came as a man as God in the flesh is the same as saying He didn't come at all or didn't come as God. At least, this is what I would say from a logical point about saying Jesus is not the Christ or saying nothing about Jesus being the Christ. All of that is from verses 1-6^a
  
  ^a = 1 John 4:1-6:
  
  [1] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, [3] and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
  
  [4] You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. [5] They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. [6] We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

"Autobots" by Steve Jablonksy

Of roaming tracks . . . no, tracks that roam . . . hm, tracks of Rome? Roman tracks. Tracks and Romans!

• An essay on tracks:
  
  Everybody desires to stay in shape. To do this, some people go run. As they tune their iPods to their favorite music and stretch, they think, “Where shall I run?” Their next question may be, “Where should I run?” A track is a great place to run.
  
  “A track?” contemplates the runner, “Who wants to use a boring track?” Boring seems to be the description of choice. Fortunately, many people have iPods or MP3 players. Any boredom associated with land-based fitness effectively ended the moment iPods and MP3 players arrived on the market.
  
  A track shows the runner where he is and how far he has to go. Lines, lanes, and numbers help runners trace their exact location and distance. By using a track, the runner has the resources for knowing location and distance without purchasing an odometer or some other gadget.
  
  Both literally and psychologically, a track is prime running material. Tracks lack bumps, rocks, sticks, potholes, and other obstacles. Durable, traction-consistent running surface defines a track. Hand-in-hand with a track's design is the motivation it inspires. The official air of the track, coupled with knowing location and distance, motivates the runner to push himself. It is an exclusive spot for competitions to occur. The track is designed for running and, as such, provides incentive for pushing harder and faster.
  
  Knowing how far he has gone, where he has to go, and what he is running on are all good reasons for a runner to use a track. Decisions about life should be approached in a similar manner. Everyone has goals. From there, he must choose which routes he will take; however, he should note that there are many paths but only a few great ones.
  
  
• Romans 8:35-37: [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written:
  
  "For Your sake we are killed all day long;
  We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
  
  [37] Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
  
  What will separate us? Nothing. The love of Christ will always be there--for us, for you, for me. But it is our choice to accept this love. We can either turn our back on it, or we can embrace the Creator of this love and trust Him to guide us in His ways. When we are guided by Him, no thing can do permanently harm to us. The perceived strength of evil pales in the face of God's grace and Christ's sacrifice. Tough situations are powerless. Pain of mind is powerless. Destruction of life and property is powerless. Starvation is powerless. Exposure and shame is powerless. Danger is powerless. Violence and death is powerless. The Triune Being, the God of the universe, is the only power because from Him all power comes.

Praise God!

I have just finished reading The Shack by William Young. The sheer joy of Christ, God, and His Spirit has been more strongly portrayed in this book than in any other book I have read in my entire life. I praise and adore our great God and Savior, Jesus the Savior of the universe, for this book, and may God bless and build up William Young, a marvelous creation and instrument of our Father.

http://theshackbook.com/index.html

Please, do not fear for me. The truth enclosed within The Shack is only there because God has allowed Scripture to be studied and expressed in the novel. It is William Young's belief of what Scripture says, and on much or all of it, I believe I agree. And I don't add this paragraph to be a safe and sound Christian, "secure" form the criticism of my fellow brothers and sisters. I say this because it is the truth. Young likely would have never written The Shack without having first read the Bible. But I also don't want anyone to come to the view that the Bible should be given a "Oooohhh, holy Bible" status. Though Scripture is a wholly-truthful inspiration from God, it is not salvation, and it doesn't grant salvation. Any appreciation or joy we receive from Scripture should not ever--for even a nanosecond--be attributed to the Bible, a physical book. Thanks should be given to God, the Creator of the book, of our joy, of our appreciation, of our emotions, of all being and existence.

John to John--What?

• John 3:16: ". . . For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. . . ."
  
  The time-old message: believe on the Son of God and you will live in communion with God forever, the excellent of selfless love. Christ died for the sins of everyone, even though only a few will accept the gift. The rest will spurn the good He has done for them.
  
  John 3:5-8^a has me wondering (ie, thinking of what it means), especially verse 8: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." We understand that the wind blows where "it wishes" because God has created it, ultimately controlling where it blows. We can hear the wind, but we don't really know how it starts blowing or where it will end up. Being saved is similar, if we are to believe this passage. (And so we are to believe!) We do not know who God will choose from His field, and when He selects, we do not know all the sin from which he has been rescued. We do not even know what God will have him do. Truly living life dangerously in the hands of God: true life through Christ's sacrifice and the grace God has given us and dangerously because we know not what fires God has preordained us to go through in this age.
  
  ^a = John 3:5-8: [5] Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' [8] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
  
  
• Here's the recipe for a delicious spinach smoothie (no joke, it is delicious!):
  
  1 orange
  handful of grapes
  1/2 c of pineapple
  1 banana
  several handfuls of spinach
  soy milk
  
  Feel free to substitute in normal milk or whatever. Also, the more stuff you free, the yummier it's going to be. (I like really cold smoothies.) We have a Vitamix, so I don't know how well other blenders hold up to ice. =( Oh, well, it's still tasty! =)
  
  
• Here's a link to excellent, traditional American politics, Imprimis: http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis.asp.
  
  
• 1 John 4:10: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
  
  We do not love God in the sense of our own working out of love. We love God because the Son who dwells within us loves God. Everything good is from Christ; apart from His mercy and grace, we can do nothing good. Thus, we should not fret about our failures; instead, we should commit ourselves to Christ, living in hope and faith.
  
  My dad did a good teaching with 1 John 4:17-19 once. I can't remember all the verses he used, but it tied in with this. You see, he was saying that the beginning of a good relationship with God is, first, fearing Him (He is almighty, powerful, creator, etc) and, in maturity, loving Him (He is good, love, kind, etc). It is good to fear God because He the only one who can do permanent damage to you, but this is not the relationship He wants to have with anyone. He wants to have joy and communion with all the children of Adam; unfortunately, He can't/won't because He has given the children of Adam the choice to turn away or toward Him. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)
  
  1 John 4:17-19: [17] Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. [19] We love Him because He first loved us.

Fact to Fiction

• Here follows a letter from Terry Brooks, a favorite author of mine:
  
  
  
• New oven! My parents got a new oven today! Appliances are wonderful; they are blessings.
  
  
• I found some weird stuff in Leviticus 13:47-59: “warp and woof” (NKJV).
  
  Warp: a series of yarns extended lengthwise in a loom and crossed by the weft.
  
  Weft: a filling thread or yarn in weaving.
  
  Woof (synonym for weft): woven fabric.
  
  “Warp and woof”: foundation or base.
  
  =/ Weird stuff, no?
  
  
• Last night, I saw Transformers (on ClearPlay) with the family. It was a fun movie. Fun was the purpose of the movie. This should not be our sole purpose in anything, really. If we have joy from fun, fun is good, but if we don't have genuine joy, it is a poor, unsightly reflection of joy. We should endeavor to find something worthwhile in all things, or it is a waste. Though I slip in this matter, I have sought to find something worthwhile in the movie; thus, I have been drawn upon a few quotes from the chief Transformer, good-guy Autobot, Optimus Prime. (The good guys are called Autobots; the bad guys are called Decepticons). Here follow some quotes and my observations:
  
  Optimus Prime's opening: “Before time began, there was the Cube. We know not where it comes from, only that it holds the power to create worlds and fill them with life. That is how our race was born. For a time, we lived in harmony. But like all great power, some wanted it for good, others for evil. And so began the war.”
  
  Yes, it is a deification of something other than God, but we should remember that this is a science-fiction film. Unlike the typically liberal-slanted Hollywood film, this is actually saying that the universe was created. It didn't happen by chance. Also, like the cube in the movie, the true God of the universe, the Savior of mankind, is infinite: we do not know where He has come from because He has not ever come; He has always been; God gives us life, though we may not always understand why He gives us this life. It is glorious! Then as the cube created the Transformers, so God created us, but it didn't take long before we were tempted away by knowledge (“knowledge is power”?), and we fell through Satan's tempting, even though we had the power through God to resist. And so began the war between flesh and God.
  
  The good guy robot weapons specialist, Ironhide: “Why are we fighting to save the humans? They're a primitive and violent race.”
  
  Optimus Prime: “Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there's only one way to end this war: we must destroy the Cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest.”
  
  Ratchet, the medic robot for the good guys: “That's suicide! The Cube is raw power, it could destroy you both!”
  
  Optimus Prime: “A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet. We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes. . . .”
  
  (OK, I'm going to avoid the killing the cube thing because I'm trying to think of the positive. We all know that we can't kill God.) This exchange is quite interesting. “Were we so different?” As Christians, we should keep this in mind. Those who haven't been saved by grace through God's Son are reminders of who we used to be. We should be moved by compassion to help them. Even though we--born-again and not so--are capable of evil, God has given us the ability to do good, to do His will. We have been given the choice—the freedom—to choose to do good or ill. “We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes.” That line reminds me that we can't point blame, and that no matter what, we are accountable for our own actions. Also, our misdirected action or inaction can result in harm to others. That is irresponsible to ourselves, our fellow men, and our God.

Saying and Toy

• “The great are many, but the best are few.” – Isaac Mullins
  
  Is that an original saying, or is it just me?
  
  
• Here follow some pics of that Transformer, one normal and one converted:
  
  
  
  (Please don't ask about my childish fascination. I don't really have an answer.)

A Fine Recipe of Love, Spinach, and Music

• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: [1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
  
  If we speak languages for the sake of the gospel, if we understand all things, if we have great faith, if we give everything away, if we die for the sake of the gospel--if we do ANYTHING good but do not have love, it is meaningless. Love is to be the over-riding motive for all we do. By God's grace and mercy, through prayer with faith, we can have this become our motive. If we allow Christ to live in us, we will reach that goal, a challenge for days ahead!
  
  If the greatest thing is love (1 Corinthians 13:13^a), we should become love. It should define us. I would even dare to say that from love through Christ comes all other good things. Let us be and do love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 simply states what love is and is not: [4] Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; [5] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; [6] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
  
  ^a = 1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
  
  Now, here is an example of where we can do the above--where we can love. It was a note to myself. (Actually, many of my posts are notes to myself. =P Anyhow, read on):
  
  My father overlooked one of my corrections on a physics test, so more of my time was consumed trying to find an error that didn't exist, and his time was wasted going over more than what was necessary. In the process, both of us became angry at one another. We should learn from this that everyone makes mistakes so we should be Christ-like—forgiving, understanding, gracious, patient, kind—and press on, knowing that everything is passing and does hold fast. Essentially, we must love.
  
  
• There's this really great spinach smoothie my mom makes with the Vitamix. Unfortunately, I don't have the recipe currently. If you are curious, let me know, and I'll try to get it to you. (If you aren't curious, too bad. I'll probably post it later anyway.)
  
  
• Hey, everyone should go take a look at Steve Jablonsky's soundtrack from Transformers. I think it's pretty cool.

2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1:3: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

What higher form of thanks is there than to praise our God for the love that He causes to dwell and flourish among His children! How marvelous it is! May God spur our own spirits to love and good deeds through His Son Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1^a is a chapter of praise, rejoicing in the good God has done among His elect and bringing to mind the righteous judgment God will enact upon the whole Earth--both upon those who despise Him and those who are covered by the blood of Christ, justice for the punishment of sin and justice for the purity of righteousness, fire to the former and endless joy to the latter. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. . . ." (Psalm 92.1)

^a = 2 Thessalonians 1: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%201;&version=50.

Message from Calvary Chapel on 2-8-09

The few following notes (observations) were taken from a sermon at Calvary Chapel, Sequim, focusing on Revelation 3:1-6 but referencing to Acts 8:26-38 and Romans 13:8-10:

(Revelation 3:1-6) Christ is our everything in everything--a light in the darkness, a strong tower in our weakness.

(Romans 13:8-10) Christian infancy is focusing on the don't's. Christian maturity is focusing on the do's. What we think of, we are more prone to do, whether or not we are trying to do that. For instance, if one says, "Don't think of pink elephants"--by the way, that metaphor is borrowed from the pastor :)--we will think of pink elephants. Similarly, if we think of being kind, we will be more likely to be kind. If we think of not doing something bad (lusting after women, yelling at people, eating too much cake, etc), we will probably do it because we have it in our minds.

(Acts 8:26-38) We should not allow ourselves to be in either of two extremes: 1.) in the camp of those who love God, but because they are keep themselves so pure out of their love for God, they fail to be kind and welcoming to those who would otherwise benefit from being in their company, and 2.) being in the camp where everything is accepted out of kindness, resulting in no reflection of Christ's goodness because everything is messy collage of good and bad. We want to be pure and reflect Christ without trying to drive away others or make them feel as if they shouldn't change anything. We want to be out of those two comfort zones.

Psalm 18, Transformers, and Proverbs 21

• Psalm 18:1-2:[1] I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
  [2] The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
  My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
  My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
  
  Our love belongs to God first. Persevering trust and love will bind us to Him, our strength, our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our shield, our salvation, our stronghold, our God. In the days ahead, let us keep this in mind and heart.
  
  You know that song "I Shall Call upon the Lord" or "The Lord Liveth"? Psalm 18:3 and then down to Psalm 18:46:
  
  [3] I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
  So shall I be saved from my enemies. . . .
  [46] The LORD lives!
  Blessed be my Rock!
  Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
  
  
• Anyone ever thought Transformers were cool? Well, I have and do. I ordered one online, and once I get it, I may post pictures.
  
  
• Proverbs 21:21: He who follows righteousness and mercy
  Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
  
  If we do what is right and are merciful to all, we will have vitality, perfection, and honor in Christ. In application to my own failings, I have collected some Scripture dealing with righteousness and mercy--Romans 6:12-14^a and a few portions throughout the New Testament.
  
  Righteousness is simply living in a manner that only One has ever attained, Jesus the Christ. Jesus never gave in to sin, and essentially, sin is lust. I'm not talking about sexual immorality either (though that is a lust). I'm talking about lust, period. Lust [period] is basically giving in to something before its time. Sexual immorality is an excellent example. When someone looks at another person and gets "turned on" or something of the like, he is thinking of something before it's time. When you aren't married to someone, it isn't time to go, "Wow, honey, you look good!" That's for later! And here's a radical example of lust really encompassing all sin: you get agitated by someone swearing constantly, so you want to sock him in the face for taking God's name in vain, but guess what: that wouldn't be the right thing to do. Why? Because God is the one who will punish the blasphemer. It never will be your place to mete out God's justice.
  
  Mercy is another interesting thing. It seems related to love (selfless service that may not be returned). At least in the reports on Jesus' healing of beggars, blind men, and demon-possessed, mercy is showed by someone who has the power to relieve something of another without necessarily getting repaid. (Don't those examples of mercy sound like love acted out in kindness--lovingkindness?) Also, mercy is just doing good to someone whether or not they deserve it. God gives us good things like a brain and feet out of mercy (Romans 9:16^b). Especially us Gentiles (sons from other than the physical Abraham), God was merciful to send His Son (Romans 15:8-9^c). Even life--a beating heart and a pair of working lungs--is from Him with mercy (Philippians 2:27^d). I only listed a few verses, yet my point already seems apparent: God has mercy that is broad, through all ages and to all people.
  
  ^a = Romans 6:12-14: [12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. [13] And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. [14] For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
  
  ^b = Romans 9:16: So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
  
  ^c = Romans 15:8-9: [8] Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, [9] and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
  
  "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
  And sing to Your name.”
  
  ^d = Philippians 2:27: For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Psalms 89

• Psalm 59:16: But I will sing of Your power;
  Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
  For You have been my defense
  And refuge in the day of my trouble.
  
  (Likewise, Psalm 59:17^a applies to what follows:) Praise God! He has been my defense and my refuge. My peace in moments and times of fear and apprehension. O praise Him! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpVsF4W8V2Y.
  
  See the whole of Psalm 59^b for more encouragement . . . even when you are in a storm: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2059;&version=50.
  
  ^a = Psalm 59:17:To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
  For God is my defense,
  My God of mercy.
  
  
• Sorry, fellas, I'm not getting any new topics, but Scripture is always new, so we're good.

1 Corinthians 2:9

1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

The gifts of God do not proceed to those who do not love Him (1 Corinthians 2:10^a). Those who love God learn the things of God (ie, the things of God are revealed to those who love Him through His Holy Spirit.) We are greatly blessed! And imagine, if you will, the things God has prepared for us in heaven if He has withheld from some the things of the earth! The thought is marvelous and exciting!

When we are apart from God, we don't like the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14^b). But when we are in the Spirit, we judge--we see all that is good and evil--for the sake of ourselves so that we may follow God. All of this is accomplished through Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:15-16^c)

^a = 1 Corinthians 2:10: But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

^b = 1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

^c = 1 Corinthians 2:15-16: [15] But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. [16] For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

As Happens to All Young Believers: A Work on Modesty

This was compiled in a brief go-through on modesty, particularly directed to girls and women who would rather just where whatever:

Here's a link that is related to modesty: http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/.

Let me go through some Scripture that supports girls being physically modest, both for the sake of modesty and for the sake of their brothers in Christ (and in due course, for the sake of God).

". . . [27] You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. . . ." (Matthew 5:27-28) As a guy, I can tell you that I have most definitely committed adultery. It's bad, but thankful our great Savior and King Jesus Christ has washed me. I can also tell you that the easiest way for myself to stumble (and likely, this applies to all guys) is that I see someone wearing revealing or suggestive clothing. In the modesty survey, I basically agree with all the common beliefs guys have about modesty.

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). Wouldn't you consider it harmful to be immodest in the eyes of most guys? If that is so, you wearing that clothing would not be loving; thus, it would be sin. Don't let your pride or desire to "do my own thing" or "I don't care" attitude blind you. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts (Romans 13:14). That verse is quite applicable to both guys for not lusting after girls, and for girls not desiring to keep their pride and wants regarding clothing.

No one is supposed to judge one another, and indeed, I'm not judging girls for wearing immodest clothing. They may not know that they are being immodest. The same applies to girls. They should judge guys for having the thoughts they do. That's between God and them--their reliance upon God to be their self-control. Look at Romans 14, and whenever you see something about food, days, etc (the things Paul discusses), relate it to modesty for yourself:

[1] Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. [2] For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. [3] Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. [4] Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

[5] One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. [6]He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. [7] For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. [8] For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. [9] For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. [10] But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written:

"'As I live,' says the LORD,
'Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.'"

[12] So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. [13] Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

[14] I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. [16 ]Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; [17] for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. [20] Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. [21] It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. [22] Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. [23] But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Ask yourself: am I glorifying God wearing what I'm wearing? (Romans 6:20)

1 Corinthians 7 is very related to the relationship of man and woman.

Take a look at 1 Corinthians 8:4-13. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:9).

Now, 1 Timothy 2:8-15 is definitely a controversial bit about women, but take a look at 9: "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,"

Here are some quick facts form the Modesty Survey:

According to the Modesty Survey, 59.3% of guys strongly agree that bikinis are immodest, while 25% agree, 6.8% are neutral, 6.1% disagree, and 2.7% strongly disagree. I strongly agree.

8% of guys strongly agree that shirts or dresses that show the shoulders (ie, more than a normal sleeveless top) are immodest, even if they are not otherwise revealing, while 30% agree, 23.7% are neutral, 30.1% disagree, and 8.2 strongly disagree. I agree.

29.5% of guys strongly agree that strapless dresses are immodest, while 36.4% agree, 16.8% are neutral, 13.6% disagree, and 3.7% strongly disagree. I agree.

28.6% of guys strongly agree that it is immodest for a girl to expose her legs up to mid-thigh, while 35.9% agree, 15.1% are neutral, 16.3% disagree, and 4.1% strongly disagree. I strongly agree.

41.9% of guys strongly agree that any shorts that are shorter than mid-thigh are immodest, while 41.9% agree, 7.5% are neutral, 6.7% disagree, and 2.1% strongly disagree.

12.9% of guys strongly agree that any shorts that are shorter than knee-length are immodest, while 21.3% agree, 13.5% are neutral, 39.8% disagree, and 12.5% strongly disagree.