What is my motivation?

I must confess that I enjoy a good murder mystery show.  The TV program “Monk” was the avenue that started me down this road.  Lately, I’ve been watching the old TV show “Matlock” starring Andy Griffith.  This is another entertaining program.  Typically on these types of shows, someone is murdered, and the lead character has to figure out who the guilty culprit is.  An important element in this genre is the issue of motive.  A person may be a suspect, but what could have led this individual to do this heinous act?  What was the motivation for doing so?

Motive is an important thing in everyday life as well.  I think about my own life.  I have opened up my heart and candidly shared my life with you since I began this blog back in 2011.  For instance, I’ve written about how I’m a man who will remain a virgin until marriage.  I’ve written about how forgiveness is powerful and liberating.  I’ve written about the joy that comes from serving others; on and on I could go.

Some of you may be wondering why I have made the choices that I have.  Why choose to remain a virgin until married life?  Why forgive others, when harboring a grudge seems so much easier?  Why do I write about such blog topics like the depravity of the film “Fifty Shades of Grey”?  Why swim against the stream of popular opinion?  It’s not a big mystery; I’m sure you already know my answer, but let me state it clearly: the reason for all of this is because I am a Christian.  The Bible says, “We make it our aim to please Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).  Pleasing the Lord is my foundation, passion, and motive.  I am who I am because God ambushed me (even if it was a young age) and forever changed the direction of my life.  Without the amazing God of the Bible, my life would be devoid of meaning, hope, and joy.  I defer to God’s way because His way is infinitely better than my own.

 

Incidentally, in conclusion, let me also be honest with you by stating that I am far from perfect.  Don’t get the idea that I’m some kind of super saint who never makes any sinful mistake.  While I am striving, I continually fail.  I fall and trip into the mud and mire of sin.  God is so gracious, kind, and longsuffering with me.  He simply picks me up and cleans me up when I cry out for His forgiveness and cleansing.  But, having admitted this to you, it is still my desire – my motive – to live out all the days of my life to praise, magnify, honor, and glorify God. 

Kevin

Fifty shades of sin

Honestly, I went back and forth as to whether I should write this or not.  But this subject matter is on the minds of a lot of people so I’m going for it.  I’m officially speaking out against the film “Fifty Shades of Grey” (I’m sure you knew that’s where I was going, based on my blog title).  Important disclaimer: I have not seen this film and I never will.  But I do know enough about it to conclude that it’s not worthy of your money or your time.  In fact, the more I learn about this flick, the dirtier I feel, spiritually speaking.

I decided to go to the online resource plugged in.com.  This is a ministry that views movies and then filters the content through a Biblical worldview.  Here’s how bad “Fifty Shades of Grey” is: I couldn’t even bring myself to read the entirety of the plugged in review.  Under the “Sexual Content” section, there’s a caption that reads: “Parental Guidance: this section deals with especially graphic content.”  This same message also appears before the “Violent Content” section of the review.  Apparently this film is so overtly sexual and violent that they have to warn the younger readers that might happen to stumble upon the article.  Incidentally, here's the plugged in.com review that I’m referencing in a link below.

http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/fifty-shades-of-grey.aspx

Under the “Conclusion” section, the writer of this article, Paul Asay describes the most violent scene of the film (by the way, I just want to thank Mr. Asay for watching this film so he could tell us from firsthand experience how deplorable it is).  Christian Grey, the main male character of the film, is in a sexual situation with the main female character, Anastasia Steele.  I don’t know the specifics of their sexual situation, and quite frankly, I don’t want to know.  But Grey gets the urge to punish Anastasia.  So, while she is completely naked, he tells her to bend over, and he begins to hit her with his belt.  He demands that she count the lashes aloud as he does so.  He stops at six.  Afterwards, in tears, she angrily asks him, “Did that give you pleasure?”

This is sick.  I feel grimy just having to write all that out.  And yet, because it’s Valentine’s Day, countless couples have subjected themselves to this movie.  I’m taking a stand today.  I’m clearly stating that “Fifty Shades of Grey” is not harmless entertainment; it is vile, filthy, and repulsive.  I don’t say this just because of this one scene (although some have already cited it as an example of physical abuse and I would agree).  In my opinion, “Fifty Shades of Grey” is a film that never should have been made in the first place.  It’s a strong indictment on the sexually obsessed culture that we live in.

Beloved readers: I freely admit to you that I have not enjoyed sharing the content that I have brought up.  Once again, I went back and forth as to whether I should even talk about this.  But the Bible says, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible” (Ephesians 5:11-13; ESV).  I’m simply trying to shine light on this film.

In conclusion, I can imagine someone responding to me with something like: “You Christians are always shouting out what you are against.  Why don’t you tell me what you are in favor of, for a change?”  OK, I’ll do that.  I’m in favor of the incredible gift of love.  I’m in favor of wholesome expressions of romance.  I’m in favor of a man cherishing women, and treating them with the honor, admiration, and dignity that they deserve.  When it comes to “Fifty Shades of Grey” you don’t get any of these virtues.

Kevin

Valentine's Day musings

I’m not sure where this phrase actually originated, but somebody somewhere once called Valentine’s Day “Singleness Awareness Day” (or SAD, get it?) and the term stuck.  Why is it given this designation?  As a single, I can answer that from firsthand experience: Valentine’s Day, as our culture celebrates it, is a day that highlights romantic love.  Thus, because I’m not in a romantic relationship right now, as Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, it makes me aware of my own singleness.  And, yes, to be honest with you, if I’m not vigilant in my thinking and in my attitude, contemplating a Valentine’s Day without a significant other can definitely make me sad.  I suspect that many other men and women without a Valentine this year could join me in this declaration.

But even those who are in committed relationships can find Valentine’s Day very frustrating.  Why?  Well, the pressure is on to provide your significant other with an incredible day of expressions of love and romance.  What I mean is there is an undeniable expectation to show your special one just how much they mean to you on Valentine’s Day, and if you fail to do so, it can easily lead to having the holiday ruined for both of you.  (Incidentally, let me add this before moving on: don’t succumb to the pressure of needing to have “the perfect Valentine’s Day” because this is much too high a standard.  If you have this mindset, you effectively set yourself up for disappointment.  Enjoy and appreciate whatever you get, but don’t expect perfection.  One other thing: please remember to express acts of love and romance to each other on other days as well, not just on Valentine’s Day).

 

I chased a few rabbit trails for a moment there, but the main point I’m trying to make is the cultural expectations for Valentine’s Day are immense.  Whether you have a Valentine this year or not, this holiday can easily set you up for misery, sadness, and depression, if you let it.  You say, “Kevin, you’ve painted quite a bleak picture so far today.  What do you propose as an alternative?”

 

I submit that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t just be a celebration of the fact that you are in a romantic relationship.  Valentine’s Day should be more than that.  It should be a celebration of all the love you experience in your life.  For example, the love a parent has for a child.  Or the love a brother or sister has for their siblings.  How about this one?  How about celebrating the reciprocal love you have with your friends?  And finally, yes, this would certainly include the love between a boyfriend/girlfriend or husband and wife as well (if applicable).

Furthermore (and most importantly as I see it), I think Valentine’s Day is also an excellent opportunity for us to stop and be reminded afresh that the God of the universe has a pure, fervent, sincere love for all of humanity.  “For God so loved the world,” Jesus states in a familiar passage from John 3, “that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (verse 16).  1 John 3:16 tells us, “This is how we know love: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”  Romans 5:8: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”  This Valentine’s Day season take some time to ponder God’s love for you as well.  Contemplate how He displayed the most incredible act of love for you when He died on a wooden cross. 

Kevin       

Are you thirsty?

I’m convinced that one of the most powerful needs that we human beings possess is thirst.  Certainly, hunger belongs in the conversation; this is definitely a legitimate need as well.  But, speaking for myself anyway, I know what it’s like to be thirsty.  I mean excessively thirsty, parched, and dehydrated.  During those times, the only thing that matters is getting to a beverage to quench my thirst.

It makes me think of Jesus’ words in John 4.  He said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.”  Revelation 22:18 says, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”  Just as God wired our bodies to need food and water, He wired it so our souls would have a hunger and thirst that can only be quenched by Him.  So many have an inkling of this thirst and they try to quench it, only to realize that everything they have turned to – be it sexual immorality, financial prosperity, corporate power and influence, attaining fame, recognition, and notoriety, etc. – ultimately haven’t  satisfied them.  Why?  Because the truth of the matter is this: life apart from God leaves a person empty and unfulfilled.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer once painted an excellent word picture on this topic.  He said that it’s like a person who is stranded in an ocean.  This person is thirsty and drinks the ocean water, but this salty water doesn’t quench their thirst, it actually just makes the person thirstier than they were before.  Jeremiah 2:13 says, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Are you thirsty?  Not physically thirsty, but spiritually thirsty.  If so, the Bible says God will quench your thirst.  Isaiah 55:1 reads, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”  You have a gushing reservoir of refreshing, life-giving water available that will never run dry.  Come to God; He will satisfy your thirsty soul.

Kevin