Millennials v. Boomers: The Facts are shown in 2011 Superbowl

All the facts are summed up in this year’s Superbowl.  This graphic is especially dedicated to all my close friends under 29 who hate Eli Manning.  I simply want you to know what factors contribute to your misguided perspective. 

Click to Enlarge:.

This graphic was modified from -  http://under30ceo.com/infographic-the-millennials-best-generation-ever/

Gospel Thought – Repentance is a Gift from God that turns us to the Gift of God

All of Christianity is gift oriented.  Have you ever thought about that?  None of what we receive is earned or deserved.  Jesus Christ is a gift.  The Gospel is a gift.  Righteousness is a gift.  The Spirit is a gift.  The delight of the Father is a gift.  The church is a gift.  Worship is a gift.  Preaching is a gift.  The Sacraments are a gift.  Prayer is a gift.  Heaven is a gift.  Love is a gift.  Hope is a gift.  Faith is a gift.  I could keep going.  The scriptures teach that even the idea of our salvation is a gift from God.  Ephesians says that “while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, because of God’s great love for us, He mercifully brought us to life, even while we were still dead (Ephesians 2:1-5 my paraphrase).”  Wow!   Did you catch that?  We were dead, smothered in sin, captive slaves of the evil one, with no hope of even thinking to ask for help, but God brought us to life.  Many good theologians accurately teach that before we could even think to repent of our sins, God had to bring us to life first.  Ephesians 2 certainly affirms that viewpoint.  This is true of our salvation in its beginning and it is also true of our walk this moment.  And so, we repented because Christ first brought us to life.  Repentance is a response to God’s work.  So salvation and repentance are a gift from God that turn us to the gift of God.

Gospel Thought – Nothing touched by Christ’s fingers will pass away

It is more than enough that Christ should love us and call us friends.  But it is absolutely astounding that he calls us his ‘beloved.’  He is not simply interested in salvaging our lives.  His is determined to ‘glorify’ us…to perfect us in the image of Christ.  So much so, that even our worst moments, our most hideous scars, even our most atrocious actions, will be redeemed and made into something beautiful.  As His artist’s hammer chisels away at the hard wood of our sin and our flesh, he is designing something beautiful, not just of the stump, but also of the shavings.  Nothing of our true selves will be lost.  Nothing that is touched by his glorious fingers will pass away.

The Gospel and Racism – A Video documentary by John Piper

In commemoration of Martin Luther King’s life I would like to post this video.  It’s awesome!  It’s a documentary featuring Pastor John Piper as he walks through his personal story of growing up with segregation in the South. His personal story boldly champions the transforming power of the gospel and the beauty of racial diversity and harmony in Christ.