Uprooting Anger (2)

First off, let us apologize for a blank week on the blog. With Gayline out of town, Brooke overnight at the hospital with the little guy on Monday, and a lot of busyness on the part of the Lawrence sisters, we just couldn't get a post out.


As for the book, just another question for you today--and hopefully this time someone will respond :-)

Where are you in the book and what have you found helpful so far?


p.s. Would you take a moment to go back and answer last week's question? We really would love to hear from you.

Uprooting Anger (1)

Just a quick question today since we're only getting started on the book this week.

What made you decide to join in on our 4th book, Uprooting Anger? We'd love to hear from you.

Didn't make it to the conference?

I had the privilege of going to the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology this weekend with almost a dozen folks from Trinity. We heard some great teaching by some incredibly gifted pastors and teachers.

The conference began with this thesis statement:
We are here to see Jesus, to learn that all things are set under His feet, and that one day His victory shall be visible--and one day every tongue shall confess He is Lord.

But the weather was a little hot, and my parking garage was a little far away from my hotel. One of two tiny elevators was broken. My room keys, on the other hand, worked just fine after the first two failures and replacements. Eight flights up stairs--up, down, up, down, up. My sister got sick, my friend was sick, and the entire city of Philadelphia didn't sleep, but chose to set off sirens outside my window all night.

But that doesn't change the facts: All things are about Jesus. All things--elevators, sickness, theology, me--are set under His feet.

Which answer is truer, DA Carson asked, did God cause my sister to get sick or did germs? Both are true. Which is more fundamental?

Phil Ryken said, "One of the most cursed things we suffer is the constant underlying discontent. While things seem to get better, people feel worse. The fundamental problem is a fallen world cannot satisfy."

A great theology conference in a fallen world cannot satisfy. A cool drink on a hot day cannot satisfy. A peaceful rest, a strengthening meal, a friendly conversation--all cannot satisfy intimately and infinitely. Only God can.

The moral of the story is not to guard your heart, DA Carson concluded. The point is to choose your treasure, because where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Don't plan for the next thirty years--plan for the next fifty billion years. But all of that with a spirit of hope, not of curmudgeonly slavery to duty: "We cannot be properly mature if we are not hope-oriented."

Some things to hope for: God hears and answers prayer. Jesus will return in great glory. There is a resurrection from the dead, far greater than we can imagine. We will not be capable of sin in glory. God is at work in us every day. Those who trust in Him will not be put to shame.

Spirit given self-control

Here are two children's songs. Their message is for us all. If you do not know the tunes, I'd suggest you download them from Sovereign Grace Music.

These are songs we all need to have tattooed on our minds and hearts. Notice how in the first song we confess we cannot have self-control unless the Holy Spirit gives it. How does the Holy Spirit give it? In response to our crying out to God for it.

The second song reminds us of the Gospel, our only hope (for self-control or any good thing). He, who was tempted in every way like us, never sinned. Because He didn't sin, He became a perfect sacrifice acceptable to God. Because He was acceptable to God, He now sits at the Father's right hand making intercession for us. Sitting at the Father's right hand means He has become our Great High Priest and as such He receives our prayers. When we pray for self-control, Jesus takes our prayer to the Father and the Father quickly responds with the Holy Spirit filling us with power to exercise self-control. And when we fail and go to God in genuine repentance, Jesus, through the merits of His Blood, pleads to the Father for our forgiveness. Once again, I say, "Amazing Grace."

Give Me Self-Control

Your Word tells me I have a need
To watch out for my soul
And every day it's clear to me
I need Your self-control
My hands and feet are quick to move
Before I even know
So Jesus make me more like You
And give me self-control

Lord, I'm needy
So I'm pleading
Come and fill me
Help me to be self-controlled
Help me to be self-controlled

When I say words I shouldn't speak
And hurt the ones I know
On mornings when I'd rather sleep
I need Your self-control
When I am told to sit for hours
And time goes by so slow
I need the Holy Spirit's power
To give me self-control

Lord, I'm needy
So I'm pleading
Come and fill me
Help me to be self-controlled
Help me to be self-controlled



Jesus, You're My Hope

Jesus, You were tempted
In every way like I am
But You never gave in - no!
You looked to Your Father
And the Spirit's power
For Your strength and self-control

Jesus, You're my hope
You will help me grow
I don't want to sin
I don't want to give in- no!
Jesus, give me self-control

Right at the beginning
When I feel like sinning
Help me look to You alone
Help me to obey, Lord
Follow in Your way, Lord
Jesus, give me self-control

New Book Tomorrow

Just a reminder that we start a new book tomorrow: Uprooting Anger by Robert D. Jones.

If you're married, you need this book.
If you're single, you need this book.
If you have kids, you need this book.
If you have parents, you need this book.
If you have a job, you need this book.
If you interact with other people at all, you need this book.

We hope that you'll join us.