Tim Challies has an interesting article on the subject of what people search for on the Internet. He highlights a time where a major search engine released searches being done by individuals. They thought the information was released in such a way that the searchers would remain anonymous but it turns out that wasn’t the case. People were able to string together the searches of individuals over time that showed not only their actual searches but also gave a glimpse into what was going on in their life. Some of the searches reveal somewhat comical life circumstances, others deep sadness and hurt.

When looking at just the searches of an individual over time it makes me think about the people I see in everyday life when I’m out and about. We all see lots of put together people that seem to not have any serious problems. But what if you could see everything they searched for on the Internet over time? Wouldn’t that give a peek into their heart and mind? You’d get a glimpse past the facade and into the real person. How would that change your dealings with them?

Keep this in mind, every person has pain and hurt and need that is all caused by sin and this world which is cursed by sin. Look at Isaiah 53:4-6 which contains the truth of EVERY person’s condition along with the glorious truth of the gospel:

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

No matter how good someone looks on the outside they have griefs and sorrows. That isn’t debatable and does not depend on the person or the situation. The question is whether they are carrying them or is Christ?

Below is an excerpt from Challies’s article:

While the search engines may never forget, I am grateful that God does forget. He forgets the sins of those who turn to him and confess those sins. Psalm 103 promises that “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” In Hebrews 8:12 God promises “I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” There is virtue in forgetting.

Praise God that he does “remember our sins no more” if we have have turned to Jesus Christ and confessed our sins. Follow the link and read the whole article.

and yes, giving thanks!

As we have progressed through the book of Acts, there is something in it that causes me to reflect on and be thankful for this month…and that is the nation that we live in.  When we remember the culture and government that the early church lived in, we see that they certainly had a difficult time with Rome over them – from being taxed to tortured.  It was a volatile country with respect to how Christians would be viewed and treated.  No Christian would ever be allowed to vote for their leaders!  Rome was supreme and Caesar its “king,” with everyone being its subjects.  You did not necessarily get to say what you wanted, nor did you get to pursue your interests, nor were you necessarily free when it came to your religious beliefs.

As we think on our great nation, we might have a tendency to look instantly to what is wrong with it, or at times even bemoan where we are going.  Certainly it is not perfect, and we have many issues that need to be corrected and wrestled with, but it is still a great country!  It’s something that we can certainly thank God for!

It is a place in which we can vote freely…and pursue an honest living…and bring out new and creative ideas…and share the good news of the gospel freely…and worship without constraint.  It is a freedom and way of life that the founding fathers sought to establish, and men and women (and let this one sink in deeply) gave their lives to maintain.

There is much cause for Americans to give thanks to God for it – He has given us yet another precious gift…in our nation.

This month as you spend time voting, feasting, and spending time enjoying your family, can I give you some specific things to consider when giving thanks?

• Let’s remember to thank God for His protection of us through our government and our soldiers, who are “ministers of the sword,” some of whom come from our congregation.  (And while you’re at it, pray for their well-being too!)
• Let’s remember to thank God for our leaders at all levels in our government, and pray for godly wisdom to prevail.
• Let’s thank God for a country that does not seek to stifle our ability to share the gospel.
• Let’s thank God for those who came before us, taking a hard toll on their personal lives at Plymouth so long ago, and for establishing the beginning of a country that can worship God freely, without the government intervening.
• Finally, let’s not only thank God for all that we have, but let’s remember to continue to lift it up in prayer — that we would be a nation that seeks to value life, to look higher than ourselves, and to seek Truth.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Jack

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

Side note: “The Quest for Authentic Manhood” and getting together with other men has been a fantastic time and if you can work it into your schedule I encourage you to make a commitment to it. I hope to see you there!

Something that struck me this morning that I wanted to share are five things Lewis listed as being what every son wants and needs from his father. This aspect is just part of his larger point which I won’t share here but the points on fathering sons was excellent.

Got a son? Read on …

1. Time Together – Lewis said that “Memories are the markers of life.” Every boy wants that time where it is “just me and dad.” He wants to go out and throw the ball and pretend they are in the Super Bowl together or put together that model or just hang out and laugh. Proverbs 17:6 in part says that “the glory of sons is their fathers.”

2. Life Skills – Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Robert Lewis described “life skills” as the stuff we need to know to get by in life. It might be practical skills like how to change a flat tire, or the oil in your car, or how to tie a tie. Popular Mechanics pubished 100 Skills Every Man Should Know that might be a starting point for the practical stuff. But there are also emotional and spiritual life skills that need to be taught. For example we men generally have a hard time understanding our emotions and how to share from our heart. Sharing from your heart and understanding your emotions is an important life skill that fathers can help train and teach to their sons. Other life skills… How do I treat a woman? When is it appropriate to laugh and goof around or to be serious?

3. Direction with Solid “Why” Answers – Lewis described this as the philosophical stuff of life. “What is really important in life?” “What is life about?” “What is my ultimate purpose in life?” It could be described also as our convictions about higher truths. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says “These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.”

4. Convictions Through Modeling – This is the influence of your words plus your convictions lived out in what you model in life. This point in equation form: Your Convictions + What you Say + Your Model in Action = Your Integrity. It is showing him through the model of how you actually live your life. The son knows the real father and not just the veneer or what he says. 1 Thessalonians 2:10-11 makes this point very well, “You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children”

5. Dad’s Heart – Lewis said this is what sons need most of all from dad. It means that the son is loved and affirmed by his dad. He said there are three things every son wants to grow up and leave home with confidence having heard from dad: 1) I love you, 2) I’m proud of you, and 3) You are good at _____ [fill in the blank]. Lewis said even today as a grown man “I wish my dad would come out of the grave and tell me these things.” Jesus the Son recieved these things from God the Father. Check out Matthew 17:5 how God says all these things about Jesus: “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my one dear Son [I love you, son!], in whom I take great delight [I'm proud of you, son!]. Listen to him!’ [hey everyone, my son has something good to say!]“

Download PowerPoint file here.