Lord, I choose to forgive ____PERSON___ for _____ISSUE_____ causing me to feel ____EMOTIONAL PAIN___. I am willing to pay for the emotional pain and consequences that ____PERSON___ has caused me. I ask you to come and fill my heart up for what was taken from me. I ask You, Lord Jesus, to take back the ground I gave to the enemy through my bitterness and I yield that ground to Your control.

Adapted from John Regier.

The second promise of a new life at first may sound like it has nothing to do with us. When’s the last time you knelt in front of an idol?

Exodus 20:4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

However, the promises of a new life go so much farther than that. You see, making an idol was a way for people to understand their god. We want something that we can understand – that we can wrap our minds around.

This is the power of the second promise for a new life: You will not control me! I am going to take you on an adventure – a life that is outside of the box that you live in.

If I can understand God; if I can wrap my mind around Him; if I can define Him then I am at the same level of God- and I keep a huge level of control in my life. I am at the level of God!

But, when we see what God has taken us through; when we see that God has given us freedom; when God has taken us out of our own Egypt, we simply say, “WOW! I want nothing else! And not only that, but I give control up to God… Take me on this adventure!”

This is the power of the second promise!

Now, some of you may have read to the end and are saying, but Chaplain Brian, “What about that ending and the sins of the fathers on the children?”

Well, Let me just make it simple… When we try to control the adventure, we mess up our own lives – AND the lives of other people. We don’t just live for ourselves – we affect others.

However, the great thing is, we can effect positive change! The second part is that God lavishes His love for a thousand generations. You are receiving blessings from people you have never known in your family tree who loved God! And that power is greater than the power you have to hurt someone by your actions!

God is promising you the most incredible adventure! You will not try to box God up and He’s going to take you on an incredible adventure!

Anytime someone starts to get serious about reading the Word, God is incredibly excited. Someone wants to be better friends with Him!

Here’s some basic ideas for you.

1. Set a time. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It’s a cliche, but pretty accurate sometimes. Making a new habit means you have to do some work to figure out when/where you’re going to spend time with God. The more regular/consistant it is, the better off you are. It doesn’t have to be a ton of time to start out – just set some time.

2. Set a plan. Have a plan on how you’re going to read the Bible. I suggest using a Bible reading plan – to read the New Testament or the whole Bible. You can find a couple lower on my blog.

3. Look to be in relationship. Often we read the Bible looking for facts. The Bible is written as a story. There are times to do theological study, but more importantly, it’s a relationship; a love letter; a message to your heart. Look to hear from God; look to listen to Him.

4. Get some friends. Get in some type of group of friends that share your relationship with God, where it’s normal to talk about your love relationship with Him. This will encourage and keep you consistant.

Try these ideas and let me know how it’s going!

I got an email a little while ago from someone dealing with jealousy over relationships past. I won’t share all the details as it’s personal. But, the end with this

“I thought if I studied “jealous” in my life application study guide I could figure it out, but the examples I found (mainly Exodus 20:5) confused me even more. …”for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate….” 

Please help me understand why our God is jealous over His relationship with us and why I feel so bad about being jealous.”

I’ve been married to my wife for over 6 years. She’s an awesome wife – and more than that I’ve given my heart and my life to her.  And, yes, I am jealous of her. Not in the “I’m worried every second of my life you might be looking at another guy” high school way, but in the true love is exclusive – and I don’t want to share the intimacy we have with any other guy.

In the same way, God is crazy passionate about you – and He knows that you can only have one God – one ultimate purpose in life. He knows that He is the source of life and love and only in Him will you find perfect satisfaction – so He’s insanely jealous of your affection.

Let’s look at all of the second commandment, from which Exodus 20:5 is taken:

Exodus 20: 4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

I think it’s that second part, “punishing the children for the sin of the fathers…” that freaks us out. How can God punish people – especially children – for what someone else does?

First of all – this is the law of genetics and cause and effect! My grandfather was an alcoholic. I am more susceptible to alcoholism because of that. My father had an affair and had some relationship challenges – I carry that history into my life.

However, the second part of the promise is what we miss – “but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments!” The blessing is exponentially greater than the curse! A thousand generations of blessing rather than the 3^rd or 4^th generation. You may right now be receiving blessing based on the faithfulness of someone in your family tree from centuries ago!

But why is God jealous at all? Again, as I stated above, it goes down to radical passionate love – and this kind of love is exclusive! God isn’t a petty immature high-school freshman who’s jealous because he’s afraid of being alone, looking silly, or having his heart broken. He’s the lover who has given everything to his bride and wants what is best for her.

So, let me ask you, my blog friend, how does it make you feel to think about God being crazy jealous of YOU?

The Setting:

So, last week I was on “staycation!” One day we took the family to Roaring Springs. Fun for the family! Jossi, our 2 ½ year old loved the teeter-totters in the kiddie area (until they had to clear the kids’ pool…) and so off I went to ride rides with my bigger girls (aged 10 and 13).

A great summer challenge in my household is the purchase of swimsuits for my older girls. Finding something “appropriate” yet fashionable is an almost impossible task.

A Rude Awakening to a Modest Issue:

While at Boondocks, it became apparent to me that it is time for a new call to an honest discussion about what is appropriate and modest. We walk a fine line. I get tired of people who are finding something horrible behind every issue and simply seem alarmist. On the other hand, we should explore if there are some Biblical precedents for what we wear.

I don’t want to be in a position of judging and condemning – rather I want to explore what the Bible has to say about clothing at Boondocks!

Biblical Precedents for Clothing:

To talk about clothing we have to go back to the first mention of clothing in the Bible. That’s back in Genesis. Genesis 2:25 says, “The man and his wife [Adam & Eve] were both naked, and they felt no shame.”

So, in the beginning, clothing was not an issue! They didn’t wear any! Temperature was moderate enough, and people’s hearts were pure – and they lived in intimacy with each other, so there was no need for clothing.

Now, you may be saying, “See, if we were really with God, we wouldn’t wear any clothing! Nakedness is the sign of being pure!” Hold on – keep reading!

Adam and Eve sinned – you probably know the story of Genesis 3 – Eve being deceived by the serpent and Adam following suit. As soon as this happened the Bible says, (vs. 7) “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”

Then God shows up, and what does He do? Vs 21, “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Check this out. CLOTHING WAS MADE BY GOD!

Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves. They masked up their nakedness; they tried to make it look like they weren’t naked. God comes and clothes them.

Get this down – CLOTHING IS FROM GOD!

Nakedness is the state of being sinful and vulnerable. God gives clothing. (A quick Bible study on robe or garments and you’ll find the spiritual significance of Christ’s robe of purity that He gives to us because of the death of Jesus Christ).

Purpose of Clothing:

So, what is the purpose of clothing? Well, obviously, to cloth nakedness, as we’ve already seen.

Therefore, our first Biblical principle of clothing is:

Clothing should not draw attention to that which should be covered.

Take a quick look through fashion magazines, swimsuit designs, or just take a walk down the street and do a quick poll – how many outfits draw attention to parts of the body that should be covered?

So, how do we determine what should be covered?  

1 Peter 3 takes us even farther gives us a good indication:

3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

What shows the Spirit of God – the inner self? The face; the hands that do the works of Jesus… These are the things that draw people to God.

Do you want your clothing – or your body to be what people think of when they think of you, or that they’ve seen Jesus Christ in you?

Call to Action:

I challenge you, first of all, to take a hard look at what you wear – is it drawing attention to you and your clothing or to the Spirit of God working in you? I challenge you to deal radically with this question.

Secondly, I challenge you to teach your children. Use teachable moments (like Roaring Springs or things they are exposed to in the media) to ask questions and instruct them.

It is time for radical followers of Jesus Christ to take a radical stand on glorifying God through clothing.

Practical Observations:

1. It’s often said that men are visual creatures. I don’t think there is any way to convey to a woman how a man is wired – or what the effect of seeing hints of a woman’s body that should be covered. It’s not just “cute” – it’s a battle that a man must face with lust. How many women have no idea that their outfits are creating a battle for men?
2. Be very careful with your teens. I watched teen couples at Roaring Springs last week – and that state of undress that swimming outfits often express (seriously, is a bikini much different than wearing undergarments?) puts kids at a disadvantage in the fight for both mental and physical purity. This will takes some serious, deep, rational conversations to help them understand.

Challenge 2:

I would love to see some dialogue on this topic. Do you see this Biblically? What do you find in the Word about modesty?

Sometimes being like everyone else is a bad idea. Last week the pew

Here’s the part where I have to step into the minority and invite you to do the same. More than 50% of people find their absolute sense of right and wrong from “practical experience and common sense.” Less than 1/3 – (29%) find their right and wrong from religion.

So, let’s break this down a little bit….

92% of people believe in a God. If there is a God, then by default, by definition God would define the ultimate right and wrong.

If God exists, then by logical deduction, we will not be able to understand the way He works – if we could, then He would not be God.

Which brings us to how do we determine right from wrong. Here’s where I must completely turn away from the majority. I cannot – and this one of the fundamentals of true spirituality – I cannot on my own determine what is right and wrong – or I would be God.

This idea of being able to determine right and wrong is becoming epidemic in our culture. I think Oprah, whom I have considered to be a very talented broadcaster, has deeply missed the mark. This is from a transcript of a webcast found on her website:

OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): And she [talking about an another author] talks about old spirituality versus the new spirituality, and she says the old was—the old way is—the hierarchy has the authority. Church authorities tell you how to worship in church and how to behave outside of church. The new spirituality is that you are your own best authority as you work to know and love yourself, you discover how to live a more spiritual life.OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): The old is, “God and the path to worship him have already been defined, and all you need to do is follow the directions.” The new is being able to listen within for your own definition of spirituality, your deeper longings are under search. And the old says exact here what Eckhart was saying. That there’s only one path. It’s the right way and all other ways are wrong. And the spirituality says that many paths lead to spiritual freedom and peace.OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): You have a rich array of gems from which to draw illumination. The world’s religious traditional, mythology, psychology, healing methods, scientific wisdom, your own experience and that you can begin to string a necklace all your own. Then she lists, you know, other old and new. And so it’s really a question of what you were saying to us earlier that this material strikes a chord within you.OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): Something in you opens up and wants, you know, feels alive and is awakened to that. And yet there is the ideology that says what to you? What is the conflict for you?KELLY (

Masterfully woven here is truth an error. It’s true that spirituality based on “church authority” is not true spirituality; the other extreme is just in error. The other extreme which is, “I get to pick what works for me – no matter where it comes from.”

This in essence makes each of us God. And if that is the case then God does not exist, or is irrelevant!

Make no mistake, despite what so many people say, there are radical difference between Christ based spirituality and other religious traditions – whether Buddhism, Islam, other Eastern Religions, mythology, or whatever.

I am deeply concerned for those of us who profess Jesus Christ, who call ourselves Christians… We often profess an ultimate right and wrong from God – but in our actions, are we making excuses, justifying, and rationalizing what we want to do, or what makes sense to us?

How many Christians do I know who are justifying:

• Having sex outside of marriage – whether married or un-married
• Spending money on the stuff of this world
• Watching and listening to things that defy the way God says to live
• Pursuing their career like it is their eternal future
• And more…

Now, I’m not saying we are saved by what we do… I’m saying if we really believe in God we might want to look to Him for the ultimate source of wisdom for our life. This is one of the ultimate questions of spirituality – is there a God; if there is, does He have authority in my life?

So, I challenge you to be different – to disagree with others and live like it… Live like there’s a God. And go to Him for truth.

PS. If you’ve been burned by people who are “religious” please remember that many people who claim the name of Jesus don’t speak or act for Him. Look at Him – not at those people.

“Could you recommend a Bible study plan for me?”

I’m attaching a couple Bible Study plans for you to look over. One is for reading the New Testament and the other is for the whole Bible. Pick one and try it.

New Testament Bible Reading

Plan1 Year Bible Reading Plan

Here are a few things that have been helpful to me in reading the Bible:

1. I write things down when I’m reading. Sometimes this is prayers; sometimes this is response and conversation with God about what I’m reading. This helps me slow down and interact with God and the Word.
2. Don’t read the Bible like a novel. Read it slowly, read your passage more than once. Ask God what He’s saying to you about your life.
3. Don’t try to read too much. It’s about encountering God, not finishing a set amount of chapters.