Beyond Mediocrity Blog

(Stock photo)  “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done” (Genesis 2:2). According to a 2017 study by the World Health Organization, an estimated 264 million adults worldwide are negatively affected by anxiety in some form or fashion. In the United States, anxiety is the most common mental disorder affecting 40 million people (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2020). Finally, the WHO found that the prevalence of all mental disorders increased by 50% worldwide from 416 million to 615 million people between 1990 and 2013.

(Image courtesy of gettyimages.com.) "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 3:23-24). What do the following people share in common: you, your pastor, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Adolf Hitler? Yes, we are all human, and because we are all human we also share in the same guilt before God because of our sin.

(Image courtesy of https://clipart-library.com.) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the tearing down of strongholds, as we tear down speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor 10:3-6, LSV).

  (Image courtesy of https://miro.medium.com.) "But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.... For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.... Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you" (Titus 2). First of all, let me say the obvious: don't be mad at me. I didn't say it, God did. God is very clear in how he defines the functions of men and women. Today, how...

(Image courtesy of https://wp.en.aleteia.org.) I was reading Psalm 94 this morning. Here are the first few verses: O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. When we as Christians read this, it makes us feel funny, doesn't it? The Psalmist, like us, is calling on the God of judgment to judge the wicked. Through this psalm, we are calling on God to bring forth his wrath, his vengeance, against all those who do evil and who are proud.

(Image courtesy of https://www.goodtherapy.org.) "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). Raising a family is difficult. But why is it difficult?  In past generations, it may have been difficult because food was scarce, perhaps during a time period like the Great Depression. Or maybe it was difficult because dad was away in Europe during World War II. Or perhaps the greatest difficulty was that mom died during childbirth, leaving dad to take care of all the children. But today, I think the greatest difficulty facing families is inconvenience . I know this first-hand. We have four kids, and I find the messes, the noise, and the general distractions of children to be inconvenient to me. Even now, as I am trying to type this, my daughter is asking me question after question, distracting me  from what I want to do. She is sticking toys down the middle of our new couch cushions, crawling over our clean pillows, and knocki...

(Image courtesy of https://quickbooks.intuit.com.) We live in a culture that is increasingly political. Americans are very concerned with who our leaders are and what they are doing. Our citizenry has become obsessed with litigation. We are sue happy. Liberals, specifically, want everyone else to accept and affirm them. But a Big Brother is needed to enforce these lawsuits. So, whether on the side of the prosecution or the defendant, we are obsessed with the government. But no political candidate ought to be adored or lifted up above God. The one in government office simply ought to perform his God-given duty, and the one underneath him ought to obey. Furthermore, all Christians ought to stand behind conservative and traditional - words I believe are synonymous with true - values because God is truth. But is there ever a time when a Christian should or even must disobey the government?