declare

“…we know a good thing has become a counterfeit god when its demands on you exceed proper boundaries.” Timothy Keller

In chapter two of Counterfeit Gods, one of the most important chapters written on love I have ever read, Timothy Keller once again brings some biblical and cultural insight that shatters commonly held perspectives. In particularly, he exposes the dangers and idolatry of letting our passions for love, sex and purpose in relationships with each other be our end or our final longing. I can not begin to do justice in writing about this today due to the fact that my perspective has been exposed to light, my heart is full of hope, and my confession to God and Sherry are in order. Sherry can not bear the weight and expectations of my worship, but she can be lifted up and encouraged as God receives my full worship and meets all my hearts longings.

Keller breaks down the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel masterfully. Jacob’s idol was Rachel, Leah’s idol was Jacob. We read it in our culture today as a great romantic story of persevering commitment and love, but is it? Keller exposes idolatry in a way that is hard to argue with.

Our relationships on earth cannot complete us, redeem us, save us, justify us or make us whole, things we long for and try to find in each other. Our relationship with God through Jesus can. It is when we find that our life is hidden in Christ, we can then be true lovers, true neighbors, true friends and run the race in freedom and allow other believers to do the same. In order really love and receive love well, we must seek ultimate love first and foremost in the overflowing source of love, God.

A few quotes:

Our fears and inner barrenness make love a narcotic, a way to medicate ourselves, and addicts always make foolish, destructive choices.

…reorient the entire focus of your life toward God. C.S. Lewis

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world [something supernatural and eternal.].” CS Lewis

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

In his book Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller strives to help us see the dangers of idols and the superior love, sacrifice, and worth of Jesus. After reading through the introduction and first chapter, I am seeing once again the sneaky power of “incomplete joy(s) of this world” that we try to build our lives on. Living in Thailand makes it very easy to think of idols as merely handcrafted statues that receive the worship of billions of people. However, there are deeper roots in idolatry that every soul on earth must recognize and sever. These idols receive God-status in our hearts in the form of money, sex, power, fame, status, family, ministry and many others. These things alone are neutral and even good gifts from God, it is when we love them more than God that they receive misplaced worship and begin to enslave us.

Introduction to Counterfeit Gods from Redeemer City to City on Vimeo.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Here is one of our retreat videos/slideshows. Please continue to pray for all of these students!

Friends Forever (video/slideshow 6:07) from marc lewis on Vimeo.

Gospel Retreat with North Eastern and Khon Kaen University.

Live Free by Lecrae (feat. Sho Baraka, Jai)
Wake Up by Leeland

Pictures by Brian Firpo and Tdong

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Please pray for our gospel retreat this weekend!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Next Friday night we will have a gospel retreat for the students we have been spending time with every week this school year. In our ministry we share the gospel one-on-one, in small groups, during soccer game breaks, and in large groups at church and on retreats.

Just about every student that will be going with us next weekend has already heard the gospel. We are praying that they would hear the gospel in the depths of their soul and be changed forever, that this week would be a culmination week, we are hoping to see many of the students we have known since June and before to profess faith in Jesus. We trust in the sovereign and loving hand of God.

Would you pray with us?

Pray for:

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Christmas morning video and slide show with team and ministry photos.

Christmas 2009

Christmas morning video with team and ministry photos. Merry Christmas.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

One important aspect of being a missionary is the need to be able to laugh. We do not claim to be the funniest people around, but Slade and I did have some big laughs making this song. We were pretty amazed how easy it was to do. It only took about 45 minutes to record it. 2009 will be known for many things in pop-culture and t-pain auto-tune will be one of them. Basically when you record you can use a tool to make you sing on pitch, so when you sing off pitch some it will correct it, if you have the setting turned all the way up you will get a funky computer sound. We did not use the t-pain app with i-phone, we used Garage Band on my mac for free. As you listen you will see clearly that we are not professionals, but we hope to bring you a little Christmas cheer.

FYI, we are not trying to be serious.

Christmas Autotuned (audio) from marc lewis on Vimeo.

ML3K and SladeDawg were missing their peeps on Christmas day in Khon Kaen, Thailand and wanted to give a shout-out. This is audio only.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites