Noble Ambitions

In the last post I mentioned that the Christian must be completely satisfied in Christ, that He alone is sufficient. I think it would be appropriate to follow-up on that concept. Here is a link to an incredibly well written sermon on the subject:

http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/1006.htm

I strongly recommend that you check this resource out and read it all the way through, I learned great deal from it.

Here is the section that I found relevant:
“This is a truth which every believer has recognised. There are a great many differences among believers, but there is no difference as to this essential point. Unhappily, the Christian church has been divided into sections, but those divisions do not affect our agreement upon this one point, that Christ is all. It is no uncharity if I say that the man who does not accept this is no Christian, nor is it too wide a liberality to affirm that every man who is sound in heart upon this point is most certainly a believer. He who trusts alone in Christ, who submits to him as his sole teacher, king, and Savior, is already a saved man; but he who gives not Christ the glory, though he should speak with the tongues of men and of angels, though he should have the gift of prophecy, and all knowledge, and though he should have all faith, and could remove mountains, and he should appear to have all virtue, yet he is no Christian if Christ be held in light esteem by him, or be anything less than all in all; for in the new creation this one thing stands as the mark of the newly created, that “Christ is all, and in all” to them, whatever he may be to others.”

Challenge: “A test of one’s abilities or resources in a demanding but
stimulating undertaking.”
Content: “A state of satisfaction.”

You know, it is so tempting sometimes to become content. And indeed there are
areas of life where contentedness is a powerful realization. But contentedness
as a general attitude towards life seems so aimless and empty. I greatly enjoy
speaking with friends and family about their latest progresses in the
challenges they have chosen to undertake. Actually, the challenges we choose
to undertake seem to play a large role in how we define ourselves as
individuals, and even how we define those around us.

Challenge is good. The idea of “stagnation” seems like something almost everyone would wish to avoid. It is by the constant pursuit of goals, and the continuous positive iteration of how we define success, that character is formed.

Contentedness in Christ is a necessity. Because in the life of a Christian, Christ must be completely sufficient. Also, contentedness in the things we cannot change is a healthy realization.

Embrace challenging pursuits of value. Those are the things that echo throughout the halls of eternity.

I am convinced that “watching TV” is one of the most ridiculous phrases to describe one of the most ridiculous activities, ever.

Can you imagine what our forefathers would think of us being entertained by a box? I imagine that they would voice their opinions without reservation. Modern culture’s fascination with entertainment perplexes me. I don’t understand why the entertainment industry is so gigantic. I don’t understand why people keep up with “celebrity news.” What makes an actor worth following? The mere fact that he is famous? The whole system doesn’t make sense to me. If America, collectively, took every man-hour spent on entertainment and channeled that effort towards some worthwhile task (i.e. reading a book, curing cancer, building a solar car, hiking a mountain), this world would look a great deal better.

The problem of the entertainment industry’s existence doesn’t lie within it, because within a free market demand is met by an extension of supply. The problem is that the industry is heavily patronized. People like to be entertained. Thus the only way to really win the fight against meaningless time-wasting activity and an apathetic culture is to win the hearts and minds of those entrapped by it.

Instead of watching Perfect Storm, save up some cash, buy a sailboat, and go sailing. Instead of watching Kangaroo Jack, go visit Australia, and see it in brilliant “3D.” Instead of watching Twilight, get in a God honoring relationship that doesn’t have abusive tones (hinting at a future post). Instead of watching actors and actresses fake experiences, go live life. There is a beautiful world out there, waiting to be explored. Find a challenge to embrace and a mountain to conquer. And as you ride through the street at night passing from house to house seeing through the window a faint blue glare, you’ll be glad you became free.

That is a Noble Ambition.

What is the meaning of life? What are a things which we consider important. What ambitions should we seek to conquer in order to be considered “successful?” Oh yes, and how is success defined?

It is so easy to be swept up into the world’s definition of success. Take a beautiful girl to prom, go to a prestigious college, make bank at your job and drive home a brand new BMW 7 series. But what has this person accomplished? I’m not saying that this person couldn’t have been a faithful disciple throughout all of these accomplishments. Perhaps they were very blessed. But if those things were the primary subject of concern for that individual, and if those things occupy your mind most often, what a sad existence.

Most people seem to think the meaning of life is hidden somehow or different depending upon whom you ask. I disagree. Even at a very young age the following answer made complete sense: “The meaning of life is to know God, enjoy Him forever, and to make Him known among all nations.”

I know there is a God. But for those who don’t, obviously this conclusion is very illogical. It doesn’t make sense for you to seek or enjoy anything outside of what the world can provide for you. For you, I guess life is about fast cars, money, prestigious zip codes, and that’s all it ever will be. Your assumption is that after you die, there is nothing. Thus, it makes perfect sense to fill your life with as much temporary success as possible.

But as a Christian, that seems to me to be such a sad way to live life. I wish that even for a moment you could understand the joy, contentment, and complete satisfaction that comes with serving a God who is real. It is my hope and prayer that you would experience that someday.

For me and my house, this is my ambition. To know God, enjoy Him forever, and to make Him known among all nations.

How many lives have been lost because of hesitation I wonder? Can hesitation in certain instances, even the slightest delay, be sinful? How does hesitation affect the world?

These questions are part of a larger discussion I’ve been wrestling with lately in my mind. The idea that every single action a person makes affects others throughout eternity. Let me explain. Imagine a crowded city street where suddenly, one rushing pedestrian collides with another. Both of their lives are forever changed. All of the following years, throughout their lifetimes, have been affected and the effect is incalculable. Perhaps one was caused by the 10 second delay to miss a small radio message that would have deeply affected him, perhaps even influence the core of what he believes. That is incredibly profound because now, everyone with whom he comes in contact with will be affected by the reality that he is not the same person he would have been. This seemingly simple 10 second collision has the potential to influence thousands of people and spell huge changes for the future! But every single action throughout life has this effect.

How different could our lives have been had some random insignificant moment in our childhood not have happened. It is impossible to judge the scale of the influence, but it could definitely be great.

Do we control our own destiny? Are these influencing instances random? Or does God at least exercise some control in causing certain things to come about. I believe so. The world should certainly be a very frightening place for those who do not.

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 NASB

This verse hit me like a ton of bricks last night. It pains me to think about how many times I’ve envied others for some sort of worldly success they’ve had. It pains me to realize how often my mind drifts into earthly thinking. I am so guilty of worldly ambitions and desires, of taking every idea and stripping it down into purely financial terms. That is such an ugly way to dream and to live. I am seeking freedom from the slavery of worldly thought in the servanthood of Christ Jesus. No man can serve two masters, I choose slavery to Christ.

I pray that God would break me of my bad thinking habits and concern my mind with what He considers to be important.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24

In an age where “kidults” run rampant, where technology is essential for everything, and where most communication takes place between servers, it is easy to assume it was always so. But it wasn’t, there was once a time when friends were friends, not just faces neatly organized in a virtual folder. There was once a time when correspondence was valuable, and a person’s presence treasured. A time when etiquette was studied, and manners practiced. A time when ladies never had to open doors. There was once a time when young men were expected to build and retain a way of honor, maturity, commitment, and sobriety in living life. There was once a time when the honor of a name was worth dying for, and where women were cherished.
So many things have changed, between smartphones and “have-it-now” commercialism, non-pragmatic ambitions such as those above are considered a waste of time. It is extremely unfortunate that by carving out the nonessential parts of life, we actually lose many of the joys in life. Perhaps not taking the shortcut is actually essential. Maybe sunsets on some foreign beach are worth stopping for, instead of rushing away to catch the plane. Maybe it is those things that make life interesting and adventurous. Between perpetual communication, video games, sports, traveling, working, studying, do we ever just.. live? When do we just halt and worship God for how incredibly amazing He is. I challenge you, look up into the stars tonight, if you can’t see them, drive out of the city and stand on some back road. If you aren’t amazed, you must have seen much greater things in your time than I have in mine.

Abortion is perhaps the most grotesque act ever to become legal. However, it could be a short lived problem (short in terms of decades and hundreds of millions of lives). The average family in the United States consists of two children, whereas 68.1% of home-schooling families have more than 3 children (sources below). The reason this information is relevant is because conservative Christians are adamantly opposed to any form of abortion. Therefore, in addition to out-populating their ideological opponents, the conservatives are not losing numbers to abortion, as liberal pro choice supporters are. In effect, the pro-choice movement is basically exterminating itself.
This of course assumes that the number of individuals switching sides of the debate on average are relatively similar.

http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v7n8/

http://www.nheri.org/Latest/Homeschooling-Across-America-Academic-Achievement-and-Demographic-Characteristics.html

I normally never say anything negative about the home education movement. It has so many great examples to draw on, but lately I’ve noticed a problem which I think plagues some homeschooling families. While most home educated students are fully functional in the modern society, there is a small number who are completely untrained, and unable. These individuals could be aiding our agenda and competing in strategic ways to further our ambition;, instead, they actually do more damage to the homeschool agenda by discrediting our model. I’d like to analyze this further:
Home educated students have always been the sort of conservative “fringe” group,  so in many ways, this segment of home educated students are the fringe of the fringe. They are complete non-deviating conservatives remarkably sensitive to their convictions and concerned for the eternal wellbeing of any others slightly to their left ideologically. None of that concerns me, it is  their approach to cultural change that is hampering the home education movement. Parents in the fringe approach the world completely differently than parents outside of it. In the fringe, culture is something to be avoided. By not going to college, refusing to use technology, or neglecting the importance of social networking (for practical purposes), fringe homeschoolers render themselves not only unable to function in the modern world, but also unable to effectively minister to it. On the other hand, the normal home educated student is interested in taking captive culture, the business world, the legal world, the academic world, the media world, and transforming it for God’s glory. These are culture changers, not culture avoiders.
It is important to mention that both the fringe home educated, and the average, are members of the same movement headed in the same direction. They simply set out to accomplish the agenda in different ways. Parents need to strategically plan long term exactly what they desire their children to accomplish and organize the education around it. Through the employment of good goals, and a highly competent force in favor of cultural change, progress is sure to be made.