Since that time our relationship has grown tremendously. We were engaged over four years later, and married a year after that in 2004. In hindsight, I wouldn’t recommend to any teenager that you begin dating someone who you are going to marry five years later, but I’m thankful for the experience.

I know that God has some amazing plans for us because He’s been putting us through a seriously rigorous training program. Amanda, I am indescribably excited to continue this journey with you.

I love you.

I just saw an article at RonPaul2012.com entitled Cain Thinks the Fed Missing $9 Trillion Unimportant. The context of this headline is that Herman Cain doesn’t believe that the Federal Reserve’s inability to account for $9,000,000,000,000.00 is worth looking into.

Now I’m not one to promulgate conspiracy theories, but I do believe that the Federal Reserve is an evil organization probably controlled by a coalition of secret societies – and Cain, as a former regional Federal Reserve Chairman, is not going to subject the Fed to public scrutiny.

As Gandalf would say, he has been “deep in the enemy’s council.”

- Gandalf // The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book 5, Chapter IX – The Last Debate

This is a question that should be answered with care. I would venture that someone asking this question, or one like it, is likely in turmoil because they are struggling with a sin they can’t shake. A sin that they feel disqualifies them from being a Christian.

To answer this question, let me recall a series of questions that Dr. Sproul raises that gets to the heart of the matter:

1. Do you love Jesus perfectly?

Before answering this question, the Jesus you should be considering is the Jesus of the Bible, not a mutated version of Jesus created by misguided pastors or secular media. Do you love the Jesus who was born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, who died a sinners death to atone for the sins of many, who rose from the dead three days later, and who now sits at the right hand of the Father?

Okay, so back to the question: do you love Jesus perfectly? Well, what is the standard for loving Jesus perfectly? Jesus, quoting the law in Mark 12:30, says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Can you do that? For that matter, can anybody do that for even one minute? No.

2. Do you love Jesus as you should?

It may sound like a trick question, and it is in a way. How should you love Jesus? Well, perfectly – and we’ve already established that you can’t do that.

3. Do you love Jesus at all?

This is where the rubber meets the road. If you can honestly say “yes” to this, then you are definitely a Christian. You cannot love Jesus without being a Christian – born of God (John 1:13).  You won’t be perfect while you’re still on this side of eternity, but you will begin to show signs of repentance. You’ll still sin, but you’ll hate it.

Don’t despair. If you love Jesus, you are His. You. Are. His. Keep repenting of your sin and confess it to Jesus and your trusted Christian brothers or sisters so that they can stand by you and pray for you (James 5:16).

As a self-employed business owner I hope to grow to the point where I need to bring in more people to handle the work. I definitely see myself as an emerger and I would like to foster a culture of emerging within my business when the time comes. I have been the victim of merging cultures and can identify with the motivational benefits of providing an atmosphere where employees feel that they can be themselves. Easier said than done I’m sure.

Seth,

I don’t necessarily disagree with you. However, I do think that obedience begins with discipline and discipline is a building block for self-control.
I think the reason that obedience doesn’t lead to self control is because these qualities are both effects of a related cause: discipline. Your thoughts?