An example of an example

The blog post before this one features the viral video by Jeff Bethke, "Why I hate Religion but Love Jesus." Soon after this video went viral, the Gospel Coalition blogger Kevin DeYoung wrote a critique of it. 

At first, I was disappointed and saddened that DeYoung felt a line-by-line criticism was necessary, and some of his points seemed petty considering that Jeff clearly stated he was using "religion" to mean "false religion," and he wasn't against all organized religion. As one commentator on the post stated "Why don’t we, as reformed folks, make a better video instead of simply moaning and complaining because he didn’t cross all of the doctrinal t’s that we would have crossed. I just simply do not understand how we can hold to the belief that God elected and saved us based on no work of our own (i.e., we are nothing and He is everything), yet still be so proud as we gleefully point out the sticks in everyone else’s eye."

However, I re-read DeYoung's article, and I had to admit a some of his points were valid. For example, we really can't reserve the right to define "religion" however we want to, even with the best of intentions. I won't summarize all of his points here, but I hope you'll read his entire article for yourself.

Then I noticed an update to the article, and clicked over to read it. Jeff had initiated contact with DeYoung after reading his blog post. I hope you'll read DeYoung's update for yourself, but I thought this summed it up well:

A friend wrote to me yesterday and said, “This is a good test for both Jefferson and for yourself. Is he the kind of guy who would be willing to write a critic with humility? And did you write the piece in such a way that the one being criticized would feel comfortable chatting with you?” I hope we are passing that test. Through the years I haven’t always aced this kind of exam.
I hope everyone reading this blog will share Jeff’s heart and mine for getting the gospel out as far as we can and as right as we can. I look forward to seeing Jeff’s next video.

I think Jeff is a good example of accepting criticism humbly with a teachable spirit. I do wish Kevin had responded more Biblically by going to Jeff first, before airing his concerns on the internet. However, I think the situation has shown the best of both men as they both learned from the experience. 


How do we respond when we're corrected? 

Religion or Relationship

"Religion says Do, Jesus says Done." 



This is what the video description says: "A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it's core Jesus' gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can't do your own list of rules and feel "not good enough" for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don't represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God!"

Youth Group Outreach

“The King will reply,‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"Matthew 25:40

As the youth group has read and discussed the book "Crazy Love" for the past several weeks, we've been motivated by God's crazy love for us to extend that love to others. One practical way we want to show God's love this Christmas season is by distributing Christmas Care Packages to a few families in our communities in need. Each care package will contain food, paper products, toiletries, some holiday items, and the gospel.  

From now until December 17th, the youth group in collaboration with Food For Families is collecting donations for the care packages. Please consider spending just a little extra this week to purchase some of the following items: 

• tins of ham
• boxes of candy canes
• canned vegetables
• canned fruit
• boxed mashed potatoes
• tea, coffee, hot chocolate
• Christmas goodies, such as nuts, pretzels, chocolates
• pasta
• cereal
• boxed cookie mixes
• personal care items, such as shampoo, soap, and toothpaste
• Christmas napkins, paper plates, cups 
• facial tissue, toilet paper

Please bring your donations to church on the 11th and place them in the Food For Families hamper in the foyer and the tote in the cry room, or bring your donations to your mid-week small group (most likely, someone from your small group will be working at the church during the week, and could deliver your donations for you). 

Thank you for partnering with us to bring the gospel to our communities! 

Brian and Emily Conley, and the Southeast Valley Baptist Church Youth Group

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:15,16

Christmas Party!

Friday, December 16, 2011 will be the annual Youth Group Christmas party! We will meet at the Conley's house starting at 6:30!

Plan on bringing a white elephant gift from home ($5 value limit) to exchange! Also, bring your best singing voice as we will go caroling around the neighborhood! Each family please bring a desert to share.

Parents feel free to join in on the activities! We would love to have you! Everyone is welcome to stay as long as you want but parents please let your kids know when you want them home or when you will pick them up.

What does it look like to have idols?

 I read these questions a few weeks ago on my friend Natalie's blog. We've been talking about idols now and then, so I thought you might like these questions. 

"If you want deep intimacy with God, He will eventually uproot your idols. He will mess with you. But it's all for your greater good. He's after your joy even more than you or I want. And I know it doesn't fell good, and at times it feels like your in wrestling match, or have been abandoned, but trust me on this, He loves you, and He knows what's best for you.

"David Powilson, offers these questions to uncover what may be an idol in your heart, which I thought were great...

What am I most afraid of?
What do I long for passionately?
What do I run to for comfort?
What do I complain about the most?
What angers me the most?
What makes me the happiest?
How do I explain myself to others?
What has caused me to be angry with God?
What do I brag about?
What do I want to control?
What comfort do I treasure the most?
Whose approval to I seek?
If I could change one thing in my life, what would it be?
Who do I sacrifice the most for in my life?
What do I want to have more than anything else?"

What do you think? Is there anything that comes to your mind that God might be telling you is time to let go?

Coming September 11th!

In case you didn't get the email: 

First, we want to apologize for the very short notice last week when the youth group sang special music. Through a mistake, we were planning for the wrong Sunday. Second, thank you so much for being flexible! We were so impressed when we arrived on Sunday morning for practice to see all the teens ready and waiting. We feel privileged to serve such dedicated teens and parents! 

The recent time changes and adjustments to the services and programs at Southeast Valley Baptist have given us the opportunity to evaluate the current youth group schedule and implement some changes of our own.  

• ·         We have decided to keep youth group on Sunday nights since that time seems to work best for everyone.
• ·         But, we will move the time back to 6:30 pm to give everyone a chance to eat dinner and drive to the church.
• ·         We will combine the youth group midweek small group with the way Sunday nights were before into one Sunday night session. As a result, Sunday nights will run a little longer, until 8:30 pm.
• ·         We will start at 6:30 pm. with a game or activity, followed by a praise and worship, and ending with the teaching time. 

Attached to this email is a new calendar for youth group events for the rest of this year, September through December 2011. You'll see that the time changes for Sunday School and Youth Group have been incorporated, as well as a new schedule for activities. Our plan is to have one opportunity for outreach and one fun night every month. The outreach projects are on the first Saturday, and the fun nights are on the third Saturday of every month. 

In other news, during the month of September we will begin reading and discussing the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. If you are unfamiliar with Francis Chan’s ministry or “Crazy Love,” check out the synopsis, introductory video, and even download the table of contents and chapter of the book on the crazy love book website. Please pray with us for God to use this study to change us for His glory.

Expect another email soon with details about the upcoming outreach opportunity for September!

In Christ,

Brian and Emily Conley

P.S. If Sunday night really isn’t going to work for you, talk to us about it. 

Three Insights From The Psalms

Today's post is from our very own Jeremy T. 

Over the past few months, I’ve read through the book of Psalms, and I’d like to share some of the BIG HUGE points that have really stuck out to me. 

I see 3 big chunks. The first is to focus on God as the one who is our refuge, strength, comfort and shelter, and who has unfailing love for His children. So, it gives us the info.

The second is the psalmist in trouble. His enemies surround him and are trying to kill him, or he doesn’t see how it can work out. But then he answers with a practical application of the info we got in the first chunk. So we know that God is our refuge, but we PRACTICALLY LEARN that He is our refuge when we go to Him in the time of trouble!

And then lastly, the psalmist praises God with every ounce of his being! Why? Well, God rescued him! He has learned that God means what he says, and will follow through with His promises. And so, He is worthy of ALL our praise and adoration!

So what I’ve taken out of this is that God deserves all of my attention, and I shouldn’t be so selfish as to give anything else the glory! If there is any victory in my life, it is because of God’s grace and mercy, and HE deserves the praise! 

Also, something that I did for the first chunk of Psalms is just get a piece of paper and write down all of who God says He is. It’s amazing to look at how great God is!

Here are some of my favorite verses: (taken from the NIV)

Psalm 40: 17- “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay” 

Psalm 50:9- “I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” 

Psalm 55: 22- “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” 

Psalm 56:3- “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” 

Psalm 57:5/11- “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth” 

Psalm 59:16-17- “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortess, my refuge in times of trouble. (17) O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.” 

Psalm 62:5- “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.” 

Psalm 65:3- “When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.” 

Psalm 90:14- “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” 

Psalm 114:7- “Tremble, earth, at the presence if the Lord, at the presence if the God of Jacob.” 

Psalm 118:8- “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” 

Psalm 121:2- “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” 

Psalm 143:8-“ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, fro I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

And these are just some of them. The Psalms are basically a big hymn book with rich text that incorporates everything you’ve learned about God in the OT, and these Psalmists put it to song. Now, we don’t have the tunes, but the part that matters is still here, and the Psalms are great to chew on and to really begin to understand how GREAT our God is! 

What have you learned in your personal Bible reading lately? Leave a comment and share it with us.