Your weekly guide to the Bible and prayer
Sunday, December 16, 2007
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"Ours is an age of the enthroned self, devoid of absolute truth or a binding morality." That is the judgment of Dick Staub, who is profiled this week. "Our dominant culture," he continues, "is spiritually delusional, consumeristic, and intellectually and aesthetically superficial. None of us should be deceived into thinking we are immune from the seductive spirit of our age. Our minds have been squeezed into the mold of the thought patterns, beliefs, values, and behaviors of our fallen culture. Though they are utterly at odds with God's elevating purpose for our life, we
are blind to them, vulnerable to them, and even addicted to them."
"Our transformation requires a deliberate decision to stop conforming to the spirit of our age. While there are many worthy elements in our culture, our nonconformity must start with the assumption that certain aspects of both the faith and the culture around us are at odds with God's will. This means developing the habit of consciously evaluating our faith and culture and resisting those that are incompatible with God's expectations for our life. It also means changing our daily practices to reflect the priority of pursuing God first and fully. If we spend hours consuming popular culture each day and only a few minutes nurturing our spirit, how can we expect to avoid conforming to the thought patterns of our age?"
This week is about resisting conformity and also about developing an appetite for the highest and best.
Until next week,
Harry Genet, Men of Integrity managing editor
Your feedback is welcome at Men@ChristianityToday.com.
 Virtual Fixations Are for Real
Video games will usurp your time if you're not careful.
 Consumer or Consumed?
Dick Staub's daily radio show on Seattle's KGNW (also broadcast on cable's Total Living Network) has been on the air since 1987. Years of interviewing the shapers of American culture—authors, business leaders, educators, politicians, futurists, theologians, filmmakers, musicians, and trend-watchers—have made him a leading observer of belief
in popular culture.
| Read what Dick has to say |
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 O for 2
by Todd Wilson
Hey Dad,
Had a great family advent night last night. It was the first time this month that we played To Bethlehem, and the kids had a blast—and so did we. I know this sounds like a commercial, but if you haven't gotten your own game, you are missing out.
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 When the Media Became a Nuisance
How to respond to the next blockbuster book/documentary/movie that questions traditional Christianity.
by Darrell Bock
Not long ago, topics like textual criticism and the extra-biblical Gospels elicited yawns from my seminary students. I went through the obligatory motions of covering these staples of New Testament study, knowing that no matter how hard I tried, questions would be rare and engagement minimal.
| Finish this article |
 Wild At Heart
John Eldredge challenges you to abandon passivity and actively pursue the dreams God has given you. Encouraging for men … and insightful for women, too. |
 Point Man, Revised & Expanded
This bestselling classic encourages and equips Christian men to lead their families successfully through hazards like divorce, promiscuity, suicide, and drug addiction. |
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 Amazing Grace, DVD
The acclaimed story of William Wilberforce, chronicling his epic struggle to pass a law to end the slave trade in the late 18th century. Inspired by a true story. |
 Seven Breaths
Deep and meaningful living is achieved by opening our eyes.
by Michael Bruner
The Code of the Samurai stated that every decision must be made within the space of seven breaths. Alfred North Whitehead stated the same idea in different terms. He said that the most austere of all mental qualities is a person's sense for style, which he defined as an "aesthetic sense, based on admiration for the direct attainment of a foreseen end, simply and without waste."
| Finish this article |
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How much time not related to your employment would you estimate you spend at your computer each week?- None
- Less than 2 hours
- 2 to 5 hours
- 6 to 12 hours
- 13 to 19 hours
- 20 hours or more
Vote here, and see how your answer compares to others'. |
How would you describe the status of your own parents?- 2 deceased: 20%
- 2 alive/living together nearby/self-reliant: 19%
- 2 alive/living together at a distance/self-reliant: 16%
- 1 alive/living alone at a distance/self-reliant: 12%
- 2 alive/separated/self-reliant: 10%
- 1 alive/living alone nearby/self-reliant: 10%
- 1 alive/in a retirement or nursing facility: 4%
- 2 alive/living together nearby/need assistance: 2%
- 2 alive/living together distantly/need assistance: 1%
- 2 alive/separated/one or both require assistance: 1%
- 1 alive/living with you: 1%
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And, if married, what is the status of your wife's parents?- 2 alive/living together nearby/self-reliant: 20%
- 2 deceased: 18%
- 2 alive/living together at a distance/self-reliant: 14%
- 1 alive/living alone at a distance/self-reliant: 12%
- 1 alive/living alone nearby/self-reliant: 10%
- 2 alive/separated/self-reliant: 9%
- 1 alive/in a retirement or nursing facility: 4%
- 2 alive/living together nearby/need assistance: 3%
- 2 alive/separated/one or both require assistance: 2%
- 1 alive/living with you: 2%
- 2 alive/living together distantly/need assistance: 1%
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