To the pure, all things are pure...

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

It's the last week of 4:12 and our key word is indeed purity. Titus 1:15 says that, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted."

Although it might be tempting to believe that we can watch, read, or expose ourselves to whatever we want and still remain pure, we must realize that this kind of thinking is ideal and even naive. I for one can point directly to movies that have influenced my thoughts as I try to sleep at night, or even my words during the day. Paul's words are not a free license for believers to fill up on whatever the world dishes out, and yet, we are not called to isolate ourselves from the culture either. Instead, we are encouraged to be in the world and yet not of it.

This weekend we will challenge our kids to be aware of the influences in their life. The old adage, "Garbage in, garbage out" rings true in every possible area of influence.

John Piper writes, "God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives."

So, what are we filling up on?

REMINDERS:
*This is the last weekend to bring money for "Malaria No More"!
*We leave for Kids Camp this Sunday July 6th and will be out of the office all week!
*July 24th - HD Team meeting (everyone is invited!)
*August 2nd/3rd - Promotion weekend!! Stay tuned for details!