The Wood's Secret Garden

Tim Challies ran a series trying to help men better understand how pornography effects them; their relationships; and their walk with God. He ended the series with some suggested resources for men to read. Much of what he said was true and helpful, but I still feel that it (as well as so many other attempts to "cure" this problem outlined in the hundreds of books written about it) are "man-centered" philosophies and do not get to the root of the real problem. The truth is that no human accountability partner or group or book is able to keep a man accountable or to change his natural desire for self-indulgence. Perhaps, if a man's accountability partner was handcuffed to him, he would alter his behavior, simply because he would not be comfortable indulging his desire for degrading, perverted, dehumanizing sexual gratification with another man sitting right next to him. He would also grow to hate that man and be almost willing to chop his arm off to get fre...

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." A man does not need to forever walk through life with blinders on in order to gain victory over his unholy lusts. In fact, as his mind and heart are gradually transformed by the Spirit of God through the Word of God, he finds that he can walk through this world with his eyes wide open and the things that were once stumbling blocks will have little to no power over him. In fact, immoral things that once enticed him to sin, he will find as, not only unattractive to him, but actually nauseating. No "accountability group" can accomplish this; no amount of self discipline or behavior modification can accomplish this. Unless there is an inward transforming going on--a renewing of the mind; these "techniques" used to conquer lust will fail miserably every time. Until a man actually hates what used to entice him to sin, he will be a prisone...

It's one thing to live after the flesh; it is an all together different thing to do so while wearing the precious name of Christ! How can a man drag Jesus' name along with him as he wallows in the mud and filth of this world? Live as you will--but, if you choose to indulge your flesh - please leave Christ and His name out of it. If you flatter yourself a "Christian" and yet "fornicate" with the world and find pleasure in doing so - please keep your delusion (that you are one of His) to yourself. "Paul wept on account of the GUILT of those persons who, having a name to live, were dead, and while uniting themselves with a Christian church, were not walking as they should do among men and before God. Notice the sin with which he charges them. He says, "Their God was their belly;" by this I understand that they were sensual persons. There were those in the early church who, after they sat at God's table, would go away and sit at the feasts ...

This is so unbelievable to me that I can hardly take it in. There is a current discussion going on at the "Pulpit Magazine" regarding an article John MacArthur has written, entitled "The Rape of Solomon's Song" criticizing Mark Driscoll's teaching on the "Song of Solomon". Comments are ablaze. The sad part in all this, is that both MacArthur and Driscoll interpret this book in exactly the same way; the only difference being how "crude" or "refined" it should be taught. Every single person commenting has missed the real problem. Here was what the Lord laid on my heart tonight: Does it matter to anyone that MacArthur's interpretation (and obviously Driscoll's, as well) of this book differs from many great men of God, down through the centuries--i.e., many of the Puritans, Spurgeon, J.C. Ryle, Lloyd-Jones and many, many more and that MacArthur states (in his Daily Bible) that their interpretations are misleading ideas? Why ...

Spurgeon has a word of warning for those who wear Christ's name in public and habitually sin in private (i.e. pornography "addiction" which is the most prevalent, habitual sin those in the church today are engaging in): "Rowland Hill illustrated the folly of sinners, by the story of a butcher who was followed by the swine right into the slaughterhouse. As pigs are not usually in the mind to go where they are wanted, it seemed a mystery how these animals were so eager to follow their executioner; but when it was seen that he wisely carried a bag of corn with which he enticed the creatures onward--the riddle was solved at once. Unsuspicious of impending death--the hogs cared only for the passing gratification of their appetites, and hastened to the slaughter. Just in the same manner, ungodly men follow the great enemy of souls down into the jaws of hell, merely because their depraved passions are pleased with the lusts of the flesh and the pleasures of sin which th...

From an interview on the Today show: “I just had a scan of the room, her closet doors were open and I walked over into her room and saw her hanging. The cell phone was in the middle of the floor.” A mother finds her 18 year old daughter’s body hanging dead. Most of us have heard of “texting” or “text messaging”; but have you heard of “Sexting”? Last fall, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy surveyed teens and young adults about “sexting” — sending sexually charged material via cell phone text messages — or posting such materials online. The results revealed that 39 percent of teens are sending or posting sexually suggestive messages, and 48 percent reported receiving such messages. And now Jesse Logan was going on a Cincinnati television station to tell her story. Her purpose was simple: “I just want to make sure no one else will have to go through this again.” The interview was in May 2008. Two months later, Jessica Logan hanged herself in her bedroom. She w...

"...When the soul is exercised to communion with Christ, and to walking with him, he drinks new wine, and cannot desire the old things of the world , for he says “The new is better.” He tastes every day how gracious the Lord is; and therefore longs not after the sweetness of forbidden things,—which indeed have none. He that makes it his business to eat daily of the tree of life will have no appetite unto other fruit, though the tree that bear them seem to stand in the midst of paradise. This the spouse makes the means of her preservation; even the excellency which, by daily communion, she found in Christ and His graces above all other desirable things. Let a soul exercise itself to a communion with Christ in the good things of the gospel,—pardon of sin, fruits of holiness, hope of glory, peace with God, joy in the Holy Ghost, dominion over sin,— and he shall have a mighty preservative against all temptations. As the full soul loatheth the honey-comb,—as a soul filled with carna...

When you are to resist a temptation, or to mortify a corruption--do not go out in your own strength, but in the strength of Christ. Some go out to duty in the strength of their abilities; and go out against sin in the strength of their resolutions--and they both come home foiled. Alas! What are our resolutions, but like the green cords which bound Samson! A sinful heart will soon break these! Do as David when he was to go up against Goliath. He said, "I come to you in the name of the Lord!" So say to your Goliath lust, "I come to you in the name of Christ!" Then we conquer, when the Lion of the tribe of Judah marches before us! Thomas Watson So men: You think that pornography is a battle? You do? O really? Okay, then take the words of Thomas Watson to heart and every time you feel tempted to click that mouse, say, "Hello pornography--I come to you in the name of Christ." I guess that makes it pretty clear that pornography is not a battle--it is an idol. Y...

This will be a three part post. I want us to think about what motivates us to make certain decisions and choices in life. So, think about this and then please share your answers in the comment section: Why do you put your foot on the break and bring the car to a stop, when you come to a red light at an intersection?

The full quote is, "If this is Christianity, then I have never really known what Christianity is. In fact; If this is Christianity, I may not be a Christian". This was a quote from a pastor of a church, after he was introduced to the "Christianity" expressed and experienced by men who lived over 400 years ago. He was filled with sorrow and with joy (all at the same time) for the very first time in His walk with the Lord. I have found this to be my same experience and I have found that many genuinely "born-again" believers are moved in the very same way when they discover the depth of the hearts of these men for Christ. This is truly one of God's precious gifts to His people. Why is this important? It is important because we are living in "shallow", "superficial", "man-centered times" and yet true believers hunger and thirst for Joy--for REALITY; for purpose. Read this excerpt from Thomas Watson's treatise on "Men...

Heavenly Father, It is thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants, for by these trials I see my sins, and desire severance from them. Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations, if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil, and be delivered from it with gratitude to thee, acknowledging this as the highest testimony of thy love. When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul , He became more dear to me than sin had formerly been; His kindly rule replaced sin’s tyranny. Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued, I must not only labor to overcome it, but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it , and He must become to me more than vile lust had been ; that His sweetness, power, life may be there. Thus I must seek a grace from Him contrary to sin, but must not claim it apart from Himself. When I am afraid of the evils or heartbreaks to come, comfort me by showing me that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch, but in Christ I am reconciled and live; that i...

Please Note: This is a very atypical post; but, one I thought would help many (especially men) who may get their feelings confused by images--especially, when it comes to "online" relationships. Many men (and some women) place way too much emphasis on how a person looks and get involved in a "romantic" online relationship for the wrong reasons. Emotions and "feelings" are often sparked by an image; which result in feelings based on "fantasy" and "illusion". People can even think that they are "in love" only to finally meet and be very disappointed or feel that they were "tricked". On the flip side, some men may dismiss a woman based on her online image, only to discover that they dismissed a very beautiful woman. My recommendation to Women: If you decide to use the Internet to look for a potential spouse, post the most unflattering picture of yourself that you can find. If a man sees you at your worst and is s...

God delivers us from the love and pollution of sin--by bitter disappointments. God has plainly warned us of the vanity of all earthly pursuits. "When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:11) This was written by one who was permitted to gratify the physical senses as no other ever has. Yet we do not take this warning to heart, for we do not really believe it. On the contrary, we persuade ourselves that satisfaction is to be found in things under the sun--that the creature can give contentment to our hearts. As well attempt to fill a circle with a square! The heart was made for God--and He alone can meet its needs. But by nature we are idolaters, putting things in His place. Those things we invest with pleasing qualities which they do not possess, and sooner or later our delusions are rudely exposed to us, and we discover that the ...

I have been in prayer and meditation all day, regarding something that the Lord has laid very heavy on my heart. I have written out my feelings for hours and have deleted every single one of my thoughts-dismissing them as ridiculous. Then, at 9:05 p.m., I receive an evening devotional from one of my "dead men" websites that sums everything up (that I have been trying to express). Praise and thanksgiving to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Here it is: God's sin-purging medicine (Arthur Pink, " A Fourfold Salvation " 1938)" God chastens us for our good--that we may share in His holiness." Hebrews 12:10 Chastening is God's sin-purging medicine, sent . . . to wither our fleshly aspirations, to detach our hearts from carnal objects, to deliver us from our idols, and to wean us more thoroughly from the world. God has bidden us, "put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed." (Col....

"You do not love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her." Oscar Wilde Beauty may excite the mind and stimulate the flesh, but love beatifies its object–"she is beautiful because you love her." This is the essence of grace, and the beatific force of Love–it metamorphoses its object, transfiguring the beloved into the beautiful. Dante would have us remember that “Love” beautifully metamorphoses both the beloved and the lover himself . Dante’s love for Beatrice indeed transfigured her in his eyes, but equally transfigured him. Like the moon embraces and then throws back to the sun its light, Dante’s love for Beatrice ricocheted back to his very own soul , and thus he describes her as "she who doth imparadise my soul." Wordsworth referred to such a transfigurational experience when he wrote, “There are in our existence, spots of time—that with distinct pre-eminence retain a renovating virtue. A virtue, by which pleasure is...

Think back upon your life. We all have different motivations (old nature) when deciding whether or not to obey a parent whom we love . Let us look at the following analogy: Your father (who is a good man and who you respect and love) asks you to mow the lawn on Saturday morning and you really don't feel like doing it. When you fuse and complain and say, "Come on Dad, I had plans today to go to the mall with my freinds. Can I do it next week?" What would most compell you to obey his request: 1) He tells you that if you mow the lawn he will give you the keys to the car Saturday night. 2) He tells you that you will be grounded all weekend if you don't comply. 3) He tells you, "I'm sorry you made plans. However, I am asking you to mow the lawn." When you love someone who is in authority over you how is that love manifested in your actions, thoughts, motivations, and decisions? Do you get joy out of simply obeying them or do you require something: 1) a pers...

This is incredibly interesting. We have all been somewhat influenced (if not brainwashed) by the culture and generation we happen to be born into. This brief explanation will make so many passages in scripture so much more meaningful and understandable: Not all emotion is created equal. In fact, the category of emotion itself is fairly novel. It is a category that was created near the dawn of the Enlightenment to describe the experience of humans as mere animals. Premodern thought understood a distinction between kinds of emotion. At the time of the writing of the New Testament, common Greek thought articulated a distinction between the splankna — the chest — and the koilia — the belly . The splankna was the seat of of the affections, things like love, joy, courage, and compassion. The koilia was the seat of the passions, things like appetite, sexuality, fear, and rage. The affections were to be nurtured, developed, and encouraged, and the passions were to be held under control. The...

Go back to this post and re-read it. Now ask yourself this question: In the same scenario, if all the women were handed a note that read, "The Cake that was brought into the room is laced with a lethal dose of arsenic", would any one of the women be "tempted" to take a piece? For those deep thinkers: No, none of the women in the room are feeling suicidal. Let us reason together: Would a note that read, "Leave the room immediately, so that you are not tempted by the cake" work with all of them? Would a note that read, "Stay strong; don't give in; resist it" work with all of them? Would a note that said, "Don't be tempted and then you can come to the "accountability group" tonight to share your victory over temptation" work for all of them? Would a note that read, "Remember, you wanted to loose weight and that is more important to you than that darn piece of cake-you can do it; your are strong; I believe in yo...

As I was reading this "Morning Devotion", the thought occurred to me that most of us want to be given the opportunity that Solomon was given. We want the chance to indulge in all of the pleasures that this world has to offer and to make our own assessment as to whether or not they are meaningless and empty. Like a young man who will not listen to his father, when his father tries to warn him not to do this or that; and tells him, " Son, I've been there, done that, and it will leave you feeling empty and miserable and possibly end in pain and suffering ". The son won't heed his father's warning, and the father finally says, " Well, Son, I tried to warn you because I love you, but I guess you will have to find out the hard way ". Let us learn from Solomon's experiment and not feel the need to test it for ourselves. God tells us the end result. Nothing can satisfy the entire man but the Lord's love and the Lord's own self. Some h...

In a previous post, we talked about "Men and Cars". Now we'll talk about women and chocolate Cake. Does that make me a sexist? "Whatever"--she said tongue-in-cheek. I recently met someone who got me thinking a great deal along the lines of "morality" and "Christianity"; will power vs. grace; the old nature and the new nature; and, what happens after the "new birth". I'm not sure why, but it got me also thinking about chocolate cake. I wanted to invite you along for the ride. This should actually be fun: Picture the scene: There are seven (7) women in a room who are all on a diet to lose weight. Someone brings a four-layer chocolate cake into the room and places it on the table. Questions #1: Will all seven women struggle with temptation? One actually doesn’t care for chocolate cake at all. No temptation whatsoever. However, if it were a plate of deep fried jalapeño poppers, that would be another story. So the answer is "N...