Category Archives: In the News
“The Lord helps those who…”
One of the Bible’s most quoted phrases is actually not in the Bible. And interestingly enough yesterday it was quoted at the highest
level of our government. See Todd Rhoades post here.
At yesterday’s White House Press briefing, spokesman Jay Carney said it:
Well, I believe the phrase from the Bible is, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” And I think the point the President is making is that we should — we have it within our capacity to do the things to help the American people.
This phrase is NOT in the Bible. Not making a political statement here. I hear this 2-5 times per months from Evangelicals. What is in the Bible is the principle of God blessing the diligent (Proverbs 10:4; 22:29). But I personally believe this phrase to be the opposite of the Bible’s message of how to begin a relationship with God. A truer statement is: “God helps those who realize they CANNOT help themselves.” Check out 1 Peter 5:5-6. The good news starts with our inability and God’s loving desire to transform us and make us what we can’t make ourselves.
And the White House, probably hounded by Bible thumpers, did come clean this AM.
“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” Steve Jobs
“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.’ It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
— Steve Jobs, from the Stanford Commencement Address
Courageous Movie Stuff
The movie Courageous opens tomorrow! It will highlight men’s and fathering issues like nothing before. Here’s some great ideas for your church. And some input from the National Fatherhood initiative. Check out the official music video below. The movie trailer is at the end of the clip. Or find it here. Also, check out the Courageous Song lyrics below the video. Also, check out this post by Randy Alcorn about the importance of fathers and the accompanying video with cast members and ministry leaders talking about the importance of fathers.
Courageous Lyrics
We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chain
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous
We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we’re watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away
Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of hearts cry
We will serve the Lord
We were made to be courageous
And we’re taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees we’re lifting hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall
We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise
Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk on
Be with your God
In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand
“We were made to be courageous, We were made to lead the way”
I’m excited about the movie Courageous, coming out Sept 30th. Wish it were coming out this weekend. It’s going to highlight men’s issues and challenge dad’s. Check out the official music video below. The movie trailer is at the end of the clip. Or find it here. Also, check out the Courageous Song lyrics below the video.
Courageous Lyrics
We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chain
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous
We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we’re watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away
Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of hearts cry
We will serve the Lord
We were made to be courageous
And we’re taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees we’re lifting hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall
We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise
Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk on
Be with your God
In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand
I Guess It Could Be Worse This Morning
Grateful for the sacrifices of a great generation. Remembering D-Day.
National Porn Sunday
Along with the Superbowl, this weekend, 300+ churches are celebrating Porn Sunday to draw attention and bring help to those caught in the literal web of addiction. Here’s a few links about the event and a few extras:
- “The Elephant in the Pew” – NPR article on the event – “48 percent of Christian families are dealing with the issue of pornography in their home”
- The National Porn Sunday Intro Video – Involving two NFL players discussing their battle with pornography and sex addiction.
- The Social Costs of Pornography – Academic findings about the issue.
- XXX Church Event Page – Two churches here in Louisiana will be hosting the event.
- Covenant Eyes – The tool I use for accountability
My Favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes
From a recorded conversation with friend and colleague Andrew Young:
“I think the Good Samaritan is a great individual. I of course, like and respect the Good Samaritan….but I don’t want to be a Good Samaritan…you see, I am tired of picking up people along the Jericho Road. I am tired of seeing people battered and bruised and bloody, injured and jumped on, along the Jericho Roads of life. This road is dangerous. I don’t want to pick up anyone else, along this Jericho Road; I want to fix… the Jericho Road. I want to pave the Jericho Road, add street lights to the Jericho Road; make the Jericho Road safe (for passage) by everybody….”
I think of this analogy quite often. I love thinking past helping people, which can become a selfish thing, to transforming scenarios.
And from his famed last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” –
the first question that the priest asked — the first question that the Levite asked was, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
That’s the question before you tonight. Not, “If I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to my job. Not, “If I stop to help the sanitation workers what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office every day and every week as a pastor?” The question is not, “If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?” The question is, “If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?” That’s the question.
Links I Liked and Learned from this Week
- Trends in Church Planting by Ed Stetzer. “when churches plant churches, they model the principle of sowing and reaping and display a desire that God’s name and fame would be more widely known”
- Incredible pictures from Afghanistan!!! Wow!
- 31 Ways to Pray for Your Children
- Why I’m Deleting My Facebook – this one’s got me thinking. “I want to deepen in real friendship and community not chase dopamine bursts of false significance.”
- One Year To Live – A couple risk it all to revitalize a church in steep decline.
- Quest to be a Big Deal – “If you’re driven to become a ‘big dea’l missional pastor or if you’re driven to be a part of a church because it’s seen as a big deal chances are you have an idolatry problem.”
Lane Corley 
