Stephen Kuhn's Blog, page 21

Smart Quote: Richard Rohr

Thoughts on this quote? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

The post Smart Quote: Richard Rohr appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.

Weekly Web (W)roundup

Each week, I round up the best resources, articles, and videos I find that are relevant to finding freedom from porn addiction. Please note that by posting a link here it does not mean I agree with everything in the linked article. It just means I found it interesting enough to share.

Desiring God: Take Action Against Adultery

“The vast majority of time when an affair is consummated, it is done with someone that they’ve known at least a month and with whom they have had multiple interactions. That means that there is time to notice the warning signs.”

Leading Men: Why Daughters Need Their Dads

“After more than twenty years of listening to daughters—and doling out antibiotics, anti-depressants, and stimulants to girls who have gone without a father’s love—I know just how important fathers are.”

Your Mom has a Blog: Sex Education Should Start in the Christian Home

“The pornography industry wants to get our kids hooked, like it got so many boys in my generation hooked. It is a huge, insidious machine that wants nothing more than to continue raking in billions of dollars at the expense of families everywhere.”

XXXChurch: Porn Will Never Love You Back. Here’s Why

“Porn will never love you back. Even if you give all of yourself to chasing after it, all your time, attention, money, heart, mind, and soul, it will never love you back. Why? It has no soul. It has no feelings. It doesn’t care about you.”

Covenant Eyes: The Deadly Cycle of Pornography

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DONE: You Are an Heir to God’s Glory

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17).

Imagine receiving an email one day informing you that you’re the last remaining relative of a wealthy king. You have never met this man, but if it turns out to be true, it means you’re now the heir of a great fortune. Your financial troubles are over.

Sadly, these emails are rarely (if ever) true.

But what if there’s an even better inheritance set aside for you? One that would put any earthly kingdom to shame? One that would solve more than just your financial troubles?

That, my friend, is true.

The moment you are adopted as a child of God through your union with Jesus, you become an heir to His glory. Your name is written into God’s will, right next to Jesus.

It seems rather pointless for God to have a will though, doesn’t it? After all, He is eternal, so why would He need to dictate where His stuff goes after He dies if He’s never going to die?

That’s why this will is different: It’s tied to your life, not to God’s.

In other words, this will kicks in when you die.

But here’s where it get’s really good: You’ve already died.

As one who has trusted Jesus, you’ve been crucified with Him. The old you is dead. The new you, however, was resurrected with Christ and is currently seated in Heaven. Which means you’ve already received your inheritance.

The riches of God’s glory and grace are available to you today.

This is great news, because, as the second half of this verse warns us, life won’t always be all rainbows and kittens for those who follow Christ. We’re going to need God’s help to get us though.

But we can trust that He will always give us what we need. Why?

Because He already has.

This post was an excerpt from my book, DONE. 52 Amazing Things that Became True of You the Moment You Trusted Christ.

The entire book is available as individual posts here, but if you prefer a good old-fashion paperback, you can purchase a copy from Amazon.

The post DONE: You Are an Heir to God’s Glory appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.

Smart Quote: Dag Hammarskjöld

Thoughts on this quote? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

The post Smart Quote: Dag Hammarskjöld appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.

And Now for Something Completely Different…

Here at Belt of Truth Ministries, we typically stick to writing and sharing content that helps men find freedom from porn addiction.

Today, however, I’d like to do something completely different.

If you received our latest email newsletter, then you already know I’ve been busy setting up a new home office Belt of Truth World Headquarters over the past few months. There are entire blogs set up to share people’s work environments and strategies, and I for one find them quite interesting.

Many of you will have zero interest in what my office looks like or what tools I use, in which case I assure you we will be back to our normal content tomorrow. But for those of you who would like to see behind the curtain, please enjoy this virtual tour of the Belt of Truth World Headquarters.

Belt of Truth World Headquarters

Once of the main selling points for us with our new house was the large, finished wood shop that had been added on by the previous owner. Not because I needed a wood shop (I enjoy having all my fingers), but because it would make a perfect home office and gym. It took a few weeks to clean up the sawdust, paint the walls and ceiling, hook it up to the home heating system, and add lighting; but as of a few weeks ago everything was finally set up and operational.

Custom Desk

I built the desk out of concrete CMU blocks and two salvaged doors. The CMU blocks were cheap and are perfect for displaying all the random stuff I like to keep at my desk. They also allow for a ton of customization in how the desk is set up.

I opted for a split level design that allows for both sitting and standing work stations, which I have found to be a game-changer for me. I get antsy when I’m sitting in one position for too long, and having the ability to move between sitting, standing, or even moving to the couch or chair allows me to stay focused for much longer. The key to a standing desk though (especially with concrete floors), is having a good mat beneath you. I use the Ergodriven Topo Mat, which I like because it has various contours that allows you to use it in multiple positions.

Computer

I’ve had my current laptop (17″ MacBook Pro) for only a year or so, but I’ve been using Apple laptops for more than a decade. Now that I have a permanent workspace though, I added an Apple Thunderbolt Display and Laptop Stand to make life easier for me when I’m doing my graphic design work (designing book spreads on a laptop display is less than ideal).

I opted for this setup rather than purchasing a new iMac because of how simply the whole system works. All I need to do is plug the display into my laptop and slide it under the stand. Everything fires up automatically, adjusts the resolution appropriately, and works seamlessly. My laptop instantly turns into a desktop. Brilliant. If you need a desktop and a laptop and don’t want to deal with keeping two machines synced up, this is hands-down the way to go.

Reading Spots

It seems like I always have a stack of books I’m working through, so I wanted to create a few options where I could read comfortably without being distracted by bouncing email notifications or the lure of hilarious cat videos (in other words, not near my computer). In one corner I have my grandma’s old leather recliner, and in the middle of the office is a surprisingly comfortable Ikea sofa bed. You may have also noticed the amazing Star Wars pillows, which may be my favorite things in the office. They’re from a site called Society6 where you can print pretty much anything you want onto anything you want. It’s amazing. Go check it out. You’ll thank me.

Random Stuff

I love random stuff. I’ve never understood how people can work in those minimalistic studios where everything is white and geometric. I prefer my office to be an ever-changing collection of action figures, Legos, and whatever else I find at thrift stores and garage sales.

Here’s a random sampling of what’s currently on display:

Me with John Eldredge, Mr. Miyagi action figure, Lego Double-Decker Couch

Letterpress print from the original 1957 Haas Grotesk (Helvetica) type blocks

Johnny Cash prayer candle (don’t ask), my Grandpa’s old lunchbox

Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon

The most honest mug I own

Benny’s Spaceship from the Lego Movie

Poe’s X-Wing, BB-8, Han and Chewie, Tie Fighter

The world’s greatest mousepad

My favorite thrift store find: a framed Radiohead Kid A poster

Perhaps in a future post I’ll show you guys our warehouse (the inside of the large cabinet), or even our shipping dock (a space on the floor beside the main door).

In all seriousness though, I am continually amazed at how the internet makes it possible for me to connect with each of you from all around the world, all from this former wood shop in the back of my garage. So yes, it may be tongue-in-cheek, but thanks to all of you, this really is the Belt of Truth Ministries World Headquarters.

The post And Now for Something Completely Different… appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.

Weekly Web (W)roundup

Each week, I round up the best resources, articles, and videos I find that are relevant to finding freedom from porn addiction. Please note that by posting a link here it does not mean I agree with everything in the linked article. It just means I found it interesting enough to share.

Randy Alcorn: If God Is Happy, Why Does He Seem Bad-Tempered?

“Sin is so prevalent and the Bible is written to point out and deal with the sin problem. Hence, we often do see a God with anger and wrath, and it’s easy to overlook all of the lovingkindness passages and all the passages about God delighting in His people and God being pleased.”

KeyLife: Lent Makes Me Feel Guilty

“One of the reasons I grieve for folks who insist on their own goodness is that they miss so much. It’s not their sin that is sad; it’s their stiffness. Once you start calling something right that God says is wrong—gluttony, sexual sin, arrogance, bitterness, lack of compassion, self-righteousness, etc.—you burn the bridge that leads to a God who will ‘hug’ you.”

CovenantEyes: How to Parent for Purity in the 21st Century

“My children now tell me their greatest fear was that we would not understand how they feel. But I do understand. I know what it is like to feel the allure of pornography even though I know it would destroy me. I know what it is like as a kid to be shown pornography by a friend. I know what it is like to feel ashamed at what I let myself see and allowed my mind to imagine.”

XXXChurch: 3 Ways to Stop Blaming Others and Finally Own Your Porn Problem

“The way to cut off the first sprout of blame is to free ourselves and others from the immediate conspiracy theories that pop up in our heads, and to offer openness instead.”

Rob Bell: Rain

The post Weekly Web (W)roundup appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.

DONE: You can call God “Abba”

You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

I may be sacrificing any semblance of credibility for admitting this, but I absolutely love the movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Yes, it’s ridiculous; and yes, it’s not exactly the best theological commentary; but every time I watch it I find myself laughing hysterically (and slightly ashamed at my ability to quote every line).

One scene I particularly enjoy is when God sticks His head through the clouds and speaks directly to King Arthur. God is all business, and He appears to have become quite frustrated and impatient with humanity. At one point, He goes off on a tirade about how annoying His subjects are: “If it’s one thing I can’t stand, its people groveling. Every time I try to talk to someone it’s ‘sorry this’ and ‘forgive me that’ and ‘I’m not worthy…’”

What stands out to me about this scene though, is how the film-makers, in their attempt to create something humorous, have actually provided a sobering commentary on how many people truly do view God.

A lot of folks, when they think of God, see Him as a harsh cosmic judge or task-master. They see a man with a long beard and glowing crown (not unlike the picture of God in the movie), sitting on a throne bossing people around: “Do this, do that, follow the rules, and don’t even think about doing anything fun or I shall smite thee!”

But that’s the not the picture of God we’re given in the Bible. In fact, Romans 8:15 says exactly the opposite.

Paul tells us in this verse that those who are in Christ don’t need to fear God as a slave owner. The image of a cruel, impatient, and demanding God poking His head through the clouds to give us His marching orders is simply not true.

God doesn’t see you as His slave; He sees you as His beloved child. He has adopted you into His family because He loves you with the perfect love of a sinless Father. This unconditional love is what allows us to respond to Him as our “Abba (Daddy),” and come to Him to be fathered rather than judged or condemned.

Imagine if King Arthur had addressed the movie version of God as “Daddy.” I doubt He would have received a warm embrace. But that’s the danger that comes with misunderstanding God’s true nature: As long as you fear God’s judgement, wrath, or condemnation as a slave-driver, you will be more likely to grovel before Him than to run to Him for help whenever you fall.

But now that your union with Christ has made you a permanent member of God’s family, there’s no need to grovel. You can run straight to your Abba Father with confidence that He will embrace you no matter what.

This post was an excerpt from my book, DONE. 52 Amazing Things that Became True of You the Moment You Trusted Christ.

The entire book is available as individual posts here, but if you prefer a good old-fashion paperback, you can purchase a copy from Amazon.

The post DONE: You can call God “Abba” appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.

Smart Quote: Brennan Manning

Thoughts on this quote? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

The post Smart Quote: Brennan Manning appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.

Weekly Web (W)roundup

Each week, I round up the best resources, articles, and videos I find that are relevant to finding freedom from porn addiction. Please note that by posting a link here it does not mean I agree with everything in the linked article. It just means I found it interesting enough to share.

CovenantEyes: 5 Horrible Ways to Tell Your Wife About Your Porn Addiction

“There is not a ‘good’ way to tell your wife–if by ‘good’ you mean she won’t feel hurt. But there are ways to tell your wife that are ‘bad’–meaning they exacerbate the damage of your sin by how you communicate the information. The purpose of this post is help you avoid five common mistakes in talking to your wife.”

Seattle School of Theology: The Curious Risk of Restoring Men

“Therefore, the other part of the work I do is to help boys grow up into godly men—and to help dads raise up godly men out of their boys. It’s actually because you (my daughter) are so important, so valuable, so precious, that I want to do whatever I can to help create a world that grows up good men so that you have a good husband and your children have a good father. You deserve that. It’s not that you are unimportant. In fact, it’s because you are super important!”

Paul Young: You Never Need to Feel Shame

“Only as we grow and mature do we begin to realize that there are fundamental relational truths that are so much deeper than laws and rules. These can be summed up by the law of love, or Golden Rule, but they center around expressing a life full of other-centered, self-giving love.”

Tim Challies: Messy Grace

“One of Messy Grace’s strengths is Kaltenbach’s description of just how much homosexuality provides an identity. For that reason, when you tell a homosexual that he must renounce his homosexuality, you are not asking him to renounce mere behavior, but an entire identity, an entire means of self-understanding.”

Pete Wilson: But God

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DONE: You Have Been Set Free from All Condemnation

 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

If you’ve been around the church for a while you’ve probably heard this verse a hundred times. But have you ever thought about what it actually means, particularly what it means for you?

For example, have you considered what percentage of your sin was paid for by Jesus at the Cross? Was it 20%? 50%?

According to the Bible, it was 100%. All your sin was paid for at the cross.

Or what about this question: How much of your sin has been committed after Jesus paid for it on the cross?

Unless you’re more than 2000 years old, all of your sin has been committed after the cross.

It’s probably easy for you to understand that every sinful thing you’ve ever done was paid for by Jesus, but do you realize that every sinful thing you still have yet to do has already been paid for as well?

That’s a difficult concept for our time-conscious minds to grasp.

Not for Jesus though. When He died as the perfect sacrifice two thousand years ago, He knew the entire list of sins you would commit over the course of your life (even those you will commit ten, twenty, or thirty years from now), and His death covered every last one of them.

All the sins (past, present, and future) of all believers (past, present, and future) were paid for by His death.

It’s this complete payment of all sin for all eternity that allowed Jesus to proclaim “It is finished!”

No more guilt.

No more punishment.

No more condemnation.

None.

No matter how much you’ve sinned (or will sin), if your faith is in Christ, it’s already been made right. No further justice or retribution will ever be required.

So from now on, when you sin, don’t beat yourself up and feel as if your sin is causing God to see you as unacceptable. I would encourage you instead to come before God with thankfulness:

Thank Him that Jesus already paid for the sin you just committed.
Thank Him that He loves and accepts you unconditionally in spite of the sin you still commit.
Thank Him that He only sees the righteousness of Christ in you no matter how many times you still mess up.

Odds are good we all will continue to wrestle with sin in the years to come. But thanks to Jesus bending time and space to pay for our future sins with His past sacrifice, we can now run to God rather than fearing His condemnation.

This post was an excerpt from my book, DONE. 52 Amazing Things that Became True of You the Moment You Trusted Christ.

The entire book is available as individual posts here, but if you prefer a good old-fashion paperback, you can purchase a copy from Amazon.

The post DONE: You Have Been Set Free from All Condemnation appeared first on Belt of Truth Ministries.