Listen to this sermon at www.christtheking.com (Aug. 7, 2011)

Christ The King Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas
Click on the hyperlink above to the front page of CTK website: you can listen to the most recent sermon:

Rev. Eric Priest's sermon on Psalm 10 this Sunday August 7, 2011 talks about the idea that we tend to judge life by success: the point of life is to get ahead and then stay ahead! Eric discusses Psalm 10 in light of 3 types of atheism, which was a fascinating way to see modern worldviews. It made me think of a couple of things I read recently:

“In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things, the figure of Him who was sentenced and crucified remains a stranger and is at best the object of pity. The world will allow itself to be subdued only by success. It is not the ideas or opinions which decide, but deeds. Success alone justifies wrongs done… with a frankness and offhandedness which no other earthly power could permit itself, history appeals in its own cause to the dictum that the end justifies the means… The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success as a standard.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Ethics (published 1955)

“In direct contradiction to the American Dream, God actually delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face-to-face with their need for Him. In the process he powerfully demonstrates his ability to provide everything his people need in ways they could never have mustered up or imagined. And in the end, He makes much of his own name.” David Platt's Radical (Random House 2010). (thoughts on 2 Cor. 12: 9-10)

How do you feel about your weakness, and what is your Achilles heel? On his blog, Rick Warren recently talked about what Adam and Eve did to hide from God and said additionally, "what is your fig leaf?"

Dirty Dozen (questions) about Matthew 7:12 "golden rule"

Mark Goulston a consultant and coach asks these tough questions about the Golden Rule:

1. How often do you say, “I’m sorry” vs. expect others to say, “I’m sorry”?
2. How often do you say, “Thank you” vs. expect others to say, “Thank you”?
3. How often do you say, “I was wrong” vs. expect others to say, “I was wrong”?
4. How often do you patiently wait for people who are taking too long vs. expect people to patiently wait for you when you are taking too long?
5. How often do you go out of your way to help someone without their having to ask vs. expect someone to go out of their way to help you without your having to ask?
6. How often do you give people the benefit of the doubt vs. expect people to give you the benefit of the doubt?
7. How often do you give others a compliment vs. expect others to give you a compliment?
8. How often do you root for others vs. expect others to root for you?
9. How often do you acknowledge the deeds of others vs. expect others to acknowledge your deeds?
10. How often do you listen to others vs. expect others to listen to you?
11. How often do you take responsibility for your actions vs. expect others to take responsibility for their actions?
12. How often do you accept no for an answer from others vs. expect others to take no for an answer from you?