Eating a Bowl of Ketchup

at 04/20/10 1:34PM

A few weeks ago, I started teaching an adult class on Wednesday nights. The topic for this quarter is on the works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit, taken from Galatians 5:19-23. The time that I have to cover all of the material is limited, even more so considering the fact that VBS will be taking up one class session. I am already behind, but I am not complaining.

The first two works of the flesh are adultery and fornication, two extremely similar sins that are still prevalent in our society today and thus, have taken up the bulk of class discussion. Needless to say, two weeks into the quarter and those are the only two works of the flesh we have covered. Last Wednesday, we spent an entire class on fornication. There were many helpful points and insight from the class members on fornication, but I wanted to share one illustration that I also shared last week, as well as last year teaching the high school class.

Sex is like ketchup. Now hear me out on this one.

Most people like ketchup, whether it’s on hot dogs, fries, or burgers. Some people even like it on eggs. Hey, whatever floats your boat. Everyone understands the role of ketchup with food. You eat it with food, not as a food. It’s a condiment, so it’s used to provide food with extra flavor that it otherwise wouldn’t have. In other words, no one in his or her right mind would eat an entire bowl of ketchup or a spoonful for that matter. Why? Because it’s disgusting. It’s unnatural, and it’s not the proper role of ketchup.

Going back to the statement above – sex is like ketchup – think of sex in the way ketchup is used. Sex is good, pure, holy, and pleasing to God, but only in the proper context: Marriage. Likewise, ketchup is delicious, satisfying, and completely scrumptious, but only in the proper context: With, on, or dipped in by food.

So, the next time you or someone you know and love is thinking about or is having premarital sex or committing adultery, dwell on the fact of the matter about what sex really is in the eyes of God when it is not in the proper context of marriage: Disgusting.

Good things to think about!

by dnsanders at 04/20/10 3:34PM
nicely put. S

by bsmac at 04/20/10 9:00PM

whoa...

at 03/28/10 11:40AM

hey. this thing still takes my username and password. sweet.

I got married to the most amazing woman in the world since the last time we spoke. That's about it. :-)

Later peeps.

Crazy how we forget our pleo world! Glad married life is going good for you! It is a blessing!

by ashleyb at 04/11/10 6:20PM

Where are you?

at 09/16/08 6:01PM

School is going well. More about that later...

Luke 15:11-24

11. And He said, "A man had two sons.

12. "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.

13. "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

14. "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

15. "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16. "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

17. "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger !

18. 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight ;

19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son ; make me as one of your hired men."'

20. "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

21. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight ; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22. "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet ;

23. and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate ;

24. for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again ; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

As I was reminded by a good friend recently, this parable by Jesus is not about someone we know or just any random person. But it's YOUR story. It's MY story. It's the story of everyone who chooses to leave the guidance, love, and security found in the Father's house for the deceptive and temporary pleasures of sin, in a "far country," separated from the grace of God.

Are the events in this story necessary for one to realize how much God is needed in life? No. But sadly, it is reality.

Let's look at this parable as Jesus designed it - a metaphor - with God represented by the father and the younger son represented by us, the sinners.

The son makes a complete circle:

1. Comes to his father: Not to express love for him, but to ask him for money, seeking freedom from his father's household.

2. Comes to a far country: Not found on a geography map, but measured by how far he departed in his heart from his father and how far we depart from God today.

3. Comes to want: With nowhere else to turn, he reaches the lowliest point Jesus' listeners could imagine: Feeding pigs. And not just feeding them but also WANTING to eat what they were eating. There is not a clearer picture of how disgusting sin is in the eyes of Our Father and how disgusting it should be to us.

4. Comes to himself: By waking up and realizing the lowly state he is in and how much better his own father's servants have it than him. This is what we realize when we, too, hit the bottom and recognize the errors of our ways and how much better life is with The Father.

5. Comes to his father AGAIN: This time not for money again, but to apologize, humble himself, and ask forgiveness from his father. He realizes his mistakes. Just as the father does in this story, God waits, waits, and waits some more. His patience is unbelievable. Then, when we make the decision to come home, His love, mercy, and grace welcome us back.

The question is, where are you? Not sitting there in front of your computer reading this. But, in the story, this story about YOU, which of the five points do you honestly see yourself at? Are you wanting to leave God? Are you wanting to go to a far country away from His guidance? Are you with the pigs? Are you coming to your senses? Or, are you tired of living a life of sin and a life of no direction and purpose that you are wanting to come home? Whatever point you find yourself at, God bless you on your journey to come home. That is my hope and prayer. Just remember that God never leaves home, but we do. And He is ALWAYS there to welcome us back.

Thanks for the encouraging thoughts, Dan. :-)

by dragonmyst at 09/16/08 10:16PM
I'm home.

by sarahpet at 09/17/08 6:11AM
and God is actually at my house today, and most days. ;-)..yeah all the time :-)

by sarahpet at 09/17/08 6:12AM
how are things down in the louie's ville?

by toad8029 at 09/17/08 6:28AM
good thoughts, Daniel:)

by emmybear at 09/17/08 10:16AM
that is a great post daniel :-) thanks for leading the study sunday and for posting that - I think we all need the reminder even if we were present for that discussion...

by duchess at 09/17/08 10:20PM
Great post! I hope teaching is going well.

by lorileigh at 09/18/08 6:17AM
And you, sir, have been tagged. Read my blog, knock yourself out, etc. :-P

by dragonmyst at 09/24/08 4:51PM
you're ver welcome! It was fun-anytime you need help with ORQs or anything, let me know. besides, it gives me a good excuse to hang out with you guys and keep you up late. aaaand drink your grape juice.

by emmybear at 10/02/08 5:47AM
how are things going with you? great i hope!! you always have great thoughts!

by ashleyb at 10/19/08 12:43PM
Love ya!

by cruisingmom at 10/23/08 8:26PM
hey! how are you??

by cowgirl_bek at 10/23/08 9:10PM
lol, no i didnt get a pic :( my camera died. but im great! what's goin on with u??

by cowgirl_bek at 10/29/08 12:33PM
haha, thanks. glad you had a couple days off :) that's always nice. im really looking forward to thanksgiving break! i bet you like getting all the breaks the students get

by cowgirl_bek at 11/04/08 8:34AM
Very excited about spending time with your fam next week!!

by matermagistra at 12/04/08 10:56PM
dan ... what hapenned to you dan????

by cdawg at 07/02/09 2:13PM

back to school, back to school...

at 08/11/08 7:35PM

13 years of public schooling, 5 years of wandering around in undergrad work, and 1 year of grad work and student teaching all lead up to going right back to where I was nearly a decade ago: With sophomores, but this time as their guide in learning.

Tomorrow - if the Lord wills - is the day I thought was so far away so many times and moons ago, when I was sitting through the classroom management courses and educational psychology, both of which get thrown out the window once the kids walk through my door. As much as profs try to tell us, nothing can prepare us for what we do and feel the first day, or the night before as I find myself anxious and tiresome, yet not sleepy.

Prayers would be appreciated.

God bless you all.

16-35 of 35 comments « prev 1 2 next »

Hope your first day went well!

by bman796 at 08/15/08 2:15AM
Hey, how's the new place? The new job? I hope it's all going well for you! :-)

by dragonmyst at 08/16/08 8:22PM
hey dan this is wesley from ur cabin last year and i missed u this year

by shwesles2011 at 08/19/08 9:50AM
:-)

by sarahpet at 08/19/08 9:29PM
I know you will do awesome..but as always you will be in our prayers! Good luck! I'm excited for you.

by ashleyb at 08/24/08 10:41AM
thanks for being a good friend Daniel-I can tell you care and I really appreciate that.

by emmybear at 08/26/08 11:53AM
I took that class, because I thought it was developmental psych. and I didn't find out until three weeks into so i kept going

by iloveu at 08/27/08 2:04PM
they should make one of you. i'd like to see you diagramed :)

by caraboo at 09/01/08 8:15PM
are you going to be doing volleyball a lot? I am wretched at volleyball.

by sarahpet at 09/02/08 5:50PM
How's it going, Dan?

by alp1926 at 09/06/08 8:31PM
hope all is still going well!!!!

by ashleyb at 09/07/08 2:16PM
Mark says some days are good and some not so good. A lot depends on the group of kids. He was so hoping to never have any of the kids from last year, but he ended up with one class of 10th graders. Most of them were not among the worst. Glad it's getting better for. I'm sure it will as you get more experience. You are a good example for those young folks.

by alp1926 at 09/07/08 5:09PM
Hey, can you please add Douglass Hill's fall meeting on the Louisvillians discussion board? Thanks!

by teacherlady at 09/08/08 7:54AM
Hey Mr. Dan! It's Kinsey Wall:-) How are you?

by orangemachine at 09/16/08 3:04PM

08/04/08 8:49PM

have you ever seen this before?

Eating a Bowl of Ketchup

whoa...

Where are you?

back to school, back to school...

08/04/08 8:49PM

cincyfan84

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