Resources to Battle Against Lust

After the sermon on May 16, 2010 (available here: http://www.raleighroad.com/category/series/mythbuster/), I got a LOT of questions about resources that were mentioned during the message. So, I have gathered several here, and added some that I have just learned about.

Every Man's Battle and Every Young Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker.
Both of these are available at Christian bookstores and / or websites everywhere...or by clicking on the links provided! I have both in my office if you'd like to preview them. These books recognize that today's media bombards men with sexual images and temptation, so it's no wonder that "sexual addiction" is on the rise---even within the church. In this compassionate brother-to-brother guide, Arterburn and Stoeker tackle this serious problem head-on, offering a practical battle plan for men---married or single---who desire to live by God's standard.

Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain by William Struthers is another great resource. In this book, Struthers examines how images are imprinted along neuropathways in the male brain. An important book to understand how powerful visual images are to men. Also a great warning for women and/or mothers who regularly subscribe to magazines featuring half dressed women on the front! You are inhibiting the ability of the men in your life to fight temptation when they can't go past the coffee table without seeing it.

False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction by Harry Schaumburg is another book that can provide insight into the challenge of sexual addiction faced by so many. False Intimacy offers honest biblical solutions to help overcome the compulsion to act on false "relationships" and find true intimacy. A Focus on the Family Recommendation.

Josh Harris tackles the issue in my "It Doesn't Hurt to Look" sermon directly in his book, Sex is Not the Problem (Lust Is). Josh shows how lust has become so pervasive in our culture to the point that sexuality has become a negative - contaminating what God intended as a gift. Learn how to reclaim sexuality and sex as God originally planned as you cut through the deceptive lies of lust. See through new eyes enjoy a life of purity as you follow the steps in this countercultural guide.

Another great resource is ScreenIt.Com...This site offers a FREE and Pay version...it provides a detailed accounting of language, violence, disrespectful attitudes, and sex/nudity in a film. I HIGHLY recommend this site...although, I have to warn you - it may cut down the number of films you watch!

A final resource is X3Watch, an accountability software available from the folks at TripleXChurch. These guys have a unique ministry to those in the adult film and strip club world. And, they provide a great accountability resource in X3Watch...essentially you give them an accountability partner's email address (or your spouse's) and they get an update every 2 weeks or so of any / all the questionable sites you have visited. Our Student Pastor has been using this resource with young men for a number of years with great results.

Jesus: The Real MythBuster

What does life look like in the Kingdom of Heaven? What does Jesus expect of His followers? What should life look like in the church?

The seven part MythBuster series will examine Jesus’ answer to those qustions as we Matthew 5:20-48. In that section of the Sermon on the Mount, we will look at the six times Jesus said "You have heard it said...but I say unto you." In so doing, he is NOT overturning the OT...rather, he is correcting the erroneous interpretation of the OT by the scribes and Pharisees. In other words, he is Busting Myths perpetrated by the religous leaders of His day.

Unfortunately, there are many of these myths are still perpetrated in the kingdom of God and in the church. So, it is incumbent upon us to BUST these myths with the Truth of God'sWord.

During this series, we will examine the following seven myths:
5/2 – Actions are more important than my attitudes.
5/9 – Worship is not affected by broken relationships.
5/16 – It’s ok to “look,” as long as I don’t “touch.”
5/23 - Marriages are not meant to be permanent.
6/6 – A lie is just not that big a deal.
6/13 – Getting even is alright if you were really hurt.
6/20- There are some people I just can’t love.

If you cannot make it to worship at RRBC, you may download the messages via iTunes or by visiting http://www.raleighroad.com/category/series/mythbuster/.

The REZ Factor

Beginning Easter Sunday, we will be in a three part series entitled The REZ Factor...essentially, what difference does / should the resurrection make?

Easter Sunday, April 4 - Beleive the Unbelieveable...in short, the REZ demonstrates that a holy God is willing to forgive sinners based on His acceptance of Jesus' work...The REZ proves that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice and has made forgiveness possible.

Sunday, April 11 - Love the Undeserving...in short, the REZ makes is possible for the most unloving, uncaring, thoughtless person to be restored. Specifically we will look at the re-instatement of Peter from Jn 21.

Sunday, April 18 - Do the Impossible... in short, the REZ makes is possible for frightened, overwhelmed men and women to be transformed into those who turn the world upside down. Specifically, we will look at the appearance of Jesus to the disciples from Luke 24.

If you cannot be at RRBC in person, you can follow the messages via the Media page at www.raleighroad.com/worship-services, or you can subscribe to the podcasts via iTunes...

Pastor Rob

An Open Letter to PTI...

On the February 15, 2010 episode of Pardon the Interruption, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon had a brief discussion around the question: Can the NFL learn anything from the NBA for it's halftime show? I have to admit that:

1. I did NOT see the NBA halftime show, other than the video of Shakira and Alicia Keys shown on PTI. Frankly, that was enough to prove to me that I would have channel surfed had I been tuned in...

2. I DID see the NFL halftime show...and love classic rockers...

Of utmost concern to me was the assumption by Wilbon and Kornheiser that the NBA had something to teach the NFL...specifically because the NBA paraded half naked women, dancing suggestively in front of the camera, while the NFL halftime show featured 60 year old rockers.

I decided to send an email to PTI...but, because they will likely ignore my sentiments, I decided to use the "new media" and post my email as an open letter in my blog...


"I was so disappointed in your discussion comparing the NBA and NFL halftime shows. Perhaps those of you 'in the big city' have a different set of values than the rest of us...or, maybe those of
you in the media do. Either way, showing half-naked women, dancing suggestively is not entertainment for those of us who do NOT frequent strip clubs.

Quite frankly, I could not be more happy that the 'wardrobe malfunction' happened. Not because it exposed Janet Jackson's bare right breast, but it exposed an entire culture/sub-culture that is bankrupt of even the facade of decent moral values. Can we do anything at all in the realm of 'entertainment' without it becoming 'sexertainment'?

As for me...I'll take a bunch of old classic rockers over the sexploitation of women anyday. Can the NFL learn anything? Yes...keep doing what you are doing...or, I'll go back to turning
OFF the halftime show!"

Sincerely,
Rob Pochek
Husband, Father, NBA/NFL/Nascar/MLB/NCAA FAN!

2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Predictions - How did I do?

The season is now over...the NASCAR season, that is. At the beginning of the year I made a handful of predictions...here is how I grade those predictions:

1. The 2009 season will have greater parity than ever. With all of the contractions of teams in the off season, this is a year that a "little guy" can make some noise and win some races.

GRADE C - Several "little guys" won this year, including Brad Keselowski (Talladega Spring), David Reutimann (Charlotte), Brian Vickers (Michigan), and Jamie McMurray (Talladega Fall). However, the guys from Hendrick and JGR still dominated.

2. One of the "big guys" will win the championship. My money is on a Hendrick driver - surprise, surprise - but not JJ.

GRADE D - Probably should be an "F." Truth is...until somebody beats him, Jimmy Johnson has to be the favorite...And, sadly, MOST sports fans have no idea what he just accomplished...

3. Mark Martin will win a big race...and maybe a championship.

GRADE A - Martin won 5 races: Phoenix, Darlington, Michigan, Chicago, and Loudon. He finished 2nd (again) in the points, but could have won the championship in Miami...so...not a bad year at all!

4. Dale, Jr will win more than one race....but probably not a championship.

GRADE F - Jr had a terrible year, finishing 25th...one spot below AJ Allmendinger. He won no races. In all honesty, Jr needs to pick it up in 2010.

5. Tony Stewart won't lose his cool until AFTER the July Daytona race. (Because he will have yet to win AND will have just gotten wrecked!)

GRADE C - Tony actually won 2 races before the July Daytona race (but only one points race). Of course, he WON the July Daytona race, too...and, obviously, wasn't wrecked! He did maintain his cool until well into the season...but his tempermental competitiveness emerged nicely at Miami...

6. Juan Pablo Montoya will win an Oval Track race.

GRADE C - JPM was closer than ever with 7 top 5's this year...PLUS, he had all but won the Indy race when a silly mistake cost him dearly. I look for JPM to be VERY strong in 2010.

7. Kyle Busch will win more than anyone else PRIOR to the race for the Chase...at which time he will choke, again.

GRADE C - Busch managed to win 5 races this year, including three in a row early. Unfortunately (for his fans), he didn't make the chase...in fact, the implosion I expected during the chase began to happen earlier...so...I was close...

8. The championship will be decided in the fall race at Phoenix, making Homestead a Ho-Hum race.

GRADE D - I got this one wrong. Homestead was a race that mattered...albeit only to two people: JJ and Mark Martin. Only if JJ made a mistake could Martin capitalize, so, again...close...

9. The Daytona 500 will be won by someone NOT LEADING at the White Flag.

GRADE B - since the White Flag never officially flew, I cannot take credit for an "A." However, Kenseth passed Sadler just before the caution came out and a rain delay ended the race. So, I give myself a "B."

10. By November, the season will seem too short and the winter ahead too long.

GRADE A - Absolutely...let's go racin boys!

The Story of the Bible

It's been a while since I have added to the blog...but thought I'd give the RRBC church family a look at the next series...

The Story of the Bible will follow the singular message of the Bible - that God has a plan for his people that is centered upon Jesus Christ. We will follow along as the story unfolds from the Garden of Eden to the Cattle troughs of Bethlehem...our story will unfold as follows:

Nov 8 “The Beginning of Trouble” Gen 1-3

Nov 15 “God Chooses One Man” Gen 12

Nov 22 “God Will Provide a Lamb” Gen 22

Nov 29 “A King Who Fights for His People” 1 Sam 17

Dec 6 “The Promise of an Eternal King” 2 Sam 7

Dec 13 “Born to Die” Mt 1:21

Dec 20 “The King is Born” Mt 1:1-17

Keep an eye out on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/robpochek?ref=profile) for more detail about the specific passages each week...I hope that the series will remind you that the story of the Bible is God's story...it is HiStory...and I hope that is a great encouragement to you!

Pastor Rob

Check out the promo video:

AAW- The Purpose Driven© Church Model

The August 26 Ask Anything Wednesday Question of the Week was:
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Purpose Driven© Church Model?

Before we ask about a particular "model" of the church, let's first address "what is a church?" While I cannot hope to be exhaustive on this issue, I can say that Protestant churches have tended to identify threeHistoric Marks of the Church, they are:
The Word - the gospel is rightly proclaimed
The Sacraments - Lord’s Supper & Baptism are rightly administered
Discipline - Members of the church are accountable for the beliefs and behavior

I point this out so that we understand that the Purpose Driven© Model is an attempt to help the church (one bearing the three marks described above) be all that God intends for it to be. Despite what some may think...to be Purpose Driven© or not to be Purpose Driven© is not a matter of fellowship, heresy, or being "hip." Rather, it is an effort to recognize that something "drives" every church...there is a reason a church chooses to use a piano in worship, a reason the pastor chooses to wear a coat and tie, a reason the church must vote to pay the bills. The question popularized by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Church was: "What drives your church?" To say it another way: Why does your church do what it does?

In essence, the Purpose Driven© Model seeks to answer THREE Questions:
• Why are we (the church) here?
• What is our process for making disciples?
• Do we have a strategy to move people to greater levels of commitment?

In answering those questions a Purpose Driven Church…
Is organized around five core purposes of the church found in:
The Great Commission –Mt 28:18-20 and
The Great Commandment – Mt 22:37-40
These purposes are: Worship, Evangelism, Fellowship, Discipleship, and Ministry (or, Service).
These five purposes answer the question: Why are we here? We are here to Worship God, Evangelize the Lost, Fellowship with Believers, Grow in Christ, and Serve the Kingdom. A Purpose Driven© Church seeks to ensure that all five of these purposes are balanced.

A Purpose Driven© Church utilizes an intnetional discipleship process. In other words, a PDC has a plan to make disciples that is intentional, purposeful, and understandable. While some churches will deviate a bit here and there, all PD Churches will strive to be intentional about making disciples. The "ball diamond" has become the image associated with this process...

Finally, a PD Church practices an outside - in perspective to growth and evangelism. That is, PD Churches recognize that not everyone in the church has the same level of commitment. And, that an intentional strategy is required to move people toward greater commitment. The "cocentric circles of commitment" has become the image associated with this reality...

Now that we have a better - albeit brief - understanding of the PD Church...What are some of the WEAKNESSES of PD Model? This, too, is not intended to be exhaustive, but to simply give us some food for thought...
• Can become programmatic. That is, some churches will adopt purpose statements and edesign their “structure” without the heart for lost that is essential. There are many "traditional-minded" churches wearing Purpose Driven© "clothing." When a church "decides" to become Purpose Driven©, the question needs to be asked: "why?" Without a Great Commission answer, I suspect PD is another program being adopted...in spite of the fact that PD is NOT a program!

• Tendency to “dumb down” the Gospel. I want to be careful to say that this is not an inevitable result of being Purpose Driven©. But, there are those who uncritically adopt a Purpose Driven© approach and ASSUME that means that Bible cannot be preached in its entirety. Here the Pastor and/or Church are fearful to preach the “whole Bible” lest the seeker is offended. In fact, a biblically informed adopting of the Purpose Driven© approach is one that tries to remove as many barriers of offense as possible...with the EXCEPTION of the Bible. God honors his word...proclaim it faithfully and clearly and let God's Spirit do his work!

There are also STRENGTHS of PD Model:
• Biblically-based. I do believe the model is rooted in biblical truth and is not a fad. The five purposes espoused by PD are essential to our faithfully carrying out the Great Commission in the context of the Great Commandment.

• Flexible / Not one style. The PD Model is flexible and is not solely a "contemporary" church approach. There are Purpose Driven© churches in over 100 denominations and/or associations. There are traditional, liturgical, and contemporary churches practicing PD principles. Further, PD is not limited by geography. There are churches practicing these principles throughout all parts of the US and around the world.

• Easy to Understand / Adapt. This is the final strength, in my book...the PD model is adaptable. And...IT MUST BE ADAPTED to each setting. A PD church in California will look different than one in the North East or in the South East. While the principles will be the same, the expression of those principles will vary...and that is how it should be.

Ultimately I believe the Purpose Driven© Model has done far more good than harm. While it has not always been introduced into traditional churches in the best ways, the primary question of the Model remains to be answered by EVERY congregation: What drives your church? Or, Why are you doing what you do? Too many churches resort to doing what they prefer, or what they have always done WITHOUT thinking through a biblical rationale for it. You know you are guilty of this if you don't want someone to ask "why" about an event, a ministry, or a practice your church is engaged in!

At the church I am serving (Raleigh Road Baptist Church), I can assure you that I will always want a biblical rationale for what we do...and, my hope and prayer is that such a rationale will be driven by the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.