Teacher, what's the greatest commandment in all of scripture? 

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14hOxWe_FVU 

Here's a short snippet from Francis Chan's talk at this year's VERGE conference about the silliness involved in our thinking about Making Disciples.  If anyone wants to watch the full message then contact Don to watch it over some coffee and conversation about it.  

Last night at USI we began a challenging end of the semester 3-part sermon series entitled RE:FOCUS. We considered if we are PURSUING HAPPINESS? more than pursuing JESUS.  Some even pursue Jesus just enough in order to find happiness. However, the Pursuit of Happiness is not getting any of us anywhere!  Happiness & Deep Joy remain illusive for so many.  This is a major problem in our lives today. 

Below is a great video illustrating what we discussed last night.  In the video Mark Driscoll shares three reasons why the Pursuit of Happiness is failing!  

1. We hang our hopes on something or someone. (if I get this job, person, thing THEN I will be happy) - We believe our Happiness depends on our Circumstances.  But this only sets us up for discouragement. 
   
2. We get those things will make us happy, we get them and they do not make us happy!  When I get that Job I'll truly be happy -- but you get that job but in time realize it doesn't make you happy.   
   
3. We are NOT HAPPY so we STAY BUSY so we don't have to think about our emptiness!  Blaise Pascal said we tend to be miserable so we create many diversions.  Like internet, tv, drinking, sex, hobbies - diversions!

WATCH THEN POST
In response to our RE:FOCUS message last night the FOLLOWUP homework is to INVEST an HOUR to RE:EVALUATE the FOCUS of your life by (1) Watch / Evaluate the video below as Mark explores Philippians 1. Hang in till the very end - ARE YOU A SAINT, ARE YOU A SLAVE TO JESUS, TO SIN, OR RELIGION. Are you really free? Who  is your master? So, Find a quiet place, grab a cup of coffee, and put on your headphones! Then after watching (2) Post your comments so I know you were serious about this. 

"According to a 2008 study, two-thirds of men aged 18 to 26 said they thought viewing pornography was acceptable. Acceptable or not, nearly all of them used it, with 86 percent reporting some pornography use in the past year."

There's a pretty good article over at the BOUNDLESS website discussing the epidemic of Pornography and Video Game addiction among our college-aged people.  

It's definitely worth the read to better understand what's going on among our young people. There are also links to 3 great resources entitled "Understanding Intimacy Disorder and Addictions (links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)."

LINK TO ARTICLE "LOST BOYS IN THE SHADOW WORLD" over at boundless.org