Adulting: Wisdom & Self-control

Dear Mosaic Family,

I could bore you with a mountain of statistics proving that our society has a problem with self-control, but you already know. You know, because we all struggle with self-control. We struggle with controlling our impulses, urges, and desires. We struggle with controlling our emotions and feelings. We struggle with our appetites. 

We know that giving our desires free rein in the short-term can wreak havoc on our life in the long-term. This is true in just about every aspect of our lives: health, food, alcohol, spending, relationships, etc. Proverbs 25:28 says "A man without self-control is alike a city broken into and left without walls." The ancient wisdom literature compares a person without self-control to a defenseless city. Without self-control, at any moment, you can be pillaged... and not by someone from the outside, but by your own desires, passions, and impulses. 

Self-control is the ability to say "no" to your urges (and "yes" to something greater and more important), and this is actually one of the great proofs of the immateriality of the soul. Your ability to control your self proves that you are more than just a material being. Self-control proves the duality of your being: you are body and soul, and your soul can control your body if you learn the wisdom for it. The ancient wisdom literature teaches us that we do not have to be driven by our desires, but we can drive our desires, as a driver drives a car. Common wisdom, however, teaches us that our bodies are like Google's self-driving cars, or that the driver is just another one of the parts of the engine: you can't but go where your body takes you. True wisdom says this is foolish. 

Your ability to negate or override your desires proves that you are no mere body; rather, you've been given an eternal soul and you can learn to be in control of your self. Join us tomorrow as we look to the ancient wisdom literature of Proverbs to see what it has to teach us about self-control.

Praying for you,
Pastor Jan

P.S. Don't forget, the second preview service for Mosaic Boston, JP will be held tomorrow at 10:30am at 493 Centre St in Jamaica Plain. All the info is here. If you can make it, that's great! If not, please pray for the Lord to move powerfully!

Announcements:

Members' Meeting & Potluck. Sunday, May 28th. 1-3pm. If you are a member, or plan on fulfilling all the requirements to becoming a member, please plan on attending our 2nd quarterly members' meeting and potluck. Sign up here for the potluck. 

Childcare at the 11:15 service. The amazing volunteers of Mosaic now offer childcare during the 11:15 service, in addition to Mini-Mosaic at the 9:30service. 

Mosaic Youth Group. Every Sunday, Mosaic holds a youth group gathering during the 9:30service. If you know anyone looking for a youth group, let them know!

Pre-service Prayer. Join us in the upper hallway of the Temple Ohabei Shalom for a time of pre-service prayer on Sundays at 8:45AM and 4:30PM. It's an opportunity for us to pray for the church, the city, and the world.

Mosaic Boston App. Did you know Mosaic has an app? You can download it here. 

Baptism Service. Sunday, June 18th. If you would like to be baptized, please let us know by emailing admin@mosaicboston.com.

Songs for Sunday. If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday (so you can be ready to sing your heart out!) you can find the playlist here. 

Give to Fund the Mission. Giving is a joyful and sacrificial act of worship to our Lord, who has given everything to us and for us. We offer you the opportunity to invest in God's mission here. The easiest way to give your tax-deductible gift is through our secure portal on our website, found here.