“One of the most conspicuous obsessions in our culture is the quest for physical beauty. Concern about what we look like pervades our social relationships and seduces us all, men and women both, to some degree or other. The typical impact of culture is like the effects of air pollution: what you inhale tends to slowly and steadily alter you. Our culture besieges us with voices that comment on what we look like, what we ought to look like, and the blessings and curses that presumably attend success or failure. Our mass media culture silently beguiles us with images of the same,” as David Powlison begins his insightful article.

One of the great seductive forces of American culture is that “image is everything.” Regretfully, American Christians are often influenced by the values of the world rather than doctrinal purity and the fruit of the Spirit. Powlison’s article is a must read for all of us who are evenly subtly influenced by our culture’s obsession with physical beauty. Go to “Your Looks: What the Voices Say and the Images Portray.”

I only have a few days left to enjoy our Thanksgiving vacation. My wife and I have spent most of this time in Glendale, AZ visiting my son, Bob, and his family along with my youngest son, Joshua, and his wife, Krysten. While on this trip, I have visited Southeast Valley Baptist Church, pastored by DBTS alumnus Joel Tetreau, in Gilbert, AZ and Tri-City Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ. I also had the privilege of visiting International Baptist College, a ministry Tri-City Baptist. My visit to International Baptist College provided me the opportunity to interact with Dr. Michael Sproul (Pastor of Tri-City Baptist Church and Chairman of IBC’s Board of Trustees), Dr. Jerry Tetreau (Chancellor), and Professor Michael Riley (Acting Academic Dean and Dean of Men), to mention a few of the good people at IBC. Since Michael had been one of my students at DBTS, it was an additional blessing to interact with him about life at IBC and his doctoral work at Westminster Theological Seminary. The picture above was taken of me when I spoke in IBC’s chapel on Wednesday morning, November 21. I preached on Psalm 19:1-6 and connected it with three lessons from Romans 1:18-25. The thesis of my message was that the works of God indisputably declare his glory to all people. Speaking at IBC was one of the many highlights from my trip.