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 Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:34 pm
Basic Truth
“Hey, Todd!” Brian yelled across the softball field. “Today's the last day of camp, and I wanted to catch you before you leave.”
Todd gathered the bats and gloves and sprinted toward his camp counselor.
“I'm concerned about you, Todd. I want you to understand how this whole Christianity thing works.”
“Well, it sounds to me like it's just a bunch of rules. I prayed the prayer, Bryan. But I'm not into following a set of rules.”
“It may sound that way, Todd, but it's really not. The religious leaders of Jesus' day - the Pharisees - were totally into 'the rules' and Jesus reprimanded them for it.”
“Then what's the big deal about me saying I'm a Christian but still doing the stuff I wanna do with my buddies who aren't Christians?”
“Let me ask you something, Todd. I know you're starting quarterback for your high school football team. Would you consider approaching your coach and saying, 'Yeah, I know I told you I'd play again my senior year, but I'm not really into practice any more. I don't mind suiting up and playing when there's an actual game. But I'm not gonna make practice any more.”
“That's crazy, Man! Coach would never let me play if I skipped practice. He's pretty strict. We even have to maintain a passing grade average, lay off the Cokes and wear a tie on game days!”
“Hmmm,” Bryan continued. “Sounds to me like you're following an awful lot of rules just to be able to play football.”
“Nah, it's not like that at all. I love football! I'd be miserable if I weren't playing.”
“Todd, listen to yourself. That's exactly how it needs to be in your relationship with Jesus Christ,” Bryan said. “We don't follow Him because it's the thing to do or because our parents are into it. We give our lives to Him because we love Him, and we'd be miserable without Him.”
“Yeah, but - ”
“Hang on, Todd. Hear what I'm saying,” Bryan added. “And because we love Him, we want to follow His plan for our lives - just like you want to do everything your coach tells you to. You trust that he's a good coach and he knows how to help you become the best player you can be. He can even prepare you for a college scholarship.”
“Yeah! He can!” Todd said.
“And Jesus Christ can prepare you for eternity,” Bryan added. “That's the greatest 'prize' we'll ever receive!” < p> “Hey, Bry, I gotta pack.”
“Yeah, I know. But how 'bout meeting down at the dock for a hot dog before you leave?”
“OK. I'll see you in about 30 minutes.”
Know It!
God despises hypocrisy. Don't call yourself a Christian if you're not willing to live it every day of your life. That's why we're told to count the cost before we commit to following Jesus.
Read It!
Luke 14:25-35;Hebrews 12:14; 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 John 2:3-7.
Pray It!
Jesus, I'm so glad that when You counted how much it would cost to save my life and forgive my sins, You didn't walk away from the Cross. And because You gave 100 percent for me, I want to give 100 percent to You.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:48 pm
Discovering God's Truth
“Get everything packed?” Bryan asked Todd as he approached the hot dog stand by the lake.
“Yep. I'm ready to go. My bus will be here in an hour.”
“Mind if we skip a few rocks before you head home?” Bryan asked as he handed Todd a couple of flat, smoothed stones.
“Great.” Todd watched Bryan's stone skip three times across the water.
“Todd, it sounds as thought you want it both ways.”
“Whaddya mean?”
“Well,” Bryan continued, “you want to call yourself a Christian, but you still want to do your own thing.”
“Yeah,” Todd agreed. “Like I said before, I'm still gonna sleep around and probably go drinking with my buddies on Friday nights after the game. No big deal.”
“Yeah, it is a big deal,” Bryan said.
“Why? I'm still gonna go to church. I'll still be plugged into the youth group.”
“Jesus has a name for people like you, Todd. It's 'hypocrite.' ”
“Whoa! You're coming down hard, Bry. Back off.”
“Todd, I care enough about you to give you the Truth. And you can't ride the fence forever.”
“You know, Bryan, I really want to be a Christian. I love our youth group, and I enjoy reading the Bible. I just don't want to let go of everything.”
“There's a spiritual battle going on right now, Todd. Satan and God are playing tug-of-war with your soul. God wants 100 percent, and so does Satan.”
“Hey, I'll never follow Satan!”
“You can't remain neutral, Todd. By not following Christ, you end up following Satan by default. There's no neutral ground in Christianity. You're either for Christ, or you're against Him.”
“I'm for Him, Bryan. I really am. I prayed the prayer, remember? I know the Bible well enough to know that it says whoever believes in Jesus Christ will be save. I believe, Man. So I'm saved!”
Know It!
Yes, Jesus said if you believe in Him, you'd be saved. But guess what - before the Bible was translated and paraphrased into today's language, the word used for “believe” meant to completely adhere to. So when Jesus urged people to believe in Him, He was passionately pleading for them to completely dedicate their lives to Him.
Read It!
John 1:12-13; John 3:18-21; John 7:37-39.
Pray It!
Dear Jesus, I don't want to simply call You Lord. I want You to BE my Lord. I give myself, my will, my entire life to You.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:36 pm
Adhering to God's Truth
Bryan picked up a couple more rocks and handed them to Todd. Todd tossed one across the lake and watched it bounce four times before going underwater.
“Whoa! Dude, that was pretty slick,” Bryan said.
“Yep, not bad,” Todd agreed.
“I need a Coke to wash that hog dog down,” Bryan said. “Want one?”
“Sure.”
Bryan and Todd popped open their aluminum cans, and Todd took a chug. Bryan looked him in the eye.
“Todd, you're leaving in just a few minutes. I want you to listen very carefully to what I'm saying. Will you do that?”
Todd sighed. “Sure, Bry. Go ahead.”
“Look, Todd, I know you think you're a Christian because you believe . . . but believing's not enough. Hey, even Satan believes in God!”
“Well, yeah but - ”
“Todd, you have a tender heart. A heart that God wants to use. But He needs all of it.”
“I just don't wanna quit having fun.”
“Todd, you can still have fun - but the right kind of fun. I gotta tell you, man, I've never been more fulfilled than since I gave my life to Christ in totality.”
“Yeah, I know. I've heard it all, Bryan. But I'm not sure I can quit doing the stuff I know God doesn't want me to do.”
“Todd, do you realize what Jesus says about those who play the game?”
“Whaddya mean?”
“Playing the game - riding the fence - having a foot in the church and a foot in the world - He calls it being lukewarm.”
“That's like room temperature, right?”
“Yeah, sort of. It's a combination of hot and cold. He tells us to make a decision - to be really hot, or to go ahead and just be cold - but if we're lukewarm (if we're in the middle), He'll spew us from His mouth.”
“Spew?!? What . . . you mean like . . . vomit?”
“Yeah,” Bryan said. “That's pretty strong, huh?”
“Sure is,” Todd agreed. “Look, Man. It's not that I just love doing all that stuff so much. But it is fun, and - ”
“And the Bible says that sin is fun for a season . . . meaning it's only temporary fun, Todd.”
“Okay, here's the deal, Bry. I'm scared. I'm afraid if I make a total commitment to Christ, I'll fail. I'm human, Man! What if I blow it?
“That's where forgiveness comes in. When you approach God with a repentant heart, He'll forgive.”
“You mean, I won't have to start all over again? Like if I give God all my heart now, what if I blow it next week, then I come back to camp next summer and start over again?”
“No, Todd, you don't have to start over again. If you're truly repentant and genuinely desire to follow Christ wit hall your life, He'll forgive you when you ask. At that point, you accept His forgiveness and keep walking with Him.”
“That's what I want, Bryan! That's what I really want!”
“Are you willing to give God all of your life - even the stuff you know doesn't please Him?”
“Yeah, I am, Bryan. I said it was fun . . . but it's also miserable at the same time. I'm tired of the guilt. If God can really equip me to live the way He wants me to live, I'm ready to give Him everything.”
Know It!
God doesn't expect you to be perfect, but He does expect obedience and commitment.
Read It!
1 John 1:5-6; 1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 3:1 5-16.
Pray It!
Jesus, thanks so much for Your forgiveness and Your desire to help me be all You call me to be.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:20 pm
Coca-Cola Around the World
Though we're bombarded with a bazillion soft drinks, many throughout the world drink Coca-Cola. I've traveled to every continent in the world . . . except Antarctica . . . and I've found Coca-Cola in every country I've visited.
Even in remote villages without electricity, I've found bottled Coca-Cola. People can't read or write in many of these villages, but they drink Coke. Plumbing hasn't been heard of, clean water is a rare privilege and homes are simply huts made of grass, clay and animal dung. But look closer, and you'll notice the villagers are drinking Coca-Cola.
Amazing, isn't it? Even though Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sprite, and a ton of other drinks are popular . . . Coca- Cola rules worldwide. I couldn't find a Dr. Pepper or a Mr. Pibb in Papua, New Guinea, but I had no trouble locating a Coke.
In Jayapura, Irian Jaya no one had even heard of root beer, but they proudly displayed Coca-Cola along the side of the road. I wasn't able to get a 7-Up or a grape Nehi in the mountains of Bolivia, but I saw row after row of Cokes. In the Philippines; Ethiopia; Australia; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Tahiti, on a safari in Kenya, East Africa, Calcutta, India, Tokyo, Beijing, Singapore, Guam and a plethora of other sites I've been, I couldn't always find a Squirt, Citra, Pepsi Light or Mellow Yellow. But I've never been without a Coke. No matter how far . . . no matter how remote . . . no matter what language . . . no matter what culture . . . Coca-Cola is there!
The marketing and advertising group at the Coca-Cola headquarters have really done their job, haven't they? They've made Coca-Cola the most popular and well- known soft drink around the world. It's even featured at the Olympics!
What if Christ were marketed the same way? Think about it: Every language, every culture, in every remote area of the world, wouldn't it be exciting if everyone could tap into Christ as easily as they can get a Coke! Well, they could . . . if they knew. Hmmm. If only God could come up with an advertising committee as good as Coca-Cola.
Guess what - God does have an advertising committee. And it's a lot more powerful than even Coke's prestigious team. His marketing crew consists of you. And me. And every single Christian around the world.
So why aren't busy advertising Jesus?
Every single day of your life, you advertise something. A sweet spirit, a rotten attitude, course language, forgiveness, kind words, affirmation. Your very lifestyle is a walking advertisement.
What . . . or whom . . . have you advertised today?
Know It!
God is counting on you to be His advertisement. Think about it: You personally know the King of Kings. Tell someone! The Creator of the universe calls you by name. Talk about Him!
Read It!
1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Timothy 1:6-8.
Pray It!
Lord, sometimes I'm afraid to talk about You. Please fill me with Your boldness. Help me to remember that You'll give me the right words to say at the right time, and until then,You'll use my life to be an advertisement for You.
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:16 pm
Coca-Cola . . . The Real Thing?
I should probably tell you that I really like Coca-Cola. It's my favorite soft drink. In fact, I collect Cokes from around the world - cans and bottles still full of the sugary brown liquid with Coca-Cola written across the side in a foreign language. I even have a working 1950s Coca-Cola machine in my basement so I always have plenty of “the real thing” to offer my guests. (And me.)
Some have even gone as far as to say I'm obsessed with Coca-Cola. I have Coca-Cola pencils, pens, notepads, clocks, yo-yo's, lapel pins, T-shirts, pants, jackets, skirts, bath mats, towels, socks and even dishes and silverware.
I also have a working Coca-Cola telephone, board game, framed puzzle, table and chairs, light switch plate and watch. Should I even mention the napkins, salt and pepper shakers, stickers and place mats?
OK, I admit . . . I have Coca-Cola lamps, lights and Christmas ornaments. Yep, even blankets, books, wallpaper, cups, glases and mugs that all sport the Coca-Cola logo on them. Ever seen Coca-Cola marbles, wallpaper, cameras and key chains? You would if you came to my house.
You'd also see mini-cars, a cookie jar, snow globe and even a Coca-Cola candle. And to drink your Coke? You'd have your choice of cups, glasses or mugs - all boasting the Coca-Cola logo.
I guess you could say I'm saturated with Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola stuff.
As much as I enjoy the sugary-brown soft drink, and as much as I love the variety of items that proudly displaly its logo in my home, I love Jesus Christ a whole lot more. He's definitely “the real thing!” He gave His life for me. And though He understands our enjoyment of hobbies and collections, He wants to be much more than a hobby to us.
Jesus wants us to be saturated with Him. He doesn't want to be number one in your life. He wants to be your life! You see, He knows that whatever we place in the number one spot will eventually get shoved to the number two position. God doesn't want to settle for a spot or a position. He wants to saturate you. He doesn't want to simply live in your heart; He wants to take up residence inside your head as well. He wants to rearrange your thinking, affect your actions and reactions.
He wants to possess your thinking - not to control you like a puppet - God doesn't work that way. But He wants to possess your thinking in such a way that whatever breaks His heart will begin to break your heart. He wants you to be obsessed with becoming all He calls you to be.
Know It!
You may have a great collection of “Jesus stuff.” Perhaps you have more than one Bible, some Christian posters, contemporary Christian music and several Christian books. Jesus wants to move you far beyond being a “Christian collector.” He doesn't want to be your hobby; He wants to be your life.
Read It!
Psalm 74:13-17; Psalm 77:18-20; Psalm 81:9-14.
Pray It!
Dear Jesus, if I start to fall into the trap of merely “collecting” You and things that resemble You, wake me up with a strong but gentle reminder that You and You alone are the real thing!
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:53 pm
Crusty Facts About Coca-Cola
As refreshing as an ice-cold Coca-Cola can be at the end of the day, it's not all good. Check out these weird, but true facts about the world's favorite soft drink.
• In many states, the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
• You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke, and the steak will be gone in two days.
• To clean a toilet: Pour a can a Coke into the toilet bowl. Let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean.
• The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
• To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
• To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
• To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
• To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan. Wrap the ham in aluminum foil and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.
• To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes. Add detergent and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosed the grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.
• The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It's pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about four days.
• To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate), the commercial truck must use the “hazardous material” place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.
• The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for more than 20 years.
Though Coca-Cola looks good on the outside, the facts tell us there are some extremely strong ingredients on the inside. Used in moderation, it's not harmful to most people. But used in the above situations or in obsessive amounts, it can be unhealthy.
As Christians, it's easy for us to look good on the outside. We learn how to appear and sound spiritually attractive. But if we're harboring negative influences on the inside, we're spiritually unhealthy.
Know It!
God wants you to be “the real thing!” Acting one way but being another is phony. Let your lifestyle reflect your inner commitment to Christ.
Read It!
Psalm 139:23-24; Psalm 141: 1-4; Proverbs 28:13; Romans 2:5-9.
Pray It!
Jesus, I definitely want to be “the real thing.” Please show me anything in my life that's not pleasing to You so I can commit that to You.
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:46 pm
Talk About Impulsive!
In Old Testament times, there was pretty cool family tradition floating around. (Well, it was cool for the oldest son; if you were anywhere else in the birth order, it wasn't so great.) The oldest son in each family was entitled to the “birthright.” That meant, simply because he was the oldest male, he was in line for the family goods. At some point, all the family owned would become his. The farm, the animals, the house, the four- wheel-drive SUV (hey, if they'd had them back then, he could have claimed it!), everything!
But what happened if the oldest boy was a twin? Enter Esau and Jacob. Since Esau was the first-born twin, he was the one in line for the birthright. How do you think that settled with Jacob? How would you feel if you were beaten by maybe a minute or so?
So Jacob began scheming . . . and cooking. You see, Esau loved to hunt, fish and trap, while Jacob loved to clean, cook and sew. While Esau was playing Davy Crockett in the wilderness, Jacob was playing Betty Crocker in the kitchen. And one day he created a recipe for goat stew that had his bro's eyes rolling backward. Esau loved that stew! Couldn't get enough of it.
Near the end of hunting season, Esau returned home starving. Jacob had been waiting for this very moment. He pulled his famous stew out of the fridge, popped it in the microwave and sat it on the kitchen counter.
“Wow! Is that your goat stew?” Esau asked.
“Sure is, Bro. I'll bet you're hungry after that long hunting trip, huh?”
“Yeah! Where's the spoon?”
“Not so fast. I was planning eating this myself.”
“Ah, come on, Jacob! I'm starving!”
“Wanna trade me for it?”
“Sure. Anything. Just give me the stew. Hey! That's homemade bread! Yeah, anything you want.”
“I want your birthright.”
“Take it. Just give me the stew and the bread. Got any Coke to wash it down with?”
That's all it took. Esau acted on an impulse, and his decision caused a split between the brothers that's still reverberating in the Middle East today!
It's easy to act on impulse. Have you ever purchased something without thinking it through and regretted it later? Or made a rash promise you wished you could take back? If so, you know what it's like to act impulsively. It's usually always followed by regret, sorrow, bitterness or anger.
Know It!
God wants you to think things through before you act. He wants to help you with your decisions. Our choices can have long-term consequences. Don't put your needs and desires before God's plan for your life.
Read It!
Genesis 25:23-34; Genesis 27; Proverbs 5:23; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 23:23; Hebrews 12:11.
Pray It!
Lord, I confess that I often act impulsively. Please help me to develop the discipline You want me to have. Jesus, I don't want to act on my desires or needs outside of Your perfect plan.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:36 pm
The Grabber
Jake is a pretty cool name . . . today. But it may not have always been. Jacob and Esau were twin brothers born to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was born first, and Jacob followed with his hand grabbing the heel of his twin brother. Mom and Dad named him “Heelgrabber”—or Jacob. Imagine signing up for Little League as “Heelgrabber.” They eventually shortened it to “Grabber.” But we can assume other kids made fun of him. He eventually began to lie, cheat . . . and grab.
Later in life, he grabbed Esau's birthright. In his adult life, he grabbed two wives and several farm animals from his Uncle Labon. And finally, he grabbed onto the most important thing worth grabbing in life-God Almighty. The best part of this story, though, is that God grabbed onto Jacob . . . and wouldn't let go.
He wants to grab you, too, and show you how make the most out of your life. God doesn't simply use people who seem to have it all together. He has a knack for grabbing the ordinary and helping them accomplish the extraordinary.
If you're aware of your weaknesses, you're in good company. Jacob had plenty of shortcomings! He was selfish. He became extremely wealthy but didn't want to share. When his back was against a wall, he tried to figure things out on his own instead of turning to God.< p> But God kept holding on. And eventually, God began to change Jacob and develop in him a true godliness. You see, God saw potential in the “Grabber.” God knew what Jacob could become. He didn't overlook Jake's weaknesses, but He focused His attention on developing Jacob into a man of God.
God won't overlook your shortcomings, either. In fact, if you ignore your weaknesses, He'll bring them to your attention. He wants to help you deal with failure, because He loves you too much to let you stay the way you are.
When we grab onto God, He's able to use us in spite of ourselves. What about you? Ready to become a God- grabber?
Know It!
Jacob became a man who eventually held on so tightly to God, that he wasn't willing to move ahead without God's approval. That's exactly where God wants you to be. He desires that your grip on Him becomes so tight, you'll seek His guidance in all you do.
Read It!
Genesis 28; 29; Romans 9:11-13.
Pray It!
Dear Jesus, I realize there are lots of things in life that look enticing to grab. But, Lord, I choose to grab You! Thanks for grabbing me first. In response to Your love, I grab onto You and pledge to hold tightly forever. Guide every part of my life, Jesus.
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:34 pm
Where's Your Heart?
God spoke a lot about a man’s heart.
Know it by heart . . .
When you break someone’s heart
He’ll want a heart-to-heart with you.
David was a man after God’s own heart.
But he soon had a heavy heart
After breaking God’s heart.
From the bottom of his heart
He had a change of heart.
David crossed his heart
That he would follow God’s heart
With all of his heart.
He did.
And God still refers to him as a man after His own heart.
Cool how God finds it in His heart to forgive, forget and restore!
Know It!
God not only wants control of you heart, he wants to shape your heart. And when you give your heart 100 percent to Him, He’ll pour His very self into your heart of hearts.
Read It!
Joshua 22:5; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 9:1-2; 44:21; Romans 10:1
Pray It!
Seek God’s forgiveness for the times you’ve broken his heart. Tell Him you want to serve Him with all of your heart.
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:35 pm
Name Change
After Jacob grabbed onto God with everything he had, God changed the Grabber's name to Israel. At that point, things really started happening! Israel (the man) became the father of the 12 tribes of Israel (the country). He also became one of the most significant people in the Old Testament-not on his own strength-but because God fulfilledHis plan in spite of Israel's weaknesses.
The Bible is filled with folks just like Jake-and just like you-ordinary people failing, confused and frustrated who become victorious, confident and strong simply because they finally give God 100 percent. You see, when we give God everything, things start happening! That's when He looks past our humanness and begins to work in supernatural ways to accomplish His will.
God's plan will not be thwarted by your humanity. He supercedes your failure with the power to make wonderful things happen out of mistakes.
There's another name change in the Bible that made history. The apostle Paul wasn't always Paul. He started out as Saul-dedicated to killing as many Christians as he could. But on the road to Damascus, he was confronted by God Almighty. Convinced Jesus Christ actually was whom He claimed to be, Saul gave God 100 percent. God then changed his name to Paul- and things started happening!
He wrote letters to several new churches, and these letters became part of the New Testament. He preached the gospel throughout the Roman empire on three mission trips. He discipled Timothy and was instrumental in helping the Gentiles become Christians. Paul was filled withGod's strength, and because of that, he was never afraid to face confrontation head-on.
God has a beautiful knack for taking our weaknesses and turning them into His strengths. But there's a catch: We have to admit and commit. Once we admit our failure and commit everything to Him, He's able to work through our past and develop His character within us.< p> Are you willing to allow God to make the changes He needs to make in your life? What if He wants to change your name-or how you perceive yourself? He may want to change your reputation-how you're known and perceived by others. Are you willing to allow Him total control?
Know It!
God won't force you to give Him total control. But it's only when you do, that He begins to complete the life- changing work He wants to do in and through you.
Read It!
Genesis 32:28; Acts 9; Philippians 1:21-22.
Pray It!
Jesus, I admit my failure to You. Will you forgive me for ( fill in the blank ). I accept Your forgiveness, and I commit everything I am to You. Have Your way in my life, Lord. Change my life, my actions-even the way I see myself. I want to be putty in Your hands.
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:34 pm
Outbreak!
New York City had a tough time between 1804 and 1918. The following epidemics ran rampant during those years:
• Yellow fever (three outbreaks resulting in 445 deaths)
• Typhoid fever (one outbreak equaling 200 deaths)
• Influenza (one outbreak causing 12,562 deaths)
• Smallpox (two outbreaks resulting in 7,044 deaths)
• Cholera (six outbreaks equaling 13,210 deaths)
Imgaine there was an outbreak of Christian teenagers truly being, doing and saying exactly what God directed them to! The news might read something like this:
• Following God to the mission field (52 outbreaks resulting in 15,000 new Christians)
• Witnessing to friends at school (1,000 outbreaks equaling 25,000 spiritual conversions)
• Refusing to participate in drinking, drugs, premarital sex (20,000 outbreaks causing 13,659 nonbelievers to visit church)
• Speaking up in class against evolution, abortion and New Age (638 outbreaks resulting in 9,220 students researching what they believe and why they believe it)
What if . . . just what if you decided to start an outbreak for Christ? Would your class notice the difference? Would your school be the same? Would fellow employees at your part-time job take notice? Would your unsaved family members try to sneak a peek at your Bible?
We can rest assured that your friends, family, fellow employees, city and school would never be the same if you started and consistently participated in an outbreak for Jesus. How could you do such a thing?
Well, you could start a Bible club at your school before or after hours (yes, it's legal!), carry your Bible to school, invite non-churched friends to church and youth group, participate on a missions trip and recruit others to join you, share with those who don't know God the difference He's made and is continuing to make in your life, call 200 people and ask how you can pray for them-no strings attached, initiate a support group to raise money for the persecuted Church.
There are any number of things you can do . . . if you're serious about causing an outbreak for Christ. The best place to start is with your heavenly Father. Ask Him for specific direction. Plead for His guidance. And when He speaks, be willing to obey!
Know It!
You're on a first-name basis with the Lord of Lords. So tell someone! Don't be selfish with Good News; spread it around! Talk it, live it, be it, do it-and things around you will never be the same.
Read It!
Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-47; Acts 3:12-26; Acts 4:1-4.
Pray It!
Jesus, I don't want to be a couch-potato Christian who simply sits through my relationship with You. I want to make a difference. Use me, Lord. Show me specific ways I can begin an outbreak for You!
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:45 pm
Giving Your Heart Away
Chad felt as though he were the most awkward kid in his entire third-grade class. He was skinny and shy and didn't know quite how to make friends. But with Valentine's day approaching, he announced an idea to his mom. “It's only three days away,” he said. “And I want to make a Valentine for every kid in my class. I'm gonna buy the best stuff I can find. I'll use the money I was saving for new bicycle tires.”
His mom's heart sank, because she was afraid he'd put everything he had into this project and not get much in return. But she didn't want to drain her son of his new- found excitement, so she took him to the store. Chad bought bright red construction paper, colored glitter, paste, markers, stickers and huge envelopes.
During the next couple of days, he spent nearly every waking hour on creating big, beautiful and personalized Valentines for every student in his class. Finally the big day arrived. He was too excited to eat breakfast. He gathered his stash under his arms and headed off to school.
Around 2:30 p.m., his mom decided to bake fresh peanut butter cookies-Chad's favorite-and them ready and warm when he arrived home from school. I know it'll be a tough day for him, she thought. He's worked so hard on these Valentines, and he'll probably only get a handful in return. His heart will be broken.
At 2:50 p.m., she looked out the kitchen window and saw five third-grade boys laughing and showing their Valentines to each other as they walked home. About a hundred yards behind, walked Chad. Alone. His head was down, and his hand clutched one crumpled Valentine.
His head's down, he's walking faster than normal, and he's about to cry, his mom thought. I'll meet him at the door with a plate of his favorite cookies and a glass of cold milk. That will make him feel better.
She opened the front door, and Chad ran right past her. “Mom!” he screamed.
“Honey, I'm right here.”
“Mom,” he said, trying to catch his breath as he spun around. “Mom, there were 32 kids in our class-not counting me-and I made 32 Valentines. I had a Valentine for every single kid. I didn't forget anyone, Mom! I gave each kid a Valenine!”
She glanced at his hand and noticed his only Valentine was a duplicate the teacher had made for the entire class. Chad was so focused on making sure everyone around him got a piece of his heart, he hadn't even noticed he wasn't loved in return.
Tears fell down his mom's face as she prayed, “Oh, Father! Make me more concerned with the needs of others than my own.”
Know It!
Love isn't always easy. Jesus loved, and it cost Him his life. Are you willing to pay the price to love as Jesus loved? If so, you may not be loved in return. But there's not a better idea in the world than to give your heart away. Not just today . . . but every day for the rest of your life. That's right-make loving others part of your lifestyle.
Read It!
1 Corinthians 13.
Pray It!
Lord, I enjoy giving to others, but I confess I tend to notice when they don't give back. I'm sorry, Jesus. You gave Your very life and still continue to give. Help me focus on the needs of others as You do. Get me past my own selfish wants and desires and teach me how to zero in on the needs of others.
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:13 pm
Stupid Questions
If the Number Two pencil is really the most popular, why is it still number two?
• Why is there Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
• If you try to fail, and succeed at failing, which have you done?
• If all the world's a stage, where's the audience sitting?
• If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
We aren't told his name, but John 5:1-18 tells the story of a young man who had been paralyzed from birth. Jesus found him in Jeresalem at Bethesda-a pool of water that was rumored to be stirred by angels-thus giving healing power to the water. Legend stated that the first person into the water after it had been stirred would be healed.
This pool was probably a hot spring or sulfer water that bubbled up from the ground. This particular man had waited by the pool for 38 years hoping to someday be the first to touch the water's surface after it stirred in the mysterious way it for which it was known.
Jesus saw him lying by the pool and approached him. “Do you want to get well?” He asked.
Do I want to get well? the paralylzed man may have thought. What kind of question is that? I've been here for almost four decades waiting for my moment. Do I want to get well? I'm paralyzed! Why else would I spend the hours in my day lying beside a pool of water?
At first glance, it might seem as though Jesus asked a stupid question. After all, Jesus is God. He knows everything. He knew exactly how long the man had lain by the pool's edge, and He knew why. Yet, knowing this, He still approached the paralytic with the question: “Do you want to get well?”
Even though it may seem like a stupid question, we know that Jesus is the source of all wisdom. So there must be more to the question than merely the question itself.
Man doesn't understand the ways of God. Noah probably thought it was s stupid idea to build an ark. Up to that point in history, rain hadn't existed. The earth was watered by a daily dew that covered the entire land. Only after the flood, did God choose to water the earth with rain.
So, having never heard of rain, Noah may have thought it was a stupid idea to build a boat big enough to hold his entire family and two of each creature that roamed the earth. And why was he building this boat? To save himself, his loved ones and the animals from huge torrents of “rain” he couldn't even imagine.
If God would have said, “I'm going to cover the earth with “hooley-galuba,” it would have meant the same thing. It was a word-like rain-that didn't exist in Noah's vocabulary or mind. But he trusted, and he obeyed.
Know It!
God's infinite ways are beyond your finite thinking. When it seems stupid on the surface, know there's much more behind it that could be life-changing.
Read It!
Genesis 6-8; John 5:1-18.
Pray It!
Lord, I often don't understand Your ways, and I admit that when I don't understand I sometimes ignore You. Will You forgive me, Jesus? Don't let my lack of understanding stand in the way of my obedience.
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:41 pm
Spiritual Rollercoaster
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. ( 1 Peter 4:12-13) NIV
As Christians we all suffer at times, we all go through the hardships and the trials that seem to stalk us around every turn. It's really hard at the roughest moments of our lives to think of the verse above. I'm usually not the one to run down the hallways at school screaming, "Amen, I'm rejoicing in the fact that I'm suffering," when times seem the hardest. I'm usually the one that holds their head down in shame, trying to reason to myself why this is happening to me.
When I was young, I was deathly afraid of roller coasters. Just the thought of anyone getting a thrill out of being thrown around, turned upside down, and twisted in every different direction until you wanted to show every body what you had for lunch, just never appealed to much till I got older. When I started thinking of them not as something trying to get me sick, but thinking as each ride a challenge, it was time to get in line.
When we go through trials, Jesus is always the Big Brother that will ride with us. When we are young in our spiritual lives, He guides us to the easier rides. Even though they seem huge at the time, He straps us in and holds are hand while we go through the trying turns and loops. He's also there to give us the pat on the back once we accomplished the task. But like every good friend it doesn't stop here. It's time for the next ride.
Brothers and sisters, we go through constant roller coasters everyday in this theme park called Life. There will be times when you just want to jump off. Times when you think that you can't go upside down one more time with out throwing up. But always rejoice in the fact that Jesus will be there right beside us. He strapped us in good and will not let us go on any ride that we can't handle or that could be to dangerous. Take pride in knowing that once you make it through the ride, even though it's tough now, you can look back and see what you've accomplished together. They always tell me it's not as bad after the 2 or 3rd time around. May peace be with you.
Your Brother in Christ,
Tony Rhoda
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:43 pm
The Choice
“Many are invited, but only a few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14, CEV)
All of us who are Christians got to the point in our lives when we accepted Christ as our Savior. Maybe you grew up in church, maybe not…but there was some point when you made the decision to follow Jesus.
I grew up in a Christian home, but never really accepted Jesus till much later on in life. I thought I believed, but as I grew up I realized I didn’t have faith in anyone but myself. My whole concept of religion was originally based on the fuzzy warm feeling I got in my stomach knowing that I was “good” because I went to church and could recite a lot of prayers. As I got older I realized that believing wasn’t a feeling but a conscious choice.
So does it end there? We all chose to follow Jesus, right…so we’re good to go. Or maybe not. Lots of times we get up to make a profession of faith and what we’re really saying is something like “Well, I’ve looked at the available information and I’ve decided that it would be in my best interest to follow Jesus.” Like it’s some big deal on our part! We so easily belittle our God by focusing on what we’ve done…and losing sight of what He did for us.
Of course, it’s necessary for our salvation that we choose to accept the free gift of life. But we forget that God chose to make us, chose to love us, and ultimately chose to hang on a cross and die for us…how arrogant of us to not fall to our faces knowing we do not come close to deserving the gift we choose to put out our hands for!
I would challenge you today in your quite time to really think about the choices that God made. You know that He chose to die for you…what other choices has He made for your life? Take the time to discover what God wants in your life, and be prepared for a life that is better than you what could have chosen yourself!
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