31 Jul, 2009
He REALLY Didn't Want to Go to Church!
PLAIN CITY, Utah – Police in Utah say a 7-year-old boy led officers on a car chase in an effort to avoid going to church.Dispatchers received reports of a child driving recklessly on Sunday morning. Weber County Sheriff's Capt. Klint Anderson says one witness said the boy drove through a stop sign.
Anderson says two deputies caught up with the boy and tried unsuccessfully to stop the Dodge Intrepid in an area about 45 miles north of Salt Lake City. The car reached 40 mph before the boy stopped in a driveway and ran inside a home.
Anderson says when the boy's father later confronted him, the boy said he didn't want to go to church. The boy is too young to prosecute and no citations were issued, although police did urge the father to make his car keys more inaccessible to children.
Story and photo found at www.news.google.com.
24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Some of us have been attending church longer than we can remember. Others of us are still a little new to the church scene. Regardless of how long we are part of a local church, we can sometimes forget that Church is not just some place that we go, rather it is the Body of Christ, alive and working in the world today. We don't just "go to church," we are the Church!
- If you haven't already, make a commitment to not miss church for just any reason.
- Have you been "going to church" for a while, but you aren't really serving in any way? Ask your parents or some of the adults at church how you might get involved in sharing in the ministries of the church. Maybe helping in some childrens classes or the nursery. Maybe helping with cleaning up around the church during the week before school starts again. Maybe helping some of the elderly members of your church and community with something while you are still out for summer.
- Thank God for the gift of the Body of Christ!
- Who can you "spur on toward love and good deeds"? Think of someone in your life and find a good deed to do together. Visit someone in a hospital or nursing home. Take a meal to someone who may be out of work and in need of help. Then talk about how it felt to "be" the Church and not just "go" to church.
- Do you have some friends who have "given up meeting together" at church? Give them a call and invite them to join you this weekend.
- Is there someone with whom you've been sharing your story and God's story this summer? Give them a call and invite them to attend church with you this weekend.
30 Jul, 2009
Waking Gets Serious Using Cellphones
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - There must be better ways to be awakened than by construction workers at the crack of dawn, your kids bouncing up and down on your chest -- or a very, very loud buzz.
From traditional electronics devices to Apple Inc's iPhone, many products are looking for that "better way" -- and increasingly cellphones are taking on that task, including phones that listen to you snore.
Consumer electronics manufacturers have tried to corner a segment of this attractive market, because as any member of the weekly rat race can attest, a good night's rest, and waking up well tempered, is serious business.
Broadly, these smart products can be divided into two categories: those that simply awaken you from slumber, and those that help you arise in a pleasant way -- and potentially protect your loved ones from a foul morning mood.
Philips Electronics, Europe's biggest gadget maker, has the Wake-Up Light, which gradually fills your bedroom with light. It makes getting up more natural, "the way you do on a bright summer morning," according to a commercial for the product. (http://tinyurl.com/6yfzua)
For "snooze" hitters, there is Bim Bam Banana's $99 Puzzle Alarm Clock, which forces you to put little puzzle pieces on the clock before the snooze mode is actually activated. Of course, by the time you have solved the puzzle, your brain is awake and so is the rest of you.
Hard-core snoozers can turn to Nando Home's Clocky, a $50 clock on wheels, which runs off from your bedside table the moment it starts yelling -- and won't stop until you have caught it. And the Shape Up Alarm Clock -- designed in the form of a lift-weight -- only stops after you have done a few repetitions.
Story and photo taken from: reuters.com
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Ephesians 5:14 (NIV)
for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
I am not a morning person. My friends often rag on me for hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock sometimes up to 5 times! I am such a sound sleeper that I often dream of the alarm going off but can't seem to turn it off. Maybe I could benefit from this new technology in the cell phone. Not only that, but once I'm awake I need a sturdy few cups of coffee to perk me up and get me going. I bet there are more than a few of you that can relate to my situation.
Regardless of whether it is easy or difficult for us to awake it is what happens after we awake that is the topic of our discussion today. The Master of the Universe often awoke very early (while it was dark!) in the morning to pray to His Father in heaven to start the day.
If Jesus, who was God did it, should we not do the same?
We are often frustrated in our Christian lives because of our lack of intimacy with God but we must be honest with ourselves and evaluate how much priority we give to Him. This could be a key area for many of us: starting the day with God.
Instead of turning on the tv or whipping out the ipod, we could meditate on a passage of Scripture and stop to give praise and thanks to our God. Doing this one simple thing could do wonders to help us "abide in Christ."
- After waking up start by reading a short Psalm or passage of Scripture.
- Give praise to God for who He is and what he means to you. Be specific.
- Thank God for the many blessings He has given you (Even when times are tough there is something to thank God for. Ask Him to reveal those to you if you can't think of anything).
- Pray for others in your life. That Christ would shine on them and meet them where they are. Also pray for any specific needs that you are aware of for them.
- Ask God to use you in any capacity to meet their needs today.
29 Jul, 2009
Brett Favre Calls It Quits
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Quarterback Brett Favre has decided to remain retired and will not join the Minnesota Vikings this
season, head coach Brad Childress said on the team's website (http://www.vikings.com ) Tuesday.
Favre, a three-times league MVP and one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks, played last season for the New York Jets after
16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers that included two trips to the Super Bowl and one championship trophy.
The 39-year-old had retired from the Jets in February saying he was bothered by a partially torn bicep in his throwing arm, and
was released by New York on April 28.
Favre, who had changed his mind frequently about retirement in his twilight years, later negotiated a possible return to the
Packers' division rival Vikings.
His retirement decision came one day before players report to Minnesota's training camp in Mankato.
Favre later stated that his body could not live up to the demands of an entire football season. He just didn't feel like he could be
"good enough."
Story and photo taken from: http://www.reuters.com
What Does Say About Being "Good Enough?"
Read:
Galatians 5:16 (NIV)
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
John 7:37 (NIV)
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and
drink.
The real world and the sports world are a competitive place. We often are discouraged from participating in certain activities
because we feel we are not "good enough." This often might be the right decision but this mindset often transfers over to our
Christian lives.
We often don't feel like we can walk in the Spirit of God because we don't have it all together spiritually. But God does not say
get your act together and then walk in the Spirit. He says, "live by the Spirit" first and then you might be motivated by God's
Spirit.
The order makes all the difference! As Christians, we often ignore the idea of walking with God because we don't feel we are
good enough. I know I do! But the fact is that Christ came to heal the sick. In the midst of our fleshly struggles God has given us
the Spirit to live healthy lives in Him.
It is in spite of our weakness and inadequacies that God's glory is revealed. Let us drink from the Spirit of God even when we
feel undisciplined and unworthy. Praise God that we don't have to have it all together before we live the Christian life!
- Take a moment and list your strengths and weaknesses.
- Thank God for both your strengths and your weaknesses.
- Also say a prayer of thanks that your walk with Christ is not based on what you bring to God but what He has done in and through you. This should free us up each day to walk with God even when
we feel we are not good enough.
- Pray for a friend or family member who is struggling with their self-esteem. (Maybe they don't feel up to the challenges around them.)
- Share with them what God is teaching you about being "good enough."
28 Jul, 2009
20 Ways We Waste Our Money
Whether a newbie or seasoned budgeter, nearly everyone has spending holes -- leaks in your budget that drain money with you hardly noticing. This article lists 20 common ways people waste money. Only the first five have been included, but be sure to check out the full article. There are a lot of great tips here!
How to waste your money
1. Buy new instead of used. Talk about a spending leak -- or, rather, a gush. Cars lose most of their value in the first few years, meaning thousands of dollars down the drain. And you'll pay less in collision insurance and taxes, too.
2. Carry a credit-card balance. If you have a $1,000 balance on a card charging 18%, you blow $180 every year on interest. Get in the habit of paying off your balance in full each month.
3. Buy on impulse. When you buy before you think, you don't give yourself time to shop around for the best price. Do your comparison shopping, check your budget and oftentimes, you'll decide you don't need the item after all.
4. Pay to use an ATM. A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal. But if you're frequenting ATMs outside your bank's network, the surcharges can add up quickly.
5. Dine out frequently. A habit of spending $10, $20, $30 per person for dinner can be a huge drain on your wallet. Throw in a $6 sandwich for lunch and a $4 latte in the morning, and you've got quite a leak.
(Provided by Kiplinger.com. To see the full story, go to http://www.zacks.com/personal-finance/670/20+Ways+to+Waste+Your+Money)
Luke 12:16-21 [NIV]
16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Matthew 6:19-20 [NIV]
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
What does God's Story teach us about managing finances?
Today's article provides some insight into the many ways that we can be careless with the finances that God has given us. Another way that the Bible suggests we can waste our money is to "store up" treasures here on earth that will one day not matter at all.
We can so easily fall into this trap of buying more "stuff". Sometimes adults end up building extra storage spaces or even buying a bigger house to hold all of their stuff. (Which sounds a lot like this "fool" in the story Jesus shared in Luke 12). As a Christian, this is a far bigger waste of our money than carrying a credit card balance or paying to use an ATM. God has entrusted us with finances and we have a choice. We will either use them on ourselves for temporary gratification or we will invest them into eternal matters that will store up treasures in heaven.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story with my story?
Certainly some of what we purchase needs to be spent on temporary items. Jesus wasn't teaching against using His resources to cover our needs. What He was pushing us towards is using as much of those funds as possible for things that matter eternally. So here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Do I see the money that I have as mine or God's?
- Do I pray about purchases...especially larger ones...if that is what God would have me buy?
- Do I at all resemble the guy in Jesus' story who was storing up stuff for himself? (Take a look around your bedroom.)
- Regardless of how I had to honestly answer those questions now...how do I want to answer them for the future?
How does all of this connect with my friend's story?
If you find yourself wondering how you can begin to invest into eternal matters...here are a few ideas!
- Begin to give to your church regularly. If you have an income, giving 10% is a good place to start.
- Instead of getting the newest phone or iPod, make do with the one that you have and instead use that money to bless someone in need. (And, yes, there are plenty of needs around you...once you start looking for them you will be amazed at how many there are!)
- Instead of going to the mall or a movie on a regular basis, use those funds to support a child overseas. There are many organizations through which you can do this.
These are just a few examples...but the point is, the "stuff" of this world will one day fade into nothing. So instead of wasting our money on such things, look around you for ways to impact people in an eternal way. You will be amazed at how many relationships this builds that will allow you then to share Christ. You will be amazed at how much joy this will bring you. And you will be amazed at the eternal reward that will be awaiting you one day!
27 Jul, 2009
"Earth Bares Scars of Destruction," Says Astronaut
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., - A Canadian astronaut aboard the International Space Station said on Sunday it looks like Earth's ice caps have melted a bit since he was last in orbit 12 years ago.
Bob Thirsk, who is two months into a planned six-month stay aboard the station, said he is mostly in awe when he looks out the window, particularly at the sliver of atmosphere wrapped around the planet.
"It's a very thin veil of atmosphere around the Earth that keeps us alive," Thirsk said during an in-flight news conference. "Most of the time when I look out the window I'm in awe. But there are some effects of the human destruction of the Earth as well."
"This is probably just a perception, but I just have the feeling that the glaciers are melting, the snow capping the mountains is less than it was 12 years ago when I saw it last time," Thrisk said. "That saddens me a little bit."
Story taken from http://www.reuters.com and photo taken form http://www.images.google.com
What Does Jesus Say About Our World?
Read:
Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
Romans 8:20-22 (NIV)
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Luke 19:40 (NIV)
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
The Bible confirms what the astronauts have discovered - the world is in decay and man is partly responsible for that.
But what the article does not mention is that God is Lord of all creation. He came not only to liberate and save man from the bondage of sin but also to liberate the world from decay.
In Christ all things are made new!
To many people, the beauty of the world around them is just a product of science and natural selection. But in Christ, we understand that it is much more. It declares the glory of God.
Beholding the beauty of a sunrise or the vast array of stars at night should bring us to our knees in awe and wonder that the God of the universe loves us unconditionally. The world around us says something about God. It reminds us that we are not just a mix of molecules and atoms, but created by a supernatural being that has divine power.
Woe to those who go to bed everynight and have no one to thank. As Christians, we have the noble opportunity to give God thanks for all the beauty that surrounds us.
And if we don't, God says that "the stones will cry out" and give Him the glory!
- Take time today to look around at God's creation.
- Give Him thanks for all the creativity that He has displayed in His handiwork. Thank him for even the little things (ladybugs, rain, birds, etc... you get the picture).
- Pray that God would slow you down enough to see the wonder in many of the things that you take for granted in His world. Pause and worship Him.
- Pray for the opportunity to use God's creation as a springboard for discussion about the idea of an "intelligent creator" vs. scientific reasons.
- You don't have to get too deep about it. Just share how nature gives clues to a reason for a God and how that causes you to have faith in Him (You don't have to be dogmatic or preachy. Just humbly share your story).
24 Jul, 2009
University of Miami QB Tim Tebow a Virgin?
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - You no longer need to wonder if the devoutly spiritual Tim Tebow is a virgin.
Now you know.
Responding to a question from radio reporters at SEC Media Days Thursday about whether he is saving himself for marriage, Tebow laughed initially and then said seriously, "Yes, I am."
When another reporter stumbled through and couldn't finish a follow-up question, the 21-year-old University of Florida quarterback laughed and said, "I think you're stunned right now. You can't even ask a question. ... I was ready for that question, but I don't think ya'll were."
Story and photo found at www.news.yahoo.com.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 (NLT): Live to Please God
1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 Godís will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honoró5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 But we donít need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
What does God's Story teach us about saving ourselves for marriage?
God created and intended sex to take place only in the context of marriage. Yet our culture is saturated with the theme. We can't get away from it. But God's Story tells us to "run away from sexual sin" (1 Cor. 6:18). So how do we handle it?
This week, at the SEC Media Days, Florida Gator Quarterback, Tim Tebow, set an example of confidence and class as he fielded the question about his own choices. Many sportswriters blogs and headlines say it's no one's business to know the answer to such a question. In the manner in which Tebow handled himself, verse 12 from today's God's Story scripture came to life before a room full of reporters ... "Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others."
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Ask God to be in control of your desires.
- Make a commitment to God to save yourself for marriage.
- Talk to your parents about your decision ... (yes you read that correctly) ... they really want to help you make the best choices for your future.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- For the next several months we are going to hear the name Tim Tebow countless times. When we do, let's see that time as an open door to beginning a conversation about God's Story.
23 Jul, 2009
Police Catch Underwear Thief
BERLIN (Reuters) - German police uncovered over 1,000 pairs of underpants and more than 100 pairs of swimming trunks after catching a thief nabbing another three pairs for his collection.
The 46-year-old man was caught Sunday pinching three pairs of pants from a sports hall in the western town of Gelnhausen. Police then came across the enormous collection of underwear while searching his flat.
"They were all evidently in use, but had been washed and neatly stacked away," a police spokesman said Monday.
Police are now investigating where all the underwear came from. The suspect claims to have acquired then from car-boot sales and over the Internet.
Story and photo taken from http://www.reuters.com
Matthew 23:25,26
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
What Does God Say About What's Underneath?
Todays' story is pretty funny. Why a thief was so concerned with stealing the undergarments of others we may not ever know.
What we do do know is that God is concerned with what is on the inside.
We should remember that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were highly respected in Jesus' time. They looked the part and appeared to have everything together.This wasn't good enough for Christ. Underneath their wordly success was greed and self-indulgence. I am oftened humbled (everyday) just how self-indulgent and hypocrital I am in my walk with Christ.
It is almost natural for me to try and create a certain type of appearance when often my heart is far from God. I wander around thinking that things will change when the reality is it won't if I don't choose to clean up my act.
Let's focus on cleaning up what goes on inside us by choosing Christ over greed, self-indulgence, and judging others only by their outside appearance.
- Think about some ways you might act and/or pretend to be someone you're not. Do you try to leave an impression that might not be true with others?
- Consider some ways that you might clean up the inside of your cup (or heart, i.e. - I will be conscious of the negative words that come out of my mouth and try and change them).
- Ask God's forgiveness and seek to try and live a godly lifestyle.
- Encourage others around you to think more about what is on the inside than their physical appearance.
- Look for ways to encourage them with compliments for character, kindness, etc... instead of just looking to compliment them on their looks.
22 Jul, 2009
Angels to the Rescue
Father of Family Rescued From Burning SUV Says Trapped Son, 4, Saved by Angels
MILWAUKEE — The father of a 4-year-old boy saved from a burning SUV in Milwaukee says his son was surrounded by angels. James "Chris" Harper said Tuesday words can't express his gratitude to off-duty firefighters Joel and John Rechlitz and others.
Pediatric surgeon David Gourlay says 4-year-old D.J. Harper is in serious but stable condition with burns over 20 percent of his body. He says many of the burns are deep and are on the scalp, face and upper body.
Harper's mother, 32-year-old Angela Baldessari of Kingsport, Tenn., was driving Sunday when her SUV hit a tree and burst into flames.
She and her 2-year-old daughter were pulled out but rescue workers had to cut the boy's car-seat restraints to save him.
The Rechlitz brothers suffered burns on their hands and forearms.
Story and Photo found at www.news.google.com.
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
What does today's God's Story Scripture teach us about angels?
Here's what the Life Application Study notes have to say about Today's God Story Scripture ...
One of the functions of angels is to watch over believers. (See Hebrews 1:14) There are examples of guardian angels in Scripture (1 Kings 19:5; Daniel 6:22); Matthew 18:10; Luke 16:22), although there is no indication that one angel is assigned to each believer. Angels can also be God's messengers. Angels are not visible, except on special occasions (Luke 2:9). Verses 11 and 12 were quoted by Satan when he tempted Jesus (Luke 4:10). It is comforting to know that God watches over us even in times of great stress and fear.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for the angels He has created to watch over believers.
- Take some time to look up the verses listed above and read more about what God's Story has to say about angels.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Help your friends understand a little more about the truth about the angels God created, versus the angels Hollywood has 'created.'
- Look for ways that God is working in the lives of those around you and use those moments to start a conversation about God's Story.
21 Jul, 2009
That will be $23 quadrillion please
How much you pay for cigarettes depends on where you live. But there’s nowhere on Earth that charges $23 quadrillion – that’s $23,148,855,308,184,500, to be precise – a pack.
But thanks to a computer error, that’s how much a New Hampshire man paid at a gas station using his pre-paid Visa card. When he checked his balance online later he discovered the amount – plus the $15 bank fee for being overdrawn, just to add insult to injury.
Josh Muszynski told TV station WMUR:
"It is a lot of money in the negative, something I could never, ever afford to pay back. My children could not afford it, grandchildren, nothing like that."
He spent two hours on the phone with Bank of America before the bank removed the charge and the overdrawn fee. In a statement, Visa Debit Processing Services said:
"Visa regrets any inconvenience to our customers, and has taken immediate steps to ensure this error doesn't occur again."
(To see the full article by Christopher Nickson, 7/16/09, go to news.digitaltrends.com)
Matthew 18:21-35 [New Living Translation]
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
What does God's Story teach us about forgiveness?
In today's passage, Jesus is being asked a question about how many times we are supposed to forgive someone who sins against us. Jesus could have just said, "An infinite amount of times" and been done with His lesson...but that isn't the kind of teacher He was. He always had a good story ready to help us better understand the truth He was communicating.
You can just imagine the outrage of His listeners when they heard about this guy who was forgiven millions by the king and then turns around and demands that someone else pays him the little amount he is owed. That's crazy! That just doesn't sound right! What was this guy thinking!?!
And then Jesus shines the light on us and teaches that this is just how we are when we refuse to forgive someone who does something against us.
In today's story, Mr. Muszynski found himself with a debt that was simply impossible for him to pay. I can't even imagine what $23 quadrillion looks like. It is an insurmountable bill...that is for sure!
You and I are in the same spot spiritually. Our "bill" is way too big for us to even think about paying back. The ONLY way for us to stand in God's presence is to have that bill forgiven. THE King has done just that!
Who are we to then turn around and not forgive others? (That's crazy. That just doesn't sound right. What are we thinking!?!)
- Stop and think about your sins from the last 24 hours...thoughts, words, attitudes, actions that weren't pleasing to God. If you really think through this past day, that list can be pretty long. What would that list then look like for the past week...month...year...all of your years? Is there even enough paper to write them all down? I don't know about you, but I hate the thought of seeing that list. At the same time it causes me to be all the more grateful for the forgiveness I have been offered.
- Praise God specifically for His amazing forgiveness and grace to you...your debt is gone!
- Are there any sins against you that you are still holding against someone? Are you making someone pay back a few bucks when you have been forgiven millions? Talk to God about that.
- If He leads you to...go talk to that person. Prayerfully and gently let them know that they have hurt you but that you are choosing to forgive them.
- If God leads, share with them that you too have been forgiven. Maybe you will even get a chance to tell them the story that Jesus shared. God may use your forgiveness for them to lead them to His forgiveness for them!
20 Jul, 2009
Most Trustworthy Man in America Dies at Age 92
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, whose authoritative delivery of news events from the John F. Kennedy assassination to the Apollo moon landing and Vietnam War, made him "the most trusted man in America," died on Friday at age 92.
Many young people today will probably not remember Walter Conkrite but he was the news reporter for America during almost every big event over the past 5 decades. And not only that, he was greatly admired for his honesty and straight forward approach. An approach that is often missing in today's news world.
During his years at the CBS anchor desk, Cronkite was regularly voted the "most trusted man in America" in opinion polls. Senator Robert Kennedy was so impressed he asked Cronkite to run for public office.
"I don't understand my impact or success," Cronkite once said. "That my delivery is straight, even dull at times, is probably a valid criticism. But I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting. To do anything else would be phony."
Story and photo taken from: http://www.reuters.com
Proverbs 20:6 (New American Standard Bible)
Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?
James 5:12 (New American Standard Bible)
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment
What does God say about being trustworthy?
Webster's dictionary defines trustworthy as being worthy of reliance or trust. Multitudes of people in America felt Walter Conkrite was trustworthy because he meant what he said and said what he meant. He didn't try to mix up words and sound fancy.
God also tells us in His Word not to mix words. He tells us that it is in our sinful nature to believe we are trustworthy but are we?
It is so easy to beat around the bush with people and just tell little half truths so we don't have to really say what we believe or feel. There are those moments in our lives when we must stand up to those around us and tell them the truth.
We don't have to excuse the sinful behaviors of ourselves and others. Making our yes, yes and our no, no involves being honest with ourselves and others. If we have a problem with someone we need to speak it in love. If it concerns us, we need to be honest about that too.
Today's world is very focused on being entertained. That isn't so bad, but when we let entertainment take the place over the fear of being dull, our trustworthiness in the eyes of God can often be compromised.
Like Walter Conkrite, let's be more concerned with not being a phony. Let's make our yes be yes and our no be no. May we not avoid the truth just to fit in with our friends and be popular. May God find us trustworthy to Him and to others.
- Take an inventory of your life. Would you consider yourself trustworthy? Why or why not?
- Would your friends consider you a trustworthy person?
- Pray that God would allow you to be truthful with yourself and others.
- Being untrustworthy is very common with many of our circles of friends. Single out a few friends who struggle with being untrustworthy or who have been hurt by others lack of trust and pray for them.
- Be ready to communicate with others the trustworthiness of God. God wants us to trust Him. In fact, most of the Bible is about this very fact. This is often very critical for those who are looking for someone or something to trust.
17 Jul, 2009
Spreading Joy... one cheeseball at a time?
At a conference this past weekend I met "Jolly Molly" aka The Cheeseball Chick. Molly wears a container of Cheeseballs on her back just about everywhere she goes. Complete with a custom made harness and an ingenious dispensing system to ensure freshness and cleanliness. Molly brings joy everywhere she goes passing out cheeseballs to strangers, having conversations, and sharing the real reason why she wears this cheeseball contraption. To find out more of Molly's story and why she does what she does, visit cheeseballchick.com
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV)
Be joyful always
Psalm 94:19 (NIV)
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
What does today's story & God's Story Scripture teach us about joy?
The Bible talks about joy, a lot. In fact, did you know that joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit? (Galatians 5:22) That means that if we have the Holy Spirit in us we are called to be Joyful. That doesn't mean just being happy or giggly or smiling and pretending that things are great when they aren't. Being joyful means having hope in Christ, being content in every situation, and knowing that His Kingdom is so much greater than the world we live in. In our culture people try to find joy by acquiring things, getting a better job, being the best at a sport, or getting into the best school and once they have accomplished these things they still don't have happiness. True Joy can only come from Christ.
How can we connect today's story & God's Story Scripture to our own lives?
- Are you truly Joyful? Ask GOD to give you the fruit of the spirit, Joy. Pray and ask GOD to show you where you may need to surrender some things and have true Joy in Christ.
- Pray and ask GOD for opportunities to bring His Joy to those around you.
- Ask GOD to open your eyes & heart to the many opportunities for Joy he puts in your life daily.
How can I connect today's story, God's Story Scripture, & my story to my friends?
- Ask your friends what makes them smile and what brings them joy in tough times.
- Tell your friends about Molly, the Cheeseball Chick, and ask them what their reaction would be if they met her.
- Share with your friend a time when you found Joy when it wouldn't make sense to the world.
- Get with a group of Christian friends or you youth group and come up with your own cheeseball way to spread joy & share Christ's love with others. Try it for a week and then get together to share your stories of how GOD moved.
15 Jul, 2009
United Breaks Guitar!
Folk singer David Carroll was on a flight to Nebraska from Chicago in 2008. While he was looking out of his window seat during boarding he noticed that the baggage handlers weren't handling his expensive guitar with any type of care.
Upon arrival to Nebraska David opened his guitar case and to his amazement he found his $3,500 dollar guitar in pieces!
He immediately notified United personnel in the airport and was basically turned a deaf ear. He then filed a complaint to United headquarters with no success.
After many months of frustration with United and no compensation anywhere in sight, David decided to write a song and post in on youtube.
He has since gotten over 2,000,000 hits and United Airlines has become extremely interested now that he has made their mistake public.
United Airlines has now decided to compensate David for his broken guitar and many have enjoyed his well played diddy on the internet. You can view it now on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
Story taken from http://www.nowpublic.com and photos were taken from http://www.images.google.com
1 John 4:16-19 (NIV)
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
What does God say about broken heart?
David Caroll had a broken guitar and pursued United Airlines for months to get them to fix it. It wasn't until he brought the world's attention to the situation did he get a response.
Like David Caroll's story with United, the world can and will often break our hearts.
Thankfully we have a Savior who pursues us first. We don't have to make a spectacle to get his attention.
He loves us and mends our hearts. He drives out the fear that we have of anything life throws at us. It is in this pursuing love of God that we are made complete.
We don't have to get it all together first. God loves us unconditionally and gives us the confidence to love ourselves and then love others.
United breaks guitars, but Christ fixes hearts.
- Is your heart broken today? Has the world beat you up and left you dazzed and confused?
- Read the verse above over again and meditate on the fact that it is God who loves us before we can even begin to love Him. He makes the first steps over and over again in our lives.
- Rejoice in the fact that we are loved by God. Cherish his love for you everyday and begin to see His love being made perfect in our brokenness.
- Undoubtedly there are some friends with broken hearts that you interact with everyday. Pray and pursue their friendship as God pursues us.
- Listen to them. Don't try to fix their problems but ask God to help you to just listen and love them.
- If God provides an opportunity, share with them how God's love for you has shaped your self-confidence and ability to love others in a broken world. Be humble.
14 Jul, 2009
Drop Your Stone
Coach, teammates remember slain ex-NFL QB McNair
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Steve McNair’s pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback Thursday, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field.
McNair, who was married, was shot to death at his condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself.
“Drop your stone the next time you write about Steve McNair. Drop your stone the next time you text somebody. Drop your stone the next time you twitter. Drop your stone, those of you in the barbershops, the beauty shops. Those of you walking the streets on the corner, drop your stone,” Bishop Joseph W. Walker III told thousands of people, among them family members, fans and more than 50 former teammates, gathered at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
“What I do know about this man was that he loved God though he was just like us: imperfect,” Walked said. “But he knew God.”
To view the whole story, go to
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-mcnairkilled&prov=ap&type=lgns
John 8:3-11 [NIV]
3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
What does God's Story teach us about judging others?
Steve McNair and the woman in John chapter 8 share a lot in common. Both of them were obviously caught in an adulterous relationship. Both of them were quickly judged by the religious community around them. Most importantly, both of them (just like you and me) ultimately have God alone as their judge.
I have to admit, when I first learned of what happened to Steve McNair (former NFL MVP quarterback), my heart was in the same condition as every one of those guys who were holding stones in today's passage. After all, he was a married man who was having an affair...and with someone almost half his age...doesn't that (I reasoned) give me the right to judge him!?!
The answer is "no".
Why? Because I too have sin in my life. Every one of those guys who were holding stones and thought they had every right to throw them soon learned what Jesus had to teach that day. The lesson is that, unless you are perfect, you have no right to judge others. Only one person there that day was actually perfect and even He said, "neither do I condemn you."
Now, Jesus also said that she should leave her sin. Don't miss that part of Jesus' teaching. What Steve McNair was doing was wrong. A fellow brother in Christ from the church he has attended for the last 12 years should have gently called him out on it. (As we are to lovingly hold fellow believers accountable...which is different than having a judgmental heart.) God's grace is not to be taken lightly and we shouldn't assume that we can sin freely because of it. However, when it comes to judging, we should be sure to leave that to the only One who is qualified.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story with my story?
- Check your heart...with Steve McNair...with that "one girl" at school...or that "one guy" at youth group. If, after taking an honest look, you are holding a judgmental heart...ask God to replace it with grace. Remember that you too have messed up. We all have according to Romans 3:23.
- Read Luke 6:36-37 and Matthew 7:1-5. These will give you even more reason to not judge.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and your story with your friend's story?
- Ask a friend what they think about Steve McNair. Ask them if they think God could forgive a sin "that bad". Then show them John chapter 8 and explain that Jesus can forgive any sin. Maybe they have thought for a long time that their junk was too much. Let them know that it's not!
- Is there a brother or sister in Christ who you know is living in outright sin? If so, ask God to fine tune your heart with love and not judgment...and then go and gently help them get back on track. We all need help walking this journey!
13 Jul, 2009
Ryan Seacrest - Highest Paid Reality TV Show Host
Ryan Seacrest, host of the popular show "American Idol", has just received a new contract for this year. Reportedly, he made over over 5 million dollars last season and will make more this season.
This new deal will make him the highest payed reality show hosts on television.
His new deal breaks down to about $100,000 an episode and there are even plans for him to host another new show.
Who says you need to be blessed with a great singing voice. Seacrest has shown that good looks and the gift of gab can often net you far more.
Story and photo taken from http://www.reuters.com
What does God say about being a "Star"?
Read:
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
It is many people's dream to be a star or an "American Idol". Who wouldn't want the celebrity, fame, and money that comes with such talent? Most of us would love to even be Ryan Seacrest who makes millions for just introducing the talent.
As great as all this is, God has another purpose for us. He is not only concerned with our personal salvation but the salvation and nurturing of the body of Christ. Are we concerned with only our own personal development or are we equally concerned for believers around us?
This is a very difficult question for me. I tend to be a Christian self-help kind of a person. I look to read an article and/or book to help me become the best Christian I can be. I often neglect the very fact that maybe it is focusing on the body of Christ around me that I need to concentrate on.
Complete surrender to Christ often involves my complete surrender to others. I often do not like this. The Christian life is such that it is not just that I seek Christ for what He can do for me but that I should seek Him period. As the great Christian writer Oswald Chambers once said:
"My goal is God himself, not joy or peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God."
We can love God in this way by loving the body of Christ that He has placed near us.
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Think of the fellow believers that God has placed in your life.
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Thank God for their different gifts and the influence they have had on you.
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Encourage one or two believers in your circle of influence with a word or letter affirming their unique gifts. If they are musically inclined share with them how God has used them to build unity in the body of Christ. Or if someone is a good listener, encourage them likewise.
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Pray for specific ways this week that God can use you and other believers to build up the body of Christ (look for simple ways you can serve together).
10 Jul, 2009
What's In Your Water?
What's in that bottle? Congress says water unclear
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bottled water makers make millions off people who believe their products are purer than tap water, but consumers do not realize that they are less regulated than plain old tap water, according to a U.S. Congressional report released on Wednesday.
The report from the General Accountability Office also found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has little power to regulate the safety of bottled water, and even states with the power to regulate it concentrate more on tap water.
The report was just one piece of ammunition unleashed at the bottled water industry at a hearing of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
"Of particular note, FDA does not have the specific statutory authority to require bottlers to use certified laboratories for water quality tests or to report test results, even if violations of the standards are found," the GAO report reads.
Jane Houlihan of the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization that submitted a second report to the committee, said in a statement: "Many people assume bottled water is healthier and safer to drink than ordinary tap water.
"But some companies have lured consumers away from the tap with claims of health and purity that aren't backed by public data."
Sponsors of the hearing agreed.
"Americans are willing to pay top dollar for bottled water, which costs up to 1,900 times more than tap water and uses up to 2,000 times more energy to produce and deliver," Michigan Representative Bart Stupak told the hearing.
Full Story and Image found at http://www.reuters.com.
John 4:1-30, 39-42 (ESV)
Jesus and the Woman of Samaria
1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus,wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." 13Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water."
16Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." 19The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship." 21Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me,the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." 26Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
27Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" 28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" 30They went out of the town and were coming to him ...
.... 39Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41And many more believed because of his word. 42They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
What an encounter! If ever someone wondered "what's in your water?" it had to be this woman when she heard Jesus say, "... whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever." All she wanted to do was draw some water in the heat of the day when no one else would be there. But what she received was so much more. She received the amazing opporunity to come face to face with Jesus. And there, at that well, he gave her the unconditional love and acceptance for which she had been longing for so long. But it didn't stop with her. That encounter at the well spread to others from that Samaritan town, as "Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony." (v. 39)
- Spend some time today thanking God for His unconditional love for you!
- Read John 4:31-38 and see how the disciples responded to Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman.
- Make a list of some ways that you could organize an effort to meet practical needs of others in your community over the summer that would model God's unconditional love.
- Ask God to show you someone you might be overlooking who needs his love. Find a practical way to connect with them this summer to model God's unconditional love.
- Are there some places where you could actually hand out a cold drink of water in the heat of the summer? Organize a cold water give-away with your family, or church, or friends. Have no agenda other than sharing the love of Jesus by the giving of the water. Those bottles of cold water may or may not open the door for some great conversations about God's love. Let Him be in control!
- Keep working on the list of practical needs in your community. Commit to doing one thing each week from that list that would model unconditional love to someone.
8 Jul, 2009
Would You Pledge Your Soul As Collateral On A Loan?
This sounds like a ridiculous question but the country of Latvia is actually doing this. The economic crisis has hit them hard.
The Kontora loan company is offering a loan that the client must sign which reads "agreement" and then reads: collateral, "that is, my immortal soul."
If a client fails to pay there will be no debt collectors. The company just says, "that the client won't have a soul, that's all."
Mirosiichenko said his company was basically trusting people to repay the small amounts they borrowed, which has so far been up to 250 lats ($500) for between 1 and 90 days at a hefty interest rate.
He said about 200 people had taken out loans over the two months the business was in operation.
Story taken from reuters.com. Photos taken from images.google.com.
Mark 8:36-38 (NIV)
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
What does God say about the soul?
God places high importance to a man's soul. It's value is more than anything the world can offer. He goes on to say that if we seek all the things (and receive them) of this world and neglect our soul what good is it?
As silly as the "loan for soul" in Latvia is, God is more serious. It matters what we think and do. Acknowledging Christ in all of our affairs is God's plan for us.
In Latvia, defaulting on a loan just simply means hey, "you just lose your soul." These are mere words that the bank really cannot collect on. But God can and will collect. May our account be good with the Lover of men's souls.
- Living for God is difficult. There are times when we might fell ashamed to be a follower of Christ or it might not be the popular thing to do. Think of an instance in your life where this rings true.
- Ask God to forgive you and give you strength to follow Him even when times are tough (remember, Peter denied Him 3 times).
- Pray for the souls of those in your life who are lost.
- Ask God to provide opportunities to talk about the "soul" and what happens after we die. Share with them the power of Christ to save souls.
7 Jul, 2009
Loss of an Icon
Today...Tuesday, July 7, 2009...America and the rest of the world will lay to rest one of the largest icons this world has ever seen. Michael Jackson was undoubtedly one of the greatest entertainers in history. He broke record after record when it came to album sales as he sold a combined 750 million albums. He was at the top of the charts throughout his short life. Many saw him as "larger than life".
He is not the first icon that our world has lost prematurely. Elvis, John Lennon, JFK, Martin Luther King and Princess Diana are just a few of the dozens who also appeared to be larger than life...but in the end, were not. It is a truth that we all know...no one is above death...but somehow we allow ourselves to assume otherwise when it comes to the famous.
In a video piece done by ABC entitled "The Ways America Mourns Icons", reporter Claire Shipman left her audience with the question, "If stars like these can be extinguished so unexpectedly, what does that say about our own mortality?"
To view the whole story, go to http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8010550
Hebrews 9:27-28 (New International Version)
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
What does God's Story teach us about death
We all will die physically. Black, white, male, female, rich, poor, unknown and icons...our last breath will most certainly come. God's Word clearly tells us that each man and woman is destined to die. God not only shares that insight with us, but He grants us another critically important piece of information...once we die, each of us will face the judgment seat.
This isn't exactly a popular message in today's society. People don't like to be judged and they don't like to hear that there is only one way. People, more and more, like to determine their own way...do their own thing. But the truth is that, just as we are unable to control when our last breath comes, so are we unable to alter this declaration that God has made.
So the truth is that we will die and that we will face judgment. The GOOD NEWS is that we need nothing but to have accepted Jesus' forgiveness in order to be welcomed into an eternity with the Father! Verse 28 clearly teaches that Jesus' sacrifice has taken away the sins of many!
How can we connect today's story and God's Story with my story?
- Answer the question that Claire Shipman asked America..."what does this say about our own mortality?"
- Talk to God about your thoughts and feelings about death...be real with Him and allow Him to bring you answers, peace or whatever you might be seeking from Him regarding this tough reality of life.
- If you have never accepted Christ as your personal Savior, you can do so today. Just talk to God. Admit your need for His forgiveness and express your belief in His risen Son, Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9) Then, no matter when it may come, you will have no fear of your last breath!
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and my story with my friend's story?
- What a perfect opportunity to discuss the concept of our mortality with your friends. The world will be focused on Michael Jackson's funeral today. Simply ask what they believe happens after death. You will be amazed at the different answers people may have and the conversations that this question will lead to.
- Pray that God will use today's memorial service in the lives of many people around the world. Pray that God's truth can be shared in loving ways and that people (including your friends) will turn to Him as a result.
6 Jul, 2009
Atheist Game Show
Producers in Instanbul want to make a reality tv show out of belief in God. The show wants to take religious leaders from the Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist faiths and hopefully convert non-believers to a belief in God.
The prize for converts will be a pilgrimage to a holy site of their chosen religion -- Mecca for Muslims, the Vatican for Christians, Jerusalem for Jews and Tibet for Buddhists.
"We are giving the biggest prize in the world, the gift of belief in God," Kanal T chief executive Seyhan Soylu told Reuters.
A team of theologians supposedly will ensure that the athiests and really non-believers and not just trying to get a vacation from the gameshow.
Many religious leaders oppose the show stating that personal faith should not be made into entertainment.
200 people have applied so far and 10 contestants will be chosen next month.
Acts 17:27,28 (NIV)
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'
Luke 8:8 (NIV)
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
What does God say about belief?
God desires for people to seek Him and come to have belief in Him.As Paul stated, "it is through Christ that we move and have our being."
It didn't take long for the entertainment world to try and capitalize on someone's belief or non-belief in God. Regardless of what we think about a game show of this nature, believing in God is not a joke.
Christ preached for 3 years that He was God and some had ears to ear while His words often fell on deaf ears.
Paul preached Christ crucified and raised from the dead to many brilliant minds in the ancient world. Some believed and some did not.
I'm not sure what a gameshow will do to help others have belief in God. I'm sure the results will be similar to that of Jesus and Paul. What I am sure of is that God wants us to live before Him in such a way that others see Christ in us, and that we testify to others our belief in Him.
- Read Acts chapter 17 and take note of how Paul was moved by the culture around him.
- How did Paul respond to those who didn't believe in God?
- Pray for those around you who seem to have "no belief" in a supernatural God.
- Use Paul as an example to how you might interact and respond to their unbelief. Take one thing you have learned from Paul and do it today.
3 Jul, 2009
Happy 4th of July!
As we celebrate America’s birthday this weekend, it is easy to get caught up in the greatness of our nation and forget the One who made it great. We are blessed to live in what many say is the greatest country which means we should be overwhelmingly thankful for God’s grace and mercy and for those men and women who have sacrificed so much to keep our country free.
In this day of “political correctness” and an increasing push to remove God from our culture, I think the words of a few of our great leaders are an excellent reminder that God has done far more than our founding Fathers ever imagined.
- "It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible." -George Washington
- It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."-Patrick Henry, Patriot 1776
- We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come."
- Samuel Adams, 1776 (at the signing of the Declaration of Independence) - Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust, in the best way, all our present difficulty.”- Abraham Lincoln
- “The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible', "In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."-George Washington Carver, inventor 1939
- The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God."-John F. Kennedy
- I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land."-Martin Luther King, 1968
Micah 6:8
“He has shown me what is good and what is required of me; to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.”
What does today's story & God's Story Scripture teach us about justice & mercy?
Justice, mercy, and humility seem to be characteristics of many of the leaders that God has placed in leadership not just in our country but around the world. Perhaps because no matter where you live or what your circumstances, God has called us to be people who pursue justice, who are merciful and who remain humble knowing that all we have is only because of God’s goodness.
I love the Fourth of July and the celebration of our nation. It is a perfect day to thank those around you who have sacrificed for our freedom and it is an even better day to remember the sacrifice Jesus made so that we could have freedom in Christ.
How can I apply God's Story Scripture to my own life?
- Take a moment this weekend to reflect on God’s faithfulness to you and thank him for it. Then thank him for the blessings he has bestowed on our nation. Ask God to show you ways to pursue justice and to be more merciful and humble.
- If you know someone who has served in the military, be sure to thank them for their service and ask them what they think it means to “do justice”.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story Scripture & my story to our friend's story?
As you sit and watch fireworks with family and friends ask them about ways they see justice and mercy and humility in people around them.
2 Jul, 2009
You Are What You Eat
According to surveys in a Chicago research center, obesity rates continued to climb in the past year with 23 U.S. states reporting adults in their states are fatter now than they were a year ago.
"Our health care costs have grown along with our waistlines," said Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America's health, which released the report along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
He said the obesity epidemic is contributing to skyrocketing health costs, and said the problem has to be addressed at the highest levels of government.
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, arthritis and other conditions.
Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight, as defined by their body mass index or BMI. Out of 50 states, 37 of them showed gains in obesity according to the study.
Acts 17:11 (NIV)
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
The above article talks about becoming physically fat. As a nation we are eating more than ever and it is showing in our waist sizes. We are becoming what we eat.
But as Christians how do we become more like Christ? It must first start by reading the Scriptures. Paul writes that the Bereans were eager and excited to examine the Word of God so that they could become more like Christ.
How about you?
Christ has saved us by His grace but that doesn't mean we just sit and become spiritually lazy. We need to be like the Bereans and study God's Word so that we might see who God is and find out what it is that He requires of us.
If we are to grow 'love handles' let's grow them by feasting on the Holy Scriptures.
- How much time do you spend reading God's Word each week?
- Commit to reading at least a chapter a day in a particular book of the Bible this week?
- Commit to reading at least a chapter a day in a particular book of the Bible this week?
1 Jul, 2009
Couple Married and Divorced On Same Day
A polish couple who were living in Germany decided to get married over the weekend. What they didn't plan for was that they would be getting divorced as well.
Soon after the couple were married they began to fight. The scene got ugly because the man was chasing his bride around trying to cut her hair with a kitchen knife.
The new bride called the police and a restraining order was issued but not before both parties decided to get a divorce.
The man then left and spent his honeymoon in a homeless shelter.
Photo and story taken from http://mobile.reuters.com
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
What does God say about love?
The story above is an odd one that for sure. You could see a late night comedian getting some laughs over their unfortunate relationship. As crazy as this story appears, there are undoubtedly some similarities that all people can relate to.
We all struggle to understand what love is. The world has their view and God has his. We can talk about romantic love and brotherly love until we are blue in the face. There are some differences we can see plainly but the essence of God's love is an action.
God's love requires us to be patient with everyone. To consider others before ourselves. To not try to make others look bad so we can receive the glory. It gets excited about the goodness of God.
If you are confused today about what love is, look to God and His word and take action to love as He has loved us.
- Write out some sentences describing your view of what love is or ought to be.
- Compare your version with God's in 1 Corinthians 13. How are they similar? How are they different?
- Pray that God would teach you how to love.
- Be aware of the relationships around you this summer. It is often in the midst of friends fighting (or boyfriends and girlfriends) that God will provide an opportunity to share His love.
- Share with them how God has taught you about love when God provides the opportunity.
