31 Dec, 2009
Face to face
Ministering to "the least of these" in Thailand
This week I had the opportunity to share the dinner table with a passionate missionary who is currently stationed in Thailand but was home for a short Christmas break. When she moved to Thailand with her husband they had one child and they were planning on two years of service before returning to the United States. Now they have two biological children, they've adopted three Thai children, and they're working on their seventh year of service in Thailand. Simply put, upon witnessing face to face the abject poverty of Thailand's orphans, and the inhumanity of the child sex trafficking that is completely out of control there, these faithful missionaries felt so compelled by the gospel they just couldn't leave.
Now these two disciples of Jesus love the "least of these" in their own home everyday, as well as operate a "drop in" shelter where dozens of poor, outcast, and orphaned children can receive the physical, spiritual, and emotional care they are so desperate for.
Seven years ago two young Christians set out for a two year service project to a foreign land, now the same two disciples have made that foreign land their new home and have devoted their entire lives to making the Kingdom of God known to the least of these in Thailand.
Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Have you ever really thought about what Jesus says in Matthew 25? It's incredible to think about the fact that when we love the vulnerable, downtrodden, and oppressed people of our world we are really and truly serving Jesus himself! I think that's why the missionaries in today's story just couldn't leave Thailand, they were just to overwhelmed by waking up and seeing Jesus face to face everyday.
The question for us is, where do we see Jesus face to face everyday?
- Read Matthew 25 today and pray that the words of Jesus confront you the same way that the "least" of Thailand confronted the missionaries in today's story.
- Ask your youth pastor or CL Director what you can do to love and serve the "least of these" in your community.
- Ask a friend who they believe represent the "least" in our society.
- Invite a friend along with you as you serve the "least" in your community.
30 Dec, 2009
Can You Beat a Rock?
'Painted by God himself'
Son finds rock with profile embedded of Jesus
LAS VEGAS, NM - A year after her son's death, Jean Padilla of Oregon found comfort in a rock her son found 30 years ago.
This just isn't any old rock.
Scientists are actually calling it a natural phenomenon.
"He was with a group of friends," Padilla recalls. "He set up some cans for target practicing. He said he picked up the rock and went to throw it, and something told him to look at it."
When her son did, who was 10 years old at the time, spotted what he believed to be an image of Jesus Christ.
Story provided by: wishtv.com.
Luke 19:35-40 (New Living Translation)
So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.
As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
What does God's Story scripture teach us about praising God?
Jesus is making what is called the "Triumphal entry" into Jerusalem. This is likely days before the crowd would turn on Jesus and yell, "Crucify!" It is possible that some of the very same people who sing his praise in this scene are the same ones seeking his execution in a short while.
There is an exciting tone in this scripture, you can feel the delight of the crowd as they watch Jesus enter the city. Many, likely, expect that he has come to overthrow the oppresive Roman government. In the midst of the crowd's joy, there are a few not so excited. They don't like the sound of the things people are shouting. There scorn for the multitudes praise sets before us a powerful challenge...
When the Pharisees ask Jesus to silence the people he tells them, "It wouldn't matter. If the people won't do the job of praise then the rocks will!"
How can we connect today's God's Story Scripture to our lives?
Is your life filled with praise for God or are the rocks doing a better job? If we are giving little or no praise to God then the rocks will step in to fill the gap. With the love that God has shown us by creating us, surrounding us with a beautiful earth, and most of all giving us Jesus, are we willing to let a bunch of rocks out praise us.
Can that be on your list of goals for 2010 — to spend more time praising God?
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
I read somewhere, that one of the things that drew people to the first century Christian's was a difference in their song. People wanted to know the source of joy and praise that filled the things they sang.
How would it affect your friends if your life was filled with praise? How might the lives of people around you be different if you showed Jesus' "image" better than a rock did?
May it be a priority for you to live a life of praise.
29 Dec, 2009
The History of Transplants
It is absolutely amazing to think that doctors through the years have discovered ways to take different parts of one human body and make them useful in another human body. Even more amazing is to think that the first transplant took place clear back in 1905...yes, you read that right...1905! And just look at what has happened since!
1905 - Corneal transplant...patient had his sight the rest of his life!
1910 - The four blood types are discovered allowing for successful blood transfusions.
1954 - Kidney transplant...patient lived a normal life.
1967 - Heart transplant...patient lived only 18 days.
1981 - Heart-lung transplant...first successful transplant of its kind.
1998 - Hand transplant...patient had it removed again 3 years later due to complications.
2005 - Partial face transplant!
(To see the full story from 12/24/09, go to http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/24/history.transplant.timeline/index.html.)
Ezekiel 36:23b-28
Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
" 'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
There's a transplant in God's Story!?!
That's right...God tells His people in Ezekiel 36 that He wants to do some surgery...a heart transplant to be specific. The Israelites, at this point in history have been spread out into many different nations. They were seeking after other gods from other nations. They had developed a heart of stone towards the one true God.
Rather than disown them and reject them, God gathers His children and does the world's first transplant...removing their hearts of stone and replacing them with hearts of flesh. He put His Spirit in them so that they could follow Him fully...with everything they had...so that they could be His people and He could be their God.
What do transplants have to do with me?
Which category do you fall in right now...a heart of stone or one of flesh? Maybe you have fallen into a place where there are other "gods" that have taken first place in your life. Or maybe you are passionately following God with all of your being.
- If you are cold towards God right now, come before Him and be honest about that. Ask Him to do that heart transplant that He has offered. His desire is to put His Spirit in you and give you a new heart that seeks after Him fully!
- If you are already enjoying that new heart of flesh, take some time today to thank Him for the surgery that He has already done! Imagine how different life would be without Him...and then praise Him for this exciting life that He has given you!
What do transplants have to do with my friends?
Maybe you have friends who are living life with a heart of stone. They are cold towards God and lost in life. Read verse 23 from today's passage again. Notice how God says He will show Himself to others...through you! Wow...to think that God has decided to use us to show His glory to the rest of the world is just amazing.
Now, don't take that as a lot of pressure. The truth is, we can do nothing on our own. The only work God will do through us will come as we are closely connected to Him. All we have to do is keep our hearts of flesh soft towards Him and daily abide with Him...He will do the rest.
28 Dec, 2009
Christmas Everyday!
Psalm 40:16 (NIV)
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"
Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Christmas is a joyous time. We celebrate the birth of Jesus (God in the flesh) into the world. With this celebration we have tremendous hope for our future. We can now, because of Christ, set our minds and hearts on things above. We are new creations because of what Christ has done for us on the cross. Christmas happens once a year, but we can eagerly see the glory of Christ in us each day. This is an incredible thing! One that I unfortunately don't rejoice in often enough. Even though Christ doesn't promise that our lives will be easy, we can celebrate His presence within us each day. Merry Christmas!
Celebrate not only the birth of Christ this week, but your new birth in Christ. Awake each day with the expectancy of Christ within you.
Pray for opportunities to share with others the hope that is within you. Many people are looking for explanations of the real meaning of Christmas. Share what it means to you.
24 Dec, 2009
An inherent part of our culture
For Bicyclists Needing a Boost, This Wheel May Help
The Senseable City Laboratory at M.I.T. has designed a wheel that captures the kinetic energy released when a rider brakes and saves it for when the rider needs a boost. While technically sound, the wheel’s true challenge may be in winning over cyclists. For centuries, bikes have been beloved for their simplicity, not their bells and whistles.
But, said Carlo Ratti, the laboratory’s director, “biking can become even more effective than what it was.” What the lab is working on, he said, is “Biking 2.0.”
The new wheel uses a kinetic energy recovery system, the same technology used by hybrid cars, like the Toyota Prius, to harvest otherwise wasted energy when a cyclist brakes or speeds down a hill. With that energy, it charges up a battery inside the wheel’s hub.
The sleek red hub, called the Copenhagen Wheel can be retrofitted to any bike’s rear wheel, and it includes sensors that track air quality, a meter that logs miles and a GPS unit to track routes. All that data can be sent via Bluetooth to a rider’s smartphone and shared with others.
The laboratory is trying to eliminate the clunkiness of other electric bikes with heavy batteries and unwieldy wires by placing all the technology into the wheel, said Christine Outram, the project’s lead researcher.
“It’s a technology that can get more people on bikes,” she said.
This is a period of change in the bicycle design world, said Jens Martin Skibsted, a Danish designer who owns the biking company Biomega and the design firm Kibisi. In such periods of change, he said, “the winner will seldom be the one that’s most functional, but rather the one that can become an inherent part of our culture.”
“This wheel looks nice,” he continued. “Whether it will be long lasting, I cannot say.”
Story and photo courtesy of — The New York Times.
Luke 2:16-18 (NIV)
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
There is no doubt that Christmas Eve dinners, family gatherings, and gift exchanges have become an "inherent part of our culture". Much like Diwali in India, Ramadan in Iraq, and the Day of the Dead in Mexico, Christmas Eve has such overwhelming cultural acceptance in the U.S. that even people who aren't waiting expectantly for the birth of Christ on Christmas day gather to celebrate the holiday in some way.
Simply put, Christmas Eve celebrations are an inherent part of our culture.
The question is, what gives Christmas Eve such cultural appeal, and what will it take to give the Copenhagen Wheel the same acceptance within the world of cyclists?
I think the answer is the same for both; people sharing with others how much each means to them and how their lives have been changed as a result.
Just like the shepherds who "spread the word" about the miraculous birth of Jesus, only when people share their stories does anything gain broad cultural acceptance — that goes for everything from a fancy bike wheel to a holiday tradition. Only when a cyclist tells her friend how much the Copenhagen Wheel has changed the way she rides, or a Christian tells his friend about the real Christmas story, will anyone be compelled to give their time and attention to them.
So this Christmas Eve, when you're sitting around the table with friends and family, share with them why the birth of Christ is an important day for you!
- Take some time today to sit in silence. As we "wait" for Jesus to be born tomorrow, wait for God to speak to you today.
- How does your life reflect that Christ is "born in you"? Does your life infiltrate our culture with the story of Jesus?
- Ask a friend about their favorite Christmas Eve traditions.
- Ask a friend to share with you what has changed their life. Share what has changed yours.
23 Dec, 2009
Avatar: A Christmas Movie?
Avatar: A Synopsis
Jake Sully is a former Marine confined to a wheelchair. But despite his broken body, Jake is still a warrior at heart. He is recruited to travel light years to the human outpost on Pandora, where a corporate consortium is mining a rare mineral that is the key to solving Earth's energy crisis. Because Pandora's atmosphere is toxic, they have created the Avatar Program, in which human "drivers" have their consciousness linked to an avatar, a remotely-controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air. These avatars are genetically engineered hybrids of human DNA mixed with DNA from the natives of Pandora... the Na'vi. Reborn in his avatar form, Jake can walk again. He is given a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi, who have become a major obstacle to mining the precious ore. But a beautiful Na'vi female, Neytiri, saves Jake's life, and this changes everything. Jake is taken in by her clan, and learns to become one of them, which involves many tests and adventures. As Jake's relationship with his reluctant teacher Neytiri deepens, he learns to respect the Na'vi way and finally takes his place among them. Soon he will face the ultimate test as he leads them in an epic battle that will decide the fate of an entire world. (20th Century Fox)
Synopsis provided by: metacritic.com.
Picture provided by: media.silive.com.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (New International Version)
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
John 1:14 (The Message)
The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about God reaching out to us?
Both parts of God's story are beautiful pieces. They are both also challenges to us.
The first is from Paul's letter to a group of Christians at place called Thessalonica. Paul had established a church at Thessalonica, and was writing to give the people at this church guidance on certain issues. In the midst of this letter, Paul gives us a clear picture of how he introduced the people of this Greek city to Jesus. He showed them Jesus by living life with them and by loving them. He didn't just walk in and proclaim something and expect them to listen; he shared everyday experiences with them. In that, he made the difference.
The John piece comes from the gospel of John. He is one of the two gospel writers that tells us nothing about the birth of Jesus, but he paints an abstract and exciting portrait of what God was doing through Jesus. This verse is about the God who loved us so much that he wanted to share in life with us, so He took on flesh and became human to demonstrate His love for us. It a great abstract view of what Christmas celebrates.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
This is an easy question to answer today. The challenge is clear: Jesus was God in flesh so he could lead us to God. Paul walked side-by-side with the Thessalonicans to show them Jesus. We need to enter into life with our friends, not just stand on the other side of the street yelling at them. We must walk across the road and listen and understand what life is like on their side of the road. When we do that, then they are willing to hear about a God who has walked where they are and understands. They can hear about God "taking on flesh and blood, and moving into the neighborhood."
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
Avatar was a movie that struck me for its depth and beauty. As I watched, scriptures like the two listed today kept rolling through my mind. As I was taking a couple of student leaders home following the movie, I mentioned to them that 1 Thessalonians 2:8 kept rolling through my mind as I watched. How often, for the sake of our friends, is it important that we function like Jake Sully's character in this movie? He put on the flesh of the locals to try and get them to safety. He didn't give up even when all seemed lost, but he kept battling for the ones he loved.
This movie, though it isn't a "Christmas" movie, is an open door to talk about John 1:14. Just like with my student leaders, the conversation starts with, "As I watched this, I couldn't get this piece of the bible out of my head. Can I tell you about what I was thinking? You know how Jake became like one of the people, but at the same time was different from them? Well, God did something kind of like that for us."
Avatar was a great picture of what God did out of love for us.
Merry Christmas!
22 Dec, 2009
The Ultimate Christmas Gift... Sight
Between the grateful hugs and joyous tears, Cassy Rivera took a minute Friday to look her doctor in the eye. "You gave me this gift," the once-blind Brooklyn woman told Dr. Michael Samson, the surgeon who restored her sight. "Thank you so much."
Rivera, still beaming eight days after her delicate and complicated eye operation, shared an emotional Manhattan reunion with the doctor behind her miraculous recovery.
"It's a pleasure to see the man who gave me my sight back," Rivera said at a news conference with Samson. "He's my savior."
Rivera, 36, the mother of two girls, was struck blind in both eyes by an aggressive disease called uveitis. Her eyes began failing in 2005, and she lost all sight two years later.
It was Samson who helped her battle back, with the doctor lobbying Rivera's insurance company for money to cover the surgery. Samson is affiliated with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, which used charitable funds to pay the rest of her bill.
"Thank you very much for making my mommy see and be well," said 7-year-old Alayza, who had offered to give up all her Christmas toys to make her mother better.
"You're welcome," Samson told the little girl.
Rivera opened her eyes to a new world that included her first look at 23-month-old daughter Aniahya. She also saw Alayza for the first time since January 2007.
To read the full story by Daily News writers, Jeff Wilkins and Larry Mcshane, go to nydailynews.com.
II Cor. 4:4-6 [NIV]
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
John 9:25b [NIV]
...One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!
What does God's Story teach us about helping the blind see?
In the gospels we see Jesus heal many people of many issues...blindness being one of them. In today's story we see Cassy Rivera having the same exact response to her doctor as we see in John 9. Just like the man that Jesus healed, Cassy referred to her doctor as "her savior" and was overwhelmed with thankfulness for giving her the gift of sight.
But Jesus wasn't all that interested in healing people just so they could see in a physical way. He wanted to help them see spiritually. In II Corinthians 4, we are taught that the god (lower case) of this age...a.k.a. "the devil"...has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They can not see! They are in complete darkness!
Christ, however, is the LIGHT! He entered into this world to expel the darkness...to make the blind to see...spiritually! THAT is why we celebrate Christmas!
How does this impact my story?
Today's story and todays' scripture aren't really cool miracles that just happened to other people...it's about the miracle that has happened to YOU. Without Christ you would be blind to eternal matters. Without Christ, you too would be chasing the empty and meaningless things of this world. Without Christ, you would be leading a life without purpose. Without Christ you would be BLINDED by the enemy. Praise God that He sent His Son to give us the gift of sight...our Savior!
How does this impact my friend's story?
If you want a good reminder of just how blessed you are, spend 5-10 minutes today blindfolded. Try to make your way around the house. Try to do simple things like making a phone call, doing the dishes or eating a meal. You can bet that a day, a week or a month of complete blindness would help you to be thankful beyond measure for the sight that you have.
In the same way, many of our friends are walking around every day in spiritual blindness that has them living an empty life. They are blind and looking for someone who can help them see...truly see. God has called us into that role. That's what the Christmas Story is all about...the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ...who made His Light shine in our hearts...so that we can share that with others.
May we be about the business of sharing the ultimate gift...the gift of sight.
21 Dec, 2009
Black Nativity Angers Italy's "White Christmas" Party
ROME (Reuters) - A nativity scene featuring a dark-skinned Jesus, Mary and Joseph that has gone on display in a Verona courthouse has created heated debate in a city with strong links to Italy's anti-immigration Northern League party.
The nativity's appearance coincides with the League's controversial operation "White Christmas," a two-month sweep ending on Christmas Day to ferret out foreigners without proper permits in Coccaglio, a small League-led town east of Milan.
The Christmas scene -- featuring a dark-skinned baby Jesus dressed in a red shirt and lying in a manger -- was the idea of Mario Giulio Schinaia, the chief Public Prosecutor in Verona.
"History teaches us that baby Jesus and his parents were very probably dark-skinned," Schinaia told Reuters. "This nativity belongs to a universal Christmas tradition that brings together the whole of Christianity in celebration."
The nativity has caused heated reactions in the rich northern town, where resentment toward foreigners has spread as the number of immigrants, particularly from north Africa and eastern Europe, continues to rise.
"It is a useless act of provocation, just like the suggestion not to have a nativity scene at all, in order not to offend Muslims," Northern League farm minister Luca Zaia told one paper, referring to proposals in recent years that town halls and stores should no longer sponsor Christmas scenes.
"Magistrates have other problems to deal with: I hope they spend as much time thinking about lawsuits and trials," he said.The Northern League, an ally of conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with key cabinet posts including the interior ministry, has used its growing political clout to secure tough new laws including making illegal immigration a crime.
League proposals have ranged from separate buses and trains for immigrants to banning new mosques and forbidding the serving of Chinese food and kebabs in towns under its control.Schinaia defended his black nativity scene, saying it was not intended to be polemical but to encourage debate.
"There shouldn't be a white or black Christmas, only a merry Christmas for everyone, of every skin color, ethnic background and nationality."
Story taken from reuters.com and photo taken from images.google.com.
Read Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Don't get pulled into the wrong arguments. The devil often wants us to focus on trivial and unimportant discussions that take our focus off Christ and onto issues that lead us away from God's power. Today's story is a perfect example.
Scholars, historians, and theologians have debated for centuries to the nature of Christ's skin color. Undoubtedly, being from the Middle East, it wasn't totally white. But again, is that the real point of God becoming man? To become man He had to come with a particular pigmentation and that would leave many skin colors out. But again, who cares?!
The real power and beauty of Christmas is that God became man! He could of chose to be black, tan, white, green or purple for that matter. The ruler of the universe humbled Himself and became like us so that we could enjoy a relationship with God the Father. If you have ears to hear this and meditate on the wonder of that fact this Christmas season.
- Do you often get caught up in trivial arguments and petty conversations during the day (I know I do!)? What is the usual result?
- Meditate on the passage above this week and explore the wonder of God becoming man. As you prepare for Christmas focus on the importance of God doing this and the difference it might make in your life everyday.
During this Christmas week pray for the opportunity to share with at least one person the real meaning of Christmas - that God became man. Like the wise men who came to honor Jesus' birth, honor Him with holy conversations and reverance for the beauty of God becoming man.
18 Dec, 2009
"I don't see how Chris was supposed to go already"
Bengals' Chris Henry dies day after dispute
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chris Henry was no stranger to trouble. Indeed, his multiple arrests during a five-year NFL career were among the factors prompting the league to toughen its personal conduct policy. But to hear his teammates tell it — even the team's owner — the Cincinnati Bengals receiver was determined to leave behind his troubled past and move ahead toward a bright future. Tragically, his efforts were cut short when he died from injuries in what police said was a domestic dispute with his fiancee.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the 26-year-old Henry died early Thursday, less than 18 hours after he fell off of the back of a pickup truck on a curvy residential street about eight miles northwest of downtown Charlotte. The cause of death was not immediately released. Henry was away from the Bengals after suffering a season-ending broken forearm in a game last month.
"We knew him in a different way than his public persona," Bengals owner Mike Brown said. "He had worked through the troubles in his life and had finally seemingly reached the point where everything was going to blossom. And he was going to have the future we all wanted for him. It's painful to us. We feel it in our hearts, and we will miss him."
Bengals receiver Andre Caldwell said: "People thought he was a bad guy, but he had a big heart."
Police released few details about the investigation, other than homicide detectives were assigned to the case. Two 911 tapes released Thursday and witnesses provided some clues. Neighbor Lee Hardy told WLWT-TV and The Cincinnati Enquirer that he was working in his yard when the truck left the driveway. Hardy said Henry was yelling that he needed to talk to the woman behind the wheel. "He said, 'If you take off, I'm going to jump off the truck and kill myself,'" Hardy told the newspaper...
"We are greatly saddened by today's tragic news about the loss of Chris Henry," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris' family, including his Bengals family."
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said: "It's a very difficult thing with his loss and a young life and one that won't ever get to reach its full potential."
Police said the domestic dispute began Wednesday at a home about a half-mile away from where Henry was found. He had jumped into the bed of the pickup as his fiancee was driving away from the residence, and at some point when she was driving "came out of the back of the vehicle," authorities said.
When players received word Henry had died, quarterback Carson Palmer called them together in the locker room and said they should dedicate the game and rest of the season to Henry and the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who died unexpectedly during the season. The Bengals will wear a helmet sticker Sunday against San Diego to remember Henry, and Goodell requested clubs observe a moment of silence before each game.
"He was doing everything right," receiver Chad Ochocinco said.
Henry grew up south of New Orleans in the suburban community of Belle Chasse and soon dreamed of playing in the NFL. But after he was ejected from a game and suspended for another at West Virginia, the Bengals were the only team to bring him in for a pre-draft visit in 2005. Selected in the third round, Henry played a vital role as a speedy, deep threat as Cincinnati reached the playoffs in his rookie season. But in the final month of the season he was arrested for marijuana possession.
It was the first of five arrests, and Henry and former Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones became known as the league's two most trouble-bound players. Goodell suspended both in 2007 — Jones for a full season, Henry for half of it — as part of a toughening of the league's conduct policy. After Henry was arrested for a fifth time following that season on an assault charge, Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard called Henry "a one-man crime wave." He was released by the Bengals the same day. But Brown gave him a second chance, re-signing him before the 2008 season.
"I kind of felt like I dug myself out of the hole and started doing the right things," Henry said in an interview with The Associated Press as training camp opened this season. "People say, 'How you feeling now Chris? You doing all right?' I just tell them I'm blessed. That's why I got it."
A thigh injury slowed him early in the season, and he had 12 catches for 236 yards — his 19.7-yard average per catch leads the team — when he broke his left arm during a win over Baltimore, ending his season.
"My grandma always says you never question the man upstairs on decisions he makes," Ochocinco said. "Everyone makes mistakes, but I don't see how Chris was supposed to go already, especially when he was on the right path. Other than that, he's going to be missed."
Full Story and Photo found at news.yahoo.com.
Ecclesiastes 7: 1-4, 8-9, 12-18 (New Living Translation)
Wisdom for Life
1 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies—
so the living should take this to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us.
4 A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
8 Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
9 Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.
13 Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14 Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
The Limits of Human Wisdom
15 I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. 16 So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? 17 On the other hand, don't be too wicked either. Don't be a fool! Why die before your time? 18 Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
What Does God's Story Say About Dying Before Your Time
Too many people seem to "die before their time." But why? Today's verses remind us that "everyone dies." This weekend, probably during every NFL game, many in the world around us will be talking about the death of Chris Henry. Many will offer thoughts on his choices that led to his death. Many will speculate the "rest of the story." Many will say he died too young. Some may question God in this, but remember... it's not the way God intended it.
Remember what God told Adam in the Garden of Eden? And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:16-18 [NIV]
Death is a consequence of the sinful world we live in. But it's not going to be that way forever. Remember what God told John to write in Revelation...
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:3-5 [NIV]
Connecting My Story to God's Story
- Ask yourself about the path that you are on.
- Are the decisions that you are making now leading to an abundant life?
- Are you making choices that could lead to death?
- Ask God to lead you into a life of seeking His wisdom, not the path of fools.
Connecting Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to My Friend's Story
- Watch a football game with friend this weekend. Ask them if they heard about today's story, about Chris Henry's death. Get their thoughts on how his choices led to his death before his time.
- Do you have a friend who is making bad choices that could lead to death? Pray for them each day this weekend. Send them a Christmas card reminding them of Christ who started Christmas. Then get with them to talk about their choices and your concerns. Be sure to do it as an overflow of God's love and not in your own effort alone.
- Do you have some friends who may be grieving the loss of loved one during the Christmas season? Spend some time with them. Don't feel like you have to give them any answers, just spend time doing something fun. Get them to talk about the good memories they have of that loved one, it will brighten their Christmas.
17 Dec, 2009
Freedom for the prisoners
U.S. Said to Pick Illinois Prison to House Guantanamo Detainees
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is expected to announce on Tuesday that it has selected a prison in northwestern Illinois to house terrorism suspects now being held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in a major step toward shutting down that military detention facility.
An administration official said President Obama had directed the federal government to proceed with acquiring the Thomson Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in a rural village about 150 miles west of Chicago.
Mr. Obama declared shortly after his inauguration that he would close the Guantánamo prison — a signature component of the Bush administration’s counterterrorism policy — within a year. But dealing with the roughly 200 detainees at the prison has proved difficult, and he is widely expected to miss that deadline.
In May, Mr. Obama proposed bringing some detainees to a facility inside the United States, including some who officials have decided are too difficult to prosecute and too dangerous to release. They would continue to be held without trial as “combatants” under the laws of war.
Under the proposal for Thomson, the Bureau of Prisons would buy the facility and improve its security. Most of the prison would house ordinary high-security inmates, but a part would be leased to the Defense Department to hold terror suspects.
Story and photo courtesy of — The New York Times.
Luke 4:17-19 (NIV)
The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Question — What do Jesus and Guantanamo Bay have in common?
Answer — When most people first heard what they were all about they didn't like what they heard.
It's pretty easy to understand why most people don't like the idea of a prison that operates outside of the established legal system, imprisons people that haven't been convicted of a crime, and practices a myriad of dehumanizing and violent interrogation techniques, but for most of us it's really hard to understand why Jesus might have provoked a similarly negative reaction from the people first exposed to his message. However when you read today's God Story from Luke 4 that is exactly what happened. In fact the people of Nazareth were so upset they actually tried to throw him off a cliff! (Luke 4:29)
After Jesus finished reading from the scroll of Isaiah, he proclaimed that HE would be the one to free the prisoners, preach good news to the poor, release for the oppressed, and sight for the blind - "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21)
So what was it that infuriated people so much about Jesus' proclamation? As we continue to read Luke's account of the story we find our answer. Jesus told the people of Nazareth that they simply weren't up to the challenge; they wouldn't accept his radical, revolutionary, life altering, world changing way of life. (Luke 4:23-27)
The question is are we up to the challenge any more than the people of first century Nazareth?
As the United States government transfers prisoners from one cell to another will Christians respond by working to build real alternatives to prisons and incarceration? Will Christians offer true and lasting rehabilitation to those who have committed crimes and are in desperate need of forgiveness and grace? It's a tall order indeed, because it requires more than relocating those who've committed crimes, it requires the relocation of ourselves. Christians must hear the words of Jesus and respond by relocating themselves to the places of the world where the poor, prisoner, blind, and oppressed are dying for the hope and love of Jesus.
- Write a Christmas card to a prisoner.
- Educate yourself about the Christian witness to the state in regards to prisons, torture, and the death penalty.
- Ask a Christian friend how they are embodying Jesus' mission to the poor, prisoner, blind, and oppressed.
- Invite a friend along as you serve the poor, prisoner, blind, and oppressed in your community.
16 Dec, 2009
Everyone Wishes for Silver and Gold
1881 gold coin found in Conn. donation kettle
TORRINGTON, Conn. — A Connecticut Salvation Army chapter got a pleasant surprise when its members were counting change dropped into one of the organization's holiday donation kettles. Members found a rare 1881 "half eagle" coin last week while counting donations made somewhere in Torrington on the day after Thanksgiving.
The half eagle was the country's first-ever gold coin and had a face value of $5. It was in circulation from 1795 to 1929.
Lt. Alan Galentine of the Salvation Army's Torrington Corps. said the chapter will be having the coin appraised, but it appears it's worth between $250 and $400. He said it's not clear at which location the coin was donated.
The coin was found when a change counting machine didn't recognize the half eagle and separated it from other coins.
Story Provided by: miamiherald.com.
Picture Provided by: affordableaudioconference.com.
Luke 15:8-10 (The Message)
"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."
What does God's Story scripture teach us about how much God values us?
This little story, is the middle story of three, that Jesus tell to drive home the point that He loves sinners. One of the best things about this parable is the group of people listening to Jesus tell it. The first verse of Luke 15 tells us about the audience: "Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him (NASB)." The bottom rung of society, the ones cast a side by their community as having no value, those are the people listening to Jesus as he says God throws a party when one sinner starts following Him.
How can we connect today's God's story scripture to our lives?
Ask anyone what comes to mind when they hear Christmas, and often one of the first things listed will be gifts - whether given or received. Some of our best childhood memories come from waking up on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought us. We enjoyed the gifts we received, but there always seemed to be one that really stood out, one for which our eyes got bigger and our chins dropped.
For God, we are that gift! This tale likens God to a woman who has lost her coin, and we are likened to that coin. We see God going out of His way doing every thing He can to get His coin (us) back. He even lights a lamp - John calls Jesus, "The Light."
God places a high value on us, and then when He gets His hands around us, He throws a party. As we pass gifts around this season, let us celebrate how precious a gift we are to God.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story Scripture, and our story to others?
It must have been an exciting moment when the Salvation Army workers found the coin. They likely celebrated when they realized what they had come to possess. A simple coin changed a bunch of lives. It is another story that warms out hearts, and is fun to share.
At the same time your friends will enjoy this story, because we love stories that demonstrate unexpected love. It is a simple segue to ask your friends "How would you celebrate if you had opened the bucket and found the coin?"
From their answer, the discussion is open to talk about God celebrating over us, and even lighting a lamp to try and find us. Have fun treasure hunting in these stories, with your friends.
15 Dec, 2009
An Artists Who Hides In His Work — Can You Find Him?
Liu Bolin is an artist who goes to great extremes NOT to be noticed. It's not that this artist doesn't want you to know his work. He does, indeed, for his work holds a powerful message. But look very carefully and you will see these amazing pieces of art hold something else...the artist himself.
(Hint: Check out the front tire.)
The process to create each photograph is long and arduous. Usually it takes all day. Every detail has to be perfect. His works are intended to make a statement about how humanity sometimes gets lost in industrial development.
To see more of his art and this ABC News video by Clarissa Ward on 12/10/09, go to http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=17067606&ch=4226713
Romans 1:19-20 [NIV]
...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Jeremiah 10:12 [NIV]
But God made the earth by his power
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
Psalm 102:25
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
What does God's Story teach us about the ultimate artist?
Today's story is amazing. This artist has incredible ability to disappear into his own art! He is a master of detail and his art carries an important message.
God's Story is also amazing. God, the artist...the creator of the entire universe is also a master of detail. As we look around us we can see His beauty everywhere. He can be seen in the colors of autumn, a fresh layer of sparkling snow, a picturesque view of the mountains, the serene repetition of the waves that lap up on a seashore and the beautiful face of a new baby.
His message also carries an important message...the most important of all messages. "I am your Creator and I love you!" It is why Romans 1 tells us that no one could possibly miss His presence if we just look at the world around us. God is an artist who does NOT disappear in His work...you can plainly see Him everywhere!
Connecting today's story and God's Story with my story
- Think back through some of your favorite places in nature. Maybe this takes you to some childhood memories, a favorite vacation spot or something amazing that you saw just this week. Then, as you picture it all over again, spend some time in that place worshiping the Artist who created it.
- When God created YOU, He made a masterpiece! Think of one great part of you that makes you unique. That is a detail that the Artist wanted to be true of just you. Read Ephesians 2:10 and rejoice over His specific creation of YOU!
- Can't think of something "special" about you? Ask those who know you best. You might be surprised by what they say.
Connecting today's story, God's Story and my story with their story
- Show a friend some of the pictures of Liu Bolin and see if they can spot the artist in his art.
- Ask them what they think of when they look at the stars, see a waterfall or witness an amazing sunset.
- Share with them what you see "in the art" of nature.
- Introduce them to what God's Story says in the 4 verses in today's Bide.
- Let them know that they too are a masterpiece of the Creator and that He longs to have a personal relationship with them.
14 Dec, 2009
The Christmas Spirit
BERLIN (Reuters) — Christmas comes early for one lucky driver
A young woman in Germany who burst into tears when police fined her for speeding received an early Christmas present when another woman caught for the same offence paid the charge.
Authorities in the western city of Aachen said the older driver was so moved by the woman's crying at the police station that she pulled out her purse and handed over the money.
"It is Christmas soon after all," local police quoted her as saying.
Story and photo taken from: reuters.com.
Matthew 6:2-4 (NIV)
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Christmas is upon us. The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ has become a big business around the world. Many of us are stressing out trying to figure out the perfect gift to buy our friends and family. We worry if they will like what we give them and worry about if we will like what they give us. As great as all this is let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas.
The gift of Jesus Christ coming into the world as a baby was to usher in a new way of living. Christ would die on the cross to take away our sins and give us the Holy Spirit to live within us. The "old way" of obeying the law has given way to the "new way" of living in grace - totally dependent on Christ.
Let us take the simplicity of the lady in our story today and give to those in need without worrying about being recognized. May our desire be to bring glory to God and trust Him for the reward that awaits us in heaven. This is the true gift of Christmas.
Think about the gift of God becoming man. The God of the universe came as a baby, grew into a man, and went through many trials and temptations for us. How could our understanding of Christmas become more meaningful by meditating on this fact during the holiday season? Do I love God because of His good gifts or because of the gift of Himself?
Look for ways this Christmas season to give to others without being noticed. Maybe you could donate money, clothes, or time to those less fortunate who will never know your name. Pay the toll of someone behind you, contribute some money to someone at the grocery store (without them knowing it), etc... You get the picture. Ask God to use you to bless others with your reward resting with God.
11 Dec, 2009
The Cost of Telling the Story
Competitive Britons Send Nativity Costs Soaring
LONDON (Reuters) – Gone are the days of shepherds in tea towels and tinsel-clad angels. Britain's competitive parents are forking out on luxury pashmina shawls and velour dressing gowns to make their child the star of the annual nativity play.
The rise in so-called "manger chic" has seen parents spend up to 150 pounds ($250) on arctic fur throws for children cast as sheep and ivory bridesmaid dresses for angels, according to department stores group Debenhams.
"The amount of money that some parents want to spend on their child's nativity play appearance would enable Baby Jesus to leave the stable and check into a five star hotel," said spokesman Ed Watson.
Intense competition for places at good schools, concern about the future state of the jobs market and a drop in handcraft skills like sewing among time-pressed parents appears to be to blame.
But Debenhams is keen not to encourage the trend. "While we applaud parents for wanting to do their very best for their children, we feel certain that the story of The Nativity can still be told using very simple materials," Watson said.
Story and Photo found at news.yahoo.com.
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus Christ
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
What does God's Story teach us about telling His Story?
Did you catch that quote? The one about the "five star hotel"? Go back and read today's story again and look for it if you missed it ...
Compare that to today's God's Story. Basically, Mary wrapped Jesus up in a blaket. Nothing fancy. Just a simple cloth that was a common practice really.
Also take notice that in the entire account in God's Story of Jesus arrival, not once do we see Mary & Joseph sending out announcements.
The angels announced his birth.
A star announced his birth.
Even when Mary went to tell Elizabeth that she would carry the Son of God, it was Jesus who "leaped in her womb" to announce his own coming.
It appears that Mary & Josheph didn't really do anything to call attention to Jesus birth. God took care of making the news known. And He still works that way today.
- When you have opportunities to introduce your friends to Jesus, do you announce it on your own, or do you let God direct your words to the right "announcement" to make him known?
- Read through Luke 1-2 a few times this weekend and be reminded of how Jesus' arrival was made known.
- Ask God to make Himself known to you through his Word.
- Grab some friends and find a nativity scene somewhere in your community this weekend.
- Ask your friends what it would have been like to be in Bethlehem that night Jesus was born.
- Ask them how they would have announced his arrival.
- Compare their thoughts with how the announcements really went out.
- Allow this conversation to flow into a conversation about what Jesus' birth means for them today.
10 Dec, 2009
Where will your Christmas presents end up?
Recycling Discarded Flip-Flops
The once-pristine Nyongo Sharif beach along Kenya’s northern coast seems an unlikely dumping ground for the world’s plastic garbage. But the Somali upwelling, a powerful current, sometimes tosses rubbish onto the beach from as far away as Indonesia; and when the current reverses course, it hurls another load up from Southern Africa, as far afield as Mozambique.
High in the list of flotsam is one of the most ubiquitous and least noticed symbols of modern society: the flip flop.
“Flip-flops are a global problem, just one indicator of the myriad rubbish in the sea, which we are treating as the world’s dumping ground,” Julie Church, a marine biologist, said recently by telephone from Nairobi. “Tons and tons and tons of plastic waste, including flip-flops, flow down rivers and clog drainage systems, and animals are swallowing them,” she said.
Looking for at least a partial solution, Ms. Church has started a company making toys and gifts from reclaimed flip-flop plastic, for sale in eco-fashion boutiques in the United States.
Ms. Church said the piles of washed-up flip-flops on the shoreline were preventing protected hawksbill and green turtles from leaving the sea to nest. And a report issued in October by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation flagged a risk of chemicals in the plastic that could be harmful to human health.
Flip-flops are just part, though a significant part, of a rising tide of plastic litter stretching down the East African coastline from Somalia to South Africa. Last year, the United Nations Environmental Program inventoried the growing problem of marine litter in the region. The survey of eight countries, including Kenya, showed that plastics made up from 80 percent to 89 percent of the waste stream, with the most developed countries the worst affected
Some countries in the region are starting to grapple with the plastic tide. But public awareness of the problem is low, particularly concerning the dangers to health from open burning. In Tanzania, people are not only burning plastics, they are storing food and water in discarded plastic waste packaging, including PVC containers that leach chemicals. If, as is often the case, the containers have been used to hold toxic products, like pesticides, the risks are even higher, said Silvani Silvani Mng’anya, an environmental and public health activist in Dar es Salaam.
Back in northern Kenya, flip-flops are now also arriving by air. Ms. Church receives boxes of flip-flops that have washed up on the beaches of San Diego and Hawaii. Her company, UniquEco, turns them into butterfly key rings, and large sculptures of monkeys for chic eco-boutiques in New York City.
This year, Ms. Church estimates that she will recycle 15 tons of rubber and plastic sandals. A mere drop in the swelling ocean of east Africa’s plastic refuse, but nonetheless a start.
Story courtesy of - The New York Times.
Photo courtesy of - Google Images.
Matthew 2:11 (NIV)
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
Hopefully if you get a new pair of flip-flops for Christmas they don't end up on a Kenyan beach someday. Hopefully the gifts we receive this Christmas we'll take care of through their entire life cycle, including their responsible disposal. Hopefully the gifts we give this Christmas endure and are cherished for years to come by the loved ones who receive them.
In Matthew's birth narrative we are told that magi from the east offered gifts to Jesus much more valuable than flip flops, gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Obviously a small child has no practical use for such gifts, so why then did the magi select them as their act of "worship" to Jesus?
Scholars suggest that the gifts were more about meaning than function. Gold was a symbol of royalty and incense and myrrh were popular in anointing ceremonies. In other words the magi were stating that the gifts they were offering were to a child worthy of a throne and an anointing. They were gifts given because of who they believed Jesus was as the child of God.
So this Christmas may we all select gifts for our loved ones this year based more on who we believe they are as a child of God and less on sale price or fashion trend.
- Ask for gifts this Christmas that can be easily recycled, reused, and don't come in excessive packaging.
- Give intangible gifts this year. Time, acts of service, give people your presence as a present!
- Ask a friend how they feel about the mass of quickly discarded gifts often exchanged at Christmas time.
- Ask a friend if they know the meaning behind the gifts given to Jesus by the magi.
9 Dec, 2009
Allow Me to Introduce Myself
Adopted Siblings Reunited After 80 Years
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--A reunion 80 years in the making finally took place for a metro family.
In 1928, three siblings were separated through adoption. The unexpected separation fueled an unyielding desire in all of the children to reunite one day.
Exie Davis recently celebrated her 90th birthday, but she can still remember the day her baby sister Lillian disappeared.
Story provided by: nbcactionnews.com.
Acts 17:26-28 (New International Version)
26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God 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. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
What does God's Story scripture teach us about God meeting people right where they are?
At this place in the story Paul is traveling all over the place to share the good news of Jesus. He has traveled to Thessolinica, Berea, and when we catch him in this quote he is in the middle of a speach in Athens.
We can assume Paul had been in Athens for at least a few days because he talks about the things he has seen in Athens, like the statue to the "unknown god." Paul uses the "unknown god" as a starting point to share with the people gathered around him about the knowable, personal God.
Paul walks back in history and explains to the the Athenians the beginning of all things, and how God made all humans from one man, Adam. Then Paul explains how God had a time and place for each of us that we might seek after Him.
Jesus uses Paul to meet the "thinking" Athenians at their point of understanding.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
First,this passage should stir in us thanksgiving for a God who pursues us and views us as his children.
Then, I hope it moves you to a place where you want to seek after the God who is seeking you. He tells us a lot about Himself in the bible. He also shows things about himself in the world functions. We know God is creative, because only creativity could piece together animals like the duck-billed platypus. God doesn't leave us with an "Unknown" or "Unknowable" God.
How can we connect today's story , God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
Today's story offers a lot of parrellel to Paul's sermon. Three children born to one father and then seperated. Their seperation left them seeking for years. For one of them, the youngest Lillian, the rest of the family was completely unknown. They each had a unique and special place where they impacted numerous lives, and though they were seperated they were never far from each other.
As Christmas approaches you and your friends will start talking about the relatives and old friends with which you will reconnect. In the midst of that conversation you can bring up this story. "I read a story the other day about a family that reconnected after 80 years." The door is open to share with your friends the connections you see between that story and the things Paul said to the people of Athens.
Spend some time with today's story, and God's Story scripture so you can pick out more connections between the two.
8 Dec, 2009
Year in Review
December is upon us and the voting has begun. You can now get on line and vote for the best movie of the year, the best song, your favorite book from 2009...you can even vote on what you thought the craziest celebrity moment was.
The end of the year is always full of reflection...and for good reason...there is a lot we can learn from looking in the rear view mirror of our individual journeys.
Psalm 77:11-12 [NLT]
11 But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
12 They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
What does God's Word say about reflecting on the past?
- Reflecting on what God has done brings us to a place of thankfulness. Without reflection, we often take for granted the many blessings He has given us.
- Reflecting on His works builds our faith. When we stop to remember what He has done, it gives us faith to know that He is able to do anything with our future.
- Reflecting on our journey...the good parts and the hard parts...reminds us of the lessons we have learned. The Israelites were constantly recalling the fact that they were slaves before God set them free. Our journey is also full of lessons if we will just take the time to recall them.
So how about youryear in review?
- What was the biggest blessing you saw in 2009?
- What was a lesson that God taught you through the journey of this past year?
- What was the hardest part?...the best part?
- What prayer did God answer?
- What did He do that builds your faith for what is yet ahead?
Take some time to walk through this year with your Heavenly Father and thank Him for all He has done.
How about their year in review?
This may be the easiest conversation starter ever! It doesn't matter whether the person is a Christian or not, you can simply start by asking anybody, "What was the best part of your 2009?" and you will be amazed at what you learn. What a great way to learn more about other people's stories! This may lead you to find out not only the best part but some of the hard parts of this past year as well.
After a lot of listening, perhaps God will allow you to share your story that is full of His story.
7 Dec, 2009
Mercy
Ex-Robber repays store owner who showed him mercy
A Long Island deli owner who held a robber at gunpoint, then let him go after giving him $40 and a loaf of bread, says he got an anonymous letter from the crook that included a $50 bill and a thank-you for saving him from a life of crime.
The mysterious writer apologized to his would-be victim, Mohammad Sohail, saying, "First of all I would like to say I am sorry at the time I had [no] money no food on the table no job and nothing for my family."
Similar to comments he made on his knees during the incident last May, he said he realized that trying to rob the store with a baseball bat "was wrong but I had [no] choice. I needed to feed my family."
"Now I have a new child and good job make good money staying out of trouble and taking care of my family. You gave me forty dollars thank you for sparing my life Because of that you change my life."
"That's the same guy I gave $40 to," said Sohail, 62, displaying the typewritten letter at his Shirley Express deli yesterday. There was no return address. It was mailed on Long Island the week before Thanksgiving.
"I'm really thrilled," said Sohail. "I'm very happy for that guy, because he is now doing good for the community. He has a job and he is a good person. I really feel great. Thank God he's doing good. He's got a new baby and he's not in jail. When you do good things for somebody, it comes back to you. I gave him $40 and he sent me back $50. It was a good investment," Sohail laughed.
During the robbery attempt, the failed thief brandished a baseball bat and demanded cash. But Sohail pulled out a 9mm rifle and disarmed the man — who pleaded for his life on his knees before the deli counter, crying, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" and tearfully claiming his family had fallen on hard times.
Micah 6:8
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God."
What does God's Story teach us about mercy?
Think about the story above and then think about the words justice, mercy, and humility as stated in the verse in Micah. How did the store owner show justice, mercy and humility?
Connecting today's story and God's Story with my story
This story is a great illustration of justice, mercy and humility. The shop owner, threatened by an armed robber had the right to protect himself and his property. Using a rifle to stop the robber would be considered justice in our world. In other words, he was just (or legally right) in dispensing force to stop the robber.
Yet, as he learns the robber's story, the shop owner is compelled not by justice and his rights, but by mercy. The robber is trying to feed his family, he has been driven to crime in desperation. His desperation doesn't make it right to commit a holdup, but when the shop owner understands the situation, he is moved not to give out justice but to show the man mercy. The criminal deserves to be stopped and arrested yet the man chooses not to give what he deserves, but what he doesn't deserve mercy. He not only lets the guy go, but he also gives him money and food for his family.
We don't know what compelled this shop owner to act with kindness towards this man, but we do know that God calls us to act not only with justice but also with kindness and mercy. What makes this story even cooler is that the mercy shown to this stranger changed his whole life. He left his desperate criminal behavior and worked hard to turn his life around and provide for his family. Even his heart was changed as he repaid the store owner with interest.
- What would your response have been if you were the shop owner being held up?
- Can you imagine how humility played a part in the decision the shop owner made?
- How does learning someone's story help you act with more mercy?
- What kind of mercy has been shown to you in your life?
Connecting today's story, God's story and my story with my friend's story
- Think about a time when you were shown mercy when it wasn't deserved. Have you shown that same type of mercy to your friends? How about to your brothers or sisters? How about to your parents? What about complete strangers?
- Knowing people's stories helps us show more mercy. It also helps to remember the mercy shown to us by Jesus. Because of sin, death is the justice we all deserved, yet God showered us with mercy through the birth and sacrifice of His son.
- Who are the people in your life you need to show mercy to? You may have every right to be angry or hurt by them but could it be that God is asking you to give them another chance as the shop owner did for the robber? Pray about it and act as God leads you.
- Memorize Micah 6:8 and consider what justice, mercy and humility look like in your own life.
4 Dec, 2009
Christmas Without A Tree?
In some cities, this Christmas comes without tree
FRESNO, Calif. – It's beginning to look a lot like ... any other day.
In some cities and towns across America, tight budgets have become a cruel Grinch, forcing drastic cutbacks in the municipal holiday displays and celebrations that people have enjoyed for generations.
The second Christmas since the financial meltdown is coming without the ribbons, holly, wreaths and bows. It's coming without lights, decorated lamp posts and parades. Trees with all the trimmings have either been shrunken down or eliminated entirely.
"It's just so sad. Why not put a little holiday spirit into us?" said Joan Wilson, a part-time receptionist, bemoaning the decision in Fresno to forgo the rite of December in which thousands of residents gather for the lighting of a six-story tree freshly cut from the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains.
The decision to call off the ceremony was just the latest disappointment for an impoverished region already battered by drought, recession and the housing crisis. Fresno's unemployment is nearly 16 percent, almost 6 percentage points higher than the national average.
But after city layoffs and the prospect of a $28 million budget shortfall, spending public time and money on a tree would only cause more financial hardship.
"We're trying to be good fiscal stewards," Fresno spokesman Randy Reed said. "We have to use our resources more appropriately."
In Chicago, the $350,000, 56-foot blue spruce in Daley Plaza would be dwarfed by last year's tree, which stood 90 feet tall and cost more than $1 million.
Critics have described the new tree as "shabby." City officials said they also saved money by lighting it on the day before Thanksgiving, breaking the 55-year tradition of doing so on the following day, which is more crowded.
The tree at the South Carolina Statehouse is 6 feet shorter than in the past, competing in stature with the Confederate soldiers' monument on the capitol's front lawn.
"We've got to be a little more careful with our money," said Jane Suggs with the Columbia Garden Club, which has been erecting the tree along one of the city's busiest streets for several years.
In Orlando, Fla., officials decided to leave 800 lamppost trees in storage so they could cut $250,000 in setup and electricity costs. When the city also snuffed out plans for its downtown tree, someone quickly donated two of them, including a 31-footer from a North Carolina farm that private companies pitched in to transport and set up.
But instead of standing at Orlando City Hall, the larger tree is in a downtown park next to the ice-skating rink. Volunteers and the Orlando Magic basketball team are helping to decorate it this weekend.
"The holiday spirit came out in people right away," said Heather Allebaugh, spokeswoman for Mayor Buddy Dyer. "These are things that give you hope during the holidays."
Full story found at news.yahoo.com. Photo found at images.google.com.
Luke 2:8-20 (NLT)
The Shepherds and Angels
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
What does God's Story teach us about announcing Christmas?
How are you decorating for Christmas this year? Are you, or have you, set up a Christmas Tree? Does your family hang lights outside of the house? Wreaths? Or maybe even the inflatable decorations? Are you sending Christmas Cards? There are so many ways to express our celebration this time of year.
But how do you express God's Story of sending His Son into this sinful world as a baby in a manger during the other eleven months of the year? How are you doing at staying focused on the true meaning of Christmas this year?
- Thank God for sending Jesus into this world to be our Savior.
- Ask God for opportunities to share His Christmas Story with some friends this month.
- Talk with your parents about some of the decorating traditions that you keep as a family. Ask them the story behind some of those traditions.
- If you've already decorated for Christmas, think of some ways that you might use those decorations to begin conversations with a friend about God's Story.
- Get some Christmas cards that convey the true meaning of Christmas and pass them out to teachers and friends at school, people in your neighbor hood, or maybe even a local nursing home.
- Is there a local, outdoor Christmas light display in your area? Invite some friends to go check it out. Then head to a local restaurant afterward and talk about the lights and the star that lit up the sky when Jesus came into the world.
- Whatever you do, don't be content to let Christmas look like just any other day of the year.
3 Dec, 2009
Our Christmas stories
A Christmas Rewrite, as Dickens Edits Dickens
It is an enduring mystery of English literature: What secrets lie entombed beneath the thick scribbles that Charles Dickens made as he wrote, and rewrote, the 66 pages of “A Christmas Carol” in 1843? The manuscript of this classic holiday ghost story, written in six weeks to raise much-needed cash, is housed at the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan, where it bears all of Dickens’s additions and subtractions in his own hand.
On page 3, he inserts “his eyes sparkled” to amplify the portrait of Scrooge’s nephew, whose beneficence is crucial to the plot. On page 12, where Scrooge takes Marley’s ghost to be evidence not of the supernatural, but of his own indigestion, (“more of gravy than of grave,”) he converts the offending bit of food from being a “spot of mustard” to a less digestible “blot of mustard.”
The manuscript is exhibited each holiday season at the Morgan, but as a matter of expedience, only one page is put on view each year, under glass, in the sumptuous former library of the financier John Pierpont Morgan.
This year’s page describes a moment when Scrooge hears Bob Cratchit report that the sickly Tiny Tim is “growing strong and hearty.’’ Initially, Dickens had Scrooge demand: “Is that so, Spirit?” only to be disabused of that notion by the Ghost of Christmas Present. “The child will die,’’ the spirit advises him.
Dickens regretted divulging that fact so soon and restored the passage two pages later in the text, employing a half-cross-out approach with his quill pen that came in handy when he was not quite ready to throw words away.
On Friday, six Morgan museum officials — a curator, a registrar, an assistant registrar, a technician, a conservator and a spokesman — oversaw the installation of the manuscript in the elegant period room that once housed Mr. Morgan’s personal library.
First to behold the results was Rob Matthews, 35, an artist from Philadelphia.
“I’m not sure how the printers made this out,’’ Mr. Matthews said, squinting. “This is notoriously bad penmanship.’’
Story & photo courtesy of — The New York Times
Matthew 1:24-25 (NIV)
"When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)
"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
When you tell a story does it ever change as you're telling it?
Maybe after you've told a story about your grandpa it took several tellings before you settled upon just the right word to describe grandpa's mood that night when he threw grandma's Christmas stocking into the fire place. He wasn't "cranky", although that's what you told your friends at work the first time you told the story, he wasn't "grumpy", although that's what you told your small group at church, he was actually "grouchy", which is the word you finally settled upon after several tellings and have cemented into the story as just the right word to describe your grandfathers mood that infamous Christmas Eve years ago.
Maybe Luke and Matthew were the same way. In collecting the oral traditions of the birth narratives Matthew and Luke sifted and sorted through dozens of accounts passed on from eyewitnesses to the events themselves. Thus each story had particular details emphasized, depending on the perspective of the story teller. So in this respect Matthew and Luke were more like "editors" than writers of these stories. Their job was to uncover layers and layers of meaning from the oral traditions and pass those on to their readers.
I've always wondered why they chose to tell us what they did? Why does Luke emphasize the physical wrapping and laying of Jesus in a manger? Why does Matthew emphasize the naming of the child but make no mention of the manger?
Take some time to read the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke and see what stands out. How are they similar, how are they different? Which details really bring the story to life for you? Try to pick out the themes, unique language, and story telling style of each gospel author. Above all, as you read each version of the birth of Jesus, allow it to "read you" too. In other words, listen to what God is telling you about how you are to live in response to the life changing gift of Jesus!
- Ask your parents or grandparents to tell you their version of a favorite family Christmas story.
- Do something "story worthy" this Christmas. Imitate God's gift of Christ by (serving, giving, loving) someone in a life changing way.
- Ask a friend to tell you one of their favorite Christmas stories
- Tell the story of Jesus' birth from memory to a friend. Take note of which details you emphasize and which ones you don't. Is your story more like Matthew's or Luke's?
2 Dec, 2009
Sometimes You Gotta Get Away
The Most Extreme and Isolated Places to Live in the World
We all go on vacation to relax, experience something new, get away from it all, or maybe to just evade the police. Whatever the reason, we can all understand that it's a good thing to have some time to ourselves in a location far-removed from our usual daily lives.
However, if you are indeed escaping from something (or someone), or maybe you just prefer the quiet life, you might be averse to choosing a vacation destination that's an overcrowded mess of people. Or perhaps you're even a recovering sociopath seeking a little isolation and have run out of ideas.
Not to fear, for we have here set before you a veritable banquet of remote travel destinations for you to feast your eyes upon. Places you can even visit if you're prepared to go to great lengths to get there, or maybe you'd rather marvel at why anyone in their right mind would want to live there.
Story provided by: tripbase.com.
Luke 5:15-16 (New Living Translation)
15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about solitude?
Jesus jumps onto the scene in Luke in a dynamic way – he heals a man with leprosy. This disease was one that didn't just destroy you physically; it got to you emotionally, and socially. A leper was forced away from their family and then out of the city where they would remain an outcast for the rest of their lives.
Jesus's simple words, "be healed" altered the leper's life in a big way, and Jesus's life from that day on. Luke paints this as one of Jesus first major miracles.
Jesus tells the leper not to tell anyone, but to quietly present himself to the priest (they were the only ones who could allow him back into society). Instead, the man told everyone and Jesus became even more famous.
At this point the writer interrupts the story to give us a look into Jesus's behavior. In the midst of the fame and everyone trying to reach him, Jesus made it a routine to slip away and spend time abiding with the Father.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
(I have to write this bide for myself today, but hopefully you can gain something from it as well.) It is really hard to get away in our world. We have instant access through our televisions, phones, and computers. As humans we don't necessarily like being alone. Yet here in this instant in scripture, in the fury of the moment, we find Jesus stepping aside from all the "stuff" to be alone with His father.
How much more do we need to get away in our day-to-day lives? I have learned that when I am getting worn down and tired that I need to make more time to abide in Jesus.
Jesus set a tough but needed example for us. He showed us that it is good to get away. Sometimes we feel guilty when we aren't busy doing, but the reality is that we need rest. God mandated to the Israelites that they were to take a day of rest. The writer of Psalms tells us to "be still and know that He is God." There are numerous places in scripture where getting away is important and lets people refresh and hear where God is directing them.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and out story to others?
Today I would encourage you to go to the news story linked with this Daily Bide. The article has a lot of pictures, so pick your favorite, print it, and post it somewhere you will see it often. Let it serve as a reminder to you that your friends need you to get away with Jesus on a regular basis.
They may not realize they need you to do that, but they need a friend who is regularly talking to Jesus about them. They need a friend who is reading through the bible, so they can make connections with God's story. Most of all they need a friend who is constantly growing in their friendship with Jesus.
People notice a difference as you spend time with Jesus as you grow deeper and learn how to love God and people more. Your friends will see that relationship taking shape in your life. Your friends need you to get away with Jesus regularly.
1 Dec, 2009
Party Crashers
A couple of Washington socialites aspiring to appear in the upcoming reality-TV series "Real Housewives of D.C." were being filmed by the show's producers as they sneaked into the White House for Tuesday's state dinner, ABC News has learned.
Party crashers made it past security at the president's state dinner. Michaele and Tareq Salahi weren't on the White House guest list, but that didn't stop the duo from successfully penetrating one of the nation's most secure places.
Now, the Secret Service is investigating how the Salahis managed to pull it off and whether they committed a crime. It's unclear what legal liability, if any, they may face. Were they trespassing? Did someone at the White House help them get in?
"It's clear they weren't on the list and weren't invited," White House officials said.
Initial findings of the Secret Service investigation have identified a checkpoint where procedures were not properly followed, according to the agency.
For their part, the Salahis certainly looked as though they belonged, arriving in a stretch-SUV and wearing glitzy formal evening wear.
The couple later posted pictures from the evening on their Facebook pages.
(To read the full story by Yunji De Nies, Byron Wolf and Devin Dwyer on 11/26/09, go to abcnews.go.com/politics.)
Matthew 9:10-13
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Does God's Story encourage us to be "party crashers"?
The short answer to that question is "not exactly". Jesus was not teaching us to go to parties where sinners hang out. What He was teaching us is that we should be willing to go outside of the church walls and our own comfort zones to reach the lost...wherever they may be.
The religious leaders in this passage were upset with Jesus for hanging out with "those kind of people", but Jesus didn't care. He wasn't there to impress religious people or look the part of a "good rabbi". He was only concerned with spending time with those who needed to hear His message. To do this, it sometimes meant that He had to "crash some parties" where He could hang out with them.
Connecting today's story and God's Story with my story
- How are you doing at following Jesus' model of pursuing lost people? Are you willing to enter into relationships with "those kinds of people"? Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone to do so? If that is a challenge, ask God for the boldness you need....and remember, wherever you go, He will be with you.
- If God does lead you to go somewhere you normally wouldn't (like a party) strictly for the purpose of reaching out to lost people, here are a few things to remember. First, never do so without praying hard about this. Second, make sure your parents and/or pastor have agreed that you are spiritually mature enough to go into enemy territory. Third, take another Christ-follower with you for the sake of accountability and strength to stand for your faith. Fourth, have others praying for you while you go where the lost can be found.
Connecting today's story, God's Story and my story with their story
- Why was Jesus a "party crasher"? Because He loved those who were lost. He didn't judge them. People act sinful...well, because they are sinners. They are only doing what they know. Let's be sure to love and not judge. Let's be willing to go where they are and build relationships...so that the "sick" can be healed.
- Ask God to place someone on your heart that you know is lost...and then begin to think of ways that you can enter into their world. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in this.
- Ask another Christian what they think about "Jesus the party crasher" and why they think He set this example for us.
