Throughout the New Testament, there are calls for God’s people to be witnesses for Christ. Many people think this is a very challenging thing to do and shy away from it. The idea of walking up to a total stranger on the street and asking if they know Jesus is something that sometimes frightens even the most faithful of Christians.
However, being a witness for Christ does not have to be so difficult. As Christians we are called to live our lives in such a way that others might see our good deeds and give glory to God [Matt. 5:16]. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he tells the believers that they should live wisely among non-believers and make the most of the opportunities that come their way [Col. 4:5]. In this, Paul is not suggesting that believers confront non-believers on the street and ask if they know Jesus. Rather, he is suggesting to all of us that we live in such a way that opportunities will be created for witnessing when non-believers see how we live and ask questions.
Remember, as Christ-followers, we are to be a light in the darkness, pointing the way to Christ!!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
questions?? comments??
Do you like something you see or read on this blog, but are not sure how to go about leaving a comment? It is really simple to do... just look to the bottom of the post, whether it is written like this one is or a picture or a YouTube...
Under the post you'll see the word "comments"... it will usually have a number beside it [example: 0 comments]... all you have to do is click on that word and a page will come up where you can post your comments. Your name is not required... you can post "anonymously" if you'd like. Once you have "published" your comments, they will be there for others to read and respond to if they want...
So feel free to leave your comments... share your ideas, ask questions, or respond to another person's comments.... let everyone know what you think!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
a life changing faith...
How can we do it? How can we help youth experience the power of God's Presence and love? I think I struggle mainly with that... I believe that if my "kids" knew and felt God's Presence, and knew for themselves, apart from anything anyone else tells them, that God loves them... I think if they knew that, they might want to begin to explore and grow in a relationship with the Lord... they might want to see how faith can speak to their lives and the issues they face... they just might be willing to try to learn how God wants them to live... and they just might make a positive difference in their world...
In The Book of 1 Kings [Bible - Old Testament], there is a story of the prophet Elijah who challenged all the priests of Baal [one of the gods worshiped by Canaanites] to a "duel"... Elijah would prepare a sacrifice to God, and the priests would prepare a sacrifice to Baal. Then the priests of Baal would call on their god and Elijah would call on his God... and those watching would know who truly was God by which sacrifice was consumed by fire sent from heaven.
To make a long story short, there was no response from Baal, even after hours of pleading calling and ritual dancing and cutting by the priests of Baal... but with only a simple prayer, the God of Elijah sent fire and consumed Elijah's sacrifice. And all those who watched, fell to the ground to worship Elijah's God... because they knew that Elijah's God, the God of creation, the same God that we who are Christ-followers proclaim today, was truly the only God!
In a world where bulls are no longer sacrificed as a way to worship God, what can be done to challenge the "gods" of our world today? How can we live so that the "fire" of God's Holy Spirit will be seen in our lives and as a result, influence our youth to live a life of faith in God?
Ultimately, youth must choose for themselves.... whether to follow the Creator and Redeemer God, who makes all things new.... or whether to follow the gods of the world whose promises lead to hopelessness and despair...
Monday, March 9, 2009
Faith Reflections: "Foxhole" Prayers
“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.”
[Jonah 2:1 New International Version of the Bible]
Read: Jonah 1:17 - 2:10 [Found in the Old Testament of the Bible]
Everyone knows how it goes… the time for the dreaded test [Math, English, Science, whatever] has arrived, and you begin to pray madly that God will help you pass it. Or maybe you’re in trouble, and you know you need help, and even if you don’t usually do a whole lot of praying other times, this time you do. You even try to make a deal with God. “God, if you help me, I’ll…”
Some people call those types of prayers “foxhole” prayers… prayers that are said when someone is in a lot of trouble, is maybe scared, and needs a lot of help. Everyone at some time or another has prayed a “foxhole” prayer.
It is ok to ask God for help in these situations. In the Bible, Jonah had the same experience. He ran away when God wanted him to do something, and now was in big trouble, sitting inside a big fish that had swallowed him up. Even though Jonah probably thought God was mad at him, he still prayed and asked for help. Sometimes God is the only one who can help. Don’t be afraid to ask for his help. He is always listening.
Everyone knows how it goes… the time for the dreaded test [Math, English, Science, whatever] has arrived, and you begin to pray madly that God will help you pass it. Or maybe you’re in trouble, and you know you need help, and even if you don’t usually do a whole lot of praying other times, this time you do. You even try to make a deal with God. “God, if you help me, I’ll…”
Some people call those types of prayers “foxhole” prayers… prayers that are said when someone is in a lot of trouble, is maybe scared, and needs a lot of help. Everyone at some time or another has prayed a “foxhole” prayer.
It is ok to ask God for help in these situations. In the Bible, Jonah had the same experience. He ran away when God wanted him to do something, and now was in big trouble, sitting inside a big fish that had swallowed him up. Even though Jonah probably thought God was mad at him, he still prayed and asked for help. Sometimes God is the only one who can help. Don’t be afraid to ask for his help. He is always listening.
Friday, March 6, 2009
anyone can be a hero...
"Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 [New Living Translation of the Bible]
video link
video link
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
I gave up chocolate for Lent...
This morning in Sunday school, as we began to talk about Lent, one of the youth said, "I gave up chocolate for Lent!" My reply was a question. "Why? Why did you give up something for Lent?" I wanted to know if she or anyone else in the class knew why people "gave things up" for Lent. Many times, during this Lenten season of the Christian year, people "give something up"... but if there is no understanding of the reason why this is done at this time of the year, then this becomes a meaningless ritual.
Take this season of Lent to reflect on how your soul is really doing... and to grow in your relationship with God... and if you are wondering how you can grow if you don't currently have a relationship with God, all it takes is one small step of reaching out for God... and you will find that God has been there all along.
Lent is the 40 day time of the year [not counting Sundays] before Easter during which Christians take time for introspection, for soul searching, reflection and repentance... it is a time of growing in one's faith in preparation for the coming of the death and resurrection of Christ. In the earliest days of the church, Christ-followers re-dedicated themselves to the faith, and new converts learned about the Christian faith as they prepared for baptism. "Giving something up" was done to help a person focus on the ideas of reflection, repentance, renewal and spiritual growth during this time of the year.
While giving up chocolate might not seem to be something that would help a person focus on spiritual soul searching, it can still help as a little reminder... for example, every time you think about eating chocolate and then remember that you have given it up for Lent, as you begin to wonder, "Why did I give up chocolate?!!", you can then remember to ask yourself that question suggested by John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement... a question he suggested we all take time to ask of ourselves and each other on a regular basis regarding our relationship with God: "How is your soul really doing"?
While some people take it very seriously, giving something up for Lent is not a "legalistic" requirement of the Christian faith... and you don't have to give up only food items... you can give up watching TV for a certain amount of time each day, or give up some other activity for a certain amount of time each day... what you give up and for what amount of time is your choice... because ultimately, it doesn't matter what you have given up, or even if you have given something up... ultimately, what really matters is the answer to the question: How is your soul really doing?
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