People Are Watching

As Christians we have a great responsibility to shine the light of Jesus, not only to a dark world, but even to other believers. It's a tough job, but we have to do it. And sometimes we either ignore our responsibility or forget it and act just like everyone else in this world.

Everyone knows what the "mask game" is, and some are experts at it; you go to church and act good when you're around adults, but then when you're around your friends you say and do whatever you want. Or at church you act like a "Good Christian", but when the week comes around you're a totally different person. This is very common among teenagers. But have you ever thought that maybe the way you are acting is affecting the believer that is struggling? I think we all avoid this question because it's a very unpleasant one. So with that said, think about the way you act... do you crack dirty jokes, let a few cuss words slip, hang out with the wrong crowd? These and many more examples could be the reason why your friend in Sunday school struggles.
And on the other side of this, people from outside of the church could be watching and judging the way you act. How would you feel if someone from outside the church watched you and came to the conclusion that you're no different then he is? That there is nothing different about you...

People are watching... they watch what you do every second... from every direction. We not only need to shine the light of Jesus to the world, but also to other believers, they need examples to follow and encouragement to support them too.


So be careful what you say and do, because it may cause someone else to stumble or head in the wrong direction. You never know what kind of an influence you can have on someone. Remember... people are watching.



Luke 17:1-3


Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves."


In Christ's Love,
Josh

Follow your heart... at your own peril.

"Just follow your heart and your dreams will come true". We've all heard this a million times, but what does it really mean? Well honestly I think it's one of the most dangerous ideas mankind has come up with, and here it is plastered on practically every media source there is. Why is it so dangerous?


When faced with a choice, you have multiple things pulling on you. You have morals, desires, concerns, ideals and other people all throwing in their two cents on your choice. You weigh these, but ultimately you make the choice. Your morals, desires and concerns may all be telling you not to do something, and only your ideals telling you should do it, but you may still decide to side with your ideals.


Now there is one thing that has a rather strong say in what you do, and that is your heart. We hear a statement like "follow your heart" or "believe in yourself" and honestly even I think rainbows and unicorns. It gives me that light fluffy feeling, and it feels good. However, I believe that our hearts are corrupted and evil since the fall, and if you’re a Christian than you ought to agree.

So you see, if we follow our hearts, we must ask: ‘where are they leading us?’ and where my heart is leading me is not where God wants me to go. Follow God, and bring your heart. By the time he’s finished with it it’ll look just like it should.

                                             In Christ's love, Aaron

Actions Speak Louder than Feelings

I've recently been studying in Acts. I love reading Acts. It's like the Bible's version of a rock and roll song, I feel so energized and inspired, like I do when I go to a concert. I feel like I could save the world in a week. Of course we all know what happens after, We settle back into our routines, and soon lose the energy we felt. I often wondered why. Well, I think I found my answer in acts.


All the famous Biblical heroes in Acts got they're rock and roll concert moments, the most well known one being Saul's on the road to Damascus. After such an experience Saul/Paul must have felt that energy that I feel when I go to a rock concert. So how come Paul went on to save thousands of souls from so many different cultures and I’m still just stuck at home, struggling with my own problems, and only one saved soul? Well I think the answer is in the full name of Acts. In the King James Version it says "The Acts of the Apostles", not (this is important) "The Feelings of the Apostles". As I came to this realization, I wondered "okay, so what kind of acts did the apostles do?"

Well, looking at Paul, I saw that he completely left his life behind; he even got a new name. With nothing but the clothes on his back, and a faith on fire, he set out to save the world. And almost did. So then I think "So should I change my records, rent a car, and begin to minister on a crate across the United States?" Well the obvious answer was no. So what now? I'd hit a dead end so to speak. I couldn't just do as the apostles did. Why not?

Culture.

In the time and place where Paul was at, what he did was exactly what his culture needed. However in modern society, I would not get the same result. In fact I would be written off as a lunatic and end up with nothing. You may say that as Christians we should be lunatics to this world. I definitely agree that we should stand out, and not conform to this world, but that does not mean that we throw our brains out the window. God calls us to be as intelligent as we can, to have an answer to every question. And if you complain about that being impossible, I will simply say: God also commanded us to be perfect. If you’re not trying, you're failing. In this culture if you do not present a credible case, you will have little chance of anyone listening to you. You must be in the world.

God has a special calling for your life. It's not Paul's, not Peter's, not Andrew's and not mine. It's yours, and you need to get with it. I am by no means there, not even close, but I know the way, and I hope you'll come with me.



                                                               In Christ's love, Aaron

Be Thou My Vision

Lately I've been studying the lyrics to this song and they truly are rich and incredible.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2. Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

This is an amazing arrangement. Two thumbs up for these guys.

http://www.last.fm/music/4Him/_/Be+Thou+My+Vision

www.myspace.com/anberlin

Jonah

Jonah 1-4 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jonah%201-4&version=NIV)

For the past several weeks I have been doing a study on the book of Jonah and through my studying I found many interesting things. One of the examples is when Jonah is praying to God from inside the fish. He says, "In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry." He then goes on to say, (2:3) "You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. (2:5) The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. (2:6) To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God." After reading this I realized that it appears, according to the text, that he was drowning before the fish swolllowed him. Jonah was probably close to death before God saved him.

Also in Chapter 4 when God provides a vine for Jonah to protect him from the sun. God, then commands a worm to kill the vine. (4:8) Now, with no shade for Jonah, a "scorching" wind comes from the east and the sun "blazes" on his head so that he grows faint. There is some proof that it could have been a sirocco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirocco), but I'm not positive. I'll have to do a deep search on that to confrim it.

I find it interesting how Jonah, on several occasions, came either close to death or became very miserable. And even in the end he still had a hard heart. As there is a reason for every single word in the bible, I think there is a purpose for this book. I think that this book was written and included in our bible because we can learn from Jonah's mistakes and learn that one way or another God's plan will be fulfilled. But it would be a whole lot easier on us if we just listen and obey.

-Josh