I've moved!

After much deliberation I've decided to move my blog to Wordpress. Though it will be difficult to part with my smoking Asian background, hopefully I will somehow move on. I hope you will continue reading these & future posts at http://jessicamarkwood.wordpress.com/.

Don't ask

Genesis 4:16-17

"Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch."

Cain was the son of the world's first couple, Adam & Eve. So, this passage begs to question, who did Cain marry?

My Bible teacher told me that it is questions like this that we just shouldn't ask. She said it's questions like these that destroy Christianity. I beg to differ.

Firstly, there are 3 possible answers to the question: 1) Cain married his sister, which would have been acceptable at the time, 2) Cain could have married his niece since there's no time frame on this passage and we don't know about his other siblings, or 3) God created more people after Adam & Eve. Most people believe the first option is best, but the question is never addressed in the Bible.

Secondly, the point of my writing, is that no question we have can destroy Christianity. Christ tells us in John 16:33 that he has overcome the world. There is no question that the world has that can take down Christianity. The Bible has been criticized and destroyed more than any other book in the world, yet it is continually found to be faultless. Skeptics would like you to believe that questions like "Who did Cain marry?" can single-handedly discredit the Bible, but that's simply not true because there's always an answer.

Thirdly, never stop asking questions. If you find something in the Bible that you don't understand, don't overlook it. Read more in context, research it, or talk to someone who can help you. Not only that, but when you don't understand what someone says, whether it be a preacher, teacher, or friend, ask questions and look for answers in the Bible. Don't be led astray by false confidence! We worship a God of peace, not of confusion. God doesn't want us to blindly believe in his word without understanding what it means or not truly believing what it says. If we learn to understand what the Bible says and we are able to see that God is the answer to all our questions, our love for him and reliance upon him is exponentially increased and our faith is renewed.

Becoming a citizen

I spend a few hours every week working at the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), where English classes, citizenship test preparedness sessions, job skills workshops, and numerous other services are offered to Nashville's immigrant population. I am proud to say that the woman I have been working with for the last several weeks, Gene, became a United States citizen today! This task is extraordinarily difficult and I daresay that a large portion of natural-born Americans could not pass the Question & Answer section. Gene and many other people at the Center have overcome incredible odds and made incredible sacrifices to become citizens and they are so happy to finally achieve their goal. How much greater it is to become a citizen of Heaven!

Philippians 3:20-21

"But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

How do we become citizens of Heaven? Well, let's look at the promises you make to become a citizen of the United States:

1. Support the Constitution of the United States. In the same manner, we should believe in God's word- the Holy Bible- and therefore follow it. God's holy law is designed to lead us to him, fulfill our purpose on this earth, and teach us to do what we were made to do- glorify him.
2. Renounce and abjure absolutely and entirely all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which the applicant was before a subject or citizen. God is jealous for us. He doesn't want to share us with the world or with any other desire. He wants all of us. He has called us to take our cross daily and follow Christ to the death. Whoever would lose his life for God's sake will save it.
3. Support & defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. II Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. We need to be in the Scriptures doing what it says in order to defend our beliefs against a world that is constantly trying to destroy them.
4. Bear true faith and allegiance to do the same. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." When we become citizens of Heaven we are pledging our faith to God. Not just the same faith as demons, but true and genuine faith that streams from a heart of desire to please God and share his gospel.
5. Bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law. Ephesians 6 tells us that we are in a war "not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." God has provided us with all the necessary equipment to defend his cause so that we may fearlessly enter into battle knowing that we will come out the victor.

Gene is a refugee from Burundi escaping the Rwandan genocide. Today she is an American citizen pursuing her GED and trying to support her 3 children. Her life has changed significantly because she committed to becoming an American. God promises to radically change us if we become citizens of his kingdom. He doesn't say he'll make our lives better. Just like Gene has to pay taxes now, Christians endure trials and persecution for their beliefs. But at the end of our lives Christians will receive a reward far better than any opportunity Gene now has. We will be rewarded for our commitment to God and receive the gift of eternal life with God.

PS: Please pray for Gene as she continues to learn to read and write in English and adapt to her new life as an American citizen.

Light the fire

We constantly say that we want to be on fire for God or we pray that we want God to "light the fire in our souls," but what does that really mean? Most of us are seeking spiritual high that gives us a feel-good effect. For most people, "on fire for God" just means having a desire for God. But when I think of fire, I don't think of something peaceful, calm, and happy. Fire is raging, destructive, powerful, and explosive.



• Deuteronomy 4:24 says, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Fire is all consuming. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes tear things apart, but when fire destroys, there's nothing left. When God takes over our lives, there's nothing left. When he destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah with fire, he didn't leave any evidence. He's jealous for all of us. He doesn't want a part time commitment. He doesn't want there to be any evidence of our former life in the world. Luke 17:33 says, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it."

• Jeremiah struggled with being on fire for God in Jeremiah 20:9 when he says, "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot." This fire is irritating. Many people come into Christianity thinking, "I believe in God, but I'm not going to be a fanatic." If we allow God to set us on fire, a fanatic is exactly what we'll be. If you could imagine yourself on fire, I don't think you'd be standing around silently waiting for someone to come up and ask you what's wrong. You would be jumping around screaming, looking for anyone that could relieve you. Same goes for God. When he sets us on fire he fills us with his glory and love, we should be actively seeking people who need the gospel.

• The Israelites were led out of Egypt by God in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that "did not depart from before the people." (Ex. 13:22) God's fire is a guiding light, but we must be willing to follow. It is foolish to ask God for guidance if we are not willing to follow through. God led the Israelites through a desert for 40 years, but he never left them. Even when they were travelling in the darkest of nights, God's fire led them to where he predestined them to go. God's fire will guide us toward the path God has created for us, but we have to get up and move. If we agree to follow him wherever he leads, he promises not to desert us.

Be careful what you wish for when you ask God to "light the fire" in your soul again, because he just may follow through in a way you weren't expecting. Question is, when he follows through, will you follow him?

Qanna'

Jealously usually carries a negative connotation. It's right there with greed and covetousness. It's bad, and most would consider it sinful. So why does God have this seemingly negative trait?

Exodus 34:14 says, "for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." The Hebrew word for this jealousy is "qanna'," which is only used in reference to God's jealousy. It means to be "hostile toward a rival" or "vigilant in guarding a possession." Both of these things are true of God when it comes to your soul.

God's obvious rival is the Devil. I Peter calls him the adversary, roaming around like a hungry lion. And based on the entire book of Revelation, God is apparently a little hostile toward the devil, considering that God plans on throwing him in an eternal lake of fire. Similarly, in Zephaniah God describes the fires of jealousy that will destroy those who do not obey him. He is also vigilant in guarding his possession. You are his because he made you and he doesn't want to give you up. James 4:4-6 says, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy with God. Or do you suppose that it is to no purpose that Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit he has made  to dwell in us'? But he gives more grace..."

God wants you desperately. Though humankind gave way to the world back in the Garden of Eden, God still wants each and every one of us. That's grace. That's the gospel. That's salvation. He sent part himself to be the perfect sacrifice so that he could still have us, even in our most imperfect state. He is incredibly jealous of the world's influence and its ability to captivate us. If we fall into the captivity of the world, or even wish to befriend it, we make ourselves a rival of God- one to whom he is hostile. But this isn't a tug-of-war between God and the world. It's a choice you must make. Will you choose to love God and have a part in his victory or choose the world and have a part in his jealous wrath?

 

Whatever is...

Now we've looked at them all.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Phil. 4:8

We have established that God is truth, God & all of his creation is deserving of honor, God is justice, God is purity, God is lovely, and God is commendable. Philippians 4:8 isn't telling us to think about the truth in the laws of gravity, the honor of the military, the justice of the legal system, the purity of a child, the loveliness of a flower, or the commendations on a resume. Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about God. God is excellent & the only one deserving of praise. In a world that is constantly moving and trying to destroy us in the process, we need to remember to have our minds fixed on God- not the negativity of the world. He is all of these things and more and he wants to make his children into mirror images. He wants to make you true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. The best way to access this supernatural power is through meditating on him. He wants us to know as many facets of his glory that we can comprehend, and just a few are laid out in this verse. Think about these things. 

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

Rom. 8:6

Whatever is commendable....

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Phil. 4:8

We commend ourselves often. Whether in resumes, small talk, or the Info sections of our Facebook pages, we spend a lot of time commending ourselves. Unfortunately, none of that matters to God. He doesn't really care how highly you think of yourself. Your resume and list of good works will not get you into Heaven. Paul refers to such things as trash. They don't mean anything to God unless they were done to glorify his gospel. II Corinthians 10:18 says, "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." So, how do we go about being commended by the Lord?

I Corinthians 4 tells of the judgment day when all men will be commended by God and the purposes of their hearts will be disclosed. God doesn't commend those who just do what is seemingly good. He commends those who are of pure motive to serve him. And when we serve him we are to do it as he would have it. II Corinthians 4:2 says, "But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God." We must live in such raw truthfulness of the Scripture that we show others how to live the life God commends. We must be an example of God in the world.

God wants us to be overwhelmed with pure devotion and admiration for him because of what he has done for us.  In response, we seek him, serve him, and sanctify him. He's not looking for those who are just willing to play the part. The commendation of man is meaningless, but the commendation of the Father is everything. God commends those whom he finds to be living like he did while he was on the earth because his ways are truly commendable.

God is truth. God and all of his creation is deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. God is lovely. God is commendable. Think about these things.

"And I commend joy, for man has no good under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun."
Ecc. 8:15

Whatever is lovely...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Phil. 4:8

Webster defines "lovely" as being of the very best kind. Lovely doesn't refer to the mediocre or the good. We're talking about the very best.

In Luke 15 Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. A son runs away from his father to live in sin, but finds himself in despair. He returns home to beg for forgiveness from his father, but that's not his father's concern.

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' ²²But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate."

In the same way, when we come to God, he doesn't care where we've been or what we've been doing. He's concerned about where we're going. Our God is happy to forgive if we return to him. He wants to clothe us in his very best robes. So, what are these robes? Psalm 30:11 says that he clothes us in gladness. Isaiah 61:10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels."

God  clothes us in salvation, righteousness, and gladness. Just like he clothed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he sacrificed the Lamb, Jesus, in order to clothe us in salvation and rid us of our sin and shame. He wants us to have the best. God wants us to be lovely because he is lovely. When he saves our souls he clothes us in that which is lovely- himself.

God is truth. God and all of his creation are deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. God is lovely. Think about these things.

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!"
Psalm 84:1

Whatever is pure...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Phil. 4:8

Every single time I hear about purity, I hear the same exact illustration.



Your purity is like a white rose (or dress, or unopened present, etc.). Everyone likes it when it's nice, straight, and white- pure. However, when people touch it, its petals are torn, or it gets dirty, no one wants it anymore.
I HATE this illustration with an unquenchable burning passion. Because, - here's the deal - we are all that distorted, dirty, and destroyed rose, yet God is jealous for us. God wants us so desperately that he sent his son to die so that we could spend eternity with him, despite our incredible impurity.

We have all been touched, stained, and torn by the world. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Titus 1:15 says, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled." We live in a world where "nothing is pure." But that's exactly what God calls us to be. He wants us to have a pure heart, pure wisdom, pure devotion, pure religion, pure conduct, and pure faith. So, how do we do that?

 I John 3:3 says, "And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." If we put our hope, or trust, our faith, and our lives in God's hands, we'll be as pure as God is. If we don't put our hopes into things of the world, whether it be money, people, careers, fantasies, or dreams, we'll find purity. We'll find that God is our portion. God is all we need. We don't need God alongside something worldly and impure. If we trust in him, he promises to empty us of the world's influence and overwhelm us with his pure love, grace, joy, and justice.

God is truth. God and all of his creation is deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. Think about these things.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Matt. 5:8

Whatever is just...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Phil. 4:8

We often refer to God as being just, but I started thinking about it, and that didn't make sense. "The wages of sin is death..." I sinned, so I should die. Revelation 21:8 says, " But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." That's me. I've been a coward when it comes to proclaiming the gospel, I've been faithless, my ways detestable, and I've told my fair share of lies. Not only that, but Romans 1:18 says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." God's wrath is no joke. It's bad. It's what caused him to swallow people into the ground, set fire to cities, and exempt people from the paradise he made. He directs his wrath at sin and I am sinful. So, how on earth am I going to get to heaven?

Christ.

 God is justice. He created man, but they sinned. They had to die. That was the deal. But God still wanted them, even in their imperfect and sinful state. Someone had to die to rid mankind of sin so that they could remain in the presence of God. God's immense wrath had to be directed toward something. He chose to direct it at himself - his son. He humbled himself from everything to nothing and came to earth so that he might live a perfect life and be a perfect sacrifice for all. He was an outcast living in poverty who was tortured and endured indescribable agony though he was totally and utterly blameless. Christ came to earth in order to save our souls from death. He bore the wrath reserved for us though he was not in any way deserving. He came so that terribly imperfect beings could spend eternity in a perfect paradise in the light of God's glory. Romans 5:9 says, "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved from the wrath of God." Justified. Just as if we'd never sinned. God is the righteous judge who doesn't let sin slide. When he looks at humanity he sees their sin. But when he looks at Christians he sees that they have opened his "free gift....of eternal life in Christ Jesus." When he looks at my soul, he doesn't see something sin-stained, worldly, and hopeless. He sees Christ- who is perfect and worthy of heaven. That's God's justice.

God is truth. God and all he has created and all he has done for us is deserving of utmost honor. God is justice. Think about these things.


"The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He."
Deut. 32:4

Whatever is honorable....

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Phil. 4:8

Honor [on-er] -noun : honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs or actions

 In honor of the Haloween tradition, thousands of children will dress up in costumes and talk to strangers in order to get buckets of candy. We have acre after acre of funeral homes where we honor the dead. We have medals of honor, honorable mention, and honor roll. We honor the flag, our ancestors, our traditions, other's wishes, veterans, and whoever is celebrating the day they were born. Our society says a lot about honor. But what does the world know about honor? We live in a world that is lacking honesty, fairness, and integrity.

So, what does the Bible say? How do we counteract this trend?

I Peter 2:17 says, "Honor everyone...Honor the emperor." In this one verse God tells us the criteria for who is deserving of honor. Everyone. From the lowliest of people to the most powerful man in the world, they are deserving of honor. No person made in God's image is deserving of gossip, backstabbing, violence, immodesty, lies, or any other sinful action in their direction. Regardless of their behavior, political views, religious beliefs, economic situation, or appearance, they are deserving of respect because they are part of God's creation. This includes ourselves. Many people have a harder time honoring themselves than they do others. We must remember that we too are God's creation. We are living sacrifice. We are his temple. We shouldn't defile our bodies with impurities, our minds with worldly wisdom, and our hearts with negativity and hate.

But most importantly, we are to honor God and the Savior he sent. John 5:22-23 says, "The Father judges no one, but has given judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him."

God is truth. God and all he has created and all he has done for us is deserving of utmost honor. Think about these things.

"...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy..."

I Peter 3:15

Whatever is true...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things

Phil. 4:8

What is truth?

That seems to be the question of our time and no one seems to know the answer. However, society claims to have come up with a solution: there is no answer. This is postmodernism. The postmodern worldview is one of acceptance. No one is wrong. Everyone is doing the right thing, regardless of what they are doing. Postmodernism is lacking a strong foundation. First of all, it just doesn't make sense for everyone to be right. My monotheistic beliefs clearly contradict the polytheism found in Hinduism. There's no way that we could both be right. Secondly, the belief in absence of absolute truth is an absolute truth in itself. It's an oxymoron.

Truth was obviously a big deal to Christ, since that's why he humbled himself by coming to earth to suffer and die on our behalf. When Jesus was talking to Pilate hours before his execution he said to Pilate, "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world- to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Clearly Jesus believed in absolute truth, otherwise, he could have just maintained his glorious status as ruler of the world and not bothered to save our souls from hell, because it doesn't matter what everyone believes.

So, what is this truth? The "all paths to God" mentality is not upheld by the Bible, which clearly states that there is one narrow path to God- not 6 billion. Colossians 1 says, "Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you..." The truth is the gospel! The truth is the story of God creating people, the people separating themselves from him, and God bringing them back. That's truth.
God is truth. Think about these things.

"We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."

II Cor. 13:8

More than a character

Over Christmas break I'll be working as a character at Opryland for their Dreamworks Experience package for the holiday season. There will be characters from Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda. During training we put on the costumes and talk a lot about commitment to the character. As soon as that costume is on, we become that character. There's no breaking character, no removing of costume pieces, no talking like ourselves, and no standing still. 

Same goes for Christianity. When we put on the name of Christ, we become something totally different. We act differently, talk differently, live differently.

• We can't break character because we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. We have a world watching us and waiting for us to break down and become like they are, but we have to resist this temptation.
• We can't be seen in partial costume. Christianity is all or nothing. We are to lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely in order to glorify God. Every weight. We can't just stop lying and assume that makes up for our gossip. We can't just do the convenient things Christ calls us to do. We have to be in Him 100%.
• We can't act like ourselves, but we are to be conformed to his image. It's not about carrying his name on Sundays and carrying ours for the other 6 days of the week. It's about becoming more and more like Christ in every aspect of our lives (we learn how to do this from Scripture).
• We can't stand still. There is nothing about Christianity that is lazy or idle. We are to be busy at the work of the Lord, and there is always something to do. Whether it's worshipping, studying, visiting, evangelizing, serving, or numerous other things, we can never neglect what God has called us to do. While there is a time for rest, there is never a time to stop glorifying God and growing closer to Christ. There are no plateaus in Christianity- only closer to Christ and farther away.
• There's help in distress. When I'm in the costume it's hard to see, hear, feel, and breathe. I have to give up all of my senses and trust that my handler is going to lead me. The handler is outside the costume to guide me and if there is a problem inside the costume I have a special distress signal to alert my handler. The Scripture is our guide. It is a light in darkness that cannot be put out. It promises that we will not stumble if we walk in its light. Not only that, but Christ cares for us. He is able to sympathize with us in every way, even in the persecution he promises we'll endure. He is a constant and reassuring presence in every time of need.

There is one major difference though. We can't take off Christianity at the end of the day. It's a full time gig. But once we put it on and embrace it, we'll never want to take it off. Putting on Christ means gaining access to our omnipotent Creator and Savior who promises us eternal life in the light of his glory if we commit to him for our short lives.

Romans 13:14

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."

Sin Sells

We often speak of the world as if it's naive of its wrongdoing, but that's simply not the case. Backyard Burger workers wear uniforms that say, "Guilt: Now Even Tastier." One of the biggest teen clothing lines is the Sinful brand. Axe slogans claim that they can wash off last night. TV shows revolve around partying, sex, revenge, gossip, laziness, and lack of purpose. There is no question that the world understands that what it is doing is wrong. Sin sells.

Proverbs 13:16 says, "In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly."

We live in a world full of people who love to do wrong. So, what do we do about this? Firstly, don't support these brands that promote wrong. Be one less customer of folly. Be an example to the world and give them no cause to call you a hypocrite. The world knows the difference between right and wrong because they embrace wrong and are happy to accuse you of wrong. But mainly, be lovers of God and his way. Proverbs 15:9 says, "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he who loves him pursues righteousness." Lovers of God should not just avoid sin, but they should love doing right and glorifying God in the process. If we are people of a God that loves us unconditionally and is deserving of all praise for his grace and sacrifice, we should be in pursuit of his wisdom rather than walk with the fools of this world.

Celebrity

This is how people commemorated Michael Jackson's death:

This is how we commemorate Christ's death:

Alright, this may be a very broad generalization, but it's not too far from the truth. If staying awake in church is the standard for Christianity, there's a whole lot of people getting by on the bare minimum.

Isn't it interesting how much more passionate we get about our favorite sports team, musician, or Twilight than we do about our almighty Savior?

We dedicate a ton of money and time to these forms of entertainment, and if we get the chance to be in their presence, our attitudes change completely. Most people would not typically paint their bodies bright colors and yell at the top of their lungs, but a football game encourages it. We put our all into supporting our team, singing our favorite songs as loud as we can, and covering our cars in political bumper stickers. Shouldn't the same principle be true for our worship?

Malachi 1:6-8 says, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?'  By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts."

Not only that, but he tells his people that they should shut the doors of the temple if they are going to offer such things to him. God wants  our best in every aspect and he will accept no less. He wants better gifts than what you give on Christmas. He wants a stronger defender than you are for your political party. He wants more enthusiasm than you have for your team. He wants us to be more excited about reading his book than getting an autograph. He doesn't want us to idolize anyone or anything but him. Anything less just isn't good enough. If we aren't giving our all to worshipping him, whether it be a church service or being living sacrifices, he doesn't want it. If we aren't worshipping in spirit and truth we shouldn't bother worshipping at all.

Michael Jackson was talented, but he never did anything for me. Christ created the world, saw that it was sinful, and humbled himself to the point of death so that he could save it (and me). Who deserves our praise?

Finding Yourself

As a senior in high school I hear a lot about how my time in high school and college will be spent "finding myself." I don't think anyone really knows what that means, but they sure do say it a lot. I'm constantly told that I should travel, study, and experiment in order to "find myself." Not only that, but it's my understanding that "finding myself" will be a lifelong and constantly changing experience. Interestingly enough, the Bible says quite the opposite. Matthew 10:39 says,

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

I don't need to spend the rest of my life worrying about who I am or what I'm supposed to do with my life. I don't need to study 5011 different subjects in order to figure out what I'm interested in. I don't have to be like Thoreau and hide myself away in a cabin for a year in order to prioritize my life. I don't have to go through a gamut of careers to find my one certain destiny. I just have to serve God and trust that his plan is greater than mine and that he is in total control. In order to find myself I have to get lost in Christ. Rather than finding myself and fulfilling my desires, I need to commit my life to finding Christ and fulfilling his calling. I don't need to find myself to become myself. I need to lose myself to become more like Christ. I lose myself for him because he lost everything for me.

Demas

Demas is only mentioned 3 times in the New Testament, yet he is the image of a huge portion of young Christians. In Philemon 1 Paul is in prison and references Demas as one of his fellow workers. Demas is working diligently with Paul for the cause of Christ, though it means persecution and maybe death. He is equal with Paul. Demas is still hanging out with Paul in the letter to the Colossians, but he doesn't get the same recognition. While Luke is called "the beloved physician" in chapter 4, Demas is merely mentioned as sending a greeting. Finally, II Timothy 4:10 says, "Demas, in love with the present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica."

Demas was 100% committed as a young Christian. He was willing to go the distance for God. Then he got caught up in the world. God became second priority and then he wasn't a priority at all. That's the way most Christians I know are. They are so in love with the thought of a perfect and loving God that they'd do anything to glorify God. Then reality sinks in. The Bible is a book that calls Christians to take up their cross and follow Christ, even to death. It calls them to separate themselves from everything and everyone who separates them from God (family included). It calls them to give up all that they love more than Christ, even if that means selling every material possession. It calls them to endure difficult persecution, suffering, and trials. It calls them to be different from the world and to be hated by the world.

Christianity is certainly not easy. But rest assured that there is great reward in glorifying God both in this life and the next. God designed us to worship him, and fulfilling our purpose fills us with unfathomable joy. God blesses us in infinite ways and is constantly able to guide us, fight our battles, and lift us up. In Christ there is also the promise of an eternal life in the presence of God, which is far better than anything the present world could ever claim offer.

Who's Worthy?

CAUTION: You're about to look at a dead sheep.

This is one of my super awesome "first day of school" pictures:



This is a rather disgusting freshly-slaughtered sheep carcass

Study both of these pictures. Which one is better?

I know I'm not the most attractive person in the whole world, but I'd like to think that I'm better looking than a dead sheep. I have higher morals than that sheep, I'm more talented than that sheep, I have greater world influence than that sheep, I have more power than that sheep, and I can beat that sheep in about a million other contests. Generally speaking, I would consider myself better than that nasty sheep.

Yet it is this image that the Bible uses in Revelation 5 to emphasize how incredible God is and how contemptible we are.

¹Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ²And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"

John has a vision of Heaven. The angels have in their possession a scroll with seven seals. Regardless of what that means, I'll tell you that it's important. This isn't something that just anybody can handle. The angels can't even open it, so they must find someone worthy of opening it.

³And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, ⁴and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

No one in all of Heaven and all of Earth was worthy of even looking into the scroll. Not the pope, not the holiest of elders, and not the angels.There is world-changing magnificence in this scroll, but no one can see it because no one is worthy of opening it.

 ⁵And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

Finally! Someone is worthy of opening the scroll. A lion- a symbol of power- from the greatest tribe of Israel of the greatest lineage is going to open the scroll.

⁶And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

Oops. This sheep must be really lost. Sheep aren't exactly known for their intelligence, and this one must not have heard about the importance of that scroll. There's a lion coming to open it. The epitome of greatness and prestige is coming to open the scroll, not a slaughtered lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes.

⁸And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song, saying,

   "Worthy are you to take the scroll
   and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
   from every tribe and language and people and nation,
¹⁰and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
   and they shall reign on the earth."

What? This dead sheep is the only one in all creation worthy of opening the scroll? Not a lion? Not a king? A dead sheep?

¹¹Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹²saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" ¹³And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" ¹⁴And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

We will never be better than the lamb who was slain. No matter how many good deeds we do or how much we love God, we are still less than the Lamb of God. We are worthy of absolutely nothing, but he is worthy of everything. No one in this world receives salvation without him and his humble death. There is nothing that anyone could ever do to deserve God's infinite grace, but Christ-the Lamb-died so that we might have access to it.

The perks of being crazy

Legendary soldier Bill Millin, better known as Piper Bill, was personal piper to Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, commander of the 1st Special Service Brigade in World War II. He is best known for his courageous actions on D-Day. In WWII, the position of piper was usually reserved for Scots and Irishmen, and they were restricted to the very back areas of the fighting troops. That didn't sit well with Lord Lovat. As German machine guns were killing Americans left and right, Lovat commanded Millin to play on the front lines, hoping to boost the morale of his men. He played "Highland Lassie" and "Road to the Isles" as he successfully dodged all enemy fire. Some time later when speaking to German POWs, Millin learned that he had not been shot because the German soldiers "thought he was crazy" and found him entertaining.

Paul had a similar experience in Acts 26 when appearing before Festus, attempting to defend himself.

"And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind." But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner."

Festus thought Paul was crazy, and for good reason. Paul claimed that a light from heaven came down to him and convicted him of the gospel, which consists of an omnipotent being creating the world and later sending his son to die and resurrect himself so that all humanity could have eternally life in the glorious presence of God. If you truly believe that (and therefore live as if it's true), then most people will probably think you're crazy. You can't explain forgiveness, unconditional love, or joyful sacrifice to a person that doesn't understand Christ. Not only will they think you're insane, but you'll be on the front lines of battle, and they're going to attack you. But this crazy devotion and obedience to our perfect God is what will save your soul.

Smarter Than Me

Radio host Harold Camping, the man known for predicting several different dates for the end of the world, did several video interviews in the days leading up to the infamous May 21, 2011. One radio phone-in recorded was of a woman who had been watching a lot of news about Harold Camping and his history of incorrect predictions. She told Camping that seen a lot of negative press about him, but that is what led her to believing that he was correct. She said, "I figured, 'Well, he's smarter than me, so I'll listen to him.'"

This is the problem with most Christians. Rather than dig into the Scriptures and hear what God is saying, we rely on the flawed words of man. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correcting, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

God has breathed out his perfect word, and it can save all souls and withstand all criticism. Not only that, but the verse says that the man of God can be competent with it. He did not say, "only those educated," or "only Bible scholars" can be equipped. All of God's people are capable of handling the Scriptures with confidence. Why would we take a human's word over this? The Bereans of Acts 17 searched the Scripture when Paul preached to them, because they wanted to make sure that they were following God and not Paul. To me, if anyone could preach the gospel correctly, it would be Paul. But he was still human and needed to be held to the standard of the Bible. Paul goes on to say in I Corinthians 1 that listening to men encourages divisions within the church.

^"For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

We should be dedicated to learning more about God and his love so that we may come to love him more. Preachers, scientists, and motivational speakers did not die for the sake of our salvation. Christ, the Word, did. Though men lead us to know more, we must make sure that they too are seeking God's truth and love in his Word, not a self-seeking opinion or misinterpretation.