I was talking with a student the other day and she had said something like this,"Well everyone prayed, I guess it wasn't in God's plan". And that made me think a little (I know, I actually think, there I said it before you did) about is that really the right response. I mean we all know that God doesn't always answer our prayers or at least the way we want them answered, but is it because it wasn't God's plan?
I am going to have to say, I am not sure that is a acurate statement. Isaiah tells a little different story. Some of us know this but let me just think this through. Sometimes we don't get answers becaise there are other factors that are involved. I am only going to talk about two of them but yes there are more than this.
1. If there is sin in our lives, God will not answer, Isaiah 59:1-2 says in the (NLT) "Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call. It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, He has turned away and will not listen anymore. Maybe it is God's plan but sin and not so much the sin of the person who did not get the prayer answered but others. (to make sure to keep this person's identity a secret I will not be able to elaborate any further). The others could be a family memeber or a spouse, etc.. This bothers me when i hear that it "wasn't God's plan" because we do not know all the factors.
2. And that leads me into the second factor, who are we to know what God's plan is, we have an idea and you might have a calling but how it all turns out, really is up to God. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) says "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts" says the Lord. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts".
In closing, all I want you to do is look back at these two points and wonder am I and everyone that might be involved on the right track. We know that God will get us to the point that He wants us we may just be taking detours because we are relying on ourselves and not God.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Pepper and Sneezing
As I was working on a future event, a thought came across my mind and that was Why does Pepper make you sneeze. I know what you are thinking but I could not help my "unofficial" ADD kicking in. So anyway here is why "Pepper contains an alkaloid of pyridine called piperine. Piperine irritates the nerve endings inside the nose, triggering a sneeze. The sneeze is a natural reaction to the irritant in pepper, meant to clear it from the nasal passages. At the same time mucous membranes activate to help wash away the offending agent"
So there you go but I was thinking again (Don't say it) God why did you put that thought into my head? Well, in pepper there is this thing called piperine and that is a pungent substance found in plants of the Piperaceae family — including Piper nigrum (black pepper) and Piper longum (long pepper).
Now I am not going to get into it any more then to tell you that these peppers have been used in Ayurvedic (you will have to look that one up) medicine for the treatment of various diseases and discomforts. And this event that i am planning has a lot to do with this. The blood of Jesus dying on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus and asking Jesus to be Lord of your life is the treatment of Sin (Disease) and the Holy Spirit is the one that takes away that discomfort.
This event that I am planning will hopefully and prayfully help you with this.
Okay, well I am going to get back to planning this event. Oh, if you are wondering what this event is I will tell you.....later in the year. Sorry
Go MAD
So there you go but I was thinking again (Don't say it) God why did you put that thought into my head? Well, in pepper there is this thing called piperine and that is a pungent substance found in plants of the Piperaceae family — including Piper nigrum (black pepper) and Piper longum (long pepper).
Now I am not going to get into it any more then to tell you that these peppers have been used in Ayurvedic (you will have to look that one up) medicine for the treatment of various diseases and discomforts. And this event that i am planning has a lot to do with this. The blood of Jesus dying on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus and asking Jesus to be Lord of your life is the treatment of Sin (Disease) and the Holy Spirit is the one that takes away that discomfort.
This event that I am planning will hopefully and prayfully help you with this.
Okay, well I am going to get back to planning this event. Oh, if you are wondering what this event is I will tell you.....later in the year. Sorry
Go MAD
Monday, August 10, 2009
What Can I do?
Below is a story on teenagers shoplifting. As you read this you might be saying to yourself this isn't you but maybe you know someone who does. What can I do? or What do you want me to do about it? Remember you are that Night Light to the dark world, be there for them, help them see that it is wrong by your actions. Don't get yourself involved. There are many more ways but this should help get you started.
The new shoplifting numbers are out and they are staggering: 35 billion dollars in losses and 92 percent of all retailers were victims, up 8 percent over 2007. An estimated one in four teens has shoplifted. Why they do it and what you can do to prevent your child from stealing.
A man sees a compact disc he likes, so he hides it in his pants. A girl stuffs something she wants in her purse, and still another pretends to try on a shirt, but behind dressing room doors, she steals it.
All of these cases are re-enactments played out for television news cameras. But teens say that in real life, shoplifting happens all of the time.
“Yeah, a lot,” 17-year-old Nicole smiles coyly.
Ryan, 17, says teens are more likely to steal, ”clothes, necklaces or stuff that’s easily fittable.”
So why do some teens shoplift?
“Because they don’t want to pay for it,” explains Keke, 14.
Often, the reasons vary. Some children steal because of peer pressure, to get attention, to be rebellious or simply because it’s exciting.
“Part of what makes something thrilling is knowing that it’s forbidden, knowing that you are not supposed to do it, knowing that you could get in trouble if you get caught,” explains psychologist Dr. Gary Santavicca.
But in some ways, he says, the reasons don’t matter.
“The last thing we want to do is communicate to the youngsters that having reasons, having motives, having excuses, having a charming manner is going to get them out of the obligation to respect other people’s property; to be concerned about what is harmful to others, what is illegal and what is wrong,” Dr. Santavicca says.
He says parents must act as a moral compass for very young children, but older kids need to rely on their own conscience.
“We want that voice to come from within,” Dr. Santavicca says.
The new shoplifting numbers are out and they are staggering: 35 billion dollars in losses and 92 percent of all retailers were victims, up 8 percent over 2007. An estimated one in four teens has shoplifted. Why they do it and what you can do to prevent your child from stealing.
A man sees a compact disc he likes, so he hides it in his pants. A girl stuffs something she wants in her purse, and still another pretends to try on a shirt, but behind dressing room doors, she steals it.
All of these cases are re-enactments played out for television news cameras. But teens say that in real life, shoplifting happens all of the time.
“Yeah, a lot,” 17-year-old Nicole smiles coyly.
Ryan, 17, says teens are more likely to steal, ”clothes, necklaces or stuff that’s easily fittable.”
So why do some teens shoplift?
“Because they don’t want to pay for it,” explains Keke, 14.
Often, the reasons vary. Some children steal because of peer pressure, to get attention, to be rebellious or simply because it’s exciting.
“Part of what makes something thrilling is knowing that it’s forbidden, knowing that you are not supposed to do it, knowing that you could get in trouble if you get caught,” explains psychologist Dr. Gary Santavicca.
But in some ways, he says, the reasons don’t matter.
“The last thing we want to do is communicate to the youngsters that having reasons, having motives, having excuses, having a charming manner is going to get them out of the obligation to respect other people’s property; to be concerned about what is harmful to others, what is illegal and what is wrong,” Dr. Santavicca says.
He says parents must act as a moral compass for very young children, but older kids need to rely on their own conscience.
“We want that voice to come from within,” Dr. Santavicca says.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Unknown
Well, I have not posted a blog in a while so I decided to write a little something about an a stupid thing that i did on our HSMT.
The day was Monday July 27th we had just finished our first full day of surf and sand. That morning our quite time had us talking about what can we share with people in need. Not knowing and I am sure that even today the students would not think that our devotion would come into play.
There was a storm that day that really flooded the streets and parking lots (see pics of it on FB). We were headed out to PNO (Parents Night Out) over at the west campus of OC Baptist. I am going to write down some of what I wrote in my journel:
" Dummy me wanted to be funny. it started out as just driving in circles at a Wendy's parking lot that was a good amount of water on it. That part was not bad, but it did lead me to do the following.
As we were driving to the church, there was part of a parking lot that we had to go through that was partially flooded. Instead of being cautious (becasue the Wendy's parking lot was not that bad) I decided to be stupid and ride through it without slowing down. In the process the molding of the front bumper came (broke) off (thank God allowed that to be the only thing, it could have been a whole lot worse). There are many things that are wrong here,point 1: one of them is that a church member entrusted me with their van to use and to take care of. ( I have spoken to this church member and she said that we could use it again) Thank you God for allowing her to have a Spirit of mercy and forgiveness.
I must admit that this was my worst moment of my time at FBC Edgewater. I am not sure what i was thinking but it was not the right thing to do. now this is where our devotion came into play. I was that person that was in that time of need (comfort) and some of my students did exactly that, they gave me comfort in many forms, i won't mention names but you should know who you are. Point 2: God uses all circimstances in our lives and I really beleive that this devotional was going to be used and it was and I think after the students read this from Edgewater that went on it and reflect that day's events that they will see this too.
Point 3: and this is one of many things God taught me that day, when looking at future situations (flooded parking lot) we just can't go through them fast without looking at all of our options, because going through them without looking at Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2) we are just playing with danger and it will cost us something.
So what is it going to cost me:
- The cost to fix the van- Everyone we must realize even though the church member forgave me for my mistake and Jesus forgives us when we ask, we must still have to pay for our wrong.
I want all to know that i have asked for forgiveness with the church member and to God and that next morning I apoligzed to my students for what i did. There are many more anaolgy's that came out of this but this was the first one that God showed me.
The day was Monday July 27th we had just finished our first full day of surf and sand. That morning our quite time had us talking about what can we share with people in need. Not knowing and I am sure that even today the students would not think that our devotion would come into play.
There was a storm that day that really flooded the streets and parking lots (see pics of it on FB). We were headed out to PNO (Parents Night Out) over at the west campus of OC Baptist. I am going to write down some of what I wrote in my journel:
" Dummy me wanted to be funny. it started out as just driving in circles at a Wendy's parking lot that was a good amount of water on it. That part was not bad, but it did lead me to do the following.
As we were driving to the church, there was part of a parking lot that we had to go through that was partially flooded. Instead of being cautious (becasue the Wendy's parking lot was not that bad) I decided to be stupid and ride through it without slowing down. In the process the molding of the front bumper came (broke) off (thank God allowed that to be the only thing, it could have been a whole lot worse). There are many things that are wrong here,point 1: one of them is that a church member entrusted me with their van to use and to take care of. ( I have spoken to this church member and she said that we could use it again) Thank you God for allowing her to have a Spirit of mercy and forgiveness.
I must admit that this was my worst moment of my time at FBC Edgewater. I am not sure what i was thinking but it was not the right thing to do. now this is where our devotion came into play. I was that person that was in that time of need (comfort) and some of my students did exactly that, they gave me comfort in many forms, i won't mention names but you should know who you are. Point 2: God uses all circimstances in our lives and I really beleive that this devotional was going to be used and it was and I think after the students read this from Edgewater that went on it and reflect that day's events that they will see this too.
Point 3: and this is one of many things God taught me that day, when looking at future situations (flooded parking lot) we just can't go through them fast without looking at all of our options, because going through them without looking at Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2) we are just playing with danger and it will cost us something.
So what is it going to cost me:
- The cost to fix the van- Everyone we must realize even though the church member forgave me for my mistake and Jesus forgives us when we ask, we must still have to pay for our wrong.
I want all to know that i have asked for forgiveness with the church member and to God and that next morning I apoligzed to my students for what i did. There are many more anaolgy's that came out of this but this was the first one that God showed me.
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