FBC Edgewater

changing blog sites

2009-10-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hey I may not be writing on this much more. If you want the new blog spot here it is

Stranger Than Fiction

2009-10-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hey all, this is a very busy week for me due to the Upward registration and keying all the players in the system, but I did come across something that i want to share with you all. Just one question for you all, How big is God?

WASHINGTON — European astronomers have found 32 new planets outside our solar system, adding evidence to the theory that the universe has many places where life could develop.

Scientists using the European Southern Observatory telescope didn’t find any planets quite the size of Earth or any that seemed habitable or even unusual. But their announcement increased the number of planets discovered outside the solar system to more than 400.

Six of the newly found planets are several times bigger than Earth, increasing the population of so-called super-Earths by more than 30 percent. Most planets discovered so far are far bigger, Jupiter-sized or even larger.

Two of the newly discovered planets were as small as five times the size of Earth and one was up to five times larger than Jupiter.

Astronomer Stephane Udry of the University of Geneva said the results support the theory that planet formation is common, especially around the most common types of stars.

“I’m pretty confident that there are Earth-like planets everywhere,” Udry said in a Web-based news briefing from a conference in Portugal. “Nature doesn’t like a vacuum. If there is space to put a planet there, there will be a planet there.”

What astronomers said is especially exciting is that about 40 percent of sun-like stars have planets that are closer to being Earth-sized than the size of Jupiter. Jupiter’s mass is more than 300 times that of Earth’s.

Depending on definitions of the size of super-Earths, the discovery suggests that planets that have a mass similar to Earth’s are “extraordinarily commonplace,” said Alan Boss, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. He was not part of the European team. “The universe must indeed be crowded with habitable worlds.”

Boss said finding 32 planets at once is a record “and it really shows that the Europeans have taken the lead” in finding planets outside the solar system.

The discoveries were made by the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher, which is an attachment to the European observatory telescope in Chile that looks for slight wobbles in a star’s movements. Those changes would be made by the tug of a planet’s gravity on the star. There are no photos of these planets.

Cell phone Vs. The Bible

2009-10-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go….hmm…where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think ‘where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

What does God want with me

2009-10-12T09:59:00.001-07:00

This was wrote in Feb. 2007, and I thought that it could be a good reminder to us all about God's will.

Where do I start? Knowing, no, Finding God's Will can be one of the hardest things to seek. I first thought that it was easy, but recently I have found that it is not. Let me Explain, As most people know, God has called me to the Youth Ministry several years ago. I have been applying for about a year now. And recently there was this one Church that Sherry and Me thought God was calling me. I have prayed for a small youth group, full Time job, and close to home, this Church was all three things. So we went for the interview and thought that it went well. We started to pray about it and after awhile, we came to the same conclusion,that this is where God was going to call us. Then the not so good news, I received an email last Thursday, stating that they were going in a different direction, and I must admit I was devestated. Now you may wonder why i was devestated? I thought this was it, I thought God's Will had sent me to this Church, now I am not mad at God or upset with Him but I was confused.

Now the Winter retreat came up and again I was not really up to it, but I went. Now their was some good times and also some not so good, but I must admit, there was several hours on Saturday night that really made my night. Well now it is Sunday and I was still confused and I prayed to God to reveal Himself to me, and He did in a wonderful way.He led me to several verses and I would like to share a few of them.

God led me to Hebrews 10:35-36, bascially God showed me that this was a journey(Endurance) that I am on and that I should keep up my confidence. Wow, that was great to hear and that would have been enough but God was not done. He then led me to Phil. 4:6 and it says to not worry and make my request known, then he led me to I John 5:14, which I got out of that was again confidence and asking anything according to His Will He will hear me, then finally Matthew 21:22, which I learned that what I ask in Prayer, believe and I shall receive. A old Student of mine, shared with me the other night that sometimes God does not give us what we want right away, because God wants us to get closer with Him. I really believe that.

I write all these to say this, God's will may not be so clear when we want it to be, but we are on a journey and God will answer our prayers when He is ready and not us. Never give up and remember all He wants is for us to have a Personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to share that with a dying world.

Made to Love

2009-10-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

I posted this a couple of years ago, thought I share it on here

Read the words to the song, Made To Love
Read them slow, so that you understand what is being said.

The dream is fading now I'm staring at the door
I know it's over 'cause my feet have hit the cold floor
Check my reflection, I ain't feeling what I see
Its no mystery

Whatever happened to a passion I could live for?
What became of the flame that made me feel more?
And when did I forget …

That I was made to love You
I was made to find You
I was made just for You
Made to adore You
I was made to love and be loved by You
You were here before me
You were waiting on me
And you said You'd keep me never would You leave me
I was made to love
And be loved by You

The dream's alive with my eyes open wide
Back in the ring You got me swingin' for the grand prize
I feel the haters spittin' vapors on my dreams
But I still believe …

I'm reaching out, reachin' up, reachin' over
I feel a breeze cover me called Jehovah
And Daddy I'm on my way …

Anything, I would give up for You
Everything, I'd give it all away

How do you feel when you read these words, Have you lost that Love that God gave us? Do we care what we do with our lives?
We were Made to love Him and find Him, we were made for Him. Jesus gave us life and what have we done for Him? Before Jesus takes us home, whether it is tonight or tomorrow or when He returns, let us try to Love Him back the way that He loves us.

Are you a walking Bible?

2009-09-21T09:18:00.001-07:00

Several years ago, a preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks
after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the
downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had
accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give
the
quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh,
forget
it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?

Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it.
Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet." When his stop came,
he
paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the
driver
and said, "Here, you gave me to much change."

The driver with a smile replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town?
I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just
wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change.
I'll see you at church on Sunday"

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the
nearest
light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a
quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a
really
almost scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and
will put
us to the test!

Always be on guard and remember (as I try to remember) that you carry
the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself
"Christian."

Hawk Nelson New Video

2009-09-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hawk Nelson "Live Life Loud" Music Video
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Is this what we want?

2009-09-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

I want to go on record saying that i do not watch MTV, with that being said watching the T.V. clip of what Kayne West did, says a lot about the society that we are living in. Here is an excerpt of something I read today. "Kanye bringing Taylor Swift to tears, Lady Gaga thanking God and gays, Jack Black leading the audience in a prayer to Satan, Russell Brand going on and on about what sexual acts he'd like to perform with who... nothing surprising. Welcome to the MTV Video Music Awards (The VMAs), the biggest pop culture phenomenon of the year.

No one knows what the MTV VMAs will deliver. Ever since Madonna's passionate onstage kiss with Brittany in 2003, and Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" in the MTV sponsored SuperBowl halftime show in 2004, audiences have readily braced themselves for what MTV has in store for us next. Sadly, not much would shock our desensitized audiences any more. It's hard to believe that MTV could stuff anything more vile or degrading up their corporate sleeves".

Kayne was not the only thing that MTV did but it was the talk around. "Teen audiences gathered by the millions to watch the show live Sunday night, September 13th. Those that missed the show and heard the buzz at school Monday morning, popped onto the internet on their phones and computers where MTV.com provides the entire show at the click of a button. The MTV VMA's have never been so accessible to this generation of young people".

I was so disgusted with Kanye’s selfish outburst, that I was caught off guard by the next moment, Jack Black’s feeble attempt at humor. Black, giving a tribute to metal music, mused, “Since we’re giving a rock award tonight, who wants to pray to the Devil with me?” He instructed the audience to grab the hand of the person next to them and then prayed, “Dear Dark Lord Satan…” The crowd was interesting, chuckling at first, but then caught in an awkward silence, seemingly not knowing how to react.

Lady Gaga, highly anticipated because of her bizarre persona and fashion sense, sang her song Paparazi, wearing a bizarre outfit that looked like a mix between a showgirl costume and one of Paris Hilton’s bathing suits. The performance showed a little creativity, and a little too much Gaga, ending with her smearing fake blood over her body and face.

A little later on in the show, the bizarre Lady Gaga graced the stage once again, this time wearing a red scarf over her face, to collect her award as Best New Artist. Her first mummified words: “It’s my first CENSORED Moonman!” I guess this censored word is one of her favorite adjectives because just a few seconds later she said, “This is for my CENSORED fans!” She continued. “You’re the best fans in the whole world and I love you. And it’s for God and for the gays!”

If you are reading this, I could keep on going, but why, so this is who we want to follow in this world. I hope that this brings some light to anyone who follows these people.

So what does this teach us:

1. Fame, status and money are what matters.
Watch just a few minutes of the show and you’ll see what our society values. Who is getting the most Twitter tweets? What dress are you wearing? Jay Z is in the house—look at the car he pulled up in and look at him walk with all his body guards!

Character? Selflessness? Honor? Self control? Where are these things? Jesus’ Beatitudes are no where to be found here. They are extinct in this world that is beamed to our kids electronically. The character traits our kids are learning are the polar opposite of Biblical teaching. The role models our kids are choosing aren’t role models at all.

2. Sexual equals successful

Let’s be honest. Sex sells. The artists performing and the videos that won that night were Britney’s Womanizer (the video that begins with her nude in a sauna), Beyonce with her low red dress, Pink’s “pink heart,” and Lady Gaga with her little outfits. Taylor Swift was the only female performer who really stood out as slightly modest that evening.

The big question is, will artists like Taylor resist the pressure to “bare more.” Or, will she venture down the road that Miley is on where the dresses and dances keep getting more revealing as the years in show biz take their toll.

3.Keep it real… do what you feel
After Kanye dishonored Taylor Swift, stealing her moment, he blogged with a weak apology. After his apology to Taylor, he wrote, “I'm sorry to my friends at MTV. I will apologize to Taylor 2mrw. Welcome to the real world!!!! Everybody wanna booooo me but I'm a fan of real pop culture!!!” He went on, “…I'm not crazy y'all, i'm just real.”
All of this comes from the article from The Source

Tell me, am I over reacting??

A Great Song!!!

2009-09-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

Subaru (money well spent)

2009-09-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Sept. 8th we just picked up our car from Glen Burnie Transmissions, because obviously we needed a new transmission and it cost over $3600.00. Wow, that is so much that it was hard to type. And now next week it goes in the shop to have a head gasket re-placed another 1400. So after all said and done with the 3000.00 we just put into it last month, we will have spent over 8000.00, you might say "why didn't you just a get a new care?" I bought this car in 2001 and I drove it myself (before my wife and I switched) for 6 years, it was my second new car that I ever have owned, so it meant dearly to me (sentimental value), but I have to tell you, it did cross my mind, but we have not had any problems with this car for the first 105,000miles so we decided against it because i knew that we could still count on it. Why do I tell you this story?

Because in today's society, when something does not go the way we want it or we have to put to much time (in this case money)into it we just want to give up. And I look at the life of Jesus and what He had to go through for us. What He had to give up, we all know that if we were Jesus, we would have given up on us. Our lives will not always go the way we want and we will have to invest in ourselves for God's glory. What do I mean? You can not just do it your way, when we do wrong we have to pay the price and it may cost us dearly but if we are true followers of Christ it won't matter how much it takes or the cost because we love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we will do whatever it takes to keep that relationship together.

So my prayer to you is when things are not looking like the way that you want it to be or if you have to make a decision that may cost you (like a friendship or a habit) look towards Jesus for that strength and guidance.

I thought that this was funny

2009-09-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

25 into 24

2009-09-01T08:42:00.001-07:00

This morning i was watching T.V. at home and I saw this clip on the today show of how not to get sick. And the clip was on whether it is good for having retail stores like a CVS, or Walgeen to be able to provide milk, prescriptions, and flu shots. ( btw, I know that some of it can be a good thing) One stop shop, if you will.

And I was thinking (i know it can be dangerous) as the clip ws being played that people are so busy in their lives that they are willing to sacrifice their own personal doctor for a retail store doctor. God gave us 24 hours in a day not 25, He knew that is all that we needed. And what do we do, we try and get more time, guess what, it's not going to happen.

Take a look at you life and write down by time how do you send your time and you will see that if we really thought about it, we do waste some of that. i have noticed and I am guilty of it as well, We keep our lives so busy, that God is just something we don't make time for. Then we wonder why are lives are so busy and confused and maybe even disappointing.

We just don't give God His time. What if we gave 10% (as a begining point) of ourday to Him like we are suppose to be givnig out tithes and offerings. How would your life look like? And I am not talking about the "busyness" of our lives I am talking about our Spiritual lives. I think that this country would not be falling away from God but drawing closer.

It has to start with you and me. Let's Make A Difference. I know that you can do it. if you say no way remember what King David's son Solomon said in Ecclesiates, there is a time for EVERYTHING

That's your answer?

2009-08-25T08:26:00.001-07:00

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.

Pepper and Sneezing

2009-08-18T11:08:00.001-07:00

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

What Can I do?

2009-08-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

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 Unknown

2009-08-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

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.

How would you like to be ........

2009-07-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:12

As I was reading this, I thought uh oh, I have not listen to what Jesus was saying. What are you talking about you might be saying. I am glad that you asked, here goes, if you have a facebook page then you know where I am heading with this but for the ones that don’t here it is. I have been having issues with Verizon and they are taking care or should I say lack of problems with phone/DSl service, even they don’t know what is wrong, but anywho, they have not satisfied the problem with me and I have been very short with them and have been not been very nice, I know that they personally can not do anything about it but they are on the other end of the phone so they have been hearing it. Then I read this verse and say to myself, is this anyway to treat others, how would I feel if it was the other way around? Not very good I have to answer. I must treat them the same way that I would want to be treated and I know that I need to change that. I say all of this to tell you that I and no one on earth is perfect and it is no excuse the way that I or anyone else that is a follower of Jesus should act. But I must be reminded of Jesus and act according. May God give me the strength to deal and fix my issues with Verizon. The reason I wrote this is because I want you to know that we all must face the music and right our wrongs with not only Jesus but with those that we act wrong too. May God give you the strength as well.

Desensitized

2009-07-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

I was wondering, how do we do it? What do I mean by that? As Christians we hold to a higher standard then those who are not. Now it doesn't make us any better then them, except we have a Savior that we can go to at anytime to help us through our diffuicult times. But what i am wondering why don't we act like we live like we have a higher standard. And what I mean by that is we as Christians have to answer for the things that we are suppose to do but don't. Let me give a one or two examples:

1. What do you watch on T.V. or in the movies or listen to?
When I asked Jesus to be my Lord of my life and Savior, it was at an independent church (very strict). One of the things that we were asked (for a lack of a better word) was not to go to movies. You say what!! no movies, I would never go to that church. But hold on for a minute, there was a reason. One of the main reasons was you did not want to offend a younger christian (not by age but maturity) by entering in a movie place that might make them stumble. Let me just say now that i do go to movies but I can understand where they were coming from.

We go to movies and we watch whatever they allow us to watch and then some and or what you may watch on Tv. and think nothing of it, but what is it doing to you as you watch it. As I said in another blog we don't think about it in that moment but Skillit puts it this way in one of their songs Looking for angels
"when we will realize we've been desensitized by the lies of the world" when we watch or hear things that we know our wrong by God's standards what does that make us. We don't have to go to the movies to make others stumble, just the way we live our lives does that.

I sent out today the EDGE newsletter that goes to students and in there i said
"As I was putting this together today, I thought to myself, whether you have been a Christian for a long time or for a short time, Now What? We have this thing called salvation that we want people to experience but when then do what’s next? I think we really need to think about that statement for a little while, do we go back to doing what we did before or do we decide that enough is enough and I am going to change my lifestyle"

see that is it, our lifestyle, at the end of my newsletter I put Go MAD (Make A Difference) and that is true we need to stop listening to the lies of this world and change our lifestyles. When will you decide which way.

My prayer is for us to start paying attention more of what is going around us that is making us desensitized and focus on more of what Jesus did at the cross for YOU and ME.

God Bless and here are the lyrics to skillit's song. Read the words and think about what it is trying to tell us.

SKILLET LYRICS

"Looking For Angels"

Walk this world alone try to stay on my feet

Sometimes crawl, fall, but I stand up cause I'm afraid to sleep
And open my eyes to a new day, with all new problems 4. and all new pain
All the faces are filled with so much anger
Losing our dignity and hope from fear of danger
After all the wars, after settling the scores, at the break of dawn we will be deaf to the answers

There's so much bigotry, misunderstanding and fear
With eyes squinted and fists clinched we reach out for what is dear
We want it we want
We want a reason to live
We're on a pilgrimage
A crusade for hope
Cause in our hearts and minds and souls we know
We need it we need
We need more than this

[Chorus:]
Going through this life looking for angels
People passing by looking for angels

Walking down the streets looking for angels
Everyone I meet looking for angels

So many nations with so many hungry people
So many homeless scrounging around for dirty needles
On the rise, teen suicide, when we will realize
we've been desensitized by the lies of the world
We're oppressed and impressed by the greedy
Whose hands squeeze the life out of the needy
When will we learn that wars, threats, and regrets are the cause and effect of living in fear

Who can help protect the innocence of our children
Stolen on the internet with images they can't forget
We want it we want
We want a reason to live
We represent a generation that wants to turn back a nation
To let love be our light and salvation
We need it we need

We need more than this
I became a savior to some kids I'll never meet
Sent a check in the mail to buy them something to eat
What will you do to make a difference, to make a change?

What will you do to help someone along the way?
Just a touch, a smile as you turn the other cheek
Pray for your enemies, humble yourself, love's staring back at me
In the midst of the most painful faces
Angels show up in the strangest of places

Holy Spirit

2009-07-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hello All,
I came into work today and as I was going through my email, I came across this and the Lord asked me how much do you know about the third part of the trinity. So today as you read this devotion, I ask you how much do you know? We give God the glory and we know what Jesus did for us and we are very grateful, but do we ever give recognition to the third (Holy Spirit), if you were to answer that honestly most of us would have to say no. Today my prayer is that you start adding the Holy Spirit to your prayer life for He lives in us and He is the one that can give us comfort when no one else can.
God Bless,

The Holy Spirit
This devotional was written by Jim Burns

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. —John 14:16-17
But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. —John 16:7
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is very much on the same level in the Trinity as the Father and Jesus. His role in the Godhead (Trinity) is different, just as the roles of the Father and Jesus. The Father is the Creator and the Son Jesus is the Savior. The Spirit is the Counselor and Comforter.
The Holy Spirit's job is to empower and guide you in living the Christian life. In order to have the power of God working in our lives we must surrender and submit ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit. We can surrender and submit to the Holy Spirit simply by asking him to fill us with his presence.
Here is a prayer I pray regularly. I hope it will be your prayer today as well.
Spirit of the living God, Take control of me; Spirit of the living God, Take control of me; Spirit of the living God, Take control of me; Melt me! Mold me! Fill me! Use me!
Asking the Holy Spirit to fill, empower, and control your life is connecting with the power source of God. It is putting God in the driver's seat of your life with you in the passenger seat. If you make that commitment, hold on because you are in for the greatest, most exciting, and challenging ride of your life.

Transformers (the movie)

2009-06-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

The only transforming is what Romans 12:2 says.

As most of you know, this past Saturday, my son Zack and I went to go see the movie. And I put a status up that said it was better then the first one except for all the language. Well i have had time to reflect on the movie and I would like to give you a better explantion of this movie.

First, i would NOT recomend this movie to anyone under the age of 10. I also urge parents to even considering any one of thier kids to see this movie. Why do I say that?

Answer to that is simple, in Philippinas 4:8 tells us to fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure (this being the key). Even though the action was WAY better then the first with WAY more transformers in the movie, there were plenty of times that the movie was looking for more then action. I thought that there was way more cursing then was needed and even though they did not use the Lord's name in vain nor the "f" word, there were at least a dozen times that the "a" and the "s' words were used. You may say so what, what i would like to say that it means everything to a follower of Christ. Enough of that we can talk about that in another conversation.

Second, The way that they use women in this movie was very degrading (Thanks Lydia for pointing this out to me), they were used as sex objects and even though there were no "sex" scenes in it, for what was seen, there might as well been. if you think that I am to extreme, just remember the verse that i started with. The old saying is junk in junk out and is that what we want to teach our kids, let alone us.

I must admit, watching this movie I was caught up in the movie and I looked past all that was wrong and for that I must admit to my Lord and Saviour that was sin. I think as adults we as well do that as well and what is that teaching our kids. We wonder why America is falling a part. We have forgotten to worship God

Ephesians 5:1 tells us to Imitate God, therefore in everything [we] do, because [we] are His children (Christians). The word imitiate means to mimic and i really find that we do that and that is our fault. i am so glad that he gives us not second chances but many chances to "get it right".

Just to let you know that tonight I will go home and talk to Zack about this movie and why we do what we do and pray that we can make better choices in the future.

If you think that I am making to much out of this, please come talk to me.
Jesus says in Mark 8:34 "if any of you want to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow Me".

Do you understand what that means? Back in the day when you took up your cross, you were walking to your death, and Jesus is telling us you will have to walk to your own death (yourself and all your old habits)
God Bless all those who read this and take to heart.

Go MAD!!!
(Make a Difference)

The final of the 3-part devotion

2009-06-15T12:56:00.001-07:00

Today, we will conclude our 3-part devotion.

A little re-cap of the first two: part 1 I talked about where are we looking? Where is our focus? We need to have a hunger for God and part 2 I talked about We should be going to youth group not only because of friends (or whatever reason) but because we want to know more about Jesus so that we can be doing for Him.

Today I want to talk about Verse 3 of Colossians which says: “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God”. Or this version: “For as far as this world is concerned you have died. And your (new, real) life is hidden with Christ in God”. I have been talking about an article of this girl that was going to youth group for the wrong reasons and when her youth pastor preached on this passage (Colossians 3:1-3) at a youth camp that she decided to go because she and her “best” friend was not getting along (this was the reason that she went to youth group). That’s when she realized that she was missing out on Christ.

These are some of her words that she was thinking: “I felt totally convicted. I didn't have a hunger for God. I was totally focused on earthly things. Thinking back to my relationship with Jaimee, I realized I had a tendency to make my friends into idols. I had often let them take the place of God in my life. During a morning devotional time, I stepped into a canoe with only my Bible, a journal, and a pen. I paddled a good distance away from shore and soaked in the stillness.

The lake was calm and the morning breeze cool as I started thinking and praying. I opened my journal and wrote a prayer: Lord, I've learned I can't depend on people. I can only depend on you. I confess that I've idolized friendships and I want to change. Forgive me for my sins, and help me to walk with you and put you first.

Well in Vs. 3 “The passage says you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Is that you? Have you died to yourself? You'll know by how much you hunger for God."

Well she left that camp with a new hunger for God that she was just pretending to know.

So my question to you is this do you hunger for God? Have you died to yourself? My prayer for you as we close is that you will spend time alone with God and to ask Him to put that desire and hunger in you so that you will be able to share with your friends what Jesus Christ is all about.

I hope that you have enjoyed this devotion. I would like for you to comment on this and if you would like to see more of these please let me know as well. God Bless and go MAD
(Make A Difference)

EDGE Students

2009-06-10T08:14:00.001-07:00

Tonight be on time 6PM SHARP!!!
We will have our 20 min. Bible Talk then off to RITA'S

Remember if you are late, you will NOT be able to go to Rita's with us (NO EXCEPTIONS)

Don't forget to bring money for Rita's

Any questions call me

Part 2 of 3

2009-06-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

As we continue part 2 of 3-part devotion, let’s recap what we said last time. Where are we looking? Where is our focus? We need to have a hunger for God Colossians 3:1 says we are to seek God and not on earthly things.

Today I want to talk about Vs.2 of chapter 3. The verse says; “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth”. Another version says “set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things)….” So what is that telling us? In the article the girl said that “We knew we should have been paying attention to Giles's sermon, but we had no desire to listen to our youth pastor. There were movies and song lyrics to quote, boys to discuss, and inside jokes to crack.” So as the verse says to set our minds on above, what Paul is telling us is that we should be doing everything because of Jesus.

We should be going to youth group not only because of friends (or whatever reason) but because we want to know more about Jesus so that we can be doing for Him. There are a lot of earthly things that will distract you from doing what is right and it is your job (If that is what you want) to keep from those earthly distractions and stay focused and setting our minds on Jesus.

Again my prayer is that you spend time alone with Jesus and ask Him to help you with the distractions that this earth has and to put that energy into listening and doing for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We will conclude this 3-part devotion on Monday.

3-part devotion

2009-06-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

Going to youth group for the wrong reasons was an article that I read and I was wondering how many of us do that whether we go because we want to learn or we go because of our friends or maybe it is something else. Part of the article the girl in there stated that she felt totally convicted. She said that she didn't have a hunger for God. She was totally focused on earthly things.

Colossians 3:1-3, has some interesting words that we should be looking at.
The first part of Verse 1 says: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ”. To me Paul is telling the Colossians that hey you have Christ in your life now that things should be different.
The later part of that verse states: “set your sights on the realities (rich, eternal treasures) of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. To me that is telling me that our sights, whatever that might be should be focused on Christ and what He has done and what He has in store for us.

This will be 3-part devotion. This obviously is Part 1, with Part 2 coming in the next couple of days.

My Prayer for you all is that you take time alone with God and see where are your sights at and ask God do re-adjust your sight that will start focusing on Him.

Stranger Than Fiction

2009-06-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Thousands of bees crowd airplane in Massachusetts

Maybe these bees were too tired to fly for themselves. A gang of honeybees landed on the wing of a plane used for flight school training at Beverly Airport. At first, the 10,000 or so bees swarmed over the left side of the aircraft, then landed on top of the left wing. The owner of the flight center called police, who said to call local bee removal expert Al Wilkins.

Wilkins used a specially designed vacuum to suck the bees off the plane, and then relocated them to hives where they will produce honey.

Wilkins guessed that the queen may have stopped to rest on the plane, and the other bees congregated around to protect her.

The Prophet of Flying bugs

2009-05-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

The Prophet of Flying Bugs
A fake interview with Joel about God's wrath, judgment, and … mercy.Sam O'Neal

For a long time, I've been wanting to interview a genuine fire-and-brimstone prophet who got to forecast doom and death to sinners. But, the prophet Joel wasn't what I expected.

Is it true that you're a real Old Testament prophet?

Yes, that's correct.

You were sent by God to pronounce judgment on the nation of Israel?

I was sent to the Israelites, yes. But I'm one of the minor prophets—Habakkuk, Obadiah and so on. People usually have a hard time remembering guys like us.

But you got to do the doom and judgment thing, right? You went around shouting, "Thus saith the Lord!"

Oh, yes. I told the Israelites to weep, mourn, and despair. I told them a day of darkness and gloom was coming because God was going to send an army to punish their sins.

All right! This is getting good. And was it a big army?

It sure was. I remember saying, "Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine."

Wow—was it the Assyrians?

No.

It had to be the Babylonians, then. I heard those guys would go nuts with their bronze swords and …

Actually, it was a big army of locusts.

Um, you mean those mutated freak locusts from Revelation? The ones with heads like lions and tails like giant scorpions?

These were regular locusts. They were a couple of inches long and ate plants.

Wait a minute. You, a big time doom and gloom prophet, threatened Israel with flying bugs? What kind of punishment was that?

There were millions and millions of locusts, and they ate up every piece of vegetation in the whole country! They even stripped the bark away from the trees, so the branches looked like white bones rattling in the wind. That meant the animals had no food to eat, which meant the people ran out of food pretty quickly, too.
That's kinda inconvenient, but …

Also, the fact that God sent locusts was a very big deal because of what the bugs symbolized. Locusts were one of the 10 plagues God used to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, remember? So when they attacked Israel, it was like God was saying, "You guys have become as bad as the Egyptians because of your sin."
That makes sense. I guess it was pretty cool punishment after all.

Are you crazy? It was a horrible tragedy; there wasn't anything "cool" about it! I think you've got the wrong idea about prophets. We never enjoyed telling people that bad things were going to happen—except Jonah, I guess. That guy was a little off.

But wasn't it a little satisfying to be a messenger of God's wrath?

You're missing the point entirely. God didn't send us to yell at the Israelites. He sent us to warn them about the consequences of their sin, and to give them a chance to ask for forgiveness. He was being merciful, not angry.

Yeah, I guess I do appreciate God forgiving my sins instead of sending flying insects after me.

Exactly.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.

What We Don't Deserve

2009-05-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

What We Don't Deserve
What Jesus means when he says "Blessed are the merciful."
by Mark Galli

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." —Matthew 5:7, ESV
At first, Matthew 5:7 seems to imply that Jesus is making a deal with us: If we go out and show mercy to others, God will show mercy to us.
And it seems like a good deal. I mean, how hard could it be to show mercy to others?
So we'll practice a little mercy, and then God will act the same toward us, and all will be well with the world. And for eternity.
Except that it's not that easy to be merciful.
Your brother borrows your iPod, and when he gives it back, it doesn't play. He says, "Sorry."
You say, "'Sorry' doesn't cut it. You need to replace what you broke."
He says, "OK. That's fair. But I don't have any money till next week. And then I need to buy a gift for Mom's birthday, and I need to start saving money for the prom."
You say, "I don't care. You ruined my iPod, and you need to replace it."
He says, "I know. I'm sorry. But things are tight right now. Can't you give me a break?"
And that's when it's really hard to forgive. To let it go. To be merciful.

Just as it's hard to leave your own friends to sit down by the class reject sitting alone at lunch.
Or to give your last $15 to the food drive for the hungry when you had your heart set on going to a movie with friends that afternoon.
Or to want to even talk to the person who made the cut on the basketball team when you didn't.

That's when "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy" doesn't seem like much of a good deal. It feels like a curse.
All we can think about is how unmerciful we can be when we're self-centered, or indifferent, or even cruel. Then we're thinking, I'm in trouble. I'm never going to receive mercy at this rate. I don't deserve it.

And that's when the turning point comes. It's at that point that the mercy of God starts making its way into our lives. It begins by us turning that hopelessness into prayer:

"Lord, I'm in trouble. I'm self-centered. I don't deserve your mercy, but I need it."

And the Lord gives us a break. He forgives. He shows mercy.

And that's why it's easier to give your brother a break. And to practice mercy in all sorts of difficult situations.

Not because we're trying to prove something, or get something from God, but simply because God has proven something to us by giving us something we didn't deserve: mercy.
We become merciful because we've been shown mercy.
When Jesus says blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy, he assumes that you really can't be merciful until you've received mercy in the first place. Mercy is not a deal, but an ongoing lifestyle.
We receive mercy then we show mercy and as a result we receive more mercy, and as a result, we then show more mercy—and on and on.

It's like we're rolling a snowball downhill. We start with a small one, maybe the size of a baseball. As we toss it down the hill, immediately gravity starts to pull it farther downhill. As it rolls over, of course, it collects more snow. Now it's bigger and heavier, and so gravity pulls it even harder. It rolls over even faster, and collects more snow, and gets heavier, and rolls faster. And so on. Before you know it, it's a huge ball, bounding down the hill.

That's how it is with mercy: The more we receive mercy, the more we give mercy.

Because we get distracted and have long bouts with selfishness, we collect sticks and branches in our little ball, and that slows us down. Sometimes we come to a complete halt, stuck halfway down the mountain. So we find ourselves remembering that we didn't deserve to roll as far as we had in the first place, and that without God's mercy, we'll go no farther.
And that's when God comes along, trims off the branches sticking out from us, and gives us that little push to start us rolling downhill again, so that we can practice and enjoy mercy upon mercy upon mercy upon mercy.

Boldness

2009-04-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

"Hey Folks, Please stand up for Miss. California. She made a pretty bold stand!" if you do not know what she did let me give you an expert of the pageant;

Miss California Carrie Prejean was neck-in-neck with winner Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton, going into the interview portion of Sunday's Miss USA competition. After the evening and swimsuit section, the two top beauty queens had only .36 separating them.

When asked by judge Perez Hilton, an openly gay gossip blogger, whether she believed in gay marriage, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, said "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

She later said, 'By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith. I'm glad I stayed true to myself,' she told Fox News today.

Runner-up: Miss California was booed when she said marriage should only be between a man and woman
And she's had an outpouring of support, she added. 'Lots of phone calls. I've gotten over 500 facebook friend requests, hundreds of messages from people I don’t know, saying how proud of me they are that I stood my ground.
'That made me the real winner of the night.'
Of Hilton, she said: 'I knew he was controversial, and so was the question.
'Out of all the topics I studied up on, I dreaded that one, I prayed I would not be asked about gay marriage. If I had any other question, I know I would have won.'
However she added: 'I have no regrets about answering honestly. He asked me for my opinion and I gave it to him. I have nothing against gay people, and I didn't mean to offend anyone in my answer.'

If we as Christians were that bold about what we believe in and not compromising the Word of God, how we could turn this world upside right. As she said she was the winner in God's eyes and my prayer is that we would be encouraged to do the same when we are put to the test.

Just A Thought

2009-04-16T11:05:00.001-07:00

As I woke up this morning and saw the Sun shinning it made me think about something.

For the last couple of days it has been real cloudy and raining. And as most of us our wired, when that happens we have a different kind of mindset. We are usually gloomy and well just not in the best of moods.

Scientist say that the sun is a key factor in determining our moods, energy levels, and our outlook on life. After extended stretches of cloudy weather, people may get irritable, stressed, or even experience depression. The same is true for those who spend most of the day inside or who are active much of the night while sleeping during sunlight hours. This research confirms what I notice in myself on a daily basis. My mood lifts almost instantly when I see a sunbeam or take a walk in the sunshine. And you don't want to know me after a week of rainy weather! Here are some interesting observations and research on the sun and what it can do for our mental health.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is one of the more famous examples of the sun's role in a positive mental outlook. It was recognized by the American Medical Association in 1984 when they said "The high rate of depression people experience in winter has been linked...to inadequate light stimulation." This condition effects people of all ages who find it almost impossible to function in the winter months with minimal hours of sunlight. Even the hours that we do have bring light from a sun that is much further relative to the Earth than during the summer. This lack can lead to withdrawal, most often observed as fatigue,depression, and even physical illness. Many people feel the need to sleep all the time and are less than productive at work or school. Their interpersonal relationships suffer from the lack of sun in their lives; they may become irritable and unable to empathize with others. People with mild cases of SAD use an artificial sun lamp to simulate sunlight. This has been shown to be relatively effective because it stimulates the same brain chemicals as the sun. Thank God, the symptoms of SAD disappear with the advent of spring and summer.

The sun also impacts our productivity at work and school. Workers in offices with constant sunlight and large windows have been shown to be both more efficient with their time and more accurate in completing their tasks. They also have 25% to 60% less sick time then their coworkers in darker parts of the building. Workers who say they regularly go outside in the sunshine are more motivated in their careers and more likely to suggest new approaches to a problem.
The same seems to be true for students in school. Those who spend a portion of their day exposed to sunlight have better test scores. While students may seem more distracted on a sunny, beautiful spring day, they tend to be lethargic and less motivated during the long winter months with little sun. Schools with more daylight saw their students outperform counterparts in darker schools by 5% to 15%.
So when I went outside today and the rays of the sun were beating on me, I felt alive, I felt like I was going to have a great day and was looking forward to it. Then I thought what about Jesus did He has these feelings in His day? I suppose He did, He felt what we felt, He lived what we lived. And if Jesus felt this way, was it the Sun that pulled Him out of it or was it the Scriptures that did. Deut. 33:14 that the rich fruit grows in the Sun or in Joshua 11:13-14 where the sun stood still and there has never ever been a day like this again. Or was it Matthew 5:45 for where He gives His sunlight and the rain on both the just and the unjust. Anyway that you want to look at it, God is in control and it is He who supplies us with the rain and the sun because of His awesome power, we should rejoice in either rain or sun, but to tell you the truth i would perfer the Sun anyday over rain.

Important information

2009-04-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hello All,
If you come to this site to look at the WYRD, it will no longer be here. You will have to go to our website to be able to look at it. Here is the website:
www.edgewaterbaptist.com
The only thing that will be on this blog will be thoughts and post that i find that I want to share with you.

Thank you and God Bless,
George

Is Christ at the center of your life?

2009-04-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Sports Centered
Sports had become the number one thing in my life. By Ashley Barak as told to Amy Adair

I dribbled the soccer ball down the field. I spotted my teammate—she had the perfect shot, but so did I. Instead of passing the ball, I kicked it toward the goal. It sailed through the air, but the goalie caught it just as the buzzer sounded.

"Sorry, Coach," I sighed, when I got back to the bench.

"You're a good player," he told me. "And you could be great, but you have to remember to be a team player."
His comment didn't really sink in. What I really dwelled on, though, was missing that shot—something I vowed to never do again. So I practiced even harder.

While I practiced all the time, I didn't really think about Coach's words again until later that year when I went skiing with my youth group.

After a day on the slopes, Ron, my youth pastor, gathered us together for prayer. He started by talking about forgiveness.

"Part of being a Christian is confessing your sins," Ron said. "God is ready and willing to forgive you."

Ron asked us to separate into small groups to pray for forgiveness. At first, I was nervous about confessing my sins out loud, although I easily came up with things like not being nice to my brother.

But I felt like I was missing something. While I did need to be nicer to my brother, it seemed too easy. I knew I needed to take a really good look at the rest of my life.

Then, Ron really pushed us to think about our lives.

"Is Christ at the center of your life?" he asked.
"Do you put him first no matter what?"
I felt a knot form in my stomach. I didn't want to admit the answer.

I couldn't help but think back to that soccer game when I took the shot instead of passing it to my teammate.
I loved sports—but I liked winning more. I was so competitive, I wanted to take the shot—not help my teammate do it. I suddenly realized I was a really selfish player.

But even worse, sports had become the number one thing in my life. I spent more time playing sports than with God.
I took a deep breath. "I don't want God to be second anymore," I cried, "I want him to be first."

My friend Julie smiled. "I totally know what you mean," she said softly. "I struggle with the same thing. It's so easy to do with grades, friends … anything."

I felt relieved that I wasn't alone. We spent the rest of the evening praying that God would come first in our lives.

I left the retreat on fire for Christ. I was determined to keep him at the center of my life.
So I started a prayer journal to help me stay focused on him. I prayed that God would change my super-competitive attitude. And no matter how busy I was, I tried to not miss youth group. I just knew I needed to make church a top priority.

It's been a year since that retreat, and my coach has noticed a real change in my attitude. I'm much more of a team player, which has made me even more valuable to my team. I feel much better about myself as a player and more importantly as a Christian. I'm still competitive, but Christ comes first—on and off the field.

This past summer Ashley, a sophomore, joined her youth group on a service trip to Honduras.
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.

You Are a Representative of Christ on Earth

2009-04-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. — 1 Corinthians 12:27

God created the world
He appeared on this earth in the form of Jesus
He was beautiful
We mocked Him and killed Him
He rose from the dead
He is alive and eternal
He needs a new body on this earth
You have been chosen!

You are an important part of the body of Christ. You are needed to fulfill His work on earth. Your job is to live as He lived and love as He loved. One other thing—He gives you His Spirit to get you through the day.

WYRD April 5-11

2009-04-02T08:42:00.001-07:00

A Pirate's Guide to Evangelism

2009-03-31T07:25:00.001-07:00

I have of an odd request. OK, are you ready? Imagine you're a pirate. Really, stick with me here. And not one of those mean, real-life Somali pirates. Nope, let's say you're a fun kind of pirate—you know, like Jack Sparrow. Let's also say you're desperate for some new pirate recruits. (Maybe your last encounter with that Kraken was pretty brutal.) So, what are you gonna do?Well, I suppose you and your remaining mates could grab your swords and muskets, head to shore, and "persuade" some landlubbers to join up. Obviously, not the best way to gain yourself some loyal sea-loving pirates. Nope, there must be a better way.There is! Along with picking up some tips for recruiting new pirates, you'll also pick up some helpful pointers for sharing your faith. And, no, I'm not kidding.

Pirate Calico Jim tells his nephew how to share the gospel with landlubbers. Yarr.As told to Sam O'Neal
Good day to ye, Charles Montgomery:
'Tis yer uncle and captain, Calico Jim, and I be writin' from on deck o' the good ship Adventure's Kingdom. Me and the lads been scrapin' the sails this mornin', and we sorely miss yer strong back, I don't mind sayin' it. But 'tis a good thing ye be doin'—helpin' yer mother while she be feelin' ill.
Still, there be a job ye can do fer the Kingdom while ye be in the world o' landlubbers, Charlie. Be watchin' fer chances to spread the word about our pirate way o' life. Be keepin' yer good eye open fer new recruits—hard-workin' scrogs who ain't afraid o' the sea or a cannon's roar.
'Course, ye cannot go walkin' through the town yellin', "Who wants to be a pirate?" Ye've got to be careful, Matey, since most earth-walkin' citizens be mistrustin' the pirate life. Fer that reason, ye must be representin' the Kingdom well and showin' the common folk all the good that be comin' from a love o' the sea. So, mind these four morsels o' wisdom before ye start fishin'.

1. Belay yer Pirate Speak while ye be in port. There be some pirate words that landlubbers don't understand, Matey—words like "jib" an' "keelhaul" an' "scallywag." So there be no point in wastin' yer spit to say 'em. Betides confusing the lubbers, many o' them words'll mark ye as a seafarin' bandit for certain. An' if any o' them common folk've ever been forced to kiss a cutlass or drink bilgewater by ill-mannered pirates from another ship, they won't be warmin' up to thee, ye can be sure. Mind—there ain't no shame in bein' a pirate, Charlie, but ye'll need a chance to get yer foot in the door.
So if ye want to be findin' new mates fer the Kingdom, belay talkin' o' the Jolly Roger or sendin' a man to Davy Jones' locker. Come to think it, don't be sayin' "belay," either. 'Tis a fine word fer the sea, but not fer land.

2. Go where there be non-pirates. Yer bound to find some fellow swabs takin' their shore leave about the town, but don't be spendin' all yer time with 'em. Don't mistake my meanin', Charlie—'tis a fine thing to gather a group o' pirates for a game o' cards every now and again to be stayin' true to the pirate ways. But ye can't be shinin' the light o' the Kingdom to non-pirates if ye be only with other buccaneers. So spend yer time where there be plenty o' chaps who need learnin' about the pirate way.

3. Think smart about the Pirate's Code. Ye know as well as I, Charlie, that all pirates follow the Pirate's Code. And just because ye be away from your mates, that don't mean ye can forget the Code. Me old pappy used to say, "A pirate follows the Pirate's Code wherever a pirate goes." But yet, it be no easy thing t'explain a pirate's convictions to some rubber-legged messdeck who ain't never seen the sea below 'im and the stars above. Why, think a bit on my fav'rite verse from the Pirate's Code: "Follow yer Captain with all yer brains an' yer blood, an' be a brother t'all o' yer mates." Truer words ain't never been spoken, Charlie. But if ye be quotin' them lines to yer sweet mommy's friends, 'tis a good chance they'll do nothin' but laugh in yer face. Ye need to explain et in ways that matter to 'em.
Here be an important pearl to remember, me bucko: the future pirates ye be findin' ain't never read our Code, so don't be castin' down judgment on 'em fer breakin' it. They ain't e'er sworn allegiance to et as you an' I done. Ye might think a man be gone too far inland t'ever become a swab fer the Kingdom. But that ain't yer decision to make, Charlie. The sea be callin' whatever man the sea be choosin'. 'Tis only yer job to point the way to the Kingdom and trust the Code to be workin' on 'em once they be on board.

4. Speak on the things ye love. While ye cannot be walkin' up to a group o' lads an' tell 'em yer lookin' fer pirate volunteers, 'tis also a poor choice to be speakin' ill o' the landlubbers' life or usin' yer cutlass to force a man to volunteer.
Instead, remember why ye chose the pirate life all them years ago an' how much ye've changed fer the better. Speak yer fill on the joys o' a life at sea. Tell them recruits about the feelin' you get in yer chest when the Kingdom's bow be cleavin' its way through the top o' the waves. Tell 'em about havin' a family o' mates who be sailin' with ye from port to port. Tell 'em about the joys o' singing shanties to the love o' yer life, the sea. Best of it all, tell 'em what it be like to be free o' this world, Charlie.
And when ye tell 'em, be watchin' for that lad who be smilin' and keepin' close attention to yer tales. Be lookin' for that sparkle in his eyes, Charlie. When ye be seein' that, ye can be sure that he's a pirate inside, even though he be unknowin' of it 'imself. Find that lad an' tell 'im that Calico Jim be waitin' to teach 'im what be missin' from 'is life. Ye find that lad, Charlie, and ye send 'im to the Kingdom.
Fair winds, me laddie!
Calico JimCopyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.Click here for reprint information on Ignite Your Faith.Winter 2009, Vol. 68, No. 1, Page 38

WYRD March 22-28

2009-03-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

WYRD March 15-21

2009-03-12T10:45:00.001-07:00

same picture from last week, but new news for this upcoming week.

WYRD FEB.22-28

2009-02-19T11:10:00.001-08:00

Sometimes It Isn't Easy

2009-02-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

Love one another with brotherly affection; out do one another in showing honor.
—Romans 12:10 RSV

No one ever said that living the Christian life would be easy. The following words help give us perspective.
IT IS NOT EASY
To apologize
To start over
To take advice
To be unselfish
To admit error
To face a sneer
To be charitable
To keep trying
To be considerate
To avoid mistakes
To endure success
To profit by mistakes
To forgive and forget
To think and then act
To keep out of a rut
To make the best of little
To subdue an unruly temper
To shoulder a deserved blame
BUT IT ALWAYS PAYS OFF

WYRD Feb. 15-21

2009-02-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

Stranger Than Fiction

2009-02-10T08:25:00.000-08:00

Monster Snake Slithered at 43 Feet Long

A colossal snake about the length of a school bus slithered about South America's rainforests some "60 million years ago" (yeah okay), according to an analysis of the skeletal remains of what is now considered the largest snake ever identified.
"It's the biggest snake the world has ever known," said Jason Head, a paleontologist at the University of Toronto at Mississauga and part of an international team who discovered and identified the snake bones.

He added, "The snake's body was so wide that if it were moving down the hall and decided to come into my office to eat me, it would literally have to squeeze through the door."

WYRD Feb.8-14

2009-02-05T09:02:00.000-08:00

WYRD Feb. 1-7

2009-01-29T12:01:00.001-08:00

Stranger Than Fiction

2009-01-29T08:14:00.000-08:00

Husband's Kiss Woke Up Wife in Coma

Some might call Emma Ray a real-life “Sleeping Beauty.” The 34-year-old from the U.K. suffered a heart attack nearly two weeks after giving birth to her son and failed to regain consciousness. Her husband, Andrew, spent two weeks by her bedside waiting for her to wake up from a coma – but her condition did not improve until he leaned over and asked her for a kiss, the Daily Mail reported Monday.

“What happened next was beyond my wildest dreams,” he told the newspaper. “She turned her head towards mine, puckered up her lips and gave me a little kiss. I couldn't believe it. My heart felt like it was going to leap from my chest — it suddenly felt like a huge weight had been lifted.”

AN ATHEIST IN THE WOODS

2009-01-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

AN ATHEIST IN THE WOODS
An atheist was walking through the woods. 'What majestic trees!'What powerful rivers !'What beautiful animals!He said to himself.
As he was walking alongside the river,he heard a rustling in the bushesbehind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him.
He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & sawthat the bear was closing in on him..
He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground.
He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top ofhim, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strikehim.
At that instant the Atheist cried out,'Oh my God!'
Time Stopped.The bear froze.The forest was silent.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. 'You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't existandeven credit creation to cosmic accident.''Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?
The atheist looked directly into the light, 'It would be hypocritical ofmeto suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you couldmake the BEAR a Christian'?
'Very well,' said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed.
And the bear droppedhis right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:
'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.'

Stranger Than Fiction

2009-01-20T07:08:00.000-08:00

British Ice Skating Star Gives Birth Two Days After Dying

Jayne Soliman was declared brain dead but doctors managed to keep her heart beating until they delivered her daughter, Aya Jayne, by Caesarean section last week. Soliman, 41, was only 25 weeks pregnant when she collapsed in her bedroom after going to bed with a headache. She was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, but was pronounced brain dead last Wednesday evening. Doctors said that she had suffered a brain hemorrhage caused by an aggressive tumor.

Soliman was given huge doses of steroids to help the unborn child’s lungs develop. Two days later, Aya was born, weighing 2 pounds, 1.5 ounces. David Phillips, 48, a close friend and fellow skater who was at the hospital with Soliman, said that her husband, Mahmoud Soliman, had had “the best and the worst day of his life."

WYRD JAN.18-24

2009-01-15T12:06:00.001-08:00

Stranger Than Fiction

2009-01-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

Angry 4-year-old Shoots Baby Sitter With Shotgun

Police say an angry 4-year-old Ohio boy grabbed a gun from a closet and shot his baby sitter. Eighteen-year-old Nathan Beavers was hospitalized Sunday with minor wounds to his arm and side after the shotgun attack. Police say another teen was also injured.
Witnesses told police the child was angry because Beavers accidentally stepped on his foot. Beavers was watching the child at a mobile home in Jackson with several other teenagers and several other children. Jackson County Sheriff John Shashteen says authorities are investigating. The child has not been charged.

Afraid to Speak Up

2009-01-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

Fearful how others might respond during class, I always slouched in my desk.
By Brooke Sisko

During my sophomore year, I had a class called comparative religions. I took this class thinking I was going to learn about other religions. It turned out to be very different from what I expected.
First of all, we all sat with our desks in a circle. Then, our teacher would throw out questions for discussion. We were to answer the question in a way that supports the specific religion we believe in. Fearful how others might respond, I always slouched in my desk. I wasn't alone in my fears. The whole room usually seemed uncomfortably silent.
One day, the teacher asked a question that shook me up:
"Why does God let a child molester get away with his actions, but
a 6-month-old baby dies of cancer?" Suddenly the class was no longer so silent—this question started a huge discussion. Two answers I remember most went something like this:
"Maybe God is trying to get revenge on us for our sins."
"I think God wants us to be Buddhist because they believe in happiness."
I looked at two other Christians in my class, realizing they were too afraid to speak up. My heart started pounding as
I glanced nervously at a few students who appeared to be sleeping. Some of them probably thought they were too cool to answer. Out of nowhere I heard my voice saying, "I don't believe any of that."
I sucked in my breath, realizing that all heads had turned toward me. I contemplated not explaining myself as my teacher just looked at me. I was risking becoming "that Christian freak." But suddenly, I felt the courage to continue.
"I don't think God chose to have the world filled with evil, but Satan and humans have shaped the world into the way it now is."
"What about the baby? Shouldn't God have ordered one of his heavenly angels to come save it?" my teacher asked, waving his arms dramatically.
I cautiously answered, trying not to anger the teacher. "To be honest, I don't have an answer, but I know God doesn't enjoy the pain we experience. And he doesn't enjoy it when people get away with doing wrong things. I don't really know how to explain, but God didn't make the world this way. It's broken by sin, so maybe the question should be stated differently. I don't think we can judge God on the evil of this world. Instead, I just have faith he is in control and will one day right the wrongs."
As the teacher glared at me and moved on to a different question, I felt a rush of happiness. I had a sense that God was proud of what I had just done, and that He was smiling over the courage and the faith I showed in this tough moment.

Brooke, a junior, plays soccer and is involved in a mentoring program that helps freshmen adjust to their first year in high school.

WYRD JAN. 11-17

2009-01-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Stop Babbling

2009-01-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

And 8 other ways to connect with God.
By Ann Swindell

1. Pray with somebody.
Read Mark 14:38—even Jesus realized prayer took some effort. And while we need private prayer times, we also need the prayerful support of others. So, ask a friend to meet with you once a week during lunch or after school. Share issues in your life and pray for one another. It might feel a little awkward at first, but it will get better with time—and you'll get closer to God and to each other.

2. Take a day off.
Even though Jesus didn't want "honoring the Sabbath" (Exodus 20:8) to become a mindless ritual (Mark 2:27), he believed getting away and focusing on God is really important (Luke 5:16). So, what should honoring the Sabbath look like? Well, it should be one day every week—usually on Sunday—when you take time out of your regular schedule to rest and connect with God with your Christian community. No homework, no work, nada. When you get away from schoolwork and other things that distract you, there's a lot of space to rest and think and pray about what really matters.

3. Unplug.
Every once in a while, unplug all your tech toys. Video games, TVs, cell phones, iPods, internet—everything. (The world won't end, I promise.) Use this unplugged time to talk with a friend, face-to-face. Go on a walk or play guitar. Read a good novel. Hey, read the Bible. Or just sit quietly, allowing God to speak to your heart without all the normal distractions.

4. Eat temple food.
Sound weird? Well, the Bible says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. What does this mean practically? Let's say you're standing in front of the vending machines at school. Pretzels or cheesy puffs? Soda or water? Now, this isn't to say we can't enjoy a sweet soft drink or a nice chunk of chocolate cake once in a while. But the important thing is to not always fill God's temple with junk—or junk food. And when you do eat, whether it's a Snickers or a carrot stick, thank God for tasty snacks and good food that nourishes your body—His holy temple.

5. Go green.
Taking care of the earth is "in" right now. But God was into the planet long before hybrid cars and recycling. God created the heavens and the earth, and He said his creation was good. When He made humans, He told them to care for His creation (Genesis 2:15). We still have that responsibility. When there's enough natural light, leave the lights off. Recycle. Carpool. Ride a bike instead of driving. Thank God for the earth He created and treat it as the beautiful masterpiece it is.

6. Memorize Bible verses.
Why? Because God's Word "exposes our innermost thoughts and desires" (Hebrews 4:12). And Psalm 119:9 says we can keep ourselves pure by obeying God's Word. When we memorize Scripture, we have it ready when we need it. It's in our heads, helping us make good decisions and helping us reflect on God's promises. Pick a favorite verse and write it on your mirror with a dry-erase marker. Whenever you look in the mirror, repeat the verse in your head. When you've memorized it, put up a new verse. Where to start: Why not Hebrews 4:12 and Psalm 119:9?

7. Stop blabbing.
Read James 3:2-12 and Proverbs 16:24, and remember that speaking too much usually gets us
in trouble—with parents, friends, teachers, coaches, bosses. So practice the discipline of "taming the tongue" and focus on speaking words of encouragement. Cut out swearing, putdowns and gossip. If you're struggling to say something encouraging, don't speak until you can.

8. Be kind … in secret.
When we watch TV and read fan magazines, we get one message over and over: Fame is just about better than anything. But read Matthew 6:1-6 and you'll discover God thinks differently. When we do nice things for others without them knowing, we keep ourselves from becoming arrogant or from needing the approval of others. So, why not write an anonymous note of encouragement to someone and put it in his or her locker? Or maybe leave a small gift for a teacher or friend? You can also pray for someone without them knowing it. Whatever you do, do it for God. He's watching and He's pleased with your selfless and secret acts of kindness.

9. Live it up!
Life in Christ is the best thing around, so celebrate it! And there are many ways to celebrate—dance in the sunshine, sing a song to Him, take photos of His beautiful creation, write a poem, paint a picture, share a delicious meal with friends, play basketball, laugh! Whatever you do, do it as a way to praise God and thank God for the great gift of life.

WYRD DEC. 28- Jan.3, 2009

2008-12-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

Is Church Relevant?

2008-12-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

I hope that you take a look at your own life as you read this.

I'd been going to church all of my life, but I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something.By Danny Huizinga as told to Amy Adair

I slid into the pew next to my family, glanced at the bulletin, and sighed. The sermon was on marriage. I knew it would be just another Sunday where the church service went right over my head.
When the pastor got up to preach, I zoned out. I woke up when the choir started singing the last hymn.
I was relieved to go home, but felt a little disappointed. Lately I'd been feeling like church wasn't really for me. None of it seemed to matter to my life and the things I struggled with day-to-day, like my friendships. I'd gone to church all my life, but I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something.
On the ride home, I flipped through the bulletin again and noticed that the youth group was starting up later that evening. I'd just started seventh grade, and I was finally old enough to join.

When I got to youth group that night, I was totally pumped. I also was surprised at how many people I already knew from church and school. I fit right in. It wasn't long before Ron, our youth pastor, introduced himself. I could tell he was on fire for Christ and wanted people like me to feel that same excitement.

After a while, the praise band started singing. Singing had always been my favorite part of church. But there were a lot of times when I didn't even think about the words. Ron encouraged us to focus on what the songs meant and see singing as a way to worship God. As we sang one song after another, I really started to feel connected to Christ.
The night got even better when Ron got up to talk. He started telling us about David and Jonathan's friendship in 1 Samuel 18. It was a story I'd heard a million times before. But Ron actually made it relevant to my life.
"We can learn a lot from these guys," Ron told the group. "They were true friends. You need to choose your friends wisely, too. Your closest friends should be people who help build up your faith."

After youth group ended, I thought long and hard about Ron's words. I had a good friend, Tim*, who wasn't the best influence. He swore all the time and talked a lot about drinking. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but over the next few months I stopped spending so much time with him. Instead, I hung out with friends from youth group and invited Tim to join us.
Although Tim never took me up on my offer, I kept going back to youth group. Ron seemed to make every story from the Bible mean something to my life. Like the story about Abraham and Sarah. Before, I always thought it was just a story about two old people who had a kid. But Ron asked us to imagine what it would be like to have the kind of faith that God wanted Abraham and Sarah to have.
I wanted that kind of faith. Although I'd been reading my Bible for as long as I could remember, I'd never really taken time to understand it. I read it because it was the right thing to do.
It wasn't easy, but I started reading a few verses at a time and really tried to understand what it meant. If I had questions, I asked Ron or my parents. Over time, my understanding of the Bible grew. So did my faith.

I've been going to youth group for three years. I no longer read the Bible because I feel like I have to. I read it because I want to grow closer to God. My attitude about church has changed, too.
I stopped tuning out when I thought the sermon wasn't going to matter to me.

I was surprised at how much I could learn just by paying attention to the verses my pastor used. Sure, not every sermon directly relates to my life, but I know I can always learn something. And now I know that I really do belong at church and especially at youth group.

Danny, a freshman, has been playing the piano for seven years and loves to play with the praise band at youth group.

2008-12-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

Wow. Someone shared this video and I immediately watched it. Penn is a staunch atheist and also a illusionist. I've been aware of his work for many years and he is a great thinker, but sadly he does not believe God exists and therefore believes he has no need for Christ. This story really made me think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM&eurl=http://www.planetwisdom.com/marksblog/2008/12/wow.html&feature=player_embedded

I hope someday, he realizes the love of Christ in his life. But there are many people in your neighborhood just like him. I was wondering the following and would like to hear some of your comments.

What do you think about his experience? Do you really live what you believe? How does this challenge you to live differently?

WYRD DEC. 21-27

2008-12-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

WYRD Dec. 14-20

2008-12-11T14:47:00.001-08:00

Comments submitted by Matthew H.

2008-12-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

Life is God's novel, so let Him write it.

Yes actually, I am a know-it-all.
God

Hope

2008-12-10T08:41:00.000-08:00

I thought this would be encouraging to us.
By Titus Benton
Published 12/1/2008
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
The crashing cars will be still and the drunken drivers will be sober. The screaming husbands and the crying wives will be quiet. The innocent children will no longer be abused. Warriors will lay down their weapons. There will be no battle to win and no turf to defend. The hungry will be filled, the poor will be looked after, and the homeless will be warmed by love. They will have dignity.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
Guns will be silenced, not to conceal their fatal fire, but because there is no firing at all. There will be nowhere to aim; no hatred to spill forth. Marriages won't end any more. Families won't be ripped apart by divorce, separation, and selfishness. And we won't ignore the people we live with in favor of television or video games or our own rooms.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
Students will not cut themselves, starve themselves, kill themselves, trap themselves, drug themselves, ignore themselves, or indulge themselves any more. They won't fill their lives with sound and they will no longer fear silence. They won't make fun of each other. They won't hurt each other.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
We won't label ourselves the way we do: poor or rich; Democrat or Republican; black, white, Hispanic, Asian, or "other." We won't look down on one another, talk bad about one another, or be harsh with one another. There won't be road rage or sports rage. We won't create drama to have something to complain about and we won't look for conflict so we have something juicy to talk about.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
Work will not be our god. Sports will not be our god. We will not be our god. They will not be our god. Media will not be our god. Religion will not be our god.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
We will live in harmony with one another. We will laugh together, eat together, and live together. We will share what we have, accept what don't from those who do, and love that we don't have to pretend any more. We will celebrate that there are no more wars to fight, funerals to attend, or losses to mourn. We will learn who we are, be committed to those around us, and be resolved to stick it out during the toughest of times. We will know who we are, be okay with who we are, and celebrate who we are. God will be God.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
We will not be the same because I will not be the same. I will not be the same because I refuse to stay the same. If I stay the same then we will be the same. If we are the same then the world will not change. It will look like to does today.Today is no good.Today is just more of the same.
Bring on tomorrow.
Spread The Word

God Used My Painful Past

2008-12-08T15:42:00.000-08:00

Hey All,
I just want to past this on, I think you might like to se how God can work.

As I walked into the youth room, I immediately noticed a new guy. He definitely looked different than any of my guy friends. He wore black eyeliner with streaks of black running vertically down each cheek. His hair and clothes told me he'd probably call himself emo. Since I like to make new people feel welcome, I went over and introduced myself.
He told me his name was Ryan*. He was really pretty easy to talk to. Before long, we were chatting about music. I hadn't heard of his favorite bands, but I told him about Hawk Nelson and Stellar Kart, two bands I like.
He seemed to enjoy youth group that night and continued coming back, although at times he seemed kind of distant. As we spent time together on Sunday nights, he slowly opened up about his struggles with cutting and suicidal thoughts. I understood. I used to struggle with both problems.
One night our youth pastor, Tad, used the Hawk Nelson song "Zero" to discuss the topic of suicide. The band wrote it after a friend of theirs took his life. We listened as the song played:
Your life dreams are shattered/You've gone away/We've cried here for hours, and the hours turn to days/We know you regret this, leaving us here/With portraits and memories that we've held so dear.
The lyrics reminded me of the emotions I once felt. The song affected Ryan, too. He even pulled Tad aside during one of our games to talk. Tad asked me to join the conversation.
Here's what I said to Ryan: "A couple of years ago, I was depressed and thought no one cared about me. One night I began cutting, and it became an addiction. I would do it when anything bad would happen. I'd think to myself when I cut, You don't deserve to live. Everyone would be better off without you.
You're the one who causes all the problems in your family."
Ryan looked straight in my eyes, which was unusual for him, as I continued to talk.
"Then I met Tad, who asked me some unusual questions. One was: 'If you died tonight, do you know where you would go?' Ryan, do you know how you would answer that question?"
"I hope heaven," Ryan answered softly.
"But if you had to give God a reason why he should let you in heaven, what would you say?" I asked.
"That I tried to live a good life," he said.
I told Ryan that this was also what I had thought, but I wasn't sure my good works would really get me into heaven.
Ryan's eyes looked watery and really sad.
"Tad told me that Jesus died for our sins so we could have a relationship with God," I explained. "By believing Jesus is God's Son and accepting him as my Savior and Lord, which means giving him control of my life, I'd get to spend eternity in heaven. Living a good life will never get me there—it's only through Jesus Christ."
Ryan thought for a minute and then simply said, "Wow."
"Ryan, when I accepted Christ my problems didn't disappear," I stressed, "but I found a strength I never had before. Christ helps me with my struggles and has even removed some of them completely." He remained quiet for a while. It seemed like we sat there forever, but I was certain Ryan was just taking in everything he'd just heard.
Finally, he said, "I'm ready."
I was amazed he was ready to make a commitment to Christ. After all, he'd only attended youth group a few weeks.
Tad and I led Ryan in prayer and he accepted Christ that night. While earlier he'd seemed so sad, he suddenly couldn't stop smiling.
It's been months since that night and Ryan continues to grow in his faith. He now plays guitar with our youth band and has become a big fan of the Christian rock band Skillet. I can tell he's more confident. He says he no longer cuts or thinks about suicide.
One night after my youth group attended a Skillet concert, Ryan came up to me to say goodbye before heading home. He simply said, "Thank you for being my friend. It means a lot to me."
I am thankful God used my story and struggles to bring Ryan to Christ. I'm excited we'll be in heaven together.
Molly, a sophomore, received evangelism training from Dare 2 Share, an organization dedicated to helping Christian students witness to their friends.
*Names have been changed.Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.

DId God Create Sin?

2008-12-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

Let me know what you think?

WYRD Dec. 7th- 13th

2008-12-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

A word from George

2008-12-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

While I was looking out the window on the airplane, God reaveled something to me that I want to share with you all:
In the airplane above the clouds I saw the Sun Shinning on the clouds and they looked so pure white, and clean. But also there was times when the son wasn't shinning on the clouds and they looked dingy, dirty, and grey looking.

And the anaolgy that God revealed to me is this:

When we allow the Son (Jesus) to shine (Live in us) down on us, we look pure and clean. But when we do not allow the Son (Jesus) to shine on us, we look dingy, dirty, and unpure.

May we allow God to work in us that others will see the Son shinning on us.

God Bless,
I love being your Youth Pastor

A not so funny Joke....J/K

2008-12-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Kaitlynn trying to be funny....

Q:
Why did the box of donuts cross the road?
A:
To get to FBC of Edgewater Youth Group (before they ate George.) =D jk

WYRD NOV.30- DEC. 6

2008-11-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

Stranger than Fiction

2008-11-26T11:54:00.000-08:00

Oregon Man Shot by Dog During Hunting Trip

Henry Marcum has nothing but kind words for the dog that shot his 23-year-old son. Matthew Marcum was standing in Tillamook Bay at the start of duck-hunting trip when his dog jumped into the boat, setting off a 12-gauge shotgun. The blast blew a hole in the aluminum boat before hitting Marcum, who is recovering from injuries to his legs and buttocks. Henry says he's not angry with the dog, and neither is his son. He adds that the Labrador, Drake, is a good dog and the shooting is "just one of those things."

More Riddles from Matthew

2008-11-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

What does a chicken nd a band have in commen?

They both have drum sticks.

What did the autumn leaf say to the other autumn leaf?

I'm falling for you.

What washes up on really small beaches?

Microwaves

What is in the middle of Paris?

The letter "R"

Which city do people who talk a lot live?

Babylon

What did the crop say to the farmer?

Why are you always picking on me.

Top 15 Reasons to Be Thankful on Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T07:06:00.000-08:00

During Thanksgiving, we're always asked what we're thankful for. So in honor of turkey day, I found this list of 15 reasons to be thankful. If you have anything ya wanna add to the list, be sure to let me know!

I am thankful …

15. That someone else kills the turkey and removes those nasty gizzard things from their bodies.

14. That peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches are always a safe stand-by when Uncle Dave's trying to cook the turkey in the microwave.

13. For conversation about a bunch of distant relatives you don't know, but you don't care 'cuz the food's so good.

12. For a family that loves you, even if Aunt Dorothy can't stop pinching your cheeks and exclaiming, "My how you've grown!"

11. That Thanksgiving is the one time you can eat for 8 hours straight, feel like ya gotta be rolled away from the table, but you keep right on eating.

10. For the crazy relatives who make you laugh right after you put mashed potatoes in your mouth just so they can watch you blow them out your nose.

9. For getting two days of school off—even though your teachers gave you so much homework, you'll never get it done by New Year's.

8. That this is the one time you don't have to sit next to your little brother who talks with his mouth full—he'll sit across from you instead.

7. For that one food dish you never quite know what it is.

6. For finally graduating from the "kids' table" to the "adults' table." (I graduated a few years ago.)

5. That there's always a football game to snooze through, despite the fact you're sharing a love seat with five of your relatives.

4. For hearing Grandpa pray.

3. That black olives, a.k.a. finger puppets, can add entertainment to any meal.

2. For washing your dishes—and those of 14 other relatives.

And the number 1 reason to be thankful on Thanksgiving …

1. That God loves us so much, he gave us a family to love, a turkey to eat, and a Son to save our souls.

WYRD Nov. 23-29

2008-11-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

Jokes given to me by Kaitlynn Bagwell

2008-11-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

Mom:What did you do at school today?
Ethan: We did a guessing game.
Mom: I thought you were having a math exam?
Ethan: Thats right....

Prisilla: What sits at the bottom of the ocean and shakes?
Rufus: You've got me.
Prisilla: A nervous reck.

Prisilla: What do you get if you cross a cocker-spaniel, a poodle and a rooster?
Rufus: It's unknown to me.
Prisilla: A Cockapoodledoo

Teacher: I've had to punish you every day this week. What have you got to say?
Student: Boy, am I glad it's Friday.

Teacher: Why are you crawling into class?
Student: Because the class has already started and you said " Don't anyone dare walk into my class late."

Q. I have six eyes, two mouths, and three ears, what am I?
A. Ugly.

Jacob: Did you here about the man who got arressted for stealing a pig?
Lacey: How did they catch him?
Jacob: The pig squealed.

Codey: I'm aching from arthritis.
Kara: How do you do? I'm Kara from Hume, Lake California

Always the Third Wheel

2008-11-18T09:22:00.000-08:00

Q. I seem to frequently hang with people who are better friends with each other than with me—or they're dating. It makes me hesitant to do things with anyone unless it's just two of us. Should I let this bother me?

A. Being the third wheel can be tough. Because it bothers you, my advice is to intentionally avoid these kinds of situations as much as possible. It's going to happen now and then—and that's fine—but here's how you can keep them from happening too often: When invited to hang out with two others, ask if your friend would mind if you called another friend to join you. Also, make it a point to spend time with people one-on-one so you can bond with them and feel like you're focused on each other.
A high school girl once told me she was almost always home watching TV alone. I asked her how often she initiated times to hang out with people. She admitted she usually waited for others to call her. I think that was the problem.
I encouraged her to make a list of people she would like to hang out with, and take the initiative to call them. She did. Later, she told me she wasn't spending very much time at home alone when she wanted to be out with friends. She was now setting her social calendar. Maybe you could follow her example.
I have one other suggestion: Consider joining a small group. Most youth groups have them. Along with being a great way to grow in your faith, a small group gives you opportunities to develop some close friendships in a group bigger than three.

Jim is an author, longtime youth worker and founder of HomeWord, a group seeking to honor God through strong families.

More Riddles from matthew Hemphill

2008-11-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

What side of the mug should you put the handle on?

The outside

Why did the skelton cross the road?

To get to the body shop.

Why is it so hot in a stadium after a football game?

Because all the fans left.

Why did the elephant cross the road?

Because it was the chicken's day off.

WYRD NOV.16-22

2008-11-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

Jokes from Matthew Hemphill

2008-11-13T06:52:00.000-08:00

What are two things you can never eat for breakfast?

Lunch and Dinner

What starts with a "T" is full of "T's" and ends with "T"?

A tea pot

What do you call cow with a twitch?

Beef Jerky

What is a parasite?

Something you see in Paris

WYRD Nov.9th-15th

2008-11-06T10:12:00.001-08:00

WYRD Nov.2-8

2008-10-30T07:22:00.001-07:00

WYRD OCT.26- NOV.1

2008-10-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

Prayer Request

2008-10-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Gabi wanted me to put these on here for her so that we could be praying for these things:

grandpa
me
chris (my brother)
olivia

If anybody has any prayer request that you want me to add, just email me.

KTF
George

Give It A Rest

2008-10-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Give It a Rest What it means to "keep the Sabbath holy."By Jason Lawrenz
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." —Exodus 2:8, NIV

An average day during my junior year in high school went something like this: Wake up, eight hours of school, four hours of practice, quick dinner, four hours of homework, hang out with friends (if I'm lucky), sleep, repeat.
Sound like your life? To keep from freaking out or getting sick, we gotta find time to rest. God thinks rest is so important he wrote it into the fourth commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8, NIV).

A "Sabbath" is a time of rest. The words, "Remember the Sabbath day," point us back to the first Sabbath in history when, after he created everything in six days, God rested on the seventh day (see Genesis 1-2).
Now, let's be realistic: God's strength is unlimited. He created everything just by speaking. He's present everywhere. He's always available to talk to, and he doesn't get tired or worn out. So, why did God rest?
The Bible says that God "blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating he had done" (Genesis 2:3, NIV). I think God set an example for us when he rested, and we can see that example in a very important word: holy. This verse says that God made his day of rest holy. In the fourth commandment, we are told to keep the Sabbath holy. God wants us to follow his example. He wants us to take time to rest, and he wants that rest time to be holy.

Whenever the word holy appears in the Bible, it means set apart just for God. In other words, totally devoted to God. A holy Sabbath, then, isn't just any old time of rest, and it's not just rest for our physical bodies. God didn't give us the fourth commandment as encouragement to zone out while watching TV or spend an entire weekend playing Rock Band. Doing those things might help us recharge our batteries physically, but a Sabbath is more than a time of physical rest. It's also a time of spiritual rest—rest devoted totally to God.
Most of us know that nonstop busyness can wear us down and cause major physical problems or illnesses. What we so easily forget is that our spiritual lives work that way, too. As Christians, we're called to represent Christ wherever we go and to share his good news through our words and actions. That's not an easy thing to do, and if we're trying to live up to that calling every single day, it can get really tiring! If we are pouring out of our faith all the time, we need to eventually get filled back up. Taking a Sabbath and resting with God can revive us spiritually with the energy and encouragement we need to live each day as messengers of the good news. Even Jesus, our Lord and Savior, repeatedly devoted time to rest with God, far away from the busyness of his life. (See Matthew 14:22-24; Mark 1:35.)

As we try to keep a Sabbath, however, we need to remember something: It's not about just keeping another rule. When the Pharisees confronted Jesus about breaking the Sabbath, he made one thing clear: "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27, NLT).
So how can the Sabbath best meet our needs? A great starting point is going to church and youth group. Worshiping God with other believers and sharing our lives with them is an excellent way to find rest for our spiritual lives. The key to taking a Sabbath is finding a way to be with God that doesn't include or feel like work. Along with participating in a church worship service, keeping the Sabbath could mean taking more time than usual to read your Bible, journaling your prayers to God, listening to Christian music, or enjoying God's creation on a walk outdoors. Find your own unique way to be with him. Set aside time every week for it. Now you've started keeping the Sabbath holy.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV). By obeying the fourth commandment, we can take Jesus up on his offer and find rest for our bodies and our souls. Then, when we reenter our crazy world, we'll have the strength to share the Gospel with others who also need the rest Jesus offers.

WYRD OCT. 19TH- 25TH

2008-10-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Resume Of Jesus Christ

2008-10-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Resume of Jesus Christ
Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

Hello. My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

Qualifications

· I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
· I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
· The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background
· I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).
· I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
· My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

Skills Work Experiences
· Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).
· I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).
· Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background
· I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
· In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).
· My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
· I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

Major Accomplishments
· I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26).
· I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
· I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
· I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
· There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References
· Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance.

In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

Stranger Than Fiction

2008-10-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

BERLIN (Reuters) - Thieves who stole 300 kg (660 lbs) of hazelnuts in Germany have been urgently warned not to eat them.
Hamburg police spokesman Holger Vehren said the sacks containing the nuts were full of poisonous hydrogen phosphate gas, used to extend their shelf life.
The nuts must first be treated to make them safe for consumption.
"We're looking for the perpetrators because they could face a very serious health risk if they eat these hazelnuts," he said. "The gas is even lethal if they inhale it."

(Reporting by Josie Cox, editing by Mark Trevelyan

WYRD OCT 12-18

2008-10-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

WYRD OCT. 5- 11

2008-10-02T09:50:00.001-07:00

Stranger than Fiction

2008-09-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa City police say a man who was driving drunk tried to bribe a police officer — with a sandwich.
Police say 25-year-old Mark Booth of Iowa City, was charged with drunken driving early Sunday morning.
Police say he was pulled over after an officer saw him driving with his headlights off.
Police say that Booth was riding with a police officer in a squad car when he offered the officer free sub sandwiches if he could go home.
The officer declined.

WYRD SEPT.28-OCT.4

2008-09-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

A New Day

2008-09-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

By Amy Nickerson

Beep

Beep......

The alarm clock rings

As I roll over

Sleepily I rise

And open my blinds

The sunshine streams in

Making me squint

Rubbing away sleep

While i stretch and yawn

Birds chirp

The blue sky beckons

For a brief minute

I gaze up

Remembering Him

Endless opportunities

Calling my name

... This is the day!

WYRD SEPT. 21ST-27TH

2008-09-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

Having a Bad Day?

2008-09-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ask yourself:
1. What do I feel guilty about?
2. What am I worried about?
3. Who am I, really?

Remember:
1. Christ's grace erases guilt.
2. Christ's oversight removes fear.
3 Christ's direction removes confusion.

Intresting Quotes

2008-09-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

"Churchgoers are like coals in a fire. When they cling together, they keep the flame aglow; when they seperate,they die out."
Billy Graham
And here is one that was given to me by a Student to add to the blog:

Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~Emerson

WYRD SEPT. 14TH-20TH

2008-09-11T07:24:00.001-07:00

WYRD SEPT.7TH- 13TH

2008-09-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Worst (and Best) Year of My Life

2008-09-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

I was doomed to be the class outcast.by Jessica Dagen

People going through tough times often wonder, Why is God letting me go through this? Is there a point? That was me in seventh grade. At the time, I thought it was the worst year of my life. Anybody who knows me has heard me say that. But now I know better.
Without that year, I would not be who I am today.
I am a missionary kid (or MK). I have lived in the Czech Republic, the second most atheistic nation in the world, since I was 4-years-old. I'm naturally shy so it's tough for me to make friends. But to make matters worse, I was growing up in a foreign country, where I didn't fully know the language and where every kid I met thought Christianity was the dumbest thing on the planet. Let's just say I felt like there was no hope for a close friend.

And then it all got worse. We moved to California for a year before returning to the Czech Republic. I had no idea what living in America was like, and now I had to attend seventh grade there. Sure, I'd been to America once during our missionary service. But it was for four months. Now, I was going to go to school there. I had no idea what Abercrombie was, who Rihanna was, or even how to relate to American kids.

I knew from the very first day at school that things were very different from the Czech schools. People talked differently, dressed differently, acted differently, and even thought differently. I did not fit in, and I didn't know how to fix that. I was doomed to be the class outcast, the weirdo of seventh grade. And I was. The many insults that I received hurt deeply.

I had been taught all my life about God and Christianity. But before my seventh grade year, God was kinda just there—not really doing anything. He was like wallpaper. But now, I was broken. I was spiritually hungry and thirsty.I thought that if God couldn't help me, no one could.
One day, I opened my Bible and Psalm 31 stared back at me: "For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord. … In the shelter of your presence you hide [those who fear you]; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. … You heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help" (NIV).
I knew it was no coincidence my Bible fell open to this psalm.
I devoured the passage and literally felt a hunger for more. Through his Word, God showed me that I was not alone, and that I just had to trust in him to make the best of it. When I gave him my whole heart, my life opened up. He gave me joy for each new day. He helped me find a few friends around the school and taught me how to let him be my Best Friend. He gave me many opportunities to live out the instruction to turn the other cheek. Life was still very hard. I still cried myself to sleep a lot. Some of what the kids at school said still wounded me badly. But, still, things were different.
I knew that God had a plan, that he had a reason for all the pain and strife I was going through. I didn't know what he was planning, but who am I to argue with the God of the Universe? I couldn't see it then, but as I look back now, God has revealed how he used me that year. For instance, there were several students in my class who came from a different country or whom nobody liked. I realize that, with my experience with living in a different culture and being the social outcast, I was the ideal person to reach out and relate to them.
I noticed lessons of that year when we moved back to Czech. I began eighth grade in yet another new school and I had to make new friends all over again. In America, I'd learned how to stand up for myself, how to make a good yet truthful impression, how to laugh at my mistakes, and how to overcome most of my shyness.
Needless to say, I had a very enjoyable eighth grade year. Since then, too, my life has been much more rewarding. With less shyness, I have been able to act in my school's plays and participate in more group activities. God has blessed me with close friends who encourage and strengthen me. He has shown me how to be a better friend.
Most importantly, he used that year to draw me closer to him. I could have never imagined this relationship with him two years ago. God surely used the bad for good. James says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2-3, NIV).
Jessica is currently attending high school in the Czech Republic.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.

WYRD AUG.31-SEPT.6

2008-08-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

Stranger Than Fiction

2008-08-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

ROME (Reuters) - When in Capri, don't wander off the beach in a bikini.
If you go to the sea in Eraclea, near Venice, remember that building sandcastles is forbidden.
And don't even think about mowing your lawn at the weekend in Forte dei Marmi.
Emboldened by a nationwide crackdown on crime and a government decree giving them extra law-and-order powers, Italian mayors have issued a string of often bizarre by-laws to enhance "public decorum."
Public displays of affection in a car can earn you a fine of up to 500 euros ($745) in Eboli, feeding pigeons is off-limits in the centre of Lucca while in Novara groups of more than two people are forbidden from lounging around in parks at night.
Italian newspapers have dubbed this year's holiday season "the summer of bans." But this week one town hall was forced to acknowledge things may have gone too far.
Rodrigo Piccoli, 33, called national radio to protest after he was fined 50 euros for lying down in a park in the northern city of Vicenza to read a book. The mayor has since promised to drop the ban.

WYRD AUG.24-30

2008-08-21T06:28:00.001-07:00

Student Life

2008-08-19T13:37:00.001-07:00

Hey all, were Back!!!!
Just wanted to give you all a little update on what happened at Student Life last week. First of all we had a blast with the activities. There was 10 Students and 2 Adults. We had one re- dedication. There were commitments made that my prayer is that they will honor, not for my sake but because they made them to God. God was working in each of our lives and I saw walls start coming down that have been up for a while. God is AWESOME!!!!. My prayer is that we at least double the amount of students that go next year. Do you want to stop playing around with God? Do you want to see grow closer to Jesus? Then get out of your comfort zone and come next year.

More Than a Name

2008-08-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

More Than a NameI caught a tiny glimpse of how God must feel when someone misuses
His name.by Jason Lawrenz
"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God." —Exodus 20:7, NIV
I couldn't keep from grinning as I took my seat. Friday had arrived. My favorite class with my favorite teacher was about to start. And just before class, I found out that I got a lead part in my school's fall musical. It was a great day … until I overheard my name. Andrew*, a classmate two rows behind me, was saying to someone: "That Jason Lawrenz is such a … " As my head turned, Andrew realized I could hear what he was saying and he quickly changed the topic, but the damage had been done. No, he hadn't said much more than my name, but the way he said it was offensive, angry and mean. It hurt a lot. I also worried that he'd done damage to my reputation—all because of the way he'd said my name.
Looking back at that experience, I think I caught a tiny glimpse of how God must feel when someone misuses his name. In fact, God is so concerned with how people use his name that he gave us the third commandment: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name" (Exodus 20:7, NIV).
Obviously, God takes his name very seriously, and he doesn't want anyone misusing it. So, we should probably ask ourselves, "How do we misuse God's name?" To answer this question, we need to dive into a little history.
Centuries before Moses and the Ten Commandments, God chose Israel to be his messenger to the world. In ancient times, messengers were usually associated with royalty. Kings regularly used messengers to communicate with other nations. When a messenger delivered a message, he would first announce the name of the king who sent him. This official announcement was very important. Once he used the king's name, his message carried the authority and power of the king.
So, if the messenger delivered an inaccurate message, then he had "misused" the king's name because he said something with the king's authority that the king never told him to say. Additionally, the messenger's inaccuracy reflected poorly on the king and caused the king's name to lose some of its power and authority.
As God's messenger, Israel received the third commandment as a charge to use his name faithfully. This meant delivering the right message. God still uses messengers. He has chosen you and me to deliver his message to the world, and our message is the Gospel—the Good News that Jesus came to rescue us from our sins.
Let's bring this back to the commandment. The verse says that we shouldn't misuse God's name. Since we are God's messengers, misusing God's name means acting or speaking in ways that keep others from hearing the gospel message. This includes using God's name as an ugly swear word, but it also includes stuff like having pre-marital sex, drinking, gossiping behind someone's back, spreading lies, or treating others rudely. Doing this stuff doesn't align with the message of God's love, so it keeps our friends and classmates from hearing that message. And worst of all, misusing God's name like this will hurt him just like Andrew hurt me when he spoke my name so offensively.
Being commanded to consistently act and speak in ways that honor the gospel message is a huge challenge. After all, we all mess up. But there is a big encouragement for us: The Bible says that Christians are a "chosen people" (1 Peter 2:9, niv). God has chosen you and me to be his messengers, which means that he believes in us. He believes that we can be effective messengers.
So do you desire to be the King's messenger? If you do, then take a moment and ask God to help you. Ask him to give you the strength you need to honor his name with your words and actions. Then go into the world as a Christian and share the message of God's love. This is how you use his name in the right way. This is how you become a true messenger to a world that needs the true message.

WYRD AUGUST 10-16

2008-08-07T07:45:00.001-07:00

WYRD JULY 27-AUGUST 2

2008-07-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

Stranger Than Fiction

2008-07-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is just sick....

BEIJING—Canine cuisine is being sent to the doghouse during next month's Beijing Olympic Games.
Dog meat has been struck from the menus of officially designated Olympic restaurants, and Beijing tourism officials are telling other outlets to discourage consumers from ordering dishes made from dogs, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.
Waiters and waitresses should "patiently" suggest other options to diners who order dog, it said, quoting city tourism bureau Vice Director Xiong Yumei.
Dog, known in Chinese as "xiangrou," or "fragrant meat," is eaten by some Chinese for its purported health-giving qualities.
Beijing isn't the first Olympic host to slap a ban on the dish.
South Korea banned dog meat during the 1988 Seoul Olympics by invoking a law prohibiting the sale of "foods deemed unsightly." After the Olympics, the ban was not strictly enforced.
Dog meat is also eaten in some other Asian countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos.

WYRD JULY 20-26

2008-07-17T09:44:00.000-07:00