What I Think Everyone Should Know
What I Think Everyone Should Know
Isn't It Strange?
"Isn't it strange that one of the world's biggest religions has a
god the size of a wafer?" (A thought-provoking post today from a
friend, D. L. Gould)
It IS strange that some people want a small god: a god that they aren't threatened by; that they don't have to fear & reverence.
No better than Humanism, which elevates man to a god-like status,
man's "churchianity" and "religiosity" seeks a god that is manageable.
No better than the Romans and Greeks, who constructed gods that share man's frailties and proclivities,
"sin-condoning churchianity" seeks a god that understands our sins and overlooks them.
Satan's message to Adam and Eve was basically, "Yeah, I know God said don't, but what do YOU want? You can become like God, knowing good and evil." It's the same today in our society of "I want what I want and I want it now."
But what God want's for us is sooo much better than what we want.
It IS strange that some people want a small god: a god that they aren't threatened by; that they don't have to fear & reverence.
But the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I'm thankful that THE God of The Bible is not a small god. The Lord is a big God, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the great I Am, the Beginning and the End!
No better than Humanism, which elevates man to a god-like status,
man's "churchianity" and "religiosity" seeks a god that is manageable.
No better than the Romans and Greeks, who constructed gods that share man's frailties and proclivities,
"sin-condoning churchianity" seeks a god that understands our sins and overlooks them.
God created us in His image, not the other way around. God doesn't need a make-over from us! He is the same today, tomorrow and forever! God isn't "manageable" and He isn't OK with our sin. He commands us to be holy.
Satan's message to Adam and Eve was basically, "Yeah, I know God said don't, but what do YOU want? You can become like God, knowing good and evil." It's the same today in our society of "I want what I want and I want it now."
But what God want's for us is sooo much better than what we want.
One of my Heroes
I have been truly blessed with the people God has placed in my life!
Recently, I reconnected (on Facebook) with one of my heroes, Steve Smoker.
In 1985, I had only been a Christian for a short time when my family moved to the coast of North Carolina. Looking for a place to worship, I visited a little church where Pastor Steve had recently joined the staff as youth pastor.
Now, here was a guy who is exceptionally talented and creative. With his management ability and skill in graphic design, he could have done very well in the corporate world. Any advertising agency would be lucky to have him. In fact, I think Disney once had an interest in him. But, instead of seeking worldly success, he and his wife (who has an angelic singing voice) chose to minister to a motley group of kids in a little neighborhood called Crab Point.
Surely, there were moments when Steve and Linda wondered what they had gotten into. As one of the kids, I remember some times when we would have made the Bad News Bears look like a cohesive team by comparison. You could say we put the “fun” in dysfunctional.
With Pastor Steve’s leadership, we had the most amazing youth group events. There was snow skiing, river rafting, theme parks, mystery retreats, conferences, concerts, summer camps and even a missions trip to Costa Rica. One of our group, Frank Kinsey, serves as a missionary in Costa Rica today.
It wasn’t all fun and games (though there was an incredible amount of fun). Pastor Steve taught us by example what it means to be a prayer warrior. He also taught us the importance of: having a firm foundation in Christ, seeking the approval of God rather than people, choosing what’s right instead of what’s popular, and looking for the opportunities for God to use us.
I remember the Bible passages that we memorized, the songs of worship that we learned in Spanish and sign language, the prayer meetings we had, and the prayer journals we kept that detailed what we were praying about and how God answered those prayers. I referred back to my prayer journal for years afterwards and marveled at what God had done.
There’s something else I remember that may seem trivial to many, but it really stuck with me. I called Pastor Steve one day to ask him a quick question – I don’t remember what it was, but I remember that it wasn’t very important. Probably a 15 second conversation.
At the end of the call he said in an earnest tone, “Thanks for calling.”
I know it’s not earth-shattering, but no-one had ever said that to me before. I bugged the guy about something unimportant and he thanked me for calling! At that moment, I felt more appreciated, more wanted and more worthwhile than ever before. God’s love was demonstrated through such a simple act.
I’m pretty sure that Pastor Steve prayed for opportunities to be a Godly hero in our lives.
Pastor Steve, thank you for being willing to be used by God.
Recently, I reconnected (on Facebook) with one of my heroes, Steve Smoker.
In 1985, I had only been a Christian for a short time when my family moved to the coast of North Carolina. Looking for a place to worship, I visited a little church where Pastor Steve had recently joined the staff as youth pastor.
Now, here was a guy who is exceptionally talented and creative. With his management ability and skill in graphic design, he could have done very well in the corporate world. Any advertising agency would be lucky to have him. In fact, I think Disney once had an interest in him. But, instead of seeking worldly success, he and his wife (who has an angelic singing voice) chose to minister to a motley group of kids in a little neighborhood called Crab Point.
Surely, there were moments when Steve and Linda wondered what they had gotten into. As one of the kids, I remember some times when we would have made the Bad News Bears look like a cohesive team by comparison. You could say we put the “fun” in dysfunctional.
With Pastor Steve’s leadership, we had the most amazing youth group events. There was snow skiing, river rafting, theme parks, mystery retreats, conferences, concerts, summer camps and even a missions trip to Costa Rica. One of our group, Frank Kinsey, serves as a missionary in Costa Rica today.
It wasn’t all fun and games (though there was an incredible amount of fun). Pastor Steve taught us by example what it means to be a prayer warrior. He also taught us the importance of: having a firm foundation in Christ, seeking the approval of God rather than people, choosing what’s right instead of what’s popular, and looking for the opportunities for God to use us.
I remember the Bible passages that we memorized, the songs of worship that we learned in Spanish and sign language, the prayer meetings we had, and the prayer journals we kept that detailed what we were praying about and how God answered those prayers. I referred back to my prayer journal for years afterwards and marveled at what God had done.
There’s something else I remember that may seem trivial to many, but it really stuck with me. I called Pastor Steve one day to ask him a quick question – I don’t remember what it was, but I remember that it wasn’t very important. Probably a 15 second conversation.
At the end of the call he said in an earnest tone, “Thanks for calling.”
I know it’s not earth-shattering, but no-one had ever said that to me before. I bugged the guy about something unimportant and he thanked me for calling! At that moment, I felt more appreciated, more wanted and more worthwhile than ever before. God’s love was demonstrated through such a simple act.
I’m pretty sure that Pastor Steve prayed for opportunities to be a Godly hero in our lives.
Pastor Steve, thank you for being willing to be used by God.
A True Friend
A friend is someone who’s willing to share
The folding hand that’s dealt your way;
Someone who shows they really care
With each elapsing day.
A friend is someone who is easy to talk to
And you know you can confide therein;
Someone who also can talk to you
About their problems or praises or sin.
A friend, when you’re feeling down and low,
Will help you cope with your battles and win.
A friend will surely help you to know
That you’re only going through a bend.
There are many bends in this road of life
In which, Christians seemingly get caught;
But a friend will help you pull out the knife
And heal the wounds the world has wrought.
It’s hard to find a friend so true
Who would make such a sacrifice;
That’s why I’m glad I found a friend in You,
My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
by Dan Young, at age 14
Validation
This is one of the best things I've seen on YouTube (or anywhere else, for that matter).
It's a MUST SEE, award winning short film. Let me know what you think about it.
Sweets To The Sweet
Check out my brother's new song Sweets to the Sweet:
Message From Father of Columbine Student, Rachel Scotts
I rarely forward emails ... but I made an exception for this one below just a few days ago. I thought it was also worthy of posting on the blog. Enjoy.
---------
Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?
On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee.
What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal.
There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women.. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.
”I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
”Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refus
e to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history.
”Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs – politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.
"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium wi
th a sacred disregard for legislation
that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
”My daughter's death = will not be in vain!
”The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to those you think would appreciate it.
God Bless
---------
Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?
On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee.
What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal.
There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women.. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.
”I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
”Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refus
e to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history.
”Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs – politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.
"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium wi
th a sacred disregard for legislation
that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
”My daughter's death = will not be in vain!
”The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to those you think would appreciate it.
God Bless