Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

Is God On The Phone?



    "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:30)

Caller ID might be one of the coolest things ever invented. For years I was a slave to the incessant ringing of the phone at my house, having to answer each and every call just in case it was important. Consequently, I was under the fear of constant interruption, and I found myself unable to concentrate on Bible study and prayer. My meal times were disturbed on a daily basis, and on many occasions I gave into sales calls and purchased worthless stuff that I never knew I (supposedly) couldn't live without.

Then came the creation of that enchanting little box that sits by my phone, keeping it company and keeping me informed of who is on the other end of the line. All the guesswork has now been completely eliminated- I know which calls to ignore, and which calls I have no choice but to answer.

Picture this scenario- you are sitting around at home with a ton of distractions. The T.V. is on, you are trying to do homework, eat a snack, and watch your favorite program. Suddenly the phone rings, and answering it is the last thing you want to do. Yet you decide to check the caller ID screen just in case it's someone who really needs to talk to you. As you look at the letters and numbers that show up, you are a bit surprised and suspicious. The display reads:

    God, Jehovah
    777-777-7777

At first you think it's a joke, but each ring motivates you more to pick up the phone and just see what's going on. Do you think you would eventually answer?

Believe it or not, God has already placed a call to you. Not through the phone to your brain, but through His voice to your soul. The Bible describes it as the call of salvation, and if you have trusted Christ as your Savior- you already responded to His appeal.

However, did you know that He has placed another call to Christians? It is a summons to holiness, and it is definitely one that you should answer. Paul describes it as "sanctification", which essentially means "to be set apart". Believers are called to be different in every aspect of our lives. We don't think the same, act the same, speak the same, or feel the same way as those that live in darkness. When we trusted Christ, we gave up the right to have life "our way", because we were purchased by His very life.

Many Christians today were glad to take the call to salvation, but for some reason they have decided not to answer the call to sanctification. If you're in that category, I've got bad news- the phone is never going to stop ringing. Perhaps today is a good day for you to stop what you're doing and start over with right living.

[Soldier4Christ]

Beware The Bear



    "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16:20)

The arctic polar bear is the largest land carnivore in the world. It can weigh between 700 and 1200 pounds. It needs at least 5 pounds of fat per day just to survive. Where can such an animal find huge amounts of food in a frozen wasteland? Actually, it's easier than you think, because many of the polar bear's neighbors (the seals) have a load of lard to offer. In fact, the polar bear feeds almost entirely on seals. The problem is capturing them, because they tend to be pretty slippery, and they have a habit of jumping in the water rather quickly when they see a polar bear charging. To secure the extra value seal meal, the bear sometimes resorts to a cunning bit of trickery. If the hole in the ice through which the seal gets his food is not too far from the edge of open water, the polar bear will take a deep breath, slip underwater, and swim to the seal's fishing hole. He will then actually imitate a fish by scratching lightly on the underside of the ice. When the seal hears this sound, he dives in for a quick bite, only to find himself being the main course.

The apostle Peter calls Satan a "roaring lion", but I think an alternative title could be a "hungry polar bear". Every hour of every day he and his army of demons are seeking "Christian seals" to attack and devour using the same strategy. First, he figures out where we like to 'hang out' and spend our free time. For some, it's the mall, the movie theater, or in front of the television and/or computer. For others, it is with a group of close friends or perhaps with a boyfriend/girlfriend. Whatever the case, he's got us scoped out well. Most of the time these "fishing holes" are harmless, but sometimes he hides under the surface and baits us with some seemingly harmless pleasure. What we don't realize is that he is disguising the devastating consequences of sin with something that looks or sounds appealing. Then, when we've surrendered to the temptation, he catches us in his trap and consumes our dedication to Christ.

Here are a few examples of "ice scratching" that might come your way:

   1. prayer request discussions that turn into gossip sessions
   2. hurt feelings that become roots of bitterness
   3. national pride that degenerates into deep seated prejudice
   4. internet research that surfs over to pornographic exploration
   5. friendly jests that grow into spiteful shots

The apostle Paul wrote that "we are not unaware of his (Satan's) schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11). We know that he is after us, we know that he hides beneath the surface of life and waits for us to dive into sinful waters- so why do we keep doing it? Christians have no excuse for being taken in by the deception of the enemy. The Bible instructs us to "resist the devil, and he will flee..." (James 4:7). In other words, the next time Satan is scratching at the surface of your fishing hole, just remember that you can pray much longer than he can hold his breath.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Black Hole Within Us



    "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you." (John 14:27)

I've always been fascinated by black holes. No, not the ones in the street that you run over and it makes you spill your coffee. I'm talking about the huge ones in space that have amazing gravitational powers which swallow any bit of matter that comes close to it. Some black holes are so powerful that light itself cannot escape its force.

Inside each and every person resides a spiritual 'black hole'- it is called the human heart. Check out what God has to say about the core of our being:

    "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Our hearts have an empty spot that devours any and all goodness that passes its way. It is an aching to be filled, a longing to be known, and a hunger to be satisfied. It started with Adam and Eve when they committed the first sin and were separated from God. That's when the first 'spiritual black hole' appeared, and it's been passed on to all people ever since.

What can satisfy the black hole of the human heart? People have made all sorts of attempts through money, pleasure, travel, fame, learning, art, and a host of other useless endeavors. No doubt about it, these can no more fill that inner void than a fistful of pebbles can fill the Grand Canyon.

There was one man in the Bible who made an incredible attempt to fill his empty heart. His name was King Solomon, and he was one of the richest most powerful men who ever lived. He experimented with every resource imaginable. He wrote, "I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure" (Eccl. 2:10). But what was the result of his search? He concluded, "All is vanity and grasping for the wind" (v.17). Solomon finally came to the place where he realized that fulfillment could be found only in knowing and living for God (12:13).

Have you felt the vacancy in the depths of your heart? There is only one cure: a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. He knows you better than you know yourself. He understands what you need more than anyone. Talk to Jesus everyday and cherish the life-giving words of Scripture.

Perhaps it's time to stop your vain efforts to fulfill your heart through the world and let the Savior satiate your sorrowful soul.

[Soldier4Christ]

Who Let The Dogs Out?



    Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil... (Philippians 3:1-2)

Have you ever heard the phrase "The Dog Days of Summer" and wonder where it came from? Perhaps you were thinking that it referred to the hot days of July and August, where you might see dogs laying around on porches because they are too hot to play fetch. Or maybe you were assuming that it referred to the time when the scorching sun makes you as lazy as a dog that is trying to keep cool on a blistering day. Believe it or not, the phrase is almost 2500 years old, possibly even older.

The "Dog" referred to is none other than the Dog Star, Sirius. Sirius is the star that marks the head of the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog. Sirius is the brightest star (other than our own Sun) as seen from the Earth. The "dog days" is talking about the hottest time of the year when Sirius is barking the brightest in the night sky.

In today's passage, the Apostle Paul is giving a warning about some "dogs" that might be sneaking in the back door of the church. There were people who laid out a list of rules and regulations that you had to follow if you wanted God to love and accept you. They forgot that when Jesus said, "it is finished", He wasn't joking around. His death on the cross paid the full penalty for past, present and future sins.

When you trusted Christ as your Savior, you gained full acceptance in His sight. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more, and there is no sin you could commit that would make Him love you less. The people in Paul's day were control freaks who thought that Christ's death wasn't enough to gain a person complete approval in God's sight.

Guess what? They were wrong, and believe it or not-they are still barking today! Let me give you a few of the modern day snarls that echo in God's house:

If you listen to all the right music and don't see the wrong movies, God loves you more- woof!

If you read your Bible everyday and pray because you feel guilty if you forget, Jesus will put you on His "A" list- woof!

If you never say the wrong words, the Father will definitely speak of you more highly- woof!

Am I saying that you shouldn't strive for holiness in your daily life? Of course not. What I am saying is that believers should live to please God because He loves you unconditionally. Our lives should be one big 'thank you' to God, not an effort to earn His pleasure.

Remember that Christians aren't saved by grace and then live by works- that idea comes from the canine dictionary and not the Bible. Don't let the 'dog days' of legalism ruin the warmth of the Son's love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Spiritual Packrats



    "Search me, O God, and know my heart." (Psalm 139:23)

Packrats...do you know any? No, they are not little furry creatures that are often seen with suitcases, they are actually people just like you and me. Packrats are people who have the art of 'clutterization' down to a science. Their personal space has been taken over by a galaxy of untidiness. There are boxes of items that haven't been touched for ages, shoes that will never be worn again, repetitions of unread books, and a host of other things that would never be missed if they were gone.

Why do people allow a disarray of debris to pervade their personal space? Perhaps it is a lack of time, discipline, desire, or a combination of the three- but the results are the same. Household clutter occupies space, saps energy, and creates frustration.

Have you ever wondered if you might be a spiritual packrat? Remember, the very presence of Jesus Christ indwells (lives in) believers. In other words, your heart is Christ's home. In the physical realm, packrats muddle their homes with unneeded items. Sure, we're the ones who allowed the stuff in our house in the first place, but it's important to regularly 'dejunk' our space. Spiritual packrats are much the same—they allow Christ's home to get muddled by unneeded items. Unresolved conflicts pile up in the corner; unconfessed sins fill up all the closet space; and unspoken prayers litter our minds. It is crucial that we regularly 'dejunk' our spiritual lives.

If you are a spiritual packrat, maybe it's time to give Jesus a little more room in your heart. If you're a little rusty on how to 'declutter' your house, here's some speed cleaning advice from God's Word.
Unresolved conflicts:

    "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault." (Mt. 18:15).

    "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Mt. 5:23-24)

Either way you slice it, you are responsible for resolving conflict, regardless of whether or not you were the one offended. If you were hurt, go to the person; if you hurt someone else, go to the person.
Unconfessed sin:

    "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psa. 66:18)

    "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 Jn. 1:9)

When sin is left unconfessed, it's like a dirty pile of socks that makes the room smell worse with every passing hour. Keep short accounts with God.
Unspoken prayers:

    "Let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6)

When we fail to go to the Father with our prayers, we fall prey to worry- which then fills our lives with unnecessary stress.

David's prayer in Psalm 139:23-24 can be a brilliant beginning to a clean spiritual home as we ask God to search us, point out our wicked ways, and lead us in His will. It's very tough for Christ to use you to reach your friends if He can't even find His way through your heart!

[Soldier4Christ]

Left Behind, or Right Behind?



    "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of . . . Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

Once I dropped a $20 bill. It was a windy day, so the minute it hit the ground it started to cruise down the street at an amazing pace! At that moment, I was totally focused. I chased that bill down the crowded avenues of Washington D.C. right out into traffic. When I finally caught up with that mutinous money, I was so happy that you would have thought I retrieved $1000. Was I crazy and foolish to do that? Probably. Yet I'm glad I stayed focused on my goal, because I would have lost something valuable if I had stopped concentrating on the coinage.

One day, Jesus Christ is coming back to earth. This time He returns as a conquering King instead of a powerless child. What an amazing day that will be! It will be the moment when we are taken from this earth into the paradise of heaven. Those that don't know Jesus will "left behind" for judgment, and we as believers will actually be "right behind" the Christians from the past being raised from the dead!

God wants us to focus on that day as intently as you would money blowing down the street. Why? I can think of at least three reasons:

   1. When we keep our focus on the return of Christ, it brings life into perspective. Despite all the injustice and tragedy in today's world, we can rest assured that Christ will return to right all the wrongs.
   2. When we eagerly wait the appearing of Christ, we tend to have a stronger relationship with Him. It's a simple principle: we become what we think about the most (Proverbs 23:7). If we think about money all the time, we'll become greedy. If we think about pleasure all the time, we'll become lazy. If we focus on Christ and His return, we'll become more like Him.
   3. When are eyes are looking upward towards Christ instead of downward on our circumstances, we keep short accounts with God. When we sin, we confess it right away. When we're blessed, we give praise to God immediately. It's a lot like taking care of a house while the family is on vacation. If get a phone call from them at 4 pm saying that they will return at 5 pm, and the house is trashed- would you be motivated to clean up? Knowing that Christ could return at any moment should motivate us to 'clean up' by denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live sober, righteous, and godly lives (Titus 2:12).

Are you "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing" of Jesus Christ? (Titus 2:13). It may seem crazy and foolish to your friends, but it just might give you a chance to explain the hope that you have inside you because you are not going to be "left behind".

God wants us to enjoy life. But He also wants us to live each day as if it may be the one in which He will return. Are you going to be "right behind"?

[Soldier4Christ]

Whose Life is it Anyway?



    For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

Take a few seconds and complete this sentence:

For me, to live is _________ and to die is ________.

Sort of a tough assignment isn't it? Yet what you write in those two blanks tells a lot about you: your perspective, your hopes, your dreams, and your destiny. For the Apostle Paul, those spaces were easy to fill in. Unfortunately in today's world the sentence would probably read more like the following examples:

    * For to me, to live is fun, fun, fun and to die is like bummer, ya know?
    * For to me, to live is money and to die is the Great Promotion
    * For to me, to live is youth and to die is, well, never going to happen
    * For to me, to live is popularity and to die is being released from the pressure
    * For to me, to live is boring and to die is probably not much different

Paul knew that his life was not his own, so he didn't treat it as such. He gave up popularity, wealth, and power to dedicate it to Christ. In his mind, it was a win/win situation. A longer stay on earth meant more time to advance the Kingdom of God. A shorter stay meant less time to wait to receive his heavenly reward and be in the presence of his Savior. When this verse was written, Paul was in chains and facing his death- all because he served Jesus. In the midst of all these hardships, his basic attitude was: "It's all good!" At face value, that seems crazy. Yet when you step back and examine his view of life, it makes sense. He was much more concerned about the spread of the gospel than his own personal happiness. When you let go of your own claims and rights on life and give it all to Christ, you suddenly become very free indeed.

There was another person who lived in our day and age that had this perspective as well. Read her words below, and see if it changes your viewpoint on existence.

    Life is Too Precious

    Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
    Life is beauty, admire it.
    Life is bliss, taste it.
    Life is a dream, realize it.
    Life is a challenge, meet it.
    Life is a duty, complete it.
    Life is a game, play it.
    Life is a promise, fulfill it.
    Life is sorrow, overcome it.
    Life is a song, sing it.
    Life is a struggle, accept it.
    Life is a tragedy, confront it.
    Life is an adventure, dare it.
    Life is luck, make it.
    Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
    Life is life, fight for it.

    --- Mother Theresa

[Soldier4Christ]

Jesus Hates Sin, This I Know



    "Thou hatest wickedness." (Psalm 45:7)

Perhaps most of us picture Jesus as a meek and mild man who was unassuming as a bunny rabbit. The media has long portrayed Him as a slightly anemic and feeble religious guy who showed about the same level of anger as a houseplant.

To be sure, He was cool under pressure, and demonstrated more self-control than any of us could ever imagine. Jesus also had more love in His heart for people than anyone who ever lived. Yet by the same token, He also had more hatred for something than anyone who ever lived: sin.

Why? Well, to understand this, it would be helpful to go back to the definition of sin. The Bible has many terms for sin, but essentially there are two word pictures that depict the nature of sin. The first image is that of an arrow being shot and completely missing the target. Perhaps the archer meant to miss, or maybe he was just a lousy shot. Either way, the mark was set up, and he failed. Thus, one side of sin is the fact that all people "miss the mark" of God's holy standard (Romans 3:23). The second image is that of someone stepping over a clearly marked boundary that no one is allowed to cross. Perhaps that person accidentally stepped over, or just flat wanted to see what would happen. Either way, the line was crossed, and full penalties apply. So the other side of sin is the fact that all people willfully break the clear boundaries that God has set, thus they are destined for hell.

Enter Jesus: God's Son. He created the world, set up the standards and drew the boundary lines. He was not willing that any should perish, so much that He gave up paradise to live in putrescence and die in disgrace. No wonder, then, that His hatred of sin runs so deep! It is sin that has separated His beloved creation from their Creator. It is sin that breaks the heart of His Father and brings joy to His demonic enemies.

What would Jesus do? He would hate sin. Do you? The goodness in people is directly connected with their detestation of disobedience; he who loves truth must hate every false way. Do you have a burning abhorrence towards any and all things that miss the mark and step over the line? Or is sin more like a big weed in your yard- you really don't like it, but you're just too lazy to get off the couch and do something about it. If you truly understood the devastating nature of sin, you wouldn't see sin as a weed- but rather as a hornet about to attack. People about to get stung don't casually stand by and do nothing about it.

Jesus did something about sin: He died that it might die; He was buried that He might bury it in His grave; and He rose from the dead that He might forever crush it beneath His feet.

This week, take inventory of your emotions to see if you truly detest wickedness in yourself and others. It is sin which destroys your life, your family, and your friendships. It is the reason that the innocent One died a guilty death and people are bound for hell. If you can't muster up hate for something that does all that, check your pulse- you may be dead!

[Soldier4Christ]

Warning: This Article is "R" Rated!

When I was 'under 17'- I remember looking up at all the "R" rated movies thinking, "how cool would that be to sneak in and get away with seeing a 'real' movie!"

Then one time I tried it. My friend and I bought tickets for some idiotic PG movie, and boldly walked into the theater where the mysterious film that was supposed to corrupt people 16 and under was playing. It was just a few minutes before the starting time, and I felt a tap on my shoulder.

    "Can I see your tickets?" the movie theater guy asks.

    "Sure"

    "You're in the wrong movie theater"

    "We know"

    "Let's go"

So that was as close as I got before I turned 17. After that landmark birthday, I could finally go see the films I had been kept from all those years.

What a disappointment. The majority of "R" rated films I have seen have not only been a waste of time and money, they have left permanent images in my brain that Satan sometimes loves to double click when I'm praying or reading the Bible.

Don't get me wrong, most PG-13 movies are just as bad or worse. Gee, do you think it's the whole movie industry?

Except this one guy named Mel, who made an "R" rated film that burns images in our minds that we will want to keep. They're the kind that God can double click so we can remember the pain, agony and intense love of the Savior on our behalf. When you have a bad day, you remember someone who had the worst day. When you feel betrayed, you remember the One who faced ultimate betrayal. When you feel weak and need others, you remember the Man who needed help from a stranger who didn't even believe in Him.

Speaking of the rated "R" thing- here's a clever piece from an unknown author.

    He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

The "R", of course, is because of the violence, the gore. In movie terms R -- stands for RESTRICTED, but in this movie R stands for RELEVANT and for REALISTIC, for it REALLY happened for a REASON.

Because we were REBELLIOUS, we needed a REDEEMER, we needed to be RECONCILED, we needed to be RECOVERED, we needed to be REGENERATED.

Jesus needed to be REJECTED so that we could have a RELATIONSHIP not just a RELIGION. The R is to REMIND us to REMEMBER what Jesus did to REMOVE our sin to RENDER Satan powerless, to RESCUE us from eternity in hell.

The R rating is to show that Jesus was RESPONSIBLE for giving you REST. As a RESULT of his death Jesus RETIRED your debt.

The R rating means that some will be REPULSED, some will REFUSE to believe, some will be RELUCTANT, some will think you are RIDICULOUS in believing that death as REQUIRED.

The R rating means that the RESULT of sin has been REVERSED and now through faith in Christ your REWARD is eternity and you are now RIGHTEOUS before God because you have RECEIVED him as the RULER of your soul.

What a REVOLUTIONARY and RADICAL solution to REDEEM mankind!

Yes, it is R Rated!

[Soldier4Christ]

Don't Grow Up

Has it happened to you yet? If it has, you'll know what I'm talking about. If it hasn't, you should be glad- and try to make sure it doesn't.

I'm talking about being bit by the bah-humbug. It's a Christmastime illness that usually hits in your early teens, and most people make no attempt to get better. Here's what happens:

You enter into December with anxiety and a sense of dread. You're more irritable, stressed, and you can't wait until all the holiday hullabaloo is finally finished. Finding the perfect gifts for everyone (how can we pay for all this anyway?), attending all the parties and performances, fighting crowds and traffic, and dealing with family helps you see Scrooge in a whole new light.

Can I ask you to do something? Think back on what Christmas was like as a child. Try and string together a few highlights from the family album- and my guess is that your attitude has slowly but surely changed from fascinating wonder to frantic worry.

Oh I know, you just 'grew up'...right? Plus back then you didn't have all the pressure that you are under now. You were just a kid, and kids are duped until the materialistic truth about Christmas hits them over the head like a chimney descending Santa hits the fireplace.

    "Where are you Christmas
    Why can't I find you
    Why have you gone away
    Where is the laughter
    You used to bring me
    Why can't I hear music play

    My world is changing
    I'm rearranging
    Does that mean Christmas changes too

    Where are you Christmas
    Do you remember
    The one you used to know
    I'm not the same one
    See what the time's done
    Is that why you have let me go?"

    Faith Hill: "Where Are You Christmas?"

I have some news for you... you weren't duped until you gave up on the spirit of Christmas. That's when holidays became a pain instead of a pleasure, and in all of your 'maturity', you were the one that let go of Christmas- not the other way around.

As a matter of fact- the older you get, the more excited you should be around this time of year- because you understand more and more as time goes by how awesome and indescribable is the gift of Jesus Christ.

In other words, if you have a hard time finding joy during the celebration of the coming of Christ, then Bethlehem- we have a problem.

Have you ever heard the story of Simeon? Many Christmas stories overlook him, but he has a fascinating story:

In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:

    God, you can now release your servant;
    release me in peace as you promised.
    With my own eyes I've seen your salvation;
    it's now out in the open for everyone to see:
    A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
    and of glory for your people Israel. (Luke 2:25-32)

Here's an older gentleman who must have been as giddy as any child who has ever lived. He waited his entire life for the first Christmas- and when it came, it was the greatest moment of his life. Seeing the coming of the Messiah caused him to break out into a blessing to God.

When's the last time you broke out in praise around Christmastime?

If the 'burdens' of Christmas are starting to weigh you down- maybe it's time you took advice from the Reason for the Season Himself:

    For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. (Matthew 18:2-4)

That's right- resurrect your childhood feelings about Christmas- or if you don't have positive ones, then start over! Here are a few things to get you started:

    * Christmas means that God Himself came down to rescue us
    * Christmas means that there we can have peace in the midst of a crazy world
    * Christmas means that Jesus can relate to each and everything we go through
    * Christmas means that God is in control- especially when it seems like He's nowhere to be found
    * Christmas means...salvation

If we as Christians don't demonstrate their excitement about the Christmas season- why would anyone believe the Christmas message? So make the most out of the remaining time to let the Light of the world shine through your attitudes, actions, and words. Squash the bah-humbug and show those around you that with Christ, it really is a wonderful life!

[Soldier4Christ]

He Dropped The Ball

I really can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't a Los Angeles Lakers fan. Of course when I was growing up everyone was either a Lakers fan or a Celtics fan- I'm pretty sure those were the only two teams in the NBA at the time.

Oh but I'm not a bandwagon kind of guy. I stuck with my team through all the tough years- and believe me, there were plenty. Especially in the 90's when a certain team from Chicago with a slightly talented player with the initials MJ pretty much mopped the floor with anybody who challenged them.

Then came "the change". Los Angeles picked up a modern day Goliath named Shaq and a hyper talented high schooler named Kobe. The results of this dynamic duo? Nothing shy of three NBA championships in three consecutive seasons.

The really cool thing is that Kobe represented what was great in a quickly degrading league. He worked hard at his game, held his temper, and generally showed a team player attitude.

Then came the "change". You pretty much need to be holed up in a cave near Botswana to not have heard about Kobe and his alleged 'mishap'. So in one weekend, the one guy who you could honestly point to as a legitimate role model becomes the center of what is going to be a mud-slinging nauseating legal battle complete with courtroom cameras and the media circus extraordinaire.

The question I have is this: how would God want His people to respond to this? Should we judge? Should we stay glued to the screen? Should we completely ignore it and act like we don't care?

I think the Bible clearly gives us some guidance here- and we would be wise to consider how God would weigh in on this subject.

First of all, we need to be careful not to let the upcoming coverage consume our time and thoughts. The Apostle Paul put it this way:

    "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Philippians 4:

To me, this situation reminds me of a train wreck. As you pass by you know in your heart that you should pray for the victims, look away from the scene, and be thankful that you weren't involved. Yet at the same time you have an instinctual urge to look at the wreckage- just so you can be more 'informed'.

Whatever...

This is the same kind of situation- and Satan would love to get your mind stuck on all the drama and details of Kobe's case. My suggestion would be to pray for the victims, look away from Court TV, and be thankful you weren't involved. Don't waste time trying to stay more 'informed'.

Secondly- I think that God would want us to be reminded that all of us could fall into sin at anytime, anywhere...especially when we are least expecting it. Here's what the Bible says about it:

    If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. (I Corinthians 10:12)

Were you thinking that you couldn't fall into the same sin? That's right where the devil wants you. No, I'm not saying that you are likely to fly to Colorado and have an affair with a concierge- but I am saying that we all are tempted with sexual sin (or other types) everyday. Books, web sites, cable, movies, billboards, magazines, relationships, even our very thoughts are right on the precipice ready to tumble us into troublesome situations.

Finally, I think God would want us to use this event as a conversational lead-in to the gospel. What better way to get a person thinking about spiritual things than the example of moral failure? I believe we have a great opportunity here to use an event that is soon to be under the national spotlight to point people to the true Light.

I'm still a Lakers fan...but hopefully a fan that is much wiser, more humble, and better equipped to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around me.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Science Behind Santa



    But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

This past weekend I was participating in my annual "oh my gosh I better shop soon or people will be able to call me Scrooge" trek through the mall, when I witnessed (once again) one of the most amazing displays of faith known to humankind. Funny thing is, this demonstration of unmitigated assurance had nothing to do with God, the Bible, or church in general. It was at the center of the mall, and it had to do with an aged, portly, and compassionate looking guy in a chair talking to kids and surrounded by hundreds of other children waiting in line for their turn.

Sure, it's really touching to see the little tykes telling their deepest desires to St. Nick, but consider the facts behind the faith:

    Around the globe, today, live approximately two billion children (persons under 18). Santa doesn't visit all of them, of course. Subtracting the number of Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, or Buddhist children reduces Santa's Christmas Eve workload to 15 percent of the total, or 378 million children (according to the Population Reference Bureau). At an average (census) rate of 3.5 children per household, and presuming that there is at least one good child in each home, Santa must visit about 108 million homes.

    Santa has about 31 hours of Christmas to work with, thanks to the different time zones and the rotation of the earth, assuming he travels east to west (which seems logical). This works out to 967.7 visits per second. That means that at each household with a good child, Santa has around 1/1000th of a second to park the sleigh, hop out, jump down the chimney, fill the stockings, distribute the remaining presents under the tree, eat whatever snacks have been left for him, and get back up the chimney, jump into the sleigh, and get on to the next house.

    For the purposes of our calculations, we will assume that each of these 108 million stops is evenly distributed around the earth (which, of course, we know to be false). We're talking about a trip of 0.78 miles per household; a total trip of 75.5 million miles, not counting bathroom stops or breaks. To cover that ground in 31 hours, Santa's sleigh moves at 650 miles per second--3,000 times the speed of sound. By comparison, the fastest man-made vehicle, the Ulysses space probe, moves at a poky 27.4 miles per second, and a conventional reindeer can run (at best) 15 miles per hour.

    The payload of the sleigh adds another interesting element. Assuming that each child gets nothing more than a medium-sized Lego set (two pounds), the sleigh must carry over 500 thousand tons, not counting Santa himself. On land, a conventional reindeer can pull no more than 300 pounds. In air, even granting that the "flying" reindeer could pull 10 times the normal amount, the job can't be done with a mere eight or nine of them--Santa would need 360,000 of them. This increases the payload, not counting the weight of the sleigh, another 54,000 tons, or roughly seven times the weight of the Queen Elizabeth (the ship, not the monarch).

    Six hundred thousand tons traveling at 650 miles per second creates enormous air resistance--this would heat up the reindeer in the same fashion as a spacecraft reentering the earth's atmosphere. The lead pair of reindeer would absorb 14.3 quintillion joules of energy per second each. In short, they would burst into flames almost instantaneously, exposing the reindeer behind them and creating deafening sonic booms in their wake. The entire reindeer team would be vaporized within 4.26 thousandths of a second, or right about the time Santa reached the fifth house on his trip.

    Not that it matters, however, since Santa, as a result of accelerating from a dead stop to 650 miles per second in .001 seconds, would be subjected to centrifugal forces of 17,500 g's. A 250-pound Santa (which seems ludicrously slim) would be pinned to the back of the sleigh by 4,315,015 pounds of force, instantly crushing his bones and organs and reducing him to a quivering blob of pink goo.

    (From "Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks" by Wayne Rice: wayne@uyt.com)

But that's the cool thing about kids; they don't have to have that all figured out. As soon as they get older and start thinking that they know it all, their childlike faith in Santa gets burned up in their intellectual atmosphere.

In Matthew 18:2-3, we have another scene with a child:

    "Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. Then he said, 'I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.'"

What 'sins' was He talking about? One of the primary ones is the sin of "I put Jesus in the same category as Santa: myth". That is the sin of unbelief because you can't figure it out.

I was glad to be reminded of "childlike faith" this weekend. I was also happy to remember that I don't need to have it all figured out, because Christmas is a reminder that my Father has it all under control. After all, He sent the Savior, didn't He?

[Soldier4Christ]

VIRUS ALERT:ADVENT VIRUS



    That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! (Luke 2:8-11)

That cold night might have been the origin point for an incredibly powerful epidemic called THE ADVENT VIRUS. Here is the warning that I received:

Be on the alert for symptoms of inner HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in sweeping proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of THE ADVENT VIRUS:

    * A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
    * An unmistakable ability to enjoy the moment.
    * A loss of interest in judging other people.
    * A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
    * A loss of interest in conflict.
    * A loss of the ability to worry.
    * Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation and thankfulness.
    * Contented feelings of connectedness with others and God.
    * Frequent attacks of smiling.
    * An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
    * An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

There is one more symptom of which I have personally become aware. Basically, it is the overwhelming desire to let everyone you know about the greatest gift that this fallen world has been given: Jesus Christ. It comes in the form of inviting people to church, writing cards or letters, or making that phone call you've been putting off for way too long now. It shows up in all your circumstances, leading people to believe that there is something very Christ-like about you. It starts each morning when you wake up, praising God and asking Him to fill you with His Spirit. It keeps going all day as you look for even the smallest opportunities to be Jesus to those around you. It carries you through the night as you commit your way to God- trusting Him with all your circumstances.

Be warned, though, this virus is highly contagious. Once you and the people in your sphere of influence get exposed to the unconditional love of God, full recovery is seldom possible. So be sure and avoid catching this virus by taking steps to protect yourself. I would suggest doing things like focusing on the materialistic side of the holidays, allowing stress to take over, and getting so busy that you don't have any time to stop and reflect on the birth of the Savior. After all, if this virus got out of hand, we could end up with something terrible like 'peace on earth'- right?

[Soldier4Christ]

Support Your Local Youth Leader



    A priest was walking along the corridor of the parochial school near the preschool wing when a group of little ones were trotting by on the way to the cafeteria. Little Johnny stopped and looked at him in his clerical clothes and asked, "Why do you dress funny?" He told him he was a priest and this is the uniform priests wear.

    Little Johnny pointed to the priest's plastic collar tab and asked, "Do you have an owie?"

    The priest was perplexed till he realized that to him the collar tab looked like a band-aid. So the priest took it out and handed it to Little Johnny, to show him. On the back of the tab were raised letters giving the name of the manufacturer.

    Little Johnny felt the letters, and the priest asked, "Do you know what those words say?"

    "Yes I do," said Little Johnny, who was not old enough to read. Peering intently at the letters he said, "Kills ticks and fleas up to six months!"

Hmmm...I wonder how often we are like little Johnny and miss the whole point of why ministers do what they do: especially when it comes to youth ministers. Has there ever been a more misunderstood group of pastors? For some, they are understood to be the person who keeps away the "ticks and fleas" of sin in their students' lives. For others, youth leaders are glorified babysitters who throw a verse a day their students' way to keep the devil away.

I would like to issue a challenge today to redefine your perception of a youth leader. Believe it or not, these people are the most underpaid under appreciated people in all of Christianity. There are a hundred other pursuits they could have followed, but they have chosen youth ministry for two simple reasons: they love God and they love students.

Here's a letter that I have from one of the first youth pastors in all of history. Read it carefully and see if you can tell how youth leaders seem to all have this attitude:

    We were as gentle among you as a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we gave you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too. Don't you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you. You yourselves are our witnesses--and so is God--that we were pure and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory.

    - The Apostle Paul

So how can you give a little boost to your local hero? Here are a few suggestions:

   1. Pray. Your youth leader definitely needs prayer. Pray for him/her by name, and ask God to bless them, keep them, and make His face to shine upon them. Pray for his/her relationships, pray for success in ministry. If you have a problem with your youth leader, then pray also for yourself.
   2. Encourage. Believe it or not, in the 15 years I have spent in full time ministry, I can count on one hand the number of times I have been truly encouraged. People have given me some 'atta boys' and pats on the back, but what I mean is truly heartfelt appreciation that is Spirit filled and sincere.
   3. Volunteer. It may initially give your youth leader a heart attack, but walk up to him/her sometime and ask: "how can I help you at the next youth activity"? You might think he/she has all the help needed, but don't count on it. Most youth leaders are completely understaffed.

Perhaps you can think of other ways to support you local youth leader, but the point is to go beyond thinking to the all-important stage of doing!

[Soldier4Christ]

Walk On



    "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

    STILL HE WALKED

    He could hear the crowds screaming "Crucify! Crucify!"...
    He could hear the hatred in their voices,
    These were His chosen people.
    He loved them,
    And they were going to crucify Him.
    He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... His heart was broken,
    But still He walked.

    He could see the crowd as He came from the palace.
    He knew each of the faces so well.
    He had created them.
    He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,
    But now they were contorted with rage and anger...His heart broke,
    But still He walked.

    Was He scared?
    You and I would have been
    So His humanness would have mandated that He was. He felt alone.
    His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed Him.
    He searched the crowd for a loving face and He saw very few.
    Then He turned His eyes to the only one that mattered
    And He knew that He would never be alone.
    He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting
    At Him, throwing rocks at Him and mocking Him and He knew
    That because of Him, they would never be alone.
    So for them, He walked.

    The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.
    The sounds of His cries echoed even louder,
    The cheers of the crowd, as His hands and feet
    Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.
    Loudest of all was the still small voice inside His
    Heart that whispered "I am with you, my son",
    And God's heart broke.
    He had let His son walk.

    Jesus could have asked God to end His suffering,
    But instead He asked God to forgive.
    Not to forgive Him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting Him.
    As He hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
    He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
    But also, the face of every person yet to be,
    And His heart filled with love.
    As His body was dying, His heart was alive.
    Alive with the limitless, unconditional love He feels for each of us.
    That is why He walked.

    When I forget how much My God loves me,
    I remember His walk.
    When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
    I remember His walk.
    When I need reminding of how to live like Christ,
    I think of His walk.
    And to show Him how much I love Him,
    I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to Him,
    And I walk.

    (Author Unknown)