Camouflage Christianity

A teen in my youth group has a camouflage Bible cover and I like to tease him about not seeing a Bible.

Camouflage looks good on hats, jackets, and even Bibles. But the one place it does not look good is on a Believer's life.

What about you? Do you stand out or are you camouflaged?

Truths From a Galaxy Far Far Away

As I watched The Empire Strikes Back with my children (Luke and Leia) tonight, I was reminded of some classic truths that are core to my faith.

1. There is a darkness inside all of us that wants to take over. The Bible calls this darkness sin and Romans 3:23 tells us that we all have it.

2. Fear is a path to the Dark Side (or sin). Fear and worry are not from God. Jesus told us not to worry about the future and Yoda said that this was a major problem in Luke's life as well. God has not given us a spirit of fear. It is definetly from our sin nature (Dark Side).

3. Unbelief leads to failure. Luke tells Yoda that what he wants is impossible and that he does not believe he can lift his X-Wing from the swamp. Yoda tells him that is why he fails. In Philippians Paul tells us that we can do ALL things the Christ who strengthens us.

I am sure there are many other truths such as Tauntauns make great Hot Pockets, if a cave shakes when shot it may not be an actual cave, and if you are looking for someone you have never met he may in fact be the little green puppet rumaging through your things.

What truths have you noticed in Empire or the other Star Wars films?

Are You Spiritually Constipated?

        Everyone needs to eat and drink. We do it every day. However there are certain times that our hunger or thirst is masked by something else.

        At the risk of sounding gross I will say that the something in question is the need to relieve ourselves. Stay with me and I will make my point. When you have to go badly you would never think of guzzling down a glass of water. The same goes for eating a meal when you know that an extended stay in the facilities is required. We cannot enjoy a meal when our body needs to relieve itself of waste.

        Even though we would not miss a meal purposely (let alone for a day), many try to go a whole week on one meal spiritually. We sit at church gorging ourselves with what is offered, only to return with a empty stomach (spirit) the following Sunday.

        We should pay close attention to the physical needs of our body to understand the spiritual needs of our true selves. Our walk with Christ should be an ongoing time with a close friend that lasts throughout the day.  Meals are intimate. No one sits with strangers at a restaurant. We eat with those we are close to. To sell God short by meeting with him once a week is a tragedy. It is also a shame to box him into a small section of each day (devotions). We should be seeking him throughout the day, just as we eat when we are hungry.

        This brings me to the waste. When we have sin in our lives it is difficult to fellowship with God. Our bodies give us a clue as to how we should deal with sin. Flush it! There is no way to enjoy a meal (interaction with God) with sin in the way. My advise is simple: Relieve the waste and enjoy the meal. There is simply no room for spiritual constipation in a relationship with God.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

        How long has God been waiting for you to acknowledge him throughout the day. He doesn't want your Sunday, or five minutes--He wants you, yielded and open. He desires the intimacy of the meal to be shared between friends. Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me (Revelation 3:20).

Without Deodorant You Will Be-Odorant

    
      After working in student ministry for more than 10 years, I have come to recognize three things about seventh graders:
              1. Give me an army of seventh graders and I can take over the world.
              2. They are happy doing just about anything as long as it involves being loud.
              3. Seventh grade students smell terrible!
    
      Don't get me wrong, I love seventh graders. They are full of energy and love to hang out with caring adults. But let's face it folks, facts are facts.

      Fact 1: Students' hormonal levels are changing drastically in, or around, seventh grade.
      Fact 2: Parents are going through denial about their little boy/girl growing up (this results in lack of
                  training in proper hygiene).
      Fact 3: They avoid taking a shower like the plague, especially while on youth trips.
      Fact 4: They are constantly moving, which leads to constant sweating.
      Fact 5: NO ONE CAN SMELL THEMSELVES!

      Many times adults and youth workers shy away from speaking the truth into the lives of our stinky disciples. Their peers however, are another matter. I have often laughed when thinking about one smelly preteen telling another smelly preteen that they need a bath.

      The same is true in life. How much easier is it for us to notice the stink of bad decisions on the people around us than on ourselves? We know they are being dumb and can't quite figure out why they keep making the same mistakes. We become judges in our own minds, not realizing that we stink just as bad.

      Seeking out accountability can act as spiritual deodorant. You need someone else in your life with the guts to speak up when you need a bath in God's grace. If you do not have such a person, you need to find one. It can be a mentor or a good friend. Give them permission to ask you the tough questions, and be honest with your answers. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend- Proverbs 27:17. 


      We need to remember--NO ONE CAN SMELL THEMSELVES!

"Let There Be Darkness"

Well, summer has been a blur. I have been extremely busy, to say the least. My writing seemed to taper off in June some time. Or did it? I am actually working on writing my first book ever entitled "Let There Be Darkness". I would love some preliminary feedback from my favorite group of readers on the planet. That would be you!

So here is the skinny on the whole thing. There is a popular view that a gap of time exists between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. In this view another creation may have existed before this one. This is neither provable or disprovable due to the fact that we were not there to observe it. My book will be based on the assumption that there was a previous creation (which is not my personal belief. In it the angels were once human and those who rebelled were doomed to walk bodiless in spirit form during our time, the faithful ones became angels. I will deal with the rebellion that took place as well as the war that led to the end of the first creation. Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer will be central characters as well as a host(no pun intended) of others.

I am aware that it may be controversial to some. Please keep in mind that it is fiction (a what if story). Consider it Biblical fan fiction. My book will be written about a writer named Marcus who is in the midst of writing the fictional story of the first fall. He will have many conversations with friends about the theological implications of the fictional work. This will take place every few chapters.

I am going to let you read an unedited sample of a random piece of the book that takes place near the beginning before the final rebellion or fall of Lucifer. Please let me know what you think. It is only a brief piece, so that the plot is not given away. I will give you one spoiler to the passage below. Lucifer is the sitting judge over Quarhum.

Sample piece to "Let There Be Darkness":

     Yet another murder last night. This makes the third in a week in Quarhum. People murmur about cutting the city off from the rest of society. The Justice Council has ordered a full investigation.  

   

     Sanhalo arrived with Rafael in Quarhum to the sound of pottery breaking and the scent of dung and death. People scurried to a small wooden structure and ran off carrying what appeared to be trash.                             

     He looked on for a moment before grabbing the nearest man’s arm.

     “What news of the deceased, friend?”

     The wide-eyed little man shook his arm violently in an attempt to pull away from the lawman’s grip.      

     “Take your hand off me! Who do you thinks you be?”

     Sanhalo found the people of Quarhum amusing, their conversations proving their reputation among the surrounding populaces as intellectually inferior.

     Sanhalo could tell Rafael, his physician companion, had heard enough. The doctor bent to stare into the man’s eyes.

     “This is Sanhalo, your constable, so I suggest you show some respect.” 

     “I ain’t gots no constable! The law don’t work ‘round here.”           

     “This is true,” Sanhalo said, tightening his grip. “If the law worked, we would not need people like me. Now kindly direct me to the deceased, and we will let you be on your way.” 

     Still clutching the loot, the man gestured toward the wood structure. Sanhalo released him and turned towards the building. 

     “You should have taken him in for stealing from the dead,” Rafael said, grinning.

     “We have more pressing matters.”

     The home of the deceased was so small compared to the buildings on either side of it that it looked as if a goat had been flanked by two bears. 

     Sanhalo stooped to enter.

     “Watch your head, big guy,” Rafael said.           

     Blood spatters covered the walls of the empty one-room shack.  The locals had cleaned this place out in a hurry except for the body and a few blood stained items. 

     “What’s the call?” Sanhalo said.

     “I’m going out on a limb here, but I’d guess dead.”      

     “Wow, you are good. But seriously Doc, when is this madness going to end?” 

     “His name is Keik,” the doctor said, leafing through parchments beside the body. 

     “And how do we know that?” Sanhalo said.

     Rafael handed Sanhalo a blood-spattered document bearing the death mark given to anyone who had committed a sin worthy of death. Sanhalo noticed that the part listing the crime had been torn off. He rolled up the parchment and tucked it in his belt.

     “Let’s get someone in here to clean up this mess.”

Discussions on Christianity- Part 5 of 7

Today we are going to look at sharing our faith.  This particular message deals specifically with believers, but anyone is welcome to give their opinion.  I welcome feedback from you concerning this area of the Christian life.