Passionate about life, the Lord, and Christian Apologetics
One of my favorite Christian artists is Leeland. The group was started by brothers Leeland (guitar) and Jack Mooring (keyboards). On their latest CD, sister Shelly (bass) joins the group to add some female influence. Many of their songs have beautiful messages and melodies. This is my favorite so far:
You can check out their new album here: The Great Awakening
You might need a very fast car to see America in five minutes. Or…you could create a video of a 12,000 mile journey across our great country and then edit it in such a way that it lasts only five minutes. The latter is what one creative citizen did. I know I am extremely blessed to be a US citizen, and videos like this renew my awe of our great country. Enjoy!
Steve Jobs passed away yesterday at the age of 56. He apparently succumbed to a long battle with cancer. Shortly after this battle began, he gave the commencement address to the 2005 graduates of Stanford University. Faced with the prospects of his earthly life ending, he had some remarkable comments about what it means to live. Even though he did not profess to be a Christian, his perspective should be considered by those who call themselves followers of Christ. If more Christian believers had his attitude about failure and success, death and eternity, I would guess that the Kingdom of Christ would be advancing at a far greater rate. I invite your comments on his inspirational speech, which now becomes part of a timeless legacy.
Since March will be upon us soon, I am anticipating more motorcycles will be on the road. Therefore, it seems like a good time to remind people of their awareness skills (or lack thereof). Actually, this test applies to more than just motorcycle awareness. Check out this video and let me know what you think.
In the video below, Ray Comfort from the Way of the Master has a conversation with eighteen-year-old Josh. Josh makes a few statements which show the general misunderstanding that today’s young people have about Christianity and truth. Notice a few key misunderstandings Josh mentions:
1. One can “try God”
Josh seems to think you can try a religion in the same way you try on a new outfit. I’m sure he took it a little more seriously than that, but here’s the point: he “came to Jesus” for a therapeutic reason, not to be rescued from the depths of his sin. Josh said he accepted Christ and was baptized shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But then he fell away because he didn’t “feel anything.” Matthew 10:22 reads: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” This is Jesus speaking. Jesus NEVER suggested to anyone to “give Him a try.” Instead, He firmly stated that there is only one cure for what ails mankind (sin), and that is repentance and forgiveness through an exclusive relationship with Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate. Either Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, once and for all, or He is not. This not a subjective (relative) truth, it’s objective. (Fodder for another post)
2. The way to be accepted by God is to “be as good as you can be”
When Ray pressed Josh on what it means to “be as good as you can be” and how do you know if you are, Josh did not have an answer. This is a common misconception about Christianity, again rooted in relativism. Jesus never called people to be “as good as they can be” so that He will accept them in the end. Jesus told people to do good works while on this earth, but as a result of our relationship with Him, not as a way to earn favor with God. The author of Hebrews wrote that ” by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Heb. 10:14, NIV) Perfection is for heaven; striving for holiness is an evidence of faith in trust in Jesus, not a work performed in hopes of earning a pass through the Pearly Gates.
3. I can come to God on my own terms
No, you can’t. This is another common misconception. When asked by Ray when he will finally repent of his sins and trust in Jesus, Josh said “when I’m hurting the most.” I completely understand that people reach out to God in their most desperate time of need. The Prodigal Son did so. I did as well. Those desperate times have a way of opening our spiritual eyes and ears to that we can see and hear from God and respond to Him. Revelation 3:20 states, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (NIV) None of us asked God to knock on the door of our heart. Each person has rejected Him (Rom. 3:23). Therefore it’s only on His terms that we can return to Him. God is the instigator; without His willingness to rescue sinful people from certain death, we would have no hope. But we can have fellowship with God again (i.e. eat with Him) when we set our sinful ways aside and trust in God’s ways, which have been clearly revealed in His Word-Jesus and the Bible.
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Not only is this kid cute, but his facial expressions are the best I’ve ever seen for a two minute video. I am reminded of this truth: we do our best work when we let things flow naturally from who we are. When we try to force something, it usually looks like it’s been forced. Not so when you let your God-given talents free. Enjoy this great example:
For one seven year old – that’s not a misprint, seven! – you just jump in the car and drive yourself home. As you can see in the video below, he’s not a terrible driver. Vertically challenged, maybe, but not terrible. Cars are not normally configured so that four foot tall people can drive them. Considering that, he did ok.
Some days I don’t want to go to church too. It’s not usually because it’s too hot outside. Normally it’s because I’m on God’s hot seat (too hot inside, you night say). That’s not the “burn-in-Hades-forever” hot seat. It’s more like the “I know You want me to do this or that and I’m resisting You” hot seat. Running away from Him or skipping church doesn’t make it better. Usually it makes it worse.
My suggestion, which I try to follow myself, is to go to church and pour yourself into worshipping God. Once that happens, things seem to straighten out – like me for example. Enjoy!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h584e_Yo-c]
Ok, I admit it. I like Twitter. I like to tweet. I like reading other people’s tweets. If you follow the right people, you can get to know some cool people and learn a little bit too. But up til now, I did not know that Twitter kills. Now, thanks to the boys from the David Crowder Band, I do. Enjoy! Oh, and keep watching until the end – that’s the best part.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZWLMdGqu8g]
