Rebuking & Correcting

Today's question is this, "My friend is always cussing. She claims to be a Christian, but she isn't acting like it. What do I do?" I'm sure we've all been in this position. We know someone who says their a Christian but doesn't act like it (and maybe we've done this). So what do you do?

First let's answer the question, should we confront them? Understand that what they say and do is ultimately between them and God. You do not have to answer for anything they do, just what you do. Now, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't talk to our friends about the things they do. We still have a responsibility as brothers and sisters in a community in Christ to help, encourage and uplift our brothers & sisters in Christ. This means talking to them about the things that they say & do that seem to go against loving God and loving people. So, what do we do when we see another Christian doing things that aren't loving? How do we confront them?

When we have to confront someone, we can't just react to what they say and do. We need to pray that God would prepare their hearts and also to give us guidance, courage, and wisdom to know what to say & how to say it. We need to think through what we are going to say before we say it. Always look to the Bible for help. It's our go-to book for spiritual guidance. 2 Timothy3:16 says that, "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." God tells us in the Bible how we should live, and so when we are correcting another Christian about how they are living, we need to back up what we say with scripture. We also need to be careful with how we say it. Sometimes we can say the right things in the wrong way. This will accomplish the opposite of what we're trying to do. It'll push them away from correction and possibly away from God. So we need to be careful with how we confront someone.

Jesus says that we go and talk to them about it, just the two of us. If they don't listen then go with a couple people. If they still don't listen then treat him, "as you would a pagan or tax collector (Matt 18:15-17)." Now this doesn't mean if they don't listen to you then you hate them and call them a sinner and stop hanging out with them. Treating someone like a tax collector or pagan means that you pray for them, love them as God does, and share God's word with them, hoping they come to repentance.

Last night we talked about when King David committed adultery then tried to cover it up. The prophet Nathan went to David and called him on it. Now, Nathan had a message from God, but I'm sure he felt scared and nervous of not just losing a friend, but possibly losing his life (after all he was confronting THE KING!) Nathan, I'm sure, prayed that God would give him courage, strength, wisdom & tact. He thought through what he was going to say and how he was going to say it. Only then did he go to David. Nathan first told David a story which was meant to show David what he did, from another's perspective.

When we talk to someone we first need to pray, then think about what to say and how to say it. We can't be mean, or attacking, but rather we need to speak to them in love & care. The more we do this, the more able and willing they'll be to see that they need correcting.

The Big Cover-Up Conspiracy

Tell me if you've ever done this? You do something you know is wrong, you sin, you mess up & make a huge mistake. But rather than admitting you messed up, you try to hide it, you try to cover it up. But soon something happens and you need to cover up more & more.

I know I've done that. When I was a kid, I'd like to say that I was a good kid. I knew right and I knew wrong. But just because I knew the difference, doesn't mean I didn't do wrong. I did in fact sin, a lot. But I was always paranoid of getting caught, so I would try to make sure I would never be caught, my sin would never be found out. I wouldn't just check over my shoulder once, but three or four times. I'd make sure I knew where my parents were, I'd make sure no one could just walk in, I'd make sure I had a good lie to explain where I was and what I was doing. I would try to think through every possible scenario and make sure I would never be caught. There were times when I was caught and my mistake was brought to the light. And other times when I got away with it.

But did I really get away with it? God is omniscience (meaning He knows everything) and omnipresence (meaning He is everywhere). Even if no one else is watching, God is. Nothing is hidden from God. Every deep dark secret, every mistake you make, everything you think you've covered up, God knows. I'm not saying this to scare you, just make you aware of a truth.

Here's another truth- every secret will eventually be made known. 1 Corinthians 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the LORD comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels (motives) of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. (NKJ)" Also, Luke 12:2-3, "...For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in the inner room will be proclaimed on the housetops. (NKJ)" Again, I'm not telling you this to scare you, George Orwell's 1984, "Big Brother" style. But I tell you this to encourage you. Never try to cover up your mistakes. Never think that you can hide your deepest darkest secret forever.

Tomorrow night, at Crash, we're going to read about a time when King David tried to cover up his mistake. Yes, you heard me, King David, "a man after God's own heart," not only messed up, but tried to cover it up and keep it secret. We'll read about his mistake and how it got brought to light in 2 Samuel 11-12. I hope to see you all at Crash tomorrow night.

The Easter Bunny Conspiracy

This Sunday is Easter Sunday. So, I'm going to answer a question I've been waiting to answer for a long time, "Why do we call it Easter in stead of something else?" I also want to answer a question that I have (though I'm sure we've all wondered this), "What do the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunts and painting Easter eggs have to do with Jesus' resurrection?"

Well, the word "Easter" was derived from old English and refers to a month of the Germanic calendar and was named after a Angelo-Saxon pagan-istic goddess, which was roughly set in April. It's also around the month of April that the Jewish feast of Passover occurs. Passover dates back to when Moses asked Pharaoh to let his people go. When Pharaoh refused, God sent plagues on the land of Egypt, the last of which killed every first born son. To protect the Israelites God commanded them to kill a lamb, paint their doorposts with it's blood. That would be the sign for the Angels to pass over (Passover... get it?) that house. The family would then eat the lamb that was killed as a meal. So after that, every year, the Israelites celebrated and feasted thanking God for saving them.

Flash forward a few hundred years to Jesus' time. Jesus was in Jerusalem, where He was crucified, to celebrate the Passover Feast. On top of that, Jesus is called the Lamb of God, symbolizing an atoning sacrifice, and very much like the lamb of the passover. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, the last sacrifice, and our savior from death. Because He is God, Jesus couldn't stay dead, He resurrected 3 days later just as He said He would. Jesus' death and resurrection was around the same time as the Passover, which falls around the loosely derived "Easter" of the Germanic calendar. Easter is now a Sunday in late March to early April, when Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, who was the Messiah, who saved us from sin & death.

But what does this have to do with the Easter Bunny and eggs? Well, honestly, nothing. The Easter Bunny has about as much to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus as Santa Clause has to do with the birth of Jesus. They are just fun traditions that have developed over time. The Easter Bunny originated in Germany. The custom is that kids would make nests, which developed into Easter Baskets, and the Easter Bunny would leave goodies in them. The Easter Bunny would bring colored eggs, chocolate and sometimes toys on the night before Easter. Click here for more and better detailed info on Easter. Remember, He has risen, He has risen indeed. Happy Easter!

Everyone's Two Cents Is Not Worth The Same

Just about everyone has an opinion on everything. If someone has thought about it, then they have an opinion on it. Because everyone has an opinion, and each opinion is different, it can be hard to figure out who's opinion or advice to listen to... or even if you should listen to any one's advice at all. Sometimes people offer advice because they actually want to help. But other times people offer advice for various reasons which may or may not help you. Sometimes people will back stab and manipulate others by giving them bad advice so they can "get ahead" in life.

Sometimes people will offer advice because they're bored and want to see something happen or see how something will play out. For instance, last week I was talking to a security guard at a middle school where I volunteer. He told me that 9 times out of 10, the fights that break out in middle school is not because of hatred or conflict, but it's because their friends told them to. This is how it usually goes down, something will happen between 2 students, not something to fight about, but just something. Then the student's friends and onlookers will coax, jeer, and encourage them to fight for whatever reason. But ultimately the reason they want their friend to fight is because they want to see a fight. You can see their friend's advice is terrible, but they learn that the hard way.

It can be so hard to figure out who to listen to, who's advice to take. You need to carefully and closely decide who to listen to, because you can't just listen to anyone. Always remember, it's best to see peace rather than a fight, and above all, remember to ask God for not only advice, but wisdom and guidance as well. All junior high students are welcome to join me at Crash as we look at 2 Samuel 8-10 and read about what happened when someone took bad advice and attacked the Israelites for really no reason at all.

Guys & Gals & Sin

The questions I'm going to answer today are, "Do guys and girls have different sins (like are there some sins that are categorized as only boys or only girls)?" and "If I know it's wrong, how come sin feels so good?"

Do guys and girls have different gender specific sins? "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. ( James 4:17 NKJ)" Sin is choosing to go against God's will. In God's eyes, men and women are the same- we are His creation, we are human. Although there is a difference between guys and girls in both thought and appearance, we all have the same choice, to obey God... or disobey him. We can choose what God wants or what we want. This may play out differently in what girls think and do verses what guys think and do. But really all sin is the the same thing, disobedience to God.

If I know it's wrong, how come sin feels so good? Sin feels good, because it's what we want, and we don't typically want something that feels bad or uncomfortable. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way... (Isaiah 53:6 NIV)" When we turn from God and do what we want, we sin. What we don't often realize is that what we want is fleeting, it's temporary enjoyment & satisfaction. But that soon goes away & we are left feeling empty & worse off. We don't realize and nor do we remember the result and consequence of sin. Don't give into the empty promises and false satisfaction of sin. Choose to obey and follow God in all that you do, whether you are a guy or a girl.

Doofus Worship

I've been to more than a few, concerts, and they can be real fun. What's interesting to look at, when you go to a concert, is how the band's fans respond to the band, how they, for lack of a better word, worship the band. People will do things that look crazy if they were anywhere else. They will throw their hands up, jump up and down, dance, convulse and even hold up lighters or cell phones. People at a rock concert will act like no one is watching to: connect, please, and praise the band they are watching.

Christians, like band fans, do some pretty funny and weird things when worshipping God too (like flag waving and running up and down the aisles shaking a tambourine). One of my favorite classes at Biola was a Worship Class. During the first few weeks, we looked at what the Bible had to say about worshipping God. Then for the next 2 months of the class we experienced different ways to worship God. Every week we had a guest speaker come in and lead us in different forms of worship. Interesting side note: this is the first time I ever met Dean-O, as a guest speaker. We worshipped God through things like playing with Play-dough, singing contemporary worship as well as gospel worship, creating art as worship, and even dancing- Messianic style (no joke!). Let's just say there were times during that class when I felt like I looked like a doofus. I definitely got out of my comfort zone, but really, that's what it's all about.

Worship is not about what I can get out of it, it's all about what I can give. Worship is not about being self conscious before others, but being free, even to look undignified or goofy, to give praise to our Creator, the LORD God Almighty. Tomorrow night all junior high students are welcome to join us at Crash as we look at a time when King David looked like a doofus while worshipping God and what his response was when someone mocked him for it. We'll be reading 2 Samuel 2:6-7. I hope to see you all there.

Forgiveness

"How do you know if you are feeling sorry for something you did so that you can be accepted?" "I have made really bad decisions in my life. I really want to change and I have asked God's forgiveness. But I still feel like He doesn't forgive me. Does He forgive me?" "How many times will God forgive you?" These are the questions I aim to answer today.

Let's start with the first, "How do you know if you are feeling sorry for something you did so that you can be accepted." I think you feel remorse and sorrow, if you wish you hadn't done what you did, and admit that it was a mistake and try not to do it again. This attitude will show others that you are truly sorry. Feeling sorry and being accepted by the person who you wronged are two completely different things. You can feel sorry all you want, but it's the other person who chooses to forgive and accept you. You can feel sorry and not be forgiven by the other person. Just because you feel sorrow doesn't mean consequences go away either. You may lose the trust of your parents if you lie to them. You may feel sorry and they may even forgive you, but that trust may be gone and you may need to work hard to get it back. Now, if you are feeling sorry for something you did to God, like sin, then that goes into the next question.

The second and third questions, "Does God forgive me?" and "How many times does He forgive me?" Yes, God will forgive you. Jesus was constantly forgiving people telling them to, "Go and sin no more." 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful & just, and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness." All we have to do is admit we messed up and ask for forgiveness, and God will forgive us. It's because He loves us, that He forgives us. Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He loves us so much, that while we were constantly messing up God forgave us. Whether you feel like God forgives you or not, be confident and know that He will. Now this doesn't mean you should go mess up as much as you can because you know that God will forgive you. That's not what His forgiveness is about. He will forgive you always. When someone asked Jesus how many times should they forgive their neighbor, Jesus said a number. But it wasn't about the number. Jesus was trying to get His disciples to understand that they should always for give, because God, Himself has forgiven us.

So don't loose sleep over the question of God's forgiveness. Be confident and know that God has already forgiven you and will always forgive you. All you have to do is realize you messed up, admit you made a mistake and try to do better next time.

11 - 12 - Desert

I love playing games. If there's a game to be played, I want to play it. Whether I was good at the game or not, I'd want to play. My favorite growing up was always Monopoly (but no one else ever wanted to play). I was always the car or the top hat. There really wasn't any game I hated, except for chess. I was terrible at it, and my brother was great. Whenever my family would go on road trips (which was a lot BTW) my brother, sister & I would play games in the car. We spent many trips playing Hearts among other travel size games. As I grew up, I was introduced to new and better games.

Currently, my favorite board game is a game called Settlers Of Catan. It's a bit like Risk (which is a fantastic game) and a bit like Monopoly. The goal is to expand by building settlements, roads and cities. You build by getting resources based on the dice roll. I began playing this when I was in college at my college group. We would play it very frequently. There was one game I played where I got my college group nickname from. My nickname was 11-12-Desert. Now without going into the intricacies of the game or my decision to build there, just know that it was a terrible placement, in fact the worst place to build in the entire game. But I didn't know that, I was just starting out. I never lived it down. Every time we played the game after that, that's how they referred to me.

I share this with you, because playing games brings people together and develops community like you wouldn't believe. It doesn't even matter whether they are individual games or team games. When you play games, you bond, you talk, you joke, you trash talk (in a loving way), you form inside jokes, and like in my college group, you give people nicknames. Games force people to interact with each other. Every one just has a good time when they're playing games even if it's a game they've never played before. I tell you about my love for games and what games can bring because, tomorrow night, is our Crash Cranium game night. It's going to be a fun time of hanging out and playing games. I want to encourage all of you junior high students to head over to the Loft tomorrow night from 6-8 PM and bring a friend. Who knows, you may just find yourself on the inside of an inside joke, or you may get a new nickname. But definitely know that you will have fun! Hope to see you all tomorrow. =)