Who is Perfect?

   When I say the word “religion” what do you think of? You may think of worshiping a god or gods. You may think of sacrifices. You may even think I don’t believe in god.

   Well, I do not know much about other religions out there, though I am doing some research. But, I do know that there are people out there who believe in multiple gods. Or, they may even think they are a god. Well I want to point out some things to those people. I’m going to do this by focusing on religion/stories I know well: Greek Mythology.

   The way the universe began was kind of freaky in Greek Mythology. But, that’s not what I am focusing on. I’m going to fast forward to the Greek gods and their areas of interest.

   First up is the king of all the gods in Greek Mythology: Zeus. Zeus is the lord of the sky. There are times when he could be a pretty good guy. Like when he was judging certain cases, looked out for homeless people, and made sure mortal rulers didn’t abuse their positions. But, all in all Zeus was not the best example. He had many affairs, did things that would benefit him not others, and loved to get revenge. Zeus was far from perfect.

   Next is Hera. She was the queen of the gods. She was faithful to her husband, protected married women, and was a patron of childbirth. But, Hera also was extremely jealous (she killed many of her husband’s girlfriends), had an attitude problem, tried to upstage her husband (she led a revolt against him), and threw her own child off a mountain. Hera was also far from perfect.

   Finally, I am going to tell you about an unknown god in Greek Mythology. This god created heaven and earth. This god is a jealous god. He chose a specific group to bless the human race. But, that group did not remain pure and fell away from him. So, this god sent his only son down to earth to become a human. This god’s son was blameless and pure. His son became the perfect sacrifice in order to mend the relationship between god and man. Now all men can choose to accept this god’s son into their hearts and have eternal life.

   Obviously, this unknown god I am talking about is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Paul makes reference to him in Acts 17. See, every other “god” or, “gods” is imperfect in some ways. These fake gods require humans to do things for them. These gods get more power from humans. In fact, if humans didn’t worship these gods then they wouldn’t exist, except maybe in stories like Greek Mythology.

   However, even if no one worshiped God he would still exist. He is perfect, all knowing, loving, judging, and so much more. This is the message we need to remember and spread. So many people are out there worshiping gods who do not hear them, or care about them. We need to help others know the truth.

   So, do you believe that God is perfect? Do you know that he is the only God? Do you know that God cares for you? Are you spreading the gospel to others and telling them that God cares for them?

   Matthew 5:48, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 44:6, 1 John 5:21

Christmas From the Perspective of a Child

   Last Christmas Eve I sat in the back of my church watching all the people walk in. it was dark except for the Christmas lights up front and the light from the candles around the church. Before the service started I was reading, but then I looked up. I saw one of my preschoolers. She looked at me shyly, put one hand up to her mouth, and the other hand quickly grabbed for her mother’s hand. Her mom said, “look it’s Miss Scheuing. Are you going to say hi?” Quickly the little girl looked up at me and said “hi.” I smiled at her and said “hi, Merry Christmas.” Her family then sat in the pew diagonally in front of me.

   The service then began. During the service the little girl kept looking back at me. She also looked around the church. Finally I saw her staring at the manger. Her eyes seemed to be filled with wonder and excitement. I heard her ask her mom: “where is the baby Jesus?” Her mom explained that Jesus was coming the next day.

   I couldn’t help but smile at her childlike wonder. Here was a child not asking about when Santa was coming; but asking when Jesus was coming. I marveled at the innocence and wonder this child had on Christmas Eve. And then I wondered, when did I lose that innocence and wonder?

   I don’t know about you but I feel like sometimes we take the Christmas season and story for granted. We forget to have Childlike wonder toward a story that is the reason why we are saved. I feel like it is a sad fact that people forget the reason for the season; and how important it is that Jesus came. Because, without the manger and Jesus’ birth there would be no cross, without the cross there would be no tomb, without the tomb there would be no resurrection, without the resurrection there would be no salvation, and without salvation there would be no need for the second coming of Christ.

   We need to look at the Christmas story with wonder because it began the climax to the greatest story in history.

   So, how have you been viewing the story of Jesus’ birth? Do you still have childlike wonder when it comes to stories in the Bible?

   Matthew 18:3, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:7

Balancing Opposites

   What do all of these things have in common: sadness and happiness, brave and scared, and good and bad? If you said they are opposites you are correct. The neat thing about opposites is that you need to have both in order to appreciate the other.

   Let me give you an example. Let’s say I was at the park and that I was learning how to ride my bike. My parent is holding onto the bike for a while but then they let go. I balance for ten feet and then fall and scrape my knee. I just went from being joyful to being sad. But, after my parents clean up my cut, I get back on my bike. My parent holds the bike for a little and then lets go again. This time I stay up on the bike. Now I am happy because I have overcome the scrape. I know how to ride a bike; and it would not have felt as good without the struggle.

   Opposites can be annoying but they do help us appreciate everything in life. Some people wonder why there are so many bad things happening in the world if God is so good. The answer is sin. Sin has entered the world and a lot of bad things happen. People get hurt, lose their homes, lose money, etc. But, out of the ashes of those bad things, good happens. When we overcome struggles we appreciate all the blessings we have in life.

   It also makes me think about the saying that opposites attract. That’s why we all have different personalities; because, it would be a very boring world if everyone acted the exact same way. And, when you think about couples, there is usually one person who is more outgoing than the other and that is okay.

   My final thought about opposites comes from Bambi 2. There is a song in the movie called There is Life. The song goes something like this: “After the rain, the sun reappear, there is life, after the pain, the joy will still be here, there is life, for it’s out of the darkness, that we learn to see, and out of the silence, that songs come to be.”

   So, are you ever tempted to focus on all of the bad in the world instead of the good? Are you thankful for all of the struggles in life because they help you appreciate the good?

   John 16:33, Revelation 21:4, Psalm 18:2

Living Every Day as if it is Your Last

   “I’ll get to it tomorrow.” “I have a few days to get that done.” “I can’t make it home for the holidays.” “I will tell them thank you and I love them some other time.” These are things I hear a lot of people say nowadays. We all think we have all the time in the world. Young people are willing to wait to do things because they think they have more time to live. But, is that really true?

   Psalm 139:16 says: “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every on of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Before we were ever born God knew what would happen in our lives. He knew every possible event that would occur in our lives. He knows when we will graduate, when we will get married, and…when we will die.

   See, sometimes people do not get a chance at tomorrow. On December 19, 2016 a Lancaster Bible College Charger went home to be with the Lord. Alyssa Bowen was killed in an accident that morning. While I did not know Alyssa personally, I know that a lot of lives were touched by her. In times like this people may wonder why God would let something like this happen. I honestly do not know, but God does know. And, it can be a good lesson for us.

   We really do not know how many days we have left on this earth. As we get older we know that our time on this earth is drawing to a close. But, even if we are young our lives can be taken away in the blink of an eye. A good friend of mine once said at the end of every email “live every day as if it is your last.”

   So, my challenge to all of you is to remember that we never know when we will be called home to be with the Lord. When you have the chance to do something nice for someone you love, will you do it even if you don’t feel like doing it? If you get the chance to do something fun, or out of your comfort zone will you do it? Will you work hard to reflect God’s glory every day you have breath on this earth?

   Psalm 139:16, Job 14:5, Ecclesiastes 3

   P.S. If you could all be praying for the Bowen family and those who knew her it would be appreciated.

Is God Really at Work in Your Life?

   Over the last year I have gone on a journey. Throughout this whole journey God has been with me, and I am so thankful. As stated in previous blogs, every year was a question as to whether or not I would play soccer. The only years I was sure I would play was my sophomore year and my senior year. This is the story of why I was sure about my senior year.
   My Junior year of soccer I really did not want to be there, but it had been clear that God had called me to play. There were a lot of issues that year because I did not want to be there, but the team needed me. After three quarters of the season my outlook on soccer began to change. I started to actually want to be there. At the end of the season I had decided that I really wanted to play soccer one final year. But, that presented some problems.
   When I had my meeting with the coach she was overjoyed that I wanted to play. Before I could play I had to talk with my supervisor for education because I was to be student teaching that semester. In the Spring I went to my professor and she said “if this is what you really want we can make it work.” She wanted me to think about it, and pray about it. I told her I would think about it for a week. Some issues arose during that week but I made a promise and I told her I wanted to play. My professor, coach, and I had a meeting. During that meeting we decided that the best option for me was to do my first student teaching placement while everyone else who was student teaching would be doing their second placement. I agreed that it would be difficult for me to focus on student teaching and soccer at the same time. Then the placement professor got working on my placements.
   When soccer finally rolled around I had to miss two days of preseason because I was in student teaching orientation. My professor explained my situation to the other student teachers. Then she reminded me that I would need to prepare my heart for what was to come. I’m not going to lie, it was hard at first. My whole college experience had led up to this point and I was sitting on the sidelines while other people were teaching. But, I now know that if I would have been student teaching and playing soccer at the same time I would not have been able to do my best in either of those activities.
   I went on playing soccer, getting to know my teammates, and improving my goalie skills. Then I found out from a former employer that the cooperating teacher I was supposed to have first got cancer. I started to get worried a little but the whole experience had taught me that I need to trust God. I told my professor and he contacted the school. I did not know it, but my third grade teacher had contacted the principal and said she would be willing to take me on as her student teacher. I was so excited and thankful when I found this out. I started jumping up and down.
   And, the rest is pretty much history. My soccer team had an overall record of 16-7. I have now completed my first placement as a student teacher. I graduated yesterday. Through this whole experience I have seen God at work in my life.
   So, if any of you may be doubting that God has a plan for your life hopefully this story encourages you. I implore you to think about what has been happening in your life. How have you seen God at work? If you do not see him at work directly, are you willing to trust him anyhow?

   Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 16:9, Romans 8:28

Church Wars

A long time ago in a land far far away the Roman Empire took over Israel. There is unrest in the Empire and the Jews are waiting for the promised Messiah.

In a stunning move God sent his only Son down to be that Messiah. Jesus died on the cross, was laid in a tomb, and rose after three days.

The followers of Jesus became the Church. The Church knew that Jesus said he would be coming back for them. So the Church began to spread the gospel; and the people of the Church had no problems dealing with one another as they had church services and spread the gospel...

   Ha! That's not what the Bible says. And, that is not how things are today.

   There are many churches out there and they all have their own traditions, styles, and set up. But, there are at least two things every church has in common. 1. The church believes that Jesus came to die for our sins (at least all churches should believe that). And 2. Every church has problems that will arise.

   I have been to many different churches. Some of them I am able to see some problems while I am there. A few churches I have been to are more conservative in their style. They sing hymns, are set in their traditions, and are devout believers. But, some of the churches are starting to move into more of a contemporary style of music. I noticed, at those churches, that some of the people do not like that.

   And, thus Church Wars begins. Many people in the younger generation like to sing the contemporary songs. I too enjoy contemporary praise and worship songs; but I appreciate the message behind the hymns.

   Some people in those conservative churches may say I am a rebel because I want newer songs. But, I respect the choices those churches make to sing hymns. Now, you know how the Bible says to take the log out of your eye before you take the splinter out of someone else’s eye? Yeah, well one of those conservative churches played a contemporary song that most people did not know. And, the result was that some people didn’t even listen to the song! They just sat there, didn’t look at the lyrics on the screen, and talked with one another.

   Different people are reached in different ways. I cannot tell you how many times I have been reached by a song that I didn’t like the style of music that much, but the lyrics touched me. We need to stop focusing on the differences we have in styles and traditions; and start focusing on being a united front for Christ.

   If the Church does not change their tactics then we will not reach as many people. We don’t have to change the message (Jesus Christ is Lord); we just need to change how the message is delivered. There are so many new venues we can use to reach others. Powerful movies have been created by Christians to spread the gospel. Rap songs, rock songs, books, radio stations, and so many more things have been created in order to spread the gospel. We need to use this ways to reach others; and not scoff at people who are different from us. God loves everyone; and he wants everyone to be saved.

   So, have you become part of the problem in the church? Are you focusing too much on how things in your church are not your style? Have you tried to see the value in the way that others are spreading the gospel?

   1 Corinthians 12, Matthew 28:19, Matthew 7:5

When Did it Become About Me, Instead of We?

When did it become about the me,

Instead of the we?

When did Christians become hypocrites?

And people who love glitz?

Why do we have people in church?

Who are sitting there like they are on a perch?

Why do people just go through the motions?

Instead of spreading the gospel across oceans?

When did it become less action

And more of I want satisfaction?

We weren’t promised a perfect life,

So when things don’t go right why do we feel so much strife?

Why can’t we remember the reason we are here?

Or do we forget because of fear?

We choose to disobey,

And cause disarray.

But when life gets hard,

We choose to cry out to God cuz we drew the wrong card.

God isn’t a genie,

But when we treat him like one and don’t get what we want we call him a meany.

God has never changed,

It is us who have made the world and our lives estranged.

He is the truth,

There’s no need to go lookin for proof.

God chose to love,

Instead of lookin at us like we were something to be disposed of.

We deserve death,

But instead God gave each of us breath.

So what are we gonna do with the life he gave?

Will we live for ourselves till we go to the grave?

I’m tired of just sitting back,

While other people live in a shack.

We were meant to be God’s hands and feet,

It don’t matter if you are a garbage man or an athlete.

Cuz he lets us be a part of his story,

Ain’t it great to reflect his glory?

So isn’t it about time the me,
Became we?
John 13:34, John 3:16, Romans 12:2

Getting What You Don't Deserve: Lessons From 9 Square

   There is a game that is for all ages. If you can stand you can play. If you are not that athletic you can play. If you want to play a game where there are not really any winners or losers this is a game for you. It’s a game that was first introduced to me at Camp YoliJwa. It is the game of 9 Square.

   You may be wondering why I am telling you about a game right now, but stay with me on this. The game is set up with a group of pipes that make 9 squares. There is one person in each square. The person in the middle of the square is the king; and he gets to serve the ball. Once the ball is served if the ball comes into your square you have one hit to get it out and into another square. The game continues with each player getting one hit until a player hits a pipe, hits the ball two times, or the ball enters the players square and the player does not hit it out of the square (Find out more about 9 Square here).

   It is a great game because literally anyone can play it. I come from a very athletic and competitive family. But, I would have to say my mom is the least athletic and competitive (love you mommy ;). Anyhow, it turns out that sometimes the least athletic people reach the 9th square and become king. Now, being competitive I think that isn’t really fair. I mean, I work really hard to stay in the game but I get out. Then the least athletic people barely touch the ball and become king. But, that’s how the game works.

   One other reason I like this game is because it relates to life. The least athletic people who make it to the center, without touching the ball much, get what they do not deserve in my opinion. They get to be king even though they barely did anything. Has that ever happened to you in other situations in life? Where you work your butt off and do your best, but someone else gets what you wanted or thought you deserved. Yeah, I’ve been there and it’s not easy.

   However, there is someone else I know fairly well who did a lot of work in order to make sure I get what I don’t deserve. His name is Jesus Christ. He paid the price. In keeping with my blog, he got out in 9 Square so that I could survive. But, literally, he died on the cross to take away my sins. And, he did that for you too.

   Sometimes I think we forget the fire we used to have for Christ when we first accepted him. It continually amazes me that someone would be willing to die for me when I wasn’t even born yet. In a way he knew me. But I didn’t even exist when he did know me, if that makes sense. I think we need to look back and remember what Christ did for all of us. Then look at us now and let that knowledge impact how we treat others. And, finally, look forward to the future that we have with Christ.

   So, did you ever have a time where someone got something you thought you deserved? Have you ever thought about how you got something you did not deserve? Have you lost that fire you first had for God?

   Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:3, Psalm 73:25-26

Thanksgiving: Dare to Compare...

   So, it is that time of year again: Thanksgiving. A time where we go see family, watch football, and eat until we have to unbutton our pants. I am just joking about that last one :D kind of.

   Anyhow, around Thanksgiving what do we think about? I am betting that most of you said what we are thankful for. I do that as well; but it got me thinking about why we need to have one specific day to think about why we are thankful. That then led to me thinking about why we aren’t thankful for what we have most of the time.

   We could all blame different things for why we aren’t thankful: the American dream, we don’t have what we think we need, etc. But, I believe it all boils down to one thing: comparison. A while back I was driving home after night class and I saw a quote on a church sign. It said: “comparison is the thief of joy.” I got to thinking about that quote and I believe it is totally right.

   Think about it: when you were little and one of your friends got a really cool, new toy what did you automatically think. I’m betting you were thinking “I want that” or “my toy isn’t as cool as her new toy.” As humans, it is our automatic reaction to compare ourselves to others. We look at what possessions others have and want what they have. We watch commercials and see the latest thing that is so neat and we have to have it. We see the talents others have and we think “why don’t I have that?”

   I am guilty of this too and it is a difficult habit to break. In our culture people tell us we need to have this and we will be happy. People tell us we are not good enough. However, that is not what God says. He loves us and created us for a purpose. We all have our own unique gifts. Sometimes it is easy to forget that we are all different. There is no one like you, and there will never be anyone like you. We need to be thankful for the way God made us and grow in our relationship with Him. That means trusting Him to provide for our needs. He will give us whatever we need, if we trust Him.

   So, this Thanksgiving I encourage you to think about your life. Do you compare yourself to others too much? Are you comparing what you have to what others have?

   I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to be thankful all year round.

   1 Timothy 6:6-8, Psalms 136:1-2, Hebrews 13:5

Not Getting What You Want, But Getting What You Need

   Sometimes what you want isn’t always what you need. I have had a lot of things that I have wanted in my life; but God has said no. And, sometimes he has actually given me what I didn’t really want. After having a conversation with a friend on my team a few weeks ago I realized that I may not have wanted to play soccer but I needed to play soccer.

   Honestly, in my four years playing soccer at Lancaster Bible College there were times I didn’t really want to play for one reason or another. But, through it all God has made a way for me to play. I didn’t really know why it was so important for me to play soccer, but looking back I can see that it happened for a reason. I may not have wanted to play soccer, but I needed to play soccer. Soccer has taught me so much. I have learned how to be patient, how to be cool under pressure, and how to show more emotion. Along the way I made a lot of amazing friends. The friends I made in soccer have helped me so much and I can never thank them enough.

   The next time you wonder why God isn’t giving you what you want, or he is giving you the opposite of what you want just be patient. He does have a plan no matter what it may seem. I am so glad I trusted God to come up with a plan for my life. Because, if I didn’t, I would have made so many wonderful friends and grown so much.

   So, do you trust God? Are you willing to follow his plan for your life?

   Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:31-32

What to do When Waves Come Crashing In

   In the summer my family and I went to the beach for the first time in 8 years (other than when I went to Puerto Rico on a mission trip this past March, but I don’t count that because it wasn’t with my family). My sister was in the water. She was having problems because she kept falling when the waves crashed into her.

   When I realized she was having problems I told her she needs to know when to stand her ground and when to jump over the wave. If the wave is fast and high, she needs to jump. But, if the wave was smaller and slower she needs to stand her ground.

   My sister just could not tell which wave she needed to jump over and which one she needed to stand her ground. Many times she would fall because she jumped too high when she should not have jumped. Or, she would fall because she would stand her ground on a fast wave; and the wave would move the sand under her feet, so she would fall.

   I am telling you this story because it relates to life. We will inevitably all have trials and get tested. But, during those trials we need to know when to stand our ground and when to jump/move. If we choose to stand our ground it may be difficult because the sand moves beneath our feet. It would be really easy for us to jump and not stand our ground, but should we?

   In order to know when we should stand our ground and when we should move when trials come we need to know the Word (Bible). Everything we do needs to be based off the word. If what we are doing/saying goes against the word then we will fall. But if we know that someone is doing something against the word they will fall and we may fall too.

   To clarify let me give you an example: If I am at my job and my boss tells me that I need to lie about how much inventory we have in the store what should I do? I know that if I do not listen to my boss I may lose my job. But, if I lie then I am sinning. So, should I jump the wave and lie. Or, should I stand my ground and tell my boss that I cannot lie even though the wave that hits me may be big and knock me over.

   Finally, there is one option I did not mention in my little example. At the end of the day at the beach my sister got tired of getting knocked over so she left the waves. We do have one other option other than jumping and standing our ground. We can move. We can choose to leave the situation. But, we need to ask ourselves is that what God would want us to do?

   Especially in today’s society we need to be grounded in the Word (Bible). We need to know why we believe what we believe. We need to know when we should stand our ground. And, we need to know when we should leave the situation. In order to know what we should do, we need to have a relationship with God. It is only through his guidance that we will be able to endure the waves of life.

   So, have you ever jumped or sinned when you knew you should not have? Do you know the Bible well enough to know when to stand your ground? And, do you have a good enough relationship with God to know what he is guiding you to do?

   John 16:13, Galatians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 16:13, James 4:17

The Friendship Fast

   Ziad Abdelnour, a CEO and investment banker, once said: “You have three types of friends in life: Friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for a lifetime.” One area in life where I have always struggled is friends. I have issues making friends. When I do make friends, I try my best to keep them but most of the time I lose them for one reason or another. I never quite understood why until a series of events occurred this year.

   Around March I had a really crazy dream (link to dream blog here) that made me realize that I may have been idolizing something. That something was friendships. Every time I lost, or came close to losing, a friend I kept thinking about the friend. I wondered if something was wrong with me, or if I did something to offend that person. Friendships had become more important than my relationship with God.

   During the rest of my college semester I didn’t have much time for friends so I didn’t think about the dream. After school was over I knew I needed a break from everything so I took a step back and did not contact friends too much. That was when I began working on my relationship with God. I started to pray more, talk to him more, and learn more about him. So, inadvertently, my friendship fast had begun.

   After about three weeks I realized that I felt better about myself and more God-confident. I sent texts to friends on their birthdays and talked with them here and there, but talking with them was not my whole life. Then I went to Camp YoliJwa where the theme was friendship. During the week we talked about fasting and that was when I realized that I was kind of doing a friendship fast. That’s when I began to call it the friendship fast. But, even after talking about friendship for a whole week I didn’t quite feel that I was ready for friendships again.

   That was when I realized that I had different types of friends. I had some for a reason, for a season, and for a lifetime. Some of the friendships I have had were toxic relationships where either I was doing all the work, or the friend was not a good influence on me. Other friends came into my life to impact me for a short time and I am so thankful for the time I had with them. And, the friendship I have had for a lifetime is with Jesus. He was there for me even when I didn’t realize it, or didn’t want him to be there.

   This whole experience has taught me so much about who I am in Christ. For so long I have said things happened for a reason; but I wasn’t quite trusting God when it came to the relationships in my life. And, when a friend left me I did everything I could to get that friend back. Now I know that if a friend is only with me for a season it is for a reason. And, if those friends ever need help from me I will do my best to be there for them; because that is what God calls us to do (Matthew 22:36-40).  

   Please understand that during this friendship fast if a friend would text me or talk to me I would talk to them. But, I did not make talking to my friends my whole life like it used to be. And, if I needed to do something to help others I did it because God wants us to love him and others.

   There are many lessons I learned during this experience. First is that I have friends who I need to sharpen and they need to sharpen me (Proverbs 27:17). Next is I need to trust in God’s plan and timing. Third is there will be some friends I have that I need to build up and be an example for (in other words let Christ’s light shine through me). Ultimately this experience taught me that I need to lean on God. He will be my best friend for all eternity.

   So, are you idolizing something? Do you need to fast in order to come closer to God? Are you leaning too much on others and not enough on God? Is God your BFF (Best Friend Forever)?

   Exodus 20:3-6, Proverbs 18:24, John 15:13

   P.S. I know Matthew 6:16-18 says that you should not boast about your fasting. The point of this blog is not to say “look at me I fasted.” It is to state the lessons I learned during my time of fasting in hopes that others who read this may learn those lessons too. 

History, History, You've Got to Know Your History

   “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future” (Theodore Roosevelt). Whether you like it or not history is a very important subject, especially in school. But, when you think of history what do you think of? You many think of the medieval times, the Civil War, World War One, and many other events in the past. But, do you ever think of just getting rid of one or more of these events?

   You may be wondering why I asked that question. Why in the world would anyone say “I don’t believe in this event so I’m going to say it didn’t happen?” Well, I bring this up because some people do this. They say that they don’t believe in the Old Testament.

   Now, some of you may be thinking “why in the world would someone not believe in the Old Testament?” But, I know some people who don’t because God seems totally different in the Old Testament. In the New Testament God seems to be kind, full of grace, and loving. In the Old Testament God seems to be judging, full of wrath, and merciless. So, some people say God isn’t like this anymore. That he changed in the New Testament and the Old Testament is no longer applicable.

   My first issue with this is God doesn’t change. Over and over again in the Bible it says God does not change. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Malachi 3:6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” And many more times. So, you may be wondering why people think God changes. It is not that God changes; it is that he changes how he deals with us. In the Old Testament God required animal sacrifices. In the New Testament God sent his Son to be the atonement for our sins.

   Next I want you to think about your past. If you didn’t go through the things you went through in your past would you be who you are today? Without your past people wouldn’t understand you for who you really are. It is the same with God. Without the Old Testament we would not understand so many different aspects of God.

   Finally, without the Old Testament we lose the reason for the New Testament. Jesus was a Jew. The Old Testament is literally his heritage. And, it shows us why Jesus had to come and die on the cross. God cannot look on sin because he is holy. So, once Adam and Eve sinned God had to be separated from us. The only way that one could atone for sin was with a sacrifice. So, the Israelites went through the pattern of sinning, then doing a sacrifice for atonement each year, and sinning again. That is, until God sent his Son to be the perfect sacrifice. This is why I say the Old Testament is so important; because it shows us who God is and shows us why the New Testament is important.

   So, do you believe the Old Testament is still valid? Are you discrediting any aspects of God?

   Proverbs 30:5-6 & Deuteronomy 12:32

A Tale of Two Disciples

   Twelve. It is a very important number in the Bible. There were twelve tribes of Israel, the high priest’s breastplate had twelve precious stones embedded in them, there are twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, and there will be twelve gates in New Jerusalem. Twelve is a number of completeness in the Bible. That’s why Jesus chose twelve disciples. Jesus loved all of the disciples; but there were two in particular that were tested at the end of Jesus’ lifetime on earth.

   Peter was outspoken, a great leader, and most importantly he knew Jesus was the son of God. But, Peter was far from perfect. He was rash, took his eye off Jesus, and denied Jesus three times.

   Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve. He was a participated in the miracles that the disciples did and did just as much as the other disciples. But, all Judas is remembered for is his betrayal of Jesus.

   Both of these disciples had something in common: they both betrayed Jesus. Peter denied that he knew Christ three times. And, Judas turned Jesus in for thirty pieces of silver. Both of them failed and sinned against Christ. But, Christ loved both of them anyhow.

   So, what is the difference between these two disciples? The difference is clay and wax. What does clay and wax have to do with disciples? I’m glad you asked. The difference is heat. Under pressure both of these disciples cracked and gave into sin. But, the difference is after the pressure what they did.

   Judas wanted Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom. He wanted Jesus to take down the Roman Empire. That way he would become a leader in this earthly kingdom. Judas couldn’t see past the now. That is why, when he found out that Jesus wasn’t planning to take down the Empire, he betrayed Jesus. After he did it he felt bad. He had betrayed his master. He could not bear what he had done so he hardened his heart. Rather than running to Jesus he ran away from him. Judas was put under the fire of sin. Judas is like clay. When put under fire Judas’ heart hardened. That is why he killed himself. He would not repent of what he did.

   Peter, on the other hand, knew that Jesus was the Son of God. He knew that the kingdom Jesus said he would rule would happen in the future. I am sure Peter wasn’t quite expecting that kingdom to come about the way it did; but it was much better than what he would have planned. Anyhow, Peter said he did not know Jesus three times. But, unlike Judas, Peter had a heart of wax. When Peter was put under the pressure of sin his heart melted. Rather than running from Jesus he ran to Jesus. He asked Jesus to forgive him. And, that is what made him different from Judas.

   Both of these disciples are known well by Christians all around the world; but they are known for completely different reasons. Both of these men sinned, but the difference is where they ran after the sin.

   So, are you a Judas or a Peter? When you are put under the pressure of sin do you become clay or wax? Do you believe that Jesus will set up his eternal kingdom and that the things of this earth are just temporary?

   Luke 22, Matthew 27:1-10, John 21:15-17, Acts 3:19

Who Runs the World?

   “Who run the world? Girls!” That is one of the main lyrics in Beyonce’s song Run the World (Girls). I’m not saying I recommend the whole song; but in thinking about this particular lyric it lead me to ask a question: who really runs the world?

   Well, way way back at the time of creation God created man. Genesis 1:28 says: “God blessed them [humans]; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the ^[al]sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” So, according to this verse, man has dominion over the earth. And it is true that man is to care for the earth; but does he run the earth? Well, if we look at Genesis 3 we can see another player came into our story: the devil.

   Satan was jealous of the relationship God had with man. And, Satan was jealous of the position God held. So, Satan decided to break the relationship between God and man; and, in the process, he would gain control over the earth. Or, so he thought since man was given dominion over the earth. Genesis 3 recounts the actions Satan took so that he would become “king” over the earth. But, not all went the way he planned. Yes, God and man were separated; but man still lived on the earth. It was just now sin entered the world. So Satan thinks he has control over the earth and man. But, that is not true either.

   Christians all know who is really in control of the earth, and everything. It is not man or the Devil. God is in control. Even from the beginning of the earth God knew what was going to happen. He knew that Lucifer would betray him. He knew that man would fall to sin. And, he knew that he would need to send his only Son to die on a cross so that we could be with him again.

   For those who don’t know that God is in control all they need to do is look in the Bible over and over again it says God is in control. It is true that sometimes it may seem like God is not with us on earth; or that he is not good because there is so much evil in the world. But, the reason that it seems like God is not here is because of sin and free will. Man chose to disobey God and so we cannot be with him any longer. That is, until we accept Christ into our hearts, die, and inherit eternal life.

   Also, I’d like to point out that only in the darkness and the problems in life do we come to God. Sometimes I feel like we treat him like a genie. When we need his help we call on him. And, that just isn’t right. He sent his Son so that we could have a relationship with him again. We need to remember that God is in control. He knows what will happen to us and the world. This evil will not last forever; and that’s what we need to find our comfort in. That God has a plan, and he loves us.

   So, do you believe God runs the world? Do you trust that he has a plan for you? Do you love him and want to have a relationship with him?

   Proverbs 19:21, Romans 8:28, Isaiah 45:6-7

Giving Up Control of the Remote

   One item that is always fought over in the Scheuing household is the remote. Many times we will get home from being out; and I will turn on the dining room tv to something my brother does not want to watch. Immediately my brother wills start yelling no. Eventually I will win; but when it comes to the living room that is another story.

   I may be watching something and then my dad will come home. He will put his work stuff away and then come into the living room. Then he will take the remote. I used to put up a fight; but I’ve realized that it is just better if I give up control of the remote to my father.

   That’s one thing humans don’t like doing: giving up control. I especially don’t like doing that when it comes to relationships. I am a fixer and a people pleaser. I’ve gotten a little better at not pleasing people; but when I hear a friend is in trouble I really want to fix whatever their problem is.

   Normally I am able to help at least a little. That is, until one day something happened to my friend. I asked her what I could do to help and she said “nothing.” I said, “nothing?” She nodded. It broke my heart to see her in such pain. I usually am able to write something, say something funny, or do something that caters to her love language to help cheer her up; but nothing worked. Have you ever felt so insignificant because you know there is nothing you can do to help someone you love? Yeah that was me.

   So, I watched her every day go through a silent battle, hiding her feelings so no one would know. And I wanted to comfort her. I wanted to change what happened but I couldn’t and that’s when I realized I had to give up control of the remote. I was the one who tried to change the channel to make my friend feel better; but no tv channel could do that. I had to give the remote to God because he was the only one who could help my friend through her problem.

   I prayed to God that he would help my friend with her problem. I prayed that he would help me learn that I cannot fix everything. The only thing I can do is trust in him and his control. And, even though it was hard, I watched my friend overcome her problem. She came out stronger than I ever would have expected because she leaned on God and not others. I guess I wasn’t the only one who gave up control of the remote.

   I have found that, even when it is hard, when I give up control to God amazing things happen that boggle my mind. Things that would not have happened if I would have gotten my tool belt out. So that’s why I try to give up control of the remote to God. I know I fail sometimes; but I also know that God’s will will come about no matter what. Besides, God’s tv channels are much better than any that I would choose.

   So are you unwilling to give up control to God? What can you do to give control to God?

   Proverbs 19:21, Romans 8:28

Rejoicing Through the Pain of Loss: Remembering Esther Hennigh

   On September 27, 2016 I lost an amazing family member. My Aunt Esther went home to be with the Lord that day. It was hard to see her go; but I know she is much more comfortable now than she was here on earth. Esther was kind, caring, supporting, and loving. Not only was she my aunt; but she was also an amazing sister. And, on top of that, she was a caregiver for many years before retiring.

   Aunt Esther could be counted on to do many things when we came to visit. She was an amazing cook. And, she always found some way to put something healthy in everything we ate; but it still tasted good so it was okay. Esther always supported us in everything we did whether that be sports, musicals, or fundraisers. A fond memory I have of her, that happened many years, is sharing a birthday celebration with her. Every May we would go to her house and celebrate her birthday and mine; and each time a phenomenal cake would be made, or an ice cream cake would be bought. During Christmas time Esther would be sure to get everyone in the family practical gifts that were really cool, like ear warmers (I have sensitive ears okay?).

   Aunt Esther will be missed by many; but at the same time I rejoice in her going to be with her Father. Esther was in a lot of pain her last days on earth; but when she took her last breath she was able to be in peace in heaven.

   I don’t know about you, but I have lost a lot of people in my life. Every single person I have lost elicited some pain in my heart; but at the same time my heart rejoiced. You may ask why. And, the simple answer is because one day I will get to be with her. Aunt Esther knew Christ as her savior and so do I. Because we have that connection, we will get to see one another in heaven again. I am so excited for that moment because then I will have no more pain or sorrow. Instead I will be with my Father and family forever.

   What about you? Have you lost someone recently? Do you have confidence that you will be with that person again? If you don’t know Christ as your personal savior I encourage you to check out this link in order to become a member of God’s family. Then, one day, maybe we will meet and I can rejoice with you in heaven.

   John 14:1-4, Romans 8:16-17, Psalm 23:4

A Letter to My Current and Future Friends

   I’m going to start this out by saying that I’m human. I’m going to mess up and let you down. I will try not to, but I will. I just hope that you will forgive me when I do. As I will try to forgive you when you mess up and let me down.

   I want you to know that I will care about you and do all I can for you. But, I need to think of myself as well. I cannot be a starving baker where I get to the point that I burn out. I need to take care of myself before I can take care of others.

   I also need you to understand that I will not do anything that will jeopardize my relationship with God for you. God comes first in my life. If you cannot handle that, or understand that, ask me about my relationship with him; and I promise to answer whatever questions you may have to the best of my ability. But, just because you ask questions that may be difficult for me to answer does not mean that you will dissuade me from my relationship with God. I love Christ because he first loved me, even when I was in darkness. I may not understand everything about him; but I will keep seeking him. And, seeking the answers to the questions I have about him. I also want you to know that I am glad I don’t know everything about him. Because, if I did he would not be God; and I would not want to worship him.

   I also want you to know that I have flaws. I’m annoying at times, I have a temper from time to time, I have a roller coaster of emotions, I can be really crazy at times, I also can be really impatient, I’m very critical of myself, I sometimes have a low self-esteem, I don’t smile much, and I seem like a pessimist on the outside.

   But, I’m also kind, loyal, intelligent, wise, an introvert, honest, and good at giving advice. I try to get to know my friends for who they are; and love them in the way they need to be loved. I try to understand who people are, their beliefs, and where they come from. Everything I do, I do for a reason. I try to give one hundred percent in all I say and do. And, though people think I’m a pessimist I try to be optimistic. This is not to toot my own horn, or to highlight my strengths. I’m just pointing out what others have told me my strengths are. And, trying to say there are reasons why I am the way I am today. If you stick around long enough you may find out what those reasons are.

   If you cannot accept me for who I am then you may as well leave right now. But, I will tell you that I cannot promise that I will not still think of you from time to time. I also cannot promise that I will not pray for you when I think of you.

   I want to tell you that if you do leave it may break my heart for a little; but, eventually, I will forgive you. I will not hold anything against you because it takes two people to have a relationship. And, it takes two people, or more, to have an argument.

   But, I make this promise to you: if you do leave and you ever find yourself in trouble, or in need, feel free to contact me. I cannot promise that I will be able to do what you ask of me, or that I will be there right away. But, I do promise that I will do what I can for you, even if it is only to pray for you.

   Friendships are not easy at times; but these are my promises to you. I pray that I will keep these promises. But, I apologize in advanced if I fail you. Above all I will respect you, and I hope that you will do the same for me.

   I know that God opens and closes doors. And, he just so happened to open up a door so that I would meet you. I’m so excited to get to know you; and go on the journey of life with you. I hope that through this experience both you and I grow.

   Your friend,

      Kaitlyn Scheuing

   Have you had any difficult friendships? I know I have, that’s why I wrote this letter. Is there anything you could do to mend those friendships? Do you have anything you need to apologize for when it comes to relationships? Are you willing to be selfless enough to help others no matter the cost?

   Matthew 22:36-40, John 15:13, Proverbs 27:17, 1 Peter 4:8-10

I'm Christian, But I'm Not Christian

   I am a Christian; but, I am not a Christian in the way the world thinks of Christians. 

   I’ve heard some people say that religion is a weakness; because people rely on something else for hope. Many people think that there is no hope left in the world; but that’s a blog for another time. Other people say that religion is just a way that people can control other people. We hear it all the time that religion is this and religion is that.

   And, to top it all off, we hear specifically about the Christian religion and Christians. Christians are Bible thumpers. Christians are hypocrites. It goes on and on. What is a Christian to do in this time that religion is so frowned upon? Believe it or not, I have the answer. We should not be Christian.

   Okay, so at this point you are probably either thinking I’m delusional or I’m a heretic but stay with me on this. People don’t like Christianity because it is a religion; and, because Christians don’t follow what they believe. And, it is true that some Christians have a holier than thou attitude. And that’s why I’m saying we need to get rid of the religion and focus on the relationship.

   The definition of religion, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.” Religion requires humans to do all the work. Humans think they need a god when, in reality, it is the god that needs the human in order to exist and be worshiped.

   The definition of relationship, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “the way in which two or more people or things are connected.” Relationship is totally different from religion. God doesn’t need us to do anything for him. He accepts us for who we are, warts and all. He wants us to love him and be faithful to him, but he doesn’t need it. Now, if a person has accepted Christ into her heart she should want to love God and be faithful to him. In order to do that she needs to follow God and his commandments.

   Every Christian is blessed with one major gift; and that is that they can have a relationship with God, the creator of the earth. God, who cared so much about you that he was willing to send his only Son to die so that his relationship with you could be restored. God reached down to us and wants to have a relationship with us. Can that be said for the gods of other religions? I don’t think so.

   Now, I’m not saying that when people ask you what your religion is you don’t say Christianity. What I’m saying is that we should say “yeah, I’m a Christian; but technically Christianity is a relationship not a religion.” Who knows, that may just spark that person’s interest; and then they may want to hear about the gospel.

   Sure we are to love God and put our faith in him; but we don’t need to strap ourselves to the gospel and slow it down. We need to spread the gospel. And, also admit that we fail at times; but, God never fails. We cannot preach a glorified version of the Christian life because then we are lying; and we are being hypocrites. We need to be honest with others about what our relationship with God is like. It sure ain’t all peaches and roses but, in the end, we know it’s all worth it.

   So, have you been practicing religion or relationship? If you are practicing religion I encourage you to look in the Bible again. Christianity is not all about going to church once a week, maybe reading your Bible here and there, or praying before meals. All that is good to do, but only if you have a relationship with God. If you don’t, you are as bad as the priests back in Jesus’ day.

   I also encourage you to examine your relationship with God. Are you going through the motions and doing only what you think is required of you? God wants to help us grow in him. And, the only way we can do that is by spending time with him and in his word.

   James 1:26-27, Colossians 2:8, John 1:10-13, Revelation 3:20

Who Are You Doing It For?

   Some of you may have heard that I decided to play soccer at Lancaster Bible College again this year. This will be my last season with the team, but that’s neither here nor there. The reason I am telling you this is because of something that happened to me over the years I have played soccer at LBC: I changed.

   In 2013 I began my soccer career at LBC. I was so nervous because the previous goalie was really good and I was starting that season cold turkey. I kept putting so much pressure on myself that I was beginning to have emotional issues. So a really good friend of mine, who I carpooled with, talked with me about what was going on. I told her I felt like anything I did wasn’t good enough because I didn’t do it like the previous goalie, I did one little thing wrong, or because no one was telling me what was right or wrong. She asked me a question that forever changed my life.

   “Who are you doing it for?” she said. I didn’t quite understand her at first so she then said: “who are you playing soccer for?” I kind of had to think about that because I was doing it for a lot of reasons. But, if you know my soccer story, you know it was a rough journey in order for me to decide if I was going to play soccer or not. In the end, I ultimately played because I felt that God was calling me to play. My friend knew the story and said “you decided to play soccer because God called you to. So when you feel like you are not good enough remember that you are always good enough for God.”

   I can’t say I didn’t feel the pressure to do well for my team and others during the season. Or, that I didn’t stress over every little thing that I did wrong. But, that conversation helped me remember that everything I do is ultimately for God. Yeah I will mess up, a lot. But, God doesn’t care. He loves me just the way I am.

   Today in the goal I am a lot more confident in myself. I do mess up, but I think about my mistake for five seconds then let it go. I can’t go back and change what I did; but I can go forward and do better then. And I remember that “If our (my) God is for us (me), then who could ever stop us (me)?” (Our God, Chris Tomlin)

   So, when you do things who are you doing them for? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself? Do you sometimes forget that God loves you just as you are?

   Colossians 3:23, Romans 8:31, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Special Edition: The Shutout

   For those of you who are questioning why I am writing this on a Wednesday and what a shutout is stay tuned. After a game of soccer at Lancaster Bible College my teammates came running onto the field and group hugged me. Not only did we win 5-0, but I also broke the record for the most shutouts in Lancaster Bible College Women’s Soccer history. If you do not know what a shutout is it is when one team wins the game and the losing team does not score.

   You may be wondering why I am writing this. I am not doing this to toot my own horn. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I want to thank all of those who I have played soccer with or who have coached me throughout the years. Soccer is a team sport. When I earn a shutout I don’t think that I earned it, even if I did make a few saves, I think that my team earned that shutout. Every time I look good on the field it is because my team helped make me look good.

   I also want to thank my coaches that I’ve had throughout my life. They helped shape me and mold me into a better player and goalkeeper. I specifically want to thank my goalie coaches Blaine Gorman and Jon Martin. Both of you have helped me so much by pushing me to be my best and encouraging me no matter what.

   Finally, and this thanking is not necessarily in a specific order, I want to thank God. He is the one who gave me the ability, passion, and talent to play soccer. For those of you who know my soccer story, and those of you who don’t here is the link to it, you know that the reason I am playing soccer is totally because of God. There have been a lot of ups and downs during my time on and off the field; but through it all God has been there helping me up when I am down.

   So, you may not be able to relate to this post. But, the next time you get honored whose glory will you be reflecting? Will you thank those who helped you get there?

   1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:17

The Second Anniversary of The Shoe Blog

   Today is the second year anniversary of my blog The Shoe! Which got me thinking about what I have wrote thus far. I look back at all the blogs I have written and it is neat to see the transformation of my writing. Also, I look back and see what I went through.

   Looking at my writing I can see that I have definitely changed over the years. God continued to shape me and mold me into who I am today. And, the neat thing is he continues to help me grow.

   An example of this would be when I am tempted to do something wrong, like think about how easy it would be to get revenge on someone who hurt me, my own words come back to me. In that specific case my words about how powerful the dark side is (The “Force” Within blog link). Not only do I keep myself accountable with my words but now I have other people who are keeping me accountable; because they read my blogs and remind me of the words I say.

   Also, if you do not know me, I actually used to be a very pessimistic person. There are times where I am still pessimistic. But, I have been taught to find the positive in everything. So, in my writing I try to look at the bright side. The reason I do that is because I have a hope in Christ. More and more during the day I find myself catching when I have a negative thought, then I try to turn my thoughts into positive ones. (Fixing My Eyes blog link).

   Finally, I’m not going to lie it is not easy to keep up with this blog sometimes. I know I only post once a week but I have times where I am super busy. Sometimes I do wonder if it is worth it because I do not get many people looking at my blog. But, a wise man once said that “God can use these posts in His time and way for His glory.” When I am tempted to stop blogging I remember that I’m not actually doing it for me, though writing does help me cope with the woes of life. I do what I do because God gave me a gift and I want to reflect his glory(The Character of Love blog link).

   So, are you following your own words? Do you have others keeping you accountable? Are you able to find hope in everything because of the hope you have in Christ? Finally, are you using your gifts to reflect God’s glory?

   Galatians 6:1-5, Matthew 6:34, Matthew 5:16

When Tragedy Strikes: Remembering the September 11th Attack

   Before September 11, it seemed like the United States was untouchable (other than a few wars that didn’t necessarily affect our land directly); but that day we quickly learned we were not. Today we are paranoid. We turn on one another because of a few events, like the twin towers being crashed into, which people who follow the devil created.

   But, at the same time, hope comes out of the ashes. We band together after tragedy. Out of the ashes we become stronger. Every time tragedy strikes we have a choice. That day we could’ve sat back and said we have been beaten; or, we could rise up and help those in need. I’m proud to say we rose up, banded together, and turned back to God.

   There are a lot more tragedies happening in the world today. We still have a choice. We can choose to sit back, give up, sulk, and become bitter when bad things happen. Or, we can turn to God, trust him, band together, and help one another.

   On this day we remember September 11, 2001. We remember those who lost their lives in the attack. We remember those who gave their lives to save others or stop more attacks. And, we remember how we all came together after this tragedy. We became stronger. We became A Nation Under God again.

   So, when tragedy strikes I want you to remember you have a choice. You can become bitter or thank God for your blessings. You can turn away from help or you can trust God. The next time something bad happens what will you choose to do?

   John 16:33, Psalm 34:18, Romans 12:19

God's Plans for You

   “God has a plan.” “You will make it through.” “Do not stress, trust God.” I cannot tell you how many times I have heard these sayings while at Lancaster Bible College. Over and over I hear “trust God.” I see their point. It is important to trust God; but so many times when people say trust God they quote a verse. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about backing up what we believe with verses. But, the particular verse I am talking about is Jeremiah 29:11 which says “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

   Sounds like a good verse for God planning for us right? Wrong, that particular verse is not talking about plans for us. It is talking about God having plans for Israel. So many times we take verses out of context. That verse is taken out of context because it is talking about Israel; but we can have confidence that God cares for us. He loves us just like he loves Israel. God does have plans for us. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” God has a plan for us but we need to trust him.

   God gives all of us gifts. We may not know what we are to do with those gifts but God knows. I do not know what is going on in your life; but I do know that everyone experiences doubt at one point or another. You may doubt some of the gifts God has given you, but trust him. It is only through the storms of life that you realize what you are truly capable of.

   So, do you believe God has given you gifts? Do you believe God has a plan for your life; and will give you opportunities to use your gifts?

   Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

The Myth of Entitlement

   “I deserve it.” “I won it fair and square.” “I have a right to it.” This has become the normal perspective in today’s society. But, do we really deserve everything we think we do? Do we even deserve everything we have?

   Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We do not deserve anything we have. What we really deserve is death. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned they should have died. But, God was merciful and did not physically kill them. Instead they lived the rest of their lives apart from God, which is like death. Then later they did die physically.

   Now, when we are born we are sinners. We chose to sin and when we do we deserve death. Just think about that. Let it really sink in. You work in order to reflect God’s glory. You do your best to provide for your family. You bust your butt every day to get money. Don’t you think you deserve a little something?

   If you answered yes to that question you may be falling into the myth of entitlement. I'm not saying that you are full of yourself; but you need to understand that we are small fish in a big sea. God cared enough to save all of the small fish in the big universe. Also, you need to understand that God is holy. He cannot be with anything that is unlike him. But, because of Jesus’ work on the cross we get what we do not deserve: eternal life. Think about that. Because of someone else’s work we have eternal life. There is nothing else we can do in order to gain that gift. We need to believe in Christ in order to get that gift.

   We do not deserve anything except death. We can do good deeds, help others, work really hard, and pray a lot but none of that matters unless we have Christ as our personal savior.

   So, on this Labor Day I want you to ask yourself have you fallen into the myth of entitlement. Do you realize that the only thing you deserve is death? Do you have eternal life through the work of Christ?

   Romans 5:12, John 14:6, Genesis 3

What Would You Do if Your Faith Was Tested?

   Once upon a time you woke up on a Sunday morning. You get dressed in your Sunday best then get your children up. The children are tired but you know they will eventually get up. Then you go downstairs. Your little girl comes bounding down the steps in her pink, flower dress. She is squealing with delight because she gets to go see her friends at church today; and she gets to learn about God.

   You start to eat your breakfast when you realize your teenage son isn’t up yet. You yell upstairs “it is time to get up.” After a while your son comes down the steps. He asks the same question he asks every week: “do I have to go to church?” To this you answer “yes.” After some grumbling, your son gets his breakfast.

   Then you all pile in the car and head off to church. When you get there you are greeted by one of the Elders. An old friend comes up and asks how you are doing. After talking for a little you drop your little girl off at children’s church. Then you walk into the sanctuary and sit in your normal seat.

   The service begins and you start singing I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin. Suddenly you hear a commotion at the back of the church. You hear yelling and then shots are fired. The music stops. Time seems to slow down as men in masks carrying guns come in. They yell at everyone to line up along a wall. Quickly everyone listens. You look around the room and see fear on everyone’s faces. Sweat begins to drip down your face.

   A man with a gun walks up to one of the Deacons. The Deacon has been a part of the church for a long time. He gives money to charities, volunteers at homeless shelters, and leads Bible studies. The man with the gun says to the Deacon: “denounce your faith in Jesus Christ today, and you will live.” The Deacon looks around nervously. The man with the gun says “choose now!” Then he puts the gun against the Deacon’s head. The Deacon falls to his knees and wails “I denounce my faith in Jesus Christ.” Your mouth drops.

   The man with the gun moves to the next person. This person was a troubled young adult. His body is covered in tattoos; you know that he drinks and that he has been arrested many times. You heard that the boy had accepted Christ just last week; but you don’t know if it is true. The man with the gun says to the boy “denounce your faith in Jesus Christ today and you will live.” The boy looks down nervously. You think you know what he will say. Abruptly the boy looks up and says “how can I denounce the one who has given me life?” The man with the gun pauses for a little then pulls the trigger. The boy slumps down in a pool of blood.

   Your mouth drops again; but even further this time. And, time slows down again. You cannot believe the boy said that. It takes you a while to register that the man with the gun has come to you. He says “denounce your faith in Jesus Christ.” You look around and everyone is staring at you. As you look around all you can think about is your little girl. Then your eyes stop on your teenage son. He looks at you nervously waiting for your answer. You want to be a good example for your children; but how can you do that if you are dead. The man with the gun yells “choose now!”

   Our country hasn’t quite gotten to the point where our faith will be tested like this; but there will come a time when our faith will be tested. What would you say or do in this situation? What would God want you to do?

   Matthew 16:25, Matthew 10:39