Coincidence? I Think Not

   Did you ever have a time where you felt God was calling you to do something but you just were not sure it was him, or you didn’t want to do it? That’s how my soccer career at Lancaster Bible College got started. Part of me wanted to play soccer; but I didn’t want to deal with all of the drama that comes with it typically, hurt my body more, and I really needed a job. There was a lot of back and forth going through my mind on whether or not I should play.

   One day I decided that I just could not think about it anymore. That’s when I did something I know I technically shouldn’t have done: I pulled a Gideon, or made a deal with God. I said “God, if I hear from the coach within the week I’ll know I am supposed to play soccer.” Then I let it go. I told my mom the deal later that night at around 7 pm. I did not check my phone until the next morning. I had a text from the coach which arrived at 6:55 pm the night before.

   Needless to say I was a little freaked out. But, I wasn’t convinced. Then I pulled another Gideon. I said to God: “God, if I hear something from anyone about LBC women’s soccer, within the week, then I will know I am supposed to play soccer.” I went about my life after that and about two days later a girl named Brooke came up to me. I had only known her from a few of my classes; but she asked me if my last name was Scheuing. I said “yes.” Then she said “my coach has been trying to contact you, does he have the right phone number?” I hung my head and semi chuckled. Then I looked to the sky and I said “yeah, I need to talk to him.”

   And, the rest is history. I have played soccer for 3 years now and it has changed my life. Sure, there were a lot of bumps and bruises on the way, literally. But, in the end it was all worth it. I learned so many lessons but the biggest one from this story was that when God tells you to do something you should do it. He may not even speak to you specifically. He works through coincidences. And, it took quite a few coincidences for me to decide to play soccer.

   So, is God calling you to do something you may not want to do? Are you going to listen to him? Do you believe that he has a plan for your life?

   Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 8:28, Psalm 25:4-5

The Pool of Reflection

   Once there was a pool. Many people came to the pool to see themselves in it. But, this was no ordinary pool. This pool didn’t just show you what you look like right now; but it also showed people who they really are, and their legacy.

   There are few who are brave enough to look for more than one minute because the images are sometimes scary. You once went to the pool when you were younger. You saw dark images of you lying, cheating, stealing, and some other things you would not have been proud of. You vowed never to come back to this place; but a friend wanted to come see his legacy. So, you agreed to come with him; but you said you would not look in.

   Your friend begins to walk up to the pool. You sit down on a bench and look around. There are a few people looking into the pool. Others are just loitering about. It looks like a few had just looked in the pool.

   One person was a young woman. She looked like a business woman who would have been professional except for the fact that she was crying. She must have looked in the pool and seen something she did not like. There was no one there to console her. You felt a bit of a tug to go over and ask if you could help her; but you don’t want to seem nosey.

   Another person was an older man. He was smiling and looked very proud. He walked up to other people who didn’t seem to know him. They began talking and it seemed like the man was boasting. Figures some people saw much better things than you ever did.

   The last person you look at is a middle aged man. He glances up from the pool and sees you looking at him. You quickly look away; but the man stands and comes over. He says “may I sit here,” and points to the bench beside you. You nod not knowing what else to say or do. After a little the man says “did you look in the pool today.” You shake your head and say “no.” The man asks “why not?” You say “I’ve already looked in it before.” “May I ask what you saw?” You don’t see why it is any of his business so you shake your head no. The man nods and says “may I tell you what I saw?” You think that is a little strange; but you don’t see how it could hurt so you nod.

   The man begins his story “like you, I have come here before. When I first came I did not like what I saw. It was a dark image. I was a very powerful CEO in the future. I had it all fame, fortune, a penthouse, two children, a trophy wife, and so much more.” You begin to become intrigued “sounds like you had it all together." The man shook his head. “I thought I had it all together; but I was wrong. I also saw in the same image that my wife cheated on me, my children hated me, I had no friends, and no one came to my funeral. Everything I had didn’t really mean anything.”

   You were starting to get confused, “so why did you come back here to look into the pool again?” The man smiled. “I changed. I needed to find what I was missing and I found it; actually I found him, Jesus. I realized that the things in this life meant nothing unless I had him; because everything here is temporary.” You nod, “I know that too. I recently accepted Christ last year.” “Have you changed anything in your life because of accepting him?” You begin to think some things have changed; but you are still far from perfect.

   The man smiles “I got you thinking.” You nod then ask, “so why did you come back?” “I wanted to see if my legacy had changed.” “Did it?” The man nods. “What did you see?” The man stands and begins to walk away “why don’t you look for yourself?” You start to panic “how will I know what you saw by looking at my reflection?” The man kept walking.

   You sit for a while and then decide it is worth the risk. You walk up to the water and look in. At first you just see your reflection but then the pool changes. The image you see is bright. You see some things you have done in the past, like before you are not proud of them. Then the image stops at you looking in the water, which is present time. Then the image is blank. You wonder if something went wrong; but suddenly you see an image of Jesus. Then you remember hearing a sermon about you being a child of God. You realize that you don’t need to know what happens to you in the future because you know your identity. And, you have someone you can trust in.

   So if you were to look in the pool today what would you see in your past? Who would you see in your future?

   John 1:12, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 19:21

The Double Edged Sword

   The two edged sword in the Bible has been debated about for many decades. Most people say the sword represents the Word of God and I would say they are right. The Word can pierce the heart of men without a physical would. Others say that the Word being a two edged sword means that it is a good weapon but dangerous to the user as well, if they don’t know how to use it correctly. And, I would say that is true too; because, people use the word incorrectly and it comes back to bite them in the butt.

   But, I’ve seen the two edged sword in a different way because of people always comparing the Old Testament and the New Testament. They say that the Old Testament God seems like a God of wrath; and the New Testament God seems like a God of grace and love. This is why some people discredit the Old Testament because they think that it is no longer valid. But, that is discrediting half of God; and that’s a blog for another time.

   God is still a God of wrath and a God of love. He has to be a God of wrath because he cannot look upon sin. And, he is a God of love because he sacrificed his Son to save us so that we can be with him.

   Love and wrath seem to be opposites. But, without wrath we wouldn’t be able to appreciate love as much as we do. And, without love wrath wouldn’t seem so bad. That’s what the sharp edged sword means to me. Love defends us from death, just like a sword defends a person. Wrath kills a person because of their sin, just like a sword can be used to kill someone. (And, I’m just mentioning here that people who say that God only shows his wrath in the Old Testament haven’t read or understood Revelation, talk about wrath!).

   It’s true, the Bible can be dangerous to those who don’t understand it, misuse it, or disobey it (we all do). But, it is also our saving grace because it tells us how we can be saved. And, I don’t know about you but I am thankful that God gives me a weapon to use to defend myself against the world. Because, without the Bible as guidance we wouldn’t be able to combat the evil in this world.

   So, do you believe that God is a God of wrath and love? Are you using the Bible as a guide to help you on earth?

   Hebrews 4:12, 1 John 4:16, Nahum 1:2-6

What in the World is Going On?! (How to Rise up in Today's World)

   “Everyday you need a bulletproof vest, To save yourself from what you could never guess. Am I safe today? When I step outside in the wars we wage.” These are some of the lyrics to Skillet’s song Rise (Lyrics Here). It seems like everywhere we turn bad things are happening nowadays. Many people are scared to go outside their own homes. And, many Christians think we are in the last days. If you do not know what is going on in the world today let me give you some examples.

   According to CNN as of June 21, 2016 there have been at least 136 mass shootings in the United States (1). According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in January of 2015 564,708 people were homeless in the United States (2). According to Feeding America in 2014 48.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households (3).

   On a more global scale, according to CNN ISIS has “conducted or inspired more than 125 terrorist attacks in 27 countries…. Those attacks have killed at least 1,767 people and injured thousands more (4).” The website Global Issues states that, as of October 2010, “over 8 million children under the age of 5 die from malnutrition and mostly preventable diseases each year (5).”

   How are Christians to deal with these kinds of things going on in the world?

   Well I will tell you, we need to focus on the positive. Yes, there are mass shootings BUT on July 13, 2016 some girls put up a lemonade stand and raised $10,000 to give to the families of the fallen Dallas police officers (6). Yes, some people will not give to others BUT on July 14, 2016 a group of officers payed for a couple’s meal who refused to sit near them at a restaurant (6).  Yes, there are many bad things going on in the world BUT we know God. And, he has already saved us from death. Many things may happen to us, other people, or the world; BUT no matter what happens we know that God is with us. He has a plan for us no matter what happens.

   Christians need to unite with one another. We need to do all we can to help others because that is showing God’s love to them. That could be something as simple as writing a card for someone to saving someone’s life. We don’t know what we will be called to do until we are in the moment.

The other thing Christians need to do is spread the gospel. If we are in the last days, and I do not know if we are because no one knows (Matthew 24:36), we need to make sure that we are following the Great Commission. God wants all his children to be saved; but some people will not accept his gift. Who will be saved is not for us to say. We just need to do our part in spreading the gospel.

   I’m going to leave off with a few more lyrics from Rise. “Sound it off, this is the call, Rise in revolution, It’s our time to change it all, Rise in revolution, Unite and fight, to make a better life, Everybody one for all, Sound off, this is the call, tonight we rise.”

   So, are you going to focus on the good going on in the world? Are you going to do your part to spread God’s love and the gospel? Will you unite and fight against the devil?

   Proverbs 17:22, Matthew 28:16-20, James 4:7

   Urls cited:

1 http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/health/mass-shootings-in-america-in-charts-and-graphs-trnd/

2 http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness

3 http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/hunger-and-poverty/hunger-and-poverty-fact-sheet.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

4 http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/world/mapping-isis-attacks-around-the-world/

5 http://www.globalissues.org/article/218/diseases-ignored-global-killers

6 http://www.today.com/news/good-news