Curiosity Vs. Condemnation

    Have you ever had a moment where you witnessed someone doing something and it seemed wrong? Maybe you even noticed someone sinning. What is your initial reaction or response when someone does something like that? Maybe you feel the need to correct them. Maybe you turn a blind eye. Maybe you swing back and forth and wonder if you should say something or not.

   Can I give all of us a third option? I'll do it anyway, if you said no. Be like Jesus. Yeah, I know we should all be doing that anyway. But I'm not just taking about how Jesus showed love to all. I'm talking about the way he approached people and teaching. Instead of condemning people right away, he asked questions. If we approached people with curiosity instead of condemnation, what could happen?

   Imagine if you were the person sinning and someone came up to you and just yelled at you. How would you feel? Maybe you didn't even know what you were doing was wrong. But if someone came up to you and asked you what you were doing and why you were doing it how would you feel? Asking questions open up conversation. It also helps to not make the person feel ashamed and burn bridges.

   Now, I'm not saying that the person who is sinning should not feel some shame. What I am saying is we don't need to be judge, jury, and executioner. We can ask questions to understand. Then, if someone is sinning, we can ask questions like "what do you think that is doing to yourself or others? Do you think this is going to bless you in the future?" Maybe the person isn't actually sinning. Questions help you understand. Questions build relationships. Questions help us be more like Jesus.

   So, when you see someone sinning, what do you do? How can you share the gospel each day?

How You Relax

    One day I was doing a devotional for the LBC Women's Soccer Team about stress. I talked about how we all relax in different ways. Some people read. Others watch TV. While others, who are much more devoted than I, may go for a run. It doesn't matter how you do it, but everyone needs to relax at some point or run the risk of burning out.

   During the devotional I asked the girls how they combat stress, or what they do to relax. There were many of the typical answers then one girl said "Jesus." The coach thought she said "cheese." This misunderstanding made everyone laugh. 

   The truth is that Jesus is a good answer for this question. He even encouraged his followers to relax. Mark 6:31 says: "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." Jesus recognized that needed to rest. Yet, if you look at this passage in context, this is where Jesus feeds the 5,000. He wanted to rest but he did not let his wants get in the way of an opportunity the Lord gave him.

   Finding a balance of completing the mission God has given you and resting is vital. There will be times we really want to rest but an opportunity comes up. We must be willing to sacrifice as Jesus did. We also must be smart about resting when we have time.

   So, are you resting when you need to/have time to? Are you looking for opportunities to spread the Good News?

Zombies Among Us

    One time I was on a bus ride with my team, and we were playing a game of would you rather. One question came up about the zombie apocalypse. Now, of course, being Christians, we don't believe in zombies for real. But the girls were trying to decide who they would want to go through the apocalypse with.

   This scenario got me thinking about zombies. Did you know there are zombies among us? Not the gross ones you are thinking of. I'm talking about the fact that according to the Bible we live in a sinful world. We are dead in our sin. Thus, we are the walking dead. Unless that fact changes at some point in our lives, we will die and go to hell.

   But there's good news, we can live again. Romans 6:4 says, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." If we accept that we are sinners, confess our sins, and believe that Jesus died for them then Jesus is our savior. We are alive in him. No longer the walking dead, but alive! It is amazing to think about.

   So, are you dead or alive? If you are dead, I encourage you to learn how you can truly live in Christ (read the book of Luke). If you are alive in Christ, how are you spreading the gospel so others can live in Christ?

 

Multiplying

    While in school, I did well in most subjects. I enjoyed reading and social studies as I liked stories and learning about other people's lives. My least favorite subject was probably math. I did well enough in it, but I did not enjoy having to learn all the formulas and such. Math is important as God created it and it tells us things about him and the world. But there's one area of math that is very important: multiplying

   Why multiplying? One of the most well-known verses in the Bible is the great commission. It tells us to go into the world and make disciples. We, as Christians, are called to multiply. We are to spread the good news of the gospel to others so the body of Christ can grow. Just think if you spread the news to one person, one becomes two. Then if you both share the good news, two becomes four. Then four becomes eight and so on. That's how the body grows by making disciples.

   But it does not end there. If we don't continue to get into the word and grow in God, then we are in danger of dividing. I've heard and seen many people who leave the church over arguments, offense, or just because they felt like they didn't belong. Would that happen if we were in the word and believed what God said? It may still happen because of the devil, but I think it would be less likely. It is vital that we guard ourselves against division. Yes, we may disagree on certain things. But, as Christians, we can all agree about what Jesus did for us on the cross and that he is Lord and Savior.

   So, are you doing as you are called and trying to multiply God's kingdom? Are you in danger of division at church?

Twitterpated

   One day I was outside on a very nice day with my students. A newer teacher was with me. I heard the tweet of a bird. Looking on my right, I saw a female cardinal. I pointed it out to my co-teacher. Then I saw a male one and pointed it out as well. The next thing I said elicited an interesting response from the new teacher I said, "they are twitterpated."

   Her mouth dropped and then she laughed. I said, "what? They (the kids) don't know what that means. I'm shocked you even know what that means!" The only reason I knew was because of Bambi.

   This got me thinking about how we don't know things unless they are explained to us. It is the same way as with the gospel. We don't know about it until someone tells us it.

   We are called to spread the good news with others. Matthew 28:19 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We are to make sure that others know about Christ and understand who he is and what he did for us.

   So, do you know who Christ is? How can you spread the Gospel each day?

https://youtu.be/U10BeV4r1JE?si=pSXMcPol1QFAHYGv

He Lifts Us Up

 The sun has just risen over the African plain. Animals tread across the ground all headed toward one particular rock. They stand waiting to see something special happen. Suddenly a baboon walks up to the top of the rock. He lifts up… a lion cub! The next king of the pride lands has been born!

If you did not guess, I was describing the beginning of an amazing movie: The Lion King. In the beginning of the movie, Simba, the next king, is born. After he is born, he is presented to his people. The way he is presented is by Rafiki lifting him up before them. It is a surreal moment. These animals are looking at the one who will lead them next. 

What does that have to do with Christianity? Well, we are born common. We are born sinners, unholy. God cannot be with anything unholy. Thus, we have a conundrum. Or we did, that is until Jesus died for our sins. 

Jesus became the perfect sacrifice. He died on the cross to take away our sins. In doing that he gave us a choice. We can choose to follow ourselves and keep sinning, or we can ask for forgiveness. We can trust in Jesus as our personal savior. 

If we do that, he lifts us up just as Rafiki lifted Simba up when he was born. When we are born again, Jesus lifts us up. We are now royalty. Wait, where did that come from? Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” When we become born again, we become children of God. Thus, we are royalty. We are heirs with Jesus. Now that brings about good things and some challenges but that’s a blog for another time.

The point is, we are saved. We are royalty. We are in God’s family just by choosing to accept Christ as our savior. It’s mind boggling!

So, are you a part of God’s family? How can you spread the gospel today?

https://youtu.be/wXlxCFzcLV4

Your Everyday Impact

   One tradition I have at the end of the school year is asking the students who are graduating what song they would like to dance to on their last day. This year many of the songs we danced to at holidays were songs by Christian artists. I didn't expect them to impact the children as much as they did. They were so impacted that many of them said they wanted to dance to Shooting Star by Owl City.

   This made me think about our impact that we have each day. By choosing to find songs by Christian artists, with a good message but not too didactic, I was able to reach those kids. It was something little but it could make a huge impact on their lives.

   Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." In using songs by Christian artists I was reaching students. They were learning good morals and having fun while they were doing it.

   Have you ever thought about this in your daily life? Is there any way you could do or change something little in your life to make an impact for the kingdom?

https://youtu.be/jjJeAh7sCuk?si=ww-ILgtiZHxpFo8V

Who You Are

   We have all gone through that time of life: middle school-early adult years. That is the time where we search for answers: why are we here? Who are we? Who do we want to be? All of these questions have to do with our identity. I think that's why many movies enjoy focusing on identity a lot; it is something we are all searching for.
   In the movie Moana, a young child named Moana, is chosen by the ocean to restore the heart of an island. Moana goes through many trials until she gets to the point where it is too hard to continue. She begins to wonder why the ocean chose her. She did not feel special at all and wanted to give up. Of course, Moana just needed a reminder of who she was. 
   Moana was called because she stood apart from the rest of her people. She never gave up (until that point). She realized that the call is inside her just like the call is inside us. She realized that her heart was for her people and doing what was best for them even if it was hard. That's why she was chosen. She would not have been able to complete her mission if she did not figure out where her heart was.
   Just like Moana, we are chosen. When we are born God wants us to come to him. He calls us. We all go through different trials in our lives. We have a choice, we can choose to give up and walk away from our destiny. Or, we can be like Moana and never give up even when it's hard. In those times we need to remember we were chosen for a reason. We are children of God. We need to lean on him for strength and do what he calls us to do.
   So, do you believe you are chosen for a reason? Will you choose to never give up on what God calls you to do? What can you do to remember who you are, and why you were called, when trials come?

   John 1:12 and Romans 12:1-21

Team Effort: Soccer Lessons

"You can't win a game by yourself. Soccer is a team sport."

   Once I had a player who was very much a me player. She felt she had to do everything herself. She would dribble up the field instead of passing to the open player. She would shoot from strange angles. And, if she did pass to her teammates, she would yell at them if they messed up. It just wasn't the greatest situation for her or the other girls on the team.

   I thought about what I could do to help her understand that soccer is a team sport. I enjoy doing what I call experiments at practices. If my team is having a problem I do an object lesson to help them learn a lesson. This time I asked for 4 volunteers. I set up goals on a small field. Then I had one player against the other 3 players. That doesn't seem fair does it? Well, it wasn't but I was making a point. The girl by herself lost. The 3 girls won. The 3 girls won because they worked together to score. They played as a team. The girl by herself had to play every position.

   It is the same way in life. If humans were meant to be alone God wouldn't have created Eve. We are relational beings. We don't all have the same abilities either. Romans 12:4-5 says: "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Just like in soccer there are many positions, there are many positions in society. Every position is important. If we didn't have sanitation workers everything would be dirty. If we didn't have builders we wouldn't have buildings to work in. If we didn't have assistants we wouldn't be able to focus on big projects.

   It's the same way in the body of Christ. Everyone in the body of Christ has different gifts. If we didn't have someone in the body then the body wouldn't be the same. We all work together to reach the lost for them to join the body of Christ. It is a team effort. One person can't reach all the lost. It is a team effort. I pray that we support one another as we do our work for Christ.

   So, are you trying to be a lone ranger and reach others on your own? What can you do to reach the lost today?

   Image from here.

Got Passion? An Easter Blog

   "He has risen." If you go to church and you heard that more than likely you would reply with: "he has risen indeed." That's a great saying but I wonder if it has become common place.
   I'm not saying it isn't great to remember that Jesus has risen. What I am saying is I think that we do not have the passion we used to have when we say it. Think about when you were a child, or when you first became a Christian. When you heard "he has risen," how did you reply? Did you say "he has risen indeed" very quietly or like you were bored? No! I'm pretty sure you would have jumped up in your seat, if it was appropriate, and yelled "HE HAS RISEN INDEED!"
   Why do I say that you would have yelled it? I say that because when we first become Christian we have a fire for God. We have been saved from our sin. And, we have been saved in a most unexpected way. God came down to take our sin. He showed us love in the most unconditional way. Shouldn't we shout that to the world?!
   But, as time goes on, we take it for granted. "Oh, yes I know Jesus rose from the dead. I know pretty much all I need to know about him. No, I don't feel I am called to go places to share about him. Someone else can do that, I don't want to risk my neck." Rather than sharing the greatest story of love ever told we sit back. We become lukewarm, selfish, and hypocritical. Then we wonder why people don't want to hear about Jesus.
   We have a chance to share the good news. We should want to share this news with everyone! This isn't just a story from history. It is a story that is continuing on and that we get to be a part of. That's why we should have a passion for sharing this news. We should be yelling in church and everywhere "HE HAS RISEN INDEED!" We should be willing to tell others about him no matter the cost because he paid the ultimate price for us.
   So, do you still have a passion for Christ? Are you sharing the good news of the gospel? If not, what can you do to share the gospel? 

   Mark 16:5-7, Matthew 6:21, 1 Corinthians 10:31

   Image found here.

It's Not a Place, It's a People

   There are many people in the world today. We all come from different places, have different experiences, and have different ideas/opinions. Many people have very strong opinions about God and religion, which means they have strong opinions about the church.
   The church started back after Jesus' death. On the day of Pentecost many of Jesus' followers were in one place. Then the Holy Spirit came upon them. They were able to speak in different languages and many were saved that day (Acts.2).
   Now, when Jesus left, he told his Disciples to, "go and make disciples of all nations" (Mat.28.19). But, the disciples stayed in Jerusalem. See, these people where under the impression that the Jews were still the only ones who needed to hear about Jesus, or they may have been uncomfortable leaving Jerusalem. Whatever the case may be they decided to stay in Jerusalem. That is not what they were called to do so God caused Christians to be persecuted so that they would leave and spread the good news (Acts.8.1-3).
   Wherever the apostles went they preached the good news. Many came to Christ and churches were created. Now, here's the thing about these churches: they were not buildings. These churches were the people. It did not matter where they met, they met in people's homes and studied the word/listened to the word.
   This principle reminds me of a quote from Thor: Ragnrock, "Asgard's not a place, it's a people." We could truly say of the church "The Church is not a place, it's a people." Many times I think we get caught up in thinking the church is a building; or that if we are Mennonite or Pentecostal then we are against each other because we have differing opinions.
   It does not matter what denomination you come from, as long as we believe that Christ died for our sins and we must accept him in our hearts and follow him then we are united. Are there churches that don't preach that message? Yes, and those who preach that message will answer to God. But, the point is, many times we tend to focus on the differences of the church. It is time we focus on our similarities. We are one Church because we are one people who believe in Christ. It is time we unite to preach the message to all nations just as the early church was called to do. If we do not, we are disobeying God and hindering others from hearing about him. 

   So, do you believe that the church isn't a place, it's a people? Are you willing to unite with others churches to spend the good news? What can you do to spread the good news of the gospel today? 

   Image from here. 

Helping the Lost Get Home

   “See, that’s where I belong. That’s home. That’s why I came back, ‘cause you don’t have one. A home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can.” This is a quote said by Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Through this whole movie Bilbo is battling with his own emotions. He has to decide what he will do. He has to decide if he will join the dwarfs in their quest, or if he will stay at home in his comfort zone.

   It is an interesting tale because Bilbo has not been outside the Shire, his home, ever. And that is why I find a particular scene from the movie so profound. It is the scene where Bilbo says that quote from above. Check out the scene here.

   At the beginning of this scene Bilbo has a choice. He could have easily run away. The dwarves always doubted him and he would just be proving them right. He has not been much help up until this point on the quest. In fact, he has been more of a hindrance than anything. But, Bilbo does not run away. He wants to prove to the dwarves that they were wrong about him. And, he does. He comes back in order to help the dwarves get back home.

   I have written about the concept of home before (link here). It is difficult for some people to feel like they have a home. But, for Christians, no matter where we go we can have confidence that our home is heaven. Home is where the heart is and our hearts belong to Christ. Non-Christians do not have a home.

   In the clip Bilbo said that he has a home but the dwarves do not. Bilbo is like a Christian. He is always willing to help others no matter the cost (at least toward the end of the movie). Bilbo wants to help the dwarves get home. That is how Christians should be.

   We need to be willing to help others no matter the cost. We have a home, and we know that home is in heaven. But there are lost souls out there who do not know Christ. Christians need to follow the Great Commission. We need to come alongside unbelievers and show them that they do have a home. They can have a home in Christ.

   Also, throughout the movie, Bilbo is an example for the dwarves. All the dwarves know is how to fight and pillage in order to get what they need. Bilbo is innocent and always tries to do good by people. He becomes the dwarves’ friend and is able to influence the dwarves in a good way.

   Christians too need to become friends with unbelievers. That way we can influence them in a good way. I’m not saying that we need to do the things that our unbelieving friends do. I am saying that we can talk with them, get to know them, and show them the light of Christ by leading by example.

   So, are you following the Great Commission? Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone in order to reach others? Are you being a role model for non-believers?

   Joshua 1:9, Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:8

How Salty Are You?

   How salty are you? That may seem like a strange question. Some of you are probably thinking "I'm not food, why do I need salt on me?" Others may be thinking, "I didn't just work out, I'm not sweaty. And, I wasn't just in the ocean." Still others may be thinking, "You're crazy, where are you going with this?" For those of you in the latter category: thanks, I know I'm crazy but, as always, I have a point.

   I will tell you that I hope I'm salty. As well as I know I'm salty because my dog licks me :D Before I get to the reason why I want to be salty let me tell you a story. One time I was at a Jr. High soccer game. One of my High School players volunteered to be ball girl (If the ball goes out of bounds she gives the player a new one and gets the old one to make the game go faster).

   We were standing on the sideline talking about how things were going. I was semi-upset with her because she wasn't playing on my sister's team that season and I joked with her about it. She said, "are you salty?" She meant "are you jealous?" I said, "no, well maybe a little, but if I am that's actually a good thing according to the Bible." She laughed and one of the other coaches came over and was confused. I explained Matthew 5:13, which says: "But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

   Jesus was speaking in a riddle, which is typical of him because he wants to find the seekers. He wants people to dig deeper into his words and find meaning. What Jesus is talking about in this verse is that if we are not doing our jobs then what good are we? Salt has a job. Salt's job is to flavor things. But what's the point of putting salt on food if it isn't going to add flavor?

   In the same way, what's the point of us going into the world to do our jobs, or make disciples, if we are not actually going to do our job. If we are lukewarm in our faith how are we going to spread the saltiness? How do we flavor others with the good news of the gospel? We don't if we are not doing our job of spreading the good news.

   In the end, in my story, the player and the coach had a good laugh. Even though, originally, I used the verse out of context. I corrected myself and had a good conversation with the player (who is a believer) and the coach. In that little episode I was spreading my saltiness (the good kind, not the jealous kind), which is exactly what we are called to do.

   So, are you salty? Are you spreading your saltiness? How can you spread the Gospel today?

   Matthew 28:16-20 and Luke 14:34-35

   Image from here. 

Our Salvation is Protection: The Armor of God Series

   "No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief" (John Calvin).

   I grew up in the church my whole life. When I was in second grade my Sunday school teacher asked us if anyone wanted to pray "the prayer" to accept Christ. I thought I understood what that meant so I prayed the prayer, but I wasn't sure. When I was going into 4th grade I was at Camp YoliJwa and I prayed to redirect my life to Christ again.

   When I grew up in went to camp YoliJwa again the year before 11th grade. My counselor told me that she used to do drugs. She had other issues too. She got so low that she took pills to kill herself. But, the overdose didn't work. She sat in her room and saw a Bible. She was really mad at God so she threw the Bible. The Bible hit the wall and fell to the ground. My counselor went over and picked it up. A specific verse jumped off the page at her Romans 8:38-39 " For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." She had thought she would never be worthy of anyone, let alone God. She prayed the same prayer I did.

   The helmet was another vital piece of a soldiers armor because it protected the head. Many enemies would go for the head because it was a quick way to defeat the enemy, thus why the helmet was needed.

   In the life of a Christian the helmet of salvation is our knowledge of salvation. We know we are saved but our job isn't done. We are called to go save others by sharing our testimonies. Both my counselor and I prayed the prayer of salvation but our testimonies are not the same. Some people may relate to my testimony more than hers and vise versa. But we both share our testimonies to reach others nonetheless.

   Christians have our story as a tool to help us spread the Gospel. Our testimony is also a defense like the helmet. There are times when we all get really low. But if we know what we believe and why we believe it we can say "Jesus is my lord and he has saved me." That is the knowledge we can rest in and share with others.

   So, will you put on the helmet of salvation if you have not already? Do you find rest in the fact that Jesus has saved you? Will you spread that good news with others? 

   Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 19:25-26, Ephesians 6:10-18
   Image from here. 

Break Down the Wall

   Have you ever been hurt by someone? I'm sure that we all have. When we get hurt we have a choice. Let me tell you a story that way you can see the choices.

   Once upon a time there was a fairy named Maleficent. She fell in love with a human. The human loved her for a while but one day he was told that anyone who killed this fairy would be king. He went to her and gave her a drink that made her fall asleep. He decided not to kill her but take her wings instead.
   The fairy became queen of the forest. She put up a thorny wall all around the forest because she did not want any human to ever get in the forest again.
   When we are hurt, we have a choice.  One choice we can make is to put walls up. If we put a wall around out heart then we will never be hurt again. It would be nice to never have hurt enter our hearts but there's a problem with this. If we have a wall hurt can't get in, but love also can't get out.
   We are called to love others and be a light to the world. If we have a wall up that means we will not get to know others. We will not spread God's love to others. He lets us be a part of his story by spreading the news of the Gospel. We cannot do that if we don't get to know others, care for them, and show God's love to them.
   The story doesn't end there. In time, the king had a child. The queen of the forest came to the kingdom to interrupt the celebration of the child's birth. She put a curse on the child. The child would prick her finger on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday and fall into a deep sleep, until true loves kiss woke her. The child was taken to the wild so that she would never see a spinning wheel.
   The fairy watched over the child to make sure that her curse would come to pass. But, as the fairy watched the child she began to love the child. She even took the child to the forest. The fairy broke her walls down to let the child in. 

   The story continues but I don't want to spoil the ending. If you didn't guess by now that is the story of Maleficent. Maleficent went from having walls up to tearing them down. She could have gotten hurt again by this child. But, it did not matter because she loved and cared for this child.
   We can choose, when we get hurt, to put walls up or to love others no matter what happens to us. We could possibly get hurt by that person again; but if we put walls up then we are not showing God's love to the world.
   Jesus never put walls up. He was hurt by many but he still showed love to those people. He died for the people who loved him AND for the people that hurt him. If we call ourselves Christians then we must follow Christ's example. We must show love to all, even to those who hurt us. Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Maybe not in this lifetime; but in heaven it will be.
   So, what will you do when you get hurt? Will you choose to put walls up or to love others no matter what?

   Psalm 149:14-16, Philippians 2:4, 1 John 3:17-18
   Image found here.

The Train of Choices

   Imagine you are walking down the street. Suddenly you look over and see a train blowing its whistle. Down the tracks you see a car that has crashed on the tracks. The family in the car seems to be safe but they cannot get out because the doors are jammed.
   You look over at a different set of tracks and see a construction worker working on the track. Then you turn your head and see a track switch. If you do not pull the lever then the family will be killed. But, if you do pull the lever, the construction worker will be killed.
   A millions thoughts rush through your mind. You try to yell to the construction worker but he doesn't hear you. You think, "is it God's will that the family dies? Should I just step back? Or, should I save the family and let the one construction worker die?" In a split second you pull the switch.
You continue to yell, but the worker doesn't hear you. The train is closer now and it is just about to pass you. Suddenly you realize that the worker is someone close to you (friend, family member, etc.). You frantically look at the switch. You still have time to pull it and save your loved one, but then the family would die. What do you do?
   I first heard about this story in my philosophy class. My professor posed these questions to us. Obviously this exact situation may not happen in real life, but what if something like it happened? What if a new family came to church and then a terrorist group came in. Then they gave you the option of choosing between your family member's death or that new family. You have no idea if that family is saved. Hopefully you know if your family member is saved. What would you do?
   Here's the moral of the story. Talk with your family to make sure you know they are saved. Even if you know they are saved, talk about what you would do if something like this would happen (maybe not with little kids). It will be a difficult conversation but we have a calling. Once we became Christians we were called to follow the Great Commission. We know where our family members are going but we do not know for sure where others are going. It is our job to make sure that everyone knows the word of the Gospel. That way, if this situation ever does happen, we can say with confidence I know where I am going and where my family is going. Then we will be with God in Heaven.
   So what would you have done if you were in that situation? Will you take it upon yourself to talk with your family about what you would do in this situation? Will you follow the Great Commission and spread the good news so that none will perish?

   Matthew 28:16-20, John 14:6, Proverbs 3:5
   Image from here.

Protection and Training in the Fortress

   “But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge” (Ps.94.22).

   This past week I spent my time at a camp called Camp YoliJwa. I have been going to this camp for over 15 years of my life. It is a great place where you can have fun and learn about God. Each year they choose a theme for camp that summer. This year the theme was Fortress.

   While I was a camper I looked forward to camp. It began to become a place of retreat for me. See, in the past at camp you did not have cell service so when you went there it was easy to focus on your relationships with others and God. When I was at camp I did not have to think about the outside world and it became a place of retreat where I could reconnect with friends and grow in God.

   When I was told that the theme for camp this year would be fortress I was excited. Camp really is like a fortress. It is a safe place where you can be yourself and learn about God. A fortress is: “a large, strong building or group of buildings that can be defended from attack” (Cambridge Dictionary). Camp is a great place to defend yourself against attacks. You go there to relax, have fun, and learn more about God so you can defend yourself against the Devil.

   The problem is that eventually camp ends. You need to leave the fortress and go out to battle with the enemy. That was always a difficult thing for me to do. While at camp, you do not need to worry if people like you, what food you will eat (because the food is awesome there), where you will sleep, or about anything really. Then, when you left, you were thrown back into the real world where you could get hurt and had lots of worries.

   Here’s the thing about fortresses: they are great for learning and defending but if you stay in them you will not gain any more land or you could even starve (if you ran out of food). Fortresses could become your comfort zone. All the training in the world does you no good if you do not use it. That is why camp is great because it trains you and then sends you back out to do the work of God. If you did not have a fortress in the first place, whether it is Camp YoliJwa or someplace else, then you would not have the proper training to defend yourself against Satan.

  Fortresses are vital for training and it is important to have good instructors but you need to go out and spread the good news of the Gospel as we are called to do in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). It is also important to remember that God is our fortress and he is always with us.

   So, do you have a fortress where you can train and learn more about God? If you have a hard time leaving your fortress/comfort zone what can you do to get outside it? How can you use your training to spread the good news of the Gospel today?

   Image from here.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone: New Years

   Last year I talked about how my goal for the new year was to be positive. The way I did that was by writing down at least one good thing that happened each day, no matter how bad the day was. This year I had a new challenge for myself.
   If you were to just meet me you may think a few things. 1. I am very quiet and calm. 2. I am not very positive because I don't smile much. 3. I don't like to do things that are unfamiliar to me.
   Later on, if you got to know me more, you would realize 1. I can be very loud in the right circumstances and I can be really crazy (soccer, if I'm teaching, if I'm with my family, etc.). 2. I am positive, even though I don't smile much, and I love to encourage others. 3. I don't like to do things that are unfamiliar to me.
   If you are very observant you would have realized that the 3rd thing in each of those lists are the exact same thing. I, like many other people, do not like to get out of my comfort zone. Therefore, my challenge to myself this year was to get out of my comfort zone.
   Last New Years Eve I went to a friend's party. At that party they had dancing. I do not dance in public (unless it is the game Just Dance). I sat at a table looking at the people who were dancing. They seemed to be having fun. But, then my eyes wandered to the children who were dancing  (I'm a teacher, can you blame me)? The children were dancing and having fun. They didn't care who was watching they just wanted to dance and have fun.

   I continued to sit there watching. Then my friend came up and gave me my mentor's child to watch, since she had already tried to get me to dance. This little girl was around 3 years old. She was old enough to dance but she didn't want to because she was shy. I talked with her and then we decided that since we were both a little shy, if we went out to dance together it might be more fun. We went out on the dance floor and I taught her some dance moves. Before I knew it other children came over so I could teach them too. That would never have happened if I didn't get out of my comfort zone.

   Thus why last year became a time of me trying to get out of my comfort zone. Sometimes I didn't have much of a choice when it came to getting out of my comfort zone. This year there was a lot of change in my life. I graduated from college in 2016 and finished student teaching in late February of 2017. After that I had to get out in the work force and be an adult. I became a substitute teacher. That was a major comfort zone breakage: you are in a school you don't know, in a room you don't know, with children you don't know, and there are many more unknowns. On top of that I became a Head JV coach for the first time. That stretched me a lot because at the same time I had my first teaching job in a kindergarten classroom.
   Not only was there change around me this year, but also in me. I am constantly trying to grow and follow my own advice. Any challenge I give to you on my blog I try to follow myself.
   What did I learn in all of this? I learned that when I stepped out of my comfort zone I made a larger impact on others. The impact was different each time but important. If I stayed in my comfort zone in these situations, I would not have been able to encourage others and help them in their journeys.
   I also learned that not only are others impacted when you step outside your comfort zone, but you are as well. I have learned so many new things this year because I chose to step outside my bubble. I have grown so much as well. That is what we are called to do: grow. Grow in intelligence, in our emotions, and in God. That is how we will make an impact on this world.
   So, are you inside your own little bubble of a comfort zone? Have you tried to get out of your Comfort zone to make an impact on others? Will you step out to grow in God?

   Joshua 1:9, Matthew 5:12-13, Matthew 28:16-20

Do You Want to Be Cinderella?

   If you know me, you know I love Disney. The other day I was watching Disney Channel and The Cheetah Girls came on. One of the songs that played was called Cinderella. Some of the lyrics go like this: "I don't wanna be like Cinderella sittin in a dark cold dusty cellar waiting for somebody to come and set me free."
   A lot of people are trapped and they don't know it. Or, if they do know it, they want to rescue themselves. Another line in the song is "I'd rather rescue myself." We talk about girl power and how girls can do anything. New princess movies have come out where the princess doesn't need a prince to save her. Is this wrong? No, but what about if we connect it to a biblical perspective?
   I don't think I can recall a child who did not want to be a hero or a princess. We all once had vivid imaginations where we pretended to rule over people or save people. But does that happen in real life? We may be bosses of people but do we truly have power over them? Not really, they could leave at any time. We want to be a hero to others but can we actually save them from death? No.
   Jesus is the only one who has the power to rule over others and to save us. We may try to rule over people by manipulating them, gossiping about them, or using our strength against them. But, in the end, we have no real power over people. God is the only one who has power over everything. He can change the meanest person you know into the kindest person. God has the power.
   He has the power to save us from ourselves. We are all sinners. We may try to "rescue" ourselves but we cannot rescue ourselves from death. Each day death creeps closer to us. Some people continue to try to do good deeds, bribe false gods, or just don't believe in the afterlife. That will not save them. 
   The only hero we truly need is all powerful, all knowing, and loves us so much that he would die for us. He is the hero who can rescue us, if we choose to let him.
   So, will you continue to try to rescue yourself if you haven't trusted Jesus yet? Are you willing to step back and let a true hero save the day? Will you trust him to be your personal savior?

   Colossians 1:13, Matthew 28:16-20, John 14:6
   If you have not accepted Christ and want to know how check out this blog.

Are You a Lifeguard or a Pool Monitor?

   Imagine you see a pool where children are splashing, playing, and having fun. You smell sunscreen and chlorine. There is laughter all around. You lie down and just as you begin to relax you hear screams and splashing. You get up quickly and look at the pool. There is a child splashing in the deep end. The child is screaming when it comes up out of the water. And, when the child goes under the water, you see bubbles. You realize the child is drowning.

   Frantically you look around and locate the lifeguard. You run over to the lifeguard and ask the lifeguard why he isn’t helping the child. The lifeguard looks down at you and says “oh, I’m not a lifeguard I am just a pool monitor. I’m supposed to let a person who is drowning know that he or she is drowning.” The lifeguard looks down at the child and says “hey, you are drowning.”

   Your mouth drops and you cannot believe what you are hearing. You grab the life saver from the pool monitor and throw it to the child. You are hoping that she would have the sense to grab it and save her life.This situation is a metaphor. Obviously if you see someone drowning you are going to try and do whatever you can to save that person. But, if you see someone who does not know Christ and is going down the wrong path are you going to be willing to say to them “you are not saved?” That’s all well and good if you are willing to do that but you need to take another step too.

   The pool monitor just sat there and told the girl she was drowning but that was not enough. Christians can walk around looking at the world and say “you are not saved.” But, if we do not tell them how to be saved are we actually saving them? Are we following the great commission?

   In the story you throw the life saver to the child. Thus, you are telling the child how to save herself. At that point you hope that the child will grab onto the only thing that can save her. When witnessing to the lost we can tell them how to save themselves but then we just need to hop that they will choose to accept that salvation. That’s not where our job stops though.

   Let’s say that child decided to grab onto the life saver. Would you just walk away from that child after she grabbed that? No, you would make sure she was okay. You would find her parents and make sure they understood what happened. As Christians, after someone accepts Christ, we need to come alongside that person and help her in her walk with God. This may mean we stay in contact, make sure she is alright, answer questions, and help her find someone who she can trust to help her in her walk with God.

   Our job does not end when that person accepts Christ; in fact that is only the beginning. If we are willing to help that person accept Christ we should be willing to help that person in her walk with Christ too.

   So are you willing to save the lost? After those people accept Christ are you willing to come alongside them and help them in their walk with Christ?

   Romans 10:9, Mark 16:15-16, Hebrews 10:24-25