My journey through the Word: (Genesis 11)

Genesis 11:4-5

The people said, “let us go up into heaven” God said “let me go down to man.” How typical of our humanity to want to ascend to God’s level. We, both in our actions and in our words, often elevate ourselves to the place of God. Rather than submit our will to his will, and rather than do as wisdom says and acknowledge him in all our ways so that we might receive his direction, we take matters into our own hands as if we are omniscient.

It was the devil that stated,

“I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

In the far reaches of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High (Isaiah 14:13-14, ESV)

Lucifer’s sin from the beginning was rebellion, rooted in the desire to be like God. It is no wonder that when this serpent tempted Eve in the Garden, that he would sow seeds of deception, rebellion, and humanism. He focused her attention on the fact that she could be like God, knowing good and evil. When Eve looked at the fruit of the tree, she noticed three things

1. It was good for food

2. It was pleasant to look at

3. It was desired to make her wise like God

The first two were normal human observations, testimonies to the goodness and kindness of God. The third was a seed of doubt placed by a malicious angel bent on perverting God’s beautiful order. It took root in Eve and she was deceived into thinking she had it wrong, and nothing bad would happen to her. Every other tree in the garden was good for food. Every other fruit in the garden was pleasant to the eye. There was only one thing that separated this fruit from all others. There was only one thing that she noticed, that made this fruit stand out, and it appealed to her. She acted on her desire to be like God and ate the fruit.

What was Adam’s reason? We can really only speculate. However, while woman can claim deception, man cannot. Adam knew the commandments of God, and he also knew the consequences. He was tempted, drawn away of his own internal lusts and enticed by the idea of eating something forbidden to him. He placed himself in God’s stead and lived by his own desire instead of Gods.

Now the devil, who rebelled against God in an attempt to exalt himself as God, has succeeded in sowing seeds of humanism in Adam & Eve. They too desired to be like God and it caused the entrance of sin, and the spiritual death of mankind.

Just like our original parents, we have a tendency to exalt ourselves to the place of master of our own lives. God says yield, and we run the light anyway. God says no, and like a toddler testing boundaries, we say “yes!” The world will tell you that you are the master of your own destiny, but what a morbid destiny it is if there is none greater than us directing it!

There is power in submission. Abraham submitted and God revealed himself as Jehovah-Jireh. Gideon submitted and God delivered a nation. David submitted and defeated the giant. Solomon submitted and exposed the house of Eli. Christ submitted and brought salvation for mankind. Peter submitted and ushered in the church age. Paul submitted and brought this truth to the world.

Oh what wonderful things happen when the people of God are fully submitted. Yet we have so many Christians who try to do things their way. According to the Barna research group, more than 80% of professing Christians do not consider God, nor the Bible, when making major life choices. With such a lack of submission, is it any wonder that the church is fighting worldliness and risks becoming impotent?

Christ asked the question “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8, KJV)”. When even the children of God ignore faith and exalt themselves as Lords over their own lives, where is the hope for faith?

In contrast, God humbled himself when he clothed himself in the likeness of sinful flesh. He came to earth, not as a king, but as a servant. Not only was he mindful of man, but he actually came down to serve the very beings he created. He washed the disciples’ feet in a show of servitude and humility. He gave himself to meeting the needs of the people of earth. He healed the broken hearted, set at liberty those who were bruised. When his people screamed for a king, he refused. When he perceived that they would take him by force and make him king, he retreated alone and humbled himself in prayer. When the time came, he submitted himself to the agony of the cross!

Other gods demand their people die for them. Our Lord came down and died for us. The one who is Lord of all, became servant of all, so that we may know the power of humility and submission.

My journey through the Word (Genesis 8-10)

I've been sick the last couple of days so I am just now getting back to my journey. The Lord is a great God. I've been reading an apologetics book and it reminds me once again of how remarkable God and his word really are. To think that the God of the entire universe would care to know who I am, would take the time to hear my prayers, and would actually shed his blood so that I may know him in return.

What a marvelous God we serve!

Genesis 8 - 10

Genesis 8:1

The Bible says “But God remembered Noah (ESV).” How comforting it is to be reminded that in our most difficult times, God remembers us. When our world seems flooded with adversity, the one who is our strength knows exactly where we are. He made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. Likewise, if we endure, he will inevitably make his spirit blow across us and renew our strength. For those who wait upon the Lord truly will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not get weary. Sometimes life seems so overbearing. We are drowned by the floodwaters of difficulty. But even in the midst of turmoil, when we feel alone and in a desolate land, we can rest assured, and take comfort in the knowledge, that God remembers us.

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Genesis 9:9-17

God is a covenant making God. I’m not sure that many Christians today understand the importance of this simple fact. No other God of any religion can claim to be a covenant making God. The Hindu gods do not make covenants. Shiva lives only to destroy. The god of the Muslims does not make covenants. Allah fears that such behavior would diminish his absolute authority and make him subject to the very humans he created.

The God of the Jews & Christians has no such fear. Why? Because HE is the one true God. His love compels him to covenant with man like a bridegroom to his bride. He doesn’t fear losing power, because he cannot lose power. He doesn’t fear losing authority, because he cannot lose authority. He doesn’t fear becoming subject to mankind, because he will never face that possibility.

This simple, yet profound, attribute of God reveals his monopleuric character in that he is willing to descend and make a covenant with mankind, a race of beings so much lower than himself. Not only is he willing to stoop to our level, but his covenants are dipleuric in that we have free choice of whether or not to enter in. No other religion gives such a choice.

God never wanted a robot bride. He values freedom of choice. He wants us to love him by our own will. He has made with us a covenant that we can freely enter into, in order to declare his love for us. He does not fear becoming subject to us, rather he willing put on flesh and became a servant to mankind.

Allah refuses to make a covenant because he is unwilling to lower himself to our level. Jesus Christ, Lord of ALL, willingly came in the image of like sinful flesh, so that he could model servitude. Imagine, the God of the entire universe, being so humble in his majesty that he would become servant to the very beings he created. Allah & Shiva loath such thoughts, it is beneath them. Yet God made it reality. He formed a covenant with man so that we may be saved. He condescended so that we may ascend. How beautiful the idea of God’s covenant really is. He is the only God willing to have a real relationship with us.

Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend - Ravi Zacharias

"If this conversion is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians?" Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend is Ravi Zacharias' answer to this question. If you know anything about Ravi Zacharias then you recognize that he is a leader in the field of Christian apologetics. He has proven his mastery of the scriptures, and of apologetics, once again in Beyond Opinion. This book is a thorough, provocative, and insightful guide into what Christians believe, and how those beliefs can be defended against some of the greatest challenges in our world today.

In Beyond Opinion, Dr. Zacharias invites notable apologists, such as Stuart McAllister, Alister McGrath, Amy Orr-Ewing, Joe Boot, and others, to share their insight on such subjects as postmodernism, atheism, Islam, philosophy, evil and suffering, and other common challenges presented against Christianity. Together Dr. Zacharias and his team present a complete picture of modern apologetics, and challenge Christians to not only know what they believe, but to also live it daily. He suggests a new vision for 21st century apologetics. An apologetic governed by the desire to win people, and not arguments. This focus is emphasized throughout the book and in part two the reader is given guidance on conversational apologetics that they can use in standard conversation.

I found this book to be very interesting, and educational. While it was written by scholars, it is at a level most can comprehend. It gives very practical and Biblical answers to tough questions, and shines light on relevant topics that Christians are facing every day.

In a world where faith seems to be under attack, and God is becoming more and more subjective in the public sector, it is a blessing to have a clear and certain sound. Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend is a Clarion call in a chaotic world. I highly recommend it for any Christian who truly is interested in always being ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Modern Christianity???

My journey through the Word - (Genesis 1-7; Matthew 1-3)

I love reading the Word of God. It seems like every time I open it's pages, it shows me something I haven't seen before. There is definitely a wealth of treasure found in the Word of God.

I'm starting something new that I would like to share. I have decided once again to make my way from Genesis to Revelation and take a journey through the Bible. This time, I will make it a point to write down what inspirational thoughts God gives me as I journey, and share them here on my blog. While I will not claim any great revelation, or scholarly insight, I do hope these nuggets of gold will bless someone and give you something to glean from. Who knows, maybe something said on this blog will inspire a sermon, give a word of wisdom, or simply cause someone to think about something in a way they haven't considered before.

In addition, I would also like to encourage YOU to make your own journey, and blog about what God shows you. Let's start a trend!

Imagine the repository of insight we could accumulate if people would make it a point to dig deep into the Word of God and share what nuggets of truth they unearth. If you do decide to start your own journey, please send me a notice, comment, or email. I'll link your blog to mine, and we can create a network of commentary that might prove even more beneficial to those that read them!

Now, for my thoughts from today.

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Genesis 1-7; Matthew 1-3

Genesis 3:22-23

Man had made the mistake of disobedience. He ate of the tree from which God commanded him not to eat. How typical of our human nature! Often times we find ourselves doing the exact opposite of what God commands. Truly Paul says it well. There is a war within us. Those things that I want to do, I do not. That which I don’t want to do, that is what I do. Such is the way of dirt. It is not easily contained, often makes a mess, and is easily carried away by every wind of doctrine.

God feared that Adam, in his fallen state, would reach out and also eat of the tree of life. This would have sealed his fate. Had he eaten of the tree of life, he would have been sentenced to his fallen condition for eternity. It was God’s mercy, not his judgment that drove man out of the Garden. If Adam would have eaten of the tree of life, and forever remained fallen, where would be the hope of redemption later? The wages of sin is death. If death wasn’t allowed in the world, how could Christ be offered as payment for our sins? God drove Adam out of the garden so that he might have hope of a future redemption.

Likewise, God’s mercy compels him to reach out to us in our fallen state. Sometimes God must drive us out of our place of comfort in order to open the door for his redemptive work. What may feel like God’s judgment could actually be his mercy. The Lord chastises those he loves. Like a parent disciplines their child so that the undesirable behavior will be corrected, God at times must correct us so that we might have a better outcome. The next time we feel like we are in judgment, let’s stop and examine our situation. We may find ourselves in the middle of God’s mercy.

Genesis 3:24

God drove out the man (ESV) God has a way of driving out our humanity if we let him. The person who humbles himself before God will find that he can transform our very nature.

The Bible says that God placed a flaming sword in the east of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life. What fantastic imagery of the Word of God! The writer of Hebrews called it a sharpened two-edged sword. Jeremiah said it was fire shut up in his bones. Truly this flaming sword guards the way to life. When you read it, it breathes life into your soul. The very words on the page are life. The sword was in the East (qedem), literally the “front” of Eden. When you keep God’s word before you, it will give you answers when you have questions, and hope when you’re desperate. The Word of God is a lamp and a light when you sit in darkness. It brings joy to the joyless, and purity to those who need cleansing. The Word of God establishes, it corrects, it reproves, it teaches, and it makes wise the simple. This flaming sword guards life! Those who keep it before them, who always place it first, will find safety and life, and joy in its pages.

Matthew 1:5

The genealogy of Christ records that the harlot of Jericho later became a descendent of Jesus. What could take a harlot and make her a member of the family of Christ? Faith! Hebrews 11:31 says that by faith Rahab received the spies in peace. Likewise it is our faith that causes us to rise above our own past and take our place in the family of Christ. Three women are mentioned in the lineage of Jesus. Tamar, who was wronged by her father in law, Rahab who was a prostitute by trade, and Ruth who was abandoned without a family. What a beautiful redemptive story is found in the lineage of the one who died to bring redemption to ALL mankind. It doesn’t matter what past you have, whether you were abandoned, wronged, or drowning in sin, you have your place in the family of God!

You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be - Max Lucado

Imagine yourself in a reality show. The plot? You and the other contestants must find a certain city, locate a certain neighborhood, and fill a certain role. No one tells you were to go. No one gives you direction on what city to choose. Your only clues are found in a bag of items given to you before the start of the contest. In this bag are all the clues you need to find your city, find your neighborhood, and find your place.

This is the basic premise of You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be, by Max Lucado. In the book, Lucado asserts that God gives each individual a sweet spot in which we are made to dwell. By analyzing our natural abilities and skills, we can find this sweet spot and fulfill God’s plan for our lives.

As always, Lucado writes a superb book. Simple and practical, You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be reminds us that each and every person is fearfully and wonderfully made. Each one of us was created for a purpose, and God has packed us with everything we need to find our way.

If you have a friend, or loved one, that is searching for their place in this world, then I would recommend giving them a copy of You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be. It also makes a great gift for graduates and college students.

It can be hard wandering through life, filling a role that you weren’t meant to fill. Max Lucado gives us the steps to re-evaluate our world, unpack the bag of skills and abilities God has placed within us, and use these clues to find our sweet spot.

After all, life is much sweeter when you find your spot.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Facebooking in Kids Ministry

There’s no doubt about it, we have crossed over.

Gone are the days of only chatting with friends via the phone, or in the hallways at school. Today there are literally dozens of media options that keep kids connected 24/7.

Kids are naturally social, so it is no wonder sites like MySpace & Facebook have taken off among the kids and teenagers of the world. I’ve heard varying opinions about whether or not this latest social trend is good for Christians, or if it will pose another cultural problem the church must fight. Wherever we fall on the issue, we must confess that kids are there. They have Facebook pages, they text, and they unfortunately play Farmville.

Without getting into a rant against random, cheesy, farm games, let me say that I believe both good and bad can come from Facebooking. While it does open the door wide open for influences and potential risks, I have personally found it to be a great medium for conveying information, and even partaking in a little ministry work.

Below I’ve outlined some of the ways I believe Facebook can be rewarding for a Children’s Ministry. I’ve also outlined some tips I’ve found to be helpful when dealing with kids on Facebook. This social networking site holds great potential for bringing a children’s minister closer to their kids, and is a good source to extend the discipleship beyond the average Sunday morning.

Let’s look at what Facebook has to offer.

Messages – Much like email, this feature allows you to send messages to certain people. You can attach documents, links, videos etc. This is a nice feature because all you have to remember is a name and face, not some random email address like pootsybear79_TX3351@camelmail.net . Messaging is a great way to send information to kids and parents under your ministry. It is quick and easy, and even allows for a conversational style when participants select to reply to all.

Messaging is also a good way to connect with a kid in your ministry, who is otherwise closed in. We live in an era where many kids – and even adults for that matter – are more comfortable opening up behind a computer screen. Someone who is introverted in public, will not talk or participate, may be willing to share their troubles via a medium that is less confrontational. Personally I have found this to be true. There were a couple of kids in my children’s ministry that would be closed in person, yet online would be willing to talk. This medium allowed me to give them godly counsel, and ministry, in a setting that was comfortable to them. It also opened the door for them to feel comfortable speaking to me about it in person. Knowing that I was already aware of what was going on allowed these kids to feel more comfortable when we saw each other face to face.. It provided me a way to connect with kids who needed spiritual guidance.

We need to recognize though, that while messaging may present a good opportunity to connect, there needs to be some guidelines in place to protect everyone involved.

Fan Pages – This feature allows you to create a specific page for your ministry. I would highly recommend this method over using a personal page for ministry purposes. This is a great way to quickly convey information and news. Every time you make a post, it immediately goes to the newsfeed section of your fan’s pages. This is a great tool for ministries to provide simple teaching tips, inspirational sayings, a scripture of the day, or illicit conversation over a thought. I would suggest using the wall of your Facebook page (in less than 420 characters of course) to briefly recap the highlights of your kid’s church, or Sunday school, the week before. Ask your kids, teachers, and parents to get involved in the discussion. This will present new opportunities to reinforce the lessons, and get kids thinking about spiritual issues beyond 10am – 11am on Sunday morning.

Events – This feature allows you to place your events on a calendar and send notifications to all your friends. This is a great feature for promoting an upcoming rally, special Sunday, recreation activity, etc. As the date of the event get’s closer, a reminder is placed on the news feed section of your friend’s pages. Not only can you post events, but you can also send out virtual invitations to everyone on your friends list. They, in turn, can pass the invitation on to other friends. This is a great way to promote your event with no cost. This is a great tool for busy ministries with a low budget!

Notes – This section is a minister’s dream. The notes section is basically a blog that allows you to share your thoughts with everyone on your friends list. This is a great place to share experiences, testimonies, or to expound on a thought or Sunday school lesson. You can use notes to send a devotional to your teachers, kids, and parents. You can use notes for training purposes, or to reinforce the sermon from Kids Church. The notes section can be a great discipleship tool in the hand of a minister. If you open a ministry page, use this section weekly to teach your kids, teachers, and equip your parents. When you post a note, everyone on your friends list is immediately notified. This is a great way to disseminate information, and extend your ministry reach beyond Sunday.

Birthdays – Every kid is enthusiastic about their birthday. It is their day! Facebook allows you to place your friend’s birthdays on your calendar, and reminds you when one is approaching. When a birthday arrives, send a quick note or wall post. This is a wonderful way to remember and celebrate this special occasion in a kid’s life without spending money on postage, or having to remember to send a card. If you like sending a card, and have no problem remembering, then keep this up also. The birthday reminders can be a great way for you to show you care enough about your kids to celebrate their special day.

Photos – Facebook allows you to create photo albums to display your pictures. Use this feature to post photos from Kid’s Church, rallies, crusades, fun events, etc. Create a “silly photo” album and fill it with nothing but crazy pictures of your kids! Have them pose silly, or make silly faces, or catch them in funny actions, and post them in this album. This will create a place where kids can relive fond memories. Children’s Ministry is all about creating impressions and memories. The photos section of Facebook can help you achieve this goal.

FB Advertising – This is a great feature that can give your ministry wide exposure for pennies on the dollar. Create an ad campaign that reaches your community. You pay pennies for each impression, or click on the Advertisement. For less than $100 you can literally put your ministry in front of millions of people.

Farmville – There is absolutely no value in Farmville. Stay away from it. It is from Satan. It is in the Bible not to play cheesy farm games. Look it up in Hezekiah 33:5. :)

As a recap,

Facebook can be a great way to expand your Children’s Ministry. It provides opportunities to disciple, connect, inform, and relate to the kids in your church. By having access to your kid’s Facebook pages, you can keep up to date on the happenings in their life. You can see what is important to them, what they are facing, and it helps you keep tabs on the spiritual state of your kids. This is a great tool for Children’s Ministry workers because it helps you clue in to what your kids need each Sunday. It moves you from taking a bird shot approach of teaching curriculum and hoping it hits home with someone, to a place of strategic discipleship. When you know where your kids are at in life, you are better empowered to bring them a word from God that speaks to their “today.” Such empowerment moves ministry into a deeper and more influential place. It makes a greater impact in the lives of your kids.

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and oh yea, Farmville is evil.

Let me know ways in which you have used networking media in ministry. I am interested in hearing all your comments about how sites like Facebook can, or have, increased ministry opportunities for you!