Tuesday, December 21, 2010
You Are the Music of Christmas
So what comes to mind when you hear the word “Christmas”?
Decorated trees? Church bells ringing? Friends and families?
X-Box 360 and Call of Duty?
For me, I can’t help but think about music. For some reason I never grow weary of hearing the classic carols and the Christmas songs that I’ve sung as long as I can remember. And here’s a list of songs that I don’t exactly remember, but seem to fit our world pretty well. Check these out:
Schizophrenia -- Do You Hear What I Hear, the Voices, the Voices?
Amnesia -- I Don't Remember If I'll be Home for Christmas
Narcissistic Personality Disorder -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
Manic -- Deck The Halls And Walls And House And Lawn And Streets And Stores And Office And Town And Cars And Buses And Trees And.......
Multiple Personality Disorder -- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
Paranoid -- Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Us
Antisocial Personality Disorder -- Thoughts of Roasting You On an Open Fire
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Alzheimer's -- Walking In a Winter Wonderland Miles from My House in My Slippers and Robe
Oppositional Defiant Disorder -- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House
Social Anxiety Disorder -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate
Attention Deficit Disorder -- We Wish You......Hey Look!! It's Snowing!!!
No offense meant and all kidding aside, have you ever wondered where the first Christmas song to Jesus Christ was sung? You may be surprised, and you definitely don’t want to miss the meaning behind this incredible scene:
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed (Luke 2:8-18).
Can you even imagine being at this breathtaking scene? Imagine the greatest music your ears could attend to and multiply it by infinity, and it still wouldn’t compare to the heavenly choir’s harmony celebrating the tiny infant who would one day walk out of His own grave.
And not only is the music ridiculously awesome, even better is the message that the angels proclaimed:
“Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master”
This is the heart of Christmas - which comes from ‘Christ + Mass’ (mass being a celebration) - so we rejoice and marvel at the fact that the God of the Universe wrapped Himself in flesh to give us the greatest present that humanity could ever experience: Jesus Christ.
So this Christmas, take some time to be still and reflect on the incredible weight and implication of the angelic message: our Savior has appeared, and because of His birth, death has been defeated. Christmas means forgiveness. Christmas means eternal life.
And Christmas also means that we have the same opportunity as the shepherds - remember what they did?
“They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.”
The shepherds were so overjoyed and overwhelmed by the good news of Jesus that they ran to tell anyone and everyone who would listen…
And how about you? Have you tuned out of the message because of the busy/stressful/materialistic/food coma season that robs us of the true joy that comes when we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world?
Let’s make the music of our Christmas a song of deliverance that celebrates the Christ and tells the world the Good News!
Flash Point Ignite into Action
Christmastime gives us one of the best opportunities of the year to share our faith. Use some of the time you have off to connect with friends at a coffee shop or over lunch to ask them what they believe is the significance of Christmas. Pray for an opportunity to share Christ through the story of the angels and the shepherds.
Accelerant Feed the Fire
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship (Galatians 4:4-5).
Decorated trees? Church bells ringing? Friends and families?
X-Box 360 and Call of Duty?
For me, I can’t help but think about music. For some reason I never grow weary of hearing the classic carols and the Christmas songs that I’ve sung as long as I can remember. And here’s a list of songs that I don’t exactly remember, but seem to fit our world pretty well. Check these out:
Schizophrenia -- Do You Hear What I Hear, the Voices, the Voices?
Amnesia -- I Don't Remember If I'll be Home for Christmas
Narcissistic Personality Disorder -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
Manic -- Deck The Halls And Walls And House And Lawn And Streets And Stores And Office And Town And Cars And Buses And Trees And.......
Multiple Personality Disorder -- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
Paranoid -- Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Us
Antisocial Personality Disorder -- Thoughts of Roasting You On an Open Fire
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Alzheimer's -- Walking In a Winter Wonderland Miles from My House in My Slippers and Robe
Oppositional Defiant Disorder -- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House
Social Anxiety Disorder -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate
Attention Deficit Disorder -- We Wish You......Hey Look!! It's Snowing!!!
No offense meant and all kidding aside, have you ever wondered where the first Christmas song to Jesus Christ was sung? You may be surprised, and you definitely don’t want to miss the meaning behind this incredible scene:
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed (Luke 2:8-18).
Can you even imagine being at this breathtaking scene? Imagine the greatest music your ears could attend to and multiply it by infinity, and it still wouldn’t compare to the heavenly choir’s harmony celebrating the tiny infant who would one day walk out of His own grave.
And not only is the music ridiculously awesome, even better is the message that the angels proclaimed:
“Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master”
This is the heart of Christmas - which comes from ‘Christ + Mass’ (mass being a celebration) - so we rejoice and marvel at the fact that the God of the Universe wrapped Himself in flesh to give us the greatest present that humanity could ever experience: Jesus Christ.
So this Christmas, take some time to be still and reflect on the incredible weight and implication of the angelic message: our Savior has appeared, and because of His birth, death has been defeated. Christmas means forgiveness. Christmas means eternal life.
And Christmas also means that we have the same opportunity as the shepherds - remember what they did?
“They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.”
The shepherds were so overjoyed and overwhelmed by the good news of Jesus that they ran to tell anyone and everyone who would listen…
And how about you? Have you tuned out of the message because of the busy/stressful/materialistic/food coma season that robs us of the true joy that comes when we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world?
Let’s make the music of our Christmas a song of deliverance that celebrates the Christ and tells the world the Good News!
Flash Point Ignite into Action
Christmastime gives us one of the best opportunities of the year to share our faith. Use some of the time you have off to connect with friends at a coffee shop or over lunch to ask them what they believe is the significance of Christmas. Pray for an opportunity to share Christ through the story of the angels and the shepherds.
Accelerant Feed the Fire
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship (Galatians 4:4-5).
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:23).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
Monday, December 20, 2010
Cookie Decorating at The Refuge
We began our journey at Barbatos for some pizza and tasty beverages.
Brian likes pepperoni.
We were told to expect 14 kids at The Refuge, but only had 2. We soon found out that 2 were PLENTY!
We have quite a group of creative decorators. LOL
Not sure who is having more fun....
The best part...and pic...of the day!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A Blessing for the Bullied and a Cure for the Cutters
The entertainment world was a bit rocked when the account of Demi Lovato's self-check in at a rehab facility hit the news.
But should it be?
Of course, I am always saddened to hear about people in pain, and I am so glad that Demi cares enough about herself to get some help. But honestly, I am not surprised when news of this sort comes out of Hollywood. How many examples do we need of people who make it big only to find out that no amount of external success can truly give us peace and contentment?
And that leads me to think about all the pressures you have to deal with from just a normal-ish type life. No, you don't live in the rock star fish bowl, but you are in the shark tank called High School - and that's a world of anxiety, stress, and performance that can emotionally cripple even the strongest of teens.
So how do teens deal with it?
Well, there's the obvious ways like drugs and alcohol, but I've also seen more subtle ways of coping with the emotional pressure that aren't as obvious, and they are related to Demi Lavato's situation. Sometimes teens who don't know what to do with the erupting waves of anxiety turn to bullying and/or cutting. I know that you already know this, but did you also know that Demi was bullied as a child, and her reason for checking into rehab might be related to cutting? There are some deep issues going on with her that need specific and radical treatment.
And you too, right? Maybe you've been bullied - maybe you've bullied others. Perhaps you cut because you think it can release the emotional stress and pain from your life situation. Or it could be that you are simply tired...sick and tired actually...of running on the treadmill of life and not seeing any way to get off and catch your breath.
Not everyone can afford professional help at a treatment facility, but there is an ancient cure that has a complete and 100% success rate that I would like to point you towards. It is a blessing for the bullied and a cure for the cutters, but you have to ingest these truths into the core of your being for them to be effective. So let the words wash over you like an ocean of comfort...hear Jesus Christ speaking to you in a gentle and soothing voice as His words bring peace to your anxious feelings:
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message).
Here's another way to hear this promise:
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
This promise is for anyone in any situation - and especially for those who feel trapped and unloved. Jesus beckons you to offer up your life to Him, then watch Him take the good, the bad, and yes, even the ugly and craft it into something miraculous.
So if you are bullied, remember that He was beaten...He knows the shame and embarrassment.
If you are mutilating yourself, remember that He was mutilated to the point of being unrecognizable - and He took the wounds to heal yours!
If you are tired, remember that He fell to the ground in exhaustion on His way to the Cross...but He made it to the place of His death so we could live a life of love and fellowship with Him now and later in heaven forever!
Jesus Christ invites you and your friends on a journey through life that will teach you to live 'freely and lightly.' The moment you trust Him as Savior is a passage into an entirely different world than the selfish, cruel, pressure filled place we all find ourselves in.
Weary traveler...may you find rest for your souls!
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
Do you have friends who have been bullied or maybe are cutters? Pray for them, and pray for an opportunity to share the gospel and the message that can free them of the emotional stresses and pressures of being a teenager in this anxious and pain filled world.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you ( Isaiah 26:3).
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
But should it be?
Of course, I am always saddened to hear about people in pain, and I am so glad that Demi cares enough about herself to get some help. But honestly, I am not surprised when news of this sort comes out of Hollywood. How many examples do we need of people who make it big only to find out that no amount of external success can truly give us peace and contentment?
And that leads me to think about all the pressures you have to deal with from just a normal-ish type life. No, you don't live in the rock star fish bowl, but you are in the shark tank called High School - and that's a world of anxiety, stress, and performance that can emotionally cripple even the strongest of teens.
So how do teens deal with it?
Well, there's the obvious ways like drugs and alcohol, but I've also seen more subtle ways of coping with the emotional pressure that aren't as obvious, and they are related to Demi Lavato's situation. Sometimes teens who don't know what to do with the erupting waves of anxiety turn to bullying and/or cutting. I know that you already know this, but did you also know that Demi was bullied as a child, and her reason for checking into rehab might be related to cutting? There are some deep issues going on with her that need specific and radical treatment.
And you too, right? Maybe you've been bullied - maybe you've bullied others. Perhaps you cut because you think it can release the emotional stress and pain from your life situation. Or it could be that you are simply tired...sick and tired actually...of running on the treadmill of life and not seeing any way to get off and catch your breath.
Not everyone can afford professional help at a treatment facility, but there is an ancient cure that has a complete and 100% success rate that I would like to point you towards. It is a blessing for the bullied and a cure for the cutters, but you have to ingest these truths into the core of your being for them to be effective. So let the words wash over you like an ocean of comfort...hear Jesus Christ speaking to you in a gentle and soothing voice as His words bring peace to your anxious feelings:
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message).
Here's another way to hear this promise:
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
This promise is for anyone in any situation - and especially for those who feel trapped and unloved. Jesus beckons you to offer up your life to Him, then watch Him take the good, the bad, and yes, even the ugly and craft it into something miraculous.
So if you are bullied, remember that He was beaten...He knows the shame and embarrassment.
If you are mutilating yourself, remember that He was mutilated to the point of being unrecognizable - and He took the wounds to heal yours!
If you are tired, remember that He fell to the ground in exhaustion on His way to the Cross...but He made it to the place of His death so we could live a life of love and fellowship with Him now and later in heaven forever!
Jesus Christ invites you and your friends on a journey through life that will teach you to live 'freely and lightly.' The moment you trust Him as Savior is a passage into an entirely different world than the selfish, cruel, pressure filled place we all find ourselves in.
Weary traveler...may you find rest for your souls!
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
Do you have friends who have been bullied or maybe are cutters? Pray for them, and pray for an opportunity to share the gospel and the message that can free them of the emotional stresses and pressures of being a teenager in this anxious and pain filled world.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you ( Isaiah 26:3).
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
Of Horcruxes and Eternal Life
So the beginning of the end...or the end of the beginning, depending on how you look at it, has finally arrived. Harry Potter and his grand adventures are drawing to a close. And as you know, the story is finishing in a two part format so everyone involved can make more money adventure in this magical culmination called The Deathly Hallows.
Experts are predicting Pottermania to soar through the skies like a Quidditch broom in full flight, so before we go any further it might be in your best interest to take a quick "You Know You're Too Big of a Harry Potter Fan If" test.*
Ready?
Experts are predicting Pottermania to soar through the skies like a Quidditch broom in full flight, so before we go any further it might be in your best interest to take a quick "You Know You're Too Big of a Harry Potter Fan If" test.*
Ready?
- You mutter nonsense Latin words under your breath.
- You call your least favorite teacher Snape.
- Your computer says "You've Got Mail" and you run outside looking for an owl.
- You sort everyone you meet into the four Hogwarts houses. (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.)
- You were burned when you couldn't get through the flames of your fireplace.
- You had to go to the hospital after you broke your nose running headfirst into the wall between platforms nine and ten.
- You point to normal things like parking meters and say "Look at the things these muggles dream up!"
- When playing chess, you yell orders to the chess players and get upset when they don't move.
- You get extraordinarily emotional every time you hear "Hedwig's Theme."
- You tell your teacher that your homework ate your dog.
(*Source: mugglenet.com)
I don't think I'm actually spoiling anything by telling you that Part One basically revolves around Harry, Hermoine, and Ron on a desperate search for the horcruxes that give Voldemort eternal life. All the while they are chased by Death Eaters and all sorts of additional peril...shocker, right?
But one thing that really intrigued me is the whole concept of the horcrux. Basically it is a magical object that contains part of a person's soul, so when he/she perishes, the horcrux can give you another life. The only way to make a horcrux, though, is through the murder of an innocent person. Voldemort obviously had experience in that area, which is why he could make so many horcruxes in an attempt to live forever - but shattering his soul into multiple pieces is also why he looks like E.T. on steroids.
Are you seeing the parallels here to the reality of the greatest story ever told? Humankind for thousands of years makes up religions and tries desperately to find eternal life, only to fail and live shattered lives.
But then "God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Do you see how it took the murder of an innocent Person to open a way for true eternal life? But Jesus was not just a human, He was also God in the flesh, which is why He could pay the penalty for all the world's sin and offer everlasting life to everyone who receives it by faith.
But here's the critical truth we often miss. Every human being already has eternal life - that is we all have a soul that will exist beyond our time here on earth into eternity - the question is where will that time be spent? In a perfect and unfathomable place called heaven, or in a tormenting and unspeakable place called hell?
That's why the Bible defines "eternal life" as much more than something measured by time:
"Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent" (John 17:3).
Eternal life is not found in an object and it is not just defined by quantity. Jesus teaches us that it is a relationship of intimacy with Jesus for life on earth, then a perfect relationship with God in heaven after death. That means the eternal life we have found through trusting Christ adds an eternal element to everything we do and say. As Maximus said in the movie Gladiator: "What we do in life...echoes in eternity."
Perhaps you feel like you are running through the woods of life being chased by your fears and the presence of evil. You can stop running and rest in the fact that if you have put your full faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you have received eternal life and "every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith" (1 John 5:4).
And don't forget about your friends. Have you noticed that a central theme in all the Harry Potter stories is the valiant attempt to intervene and rescue friends in danger? It's a theme that that should ring true in our lives, as well, when we remember that our friends who don't know Jesus are in real danger too – the danger of spending an eternity separated from God in a place the Bible describes as unbearable and unending. So share the good news of the gospel with the passion and fervor of a Harry Potter maniac, and God will use your efforts to place them into a beautiful story that will never come to an end!
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
The Harry Potter series provides an easy way to bring up the topic of spiritual things and the unseen world. Don't miss out on a great opportunity to use the fantasy world of Harry Potter to bring up the real truth about heaven, hell, and eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them (John 3:35-36).
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water" (John 4:13-15).
"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life " (John 5:24).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
Life in the Fringe
Deep down you feel it, don't you? Maybe not when you're in line at Starbucks or hanging out at the mall...but in the dark recesses of the night when you're all alone you sense something.
Not a physical presence, because I'm not referring to something your eyes can see directly. Much like the wind, you can't observe it straight up, yet the results of its invisible force are obvious.
This is the premise of Fox's hit show Fringe - which chronicles the adventures of an FBI team that investigates unexplained occurrences. Because they appear unsolvable by ordinary means, they have to use "fringe" examination methods in attempting to unravel the paranormal messes that keep popping up.
Of course that's just a well produced television series that takes full advantage of CGI and other special effects to create the illusion that our universe runs parallel with a whole other unseen world...right?
Yeah, right. The paranormal world of Fringe exists in the minds of the writers and the designs of the producers, but don't be fooled into thinking that there isn't a very real and very dangerous parallel universe that intersects ours on a minute by minute basis. The Bible is as stuffed as a holiday turkey with accounts and examples of these two worlds colliding with shocking and life altering results. Now you can deny or ignore this truth, but that does not make the reality of the spiritual world any less real. You are living in the fringe, so I would highly recommend being informed and aware of how to survive and conquer.
Ready?
Survival tip #1 - Open your eyes!
Because you possess an eternal soul, you have two levels of awareness. One, obviously, is what you observe on a physical level, but that is only half the equation. We need to ask God the same thing that a prophet of God prayed for his freaked out servant when they were surrounded by an enemy force:
When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha.
"Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:15-17).
Can you imagine? The servant thought they were completely outmatched - but in reality there was an angelic force surrounding their enemies that dwarfed their numbers by comparison. Ask God to make you aware of His presence and protection even in the midst of the most frightening circumstances.
Survival tip #2 - Open Fire!
Far too many Christians live on the fringe of the fringe. We sometimes think that being a Christ follower is occasionally showing up for church, praying before meals and tests, and reading the Bible when the mood strikes them. Hey guys, that's like being drafted into the military during war time and showing up to the battle armed with an i-Pad and wearing footy pajamas!
Bottom line: there is no neutral position in this war. You either take your journey with Jesus Christ seriously, or you will be seriously rocked. Get in the game by suiting up each day with the armor God has graciously provided us:
Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17, CEV).
Survival tip #3 - Open your mouth!
This battle is about the destiny of humanity - which includes your friends who don't know about the good news of Jesus Christ. Trust me, no one has ever been saved by watching Christians, which is why we need to join the Apostle Paul and all the saints who made this their daily prayer request:
"Pray also for me. Pray that when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That's what I should do" (Ephesians 6:19,20b).
You are living in a dual reality where the physical and spiritual worlds collide each day in a battle for souls. Will you choose today to let God open your eyes? Will you open fire on the enemy? Will you open your mouth and share the gospel with your friends?
Let's get off the fringe of the fringe and make an eternal difference in both worlds!
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
Commit today to start each day by asking God to open your eyes and "suiting up" with His armor. Then go out each day with the attitude of opening your mouth and opening fire in the daily battle that God calls you to take part in.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12).
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left (2 Corinthians 6:4-7).
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
Not a physical presence, because I'm not referring to something your eyes can see directly. Much like the wind, you can't observe it straight up, yet the results of its invisible force are obvious.
This is the premise of Fox's hit show Fringe - which chronicles the adventures of an FBI team that investigates unexplained occurrences. Because they appear unsolvable by ordinary means, they have to use "fringe" examination methods in attempting to unravel the paranormal messes that keep popping up.
Of course that's just a well produced television series that takes full advantage of CGI and other special effects to create the illusion that our universe runs parallel with a whole other unseen world...right?
Yeah, right. The paranormal world of Fringe exists in the minds of the writers and the designs of the producers, but don't be fooled into thinking that there isn't a very real and very dangerous parallel universe that intersects ours on a minute by minute basis. The Bible is as stuffed as a holiday turkey with accounts and examples of these two worlds colliding with shocking and life altering results. Now you can deny or ignore this truth, but that does not make the reality of the spiritual world any less real. You are living in the fringe, so I would highly recommend being informed and aware of how to survive and conquer.
Ready?
Survival tip #1 - Open your eyes!
Because you possess an eternal soul, you have two levels of awareness. One, obviously, is what you observe on a physical level, but that is only half the equation. We need to ask God the same thing that a prophet of God prayed for his freaked out servant when they were surrounded by an enemy force:
When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha.
"Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:15-17).
Can you imagine? The servant thought they were completely outmatched - but in reality there was an angelic force surrounding their enemies that dwarfed their numbers by comparison. Ask God to make you aware of His presence and protection even in the midst of the most frightening circumstances.
Survival tip #2 - Open Fire!
Far too many Christians live on the fringe of the fringe. We sometimes think that being a Christ follower is occasionally showing up for church, praying before meals and tests, and reading the Bible when the mood strikes them. Hey guys, that's like being drafted into the military during war time and showing up to the battle armed with an i-Pad and wearing footy pajamas!
Bottom line: there is no neutral position in this war. You either take your journey with Jesus Christ seriously, or you will be seriously rocked. Get in the game by suiting up each day with the armor God has graciously provided us:
Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17, CEV).
Survival tip #3 - Open your mouth!
This battle is about the destiny of humanity - which includes your friends who don't know about the good news of Jesus Christ. Trust me, no one has ever been saved by watching Christians, which is why we need to join the Apostle Paul and all the saints who made this their daily prayer request:
"Pray also for me. Pray that when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That's what I should do" (Ephesians 6:19,20b).
You are living in a dual reality where the physical and spiritual worlds collide each day in a battle for souls. Will you choose today to let God open your eyes? Will you open fire on the enemy? Will you open your mouth and share the gospel with your friends?
Let's get off the fringe of the fringe and make an eternal difference in both worlds!
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
Commit today to start each day by asking God to open your eyes and "suiting up" with His armor. Then go out each day with the attitude of opening your mouth and opening fire in the daily battle that God calls you to take part in.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12).
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left (2 Corinthians 6:4-7).
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
The Dawn Treader and Your Dragon Skin
"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." So begins The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - and if you miss this voyage on the big screen, you'll definitely regret it. Breathtaking visuals, fascinating plots, and an overwhelming sense of wonderment are just a few of the delights that await as you join Peter, Lucy, and...
Eustace Clarence Scrubb.
Wait a second - who is Eustace, and why did he almost deserve his snobbish smarty pants name?
Trust me, it will not take you long to figure this one out. Eustace is Peter and Lucy's cousin, and within a few minutes of experiencing his on-screen character, you'll be instantly transported to memories of "that kid."
Remember "that kid"? The one who is so egotistical, so annoying, so absolutely infuriating that you would cross the street just to avoid being anywhere near him/her. Eustace is the definition of every self-seeking, self-centered person you can think of, and he's stuck on a ship for a very long journey with a very bad attitude.
Until... he experiences a life changing moment while on the journey. On an island where he is supposed to be helping the others, he sneaks off and finds a dragon's lair. Long story short - Eustace is transformed into a dragon, and in his loneliness and isolation he realizes that if he doesn't change, he will die alone as a monster.
Be careful, because if you're like me, you'll see a little bit of yourself in Eustace. We are all fire breathing dragons on the inside, and sometimes it takes extreme circumstances to make us see our desperate need for a complete internal make-over.
And that's just about the time that God does His amazing work of transforming the least likely people (like you and me) into something totally different. In Eustace's case we have this incredible scene where Aslan comes to him in a dream and invites him to remove his ugly scales so he can immerse himself in a healing pool that will restore him.
At first Eustace thinks this will be a simple task as he easily and painlessly scrapes and sheds his dragon skin. But as soon as he heads towards the waters, he discovers that a new one has quickly taken its place. That's when Aslan graciously offers to take the scales off for him, and even though it is a painful process, the end result is the healing, restoration, and transformation of Eustace into a completely different person.
Isn't that also like us? We want to rid ourselves of our monster like qualities - and at first we may show some improvement...but soon comes the realization that our ugly sin covering has simply grows back. But then we hear the calling of Jesus to let Him remove our sin and make us into the person He intended us to be.
Here's the way the Bible describes this incredible alteration:
Therefore if any person is trusts in Christ, he is a new creation- a new creature altogether; the previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!!! (2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified).
So where are you in this process? Are you still wearing your dragon skin, feeling isolated and a bit like a monster? Give up your struggle to rid yourself of your sin and let Jesus' forgiving power make you into something beautiful.
Maybe you've already been "undragoned," and you know what it's like to be restored and transformed. I know I have, which is why we have this enormous responsibility put before us:
He sent Christ to make peace with us and to bring us back to himself. Now he has given us the work of bringing other people back to God.
We are not looking at things that can be seen, but at things that cannot be seen. The things which can be seen last only a little while. But the things which cannot be seen last forever.
So we are messengers for Christ. God is using us to call people. So we are standing here for Christ and begging people, 'Come back to God!' (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
As you already know, there are "Eustace" people all around you. They carry an attitude and mindset of selfishness and even cruelty. But as a follower of Christ, you do not have the option of simply avoiding those who push your buttons. Why? Well for one thing we are "messengers for Christ." If we don't deliver the message to those God has placed in our lives, we are more guilty of selfishness and cruelty than the worst Eustace you can think of.
Secondly, remember that you once wore dragon skin too. It took the death of God's perfect Son Jesus to restore your true self and transform you into a new creation, so rather than look down on others with criticism, look back at your past with gratitude for whoever it was that shared the gospel with you.
At the end of the story Aslan sends the children back to their world and tells them that they cannot return to Narnia. Desperate to experience Aslan again, Lucy and Edmund ask if he exists in their world. He replies, "I am... but there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."
Let's continue to know Jesus and lead others to know Him as well. That's the voyage that is meant for every follower of Christ.
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
It is indeed a rare event when a blockbuster movie comes out with so many ways to bring up the gospel with your friends. Go see the movie with as many unsaved people as you can, then ask them over afterwards to talk about it. Pray that God will give you an opportunity to call people back to Himself.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16).
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature [a] a slave to the law of sin (Romans 7:24-25).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
Eustace Clarence Scrubb.
Wait a second - who is Eustace, and why did he almost deserve his snobbish smarty pants name?
Trust me, it will not take you long to figure this one out. Eustace is Peter and Lucy's cousin, and within a few minutes of experiencing his on-screen character, you'll be instantly transported to memories of "that kid."
Remember "that kid"? The one who is so egotistical, so annoying, so absolutely infuriating that you would cross the street just to avoid being anywhere near him/her. Eustace is the definition of every self-seeking, self-centered person you can think of, and he's stuck on a ship for a very long journey with a very bad attitude.
Until... he experiences a life changing moment while on the journey. On an island where he is supposed to be helping the others, he sneaks off and finds a dragon's lair. Long story short - Eustace is transformed into a dragon, and in his loneliness and isolation he realizes that if he doesn't change, he will die alone as a monster.
Be careful, because if you're like me, you'll see a little bit of yourself in Eustace. We are all fire breathing dragons on the inside, and sometimes it takes extreme circumstances to make us see our desperate need for a complete internal make-over.
And that's just about the time that God does His amazing work of transforming the least likely people (like you and me) into something totally different. In Eustace's case we have this incredible scene where Aslan comes to him in a dream and invites him to remove his ugly scales so he can immerse himself in a healing pool that will restore him.
At first Eustace thinks this will be a simple task as he easily and painlessly scrapes and sheds his dragon skin. But as soon as he heads towards the waters, he discovers that a new one has quickly taken its place. That's when Aslan graciously offers to take the scales off for him, and even though it is a painful process, the end result is the healing, restoration, and transformation of Eustace into a completely different person.
Isn't that also like us? We want to rid ourselves of our monster like qualities - and at first we may show some improvement...but soon comes the realization that our ugly sin covering has simply grows back. But then we hear the calling of Jesus to let Him remove our sin and make us into the person He intended us to be.
Here's the way the Bible describes this incredible alteration:
Therefore if any person is trusts in Christ, he is a new creation- a new creature altogether; the previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!!! (2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified).
So where are you in this process? Are you still wearing your dragon skin, feeling isolated and a bit like a monster? Give up your struggle to rid yourself of your sin and let Jesus' forgiving power make you into something beautiful.
Maybe you've already been "undragoned," and you know what it's like to be restored and transformed. I know I have, which is why we have this enormous responsibility put before us:
He sent Christ to make peace with us and to bring us back to himself. Now he has given us the work of bringing other people back to God.
We are not looking at things that can be seen, but at things that cannot be seen. The things which can be seen last only a little while. But the things which cannot be seen last forever.
So we are messengers for Christ. God is using us to call people. So we are standing here for Christ and begging people, 'Come back to God!' (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
As you already know, there are "Eustace" people all around you. They carry an attitude and mindset of selfishness and even cruelty. But as a follower of Christ, you do not have the option of simply avoiding those who push your buttons. Why? Well for one thing we are "messengers for Christ." If we don't deliver the message to those God has placed in our lives, we are more guilty of selfishness and cruelty than the worst Eustace you can think of.
Secondly, remember that you once wore dragon skin too. It took the death of God's perfect Son Jesus to restore your true self and transform you into a new creation, so rather than look down on others with criticism, look back at your past with gratitude for whoever it was that shared the gospel with you.
At the end of the story Aslan sends the children back to their world and tells them that they cannot return to Narnia. Desperate to experience Aslan again, Lucy and Edmund ask if he exists in their world. He replies, "I am... but there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."
Let's continue to know Jesus and lead others to know Him as well. That's the voyage that is meant for every follower of Christ.
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
It is indeed a rare event when a blockbuster movie comes out with so many ways to bring up the gospel with your friends. Go see the movie with as many unsaved people as you can, then ask them over afterwards to talk about it. Pray that God will give you an opportunity to call people back to Himself.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16).
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature [a] a slave to the law of sin (Romans 7:24-25).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
How to Be Reunited with Your Father
So do you think you'll become a TRON-ie when the popularity of TRON: Legacy grows as fast as a rampant computer virus? In a weird way, it feels like it's 1982 again, when the original TRON was released, and it quickly morphed into a pop culture icon and video game.
I'll freely admit that I popped the quarters into the TRON arcade experience that might have otherwise paid for my college education...but who cared? I was a TRON-ie and proud of it!
Now the sequel is out with incredible computer generated firepower and Jeff Bridges (looking like Obi Wan Kenobi) making a return as his original character. And yes, the TRON: Legacy brings up a few important questions:
• Why does everyone run around in cat-like unitards with glow sticks superglued all over them?
• How do computer programs end up feeling pain when they are PROGRAMS?
• Why can't I be 'derezzed' instead of, you know, like dying?
• Can I please please please have a 'light cycle' for Christmas?
• How cool is it to have Jeff Bridges and Daft Punk in the same movie?
Despite containing many of the same elements as the first TRON, there is a new plot point that wanders through the movie like a lost puppy in a crowded city. I won't give anything away, but it deserves mention because it will probably cut through some of the eye candy straight to your heart:
Father and child reunion.
So what comes to mind and memory when you think about your dad? For some there may be pain or a feeling of abandonment. For others, it can conjure up warmth and a sense that everything will be OK. And then there are countless others who probably fall right in the middle - with good and bad mixed experiences that paint a sometimes confusing picture and oftentimes leave you with a heart that is aching for a deeper and more meaningful fatherly connection.
Isn't it interesting that the God who made the universe and formed you in your mother's womb desires His children to call Him "Father"? And He does this at great risk in my opinion, because we tend to transfer our perception of and feelings about our earthly Dad towards God.
But our Heavenly Father simply cannot be put in that category, which is why Jesus tells us this amazing story to show us what God the Father is truly like:
"There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'
"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.
"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he
ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here-given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.
The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'
"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours-but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'" (Luke 15:11-32).
Our Heavenly Father is not like the dad in TRON who has gone missing - nor is He like any earthly Father who oftentimes makes serious mistakes with his kids. No...God the Father is the Dad who - even when we've run far away - stands and gazes longingly at the horizon with a broken heart and a desperate hope that we will come to our senses and run to be reunited with Him.
And most importantly, this is the Father who sent His Son Jesus to die in our place for our sins so we could experience that reunion with Him by trusting in Christ for salvation.
Maybe you think God the Father has given up on you? He most certainly has not, and He waits with open arms for you to experience the deepest fatherly connection you could ever imagine.
Maybe you have friends who are struggling with choices and negative emotions? My guess is that somewhere in that mix is a broken relationship with their dads, which is why you have an amazing opportunity to tell them about our Heavenly Father who has a pounding heart and unconditional love awaiting them.
Don't be like the jealous brother...be a life saving friend!
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
At the heart of the movie TRON:Legacy is the story of a father and son being reunited after a long separation and rediscovering their relationship. Pray for an opportunity to talk to your unsaved friends about the relationship you have with your Heavenly Father that has met your need for a dad who loves you unconditionally.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27).
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:7-9).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
I'll freely admit that I popped the quarters into the TRON arcade experience that might have otherwise paid for my college education...but who cared? I was a TRON-ie and proud of it!
Now the sequel is out with incredible computer generated firepower and Jeff Bridges (looking like Obi Wan Kenobi) making a return as his original character. And yes, the TRON: Legacy brings up a few important questions:
• Why does everyone run around in cat-like unitards with glow sticks superglued all over them?
• How do computer programs end up feeling pain when they are PROGRAMS?
• Why can't I be 'derezzed' instead of, you know, like dying?
• Can I please please please have a 'light cycle' for Christmas?
• How cool is it to have Jeff Bridges and Daft Punk in the same movie?
Despite containing many of the same elements as the first TRON, there is a new plot point that wanders through the movie like a lost puppy in a crowded city. I won't give anything away, but it deserves mention because it will probably cut through some of the eye candy straight to your heart:
Father and child reunion.
So what comes to mind and memory when you think about your dad? For some there may be pain or a feeling of abandonment. For others, it can conjure up warmth and a sense that everything will be OK. And then there are countless others who probably fall right in the middle - with good and bad mixed experiences that paint a sometimes confusing picture and oftentimes leave you with a heart that is aching for a deeper and more meaningful fatherly connection.
Isn't it interesting that the God who made the universe and formed you in your mother's womb desires His children to call Him "Father"? And He does this at great risk in my opinion, because we tend to transfer our perception of and feelings about our earthly Dad towards God.
But our Heavenly Father simply cannot be put in that category, which is why Jesus tells us this amazing story to show us what God the Father is truly like:
"There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'
"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.
"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he
ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here-given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.
The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'
"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours-but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'" (Luke 15:11-32).
Our Heavenly Father is not like the dad in TRON who has gone missing - nor is He like any earthly Father who oftentimes makes serious mistakes with his kids. No...God the Father is the Dad who - even when we've run far away - stands and gazes longingly at the horizon with a broken heart and a desperate hope that we will come to our senses and run to be reunited with Him.
And most importantly, this is the Father who sent His Son Jesus to die in our place for our sins so we could experience that reunion with Him by trusting in Christ for salvation.
Maybe you think God the Father has given up on you? He most certainly has not, and He waits with open arms for you to experience the deepest fatherly connection you could ever imagine.
Maybe you have friends who are struggling with choices and negative emotions? My guess is that somewhere in that mix is a broken relationship with their dads, which is why you have an amazing opportunity to tell them about our Heavenly Father who has a pounding heart and unconditional love awaiting them.
Don't be like the jealous brother...be a life saving friend!
Flash Point: Ignite into Action
At the heart of the movie TRON:Legacy is the story of a father and son being reunited after a long separation and rediscovering their relationship. Pray for an opportunity to talk to your unsaved friends about the relationship you have with your Heavenly Father that has met your need for a dad who loves you unconditionally.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27).
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:7-9).
© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries
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