Adventures don't have to be a trip to Antartica with a squad of penguins. True adventure is being called by God to do something and you do it. (Adventure can also be a trip to six flags).
Sometimes, we reject the adventure. Take Moses, for example. He was called by God to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt. But Moses was scared; he said he couldn't speak well. So God had Aaron do the talking. Although this may seem easier to let someone else do the hard part, you'll be missing the full experience.
With adventure comes hardships and even dangers. But God promises he'll never send us into something we're not ready for. That's the good part. If we trust God will take care of us, we can embrace the adventure when it comes.
The hour is near...
The call is coming...
Adventure awaits!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
JC Report 6: Half-truths
Jesus Christ Report 6.
Have you ever told a half-truth? For example, say, you go to a meeting and pretend you're the boss. The people at the meeting think you're the boss because you act like the boss. But you never actually said you were the boss, so you think you're not lying. That's a half-truth.
Keep in mind this: if it's half true, what do you think the other half is? A lie. So, mathematically speaking, if you tell 7 half-truths, that equals three and a half lies. Even though you didn't lie, a half-truth is still designed to deceive people. And that is just as bad as if you were lying.
In the Bible it says that if we tell the truth, we will become more like Christ. And I'd wouldn't want to become like Christ only half-way, right?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
JC Report 5: Mission Possible... if you believe.
Jesus Christ Report number 5. Keep in mind that even though this is not a downright silly report, all my reports are silly.
You never thought a preacher could experience adventure... until now.
Paul, once Saul, was a pharisee with a license to kill Christians. Until, as Paul says, "The Lord that loved me struck the living daylights out of me as I sat on a donkey. Now, I am a new man, for I have been born again."
Paul was now an agent for His Majesty's army. His mission: To deliver a vital message to the world. This message is a matter of life or death for the recipients... and for Paul.
This was probably the most important mission Paul would ever have to carry out. He faced bandits, traitors, jail sentences, riots, snakes, earthquakes, and even a shipwreck.
"How do you do it?" One person asked. "How do you withstand all this?"
Paul answered, "My secret: I am content in every situation. You see, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
The person said, "Philippians 4:12-13."
Paul remarked, "Ah, so you've been reading other people's mail."
Paul went on to finish his mission. And was able to retire at Heaven Hotel for an eternity, all expenses paid. So you see, working for God is a full-time job... not without dangers. Will you accept the mission?
Paul, Apostle Paul. He's appearing in a Bible near you.
You never thought a preacher could experience adventure... until now.
Paul, once Saul, was a pharisee with a license to kill Christians. Until, as Paul says, "The Lord that loved me struck the living daylights out of me as I sat on a donkey. Now, I am a new man, for I have been born again."
Paul was now an agent for His Majesty's army. His mission: To deliver a vital message to the world. This message is a matter of life or death for the recipients... and for Paul.
This was probably the most important mission Paul would ever have to carry out. He faced bandits, traitors, jail sentences, riots, snakes, earthquakes, and even a shipwreck.
"How do you do it?" One person asked. "How do you withstand all this?"
Paul answered, "My secret: I am content in every situation. You see, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
The person said, "Philippians 4:12-13."
Paul remarked, "Ah, so you've been reading other people's mail."
Paul went on to finish his mission. And was able to retire at Heaven Hotel for an eternity, all expenses paid. So you see, working for God is a full-time job... not without dangers. Will you accept the mission?
Paul, Apostle Paul. He's appearing in a Bible near you.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Hol. Report 2: Saint Patrick's Day
Holiday Report 2.
If you are wearing something green and you don't know why, read this. If you do know why, read anyway.
Patrick was not his real name. His name was Sucat. Pronunciation: sook at. He grew up as a normal boy, but he was very disobedient and didn't believe in God. One day, his village was attacked by pirates. His father told him to stay, but he went out to fight the pirates anyway. He got captured and was shipped to Ireland. (I know that's not normal, but if Patrick was too normal, he would not have a holiday named after him). He viewed his capture as a punishment from God for his disobedience.
At Ireland he was sold as a slave and his name was changed. I'm not sure what his new name was, but let' s say it was "pig boy". Pig-boy-Sucat's job was feed the pigs. In Ireland, the people spoke a different language. But we'll make-belief that everyone there spoke English. (Except the pigs). Pig-boy-Sucat was very lonely as a slave. But he remembered what he was told about God when he was young, so he grew closer to God over the years. He prayed before bed, he prayed when he worked, and he prayed when he ate. Why, in no time at all, he was praying over 100 times a day! (That's a lot, but it's cool).
After 6 years, he had a dream that God wanted him to leave Ireland. So Sucat asked his master if he could go free. His master said he was too valuable to let go, so he said "no". Sucat then escaped and walked 200 miles to the sea. There he met a captain and said,
"Good-day Cap, the name's Sucat. I was captured 6 years ago by pirates, and sold into slavery. Since then, I've been feeding pigs, and praying 100 times a day. Can I have a lift?"
The captain said "yes" and they sailed to England. There, he changed his name to Patrick. (The "Saint" part comes a little later). Also, he had another dream. He dreamt that Ireland was crying for him to come back and tell them about God. So he went back to Ireland with some friends. This is where the story gets good.
The king of Ireland let Patrick preach, though the Druids didn't want Patrick to. The Druids were the pagans of Ireland. They hated Patrick and his message of Jesus. So a Druid leader set a trap for Patrick and his friends. The Druid leader persuaded the king to invite Patrick to a Druid ceremony. The Druid leader gathered soldiers to ambush Patrick on the road. I shall now write in the Druid's point of view:
The Druid leader whispered loudly, "Look! There they are! Kill them!"
The leader of the soldiers whispered back, "What are you talking about? There's only deer on the road."
The Druid leader kept yelling, "Get them! There they are! Are you blind?! Kill them!"
The troop leader persisted, "There's only deer. Keep quiet, and leave the deer be."
Apparently, God caused the soldiers to see deer instead of Patrick and his friends on the road. Talk about a personal bodyguard! Patrick arrived safely at the ceremony. The ceremony is this: The Druids would feast, and then they would make a giant fire. No one in the land would make a fire until this special fire was made. Patrick decided to make his own fire in defiance to the Druid gods and to praise the one true God. Patrick and his friends made a huge fire while the Druids were still feasting. The Druid leader saw the fire and was furious.
He then summoned Patrick to dine with him and the king. The Druid leader secretly poisoned Patrick's cup and proposed a toast to Patrick's God. But God had told Patrick ahead of time that his cup was poisoned. Patrick accused the Druid leader of poisoning him. Of course, the Druid leader denied this. But the king then insisted that the Druid leader should drink from Patrick's cup to prove the the accusation was false. The Druid leader said no, which only confirmed Patrick's accusation. So the king banished the Druid leader, and all Druids from Ireland. Then the king told Patrick he wanted to hear more about God.
Patrick continued to work among the Irish and tell them about Jesus. And God blessed Patrick and his work. On March 17, 461, Patrick died. And his name was changed one last time; to Saint Patrick. Now, people all over the world wear a little green (the color of Ireland) and celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, a man who trusted God through thick and thin.
In conclusion, you can now wear your green sweater, and know why you're wearing it.
If you are wearing something green and you don't know why, read this. If you do know why, read anyway.
Patrick was not his real name. His name was Sucat. Pronunciation: sook at. He grew up as a normal boy, but he was very disobedient and didn't believe in God. One day, his village was attacked by pirates. His father told him to stay, but he went out to fight the pirates anyway. He got captured and was shipped to Ireland. (I know that's not normal, but if Patrick was too normal, he would not have a holiday named after him). He viewed his capture as a punishment from God for his disobedience.
At Ireland he was sold as a slave and his name was changed. I'm not sure what his new name was, but let' s say it was "pig boy". Pig-boy-Sucat's job was feed the pigs. In Ireland, the people spoke a different language. But we'll make-belief that everyone there spoke English. (Except the pigs). Pig-boy-Sucat was very lonely as a slave. But he remembered what he was told about God when he was young, so he grew closer to God over the years. He prayed before bed, he prayed when he worked, and he prayed when he ate. Why, in no time at all, he was praying over 100 times a day! (That's a lot, but it's cool).
After 6 years, he had a dream that God wanted him to leave Ireland. So Sucat asked his master if he could go free. His master said he was too valuable to let go, so he said "no". Sucat then escaped and walked 200 miles to the sea. There he met a captain and said,
"Good-day Cap, the name's Sucat. I was captured 6 years ago by pirates, and sold into slavery. Since then, I've been feeding pigs, and praying 100 times a day. Can I have a lift?"
The captain said "yes" and they sailed to England. There, he changed his name to Patrick. (The "Saint" part comes a little later). Also, he had another dream. He dreamt that Ireland was crying for him to come back and tell them about God. So he went back to Ireland with some friends. This is where the story gets good.
The king of Ireland let Patrick preach, though the Druids didn't want Patrick to. The Druids were the pagans of Ireland. They hated Patrick and his message of Jesus. So a Druid leader set a trap for Patrick and his friends. The Druid leader persuaded the king to invite Patrick to a Druid ceremony. The Druid leader gathered soldiers to ambush Patrick on the road. I shall now write in the Druid's point of view:
The Druid leader whispered loudly, "Look! There they are! Kill them!"
The leader of the soldiers whispered back, "What are you talking about? There's only deer on the road."
The Druid leader kept yelling, "Get them! There they are! Are you blind?! Kill them!"
The troop leader persisted, "There's only deer. Keep quiet, and leave the deer be."
Apparently, God caused the soldiers to see deer instead of Patrick and his friends on the road. Talk about a personal bodyguard! Patrick arrived safely at the ceremony. The ceremony is this: The Druids would feast, and then they would make a giant fire. No one in the land would make a fire until this special fire was made. Patrick decided to make his own fire in defiance to the Druid gods and to praise the one true God. Patrick and his friends made a huge fire while the Druids were still feasting. The Druid leader saw the fire and was furious.
He then summoned Patrick to dine with him and the king. The Druid leader secretly poisoned Patrick's cup and proposed a toast to Patrick's God. But God had told Patrick ahead of time that his cup was poisoned. Patrick accused the Druid leader of poisoning him. Of course, the Druid leader denied this. But the king then insisted that the Druid leader should drink from Patrick's cup to prove the the accusation was false. The Druid leader said no, which only confirmed Patrick's accusation. So the king banished the Druid leader, and all Druids from Ireland. Then the king told Patrick he wanted to hear more about God.
Patrick continued to work among the Irish and tell them about Jesus. And God blessed Patrick and his work. On March 17, 461, Patrick died. And his name was changed one last time; to Saint Patrick. Now, people all over the world wear a little green (the color of Ireland) and celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, a man who trusted God through thick and thin.
In conclusion, you can now wear your green sweater, and know why you're wearing it.
The End
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
VT Report 1: GodTube Videos
"VT" Stands for Video Time. Here's some funny videos (These are is not the same on Alisa's blog).
Scary Bedtime Prayer: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=2c8d6d5f61d0ddb88acd
Servant's Heart: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=807573e3d363d01058ed
Scary Bedtime Prayer: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=2c8d6d5f61d0ddb88acd
Servant's Heart: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=807573e3d363d01058ed
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