My first instinct was to feign a smile and pretend like everything was fine and dandy. But deep down, I really wasn't fine. In that moment, I was feeling anxious about my future, not to mention lonely, sad, and confused. I couldn't really explain why. I just felt...down. And clearly I wasn't doing a good job of hiding it. But why was I even trying to hide it in the first place?

Somewhere along the lines I adopted this notion that being a strong Christian meant that you had to be happy and cheerful all the time. While it is true that God gives us supernatural portions of joy when we know Him personally, there are times in life when we will inevitably experience pain and heartache, suffering and trials of many kinds. The Scriptures give us more than enough evidence of this fact as well. Just read the psalms, or study the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Paul, Jesus, or any other major figure in the Bible. They didn't live lives free from suffering or struggle, but they endured and persevered through them by the grace and strength of God.

As I struggled to give my sister an honest answer that day, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, "It's okay to not be okay all the time." I repeat the same statement to you: It is okay to not be okay all the time.

Here are a few things I have learned to help me through the 'not okay' moments and seasons of life:

Pour Out Your Heart to God. Psalm 62:8 says to pour out your heart to God, for He is our refuge. Whenever I am feeling down in the dumps, I literally imagine God lifting me up into His lap like Santa would an eager child before Christmas to listen to me as I empty myself of everything that is troubling my heart. Sometimes we assume God knows everything so there is no point in voicing it to Him. But when we truly trust God and look to Him as our refuge in times of trouble, we will go to Him and share everything that is in our hearts—the good, the bad, and the ugly—like we would a best friend. This fosters closeness and intimacy with our Heavenly Father, which then brings comfort and healing during our times of need.

Learn to Be Vulnerable. Yikes, this is the toughest one for me. In fact, it is terrifying. Who wants to admit to feeling down, defeated, discouraged, or depressed? But as I am learning (slowing but surely) to let down my guard and let my loved ones into my inside world, I have felt the most free I have ever felt. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:17, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. When we are living in the fullness of His Spirit, He will give us the freedom to be vulnerable, without fear of what others might think. We will be able to admit we need others to sustain us on this road of life and in turn, we will be able to receive strength and love from them. A true blessing that I missed out on for so many years!

Have the Courage to Cry. These past several months, I have probably shed more tears than I have at any other point in my life. Not because I have more things to cry about necessarily, but because I have learned to cry. I always thought crying was a sign of weakness so I held back my tears. But I now realize crying is a sign of our true humanness. It shows we are capable of feeling and expressing our feelings in a way that God created them to be expressed—through tear ducts! Jesus was a prime example of expressing His heartfelt emotions as they arose. John 11 records how His "soul was deeply troubled and moved" and how he "wept" after Mary came to Him about her dead brother. That one always gets me: Jesus wept! If the Son of God had the courage to cry, we should too. And we can be assured that while weeping may remain for a night, rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Shedding tears can be a healthy release of emotion that can bring refreshing and renewal, turning our momentary sorrow into joy once again. Go on, let it out and cry like a baby!

Persevere Through the Valley. Jesus brings us assurance in our lowest times that He will fill us with a fresh fullness of His Spirit and exalt us to a higher plain with Him. I have experienced that it is often in the "valley" that God wants to do a deeper work in us. Although it might be tempting to shut out God during these times, we must persevere and continue to seek His face even when we don't feel like it. Be ready to receive fresh revelation of who He is and what He is doing. Perseverance is the key to greater intimacy with God!

Are you feeling blue? A little down and out? Depressed or discouraged? Whatever it is, take heed my friend because you are not alone. We all have times of feeling less than our best and sometimes there is no good explanation why, which can be frustrating. What we do know is that God doesn't want us to stay in that place forever. But we also shouldn't be too quick to run away from it or shove it under the rug either. Sometimes God allows moments of moaning, groaning, suffering, struggling, trials, and tears to achieve His higher purposes in us, such as character growth or learning greater dependence on Him. But Paul said we should do nothing other than rejoice in our sufferings because that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).

So let me say it one more time: It is okay to not be okay today. May you have the willingness to pour your heart out to God, the humility to be vulnerable in front of your loved ones, the courage to cry a river of tears, the strength to persevere through the valley, and the hope that God is doing a deep work in you and He will bring it to completion!

*Share your thoughts and join the conversation! How to you get through the valley?

Ali is the newest columnist for The Brink magazine. Check out her first column in the Spring 2012 issue of The Brink! You can read more from Ali by visiting www.alismithonline.com.

"They were selling their possessions and distributing the proceeds as people had need" (Acts 2:45).

I fidgeted more in my office chair as I compared this language with the language of many socialists:

"Only conscious organization of social production, in which production and distribution are carried on in a planned way, can lift mankind above the rest of the animal." - Friedrich Engels

Does the passage in Acts prove the early New Testament church was a socialistic society? Should Christians become socialists? 

Were the Early Christians Socialists?

Socialism can be defined as an economic system where production, distribution, and exchange is owned and regulated by the community. In the early New Testament church, we see an economic system where the distribution and exchange was clearly owned and regulated by the community.

So, you might say, it is obvious then: the early Christians were socialists!

But do not be too hasty in your conclusions. There is one very important difference between the economic system of socialism and the early Christians in Acts, namely, who had authority over the system.

For socialists, authority lies with an elected official (or team of officials). He is the responsible leader who has won the favor of the community and oversees the distribution process.

For the early Christians, the person with authority was Jesus Christ. Although Jesus' physical body had suffered death, He resurrected and gave specific instructions to His followers. Jesus said, "I have all authority" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus declared His authority and said Christians are to do everything in His name. Although Jesus will delegate His authority to various people of the church, He alone is the source of that authority.

But without Jesus as the source of authority, we have a problem.

It is often assumed that if everyone rallies together under a banner of love then the leaders and their followers will transform into selfless people.

This is not true.

And while a love rally might cause you to change your behavior for a time--opening up a door for a person or giving your spare change to a homeless man--relying on happy feelings to motivate you to be selfless is only temporary. Everyone, no matter how happy he or she is at the moment, will eventually succumb to the old ways of "me, myself, and I."  (Remember Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5?)

No matter how benevolent the elected leader of the community, the community will suffer because most people will eventually stop sharing, and you cannot force people to share. The moment "sharing" is made into a law, sharing becomes a tax.

The reason we cannot sustainably become selfless people is because we are sinful people. The Bible is very clear about this. Without Christ, we are unable to look past our own needs and truly consider our neighbor's needs.

According to Romans 3:10-12, no one is righteous. No one!

Socialism is problematic because it assumes people will selflessly share with others given the right earthly leadership. On the hand other, capitalism is theoretically a better solution than socialism because it actually assumes people are self-interested.

Capitalism: The Better Choice?

Capitalism is an economic system where production, distribution, and exchange is owned and regulated by the free markets.

The free markets are a place where people trade in order to try and make a profit that is free from any forced redistribution from the government. As people freely trade, goods and innovation are being created for the sake of profit. The vast majority of great inventions were created under the banner of seeking a profit without forced redistribution (e.g. electricity, phone, computer, Internet).

It is unlikely that this kind of innovation would be possible under an economic system where most of the profit is immediately seized and redistributed by the government. People want profit. And this is not a destructive desire to society.

Adam Smith once famously said, "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest."

Assuming the government is able to keep the free markets "free" (no monopolies), profit serves to attenuate the self-interest of people since it only can be created in the event that a useful product or service is being sold. So while the reality of human existence is sinful self-interest, encouraging the free markets actually helps to redirect human self-interest into something that is beneficial to society.

Capitalism, however, can be just as flawed as socialism. Why? Sin! Sinful people mess up any good economic system. While socialism is often flawed with people who feel entitled and the government's waste of resources, capitalism is often flawed with materialistic people who lord their wealth over the poor.

Only Christ can change both capitalistic and socialistic sinful, self-interested hearts from constantly thinking about "me" alone to being able to share with others joyfully.

The Leadership of Christ

When the early Christians formed a community, the sharing was a spontaneous response to the leadership of Christ. Christ is the perfect leader because He modeled what we are supposed to do and He gives us the ability to do it.

The early Christians felt rich in Christ so it was easy for them to freely choose to share with others (2 Corinthians 8:9-10). No earthly community leader, no matter how benevolent, will ever both perfectly model selfless behavior and change our hearts so we can imitate him. But Christ, our wonderful leader, shows us how to live and changes our hearts so we can live like Him. Because of Christ's radical sacrifice, I am now free to go beyond profit as my hope (capitalism) and beyond a false hope in the government's ability to save me (socialism).

This community of early Christians was beyond any earthly economic system--it was the body of Christ! I am now a member of that same body and Christ has given me a new heart that is now able to share and love in the same way as those joyful early Christians who "were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."

Extra notes:

Here are some other ways the Christian activity in Acts 2:44-45 differed from socialism:

• This activity involved believers in Christ, not the unbelievers in society around them.
• The beneficiaries of the sharing were fellow believers, not the unbelievers.
• The believers freely chose to share what they had. No one imposed the sharing upon others. Indeed, the free choice to share was one of the traits that made it so striking to the unbelievers around them.
• This sharing lasted for a limited time, and seems to have been how the church responded to the particular needs of that moment.
• It was based on complete dependence upon God, freeing the givers to give, and allowing the recipients to receive with humility and thanks­giving. Political redistribution regimes typically portray themselves (rather than God) as the benefactors of mankind, which is nothing short of idolatry.

Shane Enete is an adjunct finance professor at Biola University. He is also the author of Practical Generosity, which is available for purchase through WinePress publishing.

Shane's article can be found in the Spring 2012 edition of The Brink magazine.

The Brink magazine has two different components: 1) Articles and 2) Devotions.

Articles:

If you would like to submit an article, we ask that you first send us a query containing information about your article and a 100-200 word excerpt if available. Since we receive many queries daily we may not be able to respond to everyone, but if we are interested in seeing the full article we will contact you. Please send your query to thebrink@randallhouse.com.

Along with your query, we ask that you include the following information:

Name:
Age:
Church Background/Denomination:
Brief overview of your Christian testimony:
How did you hear about us?
Have you been published in any other publications?

Devotions:

The devotions for The Brink magazine are contracted out to specific writers. These writers write 13 weeks of devotions. The Brink magazine does not accept freelance devotions.

If you have any questions, please contact us at thebrink@randallhouse.com.

The Brink magazine has two different components: 1) Articles and 2) Devotions.

Articles:

If you would like to submit an article, we ask that you first send us a query containing information about your article and a 100-200 word excerpt if available. Since we receive many queries daily we may not be able to respond to everyone, but if we are interested in seeing the full article we will contact you. Please send your query to thebrink@randallhouse.com.

Along with your query, we ask that you include the following information:

Name:
Age:
Church Background/Denomination:
Brief overview of your Christian testimony:
How did you hear about us?
Have you been published in any other publications?

Devotions:

The devotions for The Brink magazine are contracted out to specific writers. These writers write 13 weeks of devotions. The Brink magazine does not accept freelance devotions.

If you have any questions, please contact us at thebrink@randallhouse.com.

1. What is your all-time favorite Casting Crowns song?

"While You Were Sleeping" is a Christmas song, but musically it's so sweet and lyrically it has that punch that you expect. "East to West" is my favorite all original Casting Crowns song. The first time I heard it I thought, "This song is for everyone." Also, I've been told we sing "I Can Only Imagine" so that's pretty cool.
 
2. What non-Casting Crowns song do you receive the most requests to play?

"Devil Went Down to Georgia." We keep telling people we're a Christian band. We're unaware of the Devil's whereabouts.

3. If you could be a diva and add anything to your concert rider, what would it be?

I wouldn't call it "being a diva" but we do have fresh puppies in our dressing room that have just been bathed in fabric softener. I'm still lobbying for armor and swords for when we want to play Narnia.

4. As a guitarist, what is the most difficult CC song for you to play?

Since I'm the rhythm guitarist, nothing is too hard from a technical standpoint. If you were to ask which one I mess up the most, that'd be a tie between "Holy One" (because I'm having too much fun singing) and "Who Am I" (I stop thinking about it sometimes).

5. What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

Of the several fighting for first place, the best one I can share is that I tried to throw out a pick and it landed back on my guitar. For a split second I thought, "Did someone just catch this, see it, and throw it back in .5 seconds? Why would someone do that?"

6. What is the strangest gift you've ever received from a fan?

Some guy pulled off his t-shirt and gave it to me because I said it was cool. Luckily for all of us (including folks standing around him) he had another t-shirt on under it. I still wear it.

7. You get the chance to cover any song. What is it?

I would like to cover Benjamin Gate's cover of the Men-At-Work song "Overkill." It's pretty awesome. Also, I'd finally do "Freebird" for that guy who always wants it, whoever he is.

8. What is your favorite book of the Bible?

Hebrews. The entire depth and description of the gospel is in there. It's a very heavy passage.

9. If you weren't in the music business, what would you be doing?

I like the idea of movie making and writing scripts. I've gotten the chance to do it lately, but nothing has come of it.

10. What is the most satisfying part of your ministry, both inside the church building and out on the road?

For me it's all about the honor of hearing someone's story. At church, it's hearing a student share about God's faithfulness. On the road, it's hearing about families that have been restored because of a moment in a concert. That's a great boost for me. It's a green light from the Father that tells me to carry on.

To read the rest of the interview check out the Spring 2012 edition of The Brink magazine!

You can also follow Juan on Twitter: @6stringhero

That question has been running through my head all weekend. If I really thought $21 would make a difference in someone hearing the gospel, would I give it? Absolutely. While that may seem like a hypothetical situation, it's not far from the truth.

Following a December board meeting, the board of Free Will Baptist International Missions made a difficult decision: In an ongoing effort to end financial shortfalls and rebuild cash reserves, the board voted to postpone sending all new missionaries—as well as veteran missionaries currently on stateside assignment—to their fields of service until "cash reserves reach a sustainable level of 10% of the operational budget (fwbgo.com).

What does that mean? It simply means this:

As of the Summer of 2012, there will be 18 missionary families that cannot serve in their field because of a lack of funding.

It's not due to a lack of willingness. It's not due to a lack of accommodations. It's simply because of a lack of money. Families are ready and willing to go overseas to share the good news of Jesus Christ...we simply haven't provided them with the financial resources to do so.

But it doesn't have to be that way!

Let me introduce you to Pledge21K, an initiative to get missionaries back on the field.

Pledge21k is challenging 1,000 Free Will Baptists to give $21 per month to send these missionaries back to their field and the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Simple math will tell you that 1,000 people giving $21 = $21,000 a month and $252,000 a year.

Does that sound crazy and impossible? Absolutely. But our God does the crazy and impossible for His glory.

So here's your challenge: Get involved with Pledge21K. How do you do it? Simple:

1) Visit the Pledge21K Cause group by clicking on this link. Join the Cause.

2) Click on the "Give" tab and sign up to give $21/month.

3) Invite your friends to join the initiative and tell them about what is happening.

4) Use Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc. to spread word about Pledge21K.

5) Pray for our missionaries and pray for financial supporters.

6) Follow @Pledge21K on Twitter for updates.

This is a great day for Free Will Baptists and God's Church.

I am 1 of the 1,000. Will you be one?

Francis Chan is one of the most respected speakers and authors. His latest book, Erasing Hell, examines what Scripture says about Hell and how that truth should change our lives.

Why did you tackle the subject of the existence of Hell in your new book, Erasing Hell?

Honestly, from my own struggles about Hell. I would love to erase Hell from the pages of Scripture. How about you? Have you ever struggled with Hell as I have? Do you have any parents, siblings, cousins, or friends who, based on what you have been taught, will end up in Hell? What a bone chilling thought. Until recently, whenever the idea of Hell—and the idea of my loved ones possibly heading there—crossed my mind, I would brush it aside and divert my thinking to something more pleasant. While I've always believed in Hell with my mind, I tried not to let the doctrine penetrate my heart.

But I reached a point where I could no longer do this. I could no longer acknowledge Hell with my lips while preventing my heart from feeling its weight. I had to figure out if the Bible actually taught the existence of a literal Hell. How great would it be if it didn't? Then I would be able to embrace my grandmother again someday. So I decided to write a book about Hell. And honestly—I'm scared to death. I'm scared because so much is at stake. Think about it. If I say there is no Hell, and it turns out there is a Hell, I may lead people into the very place I convinced them did not exist! If I say there is a Hell, and I'm wrong, I may persuade people to spend their lives frantically warning loved ones about a terrifying place that isn't real! When it comes to Hell, we can't afford to be wrong. This is not one of those doctrines where you can toss in your two cents, shrug your shoulders, and move on. Too much is at stake. Too many people are at stake.

You wrote Erasing Hell with a co-author. Why?

I wrote this book with my friend Dr. Preston Sprinkle. I recruited his help because he can interact with issues at a deeper level than I can. His expertise in language, history, and the New Testament has helped tremendously in our effort to be thorough and precise. Preston studied first-century Judaism for his doctorate and has published many works in this area. We thought it would be a good partnership because we have different gifts but similar convictions. As we wrote the book, we decided to write it with one voice (mine). But, truth be told, the majority of research was done by Preston.

Is this more than just a book about Hell?

This is a book about embracing a God who isn't always easy to understand, and whose ways are far beyond us; a God whose thoughts are much higher than our thoughts; a God who, as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, has every right to do, as the psalmist says, "whatever He pleases" (Psalm 115:3 NASB). God has the right to do WHATEVER He pleases. If I've learned one thing from studying Hell, it's that last line. And whether or not you end up agreeing with everything I say about Hell, you must agree with Psalm 115:3. Because at the end of the day, our feelings and wants and heartaches and desires are not ultimate—only God is ultimate. God tells us plainly that His ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Expect then, that Scripture will say things that don't agree with your natural way of thinking.

How has writing this book refined your personal view of God?

I often hear people say, "I could never love a God who would . . ." Who would what? Who would disagree with you? And do things you would never do? Who would allow bad things to happen to people? Who would be more concerned with His own glory than your feelings? Who would—send people to Hell? 

It has taken me 43 years to finally confess that I have been embarrassed by some of God's actions. In my arrogance, I believed I could make Him more attractive or palatable if I covered up some of His actions. So I neglected speaking on certain passages, or I would rush through certain statements God made in order to get to the ones I was comfortable with. The ones I knew others would like. I am just now seeing the ugliness of my actions. Like the nervous kid who tries to keep his friends from seeing his [embarrassing] father, I have tried to hide God at times. Who do I think I am? The truth is, God is perfect and right in all that He does. I am a fool for thinking otherwise. He does not need nor want me to "cover" for Him. There's nothing to be covered. Everything about Him and all He does is perfect.

How should we treat those with whom we disagree, especially on theological points?

Jesus threatens Hell to those who curse their brother (Mattew 5:22). He's not warning drinkers or smokers or murderers. Jesus preaches hellfire against those who have the audacity to attack a fellow human being with harsh words. It's ironic—frightening, actually—that some people have written books, preached sermons, or written blog posts about Hell and missed this point completely. In fact, some people have slammed their Christian brothers and sisters in the process, simply because they have a different view of Hell, missing the purpose of Matthew 5: Whoever calls his brother a fool may find himself guilty of Hell.

Have you called your brother a fool lately? On a blog? On Facebook? Have you tweeted anything of the sort? So often these Hell passages become fodder for debate, and people miss the point of the warning. Jesus didn't speak of Hell so we could study, debate, and write books about it. He gave us these passages so we would live holy lives. Stop slandering one another, and live in peace and brotherly unity. Jesus evidently hates it when we tear into our brothers or sisters with demeaning words, words that fail to honor the people around us as the beautiful image-bearing creatures that they are.

To read more of this interview, check out the Winter 11-12 edition of The Brink magazine. To order The Brink, visit www.d6family.com.

I remember when I first started looking beneath the surface of things as a believer. You know, lifting the rock to see the world of life and dirt underneath what I had only walked by previously. The Bible had been a book I revered in ritual only. I would have never thrown one across a room but I also was not too interested in mining it for all it was worth. Before, the Bible was purely a place to go for devotional thoughts to help me through the day. But then something changed. I began to see it as the interpretive key for understanding. And not just for understanding the so-called spiritual parts of my life. It became the lens through which I made sense of everything.

Everything.

I wouldn't have talked about it like that. For it was only a beginning. A start of a long journey of looking at everything in light of this God who created everything, who we rebelled against, who took the initiative in rescuing us from ourselves, and who has promised restoration. Everything began to take on new hues and colors as they reflected back to me new less-well-known vistas of this God who loves and redeems and saves and gives so much so freely.

But like I said, it was only the beginning. There was a lot of stumbling through caves of legalism and caverns of liberty. But I was growing all the while. Fits and starts; but growing all the same. Growing in my love of thinking deeply about my life and its parts and how it all related to this God.

And then I read the book of Ecclesiastes.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a puzzle for most people. Just when you think you have heard something which rings true, you happen upon a phrase, verse, or whole section which sounds nothing like what you have been taught to believe or do for that matter. Just when you think the writer of Ecclesiastes is making a great point, he says something crazy like, "Everything is meaningless!"

Which is weird.

Or is it?

I mean, on the surface this sounds a lot like the nihilism so rampant in western culture. The philosophy which strips meaning from anything and everything. The belief that nothing really matters in this life or the next is not only popular in our world, it is also pervasive. Some get there by speculation and others by experiencing suffering to such a degree that meaning is like a dust particle in a pitch-black world.

But not us.

Evangelical Christians reject such ways of thinking. Don't we?

The proto-typical evangelical Christian finds it very easy to make sense of all the spiritual parts of their lives. Quiet times, Bible study, worship songs, sermons, prayer, baptism, communion, evangelism, missions and helping the poor are meaningful. We would never call these parts of our life "meaningless." It all has meaning because these are religious or spiritual acts we do which relate directly to God. They help us and others be connected to our Creator and Redeemer. And this gives us joy. And rightly so.

But what about the other parts of our lives?

What about the parts of our lives which do not seem all that spiritual? You know what I mean—the parts of life we must be about because they are, well . . . life? What about all those day-in and day-out repetitions? Do the routine and mundane parts of our lives have meaning?

Does work and play and leisure and sex and showering and yard work and texting and changing diapers and watching a movie and driving to/from work and budgeting and homework and getting dressed and making art and responding to Facebook messages and breathing in and out have any meaning?

And what about our work?

We all know that pastors and worship leaders and missionaries and youth pastors and campus ministers and chaplains and anyone else in vocational ministry are doing meaningful work. They are working hard for the expansion of the kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven because they are spreading the gospel of Christ throughout the world. Of course that work is meaningful.

But what about everyone else? Is their work meaningful? What about the work of accountants and nurses and tellers and baristas and teachers and artists and woodworkers and gardeners and janitors and firemen and lawyers and stay-at-home moms and musicians and garbage collectors and architects and lab-techs and graphic designers and bankers and retail sales associates?

Can we call their work meaningful?

We just might be tempted to think it is meaningful . . . if we add an "if." If the money made is given to support missions and the work of the church. And if we are telling others at our workplace about their need for Jesus. If we are living very morally while we do this work. That's a lot of if-ing.

So our work—if it is not vocational ministry—is meaningless unless it is the means to another end? There is nothing intrinsically meaningful about it? We might be tempted to think this is the case.

Add to this the celebrity culture in which we live. Are our lives meaningful even if we spend all our time here in an unknown corner of the world where nothing newsworthy ever happens? Must we do something wonderful, grabbing the notice of others in order for our lives to have meaning? Do we need to "shine" for our lives to have meaning? What about all those lonely lives? Are they meaningless?

Meaningless, meaningless . . .

We may recoil when we read the writer of Ecclesiastes say "Everything is meaningless," but we far too often live as if this is close to being the case. We live as if only the overtly spiritual things are meaningful. We live as if only work that is religious in nature is meaningful. And we live as if an anonymous life is without meaning.

Or we are at least tempted to do so.

But I am not so sure. I know the temptation. I am intimately acquainted with these thoughts and fears. But I am not sure it is true.

Our celebrity-driven culture makes it hard to think any differently. And really, the church isn't a whole lot of help. Maybe it has always been the case. But it is hard to miss the celebrity zeitgeist of the modern-day evangelical milieu. Not to mention movements which will make the hardest working stay-at-home-mom think she may not be doing enough for the kingdom. "You need to change the world," sounds enticing while changing the third diaper before noon.

When Solomon made his pronouncement that life is meaningless, he was examining life "under the sun"—a phrase he used more than 25 times in Ecclesiastes. This was a look at life without God at its center. In such circumstances life is indeed meaningless. But by the end of the book Solomon had discovered life's meaning—to fear God and obey His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

So I ask, "Is most of life meaningless?"

I don't think so. I think there are clues throughout Scripture which help us see a beautiful picture of meaning in even the smallest of details.

Romans 8 is a favorite section of the Bible for many people. It's where Christians have gone for centuries in the midst of hardship and pain and suffering. Why? Because Paul not only gives us the promise that nothing—not even death, our greatest enemy—is able to separate us from the love of our Father because of what Christ has done, but he also tells us something strange. He makes it clear that everything is working for the believer's good.

Everything?

Everything. Surely if torture and death itself are working for our good, then we can assume all those parts of our life which are not all that "spiritual" are doing the same. And it does not say all things have the potential to work for our good. It says they do. It's as if God is orchestrating this incredible symphony of everything so it all works for our good and His glory. And it's beautiful. And it's meaningful.

It's funny really. Christians seem to always fall into the trap of dividing up work as spiritual and secular. Pastors and missionaries are doing spiritual work. Plumbers and doctors are doing secular work. Only a few are doing the spiritual stuff and getting paid to do it. But wasn't Adam told to work even before the Fall? In fact it is hard to walk away from the story of Adam without thinking he . . . we were created to work.

Indeed, it seems to be at the very heart of being created in the image of God.

And the message of the goodness of work stretches all the way into the New Testament—to the gnarled hands of a carpenter reaching for a piece of wood to fashion. We hardly have even noticed that the Apostle Paul—a missionary himself—never tells others to be missionaries in his letters to the churches. But he does tell them to work.

Why would he, under the direction of the Spirit of God, tell the Christians in Thessalonica in chapter 3 to do something like work unless it was meaningful? Are we to assume Paul, directed by the Spirit, would ask them and us to do anything that is without meaning?

Really, we have a problem. But it is not the problem we think it is.

The problem of finding meaning in all parts of our life lies not in what we can see but in what we believe. Our tendency is to label something meaningful if we can see the meaning in it. If not, we call it meaningless.

Remember Geometry? Diagramming sentences? Greek Mythology? We assume that if we cannot see the meaning, it is not there. It does not exist, at least for us anyway.

But we must remember that the very God we cannot see has promised to work meaningfully in all things. This God who has created all things. This unseen God who has redeemed us at the price of His Son's life, though we stuck a fist in His face. This invisible God who holds out hope to us in the gospel, that even the death we cannot yet see works for our good by ushering us into a bliss we cannot even imagine.

So, for those who are in Christ, who have been called according to His purpose, everything has some meaning. Bursting with it. Even when we cannot see it or imagine it, the meaning is there.

"Everything is meaningful."

Indeed, Blessings is the latest and fourth studio album from Story, but its title is a mixed bag for Story and her husband, Martin. Instead of referring to an abundance of fame and attention, the title concerns the ongoing battle waged each day as the Atlanta-based couple deals with the consequences of Martin's brain tumor nearly five years ago - something that Story says they're still learning to cope with.

""Blessings" was the last song that I wrote and it ended up being the title track," says Story. "It's definitely the synopsis of everything we've been learning these last four or five years. My husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor five years ago, and it very much affects everything we do."

Story says the struggle is a daily one that affects both their physical and spiritual life, giving a perspective in the midst of balancing a music career and growing fame with each new radio single.

"On a practical level, he has some disabilities that have really changed our life as far as a memory deficit that he has," she says. "On a spiritual level, we've wrestled with how God would allow something so good to happen to us—giving us this amazing platform in getting to share about God through music—while at the same time, taking us through the hardest time in our lives."

For Story, it's been relearning what she believed the word "blessing" to even mean, which makes it an appropriate moniker for the new project. Given everything the two have been through, the songs on Blessings mark a personal time filled with this new perspective.

"It's made us redefine what it means for God to bless us," she explains. "I think in the past, I would have said that God blesses His children when He answers their prayers in the way that they want. We're learning that that's not necessarily the case. We've learned there is also a blessing that comes in the midst of Him not answering our prayers the way we wish He would, when He's teaching us to trust Him in a different and unique way."

Not only does this affect them personally, but it also gives the live show a different perspective. Story says that most artists or speakers mention moments from their past as the obstacle they've overcome, yet for her and Martin, it's about the ongoing struggle.

"Before [something like this], you feel confident speaking about things that you've learned and you're on the other side of and you've tested them out. But this is different than that. We're not on the other side of it. We're choosing by faith to believe that these promises are true while still being in the midst of the problem.

"It does create weaknesses," she continues. "We're always in a place of vulnerability. Every night I do a concert, I say that I was faced again with choosing to believe in the midst of whatever struggle we faced that day based on Martin's struggle. The thing about being a believer is that we find our weakness is a place of strength. When we're weak, then God is strong. I want to see a strong God, so I have to acknowledge that it will happen when I am weak."

Story is most famous for writing worship songs, including the Chris Tomlin-sung "Indescribable" which became a No. 2 hit on the Billboard Christian charts. In the live setting, however, it's the personal moments of sharing from her struggle that hit home the most.

"There's nothing as affirming as people coming up and thanking us," says Story. "God not only uses the story to encourage and inspire, but also to make the audience ask those questions about the events in their own life that they might be calling curses right now. Perhaps those are the moments God wants to use to glorify Himself in it. Someone will say, 'I've lost this loved one and I've never thought of it as being something God will use to glorify Himself in the midst of it.'"

The interesting part is that even though the crowd comes to her afterward to share their support and appreciation for her own vulnerability, Story says she is actually the one who is ministered to the most in those moments.

"A lot of times people will tell me at the concert, 'Thanks so much for singing those lyrics. They really gave me hope. You sang that song for me tonight.' I always say to them, 'Well, I'm really glad that God used it, but I sang that song for me tonight.' I'm the one who needs to hear this stuff. We sing the songs every night because that's a great memory tool from God for me to sing His promises again and again. Also, getting to share our story is pretty therapeutic in terms of what we're choosing to believe in the midst of hardship and life."

Another struggle facing Story is dealing with the mounting pressures of her career as both a recording artist and a member of a church staff.

To read the rest of this story, check out the Fall 2011 edition of The Brink magazine.

"What would Jesus do?" some teenager responded when I asked him what the initials represented.

At the time, I thought it was cool (though not so cool that I was a sucker to fork over $5 for a 10 cent piece of circular plastic). The concept was gripping to me. I could just look down at my bracelet and ask that all-important question—and then do exactly what Jesus would do.

If only following Jesus were that simple.

The real challenge rests in determining what Jesus really would say and do. In actuality, we've got a slew of Old Testament prophecies about Jesus and then four short books in the New Testament with cameos in Acts and Revelation. That's not much to create a definitive answer for how Jesus would respond in every situation.

This fact becomes evident when you begin talking with people about Jesus. The concepts flow fast and furiously when you ask others to sum up the life of Jesus and the central message of His time on earth. A sudden murkiness appears about who Jesus was and is, as we thrust upon Him the things we believe Him to be—or maybe have even experienced Him to be in our own lives.

For the people who walked with the Messiah day in and day out, understanding Jesus wasn't so simple. In fact, they were downright mindboggling. He sometimes spoke in hard-to-understand parables. His teaching sometimes seemed confusing (the Kingdom of God is everything from near, here, to not yet). He healed people and told them not to tell anyone—and meant it. He "worked" on the Sabbath. He rebuked the Pharisees. He cleared the temple. There's no doubt that the religious leaders of Jesus' day would characterize the actions of the Messiah as "sacrilegious."

Jesus wasn't exactly easy to follow either. Nobody knew what He was going to do next. Would He blast the Pharisees or love the harlot? He was confusing at best. Yet in the twenty-first century, Christians have the audacity to delineate with ease what Jesus would or wouldn't do. But if Jesus were walking the earth today, would we have such a fond view of Him?

Labels of Love
In today's culture, we love to label everything. Right or wrong, labels make it easy for us to mentally catalog information, people, and ideas. Our adjective-happy society will stop at nothing to create a label for you, even if one doesn't exist. People try to do this with Jesus—and they fail miserably. There's only one category that He fits into neatly . . . and that is His own.

Let's take a look at a few ideas people have about attributes of Jesus we should emulate if we are to follow Him.

Peace-Loving, Hippy Jesus
Some people today think Jesus was just this really nice guy who performed amazing miracles for people and just talked about peace all the time. If only we could hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" to solve all of the world's conflicts.

To suggest that Jesus wasn't a peace-loving man is ridiculous for Isaiah called Him the "Prince of Peace." But Jesus recognized an important aspect of following Him—many people won't like you when you follow Him.

In Luke 12:49-53, Jesus suggested we need to prepare for conflict because it's coming. Jesus saw peace in our hearts that comes from knowing Him intimately. But peace that equates to a world without conflict? Not even the Messiah made such a promise for His time on the planet.

It's easy to shy away from conflict regarding your faith, particularly when people start blasting away at Christians. Who likes to be mocked for their faith anyway? So, it's understandably more comfortable to respond by tempering your responses and getting cozy with a watered-down version of the Christian faith. There are enough Christians out there creating conflict and making it difficult to portray a healthy image of Christ, so why become confrontational?

But Jesus welcomed confrontation. It was His opportunity to steer someone toward the heart of the Father. For all of Jesus' peaceful attributes, He was unafraid of confrontation. If your worldview leaned toward the Law, get ready for a blindside. If you wallowed in sin, you best shape up after you get a healthy heaping of grace. Think "Evangelism Linebacker" (a must-Google if you haven't see this video) without all the hitting.

Accepting? Yes. Confrontational? To the nth degree.

Culture War Jesus
Got a fish on the back of your car? Have a bumper sticker that antagonizes some other portion of the culture? Get angry and motivated when you hear someone on the radio talking about the culture war Christians are facing in America? This is a dominant attribute of Jesus many people view as worthy of following in our country today. Sadly, it only partially represents Jesus' approach to anti-Christian sentiments.

Jesus came to bring about change—but it was the kind of change that started in the hearts of men, not in the laws of the land. He understood that a society's values were reflected in their laws. Trying to change people through enforcing new laws was never going to work. Consequently, many people were disappointed with Jesus as the Messiah, even to the point that some flatly refused to believe. Many Jews held fast that the Messiah was there to set them free from tyrannical rule, not bring freedom to their hearts and minds from the devastating effects of sin.

The culture war pits "us" against "them," when in reality Jesus wanted "us" to serve "them." There He goes flipping that label on its head again!

What would Jesus do here? Would He start campaigns to have laws changed? Or would He invest in raising up authentic disciples who caught the essence of what He was trying to reach—and let them exponentially extend the gospel message?

The Love-God-Without-All-the-Distractions Jesus
The fact that Jesus frequently retreated for solitary prayer, whether to the mountains or across the Sea of Galilee, has led some to think isolation is the key to discipleship.

The notion that we can best love God by isolating ourselves from the world isn't a new idea. For centuries, men and women have chosen to isolate themselves and practice a pious life of serving God. For Christians in America, there are many who ascribe to this philosophy, although it may not manifest itself in four literal walls 20 miles outside of a city.

While there is nothing wrong with wanting to submerge ourselves with an environment that fosters healthy faith, what good is our faith if we aren't applying it to a world that desperately needs it?

When Jesus was questioned about spending time with notorious sinners, He said it is not the healthy who need a physician. After all, He came to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance (Mark 2:17).

I find the easiest place to be a Christian is at church. Genuine or forced, smiles are on most people's faces. We can sincerely offer to pray for people when they share misfortune. We can sing songs about God's amazing love for us. We can get swept away by an awesome hour and a half with God as we learn more about Him. And then we have to leave.

It makes sense that we would want to sequester ourselves from the world. But that's not the way Jesus intended His followers to live. Nevertheless, it doesn't stop some Christians from making that their life pursuit.

Unshrinking Jesus
In his book Wholly Jesus, Mark Foreman sums up the reality of the attribute of Jesus we ascribe to:

"If we humble ourselves, we must admit honestly that we are drawn to the passages of Scripture that promote our particular expectation of Jesus. Even when we are in a convicting or challenging portion of Scripture, we emerge with a dismissal for the threat and a confirmation of our expectation. Our chosen preachers even help to keep our Jesus Jell-O mold strong.

"Sadly, we have ultimately shrunk the image of Jesus. Our personal wants and culturalworldviews have reduced and minimized Wholly Jesus and his wholeness message. Rarely, do we make him and his message bigger; instead, Jesus' message usually conveys just what we want it to."

When following Jesus, we must remember this important truth: Jesus was fully God and fully man. He can mingle with sinners and then judge the world. We're woefully deficient when we compare ourselves to Him—and we always will be until He completes the work He has begun in us. But that shouldn't dissuade us from pursuing His heart for our lives and for the world we live in.

We must also remember another truth: No matter what element of Jesus we're drawn to, the reality is Jesus is a little bit of all those labels—and many more. He wasn't one thing all the time, except the perfect Son of God who was fully human and fully man operating under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.

Asking ourselves "What would Jesus do?" is a great starting point, but it falls incredibly short in conjuring up the proper question. It's more about asking, "What is the Holy Spirit leading us to do in accordance with Scripture?"

Maybe God is stirring your heart to confront someone who is older than you about their sinful behavior. Or maybe God is prodding you to befriend your neighbor, the outspoken atheist. Maybe God is calling you to spend more time in prayer and contemplation. Or maybe God is urging you to serve the poor.

Some of these promptings may stand in stark contrast to what we are normally drawn to—and it may be a tad uncomfortable at first. But then again, that's the point. We sing about a great big God on Sundays, but then act as if He is powerless the rest of the week. If we're to unshrink Jesus, it's going to take some uncomfortable moments, moments where we must choose to shake off our preconceived ideas about what it means to follow Jesus and simply obey Him.

Instead of delivering a tidy mission statement about what it means to follow Jesus, we'll develop a new label for our relationship with Him: "Words Cannot Express."

Jason Chatraw is a writer and teacher, passionate about communicating the truths of Christ. After working as a full-time sports writer for nine years, Jason began writing and working for Christian ministries. In 2004, he started a publishing company, Ampelon Publishing, and has also written three books, including his latest with Eric Sandras entitled Mystics, Mavericks & Miracle Workers: A 30-day journey with some saints. Jason and his wife, Janel, live in Boise, Idaho, with their daughters, Faith and Julia.

Instead of some charming poem or gushing thank you of, "You have always been there for me and held my hand through life's disappointments," all I could think of was, "Where were you when I needed you?"

I wanted to say something nice but couldn't hurdle the hurt. I wanted to actually mean the words but couldn't convince myself to believe them. Even though someone else wrote them, and thousands of other dads were probably getting the same card, I wanted mine to be genuine. Shrugging in surrender and feeling like a fraud, I finally settled on one that seemed "safe."

On the way home I thought about my difficulties with Father's Day and wondered if it was worth it to send a card when nothing seemed to work. Mentally chiding myself for an obviously bad attitude, I prayed that God would show me how to gracefully and honorably approach my dad despite a mountain of hurt standing between us.

As I drove, I realized an interesting paradox exists. I believe we are divinely drawn to our fathers because they represent a piece of a puzzle meant to illustrate a small fragment of how God desires to interact with us. On the other hand, though, we can be deeply hurt by that fact as well. God designed fathers to fill a special and specific role in the lives of their children. He appointed them to be tangible representations of His faithfulness and physical demonstrations of His protection. Our souls were created to trust and embrace our dads, partly because we were meant to do likewise with God. That is why their absence can cause some of the deepest pain we could know on this side of heaven.

Although it's not hard to spot the effects of heartache and confusion caused when fathers are lacking or uninvolved, I believe God knows about it and graciously accounts for it. The fact is, each one of our fathers is a gift from God. This is why, despite a decade of a tattered and strained relationship, I still desperately love my dad and urgently yearn for his active presence in my life.

Our fathers are pieces of heavenly provision and portraits of God's divine intention. They are human and they are imperfect, but they are children of God and covered by His abundant grace. As I have gotten older, I have realized that the weight of the world is heavy and hard. I don't know and can't ever truly understand the shoes my dad has to fill. I can't comprehend the intimate internal struggles he faces, and I can't see behind the scenes of why he does what he does. I do know that God is aware of it, and that He stands ready and willing to bridge the gap between us. Though I may not understand the complicated spectrum of what makes my dad tick, I do know that his role in God's plan for my life is irreplaceable. My status as his daughter was thought out long before either one of us existed.

With that said, my relationship with my dad has actually taught me many things. The deep drive I have toward the protection and intimacy of God's heart is partly because I am longing for that with my earthy father. When I am devastated because he doesn't seem to care, I can still be eternally grateful that he is the man God gave me for a dad. I am learning the importance of grace, compassion, and patience and am thankful for every act of involvement he offers. I am beginning to see that God is showing me how to honor my dad by praying for him, welcoming him when he attempts to communicate, and continually forgiving him when he doesn't. I am also learning my own need for constant forgiveness, and am given the opportunity to practice unconditional love, respect, and faith. When I feel like my dad has forgotten me, I am reminded that my heavenly Father hasn't. When I am hurt and confused by the immediate situation, I can trust that God sees the bigger picture. And, when I cling to the faithfulness of God, I find hope for the restoration I long to see someday.

So, no matter how long it takes, or how many times I come face to face with a stack of greeting cards that seem beyond reach, I can praise God for his role in my life, and petition Him to restore my relationship with the man He gave me for a dad.

Kara is a freelance writer living in Boise, Idaho. She is a mentor for high school and college-aged girls, and she and her husband both share a passion for singles ministry. She is a writing student in the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, and her articles have appeared on Michael Smalley's Crashintolove website, The Lookout, Treasure Valley Christian News, and Gobigtoday.com.

First of all, the mission of the church is the mission of Jesus. This mission doesn't start with the giving of the Great Commission or at Pentecost. The Great Commission is when Jesus sends the church to the world with the authority he already has (Matthew 28:18), and Pentecost is when he bestows the power to carry this commission out (Acts 1:8).

The content of this mission is not just personal regeneration but disciple-making (Matthew 28:19). It is not just teaching, but teaching people to observe all that Jesus commanded us (Matthew 28:20).

This mission is not inconsistent with what we have seen already in the life of Jesus. His mission is defined by Old Testament expectation (for instance, Psalm 72), and in the gospel accounts in terms of redemptive love for the whole person, both body and soul. From the literally embryonic moments of the Incarnation, such terms are present in Mary's prayer about the coming of her Messiah (Luke 1:46-55), and then in Jesus' one inaugural words about his kingdom's arrival (Luke 4:18-19).

This mission is summed up in the gospel as a message of reconciliation that is both vertical and horizontal, establishing peace with both God and neighbor. The Scripture tells us to love your neighbor "as yourself" (Luke 10:27-28).

This is not simply a "spiritual" ministry, as the example Jesus gives us is of a holistic caring for physical and economic needs of a wounded person, not to mention the transcending of steep ethnic hostilities. As theologian Carl F. H. Henry reminded evangelicals a generation ago, one does not love oneself simply in "spiritual ways" but holistically.

Of course, Jesus' ministry would be about such things. After all, the Bible shows us, from the beginning, that the scope of the curse is holistic in its destruction—personal, cosmic, social, vocational (Genesis 3-11) and that the gospel is holistic in its restoration—personal, cosmic, social, vocational (Revelation 21-22).

Moreover, the biblical prophetic witness consistently speaks in such terms. Is Ahab's acquisition of Naboth's land (1 Kings 21:1-19) a matter of personal sin or social injustice? Well, it was both. Was the sin of Sodom a conglomeration of personal sins or societal unrighteousness? It was both (Genesis 18:26; Ezekiel 16:49).

The prophets never divided up issues of righteousness as neatly as we do in the "personal" and the "social." Isaiah speaks of God's judgment both on personal pride and idolatry (Isaiah 2:11) and the "grinding" of the faces of the poor (Isaiah 3:14-15). Onward to Joel and Micah and Malachi right through John the Baptist the witness is the same.

The new covenant church continues this witness. Even after the public ministry of Jesus, His apostolic church continues a message of both personal justification and interpersonal justice. James directed the churches of the dispersion both in terms of their personal speech (James 3:1-12) and the unjust treatment of wage-earners (James 5:1-6).

James defines "pure and undefiled religion" as that which cares for the widows and orphans (James 1:27). Of course he does. His brother already has (Matthew 25:40).

For those who might seek to pit James against Paul, the New Testament allows no such skirmish, either on personal redemption or on ministry to the vulnerable. When they received Paul, the apostles, Paul says, were concerned, of course, that he proclaim the correct gospel but also that he remember the poor. This was, Paul testifies, "the very thing I was eager to do" (Galatians 2:10).

So how does the church "balance" a concern for evangelism with a concern for justice? A church does so in the same way it "balances" the gospel with personal morality. Sure, there have been churches that have emphasized public justice without the call to personal conversion. Such churches have abandoned the gospel.

But there are also churches that have emphasized personal righteousness (sexual morality, for instance) without a clear emphasis on the gospel. And there are churches that have taught personal morality as a means of earning favor with God. Such also contradicts the gospel.

We do not, though, counteract legalism in the realm of personal morality with an antinomianism (the belief that the gospel frees Christians from obeying the moral law of God). And we do not react to the persistent "social gospels" (of both Left and Right) by pretending that Jesus does not call his churches to act on behalf of the poor, the sojourner, the fatherless, the vulnerable, the hungry, the sex-trafficked, the unborn. We act in the framework of the gospel, never apart from it, either in verbal proclamation or in active demonstration.

The short answer to how churches should "balance" such things is simple: follow Jesus. We are Christians. This means that as we grow in Christlikeness, we are concerned about the things that concern Him. Jesus is the king of his kingdom, and He loves whole persons, bodies as well as souls. Christ Jesus never sends away the hungry by merely telling them to be warmed and filled (James 2:16). What He says, instead, as He points to the love of both God and neighbor, to the care of both body and soul, is go, and do likewise (Luke 10:37).

This article used with permission and originally appeared at thegospelcoalition.com.

Dr. Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as a preaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church, where he ministers weekly at the congregation's Fegenbush location. Moore is the author of The Kingdom of Christ and Adopted for Life.

It wasn't supposed to be like this, so bogged down with difficulty and lacking the relational intimacy that came so easily while they were dating. They were stunned. And on the fast track to becoming a shocking statistic: one-third of all American marriages end in divorce before the fifth anniversary.

Why is that number so high? Couples in trouble tend to think there are only two options—get divorced or be miserable for the rest of their lives. Thankfully that's a false choice. There's a lesser known stat that shows a third option, one that is far better than those two: among married couples that were on the brink of divorce, those that stuck it out and stayed married were happier five years later, than those that went through with the divorce.

According to the American Values survey, "Does Divorce Make People Happy," the most unhappy marriages reported the most dramatic turnarounds. Those couples who rated their marriages as very unhappy, eight out of ten who avoided divorce were happily married five years later.

As conditioned by culture as we are, we often think that when a marriage is down, the only course is to throw in the towel. But the people in this study show the opposite is true. Those who stick it out are happier than those who give up.

Is it possible to avoid getting to that very low spot? Often it is. Not every couple experiences it. But when it does hit, that shell-shocked feeling tends to come from our own unrealistic expectations of what marriage will be like. Instead of turning to Scripture for our cues about the sacrificial love and respect required when two fallen people vow to spend the rest of their lives together, whatever may come (Ephesians 5:22-33, Colossians 3:18-19, 1 Corinthians 7:28, James 3:2), we get sucked into thinking what we see on TV and film—the effortless fantasy—is reality.

This isn't to say marriage is all hard work and disappointment. But it is a crucible God uses to make us more like Him. It's a soul-shaping adventure that flourishes when both husband and wife lay down their lives for the other. As Jesus warned us, trouble is inevitable. Thankfully, divorce isn't. Nor is a duct-taped relationship barely making it the best we can hope for. When divorce isn't an option, couples live out their commitment differently. More intensely and intentionally. And it's there, in the living out of marital vows, that fulfillment and happiness can be found.

Candice is the author of Get Married: What Women Can Do to Help It Happen, founder of Boundless.org, and editor-at-large of MarryWell.org. She and her husband Steve co-authored Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies. They have four children.

That is what the horror of our guilt is like to a lot of people. They have heard the idea of human guilt, but it doesn't make that much of an impact because it hasn't been made real to them. We have failed to place an adequate vision of judgment before them. Hey, I'm blaming myself too.

Making it real to people involves more than just relating some facts. That much is clear. Facts without sincere passion are often useless. A lot of people are aware of our guilt, they are aware of the punishment that waits, they are aware of how they can escape it, aware of God's offer to help, aware this offer is open to all mankind. They just don't care very much—or at all. They have no problem with hell because it's not real to them. Yes, many know about the concept of sin. They just don't care if it will kill them in the end because it's only a concept in their mind. We must make our guilt real to them. They must see its horror. They must see God's plan to save us from its punishment. Unfortunately, it's really, really hard to do that today with any amount or arrangement of words.

Okay, I'm assuming if you are reading this you already know God had a plan of salvation from the very beginning. Actually, even before that. I assume you know how it all started in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve chose to disobey, steeping all mankind into condemnation. We are all born drenched in guilt. Well, God already had a plan. This plan was to send His Son—His very own Son!—to die in our stead. It was that bad. It was so bad God was the only one who could take away the penalty. I'm assuming you have already fully accepted these things. That's why I'm telling you it's our collective duty to strive to make it real to those who have not accepted the reality. Sure it's hard, sure it can be frustrating talking to the postmodern mindset, sure at times you will feel compelled to run down the street screaming at the top of your lungs and yanking out hair by the fistfuls. But evangelism must be done because Jesus commanded it. Jesus went to all the vast trouble to make salvation possible. We should want to show others God's great plan of salvation that has been ordained since before the beginning of time.

We are in the business of dealing with a guilt that has plagued mankind since shortly after the beginning of time. Know this: Jesus is the antidote; He can save us from this plague. To get people to see the need of the antidote, we need to make the horror of guilt real. It is frustrating because words themselves sometimes do not seem powerful enough. And that's hard. How are we supposed to communicate if our words are useless? How are we supposed to get people to the point where they actually see the horror of guilt? It hasn't been made real if the person says they see and understand, but then indicate they don't care. If that is their response then they don't really see and understand. If they can be so lackadaisical about our guilt, they haven't actually seen its true horror. They haven't really seen the mind-boggling awesomeness of what our perfect, so patient, and so, so loving God did for a world of thoroughly unlovable, self-centered sinners (Romans 5:8). Real knowledge of this kind of grace changes hearts.

Like I said (or inferred), I'm not Mr. Perfect Evangelist. I'm not even a regular attendee of my church's Monday night visitation. (Something I'm trying to remedy.) Maybe you are not exactly Mr. or Mrs. Perfect Evangelist either. Don't feel lonely; there are a lot of us out there. Let's work on this together, shall we? As Christians, we once arrived at the point that the gospel became real to us. Unfortunately, many Christians afterward get to the point where they take salvation for granted and the horror of human guilt once again becomes just a general idea. We have been too long away from our home state and need to be reminded of what it is like. Advice: don't wait 15 years to visit it again. We can't expect to make the subject more than just ideas to the lost if it is only an idea to us. We can't expect it to be poignant to them if it isn't poignant to us. Do everyone a favor, once again make it real and poignant to yourself. Just keep it real.

Let me begin by saying thank you to those of you that use The Brink Leader's Pack to lead your group of twentysomethings in Bible study.

We work hard to produce curriculum that is grammatically and biblically accurate, so you can trust what you're using to teach. However, we made a mistake in the Winter 2010-11 Brink Leader's Guide, in week 1 (titled "Miraculously Common"). 

In the Learn section, under point #4, we made the statement (referring to Elijah) that reads "He was the last of the Old Testament prophets." As you know, Elijah was not the last Old Testament prophet, although he is considered by many to be a very prominent one.

I apologize for the mistake and any confusion this error may have caused. This is simply something that we missed in the editing process.

Thank you again, for using The Brink Leader's Pack, and please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Grace and peace,
Jacob Riggs
Associate Editor

Jesus feeding the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four of the gospels. It presents layers of crucial spiritual insight and eloquently illustrates the fact that when individuals practice selflessness and obedience, a massive display of God's power and provision can be cultivated. It is fascinating to think about the web of variables involved. Had the individual players not cooperated, things would have turned out differently.

Before we get to the boy, we must first look at a few other key figures. Jesus asked His disciples to join Him for a boat ride to a desolate place across the lake of Galilee (John 6:1). They were tired and dirty from days on the road, hungry from being too busy to eat, and emotionally devastated because they had just witnessed the death of a close friend, John the Baptist. All they wanted to do was rest and find a few quiet moments to recover at Jesus' feet. Just as they approached the shore, those dreams of silence vanished into a buzz of needy, noisy people promising yet another long and chaotic night. The multitude was moving en masse to Jerusalem for the yearly Passover feast and had followed along the shoreline hoping to catch another glimpse of Jesus' supernatural healing.

For many years, I worked as a summer camp counselor for young girls. Physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion was no stranger. Someone was always homesick, needing attention, or getting into mischief. The noise level was at a constant high and the workload was never finished. I can identify with the disciples as I think about wanting nothing more than to lie down and close my eyes for a few minutes. My body can still remember feeling every nerve fiber aching in a craving for rest. So I can only imagine the strain of catering to the thousands of hungry, weary travelers in our story.

Instead of turning the people away, though, Jesus welcomed them to His side (Luke 9:11). He set aside any desire for rest and passionately poured into the waiting crowd. Ultimately, He was showing His disciples—and with them, us—the importance of gaining strength from His heavenly Father, while using every opportunity to further His gospel message.

As Jesus' teaching continued, a bit of uncertainty filtered through the disciples. I can almost hear them nervously whispering. Here they were, out in the middle of nowhere, drained of energy, and having no place to find food for a very hungry crowd. I picture them tiptoeing up to Jesus, tapping Him on the shoulder, and hoarsely suggesting that He finally send them away. What a shock it must have been when Jesus simply turned to His disciples and told them to give the hungry crowd something to eat (Mark 6:37).

Behind the scenes, we get to see that Jesus was only testing them, "for He himself knew what He would do" (John 6:6). But, to the disciples, feeding this many people so far out of town was an impossible feat (John 6:7). This wasn't a mean joke. Jesus was presenting His beloved disciples with an edge-of-the-cliff situation to illustrate the end of their strength. He was equipping them to carry a legacy of confidence, and a leadership of strength and power. At that moment, though, they were helpless, destitute, and needy. They were no longer serving, but were standing in the shoes of those who needed to be served. Ever the gracious teacher, Jesus offered them a chance to see the miraculous effects of obedience and faith in action. 

Now, we can appreciate the actions of the little boy. Jesus sent the disciples into the crowd to see what they could find. This brought them to a boy who had a small ration of bread and a few tiny fish (Mark 6:38). The Bible doesn't say, but sometimes I wonder if the boy hesitated when asked to part with his food. Did the disciples approach him with an attitude of fear or intimidation? Did they put him in a headlock, or try to bribe him? Was the boy afraid because he could feel thousands of hungry, irritable men breathing down his neck?

Given my attitude toward hunger, I know that if I were the boy, I would have said something like, "No, you can't take my dinner, you should have known better than to leave home without travel snacks!" Again, I wonder if perhaps he pouted for just a moment before parting with his dinner. Somehow, this child conquered a feat I struggle with today. He gave up personal comfort for the sake of others, and cast off immediate gratification for the hope that something significant would transpire.

 His act of surrender gave the disciples something to bring to Jesus, which in turn, opened a window for abundance to flow into a feast for the entire multitude. Like the manna that nourished the desert-bound Israelites generations before them (Exodus 16:31), these people were given a glimpse of heaven that illustrated eternal fulfillment through the tangible taste of bread in an empty stomach (John 6:35).

The disciples followed Jesus' example of placing people over personal comfort, but my admiration for the boy reaches an apex when he banished any notion of age-related significance and contradicted every excuse of limited resources. Ultimately, his small contribution catalyzed an event that remains a legacy even today.

For the crowd, the Passover feast was shadowed for decades to come with a memorial of the day Jesus showed them His ability to create abundance out of absence, and showed them the importance of everlasting sustenance. For us today, it demonstrates the necessity to selflessly contribute to the needs of others, and portrays the importance of persistent faith and practical obedience. It offers a reiteration of the power held by an almighty God when met by the insufficiency of humanity, and shows us the magnitude that Christ can create from our minor acts of submission.

Kara is a freelance writer living in Boise, Idaho. She is a mentor for high school and college-aged girls, and she and her husband both share a passion for singles ministry. She is a writing student in the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, and her articles have appeared on Michael Smalley's Crashintolove website, The Lookout, Treasure Valley Christian News, and Gobigtoday.com.

Quick, here is a short True or False quiz.

TRUE OR FALSE: I believe in God.

Absolutely true. Every fragment that makes up the whole acknowledges this truth. The flesh, the soul, the body, the mind, the spirit: my entire existence accepts and proclaims that God is real.

TRUE OR FALSE:  I believe in the Truth as revealed by the Bible.

True, at least on most days. Some days I am bombarded with questions, and it is on those days that my confidence wavers. Those days are rare, but I would be dishonest if I did not admit they were as much a part of my life as the days where I accept every word of Scripture as inspired by God Himself.

TRUE OR FALSE:  I believe Jesus is who He and the rest of Scripture say He is.

True. I believe Scripture and history are in agreement. Jesus lived and breathed two thousand years ago. He taught and had many followers. The Bible says that He died on a cross and rose again on the third day after His death. Awesome story there; one that has moved my heart more times than I can recall. But it has also been the source of many sleepless nights and totally unproductive days. God in the flesh dead? God in the flesh raised to life again? Any adult that claims those truths are easy to accept is a liar. Scripture speaks to it. History speaks to it. But sometimes, my mind cannot fathom it. Sometimes, my unbelief is too strong to ignore. It is at those times I think about faith. 

I have frequently wrestled with the idea of faith. There are times—frankly, too many times—that I get the impression we Christians are supposed to go through life with total confidence in what we believe. And if we don't, we are not spiritual enough. Sure, you hear preachers and teachers say that it is ok to have doubts, but when they say that they are referring to things like uncertainty about God's will for our lives and not understanding why God allowed a loved one to die. Those questions are acceptable. If we ask the wrong questions, like: Is Jesus really the only way? Is the Bible true? Questions of that nature are not only discouraged but they are labeled as weak and unspiritual. I am convinced this is why so many Christians live very frustrated, disappointed lives.

We all know what the dirty, ugly, secret is. We all know about the giant elephant in the corner of the room but we refuse to admit it to ourselves and we definitely won't admit it to anyone else: We doubt. Our belief is not complete. Or strong. Or perfect. It is flawed and deeply human. Our belief is easily shaken. At times, it is easily broken. There are times that my intellect, my emotions, and my heart are telling me that there is no way Jesus fed five thousand men with one child's lunch. The Gospels say it happened. That means God says it happened. If I doubt one part of that, I in effect doubt that the Bible is truly the inspired Word of God. If I doubt that, then what do I actually believe? If I have nothing authoritative to hold on to, then on what am I basing my religious beliefs?

I grow frustrated when I hear other Christians sigh and postulate why more people don't embrace our beliefs. As if it is easy to embrace what Christians believe. Unfortunately, many Christians do feel our belief system is easily understood and it should make perfect sense to everyone, all of the time. Let me be blunt: That is insane! Scripture is full of examples of people of faith struggling with their desire to believe and their inability to actually do so. The disciples weren't completely convinced that Jesus was the Messiah until they saw Him in His resurrected form. It is not as if they spent 3 years traveling with Him and watching Him raise people from the dead, heal the blind, lame, and diseased, feed thousands with one small meal, and control the elements. Oh wait. They did see all of that and yet they doubted.

When was the last time you saw Jesus raise someone from the dead? How about heal a cripple? Yeah, it has been like . . . never. Yes, we have the biblical accounts. Yes, we have the historical record and tradition. Yes, we have the previous two thousand years of human history to show us the power of Jesus' life and message. But to expect Christians, from any age or generation, to live without doubts is unrealistic and damaging. It is damaging because it implies that to have doubts is to sin. So, when we doubt, and we all do, we feel guilty and defeated, which of course leads to even more doubting and more guilt. You see the pattern there? It's vicious and it is unforgiving. That is not the life Scripture speaks to. That is not the life Jesus calls us to.

Where does all of this leave us? I'm not entirely sure. I do know a few things that have given me great comfort, though. First, questions are acceptable ways of interacting with God. Scripture is full of questions, many of them unanswered. Questions don't make us sinful, or immature, or even unspiritual. Questions make us human and they show we are actively engaging our beliefs in a way that is healthy and God-ordained. Finally, sincere doubt can lead the way to a fuller and more vibrant faith.

True faith isn't the act of believing in something we already know to be true. True faith is believing in something that defies our experience. True faith is believing when all evidence points to the opposite conclusion. True faith is living a life that makes no sense from a human perspective but is exactly what Jesus instructed us to do. True faith has all sorts of room for doubts. If it didn't it wouldn't be faith. We aren't saved by assurances and truths. We are saved by grace, through faith. So, I believe, albeit hesitantly at times. And when I cannot believe completely, I cry out to God, "I believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 

Here's the question:

Should Christians be involved in social justice? Why or why not? Is there any danger in taking it too far?

Winner of the book will be notified by email. The contest closes on Friday, October 29, 2010 at 12:00 PM CST. How will we decide which answer is the "best," you say? By "best" we mean which answer we feel is most biblical. You can respond right in the comments section.

Find out more about Yancey's book here, which was released October 19, 2010.

Good luck!

Why had a seemingly gentle and loving horse reacted in such a dangerous way? Fear. I later found that Strider's previous owners had twisted his ears and bent them forward, forcing his head down into the bridle. Instead of being effective, their heavy-handed methods had turned Strider into an extremely head-shy horse. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't a little disheartened at this point. Earning the trust of an animal that has been abused is a very difficult, if not impossible, task. What if he never trusted me?

The next morning and every morning after that for the next several months, I went out into the field with him. If I knew one thing for sure, it was this: his fears hadn't been formed in one day and his trust wasn't going to be earned in one either. Instead of rushing things, I would just love on him: petting him, talking to him, getting to know him. Strider proved very receptive to my attention, even breaking from the herd when he saw me coming. He wanted my company, though my other horses only came for treats. Very slowly I began to work my petting up his neck and closer to his ears. At first he would jerk his head up and look down at me with fear radiating out of those big, brown eyes of his. But he was no longer rearing and I counted this as progress. I used the yielding and release method as I worked with him. As soon as he yielded to my touch by relaxing his head and body, I would immediately withdraw my hands to a location that he wasn't afraid of. With this knowledge, Strider began to yield more and more quickly because he knew that as soon as he did, I would release.

But we couldn't stop here and, though it would be difficult, I had to ask him for more. If I was ever going to put a bridle on him, we would have to overcome his fear about his ears. Remember that it was from his ears that his fears ultimately stemmed. So instead of stopping at his face, I now moved my hands all the way up to his ears. At first this was a real struggle, for no matter how much he enjoyed our time together, he still had that same, paralyzing fear. But I was patient and it really wasn't long before he let me not only touch his ears, but bend them forward as I would do when it came time to bridle him. Instead of this making him shy of our daily meetings, he would now push his head into my chest and rub all over me. More time passed and he now showed little to no reaction when I touched his head and ears. This kind of trust took time and wisdom to build and it wasn't at all an easy task. The more I asked of Strider, the more he had to yield, and yielding was a decision that I couldn't force him into. He had to take ownership of his part in order for us to make any progress. In the end, because I was willing to release him and because he was willing to yield to produce that release, we were able to build a lasting trust.

God taught me that our relationship, His and mine, is like this. When the Lord purchases us out of our old way of life, we sometimes still carry fears from our past. In order to overcome these fears and build a trusting relationship, we must yield to the Lord's touch.

How do we yield to His touch? We do this by relaxing our hold on our fears, by surrendering them completely to Him. The more we get to know the Savior who purchased us—not with mere money, but with His own blood—the more we will be willing to yield our lives to His gentle touch. There will never be a time in our lives when the Lord is not asking us to yield something; as a matter of fact, the Lord requires that we surrender everything. Do our lives reflect this sort of trust-filled surrender? I know it's difficult to trust sometimes, especially when all we can see is the thing that's taken us captive but this is where we must change our focus. The only way to do this is to trustingly take our eyes off of our fears and look to Him.

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30).

Brittany Valentine is twenty-two years old and lives on a forty-acre farm in southern Illinois. She enjoys training, riding, and just spending time with her eight horses.

            Since the country's founding, the promise of success has lured people from all walks of life to our land. The American dream says that anyone who works hard enough can accomplish anything. Throughout the book's 217 pages, Platt warns of the danger in allowing this philosophy to creep into the church, "We Christians are living out the American dream in the context of our communities of faith. We have convinced ourselves that if we can position our resources and organize our strategies, then in  church as in every other sphere of life, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. But what is strangely lacking in the picture of performances, personalities, programs, and professionals is desperation for the power of God. God's power is at best an add-on to our strategies. I am frightened by the reality that the church I lead can carry on most of our activities smoothly, efficiently, even successfully, never realizing that the Holy Spirit of God is virtually absent from the picture. We can so easily deceive ourselves, mistaking the presence of physical bodies in a crowd for the existence of spiritual life in a community." (page 50)

            Platt also discusses how the independent mindset championed in modern America has led to the excessive materialism. The measure of a man is how hard he works and thus how much he produces and earns. This too has crept into the church. We judge success by how many bodies are in the pews, how full the offering plate is, and the size of the buildings. All these distract from the main cause of Christ: reaching lost souls and training disciples.

            While Platt's diagnosis of the problem is clear and challenging, I found his solutions to be mundane. Like so many other authors before him, Platt's solution is a five fold challenge of more prayer, more Bible study, more giving, living outside your comfort zone, and building disciples. While I understand and believe in the importance of these solutions, I found them to be typical responses most children can give after spending a year in Sunday school class.

            Platt's writing style is a very easy and enjoyable read. His own conviction comes through the pages as he shares personal examples from his own life and church in rejecting the independent materialistic mentality that is so prevalent. Despite the lacking in the end, this book is worth its $14.99 price. I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to turn the church back toward the model found in the book of Acts. There is a small companion book that sums up the message of the book in a brief fifity pages as well as a Bible study featuring eight lessons that correspond with each chapter for small groups.

 Jeremy Crittenden is a youth pastor in Florida.

That was one week after our arrival in a country closed to the Gospel. Two days later, the new convert received the first Bible she had ever seen. One week later, she was asking such probing questions as, "How can we keep from sinning when we have such great forgiveness?"  

The Holy Spirit can work fast with a deadline looming.

Days later, the short-term mission trip (STMT) was over, and the fledgling Christian was left with only God's Word and her inner Comforter to be her Teacher, Guardian, and Guide.

As a mission participant, I also experienced indescribable joy. A carefree attitude carried me across the ocean, over a perilous commute, and through three weeks of the most taxing ministry I have ever attempted.

That calm and cared-for confidence brought me back home and lasted for many months but, unfortunately, has started to fade. Somehow my "do the dishes" and "carpool the kids" life doesn't seem as God-ordained as sharing Christ's love with someone who has never heard the name of Jesus.

It's the time of year when short-term mission participants are coming back from the field energized. They are longing to invigorate our churches, not merely assimilate.

This is the season to cultivate that newfound excitement in the body of Christ, as mission participants and supporters.

How can we hold onto the spiritual "high" that accompanies mission work amongst the cares and commitments of life? It is imperative that we incorporate the short-term mission mindset for a lifetime of ministry.

A STMT is a microcosm of what the Christian life should be. It is a focused example of "redeeming the times" because you are painfully aware of the fleeting days of opportunity (Ephesians 5:16). It's hard to continuously live with such intensity, but with effort we can integrate that attitude into daily life if we keep in mind the following:

God's Purpose

On a STMT, you are certain of your purpose. The leader of the trip gives you an assignment. If you are asked to distribute medicine or teach an English class, it seems important to the cause of Christ. Your efforts support your intent to share the gospel, and it is easy to draw a direct correlation to building God's Kingdom.

Back home, it's not so clear. It's harder to trace the finger of God hidden behind the requirements of daily chores and a secular job.

We know we are to glorify God in whatever He calls us to do. It's less dramatic doing that standing behind a sink instead of a pulpit, but it does not need to be less effective. Most of us will spend more time in the mundane than the extraordinary, and so God gave us the familiar admonition, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

Completing a small job with excellence is of eternal value. Keeping this in mind will lend worth to the most trivial task.

Focusing on God's purpose also keeps us out of trouble. When time is limited, we tend to let minor conflicts slide in deference to our goals. We take seriously Philippians 2:2 which says, "be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind"

Let's live together in the motivating light of our purpose! In this way we can better fulfill our commission to make disciples.

God's Plan

On a STMT you believe each step or misstep has been ordained by God. If your flight is canceled, you know God wants you in the airport. You may need to witness to the ticket agent. If you get sick while on the trip, you have assurance there is divine intent. You might need to concentrate on praying for your teammates.

If you miss a flight or get sick while on vacation, it just feels like dumb luck.

We are programmed for self-reliance. In typical American fashion, we want to do it all—formulate the plan and then put in the effort to make it happen.

A mission trip humbles you into remembering it is God who works in us for His purpose (Philippians 2:13). Since you are totally out of your element, it's easier to embrace that comforting truth.

What sweet relief Proverbs 16:9 provides when it tells us that, "A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps." God has the master plan for our lives and we are not big enough to spoil it.

God's Provision

Just a few dollars in my pocket for three weeks, and I was not worried at all. If I was hungry or thirsty, I knew someone had a plan. It might not be pizza and a diet, caffeine-free soda, but I knew the need would be met.

On a STMT you choose to be content with however God provides. It is sufficient because you are content with whatever we have: for he has said He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

As a born-again creation, the former desires no longer fulfill. Our spirits have been reprogrammed to long for the spiritual. Second Timothy 2:22 reminds us to "follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Our nationally approved right to the "pursuit of happiness" sometimes gets in the way of realizing we have enough. In the midst of the chase we fail to be still and relish God's presence.

We do not recognize it is not the "capturing" but "being captured" that counts. "Christ is all I need" resounds in the heart of the mission-minded. It is one treasure we can cherish from this life to the next!

God's Protection

On a STMT, you recognize that trials might mean you're on the right track. You are satisfied and even gratified when trouble comes because, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

When things go wrong on a STMT, you expectantly watch for God to make it right. Since the time is condensed, you often don't need to wait the years or even decades required for God to fulfill His promise to work all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Our microwave impatience appreciates that.

On a STMT, you also are on the offensive prayer-wise. You realize you need God's protection and are hypersensitive to attacks because the opponent is obvious (Ephesians 6:12).

In everyday life it's common to be lulled into security, comforted by cautious behavior. American life comes with built-in safeguards. From the "do not eat" label on the baggie in a shoebox to the zealous instructions on a child's car seat, we have surrounded ourselves with supposed sanctuary.

When you're bumping along in a van with no seatbelts and 50,000 miles overdue for a tune-up, you remember where your security truly lies.

It's also easier to relish the security of the soul instead of the body while on a STMT. When you are concentrating on sharing the gift of heaven, the ethereal materializes into a glorious future instead of just the final rest stop.

In truth, it is hard to keep a short-term mission mindset. The greater truth is we were born modern-day Americans not as a blessing of prosperity but because God knows we can glorify Him in our culture. God wants us to live effectively even amidst the ever-present distractions of ease.

Would I personally rather be on the front lines reaching the unchurched for Christ? Yes, mission work is addictive in a good way. But if that is not my current calling, I'd better get back to my assigned post.

We must also keep in mind that, "No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who chose him to be a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:4).  

As committed followers of Christ, we never meant to become entangled in the cares of this world, but out of necessity we've had to confront the urgent. There is a difference, however, between attending to and being entangled by the cares of this world.

I am trying to live today as I did across the ocean—with the knowledge that God has a purpose and plan for me each day. In this confidence I can rely on His provision and protection wherever His will leads.

So remember, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we stow our suitcases, don't put away the passion. Save that short-term mission mindset for a life-time of ministry!

Lauralyn Davis is a wife and mother of three living in the Memphis, TN area. She is grateful to belong to a mission-minded church that offers many ministry opportunities both in community and abroad.

I wonder if the generation I find myself in will stay the course, fight the hard battles, pay the price, and sacrifice for real justice. We seem to be willing and comfortable equating justice with raising awareness. We are content to know about the problems in the world, feel bad about it, and buy the t-shirt. The Nobel Foundation endorses this equation of activism. A guy a few years ago won an Oscar and the Nobel Peace Prize just for telling the world through a movie that humanity is supposedly destroying the globe. This year they gave it to another good man; however, his achievement was simply having the potential to do something great.

Our standard for peacemakers has dwindled to public relations campaigns and possibilities. When William Wilberforce and company brought justice to the forgotten and oppressed, they did more than that, and they endured the hard long struggle for the freedom of those who endured an even harsher reality—they changed the world for millions of its citizens. Actual change . . . hard to believe, eh? But they did it. The anti-slavery movement did not just give voice to the silenced; they were their arms, hands, feet, and actions. They were skilled, intelligent, collaborative, and hardworking. They were also passionate, idealistic, and hopeful.

I see a generation who is filled with compassion but low on resolve, and it reflects our leadership. A leadership that has been captivated by social networks, blogs, and so-called influence to the extent that they are willing to sacrifice little and suffer less. We are not willing to dedicate our lives, professions, energy, and brains to the forgotten and oppressed. And we know it. We know our actions are not enough to end sex trafficking, slavery, starvation, and homelessness. Leaders settle for bumper stickers, shoe gimmicks, and a wide assortment of twenty-something trends.

We are told we have a lot to offer: backs and pockets. But we all know we have even more than that. If only we, as leaders, dreamed bigger and called people to a bigger life. A life of literal abandonment of ourselves for the good of others. Using all that we are to bring mercy, kindness, and justice to the lives of neighbors.

This isn't about guilt, it is about knowing who we are and living like it. The numbers shouldn't make you feel guilty for what you have, they should remind you of what you are called to do, what we are capable of accomplishing, and ultimately what we are supposed to do. We are the most talented, connected and creative generation ever. What if we only settled for changing the world of millions of people:

Sex-trafficked: 2,500,000 people
Slaves: 27,000,000 people 
Living on less that $2.50 a day: 3,000,000,000 people
Homeless in United States alone: 1,600,000 people

I pray for a community of people with the resolve to go for it, and the leadership to organize, equip, and release us to do it well.

Brad Watson and his wife, Mirela, live in Portland, Oregon. You can find more of his writing at http://www.bradsstories.com.

Sigh—it was so beautiful and skillful and . . . .

The presence of such great works of art, displaying artistic mastery I cannot comprehend, completely overwhelmed me. On loan from the Art Institute of Chicago, the Kimbell presented more than 90 masterpieces from the impressionist era. Displayed were the works of master painters Degas, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Toulouse-Lautrec—just to name a few! The gallery not only grouped the paintings by artist, but also in a chronological manner; thus exposing the evolution of impressionism throughout the mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries. To think a handful of painters, whose artistic eye challenged traditions and abounded with creativity, reinvented the art of painting and influenced culture decades later—absolutely incredible.

My afternoon at the museum made me ponder, What is the evangelical Christian to do with this art? Monet lived with another man's wife for 13 years; Degas was a vocal anti-Semite; Van Gogh acquired gonorrhea from an alcoholic prostitute he patroned for two years and was committed to a mental institute (during which he painted Starry Night); and Renoir fathered an illegitimate child by Aline Victoria Charigot five years before he married her. These hall-of-famers are not exactly upstanding Christian men.

Yet, when I look at the works of the impressionists, although an art novice, something within me reacts to the beauty and skill I behold—much the same way I react when I encounter nature. I am beholding God's glory. It prompts me to worship.

Created to Create

In Genesis 1:26-28, we learn that God created people in His image—possessing authority, a free will, a spirit, emotions, and creativity. As nature glorifies God by showing His creativity and skill (Psalm 19:1-2; Psalm 104), humanity glorifies God by reflecting His image. Thus, the artistic/creative person is an expression of God's image and glorifying God as he or she creates. Other Christians can then praise God and worship Him not only when they see His creative works—a sunset or mountain chain—but also when they see the creative work from His human creations—paintings, sculptures, architecture, design, literature, etc.

Pondering these possibilities reveals we can enjoy God and worship Him by enjoying His creation—both of nature and culture. (See 1 Timothy 4:1-5; Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, 5:18-19, 9:9.)

Although we may not agree with the moral and religious choices of a particular artist, we can, however, recognize the creative skill—whether genius or just simply genuine—as possessing some element of good and beauty, much the same way God set the example by declaring His creative works ultimately good (Genesis 1). We can appreciate those through the lens of God's creation—He made the person who could create something so unique and complex!

Create No Gods Before Me

Just as creation can become an idol, so can art—paintings, music, films, etc. This happens when it replaces God in importance. For instance, a person may admire and revere Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper but despise and reject Jesus. Furthermore, the Scripture warns against immersion in culture (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 8:-10; 2 Corinthians 6:14ff; Ephesians 4:17ff;  1 John 2:15-17).

Yet, because an artist's material is not overtly Christian or is blatantly non-Christian, does it mean believers cannot praise God for the skill given to that person by enjoying the art? Perhaps, in the secular culture—art, music, literature—there are still glories of God to behold.

To the Artist

This should also be good news to the artist. No longer must you lay down your paintbrush, cloth swatch, or pen to pursue a Christian vocation. "Being in the ministry" takes all shapes and sizes, and some of those folks need to glorify God by utilizing and sharpening their God-given talents and interests. Just as God provides an example for the missionary, the pastor, or the theologian in His Word, He also provides an example for the creative heart. Think of the grandeur of Eden, the pomp of the Temple, and the descriptions of the new heaven and new earth. You are not left without an example. God is the ultimate artist, the ultimate creative mind.

In All I Do

Reading this, some may cringe. Thanks to America's puritanical heritage, it still may be difficult for American Christianity to swallow the idea of embracing creativity as okay, not to mention as worship. However, my Kimbell experience taught me that worship of God is not limited to Bible study, prayer, church, attendance, and good deeds. No, worship of God penetrates every moment of life, seeing Him in all I do and all I meet (1 Corinthians 10:31). Although I live in a fallen world, which often mars the purity of God's image in us, such sin can never fully hide our original design—to glorify Him. We do that when we create—stirring sermon or skillful watercolor, all to the glory of the great Creator.

Question: Knowing that bearing God's image means people are prone to create, how does that impact the way you categorize art—music, sculpture, paintings, films, etc?

Emily White Youree is a freelance writer and editor who lives near Fort Worth, Texas with her husband Bryan.

We looked at each other and I knew the silence on the other end of the phone was the answer. My chest tightened and I could feel my cheeks flush. The pressure behind my eyes threatened to pound a crack into the dam holding back my pooling tears.

Jim looked at me with apology written on his face, and as he continued to plead with my dad, I slipped away. I went to my room and curled into a ball on the bed. The tears came. Quick and hot. "God!" I cried out. "What do I do? How could something so beautiful and blessed turn into something so painful and raw?" I buried my face farther into the pillow and wrapped my arms around my knees. I could feel my heart thudding into the mattress as a warm peace trickled through my body.

A calm, gentle voice whispered, "I will walk with you. I will hold your hand, and I will not disappoint you. I have made this man for you, and I will give you to him on your wedding day. Trust me and hold tightly to my promises."

Isaiah 41:10 lingered across my mind: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

As my tears subsided and my heartbeat slowed, a blanket of hope spread over me. I knew God was for me, and I could rest in the fact He had seen my heartache.

One month later we arrived in Florida and scoped out a tiny, secluded beach where we could hold the ceremony. We had tried to take out any need for an aisle, and though I was incredibly excited, I begged God to protect my heart from the pain of not having my dad involved.

The next day, I stepped out of the car in my white dress and flip flops and started to make my way towards the sand where my groom was waiting. I hadn't noticed it the day before, but a long boardwalk stood between the parking lot and the beach. My heart was racing with anticipation and I stepped onto the wood paneling. Suddenly, the quiet voice came back. "Do you feel me here with you? This is your aisle, and I am walking with you, just as I promised. I am proud of you, and I will give you the strength to be the wife you need to be." My pace slowed, and my head dipped in awe. Jesus had kept His promises in such an intimately flawless way. Even when I tried to guard my own heart, He stepped in, took my hand, and spoke the words I desperately longed to hear. 

Jim and I stood barefoot, facing each other in front of a few witnesses. We exchanged vows and publicly praised God for the blessings we had found in each other. We danced in the shadows of the fading sun, and as the brilliance of the sunset panned across my husband's face, I realized more had changed that day than I thought. 

It wasn't just about the wedding, or the fact I had been joined to the man of my dreams. God had held my hand through it all. He had walked me through the disappointment and pain, and had replaced my shattered hope with a heart full of joy. Psalm 23:2-3 says, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." That day, He led me down to the water's edge and restored my soul. He meticulously stitched my heart into the framework of the man who took my hand from His own, and showed me He would strengthen me, heal me and uphold me, because He was always with me.

Unfortunately today, the pattern of absent fathers is not a dwindling issue. In fact, I am afraid that more and more precious brides will be faced with the same dilemma I was. If another man is not available to walk with you on your special day; a man whom you know, trust, and has adequate stand-in qualities, pray about it and ask God for His help. Although not having my father involved was difficult and painful, I wouldn't have changed the outcome for the world. It is true that no one can take the place of our earthly dads better than an all-loving, all-encouraging, and all-healing Heavenly Father.

Kara is a freelance writer living in Boise, Idaho. She is a mentor for high school and college aged girls, and she and her husband both share a passion for singles ministry. She is a writing student in the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, and her articles have appeared on Michael Smalley's Crashintolove website, The Lookout, Treasure Valley Christian News, and Gobigtoday.com.

I must admit that when I received this manuscript in the mail and read the title, I was more than slightly mortified. I have never considered myself a "fashionista," and my general feeling about shopping and clothes is usually one of keen disinterest. Don't get me wrong—I know how to dress myself. But the thought of getting together with my "BFF's" to go on a shopping spree sends me running for the hills. As a Christian woman, I have more important and earth-shattering things to worry about—like evangelizing the lost, serving the poor, and reading enough theological books to keep my mind full of new and revolutionary ideas. So a book on Christian fashion, seriously? Isn't that the realm of the utterly worldly? Not to mention, Christian modesty, especially in women, is quite the touchy subject—I'm pretty sure wars have been waged over this. But I forged ahead.

Braendel approaches the reader as a sincerely honest best friend—she loves you enough to tell you the truth, even if it hurts a little.  As I read the various chapters on body type, color, and accessorizing, I found myself getting drawn in against my own better judgment. I realized that even I could use some of this advice. The tips and tricks in the book touch on some very sacred ground for women—body image, self-esteem, and modesty. As Braendel revealed some methods to the madness, I slowly began to see fashion and clothing as more than an emotionally charged free-for-all.

Braendel covers all of the basic issues, including choosing the proper undergarments, swimwear, and even skin and hair care. I especially appreciated the chapter on purchasing jeans, as this seems to be a more pronounced problem for women. The most valuable resource is the shopping checklist in the final chapter that helps you plan out the pieces you need, and take an inventory of your wardrobe. This appealed to my Type A personality, and gave me a manageable project to work with after finishing the book. The only thing that isn't addressed is where to score the cash to afford all of these new items. Unfortunately for many women, lack of knowledge isn't the only thing keeping them from dressing to the nines every day—lack of income is a major culprit as well.

This book made me want to stash some money away, however, for that well-thought out shopping trip that could save me from hundreds of silly impulse purchases and countless hours of standing bewildered and lost in my own closet. The last chapter is a short anecdotal prescription for how to help younger women dress with more modesty, coming back to the tried and true "don't cause your brother to stumble" mantra. This book fulfills it's purpose—helping women to better understand that what they wear does make a statement, and steering them to make the right one.

As ridiculous as this line of thinking was, what came next was even crazier. While contemplating the inevitably fatal influenza (which I did not yet have), I realized that if someone came to take me to the hospital, that person would see my apartment. I'd been meaning to clean it for days, but sometimes I'm lazy. It hadn't seemed important until I realized someone was actually going to see my mess. So, the housecleaning, which this morning seemed unimportant, jumped to the top of my priority list. I felt terrible. I had a low-grade fever, a headache, and I was exhausted, and I decided that the most important thing to do was clean. So, I cleaned house just as fast as I could before the fever got worse and I was forced to rush to the hospital for the flu I didn't yet have. Sometimes, I'm ridiculous.

While scrubbing down the bathroom sink I began to wonder, does this insanity extend to my spiritual life as well? Do I feverishly attempt to clean up for God? I know I need to spend more time in prayer with the Father, but I don't feel prepared enough. First I have to do all my spiritual chores: read my bible, go to church, volunteer for the homeless, etc. As if I could make my spirit a sparkling abode for God to visit. I know it isn't about works. I learned that in Sunday School. Maybe it's that first-born child syndrome which makes me feel I have to do everything exactly right, or that my worth is rolled up in how well I do things. That thought is dangerous enough, but when extended to Christianity, it approaches the heretical.

The Holy Spirit isn't like a friend who occasionally visits. If I am a Christian, then He lives within me. He knows what the place looked like before I cleaned up and He loves me anyway. Paul pronounces this in Romans 5:1-6, when he explains our faith should give us peace in the presence of God and comfort in hard times. Then he reminds us Christ died for us while we were still sinners. He didn't die for me after I cleaned my spiritual life.

It is important to live right for God because faith without works is dead (James 2:26). The problem is when the focus drifts away from the Father and on to how good I can be for Him. The difference is subtle, but vital. I've been placing the focus on me and what I can do for Him, but the truth is that I can't do anything for Him without Him. Without the Holy Spirit, I'll never scrape the grime off of my heart, and all that time spent trying could have been better spent relaxing in the presence of the Father.

Jacquelyn Spruill has a BA in English from Trevecca Nazarene University. She is the Circulation Supervisor for Trevecca's Waggoner Library.

You don't convert a post-modern to become a modernist. You try to convert them to Christianity.

Post-modernism was always portrayed as completely bad, wrong, and sinful. And modernity was always portrayed as right and correct. Not so friends! Modernity is just as wrong as post-modernity. And post-modernity is just as right as modernism. There is right and wrong about both!

So when we talk about "ministering to post-moderns" or something like that, know that we're not trying to make post-modernists into modernists. We're trying to make them both into Christians!

Jacob

God has designed me to be a better listener than talker. I don't say that to brag because it's not like I had a choice as to how my personality was designed to be. There are positives and negatives to being a good listener. Sometimes I don't speak up when I should or take charge when I should. But one of the positives is that people feel comfortable talking to me (for the most part).

Here's the theory: people think you agree with them if you listen to them well.

Sometimes I'll just listen to someone vent and completely disagree with most of what they're saying. They might be angry about something when I in fact believe they are in the wrong. Or maybe a friend is telling me about a movie he saw recently and how much he loved it. I don't really respond, although the movie sounded terrible. Later on my friend is telling another friend about how he thinks I would love the movie. He just assumed that since I listened and didn't contradict him or say anything negative about his words that meant I was in agreement with him.

There's something about listening to people that makes them put their guard down and put their trust in you. It makes them think you're on the same page and agree.

The thing to learn is that when we actually do disagree with someone about something, one way to show your good intentions (even though you might disagree) is to just look at them in the eye as they're talking, smile, unfold your arms, not your head, and listen. It could be the first step to resolving the issue.

Jacob

Can you imagine having a direct line to God to find out what He thinks about every kind of situation with which you might come into contact? We can actually find out how God wants us to react to every situation under the sun. We can know how we should spend our money and what kind of person we should marry and how to raise our kids and what to do when someone hates us and what to say when our friends' home got flooded. Oh, we can also read about how we can know the Creator of the universe. And not only that, but as Mike Glenn (Pastor of Brentwood Baptist) reminded me this week, the Bible is the only book where as you are reading it, you can literally ask the author what He meant when He said what He did.

Why do we all neglect this book so much? (Christians and non-Christians!) If we really wanted to hear from God and honor Him and know His will, don't you think we would give great energy and time and focus on knowing, understanding, and doing the Bible?

I'm wanting to have a strong desire again for the "pure milk of the word," just like a baby screams and longs for his milk for nourishment.

Jacob

Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But since I graduated college I have yet to use my Business degree and over the past year have really begun to wonder why I even went to college. I know I didn't spend all that money to be stuck working a job geared towards high schoolers!

Perhaps you're feeling the same way. You worked hard in college to earn the degree you thought would secure you a career only to find yourself working in a dead-end, minimum wage job that barely, if at all, pays the bills.

But guess what? God is still there with you as you make your way through this valley. He knows your concerns, your frustrations, and your confusion. And He wants to help! You just have to completely surrender everything to Him. Every single doubt, insecurity, and fear. And while things may continue to get difficult, it will be easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you let Him take over.

I graduated from a private Christian college in 2007 with my B.S in Business Administration. I was so excited to be out in the real world. It was finally my time to shine, to make a name for myself, to prove to my friends and family that I could make my own life.

I remained in Nashville after graduating, moving in with friends. Even though I was working at Office Depot, I knew that I would eventually find my dream job. It just took time. I told myself that I just needed to be patient. As long as I kept putting my resume in at several places, eventually God would open up a door to a great career opportunity.

My dream job was out there. I just knew it. However, patience has never been one of my strong suits (and I doubt it ever will be), so after only a couple months I was getting frustrated.

I chose to stay in Nashville because I thought that was where God wanted me. But when one problem after another continued to plague me the entire year and a half that I was there, I knew something needed to change. Roommate troubles. Health problems. Inability to find a good job. One after another, these problems just would not ease up.

Where was my career? Where was that great job I was supposed to have?

I decided to take a trip home to Virginia to figure out what it was God wanted me to do. And would you believe it? It was Homecoming at our church. Homecoming. Immediately I knew God was trying to tell me something. It was as if He was saying, "Daughter, you were supposed to be here all along. You need to come home."

So when I returned to Nashville, I knew I was doing the right thing to leave. A few weeks later, I packed as much as I could into my little red Honda and drove the 700+ miles home to Norfolk, VA.

Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to believe that my problems would go away once I had changed locations. Of course not. They were still there. I had my moments where I would cry myself to sleep because I missed Nashville. I was so ashamed to tell people that I had to move back in with my mother. I was a 25-year-old college graduate. I was supposed to be on my own, working for a major company, enjoying what life after college had to offer me.

For a couple months, I was angry. All my friends were married, some expecting their first child. And me? I was single, living with my mother working a meaningless, minimum-wage job.

I felt like I had all the reason in the world to be angry. Why in the world was God allowing this? How was this a part of His great plan for me? I had to cut back on so many things that I sometimes felt ashamed. I couldn't go out with friends that often. I felt isolated, confused, hurt. Where was God through all of this?

Then something wonderful happened. One night in June, I surrendered to God. I broke down, gave Him all of me. I just couldn't take it anymore. I was tired of trying to make a name for myself without consulting God first. Without Him, I was going to continue to feel this way, hopeless and ready to give up completely.

I began to read Jeremiah 29:11 in a different light. God does have a plan for me, but I have to let Him work in my life.
Sure, I'm still confused as to why I'm still stuck in this frustrating, migraine-causing job, but if this is a part of God's plan for my life, then by all means, let me go to work!

It's not going to be easy and I'm okay with that now. Now that my attitude towards life has changed, I can finally let God use me the way He's been trying to all along!

Leigh Stone is from Norfolk, VA.

I was skeptical at first of the things friends were texting us as Lynsey and I were preparing to return to Nashville from Atlanta with some friends. "You guys should be really careful. Nashville is flooded." Or "The interstate is closed. I hope you aren't planning on coming back today." I stay pretty even keeled, so I just assumed there would be a few roads closed and we would be fine. We had to take a detour but I still passed it off as not that big of a deal.

The seriousness of the situation finally hit home with me when I was on my way to work yesterday morning. It was my normal route. The cars in front of me on Old Hickory Boulevard were stopping and turning around in front of a new strip (for you natives, OHB in front of BW3s, DD, and the new Burger King). I couldn't help but drop my jaw when I saw the 40-50 foot-wide pond in the middle of the road, with a white car half submerged in the brown, murky mess. I called Lyns to tell her the alternate route to go.

My work and church were both directly impacted. Randall House has a very small creek running about 30-40 yards behind it. The creek became much larger during the flood, which caused the water to come through the walls in our downstairs printing area before it rose high enough to come in over the dock, which is four feet off the ground. Water isn't good for paper or electronic equipment. Some employees, including our printing manager and CEO (among others) came on Saturday afternoon/night to elevate some of the materials to keep them from the water. Cofer's Chapel, where Lynsey and I are members, also has a creek running behind it. The creek was flooded, and the water tore up our parking lot and flooded the entire first level of our church. Cleanup is in the works for Cofer's, with the help of many members and other volunteers from the neighborhood.

I didn't know what to say or think during this whole thing. I was tired from our trip home from Atlanta, and when we heard of the damage, I just felt numb. What do you say to your friends who have anywhere from 4ft to their entire house being under water?

The question as to why God would do this hasn't come into my mind yet. But then again, our home is fine. I was reminded of the verse that says "By His mercies we are not consumed." My actions and thoughts are so offensive to our holy God, yet He has patience with all, not wanting anyone to perish, offering His free gift of eternal salvation to all who would answer His call.

It frustrates me to read and hear people complain about having to take a detour or sit in traffic for longer than normal or whatever. People are losing their homes here, and some have lost their lives, and some of us are complaining about having to take a detour. Please, friends, have a change in perspective.

The amount of people who have died in comparison to the amount who have been impacted is great, which is a good thing. Many, many have lost a great deal, if not all, of their possessions, but few have lost their lives (although I do not rejoice in anyone's death).

God is using this situation to help me learn how to weep with other people. It's hard for me to do if I'm honest. I'm an introvert who uses energy around people. But to be a believer, I need to mourn with those who mourn, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

Receding waters is what I'm looking forward to so we can get busy getting our friends out of this mess and moved on. Especially our friends on Miami Avenue.

Jacob

He made the statement that someone told him a lot more people would go to our Wednesday night meetings if *Henry taught (Henry is not his real name). Similarly, I have had people tell me they would leave our church if I stopped leading worshipt at our church (I am pretty sure that was tongue-in-cheek).

This is not good.

I want people to come together with other believers to hear the Word preached because they long for the Word, not because they want to hear someone teach it! I want people to come to church to worship God because they want to worship, not because they enjoy the way I lead them!

I want to be a worshiper who is intent on meditating on the words of the song and giving God glory with my mouth with a pure heart--whether there are drums or whether there is only a pipe organ! Whether we sing Chris Tomlin or whether we sing Charles Wesley!

I want to be someone who gives great attention to the Word no matter if it's my favorite preacher or the most monotone guy I've ever heard.

After all, isn't it really about worshiping God and being attentive to the Word? Isn't that really what we're supposed to be doing when we worship with other believers?

Jacob

But in those times, is it OK to ask God to fix the situation? I think David answers that in Psalm 10. At this time in David's life, he was hated by his father-in-law, Saul (who just so happened to be the king of an incredibly powerful nation, Israel). Saul was trying to kill David, and had pursued him on a few occasions. He was making David's life a terrible one to live. Here is what David asked of God during this rough patch (Psalm 10):

¹²Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
   forget not the afflicted.

¹⁵Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
   call his wickedness to account till you find none.

In these two cases, David specifically asks God to fix the situation. In the example of verse 12, I believe David is referring to himself. He is the one who is being afflicted by Saul and his men. He cried to God to not forget him and deliver him from his situation.

Verse 15 shows that David took his request a bit further. Not only did he ask God not to forget him and deliver him, but he also asked God to punish his oppressors. This is where it gets a little fishy for me. I'm not sure I'd have the guts to ask God to punish those who have been oppressing me. But David did.

I am learning that bad times are a part of life, even the Christian life. My tendency is that in knowing bad times are part of life, that means I shouldn't ask God to remove me from the bad situation I'm in. Not so according to David. Yes, we should definitely learn from dry times spiritually, or struggles financially, or tough times while being tempted (we should even be joyful in those times--James 1) but that does not mean we should not ask God to change the situation.

All that being said, we must praise God no matter what He decides to do in our situations in response to our prayers. There is a strong temptation to make the answer to the prayer our reward instead of making God our reward. It is a slight difference in semantics, but a huge difference spiritually. One is an idol, and one is biblical.

Since God is our reward, we can praise Him when He delivers us from our problems, and we can praise Him when He leaves us in our problems. Either way, we can praise God from whom all blessings flow. And either way, we can rightly continue to ask Him for deliverance.

Jacob

One type of person realizes Jesus is incredibly merciful. This person knows they sin, and sin often. They understand they have no ability to come to God on their own. They are broken, ashamed, and helpless before a holy God. They have done nothing worhty of anything God would give them, except His right wrath. 

But instead of giving this person what they deserve, Jesus gives them grace. He paid for their sin-debt so that they would not have to suffer the wrath of God. Jesus suffered His wrath in their stead. This is incredibly merciful.

Another person is good at following rules. So they think. They haven't done a lot wrong in their mind. They are a good person. They give money to charities, they love their kids, they respect their parents, whatever. They've never killed anyone, they try to treat others the way they want to be treated. And when they are faced with Jesus, they don't really believe they need Him. They've been good enough on their own. In their mind, if they could just do more good things than bad, then God would love them. Or maybe if they could just be better than anyone else they know, then God would accept them.

When this person stands in judgment, Jesus' wrath on them would seem unjust. They tried their best. They worked their hardest. But Jesus still condemned them and poured out His wrath on them.

The thing they didn't realize is that people are not supposed to just be better than other people or just good enough in order to be with God. No, people have to be as good as God in order to be with Him.

Jesus is either incredibly merciful, or seemingly incredibly wrathful.

I guess this is why the old saying goes, "People have to be lost before they're found."

Jacob

A friend of mine once had a bad day. Their dad isn't the greatest dad in the world and on that particular day, he was a terrible dad. He had been giving his child grief and it was wearing on our friend. That was on Saturday. The next day our friend didn't come to church. Just needed a break and didn't want to deal with everything at church.

Another friend of mine had a bad day at work. Not being fulfilled at work is a very tough thing to deal with, especially for guys. There's something about needing to work well and on important things that brings fulfillment to guys. So when you work at something you hate or that you don't feel like is making a difference in important things, you feel worthless. I understand how he felt. That was on a Wednesday, so he stayed home from church that night (he is normally very faithful).

These situations should be the time when people look forward to being with other believers! For them, church was a chore, not an escape! And I can't really say I blame them. Christians should be able to say, "Wow, this day has been tough! I really can't wait to be with other believers!"

At church, you can't bring problems with you. You'd better make sure you've got everything figured out before you walk in that door. Because everyone there is perfect!

I would love to see a church that is a safe-haven for it's members. A place where people can come and just rest in order to deal with their problems and frustrations and be energized and revived. Not a place where it takes energy to get through!

Samuel was the prophet of God to the nation of Israel. The Israelites wanted a king, so God gave them one named Saul. Saul was God's man for the job, but that doesn't mean he was a great guy. In fact, he was incredibly prideful, full of rage and jealousy.

God had a king-in-training at this point named David. David was generally an upright man, faithful to God and His ways. David served in Saul's army, and was incredibly popular and well-liked. David had a reputation as someone who served the Lord. Saul was a hard man who at times loved David and at times hated him.

At this particular time, Saul was trying to kill David because the people liked him better than Saul. David was on the run from Saul in an effort to stay alive, and was hiding out at a city called Naioth.

Saul found out where David was and sent troops to capture him. But when they were almost there, they saw the prophet Samuel leading a group of other prophets. When they saw Samuel, the Spirit of God came on them, and they began prophesying. They were essentially incapacitated, unable to bring David back.

This happened with three different sets of troops. All were filled with the Spirit of God and were unable to bring David back because they were prophesying.

Saul heard what happened and decided to find David himself. Big trouble.

But on the way to the city, the Spirit of God came upon Saul and he began prophesying too! In fact, he was so out of his mind that he tore all of his clothes off and sat on the ground prophecying all day!

This is crazy! A man who was completely against God was filled with God's Spirit?!

Think about what would have happened if Saul captured David and killed him: David would never have become king of Israel and lead them back to a way that honored God. Not only that, but through David's descendants, Jesus would never come! If David died in that place, then all the prophecies about Jesus coming from the line of David would have been false. Jesus never would have been born according to the Scriptures, and could not be the Messiah. Everyone in the history of the world would have died and will die in their sins, forced to suffer the eternal wrath of God themselves, and the entire plan of God to redeem those who have faith in Jesus would have been completely ruined! There would be no such thing as Christianity!

The amazing message of this story is that God's plans will not and cannot be changed, usurped, or thwarted. He will accomplish what He desires. He will bring it to pass. His Word will not return void. And even when evil people purpose in their heart to work against God, if that evil would alter God's plan in any way, God will not allow it to happen. He literally and physically incapacitated Saul and his men, because He had chosen David for a specific purpose, and that purpose was vitally important for the plan of redemption.

God is sovereign. He will accomplish His purpose. What an amazing God.

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory

Jacob

And so I watched...

My mother is one of the most patient and loving people I know. She is kind to her core and loves without reason. She taught me what it means to be a woman, how to love, nurture, help, and appreciate. My father is one of the strongest and most hardworking men I know. He is tough and determined, but compassionate as well. It was he who taught me my worth as woman, that I should have expectations and goals, that I should settle for nothing but the best and if I wanted something, to go get it.

My parents, unlike the majority of first-time married couples today, are not divorced. They met at a young age in high school and were married before graduating; they are still together 21 years later. They worked through many rough patches throughout the years, struggling as newlyweds and young parents raising three children. They were pushed past their limits and dug their way out of trouble just like everybody else.

However, there were a few times during the "rough patches" that I was sure the rocky boat that was their marriage would tip and sink, tearing into the perfectly beautiful and untouchable realm of my childhood, which I shared with my younger brother and sister. And it was also during these times of adversity that I learned the most from my parents, because instead of throwing in the towel and calling it quits, they dumped their heartache and fears at the feet of the Father. My parents' marriage was by no means perfect, but it was something that I admired them for and wanted for myself one day.

It's hard to image myself with 2 children at the age of 20 (my current age, and an impossibility in my mind), but that's exactly what life was like for my parents. And although I admit my immaturity as a young adult and recognize how unprepared I am for this stage in my life, I find myself with a desire for what they shared, and still share to this day. I long for love and companionship and a family, but most of all I long for God to work in my marriage the way He did with my mom and dad. I want the shared responsibility and camaraderie of serving the Lord and making a difference for the kingdom together.

Seeing the devotion and dedication my parents put into their marriage sobered me quickly as a teenager when it came to dating, and therefore I removed myself from the dating scene. I waited patiently, promising that I would only allow myself to date when I started college, to ensure a more mature level and clearer view of what it meant to "date." But all the while I would find myself getting lonely, so this is when I decided to start writing letters to my future husband. Each time I write a letter, I pray to God first, asking Him to give me a reflective attitude and open heart like my parents so that one day I can give my letters to the man I haven't met.

Courtney Moore is a 20 year old Pensacola, Florida native seeking God's will as a Teacher Education major and is a sophomore at the Free Will Baptist Bible College.

Beneficial Fear

Although fear is generally an unwelcome guest, there is a healthy fear that keeps us—at least most of us—from passing certain boundaries in life. Why? Because they involve consequences that just aren't worth risking. When I drive down the road, that yellow strip of paint that runs down the center keeps me from hogging both lanes. The fear of being hit by oncoming traffic is a good fear that keeps me safely on my side of the road. In this case, fear is somewhat of a road block (no pun intended) that keeps me from possible danger. More often, however, it prevents any action, good or bad.

Debilitating Fear

Fear is an unwelcome visitor that attempts to paralyze its victim at his or her most vulnerable moments. It often attacks our minds with a bunch of "what if" scenarios. What if I fail? What if I never get married? What if I don't pass this test? What if something bad happens to me? What if, what if, what if?! We could list a million "what if" scenarios that have run through our minds in just the past day, and if we dwell on them long enough, we may actually believe they are destined to happen.

Fear is definitely a deception. It doesn't have any real power behind it other than the feeling it triggers inside. It causes us to believe something that generally is not true and never will be. It ruffles our feathers and stirs the pot with only a thought. The more we dwell on the "what if," the stronger fear's grip on us becomes until we yield under the power of it and become its slave. What may be a fleeting thought to begin with can easily become an enormous dilemma when we allow fear to toy with our thoughts.

Dealing With Fear

Despite my struggle to keep the unhealthy fear at bay, I often fail miserably. I wish I could just make my fears magically disappear and never deal with them again. But that would be too easy, and I wouldn't learn anything about trusting God along the way. When I was a child, I had a small wooden plaque that hung on my bedroom wall which read, "At times that I'm afraid, I will trust in God." At night, while lying alone in the quiet darkness of my bedroom, when fear often gripped me, I found great comfort in that short phrase.

In Isaiah we read, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (26:3, KJV). After being reminded of this passage, I know that it's God's will for me to be at peace in my mind, and anything less would be disastrous! Now if I could only learn to keep my mind focused and my heart trusting in Him, I know the "what ifs" behind my fears will not seem so big after all. 

Naomi Cassata has been married to her husband James for 6 years. They live in Florida. She has been writing articles for about 5 years.

If how many people attend is all that matters, then have a motivational talk and do whatever people like. Spend lots of money on production. Don't say anything confrontational. Don't say anything sad or difficult. Smile all the time. Hire professional musicians and make it a concert. Heck, have a real concert by paying popular artists your community listens to on the radio and then "preach" afterwards.

The only problem with this mindset is, well, the Bible.

Sometimes preaching the Bible makes people leave. The Bible is called "sharper than any two-edged sword" and is meant to "pierce" us. I don't know about you, but I don't like to touch sharp things. They hurt. Sometimes a lot.

Remember Isaiah? A prophet of God he was. He had a vision of the Lord and was "undone." He vowed to go wherever the Lord wanted him to go. The Lord sent him to pronounce judgment on millions. Isaiah obeyed and spoke what God told him to speak. Do you remember what the result was? The people hated him and rejected his message.

I wonder if Isaiah were a pastor in the Free Will Baptist denomination today, if we would think he was a horrible pastor because no one attended his church. I bet he'd never get invited to speak at the annual convention.

What this story tells me is our standard for the success of God's work can't necessarily be measured by how people repond! It must be measured by how faithful we are to God and His Word!

I wonder if the worst thing we can do in our churches is to count how many people attend and how much money they give. May we instead continually ask ourselves, "Was I faithful to God and His Word?"

After all, it's God's Word that will not return void. People come and people go, but the Word of the Lord abides forever (Psalm 119:89).

Jacob

"If you buy this book, God will make you rich." So begins the insanity of Stuff Christians Like. And it gets only more insane and hilarious from there. This is the type of book you will either love or hate. It is caked—caked!—with sarcastic, ironic, tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top humor. The book is comprised of hundreds of short essays, some of which are so small they recall the Deep Thoughts segment of Saturday Night Live.

If biting, ironic humor irks you, I would highly advise you steer clear of this book. You'll just get confused or offended. In one essay he talks about how he doesn't know any Fundamentalists or even met any but loathes them just the same because he just knows they're so hateful and judgmental. If you are not familiar with Acuff's style of humor this may put you off at first. It doesn't take long to figure out this a prime example of Acuff's style of humor. He may or may not like Fundamentalists; that is not the point here. The point is that people in some Christian circles tend to make judgments about the judgmental nature of Fundamentalists without even being familiar with Fundamentalists.

Acuff is not totally serious very often—at least I don't think he is. Sometimes it is hard to know if he is serious about something or not. Well, right off the bat he lets us know that the majority of the book is all in pure fun. In the introduction he says in his first draft he finished every essay with a veritable altar call. After much consideration, he decided to take most of those out and just have fun. As such, this is probably not a great book to read if you just want to learn deep spiritual lessons. While the deeper subjects (mainly at the close of the book) are good, that is not Acuff's strong area. His strong area is awesome Christian comedy. Stuff Christians Like is a great book to read if you just want to laugh hard or at least smile inside. You will find yourself saying, "That is so true! That is so, so true!" Final verdict: This Christian really likes this stuff and recommends it with caution.

Not sure if you'll like the style of humor? Check out Acuff's blog at http://stuffchristianslike.net.

Ben Plunkett is an avid reader and writer from Pleasant View, Tennessee. 

True followers of Jesus and members of His church need to reclaim the terms Christian and church.

Is there anyone else out there who thinks it's ridiculous the mindset people have about Christians? Especially other Christians! Let me see if I can reign in my thoughts because I'm feeling a bit scattered right now. Here are some thoughts:

1. You can't like Jesus and dislike Christians. People don't understand what they're saying when they say this. A Christian is someone who has been called by God to repent of their sins and proclaim Jesus as God. They are heirs to the throne of God, are freed from sin, and are citizens of the kingdom of God. Their time in this life is spent proclaiming the kingdom of God and helping others who are proclaiming as well--they are on the mission of God. They are the church.

I want to focus on two images the Bible uses to describe the relationship between Jesus and the church. The first one is that the church is called the body of Christ. In other words, the church is how Jesus functions in the world--it's how He moves, lives, and breathes on earth. If Jesus wants to accomplish something in the world, He does it through His church. Jesus' mission on earth happens through His church, and the church's mission is Jesus'.

A second image is that the church is called Jesus' bride. Yes, Jesus is portrayed as the groom, and the church is portrayed as the bride. Do you sense the serious connection here? The church and Jesus are married--and not married like our society says marriage functions. This is an eternal marriage--Jesus and the church are one flesh. They function together, have the same heartbeat, and have the same goals.

If you come up to me and say you like me but hate my wife, we will not be friends. And I might punch you in the throat.

This is the connection Jesus has with His church. If you hate Christians, you hate Jesus. If you hate the church, you hate Jesus. Hate.

2. Many people who claim to be Christians really aren't. Let me point to one illustration Jesus used when describing how we can know if someone is a Christian or not. It's the illustration of a vine and branches. Jesus said, speaking metaphorically, that He is the vine, and Christians are branches. If branches are connected to the vine, and the vine is healthy (and since Jesus is God, we know He is), the branches will produce fruit. The analogy is clear. If people are Christians, connected to Jesus, they will produce "fruit" (or good works) in their lives.

If someone claims to be a Christian and either (1) continually lives in sin, (2) hates someone, or (3) wants nothing to do with other Christians, then they are lying and are NOT a Christian (1 John).

We accept people into our churches as members WAY too easily. Some people who go to church have not produced fruit in years. Others are continually living in sin. Let's understand, these people are not Christians! And I second what Mark Dever said in his book The Deliberate Church when he mentioned that for a church to not rebuke a member to restore them, and to not kick them out when they refuse to repent is to give them a false hope of eternal life and right standing before a righteous God!  

3. If you are a Christian, you must have a deep, convicting, abiding love for other Christians. Read the book of 1 John for starters. In it the apostle wrote about how someone could know we are the disciples of Jesus: by our love for each other. So to say you don't love other Christians is to say you're not a follower of Jesus! You cannot hate another Christian and be one yourself.

Fellow believers, we must reclaim these terms to their true, biblical meanings! The kingdom of Jesus is why we're here, and to let people who aren't true believers defame and belittle the gospel and Jesus' kingdom is eternally harmful.

Jacob

In it, he recalled a time when a gang member near where he lived got saved and joined his church (in Simi Valley, CA). The former gang member attended for several months until he decided to leave. Chan met with him to ask him why he left. What the man said is heartbreaking, but very true.

"My gang was like a family. We looked out for each other and cared for one another. I thought the church was going to be like that too, but it wasn't."

John wrote in the book of 1st John that people will know we are disciples of Jesus if we love one another.

Often we think people (and especially unbelievers) will know we're Christians if we don't drink when everyone else is, or if we are pro-choice, or if we go to church once a week and give money to earthquake victims.

No one has ever come up to me in a restaurant after I turned down a beer to say, "I noticed you aren't drinking. Tell me about this Jesus."

How will they know I am a follower of Jesus? By how much I love other followers.

God, forgive me for my selfish, immature bickering and slandering of your children.

Jacob

Some books prove (after reading the back cover and the basic synopsis) they will not be of much value to me. You can just tell. Especially some Christian books. There was one I read portions of recently that basically said doubt is a good thing and we shouldn't really seek answers to our theological questions. After I read the introduction, I could see I would disagree so much with the book, and it would be so blatantly heretical that it just wouldn't be worth my time. 

Other books fall in the same category as these kind of books. But the thing is, the book becomes really popular. Maybe a famous person writes it, or the topic is so relevant to our culture that the majority of evangelicals are reading it. This book, although not very valuable in content, and although probably not beneficial to be read, becomes a necessary read, in my opinion, because of its popularity. (I'll refrain from listing examples, although that would be fun.) It's important to know the message of media other people find valuable. 

One caveat on this. If the book is so graphic it gives you an opportunity to sin in some sort of way, then steer clear. Being obedient to the Spirit by not sinning is more important than being culturally savvy.

Jacob

If you look for it you'll notice it. Relevant Magazine seems to push this kind of mindset pretty hard. Some crossover bands are into it as well like Mutemath. The thought is, Christians need to influence (some say "reach") our culture.

It's pretty vague language, and language that needs definition.

I don't necessarily disagree with the idea. Christians are supposed to be in the world, yes. We're supposed to be "salt and light," yes. I have questions though when it comes down to what exactly people mean when they say we need to influence culture.

Do you mean we should make such good music and movies and art and books that unbelievers will say, "Wow, that's really good. I need to do better"? Or maybe we want them to consider some deep truth they might not have realized before. Or maybe we want them to know there is a God by how well we do things.

"Influencing culture" is not the same as telling people about the gospel so they can repent and have faith in Jesus. No one can have faith in Jesus by looking at a painting. I doubt anyone can come to Jesus by listening to music (unless the song is filled with Scripture). No one can come to Jesus by watching Lord of the Rings. As I was reminded last night, faith comes through hearing, and hearing comes through someone telling another the message that a holy God will pour out His wrath on sinners unless they repent and put faith in Jesus and His payment for sins. It happens through people hearing and responding to the Word of God. Not art. Not music. Not movies. The Spirit moves through the Word.

Frankly, who cares if Christians make good art if all the while they refuse to tell their lost artist friends about the gospel!

A good movie or a good song is not worth the whole world. But a person's soul is.

The only way we can truly "influence" culture is when the message of Jesus is shared. Then, lost artists become redeemed artists. Lost musicians become redeemed musicians. Lost movie-makers and actors become redeemed movie-makers and actors. Then, I guarantee you, by the power of God, the culture of those people will be vastly different.

Jacob

I had always heard the first year of marriage was supposed to be the most difficult. The blending of two lives during that tender year was not easy, I was told; but being naive and in love, those words went in one ear and out the other. When our first year of marriage was rounding up, I thought back on how easy "the most difficult year" was for us—not anything like I was told. We enjoyed being together every second we could and conflicts were nowhere to be found. The first year, a difficult one? I couldn't make out what others were talking about. I guess our love must be stronger than most couples in their first year, I began to think.

With our first successful year tucked under our belt, we were just as eager to take on our second year with the same love and zeal as our first.

CHANGE WILL COME

I'm not sure exactly when things began to change, but not long into our second year, our perfect marriage didn't feel so perfect anymore. Valentine's Day was supposed to be the day we celebrated our love for each other. The fact that my dear husband forgot about such a special day didn't sit well with me at all. After confronting him, he sprinted to our local grocery store, and with all the thoughtfulness he could possibly muster in such a short amount of time, he brought back a tiny stuffed toy and a box of cheap chocolates—not exactly what I had in mind for a romantic evening together. Then there was the time James came home after a long day at work to find our house in total chaos with my three nieces running around like monkeys. I personally didn't see the problem; I enjoyed the noise and excitement, but by the look on his face I could see he disagreed. These weren't the only incidents that pushed our buttons. What were once small annoyances seemed to grow into big ones. Things had definitely changed. No one ever warned me about the second year of marriage, I pouted.

STAYING FAITHFUL TO YOUR COMMITMENT

Despite our share of fights, frustrations and those, yes I'm going to say it, "What was I thinking when I married this person?" occasions, we have celebrated six and a half challenging and yet still happy years of marriage together. During those moments when we let each other down or didn't meet one another's expectations, what we have learned is the importance behind the commitment we vowed to each other on our wedding day— despite how we "feel" at the moment.

Now a day it seems marriage has lost its sacredness. Sadly, it's not always guarded as precious to those that find it.

When I think back to the six weeks of pre-marital counseling we took with our pastor, I really cannot think back to one specific lesson that encouraged us to get through the tough times we have faced. I heard a little about finances, a bit more about sex and a whole lot about future goals. The not-so-pleasant areas of marriage were never touched upon, and obviously any advice on getting through them was nowhere to be found.

In our society, we have unfortunately come to believe that when we are upset, disappointed, or let down by our partner, it's time to call it quits. Momentary unhappiness has become grounds for divorce for many couples. Working through conflicts isn't worth it anymore, so finding "their own happiness" apart from their spouse then becomes the focus. Our marriage vows, which are meant to be an unconditional "promise, oath, declaration" to both our spouse and God, become pearls cast before swine.

No one said marriage would be easy. In fact, marriage is pretty hard at times. It's during the difficult times that we have a decision to make. Will we grow apart? Or will we grow closer to each other? We are told that love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7, NKJV). Love for our spouse should be enduring. Our actions, during the hard times, are a reflection of the depths of our love for our spouse as well as our commitment to God's Word. Our goal, as a couple, should be to get through all the difficulties we face—no matter the cost!

Marriage has been twisted, complicated, and devalued through the ages. In the face of a generation that fails to recognize God's value on marriage, we can easily miss it ourselves. Marriage was orchestrated—by our Creator—long ago to be a beautiful, lifelong commitment between a man and a woman for the purpose of companionship as well as a means for sexual expression.

The purpose of marriage is not for the other person to make you feel "wonderful" at all times, yet more importantly, it's about giving respect, love, and commitment to the one we chose to spend all the days of our life with.

Naomi Cassata has been married to her husband James for 6 years. They live in Florida. She has been writing articles for about 5 years.

Jacob: You've been at this for 14 years. You've put out nine albums. How has the industry changed since the early days of 1996-1998?

Bebo: Oh wow. Man it has changed a whole lot. Not just on my personal landscape but on just the music landscape in general. Obviously it changes stylistically because people's tastes change as they grow. My musical tastes have changed too.

Jacob: iTunes has really changed the way people buy music.

Bebo: Right.

Jacob: How is your mentality different in writing since customers can pick and choose what songs they like or don't like instead of buying an entire album? Is the art of writing an album gone?

Bebo: That's a great question. And if it is, which part of me believes it may be on a wavered slide, even if it's not already gone, it makes me sad. I value in a dramatic way the art of writing an album. Certainly a song is what first captures you, but it's like one chapter in a book. You can have a really great chapter in a book that's moving but until you hear the whole story I feel like you're missing out on something. That's the way I feel about music and the way I feel about making records. I don't think it's gone entirely. I think that definitely on a mass level—and the truth is, maybe this hasn't changed that much except for the fact that songs are most accessible. Although you can buy songs individually on iTunes, people have always been drawn to "the song." When I was in elementary school, we listened to the Top 40 on the radio. You heard "the song" and you just had to buy the whole record in order to get "the song." You know? But when I started really falling in love with music is when I started really falling in love with entire records and realizing there could be a journey in a record and an entire story being told in a record. So, for me as a fan of music, that's what I enjoy and love the most. But I'm as guilty as anybody, if you can use that word, of sometimes just loving one song and not necessarily always needing to have the whole album and the whole record. So, long answer short, I don't think the art of writing a record is gone but I do think it is very different now than it used to be and I think there's a much smaller minority that really still looks at it that way, especially in the context of the business side of music. You know, I think labels very much look at records as not a collection of songs anymore but a collection of two or three singles that have a group of songs built around them. That's not the way I see it but I may well be in the minority. I don't know that I'm in the minority of real music fans but I think I am in the minority in terms of the mass that listens to music. 

Jacob: Along those same lines, the way that we communicate now is so different than it was back five, 10 years ago, and so it's kind of encouraging for, like, a small band who does a unique sound but it doesn't sound like Leeland so there's no label out there that's going to be signing them any time soon. But you know, they've got the software on their Mac and they can record themselves and then they can put it on their Facebook page and everybody can listen to it. How do you think that changes the music industry?

Bebo: The music industry has changed so dramatically in the years that - I mean, when I first started playing music there were, I didn't even have a cell phone. I didn't even have a pager. You know? Like when we - this is going to sound crazy - but when I was touring back then, you know, if I went out with a runner to go run an errand or somebody dropped me off at a mall to, you know, just go buy basic needs that, you know, because I'd been out on the road for a few months at a time, I had to go to a pay phone to call my road manager at a land line in an office in a theatre that we might be playing in and hope that they happened to be there. You know, that's kind of how dramatically things change. And then I was way on the cutting edge when I got a pager and I could actually page somebody.

You were really on the cutting edge when you could actually do the text page where you called somebody and told them what you wanted and they typed it in and they sent it to somebody's pager. You know what I mean? Like - it was a crazy - like an operator, that's who did it. All that to say that in and of itself it's changed - technology has come a long way in really just about a decade and a half. I mean, it's pretty amazing how quickly it's changed. The way that I see that it's changed, I think you're right. I think that it has changed for the better in a lot of ways, to me, especially for bands who may be smaller and don't have quite the audience or the stage necessarily that some of the larger bands have, but I think one of the main ways that's changed, I mean, it seems for me, is that when I first started playing music, I mean, I was one of the few Christian acts that really toured nonstop. You know, not because I thought, "Wow, this is a good marketing strategy," but because that's all I knew. You know, I thought, "Well, I've got an independent record," it was 1996, "How are people going to hear this if I don't get out and play songs for people?"

Jacob: Right.

Bebo: You know what I mean? And so I spent 250 days a year on a road for the first seven or eight years of playing music.

Jacob: Oh wow.

Bebo: As a single guy in my twenties, that was a blast and it was fun. The thing is, now it kind of seems to me that markets, every market that you go to, is inundated with people that are touring, and everybody is out - I mean, back in the day me and people like Jars of Clay and Caedmon's Call and random independent bands from back then were the only people that really - we were all playing - just come out of college, so we were all touring and playing music and that's kind of what we did, and it was kind of nonstop.  There were definitely Christian concert tours back then but they were kind of small - not small, but they were very segmented. Just, you know, they would do 20, 30 cities in the spring and 20, 30 cities in the fall and that was kind of it for them and, anyway, long and short is that I feel like everybody tours now, everybody plays music. I feel like people are, consumers are - and I use that word loosely, consumers. I mean, fans are almost over-saturated with music at this point, you know, because it's accessible on every level, so sometimes that can be a little bit difficult, and truth be told, I don't want to spend quite as much time on the road as I used to as a 36-year-old who has a wife and two kids at home. You know, I certainly love being home as much as I can be. So, for me personally, I love the idea that it has offered me a new avenue to connect with an audience without having to be before them in person, you know, and that's what things like iTunes and Facebook and, you know, the avenues online and what technology has sort of afforded us. So, all that - a very, very long answer.  Obviously you can weed out most of it, but the bottom line is that I think the opportunities are amazing in terms of being able to connect with people because of technology but it also means that people are, I mean, listeners are really over-saturated with music, to me at this point, and so things can all start to sound the same so I think it requires you being, having a very unique platform to really connect with people at this point on a musical level. So I think it's important to be true to what you do and really kind of be unique, if that makes any sense, more than ever. 

Be sure to check out Bebo's music on his website http://bebonorman.com or on iTunes (of course).

Jacob Riggs is editor of The Brink magazine. http://twitter.com/jacobriggs

Political rhetoric in the media is drenched with feigned optimism, bloated clichés, and false promises of a future utopia—"If you'll only vote for me . . ." Both conservatives and liberals demonize the other, promoting their own ideals and policies as the obvious choice. If you're searching for humility, contemporary politics is not the place to look. Arrogance is rampant despite the fact our country is confronted with challenges that aren't nearly as clear-cut as politicians claim.

Most troubling, perhaps, is the number of politicians who either claim to espouse traditional Christian values or even profess faith in Christ. Both leading candidates in the 2008 election played this card. Another thing they held in common, ironically, was the tone of their campaign ads and biting speeches. While political policies differ, the way a candidate's ideas are conveyed is quite similar. Their claims are proudly asserted, not submitted for public scrutiny. Some Christian candidates act as though their policies are obviously superior because of their conservative credentials. 

This runs contrary to Christian humility, which is essential to a believer's life both privately and in the public arena. More than anyone else, Christians have theological grounds for true humility: we were once alienated from the life that is in Christ. Yet God in His mercy—through the work of Christ and the power of the Spirit—has called us to Himself. Therefore, Christian citizens no longer have the luxury of pointing fingers of blame across the aisle!

In contrast, the truth of the Gospel is the one thing that promotes a sense of humility that clings to the truth and presents it in a humble way. The Christian knows that "except for the grace of God, there go I." In other words, Christians have to be Gospel-driven in their approach to political engagement if their message (policy birthed out of a Christian worldview) is going to penetrate the minds of those they are trying to persuade.

It's incredible to read Paul's defense of his apostolic authority and ministry in 2 Corinthians. He was bold and tenacious, yet his words were deferential to his readers. He did not appeal to eloquent speech or cunning tactics. He didn't even appeal to the innovative methods that "Barnabas and the gang" had concocted after they returned from a church growth conference. Instead, he pointed to two things: (1) the work of Christ and (2) the authority given by Christ to minister in His name. What is the lesson for us? One must know to whom he belongs and in whose name he ministers if his politics are to be humble.

This view transforms the way Christians approach politics. We need not flee voting booths. In fact, we are specifically called to a proper relationship with our governing authorities (Mark 12:17; Romans 13; 1 Peter 2:13-17). However, it is with a demeanor of humble submission and civility that we voice the truth. The fact that Christ humbled Himself to the point of death is our example. Peter goes to great pains in the second chapter of First Peter to remind us that Christ, though innocent, suffered for us. He did not revile His tormentors though He was mocked. If this is true, how much more ought Christians conform to the way of Jesus in their speech and in the political sphere?

The humility of Christ provokes the believer to submit his own arguments, ideas, and opinions to the same reasonable scrutiny he imposes on the policies of those with whom he disagrees. When we evaluate policy, we should not immediately reject the proposal simply because it comes from a liberal. This is logical fallacy. Good ideas are good ideas no matter where they originate. The question is whether the policy conforms to the Christian worldview. Does it promote the wellbeing of society, as God understands goodness? These are the thoughtful questions believers must begin to ask in their political engagement.

I gave up my political ambitions years ago. I didn't do this because I thought being a congressman was unspiritual. Sadly, many Christians who resist a career in politics do so because they've been told Christianity and politics don't mix. But Scripture and the witness of church history do not support this myth.

At the same time, many believers have gone to the other extreme, plunging themselves into the fray of public conversation with the same Christ-less, prideful rhetoric as those they hope to convert. If salvation is by grace, there's no room for boasting. In the end, the politics of Jesus don't parade through the streets riding on the back of a donkey or elephant. He comes instead as a lamb that was slain.

William Jackson Watts is Associate Pastor at Tippett's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in NC, where he is also studying to complete his M.Div. at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Most soon-to-be's get lots of advice from many different people. There's the pre-marital stuff that tries to get the nuts and bolts of relationships. Then you get the surly, salty "advice" about how relationships "really work" from the couple who've been married for twenty years...somehow. On the wedding day, the preacher usually tries to make sure the couple knows marriages are "hard work." Then you get a bit of intoxicated sagely advice from the best man at the reception.
And yet, for all the wise counsel, it is inevitable that newlyweds will still find surprises. So today, I'm busting four big marriage myths. You, or your kids, or your best friend need to hear this before walking down the aisle. Maybe we should've made counseling a priority. You decide...

Four Huge Marriage Myths

Myth #1: Slumber Parties

Many newlyweds, intoxicated by delirious visions of romantic comedies and mattress commercials, eagerly run to bed like two children in their PJs on the night before Christmas, to blissfully fall into each others' arms and drift away to sleep, cradled in gentle embrace . . . only to find out that this is one of the biggest lies the world has told them. Sleeping isn't a team sport.

Sleeping is an activity best done alone. This will come as a terrible shock to many young newlyweds. They will attempt to defy the laws of nature and contort themselves in unnatural ways into some comfortable position in which to sleep right next to one another. Of course, if they are successful at actually falling asleep, they will awaken to the feeling that their limbs have been forcibly removed due the lack of blood circulation. Thus, they will feel betrayed and insecure about their prowess in bed.

This myth needs to be brought out in pre-marital counseling. Fiances need to understand that they are not marrying new pillows. They are marrying people made of arms and elbows and other sharp points, which produce intolerable amounts of heat, and are heavily insulated under piles of blankets.
If you want to snuggle with something cuddly, try a bag of power tools.

Myth #2: Gang Showers
Around Christmas, my wife and I were gathered with three other couples, married four years (us), three years, one year, and six months. We're all longtime friends. All of a sudden, one of the girls poses a question for the rest of us to consider:
"Does anyone really take showers together?"
There was a hint of disappointment in her voice. The rest of us thought a moment. I spoke up and said, "No. It doesn't work."
Everyone, relieved that someone else had spoken up first, agreed. Somehow, probably through Herbal Essence commercials, we had all gotten it into our newlywed heads that this would be just a terrific idea. (I think this is one of those things that is tame enough for the Christian marriage books to suggest.) And for everyone, it was epic fail. And then, everyone seemed to think that they were alone in their shame. The idea that two adults will be able to share a shower is a terrible myth that fiances need to come to grips with.
Here's why: Guys, it is in a woman's low-temperature nature to hog all the hot water and not leave any for you. Sharing baths is likely an activity you last did with a sibling when you were in kindergarten. It's best that way.

Myth #3: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is a Good Movie
This should be self-evident, but apparently, it needs to be said.

Myth #4: Best Day Ever
Most eager fiances are certain that their wedding day will be the "best day ever." That's why people spend tons of Dad's cash and stuff themselves into uncomfortable dresses and dance like crazy: because it's the "best day ever," and you've never been more in love than on this day! Yeah! That's pretty much the premise of shows like Bridezillas: girls who are convinced that their "best day ever" is being ruined. But then, they aren't interested in being married, they're interested in having a wedding.

Sure, weddings are great. But if your wedding day is the best day of your marriage, then you have nothing to look forward to.

My wife and I were really blessed by something one of her friends wrote to us. She said, "May your wedding day be the day you love each other the least." It took a bit for that to sink in for us.

When I look at two geriatrics in a nursing home, hunched over on walkers together, who've been married for 80 years, I am convinced that I don't know the first thing about love.

Matt is a teacher and pastor in Kansas City, MO. He is also the co-founder of SaveAfrica.com, a missionary endeavor in Sudan. He blogs at TheChurchofNoPeople.com, and lives with his wife, Cheri.

Copyright 2010 Matt Appling. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

So what does the Bible say about our rights?

First, as children of God we are called to be set apart, different from the rest. Peter said Christians are a chosen generation, royal, holy, and "peculiar." Why? So we may tell the world about Him who called us out of darkness into His light (1 Peter 2:9).

OK, we are supposed to stand out, and we know why, but how?

Peter goes on to say our conduct should be honorable amongst those who are unsaved, so that when someone talks bad about us, our reputation will be known as honest and reputable. In turn, they will glorify God because of our good conduct (1 Peter 2:12). Good deeds—check. Honorable lifestyle—check. Anything else?

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake" (1 Peter 2:13). Every ordinance? Every institution? What if I don't agree with their policies or the philosophy they espouse? What if it's just one of those silly rules? Peter continues by saying it is God's will for Christians to do good and in turn put the ignorance of foolish people to silence (1 Peter 2:15-16). Well, I guess that's doable. At least it says we still have our freedom. Submit to anyone in authority—check.

Still, what if it's unjust? Surely God doesn't want us to give up our rights and put up with unfairness? That's just wrong! Right?

Wrong. Peter says to obey your masters even if they are unjust (1 Peter 2:18-20).

Whoa. Let that sink in a bit. Even when they are unjust. So we're supposed to suffer personal injustice quietly without making a big deal out of it? Really? What does that even look like?

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:21-24; KJV).

Jesus suffered agony unjustly, for us. He is our example. He didn't revile or threaten, no. He simply entrusted Himself to the Father, knowing God is a just Judge.

This sounds like more than just suffering for our faith. It really goes against the grain of our culture. Is it possible that we're asked to trade our entitlement to rights for a Christ-like meekness and humility? After all, we are a "people for His own possession" called to follow His example as we point others to Him. A selfless, humble servant's heart would definitely set us apart from the rest . . .

With this in mind, consider the following scenarios. Compare your gut reaction to Peter's comments above. What Christ-like reaction sets you apart?

Scenario 1

You're standing in a long line at the airport waiting to check in, when a Hispanic man cuts line and proceeds to take FOREVER to get his things in order because he can't understand, thus making you late for your flight.

Scenario 2

You're overdue a pay-raise, and you've put in extra effort hoping your boss takes notice. You deserve the increase, but some upstart who transferred in six months ago is the one who gets it.

Scenario 3

You're out on a special date to a place that's normally out of your price range. The service is extremely slow, your food is not to order, and the waitress gets testy with your simple requests. When your check comes, the pricey tip is already calculated in.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the right to serve, the right to put others before ourselves, the right to remain silent and suffer patiently, the right to make personal sacrifices, and the right to have abundant life in Him. May we be ever mindful of those rights, and may we use them to the glory of God.

Rachel Donahue is a missionary with her husband Mick and son to Spain.

You're out of college and you've been offered two jobs. They're both similar and you could see yourself enjoying both. You're not sure where the Lord is leading.

Not sure why but it seems the decisions I labor the most over are the ones related to vocation. Maybe it has something to do with men being called to work. Adam was called to tend the Garden of Eden. Working was his main purpose in life. Not that it's my number 1 priority, but I do find fulfillment in what I'm doing. Maybe I'm alone on that, but I would guess other men feel the same way. Do any of you ladies feel similar in relation to work?

Anyway, there are a few things I do when I'm faced with a decision.

1. Consider whether I'm right with God and am in communion with Him. If there is major sin in my life, then how could I expect God to give me clear direction?
2. Consider a desire. Could I find fulfillment in doing the thing I'm considering. I don't believe we should seek our own detriment in vocation unless there is a strong pull from the Holy Spirit.
3. Consider the opinions of mentors. This could be family or friends. I don't think it's important for me to listen to people who don't know me well or don't know the situation well. Those who know me best are the people I ask. And I listen to their views and consider them strongly.
4. Follow Scripture. It's not God's will for you to go against His Word. God is not calling you to divorce your wife because she's getting on your nerves. I promise.

What do you do when you're trying to decide something?

Jacob

Deal Gone Bad

Aside from Tim's rather nondescript California ministry job, he put his business degree to work on the side, buying houses, fixing them up and reselling them for a handsome profit. In fact, he felt like business was the direction God had for his life until he heard the call to go into the ministry seven years prior. Yet it was a business deal gone bad that sparked the most life-changing week in Tim's life.

In the midst of wheeling and dealing, a friend recommended Tim buy an investment property in downtown Oklahoma City, site unseen. He convinced Tim that there was a substantial profit to be made from flipping this apartment complex. That was when the trouble began.

The owners of the apartment units and the property manager managed to present the apartment as a thriving area, one that showed great promise. But looks were more than deceiving. In reality, the apartment complex was home to some of the most down-and-out people in the city, not to mention a base for drug lords and every other imaginable kind of evil enterprise.

It wasn't long before Tim realized he was caught up in the middle of a con game and stuck with a building that was losing him anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 a month for a period of time.

"I was just dying inside," Tim tells The Brink. "All I could say is 'Jesus', and I could say that a hundred times a minute. I was crying myself to sleep at night. But I remember the week before I finally went to Oklahoma City to try and sell the building and get rid of it once and for all that I got on my face before God.  I said, 'I'll do whatever You want, however You want, whenever You want. I'm surrendered. Whatever that means.' Then the first thing He called me to do was give $500 to somebody—and I had lost significant amounts of money. But I did it, yet I was like, 'Are you sure Lord?' Then the same day that same lady I sent money to ended up sending us $400. I was wondering if I had missed His voice. Then the Lord started to show me what obedience looked like. That's when the Lord really started messing my life up. "

Acts Come Alive

Tim's plan to rid himself of this burdensome building was to fly to Oklahoma City, fix up the building and sell it. At this point, he was beyond caring about making a profit—he was more concerned with plugging the gaping cash leak. So Tim began fasting prior to his trip.

"I was trying to pull a wild card with my fasting, like, 'Lord, help me. Take this problem off my hands. Send a tornado through this building or burn it down with fire. Just take it away from me'," Tim said. "I thought I was off and I had totally messed up God's will for my life.

Still unaware of the real activity taking place within his building, Tim was horrified to discover the truth once he arrived. "Drugs, gangs, prostitution—it was a buffet table of evil," Tim said. "If evil could walk through the streets, it was walking down the ones near this building and getting whatever it wanted. Yet in spite of my fear, God began giving me an insane amount of boldness once we arrived."

What Tim thought was going to be a week of redeeming a rundown building turned into a different kind of redemptive mission—one that involved broken people who were in desperate need of God's love, grace and truth.

Two days into his extreme makeover project, Tim was perched on a ladder inside the building, painting when a 6-foot-4, 250-pound man walked near him. Trying to be polite, Tim asked him how he was doing.

"He just looked up at me and said, 'I'm tired,'" Tim recalls. "And as cheesy as it sounds, I just said, 'I know the one who brings rest.' Then within a few minutes, he starts weeping and repenting. Then the Lord showed me some things about this guy's life that I shared with him, and he was like, 'What is going on? I heard about you.'

"There was just this release and repentance. These were small indicators that God was up to something."

One afternoon, Tim and his friend ventured into a dark room near the roof's building and watched about 30 gang members bolt out the back door when they walked in. "We joked about how darkness would flee when exposed to the light," Tim said. "But it really was a visual picture of what was happening. God was at work in a big way."

Then God began to speak to Tim in a way that forever reshaped his journey.

"When I woke up one night after reading Zechariah 7, God asked me, 'Are you fasting for me or for you?' I was hoping that fasting was the wild card of God to deliver me, so it was clear I was fasting for me and not for Him," Tim said. "He began to show me that it wasn't about me—it was about him. He said he would rather have me obey than sacrifice. At that point, when I heard Him say, 'Obedience,' I knew I was supposed to move out here and become a part of this. "

By week's end, Tim knew that this wasn't a one-week fixer-upper in Oklahoma City, but the beginning of a much longer process of redeeming a building and neighborhood for Christ. "That week I had a hundred divine appointments and watched the word of God become more real than I had ever seen in my life. I think God still wants the book of Acts to be written today."

Radical Obedience

When Tim returned home, he walked into his church office and resigned, not knowing the full plan but knowing it involved him doing ministry out of this building, what eventually became known as The Refuge.

"Many people thought I was crazy," Tim says with a pause, before adding, "I thought I was crazy! And even a month after I moved out here, I asked my wife if she thought I was crazy. I didn't have the full vision for what I was to be doing, but I knew the Lord was teaching me to trust Him. The vision would come later. I wanted vision because I wanted to know where I was headed."

Despite shutting down the criminal activity inside the building, Tim was still wondering just what his purpose was after six months.

"Nothing was really happening, and I was scared all the time," Tim said. "Whenever I would get within a couple of miles of the building, this heavy oppression would come over me. I would be scraping these nasty crack-infested floors and look out at like the city and tell the Lord that I was in the wrong building. I was supposed to be in one of those skyscrapers doing business. It didn't make one bit of sense."

But things quickly began to change. Tim befriended two generals—Homicide and Tango—from a local gang and began meeting and praying with them regularly. "These guys started going throughout the building and asking if they could repent for their sins in each of the rooms where they sinned," Tim said.

One day later, a church shows up and says they heard about what I was doing and wanted to help fix up the building. Before too long, Tim was partnering with other local ministries and throwing a block party. Then more churches began hearing about what happening The Refuge and wanted to help.

Now, The Refuge is a growing ministry that is trying to model the love of Christ to a group of people who are downtrodden and often marginalized by society.

"A lot of what we're doing on a daily basis is trying to be an example of selfless people serving the selfish," Tim said. "The selfishness that they're in is their idol is themselves. They are the temples lying in waste. The reason why is they are full of idols—they're full of themselves. They're living in their image, rather than the image of God. What we're trying to do as believers to do is be the light and expose darkness just as Christ came to serve.

"We're trying to pursue what it looks like to love God and love our neighbors. Our neighbors are crack dealers, business owners, prostitutes, gang members. And we've decided to focus on giving them spiritual food. We're trying to transform that area by picking up trash, mowing lawns without people knowing it. It's Isaiah 58. We're modeling to the homeless people what it means to be creative producers and workers who use their hands to be fruitful and multiply. We think that's the ticket to transforming and engaging them rather than enabling them.

"We think if we go and make disciples, we'll advance the kingdom of God. It starts on our street. And when we get our street, we're going after our neighborhood. When we get our neighborhood, we'll go after our city and then our state."

Not a bad start for a guy who just thought he was going to fix up a building.

Jason Chatraw is a freelance writer from Boise, Idaho.

I also learned some background info on it. Muslims believe the Qur'an to have been written by helpers of the prophet Muhammad (A.D. 571-632). Evidently, Muhammed received visions from Allah that he then relayed to his helpers. Some of these visions were written after Muhammed was already deceased.

Think about this . . .

The Bible was written by over 40 authors. The Qur'an was written based on the testimony of one person.

The first book of the Bible (Genesis) was written around 1440 B.C. The last book of the Bible (Revelaton) was written in the later part of the first century (about A.D 90). That means the entire Word of the God of the Bible was written over a period of 1500 years.

The Qur'an was written over a period of 23 years, starting when Muhammad was 40, and going until his death in A.D. 632.

One might say the Qur'an seems to be more likely to be true. It was written relatively quickly. It was written by one man, so many men would not have the opporutnity to tamper with it--it could come directly from Allah and therefore be very accurate.

I disagree with this. I think the way the Bible was written is very telling about it's accuracy and the amazing power it holds. Here's why:

1. One man writing something makes it much more succeptible to error or foul play. No accountability is ever good. If I were to write something and claim it was from God, how would you know? You would simply have to take my word for it. BUT, if there were over 40 people claiming to have revelations from God and their stories all coincide, that would be something you would have to listen to! Moses didn't know Paul would ever exist. But God inspired him to write some of the exact same themes Paul discussed in the early church, over 1400 years later! Amazing.
2. The fact the Bible was written over a period of 1500 years tells me it is God's story, not man's story. There's no possible way all of the 40+ authors of the Bible could have collaborated on their writings over a time frame of 1500 years. It had to have been directed from a higher power, namely, the God of the Bible.
3. This one might be a stretch, but why would Allah only give one person his word? One person over a period of 23 years compared to the 7000+ years the earth has been around? Seems a bit stingy to me at face value. (There may be a very good reasons Muslims have for this. If so, I apologize for being hasty. I am just now starting to read the Qur'an.)

You might be thinking, the Bible wasn't completed until after the world had been in existence for about 5000 years. It's only been around for about 30% of the time the earth has been in existence (based on conservative estimates). How then is the God of the Bible not stingy as well? This is a valid question, to which I have two thoughts:

1. It would seem like God is unfair by the fact He has only had His completed Word around for 1900 years or so. It would seem that way if God had only interacted with man in that time frame. The Bible is very clear, however, that God has interacted with man since the beginning of time. God has always been trying to reach out to man, drawing man to Himself. Man is the one who resists God. Not the other way around.
2. This would also seem like a problem if the way by which we come to God is through obeying the law. If man comes to God by obeying His law, then God would be terrible to not give His law to everyone at every point in time. This, however, is not how the God of the Bible works. God saves people through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Anyone that has ever followed the God of the Bible has done so through faith. Adam had faith. Noah had faith. Moses had faith. Rahab had faith. The apostle Paul had faith. I have faith.

Read more about the Qur'an and Muhammad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an

Jacob

First, God has the right to take life however and whenever He desires. Since God is the author of life, He can take life and give life at His whim. Life is a gift from God. Every moment we exist is a gift from our Creator (Acts 17:24-28). God is under no obligation to sustain the universe or our individual lives. Since God created the world (and everything in it) He can do with it as He desires. Humans cannot take another life because they did not create it. Since we did not give life, we have no right to take it. But since God is the giver of life, He can take it in whatever manner He chooses. It's His prerogative.

Second, God shows tremendous longsuffering and compassion before executing judgment. When God first told Abraham that his descendants would inhabit the Promised Land, God instructed him that the fulfillment would be significantly delayed until the sin of the Amorites (the people of Canaan) was complete (Genesis 15:16). Why the wait? God was allowing sufficient time for the Canaanites to repent of their evil ways. 430 years was more than enough time for the Amorites to turn to God. Moreover, God promises to spare any nation that turns to God in repentance and abandons its evil ways (Jeremiah 18:7-8). God gave them considerable time to repent, but eventually justice must prevail.

Third, Gods commands must be understood in light of His covenant with Israel. God chose Abraham to be the father of a nation through whom "all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3). Israel was to be a holy nation, set apart from the evil and corruption of surrounding nations (Leviticus 18:30). God was preparing a nation as a vehicle for the coming Messiah, the universal savior (Ephesians 2:11-22). In direct contrast, the Canaanites were involved in witchcraft, divination, child sacrifice, and sexual perversion (Deuteronomy 18:9-11; Lev 18:1-24). Thus, they were the most serious threat to God's divine plan for Israel. Dr. Paul Copan rightly observes: "Although the biblical commands are themselves considered harsh, not carrying them out would have undermined the very theocracy and plan of salvation God had established" (That's Just Your Interpretation, Baker Books, 2005, p. 165).

When difficult challenges like this arise, it's important to remember what we know to be true about God: He is good, patient, loving, and worthy of our trust. We may not understand entirely why he called for the destruction of the Canaanites, but we can rest assured that He has a good reason.

Sean McDowell is head of the Bible department at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools where he teaches Philosophy, Theology, and Apologetics. He is the author of several books on apologetics. Visit his website at http://www.seanmcdowell.org/ . 

However, we outsource some cleaning to a family from Turkey. Mostly doing the work is the father of the family and one of his sons, Havar. Havar and I have developed a moderate friendship/acquaintance. I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to talk to Havar about Jesus, so I initiated that conversation a few months ago. We have had a few spiritual conversations since then.

The approach I'm taking is to try to be his friend (sincerely) and ask him what he believes. He has stated thus far that he is not that interested in religion, even the Muslim religion, which his family has roots in (his father is a practicing Muslim). He is probably the equivalent to a normal American who is Christian by association. Some "Christians" go to church on Easter and Christmas, but they aren't being controlled by the Spirit and show no fruit of living for the kingdom of God. I am guessing Havar is the Muslim version of that, except he doesn't even really claim to be a Muslim.

Yesterday I felt the Spirit leading me to ask Havar another question about Islam. So I asked what someone had to do in order to become a Muslim. He said you should go to a Mosque and talk to a priest, and he'd tell you. He also said you needed to read the Qur'an. He suggested I read it and offered to give me a copy. He mentioned his dad said people convert to Islam on a regular basis.

I assurred him I wasn't really interested in converting, but I would read some of the Qur'an if he'd read some of the Bible. I said "I'd believe the Qur'an if it's true. I want to know what the truth is."

I asked if he'd read some of the Bible if I read some of the Qur'an. He said he had no interest in the Bible. Finally he said he'd read one verse of the Bible if I read the entire Qur'an. I agreed on the condition that I get to pick the verse. (I'm leaning toward John 3:16.)

Here's what I want you to pray for--that he remembers to bring the copy of the Qur'an today so I can start reading it.

Yes, I'm asking you to pray to our great Creator God of the Bible (a God who saves, mind you!) that He would help Havar remember to bring a copy of the Qur'an so Havar will eventually have to read a verse of God's very powerful Word.

I believe one verse has power. And I believe it can be a significant link in Havar's journey to knowing Christ.

So, please pray. Thanks.

Jacob

Those are honest questions. But what about the proverbial "other hand?"

Why is the make-out master (guy or girl) never satisfied? Why is it the one-night stand never works? If sexual freedom and sexual expression are so great, then why do feelings of emptiness, shame, and sadness often follow these sexual adventures?

Could it be we, both male and female, are as deeply wired for intimacy and connection as we are wired for sexual activity? The answer is—yes.

Thus, the problem with casual sex; it negates intimacy. The experience, whether a make-out session or intercourse, is all about personal gratification. What can I get out of this? How good can you make me feel? How well can I perform? How well can I turn you on? What can I conquer? I. Me. My. Self—ish.

On the surface, this sounds great—getting something that feels good for free, i.e. without any commitment to or investment in the other person. Yet, reality promises a much higher price tag. What's the cost?

Cha-Ching

When people participate in selfish sexual experiences, getting what they want—orgasm, endorphins, validation, etc.—with little or no concern for the other person, immediate pains are felt, such as guilt, remorse, self-hate, and even "that wasn't everything I hoped for." The ripple effect isn't pretty either. For the one-timer and the serial seductor, the nasty presence of rumor and reputation soon arrives. Maybe he or she can handle it now, like water rolling off the duck; but what about in a few months or years when he or she is looking for that job, that role in the church, or that place in the community? Will that racy reputation disappear?

Such sexual trysts also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually chip away at a person. Because every person longs for and needs intimacy (i.e. total acceptance, respect, commitment, and unconditional love), a person involved in pre- and extra-marital sex must disengage to cope with the experience and the emotions arising from selfish behavior. Repeating this behavior over and over then hinders that person's mental, emotional, and spiritual growth.

Put two-and-two together and you see how this will affect a person's future ability—whether actual or perceived—to enter into and maintain a solid, healthy romantic relationship. When wedding bells come along, it will be much more difficult to learn to be a selfless lover when that person's sexual experiences are built upon the foundation of selfish sex. (Note: The key phrase is more difficult, not impossible!)

And let's not forget the pains and struggles of raising a child with two people who are not only unwed, but don't even truly care for one another. What am I saying? That won't happen to you either.

The Ultimate Lover

The one-night stand lacks humility and selflessness. Love—whether it be in the bedroom or not—is only truly experienced when selfishness is out of the equation. The Bible tells us real love involves sacrifice, meaning you place another's well-being above your own; your actions are first for your beloved's good. Love is unconditional, offering care, acceptance, and forgiveness willingly. Love is patient, kind, humble, and unselfish (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and 1 John 3:18).

Remember Christ? He gave His body, His life for the Church (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, and Philippians 2:1-11). That act brings her security. The same is true in life. The commitment of marriage (God's arena for sexual activity) and the partners acting upon that commitment bring the best satisfaction, both in the bedroom and beyond.

In fact, God's gift of sex, His intention for sex, is to paint a picture of His love and intimacy for His people. The husband gives life; the wife receives life and gives birth to another life. Intercourse for a man symbolizes his willingness to know her—her thoughts, dreams, talents, desires, hurts, fears, all of her. Intercourse for a woman symbolizes her acceptance of him for everything he is. Union. Intimacy. Godly love. Love the way it was meant to be.

If you are settling for anything less than this, you are missing out. Casual sexual experiences cheapen and lessen the gift sex is meant to be. The minuscule pleasure of pre- and extra-marital sex pales in comparison to committed, unconditional, and selfless love. Stop wasting your heart on empty rendezvous and selfish desires. Prepare yourself for your spouse; learn to live unselfishly. Mimic Christ's love for His bride. Isn't that what you want in a mate?

Emily White Youree is a freelancer from Fort Worth. Her 10+ years' experience in publishing means she's crazy about grammar books, Scrabble, and crosswords. Thankfully, she cannot knit and has no cats.

Remember that old gospel song?

The world is not my home
I'm just a passin' through

It's really old, and a bit hokey (especially if you remember the tune), but it's 100% true.

This world is not my home because I am a follower of Jesus. His kingdom is "not of this world." So while my wife and I may have a house in Old Hickory, Tennessee, the United States of America, planet Earth, my heart longs to go to the place where I truly fit in--the kingdom of my Lord.

The apostle Paul had a phrase to describe this. He called followers of Jesus "citizens of another kingdom."

I love that.

_______

Have you ever wondered why Christians from the U.S. who are sent to other countries to share the gospel spend years immersing themselves in the culture of their country in hopes of sharing the gospel, while American Christians who stay in the States spend seemingly exorbitant amounts of energy trying to stay as far away from culture as possible?

Why is the mindset of Christians who live in the States so different from Christians who go overseas?

I just don't get this. And I haven't for about 5 years now.

The message I get from this is that we Christians in America consider this place, this land, to be our home. We spend so much time and effort trying to Christianize this place. We have "Christian" everything! Bumper stickers, radio stations, TV stations, books, publishing companies, magazines, movies, breath mints, music, businesses, even a political party (although not official).

Don't you see? We're using God to build our own kingdom in America! 

These type of things are hardly signs that we are citizens of another kingdom!

What does it look like if we all realize that if we are in Christ, we are on His mission--to build His kingdom?

Spreading this gospel doesn't happen by making a "Christian" radio station. It happens by befriending, sharing the gospel with, and seeing the people in radio stations become Christians! We don't need Christian businesses! We need Christians in businesses! We don't need "Christian" books! We need Christians who write books!

My wife and I are trying to figure out how we can be missionaries to our community. We don't want to make a little "Christian" town. We want the people in our town to be Christians. Because this world is not our home. We're just passing through. We are citizens of another country. And we want our neighbors to join us in being "foreigners" to the United States.

God doesn't promise the United States will be around forever. Nor does He promise or owe our country anything. He does promise, though, that His kingdom will not fail, and that He will reign forever and ever.

That's a kingdom I want to be a part of, and a kingdom I've got to tell others about.

Jacob

I would venture to say many people can relate to such a story. The window pops up, or you get a message, or a comment, and wonder, "Why is that person talking to me? We're not even that close!" You guessed it. I'm talking about Facebook.

Facebook says their mission is to "give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected." Congratulations Facebook, you have accomplished your task. The moment I become someone's virtual friend, I am connected and can share anything I choose to share. It's a great tool. Photos, stories, games, information, music, and (my personal favorite) an update of what I am doing can be continually followed through the site.

The king of social networking claims it has over 250 million active users. Of those users, an estimated 120 million log onto Facebook every day. That's big. Really big. I remember when in college, I had a Facebook account and only connected with a few college friends from across the nation. Now, after it has spread, I have hundreds of friends (564 to be exact). It's not just college students anymore, as Facebook estimates that two-thirds of their users are outside of the college realm.

Face it. Everyone is on Facebook. Mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers grace the Facebook world with their presence. It connects us together, but does it really foster true friendship?

As a point in favor of Facebook, I am thankful for the real-life friends I can keep up with on the king of social networking sites. I have friends from high school who are straightening out their lives and finding answers from God—it's a joy to keep up with them. Other friends are in other countries, enabling me to easily track their every move (but not in a stalker sort of way). There is an element of the site that does enable me to continue friendships with some I would rarely see in person.

I do have a negative (or two) against the site. It is estimated the average user has about 120 friends. I have seen some who have well over 1,000 friends. The problem with this is that people throw the word friend around like a ragdoll. "Friends" from Facebook are really just connections, acquaintances, or in some cases, people you don't know at all. The shallow use of "friend" has become a reflection of our culture.

Here's an example. When I log onto Facebook, one of the first things I find myself doing is scrolling down the page to check everyone's status. I enjoy reading spiritual updates, humorous updates, and especially frivolous stuff. I realized recently I have many "friends" whose updates I really don't care to read (be honest, you do too). My point is not that we're all big jerks, but that if we were really friends with the people we follow, then we would care what they have to say. "Friend" is an overstatement.

I'm not advocating ridding yourself of Facebook by any means. Instead, I'm advocating that we as Christians understand that the social networking world is not a valid replacement of true friendship.

The Bible speaks clearly of friendship. "A friend loveth at all times" is found in Proverbs 17:17. Proverbs 18:24 says a man who has friends has to be friendly. Proverbs 27:10 tells us friends should be cherished and not forsaken. Outside of Proverbs are many stories about deep friendship as well, such as David and Jonathan. Not to mention the relationship Christ had with His disciples.

Christ and His disciples show us great aspects of true friendship. Many times we confine Christ's ministry to a little box, but it has to be realized Christ and His disciples had a deep and common bond. They met in person and worked together. They saw many sad sights together. They rejoiced together. They ministered together.  He constantly looked out for them spiritually. The spiritual bond they had was greater than most of us might ever experience with another human being.

Simply put, Facebook is a great tool for friendship, but some might have allowed it to replace what true friendship is. True friendship is not just typing a funny message or word of encouragement. It's much deeper than that. Nothing can ever replace face-to-face contact. Nothing can beat someone's voice lifting us up. So don't get lost in substituting the two. Facebook is great, but face-to-face is unparalleled.

Ryan Akers is a youth pastor in Indiana. He raises money for Mountain Faith Mission, a Haitian mission, by running marathons. You can support him by visiting http://run4haiti.wordpress.com/

What We Learned About Relationships As Teenagers

Teen dating seems like a normal part of our adolescent years; despite the fact, it is fleeting and, most of all, lacks commitment. In youth group, I learned two things you need before entering a relationship: (1) Only date someone who is likeminded in my Christian beliefs based on 2 Corinthians 6:14 about not being "unequally yoked," and (2) Don't have sex before marriage. As long as you followed those rules, you had the makings of a God-ordained relationship, so I was taught. I'm not saying these are bad principles to live by. How can they, when they are Bible-based?

The thing that bothers me is we never heard about the heartbreak that happens after the relationship ends or dealing with the rejection that looms over us afterwards. The matter of the fact is, minus a very small percentage, the majority of teen relationships just don't last—and rightly so; they aren't meant to. Most teens go into relationships with innocent intentions. The guy or girl is cute or they like his or her personality. Having someone to eat lunch with or go to the prom with is usually the extent of the commitment. For junior high and senior high students, marriage is far from the brain.    

My best friend in high school had a boyfriend for a couple of months, whom she broke up with because she found her "true love" elsewhere. Due to immaturity on both their parts, this relationship also ended a few months later.

If I could influence the life of a young person, I wouldn't coach him or her on how to find the right guy or girl, but instead I would ask, "Are you ready to pursue godly marriage?" If they were completely honest, ninety-nine percent of the time, the answer would be an absolute "No!"

The Sole Purpose of Relationships

In my younger days, I used to think the purpose of dating was for "fun and excitement." I mean, who wants to be home every weekend, all alone, watching reruns of Full House? Not I! Consequently, this type of thinking can often be found in those that have no intentions for committing themselves to another in order to lead into marriage. Instead, dating is merely a socially entertaining (often with physical benefits) type of relationship. And the best part, there are "no strings attached." When that relationship gets dull, they quickly move on to someone who reignites all those feelings in them once again. 

Passing through my college years and upper 20s, I've seen my share of the "teen dating" mindset between couples. You've seen them, or maybe you have been a victim of them yourself. One member is generally not willing to fully commit to the other; she wants the cake, but isn't willing to pay for it. They can be compared to someone browsing the delicious delicacies at the local bakery: chocolate éclairs, jam-filled donuts, moist chocolate cake all in a row. They all look wonderful and delicious with too many to choose from. Sitting down to take a bite out of one, and then not willing to pay for it, is like the person who wants the taste, enjoyment, and satisfaction of the moment but without the commitment to pay for it. Once they finish with one item and the enjoyment is gone, they move on to the next item that will bring them enjoyment. In the end, someone's heart always ends up broken, and the glory of the relationship goes to someone other than God.

The sole purpose of entering a relationship is to lead up to marriage. If you're not ready spiritually, emotionally, or financially, you are wasting your time.

The Bible has a lot to say about love relationships, but it is geared toward marriage covenant relationships. Why? Because that's the way God intended relationships to be from the beginning—long-lasting and enduring. A mutual commitment, through marriage, is God's way of sealing a love relationship between a man and woman. Marriage relationships are meant to be lifelong commitments; therefore, throughout Scripture we are reminded of how to be faithful to that covenant. (Paul exhorts married couples in 1 Corinthians 7:10 to stay faithful to their vows; Hebrews 13:4 reminds the reader that the marriage bed is pure; and Ephesians 5:22-23 talks about husbands and wives walking in respect and love toward each other.) 

Dating multiple people for fun is a concept that is nowhere found in the Bible. In the book of Genesis, Chapter 2, we can take a peek at the first God-ordained love relationship. It gives us God's view on a man and woman coming together. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (verse 24). The point brought out here is for one man to be united with one woman and the two to become one flesh. This scripture leaves no room for seeking out multiple partners for short-term pleasure.

Seeking out short-term relationships for "our pleasure only," with no further intentions, will always end in broken promises and broken hearts, which is nothing different from our teenage days. No, marriage minded relationships aren't fool proof, and not all will end with "Happily Ever After." But when commitment is present, there is a greater chance of success in moving toward marriage.   

If you are marriage-minded material, finding someone who is mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and financially ready for marriage should be the thing to consider.

Naomi Cassata has been married to her husband James for 6 years. They live in Florida. She has been writing articles for about 5 years.

Women's and Gender Studies, which became widely recognized as an academic genre during the political turmoil of the 1970s, no longer constitutes a small and insignificant subculture. At the end of June 2007, the National Women's Studies Association will hold its 28^th annual conference with more than 1,000 expected to participate. According to the Artemis Guide to Women's Studies, more than 400 women's studies programs are offered in the United States alone with more than 700 similar programs worldwide.

After examining these statistics, it is doubtful that women's studies programs are going to decline in popularity in the future. How, then, does a Christian handle this part of academia? What are young women (and men) being taught in these courses that might challenge their faith? Should parents simply encourage their children to avoid these "liberal" classes altogether? Certainly not. If I learned anything during my time as a women's studies minor, it is this: When approached the right way, women's studies courses can actually be benefit the collegiate Christian in at least three ways:

Welcome to Reality    

First, some of the information taught in these programs is very useful, and it is information about which most Christians know little. For example, I learned a tremendous amount about eating disorders. I discovered the true prevalence and impact of domestic violence. Because of Islam's subjugation of women and girls, I learned more about the religion than I ever would have learned in church. And more important, during these classes I witnessed the passion of activists who genuinely want to save women all over the world from female circumcision, honor killings, etc.

Women's studies taught me that if the Third Wave Foundation, a philanthropic foundation led by renowned feminist Rebecca Walker, can contribute more than $750,000 to "support young women's health, education, and activism," surely I can give monthly to help missionaries reach women and their families with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.

The Other Side of the Coin

Secondly, as a Christian, I believe abortion is the murder of an unborn child and therefore a sin. Yet how can I effectively argue the pro-life debate without fully understanding the pro-choice movement? My women's studies courses taught the pro-choice argument that all women should have total control over their bodies and, in turn, their unborn children. They support women who choose to keep their children, place their children up for adoption, or have an abortion.

In other words, the true pro-choice agenda is exactly that: pro-choice, not pro-abortion. Even the most liberal of those who believe in pro-choice rarely believe abortion should be used as a form of birth control. Through these courses, I learned how to explain logically to a woman why she should not have the choice to terminate a pregnancy (because her unborn child is a human being) rather than simply saying "Abortion is against my religion." After all, if a woman doesn't believe God exists, why avoid an abortion simply because it is a sin?

I also learned about valuable resources for women who experience unplanned pregnancies, such as Feminists for Life, a feminist organization that vehemently opposes abortion.

Crisis of Faith

Finally, women's studies programs across the United States will teach young Christians how to stand up for their faith. For example, a hallmark of the feminist movement is equality for everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Because of this, I met many people during my schooling who were gay or lesbian and even attended a lecture presented by a male-to-female transsexual who used to be a minister!

I must admit that the first time I worked closely with a gay man, I was uncomfortable. As time progressed, however, we developed a friendship, and I was able to share my faith with him. I was able to undo the aversion he felt toward Christians because of the way he had been treated in the past.

It was only through this relationship that resulted from my studies that I began to realize Christ loves everyone and wants to save everyone, regardless of their sins. For the first time, I truly understand how to hate the sin but love the sinner. I still believe homosexuality is a sin, but I know Christ wants to save people from this lifestyle rather than condemn them because of it.

Today's young Christians are constantly faced with challenges to their faith, yet parents believe they will have the strength of character to turn away from bad influences. In church and Sunday School, teens are encouraged to read the Bible for themselves rather than "simply accepting" what they are told. Parents and teachers both feel their children's faith will become their own though doing so

Why, then, can't collegiate Christians participate in "liberal" classes and come out stronger? Are young women and men so insecure in their faith that they will go astray as soon as a professor tells them their beliefs are wrong? I don't think so. If thousands of Christians have become doctors without embracing evolution, there is no reason why thousands of Christians cannot advocates for women while still embracing our Lord.

About the Writer: Joy Beth Curtis graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She is currently pursuing a Phy.D. in Clinical Psychology and an M.A. in Theology.  She and her husband Scotty attend Tanner Trails Community Church in Aurora, IL.

I'm wondering if how I am living my life is truly investing in the kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of this world. Here's an example.

Lynsey (my wife) and I have recently added another step to our nightly ruitine. We normally start getting ready for bed around 9 or 9:30. She brushes her teeth and washes her face while I read for a little while or fiddle with something. Then I brush my teeth. Then we work on our memory verses and pray. Normally we would just go to sleep after that. But lately we've been watching a TV show that we have 2 seasons of on DVD. After the show we drift to sleep.

If we watch one hour of that show every day like we have the past few weeks, that is 365 hours per year. If we do this for the next 50 years (I'll be 75 and probably die then), we will have invested 18,250 hours of our lives in a TV show. Yeah, that's a lot of time.

In the past the question I would ask is, "What TV show? Is it OK to watch?" You might have wondered the same thing when you read the above paragraph.

But the question I've been asking lately is, "Does watching that show make an investment in the kingdom of God?"

Don't we usually ask the question "What can I get away with in order to not make God angry?"

We want to know how far we can move toward the "line" of sin without actually sinning. We figure if we can just avoid sinning, then we're in good with God and He'll be obligated to bless us and we'll be in a right standing before Him.

It took a theoretical situation for me to see that is a load of crap.

Imagine watching me stand before God one day when He asks, "What have you done with the time I gave you on earth? How have you invested in my kingdom?"

You see me bend down, pick up something, and slowly reveal to the Lord of the universe my investment in his kingdom . . . 18,250 hours . . . of TV.

Maybe "What can I get away with?" is not the right question! Um, as a matter of fact, that's the stupidest question ever! If I'm not investing my time in the work of the kingdom, then I might as well be sinning!

So I'm not saying all TV is of the Devil and anyone who watches any is going to Hell. I'm sure there are times when believers just need to relax and rest and maybe TV helps in that. So in a way that's investing in the kingdom.

Here's my point though. Ultimately, the question to ask is not "What can I get away with and not sin?" But rather, "How can I invest in the kingdom of God?"

I just don't want to waste my life on worthless crap that doesn't matter. If I'm not investing in the kingdom, then what am I doing? Nothing.

Jacob

            It's impossible to underestimate the importance of this question. If Jesus survived crucifixion then He was just a false prophet, we are still in our sins, and there is no ultimate hope for the world. If Jesus didn't die and then resurrect we may as well "feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!" (1 Cor. 15).

So, how do we know Jesus really died by crucifixion? Let's consider three lines of evidence. First, the nature of crucifixion virtually guarantees death. Crucifixion was designed to cause maximal pain to victims. Cicero called crucifixion "the most cruel and hideous of tortures . . . the extreme penalty for a slave." The pain was so unbearable that a new word had to be invented: Excruciating literally means "out of the cross." Jesus was whipped mercilessly, had a crown of thorns placed on His head, carried His crossbar to his place of execution, and was ultimately nailed to the cross. Given the efficiency of the Roman guards, it strains credibility to think that Jesus survived the cross.

            Second, medical evidence proves Jesus died on the cross. After Jesus was observed to be dead, one of the Roman executioners thrust a spear into His side, and blood and water immediately came out (John 19:34). While the apostle John was an eyewitness to this event, he had no idea about the significance of his observation. In 1986 (at least 1950 years after the crucifixion!) the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association featured an article demonstrating that the release of blood and water from such a spear wound is a sure sign of death.

            Third, there is extra-biblical evidence that Jesus was crucified. Non-Christian sources also provide evidence for the death of Jesus. These include Cornelius Tacitus (A.D. 55-120), who is considered by many to be the greatest ancient Roman historian as well as the Jewish scholar Josephus (A.D. 37-97). Believing that Jesus survived the cross might make for an interesting movie, but it strains credibility.

            Why does this matter? The death of Jesus should motivate us to reach out in love to a broken and hurting world. First John 3:16 says that we know what real love is because of what Jesus has done for us. The sacrificial love of Christ is the greatest display of love the world has ever seen. It's up to us to put that love into action.

I made some comment on Facebook questioning the type of people our churches are "attracting." He politely said, "the church isn't for the unsaved anyway."

It sounded crazy at first, but after he explained himself, it started to make a lot of sense. It all stems from the definition of "church." And by definition, the church is simply a group of people who have faith in Jesus. By that, an unbeliever cannot be part of the church, because faith is a prerequisite for inclusion. 

That being said, I wonder if we're going about how we do our "church services" all wrong.

I have been in church my entire life and the whole time I have viewed the gathering of believers ("church") as a place that was supposed to be geared toward making unbelievers feel welcome. In fact, the thing today is to make the Sunday morning service "relevant" to unbelievers and welcoming. The idea is for believers to invite their unbelieving friends to that gathering so they will in turn accept the gospel at that event.

But, when you consider the fact church is for believers, it throws a kink in that concept.

If church is a body of believers, why would the primary gathering for those believers be taylored for people who aren't supposed to come anyway?

I mean seriously, why would we expect someone who doesn't know Christ to come to a worship service and "enjoy the music"? Christians are worshiping a "dead" Jewish guy who claimed to be the Messiah! Why would anyone other than someone who claimed to be regenerated by God want to experience that?

You might be thinking the same question I had: "How then do we share the gospel if we're not supposed to use Sunday morning as a place for unbelievers to attend?"

A very valid question. In answering this, it's important to look at the biblical role for church leadership.

Ephesians 4:11-12 says God has gifted some people with different leadership roles "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

Hmm.

So according to Paul, it's not the institutional church's "job" to share the gospel. It's each individual member's job. The leaders of the church are supposed to build up believers to go out and share the gospel. It says nothing about inviting people into our meetings in hopes they will respond to an altar call there. It says just the opposite.

The Bible never says it's the pastor's job, deacon's job, elder's job, or worship leader's job to share the gospel with unbelievers. It says it's the Christian's job. That includes pastors, deacons, edlers, and other offices held in church, but it includes every believer too.

And my friend, based on how I'm thinking these days, and the verses that talk about who the church is, that is supposed to happen outside the walls of the church.

Here are a few problems I see with making the Sunday morning worship service (or any other worship service) geared toward converting unbelievers:

• Worship's primary purpose changes from glorifying God to entertainment, making it more about a slick production than anything else
• It discourages believers from becoming true fishers of men
• It encourages believers and unbelievers alike to become consumers
• It blurs the lines between a true disciple and curious follower
• Style and image become very, very important (too important)

In saying this, I need to point out I don't see anything in the Bible or in early church history that suggests unbelievers should not be allowed to attend a gathering of followers of Jesus. In the early church, curious unbelievers were allowed to attend, but merely as spectators, not as ones participating. They were welcomed to attend, but they were asked to leave during the sacraments.

The scary thing is, I don't really know what this type of gathering is supposed to look like. What do you do if you're not supposed to make it appealing to unbelievers? What kind of music do you play? Do you have it in a set aside building? Do you have it on Sunday? 

I'm not through thinking about this. I'm very excited about what it looks like though. What are your thoughts?

Jacob

I thought I'd try to make a list for each. Most of these things are intrinsically neutral. It's interesting how my sinful nature takes neutral things and perverts them.

Affection for Christ:

• preaching
• studying for a sermon
• thinking about my seminary classes
• listening to sovereign grace music
• sitting or walking without worry
• spending quality time with Lynsey
• working hard and efficiently
• being right with people before going to sleep
• yard work
• doing something physical

Affection for something else:

• being online late at night
• facebook
• twitter
• sleeping too late
• watching too much TV

Jacob

Brink: Tell us about your band's name.

Zack: I grew up on a street called Walla Avenue in Fort Worth, TX. When I  
was a child I had certain hopes and dreams that have been lost through  
the process of "growing up." I have often felt that I would be a  
better human being, that is, better acquainted with my true heart, if  
I hadn't. I believe that many of us have similar stories and at times  
feel as if a part of us is missing. Perhaps it's the part that helps  
us come alive and find the strength to live truly satisfied lives.  
Most young children seem to have an innate trust in their caretakers  
and guardians in difficult circumstances, and know exactly what they  
want to become in this world. The Walla Recovery is our own pursuit to  
find and relearn those qualities, and our encouraging others to do the  
same.

Brink: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

Zack: We met and began playing music together in late 2001 at our church. I  
was a youth ministry intern at the time, and Brandon, Jonathan, and  
Justin were high schoolers in our student praise team. For more than 3  
years we led worship for their peers on a weekly basis. We often look  
back on those times as foundational to who we are now, individually  
and corporately, musically, creatively, and socially. We found playing  
music together to be something we loved enough to keep going.

Brink: What is your purpose or objective as a band? What do you guys want  
to add to music?

Zack: We have so many goals! We want to create art that brings encouragement  
to those who need a friend, helps people to cast away their fears and  
experience joy. We'd like to fill a void of substance we see in  
popular music by offering well-crafted songs housing intimate  
conversations about our own lives and honest struggles, in hopes that  
people can find them worthwhile to engage with in their daily thoughts  
and relationships. We pursue a peaceful, intelligent presence, and  
excellence, because we believe the endeavor to produce something  
beautiful is difficult, should require our whole hearts, and will  
sharpen us and teach us more about the creator of all things. We'd  
like to become part of a community of people loving one another,  
finding our voice, and speaking the truth.

Brink: What are your thoughts on your latest EP, With Trembling?

Zack: This has been a project in the making for some time. Some tracks were  
written nearly a decade ago, and have been waiting to be refined and  
sent out into the world. It is a collection of related songs written  
during a tumultuous few years in my life, when I had ideas about  
entrusting myself to the Lord, but also found a hard time being  
comfortable with his sovereign will, and more questions and answers.  
Is he good? Will he do what's best for me? Can I trust him? At the  
start you'll find our main character living the best he can on his  
own, self-absorbed and ultimately dissatisfied. At the end, you find  
him open and curious, beginning a new journey toward a kind of death  
that makes way for true life: a joyful sacrifice. The road between is  
littered with events and conversations planned to help him remember  
the only one he can trust. It tells this story in the style of our own  
human history, pointing out creation, fall, redemption, and  
consummation.

Brink: What's your favorite song on the EP? Why?

Zack: Each of us in the band will have a different answer to this, but I  
have to say my favorite is "She Said." Honestly, it's easy to play and  
sing along with, and it speaks intimately about the source of our  
knowing who we are in this life. I often feel as if our songs come  
from outside of us, bearing messages that we need to hear as much as  
we need to relay, and this is especially true on this one. The  
realization it's helped me make has been life changing. A runner-up is  
"The Spoils of Warring Hearts," which is fun to play live, and the  
words really remind me that God loves me more than anything I love in  
his place.

Brink: Is there a band or song that inspires you when the Christian walk  
gets tough?

Zack: You should really check out 'Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken' by  
Indelible Grace (igracemusic.com), sung by Andy Osenga. It's brutally  
honest about how impossibly strong of a commitment is warranted by the  
astounding work of Jesus; thereby, it shines with the promise of grace  
to me. And the melody is enchanting. I can't sing every word of that  
song truthfully, but I pray that I will live in them nonetheless.

Brink: Are you guys going on tour any time soon?

Zack: We hope to be out playing shows later on this spring and summer, and  
we'd love to hear where our listeners would like to see us play, so  
that we can connect with them in their own cities and towns. At the  
start of 2010, we're currently taking a little time to further develop  
our live show and experiment with some new material, as well as make  
connections with as many indie bands and cool listening spots as we  
can. We also have some big secret plans in the works and we're really  
excited about the future.

Brink: Can you share the experience that led you to Christ?

Zack: When I was just out of junior high school I went to a summer camp with  
my youth group. I remember the speaker halfway through the week,  
talking about what you might experience when first realizing that  
you're dead because of your wrongdoing, trapped by a curse you can't  
escape, and that there's a way to live, to be free again, in Jesus.  
Even after attending church my entire life, I knew I hadn't  
experienced anything he was talking about. Grace found me there, and I  
saw the hopeless condition of my heart for the first time. A  
transformation from darkness to light has been taking place ever since.

Brink: How can people who are interested in The Walla Recovery get your EP?

Zack: It's available online at our website, thewallarecovery.com; on iTunes,  
Amazon MP3, and most other digital download stores. We are also giving  
away our previous EP on Noisetrade, and we like to let our Facebook,  
Twitter, and mailing list followers have a free download every now and  
then, too. You can find all the links to that stuff and more at  
thewallarecovery.com.

Brink: If you weren't a musician, what would you be?

Zack: This is so random, but lately I've been thinking about writing. I'm  
finding more and more great writers of fiction who inspire me:  
Tolkien, Lewis, Austen, Rowling. I think it would be fun to be an  
author and sculpt stories that take a while to ingest and people can  
really dive into. If that didn't work out, I think I would have fun  
getting into photography. Just more ways to join a meaningful  
commentary of life and enjoy all the wonderful things the Lord has made.

Check out The Walla Recovery's site: http://thewallarecovery.com

They're also on twitter: http://twitter.com/wallarecovery

It seems like Christians try really, really hard to be respected and relevant to the world around us. If we could just get unbelievers to see that we're normal people, then maybe they won't be so weirded out by Christianity.

The more I've been reading in the New Testament, the more I'm coming to understand that we're not necessarily supposed to be liked by the world around us. In fact, we're not supposed to be surprised if the world hates us. 

To take it a step further, the message of the cross is supposed to make us sound foolish! Like idiots! Let me explain.

• I believe that there is one God over the entire world that has always existed, who sits above time, outside the realm of what I can think about.
• I believe that same God came to earth and made a virgin pregnant with Himself.
• I believe God was on the earth and was a God and a man at the same time without compromising either's existence.
• I believe the God of the universe purposefully caused His own death.
• I believe God also proved He is more powerful than death and made Himself come back to life.
• I believe that same God is still around the earth, convincing people in a very strange, miraculous way, to believe in Him.
• I believe in angels and demons. Around me. All the time. Seriously.
• I believe God literally lives inside of me.
• I believe part of me will live forever.
• I believe in the end of the world by fire and brimstone.
• I believe I should be willing to die for a stranger.
• I believe I should be willing to give all of my money, family, and possessions if God wants it from me.
• I eat the body and drink the blood of a dead Jewish carpenter who we claim is still alive.

So you see, I'm an idiot! Do you understand how foolish that all sounds!?

Here's the thing. I know it sounds like I'm insane, but I believe this stuff is really true! And if we would actually put it this way, I think the world would not think of us as "nice people," or as "normal members of society." No, if they really understood what we believe, they'd think we're nuts! They would think we are literally out of our minds.

Maybe that's how we can be different. By believing things and acting like we believe things that only fools would believe.

Jacob

Donate to the mission here:http://bit.ly/6CfwtR

Here is a letter from Richard and David Turner. Richard and his wife have been missionaries in Haiti for 17 years. David is their son.

 Dear Ones,

(1) No one has died among our leaders and all churches seem to be intact.

(2) There are many dead in MFM family...10 in one good family at Lamaar

(3) Many, many are hurt bad and there are not enough doctors. Many are going to Laboul for help from our mission doctor, Dr. Charles. He is having to do things that he is NOT qualified to do.

(4) NO gas in many places. Dad was able to get 2 gallon this morning but it was VERY high. NO diesel for electric. But hopefully we will get some tomorrow.

(5) There is still LITTLE food, but VERY HIGH!!  Have about two weeks supply for all on the compound. That's if people stop coming and asking for food. Can't not give to them, everyone is hungry. T'Luke and his family are on their way here; their house fell in on them in PAP. Luke is hurt but not to bad. T'Luke and his wife were raised in the orphanage and now have 5 children and still love Jesus. They along with many more of our people are coming and we can't turn them away.

(6) Things are so BAD and getting worse: all the American Missionaries that Dad knows over here are trying to get out. By the prayers of our American Christians we are able to stay; these people need us now more than ever before.

(7) Buildings and walls are so bad; David worked 40 people today. Full report later.

(8) Please send out all the SOS for help. If our money runs out it will be a fearful thing.

We all still love Jesus and know He is able to handle everything.

Blessings,

Richard and David Turner

Donate to the mission here:http://bit.ly/6CfwtR

It really does make me sad though because fulfillment in life does not and cannot come from these type of things. It seems like it would because we all have a desire to be acknowledged, to have people think we are awesome. But that kind of power and popularity comes and goes like the wind. We've got to find fulfillment in something deeper, more powerful, transcendent even. I just happen to believe it can only be found in the God-Man, Jesus of Nazareth. What better way than to fill our souls than to drink from the fountain of life.

Jacob

However, others, such as Aldous Huxley (author of Brave New World) feared that we would instead "become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy." He remarked in Brave New World Revisited that the "civil libertarians and rationalists" who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In the book 1984, written by George Orwell, we find men who are controlled by inflicting pain. In Huxley's book, Brave New World, people are controlled by inflicting pleasure.

Author Neil Postman explains that George Orwell, looking into the future, feared that what we hate would ruin us.

But Aldous Huxley feared that what we love would ruin us.

In saying such a thing, Postman is attempting to communicate that technology, specifically in his case television, [1] is the thing that we love and it is the very thing that will ruin us. I would agree and argue that what we love will indeed ruin us—but the problem is not television. That is simply an outworking of something much, much deeper.

Our hearts.

I Met the Buzzards at Church

For some reason, during church services in particular, distracting thoughts seem to swoop around my head like a flock of hungry buzzards waiting to eat a dead carcass.

It's a pretty disgusting thought.

But maybe you have the same problem. I just drift off into distraction all the time. I have an infinite desire for distractions!

And I am in desperate need of some kind of deadly weapon of retaliation in order to rid myself of these brain-devouring distractions. Especially when it comes to taking part in the things of God, like a Sunday morning at church.

Now, what exactly is the connection between Huxley's Brave New World and the vultures circling around my slowly disintegrating consciousness as I'm sitting in the pew? It's rather simple, really.

Your heart and my heart desire to please themselves—and part of that means entertaining (or distracting) ourselves. Remember the statement that "people are controlled by inflicting pleasure"? That's our society—that's me! I am completely controlled by the things that please me—not others, and especially not God.

There is a reason that I am never distracted while watching Sports Center or watching my favorite television show. I'm never worrying about what I'm going to have for dinner, or that project that's due tomorrow, or the conversation I need to have with a friend. Those situations still exist, but when it comes to things that entertain me, all of those things seem to fade into the background.

But for some reason those very things seem to leap into my mind as I'm writing down point number two from the sermon from my pastor. Let's take a look at why that may be by taking a closer look at the "heart."

Idols, Idols, Idols . . .

We have to realize we have disgusting idols permeating our beings. Not physical idols that we create and bow down to in our living rooms. These are much more subtle.

My own heart is the center of production for these things! And they're not always initially bad things, per se. They are simply things that we love more than God, things we look at and say (sometimes unknowingly), "I can't do without that thing. I just can't be happy without it!" It might be a good thing (like a relationship, a car, or the latest phone)—but when you lose a good thing, there is some time of sorrow, and it can be replaced by something else. But when you lose an idol . . . you despair. [2]

My distractions just happen to be one particularly powerful way to detect these idols that are in my life. Archbishop William Temple once said, "Your religion is what you do with your solitude." That is frighteningly true. Wherever my mind most often drifts can help me to discover and address the current idols that I have within my heart. If my mind drifts off constantly to the relationship, the car, the latest phone, or whatever, I have the perfect opportunity to test and detect the idols that I may have haunting my heart.

What Now?

Since Sunday morning just happens to be an excellent time for me to realize the idols that are in my heart, the appropriate response to those idols is to do the following:

1. I must acknowledge I have idols in my life. We all do! And I just happened to figure out what mine were in the moments when my mind began to be assaulted by what seemed like lovely creatures yet were actually disgusting buzzards waiting to devour the roadkill that had become my mind. That's what idols often do—they take over the brain and heart, completing destroying our allegiance to what should be first place: Jesus Christ.
2. I must realize that I cannot overcome or destroy these idols alone. Without help, I am completely enslaved to these idols. I am without the weapons to overcome them.
3. I must preach the gospel. The gospel is the very thing that I need to destroy the vultures, or idols, or distracting thoughts. Often our being distracted is showing that we do not care about the gospel enough to seek after the Word of God, His church, or His community. I want to be so enraptured by the gospel that I take it and make it "of first importance" as Paul says in 1 Corinthians.

Let's not allow our sinful nature (or the infinite desire for distraction) to rule our lives. If we are believers, we have Jesus Christ, who has conquered sin! We are no longer slaves to sin, but servants of Jesus Christ. Because He has saved us, He must be first in our lives. First does not mean second, or equal to other things in our lives.

There are so many other ways that we can have or allow idols into our lives and so many other ways to detect idols. But for now—when you see those buzzards, watch out. It might just be the perfect opportunity to start breaking some idols you're worshipping other than Jesus Christ.

Tim Sweetman is a 19-year-old journalist, blogger, and student who lives near our nation's capital, Washington D.C. He is much more widely known by his "code-name," Agent Tim, which also serves as the name of his popular blog http://www.agenttimonline.com, which has received over 750,000 visits since its debut three years ago.

[1] Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves To Death. Introduction.

[2] I recommend reading Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller for further information.

1. God
2. Wife/Family
3. Work

I've also heard other phrases like, "Keep God first in your life and the rest will fall into place."

The problem with this is that it encourages compartmentalization. You know what I mean. God has His time on these days or at this time during the day, family has their time, and work has it's time at such and such a time.

You can't compartmentalize God. What I mean is that God operates on an entirely different spectrum than itemizable priorities like family and friends and work. It is definitley possible to give friends their due time and then move to something different to focus on that and give it its time. But God doesn't work that way.

As best as I can understand it, Christians are to honor God in every area of life. That means I am to glorify Him when I'm spending time with my family just as much as when I'm in church. Actually, interacting with my family in appropriate ways is glorifying God. That is worship. Working hard at my job is glorifying God. Spending my money wisely is worship. 

God is not my #1 priority. He's the only priority.

@jacobriggs

2. First date.

3. Date exclusively.

4. Meet the parents. (Guy begins to save for ring.)

5. Trade spare car keys. (Guy continues to save for ring.)

6. Record voicemail together on each other's cell. (Guy continues to save for ring.)

7. Spend a holiday with your significant other's family. (Guy continues to save for ring.)

8. Have the put up or shut up talk. (Guy returns his new computer and continues to save for ring.)

9. Girl "in passing" mentions something about how she's always thought it would be romatic for the guy to ask her dad for her hand in marriage. Subsequently, guy asks future father-in-law for hand in marriage. (Guy buys ring to show future father in law his serious intentions.)

10. Guy proposes.

Christmas time is awesome. It's also right around the corner. I can feel it. In fact, I start anticipating Christmas a littler earlier every year. I've tried to figure out why that is and I haven't come to any definite answers. Sure, I love the season, the traditions, the family time, the gifts, the music, the movies, and most everything else that is connected with this time of year, but those things don't seem to be enough to turn me into the sentimental sap that I'm becoming. And it's getting worse. For crying out loud, I got teary eyed watching The Santa Clause with my family the other day! What does it say about me that not only did that actually happen, but that I am willing to admit it to everyone I know? Don't answer that.

Sadly though, many of the people that I am around on a daily basis don't view Christmas like I do. For them, it's not very awesome. Most people I know are more depressed, more exhausted, more frustrated, and more hopeless this time of year than at any other time. It can prove difficult to keep my spirits high when I am around these miniature Scrooges, but I press on. Nothing can bring me down when Christmas is close at hand.

            (Abrupt shift in tone ahead. You have been warned. I promise this is going to make sense.)

I don't over spiritualize the stuff that happens in my life. Too often, I fail to see God at work even though I completely believe that to be true. I also believe that He intervenes in my life for my benefit. But I don't discern it like I should. I am prone to overlooking God's hand, to my detriment. One of my chief failings is that I shy away from outward expressions of gratitude and recognition when God is working in my life. I get uncomfortable talking about "spiritual" things around others, and I really don't get that. It's not that I am ashamed, but perhaps it's that I don't want to come across as one of those "Praise God!" people. You know what I'm talking about. These are the people that sound like they have one foot in heaven and one foot in a revival service. They don't seem to be part of the same world as the rest of us struggling believers. They never seem to have any problems and God is always talking to them and clearly guiding them. I'm not knocking these people, it's just that I don't understand them and perhaps that is entirely my fault. That's not my world or my life and perhaps it never will be. Where I live, things are not always easy or rose-colored. My life is full of questions and uncertainties. And I have a really good life from any viewpoint so I can only imagine what it's like for some people that have had a much more difficult journey through life.

            (...and we're back!)

That's a long way to get to my point. What were we talking about anyway? Oh yes, Christmas. That previous paragraph. . . that is why I love Christmas. Not making sense yet? Ok, I'll try to explain. I am very willing this time of the year to be vocal about God, spirituality, and all the rest. It's the meaning of the season, after all. Most people lower their defenses this time of year and that makes it much easier for me to be honest and truly express what God is doing for me, to me, and with me. I don't have to hide behind my well designed façade; I can let it all hang out in a manner of speaking. For most of the year I am a very reserved fellow, but you get me close to Christmas and I sort of lose my mind. Food tastes better. The air is purer. Life is richer. There is a feeling of rebirth or starting over that is intoxicating and it is impossible for me to ignore it or hide it. I have a light and it must and shall shine! 

Perhaps you are in love with the Christmas season as well. If so, I challenge you to put those good feelings to work. It can be daunting when so many people around you are discouraged and miserable, but isn't that a good enough reason to tell them why Christmas makes you so happy? During this time they might just need a little good news and you have the best news in the world. Share it.

Now, I just need to figure out how to do that the rest of the year.

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world—stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death—and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. —Henry Van Dyke

Phill Lytle is a father of 3 and husband of 1, living in Nashville, TN.

Let me begin by pointing out American culture is clear that it is the responsibility of the speaker to communicate effectively and in a relevant manner. I say this because we're consumers. I have been raised to consume the best of whatever it is I choose to consume.

So what intake I have is based solely upon what satisfies me the best out of my available options. Well, that's the way our culture is anyway. I'm not so sure I want to be this way.

When any unsaved person (and most followers of Jesus as well) goes to a church service or worship experience or whatever you want to call it, they will only listen to and evaluate the content of the service if it is relevant to them and/or presented in a way they enjoy. We do this because that's how we engage with everything in our culture.

Take the example of how Americans interact with the car industry. Ford doesn't make cars with very good gas mileage? I'll buy a Honda. Honda doesn't have a vehicle with enough power? I'll buy something else. There is something out there that will satisfy my need or present something in a way that I like and I don't really care what company or church or label provides that, just as long as I get what I want.

With this in mind, let's talk about public speaking. When Americans listen to someone speaking, they engage in the same way they buy a car or interact with a product. If the person speaking doesn't say something the way I want it to be said, then it's their problem and responsibility to change in order to suit my needs. And frankly, if they don't say something I care about or applies to me, then it's completely OK for me to tune them out.

This is not the way it is in some other cultures, according to Malcolm Gladwell, as stated in his book Outliers. In it, Gladwell talks about how in China (I think. Forgive me.), the responsibility between the person speaking and the person listening relies on the hearer. That means if you're listening to someone speak and you don't understand, then it's your job to do everything you can to understand what the person is saying. They assume that if they didn't understand something, then it was their own fault.

You can see how it's completely different here in the States. If I'm speaking to you and you don't understand, then we assume it's my job as the speaker to make it clearer for you or do something else so you can understand what I'm trying to convey to you. If you don't understand, it's my fault as the speaker.

Well, what does the Bible say about this kind of thing? If God hasn't spoken something clearly enough, is it up to me to try to figure out what He was really talking about, or is it up to Him to make His message a little more clear?

God has an advantage here (among many, many other areas). And His advantage is that He knows us infinitely better than we currently or will ever know Him. As a matter of fact, we can only know about God what He has revealed of Himself. If God doesn't want us to know something about Him, we could not force Him to do so. On the other hand, God knows everything about us whether we want Him to or not! 

In reality, God's act of not revealing all of Himself to us is an act of mercy. If we were to engage with all of God, we would be completely consumed. Our flesh cannot stand before the presence of Almighty God. Our bodies are just clay that can only last 80 something years at best! In the Psalms David said the days of man are like grass. The wind passes over us, and we are gone. Our place doesn't even remember us. Put that before an all-powerful, all-knowing, eternally existent, completely holy God and what you get is God continuing to exist and us vanishing into nothingness!

That tells me that not only does God tell us just enough about Him but that His refusal to reveal all of Himself to us is merciful. It is by His mercies that we are not consumed.

We can only know so much about God, but God also knows all there is to know about us. The Scripture says the very hairs of our head are numbered. It also says that while we were in the womb of our mothers, He knew us. God knows every minute detail about every person that exists, ever existed, or ever will exist.

This leads to the fact God knows what it will take to convey something to us.

Another attribute of God is that He is loving. The Scripture says He is "not willing that any should perish." He is always pleading with everyone, trying to communicate to them the message of His existence and that of the cross.

So not only does God know what it takes to convey something to us, but since He is loving, He is doing whatever He can on His end to try to get that message across. Look at creation. The rocks and hills sound forth the praises of an infinite Creator God. Take the Bible. God breathed the very words of His message into the minds and hearts of men so that we may know Him. Think on Christ, and His coming to earth, God incarnate, the God-Man, taking on flesh and dwelling among us. Consider His Spirit, always prodding, leading, directing, encouraging people to become more like Christ. As Francis Schaeffer said, "God is there and He is not silent."

Based upon these things, I think it's safe to say God has done His part. He has spoken loudly, boldly, clearly. In fact, the Scripture in Romans says He has spoken so much that man is "without excuse."

No man can ever approach God and say "If only You would have spoken in this way or that way. Then I would have believed in You." Those who do not believe do not do so because they suppress the truth that their image urges them to embrace (Romans 1).

In regard to God communicating to man, if we miss it, the fault lies entirely on us.

Let's move back now to those who preach or lead worship or teach the Scripture. Is it the teacher's responsibility or the hearers responsibility? Based upon how God has spoken to man and how man is to respond, I would have to say both.

We must teach and preach and lead in such a way that, as much as possible, those who are listening are without excuse when they try to find fault with our message. 

And when the tables are turned and we are the learners, we must make it our responsibility to learn and discern what God is saying. There is always something to learn even amongst the poorest of teachers because they are image-bearers as well, whether fallen or redeemed. 

God has spoken as clearly as we finite creatures can handle. And He has given us the tools to listen, process, and respond.

Let's do it.

Jacob Riggs

            Whether conservative or liberal, the debate rides the fence on three issues: compassion, fairness, and utopia. When we compare these issues to the redemptive work of Christ, there is revealing truth that should clarify the health care debate for us all.

            First, let's examine the issue of compassion. Those who call for health care reform tell the tragic stories of victims who suffer at the hands of the existing system. They hope to inspire compassion that leads to radical change, while opponents save their compassion for those that would lose benefits due to reform. Then there is fairness. Reform advocates believe that everyone deserves the same coverage and that this should be enforced by law. Dissenters say that this leads to nothing but entitlement, which they feel is a myth. Instead, people deserve only what they earn for themselves. Finally, there are those that believe we can achieve utopia in this world as it is. They believe that people get better as generations go by, and that we are smarter, more enlightened, and more capable than any past generation. They feel that health care reform is a progressive step in the right direction.

            So what does redemption say about health care reform? Well, a lot of those on that train are the same people who use the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) to condemn judgmental Christians. While what this Scripture says is highly important, what it doesn't say is equally important. And when it comes to compassion, nothing is said about legislation. Instead, the greatest show of compassion from our Savior was done of His own free will. When a disciple tried to fight the mob that came to arrest the Savior, Jesus said, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53) While Jesus' work spoke volumes about compassion, they said nothing about coercion.

            When it comes to fairness, I'm thankful Jesus didn't have much use for the idea. He told the adulterous woman that her sins were forgiven. He asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him, because they didn't know what they were doing. Romans 5:8 tells us He died for mankind while we were still in our sins. Fairness wouldn't have let those stories end the way they did. Yes, fairness is a foreign concept in the Bible, and it makes me wonder where it came from in the first place. And entitlement just reminds me I was entitled to an eternal residence in Hell. People in their illusion of their own righteousness are feeling as if they are entitled to a far different destiny than reality suggests. And do you think for a moment this has nothing to do with why we feel as if we are entitled to free health care?

            Lastly, Jesus spoke of a utopia, but He said before we see that, He would come and get us to take us there. In John 14, we have the picture of utopia described for us by Jesus Himself, but verse 3 makes it clear that it is not here, not now, and not made by man. It is later, prepared by Him, and involves a trip to somewhere else.

            So with Jesus, compassion is best when done voluntarily, and fairness wouldn't pan out how we think. And utopia: it's not here, not now, and not of our own making. Jesus does, however, uphold the commandments that condemn stealing, whether it be from an individual or future generations that would pay for our mistakes. And he preaches we should be dependent on Him, not a government. And don't think for a moment there's nothing you can do about this issue. You have congressmen and senators who need your go ahead to vote for what they already know is right. Their phone numbers are just a Google search away. What would Jesus do? You tell me.

Alan Skiles is a 2007 graduate of Free Will Baptist Bible College. He and his wife Grace reside in Jackson, TN, where he pastors Victory Free Will Baptist Church.

But seriously, I think a lot about the relationship between a man and a woman and what it's supposed to look like for a man to pursue a woman and try to win her. It was always in the forefront of my mind when I was single. I mean seriously, what 17-23 year old guy is not thinking about women in some form or fashion at least 5 hours a day? The sad thing is, there are a lot of misconceptions going around as to how to date. Here are four of the biggest, written with guys in mind:

1. It's OK to date with no intention to marry.

Um, no. Whenever a guy asks me what they should do in a dating situation I ask, "Are you ready to pursue marriage with this girl? If not, stop dating her." Here's why I say and think this:

Dating is not a biblical institution, marriage is.

The thing about dating that is so dangerous is that a ton of people use it as an end in and of itself. They date just to date with no real intention of marriage in view. Marriage might be in their overal picture of things they want to do in life, but the dating relationship they are in at that time is not being used to figure out if they want to marry that person.

Dating, when used properly, should be a means to an end. What I mean is you date someone to figure out of God is leading you to marry that person. You should never, ever, ever date if you have no intention to marry the person you are dating. It's harmful and wasteful. Some guys spend years dating, acting like they're married to their girlfriend (praying together, sleeping together, sharing every thought, hope, and dream). And when they break up, it's like they have a mini-divorce! How can that be beneficial for you or for the girls you've dated?

If you are dating just for what you can get out of it whether it be companionship, a make out partner, or whatever else, then you are obviously in that relationship for what you can get out of it.

If you are dating to pursue marriage you are in that relationship to honor God either by finding out more about yourself and what you can live with, or you honor Him by choosing to marry a woman and become a picture of Christ to the world. You marry in order to literally bring glory, attention, and honor to what Christ has done. 

2. Your future wife will "complete you."

The concept of your wife "completing you" is one of the biggest piles of excrement I've ever heard in my entire life. And it comes straight from Hollywood. I'm not one of those guys who thinks everything that comes from Hollywood is bad, but this idea is completely heretical and asinine. Think about it. If you are an imperfect guy who lusts and has pride issues and wants everyone to think you are the man, then what you need to "complete you" is not an imperfect girl who is insecure and only feels valued by how she looks and has problems with gossip. 

You can't get perfection by adding two imperfect people together.

You're sinful. She's sinful. Putting those together does not equal righteousness or completion. The only thing that can complete you is Jesus. Period. End of story. (Phil. 1:6 He who began a good work in you will complete it.)

"Then what's the point of getting married if my wife won't complete me?" Well, to glorify God. When people see a biblical marriage, they will have to look to a higher power because a biblical marriage is when two imperfect people who are found in Jesus, love each other unconditionally. That is other-worldly.

3. You need to find "the one."

If there were one person out there for everyone, we'd all be screwed. If that's true, then all it takes is for one person to marry the wrong guy or girl. If that happens, everything else is messed up and you're left married to your "#2." It just does not make any sense.

I know, I know, it sounds very romantical (Little Rascals) to think there is one woman out there and you're on this quest to find her. But I think it's much more romantic for there to be a TON of different women you could be married to and CHOOSE the one you do! That's so much better! I could have been happy with some other woman besides my wife. Incredibly happy and successful and whatnot. But the beautiful thing is that I chose to marry HER! She became my one when we got married. Now there's no turning back. We are trying our best to be the small picture of Christ and the church. 

4. You need to be settled and stable before you get married.

I've taken flack from this before (mostly from people who were unarried at the time--go figure), but I think it's a myth that you need to have every material thing in order before you get married. People say you need to be out of college, have all your debt payed off, make at least $__ thousand per year, blah blah blah. My question to this concept is, what is the purpose of marriage? I could understand and agree with this concept if the purpose for marriage was to be completely happy and comfortable, or if it was your job to "complete" your spouse. Since you as a man cannot make your spouse truly happy, comfortable or complete, own your biblical role and get married! In fact, if your "future wife" says she won't marry you until all those things happen, I'd seriously reconsider as to whether or not you want to marry someone who is dependant on you to make her happy, comfortable, or complete. Do you have a place to live? Do you have food? Do you want to get married? Are your counselors approving of it? Get married.

So remember: (1) it's not OK to date with no intention to marry, (2) don't expect your imperfect wife to complete you, (3) there isn't one out there for you, so choose wisely, and (4) you don't need to be near as "settled" financially as some people think.

I welcome your dialogue here or at other places.
Jacob
twitter.com/jacobriggs

It's not the presence of past sin that is a deal-breaker, but how it was and is being dealt with. In Psalm 25:6-8, David prayed, "Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord."

Did your boyfriend have sex before he became a believer; or if after, has he grieved the harm of his disobedience and turned away from it? Such are the marks of the kind of repentance David modeled. Not just feeling sorry for sin, but running away from it (1 Corinthians 6:17-19, 10:12-14). And not just running away from opportunities for sexual sin, but also getting help from other, more mature believers. Neither of you should be going it alone.

Second Timothy 2:2 says, "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (emphasis added). This Scripture holds the key to freedom from past sin: flee, and seek out pastors, parents and mentors who have pure hearts and are willing to do the hard work of walking with you—both the one who sinned sexually, and the one who is hurt by the sin.

James reminds us "We all stumble in many ways" 3:2. What matters is how we deal with sin. What is his conduct now? Is it marked by the self-control that is evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in his life, or is he pressuring you to have sex? That would be a red flag worthy of ending the relationship.

If you've discovered past sexual sin, ask, is he/she pursuing Christ; repentant; running from past sin, including setting up safeguards for future temptation? What evidence is there of Christ's redemption and transformation?

If you haven't sinned in this way, it's important to guard your heart against self-righteousness. God calls us not only to pure actions, but to a pure life that flows out of a heart rightly set on Him (Proverbs 4:23). In the end, chastity should be motivated not by what we'll get from it, but by our love for God (John 14:15). Obedience is its own reward. And it's the best defense against self-righteousness.

Mercifully, God's redemptive power is strong enough to bring beauty in marriage out of the ashes of sexual brokenness on the part of one or both of you. It's redemption is worth waiting for.

Candice Watters is the founder of Boundless.org and author of Get Married: What Women Can Do to Help it Happen (Moody) and co-author with her husband, Steve, of Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies.

This is the second part of things to keep in mind when looking for God's will. (I'm thinking there will probably be four parts to this.) The first part was that God's will does not contradict the Bible. (For part one, copy and paste this URL: http://thebrinkonline.com/articles/read/how-to-know-gods-will-part-1.)

The second important thing to remember is to listen to the Spirit of God.

After the following introductory thoughts, I tried to make the rest of this piece flow like a conversation where I anticipate a question that might come to your mind. Feel free to ask more questions in the comments section and I'll do my best to find an answer for you.

I didn't hear much about the Holy Spirit growing up. I think some Christians have been scared to talk about Him in fear of being labeled something they didn't want to be. So as a result, He gets neglected. Or at least our understanding of His role in our life does.

But if we want to understand the Bible and the nature of God, we have to understand the significance the Holy Spirit plays in the story of God. And if you want to know God's will (essentially, hear Him), then it would greatly benefit you to know and at least partly understand one of the main methods in which God speaks.

Does the Spirit know what God's will is?

Emphatically, yes!

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians that the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. He went on to say that no one understands the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Other than Scripture and nature, the only way we can know what God is thinking is to listen to the Spirit of God. If you want to know God's will, listen to the Spirit, because the Spirit knows what God's will is for you.

How does the Spirit speak?

I have a caveat and then an example. The caveat is that in the same way God's will does not contradict the Bible, the Holy Spirit does not either. In fact, I have had experiences when the Holy Spirit spoke to me through a passage of Scripture. Someone was reading a passage, and the Spirit of God "said" to me, "This is what I want you to get right now." So yes it was the Spirit speaking to me, but He used the Scripture to tell me exactly what He wanted me to know. It was an unexplainable, incredible experience.

This caveat reminds me—if and when the Spirit of God speaks to you about the will of God, test it. If you want to know whether or not it was God's Spirit and not indigestion or a different spirit (evil spirits are real, and they can speak), test what the spirit said with what the Bible says. If it contradicts the Bible, you did not hear from God's Spirit, but something else (1 John 4:1).

The example I'm about to give is not necessarily the only way God's Spirit can speak (see Isaiah 30:27 for a time when God spoke loudly). It's just the way God has chosen to speak to me.

In 1 Kings, God spoke to the prophet Elijah. God had told Elijah to stand on a mountain so he could observe what was about to happen. He witnessed a wind that broke rocks into pieces, an earthquake, and a fire. The text says the Lord was not in any of those things. But then after the fire Elijah heard a "still small voice." That voice was the way in which God spoke to Elijah.

I think the Spirit still speaks in this way today—quietly.

How should someone go about hearing the Spirit speak quietly?

There's two parts to this answer. The first is you have to be quiet to hear something quiet.

I heard a speaker one time that had a real gift at using different volume levels in his presentation. He would get louder or softer depending on the moment or what he was saying. As I listened, I noticed something interesting about how the crowd reacted to his volume changes. The louder he got, the more rustling you could hear in the audience. But the softer he got, the softer everyone else got. You could hear a pin drop during his pauses. That's because if you wanted to hear what he had to say, you had to be completely silent in order to hear him at that moment.

I think listening to the Spirit works in the same way. Sometimes our lives are very, very loud and it takes the Spirit doing something very loud just to get our attention. Other times, we are very reflective and meditative and quiet, and the Spirit simply whispers to us.

If there is so much going on in your life that you never think about what the Spirit of God is saying to you, your life is too loud. Too noisy. Too busy. You need to unplug. Don't use your iPod for a week. Stay offline. Don't check email. Don't text. Sit in silence for 5 minutes without saying a word. Add 1 minute to that time each day.

The first part of the answer is you have to learn how to be quiet in order to hear something quiet.

The second part of the answer is you have to be close to someone to hear them whisper.

The Scripture says draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8a). God has gone to great lengths for us to be able to know Him and hear Him. He reveals Himself through (1) creation, (2) Jesus, (3) the Bible, and (4) His Spirit. These things are all available to you. Now it's up to you to respond to what God has done. If you want to know God's will, you need to listen to the Spirit. And if you want to listen to the Spirit, you need to draw near to Him.

How does someone "draw near to God?"

The same text I referenced above goes on to say that we should cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. We are sinners and "double-minded" people (James 4:8b). This is how we draw near to God: we confess our sins and repent of them.

If sin is a blockade that keeps us from God, it is incredibly foolish to think God would show us His will when there is sin in our lives! It's not that God doesn't want to tell you, it's that you have chosen to cover your ears!

The Spirit of God cannot speak to someone who has put a barrier between that person and Himself. And if you want to hear the Spirit tell you God's will, you have to be incredibly close to Him.

The good news is that if you have accepted Christ, then you have the Spirit of God in you. And the Spirit is always looking to tell you things about Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12). In fact, sometimes He speaks in ways you wouldn't have thought—we would think a God so powerful as our God would choose to speak in an earthquake instead of a still small voice.

 Is there anything else?

The last thing I have to say in how we interact with the Spirit of God to find out His will is to ask Him. Ask Him.

Ask God to tell you.

Matthew 7:7 says if you ask it will be given to you. And if you seek, you will find it. If you knock, it will be opened to you.

Another point of advice is to literally verbalize what you are asking God. Don't just "ask it in your heart." There is something about saying things aloud when talking to God.

If you have a specific decision in mind, simply say aloud, "God, what do You want me to do about ______?" If you want to know whether or not God wants you to date a guy named Charlie, say, "God, do You want me to date Charlie?" Take whatever situation you are in and adapt it to the question.

If you want to know what God's will is for your life, you've got to get plugged into one of the main sources through which He speaks—His Spirit.

Jacob Riggs is Editor of The Brink. Contact him at twitter.com/jacobriggs.

I'm not here to discuss various societal issues and whatnot. My contention here is the rationale and application of the term 'hypocrite' is flawed. Furthermore, it is not a sufficient excuse for rejecting the Gospel of salvation. Would it be sufficient to say that the doctrine of love as preached by Jesus is not the prevalent mindset practiced by contemporary Christians? (That ball got dropped long ago.) Also, that Christians consistently fail to uphold the standards to which they are commanded? Ok. We're on the same page, then.

While I was in high school, I publicly committed to abstinence, complete with the mocking of my peers. I went off to a Christian college with great expectations and graduated with an ambition to serve "the least of these." My resolve wore down rather soon. I gradually made concessions and compromises, ultimately losing my virginity at the ripe old age of 23. Oops. Am I supposed to type that? See, I have always been a firm believer in the biblical view of sex: sex is a beautiful, glorious gift from God, useful for procreation and pleasure, and only permissible within the marriage of a man and a woman.

Hypocrite. I fully expect my now five-year-old daughter to blast me when I remind her of biblical standards during her adolescence and however far beyond. Still, even those who don't label me consider my moral choices suspect. Recently, I was shooting pool with some friends who were trying to decide whether or not we would go to a gentleman's club. I refused. What they had once considered absolute was now up for debate. As my friends, they would never say, "You're tainted now, bro. What's the big deal?" Even so, their approach to my convictions, which hadn't changed, demonstrated their perspective, which had.

The second effect of my failure was that I became afraid of judgment and therefore withdrew from Christian service. I judged myself far more harshly than anyone else did. Now, I may have permanently damaged what some call my "Christian witness." My choices may provide ammo to those who decry the teaching of abstinence. I know my choices shook the faith of a few, and changed the path of my ministry. (I intended to finish seminary and become a pastor—go figure.) But does that change the truth of the Gospel? No. Should that stop me from communicating in love, patience, and compassion, the hope I have in Christ? No.

Hypocrisy wields this great power to create divisions within our society and especially within our spirits. Hypocrisy is its own entity. So, I'm calling him out. "Hypocrisy" has meant that you say one thing and do another. Like when I tell my daughter not to sit on the arm of the couch—as I'm sitting on the opposite arm. "Do as I say and not as I do" kind of thing. The modern application of this misconception is when an individual's behavior is in conflict with his or her set of beliefs, or worldview.

If you possess a worldview based on absolute standards of right and wrong, and you sin, you're automatically a hypocrite. Since all have sinned, all Christians are hypocrites. Conversely, if you possess a worldview that is not predisposed to absolute right and wrong, you can never be a hypocrite. This understanding leads people to wrongly think Jesus' doctrine of love and conservative opposition to same-sex marriage are inconsistent. For marriage is based on love, is it not? How can one preach love, yet restrict the right of one individual to love another? (Again, an example, albeit a feisty one.)

This application of hypocrisy makes two faulty assumptions: (1) Behavior/choices are influenced by beliefs; (2) When they are misaligned, the tangible takes precedence over the intangible. That is to say, behavior influences belief. Since Christians cannot keep it in their pants, nor can they stay married, who are they to determine who can marry whom? Effectively, the sinfulness of Christians has rendered the Bible and its precepts obsolete. Even Christians have this in their mind. I've heard some say, "Yeah, I believe in the Bible, but that doesn't mean all the other religions are wrong."

I would go so far as to say belief and behavior are two separate categories of choice. You choose your belief. You choose your behavior. Should belief influence your behavior? Absolutely—especially Christians. But, to lump the two such that a choice can nullify the truth of a belief is philosophically unsound. It is an ad hominem fallacy to attempt to invalidate an individual's position simply because he or she may be a hypocrite. A person's failure to uphold biblical standards is not sufficient grounds for the abandonment of those standards.

So, how can we define and apply "hypocrisy" effectively and fairly? I shall try. If I believe Jesus commanded me to serve the least of these, yet I tell my daughter to avoid the poor—that is hypocrisy. If I believe Jesus is who he says He is ("The way, the truth, and the light"), yet claim other religions offer a possible way to salvation—then that is hypocrisy. It is not hypocrisy for Mr. Al Gore to leave all the lights on in his home incessantly . . . unless he truly believes it causes harm to the environment, and then he suggests to me that it is okay if I leave all the lights on in my home.

As for those of us who hold to absolute moral standards—if we believe the Bible determines sex to take place only between a married man and woman, and then advise those around us "what happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom"—that is hypocrisy. If we are transparent, holding to our beliefs, our truths, yet acknowledging our failures, there is nothing hidden. There is no two-face, no double standard, and no hypocrisy. Transparency is the key to breaking down the walls that the accepted application of hypocrisy creates. So, let me ask you this: am I a hypocrite?

Bryce Thompson is a single dad, writing and residing in Connecticut's "Quiet Corner."

It's good to want to know God's will. It means you're concerned about what He wants with your life. That's a really great thing.

It's sometimes tough to know what God's will is. However, I don't think it has to be. I'm not saying it's simple black and white. I'm just saying it's not as mysterious as we might think.

I haven't had a ton of experiences with looking for God's will (I'm only 24). But the few that I've had have been memorable and impactful. I hope you find this beneficial.

So here's the first part of this and what I think is a very important component a lot of people overlook in finding God's will.

God's will does not contradict the Bible.

Nope. Not one bit.

We can know this because of what the Bible claims to be. Second Timothy says all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. So, if all of the Bible is inspired by God, how could we think God would do or be something different than what He Himself wrote?

The only way I can figure this would make sense would be if God changed somehow. You and I have opinions and we argue them. But sometimes we change our opinions based upon an experience we have or some new information we receive. Well, God already knows all. First John 3:20 says God knows everything. Since His knowledge is without end, His "opinion" will never change based upon a new influx of information or a new experience.

And since God is the same "yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), He is the same today as He was when He inspired the Bible a few thousand years ago. The Bible will not contradict God. God's will will not go against what the Bible says.

Let me unpack this a bit with a few examples and try to make it applicable.

If you are married to a woman who is faithful to you but is starting to get on your nerves, it will never be God's will for you to divorce her. Never. Happy, unhappy, getting your needs met or not, it will never be God's will for people who are faithful to each other to divorce one another. We can know this because of the way the Bible speaks of marriage and divorce, and God does not contradict His Word (Matthew 5:32).

Here's another example.

If your taxes are increased by the government, it is not God's will for you to get around that, even if you are using the money for a good cause. I don't care if you're taking the money and using it to help save starving children in Africa. It is not God's will for you to cheat the government of your money, even if they are taking "too much." Why is this true? Because of how Paul said for us to deal with the government in Romans 13, and what Jesus said about our relationship with the State (Matthew 22:21). And since God's will does not contradict His Word, we know it is not God's will for us to do these things. 

One last example.

Let's suppose I got a job offer. My wife would not like to work some day and this job pays enough where she woudn't have to. But the job is directly linked with obtaining money in an illegal fashion. And I'm aware of it before I take the job. This is an easy decision for me. Because, well, the job would force me to be dishonest, and that would go against what the Bible teaches about honest gain and hard work (Proverbs 13:11). Lynsey and I would not have to deliberate on this decision because God is not honored by dishonest gain based on what the Bible says, and God's will does not contradict the Bible. 

Let me wrap this up.

If you're faced with a decision, the first thing you've got to do is ask yourself, "Does the Bible address this issue in any way?" Then, use honest discernment with the help of the Holy Spirit and ask, "Does this decision contradict what the Bible says?"

If the decision goes against the Bible, it is not God's will for you to proceed.

It's probably a whole lot harder if you have a lot to leave behind.

This week, school started up and at our district's convocation we got a special guest speaker. You might be familiar with H&R Block, the tax prep company. It's based in Kansas City and has 22 million customers, so they're doing all right. It was founded by two brothers, Henry and Richard Bloch. I guess they thought 'Block' was catchier than 'Bloch.'

One of the sons, Thomas Bloch, came to talk to the teachers of our district. What on earth does the heir to a tax service company have to do with education?

Actually, he already inherited the company. He started as a tax preparer out of college and worked his way up the ladder. Eventually, he was CEO of the company. I'm sure he had a very nice office to go with the million-dollar bankroll he was taking home. I imagine home for him was a ten-story yacht with a bowling alley, called the S.S. I'm on a Boat. Hey, I don't know how CEOs live.

Anyway, about the place in his life where a guy couldn't hire any more people to kiss up to him, Tom decided his life was empty. He decided that a million-dollar bankroll wasn't all he was born to accomplish.

So he decided to teach junior high algebra to inner-city underachievers.

Really? Teach? Algebra? Inner-city? Doesn't make sense. In his own words, he went from a place loaded with cash and respect to a place that afforded absolutely none of either. Now, you may know that the Kansas City school district is notoriously bad. So a rich white guy who actually expected effort and success from his students was still a sideshow. He was actually laughed at by parents when he told them their children were failing. They laughed in the face of the former CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation. He was of no consequence to them.

He realized that he spent only half his time teaching algebra to his algebra students. The rest of the time was spent teaching character, citizenship or morality. That's off the record, because every politically correct person knows a teacher's job is to teach academics, not character . . . right?

Then he decided he needed to take it one step further. He was friends with Barnett Helzberg of the jewelry store chain, also based in Kansas City. Barnett had sold his company and was looking for a new challenge and, presumably, a large gaping money-pit to wildly throw his cash into, never to be seen again.

So they opened a school. They felt the name University Academy was pretentious enough to work, so they went with that.
The first couple of years were a disaster as students came in, realized the standards were abnormally high for the inner-city, and moved on. Eventually the school was moved, expanded to include all the grades, and students started sticking around and graduating.

Tom admitted that his sacrifice was easy financially. There are plenty of people who struggle far more to make the change he did. He had made his money. Even with all the money he's poured down the drain on a school, his family's lifestyle hasn't suffered. But still, I have to wonder how many days he thought to himself, while getting disrespected to his face by children and their parents, "I don't have to be doing this."

I think that's what ministry is all about. At some point, probably most ministers think, "I don't have to be doing this." Then they realize that, yes, they do. Because it's a calling.

I don't know if Tom is a Christian, but he could be. And he made a decision that makes a great story. Have you ever known anyone like that, who "threw it all away" to do something great? Maybe you're that person that people talk about. What's your story?

Matt is a teacher and pastor in Kansas City, MO. He is also the co-founder of SaveAfrica.com, a missionary endeavor in Sudan. He blogs at TheChurchofNoPeople.com, and lives with his wife, Cheri.

Copyright 2009 Matt Appling. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

Dad has been a pastor for somewhere around 25 years. I highly respect him and his heart in ministry.

I said, "The more younger generations come into 'big church,' the more the church is going to change."

He nodded in approval while saying "That's true."

"The thing about it, is it's very difficult for the older generation to accept the changes, especially when they've put their blood, sweat, and tears into those programs. They're sacred cows and they're tough to get rid of." I was building momentum.

Dad then said something that I think is very wise: "But the thing the younger generation needs to know is that those sacred cows were put there for a reason. If they want to get rid of them, they first need to understand why they were put there in the first place."

What a huge key in connecting generations. In order for changes to be made by a new generation, wey've got to first show appreciation and understanding in the older generation. After all, they've been there. They're not as dumb as we might assume they are.

If you're a twentysomething, join me in honoring those older than us, and admitting we don't have all the answers. We need to learn from those who have gone before us.

@jacobriggs

            So, that gets me back to my Moment of Revelatory Exhilaration, or MORE. (By the way, every time I write that phrase, imagine hearing it as a very loud Alan-Kalter type bellow.)  I can't say I was thinking about anything in particular while I was driving, so I wasn't exactly searching for anything beautiful, but beauty found me anyway. I had the radio on one of those "We play whatever we want" stations. The volume was low because the song that had been playing wasn't really doing it for me. So, because of that, I missed the first couple of notes of the next song, U2's glorious "With or Without You." Once I realized what song was on, I turned up the volume to a comfortably deafening level. Loud enough to hear Adam Clayton's overly simple, yet perfectly appropriate bass line, The Edge's precise guitar work, Bono's soaring vocals, and Larry Mullen's rhythmic time-keeping. I can't even begin to describe the rush of emotions that hit me. I forgot I was cold. I forgot my headache. I forgot the crappy day I had at work. I forgot about the bumper-to-bumper traffic. I simply allowed the song to "minister" to me. I know that sounds preposterous and touchy-feely, but it happened. And I am better for it. I don't base my theology on this song, even though it probably captures the typical Christian experience better than just about any song on Christian radio any given year. I don't have to agree with everything an artist is expressing, that is not how it works. I just need to be ready to catch a quick glimpse of eternity that the artist may or may not have even intended.

            I experienced MORE the first time I saw Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey hug on the big screen. I got hit over the head with MORE when Stephen Lawhead wrote about Merlin holding Arthur in his arms as their small boat sailed to Avalon. Every time I hear "The River Will Flow" by Whiteheart, my soul swells to touch heaven. (Pardon the hyperbole.) When Pocahontas/Rebecca takes John Rolfe's hand in The New World, my spirit smiles. I think God smiles too. These Moments of Revelatory Exhilaration are everywhere; we just have to be ready to open up to them. Mind you, the Moments are not just in the arts. It could be a sunset. A friend. Your family. I could go on for pages about the ways my kids help me experience MORE. My point is: We need to cultivate an appreciation for these moments God gives us. There is a fundamental reason we have this ability; it points our eyes to our Creator. If we truly appreciate the beauty and truth we find in our lives, it will only nurture our love and devotion to the Source of that beauty and truth.

            Open your eyes and your hearts and experience MORE.

Phill Lytle is a father of 3 and husband of 1, living in Nashville, TN.

That's wonderful.

Not that it's happening, but that people are finally realizing it.

BUT, it doesn't end there. Only acknowledging a problem does not fix it. You have to actually act on it.

So the question really becomes, what are you going to do about the problem?

I don't have the answers. I really don't. I don't know of one model that will fix this. The faith at home movement has some good things to say about parents being involved with their kids and being spiritual mentors, but that doesn't say what to do about the current generation that has already left who have already turned mom and dad off. So there's some talk, but I don't see it as solving the problem completely.

My deal is, you can't do the same things in church and expect different results.

Are twentysomethings leaving your church? Then if you want to keep them, you can't do the exact same things you've been doing!

I read the following from Outreach magazine's September/October 2009 issue. This is a quote from Joel Hunter, a pastor from Florida:

"If younger and/or more secular people were going to be interested in church for the traditional reasons, they'd already be with us."

Wow.

Dude, doesn't that punch you right in the stomach?

The pastor is like, "Hello!? If it was working, they would still be here!!!"

You've got to do something different!

Like I said, I'm not claiming to know what the change is. I'm just saying that doing the same thing and expecting different results is stupidity.

@jacobriggs

Yeah, the Kingdom of God doesn't work like that.

Jesus said the first will be last and the last will be first.

Matt Chandler said if we worship God because He gives us more money, or because He makes us happier or because He makes us healthier or because He gives us a good marriage, then we're after those things instead of God, and biblically an idolator.

The Good News is not that life gets better on the outside, but that no matter what situation life hands us, we get Christ, and He is enough!

I am exhausted!

We're staying about 40 minutes away from the Gwinett Arena where the conference is held, so we had to get up very early this morning in order to get there for the 7;45 door opening.

The seats are first come, first serve, so we wanted to get a decent spot. We ended up getting 10 rows from the stage on the floor.

We experienced 6 different sessions today, and each one offered something unique. I'm going to miss something, so I'm just going to share the highlights with you now, and later I might share what God dealt with me about if I'm awake by then.

Andy Stanley spoke first about Joshua's encounter with the Angel of God and Joshua asked him, "Are you for us or against us?" The angel basically said, "Well, no." Some translations say "Neither," but "no" was just funny.

Andy's point being--life is not about us making our mark, but about how God can make HIS mark through us! This really hit home with me as God revealed a lot of pride issues in my heart today.

Malcolm Gladwell was featured in the second session, and he was really good. I'm not sure if he claims to be a believer or not, but definitely not a pastor. He writes for a newspaper and has written 3 very successful books on business and leadership, his most recent being "Outliers" (which I started last night).

Malcolm told us a story from the Civil War about overconfidence and about how people will actually follow people when they're overconfident. He also made some keen observations about how when someone is overconfident, additional data or facts does not influence the direction they are heading in. The Civil War story about General Hooker losing to General Lee was incredible. His final summation: "We don't need over-confident leaders. We need leaders who exhibit one thing: humility."

The Steve Fee Band led worship in several of the sessions. They are incredibly high energy and I do not understand how they keep it up! They've gotta have like a ton of Red Bulls back stage or something.

Shane Hipps talked about the medium and the message and sort of threw a wrench in our notions about that. I didn't feel like he competely landed the plane so to speak. If he would have hammered his thoughts home a bit more and unpacked them, I might have been with him, but as he finished his session, I was not on board.

They interviewed some author that we were supposed to know but who I didn't. He had a new book coming out and talked about it a bit. He said a few things about faith that were, well, completely out of line with Scripture. So I took what he said with a grain of salt.

Rob Bell was very impressive. He talked about how God had a role for each of us to play, and that we could not be satisfied by trying to play someone else's role. He is a very gifted communicator and I sensed a humble spirit about him. There are a few things I am not sure I agree with him on, but I didn't let that hinder God still speaking to me. Oh yeah, he was taller than I imagined as well.

Matt Chandler is just awesome. He is incredibly solid biblically. He spoke from Hebrews 12 and talked about the hugeness of the Gospel and what an incredible thing it is that we get to be a part of it and that in light of that, we have GOT to lay aside the weights and sin that hinders us from running this race with patience. I was very impressed with Matt and his passion for the Gospel and being very focused on the Word of God.

Aaron Keyes led worship in the last session of the night. He was awesome. Nearly every time he opened his mouth he was either quoting Scripture, singing, or praying. His heart and intent was very, very clear--he led us in worshipping God with the Bible. He probably quoted at least 5 different passages while leading worship. I loved that, and I loved his spirit.

Francis Chan was very real. He's just the man. You got a real sense that he was being completely open and honest with you. He led us in communion, and simply read some different passages of Scripture, and invited us to worship God for what Christ had done on the cross. We took communion together and worshipped our Lord for what He had done. It was wonderful to just rest and focus on the amazing work of Christ and His redemption.

Whew! I can't believe I remembered all that stuff! Day two starts in about 6 hours, so I'd better get to bed!

Here are a few links:

http://catalystbackstage.com   Go here to keep up on the conference from backstage. Looked pretty cool.

Do a twitter search for #cat09. Everyone who tweets during the conference uses that hashtag, and searching for that will show you what attendees are saying about the events. Oh, P.S. I find it annoying to read a ton of quotes from someone going to a conference, so I'm refraining from that. However, I'll share a few thoughts in response to some things via my twitter account, @jacobriggs.

Peace!

@jacobriggs

I haven't heard anyone say Christians are supposed to give their life for the sake of the Gospel.

That is, until yesterday when I read Mark 8:34b-35.

"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."

To save my life, I have to lose it for the sake of Christ AND the Gospel. The two go hand in hand. They cannot be separated.

You can't have the Gospel without Christ, and you cannot have Christ without the Gospel.

So based on this verse, it's a bit ridiculous to think anyone can be in Christ and not be completely about what the Gospel is!

That leaves me with a very tough question: If those who are in Christ are about the Gospel, and if I'm not about the Gospel, then am I truly in Christ?

God, move in my heart to be about the Gospel!

@jacobriggs

But there is one thing I've never done that I am extremely ashamed about . . .

I've never led anyone to Christ.

Never.

It drives me crazy to say that.

Some people think witnessing or evangelism is only for a certain kind of person and that every Christian is not supposed to do it.

I think that's a lie from Satan himself. And I really do mean that.

If Satan could convince Christians that they didn't really need to tell anyone about the Gospel, then after the current generation dies, he takes over.

It's difficult for me to talk to people about my faith. Maybe it's because I'm an introvert or because I don't have much experience. Either way, I have no excuse.

So my wife and I have decided to study passages of Scripture that talk about the Gospel. Either where people are telling someone about the Gospel, preaching it, or receiving a command to tell someone. Basically anything that deals specifically with someone acting on the Gospel.

After the study, I'm not sure what we're going to do, but we've got to get busy. I'm tired of being ashamed of this. People are dying and going to hell while I refuse to obey God because I'm "uncomfortable" or "introverted."

@jacobriggs

Consider the huge and complex dance:

The universe is so incredibly big many scientists believe it doesn't even have an end. Our small, finite minds cannot comprehend such a thing. Our minds don't register endlessness to anything. We cannot fathom the enormity of what we know or guess is there.

Space and spatial bodies are so large the measurement of light-years is used. A light-year is simply how far light travels in one year. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. One year's worth of those seconds comes to almost 6 trillion miles. Well, the average galaxy is about 1,500 to 300,000 light-years. That's huge!

There are hundreds of billions of galaxies in the universe. Each of these galaxies contains hundreds of billions stars. In addition, they contain lots of other bodies and substances. We live in the Milky Way galaxy, which is a spiral galaxy. That means it has several arms coming out from a hub and it looks like it is spiraling like a whirlpool. It is about 100,000 light years in diameter.

We live relatively close to the edge of this whirlpool in a minor arm called the Orion Spur. Our Solar System lies on the outskirts of this arm. For the size of the galaxy, our Solar System seems really small. Scientists estimate the Solar System is between 7,348,981,944 and 9,320,567,882 miles in diameter. Within this expanse are a number of familiar bodies: the Sun, the planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.

One of these nine planets is Earth—our Earth. As far as we know, it is the only place in the universe that sustains life. At this point in time, there are about 7 billion people inhabiting the earth. These 7 billion people are spread throughout 195 countries on 7 continents. Zoom to your continent. Zoom to your country. Zoom to your city. Zoom to your street. Zoom into your house, dorm, or apartment. We have come to you.

This is a very, very, very brief description of the universe. Yeah, we are a teeny-tiny part of it all. In essence each one of us is a speck on a speck (the world) on a speck (the Solar system) on a speck (the Milky Way galaxy) on a speck (that's right, the endless universe is a speck in the mind of God). We are less than nothing, but the sovereign God who is the omnipotent Creator of the universe, the divine choreographer of this great complexity yearns to have a personal, intimate relationship with you. You! He is the endlessness beyond the endlessness who cared for you before you were born, who cares about every aspect of your present life, and who wants to be forever with you after death.

...Uh, Did I mention this is the God of the universe? Sometimes it seems we forget that part. We are mere specks and know so little. As mere, selfish specks we do not even deserve His attention. For some reason He gives it. For some reason He cares for our lives—both this and the next. How is this not reason for a greater joy and boldness? The God behind the endlessness is at work in you!

Ben Plunkett is a writer from Pleasant View, Tennessee.

I don't say that to point out that my beliefs are incredibly strange or obtuse, but rather, there are very few people who completely believe the same things. I can tell you two leading theologians of my movement who disagree about a very well-known passage of Scripture. Both theologians are well-respected. Both have written commentaries and have taught in our Bible colleges.

"Are you saying the Bible can mean one thing for one person and another thing for someone else?"

No.

If I were to write you a letter, you would assume that when I talked about my wife Lynsey, I would actually be referring to the actual Lynsey unless I gave you reason to think I was using her name as a metaphor or something. Why should we assume the Bible, which is really just one big letter, can be interpreted several ways when the authors do not call for such?

So I don't believe the Bible can be interpreted different ways.

"But since people believe different things about the Bible, does that mean somebody is wrong in what they believe the Bible teaches?"

Well, yes.

If people believe two different things about an objective truth, then someone is wrong.

You and I can argue about who is right and who is wrong all day. But the main point is, one of us is wrong.

Even if I think you are off your rocker, I can still learn something from your perspective. If you bring something to light I've never thought of before, maybe my view can change to be more in accordance with Scripture. Or if you say something that is just totally heretical, it will still help me to word a defense to that--which strengthens my knowledge of the correct view.

Because of this, I think it's very important to engage with other Christians who don't believe the same thing I believe. It stretches me and challenges me.

All that to say, I'm going to the Catalyst Conference next weekend in Atlanta. It's 12,000 young, innovative leaders who are all passionate about serving God and leading others to do so as well. And if I were to guess, I'd probably disagree with most of the people there about something.

And I really like that.

It might be advantageous for an individual to consider the misery and torment of hell, particularly if the result was a determination not to enter its gates. But, just taking note of that tortuous scene will not prevent it becoming man's final destination. A more beneficial contemplation is the internal conflict and struggle that takes place inside one's heart due to the sinful nature inherited from our original parents, Adam and Eve.

Thinking can be a healthy process because our thoughts produce actions and our actions denote the person we have become, providing a catalyst for change. Since man began his long march toward infinity, the need for change has been apparent. Driven from the dwelling place provided by his Maker, man has been on an endless search for purpose and meaning, encompassing a quest for happiness and contentment. But there is a problem—sin and the separation it has caused between man and his Creator. It is this great gulf dividing God and man that we are to think on, to consider. Some way we must manage to reach across, to get to the other side, but what can man do?

What can man do? Absolutely nothing! God has already done what is required. Before God spoke the heavens and the earth into being, the thought of man and his need for redemption were uppermost in God's mind. God had created man, in His image, for the sole purpose of fellowship, for companionship. Man would be unique, superior to the animal and plant life. He would reason; he would think; he would make decisions; he would have freedom of choice. And in that freedom, man fell. Thereafter followed God's plan to redeem man back to Himself. And that plan embodied the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus. Only the infinite mind, only the infinite thought processes of an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Creator could conceive the remedy for sin without violating His holy and righteous character.

God did not meditate on the internal struggle caused by sin within His own heart. He focused His thoughts, His mind, upon the inner struggle between man and his sinful nature, and produced a way for man to become reconciled to his Creator-God. You might say He was the original Thinker.

Dianne Sargent is managing editor at Randall House.

David and I will be discussing this on this week's podcast.

We look forward to reading what you think!

A lot of people believe the exact same thing my friend believes--that God has one person picked out for them to marry.

I wonder why they believe that. Maybe it's because they think God maps out every situation in life and that we have no choice in anything we do. Or maybe (and this is what I lean towards believing) it's because they think it's more romantic to think there's just one person out there for them.

You know ladies, one day you'll be at Starbucks when you slip on a "coincidentally" unlabeled wet floor, only to be saved from impending injury by a dashing debonair. Your eyes lock, some cheesy music plays, your hair flows in slow motion, and you can focus on nothing but his perfectly chiseled (and tan--a bonus!) face.

You get married two weeks later, have 2 kids, lots of money, and one day save the world from every problem it's ever had. Blah blah blah.

It's all so romantic to have one person hand-picked just for you, isn't it?

Well, it might be romantic, but I don't think it's as romantic as choosing who to marry.

The reason I say that is because if there is one person picked out for you, then it requires very little want-to on your part. You don't really have to be committed to the person out of desire. You're just sort of there because that's the way it's supposed to be. It's not that you don't "love" that person, but it sure does make it a lot easier to do so since you know it's "God's will."

I think it's much more romantic to be in a relationship knowing you could very well have chosen to be with someone else.

I've told my wife this before, and she's told me before: we could be married to someone else and still be happy, still be serving God, still be in His will. Not that divorce is an option or that we could walk out on the marriage and be cool with it. Rather, that before we got married, we understood that we had options.

To me, it's much more romantic to wake up every day and tell my wife, "Babe, I realize there were other women out there, but I don't really care about them. I want you more than anyone else. I choose you."

No Christian wife intends to have an affair.

If that's the case, why does it still happen? If Christians intend on remaining pure and living holy lives, then why does it happen?

I think it's because we think purity is just supposed to happen. Like after we get saved, it's supposed to be in our DNA or something. Yeah, it doesn't work like that.

Proverbs 7 has a lot to say about this. Here's the story in a nutshell:

• a young man was walking down the street, minding his own business
• the harlot "caught" him
• he "strayed" into her paths
• they had sex
• everyone "slain" by the harlot were "strong" men

I don't believe the man in the story was taking a walk for the purpose of finding a prostitute. His motive was not as much sinful as it was careless.

I might not ever come face to face with a prostitute on some street corner late at night. However, I am faced with situations like this all the time.

• A provocative ad pops up on my computer
• A female with a low-cut blouse bends down to pick something up
• A certain commercial comes on TV

In all of these situations I do not go into it intending to lust. I don't ever want to.

Both the man from Proverbs 7 and my own life tell me that purity doesn't just happen. I have to be intentional about it. I have to prepare for what I'm going to do in certain situations. If I'm not prepared for an attack, then how can I expect not to fall?

Purity is a battle. It's literal spiritual warfare. No one would go into a game or a war without some kind of plan. If you have no plan, you will lose. If you're not intentional, you will fall. 

Here's some things I do to be intentional about my purity.

1. Fill my mind with Scripture--right now my wife and I are memorizing Psalm 63 (we're on verse 9 now).
2. Talk to my wife about my struggles with lust--she knows everything I've done in my past. I tell her when I am tempted to lust or even when I watched a cetain TV show too long or when I looked at another woman inappropriately. There's something about verbalizing things that make it easier. And doing this with my wife is wonderful for me. If you're not married, you have to find someone you can talk to.
3. Avoid situations that could lead to something else--I have friends that are girls, but they are all very casual. I have no good female friends who are not my wife (I intend on keeping it this way too). I don't tell them my thoughts on things, I don't go places with them, I don't talk to them privately without telling my wife about it. I will never be alone with a female who is not my wife. I try my hardest to avoid riding in a car with a female who is not my wife (except family).   
4. When a lustful thought comes, I fill my mind with something else. Sometimes lustful thoughts come and you don't even know why. This might seem weird, but when I have a lustful thought, I say the verse "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes." And then I think about playing baseball (I guess some of you who hate baseball might consider baseball to be wicked--if so, I'm sorry). Here is something John Piper wrote about replacing lustful thoughts with other thoughts (this is very good): http://is.gd/3wLrG.

No one intends to be impure. I don't, and you don't. We have to be intentional about it if we're going to win this war. And believe me, it is a war.

I welcome your dialogue on ways you are intentional about remaining pure.

@JacobRiggs

Creative? No. Fun? No. Exciting? Not really. Consistent? Yes!

I think this was a result of the Great Depression. I mean if I grew up during the GD, when I got older I would want a stable job too! Who cares about what you do as long as you have enough money to feed your family.

My generation is not like that.

I value stability, but the thing I value more than that is passion. I want to work at something I'm passionate about. And that passion trumps the money for me. I can cut back on stuff. I don't have to have all the stuff I could have if I made a lot of money. I really don't care much about the money as long as we have what we need (which is different than what we want). I'd rather take a pay cut and work for something I'm passionate about than have all the money in the word and hate my job--no matter how stable it is.

So fellow twentysomethings, which do you prefer? Stability or passion? Am I alone here in being willing to take a pay cut to work for something I'm passionate about?

@JacobRiggs

Oh it's selfishness on the part of the reader, to be sure. But it's the way people read articles and blogs and tweets. 

So if you want people to read what you have to say, you have to catch them (twice) before they'll do it.

The first catch is the title.

If an article or blog has a boring title, no one will read anything more than that (except maybe your mom). A catchy title tells people, "This is worth your time and will be interesting to you. You should read this." A boring title says, "You won't miss anything if you don't read this title."

The second catch is the first sentence of the piece.

Just because you have a good title doesn't mean someone is going to read your entire piece. If your title is good, but your first sentence is terrible, then people will stop reading or lose interest and stop reading after the first paragraph. A good first sentence after a good title says, "See, I told you this was going to be worth your time. You should totally keep reading!" A bad first sentence after a good title says, "I'm a liar, although a good one." A good first sentence after a bad title is pointless, because no one will read it anyway.

So for all of you potential writers out there, keep in mind the importance of the title and the first sentence! If they stink, you might as well not even write the rest of the piece.

Jacob

I grew up in the south, where "chivalry" rules all relationships. I don't simply mean that men act as gentlemen—the Southern Chivalry teaches men act as gentlemen because women are incapable of taking care of themselves, let alone contributing anything to a relationship. I found that women were seen as the submissive member of the relationship. The men make all of the decisions. The men decide when a relationship starts, what happens in the relationship, and seem to dictate where the relationship is going. Women who make any kind of move are seen as loose and inappropriate. I have watched women give up their hopes and dreams for their husbands. They give up everything to be married.

I'm not talking about the marriages with "traditional" gender roles. Many healthy relationships have the man as the breadwinner and the woman sitting at home, contributing to the relationship by keeping the house her husband provides. I don't have a problem with homemakers at all. If that is what you want to do, then go ahead and do it. There isn't a problem with that. I am talking about women in my life who have repeatedly given up their dreams for their husbands until not only do they see themselves as a little less than human—their husbands come to adopt the same view.

On the other hand, I have known women who value themselves entirely over their husbands. They treat their husbands like they are little kids incapable of accomplishing anything. Men are seen as children and women are seen as the responsible ones. This seems to be the view growing in popularity in our culture. Almost all relationship on TV work this way—the women have an extra child in their home and call him "husband." If someone makes a stupid mistake, it's the man, and it's up to the woman to find time between her two jobs, taking care of her kids, and doing all the housework to fix the problem.

I think both sides are wrong. We are called to submit to one another in love. That means both submit to each other. It is a relationship of equality. We should value one another's dreams as much as the other person. While I don't mind having a door held for me, why can't I in love hold the door for another? If we as a church truly believe in equality, then we need to have that in our relationships.

Stephanie Malcolm lives in Mission, Kansas with her husband Steve. Together, they attend the Nazarene Theological Seminary.

The way I'll do this is in response to some commonly-used objections to using Twitter in church. I've had several conversations with people, so I've heard a lot of objections, most of which I think are valid (yeah, some objections are just dumb).

Objection #1: If You Tweet, You Can't Pay Attention

For some, this may be a problem. You just might not be able to tweet very quickly. But when I'm tweeting via my phone, it takes me about 30 seconds to tweet something. I just type 40404, send new text, type my message, and send it. It doesn't take much time at all. As a matter of fact, I might be able to tweet nearly at the same rate of writing something down on paper (which, if you do that, you're super-spiritual). However, I will say that if I used a smart phone to tweet, then it might cause me to lose focus more. But since I have one of the oldest phones in the world, I use texting to tweet, which doesn't cause me to lose focus. So in regards to tweeting taking too long and thus causing you to stop paying attention, this issue is different for different people. If you're a slow tweeter, then maybe, sure. But if you text quickly, tweeting a point in the sermon takes very little time, causing you to be able to pay attention just as well as you could if you were taking notes. 

Objection #2: Tweeting's Purpose is to Tell the World What YOU Think, While Taking Notes Is Trying to Learn Something

This is probably the best objection I've heard to tweeting in church. It originally came (as far as I know) from Joshua Harris' blog (who I guess has "Kissed Tweeting Goodbye"). He stated that the purpose for listening to preaching is to ask the question, "God, what are you saying to me?" And that that is contrary to the nature of twitter which asks the user, "What are you doing?"

Although that was the original intention for Twitter, if you use Twitter with any regularity, you will have noticed Twitter's purpose is evolving. It's not just about spouting off information that no one cares about. The best Tweeters say things that people following them will find beneficial.

So then, the reason someone would tweet in church about what God is speaking to them about would not be because they just want to be heard, but because the people following them want to hear what they have to say, or in this case, what God is speaking to them about.

Another point against this is to the fact that writing something down does help retain information. And not only writing something down, but writing something down for the purpose of other people reading it forces you to (1) listen to what's being presented and (2) process it enough to write it down. In this instance, tweeting is more beneficial than just taking notes. For me, if I have processed something enough to tell someone else about it, then I have really internalized it (which, I know what you're thinking, and it doesn't really take that long).

Objection #3: Your Tweeting Will Distract Other People

Think about a fake situation with me. Let's say I am tweeting some points that really hit home with me in the message. I'm paying attention, and I might look at my phone for about 30 seconds at a time to tweet, and I tweet about 4 times in the message. Now let's suppose someone just happened to look over at me and see me look down at my phone. They would be appalled right? Well, maybe. But the one thing they would do for certain is look at me again. Wouldn't you? And the next time they looked, chances are they would see that I was paying attention. They might actually see me listen to something and then enter it into my phone--which would tip them off that I was actually using my phone to help me. Now, if I wasn't paying attention to the sermon and was just on my phone the whole time, then that would obviously be a problem, and someone should confront me about it. But if I was actually using the technology for something positive, then they would notice that as well. If they saw me tweet and pay attention and were confused, then the biblical thing for them to do would be to come talk to me (if they were concerned about my spirituality). The unbiblical thing for them to do would be to get upset about it and tell someone else like a deacon or their friend or whatever, stating how offended they were by that. Well, I'm sorry, but if that person really wanted to be biblical, then they would do what the book of Matthew states to do if they are offended. In that case, the person who observed me tweet is much more in the wrong than I was for tweeting (if you want to get technical).

Objection #4: Tweeting During the Sermon Has No Value

This is very possibly an excellent point. There are many instances where tweeting would have no value in church. If no one is following you, then it has no value. If you're not tweeting about the sermon, then it has no value. Or if you're tweeting for selfish reasons, then it's actually detrimental.

However, these things do not have to be the case.

I do have a caveat or two about this whole issue (which in the grand scheme of life and the kingdom of God, is very miniscule isn't it?). And that is if I am at a place where they specifically ask me not to tweet during a certain portion, then I would have no problem not tweeting. It's just not that big of a deal. I can pay attention while not tweeting, so I have no problem with that. It's more important to live peacibly with everyone than it is to tweet in church. Plus, tweeting right after they asked you not to brings up all kinds of other problems not mentioned in this post.

My overall mindset in regard to using new media and technology in church is to use discernment, but don't be that guy that assumes just because it is new that means it's bad. Twitter is a tool. And tools are neutral. Just like a gun. A gun can be used for good or bad. Just because someone once used it for evil does not make the tool itself evil.

I want to be one of those guys that takes the tools available and uses them for good. There's just so much more freedom in it that way.

@jacobriggs

By the way, if you'd like to read Josh Harris' post about this subject, here it is. http://is.gd/39tbx

Brink: Tell us a little about your upbringing.

Tim: People are sometimes surprised to know that I was home-schooled. Actually, all of the kids in my family were [home-schooled]. I think it made us closer and learn to appreciate each other more. We're all very close friends and I think this was a large part of that. 

Brink: Could you tell us a little about the time you received Christ?

Tim: When I was six years old, I recognized that I was a sinner and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior because He died for my sins. 

Brink: I've read that your parents are missionaries. Where are they ministering and how long have they been serving?

Tim: My parents moved to the Philippines in 1985 when my dad started a being a missionary there. I was born in 1987 there. My family lived there until 1990. Through his ministry he's trained national evangelists who are over there. About 40-something of them run medical clinics and churches over there. We also have an orphanage with 50 orphans.

Brink: Where is the most difficult stadium to play?

Tim:  The Swamp for a visiting player

Brink: What is on your iPod?

Tim: Kenny Chesney, Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Diamond

Brink: If you were on a desert island and could take only 3 movies, what would they be?

Tim: Braveheart, The Shawshank Redemption, Remember the Titans

Brink: Superman or Batman?

Tim: Superman

Brink: So I hear Superman wears Tim Tebow pajamas.

Tim: Ha ha, I've heard that one—some of them can be pretty funny.

Brink: What are you reading right now?

Tim: Tony Dungy's book, Quiet Strength.

Brink: How do you stay grounded?

Tim: I am fortunate to have family members, coaches and teammates around who can help me stay focused on the right things for us to be successful. For me, every day includes four things: God, family, academics and football, in that order.

Brink: You have such a great testimony. To what do you attribute you keeping your faith in Christ while being in the public eye?

Tim: Because of my faith, I receive a lot of requests to speak to different organizations (Tim has received 200+ since arriving at UF from different religious groups, youth groups and school across the Southeast). I like to do as many as I can. This past summer I had the opportunity to speak at the state prison in Union County. I got to get up and preach. The people there don't have a lot to look forward to or a positive outlook on things. I told them everyone looks at you like you are nothing and I told them that they are no different than I am except they made a bad choice and that doesn't make them any worse of a person and God doesn't love them any less. I let them know because of their actions there are consequences, but God wants them to go to heaven. There were people in there for all sorts of things like murder, homicide and drug lords. I saw these guys break down and cry. I gave them an invitation to accept Jesus Christ and change the way they were living. In the two prisons I spoke at, 195 guys came forward. I held their hands and prayed with them. The security guys told them they weren't allowed to get close to me, but I wasn't worried about it. I felt like I was doing what God wanted me to do so it was safe.

Brink: The majority of young adults leave the church after they get out of high school and attend a secular university. What do you think could be done to remedy this?

Tim: Religion can be something that is a matter of personal choice so I don't think it's a question of remedying this situation.

Brink: What do you think is the biggest obstacle Christians face in trying to share their faith?

Tim: I can't speak for everyone but each person has their own opinions how their faith should be shared and can choose to express themselves in different ways. I try to work hard to share my faith with others.

Brink: What do you want to be doing in 20 years?

Tim: The Philippines are pretty special to me. Every year in high school up until college I'd be part of a group my dad would take there. After football, I'd like to be involved again in that in some way. It is a great experience. We go into medical clinics, hospitals, prisons, market places and schools. You preach and help out. We go to the orphanage and a lot of things like that. It's a great experience. I love going every year and I can't wait until I go back. I'm looking at trying to go back this upcoming Spring Break, but it is definitely in my plans for after football. When you come back, you're grateful for everything that God's given you and you see how blessed you are.

This interview originally appeared in the pilot issue of The Brink magazine in the Fall of 2008.

1. You Will Change

No matter how much you loved or hated high school, college is a completely different ballpark. You learn more, you learn to think differently, and you begin to interact with people differently based on how your perceptions are changing. It may happen so gradually you won't even notice the changes until you graduate, but you will change. For better or worse, no one leaves the college experience unmarked. Just be vigilant to ensure the changes you're going through are the changes you want.

2. The People at Home Will Not Change

When you go home, it will be apparent how much you've changed and how much everyone else hasn't. Your parents will still want to treat you the same way they did when you were still living at home. When you go to church, they'll still treat you as though you're incapable of crossing the street without someone holding your hand. The people you knew in high school won't really care or understand about your experiences in college, and you won't be able to relate to their new job at the convenience store and their new baby at home. It will be easy to feel superior, but your path isn't necessarily better. Sometimes the high school sweethearts who marry at 19 and take over the family auto business do better and are happier than the college graduate.

3. Go to College to Learn to Think

Don't just go to college to learn. You can do that at your local library. It's probably what you were avoiding to do all through high school. The information you take away from college isn't nearly as important as the thought processes you learn. You must learn to think critically, even though not all your professors really want you to. Recognize when a single professor presents a single textbook as the single authoritative view and learn to dig deeper. Learn to explore all the possibilities. That's really what writing all those tedious papers is all about—assimilating knowledge and digesting it rather than simply parroting what other people say on a short test.

4. It's All About Relationships

As far as relating to your peers is concerned, college is like a giant orphanage. Depending on your college, dozens or thousands of people of a similar age are tossed together in close quarters with no parents and very few overseeing "adults." You'll live together, eat together, learn together, and play together. As a result, the relationships that are formed are much more intense than you've formed before, much more similar to siblings than friends. You'll probably either love or hate your roommates and suitemates. While you may vary between the two extremes, you probably won't be "lukewarm" very often. Things may be slightly less intense between you and your classmates, but if you're in a small school, you'll see the same classmates quite often as you choose a major and move into upper-level courses. You'll very likely even relate to your professors differently than you've ever related to your teachers.

5. Take It for What It Is

Enjoy the experience. While you may not feel it's the best time in your life while you're there, looking back, you'll realize how important this time in your life is. Take in everything you can and enjoy college for what it is rather than looking ahead, because the truth is, a college degree isn't necessarily an instant passport to success. If your sole reason for going to college is to make tons of money when you graduate, you'll probably be disappointed and you certainly won't enjoy this time in your life. But you will better yourself, regardless of whether it pays off in money. So relax and enjoy the ride.

And, really, don't buy your textbooks from the campus bookstore.

Tanya Carden is a freelance writer and editor. She lives in South Carolina with her husband Steve.

When I was 21, a friend of mine got a group of us together and challenged us to write a list of 25 things we wanted to do in our lifetime. I've been dreaming about the future for a long time. Oddly, now that the "future" is here, I can barely remember most of what was on that list.

A few things still come to mind though: Take a hot air balloon ride, buy and refurbish an old house, start my own business, and write a book. It's clear a lot of the things on my list were what I wished for at the time, not what I really thought I could, or should, do. But not everything fell into that category. That last one—write a book—stuck with me. It was something I really wanted to do, or at least be able to say that I did. I'm not sure I believed then that I had what it takes to actually write a whole book—I lacked the persistence, the know-how and most importantly, the idea. What did I have to say that warranted 200 pages? But the concept intrigued me.

I think a lot of people make lists like that. There's even a Web site—mydream.tv—that catalogs people's dreams. Things like "tour Europe by car, invent something to improve the world, climb a major mountain, open my own restaurant, adopt a child, live a healthy life" and so on.

What are your dreams? Have you ever been in a classroom, a church service, a walk in the woods, or your quiet time and had a strong sense of His leading to pursue something bold? Have you had that distinct impression that tells you "this is what I was created to do"?

Dreams are powerful motivators. They inspire us to take risks, to push beyond our limits and to keep trying when we fail. And failure is no small part of the process of achieving dreams. But you have to be willing to let it shape you.

Like Joseph, the famous Old Testament dreamer, I had a lot of lessons to learn before any of my dreams could start coming true.

Joseph the Faithful Dreamer

"Listen to this dream I had," Joseph said to his brothers and then proceeded to tell them about his dream that implied he would rule over them one day. Needless to say, they didn't rally around his dream. Hardly. They tried to kill him. Only a sudden opportunity to sell him into slavery stayed their hand. Joseph wound up a servant in Potiphar's house.

When you already know how the story ends, it's easy to miss this point: Joseph was the favorite son of a rich and set-apart patriarch. No doubt he'd heard Jacob tell how God had singled their family out to become a great nation. I imagine Jacob lavished praise on Joseph, indulging his own dreams, "My favorite son, you will be the father of this great nation." And now Joseph was in bondage, far from his adoring father, forced to do work in a pagan land. He had every right and plenty of opportunity to be sullen, bitter and vengeful. He didn't know if he'd ever get out of Potiphar's house. He probably thought he'd never see his friends or family again. As far as he could tell, his life was over. Yet he was faithful.

Through his faithfulness, Joseph gained a trusted position in Potiphar's house. But this wasn't his dream. And it didn't last long anyway, because Potiphar's wife—failing to tempt Joseph into bed—falsely accused him, causing him to end up prison.

Even though Joseph did the right thing, prison was a step backwards. But he was still faithful. Of course, being the go-to guy in a prison wasn't Joseph's dream, but it was the assignment at hand in which to be faithful. While in prison, Joseph interpreted a dream for the Pharaoh's cupbearer, foretelling his imminent release and return to high service. The cupbearer promised he would remember Joseph. But he didn't. That happens. You can be faithful and still have peers and supervisors fail to do their part.

Two years passed while Joseph faithfully served in the prison. Eventually, the Pharaoh had a dream no one could interpret—and the cupbearer remembered Joseph.

God gave Joseph the interpretation and his insight on the years of famine ahead prompted the Pharaoh to elevate him all the way to second place in the kingdom. This was an unbelievable reversal of fortune for someone who had been languishing in prison. But this wasn't Joseph's dream. Even though he had a great title, wealth, and public honor, that wasn't God's ultimate plan.

This is key to remember because titles, wealth, and public honor can be a major distraction as we follow the dreams God gives us. Keeping in mind how much one richly ornamented jacket went to Joseph's head back when he was a kid, it's not hard to imagine him squandering such riches had he not endured the breaking and refining of his life in captivity. Without the daily tests of his character he'd endured, Joseph probably wouldn't have been much use to Pharaoh, the nation of Israel, or the future Messiah.

Faithful in Little

Where are you in the process of achieving your dreams? It would be nice if we could know in the moment that this painful rejection, that embarrassing failure, this boring and tedious assignment, that overlooked accomplishment, are all part of God's grand plan. But we can't. At the time those things happen, it doesn't feel at all like preparation for something big. It just feels awful. What we can do is follow the modeling of Joseph: keep dreaming and be faithful in little.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus praises the man who received two talents and the one with five. Both took efforts to multiply what they had been given, and about them their master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Faithfulness today with whatever you currently have to work with is the path God calls you to take. How you do with a little responsibility will affect how much more responsibility you'll get. That goes for the job you're in right now, as well as for any internship, mission trip, volunteer work, or freelance assignment you might take on. If you'll handle each responsibility by faithfully meeting needs and doing your work as unto God, He will faithfully guide you to the next step along the way to realizing the dream He placed in you.

There were times when I was still learning how to write professionally that rejection was almost more than I could bear. I'd get another "no" or "not yet" from a potential publisher and walk away from the keyboard with thoughts of not returning.

Writing is hard work. To hear that what you've written isn't good enough is deeply personal. It's in those moments that I had to decide: give it up for something easier or press on. But every time I went back to the computer, hit the delete key and started over, the results were better than before. It was always worth the extra work.

The lesson: Be faithful in the little things and bigger things will follow. The hard work of writing has been well worth the process. That dream I had of writing a book? It's finally coming true, 16 years later. My first book will be released in January.

And now for that hot air balloon ride....

Candice Watters is the author of Get Married: What Women Can Do to Help it Happen (www.helpgetmarried.com) and founder of Boundless.org (www.boundless.org).

Copyright 2009 Candice Watters. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

But other times, it's not so easy. Jesus was always making religious people feel uncomfortable. He challenged people left and right. He said that unless we hate our father and mother, we couldn't be His disciples. On another occasion, He said that unless we sell all we have and give it to the poor, we couldn't be His disciples.

This picture of what it means to follow Jesus seems quite contrary to how I see it portrayed in US Christianity. We know Jesus deserves a lot from us, because, hey, He was a pretty good guy and all. But ultimately we believe there has to be some kind of material payoff for what we do for Christ.

We don't verbalize the thought "I am serving Jesus so He'll take care of me," but I fear that's really the motivation behind a lot of our actions.

After all, if I go to church one day a week, I can do what I want the other 6 days.

And we all know that if you give Jesus 10%, He'll watch your back.

I don't know about you, but I'm so ready to break past that. I want to be so infused with the Spirit of God that I'm willing to give Him uncomfortable amounts of myself. Not because I'm paying God off, but because that's who I am. I am God's, so whatever He asks, even if it's a bit uncomfortable, is what I'm going to give.

@JacobRiggs

While there might be some validity to noticing problems, all of that doesn't really matter if I don't do something about it.

And sometimes I can get so bogged down in my frustration that I forget the thing that's really driving me--God.

I don't mean to say that God is spurring me to complain. Most often, my complaining is never a good thing. But my frustration, on the other hand, has great potential to be a very good thing. So does yours, really.

It's just that I want to see God move in an amazing way. I want Him to renew His Spirit within His followers. I want Him to open up the hearts and minds of those who have fallen away and those who have never had an encounter with Him. I want Him to overwhelm us with His presence and use that to stretch us to litterally reach the world with the Gospel. I want Him to break down strongholds over His people, causing us to repent of our sin and come before Him as broken, helpless people. I want Him to make His name our highest priority over our agendas or disagreements.

I want to see God move in a way that's so amazing that we can only say, "WOW! That is so incredible that it couldn't be anything but the Almighty, Ever-present God of the Universe!"

I want to be a part of what He's doing. That's really my heart.

So let me be the first to apologize for just complaining about things and not being willing to really DO something about them. If God is going to really move amongst me, you, our friends, and our denomination, we've got to stop talking, and start doing.

She finally answered. She sounded awful. I feared the worst. I knew I hadn't made the effort to check in with her like I should have. I immediately regretted not being more available. The second thing she said to me after hello was, "Steph, I messed up." I knew exactly what she meant.

Honestly, I wasn't shocked. How terrible is that? To suspect the worst only to have it confirmed. I was so very sad for everyone involved, knowing that the actions she chose were going to bring her even more heartache than what she was trying to rid herself of. Suddenly, to me, she was different. When she made the choices she did, every memory we had shared together suddenly seemed different. I wasn't really sure who she was or if she ever was the person I knew her to be.

What do you say when people disappoint you? How do you respond?

I thought I would be angry. I thought I would yell, and tell her she knew better. I wanted to tell her she could lose it all. But something else happened. I just listened. And cried with her. And listened more.

She knew what she did was wrong. She knew she put her relationship with everyone she loved on the line. She knew she wasn't owed forgiveness. She knew her life could change. She knew my opinion of her might change. But she owned up. She apologized to everyone involved. She is working on it.

In talking with some mutual friends about it later with her permission, I found so many saying, "I just can't trust her," "I don't know how to be her friend," "I don't know who she is anymore." I found people turning on her. They might not admit it, but they ran. Like she was infectious. Like her bad decisions were contagious.

I can't judge anyone. We all deal with hurt, anger, and disappointment in our own ways. But I couldn't help but think: isn't this just so very typical of "Christians." The very people who expect and put their faith in the principles of love and forgiveness and mercy are the first to revoke those gifts when it is us who feel wronged. Once, years ago, I heard my pastor, David Foster, say that the Christian army is the only army in the world that shoots its wounded. That statement has resonated with me and changed the way I view people who go through hard times or make what I would think are bad choices.

As Christians, we say we want our churches to be for people who need to know that God loves them and wants to be active in their life. Does that only apply to new converts? Do our churches and our relationships and our availability to help exists only for people who are not already "one of us"? I would say no. I think we are terrible at forgiving. We shoot people when they are down. Run when they need us. We write people off as no longer able to be a part of God's plan after they stumble.

We have to fix this mindset. We have to remind ourselves that we are every day in need of forgiveness. That everyone is worthy in God's eyes because of what Christ has done. Historically and biblically, those most used by God had massive screw-ups, did horrible things, and were once at a point where they could have been counted out. Why doesn't that mindset still apply today? Can we help those around us pick themselves up? Encourage them? Remind then that their present state when they fall doesn't have to be their defining moment.

My friend was so heartbroken to tell me where she was in her life. All I can do is be a friend. Love her. Help her get the help she needs. Only by the grace of God am I not her, and I would want my friends to never give up on me. So, I refuse to give up on my friend, because I know that it is not the mistake you make that determines who you are, but what you do after that determines your worth. I know she can find her way back to God's plan. I hope we all can.

Several years ago, I was dating a man who actively pursued me for marriage. Just around the time that I warmed up to the idea of marrying him, he changed his mind, and in my opinion was very insensitive about the whole situation . . . I've worked to forgive him, but when I let go of my anger toward him, my mind just drifts to wanting the dating relationship back.

This is all complicated by the fact that he has recently been trying to contact me. Usually after he contacts me, I end up daydreaming about marrying him—though he never mentions marriage and has said that he no longer has romantic feelings for me. My problem is that I don't know how to interact with him as a "friend" and keep my heart in the right place.

More recently, I've been spending time with a different man. For much of January and all of February we have gone out nearly every weekend, and he called me regularly. Then, he admitted to me that he is still somewhat involved with his ex-girlfriend—a woman he had considered marrying—and he is deliberating whether that relationship can/should be salvaged.

So—I severed the relationship with him as well. He would still like to go out and have a "friendly" relationship—but I don't want to do that—for two reasons. (1) I am looking/hoping/praying for a husband, and I don't think that hanging out with men who are not free for marriage is the way to get a husband—and (2) I honestly don't know how to keep my feelings at bay when interacting with a guy that I can seriously consider as husband material.

In the case of this most recent guy, we really did have a friendly relationship—it wasn't overtly romantic, but he is definitely someone I could consider as a husband. He wants to continue to spend time with me, and there is a part of me that would like to spend time with him. Moreover, it seems like a shame that I'm missing out on his friendship and companionship simply because I can't keep my feelings toward him in the appropriate space for "friends."

I feel as if I am right to limit my contact with these men considering my runaway emotions and lack of ability to interact well in that fuzzy space between "just friends" and "committed romantic relationship." Still, I just feel like my runaway emotions are keeping me from having two friends. What should I do?

REPLY

My inbox is full this week of letters from women like you wondering how they can hold on to their good friendships with men who've recently let it be known that friendship is all they're looking for. I can understand your desire to still spend time with one or both of these friends because up till now, they've filled an important role in your life.

By the time I "pulled a Ruth" on Steve, our friendship was intense. We spent time together daily and talked about all the most important and interesting things in our lives. We shared dreams about the future, prayed together and encouraged one another. It would have seemed impossible to walk away from all that.

But if he had responded to my "define the relationship" talk with, "I don't want anything more; just friendship," I would have had to walk away. Why? Because what I wanted even more than friendship was marriage. And I knew that if I kept nurturing our relationship, in a situation where he didn't want it to move beyond friendship, I would have given my best to something that was, in the end, a dead end.

Friendship is great. It can be a strong foundation for a romantic relationship. I even talk in Get Married about how women often overlook men in the "just friends" category as potential husbands. But if a friendship has stopped progressing from "just friends" to something more—especially if that male friend has come right out and said he does not want anything more (read: romantic)—then at that point, the friendship can go from promising to poisoning.

What does it poison? Opportunities for marriage to someone else.

The temptation is to hold on to the friendship, agreeing that it won't ever become anything more, even when you secretly hope it will. Why? Because it's hard to let a relationship you've invested so much in go. Because it means you'll have to start from scratch with someone else. Because it may mean some lonely weekends without a pal to hang around with. But it's worth it if it means you're staying on track for getting married someday. A pal is nice. But if you're called to marriage, a husband's better.

And I know from my own experience that when you spend all your time with your best male friend, it's highly unlikely that any other man will pursue a date with you. Whether he intends to, your male friend is in effect taking you out of circulation in the market of eligible women. He's also likely putting wear and tear on your heart. Both lack integrity and amount to defrauding you.

Again, he may not be doing all this on purpose, but regardless of his motives, the outcomes are the same: You're not in a good position to marry well.

And for your part, you're likely relating to him as you hope to relate to your husband someday. Even if your interactions remain physically platonic, it's unlikely that as a relationally-wired woman, you'll be able to keep from some level of emotional intimacy. And that's not a good thing.

In "Just Friends" Scott Croft wrote,

No matter how clearly one or both of you have defined what's happening as "just friends," your actions are constantly saying "I enjoy being with you and interacting with you in a way that suggests marriage (or at least romantic attraction)."

The simple reality (of which most people are aware, whether they admit it or not) is that in the vast majority of these types of relationships, one of the parties involved either began the "friendship" with romantic feelings for the other person or develops them along the way. Either way, that person is now hanging on to the "friendship" in the hope of getting something more despite the "clear words" from the other person that he or she wants nothing beyond friendship.

Maybe you are giving your emotions free reign. In that case, pray for stability and clear-headedness. But keep in mind that none of us interacts well in that fuzzy space. And that fuzzy space in your situation exists largely because the men in question are asking you to give them what they have no right to seek: namely, intimate friendship. What they desire is best had in the context of a loving, serving, godly marriage. They are selfish and sinful to seek it anywhere else. As are you.

Stop settling for a counterfeit with men who've already said clearly that they're not interested in you for marriage. Let those "friendships" go lest they block your progress toward marriage even further.

I pray God will embolden you to do so.

Blessings,
Candice Watters

Candice Watters is the co-author with Steve Watters of Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies (Moody, January 2009) and author of Get Married: What Women Can Do to Help it Happen. Copyright 2009 Candice Watters. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

One thing that is very important when trying to understand young adults (whether you are one, or whether you are trying to minister to some) is that we have no brand loyalty.

I can best explain that by the example of cars and Baby Boomers (my parents' generation). Generally speaking, my parents are a one-brand type of people when it comes to cars. They buy American-made cars. It's either Ford or Chevy.

They didn't necessarily buy Ford and Chevy because they were the best car, but because they trusted those companies because they are US companies (unless they both tank before I post this). My parents are American, so they buy American-made cars.

Some people take brand loyalty a step further and only buy one make of car. Ever met someone who will only drive a Chevy? I have.

Well, the baby boomers did not transfer the quality of brand loyalty to their kids. Nope, not at all actually.

We have zero brand loyalty. I could care less about where a car was made or who made it as long as it's dependable, gets good gas mileage, and looks pretty cool.

Since this is true, churches are going to have to re-think the way they do church for this generation.

No longer do people go to church because their parents did or because they are loyal to their denomination. No, twentysomethings don't care what denomination, color, or creed the church is that they attend. They just care if the church speaks the same language and gives them a chance to do something they are concerned about.

There are a few negatives in this to be sure. The fact we have no brand loyalty makes us seem even more narcissistic, right? Everything is about us and if a certain brand doesn't provide then we'll go somewhere else.

Well, yes, you're right, but I think there are positives from this as well.

The fact we have no brand loyalty creates huge potential for long-standing barriers to be divided. Race barriers, language barriers, generation barriers.

Where our parents might say, "So and so goes to that church, so they do their thing and we do our thing," a twentysomething might say, "We're in this together, so lets do something together."

A greater good can be accomplished because of this "no brand loyalty" thing.

Lets capitalize.

Jacob

Can any of you other twentysomethings attest to this?

We are great at pointing out the problems of society, church, whatever, but we're perfectly OK with the problems not being solved. We're also OK with not trying to solve the problems ourselves.

If you are a twentysomething, help me answer this question: Why?

Why are we OK with pointing out problems and then not doing anything to fix them? I'm right here with you (I do this too). I'm just trying to figure out why. Help me out.

Remember Solomon? Now there was a smart guy! At the beginning of Solomon's reign God gave the new king the chance to request whatever he wanted. God would have given Solomon anything! He requested only wisdom in governing his people (1 Kings 3:8-9). God was so pleased He made Solomon the smartest, wisest man in the world (1 Kings 4:32-34). During his reign, people came from all over the world to hear him expound his wisdom and knowledge.  Yes, Solomon was a very busy, very involved scholar.

There is debate as to whether or not Solomon is the author (or an author) of Ecclesiastes. It is certain the writer of Ecclesiastes had a Solomon-like passion for study, knowledge, and wisdom. We can know, then, that this person knew what he was talking about when he said in Ecclesiastes 12:12 much study wearies the body.  (Some versions say "flesh.") He (or they) wanted us to know study is a mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual thing.

To understand what is meant in this verse, we need to look at it in the whole context of the book. Whoever wrote Ecclesiastes lived a privileged, scholarly life. During his life he sought to find meaning in all sorts of places: sex, work, politics, friends—and academics. He came to the conclusion that it is all meaningless. Humans think humans are wise. We think human knowledge and understanding is enough. It isn't. We trust too much on ourselves on figuring out everything.

Yes, of making many books there is no end and much study wearies the body—boy, does it ever weary the body. But is it meaningless? Is there a point to my tiring myself out like this?

Wait, Ecclesiastes wasn't finished after that verse. In the final two verses the writer of Ecclesiastes came to a conclusion: The only true meaning in life is to worship God and obey Him. Why? Because He is the creator of all knowledge, because He will come to judge every ignorant person and every scholar alike, because He will one day expose all good and evil to the light. Yes, it is pointless to exhaust your mind and body in pursuit of anything if that object is an end in itself. That is meaningless. It is meaningless if God is not in it.

Much study can get really tiresome. Sometimes you may grow disillusioned with it. Rest your heart and mind in God. Learn through God. Let Him be your meaning.  He is where true wisdom is found.

Ben Plunkett is a writer from Pleasant View, Tennessee.

Upon pulling into the church parking lot I noticed a soccer team on the field next to our church. Stretching. At 7:45 am.

It seemed pretty crazy. Why would a group of high-school to college age guys spend their Sunday morning practicing soccer at 7:45 in the morning? Half of them probably didn't go to sleep until well after midnight.

Then it dawned on me. They were practicing at 7:45 because soccer is an event that is worth it to them.

A few months ago my wife and I went with some friends to see the Cincinatti Reds play. We had great seats, except it rained the entire game. And surprisingly, I really didn't care. I'm a huge Reds fan, so it was worth it to me to sit in the rain to watch them play. I couldn't care less about the rain. I was watching the REDS!!

I have heard some Christians make excuses as to why not many people go to their church. "It's a bad location. It rained today. Our air conditioning is out."

I really don't buy any of that.

The bottom line is that people will go to something and be committed to something that is worth their while. And the brutally honest truth about churches no one wants to go to is that the church is not providing a worth-while service.

If no twentysomethings are coming to our churches, we have to seriously ask ourselves, "Are we providing something that a twentysomething will see as valuable?"

If you're not, then no twentysomething will attend. It's as simple as that.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to work like that.

I remember having this conversation with my friend Nathan one day at baseball practice. We were stretching just before we did some drills and I said, "You know Nathan, I am saved, but I'm not saved."

He was really confused.

When someone first accepts Christ, they are "saved" from the power of hell and begin a journey toward following God. If the Lord were to come back on that day, I fully believe that person would be called with other believers.

But in a sense, that person isn't quite there yet. They aren't completely "saved" from the impact of their sin. It still has a hold on them. Paul the apostle wrote about his constant struggle to want to please God, but not really having the capability within himself t do it. He wasn't quite saved yet.

Neither are we.

We are saved, but we are in the process of being saved as well.

Why can't the church get that through her head?

This completely changes how we engage other Christians. We understand that people will mess up.

And you know, right now, the church (at least the churches I've been a part of) is incredibly stringent. If you make one mistake, you're not welcome. You're looked down upon. You should be ashamed. One strike and you're out.

So how do people respond? They put on a front! And how could we blame them? If they were really honest about their shortcomings, we'd kick them out or make them feel like idiots! They lose their opportunity to teach, they can't sing in the choir anymore, they can't be a deacon, they can't be an usher, they can't be a greeter, they can't go on visitation, they can't go on missions trips. 

The thing that really throws a wrench in all of this is there are actually very, very few people in church who don't have serious problems. Pastors look at porn. Deacons are dying of lung cancer. Women leaders have bitterness issues.

If this is the case, then we're all just full of crap then aren't we? What's the answer?

We've got to understand this one thing: You don't have to have it completely figured out yet. Really.

You should be getting there, so to speak. But you don't have to be there yet. No one is. We're all striving to get there, and we're all in this together. But you don't have to have it all figured out yet.

May we all accept each other in grace and humility, knowing none of us are perfect, and that those who are in Christ are striving to get there. Let's get rid of the fascade and create places where people can be honest about their journey.

Jacob

He just does not understand why I would rather text him than call him. He'll call me and leave a voice mail. I eventually check it and text him back. He texts me back and says, "Call me." So I finally call him. He asks me a question like "Are you and Lynsey (my wife) coming to dinner Sunday?"

I'm thinking, "Why didn't you just text me that question?"

He's thinking, "Why don't you just answer your phone?"

We just don't get each other sometimes.

My dad and grandpa are different too. Dad spent a lot of time trying to explain to my grandpa that just because he was talking to someone long distance didn't mean he had to talk louder. I don't think my dad's explanation really worked.

My dad and my grandpa didn't get each other sometimes.

Generations are different.

I read this morning in Psalm 119:90 that "the faithfulness of God is extended to every generation."

God extends His faithfulness to every generation, yes, but the part that really stuck out to me was that every generation can understand the faithfulness of God. Twentysomethings get the faithfulness of God. So does Gen X. So do the Baby Boomers. So do those who came through the depression.

My brother Josh once video-taped my grandpa praying. They were on a farm in Missouri where it hadn't rained in a long time. The farm needed rain or else they were going to lose their crops. So grandpa and some others (including my dad and brother) went to the farm to pray for rain.

Josh zoomed in on grandpa as he was praying. His face was so intense. The funny thing is, I don't remember him asking God for rain. All I remember him praying was thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness. He gave God thanks becaue He had always provided for them and he knew God was still God and that He would not turn His back on His people. He was overjoyed at the faithfulness of God. That was his prayer.

I really don't know anything at all about farming other than you need water. But I understood what grandpa meant when he prayed and thanked God for His faithfulness. I got it. There were 2 or 3 generations between grandpa and I, and I still knew exactly what he was talking about.

Psalm 119:90 is exactly how you bridge the gap between twentysomethings and older generations--by focusing on God. Everyone connects with the attributes He has because everyone has an intrinsic desire for the things of God--holiness, faith, truth, love, mercy, faithfulness, justice, purity.

God is the bridge in the generation gap.

People see how we were raised and take note that we have been very blessed as kids in regard to having things. We have never really been in want. We've always had the next best thing. We had personal tutors as kids, swimming lessons, cello lessons. We went to sports camps, band camps, chess club camps, and debate team camps. We are catered to through the media. They really, really want our money, and they are willing to invest serious cash to get our attention.

In turn we are very picky and skeptical about the things we entertain. When you've had it all, you can discern between what's good and what sucks.

The older generation sees that generally speaking, we haven't had a job while growing up like they did. Some of our grandparents had to work when they were in their early teens to provide for their brothers and sisters, while some of us got our first job our Junior year in college. That's a big difference.

You can see why the perception is that we're spoiled.

That carries over to the church (this is where it hits home with me).

We started out in the nursery. Then the toddlers class, then children's church, then youth group. We've had specialized ministries catered to us our entire lives . . . until now (for most).

How do we respond? We leave. We go to the church that has a ministry for us. We have no brand loyalty because we've been trained to pick out the best things and to be skeptical of the man. So it really doesn't matter if the church we're interested is Methodist, Southern Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Lutheran, Church of Christ, or whatever. If there is a ministry that's giving us attention, then we're there!

Now, that's the perception I'm hearing.

My question for you is, is it true?

Is the perception that our generation is just a bunch of spoiled mammas boys true?

I really, really want to say "No, that's not true! You just don't understand my generation!" But honestly, I don't know that I can say that right now. I'm scared what they are saying about us might . . . be . . . true.

Crap, right?

I don't know about you, but I am not satisfied with that perception. I am not going to just sit around and let the entire church think I'm just a lazy, good-for-nothing who just wants to complain until someone caters a ministry after me. Because if I do that, then that makes church about me. And since the church is the body of Christ, then that makes the body of Christ about me. And if I'm not mistaken, that seems completely counter-intuitive to what being a Christ-follower is about (someone who gives up their right to glory, who is not self-seeking, who does not return evil with evil, who said, "not my will, but Your will be done"). 

So since the church isn't about me, and since I absolutely refuse to let that stipulation stand, I am determined to prove those people wrong. Not in an "I told you so" sort of way, but in a way that serves them above myself and exalts them as fellow brothers and sisters in the enormously big body of Christ.

Because of that, I will use my talents in the church and outside of the church. I will be involved in classes even if the teaching is boring and is very "churchy." I will support my pastor, even if he alliterates every single point in every single sermon. I will pray for my deacons, even if they think my faux-hawk is "worldly." I will vote in business meetings, even if I don't really care what color the carpet is. I will do these things because I am part of the body of Christ, and if I am in Christ, then I cannot be removed from my older generation, no matter how much we misunderstand each other or how much our philosophy might be different. I am here. This is my church. And I will serve it because this is about His kingdom. Not mine. 

Jacob

In the small town in the south where I did most of my growing up, the white population made up at least 90 percent. My exposure to a minority culture was obsolete. I knew one view, one culture, one way. When my family moved to another small southern town, I was exposed to more differences, though the minorities represented were still very small. For the first time in my life I met people who were Catholic, Muslim, and Hindu. I am sad to say my lack of exposure led me to approach these differences with fear and questioning.

The shift of thought that made such a huge difference in my life was when a woman in my church began bringing her grandchildren (who were bi-racial) to our church. I’m sad to say, this was questionable in our circle back then. I remember talking with my mom about the situation. It was then that she said something that changed my thinking from that day forward: "What difference does it make if they are black, or white, or yellow? Don't we send money overseas to support missionaries trying to reach these same kinds of people? How is that any different than being missionaries to the people we come into contact with every day?"

That tiny conversation has stuck with me to this day.

Today, as I look around the room at the women with whom I share my life, I am not surprised at the amount of differences amongst us. Some of us are pastors’ daughters who have all taken very different directions concerning the faith we were taught growing up. Another is a former Catholic who married a Jew, who now practices Buddhism. One is a very devout Catholic who is steadfast in her views. Two are searching, also brought up in Protestant households, but unsure as to where "religion" or "spirituality" fit in to their lives. I have friends who are Taoist, Hindu, Muslim, and nothing at all. This is a snapshot of any group of young people across America. This is our culture. This is the world we live in. I am grateful for the fact that, while others around me are different and believe differently, we can all teach each other important lessons.

Some people would say I should not socialize with these people. I need to find strength from people of my own faith, they say. That is true to some degree. I do have a wonderful set of Christian friends who I depend on greatly. However, I feel my greatest impact could be made with these women and their husbands that my husband and I socialize with who do not believe exactly as we do. I like that when we discuss religion, we don't always agree. It gives us a chance to sift through our differences and explain to one another why we believe what we believe. It challenges us to know our theology better. It begs us to be strong and not surrender or compromise our beliefs.

I find it interesting that so many Christian people I know only expose themselves to others who believe exactly as they do. If your practice is to only associate with people who believe exactly as you do about every issue, at the end of the road, you will only be left with yourself.

I am so tired of Christians living a life of fear. Afraid to speak up. Afraid to be labeled. Afraid to be associated with things or people who are different. So afraid of becoming “of the world” that they are no longer “in the world” either.

Please don’t put me off as someone who doesn’t care about holy and blameless living. It’s just that I am burdened for my friends. I pray for them daily. But they don’t tear me down because they have different beliefs. As a matter of fact, they make my faith stronger. They challenge me to know my beliefs and my God more than some of my Christian friends do. I look at the way they handle crisis and failure, and yes even blessings and joy, and it reminds me that my outlook is different. My hope is different. The way I respond to life and death is different. And I think they notice. My God is bigger than our differences and the love I show them may be the only glimpse of His love they see. So in regard to being holy, if I don’t spend time with them, I’m not being blameless.

Personally, I’ve never felt “called” to be a missionary. I have the highest regard and respect for people who do, though. Some devote their entire lives to a different country and a different people. That’s really how it should be for every Christian. None of us are “at home” in the United States. We’re all citizens of another kingdom—the kingdom of God.

There are people of different colors and religions and ways of thinking in my circle. My husband and my contact with them might be the only contact they have with a believer of Christ. It is a huge responsibility and a huge privilege.

I hope we can all expand ourselves a little. Listen to another’s view, befriend a person who doesn't believe exactly as we do, be exposed to the way they live and where they come from. Meanwhile, be strong in your faith and represent Christ well. You may be the only representative they see. And both of you will be better for it.

Randall House, the company that owns The Brink, didn't really know what they wanted to do, just that something needed to be done to help retain or link the vacated twentysomethings back to church and God.

They sort of dumped the task into my lap. I love challenges, so I ran with it. Hard.

The cool thing is that although I didn't point out the need for something like this to happen, I sort of adopted it after it was assigned to me, and the more and more I thought and prayed about it, the more I had a burden for it. I sort of feel like Isaiah did when God called him (Isaiah 6). God pointed out a need and Isaiah said, "I'll do it!" After that he poured himself into that opportunity, and prophesied about the coming of Christ, the One who would redeem all who will come to Him. Before God called Isaiah, the future prophet didn't know what the need was. He just listened to God and responded.

I spent the next 4 or 5 months doing research, dreaming, praying, doing more research, talking to people, observing, trying to soak everything I could about young adults. I wanted to know what made our generation tick. What were we involved in? Why were we involved in it? What do we care about? What was it about church that was so repulsive to us? Is there anyone actually reaching young adults?

What I learned was vital in developing The Brink. I'll try to break it down to the four main "characteristics" I learned about our generation (gen Y, twentysomethings, young adults):

1. We are looking for something real, authentic, or genuine. This theme is all over the place. Take reality TV as one obvious example. You and I don't really care about a show being polished and professional. We just want to see the juicy, gorry details about the personal lives of people. We want to see them screw up, get embarassed, get promoted, whatever. Another example you might take is Chris Martin and the band Coldplay. I love Coldplay (as do millions more). Why? I don't really think it's because he has an amazing voice per say. I think it's because there is a genuineness to his voice. He just sounds like some above average singer who writes cool music that talks about stuff that I actually think. So I connect with that.
2. We want to stay connected to a community of friends. The Internet is our baby (thanks Al Gore!). It was our generation that adopted it and because of that we live and breath in it. This enables us to constantly stay connected to our friends. Friends are very, very important to us. It makes sense too because friends are the only constant our generation had throughout adolescence. Our parents divorced (generally speaking) because dad worked too much or had an affair with his secretary. Or grandma raised us and try as she might, just couldn't connect. So we sort of grew up with friends, learning life as we went along with them and Zack Morris. As a result, we want to be connected with each other, spending time together, doing life together. 
3. We are very, very skeptical. And in my opinion, we have every reason to be. Think about it. We've been marketed to our entire lives. I can remember commercials from when I was 6 or so. Not that commercials are intrinsically evil or anything, it's just that we've figured out that people (companies) lie in order to sell their product. Hamburgers aren't really as big or as perfectly put together as they are on billboards. Leaders of other companies like Enron will lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead. Megachurch pastors have affairs. So yes, we are very skeptical, and rightfully so.
4. We want to make a difference. In a culture where there isn't much with substance, we want our lives to count. We will gladly give incredible amounts of our time and money to a cause we believe in. Whether it's Darfur, Tom's Shoes, or volunteering for something, we put our time and money where out mouth is.

This is who The Brink is for.

For those of you who might be older and are reading this because you are wanting to reach twentysomethings, there will probably be some things printed in the magazine that make you a bit uncomfortable. And there might be a conversation or two on this site that would probably be better left un-read by some. And you know what, that's ok. If you want to reach twentysomethings, you have to meet them where they are without expecting them to act like something they're not.

If you're a twentysomething who is still in church, welcome to the conversation. Join me in welcoming our friends back as they come.

If you're a twentysomething who has left the church for whatever reason, I want to personally welcome you to the conversation.

Jacob

For the most part, I can look at it as an adventure. Planning meals around coupons, hunting the best bargains, finding ways to stay healthy so my uninsured self doesn’t have to visit the doctor—it certainly tests your creativity and ability to improvise. Given our situation, you can probably imagine how resentful I can get when I feel God asking me to give to my neighbors.

How are we supposed to give to others when we’re stretched to the limit ourselves?

At first, we toyed with the idea of stopping our tithes, but even with our creative justification skills we were unable to reason that God only wants a portion of our excess wealth.

But that made it easy to fall into the next trap: feeling that our tithe was more than adequate and we had no need to give anywhere else. Let’s face it—tossing that ten percent into the offering plate can sometimes make our meals much leaner. However, God shook us out of complacency with the example of the woman in Luke 21 who gave the two pennies she had, which Jesus said was a greater gift than the vast amounts the wealthy gave because she gave all she had to give.

Don’t get me wrong. While I believe that sometimes God will ask you to give over and beyond your means, I also believe that, generally, we are to be prudent stewards of whatever we have, be it much or little. So when I’m barely scraping by and a college kid asks me for $150 for groceries, chances are I’m not going to fork over more money for groceries than we spend in two weeks. However, I do have recipes that make surprising amounts of food for the little money it costs. So I’ll invite my hungry friend over for dinner and pack up some leftovers.

But what about the church I attend? It’s going through some pretty rough financial times, and as much as we’d love to give more, we simply can’t. Handing over a recipe won’t do them much good. However, the church also runs a deli and coffeehouse during the week. Although I can’t give money, I can volunteer at the deli so they pay one fewer worker.
After all, your money cannot be that important to God. While it may be what makes the world go round, wealth is a hindrance. Jesus said it’s actually much more difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:24), so why do we feel as though we would be better Christians if we could just make more money to donate to His cause?

In the end, it comes down to trusting God and His provision. While you can’t sit on your couch waiting for the mailman to deliver paychecks you didn’t earn, trust God to take care of you if you take advantage of the opportunities He gives. The main reason my husband and I are reluctant to give is we’d rather save those few extra dollars as insurance against some future catastrophe. And we do save what we can, but not if it interferes with our tithes or if we feel someone else needs it more.

My point is, rather than mourning or feeling guilty that you can’t give as much money as you’d like, find ways you can give. When you don’t have two quarters to rub together, find other ways to help. Lend a loving ear, a helping hand, the time you’re spending in front of a video game console. Give as God gave to you, and trust that He will continue to find ways to provide for you.

“You need to have more faith.”

That last statement gets me every time. According to many, Christianity and depression just don’t fit together. We think if someone’s depressed, he or she isn’t right with God.

That could not be any further from the truth.

In a world filled with so much negativity and pain, it is no wonder many people become depressed. For most people, this depression is easily controlled without becoming dependent on therapists and medication. But for others, myself included, depression is a daily struggle, leaving us no choice but to seek medical care. It’s a medical illness, not a spiritual one.

Someone once told me my faith wasn’t strong enough and that was why I was going through my horrible depression. And for a long time, I really did believe him and, as a result, felt even more hopeless. I thought maybe he was right. Maybe my faith wasn’t strong enough and that was why I was suffering.

It was only after tons of researching and soul searching that I realized how wrong he was. I began to dig into God’s Word and found comfort in the book of Job.

Man, I thought I had problems! But compared to Job, my problems seemed small—trivial even. Here was a man who had literally lost everything and yet continued to praise God through it all. He was told by all his friends and family to just give up. They told him to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). But Job did just the opposite. He turned to God, praising Him.

I wish I could tell you that after my diagnosis I immediately turned to God to get me through it all. But I’d be lying. Truth of the matter is I became bitter. I couldn’t understand why God was allowing this to happen. I just wanted to be a normal college student who didn’t have to worry about taking medication every single day and could hang out with friends without fear of relapsing.

As I continued to fall deeper and deeper into my depression, I slowly began to alienate myself from everyone and everything; I even stopped going to church. In my mind, there just was no point in going. I felt God had abandoned me.
But one day something changed. My eyes were opened to the truth that it wasn’t God who abandoned me. I had abandoned God. Suddenly I was faced with the realization of losing everything I had worked hard for if I didn’t change my ways.

It happened so quickly and so suddenly that I realized church was the very place I needed to be if I wanted to win this fight with myself. I slowly got my life back on track and began taking the steps towards God’s loving arms.

I was a senior in high school when I was first diagnosed with depression. Eight years later, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. To this day I honestly believe I had been bipolar all along and was misdiagnosed in high school. Just ask any of my family members. They’ll tell you I was extremely hard to live with. My moods were all over the place and I couldn’t control them. I recall sometime during my junior year of college joking to my best friend that maybe I was, in fact, bipolar.
Who knew that a few years later, I would be told I was right?

I’m not telling you this to get you to feel sorry for me. In fact, please don’t.

I’m telling you this so you can get a better idea of what millions of Americans have to battle each day. But that’s not what is important. It’s how people handle their illness from day to day.

Imagine, if you will, the worst headache of your life. I’m talking about “can’t get out of the bed—unable to move—my head is going to explode” type of feeling. Now take that pain and double it. I battle this pain every single day. Mentally and physically. As do millions of other Americans.

The question is, ho