The Eternal Difference between Missions and Charity - Mike Young

     There was a time when there was a clear difference between missions and charity work, but it seems that in recent years the line of separation has become blurred. That line that needs to be crossed in order for charity work to become mission work is the sharing of the gospel. Hardly a week goes by that I do not hear of some great project referred to as a “mission project,” only to discover that the gospel was not part of the project. Some recent ones that come to mind include providing food to the homeless, donating to a church building fund, teaching English as a foreign language, various construction projects, concerts, volunteering to work at a children’s home, and many other projects designed to help people in need.

     Did I touch on a nerve? Maybe you yourself are involved in one or more of the items in the above list. I am not saying that these things are bad, nor am I am saying that Christians should not be a part of these things. On the contrary, we most certainly should. I have and continue to be a part of several of them myself. What I am saying that is that each of these activities regardless of the good that is being done, without the gospel is only charity. 

     It does not mean that the gospel needs to be presented at every stage of the project, but it should be the primary purpose. For example, teaching English to foreigners is something that I am very involved in. I may teach someone for several weeks or even an entire semester without being able to share the gospel. This is the exact situation we have when teaching in local schools where I live. However, we make it clear that we are Christians and do not avoid spiritual conversations when the opportunity presents itself. At the end of the semester we invite students to an off campus event/celebration where a clear presentation of the gospel is made. The mistake is believing that one has to form a really strong relationship first. A strong relationship is helpful, but not necessary and if used as a prerequisite for sharing the gospel, it is easy to never feel the relationship is strong enough, eventually leading to the sharing of the gospel message being eliminated all together.

     In Jim Collins book, Good to Great, he states, “Good is the enemy of the great.” By removing the gospel message from missions, we are settling for the good with no hope of ever reaching the great. This settling for good is a mistake that has been made by many Christian workers including pastors and missionaries. To further complicate the issue we have adopted the term, “missional.” Missional is used to describe anything a Christian does outside the walls of the church, whether it has anything to do with building the kingdom of God or not. 

     I recall hearing past president of the IMB, Jerry Rankin, share a story from Africa about a project to bring clean water to a village. The project from a “social gospel” standpoint was a great success, but from a sharing the actual gospel standpoint it was a complete failure. Clean water was provided and the people are now healthier and happier, however the workers never shared the gospel. He shared, “Healthy in @#!*% doesn't count for much.” These words have stuck with me.

     A quote that many proponents of this social gospel often use is “Preach the gospel, if necessary use words.” This sounds great. It brings visions of Christians being involved in service each and every day. However, these words that are questionably credited to St. Francis of Assisi, really make no sense at all. It is impossible to share the gospel (or good news) without using words. In the book, Total Church, Tim Chester and Steve Timmis discuss this trend.

"There is a tendency in some quarters today to promote a kind of evangelism without proclamation. Acts of service are done or people are invited to experience Christian worship. But without words of explanation these are like signposts pointing nowhere, or worse still, signposts pointing to our good works. The Gospel is good news- a message to be proclaimed, a truth to be taught, a word to be spoken, and a story to be told (p. 54)."

In the tenth chapter of Romans, Paul writes: 

"14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' "

     I encourage you to think about the mission projects you have been part of and continue to be a part of. Are they truly missions or are they charity work? Again, there is nothing wrong with charity work, but don’t make the mistake of confusing the two. If you have not tried to share your faith with others, give it a try. It gets easier the more you do it and can make an eternal difference. 

     If interested in further reading about how to share your faith, a book I would recommend is, Tell the Truth, by Will Metzger. It is a book that I read every year or two and I always gain new insight and ideas.

Mr. Mike Young is a long term missionary with the IMB currently serving in the Czech Republic.

Work?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..."

Colossians 3:23

     How many of you know how to change the oil in a car or plug a hole in a tire? Or do you go somewhere to have someone else do these things for you? Have you ever made cards yourself? Do you make meals yourself? Can you fix your car yourself? Do you find things that you can do yourself? You've probably realized by now that I like to ask a lot of questions, but I do this to give you some things to consider. The topic I'm writing about today is a bit less theological than my previous topics. I’m going to discuss the benefits of doing things yourself and having a good work ethic.

     Jesus was a carpenter like his earthly father Joseph and he also worked and did many other things. Jesus did things himself and perhaps you'll discover that you can too. Work is important in this life, either for yourself or for someone else; one cannot support a family without working. In the bible Paul said that if you don’t work you don’t eat. God created us for work and we shouldn't try to avoid it. Working is actually good for you. It builds character, endurance, perseverance etc. Working can be hard and is sometimes discouraging, however, when you finish a hard job and have done well, you often get a strange sense of satisfaction for a job well done.

     I'd also like to talk about the benefits of doing things yourself. Consider this scenario: your car needs an oil change. You know how to do it but don’t really want to. So you go to the place you bought your car and pay them let’s say $50 to change your oil for you. You could have bought the oil and filter and taken 30 minutes to change your own oil and probably saved at least $25. Over the course of time and even just 10 oil changes, you could have saved, hypothetically $250, which is quite a lot of money. I know it may take more time doing it yourself but in the end, it can really save you a ton of money. This money can then be used for something else like food or doing something special with your family. If you do things yourself and do them well, most importantly with a happy heart, you will come out much better in life. 

     Remember that Jesus was a carpenter, he did much work, and he suffered pain. So don’t go and think, "Oh this is too hard," "I don’t want to do this," or maybe even, "I hate this job." Do your best in every job you do, don’t just try. I love this quote from Yoda in Star Wars, “Do or do not, there is no try.” That’s what we need to do, we don’t want to just try, we want to do. At the risk of sounding repetitive, let me bring this to a close. Working is good for you, it's good for your heath, and it is good for the soul. It builds all sorts of good attributes in you that will help you in life. 

    So this week, it is my hope that you will think about rather than paying to have someone else do something for you that you are capable of doing, do it yourself, and while you're at it, do your very best!

Chipper

Learning Eucharisteo: Part 2 of 3

"I have learned to be content with whatever I have."

Philippians 4:11

     I ended the last article in my series of gratefulness with the question, “How do we give thanks and praise God for all the blessings He has showered us with?” Some might think, “Well, I’ll just say, ‘Thanks, God, for everything. Amen,’ and that should cover it.” While this is a plain (although somewhat childish) start, gratefulness extends much deeper than that. 

      But what is this eucharisteo word? In the original Greek text of Luke 22:19, when Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread during the Last Supper, “He gave thanks” reads as eucharisteo. The giving of thanks. The root of the word is charis, which translates as “grace.” “Joy” (chara) slips in as well. We see the grace God has given us, we thank Him, and we acquire joy. Eucharisteo. 

     As Ann Voskamp puts it in her amazing, life-changing book One Thousand Gifts, “Eucharisteo—thanksgiving—always precedes the miracle” (p. 35). Jesus looked toward heaven in John 11:41 and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me . . .” and Lazarus was miraculously raised from the dead (emphasis added). When 5000 stomach’s growled, “taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he [Jesus] gave thanks and broke the loaves” and the small lunch fed 5000 people, with some to spare (Matthew 14:19, emphasis added). When we give thanks—are truly grateful—God blesses us with the miracle of His holy joy. But in order to receive this holy joy, we must first give thanks.

     Being thankful is a conscious effort. When you say, “Thanks for everything,” you are consciously being thankful for three seconds, then thankfulness clears your mind for the rest of the day. It might pop up here and there, like when a neighbor gives you cookies, but it was looking for you; you weren't looking for it. 

     In One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp discovers eucharisteo through writing down the blessings around her in a list she calls her “gift list.” She kept a little journal with her wherever she went. When I followed Voskamp's example of numbering my blessings, I always possessed a pencil and piece of paper in my pocket or purse. It may start small and easy, noticing the “big” blessings. 

1. A hot shower

2. Being able to read the Bible freely

3. Indoor plumbing (this is definitely a biggy)

    As I counted all the things I was thankful for during the days, I began to notice all the little blessings—seemingly insignificant details—with which God fills my life.

83. The earthy, green smell of dirt and garlic mustard (a kind of weed)

92. True laughter with my sister

133. Cardinal call in the trees

122. Clear, cool water in cupped hands

162. The warmth of a friend’s coat around my shoulders

I soon lost count and just jotted down the blessings, enjoying them and praising God as they came.

The rich, musty smell of old, crinkly, yellow-worn books

A mom who sacrifices her time and energy to help me

A safe drive home

The scratching, satisfying sound of pencil on paper

Body heat to warm up fingers

My scraps of paper quickly became over-creased and smudged from the many times I unfolded it, scribbled a moment of thanksgiving, folded it again, and slid it back into my pocket.

Over-creased, smudged paper from myriads of blessings

     God filled me with an unforgettable, ineffable joy as I perceived every detailed gift He had given me. I became more cheerful throughout the day; the boring, mundane things of life had enhanced into exciting and new, detailed and etched with heavenly blessings. I had never totally realized how deep and wide God’s grace reached. I was experiencing eucharisteo.

     Alas, when my family moved and life grew busier, my gift list dwindled and was opened and smudged less and less. I gave up my God-given joy for the stress and rush of this world. But God doesn't state in Scripture that life will be easy. He says to “count it all joy . . . when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2, emphasis added). “When,” not “if.” How then, does one count joy when trials come? That will be answered in my third and final article on gratefulness.

Klipsie

Author’s Note: I encourage you all to start your own “gift list,” read One Thousand Gifts, or better yet, do both. Voskamp's book is probably more enjoyed by women, as it is written from a woman’s perspective of life, and the style of writing is uniquely expressive. But both men and women can glean insight of true eucharisteo and find heavenly joy in creating their own gift list.

Sources: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Creation? Evolution?

     Creationism or evolutionism? This has been a large topic of arguing and strife among people for hundreds of years. One idea, creationism, is the belief that God is the creator of the universe and everything in it. The other, evolutionism, is the belief that man has evolved from primates, birds, fish, and a prehistoric, single celled organism. Everybody in the world believes in something, even if that something is nothing.

     Creationism is the thought that a God who was neither created, nor discovered or anything of the kind, but was always there, created the universe and all its inhabitants. God had finished molding His work, the universe, on the seventh day. He created it to be perfect and holy, blameless. And on that seventh day, He rested, knowing he had made something to glorify Him. He first brought light to the world and separated day and night. The second day, he created water and then separated the sky from it. On the third, he made land emerge from the water and made vegetation grow from it. The fourth day was complete when God created the sun and moon to show man the change from day to night. The fifth day brought forth birds and other flying creatures and sea swimming ones on the sixth day. Also on that day, He created man and woman in his image.

     Evolutionism is the theory that man and every creature evolved over hundreds of billions of years. The world came about to be when two gigantic pieces of space debris collided into each other, shaping the earth. String theory, an idea in theoretical sciences, came about as an idea that happened before the big bang, saying that the two pieces of debris collided and created multiple universes in a massive explosion. These theories are mostly taught in public schools and believed by mostly scientists.

     These two thoughts are believed, in a combined number, by over hundreds of millions of people all across the planet. This will be a large part of human history and debates as time goes on. I strongly encourage everyone who reads this to do their own research on these topic as to be knowledgeable in them and know the truth.

Haron

Image by Leaping Lizard. Image of Earth creative commons license, NASA.

The Love Chapter

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ..."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

     Many people have their views of what love really is. Often times, when used, it's meaning is distorted. Love isn't a term that should be used lightly. It's a term that should be used to express selflessness. This selfless concept is often found within 1st Corinthians, chapter 13, one of the most famous chapters of the entire Bible. In 1st and 2nd Corinthians, on his second missionary journey, Paul started a church in Corinth. After he had been gone a while, he heard about problems in the church and wrote his first letter. His second letter was sent a few months later when he heard that the church had corrected their problems. These letters of Paul are mainly instructions to immature Christians in the city of Corinth.

     Specifically referring to the "love chapter"(1 Corinthians 13), a portion of his first letter was to show the Corinthians how to love and what it actually was. These letters can now be read today, and used to display a solid picture of what real love is and isn't.

      The portion of Scripture above applies to all people, not just the Corinthians. This concept of love in the Bible should be used as a godly standard that should be followed every day. This, along with the "golden rule," should always be on your mind when with friends, family, strangers, and even enemies during agitating moments. If people would just learn to love according to the Bible, the world would be in a much better state than it is right now. There wouldn't be wars or fights, arguments, divorces, etc.

     Although always being loving can seem like such a difficult task, living this way can save many marriages, families, and communities. God is love. Living with this attitude of love bring us closer to Him and makes us more like Him. That's a part of Christian living. Whenever tempted to act outside of godly love, refer to the"golden rule," "Treat others the way you want to be treated," and keep in mind the words of "The Love Chapter."

Haiku

Resources: The Bible; Nelson's Compact Bible Commentary by Earl Radmacher, Ron Allen, and H. Wayne House; Guide to the Bible by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz

Editor's Note; We apologize for the brevity of these few articles. We have all been wrapping up school for the season. Thank you for understanding.

Focusing On God

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”¹

     I recently got glasses because of a stigmatism that grew over the last year. When I tried them on and wore them the first day, I was amazed at how much detail I could see now, that I couldn’t see before my sight was thus virtually corrected. Because my eyes weren’t focused and couldn’t focus on the things around them, I was missing out on the amazing complexity of everyday items: roads, grass, etc. The Christian life is much the same: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”2 Although the analogy of vision no longer applies – we can’t always literally see God – we can strengthen our faith, as glasses correct vision, so we are “in tune” with God. Part of the reason vision is so important in our world is because of the danger and risk of various tasks, if executed with poor sight. A driver could get in a major accident if he fails to see the oncoming tragic. A surgeon may either make a wrong move or take too much time in a life-or-death operation. Just so, our attentiveness to God is vital, as it matters for eternity. 

     Jesus said, “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”3 In fact, this analogy demonstrates just how much God knew about his creation. Just like the branch in the parable, God’s children are like trees. Life isn’t always easy. Christians go through hard times in their life, just like trees that seem to struggle to stay alive in winter. The secret lies in the roots: while the branches find it hard to produce fruit, the roots are grasping for more and more nutrition. In the spring, the tree rejoices with its new, strong roots. That which gave it so much agony, drove the tree to grow stronger. When we are at our lowest in our efforts to serve God and produce fruit, then we are searching for God and our strength is being renewed.

     Focusing on God and Christian Worldview have something in common. In the latter the Bible serves as our spectacles for viewing the world, so also is it the “eyeglasses” that helps us “see” God, his teaching, and his will. In order for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day, we must immerse ourselves in God’s Word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”4 Besides, the Bible is “God-breathed and…useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”5 When we read God’s Word, we are reading the very words of our Creator.

     Not only must we pay attention to what he says in his Word, but we must come to him in prayer. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”6 Jesus himself modeled for us how we should pray in the Lord’s Prayer. Even though the terminology used is sometimes hard for us to truly grasp –like fancy words that we memorized as kids only to find that we didn’t know what they mean –what is said is a perfect example of what we should pray. It focuses more on the spiritual matters of this life than the material things, which is what the Lord said to do on the mountainside: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”7 It’s not what we pray for that is most important, but who we pray to.

     Although God hears every prayer, he wishes us to be humble, and fear him for the all-powerful God he is. James, who knew Jesus so well (he was his biological brother), puts it this way: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”8 Paul says much the same thing in his letter to the Philippians: “Therefore, my dear friends...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”9 Numerous times the Bible says how much God values a humble, or broken, heart and opposes those that are proud and eager to exalt themselves.

     When we fear God, we are blessed with the benefits that he gives. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”10 He promises to counsel us, protect us, and be our father and peace. God created life, so we should acknowledge that he knows the way it works. He is the Way, he is the Life, and he is the Truth that will set us free. Seek him and you will find him. Just like glasses will facilitate better sight, so we will be given a surer path and “a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”11 If you truly focus on things of God, and listen to him in his Word, he will equip you to work for his glory. You might call this “putting on the armor of God” – and that’s exactly what it is. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”12

     Justin Gummi

¹ James 4:8; NIV1984

² Hebrews 11:1; Ibid

³ John 15:6; Ibid

⁴ Psalm 119:105; Ibid

⁵ 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Ibid

⁶ Philippians 4:6, emphasis mine; Ibid

⁷ Matthew 6:33; Ibid

⁸ James 2:19; Ibid

⁹ Philippians 2:12; Ibid

¹⁰ Psalm 111:10; Ibid

¹¹ Proverbs 18:24; Ibid

¹² Deuteronomy 6:5; Ibid

So, Shall We Speak Sarcasm?

"Speak the truth in love, so that we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."

Ephesians 4:15 

     This is a hotly debated topic in the realm of Christian Literature. Should Christians, who are to embody Christ in every way, use literary techniques that are often used as derogatory or spiteful? While it may seem clear at first that both satire and sarcasm should be immediately thrown out as contrary to Christ’s mode of communication, you may find that the water isn’t quite as clear as you might think.

     First, as always let’s define two terms: Satire - a work of literature that exposes, though ridicule or rebuke, a fault in society – often using wit as a shield, and Sarcasm – mode of speech or a literary technique that uses irony to the extreme by saying one thing and meaning another; often used to mock or deride, or in order to make a joke. Satire uses techniques like irony, exaggeration and parody to make its point, which is usually the presence of a social ill (Animal Farm, the works of Jonathan Swift, and much of Mark Twain’s works are all forms of Satire). Sarcasm is when irony is used to an extreme in a method that means the exact opposite of what is said. “Yeah, right” is sarcasm; you say yes, but mean no. Usually you can only tell sarcasm by the tone and context.

     Let’s start off with satire, which is much more straightforward (by definition) than sarcasm. The number one question in regard to satire is, “Did Christ use satire?” The answer is yes. Matthew 23 (“Woe to you, oh you scribes and Pharisees…”) is an almost perfect example of harsh or Juvenalian satire, which does not employ humor. Matthew 23 is an exposure of a fault in society through rebuke. The next question, invariably, is, “Should we use satire?” This is a little tougher. The argument could be made that by using satire we are emulating Christ. I saw a quote once - I don’t know who it’s by though; “When someone asks you ‘What Would Jesus Do,' remind them flipping tables is a viable option.” Sure, Christ used satire, but do you think in our sinful nature we would be able to emulate His heart as well? Because that is what it boils down to - your heart.

     Sarcasm is much less cut and dried. You can certainly call 1 Corinthians 4:8–13 sarcasm, depending on your definition. Paul is saying one thing, while meaning quite the opposite. “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ.” The Corinthian church had many heart issues, not the least of which was pride. Their pride had gotten to the point where a simple warning would no longer suffice. The tone of this passage grabs your attention, and makes you look twice. But, again, we have to look at the heart. Paul is giving the rebuke in love. He knows that this is the best way to emphasize his point. He is not mocking the Corinthians, but giving them what they need to hear in order to stop sinning.

      “Ah-ha! The end justifies the means, and the heart is more important then the sin!” That isn't what I said. Sarcasm isn't a sin; nowhere in scripture does it condemn sarcasm or satire. We are told that ‘sweet words are a honeycomb’ (Proverbs 16:24), and to ‘spur one another on to love and good deeds’ (Hebrews 10:24); our speech is to be used to help each other get closer to emulating Christ. What was the context in both Matthew 23 and 1 Corinthians 4? People were sinning, and were not listening to a gentle rebuke. Spur is not a gentle verb; the image associated with ‘spurring’ something is to dig a piece of metal into a horse’s side in order to make him go forward. If you know about riding, you also know that a gentle touch is usually all that is necessary to move the horse. But sometimes a firm touch or even a kick is needed to get the horse going. Sarcasm is like gluttony. If the heart of your actions - whether eating or speaking - is not honoring to Christ, it is sin. We pray before a meal to remind ourselves to be thankful for God’s blessings; we should also pray before reprimanding, to remind ourselves to have a Christ-like heart.

     Both satire and sarcasm are techniques used by writers and layman alike to convey points that would otherwise be overlooked. But with every method of communication, there is the danger of an attitude of pride, spite, laughing at a person’s mistakes and using a person’s low position to raise yourself higher. I am not going to say, "Sarcasm is fine," or "Sarcasm is bad." I am going to point to Ephesians 4:15 and merely say ‘speak the truth in love,’ and let you figure out the way God will have you do that best.

     Leaping Lizard

-This is a great dialogue on satire; http://www.writingbygeorge.com/nonfiction/journalistic-features/satire-in-the-bible/

-Many of the literary terms I have picked up through high school Literature, particularly “Words of Delight,” by Leland Ryken, which is a great introduction to the use of literary techniques in the Bible.

     Author/Editor’s note; Some of you may remember this article I wrote a while back; http://tchthoughtbox.blogspot.com/2012/06/beautiful-speech.html, especially the third and fourth paragraphs, and noticed a slight disparity in the conclusions. This merely illustrates that we are still growing in our knowledge and understanding of the scripture, and our communicative skills are still developing, the conclusions (I being the writer) actually are the same, but as my grasp of the English language has increased, I have realized the importance of the selection of the words I use, and their definitions. I was using a different definition of sarcasm, and the emphasis of the article was different and therefore the words I used were different. This also shows that we need to always compare what we hear with Scripture. The Thought Box staff does not have all the answers, nor do we pretend to. We chose ‘The Thought Box’ as our name because that is what we strive to do: inspire thoughtfulness in our readers, and push them to find the answers in scripture.

Image by Leaping Lizard

The True Meaning of Christmas

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”" --Matthew 1:22-23

    Most of us celebrate Christmas—I know I do. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. To those of you who celebrate it, what is your focus and what are you really celebrating? Most Christians (myself included) would probably say that it’s about the birth of Jesus Christ. But is that our real focus?

    I want you to think about that question. When Christmas rolls around, are you really focusing on Jesus Christ’s birth, or are you thinking about other things? Presents? Santa Claus? That really good pie your Grandma makes every year? Another question is: what do you look forward to on Christmas? Is it the giving or the receiving? Most of us would probably want to say the giving, because in the Bible says that it is better to give than receive. I know that’s what I would like to say, and I’m going to be honest with you—when I look past all the stuff Satan puts in my way, I find that I like the receiving better than the giving. Its our sinful nature that makes us this way, but with God’s help we can change that. This brings me back to my main point, but first, let me point something out here. I’ve been talking about the focus of Christmas, but the main point of this article is the meaning of Christmas. I will be talking about both, and both are important, but please note the difference between the terms.

    So far, I have talked about what our focus is and should be at Christmas, so now I’m going to give a little history to show why Jesus’ birth should be the focus of Christmas. During the reign of one of the Caesars, there was a young woman named Mary. She was a virgin and was engaged to a man named Joseph. An angel of the LORD came to Mary and told her that God had chosen her to give birth to his son. When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he decided to cancel the wedding. But angel of the LORD came to him in a dream and told him to marry her anyway, because the baby was going to be God’s son.

    About that time, Caesar called for a census, requiring every man to go to his hometown to be registered. So Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, the city of David, Joseph’s hometown. Once they were registered, they went looking for a place to stay, but no one had room. They finally found a place in the stable of one of the inns. About this time, the baby boy was due any minute, so they prepared a place in the manger (which is where the animals would feed) for the child to lay in once he was born. Later that night, the baby boy was born and he was named Jesus as the angel commanded.

    Since this is the shortened version of the story, I left out the shepherds and the wise men, but for what I am talking about, it isn’t important right now. Now I am going to go a little into the future from that day (to about 30 years later) to explain the meaning of Christmas. Jesus had been betrayed by one of his disciples and after they celebrated  the Passover Supper (a meal that was to remind them of when God freed the Israelites from Egypt), Jesus was captured by the Jewish leaders and their followers because they and quite a few other leaders hated him. They then took him to Pontius Pilate, one of the Roman Prefects, who found that Jesus had done nothing wrong. During this time of year, one prisoner would be released because of the Jewish celebrations, so Pilate said he would release Jesus. However, the people shouted that they wanted the man named Barabbas to be released instead, so Pilate did as the people asked and Jesus was hung from a cross, an execution usually reserved for the worst criminals. After three days, Jesus came back to life, and later went to heaven to be with God, his Father.

    The Bible says that we are sinful and that we all fall short of the glory of God. God sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to die on the cross for your sins and my sins and your neighbor sins; he died for everyone’s sins! The only way we can be with God is if we accept God’s free gift of salvation. The way we can receive that gift is when we accept some very important things. First, God exists. Second, God is a Just God, meaning that he cannot stand sin and therefore has to punish it. Third, you need to believe that God wants us to be with him and sent Jesus to die to take the punishment for your sins. Fourth, You need to accept that you are sinful and need a savior. If you have any questions, please post a comment. I will try to respond ASAP.

    Now back to my main point. Christmas isn’t about the gifts at all. It’s not even just about Jesus being born. Most importantly, it’s about how Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for everyone’s sins. That is the true meaning of Christmas.

    Chipper


Image by Leaping Lizard

Ungrateful Grumbling and God’s Grace: Part 1 of 3

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation."

Philippians 2:14-15

    My next few articles will be part of a series of three on gratefulness.  I've been convicted many times and  have also grown (and am still growing) much in the ways of thankfulness and contentment, and I'm excited to write on this topic for you all to read. Thus begins the first in my series on gratefulness…

     God is a very gracious, merciful God, but He hates complaining. How do I know this? It’s written all over in the Bible, especially in the example of the Israelites in the Old Testament.

     God performed so many wonders and blessed the Israelites so many times, even when they asked in a whiny voice. He executed ten incredible plagues, He delivered them from bondage in Egypt, He provided gold and goods from the Egyptians for their journey, He led them by a pillar of cloud and fire, He parted the Red Sea so they could walk on dry land, He destroyed the pursuing Egyptian army, He made bitter water sweet for them, He provided bread and meat for them to eat, He poured water out of a rock for them to drink… the list goes on and on! 

      “In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe” (Psalm 78:32, NIV). The Israelites did not listen, did not trust; they grumbled and whined against God. When the Egyptians were pursuing them, they didn't say to themselves, “God has done amazing things for us so far just to get us here, so I’m sure He wouldn't just lead us to a dead end to die; I’m sure He has a plan.” No! They moaned, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? . . . For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:11-12, ESV). Only once did I find in Scripture when the Israelites praised and thanked God: after God destroyed the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, the Israelites threw quite the party in God’s honor. 

     Other than that one time, they whined that they would rather be back in Egypt under bondage. And that’s where their hearts were: still in bondage in Egypt. Their minds were not in submission to the Lord, but to sinful ways.

     God warned them many times: He turned the manna maggoty when they didn’t listen and hoarded it overnight, He told they were obstinate people and deserve to be destroyed, Israelites worshiping the golden calf were put to death, He burned the outskirts of the camp when His wrath was kindled after they complained. He gave them these warnings and more, and still also blessed them. Yet they continued to grumble and disbelieve. Their hearts were ungrateful, not committed to Him, so He banished them to the wilderness, forbidding that generation to see the Promised Land.

     What it really comes down to when we complain and are ungrateful, is we are telling God, “I don’t like what You are doing in my life. I don’t trust that You have a purpose in everything, and I want it a different way.” We compare the blessings God has given us to the blessings He has given others, and we are envious and turn up our noses at His grace. That is why God hates it so immensely that He will open the earth and swallow up the ingrates (Numbers 16).

     Many times, we read Bible passages like these and think, “Those nearsighted Israelites. Can’t they see all that God did for them, yet they still complained! What dumb people,” and then we think we would do better; we wouldn't grumble. We’d give thanks; we’re better than them. But we’re not. 

     Think of all the times you've complained. Did you get upset when your computer crashed, or your coffee spilled, or construction slowed you down on your way to somewhere? Did you mutter under your breath when you were asked to do a chore that wasn’t yours, or had to help a sibling with school, or when your dishwasher didn’t clean the dishes properly so you had to wash the dishes again? We are a very whiny people. Even small, insignificant things—like having to put more toilet paper on the holder (even though you weren’t the one to use it all up), or having to hang up all that laundry, or having to go all the way downstairs just to get a pencil (such a long trek, I know!)—cause us to grumble. 

     And I’m completely guilty as well. When I learned my family was moving to Illinois, I was distressed. Because I take a long time to become close to friends, I did not want to lose my dear friendships in Wisconsin. I assumed I would become the “new girl” and stay the “new girl,” a companionless introvert. Even though God had blessed me with so much—a wonderful, comfortable new house; my own room; a job for Dad; being able to see Dad every night now that we moved down with him; Skype and email to keep in touch with friends—I forgot all that and relied on my own abilities to make friends instead of asking and trusting in God to provide me with Christian fellowship.

     The first week I went to our new church, my family joined the fellowship meal; since I was new, I figured I would be eating lunch with Mom and Dad. Immediately, though, a handful of girls greeted and invited me to lunch at their table. While I chatted and listened, I discovered I had a lot in common with one of them. That very evening, we were invited to sup with other families in our area at my new acquaintance’s house, which—surprisingly—was located only a few blocks away from our own home! One day, I invited my new friend over to play games, but we ended up simply talking for the whole two hours, and I really clicked with her.

Even though I lacked trust in God and grumbled on the inside, God graciously gave me a friend. I did not deserve to be rewarded for my lack of faith, yet God chose to bless me. 

     We must watch ourselves and guard our ungrateful thoughts so that we do not continually grumble against God and end up like the Israelites—wandering in the wilderness of our sin and despair for the rest of our lives. We must make sure our hearts are not devoted to the old, sinful man—like the Israelites in bondage to the Egyptian ways even after they left Egypt—but we must devote our hearts to God. We must give thanks and praise God for all the blessings He has showered us with. How do we do this? Well, since I’m already over my word limit, you’ll just have to stay tuned to read my second article in the series on gratefulness…

Klipsie

Image by Klipsie

Taking Offence - Doug Gaines

     I am but a simple man who has spent much time in contemplation on various topics, of which I have three questions for you to contemplate yourselves.

1. How often are you offended by someone or something?

2. How often are you angered by someone or something?

And ... 

3. How often have you shown grace to someone or exhibited grace in a “sticky” situation you have found yourself in?

     Our reaction to people or situations that are offensive by nature or that can cause us to get angry can tell us volumes about ourselves. For simpler discussion purposes I will refer to our reactions as “attitudes.” I believe these three “attitudes” go hand in hand. Offense and anger are many times found together and are both almost always mutually exclusive of grace. I will attempt to show just what I mean.

The offense I am referring to at this time is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “something that outrages the moral or physical senses” and “the state of being insulted or morally outraged.” 

     Anger is defined as...well Webster’s couldn't define anger without using a form of the word itself, so I’m using synonyms to define it - to enrage, infuriate, rankle. Before we go much further, I’m going to remove “righteous anger” from the picture. That is another essay in and of itself. The grace I am referring to includes, but is not limited to; the disposition to, or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency [to the “undeserved”]. This is an image of the grace God bestows upon us.

     What offends you? Are you offended when someone doesn't smell good? Are you offended when someone plays music you don’t like? Are you offended when someone teases you? How do you react to these offenses? Let’s say you are offended in these cases. Let’s say that you ask them to clean up or stop what they are doing. They don’t; so what happens next? Do you get angry? I liken anger to the next step beyond offense. In Matthew 5:29-30 Christ tells us if our hand or eye offends us to remove them. Christ used a more descriptive method for the removal than I. By rights we should all be cripples if we were to take this literally. I believe what Christ was telling us that we should strive towards not letting ourselves be offended. I believe Christ “allowed” us being slow to take offense (or anger) because of the hardness of our hearts. My Father used to say, “Don’t be offended.” 

     What makes you angry? Do you get angry when someone cuts you off on the highway? Do you get angry after someone offends you and won’t apologize? Do you get angry when a sibling breaks something that belonged to you? Do you get angry if your drawer doesn't have any clean socks in it? Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:26 (a) not to let the sun go down on our anger and (b) not to sin when we are angry. From experience; if I am angry when I go to bed, I simply cannot sleep. That makes for a very long night, because I like my sleep. I think Paul understood very well what anger could do to your physical health as well as your attitude. I have to say as well, that when I get angry, I believe I always sin. I personally believe we as fallen humans cannot get angry without sinning. We have to remember that sin is not just what we physically do (commission) or don’t do (omission), but it is also our thought life. Let’s say someone makes you angry; you don’t do anything about it, but you have a thought; “I’d like to do ________ and let him know what I think, but I won’t.” Wasn't that thought sinful? My Father used to make a point about anger and how it can affect. He would say, in a loud voice; “I AM NOT ANGRY” and pound his fist on the table. We can say what we like, but oftentimes our reaction betrays us anyway.

     Oftentimes the Bible uses offense and anger together and sometimes they seem to be interchangeable. Proverbs 19:11 says, “Good sense [wisdom] makes one slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Unfortunately some people seem to thrive on being offended and are even apt to say or do something to elicit an offense. The attitudes of offense and anger can have some very negative effects upon us and those around us. As a man, I have been striving (with the express aid of the Holy Spirit) to put aside my tendency towards offense and anger. Of late, I have found that I am more apt to be offended than become angry, but my anger is more volatile. The anger however usually stems from an offense; and this usually stems from selfish expectations.

     I believe if we can focus on Christ and God’s Grace, then we can curb most of our offenses and anger. Remember Christ endured many offenses (without being offended) on our behalf. Romans 6:14 says “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.” I believe God is not only 100% truth (another essay topic), but also 100% grace. Those who have received God’s gift of grace need to strive to show or exhibit that same type of grace to those around them. Next time someone snaps at you, find out if they’re having a bad day. Maybe they need to be cheered up. Next time someone plays music you don’t like, strike up a conversation with them and try to introduce them to your type of music. The next time someone cuts you off on the road: instead of yelling at them, say a prayer for their safety. Use these times to show grace to others instead of being offended. The next time something of yours gets broken; instead of getting angry, realize that life is short and “things” are not what is important in God’s eyes. The next time your sock drawer is empty; maybe you could ask if you can help do the laundry (strive to be a servant) instead of getting angry. We need to overlook the offenses of others so they may see in us the love of God. We need to learn to be gracious and show grace to those around us who seem they don’t deserve it; because ultimately we don’t deserve it either.

     Mr. Doug Gaines 

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Thanksgiving

“We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds” --Psalm 75:1

     Pilgrims, Indians, and turkey. Can you tell what I am thinking of? If you guessed Thanksgiving, then you are right! By mid-October, everyone is thinking, “Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up! I need to start shopping!” But is shopping, funny hats, trees and all the food you can eat all that this time of year really means to everyone? Well, it shouldn't.  Yes, they can be some of the most fun days of the year, but today we need to understand that the real point of Thanksgiving was not to do all of those things, but to enjoy a day of thanking God for everything that we, and the settlers, were blessed with.

     Everyone knows why the original pilgrims came to America, right? They came in hope of freedom and a better life. Well, not exactly. It goes a little more in depth than that. Originally, people in the Netherlands, Ireland, and Britain were being forced by their governments to believe in one religion: Christianity. That doesn't sound all too bad, does it? Wrong again. They had to believe, while being persecuted, in the tenets of the denomination of Christianity that their governments saw fit: in Britain, Anglican. The Irish were forced by England to practice the Anglican version of Christianity, and on the Netherlands only the Protestant tenets were acknowledged. Now, I don’t know if all of you know, but in this period of time, there was no separation of church and state. Some governments ruled over the church, and some churches ruled over the governments. It doesn't sound so great now, does it? Well, it came to be that the main reason the pilgrims came to America was to escape religious oppression so that they could practice their beliefs without living in constant fear of being tortured or killed. And just as a side note, they did this without their kings, queens, or governors knowing why they truly wanted away from their homelands. Very sneaky people. I think, if any of them had a verse from the Bible running through their minds when they saw the eastern coast, it would be Hebrews 12: 28-29: “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”

     I know there might be some people who read this and say that it has nothing to do with them at all. But, in all actuality, all of it has to do with everything we have today. Without the pilgrims coming over, we could still be subjected to what was around during their period of living. Also, there would be no separation of church and state, and most places that have religious freedom as a right would not have that right. Last, but certainly not least, we would have nothing, nor would we be alive, if it were not for God. If God did not exist, we would have nothing, we would be nothing. Thanksgiving is a day that should be spent thanking God for every waking moment we have, and for everything in our lives. Yes, it is amazing to spend it with your family, pile pounds of food down your throat, and watch football with your dad, but you should still thank the One who created everything you are blessed with. I feel this passage is very appropriate to help me drive my point home: “We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 75:1).

     Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect and be thankful for all that God has given us. Let us not only be thankful one day a year, but celebrate the greatness of our God with thanks every day!

Psalm 95: 1-7: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”

     Haron

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CollegePlus: An Alternative For Traditional College

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps."

Proverbs 16:9 (KJV)

     "I want to go to college." The thought of going to college after high school has probably come to the minds of most high school students in America. Which college to attend, which courses to take, how much college will cost, how to manage busy college schedules, and so on can be much to think about before making a decision regarding college.

      The sad reality of college is, even though many people go into college with high hopes and great anticipation, many come out with depression, a sense of hopelessness, and a lifestyle that's even worse than what they had before attending. Being thousands of dollars in debt, having habits such as drinking, smoking, and immoral sexual activity, etc., and having a career that's not even within their degree description are things that could happen -- and have happened -- to college students and graduates.

      The alternative to this could be a long distance learning program called CollegePlus. Students enrolled in CollegePlus have the benefit of earning a fully accredited bachelor's degree with tremendous flexibility for a fraction of the time and money paid in traditional college. Because CollegePlus degrees are fully regionally accredited, graduates confidently enter the work force or go on to the graduate school of their choice. This option cuts out years of time and thousands of dollars.

      CollegePlus combines high school and college to avoid wasting time and duplication. Here are some of the benefits of this program:

1.  Perspective:  It takes a decidedly different approach from traditional colleges to obtaining a degree in that they see as a means to an end, and not an end in itself.

2.  Family Influence:  Since these studies are completed nearly at home, the major influence comes from within the context of the home and family. As topics are studied and tests are prepared for, the student has the opportunity to discuss material with their parents and their CollgePlus coach.

3.  Mentor Influence:  Our Founding Fathers' educations were in the context of individualized mentoring and apprenticeship. Students have access to a personalized degree program and a Christian coach who will assist them and their parents through every step.

4.  Time:  To obtain a regionally accredited bachelor's degree (the highest accreditation attainable in the U.S.) in two years is well within the realm of possibility. Some students even complete their entire degree before graduating from high school.  A student who takes this route can gain valuable workplace experience through internships with the two years that their peers are still spending in school.

5.  Cost:  Utilizing distance learning methods and credit-by-examination techniques, CollegePlus! puts the total cost of a college degree at less than $15,000 with just few exceptions, saving families between $25,000 and $90,000 on tuition.

     Although many of you have probably heard of CollegePlus, let this be a reminder that this is out there and it's open for you to enroll and get started. And for those of you who haven't heard of it, or maybe have, but don't know much about it, this definitely is an eye opener that can introduce you to a better way of college education.

      You can go to their website - www.collegeplus.org - for more information. Whatever career God has destined for you, CollegePlus can help you get there. Good luck and God bless your college decisions.

     Haiku

Sources: www.collegeplus.org

CollegePlus, and the CollegePlus logo copyright 2012 CollegePlus SM

Editor's note:
CollegePlus is a great program, and I and several other writers on staff use or plan to use it for getting our accredited Bachelors Degrees "Faster, For Less, For Sure." 

Please note:
-CollegePlus does not condemn or condone this article.
-CollegePlus is not a college, it is a coaching service.
-CollegePlus has its limitations in fields that require hands on experience, such as engineering, theater, seminary, etc. (though I have seen people get degrees in these fields through CollegePlus). Please make sure you have researched all possibilities before deciding to spend thousands of dollars on anything, or even if a college degree is necessary for what God has planned in your life.