There's a Monster at the End of This Book

            Have you ever read as a kid or to your kids the book There is a Monster at the End of this Book with Grover from Sesame Street? Spoiler Alert Ahead: The whole time Grover is in fear that a monster will be at the end of book and so he tries to stop you from reading the book so you don’t get to the end. But when you get to the end you realize there was really nothing to be scared of and there really was no monster. This is how some people see the book of Revelation, it is the monster at the end of the Book. It is seen as a scary and horrible book that doesn’t make sense as it seems to be filled with disease, destruction and death. The book of Revelation use to scare me.

            Yet the book of Revelation is also intriguing. Books like The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind Series have caused people to have a greater interest into this mysterious book. People try to interpret it in many different ways. The most popular way to read Revelation is to read it literally and try to interpret the events by the current world situations. What will the mark of the beast be? (Could it be a microchip or another mark)? What do the numbers 666 mean? (I once heard that the www of the internet somehow equaled 666). Does the book describe a nuclear holocaust? (People get nervous when they hear of countries like Iran and North Korea possibly having nuclear weapons). Who is the antichrist? (It was thought it could be Hitler, today some say President Obama could be the antichrist). Interesting note: the word antichrist is not found in the book of Revelation at all and is only found 4 times in the Bible overall in 1 and 2 John.

            But what did the author of Revelation have in mind when he wrote this book? First, he would not have taken his work as literal. He did not picture a nuclear holocaust. He did not see modern day objects and then try to interpret them in the language of the day (example: Locusts were actually a symbol for a helicopter but since he did not know what it was he used words that were familiar to him). The pictures were symbolic and were taken from other prophetic works like Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The author also referred to other non-biblical works such as the apocryphal book of Enoch (which includes similar pictures of the judgment of the wicked and a new heaven and earth).

            Second, the book of Revelation had a political edge to it. Many of the pictures and descriptions were symbolic of Rome. They referenced the Emperors, its systems and other parts of the Roman Empire (example: the number 666 was likely a cryptic way of referring to the Emperor Nero who persecuted Jews and Christians). This leads to why the author wrote his book.

            Third, the book was written was written to comfort the people who would read it. John (not the disciple John but a different John) had witnessed the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the scattering and torture of many of the Jewish people. He had seen Rome victorious over the people of the one true God. He saw Rome brag about its conquests and its power. He would have questioned just as other Jews did: Where was God when this happened? Why didn’t God protect his people? These were the same questions asked years earlier when other empires overtook Israel and caused the people to be carried off to other nations.

            So what answers are given to these questions? The first is that Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not. While there may not be a specific answer, the readers are to believe that regardless of all that happened that Jesus is greater than Roman rulers. Second God’s kingdom that began through the resurrection of Jesus is greater than the kingdom of Rome. Rome may brag now but in the end God’s justice will spring forth, the world will be put right and all will see the greatness of God’s kingdom. This leads to the third answer which speaks to a new heaven and earth. God will restore the earth and his creation to the way it should have been, the way it looked in the Garden of Eden before sin entered the world. Sin will be completely defeated. The sick will be restored (when Jesus healed people it was not for show but was a sign and picture of what restoration will look like when God’s full kingdom will come).God will reign forever in the New Jerusalem, which will never be destroyed again.

            How can we apply this to the world in which we live today? First, Jesus is the true Lord and any other leader or government system is not. Although it may not look like this is the case we must look by faith and say Jesus is Lord. Second, God’s kingdom is at work in the world even if the full reality of it has not yet been revealed. Third, there is hope of a future in which the world is restored, evil is destroyed and we will be with God forever and ever. God will not blow up his world but rather restore it and his people to the way they should be, the way it should have looked before sin entered the world.

            When read in this new light, the book of Revelation is no longer the monster at the end of the book. In fact I find hope and excitement in Revelation. I see that Jesus is Lord even if things do not look like it. And it gives me hope to look forward to a time when Jesus will right all wrongs, bring restoration and healing and we will reign with him forever.

A Fish's Heart, Liver and Gall: A Story of Comfort

            Here’s a cool story I learned recently. There was a man who was devoted to God and his ways. This man was so devoted to God and his ways that he followed the law of God even when the government and others close to him told him to stop. Even though he is devoted to God he ends up going blind when bird droppings fall into his eyes. He prays that God would take him away. At the same time a woman named Sarah is introduced. She has been married seven times but each time on the couple’s wedding night an evil spirit comes and kills the husband. She is made fun of by those close to her and she prays that God would allow her to die. Both of these prayers come before God and he decides to move on their behalf.

            The father commands his son to go to a foreign land (where Sarah happens to be) and collect some possessions before he passes away. The son does so and is accompanied by what he believes is a relative but is really an angel of God. On the first night of their journey they camp by a lake where a fish attacks the son. The angel tells him not to throw the fish away but rather take the heart, liver and gall of the fish. The heart and liver can ward off evil spirits and the gall can restore sight. Eventually the son meets Sarah, falls in love with her and they get married. He then burns the fish heart and liver which wards off the evil spirit and she is free. They eventually travel back to the son’s hometown where he greets his blind father, puts the gall on his eyes and he is healed. The family rejoices over the son’s marriage and the fathers healing.

            The son’s family throws a party for the son and his new bride. During the party the traveling companion of the son (really an angel) finally reveals his true identity to the father and son. They are shocked by this announcement and when the angel leaves, they praise God for all that he has done for them.

            Pretty crazy story. However the meaning behind the story is really inspirational. The father and the women Sarah both have troubles and both pray to God. God hears both of their prayers but rather than answer them the way they want he sends an angel who fulfills the purpose of God, to bring healing and restoration to both individuals.

            The story is known as the Book of Tobit, a Jewish story told around 225-175 BC. (The story is found in the Apocrypha which can be found in Bibles just not in many protestant Bibles). The story was told as a reminder during a time when Israel faced difficulties after their return from Exile. They had hoped they would become a sovereign state and would rebuild the temple but that had not happened. The question the people began to ask was where is God during this time? Does he hear our prayers? Why hasn’t God allowed us to be free? This story is a reminder to Israel that God does hear their prayers and is with them even though they might not see him at work.

            How many times have you asked these same questions? I know the Bible teaches many of the same lessons; God will never leave us and he always hears our prayers. But sometimes an outside source speaks to biblical ideas and brings a new and fresh perspective. The Book of Tobit is that for me. I am reminded through this story that God hears my prayer and that even though I might not see God he is there with me and he really is at work.

            So maybe you are asking the same questions that the people of Israel did. Maybe you are experiencing some difficult times in your life and you know that God is with you and hears your prayers but you need a reminder. Take comfort in God’s word. And maybe even find comfort in an unlikely source, the story of Tobit.

Get Real... With God

            There are certain memories I have from my days in college that have stuck with me long after I left. One of those memories was sitting in a leadership class with the president of the university. He told the class that 90% of the things we learned in the classroom we would forget (to which I thought “well lets pack up and go home”). I don’t know if that was comforting or discouraging because I spent hours studying for test material that I would forget. At least he was honest.

            One of the pieces of wisdom I do remember (the 10% if you will) is from a class I took during my sophomore year. I don’t remember the full discussion but I remember that what the professor said has stuck with me till this day. He told us to never be afraid to ask God the big or difficult questions because he is big enough to handle them. I didn’t have big or difficult questions as a sophomore but they would come as I continued through the journey called life.

            One of the biggest problems that we face today is that we are not real. We try to make sure that our lives are in order so that no one sees the flaws we have. People try not to show that their marriage is struggling, or they are facing a financial crisis or a number of other things that would cause others to think less of them. On the outside it seems that they have life all together but on the inside they are desperate, wanting to cry out for help but afraid to do so. We even do this with God where we try to act like we have everything together.

            It may seem scary to take off our mask and be real with God so let me get real and go first. My faith in God has and is not always perfect. I’ve questioned God about hard situations in life. I have yelled at God, been angry with him, and asked him why more times than I could count. There are times I haven’t wanted to talk with him in prayer. There have also been times where I wondered if the walk I had with God was worth it and if I should continue to follow him. Yep, I have dealt with and faced all these things but realize that there is also no reason for me to be phony with God and hide the way I really feel. (Even when I have questioned my walk I realize that it is always worth following God).

            I have come to understand some reasons why I can be real with God. First, I realize that God knows everything and I can’t hide anything from him. He knows my thoughts, when I get up or lie down, and he is familiar with all of my ways. There is nowhere I could run or go to get away from him (Psalm 139). So if he already knows what I am thinking and feeling than why should I hide them from him.

            Second, I have also come to realize that he loves me more than I can comprehend. There is nothing I can do to make him love me more or less. It’s a perfect love. I can love God because he first loved me (1 John 4:19). I know that even before I realized I was a sinner that he loved me and was willing to go to the cross and die for my sins (Romans 5:6-8). I know that his thoughts concerning me are precious and full of love (Psalm 139:17-18) and that even when I am faithless he is faithful because that is his character (2 Timothy 2:13).

            Now it’s your turn. God knows what you are thinking and loves you more than you can comprehend. So can you take the mask off and be honest with God? Can you explain to him the way you truly feel whether you are angry, sad, thankful or happy? It’s ok to let God know (since he knows anyway). He is a big God and he can handle the tough questions. It’s time to get real with God.

           

Eat More Chicken and The Young Generation

            Well now that we are a day removed from Chick Fil A appreciation day I hope everybody enjoyed their chicken and freedom of speech. It was amazing to see all of the people who went to the restaurant. It was also amazing to see the cars wrapped around the building and into the streets. The company said it was a great day and the company made a ton of money. Mike Huckabee said it was beyond anything he could imagine. (No I did not go and no I did not support the appreciation day). But here is the million dollar question: What have we taught the younger generation?

            Working with teens and being one myself I know they can be impressionable. I remember being an 11 year old and telling others why we should vote for George Bush and not Bill Clinton. I did not know what taxes were or any other political issue but I heard it and thought it would be true. If I could have voted then I would have voted for Bush. What impression was burned into the mind of teens that saw this event?

            Let’s face it: Homosexuality is a hot topic button in the United States and in the world today. Youth are not ignorant to what is going on in the world today. Through television shows, music (Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl), the internet and social media they hear the comments, both good and bad, made about this issue. One show, Secret Life of the American Teenager, has dealt with this topic over the past few weeks. It is an issue that youth face in their school and amongst their friends.

            There are many teens who are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit. This included one’s sexual orientation. It was not easy for me to be a teen. I didn’t want to stand out and peer pressure was great. Teens coming out in middle school or high school are still not highly accepted. There is fear because it is different. Youth feel like out casts and feel different.

Here are some stats:

- 30% of all teen suicides were related to a teen’s sexual identity

- Homosexuals are five times as likely to be bullied. This leads to 28% of these youth to drop out of school.

- In 2005 the 2^nd reason students were bullied was due to sexual orientation.

- 9 out of 10 LGBT teens have been bullied at least once.

            Bullying is not acceptable! Yes, the appreciation day was a chance for freedom of speech but what did it say to a younger generation? I am not saying that bullying will increase because of this day but what if it did? Would it be worth it?

            Teens are impressionable. What are we teaching them? More importantly what is the church and Christians teaching teens in regards to how one treats someone who is different from them?

            So many went to Eat More Chicken but the question is was it worth it?

Literate or Illiterate?

            It’s almost football season which means you can go to any grocery store or book store and find a ton of magazines describing who the best fantasy football players are, how each team will do in the upcoming season and which team is predicted to win the Super Bowl. I have already looked at a few and put each down in disappointment. None of these are my favorites. I am still waiting for my favorite magazine to come out. Which one is that you may ask? It will be the one who picks the Broncos to win the Super Bowl. For me, all the other opinions are wrong.

            What I find funny is that we do the same thing with the Bible. If we like what the Bible says than we keep it. If we don’t like what it says then we ignore it. Many are also good at reading the Bible and using it for their own personal agendas and beliefs. The Bible and the writings of Martin Luther (yes the founder of the Protestant Reformation) were used by Hitler and the Nazi’s to persecute Jews. Christians used the Bible in the middle ages to launch the Crusades against the Muslims and to persecute Jews as well. The Bible was also used to defend slavery. Today, we use the Bible to fight against what we consider to be “moral and cultural battles” and the “defending of our faith to reclaim America for God.” But what good has come out of it?

            Christians refer to the Bible as the sword of the spirit. Have you ever been to a place like Medieval Times or a Renaissance festival? If you put a sword into a skilled person’s hand and ask them to demonstrate its use in front of a crowd you can have good entertainment with cheers and applause. But give the same sword to an unskilled person and ask them to do the same things with it and you better have a medical team standing by. Unfortunately, the latter is a picture of the church today. People are wielding scriptures around in defense and the result is the injuring of people with their words while others run away in fear.

            The problem is that the church is not as Biblical literate as we really believe ourselves to be (we are actually quite illiterate). An example of this is how people quote Leviticus to speak against homosexuality but probably has no idea why it was written, who it was written to or what else the book teaches. (Leviticus also says that a person cannot plant a field with two kinds of seed, you cannot wear clothes made with 2 different types of material and you cannot put tattoo’s on yourself [Lev. 19:19, 28] but we seem to look over these laws even though they are surrounded by commandments against sexual sins and punishment for sins.) Please understand, this does not mean you need to have a formal education to understand or teach other’s God’s word. However, it should be important to understand what the Bible means and understand its original context before we start using it to justify our agendas.

            So where does the problem come from? Part of it comes from the church. Today many preachers give short, seeker sensitive sermons to encourage others. Many speakers do not even use the Bible in their sermons. Also there is no encouragement for people to bring their Bibles to church since the scriptures are either given by power points or by handouts. There is nothing necessarily wrong about that. However, it leaves the listeners not understanding much of the Bible and its context.

Part of it also comes from the people who go to church. The attitude is that if the pastor said it then it must be right because he has the education and this is what he gets paid to do. Yet it was the church in Berea that was considered to have “noble character” because they did not just except Paul’s words but looked it up to see for themselves if he was really telling the truth (Acts 17). Those listening have a responsibility to study the Bible for themselves.

            So what should we do? First realize that we don’t really understand the Bible as much as we think we do. It means that we need to learn why a particular book was written and what it meant in the context of those people. Second, it means that pastors need to go deeper in their preaching and the listener needs to study the Bible for themselves. Third, when we quote the Bible let’s do so with love and grace rather than judgment and anger realizing that words can have the power to help and heal or hurt and cause others to turn away.

The Lord is My Shepherd (Part 3)

            The last part of Psalm 23 is when the Lord is our shepherd we can know that he is with us. In verse 4 David’s tone of writing begins to change as he reflects upon the reality of his situation. He has been run out of his city and ran out of being king by his own son. He is on the run with no food or supplies and in fear of his life. He describes it as walking through “the valley of the shadow of death.”

            The idea of shadow may be better translated as darkness. The darkness spoken of here is “the most fearful darkness.” It referred to the type of darkness that was believed to be in Hades, the place of the dead (Job 10:21), to the deep darkness of a mine shaft (Job 28:3), or the darkness of night in a wild desert (Jer. 2:6). Imagine being in a place so dark that you could not even see your hand in front of you. This is the darkness David is describing. Used figuratively darkness would describe a situation of distress or of extreme danger   

            David knew the dangers that followed him. He also knew that death was a possibility and could come in two ways. First, death could come from the hands of his enemies. David was on the run from Absalom and knew that if he was captured it could mean the end of his life. Second, death could have been possible because of lack of provisions. David would have known that he could die by means of hunger, thirst or possibly wild animals.

             Even though David believed he was in the midst of darkness and death he confesses that he will not fear. The reason that David does not fear is that Yahweh is with him and he trusts in his character. David had also experienced this type of fear before when he was on the run from King Saul. He draws upon his past experiences of God’s faithfulness to get him through.

            David is comforted by God and speaks to the rod and staff that he knew a shepherd would carry. The rod or staff was used for guidance and defense but was also a tool that the shepherd could use to lean on while watching over his flock.  David knows that God was not distant and he is guiding David in this situation and that he is watching over David, protecting him from harm. This would bring comfort to David.

            In Psalm 23:5 David knows that he has enemies that want to capture him but he knows that he will be protected. He paints a picture of being surrounded by his enemies but they cannot touch him but they could only watch.  David is so confident in this belief that he feels that he could eat a meal with his enemies watching him and he would not be afraid.          

            Finally in Psalm 23:6 even though David is being pursued by Absalom he is also being pursued by something else which is the goodness and loving kindness of God. Goodness speaks to the benefit of blessing and loving kindness speaks to the basis of deliverance.

            The idea of dwelling in the house of God was a symbol of the one was under the protection from God (Pss. 27:4-5; 52:8; 61:4; 63:2-4). The house of God was the place in which his presence was among the people of Israel. David may have also believed that he will one day return to the house of God and to his home. David loved God and longed to go back to be in his presence.

            Sometimes we want to believe that God is with us only in the good times. However, God is always with us in both the good and bad times. He will never leave us or forsake us. David knew that Yahweh was with him even in the “valley of the shadow of death.” In the darkest valley he will be with us, comfort us and protect us from all that tries to harm us. We might not “feel” that he is near but we must believe by faith that he is with us, that he will comfort us and that we can find protection in the place where he dwells.

The Lord is My Shepherd (Part 2)

            In Part 1 we learned that when the Lord is our shepherd that he will provide and meet our needs. In part 2 we will see that when the Lord is our shepherd he will lead us. In Psalm23:2 David says that “he leads.” David is in one of the worst times of his life but still believes that God has not left him. The idea behind God’s leading is that he leads his people with care and as a shepherd who, in his loving concern, leads his flock. Since God wants to lead his people it means that he wants to be involved with our lives. God is not distant not caring what happens to us. He is also not a God who forces his people to do things against their will. He has a loving concern for those who are his and leads his people in love. But it means that we must be willing to trust him and surrender our desires even if we do not have the completed picture before us.

            In verse 3 David says that “he guides me in paths of righteousness.” The path spoken of here literally means “cut out paths” and refers to the fact that God had already made a way for David. God guides without the risk of wandering so that the individual gets to the place that they need to be. David may have been remembering the stories of how God led the people of Israel out of Egypt and eventually into the promise land (Exodus 15:13). We must remember that our time is not God’s time. God is never wasting time no matter how long it might take to reach the destination.

            One of the best examples of God leading me is when I was deciding what college I should attend. During my senior year of high school I was praying as to where I should go to college. I knew that I wanted to go to a school to be a pastor. I narrowed my choices down to 2 schools. The first one which I really wanted to go to (which I could have finished in 2 years) would have given me the opportunity to learn to be a pastor. My second choice would also give me the opportunity to learn to be a pastor even though it would take 4 years. I was not sure what to do and I needed guidance. I sought God in prayer and asked him to lead me to the college that he desired for me to attend. In the end, I never heard back from the first school, the one I really wanted to go to. I did hear back from the second school, Southeastern University which is where I went. I learned a lot at Southeastern both in the classroom and in life. It was not easy at times and I learned lessons along the way but I am glad I followed God’s leading.

            Looking back I see that it is at Southeastern that I first learned about Regent University and first thought about getting my Master’s Degree.  Also since I went to Southeastern and received the four year degree rather than the two year degree it allowed me to earn the credits needed to get my master’s degree. Probably the biggest benefit was that it was at Southeastern where I met my wife. Did I know that life would turn out this way as a senior in high school? No way! I had no idea the way things would turn out. But God did. He had a path cut out for me and was willing to lead me with love through this journey, both in the good times and the bad times. It wasn’t easy at times but I am glad that I was led by God down this path.

The Lord is My Shepherd (Part 1)

            A quick background about Psalm 23. Psalm 23 is a psalm written by David during the days in which he had to flee from his son Absalom. Absalom, who was David’s son, rallied the people of Israel around him, overthrew his father David and established himself as king (2 Samuel 15:1-12). When David learned of what had transpired he fled from Jerusalem. He was forced to hide out in the wilderness and other locations so that he would not be found and killed (2 Samuel 15:13-37). It is not until Absalom is killed that David is able to return to Jerusalem and to his throne (2 Samuel 19). While on the run David finds comfort by describing God as his shepherd. David had been a shepherd and knew what that meant and the duties involved. David takes the character of God and presents it in understandable terms for him and for others.

            What does it mean for the Lord to be our shepherd? When the Lord is my Shepherd it means that I shall not lack for the things that I need. The idea behind the word lack means being in need but also “expresses the sufficiency of God’s grace to meet the needs of his people.”

            In verse 2 David says that he is led to green pastures and quiet waters. David knows that a good shepherd would make sure the sheep’s necessities were provided for. Green pastures and quiet waters represent food and water, necessities for living. When David is writing this he is on the run, away from his palace, away from the chefs and away from the food supplies that had always been there. There was no way to know for sure where David’s next meal would come from and there was no guarantee there would be a next meal. David believes that God will supply his needs no matter what conditions look like around him (and since he does not die in the wilderness of starvation, God must have met his needs).

            Right now this is a good reminder for me. I’m still looking for a job and financially, well, let’s just say we are nowhere close to Bill Gates like status. I get frustrated and wish I had more. But then I think to myself more of what? More of the things that are really wants rather than needs? More of those things that are popular today and unpopular tomorrow (but don’t get rid of the unpopular things because it will be popular again one day). Maybe I want more meals from Outback or Olive Garden? Yes those are the things I want but not the things that I need. What I must chose to do is focus on what I have, the needs that God has given me.

            When I refocus I realize that in reality I do not lack. I have food and water and clothes. I have a place to live. I have a wonderful wife who loves me no matter what. I have two great “furry” children (a dog and cat). I have a wonderful family. When I focus on how God provides for my needs and has blessed me with so much more than I must say that the Lord is my Shepherd and I do not lack.

What Are Christians Known For? Part 2

In my last post I pondered on the idea of what if Christians were known more for what we stand for than what we stand against. So where do we start?

The starting place is the story of God’s creations. It is the story of God creating all things. It is listening to God say that all that he created, even humanity, is good. It is a picture of what could have been, what should have been. It is a picture of perfection, of humanity living amongst God in the beauty of all the good things he had created. The creation story is one bookend of God’s story.

What would be the other bookend of God’s story? It would what many consider being the end; a picture of a new heaven and earth, a picture of what will happen when God renews creation and sets all things right (Revelation 21&22). It is a picture of a new Eden, the way that life should have been enjoyed all along. It is the time when sickness will be replaced by health, death will be replaced by life and injustice will be replaced by justice.

What then is God’s story in between these two bookends? It is the story of God creating Israel to be a nation who would show God’s glory and draw other nations to him. It is the story of how Israel failed but looked forward to one who would come and redeem them. It is the story of how Jesus came and showed what happens when God’s kingdom breaks into earth. It is the story of how Jesus’ resurrection was a sign of the restoration that would one day come. It is the story of how Christ calls his followers to continue to live and bring the message into a world that needs hope and life.

So where do Christians fit into God’s story? It means that we must first define our purpose as Christ followers. What does it mean to be a Christ follower? Does it mean going to church, reading our Bible, praying, telling others about Jesus, living a good life and then going to heaven once we die? Yes for all of this is important. But there is more, so much more. Being a Christian means to bring the kingdom of God, his rule and reign, on earth as it is in heaven even if the events of the world say otherwise. It is realizing that although all will not be set right until the end of time that we can play a part in bringing hope, justice and restoration to a broken world now. We don’t do it to speed up his coming (which we can’t) but rather to paint a picture of God’s love and display it for all to see.

When does this happen? It happens when we partner with God to bring forth his kingdom. It happens when we open our eyes to the needs that surround us. It happens when we see that the harvest is not for a future time but for now. It happens when we surrender and allow God’s will to be our will and his passion to be our passion. It happens when we say “Here I am, send me.”

What does bringing the kingdom and restoring power of God look like? It is found in sharing what Jesus did on the cross. It is found in feeding the hungry. It is found in brining clean water to places that have none. It is found in doing what we can to stop abuse and injustice. It is found in caring for orphans. It is found in being a voice for those who have none.  

This is why it is important that we don’t just live the life but do the life! It is where faith and works come together to bring about something beautiful, to show a glimpse of God’s final work. It is where we find purpose and where we feel God’s smile not just upon us but upon those who are brought hope and life. 

This is what Christians should be known for!

What Are Christians Known For? Part 1

What are Christians known for?

What are Christians known for? According to one study Christians are known as hypocritical, over evangelistic, anti-homosexual, sheltered, too political and judgmental (see UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons). We are known more for what we stand against rather than what we stand for. As Christians there are times when we have to take a stand but are the stances we take and the battles we fight the right ones?

What should we stand for? What could we (and should) fight? What about be known to solve…

- Famine (like Somalia) where more than 40 million people in Africa alone are affected

-  Human trafficking (including sex trafficking) where in 2008 the U.N. said that more than 2.5 million people from 127 countries are being trafficked to 137 countries around the world (this also includes children)

- Orphans where in Russia an estimated 650,000 children are in orphanages. Orphans are turned out of the orphanages at the age of 16, and the results are poor for most of them: 40% are homeless, 20% turn to crime, and 10% commit suicide.

- Hunger where 48 million Americans (16 million children) lack adequate food supply  

What if Christians were known for what they stand for? What if we were known for feeding the hungry, caring for the orphans and stopping human abuse?

What if Christians were known more for doing something to bring help and relief to these problems? What if we were known for what we stand for?

No Magic 8 Ball

I wish there was a real Magic 8 Ball. You remember those big Magic 8 balls with different answers in it. When you had a question or needed help you would simply ask it a question, shake it and then it would tell you the answer to your problem. (There should be one with Bible verses so that when you asked it a question and shook it a certain verse would pop up. It would be much cooler than just opening up the Bible and pointing to any verse to get an answer).

In a few weeks I will graduate with my master’s degree and one chapter of my life will close a new one will begin. The problem: there seems to be a lot of option but I seem to find few answers (what I want is a plan that shows what will happen next). The Bible has many great verses that should bring comfort such as Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” There are many other comforting verses but none that say “Hey T.J. its God this is what your next step looks like.” (It’s not in a concordance and I can’t find it online even if I do a Google search).

So what can I do? I have to be patient. The problem is that patience is not in my vocabulary. (Question: Who had the most patience in the Bible? Answer: Luke, because he was a doctor. Yeah no one else laughs at it either). I don’t want to wait. I want to know now. But life doesn’t work like that and God doesn’t work like that.

I also have to trust that God knows best. I have to trust in his timing and in his plan and trust that he will come through. Trusting is not easy either. But then I go through past experiences and realize that when I have trusted God before things work out. I think about how Southeastern wasn’t my first college choice but looking back it was the right one. I think about how I didn’t want to go back to Southeastern for my senior year but I’m glad I did (especially since I met Amber, my wife).

So there are my answers: patience and trust. (And I didn’t need a Magic 8 ball). They are not easy answers but then again not everything in life will be easy. So I will wait and trust in God knowing that as he has been faithful before he will be faithful again.

Road Trip!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with 1 step.

I am reflecting on the recent road trip that I just finished taking with my wife and pug to Virginia Beach. The trip was long; at times frustrating but the memories will last forever (the good and the bad). As I was reflecting on the trip it hit me that life is a long journey that is filled with multiple journeys along the way. So I’ll share two things that I learned.

I learned that the journey can take longer than expected. The directions to Virginia Beach said 12 ½ hours (I don’t trust Yahoo anymore). I figured about 13 ½ hours (I don’t trust me in regards to timing a trip anymore). It took 16 hours. Sometimes the journey takes longer than planned. For instance I planned on finishing my master’s degree in 3 years. It took 4 years but at least I am finishing. It may take longer to get where you want to be but don’t quit.

But also don’t be in such a rush that you forget to take in the scenes along the way. I will graduate with my master’s degree in May. The diploma is a piece of paper to show I completed my studies but it is so much more than that. It is a reminder of the journey that I took and the things that happened during the journey. It is about the lessons I learned, the books I read, the people that I met, that made the journey fun. It is about trying new things and doing things that you never thought you could. For example, I am finishing my thesis which will be over 40 pages long. I never thought I could write more than 15 pages but I surprised myself and realized that I am capable of more than I thought. These and other things have made the experience unique but it has also shaped me into who I am today. The journey is what makes us who we are.

I also learned that sometimes you go the wrong way. This should come to no surprise to those who know I am directionally challenged. I missed the turnoff (which I blame on bad directions) which probably added 1 hour to the trip. It didn’t mean that the trip was over. It just meant that I needed to figure out how to get back to where I needed to go and complete the trip. We did get back to where we needed to be but it also allowed us to go through small towns that we would have never seen otherwise. We drove past the small diners in town where people gathered for breakfast. We imagined what it must be like to live there (and wondered where the grocery stores were). They were things we would have missed if we didn’t go off course.

Sometimes in life we get off course. It’s not because we want to. Sometimes it is because of our choices. Other times it is because of circumstances that are out of control. Whatever the reason may be it does not mean that you’ll never get to the end destination of the journey. It might take longer. It might be painful. It may add value to your life. Joseph of the Old Testament experienced this in his life. He had a dream that took many twists and turns but at the end of his life he said about what had happened to him “but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:12). It doesn’t mean that God does bad things so that we can learn a lesson. We live in a world where evil exists. I don’t know how God redeems situations that are bad but he can. And the good news is that He can help you get back on the path.

Life is a journey. Don’t be in such a rush that you miss what happens along the way.