A Real Rebel?

Is there any place for rebellion in Christianity? Have you always admired rebels? Are you one yourself? We are bombarded lately with many forms of rebellion on TV, movies, in music, on t-shirts and many other places. If you watch most “rebels” closely, they just are “posers,” because they are just following another crowd that’s a little different. Jesus Christ was a true rebel, bucking the authorities, traditional religion, and society in general. Read the Book – He went against the grain of everything going on in his time! So, if you follow Jesus’ lead, you can rebel all you want and God will approve? Interested? Then I’ll give you some guidelines on being a moral rebel.

Are your friends doing something that, way down deep, you know is not acceptable to God? Rebel. Be the first one to tell them you are not going along! Have you seen some behavior on TV, movies, or in adults around you that you know is wrong? Rebel! Refuse to do it! Do your friends or others you know tease, torment, or harass weaker kids at school? Rebel! Tell them it’s not right! Do you hear people repeating gossip or cruel things you know would hurt? Rebel. Say something loving instead! We all have days we feel down or irritable, ready to snap and cut somebody down. Rebel! Stay quiet or say something uplifting! Every school has strong minded kids who lead others into breaking the rules, disrespecting teachers, stealing, lying, or other immoral acts. Rebel. Tell them or show them you will not follow their lead!

So the answer to the question is YES, there is a place in God’s world for rebellion! The main problem with ordinary rebels is that they rebel automatically, without thought. That kind of rebellion can get you in trouble or put in jail. Christian rebellion takes thinking and work, because it goes against the grain of human nature. But, if you are naturally a little rebellious, as I am, it can be fun. It may not make you popular, but it will be good for your soul. In Romans 2:2, the apostle Paul tells us not to be conformed to this world. That’s the kind of rebellion I am talking about.

-David Lindberg

Happy Halloween!

Practice Patience

In the ladies’ current Beth Moore Bible Study, Living Beyond Yourself, we have been focusing much attention on Galatians 5:22-23, “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  We’ve even learned to repeat these verses using sign language (if we say it sloooowly)!

As the study progresses, I have found that  practicing “patience” can be difficult! Maybe it’s the hectic world in which we live , our over-scheduled lives, or our lack of understanding that things are often going to happen according to God’s schedule, not ours.

Dictionary.com defines patience as the quality of being able to endure, the bearing of provocation or annoyance without complaint;  the ability to suppress restlessness when confronted with delay without the loss of temper or the display of irritation.  I have often noticed that young people are not always very patient when it comes to waiting for snack-time, waiting in line for lunch, or  waiting for their turn at a game. Impatience can surface in more important matters such as waiting for their name to be called at the doctor’s office or hospital waiting room;  when waiting for teachers to grade test papers or to learn the results of their latest ACT exam; or when waiting to hear the condition of a badly injured friend. Has waiting for your turn at the computer or for your clothes to dry or for mom to hurry up and get breakfast ready ever caused you to be less than pleasant?  What about waiting in a long line at the drive-thru at McDonald’s or waiting to be seated at a restaurant?  It is often difficult to remain calm and to be less than annoyed in those situations. As patience decreases, so does tolerance and kindness. Anger often surfaces. But sometimes, we just have to wait…

Psalm 37:34 says, “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along his path.” Speaking of traveling, ever experienced road rage? Practice patience while driving. New drivers, at least those at my house, seem to always be impatient with those of us who try to obey the speed limit! Practicing patience behind the wheel of a car is a great place to begin to slow down and enjoy the ride. Perhaps God uses those “hurry up” moments to teach us patience.

We can’t always have immediate gratification. Learn at this early, wonderful stage of life to practice patience with those around you- family, friends, and strangers. While you wait on others, use it as time to teach yourself to wait on the Lord. Be patient with others as God is patient with us. Use “wait” time to “Be patient in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act,” (Psalm 37:7). While waiting, use that time to memorize some of the many Bible verses related to patience. As you grow older, you will surely need them to get through our hectic world with tolerance, understanding, kindness, joy, and peace.

Heavenly Father, remind us that of all the gifts you give us, the greatest of all is love. Help us to show love to others by being slow to judge, slow to anger, and by being patient with others in all matters.  Let the Holy Spirit dwell in us so that we may enjoy the fruits of the spirit in our lives and share it with those around us.  Amen.

-Terri Clark

Choose Jesus

Each and every day, there are a multitude of choices that each living person has to make.  God, from the beginning of time, has always allowed people the opportunity to make their own choices (Genesis 3:3).   Woman was given a choice to obey the commandment of God.  Her choice to disobey Him, though, is what led to makind’s sinful nature today.  With one misguided choice, Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden.

But that was then and this is now, right?  Times are different.  Well, after Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden, mankind’s life expectancy was over 800 years!  That’s a lot more than the average 86 we live today in America.  Why?  Read Genesis 6:5.  ”The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  Take a moment right now and think about our world today.  With all of the modern conveniences and leisure time people have, things like greed, drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, disregard for the sanctity of our own bodies, and cigarettes are commonplace.  

Our Lord cannot be pleased with what He is seeing in our world today.  The choices that each of us make on a daily basis are what we are responsible for, and the choice to walk with Jesus daily and let others see your walk will surely be the best choice you’ll ever make.  May God bless you all as you walk with Him.

-Bob Reeder

That’s My King!

Here’s the video we watched on Sunday morning at church.  It’s from the sermon “Sevenway King” given by Dr. S.M. Lockridge at Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, California.  Isn’t it amazing that with all of the millions of combinations of words we have in the English language that it’s still impossible to completely describe our God?!  He truly is amazing and deserves our unending praise and adoration.  Enjoy!

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

“Let not your heart be troubled.” So begins John, chapter 14. Jesus was telling His disciples that since you believe in God, you also believe in Him. He went on to say that in His Father’s house were many mansions and that He was going to prepare a place for each of us and would come back to earth to retrieve His people.

I found out at my father’s funeral that this was one of his favorite Bible passages. It happens to be my favorite, too. Dad I discussed many things because we were together several times each week. We normally had lunch together at least four times every week and many of our discussions revolved around Scripture. Funny that we never discussed this being our favorite passage, isn’t it?

My point today is two-fold. Rely on Scripture in times of trouble and you will feel comfort. If you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior, you can be comforted in troubling times, which, if you’ve not experienced, you will. If you’ve never trusted Jesus as you Savior, there’s no better time than now. Secondly, if you have the opportunity to spend time with your parents or grandparents, take advantage of it and tell them what they mean to you. I wouldn’t trade the time I spend with my father the last dozen years of his life for anything. My father used to say, “I wouldn’t take a pretty for something,” if the possession was valuable to him. Well, “I wouldn’t take a pretty for the time I spent with my father.” Tell your parents how much you appreciate and love them today.

-Keith Kirkland

Got Worries?

The dictionary defines the word worry as to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thought; to fret.

 

If you ask my boys if I worry they will definetly tell you that I do.  I fret.  I have disturbing thoughts.  I worry if they study enough, if they are happy, if they drive safe, that they don’t give in to peer pressure and on and on and on.

 

Do you worry?  Do you worry about your grades?  if you will get a date for Prom?  if your team will win the next game?

 

What does God think when we worry?  Does he think we don’t trust Him, that He is not big enough, powerful enough or loves us enough to take care of the things we are worrying about?

 

The Bible has a lot to say about worry.  Matthew 6:25 says “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.”  And again in Matthew 6:31 it says, “Therefore, do not worry.”  Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything.”  Psalm 37:1 says, “Do not fret.”

 

So what should we do instead of worry?  We could talk to a parent, our youth leader, pastor, teacher or friend.  Sometimes just talking about our problem makes it seem smaller.  The person may also have good advice.  We should always pray about it.  Talk to God, tell Him what you are worried about and then we need to let it go.  Stop worrying!  Read your Bible.  There is so much to learn fromthe Bible.

 

I will take my own advice and I will try to stop worrying.  I will pray and ask God for help, I will read my Bible everyday, and I will talk to someone.  I will also remember that even for a good reason worrying will not help.

 

Remember the words of Isaiah 35:4 “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

 

-Cindy Schwartz

What Is a Christian?

My mother introduced me to Christianity when I was only four years old in Shanghai, China.  Even though my dad is a preacher and a missionary, I spent quite a few years of my life trying to figure out what a “Christian” truly is.  Maybe you are trying to figure it out too – even though you may have been a Christian for some time. 

I knew all the things most Christians do all through my childhood – but we aren’t Christians because of what we do.  I knew all the right things to say, how to pray, and what to expect from preachers – but what we say will not make us Christians.  I read the Bible, memorized verses, and knew all the main stories – but what we read and think about does not make us good Christians, although that’s getting closer.  I went to church, made Christian friends, and planned a life of helping people as a psychologist – but that did not make me a Christian. 

Are you wondering, “Did I get saved?”  Yes I did, very early in my life, but that was only the beginning and it is not what makes me a good Christian now, day by day in my life.  For all of you that are saved, I don’t want to minimize the most important decision of your life, but what about the rest of your life? 

One of the most famous Christian missionaries, the Apostle Paul said, “I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion.”  (Philippians 1:6)  Jesus himself called us his sheep, his servants, and, near the end of his earthly life, his friends.  Jesus was the most loving, compassionate, kind, healing, happy person (human being and Son of God) who ever lived.  The more I live, the more I want to BE like him.  Isn’t that it?  Being a Christian is something we ARE, which is only shown through what we do, say, and think. 

-David Lindberg

Summer 2010 Plans Announced!

WHO:  FBC Youth Group (Grades 7-12)

WHAT: Student Life Worship Experience 2010 with Louie Giglio

WHEN: June 18-22, 2010

WHERE: Gatlinburg, Tennesse

WHY: To provide students a fun-filled experience in fellowshipping, working, and worshipping with other young Christians from across North America.

DETAILS:  This five day trip will include daily worship and Bible study times, group/team building activities, small missions projects, and tons of free to time to explore Gatlinburg, Tennessee!  The FBC Youth Group will stay in a large, private cabin with loads of games, amenities, and a spectacular view of Mount Leconte.  Students (and parents) interested in attending must commit by January 15, 2010.  For more information, click here.  We hope to see all of you in Gatlinburg!

Here is a video about the theme for the Worship Experience – re: Micah 6:8.

Decisions…

We’re faced with them every day.  Some are simple.  For us girls, it may not seem so simple, but really, which shoes look best with this outfit?  For all of us, we have to decide what time to wake up in the morning, what attitude to have, what activities we’re going to engage in.

Unfortunately, there are many more decisions that have to be made, and they don’t get any easier the older we get.  Today you may wind up making a decision that changes the rest of your life.  Seems kind of scary, doesn’t it?  It still scares me today, and as many of you know, I’m ancient at 34.

The scary, strange thing about it is that those decisions you make probably won’t have a big sign on them proclaiming “Beware!  Use caution!  This may change the rest of your life!”  Nope.  Odds are, it will appear to be something simple, like whether or not to get in a car with someone who has had a couple of beers.  They can handle it, can’t they?  Or, it may be to take that next step with your boyfriend or girlfriend.  You can make it stop, right?  You won’t get carried away.  And besides, all your friends have already gone this far and farther, right?  It’s tough being little Miss Innocent or Mr. Naïve.  It may even be that you didn’t quite have enough time to study the night before so you are tempted to look off your neighbor’s test paper, or to download a paper off the internet.

These are simple, every day pressures that you are facing right now.  I faced the same thing.  And like I said, it doesn’t get any easier.  By the time you get to college, it’s all ramped up a notch.  Then, ta DA!  Adulthood.  Marriage, careers, major moves, kids….you get the picture.

So, what is the point of all this?  Believe it or not, it’s not to scare you to death or make you stop reading before now.  The point is that we need some help getting through all these decisions because you never know when the next one you make is going to make a difference in your life and others around you.  It’s probably no secret that I’m going to suggest the Bible as that “guidebook” to help, either.

“But, the Bible is totally not going to make it easier for me to not drink with my buddies,” you say.  “The Bible isn’t going to help me deal with these feelings I have for the opposite sex!”  But it is!  The Bible is relevant and current.  Read it!  The people who wrote it with inspiration from God dealt with many of the same things we deal with every day.  The more you read it and learn it and know it you will grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus Christ and you’ll get more strength to handle these decisions.  You’ll have the guidance you need.

I face big decisions every day, and sometimes I stumble.  Sometimes I make the wrong decision and sometimes I really mess up.  Just ask anyone who knows me.  But I do know the answers are there if I look for them.  Cultivating that relationship with Jesus and reading the Bible take the same kind of discipline as going to practice or working out or eating right.  We just have to do it.

-Kasey Beckham