How BIG is Your God?

My husband and I read the Bible, a devotional book, and pray together every morning. This passage from Traveling Light really made my heart soar.

You don’t need what Dorothy found. Remember her discovery in THE WONDERFUL WIZARD of OZ? She and her trio followed the yellow-brick road only to discover that the wizard was a wimp! Nothing but smoke and mirrors and tin-drum thunder. Is that the kind of god you need?

You don’t need to carry the burden of a lesser god … a god on a shelf, a god in a box, or a god in a bottle. No, you need a God who can place 100 billion stars in our galaxy and 100 billion galaxies in the universe. You need a God who can shape two fists of flesh into 75 to 100 billion nerve cells, each with as many as 10,000 connections to other nerve cells, place it in a skull, and call it a brain.

And you need a God who, while so mind-numbingly mighty, can come in the soft of night and touch you with the tenderness of an April snow.

You need a Yahweh.

And, according to David, you have one. He is your shepherd. ~Max Lucado, Traveling Light, p. 16-17

How BIG is your God today? How powerful is He? How does this transform your day? Your life?

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
My God is BIG, and today I expect Him to do BIG things!

How about you?

Don't know much about...

Recently, there was a study done by the Pew Forum that looked at American’s knowledge about religions. It didn’t just look at what Americans knew about Christianity, but about other world religions as well.

You can take their short 15 question survey and see how you do on their test!

I took it and got 14 out of 15 correct, but as I really considered the questions they were asking I realized that the reason I knew the answers was not because of anything I ever learned or heard of in church necessarily - but because of several classes I took in college on World Religions and Christian Theology.

Then I was talking to my Mom over the weekend - she’s a high school history teacher and several sections of AP classes. She was bemoaning how hard it was to teach her classes about the Reformation because they didn’t understand enough about Christianity or theology to understand what really transpired.

Can you describe the Reformation? And why it was so important?

Here’s the thing that has me concerned. It’s a wonderful thing to “believe” and “have faith”. Those things are precious to God. But the Bible also says things like this:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to god as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15

and this:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

So how do we have our minds renewed and know the will of God?

Well, it doesn’t come by just sitting around in church listening to a sermon here and there - or by singing some worship songs - or by simply “believing”.

It comes when we pursue God:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

It comes when we pursue His Word:

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Here’s the thing. Our lives are full of tests and trials - no one is immune. But too many just hand around and live their lives and only really pursue God when things are hard. We’ve got things backwards.

The Word of God - truly studying it and allowing the truth to soak deeply within you - that needs to happen every day. If we do that - when the test comes - the truth and wisdom we need is right there. When we’ve spent the time to put the truth in - then it’s the truth that comes out when we need it.

Would you sign up for a class and then only show up on the testing days?

Or would you go to class, take notes, learn, ask questions and study - then go take the tests?

It’s the same with our walk with God. We have to walk with Him every day - learn, grow and study what it means to be a Christian - and a follower of Christ. We have to choose to make it a priority. We can’t just talk about it. We can’t just think it’s a good idea but do nothing.

We must act.

And if you do, then when the trials of life come - and they will come - you’ll be ready. And you’ll know beyond a shadow of doubt that you aren’t alone.

Love Sarah

Sarah Anne Sumpolec

Check out my YA series Becoming Beka

The Trouble with Glee

So it’s April Fools Day and it might be nice to have come up with some clever and fun post for today, (Google is now Topeka? huh?) but seriously, I’m just not feeling very clever! But I did read a blog the other day that made me think about something I do want to talk about.

Glee.

So first, here’s the blog post that caught my interest: Movies, Books & Teen Sex

So what does this have to do with Glee?

Confession - I was a musical theater geek in high school (we didn’t have a glee club). I didn’t play sports. I couldn’t play an instrument. But I did every theatrical show possible throughout high school and into college. And I love musicals. So when Glee premiered I was deliriously happy.

Glee has a great cast of misfit characters

(we won’t talk about how most of them are not teens, but rather twenty-somethings.)

Glee has great music and choreography.

Glee can be utterly hilarious.

(Sue has some of the best one-liners on television).

I started watching it last year, eager for each and every week. I ignored the “yuck” of the show and concentrated on what I loved about it. But as time went on, the “yuck” side grew and grew - to the point that I decided to turn it off.

I was SO frustrated. There were parts of the show I just loved. Why did they include the junk? Why did they have to ruin it?

For me, part of the problem was that my 10 year old daughter was watching it with me. My “mom” ears are more sensitive to the messages and behavior that is being encouraged. But even my regular “Sarah” ears were bothered by what was happening in front of me. This wildly popular show among teens - what is it saying?

1. The President of the Chastity Club gets pregnant - making the idea of chastity a complete joke. Actually, sexual comments are all over the show, all the time. So much so, that it accounts for most of the “yuck”. Treating sex so lightly and casually - it's damaging to the way God wants us to view it.

2. Will is married to such a witch that viewers actually want him to commit adultery with the sweet doe-eyed Emma. This is by far the most troublesome one for me. Adultery made it into the list of 10 commandments for a reason. This just makes marriage look like something disposable. The idea that "I can do anything for love and it's not wrong". Marriage shouldn’t be disposable. Ever.

3. Bullying - the Glee kids are regularly bullied and harassed, but it’s never stopped. Granted, Slushie in the face isn’t dangerous. But it feeds into that idea that those who are on the outskirts of High school society should expect to be abused. they should expect to be tormented. And with so many troubling news reports about bullying that is taking lives, well, should we be laughing about it?

4. Many of the “adults” of the show are usually portrayed as either idiots or just ineffective. I realize that books and shows for teens want to portray the teens as smarter than the adults and able to make their own decisions - but - and this is a pretty big but, adults cannot just be dismissed from the equation. Scriptures are full of examples of how important it is for one generation to mentor the next generation.

5. The lying. Oh, the lying. Morality? Practically non-existent.

The trouble with Glee?

It teaches, supports and encourages things that are absolutely against Scripture. And no show-stopping musical number can really make me forget that fact. I know there are tons of people who continue to watch the show with great excitement every week. I totally get it, and I’m not judging you for it. Me, I wanted to turn it off to be a role model for my daughter. And maybe for you too.

All I want is for you to Be Wise. I don’t think we should ever ignore the messages that the media is throwing at us every day. Messages that make us deaf to the true messages. We have to be discerning. We have to be thoughtful. And we have to make sure that we don't give this world permission to change us in ways that move us farther from the One and Only.

Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8

So what do YOU think?

Blessings,

Sarah

Sarah Anne Sumpolec

Repentance

Camy here.

At youth group the other night, the lesson was about cicadas.

Okay, not really. It was about the locust storm in the book of Joel, and my husband, Captain Caffeine, thought that cicadas are like small locusts. But one of the high schoolers said no, and I don't even know what a cicada is, so we decided the lesson was not about cicadas.

Anyway, in Joel, there's been a huge swarm of locusts that pretty much ate everything. In the land of Israel, there were no flowers (Valentine's Day would suck), no trees (you'd get a good tan with no shade from the 100 degree heat), no fruit (no orange juice for breakfast), no wheat (I think I'd die without Frosted Flakes).

The reason the locusts came isn't clear except that the people of Israel had sinned. It was probably the usual Baal worship, child sacrifice, rampant sleeping around with prostitute priestesses, and overall turning away from God.

So God sent the locusts, and sent the prophet Joel to call the people to repentance.

Now, for me, repentance doesn't come easy. It probably doesn't come easy for anybody. I am often rather clueless that I'm turning away from God, and need a swift upside the head to get that duh moment.

But once I get to that point, Joel teaches that I need to really mean it. And that takes some deep soul-searching.

Am I just saying the words, or is my repentance coming from that true place inside of me? Do I really understand the gravity of what it is to turn away from God? Do I really care?

We ended the lesson by having everyone go off by themselves, and we read a short script about repentance. Then we had people take time to really be on their faces before God about anything God convicted them to pray about.

The lesson from Joel was good for me, because it not only brought the high schoolers into a different frame of mind from the usual Bible study, it made me examine myself, too.

How about you? Why not take a few minutes right now to ask God if there's something you need to repent from?

Girls' Day

Our church is planning a Saturday event for high school girls this November. I have some ideas and wanted to see if anybody has any suggestions. I'd like to do the following:

• Have one of our girls (who's on the school dance team) teach some Christian hip-hop.
• Only have girls--no guys allowed.
• Have a Domestic Violence speaker. She can explain the warning signs of being in an abusive relationship.
• Have a Christian counselor talk about current issues and stuff girls are dealing with.
• Have some good food--not your grandmother's covered dish.
• Decorate it fun, for girls.
• Have a Bible Study to teach us how to fill our hearts up with Jesus.
• Have girls from our church make up fliers and invite their friends and the community.
• No charge.
• Have a couple of ladies give personal testimonies.
• Use the one day event as a kick-off for once a week morning prayer and coffee before school at a local Starbucks.

How does this sound?

Love,

Julie

Only a spark

I live in Montana ... it's one of the prettiest places on earth, except during fire season. Even though the fires are miles and miles from my home, the sky is filled with smoke. In fact, it's so gray and dark it's hard to see the HUGE mountains from my window.





This reminds me of something I read recently:



"It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.



"This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!"





I love that ... by our speech we can send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it. It's a great passage from The Bible.





The Bible? Did that sound like the Bible to you? Where are the thees and thous and hard language?





I was asked this question by some of my teen friends who heard me read this passage. They didn't read the Bible much, and this isn't what they expected.





The verses are actually, James 3:5-12, The Message version. I LOVE the Message because it is the Bible is today's language.





If you don't have this version on the Bible, don't worry. Check it out ... go to:





http://www.biblegateway.com/





See that box next to Quick Search? You can change the version. Just go down a few and find "The Message." Then you can enter in some of your favorite passages. Here are a few of mine:





Isaiah 40: 27-31:





"Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,


or, whine, Israel, saying,


"God has lost track of me.


He doesn't care what happens to me"?


Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?


God doesn't come and go. God lasts.


He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.


He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.


And he knows everything, inside and out.


He energizes those who get tired,


gives fresh strength to dropouts.


For even young people tire and drop out,


young folk in their prime stumble and fall.


But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.


They spread their wings and soar like eagles,


They run and don't get tired,


they walk and don't lag behind.

Psalm 119: 9-16:





How can a young person live a clean life?


By carefully reading the map of your Word.


I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;


don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.


I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart


so I won't sin myself bankrupt.


Be blessed, God;

train me in your ways of wise living.





So how about you? What are some of your favorite verses? How do they read in The Message? I'd love for you to share!





Oh, yes, and remember. It only takes a spark! Don't I know it!