Is it okay to be a jerk?

James 4:6 (ESV)

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

In a press confrence, Michael Jordan stood on a stage in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was giving a speech after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. I was expecting the usual words of acceptance, thanking parents and teachers and coaches. But instead, Michael shared a bitter rant against anyone who ever doubted his basketball ability. He was cruel and petty.

Jordan’s speech was so cringe-inducing. But most commentators excused it because the greatest basketball player in the history of the world can, in their words, “say what he wants.” In other words, if you’re talented, it's okay to be a jerk.

Contrast that with a press conference of superstar on the Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose. At 22 years old, he’s the youngest ever to win the MVP award. He’s got the entire world praising him for how humble, gifted, and poised he is as a team leader.

As you watched him speak, he was still remarkably humble, even choking up to thank his mother who shaped him while growing up in the crime-ridden West side of Chicago.

Most of us will never reach the level of fame of Michael Jordan or Derrick Rose. But we each have a talent and if we’re not careful, we’ll adopt the worldly philosophy that says we’re entitled to treat people bad simply because we’re gifted. I like what bestelling author and popular blogger, Jon Acuff recently said about this on his blog: “Wild talent and a bad attitude eventually always loses to mild talent and a good attitude.”

Just because you’re gifted or have experienced some success, doesn’t give you the right to be a jerk. Especially if you’re a Christian. God call us to live humbly, confidently, and sacrificially. This is the heart of the Gospel, that Christ’s transformation within frees us from living for ourselves.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would be humble as we look at the gifts and talents that You have given to us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

A firm foundation

1 Corinthians 3:11 (ESV)

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I love building things in my shop and sharing the fun with kids. Have you ever helped a toddler build a tower? The kind they’ll destroy seconds before its finished? You start on a solid base as you build upward. Then without warning, with a spark in his eye, your building buddy introduces the full force of his hand to the weakest part of your tower. Now, you let the toddler build his own tower. Yet, his tower repeatedly falls before it’s tall enough to be called a tower at all.

Your friend has yet to grasp the concept of a firm foundation. He’s not alone. How often do we watch pieces of our lives prematurely topple? We build on wealth, our lives fall. We build on education, appearance, or relationship, and at some point, our towers crumble. Why? Because when our confidence is placed on anything other than the loving acceptance of our Creator, we are engineering failure into our foundation.

You might be picking up blocks right now, thinking about laying a foundation, or sitting at the top of a fragile, leaning tower. There is really good news for you. God is not only a good builder; He’s the ultimate architect, restoration specialist, and general contractor. Before you know what you need, He has what you need. When the world needed a Savior, He sent the chief Cornerstone. Therefore, we can say, “I’m confident.” Not self-confident, but God-confident.

Dear Lord, we want You and our salvation through Christ to be the foundation of our life. We invite the Holy Spirit to reveal to us other blocks we have tried to put in Your place. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

True happiness

John 10:10 (ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Where do you find happiness? Is it getting an “A” in math? Getting a raise at work? Is it making the baseball team? What determines your happiness everyday?

True happiness isn’t found in things.

True happiness isn’t found in having something, doing something or being something. Being happy is a choice. Everyday you have to choose if you’re going to let problems and the stressful situations you face get you down. If you wait until all your problems and stress go away to be happy, you’ll be waiting a long time.

In the midst of the stresses and problems facing you, you can choose to enjoy your life. Just like you can set the alarm clock on your phone to get up in the morning, you can choose to set your attitude everyday.

Jesus died so we could have the good life. So why not live life happy?

Here are some tips to boost your happiness:

1.  Look for and expect something good to happen today

2.  Don’t allow your joy to be stolen by the negative things that happen to you everyday

3.  Laugh more at yourself and find something to laugh about daily

4.  Forgive yourself and others for mistakes

5.  Learn to enjoy God, yourself and the people around you

Happiness is a choice. You choose everyday if you’re going to let the worries, problems and junk from your day get you down. Determine that you’re going to decide to be happy no matter what is going on around you. You’ll find that you’ll quickly start enjoying life more!

Dear Lord, we pray that we wouldn’t let the things of life steal our joy. Help us to stay focused on the things that bring true joy. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

May the FAITH be with you

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

May the Fourth be with you so buckle up and prepare the hyperdrive, and look at these five Christian messages found in Star Wars.

We are All Part of Something Bigger 

Who would you say is the hero of Star Wars? Maybe Luke Skywalker, he is the last Jedi Knight, and the only one who can defeat Darth Vader. Then again, Princess Leia was leading the rebellion years before he came along. What about old Obi-Wan? He sacrificed everything to give the galaxy a chance at peace, and he even stuck around after death to offer support.

In truth, each of these characters is fighting for something bigger than themselves. No matter how grand their individual achievements may be, it’s all done in the name of preserving galactic freedom. As Christians, we know the Body of Christ is made up of many people. 1st Corinthians even teach us that we all have an important role to play in Christ’s ministry. It doesn’t matter if you’re a princess or a moisture farmer, we are all part of something bigger than ourselves.

Christians Need an Elegant Weapon

It’s hard to imagine the iconic Jedi without their lightsaber. Obi-Wan describes these trusty laser-swords as “an elegant weapon”, and in the hands of a master, it’s hard to argue with his assessment. A lightsaber can cut through metal, deflect blaster shots, and even bring light to dark places. When armed with one of these, a Jedi is a formidable foe. Without it, they’re in deep trouble.

Like the lightsaber, scripture is often portrayed as being a weapon. In Ephesians 6, believers are called to take up “the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God” in order to do battle with the enemy. While a lightsaber may be the hallmark of a true Jedi Knight, the Bible is the tool of a true Christian. When we keep it close, we can be a force for good, but without it, we’re next to useless.

Even the Best of Us Can Fall

There are few villains in the Star Wars universe more menacing than Darth Vader. With his crimson lightsaber and ragged breathing, this Dark Lord of the Sith inspires fear wherever he goes. Audiences have witnessed him destroy planets, murder subordinates, and even torture his own children. Yet, perhaps the most distressing aspect of Vader’s character is that he used to be good. Long ago, Vader was a Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker who fought to protect the people of the Galactic Republic.

Skywalker was a great hero, but pride and anger led him over to the dark side. In the same way, even the best Christians are susceptible to sin and brokenness. Just look at Peter, who denied Christ, or David, who was guilty of murder and adultery. Sin, the dark side, is very real, and every Christian must be on guard against temptation.

Extraordinary Things can come from Unlikely Places

Of all the planets in the Star Wars universe, perhaps none is more unremarkable than the desert world of Tatooine. Orbiting twin suns in the galaxy’s outer rim, Tatooine is a harsh and desolate place ruled by gangsters. Both the Empire and the Rebellion ignore the planet, preferring to focus on more important worlds like the industrial Coruscant or the beautiful Naboo. Despite all this, Tatooine has served as the origin point for some truly extraordinary characters. Anakin Skywalker was born there, his son Luke grew up there, not to mention the smuggler Han Solo was discovered there.

Much like Tatooine, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a place so inconsequential it barely showed up on a map. The first people to hear of his birth were shepherds, men who fell on the lowest rung of the cast system. Even his parents were unlikely, just a simple carpenter and a virgin girl. Yet God has a way of taking ordinary things and transforming them into something truly exceptional.

It’s Never Too Late for Redemption

At the very end of The Return of the Jedi, just when it seems that all hope is lost, something incredible happens. Darth Vader, the longstanding antagonist of the series, sacrifices himself to save his son and defeat the emperor. Vader had believed he was too far gone to ever find redemption. He had done so many terrible things, betrayed so many people. How could he ever be forgiven?

Luke, on the other hand, never lost faith in Vader. In fact, he believed so strongly he was willing to pay the ultimate price for his forgiveness. There are many people like Vadar who look back on their mistakes and think it’s too late, but they are wrong. I doesn’t matter how far we’ve strayed or how mangled we’ve become, Jesus gave his life so that we could be forgiven (John 3:16). God doesn’t need to save you, He already has.

With these five Christian messages may the FAITH be with you.

Dear Lord, we thank You for Your word and the lessons we can learn in life.  Help us to always be prepared to serve You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Miracles

Deuteronomy 10:21 (ESV)

He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

If you’ve ever looked through the pages of the Bible, it seems that miracles are everywhere. Burning bushes, talking donkeys, floating axe heads, people being healed, and water being turned to wine are just a few of the examples seen throughout the pages of Scripture. Did such events really occur? Do they happen today?

People report miracles happening all the time. I’ve heard people say things like “every time a baby is born it’s a miracle” or “I was almost late for a meeting when miraculously a spot opened just as I was pulling into the parking lot.” Are such events as babies being born or parking spots opening up really miracles?

Good timing is not a miracle (like getting that perfect parking spot), but neither are all acts of God’s working in the world. Christians believe that God is ultimately in control. God governs the world and He is constantly acting, sustaining the universe, answering prayers, and working in the lives of His people. But these things are not defined as miracles; they are, however, part of God’s regular workings. In other words, miracles are part of God’s working in the world, but not all acts of God’s working in the world are miraculous.

So, what, then, are miracles? Miracles are, in many ways, contrary to the normal happenings of things in the world. A clear example of a miracle is Jesus turning water into wine. That’s something that just doesn’t happen. The stuff that makes up wine is completely different than the stuff that makes up water. Chemically, it’s impossible for such an event as water turning to wine to happen on its own. Another example of a miracle is a person being raised from the dead. On any given day, people just don’t rise from the dead. Such an event is contrary to normal, everyday experience, and it is contrary to the laws of nature (like the law of gravity or the second law of thermodynamics).

Another important thing to keep in mind about miracles is that they do not just happen arbitrarily or by chance; rather, miracles are caused by an "agent"—someone who is able to carry out or perform such an action—for a specific purpose. But this agent is not just any agent. The agent must be powerful enough to perform some kind of action that goes contrary to nature. Christians believe this agent is God.

But do miracles really happen? Do they happen today?

It ultimately comes down to what a person does with God. If God exists, as Christians believe, then it doesn’t seem at all that impossible to affirm that miracles really do happen in the world—even today. 

Dear Lord, we thank You for the miracles You preform today to show how powerful You are. Help us to never forget what You do for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Embarrassed?

Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Sometimes it’s easy to be embarrassed about being a follower of Jesus.

Maybe you have a Christian group at school or work and you’re a little bit embarrassed so don’t turn up? Or maybe you’ve never filled out the ‘Religious Views’ bit on Facebook?

It’s easy to understand that we are sometimes embarrassed, or even ashamed to follow Jesus: Jesus himself says that his followers will be hated on his account. What will help you to be unashamed to follow Jesus?

At the center of Christianity is the death of Jesus upon a cross. 2000 years ago, the cross was considered a pretty horrific symbol and so to say that you worship a Jewish guy who was crucified was considered foolish.

Under that context Paul writes in Romans 1:15-16 that he is eager and unashamed to preach Jesus. What made it possible for Paul to have that type of attitude? Why was he unashamed when it was so easy to be ashamed?

The word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’. In Romans 1, Paul understands that the gospel of Jesus really is good news.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Paul wasn't ashamed of The Gospel, and here's why:

It is the power of God... – although the cross of Jesus looks weak, the good news of the gospel is that at the cross God shows his power. At the cross, Jesus powerfully defeats sin, Satan and death. The message and word of Jesus is how God shows his power in this world.

...for the salvation of everyone who believes – the gospel of Jesus is so powerful that WHOEVER believes it will be saved by Jesus. The offer of God in the gospel is to be rescued from the judgement that we rightly deserve for our rebellion against God. Paul knows that everybody needs to hear about Jesus, and Paul knows that God wants to save people as that message goes out.

... and it reveals a righteousness from God – this term could mean a number of things, one of the meanings of this phrase in Romans is the right standing that people can have before God. It’s clear that all have sinned and are unable to make themselves righteous by obeying the law. God makes a righteousness available that is not about obeying the law, but about having faith. Faith and trust in Jesus, the one who – as he dies on the cross – takes upon himself what we deserve for our sin.

Paul knows that in the gospel of Jesus, we see the power of God, that saves all who believe, through faith in Jesus and the righteousness that he brings. This really is good news. He’s not ashamed of it.

Neither should we be embarrassed by Jesus! At home, school and on the internet when we’re tempted to be embarrassed about Jesus, we need to remember that the gospel is good news! We need Jesus, and all people need Jesus. So, don’t be ashamed to be a follower of Jesus.

Dear Lord, help us to not be ashamed of You or the Gospel. Help us to be bold like Paul. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The worry box

Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

There are two days you should never spend a lot of time thinking about – yesterday and tomorrow. Many of us are crucified with two thieves. On the right is yesterday, and on the left is tomorrow. He doesn’t want us worrying about the past, and He certainly doesn’t want us worrying about tomorrow.

There was a man who began to worry that he would get cancer because it had been prevalent in his family. He worried about it for 30 years and then suddenly died of a heart attack. My friend, worrying wastes your time. Not only that, it puts within you negative self-talk that can affect your choices and your actions. Should you be concerned about your health? Yes. Should you make efforts to eat wisely and exercise? Yes. Should you manage your money well? Yes. But to be bound to worry on these things will only prevent you from enjoying your health and blessings.

Jesus told us how to get rid of the worry that He forbids by changing our priorities. He says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The problem with worry is that we are seeking the wrong things – we need to seek God and His kingdom and everything else will fall into place.

I have always struggles with being a worrier. If you are prone to struggle with the stronghold of worry like me, I suggest that you make yourself a worry box by cutting a slot in the top of an old shoe-box. When Satan drives you to worry, write your worry down on a slip of paper. Talk to the Lord and tell Him what you have written down and that you believe He is able to take care of whatever worries you put in that box. You cannot handle them, but you know that He can. Then fold up your worry, drop it in the box, and leave it to the Lord. He promises to give you a peace that can only come from Him.

Will a worry box make your problems go away? Probably not. But what it will do is shift the weight of those problems off of you and back onto God. He is strong enough to carry that burden for you. Let Him.

Dear Lord, help us to give you all the worries of our heart. Thank You for taking care of them for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.