What Every Christian Should Know #2

Here is #2 of Keith Giles' series, TOP 10 THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (But Probably Doesn't).

Here's just a bit of what he had to say.

Number 2 - "Belief Is Not Enough (Or It's Not What You Think It Is)"

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life"- Jesus
(John 3:16)

In the actual passage, Jesus is having a conversation with a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus. In the conversation Jesus is not asking Nicodemus to believe that Jesus is standing there, or that he is real. Obviously Nicodemus believed Jesus was real and alive because they were having an active conversation together. So, to "believe" in Jesus is more than having mental knowledge of him, or an acceptance of a series of facts about Jesus as being true.

What does Jesus intend to teach here? I think it all hangs on how you understand his use of the word "Believe". If you think Jesus meant "to think that Jesus was an historical person", or even "to accept that Jesus was the Messiah", you’d be missing the real point.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE?
I believe that what Jesus was trying to communicate in John 3:16 is the importance of living out what you say you believe, not simply saying what you believe and then living any way you please.

One way to express this is to ask yourself what it is you do each and every day of your life. I would suggest that Biblical belief can be expressed in the statement "Show me what you do, how you behave, and that is what you really believe".

WHAT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE?
So, what do you really believe about Jesus? It's revealed in the way you live your life. It's revealed in the way you treat people. It's revealed in the way you think of yourself. It's revealed in the way you behave when you think no one is looking.

If you have really confessed and believed that Jesus is Lord, then your life will reflect that reality as you submit to the rule and reign of God in your life. It will be revealed as you search the scriptures for wisdom and in the way you apply it to your everyday life. If you have confessed it and yet continue to rule your own life as you see fit, then in reality it is you in control and not Jesus, therefore, Jesus is not Lord.

For more of this article, go to the link at the top of this post.

Good For the Soul

Laughter is good for the soul. So is a nice warm, hearty, meaty bowl of chili.

I try to indulge in both whenever I get the chance. I suggest everyone else does the same.

That is all for today.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone!

Goodbye Kenny

Last night I found out that a friend of mine had passed away. I didn't know Kenny Mohmand extremely well. I met him on a mission trip to Colorado last year at this time. This exact week, in fact. What I did know of him was that he was a very fun guy, a people person and a lover of God.

But yesterday, God decided that it was time that Kenny be with Him. His death comes as a shock and he will surely be missed by many, many people.

He leaves behind a wife and a six month old child. I ask that anyone who reads this will take time to pray for them, to help them cope with their loss.

We'll miss you Kenny.

101 Reasons to Own a T-101

After watching the first two Terminator movies again and in response to the new Fox television show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles that has its season finale tonight, I've decided to compile a list of reasons why it would be good to have a T-101 model Terminator in your possession. Here's what I came up with.

101 Reasons to Own a T-101

1. You’ll always get out of a traffic ticket. Always.
2. You are guaranteed to get the foul ball at baseball game.
3. You’ll have a role model to look up to.
4. That cool Austrian accent.
5. He can help you with any computer problem you may have.
6. He can stitch you up if you fall out of the shower or get hit by a bus.
7. You’ll look cool simply by being seen with him.
8. Fun weekends at the gun range.
9. He’s the perfect security guard.
10. He never eats.
11. He never sleeps.
12. You can cuddle with him whenever you want.
13. He’ll always remember where you parked.
14. He can reach the top shelf at the grocery store.
15. You can sit on his lap anytime (he may even bounce you on his knee).
16. He’s a great cook (Seriously, his chicken parmesan is AMAZING).
17. If someone is being loud in a movie theater, he’ll shoot them.
18. He’s a great listener.
19. When playing Twister, he’s always willing to spin.
20. He’ll always be willing to scratch your back.
21. He gives great body massages.
22. You’ll never have to do dishes again.
23. He can open a jar of pickles for you.
24. He can sing and/or rock you to sleep.
25. He’s a great conversation starter.
26. He can crush a keg on his forehead.
27. He can get you into any nightclub.
28. Two words: personal trainer.
29. You can save on books on tape by having him read to you.
30. He’ll be willing to wait on hold with insurance companies for you.
31. You’ll never get lost.
32. He’ll give you piggy back rides.
33. He always hangs up on telemarketers and sometimes threatens them.
34. He can take out the trash.
35. He can get the mail.
36. He’s good at arranging floral bouquets.
37. He’s a good DJ.
38. He gives great bear hugs.
39. He’ll let you cry on his shoulder.
40. He knows the Heimlich Maneuver.
41. He gives great sponge baths.
42. He’s a good mechanic.
43. You’ll have a chauffeur.
44. He can help you pick out sunglasses.
45. He’s always honest, sometimes brutally so.
46. You’ll have a good jogging partner.
47. You’ll have someone to weed your garden.
48. He can mow your lawn on hot summer days.
49. He’s a skilled bartender.
50. The prank calls are phenomenal.
51. He’ll do your homework.
52. He can calculate 15% of a check in .00000025 seconds.
53. He’s an amazing paintballer.
54. He’ll take the family picture without feeling left out.
55. He can operate any kind of vehicle, and you never know when you’ll need to fly a helicopter or drive a tank.
56. He knows the future.
57. He’s good with children.
58. He’s good with pets (except for dogs).
59. He can rescue you and your loved ones from a burning building.
60. He’ll remember people’s birthdays and anniversaries for you.
61. He can find the candles if the power goes out.
62. He does a great job putting coins into their paper rolls.
63. He always remembers to record your favorite shows.
64. He’s always a designated driver.
65. He would take a bullet for your any day.
66. He’s extremely good at making shadow puppets.
67. You can send him to the store to buy embarrassing products like Preparation H.
68. If there’s a problem with your neck or back, he can fix it with a touch of a finger.
69. He can change a light bulb, even if it’s still hot.
70. He’s sure to break out the guitar at a bonfire and start the singin’.
71. He’ll make sure you’re never late for work.
72. He’s a good line dancer.
73. He has great taste in leather jackets.
74. He speaks Spanish…sort of.
75. He can clap on beat.
76. He’s not afraid of terrorists.
77. Terrorists are afraid of him.
78. You’ll have someone to play catch with.
79. He can hold the antenna for you to get the perfect signal while you watch your favorite television shows.
80. He’s good at counting cards.
81. He can pick the kids up from school.
82. He can push the kids on the swing set.
83. He can reach to put the star on top of the Christmas tree.
84. He can put up a pretty good fireworks show for the Fourth of July.
85. You can impress your emo friends by having him cut himself.
86. If you get into a car accident, you won’t have to wait for the Jaws of Life.
87. He has a built-in carbon monoxide detector.
88. He has a strong handshake
89. He’s a great Guitar Hero partner.
90. He can play both parts of Heart and Soul on the piano.
91. He knows how to effectively use all the components of a Swiss Army Knife.
92. He’s great at starting fires for cozy evenings.
93. He knows the six degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon for anyone.
94. He’s good with a plunger.
95. He’s fun to go spelunking with.
96. He’ll act as a lifeguard at the pool for your kids
97. If you go skydiving and chicken out at the last minute, he’ll help you by pushing you out of the plane.
98. He’s equipped with the highest virus protection imaginable.
99. He can find the best deals at garage sales.
100. He can find the location of Osama Bin Ladin.
101. He can kick Chuck Norris’ sorry ass any day.

Time to Get a New Watch

Things are breaking on me. Last week, I leaned back in my swivel chair and the back went out on me. Luckily I had a spare (this chair had been dying for some time), but it sucked. I liked that chair. The new one's not bad. It's kind of growing on me now.

This morning I looked at my watch and noticed it was on the wrong time. Then I noticed it wasn't ticking at all. My guess is that the battery is dead and not the watch. I hope that's the case. I don't feel like getting a new watch anytime soon. I don't really have the money right now, and I don't have the time to find a new watch.

That last line was a joke.

After I got back from class today I tried turning my desk lamp on. That didn't go over so well. The switch wasn't turning the right way. I tried to force it and something inside it snapped. There's something else that died on me.

These things are annoying, but not awful. At least nothing important has broken yet.

Ryan: 0 Dumpster: 2

Joshua: The Crossing

Joshua 3-5:12

Joshua wakes up early the morning of the crossing and leads Israel from Shittim to the Jordan. They camp there and Joshua tells his officers to give orders to the people. They are to wait for the ark of the covenant, carried by the Levite priests, to move. Only then are they to follow behind it. They are told to keep a distance between themselves and the ark and that the ark will lead them into Canaan.

God will lead them into the Promised Land.

After three days, Joshua commands the priests to take up the ark and begin marching toward the river. Again, the Lord tells Joshua that He is with him, just as He was with Moses and gives him another command.

"You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"

He has the priests do just that and they obey. He announces to the whole of Israel that they will see evidence that God is with them and that He will lead them to conquer all the tribes in Canaan.

"By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite."

The priests step foot in the Jordan and the water begins to recede where they stand and rise up in a heap up river near a city called Adam. The Israelites cross the Jordon on dry land, just as they had the Red Sea forty years earlier. 40,000 troops from Reuben, Gad and Manasseh cross over in full battle array and march into the plains of Jericho.

Per God's command, Joshua takes one man from each of the twelve tribes to fetch twelve stones from the river bed, near the priest's feet. They take these stones to the new Israelite encampment and set them down as a memorial of their crossing. Joshua also takes twelve stones from the river bed and piles them near where the priests stand with the ark as a second memorial.

After the whole of Israel has crossed, the priests are commanded to cross as well. As soon as they set foot on the far side of the river, the waters of the Jordan fall back again and flow as before.

The Israelites camp at a place called Gilgal. Here, Joshua sets up the memorial of the twelve stones and tells the people that it will be a reminder for their children that God allowed His people to cross the Jordan on dry land.

The crossing does not go unnoticed by the people of Canaan. The Kings of the Amorites hear of the Israelites crossing on dry land and they lose any hope that they may have had against Israel.

Now forty years before, after the exodus from Egypt, Moses commanded the men of Israel to be circumcised as a covenant before God. But during their time in the wilderness, many sons were born that were not circumcised. So Joshua commands all the men of Israel to be circumcised to renew the covenant for a new generation.

They stay in Gilgal to heal and celebrate Passover there. The day after Passover, they begin to enjoy the fruits of the land that had been promised to them hundreds of years before. They eat unleavened bread and grain from the new land. The manna that God had supplied for Israel to eat no longer comes after this day, as they can now be sustained by their promised fruits.

But the land has not been taken yet. Joshua begins to look toward Jericho.