We live in a world where people won’t admit to an absolute truth because they’re afraid of “offending someone”, or because they were taught the idea of “What is true for me isn’t necessarily true for you”. There are countless examples of this throughout our media, our school systems, and almost every social environment in America.

Children are taught that beliefs other than Christianity are perfectly fine because truth and morality are just a matter of perspective. To show you how absurd the “Relative Morality” train of thought is, let’s take a look at this example:

You get home to find your neighbor walking out with your new High-Definition Flatscreen TV. You ask him “what he thinks he’s doing”, and he responds that “he’s taking your TV”. You tell him that “it’s wrong, and he can’t do that.” However, he replies that “He sees nothing wrong with it, so he’s going to take it”.

While this is an extreme example, it does follow the logic of how people who believe in no absolute truth think. Do you see what nonsense relative morality is?! If “right and wrong” is decided by man, then he can do whatever he wants because “He think it’s okay”. This train of thought allows for abortion, sexual impurity, anger, rage, theft and all sorts of evil.

God tells us very clearly that “right and wrong” applies to everyone, not just people who find it convenient to agree with it at the current moment.

Next time you meet someone who believes in no absolute truth, sit him (or her) down and ask them how they can justify that logic. Then explain to him the truth of Christianity. (Feel free to customize the hi-def TV example to your own situation. I just happen to like hi-def screens )

What is idolization? The dictionary defines it as “to worship as a god” or “to regard with blind adoration”. The Bible states clearly that idolatry is wrong, but unfortunately the World does not seem to rid herself of her evil habits.

So, why is idolatry bad? In the book of Exodus the Lord gave his chosen people two stone tablets, each inscribed with what we know today as the “Ten Commandments”. The second commandment states:

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.” – Exodus 20:4-6

Wait. People don’t fall down and worship statues anymore, so how does this apply to the modern World?

Merriam-Webster defines the word “idol” as “a representation or symbol of an object of worship”. When God set forth that commandment He meant it to apply to everything (hence: anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below), not just metal figurines in the figure of false gods.

To commit idolatry you only have to replace the center of your life with something other than God. In fact, if you take a step back and look at America’s economy, an alarming percentage of it is fueled by idolatry:

• Teen Idols
• Models
• Singers/Bands
• Superheroes
• Movie Stars (TV Show Stars)
• Books, Magazines, Comics
• And the list goes on…

Scary thought, isn’t it?

Individually none of these are wrong. They are a great source of entertainment and amusement. However, when interest turns into obsession there is a problem. As Christian’s God should be the center of our lives. Not a Band or a TV Show. Becoming infatuated with the material items of this world serves only to distract us from what really matters.

Be strong. You have the Creator of the Universe as your ally!

Today I’m not going to post on a Biblical Scripture or Current Event. But I would like to share with you a list I wrote a couple days ago while I was reading my Bible:

8 Things I Love about God:

• He died for for me.
• Like a Best Friend, He is always there when I need Him.
• He is the Creator of the Universe, and He takes the time to care about an insignificant person like me.
• He knows the number of hairs on my head, and the number of freckles on my skin.
• No matter what time of day, He is always ready to listen to my prayers, thanks, complaints, and confusions.
• When I stumble and fall, He helps me get back on my feet.
• He always knows what’s best for me.
• He is my Savior.

Feel free to add on to this list in the comments section. May God bless the rest of your day!

The latest issue of Newsweek arrived a few days ago. In the past I’ve tried to avoid these types of magazines, not wanting to get mixed up in the political and social mess that inevitably comes with it. But lately I’ve been trying to gain a better understanding of our current events; since how are we, as Christians, supposed to make informed choices if we don’t know what the heck is going on in the World?

The cover of this issue peaked my interest. A large Red, White, and Blue flag wrapped around a cross, with the words “The Politics of Jesus” written boldly next to it. Newsweek actually featured THREE articles on Christianity in this issue. In this post I’d like to focus on the last of these three articles, entitled “The Case against Faith”, written by self-proclaimed atheist Sam Harris.

For those of you who don’t have a hardcopy of Newsweek on hand, you can read the article online.

Sam Harris starts out his article with:

Despite a full century of scientific insights attesting to the antiquity of life and the greater antiquity of the Earth, more than half the American population believes that the entire cosmos was created 6,000 years ago. This is, incidentally, about a thousand years after the Sumerians invented glue. Those with the power to elect presidents and congressmen—and many who themselves get elected—believe that dinosaurs lived two by two upon Noah’s Ark, that light from distant galaxies was created en route to the Earth and that the first members of our species were fashioned out of dirt and divine breath, in a garden with a talking snake, by the hand of an invisible God.

Despite a full century of scientific insights attesting to the antiquity of life and the greater antiquity of the Earth… Ok, please stop. Are you referring to the alleged “theory” of evolution? If so, I hope the word “attest” was a typo, for the only reason Evolution is still being taught in schools is for a lack of a better replacement (other than Christianity). You speak as though Evolution has already been proven without a doubt. How can you say that when there are so many holes in it? Evolution’s “greatest find” is skeleton called “Lucy”, of which only a very small portion of the skeleton was ever found. It doesn’t even have a face for scientists to study.

Take a look around you. Look at all the plants, animals, and natural wonders, or perhaps even the human brain. You could spend a lifetime studying just one of these spectacular creations (out of billions and trillions), and you still wouldn’t be able to understand even a small portion of its essence. Yet everything mysteriously fits together. Do you really think that all these species, working together perfectly for the benefit of the environment, were randomly generated from a COSMIC SOUP?!

If we were made from a bubbling lunch entree how do we know that good is good, and evil is evil? How are we even capable of thought at all? How do you explain the small voice (sometimes called a conscience) inside warning you not to steal that delicious candy bar from the store?

The answer to these questions is not evolution. The answer is God, a Creator.

Mr. Harris continues his onslaught…

This is embarrassing. But add to this comedy of false certainties the fact that 44 percent of Americans are confident that Jesus will return to Earth sometime in the next 50 years, and you will glimpse the terrible liability of this sort of thinking. Given the most common interpretation of Biblical prophecy, it is not an exaggeration to say that nearly half the American population is eagerly anticipating the end of the world. It should be clear that this faith-based nihilism provides its adherents with absolutely no incentive to build a sustainable civilization—economically, environmentally or geopolitically. Some of these people are lunatics, of course, but they are not the lunatic fringe. We are talking about the explicit views of Christian ministers who have congregations numbering in the tens of thousands. These are some of the most influential, politically connected and well-funded people in our society.

If by “end of the world” you mean “eternal life with my Savior”, than yes, I am looking forward to it. We are all sinners, Mr. Harris, and Jesus paid for that sin with His life. It is only those who reject God’s forgiveness that will be facing “the end of the world”. In Revelation 22:12-16 Jesus tells us:

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

Christian’s are not going to simply “party” while we wait for the return of Jesus. God has laid out laws for all mankind to follow. Tell me how “You shall not murder”, “You shall not steal”, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor”, and so many other moral commandments have a bad effect on society? So many Christian’s dedicate their lives to serving others; traveling overseas to help the sick and the poor.

Think about some of the great people in our Country’s history. George Washington, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa… just to name a few. It can be said without a doubt that all of three of them dedicated their lives to others. It is people like this — Christians — that have made our Country great.

Are you really embarrassed to have people with those kinds of moral values being citizens of this Country? Do you prefer people who base their sense of right and wrong on what suits them at the current moment? If so, I feel sorry for you. You obviously missed what this Country was founded on in high school.

Sam Harris goes on to say that religious people “will happily contribute to the surplus of human misery if it serves their religious beliefs“. As an example he provides President Bush who used a veto to deny federal funding for embryonic-stem-cell research. Mr. Harris argues that this could be a breakthrough in medicine for the reason that stem cells could become any tissue in the human body. That’s right… but if scientists didn’t KILL IT, nine months later a baby would be born! He says that since a 3-day old human embryo is only a collection of 150 cells, that it’s “ok”. Who are you to decide that lab research is more important than the soul inside that tiny baby? By your reasoning it would be “OK” to use a short person for scientific research because they’re not as big as someone taller. No one has the right to kill an innocent baby. Period.

He continues his article by saying that the United States is a super power, and as such, the President is in the most important position in the world. He then mocks President Bush for praying to God for help in making decisions. Tell me this, Mr. Harris. If you were in such an “important position”, wouldn’t you want help from the Creator of the Universe? I know I would.

There is currently a debate happening on the Christian Place Forums in regards to Saddam Hussein’s death sentence. While I’ll be the first to agree that he has committed terrible and horrifying atrocities, I do not believe that the death sentence is the answer.

Did Saddam’s actions warrant the United States taking military efforts to stop him? The short answer, yes. A man who massacres, rapes, and tortures thousands of innocent people certainly needs to be brought to justice. (I won’t go into the gruesome details of his many crimes here. If you’d like to learn more about them, click this link)

The day Mr. Hussein’s sentence was announced I saw posts all over the internet (on Christian Forums, I might add) exclaiming the “good news”, followed with specific details on how he should be tortured first. This made me sick. The death of any man, no matter what he has done, is nothing to celebrate. This also brings up another question – Why does the World want him dead so badly? Is it really because it is the “right” course of action, or does it originate from a desire to have revenge for all the people he has hurt?

We went to war with Iraq to save lives. The threat that Saddam once represented is no more. Why the need to kill Saddam, thus making him a martyr to all terrorists? Why not give him life imprisonment, and let him reflect on everything he has done? He may even repent his sins and accept Jesus as his Savior. Is it such a terrible thing to give him that chance?

Remember that all of us have sinned and deserve to be sent to hell. Jesus came and died for those sins so we could ALL have a second chance. That means everyone; not just those who we consider to be “good” or “decent” people.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Mark 2:17

EDIT: My thanks to “Feathin” for reminding me of the verse above.

Kent Hovind is a Christian from Florida (Click here for a full bio: http://www.drdino.com/articles.php?spec=71). Known as “Dr. Dino”, he travels the country giving seminars and talks on Creation Science, and showing the flaws in the so called “theory” of evolution. I’ve listened to many of them (on tape) and think he has done a great job spreading the word of God.

However, I recently learned that Mr. Hovind has been arrested on federal charges, including making threats against federal officials, filing false complaints and tax evasion (of approx. $500,000). He has been quoted in saying that “He is an employee of God, and that he doesn’t have to pay taxes.”

I had a lot of respect for him before this incident, but after hearing that statement I lost it all. What picture of “Christianity” does he think that’s projecting to the world?! Think of all the people who are now viewing Christian’s as people who believe it’s acceptable to commit Federal Offenses. It’s horrifying!

I think Mr. Hovind should take the time to read through the Book of Matthew again; specifically, Matthew 22:17-21:

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

I think that sets the issue of paying taxes in stone.

Remember that being a Christian isn’t a “day job” that we can cast aside when we’re not at Church or among other Christians. As Christians we are God’s ambassadors, representing GOD in everything we do and to everyone we come in contact with.

Take some time to think about it. Are you displaying a “Christian” image to the World?

All throughout history Christians have been mocked, threatened, or persecuted because of their beliefs. Noah was laughed at for building a big boat, John the baptist was thrown in prison and beheaded, Stephen was stoned to death, and many more suffered deeply for their religious convictions.

Today we don’t have to worry about being “stoned to death” or “executed”; however, being a Christian isn’t exactly society’s definition of being “popular and cool”. No doubt you have been made fun of in school because of it, and maybe even by your friends too. Please read through Acts 5:17-42 (with particular emphasis on verses 40-42), and see how the apostles reacted when they were rebuked and flogged by the Sanhedrin (the elders of Israel) for their beliefs.

Now that you’ve read that, let’s look at those last two verses again:

The Apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
– Acts 5:40-42

Isn’t that inspiring?! I pray that we all will have that kind of convinction; so that even if we are beaten and reproached, we will rejoice for being found worthy to suffer for Jesus.

If you ever do find yourself feeling discouraged, try reading this verse:

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
– Spoken by Jesus, in Matthew 5:10-12

God knows what you’re going through (He did, after all, suffer humiliation and death on a cross for YOU!). Remember that you are on the right path, and that with His help, you can help others come to know the love of Jesus too.

Being a Christian Teen can be hard. Everywhere you look society is telling us that giving in to tempations and immorality is “cool”, and if you don’t indulge yourself in them then you’re nothing better than a “wimp”. I have a lot to say about things such as drugs, violence, and impure physical actions, but right now I’d like to focus more on “thought” than “action”.

In the book of Matthew Jesus tells us that to commit murder we do not need to literally “kill” someone, but only have to think it in our hearts. I believe this is a very important lesson, and that the same rule applies to any other sin, whether it be anger at a sibling or impure thoughts about another person.

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their mind set on what the Spirit desires.
– Romans 8:5

So, how do we control wishing that our siblings get sent to a deserted island next time they make us angry? It’s hard, but we can conquer those evil thoughts with God’s help. Just ask him, and remember these two verses from Philippians whenever you feel like you’re losing the battle:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
– Philippians 4:8

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
– Philippians 4:13

Sometimes life feels like we’re going through a tunnel; a time in our lives so full of dissapointment, sorrow, and misery that it feels like there’s no end in sight. I was going through a period like this 5-6 months ago, and a friend recommended that I listen to this song:

It’s called “Tunnel” from the album “Wherever You Are” by Third Day, and here are the lyrics:

Well I won’t pretend to know what you’re thinking
And I can’t begin to know what you’re going through
And I won’t deny the pain that you’re feeling
But I’m gonna try and give a little hope to you
Just remember what I told you
There’s so much your living for

There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel for you
For you
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
Shining bright at the end of this tunnel for you
For you
So keep holding on

You got your disappointments and sorrows
You ought to share the weight of that load with me
Then you will find that the light of tomorrow
Well it brings new life for your eyes to see
So remember what i told you
There’s so much your living for

There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel for you
For you
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
Shining bright at the end of this tunnel for you
For you
So keep holding on
Keep holding on

So remember what i told you
There’s so much your living for

There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel for you
For you yeah
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
Shinging bright at the end of this tunnel for you
For you yeah
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel ooh
For you, for you yeah
Shinging bright at the end of this tunnel
For you, for you
So keep holding on
Keep holding on
Keep holding on now

You got your disappointments and sorrows
I’m gonna try and give a little hope to you

In our sinful and human nature, it is usually our first instinct to blame someone when we’re in trouble (and unfortunately, the easiest person to blame for most people is God). I hope this song will remind us that no matter how painful or bleak our current situation is, if we place our trust in God, He will protect us.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

Great job Third Day!

Last week I started a new Devotional Study, in which I’ll be reading through all the great stories in the Bible. I’ve noticed that when I study passages for the second or third time, I sometimes catch something important that I missed in previous readings. (Plus I love learning all the important lessons these stories have to teach us)

Yesterday I read through the Book of Esther. I have always found this story particularly inspirational. Esther isn’t a very long book (Just 6 pages in my Bible), so please take the time to read through it: Esther 1-10

Now that it’s fresh in our minds, I’d like to pose a few questions:

• What are the chances that King Xerxes would pick Esther out of all the other young women in the land? (Just imagine the number of girls who wanted to be Queen…)
• What are the chances that this would happen before Haman made the decree to kill the Jews?
• What are the chances that Esther’s and Mordecai’s ancestors would be brought to this land by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, all those years before? (2:6)

The only explanation is that it was part of God’s divine plan – He placed her there for a specific purpose so that she could save the Jews from death. Isn’t our God an awesome God?

Like Esther, God has a plan for each of our lives. Sometimes it won’t involve something as big as saving an entire kingdom, but big or little, we all play a part in His special plan. We should remember this as we make choices throughout our life, and remember to pray for guidance and ask Him what we should do.