31 Mar, 2008
God thinks you're marvelous!
Teen dies after corrective breast surgery
BOCA RATON, Fla. - A South Florida teenager who was captain of her high school cheer leading squad and had plans to become a doctor died after corrective breast surgery, a family attorney said Tuesday.
Stephanie Kuleba, 18, died Saturday, after suffering a rare reaction to anesthesia medication she received during surgery, according to reports. Kuleba was rushed to Delray Medical Center about two hours into the procedure to correct asymmetrical breasts and inverted areola, family attorney Roberto Stanziale said.
Grieving friends turned Kuleba's parking space at a Boca Raton high school into a makeshift memorial with flowers, candles and a teddy bear. Friends called Kuleba "Sunshine" because of her blonde hair and smile.
"I have chills right now just thinking about it," Ashley Gutknecht, 18, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "It doesn't seem real."
photo & story courtesy msnbc.msn.com, 3/26/08
Psalm 139:13-15 (NLT)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about our self-image?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain:
139:13-15 God's character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God's Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker does for us.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Stephanie, the teenage girl who died from a reaction to anesthesia during breast surgery. I don't know what she or her parents were thinking or her real motive, but the news reports make it clear that this surgery was cosmetic in nature rather than a health issue.
Though the death from anesthesia was rare, the idea that a teenager is not happy about her or his body is not rare.
Sadly, our media-driven culture has a stronger influence on our self-image than our Creator.
The next time you are struggling with who you are and how you look, remember that God thinks you are MARVELOUS!
How can we apply today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Look through photo albums (or the box of pictures) of yourself growing up. As you laugh and remember, thank God for making you so wonderfully complex and that He thinks you are MARVELOUS!
- Memorize today's scripture...one way you can better see yourself the way God sees you is to let His Spirit make His Word part of you.
- Whenever you find yourself immersed in the media and you find yourself being tempted to compare yourself to the "beautiful people" in the world, stop and thank God for making you - you!
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
Talk about today's story with your friends. Ask each other how often you wish you looked different? What makes some people feel OK about who they are and what they look like? Talk about the uncertainty of life...who thinks about dying during surgery when you're a teenager? Listen carefully to your friends' responses and thoughts...it's part of their story....you may have the opportunity to talk about how Christ in your story affects your self-image.
28 Mar, 2008
Hey, did you hear about...
Engagement Ring for Jamie Lynn?
Is it going to be a shotgun wedding for Jamie Lynn Spears? People reports Britney's pregnant little sis, 16, has received a diamond ring from hometown beau Casey Aldridge, 18.
A Spears family insider tells the mag that the swelling "Zoey 101" starlet, who is reportedly about six months along, has been excitedly blinding friends and family in Louisiana and Mississippi with the glittery bauble.
"She's got an engagement ring," the source deadpans. "She's been showing it off, talking about it."
Since revealing her pregnancy to OK! in a December cover story, Jamie Lynn has been lying low in Kentwood, La., hanging out with friends and earning her GED.
When asked about the marriage issue during the interview, she explained, "Right now, we're just focusing on the baby and having a healthy baby. We're trying just to think about that right now so we haven't really talked about that."
The engagement rumblings come on the heels of a PageSix.com item that claimed the teenage sweethearts were temporarily "on the outs," much to the chagrin of mom Lynne.
Alleged a mole, "Lynne feels the public, especially younger crowds, needs to see that Jamie is working things out with Casey."
According to People, there's "no official word" on their purported nuptial plans.
photo & story courtesy tv.msn.com, 3/26/08
Proverbs 25:18 (NLT)
18 Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about gossip?
Solomon didn't have access to the Internet or the tabloids in the check-out lines. He wasn't familiar with Hollywood celebrities having every move they make fleshed out in the media, not to mention the moves they didn't really make! (Yeah, I think they love their own rumors because it keeps them in the news.)
But Solomon was full of wisdom from God and in this verse he makes it very clear that "gossip" is wrong.
Telling a lie is wrong. Lying about someone is downright mean. If you've ever had a serious wound, you know how painful the process of healing can be. The effects of passing on a bit of gossip about someone else can be as painful and long-lasting as a wound.
When you and I gossip, it's sort of like using weapons (ax, sword, arrow) to attack someone else. Slicing and dicing someone with gossip not only hurts them and us, but it also does damage to the name of Christ and the family of God.
Bearing false witness keeps us from being a true witness for Christ.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Talk to God in prayer right now. Confess any sin of gossip in your life. Thank God for His forgiveness. Ask Him for the courage you need to restore any relationships or reputations you may have hurt. Ask Jesus to help you use words to build others up, rather than tear others down.
- If you are guilty of gossip, do whatever you can to go to the right people to apologize and try to let the truth be known.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story scripture and your story to others?
- The next time that Hollywood gossip comes up in conversation, ask those around you why they think people like to hear about rumors and talk about them with others? This will help you learn the perspectives and stories of your friends and family.
- Whenever gossip comes your way, be the one to stop the rumors and/or lies. This is part of living out God's Story to others. (By the way, the story about God? It's all TRUE!)
- Every time you hear gossip, go out of your way to verbally build someone up. The response of others will help you learn their stories and give you opportunity to share more of your story.
- Pray that Jamie Lynn Spears will experience Christ's love and leading in her life at this time, regardless of the stories about her.
27 Mar, 2008
Flaky spending
Illinois-Shaped Corn Flake Sells for $1,350 on eBay
CHICAGO — Two sisters from Virginia sold their Illinois-shaped corn flake on eBay Friday night for $1,350.
"We were biting our nails all the way up to the finish, seeing what would happen," said Melissa McIntire, 23. "There's a lot of relief involved."
The winner of the auction, which lasted more than a week, is the owner of a trivia Web site who wants to add the corn flake to a traveling museum.
"We're starting a collection of pop culture and Americana items," said Monty Kerr of Austin, Texas. "We thought this was a fantastic one."
Kerr owns TriviaMania.com and said he will likely send someone to Virginia to pick up the flake by hand, so it won't be damaged. This isn't the first corn flake that Kerr has tried to buy. He said he purchased a flake billed as the world's largest, but that by the time it was delivered it had crumbled into three pieces.
McIntire and her sister Emily, 15, listed the corn flake on eBay last week, but eBay canceled the auction saying it violated the Web site's food policy.
The sisters restarted their Ebay auction, advertising a coupon redeemable for their corn flake, instead of the cereal itself.
The McIntires said they'll likely use the money for a family vacation.
Copycat items have popped up on eBay, including corn flakes shaped like Hawaii and Virginia. There's also been a potato chip shaped like Florida, and Illinois corn flake paraphernalia, including T-shirts and buttons.
photo & story courtesy foxnews.com, 3/22/08
Luke 12:33 (NLT)
33
According to today's God's Story scripture, what does our use of money reveal about our character or values?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain:
12:33 Money seen as an end in itself quickly traps us and cuts us off from both God and the needy. The key to using money wisely is to see how much we can use for God's purposes, not how much we can accumulate for ourselves. Does God's love touch your wallet or purse? Does your money free you to help others? If so, you are storing up lasting treasures in heaven. If your financial goals and possessions hinder you from giving generously , loving others, or serving God, sell what you must to bring your life into line with God's purposes.
OK, my intent here is not to condemn the person who spent $1350 on a corn flake or those who will pay money to go see it as part of some traveling museum show. It might just be my opinion, but you have to be sort of a "flake" to do either!
With $1350, you could adopt three third-world children (feed, clothe, and educate them) for an entire year!
But if we're honest, we all waste money don't we? How many clothes, how many speciality coffees, how much entertainment is OK?
Well that's between you and God, but if we're serious about our financial story connecting with God's Story, we'll discover that loving people with eternity in mind is at the core of God's perspective on money.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- In prayer, open up your heart and bank account to God every day and give it back to Him to use for His purposes.
- Keep track of your daily spending (everything....bills, entertainment, a soft drink here and there...) for one month and let God help you make any needed changes to help you line up your life with His eternal purposes.
- Whenever you eat any cereal with flakes in the near future, let God remind you to spend your money wisely.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
This would be a good conversation with your friends who follow Christ and with those who don't. Bring up the story of the $1350 corn flake and get their take on the story. Would they pay money to go see it? Will they start looking in their breakfast bowls for possible treasure? Have some good laughs but share what you learned in today's God's Story scripture...how Jesus is asking us to think about our perspective on money...how you waste money...how you'd like to change your perspective...listen for their response...
26 Mar, 2008
You're a big help!
World's tallest man struggles to fit in
PODOLYANTSI, Ukraine—Leonid Stadnik's phenomenal height has forced him to quit a job he loved, to stoop as he moves around his house and to spend most of his time in his tiny home village because he cannot fit in a car or bus.
But Stadnik, who according to the Guinness World Records is the world's tallest human, says his condition has also taught him that the world is filled with kindhearted strangers.
Since his recognition by Ukrainian record keepers four years ago, and by Guinness last year, people from all over Ukraine and the world have shipped him out sized clothing, provided his home with running water and recently presented him with a giant bicycle.
"Thanks to good people I have shoes and clothes," said the 37-year-old former veterinarian, who still lives with his 66-year-old mother.
In 2006, Stadnik was officially measured at 2.57 meters tall (8 feet 5 inches), surpassing a Chinese man to claim the title of the world's tallest person.
His growth spurt began at age 14 after a brain operation that apparently stimulated the overproduction of growth hormone. Doctors say he has been growing ever since.
While he may appear intimidating due to his size, Stadnik charms visitors with a broad grin and childlike laugh. He seems at times like a lonely boy trapped in a giant's body, even keeping stuffed toys on his pillow.
Stadnik's stature has earned him worldwide attention, but it has mostly a burden to him. He has to battle to lead anything close to a normal life.
All the doorways in his one-story brick house are too short for him to pass through without stooping. His 200 kilograms (440 pounds) cause constant knee pain and often force him to move on crutches.
Stadnik loves animals, but he had to quit as a veterinarian at a cattle farm in a nearby village, after suffering frostbite when he walked work in his socks in winter. He could not afford specially made shoes for his 43-centimeter (17-inch) feet.
But his recent fame has brought him friends from all over the world and taught him not to despair.
photo & story courtesy ap & twincities.com, 3/25/08
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the key to showing kindness to others?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain:
5:22,23 The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ's control - we can't obtain them by trying to get them without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to His (1st John 15:4,5). We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As a result , we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law - to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you?
Kindness is part of the fruit of the Spirit. Do others around us experience Christ-like kindness from us?
Today's story about the world's tallest man "struggling to fit in" really caught my attention. You probably know someone who is "struggling to fit in" and they won't receive help because they are probably just one of the "little people" rather than a Guinness record-holder.
We don't know if the people showing kindness to the world's tallest man are Christ-followers, but Christ wants us to show Spirit-produced kindness to the world around us.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- In your daily prayer talks with God, express your desire for His Spirit to control you and produce in you (and through you) the fruit of the Spirit. For the next week, ask Jesus to show you one person every day who could receive some of His kindness through you.
- Read John 15:1-8 to learn more about the fruit that comes with being connected to Jesus, the Vine.
- Keep track in your journal of any ways in which you experience kindness from others and how you share some with others.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- With at least two other friends who follow Christ, make a plan for sharing the goal of showing kindness to three people (at school or work) who struggle with fitting in. See if you can come up with ways for these three people to receive some kindness every day for one month. Watch God change you and them.
- Use today's story about the world's tallest man "struggling to fit in" as a conversation starter with a friend who needs Jesus. Talk about what it must be like for this guy in the Ukraine. Share with your friend an example of how you sometimes struggle with fitting in....ask if he or she ever feels this way?
25 Mar, 2008
Surprise! I'm alive!
Man declared dead feels 'pretty good'
OKLAHOMA CITY - Four months after he was declared brain dead and doctors were about to remove his organs for transplant, Zach Dunlap says he feels "pretty good."
Dunlap was pronounced dead Nov. 19 at United Regional Healthcare System in Wichita Falls, Texas, after he was injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident. His family approved having his organs harvested.
As family members were paying their last respects, he moved his foot and hand. He reacted to a pocketknife scraped across his foot and to pressure applied under a fingernail. After 48 days in the hospital, he was allowed to return home, where he continues to work on his recovery.
On Monday, he and his family were in New York, appearing on NBC's "Today."
"I feel pretty good. but it's just hard ... just ain't got the patience," Dunlap said.
Dunlap, 21, of Frederick, said he has no recollection of the crash.
"I remember a little bit that was about an hour before the accident happened. But then about six hours before that, I remember," he said.
Dunlap said one thing he does remember is hearing the doctors pronounce him dead.
"I'm glad I couldn't get up and do what I wanted to do," he said.
Asked if he would have wanted to get up and shake them and say he's alive, Dunlap responded: "Probably would have been a broken window that went out."
His father, Doug, said he saw the results of the brain scan.
"There was no activity at all, no blood flow at all."
Zach's mother, Pam, said that when she discovered he was still alive, "That was the most miraculous feeling."
"We had gone, like I said, from the lowest possible emotion that a parent could feel to the top of the mountains again," she said.
She said her son is doing "amazingly well," but still has problems with his memory as his brain heals from the traumatic injury.
"It may take a year or more ... before he completely recovers," she said. "But that's OK. It doesn't matter how long it takes. We're just all so thankful and blessed that we have him here."
photo & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 3/24/08
John 20:19-20 (NLT)
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!
John 16:29-33 (NLT)
29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus asked,
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the evidence for Christ's resurrection and why we can count on Him?
Put yourself in the sandals of the disciples. You've been hiding out for a few days since the crucifixion of your Master, wondering if maybe you're next? You're devastated because you don't know if everything Jesus told you is really going to happen?
Then suddenly, there's Jesus standing next to you - alive from the dead! Aren't you sort of glad to hear the words, "Peace be with you."? If you passed out, maybe Jesus repeats these great words when you wake up!
At what point do you think the disciples remembered what Jesus told them about the peace He could provide for them in a troubled world?
The words spoken by Jesus in John 16:33 now took on new meaning, because Jesus had risen from the grave! We too should have courage in spite of life's troubles, because Jesus will not abandon us to go it alone. If we remember that Jesus defeated death and hell, we can count on the peace of Christ in the most difficult times of life.
Remember that He promises us that we can find peace in Him - no matter what happens in our lives - because He has overcome the world!
Today, there's a family in Oklahoma celebrating that their son is miraculously alive! As the family of God, we can celebrate every day the fact that the Son of God is alive! Plus, even though we will die some day - we will be resurrected with Christ forever!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God that the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that we can count on the promises that Jesus gave - including His peace. Tell your Heavenly Father right now whatever is troubling you the most. He already knows, but He wants you to come to Him for comfort and strength. Thank Jesus that even though your trials and suffering may not go away, He won't either. His victory over Satan will eventually bring you peace. Praise Jesus that you can leave everything in His...
- Make of a list of your troubles and prayerfully give it up to Jesus every day. Wait on the Lord to give you peace and write down what He teaches you, right next to each problem.
- Memorize John 16:33 to remind you of Christ's victory and peace.
picture courtesy images.google.com
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
Use today's story about the guy in Oklahoma coming alive after being declared "dead" as a conversation starter with your friends and family who need Jesus. Talk about what if must have felt like for this guy's family and friends when he came back to life. Talk about today's God's Story scripture and what it must have felt like for Christ's followers after He came back to life. Listen carefully to their comments and let Jesus lead you in the conversation.
24 Mar, 2008
The Easter story continues...
What will you do with the truth?
Twenty years after radiocarbon dating supposedly proved once and for all that the Shroud of Turin was a medieval hoax, scientists are revisiting their research to see if the tests were erroneous and the shroud really dates back to the time of Christ.
“The result of the first test done in 1988 was almost an embarrassment at some point,” Barrie Schwortz, the photographer who documented the original Shroud of Turin Project, told TODAY’s Matt Lauer in a Good Friday interview in New York. “Now that we’re 20 years later, the technology certainly has improved.”
The long strip of tightly woven linen that bears the ghostly image of a bearded man who had apparently been crucified has been venerated since the Middle Ages as the burial shroud of Jesus. And written references to the existence of such a cloth date back to the first century.
No new tests will be done on the shroud, which is rarely displayed publicly, Schwortz said. Rather, in a yearlong project being documented by the BBC, scientists at Oxford University, where the original tests were done, will revisit the data and the methodology of the original tests to determine if mistakes were made and if the shroud could actually date back to the time of Jesus.
photo & story courtesy msnbc.msn.com, 3/21/08
John 20:14-18
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
1 Peter 3:14-15
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (ESV)
After reading today's God's Story scripture, what would you have done if you had been Mary Magdalene?
Imagine the incredible emotion Mary must have felt! She went from weeping because her Master had died - to joy because Jesus was alive! Mary was understanding that Jesus was exactly who He claimed to be - the Messiah! She trusted Him as Lord. Jesus told her to go tell the others the good news and she responded in joyful obedience.
What are you doing with the opportunity to tell others about the hope that is found in Jesus Christ?
Immediately following His resurrection, Jesus told His followers to tell others the great news!
The debate over the Shroud of Turin may not tell the truth about Jesus but you can.
Hang on to Jesus. Your life depends on it. But don't keep Him to yourself.
picture courtesy images.google.com
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for the fact the His Easter Story continues. Ask His Spirit to help you share the joy you have in knowing Christ as your Savior. Ask Jesus to help you recognize the opportunities He will give you to tell others Your Story and His Story because you have listened to Their Story.
- Pray every day for the joy you have in Christ to be evident to others.
- Memorize 1 Peter 3:14-15.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Use today's story about the Shroud of Turin as a topic for discussion and study with your youth group or small group.
- Send today's DAILYBIDE to other followers of Jesus to encourage them to be the Good News and tell others the Good News.
- Check out the resources found on this site to learn how to use the 3Story way of life as a way to help your friends and family who need Jesus to come to know Him as their Savior.
- Let Jesus show you which person in your storysphere is most ready to hear more of God's Story this next week.
21 Mar, 2008
The Greatest Story Ever!
How can it be called "Good Friday"?
Because Sunday came!
Now the rest of the story...
pictures courtesy images.google.com
Luke 24:1-12
The Resurrection
24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. (ESV)
How do you respond to God's Easter Story - the greatest story ever told?
Can you picture this? Peter and most of Christ's followers had been hiding in fear since Christ's arrest and crucifixion. After some women discovered that Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter runs to the tomb, looks in, sees that it's empty and "then he went home again, wondering what had happened."
This weekend, millions of people will remember Christ's death and celebrate His resurrection at Good Friday and Easter services. How many will go home "wondering what happened?"
Are you someone who is seeking to understand spiritual things?
The answer is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Are you a Christian who needs this Easter weekend to get back to following Jesus in a genuine way?
That path starts at the foot of the Cross, goes through the empty tomb, and into the future.
Are you a follower of Jesus who desires to help others understand what happened that first Easter weekend?
God's Spirit will guide you to love others and listen to their story with Christ's compassion.
Make sure that God's story is at the core of your life story and help someone else get connected to God's story. It's the greatest ever!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Ask His Holy Spirit to continue to show you how the truth of Christ's death and resurrection can and should impact your life story every day. Take a moment to reflect on God's Story and worship Him....
- When you see something that's empty this weekend, ask Jesus to teach you about the implications of His empty tomb on your life story.
- Listen to worship music this weekend and spend some time in personal worship of Christ.
- Spend some time reading the Easter Story in the scriptures this weekend. Let Jesus help you reflect and meditate as His Spirit communicates to you...
How can we connect today's Story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Participate in weekend services at your church and invite someone who doesn't normally go to church. If you don't go to church, call up a Christian friend and find one to attend this weekend.
- Pray for the opportunity to talk about the Easter Story and your story with someone who needs to connect their story to God's story.
20 Mar, 2008
Crown of thorns
Jesus suffered for you. How do you respond to suffering?
Soldiers jammed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head and mocked Him as "King". Are we guilty of "crowning Christ with thorns," when we reject the suffering that comes into our lives?
picture courtesy images.google.com
Mark 15:16-20
Jesus Is Mocked
16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (ESV)
What do you learn about "thorns" in today's God's Story scripture?
We can only begin to imagine what incredible pain our Savior experienced when the crown of thorns was mercilessly beaten into His head by the Roman soldiers.
The amazing truth is that even though Jesus had the power to stop this pain, He didn't. Our suffering Savior let it continue, because this was part of His journey to the Cross where He would give His life to provide forgiveness for our sins.
Paul experienced and wrote about his "thorn in the flesh". It may have been malaria, epilepsy, or probably a disease of the eyes. (Galatians 4:13-15) This "thorn" was severe enough that it affected his life and how He served God. Though God did not answer Paul's prayer to remove this "thorn", He used it to demonstrate His Kingdom power in his ministry. God used a "thorn" of suffering to keep Paul humble and depending on His Spirit.
What is a "thorn" of suffering that God may be using to help you learn humility and to depend on Jesus completely?
It might be a physical sickness or inability. Maybe you have some emotional scars that never seem to heal. Perhaps you're facing a very difficult circumstance or you're experiencing a relationship that is hurting you. God can and will use life's "thorns" of pain to bring Godliness to our character. His strength provides joy to our soul even in suffering.
If we allow the truth of Christ's death and resurrection to be real in our lives, we will have a willingness for God to make us holy rather than than happy. It's more important to be Christ-like than comfortable.
- Though you may not feel like accepting a "thorn" of Godliness right now, thank God that His love is patient. Ask Him to give you the faith you need to accept a "thorn" of suffering in your life. Thank Him that He will use His Spirit to bring you to the point where you trust Him to use "thorns" to help you grow in Christ-like character.
- Write down whatever seems to be a "thorn" in your life. Over the next few weeks, write down ways that God is using it to teach you to be more like Christ.
- If you take communion in a service this weekend, remember to focus on the suffering that Jesus endured for you.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- As you pray for friends and family who need Jesus, remember to pray for Jesus to help you accept a "thorn" of Godliness into your life so that they might see God's Story in your story.
- Ask an older Christian friend to share with you what he or she has learned about the "thorns" of suffering in his or her lifetime.
- Share what you learned today with another student or family member or friend who is going through pain. Remember to be sensitive and focus on listening so that you can offer encouragement and hope, not a teaching lesson.
- Remember to bring someone who needs Jesus to a church service with you this weekend.
19 Mar, 2008
Blood work
Love...sacrifice...death...life
In his book Written In Blood, Robert Coleman tells the story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The doctor explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance for recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.
"Would you give your blood to Mary?" the doctor asked. Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, for my sister." Soon the two children were wheeled into the hospital room--Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny's smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube. With the ordeal almost over, his voice, slightly shaky, broke the silence. "Doctor, when do I die?'
Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he'd agreed to donate his blood. He's thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. In that brief moment, he'd made his great decision. Johnny, fortunately, didn't have to die to save his sister.
Each of us, however, has a condition more serious than Mary's, and it required Jesus to give not just His blood but His life.
picture courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy sermonillustrations.com
John 15:12-13 (NLT)
12
1 John 3:16 (NLT)
16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the connection between love and Christ's blood?
Jesus loved us so much that He sacrificed Himself on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. His blood met God's requirement for us to be made "right" in God's sight again. That's the ultimate love - unconditional - we didn't deserve it.
Jesus calls us to love one another just as He loved us. Unconditionally. Even when it feels like "they don't deserve our love". But Christ-like love is an action, not a feeling.
The greatest act of love for someone is to give ourselves for them. We may never have to give our blood to die for another person, but there are ways we can lay down our lives for someone. It means putting others' desires ahead of ours.
Who is someone who needs your love?
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank Jesus for loving you so much that He willingly gave His blood to die so that you could live now and forever. Take a minute to simply focus on Christ's sacrifice for you....thank Him and worship Him....now ask Jesus to show you the name of someone for whom you should "lay down your life" with loving kindness in the next few days.
- During this Easter week, listen for songs in your church, on Christian radio, or on your own iPod, that remind you of Christ laying down His life for you.
How can connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Write down the name of the person God showed you in your prayer time and a list of at least 3 ways you can show sacrificial love to him or her. It might be as simple as asking a caring question and listening, or offering help with a task, or just giving them a word of encouragement!
- Keep this list handy as you pray for this person every day and follow through on your plan. Watch God's Spirit work in your life and in his or her life.
- Remember to invite this person or someone else in your storysphere to go with you to an Easter service at your church.
- Tell today's story (of the little boy who was willing to die so that his sister could have his blood) to someone who is open to your story and God's Story. Listen for their response and explain how this illustrates Christ's love for us.
18 Mar, 2008
Holy emotion!
Joy! Sadness. Anger?
What makes Jesus cry?
picture courtesy images.google.com
Luke 19:36-48
36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”
47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. (ESV)
Today's God's Story scripture is about the "Holy Week" story. Maybe a few questions will help it connect to our story?
WHY DO YOU THINK JESUS CRIED WHEN HE SAW JERUSALEM ON THAT PALM SUNDAY?
Christ's words in this Gospel make it clear that He wept because the religious leaders of God's chosen people were rejecting the opportunity for salvation offered by God. Soon they would suffer greatly as a nation. Jesus came as the promised Messiah - the Good News - the Savior! But people were missing the Truth.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Have you responded to God offering you His gift of salvation (forgiveness for your sins) through trusting Jesus to your personal Savior? Are you His follower?
You know others who need Jesus to rescue them from their sin. Do they understand the Truth about Jesus? Are you showing them the Way through Christ's Life in you?
IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE OR IN YOUR CHURCH THAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF GENUINE WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST?
Jesus also showed his emotion in the Temple...in a big way! Jesus was upset and cleaned house! Merchants and money changers were doing business in God's house and keeping people from focusing on the true worship of God.
When we truly worship Jesus instead of just showing up at church...the world will start to see God's Truth rather than our hypocrisy or church labels.
Jesus showed holy joy, holy sadness, and a holy anger. Let Jesus show you Himself during this Holy Week.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Rather than talking right away to God, just listen for a couple of minutes. Let Jesus communicate to you in your mind and heart through His power, love, forgiveness and the Truth of His Holy Word. Now take a few minutes to respond to Him. Let His Holy Spirit help you with the words to pray....
- Because of God's Spirit, you can count on Jesus using His Truth to impact your life. Every day, pray for the faith you need to respond in obedience to Him.
- Because of God's Spirit at work in the Body of Christ, you can count on Jesus to reach out to the people in your church. During this Holy Week, pray that your church family will respond in true worship of the King of kings!
- Use your journal this week to write down thoughts or examples of how you see the compassion of Jesus in your life or in the lives of others.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Think about your friends and family who need Jesus. If you spend much time with them, you see their expressions of emotion. The next time you observe their joy, sadness, or anger, bring up the topic of Jesus' emotions. Talk about how this connects to your own emotions. Ask them if they think anything in the world today makes Jesus cry? Listen carefully. Jesus will guide you to know how to respond...
- Encourage and challenge another follower of Christ this week by sending them this DAILYBIDE.
- Remember to bring a friend or family member who needs Jesus to your church services this week. Be sure to hang out and spend time and talk after the service.
17 Mar, 2008
Donkey duty?
God Uses The Ordinary For The Extraordinary
(not actual photo of donkey used by Jesus)
ONLY A DONKEY
The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride.
He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. "I’ll show myself to them," he thought.
But they didn’t notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind.
"Throw your garments down," he said crossly. "Don’t you know who I am?"
They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move.
"Miserable heathens!" he muttered to himself. "I’ll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me."
But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market place.
"The palm branches! Where are the palm branches!" he shouted.
"Yesterday, you threw palm branches!"
Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother.
"Foolish child," she said gently. "Don’t you realize that without Him, you are just an ordinary donkey?"
Just like the donkey who carried Jesus in Jerusalem, we are most fulfilled when we are in the service of Jesus Christ. Without him, all our best efforts are like "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) and amount to nothing. When we lift up Christ, however, we are no longer ordinary people, but key players in God’s plan to redeem the word.
SOURCE: Edited from Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice. Copyright 1994 by Youth Specialties, Inc. & photo courtesy images.google.com
Zechariah 9:9
The Coming King of Zion
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 21:1-11
The Triumphal Entry
21:1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (ESV)
After reading today's God's Story scripture about Christ's Palm Sunday Parade, what are some questions to help us think about the impact on our lives?
The prophet Zechariah foretold this infamous, lowly ride by Jesus on a donkey. WHY IS THE FACT THAT JESUS' ACTIONS FULFILLED THE PROPHET'S WORDS SIGNIFICANT?
Consider the details of the story. As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem, He actually sent two of them ahead telling them that they would find a specific donkey for Him to ride. WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU ABOUT JESUS' POWER TO CONTROL CIRCUMSTANCES AND DETAILS? HOW CAN YOU APPLY THIS TO CHRIST'S IMPACT ON YOUR DAILY LIFE?
Think about the fact that Jesus knew that the disciples would be questioned about their "donkey recruiting" and they would be given the OK by just saying, 'The Lord needs them'. HOW CAN YOU APPLY THE FACT THAT JESUS USES ORDINARY PEOPLE (AND EVEN AN ANIMAL) TO ACCOMPLISH HIS EXTRAORDINARY PURPOSES?
Remember that without Jesus, we're just ordinary. But when we serve the humble King of Kings, He uses us to help build His Kingdom in extraordinary ways.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Remember that Christ has already fulfilled most Biblical prophecy about Himself and He will eventually fulfill all of it for eternity. This means that God will always keep His promises to you!
- Thank Jesus for His power and control over the details of life. Ask Him to show you this Easter season how you can have a "mule ministry" for Him. Praise Him for His humble ways and invite Him to be King of your life.
- Pray every day that Jesus will lead you to do "ordinary" acts of service for His extraordinary purposes.
- Keep a written list of how God gives you opportunities to be a "donkey". As you serve in different ways, write down what God is teaching you.
- If you're making Easter cookies this week, forget the bunnies and baby chicks. Make some mules!
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Between now and Easter, look for an opportunity every day to lift up Jesus by lifting someone else up. By doing a little "donkey duty" act of kindness for someone else, God will probably give you the opportunity to learn more about their story and share a little more about your story and God's Story.
- Invite someone in your storysphere who needs Jesus to go to church with you this week.
- Encourage another follower of Christ by sending them today's DAILYBIDE.
14 Mar, 2008
Palms up?
Jesus Shows Up!
It was Palm Sunday and a little boy was feeling kind of sick. So he stayed home from church with his mom.
When the rest of the family returned home, the little guy's brother and sister were waving palm branches they had received in Sunday School. The little boy asked his dad, "What are those branches for?"
"Well, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him, so all the kids at church today got palm branches."
The little boy replied, "Oh great! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!"
If you had been a kid in Jerusalem on the original Palm Sunday, do you think you would have had your palms up for the Savior who showed up?
picture courtesy images.google.com
John 12:12-13
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
Luke 19:39-40
39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the story of Palm Sunday and how can we respond?
Palm Sunday is an event that we celebrate! As Christians in the 21st century, we have the privilege of reading the eye-witness accounts of Jesus riding into Jerusalem the week before His death. Jesus had chosen this time to announce that He was the Messiah! He knew that Israel would be gathered together in Jerusalem for their traditional celebration. Jesus also knew that He would be crucified for the sins of the world in just a few days.
The Jewish people threw a parade! But most of them had the wrong idea about Jesus Christ. They were going wild because they thought their liberation from the Roman empire was at hand. They were deaf to the words of their prophets and did not recognize that Jesus was the Messiah. In one week's time, they would go from waving palm branches and cheering to joining in the parade of crucifixion toward Christ's cross.
The Pharisees wanted Jesus to tell the crowd to stop their worship of Him. But Jesus told them that if they did, God would throw a "rock concert" in honor of Himself! The leaders didn't want Jesus to replace religion with a personal relationship with God through His Son.
Let's celebrate Jesus in our lives! This weekend (and every day) lift the palms of your hands to Jesus as a symbol of worship and surrender to His will.
- Confess any way in which you may have been ignoring or rejecting King Jesus riding into your life every day. Thank God for the privilege of knowing the Lord of the universe! Spend a few minutes praising Christ for who He is and what He does in your life. Let God's Spirit point out to you any area of your life in which you still need to surrender your will to Christ's will.
- Every day between now and Easter, take two minutes to meditate on the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. In your heart, throw a parade of worship in honor of the Lord.
- Pick up a palm branch at a floral shop and keep it in your room as a reminder to worship Christ with all of your heart, strength and mind.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Use today's DAILYBIDE to encourage another follower of Christ by sharing your intent to really focus on worshipping Jesus this Holy week.
- Listen to some Christian rock music with friends. Use it as an opportunity to talk about what Jesus said about the rocks giving Him a "shout" if we don't.
- Invite someone in your storysphere who needs Jesus to come to worship services with you this Palm Sunday and on Easter Sunday. Afterwards, ask him or her for their honest response. Be sure to listen and remember it's OK if you don't know all the answers to their questions.
13 Mar, 2008
STD - Sinfully transmitted disease?
1 in 4 teen girls has sexual disease
CHICAGO - At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group.
A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls — nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
About half of the girls acknowledged ever having sex; among them, the rate was 40 percent. While some teens define sex as only intercourse, other types of intimate behavior including oral sex can spread some infections.
For many, the numbers likely seem "overwhelming because you're talking about nearly half of the sexually experienced teens at any one time having evidence of an STD," said Dr. Margaret Blythe, an adolescent medicine specialist.
But the study highlights what many doctors who treat teens see every day, Blythe said.
HPV can cause genital warts but often has no symptoms. A vaccine targeting several HPV strains recently became available, but Douglas said it likely has not yet had much impact on HPV prevalence rates in teen girls.
Chlamydia and trichomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under age 25. It also recommends the three-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged 11-12 years, and catch-up shots for females aged 13 to 26.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has similar recommendations.
Douglas said screening tests are underused in part because many teens don't think they're at risk, but also, some doctors mistakenly think, '"Sexually transmitted diseases don't happen to the kinds of patients I see.'"
Blythe said some doctors also are reluctant to discuss STDs with teen patients or offer screening because of confidentiality concerns, knowing parents would have to be told of the results.
photo & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 3/11/08
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (NLT)
A Life Pleasing to God
1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about sexual sin and why we need to live God's way?
Because God wants us to be holy. Sexual desires and actions must be placed under Christ's control in our lives. God came up with the idea of sex. He has given it as a gift to be enjoyed for pleasure and to make babies - but only as an expression of love between a husband and wife.
Because sexual sin causes so much hurt and damage. When sex takes place outside a marriage relationship, people get hurt, relationships are ruined, girls get pregnant and often have abortions, guys abandon the young moms, diseases are passed around, the witness for Christ's cause suffers, people are full of guilt, dignity is lost......
Because of God's judgment and punishment. Since God is holy and just, He brings and allows consequences for our sins.
BUT GOD HAS AMAZING GRACE AND LOVINGLY OFFERS HIS FORGIVENESS!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for coming up with the beautiful gift of sex. Confess any sinful desires and/or sensual actions you've been struggling with in your life. Ask His Spirit to give you the faith you need, the power you need to say no to pressure, and the patience you need to wait for the Christian spouse He has in mind for you.
- Read more of Paul's words in 1st Corinthians 6:18-20 about our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit. Every day, as you face sexual pressure in our sensual culture, remember that the Holy Spirit is in you. This is key to keep abiding in Christ consistently.
- If you have been sexually active, you may want to see a doctor to find out if you have an STD so that you can get the medical help you need.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray for the kids who now have a STD (because of making wrong choices about sex) to get the medical help they need and the healing they need, both physically and spiritually.
- Share this DAILYBIDE with others who are followers of Jesus. It might be your youth group or a small group.
- If you are not already in a small group of friends who are serious about following Jesus, start one. Pray for each other and hold each other accountable in the challenge of living a life of sexual purity in obedience to Christ.
- Be ready to share some of your story about your life in Christ, because your peers will notice you living a life of sexual purity and will be curious as to why?
12 Mar, 2008
How about love for a lifetime?
Happy Anniversary Linda!
One nice thing about writing this DAILYBIDE devotional blog is that I can tell the world how much I love my beautiful bride as we celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary today!
I can honestly say that I would marry Linda again in a heartbeat, but I would never want to go back in time. Why? We're more in love now than ever!
How? It's all about God's grace to us and our putting Christ at the center of our relationship.
Love for a lifetime doesn't just sort of happen....that's why I am so grateful to God as I celebrate with my bride today!
picture courtesy images.google.com
Ephesians 5:21-33
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (ESV)
What does today's scripture teach us about how to experience love for a lifetime?
Once again, today's passage illustrates just how practical God's Word is for all of life. Here's what Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes say about part of Paul's teaching on marriage:
5:31-33 The union of husband and wife merges two persons in such a way that little can affect one without also affecting the other. Oneness in marriage does not mean losing your personality in the personality of the other. Instead, it means caring for your spouse as you care for yourself, learning to anticipate his or her needs, helping the other person become all he or she can be. The creation story tells of God's plan that husband and wife should be one (Genesis 2:24), and Jesus also referred to this plan (Matthew 19:4-6).
Even though most of you will describe me as old, don't miss this - viewing and doing marriage according to God's Word is not old-fashioned or just for old people. It's God's perfect way for a man and woman to enjoy a loving marriage for a lifetime!
How can you connect today's God's Story scripture to your life?
- Praise God for having the best plan for all of life! Thank Him for giving us practical instructions on marriage in His Word. If you're a teenager, ask His Spirit to help you remember today's truths from His Word as you date. If you're young and single, ask His Spirit to help you use today's scripture as a grid as you consider the possibility of marriage with someone.
- Read today's passage of scripture again to make sure you understand God's design for marriage.
- Though you may be too young to get married, you're not too young to think about marriage. You can begin to apply today's God's Story on marriage in your relationships right now. How? By practicing reverence for Christ, respect and honor for the opposite sex, and treating others the way Jesus would...
- Write down three practical ways that you will personally apply this passage and keep this list where you can review it regularly.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- If you're a teenager or a young single person, sit down with several friends and discuss this passage and make a commitment to encourage each other and hold each other accountable to view marriage God's way.
- Pray for people you know who are struggling in their marriages.
- Music, movies, TV and celebrity news are full of stories of people who are not practicing Christ-centered relationships and marriages. Ask your friends who need Jesus about their views on marriage. Trust Jesus to give you the heart and words to talk about God's Story on marriage and how you plan on it being the guide for your story if you ever get married.
11 Mar, 2008
A grave situation!
Cemetery full, mayor tells locals not to die
BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - The mayor of a village in southwest France has threatened residents with severe punishment if they die, because there is no room left in the overcrowded cemetery to bury them.
In an ordinance posted in the council offices, Mayor Gerard Lalanne told the 260 residents of the village of Sarpourenx that "all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing to be buried in Sarpourenx are forbidden from dying in the parish."
It added: "Offenders will be severely punished."
The mayor said he was forced to take drastic action after an administrative court in the nearby town of Pau ruled in January that the acquisition of adjoining private land to extend the cemetery would not be justified.
Lalanne, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Wednesday and is standing for election to a seventh term in this month's local elections, said he was sorry that there had not been a positive outcome to the dilemma.
"It may be a laughing matter for some, but not for me," he said.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story news.yahoo.com, 3/5/08
Psalm 16:10 (NLT)
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
In today's God's Story scripture, David shares the answer to facing death. What is it?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes help provide the answer:
Psalm 16:10 David stated confidently that God would not leave him in the grave. Many people fear death because they can neither control nor understand it. As believers, we can be assured that God will not forget us when we die. He will bring us to life again to live with Him forever. This provides real security. For other passages about resurrection, see Job 19:25, 26; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2, 13; Mark 13:27; 1 Corinthians 15: 12-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-21:4.
While we can laugh at the mayor in France who is promising punishment to those who die in his town, death is no laughing matter.
But we can face death with confidence because God promises life in Heaven forever to followers of Christ! Those without Christ will face punishment after death., not from a crazy mayor but from a holy, just God.
You can you be sure that there will be no questions about where you will spend eternity after your death. The answer is found in receiving Christ as your personal Savior. Jesus and Jesus alone can forgive you of your sins and promise you eternal life in Heaven after you die.
Are you ready to face death? What about your family and friends?
- Thank God that the answer to the question of death is found in His Son, Jesus Christ! If you have never trusted Christ to forgive you and take over your life, ask Him to do this right now. If you have, spend a few minutes meditating on this incredible truth....
- If you are trusting Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Savior today, contact us at 3story@yfc.org so that we can send you some resources to help you grow in your relationship with Him.
- Whenever you find yourself fearing death, stop and let God's Spirit remind you of God's promise to you.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Whenever you see a cemetery, pray for your friends and family who need Christ as their Savior and ask Jesus to show you opportunities to connect your story to their story and their story to God's Story of love and forgiveness through Christ.
- Tell your friends about the goofy cemetery mayor in France. Ask them if they ever think of dying and what they think happens after death? Remember to not give a lecture, but to listen....trust Jesus to show you what to say or ask next as their answer will reveal more of their story.
10 Mar, 2008
More Middle East conflict...
Israelis mourn 8 killed at seminary
JERUSALEM - Thousands of mourners gathered outside a bullet-scarred Jewish seminary and said farewell Friday to eight students killed by a Palestinian gunman. Israel slapped a closure on the West Bank and beefed up security around Jerusalem.
Masses of mourners marched in funeral processions after a rabbi who recited Hebrew psalms with the crowd repeating them after him.
In the Gaza Strip, Hamas militants backtracked on an earlier claim of responsibility for the first major attack in Jerusalem in four years.
The attacker walked through the Mercaz Harav seminary's main gate Thursday night and entered the library, where witnesses said some 80 students were gathered. He opened fire with an assault rifle and a pistol, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. The gunman was shot and killed on the scene.
Israeli officials said the victims were between ages 15 and 19 except one, who was 26. They identified one of the victims as 16-year-old Avraham David Moses, an American citizen whose parents moved to Israel in the 1990s. The State Department confirmed an American was killed and another wounded in the attack, but gave no other details .
The attack came on the heels of an Israeli offensive on Gaza that Palestinian officials say killed more than 120. The campaign targeted militants who have been barraging southern Israel with rockets. Four Israelis have also been killed in fighting since last week.
It was not immediately clear whether a militant group had orchestrated Thursday's shooting, and two Israeli television stations said security officials believed the perpetrator could have acted alone.
Ibrahim Daher, head of Hamas' al-Aqsa radio, said his station put out an earlier claim of responsibility prematurely. Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' military wing, confirmed the group was not taking credit for the attack — at least yet.
"There may be a later announcement ... But we don't claim this honor yet," he said.
photo & story courtesy yahoonews.com, 3/7/08
Psalm 122:6-9 (NIV)
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels."
8 For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.
Do you think today's God's Story scripture has anything to do with the current events in the Middle East?
The Psalmist was praying for peace and prosperity for his people in Jerusalem. Please know that I am not an authority on prophecy, but I do know that the current events in the Middle East are part of the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy concerning the return of Christ.
There are different views among Christians about the "what, when and how" everything will happen, but one thing is certain - Jerusalem will not enjoy true peace until the "Prince of Peace" returns.
Without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior, nobody can experience the kind of peace David is talking about in today's passage. This peace in not only the absence of conflict, but it also means to be whole and to enjoy justice, well-being and protection. It comes only from God, because He alone can provide peace of mind and peace with others when we have peace with Him. This peace with God is provided through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross which pays the penalty for our sins.
Do you know Jesus, the "Prince of Peace"? Is there someone to whom you could introduce the "Prince of Peace"?
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- As you hear and see the news reports of the conflict in the Middle East, remember to pray for people to see that ultimate peace will come only through Jesus Christ.
- Continue to pray for God to give you opportunity to use the events in the Middle East as a conversation starter with others who need to know Jesus. You don't have to know the details about Biblical prophecy but you can point out that God's Story talks about the conflict surrounding Jerusalem continuing till Christ returns some day to take His followers home to Heaven.
- Remember to pray for the needs of someone else every day. Get ready to see God at work!
7 Mar, 2008
The No Cussing Club
No swearing in South Pasadena this week
McKay Hatch, 14, the founder of the 50-member South Pasadena High School's No Cussing Club, jokes with his father, Brent Hatch.
So if you're headed to South Pasadena this week, be sure to turn down the volume on that Snoop Dogg CD, and, if the little old lady from Pasadena cuts you off in traffic, don't even think about flipping her the bird.
Not that police will slap cuffs on you and haul your sorry, er, butt off to jail in light of the proclamation passed Wednesday by the City Council. But you could be shamed into better behavior by the unsettling glares of residents who take their reputation for civility seriously.
"That's one of the purposes of this," Mayor Michael Cacciotti said of his city's proclamation designating the first week of March as No Cussing Week. "It provides us a reminder to be more civil, to elevate the level of discourse."
The proclamation will be in effect until Friday, and then the first week of every March hereafter.
South Pasadena, a tranquil city of tree-shaded cottages at the base of a mountain range eight miles north of downtown Los Angeles, isn't the first to try to rein in potty mouths. Earlier this year, the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, Mo., proposed banning swearing in bars. Last year, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons called for an industry wide ban on racially and sexually charged epithets.
But what's different about the latest push to stop saying in public the words that Jane Fonda and Diane Keaton recently discovered we still can't say on television is that it was proposed by a 14-year-old boy.
"My mom and dad always taught me good morals, good values, and not cussing was one of them," said McKay Hatch, the founder of South Pasadena High School's No Cussing Club, during a recent break between study hall and tennis practice.
"I've cussed before, I'm not gonna lie to you," Hatch quickly added. "But I try not to cuss any more."
He was in junior high school when he became fed up with all the blue language around him.
He understood why his friends use foul language: "They just want to fit in like everybody else and they don't know how. They figure if they cuss maybe it's an easy way to do that."
But it wasn't for him.
"I finally told my friends, 'I don't cuss.' And I said, 'If you want to hang out with me, you don't cuss.'"
It took a couple of years, but enough friends finally came around that Hatch formed a 50-member club, handed out fliers and called the group's first meeting, held June 1.
Nine months later, the No Cussing Club has a Web site, claims 10,000 members and boasts chapters in several states and countries. Hatch considers his greatest achievement, though, to be getting his hometown of 25,000 to become a cuss-free zone.
He hopes to encourage cuss-free zones in other cities to improve the quality of life.
"You have to start with the little things," he said.
photo & story courtesy AP & twincities.com, 3/6/08
James 3:7-12 (NLT)
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
How does today's God's Story scripture describe the problem with our mouths? Why is this such a challenge for us?
Sometimes our speech is very pleasing to God and often it is rude and hurtful.
Our mouths really illustrate the conflict that we face. As followers of Christ, we have a new nature in Christ, but we still struggle with our old sinful nature. As a result, both good words and bad words come out of our mouths.
The question each of us must face is which words most reflect the true condition of our hearts? If we allow the Holy Spirit to control us every day, we will speak words that honor and please God.
So, the good news is that God's Spirit can change the verbally-challenged if we're heart-controlled.
- Thank God that His Spirit is offering His power to control your tongue. Ask Jesus to fill your heart with His character every day, so that your mouth will be full of praise to God and love toward others.
- Whenever you shower this next week, put a drop of soap on your tongue and pray for God's Spirit to clean your heart and control your mouth.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Since swearing seems to be such a struggle for us as we hear it all the time in the media and in our culture, make this a topic of study and accountability for your youth group or small group.
- Ask another Christian friend to hold you accountable for the words that come out of your mouth.
- Check out http://www.nocussing.com
- If you are able to cut out the cussing, get ready to have opportunities to talk about your faith because others will notice.
6 Mar, 2008
Don't skip breakfast!
Are you getting enough nourishment?
Teens Who Eat Breakfast Daily Eat Healthier Diets Than Those Who Skip Breakfast
University of Minnesota School of Public Health Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers have found further evidence to support the importance of encouraging youth to eat breakfast regularly. Researchers examined the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents, and the results indicate that daily breakfast eaters consumed a healthier diet and were more physically active than breakfast skippers during adolescence.
Five years later, the daily breakfast eaters also tended to gain less weight and have lower body mass index levels -- an indicator of obesity risk -- compared with those who had skipped breakfast as adolescents.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story sciencedaily.com, 3/4/08