More Than a Church Kid

     This afternoon, my parents and I had one of those great, deep discussions. I love it when that happens. It's an impromptu conversation (or an occasional debate) where we express our views on political or theological topics, discern the truth, and I pay absolutely no attention to the fact that I'm still a teenager. You may have been surprised that a discussion between a teenager and their parents could follow all of the following: 1. The discussion includes the teenager (not just the parents). 2. The discussion is not a lecture. 3. The topic is deep, mature, and meaningful. 4. The teenager is actually interested (and participative)  in what is being discussed. This is exactly the kind of integration and unity that I want to write about today.

     In my last post, How to Memorize Hymns, I mentioned that I might do a hymn study on 'Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery." However, I feel God leading me in a different direction. The words speak for themselves, and I just wanted any excuse to share the lyrics. So, I decided to just share the link for them and also a lyrical music video for the song. The reason I wanted to share the music video is because that is part of how I learned the words. Lyrics are much easier to memorize when you know the tune of the song. Also, it is a great song to get stuck in your head, because the lyrics can replay over and over in your mind.

One day, as I was sitting and reflecting (one of my favorite hobbies), I began to write down goals I wanted to achieve and things I wanted to do. Specifically, I wondered, "What things should I start doing (or doing more) that will grow me spiritually?" A question came to mind that changed my perspective and flipped my priorities upside down.  I asked myself, "If I were stuck in a prison cell for the rest of my life, with no personal possessions, what spiritual sustenance would I want to have stored up in my mind and heart?" In other words, what would I want to have memorized?

Mercy, forgiveness, and grace. These words are all related. How are they related, you might ask? To start off with, they are all: 1. Selfless attributes 2. Characteristics of Christ 3. Characteristics that Christ wants us to have

Today I want to write to you about the building blocks of who we are, the words we say, and the lives we lead: Our thoughts. Why do I say that thoughts are the building blocks of life? After all, no one knows about them other than us, so why does it matter so much what we think? Well, we often forget one vital truth - one enlightening and freeing truth -  God knows EVERYTHING - and that includes our most private thoughts! Each and every second of every day, God is aware of what we are thinking. And believe it or not, we can sin even in our own, "innocent" little minds - through hatred, judgement, jealousy, lust, and idolatry. Even thoughts that distract you from following Christ.(Sidepoint: our minds are not innocent. The sin nature still stains our thought-life, even if we're saved). The Bible addresses thoughts frequently, and it addresses the importance of them. Where our thoughts go, our desires follow. As Proverbs 4:23 says, Guard your heart above...

Hatred. Shootings. Fires. Political strife. Rumors of war. Why is the world suddenly teeming with terror? Why is it that every time we turn on the news, something horrible is happening. We are living in the end times. The end times described in Revelation.   As Timothy 3:1-4 says, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." The culture depicts this image more and more every day. You can see a glimpse of this through the catastrophes around the world and the politically correct lies on social media. People are becoming continually more immoral. The lines between right and wrong are blurring. And you know what that means - it is easier for the Church t...

In the teen Sunday school class that my brother teaches, we've been going through a 4-part video series called Dug Down Deep . I highly recommend it.  The first session was entitled, "What are you building your life on?"  In other words, what is the one thing that you think about most? What do you fall back on in times of struggle? What keeps you going? All aspects of life begin with our thought-life. (Proverbs 4:23) The answers to these questions vary greatly, even among Christians. We could be trusting in our current circumstance, a steady bank account, or our own self. You may build your life on whatever you want, but there is only one foundation that will give you unconditional peace, joy, and purpose. Everything else - even money - will fade away. (see Matthew 6:19-21) There is only one thing that will truly matter in the long run.  This foundation is - you guessed it - Jesus.  We as Christians may tune this out because we already kno...