Preparing for Easter my way...

I know there are a lot of ways people prepare for Easter. Some take part in Lent - giving up something for that 40 day period until Easter, some read only passages related to Easter in the Bible. For em I may focus a bit more on the passages around Easter, but I do a few things...

1) Start listening to the audio drama CD of the Easter Story...

2) NEW this year... watching The Gospel of John with the family...

3) Having the kids watch Easter movies like...

 The Easter Carol from Veggie Tales, The Story Keepers Easter Story, Lion of Judah...

                                       4) For me... (and my wife if she is wanting to) watching The Passion of the Christ...

Now that last one, I watch on a yearly basis. For me. Why? you ask... it's so brutal! How can you watch it more than once? Simple, I am a visual person, artistic minded and so on. So something I can visualize like this is huge for me. Yes it is a harsh film, but it's a yearly visual reminder for me what it took for us to be saved - Jesus being falsely accused, judged, beaten, whipped, spat on, hit with a stick over the head of the crown of thorns, and then made to drag His own cross to his death until He collapsed from exhaustion, then nailed to the cross and being separated from God the Father and the Holy Spirit for a brief moment in time as He became sin for us and died on the cross. But I love the last scene - Jesus opens His eyes, gets up, the music pounds and He marches off to victory! The movie gives me chills each time. I cry yes from the brutal nature of it - I am waiting to show it to my boys until they are ready for it... - but to me it sets the tone for Easter. This is my tradition. 

One other... we do Communion as a family...

Would love to hear yours - andrew@lifeonline.fm 

To swear or not to swear...

It's funny how years ago, people in Christian circles made sure not to swear, today it seems like there is a lessening of that because of statements like "Well those swear words we use aren't in the Bible so who's to say they're inappropriate for a Christian to use?" Here's the thing, our modern words are not in the Bible yes, but neither is anything about about illicit drug use or the internet or TV or movies or rock music, so does anything go then for those too?

Philippians 4:8 of course has that wonderful filter for us, but here's something to consider for our talk... Ephesians 4:29 says, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Hmmm... okay what about this too... Ephesians 5:4 (AMPLIFIED) says, 4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].

So when we hear people swearing - does it lift us up? Even in school there are rules against it because it is considered inappropriate, when does it become okay to do then? If even society considers swearing obscene or indecent to do (just ask Sponge Bob even 0 they had an episode dealing with this...) then why is it okay for Christians to do? I can't picture Jesus walking down the street with His disciples and cussing like the next person on the street. He is our example, so if Jesus wouldn't do it... I think it's safe to say we shouldn't be. Now what words are considered obscene then? Some are the obvious ones... the F---, S---, B----, A-- (unless you're talking about an actual donkey as used in Scripture), etc... but there are other words that we instinctively makre sure our kids don't say that aren't "swear words" per se, but they are inappropriate still right? This needs to be made up in all our minds - if Christ would be embarrassed to hear it in front of Him and we know it, then delete the word from our vocabulary. We are called to higher living as believers - we are ambassadors of Christ. Let's live like it. 

Biblical movies in Hollywood - truth or cash grab?

We've had many over the years from...

The Ten Commandments...

Jesus Christ Superstar...

The Passion of the Christ...

The Nativity Story...

And now we have Son of God, Noah, Exodus and more coming...

 

So what to make of all these Biblical movies? Is the world waking up to the truth of Scripture or is it just another cash grab for them? Maybe both I would say? Hollywood might see this as an untapped market to make money on, but also I think there is a growing hunger for truth out there and a recognition of the truth of the Bible after all! 

The Bible makes it clear that before Jesus is to return, that the world would hear the message of the Gospel, and through movies like these, the world can't help but hear it! I'm excited! 

How to Handle Job Hunting

This is such a huge thing for everyone at some point. As kids we're in school and our parents always asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. We got our training, sometimes we did well, other times we slacked off. We get that high school diploma, then go on to college and or university perhaps, or we go straight to a job of some kind. Our identity seems to be wrapped up at times with what we do - after all when you meet someone for the first time, you ask their name and then... what do you do?

Our answer may be the basis for a friendship, a business contact or whatever. As believers we can get caught up with this and then when we're downsized, laid off, or feel we need to leave a job, we go looking for our next "us," our next job. The thing people remember us by. Pastors can get caught up in "being the pastor" if they're not careful, business people can get caught up with their CEO title, but even the average joe can get caught up in being identified with their job - I'm a teacher, a policeman, a DJ, a secretary, etc...

When all that goes bye-bye, and we are in the searching mode, it can be tough - especially when work just doesn't seem to come no matter how many resumes you put out there. We pray and nothing. When that period of nothing happens, how do we handle it? Do we get bitter? Do we praise God for the opportunity to better ourselves? If we're honest, and I've done this too, we can fall into the trap of getting depressed, angry, bitter, and feeling like you have no identity. 

Think about Job. This guy had 10 kids, and was the most wealthy man in the region - then it was gone, so was his health. His wife told him to curse God and die - just get it over with! His friends accused him of sinning. What did he do? He humbled himself before God and praised Him. Not what we would do right? Yet this is the example God was proud of - the response He seeks when things get tough like losing our source of income. God wasn't surprised. He knows what's going on - this is a season, whether a few days, weeks or months (years?). We need to lift our hands still in the middle of it all which can be hard to do - I know, I've been there.

So when looking for the next meaningful job that will provide and you lose heart, just do what you need to do and let God handle the rest. 

To debate or not to debate... that is the question!

To debate or not to debate... that is the question!

The debate between Dr. Ken Ham of the Institute for Creation Research/Answers In Genesis and Bill Nye "The Science Guy" happened just the other day and there were heated discussions about whether to debate at all, debate about the debate and more. There have also been debates about certain topics from the Bible that even though they're clear - the interpretation of the issue by some is contested. Debate... debate... debate!

Should we debate at all? Let's look at what the apostle Paul said, 2 Timothy 2:23 - 24, 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. and Titus 3:9, But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

So I guess the thing to keep in mind is if we really feel we need to debate at all, be careful. Really decide is it worth debating about, and if so - be civil about it, be loving. Remember, whatever level of judgment we use against someone else, Jesus said it would be used against us in return. So think before we debate I guess is what we should all aim for.

Where to draw the line?

How many times do we go through life asking the question... how far can I go with this? How do I draw the line for what's appropriate for me? Some things are obvious - don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat on a spouse... but what about the fuzzy areas where there is no distinct answer from the Bible such as internet, movies, music, drug use, and so on?

When we come to the "I don't know" areas of life and we look for Biblical advice, there is a lens we can look through, the Philippians 4:8 lens... 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

So when we face the unknowns from the Bible, this lens can help us navigate through what hasn't been addressed specifically. So TV, movies, and more can all be put through this lens and if we find for ourselves we can't handle the situation, use the 1 Corinthians 10:13 card -13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

So where do we draw the line? Is it uniform for everyone? No. Everyone is different on issues, for some eating something may be a sin for them, but for others it's not. I know, it's complicated. Let's focus on what we need to do so we don't violate ourselves and cause us to sin. Let God worry about others!    :)

Pastor Andrew
Ask The Pastor Wednesdays at 8, Announcer at LIFE 100.3 - afternoons 1 - 4, Saturdays 12 - 7, LIFE speaker at different churches when asked to go! :)

When the mp3 file drones on

I thought I'd update the whole record player - tape player - CD player thing by going straight to digital files - the mp3 player. This is not a tech talk, but rather how we respond to when the mp3 file drones on with the same messages that bring us down. Fear, emptiness, loneliness, anger, bitterness, feeling inferior, sadness, and more. All these things the enemy loves to bring to our minds to distract us from living for God. He likes to bring up the past to prevent you from serving in the future. 

Like the mp3 player that contains your music files from whenever you load them onto your device, your mind is something the Devil uses to bring up the past and play it over and over as long as you listen to it. This is why we need to be on our guard because we know the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Unlike the mp3 player, we can't erase what we did, but we can choose to move past what we did, learn from it, and move ahead in Christ. 

For me personally I have to remind myself that some of the things that go through my mind are things that have happened but they do not need to have control over me. They don't need to ruin my life. In the power of Jesus' name we can reject the thought and gain victory. That is so cool! So the next time the mp3 player kicks up with a hit list to try and distract you with your past, know that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world right? Ask God to wipe the mp3 player clean and start over!