The world will end in 2012?

So, the world is going to end in 2012. Or, so Hollywood "The Blindside" with Sandra Bullock. To our surprise, it was sold out. Not wanting to leave the theater empty- handed, we settled for viewing "2012" instead. 

I thought the creators were creative in how they pitched it, that the earth's crust will get too hot, causing the outside to melt and throwing the world into a catclysmic end, wrought with huge tsunamis that was whatever is left of the crust away. I'm sure it has a lot of people thinking. and why not? As I sit in here in what should be CT's turn into winter, I look at my thermometer, only to find it reads close to 50 degrees. This movie could make the  usual viewer question if they only have 2 1/2 more years of life left.

Then, on Sunday, I came across this verse from matthew 21:8: "⁸He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. ⁹When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."(NIV). 

Thank goodness we have the Word of God to turn to in times of uncertainty. 

Be encouraged today! The Lord is not through with you yet!

The Black Friday Phenomenon

I didn't think I could let this day go by without talking a little bit about my Black Friday experience.  No, i wasn't up at 5 am, but i did go around 8-9 am. I normally check out the deals in the flyers the night before and pick out a few things I would like to get. If i don't get them, I'm not that disappointed.  So, I looked in the flyers, but Walmart was the only store I thought had any deals.  I went in at about 8 am, and was surprised by how little lines there were, and people there were! There were people and it was busy,but no long lines, no hysterical people . (Although, talking to a woman at Kohl's she said someone was arrested in front of her at 5 am). 

I still am floored by our society's lack of reverence for what this holiday is all about.  Apparently, the big wanted item ( besides the tv's) were character pajamas for  $3. I got one of the last ones and a woman asked me about it. I told her where they were, then in a gesture of kindness, offered her mine. She was shocked. She declined, but added how nice I was to offer.  I'm thinking to myself " It's just pajamas!"  Have we become so far removed from the actual meaning of this holiday that we would not offer our neighbor a pair of $3 pajamas?

Perhaps the reason why we are quick to say " happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"  is because God was already gone from this holiday for a long time,  we just made it official. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

" I thank my God every time i remember you . In all my prayers for all of you. I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel." - Philippians 1:3.

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday, let us remember to whom we should give thanks!

The power or Perspective II

I was looking at my digital camera the other day and reflected on the reason why I hadn't gotten one earlier. I used to have an older film camera that I have had for 4 years.  I kept relying on the fact that it worked well in the past and had served me well to fill my kids' photo albums with pictures from their past. But, something must be wrong on the inside because eventually all the pics that I was developing came out blurry. My perspective was that it had worked well, but eventually became too blurry to serve its purpose.

Isn't that the same thing with us? Don't our perspectives sometimes get blurred and they don't become as reliable if we like? I thin back to times when i have misconstrued situations in my life because I thought I had the right perspective. The other person thought one thing, I thought another, and the truth lied somewhere in between. Until I talked it out with the other person, the truth then shown itself to me. 

As we approach this Thanksgiving holiday, are their any perspectives that need to be changed on people or situations so that the truth can show itself to you? 

The Power of Perseverance

click clack

almost there. 

click clack

Only 5 more minutes

click clack.

If I just keep going, I'll meet my goal.

 Bleary-eyed  and thirsty, this is how I normally start most mornings. 

I'm trying to train for a half-marathon. Well, sort of.  

These are the sounds I normally hear as i ride my elliptical trainer, or run on the treadmill. It would be so much easier if I just stay in bed. But, I don't.  

It hasn't gotten any easier since I started to become more conscience about my fitness level.

But, these are also the sounds that I have gotten me further along than ever before. For the first time today, I was able to run on the treadmill for 30 minutes and not get winded. Now, i don't know how this will translate to the actual road, but I'm getting there. it's a start. 

All because I get up every morning and persevere.  The results are not immediate, but are found at the perfect moment. 

Are you willing to persevere through whatever challenges come your way?

The Power of Reconciliation

A lot of times I think about how I can live my life out to others as a Christian, yet do it in a way that does not offend or alienate them from the faith. I think that the answer lies in living out the Word that is "hidden in my heart"  everyday. 

For example, i have read many times about  " if you have something against your brother, go to him before you go to the communion table," but have not had many opportunities to have to put it into practice( thankfully).  But, today I had to have a discussion with someone to clear the air about some things I (and she) had misconstured. I had the chance to just let it blow over, but I didn't. I felt like if I didn't do something about it, I would care more about myself than about the relationship. The meeting went fine and everything was cleared up, but what if I hadn't? What if it festered enough to where a relationship was strained, even broken because of my negligence? That's the meaning behind this verse. Do we care enough about reconciling to each other , even if it means not participating in the Kingdom?

The Power of Culture

Culture is all around us. We can't get away from it. Think you can? Then, here's an assignment: try to go one day without engaging with any media. That means: no advertisements, no tv, no radio, no newspapers, no music, no books, no nothing that  influences you or your ideas about something. I actually had to do this once for an assignment for school for college. i actually didn't do too bad. I did my normal things, but made sure I didn't engage in my normal recreational activities, turned my head when I saw a billboard, etc. I did well, that is, until that day I was at work and broke my foot. I had to go to the hospital. When I was wheeled into the emergency room ( in a wheelchair), the first thing that greeted me was the sight and sound of the tv set playing from the waiting room. Game over. 

Whether we like it or not, we engage in culture everyday.  I have heard it said that we, as christians, should " be in the world, not of the world", as the bible dictates. This is true, but not exactly as it is used today. 

there used to be a time in this country where the church was at the center of every town, not just physically, but figuratively as well. Whenever there was a problem, people went to the church for guidance and support. This is, unfortunately not the case anymore. Someone just told me recently that a teenager told her friends her dad was a pastor, and her friends replied " What's that?" The church is slowly losing its voice in society, and its no one's fault but ours. 

What is we could get back to where the church "sets"' the trends of culture, rather than just merely mimic them and Christianize them. What if, instead of making shirts that say " faithbook" or "sonbucks" as opposed to Facebook and Starbucks,  we set trends that we saw mimicked in society. They say imitation is the best form of flattery. 

If we think we are anti-culture because we are Christians, I challenge you to rethink that. You can't say that in one breath, then walk into Walmart, and pick up the latest new Joel Osteen in another and not think you are participating in culture.  

I don't have a quick answer to how to change this ever-growing problem. However, I wonder if us modeling what we believe and letting people know what we are for rather than what we are against is a good place to start.