Is there an alternative?

Within the past few months, Hollywood lost two young stars that had the whole world in front of them. Lee Thompson Young, was a child star that was in my children's favorite Disney show, The Famous Jett Jackson and successfully made the transition into stardom as an adult. Cory Monteith found his fame in both movies and television. I know many people who would have gladly traded places with the lives that these two had.

One dies by suicide and the other in a drug induced stupor.

Many times, people look at Christians with disdain. They can't believe that we trust in an invisible God, but the question is - where is the hope? These two people who apparently had everything had no hope and in their own way, just gave up hope.

I wonder if there were any Christians in their lives that wanted to share the hope that God offers but didn't?

In Ezekiel 18:32 the prophet is yelling out to the people:

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.

When people don't see any other way, or when life just seems to get too heavy, or the mistakes of the past well up like an insurmountable wave, people loos hope. But God wants us to Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Then asks the question Why will you die? (Ezekiel 18:31)

There are a lot of people out there that do not know the hope that God has for them. Let us struggle to share with others the hope that we hold dear.

Selah

I like brussels sprouts, but I love oatmeal raisin cookies!

I can honestly say that I like Brussels sprouts. I will honestly eat of my Brussels sprouts and the go back for seconds, or thirds! But... if given the choice of eating Brussels sprouts or oatmeal raising cookies - I would eat the oatmeal raisin cookie every single time.

Compared to oatmeal raisin cookies, it would appear as though I hate Brussels sprouts... and that's just not true. I really like Brussels sprouts.

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27, ESV)

Jesus isn't literally telling us to hate our parents, our spouses, our children or ourselves. He's saying that we should love God more than we love these things... It's like given the choice of oatmeal raisin cookies and Brussels sprouts. If we have to choose between God and anything else, we should choose God, every single time.

What does this mean? How do we live this out? That's the challenge...

Are there times when I feel the nudging of God's Holy Spirit and my feeling override it? Are there times when my spouse would rather read a book than take time to pray? Are there times when my child has a sports event and I opt to cheer for them in a way that pales in comparison to the way I worship God - so I go to the game instead of church on a Sunday morning?

The list goes on... this week, let us try to love God more than we love anything/anyone else.

Beware my EV-il plan...

I think movies have done us a disservice. Many times when we watch movies, the bad guys have these evil plans, and we can see the plan right from the beginning, and we generally know that they are going to make a mistake and that good is going to win out over evil in then end.

As a result, a lot of times, we let our guard down, so when someone approaches us, we generally let our guard down and that's when it happens!

I remember reading about the Bernie Madoff. Many wealthy people and organizations list millions of dollars based upon his plan... and they never saw it coming.

That's the way with evil. The plan is never simple... and it usually sneaks up on you and leaves you wondering... HOW IN THE WORLD DID THAT HAPPEN?

In Genesis, God describes the serpent as "more crafty than any other beast of the field." Ephesians 6:10-11 warns us by saying:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

You might not be able to see it now, but I guarantee you that satan is planning some long con game in your life right now... So, I challenge you to struggle to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Don't take the shortcut. Most importantly stick close to God!