"Cool" Jesus

I was at Mardel the other day, and I've never felt so in awe at a store before. Looking around, I was amazed at all the "Christian" things we have: Christian books, Christian t-shirts, Christian music of every genre, Christian movies, even Christian Guitar Hero. We've got it all. We've taken what the world has and made the "Christian version" of everything. What more do they want? Our stuff is just as cool as theirs.

And yet, Jesus is still not "cool" enough for the world.

Don't get the wrong idea. There's nothing wrong with expressing yourself and wearing your faith on a t-shirt. There's nothing wrong with writing a song or a book about God. However, it seems like we've created so many things that have caused us to lose touch of who Jesus really is--a loving, gracious, merciful Savior.

I remember seeing a Christian music video online. While Christians raved about the song, one person commented, "I hate it when Christians are trying to be cool." We always try to sugar-coat Jesus, giving Him an electric guitar, making Him wear blue jeans, and dressing Him up to look pleasing to the crowd.

I don't think the world wants a "cool" Jesus. The world right now is hurting, dying, and desperately crying out for Him without even knowing it. They don't need any shirt, rock song, book, or movie. They need His love, His grace, His hope. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." He didn't say, "Wear a t-shirt with My name on it so everyone will see it and think I'm cool and praise your Father in heaven." He said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds." But, unfortunately, American Christians aren't exactly like that, are we?

Our life should be more Christian than our t-shirt, book, whatever. I think the world would better respect a Jesus that loves and cares for them than a Jesus that wears blue jeans and aviator sunglasses.

So, as we read John, let's pay attention to who Jesus really is and vow to show it to the world.

1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
3 A ruler [a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD

and so on......

The top collum takes the fragements of todays reading on the wicked and contrasts it with
the bottem one on the righteous.

This is pretty much what Proverbs is like, but it's making a very important point,
evil and good should not, cannot, exist together in harmony.


In our lives, to be specific.

Its a simple concept, but hard to follow.

But thank God He has given us the strength to
fight our old nature and live in the light!

Oh yeah, and remember to smile.
Its really important as you already know.
=D

Lost Keys, Wrong Directions and a Text Message

It was fifteen minutes before Biology class. Grace slipped on her shoes, grabbed her cell phone and lugged her book bag over her shoulder. She rushed downstairs not wanting to be late for her biology class. Grace overhears her mother(Jill) "I can't find the car keys!" Everyone went into panic mode searching for the lost keys. Where could they be? The clock kept ticking and still no keys. Grace's mom went to plan B, our wonderful neighbors. Thankfully, our good neighbor Jennifer got Grace at her biology class only eight minutes late.
Class was dismissed and Grace had totally forgotten about the missing keys or even who would take her home! She checks her phone for any text messages. One, "We found the keys". Immediately, Grace called her mom, who clarified the message. Grace didn't realize how amazing it was until she learned the whole story...
Jill didn't know what to do, her eleven year old son, Benjamin, had soccer practice and she still didn't have the keys. So she went to the only solution she could think of...bikes! She gave her older son, Christopher, instructions on how to get to the soccer field, and off they were! Christopher kept looking behind him to make sure his little brother was still there. Then he stopped! Laying on the paved streets of Colleyville lay the lost keys! Without giving it a second thought, he picks up the keys and races back home. He runs inside to find his mom still looking for the keys which he now had in his hands. Later Jill recalls that she told them the wrong directions to get there! Yet, if they would have gone any other way they wouldn't have found the keys! If thats not proof of a living God, what is?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6

The Beauty of Impossibility

This has nothing to do with Proverbs, but this has been something God has been teaching me these past few weeks. As some of you might know, I have been really emo(tional) lately, the reason being many various things, the main thing being the fact that I lost the songwriting contest, which had been the highest part of my life until its door closed on me. Eventually, one door after another closed on me, leaving me in a dilemma whether I should continue to pursue my passion or pursue something reasonable. In my confusion, I resorted to seeking God Himself, reading His word and spending more time in prayer. Two-thirds of the time I was crying out to God, complaining about my crummy circumstances. I was even irritated by Christian alternative band Leeland for putting up a blog about dreams and God "designing you to change the world," right after I lost the same contest that discovered Leeland Mooring himself. I prayed for some sort of solution or, at least, comfort. I didn't get a solution; however, God gave what He always gives--comfort, in an unexpected way.

Everyone knows this story, but who cares? :)

So my best friend and I went to the mall last Saturday. While browsing through Barnes and Noble, we nearly ran into a man, maybe twenty-something and wearing black from head to toe--vest, t-shirt, tight pants, not to mention the aviator sunglasses covering his eyes. Grace and I couldn't help but chuckle at "Mr. Cool," who even hang around the philosophy section like some kind of smart guy. Okay, I knew we shouldn't have been judging him, but for lack of better words, Grace+Samantha=Crazy. We kept running into him, around the store and at the coffee shop, while just barely supressing our giggles. Eventually, he noticed us and left the store with his two companions. Hours later, my mom and I went to Guitar Center to buy a much-needed amp for my guitar, when suddenly, I saw him again! He was with the same two people from the mall, but this time, his sunglasses were over his head. He glanced at me for a second, startling me, then looked away.

You might not see anything significant or unique about my story, but it reminded me of God's power to do what seems impossible. I mean, what are the odds of seeing the same person twice on the same day in separate places? Today, my mom's work called and told her to stay home today, while my dad (who usually doesn't work on Mondays) worked 'til noon. It was perfect, since my dad got paid for my mom. This all reminded me that God can do anything, and everything that He does is perfect. After all, He did say in Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" God never lies. In fact, I can think of a bunch of reasons why God would close the music door on me. Right now just isn't the right time yet. However, when my time does come, I will be praising God for making everything work out perfectly.

Sorry it's so long.

The Time Has Come!

The time has come to give this blog a name.

BLOG NAME DISCUSSION

Hello, everyone! We will be discussing the blog name on the comment section on this blog!

You're Never Fully Dressed...

What is common about everyone in the picture above? Whether it's a businessman or best friends or cute little kids or Anberlin or whatever...everyone is smiling! Doesn't the picture above just make you happy???

The message of this blog post is pretty simple--SMILE! From the Pastors Retreat in Corpus Christi, I remembered what Pastor Ponnatee said about how a smile can go a long way. Something as simple as a smile can brighten someone else's day.

But you might say, "Why? Why should I smile if I have nothing to smile about? You don't understand what's going on with me right now." True, but no matter what's going on with you, if you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior--then YOU ARE SAVED! You are no longer condemned to hell! You are free from sin, and you're going to Heaven! Now, that's something to smile about!

So here's a challenge for next week (September 7-13): Smile at 14 people this week, that's two per day. Smile at anyone and everyone, whether it's someone you know or someone you don't know. And if someone asks you why you have that infectious grin on your face, you can tell them why...YOU'RE SAVED!

After all, you're never fully dressed...without a smile!

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful." -Proverbs 15:13a

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." -Proverbs 15:30a