Hairy Rodents, Restaurants, and Judgment

Ever come across or played a game that involves "which is worse" scenarios? They're designed to get you thinking about what you consider to be the lesser of two evils, which in turn tells you something about yourself.

For example - which is worse:

• Full leg cast at senior prom
• Dental headgear for Senior Pictures

How about this one - which is worse:

• Finding a hair in your hamburger
• Seeing a rat run across the floor of the restaurant

Of course I've been to a few restaurants where both of these could happen within a few minutes of each other...but the point is what you choose reveals what grosses you out more between hairy food and hairy rodents.

Then there are a few that really get you thinking, like this one - which is worse:

• Not telling someone you like them, but never knowing if he/she felt the same way
• Telling someone you like them and he/she publicly humiliates you

I think this dilemma is what originally created the whole note-passing-check-the-box thing, because if he/she checks the 'no' box, you could always go behind the school and rip it to shreds in total enraged privacy.

I have one more for you, but this 'which is worse' scenario isn't a game, and it will tell you one of the most important things about yourself.

Ready?

Which is worse...

• Going through life believing in a Judgment Day
• Going through life not believing (or not wanting to believe) in a Judgment Day

Think about it. To some this is the ultimate 'which is worse', because if you believe in a day when we will have to stand before God and give an account for our lives, you probably don't live by the 'if it feels good, do it' philosophy. On the other hand, if you don't believe there's a Judgment Day, you run the huge risk of being wrong and ending up extremely ashamed for eternity because you weren't ready for it.

A little worse dilemma than hairy hamburgers and hairy rodents, wouldn't you say?

This is why I'm so glad that the word of God makes this real easy for us. See if you agree:

"For we will all stand before God's judgment seat...so then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:10-12).

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Seems pretty clear to me that there's a thing called a judgment seat, mainly because the Bible teaches that there's a thing called a judgment seat. If you notice from the verses above, Paul uses the words 'us', and 'we'. The reason for this is the audience he writes to, which is comprised of Christians. So what that means is that this isn't a judgment about whether or not you're getting into heaven. That deal is already done (1 John 2:2), so what you're giving an account for is the way you lived your Christian life. In other words, what did you do with all the time, treasure, and talents that God gave you? Did you use them to love God and love others? Or did you waste them on your own pride, pleasure, and position? Remember these two questions, because one day you won't be just reading them...you'll be hearing them from the very lips of Jesus Christ.

So what happens to those who aren't Christians? The Bible gives plenty of warning about this as well:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Twice in this passage, John mentions the word 'judged' - as in 'to be judged'. And like our judgment, this one doesn't determine salvation either. That chance ended when 'the dead' became 'the dead', and now they have to answer for the hundreds or thousands or millions of times they said 'no' to God's free offer of salvation. Don't worry, no one will be caught by surprise on this day, because in a flash people will remember how they insisted that Christ was not the way, the truth and the life. Here's the way C.S. Lewis put it:

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."

Come to think of it, this is the bottom line to our Judgment Day scenarios. Believing in Judgment Day and living in light of it is a perfect way to say "Thy will be done." Not believing (or not wanting to believe) is the perfect way to end up before God as He points the way to hell saying "All right then, have it your way."

And I can't imagine anything worse than that...can you?

Head: What you need to know about this truth

There are two judgment days: one for believers and one for non-believers. The one for believers evaluates us on how faithfully we served Christ. The one for non-believers evaluates them on the relentlessness of their rejection of Christ. Neither one determines salvation.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

In the words of a great preacher named Erwin Lutzer, on judgment day there will be 'triumph and tears'. If you simply obey God and remain faithful to His calling, Judgment Day will be a time of unbelievable triumph. But if salvation is just a free ticket to heaven for you, you may want to rethink your strategy, because Judgment Day will be a time of inconsolable tears.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

I don't know if this is true, but what if the non-believers on Judgment Day were able to look over at you while you wait for heaven and they wait for hell? And what if, in that crowd, you caught the eyes of your friends who you sat by, played sports with, or simply talked to a lot? And in that moment you see their expressions...no words necessary...just tortured and questioning stares that scream "Why???? Why didn't you tell me this whole Christ thing was true???" I know for me, I want to do everything I can to keep from having this as even a possibility...how about you?

(some resources from Dare2Share & Soulfuel)

Heart Attack on a Bun

So by now you have probably heard about the latest development in extreeeme food items. Of course we already have drinks from convenience stores that are available in containers that would hold a small pond or lake...but wait - there's more! Now you can cruise over from the 7-11 with your 40+ ounce Slurpee to Burger King and add a little extra to your day with something they aptly named the Quad Stacker!

Definition: Quad Stacker (kwod stakker) - noun - informal
Four beef patties. Four slices of cheese. Sauce of unknown origin. 8 slices of bacon...whoa

Yep...Burger King not only has the freakiest mascot on the planet, it also has the biggest in-your-face-I-hear-cows-protesting sandwich on earth as well. So I present to you, courtesy of the David Letterman show, the Top Ten Questions To Ask Yourself Before Ordering The Burger King Quad Stacker.

10. "Are my papers in order?"
9. "Can I get it supersized?"
8. "Will I have time to run 298 miles to burn off the calories?"
7. "Could this have anything to do with why the rest of the world hates us?"
6. "Should I talk to my doctor about Lipitor?"
5. "Can I get it on a low-carb bun?"
4. "How come there isn't any sausage on this bad boy?"
3. "Why is Burger King making me sign a release form?"
2. "Should I wait til they come out with the 'Quint Stacker'?"
1. "Do I have my cardiologist on speed dial?"

Exactly, because folks who put enough of those Quad Stackers down will also need to put in an order for a quad bypass at their local hospital.

So as I read about this potentially hazardous humungous hamburger of hamburgers, I began to think about what sort of things are out there that are potentially hazardous to our spiritual health. You know, like what is our culture serving up that could be clogging to the arteries of our soul? Well, probably many things, but I think one of the worst is the misinformation and disinformation going around about the God-Man who split the calendar and split the grave to prove who He said He is.

Jesus Christ.

So I present to you, courtesy of my way-too-much-free-time brain, the Top Ten Myths about Jesus Christ (wait - there's more! I have the basic responses underneath each one!)

10. Jesus never really existed.

We have literally thousands of copies of four exceptionally reliable historical documents(Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that testify to His very real existence, plus sources outside of the Bible that refer to Jesus as well. So yes... He exists!

9. Jesus' story is just a combination of a bunch of people's stories woven together.

Again, if the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) are reliable and accurate, then they all point to the fact that Jesus was a real historical figure, not a "greatest hits" from other folks in His day.. so yes.. He exists!

8. Jesus never did miracles.

People who claim this are ignoring a huge amount of the New Testament which outlines very specifically the 35 miracles Jesus performed. Remember, these miracles are written about by eye-witnesses. As well, His ability to draw large crowds was oftentimes the direct result of His ability to do things that (humanly speaking) were impossible. In other words: no miracles, no crowds...so how do you explain the crowds without miracles?... so yes... He exists! (getting old... I think not)

7. Jesus was just a good teacher.

"Good teachers" don't go around claiming to be God Himself and the only way to heaven when in fact they really aren't. We call those people liars and/or lunatics, which is what I would call Jesus if the resurrection facts didn't back up His claims. And they did back up His claims... so yes... He lives!

6. Jesus never claimed to be God.

Again, He did. A lot. So much in fact that the religious leaders of His day accused Him of blasphemy (the crime of claiming to be God) and tried to kill Him for it. So yes... He claimed to be God.. because He was!

5. Jesus isn't the only way to heaven.

Not according to Him. He said this in John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Not according to His disciples either. They said this about Jesus in Acts 4:12 - "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

4. Jesus didn't come back from the dead.

If He didn't, where's the body? What about the 500 witnesses? What about the disciples who died because they believed He did? He did come back from the dead and now He lives at the right hand of the Father waiting to come back for us!

3. Jesus was mostly just a nice guy.

Sure, there were times when He was 'nice', but if that's your whole picture of Christ, you need a bigger screen. He wasn't crucified for being 'nice'. He was killed because He claimed to be God and the only way to heaven...a revolutionary idea that still rubs people the wrong way. But its true.

2. Jesus never claimed He would come back.

Actually He did. Several times... if you want proof.. email me at PastorMatt@gmx.com ... I'll be happy to show you.

1. Jesus only talked about love and forgiveness, never about hell and judgment

Again, actually He did. More than several times. In fact, Jesus talked about hell (or some form of it) three times more than heaven, in the bible.

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So the next time you place an order in our culture for a Quad Stacker of music, movies, media, and facebook...remember the 10 greasy-cheesy myths about Jesus that are sure to clog your spiritual arteries and cause a faith attack. Believe me, you're better off ordering a dose of healthy truth about the Way, the Truth, and the Life from the Book He wrote!

Head: What you need to know about this truth

Jesus Christ is a real historical figure whose life, miracles, claims, and resurrection are backed up by reliable documents and traditions.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

Feel confident that you are not a Christian simply because you've been raised that way, but because you have followed the evidence where it led you. Also, feel glad that the idea of a Savior and the hope of heaven is much more than just an idea...it's the truth.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

What you should do about this truth is don't take my word for it. Go out and investigate it yourself. Take some time this week and check out the links I've provided for you. After all, we're talking about your eternal destiny here...something, I think, that is worth some of your time.

(some resources from Dare2Share)

Pocket Full of Sunshine

So what songs get stuck in your head? You know, those tunes and jingles nicknamed ‘earworms' that blare through the speakers in your skull? You mentally chase them around like a greased pig, but you just can't hold on long enough to chuck them into the "annoying song abyss" where they belong.

For example - The Barney theme song? (Barney is a dinosaur from our imagination…HA! Made you listen.)

Then there are the classics - like Chili's Baby Back Ribs jingle ( I want my baby back baby back ), Who Let the Dogs Out , We Will Rock You , Whoomp, There It Is - and -

If you've ever been to Disneyland, and you unsuspectingly wander into small world territory, It's a Small World After All will NEVER leave your head.

But I think there is a new earworm candidate that is *burning* up the charts like a pocketful of sunshine. Well, in fact, it is A Pocket Full of Sunshine. If you haven't heard it before just go onto YouTube and search it up... its pretty annoying!

See? The earworm is here - I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine, I got a love, and I know that it's all mine. Oh, oh oh oh.

But there's an interesting element to Natasha Bedingfield's popular tune that seems to connect with a ton of folks. Most of us have been yelled at one time or another... by a bully, teacher, sibling. But whoever it was they just felt like they had to SCREECH AT US LIKE THIS WHEN THEY WEREN'T HAPPY!!!

But it was just enough frustration to make us want to run and hide somewhere safe.

Take me away, a secret place.
A sweet escape, take me away.
Take me away to better days.
Take me away, a hiding place.

Did you know that God is actually called a ‘hiding place'? It's from Psalm 32:7:

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

This is a chorus from a song written thousands of years ago by a man named David. He penned these words soon after he had made some of the biggest mistakes of his life. Not minor goof ups, but major mess ups in the form of adultery, murder, and deception. His guilt was so heavy that he described it as ‘floodwaters' that threatened to drown him.

So he turned to God - and he found not only forgiveness - but also a shelter, a hiding place, and a strong tower.

What about you? Where are you searching to find your hiding place? Some look for it in busyness. Almost as if texting on your cell phone, while listening to your iPod, while surfing on the internet will drown out the guilt and pain from the circumstances around you.

That might be a temporary shelter, but you know as well as I do that the voices of regret and an aching soul just patiently wait until you're lying on your bed without all the diversions.

Others look for a hiding place in a relationship, and while friendships bring amazing elements to our lives, they can't truly protect you the way the living and eternal God of the universe can.

In fact, God is called a “Rock” dozens of times in the Bible - and by comparison there is no other true hiding place and shelter:

No one is holy like the Lord !
There is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2).

So maybe you're feeling exposed to life and circumstances you can't control. There's a storm on the horizon of your life, and you sense a desperate need to get somewhere safe. If you've trusted in Christ as your only hope of salvation, you have a secure place waiting for you in your relationship with God.

• He's all powerful.
• He knows everything.
• He loves you more than anyone.
• He will never leave you or forsake you.
• In short, He's a hiding place who can give you a pocket full of Sonshine.

That's an earworm I don't mind having stuck in my head!

Head: What you need to know about this truth

God is a hiding place for His children, a place for safety and security.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

Feeling insecure? Perhaps because you left the security of your heavenly Father. How amazing that at any time we can go home and find the protection we all need.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

Think about the places you sometimes go to when you feel like hiding, and why God is the only true shelter from life's difficulties.

So always remember that you can run to God when you feel like the whole world is falling on you. He is your Heavenly Father as well as your Best Friend. I hope you all have a great day!

--Pastor Matt

(Some Material is from Dare2Share)

The FarmVille Of Your Soul

It started as just plain and simple “Farm Town”…and you already know what I’m talking about, right? Its popularity skyrocketed and now there are over 73 MILLION people *digging* this game, happily clicking their mouses on:

FarmVille!

If you don’t own a farm yet, you probably know at least a few folks who are completely addicted to their farm and trying to persuade you to be their “neighbor” so they don’t feel like alone.

Of course the million dollar question in my mind is…

Did Old MacDonald have a FarmVille? Ee - i - ee - i - no....

I guess I get the attraction: anxiously awaiting your prized pumpkins to sprout in real time and passionately seeking out the golden chicken so you can shame your friends…but seriously, if you really want to work on a farm and make real money, maybe try a trip to Kansas or Iowa?

Perhaps there is something else fascinating about planting a seed and seeing what happens - especially knowing that growth will equate with profit.

Did you know that Jesus was a “farmer” too? Facebook wasn’t around in His day, but He still planted seeds:

He went back to teaching by the sea. A crowd built up to such a great size that he had to get into an offshore boat, using the boat as a pulpit as the people pushed to the water's edge. He taught by using stories, many stories.

“Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up, it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked about the stories. He told them,

"The farmer plants the Word. Some people are like the seed that falls on the hardened soil of the road. No sooner do they hear the Word than Satan snatches away what has been planted in them.

"And some are like the seed that lands in the gravel. When they first hear the Word, they respond with great enthusiasm. But there is such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

"The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.

"But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams" (Mark 4:1-12; 14-20).

Interestingly enough, Jesus uses a FarmVille illustration for what impact the words of the Bible have on people. What He is saying is that everyone’s soul is just like a plot of soil, and when the good news about Jesus and His death on the cross enters their ears, that message is planted - and the result of the news on that person becomes evident in real time.

Result One: The amazing idea that this person can be freed of guilt and sin and find eternal salvation by trusting Christ doesn’t even make it past the first day, because Satan uses doubt, fear, and lies to steal away the message.

Result Two: This person trusts Christ and gets excited about serving Him, but the first time they are ridiculed or come to the realization that being a Christian is costly, the seed of the gospel withers away.

Result Three: Being a Christian sounds like a great idea to this person, but soon the message that they can be free of their shallow, materialistic culture is choked out by the attractive weeds of media, music, and friends.

Result Four: This person allows the message of Jesus to grow from the core of their soul. The rocky soil is broken up, the weeds are pulled, and life is never the same in their spiritual FarmVille.

I bet if I asked you about your plot on FarmVille, you’d have an immediate answer. But let me ask you a more important question…how is your spiritual soil? Are you rife with plant life or dry as the Saharan desert? And imagine this - what if everyone was as excited and motivated to tell others about the gospel as they are about FarmVille? Ironic, isn’t it, that we want neighbors in a game, but we sometimes don’t care about the people who may or may not be our neighbors in heaven.

So the next time you’re plantin’ and harvestin’ your crops, remember that there is a much more important activity going on. This one doesn’t get you coins, but it does “produce a harvest beyond wildest dreams."

Get involved in the spreading the seed of the gospel in the lives of your friends. You will reap amazing rewards from the growth of those seeds!

(Some material from Dare2Share and Soulfuel)