Is your heart lying to you?

In class on Sunday we talk about Jerimiah 17:9  ”The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  We talked about how we can lie to others and ourselves.  The interesting thing is that when we lie to others, they know we are lying.  But when we lie to ourselves, we convince ourselves that it is not a lie.  Let me give you a few examples:  I was talking to a youth minister friend and wanting to get the youth group things they need.  One thing that I said they needed was a Wii.  My friend looked at me and said, do you really think the youth group needs a Wii.  I had to respond no, because the youth group doesn’t need a Wii.  I just want one.  I wanted a Wii, but so I didn’t sound conceited I came up with this lie that I was telling others, but it wasn’t the real reason.

Here is another example from the lesson.  A man is spending a lot of time with this woman who is not his wife.  He friend asks him why he is spending so much time with that woman.  He answers, she needs a friend.  Oh?  His friend says well what about Bertha, she needs a friend.  The man was telling himself and others a lie that he knew wasn’t true, but he convinced himself that it was true.  He wasn’t spending time with her because she needs a friend and everyone knew it.  And deep down so did he.

Jeremiah 17 tells us that our heart is deceitful.  We don’t want to tell people the real reason we do things.  The reason “because I want to” just doesn’t fly anymore since we are not kids.  So we reach into our excuse box and pull out something that sounds good.  It really doesn’t sound good, but we use it anyway.  We are lying to ourselves and we know it, but we continue because we want to.

It’s as simple as that.  We don’t want to tell people that because we sound selfish or greedy.  So we come up with some reason that really doesn’t apply to make ourselves feel better.  Its time we stop lying to ourselves and start living as God would want you to.

My Hot Wife!

Today, I thought I would blog about my wife.  She is absolutely amazing!  She is smart, funny, crazy, adorable, goofy, zany, awesome, beautiful, wonderful, and the greatest wife ever!  Lydia is always helping me and challenging me. She keeps me in check and helps me enjoy life.  Each day is a new adventure and I just love spending time with her.

Recently she became a full time photographer.  I love it.  We get to spend more time together.  It just doesn’t get better then that!  Anyway, she is an amazing photographer!  You can check out her website to see all her pictures at www.lydiashannon.com.   Here is a picture of the two of us that a photographer friend took.

Ephesians 5:25 says ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.  As a husband I need to love my wife like Jesus loved the church.  That means loving her more than myself and putting her first.  I want to impress upon husbands everywhere to start doing this.  So many husbands treat their wives poorly and I have had enough of it.

Frisbee Golf

On Monday, I went ot play frisbee golf or disc golf with some friends.  We have been playing a lot and since none of us are very good, we have lost some discs.  Frisbee golf is a really cheap sport, but you still hate losing your discs.  So we decided to look for some that other people have lost.  At this point I need to tell you that I have been playing at the Easterlin Course we were at for several years and I only found one disc in all that time.  That one disc was at the top of a tree and it took me 30 minutes to knock it out.

So as we are playing and looking for discs, we found one.  The disc had a name and number on it so we called.  The guy was very nice and we told him we would leave it at the front office. He said he would get it later today.  Then we found another disc with a name and number.  Called him and left it in the office.  We played the rest of the course, but didn’t find any more.

After the game, two of the guys deciced to wade in the water and look for discs.  They found one without a name and number so we got to keep that one.  And we found one more with a name and number.  This was my favorite call.  The disc belonged to a guy named Tim who is from Ohio and now lives in Florida.  Tim could not beleive that we had call him to give him his disc back.  He said people in Ohio do that all the time, but never down here.  Tim even invited me to play frisbee golf with him sometime.

What hit me about talking to Tim is that I did what God would want me to do.  Matthew 7:12 tell us to do to others as we would have them do to you.  The reason I was so quick to call Tim and the other guys is because people have called about discs that I lost.   When they call you feel so greatful and exited that they cared enough to call you.  So many times in our lives we forget that we should treat people the way we want to be treated.  Instead we want to be mean when we are upset or nasty if they do something to us.  God would tell you to stop and treat that person they way you want to be treated.  If someone offends you, we shouldn’t fly off the handle and let them have it.  We should think about how we would want to be treated in this situation, because there are times we have done that same thing.  When we say or do something that hurt’s someone we would want them to treat us as they would want to be treated. 

Imagine if you treated everyone the way you wanted to  be treated.  There would not be yelling and fighting because no one like to be yelled at.  No one likes to fight and be hurt.  So let us start to today to treat others how we want to be treated.  From opening a door to forgiving the person who cuts us off in traffic.

Christmas- how much do you spend?

I saw this video and it made me think  allot.  We spend so much time on giving big gifts in my family.  This has always been the custom, but seeing this video makes me want to reevaluate my priorities.  Let me know what you think!

Table revenge

I saw this video and I had to post it. It made me think of all those times that I hit a table or drew on it. Maybe tables are starting to fight back!

more about “Macho Man’s Elbow Drop on Yahoo! Video“, posted with vodpod

 

The Eyes

Yesterday in Class, we talked about the eyes.  We started off talking about what are characteristics of role models that we like.  The answers ranged from a hottie to humble and everything in between.  It was interesting to see what the teens wanted in a role models because I did not limit them to a Christian role models, but just a role model.  Then I asked what characeristic they appreciated the most and no one said anyting about physical characteristic, but things like trust, loving, funny, and smart.  I found this interesting because we live in a world were the outer covering is so important and I thought at least one person would say it, but maybe they just thought it.  Its still interesting.

Anyway, they I ask them why more people don’t have a role model.  There were answers like, no one is good enough, but the one I think contributes the most is when a role model lets you down.  When a role model lets you down a lot of things happen.  The person you have put on a pedastal for all that time comes crashing down to your level.  They no longer seem perfect, but remarkable flawed.  All the bad things they have done that you were blinded to come crashing down on you.  You see them for who they are.  A sinner just like you.  You are left wondering what you should do and I belive this leads many people not to have a role model. 

From this transition point, we moved the lesson into who can we look up to to be our role model.  And guess who we decided it should be. Thats right Jesus.  Look at this passage from Hebrews 12:1-3

 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

First, we looked at what the great cloud of witnesses was.  This referred back to Hebrews 11 which is the great passage on Faith and how all these people believed and then lived a life for God.  This shows we have many great example of what to do when we are having a tough time.  Then the Hebrews writer steps on some toes.  He says that we have to throw off all those things that hold us back from serving God.  This is the hard and difficult part of Christianity.  We want everything to be easy and to have God bless us by giving us things.  That, however, it not what how it is.  Christians have to get rid of all those things in our lives that lead us away from God.  Whether it is that movie you shouldn’t have watched, those things you shouldn’t have said, or helping that person that you didn’t helped.  Our own selfish desires are what get us in trouble because we don’t want to let go of the things we like, but know are wrong.  The Hebrew writer tells us to get rid of those things and fill that space with Jesus because he was punished, cursed, beaten, and murdered for us.  We need to fix our Eyes of Jesus because only with his help are we ever going to be saved.  Only He can save us from ourselves.

satan’s lies, Of Course I am a Christian

Has anyone ever asked you if you are a Christian.  What did you say?  If you are like me you might say something simple like, Yes.  That was a tough one.  We might say yes, but think something with it.  For example:  Of course I am a Christian,

•  
  • I go to church all the time
  • My parents are
  • I grew up in the church
  • I went forward at an awesome youth rally
  • etc.

We come up with these things that make us a Christian, when it is not these things that make us a Christian.  satan tells us that we are “good” with God because we are marking off our spiritual check list, but the problem is that your heart is not in it.  I grew up in the Church and when I became a Christian, I didn’t think that things were going to change much and that I didn’t need to change much.  About a week after I was baptized, I was a church and was beating up this kid.  Not really hurting him, but is wasn’t something I should have been doing.  And what he told me is something I will never forget.  He said, aren’t you a Christian now, you shouldn’t be beating me up.  And I said something like, no I am good.  What?  What was wrong with me.  I had just chosen to follow Jesus and now I am already complacent. 

 

For some reason, Christian get to a point were we say that we are good with God.  Sometimes, I will ask someone how their relationship with God is and they will say, we are good. No the problem is that you are not good with God.  God does love you, but to say that you are good with God is a scary statement.  It is a lie that satan tells you.  A lie that brings you a sense of comfort.  Not that your relationship with God shouldn’t be comfortable, but that your relationship with God should be an ever growing process.  A lifelong journey to serve Him and serve others. 

 

During class we talked about a young lady named Tish who was struggling with sex in her relationships. Whatever she did to stop this problem didn’t work.  She would go to Bible studies, pray, set boundaries, but they all failed.  One day she talked to a friend about what she was going through and her friend shared the story of Nicodemus in John 3:1-15.  Let me share an excerpt from the passage.

31Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”  3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

The thing that Tish’s friend shared with her was that if Nicodemus could go through his entire life as a leader in the Jewish Church, but not have a relationship with God then so could she.   Tish’s friend wasn’t being a jerk, but showing Tish that she was focusing on her spiritual check list and not her relationship with God.

We, as Christians, have to have a relationship with God first.  Nothing else is going to help us or get us through tough times.  A Check list is not going to change our lives, but a real encounter with God will change everything in a way that we could not ever imagine.

Giv’em Heaven

NOOOOOOOOOOO

Just a minute ago I wrote a post that completely got erased. I am so mad, but what can I do.. Hopefully one day you will see what I wrote.

My Birthday

Last Friday was my birthday.  In one word, it was amazing.  My wife stayed home and we went to pick up our friends who were getting back from their honeymoon.  They don’t live here so we went to breakfast and then they left.  The rest of the day I got to spent time with my wife hanging out, goofing around, and enjoying her company.  I did have to work for about 2 hours on my lesson, but that gave Lydia time to go get my presents. 

Later that I night Lydia had a little party for me.  It was cool.  I made ice cream and we ate pizza and watched football.  My parents showed up just before we ate, they live out of town.  Then I got to have my birthday dinner with friend and family.  I can’t tell you how much fun it was.  Finally I got to open my presents.  I had no idea that everyone would get me something because I didn’t want them to, but I will take it anyway. 

All my presents were awesome, but Lydia and my parents got me an iphone.  The iphone is the greatest phone ever.  It does everything and is cool.  So go get one!

After that I went to bed.  I realize this is an odd post and I am in a weird mood so I hope it makes sense.  Sorry if it is all over the place, but that is how I fell right now.

Lies

Recently I started teaching on the Lies of satan to my high schoolers.  We have only had one class so far and I think they like it.  I came to the idea for this class from one of my small group leaders who turned me on to this book called “Lies Young Women Believe.”  It is simply amazing.  Now I know you are wondering why I am reading a book with that title, but I wanted to check it out before we gave it to any of our young ladies. 

As I read through the first couple of chapters, I realized that we are all surrounded by satan’s lies all the time.  Even more then I ever thought.  Satan comes at you all the time with lies about different things like you not being good enough or that God doesn’t care about you.  Everyday hundreds if not thousands of times a day we all are tempted by the lies that satan has told us.  Even if he is not telling us them right now, may times we are already thinking that something else he said earlier is true.  For instance, he told you last week that no one likes you, but you dismissed it.  Then next week someone is mean to you and you start to remember the lie he told you last week.  Also, satan is very good at what he does.  The bible says that he is the father of lies and let me tell you he is.  He is so good that he makes you think you think it is not him, but culture or  you yourself.  He gets you at every chance he can and with everything he has.

So I ask you today.  Are you under one of satan’s lies?  You might not even know it.  I you believe anything that is opposite of God’s teaching you are under a lie.  Even if you just think that you are not important, you are under one of satan’s lies. 

Also I don’t like to capitalize satan’s name.  I know that is proper to do so, but I just don’t want to.