Understanding Teens

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 NAS)

On July 15, 2009, The New York Times reported the arrest of a 17 year old Manhattan teenager for the bombing of a Starbucks coffee shop at Upper East Side of New York City in May on Memorial Day, apparently modeled according to a scene from the 1999 film "Fight Club." Statements from the teenager indicated he was launching his own ‘Project Mayhem,’ a plan referred to in the movie. The teenager had bragged to friends that he was responsible for the bombing, and had started an underground fight club. He was charged with arson, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal mischief.

As adults and parents, we may sometime not be able to understand what is going on in the minds of teenagers, and we may think being a teen today is much like when we were in our adolescence. We are however very much mistaken if we think in such a way, because the problems teenagers face today are far from what we can imagine. According to an article 'Problems Facing Teens Today' written by Keith Allen for EzineArticles.com, teens today are faced with life threatening decisions every day and they are not just about smoking, but includes crack and other strong deadly drugs. Apart from drugs, teens also face many other problems such as sex, violence, depression, drink driving and others. Even if they do not face such difficult issues, other lower level problems like lying, cheating, learning disabilities and emotional trauma can still be as deadly, and in some cases, some teens may choose to run away from the problems rather than face them squarely.

According to an article posted at SurfInTheSpirit.com on 'Running Away is Never the Answer,' “it is estimated that on any given night, there are between five hundred and one thousand homeless youth on the streets of Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and other major cities. Many of them are runaways - teens under the age of 18 who leave their home or place of legal residence without the permission of parents or a legal guardian." All these come from every social class, race, and religion, and they are usually hungry, scared, desperate, and very vulnerable to crime. The most common reason for teens to run away, according to the article, is family problems over issues such as curfew, behavior, dress code, grades, and the choice of friends. Some teens also choose to run away because of problems they are afraid to face, such as bullying at school, pregnancy, sexual orientation, alcohol and drug problems, or emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in their home, and any kind of shame which may involve parents, step parents, or other family members, making it extremely difficult for them to turn to anyone.

Such are the many problems faced by teenagers today, and regardless of faith or family background, the only thing that differentiates between the ones in trouble and the ones that are not, is the values they have learnt and adopted from the adults, the guardians and the parents, according to how they have been brought up. As Christian parents or guardians, therefore, we must always walk with God and set good examples for our young, so as to teach them godly values from the word of God. We must open up ourselves to give a listening ear to our teens, to show them love and respect for themselves and for everyone else. We must also work hard in bridging the gap between our children and us, yet without over controlling them or expecting total obedience, to strike a balance between discipline and love without provoking them to anger (Ephesians 6:4), in leading them to the right path, which direction they must eventually choose for themselves.

Father, teach us as parents and guardians to pay more attention to our teens, to listen and care for them, to love them without over-controlling them. Show us how to balance between discipline and love, to know when to instruct and when to let go. Help us bridge the gap with our teens dear Lord to understand them better and to lead them in Your path.

Summer Harvesting

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; (2 Timothy 4:2a NAS)

Late summer and autumn bring in the bountiful harvests, and vegetable gardeners understand this very well. As the summer days go on, the gardeners harvest their gardens, a task seasoned gardeners enjoy and look forward to, while newbies have the satisfaction of learning to put food by. According to vegetable gardening expert Melody Rose who wrote an article on ‘Waiting on the Summer Vegetable Harvest’ for DavesGarden.com, unlike late summer, early summer is a frustrating time because while the plants are blooming and producing baby vegetables, the gardeners have to check on a daily basis, sometimes two or three times a day, for the likely candidates of the first ripe vegetable to provide a benchmark for a producing garden. All the other seasons, gardeners are left to be occupied with seed catalogs and indoor transplants while they wait as they can do nothing during winter, or the preparing and planting of seeds during spring.

Soul harvesting or winning people for Christ is very much like vegetable harvesting. Before the yet unsaved can turn to Christ or souls can be won or harvested, a great deal of checking must first be done to find out whether the 'candidates' are 'ripe' and ready for reaping. Sometimes, this can be very frustrating and time-consuming, especially when it comes to paving the way for the pre-believers to turn to Christ while they are still in the infancy of faith, blooming and producing 'baby' steps toward believing the Lord. Looking for germinating faith is like looking for a needle in a haystack because it is seldom visible.

There will be days when we feel totally helpless and incapable of doing anything to bring the unsaved and the people we care about to Christ except to wait and pray. It is during times such as these, we should keep ourselves occupied with 'seed catalogs' and work on 'indoor transplants' to spend time studying the word of God in learning the ‘art’ of soul-winning, and to help fellow believers grow in their walk with God. Only then can we be ready to plant the seeds of faith and share the gospel to pre-believers when the time arrives, in and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2), to meet and spend time with the people we hope to bring to the Lord, to pray for them and to prepare their hearts to know more of Christ.

What a great joy it will be when the day of harvest arrives or when we look forward to the harvest, for while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22). Whether as seasoned witnesses for Christ or newbies learning to bring the unsaved to the Lord, we can be assured of the satisfaction we will receive in winning souls for the kingdom of God!

Still our hearts Lord to be patient when it comes to waiting for the harvest, and prepare us in the meantime through the study of Your word and through helping others grow in their walk with You. Teach us how to pave the way for pre-believers to come to know You and help us be observant to see who are the ones ready to receive You. Lead us Lord to preach the gospel to the pre-believers in Your timing that it may speak to their hearts and meet their needs. Help us Lord, to be ready in season and out of season to plant the seeds of faith and to share Your good news to the lost.

Remaining Days

Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you. (Isaiah 46:4 NAS)

In the 1989 Booker Prize-winner novel The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, Stevens, the main character in the story, reflects on his glorious days as a butler serving with dignity under Lord Darlington during the Second World War. Now, in his twilight years of life, he realizes how things could have been very different if he had pursued a relationship with Miss Kenton whom he had worked together during the years leading up to the war. Stevens and Miss Kenton failed to admit their true feelings, and as a result their relationship remained throughout as just a professional friendship which although came close to romance, never did cross the line to the end.

Many of us, like Stevens, tend to reflect on our past as we draw closer to our twilight years of life. We look back and evaluate to find out if we have lived meaningful lives and achieved the goals we have set for ourselves. We are quick to measure our achievements as a sign of success or disappointment, but we fail to realize these are not true indicators of what it means to live meaningful lives. True meaningful living is not about achievements, but about relationship, not the kind as expressed in this world, but the kind that bonds us to a closer relationship with God Who alone can fill the void inherent in our hearts.

Perhaps, some of us may feel we have lost our worth once we have crossed the line from retirees into the years nearer to the end of our lives. We may, like the psalmist, cry out to God not to cast us off or forsake us in time of our old age when our strength fails (Psalm 71:9). Although we may not be like Caleb of the Old Testament who at the age of 85 was able to say he is as strong as he was 45 years ago (Joshua 14:10-11), we can be assured that even to our old age, God will be the same, and even in our graying years, He will still bear us, carry us, and deliver us (Isaiah 46:4). We should therefore not give up on ourselves or sit back to count our remaining days, but like the apostle Paul nearing the time of his departure, continue to fight the good fight to finish the course in keeping the faith, for our future is laid up for us the crown of righteousness which the Lord our righteous Judge will award us on that day when we will meet Him face to face (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Thank You God for not forsaking us in our old age even when our strength begins to fail. Help us walk in You Lord even in our graying years to fight the good fight in keeping the faith till we finish the course. Keep us strong Lord to serve You with all our hearts and minds, regardless the remaining number of our days. Prepare us dear Lord in our twilight years to be ready to return to You when the time arrives for us to see You face to face, for You alone is our joy and fulfillment, the One and only God in Whom we long to live our lives through eternity.

Christian Dieting

This 60-Day interactive course will teach you to enjoy a new found relationship with the Lord and how to find freedom from bad eating habits. It is possible, and you can learn how. Read More ...

Sins of the Past

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12 NAS)

Former porn star Crissy (not her real name), and recent lead actress of the movie 'Oversold' by sumoJACK and Elevation Church, told the world in 2006 she has given up the adult industry to follow Jesus.

"I have decided that I want to be free from all of the guilt ... I want out of the business. I have so much more to offer to the world than my looks and body ... I want to experience true real life happiness ... to go back to my one true love who is Jesus. You may or may not believe in Him and ... I am not here to judge you. I am just here to share with you my story if you are willing to listen,¹" said Crissy. "I left the adult business on October 6, 2006 when I made a public declaration to my fans. From that point on I didn't take any more money from the web site which was my main income, I didn't shoot another nude photo, or do another movie. Unfortunately, my past will always be there. Part of being involved in such a business involves signing your rights away to companies and web sites. They have a business to run and realize that sooner or later girls will want out so they have their bases covered from a business sense. That is the hardest thing for me at the moment because I have completely turned my life around but yet my past will forever haunt me. I do know however that what Satan has meant for evil, God can use for good. As bad as it might be I know it has led many to see my testimony. My goal now is to use my old broken life to reach out to others and help encourage other people who have struggles and let them know you can overcome them.²"

Like Crissy, some of us may be unable to forgive ourselves for the things we have done in the past, and may think we are beyond hope to expect God to forgive us. Perhaps our past may be too difficult for us to erase or there may be some areas in our lives we hope we can hide forever. Unfortunately, certain things in life can never be the same again and our past tends to haunt us even after we have determined to put them behind us. Regardless the guilt, the shame or the sense of unworthiness we may feel, we must not lose heart, because God can heal us, touch us, and change our lives. Our past may be hurting us even till this day, but we need not fear, for God is willing and is able to forgive us of all our sins.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17 NAS)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NAS)

And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1b-2 NAS)

Experiences of our past, whether good or bad, can be used by God to do great things for the present and the future if we are willing to let Him work in our lives. Just as God is able to see Crissy through the healing journey from her past to look forward to the future in using her experiences to serve Him in the Treasures ministry, which vision is to help women working in the sex industry break free from the chains of bondage and to heal their wounds through personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God can also heal us of the painful memories of our unhappy past. Once we have determined in our hearts to live our lives for the Lord from now on and to crown Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will no longer need to fear or be plagued by our unhappy past (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17), for as far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). God will certainly grant us victory and turn our sorrow into joy.

Dear Lord, forgive us for the things we have done in our past that not only hurt us, but also hurt others. Release us Lord from the chains of our bondage and set us free. Heal our hearts, our minds and our wounds Lord as we put You first in our lives from now on. Lead us in Your path to know Your plans for our lives and direct us to the place and ministry where we can help others build a personal relationship with You.

¹ SMNnews Forum (2006). Crissy M. quits porn. Accessed June 26, 2009.
² Guardian Angel (2009). About Crissy M. Accessed June 26, 2009.

What the Bible Says About Homosexuality

Many people assumed the teachings against homosexuality is now a thing of the past, and the reason why it was considered unacceptable was only because of cultural misconception arising from conservative practices and the lack of knowledge concerning biological genes. Today, some institutes and human rights movements have even advocated the need to assert a person's right to homosexuality, and this has brought about much pain to various parties involved in regulating the right and wrong of same gender relationship.

In this article, we shall take a look at what the Bible says about homosexuality in the context of the New Testament. The apostle Paul in the epistle to the Romans, wrote:

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:26-32 NAS)

This passage may be summarized into two key points. The first point states that relationship of the same gender is wrong, and the second states whoever teaches otherwise and gives hearty approval of homosexuality is deserving of death.It is clear that anyone who calls evil good and good evil shall be worthy of punishment (Romans 1:32; Isaiah 5:20). It is also clear the Word of God does not agree with the practices of effeminacy and homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

If you feel you have a passion for someone of your own gender, and you are confused with your passions, wondering why you have such inclinations, or whether it is genetically natural to have same sex intimacy, or if you simply just want to know what is right or wrong with same gender relationship, you can begin by reading some of the information provided in the following links:

When Passions Are Confused: Understanding Homosexuality
Same Sex Couples in the Bible?
Door of Hope

May God bless you in your search for answers.

Dear Lord, forgive us for failing to understand our own passions and inclinations. Help us, by Your Holy Spirit, overcome the wrong and the unnatural. Lead us in Your ways Lord, according to Your Word, and keep us strong as we walk this path on earth.

Our Sustenance in Times of Need

for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. (Ruth 1:20b-21a NAS)

When the Lehman Brothers, one of oldest names on Wall Street, filed for bankruptcy protection on September 15, 2008, the entire financial industry was gripped with fear as to what might happen next, reported The New York Times. Within the same week, Merrill Lynch, under mounting pressure to avert deepening financial crisis, had reached a deal to sell itself to Bank of America for about $50 billion. While Lehman and Merrill were still hanging in the balance, insurance giant American International Group, staggered by losses stemming from the credit crisis, sought a $40 billion lifeline from the Federal Reserve. All these series of events culminated led to a worldwide economic crisis, and many institutions, corporations and individuals till this day are still struggling to contain its rippling effects.

As consumers, workers, entrepreneurs or investors, we are in one way or another affected by this financial crisis. With prices of consumer goods continuing to rise, businesses and corporations changing hands or closing down, individuals losing jobs or business opportunities, and bad debts on the increase resulting from investment losses or delay in financial repayments for mortgages, loans and credit lines, few today can remain nonchalant to what is happening in the financial world.

Like Job in the Old Testament, some of us may have once been rich or blessed with sufficient money to live comfortable lives. The financial crisis or some other events, however, may have left us with little to live on. Unlike Job who was able to bless God even in such situations (Job 1:21), we may have reacted like Naomi to say the Almighty has dealt with us very bitterly, for we were full when we went out, but the LORD has brought us back empty (Ruth 1:20b-21a).

Some years ago, I was faced with a similar situation that almost left me in poverty. I was out of a job, and it took me five years before I found another. During those years of waiting and looking for alternative work, I took on various freelance assignments. These occasional assignments however were unable to provide sufficiently for my small family, so I had to dig into my savings. Throughout the five years, I sought the Lord for sustenance, and He had never failed to provide for me and my family. Whenever there was a necessity requiring payment, the Lord would grant me a job assignment which would provide sufficiently for that time of need. Nearing the end of my savings, I was granted a full time job by the Lord to work in a multinational computer corporation as a technical writer, fulfilling my desire to write, yet without sacrificing my past experience as a technical support engineer in the information technology industry. Today, although I can no longer afford to spend on personal or family indulgence like before because of the shortfall in monetary returns, my family and I are living each day happily and sufficiently by the grace of God.

As believers, we should never live our lives as if there is no hope for tomorrow even when faced with surmounting crises in our lives. We should not be worried about our future as to what we shall eat or what we shall wear, for our heavenly Father knows our needs (Matthew 6:25-34). We should instead learn to recognize the many blessings God has already given us. Just as Naomi was blessed with the restoration of life and sustenance at old age through the birth of a grandchild and redeemer following the line of King David (Ruth 4:14-16), we can trust God to take care of our sustenance in times of need and be assured in our hearts He will surely provide for us and our families.

Forgive us Lord for feeling bitter over our loss of riches and for failing to completely trust in You in times of need. Help us Lord not to be overwhelmed by the crises we face in this world, but instead open our eyes Lord to see and recognize Your sovereignty in all situations. Move our hearts Lord that we may not be found ungrateful and lacking in thankfulness for the blessings You have given us. Lead us O Lord every step of our ways as we live each day with complete trust in You.

Tasting Bitter Before Sweet

Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad a heart may be happy. (Ecclesiastes 7:3 NAS)

When I was in my early 20s, several crises happened in my life at the same time that left me devastated. A loved one in my family was in critical condition, an affectionate relationship was broken, a discord in the church which led to friendship separations—these and more happened within a short span of time from each other, and came suddenly without any warning. It was like the entire world has turned against me and I was left all alone with no one to turn to for help or share my pain and agony. In that state of despair and desperation, I strayed and walked away from God, but not for long, because I soon realized I could never live a meaningful life without God.

All of us have experienced difficult times in our lives and may continue to experience some now or in the future. It is during such times we should stand firm and not stray away from God, for it is only then we can truly understand the meaning of God is our strength, our guide, and our reliance. Unless we taste the bitter and experience being down and out, the moments of despair and the feeling of being all alone in the world, we seldom look to God and rely on Him. Once we have experienced all these, however, we will be able to appreciate His sweet and perfect peace with complete confidence in the fullness of His sufficiency.

The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes rightly said sorrow is better than laughter, for only when we have tasted the bitter and experienced deep sadness can we truly comprehend the sweetness of true happiness (Ecclesiastes 7:3). Life as we know it in the real world is not all a bed of roses without the thorns; it is frequently mingled with bitter and sweet as long as we are here on earth. Jesus, in illustrating how believers should live their lives said:

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 NAS)

As Christians, there will be times when we will be called to stand for the truth, but there will also be times when we may prefer to hear the sweet rather than the truth, because the truth is often bitter and accompanied by consequences we do not wish to bear. If we see a friend or a colleague being falsely accused for something he did not do by someone trying to cover up for his mistake, will we leave our friend or colleague to stand accused and let the accuser go scot free, or will we defend the righteous? What if by speaking the truth, we risk finding trouble for ourselves or losing our jobs? Will we still dare to stand up for the truth in representing what is right, or will we stand accused of letting down our faith?

If we are willing to taste the bitter, and stand for the truth in facing insults, false accusations and persecutions because of Jesus, we can rejoice and be glad because the Lord has promised us our reward in heaven will be great (Matthew 5:11-12), and we will with certainty get to taste of its sweetness.

Teach us therefore dear Lord to live our lives worthy of Your calling, to stand up for the truth even if it means to risk inconveniences and possible persecutions. Help us be willing Lord to taste that which is bitter for Your name's sake, that we may experience the sweetness of true happiness. Strengthen us Lord and be our guide to see us through difficult times. Lead us in Your ways Lord so that we may not stray away from You, for we know O God it is during such difficult times that we need You the most, because in You alone can we live meaningful lives.

Lost Without the Light

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12 NAS)

In February 2008, a wide-ranging blackout swept across Florida which affected nearly one million households and businesses, knocking out traffic signals and trapping scores of people in elevators, reported The New York Times. Within a two-hour period, Miami-Dade fire officials received reports of about 40 car accidents; more than triple the daily average. At least eight power plants and 15 major transmission lines were knocked out. Among the affected power plants was the Turkey Point nuclear complex in southern Miami-Dade County, where two reactors shut themselves down within seconds of the initial failure when automatic devices sensed a voltage drop on the incoming power lines, a spokeswoman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington told the press. According to Florida Power & Light, 700,000 to 800,000 of its 4.4 million customers were without electricity at the peak of the blackout.

“It was pitch black and nobody knew what was going on,” said Mr Ulises Orozco who was in a 50-story office building in Miami when the power went out. “It was hot and humid within the stairwell, but most people chose to evacuate the building anyway because there were all these conspiracy theorists talking about terrorism.”Imagine how much havoc darkness can create for us all when we are without light. Jesus understands what it means for the world to live in darkness when He said to His disciples "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him" (John 11:9-10 NAS).

"For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light" (John 12:35-36a NAS).

As believers in the Lord, we are all called to become sons of Light. Jesus is the Light of the world, and as His followers, we should not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life (John 8:12). We are to work the works of Him who sent us, as long as it is day, for night is coming when none of us will be able to do the work of God (John 9:4). What our Lord tells us in darkness or in privacy, therefore, we must speak in the light (Matthew 10:27). If we fail to do our part to speak in the light, then all who are still living in darkness will surely perish without any hope of survival when they are thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:13-14).

Our first step in becoming sons of Light therefore is to stay clear from darkness and walk in His light. This means we must first begin by coming clean before God in all areas of our unholy lives, in confession and repentance, to take steps to build a closer relationship with God, to pray, study, and walk in His Word. Once we have laid hold of our lives to live victorious in Christ, we must then decisively take steps to stamp out the darkness in our lives, the bad habits and unhealthy practices, before we can illuminate the world.

Dear Lord, open our eyes and minds to see and remember the havoc darkness can create in our lives and in the lives of those who are yet unsaved. Help us Lord to depart completely from darkness to walk in the Light. Stir in our hearts Lord to understand the consequences the lost will have to bear if we fail to reach out to them. Shine through us O God that the world may receive the Light of the world and be set free from darkness.

Wordle for Frequently Used Words

www.wordle.net ~ June 2, 2009

The image above shows the frequently used words at this blog. The larger the size of the word is displayed, the greater the number of times the word has been used.