CHIC 2009 + Mission trip

I will be away for the next couple weeks. CHIC 2009 updates will be posted here throughout the week of July 11-19. Also stay tuned for a big mission trip announcement in the weeks following CHIC.

Anger

"We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set
our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence."
(Psalm 90:7-8)

I had friends as a kid who would go a little cold when their moms' said, "Your dad is going to give you a spanking when he gets home from work." They had done something so wrong that a "mom spanking" would not be enough of a punishment. They had a dad spanking coming, and they knew it.The result? The rest of their day was ruined, spent in dread of the wrath of dad to be administered when he got home from work, tired, hungry, and cranky. Even if they were allowed to keep playing, they were "consumed" by the prospect of their punishment.Magnify that a billion times and it's exactly what Moses describes here. How can you possibly enjoy the few short, difficult years of this life knowing that God is angry about your sins (even the secret ones) -- and that your punishment is coming?What would we do without Jesus?

"Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Think: How often do you think about God's anger toward sin? Do you think God has a right to be angry about sin and to punish people for it? Why doesn't He punish Christians for our sin?

Pray: Thank God that through your faith in Christ your sins are forgiven and you are no longer an "object of wrath."

Do: Read Ephesians 2:1-10 all the way through to be reminded how God's grace works in our lives.

from planetwisdom.com

Josh Womack's Bat trick

Torture debate

Read this article in Relevant magazine, comment on here with your reactions.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/features-reviews/reject-apathy/17226-the-torture-question

JH Service Day Tommorow

Be @ BCC by 8:45am, we will return shortly after noon. We will be going to JFK colleseum with NH Food Bank to deliver food to people in need.

Are Holy Be Holy

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' " (1 Peter 1:15-16)

I think lots of people read this verse and just check out. "I can't be holy. God is holy. He is perfect. He has never done or said a single sinful thing in all of eternity. He doesn't even have sinful thoughts. That's not me. I can't do that."Here's what we miss: That is us. That's the point. God is not saying to us, "Be holy, and then you can be my child." He's saying, "You are my child. Now be holy like me."Still think it's impossible? Listen to these words from Paul in Colossians 1: "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."In His eyes, you are holy. Now, Peter says, start using His power to live up to who you already are. You won't live perfectly free from sin before you see Him in person, but you can make choices that reflect His holiness in your life today. You are holy. Be holy.

Think: Does understanding that God sees you as holy right now motivate you to try harder to live up to your new identity? Where does the power come from to live that way?

Pray: Ask God to help you to understand what it means to be holy in your everyday life. Ask Him to help you to be holy in all you do.

Do: Ask your pastor or youth pastor or a Christian teacher what it means for a Christian to live a holy life. How do they practice that from day to day?

Rebel Against Yourself

"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance." (1 Peter 1:14)Peter continues to answer the "what now?" question with this verse. After describing all God has done to bring us into His family, to secure our future with Him in eternity, to reveal to us the mystery of Jesus, what should a child of God do with the years we have left on Earth before we get to heaven?Peter says the next step for us is to learn to say to ourselves one of the most powerful words in any language: "No." Before we knew Jesus, he says, we were ignorant -- not stupid, but literally clueless. We didn't know any better than to do what we wanted to do.Now, he says, learn to be who you are -- a child of the King -- by learning to say "no" to your want for wrong things. You might still want to do evil -- satisfying your legitimate desire for pleasure, glory, and security in illegitimate ways like having sex outside of marriage, hurting others for revenge, and living for money.Instead, Peter says, don't conform to yourself. Rebel. Do what doesn't come naturally. Say no to sin.

Think: Have you ever thought about rebelling against your own desire to do wrong? How can exercising your power in the Holy Spirit NOT to sin feel like freedom?

Pray: Ask God to help you to not conform to your evil desires.

Do: Make a list of 2-3 "evil desires" you can intentionally say no to this week with God's power in you.