I'm a smart American! Blogthings told me so.

You Are a Smart American

You know a lot about US history, and you're opinions are probably well informed. Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.

Are You a Dumb American?

You know it was an easy one when I score well on a history quiz!

2 Peter 1:4

“Whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust.” (ASV)

Freedom is an ideal that we as humans have striven toward throughout our history. Just as God's chosen people Israel sought freedom from their bondage in Egypt, Christians today seek freedom from the slavery of their sins. Unfortunately freedom is seldom easily won.

We can take heart though in knowing that God also desires our freedom. He has gone to a great deal of trouble to ensure that we will have it. "For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1 ASV) The justification provided to us when Christ hung on the cross covers all of our sins, past, present and future. We need only accept it.

Of course, once we have accepted justification, that isn't the end of the story. "For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another." (Galatians 5:13 ASV) "I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13 ASV) We still must struggle against sin every day, but we can know that God is there with us and He will provide us the strength to overcome.

Freedom is ours, as children of God. We need only to reach out and grasp it.

Luke 14:33

"So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (ASV)

What would you be willing to part with for Christ's sake? What if you found that some of your favorite possessions were leading you to sin and you needed to get them out of your life? What if your landlord decided he doesn't like Christians and kicked you out? What if your parents said they would disown you if you don't turn away from God? What if someone decided to kill you if you wouldn't renounce Him?

Some of these situations may seem far-fetched, but they have happened many times and will probably continue to happen in this fallen world until Christ's return. God knows that the road to follow Him is a difficult one. That is why He gave us the passages found in Luke 14:26-33. He wants us to be prepared.

Christ asks a lot of us. In fact, He asks that we give Him all that we have. Not only possessions, but relationships and our own lives as well. Of course, He has given a lot for us, so He is well within His rights to ask this. And we don't need to tremble as we place our lives in His hands because He values us more than we could possibly fathom.

We need to realize though, that following Christ's lead will not always be rainbows and sunshine. There are bound to be a lot of dark and scary moments. Other people will not always accept our faith. Many will lash out at us, simply because we believe. In some areas of the world, even today, Christians live in fear for their lives. They are harassed by the government, their neighbors, and even their own families.

Paul knew a thing or two about being persecuted for the sake of the Gospel. He was well acquainted with the first recorded martyr. He may have even been there when Stephen was stoned. Then, when he turned to Christ, the peril became his own. He was kicked out of towns, arrested, abused, and eventually killed for spreading the truth. Yet he found strength through it all. In Philippians 3:8 he wrote "Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ." (ASV)

This is the attitude we Christians should seek to emulate. Paul knew that he had gained the most precious and important thing on earth -- a relationship with the risen Christ. He knew that everything he had and everything he was could not measure up to the bounty that awaited him, so he feared to lose nothing.

Most of us today live our lives in relative peace. We may get teased in school or shunned by people that don't understand, but really there is little danger associated with faith for many of us. Because of that I think we often overlook the costs of being a Christian. Still, as Christ reminds us in the above passage from Luke, we need to be ready to turn over everything and everyone we hold dear, if He asks it of us. We need to remember that He has our best interests at heart and that He sees things in the long view, while we often only see what is happening in any particular moment.

So what would you be willing to give up to be a follower of Jesus?

Psalm 3:6

"I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people That have set themselves against me round about." (ASV)

Have you ever had one of those days when it seems that the whole world is set against you? When nothing goes your way and you're ready to just throw in the towel?

King David, a king appointed by God Himself, had plenty of those days. His reign was rife with assassination attempts and uprisings against him. He had kings and princes after his hide. When he authored this Psalm, he was fleeing for his life. His own son, Absalom, was trying to kill him. What's more, Absalom had the armies of nations at his call! Israel and Judea sided with him, against David. This king was now living in the wilderness and hiding in caves.

Yet while all this was going on around him, David had peace. He knew who was really in charge of the situation. David had an answer for times of trouble. His life was threatened, his adversaries were many and powerful, "but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God." (1 Samuel 30:6b ASV)

Despite all his failings, of which there were many, David was described as "a man after God's own Heart." He never stopped worshiping and loving his Lord, and he never forgot Who granted him his power and authority. Seventy-three of the Psalms bear David's name. His son, Solomon, was the wisest of Israel's kings. And it was his line that was chosen to bear the Messiah.

Clearly, David knew how to overcome difficulties. When the world was against him, he never forgot that God was on his side. Perhaps we all could learn a thing or two from this young shepherd who was appointed king.

My sis on stage with Gym Class Heroes

Note: Bigger version of pic available by clicking the title to this post.

Ok, my sister is now engaged to the brother of the keyboardist for Gym Class Heroes. Kinda neat, huh? So anyway, she just got some of the pictures from last summer's Warped Tour, and she's in several shots with the band on stage! WooHoo!!! In the one I've attached she's the girl with the big white sunglasses and pink tank top in the back left. (the guy in the blue t-shirt next to her is her future hubby)