Trap 4 Christians Fall Into: Playing "Holy Spirit Junior"

(This is the fourth in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 4 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: PLAYING "HOLY SPIRIT JUNIOR"

"'And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin.'" (John 16:8a)

Part of the Holy Spirit's work on this planet ~ in people's lives ~ is to convict them of sin. It's in His job description to do this. And how many of you know the Spirit of God is the best at what He does!

And to the point of playing what I refer to as "Holy Spirit junior" ~ what I'm talking about when I say that is simply this. The believer (Christian) who takes over the convicting aspect of the Holy Spirit's work is doing just that ~ He's playing "Holy Spirit junior."

When you see something wrong in somebody else's life and you take it upon yourself to call them on the carpet for it ~ to "get in their face concerning it" ~ without God's direction ~ when you do this you're playing "Holy Spirit junior." You're doing His job.

CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO LOVE EACH OTHER

Christians aren't called to do the Spirit's job. Christians are called to love each other. They're called to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22) and pray for each other. (James 5:16) And certainly Christians are also called to confront each other at times. (Matthew 18:15-18). But I'd daresay that if that's all a particular believer does ~ if all he (or she) does is confront people on their sin, then he's (she's) likely doing most of it on his (her) own and not at God's urging.

The fact of the matter is the Holy Spirit simply doesn't need our help when it comes to this area ~ when it comes to making people the feel the godly sorrow that leads to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10) He really doesn't.

Let me give you a Biblical case in point.

THE EXAMPLE OF SIMON PETER

It was early in our Lord's ministry that He was out preaching and the people were crowding Him, as was typical. And because He was being crowded in upon, the Scripture says (in Luke 5:3) that Christ got into a boat.

Now this boat just happened to be Simon Peter's. And Jesus asked him to put out a little way from land so He could continue preaching. The Bible tells us what happened next...

[W]hen [Jesus] had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." (Luke 5:4)

Now the problem here was that Peter had been doing just that. He's been fishing the whole night before without any luck. But how many of you know that it's good to do what God says anyway ~ Amen? And this is exactly what Peter did. And in doing so ~ in obeying Jesus ~ you'll notice that v. 6 states...

[They therefore] enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6b)

So Peter and the fishermen with him enjoyed a great haul to the point that their boat began to sink, Luke 5:7 goes on to say, along with another boat they'd called over to help because there were so many fish.

HOW DOES PETER REALIZE HE WAS A SINFUL MAN?

But this isn't the part of the story I want to focus on with you. It's further down in the passage. It's Peter's response that I want you to notice. Luke 5:8 says...

But when Simon Peter saw that (when he saw the mighty catch and the boats sinking) ~ when ... Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man." (Luke 5:8)

Now how did Peter come to this conclusion? All he had seen was a miracle. And it wasn't like Jesus had pointed it out to him ~ his (Peter's) sins (at least directly ~ remember Peter had been in our Lord's presence when He was preaching). So how did Peter come to the conclusion that he was a sinner? Well, I'll tell you how I believe he did. It was because the Spirit of God convicted him. This is what made Peter realize he was a sinful man. It was the Holy Spirit at work on him that did it.

Again, God's Spirit is well able to deal with others when it comes to their sinfulness. Let us be careful to avoid the trap of thinking He needs us to help Him with it.

You might also be interested in:

• Trap 3 Christians Fall Into: Majoring on the Minors
• Trap 2 Christians Fall Into: Having a False View of Oneself

Messiah Complex (redux) plus podcast

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here.)

The Reverend James Warren "Jim" Jones.

I was in high school (1978) when the news came of the Congressman (Leo Ryan) being shot and killed in Jonestown, Guyana where Jim Jones based his cult.

Only later it would be discovered that 900+ people died after ingesting a cyanide-laced "koolaid" ~ many forcibly (including 200 children).

This "Jonestown Massacre" (as it is known) is the ultimate outcome of a person who has a "Messiah complex." Prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it "was the greatest loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster."

In another blog post on this subject I wrote of how a person with a "Messiah complex" never presents him or herself in a bad light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) (Of course, it was Jim Jones' approach.) Who would follow them if they did? Who would drink their "koolaid"?

And yet, if you look close enough ~ actually, you don't have to look so close. You just have to open your own two eyes.

And let me just expand upon that thought for a moment ~ of opening one's eyes. Many people just won't do it. They have eyes, but they won't use them. I submit (suggest) it's because they don't want to. You see, for some of these, they get so emotionally invested in a man or woman (includes politicians) that they will simply overlook almost anything (even the worst of corruption) to remain under their spell. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Which brings me to another list to go along with my first one. Could it be that you need to open your eyes?...

7 more characteristics of a Messiah complex (plus 1 bonus):

1. Promotes godlessness.
2. Says one thing while (quite obviously) doing another thing.
3. Plays on / manipulates the emotions of followers.
4. Slanders opponents through the use of "straw man" arguments.
5. Bribes (buys off) select individuals to further his (her) ends.
6. Serves up poison (half-truths) in the form of "koolaid."
7. (Likely) Has some kind of connection in the past to the occult.

BONUS Poses as a believer in Jesus Christ.

You might also be interested in:

• A World Without God
• Signs of the Evil Times

Trap 3 Christians Fall Into: Majoring on the Minors

(This is the third in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 3 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: MAJORING ON THE MINORS

Do you know anyone that "majors on the minors"?

Many believers in Jesus Christ do it. They take what was meant to be a proverbial "mole hill" (a "mole hill" represents small) and they turn it into a "mountain" (something big).

Have you ever been in a church where that happened? (It even happens between the ministry staff.)

Maybe it was over the color of the carpet in the sanctuary (/ meeting place) ~ maybe that was the mole hill turned into a mountain. Or maybe it was over the song selection for the worship service (/ gathering) ~ maybe some people preferred the contemplative songs while others wanted more upbeat choruses used ~ and this mole hill was turned into a mountain. Or maybe it was over the use of money. ("They're always asking for money." Have you ever thought that before yourself? Be honest.)

There are just a ton of things in the church where this can happen ~ where minor issues can be made major.

MAJOR ISSUES THAT NEED TO REMAIN MAJOR

Now don't get me wrong. There are certainly major issues that need to remain major in the church. I'm talking about issues like the authority of Scripture (the Bible is the final rule of faith and practice), the doctrine of the Virgin Birth and Christ's deity (how many of you understand that Jesus was and is God? ~ this is a major issue in the church ~ it is vital).

And then there's the death and resurrection of our Lord, His second coming, the necessity of the new birth experience (being "born again") ~ issues like these are major issues that need to be stood up for. They need to be defended. There can be no compromise in these areas. Ever.

But then there are the minor issues ~ most often they're "man-made" without any explicit Bible verse behind them. These "man-made" issues need to be left in the minor category. They need to not be divided over. They need to not be fought over.

WHAT IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO IS THE HEART

And I guess what it really boils down to is the heart. That's what God is really concerned about. He's not concerned about the color of the church carpet. He's not concerned about the songs that we sing in the worship service. He's not concerned about the minor issues that we can so easily get caught up with. What God's concerned with is what's going on on the inside.

You can have the right color carpet. You can sing the right songs. You can do and have everything "right" on the outside. But on the inside you can be a mess ~ harboring bitterness and anger and a propensity to gossip, backbite, criticize, undermine ~ and on and on and on.

The truth is I wonder if those who major on the minors ~ if it isn't the sign of something wrong in their own hearts?

You might also be interested in:

• Trap 2 Christians Fall Into: Having a False View of Oneself
• Trap 1 Christians Fall Into: Thinking God is Angry With Them

Trap 2 Christians Fall Into: Having a False View of Oneself

(This is the second in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 2 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: HAVING A FALSE VIEW OF ONESELF

"For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

Are you stuck on yourself? To be stuck on yourself means that you see yourself as different than others. Either you see yourself as better or you see yourself as worse. So let me ask it again: Are you stuck on yourself? (Be honest.)

The truth be told there are a lot of believers in Jesus Christ caught in this kind of thinking (stuck!) that the Apostle Paul speaks to / warns us about in the verse above.

FALSE HUMILITY IS A FORM OF PRIDE, TOO

Each of these ways of seeing oneself ~ whether it's being better or being worse than others ~ each of them are ultimately forms of pride. (Ouch.) Each of them are forms of thinking more highly than you ought.

Yes, even when you see yourself as being worse than others. It's also thinking more highly than you ought. For when one sees himself like that, what he's basically doing is he's separating himself from everyone else. (Isn't it true?)

And in doing so, a person is making himself the center of attention ~ "Me bad, everyone else okay" ~ do you see how that works? "Me bad, everyone else okay" ~ it draws the attention to self. It's self-centered thinking. It's what's sometimes referred to as "false humility." False humility is one of the worst forms of pride.

ON EQUAL FOOTING BEFORE GOD

We need to think of ourselves in a proper way. We need to think of ourselves as God would have us think ~ with sound judgment as Romans 12:3 admonishes.

A former pastor of mine liked to coin the phrase (you may have heard it): "The ground at the foot of the cross is level ground." What it basically means is that there are no superstars in Christ, neither are there any worms. And it's the cross of Jesus has seen to that. It has put all believers on equal footing before God.

There is not a one of us any better than another, neither is there a one of us any worse. Did you need to be reminded?

You might also be interested in:

• 7 Points on Spiritual Warfare (plus 3 bonus points)
• Trap 1 Christians Fall Into: Thinking God is Angry With Them

Trap 1 Christians Fall Into: Thinking God is Angry with Them

(This is the first in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 1 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: THINKING GOD IS ANGRY

As a believer in Jesus Christ, have you ever thought God was angry with you? It's not so hard to see why many of us fall into this trap. I mean, in many places in the Body of Christ (if we were really honest), this is the emphasis concerning our Lord. I'm talking about the emphasis that God is mad at His people ~ that they mostly rub Him the wrong way ~ that He's hard to please (if He's even able to be pleased at all). This really is the emphasis in a lot of church settings. And it's truly unfortunate.

Because the fact is God isn't angry with us. "He's not angry with you, ________ (fill in the blank with your own name and say it)." He's not!

In a moment I'll be offering you a single verse to prove it. But before that, I want to give you two reasons why I believe some Christians think God is angry with them.

1ST REASON WHY CHRISTIANS THINK GOD IS ANGRY

The first reason is this: Some believers equate wrong attitudes of "father figures" with God's attitude ~ whether it be an earthly father, a pastor, a boss, etc (even a friend). This is the first reason why some Christians think God is mad ~ because their dad always was or their pastor comes off that way or because their boss is edgy or because any other "father figure" they might know or have known is like that. It's because those who were stationed by God in their lives to be examples of His holy attitude and character have failed to portray Him in a right way. How important it is that "father figures" fulfill their role as God intended.

2ND REASON WHY CHRISTIANS THINK GOD IS ANGRY

The second reason that I believe some Christians think God is angry with them is this: It's because they don't truly understand grace. Grace is unmerited favor (to not merit something means you can't earn it by doing something or not doing something). God's unmerited favor (grace) is bestowed upon sinful men and women by a God who loves without condition. This is what grace is. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11 is a story about grace. The religious leaders are requiring that the woman be stoned for her sin. (John 8:5) They call on Jesus to get angry / upset, to blow His top and throw a tantrum ~ to do away with the immoral, wretched gal. But what does Jesus do? (You know the story.) He says, "'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'" (John 8:7)

Does that sound like a God who's angry?

Jesus turns to the woman as all her condemners are leaving and says, "'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?'" (John 8:10b) She responds, "'No one, Lord.'" (John 8:11a) Jesus closes, "'Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more.'" (John 8:11b)

This is grace talking here. Did you need to hear it?

GOD HAS EXPENDED ALL OF HIS WRATH

I'd now like to offer you a verse to prove our Lord truly isn't angry (as if the last story in John 8 wasn't enough!) Isaiah 53:5 states in the King James Version...

But He (Jesus Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

What this verse in Isaiah tells us ~ what this verse declares! ~ is that God has expended all His wrath ~ God has expended all His anger towards sin ~ He's exhausted it all ~ every last ounce! ~ against and upon His Son. He did it at the cross! Can you say, "Praise the Lord"?

And so there's none left. It's all gone. God's fury has subsided. He's no longer angry.

He's no longer angry with you. (Romans 5:1)

You might also be interested in:

• God Rejoices Over Us
• Has God Forgotten Us (Me)?

6 Funny Things About Social Media "Gurus" [infographic]

I'm picking on "gurus" these days. (To read: 5 Things About Facebook the Gurus "Forget" to Tell You, click here.)

I don't know why I'm picking on "gurus" since I am one? (That was supposed to be a joke. I know, stick to pastoring.)

Dictionary.com defines “guru” (and this is the way I’m using the term): “any person who counsels or advises; a leader in a particular field.”

With this in mind, here we go with…

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6 Funny Things About Social Media "Gurus" (see if you agree with me):

(1) They think they're "all that" and a bag of chips (sometimes)
(2) They never blow it with social media? (uh uh, no way)
(3) They'll show you how to get thousands of Twitter followers, but they only have a couple hundred?
(4) They overdo it at times (and neglect the important relationships in life)
(5) They can let social media become an idol to them (an “idol” is something that replaces God in a person’s life)

(6) They get bummed out (become hurt) over negative comments / feedback (yes, even the “gurus” do)

The Story of How I Got My Gibson Explorer (guitar)

I had the following conversation on Twitter recently with Big Shane Slade (@shaneawesome). It's just such a great story about how I got my Gibson Explorer (pictured).

And yet it's about so much more than that...

The Story of How I Got My Gibson Explorer (guitar):

(Each of these are the original tweets. I just randomly posted the first one and the conversation began)
 
Some days u just feel like pulling out the electric guitar. Did u know I have a purple Gibson Explorer? Might Instagram it this afternoon :)

@shaneawesome: @aheartforgod seriously? That's awesome! < There's a whole spiritual story behind it, too (only with me) :)

@shaneawesome: [Can you share?]

@shaneawesome Well...I was in a Christian band in the late 80s. I felt like God asked me 2 lay it down. So I left the band... #testimonytime

@shaneawesome My fellow band members were brokenhearted. I hated that. They agreed I had 2 do what God wanted me 2 do...

@shaneawesome We had a great ministry going, but God wanted 2 have all of me. Music could not be an idol... #testimonytime

@shaneawesome Anyway, I was gone for a while. That's when something interesting happened. (I so miss those guys)...

@shaneawesome God spoke to me. He said, Mike, you're going back to the band :) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome I thought, Naaaw. But I called up the bass player (&leader)&he confirmed it. He told me God spoke to him, 2

@shaneawesome Furthermore, he (the bass player) told me God had told him he was to give me his Les Paul #testimonytime

@shaneawesome We scheduled a meeting at a restaurant in San Jose 2
surprise the rest of the band (4 other guys&a gal singer) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome I hope I'm not boring you :) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome: [No, please go on]

@shaneawesome They were so surprised (&jazzed) when I said, God wants me to come back to the band (as u might imagine) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome Anyway, that's how I got my purple Gibson Explorer (&still have it 20 yrs later).I traded the Les Paul 4 it :) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome I miss that band so much. God used us in incredible ways to preach the Gospel #Jesus #testimonytime #tears

RT @shaneawesome: @aheartforgod why not start another? < It's past my time (though God might speak to me again?) :)

You might also be interested in:

• A Mountain Top Prayer
• The Crazy Story of When I Gave My Cats Away

5 Things About Facebook the Gurus "Forget" to Tell You [infographic]

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5 Things About Facebook the Gurus "Forget" to Tell You [infographic]:

1. Almost 90% of the people who "like" your Facebook page never return (they read your status updates in their home feed).

2. (And those business "leads" people wave around?) They pay hundreds of dollars in Facebook ads per month.

3. Even the big Facebook sites (pages) with millions of fans/"likes" have embarrassingly small interaction numbers/engagement.

4. They (the gurus) have hired/paid staff running their Facebook pages.

5. A miniscule amount of people post a status update on Facebook every day (most do not).

You might also be interested in:

• Social Media in the Bible?
• Twitter Bible Chat [infographic]

A "Dynamic" Rant

(I haven't written a rant in a while. Here goes...)

It is a dynamic of faith that is ours. What I mean by that is ~ it's the opposite of ritual, it's the opposite of "dead religion." There's a change. There's a power. It's real. It's substantial. (Selah ~ pause to reflect)

I shake my head sometimes (smh) when I think about a few Christian leaders / teachers (even well known ones who I enjoy) that say the miracles, etc., were only meant for the early Church and Apostles in the First Century.

Huh? That makes no sense. Why would God hamstring us (His people)?

I know, I know. The Word of God is dynamic all by itself. (Hebrews 4:12) I'm not intending to minimize that. (Please, hear me.) But since the canon of Scripture is complete / closed and the "perfect has come" (1 Corinthians 13:10) we have no need of what the early believers needed?

Jesus talked about the dynamic of faith. It starts when we confess our sins to Him and repent. He said it Himself, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37-38) That's "dynamic."

Christ goes on, "Truly I say to you, whoever ("whoever" means anybody, not just the Apostles) says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him." (Mark 11:23) That's "dynamic."

And furthermore, our Lord is very clear, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (John 14:12)  That's "dynamic."

And just one more. The Son of God speaks through Paul, "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) That's "dynamic."

I want it. I long for that "dynamic."

You might also be interested in:

• Chewed Up and Spit Out
• Pastor Preoccupation

If My People (chorus)

7 Reasons Why God Allows Wicked People to Rule

"Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel." (1 Kings 16:30-31a)

Why does God allow wicked people to rule? It's a question many people ask. (Have you ever asked it?)

We ask it especially when we find ourselves oppressed, our lives made miserable, our security shaken ~ and it's due to other people's rulership over us ~ whether it's a boss, parent, politician, etc. ~ or it could even be a church leader for that matter. Why does God allow such (quote) "evil men and women" (see verses above) to assume positions of power / exercise, take control?

Well, part of it includes that these have free will just like everyone else. It's a sad fact that there are people (in a fallen world) who choose to beat down (via laws, a heavy hand, ungodly passions and thinking, wickedness) their constituents, employees, sons, daughters, wives, congregation ~ and it's their own choice to do so.

And it's one thing to say you're a Christian while all the while you do unChristian things and promote an ungodly lifestyle. (All "kings" who have an ear, let them hear.)

And there's more to it...

7 Reasons Why God Allows Wicked People to Rule:

Reason #1: So that we might distinguish between unrighteousness and righteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)

Reason #2: So that we might choose between unrighteousness and righteousness in our own lives. (Revelation 13:1-4)

Reason #3: So that a righteous leader might arise to stand against the unrighteous him or her. (Exodus 3:10)

Reason #4: Because we ourselves have sinned and turned from God and He needs to get our attention and draw us back. (Judges 3:7-11)

Reason #5: So that we will set our hearts upon our eternal home and not get so comfortable in this one. (Matthew 6:21)

Reason #6: So as to allow for the person in charge an opportunity for repentance. (Jonah 3:6-10; Romans 2:4b)

Reason #7: So that we might turn our gaze upon (especially if we've been distracted from) the only Person worthy of ruling over people's lives. (Isaiah 9:6)

You might also be interested in:

• 7 Dynamics At The End Of The World
• How a Super Power Disappears

Engraving on My iPad (picture)

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Where It All Started...

I woke up in the San Francisco Bay Area today. Here are a few of my tweets as I started the day...

Good morning from Fremont, California (where I grew up) :) #Jesus #aheartforgod

— aheartforgod (@aheartforgod) April 14, 2012

Fill my heart today, Lord Jesus. I want You! \o/ #Jesus #Tworship #mkbiblechat

— aheartforgod (@aheartforgod) April 14, 2012

Y does the SF Bay Area mean so much 2 me? 1st:I grew up here. 2nd (&most important):I received Jesus into my heart in 1983 here :) #Tworship

— aheartforgod (@aheartforgod) April 14, 2012

I don't want 2 go through the motions, I don't want 2 go 1 more day, Without Your all consuming passion inside of me \o/ #Jesus #Tworship

— aheartforgod (@aheartforgod) April 14, 2012

RT @berean_gal: Psa 30:11Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

— aheartforgod (@aheartforgod) April 14, 2012

You can tell by my tweets I am a believer in Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:16)

This is where it all happened (the San Francisco Bay Area).

This is where I got in a car accident on the 880 Freeway near Scott Creek Road in Fremont in pouring rain and was hit by a truck.

This is where I looked up to heaven in the pouring rain standing there in ankle deep mud and knew where I would have gone if I had died. (It was not to heaven.)

This is where after I got saved I signed up (at a Petra concert) to sponsor a child overseas through Compassion International. (Our family is on our third sponsored child now in 29 years.)

This is where I used to go out street-witnessing on Broadway in San Francisco with an on fire group of believers handing out Gospel tracts to cars passing by (you should have seen me as a new believer ~ I just teared up writing that).

This is where I was attending the Catholic Church (which I'd grown up in) and was asked to oversee my first Bible study (look at me now ~ I just teared up again).

This is where some friends said to me, "Mike, come on over to the Pentecostal church where you'll get fed." (I cherish my Catholic upbringing ~ I got saved as a Catholic after all!)

This is where I went to that Pentecostal church (First Assembly of God, Fremont) and discovered there was a Bible school there and I decided to attend.

This is where I put up an ad at Guitar Center in San Jose seeking to play in a Christian band and I got a call from two guys that loved the Lord (God would do incredible things through us ~ I am tearing up a third time ~ I miss them).

This is where (I'm back at the Bible school part again) I prayed for a wife, but she needed to (I'm crying again) ~ she needed to love the Lord like I did. (Little did I know God had her hidden right under my nose and from my ability to perceive at the very Bible school at the Pentecostal church. She'd come from Minnesota.)

This is where I (we) got married (Shinn Park, Fremont) and had our second child, Michael (Kaiser Hospital, Hayward), who was a miracle boy. "This never happens," the doctor said. He shouldn't have lived with his umbilical cord wrapped so tightly in a knot (yes, more tears).

This is where I served in my first professional ministry position as a Children's and Junior High Pastor. (It was a total miracle in itself that we got that position. I don't have time to tell you.)

And this is where I (we) decided to leave to pastor a church in the Sierra foothills towards Yosemite and left in December 1996. (We've been gone ever since.)

The Bay Area story isn't over as I'm with my daughter, Kelly @warriorwoman91, going to a Welcome day at the University of California East Bay this morning (where she'll be attending in the Fall).

I am full of joy, gratitude, happiness, teary-eyed as I wake up in the Bay Area today.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,'" declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

You might also be interested in:

• 12 Reasons Why People Don't Accept Jesus
• 10 Wrong Thoughts About God

Twitter Bible Chat [infographic]

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How Majestic is Thy Name (chorus)

Electrifying 3:16 (Football, a Bible Verse and a Quarterback Named Tim)

"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." (John 3:16)

On the first play from scrimmage in overtime Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers with an 80-yard touchdown pass to win in the first round of the NFL playoffs (see video below).

The Drudge Report headline after the game was: "Amazing Grace."

And why not? Tebow's season has been nothing less. And now he defeats a heavily-favored and number one defensive team in the league?!

And he did by throwing 10 passes for 316 yards. What's so amazing about that is it's Tebow's favorite verse in the Bible. John 3:16 is.

He wore it painted on his eye-black while he played college football in Florida.

And then during the BCS championship game in 2009, upwards of 92 million people did a search for the term the Huffington Post quotes the Palm Beach Post's report.

And now Tebow throws for an electrifying 316 yards? (John 3:16.) 10 passes? That's 31.6 yards per pass. (John 3:16 again!)

But it's not about a number, a Bible verse address, football, or even a quarterback named Tim. (He would be the first to tell you that.)

It's about reaching a world lost in sin as it's entered the end of the age. (John 3:16)

It's about getting the message of God's love and forgiveness out by all means possible. (John 3:16)

And it's about responding to the message like a young man living his NFL dream has done. (John 3:16)

Well done, good and faithful servant, Tim. (Matthew 25:21; NIV)




(If you can't see this video, click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• God Rejoices Over Us
• Unconditional Love

MSNBC Host Interviews Rob Bell on Hell (video)

(If you can't see this video, click here.)

How to Tell If You're in a Cult (in 30 seconds)

Thief in the Night (instrumental chorus)

Shout With Joy (chorus)