http://www.doorposts.com  (family discipleship and character training) Check out their free resources!

http://www.cbmw.org/ (Biblical manhood/ womanhood)

http://www.challies.com/ (reformed Christian blogger)

http://www.discerningreader.com/ (Christian book reviews from conservative/ Biblical perspective)

http://www.9marks.org/ (ministry of Mark Dever—developing healthy church life)

http://www.setapartgirl.com/home.html (e-magazine for teen girls)

http://sharingthevictory.com/ (FCA athletic magazine for teens)

http://www.albertmohler.com/ (current culture issues from Al Mohler of Southern Seminary)

http://www.visionforum.com/browse/category/?cid=630 (Parent and Family resources)

http://noutheticmedia.com (Biblical counseling resources for everyday issues)

Jesus tells us to stay alert and look for His coming. What ways can we stay alert? What are some things in our culture that distract people from being ready for the coming of the Lord? Is there some thing in your life that should change to help you anticipate Jesus’ return?

Many Christians do not realize the importance of the coming of Jesus. Our world does not see the importance of the second coming of Jesus. We often hear the question, “If God is so good and all powerful, then why does he not come now and put an end to sin and suffering?”

It is not a new question to the Church, and 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that “the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

When Jesus returns there will be a final judgment. Many debate the exact timing of the final judgment but all agree that Jesus will judge all people and many will perish because they did not repent from their ways and trust in Christ’s forgiveness, but those who have trusted in Christ will be with Him forever. The second coming, although the details are debated, is important because it gives us hope. Hope that Christ will one day put all things right again and we will be able to enjoy the fullness of God’s glory in a renewed relationship with him.

We all have seasons when we are busy. There are times that our calender gets so full it starts to eat our lunch! I am constantly looking at my calender and thinking what can change or drop off, if not now, soon. When I start to look at all the things I could be doing and all the things I am doing and all the things I should be doing, I become overwhelmed quickly. I am so glad that when I feel like this, I have Jesus. He says to us, “All who are burdened and heavy laden, come to me and I will give you rest.” This is a great truth. When we look to Jesus and listen to his voice, He begins to clean house. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of things that we need to get rid of, and things we need to start doing. We have a refreshing of joy and peace from God and our calender starts to look as small to us as it does to God. When you are overly tired and running too hard, take time for the Savior. He will give you rest.

When we think of new years we often think of new years resolutions. The problem with them is that they are all too often broken. I believe the reason is because most of us resolve to change in our own strength or power. This year let me challenge us all to look to God for a real change that can only come from His Holy Spirit. Take some time and pray and read the Word of God and ask Him where do I need the greatest change in my life? Next find a verse or two that speak to this change and memorize them. Finally allow god to work and take the steps you need to in order that change may occur. The end result I pray is a transformed and deeper spiritual walk with God.

So, What is your resolution going to be? I would love to hear what you think! Happy New Year and God Bless!

I was in the local high school this past week and over heard two boys talking about their girlfriends. As a father myself, when I heard the derogatory way they viewed these girls, I thought, “If you were around my little girl, I would finish you off right now.” However, this isn’t just something some guys do. I have also heard girls talking about how they manipulate some poor boy for their own personal pleasure.

It comes down to two things, 1. Do you have a relationship with Christ? and 2. Do you view purity the way God does or the way the world does? The reality is these boys mentioned above were not followers of Christ so they viewed purity as the world, like a paper cup. They were seeking to fulfill their wants and they use up, abuse, and throw away their purity like a paper cup.

But look at this passage, What does God want for us? He wants his people to be sanctified. God is not just saving people from sin but he is working in their lives to free them from sins effects and making them holy.

Why does God do this? The obvious answer is that God values his people and wants them to be holy because he is holy. God’s view of purity is himself. God is pure and he wants his people to be pure. The scriptures tell us that we are the bride of Christ. When we think about a wedding we think about how the ones to be wed love and cherish each other. This is how God feels about his people. So we should handle our purity like tea cups. It is fragile and we should be very careful with how we handle our lives. It is easy to give ourselves away. It is easy to talk carelessly about the other sex. It is easy to do what others do, who do not know God.

So we must ask ourselves, “Are we pure in our entertainment? How about in our conversations? Do we practice purity on Faccebook and other social sites? Is our purity handled like a tea cup, valuable and delicate, or like a paper cup, worthless and thrown away?”

We are to preach the gospel and make disciples not run a ministry full of stuff and games with no real substance. So how much stuff is too much? What should be the focus when we gather? Is it to be a good encouraging devotion or is it to slam into the students lives with the gospel? There are many questions to ask and many ideas to explore. What is your take on this? How can we be the most effective for the kingdom before we turn it into a show?

The question that is brought out is this: “Do we live our lives believing that tomorrow we die, or that tomorrow we live forever?” in other words, “Is our life shaped by eternity?”

Three Biblical examples of looking and living for eternity out of Hebrews were, Abraham followed God even though he didn’t know where he was to go. Moses followed God and refeused to live like the Egyptians and suffered with Israel in the wilderness for 40 years, looking to eternal reward. Jesus, looking to the completed work and glory of the cross, suffered on the cross to redeem humanity. Whith these great examples before us, we too should be looking to eternity and allowing God to reshape our lives in the here and now.

I don’t really have a concrete answer but maybe you have some ideas.  Who do you think had it the worst?

Yes, many go about their Christian lives and give no more thought to the gospel than they do insurance policies.  It is important to have but it has no real bearing on my day to day.  And if Geico could assure me that I could go to heaven with less obedience, how many Christians would trust the little green lizard?  Now I know this may look harsh, but the point is: Is the Gospel calling you to live, or have you taken a message and hung up?

What do you think? Are people living devoid of the Gospel while claiming to have been saved by it?