Breakthrough/Blast Blog

WELCOME/QUESTIONS...READ BELOW FOR INSTRUCTIONS

2011-12-15T12:57:00.000-08:00

Hi,
Welcome to the McLean Pres. Student Ministries Youth Blog. Right now, this post should suffice as an area for you to ask anonymous questions that you may have pertaining to God, faith, or whatever. Just respond to this post by clicking on the comments button below (this post) with your questions, then I'll post them as individual blogs with a response that you can comment on. The questions are answered in the "comments" section of each post. You can view below to see the questions that have been asked already. Some have been responded to and others have not. Please be patient, each question will be given the attention that it deserves. Also, feel free to e-mail me directly with questions if you so desire. Please feel free to send your friends here as an outlet to reason or to ask questions as well. The only bad question, is the one that isn't asked.

Peace,
Derrick Harris
Director of Student Ministries
McLean Pres. Church
derrick@mcleanpres.org
derrick@derrickharris.com

What should I do, because i feel like God placed me among a certain group of people for a reason, but how do i reach out to them?

2011-12-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

Hey,
Can you tell me a little bit more about the situation, the friends, etc..??

Thanks,
Derrick

So I know that God is overwhelming, but does that mean in church if I don't feel overwhelmed His presence isn't really there, and I'm not feeling Him?

2011-12-15T12:42:00.000-08:00

Hey,
Great question. I've definitely asked that myself before. In short...the answer to your question is NO.

Why? God is not a feeling. Much like love in marriage is a commitment, the feeling is there, but sometimes the most loving thing to do doesn't feel great. Like when you're holding your wife in the hospital. That's still love, but it doesn't necessarily "feel" like an overwhelming feeling. We can get way off track when we think...oh, I don't feel the same way that I used to...therefore I must not be in love.

Many times, we think the same way about God. Lets be honest, Church services can be downright boring sometimes, but that doesn't mean that God isn't real, present, or at work. How do I know this? Well Scripture tells us that:

1Cor. 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Now when the "temples" gather together in worship...God is there. Feeling or not.

Also, think about some times in Scripture when God was definitely most active yet things seemed to feel so wrong. One big one is when Jesus died on the cross. Everybody thought that everything had gone wrong. The disciples scattered, etc. But really, God was at work reconciling all believers to Himself...and it was proven when Jesus rose from the dead 3 days later.

So, my encouragement to you is to

1. Ask God to give you a different perspective of church. Try to go with a heart to serve...rather than to receive. See if it makes a difference.

2. Go do something outside of your comfort zone regarding service. Like...spending time serving in a homeless shelter or helping our your neighbor in a way that requires you to sacrifice some of your schedule. Go find a way to bless someone....and pray the entire time that you're doing it. See if it helps.

3. Remember that you're normal, if you're in Christ, you can call God your Father and talk to Him about anything...especially the fact that church is becoming boring to you. So go talk to Him about it.

Love in Christ,
Derrick

What do you do when you feel like God just isn't there, and that when you pray your just talking to yourself?

2011-12-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Hey,
That is a great question that is asked very often. Would you mind reading the blog post on this page titled:

"What should I do, if i constantly pray to God that he would help me not to compare myself or envy others but i feel like he isnt answering?"

Then let me know if its helpful...you can reply to that post by leaving a comment and we can interact from there.

Love in Christ,
Derrick

Besides being illegal, what is wrong with marijuana and other drugs? Does it mention this in the bible anywhere?

2011-04-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

Hey,
Thanks. Great question. So...marijuana, reefer, mary jane....I guess that you're into the wacky tabaccy :) I'm sorry I had to take a moment to make some cliche jokes. Anyways, is it in the bible anywhere. Well, I've not found a verse that says anything about marijuana. However, Genesis 1:29 says:

Gen. 1:29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

But before we start making pot brownies for lunch lets look at what else God says...for the Word of God is not to be read in isolation, it must be read in light of the full revelation of Scripture. It's like a living organism. To pull verses out of context and to isolate them can be a dangerous thing....and many times you can use the Bible to say what you want it to say rather than asking the Lord what He is saying through His inspired word.

Rom. 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Rom. 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

The main issue that you need to think about is what you mentioned....besides being "illegal" Well, that's a big one. Based on the verse above, you really don't wanna overlook the "illegal" piece. Your question seems to be trying to ignore that fact. I'm sure that there is nothing actually inherently evil in the plant but its what you do with it. It's like saying...besides it being illegal for me to drive drunk....what is wrong with me driving drunk. Well, i think that its illegal for a reason. God has placed laws over us. We may not agree with every law but there will be consequences to not obeying. I want to STRONGLY encourage you to take the law seriously. The disciples weren't potheads for a reason. They also weren't drunkards, or adulterers. They thought about being such but they took their desires to the cross and let Jesus be KING. They listed to him, they practiced self control, and they sought to glorify Him, though they didn't do it perfectly, in all that they did. So should you.

Rom. 6:15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
Rom. 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,* you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Rom. 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom. 6:18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Rom. 6:19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

So, for some reason, our governmental leaders and authorities, who God has appointed, have said that some drugs are illegal and others are not. Marijuana is one of them. I think its a pretty clear that you should stay away from it. And if you don't, I'm sure that there will be some consequences. We can talk about the plant all day long but it won't get us anywhere...cause it's still illegal.

So, my recommendation is that you try to see your obedience to the governing authorities as an opportunity to serve the Lord.

Don't be too mad at me :)
Derrick Harris

How can we as Christians know for a fact that we have a relationship with Christ?

2011-04-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Original Question:
"How can we as Christians know for a fact that we have a relationship with Christ? Recently, it's been really hard to see what God wants me to do and hear His voice. I've been struggling with doubt, which I know a lot of Christians do, but it's still rough. Is it possible for a relationship with Christ to end? Or are we guaranteed salvation once we have accepted the Holy Spirit? (I know we are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13), but is it still possible to lose our salvation?)
How can we be certain that we actually know Jesus and aren't like those to whom God will say "depart from me, for I never knew you."? I ask this because I still want to live my life for Christ and know that I have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Is it possible that I'm focusing too much on the doing things for Christ, even if they are for His glory and for the spreading of the gospel, part of Christianity and not enough on the relationship part of it?
Could it be that God's silence at this point in my life be like the silence Abraham experienced for years? I ask all of this because I know that I had a really active relationship with Christ over the last few months, but it seems to have gotten a lot quieter recently.
How can we strengthen our relationship with Christ? Are there other ways aside from prayer and reading the Bible regularly?
Sorry this was so long."

Response:

Hey,
No apology necessary. GREAT QUESTIONS. For starters...NO, ABSOLUTELY 100%, 1,000,000,000% to the infinite power can a TRUE BELIEVER ever LOSE THEIR SALVATION. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation. If I asked you could Jesus accidentally become UN-Resurrected then you'd probably say no. It's the same with your salvation. It's grounded in Jesus, not you. The feelings will come and go, but the "faith" is based on a trust. Yes, you will go through dry spells of testing, much like Abraham, but that doesn't mean that you've lost your salvation. Below is an article that has been extremely helpful to me. It's written by my friend Matt Slick (www.carm.org). It's a little long but I encourage you to read it. Also, I'll put some more thoughts at the end.

The Assurance of Salvation
One of the more annoying problems in Christians' lives is the issue of assurance of salvation. We've all been there. We've all wondered if we are really saved or not. We've looked at our lives and actions and thoughts and sometimes just said, "How can I be saved if I am like this?" I've counseled many Christians who have doubted their salvation and who have worked themselves into a worry and sometimes even depression over the issue. I've always thought that the solution was pretty basic. I ask the person, "Why do you think you might not be saved?" Almost always the reason is, "Because I have a sin in my life. Because I can't beat this one sin. Because of my thoughts. Because I keep failing." "Okay," I say. "So you know you're supposed to be doing better than you are, right?" "Yes," they say. "I am supposed to be doing better and I'm not. This is why I doubt that I am saved." So, I give them this illustration.
Let's say that we are on a 20 foot boat out in the ocean. We are sailing along when we notice two men in the water. There is no other boat around, so it is obvious these two men are in trouble. We take a life preserver, tie it to a rope, and throw it to them. It lands just a few feet short. We start yelling and yelling for them to grab the life preserver so we can pull them in. "Come on," we yell. "Grab it! Grab it!" One of the men, exhausted, reaches out his arm for the life preserver but falls short. "Grab it!" we yell again. He reaches again and his arm plops down in the water from fatigue. The waves slap his face, but he tries again. The other man is simply floating face down in the water. He isn't struggling at all. But, the first man is trying for that life preserver. He is fighting against the ocean, the wind, and the waves, all which are greater than he is. That is when I ask the person, "Which one of the two men in the water is alive?" Always, the response is, "The one reaching for the life preserver." "Right," I say. "He is struggling for life. Dead people don't struggle for life.... and spiritually dead people do not struggle against their sin. Only those who are dead, who have no life in them, do not struggle. The fact that you are struggling against your sin is one very good sign that you are very much alive in Christ. If you were not struggling at all, then it might be true that you weren't saved. But, since you war against your sins, then it sure sounds like you're saved to me." Usually, the eyes brighten at this point. I then keep going.
"Do you believe there is only one God in all existence, all places, and all times?" "Yes," they answer. "Do you believe in the Trinity, that God is three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?" Again, "Yes." I continue. "Do you believe Jesus is God in flesh?" "Yes." "Do you believe Jesus is the only way to salvation?" Again, "Yes." "Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead three days later?" Another, "Yes." "Good," I say.
1 Cor. 2:14 says, "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." I continue by telling them that a natural man is someone who is not saved. Now, these are absolutely, definitely spiritually discerned truths that they answered yes to above. They are that there is only one God and that God is a Trinity, that Jesus is God in flesh, that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead three days later. In other words, the fact that the person confesses these things and believes them is further, very strong evidence, that he is spiritually alive. Usually, the person is encouraged even more.
And finally, I tell them that Jesus gives us eternal life (John 10:27-28) and He does not fake us out when we ask to be forgiven and for Him to be Lord of our lives. He said in Luke 11:10-13, "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. 11Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12"Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" In other words, you get what you ask for from the Lord (except for sinful and selfish things, of course); He does not bait-and-switch. If you ask for eternal life from Jesus, that is what you get--no matter how you feel, no matter how your emotions may mislead you. The truth is that God's word tells us that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to us if we ask. The Holy Spirit only indwells believers.
We all have our struggles and we all need to take into account the fact that we are still sinful and we are going to struggle with our sin. But, if you begin to doubt your salvation because you don't "feel" saved, then stop trusting your feelings and start trusting God at His word. Ask yourself if you are struggling against your sin. If you aren't, maybe you aren't saved. But, if you are, then that is a sign of life. Ask yourself if you believe in the Trinity, that Jesus is God in flesh, and that He died and rose from the dead. If you do, that is a sign of spiritual renewal. Ask yourself if you believe what Jesus said about Him not faking you out, about Him giving to you the Spirit if you ask. If you do, then that means you are believing Him at His word. Take your eyes off your feelings and failures and put them on Christ, His word, and His sacrifice. Trust in Him and Him alone.... not what you feel, not at what you fail. He didn't save you because of your works or your "goodness." He did not save you because of what is or is not in you. He saved you because of what is in Him: love and truth.

I just think that's great. You'd also asked what are some other things that you can be doing to strengthen your faith besides reading your bible and praying. That's a great question. There's an easy answer to. SERVICE. I've found that when I'm dead in my "faith feelings" when I serve others...i start to come back to life. I'd encourage you to find an area to serve, hopefully at your church. Then read and pray about that area of service. Start to look at the world around you, see the need, notice people, talk to people that you'd never talk to, and take the time to "do" for others what you'd with they'd "do" for you. In can be as simple as sitting with a "loser" at lunch or as grand as giving away your time, money, and possessions to someone in great need.

I hope that this has been helpful to you. Keep persevering. It will all be worth it when we see Jesus face to face.

Love in Christ,
Derrick Harris

How do you deal with lust after you have confessed the lust to a friend?

2011-04-02T12:14:00.001-07:00

Hi,
Thanks for your question. To be honest with you, I'm a little unsure of your situation. Would you be willing to clarify your question a bit further? Is the lust that you confessed to a friend...a lust for that friend (for example, did you confess to the girl/boy that you're lusting after?) OR Did you confess to a friend to let them know that you were struggling with lust and ask that friend to keep you accountable? OR is it something completely different? If you can give me more insight into the situation then I'll be able to encourage you in a more focused manner.

In General:
Lust is a result of sin. It helps me to think of sin, particularly lust, in terms of a battle. Many times we think of sin like World War 2, meaning that if we just come up with the right battle plan, then we can invade, conquer the enemy and then go back to our normal way of life. However, lust is more like the war on terror. We must always be fighting, wearing our armor, and live life as if the enemy is around every corner. The truth is that sin starts in our minds/hearts.

Matt. 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
Matt. 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt. 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
Matt. 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Mark 7:15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

So many times we try to deal with our sins by just controlling our behavior while not recognizing that we need to take our thought life to the foot of the cross. So your battle with lust as a Christian should be twofold.

1. Physical: figuring out what it is that you don't have the self control to handle, asking for help from someone older than you to aid you in ridding your world of those things being readily available to you. This is why Jesus said that if your "right eye causes you to sin..cut it off and throw it away." He didn't mean that you should cut out your eye, but what are the things around you that cause you don't have the maturity to be around without falling? Is it your PS3, cell phone, dvd's, internet? Cut them out...in some way, you're probably addicted to lust more than you know. As with any addict, he/she must get out of the "bar" before he/she can begin to see healing in the area of "drinking" It's no different with lust. You need to give yourself a "safehouse" before you can think with a clear mind. This step is easy..you know what you need to "cut out"...so do it. :)

2. Spiritual: Your thought life must be taken to the foot of the cross. Jesus wants you to not be a slave to this sin..that's why he died. As a Christian, you CAN see victory over this sin. It will take time and constant battle. I encourage you to get together with someone older than you (a Christian) to pray about this on a regular basis. Another thing that's been helpful for me is to think of "stop signs" When you catch your mind going to that place of lust...think of a HUGE STOP SIGN and say...I've gotta stop. At that moment, stop and ask Jesus to help you to STOP. I also encourage you to read the word of God. Particularly Hebrews 4:14-16. Jesus "sympathizes" with you. He UNDERSTANDS your struggle. You can always go to Him with CONFIDENCE...even if you've fallen. This is what it means to walk as a disciple.

I don't know who you are...but i want to encourage you to bring some older people (of the same gender as you) into this struggle to battle with you much like soldiers on a battlefield. Take the step of faith to talk to some people about this. Don't be afraid. Satan wants you to be ashamed but now is the time that you need to trust your reputation to Christ as you take a step of faith to.....

Eph. 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Eph. 5:12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Eph. 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
Eph. 5:14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Eph. 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Eph. 5:16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Confession will bring healing. Satan and your sinful nature are powerful in darkness. Jesus is the Light of the world. You can take this to Him, you can see victory, but you must be willing to battle. Don't look ONLY to other men/women to win this for you...but trust others to walk with you to the cross.

I hope that my feeble insight has been helpful. I'm here for you and happy to walk with you through this if you're willing to speak with me in person.

God Bless,
Derrick Harris

I'm struggling with the fact that I'm useless, and even though God says everyone has a purpose, what if i feel like i don't have one?

2010-12-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

This is a question that a majority of all people struggle to answer (young and old). So, you're not alone in the struggle. It's kind of hard to answer this question because if we were talking in person then I'd ask you to give me an example of one of your friends who you believe has a purpose and why do you think that you don't. So, all that said...I'm left to speculate generally about you (unless you'll come talk to me at the church sometime DON'T BE ASHAMED, YOU'RE NORMAL). So, I'll just share some brief thoughts that have been helpful to me. My friend Hugh Whelchel (you can email him if you want cause he said he'd be happy to help answer this question too...hwhelchel@rts.edu) has been a huge encouragement to me and you'll hear some of his wisdom in this answer.

Many times we lump the term purpose into a category that it doesn't belong in. Biblically, our purpose is to glorify God in all things. That's pretty basic yet very complicated to do. Many times we run into trouble or sad times like you're going through when we compare ourselves to others and mix up purpose with calling and vocation. Sometimes its helpful for me to remember the differences between these terms.

Purpose: the overall meaning of life. (of course there are many different answers out there to this question). I believe that the Bible is true and that Jesus was God who became flesh and revealed the will of God to us for our lives. That ultimate will is that we come to Him with our lives and offer them as living sacrifices to Him, that we confess Him as Lord (king), through faith. He made us and we won't really know what in the heck is going on unless we listen to Him. We listen to Him through reading Scripture and living it. Of course, we must TRULY believe that Jesus is the real deal...otherwise Scripture will seem like nothing more to us than any other book, but in reality, it's the Word of God. And Jesus is the Word who became flesh.

Calling: your unique passions, gifts, desires. (this has nothing to do with anybody but YOU and realizing what GOD has given YOU). God made YOU...YOU. He didn't make you the person next to you. It may take you a while, but you'll eventually realize the difference between you and other people. You're special. If you hate you, then its probably because you want to be somebody else. But in reality, you're YOU. If Gershwin tried to be Bach then we'd never have Gershwin. If Bono from U2 tried to be Miley Cirus then...well....that would just suck. You need to go to God and say "who am I". You're at the time in your life when you're figuring that out. Be patient, have fun with it, and ultimately, I don't believe that you'll answer the question of who you are unless you seek to find the answer in the one who made you...God. So your calling will be living as YOU-full as possible in all situations. Your purpose for doing so will be grounded in glorifying God with your YOU-fulness. (sorry I'm making up words)

Vocation: Your work. You could be paid for this or not. It is the practical outworking of your calling (gifts passions). This can be a paying job but is not limited to it. For example, lets say that Alice is a married woman who feels that her calling is to love others through her gifts of hospitality, painting, and love for children. Alice has come to this understanding after years and years of prayer, jobs, etc. Alice is unable to have kids. So, she decides...well God must have a reason for this and I can still glorify Him (purpose) so I'm going to start a daycare for pre-schoolers, I'm going to teach them to paint, and I'm going to love the children and parents in the name of the Lord. The daycare is Alice's vocation but vocations are subject to change.

See, our purpose never changes and if you exist then you have one. I assure you that it is to shine the light of Jesus. Our calling is unique to us. Right now I'm a youth pastor and I can use my gifts of music, teaching, and being half insane...but I may not be a youth pastor forever. I've learned that I have these gifts through reading the bible and falling more and more in love with it, by playing in bands, and by asking God why He's given me these gifts. By failing and succeeding. By trying to be other people and realizing that it was an empty vacuum of suckiness. When I was in Jr. High and High School...i was just beginning to realize that I even had gifts. I can't wait to see what God has taught me when I'm 80 (if i stay alive). Our vocation is a place for us to work out our calling but all with the same purpose. Vocation is not a means to an end...it is an opportunity to shine.

Right now, your vocation is primarily school, but your calling is (i don't know, you tell me) and your purpose is to glorify the Lord in both of those things. Try not to see school as a place to perform but a gift from God that allows you to ask the question, WHO AM I? My encouragement to you is to look in the mirror and say, God made me...God show me who YOU made me to be...please let me be that today.

I'm happy to talk with you further and hope that this little blurb has been helpful.

Peace and Love in Christ,
Derrick

How is God's power "made perfect" in our weaknesses, sufferings, and hardships as written in 2 Corinthians 12:9?

2010-12-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

Excellent question. Let's take a look at this verse in context (looking at the verses around it too). When we do that, I think that you'll find the answer to your question.

2Cor. 12:6-10: 6 Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

First off, this is Paul the Apostle writing. Go read Acts 9:3-22. There you'll read about Paul's conversion. During his conversion, Christ spoke to Him "literally." Scales covered his eyes and only God could open them back...and his heart was opened to the gospel as well. After that he confessed Christ. Well, in the verse that you mentioned, Paul speaks of a thorn in his flesh. Nobody is really sure what the "thorn" was but i think that its fair to say that it could have been trouble with his eyes that was a result of his conversion experience. Whatever it was, it was painful and something that was chronic (occurring constantly).

Imagine if you had pain that was unexplainable and that no doctor could cure. That's the sort of thing that Paul was going through most likely. This caused him to be even more dependent on Jesus.

Also imagine that you had actually heard Jesus talk to you and tell you how He was going to use you to change the world. *side note: He does talk to you through Scripture and tell you this. *Back on track now: He literally and audibly SPOKE to Paul. If that had happened to you, don't you think that it might give you reason to brag. "Hey, I'm a way better Christian than (fill in the blank) because Jesus loves me more...He talks to me. He gives me powers...I'm better than you are." (keep in mind that Jesus does not give us powers such as healings and such today...those were for a special use of advancing the Gospel and reserved for those apostles during that time.

Well, Paul saw his "thorn" as a gift. It reminded him of the fact that he was not "the stuff" and that the only reason that he was anything was because of Jesus. And that was all a free gift that had nothing to do with him, his goodness, or his coolness but rather Jesus choosing him and forgiving him.

This is the same for you. Jesus has chosen to use you for His kingdom. Not based on how good you are, but based on His love for you. He made it possible for you to know Him by saving you, forgiving your sins, paying your debt. He wants you to remember that He's in charge, not you. He wants you to be dependent on Him and not your "coolness" or gifts. Gifts are good, but they're all from God.

When we remember this truth, it is really another way of saying...REMEMBER TO BE DEPENDENT ON JESUS not yourself. That is what this 2 Cor 12:6-10 is teaching. When we are weak (i.e. NOT DEPENDENT ON OURSELVES, NOT THINKING THAT GOD OWES US, REALIZING THAT ALL GOOD THINGS ARE FROM HIM) then we are STRONG (STRONG IN JESUS, STRONG IN REALIZING THAT WE NEED A SAVIOR). This results in dependence on our Creator.

The world defines strength in "things, money, power, status." God defines strength as "unrelenting trust in Him for all things." That allows us to see the "things, money, power, and status" as gifts from our King that are to be used in service to Him. This frees us up to not compare ourselves to others and to REST our reputation and life in the loving hands of Jesus." Whenever we have trials, insults, hardships, we can remember that JESUS is in us and will sustain us through those trials. When we are weak, we are forced to give up...or go to Jesus. The crazy and awesome thing is that we should actually live this way ALL the time not just when we go through tough times.

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are WEAK but He is STRONG. Yes Jesus loves me....and YOU.

Peace and I hope that this was helpful,
Derrick

What should I do, if i constantly pray to God that he would help me not to compare myself or envy others but i feel like he isnt answering?

2010-11-30T13:38:00.000-08:00

Hey,
Thanks for your question. First...DON'T QUIT ASKING. Many times we treat God like Burger King...but God's not Burger King (yes you can quote me on that one). He's not like a fast food restaurant meaning that He answers when we say answer and in the way that we want him to answer. He's also not like Santa Claus. God is the King of the Universe, the Creator of All Things He is the Creator and we are His Creatures. That means that sometimes we're called to be patient.

I've got a quick question for you that I ask myself when I'm in your situation. Can you think of a time in the Bible when God was silent and that His silence was discouraging?

What about when Jesus was hanging on the cross? Remember His words..."My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?" WOW. What do you think that the disciples at the foot of the cross were thinking? Then....Jesus died. It makes total sense that they scattered. They probably thought something like..I thought Jesus was God and now He's dead. Who is God? Does He listen. Have I believed a lie?

The great thing about that is that in the "silence" God was reconciling me and you to Him. Sometimes when God doesn't "answer" He's doing something bigger. He's causing you to trust more. And who knows....maybe 3 days later you'll see what was up. What I mean by that is that God is at work. The disciples knew that for sure when Christ was resurrected 3 days after His death on the cross. You can rest assured that as real as the resurrection is....He's REALLY working and hearing your prayers right now. So don't give up.

Sometimes we're really good at telling God how He needs to work for us and then using His Scriptures to prove it to Him. I encourage you to commit to praying something more like, "God...what are You trying to teach me? Will you please help me to understand it?" Continue to read your Bible for that is how God speaks to us. I heard someone say this past Sunday. Praying to God all the time without reading the Bible is like talking all the time and never letting the other person speak back. You haven't done anything wrong and God's not ignoring you, but I hope that the thoughts above have been helpful.

Please feel free to find me at church or email if you wanna talk more.

Love in God's way,
Derrick

What should a Christian do when they've lost the will to fight temptation?

2010-11-30T13:19:00.001-08:00

First off, I understand your concern and am so happy that you've taken the time to discuss your situation. This is a hard question to answer over the internet. If you're willing, I'd love to meet with you in person sometime to help walk with you through this struggle. I want to encourage you not to give up the fight and know that it will be hard. Jesus told us that it would be a FIGHT but that He's won the fight for us.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Many times I feel like giving up. You may not hear that very often but the Christian life can be like waking up to go to World War 2 each day. I'm unsure of your circumstance but I want to encourage you to fight. I would also love the opportunity to ask you what you've done to fight in the past? The reason that i say that is that many times Christians give up before they've ever really fought. They do this by trying to battle on their own when in reality God has given us a family to fight with us. I'm here for you and so is your church. One of Satan's (I HATE HIM) weapons against Christians is what I'll call the "neutral bullet". He gets you in a despairing place where you think that if you talk to somebody then you've failed or that life will be worse. He then whispers the lie...you're not good enough and are a bad Christian. He's good at it cause he's the father of lies and has been lying for longer than we've been breathing. Remember, YOU ARE A SINNER. It's OK that you're not OK cause Jesus was OK in your behalf. If you put your faith in Him this makes you OK with God....OK? Satan doesn't want you to believe that because he knows that when you live out that belief then it vanquishes his attack and turns the light of Christ on his dark schemes. DON'T BE FOOLED. Remember the gospel. You're in a battle, do you see your life this way. The Scripture below is helpful to me when I'm tempted to give up.

Eph. 6:10-20 ¶ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and shaving put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

We are in a battle each day my friend. You've got brothers and sisters who fight with you for the same king. There are many fighting against you for the wrong side. Jesus has won but for now He calls us to fight. We fight with weapons of love, the gospel of peace, the hope of the resurrection, the reality of the forgiveness of sins. This is something that you must remind yourself of EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY. Don't give up. Don't quit.

Again, please talk to God and to someone in the church that you trust. I'd be honored to discuss this with you in person. Don't be ashamed...Don't be ashamed.

I love you in God's way,
Derrick
derrick@derrickharris.com

Should Christians confess their sins to one another?

2010-11-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks for this question. Let's begin by looking at some passages of Scripture that discuss confession.

1John 1:5-10 ¶ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Rom. 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

I think that it's important that we first ask the question, What is confession? The bible describes it as an acknowledgment of a truth or an allegiance. In the verses above there are two types of confession. 1. The type where we verbally acknowledge our devotion to Jesus Christ, we "confess Him as Lord" and 2. The type where we have a discussion with our peers which involves asking forgiveness. The first type of confession should be the foundation for the second.

The first type, acknowledgment of a truth or an allegiance, is another way of saying that we put our faith in Jesus and we trust in Him to save us from judgment. If we do this, the Bible tells us that we are given the right to become sons and daughters of God. We are accepted because of Christ's righteousness and not our own. Because of the forgiveness and freedom that we experience in Christ, we are able to be honest. We no longer need to play games. We must acknowledge that we are sinners and need salvation. Our sin has separated us from God and Christ, "the Way", offers us reconciliation through faith in His atoning sacrifice on the cross in our behalf.

This is important to understand because if there is no confession of our sins to God then there will never be any true confession of sins to each other. In that way then the first type of confession is the foundation for the second. As James 5:16 makes clear, it is good for us to confess our sins to one another...but hold on. What is the basis of your confession and why do you want to confess to someone? Let me clarify some things.

I believe that it is good for us to be honest to one another (those that are trustworthy) about our sins as long as its preceded by true confession to Christ through prayer. For example, if I've hurt your feelings in some way because of something I've done and we don't talk about it, how can we ever work it out? I also think that its necessary to have a small group of close friends who pray for us and walk with us through our struggles with sin (i recommend that this be a person of the same gender...and its foundational that they are a Christian). Small group Bible studies are great places for this. In this way, confession to each other is necessary and good.

I DO NOT believe that you need to confess your deepest darkest secrets to all people at all times...that would be STUPID and could quickly become gossip. Also, many times people will confess sins to one another to show how "edgy" they are or that they can "outcuss the sailors." I don't think that this is healthy. I also don't think that its a good idea for you to confess your sins to a friend of the opposite sex that your interested in dating. Many times confession can be "self centered" a "poor me" or "look at me" mentality. That's why it needs to be a small group of friends who REALLY know you. People who would help you seek help elsewhere if necessary and all preceded by your personal confession to Jesus Christ through prayer.

For me, a lot of times I'll say, "Lord...i'm struggling with (fill in the blank) please give me the ability to overcome this struggle and to glorify You. Please also give me some other Christians to help me through the struggle....all so that Your name may be magnified."

I hope that these feeble and fallible thoughts of mine have been helpful for you.

God Bless,
Derrick Harris

What makes Christianity different from other religions?

2010-11-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

That's a GREAT question. I've cut and pasted some information below that may be helpful. This was written by my friend Matt Slick who runs www.carm.org. It's a great website for questions such as yours. I hope that you find the answer helpful.

Feel free to ask more questions if necessary.
God Bless,
Derrick

Critics often ask why Christianity is any better than any other religion in the world. Of all the religions that exist, how can it be that only Christianity is true? If God exists, why can't God use different religions? Don't all paths lead to God? Skeptics ask these kinds of questions all the time, and unfortunately, few Christians have the answers. Therefore, in an attempt to demonstrate why Christianity is true and all other religious systems are false, I've prepared the following list of reasons for Christianity's superiority.
There are such things as absolute truths

If truth is relative, then the statement that truth is relative is an absolute truth and would be a self-defeating statement by proving that truth is not relative. But, if truth is absolute, then the statement "truth is absolute" is true and not self-defeating. It is true that truth exists. It is true that truth will not contradict itself as we have just seen. In fact, it is absolutely true that you are reading this paper.

If we can see that there is such a thing as truth in the world, then we could also see that there can be spiritual truth as well. It is not absurd to believe in spiritual absolutes anymore than physical or logical absolutes. Even the statement that all religions lead to God is a statement held to be a spiritual absolute by many people. This simply demonstrates that people do believe in spiritual truth. Why? Because truth exists. However, not all that is believed to be true actually is true. Furthermore, all belief systems cannot be true since they often contradict each other in profound ways -- and truth is not self-contradictory.
Religions contradict each other; therefore, they cannot all be true.

Mormonism teaches that there are many gods in existence, and that you can become a god. Christianity teaches that there is only one God, and you cannot become a god. Islam teaches that Jesus is not God in flesh, where Christianity does. Jesus cannot be both God and not God at the same time. Some religions teach that we reincarnate, while others do not. Some teach there is a hell, and others do not. They cannot all be true. If they cannot all be true, it cannot be true that all religions lead to God. Furthermore, it means that some religions are, at the very least, false in their claims to reveal the true God (or gods). Remember, truth does not contradict itself. If God exists, He will not institute mutually exclusive and contradictory belief systems in an attempt to get people to believe in Him. God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that there can be an absolute spiritual truth, and that not all systems can be true regardless of whether or not they claim to be true. There must be more than a mere claim.
Fulfilled Prophecy concerning Jesus

Though there are other religions that have prophecies in them, none are 100% accurate as is the Bible, and none of them point to someone like Jesus who made incredible claims and performed incredible deeds. The Old Testament was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, yet the Old Testament prophesied many things about Jesus. This is undoubtedly evidence of divine influence upon the Bible.

Please consider some of the many prophecies of Jesus in the following chart:
Prophecy Old Testament Prophecy New Testament Fulfillment
Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 Matt. 1:18,25
Born at Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matt. 2:1
He would be preceded by a Messenger Isaiah 40:3 Matt. 3:1-2
Rejected by His own people Isaiah 53:3 John 7:5; 7:48
Betrayed by a close friend Isaiah 41:9 John 13:26-30
His side pierced Zech. 12:10 John 19:34
Crucifixion Psalm 22:1,
Psalm 22:11-18 Luke 23:33;
John 19:23-24
Resurrection of Christ Psalm 16:10 Acts 13:34-37

Fulfillment of prophecy can have different explanations. Some state that the New Testament was written and altered to make it look like Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (but there is no evidence of that). Others state that the prophecies are so vague that they do not count (but many of the prophecies are not vague at all). Of course, it is possible that God inspired the writers; and Jesus, who is God in flesh, fulfilled these prophecies as a further demonstration of the validity of Christianity.
The Claims and Deeds of Christ

Christianity claims to be authored by God. Of course, merely making such a claim does not make it true. Anyone can make claims, but backing up those claims is entirely different. Jesus used the Divine Name for Himself (John 8:58), the same Divine Name used by God when Moses asked God what His name was in Exodus 3:14. Jesus said He could do whatever He saw God the Father do (John 5:19), and He claimed to be one with God the Father (John 10:30; 10:38). Likewise, the disciples also called Him God (John 1:1,14; John 10:27; Col. 2:9). By default, if Jesus is God in flesh, then whatever He said and did would be true. Since Jesus said that He alone was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one can find God without Him (John 14:6), His words become incredibly important.

Again, making a claim is one thing. Backing it up is another. Did Jesus also back up His fantastic words with miraculous deeds? Yes, He did.

* Jesus changed water into wine (John 2:6-10).
* Jesus cast out demons (Matt. 8:28-32; 15:22-28).
* Jesus healed lepers (Matt. 8:3; Luke 17:14).
* Jesus healed diseases (Matt. 4:23,24; Luke 6:17-19).
* Jesus healed the paralytic (Mark 2:3-12).
* Jesus raised the dead (Matt. 9:25; John 11:43-44).
* Jesus restored sight to the blind (Matt. 9:27-30; John 9:1-7).
* Jesus restored / cured deafness (Mark 7:32-35).
* Jesus fed the multitude (Matt. 14:15-21; Matt. 15:32-38).
* Jesus walked on water (Matt. 8:26-27).
* Jesus calmed a storm with a command (Matt. 8:22-27; Mark 4:39).
* Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:39; John 20:27).
* Jesus appeared to disciples after resurrection (John 20:19).

The eyewitnesses recorded the miracles of Jesus, and the gospels have been reliably transmitted to us. Therefore, we can believe what Jesus said about Himself for two reasons: one, because what He said and did agrees with the Old Testament; and two, because Jesus performed many convincing miracles in front of people who testified and wrote about what they saw Him do.
Christ's resurrection

Within Christianity, the resurrection is vitally important. Without the resurrection, our faith is useless (1 Cor. 15:14). It was Jesus' resurrection that changed the lives of the disciples. After Jesus was crucified, the disciples ran and hid. But when they saw the risen Lord, they knew that what Jesus had said and done proved that He was indeed God in flesh, the Savior.

No other religious leader has died in full view of trained executioners, had a guarded tomb, and then risen three days later to appear to many many people. This resurrection is proof of who Jesus is and that He did accomplish what He set out to do: provide the only means of redemption for mankind.

Buddha did not rise from the dead. Muhammad did not rise from the dead. Confucius did not rise from the dead. Krishna did not rise from the dead, etc. Only Jesus has physically risen from the dead, walked on water, claimed to be God, and raised others from the dead. He has conquered death. Why trust anyone else? Why trust anyone who can be held by physical death when we have a Messiah who is greater than death itself?
Conclusion

Why should anyone trust in Christianity over Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, or anything else? It is because there are absolute truths. Only in Christianity are there accurately fulfilled prophecies of a coming Messiah. Only in Christianity do we have the extremely accurate transmission of the eyewitness documents (gospels), so we can trust what was originally written. Only in Christianity do we have the person of Christ who claimed to be God, performed many miracles to prove His claim of divinity, who died and rose from the dead, and who said that He alone was the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). All this adds to the legitimacy and credibility of Christianity above all other religions -- all based on the person of Jesus. It could not be that Jesus is the only Truth, and other religions also be the truth.

Either Jesus is true and all other religions are false, or other religions are true and Jesus is false. There are no other options. I choose to follow the risen Lord Jesus.

How do Christians deal with a sin that tempts them periodically?

2010-10-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much for your question. It is a great question that is very practical. First off, I want you to know that ALL Christians deal with temptation...even the apostle Paul who wrote:

Romans 7:18-20 (New International Version)
18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Now if the apostle Paul struggled with temptation and sin, then it's definitely normal for us to do the same.

Secondly, there's no EASY way to answer this question. Temptation is something that is a part of being a Christian. While we are alive on this earth, we, as Christians, will always battle our sinful nature. It would be so easy if there was a pill that we could take that would make it all go away...but there isn't. The fact of the matter is that we must learn how to battle. If it's not one temptation, then it will most likely be another. But the more you fight, the more victories you'll experience.

But how do we fight? The answer is that we must call upon our Savior to help us. Paul, who we quoted earlier, also wrote:

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 (New International Version)
12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Clearly, temptation is normal for Christians to deal with...but we must know that God provides the strength to overcome temptation. It is not God who tempts us because He is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Let's take a quick look at how Jesus Himself handled temptation from Satan:

Matthew 4:1-11 (New International Version)

Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Notice: Satan likes to TWIST Scripture and use it as a weapon. But what did Christ do? He used Scripture to interpret Scripture. Now, I'm in no way trying to say that you're in the same situation, but the weapon is the same. SCRIPTURE.

The Bible tells us that Scripture is our Sword of the Spirit. A "sword" is used for battle. We, as Christians, are at battle with the Spiritual realm.

Ephesians 6:11-13 (New International Version)
11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

We stand firm by remembering that Christ is more powerful than the temptation that we are facing.

Hebrews 4:14-15 (New International Version)
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

So, in short, we can and MUST call upon Jesus during our temptations. For HIS power is the only power that will enable us to say NO to sin and YES to Him. The weapon that HE gives us is HIS word...Scripture.

Side Note: Temptation is definitely specific to the sin that you're facing. It's hard to encourage you with certain Scriptures that may be helpful to you if I'm unsure of what you're dealing with, however....I'd encourage you to start reading Scripture that deals with your particular temptation on a regular basis. If you're willing to tell me more, then I'm happy to help you identify some areas of the "sword" of the Spirit that may be appropriate.

Please feel free to respond to this post. Thanks for your question...and remember...I love you in God's way.

God Bless,
Derrick Harris

How were people in the Old Testament saved? According to Romans 3:20, they weren’t saved through the law—so it must have been by faith.

2010-05-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Good questions. Before the Fall, God’s standard for salvation would have been perfect obedience to His law. Of course, until this time, the actual need to be “saved” would have been unnecessary. After Adam sinned, God’s standard for salvation did not change. Yet, He provided a substitute of one who perfectly obeyed this law, his son, Jesus, to fulfill this standard. And, as you said in your question, people are saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” As made evident in Romans 7, no man other than Jesus is capable of keeping the law. The law is meant to drive us to Jesus for our righteousness.
Using Abraham as an example, “Abram believed God, and he credited it to him as righteousness” Genesis 15:6, scripture states that Abraham was saved by faith alone. God established his covenant with Abraham, and in Genesis 17, God gave him an outward sign of this covenantal relationship through the act of circumcision. Yet, salvation was by grace alone. Although Abram responded to God’s call, it was God who made the call and established his covenant with man. Salvation is from the Lord alone.
Now, why did people in the OT make sacrifices and keep the law so extensively? The Mosaic law set forth blessings for obedience to the law and cursings for disobedience (much like the fatherly discipline outlined in the NT). Yet, obedience to the law was not a means of earning one’s salvation. Plus, God established 5 different sacrifices for his people in the OT. These included one for guilt, one for sin, and a big annual day of sacrifice called the Day of Atonement. During each sacrifice, the guilt of sinners was symbolically transferred to an animal, which would be punished by either death or exile from the land. These animal sacrifices foreshadowed or anticipated the future sacrificial act of Jesus. These sacrifices, though, rather than save the people, brought the people back into a right relationship with God, much like our confessing our sin to God does today. In other words, these sacrifices did not save the people, but brought them back into fellowship with God, and pointed to the ultimate sacrifice, once for all, that God would provide for His people through His only Son, Jesus Christ.
Finally, the Pharisees were the best example of a group of people who kept the law to the letter. I believe they actually began this practice to please God as they were especially concerned with ceremonial purity. Although this act of strictly keeping the law began as a response to justification by faith, this appears to have changed into legalism and self-righteousness. Unfortunately, because of this change, many of the Pharisees and their followers missed their need for the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.

-Thanks,
The Young's

My teacher claims that the parting of the Red Sea was the result of an extremely low tide followed by an extremely high tide. Is there evidence?

2010-04-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

“And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left” (Exodus 14:21-22).

There have been many theories as to what may have “naturally” caused the parting of the Red Sea, but none can be factually proven or disproven. Yet, the Bible itself contradicts your teacher’s views. Exodus 15:8 says, “By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.” (NIV Version). Also, in Psalm 78:13, the Bible says, “He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall.” (NIV Version). This does not sound like the ordinary ebb and flow of a tide.

I do believe God can use natural phenomena to further plans, and this may have been a natural occurrence. Physicist Colin Humphreys believes the natural cause of the parting of the Red Sea could have been a “wind set-down”. This is a strong, continual wind that can cause the water level to drop on the windward side and can push up water into a wall on the leeward side of a lengthy body of water. If the wind blows across the length of the sea, a gap can actually expose the sea floor. Obviously, this wind would have to have blown for a long time to allow the land to have become dry and then to allow 600,000 people to cross the dry land. In addition, the end of the wind would have to have perfectly coincided with the crossing of Pharoah’s army. Any way you look at this, the timing could only have been orchestrated by God.

Other theories include the belief that a tsunami with a huge tidal wave at the time caused by the erupting of a volcano was the source of the parting of the Red Sea. Yet, it seems implausible that 600,000 people could have crossed between the withdrawal of the water and then re-arrival of the water caused by the tsunami.

Finally, some people speculate that Red Sea was actually the Sea of Reeds. The problem with this theory is that although it may have dried up for Moses and the Israelites to cross, its normally ankle-deep waters could hardly have “flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” Exodus 14:28. The Sea of Reeds is just too shallow to have caused the demise of Pharaoh’s army.

Again, God can use the nature He created to further His Will. Whether extremely high and low tide, tsunami, “wind-set down”, or unnatural occurrence in the Sea of Reeds, God used the sea to accomplish His purposes in an extraordinary and miraculous way.

-Bruce and Nancy Young

Bible vs. the Book of Mormon

2010-03-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

"While talking with a friend about Christianity, my friend (who is Mormon) claimed that the Book of Mormon is more accurate than the Bible because it was easy for the Bible to get lost in translation through the years. I do not doubt the perfection of the Bible, but how can I historically prove this point to my friend?"

Hi,
Thanks so much for your question. This is a very deep question that requires a very detailed response. In short, then answer is definitively NO, the Book of Mormon is in no way more accurate than the Bible. History does not support it, and most evidence points to the fact that the Book of Mormon is immensely inaccurate. Check out the link below to start your research. It is a wonderful sight that will answer many of your questions and might even create some more from you. Also, feel free to talk to me at youth group if you would like more info.

http://www.carm.org/mormonism

God Bless,
Derrick

If the gates of heaven rarely open, where do believers who have died go? Does the new Earth already exist?

2009-10-09T12:04:00.001-07:00

“When believers die, their souls are made perfectly holy and immediately pass into glory. Their bodies, which are still united to Christ [through faith], rest in the grave until the resurrection of the dead. At the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publicly recognized and declared not guilty on the day of judgment and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.”-Shorter Catechism Questions 37 and 38.

There is an important distinction here. Heaven rarely opens to the living. There are less than two dozen recorded times when Jesus walked on Earth before His birth (for example Genesis 3:8 or Joshua 5:13-15) or when angels came to Earth. And, from heaven to Earth, there are only about a half dozen recorded examples of people seeing into heaven while still alive on Earth (Elijah, Jesus, Stephen, and Paul being clear examples.) So, although the evidence indicates that Heaven is physically at hand, we cannot truly perceive it or cross into it of our own volition.

However, anyone who believes in Christ and dies before Jesus returns is taken immediately into the presence of God, into what scripture calls “paradise.”(Luke 23:43; 2Cor 12:4). The physical resurrection of the dead will not occur until Jesus returns. So those who have already died are “in the presence of God.” So, “paradise” is a real place. But it’s not the full heaven. The best is yet to come. Even those in heaven now, are looking forward to the New Heavens and the New Earth. This will take place after the final judgment.

When Jesus returns, “the dead in Christ shall be raised up first” (I Thess. 4:16, 17). Then those who are still alive will be “caught up with them into the air” and given an incorruptible body. After that, the New Earth will be created (or restored), the New Jerusalem will come down, and all believers will live in their eternal and glorified bodies. This will be the fullest heaven. This is also known as the consummation. Far from the notion that we will sit around on clouds strumming harps and playing the same 5,000 hymns over and over again (would that really be heavenly?) we will have physical bodies on a physical Earth doing things that we were created to love doing, in an environment completely free of frustration and failure.

Thanks for your questions,
Bruce Young and Derrick Harris

What do we do if we feel lonely and don’t feel like God is listening/responding?

2009-10-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

It is when God seemed most silent, that He was doing the greatest work of all time…redeeming mankind through the death of Christ. Remember Jesus’ words, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) At this moment in history, God seemed to be distant and turning His back on His only Son who was hanging on the cross, but it was also at this moment that through the death of His only Son, God was saving His people. So, feeling lonely/distant doesn’t mean that God isn’t there.

If I am hearing you correctly, you don’t feel “connected” to God currently. I think at different times in our walks with God, most, if not all, Christians have times where we feel God is distant. First, I would tell you to look at what God is trying to teach you during this time of loneliness…do you need to find someone to serve, does He want you to rely on Him and His word more than your feelings, does He just want you to wait on His timing to respond to your prayers? God does have a purpose, even for times we feel He is distant. Next, don’t let your feelings discourage you from continuing to read your Bible, pray, and spend time with other Christians. These are the ways God builds relationship with you and can offset loneliness.

Finally, it may take time for this “loneliness” to go away…you may have to wait on God and His perfect timing. But don’t give up, continue to follow the Lord and remember your commitment to Him.

Thanks for your question,
Bruce Young and Derrick Harris

Why did God create the tree if he didn’t want Adam and Eve to eat from it?

2009-10-09T09:25:00.001-07:00

Our God desires a relationship with us. God did not create us to be robots following him in an obligatory manner. For this reason, before the Fall, He created us with a free will, with the ability to choose to obey Him. This ability to choose helps us grow in trust and faith as we see the kindness and goodness of God.

God placed the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden with specific instructions. Adam and Eve could eat from any other tree, and after listening to Satan, they had to choose whether they believed the Lord really had their best interest in mind with the restriction on this one tree. Obviously, when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, they chose to listen to Satan’s lies rather than trust God’s love and goodness in making this restriction.

Ultimately, why did He create the tree? We cannot answer this question with 100% accuracy. But we do know, that Adam and Eve had a choice, they chose to disobey God’s command, therefore, God punished this sin. But if it weren’t for our sin, how would we understand our need of Jesus redemption.

Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—

Rom. 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

Rom. 5:16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.

Rom. 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for your question,
Bruce Young and Derrick Harris

Devotions Help Needed!!

2009-03-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was wondering if you could help me. I've been having some trouble with keeping to my daily devotions and prayer time, and sometimes it doesn't seem really, you know, GENUINE and from the heart. Like it's too much of and obligation and not as much of a privilege. I know, I've seen lots of comments similar to this, but I was hoping you could help me with this PARTICULAR branch of the problem. I just really want my prayers to be, kinda, more REAL.
Thanks.

Did God Kill Jesus?

2009-03-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

This question brought up an insightful discussion with our Jr. High Students. This post is an attempt to summarize a biblical response to this question.

I Just Don't Care!

2009-02-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

I appreciate what you said, and I know that doubting one's faith is in reality an assurance of his or her faith. I also know what it feels like to doubt my faith, and what I'm feeling is not doubt. The problem is I understand and agree with everything you said. I know that doubt in a Christian's life is necessary in order to strengthen his or her faith. I know that new believers experience extreme feelings of doubt because of their sensitivity to sin, and that mature Christians are, in a way, more immune to the "little things." I know all this and agree with it. The problem is that I find myself not caring about it. I don't doubt that I'm a Christian, I'm just afraid of the path I'm on. I find myself in Church listening and praying, "OK, God, help me here, I really need you right now. I know I've been saved, help me live my life right." But after I open my eyes I just go right back to not caring. It's not that I doubt my faith, it's that I'm apathetic toward it. Again, I appreciate what you've said, but what can I do about just not caring? I know how to be a Christian, and I know how to live a faithful life. I just don't care enough to try sometimes.

-Doubting Thomas (original poster)

Struggling with Living Life in God's Image?

2009-01-31T14:21:00.001-08:00

I am struggling with living life in God's image. I sometimes do fine but then i put on my music and it gets me pumped but its all about getting with girls and cussing and protecting your reputation. It has a really good beat but it gets me mad and then I go do things i shouldn't. I know I should stop but this music is everywhere and when i hear it I instantly go to that place.

Struggling with Forgiveness?

2009-01-31T14:20:00.001-08:00

I'm having a really hard time forgiving several different people who have hurt me and made my life miserable. They have all either apologized or gone out of my life, but I still have a hard time bringing myself to forgive them. I always tell myself that i have, but I can't really believe myself. I pray about it constantly, but i don't see any improvements. Any suggestions?

Spiritual Warfare?

2009-01-31T14:19:00.001-08:00

I've been reading a book lately about spiritual warfare that was mainly about demons. The author, along with another well known Christian author, both implied that demons are responsible for our sinful thoughts and temptations. I always thought that was just our sinful nature and that demons COULD tempt us (i dont know about the sinful thoughts) and sometimes did, but that we were generally responsible for everything we thought or were tempted to do. How much of what we think ARE we responsible for, and are we really sinning if a demon puts sinful thoughts into our heads?
-Confused

I'm having trouble praying and keeping up with devotionals..

2008-11-19T21:18:00.000-08:00

Hi.
I've been having trouble keeping up with my daily devotions and stuff, and now I'm sort of having trouble praying, you know what I mean? Could you give me some Bible verses to help me?

Miscellaneous Posts/Comments

2008-11-08T17:49:00.001-08:00

How do I know God is in my life?

2008-11-08T17:47:00.001-08:00

How do I know God is in my life. I know he's always there and everything and that's what it says in the Bible, but how do I know that he's actually there for me?

God is becoming less and less important to me...What do I do?

2008-11-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

I find myself caring less and less about the presence of God in my life. I realize He's the only way for salvation, and I am not against Him or anything, but for some reason He keeps becoming less important to me. I know it's wrong, and it scares me, but I don't know what to do.

How do we leave an actual question, not just a comment?

2008-10-29T16:49:00.001-07:00

Is being bored a sin?

2008-10-29T16:48:00.001-07:00

Why did God create us as sinners?

2008-10-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

If God hates us sinning then why did he give us the power to be able to sin when he created us to begin with?

Is Christianity a good "religion" to follow?

2008-10-22T22:13:00.001-07:00

I was just wondering... with all the religions and different kinds of Bibles there are, how do we know that Christianity is a good religion to follow? Doesn't it say that the Jews are God's chosen people? If that's true then why did God only choose one group and not all of us?

Should you "feel" saved?

2008-10-22T22:12:00.001-07:00

When you're saved, are you supposed to feel saved? Like aren't you supposed to have some sort of assurance of salvation because most of the time I still feel as unsure as I ever have.

Is God Unfair?

2008-10-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

doesnt it seem a little unfair about the whole "potter uses his vessels for His own purpose" thing that God saves some people and just kinda throws other peoples' lives away to glorify Himself. (i know that's not the way it really is, it just seems that way to me)

Who Picks?

2008-10-22T22:09:00.001-07:00

I was always wondering:
does God pick who will be saved or is that an independent decicion that we as humans make?

What Am I?

2008-10-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

I'm confused. I believe that God is there watching over me, and I pray to him a lot, but sometimes I'll do bad things on purpose, and I feel that sometimes I don't care. It's like...sometimes I'm a Christian and sometimes I'm not. What am I?