31 Jan, 2011
"Do This In Remembrance Of Me"
We lost our daughter, Alex Brown, in a single car accident as she drove to what seemed like just another ordinary day of her senior year in high school. Although no other vehicles were involved, Alex was not alone. The cell phone on which she had sent and receive over 10,000 text messages in the weeks preceding her accident was with her. Alex lost her life to texting while driving.
Although Alex is no longer with us, her memory lives. We hope you choose to do the same. Through Alex's memory we hope to educate others about the dangers of texting while driving.
To honor Alex's memory we formed The Remember Alex Brown Foundation (RAB).
As you drive today, please put your cell phone away and drive safely. Your messages will be there when you arrive at your destination. Make sure that you arrive safely, too.
- How often does your church celebrate the Lord's Supper with Communion? Regardless of the frequency, ask the Father to prepare your heart to truly Remember Jesus the next time.
- Have you been guilty of texting while you are driving? Consider signing the Pledge on the Alex Brown website.
- Ask your friends if anyone saw last night's episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Talk with them about Alex Brown's Story and consider taking the pledge together, even if you aren't old enough to drive yet.
- Use Today's Story as a starting point for a conversation with your friends about the sacrifice that Jesus made for your friends to have a relationship with him.
28 Jan, 2011
Healing Painful Wounds
- Have you experienced a tragedy in your life? Thank God for His promise that one day, all pain will cease.
- Ask God to continue to heal your pain now by bringing you peace and comfort.
- Do you have family members or friends who have escaped tragedy? Thank God for His protection.
- If you hear anyone talking about the anniversary of the Challenger tragedy, take a minute to talk with those around you about how they handle tragedy.
- Take a few minutes to share your story and talk about how much you need Jesus in every area of your life.
- The final space shuttle missions are coming up in the next few months (February, April, and June). File today's DailyBide in the corner of your mind and be prepared to use it again as a discussion starter in the future.
27 Jan, 2011
Missing the Mission
I decided when I was in first grade. Mrs. Tracey, my teacher, asked the class what we wanted to be when we grew up. Up and down the rows she went. I heard the usual – teacher, firefighter, policeman, nurse, doctor, and then I said the only thing that I wanted to be – a missionary.
The night before at church, missionaries had shared what they were doing in their country and how they were telling others about Jesus. They showed pictures, answered lots of questions, and let us look at things they brought over from their country. I don’t remember their names. I don’t even know where they were from. I just remember feeling that call on my life to serve God.
Mrs. Tracey asked why I wanted to be a missionary. I told her that I wanted to go around to churches and tell people what God was doing. Even though other kids laughed and said that wasn’t what a missionary was, I knew that no matter what I did, I was going to serve God and tell others about Him.
Picture courtesy of gospelclipart.com
God’s Story
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
What does today’s Scripture Story teach us about missions?
We don’t officially have to be on a mission field to be a missionary. We are all called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. And we’re not all gifted in the same way. You may be a great teacher, or have the gift of helps. Do you a talent to speak different languages? Enjoy working with children? Love to sing? God can use your passions and gifts to be a missionary.
How can we connect today’s God’s Story scripture to our lives?
Am I a missionary? Yes. Have I served overseas or around the world? No. But by using the gifts that God has given me, I’ve been a part of sharing His love in several ways. Local mission trips, Vacation Bible School, working at camps, singing at churches, preaching in services, sharing God’s love to others, and praying for the lost. And those are just a few of the ways. I’ve given money, helped with food pantries, organized women’s retreats and more with the hope that God will be glorified and others would be drawn to Christ.
I’m not saying this to draw attention to me. I want you to realize that you’re never too young (or too old) to serve the Lord. There is no greater reward than to love others to Jesus. And you can do it by using the gifts he’s blessed you with.
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
Missionaries go around the world to share about Jesus….but we also need to be willing to make ourselves mission minded at home. Are you reaching out to your neighbor? To the person who sits in front of you in your homeroom class? The family you babysit? Your family members?
Maybe you know what you want to be when you ‘grow up’. I hope you consider yourself a missionary – no matter what field or career you may take. It’s what we’re all called to do. So….
• Surrender your whole life to Him
• Don’t set limits on what you will do or where you will go – say yes to whatever He asks
• Rely on His grace to carry you
Don’t miss the mission. Be a missionary…..today….right where you are. And I’ll be praying for you as become His hands and feet.
25 Jan, 2011
Honestly!
TACO BELL IS SUED OVER MEAT THAT'S
JUST 35 PERCENT BEEF
Taco bell might want to change it's "Think Outside the Bun" campaign to "What's Really in That Taco?" after a class-action lawsuit filed against the fast-food giant claimed its taco filler doesn't, um, "meat" federal standards.
According to the suit filed by the Alabama law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, the YUM-brands owned chain is using a meat mixture that contains binders and extenders, and does not meet the minimum requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be labeled as "beef.”
Attorney Dee Miles said the meat mixture contained just 35 percent beef, with the remaining 65 percent containing water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch.
The suit was filed on behalf of Taco Bell customer and California resident Amanda Obney, who is not seeking monetary damages, but instead wants a court to order Taco Bell to be honest in its advertising.
"We are asking that they stop saying that they are selling beef," Miles said.
“Aside from being misleading, this form of false advertising puts the consumer at risk as well.”
Greg Creed
President and Chief Concept Officer
"At Taco Bell, we buy our beef from the same trusted brands you find in the supermarket, like Tyson Foods. We start with 100 percent USDA-inspected beef. Then we simmer it in our proprietary blend of seasonings and spices to give our seasoned beef its signature Taco Bell taste and texture. We are proud of the quality of our beef and identify all the seasoning and spice ingredients on our website. Unfortunately, the lawyers in this case elected to sue first and ask questions later -- and got their "facts" absolutely wrong. We plan to take legal action for the false statements being made about our food."
Story Courtesy of Fox news & Tacobell.com. Photo courtesy of Google images.
2 Corinthians 8:21, "For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men."
Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
What does God's Story Scriptures teach us about Truth & Honesty?
No matter if you are a fan of Taco bell or not, it raises the question of company's being truthful about what they are serving you. The President of Taco Bell Corporation says that, "they got their "facts'' absolutely wrong". Only time will tell what story is true, however, its important to be True about what you are a part of.
God calls us to Do what is right, not just because God says so, but to also set an example to mankind. What we do for God or what we do not do for God is being watched by people. It is not easy to do what is right, especially if we have something to gain by not telling the truth. 2 Corinthians says "Taking pains to do what is right" If you have ever stood up and done what is right in the face of pressure to do wrong you know that it can sometimes be painful.
I love the Philippians verse, because it really narrows in on what is important. If our minds are centered on true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy things...How much easier is it going to be to choose what is right.
How can I connect Today's God Story Scriptures to my life?
If the Lawsuit is true many people will dislike taco bell more for lying, than if they had told them the truth from the start. If Taco bell is telling the truth more people will dislike people for dragging them through the "dirt" When I think about how hard it can be to tell the truth, I think about how being dishonest in life can really weigh on your heart, and how much more pain it causes me than telling the truth from the start. So why do we lie about even the small things, like where we are going, and how much we weight, or the big things like, what we believe & if we cheated on a test. Don't be caught up in untruthful words or actions.
- How do you choose to do what is right? (spend sometime figuring out what your patterns and habits are)
- Spend some time with God to ask that he show you where you might need to be more honest in your life.
- Are you honest with who you are? (With your friends & family)
- Do you have a desire to be truthful in your life?
- Do you need to talk to people and ask for forgivness for not telling the truth?
Take time to ask God to open your eyes and heart to "think about such things" that are "excellent or praiseworthy"
How can I connect today's God's Story Scripture & My story to others?
If you live in america you know Taco Bell, and you know that people either love it or hate it. Take time to bring up the lawsuit to your friends.
- Ask them what they think about it?
- Talk about what it feels like to be lied to.
- Open up conversations about telling the truth, is it even important anymore?
- Talk about how you are understanding that it is hard to do what is right & true but its something you are trying to do in your life, and explain to them why.
25 Jan, 2011
Waste of Time or Eternal Impact?
Apple's countdown to 10 billion downloads in its App Store hit its long-awaited milestone this weekend.
The lucky customer, who gets $10,000 worth of virtual cash for the download, responded to the news by hanging up the phone on Apple when the company called to congratulate her.
"I thought it was a prank call," Gail Davis of Orpington, Kent, UK. "I said, 'Thank you very much, I'm not interested' and I hung up."
Turns out, one of Davis's daughters had downloaded the winning app -- a game that simulates building paper airplanes and flinging them around an office.
Apple announced the milestone on Saturday.
"With more than 10 billion apps downloaded in just two and a half years -- a staggering seven billion apps in the last year alone -- the App Store has surpassed our wildest dreams," said Apple marketing vice president Philip Schiller. "The App Store has revolutionized how software is created, distributed, discovered and sold."
Story and photo courtesy of cnn.com
Joshua 1:8
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.”
What does God’s Story scripture teach us about how we spend our time?
Our world is full of ways that we can pass our time. Billions of ways, apparently. Having fun certainly has its place, but our easy access to these things can fill our hours with fruitless distractions. God makes it pretty clear throughout scripture that we should be meditating (i.e. reading, studying, memorizing, thinking, and letting our minds dwell) on His Word.How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to my life?
What does your digital media say about you? How do you spend your free time? If you knew Jesus was peering over your shoulder, would you be embarrassed by the games you play or the music you download, or would he be proud of you? Are you filling your days with virtual paper airplanes, or are you dwelling on God’s Word and letting it penetrate your mind?
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture and my story to others?
Let someone “catch you” spending your free time in God’s Word, whether it’s with your thumbs on your digital gadget or your nose in a dog-eared paper copy of the Bible. When everyone else is comparing high scores, share with them some numbers of a different kind as you tell them the reference to the verses you have read or memorized.24 Jan, 2011
Perfect Bodies
21 Jan, 2011
"Snow Day!"
- If you are in a part of the country where school is closed today because of the weather, grab a shovel and start shovelling snow. Not just for your own house, but for some of your neighbors as well.
- Spend some extra time with the Father today. Read His Story. Talk to Him. Listen to Him.
- If you don't live in an area affected by the weather, make a commitment to find some time over the course of this weekend to consider the suggestions above.
- Get outside and play in the snow with some friends. Have a snowball fight. Build a snow man, or a snow fort.
- Spend some extra time with your family today or sometime over the weekend.
- Spend some time today getting to know more about a friend's story.
20 Jan, 2011
Hiding or Seeking?
One of my favorite stories in the Bible growing up was about Zacchaeus. First of all, it’s a name you can’t forget. Secondly, we get an image in our head when we think about this short man climbing a tree. And then we may sing a song (Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he….).
Unfortunately, we usually stop there and don’t really think about this man and what ultimately happened. Let’s look at the Scripture in God’s Story…..
Picture courtesy of ifreecoloringpages.com
God’s Story
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
What does today’s Scripture Story teach us about hiding from or seeking Jesus?
Being that Zacchaeus wasn’t a follower of Jesus, he could have taken this opportunity to hide from the Lord. Since he was short, it was very doubtful that Jesus would have even really seen him. However, we see that Zacchaeus was not hiding, but seeking out Jesus Christ.
How can we connect today’s God’s Story scripture to our lives?
Thinking of this story this past weekend got me thinking about how we are all like Zacchaeus and have the opportunity to either actively pursue and seek Jesus or hide from him. After we begin a relationship with Christ, we have to continue to seek Him. We can’t just go along with the crowd and do our own thing. Our goals and desires have to match up with what He wants.
Even after we see Zacchaeus being welcomed by Jesus, those around him began to condemn Jesus for being a friend of such a terrible person. We know Zacchaeus stole and was an unfair person, but Jesus wanted to get to know him personally and spend time with him.
The attitude of Zacchaeus is touching to me. In the midst of being put down, he showed that he had changed by saying he was going to give half of his possessions to the poor and then pay back 4 times what he stole. He was a changed man!
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
Some of our friends may be hiding from God. They may believe that if they don’t think about Him, they don’t have to deal with Him. We need to let them see that our relationship isn’t something that has happened, it IS happening – today, this moment, right now.
The next time you’re in a crowd, be mindful there are people that are hiding and not wanting to be found. Think of those in your life who may not seem like the most obvious choice of someone ready to come to Christ. Build a relationship with them. Be their friend. Let Christ shine through you.
Go out on a limb…..make a friend! And let them see Christ in you.
19 Jan, 2011
Known
"Idol' shows another side of Tyler
Steven Tyler says American Idol is allowing him to show the world a whole new Steven Tyler. And if Aerosmith fans don't like it, then maybe they never knew him at all.
"All that TV is getting is that other side of me," Tyler, 62, told a news conference Tuesday. "It'd be like if there were reality cameras in the house while the kids were growing up. That's the side of me they're seeing. And if Aerosmith fans don't like that, then all they saw was the ominous, dark -- or open, however you choose to see me -- (side of me) onstage when Aerosmith comes to town.
"But here I get to be more vulnerable, more honest, more open, more in the moment and less coloured by the songs that I wrote."
Article courtesy of torantosun Full Article.
Image courtesy of google images.
Psalm 139 1-5
1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
What does today's God's Story teach us about being known by God?
One of the crazy things about God is He KNOWS EVERYTHING! God is "Omniscience" meaning "all" & "knowledge". Basically he knows everything about the world and our lives. David's words in the psalms are just what I'm thinking (vs. 6) "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain". To be known by God is more than we can imagine.
People are known by God not just for fun, but because he wants to know us. Even Steven is know by God, when his fans believed he should be someone else God knew who he was, and he knows who you are.
How can I connect today's God's Story Scripture to my life?
No matter how old I get I always love the feeling of walking in somewhere and people knowing who I am, as well as me knowing them. Its human nature to have the desire to be known by your friends, family. Still we at times put on a performance for people. Like Stephen Tyler, he puts on a performance literally, but that is not who he is and now, "TV is getting is the other side of me". On american idol people will see more of who Tyler is, good or bad.
If we have a God that knows us so well, why do we feel the need to put on a show to our friends?
- Are you a different person around your school friends than your Church friends?
- Take sometime to celebrate that you are known by God
- Take sometime to celebrate that He Loves you as you are
- Are you putting on a show and not sharing the Real you?
How can I connect Today's Story, God's Story Scripture, and My Story to others?
Odds are you and your friends are going to watch tonight's show, see if Stephen is really different on the show than his Aerosmith personality. Talk with your friends about how interesting it is that Stephen is so different than he is on stage. Share about how his fans think he is not being real, when he says on the show he is "just showing another side of him"
Be open with your friends this week, be more REAL with a side of your life. Challenge your friends that may be walking along side you to not be fake, but to embrace a side of you that God knows is amazing.
Take time to know your friends better, share some truths about you, and find out truths about them. I love the last line in the article:
"But here (on american idol) I get to be more vulnerable, more honest, more open, more in the moment and less coloured by the songs that I wrote"
I challenge you to "Be more vulnerable, more honest, more open, and more in the moment!"
18 Jan, 2011
Trust
Picture this scene: you look out your window and see a couple of kids riding their bikes in the street outside your home. Out of the corner of your eye, you see another kid approach them carrying some boards and blocks, and maybe a bucket or box. He talks to the kids on bikes and together they begin to build something like a ramp. After a few minutes they appear to be finished, but it certainly doesn’t look sturdy enough to support the weight of an alley cat, let alone a growing kid. But they seem satisfied, and someone seems brave enough to be the first to test it out. Up the street he rides on his bike, turns, and comes barreling down at full speed toward their newly constructed ramp. Just as you suspected, the contraption does not hold under the weight of the boy and the bike, and he nearly flies as he’s thrown from the bike onto the pavement, sending the boards and blocks crashing down beneath him. He gets up, takes note of his injuries, assesses that the bike is still ride-able, then he proceeds to rebuild the ramp. After it is assembled in exactly the same way as it was before, he passes the bike off to another kid, and you watch as the second boy begins his ride up the street, turns, and starts to ride toward the ramp. Really?! Didn’t this kid just watch what happened to his buddy? Isn’t someone going to stop him? Someone should say something!
Photo courtesy of ehow.com
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD.
Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster;
he does not take back his words.
He will rise up against that wicked nation,
against those who help evildoers.
But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God;
their horses are flesh and not spirit.
When the LORD stretches out his hand,
those who help will stumble,
those who are helped will fall;
all will perish together.
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
In the first passage, Isaiah was giving a warning to the Israelites. What is interesting is that they needed a reminder to not trust in Egypt. If you know some history of the nation of Israel from the book of Exodus, they were slaves in Egypt, and then when Pharaoh finally let them go, the Egyptians chased them down. God parted the Red Sea, all the Israelites crossed safely to the other side, and then God allowed the Red Sea to swallow up the entire Egyptian army. But years later, the Israelites were back in a position where they were tempted to make an alliance with Egypt for their protection from other enemy nations.
Really?! Egypt?! The nation where you were enslaved and mistreated for hundreds of years? You are going to turn to them and trust them? And what about God? Don’t you remember how He alone saved you? How their whole army perished? How God is far more powerful than any army? Why won’t you trust in Him??
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to my life?
What are you trusting in? Do you rely on your intelligence, your friendships, your parents’ faith? Do you trust only in what you can see or feel? Do you trust only in yourself? Ask God to help you see if there is anything you are trusting in more than Him. Let Him examine your heart and reveal that to you, then confess your reliance on whatever it is, and turn back to trusting him Him alone. Let Him remind you of other times you have trusted in Him and how He has come through for you.
We live in a world where everyone thinks they can trust no one but themselves. Share with someone today a specific way that you have trusted in God, whether it is recent or in your distant past, and how He has shown Himself to be worthy of your trust.
17 Jan, 2011
MLK Day
- Thank God that in Jesus Christ, all of His followers are truly one family. Confess any prejudice you have toward others because of racial, economic, or political differences. Ask Christ to work through you to remove barriers between others.
- Pray every day to be like Jesus to everyone you know and meet.
- Write down specific ways you are allowing barriers toward other people to keep you from being like Jesus.
- Keep this on your prayer list and let God's Spirit change your heart.
- Read the book of Philemon to get the whole story.
- Get together with friends and/or family members and go online to listen to the "I HAVE A DREAM" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. Afterwards, talk about what you learned in today's DAILYBIDE.
- Identify someone with whom you need reconciliation. Start today.
- Ask Jesus to give you His insight in looking for the opportunity to learn the stories of three people with a racial background different than yours.
- Get together with some friends and dream of some ways you can volunteer your time to serve your community, not just to honor Dr. King's memory, but to glorify the Name of Jesus.
14 Jan, 2011
What's Your 'New' Sign?
Earth’s ‘wobble’ means your zodiac sign may be wrong
A Minnesota astronomer confirms what many have suspected: Your horoscope is quite possibly wrong.
Earth's shifts on its axis over the past 3,000 years have changed the 12 zodiac signs. For example, think your sign is Aquarius? You may be a Pisces. (There's also a 13th sign, Ophiuchus, that's based on a constellation the ancient Babylonians threw out for symmetry thousands of years ago.)
So who's to blame for this scam on zodiac devotees?
The ancient Babylonians based the zodiac on which constellation the sun appeared to be in when a person was born. Since then, the moon's has exerted a gravitation pull on Earth, causing a "wobble" on its axis that has shifted the stars' alignment by about a month, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
"Because of this change in the tilt, the Earth is over here and the sun is in a different constellation than it was 3,000 years ago when this study of the stars began," astronomer Parke Kunkle told the Twin Cities' KARE-TV.
The shift isn't new, Kunkle says -- the zodiac world just hasn't taken the wobble into account.
Story and Photo courtesy of news.yahoo.com.
A Warning against Idolatry
15 “But be very careful! You did not see the Lord’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai. 16 So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman, 17 an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky, 18 a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea. 19 And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth. 20 Remember that the Lord rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today.
At first glance, it might not seem like trusting in our horoscopes and zodiac signs would be an act of worship. But in reality, it is on the verge of idolatry, or worshipping idols. Idol worship isn't just worshipping some statue, it is also trusting in something (e.g. the stars) in place of the God who created them. God's Story teaches us that God and God alone is worthy of our worship.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- Do you sometimes read your horoscope for fun? Be careful that the enemy doesn't use that small act to plant seeds in your heart that the stars can be trusted more than the Father.
- Spend some extra time reading God's Story this weekend and trust in His plan for your life.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
- Do you have friends who trust in their zodiac sign more than they do their Heavenly Father? Find some time to learn more of their story this weekend. Dig a little deeper into their ideas behind why they read their horoscope, but not God's Story.
- Listen for anyone who might be talking about Today's Story and find a way into that conversation. Be prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have in Jesus.
13 Jan, 2011
Stick to it
You've seen this scene before -- every Christmas.
An 8-year-old Oklahoma boy got his tongue stuck on a frozen stop sign pole after his brother dared him to lick it.
"The first thing that come to my mind was the movie 'A Christmas Story,'" responding Woodward firefighter Shane Pringry said, according to News Channel 4 in Oklahoma City. Flick gets his tongue stuck to a frozen pole in this famous scene from "A Christmas Story," which played out in real life today in Oklahoma.
The boy was standing on his tiptoes when rescue crews arrived on the scene, near Woodward Middle School. He was trying to wiggle his tongue free.
"He had a large portion of his tongue frozen to the pole," Pringry said. Firefighters poured water over his tongue to help free the boy. Apparently, the boy had risen to the challenge from his older brother while they were waiting for the school bus. "I just heard a kid screaming, but I just figured they were kids goofing off," neighbor Joellen Powell said. "It woke me up.”
Story and picture courtesy of AOL.com
Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
What does today’s Scripture Story teach us about friendship and family?
Having family ties doesn’t automatically mean that we’re looking out in the best interest of our siblings. My sister Vicki and I fought an awful lot growing up. I used to tell her that she was adopted and her real mom was a witch. We shared a room (and bed) for the longest time, so that may have had something to do with my attitude. We used to mark off ‘sides’ to the bedroom – I always got the side with the door so she was stuck in the room. If I had thought about it, I would have probably dared her to stick her tongue to metal in the winter. When we’re young, we’re usually not very nice or loving to our brothers or sisters.
Fortunately, now I consider my sister once of my best friends. We love spending time together (even though I’m in New York and she lives in Georgia). Through visits, email and phone calls we keep in touch. Even though I know she loves me and would do anything for me, Jesus is my ultimate Best Friend and is even closer to me than my sister.
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
Being a witness to friends can be easier than being a witness to our family. They see us all the time and know our weaknesses. We can put on a mask or fake it with our friends and not let them get too close to us, but our siblings see the real us.
This week, if you have siblings, pray for them. If they have a relationship with the Lord, encourage them. Let them know that you’re lifting them up to the Father. Build your relationship by going to church together, serving the Lord together, and praying for each other.
If your brothers and sisters don’t know Jesus as their Savior, pray that God will use you. Don’t try to be perfect, but acknowledge that God is helping you on your spiritual journey. Ask your siblings for forgiveness when you fail so they can see that you are different with Jesus in your life.
And if you’re an only child, remember ~ you have lots Christian brothers and sisters. But be careful; they may just dare you to lick a metal pole, cause that’s what brother and sisters do.
12 Jan, 2011
Waiting
Verizon faithful finally get iPhone on Feb. 10
Apple COO Tim Cook announces that Verizon Wireless will carry
Apple's iPhone at an event in New York.
NEW YORK — Consumers who lusted after an Apple iPhone but insisted on sticking with Verizon Wireless' network finally got their wish Tuesday.
Verizon will offer a slightly modified version of the popular iPhone 4. Up to now, the phone was only available to AT&T's wireless customers. "This is just the beginning of a great relationship between Verizon and Apple," Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook says.
Story & photo courtesy of USA Today
Psalm 27:14
"Wait for the lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the lord."
What Does God's Story teach us about waiting?
Time after time when I read the scriptures I see people waiting on the Lord: Noah waited for the flood waters to subside, Sarah waited for a baby(she was 90), israelites waited for everything, David waited but lets not go there, people even waited for God's judgement, Mary and Martha waited for Jesus. The list goes on & on, but God provides for all these people, even you.
God's Story Scripture tells you to "Be Strong and Take Heart" Telling you not once, but twice to "WAIT on the Lord" He says this because he created us and knows that we are sometimes, stubborn, & impatient people. We must take heart and BELIEVE that He will come through for us. We must take heart because the closer we are with God the more we see where he is taking us, and the more we are open to how he may end our waiting, in ways we never expected. He tells us to be strong because satan wants nothing more than to cause us to give up, and have doubt about God's perfect plan.
What Does God's Story Scripture Teach us about Waiting on God in Our lives?
Sure, I admit it, I want the iphone...(for shame), yet it begs the question in my heart. Do we have too many dependancy's on what the world brings us? What does the Lord have for You? Sure getting the iphone is cool and socially in, but what is "in" with God.
If you have waited for the iphone, chances are you could be waiting as long as since 2008 when leaks said they where talking about the fancy phone joining another provider. THAT IS WAITING 3 YEARS, FOR A PHONE????? wow.
- Have you ever given God that much time to wait on an answer in your life?
- Is it time you "take heart" and Believe that God is still going to answer you?
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
Use Today's Story to talk to your friends about waiting for things in life. Relate by talking about how you can't believe you/or others have waited for 3 + years. Talk about what you are waiting for in life?
- Are you waiting to not have sex?
- Are you waiting to be 21 to drink?
- Are you waiting for God to help you through a death in your family?
- Are you waiting for the outcome of a sports team or championship?
- Are you waiting to see if you scored high enough on the SAT, or If you got into the College of your dreams?
Be vulnerable about the choices you have made or want to make in life. Because if we all wait for the Lord, and if you:
"Trust in the Lord with all your Heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. "(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Then you and your friends will see, "... the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
11 Jan, 2011
Stinking Frogs
What do you worship?
“A large number of dead birds were found in the city of Falkoping, Sweden, Tuesday night and Wednesday morning… A similar unusual incident occurred in Arkansas on New Year's Eve. Thousands of red-winged blackbirds and starlings were found dead over a square-mile area in the town of Beebe… In a separate incident, some 500 red-winged blackbirds, starlings and sparrows were found dead Monday morning in the southern Louisiana community of Labarre.”
The mysterious deaths of a large number of birds in the last few weeks has had people all over the world talking. Watching the news stories and seeing photos of the carnage could not help but remind me of a certain well-known story from the Bible featuring Moses, a Pharoah, and lots of plagues.
News quote courtesy of CNN.com; Photo courtesy of google images
Exodus 8:1-6
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country. The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’”
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’”
So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land.What does God’s Story scripture teach us about worshipping idols?
In this specific plague, Moses was instructed by God to have his brother Aaron stretch his hands out over the waters of Egypt, and gazillions of frogs crawled up out of the waters and onto the land, covering everything in sight. It says that frogs were in the houses and bedrooms, in the kneading troughs and ovens. They were everywhere.
As I studied some of the background of the Egyptian culture, I began to understand that of all the calamities brought against them, the frog plague hit a nerve. I read that archaeologists have found amulets carved in the form of frogs, showing that the Egyptians worshipped them. One particular Egyptian god named Hekt (or Heqet) had the head of a frog, or was sometimes pictured with the body of a frog as well. For this reason, it was likely that frogs could not be killed, kind of like the sacred rights of cows in India.One writer puts it this way: "The Egyptians were forced to loathe this slimy symbol of their depraved worship."
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to my life?
When we talk about worshipping 'false gods' or 'idols,' it's easy to think that I'm exempt. I don't worship the sun or an image carved of wood or stone. But an idol doesn’t have to be something that’s evil -- it can be too much of anything “good” in my life. Anything else I depend on to get me through life, if it is not God, it is an idol.
But relationships can lead to disappointment. Knowledge can fail us. Service can go unnoticed. Strength can be weakened. Wealth can be stolen. Organization can become chaos. Talent can be broken.
If “something good” has become the center of my life -- which for me is a place reserved only for God -- then hard days, disappointments, failures, and moments of chaos have become a reminder to me that it is God alone who belongs on the throne, and that He needs to be my reason for living, my priority, my greatest joy in life.How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture and my story to others?
The next time you receive a complement on something good in your life, take the opportunity to give credit to God. Acknowledge Him in front of that person for that “good thing” and allow Him to remain on the throne of your life.
10 Jan, 2011
Determination
- Is there something hindering your spiritual growth right now? Is it a dating relationship? Is it the pressure to fit into a certain group of friends on your campus or community? Fix your eyes Jesus by spending some extra time talking with Him this week.
- Is there a certain sin that keeps creeping back into your life that you just cannot seem to shake? Fix your eyes on Jesus by asking Him to forgive you and to be your strength in moments of weakness.
- Are you running with perseverance? Fix your eyes on Jesus spending some extra time reading God's Story this week.
- Do you know a follower of Jesus who is hindered by something in their life? Spend some time with them this week and share the verses from today's God's Story scripture.
- Do you know a follower of Jesus who is struggling with a recurring sin in their life. Ask them how you can help them in their journey. Maybe you could pray with them on a regular basis. Maybe you could offer to hold them accountable.
- Find a close friend who desires to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and make a commitment to hold one another accountable. Meet once a week or a couple of times a month to check in with one another to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
7 Jan, 2011
God Anwers Prayer!
Ted Williams' Mom: "God Has Answered My Prayer"
(CBS) Ted Williams, the homeless man with the pitch-perfect voice found panhandling on the side of an Interstate highway ramp in Columbus, Ohio, apparently won't be homeless - or jobless for long.
He was spotted by a reporter, who made a video of Williams that went viral on YouTube, attracting three million hits.
Then, he appeared in an exclusive interview on "The Early Show" Wednesday. And he's been inundated with job offers ever since.
But his biggest wish is - to reunite with his 90-year-old mother, Julia Williams, who's back in Brooklyn, where he grew up.
And Ted flew to New York to finally see his mom again.
"Early Show" co-anchor Chris Wragge accompanied Julia on her way to LaGuardia Airport for the anticipated reunion. "I'm very proud of him. I hope that he can do good," she told Wragge.
She hadn't seen Ted in more than ten years, and was overjoyed at the thought of laying eyes on him again.
But the reunion was scuttled when another media outlet whisked Ted away.
Still, in an exclusive interview on "The Early Show" Thursday, Julia told Wragge, "It was alright" that she didn't get to see Ted at the airport. "I wanted to be there when he got off the plane," she said, "but I wasn't. But it's alright."
Williams also told Wragge, "God has answered my prayer. I prayed that I would live to see this time when he would do well."
In the Wednesday "Early Show" interview, an emotional Ted Williams said, "My mom is just really.. I.. I… I'm going to be going to New York, hopefully this afternoon, and please… I apologize if I am getting a little emotional. I haven't seen my mom in, in great deal of time. … But she doesn't believe (my good fortune now). … One of my, one of my, my biggest prayers that I … sent out was that she would live long enough for me to, you know, rebound or whatever. And I guess God kept her around, and he kept my pipes around, you know, to, to maybe just have one more shot..."
Afterwards, the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association called to offer Ted a job - and a house. The NBA"s New Jersey Nets called "The Early Show" seeking to get in touch with him. Even Hollywood came a-calling.
YouTube hits zoomed past the nine million mark, and this website's visits soared as people sought to see the Ted Williams interview.
To see the Wragge interview with Julia Williams, click here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7218739n
Story and Photo from cbsnews.com.
The Prayer of Faith
13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore, 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. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
19My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
It's amazing to think about how this story has unfolded in the last few days. In the interview with Juia Williams, she clearly wanted to get the point across that "God Answers Prayer." She pointed out the harsh reality that her son had "shut her out of his life." She said the "only thing she could do was to just pray for the best." Even in the midst of the hurt she felt, she prayed. Even Ted's children were praying. When Julia would try to talk to Ted about God, he would cut her off, but she kept praying. There are people in our lives who need our prayers, because they need Jesus.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- Have you been tempted to give up on a friend you have been praying for? Ted Williams' mom didn't stop praying and neither should you. Keep talking to God about whomever it is you desire to see meet Jesus.
- Have you been badly hurt by a friend or family member. Keep talking to God about that situation. He answers prayer.
Most of the country has now heard Ted Williams' story. You may even have quite a few friends talking about him today. Use those conversations as a starting point to talk about God's Story. Ask your friends how they would have felt if they were Ted's mother. Ted Williams' story is a great story of redemption and persistent prayer.
6 Jan, 2011
I Met Grumpy at Disney!
My family left the day after Christmas from the North Country of New York (yes, Virginia, there is life above Upstate New York!) and headed to Florida for a vacation at Disney World. Our children (10 and 6) had been talking, planning, and counting down the days & hours of our arrival to see Mickey and Minnie.
I got to meet Grumpy at the Magic Kingdom. Not the actual dwarf Grumpy, but a young girl who complained about the long lines, the heat, the bus ride to the hotel, and the actual hotel. She didn’t seem satisfied with anything about her trip. It seemed she was putting a lot of work into her complaining.
Following our stay at Disney World, our family attended a conference where I met up with Happy. This time the character was my friend, David Duncan, who travels nationwide speaking. Through life's darkest moments and dealing with the daily struggles of mundane survival, David's personal testimony is found in Nehemiah 8:10 (the joy of the Lord is my strength). His effervescent spirit reminds us all that when you have the abundant life as spoken by Jesus in John 10:10 that it is "everlasting" and "ever-laughing".
David, shown on right with his wife Shirley, is a double transplant recipient AND a double amputee, but he doesn’t complaining but finds the humor in his daily life. He let children’s Sunday School class he teaches pick his prosthetic legs. The boys, hands down, chose Sponge Bob Square Pants. The girls all voted for pink Barbie. He got them to agree to a purple cast with monkeys and bananas (he’s known as Rev. Monkey!). David has gone bananas!
But more importantly, he gives God all the glory for bringing him up out of the pit and setting his (fake) feet upon a Rock (Psalm 40)! David’s life is an encouragement to experience the healing ministry of a merry heart! (Proverb 17:22)
Two people. Two totally different outlooks on life. One major difference!
Clipart courtesy of googleimages.com
John 16: 33 (NIV)
33b “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Yes, we’re going to have bad days. There will be things in our life that are not pleasant. But we aren’t defeated! We can still glorify God in all of our life circumstances.
Can you life (or attitude) be summed up easily through a fairy tale character? If someone were to meet you for just a few minutes, what impression would you make?
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
It’s so easy to complain. And so hard to stop once we start. You may have a reason to be grumpy, but is that putting your faith in God? How can you best shine God’s Light in your life and into the lives of others?
This week, do an attitude check. Ask God to help you be alert to your emotions and your complaining.
Enjoy life to its’ fullest, even on those bad days. We all have them. Share the love of Jesus to others through a smile, a laugh, or an encouraging word.
Go bananas! If you’re happy and you know it……
5 Jan, 2011
Reliable
Bug Causes iPhone Alarm to Greet New Year With Silence
Sunday, January 02, 2011
By NICK BILTON, The New York Times
Pat Kiernan, a morning anchor on NY1, the New York City cable news channel, is no stranger to alarm clock problems. That's why he usually relies on several clocks, phones and other devices to wake him in time for his early newscasts.
That redundancy paid off for Mr. Kiernan on Saturday when his primary alarm, the one built into his Apple iPhone, failed to go off because of a programming error in the phone's calendar software.
"Before I went to bed I set two iPhone alarms, and both completely failed to go off," said Mr. Kiernan, adding that he uses the iPhone as his alarm clock when he travels. "Luckily I had an Android phone with me as a third backup alarm, and it woke me up in time for my news segment."
Many people weren't as lucky as Mr. Kiernan, voicing frustration online after they overslept on the first morning of the new year.
By Sunday morning thousands more people were posting angry missives about the iPhone problem on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, noting that they had missed a breakfast meeting or were running late for work or church.
1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
Psalm 86 11-12 “Teach me your way, Lord, That I may rely on you’re your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."
What Does God story Scripture Teach us about Relying on God?
Who do you Rely on? Your Family, your friends, a teacher, a boyfriend or a girlfriend, or a loved one? Do you rely on a bus coming on time, your DVR to record your favorite show, cell phone service, an ALARM CLOCK to wake you?? Pat Kiernan set 3 alarms just to make sure he woke up, how many do you set? Lets face it we live in a world that Relies on everything syncing perfectly, if it does not we tweet and post away about how inconvenient it all is to our world.
There is something that we rely on in life that we might need to rely on just a little bit more. God is the one thing that no matter how crazy life gets, no matter if you turn your back, no matter if you are happy or in deep sadness, God remains constant in our life.
In life we believe the truths about God and it's the daily reliance on his love, faithfulness and teaching that become hard. God is an 'alarm clock' that will never have any glitches or formal apologizes, but its up to us daily if we choose to believe.
How can I connect today's God Story Scripture to my life?
Did you relate with my list of things you Rely on? Take a pause, (like 20 seconds) List off the things you rely on in life. Was God on your list of things you rely on?
- Do you need to rely on God more?
- Do you need you remember the Love God has for you?
- Ask God to teach you more about what it means to rely on Him and Him alone?
- Ask for a Heart that is undivided.
How can I connect today's God's Story Scripture and my story to my friends Story?
No matter your faith or background, having something that you rely on is evident in everyone's life, be it something small like and alarm clock, or something huge like relying on God's Grace in your life.
I have friends that joke if it where not for their phone they would not know how to find their house or the store or would even know how to define words. Everyone knows about the iphone alarm glitch, use that to open a door to discuss the how crazy/interesting it is that we rely on technology so much. Talk about How much faith we have in a simple/complex little phone. Talk about what you rely on. If you have found that you need to rely on God a little more these days be open and share that in your discussion. Ask if they rely on God or a higher power? Remember the more common God is in your life the easier and more natural it becomes to talk about 'Him' in your friends lives.
4 Jan, 2011
Do-Overs
We are only a few days into the new year, and already I’m hearing quite a few people saying that they wish they could start the year over. By Day 4 they have already blown their New Year’s resolution, or they just didn’t get the good start that they wanted. They messed up. They want a fresh start, a do-over.
Don’t you sometimes wish life granted us do-overs? We could erase mistakes, take back things we didn’t really mean to say or do, try harder, or just not let an opportunity pass us by. Unfortunately, time keeps on ticking, and we have no choice but to move forward with life and hope we learn from what is in the past.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)
"The faithful love of the Lord
never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning."
Psalm 103:10-12 (NLT)
"He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we
deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens
above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west."
What does God’s Story scripture teach us about do-overs?
God is so gracious to us, and he loves us so much, that he gives us a do-over every single day. Scripture tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning, and that he removes our sins farther from us that we can measure. He loves us so much that he wants to give us a new chance each and every day. A clean slate. A fresh start.
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to my life?
Think about it. God has already put your mess-ups behind you. In fact, if you have put your trust in Him, they are so far from you that the distance can’t even be measured. Don’t dwell in the do-over, but embrace the new day and the new chance that God has given you.
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture and my story to others?
Talk to your friends about how they have started the new year. Do they need a do-over already? Do you? Be vulnerable and share with them what it means to you that God gives you a new chance every single day.
3 Jan, 2011
Searching
