God in a Manger!

Christmas is a time when we often see images of Jesus as a newborn baby. When we do, it is kind of hard to imagine all that Jesus was and is. Yes, Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, but that was not the beginning of the second person of the Trinity. He is eternal. He has no beginning and no end. He was never created for He is self-existent. In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah tries to describe when he saw the Lord, which was at least 700 years before Jesus was ever in a manger scene.

“I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’”

Wow! This same Jesus, who we sometimes picture as in a manger, is seen here in His glory. It is such a powerful and amazing event that Isaiah is dumfounded and comes apart at the seams as he beholds the magnificence and glory of God!

That is what makes Jesus such a big deal. Because He is not just a baby, or even just a man, He is also God! The very one who spoke and created the whole universe! However, He humbled himself to be born as one of us, and to live as one of us. Why? So that He could pay the price, which we could never pay, for our sin. Jesus was God and man, who lived a perfect sinless life. He died on the cross to take on the punishment that we deserve, and pay the price for our sin.

So, next time you see baby Jesus in a manger, remember there is a whole lot more to the story. That little baby is our one and only way to be saved from our sins!

“And they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” Mathew 1:21

Don’t be a Zombie!

The living dead are amongst us! You might even be one! Someone you know might be a Zombie!
Well, something can always be said of shock value.

The living dead are amongst us! You might even be one! Someone you know might be a Zombie!

Well, something can always be said of shock value.

So how are we in any way like zombies that are part dead and part alive? Well, it’s like this, even though you or someone close to you might be walking around looking quite alive, spiritually they could be absolutely dead. At this point you might be thinking that I have roped you in with the zombie hype just for shock value. While, that is partly true, I want you to know that the reality of what I am sharing here is far worse news than becoming a zombie or having zombies attacking you.

You see, the Bible tells us that we are born sinners, that we continue to sin, and that we are spiritually dead. Kind of like the zombies who are somewhat alive, yet dead. We may look pretty good and alive to others, but God sees us as we truly are. The book of Ephesians lets us know that we are dead; Paul, in Romans, says that when we open our mouth, it even smells like death. Jesus told a group of people that they were like nicely painted graves.

The Bible tells us “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death.” In a natural state, humans live their lives dead to God and dead to true spirituality. We might appear very alive to others, but we know that things aren’t right on the inside.

So what do you do if you don’t want to be a zombie? First realize that you can’t overcome the state you are in on your own. You need help! The good news is that God provided that help through Jesus Christ. Jesus was God and man, never sinned, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. In doing so he took the sins of all of those who would ever call on him and gives them eternal life. When we realize that we are sinners, that Jesus is the only cure, and believe in Him, we become truly alive, not dead men walking, but truly alive! Our sins are forgiven! God supernaturally, as only God can, saves us from that dead, sinful, state.

Here is what Paul says about this in the second chapter of Ephesians:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:1-9)

Don’t be a zombie! Turn to Christ and be cured today!

Do you need advice?

I need to talk to someone!

If you were in need of life saving surgery, would you go to a first year medical student and ask him to perform the surgery? Of course not, you would prefer a doctor who has completed many years of school and has many years of experience.  But why? I’m sure both men would do try their hardest.  However, while both men would do the best job they could do, one would clearly have more knowledge and experience to draw from.    

Though the answer is obvious in the case just mentioned, sometimes we do something very similar with serious life issues.  Whether it is about dating, drugs, friends, depression, school, career choices, temptations, or other issues, at some point you will reach a spot in your life where you seek someone else’s advice.  Where do you turn?  Who do you seek out?  Who do you trust? Where can the best advice be found?

Many young people turn to their best friend.  That is what friends are for right? Well, who wouldn’t, your best friend knows you quite well and should want the best for you. I’m sure they will give you the best answer, based on the knowledge they have, as they possibly can.

However, I would like to suggest, that even though there motive may be right, you could also draw from someone who has more life education and life experience.  Who would be able to give you better advice, someone in the same position you are in life, or someone who has been through it, seen many others go through it, and who knows exactly how to get through it the right way?

Who is this person? Well, it could be your parents, grandparents, a teacher, pastor, youth director, a coach or a close family friend.  You might even seek out advice from several experienced sources. 

  Look around at the people that are in your life.  Who can you go to for Godly advice?  Don’t discredit someone just because they are older or because they are your parent.  They may very well be an incredible source of knowledge and experience for you to draw from.  Who better to ask for advice than the one who has already traveled the course you are on. 

Who should I date?

In the 11th grade, my youth director told me something really deep. He told me that I was going to marry someone I dated.

Wow, ground breaking news! Well “of course”, I thought. Congratulations on stating the obvious Mr. Youth Director!

Actually, his point was that you shouldn’t go out with a person that you would not marry. The qualities you desire in your eventual spouse should be the same qualities that you look for in a person that you date. Some people have lower standards for dating than they do for marriage, but in actuality they should be one in the same. Never have a girlfriend or boyfriend just to have one, but make sure they are of marriage quality. I don’t mean just how cute they are, but what about their character, integrity, purity, trustworthiness. Think about how they treat others, and who have they dated before you. It is extremely important to take this part of your life seriously!

If you can’t find anyone that meets those standards, don’t lower your standards. Just wait! There is no rush. Often times teenagers feel that they have to be with someone. However, it is far better to be with no one than to settle for someone that you know you would never want to marry.

Don’t go out just to go out. Don’t have a relationship just to have one. Wait!

If you lower your standards for dating,
then eventually you will do
the same when it comes time to marry.

Keep your standards high until you find a person that fulfills them. The people who meet your standards may not be in your classroom, your school, or even your town right now. But they are out there, and you have a whole lifetime to find them.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

—Trey Talley

Guys, train your eyes to look at females from the shoulders up. Summertime is a dangerous time for guys’ eyes. Temptations are all around! Be careful! It’s easy for guys to want to give girls the “up down” (looking them up and down as one student put it), but do your best to avoid concentrating on the girls’ bodies. If you continue to do so it only leads to more lustful looks and more lustful thoughts, which the Bible calls a sin.

Girls, don’t give them so much to look at! Yes it is summer, but you don’t have to wear the most revealing clothing to get noticed. Trends come and go, but often times the trend for girls is to show as much of themselves as possible. It’s usually one or more of the following: the lowest and tightest jeans, the shortest shorts, the lowest cut tops, or the tightest shirts. Do you really want guys to like you just for your sexiness? Is that what you want to be known for? How you dress speaks volumes about who you are.

Dressing sexy or revealing means a whole lot more to a guy than it does to you. Guys, almost always, interpret revealing dress as a sign, a bill board with neon lights that screams “She is dressing sexy because she is sexual!” Yes, you may get their attention, but all attention is not good attention.

Yesterday, I put fly bait up outside my house. It is a sticky strip of paper with a fly attractant on it so that flies will smell it, land on it, and die. Well, guess what happened after about a day of being hung up? There were two squirrels, a raccoon, three doves, and a Chihuahua stuck to it! No, just kidding, there were flies stuck to it, of course. Though, the prior does make for a funny visual.

The point is you are attracting certain types of guys to yourself as well. If you want a good catch, then be careful what you’re using to attract them. If it is your body, then get ready to catch a real looser. Instead, be known for your character, your personality, and your kind spirit. Let your Christ-like behavior shine through, and that will eventually draw in the type of guy that you truly need.

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” (Job 31:1)

—Trey Talley

Don’t lose ground this summer.

Quick point of advice.

Don’t check out mentally and spiritually just because summer is here.  Keep making progress.

Yes, a little fun in the sun and relaxation is much deserved, but do something productive everynow and then. 

Regaining Trust

What do you do if you have lost the trust of someone due to a slip up in your character?

1. Remember why you have lost someone’s trust. It is easy to move on quickly and think that everyone else should too. Remember, you gave them a reason not to trust you now.  

2. Someone has been hurt. It is painful to trust someone and then have that person abuse it.  

3. Rebuilding trust takes work. One bad choice can destroy long-term trust, rebuilding it may take many right choices.  

4. Communicate. The enemy to trust is a lack of communication.  If you lost your parents trust by going somewhere you shouldn’t, then make a point to be even more transparent about when and where you are going in the future.  

5. Honesty speeds up the process.  

6. Lying is the death of trust.  

7. Be patient.  Trust is not rebuilt overnight.  It may take weeks, months, or even years.  

8. Don’t give up. Some people see all the work that is involved and just give up. Yes it is work, and yes it will take time.  However, it is worth it.  

9. What if they still don’t trust you?  It is hard to believe that if you truly make the changes needed then, overtime, trust would not be rebuilt.  But, if someone still refuses to trust you it should not change the way you act.  Keep living a lifestyle of trust, and reap the rewards of being a person that can be trusted by everyone.

Make it really be a “Happy New Year”

This new year look to the future, but also look at your past.  Evaluate the quality of choices that you have been placing on your foundation.  Take a moment, think about your future, and look at the foundation that you have built so far.  Is it going to get you where you want to go? Everybody has messed up before. It’s like the famous old philosopher Hannah Montana once said “Everybody makes mistakes.”  But that is no excuse!

Don’t keep making bad choices and just hope that somehow things will just “work out.” Stop immediately!  Your future is at stake!  Learn from your past mistakes but don’t dwell on them.  Concentrate on what you can do to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Remember, while the pages of your past are already written, the pages of your future are totally blank. Your goal this year should be to end it with a stronger foundation than you started with, starting …………………NOW!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Ahhhhh!  Time with my family!  I love it! I love this time of year. 

Lots of fake meanings for Christmas out there.  Remember the only real one is the remembrance of the Son of God taking on flesh to become the Christ, the Savior of the World. Keep that in mind this year and getting socks or underwear for Christmas want be dissapointing.

Morals Anybody?

So, what are morals anyway? A person’s morals could be defined as the standard they set for what they define as right and wrong. Morals often have to do with a person’s character, integrity, and purity. A few quick examples would be your views on lying, cheating, or stealing. But it goes deeper than that, for instance, how you treat other people, what you allow your eyes to see, what you listen to, what you allow your body to do, and where you go, are just a few other examples to get you thinking. I have learned that the higher a young person’s moral standards are, the higher their quality of life is and will be later. This is because principles observed at a young age usually carry on into adulthood as well. That’s why it is so important to think about and define your moral guidelines as early in life as possible.

If you ever get a chance to visit the Grand Canyon Visitation Center, you will notice that there are rails along the rim of the 5,280 ft. deep canyon. The purpose of the rails, obviously, is to keep you from falling over the edge. Likewise, moral lines are also designed to keep you and others from danger. It’s a way of setting boundaries in your life that you will not cross because of what is on the other side.

When you decide that you have to break up with someone, because of the pressure they are putting on you, is it because you are a snob? No, it is because you have seen the danger and you have drawn a line to keep you from it. When you turn down an invitation to a certain party where you know it’s going to get crazy, is it because you are a deadbeat? No, it is because you are putting guard rails around your life now in order to have a great future. Don’t be deceived, a person that tries to live without moral standards is like a person driving a car without a steering wheel, the wreck is inevitable.