Articles And Stories
The Weight of Changing the World
Change the world. That seemed to be the slogan of my childhood. Growing up, I recall the constant assertion that the world was in crisis and my generation was destined to save it. Changing the world or living with purpose is also the mantra of this age. The problem is a crisis is always on the menu. Modern technology allows us to learn of natural and tragic disasters only seconds after they occur. Never before have we been able to witness all that is wrong in our with such high definition and at an alarming frequency. Being saturated daily with catastrophes can have a numbing effect. When we feel helpless, we tend to make excuses to justify our inability to actually bring any meaningful change to the world. The problem with our excuses is that they are likely to be true. We are physically, emotionally, and spiritually incapable of changing the world. Fortunately, if you are a Christian, you are not by yourself. You have the Spirit of Almighty God living inside you. So run off and join the fool's parade of trying to solve the problem in an earthly way. Instead, focus on the God in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). I've pulled four thoughts from the book of Nehemiah and other scriptures on how believers can rightly live considering the pressure to change the world.
Comprehend the Problem
In the opening verses of the Nehemiah, we see the cupbearer to the King of Persia receiving word that fire and ash were the fruit of the effort to rebuild Jerusalem. Political sabotage and the lack of any natural protection made Jerusalem a vulnerable and weak city. Nehemiah understood the problem before him. The walls needed to be rebuilt for God's people to thrive. Passivity is not intrinsically a virtue. Ignoring a problem will not always make it go away. Admitting the reality and wretchedness of our sin and the world's fallen state is essential to enact righteous change.
Care about the Problem
For Nehemiah, there were hundreds of miles separating him from the problem. Upon hearing of the calamity occurring in Jerusalem, Nehemiah was likely tempted to use our excuses. "The problem is too big." "I am too small." "I have no direct way to bring about any change." He needed more resources and natural authority. What bridged the gap of Nehemiah's inability and the real change that unfolded in the rest of the story?
Simply put, Nehemiah cared. He allowed his heart to be bothered by the problem. It is easy to let passivity overtake your mind and numb your heart. This numbness may soon lead to hardening if not brought under God's changing sanctifying power. We must strive in our souls to care about what God cares about. Doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly find their beginning with soft hearts, informed by God's word and fueled by His Spirit.
Calibrate your Perspective
Nehemiah didn't attempt to solve the problem through protesting, rioting, or taking to social media. Caring caused him to recalibrate his lifestyle and priorities to solve the problem. Again, this didn't lead to punching right, writing strongly worded (or passive-aggressive) tweets, or even talking about it ad nauseam to anyone and everyone who he encountered. Instead, he recognized and relied on the power and reality of God. Understanding the supreme power and authority of God is the beginning of humility. As believers in this all-powerful God, we must realize our inability to change the world ourselves. This realization is the first step to actually being productive in the change. God can radically enact any change he desires whenever he chooses to. Nehemiah understood this perspective and pursued three things.
1). He mourned and wept
Mourning shows a deep emotional connection with something broken from how it is supposed to be. Jesus, like Nehemiah, was moved with sorrow over the state of Jerusalem (Luke 13:34).
2). He fasted
Fasting is the spiritual discipline of denying oneself food for some time to seek God more profoundly and intimately. When the Bible speaks of fasting, it refers to food. However, principally, it is denying oneself a specific right or privilege to pursue God in its place. Fasting doesn't win God's favor (salvation by grace). Instead, it is the mark of caring more about the desires of God than the thing you are giving up.
3.) He prayed continually
Caring led Nehemiah to pray. Indeed, we can't single-handedly change the world, but we can be moved to prayer. We may not possess the means or method to evoke change in our community, but we serve the God who can. Caring about what he cares about, loving what he loves, will inevitably draw us into a place of peace and purpose. We should remember that the object of our faith is strong and completely capable. God is not too small. To Him, the problem is more than manageable.
Change the World
Petty rioting and sloganeering are the world's methods of changing the world, and they are genuinely laughable in the scheme of eternity. God alone sits on the His throne. Righteous and true are his judgments and decrees. Any world-changing will come by Him and through His marvelous will. The amazing truth is that God chooses to use us in the process. Changing the world comes through us being humble and submissive vessels through which He can pour His power and might.
God used Nehemiah mightily to rebuild and restore Jerusalem. God is moving. He knows the world's condition and has a plan in his providence to change it in his timing for his glory. Do not be burdened by the pressure to change the world. Instead, set your affections and mind on the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.
Being Brave in a World of Nice
Bravery is not simply a suggestion implied through scripture. It's an explicit command. The trouble is, for many, bravery is an ethereal concept. It is something imagined rather than tangibly seen or experienced.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Scripture contains many stories of bravery and characters who embody courage. Today, more than ever, our kids need to learn bravery. I want to point out two concepts that help fuel moral courage: knowledge and ability. These two components are essential for God-honoring bravery. Knowing why something is right or wrong fuels courage and is often the difference between righteous and reckless bravery. We see this truth in the lives of the heroes of the Bible. David took up the call to fight Goliath, not because he was eager to see a battle, as his brother accused, but because the giant blasphemed against the living God. David's understanding of who God was and what he desired fueled his courage to fight the giant. David's knowledge and his God-given ability allowed him to conquer the giant for God's Glory.
Courage Fueled By Understanding
Our kids' must be driven by the proper knowledge of God and his commandments. The imparting of this knowledge must be the drive and mission of every Christian parent (Deuteronomy 11:19, Ephesians 6:4). Kids must know why something is right or wrong, and that comes through daily instruction. But don't think of teaching your kids about God the same way you learned Algebra, where you're taught it once, take a test, and never worry about it again. The Biblical mandate of instructing children is through a lifestyle of constantly living before Him (Deuteronomy 6). Christian kids should not wonder who God is and what He desires for them and the world. This knowledge will fuel their bravery because they'll know, as David knew, that they serve the undefeated Almighty God.
Knowledge Meets Ability
If knowledge is the gasoline that powers the engine of bravery, one's ability is the wheels that move it forward. This point doesn't necessarily mean raising your kids as MMA fighters or Indiana Jones-like courage is a prerequisite to God-glorifying parenting. The ability to be brave doesn't mean seeking out a fight. It knows what fight is worth fighting and is quick to engage when it is correct. Sometimes fighting the right fight means physically standing up for the defenseless. It could also mean intercepting or deflecting a fiery dart coming in the form of a gossip text. God has given us the tools to be physically brave. He endowed young men with testosterone and muscles, empowering them to be protectors and providers. Young women are given spiritual discernment and nurturing to care for and support the downtrodden. It is a great shame to allow God-given physical and mental attributes to go into entropy behind the distractible delight of donuts and Doritos, Instagram, or countless hours of video games.
Being Brave in a World of Niceness
Another obstacle to bravery is the false idol of niceness and tolerance at all costs. God doesn't admonish Joshua to be nice and tolerant, but rather strong and courageous. This distinction identifies that your kids will be in a battle. A Christian has enemies. And while these enemies are not physical people, they are spiritual. The thoughts and actions of men and women living in and loving the darkness are influenced by demonic ideologies and principalities. While the person themself is not our key enemy, the demonic ideas and the actions they are peddling certainly are. (Ephesian 6:12). Even within the church, we are warned against doctrines and antichrists coming who will directly come against Christ and His gospel (1 John 2:18–20). The main point with all of this is that there is a battle. The battle is often over the mind and hearts of the kids. Being taught to be nice and tolerant at all costs can be damaging. It could cause a person to struggle to find the ability to fight the right fight at the right time. It is enough to say "being nice" or "tolerant" must not hinder the command to be strong and courageous.
There is a difference between modern niceness and kindness. You might read this and be afraid that your kids will grow up to be jerks unless you continually tell them to be nice. While it is the responsibility of parents to teach their kids how to love and respect their neighbor, the greatest thing you can teach them is not how to be nice; it is to know God. The Bible clearly shows the effectiveness of raising children to know and love God (Proverbs 22:6). When we continually teach our kids who God is, are wretchedness, and of His amazing grace, we are laying dry kindling on their hearts. Salvation comes from God. He is the one who lights the spark of salvation, but how much hotter and brighter will that fire catch when we, as parents, raise kids to know God? When our kids know God and are alive by his Spirit, kindness will generate in their hearts. We can show kindness while being brave, but enduring kindness is the product of the Holy Spirit. Genuine kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, and temporal niceness is a work of the flesh. Don't snuff out the fighting spirit in your young boys and girls by forcing them to be "nice."
Courageously living for Christ, knowing it could cost you everything, is bravery. For this to happen, our Biblical morality and physical abilities must be sharp, well-in-tuned, and ready for action. Culture desires to dull the senses and makes a horrid teacher of God's will. We must continually have our minds and hearts in God's word through preaching and private study. Has he not commanded us? Be strong and courageous. Live for Jesus, for the glory of God.
12 Great Family Movies You May Not Remember
If you're like me on family movie night, your tired of scrolling through the endless cycle of movies on Amazon and Netflix. Maybe you're weary of settling for the potty joke ridden kids movie with the poorly plotted story line, but you can't think of any other options. Well, you're in luck
If you're like me on family movie night, your tired of scrolling through the endless cycle of movies on Amazon and Netflix. Maybe you're weary of settling for the potty joke ridden kids movie with the poorly plotted story line, but you can't think of any other options. Well, you're in luck because here is a list of twelve family friendly movies from the past, that maybe you have forgotten about or haven't seen. All twelve movies are wholesome, clean, and fun for the whole family. We've selected twelve so that each month you have a great movie night option. Yes, it's convenient and easy to click play on the Netflix suggested pick, but is it worth it? Instead, take a bit more time (and save a little money) by reserving these movies at your local library. Most libraries have an online system that allows you to place holds on movies. Plan out when you will need the movie and place a hold. Then all you have to do is pick them up at your local library. Or, if that sounds to hard, then just rent the movie on Amazon or iTunes. It's cheaper than what we used to spend when we would go to the video store. Remember the good old days of Blockbuster, where instead of a screen to scroll through you had to walk down aisle after aisle to find a movie? So grab some popcorn, whip up some root beer floats, and get your PJ's because it's time to get ready for a refreshing family movie night. Here's the list in no particular order.
Shipwrecked
Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy
Summer Magic
The Swiss Family Robinson
Pete's Dragon
The Court Jester
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Iron Will
Cinderella (live action)
The Apple Dumpling Gang
Muppet Treasure Island
So Dear To My Heart