Preparation for life after High School, Part 1

Solomon said wisely in Ecclesiastes 12:1, "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them (NKJV)." Of all people, Solomon would be the expert on what mistakes NOT to make as you age in life. Remember, Solomon was a godly man who was granted anything by God and he chose wisdom over riches and wealth. Even though the Lord granted him wisdom, Solomon made mistake after mistake later in his life by not following the very wisdom he asked for from the Lord. As you continue to grow and work your way through school you will come across decision after decision that need to be addressed. No decision is more difficult to the High School student than that of what to do after High School. Depending on what grade you are in or how old you are right now, you may or may not have given thought to your life after High School. In this article we will give you two reasons why you should consider and pray on what you should prepare for after High School.

Jesus instructed us to count the costs in life

Luke 14:28-30 says, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it ––(29) "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) "saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’" Jesus, speaking to those who were going to follow Him, emphasizes that no one begins a new work without counting the cost. This is more of a truism than a commandment, but it is very applicable to your young life. Consider the story of the wise and foolish man who built homes in Matthew chapter 7. The wise man counted his cost and choose a firm foundation to build his home and when the storm came his home stood firm. However, when the foolish man built his house on the sand and the storms came his was destroyed. It should be important to you now, rather than later, to count the costs of what you are doing to prepare for life after High School. This applies not only to academics, sports and your social life, but what about spiritually? Remember, you cannot ride on the faith of others for the rest of your life! Each person will be judged by the word of God at the end of time and not by what others believed (John 12:48).

Even God prepared before He created the Heavens and the Earth

Ephesians 1:3-4 states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." Before the foundation of the world Paul noted that God chose us that we should be holy and without blame. If we compare this statement to Ephesians 5:27 and see that Christ died for the CHURCH that she might be holy and without blame then we quickly can connect the dots with Ephesians 1:3-4 and Ephesians 5:27. Paul is not saying that we Christians were individually chosen before the foundation of the world, but rather that the Church was chosen as a holy institution that all who obey Christ might have Him as the author of their eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9). This also teaches us that God prepared His plans before the foundation of the world. Such a connection is necessary and implied in Paul's statements. If God thought it was important to plan before the creation of the entire Universe wouldn't you find it necessary to follow His holy example and plan before you begin your life after High School? There are many other reasons you should prepare for your life after High School and these are only two, but in the next few articles I will attempt to give you some information on how to make informed and spiritual decisions on your life after High School. I pray for all of you that you may always seek to follow God and His commandments even when you do not have your parents around to push you in the right direction. Truly the Proverb writer said, "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)."

more to come soon!

Fire Ants

Imagine this song being sang by a 10 year old and you will understand my humor in watching this....anyway, Tim Hawkins is a christian comedian with great talent and clean humor we can all appreciate. Here is a sample of his work.

Feeding those at the Dump

It looks like Trey Morgan's blog reported that they actually have raised over $11,500 to help feed the people at the dumps in Honduras. This is a great testament to individuals helping individuals. We don't always need a church sponsored event in order to contribute our money to help others in need. Even during a time when the economy is touted as being poor, we have others who still willingly give a few bucks to help out there fellow people on this earth. This is part of the Matthew 24 ministry that Jesus spoke of before he was crucified on the cross.

Let's not stop helping others! If you haven't contributed to this cause feel free to go on over to Trey's blog and give a few bucks to help feed people who normally don't get three healthy meals a day...much less one!

Blessings,

RL3

Feeding those who eat from the dump...

Trey Morgan on his blog is attempting to feed as many people possible at the dump (picture posted above from treymorgan.net). These are folks (men, women and children) who eat regularly at the dump. They can't afford to throw away food, because they don't have any. If you get a chance please go over and take a look at this site today or tomorrow and donate if you are able. Also, read some of his blog articles on Marriage....excellent!

Peace and blessings,

Robert

One Man and One Woman Married for Life

Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (NKJV).” Leviticus 18:22, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” Matthew 19:4-6, “And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,' (5) and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH' ? (6) So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Romans 1:27, “Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Monday, April 27^th, 2009 became the first day for the state of Iowa for same-sex couples to join in marriage within the borders of the state of Iowa. Seven non-elected individuals decided on a case brought before the Iowa Supreme Court because a lower court rejected the approval of same sex marriages in 1998. Iowa became the third state to legalize same-sex marriages (others are Massachusetts and Connecticut, California was approved by its court system for six months before voters overturned the decision of the State’s court). Due to the fact there were no parties of same-sex marriage opposition in this ruling it cannot be appealed on the state or federal level. The only way to amend the ruling is for a constitutional amendment to be put in play at next year’s congressional session or for there to be a new Constitutional Party. Unfortunately, it seems like many of our senators and representatives are not favoring a constitutional amendment. These are the facts plain and simple.

However, the problem did not begin with the Iowa Supreme Court and it will not end at the Iowa Supreme Court. The problem began when people stopped hearing and receiving the Word of God as absolute truth. Understand for instance if people were to accept without doubt the Word of God as absolute truth and the ruler of their life there would be no acceptance of same-sex behavior (including marriage). At the beginning of this article I wanted to remind our readers of the Bible verses dealing with God’s view on homosexuality. This behavior is a sin. It separates a person from God when a person engages in this sinful behavior. This is the message we need to get out to our communities. If we want to change the behavior of a society you begin with the children. You begin by teaching our children the Bible is absolute truth and living your life like it is absolute truth. However, when parents engage in all kinds of sin (gambling, social drinking, cussing, skipping services for social pleasures, drug abuse, or child abuse…to name a few sins) then they send to their children a message, “Even though we go to church services and study our Bibles it all means NOTHING!”

How do you change the ideology of an entire group of people? You begin by preaching the truth. You begin by telling them that ALL sin is unacceptable before God, but is also forgivable. In Colossians 3:7 Paul previously named a list of sins and then states the Colossians were once involved in these sins. You need to understand that sin can be avoided. We can first be forgiven of our sins in Jesus Christ, but you must be in Christ (Galatians 3:27). Second, understand that sin can be avoided by giving sin up. Giving up the pleasures of this world may not be an overnight solution. You are going to have to work hard at it. However, we need to teach others that sin is a relationship breaker with God and it needs to be avoided at all cost. Finally, teach others that God’s Word is absolute. It does not change as we find in Hebrews 13:8, John 12:48 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17. When people accept God’s word they accept that God has mandated the marriage pattern is one man and one woman for life, not any other pattern. If we are going to adapt change in this country it starts with you and your family. Are you willing to change?

Do you miss the "Thee's and Thou's" Preaching?

Do you ever miss the preacher's of old who frequently quoted from sound translations like the King James Version or the American Standard Version? I cracked open my ASV last night (like I do frequently) and began thinking about the preachers who helped me develop my preaching as I grew up. I remember men like Joe Gilmore, Johnny Ramsey, Gus Eoff (still alive and preaching), Avon Malone and many more who stood like a rock against the winds of change in our brotherhood. It really is too bad that so many congregations are falling to the way side with their desire to modernize the churches of Christ.

More importantly than the regret we may have for those congregations falling to the way side are the fact that so many congregations are still standing strong in the Word of God. They are standing strong because preachers who were influenced by sound gospel preaching are now standing strong in the pulpit. This encourages others to stand strong against the winds of change. There are many congregations you don't even hear about who are continuing to preach and teach the lost. There are many congregations not making the headlines who will continue to practice New Testament Christianity because that is all they know what to do. I am personally proud and joyful when I hear of these sound congregations who continue to stand firm in the Word of God when it is not so popular to stand firm in the Word of God.

2 Timothy 1:13-14, "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (14) That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us (KJV)."

Tired of the Killings?

It seems every time you open the newspaper or watch the news recently there is a new story about someone taking their life and/or their family’s life (or both). I have heard the news reporters state in many cases the motive for these individuals in taking life is economic. They have either lost a job, lost significant money in a retirement plan or investments and sometimes they have lost their wives to another man over lack of financial security. This is most definitely the result of a society moving farther and farther away from God. When people don’t have peace and security found from God they have no hope and make very desperate decisions. Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble (ESV).”

No matter how bad things seem to get for the Christian we can always know there is peace with God. A peace that passes our understanding according to Paul (Philippians 4:7). A peace that will bring forth the crown of life (Revelation 2:10)!