Paul said that he became all things to all people so that by all possible means some might be saved.  I’ve been doing some thinking and writing about the many barriers that we need to knock down in order to be able to share Jesus.  One such barrier is the wall of technology.  Many of us from an older generation find ourselves with negative attitudes toward technology and those who use it.

How will we ever become all things to all people unless we cross this important barrier into the world of technology?  Here’s a little article I wrote for Lutheran Education Association’s “Shaping the Future.”  My goal is to help us leave behind some potentially fatal assumptions about technology and those who use it.  Please, let me know what you think!

Thankful for 2012…

The biblical Thanksgiving/Harvest celebration kicks off the Harvest Season.  Offerings are brought to the altar based on the initial gathering of produce and sustenance, not at the end.  Paul says to give thanks first/while we are asking as well:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6

In addition to looking back over 2011 and being thankful for God’s provision we are encouraged to look ahead to 2012 with THANKSGIVING for all that God will do in the future!  What will God bring in this coming year that deserves your thankful prayers  today?

Hard Core Evidence…

Pornography is not a topic that most people discuss all that often.  Maybe that is part of the problem?  Something that is so damaging and so accessible needs to be brought into the Light.  Here is good article to start the conversation:

Sean McDowell: The Hidden Price Tag of Porn

Here are some staggering statistics from this research:

87 % of men admit to using porn in the past year, and 69% of men report viewing it at least once per month.  Those numbers are totally unacceptable for a civilized society, and the rest of the article shows why this behavior is so damaging to many aspects of society.  Please take the time to read it, and discuss it with people in your sphere of influence.

It’s time for men to end this behavior, and start acting like men.

Ready to act…

Every week we confess our sins to God in worship using words similar to these:  “We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.”

If you have paid attention to the current news regarding Penn State’s atrocious handling of past crimes against children you’ll know that sins of omission can be just as bad as the sins that we commit.

Men had the opportunity to protect children, and they failed to act.  We pray for justice to be done, and most importantly for the victims of these atrocious crimes to be healed in every way.  I also have begun to pray for my own ability to act, and to always be ready to act decisively when an opportunity to help crosses my path.

O, Heavenly Father, You are the Protector of all.  Lord, make me ready to act.  Prepare my heart, mind, and body.  Equip me with courage, boldness, and confidence.  By the power of your Spirit, use me to act, and to act decisively, for the protection of the weak and vulnerable in our society.  May I never stand by and look the other way when it’s time to act.  In Jesus name; Amen.

Wood for the fire…

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”  Romans 8:28

While it can be hard to see at times, I really believe this verse.  Here are some examples that I see in the recent October Nor-Easter of 2011:

+ Countless wood piles are being filled for those who burn wood to heat their homes and provide for their families as a result of all the downed trees.

+  Quality time gets spent with family members who cannot be attached to electronic devices of all shapes and sizes.

+ Relationships are newly forged or reignited with neighbors we usually pass in the night.

+ People have the opportunity to serve their neighbors in various ways enabling them to grow in the grace of giving.

+ A renewed sense of what is really important can be noticed when lives are at stake.

+ A renewed sense of thankfulness for the ‘little things’ can direct our praise toward God more frequently.

Have you noticed any other ‘good things’ that came from the storm?  Please share them in a comment below.

Step by step…

The Jordan River was at flood stage. Fast moving water and dangerous undercurrents prevented an easy crossing. The people of Israel stood on the East side of the River, and the Promised Land awaited them on the West. God told them that the time was right, and that the men in the front of the people were to step into this raging river before He would act.
At times God asks us to step out in faith trusting that He will respond in action. It must have been a scary step into the water knowing that it could be your last. The swift current could pull you down and drag you miles down the river, or even under and to your death. Step in first. Then God acts.
Obedience to God’s command to cross leans on trust. They had to trust that God knows what He is doing, and will indeed act in a powerful way to get them across safely. That trust is built on past experience. Just 40 years earlier the people of Israel stood on the edge of the water wondering if they were about to die, and Moses was asked to raise His staff in obedience to God’s direction. The waters piled up on either side of the Red Sea and the people walked across on dry land.
Now it was their turn. Stepping into the water, trusting in God, and being obedient to His direction the waters immediately piled up downstream and they walked across on dry ground. All it took was a step of faith that was firmly based on God past actions.
God has already done amazing things for His people that are recorded in the Scriptures. He has a trustworthy track record. Most importantly He has shown us victory over all things through the resurrection of Jesus! This proves that He is worthy of our trust, and our obedience. Where is God calling you to step out in faith? Take that step on the firm ground of trust! He is trustworthy, and He will act!

Give us this day…

Give us this day our daily bread is a prayer for vocation. God doesn’t snap His fingers and put bread on my table. Instead He works through the farmer, miller, baker, and grocer to feed me. I wonder if there would be unemployment if we all prayed this way for our needs?