THE OUTLIERS

Checking In

2008-04-01T17:14:00.001-04:00

I'm checking in. If you haven't seen the new blog at Wordpress, here is the URL again.

New Link

2008-01-04T19:44:00.001-05:00

I have definitely changed to a new blog host. The new URL is right here.
If you have any questions-comment. I'll check in every once and a while.

Transferring... Possibly

2008-01-04T18:54:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you know I might be transferring my blog to a different site. i'm testing it out right now to see if I like it, and I'll get back to you on if its happening or not.

Devotion Talk 1/3/08

2008-01-03T20:17:00.000-05:00

Tonight I read John 2.

I really enjoyed this chapter. It tells two great stories that tell many important facts that need to be known by everyone. The first story told is about Jesus turning water into wine. This message is point blank that Jesus and God can do anything. God can heal a person of deafness, muteness, or blindness. He can do anything:

"8Then he told them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.'

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, 'Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.' "

When Jesus forces the merchants out of the temple, it shows that being angry is always sin, unless it is anger in someone who mocks God. These men had set up companies in a holy temple. Jesus was outraged and forced them out. Being angry at something petty is sin. But, this is not. Another thing in this is how Jesus foretells his death. He claims he will be brought down, but brought back in three days. I also enjoyed this part because it said that Jesus knew the way of men. This ties in with John one, when it says: "He was with God in the Beginning." This chapter says in a sense that Jesus knows the ways of humans because he was their at the time of their creation.

"20The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."

Devotion Talk 1/2/08

2008-01-02T20:30:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!
Tonight I read John 1.

There is one major point I want to discuss. It shows up in verse two. Verse two reads:

"He was with God in the beginning."

I do not know how anyone else interprets it, but I believe it says that Jesus was always with God. God had always had the plan of sending our Savior. He had Jesus with him, so when Jesus was born, he really in a sense wasn't born, but born again in human form. Because of him, and God's plan, we will also one day be born again, but not as humans, but in heaven. God has planned each and every one of our lives. God had a destiny for Jesus: dying for us, and has plans for us.

The second point I believe is shown by John the Baptist in this chapter. He refuses to be called Christ as he is not. He tells that God sent him to prepare the world for Jesus. I feel like all Christians must have gotten carried away while sharing faith. John however did not. He did not make himself a Christ figure. He wasn't. But, we as believers in God sometimes feel like we're superior to non-Christians, when we're not. We're all sinners. It's something all Christians need to stop. We feel like we're better that non-Christians, but if we believe this to be true, we're worse.

Devotion Talk 12/28/07

2007-12-28T21:53:00.000-05:00

I apologize. I've been forgetful recently.
Tonight I'm going to to something a little different. Instead of going to John 1 as my devotion planner has planned, I'm going to discuss something I just read in R.C. Sproul's: Now That's A Good Question!

"24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

-James 2:24

On page 138, the question reads:

"If justification is by faith alone, how can we apply James 2:24 (shown above) , which says a person is justified by what he does not his faith alone?"

I really enjoyed the response of Sproul. He replied:

" ...What James is saying is this: if a person says he has faith, but gives no outward evidenceof that faith through righteous works, his faith will not justofy him... We are not saved by a profession of faith or claim to faith. That faith has to be genuine..." (pg. 139)

-R.C. Sproul

When I read the answer of Sproul, I thought of the many people Jesus healed. When he healed them, he told many: "Your faith has healed you." It wasn't: "Okay, now go do a good deed and you'll be healed." Jesus already committed the good deed. He died for us. I think that James 2:24 really means that we have to show our faith, and it has to be real in order for us to be saved. Praise the LORD that the good deed was done! Faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven!

"6Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' "

-John 14:6

Devotion Talk 12/17/07: Jesus- The Lamb of God

2007-12-17T20:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry Again
Tonight I read John 1...

Jesus- The Lamb of God

Tonight I want to focus on a few verses of this Chapter. On Bible Gateway it is labeled as Jesus the Lamb of God. What I want to really meditate on is, what kind of lamb is right for God. God is perfect and holy. Likewise, he deserves a perfectly holy, and spotless lamb. Not one of us could be the Lamb of God. We have all sinned. Jesus is the Lamb of God. He has not sinned. He is perfect. We all deserve to go to hell! If Jesus weren't the pure, holy, perfect and spotless Lamb, he wouldn't have been good enough to die for us. Thank God that Jesus was perfect. In the Christmas musical the Children's Ministry put on, their was a lamb, named Tiny who had many spots. His friends were all extremely white, with few if not any spots. Tiny was speaking about that the Shepards would choose the other sheep instead of him to sacrifice. And the last line of that play was something similar to this:

"Tiny represents each one of us, as we are spotted with sin. Only Jesus, the Lamb of God, the pure, perfect white lamb, can save us..."

I loved this little part. It really ties in with the message here, how Jesus is the only one that could have died for us. He is the only one holy, perfect and spotless enough to die for us.

"9The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me." 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.' "

Devotion Talk 12/9/07

2007-12-09T20:54:00.000-05:00

Tonight I read Luke 24.

This chapter is the proof for those scoffers, that our God can save himself. God keeps his promises. the promised that Jesus would rise. He promised Noah that their never would be a flood that huge again. God is all-powerful. He can do anything. He can use Jesus to raise men from the dead, give them sight, speech or hearing. God can raise himself from the dead. In the fourth-sixth grade Sunday-school class today, the teacher was asking the kids what we were here for, which is a huge question. Eventually the teacher said, It begins with a 'G.' " So here came grace, God, good and finally glory. The reason God does these things is to show his glory. God is great. He created us to show how powerful and wonderful and mighty he is. He takes lives, and gives lives to show his glory. He took Jesus's life and then gave it back. He died for us, so God could show his glory. Jesus ascended into heaven for God's glory. Everything God does is for his glory!

"51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God."

Devotion Talk 12/6/07

2007-12-06T21:00:00.000-05:00

Sorry about that. I've been forgetting recently.

Tonight I read Luke 18.

There are two messages here that I really want to make known...

The Parable of The Pharisee and the Tax-Collector: Wow. I love this parable because it tells us that if we believe that we can get to heaven on our own. It sort of reminds me of a quote that I analyzed in English class this week:

"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward."

-Henry Ford

I strongly disagree with this quote. Henry Ford, I believe seems to be making it seem as if we can overcome obstacles in our lives on our own, which is what the Pharisee thought. I cannot believe why such a successful man cannot believe that the idea of a car was his own. God gave it to him so he could be great. When obstacles came his way, he figured that he was strong enough to overcome them on his own. The Pharisee believed he was greater than God. But, the tax-collector admitted his sin and " '...he who humbles himself will be exalted.' "

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight: This is another great story of Jesus's great power, but I found something that is really great:

"42Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.' "

What exactly does this say? The way we can be healed of blindness or something of the sort is if we believe, if we trust and have faith in Jesus. If we don't believe he can heal us, he won't. This extremely important, as if we do not believe in Jesus, we will not go to heaven and not be healed.

Devotion Talk 11/24/07

2007-11-25T20:22:00.000-05:00

Tonight I read Luke 16.

I like Luke 16 for many reasons. I enjoy both of the stories. Each has a very important message.

The Parable of The Shrewd Manager: This story is an amazing story. It really goes to show you that if you yearn for something other than God, such as money, then you will be punished. The manager in the story used all his posdessions without being thrifty. He believed that he could cheat his way to the top. But, soon he was proved wrong. Although the punishment of getting half of your goods getting taken away is nothing compared to God's wrath, it is a punishment. The greatest verse in the chapter I think is this, we cannot serve ourselves and God at the same time:

"13'No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.' "

The Rich Man and Lazarus: Two main points:

Those who live a good life without God go to hell, and those who live a hard one with God, go to heaven.
More importantly, I feel is the fact that God knows that we do not need a special person to come back from the dead to show his glory. We just have to look around and see God's world. We do not even need Moses or the prophets. We should be able to look around and see the glorious world God created and believe!

"31'He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." ' "

Devotion Talk 11/19/07

2007-11-19T20:46:00.000-05:00

Tonight I read Luke 15.

This is a shorter chapter, but the message is a great one. It makes me recompense to last summer at The Gap Camp. The Gap was all about God being so holy that the "gap" between him and us are incomprehensible, huge, gigantic! But, the most amazing thing, the biggest message, that my Pastor whispered in my ear the last night: God loves us. Not just that he loves us all in general, but he loves each in every one of us and each and every one of our thoughts, features, and personality. This universe is immense, but he loves me as much as he loves you. This holy being doesn't have to love us. In fact, after Adam and Eve sinned, he could have left us to die, and we could have been left to live in agony. Just like the missing son, God loves us all when we find our way back home. Just like the sheperd, he loves each lamb and is grateful when he returns or is found. Just like the coin, when it is found rejoicing is much, but when we find God, there is even more.

"4'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." ' "

He is Our King

2007-11-18T21:12:00.001-05:00

Do you know him?

I got this from Pushing back...
Great video.

Devotion Talk 11/18/07

2007-11-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

Here is the Luke 12 re-do.

Tonight I read Luke 12.

Warnings And Encouragements: I could have made this just warnings, but I just realized, that there is encouragement in the verse I wanted to highlight, as well. First I think the most important verse in this section is this:

"4'I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.' "

This means that we should fear God. God is so powerful that even if we have led perfect lives, (which we can't) like Jesus did, he has the power to throw us into hell anyway. He is that powerful. The encouragement is that, what do we have to worry? We only have to fear him. Compared to God, Satan is nothing! Why fear him?

The Parable of The Rich Fool/ Do Not Worry: The parable of the Rich Fool really indicates the message of God's providing. He is our provider. Why store things up and make sure we have enough money, or food or anything of that sense. God will provide for us here on Earth and in heaven. God "feeds" the "ravens." He lets the "flowers grow." He will do it for us as well.

Watchfulness:

"35'Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.' "

We should be ready for Jesus to return. We should always be ready to die. We cannot live our lives in disarray. What if God takes us right then and there. We die and go to Hell. We always have to be thinking and loving God. We need to be faithful to him. If our master returns and we aren't ready, well, punishment comes.

Oops.

2007-11-15T21:32:00.001-05:00

The connection on my computer decided to go blank before I got a chance to publish Devotion Talk 11/15/07. I'll re-do it and get it up tomorrow.

The Renovation

2007-11-14T20:26:00.001-05:00

I "renovated" the look of the site, because the plain black was getting boring to me. I like the new style a lot better.

Devotion Talk 11/14/07

2007-11-14T20:04:00.000-05:00

Tonight I read Luke 10.

I really enjoyed reading this chapter. I am going to highlight the tree key points, or the ones that I believe are key.

Jesus Sends Out The Seventy-two: This part is, I believe is one of the most significant in the chapter. The fourth verse, I feel is vital to Christian faith sharing:

"Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road."

Why do I say this? I believe that if we go and proclaim to the world that we are Christian, and that we want to help people change, what are they going to think of us? They will think that we are over-proud people that are doing this for our own, not God's glory. I reflect back to last night about pride. The only thing we have to be proud about is God, yes, but we can't be over proud. That is wrong too. We have to have a quiet pride: a pride inside us that shows, but not immensely. If we proclaim to the world that we are Christians, that shows that we want glory. We need to share faith quietly, little by little. Correct people at little moments in time like saying: "That's wrong" or "That's not Godly." Then they start asking questions, you answer and in no time you help them become a Christian.

The Parable of The Good Samaritan: This parable illustrates another thing we should do. We shouldn't wait for somebody to come to us. When we see someone struggling, we go to them. We don't walk by and ignore them. Like the Good Samaritan, we should stop, help bandage up the wounds, care for them and be a good neighbor:

"36'Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'

37The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.'
Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.' "

At the Home of Martha and Mary: What is most important? Preparing for a meal or listening to your Lord speak and bow down at his feet. Jesus is the highest of the high. Cooking dinner is much less important than worshiping our Lord God Almighty.

" 42'...but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.' "

Devotion Talk 11/13/07: To Be Like Jesus

2007-11-13T20:25:00.000-05:00

To Be Like Jesus

Tonight I read Luke 2.

This is the story of the birth of Jesus. I find another thing like last night that Mary listened to Gabriel and named the child Jesus, our Savior.

Though, I named this Devotion Talk: To Be Like Jesus. What is a Christian's goal I ask you? To go to heaven, right? How do we do that? Become more like Jesus and accept him as our Savior. Along the way, we learn the different traits of God and Jesus. For example, in my Church, a Sunday School class is named Jesus: A-Z. The class, for second and third graders has about 40 different characteristics of Jesus hanging on the wall, at least one for each letter. This unit is great. The kids go through and learn A for amazing or something of the sort. One I really love is P for pride. The lesson, which I have listened to as I helped teach it tells that God was proud of his creation. It later explains that God is the only one that can really be proud. We "will not boast in anything... but I will boast in Jesus Christ." (How Deep the Father's Love For Us) We have one thing we can be proud about and that is the fact that we have Jesus and a merciful, compassionate God.

Jesus never really boasted or seemed to show pride except when he proclaimed that God was his father. That is it. Nothing more did he boast about, nothing less. Today, I found out that I got a lead role in the play. Obviously I felt like bursting and screaming to the entire school that I got the part, but that is nothing to brag or boast about. I can boast, we can boast, however, that we have Jesus in our hearts and that he died in our hearts and that he loves us!

"I will not boast in Anything,
no gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But, I will boast in Jesus Christ,
his blood has paid my ransom."

-How Deep The Father's Love For Us

Devotion Talk 11/12/07

2007-11-12T21:00:00.000-05:00

Tonight I read Luke 1.

Luke 1 is the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus, and the birth of John. The thing that really amazes me the most is Zechariah in this chapter. Despite everyone around him expecting and telling him to name the baby Zechariah, he chose to tell them all on a tablet that: "His name is John." I love this mans love for the lord and how he obeys. Even if he wasn't mute for that time, I am sure that the name would have been John. Imagine if we all loved God that much. It would be a perfect world. That brings up another point as to why sin became. Sin became so there could be a heaven. If everyone was perfect, we would need no savior, no heaven, no God. I am so happy that Adam and Eve committed a sin. We now live with cruelty, hate and suffering, but if there was no sin in Eden, we would be alone, humans, with no God. What is the point of a point of having a God in a perfect world? Thank God for sin, but we can still make a difference by spreading God's word and showing others that he loves them.

"63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, 'His name is John.' "

Pray for me please

2007-11-12T20:57:00.000-05:00

I had a difficult time remembering to post over vacation. Please pray that my mind will focus in more on God. Pray that the many distractions of life will pull off of me.

Vacation

2007-11-01T22:12:00.000-04:00

I am going on vacation the entire next week. I will try to get to a computer to update the blog each night, but don't be surprised if you don't see anything on here from the 2nd to the 11th.

Devotion Talk 10/31/07-11/1/07

2007-11-01T21:54:00.000-04:00

Since I missed last night I am going to do Mark 15 and 16 together!

Tonight I read Mark 15-16.

Mark 15:

How can we be so horrible? I just cannot believe that the human race can treat someone, that good, that holy, that loving, so nastily. We all deserve Hell. We may not have been the ones that said these things to Jesus, told Pilate to set Barabbas free, or yelled crucify him, but we have all been controlled by Satan one time or another. In these horrible times, this is what we thought of Jesus. This is what our hears screamed! But, this was all God's plan! He wanted this to happen! HE KNEW THAT WE WOULD SHUN HIM! He knew that his son would die for our sins. JESUS DIED FOR US! HE DIED FOR US FILTHY, UGLY, SINNING HUMANS, WHEN WE DESERVED TO LIVE AN ETERNITY IN HELL! Praise the Lord!

"12'What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?' Pilate asked them.

13'Crucify him!' they shouted.

14'Why? What crime has he committed?' asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, 'Crucify him!' "

Mark 16:

I found it quite interesting that, towards the bottom of the page on Bible Gateway, it reads, "The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20." Well, I thought then I should focus in on the first eight verses to really capture their meaning:

HE IS RISEN! Is that not enough joy? He is risen! Our Savior has risen from the dead and proved God's holiness to everyone. God is powerful. He can accomplish anything. Jesus is alive! Praise the Lord!

"...'He has risen!'..."

-Mark 16:6

"Halloween- What it is From A Christian Perspective"

2007-10-30T16:40:00.000-04:00

Tonight I'm posting this. I know in the rest of the world Halloween is tomorrow, but where I live it is tonight. I really think that this is a good article. Don't go trick or treating tonight.

"Halloween What It Is From a Christian Perspective

Written by: Phillips, Gloria Posted on: 04/29/2003

Category: Cults / Sects / Non Christian Religions and Topics

Source: CCN

Halloween What It Is From A Christian Perspective

Many Christians will allow and even encourage their children to pay respect to the devil on October 31 without knowing they do so.

Churches will fully sanction the event with parties that will be decorated with witches, cats, brooms, jack-o-lanterns and bobbing apples. What is the harm? How did the originate?

The custom of Halloween is traced to the Druid festival of the dead. Then the Roman Pantheon was built by Emperor Hadrian in 100 A.D. as a temple to the goddess Cybele and other Roman deities. It became the principle place of worship. Roman pagans prayed for the dead. Rome was captured and the Pantheon fell into disrepair. Emporer Phocas captured Rome and gave the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV in 609. He reconsecrated it to the Virgin Mary and resumed using the temple to pray for the dead, only now it was "Christianized", as men added the unscriptural teaching of purgatory.

In 834 A.D. Gregory IV extended the feast for all the church and it became known as All Saint's Day, still remembering the dead.

Samhain, a Druid god of the dead was honored at Halloween in Britain, France, Germany and the Celtic countries. Samhain called together all wicked souls who died within the past year and that were destined to inhabit animals.

This celebration of the dead honored the god of the dead on this particular night. Druids believed that souls of the dead returned to their former homes to be entertained by the living. Bonfires were built atop hills so they might find their way. Suitable food and shelter was provided for these spirits or else they would cast spells, cause havoc, steal infants, destroy crops, kill farm animals and create terror as they haunted the living. The spirits demanded placating by giving them a type of worship and offering. This is the action that "Trick-or-Treat" emulates today.

The Samhain celebration used nuts, apples, skeletons, witches and black cats. Divination and auguries were practiced as well as magic to seek answers for the future. Black cats were considered to be reincarnated beings with the ability to divine the future. During this festival supernatural beings terrified the populace. Even today witchcraft practitioners declare October 31st as the most conducive time to practice their arts.

The Christian church tried to eliminate the Druid celebration by offering All Saint's Day as a substitute. As Christianity spread over Europe and the British Isles, it attempted to replace the pre-existing pagan cult worship of Apollo, Diana or Ymir, but to no avail.

Although the outward forms of such worship disappeared, the belief in these deities did not. They found an outlet during the Middle Ages in the open practice of witchcraft which is presently enjoying a revival in many countries, including the U.S. In Germany the occult is considered more prevalent than in the Middle Ages. The deistic cults held periodic meetings known as witches sabbaths, and it is the same today with October 31st being of more importance.

Pranks and mischief began to by played out to represent the mischievious behavior attributed to witches and the fairies. Trick-or-Treat came from and ancient Druid practice. One of the basic tenets in witchcraft is to control the will of another by use of fear. Even in jest, when one threatens to punish if a treat or offering is not given, they are imitating an occult practice of controlling the will of another by use of fear.

Prosperity was promised to all who were generous donors, and tricks to all who refused during the Irish Druid event of trick-or-treat. The contributions demanded were in the name of Muck Olla, and early Druid deity.

Traditional Halloween symbols appeared in the U.S. during the late 1800's. Witches, black cats, death's head cut from a pumpkin, candles, masks, parties and pranks were used.

In rural areas, aggravating and destructive acts were done, such as removing gates and placing them atop barns. The same was done with outhouses and wagons.

The uninformed Christian has no idea that there truly are demonic spirits which are contacted and activated as people call out to them in jest or in seriousness. Every act around Halloween is in honor of false gods, which are spirits in the realm of the Satanic. Those who have been deeply involved in witchcraft and who are now free, declare that even those who say they worship spirits of nature are in actuality contacting the Satanic realm without knowing it.

To pray for the dead is against scripture. If one knows Jesus before death, their spirit is already with the Lord. Paul says to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord, II Corinthians 5:6. If one is an unbeliever at death, the scripture says there is no second chance as it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. Therefore, prayer for the dead is in opposition to God's Word and a pagan practice that became "Christianized". While living, one must make a choice "for" or "against" Jesus and that determines the destination at death of the spirit. No amount of prayer can reverse the decision made on earth by the person concerned while they were alive.

The Bible instructs us to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness. Both Christian and Jew are forbidden to participate in the occult practices listed in Deuteronomy 18:10. Necromancing is the delving into contacting the dead. God said all such practice was an abomination to Him.

Some may reply, "But we only do this in fun...we don't practice witchcraft." That which represents Satan and his domain cannot be handled or emulated "for fun". Such participation places you in enemy and forbidden territory and that is dangerous ground.

Through the ages, Halloween has gone by various names but all have been tributes to the same dark force, Satan. There is no place in the life of the Church or the Christian for such participation in this holiday."

Devotion Talk 10/29/07

2007-10-29T21:18:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 14.

This chapter is extremely similar to Matthew 26, but my main point here tonight is- Jesus knows all.

When Jesus told Peter after he swore to not disown him, "30 I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." The most amazing thing about this is that after Jesus was taken away, Peter did disown Jesus, exactly three times. Amazing! God knows all!

Now I'm just going to put up some stuff from Matthew 26:

"This passage is mainly the story about Jesus's betrayal and his predictions about that betrayal. A couple of parts stood out to me. First- when Jesus knew that Judas was the one to betray him. How did Jesus know this? How did he find out. If Jesus were not the son of God, how could he know? The Bible tells nothing about Jesus overhearing a conversation between Judas and soldiers. How good Jesus know. He is omniscient. Jesus knows all. God knows all. That is how.

'23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, ''Yes, it is you. " ' "

Devotion Talk 10/28/07

2007-10-28T20:36:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 13.

Two really huge points I need to highlight here.

1. First, shown from verse 1-31, we need to be ready to face the false idols that are going to come. Some choose to be the form of a fake Jesus, or a fake prophet. Now, they come in video games, girls, movies, anything that is there and not Godly. We need to be strong like Jesus said, because he will always be with us:

"11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."

2. Secondly, shown in verses 32-37, we need to be ready for the return of Jesus. We can't sleep through Jesus's return, because we will miss it. We will go to hell. We need to be ready. We need to be vigilant and ready to do anything in response to anything.

"35'Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: "Watch!" ' "

Devotion Talk 10/27/07

2007-10-27T20:55:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 12.

Two things I want to highlight:

Love God with All Your Heart: What does this mean? This means that we must all love God completely. We cannot love anyone or anything else. It is just that simple. But, it is impossible for any of us to do it. With sin in our lives, there are so many temptations that we go and follow after. It is sin not to think about God for 2 seconds. Amazing. We have a savior that takes care of this for us. Praise the Lord!

"29'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." ' "

The Widow's Offering: Plain and simple. Give your all for God. Even, if it is two silver coins. Two silver coins out of two silver coins is better than 1000000 silver coins out of 1000000000 silver coins.

" 43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.' "

Devotion Talk 10/26/07

2007-10-27T20:41:00.000-04:00

Last night I was at a late Church Function. I didn't get a chance to update it.

Tonight I read Mark 11.

This chapter is another example of faith. It shows so many examples of faith, and some examples of no faith. The fig tree, was cursed so Jesus could see if his disciples had faith in him. They didn't. They didn't believe that it would die. The colt, faith was shown by the people who asked what was going on.

" 22'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 23'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.' "

Devotion Talk 10/25/07

2007-10-25T20:29:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 10.

Sections: There are three parts of this chapter I want to highlight.

The Young Rich Man: A story of faith this is. When Jesus tells the young man to give up all his riches in order for him to go to heaven, he can't. God gave up all he had for us. He had an empty, vast universe, where he could do anything he wanted, but he decided to make us a home. He gave up that peace to create us, so we could exist and fill his world. We have to give up our all to show our complete loyalty to God, seeing that he did it for us.

" 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!' "

The Request of James and John: The request of Jesus's disciples is a very very very sacrificial one. Think hard. Would you be able to say that you can be Jesus's right hand man. Of course not. First, we're not holy and second, we wouldn't be able to handle it. If we were to be exactly like Jesus, what would be the purpose of Jesus?

Blind Bartimaeus Receives his Sight:

"52'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road."

All powerful. Jesus is all powerful. I have been finding these examples everywhere. In the Bible and in my life. Jesus is capable of doing anything.

Devotion Talk 10/24/07

2007-10-24T20:41:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 9.

The greatest point in this story that I have been striving on is that Jesus can do anything. In this particular chapter, Jesus is angered that some still do not believe he can drive out an evil spirit. All these people of Jesus's time always claimed they believed Jesus and they knew Jesus, but this was not. They still had doubts about his power. I read in a book called "A Gospel Primer for Christians," one section focused in on who needed to read the Bible and learn more about Jesus and his works and deeds. It said that we need to read it as much if not more than non-Christians. Well, why do we have to do that? We may get full of ourselves sometimes and need to go back, and even thought you are a Christian already, you always have to read the Bible no matter what.

"22'It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'

23' "If you can?" ' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for him who believes.' "

Devotion Talk 10/23/07

2007-10-23T21:02:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 8.

The feeding of the four thousand is similar to Feeding of the Five Thousand. Almost every story in Mark are symbols that Jesus can do anything. He can touch anyone and heal them. He can feed millions of people with a single loaf of bread. He can give enough blood to millions of people to save them. Jesus died for us. He gave us his body, and his blood so that we could live forever.

"9About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

11The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12He sighed deeply and said, 'Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.' 13Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side."

Devotion Talk 10/22/07

2007-10-22T20:15:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 7.

This chapter has 2 key points.

1.

"18'Are you so dull?' he asked. 'Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him "unclean"? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.' "

This point, I believe is the most important. Earlier in the chapter, a tradition of washing yourself and things continually, because they thought that evil spirits could enter their bodies through them. Jesus explained why he and his disciples did not follow this tradition. We are the cause for our uncleanliness towards God. Nothing can enter our body and make us "unclean." Only ourselves can make ourselves "unclean."

2.

"31Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

33After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. 34He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means, Be opened!' ). 35At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly."

What this chapter means to me is that whoever has faith in Jesus can be healed by Jesus. We have to believe in Jesus's holiness to save us. Jesus came to die for all of us. We have to believe in him and trust him.

Devotion Talk 10/21/07

2007-10-21T20:44:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 6.

This chapter4 is eventful: section time.

John The Baptist Beheaded: I found this a bit confusing. My understanding is that the girl and the mother did not believe in Jesus or the acts of John the Baptists and just wanted to see him dead. This is horrible. This man prepared the way for Jesus, who came to die for us. He shouldn't be imprisoned or beheaded. We are horrible people. The human race deserves to go to Hell, but Jesus died for us so that we can go to heaven.

Jesus feeds Five Thousand/ Jesus Walks on Water: I grouped these two because I believe they both have the same message. Jesus can do anything. Jesus was sent here to show God's power. He can heal you if you just touch his robe. He can walk on water. He can turn a meal for 3 to a meal for five thousand. Praise the Lord. He is almighty. He is powerful!

Devotion Talk 10/20/07

2007-10-20T22:08:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 5.

I'm going to separate the two stories.

Healing of A Demon Possessed Man: Again, Jesus can do anything. He can remove demons from a man, make an evil man good, by saying, "Spirits, come out." Jesus can do anything he can even drown these spirits away forever.

"13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned."

A Dead Girl and A Sick Woman: This parable is amazing. The most amazing part is "by your faith you are healed." Wow. We just have to believe in Jesus and be healed. We just have to believe in him and he shall heal us. He shall save us from the horrible death of sin and the horrible eternity in hell.

"34He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.' "

Devotion Talk 10/19/07

2007-10-20T21:59:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 4.

I'm going to write in sections again.

The Parable of The Sower: This story is a story that is almost exactly the same as that in Matthew 13, so here is the response: "This parable is a great one. I really think this is the best one. I previously talked about CB Eder from Redding, PA. At the youth camp I went to he did a session out of Psalm 1. He took from it that we have to be deep rooted in God. The message here is similar. When we take root in rocks with little soil, we take root in a tiny bit of God and then forget about it, wither, and die. When we fall among thorns, or start to believe the wrong things, our seed won't make it to the ground, and no roots will begin growing. But, if we drop by rich soil, we can put our roots deep into God's word and live through the hot sun. CB put it as: 'Don't be 30 miles wide and a half inch deep!' Don't plant yourself by the rocks, because you won't be able to go deep enough."

Lamp on A Stand: This parable is about spreading God's word. We put ourselves on a pedestal so we can help guide others in the dark, so they may find God.

Jesus Calms The Storm: In this part of the chapter, Jesus was asleep in a boat and was being awakened as a storm was coming. They said a storm was coming and they would die. Jesus was horrified that they did not trust that they would not get hurt. So, he cleared the storm to show his power. Jesus can do anything.

Devotion Talk 10/18/07

2007-10-18T21:04:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 3.

This chapter speaks of the man Jesus healed in the Church. Everyone around although didn't believe that Jesus could do something like this. These are the people that thought Jesus was blaspheming when, he was really the son of God. These people were close to having no heart for Jesus. They did not believe that he was who he said he was. They wanted him dead. We should love Jesus for what he did.

"4Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' But they remained silent. 5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts."

The most important and meaning part of this chapter is the last verse. We are all brothers and sisters. According to Jesus, I am his brother. You are his brother or sister, as long as you believe in him. When we all love Jesus, we are all related, no matter if one born in another half of the world. I am a brother of a believer in Uganda, Africa, Canada, anywhere.

"33'Who are my mother and my brothers?' he asked.

34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.' "

Devotion Talk 10/17/07

2007-10-17T21:07:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 2.

This chapter tells one of my favorite stories. The one about the paralytic. This is a huge sign that Jesus is God. This showed that Jesus is God because he healed the man, even when the men around called it blasphemy. It wasn't! Jesus is the son of God. Jesus is God. He is capable of creating miracles like God. He can do anything God can. This story also shows a great act of faith, an act of believing. The men carrying the paralytic believed that Jesus could heal their friend. We all need to trust that God can do anything for us.

"5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.' "

Now later after this event, Jesus saves all of our paralyzed lives, and all of our leprosy imperfections. He died for us. He did not heal those that went to him while he lived, he healed everyone of their sickness. God's gift is free, if you choose to believe it or not. God left the gift for us. It's just our decision to open it up and accept the great joy that is inside.

Devotion Talk 10/16/07

2007-10-16T22:13:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Mark 1.

This chapter is a chapter that tells of some works of Jesus. One work that he did, was one that we should all use as an example in our lives. When Jesus traveled through the desert, and was not tempted by Satan to follow him. This is huge. We cannot follow Satan, he will kill us. That is was Jesus came to do, to tell us. If he was tempted, we would die and go to hell. Jesus is perfect.

" 12At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him."

The rest of the stories in this chapter are just brilliant examples of what Jesus can do. He healed a man of a disease that made your hands fall off. He drove an evil spirit out of a man. He healed and saved everyone on this planet, that ever lived here, living here now, and to live here in the future.

"33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.''

Devotion Talk 10/15/07

2007-10-15T20:44:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Matthew 28.

This chapter is the story of Jesus' resurrection. Jesus kept his promise. God kept his promise. He rose on the third day. Anything and everything God promises us will come true. Jesus is alive and now in Heaven. When he comes back we should go to him like the disciples and worship him. Jesus is the Lord. He died for us and went through so much pain just so we could live.

"5The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.' "

Praise the Lord our king is alive!

Devotion Talk 10/14/07

2007-10-14T21:07:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Matthew 27.

This is the sad chapter of Jesus's crucifixion. This chapter is so hard to read especially when you think in the aspect that you are one of the mockers. Pretend you are there right now mocking Jesus. Now come back. How bad did that feel? It feels horrible doesn't it. We let Jesus, innocent, truthful Jesus just die in front of us. Sure, there were some that said, "This isn't right." They were The Outliers of that time. We need to be the Outliers of this generation. We have to stand up an say, "This isn't right." There is so much bad stuff that happens out in the world. We, the Outliers need to stand up and change some regular people to Outliers.

It is just so hard to imagine what pain that Jesus had to go through. It was so bad, the word excruciating was made up afterward. They drilled nails through major veins in the wrists, not the hands. He had nails driven through his ankles on a similar nerve that cause an unbearable pain. In order for Jesus to breath, he had to push with his legs on a little block, that would soon make him grow weak until he couldn't push up to breathe anymore and die. This is what we deserved. We deserved an excruciating death. We deserve to have nails driven through our wrists, but Jesus bore that wrath for us. Praise the Lord!

"8They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again."

Devotion Talk 10/13/07

2007-10-14T20:55:00.000-04:00

Last night I was out real late and didn't get to posting...

I read Matthew 26 last night.

This passage is mainly the story about Jesus's betrayal and his predictions about that betrayal. A couple of parts stood out to me. First- when Jesus knew that Judas was the o9ne to betray him. How did Jesus know this? How did he find out. If Jesus were not the son of God, how could he know? The Bible tells nothing about Jesus overhearing a conversation between Judas and soldiers. How good Jesus know. He is omniscient. Jesus knows all. God knows all. That is how.

"23Jesus replied, 'The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.'

25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, 'Surely not I, Rabbi?'
Jesus answered, 'Yes, it is you.' "

Second- when Jesus predicted Peter's denial of knowing him.

34"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

Later on that night after Jesus was arrested, guess what Peter did? He told three servant girls that he did not know who Jesus was. He never met him.

"Immediately a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly."

Devotion Talk 10/12/07

2007-10-12T22:34:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Matthew 19.

This chapter is a great chapter, especially the last two parts.

The Little Children and Jesus:

"13Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

14Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' 15When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."

Jesus accepts every person. He loves everyone. He loves the big and small, weak and strong, and short and tall. "Jesus loves me this I know." Old song yes, but the words to it have so much meaning. "We are weak but he is strong." He will keep us safe from Satan and protect us. He loves each of us. He loves children, teenagers, and adults alike.

The Rich Young Man:

The thing that will get you to heaven is the ability to obey commands, illustrated here. It is also to believe in Jesus that everything he says of does is right or true. The young rich man claimed he had followed the Ten Commandments fluently. Nope. First, he just broke the first. Nobody has never not broken one of the Ten Commandments. We are all guilty. Jesus is the way to heaven and we have to believe him and not trust our riches more than we do him.

Devotion Talk 10/11/07

2007-10-11T20:46:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Matthew 13.

This is a chapter of parables. I'm going to divide the parables and describe how I feel about some of them. (Just a reminder, there is a Bible Gateway box at the bottom of the page for your use.)

The Parable of The Sower: This parable is a great one. I really think this is the best one. I previously talked about CB Eder from Redding, PA. At the youth camp I went to he did a session out of Psalm 1. He took from it that we have to be deep rooted in God. The message here is similar. When we take root in rocks with little soil, we take root in a tiny bit of God and then forget about it, wither, and die. When we fall among thorns, or start to believe the wrong things, our seed won't make it to the ground, and no roots will begin growing. But, if we drop by rich soil, we can put our roots deep into God's word and live through the hot sun. CB put it as: "Don't be 30 miles wide and a half inch deep!" Don't plant yourself by the rocks, because you won't be able to go deep enough.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast: This story tells how Christianity spreads. Christianity spreads like a mustard seed growing into a large tree. It starts with one little person that has a passion for God, then he spreads the news, and soon it takes root. Next, Leaves of new believers are sprouting on every branch. The yeast makes the bread rise and expand so the belief starts small and then spreads throughout the world.

The Parables of The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl: These two parables are very alike. The hidden treasure of Jesus Christ is found, and when we find it and help others find it, we have to hold the treasure close, and not let thieves steal it. We should share our wealth but never be taken away from it. When we see the pearl of Jesus Christ being sold, we should sell everything we have and put it all aside because that pearl is the most important thing we will ever receive.

Devotion Talk 10/10/07

2007-10-10T21:03:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Matthew 6.

This chapter is another chapter that I'm going to divide into sections.

Prayer: This part of the chapter tells that we should not make it a big deal that we are praying for them. This could embarrass the person and make the situation worse. When we pray for our peers we have to do it quietly and secretly. You could encourage thew one you are praying for by telling them a quiet: "I'm praying for you." But, don't go in detail. Anyway, we should pray for our peers no matter what, so we could be telling everyone quietly, "I'm praying for you," because we all need to pray that our peers will make the right decisions and come to know God. That is one of my prayers each night.

"5 'And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.' ''

Do Not Worry: This reading tells us to not worry. We shouldn't worry that God won't do what we asked him to or if he'll keep his promises. Why? Because we know he will, we just have to bear this in mind. God will never do anything to harm us, so don't worry about it.

"28 'And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" ' "

Devotion Talk 10/9/07

2007-10-09T21:32:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Matthew 5.

Once I read this passage, I picked up countless little things that affect our lives as teens. I would be up all night typing away on what they all were, but I'm not going to do that so I'll highlight some of the important ones.

Salt and Light: We, the outliers are salt and light of the world. If we lose the salty taste of ourselves or lose God in our hearts, then we are "no longer good for anything." We also, while salt have to light a candle. Soon that candle will become a small fire and finally a forest fire of believers. We have to light our candles so that others can keep warm around us in the holiness of God.

"14'You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.' "

Eye for an Eye: The concept of this version of an eye for an eye is when someone strikes you for something wrong, you should let them do it again. You should not fight back. When someone tries to start a fight in school, usually one person delivers the first blow and the other the next punch. What needs to happen is that one person does two blows while the other lets it happen. Two wrongs don't make a right.

"39'But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.' "

Lastly...

Love your enemies: To love your enemies, which is stressed in Proverbs innumerable times, is to love the ones that do bad to you. When you do this you will make them realize their mistakes and they will suffer. Proverbs 25:21-22:

"21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you."

Matthew 5:44-45:

" '44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.' "

Devotion Talk 10/8/07

2007-10-08T20:57:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Malachi 3.

This passage is an explanation from God on what we have done wrong to him. He tells us that we have done wrong to him, even though sometimes we feel that we are perfect and do nothing wrong. We do things wrong all the time. We sin when we think we're not sinning. We sin when we don't think of God. We may ask: How are we doing you wrong? We sin to God every second of our lives. But, God sent his one and only son to die for us so that we may live in heaven for all eternity.

" 8 'Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
But you ask, "How do we rob you?"
In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it"

Devotion Talk 10/7/07

2007-10-07T20:15:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Zechariah 8.

This passage is the word of the Lord coming to Zechariah that Jerusalem will be reformed and most importantly, he will be coming:

"3 This is what the LORD says: 'I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.' "

This is the message. "I will... dwell." God is coming to dwell upon us. Jesus is going to come. The world will be set right as Jesus comes. This is the best verse in the chapter. Jesus is coming.

The last chapter is also significant. It is what we should be trying to get others to say to us. We have to have them follow us and want to learn about the Lord.

"23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, "Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you." ' "

Devotion Talk 10/6/07

2007-10-07T20:04:00.000-04:00

On Saturday Night I read Haggai 1.

I really liked this passage as it talks about the fact that we have so many material things, and that we yearn for them even when they are not necessary. God called upon Haggai with the fact that there was no temple and that everyone else was enjoying their houses when God- the almighty, powerful God had nowhere. It also explains that though we may yearn for something and get it like money, or warm clothes, or food, we all are so happy. This weekend the food wasn't the best while I was camping and when I got home today I realized that I was so happy to be in air conditioning, with good food in the kitchen. We all need to be like this with God, we need to rejoice in him daily and build up his house for the whole world to see.

"5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.' "

Devotion Talk 10/5/07

2007-10-07T19:53:00.000-04:00

On Friday Night I read Zephaniah 3.

This passage is a passage that starts out with what God will do to all the unbelievers if they do not come to believe in God. God will, according to the passage, start famines, end the hustle-bustle in the streets and make all quiet. The world will be "consumed."

" 8 'Therefore wait for me,' declares the LORD,
'for the day I will stand up to testify.
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
by the fire of my jealous anger.' "

On the lighter side of things, God will keep peace with the ones that remain to believe in him and trust in him. God creates trials like these and many others to show his power and wrath. God is all-powerful. He can destroy, but he will save all that abide in him.

" 20 'At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes ^[d]
before your very eyes,'
says the LORD."

Make-up

2007-10-07T19:51:00.000-04:00

I was camping this weekend so I'm posting the devotional Talks for
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday tonight.

Devotion Talk 10/4/07

2007-10-04T21:10:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Habakkuk 1.

This passage is on an oracle questioning God. It questions him on why he is allowing such evil in the world. Well, the answer to that question, that we know now is that he is preparing the way for Jesus. By making great evil. The man perfect in righteousness will stick out and everyone will listen and pay attention. God does everything for a reason. We have no right to question him for this reason. God would never to anything to harm us unless it resulted in a great help for us. God made the Babylonians terrorize the lands so that when Jesus came everyone would go to Jesus then to God. He did this all to show his power and his glory.

" 3 'Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.'

5 'Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.

6 I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwelling places not their own.' "

Devotion Talk 10/3/07

2007-10-03T20:51:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Nahum 1.

This passage is a view on what Nineveh deserves. How they defiled God and disobeyed him. They deserved destruction, death, and famine. Nineveh deserved to be wiped off the face of the Earth:

"8 but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh ;
he will pursue his foes into darkness.

9 Whatever they plot against the LORD
he will bring to an end;
trouble will not come a second time.

10 They will be entangled among thorns
and drunk from their wine;
they will be consumed like dry stubble."

But, Verse says that we are forgiven, let us praise the forgiving God, the one who sent his only son to die for us!

" 15 Look, there on the mountains,
the feet of one who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,
and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;
they will be completely destroyed."

Devotion Talk 10/2/07

2007-10-02T21:06:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Micah 6.

This chapter is a great way of showing what we owe to the Lord. We, like the second half of the chapter describes, owe the Lord years, generations and eternities of service to him, of suffering. He has led us in the right direction, and what we would usually have to do for such a deed is fulfilled by Jesus dying on The Cross. The first half tells us that we could never repay God for what he has done for us. We could never make a sacrifice that measures up to the one of God:

"6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"

Devotion Talk 10/1/07

2007-10-01T20:26:00.001-04:00

Tonight I read the book of Jonah.

This story is an amazing story. It depicts many lessons. It tells us to listen to God, because one way or another, God will make us do what he called us to do one time or another. Jonah decides to run a way from Nineveh, but God directs him there in the end anyway. The lesson is another about sharing faith to troubled people. Jonah did this very well until the very end. At the end he expected God to still show his wrath on the Ninevites.Wrong. God forgave the Ninevites of their wrongdoing, but Jonah couldn't find the heart to. As a prophet, he must have thought that he would go to heaven and all that he spoke to would not. He thought he was perfect, which is a huge lesson for us teen believers.

We cannot expect the Wrath of God to be poured on lives that we help save after we saved them. What is the point of sharing our faith with them in the first place? We need to tell people about God, then pray for them, so that God may lift his wrath upon them and they can be saved.

" 10 But the LORD said, 'You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?' "

-Jonah 4:10-11

Devotion Talk 9/30/07

2007-09-30T20:21:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read the book of Obadiah.

This book is a very powerful message on what we are trying to do with the Outliers and the Rebelution. We are not trying to destroy, but to help other teens. We are not here to gloat and say, "Ha ha we're going to heaven, you're not." NO! Our mission is to help others become Christian. I created this site as an outreach to others! This book sums it all up. Obadiah says not to destroy or gloat or brag:

"12 You should not look down on your brother
in the day of his misfortune,
nor rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their destruction,
nor boast so much
in the day of their trouble.

13 You should not march through the gates of my people
in the day of their disaster,
nor look down on them in their calamity
in the day of their disaster,
nor seize their wealth
in the day of their disaster."

We should not take away wealth and knowledge but share it. God put us on this Earth so that he can show his power and wrath. Not so we can gloat about how good we are.

Because if we do that, we will die as they will:

From Devotion Talk 9/19/07:

"We are here to spread God's word and Get Everyone to love God and to help people stray from evil, saving them and ourselves: [Ezekiel 2-3]:

' "18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself."

If we do gloat and not take time to share with others, we will surely die along with all the other sinners, for we will have seen suffering people and we will have decided not to help them. THIS IS NOT RIGHT!We need to love everyone around us and help everyone around us to help our fellow humans.

Devotion Talk 9/29/07

2007-09-29T21:16:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Amos 4...

This chapter is another chapter on God's wrath on how he will treat us if we disobey him. This is essential! We can't live our lives rebelling against God. Not only will we get destroyed, but it is wrong not to obey the Lord that created us, gave us life, and made it possible to go to heaven. We can't let anything come before him. He is our God. We are his people. We are meant to follow him and let him show his glory through us. He showed his glory and power through the people of the time of Amos who did not rebel and instead praised him. These people were rewarded:

' 7 "I also withheld rain from you
when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
but withheld it from another.
One field had rain;
another had none and dried up." '

This means that after all our hard work to be faithful to God, we will get a rain of salvation. We as the Outliers will save many people and be rewarded. We are not here to see other fields dry up- we are her to help these fields receive rain. We need to create and irrigation system and help people receive their own rain. Then, God will be very happy with all of us.

Devotion Talk 9/28/07

2007-09-28T20:50:00.000-04:00

I read Joel 2 tonight.

This cahpter is another chapter that speaks of the punishment that we all deserve for our sins. It also speaks of God's pity for us. He will seize to tear us apart and send his armies away if we pray, fast, and rejoice in all the good he has given us. He will, although hurt if we disobey, if we do not pray, if we do not rejoice and if we do not fast.

" 18 Then the LORD will be jealous for his land
and take pity on his people.

19 The LORD will reply to them:
"I am sending you grain, new wine and oil,
enough to satisfy you fully;
never again will I make you
an object of scorn to the nations.

20 "I will drive the northern army far from you,
pushing it into a parched and barren land,
with its front columns going into the eastern sea
and those in the rear into the western sea.
And its stench will go up;
its smell will rise."
Surely he has done great things. "

Devotion Talk 9/27/07

2007-09-27T20:25:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Hosea 11.

We are sinners. We have turned from the LORD in so many ways. We worship idols, we lie, we cheat, we steal, we lust, we do everything God tells us not to do. God's wrath is gargantuan, huge, almost ALMOST big enough to take it out on us. The wall that stands between God and wiping the human race out is that God's wrath was satisfied when he sent Jesus. God says in this chapter all that we have done against us, but assures that he will not take out his wrath on us:

" 9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man—
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath. "

We need to stop how we act towards God, praise him and thank God for all that we have instead of thanking other things.

Devotion Talk 9/26/07

2007-09-26T21:34:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Hosea 2-3.

These chapters speak of how if we do not look to God in times of good and only in times of bad. We shall be punished. We will be stripped of all our good things. We will be sent away until we trust in the Lord and look in favor of him for our good fortune and not the soil or idols or family. his chapter is just mainly about that we should worship God in good and bad, which in a way can both be difficult. When you score in a soccer game, most people, most of the time run around and scream and blame it on their skill or modestly say, "My team really helped me out." What we need to say is God helped me out. God was with me. God helped me score. We also need to praise God in a loss of a life. We can't mopishly wait around till God comes to take us away. We have to praise God that the person is in a better place or that you were able to meet the person and learnt something from them.

"15 There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will sing as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt."

PS. Mopishly is a real word. Look it up on dictionary.com. It means: "To be gloomy or dejected."

Devotion Talk 9/25/07

2007-09-25T20:06:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Daniel 6.

Daniel 6 is a great story. It is similar to the one of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego. The story is of how Daniel "disobeyed" a law made buy two men that wanted to overthrow Daniel so he didn't become lord of the whole kingdom, a step up from his third he ruled at the time. Daniel heard of the law to not pray to God for thirty days. Daniel obviously wanted no part, was thrown in the lions' den, and came out unscathed. Why? He believed that God would be with him every step of the way. And he was.

We as teens when we share faith have to believe that God will be with us forever. Once we firmly believe this, we can get other people to believe it, like Daniel did. A new law was created that everyone had to pray to God and no other idol for our God is "the living God", "the one who endures forever.

"26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom
people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
"For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.

27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."

See, if we believe God is with us, we will be thrown in many dens of lions, but the mouths will always be closed, and we shall not be harmed.

Devotion Talk 9/24/07

2007-09-24T21:01:00.000-04:00

I read Daniel 5.

This chapter is a bit confusing. Especially the end. It happens that Daniel was called upon to read a message on the wall. He also shared faith to everyone in the palace. The king killed himself, whether to punish, or for fear. He handed over his empire.

" 17 Then Daniel answered the king, 'You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.' "

Verse 17 is a great way that Daniel was being alike God. He decided that he didn't need a reward for doing good. God does so many great things for us, sometimes we don't thank him. He is angry at this, but he doesn't need repayment. After all, how can we repay him for the sacrifices he made?

Devotion Talk 9/23/07

2007-09-23T20:36:00.000-04:00

I read Daniel 3 tonight.

This passage is a great example for us teens. We are going to have to go through many challenges to reach our goal, many furnaces to walk through that could eat us alive. But, in every one of those furnaces, God will be the extra figure walking in the flames.

We are going to be tempted to bow down to many idols in our quest of creating a new image of the teenager, but we have to refuse to bow down to it, because if we do, we will be the same as everyone else. We have to be willing to risk our lives like Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego to share with the world what God has done for us all.

Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego were one of the kings most favorite servants. Nebuchadnezzar was willing although to throw them in the flames, because he was so furious that they had disobeyed him. God is that way too. He gets furious when he is not obeyed. We need to be like God and Nebuchadnezzar and be focused and angry and yearning to change lives. We can't just go to Church, pray, read the Bible, and wear meaningful shirts (A Blood Donor saved my Life!). We need to do all these things and spread God's word, and share our faith, and change this world! Think of that! This movement called the Rebelution, The Outliers, and all of those other sites for Christian teens could change the way the whole world thinks. We are the future, and we need to make ourselves good so the future can be good!!!

"25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." "

God will always be with us in whatever we do, wherever we are, whenever it is.

Devotion Talk 9/22/07

2007-09-22T21:58:00.000-04:00

I read Daniel 1 tonight.

This chapter speaks about what God wants of us, in a way. He wants us to be strong, to not drink. He wants us to not take anything that God wouldn't give us. Daniel was a great example. He refused to drink the wine and to eat the royal food. Daniel also later prayed as we know, to find meanings of dreams for Nebuchadnezzar. He was then sent to the lions den and lived to share his faith with the king. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, later showed their belief in God by not worshiping the idol. After being thrown in the furnace they lived to tell the tale of God's power and love.

"11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days."

Devotion Talk 9/21/07

2007-09-21T21:30:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Ezekiel 37...

This chapter is an elaborate description of how God took us back. Ezekiel preached to our dead, unclean, unfaithful souls, and we were risen up and God forgave us because he loved us. Jesus was the one who died for when God's wrath was almost unbearable. He used prophets like Ezekiel to make us change our ways, so he could forgive us.

"7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army."

God loves us, he forgave us for our sins so long ago, and because he didn't want to destroy us, He made Jesus so he could take our sins and we would live while one would die.

The two sticks that God tells Ezekiel to use is a most likely a cross. He said to lift it up, probably so people would wonder, and ask and be saved.

"5 The word of the LORD came to me: 16 "Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.' 17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand. 18 "When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' "

Devotion Talk 9/20/07

2007-09-20T21:00:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Ezekiel 4.

This passage speaks of God's punishment to us for our sins and an example of how Jesus felt. Although Ezekiel suffered for others sins, that was just Israel and Judah's sins. Just think how much pain Jesus felt. Unbearable, Excruciating. In verse 16 & 17 it describes how we were made suffering:

" 16 He then said to me: "Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, 17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin."

We deserve to waste away because of our sin, but Jesus was sent to die for our sins because God loved us so much.

Devotion Talk 9/19/07

2007-09-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

Tonight I read Ezekiel 2-3.

These two chapters display so much of what the Rebelution and the Outsiders are about. We are here to not rub it in all the non-Christian teens faces, that we are Christian, going to heaven, and so on. We are here to spread God's word and Get Everyone to love God and to help people stray from evil, saving them and ourselves:

' "8 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for ^[a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."'

God did not create Christianity and Jesus just because he was bored. He did it so we would be blown away by his glory, and be so blown away that we just have to tell somebody else. This is what the Rebelution is about. This is what we are here to do.

Devotion Talk 9/18/07

2007-09-18T20:00:00.000-04:00

I read Ezekiel 1 tonight.

This chapter speaks of God's Glory and how he is hidden within everything and hidden by everything, for us. For if we saw his, glory, we would die. The animals with wings protect us from God's Glory. We get glimpses of this holiness everyday. Small and large, but all the holiness is nothing compared to how holy God really is.

"4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved."

Devotion Talk 9/17/07

2007-09-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Lamentations 3.

This chapter is about the pain Jesus felt, and how we deserve to feel. It is said that we face many hardships, that God helps us overcome:

"5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.

6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.

7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with chains."

It continues on about how we should trust in God and love him and he shall help us continue on:

" 25 The LORD is good to those
whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD."

Devotion Talk 9/16 Part 2

2007-09-16T20:18:00.000-04:00

Isaiah 38:

This chapter is a great chapter. In the first three verses I picked up what I believe was a pretty good metaphor:

'1 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal [a] son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, 2 "This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians [b] will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.' 3 And this is what the LORD says: 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.' " '

This in a way can tell you that if you A- obey God and follow him you shalllive or B- If you try and do wrong you shall be in hell, and if you follow the Lord, you shall live.

Devotion Talk 9/16

2007-09-16T20:07:00.000-04:00

Hey, yesterday night I wa. I' away camping. I still read Isaiah 31 I am going to do two devotions tonight. Isaiah 31:

This passage is about God's wrath again, but this one touches on the lighter side. Those who are not kiled and believe in Jesus will be forgiven:

'2 This is what the LORD says:

"The people who survive the sword

will find favor in the desert;

I will come to give rest to Israel."

3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

4 I will build you up again

and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.

Again you will take up your tambourines

and go out to dance with the joyful." '

See God loves us, that is why he sent his word through so many people that we would have to accept Jesus,r we would die, and not survive the storm.

Devotion Talk 9/15/07

2007-09-14T21:09:00.001-04:00

Tonight I read Jeremiah 15.

This chapter speaks of so many ways and reasons God can and will, in time destroy mankind. He will kill all the human race, and we shall be sent to hell. The way to get out of this mess is to believe in him, trust him, love him, and accept Jesus as our savior:

'17 I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails

19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

20 I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.'

This passage all about God's rage against everyone who has sinned against him. Despite his love for his creation, he will be filled with rage, unable to hold it any longer. He will obliterate us unless we believe in him. This is a powerful message, a good one, to tell teens to help them change.

Devotion Talk 9/14/07

2007-09-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Jeremiah 2.

This passage, a longer one of which I've had in a while, speaks about how we disobeyed God, how we turned from him, how we started to turn to idols. Some people may think that this was all back then in Moses's time. It's not. We STILL turn form him. We STILL worship idols. And we STILL disobey God. We often think that we will be fine- no worries. Wrong.

"35 'you say, "I am innocent;
he is not angry with me."
But I will pass judgment on you
because you say, "I have not sinned." ' "

See, no matter how little sins we commit, they are still sins. Saying it was just a little fib covers nothing. Anything that we do against God is sin. That means if we are not hinking about God, we sin. If we like something over God, for just a couple of seconds. IT IS SIN! The great part is: WE ARE FORGIVEN! God sent his son to die for us, so all these sins that we commit everyday are forgiven and we shall go to Heaven. This, although is not an excuse to not grieve over sin. God says above that he is angry with you because you sinned. But, God loves us, and sent Jesus to die on The Cross

Devotion Talk 9/13/07

2007-09-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night's reading was from Isaiah 55.

This passage tells of God's mercy. He tells that even if we do not have money, or have followed him earnestly, he will still give us love. It says that he will give his grace to anyone who thirsts for it, white, black, American, Canadian, Taiwanese, anybody.

" 1 'Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters' "

The passage also tells that we should live for God and not ourselves or Satan. We should not work for something that does not satisfy us. We could do work for Satan for years and years, but it will never pay off. Working for God will always beneficial. He will feed us and qill take us to heaven forever, as long as we trust and believe in him.

"9 'As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.' "

Verse 9 describes God's superiority to us. He is higher than us. Better than us! He thinks better thoughts and he does better things. Sure we do nice things every once and a while. I don't know if anyone out there has ever been in Boy Scouts. The motto is: "Do a good turn daily." This means to do something nice everyday. God does better than that. He does a good turn always. Everything he does is good. We should strive to be more like him and be joyful that even though he is superior to us, he still loves us.

Devotion Talk 9/12/07

2007-09-11T20:35:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Isaiah 53.

Jesus grew up right along God, like a "tender shoot" (V. 2). It is also described that he didn't stand out among anyone else. Why if it weren't for God to direct the sheperds and wise-men to Jesus, who would have found out. This tells that without God's help we would still be going to hell. But, since he sent angels to tell people and stars for people to follow, we were saved, because we found Jesus, in a manger in Bethlehem, next to an full inn.

Verse 3 described how we reacted to Jesus. After he was betrayed, he was hated by all.

"He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Verse five says that we should be joyful and glad that peace has been brought upon us. He died for us. "It is finished!"

"Man of sorrows what a name,
Perfect one to take my blame.
On the cross he took my sin,
By his death I live again!"

Let us be joyful! WE ARE ALIVE!

The Anniversary

2007-09-11T07:30:00.000-04:00

Today is the Anniversary of September 11th. I have a feeling that many teens who lost loved ones lives in this tragedy might relate rebellion to this. "Well God killed my Dad."

Well, like I said yesterday, we don't understand God's ways. He is incomprehensible. How can we question him. So if anyone feels this way, please think hard. Think of some way that the situation was good. When anything bad happens to you, whether a building falls on someone you know or if it snowed the day you were supposed to go on vacation. God does it all for a reason. September 11th happened to show God's glory and what he is capable of making people do. It was a way to bring people to him, to heaven, to a better place.

Devotion Talk 9/11/07

2007-09-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Isaiah 52.

This passage is about many things. It tells how we disobeyed God. It tells how we use the Lord's name in vain (v.5). We disobey him even though he always has done so many things for us. He used Moses to lead our people out of Egypt. The whole time however, we were worshiping idols and asking those statues for water and asking those statues for food. That doesn't make sense now does it? We have a living God that sent his son to save us (or in Moses's case was going to), so why do we look at these statues or animals or food as if they saved our lives? Because we don't think about God in everything we do. That's not right.

The passage is also about us being cleansed for all the sins we have made. Verse 11 says:

"11 Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing!
Come out from it and be pure,

you who carry the vessels of the LORD."

My understanding of this verse is that we are saved and need to come out of hiding from God and be cleansed, but not touch any impurities.

Devotion Talk 9/10/07

2007-09-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Isaiah 40.

This passage is another big passage that explains what we are compared to God's holiness. We are grass and flowers.(v. 6) We wither or fall over when a storm comes: A storm of temptation and sin from Satan. God although is a tall deep rooted tree (Psalm 1). We can easily be stepped on or blown over. But nothing can knock down God because he is strong.

"13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?"

God has never received advice or guidance between right and wrong. God is everlasting God was the first and only one in this universe. What right do we have questioning him and his ways. He knows everything. He hasn't missed a single moment of anything that happened on this planet! He's seen it all! He saw the Red Sox come and win the World Series in '04, and1918! He watched Christopher Columbus tug across the Atlantic Ocean to discover America. He saw dinosaurs. He created Adam and Eve! He created this world! How can we ask him questions like: "Why do you do that?" Well he could throw thousands of those questions at us a day. God does everything for a reason. We shouldn't get mad when a pet passes on. We should rejoice that it is now in a better place!

Devotion Talk 9/9/07

2007-09-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Isaiah 25.

This chapter of Isaiah says that God knows what will happen, because he is all powerful. He planned that Jesus would die on the cross for our sins when he made day and night. He knew that Adam and Eve would betray him and be cast away from Eden when he created them. Verse 1b.:

"you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago."

It also says to praise God for he knows. He brought down cities, for his glory. He is powerful! If we need protection from Satan, he is there to cover us like a blanket!:

" 4 You have been a refuge for the poor,

a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall"

God is trustworthy. He has made promises and those promises kept true. Let us praise him!

"9 In that day they will say,
'Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.' "

Devotion Talk 9/8/07

2007-09-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

Last night's passage was Isaiah 6.

I couldn't help but laugh when I saw on my list what I was scheduled to read. I have read this chapter so many times with CB Eder, Tim Shorey, and Tim Wolfe at The Gap which I talked about on September second a little bit. This chapter, is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. It explains so many things in just thirteen verses!

" 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!' "

This verse explains that we are here to serve God and to follow him and his instruction.

"5 'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.' "

Verse five shows that we should fear God and that we are puny compared to him. He has clean lips, we are "of unclean lips." This is what has to happen to us we need to realize like Isaiah did here that God is huge, holy, all powerful, and glorious. We are a microscopic little cell on this planet. We need to realize that he is holy and we are not.

"2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.' "

This is another powerful verse that is a reminder about God and how holy he is. Angels must cover their feet in his foly place, and hide their eyes! God is so holy the world is full of it. Not only the Earth, but the Solar System and the Universe! We are God's subjects let us praise him!

Devotion Talk 9/7/07

2007-09-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Song of Songs 2...

This passage is another confusing one. It seems to talk about someone we love. First ideas would most likely be a wife, girlfriend, boyfriend or husband. But, the meaning of the passage is to get us excited for an immortal lover. That is Jesus.

"8 Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills."

This I feel is a chapter to tell us that we should be excited for our coming Savior. It is a strong chapter telling us that he "is mine and I am his." This tells us that we are God's people. We are his servants and he is ours to please.

Devotion Talk 9/6/07

2007-09-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night's reading was from Ecclesiastes 3.

This chapter like all chapters in this book was different than most others in the Bible. The message however, I find is that there is a time for everything. This meaning that God plans everything to happen. This means he knows what will happen, when, where and how:

"1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build."

I feel that this chapter is a tad difficult to understand and if it isn't understood it could be misleading. By reading this we could be thinking, well I don't feel brave enough to share my faith yet, so I'll wait till the right time, and God will show me. That is not it. At least I don't think so. The confirmation comes in a round-about way in verse 14:

"I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."

This verse talks about what God does and how it endures, or never changes. So, when you think about it it says that God does things or will do things and the outcome will not change. "Nothing can be added or taken away from it."

Devotion Talk 9/5/07

2007-09-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last night's reading was from Proverbs 10...

This passage was another like last night's, with many different messages. Again, the main one was about wisdom and it's power. Verse 15 says:

"Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin."

This means that the wise, followers of God are knowledgeable and are able to stand upright, while fools who don't follow God are ruined. Another message taken from this passage which when I read Proverbs showed up a lot, is being righteous.

"25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever."

This is a message that when we follow God and don't stray from the path of righteousness we shall always stand firm when Satan tempts us. The wicked, fools will be swept away by temptation and commit sin. This is a great way to get talking to teens about peer pressure, which is Satan working through other teens to get teens to smoke, drink, etc.. This verse says that when a storm of temptation comes we will stand and the wicked fools shall fall. So let us create a shelter for the wicked. Let us spread God's word, so nobody has to be swept up by the storm.

Devotion Talk 9/4/07

2007-09-04T10:00:00.001-04:00

Last night's devotion was from Proverbs 4.

This passage as shown by the top of the screen when you loom it up on Bible Gateway is that "Wisdom is Supreme." This is a great Rebelutionary topic. In 4:4 it says:

"...keep my commands and you will live."

This phrase can relate to a rebelution in many different ways. We are commanded or at least told to not do drugs, because if we do, we'll die or never be the same again. But in a Godly way, it describes that if we read God's word and obey his commands that we will go to heaven.

This passage also describes how wisdom protects you, like in verse 6:

"Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you."

Verse 14 is a verse that tells us to avoid evil and to not become evil:

"Do not set foot in the path of the wicked; or walk in the way of evil men."

The most meaningful verse in this chapter, I think is verse 5:

"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them."

That verse just sums the whole passage up. It tells you you to receive wisdom, get wise. It tells you also not to swerve from the path of righteousness and on to the one of wrong. Get smart!

Devotion Talk 9/3/07

2007-09-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

Last night's passage way Psalm 189...

Psalm 189 is a chapter that's main meaning, in my way of seeing it, is that God has, is, and always will be with us forever. Psalm 109:4, 15-16 reads:

"4Before a word is on my tongue, You know it O Lord ... 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

This passage also refers to the fact that God is always with us, and knows what we don't want anyone to know:

"1 O LORD, you have searched me 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 know it completely, O LORD."

This is another bit of reasoning the Rebelution could use to create more believers. We could tell them according to this passage that God always knows what we are doing, thinking, and about to do, say or think. That means that somebody knows the bad things we do even when we don't want anyone to. This passage is also an encouragement to us and other teens that God is always with us, helping us.

Devotion Talk 9/2/07

2007-09-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

Last night's passage was Psalm 103...

This passage is a message to us that we are to praise the Lord with all of our hearts, and that we are loved by him even though we are nothing compared to him. I don't know if anybody reading this went to The Gap in Halifax, Penn. this summer. There Tim Wolfe, CB Eder, Tim Shorey, and Warren Boettcher spoke of what holy is. This is kind of an after post of last night. I discussed how we misuse different words from the Bible. Well, CB was great. He spoke one afternoon about planting our roots, as if we were trees into God's word. He said to plant them deep and praise him with all your heart.

"Plant them near a stream of knowledge so that you will also grow wise in the Lord"
CB Eder

CB also spoke of how small we are in God's eyes, that God is holy and huge, and omnipresent, everywhere, aware of everything. Psalm 103:1 says:

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name."

This means that we should praise the Lord with all our soul, let nothing come before him because he is holy, our creator, and the only one worthy of praise.

Bible Gateway

2007-09-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

Hey. At the bottom of the page, I added a Bible Gateway Toolbar. You just type in the verse or chapter or phrase or word in and hit the "Search BibleGateway.com" button.

Steve Fee

2007-09-01T11:01:00.001-04:00

Hey guys check out the new Steve Fee You-Tube videos on the bottom of the sidebar.

Devotion Talk 9/1/07

2007-09-01T10:51:00.000-04:00

Last night I read Psalm 84...

One verse really stuck out to me, that would be Psalm 84:10 a. It reads:

"Better is one day in your courts, than a thousand in any other."

We appreciate Earthly things more than Godly things. This verse describes this as wrong.This also screamed out at me about how teens use worlds like holy, heavenly, glorious, etc. in inappropriate and wrong ways. The only being that is holy as shown in Isaiah 6 (look it up- you can use the bible gateway search bar at end of page.) is God. Isaiah screams out, "Woe to me!" What does that mean? Isaiah was realizing for the first time that God was holy and different than him. God is holy. Cows aren't holy. Crows aren't holy! Why do we say it? I just pray that we can reach out to others and talk to them about misuse of words. I pray for us too, even though Christians, we are not perfect. The only perfect human ever to walk on the face of the Earth was Jesus!!!

Welcome

2007-09-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to The Outliers. I created this site after I read the article in World magazine about the teens blogging about their faith, such as Brett and Alex Harris, and Jonathan McCarthy. I really hope that we can reach out to the teens in our generation out there. We are different. We are the outliers.