Today we went to the department of home land security and John was sworn in as a US citizen. While this is exciting to many, he doesn't seem to really be excite about too many things- including this. Maybe he doesn't fully comprehend what went on, maybe he just doesn't care too much about it and maybe he doesn't realize all the implications right now. Maybe I can draw a parallel with some other things.
We, those born in America, often take our own citizenship for granted. Who will defend America's borders? Who will speak up when everyone else is against us? Who will fight for religious freedoms when it is not popular? Who will stand up against killing unborn children when many look the other way? US citizens. You and I are supposed to do the work. With citizenship come privilege and responsibility; they go hand in hand.
Though John doesn't really understand the impact of his new earthly citizenship many of us are in a similar situation when it comes to our Heavenly citizenship. We quickly adopt the language and mannerisms of those who call themselves Christians but lack the commitment to carry out the responsibilities.
When it comes to the defense of our faith, who will be those who are the soldiers? Who will be the ones to speak out against sin, even when it is not politically correct? Who will defend the fatherless and widows? Who will raise the next generation to do the same? We want the comforts of "fire insurance" but leave the responsibilities to others. We want the promises of Scripture without the persecution.
Are we the ones who dole out Truth without love? Are we ready to fight the sin but love the sinner? Are we ready to contend for the faith without being contentious?
The saying goes that "You can tell the success of a nation by the amount of people who are trying to get in and by the effort of those who are trying to leave". The US has no earthly equal when it comes to people trying to get in. The Kingdom of Heaven has no equal when it comes to the forces of evil trying to keep people out. Satan has a master plan for border patrol and it includes many good things and many evil, but as citizens of Heaven we must be convinced and convincing in our love for our true Home.
How are we doing in our promotion of our Homeland? Are people convinced of the value Heaven by how excited we are to be citizens? Or do we just love the privileges and not take the responsibilities seriously?
5/14/10
Exciting News
I'm going to post this on both blogs, since it has to do with both.
This afternoon John and I went to watch Garrett compete in districts in track; yesterday was his district golf day. On the way home I decided to ask John some questions.
He had told me that he got a 97% on his last Bible test and so I would like to know where he is coming from.
Q#1- Do you think the Bible is true? A#1- Yes.
Q#2- How do you know? A#2- Because God wrote it. I like that answer.
We talked about Heaven and Hell and what would happen if he died tonight on the way home, about having to be perfect to get into Heaven, that there is only one perfect person, and he said it is Jesus- who is God- I think the Trinity is a bit hard for him to fully grasp right now, but I guess that is kind of the case with us all. I asked him what Heaven is like and he didn;t really know much about that or anything about Hell. I explained bodies that doesn't die and living either in eternal pain of no pain and he certainly seems to understand all that. I asked him again what would happen if he dies tonight and he said he would go to Hell.
Then I asked him if he wanted to change that and he said "yes". I tried to take it away a bit and told him he needed to come home and talk to Teresa about what he was thinking about doing. He really seems to know what I said and of his need of a Savior. We talked about praying to ask Jesus into his heart, how Jesus could make his heart clean and how being a Christian means you read your Bible and obey it as the Holy Spirit works in each one of us to make us love him more. I think he gets it.
we prayed together and he asked Jesus to come into his heart and make his heart clean and to help him obey. He thanks God for his new family and he is a new person- as easy as that. I then asked him if he dies today what would happen. He said he would go to hell because he is not perfect. It's hard to imagine that the redemptive work of Christ can take place in 1 minute and w/o a bunch of work, but that is God's plan- how awesome is that?!!!
God is so kind to us. He brought us a new son, and then as you all prayed for him He answered those prayers. What an awesome day!!!
This afternoon John and I went to watch Garrett compete in districts in track; yesterday was his district golf day. On the way home I decided to ask John some questions.
He had told me that he got a 97% on his last Bible test and so I would like to know where he is coming from.
Q#1- Do you think the Bible is true? A#1- Yes.
Q#2- How do you know? A#2- Because God wrote it. I like that answer.
We talked about Heaven and Hell and what would happen if he died tonight on the way home, about having to be perfect to get into Heaven, that there is only one perfect person, and he said it is Jesus- who is God- I think the Trinity is a bit hard for him to fully grasp right now, but I guess that is kind of the case with us all. I asked him what Heaven is like and he didn;t really know much about that or anything about Hell. I explained bodies that doesn't die and living either in eternal pain of no pain and he certainly seems to understand all that. I asked him again what would happen if he dies tonight and he said he would go to Hell.
Then I asked him if he wanted to change that and he said "yes". I tried to take it away a bit and told him he needed to come home and talk to Teresa about what he was thinking about doing. He really seems to know what I said and of his need of a Savior. We talked about praying to ask Jesus into his heart, how Jesus could make his heart clean and how being a Christian means you read your Bible and obey it as the Holy Spirit works in each one of us to make us love him more. I think he gets it.
we prayed together and he asked Jesus to come into his heart and make his heart clean and to help him obey. He thanks God for his new family and he is a new person- as easy as that. I then asked him if he dies today what would happen. He said he would go to hell because he is not perfect. It's hard to imagine that the redemptive work of Christ can take place in 1 minute and w/o a bunch of work, but that is God's plan- how awesome is that?!!!
God is so kind to us. He brought us a new son, and then as you all prayed for him He answered those prayers. What an awesome day!!!
5/6/10
How's John Doing?
John is preparing for the Jr. High Fair- meaning he is making a story board about himself and I think he is getting excited about displaying it.
Last night I asked the math teacher after our youth ministry how my math students were doing; Garrett and John. He started with John and said that there is an ACSI-Association of Christian Schools- math league test that apparently the 9th grade math class has just taken. I am not sure who else has to take it. In a 5 state area John got 2nd and one of the other kids form Grace Academy took 3rd. All the Christian schools in 5 states and John got 2nd. His math teacher said he thinks he would have done better if he could understand English better- only one place for sure. That is pretty exciting.
Since John doesn't read the blogs I'll give you some more. One of the parents of one of his classmates was standing there, to hear all of that inter change. He said that his son is in the 8th grade and that he really thinks John is a good guy. The dad said he was not sure why his son liked John so much and I said it was because he is really nice, he works hard and he is just full of life; and it doesn't hurt that he is a cute little Chinese kid. He truly is a sweet guy.
Kimmy went to So. Cal. yesterday to watch Ian graduate from the Master's College. When she told John that she was going to be gone until Tuesday he said "NOOOOOO". He really likes having her around. He is going to cry when she moves to NC.
Oh, the math teacher said that big brother Garrett is also doing amazing, he catches on to calculus very quickly and is able to help others as well. 2 math brains to add to the biggest brother's math brain. I have a whole house full of math men- except me. It's fun to have really smart boys who are nice too.
Are you coming to the fund raiser on the 15th? It's gonna be fun!!
Last night I asked the math teacher after our youth ministry how my math students were doing; Garrett and John. He started with John and said that there is an ACSI-Association of Christian Schools- math league test that apparently the 9th grade math class has just taken. I am not sure who else has to take it. In a 5 state area John got 2nd and one of the other kids form Grace Academy took 3rd. All the Christian schools in 5 states and John got 2nd. His math teacher said he thinks he would have done better if he could understand English better- only one place for sure. That is pretty exciting.
Since John doesn't read the blogs I'll give you some more. One of the parents of one of his classmates was standing there, to hear all of that inter change. He said that his son is in the 8th grade and that he really thinks John is a good guy. The dad said he was not sure why his son liked John so much and I said it was because he is really nice, he works hard and he is just full of life; and it doesn't hurt that he is a cute little Chinese kid. He truly is a sweet guy.
Kimmy went to So. Cal. yesterday to watch Ian graduate from the Master's College. When she told John that she was going to be gone until Tuesday he said "NOOOOOO". He really likes having her around. He is going to cry when she moves to NC.
Oh, the math teacher said that big brother Garrett is also doing amazing, he catches on to calculus very quickly and is able to help others as well. 2 math brains to add to the biggest brother's math brain. I have a whole house full of math men- except me. It's fun to have really smart boys who are nice too.
Are you coming to the fund raiser on the 15th? It's gonna be fun!!
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