How to Talk To Unbelievers About Controversial Issues

In the United States today, Christianity is going down the drain. 

We are called to speak the truth, yet Christians are being attacked for our stances on every issue from homosexuality to modesty to abortion. People are less and less accepting of believers. 

How do you speak the truth to someone who wants nothing to do with the truth? 

Witness Priorities 

If you try to defend your views to an unbeliever, what reason do they have to listen to you? How do you use the argument "the Bible says it's wrong" when they don't believe the Bible? 

As Christians, our priorities are in the wrong place. We are focusing on the wrong thing. While it's important to proclaim the truth about all aspects of Christianity, you're wasting your time if you try to convince unbelievers that something is wrong using the Bible. 

So, how can you go about talking to an unbeliever about something controversial like this? If you have a friend or family member that's involved in homosexuality or something else, how do you approach them about it?

Pray for Them
Pray for them. This is absolutely the most important thing. Only God can change a heart; you can play a part in that, but God is ultimately the one who will need to work in them.

So pray for them. Pray for them everyday. Pray for them hard. Never underestimate the power of prayer.

Show Love 
The first thing you need to do is show them that you care about them. Be loving and kind. Build a relationship with the unbelievers around you so that they will be able to listen to the hard things you have to say. 

If you don't have a relationship with the person first, they won't accept that you are trying to help them with what you are saying. 

• Take your time. This shouldn't be a rushed process.
• Get to know them. Focus on learning more about them in conversations so you understand where they're coming from and how you can best approach them with the gospel. 
• Invest time and energy in them. Go places and do things with them. Remember their birthday. Text or email them occasionally when you haven't seen them in a while. Show them you care about them and their well-being. 

Set a Good Example 
This can happen at the same time as the first step. Set a good example to them. Don't conceal your faith from them; openly model what the Christian life looks like. If they see that it is something you actually believe and live out, they will be more likely to listen to what you say. 

Preach the Gospel First 
The first thing you need to focus on when talking to an unbeliever is the gospel. Don't jump straight into the controversial stuff. If they don't believe the gospel, they have no reason to believe anything else you talk about. The way to approach them first is with the gospel message. 

Once they believe the Bible is true, it will become ten times easier to approach them about the controversial issues of our day and age. If you put in the time and effort to find verses that apply to whatever issue you need to talk to them about, someone who truly believes the Bible will not be unresponsive to that.

So stop with the hate-messages and the angry defensiveness. Show love and preach the gospel before confronting someone about sin in their life.

This world needs truth. It needs love. Most of all, it needs Christ. Stop hating, start loving, and preach the gospel with boldness.

Have you ever had to talk to an unbeliever about your counter-cultural opinions? How can you use these steps the next time you're in that situation? Tell me in the comments! 

Dear Future Husband

*This post was inspired by Amanda's post at her blog, Scattered Journal Pages. 

Dear Future Husband,

Here's a few things you'll need to know if you wanna be my one and only all my life...

I want you to know that I pray for you every day, that you will grow more and more in your walk of faith. 

'Cause if you treat me right, I'll be the perfect wife...

I am striving every day to become the kind of woman you're looking for and praying that I will be able to love you with a selfless, self-sacrificing love. 

...You got that 9 to 5, but baby, so do I, so don't be thinking I'll be home and baking apple pies, I never learned to cook...

I know that raising a family and taking care of a home is the most important calling I have in life, and am learning the skills I need now to be a blessing to you. 

...You gotta know how to treat me like a lady, even when I'm acting crazy...

I will always try to act like a lady and make you proud to treat me like one. 

...After every fight, just apologize...even if I was wrong. You know I'm never wrong, why disagree?...

I know that we're both human and there will be disagreements. I pray that we will both be able to admit when we are wrong and that we will never let fighting come between us.

...future husband, better love me right.

I pray that I will be able to love you selflessly and fully, and that we will always put God first.

Love,

Grace

*The italicized portions of this post came from Meghan Trainor's song, "Dear Future Husband". 

Sermon Recap: Fellowship (1 John 1)

Disclaimer: Remember that while these are for the most part my own words, the ideas are the pastor's, not mine.

We hear all the time about Christianity being a relationship with God, fellowship with God, knowing God. Have you ever wondered how you know if you are actually in a relationship with God? What does it look like? And what is the purpose, anyway?

I. The Reality and Possibility of Fellowship
Fellowship is a shared relationship. We share our faith, authenticity, and friendship with those we have fellowship with. A Christian's highest joy is sharing in fellowship with God and others.

1 John 1:3b says, "...and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."

Notice the tense there. John is writing in the present tense. Even though Christ has ascended into heaven, the relationship continues. Christians now, even though we have never seen Jesus in person, can still have the kind of relationship with Him that the disciples had! Isn't that amazing?

Sharing fellowship with God naturally leaves to fellowship with other Christians. It's a triangle: I with God, you with God, leads to you and I together.

The life-giving fellowship we often can have with other believers is a little taste of heaven. Maybe you've experienced this; maybe you haven't had fellowship like this. How can we improve our fellowship and make it the joyful life-giving interaction it should be?

II. Tests of Fellowship...
...with God:

• If we are living in disobedience, we are in darkness. We are only in fellowship with God if we are walking in light and obedience (see 1 John 1:5-7).
• We must be open to God about our sins to have true fellowship with Him. We must confess our sins to Him, not deny them, grieve over them, and ask God for purification and power over them.

...with other Christians:

• To have fellowship with other Christians, we must pursue intimacy and transparency, intentionally walking with others and making ourselves known to them.
• We must be humble and not deny our sins, willing to receive help from others and not too proud. True friendship includes both giving and receiving.

III. Practices of Fellowship...
...with God:

• Pay attention to God as he reveals Himself in the Word; read the Bible regularly and respond in prayer.
• Confess your specific sins to Him regularly, not just the general fact that you are a sinner.
• Trust Him to forgive your sins and wash you clean. Not trusting this, thinking you are just too bad to be saved, is a form of unbelief.

...with other Christians:

• Share our beliefs together. As Christians we have shared lives; we should encourage one another in our beliefs in church and in small groups.
• Be accountable to each other. Get close enough to each other to be comfortable confessing sins and seeking help.
• Be willing to forgive when sins are committed against us.

This kind of joyful fellowship is not easy! It takes time, commitment, and effort to have fellowship with others. But it is worth it; joy is the lasting fruit of this life-giving fellowship with God and one another.

Sermon Recap: Supernatural Good (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

This is a new thing I'm starting on the blog: each Monday I will post a summary of the sermon my pastor preached the previous Sunday. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Remember that, while the article is for the most part in my own words, the ideas are my pastor's, not mine.

In the past, it was common for a man who felt that he had been wronged to challenge the one who offended him to a duel. This was considered a good thing, to avenge yourself and reclaim your honor.

Often, even now we feel that we have to get revenge on those who do something that hurts or offends us. We want to repay harm for harm, feeling that it is our right. But is this Biblical?

1 Thessalonians 5:15 says, "See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone."

That doesn't seem to give many grounds for revenge. Our response to others should not be determined by what has been done to us, but what God calls us to do. We are called to be a source of supernatural good to the world.

Do Not Repay Evil for Evil...
Our natural instinct as fallen creatures is to want revenge. We feel that we are justified to cause harm to someone else if they have caused harm to us first. Because this is such a human tendency, it has become looked on as culturally acceptable to seek revenge.

This is even looked on as a good and honorable thing, as shown in the example of dueling. It is expected, even socially required of us to vindicate ourselves if we are criticized or offended in any way.

...Seek to Do Good
However, we as Christians are called to seek to do good in our lives. This does not mean that we ignore evil, but rather that we hate it and take care not to fall into it ourselves.

The ultimate example of good is the Lord himself. He has revealed to us in His Word what this supernatural good looks like; we can read the Word to learn more about His goodness.

Our Witness to the World
This goodness comes from the heart through the power of the Spirit. As we learn more about God, we become more like Him. The Holy Spirit works in us to make us love good and want to see it in the world.

This is how we can glorify God before unbelievers; often, this simple kindness is a better witness than telling someone the gospel directly. Through this we can show God's love.

Application Points

• This goodness begins in the heart. If you allow revengeful, resentful thoughts in your heart, you will not be able to outwardly restrain yourself forever.
• In order to have our hearts changed, we have to pray that God would teach us His goodness, and strive to learn more of Him through His Word.
• Whenever you come in contact with a person, get in the habit of asking, "What good can I do for this person?"
• Remember that your efforts may not always be appreciated; that shouldn't stop us, and that doesn't mean that God is not glorified.

What Do You Think?

• Can you think of a time when you have sought revenge in your life? How might the situation have turned out differently if you had repayed evil with good?
• How can you do good to others in the week to come?

"I'm Not a Handicap."

"I'm not handicapped. I don't need you to push the button for me."

Those were the words I overheard as I packed up my backpack after school. And they got me thinking. Because those words basically translate to, "If I can do something myself, I don't want help with it."

That mindset is stopping any desire to serve others in its tracks. And that isn't a good thing.

Called to Serve
As Christians, we are called to serve others. Jesus showed this clearly when he talked about the two greatest commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39, boldface added).

God clearly doesn't appreciate selfishness; he wants us to show love and kindness through serving others around us. This can take many different forms; the important thing is that we as Christians are striving to serve the people around us in any way that helps them.

"I Don't Need Help."
But sometimes, our efforts to be of service to others are met with the words, "That's okay. I can do it myself." People feel that we are implying that they are weak or incompetent if we offer to do something for them.

This is not true! Offering to do an act of service to someone else is not implying that they can't do it themselves. It's simply saying, "I care about you, and I want to show you that by doing this for you."

I think this mindset is a huge factor in the death of such values as chivalry, selflessness, and consideration for others. Because when you try to do something nice for someone and they respond with, "Thanks, but no thanks," that doesn't exactly inspire you to keep trying, does it?

Our Double Responsibility
So, as Christians, we have two responsibilities:

1) to actively look for ways to serve those around us, and

2) to accept the service of others when they try to do something for us.

We have to be willing to let others help us if they offer! Don't discourage their efforts by responding with, "Thanks, but I can do it."

So remember that just as you are called to serve others, you are called to let others serve you. Don't jump to conclusions about their motivations, assuming that they don't think you are capable of doing it, but rather assume that they simply want to show you that they care through their actions.

What do you think?

• Have you had an experience where someone didn't accept your act of service? How did it make you feel?
• How do you respond when people try to serve you in some way?
• How can you do better, both looking to serve others and allowing others to serve you?

Set an Example in Love

Everyone has a tendency to judge other people. We judge what they wear, what they do, what they say, and generally what their life looks like.

I feel like this is especially evident among Christian communities. Everyone has certain convictions about what they feel a Christian should live like; it can be different, and sometimes we look down on others when we do not agree with how they are living their lives in Christ.

But it is made very clear in the Bible that this is not how we are to act! In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul tells us that even as young people we are to set an example in the way we speak, the way we act, and, today's point, the way we love others.

Judgment and "Taking the Log Out of Your Own Eye"
"Judge not, that you be not judged...Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye...first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

We are always judging others, whether we realize it or not. We look at others and think, "Wow, that top is really immodest", "Why is she cursing like that?" or "I'm so glad I'm a Christian and not like that."

In Matthew 7, Jesus says that we should be more focused on judging ourselves than others. Just because you are a Christian doesn't automatically make you perfect; only if we are perfect ourselves should we be judging others (that means none of us should judge others, because I'm pretty sure none of us are perfect!).

Everyone has different sins that they struggle with; just because some people's sins are more visible than others doesn't make them "worse Christians" or something like that.

Acceptance vs. Approval
That's not to say that we need to agree with everything others are doing. Sometimes, people are sinning so obviously that it's hard to ignore. But acceptance and approval are two different things: let's look at what those two things mean.

Acceptance: to be willing to interact with and/or tolerate others, even if they are difficult.
Approval: agreeing to something.

You don't have to approve of everything someone does to show them love and kindness. You can accept them anyway, even if they may be difficult or hard to be around.

Christ Loved Us; Now Show His Love to Others
The ultimate reason that we should show love to others is because of the amazing love Christ showed us on the cross. We are now called to share that love with others; how are they going to believe that God is loving if they see His followers being disrespectful, mean, and unkind?

We are God's lights in the world; we reflect His being, and our reputation forms other peoples' impressions of Him. Give them something wonderful to see!

What do you think? Do you agree with my points? How can you show love to others in your everyday environment?

Set an Example In Speech

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

This is one of my favorite verses, and I think it's very important. So important, in fact, that it was the first thing I posted on! So important that now it's time for a new series!

In this series I will be breaking down each element that we are to set an example in: speech, actions, love, faith, and purity. Today we will be looking at the first one: speech.

Guidelines for Speaking in a God-Honoring Way

1. Don't curse or use crude language that isn't quite cursing, but close. Find exclamations that you can use instead and make an effort to stop using bad words (and not necessarily just the ones society marks as 'bad') altogether.
2. Don't be a chatterbox. Think before you speak, and be willing to listen to others rather than talk all the time just for the sake of talking. Make sure what you say is necessary or will benefit others in some way.
3. Don't say things that are teasing, deriding, or mean. Make sure that your words will build others up instead of tearing them down.
4. When speaking to those older than you, be sure that you show them respect and courtesy.

Just a few tips for speaking in a way that will set a good example to those around you!

What do you think? Do you like this series idea? Do you have any tips to add to the above list?

P.S. You can read my original post on this verse here.

The Church: People or Place?

My church doesn't have pews with velvet cushions, an organ, a choir, or even an acoustic piano. We meet in a bingo hall set up with folding chairs, a portable stage, and blue curtains that are taken down each Sunday night. Our piano is an electric piano, and there are exactly two small rooms to use for Sunday School.

Maybe you do have a fancy building to meet in for worship. Or maybe your church is like mine and meets in a makeshift location, like a school gym. Maybe it frustrates you sometimes; maybe you wish that your church could be more like a "real" church.

But what exactly makes a church "real"?

Church: Building or Body?
The word "church" doesn't actually refer to the physical building. It refers to the group of people that meet inside that building to worship.

If you think about that, it makes total sense. A church could meet outside in a park and it would still be a "real" church. The people, not the building, make the church what it is.

So it doesn't matter if you meet in a cathedral, bingo hall, or even a movie theater (no, I'm not joking, I know someone whose church actually does meet in a movie theater!). All that makes a church real is a group of people who love the Lord coming together to worship Him.

A Body with Many Parts and Purposes
One of the most well-known Bible passages about the church is 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. It says this:

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...For the body does not consist of one member but of many...If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (verses 12-27)

When you look around your church, you probably see many different people in different stages of life and faith. And that's okay! God made us all different, with different gifts and talents.

What 1 Corinthians is saying is that all of us are individuals, but as part of a church we are also part of one whole. We all have different roles in the church, and together we are what keeps it going, just like hands, eyes, and feet all have different roles to play in your physical body.

Stay Together in Faith
Differences are good, but they should never drive us apart within the church. After all, the group of people inside the building worshiping together and encouraging each other is what gives the church life.

What do you think? Does your church meet in an actual church building or a makeshift space? Do you think your church is unified in one whole? What do you think your role is within your church community?

P.S. Check out this related post: Why Go to Church?

Should Christian Teens Date?

This is a question that will almost inevitably come up in your high school years, and that is especially relevant around Valentine's Day: should you, as a Christian, date in high school?

This is not an easy yes-or-no question, and there are a lot of grey areas. For this reason, I don't want to give a definite answer, but just outline some of the pros and cons to help you decide for yourself.

Pros

• It is fun and helps you feel as though you 'fit in' and are getting a 'normal teen experience'
• It gives you experience with a romantic relationship that you can then carry with you into the real world
• If your boyfriend or girlfriend is a Christian, it gives you someone to encourage you in your faith and keep you accountable (although friends work just as well!)

Cons

• If your boyfriend or girlfriend is not a Christian, there can be pressure to relax your moral beliefs and standards
• It is entirely possible to go too far with the physical side of the relationship
• You will most likely experience a painful breakup at some point

So, how can you decide what is best for you? If you do date, set standards from the beginning. Let the person you are dating know your religious beliefs and what is okay/not okay with you and your parents. If possible, date a Christian with a similar moral compass, and don't be afraid to end a relationship if things seem to be going too far. 

It's really just a matter of listening to God's voice in your life. If it seems like he sends just the right person at just the right time, it might be a signal that dating is okay for you right now. If, on the other hand, a relationship ends or a door closes suddenly, it could be a sign that you need to take a step back for the time being.

And remember, you don't need a boyfriend or girlfriend to feel 'complete' and you shouldn't feel worthless if you don't have one. Ultimately, the only one who can make you complete is God. If you feel that the person you're dating is beginning to take His place, it's probably time to stop. 

What do you think? Do you date? What are your opinions on the matter? Can you think of any more pros/cons to dating in high school? 

Patience Is...

Happy February to everyone! It's so hard to believe that January is gone and February is just beginning!  I have lots of great things planned for February, including some posts centered around the upcoming holiday: Valentine's Day.

Today, I want to talk about a character trait that many of us often find ourselves lacking in: patience. Patience can mean many different things. It can mean being patient with the actions of another person or being patient while waiting for an event or special time to come. And it is often very hard.

What the Bible Says About Patience

"Love is patient and kind..." 1 Corinthians 13:4

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." Galatians 5:22

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love..." Ephesians 4:1-2

"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains." James 5:7

Patience Is...

• A sign of love toward others
• A fruit of the Spirit
• Worthy of our calling
• Necessary in our walk of faith

Show the World

When we show patience to others, we show that we love them and care about them. We also provide a witness to the world through our love: patience and love are both listed as fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. 

If people see you showing this kind of patience and kindness to those around you, they will wonder why you are different. It could open up an opportunity for you to share the gospel!

Wait on God

Patience is also necessary in our personal walk of faith, because as a Christian, you are waiting for Christ's return. We don't know when it is, but we have to continue hoping and believing in it, and waiting for it with patience. We know that it is worth the wait! 

What do you think? Is patience something you struggle with? Do you like the verses I chose? Are there others you like that are related to this topic? Leave me a comment! 

A Story of Jekyll and Hyde

It's the classic story of a dual personality: Dr. Jekyll is a respectable man by day, but at night he becomes Mr. Hyde, the evil murderer.

Most of us are familiar with this story. But have you ever thought about whether you might have your very own dual personality story going on in your own life?

Many of us have two ways of acting: how we act with our friends vs. how we act with our family. How we act at church vs. how we act at school. And the list goes on.

But it shouldn't be this way! We should act the same everywhere, no matter who we are with. Here's how to fix this:

• Examine your own life. Do you act the same way everywhere? Or do you play the pious churchgoer with people from church and the cool rebellious kid with people from school? Are you super sweet to your friends while being a brat at home?
• Pay attention to how you act for several days and start making an effort to act in a God-honoring way everywhere. Of course, some things will differ based on who you are with (like how formally you speak), but your essential personality should be the same everywhere you go.

What do you think? Is this a problem for you? Have you ever thought about it this way before? How will you make an effort to change it? 

The Only Kind of Public Image You Should Care About

The population of the world is about 7, 217, 048, 650 and growing every second! (http://www.census.gov/popclock/) And guess what else? Every single one of these people is made in the image of God.

Is that amazing or what? If you need proof, it's right there in Genesis 1.

Even Distorted, a Mirror Still Reflects! 
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:26-27)

True, after the Fall the image became distorted and ruined. I have heard it compared to looking in a broken mirror. But a reflection in a broken mirror is still a reflection!

So think about this the next time you are tempted to criticize or degrade someone else, whether silently or out loud: that person is made in God's image, and they are just as precious to Him as you are. Isn't that enough reason to show them God's love?

What do you think? Is this mind-blowing or what? Will you remember these truths the next time you are tempted to be mean to someone who is different from you? Share your thoughts below!

Lights of the World (Matthew 5:16)

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

-Matthew 5:16

People judge other people. That's just the way we are naturally in our sinful nature. We are prone to make split-second judgments based on what people look like, what they are wearing, or who they hang out with, often putting people into stereotypical categories after we observe them for about fifteen seconds.

So, how do you come across to other people? 
Do you seem like another typical teen giggling with their friends or constantly on your phone, nothing special, nothing that will get a second glance? Many people would feel that this is a successful image. But that is not the mindset you should have!

When people look at you, you want there to be something different, something that will make them take a second glance. You want to live in a way that honors God all the time. Your faith should be written on your face as you go about your daily life.

For example, I tend to have a reputation among my friends and teachers at school for being someone who is good at everything, works hard, and gets good grades. Why? I believe firmly in Colossians 3:23, which says "Whatever you do, work heartily, as to the Lord and not to men". I work hard and try to do my best in everything.

And people notice, whether you think they do or not. You don't know who may be looking at the moment, who may influenced by your good works. The other day I saw a boy from my school  giving a bag of groceries to a homeless man standing with his family in a parking lot. I had seen this boy at school every day and never really given him a second thought until I saw this. He probably didn't know that I noticed; I was in a car at the time. But I did, and who knows who else was watching and how that may have impacted their life?

You can't know if someone is watching, so always act like they are! You can never know how your actions will witness to someone else!

What do you think? Do you like this verse? What are some of your favorite verses you would like to see featured here?

I Wish I Had Their...

When was the last time you found yourself watching someone else, thinking I wish I had their hair/skin/fashion sense/grades/sportiness/etc.? 

I think teenagers especially especially are prone to be watching everyone around them, looking for ways the other people are better than them. But this is harmful and self-destructive. It leads to insecurity and self-hate.

As Christians you also have another reason not to compare yourself to other people: God made you fearfully and wonderfully, exactly how he wanted you to be. You don't ever need to be anything other than what he made you. 

So make an effort to stop comparing yourself to others. Complimenting others is fine, as long as you can try to curtail the feelings of jealousy that go along with it. Keep reminding yourself that the way you are is how God made you.

You are his perfect and wonderful creation. Remember that today!

What do you think? Do you struggle with insecurity? How can you try to stop comparing yourself to other people? 

It's All About Me, So Stop Being Selfish

Why is it that our culture promotes such a "me-first" image, and yet there are countless hero movies beloved by all that focus on the beauty of being selfless and serving others? Heroes like Captain America are praised and held up to us as examples of what we should be, and yet we are taught to value ourselves, our stuff, and our time above all things. It's as though we believe that everyone should be selfless except us.

Remember the Greatest Commandment? It says to love God above all things, and love others second. There's nothing in there about loving yourself first, above all things. We are so prone to lose sight of this and think that everything should be all about us.

What does the Bible say about selflessness?

• Philippians 2:3-4-"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." 
• Galatians 5:14-"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

It doesn't get much more straightforward than that! Think about it: if everyone loved their friends and neighbors as much as we usually love ourselves, that would be a whole lot of love! 

This could mean letting your sister have the better seat in the car or when you're watching a movie. It could mean giving free babysitting to a woman in your church who needs help, or helping your mom with extra chores you don't usually do. 

There are tons of little ways to bring selflessness into your daily life, if you actively look for them!

What do you think? Is this a problem you have noticed with our culture? Can you suggest ways to show selflessness to those around you? Are there other Bible verses on this topic you would like to share?

"For every minute you are angry..." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson (American poet, 1803-1882)

To Think About:

• Anger is self-destructive as well as destructive of others.
• Happiness is essential to our lives as people. Anger takes away from that happiness.
• Often our anger can be controlled more than we realize. Your mindset can make or break whether or not you have a good day.

What do you think? Do you like this quote? Do you have any favorite quotes you would like to see featured here?

5 Tips for Witnessing to Non-Christian Friends

If you go to public school or do activities somewhere that is not church-related, chances are that you will have friends whose religious beliefs do not align with yours. These friends might curse frequently in conversation or dress in a way that you find inappropriate, or there might just be an underlying feel of hostility toward all religion or a particular religion.

What do you do if you have friends like this? It can hurt to see people you care about living a life that will lead to destruction. You want to help them, but you also don't want to offend them.

• Be yourself. Don't hide your faith from them; if they don't accept it as part of you, they are not true friends. If you find yourself trying to act 'cool' and hide your true self around them, leave the friendship. Most people are, in fact, very accepting of different religions from their own.
• Stick to your values. This goes along with the first one: don't let them convince you of a different opinion on something, whether big or small, if you know you are in the right. Stick to what you believe.
• Don't force your faith on them. Don't spend every spare minute trying to convince them of the truth of Christianity. While it is important to bear witness to non-Christians in your life, don't be obsessive and constantly try to force them to believe what you believe.
• When the time is right, speak up. If you see an opportunity to discuss what you believe, seize it! Approach the subject with them gently, but with conviction, and try to explain to them simply what it means to be a Christian.
• Let God work! Don't obsess over converting them. The truth is, you can talk as much as you want, but God is the only one who can change hearts. He uses people as his instruments, but you ultimately cannot decide what your friend will believe.

What do you think? Do you have friends like this? Have you ever tried to share the gospel with them, and how did you approach it? 

"If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word..." -anonymous

"If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word you ever spoke and collect five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?"

-Anonymous


To Think About:

• This quote really makes us stop in our tracks and consider the way we speak to others.
• How can you change the way you speak to others to become rich rather than poor?
• This week, try to say something kind to someone every day.

What do you think? Does this quote speak to you like it does to me? Do you have a favorite quote you want to see featured here?