GOD's miracle

A FATHER'S PROMISE Submitted 18 June 1998 by Debra <QEagle@aol.com> as a Father's Day offering
In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes.In the midst of utter devastation and chaos, a father left his wife securely at home and rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake. After the traumatic initial shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: "No matter what, I'll always be there for you!" And tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of debris that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his commitment to his son. He began to concentrate on where he walked his son to class at school each morning. Remembering his son's classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging through the rubble. As he was digging, other forlorn parents arrived, clutching their hearts, saying: "My son!" "My daughter!" Other well meaning parents tried to pull him off of what was left of the school saying: "It's too late!""They're dead!""You can't help!""Go home!""Come on, face reality, there's nothing you can do!""You're just going to make things worse!" To each parent he responded with one line: "Are you going to help me now?" And then he proceeded to dig for his son, stone by stone. The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off of the school's debris, saying, "Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere. You're in danger. We'll take care of it. Go home." To which this loving, caring Armenian father asked, "Are you going to help me now?" The police came and said, "You're angry, distraught and it's over. You're endangering others. Go home. We'll handle it!" To which he replied, "Are you going to help me now?" No one helped. Courageously he proceeded alone because he needed to know for himself: "Is my boy alive or is he dead?" He dug for eight hours . . . 12 hours . . . 24 hours ... 36 hours . . . then, in the 38th hour, he pulled back a boulder and heard his son's voice. He screamed his son's name, "ARMAND!" He heard back, "Dad!?! It's me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told 'em that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You promised, 'No matter what, I'll always be there for you!' You did it, Dad! . . . " "What's going on in there? How is it?" the father asked. There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. We're scared, hungry, thirsty and thankful you're here. When the building collapsed, it made a wedge, like a triangle, and it saved us." "Come on out, boy!" "No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, 'cause I know you'll get me! No matter what, I know you'll be there for me!""Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."-Deuteronomy 31:5

Finding inner peace: In uncertain times, how can you have peace of mind rather than worry and anxiety?

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No matter what happens in the world or in our own individual lives, is there a place to turn for stability? Can we look toward the future with hope, regardless of life's and the world's circumstances? These days many students are seeing the value of God as their constant. The world around us is ever-changing, but God does not change. He is steady, reliable. He says, "Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. For I, the Lord, do not change."¹ God is always there. He can be counted on. He is "the same yesterday and today, and forever."² And God can make himself known, giving us a peace of mind through him, setting our hearts securely at rest.

Is Inner Peace Possible?

Heather, a recent Stanford grad, put it this way: "To be in a real-life relationship with God is a staggering and beautiful daily reality. There is 'cosmic companionship' that I won't trade the world for. I am deeply known and loved in a way I can only hope to adequately communicate."

Student Steve Sawyer, a hemophiliac, looked for stability when he found out that he'd received HIV from a bad blood transfusion. At first Steve was in great despair. He blamed God. Then Steve reached out to God. The result: the last few years of his life, Steve travelled to countless college campuses (enduring great pain) just to tell fellow students how they could know God and experience the peace he had experienced in knowing him. God has said, "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."³

Like Steve, other students have learned that no matter what happens in this life, it's not "the end of the world"--because this world isn't the end.

The God of the Foxholes

Admittedly, many people wait until times get really rough before they turn to God. A military chaplain from World War II explained that "there are no atheists in the foxholes." When life is rosy, people don't feel like they need God. But that often changes when things get messy, when we realize we're in the trenches.

Caryn, a student in Virginia, explains her path to God like this: "I thought I was a Christian because I went to church on Sunday, but I had no idea who God was. My senior year in high school looked much like my other three years. I spent most of my time getting drunk, high, or trying to find some way for someone to love me. I was dying inside and had no control over my life. It was when I realized how much I wanted my life to end that I knew when I went away to college I had to find some hope. It was then that I asked God to come into my life. He has shown me love, security, forgiveness, support, comfort, acceptance, and a purpose for living. He is my strength, and I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him."

Who knows what will happen in the new millennium? Many students may feel like they're in a foxhole. Life can be a battle. Our peace of mind can be greatly shaken. At those moments when the heat is on, we often reach out to God. That's okay, because God, the constant, is there and actually wants to be involved in our lives. He says, "I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides me. Turn to me and be saved...for I am God, and there is no other."⁴

Yes, God can be thought of as a "crutch," but it's likely that he is the only truly legitimate one.

The Invisible Foxholes

Some people, however, turn to God even when things seem to be going well. John, a student in Texas, explained that: "By my senior year, I had achieved everything that people were telling me would make me fulfilled--having leadership roles in campus organizations, partying, making good grades, dating girls I was really attracted to. Everything that I wanted to do and achieve while in college came to pass--and yet I was still unfulfilled. Something was still missing and I had nowhere else to go. Of course, no one knew I was feeling this way about life--on the outside I didn't show it."

Even when things seem to go right, life can still present a foxhole--an internal one that's invisible to the naked eye but felt in the heart. Becky, a student in Illinois, described that phenomenon this way: "How many times have you thought that if you just had that piece of clothing, or that boyfriend, or got to visit some place, that then your life would be happy and complete? And how many times have you purchased that shirt, or dated that guy or visited that place and walked away feeling more empty than when you began?"

We don't need failure or tragedy to feel the foxholes. Most often lack of peace results simply from the absence of God in our lives. Becky says of coming to know God, "Since then I've had many struggles and changes in my life, but everything I do takes on a new perspective knowing that I have a loving, eternal God on my side. I believe that there is nothing that God and I can't handle together--and as for the completeness that I had searched so hard for, I had finally found it."

With God involved in our lives, we can rest easy. As we get to know God and listen to what he says in the Bible, he brings about an inner peace in our lives, because we know him. We see life from his vantage point, aware of his faithfulness and ability to take care of us. So no matter what the new millennium brings, we can place our hope in God as our constant. He's waiting to prove himself in our lives if we will turn to him and seek him.

True Inner Peace - Building Upon the Rock

Are you building upon something in your life? Believe it or not, every person is building upon something. Each of us has a foundation, something we're putting our hope and faith in. Maybe it's ourselves--"I know I can make my life a success if I try hard enough." Or a lifestyle--"If I can make enough money, life will be wonderful." Or even a time period--"The new millennium is going to change things."

God has a different viewpoint. He says it is shaky ground to put our hope and faith in ourselves, in other people, or in anything this world offers. Instead, he wants us to trust in him. He says, "Everyone who hears these words of mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."⁵

It's wise to have God involved in our lives for those times when the catastrophes come. But God's intent is for us to have a more abundant life no matter what the circumstances are. He wants to have a positive influence on every area of our lives. When we rely upon him and his words, we are building upon the Rock.

The Ultimate Peace of Mind

Some people feel secure being the child of a multi-millionaire, or knowing they can easily pull good grades. There is an even greater security in having a relationship with God.

God is powerful. Unlike us, God knows what will happen tomorrow, next week, next year, the next decade. He says, "I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning."⁶ He knows what will happen in the new millennium. More importantly, he knows what will occur in your life and will be there for you when it happens, if you've chosen to include him in your life. He tells us that he can be "our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble."⁷ But we must make a sincere effort to seek him. He says, "you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart."⁸

That doesn't mean that those who know God will not go through difficult times. They will. If our nation encounters terrorist attacks in the new millennium, those who know God will be included in the suffering. But there is a peace and a strength that God's presence gives. One follower of Jesus Christ put it this way: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."⁹ Reality tells us that we will confront problems. However, if we go through them in relationship with God, we can react to them with a different perspective and with a strength that is not our own. No problem has the capacity to be insurmountable to God. He is bigger than all the problems that can hit us, and we are not left alone to deal with them.

God cares. God's great power, which can be shown in our lives, is accompanied by his deep love. The new millennium might be a time of world peace as never seen before, or maybe there will be more ethnic hatred and violence, more divorce, etc. In either case, no one will love us as much as God can love us. No one will care for us as highly as God can care for us. His Word tells us, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."¹⁰ "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."¹¹ And, "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them."¹²

Jesus Christ told his followers these comforting words: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows."¹³ If you turn to God, he will care for you as no one else does, and in a way that no one else can.

Peace of Mind through God

We have no idea what the new millennium will bring. If it brings hard times, God can be there for us. If it brings easy times, we will still need God to fill that inner void we have and to give our lives meaning.

When all is said and done, what matters most? What really matters is that we are not separated from God. Do we know God? Does he know us? Have we shut him out of our lives? Or have we let him in? Through knowing him, he produces in us a changing perspective and gives us hope. Through being in a relationship with him, we can have peace in the midst of all circumstances.

Why must God be central to our lives? Because there is no real peace or hope apart from knowing him. He is God and we are not. He does not depend on us, but we must depend upon him. He created us to need his presence in our lives. We can try to make life work without him, but it will be futile.

God wants us to seek him. He wants us to know him and to have him involved in our lives. But there is a problem: we've all shut him out. The Bible describes it this way: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way."¹⁴ We've all tried to make our lives work without God. That's what the Bible calls "sin."

Heather, quoted earlier, says concerning sin: "When I entered Stanford, I was not a Christian. The world lay at my feet then, waiting to be revolutionized. I attended political meetings, took classes on racism and social justice, and immersed myself at the community service center. I believed in the power within me to make a significant difference in the world. I tutored underprivileged elementary school kids; I ran the day camp at a homeless shelter; I collected leftover food to feed the hungry. Yet, the more I tried to change the world, the more frustrated I became. I confronted bureaucracy, apathy, and...sin. I began to think that maybe human nature needed a basic overhaul."

True Peace = Peace with God

Changing times and improved technology don't really matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. Why? Because our basic problem as human beings is that we've distanced ourselves from God. Our greatest problems are not physical, but spiritual. God knows this, so he provided a solution for our separation from him. He made a way for us to find our way back to him...through Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that, "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."¹⁵ Jesus Christ was crucified (an ancient form of execution) for our sins, in our place. He died, was buried, then rose from the dead. Because of his sacrificial death, we can come into a relationship with God--"To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."¹⁶

It's really rather simple: God wants to be in perfect relationship with us--so he made that relationship possible through Jesus. It's then up to us to seek God and ask him into our lives. Most people do this through prayer. Prayer means talking honestly with God. Right now you can reach out to God by telling him something like this in sincerity: "God, I want to know you. I haven't allowed you into my life thus far, but I want to change that. I want to take advantage of your solution for my separation from you. I am relying on Jesus' death on my behalf so that I can be forgiven and be made right with you. I want you to be involved in my life from this day forward."

Have you sincerely asked God into your life? Only you and he know for sure. If you have, you have a lot to look forward to. God promises to make your present life one of greater satisfaction because of your relationship with him.¹⁷ He promises to make his home in you.¹⁸ And he gives you eternal life.¹⁹

Melissa, a student in New England, had this to say about God: "My mother divorced my father when I was very young, and I wasn't really sure what was going on. I only knew that my father no longer came home. One day I went to visit my grandmother and I told her that I didn't understand why my father would hurt me and then disappear. She hugged me and told me that there was someone who would never leave me, and that someone was Jesus. She quoted Hebrews 13:5 and Psalms 68:5 which say 'I will never leave, nor forsake you' and 'He will be a father to the fatherless.' I was really excited to hear that God wanted to be my Father."

No matter what happens in the world around you, there is peace of mind knowing that God can be there for you. No matter what the new millennium brings, you can have God as your constant.

What You Have in Common
with God

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If you've ever listened closely to people's conversations, you notice something right away: people look for commonalities. Imagine that two strangers are seated next to each other on a plane. The conversation might go something like this:

"Ah, these planes, I just hate to fly!"

"Me too. I travel all the time on business, but I never quite get used to it."

"So are you going to Baltimore on business?"

"No, I've got family there. I'm going to see some relatives."

"I've got relatives there too. Did you grow up in Baltimore?"

"Yes I did."

"Well I did too."

When we converse, we look for common themes to talk about. We search for common threads. When people can't find them, they "just don't have anything to talk about," or maybe they start talking about the weather (an obvious commonality).

It's easier to relate to people when we have things in common with them. As humans, we can relate much better to another human than to a rock or a tree. Because of the vast differences between ourselves and a plant, there is no level on which to relate. This might sound silly, but it's an obvious phenomenon in our lives.

Another thing to note: as we share more likenesses with another, relating becomes better. Even though we can't relate well with a plant, we can relate a bit better with an animal (a pet). Why? Because animals are more similar to humans than are plants. The more likenesses present between two parties, the greater is their possibility of relating and the higher is their possible level of relating.

Maybe this phenomenon explains something we see in the first book of the Bible. There we find out that God has made humanity "in his own image." Nothing on the earth except people are formed in God's likeness.

What does it mean to be created in God's likeness? Perhaps it is the way he has designed us to share some of the same qualities he has. Though admittedly to a lesser degree, we also can reason, feel, communicate through speech, create, imagine, hurt deeply, have joy, understand humor. And, like God, we also have a unique immaterial aspect to us--a spirit. And we have self-consciousness--"I think; therefore, I am."

In many ways, it seems that God has created us as finite versions of his infinite self. This should tell something about his intent: namely, that he desires to relate to us. Consider this: you, with all your unique traits and abilities and emotions and imagination, are a walking billboard illustrating qualities that are mini-examples of God's character and being. He designed us to relate to him, and you are proof of that. In fact, every person is. Even though every human being is unique unto him or herself (which is a miracle all its own), we are all in God's likeness.

And being human also means we are in a unique position to worship God. Think about it. When was the last time you were driving down a country road and saw a herd of cattle holding a religious ceremony? Except for maybe in a Far Side cartoon, animals just don't worship. But in every part of human history, and in every part of the world, human beings have been engaged in one form of worship or another. Maybe that's because we've been made in God's image, in God's likeness. Something inside us knows that life has a spiritual element to it, and that God must be involved.

To learn more about having a relationship with God, see Knowing God Personally or read the section called "John" in the Bible.

The Gift of Life

As a child I knew my brother was sick. But, until recently I never understood the impact his illness would have on his life, as well as mine. In the past year, at the young age of 33, my brother's kidneys began to fail as a result of Juvenile diabetes.

When I realized his health was declining, I chose to give him the gift of life. Without hesitation I volunteered to donate a kidney to my brother. After months of testing I was a perfect match. The day of the surgery would be the day that changed both of our lives forever. We are now bonded in a unique way forever. All I wanted from this experience was to see my brother live a healthier and longer life. Instead, this life changing experience has made me look at life and family in a different way. I am so grateful that I was able to help make a difference in someone's life, especially my brother's.

Being an organ donor (living or deceased) is a wonderful experience for both parties involved and their families. It is a great to know everyday that you helped make someone’s life better.

All it takes is selflessness, courage, and love.

A Teacher's Lesson

We stood there on the corridor of our classroom talking with our English teacher, not on academic matters but on general issues. He was really speaking with us as if we were full adults. We were still in our penultimate class in high school.

In the cause of our discussion my friend made a comment. Then our teacher stopped talking for a moment and said in effect, "You have just spoken like one of my friends. He never liked it when people are illspoken of; never accuses them when they are unable to defend themselves because of their absence." I caught a message that changed me.

From that day it sank deep into me like a command not to say anything bad about a person. When I heard a rumour about someone I don't receive and spread it. Not that I take sides but I believe everyone needs to be treated with some level of trust and credibility until that person proves otherwise
" yes the auhtor made clear in his /her blog that we should not talk to another person because we don't know, they also are back bite us!!.. so please people don't say bad word to other.. i may not that perfect to stand on my own statement but i will try to my self not to say anything bad to other people.

The Cowboy Way

My father is fond of a phrase: "That would be the easy way, but it wouldn't be the cowboy way." And while it sounds a little nonsensical, you have to understand that my dad grew up watching Roy Rogers on TV. And Roy Rogers could always be counted on. Dad is no cowboy - he's lived in the suburbs his whole life - but he's always been responsible. He's the one who planned family camping trips perfectly, the one who worked 50-60 hour weeks for years when my brother and I were little and my mom wasn't working. He's the one who helped his aging mother with bills, legal forms, and hospital visits. He's always advised me not to take the easy way out, and to this day, when I feel like cutting corners or giving up on something, I hear, "That would be the easy way, but it wouldn't be the cowboy way."
it's an inspiring word"from untitled"

You Are Going Places

It was another dreary and gloomy day. I had come home from school, changed my clothes and got ready for work. I work at a local restaurant in town as a cashier, seater and busser.

I went to work feeling down and out. And to make matters worse I was bussing that evening. It's the same thing over and over again. Dealing with customers who complain and whine about their food, where they are sat and how the piece of pie that they are served is too big or too small. Little things like that tend annoy a lot of our employees but we all learn to deal with it. Some days it is annoying but you just get used to I guess. I know I have.

Three elderly ladies walked in and were sat at a booth by the windows. It happened to be the very spot near where I bus and keep the dirty dishes in the bins. I was bussing since 5:00pm and we were quite busy. Trying to keep up with all the dirty tables, people leaving and coming in and servers running all over the house, it was crazy. But these elderly women were watching how I was bussing and working really hard to make sure every table was clean and ready for the next customers.

When they were finished with their meals, I took their plates back to the kitchen. They talked to me for awhile about school, how I was doing, what grade I was in and what I planned to do in the future.

As they were leaving, they walked past me and one of them said to me in a confident and gentle voice, "You are going places." And that was it. They left the restaurant and I was pretty much in awe. I had tears in my eyes, because they gave me reason to believe in myself. They picked my spirit up from being down and out and gave me a reason to keep on working hard and to give it my all.

People used to tell me that I couldn't have a career in television until I had a degree and was out of college. I'm now an executive producer and co-anchor of a student-produced television show. I just finished an internship at a local television station this past summer. And the best thing is, I'm only 17 years old and I am a senior in high school.

A Glimpse

On December 18, 2000 my grandfather died. I was 9 years old. I woke up to find my parents and my little sister in my room on the computer. I asked what’s going on repeatedly, but the only answer I got was I’ll tell you in the morning; but I kept nagging and nagging. Then my dad finally told me that he died and I started crying and said he can’t die he can’t.
I then fell asleep again. When I awoke I told myself that it was just my family playing a cruel joke on us to get us out for Christmas, because we hadn’t been to my grandparent’s house since I was about 3. Then when I got to the house I realized he was dead. But it really hadn’t kicked in. Once he was being taken out of the church and the casket was closed it really hit me and I started to bawl and bawl.
After the funeral we stayed a week. About a month after the funeral my grandfather’s birthday was coming up. One night I went to sleep and I awoke to go down stairs to get some water and I was in a euphoria state of half awareness. As I left the bottom step I saw my grandfather laying on the couch and I was at first scared then I realized he wouldn’t hurt me. I then said, “I thought you were dead.” He replied, “I am, but everything is alright.” And we talked for a bit about stuff—but, it’s all a little hazy to me now since it has been a while.
At the end of our conversation he asked me if I wanted to go see Heaven. I wanted to, but I was too scared. He walked me up to my room and said goodbye. Every time I start to question God and Heaven I start to think of my grandfather wanting me to see Heaven, and that reminds me that there is a Heaven.

The Power of Five

A few days ago, I was having another fretting day. I had so many conflicts to deal with and personal affairs to attend to that I was eating my heart out the whole day I was moving around. I could almost hear the song playing in my head: “Fretty woman walking down the street, fretty woman...lalalala...”
That night, after retiring from the day’s toil, I remembered the time when I was diagnosed with SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) a.k.a. Lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease. I started re-grieving over the part that SLE took away from me. I began to fret about all the things I used to do so well.
I thought about how I used to take the jeepney for an hour’s trip to the city just to get to pre-Med school everyday. I remembered how neat and pretty I looked with my white college uniform and how my male neighbors used to have a big crush on me. I lamented that because of SLE, my college days are over and I’m never going to fulfill my dream of becoming a neurologist...ever!
I also recounted those days where I used to bum around with my friends. All those shopping sprees and dating schemes with a pool of suitors not to mention the series of soirees in schools and dormitories and a string of sorority mischiefs. Again, I lay the blame on SLE for cutting my frolicsome moments abruptly.
But as I was pouring out my grief, a crazy question popped in my mind: “Rachelle, give me five reasons why you should be happy today.” At first, I took the idea for granted thinking it was utterly ridiculous to entertain. Nonetheless, it remained lodged in my brain that a moment after, I felt like I just couldn’t give it up. I thought for a moment and then, I started reiterating.
“Well,” I mumbled, “my first reason to be happy would have to be my life, I think. The fact that I am still breathing the air of life would be a good reason at that. I have knocked on Death’s door several times in my life and yet he never took me in. With dengue fever at 9 years old, malaria at 10, dengue fever again at 12, severe UTI at 19 and cardiomegaly at 20, and recently SLE, I think it’s a miracle that I’m still alive. Second, I have a beautiful family who loves me so much. When I was at the darkest hours of my life and felt like everybody turned their backs away from me, they were there, enduring every sadness and pain with me. Third, I have great friends who were always there through thick and thin and were willing to sacrifice just for me. Fourth, I have a loving boyfriend who, despite our distance, never ceases to send his cares through the distance and loves me more than life itself. And fifth, I have a God who unwaveringly shows His love and care for me if all else fails.”
And before I realized it, I felt good again. My lost fervor was revitalized and I felt joy overflowing inside me. I just realized that everything I need to be happy is right before my eyes and I was just overlooking them all along. It dawned on me that joy does not reside “out there” but within each of us in our hearts. It worked so well that I decided to incorporate it in my daily routine. Each day after rolling out of bed, I would grope for five things in my life that I am most grateful about. It soon became a habit that my life gradually changed.
Three days after the experience, my brother came up to me and asked,"What’s with you? What’s making you so happy these days?”
I just told him, “It’s because of the power of five”. My brother furrowed his brows not knowing what I meant. I just smiled.

Who wants a good burger

Gotta know where to look! The Hidden Restaurant My friend Sean invited me to lunch in midtown Manhattan. He said we were going to place that had great burgers and fries. I was hungry and ready to go. We walked past all the fast food chain restaurants and into a hotel. We walked past all the hotel restaurants and into a back hallway. At the end of the hallway we pulled back a black curtain and saw 10 tables and a counter around an open kitchen packed with customers. On the grill huge burgers were sizzling. Once the aroma of those burgers hit my nose I was ready to order. When my friend and I sat down with our fully loaded burger and a basket of fries I just had to ask him, “How did you find this place? I didn’t see any signs on our way here.” Sean just smiled and said, “Once you’ve been here, you never forget where it is.” He was right. As I ate my lunch I realized there were probably a 1000 people within 100 yards of this restaurant who didn’t even know it existed. Thanks to Sean now I knew. Are you hungry for a good burger? Follow me----I know a great place. thanks to Jack Crabtree of Long Island YFC for today's DAILYBIDE John 6:33-35 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV) What happened in today's God's Story scripture? Jesus is telling people who he really is using the analogy of bread. The people have been asking him questions to find out if he truly is God’s Son on earth in a human body. He got their attention when performed a miracle providing food for a massive crowd of people. When Jesus tried to tell them he could offer them more than food to fill their stomachs they told him the food from heaven they knew about was the manna God gave to the Israelites when they were wandering in the desert. Jesus said he was the new gift from God to them. He was the living bread that would nourish and satisfy their souls. Jesus offered himself and his message to them but most of them walked away. They wanted bread for sandwiches, not God’s truth and love in their lives. It’s like Jesus offered to take them to a new place to eat that would satisfy their deepest desires but they resisted change choosing to keep eating (and believing) what they already had. How can you connect today’s God’s Story (the Scripture) to your life? When we come to know Jesus it is like we found a new place to eat where we get the best food that satisfies us like nothing else. Are you open to change? We often say we want change but change can scare us. We like the security of staying where we are. Walking with Jesus is full of changes. It’s tempting to live in the past even as a Christian. Whatever God did in us or for us a year ago is what we are still focused on. It’s easy to develop an expectation that God will do for us today exactly what he did in the past, but Jesus often wants to take us to a new place in our daily walk with him. Are you willing to go with him even if you don’t know your destination or if it is a big change in what you do? You can’t grow without letting God change you both outside and inside. Let Jesus lead you to a new place in you relationship with him. How can you connect today’s God’s Story and Your Story to others? In the same way I didn’t know that good burger restaurant existed, so many people in your life don’t even know Jesus is real. Start looking for ways today to show them Jesus can be alive in them. To what youth activity or meeting could you take a friend this week so they could start getting an appetite for God?

rofessor and chalk

This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at USC.

There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. For twenty years he had taught this class and NO ONE had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever *really gone against him* (you'll see what I mean later). Nobody would go against him because he had a reputation.

At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say to the class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" In twenty years, nobody ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove he is God, and yet he can't do it." And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it could shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students could do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students were convinced that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years they had been too afraid to stand up.

Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of the required classes for his major. And he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped.

Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor, and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the room. The professor shouted, "YOU FOOL! If nothing I have said all semester has convinced you that God doesn't exist, then you are a fool! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!"

He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. And as it hit the ground, it simply rolled away, UNBROKEN. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall.

The young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room and share his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of his power through Jesus.

God had a sense of humor

God had a sense
of humor that he didn’t share with His angels
entertaining Adam and Eve as they created Seth.
Laughter was heard on a wedding night
between the pain and the pleasure:
ingredients for a sticky sauce
that adheres family portraits and
slippery noodles to a single, circular wall.