LOUD: Becoming Like Christ

It was a nice night last night. It got a bit colder as we sat there, but the conversation is always warming so I did'nt mind. I always love listening to Angie. She always knows what to say and she is always inspiring and full of advice. But last night she taught me something I can't shake.

We got to talking about the end times. Politics lately has inspired such theological talk because it's apparent we are living in the end times. I know alot of people laugh you off and say your being fanatical or even loopy but I guess those folks are just going to have to wait it out.

But we got to talking about the rapture. She was of the persuasion that there will be no rapture and that believers will go through the tribulation with the rest of the world. During this time Christians will endure severe persuction much of it ending in death. The Anti-Christ will kill all Spirit - Filled people. That is the only way he can end the influence of the Holy Spirit in the earth. Of course, we are the only manifestation of God on earth. It's a haunting thought to some..but for me it provoked me to analyze my faith.

In Phillipians 3:10-11, Paul makes reference to becoming like Christ unto death:
10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Colossians 1:24,Paul makes another reference for suffering with Him
I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.

In Jewish/Christianity's history, people were persucted for thier faith. There have been mass killings (holocust, NT martyrdom..etc) and if history is true and it always repeats itself. Could there be a chance that the church aint going out like it thought? Could it be that in the final days..you will truly have to suffer as Christ suffered? That you must truly take up your cross and folllow him? Could it be? It would be a far cry from the mystical "left behind series" theroy.

This made me think- Am I ready for the Great Tribulation? I am ready to die for my faith? Will I be scared? Will I watch someone kill my husband? Will I be lined up with my fellow RWOC members and be slaughtered? Will I watch for weeks on TV the glorification of murdering of millions of Christians all over the world and simply await my turn? I know this sounds morbid..but could it be true?

As Easter approaches I feel the challenge of God. I feel him pressing on my heart to be more steadfast in my evagelism. To be more pure in my life so that I may win some people. I need to become more influential to reach more people. I need to do whatever it takes. I need to stop being lazy and pushing the thought that Jesus is coming back off. Because the realility is- is that he is coming back. 

May I become more like you God...may I die everyday...

LOUD: We Do It For You to See and Do

1 John 1:1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.
3-4We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

As I think about the teens today. I think about how God is in the process of taking shape in these teens lives. And as the scripture shows us we get to have a first witness account of his communion(fellowship) with the teens. This should bring us immense joy and it is something to be enjoyed. After traveling for three weekends and being with a new group of teens every weekend. I can truly say that there is something special about our teens. Through the hardship in life they see everyday, they still get on the bus. They dont have to but they do. When the world is all hell around you..it's sometimes hard to see God..but because of the light in you they see some hope of life through the darkness. We get to consider that a joy.
God is at work in the young people all over the world. I refuse to let the news discourage me. They say 1 in 4 teenage girls have an STD and the percentage of African American girls were overwhelming. But you know what that 1 in 4 is our next prophetess, our next evangelist and the next in line to have fellowship with God. I refuse to believe the world's report that the youth of America are lost. And I'm going to be ready to watch the Lord bring His infinite life to thier world.