Please open your Bible and read Matthew 18:1-6.

What does Jesus mean when He says we are to “become as little children”? Jesus has been misunderstood as promoting a naive or simplistic “childlike faith”. And if that’s true, aren’t all these Bible studies, sermons, and discipleship a waste of time? While we’re at it, if naiveness is so important, why waste time reading devotionals?

However, I don’t think that’s quite what Jesus had in mind. The Bible often encourages us to increase in wisdom and understanding; for example: “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding” (Proverbs 3:13, TNIV) Paul tells us that in Jesus we may find “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3) So if Jesus didn’t mean that we should “become as little children” in the sense of naivete or simplicity, what did He really mean?

Reading a verse in context will usually clarify its meaning. Jesus’ admonition to “become as little children” in verse 3 relates, in context, to entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Then He says: “Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (v4)

Jesus is not speaking about childish faith, He is speaking about our attitudes towards entering the Kingdom. Jesus clarifies that we become “childlike” by being humble. A child in the first century had lower social status than his or her parents; thus they were ascribed a certain sort of humility. Jesus is admonishing us to become humble … not naive.

Why is humility important? Jesus urges us to be humble (ex. Luke 14:11) because “True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life” (Proverbs 22:4) Humility is the opposite of pride, but it certainly doesn’t mean feeling bad about yourself! Instead, being humble means recognizing our own strengths and failures, submitting to God alone, and treating others with respect and dignity … even as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

This, I think, is what Jesus had in mind by becoming like “little children”. Even as we increase in knowledge and wisdom, we still must recognize our limits, and like a child trusting and following their father, so too must we try to remain humble as we follow our Father in Heaven.

Questions: Do you know anyone who embodies the kind of “childlike faith” described here? What can you try to learn from them?

About the Author: Darren Hewer

Please open your Bible and read Matthew 28:16-20.

Evangelism. Does the word make you uncomfortable? It makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Sharing the good news of the gospel is sometimes a thankless job. Yet Jesus calls us to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Don’t we have an obligation to share the message of God’s grace and love with others? Paul says “woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16, KJV) It would be rather selfish to keep such amazing truth to ourselves!

Why then is evangelism so uncomfortable? One reason is that we’re worried that we’ll fail. We know that often people don’t accept the gospel. Sometimes people refuse to believe even what’s right in front of their face. Read the passage from Matthew again about when Jesus appeared on the mountain to the disciples: “When they saw him [Jesus], they worshiped him – but some of them doubted!” (Matthew 28:17) Did you catch that? Some of the disciples even doubted!

When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee, Jesus lamented that we Christians “speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony” (John 3:11). We shouldn’t feel that we’ve failed when people do not accept the gospel, for it is only through God’s grace, not our own efforts, that someone may be saved. By sharing our faith and giving someone to think about, we may have helped alter their life course to bring them one step closer to knowing the living God.

A second reason is that we may have negative images of what evangelism is like. Street evangelism (such as handing out tracts or shouting “Repent sinners!”) is surely not the only way to share our faith. The internet, for example, gives us an incredible new method to reach people all over the world. Over one billion people worldwide now have access to the Internet, and this is an amazing opportunity to share the gospel all over the world regardless of whether you are shy or outgoing. Your talents and God-given gifts can be used for ministry online. Let’s use the internet for God’s glory!

“Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!” Psalm 107:2, NLT

If you’re interested in learning about volunteer ministry opportunities online, please visit TruthMedia’s Volunteer Center!

Questions: Why do most people find evangelism so uncomfortable? How can we seek to alleviate this discomfort?

About the Author: Darren Hewer

There are probably things that annoy you about “Christianity”.

Many people experience frustration with their faith, but not many decide to write a book about it. Jason T. Berggren is an exception. His new book “10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith” is sure to ruffle a lot of feathers. You’d be excused for thinking the book was written by a former Christian who has walked away from his faith, but Jason is a Christian who has, and still is, working through his frustrations while holding tightly to what he believes in. He says:

My dad never let me use the word hate. He said it sounded too violent. But it was often the only accurate description of how I felt. Part of me understood, but another part of me rebelled. We can all feel hate. Even in the good, productive, and meaningful aspects of life, there’s frequently a level of frustration that overwhelms us when we are faced with trying to achieve certain goals—like getting in shape, making the grade, or straightening out our finances. This is where I got stuck in my spirituality. Within these pages are the 10 things I’ve hated about Christianity over the years and how I’ve worked through my frustrations. I call it the intersection of real life, simple faith, and raw emotion. Maybe you’ll see yourself here too.

Check our his website at 10thingsihate.com

Can you identify with any of Jason’s observations? Is such anger biblical (and why or why not)? And what frustrates you about Christianity and/or Christian culture?

Frustrated with your faith? Why not try an online interactive life lesson, or contact an online mentor to talk about it confidentially?

What’s a carbon footprint, and why would I want to reduce it?

The article states that “every American is responsible for about 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year” which is “far above the world average of 6 tons per capita.” Not only will reducing your carbon footprint mean that you’re taking your own part in caring for the environment, it can also save you money!

Lisa Wise of the Center for a New American Dream offers fifteen ways you can start reducing your carbon footprint today. Some that I found most interesting include:

#5: Go Native. When landscaping around your home or business, try and buy local plants. They will probably grow better in that particular environment, and they had to travel a shorter distance to get to where you are. Also, use organic soil when planting: it was made in an eco-friendly way and uses less resources. And remember, green plants are a good way to offset carbon, so plant something–it helps.

#8: Switch it to Vacation Mode. Most water heaters have a setting you can switch to when you are going to be away from home traveling for an extended period of time. Switching the water heater to the vacation or away mode will still keep the water warm, but will not use the energy it takes to keep a tank full of piping hot water. You will enjoy that trip more knowing you are using less energy and saving money while you are away.

#9: Unplug It! Unplug appliances that you don’t use frequently. Most electronics have a standby mode that sucks energy even when not in use. Things like cell phone chargers and laptops should be unplugged when you are not using them. You will save energy and money with this simple step.

#15: Remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It seems basic but in a capitalistic society like ours, sometimes we lose sight of just how much we buy. Try buying less and reusing things when you can. Your pockets won’t be as light and you will be doing your part to save the Earth–oh, you know what I mean.

Read the full list here. Have you started taking any steps to reduce your carbon footprint? Did any of these ideas resonate with you as something that you could start doing in order to help become better caretakers of the world that God has given us?

#1)  Avatar ($75 million)
#2)  Sherlock Holmes ($65.4 million)
#3)  Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel ($50.2 million)
#4)  It’s Complicated ($22.1 million)
#5)  Up in the Air ($11.8 million)
(Source: MTV News)

Although Christmas day is a popular day for moveigoers, I always felt a little bad for the people who were forced to work at the theaters on Christmas, even though they would usually get time-and-a-half pay … regardless, both Avatar and Sherlock Holmes are definitely on my list of movies to see in early 2010!

Did you see any of these movies this Christmas? Did any of them capture any of the Christmas spirit? What about more traditional Christmas movies, like It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, or A Charlie Brown Christmas?

Related:
The Da Vinci Code Blog – Our blog addressing one of the biggest books/movies of the decade.
Post-Holiday Depression – Are you disappointed, burned out, or just looking for a kind listener to talk with after the holidays? Contact us today.

Meta-Job Searches
Why search just one site when you can automatically search multiple job sites at once? Indeed.com (Indeed.ca in Canada) returns job listings at several job sites and individual companies’ listings automatically.

Contract Jobs
Consider a different type of employment: Use your skills and earn money with contract work. Project4Hire.com is a great source for general contract jobs, while ELance.com is the site of choice for IT/coding/tech jobs. Meanwhile if you’re handy with arts & crafts, you can sell your work on Etsy.com.

Non-profit/Charity Jobs
Help others and get paid for it by working for a non-profit. In Canada, CharityVillage.com is a popular source for charity jobs, while OpportunityKnocks.org offers a similar resource for US residents.

Specialized Job Search Sites
Many job sites exist which focus on particular careers. For example MediaJobSearchCanada.com concentrates on jobs involved with new media, marketing, and technology, eFinancialCareers.com offers business careers, while LawJobs.com indexes jobs within the legal profession. See this useful list of National & Specialized Job Listings for more in your own profession.

Online Classifieds
Old favorite CraigsList and growing competitor Kijiji are like national newspaper classified ads. Be careful, anyone can post an ad, so be wary of ads making fabulous promises or offering few details about the job and/or employer.

Please share your favorite job search websites or resources with us!

Related reading: How hardship caused one successful businessman to redefine success.

Image credit: davidfg

Money is tight, but you still want to take your family on an exciting vacation!

1. Family camp – Also called “intergenerational camps”, to distinguish them from the classic kids’ summer camps, they typically have beautiful settings, simple lodgings, meals included (probably in a dining hall), and many outdoors and other activities.Price can be as low as under $1000 for a week, for a family of four. (More info: About.com)

2. Be a  tourist in your own town – Many cities offer special discounts on attractions and parks for locals.  A quick Google search for “tourist in your own town” returns 4.5 million results! Take a look at what’s hiding in your own backyard, and explore the tourist destinations in your own area that you’ve never visited!.

3. Staycation – A “staycation” is a vacation that happens with all the benefits of fun and relaxation, but without traveling anywhere. It can either consist of doing a series of daytrips out of your own home, or staying in a local family-friendly hotel while enjoying local entertainment. (More info: About.com)

4. Branson, MO – If you have a little more flexibility when it comes to budget, a visit to Branson, Missouri (sometimes referred to as the “family friendly Las Vegas”) would be an entertaining destination with something for all members of the family, with activities for both the kids (such as the World’s Largest Toy Museum) and adults (such as Pointe Royale Golf Course). (More info: AssociatedContent)

5. Become an online bargain hunter – There are dozens of websites where you can find deals on travel, lodging, and entertainment. Don’t be content to accept the lowest price from a single site; a different site may find you much better prices. (More info: Canadian Living)

Do you have any favorite budget-conscious vacation destinations? Share your favorite spots with us!

1) A degree does not entitle you to a job
When I graduated, I somehow had the idea that I would graduate and be handed a job. This belief might have been partially true 40 years ago but not today. Think about the 1000′s of other students on your campus; they are all going to be competing with you for jobs. A college/university degree has become the new high school degree.

2) Find what you love to do
If you’re like me and many other grads, over the four years at school you’ve realized that what you expected you’d do when you graduated is not what you want to do anymore. Don’t expect that you’ll land your new dream job immediately, but start thinking about how you can work towards that eventual goal.

3) Learn how to interact with people
It used to be the case that IT people could get away with having poor interpersonal skills. Those days are over. All the booksmart knowledge in the world won’t help you keep a job once you get it.

4) Learn to cover your butt
Office politics is present in pretty much every job. Your task will be to mitigate its effects as much as possible. Keep records of everything. Document things in writing. Make sure your t’s are crossed and your i’s are dotted, or it can come back to bite you later.

5) Build and maintain a new social network
When you’re in residence at university, you’re pretty much forced into social relationships. But after moving back home after school, you may realize your childhood friends are gone, your college friends are far away, and your main social interactions are with your coworkers. Try to find other social opportunities, such as sports or hobbies groups, or a young career group at your local church.

One more to add to the list: Pay off your student loan as soon as possible! If you are like many college grads, you will graduate with massive debt. Paying off your student loan ASAP is critical to avoid paying huge amounts of interest.

Do you have any tips for new grads? Share with us below! And if you are a student who needs someone to talk with, about jobs, finances, or life in general, please feel free to contact a mentor anytime via email, just to talk privately.

Related interactive link: If you find yourself searching for significance after college, try our online interactive life lesson, “Living With Significance“!

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.”

Most churches want to help & care for others, but don’t know how to start.

Jason Cusick, pastor at Journey of Faith Church in Manhattan Beach, CA, has some practical advice for congregations to live out the apostle John’s admonition to “love each other … by our actions” in his little book “5 Things Any Congregation Can Do to Care for Others“. Any congregation means yours, no matter how big or small!

Here are Jason’s suggestions:

1) Comfort for the hurting – comfort, counseling, and just being with people who are going through periods of loss

2) Assistance for the needy – providing food, finances, first aid, and fellowship

3) Recovery for the addicted – both physical addictions like drugs & alcohol as well as more subtle personal addictions like the need for approval or pride

4) Encouragement for the aged – giving the gift of our time through regular visits, empowerment, and evangelism

5) Spiritual training for everyone – encouraging and training others in practical ways to care

In the interest of engaging in #5, are you currently or have you in the past been involved in these kinds of ministries with your church? It could be helpful to others to hear about what you and/or your church is involves with, so please share your stories!

Another way you can care for others is to consider becoming an online mentor. You can volunteer online, part-time, from your own home. You can give 1 hour a week or many hours, it’s up to you. Help people in your area of experience. Click here for more info on becoming an online mentor.

Upcoming online chats: Join us for daily online chats! One of our features will be “Created for Heaven Immediately” on May 3 at 9:00 pm EDT Please join us as we discuss how to deal with grief after losing a child to miscarriage.

The current king of videos on YouTube in terms of the number of views is a Justin Bieber music video which has received an astonishing 375 million views. Others on the top “most viewed” list include a baby biting his brother’s finger, the admittedly terrific “Evolution of Dance” video, and several other music videos.

Wouldn’t it be great if your friends who are not Christians spent some time watching more meaningful videos that pointed them towards God?

I was talking with a friend from church a few weeks ago about outreach done at our church (or lack thereof). And he said that he would like to do something to reach out to people, but wasn’t sure how. Probably many people feel the same way: How can I reach out to my friends, family, co-workers, and community with the gospel truth without causing unnecessary offense or inappropriate social awkwardness?

Here’s a video that you can share with someone today: “Which Path Will You Take?” Artfully produced by Campus for Christ, it examines the beauty of the world and transitions to deeper thoughts: “As we walk along the path of our life, this familiar path that we have walked many times before, we may perceive a longing that cannot be realized by the beautiful yet ultimately unfulfilling things around us.” Would you consider passing it along to someone you know today via email, Facebook, or another medium that you would normally use to send those funny or frivolous videos?

The video uses the concept of Soul Cravings to transition from the common cravings all people have to the source and fulfillment of those cravings: God. Watch Crave: The Documentary to learn more about how this works, and visit our store to order great resources to share this message with others!

What do you think about these videos? Are they effective ways to share God’s truth with others? Have you tried sharing them with a friend? What was their response?