The Two Faces of Two Face

As I have told you (I think I told you) I was in germany for a while. While I was there I heard a sermon on hypocrisy that brought something to light. Normally in my christian circles when I think of hypocrisy I think of a person who acts christian till he’s eighteen and then shows himself for who he really is and becomes a part of this world. This the first face of twoface. Someone worldly who looks christian/good but really has a different heart and uses his ‘goodness’ for his own gain. But there is more. Hypocrisy in essence is pretending to be something you are not. Which means that someone can believe and yet not act on it. This little reference in the bible shows the other side of hypocrisy. Go read it.

2 Peter 2:6-8 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

We see a man here vexed (annoyed) by the sins around him, but the bible never really shows him standing up to those from Sodom and Gomorah. Annoyed deeply but mostly action less. How often are we the same, we believe one thing and yet we do another. Let me give you a modern counterpart, the guys will probably understand this the best. How about absolutely hating the corrupt filthy locker room talk but participating in it.?Or how about hating it when you waste your time, but doing it anyway? We like to say “Hey, but my intentions were good” but isn’t this just hypocrisy? You might ask yourself, “Well, if my heart is right why does it matter what I do?” Let me answer with two passages. The first one is Jesus talking to the Pharasies.

Mathew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

These two verses come from a passage where Jesus condemns hypocrisy like nowhere else in the bible. The entire chapter is dedicated to showing hypocrisy. If you want to fully understand how much Jesus hates hypocrisy, go old fashioned and read the chapter yourself. God hates a heart and life not fully dedicated to him. This next passage illustrates both faces for us.

Jas 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, you have faith, and I have works: shew me your faith without your works, and I will shew you my faith by my works.

Our faith is useless if we don’t live it. Both faces are equally bad. Here they are presented side by side. Faith by works = face one. ” I don’t love God, but I’ll act like it so I can go to heaven.” Faith without works = face two. ” I love God I just don’t live like it.” I challenge all of us (yeah, me too) to examine our lives for hypocrisy. Every single time I look at myself I find bits of both. As we are all human, I think that if you look earnestly you ‘ll probably find a face or two of two face in your life.

Live your faith.

Daniel

1,000!!!

Thanks to you, we have officially had 1,000 viewers all time! Thanks SO much! All of us are very excited! Again, thanks for following us!!!!!
~The Excited Team Of CTL

Outta Space Love

Outta Space Love is an album by Group 1 Crew.  It is a very different album. IT has such a futuristic feel (hence the name). The title song is Outta Space Love. One part goes like this-

Seen a lotta ups and downs
And sometimes even in between-a
But this love it saved the day
So let me take you to my leader

I need that love, love, bigger, bigger
Love, bigger, love, I need that
Outta space love, outta space love
And if this world ain’t bigger
Bigger, big enough, gimme that
Outta space love, outta space love

Okay, as you can probably tell, that is very futuristic. Isn’t just amazing to think about how we are loved by so much!? It is amazing! It is so awesome. And we need to be loved. We were created that way. Sometimes it’s easy for us to think that we are not loved. I now I feel that way sometimes. But God loves you and me. When you feel that way, remember God loves you. And I love you too, even if I haven’t met you.

And let the world see now
Just what we talking ’bout
And take a trip to outta space
And let your faith ring out

We need to let the world see our Faith. We need to live it out loud. Do you let your classmates or your buddies know that you are a Christian? I’m going to leave you with a question. If your friends didn’t( Or don’t) know your a Christian, can they or could they tell that you are by your actions?

~Lili

Race Of Life

http://raceoflife.wordpress.com Race Of Life is a really good blog. I have recently been getting to know the author, Ruth. We have been chatting together. I encourage you to take a look at her blog. Their are some interesting posts on that blog!

~Lili

Are We Really Putting God First?

I recently thought about putting God first. I thought about it while reading this verse- “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”. That verse is Revelation 22:13.

It says he is the first and the last, but do we actually put him first in our daily lives? I will admit, I don’t always put him first. For me, it’s easy to forget. I try, but I just don’t always.

So, I would like you to please take the time and answer the few questions below. And, don’t forget to be honest! We’re all friends here!

1. Is there anything in your daily life you can name that makes God get pushed back in obeying him?

2. Are there any ways you know that can help you remember to put him first?

Thanks and I really look forward to hearing your replies!

~Lilian

The Room

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE… “THE ROOM” as written by a 17 Year Old Boy.   This is excellent and really gets you thinking about what will happen in Heaven. 17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was What Heaven Was Like. “I wowed ’em,” he later told his father, Bruce . It’s a killer. It’s the bomb It’s the best thing I ever wrote.” It also was the last. Brian’s parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager’s locker at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County . Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them, notes from classmates and teachers, and his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen’s life. But it was only after Brian’s death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of Heaven. It makes such an impact that people want to share it. “You feel like you are there,” Mr. Moore said. Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend’s house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted. The Moore’s framed a copy of Brian’s essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. “I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it,” Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son’s vision of life after death. “I’m happy for Brian. I know he’s in Heaven. I know I’ll see him.” Here is Brian’s essay entitled: “THE ROOM”  In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read ”  Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named ”  Friends” was next to one marked    ”  Friends I Have Betrayed.” The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. ”  Books I Have Read,” ”  Lies I Have Told,” ” Comfort I have Given,”  ” Jokes I Have Laughed At.” Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: ”  Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: ”  Things I Have Done in My Anger”, “ Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked ”  TV Shows I Have Watched,”   I realized the files grew to contain their contents.. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented. When I came to a file marked ”  Lustful Thoughts,”   I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore “People I Have Shared the Gospel With.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. “No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.” I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written. ”  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   John 3:16 If you feel the same way forward it to as many people as you can so the love of Jesus will touch their lives also. My ”  People I Shared the Gospel With”   file just got bigger, how about yours? IF THERE IS ONE EMAIL THAT I HAVE READ THAT NEEDS TO GO AROUND THE WORLD, IT IS THIS ONE, PLEASE PASS THIS TO EVERY ONE YOU KNOW, CHRISTIAN OR NOT! “LET’S FILL OUR OWN FILE CARD” AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL! You don’t have to share this with anybody, no one will know whether you did or not, but you will know and so will He. God Blesses Us Everyday, It’s Up To Us To Notice!!!

Real4Him

 http://real4him.wordpress.com/

Announcement!!!! Calling all girls! Real4Him is a brand new blog made just for girls, made by us girls at CTL. We really think you should check it out. And though their is not a lot now, we are going to add a LOT more to it. Thanks!

~Girls of CTL

(Boy’s, don’t worry. The boy’s of CTL are making a boys blog too. So it shouldn’t take too long…)

Can You Match GOD?

Hope you don’t mind me telling a bit more about the GC (Grand Canyon). Cause I will.

Psalm 19

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

So, when you’re in the GC, the first thing you realize is that you’re in the middle of a bunch of rocks and just about nothing else. No phone service, no internet, no modern form of communication. So those rocks become cool, but the coolest part is night. When it gets dark out, it gets dark out, no city lights, no flashlights, nothing but starlight. You can see fairly well just by moonlight and starlight, but best of all, you can see the stars. Lots, and lots, and lots, and lots, and( open brackert, infinite lots, close bracket) of stars. The beauty would almost compell me to be an astronomer. Now think of David, living in a time when night ment bedtime, so that every night he saw all these stars. The result is stunning. Many of you know the verse in romans that states that God is self-evident, if you will only acknowledge him. Here it is.

Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

God is a matchless god. He made the stars, all of them, in one day. He made this planet in one day. He made man, and all the animals, in one day. He made all the matter you see with a thought. God is matchless. Can you make the trees, the grand canyon, the stars, the animals, and all else you see? No I didn’t think so. It is self evident from this creation that there has to be a creator, God is this creator, this originator. But, man has ignored him, has decided not to acknowledge his presence. It’s not that man couldn’t see him, it’s that men have blinded themselves so they can’t see him. Notice what psalm nineteen says.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Take out the Italics( they were meant as grammatical help and put there in translation) and you’ll get a whole new meaning

no speech nor language, their (nature’s) voice is not heard.

Many people have shut their eyes to God’s ‘book of nature’ it’s voice is not heard, this is almost a prophesy. Despite the fact that God is evident, that nature speeks of his power and majesty men have ignored him. They try to become like God ( not much different than adam and eve ) but they can’t, because God is matchless, no one is like him. Now this is where this truth applies to you. Man has closed his eye to nature, they don’t see God there, but God’s word is powerfull and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of bone and marrow. The Bible is still open for Man to see God there. But how are they to hear without us bringing them the knowledge? For the sake of brevity I will conclude with this statement. GO! Tell others about GOD!!!!!!!!

dks

Intersting fact: the astronomer in our group is a professor, he got pulled over for being barefoot before. If you want to hear more about post it in the comments.

Bands To Break Bonds

I recently did an interview with the founder of “Bands To Break Bonds”, Alice N. Here are the questions I asked Alice-

1. What is bands to break bonds about?

Bands to Break Bonds is about changing the world through the music we listen to.

2. How did it get started?

I’ve always been interested in being involved with music in one way or another, and God laid a burden on my heart for enslaved children about three years ago. About a year ago, God planted a seed in my heart for this organization–“What if,” I wondered, “musicians used their prominence and their talent to help free slaves? And what if people who loved music could go to a website to find out which bands used music for good?” This organization is the fruit of that idea.

3. What does it do?

Bands to Break Bonds provides fans with a list of “Music Heroes”–musicians who are actively fighting human trafficking. Through our email fanblasts, we also tell the fans how they can help support and partner with those bands in the fight against human trafficking.

4. Where do you plan to go with it?

I hope to go wherever God wants the organization to go. Right now, I think it would be wonderful to have a great team of Music Heroes registered with Bands to Break Bonds and a loyal fanbase receiving fanblasts, all helping to free slaves. It’ll be a community of people committed to a freer, safer world.

If you would like to find out more on “Bands To Break Bonds”, you can head over to their site, http://www.bandstobreakbonds.org/index.html

~Lili

The most Eternal kill joy of a gift

Ya, a paradox I know. but, hey, no worries it gets worse. Because the eternal kill joy of a gift is, pleasure. Sorry yall, it’s true, pleasure is a killjoy. Hard to believe, but that’s what I’ll be talking about. I want you all to read the next passage as a message of an (really) wise old man who had it made, and realized an important truth.

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine–my heart still guiding me with wisdom–and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the children of man. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Let me translate this to modern english.

I played video games all night every weekend. I talked to my friends and had fun talking about crude things. I played sports and I gave it my heart. I made one thousand friends on facebook, and posted ten thousand likes. I watched movies every weekend. I watched youtube when I was overcome by the least bit of boredom. I made best friends with my ipod, and listened to my favorite music. And behold it was all utterly pointless.

God has given man the gift of pleasure, and the gift of rest. He has given us a drive to do something ‘fun’ or pleasing. And this is a great gift, it is a gift that is amazing. Have you realized, bugs don’t have fun, nor do snakes, and lizards, birds and platypussesses. But we humans can enjoy life. We can enjoy things like beatiful mountains, lovely forests, complex music, other humans, good books, well made movies, and other works of art, both human and divine. But this gift of pleasure can also drive man to: excessive, smoking, drinking, sex, drugs, movie watching, facebooking, fantasy team managing, and other pleasure. God has given man a need for rest. ( That is why he created a day of rest). He has created man to need a break. My question to you today is this. God or man? In other words what will you pick for a rest, God’s joy, or man’s pleasure? Will you choose to get to know God better in you spare time, or will you please yourself? The thing is you can’t live for both. Either god or man not both. That is why pleasure can be a kill joy. God gives joy( satisfaction, peace, permanent fullfillment, rest) while Man gives pleasure(dissatisfaction/a want for more, fun, temporary fullfillment). Your choice is to pick. God or Man. This is the paradox, pleasure can paralize your spiritual life and kill your joy, thereby pleasure becomes a killjoy. Now let me clarify what I’m not saying. I’m not saying you can’t have fun and be a christian, you just can’t live for it. So take your pick, and your life will follow course. Kill your joy with man or maximise it with God. God or Man. You WILL pick.

dks

Interesting fact: before correcting this devo I wrote english, englich. Bad translation.