Christian Clubs vs. "Christian Clubs"

This is something that God has been teaching me about lately. Going to a public school part time has opened my eyes to many new things. One of those things is what the world calls "Christian Clubs."

Before I go too far, I want to define what I mean by the difference between Christian Clubs and "Christian Clubs":
Christian Clubs - getting together with a group of true Bible-believing Christians to admonish one another and study God's Word
"Christian Clubs" - a group of people that call themselves Christians that get together mainly to have fun, while they might truly be saved, they are not living their lives completely set-apart for Christ

At the moment you are probably thinking, "Ruby, the Bible doesn't say anything against having fun." I'm not saying that having some good old-fashioned fun is bad, but when it gets in the way of a group of believers admonishing one another and studying the Word together, it has taken the wrong place in your life.

Don't get me wrong...theses clubs are great, especially when they are done so openly in this wicked world. But it makes me sad when I go to one of these "Christian Clubs" and realize that not all of the people there are completely sold out for Christ.

After we are saved, God says that we are a new creature:

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new."

 

If we are new creatures, don't you think we ought to get rid of the old habits of our sin nature and take on the habits and likeness of Christ?

 

There are many verses in the Bible that tell us to be set-apart from the evilness of this world.

Romans 12:1-2

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world;

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind;

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,

and perfect will of God."

 

1 John 2:15-17

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,

is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

In fact, in James 4:4 is says:

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

 

So to be a friend of the world instead of living a set-apart life for Christ is to be an enemy of God!

 

I know in this world today, it is considered "uncool" to be a set-apart follower of Christ and we are more often than not called fanatics. But, isn't that the least that we could do for Jesus? After all, He did die for us! At any point He could've said, "Nope, this is too painful. Not going to do it." And just like that, He would've been back in Heaven with God the Father, but instead He allowed them to beat Him, spit on Him, and worst of all, nail Him to a cross to die.

 

As Christians, can't we at least stand up for our faith and live a true set-apart life for Christ?

 

(I did not mean in any way to offend anybody. This is something that the Lord has laid on my heart and something that I am very concerned about in our world today.)

 

~Ruby James 

Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham: Evolution vs. Creation

 

All I can say is "Wow." Both Mr. Nye and Mr. Ham did a wonderful job each presenting their views of how the world got here. I think Mr. Ham did a wonderful job in always referring to the Bible and presenting the Gospel whenever he could.

As I watched the debate, the only thing that I could think of was how sad it is that Mr. Nye has all these science smarts but when it comes to understanding something as simple as how God created the earth, he can't understand it.

I have heard many people say that unbelievers are just stubborn people for not believing the Bible. It is not that they are stubborn, the only way they will ever understand the Bible is when the Holy Spirit moves in their life and only then will they be able to understand the Bible. Ephesians 4:18 and 1 Corinthians 2:14 explain this wonderfully.

Ephesians 4:18

"Having the understanding darkened,

being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them,

 because of the blindness of their heart:"

 

1 Corinthians 2:14

"But the natural man recieveth not the things of the spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned."

Therefore, an unbeliever is spiritually blind when it comes to understanding the simple facts and knowledge of the Bible.

Our job then, as believers, is to do what Paul says in Acts 28:18 "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." We are to be boldly sharing the Gospel like Mr. Ham did.

My favorite part of the debate was the question/answer time. I absolutely loved when the two questions: "How did the atoms that created the big bang get here?" and "How did consciousness come from matter?" were presented to Mr. Nye and his answer was, "It is a mystery!" Then Mr. Ham simply replied, "I have a Book that explains it all...that Book is the Bible."

It is so sad that when Mr. Nye gets to Heaven, God will ask him why He should let him in , and Mr. Nye won't have a sufficient answer. All this book knowledge and smarts are just going to go with him into the fiery pit of hell.

So I ask you, what are you doing for the Lord today? Are you standing strong in what you believe? How are you answering the many questions that people throw at you about how to live day by day? We need more Mr. Ken Hams that will simply say, "I have a Book..." 



Teen Winter Retreat 2014

Last weekend was the Teen Snow Retreat at Camp Chetek. The highlight of the weekend was getting to go with the youth group from Minnesota and getting to listen to Pastor Brian Trainer from Maranatha. When Brother Trainer spoke, it was all so simple but so mind blowing. It was like the Lord hit you between the eyes and said, "Why haven't you seen this before?" I have been thinking about the sermons all this week. Hopefully soon I will be able to post about them when the Lord wills. In the meantime, here are some pics from the weekend. Enjoy!



Steal the Bacon

 

"Wheelchair" Races

 

Ninja

 

Links on the Lake

Abby

Aaron & David

Emily & I

Snow-mo-tubing

 aka, hang on for dear life, right Abby? ;)

The whole group:

Ian, Aaron, David, Becca, Me, Abby, & Jimmy

 

What Defines You?

I just found this video via Facebook. As I listened to Lizzie, it made me think back over my life and see, as a disabled teenager, what defines me. I challenge you to think about that as you watch and listen as Lizzie speaks.

 



Satisfaction

"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:

I shall be satisfied, when I awake,

with thy likeness."

Psalm 17:15

 

What gives you satisfaction? Maybe getting lots of schoolwork done or accomplishing a goal. But, what is satisfaction? I looked it up in the dictionary and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, satisfaction is: a happy or pleased feeling because of something that you did or something that happened to you.

David says here that he would be satisfied when he awoke in God's likeness. Are you satisfied in God? The only REAL place to find satisfaction is in having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are just four of the many things that people in our society today find satisfaction in:

1) Self

2) Things

3) People

4) Events

None of these things can truly bring us satisfaction. Because of our poor sinful state, self-satisfaction will do nothing for us, we will never be able to fully satisfy ourselves in our own strength. Also, the events that happen in our lifetime, and the things that we own are only going to count for dung when we get to Heaven. When we stand before Jesus Christ, the only thing that is going to count is what we did for the Lord. Lastly, we can't be truly satisfied in people because of our sin nature that started with Adam and Eve. People have and will continue to let us down.

So I'm asking, where do you find your satisfaction? Is it in a personal relationship with Christ? Or, are you living in this world constantly looking for that one thing that will make you satisfied for the rest of your life?  

 



2014: Passage, Quote & Goals

As I think back over this past year, I realize how much I have to be thankful for. I made a lot of unforgettable memories and the Lord taught me many valuable lessons that I will never forget. This year, I decided that I would pick a passage, a quote, and write down some goals for the year. I am hoping that in posting them on my blog that it will keep me more accountable to actually accomplish my goals. So, here it goes:

Passage: James 1:12, 19-20

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:

for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,

 which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak, slow to wrath.

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

 

Quote:

All of us should live so as to be able to face eternity at any time.

~ Cassie Bernall

 

Goals:

- Grow more in the Lord.

- Study the Bible more.

- Make a habit of waking up earlier. ;) (for those of you that know me,

this might make you laugh a little but, everything is possible with the Lord's help)

-  Blog at least once a week.

- Get a job.

- Memorize at least one book of the Bible. (if you have a suggestion, please comment as I am not quite sure what book it will be yet)

- Go on a missions trip.

- Teach piano.

- Spend more time with friends and family.

- Continue to minister to others.

- Continue to serve the Lord.



New Years Eve Party 2013

What better way to welcome a new year in and celebrate what happened in the last year than with a group of wonderful friends? Many memories were made, lots of food eaten, laughs, more food, giggles, food, jokes, and yes you probably guessed, more food. ;) I am so thankful for my youth group and youth leaders. We have shared many memories and learned a lot of lifetime lessons together. Here are some pictures from our New Years Eve party for 2013. Enjoy!

 

 

Jennica & I

Telestrations

A very intense game of Settlers of Catan

(I think??)

A very intense...or maybe not so intense game of the Conquest of the Empire

Us being normal

 Ok, to be truthful, this is probably more like our normal selves ;)

 

All of us girls

Ashley

Catch Phrase