Book Review: Martyr's Song by Ted Dekker

What would you die for?

That's the question suddenly thrust upon a small band of women and children in Bosnia at the close of World War II. When a group of bitter soldiers stumble upon their peaceful village, they suddenly face an insidious evil ... and the ultimate test.

It is then, in the midst of chaos and pain, that the Martyr's Song is first heard. It is then that the window into heaven first opens. It is then that love and beauty are shown in breathtaking reality.

One of Ted Dekker's shortest works at just 111 pages, The Martyr's Song is the ultimate story of love.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 [NIV]

Through this very eloquent story, Dekker tells not only a story of ultimate love, but one of ultimate beauty, delivering two very critical, timely messages for our time.

Young Marci is ridiculed by fellow students at her school for being ugly. When elderly Eve spies young Marci, she knows that she has to help. She knows that she has to share her story with Marci, to help Marci see her own beauty. Through Eve, we learn the story of thirteen year old Nadia, Father Michael, and how their deep love for Christ leads them both to make what for many would be an impossible decision.

At just 111 pages, Martyr's Song should be read by all. We see the brutality of war, the depth of true love, and the beauty of salvation all packed into those few short pages. Kudos to Dekker for penning this touching tale!

Your comments?

Joe

AJA Press | #TCOT
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SOAP: How Great Is Our God!

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
5:6-8 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

18-19 Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.

6:3-5 That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

12-14 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.

22-23 But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 5-6 (excerpts) [MSG]

OBSERVATION
Christ's gift of Salvation, when we least deserve it.

APPLICATION
Adam condemned us to death. Literally. By partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (or, in the vernacular, eating the apple), Adam condemned us to death for eternity. But some two thousand years ago, One Man came along to reverse Adam's act. One Man came along to save us from the evil that had plagued us since the very first man. To save us from the evil that continues to plague us even now. To save us from sin.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, stepped up in our defense when we didn't even deserve to be defended. When we were guilty of sin, He came forward when we deserved nothing short of eternal condemnation and paid the price for our evil ways, so that we don't have to. To us, He gave the ultimate gift by paying the ultimate price. And all that we have to do is accept that glorious gift.

But so much more than just accepting this glorious, undeserved gift, we should then live the kind of life that God would have us live. We should never again give sin the time of day. We should resist the temptation to return to those sinful ways that Our Lord saved us from. But we are human, aren't we, and incapable of never sinning. That's right, as much as we might hope to live right, we just aren't capable of completely eliminating sin from our lives. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We aren't capable of deserving the wonderful grace of God.

But our God is merciful, and willing to forgive us, just for the asking. Oh, what a wonderful God we serve!


Direct video link.



PRAYER
Father, I know that I'm not worthy of Your wonderful grace. And that I have let You down more times than I could possibly count. But I also know that You are merciful, and gracious, and that Your love is never ending. Thank You, Father, for the wonderful gift of salvation!

Joe

Contemplating Easter

As Easter rapidly approaches, I find myself giving the holiday some serious contemplation. As a Christian and devoted follower of God, Easter for me has always been more about the Resurrection of Christ than chocolate bunnies, egg hunts, and Spring.

Thoughts of Easter bring on thoughts of Christmas, the "biggest" holiday of the year. Christmas is no doubt the most widely celebrated event on the calendar, whether for Christian principles or otherwise. If you're reading these words, you have likely exchanged Christmas gifts on more than one occasion in your life, and quite possibly have found your share of hidden eggs, as well.

What disturbs me about this Christmas / Easter comparison is really quite simple. Two millenia ago the Creator of the Universe came to earth as flesh in the form of the baby Jesus. Today, we celebrate that day by putting up trees and stockings and waiting for a "jolly old elf" to come falling down the chimney. When companies like Target avoid using the word "Christmas" in their advertising campaign in an attempt to be politically correct, faith groups cry out in protest.

Just thirty-three years after that historic miracle, the God-man Jesus Christ died the most painful form of death on a cross on a hill, mocked by soldiers and bystanders, then rose from His grave. Next week we celebrate this miracle sacrifice by giving baskets of candy to our children and hunting for eggs hidden by a bunny. Churches will hold special services on Thursday and Friday as well as Sunday to observe, remember and worship the Savior. Other groups will hunt for eggs and devour chocolate bunnies with never a thought of that torturous death so long ago. Even others will use this special day as a rite of passage from Winter to Spring, a time when old things are made new, even a celebration of fertilty (hence the rabbit). Where is the outcry from the faith groups this season?

I'll grant you that Christmas is arguably the most important date on the calendar. The first Christmas was certainly a date of paramount importance in the grand scheme of things. It's not every day that God steps out of Heaven to physically walk among us. But I invite you to consider the following.

God took on flesh and came to Earth for only one reason: to save us all from our sinful ways. He did that by giving His life on a cross and arising from His grave three days later. Today, we call that Easter -- Resurrection Day. Had Christ not died, He could not have arose. Had He not risen from the dead, we would still be doomed to the eternal death that so many still choose by their very failure to choose.

Without Christ's Resurrection, His birth would be insignificant. It was the very gift of Salvation delivered through His death on that cross and subsequent Resurrection that made His birth such a miracle.

Without Easter, there is no Christmas. Without Christ, there is no hope.

Happy Easter! Rejoice in His Resurrection. Receive the Gift of Salvation.

Your comments?

Joe

AJA Press
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Pass the Salt

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

MATTHEW 5:13 [MSG]

OBSERVATION
We are salt of the earth, enhancing the world with the love of God.

APPLICATION
Am I a pepper? Do I like to spice things up a little bit -- maybe even pouring it on a little thick, so that everyone around me ends up sneezing in repulsion?

Am I salt, enhancing the flavor with a small sprinkle -- maybe even using a larger portion from time to time to preserve and protect?

Or do I just let life run its course, not adding any of my own flavor to the mix?

God has called me to be salt for Him, sprinkling His love and His Word on those I encounter, enhancing their experience a bit. Maybe pouring it on thicker when times are tough, showering others with His love and comfort, preserving and protecting.

Being bland would be easy, just living life and minding my own business. Spicing things up a bit is just a bit more challenging, as it would require involvement but is usually welcome by others who might be seeking their own thrills. Being salt for God -- that's a real challenge. Loving people, even if they don't want to be loved, now that's really taking a chance. Sharing God's love with others can be downright dangerous in some situations (at work, in the government, with strangers, etc.), and requires us to open ourselves up. But, oh, the rewards of seeing someone receive the ultimate preservation and enhancement -- Salvation through Jesus Christ -- and knowing that my salt might have helped them to make their decision of faith.

PRAYER
Father, I want to be salt for You. I want to be used to spread Your Word and Your love -- to enhance and preserve, as You would see fit. Use me, Lord.

Your comments?

Joe

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Selfishly Unworthy

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

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SCRIPTURE
1 After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, "Abraham!"

"Yes?" answered Abraham. "I'm listening."

2 He said, "Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I'll point out to you." 3-5 Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac. He had split wood for the burnt offering. He set out for the place God had directed him. On the third day he looked up and saw the place in the distance. Abraham told his two young servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we'll come back to you."

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac his son to carry. He carried the flint and the knife. The two of them went off together.

7 Isaac said to Abraham his father, "Father?"

"Yes, my son."

"We have flint and wood, but where's the sheep for the burnt offering?"

8 Abraham said, "Son, God will see to it that there's a sheep for the burnt offering." And they kept on walking together.

9-10 They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.

11 Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

"Yes, I'm listening."

12 "Don't lay a hand on that boy! Don't touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn't hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me."

13 Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

GENESIS 22:1-13 [MSG]

OBSERVATION

The Great Provider never fails us.

APPLICATION
How great it must have been for Abraham to have been held in such high favor with God. Even after deceiving Pharoah and Abimelech, Abraham was considered a man of God.

When God put the ultimate test to Abraham, he obeyed. I would lay down my own life in an instant for those I love. But I cannot imagine sacrificing my own son as Abraham was asked to do.

I consider myself a faithful follower of Christ. I try to live as God would want. But in comparison to the faith of Abraham, mine seems to come up wanting.

PRAYER
How, Father, does a person have such faith as Abraham did? He was willing to give his son for You, just as You have given Your Son for me. Thank You for Your grace in light of my unworthiness.

Your comments?

Joe

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Merry Christmas from God!

Christmas is upon us. Once each year across the world this day is set aside as a day of celebration. For many throughout the world, today is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh.

The Birth of Jesus {Matt 1:18-25 [MSG]}

18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—'God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins." This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term:

Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").

24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

The every day miracle of child birth took on a whole new meaning on this day, over two-thousand years ago, when the miracle of childbirth delivered the miracle baby -- the God-baby. Even the wisest among men of that time recognized the event for what it was.

An Event for Everyone {Luke 2:9-20 [MSG]}

8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

Exactly the way they had been told! The miracle of God coming to earth in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ, happened exactly as God had planned. Exactly as it had been foretold by prophets centuries earlier.

{Isaiah 53:1-10 [MSG] (emphasis mine)}

1 Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?

2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him.

7-9He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true.

10 Still, it's what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

The story of the greatest gift of all is not complete with the birth of Jesus Christ, for that gift receives it's greatness through the sacrifice He made for us on the cross.

Jesus Christ died for our sins, and arose, so that there might be no doubt that he was God in the flesh, here to save us from our sins, so that we might spend an eternity with Him.

Merry Christmas, world! May we never forget the meaning of this day.

Your comments?

Joe

Cross posted at Average Joe American.

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True Security

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

SCRIPTURE:

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—  he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day,  nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—  he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121 [NIV]

OBSERVATION: The Lord watched over me.

APPLICATION:

In times of economic turmoil; of government upheaval; of uncertainty about what's coming next, I will not fear. I will not worry about what the world can do to me, for the world can do nothing to me of any consequence in the grand scheme of things. The Lord watches over me, and my soul is secure in His arms.

PRAYER:

Father, Thank You for Your wonderful gift of Salvation, for preparing for me a place in eternity outside the reach of this world.

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Joe

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Going Forth

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

SCRIPTURE:

7-8 Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions: 8-9 "Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple. 10 "And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave. 11 "If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way." 12-13 Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits. Mark 6:7-13 [MSG]

OBSERVATION: Christ has called us to His service. What will our answer be?

APPLICATION:

Christ has called us all to serve, to go forth and spread the Good News throughout the world. Just as when He commissioned the Apostles to go out preaching and healing in His name, He has told us that it would not be easy. He has told us that we would not live in luxury doing His work. He has even told us not to press the issue where we aren't welcome. Only the willing can be saved, and only God can soften a hard heart. Only God can make the unwilling willing.

He may use us, He may not. He may use circumstances to get to the most stalwart resisters. It is not for us to know God's methods, just as the sculpture cannot understand the sculptor's vision. But just as the clay that forms the sculpture must subject itself to the molding of the potter, we, too, must allow the Master to shape us and mold us and use us for His purpose. To go where He sends us, to do as He asks us, all in His glorious name.

PRAYER:

Father, I know that I sometimes resist Your will. I don't always faithfully answer Your call, despite my best intentions. I want to be used by You, Lord. Help me to strip away the excuses and to submit to Your will.

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Joe

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All For His Purpose

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans. Acts 3:17-18 [MSG]
  
• O: God uses all things to His glory and purpose.
  
• A: Just as God used the "trial" and crucifixion of His Son, Jesus Christ, to fulfill His purpose of the gift of salvation, so does He use the events of today for His purpose. We may feel that we're in control, that we choose the leaders whom we feel can best take us into the next decade, but no matter what choices we make -- no matter what the final outcome -- God uses both our successes and our mistakes for His purpose. In the end, for those who have chosen Him, all will be well.
  
• P: Thank You, Father, for having control.
  

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Joe

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Prodigal Son

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.' "So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any. "That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father. "When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.' But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time. "All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.' "The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!' "His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'" Luke 15:11-32 [MSG]
  
• O: No matter how we wander or where we roam, the Father always welcomes us home with open arms.
  
• A: I was saved at the age of twelve. Just a young boy who felt the Spirit move in me during a youth retreat with the Baptist Church my family attended at the time. I had grown up going to church, and it was just a matter of time before I would accept Christ as my Savior, be Baptized, and start my walk with Christ. But as so often happens, I soon found myself headed down a path that surely Christ wasn't leading me down. I experimented in some things that no one should be messing with at that age, especially not someone so new in his faith. Minor things by today's standards, but things I would be embarrassed to have my children learn about. Things I surely don't want them experimenting in. I became very selfish, thinking always of me and my own desires, and rarely of what God wanted from me. As always, my selfish pursuits paid the rewards I was due -- embarrassment, inconvenience, struggle. Well into adulthood, I lived selfishly, pursuing my own desires, wondering why life was so unfair. Until one day, when airplanes struck down America's symbols of success, and I felt the call to return to my roots and visit a church. That was the start of my return to the fold. The Father greeted me warmly, held me, comforted me. He welcomed me home. I'm far from perfect, but have learned to put my God and my family before myself, and life has never been better.
  
• P: Thank You, Father, for welcoming me home and showing me what really matters most. Thank You for family.
  

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Joe

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The Perfect Gift

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?" Luke 11:10-13 [MSG]
  
• O: The gift of Salvation is ours for the asking.
  
• A: Why does God say that all we must do to be saved is ask? Simply believing in Christ as the Son of God who dies for our sins and inviting Him into our hearts is the ticket to Salvation. No tests involved. No preconditions. No cost to us whatsoever, because Jesus already paid the price for us. And it isn't a trick. When my son or daughter ask for something, like a special gift for their birthday, or something like that -- if it's in my power to give, I give it to them. I want my children to be happy and to know that their father loves them so much that he would do anything for them. Even die for them. Our Heavenly Father has that same kind of love for us. So much love that He came to Earth in the form of man and died for us, so that we might live forever. Salvation is the Father's gift to give, and all that we have to do is ask.
  
• P: Father, Thank You for the greatest gift, and for being the perfect model of the kind of father I should be to my children.
  

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Seize The Day

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day." Luke 9:62 [MSG]
  
• O: There is no time to waste.
  
• A: "Seize the day." For there may be no tomorrow. The coming of the Lord is close at hand. It will happen at a time when it is least expected, with no warning. Every day that we live could be our last. Now is the time to accept the gift of salvation. Now is the time to stand up and follow God. Now is the time to share the Word to all the Earth. Now could be the only time we have left. Seize the day.
  
• P: Father, help me to spread Your Word in daily interactions with others. Show me the opportunities. Help me to seize the day, Lord.
  

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Baptism

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire." Luke 3:7-9 [MSG]
  
• O: Baptism by water only is not the key to Salvation.
  
• A: What counts is your life. ... It is your life that must change, not your skin. The practice of immersion Baptism -- being dunked in water -- is a symbol. It is an act of confessing your belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior, and Messiah. It is not by immersion (or any other form of) Baptism that we are saved. We are saved by believing in Jesus Christ. We are saved before we are Baptized. We are then (after receiving Salvation) Baptized for two reasons: 1) because Jesus did it and said that we should, too; 2) it is a tangible act of our confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation without Baptism is still Salvation. Baptism without Salvation is like a bath without soap -- worthless.
  
• P: Father, Thank You for Your Son, for giving us Baptism as the symbol of our sins being washed away by the blood of Christ.
  

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God of Second Chances

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, "If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God's wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name." Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God's commands, staying faithful to Jesus. I heard a voice out of Heaven, "Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!" "Yes," says the Spirit, "and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they've done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end." I saw another Sign in Heaven, huge and breathtaking: seven Angels with seven disasters. These are the final disasters, the wrap-up of God's wrath. I saw something like a sea made of glass, the glass all shot through with fire. Carrying harps of God, triumphant over the Beast, its image, and the number of its name, the saved ones stood on the sea of glass. Revelation 14:9-13; 15:1-2 [MSG]
  
• O: The Beast will rule the earth during the time of Great Tribulation, but will be defeated in the end.
  
• A: Ever the forgiving Father, God gives us a second chance if we are too stubborn to choose His Salvation now. As the Beast rules the earth during the Great Tribulation, controlling all religion, trade, government, everything, those left behind will be forced to accept the mark of the Beast or face death. Those who accept the mark will be doomed to eternal death for rejecting God. Many whose eyes will be opened will hold out, reject the mark, and accept Christ as their Savior. They will be blessed in the end with eternal life. But why wait and suffer to take the second chance? Why not act now? And be with God during the Great Tribulation, safe from the torment of the Beast.
  
• P: Father, thank You for Your wonderful gift of Salvation, and for being so gracious as to even offer a second chance to those who reject You. You are truly an awesome God.
  

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The Coming of the Beast

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: And the Dragon stood on the shore of the sea. I saw a Beast rising from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads—on each horn a crown, and each head inscribed with a blasphemous name. The Beast I saw looked like a leopard with bear paws and a lion's mouth. The Dragon turned over its power to it, its throne and great authority. One of the Beast's heads looked as if it had been struck a deathblow, and then healed. The whole earth was agog, gaping at the Beast. They worshiped the Dragon who gave the Beast authority, and they worshiped the Beast, exclaiming, "There's never been anything like the Beast! No one would dare go to war with the Beast!" The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven. It was permitted to make war on God's holy people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples, tongues and races. Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the world's foundation in the slaughtered Lamb's Book of Life will worship the Beast. Are you listening to this? They've made their bed; now they must lie in it. Anyone marked for prison goes straight to prison; anyone pulling a sword goes down by the sword. Meanwhile, God's holy people passionately and faithfully stand their ground. I saw another Beast rising out of the ground. It had two horns like a lamb but sounded like a dragon when it spoke. It was a puppet of the first Beast, made earth and everyone in it worship the first Beast, which had been healed of its deathblow. This second Beast worked magical signs, dazzling people by making fire come down from Heaven. It used the magic it got from the Beast to dupe earth dwellers, getting them to make an image of the Beast that received the deathblow and lived. It was able to animate the image of the Beast so that it talked, and then arrange that anyone not worshiping the Beast would be killed. It forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything. Solve a riddle: Put your heads together and figure out the meaning of the number of the Beast. It's a human number: 666. Revelation 13 [MSG]
  
• O: The Beast will wage war on the inhabitants of Earth. His False Prophet will use magic he gets from the Beast to dupe them. They will worship the image of the Beast.
  
• A: Our current political climate is intense. Presidential elections always create quite a stir, but it seems especially so this time around. Many Bible scholars predict that we are now in the "last days," the times leading up to the Second Coming of Christ and the Great Tribulation. My wife and I had a political discussion as we drove home from church yesterday. Interestingly enough, this discussion seemed to cross the divide between politics and religion. We spoke of the coming of the Beast -- the Antichrist. We spoke of the Bible prophecies of this event. We spoke of the current political scene in America. We have two Presidential candidates in America who have a viable chance of winning the election in November. One candidate who has given his entire life to the service of his country. Another candidate who has only recently risen to national prominence. One candidate whose rallies bring chants of "USA! USA!" The second candidate whose rallies bring chants of his name, over and over and over. One candidate who has a loyal following of similarly-minded people. The second candidate who is surrounded by the masses of the disillusioned looking for a savior, a candidate whose image is plastered on tee-shirts and signs everywhere you look, emblazoned with promises of hope and change. One candidate who is a national hero. The other candidate who is more like a rock star. I'm not implying that either of these two candidates could be the up-and-coming Antichrist. I'm not saying that the False Prophet is among us. Biblical prophecy of the end times makes no mention of the United States, nor of any country that appears to be the U.S. Could that be because the U.S. will have seen it's demise before the coming of the Beast? A patriotic America led by a Conservative Christian who believes in Jesus Christ as his Savior might conceivably take a stance in opposition to the Beast. It stands to reason that prophecy might require the elimination of that opposing American force before the rise of the Antichrist. My wife and I spoke of these things, and how today's political landscape could to some appear to be the beginning of the end. I'm no doomsayer. I'm not afraid of the Antichrist, because I've been saved by the blood of Christ. But it sure does make for some interesting discussion.
  
• P: Father, as we draw one day closer every day to the return of the Messiah and the rise of the Antichrist, help us to weigh carefully and to choose wisely, both as we choose our next President and -- hopefully -- as we choose Your Son as our Savior.
  

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One Way

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: The remaining men and women who weren't killed by these weapons went on their merry way—didn't change their way of life, didn't quit worshiping demons, didn't quit centering their lives around lumps of gold and silver and brass, hunks of stone and wood that couldn't see or hear or move. There wasn't a sign of a change of heart. They plunged right on in their murderous, occult, promiscuous, and thieving ways. Revelation 9:20-21 [MSG]
  
• O: Despite all of the signs and warnings from God, the human race continues full throttle on a course of sin and death.
  
• A: We are nearing the end of times. Every day just one day closer to the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, returning to collect His faithful. And every day the world continues on the path of sin that started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We bury ourselves deeper and deeper into promiscuity, idolatry, adultery, murder, thievery, lies, and blasphemy. We blindly and deafly disregard the warnings and prophecies of what such behavior will bring for us and continue on our paths of self-destruction. Though it is prophesied and will come a day when those left behind reap the full wrath of God for their sinful ways (and failure to turn to Him), it's not too late to be on the right side. Just as God has warned us of the wages of sin, He has also promised us a chance at eternal life. This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him. John 3:16-18 [MSG] There is only One Way to spend eternity with a loving God and avoid the wrath of an angry God. The choice is ours to make.
  
• P: Father, as I see the prophecies of the end times played out in my own lifetime, I rejoice in the Salvation You gave me through Your Son Jesus Christ. Though I know that many will be left behind for a time of Great Tribulation, use me as You will to reduce that number and grow the Kingdom.
  

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The Lord Will Return

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: I turned and saw the voice. I saw a gold menorah with seven branches, And in the center, the Son of Man, in a robe and gold breastplate, hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, both feet furnace-fired bronze, His voice a cataract, right hand holding the Seven Stars, His mouth a sharp-biting sword, His face a perigee sun. I saw this and fainted dead at His feet. His right hand pulled me upright, His voice reassured me: "Don't fear: I am First, I am Last, I'm Alive. I died, but I came to life, and My life is now forever. Revelation 1: 12-18 [MSG] O LORD, what is man that You care for him, the son of man that You think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow. Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke. Send forth lightning and scatter {the enemies}; shoot Your arrows and rout them. Reach down Your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. Psalm 144:3-8 [NIV]
  
• O: Jesus Christ is returning, and the time is drawing near.
  
• A: The time is drawing near. That's what Bible scholars tell us. That's what the Bible teaches us. Jesus Christ is returning soon, in all of His majestic glory, and God's wrath will be unleashed on the Enemy. But what does "drawing near" mean? To God, a day is like a thousand years, a thousand years are like a day. Our finite minds cannot measure time from God's perspective. We created the 24 hour day, the 30 day month, the 365 day year. As God measures time, the Lord could return any day. And when He returns, He will collect His followers and take them to Paradise with Him. Those who have rejected Him will remain for a time of Great Tribulation. Life will not be easy then. Where will you be? Are you prepared for the Lord's return? Or for a time of Great Tribulation? The choice is Yours.
  
• P: Father, while those of us who choose You are ready for Your Son to return, there are so many who aren't ready. Use us, Lord, to reach them for You.
  

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God is Knocking

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}

• S: 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. We 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! This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth—we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin. If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. 1 John 1 [MSG]
  
• O: "The infinite life of God Himself took shape before us."
  
• A: Different denominations of the Christian faith will sometimes engage in a dangerous debate. Was Jesus Christ a prophet? The Son of God? Or God Himself in the form of man? This question is answered several places in the Bible, though the answer often goes overlooked. Jesus Christ was God made man. Not "God-made man" (that would be Adam and all the rest of us), but God, made man. God made into a man. God in the flesh -- in the form of man. Emmanuel: God with us. Some stumble with the fact that Jesus referred to "the Father," meaning God -- even prayed to Him -- during His time on Earth. Does this mean that He prayed to Himself, or that He was not actually God in the flesh? If you are a believer of God and follower of Jesus, then you likely know that God is everywhere. Meaning that He was here, on Earth, as Jesus, and at the same time in Heaven, as the Father. If we believe that God has the power needed to have spoken the world into existence, why must we think that He might be limited by things of His own creation -- such as time, space, and the physical realm? Such a powerful God certainly isn't limited by the things of Earth. God is everywhere, all the time. Looking over my shoulder as I write this. Looking over yours as you read it. Hopefully living in your heart. Or certainly, at the very least, knocking and asking you to invite Him in. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 [KJV] Will you open the door and invite Him in?
  
• P: Father God, You are truly an awesome God, Creator of all things, in all places at all times. By Your awesome power You existed as both God and man at the same time. You died for us and live today, so that we might live forever with You. Knock, Lord. Knock loudly, so that others might hear, answer, and invite You in, to experience the awesome power of Your endless love.
  

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