A Christmas Story Quiz

In October, we shot a Christmas video with children from our Wednesday After School Program (WASP). These are kids in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. We'll premiere the video at our church's Christmas Eve program this month. We sat the children down and asked them questions about the Christmas story. Overall, they did quite well recalling the story of the Nativity. However, some of their answers raised an eyebrow. 

Here is a quiz on the Christmas story based on some of the children's answers. Good luck. 

1. What 3 gifts did the Wisemen bring baby Jesus?
• Gold, Diamonds, Gun Powder
• Gold, Frankenstein, Myrrh
• Baby Food, Diapers, Baby Stuff
• Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh
2. What is Christmas all about?
• Family
• Birthdays
• Jesus
• Sharing together and most importantly, Have Fun!
3. Where was baby Jesus born?
• In a Spot
• In a hut
• In a shed
• In a tiny cabin
• In a barn
• In a mini shack
4. Where did the Wisemen come from?
• China
• The Castle
• India
• The East
5. What did Mary ride to Bethlehem?
• A donkey
• A camel
• A horse
• She pulled a donkey
6. How did King Herod feel when he heard that was a new king?
• He was mad-ish
• He was angry
• He wanted to KILL him.
7. Why was Jesus born in a barn?
• They didn't have enough money
• The hospital was full
• They didn't have a plan
• There was no room in the Inn

Thanks for taking the short Christmas quiz. You can read the Christmas story in Luke 2 or Matthew 1-2 and get all the facts there. Don't forget to join us for our Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 PM at the Kalkaska Church of Christ to catch the Children's Christmas video. If you can't make it, we'll be posting the video to our socials. Merry Christmas!

Boosting Your Faith: 3 Practical Steps

Faith is defined by dictionary.com as "confidence in a person or thing." When we are talking about the Christian faith, we are putting our faith in God (the person) and the Bible (the thing). Confidence is a term that can be increased or decreased like a thermostat. We can turn a thermostat in our home up to give us more heat. Likewise, if someone turns the thermostat down, the temperature will change accordingly. Placing our confidence in a person or a thing can begin minimally with the goal of increasing that confidence over time. 

In the parable of the persistent widow found in Luke 8:1-8, Jesus tells the story of a woman who will not give up. It's about prayer and faith. The woman kept going to a judge to seek justice against her adversary. At first, he refused, but finally relented because of the woman's persistence. Jesus comments that "his chosen ones" also need to pray to Him with the same persistence and fervor. This type of prayer demonstrates great faith. 

The conclusion Jesus gives should concern all of us. He says, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" 

Is it going to become so difficult on earth that people struggle to have faith in God and His word?! While it is difficult to measure someone's subjective faith, current trends are showing declines in church attendance, and those self-identifying as "practicing Christians." These key metrics could indicate a weakening in our faith. How do we keep our faith strong? Here are 3 practical steps from scripture.

1. Read the Word of God Regularly - "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Romans 10:17) Have a regular plan to read, meditate, and study the Bible, God's word. This practice will increase your faith. 
2. Cultivate your faith - No matter how small your faith is today, it can still be put into practice and grow. Jesus tells his apostles in Matthew 17:20-21, "...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Don't discredit a small amount of faith. We all had to start somewhere. Cultivate your faith by putting it into practice and watching it grow. 
3. Find the Faith of a Child - When Jesus was rebuked by his disciples for holding babies brought to him, he responded by calling a child over and saying, "...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Luke 18:15-17; Matthew 18:3) One of the greatest attributes of a child is their faith. They believe everything they are told. Their innocence is still intact and they have no reason not to believe. Believe the words of God and you'll find yourself nearing the kingdom of heaven. 

May Jesus find faith on the earth when He returns. May those who are called Christians be moving mountains with child-like faith as they spend time reading and meditating on God's Word. May your faith increase as you become more sure of what you hope for and certain of what you don't see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Spicing it up with Change

I've decided to change the name of my blog. My invisible blog. LOL It was called "Writer's Block." It wasn't easy to find. In fact, when I Google "Writer's Block" my blog does not come up. Go figure. The term "Writer's Block" has been circulating for decades so that may have something to do with it. 

Anyway, the new title of my blog is "Christian Living in the Digital Age." This is a blog where I write about the Christian faith, technology, family, and the church. So I think this title better describes my content. 

Change is important and many times effective in bringing new eyes to your content or product. I just had lunch at McDonalds and would you know it, they have two new dipping sauces:

• Sweet & Spicy Jam Sauce: A jammy red pepper sauce with a tongue-numbing Szechuan peppercorn kick and extra heat from cayenne pepper; finished with apple cider vinegar. 
• Mambo Sauce: A tomato-based, sweet, spicy and vinegary sauce; inspired by the regional Washington, D.C. area sauce staple.

Why does McDonalds change up their sauces, pies, and menu over and over again? Because it brings new excitement to their customers! I was in Costco recently and encountered the same thing. They had moved their products all around in the warehouse! The coffee isle was clear over on the other side of the store! In this case, I was more frustrated than excited. But this is another reason for change...to get people to move down areas they might have long neglected. I hiked up and down other isles seeking a case of water. 

How does this apply to faith and the church? By changing the gospel message's packaging, we can create excitement. We can also move people into neglected areas of their lives. Let me unpack both of these ideas.

Change the presentation of the gospel - Use current, modern, relatable illustrations to share the message of Christ. Challenge people to think differently (Thank you, Apple). See faith from a different angle, a different perspective. Of course, we will never change the core message of the gospel, but we can change our means of conveying it to people.

Move what people are seeking in a church - For decades the church used to have a Sunday morning Sunday School for kids and adults. Now, the teaching that used to be available on Sunday mornings might be in the form of a small group or a larger men's or women's ministry meeting. Another example is the Sunday bulletin. Many churches have done away with a paper bulletin and instead provide a digital copy or an App to find sermon notes and announcements. 

Just like me searching for water at Costco, people are still seeking Biblical teaching. By mixing it up you'll find more engagement as people explore different ways to learn scripture and apply it to their lives. 

Salvation Confusion

If you listen to one preacher give an invitation to "invite Jesus into your life," he might lead you in a prayer. If you listen to another preacher prodding you to become a Christian, he might be telling you to be baptized. Yet another preacher might tell you to "Believe in your heart" and you will be saved. If these preachers are all Christian, Bible-believing men, then why the confusion? Why are they offering what appears to be conflicting invitations? I'm glad you asked.

Salvation in the Christian faith basically comes down to 2 things: The act of Jesus Christ on our behalf and our decision to accept it. Here is a chart showcasing what Jesus did along with what we must do. 

What Jesus Did	What Man Does
Shed His blood - Acts 20:28 Gives grace - Acts 15:11 Gave us mercy - Titus 3:5 Reconciled us with God - Romans 5:10  Justify's us - Galatians 2:16,17 Forgives our sins - Acts 2:38 Died on the cross - Philippians 2:8	Hears the Gospel message - Romans 10:17 Believes in Jesus - Mark 16:16 Repents of his sins - 2 Corinthians 7:10 Confesses Jesus is the Christ - Romans 10:9,10 Calls on the Lord - Acts 22:16 Is immersed (baptized) - Mark 16:16 Endures in the faith - Mark 13:13

Jesus' part of our salvation was completed when He died innocently on a Roman cross over 2000 years ago. His blood was shed. The Jewish law was fulfilled. Death was conquered. Grace and mercy was now available to all mankind. 

Man's part of salvation is sometimes confusing because we put pockets of time between the different elements. These have been called mistakenly "steps" of salvation and that is confusing. Rather a better term would be the "act" of salvation. Believing, repenting, confessing, calling, and being baptized is what a person does to be saved. Pastors do a great disservice to people when they offer an invitation to salvation and only require those who respond to say a prayer (Confess, Call). Likewise a preacher who only invites people to be baptized is equally in error by omitting belief, repentance, confession, and other elements of the salvation act. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his classic Christian book, "The Cost of Discipleship," coined a term "cheap grace." He described it as an invitation to Jesus without any effort on man's part. Forgiveness without repentance. Confessions without commitment. Baptism without denial of self. In summary, Dietrich was describing a faith that cost Jesus everything and cost us nothing. Essentially, cheapening God's grace. 

God's offer of salvation - eternal life in heaven with Him through Jesus Christ is priceless. Let's not lessen our part in obtaining this salvation by leaving out clear scriptural elements on the part of the believer. 

Be Still

"Be still and know that I am the LORD" - Psalm 46:10

God does His best work in us when we are still. When we cease our activity, God is there. 

You may think that since this verse is in the Psalms, it was written by David. But you would be wrong. The author of Psalm 46 is attributed to the "sons of Korah." 

Remember Korah? He led the rebellion against Moses while they were wandering in the Wilderness. God made the earth open up and swallowed him along with all his followers. Yes, that's Korah. 

Now we see the sons of Korah writing the words, "Be still and know that I am the LORD." What a 180 turn-around. Instead of leading a prideful revolt against Moses and Aaron, the sons of Korah are now peacefully promoting patience and remaining calm. While their father may have been advocating his own agenda, the sons are listening to the LORD. 

Regardless of your family connections, you can still devote your life to God by being still and obeying Him. It was Korah's pride that lead to his downfall (way down), but complaining is also dangerous when you are trying to follow God.  Check out what Moses and Aaron had to deal with. 

After Moses lead the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, they found themselves encamped between Migdol and the Red Sea. Pharoah had changed his mind and sent his chariots after them. The Israelites were pinned in with no way to escape. They said, "It would have better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Moses answered the people saying, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." It was after those words, that God parted the Red Sea so the people could walk safely through it. 

Does your pride ever get in the way of following God? Are you more apt to complain than compliment? Is your life just a blur of busyness? Do you quietly cringe when someone invites you to yet another event? Do you turn off your cell phone occasionally or are you subject to endless notifications? If so, maybe you need to put on the brakes and learn how to be still. 

It's difficult in our world today to simply be still. To turn off the noise. To clear out the clutter. Yet, once we allow our pulse to rest, we can begin to know the LORD. 

Exploring ChatGPT from Openai for church

Today I received an article in my email inbox titled, "5 insanely practical ways for churches to use AI." That is ironic because I was going to try to use the most popular AI, called ChatGPT to write this week's E-News article.  ChatGPT is self-defined as "an AI-powered language model developed by OpenAI, capable of generating human-like text based on context and past conversations."

ChatGPT can literally carry on a conversation with you, teach you a new language, write copy for advertising, summarize an article for you, and so much more. Its capabilities are just now being discovered as more companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Adobe incorporate it into their products. 

So, just for fun, let's see how ChatGPT does in helping write this E-News article. I'll type in what is called a "prompt" and will share with you what the response is. 

My Prompt: "What Bible passage should we look at for a weekly e-news article?"

ChatGTP Response: For a weekly e-news article, you may consider exploring various Bible passages based on the theme or topic you want to address. Here are a few suggestions for popular themes:

• Hope and Encouragement: Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
• Faith and Trust: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
• Love and Compassion: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
• Wisdom and Guidance: James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
• Gratitude and Thankfulness: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

My Prompt: "Could you elaborate on #1?"

ChatGTP Response: Certainly! Let's delve deeper into Romans 15:13, which is a powerful verse that conveys a message of hope and encouragement. Here's an elaboration on this passage:

Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

In this verse, the apostle Paul addresses the believers in Rome, expressing his desire that they experience the fullness of hope, joy, and peace through their trust in God. Let's break it down further:

• "God of hope": This phrase emphasizes God's nature as the source and embodiment of hope. It signifies that God is the ultimate foundation and provider of hope in our lives."
• Fill you with all joy and peace": Here, Paul expresses his wish that God's abundant joy and deep peace would permeate the lives of the believers. It highlights the transformative power of God's presence, which brings inner contentment and tranquility."
• As you trust in him": Trusting in God is essential for experiencing the fullness of joy, peace, and hope. It involves surrendering our worries, fears, and uncertainties to God, relying on His faithfulness and promises."
• So that you may overflow with hope": Through trusting in God, believers can experience an overflow of hope. This surpassing hope goes beyond mere optimism or wishful thinking. It is a confident expectation and assurance in God's promises and purposes, even in the midst of challenges and difficulties."
• By the power of the Holy Spirit": The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the believers' lives, empowering and enabling them to experience the abundant hope, joy, and peace that God provides. The Holy Spirit works within individuals, guiding, comforting, and transforming them.

In summary, Romans 15:13 encapsulates a prayerful desire for believers to be filled with hope, joy, and peace through their trust in God, leading to an overflow of hope in their lives. It reminds us that our hope comes from God, and as we rely on Him, He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to experience a deep sense of joy, peace, and hope in all circumstances.

My Prompt: "How can I apply Romans 15:13 to my everyday life?"

ChatGPT Response: Applying Romans 15:13 to your everyday life involves incorporating its message of hope, joy, and peace into your thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Here are a few practical ways to apply this verse:

• Cultivate a mindset of hope: Remind yourself regularly that God is the source of hope. When faced with challenges or uncertainties, choose to trust in His promises and His faithfulness. Fill your mind with positive and uplifting thoughts that align with God's Word.
• Seek joy and peace through God: Make it a priority to spend time in prayer and reading the Bible, seeking God's presence and guidance. As you deepen your relationship with Him, you'll experience His joy and peace that surpasses understanding. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in you, transforming your thoughts and emotions.
• Practice gratitude: Develop a habit of gratitude by intentionally focusing on the blessings in your life. Express thankfulness to God for His goodness, provision, and the people around you. Gratitude helps cultivate a positive outlook and enhances your experience of joy and peace.
• Trust in God's sovereignty: When faced with challenges or uncertainties, surrender your worries and anxieties to God. Trust that He is in control and has a purpose for everything you encounter. Choose to rely on His wisdom and guidance, even when circumstances may seem difficult.
• Share hope with others: As you experience the hope, joy, and peace that God provides, extend it to others. Encourage and uplift those around you who may be going through challenging times. Share your testimony and the ways God has worked in your life to inspire and bring hope to others.
• Reflect God's hope in your actions: Let the hope you have in Christ shine through your actions and interactions with others. Be a source of encouragement, compassion, and support to those in need. Reflect God's love and grace in your relationships, demonstrating the transformative power of hope.

Remember that applying Romans 15:13 is an ongoing process that requires intentional effort and reliance on God's strength. By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you can experience the fullness of hope, joy, and peace that God desires for you.

I'm blown away by what ChatGPT can produce. And it does so in seconds. This is definitely one way of using it in the church. Now, I'm going to read that article and see what ways it suggests to use AI in the church, which I've come to learn, was written by ChatGPT too!

Faith in action - The Sheep and the Goats

The Sheep and the Goats - Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus tells a parable in the gospel of Matthew about Judgment Day when all the nations will be gathered before him. He says this will happen when the "Son of Man" returns to the earth. In essence, He is saying, "Ok. Time's up. Game's over. Let's see how we did." 

The King, Jesus, proceeds to separate all the people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into two groups. One, the "sheep" or the righteous, are the good group. And the other, the "goats", are the bad group. His criteria for dividing the groups is interesting. It isn't based on talent, status, or finances, but rather based on how people responded to those in society that were the least, the lowest, and the weakest. 

King Jesus addresses those on His right and says, I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, and in prison and you cared for me. You met my needs. You took me in. You visited me. Looking at the King, the righteous ask when they would have done that for Him. 

To their amazement, Jesus answers them with words that transcend our understanding, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."And then He added, "Enter into your heavenly rest." 

Then He says to those on His left, the goats, I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, and in prison and you did nothing for me. Again the question is, when? After all, we wouldn't have passed you by, Jesus. His response was, "I tell you, whatever you failed to do for one of the least of my brothers of mine, you failed to do for me. Depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." 

The righteous will go on to eternal life; but the complacent, into eternal punishment. 

This is the only description of judgment day that we have in scripture. Does it jive with other teaching in the Bible? Yes, I think so. 

James, the brother of Jesus writes about a deedless faith in 2:14 says, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" 

Paul writes in his letter to the Galatian church that a Christian living by the Spirit of God will demonstrate "Fruits" of the faith. Namely, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23). These "Fruits of the Spirit" are best displayed through acts of kindness such as caring for the least of these. Those who cannot easily care for themselves. 

How do we care for those around us who need it?

• See them - We don't live in a culture where we "see" each other very well. You can go through your entire day and never "see" another person even though they are all around you. But simply observing someone, and watching what are they doing, where they are going, their facial expressions, etc, will give you hints about their condition. Strike up a conversation. Get to know them and their life.  
• The needs are visible. It's written on their face, it's in their voice. Nakedness, sickness, and being in prison are all very visible conditions. As you observe people, you will notice their needs. Chat with them and take an interest in them and what they value. It's likely they will share their needs with you once they feel comfortable with you.
• Ask if you can help. Be humble. Be kind. If you can meet a need, ask the person if they are open to receiving your help. Some may say, "Thank you, but I'm okay." Even if that is their response, you can leave the door open by saying something like, "Well, if you ever need something, let me know."

If you will look and SEE people, their needs will become visible to you. Ask if you can help and see the incarnate Jesus in them by serving them.