Genuine Motivation: Young Christian Man Dec 10

8/8/2019 Genuine Motivation: Young Christian Man Dec 10

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Y O U N G C H R I S T I A N MDEC 2010

GENUINE MOTIV TIONV

BE CHRISTMASTO THE WORLD!

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3/18

Art + CreAtive DireCtor / MIKE MURO & DANIELA BERMDEZ

Editor in ChiEf/ ROB BEAMEs

a publication of on My own now Ministries
http://www.genmo.wordpress.com/


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5/18

As you may know, most of my life Ive been a Scroogeabout Christmas. While I still sometimes struggle

with that, I am a lot better. Im not sure why. Maybeits because Im growing in Christ, maybe my wifesChristmas spirit is transforming me or it could be thatIm no longer a pastor with all the work a pastor hasto do at Christmas.

However, I think the real reason Im a bit more intoChristmas is that God has been teaching me that Idont have to be so much in control. Actually, its adeeper lesson than that. Hes teaching me that myefforts to control things are silly because I never wasand never will be in control of anything.

Let me give you a nontraditional Christmas text, apowerful statement about the incarnation of God inChrist. Paul said in Philippians 2:5-11:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yoursin Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form ofGod, did not count equality with God a thing to begrasped, but made himself nothing, taking the formof a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Andbeing found in human form, he humbled himself by

becoming obedient to the point of death, even deathon a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and

bestowed on him the name that is above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, andevery tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to theglory of God the Father.

Talk about going to a dangerous place without anyweapons or any control...Thats what the incarnationwas all about. Paul said that Jesus made himselfnothing, taking the form of a servant, being born inthe likeness of men and that he humbled himself.The world has always been a dangerous place forbabies...and God became a baby.


6/18

The reason Christmas is such a wonderful time is becauseit is the time we set apart to remember how much Godloved His people. It was the time when God came tous because we couldnt come to Him. It was the timewhen God told us He wasnt angry and that He wouldlove us without reservation and without condition. Itwas the time when God took the armor off and became

vulnerable to the worst we could do to him.

A long while back, our grandchildren were with us inFlorida. Jennifer, their mother, tried her best to get thegirls to eat quickly because they needed to get out thedoor and were running late.

She tried begging, she tried telling them how good thefood was and she told them that, if they didnt eat, theywouldnt get to go out. Everything she tried didnt work.

So I decided to x it. In my deepest and most authoritativevoice I said, Girls! Eat the food or Im going to breakyour face!

It got very quiet around the dinner table. Then Christy,who was 5-years-old at the time, started laughing. Shesaid, Pops, I know you. You would never break my face!

Christmas is the time when God let us know what Hewas really like. He went to a lot of trouble to tell usthat He wouldnt break our faces. When we understandthat and say, Father, I know you now. You would neverbreak my face, I suspect He is as delighted as I was withChristys understanding that her Pops loved her andwould never hurt her.

Of course, you already knew that. Christmas is Gods gift

to us. But let me tell you something perhaps you didntknow: We are called to be Gods gift to one another andto the world. Note that Paul said, Have this mind amongyourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. In otherwords, Christmas is not only the gift of God to us; it isour call to be a gift to one another and to the world. It isthe model of what we are supposed to be.

How do we become Christmas to others? The same wayJesus became Christmas for us.

JESUS WAS DEFENSELESS.Jesus didnt try to protect Himself. He made himselfnothing.

I dont know about you, but I spend a lot of my timetrying to defend myself and God. I know. Thats silly anda bit neurotic. I dont have anything to defend and Goddoesnt need any defending He was doing ne longbefore I came along.

I spent a lot of time recently talking to a dear friend whowas feeling horribly guilty about something he did almost19 years ago. He said that there was no excuse for whathe had done. I told him, Of course there was no excuseYoure a sinner and, as Paul said to the Romans, you haveno excuse. But God loves you and has forgiven you. Justdont pretend to be anything other than what you are...aman without an excuse.

That is what it means to be defenseless. In Jesus case,it was because He chose to be defenseless. In our case,it is because we really are. We dont have to pretendto be better than we are to our brothers and sisters inChrist or to the world to which we have been sent. Itis our gift to them. If we pretend to be better than weare, if we defend ourselves, if we put on our emotionaand spiritual armor, they will think that Christmas is onlyfor good people who are very religious. Until we becomedefenseless without excuse, without armor we will beonly a curse to one another and to the world.

JESUS WAS DEMOTED.Paul said that Jesus took the form of a servant.

Have you ever thought that we are here for them in thesame way that Jesus was here for us? Its true. We thinkthat we are special because we are Christians. Beingspecial in the army at boot camp and as a Christian meanpretty much the same thing...We clean the latrines.

GM :06


7/18

In His teaching the parable of the Good Samaritan, Iheard a preacher make the following observation: Thethieves said, What you have is mine, I will take it. Thereligious leaders who passed by said, What is mine ismine and you cant have it. The Good Samaritan said,What is mine is yours and, if you need it, you can haveit.

We are called to be Christmas to one another and to theworld...and the way we do that is by being a servant theway Jesus was a servant.

JESUS WAS DETERMINED.He knew the end of the story. Paul said, Therefore,God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him thename that is above every name...

Its the same with us. We will be exalted not because of

who we are, but because of whose we are. At Christmas,God said to us that this world isnt all there is and thatsomeday we will have the mother of all parties...aChristmas party that will last all year long.

So, Merry Christmas! Enjoy the tree, the parties, thefamily, the celebration and the gifts.

I know, I know. The really religious people will tell youthat youre supposed to be very serious at Christmas.They are wrong and, because they are wrong, they willnever be able to be vulnerable and free enough to bea Christmas for anybody else. Enjoying Christmas andbeing Christmas are sort of like dancing. You cant thinkabout it. You just have to let go and do it.

Yeah, its really crazy to be defenseless in a dangerousworld. You can get killed.

Its really crazy to be a servant and to not care aboutpower. We really do have to look out for ourselves bylording it over one another.

Being Christmas to one another and to the world is reallycrazy...crazy like a fox.

Reprinted with permission. Scripture quotations are from the English Standar Version of the Bible.

Steve Brown is a radio broadcaster, seminaryprofessor and author. He previously served as a pastor for

more than 25 years and now devotes much of his time

to radio broadcast, Key Life and Key Life Magazine.

Steve Brown is a radio broadcaster, seminary professor and

author. With such varied experience and unique perspective

on life, Steve is an original. He refuses to be a guru,

doesnt want to be anyones mother and stresses, in his

teaching, the freedom to think. Overall, Steve has become

known for his refreshing and practical Biblical applications.

Steve serves as professor of Preaching at Reformed

Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He sits on the

board of the National Religious Broadcasters and Harvest

USA. Traveling extensively, Steve is a much-in-demand

speaker. He has authored numerous books including Born

Free, When Being Good Isn t Good Enough and When Your

Rope Breaks. His articles appear in such magazines and

journals as Leadership, Decision, Plain Truth and Todays

Christian Woman.

GM:07
http://www.keylife.org/register/http://www.keylife.org/register/http://www.keylife.org/register/http://www.keylife.org/register/


8/18

by Randy Kosloski

GOD IS LOVE, NOT VICE VERSA

on

thecouch


9/18

IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE.

GENESIS 2:18


10/18

SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS

OF SEX

BY THOM MOLLOHAN


11/18

Do you not know that your bodies

are members of Christ Himself? Shall

I then take the members of Christ and

unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do

you not know that he who unites him-

self with a prostitute is one with her in

body? For it is said, The two will be-

come one esh

1 CORINTHIANS6:15-16


12/18

HOMEMAY GOD BLESS THE HELL OUT OF YOUBY THE MERRY MONK

When Im alone, when Ive thrown off the weightof this crazy stone, when Ive lost all care for the

things I ownthats when I miss you. Thats whenI miss you, you who are my home.

Alexi Murdoch


13/18

In the midst of my despair, I hear my Fathersvoice calling me, Son?Here I am.Youre wandering again.Well, what do You expect? Im trying to nd

rest.Come away with Me and youll recover yourlife. Ill show you how to take a proper rest.Walk with Me and watch how I do it. Learnthe unforced rhythms of grace. I wont layanything heavy or ill-tting on you. Keep inMy company and youll learn to live free andlightly.In tears I reply, I cant. I know my home isout here somewhere. I have to nd it.Alright, but when you get tired, you should

know that home isnt a place and its not aroad. Home is a person. I am Home. Come toMe and nd rest.With more tears, I respond, But Im so proneto wander.If you insist...I am the road, too. I am theWay Home. Come walk along Me.But Im tired.Then I hear laughter, Either way, I will neverleave you or forsake you!This brings a smile through my tears, Is

there any hope for me?Sure there is, but youre wandering again.Werent you writing an article?Oh yeah, I was.

Like a bird that wanders fromher nest, so is a man who wan-ders from his home.

Proverbs 27:8 (NASB)


14/18

WRESTLING

AWITHA

PRIDE

A A A A APRESS ON BY WILL DOLE A A A A A

There is an old fable about two roosters who ght overwho would be king of the barnyard. Eventually one of theroosters gains the upper hand in the contest, as the otherone withdraws and slinks away to a corner. The winnergoes straight to the highest point of the yard and deantlycrows about his newly found barnyard dominanceHowever, his taunting is cut short when suddenly an eagleswoops down and carries off the winner, clutched in histalons. The loser is left to rule the roost in the end.


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16/18GM:16

x

ITSNOTYOU

Q PEST CONTROL FOR YOUR SINSBY ROBERT BEAMES
http://genmoycm.wordpress.com/category/pest-control/http://genmoycm.wordpress.com/category/pest-control/


17/18GM:17

SIN HAS

DEVASTATING IMPLICATIONSFOR US AND FOR THOSE AROUND US,

but ouridentityis not wrapped up in it.x


18/18

So whats next for you? If youre nearing graduation or

recently graduated, you probably get this question a lot.

Its disconcerting to not know how to answer it. Resistthe pressure to plan out your life, but dont completely

wing it either. Being prepared for the next step can help

us accomplish life goals and save money. The early bird

gets the worm, so be ready to jump right into the coming

attraction in your life, which may be one of these.

College BoundSitting out a semester can be depressing if your

aim was set on college. Though online applications

processes and on-demand testing centers have made

college deadlines easier to meet, you still stand to save

money and get better nancial aid the earlier you apply.

So keep these musts in mind.

Tests: Most colleges in the U.S. require standardized

test scores from either the SAT or ACT for admission.

The tests are offered every few months with registration

dates occurring about a month before the test dates

otherwise there could be late fees. Start with seeing

when college applications are due, then pick a test date

about six months in advance. The test can be taken

multiple times so getting an early start means you can

try again if you dont do well on the rst test.

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a

U.S. government form required for most nancial aid

and loans. The online deadline for the 2010-11 school

year was June 30, 2010, so after your parents (or you, if

youre independent) le taxes is a good time to visit the

FASFA web site and complete the app while youve got

the tax info handy.

Scholarships: Many competitive scholarships have

very early deadlineswith many coming up quickly in

January or February, if they havent already passed!

They often require essays, letters of recommendation

or transcripts. Getting a head start will surely make

for a better essay and if you dont pressure people for

recommendations, they might write something nicer!

Admissions: My colleges deadline for enrolling is just

before classes start. But there are several reasons

you might want to apply before the early-registration

deadline, such as getting preferential housing, or the

classes you want or need. Popular classes and general

requirement classes ll up fast.

Finally, are there any other requirements, things you

should be doing now, or classes you should take which

will better prepare you for college?

Continuing CollegeRegistration for classes next semester has already

started at my school. Reviewing graduationrequirements, major requirements and what

prerequisites they may have each semester before

you sign up for classes, will not only prepare you for

registration, it could save you from having to take an

extra semester at what you hoped would be the end of

your college career, or having to take killer semesters to

graduate on time. Also, sometimes scheduling conicts

are inevitable and classes can ll up quickly. The earlier

we start, the easier those problems will be to resolve.

Money too tight? Not all nancial aid and scholarships

are for freshmen. There may be several options

available for upperclassmen as well. Ask around well inadvance of the following year!

GraduatesGraduate school: Many of the same things apply to

graduate school as well as college, including taking

standardized tests early, applying to your top pick schoo

early and for nancial aid.

Resume: Before you apply for any career-level job or

go to any interview, developing a resume is a must.

Although the process of building the content of your

resume can take place over several days, it will be

necessary to condense that into a professional lookingdocument, highlighting things that present you as a good

choice for a future employee. Dont create your resume

in a vacuum. You probably dont need to hire a resume

service, but ask a friend with good taste and common

sense for help, or at very least, check other examples

online to see what a decent resume looks like.

Interviews: Many companies visit campuses for

interviews several months ahead of graduation. Check

with teachers and watch campus bulletin boards for

information.

Job fairs: Dress nice and attend! Job fairs are an

opportunity to network and nd new companies that youmay have never considered working for before.

Its way too easy to procrastinate on these important

matters, but doing things last-minute might mean

missing a full-tuition scholarship or nding out the

position you wanted is already lled. Theres too much at

stake.

For all of our coming attractions, we should remember

early on to seek Gods guidance before we act. Then act

accordingly, and quickly.
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Genuine Motivation: Young Christian Man Dec 10

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