From Bunny To Lion

On the night Jesus was arrested by Roman soldiers, His once-devoted, brave disciples split and ran in all directions. Even Peter, whom Jesus called the Rock because of his solid faith, denied he even knew Jesus. For days after the Crucifixion, they hid-out in a secret room, afraid of the angry mobs and Jewish leaders. Would they be killed next? How could they have followed and believed in this man Jesus when He couldn't even save Himself from humiliation and death? How could He have been the long-awaited Messiah, but leave them to fend for themselves? Could their life get any worse?

Over the next 50 days, an absolutely amazing transformation occurred. Not only did Jesus come back to them, but He also sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within them. The disciples grew in spirit, bravery, and stamina. They slowly changed from trembling, weak bunnies to confident, strong lions. They became so brave in fact, that every single one of them boldly preached about Jesus, even when their lives were threatened because of it. Are we that confident today about Jesus? Are we ashamed or embarrassed to tell our co-workers, our friends, or even complete strangers that we gladly serve Jesus Christ? Are we trembling bunnies or are we confident lions?

Jeremiah 1:8 says, "Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."

Father, teach us how to be brave for You. Help us to boldly tell everyone the Good News about Your Son Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.

Assumption

In mathematics, one way to prove that something is true is to assume that it is not true, and then show how that assumption would create a contradiction. A simple example would be to assume that the world is flat. If that assumption is true, then nobody could have ever sailed "around" the world without "falling off". Since we know Magellan sailed around the world and didn't "fall off", then the world must not be flat, which contradicts our assumption that it is flat. I know there is no way to really "prove" that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that we must accept it by faith, but consider this argument: Let's assume that Jesus was not the Son of God.

Then how could He have been born to a virgin? How could He have turned water into wine? How could He have healed a blind man? How could He have healed a cripple? How could He have casted out demons? How could He have walked on water? How could He have calmed a storm? How could He have raised Lazarus from the dead? How could He have endured so much pain and humiliation on the Cross? How could He have been raised from the grave? How could He have appeared to so many people after He was dead? How could His disciples be willing to die for Him (especially if they knew He was a fake)? We can continue this argument, but the point is very clear: Jesus MUST have been the Son of God. I believe it. Do you?

Luke 4:14 says, "And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, 'Thou art Christ, the Son of God'"

Father, I accept Your Son Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for choosing me to be one of His Followers. In Jesus name, Amen.

Good Friday

I have often wondered why it is called "Good" Friday if it is the day our Lord and Savior was flogged, tortured, humiliated, and Crucified on a Cross. The Bible is silent on the subject of "Good Friday". I checked on the Internet and found a few "possible" reasons why it is called "Good". The reason I say "possible" is because there are so many explanations that it is hard to know which one is the truth, if any of them. The explanation that I saw the most is that it has to do with the interpretation of the word "Good". Apparently, it is only here that we call it Good Friday. Most likely, the word "Good" meant "Holy". Most Christians around the world refer to the Friday of Jesus' death as Holy Friday. But there was one explanation that I came across that I liked the most.

It was all part of God's plan that Jesus would be born of a Virgin, be Crucified, and be Raised from the grave. The whole process is what separates Christians from all others in the world. We accept that Christ was the Messiah and that His sacrifice was sufficient to save us from the death of Sin. The fact that Jesus suffered and died on this day in His Story (history) was not a good thing in of itself. But we know that not all things in the world are good, however, God promises that all things will work together for good. Perhaps we can look at it like this: Had Jesus not been killed, He could not have been Resurrected. And if He had not been resurrected, we could not have been Saved. So in the grand scheme of things, His death was a good thing, that is, a good thing for us! It is hard to think about just how much Jesus had to endure for us. But He did it all for just one thing: To save me and to save you. And that makes for a GREAT Friday!

Isaiah 25:8 says, "He will swallow up death in victory..."

Father, thank-you for this Good Friday. Please help us to never forget the incredible Sacrifice You made on our behalf. Remind us that You didn't just die for Americans, but You died for every single person in the entire world! In Jesus name, Amen.

Facebook

OK, I admit that I am usually the last person to try the "in" thing. I didn't buy my first Rubik's Cube until a couple years ago, and those things came out in like 1980 or so. I never got into Disco music until around 1997, and I'm not even going to admit anything about wearing Sun Britches and Parachute Pants! Yesterday, I finally started my first Face Book account. I guess I was about the last person on earth left without one. I signed up in the early afternoon, and by the time I went to sleep last night, I had 77 friend requests. Needless to say, I was baffled! I had old friends from my school-days trying to "connect" with me, and I even had several current students wanted to add me as their "friend'. And to top all that off, I even had people I don't know trying to contact me. I'm sure that is par for the course for a new member like myself, but I was still floored! Many people who wanted to add me as a friend were people I knew of, but never really hung-out with in school. I was not sure if I should add them or not since I am so new at this. But it is very exciting to hear from so many people from my past.

If Jesus had a Face Book account, I wonder how many "friend requests" He would get. I bet His Email Inbox would fill up so fast that the computer would overheat! And I am positive He would accept every single one of those requests without hesitation. You see, where as I would look at their profile and try to remember them before I accepted them, Jesus would not even have to think about it. Sadly, I can think of a few from my high school days that I am not sure I would accept as a friend, which is good because they probably wouldn't ever send a request anyway. But Jesus would accept them, no matter what they may have ever done to Him in the past. And regardless of how many times they do it to Him in the future, He would never "delete" them from his "friend's list". That's because we serve an awesome God! We serve an awesome God that has much more mercy for us than we have sin against Him. So maybe I should reconsider accepting those people on Face Book that I don't really know. Who knows, it could be an opportunity for me to lead them to Christ. And if I am able to do that, then I probably would become one of their very best "friends."

Psalm 133:1 says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

Father, thank you for the opportunity You have given me to reconnect with old friends. I ask You to help me as I set out to share Your Holy Spirit with everyone. In Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus' Facebook Profile

Name: Jesus Christ

Address: 777 Pearly Gates, Heaven

Occupation: Savior

Age: Hard To Explain

Nickname: Lord

Fav. Food: Fish

Fav. Drink: Wine

Fav. Song: What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Hobbies: Saving people, performing miracles, making My children happy

Greatest Accomplishment: Rising from the grave

Future Plans: Bringing My children back to Heaven with me

Bio: Hi, I am Jesus Christ. I was born in a small Middle-Eastern town called Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph are my parents and I have four half-brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. My dad was a carpenter, so I grew up learning his trade. But I always knew I had a much bigger calling from God. Instead of building "things", I always wanted to build "lives". I guess I was a typical teenager of the time in that I obeyed my parents most of the time, but I did sometimes get into a little bit of trouble. Once day when my parents left Jerusalem to head back home to Bethlehem, I stayed behind to teach in the synagogues. I mistakenly forgot to tell my parents and when they came back to find me, they were pretty sore. But they soon forgave me, so I was thankful for that. As I grew older, I began my earthly mission as Messiah. It was one of the hardest tasks I ever tried to do. There were so many skeptics who would not believe I was the Son of God. So I had to show-off just a little, not in order to be boastful, but in order to convince the others that I was truly the Son of God. I was successful in bringing in many people by performing miracles. Over the next year or two, I had several faithful followers. I called my inner circle of followers apostles. The religious system of the time was corrupt, and my new disciples and I finally were caught one night and put on trial. A number of items were submitted against me. I was framed on some charges, but completely guilty on one item : Because I was the real, living Son of God, most people wanted me dead because Blasphemy is punishable by death.

I faced 6 different courts before finally returning to Pilate for a final verdict. He sentenced me to death by Crucifixion. I must tell you that was the most pain I ever felt in my whole life. Not the rusty nails, jagged whips, and the sharp thorn-crown, but the pain I felt for all those who were not saved, and how they would be persecuted later. When they raised me up on that Cross, I wish I could put into words how it felt. Most people thought I felt shame and embarrassment. But on the contrary, I felt pretty awesome. I knew that the only job God made me for was about to end. And when that happened, many would choose to flock to me and be saved. I died on that Cross in the afternoon, and I was placed in a tomb. But just 3 short days later, I rose from the grave! And I have been here with you since, waiting to make you a Follower. If you follow me, I can't promise you a pain-free life, but I can promise you that I will never leave you and that I will always be right there walking by your side and helping you through the trial. God sent me out to catch many souls. I still have a few more to catch, but I never know when God will say "times up". When He finally utters those words, I sure hope you have decided to follow me. Why don't you go ahead and make me your Savior right now, just to be on the safe side? All you have to do is confess your sins and ask me to forgive those sins and to become your personal savior. It's that easy! If you want to know more about me, or if you have decided to follow me, simply shoot me a text-message (Prayer), and I will respond right away.

If you are a Christian or just becoming one, please let me know. Text "I am Saved" to 334-618-1077. Your cell number will not be used for any purpose other than this devotion. I am just curious how many Christians will respond. Here's hoping it is many.

The King Is Born

On this day, January 8th in 1935, Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon and Gladys Presley. At a young age, he began singing in church and at county fairs. Over the years, he catapulted himself from small-town singer to national and world-wide super star. Elvis Presley became the King of Rock n Roll.

About 20 centuries earlier, God sent His only Son Jesus to a small Middle-Eastern town called Bethlehem. He was miraculously born to a virgin named Mary and her husband Joseph. When Jesus turned about 30, he began His ministry, performing miracles, healing the sick, and trying to convince the world that He was the long-awaited Messiah. Some believed Him instantly, but others called Him The Devil In Disguise. A particular group that hated Jesus brought up false charges against Him. He was savagely beaten, thorn-crowned, and crucified on a wooden Cross. He soon died and was placed in a tomb, the entrance blocked by a large, heavy boulder. But just three short days later, however, one of the greatest miracles of all time occurred: He was raised from the dead and Resurrected to the Father! It was a true case of Return To Sender. Since that time, man has never been quite the same. Not too long after His Resurrection, His disciples began their God-appointed task of spreading the Good News to all the world. Some people accepted the message and felt the awesome power of the Holy Spirit. Their lives were incredibly transformed, literally becoming All Shook Up. But some questioned the Message with Suspicious Minds. Consequently, those people severely persecuted Jesus' disciples. A couple of His followers, Paul and Silas, were sent to prison. One day while in prison, some time around midnight, Paul began to pray and Silas started to sing out loud. All of a sudden, the earth shook about, and the doors burst-opened wide! God called them out! Talk about your Jailhouse Rock!

So here we are in the year 2010. The Message of Christ is still the same. Whether you were born in a palace or In The Ghetto, God asks you to do just two things: Love Me Tender and Don't Be Cruel to our fellow man. God wants to lead our steps and increase our joy and happiness. Are You Lonesome Tonight or have you recently been to Heartbreak Hotel? Well don't fret. Take your troubles to the real King. Take your troubles to King Jesus. Our King will "never leave the building."

Hey Mack, Wana Buy A Watch?

If you have never visited a big city such as New York City, Boston, or Philadelphia, let me give you a little piece of advice just in case you do: Beware of people who stop you on the street and ask you questions. Granted, there are a lot of nice people in big cities who may have legitimate questions, but unfortunately there are also many peddlers and thieves on the street. They are professional con artists, and once they stop and get your attention, you are hooked into their scam. It is like phishing on the computer. Hackers are constantly sending us SPAM through email. They have gotten very good at their craft. They can make your Email message look very official and legit. But there could be a very damaging virus on the other end waiting to attack your computer or steal your personal info. Sometimes the best thing to do is simply delete it, ignore it, and move on.

Satan is like a hacker or peddler. He is constantly sending us "SPAM", trying to entice us to click on it. We should also simply ignore Him, for He is very good at his craft as he has had thousands of years to perfect it. Like the ultimate hacker, he can manage to stay one step ahead of us or any virus protection we can install on our own. But there is one virus scanner he can't elude: Jesus Christ. No matter how cunning or what new tricks Satan may learn, Jesus is just simply better and able to keep him in check. Have you "installed" Jesus in your life? It is not enough to just do it once. Like real virus protection for our computer, we must constantly update it. The same is true with Jesus. The way we "update" Jesus is by constantly staying in touch with Him through prayer and studying His Word. I am so thankful that Jesus is running in my background and protecting me from Satan! Are you protected?

James 4:7 says, "Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Father, thank you for your protection against Satan. Help us to always keep our focus on You. In Jesus name, Amen.

It's All In The Name

This week on my Jukebox Saturday Night radio show, I will be featuring "weird inspiration" songs and groups. That is, I will be explaining the unusual circumstances behind the writing of some of Rock-n-Roll's most memorable songs and how some of the most famous groups got their names. Tune in this Saturday Night at 9 Central time at www.alskipper.com to find out what songs were inspired by a McDonald's Big Mac, a man in a bathroom, a menu from a Chinese restaurant, a poem written by a 19-year old in just 3 minutes, a bottle of soda pop, and many more. To wet your appetite, let me explain how the band Three Dog Night got their group name. You might remember Three Dog Night with such major hits as Joy To The World (Jeremiah was a bullfrog), Black and White, One (is the loneliest number), etc. In the Australian Outback, like most deserts, it can get scorching-hot during the daytime, and bone-chilling cold at night. To keep warm, some people would sleep with a dog to take advantage of its body heat. On really cold nights, they would use two dogs. And on those freezing-cold nights when your blood would almost turn to ice, that was a Three-Dog Night.

I have always liked the gospel song, The Lovely Name Of Jesus. In the song, it says that the name of Jesus is the name above all others. I suffer from occasional panic attacks, and what helps me more than anything during an episode is for me to continuously say "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." There is just something about His name that calms and soothes me deep down in my heart and soul. It is amazing to me how such a short, simple name can have such incredible, lasting effects! We all face troubled times, even if we don't all suffer from anxiety attacks. We all know how it feels when things around us seem to be caving in on top of us. But there is something we can do to help. The next time you are experiencing a frigid "three-dog night" in your heart and life, allow the simple name of Jesus to warm you up all over. Believe me, it really works!

Romans 8:6 says, "The mind controlled by Jesus is life and peace."

Father, thank you again for Jesus. Please teach us to depend on Him more, and on ourselves less. In Jesus name, Amen.

Touched By An Angel

I have always loved the TV show Touched By An Angel, starring Roma Downey. It still comes on the Hallmark channel, and I set my DVR to record it everyday so I can watch it at night. Most episodes touch my heart and actually bring me to tears. But I recently noticed something peculiar about it. I have never, ever seen an episode where they talk about Jesus. They always talk about God and the Father, but they never say anything about the Son, Jesus. Don't get me wrong, the show is awesome, and I will continue to watch it. But the fact that Jesus is not mentioned really bothers me. I guess the writers of the show are trying to be politically correct since not all people who believe in God actually believe in His Son, Jesus. Is that really such a big deal? Oh yes, it most certainly is!

According to the Bible, not accepting God's Son Jesus is just as bad as being an atheist. Wow! I know that is a very strong statement, and it is sure to ruffle a few feathers. But these are not my words. I get this straight from the Bible, I John to be exact. In verse 23 of the second chapter, it says, "Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either, he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also." There are many religions around the world, and our own nation for that matter, that believe in God but not in the Son. Then according to the Bible, the people of those religions don't really have the Father like they think they do. Christ in the main theme throughout the entire Bible. I am not knocking or judging any body's beliefs. But according to Scripture, Jesus is the only way. He said boldly, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Nobody comes to the Father accept by me." Have you accepted Jesus today?

Father, thank you for Your Son and for loving us enough to send Him to us. I pray for all those who have yet to accept Him. Teach us how to lead them to Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.