I had the opportunity to spend some time in Jerusalem and I learned a lot about the nation of Israel. In many ways it helps the Bible come alive for me as I read of places I've actually seen and attitudes of the heart I've experienced for myself. One of the things that surprised me was the incredible ability of the Israeli army to defend that small piece of land they have. It seems remarkable that such a small nation could have such military ability and could have remained viable for a few thousand years even though they have enemy nations and terrorists on literally every border. How could they be so hated by much of the world and still survive? That fact alone testifies to God's ability to bring His people through good times and bad, and still to protect and provide for them. Today's Christians could learn a lot from the testimony of Israel and God's faithfulness to them, even though they disregard His Son as the Messiah (the Savior). Friends, this is great stuff to remember whenever you feel like you have enemies all around you! "But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, 'Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!" But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor." Micah 4:11-12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you seen any of the newspaper and magazine headlines that claim that Christians must be "dumb" or just "idiots" because we actually believe in crazy things like the virgin birth of Jesus, a literal interpretation of the Bible, that Adam and Eve were REAL people, etc? Well if you haven't, I must admit you're not paying attention, but either way I'm proud to be called an idiot if that's what pleases them. All their worldly intelligence and "proof" that God is a myth will be piled on their heads before they know it. May God have mercy and show them the wonders of His Truth as well. "For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe." 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Today's pop culture will often try to persuade us that God loves and accepts everyone. The notion that God will eventually accept all people regardless of their deeds, their beliefs or their faith in Him is ridiculous even on its surface. Who of us would believe that God would embrace Adolph Hitler or Sadaam Hussein? But what we forget is that we are all wicked inside and capable of equally terrible evil. Without Christ as a redeemer we are also all facing the same consequence--total separation from God forever. And even this is not God's fault. Those who face these consequences do so because of their own rejection of God, not because of His rejection of them. "They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:10b-12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I'm often shocked when I learn of congregations who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who also profess their belief in the values, morals, ethics and practices of the pro-choice (pro-death) movement. The arguments fly in every direction, from "Jesus never spoke against abortion" to "The Bible doesn't specifically condemn it" to "It's MY body" or "It's MY choice!" I believe there are two sins that are so pervasive in the Christian world today that there is simply no way our Lord can do anything but remove His hand of protection from those who practice them. The first is the love of "idols," which we give names like, "car, job, jewelry, DVD collection, vacation, or computer" and the other is our disregard for the millions of children who are being willfully slain on the alter of those idols. Christians who commit these acts themselves, vote for those who would expand their use, and applaud others who do them are wrong--dead wrong! Purposefully shedding innocent blood is always murder in God's eyes--the Bible speaks of it quite often. Generations of children are being murdered. True followers simply cannot be silent any more. "They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood." Psalm 106:38 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever run into someone who claims to love the Lord, but who seems to hate everyone else? The truth is they don't love the Lord either, because loving Him requires us to do what He says--and He says to love others! And He didn't mean for us to love those who had the same income level as us, or the same skin tone either. There are a lot of facets to Christianity, but none so basic as to obey the truth by loving one another deeply. Jesus said it was that love that people would see in us and know we were His followers. So if you don't have love for others, you don't have a love for Jesus. As you begin to grow in Him, you'll see it oozing out of you everywhere! "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." 1 Peter 1:23 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

An old friend showed up at our house one day with her three year old son. My two year old son was standing right behind me as our friend entered and introduced her little boy. "This is Zachary" she said... to which my son replied, "I'm Me!" As we chuckled amongst ourselves, I thought how neat it is that God gives each of us unique personalities, and not two of us (including twins) have ever been exactly the same. It's as if God is echoing my little boy, "You, are YOU!... because that's the way I made you!" Often new Christians become confused about the whole process of growing somehow thinking that they've got to act like everyone else in the church. Nothing could be further from the truth! God wants us to be Holy, but our personalities are His gift to us and can be used just like they are--only with His mission in mind! "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever really wanted to share your faith with someone but things just kept getting in the way? Maybe you've got somebody who you would like to try to explain the Gospel to and how Jesus changed everything for you, but fear keeps stopping you. We need to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only answer for a lost and hurting world. Demons shudder at the thought of it spreading, and they'll do anything they can to keep you frozen by your fear. That soul you are being called to help save is priceless to God! Demons will put things in your way, get people to try to stop you, and sometimes even have outright attacks come your way. Still, we also need to remember whose Gospel it is, and that HE is our strength! So step out there and put yourself at risk for embarrassment, harassment, or even worse. You might find that none of those things happen.... or you might find some of them do come your way, but God has a plan and a purpose for that as well! "You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition." 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

One of the churches specifically spoken of by Jesus in the book of Revelation was the church of Laodicea. The people in this church had acquired much wealth, and because of that wealth they somehow became less interested in the things of the Lord. He called them "lukewarm" saying He wished they were either "hot or cold." Frankly, they just didn't feel like they needed Him, or to be faithful to Him in study, prayer or deed. Often I think many churches in the modern day United States are guilty of this same sin. I find it quite interesting that Jesus finishes by telling them of a different kind of currency--not the kind they had, but the kind He uses. A pastor friend of mine put it this way. "The currency of heaven is disciplined repentance, not disciplined work." The point being that we actually can and do gain when we turn from our sins and agree with God; but not when we think He owes us something because we've earned it. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one of the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to BUY FROM ME gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." Revelation 4:15-18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate