The Strength to Hope

Each day people are faced with some of the most unbelievable obstacles. Hurt, abuse, moral failure, the dissolution of a marriage, pain, the loss of a job, extreme sickness and death. How do you "deal" with those obstacles? It's not like they just go away.

On Wednesday's So You Think You Can Dance episode dancers Ade and Melissa performed a very powerful piece about a woman's struggle with Breast Cancer. In it you see a variety of emotions and reactions to this battle:

• The girl laying down as if she has nothing left (her friend lifts her up)
• The girl and friend in despair (hurting)
  
• The girl clinging to her friend for support, trusting in his strength (seen in her literally jumping into his arms on several occasions)
• Frustration, as she pounds on the chest of her friend
• Faithfulness, as the friend was and carries her through this

I don't usually get dance, but I get this!

Watch the performance...

'SYTYCD' Top 8: Melissa & Ade's Contemporary Performance @ Y! TV

In this piece, the strength the woman receives is from her friend. While it is true that our friends and family are some our greatest sources of support in unbelievable times (as God created them to be), I couldn't help but think about the "friend" in this routine as our God. Obviously this was not the intent of the choreographer (Tyce Diorio), but read the passage below and then watch the performance again and you'll see how I see it like that. FIRST: read this about Jesus Christ, who loves so perfectly...

Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:34-39)

It is true that we live in a broken (Fallen) world. For those who put their faith and life in the hands of Jesus Christ, there is hope in those unimaginable times that we could never forsee coming. Those moments of despair and feeling alone. Those moments when we say "I never thought this would be my life." There is hope! Even if the worst should happen (death), there is still hope in knowing we can live on forever in the presence of Him who made us just like Him. Jesus Christ came and died (and lives again!) that we might have hope, comfort and boldness in this life and the one to come!

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Want to talk with me personally? Email me at christianthechristian.c2@gmail.com.

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Christmas Hope

Just a quick word to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. Thank you for visiting this blog and especially to those who are frequent visitors. Since July the C2 (Christian Squared or ChristiantheChristian) Blog has been accessed over 1,300 times (over half of which are repeat visits, or "regulars").

Also, to share a little hope for those struggling this season - as cliche as it sounds, God the Creator of all truly cares and has a plan for you. While cliche I know (mostly because of how many people say it who do not truly know God), I say it quite expectantly because of the promises I see in Scripture and two situations I've recently encountered of God redeeming "hopeless" people.

SITUATION ONE
I met a couple struggling in sin together. Without going into the details, it's sufficient to say that both were ready to walk out on each other (matter of fact, the husband did a few times, but returned). When I met with them they told me "we're done. This is our last hope before we pack it in for good." Instead of pointing fingers I challenged both to look at their marriage in a new light (to see what God thought of them and what He was doing in their marriage). They are still far from being out of the dark, but after speaking with the wife last night - things are going much better! Why? Because for the first time in their marriage they are looking at God's original design for marriage and learning to love each other selflessly.

SITUATION TWO
This one hits far closer to home because it's MY situation. I've come into several "struggling marriage" situations over the last few weeks which has given me much time to reflect on my own and how far God has brought ME. While I am no means perfect, I know the man I am today is not the same man my wife married! Rewind to the early years of our marriage and you'll see a selfish, "immortal" (so I thought), and misguided boy who thought he knew it all and was untouchable. Through a series of devastating events (mostly brought on by my own ignorant choices), friends willing to speak truth to me and a wife that is an amazing example of mercy, love and grace (all attributes she demonstrated to me, through God's strength many times) I sit back in awe of the God that constantly seeks to redeem (buy back) people through His Son Jesus Christ (see "Jesus Was an Offensive Baby" below), restore them (put them in a right relationship and standing with Him) and the USE THEM to make His name known. I never would have thought that I would be writing a blog as a ministry, serving as a youth pastor or counseling marriages - but that's the power of God! Here I sit, a changed man with a new purpose because of the God who cares and restored me!

He offers hope to the hopeless. So for those struggling this season, I assure you the morning is just around the corner. It's always hardest to trust in the midst of despair or struggle, but take a step of faith in trusting Him who redeems, restores and saves and, ultimately, desires to use YOU, too!

Merry Christmas!

My Hope (and Prayer) for Audacity

Obama promises change. McCain promises change. So with the economic structure of the country in flux both candidates have boldly risen up and said... nothing.

At least both sides do truly have one thing in common - they're both playing the politics game. The same "game" both have campaigned against for the last year. If either of them had one clue how to truly "change" the game, NOW would be the time to rise up and outshine the other. If either Obama or McCain could deliver the "change" they are promising, they would have spoken up by now (and better yet - back it up by going to Washington and voting on President Bush's economic plan, whether for or against it). But they won't. They'll sit back and watch... from a distance... hidden behind speech writers and more people with agendas. Why? Because that's how the political game is played.



Right now America's chief concern is money. Why wouldn't it be? It's what we've built our foundation upon as a nation. What happens when that foundation is washed away (or shaken, as it seems to be now)? The hope of the country fades... because they placed all their eggs in the basket that has no real value or answers. It is also the reason both Obama and McCain will remain silent... True Hope can't be sold (God already gave it away - free!).

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matt. 7:24-27)

"Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (John 14:5-6)


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