Odd Facts Known By Few

The word "and" is used 46,277 times in the King James Version of the Bible.

It's Bill Gates' Birthday!

What do you get for the man worth more than $40 billion and could buy anything and everything he would ever want for the rest of his life? Obviously you'd give him a spot on the thr3e Student Ministry's webpage!

Jeremy Camp

Jeremy Camp has been recording Christian music for about five years, a relatively short time compared with some other contemporary Christian music legends. He has a wonderful talent for penning songs that detail his remarkable journey of faith. However, a tragedy in his personal life a few years ago has added a unique perspective to the songs that he writes.

Less than four months after he and his wife Melissa were married, she passed away due to cancer; she was only 21 years old. Through this heartbreaking trial, Camp maintained his trust and faith in the Lord as his provider. Out of this experience, a song he called "I Still Believe" emerged. This song is our Song of the Week. What a statement - after all that he went through in the passing of his wife and the questions that no doubt ran through his mind, to still be able to say unwaveringly, "I still believe in your faithfulness...Even when I don't see, I still believe." What faith!

A close second in the running of Camp's songs for SOTW is "Enough." This popular praise song has been on my mind for the last few days. The chorus, which talks about how the Lord God is enough to be able to satisfy all of our needs, has caused me to do an honest evaluation of my relationship with Him and how much I let myself be satisfied in Him. May it do the same in your life.

Philippians 4:19 - "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory." (Emphasis added)

Take a moment to listen to "I Still Believe," "Enough," and some other Jeremy Camp songs in the playlist down in the sidebar.

__________

For the complete lyrics to "I Still Believe," click here.

For the complete lyrics to "Enough," click here.

Law and Order

"Juror number 141!" I looked up from my seat in the crowded court room when I heard the judge call the juror number I had been assigned earlier that morning. My first experience with jury duty had landed me a spot in a domestic violence case in Orlando, FL. As I filed out of my row and approached the jury box, it hit me that this was the moment I had waited all those long, boring hours for. After questioning each of the potential jurors, both the prosecution and the defense had felt that I would make a suitable member of the group that would decide the case against the defendant.

I felt like I was starring in one of those TV dramas about the criminal justice system. Throughout the day, we heard opening arguments from both sides, testimony regarding the evidence and facts surrounding the case, and the closing arguments led by the defense attorney and the prosecutor. Afterwards, the jury was ushered into a small "deliberation room," where we discussed all of the points made and evidence shown as we moved toward a verdict of guilt or innocence. Although it lasted only one (LONG) day, I gained tremendous insight into the inner workings of the judicial system and got an up-close view of what I had watched play out on TV so many times.

Read 1 John 2:1-2; vs 2 is the key in this passage.

1. Think back to the latter part of chapter one (vs. 5-10). How does it relate to today's passage? Why was it best for John to write 1:5-10 before moving on to 2:1-2?


2. Verse 1 says, "These things I write to you so that you may not sin." Is that really possible to live a life without sin? Then what's the point?


3. Our spiritual defense attorney, or "Advocate" as John calls Him, is Jesus. What makes Him able to fill that role for us?


4. Jesus is our "propitiation," or a substitute offering for the sins we've committed. Do you remember to thank Him often for stepping in and taking the punishment you deserve?


5. What does this passage teach about who Christ gave up His life for?

Much like that defense attorney the jurors and I heard during the trial back in 2002, if you are saved, Christ has become your Advocate, the one who represents you before God the Father. Because He has given His life so that you can be forgiven, He is able to stand before the judge's bench of God and pronounce your innocence. Sure, it is impossible for us to live a completely blameless life, even after we are saved. But each day, we are to make perfection our goal as we consider how to think, talk, and act. What awesome love Jesus Christ displayed, as He willingly offered up His life as substitute for the sins of "the whole world"! He is indeed worthy of our praise and worship!

** Today's devo is part of a series studying through the book of 1 John.

Odd Facts Known By Few

A 30-minute cartoon may contain over 18,000 separate drawings.

Count Your Buttons Day

If nothing else, this day has been created to prove that nothing is too boring, nothing too mundane to be recognized with its own holiday. It's probably also helped to raise the national awareness of button neglect. For example, right now I have 14 buttons on my shirt, and I most likely would have never realized that otherwise. (Thank you, Count Your Buttons Day!)

Third Day

Not only has Third Day been around for a while, but the group was birthed not far from here in Marietta, GA. Recording Christian music for over 15 years now, Third Day's latest album Revelation contains this week's Song of the Week, "Born Again."

"Born Again" explores the idea behind the newness that one experiences after beginning a relationship with Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes these words: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." In the words of the SOTW's chorus, after your commitment to Christ, you also will say that "it feels like I'm living for the very first time in my life."

Hope you like listening to "Born Again," as well as some other popular Third Day songs in the playlist in the sidebar.

_________________

To read the complete lyrics to "Born Again," click here.

Caught in a Lie

The story is told of four high school boys who couldn't resist the temptation to skip morning classes. Each had been smitten with a bad case of spring fever. After lunch, they showed up at school and reported to the teacher that their car had a flat tire. Much to their relief, she smiled and said, "Well, you missed a quiz this morning, so take your seats and get out a pencil and paper." Still smiling, she waited as they settled down and got ready for her questions. Then she said, "First question...which tire was flat?"

This story, while quite funny, leads us to a pretty good point: that it's very true that lying gets us nowhere. But do you realize how much people tend to lie without even giving a thought to it? Most of the time, the purpose behind a lie is to make the liar look better or be seen in a more positive light. We want people to see us how we want them to see us, so it seems so easy to stretch the truth to accomplish that.

Read 1 John 1:8-10; take an extra second to look at vs. 9 a little more closely.

1. Why would it be deceiving to tell someone that we have no sin?
2. How does admitting we are sinners relate to receiving salvation in Christ?
3. Verse 9 emphasizes the importance of confessing our sins. Is a one-time confession of guilt enough? Why or why not?
4. Not only do we live outside the truth when we lie about our sin, but there is also another result found in verse 10. What is it?

Who really wants to admit that they don't have it all together, right? Nobody honestly wants to have to come to grips with the fact that they have made mistakes in life. But it is nothing more than that old prideful nature rising up inside that would bring someone to say, "I haven't done anything wrong...ever." John is actually addressing some false teachers with his comments in this passage. Not only were they walking in darkness (vs. 6), but they actually had the boldness to claim that they were without sin!

Why, you may be wondering, would our unwillingness to acknowledge our sinfulness cause us to call God a liar? In many places throughout Scripture, but specifically through the word of an Old Testament prophet, God has told us that we are lost and sinners down to the core. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" God has said we sin; if we say we don't, we are telling Him that He's all wrong.

Consistent times of confession of sin are NOT necessary to keep from losing your salvation because salvation cannot be lost. But confessing your shortcomings to the Lord regularly keeps your relationship with Him intact and the way that it should be. Don't fall victim to the temptation to build yourself up by denying your mistakes. The one who recognizes and admits his errors regularly draws nearer to God.

** Today's devo is part of a series studying through the book of 1 John.

Odd Facts Known By Few

65% of all Americans claim that TV is a necessity.

National Dessert Day

If you could only eat one thing in your celebration today of National Dessert Day, what would it be? (Mine would be a big slice of chocolate chip cheesecake.)

Remedy Drive

A fairly-new group to begin their journey of recording Christian music is Remedy Drive. Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, the group is made up of four brothers; it is this band that brings us our Song of the Week this time around.

"All Along" has been playing on Christian radio stations since Remedy Drive's Daylight Is Coming album was released in August 2008. The message of the song zeroes in on the character of God. With clever lyrics, the song exalts God as being "so much more" than anything else we could want or long for. The Psalmist writes, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" [Psalm 42:2]. That is the message behind "All Along," that no matter how long you search for things in the world to satisfy you, you will find that the Lord has had what you desired all along.

Take a minute to enjoy "All Along" and a couple of other Remedy Drive songs in the sidebar's playlist.
_____________

For the complete lyrics to "All Along," click here.

Opposites

On and off. North and south. Happy and sad. Ever since we were kids, we've understood the basic concept of the way opposites work. Opposites are characterized as being "contrary or radically different in some respect common to both." Two things that are opposites could not possibly be more unalike than they already are. In other words, there is nothing more different from the idea of light than the idea of darkness.

Read 1 John 1:5-7; focus on vs. 7.

1. Throughout these verses, John uses the words "light" and "darkness" as symbols. What was he really getting at?
2. What does verse 6 say results when you claim to have a relationship with God and do not live like it?
3. How can we tell if we are walking in "light" or in "darkness"? Which one would more accurately characterize your life right now?
4. What can you do this week to begin walking more in the "light" so that your relationship with God and other Christians will grow?
5. Have you come to a time when, as John writes in verse 7, the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed you from all unrighteousness?

Probably one of the simplest opposites we learned early on as a child were right and wrong. We are shown by our parents and teachers the right way to behave, and we are disciplined when we show the wrong way to act. In much the same way, these opposites play a tremendous role in our spiritual journey of becoming more and more like Christ. As we grow in our faith and maturity, we will be characterized more and more as walking in the "light" and less and less in light's opposite, "darkness".

Someone once said that "fellowship with the brethren [other Christians] is the proof of fellowship with God." Do you enjoy meeting together with other believers for the purpose of studying God's Word and praying together? This is a sign of growth in your love for the Lord and a consequence of walking in the Lord's will. As you continue down the path of faith, may it be said about you more every day that you are "walking in the light."

** Today's devo is part of a series studying through the book of 1 John.

Odd Facts Known By Few

The average American only knows about 10% of the English language.

World Smile Day

Why not show off your pearly whites a little more today...unless your smile tends to look a lot like his!

David Crowder Band

The David Crowder Band will be performing during the Youth Evangelism Conference we are planning to attend on December 28-29. Their song "You Are My Joy" is this week's Song of the Week.

In Psalm 43:4, David refers to the Lord God as his "exceeding joy." It is in that vein that this song has been written by DC*B, as their name is abbreviated. When a Christian is truly living for the Lord, then whatever God has in store for that believer brings him complete happiness and joy.

Hope you enjoy this week's SOTW, "You Are My Joy," as well as a few other songs from DC*B down in the sidebar.

__________________

For the complete lyrics to "You Are My Joy," click here.

Odd Facts Known By Few

On average, Americans as a whole spend two billion hours a year mowing their lawns.

October Newsletter

This past month was the annual day of prayer at schools known as See You at the Pole Day. Students all across the country gathered around their school’s flagpole before school on Wednesday morning, September 24th. They spent time in prayer, Scripture reading, and worship through song. Several of our youth were involved at the prayer times at both East Coweta Middle School and East Coweta High School. This was a tremendous stand to take in front of their friends and peers. What a witness it is to come to school early to pray for the nation and its leaders, schools, and churches.

This month will be First Baptist’s annual Fall Revival. Monday evening of revival week will be the youth emphasis service. Our revival evangelist Doug Stroup will be bringing a special message for the students in attendance that night. Why not start inviting everyone you know to come be a part of this worship service? Be sure to be praying for the all meetings throughout the week as we seek for God to move among us as a church body through His Holy Spirit.

In the past few days, God has been bringing Jeremiah 29:13 to my mind regularly. Through the Old Testament prophet, God is found saying in this verse, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” This verse highlights the reason why the Christian life is a continuous journey. We as believers are constantly in pursuit of the Lord and His desire for us. Were we to ever comprehend all there is to know about God, then our pursuit of Him would dwindle down to nothing. You don’t chase after something you already have. You run after those things that you desire and that are most important to you, but you have not yet obtained. May we always make the Lord our most important priority; for in doing so, we will learn more and more of Him as we devote our whole heart in our search for Him.