My list of things to do before you die starts with: Accept Jesus

Accept Jesus
There she goes preaching again. Yes. I am. I am not going to try to convert you here on Plinky. But I will ask you to open your mind, or take another look. I recommend reading The Case for a Creator and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

Discover Your Talents
Find out what you are good at doing, then do it. Life is fleeting. Don't you want to enjoy the time you have here?

Life a Life Worthy of a Biography
It may seem like the daily grind is all you have time for. Not so. Life your life so that someone will find it interesting enough to want to write a book about it.

Overcome a Fear
Pick a fear any fear. My major fear is confrontation as noted in the in defense of your vice post. I am working now to overcome my fear and stand up or myself. You can overcome your fears as well.

Think About Someone Other Than Yoursel
Make a difference in someone else's life. Make someone else happy for a change.

My Vice: Peace Keeping

Speak Up for Peace by * Honest *

This past week, the Lord has really convicted me of some of my major personality flaws. The main thing He convicted me of was my views on peace. There is a drastic difference between being a peace keeper and a peace maker. A peace keeper doesn't want confrontation or change. Even when things are not great, the peace keeper will do everything they can to keep change away because change means conflict. Peace keeping is led by fear and distrust. I am a peace keeper. By trying to keep the peace, I am forcing myself to live in a prison of my own creation and not the freedom of the shadow of the Lord.

Jesus was a peace maker. There is a reason why the Marine Corps calls their troops peace keepers their guns peace makers. Jesus often made peace with a sword. Has Jesus ever cut you off from something that you knew wasn't the right thing for you, but you wanted it (her, him) anyway?

Peace making implies that an action must be taken. You can't just sit by and watch the world pass wrapped in bubble paper. You have to get out there and live. Yes, its going to hurt. Yes, you will be disappointed. Yes, it will be a life worth living. If you see something that needs to change, take the first step. If you see someone who has a need, fill it. Love people as God loves us. I promise the pain is worth it.

Hope is a Gift

All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:3

Hope is a gift of the Holy Spirit and an essential characteristic of the Christian. Today, we generally think of hope as mere expectation and desire. However, hope translates into a variety of Hebrew words which mean confidence, trust, and safety. Hope also includes trust, confidence, and refuge in God. As believers, our hope is based on the blood of Jesus, who pulled us from darkness into the light. Hope is the confidence, not that God will deliver us from evil, but that He already has. Hope is trusting that God has your best interests at heart. Hope is taking refuge in the Lord and gaining your strength and rest in Him. As you practice trust, confidence, and refuge in the Lord, your thoughts, feelings, heart and soul will purify because you are walking in the light of the Lord safe from the darkness.

Defend Your Faith

Lately I have had a lot of people questioning my faith. They range from the simple to the complex. One thing that I have been able to do is explain and defend my faith. I think it is extremely important that as a believer, you be able to express to others why you believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. If you don't know what you believe or aren't sure how to explain it, its time to start reading. Read your bible. I would also suggest reading A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. It is a wonderful book that looks at whether Jesus was real, did die, and was raised from the dead. Part of your duty as a believer is to tel others about God. It is hard to defend your faith if you don't know why you believe.

I may regret this later, but I am ready, willing, and able to defend my faith. If you have any questions, ask away.