POP QUIZ!

Those words are usually only scary when you’re not prepared.  But if you have studied prepared, then test time is a little easier to deal with.  And it’s the same with real life.  If you prepare yourself for challenges, then when hardships hit, they are much less stressful.

Daniel was obviously pretty well prepared for the challenges he would face in Babylonian captivity.  You can tell by the way he handled himself even when it came to the seemingly small things like what he ate–or rather what he chose not to eat.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:25 — 20.3MB)

There are all sorts of pressures in life.  And it seems a lot of people use those pressures as excuses for not doing their best–or even worse–for doing bad things.  But the truth is, how you react to the difficult situations that life can throw at us is what really defines you as a person.

So, are you the kind of person who rises to the occasion?  Or do you fall apart under the pressure is on.  Take a listen to how young Daniel dealt with difficulty.

Click the link to listen.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:18 — 20.3MB)

What’s it like to live as a hero?  I don’t mean to do one great thing and then be lauded as a hero for one act.  I mean living day in and day out according to principles that take dedication and perseverance to follow through on your convictions and not give up when it’s hard.  Is there somebody you look up to because they live a life worthy of respect?  That’s the kind of hero Daniel was–a nobody who became famous simply for doing the right thing in every circumstance, and God used him because of his faithfulness.

Click the Podcast link to listen.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:19 — 20.3MB)

After a long time looking forward to it, I’ve finally started a series on the Book of Daniel.  It should be lots of fun because on the one hand it’s very well known for its stories about Daniel in the Lion’s Den and Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego in the fiery furnace.  But at the same time, a lot of people have never dug into the prophecy in the second half of the book, which is so interwoven with many of the other Old Testament prophets in scripture, and New Testament writings,  including the Book of Revelation, which has intricate connections with Daniel.

So this first part is an introduction that sets up the book, and gives a little taste of the history and political environment leading up to Daniel’s life.  I hope you enjoy it!

Click the Podcast link to listen.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:56 — 20.1MB)

CHAPTER TWO – I Surgery

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “You reap what you sow.”  Did you know it’s really true?  It’s not just a saying.  If you live a good life and help others and always do what’s right and obey God in everything you do, then you will reap the good fruit of integrity and character and peace and joy.  But if you sow dishonesty and gossip and sinfulness, you will reap judgment and punishment and death.  Do you believe it?  Do you believe it enough to change the way you live?

Either way you’ll end up believing it.  On that day when you stand before the Great Judge of the universe, you’ll believe you reap what you sow because you’ll experience it in a deeper reality than you’ve ever experienced before.

My suggestion: get right with Jesus today.  Change your life and ask God to forgive you so that you can start living for him now and reap a good fruit rather than a bad harvest.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:01 — 20.6MB)

CHAPTER ONE – It’s Greek to Me

Have you ever noticed that most people who say they disagree with the Bible have never read the Bible?  Isn’t that funny?  Actually, it’s not funny…it’s sad.  You would think that people would want to read such an important book–whether or not they agree with it.  That way you could at least disagree from a position of knowledge rather than complete ignorance.

But what’s even more sad than that are all the people who claim to believe in the Bible who have never read it all the way through.  How could anybody be so irresponsible as to base their life on a book that they’ve never read.  That’s probably why there are so many little factions who each call themselves the “real” church.

If all those people (believers and unbelievers) would read the book, there would probably be a lot less arguments about religion.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:13 — 23.0MB)

Are you up for a challenge?  How about putting your faith into action.  Actually the truth is, if your faith doesn’t result in action, you probably don’t have faith.  It’s true that faith is an internal thing–a commitment of your heart, but unless you have been nailed to a cross and lack the ability to move, true faith will always be revealed in action.  How’s that for a challenge?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:35 — 19.0MB)