As used in ancient Babylon...

Take them away from home

(Dan 1:3) Separate them from supportive family, friends, church and anyone who know them well. Don't let them remember to phone, email or write back for prayer support. Make them think they're by themselves.

Change their reading habits

(Dan 1:4) Give them required reading of textbooks bursting with humanistic philosophy and all things anti-God. Keep them away from their Bible and helpful books using: lie-ins; late assignments; the internet; friendly flatmates; tiredness; nights out; and whatever else it takes.

Change their speaking habits

(Dan 1:4) Surround them with blasphemy, crude talk, dirty jokes, disrespectful comments and unloving conversation. Fill their discussions with agnosticism, atheism, pluralism and legitimate-sounding ideas. Keep them out of churches and prayer meetings where they will hear the language of their true homeland.

Change their food and drink habits

(Dan 1:5) Stuff them with take-aways, eat-ins, mass produced mush and microwave meals. Tell them their body doesn't matter if their soul is healthy. Play down the dangers of alcohol. Tell them they're strong and above temptation.

Change their identity

(Dan 1:7) Hide their connection to the living God. Steer them away from radical living by exaggerating the damage that being labelled as a stereotype causes. Keep their wonderful, life-changing, essential, unmatchable faith a secret and an embarrassment.

Threaten defeat

(Dan 1:19-21) Convince them that living differently is impossible, they'll never keep it up and it can only damage their chances of success in life. Make less important issues into big issues: their reputation; making friends; studying hard; fitting in; relating to people; being influential; and feeling comfortable.

I've been thinking about the future a lot recently. Who will I be? Who does God want me to be? What will I do? What does God want me to do? Which are my ideas and which are God's ideas? How do I tell the difference? How do my plans tie in with God's?

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to benefit you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

God has a plan for my life — and it's a good one.

The Lord's plans will stand forever; his ideas will last through all generations (Psalm 33:11).

His plan for me will be carried out, along with all his other plans.

People make all kinds of plans but it's the Lord's plan which will happen. (Proverbs 19:21)

My plans fail and change but God's never do.

People plan a course in their minds but the Lord determines their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

I may decide on a route but even if I get it wrong, I can't mess up God's purposes.

Commit whatever you do to the Lord and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

True success is God's success. If I humbly submit to what God says then I won't muck up because my plans will be God's plans and God's plans never fail. God is in it for his glory. So am I.

There's nothing new under the sun. I've had plenty of new years, not as many as some people but still quite a few. People sometimes make resolutions and then after several years of failing to keep they resolve to make no more. But maybe this new year could be different from the others. Maybe it could be a new type of new year. I've only got one shot at doing 2009 and I'm going to try to do it as well as I can. I wish you a very happy and productive new year, maybe even a new new year.

For some motivation, here's a though provoking poem I found. There is also a nice man singing it in a rather nostalic way, which you can download (by clicking the link icon) or listen to live (by clicking the play icon):

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two,
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do?
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best.
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have him there,
That serving Him in your home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door,
With arms outstretched to welcome in your heavenly visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in,
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard,
And wished you hadn't uttered that last loud nasty word.

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus come right in, or would you rush about?
Oh, I wonder if the Savior came to spend a day with you,
Would you just go on doing all the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does now day to day?

Would our family conversation keep up it's usual pace,
Or would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the books you read,
And let Him know on which the things your mind and spirit feeds?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you planned to go,
or would you maybe change your plans, for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet with all your closest friends,
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on,
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do,
If Jesus came in person to spend the day with you!

I was packing my rucksack to go on a week of Beach Missions and it was starting to get rather full just as I was packing my books. Mum came in just at that point. Chance? She suggested that I take my little Gideon's Bible instead of my hefty hard-back NIV. I followed her advice. During the train journey I took my Bible out of the bag, put it next to my bag on the luggage rack and then for some crazy reason decided to take a walk up the train, leaving the Bible next to my bag. Wierd? On the way back from my little walk I forgot the Bible and went and sat down back in my seat. Kinda random! I'm normally very conscious about remembering things. When I arrived at the next station I happily picked up my bag, minus Bible, and made my way to the platform. My next connection wasn't for a while and I sat on a bench, opposite that same train for at least 10 minutes as it prepared to go back to where it started. Ten whole minutes later the train was ready to go and the door slid shut. At the very second the doors clunked together I remebered I had forgotten my Bible. Split second coincidence? Some might call it a miniature disaster. I call it providence. Someone must have needed a Bible and so God found them one, by losing mine!

I've just been to a houseparty. When it was first started, it was a Christian houseparty for home-educated teenagers. The Christian bit refers to the houseparty itself, in other words you didn't – and still don't – have to be a Christian to come, but a lot of people there are Christians and we have loads of awesome Bible teaching. So really it was a Christianity focused houseparty for home-educated teenagers. Then somewhere along the line some people wanted to come who were too young according to the 'teenager' label and so it became a Christianity focused houseparty for teenagers, or younger people who act like teenagers. Then some people got a bit old and fell off the other end of the scale so it became a Christianity focused houseparty for teens, or younger people who act like them, and twenties. Then it was decided to run a similar event in the South, so it became the Northern houseparty. Seeing as they run one every year its also useful to have a date in there. So being more precise, what I've just been to is a Northern, 2008, teens', or younger people who act like them, and twenties', Christianity focused houseparty. Oh and by the way, it's not in a house and it's not a party.

If you're still confused here's a more understandable explanation: I've just been away for the weekend with a bunch of other homeschoolers, most of whom are Christians, most of whom are teenagers or there abouts, and we've had loads of fun and loads of amazing teaching from the Bible. Here are some things that we learnt, which God has really used to speak to me.

It's all about God

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

All things are from God. Compare this to any other worldview like humanism, everything is from man, like fatalism, everything is from chance, like those who believe in karma, everything is from past actions, like agnosticism which says we can't know. We know that everything is from God, including everything we have (1 Cor 4:7). It's a priviledge not a right. So we must be thankful for everything all the time (Eph 5:20).

All things are through God. The whole world is held together through God (Col 1:12). He is the only reason that the atoms in our body stay together and don't suddenly fragment into millions of pieces. Our very next breath is in his hand (Job 12:10). That same God gives us power to live our lives in the way he wants (2 Peter 1:3). We can do everything through him who gives us strength (Phil 4:13)! But we can do nothing without him. Trying to do it by ourselves is like a four month old baby wanting to leave home. So we must pray, pray, pray.

All things are for God. We were made to live utterly for God. When we try to live our lives for anything else it will never truly work and can never truly bring satisfaction. We need to do everything for God's glory (1 Cor 10:31): drink orange juice for God's glory; surf YouTube for God's glory; clean our teeth for God's glory; read books for God's glory; do everything for God's glory. So we must be set apart for God, be holy.

We need to work out how we can be thankful, prayerful and holy people to live our lives, which come from God, through him and for him.

Life as a sacrifice

Because of God's mercy offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)

God has given us so much that we don't deserve, all we can do is offer him what he does deserve, our lives. Total commitment is what we were made for if we recognise it or not. We should sacrifice our life, dedicate it, surrender it, gladly give it and place it under God's command. It's hard. We have to die to ourselves every day. Just like the sacrifices in the old covenant, to make our life an acceptable sacrifice we must:

• make sure it is clean and non-blemished
• give of our best
• give it all, holding nothing back
• give it willingly
• give as worship for God

It will cost us. Yet it is the only way that makes sense. No reserves, no retreats, no regrets. (Cool alliteration, huh?)

That was just two of the five talks. Phew! The Bible might have been written 2000 years ago but it's never out of date. This is how God has chosen to speak to us and still does. There is sooo much in there. God clearly has a lot to say!

Imagine hearing some Jesus' teachings with your own ears. How amazing would that be? Imagine meeting him face to face and talking with him! How amazing would that be? Now think of Mary and Joseph. Imagine being the parent of Jesus, the much awaited Messiah, eagerly anticipated by the entrie Jewish nation and the one who was to set the world free. How amazing would that be? No wonder Mary was called 'highly favoured' by the angel. I doubt parents have ever learnt so much from their child. Think how concious Joseph felt as Jesus was standing next to him as he did his carpentry. Jesus would never have gotten angry when a chair leg didn't fit in the hole, or when he hit his thumb with the chisel. Or think how Mary felt when Jesus never complained about doing the washing or sweeping his room. It must have been such an incredible experience, having a child who always obeyed them without ever complaining or arguing.

It must have been quite a shock when James came along!

Dear Friend,

As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were too busy, trying to decide upon the right outfit to wear.

When you ran around the house getting ready I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello but you were to busy. At one point, you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead.

I watched patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me which is why you didn't. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left and I hope that you will talk to me yet.

You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal but again you didn't talk to me.

Bedtime, I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. You may have mumbled a few words in my direction like you always do - but you didn't think about them.

It's okay. You may not realise that I am always here for you... I've got patience, more than you will ever know, I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well.

I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, a prayer, a thought, or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation. Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait with love overflowing just for you... hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!

Your friend,

God

I stumbled across this and I think it is such a brilliant reminder of what Ephesians 6:18 says: pray in all occasions with all kinds of prayers. Amen! May I do that until the day I die :D (and I can't wait until then either).

Here is a great list of songs (mostly stolen from other sites) which Christians should hope and pray that they never start singing:

• Trust and Obey My Own Instincts
• Blessed Insurance
• Be Thou My Hobby
• Pebble of Ages
• My Hope is Built on Nothing Much
• Mostly For Jesus
• Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
• Amazing Grace, How Interesting the Sound
• I Surrender Some
• All Hail the Influence of Jesus' Name
• Oh, for a Couple of Tongues to Sing
• When Peace, Like a Trickle...
• Oh, How I Like Jesus
• What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
• I'm Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
• Above Average is Thy Faithfulness