In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. After reading Ezekiel 15 (which compares Israel to a vine tree), my littlest brother said, "But Jesus is the vine, so Jesus is the true Israel." Yes , Jesus is the vine and we His servants are the branches. So if in Ezekiel 15 the vine is Israel, then Jesus must also be Israel; making Him the true Israel. Jesus = Vine (John 15) Vine = Israel (Ezekiel 15) Jesus = Israel Logically, this makes sense. However, I disagreed at first. Jesus, the true Israel? Somehow it did not connect in my mind. But my dad pointed out this Scripture: "...Israel is My son, even My firstborn... (Exodus 4:2...

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. What is my purpose on this earth? Why did God make me? This evening in worship, we read from Ezekiel 15. Its eight verses left a deep impression and an important lesson. God did for me for a purpose. And He strives to lead me in that purpose. But , I can only attain to that purpose when I am fully connected to Him. Are you connected? My dad connected the chapter with John 15:5-6, 8: I [Jesus] am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; an...

What is the fear of the Lord?  It is the beginning of wisdom. What does that look like? It looks like awe.           When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, we will realize just how wonderful He really is. We will be unable to fathom His greatness; and as we stand in complete silence, with no words to utter, we will feel the sheer awe of the Beauty of Holiness. Let's look at Job. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~           Yet there was a missing link in Job's connection with God. Does Job know who God really is? Nope, not yet. By the time we reach chapter forty-two, he does know; but not before.            You see, Job's view of God was along the same thought process as Jonathan Edwards. God was someone to be feared, too big to mess around with -- too big to mess up with. God was -- and is -- the judge of the earth. "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me...

I am probably the one millionth person to say this, but let's face the facts: it's a new year. We hear the same thing  every year, and yet each year, it's different.  The year 2011 was PlugIn2God's first official year of operation. What a year it was! God was there at every step and turn, guiding the entire process.  The opening theme for 2011 was "The Connection" in line with the mission of PlugIn2God -- To help young Christians stay connected to the ultimate power Source --Jesus Christ-- and become lightbearers for Him. In order to have a close relationship with someone, we have to meet them first! That is what last year was all about -- connecting to God. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What about 2012? What are we focusing on this year?  The WORD .  This year is introducing us to the written and the living Word of God -- the Bible and its Author. We will be digging deep into the Scriptures to see what messages G...

Throughout the course of this year, we have talked about a lot of different topics. But intellect is not everything; simply knowing stuff does not count. When it comes down to it, it all takes faith. You know what that is, right? Faith is believing something that is not there -- like the wind. In John 3 , Jesus gave this very same metaphor to Nicodemus. "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8, ES V). Faith requires commitment without giving hard evidence (or, in some cases, it gives hard evidence for the very opposite of what is promised). Faith requires submission, humility, and  love . It requires us to give ourselves up to the mercy of hope, and believe someone else's word -- with nothing to back it. Faith and ego really go ...

"As the time of their probation was closing, the antediluvians gave themselves up to exciting amusements and festivities. Those who possessed influence and power were bent on keeping the minds of the people engrossed with mirth and pleasure, lest any should be impressed by the last solemn warning. Do we not see the same repeated in our day? While God’s servants are giving the message that the end of all things is at hand, the world is absorbed in amusements and pleasure seeking. There is a constant round of excitement that causes indifference to God and prevents the people from being impressed by the truths which alone can save them from the coming destruction. "Young Sabbathkeepers who have yielded to the influence of the world will have to be tested and proved. The perils of the last days are upon us, and a trial is before the young which many have not anticipated. They will be brought into distressing perplexity, and the genuineness of their faith will be proved. They prof...

"The plan of salvation was laid in a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ did not send His angels to this fallen world, while He remained in heaven; but He Himself went without the camp, bearing the reproach. He became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; Himself took our infirmities, and bore our weaknesses. And the absence of self-denial in His professed followers, God regards as a denial of the Christian name. Those who profess to be one with Christ, and indulge their selfish desires for rich and expensive clothing, furniture, and food, are Christians only in name. To be a Christian is to be Christlike. "And yet how true are the words of the apostle: 'For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.' Many Christians do not have works corresponding to the name they bear. They act as if they had never heard of the plan of redemption wrought out at infinite cost. The majority aim to make a name for themselves in...

When I first began panning out the plans for PlugIn2God, I ended up with this month's topic --witnessing-- as scheduled for September. It is absolutely amazing to me how God always works things out. Back then, I was not at all thinking about my sixteenth birthday: but God was. And so, a few weeks before my birthday, He gave me a plan. I was struggling with what to do for my sixteenth birthday. While I had initially resolved to be content with a Sabbath birthday (yes, the 17th is a Sabbath), I was beginning to doubt that that was enough. I kind of wanted to do something  for my birthday; but my current social situation does not really lend itself to a party of any sort. So God inspired me to work on my Literature Evangelism honor for Pathfinders. You will see God's Providence here again. Earlier this summer, God assigned me four Pathfinder honors to work on this summer. This honor was one of them. One of the requirements...

This month, we are talking about witnessing. 1 Corinthians 3:3 tells us that we are letters for Christ -- we help to spread His word and message of the gospel. This is a new school year, and I think it is fit to make the following resolution: that we strive to be more like Christ, and in so doing, be His witnesses. Last month, we talked about prayer and having a working relationship with God. Others will see a change in us as we continue to improve in our relationship with God. This is being a witness. You see, witnessing is not always about being in a foreign country or speaking out in your community. The best witness is the silent, but fruitful, life of a Christian. Why is that considered best? It is because anyone can do it. We all have the ability to be like Christ as long as we so will and move in His strength. If we can do simply that, taking up our cross daily, we can be a witness. The "Give A Helping Hand"...

This month, PlugIn2God is focusing on prayer : its relevancy, its power, and its importance. These aspects and more will be covered in an effort to revitalize God's people by prompting them to connect with Him -- not just when we want to, not just when we need Him, but every step of the way. As we look at prayer with the mindset that God wants to be our Friend, our Mentor, our Guide, we will feel more and more that prayer is not just a thing of the past, that it is not simply an emergency call system. It is conversing with God -- talking and listening -- as a friend. PS: This month provided you and others with a four-part series on prayer (enough to last one month). While at the current moment of writing the series is not yet complete, it will be definitely by the end of September. I hope that you utilize and enjoy and share this resource!

This month (August 2011) we are studying about prayer from the angle of God wanting to be our Best Friend. As with all friends, we should get to know God better; and in fact, He wishes for us to seek His face: but how do we accomplish this?           "It is our privilege to reach higher and still higher for clearer revealings of the character of God. When Moses prayed, 'I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory,' the Lord did not rebuke him, but He granted his prayer. God declared to His servant, 'I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.' Exodus 33:18, 19.           "It is sin that darkens our minds and dims our perceptions. As sin is purged from our hearts, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, illuminating His word and reflected from the face of nature, more and more fully will declare Him 'merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in...

Ignore the fact that I forgot about the principles of mirroring. =) Click here to read the Scripture mentioned in this video.

     As young people in the 21st century, we often don't understand why it's really important to have a relationship with God. Why can't we wait till we're adults with jobs and degrees? Two possible explanations are the following: Tomorrow is not promised to us. ( Job 1:21 ) Jesus could come any day, and we have to be ready. ( Matt. 24:36-39 )      Okay, those are some good reasons; but could someone explain to me why our parents think five o'clock in the morning is a beautiful time to commune with God? I mean, let's think about this: God is never on vacation, and He never takes naps. Can we not commune with Him at a more godly hour of the day (an hour when perhaps we are more conscious)? Sure we can; have fun debating that with your parents! We can commune with God at anytime (and we should according to   1Thessalonians 5:17 ), but it is best to start our day with God. In doing this, we can have a better understanding of what God wants u...

This month, PlugIn2God is focusing on grace, peace, and forgiveness. We all need grace: for by grace are we saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Throughout the course of this month, we will be reading and studying about the significance of grace and its meaning in our lives. We will look at God's forgiveness and mercy and will recognize that we need to forgive others also. We will read and see the unsurmountable peace that one obtains from grace and forgiveness  whether he is the giver or the receiver. After this month is over, I pray that we all will make a conscious effort in the strength of Christ to be seek God for grace, mercy, forgiveness, and peace; and to then go and do likewise for our fellow men.  Get the Bible reading bookmark here .