LIFECHURCH.TV - URBAN LEGENDS WEEK TWO
SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2007 - POSTED BY MICHAEL O'RIELLY
VIDEO RUNTIME: 35:54
 
Well, it's week number two of the Urban Legends series at LifeChurch.tv. The message is titled "God Want's You Happy" and in our American culture today it is evident that we are obsessed with our individual pursuit of happiness. We buy cars, watch oprah, take medications and listen to our pastors tell us all the time that God want's us happy. Being bombarded with talk of happiness, the sight of people who are obviously happy all the time, and the items we can purchase to make us happy non stop makes us question in the event that we are not happy if we are forsaken, aren't worthy, or that God has failed us.
 
If you familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son found in the gospel of Luke 15:11-32, we find that most people in the pursuit of happiness become miserable.
 
As you watch ask yourself if you're pursuing happiness and the things you want? Or are you pursuing God more than anything else?
 
Finally I'll end this post by adding one final thought. While imprisoned and waiting to find out if he would be executed the Apostle Paul wrote the following:
 
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13
 

 
LIFECHURCH.TV - URBAN LEGENDS WEEK ONE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2007 - POSTED BY MICHAEL O'RIELLY
VIDEO RUNTIME: 35:36
 
Today we started the Urban Legends series at my church LifeChurch.tv. In week one we are discussing Christ's claim to be the exclusive way to have eternal life. The week one video is appropriately titled, "There Are Many Ways To God".
 
Debunking Spiritual Myths: Do you know someone who's seen Bigfoots tracks? What about Nessie in Loch Ness? You know how it goes: someone sees something and tells someone who then tells someone else. On and on and on it goes until its hard to separate fact from fiction. This doesn't just happen with Bigfoot and Nessie... it happens with spiritual truths as well.

 
KORN & CHRIST
MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2007 - POSTED BY MICHAEL O'RIELLY
VIDEO RUNTIME: 06:29
 
Brian "Head" Welch use to be the lead guitarist for the band Korn. He was a drunk, addicted to drugs and trying to raise a little girl. This awesome video is about Brian's decision to leave the band and the amazing transformation that he has undergone since putting his faith in Jesus Christ.

 
GOD'S LITTLE GIRL
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2007 - POSTED BY MICHAEL O'RIELLY
VIDEO RUNTIME: 03:21
 
Akiane Kramarik is an amazing child prodigy who started painting with a masters touch at the age of 7. What is even more amazing is the fact she says her abilities come directly from dreams and visions that God has given her. In addition to all this is the fact that her mother was an Atheist and God was never discussed in her household.
 
Most the paintings you'll see on this video are from when Akiane was 7 to 9 years old. She is currently 12 years old and says it is her desire to share God with the world through her art. If you want to learn more about this amazing little girl you can by visiting her website at www.artakiane.com.

 
HEARING THE GOSPEL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2007 - POSTED BY MICHAEL O'RIELLY
 
In frequenting blogs and religious websites, I often see people debating the merits of Christian salvation. Without fail, the first criticism is that salvation is unjust: “What happens to people that never learn of Jesus?” What bothers me about this question is that it is usually asked without much regard for these hypothetical people. Typically, this is a red herring argument to try and justify an existence away from God. Despite the motives for such a question, it does deserve an answer. These hypothetical people fall into two groups:
 
1. Children that sadly die before they can comprehend the Biblical message.
 
2. Peoples living in cultures that haven’t heard the Gospel because of isolation or religious suppression and persecution.
 
The most obvious answer is that God is infinitely loving and just, and can therefore be trusted to do what is right. However, scripture may be able to give us an idea of how these people would be judged.
 
“But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.” Luke 12:48 NLT
 
This passage illustrates the just nature of God. People are accountable for that which they are capable of knowing. In observing young children, it is easy to see that they have difficulty in determining right from wrong. So when are they accountable for wrongdoing? The idea of responsibility in children is also presented in scripture.
 
“for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil…” Romans 9:11 NKJV
 
“For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good…” Isaiah 7:16 NAS
 
“…'I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth…'" Genesis 8:21 NKJV
 
These three passages show that children have done no wrong before birth, and that our sinfulness begins sometime in our youth. It is important to note that Genesis did not say from birth, but from youth. This lends itself to the idea of an age of accountability. This is the time at which children are capable of introspection and know the extent of their sin. The Bible does not speak to a certain age, but to the capabilities of the individual, as in the earlier passage from Luke.
 
As for those that are older, yet have not heard, there is also some guidance. Everyone has a sense of morality that they will be held to. This is displayed in Romans:
 
“For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” Romans 1:19-20 NLT
 
We are all armed with a conscience that guides us in doing what is right. Although cultures throughout the world differ on laws, they generally possess the same sense of right and wrong. Our conscience is the Holy Spirit working within us. Some may be tempted to say that it would be better to have never heard the Gospel, and to be judged against one's own morality. Even if this were the case, we would all fall short.
 
To truly fulfill the law to the best of our ability, we should accept the sacrifice of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.
 
“…only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.” Romans 3:31 NLT