Author: Rhodes Davis

My passion is analyzing information, exploring ideas, lifelong learning and sharing knowledge with others. I have a wide range of interests and am not easily bored so I approach unfamiliar and diverse subjects with great zeal. I am a business nerd, fascinated by what can be accomplished through innovative companies and people who want to change the world. My faith is very important and I enjoy opportunities to share my observations and study insights through teaching and writing. I follow the simple teachings of Jesus and try to reflect His glory in my life. I work with young people on applying the teachings of Jesus to their unique challenges and opportunities. "Curiosity keeps taking us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Do Not Be Ruled By Things

If you go to a mall you will see many stores with lots of wonderful things. There are clothes that it seems everyone is wearing and shoes that the “popular” people wear. Sadly, many people choose their friends based on what they own instead of who they are.

Some people feel bad because they do not wear clothes that everyone else is wearing. Some feel bad because they do not have the latest video game that everyone is talking about or the newest toy.

It is sad when people consider themselves good or bad based on the things they own. It is sadder to see people who will not be friends with someone—or even make fun of someone—who does not have the clothes or own things that the “popular” crowd has.

This attention to things can make us forget about things that really matter. It does not matter what clothes you wear or what things you own, you are important because there is only one you. Anyone who does not want to be your friend because you do not look like them, dress like them, or have the things they have is not a friend worth having.

This focus on things is called covetousness. When one is covetous, he wants what he does not have, is not happy with what he does own, and thinks about things too much. Galatians 3:5 says that covetousness is idolatry. If a person is so focused on things, they become like a god to him. He cares more about things than he cares about God. Instead of God determining what is important in his life, he thinks things are more important.

Around birthdays and holidays it is easy to get excited about what gifts you might receive. Some people want lots and lots of things but, after they have had the gifts for a while, start wanting more and more things. It is not wrong to have nice things and gifts but do not make them the most important thing in your life.

Your relationship with God and other people should be more important than things. Do not choose your friends based on what they have but on who they are. Some of the worst people have many things. Some of the best people have few things. Be content: be happy with what you have. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 warns us that the desire to own many things may lead us away from God.

A Godly Student

It is back to school time. Whether you go to a public or private school or are home schooled and meet with other students from time to time, you must make sure that you live properly before others.

Some of your class-mates may not care about serving God at all. They may be more interested in things that you know displease God. Though you have to be around such people, you do not have to be like them.

1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us that friends who do not serve God could teach us to do ungodly things. We can pick up filthy words from people who use foul language. These words do not please or glorify God, Colossians 3:8.

If our close friends get angry quickly, we can develop bad tempers, Proverbs 22:24-25. A person who loses his temper does not glorify God, James 1:19-20.

Some people like to do many things that destroy themselves and others. They may drink alcohol, use drugs, or look at magazines and movies that they should not see. They will think you are strange if you do not do it either:

For you spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in sensuality, sinful desires, drunkenness, wild celebrations, drinking parties, and detestable idolatry. They insult you now because they are surprised that you are no longer joining them in the same excesses of wild living. 1 Peter 4:3-4 (ISV)

Even if people do insult you, you do not have to please them. They will have to answer to God for the way they lived if they do not repent. You know you will be judged by God; therefore, you should not follow their evil ways.

When I was in school, choosing to do the right thing meant that I was not always popular with my friends. Sometimes when they wanted to do something wrong and I told them I would not, others took courage and did not do the wrong thing.

Sometimes I had to let them go without me because they would not do right and I would not do wrong. Make friends of people who want to please God and encourage one another to do right

Comparing Your Looks To A Fake

“…in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” 2 Timothy 2:9-10

Our view of personal beauty is shaped by what we see on television, movies, magazines, music videos, etc.
Many young people feel sad because they do not look like the movie star or music star on the television or in the pages of a beauty magazine.

Well guess what?

The stars do not look that way either!

Television characters are imaginary. No one has all of the physical beauty, strength, intelligence, wit, charm, and style that you see on TV. When we compare ourselves to people on TV, we are comparing our reality to the imaginary world of Hollywood. We forget that it is make-believe.

Musicians, actors, and athletes hire people to make them look good—it is not reality.

I read an interview with a former model who was sad that so many girls spent lots of money and did things harmful to their health in order to look like her. She said that she never looked like the magazine cover because artists painted over her “flaws.”

The next time you see that beautiful model or handsome man in the magazine remember that the image has been fixed by artists to remove all flaws; the models are not as physically perfect as their pictures! Let your attractiveness be the dignity of a godly character.

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

Do Barber’s Exist

Author Unknown

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut. He began to have a good conversation with thPhoto by CraigPJ/www.sxc.hue barber who attended him. They talked about many things and various subjects, including the existence of God. The barber said: “Look man, I don’t believe that God exists.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the customer.

“Well, it’s so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God exists, there would be no suffering or pain. I can’t think of loving a God who permits all of these things.”

The customer thought for a moment, but he didn’t respond because he did not want to start an argument. The barber finished his job, and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barber shop, the customer saw a man in the street with long hair and a long beard. It had been a long time since he had his hair cut, and he looked dirty and unkempt. The customer entered the barber shop again and said to the barber, “You know what? Barbers do not exist.”

”How can you say they don’t exist?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. Why I just worked on you!”
“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist, because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man outside.”

“Ah, barbers do exist; what happens is that people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” agreed the customer. “That’s the point! God does exist. What happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him. That’s why there’ s so much pain and suffering in the world.”

Blaming Others

Think of the last time you did something wrong. Why did you do it?

“My brother (or friend) made me do it”
“Everyone else was doing it.”
“The Devil made me do it.”

When we do something wrong it is easy to blame someone else. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, Adam blamed Eve for his sin. He was also blaming God because he blamed the woman that God had given him. Eve blamed the serpent (Genesis 3).

In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul blamed the people for his sin. However, when we do something wrong, we can only blame ourselves.
Other people may encourage you to do something wrong or tempt you to disobey your parents and God. But you—and only you—choose whether to obey or disobey. Someone might make it difficult to choose the right thing, or you may feel embarrassed to choose the right action, but you can make that tough choice.

God has promised escape from all temptations but He did not promise that it would be easy. Your friends might thing you are strange when you do what is right (1 Peter 4:4). You will be blamed for a poor choice but God will approve of your good choice. You will feel better about yourself when you choose to do the right thing.

Taking complete responsibility for your actions, whether good or bad, is one of the most important decisions you will make. People who constantly blame others for their wrong choices will never be strong or responsible.

When you recognize your bad decisions and accept the blame and any punishment that the decision deserves, you take an important step in maturity. Good people always respect someone who will admit fault when they have done wrong, will try to fix any problems they have created, and accept the punishment that may come.

Be strong. Some of the most important words you can say are, “I’m sorry. I made a poor (wrong ) decision. Please forgive me and tell me what I can do to make it right.” You will be proud of yourself, you will bring honor to yourself, you will be responsible, and you will glorify God.