Worldview Warriors

Respect God and His Ways

2009-07-07T22:34:00.001-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

If you call yourself a Christian, do you actually do what the Word of God says? Sure you read it, pray, and go to Sunday morning services, but do you actually live out the Word of God? Do you only try to be a good person and just get by doing only the easy things it teaches? Are you seeing or living out Acts 3:38-47?

Are you living out God’s dream or the American dream? Maybe living out your dream has nothing to with God’s dream for you. I ask this question because once my family and I started seeking out God’s will with all of out heart, mind, soul, and strength and quit worrying about what people thought of us, the real adventure began.

I think there are people out there that know what God wants them to do, but they are afraid to follow Him because of what their friends and family might say or think. Also, some people are not willing to give up their comfortable lifestyle.

My family and I don’t really buy a lot of new things anymore, but we do share with a lot of people and they share with us. A great example of this was the other morning we ran out of milk. I was just about to go buy some when a friend showed up at the door with 3 gallons. It was like 8:00 in the morning! We’ve also been given clothes that others have outgrown or no longer need. Some of these clothes are nicer than what we would have bought new for ourselves. We give clothes to others as well. It is really incredible to see God bless His children through His people.

Another way God blesses us is through our health care plan. We belong to a co-op called Samaritan Ministries. It is a group of Christians that help pay for each other’s health care costs. We pray for each other and share the load financially. We send our monthly check to someone in need in the co-op. For example, my oldest son needed to go to the emergency room for care at our local hospital. We let the need be made known to the co-op and we received checks from our Christian brothers and sisters to help pay for the emergency visit.

I want to encourage my Christian brothers and sisters to rethink how we do life here on earth. If we really believe this earth is not our home, we need to have a kingdom perspective and build up treasures in heaven rather than treasures here on earth. I encourage you again to read the book of Acts 1-4 and start living what you are reading. If we put our faith in God and not man, our example will be seen by all.

Fear God and not men. This essentially means respect our Father God. He deserves it.

For further reading check out Joshua 24:15 and Romans 3:21-31.

Following the Tough Narrow Path

2009-07-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

by Jason DeZurik
(Note: Before reading the following blog please know this story is about trusting and obeying God. It is not about health insurance being bad. But we do hope it gets you to rethink some things through in your life.)

Over two years ago when my family and I begin our journey in starting Worldview Warriors, we needed to head down a very difficult yet rewarding path on which we had many difficult decisions to make. These decisions would affect our whole family. One of the most difficult decisions at the time was what to do about health care.

You see, we had been trained, probably a lot like you are, that we needed and deserved health insurance and needed to have it since we have a family of 8 people. At the time we definitely didn’t have the money to pay for something called COBRA, which we could have gotten for a time to have some, “peace of mind” but it was far too expensive for our income. So, we went without health insurance for about a month.

One thing you don’t know yet by reading this blog is that my wife was pregnant with our 6th child at the time and she was due in October of that year. We definitely needed health insurance (or so we thought.) We even went through the hoops and paperwork to get the government health insurance that is available, but we knew deep down this was a mistake. We knew God was not calling us to use this government service. It was a difficult time for us because we had unknowingly been trained to think inside of this man-made system and to not have health insurance at the time seemed like utter foolishness. If you will, we had been trained to trust in human ideas and not in God and His ways of wisdom. God was calling us to obey Him and trust Him. So, we cancelled the government insurance and relied in God. This was about 6 – 8 weeks before our daughter was born.

About one month before she was about to grace us with her presence, someone contacted us and told us these words, “My husband and I have been praying and if we don’t pay for this pregnancy, God told us we would be sinning.” My wife and I were shocked, dumb-founded, and amazed! We hadn’t told anyone of our need and yet this woman of God was telling us that God had told her that they needed to pay completely for this pregnancy. This included all doctor visits before the birth, the birth itself, and any check ups with the mid-wife right after the birth.

God spoke to this couple about our situation. They heard Him and obeyed. Even though it was hard not to have health insurance, God blessed us immensely for our trust in Him. He is our provider.

Are you willing to completely trust in God? Are you willing to trust the God who gives you life? Take time this week to read about Abraham’s faith in Romans 4 and challenge yourself to live as he did. I encourage you to start following his example and see what adventure God has in store for you.

Next week I will continue this story and our journey of trusting God and His people completely. My family and I are continuing to learn not to trust in human ways of thought, but in God’s and God’s alone. Remember, human ways are not God’s ways. Man’s wisdom is utter foolishness to God.

Further Reading

1 Corinthians 2:14 - The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 1:17-19 - For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Matthew 7:13 - 23

Acts 2:14 – 4:37 (Read just one chapter a day over and over. I encourage you to live life as the early church did.)

History

2009-06-15T20:56:00.001-07:00

I am excited to inform you that I have asked Scott Will to start writing for Worldview Warriors. He has graciously accepted my invitation to share with us his thoughts and wisdom. As we begin this new chapter in Worldview Warriors history I look forward letting you know more about him and the ministry God has called this wonderful man to.
- Jason DeZurik

"History"
by Scott Will

As a history teacher, I was asked to start posting some notes dealing with the foundations of our nation as they are relative to Christianity. Although history is my expertise, I have actually been wrestling with this topic for a couple of weeks.

First and foremost, we need to realize that today's Christianity as a whole has gotten off track. Many have molded Christianity to fit the secular world of today. We want Christianity to fit into the business of our schedule; we want to be able to hit the high road Sunday mornings, have our cup of coffee and hellos, and then hit the nitty gritty, upgrade, and do as much as possible to live the "American Dream" throughout the rest of the week. I have been guilty of this behavior in the past, which is why I am so passionate about it now.

Our lifestyle today would never have existed had it not been for groups of people who decided to make the voyage from Europe to the New World to exercise their religion free from the persecution of the Catholic Church. Today would never have existed had our Founding Fathers not recognized that the only way America would grow would be through disconnecting from the English monarchy and establishing freedom of choice — free will. This day would never have existed had it not been for the recognition of God by Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence.

In that document, Jefferson noted that the political constraints that held America hostage were to be broken for the reason of "the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them." With this statement as my framework, every couple of weeks I would like to elaborate on the fact that America was founded upon Christian principles.

We speak of religious freedom every day, but that religious freedom has come at the price of Christianity’s being removed from the very society that it was part of creating. I hope that you will comment and we will have some fruitful discussion, as we dig deep into what it was that made America what it is today.

God is Faithful

2009-06-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

Years ago, I sensed that the Lord was leading me to read biographies of great people in history. For instance, two people who came to mind were Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

I bought a few biographies that piqued my interest but never read them, for, as life goes, I became busy with other things that crowded out my reading. However, within the last six months, much has changed — thanks to God using an incredible man from Lima, Ohio, who is discipling me. He challenged me about four months ago to form a board of directors. I told him, “Worldview Warriors already has a board of directors in place.” He responded, “I mean a board of directors for life.”

He explained that when I am faced with decisions throughout life, I will often need to sit down and have a “meeting” with my board of directors. He said, “You may even want to sit down, place all the books you’ve read from these people in front of you, and consider what each person would do in this situation. Learn from their wisdom and mistakes.”

He insisted that one of the books must, of course, be the Bible. He also encouraged me to read the biographies of Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, and Ghandi. He said that the biography of General Patton should also be on the list. “He will teach you how to not give up your position,” he said.

Thus, I obtained a biography of General Patton and General Rommel (who was in the German army during World War II). I have learned so much from both of these men already, and I am only one fifth of the way through the book!

I am telling you this for two reasons. First, leaders are learners, and we all need to grow, no matter where we are in life. Even my discipler, who is in his 60s, told me, “I’ve never thought of reading about General Rommel. You’ve taught me something today.”

Secondly, although I didn’t read these biographies years ago, as God was urging me, God didn’t forget what He wanted me to do. I had forgotten, but He didn’t allow my distraction to divert His purpose. God is faithful!

Here’s my challenge to you: find a biography on a great person in history. Do you have a hero or someone you’d like to learn more about? Buy a biography on that person and read a little each night. I think you will be surprised at how much you will learn from the past. If you can’t make up your mind or don’t know where to start, I suggest that you try a biography of Theodore Roosevelt, General Thomas Patton, or Mother Theresa. Then pray every day that God would help you to daily implement what you are learning.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.” You can learn throughout your life. Let God train you.

Falling Off a Cliff

2009-06-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

Looking back on my life I can now see that in 2006 of November God had me standing on the edge of a cliff in the spiritual realm telling me to jump. Over two years before this, God was preparing my family and I to start a new ministry geared toward helping students, adults, and families become true followers of Jesus Christ. God had been training my family and I to help people not only get into the Kingdom of God through the narrow gate in Matthew 7, but to also live a holy life pleasing to God in all they do. We realized that the way to life eternal was to not only go through the narrow gate but to live the narrow path that Jesus teaches about. If you haven’t noticed by now this scripture text in Matthew 7 has really impacted my life.

So, two years ago on June 4th, my family and I jumped off the cliff and began an adventure with God. We had no idea where this path would lead us but I knew we had heard God’s voice and needed to obey.
It was one of the toughest decisions I have ever made in my life. We would be leaving the comfort of a weekly support team, health insurance and a steady paycheck. We would be trading that for a life of uncertainty, much lower pay and we would have to rethink how to live in a society where we wouldn’t be the norm.

To put it bluntly God basically said, “Do you trust me?” To which we said, “Yes.” And He responded with, “Then leave what you are comfortable with and follow me down the narrow path. Are you willing to take up your cross?” We have had to rethink our whole approach to many things in this life.

The ministry of Worldview Warriors is even more than we thought it would be. God is using this ministry more throughout the world than I personally imagined up to this point. Worldview Warriors is now helping families in the Philippines get out of forced prostitution and slavery in our ministry partnerships with Threads of Hope and His Work Undercover (Read more in this newsletter). Our internet presence is being felt not only in North America, but also in Europe, Australia, Asia, and even Africa. God is moving through this ministry!

Faces in the ministry have come and gone, but God continues to bring qualified passionate people to the ministry for us to continue to raise the bar for Christ’s Kingdom. Our Fastcasts (the 30 second audio devotionals) continue to be played on WXML radio in Ohio and we are currently recording more Fastcasts as you are receiving this newsletter.

On a more personal note, my family and I have been majorly stretched, refined, and pruned by God. He continues this process even today. This road has been difficult and at times, seemingly unbearable. My family and the team we have put together at Worldview Warriors continues to focus in on the Holy Spirit. We are learning more and more how to listen to Him and be guided by Him.

If you support this ministry in any way it is such a huge blessing. Whether you pray, use our materials, give financially, or trust us enough to bring us in for an event, know we could not do this ministry without people like you. We praise God for you everyday. We need to become the church that is talked about in scripture with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.

So, how are you and your family doing following the narrow path? Please do not only go through the narrow gate but start living the narrow path as well. Matthew 7:13 - 23.

The Path is Narrow Too

2009-05-18T14:40:00.001-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

Through my travels around the country, I am blessed to meet so many wonderful, caring people who are not afraid to serve God. I also meet many people who call themselves Christians, yet I can’t help but wonder, “Are they really?”

I write this not to judge but to get us to think about and examine ourselves. Let me explain. I believe Jesus when He said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

In my travels, I have been exposed to a variety of churches with an even greater variety of styles. This is amazing to see how different we are yet worship the same Lord and Savior. I visited one church that host an annual gambling tournament! Yes, they are actually gambling in this church-sponsored event. I’ve spoken with a youth pastors who’ve struggled with their church holding events they don’t agree with but don’t know what they should do about the situation. Things like “outreach events”, which are actually alcoholic parties where people get drunk. These “outreaches” are even sponsored by the senior pastors.

Yet beyond these outrageous realities, here’s the kicker for me: Many pastors divorce or do not have their lives in order in other ways, yet the church does nothing about it. The congregants leave the pastor in his role of leadership (and call it grace), even though I Timothy 3 clearly states the life for which overseers and deacons should be striving. I will paraphrase it for you: Be the husband of but one wife, who manages his own family well and whose children obey Him with proper respect. This man must be self-controlled, not a drunk or lover of money. (See it all in 1 Timothy 3:1-13.) My point here is that Jesus said in Matthew 7 that the gate that leads to life is narrow. He also said that the path is narrow. Readers, this is a call to holiness.

How are you doing? Heck, how am I doing? Are you falling into the ways of the world, or are you taking the narrow path that leads to life? This is difficult to do, I understand. I often strive and fail in this area.
However, the key is this: are you tapping into the Holy Spirit or yourself for strength? Are you tapping into knowledge or into your relationship with the King of the universe? The solution is not in us. It is in Christ. Pray and ask God today to lead and direct your path. Then listen for His voice and obey His direction. See what happens when you follow Christ with a reckless abandon. The adventure awaits!

Silverline Signs with VSR/EMI

2009-05-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

Here is some exciting news for a band I work with all the time. Worldview Warriors partners with them too. They are great godly men trying to serve Christ in all they do. So with no further adieu here is the note on Silverline.

In the fall of ’08 we recorded a 4 song EP with Steve Wilson in Nashille. During that recording session we started to really fall into a sound we liked and for the first time really felt that we found our niche. The songs we had been working on over the last year were starting to take form into something we were very pleased with. And sonically it was becoming the best stuff we’ve put out.

After the success of our first independent release “Start to Believe” word started to spread through the music industry in the area and also nationally. Several regional Rock Radio stations picked up the single and it soon rose up the charts. Not often does an independent band have any success on national radio. We were very honored that so many people called in and requested a band they had never even heard of. Phone calls started coming in from A&R reps, Managers, and Booking Agents. Over the winter SL started sifting through different options. Several Major Record labels started the process of building a relationship with us to see if their label would be a good fit.

Honestly, a lot of the larger labels really had a warped view of how to treat a band. The last thing we wanted to do was sign over the rights to our stuff to a massive corporation that doesn’t care about our goals as a band. It seemed like they have this “Formula for Success” that they run on all their artists. We have always had very high goals for SL. Musically, but mostly the ministry we want to maintain as the heart of everything we do. After talking with many different people, we came across VSR.

VSR was different. They seemed more interested in what we wanted to accomplish, instead of what they could get from us. We had never heard of them before so we started talking with Ken Mary, President of the Label. A connection was made right away, and after a flight down to discuss goals, we began to record what would become our first National Release. VSR is fairly new, just a couple of years so far, but they have very experienced staff. They are under the umbrella of EMI, one of the largest distribution companies in the world. They were excited to sign us not only because they liked our music, but really believe in our vision. We are thrilled with the deal, because it was the only offer we received that didn’t try to take us for fools. We respectfully agreed on a deal that will no doubt benefit both parties. It is good to know in a business full of greed there are still some honest people out there who know what it means to conduct business with integrity.

As of now all the tracks have been recorded, and our album is in Post Production. We are currently designing album art, and will be taking some new photos soon. We are discussing touring options, and starting to outline our future. Our album will be available this summer! Keep checking our “Myspace” and “Facebook” for updates on the exact date.

Please pray for us as we begin this new stage in our lives. Even though we have already had a long journey to get here, somehow it feels like we are just beginning. It is our prayer that God will be able to use us greatly over the next season of our music careers. Thank you so much to all of you who have stuck with us through the many years of becoming who we are today. We humbly thank you for supporting us and believing in us. Silverline exists to bring people into the “All Consuming Love” of the Father, and challenge them to reach there full potential and calling in life! We love you all! God Bless.

You can check out more on these guys at www.myspace.com/silverlinemusic

God is the Judge - Not Us.

2009-04-29T09:20:00.001-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

“I love the way y’all say things without hesitating. You aren’t afraid to speak the truth, even if it hurts or is embarrassing. I think that a lot or people today don’t want to stand up for this kind of thing.”

This quote came from one of the students to whom we ministered during the “Be Prepared” tour. He also said that many people today appear to worship God in church and during religious activities, but then go home and engage in immoral activities on their own time. This student even wondered if these people are actually Christians. It was obviously very upsetting to him.

It makes me think of Matthew 7:13-14, when Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”

Yes, the gate to life is narrow, but I think we tend to forget that the road to life is also narrow. We cannot simply pray a prayer and then leave it at that. We must repent and turn from our wicked ways. This is where it gets tough.

Years ago, I had a very good friend whom I still love very dearly as a brother. He said he was a Christian and lived life with his friends and family. One day, however, I caught him in a lie, followed by more lies. I confronted him about his dishonesty. He admitted that he had lied not only once, but also numerous times before that. I forgave him, and we moved on. Later I caught him in more lies, so I asked another brother in Christ to accompany me when I confronted this man. He again admitted his guilt. I told him that I forgave him and that we would just move on from that point. All was forgiven; however, I told him, “Always tell me the truth from this point on, even if it is very difficult to do so.” We continued our friendship as if the lying had never taken place. This peace lasted about one month, until I sensed that he was lying again. I confronted him about it again, but this time he grew defensive and stated that I was just paranoid. He began to ignore me and failed to return my phone calls or e-mails. This totally confused me because I thought that we had moved on from these lies.

Obviously, he was continuing his path of lies. However, he no longer seemed remorseful about his actions anymore. Thus, I had to deal with a very difficult situation and make some hard decisions.

I share this story with you because at that time I was also questioning whether my friend was even a Christian. I asked myself and God, “How can he be a Christian when he is definitely not walking the narrow path as Jesus Christ has told us to do?” I was consumed with this situation and bewildered over how it could be happening.

After much prayer, meditation, and counsel from wise brothers in Christ, I was freed by God from this situation. Praise God that He allowed me to think this through and see clearly. I forgave my friend and tried to make things right with him (as Jesus taught), even though I was wronged. However, because my friend did not like what I believe are the God-given standards by which we are to live, we don’t talk much anymore, which is a difficult, but probably, a good thing. Praise God that my family and I are now free to do what God has called us to do. I don’t need to worry anymore whether this person is telling the truth or is lying again. My family and I now focus on Christ.

Everyone, God is the judge — not us. It is up to Him as to who is following the narrow path and entering through the narrow gate. So the burden is on Him, not you or me. Later Jesus says in verses 21–23 of Matthew 7, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

So, I guess the question for all of us is this: Are you truly following Christ in everything you do and not being a hypocrite?!

For further reading, check out an old book by Andrew Murray called Absolute Surrender, and read Matthew 7:15–29.

Are You Trusting Yourself Too Much?

2009-04-11T07:29:00.001-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

While on the “Be Prepared” tour on the west coast, Silverline and I were able to stay with a wonderful couple in Phoenix, AZ. Silverline took two days to record a few songs with their new label, VSR, while I took a few days to write, pray, and seek the Lord. I was a little skeptical of being able to do much ministry while we stayed there, but God reminded me that if we are willing to do His will, He will work through circumstances for His greater glory.

Many people came over to the house on a Sunday evening to celebrate a birthday in the family. Little did we know how God had prepared to use that time for ministry! Around 8:00 that evening, we began a praise and worship time for anyone who wanted to join us. Soon we were praising our Lord and Savior by singing as the Holy Spirit led, with each person singing whatever he or she felt led to sing. Sometimes we all sang the same song, but other times we all sang something different. It was an incredible time of worship.

After worshipping, we prayed for about an hour for our friend, Adam, to be healed from his enlarged spleen. Please pray for his healing. Then our hostess asked us to pray for a young man who was there worshipping with us, whom I will call Tim. She did not tell us what to pray for, in order to allow the Spirit to lead. As we began to pray, some of us laid hands on Tim. As we prayed, a recurring theme began to emerge from each person praying — fear and confusion. I was a little confused myself because I supposed that Tim needed physical healing.

As we continued praying for this young man, we became more certain that we were hearing the Spirit correctly. As we prayed, Tim began to cry, with head hung low and shoulders hunched over. After about 20–30 minutes of prayer time, we all felt that we could do no more, that the prayer time was finished. Tim just stood there with his eyes closed, weeping. We all sat down quietly to allow Tim to do business with God. After about 15 minutes of silence, Steve, Silverline’s guitarist, told him, “Tim, there’s nothing more we can do right now. You need to just give it over to God. Only you know what to do now.” Tim remained in his hunched position for another 5 minutes, and then. .. it happened. Tim fell to his knees and began to cry profusely. He decided to trust God and not himself anymore. Something broke in the spiritual realm and we were now able to pray over Tim again. This went on for the next 40 minutes. I didn’t get to bed until 3:00 the next morning.

How about you? Are you dealing with fear and confusion? Is there something you need to surrender to the Lord? Is there an area in your life that you have not submitted to God? Are you dealing with pride or selfishness? Then give it over to God. Pray right now. Ask God to help you submit to His will and fulfill His calling for your life.

God continues to move greatly on this tour. Lives are being changed! People are being freed from personal junk and are becoming free to live out their relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people are also beginning to recognize that they are stuck in religious, ritualistic institutions that had good beginnings but have somehow developed into institutions of men. Praise the Lord that people are becoming free in Christ! Yes, people are being saved. But many are also realizing that beyond salvation, they need to be discipled in order to grow. Both students and adults are stepping up! Praise God!

Does the ministry of Worldview Warriors actually change lives?

2009-04-02T08:15:00.001-07:00

The "Be Prepared" Tour – Part 2 by Jason DeZurik

Many people ask me, “Why should we bring Worldview Warriors in and partner in ministry with us to equip our students and adult leaders?”

I suppose the best way to answer that question is to let you read responses from students and an adult to whom we have been ministering on this most recent Be Prepared Tour on the west coast. These quotes are evidence of the work that God has recently been doing through Worldview Warriors. Enjoy! And we hope to partner in ministry with some of you soon.

* “I have realized that I need a relationship with Christ — not just the title of a Christian.” – student

* “I plan to be more active by going into the world to conquer with love and mercy, instead of condemnation. I will develop relationships with people, show them the love of Jesus, and let God and the Holy Spirit save them.” - student

* “I plan to stop being so judgmental and to try to be more passionate and kind towards people who need Christ.” - student

* “I am so motivated to read my Bible and engage in a quiet time at least one hour a day and to work on being completely sold out to Jesus Christ. I want to go to heaven and hear Jesus say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” - student

* “I am going to start being more authoritative in using my words wisely. I will stop trying to make excuses about not going to church. I want to be fully committed to Christ. I will look at money differently because I need to stop being so worried about whether or not I have it. I do not want to make money my master. I want to have faith in God and trust my Provider.” – student

* “I am going to start talking better and watching my words. I’m not going to gossip anymore, and I’m going to stop being perverted with my words. The things that come out of my mouth need to be godly so others know that I live for Christ!” – student

* “I want to live like Christ. And I most definitely want to turn my life around and stop being so perverted. I also want to be an example so that when people see me, they think of Christ.” – student

* “I plan to start asking more questions and listen more when I am seeking to evangelize people.” – teacher

* “I am going to stop cussing and live more for God so I can find His calling for my life. I no longer want to be a hypocrite by doing the very things that I tell others not to do.” – student

* “I am making a commitment to have an intimate time with God every day. I feel like I have a great relationship with constant communication with God, but I have seen that there is so much more that we can attain. Hearing Him from His word is something I am excited to do!” - student

We have many more quotes that we could share, but I think you get the point. God is moving. He is so good. Remember that the mission of Worldview Warriors is to “equip students to impact this generation for Jesus Christ.” We believe this is happening in a mighty way and are amazed at how we are being used to serve Christ.

Please consider bringing this ministry to your church, school, or any other ministry in which you are involved. Also, please pray to consider if God is calling you to join us in becoming a financial or prayer supporter of the ministry. We praise God for the work that He is doing. Lives are being changed. Students are becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Check out what this student has to say.

* “I am going to run furiously after God and His will for my life. I refuse to continue to listen to bad influences around me. I refuse to take negative opinions and judgments to heart. I want to become totally enthralled and sold out for Jesus. I am going to be much more careful of what I say and how I say it. I want my words to carry weight and have power. I want God to use me in huge ways, beyond any expectations or limitations, and I now believe He will.”

Be Prepared Tour – What’s Happening? Part 1

2009-03-31T16:43:00.001-07:00

by Jason DeZurik

We received the following letter from one of the youth we ministered to in Amarillo, Texas at San Jacinto Christian Academy. We ministered there for two full days during the school days with a Silverline concert in the evening.

Worldview Warriors,

I know that nothing I could ever say would thank you enough for what you have done for our school, San Jacinto Christian Academy.

The sessions were absolutely wonderful. The speakers knew the answers to most questions that were asked. The sessions that I went to were very interesting and kept my attention throughout the entire lesson. The lesson about knowing what you’re supposed to do with your life and the gifts God has given to you is the lesson that many of us connected with most. Many people were brought to Christ or realized that the life they were living was not the right path that God wanted for them. I personally have never seen our school this fired up about a group that has come and brought the message to us.

When we have our chapel days, everyone just wants to go back to class or go home, but when you were here, they wanted to stay and be able to talk and pray with all of you. One person for which we have been praying for awhile was saved and touched by your words and your prayers; she was going down the wrong path and has been for a while. The time you took to talk to her and to pray for her and with her made her realize that she was not acting the way God wants us to as Christians. Christian means, “little Christ,” so I believe that we, as Christians, should live like Christ. To see kids weep and fall on their knees praying to God, asking for His forgiveness was a wonderful sight to see.

At San Jacinto, it is extremely hard for the students to fully appreciate what someone is doing for our school. We have had many groups and people come and talk to us about God. But they do not actually get on our level and work, pray, and teach us, so that we have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Another thing we respected about you is that you treated us as young adults and not children.

The miracles that I heard from some of the students that you touched, that you prayed for, touched my heart and made me weep for them. I do not know how to express my thanks to all of you for taking away time from your jobs and your families to come and preach and teach students about God’s Word and His plans for us. I especially have been touched by everything that I have heard and seen. My hearing has been impaired since I was a young child, and when you guys prayed over my ears I was able to hear everything clearly. God heard your prayer and granted it. I have full hearing in my left ear, and I haven’t had full hearing since I was 6 years old.

I truly do appreciate your group and the wonderful things you have done. Thank you all again, and I hope to see your group at San Jacinto again and hope to hear of the many great things that you are doing for other students around the world. Even though we are seniors, we are planning on hearing about the group that went to San Jacinto and hope to hear about you on the radio. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love in Christ,

A Senior for San Jacinto Christian Academy
Jeremiah 33:3

Praise God! He is so good and doing many great things though the ministry of Worldview Warriors.

Who Are You Trusting?

2009-03-09T10:50:00.001-07:00

Imitate or Inhabited: The choice is up to you.
by Jason DeZurik

I have been blessed in so many ways through out my life. I realize how privileged I was growing up in a family that tried to teach me about Jesus Christ and His ways. My mother led me to Christ as a child. As a teenager I turned away from Him and went my own way. Through their example of unconditional love and constant prayer for my soul I was drawn back to our Heavenly Father. My parents are far from perfect, but they love me and care so much for my family and me. Below is a note I just received from my father today! I wanted to share with you this much needed wisdom that I believe we all need to remember.

“It seems as if most everyone is so confused about what’s happening today but yet still try to maintain living by their own thinking. Think about this – We all have access to unlimited wisdom, unlimited power, unlimited love, and unlimited grace in an awesome God.

We try and choose to imitate Jesus by trying to force ourselves to act in different ways in our own strength (WWJD). Let’s look at this a little differently (WIJD) “What Is Jesus Doing?” We don’t just have an example, we have an inhabitant!” There is a world of difference. John 15:5 says, “Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit. Because apart from me you can do nothing.” In Galatians 2:20 we see “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

I think attempting to imitate our divine example finds us failing often and even growing ever more frustrated with our ability to live as Jesus did. We need to see ourselves as vessels in which the Spirit of the living God dwells, and when we do we’re inclined not to try harder but to trust more.”

I want to encourage you to go and do this. I think that’s all that needs to be said this week.

Thanks, Mort: A Great Teacher in Life

2009-03-01T19:46:00.001-08:00

by Jason DeZurik

Should irresponsibility be rewarded?

When I was growing up, I was really into football. Heck, I’m really into football today too, but I actually played it when I was younger. I weighed a whopping 135 pounds as a senior in high school, even though the program said I weighed 155 pounds. (Who was I fooling?)

As a sophomore in high school, I was on the scout offense and defense and played in JV and freshman games, since I was small and definitely needed the practice. (That’s code for “I really wasn’t that good.”) I started for the freshman and JV teams and suited up for the varsity games to play special teams for kick-offs. Suiting up for three games a week was a rush for me.

A funny thing happened that year, however. Our homecoming game was not a typical game for our team. According to the team rules, if you stayed out past 10:00 p.m. the night before the game, you would not play in Friday’s game. Strict? Yes. But those were the team rules, and they were necessary.

The night before the homecoming game, four of our senior leaders decided to stay out past curfew, and our head coach and many players found out. Our coach had a decision to make: Let these seniors play in the game even though they knew the team rules, or make them pay the consequence for disregarding them. That night changed my life. Even though we were playing one of the best teams in our conference, our head coach, Tom Moriarty (otherwise known as “Mort”), made the tough call and benched all four of these starters right before kick-off. Pandemonium broke out! These starters included our quarterback, the running back, and a very athletic tight end who caught most of the passes. The four players were livid! Even though they had been out with the homecoming committee the evening before, our coach reminded them that they broke team rules and knew the consequences. One player threw and kicked his helmet, another yelled at our coach profusely, and fans and parents were bewildered as to what was going on. You could hear the fans yelling to put these players in the game. Without them, we had little chance to win. I am sure our coach felt enormous pressure, but he would not relent. He stood his ground for the first half, and his point was made. I think he knew that he had to make this stand or lose the respect of the players.

Reminiscing about this event in my life leads me to see parallels in life today. Even though we all know there are both good and bad consequences to our actions, we still make stupid decisions. We want something but don’t have the money to pay for it, so we just put it on credit. Then later we’ll partake of that poor choice by paying three to five times what the item is actually worth. But now some people don’t even have to pay for a bad decision because they will be “bailed out.” Is it right that businesses and private citizens who make bad choices and bad decisions get rewarded for irresponsibility? Those of us who have “played by the rules” of society and are self-controlled in our finances now have to pay for the irresponsibility of others. Is this right? If we would just let people and businesses fail, people might actually learn from their mistakes and become better individuals and better citizens. Just like my coach taught us so many years ago, breaking the rules should not be rewarded. People need to learn from their mistakes and move on to become better people.

My coach probably didn’t know what an impact his actions at that game would have on his players long after the season was over. But I am glad that he was my coach and want to thank him for the lessons in personal responsibility that he taught us. Because I learned so much about life from the game of football and from all my high school football coaches, I want to thank them right now:

Head Coach — Coach Moriarty
Defensive Coordinator — Coach Moberg
Assistant Coaches — Coach Korf and Coach Leadholm
Freshman Coaches — Coach Martin and Coach Baumann.

This is for you, Mort. I want others to know what a great man you are. Thank you for being such a great influence in my life. I am 38 years old now, and this lesson — as well as many other teachable moments from you and your staff — are gifts that have changed and shaped my life in great ways. I hope to teach my children some of the same lessons that I learned from you.

I want to encourage those reading this blog to write a note to someone who has mentored or discipled you, thanking that person for sinking his or her life into yours. Send that person a letter, or post it on your facebook or myspace for others to see. If you can’t think of anyone or have too many from which to choose, ask God to help you in choosing someone. Then get to work. Do it right now, or time will slip away from you.

In closing, I just have this to say: Thanks, Mort! I am still realizing how much you taught me about life in those four years of playing the great game of football for you. Thanks again.

For more reading on this topic, check out John 6. (Yes, the whole thing!) Leaders are learners. Notice how Jesus leads and how His disciples follow, while others simply blow Him off.

God's Will or My Dreams?

2009-02-24T18:15:00.001-08:00

by Jason DeZurik

Have you ever been so busy that you don’t know which way is up or down? Have you even been so busy for the Kingdom of God that you are actually not doing much earthly good? You’re busy running to church or school activities or trying to do your homework in order to please your teachers and family with good grades. Or maybe you’re busy trying to get into that perfect college or busy with your job.

Now don’t get me wrong — being busy isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can, however, divert our focus away from God and His desires for your life. He may be calling you to be a doctor or a lawyer, but your attention is on goofing around and having “fun.” He might be calling you to work with your hands and be a carpenter or a machinist, but you have other dreams and desires that you would rather fulfill. Instead of following His lead, you decide to be selfish.

Some of us may even get so focused on doing things for the kingdom of God that we treat our fellow man in horrible ways. Jesus said to love our enemies. How much more then should we love our brothers and sisters in Christ?

I recently needed to apologize to a sister in Christ. We had passionately argued about something petty, and I should have treated her more kindly. So we apologized, forgave each other, and moved on. This is how our interactions with each other should be, as Jesus Christ taught His disciples. In order to stay in check with Christ, we must be in His Word daily, pray to Him constantly, and seek His ways in everything — especially when we have wronged someone.

In everything you do, I encourage you to recognize how God is moving in that situation and to join Him in His work. When you mess up, apologize, seek forgiveness, and move on. Every aspect of our lives needs to center around God and His work. Without this proper focus, you will labor in vain, and, before you know it, you will be retiring from your job and wondering where all the time went. Don’t serve yourself. Serve Christ. You won’t be disappointed.

For further study, check out Matthew 5:43-48.

Speed Racer Revisited

2009-02-09T08:37:00.001-08:00

by Jason DeZurik

A few weeks ago I posted a blog entitled “Dealing With an Institution: Racing Toward the Answer.” In it I discussed some problems that I and many other pastors and lay leaders see within the church. The response has not been surprising, but I believe that I need to comment on this topic again.

Using Scripture as our guide, let’s look at I Timothy 3:1-13. I will stay away from the hot topic of whether or not women should be in church leadership and focus on verses 2-4. It says that whoever seeks to be an overseer should be above reproach, self-controlled, the husband of but one wife, etc. It also states that he must manage his family well and ensure that his children obey him with proper respect. Read verse 5 to see why this aspect is so important.

I understand that people have things happen that are out of line every now and then, so I am not writing about an instance that occurs every once in a while. But in a broader sense, how can we put people into leadership in the church when we know that they have family issues? Or how can we support someone preaching from the pulpit who has just gotten a divorce or is a practicing homosexual? How can we allow this when Scripture provides such blatant guidelines? Galatians 6:1-10 has the answer. It states that those who are spiritual should gently restore those who are caught in a sin. We are to carry each other’s burdens, and, in this way, we will fulfill the law of Christ.

Let’s think outside of the box. How can we restore someone gently? First of all, we need to address the situation. Consider if what we think is happening actually is. Secondly, if this person is involved in sin (keep in mind that every situation is different), he should be removed from leadership for a time. Let me elaborate on what I mean. If the pastor is involved in a sin, those in lay leadership should have the integrity and guts to call this pastor onto the carpet. Reveal the truth and offer grace.

What might this look like if a pastor is going through a divorce? One thing that the leadership could do is to tell the pastor and his wife that he is going to be out of the pulpit and leadership for a specified amount of time, such as 6 months. The leadership can offer to pay part of his salary and pay for marriage counseling in order for them to reconcile. Reassure the couple that the church is there for them, loves them, and is seeking God’s guidance (For example: A prayer and fasting time held by the leadership of the church or maybe even the whole body). After the specified amount of time, the leadership can reevaluate the situation and seek God’s direction.

We need to hold each other accountable. We need to restore each other gently. Most of the time, this does not happen. We either simply run these people off or accept them in their sinful state without helping them recognize their need for repenting of their sin and asking for forgiveness.

My friend Angela here in Ohio refers to this concept in our next podcast, which will be posted on Feb. 16th. She refers to the similarity between the church today and the Israelites in I Kings 18:16-46: The Israelites are dancing around the altar of Baal and cannot choose between two opinions. Here’s one last thought as I finish. Another friend of mine just told me this on Friday: “Truth without grace is judgment. Grace without truth is license.” I think this statement rings true! Speak the truth in love.

For more reading, check out Matthew 18:15-20.

Predicaments We Get Ourselves Into

2009-02-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

Doing Things Our Own Way
by Jason DeZurik

I am blessed to be able to travel and speak to youth leaders and students all over the country. Thus, I have had a variety of traveling experiences, both positive and negative. Once when I was on a tour with the band Silverline, we had a little trouble. We were headed to a state college in Pennsylvania for one of our evening events with Worldview Warriors and were driving Silverline’s bus with a trailer in tow through a very hilly, tortuous, windy part of the state. As I was lying down in the back of the bus, I noticed I was beginning to move side to side vigorously, and it continued to get worse. I was seriously beginning to wonder if we were going to make it out of this apparent accident, for we were currently passing a semi-truck and trailer.

Ryan, Silverline’s vocalist was speaking loudly to Isaac, the driver, “Let off the gas! Quit trying to correct it; just let it correct itself.” Although I don’t drive the bus too often, I knew this situation couldn’t be good, for Isaac was calmly but sternly saying, “I am!” Praise the Lord that Isaac finally corrected our potential detour route over an embankment, and we were on our way again.

This experience reminded me of how often we over-correct when trying to fix our predicaments. We know the Bible’s model for a strong marriage and that a good name is more important than riches, but we still try to do things our own way rather than simply apologizing and seeking forgiveness when needed. Boy, do we mess things up from time to time. However, the good news is that God is right there to take over and guide us, if we will allow Him to do so.

Please keep us in your prayers, as Silverline and I are headed to the West Coast in March, and no, Isaac will not be driving. We have someone else to do that for us.

Matthew 5 (Yes the whole thing.)

Cultivating the Most Important Relationship of Your Life

2009-01-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

A Day In The Life of My Family
by Jason DeZurik

As I write this new post, I am amazed by the pain that I feel. No, I’m not seriously injured, but I recently did do something stupid. But it was worth it!

My family and I live in Ohio, where we recently received a large snowfall and very cold temperatures. Since Sunday was such a beautiful day, I took five of my children to the large hill in our town called Reber’s bottom, which is perfect for sledding! My three-year-old daughter, Eva, wanted to go down but would only go with me. So I went with her, which was a big mistake! Halfway down I realized that I would pay for it the next morning, for my backside and back quickly began to hurt. We got to the bottom of the hill safely (Thank You, God!), and I realized, “Oh boy, I need to walk up this hill.” Then reality really set in: I had to carry my three-year-old halfway up the hill. Now my legs, back, and arm were feeling the burn! Yet I went down that hill two or three more times with our friends and the kids.

By Thursday of that week, I was still in pain, which brought to mind a couple points. First, I realized that my unusual physical exertion was symbolic of a Christian’s spiritual life. We only read and study God’s Word when it is convenient or necessary. This practice is like my using my physical body once in awhile, although I should exercise daily.

Despite the pain, this sledding experience allowed me to spend time with my kids, which makes all the pain worthwhile. They begged me to take them sledding and were thrilled that I did it with them. Spending this quality time with my kids also led me to consider our relationship with the God of the universe. When I am able to do something special with my kids, they love it, for they go crazy — tackling me, hanging onto my legs, and sometimes simply mobbing me. There are many times, however, that they need me to simply be still and hold them.

I believe our Heavenly Father wants to receive such attention from us. He wants us to go out of our way to spend time with Him in His Word. He wants us to pray to Him by speaking, listening, and simply being still in the presence of the Holy Spirit. He also delights in our loving each other. Although I often fail, I work at it every day, as I hope you all do as well. I encourage you: Take some time this week to cultivate the most important relationship of your life — your relationship with Jesus Christ.

How can you let Christ know this week that you love Him?

For further reading, consider Matthew 5:1-12.

Dealing with an Institution: Racing Toward the Answer

2009-01-19T15:18:00.000-08:00

by Jason DeZurik

Last week I recounted how the film WALL[E] really affected me and discussed the lessons that we can learn from the story.

This week I will focus on what I believe is the best film of 2008. Like WALL[E], I was not expecting anything great from this film.

No, it is not Batman: The Dark Knight. Surprisingly, the movie is. . . (drum roll please)…

Speed Racer.

From start to finish I was blown away! The graphics were spectacular, but the message was even better. Although the connection I am going to make may at first seem far-fetched, please bare with me. As I watched the film, many controversial thoughts rose to the surface of my mind: Is the church as we know it really the way that it is supposed to be? Is the corporate and business-like institution that it has become of God or of men? Is this really the church that Jesus envisioned? These musings do not necessarily apply to all congregations. I am merely referring to the institutional methods that many churches push and how many Christians (including myself) have gotten caught up in these models. I may or may not be addressing your situation; you know if this applies to you. So I encourage you to watch this movie with these questions in mind.

Being a young, naïve youth worker, I used to believe that I was essentially a pastor to students and their families. They seemed to agree, for I would perform “pastoral duties,” and the families did not object. My senior pastor stressed that since I was considered a pastor, I should use my God-given gifts accordingly. I was hesitant at first because of my respect for the church and what it represents, but I gradually became comfortable with the idea due to the ministry that was happening in the community. Thus, many “ordained” pastors and I considered myself a pastor. As I was encouraged, I continued to try to use my gifts in a positive way for the Kingdom of God.

However, a few years ago my world was rocked! Well, it was more like a major earthquake. A senior pastor told me that I was not a pastor and was not even considered one, even though I was already performing pastoral duties. Confused, I asked why he believed this. He stated that since I had not received seminary training and was not ordained, I was not a pastor. (I am not bashing a seminary education. I am sure that it is fine teaching.)

He then informed me I was not qualified to baptize anyone or “bless” communion, even though I had already been doing so for several years. I asked him for an explanation of why I needed to be ordained. He simply stated that that was the church’s requirement. I wondered where this teaching is found in the Bible.

I wondered aloud, “Were Phillip and Peter ordained?” They both baptized people. He gave no reply, so I moved forward.

“Was John ordained?” He certainly baptized and offered communion. Once again, his reply was silence, I pressed on.

“And for that matter, was Jesus ordained?” Now he had an answer for me: “Well, He’s God. And the disciples were with Jesus, so it was acceptable for them.”

“What?!” I said. (I was thinking, “Are those words really coming out of your mouth?”) I continued, “I have a conversation with God everyday!”

Now, I am not trying to start a battle or divisions within the church. But let’s consider: what is the church? Is it Sunday morning in a building, singing a few songs and listening to the “professionals” sharing their wisdom? Or is it the Church, the body of Christ, living every day to bring glory to Christ in all that we do? Every day, everywhere we are, not just in a building. I believe Acts 2:42-47 is an example of what the Church is supposed to look like.

If you believe that I am out of line, please let me know. One of the reasons that I write this blog is to encourage discussion. We can discuss issues with gentleness and respect, as I Peter 3:15-16 encourages us. Whether you agree or disagree with me, I would love to hear from you.

Let me stress that whether or not you agree with my musings, my desire is to pursue the truth and expose any falsehood, so we can better serve Christ.

Let me explain how these questions arose from my watching Speed Racer. As my wife and I both watched it with our children, she looked over to me with tears in her eyes and asked, “Are you hearing this?” The words that were coming off the screen were so strangely familiar to us, so real, that we had to stop the movie and rewind it just to make sure that we were hearing it correctly. At one point in the movie, Racer X (considered the villain until we see the whole truth) and Speed are treated unfairly; causing Speed to wonder if racing is worth all of the difficulties. Racer X and Speed then have a dialogue about the racing industry:

Speed: Racing hasn’t changed, and it never will.

Racer X: It doesn’t matter if racing never changes. What matters is if we let racing change us. Every one of us has to find a reason to do this. You don’t climb into a T180 (car) to be a driver. You do it because you are driven.

Speed: If you know so much, why don’t you tell me why I should keep driving?

Racer X: Sorry — that’s for you to figure out. I just hope when you do, that I’m there to see it.

This scene led my wife and me to consider our journey with Christ. Throughout the movie, I identified with Racer X. I almost let the institution change who I am in Christ. I almost let this “beast” tame me, as I began to fall into the mundane and the status quo cliques. But praise God — He woke me up from this stupor to face reality. Somewhat like in the movie, the Matrix, in Speed Racer everyone was simply happy with normalcy.

Another scene that stood out to me is the final race. Speed Racer is not welcome in the race because he is going to ruin the plans of the powers-that-be to make money promoting their engine to the world. Through much adversity, Speed Racer passes each driver and is finally battling the best driver on the circuit, Cannonball Taylor. Taylor tries to win by cheating but is discovered by the onlookers and finally crashes. The truth begins to come out.

This scene is given significance by an earlier scene that astounded my wife and me. In that scene, Speed speaks with his father, Pops, about doing something to reveal the truth about the racing industry. Pops tells him, “If it’s a fight they want, it’s a fight they’ll get.”

Speed asks, “How? . . . How can we fight this?”

Pops concludes, “The truth will come out.”

My wife and I are excited because we believe that the truth is slowly coming out. It has been a long, hard road, which may only get more difficult. However, God does not call us to a comfortable life.

Doing this type of ministry has been exciting, difficult, and crazy at times. But no matter what, we are committed to completing this journey. We believe that we have been called to a ministry of lifting up the body of Christ and, when necessary, helping her tackle the difficult issues. I believe these are two aspects of the calling of the body of Christ, the Church.

Know that we at Worldview Warriors are here for you. More importantly, God is here for you, as we all walk this journey of the Christian life.

Let me close with one more thought. Over the years, I have been in dialogue with many pastors over the “church” issue and the pastoral issue. Surprisingly, many of them agree with my assessment of the situation but are afraid to speak up for fear of losing their credentials and retirement. Ladies and gentlemen, fear God and not man!

I had actually considered becoming a pastor for awhile. However, I could not understand the need to get a piece of paper in order to legitimize what I was already doing. Since I believe that leaders are learners, I did begin to research that path and started thinking in this institutionalized way. I almost sold out. Before I go on, I know that some of you have been called into pastoral ministry within this “institution.” You may also want to help change the church’s mindset from the inside. (I was under the leadership of one of those awesome men.) If that is your desire, I applaud you and want to encourage you to go for it! Do not wait, for the longer you wait, the more you will change. If you are planning to go into pastoral ministry, I encourage you to remind the bride of Christ of her calling.

In Speed Racer, the rich sponsor, Royalton, says, “Racing has nothing to do with cars or drivers.” Instead, he says that it is about money and power. Then he asks Speed, “Are you ready to be a real race car driver?!” And to that I say, “No!”

Everyone, let’s become the Church of Christ that we have been called to be. Amen and so be it!

Here is some further reading for your consideration:

• Acts 2 (especially verses 42–47)

• Acts 3 (Are you witnessing in the streets? We are called to it.)

• Matthew 28:18–20

• I Corinthians 6:1–8 (Something to think about. Should we be wronged? The truth will eventually come out.)

• Matthew 5, 6 and 7.

I Want to Live!

2009-01-12T16:23:00.001-08:00

Many of you may or may not know that I am a movie buff. I’m not a huge one, but I enjoy relaxing to a movie with my family or even sitting down to watch Jackie Chan for the 10th time. I just love movies!

Two movies in 2008 stood out to me not only as great entertainment, but also as stories with a poignant message from which to learn and teach. In this first installment, I will be writing about that adorable strong man and intergalactic superhero — no, I’m not talking about Hancock or Iron Man, but none other than… Wall(e).

Yes, Wall(e). I was hesitant to even watch this movie because of what I had heard from others and from what I had perceived would be nothing more than a brain-washing statement on the danger of global warming and a thoroughly politically-correct “green” message.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find, I believe, a diamond in the rough. Behind all of its comedy and cuteness is a serious lesson for students and adults alike. Let me explain one truth that I recognized. At one point in the movie, we are introduced to humans who are on a spaceship. They are all overly obese, excessively entertained, and completely self-indulged on food, convenience, and communication. It was an eerily realistic representation of the way that many of us Americans live. It led me to consider: Have we become so carnal, self-absorbed, and self-centered that we don’t even see the truth anymore? I believe the answer is, “yes.” My own life is included in that answer. (For further reflection, listen to our podcasts with Dan Schilling on Oct. 27, Nov. 2, and Nov. 9, 2008. They will equip you to have a kingdom mindset for life.)

“Black Friday,” the shopping day after Thanksgiving, is a perfect example of the blind carnality and self-absorption that many of us have. A Christian friend of mine told me that on Black Friday, he dove for one of the three remaining laptops for the sale price of $299. (Ok, I probably would have done the same thing, but does this attitude glorify Christ?) The entertainment industry wades in the desire of Christians and non-Christians alike to escape from reality through entertainment. For instance, game companies now flood the market with board games about television shows. Instead of actually playing tennis, bowling, or exercising, we now play a sport on our TV and equate it with the real thing.

Rather than getting only a regular size soda, we “build a bigger barn,” and order what seems to be a keg of soda just for one sitting. And we presume that that is normal.

Here’s more proof: My father was recently in McDonald’s to purchase two chicken sandwiches, a small fry, and two small drinks for himself and me for lunch. The man behind him handed the cashier a coupon for a chicken sandwich and told her, “They usually let me get three with this.” Let me tell you that this man certainly was not in need of three sandwiches, if you know what I mean. However, since he was with a couple of people, we supposed that the sandwiches were for them. After the cashier’s approval, the man pulled out three more coupons for three sandwiches each, for a grand total of twelve sandwiches, and ordered fries, drinks, etc. Thus, the three of them sat down to devour their feast.

I think you get the point. Some of you might be thinking, “What’s the big deal? They had the money, and McDonald’s approved it. So why write about that?” Despite the obvious fact that such a habit is unhealthy, here’s the truth that I am trying to convey for you to ponder: Have we, as the Church, gotten so complacent that we just want to be entertained and spoon-fed from the pulpit? For those of you in small churches, have you become numb to winning people to Christ or so focused on your “club” that you think that baby baptism and confirmation are enough to be a Christian? You may go to church services every Sunday morning just to get your spiritual charge for the week, to gorge yourself on the biblical message to last you until next week.

But do you care to live your faith during the week?

Another truth is portrayed in a poignant scene near the end of Wall(e), in which the captain of the ship is speaking to the ship’s auto-pilot robot. The captain wants to return to earth, but the auto-pilot informs him that he has been warned against that, in order for the human race to survive. The captain plaintively responded, “But I don’t want to survive! I want to live!” Even in his comfortable, mundane existence, the captain realized that there must be more to life than mere survival.

We need to realize that God has so much more for us than just survival in the life that He has given us. Now those of you in large churches also need to be aware of your attitude toward church. In a busy, active church, it is easy to get lost in Sunday morning services and programs that fill your time throughout the week and forget that there is so much more to the Christian life.

Live the Christian life! Get into ministry opportunities right where you are. But don’t contain “ministry” just within the walls of your church building. Go out into the world, as the disciples did after Jesus went home to heaven. They were merely following His example, though: He ministered right where He was in the everyday world. Don’t remain locked away in some church athletic program or a cliquey Sunday school class. Actually, when Jesus went to the temple, He questioned the status quo and seemed to challenge the hypocrisy that the institution had become. Jesus did not challenge God and His ways, but He challenged the man-made, man-instituted rules that they were placing upon the people. Perhaps it is time to follow Christ’s example. He did not challenge people and their practices to be a jerk or a problem. I believe He genuinely wanted people to search for the truth.

What about you? Are you tired of the mundane and the table scraps you are receiving? I know I am. Do you feel like you’re just surviving? Your needs, wants, and whatever else you can think of are being met, but are you truly living? Are you living the adventure that God has in store for you? Maybe living for God has become just a religion or a list of rules to fulfill your obligations to the Supreme Being and others. If it does, you might need to reevaluate your relationship with God.

Are you ready to live for Christ with a reckless abandon, not worrying about yourself or what others think about you? I know my family and I are, and we want to welcome you to join us in this adventure for Christ. Live the adventure of a lifetime serving Christ where you are, no matter where that is and no matter your circumstances. Next week, I will tell you my favorite movie of the year. No, it’s not Prince Caspian or a story about a Dark Knight.

Every New Day

2009-01-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

by Jason DeZurik

As I sit down to write this I am listening to one of the best bands ever, Five Iron Frenzy. You should go check 'em out if you have not heard them. They are amazing and really encourage me in my walk with Christ. They are fun, weird and near as I can tell love Jesus Christ. My favorite song is, "Every New Day." I am also thinking how thankful I am for God's grace and provision. Without it my family and I wouldn't be where we are today.

When my wife, Jaya, and I made this decision to go full time with Worldview Warriors in June of 2007 we had no idea how stress-filled and crazy things would be. We also didn't know how rewarding and joy-filled it would be either. Isn't that just like God? He wants us to live life and to live it to the full. As it says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." You notice that it doesn't say everything will be easy or perfect it says that, "in all things". The good, the bad and the ugly.

Unfortunately, we do not live in perfection anymore (See Genesis 1 & 2). We live in a fallen world by our own choosing (See Genesis 3). So, bad and evil things now happen. However, our heavenly father wants to give us good gifts. HE STILL WANTS TO GIVE US GOOD GIFTS!! Yes, even on this side of eternity. Check this out in Matthew 7:7-12, Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Isn't that amazing?! Even though we as the human race have basically told God get out of our lives, He's still there wanting to give us good gifts in this life. Now, we are called to hear His teachings and obey them. That is the tough part but really it isn't. Let me explain.

I have six children. Two boys and four girls. I want all of them to succeed in all that they do. If I could put my thoughts and past experiences into their minds I would do it. This would help them to see why I don't want them to do certain things and why other things are perfectly okay. I absolutely know things that they do not because I have experienced them. Things like: Love, Pain, Emotional Hurt, What honesty and integrity looks like, Betrayal and Joy to name a few.

Since I have experienced them I know what to look for in people and in certain situations. I have the experience. I can disciple them in Jesus Christ and His ways. I want them to experience the best of everything. However, they are their own people. I cannot force them to do anything. They can only choose to do the right thing or what I teach them to do. They must choose for themselves this day whom they will serve. (Joshua 24:15)

Kind of like you.

You have to choose whom you will serve. God has been very clear that you are to honor and obey your parents. Once you move out of the house and are truly on your own, you no longer need to obey your parents BUT you still need to honor them. Think about this, they love you more than anyone on the planet! Why would they want to hurt you? Please listen to them. Honor and obey them.

Now, some of you do have parents that are not following God and His ways. What do you do with that? Some of you are in foster care or are in a situation where you live part of the time with mom and the other part with dad. I encourage you to pray even harder to your heavenly father for guidance. Ask him for wisdom. A divided house is a very hard situation. I am truly sorry that you are even in that situation. I believe that it was not God's plan but He has allowed it to happen for some reason.

Remember Romans 8:28? No matter where you are at in your journey of life seek God out! Also, remember that we (Worldview Warriors) are here to help you in your walk with Jesus Christ. We truly care for you. Let us know if we can do anything for you, EVER.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. - Philippians 1:21

- Jason

Check out our latest podcast as well on HOMELESSNESS. Everyone, don't you think it's time we did something about this?! www.equippedgeneration.com

Worship the King!

2008-12-21T22:23:00.000-08:00

The time to celebrate the birth of the worlds Savior is right around the corner.

He is our Creator and Lord.

Jesus Christ, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Jesus all things were created; whether thrones or powers or rules or authorities; all things were created by Jesus and for Jesus. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church, He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15 – 20

I just find it so incredible that somehow Jesus, while he was a babe in a manger, was able to hold all things together. Plus, think about it, He created all things for Himself. He loves us so much! Please think of what Jesus has given to you and thank Him for all of it. Have a very Merry Christmas!

From all of us here at Worldview Warriors
John 3:16-18

www.worldviewwarriors.org
1-800-579-1440

December Update

2008-12-16T21:44:00.000-08:00

I am currently in Northern Minnesota hanging out at my parents place and yes it is quite cold outside 28 below zero to be exact! Inside though it is toasty warm and I figured I would take some time to tell you about what we’ve been up to around here. December has been a great month for Worldview Warriors. We saw a lot of students and adult leaders get equipped in being disciples of Jesus Christ as well as some great comments from people about a couple of our new speakers. Here are just a few of the comments:

“Overall I thought the weekend was very good. There were great topics offered and the speakers were good. Especially with this being my first time to come I was very impressed.”

“This weekend has strengthened my faith in God. I found Ryan’s (Edberg) workshop about God’s calling to be interesting. I learned that the road to our calling isn’t always going (to be) sunshine and daisies, and sometimes we are going to go through testing and trials to get to God’s plan for us.”

“I thought it was an outstanding weekend conference. I appreciate all the different styles of all the speakers. Dan (Schilling) has great Bible knowledge and delivery. Adam (Poe) is very well prepared and is good at tying in his lesson at the end. Jason (DeZurik) has tremendous passion. Eric (Cook) showed many super points and loves what he’s called to do. Ryan (Edberg) relates to the kids well and met them where they were at. And Matt’s (Ginter) talk was the highlight. It was a great message!”

All the comments above are from the weekend event in Bellefontaine, OH with the last comment being from an adult leader. Matt Ginter spoke on the story of Ruth and how need to be blessings to those around us. He shared how many of us just keep the blessings God gives us to ourselves when the blessings are meant to be shared with others. It was a very challenging talk on how selfish many of us Christians have become thinking things are about us when it really needs to be about God. We are blessed and honored to know that God continues to work in and through the ministry of Worldview Warriors.

What Are You Thankful For?

2008-11-27T12:58:00.000-08:00

Today is a day to remember what we are thankful for and how God continues to bless us. With many people saying how bad the economy is and how it is effecting their lives I thought I would focus on how truly good we have it here in the United States.

Personally, my family and my needs are being met. As I’m sure yours are too. What do I mean by this? Needs not wants. For instance, my wife and I want a bigger house to live in, however, we live in a three bedroom, one bath home with six children all 9 years old and younger. When people hear this they say things like, “How do you do it?” or “Oh, that must be difficult, you really should get a bigger place.” I think to myself, yeah but we have shelter and compared to many others in the world who are living in a one or two room house with a dirt floor were doing pretty well.

I am thankful for our family and friends that love and care for us all across this great land and through out the world. We love you all and thank God for all of you. This then makes me think of the orphans through out the world who’s parents have either died or just abandoned them. I think of the orphanage I served in on a trip to Belize and I am still tore up about what I saw and experienced. I think about the orphans in Hyderbad, India with our good friends Phillip and Sashi. Many of them have experienced things we couldn’t even dream of. Please pray for them as they need help in people going there and working with the kids as well as prayer and finances.

I am thankful for the good food God blesses us with. I thank God for the farmer that is willing to put in the hard work tending to his crops so that we can eat. Yes, God makes them grow but without the farmers patience and steadiness we would not have food. Thank you farmers. Thank you God that we can eat three times (and sometimes more) a day.

I am thankful for $1.49 per gallon gas in Ohio.

I am thankful for being raised in a Christian home even though When I was younger I didn’t appreciate it.

I am thankful for my wife who makes me a better man than I am.

I am thankful for children that are not only healthy but who are obedient and honoring in all they do.

I am thankful for God and His love, grace and mercy on me and on all of us. He is so good!

So, what are you thankful for? Are things really as bad as the media makes it seem? I know times are harder than in the past but let’s continue to focus on Christ. He will supply our needs. Please write us and let us know what you are thankful for, what you think about this article and how God is working in your life.

Encouraging Note From a Student

2008-11-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

This is from one of the three places I spoke at last week! I just received this encouraging message from a student just like you! You know who you are and I really appreciate you and your family.

Enjoy and God Bless!

"I finally learned something. You got me to pay attention to what you were saying, and really made me think about it. Challenged us to think for ourselves to learn what is right. Their was nothing I didn't like, I liked it all. Hmmmmm, what I learned is that it's ok to have holes in your life, everyone has them. That it's not about the number of people, it's about what they're learning. And just from watching you, throwing your bible across the room. Really showed me that it's ok to go out on a limb, do something some people might have a problem with. And just how on fire you are for God, always inspires me to do my best:)
Thank you sooooo much for coming, I was so happy to see you:) Hope I see you soon, sorry if this is super long hehe."

FYI - Check out our latest podcast on "Marriage - Is It Even Worth It?"

News and Great Testimony

2008-11-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

We are so close to finishing up our new fastcasts. They will be shorter and to the point even more than the previous fastcasts. These will last 30 seconds with some great music we found on-line. check 'em out. Starting November 3 at 707-638-6024.

Unbelieveable testimony:
As we recently were wrapping up one of our weekend conferences, I asked the students if any of them would be interested in sharing with the rest of the congregation during our Sunday morning ministry at the church. Not surprisingly, I had no takers. However, the next morning, two students said they were willing to share. One of them was a high school student who had quite an eventful weekend. She shared the following story:

I met Worldview Warriors last year at a conference weekend. I'm here to tell you that these guys do great work! Last year before the conference, I was ready to just give up on life, and I was going to commit suicide. Then I learned that I was made in God's image, that He loves me, and that I'm not garbage. Thank you, Jason, and everyone at Worldview Warriors because this year I was able to work through a lot of hurt in my life. I still have a lot to deal with and get healing for, but it's nice to know that others have hurts that they are dealing with too. I don't feel alone.

After the service, an older gentleman approached me (Jason) and asked, "How did you get that girl to speak in the service?" I said, "I just asked who would like to speak, and she volunteered." This gentleman continued, "She never speaks to anyone, let alone speak in front of all those people. Keep up the great work!"

Praise God that He is working in and through this young lady's life! Thank you for your continued support of this ministry, as we continue to equip students to impact this generation for Jesus Christ.

NASHVILLE - For those of you going to the Youth Specialties Convention in Nashville please stop by our booth and say hello. We would love to talk with you and we might even be able to take some time to take you out to lunch over the weekend. If you need to still sign-up for the weekend the dates are November 20 - 24 and you can register on youth specialties website.

We are still booking some dates in December 3rd, 4th 8th and 9th. If you interested please call us 1-800-579-1440. We are also booking for the month of February as well as Spring 2009 and Fall/Winter 2009. Let us know.