aftershock.org.uk
devotional mp3 podcasts for young people

Dumb, dumb, dumb. Why is it that even after seeing the results that calling on the creator God can have the king still leaves God to last? He has a dream and so what does he do? He calls the magicians, he calls the enchanters, he calls the fortune-tellers, and he even calls the witches. He does all this before he suddenly remembers Daniel the guy that introduced God to him last time. The only problem is that sometimes I am dumb, dumb, dumb. Sometimes when I have a problem in my life I speak to my mates, I check out the internet, I even speak to those people who are not my mates. Sometimes it’s only as a last resort that I call on the name of my God. Why is it when we speak to the God who created all these people we would rather go to them then him? Maybe because we doubt him, maybe because we doubt our faith, maybe because we doubt we are good enough for him to be interested. Whatever the reason it’s trash. Our God is massive and he loves me, he loves you so much he would give up his own son for us. Do you think maybe next time we have a problem God should be our first place to turn to. He might use our mates, he might even use the internet, but lets trust in him rather than anything else.

Author - Max Cross, Daniel | 2 Comments »

Finally the King is beginning to get the idea. He finally realises that our God is the only true God. So now he will become a Christian and suddenly everything will be OK. Or on the other hand he might just threaten to rip into little pieces anyone who doesn’t worship our God. Now we know this King isn’t the brightest spark in the world but he really has some way to go before he is to live the life that God want’s him to live. But actually his is just an extreme version of many of us. Do you have mates who say they are Christian, but continuously seem to make wrong decisions. Maybe you feel like you stuff up. Maybe like me you look back at things you did even just a little while ago and you know you would never do them now. Does that mean that you weren’t a Christian then? Does it mean that because you mates muck up they aren’t Christians? Let me say it loud and clear NO. You are still a Christian, they are still Christians, they and us are just learning as we go. That’s one of the great things about God he teaches us as we go. And because Jesus died on the cross for us, we can say sorry and ask for forgiveness as we discover where we have mucked up. So as you continue trying to be the best Christian you can be, remember the King. Remember the fact that we all muck up sometimes and just because you know Jesus doesn’t mean you won’t muck up too. Oh and try not to rip apart anyone just because they don’t know God.

Author - Max Cross, Daniel | No Comments »

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego may well sound like some sort of dodgey 1970s pop band but they were actually the main men. These were not guys who just went to Church on Sunday and then ignored Jesus whilst they were at school or college. These guys didn’t pretend to worship the creator God and then spend their live’s worshiping some other god, sport or pop band. No They had such faith in their God that they were willing to be persecuted, tortured and even put to death in a fiery furnace rather then worship some false god. That’s incredible, that is living life to full. If only there were people, we could look up to today who had such a love for Christ. Then we could look to them as examples of how to remain strong in our faith whatever the situation. Of course by now you release that there are such people alive today. People who are persecuted, locked up and sometimes tortured because they dare to say Jesus is Lord. Worldwide there are Christians who are locked away and put to death just because they meet together, like Christ told us to do. Christian Solidarity Worldwide is charity that helps as many of these people as possible. They help by raising awareness; they help by praying they help by writing to the persecuted Christians, and the governments that are persecuting them. So what, what does that mean to you? It means two things. Firstly there are Christians who you can look to as an example. The next time someone has a go at you because you are a Christian, think of these Christians who are persecuted because of their faith. Praying for one of them will help you to put things into perspective, and you will know that the same God who loves them also loves you. Secondly you can put Gods love into action you can go to www.csw.org.uk and download their “Connect and Encourage” booklet. Then you can write to a fellow Christian who is being persecuted and help them know that there is young person the other side of the world who is praying for them. Can you imagine the impact that might have? You can impact a fellow Christian who is halfway across the world and shine a little of Christ love into their life.

Author - Max Cross, Daniel | 2 Comments »

Some people just don’t get it do they? Daniel has done OK he’s told the king what God has said to him and the King is gob-smacked. The king can’t believe what’s gone on and can’t work out how Daniel knows what he knows. He’s missed the point that it is all Gods work, even though Daniel told him. The King even says hey Daniel your Gods the main man, but then goes on to worship Daniel, how dumb can you get? But this might happen to you as well. If you are living life to the full and following what Jesus says then you will find people start asking questions. Question like “why did you take an interest in me when no one else does”? Questions like “why did you help me with my garden, for nothing”? Hopefully your answer will include the fact that God would want you to do these things. But don’t be surprised if just like the king, the people you are helping need to ask the question a few times before the penny drops. However one day they question they ask won’t be why, it will be can you tell me more about Jesus.

Author - Max Cross, Daniel | No Comments »

I don’t know about you, but when ever I do something, I wonder what people are going to think of me. When I talk to a group, I hope my mates like what I say, and that it will make me look good. When I’m playing sport, I’m thinking I hope I score that will make me look good. When I’m off out for the night, I’m thinking how can I dress so I look good. That doesn’t seem to be the same for Daniel. He strolls up to the kings and says I can tell you what your dream means, but it’s not me that has done it. He says God has told me about your dream, it’s nothing I have done. That’s a slightly different way of looking at things isn’t it? Perhaps I could look at things the way Daniel does, perhaps you could look at the way Daniel does. Maybe when I am talking in front of people and it goes well, I can remember it was God I prayed to before I started, it was God who gave me the words I needed. Maybe when you do well at sport, you could remember it was God who created you, it was God who gave you the skill. So the next time you have something big that you want to do, pray to the God who created the universe before you start. Then when things go well and everyone is saying how well you have done; you can thank them with a smile, and remind them it was God who gave you all that you needed to compete the job. Because just maybe it isn’t all about us, just maybe it’s all about our God.

Author - Max Cross, Daniel | No Comments »