So You Wanna be a Revolutionary

          Standing up, and making a difference isn't something that is easy. It doesn't mean every once in a while, after months of mustering up all your courage, you might dare to tell someone WHY you won't read that one book about vampires. It means that you may well be giving up friends, popularity, lots of things you have always thought of as important, all for the cause of Jesus. I recently re-read a book, Swipe by Evan Angler. It's post-apocalyptic, and a Christian novel. To be a part of society at all, you have to have this mark, and you to pledge your lifelong allegiance to General Lamson. There are a few people called Markless, who refuse to take the mark. They can't have jobs, or buy food. They can't live in the same place as the Marked. But they don't get the Mark, no matter how hard it makes their lives, because they don't believe in it. They won't pledge to follow Lamson, to get rid or their faith, and believe in nothing beyond each day of life. One specific group called the Dust tries to get kids to refuse the Mark a few months before they are supposed to Pledge. They call themselves the Dust for a reason. Partly to remember that the world doesn't revolve around them, that they aren't the all-righteous all-important people they could end up thinking they are. But also because dust gathers. It gathers in the cracks, it's numbers grow. Their numbers grow, and they become stronger They don't assault people, they aren't trying to start a war. They just want people to learn to think for themselves again instead of doing every little thing the government tells them to. Reading this book reminds me of the importance of standing up for what you know to be good and true, no matter how severe the consequences may be. And you know what? I am Dust. Are you?

                                               Katie Stone

To Be Revolutionary

             

                                            So some of you are thinking, look girl, not to be rude, but I don't think being revolutionary is such a good idea, I don't want to get in trouble, but you misunderstand me. I’m not saying to go make trouble, to throw tomatoes, and scream your head off on a street corner! I’m not saying go out with the intention of causing a ruckus, that’s the last thing we want, to be called hooligans. I’m sayin’ that when people come and challenge your belief in God, you don’t mumble an apology and walk away. Take that opportunity to share the Gospel with them! When you see someone being mistreated, don’t stand and watch, and don’t walk away. DO something!!! You know, I know you might be afraid of being labeled weird, or getting hurt or mistreated yourself. But is your own comfort worth the harm, or maybe life, of another person? Should you REALLY stand by and see injustice done? Are you going to let people keep you from talking about God? Are you going to conform to their ways, throwing morality out the door? Are you going to let evil take over without taking a stand against it? God didn’t say, “Oh yeah, and if you feel like it, maybe mention me to a few people who will definitely listen and be really passive even if they don’t believe you.” NO! He said, “Go and make disciples of every nation…” that and the rest of the verse can be found in Matthew 28: 19-20, go ahead, look it up yourself! You know, you can’t make disciples of every nation if you cower in the fear of being looked down upon for your faith. I’m not saying that you can’t be afraid, you’re going to be afraid. However, you’ve got to know that God stands beside us, now and always. As long as we are doing His will, and fighting His fight, he’s not going to let us fail. Maybe we can’t show everyone the truth, some just don’t want to see, but if you get out there, I can just about guarantee you are going to make a difference in someone’s life. That’s why I’m not going to sit around and let others do the work, ‘cause boy, I want to touch lives, I want to make a difference! I want to take risks for my Savior! If I could get hurt or killed in the process, that’s okay, ‘cause I will have joy and peace in knowing that I was working for God’s glory. And you know what? If I died, I’d go to heaven to be with Him anyway! You see, ‘To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” That can be found in Philippians 1:21. So get out there and BE REVOLUTIONARY! This doesn’t mean start fights and cause trouble, but when you need to stand up, STAND UP! I‘ve made my choice. Now, what will you do?