Tim Shoemaker - Reboot Your Brain: Byte-Sized Devotions for Boys

Gabe and Brandan.

In a world of choices, may you make the right ones.

And to Madelyn and Megan.

This may have been written for boys,
but theres a whole lot here for you too.

Computers are great, but they arent perfect. Sometimes they run into a glitch. When that happens to my computer, I reboot. The computer restarts and usually runs fine because it got rid of the bad stuff.

You and I can be a little like a computer. There are times when were not operating or living the way God designed us to live. Sometimes we dont even notice that a glitch has developed in our life.

This book will help you get rid of the bad stuffreboot your brain. It will remind you that God designed you to live so you can grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man.

Each chapter includes a new episode of Code 2:52a comic about four guys who often make wrong choices and get themselves into real messesand a great Bible story to guide you in knowing what is right. These comics and the stories from Gods Word can help you get a better handle on how God wants you to live.

When your life runs into a glitch, just reboot your brain!

Tim Shoemaker

This verse tells us that as Jesus grew bigger, he was getting smarter too. God and people loved him. Doesnt it make you wonder what Jesus did that made others like him so much? It wasnt just that he was so wise and smart. He was wise about how he lived and treated people.

There they arethose same words about favor with God and man. Love and faithfulness are the keys. Jesus was faithful to God and others. Jesus loved God and others. That means Jesus lived according to the love described in 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient. Love is kind and honest. Love does not envy. It doesnt boast. And its not proud. Love isnt easily angered. Its not selfish or rude. Love doesnt get a kick out of evil. Love forgives.

Jesus put all of these principles into practice. People couldnt help but love him. He really was smart, wasnt he?

We can be smarter too by showing more love to others. In this book well take a look at some ways we can do that. When you put these principles into practice, youll find that most people will appreciate you more, even brothers and sisters! Hey, you dont always need a teacher to help you get smarter. Since youve read this far, youre already getting smarter.

Meet the regulars of the Code 2:52 comic series.

• Responsible and even tempered, the unofficial leader of the group.
• Quiet (when compared to the others), cares for others.
• Thirteen years old, in eighth grade at Hudson J. Ford Junior High, has two younger sisters.
• Rededicated his life to Christ in seventh grade while on a church youth group retreat. The youth pastors challenge to be more like Christ, as described in Luke 2:52, impacted him deeply.
• Encourages Troy and Howie to be more like Jesus with something he calls Code 2:52, referring to the principles he learned in Luke 2:52.
• Has been reaching out to Eddie and his sister, Mallory, and hopes they will become Christians.

• Very competitive and hates to lose.
• Loves almost all sports, but basketball is his passion.
• Strong-willed and tends to act and speak before he thinks.
• Thirteen years old, in eighth grade, has two brothers, one older, one younger.
• Rededicated his life to Christ when David did.
• Got the nickname Trigger because of his quick temper, although he has gotten much better at controlling it. Most kids who didnt know him before junior high think his nickname came from his ability to sink em in basketball.

• Hyperactive and slightly unpredictable.
• Will try anything. Loves demolition-type work, like gutting an apartment with his dad.
• Independent, doesnt seem to care what people think of him.
• Weird is normal for him. He likes to wear crazy T-shirts he buys at thrift stores. Has broken more bones than the rest of the group collectively.
• Comes off as a clown, but doesnt try to be funny. Thats just the way he is.
• Loves pulling off a good prank.
• Thirteen years old, in eighth grade, has two older sisters who dont understand him at all.
• Struggles in school.
• Growing as a Christian, but not as serious about his faith as David and Troy.
• Nicknamed Howie by his older sister Shirley, and the name stuck.

• Funny, life of the party, but often doesnt have the sense to know when to stop.
• Doesnt consider himself to be lazy, but is skilled at avoiding work.
• He could be athletic, but doesnt make an effort to sharpen his skills.
• Thirteen years old, in eighth grade, lives with his mom, older brother, and younger sister, Mallory.
• Doesnt see his dad as much as hed like since the divorce, but acts like it doesnt bother him.
• His mom and brother work a lot, so he is forced to let Mallory tag along, which he usually doesnt mind.
• Not a Christian.
• Considers David, Troy, and Howie his best friends. The fact is, they are his only friends.

• Doesnt feel comfortable with other girls her age.
• Prefers hanging out with her brother, Eddie, and the other guys, and isnt intimidated by them.
• Not afraid to speak her mind.
• Fiercely loyal to Eddie and the other guys in the group, but rarely shows it.
• Ten years old, but has grown up faster than most girls her age.
• Not a Christian, but her respect for David has made her more open to it.
• The guys refer to her as the Kid, and she doesnt mind a bit.

Two others stay very close to the group,
but nobody has ever seen them.

(not the Gabriel we read about in the Bible)

• An angel of the Lord assigned to be an extra guardian over David, Howie, and Troy.
• Quiet, yet very powerful. Has a sword strapped in a sheath at his side.