This may offend you.

I can't keep this in anymore. This country is great. It has freedom. However, with all this freedom it seems as if we have lost the power of the gospel. Churches preach how Jesus died and rose again.They constantly tell their congregations usually the same watered down message week after week. There is no supernatural complete transformation. They say that you are blessed by God if you read your bible everyday, go to church every Sunday, listen to Christian music, the list goes on. But this is not what scripture teaches at all. Jesus says those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted. They are the ones who are blessed. Now if you believe in God and truly live for Him, yes God does bless you and romances your heart in the most beautiful ways. But as the body of Christ, most American Christians are doing a downright awful job in my opinion. I love everyone but where is the taking upon the burdens of others on yourself.Where is the dying to your earthly desires so that the Spirit may truly live in you. 

Most people desire the American dream. Don't get me wrong, it could be nice, but where in the American dream does it speak of selling all you have because you have come upon the kingdom of heaven? Where is love? Where is forgiveness? Where is giving God His tithe? Where is your faith? Yes you have a savings account worth so much, you can buy food when you want, you have many blankets, you have things, so many things you can fill a house. But what about the homeless person sleeping on the bench downtown. Or the orphan who has no choice in becoming a prostitute because she just needs something to eat. Jesus said,what you do for the least of these you do for me. I ask you if you are the actual body of Christ and love the true Church as Christ  intended ( just as a group of passionate believers united with Christ in love) then where is your love for those overseas in the communist countries who are endlessly beaten for their faith. The love for the old man who sits on the side of the road asking for a quarter so he can have something to eat because he probably hasn't eaten in days. Where is the love for the ones who don't know Christ who you see everyday but don't ever say anything to them about Christ. Where is your love for your fellow believer when they have wronged you in a terrible way? What does your heart break for? What is the desire of your heart?

I do not wish to condemn a single person at all or ever, that is not my heart, but it's just so heart breaking that in communist countries such as China the underground Church is so persecuted. Their pastors are consistently put into a torturous prison. However after many years of the most depressing prisons ever, they risk their lives again and again so that another person may come to know Christ. Yet in America we see the same people everyday, and it doesn't bother us at all whether or not they know where their neighbor will spend eternity. 

I guess all I want to truly convey is what are the desires of your heart? Why is the norm to be a Christian but if you desire to be a radical Christian you are looked down upon? Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the tares. It is possibly the most beautiful parable not because of anything else but the fact that everyone looks the same, but its what is on the inside that determines where they will spend eternity. 

Like I stated earlier, I wish to judge no one, that is God's position only, but I do plead that you examine your own heart with me as I consistently examine mine. Ask yourself where your true desires lie. Would you be willing to be a radical Christian and accept giving up material things for the eternal. Would you risk looking like a fool for Christ? Would you risk your life for love?

Simple Things.

It still amazes me how much God truly cares for the little things. For a month now I have been wanting to have a homeless outreach day. So I had asked people if they wanted to join and tried to get food organized so that the homeless could experience love. However a month of only semi planning it (mainly because my work and school schedule took up to much of my time), the week came to when I wanted to go. That Wednesday and Thursday all the people that wanted to go and the friends I was going to spend time with in Houston had all canceled. So I still decided to drive up to see one of my friends before they went off for a camping trip. That morning I randomly packed 3 sandwiches and had more than enough food but thought I would stay for a while. However while stuck in downtown Houston, I just wanted to give the food to at least one homeless person and show them love. Thinking my plans were ruined I still went to see my friend. I finally arrived at my destination and was trying to find a candy shoppe, when randomly there was a homeless man who I was able to give the two uneaten sandwiches to. My heart was filled, and hopefully his tummy was too! Then to make things even better. I stopped at Starbucks to wait out rush hour traffic. I was meditating upon His complete goodness and care for the small things. I was desiring a good cup of coffee, read some of Acts and really wanted some fellowship. Turns out that God had such an idea. I entered into a marvelous conversation with one of the baristas and she was telling me all these marvelous stories of how she as a single woman would walk along the streets of Chicago unarmed and alone. She would experience the life of homelessness in one of the worst places but she was completely safe. It was just all so wonderful. God cares so much about the little things. He desires our hearts and romances them in every way possible. How Great is He and worthy of all praise.

Books...

http://www.inspire4less.com/christian/where-there-is-love-there-is-god-a-path-to-closer-union-with-god-and-greater-love-for-others-mother-teresa-of-calcutta/9780385531788/product-details?lf=pd&pID=193013#

So I just started reading this book today. It's an amazing and marvelous book. Everyone should read it!

Thoughts as of lately.

I recently started reading Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne. What an amazing book. I read a part that struck me between the eyes and ever since, I have not been able to deal with myself. It speaks of the different prophets in the old testament and tells the stories of their strange ways of getting Israel to turn their attention back to God. I find Jeremiah's story the most interesting simply because there are no miracles involved, no amazing miraculous defeats, no fire from a rock or staying alive in the lions den or even walking in fire unharmed. Instead, Jeremiah used a yoke and wore it for days to symbolize imperial captivity and Ezekiel pulled off a nude protest and John the baptist ate lotus and wore camel skin clothes. All of these prophets have certain amazing things in common. They completely rejected societies ideals and norms to be outrageously in love with Jesus. They didn't care if they were publicly humiliated or cast out of their homes, all that mattered was that they were reaching the people with the news of the kingdom of God and His amazing grace and everlasting life they did whatever it took. It makes me wonder what it would take to get the public's attention that there is such a different world that can be imagined. Where love is the only answer anyone needs and peace is the currency that drives relationships all over the globe. In his book, Claiborne says of these prophets, "Yes, the prophets are weird. It can embarrass us to read of their antics, but what they do is not nearly as embarrassing as the things we do. which their actions expose so we can see that another future is possible". It asks the question of how far would you go to let those around us know that there is another world possible. There is another future that can happen. There are people out there who are in love with this new world so much so that they are making a change in their community. Would you be willing to look like a fool to show the foolishness of the "American dream"? It takes more than one act of kindness to stir a revolution but it starts with an act of love that turns into the revolution of love that could change the normal perspective of reality and see what life is truly like. Jesus died so that we may live the best life possible. We are supposed to be in this world and not of it. We are not able to serve two masters at one time. There is reference all through out scripture about how the kingdom of God is upon the earth and is alive and thriving. May we be so bold of a generation that we would take a stand to show others that there is freedom and that another world of beauty, love, compassion and freedom is possible, and here! There are so many amazing things that are happening everyday. Open your eyes and be amazed.

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

a mustard seed

In the gospels were constantly told about having faith like a mustard seed and how the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. I’ve always thought that this is such a great parable but never quite grasped the real picture Jesus was trying to get at. So I googled some pictures. Matthew 13:31-32 says “He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

a mustard tree

Another one is Luke 17:5-6 “The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.”

So often we read so many books, listen to so many people tell us how to grow our faith or how to experience the kingdom of God on earth. The kingdom of God is here, it is on earth. It exists in the hearts of those who love God with all they have. It’s in the smallest of things that we see the largest manifestation of the kingdom. I’m not saying that reading Jesus books are bad, (that’s pretty much the only type of book I read) Instead of trying to figure out how to grow your faith, thinking that you may need to get your life “together” before you can dig deeper into God. Just stop now and take Christ at His word. Have some faith, any faith. All it takes is small faith that God will come through and once He does, your faith will grow. Plus you never have to have your life together or better yourself before you come to Christ, He meets you as you are but beware, you will never leave changed. And if you want to have everything together before you meet Him, chances are He will change it for the better. He loves you more than you will ever imagine, just have faith in the one who created you and love all.

Love Pt 2

“Long before there was man or the voice of mankind on the earth, there was music”.  –Swindoll.

“Come close listen to the story About a love more faithful than the morning The Father gave His only Son just to save us The earth was shaking in the dark All creation felt the Fathers Broken Heart Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died When blood and water hit the ground Walls we couldn't move came crashing down We were free and made alive The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died Search your heart you know you can't deny it Come on, lose your life just so you can find it The Father gave His only Son just to save us’

Now I’m a huge fan of music. I’m always listening to it. Having contemplated my first blog on love as well as all the comments, I’m completely in awe, flabbergasted if you must. God’s love is THE SINGLE GREASTEST THING IN THE UNIVERSE! I wish I could scream it at each and every person all the time. It is His love that comforts, His love that guides us, His love that corrects us and trains us. It’s His love that became man that calls us out of the miry clay to be transformed into beautiful pottery for His kingdom. It is out of His great love that He died. I love the lyrics I posted on this one. My favorite one is that it is more faithful than the morning. Is it just me or do you begin to cry when you read it? The song is by Phil Wickham and the song is True Love. It’s such a beautiful melody. I love this metaphor in the second line. The one thing that everyone knows will be faithful, that tomorrow (God willing) will happen; the sun will rise as it always does every morning. Plans may be set but they could fall through. Unexpected things happen all the time and life is completely blank but the greatest faith we have about everyday life is that the sun will rise. However God’s infinite love is so much more than that. It is so much greater!

It is out of this love that we learn how to love as He. I was listening to a sermon one day and I’ve forgotten the topic but one of the key points was that to love like Christ is plainly put. 1 Corinthians 13 the “love” chapter talks all about love, yet never would I have thought that It is a foundation and the very blue print about how we are to love all. I feel the need to examine. “Love is patient”. So often we get bugged about things with people whether it be time constraint or they’re not showing enough passion at the moment or they’re just not who or where you would like them to be. However love takes a step back and says, Christ is ALWAYS patient with me, and out of my consuming love for Him I shall show my friend and other people the same love so that Christ may be seen through this love. “Love is kind”.  Love holds the door for other people. It helps an old lady cross the street. Love looks at the homeless, broken, “bad” people of this world and says you’re more than enough, you’re beautiful and I love you because Christ first loved you. Love takes the time to build others up. Think of the kindest thing someone has done for you. Think about how kind Christ is to us each and every day. All of the little amazing blessings God freely gives each and every day out of His overflowing kindness and love. That is the picture of kindness we should show to others out of our love for Him. “It does not envy”. Love says OH MY GOODNESS I’m so excited for you I wish you only the best and I wish for you blessings WITHOUT ever saying, I wish I had that or they don’t deserve that they didn’t work hard enough etc.” It rejoices! Honestly no one deserves anything. As people we are entitled to absolutely nothing except death and destruction. All good things flow from God Himself. “it does not boast, it is not proud”. Boasting is “to puff oneself up in speech: speak vaingloriously” (M-w.com). However we have nothing to boast about. It is by faith that we are saved! Love doesn’t boast and isn’t proud. It knows that without Christ’s death and resurrection, without clinging to the truth that Christ is Lord over our lives, we are nothing, damned to hell for all eternity. It is out of that love that we show others the love of Christ. What type of Jesus would the world see if, instead of talking about our 401k, retirement plan, life insurance, amount of money we make, what type of tv we have, and what not, if the love we showed the poor and homeless ended up costing us most of what we have so they could have a warm bed, warm food in their stomach, that didn’t come from a dumpster, a warm coat on cold days and a fireplace to sit next to while its raining or snowing while playing scrabble and enjoying fellowship. I’ve recently been reading Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. I started this blog back in February and now finishing it I have a greater passion and fire that this is lived out. We as humans were made to love. Love all as Christ loves us. The more and more love we give, the deeper out hearts become for others, the more we give ourselves away, the more we are filled with Christ’s love. It is never ending. I love the verse right before this passage that says,” ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.” I challenge all, even myself every day to truly ponder what it means to love selflessly with the love of Christ. What are ways that you can live this out a little more everyday.

Also EVERYONE needs to read Irresistible Revolution. This book has seriously made my walk deeper and my heart restless in every way possible. The kingdom of God is here and now. When are we going to start living like Christ is coming back?

Original Sin

so something i've been contemplating for a while just haven't gotten around to writing it so here it is.
a friend and i were talking a while back about the garden and why if God can do anything and knows everything, then why did He let Adam and Eve sin?
so here's my and their thoughts...
being that yes God created everything in its perfect nature to be completely beautiful and glorify Him to the highest. Adam and Eve spent their time in the Garden of Eden with God. He was there to speak to then, spend time with them and lived among them probably. The picture of pure perfection.
There are two sides to this one
1. God had the power to never let them sin. They and the rest of history could remain in a perfect world in harmony and daily fellowship with God. There would be no free will so everyone would just love God and serve Him. Not because they want to but because they have to. (hugely important!) There would never be any choice other than to just love God and serve Him all the time. They would be programmed robots with no will and zeal. There is no other emotion than complete joy.
2. God let them sin. He let them go through pain, suffering and what not. God lets man struggle with sin throughout history. Yet a day would come when God would come down, take on the very nature of a slave (Philippians 2:6-8). He dealt with the same temptations that we go through everyday. He endured the pain of denial, betrayal, loneliness, being an enemy of the world. He endured it all so that He may be able to understand and guide us through our struggles. Then at the cross He took the pain of the world. The pain of separation from God is taken upon Him because of His great love. And in return we have the choice to love Him back.
So this is the difference between the two. On one hand you have a God that loves us but we don’t choose our path. We exist to enjoy His creation and Him. However there is no choice, no chosen zeal, no battles to strengthen our love and devotion. Nothing to strive for. On the other hand, God let us sin so that He could show his great love towards us. Which love means more. A love of letting your creation just sit there and do everything you tell it to, or to let them live their lives in pain and then one day becoming just like them (without the sin) completely, choosing to face their battles, struggles, trials, temptations, and sufferings. Choosing to leave your throne on high and living the life of an unwanted servant who everyone wants to see but few truly desire. He then shows the greatest love, taking on the pain and suffering of the world, and dying so that the pain may be mended. Your creation then can choose whether or not to follow you. Yet through their trials and struggles that you promised, they become closer to you. They choose to either love the life of sin they live in and enjoy it. Or choose a life of hardship and worldly pain so that they may know you more. The ones that choose the path of righteousness choose to endure the hard times because knowing God the almighty lover of our souls, is greater than anything else on this earth. The separation of sin from God is broken and through this we have become ambassadors for Christ and instead of payment for our pathetic nature by eternal damnation we can rejoice in the coming of Christ because He died. He broke the barrier between us and God so that we may rejoice and take part in the return of the king and the inheritance of Abraham..
Either you have a God that has already chosen that you will love him and he will not show you His great love for you or you have a God that will leave his place on High endure 33 years of pain so that He may show is great agape love for all of creation and then even after still care to feel our pain and suffering so that we may become more like him.
Here’s some lyrics to finish it off you don’t have to read them but it’s a wonderful reminder. Bolded for emphasis
Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are
So my finishing thought is that God let Adam and Eve sin so that He may show His great love. If they did not sin there would be no opportunity to show it. So out of His great love for His creation he let us sin so He could come to this earth and die. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends “John 15:13

Love

Today was quite interesting. I couldn't quit listening to the song "What Do I Know of Holy" by Addison Road. It complately broke me. laying on my floor in complete tears type broken. heres the lyrics to help explain the rest.
I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were might to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life it's name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

It was this song and a few others that I contemplated the entire day.
I did my finances and what not realized how much debt i have and all my troubles with family and whatnot. life so often gets in the way of what is the most beautiful, sacred and meaningful relationship that exists. What will it take for Christians to realize that if nothing else we should share because of the fulfilling love we experience each and everyday.
anywho. after spending the day thinking about all these things I come across a phrase in a book I am reading. Its a simple phrase that struck me like a sword in the heart. tok the breath out of me and while listening to Blessed Be Your Name almost broke again. the simple line is "In love He created such a being [Christ] in His own image, not a robot programmed to respond asd the Maker designed. In creating such a being freely to love and be loved, God risked the possiblility of such a being rejecting His love in favor of independence or even self-love". Man I wish I could put this in flashing lights or tattoo it on my heart and remember how each moment Jesus could have chosen to reject the father and live for himself. So often people especially Christians, myself included, think of Jesus as God who although willingly knew he had a mission to help, die on the cross, and raise from the dead. However does anyone ever realize that He was a man. dealt with all the internal battles of men. lust, greed, self love, self righteousness, self glorification ( i mean he was God after all) he could have boasted about being God, being able to heal everything and fix everything with just a touch, who in their right mind could be humble when you have that kind of status?? out of everything Jesus dealt with he CHOSE to be humble he chose to die to his earthly desires each and every moment of his short time here on earth. When he was in the desert for 40 days, front of the crowd who were condeming him, to pilot, the pharisees, the soldiers beating Him, the crowd as he walked to his death, and finally on the cross. He could have chosen that a living and perfect sacrifice isn't worth all the pain and just given up and chosen to live for himself. but He didn't! for some reason Christ found a reason for each and everyone of us to be worth it. He found a reason to stay pure and blameless. He thinks we are all worth His tortureous death, pitiful humans, the very humans who condemned him to deathThe ones who sin without realizing it, who want to be popular and "beautiful" no matter what it takes. Those who put their earthly status and finances above the Christ who bore it all "became nothing, taking the very nature of a slave, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!"

So I ask this question. What do we know of Holy?
Jesus could have chosen the path of a man, he had the choice. Yet he still chose to "come into the world to save sinners"

What do I know of Holy

Today was quite interesting. I couldn't quit listening to the song "What Do I Know of Holy" by Addison Road. It complately broke me. laying on my floor in complete tears type broken. heres the lyrics to help explain the rest.

 I made You promises a thousand times

I tried to hear from Heaven

But I talked the whole time

I think I made You too small

I never feared You at all No

If You touched my face would I know You?

Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out

I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about

How You were might to save

Those were only empty words on a page

Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be

The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

(CHORUS 2)

What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?

And a God who gave life it's name?

What do I know of Holy?

Of the One who the angels praise?

All creation knows Your name

On earth and heaven above

What do I know of this love?

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?

It was this song and a few others that I contemplated the entire day.

I did my finances and what not realized how much debt i have and all my troubles with family and whatnot. life so often gets in the way of what is the most beautiful, sacred and meaningful relationship that exists. What will it take for Christians to realize that if nothing else we should share because of the fulfilling love we experience each and everyday.

anywho. after spending the day thinking about all these things I come across a phrase in a book I am reading. Its a simple phrase that struck me like a sword in the heart. tok the breath out of me and while listening to Blessed Be Your Name almost broke again. the simple line is "In love He created such a being [Christ] in His own image, not a robot programmed to respond asd the Maker designed. In creating such a being freely to love and be loved, God risked the possiblility of such a being rejecting His love in favor of independence or even self-love". Man I wish I could put this in flashing lights or tattoo it on my heart and remember how each moment Jesus could have chosen to reject the father and live for himself. So often people especially Christians, myself included, think of Jesus as God who although willingly knew he had a mission to help, die on the cross, and raise from the dead. However does anyone ever realize that He was a man. dealt with all the internal battles of men. lust, greed, self love, self righteousness, self glorification ( i mean he was God after all) he could have boasted about being God, being able to heal everything and fix everything with just a touch, who in their right mind could be humble when you have that kind of status?? out of everything Jesus dealt with he CHOSE to be humble he chose to die to his earthly desires each and every moment of his short time here on earth. When he was in the desert for 40 days, front of the crowd who were condeming him, to pilot, the pharisees, the soldiers beating Him, the crowd as he walked to his death, and finally on the cross. He could have chosen that a living and perfect sacrifice isn't worth all the pain and just given up and chosen to live for himself. but He didn't! for some reason Christ found a reason for each and everyone of us to be worth it. He found a reason to stay pure and blameless. He thinks we are all worth His tortureous death, pitiful humans, the very humans who condemned him to deathThe ones who sin without realizing it, who want to be popular and "beautiful" no matter what it takes. Those who put their earthly status and finances above the Christ who bore it all "became nothing, taking the very nature of a slave, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!"

So I ask this question. What do we know of Holy?

Jesus could have chosen the path of a man, he had the choice. Yet he still chose to "come into the world to save sinners"

Anew

So to start off this blog, of which im super new at but super excited about, im gonna go ahead and post all of my old writings. I want this to be nothing more than just meditations about Christ and His kingdom, His love and life experienced through Him. I love you all and hope you enjoy and have some food for thought.