Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Glad to be back to leave you with another nugget of interest. Recently, I've thought about areas that have an adverse affect on Christianity. This is interesting because there alot of things that are bombarding the very image of Christ, which in turn, bombards us. I've found that there are three 3 arenas that have affected Christianity the most; Social, Culture, and Politics. I'll break these down as quickly as possible. Let's get it in.
SOCIAL
I describe this arena as your social life, who you hang around, what your friends are doing, etc. Your connections to people will have an impact on your relationship with God. If your homeys aren't concerned with presenting the gospel to those who haven't met Christ, then that will dowse your flame for the ministry. Don't be fooled into thinking that you can stand alone for an uncertain period of time. You might find yourself doing the same silly or crazy things that pleases your friends, but saddens God. Galatians 5:7-9, read it. It backs my plea perfectly. Be mindful of how easily the social arena can stain your purity.
CULTURE
There's a lot to say about this arena, but I said I would keep it short. Our culture is drenched, actually drowning, in sin. The culture reflects the evil desires of our hearts. It begs for material things, riches, clothes, bling-bling, the house on the hill, lots of sex, etc. Since our culture has this sin-centered identity, it has a strong grip on all of us. Ever since birth, we almost immediately gravitate to the customs and traditions of our culture, therefore shaping our lives to pattern the world. A world that either ignores God completely or diminishes His stature as the ulitmate Creator of all. The apostle Paul instructs us not to follow after the schemes of the world, Romans 12:2. Rebel from the culture that constantly tries to outsmart/mock the God that is just, beautiful, and glorius.
POLITICAL
Supreme Court ruled that bibles and prayer should be banished from schools. Congress took God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Now states across America are battling to decide on the fate of same-sex marriages. In light of this, what's next?? I think that this arena has the most impact on Christianity today. Politics has always been a touchy subject for some, but it's not time to get queezy now. Since I'm on politics, I hope that everyone registered to vote. Anyway, it's amazing how we (for we have some say in the events of government) are always finding ways to push God out of the picture. If you haven't got it yet, pay attention. ATHEISTS HAVE FOUND WAYS TO MANIPULATE LEGISLATURE, BY WAY OF VOTING OR PETITTIONING, TO PUT A CHOKE HOLD ON CHRISTIANITY. Now is the time to be aware of how important it is to use every measure to pull back the doors closing on our God. We know that there efforts are worthless and they make God laugh, but until His son makes the final curtain call, it will be a battle for us on Earth. I will leave you with Colossians 2:6-7, "My counsel for you is simple and straighforward. Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ, the Master; now live Him. You know your way around the faith. Do what you've been taught. School's out, start living the subject. Let your living spill over into thanksgiving."
We as Christians need to be aware of what impacts Christianity adversely. I hope this session will awaken your mind to what's going on. Wake up ladies and gentlmen. Get ready.....
06 October 2008
14 July 2008
21 June 2008
Update
I just wanted to say thanks to all those who have sent me their blessings and support during my hiatus. I'm still on hiatus, but I just had to say thanks for not leaving me out in the cold, sort to speak. Also, just know that no matter what happens, God can still make a way. He can still build you up and shape you. Remember, that He is the potter and we are the clay. Always remember to strive for perfection, even if it hurts, because it will. I love my supporters and I haven't forgotten you. Thank you.
Read Psalm 127:1-2 and once it sets in, think about it. God bless.
Read Psalm 127:1-2 and once it sets in, think about it. God bless.
15 May 2008
Hiatus and Rebound
Just to let you all know, I will be taking a hiatus. I will be going away for awhile to begin a new chapter in life, but also to get back to what's important. I have to say that I need to re-connect with the scriptures. A situation has occurred that has compromised my position as a light for Christ, and as I grow into a man of responsibility and integrity, I have to deal with the consequences of my actions. I have no excuses to give, so I won't make or give any. I won't mention the situation, it will only cause speculation, but it has affected others and not just me. Just know that I will lay low for a minute to put things in perspective. I've already beaten myself up, now it's time to heal. When my hiatus is over, I will get back to business. I want to leave you with something:
Proverbs 24:16- 'for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity'.
I will make this simple. If you're a Christian and you walk right into sin, you will fall. You will have to suffer the consequences, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a way to rebound from the situation you're in, no matter what it is. This scripture really helped me to heal up. So I just ask for your prayers and support and I will see you later. God bless.
Proverbs 24:16- 'for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity'.
I will make this simple. If you're a Christian and you walk right into sin, you will fall. You will have to suffer the consequences, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a way to rebound from the situation you're in, no matter what it is. This scripture really helped me to heal up. So I just ask for your prayers and support and I will see you later. God bless.
25 April 2008
27 March 2008
Real Talk: Sinners Not At Fault
*** WARNING: This is not a message that will be encouraging, or fun to read. The purpose of this message is open our eyes to the current state of Christianity and push/motivate us (believers) to change our way of thinking and do better. I am not putting down anyone, or any denomination, I just want us to come to a realization. If you're ready, then proceed with an open mind.
Let me say this to start things off, we (Christians) have had, and still have, a part in making our world the way that it currently is. I know that some of you might disagree, thinking how can you be even remotely responsible for making the world such an ugly place. Well, lets dive into that because honestly, it's not what we did, but it's what we DON'T do.
Sinner's Perspective
Sinners are not the ones who should take full credit for the state of our dying world. I hate to say it, but unfortunately, Christians today should take some of the credit. Sure, sometimes sinners make choices or take actions that have a long lasting, negative effect on this Earth. In the end, a sinner still can't receive all the blame because they no realization of their wrong doing. Follow me on this one, don't get lost. For the most part, sinners know what they do is wrong; they have the basic or common knowledge that their actions or lifestyle is wrong. What they lack, however, is a real understanding. Why do you think sinners are often referred to as the lost and/or the blind? It's because they don't grasp the fact that they are in need of a Savior. Ephesians 5:18 says, "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts".
This scripture by itself defines the mindset of a sinner. "Darkened in their understanding"; sinners don't have a full, clear understanding of their backward lifestyle. They can't see the full picture of redemption and the sacrifice that was paid for them. The definition of ignorance is to be unaware because of a lack of relevant information or knowledge. Simply put, it means lack of knowledge of the facts. In other words, a sinner simply doesn't know the meaning or consequences of his/her actions or lifestyle. You might disagree, but think about the people that you know who were raised in a family where sin was dominating. Think about the man or woman who grew up in a neighborhood where hope was found in turning tricks, selling herb or dirty business deals. They are ignorant to the escape door that lies in Jesus Christ. All they see is what's in front of them and they react to those things in front of their eyes because they have no faith to deal with them otherwise.
Christian's Perspective
This is where we come in. We have been redeemed, changed, switched over from death to life. Yet some of our actions make me question or ponder the authenticity of our proclaimed salvation. The Bible calls us the salt and light of the Earth. The light shines into darkness to uncover the truth about sin and draw the helpless to the rock that shines that light. The salt preserves; in this case, it doesn't preserve the sinful habits and policies of this Earth, but this salt that we have preserves the truth that the light has uncovered. So why do we have a lot of dead flashlights? There are a lot of vessels claiming to be redeemed and born again, but why is there no light shining?
Before you think to exit my webpage, let's think about this for a minute. You can travel to any city in the U.S. and see many churches. You will even see many churches on the same block. Some of you are thinking there's nothing wrong with that. Well, there isn't anything wrong with it, if that block or city is lit up by the light that was given to us to shine on darkness. Look, what I'm saying is this; we have so many churches on one block or in the same city, but there is no change taking place. Some churches have been in business for more than ten years, and that neighborhood or city is still in the same condition. Change doesn't happen overnight, but if there is no sign of progress, then something is wrong. From what I've seen on TV and in person, we need to take responsibility.
Give'em the Gospel
We as Christians must give people the full gospel, not one side of it. Remember that the sinner is the ignorant. How can they be given the option to accept Christ if we don't give them Christ? I've seen too many times where Christians give a sinner a one-sided story of Christ, when they need both sides. How can you give someone the good, but not the bad? How can you give someone the bad, but not the good? When you tell someone they're a sinner and the consequences they will face, you have to give them the good side too. Otherwise, they won't have any hope for change and won't try to find a reason to change. FLIP THE SCRIPT; if you give a sinner the good, but not the bad, they will ultimately have a FALSE SENSE of safety. The Bible says come as you are, but that scripture didn't mean for the church to accept people as they are and keep them the same. No, that scripture meant for the sinner to come as they are, with their sin, so they can receive the knowledge needed to transform and pull them from the grip of sin. That can only come by the acceptance of Christ. This is where we take credit for the world being the way that it is. We have to give them the full gospel, not bits and pieces.
The Beauty of Redemption
If you've made it this far, CONGRATULATIONS. This is the last thing I will say, I promise. We are ultimately responsible for the Word of God getting to the ears and the hands of the people. A lot of times, I hear people say they can't witness to someone else until they get themselves right. That way of thinking is wrong and dangerous. I'll explain. That way of thinking is wrong because you can't fix yourself, you don't have that power. If you had that power to fix yourself, then God would have never sent Jesus to be the atonement for our behalf. That statement also symbolizes that once you're saved, you don't need God to do maintenance on you, which is very dangerous. The Bible says that a righteous man will fall seven times. That means that you're going to fall, and sin. So, using that statement is a LAME excuse. If I offended anyone who uses that statement, I'm sorry, but I had to let you know because I love you and I want us to do better. Just because you have sin on you, doesn't mean that you have to hide yourself until you rid yourself of that sin. In fact, that's what makes redemption so beautiful.
God uses people who were encased in sin to spread His teachings. Look at David, he was a man after God's own heart. Yet he committed adultery with Bathsheeba and had her husband killed. That makes David an adulterer and a murderer. Yet God still used him after David repented. This is the real beauty of redemption; God taking a person with an extensive rap sheet and once converted, using them to disciple the world. If you sin, repent, dust yourself off and get back on the grind. No matter what you are, sinner or saint, you need God. We are all in the same boat, the only difference is we have been redeemed and received the grace of God. It's up to us to carry on the legacy of Christ with the full, unedited Word of God.....real talk.
Let me say this to start things off, we (Christians) have had, and still have, a part in making our world the way that it currently is. I know that some of you might disagree, thinking how can you be even remotely responsible for making the world such an ugly place. Well, lets dive into that because honestly, it's not what we did, but it's what we DON'T do.
Sinner's Perspective
Sinners are not the ones who should take full credit for the state of our dying world. I hate to say it, but unfortunately, Christians today should take some of the credit. Sure, sometimes sinners make choices or take actions that have a long lasting, negative effect on this Earth. In the end, a sinner still can't receive all the blame because they no realization of their wrong doing. Follow me on this one, don't get lost. For the most part, sinners know what they do is wrong; they have the basic or common knowledge that their actions or lifestyle is wrong. What they lack, however, is a real understanding. Why do you think sinners are often referred to as the lost and/or the blind? It's because they don't grasp the fact that they are in need of a Savior. Ephesians 5:18 says, "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts".
This scripture by itself defines the mindset of a sinner. "Darkened in their understanding"; sinners don't have a full, clear understanding of their backward lifestyle. They can't see the full picture of redemption and the sacrifice that was paid for them. The definition of ignorance is to be unaware because of a lack of relevant information or knowledge. Simply put, it means lack of knowledge of the facts. In other words, a sinner simply doesn't know the meaning or consequences of his/her actions or lifestyle. You might disagree, but think about the people that you know who were raised in a family where sin was dominating. Think about the man or woman who grew up in a neighborhood where hope was found in turning tricks, selling herb or dirty business deals. They are ignorant to the escape door that lies in Jesus Christ. All they see is what's in front of them and they react to those things in front of their eyes because they have no faith to deal with them otherwise.
Christian's Perspective
This is where we come in. We have been redeemed, changed, switched over from death to life. Yet some of our actions make me question or ponder the authenticity of our proclaimed salvation. The Bible calls us the salt and light of the Earth. The light shines into darkness to uncover the truth about sin and draw the helpless to the rock that shines that light. The salt preserves; in this case, it doesn't preserve the sinful habits and policies of this Earth, but this salt that we have preserves the truth that the light has uncovered. So why do we have a lot of dead flashlights? There are a lot of vessels claiming to be redeemed and born again, but why is there no light shining?
Before you think to exit my webpage, let's think about this for a minute. You can travel to any city in the U.S. and see many churches. You will even see many churches on the same block. Some of you are thinking there's nothing wrong with that. Well, there isn't anything wrong with it, if that block or city is lit up by the light that was given to us to shine on darkness. Look, what I'm saying is this; we have so many churches on one block or in the same city, but there is no change taking place. Some churches have been in business for more than ten years, and that neighborhood or city is still in the same condition. Change doesn't happen overnight, but if there is no sign of progress, then something is wrong. From what I've seen on TV and in person, we need to take responsibility.
Give'em the Gospel
We as Christians must give people the full gospel, not one side of it. Remember that the sinner is the ignorant. How can they be given the option to accept Christ if we don't give them Christ? I've seen too many times where Christians give a sinner a one-sided story of Christ, when they need both sides. How can you give someone the good, but not the bad? How can you give someone the bad, but not the good? When you tell someone they're a sinner and the consequences they will face, you have to give them the good side too. Otherwise, they won't have any hope for change and won't try to find a reason to change. FLIP THE SCRIPT; if you give a sinner the good, but not the bad, they will ultimately have a FALSE SENSE of safety. The Bible says come as you are, but that scripture didn't mean for the church to accept people as they are and keep them the same. No, that scripture meant for the sinner to come as they are, with their sin, so they can receive the knowledge needed to transform and pull them from the grip of sin. That can only come by the acceptance of Christ. This is where we take credit for the world being the way that it is. We have to give them the full gospel, not bits and pieces.
The Beauty of Redemption
If you've made it this far, CONGRATULATIONS. This is the last thing I will say, I promise. We are ultimately responsible for the Word of God getting to the ears and the hands of the people. A lot of times, I hear people say they can't witness to someone else until they get themselves right. That way of thinking is wrong and dangerous. I'll explain. That way of thinking is wrong because you can't fix yourself, you don't have that power. If you had that power to fix yourself, then God would have never sent Jesus to be the atonement for our behalf. That statement also symbolizes that once you're saved, you don't need God to do maintenance on you, which is very dangerous. The Bible says that a righteous man will fall seven times. That means that you're going to fall, and sin. So, using that statement is a LAME excuse. If I offended anyone who uses that statement, I'm sorry, but I had to let you know because I love you and I want us to do better. Just because you have sin on you, doesn't mean that you have to hide yourself until you rid yourself of that sin. In fact, that's what makes redemption so beautiful.
God uses people who were encased in sin to spread His teachings. Look at David, he was a man after God's own heart. Yet he committed adultery with Bathsheeba and had her husband killed. That makes David an adulterer and a murderer. Yet God still used him after David repented. This is the real beauty of redemption; God taking a person with an extensive rap sheet and once converted, using them to disciple the world. If you sin, repent, dust yourself off and get back on the grind. No matter what you are, sinner or saint, you need God. We are all in the same boat, the only difference is we have been redeemed and received the grace of God. It's up to us to carry on the legacy of Christ with the full, unedited Word of God.....real talk.
02 March 2008
Christ and Sin Synergy
Greetings!!!
It's been a minute, but I've been on the grind in other areas. Now that I'm back, I want to address an issue that is prevalent in our nation and culture. There's a certain theology that's the underlying reason for us to operate in sin while claiming or trying to have a form of holiness. That theology doesn't really have a name, but I will call it the theology of Christ and sin synergy. This theology has been perpetuated since the Bible days and is, unfortunately, still in effect today.
First, lets look at the word synergy. Synergy is defined as "the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects." Just by reading the definition alone, you should already realize something. You should realize that Christ, which represents absolute holiness, can't interact with sin to produce a greater effect than if they each acted alone. This synergism of holiness and sin takes place often, but it shouldn't be that way.
The Message
The Bible says that no man can serve two masters; he will either hate one and love the other. That means that you can't operate in both sin and holiness. That, however, is what the world will tell you. Thus, that is the overall thesis behind the theology of Christ and sin synergy. The theology's message is that you can take two components that are completely opposite of each other, fuse them together into one unit to make it seem as though they can function perfectly together. That's why some people think it's ok to be saved and still hit the club, lie, commit adultery, fornicate, etc. They're living the Christ and sin synergy theology. They're trying to have the best of both worlds. This is how the world operates. They have, sadly, popularized Christianity in an attempt to blend sin in with holiness so the accurate and powerful Word of God wouldn't throw a monkey wrench in their sinful lifestyle and seem so offensive to the lost. Check this, that very same message of this theology is its biggest loophole.
The Loophole
Sin and holiness can't be fused together. Why? Simple. They can't function properly when the other component is in the mix. Holiness can't operate at maximum efficiency with sin mixed in because the pure, cleansing power of God will be tainted. Likewise, sin can't operate when holiness is mixed in because sin can't do anything, but die when real, authentic holiness reveals itself. Therefore, this theology that has made a psychological attachment to the minds of mankind , who have transformed it into a lifestyle is absolutely FALSE. It's complete GARBAGE. There has to be a difference; when a person gets redeemed, there has to be a separation from the world. God bless.
It's been a minute, but I've been on the grind in other areas. Now that I'm back, I want to address an issue that is prevalent in our nation and culture. There's a certain theology that's the underlying reason for us to operate in sin while claiming or trying to have a form of holiness. That theology doesn't really have a name, but I will call it the theology of Christ and sin synergy. This theology has been perpetuated since the Bible days and is, unfortunately, still in effect today.
First, lets look at the word synergy. Synergy is defined as "the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects." Just by reading the definition alone, you should already realize something. You should realize that Christ, which represents absolute holiness, can't interact with sin to produce a greater effect than if they each acted alone. This synergism of holiness and sin takes place often, but it shouldn't be that way.
The Message
The Bible says that no man can serve two masters; he will either hate one and love the other. That means that you can't operate in both sin and holiness. That, however, is what the world will tell you. Thus, that is the overall thesis behind the theology of Christ and sin synergy. The theology's message is that you can take two components that are completely opposite of each other, fuse them together into one unit to make it seem as though they can function perfectly together. That's why some people think it's ok to be saved and still hit the club, lie, commit adultery, fornicate, etc. They're living the Christ and sin synergy theology. They're trying to have the best of both worlds. This is how the world operates. They have, sadly, popularized Christianity in an attempt to blend sin in with holiness so the accurate and powerful Word of God wouldn't throw a monkey wrench in their sinful lifestyle and seem so offensive to the lost. Check this, that very same message of this theology is its biggest loophole.
The Loophole
Sin and holiness can't be fused together. Why? Simple. They can't function properly when the other component is in the mix. Holiness can't operate at maximum efficiency with sin mixed in because the pure, cleansing power of God will be tainted. Likewise, sin can't operate when holiness is mixed in because sin can't do anything, but die when real, authentic holiness reveals itself. Therefore, this theology that has made a psychological attachment to the minds of mankind , who have transformed it into a lifestyle is absolutely FALSE. It's complete GARBAGE. There has to be a difference; when a person gets redeemed, there has to be a separation from the world. God bless.
30 January 2008
Interesting Topic: Stop Snitching Movement
What's up!!!
I wanted to talk briefly (hopefully) about this whole stop snitching movement. If you really look at it, this movement reveals how sinful we are by nature. The art of this movement comes from the theology that whatever happens, it needs to be on the low. We love to do things behind closed doors, and at night away from wandering eyes. Our sinful nature gets a huge thrill out doing things (sinful things), in the dark so one can see or know what we're doing, and thereby avoiding the moment of getting caught "with your hand in the jar". Let's be honest, it's a natural desire to creep around and it's funny to see other people get caught. I personally get a laugh out of it myself. Everything I just said is just a longer version of what's written in the Bible, "Men love the darkness", and rightly so.
Being that we naturally love the darkness, ask yourself this question: "Why do we protect those who do wrong/break the law?" Think about that for a minute............ Why is that when people commit an offense against someone else, we immediately defend them, even if we know they are the culprits? Here's another thing, why is it that when our friends are stuck in a situation, we won't be honest with them? Is this hitting home? I hope so.
When our friends are dating the wrong people, making the wrong choices, we stand by and let them walk right over a cliff. We sit back and say, "it's not my place". If that is the case, then who's place is it? Last time I checked, a good/true friend will inform you of the real deal because they have love for you. The Bible says to love your neighbor (as well as your enemy). It's really hard to do when everyone in your corner is letting you hang yourself.
Now, let's apply this to the Christian walk. Satan wants us (Christians) to stop snitching. A Christian rapper named Phanatik said it best: "I'm not snitching to get me off the hook, I'm snitching to get YOU off the hook. Can't hold back, I won't button up." Satan knows that if we keep our mouths closed; if we don't give our testimonies; if we are shamed to speak the gospel, the battle is in his hands. The longer we keep quiet, the longer we stay bound. So, I don't pose any answers to the questions I just asked. I will leave that up to you. I pray that this information will simply open your eyes.
I wanted to talk briefly (hopefully) about this whole stop snitching movement. If you really look at it, this movement reveals how sinful we are by nature. The art of this movement comes from the theology that whatever happens, it needs to be on the low. We love to do things behind closed doors, and at night away from wandering eyes. Our sinful nature gets a huge thrill out doing things (sinful things), in the dark so one can see or know what we're doing, and thereby avoiding the moment of getting caught "with your hand in the jar". Let's be honest, it's a natural desire to creep around and it's funny to see other people get caught. I personally get a laugh out of it myself. Everything I just said is just a longer version of what's written in the Bible, "Men love the darkness", and rightly so.
Being that we naturally love the darkness, ask yourself this question: "Why do we protect those who do wrong/break the law?" Think about that for a minute............ Why is that when people commit an offense against someone else, we immediately defend them, even if we know they are the culprits? Here's another thing, why is it that when our friends are stuck in a situation, we won't be honest with them? Is this hitting home? I hope so.
When our friends are dating the wrong people, making the wrong choices, we stand by and let them walk right over a cliff. We sit back and say, "it's not my place". If that is the case, then who's place is it? Last time I checked, a good/true friend will inform you of the real deal because they have love for you. The Bible says to love your neighbor (as well as your enemy). It's really hard to do when everyone in your corner is letting you hang yourself.
Now, let's apply this to the Christian walk. Satan wants us (Christians) to stop snitching. A Christian rapper named Phanatik said it best: "I'm not snitching to get me off the hook, I'm snitching to get YOU off the hook. Can't hold back, I won't button up." Satan knows that if we keep our mouths closed; if we don't give our testimonies; if we are shamed to speak the gospel, the battle is in his hands. The longer we keep quiet, the longer we stay bound. So, I don't pose any answers to the questions I just asked. I will leave that up to you. I pray that this information will simply open your eyes.
10 January 2008
IZ-Real Flashback
What's up!!!
I had to bring another video. I like it and I hope you do too. Some of you might not like rap, but lets look at the facts. The real Christian rappers (not the fakes) are better lyrically and creatively than 95% of their counterparts in the secular realm. That's FACT. Sometimes people don't accept this genre of Gospel because of some faulty belief in the origin of hip-hop/rap. Well, I say this; if you judge something based on its origin, that might be a mistake. The sport of soccer started when the ancient civilizations beheaded people and kicked a dead man's head around for fun. Even the birth of America isn't a perfect picture of Godly obedience, check the history books. Be careful how you judge something....
Anyway, enough about that. Enjoy a flashback rhyme from IZ-Real, a member of Everyday Process, signed by Cross Movement records. God bless.
I had to bring another video. I like it and I hope you do too. Some of you might not like rap, but lets look at the facts. The real Christian rappers (not the fakes) are better lyrically and creatively than 95% of their counterparts in the secular realm. That's FACT. Sometimes people don't accept this genre of Gospel because of some faulty belief in the origin of hip-hop/rap. Well, I say this; if you judge something based on its origin, that might be a mistake. The sport of soccer started when the ancient civilizations beheaded people and kicked a dead man's head around for fun. Even the birth of America isn't a perfect picture of Godly obedience, check the history books. Be careful how you judge something....
Anyway, enough about that. Enjoy a flashback rhyme from IZ-Real, a member of Everyday Process, signed by Cross Movement records. God bless.
21 December 2007
Lecrae-Prayin' For You
Check this out. I haven't heard anyone be really open with their personal lives on video before. This is real. This dude told the real deal about what he's going through, but it also reflects on how we as Christians struggle with things. The music shows how he wanted to be open with his flaws, despite what others might say about his salvation and his God. Hope you enjoy it, but I also hope that you learn from the video. God bless.
18 December 2007
10 December 2007
Life After Death
Life is so brief, you're here the next minute and gone the next. No one can predict when they're going to depart this world and especially how they're going to leave the Earthly realm. This is a touchy subject I'm about to address, especially for those who have lost someone close to them. Hopefully these words will help someone during their lost of a fellow brother/sister or loved one in Christ.
Let's look at Isaiah 57:2. It says "The righteous perish and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no on understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest at they lie in death."
Let's dive a little deeper into this. The righteous dies and no one really questions why he/she died. Maybe because everyone understands that people eventually die and returns to the dirt. I'm not really sure on that. The next sentence, however, is the key. Devout men are taken away, and no one understands that righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. This is important. Stay with me on this one.
The word says that brothers or sisters in the faith are taken away to be spared from evil. No one could possible fathom the evil or danger that is soon to come, except God. The word says that God is caring and that he knows the plans for you. Let's look another text.
Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." As the scripture says, He knows the plans for your life. So, how do these scriptures tie in to one another? Here it goes...
God foresaw something in your future that they might not have been ready for. He saw something coming in the near future that couldn't have been handled and they might have lost their mind. Since God knows all, He thought it would've been best to call them home to Him instead of letting them embrace the upcoming danger. There are some things that I want you to remember from this.
Christians don't mourn like sinners or unbelievers. When an unbeliever dies, no one knows where they're going when their name is engraved in the tombstone. Those in the faith are filled with sadness, but in the end they know that the departed are going to be with Christ and the Father. So we can rejoice and celebrate their home-going as God faithfully discharges them from His army and carries them from the battlefield.
Last, but not least, use the departed as motivation. Once a person dies, they're gone. They're not coming back. So use the facts about their death as motivation. In other words, don't let their death be in vain. The unsaved died and they were clueless about their final home. Some were even deceived, either by themselves or by pastors who don't teach the whole truth. That's another story. I'm quite sure you don't want to be unsure about your whereabouts after death. So strengthen your relationship with Christ before the clock stops....
Let's look at Isaiah 57:2. It says "The righteous perish and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no on understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest at they lie in death."
Let's dive a little deeper into this. The righteous dies and no one really questions why he/she died. Maybe because everyone understands that people eventually die and returns to the dirt. I'm not really sure on that. The next sentence, however, is the key. Devout men are taken away, and no one understands that righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. This is important. Stay with me on this one.
The word says that brothers or sisters in the faith are taken away to be spared from evil. No one could possible fathom the evil or danger that is soon to come, except God. The word says that God is caring and that he knows the plans for you. Let's look another text.
Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." As the scripture says, He knows the plans for your life. So, how do these scriptures tie in to one another? Here it goes...
God foresaw something in your future that they might not have been ready for. He saw something coming in the near future that couldn't have been handled and they might have lost their mind. Since God knows all, He thought it would've been best to call them home to Him instead of letting them embrace the upcoming danger. There are some things that I want you to remember from this.
Christians don't mourn like sinners or unbelievers. When an unbeliever dies, no one knows where they're going when their name is engraved in the tombstone. Those in the faith are filled with sadness, but in the end they know that the departed are going to be with Christ and the Father. So we can rejoice and celebrate their home-going as God faithfully discharges them from His army and carries them from the battlefield.
Last, but not least, use the departed as motivation. Once a person dies, they're gone. They're not coming back. So use the facts about their death as motivation. In other words, don't let their death be in vain. The unsaved died and they were clueless about their final home. Some were even deceived, either by themselves or by pastors who don't teach the whole truth. That's another story. I'm quite sure you don't want to be unsure about your whereabouts after death. So strengthen your relationship with Christ before the clock stops....
11 October 2007
Back to Basics
Greetings to everyone. I felt like I had to bring some things back to focus for a minute. It seems like today everyone is or has lost sight of the binding principles of that keeps us in constant flow with God. So, let's take it back to the basics.
First of all, let me give you a quote from a Christian rapper by the name of Flame. " Be more concerned with being somebody in Christ versus doing something for Christ. " This is a very powerful quote that needs to be addressed. A lot of times, it's so easy to get wrapped up in doing ministry for Christ. DON'T GET IT TWISTED. IT'S GREAT TO BE INVOLVED IN MINISTRY AND USE YOUR TIME TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST. However, it shouldn't be number one over giving God worship. Spending time with God should be our primary focus. Now, you know I have to dive deeper into this. Let's dissect the difference between the two.
Being somebody in Christ.
Who are you? This is in terms of your relationship with Christ. You must have a continual relationship with Christ for the Father to know you. It has been said many times in the Bible that people will proclaim salvation. Many will do many things in the name of Christ, but does that mean that God knows you? NO, NOT REALLY. That doesn't mean that you know Christ either. This ties in directly with the biblical warning of false preachers. This issue was a problem in the days of Christ and it's still a problem now. Some people do many things in the name of Christ, only to find out later that some of them AREN'T EVEN SAVED. Some of them got caught up in the fame of doing ministry that they haven't spent any time with God, and others have gotten what I call 'Christian Inferiority Complex'. This is where Christians get so much praise for ministry that they think it was them, instead of thanking God for even letting them be alive to be a part of that certain ministry. You must have a relationship (continual) with Christ. If you don't, be prepared to hear those words: "Depart from me, worker of sin. I never knew you."
Doing something for Christ
Ministry is necessary for the body to grow and teach about Christ. However, it shouldn't be the only thing we do. A lot of you have ambition to do something for Christ. There is nothing wrong with that, at all, but there are some questions that must be addressed to God before you even get involved in ministry. Here are just a few: Do you want me to a part of this ministry? What is my gift? How do you want me to work this gift? Is this what you want me to do for this season? Am I even called to do this? These are just some questions to bring to God before you can even start ministry. Some people get caught up in doing things that they weren't even called by God to do, which puts even more strain on the relationship. All this could have been avoided by spending time with God, which brings us to the finale.
The Basics
1. Reading God's word
2. Prayer
Reading God's word is MANDATORY. The bible says that man can't live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of God's mouth. The word of God is the blueprint for how we live on Earth. How can you know how to deal with certain spirits if you don't read the word? How can you know how to please God if you don't dive in the scriptures? How can you have strength to live life day by day if you don't read? Do you understand what I'm getting at? I hope you get the point.
Prayer is also MANDATORY and it's a COMMAND. Prayer is how Christians communicate with God. Do you know how awesome that is for man to have casual talk with the Creator? That is truly incredible in itself. We were given the privilege to communicate with God about our concerns, our pains, our issues and even just to tell Him how much you love Him. Why wouldn't you want to talk to God?
In the end, you must understand this. You can never outgrow the basics, please don't be silly. Never think that you have grown past the basics. You are setting yourself up for failure if you do. The basics is what drew us closer to God, why would we stop working those things that have established the relationship with yourself and the Father? Remember there is nothing wrong with ministry, but spending time with God is more important. During that quality time, you grow closer to Him and He gets to hear what we don't say often. You love Him. Take it back to the basics.
First of all, let me give you a quote from a Christian rapper by the name of Flame. " Be more concerned with being somebody in Christ versus doing something for Christ. " This is a very powerful quote that needs to be addressed. A lot of times, it's so easy to get wrapped up in doing ministry for Christ. DON'T GET IT TWISTED. IT'S GREAT TO BE INVOLVED IN MINISTRY AND USE YOUR TIME TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST. However, it shouldn't be number one over giving God worship. Spending time with God should be our primary focus. Now, you know I have to dive deeper into this. Let's dissect the difference between the two.
Being somebody in Christ.
Who are you? This is in terms of your relationship with Christ. You must have a continual relationship with Christ for the Father to know you. It has been said many times in the Bible that people will proclaim salvation. Many will do many things in the name of Christ, but does that mean that God knows you? NO, NOT REALLY. That doesn't mean that you know Christ either. This ties in directly with the biblical warning of false preachers. This issue was a problem in the days of Christ and it's still a problem now. Some people do many things in the name of Christ, only to find out later that some of them AREN'T EVEN SAVED. Some of them got caught up in the fame of doing ministry that they haven't spent any time with God, and others have gotten what I call 'Christian Inferiority Complex'. This is where Christians get so much praise for ministry that they think it was them, instead of thanking God for even letting them be alive to be a part of that certain ministry. You must have a relationship (continual) with Christ. If you don't, be prepared to hear those words: "Depart from me, worker of sin. I never knew you."
Doing something for Christ
Ministry is necessary for the body to grow and teach about Christ. However, it shouldn't be the only thing we do. A lot of you have ambition to do something for Christ. There is nothing wrong with that, at all, but there are some questions that must be addressed to God before you even get involved in ministry. Here are just a few: Do you want me to a part of this ministry? What is my gift? How do you want me to work this gift? Is this what you want me to do for this season? Am I even called to do this? These are just some questions to bring to God before you can even start ministry. Some people get caught up in doing things that they weren't even called by God to do, which puts even more strain on the relationship. All this could have been avoided by spending time with God, which brings us to the finale.
The Basics
1. Reading God's word
2. Prayer
Reading God's word is MANDATORY. The bible says that man can't live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of God's mouth. The word of God is the blueprint for how we live on Earth. How can you know how to deal with certain spirits if you don't read the word? How can you know how to please God if you don't dive in the scriptures? How can you have strength to live life day by day if you don't read? Do you understand what I'm getting at? I hope you get the point.
Prayer is also MANDATORY and it's a COMMAND. Prayer is how Christians communicate with God. Do you know how awesome that is for man to have casual talk with the Creator? That is truly incredible in itself. We were given the privilege to communicate with God about our concerns, our pains, our issues and even just to tell Him how much you love Him. Why wouldn't you want to talk to God?
In the end, you must understand this. You can never outgrow the basics, please don't be silly. Never think that you have grown past the basics. You are setting yourself up for failure if you do. The basics is what drew us closer to God, why would we stop working those things that have established the relationship with yourself and the Father? Remember there is nothing wrong with ministry, but spending time with God is more important. During that quality time, you grow closer to Him and He gets to hear what we don't say often. You love Him. Take it back to the basics.
17 September 2007
Distractions in Relationships
Greetings to everyone. Today's topic is distractions. When I say distractions, I'm speaking of relationships that are keeping you from spending time with God. Let's take a quick look at Galatians 5:7-9. These verses (in NIV) reads, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion doesn't come the one who calls you. A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." That sounds deep huh? Let's break this down.
Verse 7: "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" This verse comes in the past tense tone, meaning this is how it was at first or in the beginning. You were doing well, you were reading your bible, praying and fellowshipping with other believers. In short, you were trying to keep the relationship hot between you and God, but someone got in the way. Someone cut in front of you and blocked your ability to see God. In other words, somebody took your attention off of God and made you lose focus. More importantly, this someone made you live or act in a manner that contradicts the absolute truths of God.
Verse 8: "That kind of persuasion doesn't come the one who calls you." This verse is simply saying that God would never give you "friends" that would keep you from obeying his truths. God hates sin and He wouldn't put you around people that would eat away at your love for Him and cause you to sin against Him. Don't be deceived people.
Verse 9: "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." The best way to explain this is to use another example. Take a dirty sock and place it in a drawer with clean socks and what happens? Does the stinky sock get smothered with a clean aroma? The answer is no. The exact opposite happens. The clean socks get smothered with the stench and funk of the dirty sock. Well, the same thing happens in the spiritual. Sin in one area of your life will eventually spread to all areas of your life, if you don't kill it off.
So in the end, be careful of who you hang around and pray that God will put around people that will push/motivate you to stay close to God. I hope that you make the right decision.
Verse 7: "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" This verse comes in the past tense tone, meaning this is how it was at first or in the beginning. You were doing well, you were reading your bible, praying and fellowshipping with other believers. In short, you were trying to keep the relationship hot between you and God, but someone got in the way. Someone cut in front of you and blocked your ability to see God. In other words, somebody took your attention off of God and made you lose focus. More importantly, this someone made you live or act in a manner that contradicts the absolute truths of God.
Verse 8: "That kind of persuasion doesn't come the one who calls you." This verse is simply saying that God would never give you "friends" that would keep you from obeying his truths. God hates sin and He wouldn't put you around people that would eat away at your love for Him and cause you to sin against Him. Don't be deceived people.
Verse 9: "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." The best way to explain this is to use another example. Take a dirty sock and place it in a drawer with clean socks and what happens? Does the stinky sock get smothered with a clean aroma? The answer is no. The exact opposite happens. The clean socks get smothered with the stench and funk of the dirty sock. Well, the same thing happens in the spiritual. Sin in one area of your life will eventually spread to all areas of your life, if you don't kill it off.
So in the end, be careful of who you hang around and pray that God will put around people that will push/motivate you to stay close to God. I hope that you make the right decision.
17 August 2007
Awakening To Ministry
School is about to begin next week, so that means it's time to hit the ground running. Not only in the classrooms, but also in ministry. I know Ole Miss is going to be overrun with new freshman and that means new potential souls to be awakened. You have to get them while they're young.
What's your idea of Christianity? I've come across people who think Christianity is just Sunday service, bible study and maybe choir practice (if you can sing). Christianity is more than that. Christians represent the living God who (us, Christians) were justified through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We don't see that very often though. We have become like the Israelites, exclusive instead of inclusive.
Christ commanded us to go make disciples. In order to do that, we have to relate to people (not in the sexual context). We can't make disciples if we get the "big head". There are Christians who become bigger than themselves when they get saved and won't even look at, associate with, or even speak to certain people if they don't have that "saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost" aura about them. That perfectly describes people with the selfish salvation syndrome. Selfish salvation is simply people who get saved, but won't share the gospel with unbelievers, who won't dig deep to help someone out of their sin. Salvation was never meant just for self.
People with this syndrome are often worried about their reputation. Read this very carefully... our reputation means nothing to majority of people. Let me explain this. Some people claim to be your friend, your boy or your homey not for who you are as a person. Most people only claim to be your friend because of what you could possibly do for them. That's not a real friend. So if that be the case, why would you try to uphold a reputation for people who won't be there when you need them in the end? WHY????
Why do we avoid being seen with the homosexual/lesbian who's trying to be free from that spirit? Why do we stay away from the neighborhood (or campus) whore who's been around the block a few times, but has a strong desire to make change, to be freed from the guilt of her/his past sins? Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." That scripture's context describes a man or woman whose delight is in the Lord, who never participates in sin, who never delights in sin with sinful people. That doesn't mean you don't minister to people who are in sin's grip. Remember, the Bible never contradicts itself.
The purpose of being saved is to know Christ for yourself and to be used by Him as a tool to draw all men to the light of Christ that was lit in you when you surrendered your life to Him. The bible says that man's righteousness (in its entirety) is that of a filthy rag. In other words, what mankind deems as righteous is equal to a filthy, stinking, nasty, moldy towel in God's eyes (Ewwww.... yuck!!!). We have to put aside our reputation (which more or less was given by man's standards instead of being tried and proven by God). Now is the time to awaken to what God deems as righteous. Welcome to real ministry. God bless.
What's your idea of Christianity? I've come across people who think Christianity is just Sunday service, bible study and maybe choir practice (if you can sing). Christianity is more than that. Christians represent the living God who (us, Christians) were justified through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We don't see that very often though. We have become like the Israelites, exclusive instead of inclusive.
Christ commanded us to go make disciples. In order to do that, we have to relate to people (not in the sexual context). We can't make disciples if we get the "big head". There are Christians who become bigger than themselves when they get saved and won't even look at, associate with, or even speak to certain people if they don't have that "saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost" aura about them. That perfectly describes people with the selfish salvation syndrome. Selfish salvation is simply people who get saved, but won't share the gospel with unbelievers, who won't dig deep to help someone out of their sin. Salvation was never meant just for self.
People with this syndrome are often worried about their reputation. Read this very carefully... our reputation means nothing to majority of people. Let me explain this. Some people claim to be your friend, your boy or your homey not for who you are as a person. Most people only claim to be your friend because of what you could possibly do for them. That's not a real friend. So if that be the case, why would you try to uphold a reputation for people who won't be there when you need them in the end? WHY????
Why do we avoid being seen with the homosexual/lesbian who's trying to be free from that spirit? Why do we stay away from the neighborhood (or campus) whore who's been around the block a few times, but has a strong desire to make change, to be freed from the guilt of her/his past sins? Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." That scripture's context describes a man or woman whose delight is in the Lord, who never participates in sin, who never delights in sin with sinful people. That doesn't mean you don't minister to people who are in sin's grip. Remember, the Bible never contradicts itself.
The purpose of being saved is to know Christ for yourself and to be used by Him as a tool to draw all men to the light of Christ that was lit in you when you surrendered your life to Him. The bible says that man's righteousness (in its entirety) is that of a filthy rag. In other words, what mankind deems as righteous is equal to a filthy, stinking, nasty, moldy towel in God's eyes (Ewwww.... yuck!!!). We have to put aside our reputation (which more or less was given by man's standards instead of being tried and proven by God). Now is the time to awaken to what God deems as righteous. Welcome to real ministry. God bless.
29 July 2007
A New Journey
What's good! I'm going to keep this short. I've wanted to expand my gift to other areas. I want to expand my gift so I can reach different audiences (for ministry first, sales second). I truly believe that stepping out on faith was a blessing that allowed me to get my foot in the door with my first book. I won't stop writing books, the second one is already in the pre-production stages. Now I'm going to expand to another area such as recording (mainly poetry, maybe rap). I plan to get that started real soon. I just wanted to encourage you to either start working your gift now, or to take your gift to the next level. Remember, you will be held accountable for your gift and you will have to answer to God on Judgment Day. Grace and Peace.
20 July 2007
Interesting Thought
Lend a Helping Hand
This has been on my mind for a long time and I just wanted to quickly share it with you. Let's look at Galatians 6:1.
Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." When I'm watching TV or hear things from the streets, sometimes I hear about Christians getting caught up in sin. Everyone sins at times, no one is perfect, even though the goal is to strive for perfection. When a Christian sins, however, people bring the hammer down. God said that we, who are spiritual (not the pagans), are supposed to restore him/her. In other words, we need to be TALK to them. The best way to do that, from what I've seen, is to paint the picture. We need to explain why what they did was wrong thoroughly (with scripture), the affects it will have on the ministry of Christ, REPENT (an absolute must) and motivate them to do better. The most famous responses I hear from other people when Christians fall is "I knew he/she was fake" or "All Christians are hypocrites." Instead of joining the peanut gallery and smashing down on the person, help them to UNDERSTAND.
Now be careful of who you are dealing with. The second half of the verse says watch yourself or you may be tempted. That could possibly mean that if you're not strong in the faith, you could give in to temptation and commit the same sin of the person who fell. I'm not entirely sure (that's why it's highly important that you communicate with your Pastor, Youth Leader, or Minister).
We (Christians) are the body of Christ. We are like family, brothers and sisters in the faith. A body, team, or organization is only as strong as its weakest link. If one part of the body is injured, the rest of the body will have to work even harder to pull their own weight and the weight of the body part that's injured. If one Christian falls, the body of Christ will be affected negatively and the growth of ministry will be stunted. If you fell, you would want someone to administer medication to you, so why won't you do the same when a certain part of the body becomes injured....
This has been on my mind for a long time and I just wanted to quickly share it with you. Let's look at Galatians 6:1.
Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." When I'm watching TV or hear things from the streets, sometimes I hear about Christians getting caught up in sin. Everyone sins at times, no one is perfect, even though the goal is to strive for perfection. When a Christian sins, however, people bring the hammer down. God said that we, who are spiritual (not the pagans), are supposed to restore him/her. In other words, we need to be TALK to them. The best way to do that, from what I've seen, is to paint the picture. We need to explain why what they did was wrong thoroughly (with scripture), the affects it will have on the ministry of Christ, REPENT (an absolute must) and motivate them to do better. The most famous responses I hear from other people when Christians fall is "I knew he/she was fake" or "All Christians are hypocrites." Instead of joining the peanut gallery and smashing down on the person, help them to UNDERSTAND.
Now be careful of who you are dealing with. The second half of the verse says watch yourself or you may be tempted. That could possibly mean that if you're not strong in the faith, you could give in to temptation and commit the same sin of the person who fell. I'm not entirely sure (that's why it's highly important that you communicate with your Pastor, Youth Leader, or Minister).
We (Christians) are the body of Christ. We are like family, brothers and sisters in the faith. A body, team, or organization is only as strong as its weakest link. If one part of the body is injured, the rest of the body will have to work even harder to pull their own weight and the weight of the body part that's injured. If one Christian falls, the body of Christ will be affected negatively and the growth of ministry will be stunted. If you fell, you would want someone to administer medication to you, so why won't you do the same when a certain part of the body becomes injured....
17 July 2007
Don't Worry, Be Happy
I decided it's time to for change of pace for a minute and drop some encouragement. I'm going to talk about worrying and why you shouldn't do that. Let's look at Matthew 6:25-34 (The text is in red, so Jesus is talking - for those who didn't know).
Right off the bat, verse 25 says "Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." He goes into the next verse saying is life not more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Jesus even makes a comparison that clearly shows that we shouldn't worry. He compares us to the birds of the air in verse 26. He says that the birds don't sow, reap or store away anything and yet God still feeds them. Now comes the punchline: are we not more valuable than the birds?
NO ONE CAN ADD AN HOUR TO HIS/HER LIFE. Jesus made this firm statement which is even backed by modern medicine. With that being said, one can conclude that our bodies weren't made to handle worry. It's ok to be concerned about some things (but that's a different ball game).
In verse 32, Jesus solidifies His reason as to why we shouldn't worry, as He says that the Pagans run after all these things. The next thing Jesus said can be seen as a testimony of God's love for us. "Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them." God knows what we need, He created us. A creator will always know His creation. Christ finally gets to the heart of the matter, "but seek first His kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." That means if you want the clothes on your back and food on your table, seek Him first and He will provide a way. He always does.
Jesus comes to a close when says not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on its own. A true statement, trust me. Another reason why you shouldn't worry about tomorrow or next week is because tomorrow isn't promised. Jesus is coming soon and know one knows when He shall return. I know what some of you are going through (rent due real soon, cell phone, tuition, other bills), but don't worry. Trust in God and all your needs will be met. So as the song says, "Don't worry, be happy. Don't worry, be happy now." God Bless.
Right off the bat, verse 25 says "Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." He goes into the next verse saying is life not more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Jesus even makes a comparison that clearly shows that we shouldn't worry. He compares us to the birds of the air in verse 26. He says that the birds don't sow, reap or store away anything and yet God still feeds them. Now comes the punchline: are we not more valuable than the birds?
NO ONE CAN ADD AN HOUR TO HIS/HER LIFE. Jesus made this firm statement which is even backed by modern medicine. With that being said, one can conclude that our bodies weren't made to handle worry. It's ok to be concerned about some things (but that's a different ball game).
In verse 32, Jesus solidifies His reason as to why we shouldn't worry, as He says that the Pagans run after all these things. The next thing Jesus said can be seen as a testimony of God's love for us. "Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them." God knows what we need, He created us. A creator will always know His creation. Christ finally gets to the heart of the matter, "but seek first His kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." That means if you want the clothes on your back and food on your table, seek Him first and He will provide a way. He always does.
Jesus comes to a close when says not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on its own. A true statement, trust me. Another reason why you shouldn't worry about tomorrow or next week is because tomorrow isn't promised. Jesus is coming soon and know one knows when He shall return. I know what some of you are going through (rent due real soon, cell phone, tuition, other bills), but don't worry. Trust in God and all your needs will be met. So as the song says, "Don't worry, be happy. Don't worry, be happy now." God Bless.
30 June 2007
Tonex "Naked Truth"
This is in reference to the actions of Gospel recording artist Tonex. His actions might have represented what he was going through, but HIS ACTIONS AREN'T JUSTIFIED. For those of you who don't know what went down, go to youtube.com and watch the video called "Naked Truth" by Tonex.
What Tonex did wasn't good. I'm not judging him because that isn't my place. Only God can judge and He will. I am giving my response based on the scriptures on his actions and revealing the truth behind the matter. Everyone goes through hard and terrible times in life. That's unavoidable, but how you respond to the bad times reflects upon the authenticity of your relationship with God. "A foolish man gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control" (Proverbs 29:11). As far as the full blown cursing Tonex used in his "dis-record", Ephesians 4:29 clearly states, "don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
I don't know what Tonex is going through, I can't even imagine. However, being the gospel artist and pastor that he is, he knows that he has a high responsibility that he must always be aware of. The bottom line is, we need to PRAY. We need to pray that God gets him through his situation and pray that he gets re-focused on what's most important: giving God the glory. Now is not the time to point the finger, judge or criticize. Just simply pray.....
What Tonex did wasn't good. I'm not judging him because that isn't my place. Only God can judge and He will. I am giving my response based on the scriptures on his actions and revealing the truth behind the matter. Everyone goes through hard and terrible times in life. That's unavoidable, but how you respond to the bad times reflects upon the authenticity of your relationship with God. "A foolish man gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control" (Proverbs 29:11). As far as the full blown cursing Tonex used in his "dis-record", Ephesians 4:29 clearly states, "don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
I don't know what Tonex is going through, I can't even imagine. However, being the gospel artist and pastor that he is, he knows that he has a high responsibility that he must always be aware of. The bottom line is, we need to PRAY. We need to pray that God gets him through his situation and pray that he gets re-focused on what's most important: giving God the glory. Now is not the time to point the finger, judge or criticize. Just simply pray.....
20 June 2007
Justification and the Law
To those of you who believe in just being a good person, this is to give you understanding. I'm not disrespecting you in any way, I'm just trying to help you.
God's law is beautiful, perfectly designed and authored according to His will. Christians are supposed to live according to the laws written in the scriptures, but there is an issue that has to be addressed. We twist the law by transforming its role into a safety net just like what the Galatians did.
Let's clear the air about this right now. The law was never meant to save you. Its original purpose was to show us our flaws. I refer to the law as a mirror. Every time you crack open the Bible, you're unveiling the mirror. What that means is this; when you dive into the law, two reflections should unfold before your eyes. The first reflection is the lawful (Perfection). This image is of one who follows the commandments of God, who walk the narrow path of rightneousness.
The second reflection is of the viewer (you) reading the text in whatever stage you're in. In short, the law shows you your stumbling blocks to help you do one of two things
1). Saved: to realize that you're slipping in an area or areas in your life and that you must continually strive to seek Him. Endure the process because Christ will finish the work He started in us.
2). Unsaved: to get you to realize that you're a sinner. Since you haven't been released from the grip (which comes from giving your life to Christ), you don't have the power; the power to do good (follow the law in the scriptures).
Let's switch gears for a minute.
Justification
The Apostle Paul argued that those who simply rely on the law are under a curse (Galatians 3:10). These people Paul referred to are legalists-those who refuse God's grace and insist on gaining righteousness through works alone. Think about this for a minute. The Galatians had a lot of laws to abide under, but they couldn't. It's almost impossible to keep every law perfectly. They were missing the true ingredient to real righteousness; FAITH. God's blessing of righteousness can't be earned. Why? The answer is it was always freely given. This is where justification comes in.
Justification means God deems us righteous, He acquits us of our guilt on 2 conditions:
1). The grace of Christ that came from His sacrifice
2). The acceptance of Christ by faith.
In other words, because of Christ' sacrifice and our choice to surrender our lives to Christ, God deems us righteous. Therefore validating the fact that righteousness CAN'T BE EARNED, IT'S FREELY GIVEN by what Christ did for us.
The Galatians had good intent (maybe), but their process of righteousness was backwards and ultimately, futile. Don't get it twisted, you do have to work to show that you're righteous (justified), but works are evidence that you have been justified (deemed righteous). Without being justified, your works mean NOTHING.
Well that is the overall view of justification and the law. If that was a lot for you to swallow in one sit, le me make it simple. The law can show you your flaws, but only Christ can save you from your sin. If you have any questions, talk to your pastor, a trusted minister, or your spiritual advisor. If you're amped about studying it, like I was about writing it, do your own research into the book of Galatians. God Bless.
God's law is beautiful, perfectly designed and authored according to His will. Christians are supposed to live according to the laws written in the scriptures, but there is an issue that has to be addressed. We twist the law by transforming its role into a safety net just like what the Galatians did.
Let's clear the air about this right now. The law was never meant to save you. Its original purpose was to show us our flaws. I refer to the law as a mirror. Every time you crack open the Bible, you're unveiling the mirror. What that means is this; when you dive into the law, two reflections should unfold before your eyes. The first reflection is the lawful (Perfection). This image is of one who follows the commandments of God, who walk the narrow path of rightneousness.
The second reflection is of the viewer (you) reading the text in whatever stage you're in. In short, the law shows you your stumbling blocks to help you do one of two things
1). Saved: to realize that you're slipping in an area or areas in your life and that you must continually strive to seek Him. Endure the process because Christ will finish the work He started in us.
2). Unsaved: to get you to realize that you're a sinner. Since you haven't been released from the grip (which comes from giving your life to Christ), you don't have the power; the power to do good (follow the law in the scriptures).
Let's switch gears for a minute.
Justification
The Apostle Paul argued that those who simply rely on the law are under a curse (Galatians 3:10). These people Paul referred to are legalists-those who refuse God's grace and insist on gaining righteousness through works alone. Think about this for a minute. The Galatians had a lot of laws to abide under, but they couldn't. It's almost impossible to keep every law perfectly. They were missing the true ingredient to real righteousness; FAITH. God's blessing of righteousness can't be earned. Why? The answer is it was always freely given. This is where justification comes in.
Justification means God deems us righteous, He acquits us of our guilt on 2 conditions:
1). The grace of Christ that came from His sacrifice
2). The acceptance of Christ by faith.
In other words, because of Christ' sacrifice and our choice to surrender our lives to Christ, God deems us righteous. Therefore validating the fact that righteousness CAN'T BE EARNED, IT'S FREELY GIVEN by what Christ did for us.
The Galatians had good intent (maybe), but their process of righteousness was backwards and ultimately, futile. Don't get it twisted, you do have to work to show that you're righteous (justified), but works are evidence that you have been justified (deemed righteous). Without being justified, your works mean NOTHING.
Well that is the overall view of justification and the law. If that was a lot for you to swallow in one sit, le me make it simple. The law can show you your flaws, but only Christ can save you from your sin. If you have any questions, talk to your pastor, a trusted minister, or your spiritual advisor. If you're amped about studying it, like I was about writing it, do your own research into the book of Galatians. God Bless.
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