When I'm Gone

So my writing has gone down hill for a while because I have been busy and out of inspirational things to write about. Well, something occurred to me today and that is this. If I was on a reality show what would my life look like? If my life were a movie would my character be a good guy or a bad guy? If my life were in fact a novel would my life be a Times best seller or a boring autobiography? The point that I am getting at is this. We all are leaving a legacy of some sort. And we can leave a legacy that is pleasing to God or a legacy that makes a mockery of him. I am not sure if my story would be a top seller or that the reality show would be the most interesting thing on the tube but I know that I want my character to represent Christ. Sometimes that isn't very exciting but sometimes it is a life changer! So, the question is this. What legacy are you leaving behind? What are people going to say about you?

American Idle

Oh man it has been a while since I have posted anything on here! My life has been busy lately with planning summer camp and getting BLAZE stuff all worked out. Anyway, I just wanted to post something that has been on my heart lately and it has to do with the Christians and our dependence on the American government. This probably seems like a political rant that says America stinks and we should not try and change anything! This post has very little to do with America's stinky-ness. It has to do with American Christians dependence on America to change the face of our communities, country and the world. For a long time I have listened to people that talk about politics in a way that somehow politics will change the face of our nation. I have nothing against people trying to change policy or laws in our land that represent the Kingdom but man-made law will only go so far. Let me give one example that is a hot button topic right now. The gay-marriage debate has been raging for a while now. It is important to understand that the Kingdom law will ALWAYS trump the American law. So, Christians should agree that gay-marriage is an oxymoron that is not endorsed by Scripture. With that point established what is the real debate? Is the debate really two homosexual people getting married or is it the fact that those people are disobeying Scripture by engaging in ANY homosexual act? I would argue that the real root of the issue is not the marriage but the homosexual acts themselves. If this is the case then maybe we (Christians) should stop picketing and start loving the people fighting for the right to marry. Not allowing gay-marriage is a cosmetic fix. It doesn't change the fact that homosexual behavior is still running rampant through America. Stopping people from getting married wont stop them from engaging in their sin. With this view we need to stop relying on our American system to change hearts because only God can do that! Let's be like Christ and stop trying to change laws that are only cosmetic fixes and let's live life with the people that are the lowest of the low! The people that are getting picketed against should be some that we consider the lowest. Jesus came for those who need a doctor he didn't come for the healthy. We need to be the vessel in which God uses to reach the hearts of the low! So, maybe instead of engaging in politics we should engage in a personal way to the ones that Jesus came for.

Emotion or Reality?

Sometimes I feel alone. I feel as though my struggle with life is a battle that I fight by myself with the help of no one. I feel as if I were a boy that can't swim stuck in the middle of an ocean like Jonah. The greatest thing though is that when I feel like this I know that it really isn't true. Emotion is not bad but it really messes with what is true. When our emotions get in the way of what we know to be true we need to stick to the Truth that we hold in our minds and hearts. When I feel alone I know that the truth is that Jesus promised to be with his people to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). If I rely on my feelings alone I am going to go crazy because I am an imperfect person trying to live a perfect life. It just doesn't add up. So, let's stop relying our emotions to determine Truth and look to the Bible and stick to the Bible to understand what reality is. So, when I feel alone I know that really I am not. I know that God is with me to the end of the age. And when I feel God isn't "close" I know the Spirit dwells in me. God is good!

America the Beautiful No More

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society....

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security....

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

___________________________________________________________


June will be a great time for us to unite and pray for those caught in sexual sin! I understand how sexual sin is a trap that is easy to fall into but it makes it all too easy when America holds it in high regard. Mr. Obama is trying to create a culture that idealizes sin and that means trouble! America has been in a bad way for a long time but this will be known as the landmark when we "officially" turned our back on the statement "In God We Trust"

Sometimes We Gotta Fight

Yesterday I had the privilege of preaching in the Sunday morning service! It was encouraging to hear all the positive feedback. The title of the message was "Putting the Unity in Community" and it was awesome communicating the heart of God for His people (Philippians 2:1-2). However, today is a new day and God has laid something new on my heart. I have been struggling with my flesh (sinful desires) because I always feel like I am getting pulled by my self to do the wrong thing! It's a daily struggle that Paul seemed to have understood that struggle when he wrote Romans 7. As I was listening to a new album I just purchased I was blessed by a song that featured two rappers named Tedashii and Flame. The song's title is "Make War" and it deals with the fact that everyday is a battle between our redeemed selves and our sinful selves. This battle happens to everyone that walks in the faith so I thought I would try to communicate some ideas on how to fight! I don't have a step by step way of getting rid of sin but hopefully these three must-haves in the Christian's life will help. 1st: Read the Bible. This is the best way to hear God's heart. The Bible is truth wrapped up in words and it should be part of our lives everyday! 2nd: Be a prayer warrior. We need to stay connected with the Father. He loves hearing from his children and we all need someone to talk to and there is really no one better than him! 3rd: Stay in fellowship. Christ showed us the importance of reaching the low and sinful by being with them but he also spent most of his time with his disciples. We need to reach the world but we also need to have a group of people around us who love Christ and who are growing in their faith. Without them it is easy to slip!