2012 has been an eventful year, especially in the world around us. Some events notable enough to look back on were the 2012 Summer Olympics when Michael Phelps broke the record for most medals ever won by an Olympian ('Merica), or Curiosity, a Rover constructed by the Mars Science Laboratory, which successfully landed on Mars in August. Even the tragic events unfortunately made 2012 a year to remember, such as the shootings in Colorado and Connecticut, and the Benghazi attack that killed 4 U.S. diplomats on 9/11.
But nothing compares to the work that God has done, not only in my life, but the lives that I see around me.
I don't think Obama was lying when he said he was going to bring change... it was just the change we weren't expecting. My life has changed so much since 2011. I've gone from the country wannabe kid, that only played basketball, to a man who desires to chase after Jesus. For anyone who doesn't know my past, I've been raised up in church 9 months before I was born. I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 5 years old, but that's only because I saw everyone else doing it, and I didn't really want to go to hell when I died. On a church camp to Colorado in 2008, I finally became awakened to the Gospel, and I understood how powerful and wondrous God really was. I acknowledged it that year, but I didn't really take it to heart, so I went on with my life without really thinking about it much. It wasn't until late 2011, after I gave into some of the world's temptations, when I really became overwhelmed with the presence of God. I finally realized that I wasn't going to be a man until I surrendered my life away. I understood that the true meaning of manhood wasn't having sex or benching the highest weight, but I learned that being a man meant I was willing to say, "I can't do this on my own." In late October, after I saw my best friend Robby get saved, I surrendered to God and said, "I can't do this on my own, I'm handing it over to you." And that's when the change began.
One of my favorite pastors, Mark Driscoll, always says that it is impossible to meet Jesus without changing, and if you haven't changed after meeting Jesus, then you didn't meet the real Jesus. That could not be more truer. I know you can't change that much whenever you're 5 years old, because your innocence has still clouded out your mind of all the pain and brokenness in the world (which I wish I still had), but the difference was that I became awakened to the Gospel, rather than just knowing about the Gospel and accepting it as ultimate truth. When I became awakened, that's when the change began. That's something I really desire to be seen in my peers. Is that they become awakened to the Gospel, rather than just seeing it. Whenever you just see the Gospel, you are still prone to attacks from Satan which can steer your vision off of it, but when you become awakened, and place Jesus on your foothold, and allow him to be your foundation, is when you can't be shaken. Satan has no power against a person who has been awakened to the Gospel.
Being awakened to the Gospel is easy. It's when you finally realize that, not only that you don't have to do anything, but when you realize that you can't do anything. Jesus says it clearly, and it's so simple for us to overlook. "It is finished." Done. Over. Complete. Whole. Finished. He already conquered the grave, so that you could do so as well.
Here's to 2012. The year where I became a man. The year where the Gospel began to move in my life. The year when I became awakened to the Gospel. But most importantly, the year when I finally began to walk with Jesus, hand in hand. It's amazing to know that he was always there waiting for me. He never changed.
With that said, let me share with you one of my favorite Psalms to usher in the new year, 2013. This Psalm speaks of a person who continues to have confidence in God in the midst of a crisis. The psalmist writes it so beautifully.
Psalm 77
I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and He will hear me.
I sought the Lord in my day of trouble.
My hands were continually lifted up
all night long:
I refused to be comforted.
I think of God; I groan;
I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.
You have kept me from closing my eyes;
I am troubled and cannot speak.
I consider the days of old
years long past.
At night I remember
my music;
I meditated in my heart,
and my spirit ponders.
Will the Lord reject forever
and never again show favor?
Has His faithful love ceased forever?
Is His promise at an end
for all generations?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger
withheld His compassion?
So I say, "I am grieved
that the right hand of the Most High
has changed."
I will remember the Lord's works;
yes; I will remember
Your ancient wonders.
I will reflect on all You have done
and meditate on Your actions.
God, Your way is holy.
What god is great like God?
You are the God
who works wonders;
You revealed Your strength
among the peoples.
With power You redeemed Your people
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw You, God
The waters saw You; they trembled.
Even the depths shook.
The clouds poured down water.
The storm clouds thundered;
Your arrows flashed back and forth.
The sound of Your thunder was
in the whirlwind;
lightning lit up the world.
The earth shook and quaked.
Your way went through the sea
and Your path through
the great waters,
but Your footprints were unseen.
You led Your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Here's to 2013. Bless this year for all of us, God.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
I'm As Guilty As The Connecticut Shooter.
27 dead. 18 children. It's a hard pill to swallow isn't it? It leaves a lot of unanswered questions doesn't it? Why did this happen? What is wrong with people? Who in the right mind would do this? Probably, the biggest one that I could think of is, why to bad things happen in general? It's a tough one. Why do bad things happen? There are a lot of reasons why specific things happen, but why to bad things in general happen? Why do hurricanes destroy thousands of homes? Why does cancer have to kill millions of people a year? Why does a person believe he has the right to run into an elementary school and start shooting children and teacher? I thought about it all day. It wasn't until I drove home and realized a couple things about it. I'll share with you what I came about on my way home.
A quote reminded me of tragedies, and why they happened. I really wish I came up with it, but nonetheless, this quote is from Billy Graham's daughter, who was being interviewed by Bryant Gumbel on the Today Show in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Her response is beautiful. Here it is.
Gumbel: "Why didn't God stop this or do something about this?"
Her response: "For years we have told God we didn't want him in our schools. We told him we didn't want him in our government, in our finances. God was just being a perfect gentleman in doing just as we asked him to do. We need to make up our mind. Do we want God or do we not want God? We cannot just ask for him when disaster strikes."
Wow. Talk about a bold statement. She went on and said that on national television in front of millions of people. It's 100% true though. How can we expect God to show up in our lives if we keep asking him to stay away? The beauty of God is that he has given us free will. He gave us a choice, do we want him in our lives or do we not? I understand the reluctance in letting something that you've never seen control your life. I thought about it for years, and lemme tell ya, it's a much better journey than anything I could create. I've met amazing friends, built amazing relationships, and seen people change. It was beautiful. It was by far the best decision I have ever made. But there are somethings that I have still yet to overcome, and one of those is not spreading the love that the Father has shown me. I think a lot of us struggle with that. It's hard to do sometimes, and rejection is tough. Think about it though, if someone would have displayed the love that our God displayed to the shooter, then all of those innocent lives would have been saved. That's something in the past year I have vowed to do. Your words are a lot more than you think they are. Love on people. You could save a life.
A lot of people who doubt the existence of God ask me, "Matt, if a loving, all-controlling God exists, why is it such an evil world that we live in?" The immediate response is easy: Satan. But of course, I have the need to elaborate more on that. In Genesis, the fall of man came about when the serpent entered the garden of Eden. Here, we see sin first introduced into the world. Not only did Satan bring sin into the world, but he saturated sin within the hearts, souls, and minds of man. The reason why we hate each other, gossip each other, and lust over each other is sin. Sin is evil and, because sin is in our hearts, we are evil. We are an evil race. We are filthy, filthy people. It's a hard pill to swallow, but we really are evil. We lie, we cheat, we lust, we hate, we curse... we're just bad. If God were to eliminate all the sin in the world, wouldn't that include us? How far do we stop? Do we stop at lying, or murdering, or even to the smallest things as our thoughts? But here's a twist that you weren't expecting, we deserve every bit of wrath, power, and strength that God has. We deserve to be swept off the Earth. We deserve to die. You might be saying, "Well, this sucks. What's the point of living if we're just going to die?" Just wait, the story gets better. So, in conclusion, if God were to eliminate all the evil from the planet, then that would include us. We would be gone in a heartbeat. Especially me.
I could easily sit here and bash on society and how corrupt it is. That would be the easy road though. It would also be a bit hypocritical of me too, because I'm apart of society, and I've given into what society has told me. Let me tell you about my Savior. He is amazing. There aren't enough words for me to describe how amazing he is. Let me tell you about myself. I suck. I'm a screw up. I'm just as guilty as the Connecticut shooter. I deserve the same punishment as him. If you have seen my parking spot at school, I have Galatians 2:20 painted on it. It isn't just one of those verse that I just opened up and said, "Oooo! That sounds fancy, I'll paint that and it'll make me look all Christian." No, it's much more different than that. Every time I drive into my spot in the morning, it reminds me that I'm not the one living. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but he who lives in me." How awesome is it to believe that we don't have to labor anymore? It is no longer I who live, but HE LIVES IN ME. He is the one working in me. He is the one controlling my every step. I don't have to do anything, I can't do anything. All I have to do is just let him do it.
You may have come across my blog confused. Who is Jesus? Who did he save? Why did he do it? This is where the story gets better. Jesus traded perfection for brokenness, holiness for dirt, bliss for blisters, heaven for earth, goodness for sin. He traded my sin, your sin, and our sin, for his perfection. He did it because he loves us. It's as simple as that. How great is the love of the Father that destroyed the sting of death. Because of Jesus, I don't have to fear death. I have overcome the grave because he has overcome the grave. I get to spend eternity with him, because he suffered for me. He suffered for you also, but he also gave you a choice.
One of my favorite passage in the Gospels is found in Luke 23:39-43. When Jesus was crucified, he wasn't alone. He was crucified between two criminals who did wrong. These criminals are you and me, but they couldn't have been different. Here's what it reads:
"Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Jesus: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other answered, rebuking him: "Don't you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we're getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done NOTHING wrong." Then he said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom!" And Jesus said to him, "I assure you: Today you will be with me in paradise."
You and me are like these two criminals. Either we can say, "Aren't you God? Prove to me that your God by stopping this!" or we can say, "Father, forgive me. Remember me. I did wrong. I deserve this death. You don't deserve this. Please, take control of my life. You deserve it, since you gave your life for me." I think we both know what the better response is. I'm asking you to join me today, in Heaven. Become apart of my Lord's kingdom. If you have any questions on what else you can do, just message me. I'm here for you, and I want to help you come and be apart of this kingdom. It'll change your life. It changed mine beyond belief.
Paradise. Amazing isn't it?
A quote reminded me of tragedies, and why they happened. I really wish I came up with it, but nonetheless, this quote is from Billy Graham's daughter, who was being interviewed by Bryant Gumbel on the Today Show in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Her response is beautiful. Here it is.
Gumbel: "Why didn't God stop this or do something about this?"
Her response: "For years we have told God we didn't want him in our schools. We told him we didn't want him in our government, in our finances. God was just being a perfect gentleman in doing just as we asked him to do. We need to make up our mind. Do we want God or do we not want God? We cannot just ask for him when disaster strikes."
Wow. Talk about a bold statement. She went on and said that on national television in front of millions of people. It's 100% true though. How can we expect God to show up in our lives if we keep asking him to stay away? The beauty of God is that he has given us free will. He gave us a choice, do we want him in our lives or do we not? I understand the reluctance in letting something that you've never seen control your life. I thought about it for years, and lemme tell ya, it's a much better journey than anything I could create. I've met amazing friends, built amazing relationships, and seen people change. It was beautiful. It was by far the best decision I have ever made. But there are somethings that I have still yet to overcome, and one of those is not spreading the love that the Father has shown me. I think a lot of us struggle with that. It's hard to do sometimes, and rejection is tough. Think about it though, if someone would have displayed the love that our God displayed to the shooter, then all of those innocent lives would have been saved. That's something in the past year I have vowed to do. Your words are a lot more than you think they are. Love on people. You could save a life.
A lot of people who doubt the existence of God ask me, "Matt, if a loving, all-controlling God exists, why is it such an evil world that we live in?" The immediate response is easy: Satan. But of course, I have the need to elaborate more on that. In Genesis, the fall of man came about when the serpent entered the garden of Eden. Here, we see sin first introduced into the world. Not only did Satan bring sin into the world, but he saturated sin within the hearts, souls, and minds of man. The reason why we hate each other, gossip each other, and lust over each other is sin. Sin is evil and, because sin is in our hearts, we are evil. We are an evil race. We are filthy, filthy people. It's a hard pill to swallow, but we really are evil. We lie, we cheat, we lust, we hate, we curse... we're just bad. If God were to eliminate all the sin in the world, wouldn't that include us? How far do we stop? Do we stop at lying, or murdering, or even to the smallest things as our thoughts? But here's a twist that you weren't expecting, we deserve every bit of wrath, power, and strength that God has. We deserve to be swept off the Earth. We deserve to die. You might be saying, "Well, this sucks. What's the point of living if we're just going to die?" Just wait, the story gets better. So, in conclusion, if God were to eliminate all the evil from the planet, then that would include us. We would be gone in a heartbeat. Especially me.
I could easily sit here and bash on society and how corrupt it is. That would be the easy road though. It would also be a bit hypocritical of me too, because I'm apart of society, and I've given into what society has told me. Let me tell you about my Savior. He is amazing. There aren't enough words for me to describe how amazing he is. Let me tell you about myself. I suck. I'm a screw up. I'm just as guilty as the Connecticut shooter. I deserve the same punishment as him. If you have seen my parking spot at school, I have Galatians 2:20 painted on it. It isn't just one of those verse that I just opened up and said, "Oooo! That sounds fancy, I'll paint that and it'll make me look all Christian." No, it's much more different than that. Every time I drive into my spot in the morning, it reminds me that I'm not the one living. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but he who lives in me." How awesome is it to believe that we don't have to labor anymore? It is no longer I who live, but HE LIVES IN ME. He is the one working in me. He is the one controlling my every step. I don't have to do anything, I can't do anything. All I have to do is just let him do it.
You may have come across my blog confused. Who is Jesus? Who did he save? Why did he do it? This is where the story gets better. Jesus traded perfection for brokenness, holiness for dirt, bliss for blisters, heaven for earth, goodness for sin. He traded my sin, your sin, and our sin, for his perfection. He did it because he loves us. It's as simple as that. How great is the love of the Father that destroyed the sting of death. Because of Jesus, I don't have to fear death. I have overcome the grave because he has overcome the grave. I get to spend eternity with him, because he suffered for me. He suffered for you also, but he also gave you a choice.
One of my favorite passage in the Gospels is found in Luke 23:39-43. When Jesus was crucified, he wasn't alone. He was crucified between two criminals who did wrong. These criminals are you and me, but they couldn't have been different. Here's what it reads:
"Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Jesus: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other answered, rebuking him: "Don't you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we're getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done NOTHING wrong." Then he said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom!" And Jesus said to him, "I assure you: Today you will be with me in paradise."
You and me are like these two criminals. Either we can say, "Aren't you God? Prove to me that your God by stopping this!" or we can say, "Father, forgive me. Remember me. I did wrong. I deserve this death. You don't deserve this. Please, take control of my life. You deserve it, since you gave your life for me." I think we both know what the better response is. I'm asking you to join me today, in Heaven. Become apart of my Lord's kingdom. If you have any questions on what else you can do, just message me. I'm here for you, and I want to help you come and be apart of this kingdom. It'll change your life. It changed mine beyond belief.
Paradise. Amazing isn't it?
Thursday, December 6, 2012
This Is Your Life. Are You Who You Want To Be?
It's a simple question. What do you want to do with your life? What do you desire? It's the question that all of us have been asked ever since we could remember, what do you want to be when you grow up?
With me being an AP student, a lot of my friends that I talk to in my classes aspire to be doctors, or lawyers, or engineers. Don't get me wrong, our society needs people like these, but what should our driving factor be in deciding what we want to be? Is it the atmosphere? The people? Or is it the pay? Sadly, not enough of us do what we want to do because it doesn't pay enough. I'll talk about myself for a little bit. Ever since I was in middle school, I've wanted to write. I have journals full of ideas for novels, and different topics to write about, but what's holding me back? There are a multitude of ideas. Maybe I'm afraid of criticism? Will it be good enough? But the main reason why I don't think I could make it as a writer is because I could make enough money from my publishings. Now, I do have dreams to fall back on, but are they really my desire?
Let me take some time to brag on my best friend, Robby Kennedy. Me and Robby have known each other pretty well since freshmen year. Ironically enough, the first time we met was when we we're doing a study over a section of the Bible during English class. Robby started going to church with me the summer between our sophomore and junior year. Eventually, he gave his life to Christ in October of our junior year. Now, God has worked in both me and Robby's lives in unimaginable ways, and I still remember the day when both of us were planning on building a church together where I would be the head pastor while he ran the youth program. Times have changed, and the Lord has worked on my heart more, but Robby's dreams have stayed the same. But he's not doing it for the money. The money has no purpose in his desires, and I love that.
What I'm really trying to get at here is, are you going into a certain job field because that's what you want to do, or is it because that's what would make your parents proud, or where you can make a lot of money? You do what you want to do with your life. The Lord has placed certain talents, desires, and interests on each of our hearts, and if you're following him, there's no doubt that you will be happy. If money wasn't a factor in your decision, what would you want to do? What would you be? I know SO many kids my age who would love to become a teacher, but they can't because they know it wouldn't be enough pay. I know SO many kids my age who would love to be missionaries or pastors, but they're reluctant to do that.
The Lord has placed a desire in my heart to enter the field of science. Nothing makes me more excited then when I walk into chemistry and see that we're doing a lab that day. People need as much help as we can get, and my dreams entail on developing low-cost drugs and immunizations that can be easily bought by African countries to supply out to their citizens living in poverty. Malaria and sickle cell anemia are no match for what the Lord can work in me. Now, maybe someday that will change? I don't know what my path looks like, but I know that I'll be making the Lord smile with whatever I'm doing. But I just see this huge need a man of God in the field of science, because faith in science can mix! No one is bold enough to do it though, and I think God has given me a purpose that seems impossible, but is completely possible with the power of the Holy Spirit. Maybe I'll publish a couple dozen books along the way also...
But what I'm trying to say here is, do what you want to do. If you want to write, then go write. If you want to go teach, then go teach. If you want to go preach, then go preach. If you want to go into third world countries and change their lives, then by all means, don't let money get into the way of pursuing the dreams that you have for your life and the purpose that God has laid ahead of you. Don't spend the rest of your life making money doing something you don't like to continue onto doing something you don't like. That'd be silly now wouldn't it?
What I like to say is the ones who are crazy enough to believe that they can change the world, are the ones who actually do it. So go. Get crazy. Change the world. And love your life.
Happiness > Money
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Your Body is a Temple.
All over Facebook, I see all these girls ranting over how they all wished they were a Victoria Secret model, and all the guys lusting over the models. In wake of the fashion show, I just want to give a word of encouragement to the ladies, and some critical criticism to the fellas. So, here we go...
First off, I would like to put out the fact that is obvious to all human beings with fully functioning eyeballs. These models are beautiful women, yes, but that's only reflecting their outer image. But does that really matter when we get down to the end of our lives? We see in Ecclesiastes, Solomon (if you don't know the history behind Solomon, he was the wisest man that ever walked the Earth. He was super rich, and had all the girls and parties you could ask for. This guy was living the "American Dream" back in Biblical times), expressing the continuance of how "all is vanity" (Ecc. 1:2) and he also adds that, "[he] has seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after the wind." (Ecc. 1:14) Anything that we could gain in this world, other than relationships with people and Jesus, will eventually go to waste whenever we die and enter into eternity. All the money, cars, clothes, houses, hot bodies, muscles, etc. Gone. None of this stuff really matters in the end, so why do we worry about it so much? Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying any of these things are bad. I love my nice blazer and my new car as much as the next guy, but whenever we start having a sick obsession over these things, or begin to boast about it, is when it begins to be a problem. This is a silent disease known as "materialism" that has become so prominent in the world today, especially in the United States.
What is there to worry about in the end anyways? Why do we live if it's not all about gaining money and cars? There are just a handful of things that will carry on into eternity. Now, I may not know of this for sure, but I'm pretty certain of it. The first of these is our mind, concerning knowledge and wisdom. The funny thing about knowledge is that once you know something, you can't un-know it. There is no digressing when it comes to what we can do with our minds. Why do you think elderly people know so much? It's really simple. It's because they're old! Life is the best textbook. Experiences can never match up to something that you could read in some book. Now, assuming that they do not have Alzheimer's (which is coming very, very close to a cure, not many people realize it yet though), elderly folks are the smartest and wisest people around. The best part about that is that it carries into eternity. You'll just be seeing everything through holistic eyes and it will all make more sense to you.
Another thing which will most definitely carry into eternity is your heart. I could do a whole post about how our hearts and how love will carry out (heck, I could even write a book about our hearts). Our hearts are the most important thing. I'm talking about your figurative heart, not your physical heart. (Because really, you're physical mind is much more important than your physical heart, because your brain tells your heart to pump, but that's besides the point) From which your heart, all else flows. Why do you think Solomon in Proverbs says to above all guard your heart? It's because it's the most essential aspect of you being you! Your heart has ZERO reflection on what your outward appearance says. Let's take the monster from Frankenstein as an example. Before he turned into this monstrous creature who killed all of Frankenstein's family, his heart was pure and clean, while still his outward appearance was ugly. Compassion, love, passion, desire, care, kindness, self-control, gentleness, goodness, etc., all flow from your heart! Your heart is what shows your true character, and there is nothing more important than having a good character. Plus, it makes it an infinite amount of times better if Jesus is dwelling within your heart.
Now for some words of encouragement for the ladies. You're beautiful. You were made for a specific reason with a specific plan for a specific purpose. Nothing is more beautiful than that. You are a daughter of God, and Jesus bought you with the highest price, death. Be content with who you are! Read Proverbs 31, and strive to be the women of God described in the Scripture. Having a perfect figure, or a perfect face, won't matter when it comes down to the end of your days. I guarantee you that you won't look the same than you do now when you're 80 years old. Never stop working on your heart. A man who will honestly love you for you will fall for you because of your heart, not your looks. My girlfriend is so beautiful, and I love how beautiful she is, but I am so in love with her heart. A man who fell in love with you for your heart would never, in the right mind, would break the sole thing that he fell in love with. That works out pretty well if you ask me, and I'm a dude.
Fellas, I realize that lust is something that is hard to conquer, but we can't keep falling into the same hole over and over again. A man returning to his folly is like a dog returning to his own puke. I don't think any of us will ever say we have 100% conquered lust, but we have to learn to control it. Start with your perspective. Rather than looking at a girl and lusting, begin to look at the girl as the sister in Christ that she is and recognize her as a beautiful woman of God that she is. It's tough to do, and it took me years to control, but let me tell ya, life is a lot easier when you have the steering wheel in full command. The most beautiful girls have the most beautiful hearts. Look how they treat people, and how much they love the Lord. A girl's heart is truly exposed whenever they are worshipping, and serving. Fall in love with that, rather than just a pretty face. Look for the beautiful soul, rather than a pretty body. A girl with a pure heart and a pure soul isn't going to want to break your heart. I'm a guy, and that's working pretty well for me. Don't focus so much on being the biggest, manliest guy out their either. Someday those muscles will fade into flab. Work on your heart, and it'll take you places.
And one other thing...
Real angels have much more beautiful bodies than those Victoria Secret models.
First off, I would like to put out the fact that is obvious to all human beings with fully functioning eyeballs. These models are beautiful women, yes, but that's only reflecting their outer image. But does that really matter when we get down to the end of our lives? We see in Ecclesiastes, Solomon (if you don't know the history behind Solomon, he was the wisest man that ever walked the Earth. He was super rich, and had all the girls and parties you could ask for. This guy was living the "American Dream" back in Biblical times), expressing the continuance of how "all is vanity" (Ecc. 1:2) and he also adds that, "[he] has seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after the wind." (Ecc. 1:14) Anything that we could gain in this world, other than relationships with people and Jesus, will eventually go to waste whenever we die and enter into eternity. All the money, cars, clothes, houses, hot bodies, muscles, etc. Gone. None of this stuff really matters in the end, so why do we worry about it so much? Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying any of these things are bad. I love my nice blazer and my new car as much as the next guy, but whenever we start having a sick obsession over these things, or begin to boast about it, is when it begins to be a problem. This is a silent disease known as "materialism" that has become so prominent in the world today, especially in the United States.
What is there to worry about in the end anyways? Why do we live if it's not all about gaining money and cars? There are just a handful of things that will carry on into eternity. Now, I may not know of this for sure, but I'm pretty certain of it. The first of these is our mind, concerning knowledge and wisdom. The funny thing about knowledge is that once you know something, you can't un-know it. There is no digressing when it comes to what we can do with our minds. Why do you think elderly people know so much? It's really simple. It's because they're old! Life is the best textbook. Experiences can never match up to something that you could read in some book. Now, assuming that they do not have Alzheimer's (which is coming very, very close to a cure, not many people realize it yet though), elderly folks are the smartest and wisest people around. The best part about that is that it carries into eternity. You'll just be seeing everything through holistic eyes and it will all make more sense to you.
Another thing which will most definitely carry into eternity is your heart. I could do a whole post about how our hearts and how love will carry out (heck, I could even write a book about our hearts). Our hearts are the most important thing. I'm talking about your figurative heart, not your physical heart. (Because really, you're physical mind is much more important than your physical heart, because your brain tells your heart to pump, but that's besides the point) From which your heart, all else flows. Why do you think Solomon in Proverbs says to above all guard your heart? It's because it's the most essential aspect of you being you! Your heart has ZERO reflection on what your outward appearance says. Let's take the monster from Frankenstein as an example. Before he turned into this monstrous creature who killed all of Frankenstein's family, his heart was pure and clean, while still his outward appearance was ugly. Compassion, love, passion, desire, care, kindness, self-control, gentleness, goodness, etc., all flow from your heart! Your heart is what shows your true character, and there is nothing more important than having a good character. Plus, it makes it an infinite amount of times better if Jesus is dwelling within your heart.
Now for some words of encouragement for the ladies. You're beautiful. You were made for a specific reason with a specific plan for a specific purpose. Nothing is more beautiful than that. You are a daughter of God, and Jesus bought you with the highest price, death. Be content with who you are! Read Proverbs 31, and strive to be the women of God described in the Scripture. Having a perfect figure, or a perfect face, won't matter when it comes down to the end of your days. I guarantee you that you won't look the same than you do now when you're 80 years old. Never stop working on your heart. A man who will honestly love you for you will fall for you because of your heart, not your looks. My girlfriend is so beautiful, and I love how beautiful she is, but I am so in love with her heart. A man who fell in love with you for your heart would never, in the right mind, would break the sole thing that he fell in love with. That works out pretty well if you ask me, and I'm a dude.
Fellas, I realize that lust is something that is hard to conquer, but we can't keep falling into the same hole over and over again. A man returning to his folly is like a dog returning to his own puke. I don't think any of us will ever say we have 100% conquered lust, but we have to learn to control it. Start with your perspective. Rather than looking at a girl and lusting, begin to look at the girl as the sister in Christ that she is and recognize her as a beautiful woman of God that she is. It's tough to do, and it took me years to control, but let me tell ya, life is a lot easier when you have the steering wheel in full command. The most beautiful girls have the most beautiful hearts. Look how they treat people, and how much they love the Lord. A girl's heart is truly exposed whenever they are worshipping, and serving. Fall in love with that, rather than just a pretty face. Look for the beautiful soul, rather than a pretty body. A girl with a pure heart and a pure soul isn't going to want to break your heart. I'm a guy, and that's working pretty well for me. Don't focus so much on being the biggest, manliest guy out their either. Someday those muscles will fade into flab. Work on your heart, and it'll take you places.
And one other thing...
Real angels have much more beautiful bodies than those Victoria Secret models.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Rend the Blindfold?
Let me take a moment to explain to you the meaning behind this title. Don't worry, you're not alone. I was also confused when I first saw the word "rend."
When I first became introduced with the word "rend," I attended the Rock and Worship Roadshow in the Spring of 2012. Usually when I go to these huge concerts, I have no interest in the bands who open, but one band caught my eye, the Rend Collective Experiment. A couple things stood out to me. First of all, due to my nerdiness, seeing that a band would put the word "experiment" into their name already made me interested. As they played their folkish, Scottish, bagpipe music, I fell in love. I began listening to them periodically, not even paying attention to the name, and what it meant.
One day, I had a sudden realization... I had NO idea what the word "rend" meant. I guess I just overlooked it because it was such a small word, but I just had to look up the definition. I was amazed when I read it. According to my pals Merriam and Webster, the definition of "rend" is "to remove from place by violence" or "to split or tear apart in pieces violently."
Such a small word... but such a huge meaning.
After I looked up the definition of this word, I just had to see what the Word had to do with this word. I searched the word "rend" in the ESV and I came up with 2 results.
"Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence" - Isaiah 64:1
"and rend your hearts, not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster." - Joel 2:13
How much more meaning do these verses convey just after learning the definition of a new word? I see the verse in Isaiah prophecing what happened to the veil when Jesus shed his blood. To think that the veil separating man from God was rended. The veil was split, and torn apart into pieces violently.
I often forget that Jesus's punishment was violent. It was painful. I couldn't imagine watching it. But because of his violent death, the veil that hindered us from God was torn away, violently. The temple was torn into pieces, violently. I wouldn't have been surprised if the Earth's axis decreases by a couple degrees when Jesus took his last breathe. This is so key though. We now have this opportunity to enter into the Lord's presence daily, but when the veil was up, only one man in the entire world was able to enter into his presence. It's nice knowing I serve a God who wants me to get to know him, and just sit at his feet.
This is getting back to the affect I want this blog to have though. Not only is it a way for me to have an outlet from the toil of the day, but also I want people to take off their blindfold. Not only to take off their blindfold, but to rend their blindfold; to tear it into pieces with violence. I desire for the people of my generation to see the truth of this world. The only genuine truth that I have found in my 17 years of existence is Jesus. He is the ultimate truth. His Word is truth. When Jesus came down to this Earth 2,000 years ago, he, being the truth, put on the flesh of man, and walked this world as a living, breathing truth that you could actually touch and have conversation with! He is the only truth. Everything that we see is made by him, and for him.
Rend the blindfold. Tear it into pieces, and look Jesus in the face. He's ready to embrace you. All you have to do is take off the blindfold, and run into his arms. He's not a translucent God. His desire is to hear from his children. He cares so much about you, that he would give his life for you. Talk to him tonight.
Veritas Curat: The Truth Cures.
When I first became introduced with the word "rend," I attended the Rock and Worship Roadshow in the Spring of 2012. Usually when I go to these huge concerts, I have no interest in the bands who open, but one band caught my eye, the Rend Collective Experiment. A couple things stood out to me. First of all, due to my nerdiness, seeing that a band would put the word "experiment" into their name already made me interested. As they played their folkish, Scottish, bagpipe music, I fell in love. I began listening to them periodically, not even paying attention to the name, and what it meant.
One day, I had a sudden realization... I had NO idea what the word "rend" meant. I guess I just overlooked it because it was such a small word, but I just had to look up the definition. I was amazed when I read it. According to my pals Merriam and Webster, the definition of "rend" is "to remove from place by violence" or "to split or tear apart in pieces violently."
Such a small word... but such a huge meaning.
After I looked up the definition of this word, I just had to see what the Word had to do with this word. I searched the word "rend" in the ESV and I came up with 2 results.
"Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence" - Isaiah 64:1
"and rend your hearts, not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster." - Joel 2:13
How much more meaning do these verses convey just after learning the definition of a new word? I see the verse in Isaiah prophecing what happened to the veil when Jesus shed his blood. To think that the veil separating man from God was rended. The veil was split, and torn apart into pieces violently.
I often forget that Jesus's punishment was violent. It was painful. I couldn't imagine watching it. But because of his violent death, the veil that hindered us from God was torn away, violently. The temple was torn into pieces, violently. I wouldn't have been surprised if the Earth's axis decreases by a couple degrees when Jesus took his last breathe. This is so key though. We now have this opportunity to enter into the Lord's presence daily, but when the veil was up, only one man in the entire world was able to enter into his presence. It's nice knowing I serve a God who wants me to get to know him, and just sit at his feet.
This is getting back to the affect I want this blog to have though. Not only is it a way for me to have an outlet from the toil of the day, but also I want people to take off their blindfold. Not only to take off their blindfold, but to rend their blindfold; to tear it into pieces with violence. I desire for the people of my generation to see the truth of this world. The only genuine truth that I have found in my 17 years of existence is Jesus. He is the ultimate truth. His Word is truth. When Jesus came down to this Earth 2,000 years ago, he, being the truth, put on the flesh of man, and walked this world as a living, breathing truth that you could actually touch and have conversation with! He is the only truth. Everything that we see is made by him, and for him.
Rend the blindfold. Tear it into pieces, and look Jesus in the face. He's ready to embrace you. All you have to do is take off the blindfold, and run into his arms. He's not a translucent God. His desire is to hear from his children. He cares so much about you, that he would give his life for you. Talk to him tonight.
Veritas Curat: The Truth Cures.
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