lately, as i've begun to realize that my ministry in life is to reach out to the non-believers and to a generation of youth who is surrounded by sex, drugs and evil. i love that God is using/is going to be using me to do His work. this excites me.
one thing that i have been playing over and over in my mind is "how do i explain that Jesus did die for us and that we will be risen to our Heavenly Creator as well?" God has been telling me to read 1 Corinthians 15. so this morning i cracked my duct tape Bible and began reading. my question was answered so quickly!
1 Corinthians 15:12-17 reads like this...
"Now since we preached that Christ was raised from the dead, why do some of you say that people will not be raised from the dead? If no one is ever raised from the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is worth nothing. And also, we are guilty of lying about God, because we testified of him that he raised Christ from the dead. but if people are not raised from the dead, then God never raised Christ. If the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raise, then your fatih has nothing to it; you are still guilty of your sins."
now, i'm trying not to buy into a logical explanation of God and Christ. however, this makes absolute sense! think about! Our faith and salvation revolves around Christ dying on the cross, bearing all of our sin, and rising to Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father! If Christ didn't exist or if He wasn't raised our whole foundation would be null and void!
earlier in 1 Corinthians 15, paul writes that Jesus was seen by peter and the 12 apostles, then by 500+ believers and then by james and then by himself. remember thomas? Jesus told him to put his finger in the nail holes and the spear hole in his side! hundreds and hundreds saw Christ after His resurrection! and we know that Christ did die, for the Bible tells us so. we know that He was buried in a rich man's tomb! all of this is in the scriptures!
therefore, we can safely say that, as believers, we will be raised after our death to be with our Heavenly Father as well!!!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
it's all about me...
...or is it?! this weekend i had a nice drive to tucson and all of which took place before noon. as i was heading down the I-10 through ahwatukee, i could help but notice a number of billboards that said "it's all about you", "we're here for you", or "shortcut to the good life". while i was reading these billboards, i was listening to a john piper sermon and he was preaching that life is NOT about us, but for the glory of God.
how oxymoronic!
anyways, this has weighed heavily upon me the past three days and i can't help but become disturbed that we feel there is a "shortcut to the good life" or that we "deserve" worldly goods, just because we live here on earth. i have found that in these times (not just bad, but good economic times of recent) that we have become extremely selfish. and it is interesting that the bad economic times that have come as a result of selfishness and greed, is also everybody elses fault and not mine.
what is selfishness? by definition it is, "The quality or state of being selfish; exclusive regard to one's own interest or happiness; that supreme self-love or self-preference which leads a person to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interest, power, or happiness, without regarding those of others."
God DOES NOT call us to this sort of life. no where in the Bible does God say, "keep to yourself, promote yourself, live for yourself, do as you want to do!" but the ways of the world, the advertisements, the self-help books, the talk shows are all about how to achieve the life that WE want! to be happy with OURSELVES! to find OUR purpose in life! this is the complete antithesis of God's plan for us.
think about it!
in james 3:16-18, it is stated:
"Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living."
how oxymoronic!
anyways, this has weighed heavily upon me the past three days and i can't help but become disturbed that we feel there is a "shortcut to the good life" or that we "deserve" worldly goods, just because we live here on earth. i have found that in these times (not just bad, but good economic times of recent) that we have become extremely selfish. and it is interesting that the bad economic times that have come as a result of selfishness and greed, is also everybody elses fault and not mine.
what is selfishness? by definition it is, "The quality or state of being selfish; exclusive regard to one's own interest or happiness; that supreme self-love or self-preference which leads a person to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interest, power, or happiness, without regarding those of others."
God DOES NOT call us to this sort of life. no where in the Bible does God say, "keep to yourself, promote yourself, live for yourself, do as you want to do!" but the ways of the world, the advertisements, the self-help books, the talk shows are all about how to achieve the life that WE want! to be happy with OURSELVES! to find OUR purpose in life! this is the complete antithesis of God's plan for us.
think about it!
in james 3:16-18, it is stated:
"Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
i can't say this any better...
i was thinking about what to write this morning...but after listening to this, i could not help but realize that i cannot say it any better...
this is from john piper...a pastor who i have been listening to recently and i'm amazed at his passion and his compassion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-WZslRmfJU
this is from john piper...a pastor who i have been listening to recently and i'm amazed at his passion and his compassion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-WZslRmfJU
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
persecution...
so today i saw a video that i found quite disturbing...i won't go into the details of the video, because i think that on the whole the topic of the video was irrelevant. but what i found so disturbing was the train of thought one person had with regards to the christian faith. even further there was a post by a person in response to the video who believed that christians are "ignorant" and believe in "archaic" ways of thinking.
as a christian, this infuriates me. i find it so disturbing that society is constantly trying to remove God and faith from nearly every aspect of living. WHY!? so i decided that the comments from the video and post lead me to read about the persecution of christians.
and then i came across this...1 corinthians 4:12-13
"We work hard with our hands for our food. When they hurt us, we put up with it. When they tell evil lies about us, we speak nice words about them. Even today, we are treated as though we were the garbage of the world - the filth of the earth."
as christians we have been persecuted since long before Jesus' death on the cross. but through time we have always stood strong in the belief that Christ will come again and lift us up to heaven.
but as i see the world now, there are the beginnings of a serious chasm in society. there seems to be less and less of a middle ground. believers are becoming stronger in their faith. and non-believers are becoming strong in their ways. so what are we to do?!
2 corinthians 6:1-10 states...
"We are workers together with God, so we beg you: Do not let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. God says, 'At the right time I heard your prayers. On the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you that the 'right time' is now, and the 'day of salvation' is now. We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so nothing we do will be a problem for anyone. But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything. Some people honor us, but others blame us. Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. We are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but we continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed. We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything."
i know that is a lot of reading. but God tells us to go out and produce fruit. as a new generation of kids are coming into this world we must reach out to them and help reshape the future of this world.
nobody has to be lost forever, but as christians we have the blessed, unavoidable and difficult task to face people who will mock us, throw "stones" at us and try to discount us.
as a christian, this infuriates me. i find it so disturbing that society is constantly trying to remove God and faith from nearly every aspect of living. WHY!? so i decided that the comments from the video and post lead me to read about the persecution of christians.
and then i came across this...1 corinthians 4:12-13
"We work hard with our hands for our food. When they hurt us, we put up with it. When they tell evil lies about us, we speak nice words about them. Even today, we are treated as though we were the garbage of the world - the filth of the earth."
as christians we have been persecuted since long before Jesus' death on the cross. but through time we have always stood strong in the belief that Christ will come again and lift us up to heaven.
but as i see the world now, there are the beginnings of a serious chasm in society. there seems to be less and less of a middle ground. believers are becoming stronger in their faith. and non-believers are becoming strong in their ways. so what are we to do?!
2 corinthians 6:1-10 states...
"We are workers together with God, so we beg you: Do not let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. God says, 'At the right time I heard your prayers. On the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you that the 'right time' is now, and the 'day of salvation' is now. We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so nothing we do will be a problem for anyone. But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything. Some people honor us, but others blame us. Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. We are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but we continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed. We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything."
i know that is a lot of reading. but God tells us to go out and produce fruit. as a new generation of kids are coming into this world we must reach out to them and help reshape the future of this world.
nobody has to be lost forever, but as christians we have the blessed, unavoidable and difficult task to face people who will mock us, throw "stones" at us and try to discount us.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
signs...
today i was driving down 19th avenue and passed a car wash with a sign out front that read, "my boss said i needed to put something on the sign. so there."
i laughed at the sign but as i turned down my neighborhood street, i came across a few thoughts, but most prevalent was this...this person did something, as minimal as they could (though witty) to abide by his/her bosses wishes. it reminded me of our walk as believers in Christ.
do we go to church once a week to "fulfill" our duties? do we say we're going to pray for a friend in need, but then "forget" about? only to pray for them as we walk up to them?
God calls us to live for Him and for Christ with all that we are. not just 10% or 90%, even. but 100% of who we are and how we live should be for His glory. if we are not living 100% for God, why? where are our priorities? money? job? lifestyle? friends? family? where?
for myself, i know that i need to evaluate this question for myself. because i believe that if we are only "putting up a sign because God said so", then we are not fully utilizing His plan for us.
i once heard this statement, "when you get to heaven and God asks you, 'did you do the most you could with the gifts that I gave you?' how will you answer His question?"
i laughed at the sign but as i turned down my neighborhood street, i came across a few thoughts, but most prevalent was this...this person did something, as minimal as they could (though witty) to abide by his/her bosses wishes. it reminded me of our walk as believers in Christ.
do we go to church once a week to "fulfill" our duties? do we say we're going to pray for a friend in need, but then "forget" about? only to pray for them as we walk up to them?
God calls us to live for Him and for Christ with all that we are. not just 10% or 90%, even. but 100% of who we are and how we live should be for His glory. if we are not living 100% for God, why? where are our priorities? money? job? lifestyle? friends? family? where?
for myself, i know that i need to evaluate this question for myself. because i believe that if we are only "putting up a sign because God said so", then we are not fully utilizing His plan for us.
i once heard this statement, "when you get to heaven and God asks you, 'did you do the most you could with the gifts that I gave you?' how will you answer His question?"
Monday, June 22, 2009
examples...
as i began my day and got on with my tasks in front of me, i forgot that i hadn't caught up on today's scripture reading...i try to read in the morning to help me through the day. i flipped through the new testament waiting for something to stand out. something did.
in my Bible, there are subheadings that describe some of the verses...i came across 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. the subheading reads "Live as God Called You"...seeing this grabbed my attention as i've been praying a lot about the life God is calling me to and those around me.
verse 17 reads..."But in any case each one of you should continue to live the way God has given you to live-the way you were when God called you."
later in chapter 7, verses 19 and 20 read like this; "...The important thing is obeying God's command. Each one of you should stay the way you were when God called you."
this has got me thinking about the way God has created us. i'll use myself as an example (not because i want to brag, but rather make an example of myself)...in 1986 i was exposed to hip hop; i'll never forget the new sound of Tone Loc. his raspy voice and seductive lyrics were like the ocean, mesmorizing. i hadn't heard hip hop prior to this, but this was new, gritty and exciting. i never grew out of hip hop, despite numerous attempts and condensending remarks from those around me. my love of hip hop evolved over the years and now includes 4 of the 5 "legs" of the lifestyle: 1) mc'ing or rapping, 2) dj'ing, 3) graffiti and 4) fashion (the 5th is breakdancing, which i appreciate but cannot do).
as i've come to evolve in my faith, particularly since getting saved, i've realized that God still uses my love of hip hop to reach out to a new generation of believers. with the hip hop culture becoming mainstream, i believe God is using my love of hip hop to proclaim His glory. God didn't ask me to change my music, the way i dress or the art i do. He asked me to use it to reach out...to produce fruit (as stated in John 15:16).
i've also evolved in my love of hip hop. God is showing me that i can still immerse myself in the hip hop culture, but a better hip hop culture. holy hip hop. my interest in artists like eminem, dr. dre, snoop dogg, atmosphere and others has turned to interest in christian artists like grits, lecrae, trip lee, shai linne and others. these are artists that i can play at church and not feel ashamed of the music i listen to.
so what's the point?! if i gave up my love of the hip hop lifestyle, God may not have been able to use me as He wants to reach out to others. so i beg of you and ask you to see who you are and how God is able to use you for His works.
God bless!
in my Bible, there are subheadings that describe some of the verses...i came across 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. the subheading reads "Live as God Called You"...seeing this grabbed my attention as i've been praying a lot about the life God is calling me to and those around me.
verse 17 reads..."But in any case each one of you should continue to live the way God has given you to live-the way you were when God called you."
later in chapter 7, verses 19 and 20 read like this; "...The important thing is obeying God's command. Each one of you should stay the way you were when God called you."
this has got me thinking about the way God has created us. i'll use myself as an example (not because i want to brag, but rather make an example of myself)...in 1986 i was exposed to hip hop; i'll never forget the new sound of Tone Loc. his raspy voice and seductive lyrics were like the ocean, mesmorizing. i hadn't heard hip hop prior to this, but this was new, gritty and exciting. i never grew out of hip hop, despite numerous attempts and condensending remarks from those around me. my love of hip hop evolved over the years and now includes 4 of the 5 "legs" of the lifestyle: 1) mc'ing or rapping, 2) dj'ing, 3) graffiti and 4) fashion (the 5th is breakdancing, which i appreciate but cannot do).
as i've come to evolve in my faith, particularly since getting saved, i've realized that God still uses my love of hip hop to reach out to a new generation of believers. with the hip hop culture becoming mainstream, i believe God is using my love of hip hop to proclaim His glory. God didn't ask me to change my music, the way i dress or the art i do. He asked me to use it to reach out...to produce fruit (as stated in John 15:16).
i've also evolved in my love of hip hop. God is showing me that i can still immerse myself in the hip hop culture, but a better hip hop culture. holy hip hop. my interest in artists like eminem, dr. dre, snoop dogg, atmosphere and others has turned to interest in christian artists like grits, lecrae, trip lee, shai linne and others. these are artists that i can play at church and not feel ashamed of the music i listen to.
so what's the point?! if i gave up my love of the hip hop lifestyle, God may not have been able to use me as He wants to reach out to others. so i beg of you and ask you to see who you are and how God is able to use you for His works.
God bless!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
rejoice and be obedient
so lately, i've been trying to be obedient as possible to what God has to say to me. sometimes this is reaching out to others, pushing my own comfort zone or reading scriptures He wants me to read. i can't help but notice a change in my life...for the better. WAY better! when we step out of our worldly ways and listen to God, things change in us, because of Him. as believers, this is the most amazing thing. this is how He intends us to live. lately, He has asked me to read Phillipians 4 and Act 2 over and over again. i've spent the last 2 weeks reading only these two scriptures...why? because i'm human; i don't get God's message the first time. so what do these scriptures say?
Phillipians 4: 4-9
"Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you."
Acts 2: 25-28
"...I keep the Lord before me always. Becasue He is close by my side, I will not be hurt. So I am glad, and I rejoice. Even my body has hope, because You will not leave me in the grave. You will not let your Holy One rot. You will teach me how to live a holy life. Being with you will fill me with joy."
today, i heard another verse that i had to find out what it said...
John 15:16
"You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name."
if this isn't as clear as crystal about God's plan for us, i don't know what else is...
God bless!
Phillipians 4: 4-9
"Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you."
Acts 2: 25-28
"...I keep the Lord before me always. Becasue He is close by my side, I will not be hurt. So I am glad, and I rejoice. Even my body has hope, because You will not leave me in the grave. You will not let your Holy One rot. You will teach me how to live a holy life. Being with you will fill me with joy."
today, i heard another verse that i had to find out what it said...
John 15:16
"You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name."
if this isn't as clear as crystal about God's plan for us, i don't know what else is...
God bless!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Father's Day
I saw a really good video on YouTube that is appropriate for Fathers Day this week and wanted to share it with you.
Monday, June 8, 2009
when God moves through you...
yesterday at church i had the most amazing experience...i won't go in to all of the details, partly because the discussions were very personal. but at church, we've been addressing the issue of teens and sex and how all of it relates to God's desires for us. it has been an awesome 6 weeks of study; 6 weeks that has taught this old man a thing or two as well.
at the end of the service yesterday, the leaders were asked to stand at the front of the church to pray for any teens that may come up. i went up as asked and was closely followed by a flood of teens, who needed a leader to reach out to. a leader to pray for them. during this prayer time, i had the opportunity to minister to 3 different teens and our pastor. i told myself that i'm not a prayer warrior and don't have the first clue what to say. but that didn't matter, God spoke through me to these kids to help them. my fears quickly subsided, and the prayers over these kids flowed like water. i also had the chance to pray over our pastor...i have a great amount of respect for him and what he is trying to do to a generation of teens.
in the end, i was so moved by this experience that God entrusted me to that i too was crying like many of the teens there. God was not only with me, but the 6 or 7 of us up there to pray for more teens than there were leaders. when we allow God to do what He will in us, not only do we get to help others, but we learn a thing or two ourselves. God wants to work through us, but all to often we think we have it under control...what a missed opportunity.
i would encourage all of you to step out and let God in. you'll be amazed at what happens and the joy you'll experience.
at the end of the service yesterday, the leaders were asked to stand at the front of the church to pray for any teens that may come up. i went up as asked and was closely followed by a flood of teens, who needed a leader to reach out to. a leader to pray for them. during this prayer time, i had the opportunity to minister to 3 different teens and our pastor. i told myself that i'm not a prayer warrior and don't have the first clue what to say. but that didn't matter, God spoke through me to these kids to help them. my fears quickly subsided, and the prayers over these kids flowed like water. i also had the chance to pray over our pastor...i have a great amount of respect for him and what he is trying to do to a generation of teens.
in the end, i was so moved by this experience that God entrusted me to that i too was crying like many of the teens there. God was not only with me, but the 6 or 7 of us up there to pray for more teens than there were leaders. when we allow God to do what He will in us, not only do we get to help others, but we learn a thing or two ourselves. God wants to work through us, but all to often we think we have it under control...what a missed opportunity.
i would encourage all of you to step out and let God in. you'll be amazed at what happens and the joy you'll experience.
Friday, June 5, 2009
obedience and prayer
yesterday i was enjoying a nice iced black tea, sweetened with vanilla and a splash of milk with a good friend of mine. this friend is a man in Christ, so i trust him with some of my most personal issues. we were discussing a topic that i feel God has been leading me towards and after about 30 minutes, my friend asked if he could pray for me...right there in starbucks!
i say all of this to express my amazement in people who are unashamed of God. to me, it takes a lot of courage to pray for somebody in a public place. to lay hands on them and audibly pray for them...when we listen to what God is asking us to do, we see results. we see God's love, grace and mercy.
it is so easy for us to bury God's desire for us out of fear of embarrassment or awkwardness. but God is talking to us and through us for a reason. for all i know, my friend's prayer over me was not intended for me, but for some observer in starbucks who may not know Christ.
listen and obey...He knows what He's doing.
i say all of this to express my amazement in people who are unashamed of God. to me, it takes a lot of courage to pray for somebody in a public place. to lay hands on them and audibly pray for them...when we listen to what God is asking us to do, we see results. we see God's love, grace and mercy.
it is so easy for us to bury God's desire for us out of fear of embarrassment or awkwardness. but God is talking to us and through us for a reason. for all i know, my friend's prayer over me was not intended for me, but for some observer in starbucks who may not know Christ.
listen and obey...He knows what He's doing.
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