Friday, April 30, 2010

One-thumb up!



I heard the story about a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he had grown up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" to which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area wherein he should have known not to hunt. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village.They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came close to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way

Though this story may be funny, its message is amazing. Is everything that bothers you bad? Have you ever stepped out of your natural perspective on good and bad and consider the fact that what may be an adversity for you is serving as a blessing?

I have witnessed people that have broken there foot and in their "adversity" they have seen that they can no longer go to the places they normally would. This is NOT to say that God punishes people and breaks legs, but instead He allows things to happen to help us. A friend of mine who often spent weekends at clubs and parties doing reckless things and being ruthless, was unfortunately jumped in one of those parties and ended up with a broken foot. What happened? He could no longer attend the parties and had more time to reflect on his decisions. My friend, and brother in Christ is now a christian and has had the opportunity to share his testimony in various churches. This is a perfect example about how adversity isn't ALWAYS adversity.

Your attitude is still able to change despite the uncontrollable situations that you will find yourself in. The friend told the king "this is good" despite the situation, little did the king know that THIS very situation would one day save his life. Some people love to be in the GOOD situations and WHINE about the bad situations. In the words of a very known pastor "bloom where you are planted".

Acknowledge that your situations are but a stepping stone in what will one day be your testimony. Through your experiences many people will come to know Jesus:

"Dude, i was in that same situation and look what God did"<--- this will be you IF you can overcome the challenge of Glorifying God in the midst of adversity. Have you had any problems lately? Feel like your in a terrible situation? Don't know what to do? Answer: Glorify God! In the few you were faithful in the great i will place you, said the Lord. God can possibly be saving your life. He can possible be strengthening your testimony. He could possible be saving you. Keep pressing on, you don't ever know when your missing thumb will be a vital blessing. Verses to read
Deuteronomy 31:8, Exodus 33:14, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 27: 1, 3, Proverbs 29:25, Proverbs 18:10, Jeremiah 16:19

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Question!

I was wondering, for the couple of people that follow this blog, what is your perspective of the inter-denominational movement and where do you stand in it?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

I said it is NOT too late to apologize


How are you guys! I have recently been moved from location due to remodeling of my house so i have not been able to get on a computer, but here i am.

Today i came across an exert from Today In the Word, here it is:

In the washroom of his London club, British newspaper publisher and politician William Beverbrook happened to meet Edward Heath, then a young member of Parliament, about whom Beverbrook had printed an insulting editorial a few days earlier. "My dear chap," said the publisher, embarrassed by the encounter. "I've been thinking it over, and I was wrong. Here and now, I wish to apologize." "Very well," grunted Heath. "But the next time, I wish you'd insult me in the washroom and apologize in your newspaper."

Though there is a bit of humor involved i find that there is a certain truth to this. I have come across times where i have done things that were uncalled for and deserved an apology from my part. I also have done things that have humiliated people in the midst of crowds. However like William Beverbrook, I too apologized and, like Beverbrook, did it where no one could see.

This happens because of two reasons.
1) Pride
2) We do not truly understand the effect we had on the victim of our action.

Pride
Our pride is certainly one of the most dangerous things in us. We are often spiritually idle because of our pride. Our pride sometimes makes us lose our blessing and in some cases our gifts. Its easier, not necessarily easy, to apologize in a washroom where no one is looking. It is very hard to do it in public, admitting your fault in front of everyone. As we read Heath's response we see how people truly wish to be apologized. By insulting Heath in the newspaper he publicly damaged Mr. Heath's reputation. By apologizing in the washroom, Mr. Heath's reputation was still damaged and the only one that felt satisfied was Mr. Beverbrook himself. Defeating Pride is the first and last step of being humble.

Not Truly Understanding the Effect
If we do not truly understand what we did, then we cannot fix it. Many times we hurt people with our words and comments and don't really acknowledge the damage we have done. A big part of not acknowledging it comes from doing it so often that we do not see the damage we make. This is very dangerous. When we lose sensitivity of our actions we are no longer in control of what we do, instead it goes beyond our own will. We do things, not because we want to but, because we have done them so much that it because "ok". Perhaps it is time that we give words of encouragement more than we insult that way "encouraging" because our idea of what is "ok". Before i confuse you more ill finish with this, the moment you realize the damage you have made, FIX IT!APOLOGIZE! Don't contemplate on apologizing or not because most of the time you will choose to NOT apologize.

These 2 things are the main reasons why we sometimes fail to apologize. My question is: Have you done anything to someone lately? Maybe they are home thinking about what you did to them. They would be super surprised to receive an apology. If you are not quite ready to "publicly" apologize OR it is concerning something that should not be told "publicly", then start of by just giving them a call. Don't miss out on your blessing because of pride and don't make it a habit to do wrong on to others that you can no longer stop yourself from it.

I believe that when you apologize to someone you unconsciously give them the power to forgive you, releasing them from a potential grudge against you.

Verses to Read
James 5:16, Galatians 6:3,Proverbs 29:23,2 Timothy 3:2

Thursday, April 15, 2010

the NOT-SO cutting edge?


Last weekend I attended College For a Weekend at Liberty University. During this trip i was able to walk in on Principles Of Youth Ministry 101, attend a Skillet/TobyMac Concert, and also Ice Skate.

I must be completely honest with you, I have probably Ice Skated for a total of 2 hours in my life, none of which were on my feet. I cannot skate to save my life. We went to the Ice Center at LU where they were hosting a "Free Skate Night", and as all my friends put their skates on i chose to sit this out. My friend Jordan came up to me and asked me why i did not try it. I told him that i did not like to do things that I did not succeed in. In reality, who likes to do things that they absolutly can not do? Not me!
As i sat there, my friend Jordan simply told me that i should not hold myself back from doing something just because i couldnt do it. I was very sure that i was not going to skate but for some reason i decided to try it. I got on the ice and was completely lost. My friend Andrew told me that it was like kicking left and right and rotating all the weight on one foot at a time. So i Did! and i began to skate, then i lost my balance a little. I did not fall once that night but something great happened. I learned something that night.

I looked around and i saw some people speed-skating, i saw a girl figure skating, and in one corner i saw this really big guy walking with skates and holding on to the rail to keep his balance. I began to notice that everyone in the rink was either skating amazingly or trying to skate.I also notice that the people that couldnt skate, like me, attempted to skate in different ways. I saw some people fall, i saw some people walk on ice, and some people simply stand on a corner trying to convince themselves to try it.

I feel that in THIS same way, christians battle with fear. I feel that we all wanna skate, but NOT all of us are in the rink. I feel that everyone also has their own method of learning. A very tall guy was just skating, little by little, back and forth on one side of the rink, this was his method. my method was simply left-and-righting all around the rink.

I have a very important question. What is your method? We say we want to get somewhere with God but dont try long enough to get there. Its not about trying hard enough, its about trying long enough. God doesnt see how hard you try, he sees how long you try. The bible says that he who falls seven times should rise eight times. God doesnt want you to try to not fall, he wants you to get up when you do fall.

I sat out for the first 15 minutes of "Free Skate Night", but then decided to try it. Are you trying God? or are you sitting out? Im not talking about going to church and praying before you go to sleep and before you eat a meal. Im talking about trying God. Im talking about letting Him take your burdens, your addictions, your past. Get on the Rink with Christ, but make sure to let Him help you. Don't sit out! Don't quit if you fall! Get back up!


I wanna finish with saying this...i tried to skate. I DID NOT perfect the art of skating. However, i attempted it. God sees you trying, so keep trying. Eventually you will realize that you trying will become you doing.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Monkey Trap


Legend has it that if you want to trap a monkey, you create a cage or box with a tiny slit just big enough for a monkey to fit it's hand through. Inside the cage you place a banana.

When a monkey comes along, it will put it's hand through the slit and grab hold of the banana. The problem (for the monkey) is the slit is not wide enough for it to pull both it's hand and the banana out, effectively trapping it. The monkey is so attached to the new treat it has discovered, it will not let it go no matter what danger it puts itself in. Unfortunately monkeys are that dumb.

Humans of course do not become attached to things like that... or do we?

I believe that sometimes we are! I believe that many of us want to be free but wont let go of the banana. I don't wanna call us monkeys because we are not but why do we sometimes act like them? Have you ever came across something in life that you knew was holding you back but you just couldn't let it go? Perhaps it was pride, anger, lust, jealousy, lack of commitment, dishonesty, or anything else you can think of. Do you realize that you are holding on to the banana and putting yourself through danger?

Based on my observations and experiences i believe it is safe to say that the number one reason why many Christians fall into the world is because they don't experience God like others around them do. I feel that many Christians want to feel God in the same way that very spiritual people do and when they realize that cant, they get frustrated. I would even go as far as to say that many Christians get tired of being in the same spiritless relationship with our living God and give up on it.

I can assure you that none of these things are God's fault. God in essence is a provider, healer, and much more. He has already taken the first step towards us we just gotta take the next step towards Him. Taking a step towards Him often means changing directions, since we normally are not fixed on Him, which in other words translates to "letting go of the banana".

If the monkey does NOT let go of the banana then he will be in the trap FOREVER. Its time to make a decision. Will you live like the monkey? IN a couple of weeks i will devote a whole week on talking about letting go of these things but for now you have a decision to make. Its either letting go of the banana or staying trapped. Galatians says we have been set free by Christ so that we may never be slaves again. What will you do with the freedom Christ has given you?

Luke 17:33 - Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Walking on Dry Land


As i am coming to the end of spring break i am learning more and more that God has left us the Holy Spirit to magnify Jesus Christ and minimize us. You see, the more of us in us the more likely we are to live against God's Will. Why is that? Well, for starters we aren't by nature God seeking until Christ lives in us. So I feel that if I am filled with my own human habits, i cannot live up to my full potential. It is only when i am filled with Christ that i will reach my full potential. I have come to an understanding that God has a deep desire to carry us through our trials.

When you read the Pentateuch, first five books of the bible, also known as the "Books Of the Law", you experience a God with the basic intention of Caring for His people. Though they do not respond to God's will, causing them to suffer a lot, He still keeps them out of harms way and delivers them from all enemies.

Exodus, which simply represents the Exit from Egypt or departure, is known mostly because of a miracle that God does when he opens the red sea, allowing the people of Israel to cross it without any harm.

God, being omnipotent and omnipresent, knew that the people of Israel would enter into 4 decades of sin, lack of trust, and disobedience however He still took them to the other side of the sea. I begin to wonder, why God does things like this. But i realize His spirit desires much more than what we do for Him. In other words, God hopes that we step out of our nature and into His nature. This can only happen when we truly live in His spirit and His spirit in us.

God took the people to the other side and in that same way He takes us places that we don't deserve. If you are like me you have probably prayed and asked God for peace and He has given it to you. If you are anything like me, you probably didnt deserve His peace but he gave it to you anyway. God continues to carry us across the sea but will we return the favor the same way the people of Israel did? I am convinced that many of us sometimes receive God's help, yet fail to acknowledge it in the long run and live as if we weren't grateful for His help.

The people of Israel were taken to the other side, yes! But God, when he saw that they did not serve Him and honor Him, made sure that they did not reach the next level, promise land, for 40 years. According to many theologians, this voyage was suppose to only take around 11 days but instead took 40 years.

God wants to take you to the next level, but sometimes you aren't ready and you elongate the time in which you accomplish His will. I strongly believe that all of you reading have been taken to the other side and have walked on dry land. What did you do after that? Have you been walking in circles in the wilderness for 40 years? Is it time that you return to God's original plan and not yours?

James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Maybe you do not see God moving in your life as much anymore because you ask for things to happen in your life for your will and not His. God is ready to point you in the right direction. He is ready to rise up a Joshua in YOU. But its all up to you.

We sometimes fail to see God because we aren't looking at God, only an image of Him that we have created. The best way to know Him is to talk to Him. He has also left a 66 book love letter for YOU. Read it, talk to Him, experience Him.

Friday, April 2, 2010

He paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay




It is SO illogical for someone to pay a debt they did not owe specially for people that would notappreciate the fact that He paid it. Today is GOOD Friday. We celebrate the day that our savior, Jesus Christ, died on the cross. Sunday will be Easter Sunday, the day that we celebrate His resurrection. I don't know about you but after tonight's experience i want to celebrate His resurrection TODAY, TOMORROW, AND EVERYDAY!

Im going to take this opportunity to talk about tonight. As you may have read in yesterday post, i was invited to preach at a church in VA for a youth service. Now this whole week i have been undergoing man things. I have been trying hard to consecrate myself and i have seen God's hand in all of this. Tonight i went with the purpose to give God at least half of what he gave me. I wanted to share the "Good News". God is READY to take us to the next level, and tonight Adriel, Andre, and myself saw that! I give the Glory to God for what he did tonight because i had not seen a moving of the holy spirit like that in a WHILE!

With that said i want to get back to the quote. Jesus saw us! We had a debt. God said that the wages of sin are death, and unfortunately we all have sinned. We are all sinners. In the words of Pastor Dale "some people believe we are and some people believe we aren't, BUT the bible entertains no such thing. It is very direct when it says we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

It was our debt. You see, sin is like a very expensive dinner meal. You walk in to a fancy restaurant, and already have a reserved seat. You are so amazed at the menu that you get one of everything. You get Parmesan chicken, lobster, pasta, and many more things. When your done your completely full, yet the waiter says "would you like some desert", and even though you know it would be ridiculous to get dessert after eating all that you ate, you say "sure". You get the double fudge cake, a cheesecake with bread crumbs, the lava-explosion-volcano-strawberry-chocolate thingy, and even some ice cream. You somehow manage to eat it all and then you say "WELL its time to go". As you are walking out the door you feel a tap on your left shoulder, when you turn around you find the waiter there. "I hope you had a wonderful meal", "Yes" you say, "But you still haven't paid". So you say "well, that's not a problem" and as you take out your wallet you hand him a couple of singles and a $5 dollar bill and then say "keep the change". You continue walking out the door and as you are about to open the car door you get another tap on your left shoulder. The waiter says "Sir the bill came out to $347.89 and you gave me $12"

EVENTUALLY you will come across a time when you are involved in sin and SIN will bring a debt that you wont be able to pay for. Jesus didn't have to pay this debt. He was sin-free. He payed the tab when He went to a restaurant, and tipped well too. But YOU couldn't pay for the tab. You needed someone to pitch in. You needed someone to take that debt and pay it. Jesus paid it. But it wasn't a simple debt. The cause of your debt was death. The death that should have fallen upon you, fell upon Him.

You all know this! so whats the point? The point is that Jesus was our replacement, he redeemed us. Because of His sacrifice we can now get closer to God. THAT is enough to be thankful for. Christ LIVES yesterday, today, and forever and as we pass this week let us remember that HE paid a debt that he didn't owe, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.

If you dont understand what he did, watch this.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

The remnant

Hey guys, i don't want you to think I'm slacking or anything for not posting anything today but to be honest with you i am undergoing some serious spiritual battles in preparation for a preaching that i have been privileged to give at a church in VA tomorrow night. I want you guys to know that tomorrow i will be posting something new titled "Paying a debt", but today i want to share something with you that absolutely changed my life. Prepare your hearts because in reality it is the most anointed drama i have ever seen. God bless and i hope you enjoy.