It's that time of year again, and all through my office building Christmas songs blare out and tell me more about this 'Santa' guy than I want to know. This guy has got to be the most twisted perv in the world. Why? Here's the facts (as I heard them):
1) He wants to give gifts to all the children of the world - no adults, only children.
You say, "how cute" I say how gross! I don't want an old, strange man giving gifts to my kids!
2) He sneaks in everyone's house after dark
If that doesn't give you the creeps I don't know what does.
3) "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake"
OK, seriously...this guy has some major voyeuristic issues...and he's watching little kids!! Hello??
4) He greets everyone by calling them a "ho" three times
This Santa guy has very little respect for women, or thinks everyone isa prostitute
5) He stays away in some far off land with only his antelered-friends and plans his one-night excursion
So he plots all year-round for this one night of "free toys for children"?
6) He wants all the little boys and girls to sit in his lap
...need I say more?
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Great Sex is not an activity; it's a conversation
I have done a pretty extensive "study" on great sex; and I have no one to share it with! So I figured I'd blog it and let the world in on what I've found. Heck, it's a fun topic to talk about! ;)
Talking to sexually-active males, I've found two basic attitudes about it:
I think the difference between the two attitudes is how the sexual experience is viewed: either it's an activity for fun or a conversation between two bodies. If it's an activity, there's a goal in mind. If it's a conversation; there is a lot of "listening" and reacting to the other person's actions.
I've found the best sex is achieved when the two people are having a conversation with their bodies; the conversation can be angry, passionate, excited, love, soft, etcetera.
Talking to sexually-active males, I've found two basic attitudes about it:
- Sex is all about me getting my orgasm
- Sex is all about us getting our orgasms
I think the difference between the two attitudes is how the sexual experience is viewed: either it's an activity for fun or a conversation between two bodies. If it's an activity, there's a goal in mind. If it's a conversation; there is a lot of "listening" and reacting to the other person's actions.
I've found the best sex is achieved when the two people are having a conversation with their bodies; the conversation can be angry, passionate, excited, love, soft, etcetera.
Friday, December 07, 2007
The life of a good guy sucks until you die
Every path in life that we choose has painful consequences; obviously some are more painful than others. The only path in life that I can talk about from experience is the life of the "good guy"; which most people wrongly assume is the bland, easy way to get through life.
Yes, most good guys do not make many enemies by directly interfering with their life; but we still make enemies. Some dislike me for the direction in life I did not take because it means that there was a choice to go down the road they took. Going against the grain and not giving into temptation pisses a lot of people off and alienates "friends" who think that with the right amount of pressure you can be changed to become just like them.
By nature, the "good guy" doesn't hurt women; but we usually have to help clean up the messes. Good girls usually go for the bad boys before they settle down with the man they want to spend the rest of their life with. The good guys reward? Being the last in a list of lovers.
The stories of hot, meaningless, no-strings-attached sex burned my ears, wet my appetite and was thrust in my face, but I never went for it. My reward? Nothing but some congratulatory "high fives". Was it worth it? It will be after I die and get to hear "well done," but until then the pain and regret pound in my chest.
Staying away from parties was never hard, but I wonder what I missed.
When my child comes up to me and asks me which path in life will cause the least amount of pain, I have no idea what answer to give. If life had only two paths or good or bad; I know that the good is pain without memories; while the bad is pain with memories. Pick your poison, I guess.
Yes, most good guys do not make many enemies by directly interfering with their life; but we still make enemies. Some dislike me for the direction in life I did not take because it means that there was a choice to go down the road they took. Going against the grain and not giving into temptation pisses a lot of people off and alienates "friends" who think that with the right amount of pressure you can be changed to become just like them.
By nature, the "good guy" doesn't hurt women; but we usually have to help clean up the messes. Good girls usually go for the bad boys before they settle down with the man they want to spend the rest of their life with. The good guys reward? Being the last in a list of lovers.
The stories of hot, meaningless, no-strings-attached sex burned my ears, wet my appetite and was thrust in my face, but I never went for it. My reward? Nothing but some congratulatory "high fives". Was it worth it? It will be after I die and get to hear "well done," but until then the pain and regret pound in my chest.
Staying away from parties was never hard, but I wonder what I missed.
When my child comes up to me and asks me which path in life will cause the least amount of pain, I have no idea what answer to give. If life had only two paths or good or bad; I know that the good is pain without memories; while the bad is pain with memories. Pick your poison, I guess.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Marriage Counseling is not an admission of failure
"Oh, so you guys are going through some hard times?"
That's the common reaction I hear when I tell others that me and Kath are going into marriage counseling; it's assumed we are having major issues. We want to have a comfortable, open environment where we can feel free to talk about certain things and get some advice from a couple we respect so they can help us see things clearer.
Me and Kath are such huge proponents of counseling; it has saved our relationship numerous times! Counseling gave us an outlet for our frustrations as we were learning to grow together; and our counselor(s) were able to offer a different perspective to each of us so we could see where the other person was coming from.
Counseling is not an admission of failure. Counseling is not admitting to "major issues" or an imperfect marriage (wait, who has a perfect marraige?? :P). I would encourage every married couple to see a counselor so they can give their relationship a "tune up"!
That's the common reaction I hear when I tell others that me and Kath are going into marriage counseling; it's assumed we are having major issues. We want to have a comfortable, open environment where we can feel free to talk about certain things and get some advice from a couple we respect so they can help us see things clearer.
Me and Kath are such huge proponents of counseling; it has saved our relationship numerous times! Counseling gave us an outlet for our frustrations as we were learning to grow together; and our counselor(s) were able to offer a different perspective to each of us so we could see where the other person was coming from.
Counseling is not an admission of failure. Counseling is not admitting to "major issues" or an imperfect marriage (wait, who has a perfect marraige?? :P). I would encourage every married couple to see a counselor so they can give their relationship a "tune up"!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Kill me before I die
I was reading one of the blogs on the site I'm working on now (buzznet.com) and the girl said, "I have no ambition...does that make me a bad person?". I pondered the question; and came to the conclusion that she's not a bad person - she's a dead person. What is life without ambition; without hope or without plans? I can't imagine living my life without some kind of a path to walk down; even if I know full well that my plans can and will be changed in a whim by Someone more powerful than myself.
As I walk the dirty streets of downtown Hollywood I see the remains of many dreams in the eyes of the transients begging for my leftover coins. The pathetic displays of the beggars used to annoy me; now they give me motivation to work hard so I don't become them.
A co-worker is always chasing the easiest skirt or the quickest lay; his heart is dead and his reputation is nil. That is not the life I ever wanted; nor do I want to end up like him.
Kill me before I die.
As I walk the dirty streets of downtown Hollywood I see the remains of many dreams in the eyes of the transients begging for my leftover coins. The pathetic displays of the beggars used to annoy me; now they give me motivation to work hard so I don't become them.
A co-worker is always chasing the easiest skirt or the quickest lay; his heart is dead and his reputation is nil. That is not the life I ever wanted; nor do I want to end up like him.
Kill me before I die.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Dooming yourself to fail
I've known many people who have doomed themselves to fail because of their attitude or their outlook on life. You've met them: the chronically pessimistic, the arrogant know-it-all, or the compromising "go-with-the-flow" person. All of these people fail time and time again because they set up each situation so that they have no chance BUT to fail!
The chronically pessimistic person sees life through dark glasses, blinding themselves to any positive outlook or any glimmer of hope. These people never establish healthy relationships and they are constantly worried about their few friends abandoning them or betraying them (and they rarely develop new, intimate relationships). From a Christian's point of view, these are the faithless - they may say they believe God will take care of them but in reality they don't expect anything good to come in their life. I'd pity their misery but they have dug their own ditches by either over-reacting, unforgiveness or allowing paranoia to eat them alive.
The arrogant know-it-all is the saddest of them all because this person has convinced himself that they are always right - which leaves out any possibility for growth, constructive criticism and positive change in their lives. They may vocalize a humble spirit, but their actions and attitude speak otherwise. God warns us over and over against a prideful spirit, and these people are walking examples of the consequences of this lifestyle.
Lastly, the most pathetic group in my rant is the compromising "go-with-the-flow-ers", the people that do not have the willpower to stay away from harm. With a little prodding you can get these people to do almost anything or give up on everything. *sigh*
Did I miss anything?
The chronically pessimistic person sees life through dark glasses, blinding themselves to any positive outlook or any glimmer of hope. These people never establish healthy relationships and they are constantly worried about their few friends abandoning them or betraying them (and they rarely develop new, intimate relationships). From a Christian's point of view, these are the faithless - they may say they believe God will take care of them but in reality they don't expect anything good to come in their life. I'd pity their misery but they have dug their own ditches by either over-reacting, unforgiveness or allowing paranoia to eat them alive.
The arrogant know-it-all is the saddest of them all because this person has convinced himself that they are always right - which leaves out any possibility for growth, constructive criticism and positive change in their lives. They may vocalize a humble spirit, but their actions and attitude speak otherwise. God warns us over and over against a prideful spirit, and these people are walking examples of the consequences of this lifestyle.
Lastly, the most pathetic group in my rant is the compromising "go-with-the-flow-ers", the people that do not have the willpower to stay away from harm. With a little prodding you can get these people to do almost anything or give up on everything. *sigh*
Did I miss anything?
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Blogs that make me mad, part 1,366
So I was reading the most popular blogs on myspace today (I pick one or two based on the title) and I came across this doozy that really infuriated me, only because the principle of the blog is so widely accepted.
The blogger was telling the story of a friend he knew who would sleep with her exes because she needed sex but didn't want her "number" (number of lovers) to go up. So she just wanted sex for sex's sake, no strings attached, but didn't want to be thought of as a slut by her next lover(s) because her "number" was high. I'm sorry, but if you're sleeping with dudes (or dudes sleeping with chics) just to get laid you're a slut.
The thing that made me mad is this perception that sluttiness is a number; it's an attitude. If you're having sex outside of love, you're a slut. *angry sigh*
The blogger was telling the story of a friend he knew who would sleep with her exes because she needed sex but didn't want her "number" (number of lovers) to go up. So she just wanted sex for sex's sake, no strings attached, but didn't want to be thought of as a slut by her next lover(s) because her "number" was high. I'm sorry, but if you're sleeping with dudes (or dudes sleeping with chics) just to get laid you're a slut.
The thing that made me mad is this perception that sluttiness is a number; it's an attitude. If you're having sex outside of love, you're a slut. *angry sigh*
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Fatherhood : Pending but Exciting
For those of you who don't know, me and Kathy are going to be parents in 8 months! YAY! News like that affects you in a big way (duh); it completely changed my perspective, goals and mindset on life. My wife became much more beautiful to me after I found out the news, it's hard to explain. My financial situation suddenly became a much more urgent thing to fix. Any family problems I had became more servere; I want my family to be able to bond over the new little one when he/she enters the world. My job is no longer a pain in the butt, it is now the means by which Baby Branning will be taken care of. My dreams haven't subsided, to the contrary my desire to pursue them has grown even more so that I can give Baby B a comfortable life without poverty.
This news has also really changed my perspective on myself. I've begun evaluating myself and my new role as a father: am I cut out for it? Am I ready for it? Will I be a good father? Will I continue to be a good husband? How will I change? Am I mature enough for this? What characteristics should I focus on changing before I become a daddy?
I am SO excited to meet my child. I love the idea of being a parent, I'm excited for the opportunity to be a parent, I'm scared of the responsibilities I'll have being a parent and I can't wait to experience the joy of being a parent. I know Kathy will make a great mother (or else I wouldn't have married her); I just hope she doesn't forget about her husband! :P
This news has also really changed my perspective on myself. I've begun evaluating myself and my new role as a father: am I cut out for it? Am I ready for it? Will I be a good father? Will I continue to be a good husband? How will I change? Am I mature enough for this? What characteristics should I focus on changing before I become a daddy?
I am SO excited to meet my child. I love the idea of being a parent, I'm excited for the opportunity to be a parent, I'm scared of the responsibilities I'll have being a parent and I can't wait to experience the joy of being a parent. I know Kathy will make a great mother (or else I wouldn't have married her); I just hope she doesn't forget about her husband! :P
Friday, June 08, 2007
My Battle Cry
Men are born with a 'warrior' mindset, we want to do battle with our foes and protect the people we love. This warrior mindset, along with everything else, was given to us by God so it should not be ignored or fought against. Many Christian men take on a pacifist mindset, taking the lesson to "turn the other cheek" too far and becoming a human doormat (in some cases this is necessary, but that's another blog). Christ was a warrior, in fact He was a great example of a ruthless soldier who took no prisoners; but his battlefield was not natural. He mercilessly sought out and destroyed demonic influences on people's minds, bodies, and souls - His weapon was prayer.
You and I can also use this weapon against our foe. Too many of us (me included) view prayer as solely an 'ask and thou shalt receive' tool and overlook its usefulness as a weapon against our enemy(ies). Prayer isn't a weapon like a sword, it's more of a weapon like a battle horn - we're calling for backup!
When Christ was afflicted, saddened or was weary He would go into a private place and pray - not eat, not drink, not play video games, not watch TV, but talk to the Father and release all of His concerns.
I have really felt the pull into intercessory prayer (prayer for others); especially for the people I love that have been pulled into addictions or mindsets that I have seen and/or struggled with. I'll pray almost to the point of tears for those losing the battle with alocholism, pornography, pessimism and sexual sin. Lately I've felt called to pray for marriages, as I said in a previous blog Satan hates marriages and wants them all to come apart (or never start) - so I plead on others' behalf for marriages to be strengthened.
You and I can also use this weapon against our foe. Too many of us (me included) view prayer as solely an 'ask and thou shalt receive' tool and overlook its usefulness as a weapon against our enemy(ies). Prayer isn't a weapon like a sword, it's more of a weapon like a battle horn - we're calling for backup!
When Christ was afflicted, saddened or was weary He would go into a private place and pray - not eat, not drink, not play video games, not watch TV, but talk to the Father and release all of His concerns.
I have really felt the pull into intercessory prayer (prayer for others); especially for the people I love that have been pulled into addictions or mindsets that I have seen and/or struggled with. I'll pray almost to the point of tears for those losing the battle with alocholism, pornography, pessimism and sexual sin. Lately I've felt called to pray for marriages, as I said in a previous blog Satan hates marriages and wants them all to come apart (or never start) - so I plead on others' behalf for marriages to be strengthened.
1 John 5:14 - "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."
Thursday, June 07, 2007
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!
God loves joy! One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy; God is referred to numerous times as 'pleased' and other synonyms for happy, and we are commanded to be joyful. So why are some Christians such a drag, and how do we avoid falling into that trap?
There are people you need to prepare yourself for because they're such joy-zappers - you know the type! When you greet them you're happy and high on life, when you leave you walk away with not even a smile on your face. Usually the joyless attitude is explained away as "realism" or an "analytical" mindset, but the end result is a joy-zapper (and Christian "realists" should be the happiest people because we know the reality of God's love for us and what that means in our day-to-day lives, right?). I love hanging out with my step-brother because we constantly make each other laugh and are continually lifting each other up; but some Christians I know will just wipe that smile off your face!
One of my favorite characteristics I love about my wife is that she makes me laugh; I mean we have so much fun together! It could be a mundane task like doing the dishes, but we make it fun! We've both experienced the joy-zappers, and we're not about to fall into that mindset - our marriage would be a drag on our lives if we did.
Lastly, God invented pleasure. Everything that gives us happiness and a smile on our face was put here by God for our enjoyment: food, sex, love, nature, go on down the list and God put it here for US! We screw up by taking these pleasures and experiencing them at the wrong time or in the wrong degree (gluttony). God wants us to be HAPPY, that's one of the most freeing and satisfying truths in the Bible! Live life, and smile!
There are people you need to prepare yourself for because they're such joy-zappers - you know the type! When you greet them you're happy and high on life, when you leave you walk away with not even a smile on your face. Usually the joyless attitude is explained away as "realism" or an "analytical" mindset, but the end result is a joy-zapper (and Christian "realists" should be the happiest people because we know the reality of God's love for us and what that means in our day-to-day lives, right?). I love hanging out with my step-brother because we constantly make each other laugh and are continually lifting each other up; but some Christians I know will just wipe that smile off your face!
One of my favorite characteristics I love about my wife is that she makes me laugh; I mean we have so much fun together! It could be a mundane task like doing the dishes, but we make it fun! We've both experienced the joy-zappers, and we're not about to fall into that mindset - our marriage would be a drag on our lives if we did.
Lastly, God invented pleasure. Everything that gives us happiness and a smile on our face was put here by God for our enjoyment: food, sex, love, nature, go on down the list and God put it here for US! We screw up by taking these pleasures and experiencing them at the wrong time or in the wrong degree (gluttony). God wants us to be HAPPY, that's one of the most freeing and satisfying truths in the Bible! Live life, and smile!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
What happens to you does not define who you are; how you react to the situations you're forced to deal with reveals who you are. We all have a tendency to want to overcome a wrong done to us by indulging in self-destructive behavior; but following these instincts will only lead to even more pain down the road. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I used to hang out with the 'bad' crowd and I'd often hear excuses like, "Well, this-and-this happened to me so I turned to [a self-destructive behavior] to numb the pain." Our self-prescribed sin medicines don't help us; but yet we continue to be drawn to them out of desperation or because society tells us these things help us overcome our pain.
I've outlined a few of the most common wrongs done to us and the self-destructive behaviors that tempt us following these events. The 'biggest' and 'baddest' compromises are drug use, sex, alcohol and violence but our temptations can also include equally devastating outlets such as a change in our mindset or walking away from God because of what's been done to us.
Divorce: After a divorce, the kids left over from it are left with a huge void in their lives that they look to fill with something, anything to numb the pain left by this betrayal. The mind-set the kids have to fight off is worthlessness and that somehow it's their fault.
Sexual Molesting: When one is taken advantage of for their sexuality, their worth as a person is devalued in their mind - you must fight this! Just because someone else only sees you as a sexual object you are so much more than that!
Being called names: Labels followed me around, trying to box me into these destructive mind-sets that something is wrong with me or that I am nothing more than a sexual being. We all have to overcome the poisonous words of others and not take them on as truths about ourselves.
Physical abuse: If we've been abused by our parents (or anyone else) it takes a lot of effort to keep our spirits up and our anger down. Children that are physically abused usually abuse their own children because they think it's OK, or they just didn't deal with the hurt, humiliation and hate that accompanied the bruises.
If you're a victim of any of the above wrongs, you need to find people to lean on that will be there for you as you work through this stuff. Stay strong, and do not go down (or return to) a self-destructive path.
PS - If you've already started going down the road towards drugs, alcohol, sex or violence it's never too late to turn your life around. Your past does not define who are! The great thing about grace is that it makes life unfair.
I've outlined a few of the most common wrongs done to us and the self-destructive behaviors that tempt us following these events. The 'biggest' and 'baddest' compromises are drug use, sex, alcohol and violence but our temptations can also include equally devastating outlets such as a change in our mindset or walking away from God because of what's been done to us.
Divorce: After a divorce, the kids left over from it are left with a huge void in their lives that they look to fill with something, anything to numb the pain left by this betrayal. The mind-set the kids have to fight off is worthlessness and that somehow it's their fault.
Sexual Molesting: When one is taken advantage of for their sexuality, their worth as a person is devalued in their mind - you must fight this! Just because someone else only sees you as a sexual object you are so much more than that!
Mini-rant: When one person of the opposite sex (or same sex) touches you without invitation, you have been molested whether you are a guy or girl. Girl's unwelcome advances on guys are dismissed by society because guys 'like it' or 'just want to get laid' so the guys keep quiet to avoid being labeled a fag (or worse). Guys have to constantly fight society's message that we are nothing more than lustful animals looking for sex, because once we devalue sex and categorize it as only a physical act we are devaluing ourselves and breeding a negative mindset that will come to fruition once we are tempted again.
Being called names: Labels followed me around, trying to box me into these destructive mind-sets that something is wrong with me or that I am nothing more than a sexual being. We all have to overcome the poisonous words of others and not take them on as truths about ourselves.
Physical abuse: If we've been abused by our parents (or anyone else) it takes a lot of effort to keep our spirits up and our anger down. Children that are physically abused usually abuse their own children because they think it's OK, or they just didn't deal with the hurt, humiliation and hate that accompanied the bruises.
If you're a victim of any of the above wrongs, you need to find people to lean on that will be there for you as you work through this stuff. Stay strong, and do not go down (or return to) a self-destructive path.
PS - If you've already started going down the road towards drugs, alcohol, sex or violence it's never too late to turn your life around. Your past does not define who are! The great thing about grace is that it makes life unfair.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
God Loves Sex. Satan Loves Sex. I Love Sex. Discuss
I've been thinking about the power of sex, and its far-reaching implications in every aspect in our lives. You know, God made sex and He loves it because it brings two married people closer together. Satan loves sex too - because its power can be used to destroy us.
When I was in college, I hung out with self-described 'sluts' (both male and female) and got the opportunity to learn about sex and what it does to people who choose not to follow God's plan for sex. I was young, I was tired of 'religion' and I wanted to hang out with fun people so my 'posse' was the 'fun' crowd. Most of the people I hung out with were happy, bubbly and had a lot of sex (I was the odd ball that wouldn't put out, but I'll get to that later). When you got to the place where they'd open up in private about how their lives, most of them were wrecked with guilt, shame and regret over their lives; and to be honest I didn't understand their predicament. They were letting their body lead them, they satisfied every desire - how could they not be totally ecstatic about life? That brings me to the meat of my blog...
God Loves Sex
God made sex, and He wants us to have a lot of it - with our spouse. When God designed sex, He made a tool that would affect us in so many ways - physically, emotionally, psychologically, relationally and spiritually. God didn't give us any restrictions inside the marriage bed, we can do whatever we want! The sexual freedom is great, and the safety that marriage provides is breeding ground for experimentation (so don't listen to people who say sex with just one person is boring!).
Satan Loves Sex
Reviewing what we've already discussed, sex is powerful. It affects our entire persona, our entire being. The Enemy would love nothing more than to use it as a tool to destroy your life! Once you allow extra-marital sex into your life, you're in serious trouble. If you have sex before you're married, you will regret it - because you know you've done wrong (especially if you've been brought up in a religious environment). I don't need to warn you of the dangers, you know them already. Let's talk about the after-shock of immorality; the payments for your deeds. Most can rattle off the emotions that go through your mind after you're done (guilt, shame, etc) but we don't like talking about the long-term effects of sinful sex. I think that if the long-term effects of sinful sex weren't so destructive, Satan wouldn't care as much about getting us to fall in this area. The long-term effects include your children following in your footsteps, the memories, developing sexual habits that follow you into marriage (bringing your pre-determined ideas and/or favorites into your marriage could devestate your spouse) and multiple spiritual effects that I won't get in to.
Satan Hates Sex, Too
Satan hates sex because he hates successful marriages. God set up marriage as the foundation for societies, so Satan must destroy marriages to wreak havoc on society as a whole. One of his favorite targets is the marriage bed because of the power that it holds in our lives and the intimacy it develops between spouses. If you've given the enemy a foothold in your sex life, you need to watch out because he will attack your married sex life!
Your thoughts?
When I was in college, I hung out with self-described 'sluts' (both male and female) and got the opportunity to learn about sex and what it does to people who choose not to follow God's plan for sex. I was young, I was tired of 'religion' and I wanted to hang out with fun people so my 'posse' was the 'fun' crowd. Most of the people I hung out with were happy, bubbly and had a lot of sex (I was the odd ball that wouldn't put out, but I'll get to that later). When you got to the place where they'd open up in private about how their lives, most of them were wrecked with guilt, shame and regret over their lives; and to be honest I didn't understand their predicament. They were letting their body lead them, they satisfied every desire - how could they not be totally ecstatic about life? That brings me to the meat of my blog...
God Loves Sex
God made sex, and He wants us to have a lot of it - with our spouse. When God designed sex, He made a tool that would affect us in so many ways - physically, emotionally, psychologically, relationally and spiritually. God didn't give us any restrictions inside the marriage bed, we can do whatever we want! The sexual freedom is great, and the safety that marriage provides is breeding ground for experimentation (so don't listen to people who say sex with just one person is boring!).
Satan Loves Sex
Reviewing what we've already discussed, sex is powerful. It affects our entire persona, our entire being. The Enemy would love nothing more than to use it as a tool to destroy your life! Once you allow extra-marital sex into your life, you're in serious trouble. If you have sex before you're married, you will regret it - because you know you've done wrong (especially if you've been brought up in a religious environment). I don't need to warn you of the dangers, you know them already. Let's talk about the after-shock of immorality; the payments for your deeds. Most can rattle off the emotions that go through your mind after you're done (guilt, shame, etc) but we don't like talking about the long-term effects of sinful sex. I think that if the long-term effects of sinful sex weren't so destructive, Satan wouldn't care as much about getting us to fall in this area. The long-term effects include your children following in your footsteps, the memories, developing sexual habits that follow you into marriage (bringing your pre-determined ideas and/or favorites into your marriage could devestate your spouse) and multiple spiritual effects that I won't get in to.
Satan Hates Sex, Too
Satan hates sex because he hates successful marriages. God set up marriage as the foundation for societies, so Satan must destroy marriages to wreak havoc on society as a whole. One of his favorite targets is the marriage bed because of the power that it holds in our lives and the intimacy it develops between spouses. If you've given the enemy a foothold in your sex life, you need to watch out because he will attack your married sex life!
Your thoughts?
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Poverty
I've been thinking about money a lot recently, and one of the main topics I've been contemplating is poverty - poverty in finances and poverty in Spirit. There are many reasons for financial poverty listed in the Bible: oppression (or fraud), misfortune, judgment, laziness, gluttony, and the acceptance of a life of poverty. All of these factors could arguably come as a direct result of your disobedience with your finances; for God commands us to give a portion of our finances away for His glory. One man put it, "poverty is holding on to your money" which may sound like an oxymoron to some, but upon further study of the Scriptures has a ring of truth to it.
One of the questions I posed to a friend who was complaining about lack of finances was, "How much money are you giving away, because I bet you need to give more away before you're blessed with more." The concept is ludicrous to those who do not understand the Biblical concept of financial wealth, but I have found it to be true in my own life.
One of the hardest lessons me and Kathy learned was to give out of our lack; or give when we have nothing to give. When I was unemployed for five weeks after moving back here on faith, I was confused and a little hurt that God would me in this situation. Kathy came up with a great idea (that I thought was a little nutty): "Let's give to God and thank Him for bringing us out here and taking care of us." I figured I'd try it, and God kept giving us great opportunities to give. After like ten interviews with no call-backs, the money dwindling to nothing and my hope almost gone, me and Kath decided to give half of our remaining monies to a friend in need. Soon afterwards (I think it was the day after) I got a call back and was hired at a *great* job! What's the lesson? You never 'do not have enough to give.' If you don't have enough to pay your bills, it's all the more reason to give!
Following the same line of reasoning, poverty in Spirit comes from not sharing what God's given you. Why would God bless you if you're unwilling to share His gifts with others? It is not in God's nature. There's so much more to say on this, but I have to get to work.
Please share your thoughts. I hope I didn't offend anyone but I pray I convicted at least one of my readers. ;)
One of the questions I posed to a friend who was complaining about lack of finances was, "How much money are you giving away, because I bet you need to give more away before you're blessed with more." The concept is ludicrous to those who do not understand the Biblical concept of financial wealth, but I have found it to be true in my own life.
One of the hardest lessons me and Kathy learned was to give out of our lack; or give when we have nothing to give. When I was unemployed for five weeks after moving back here on faith, I was confused and a little hurt that God would me in this situation. Kathy came up with a great idea (that I thought was a little nutty): "Let's give to God and thank Him for bringing us out here and taking care of us." I figured I'd try it, and God kept giving us great opportunities to give. After like ten interviews with no call-backs, the money dwindling to nothing and my hope almost gone, me and Kath decided to give half of our remaining monies to a friend in need. Soon afterwards (I think it was the day after) I got a call back and was hired at a *great* job! What's the lesson? You never 'do not have enough to give.' If you don't have enough to pay your bills, it's all the more reason to give!
Following the same line of reasoning, poverty in Spirit comes from not sharing what God's given you. Why would God bless you if you're unwilling to share His gifts with others? It is not in God's nature. There's so much more to say on this, but I have to get to work.
Please share your thoughts. I hope I didn't offend anyone but I pray I convicted at least one of my readers. ;)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Scientific Proof?
While browsing the most popular religion blogs I come across a lot of atheists' blogs talking about how their beliefs are founded in 'reason' and 'scientific proof'. I thought about that for a second, and how 'reasonable' their beliefs are.
If you do not believe in a higher power you must shrug off the impossibility of matter just existing (how'd it get there?). Once you've accepted that scientific impossibility, you must then develop the faith to believe that this matter was pulled together by a force (gravity) and then "exploded" (actually expanded) into becoming our universe, earth and all. Most will tell you there is some order to this expansion (known in your science textbooks as the 'Big Bang'), but they have no idea what makes the rules or sets the order (some refer to 'nature' as being a higher power).
Now let's talk about life on earth and how it got to be what it is today. Most evolutionists (they can be different from atheists) believe that earth started in a 'primordial soup' environment, and very basic atomic elements combined with other very basic atomic elements to form the first 'living' organism (probably a protein of some kind). These mutations were advanced by an energy unseen (probably the sun and/or lightning) and continued in a rapid succession on a path to advanced life forms.
Fast-forward a few million years and our earth is now filled with basic organisms. There is one thing missing: intelligence. Where does intelligence come from? Let's ignore this huge gap and continue on our evolutionary journey. We have now made the jump from the most basic of life forms to a fish (granted, this took somewhere in the neighborhood of millions of years). For this to be possible, there must be an addition to the gene pool of the specimen. You can not get a more advanced specimen without there being a positive, beneficial and gene-increasing mutation. How can an organism make its way down the evolutionary path without accumulating more information/materials/genetic structure? Has this transformation ever been witnessed in a scientific lab? No.
I could go on and dissect every claim, every necessity for the evolutionary tale to have some merit but I'll stop here.
Read more at evolutionisimpossible.com.
If you do not believe in a higher power you must shrug off the impossibility of matter just existing (how'd it get there?). Once you've accepted that scientific impossibility, you must then develop the faith to believe that this matter was pulled together by a force (gravity) and then "exploded" (actually expanded) into becoming our universe, earth and all. Most will tell you there is some order to this expansion (known in your science textbooks as the 'Big Bang'), but they have no idea what makes the rules or sets the order (some refer to 'nature' as being a higher power).
Now let's talk about life on earth and how it got to be what it is today. Most evolutionists (they can be different from atheists) believe that earth started in a 'primordial soup' environment, and very basic atomic elements combined with other very basic atomic elements to form the first 'living' organism (probably a protein of some kind). These mutations were advanced by an energy unseen (probably the sun and/or lightning) and continued in a rapid succession on a path to advanced life forms.
Fast-forward a few million years and our earth is now filled with basic organisms. There is one thing missing: intelligence. Where does intelligence come from? Let's ignore this huge gap and continue on our evolutionary journey. We have now made the jump from the most basic of life forms to a fish (granted, this took somewhere in the neighborhood of millions of years). For this to be possible, there must be an addition to the gene pool of the specimen. You can not get a more advanced specimen without there being a positive, beneficial and gene-increasing mutation. How can an organism make its way down the evolutionary path without accumulating more information/materials/genetic structure? Has this transformation ever been witnessed in a scientific lab? No.
I could go on and dissect every claim, every necessity for the evolutionary tale to have some merit but I'll stop here.
Read more at evolutionisimpossible.com.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
When You Say You Love Me
Like the sound of silence calling,
I hear your voice and suddenly
I'm falling, lost in a dream.
Like the echoes of our souls are meeting,
You say those words and my heart stops beating.
I wonder what it means.
What could it be that comes over me?
At times I can't move.
At times I can hardly breathe.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
You're the one I've always thought of.
I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.
You're where I belong.
And when you're with me if I close my eyes,
There are times I swear I feel like I can fly
For a moment in time.
Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth ,
And frozen in time, Oh when you say those words.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
And this journey that we're on.
How far we've come and I celebrate every moment.
And when you say you love me,
That's all you have to say.
I'll always feel this way.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
In that moment,I know why I'm alive
When you say you love me.
When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you?
I hear your voice and suddenly
I'm falling, lost in a dream.
Like the echoes of our souls are meeting,
You say those words and my heart stops beating.
I wonder what it means.
What could it be that comes over me?
At times I can't move.
At times I can hardly breathe.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
You're the one I've always thought of.
I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.
You're where I belong.
And when you're with me if I close my eyes,
There are times I swear I feel like I can fly
For a moment in time.
Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth ,
And frozen in time, Oh when you say those words.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
And this journey that we're on.
How far we've come and I celebrate every moment.
And when you say you love me,
That's all you have to say.
I'll always feel this way.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
In that moment,I know why I'm alive
When you say you love me.
When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you?
Thoughts that have gone through my mind recently
I do not have the intellectual capacity to fathom the enormity of God's goodness
I hope that one day I understand the magnitude of "All things are possible for those who believe"
Jesus Christ is perfect theology
I still have not figured out why, in the eyes of many Christians, homosexuals are evil and people who have sex before marriage are not
If you've accepted Christ as your Savior you are no longer a sinner; so please stop referring to yourself as one
The prayer, "None of me and all of you" is valid at its face, but before you were saved God had none of you and He didn't like it
If you're not looking at the past through the lens of Jesus' sacrifice and what He's done for you, you are deceiving yourself
Why is it that Christian funerals always include "it was their time to go"? Jesus messed up every funeral he ever attended, including His own! Maybe it wasn't their time, but no one has the faith to "raise them from the dead"?
The disciples in the Bible made a lot of funny mistakes that make me feel better about myself
Hearing someone intentionally living in sin say they are "really close with God" makes me laugh on the outside and cry on the inside
Every human being longs to be righteous, that's why a lot of abortion-supporters work to "save the Earth" as they cheer the premature end of babies lives.
If the world is applauding you, they are cheering on your self-destruction; if God is happy with you, you are on the right track
I hope that one day I understand the magnitude of "All things are possible for those who believe"
Jesus Christ is perfect theology
I still have not figured out why, in the eyes of many Christians, homosexuals are evil and people who have sex before marriage are not
If you've accepted Christ as your Savior you are no longer a sinner; so please stop referring to yourself as one
The prayer, "None of me and all of you" is valid at its face, but before you were saved God had none of you and He didn't like it
If you're not looking at the past through the lens of Jesus' sacrifice and what He's done for you, you are deceiving yourself
Why is it that Christian funerals always include "it was their time to go"? Jesus messed up every funeral he ever attended, including His own! Maybe it wasn't their time, but no one has the faith to "raise them from the dead"?
The disciples in the Bible made a lot of funny mistakes that make me feel better about myself
Hearing someone intentionally living in sin say they are "really close with God" makes me laugh on the outside and cry on the inside
Every human being longs to be righteous, that's why a lot of abortion-supporters work to "save the Earth" as they cheer the premature end of babies lives.
If the world is applauding you, they are cheering on your self-destruction; if God is happy with you, you are on the right track
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
My Beloved
I have to take some time to throw a quick shout-out to my wife, Kathy. She has proven to be a reliable confidant, a great wife, a fantastic cook, a loving accountability partner, a selfless companion and a best friend. I love spending time with her, even if we're watching a movie. I look forward to coming home to her every day; and I love the quiet times we spend together. I'm proud to show her off to my friends and co-workers, and I can't wait to grow our family with her.
I love you Kathy.
I love you Kathy.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Goal: Perfection!
I have a new goal; and my first reaction was probably the same as yours will be: "Say what?"
I am striving to be perfect. No, no, that doesn't mean I'm going to try and be fake or happy all the time. My goal is to do everything right; say all the right things; have all the proper attitudes and display all the right emotions. I'm tired of messing up. I'm tired of sinning. I'm tired of hurting people. I want to be perfect.
What do I mean by "perfection"? Sinless. Is this possible without an overwhelming amount of self-control, patience and grace? No. Can I somehow attain this level of self-control, patience and grace on my own? No. My aspirations will require me to rely more on God than I ever have before!
There's some Scriptural backing for my aspirations, and I'll start with the words of Christ and move on to Paul:
Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect"
[Note that it is a command]
[Note that it is a command]
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears"
[the last phrase makes it sound like perfection is attainable...]2 Corinthians 13:9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.
And you know what? I'm no longer a sinner; I am no longer a slave to sin. I don't have to sin anymore. Perfection is attainable if I rely on Christ.
I'm totally serious about this. Keep me accountable; call me out!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Things Pastors Say That Make Me Mad
- Selling products for the pulpit - man, that's upsetting.
- Making fun of other Christian sects
- Endorsing political candidates or positions based on non-Biblical guidelines - I don't mind if you want us to vote for an anti-abortion measure; but refrain from encouraging us to endorse a candidate or proposition, please!
- Trying to leverage your convictions on to your congregation - if Christ didn't say not to do it; be cautious about what you tell others not to do (i.e.: what music to listen to)
- Fire and brimstone sermons - they get old
- Preaching hate from the pulpit - aren't we supposed to love everyone?
- Musings about your ideas on the 'spirit' world - come on!
What stuff do preachers say that makes you mad?
Monday, April 23, 2007
U R Church
Yesterday was the first service for Miles Brown's new church, U(pper) R(oom) Church; and this is my summary of the service and what I've seen so far in the church.
- The Atmosphere
There was definitely a buzz in the room; I could feel the excitement and anxiety. My guess was that people were so excited to start doing stuff and get away from all the destructive drama and back-stabbing. There was definitely a sense of unity in the church; and I haven't felt that in months! - The Worship
The worship was good; but it's always good with David Yorty. The energy from the worship was addicting, it made you want to sing. The volume kept going up as our passion went up; you could really feel it! It was, in a word, awesome. - The Sermon
Miles started his sermon with a great reminder: we can not walk in the attitudes of hatred, jealousy, anger, self-pity, or sadness. He exhorted us to treat all of our Christian brothers and sisters as co-workers for Christ and not as opposing players in a game. He also made a quip about 'If you think they're your enemy, take this change to love your enemy!', I thought that was pretty funny. :)
Miles also brought up the point that there are certain attutudes or mindsets you can "feel" coming from a person; such as anger, jealousy, hatred, love, peace, gentless, etc. These are things that emit such a strong energy that it change the dynamic in a small setting. The negative attitudes need to be combatted, Christians can't be effective if we're allowing these things to control us. He quoted 1 John 2:9 - "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness"
I highly recommend visiting the church and seeing it for yourself before it explodes, because I really think this church is going to grow - very fast.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Omnipotent? Nah
A common excuse for serving God or giving your life (back to?) God goes something like this:
I am/was a [ something negative here ] so I could never be [ positive characteristic ]
You've probably heard these or used these before; they're repeated often:
"I did some really bad things, so God doesn't want me."
"I turned my back on God, He won't accept me again."
"I really hurt someone, I'm not good enough for God."
The list goes on and on, but they're all lies. If you're using them today, know that those thoughts that you're not good enough to be accepted, loved, or used by God are all lies. God said He didn't come for the healthy; but for the sick (like you and me). God's grace is more than enough to cover over whatever you've done, cover over whatever lies you've told, forget the numerous times you walked away from Him and wash away any sins you've committed to try and hurt Him.
There's nothing you've done that disqualifies you from serving Him either. I don't care if you were/are a slut, drug dealer, murderer, porno star, liar, thief, anarchist, atheist, whatever you were it's over now and God wants to use you. I used to be a pervert (message me for more info, I'm not going to air it all out); but God is using me now despite that, and He's using me to reach out to others who are walking in the same grime I was walking in. Also, don't think of being "used" by God as something similar to a household chore - you get to lead others on a path of righteousness and witness God's power! Is there a miracle as amazing as watching God transform a life?
Don't let your pride, anger, hurt, pain, sadness, laziness or busyness get in the way of your destiny. Walking isn't good enough, run back to Christ! Bow your head and say, "OK God, I'm ready to accept your love and forgiveness, please use me." The action is easy but the effects are huge.
I am/was a [ something negative here ] so I could never be [ positive characteristic ]
You've probably heard these or used these before; they're repeated often:
"I did some really bad things, so God doesn't want me."
"I turned my back on God, He won't accept me again."
"I really hurt someone, I'm not good enough for God."
The list goes on and on, but they're all lies. If you're using them today, know that those thoughts that you're not good enough to be accepted, loved, or used by God are all lies. God said He didn't come for the healthy; but for the sick (like you and me). God's grace is more than enough to cover over whatever you've done, cover over whatever lies you've told, forget the numerous times you walked away from Him and wash away any sins you've committed to try and hurt Him.
There's nothing you've done that disqualifies you from serving Him either. I don't care if you were/are a slut, drug dealer, murderer, porno star, liar, thief, anarchist, atheist, whatever you were it's over now and God wants to use you. I used to be a pervert (message me for more info, I'm not going to air it all out); but God is using me now despite that, and He's using me to reach out to others who are walking in the same grime I was walking in. Also, don't think of being "used" by God as something similar to a household chore - you get to lead others on a path of righteousness and witness God's power! Is there a miracle as amazing as watching God transform a life?
Don't let your pride, anger, hurt, pain, sadness, laziness or busyness get in the way of your destiny. Walking isn't good enough, run back to Christ! Bow your head and say, "OK God, I'm ready to accept your love and forgiveness, please use me." The action is easy but the effects are huge.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Past Sex Offenders in the church?
There's a very interesting article in today's New York Times
It's the story of a man who confessed to his church congregation that he is a former child molester that served jail time; and how the congregation is dealing with the revelation.
It's the story of a man who confessed to his church congregation that he is a former child molester that served jail time; and how the congregation is dealing with the revelation.
Renewal
Just as our body regenerates itself on a periodic basis, so our hearts have the power to renew themselves over time. I believe that as we grow; our hearts and minds will either change as we attempt to better ourselves or become hardened in our bad habits and worldly mindsets. Paul addresses the issue of instant renewal in Romans when he says,
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If you long to break loose from conformity to the world; if you long to be transformed and new from the inside out; if you long to be free from mere duty-driven Christianity; if you long to offer up your body as a living; then give yourself with all your might to pursuing the renewal of your mind.
How do you renew your mind? I would suggest that you can not renew your mind; but you can only die to yourself and let God do the rest. What do you think?
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Theology Discussion
Lately I have seen some behaviors and heard a few doctrines that made me wonder; so I cracked open my Bible and took some notes! Let's talk...
Item 1: Being "drunk in the Spirit"
Context: Individual says they are so filled with the Spirit they feel "drunk" in the Spirit; individual starts acting loopy, can't stand straight, or breaks out in uncontrollable laughter.
Biblical Argument: Throughout the New Testament, believers are commanded to be "sober (1 Th. 5:6,8; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 1:13)" and "exhort to be sober-minded (Titus 2:6)". Whether we are drunk with wine or drunk in the Spirit, the effects are essentially the same – how is this pleasing to God or make a good witness?
Item 2: Being "slain in the Spirit"
Context: Individual is filled with the Holy Spirit (or "slain" with the Holy Spirit) and falls over
Biblical Argument: I couldn't find any references in the Scripture to people falling over when being filled with the Spirit; and if there is a reference to it I'm almost positive it would be when the believer was first filled with the Spirit. This behavior usually occurs when another individual touches the "slain" believer and the "slain" believer falls over. I don't see any Biblical context for this practice.
Item 3: Prophetic words
Context: Individual receives a word for another believer from God and shares it with the other believer
Biblical Argument: God speaks to His people; Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:1-16). Christians need to be careful relaying messages they believe to be from God to other believers, especially commands or instructions for their life. You better be darned sure that this instruction is from God. If I hear an instruction from God for my own life, follow it, and it proves to be not of God, then I am the only one made to look like a fool. However, if I take this spiritual gift into the world and approach a non-believer with a word from God and it proves to be wrong, I have soiled the reputation of the Lord for that person (thus the stoning command from God).
Monday, March 12, 2007
Who is this man?
I look at the man
And see something new
Each time I glance
Is it me or is it you?
One day a monster
The next day a leader
He looks like a man
Or he looks like a cheater
I see him daily
Adorned with a smile
Or a glare so fright
Am I crazy or in denial
Who is this man
This monster, this leader
It's the reflection I see
When I look in the mirror
And see something new
Each time I glance
Is it me or is it you?
One day a monster
The next day a leader
He looks like a man
Or he looks like a cheater
I see him daily
Adorned with a smile
Or a glare so fright
Am I crazy or in denial
Who is this man
This monster, this leader
It's the reflection I see
When I look in the mirror
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Wake Up Young Lady
You hate your life, you hate yourself
You hate the world, hate that you love someone else
Hate consuming, happiness alluding
Sorrows abound, failure looming
Wake up young lady, life isn't as it seems
Look up young lady, work to accomplish all your dreams
Wake up young lady, don't worry about the others
Look up young lady, you are not just a number
Despising romance, hating passion
Longing heart, bitter past and
Hate your future, coming fast
Forget it all, it never lasts
This world you call hell
It's all you got to live in
Live a story you can tell
Stop the hating, start the living
Wake up young lady, life isn't as it seems
Look up young lady, work to accomplish all your dreams
Wake up young lady, don't worry about the others
Look up young lady, you are not just a number
This depression that you wallow in
Will soon encompass all your thoughts
Maybe it's pride you should be swallowin
Leave the past, it's been forgot
You know there's more than this
The Truth shall set you free
Now quit drowning in your tears
And put away all your fears
There's more to life than this
Friday, March 02, 2007
Why Go to Church?
Since we have arrived back in California, Kathy and I started looking for a church. The search for a place to learn and worship on Sunday mornings has been somewhat frustrating because we haven’t gone to a place and received a “BOOM!” feeling, like this is the place we should be. To add to the confusion, at the same time we started looking for churches, I got into a discussion with a friend about attending church and he rattled off many logical points to explain why he no longer attends church. Perhaps an easier blog topic would have been on the reasons why not to attend church - I can mention many different things, but I’ll echo my friend’s points:
My friend knows the Bible much better than I do; his recollection of Scripture astounds me. But there’s something about going to a gathering of those who believe like you and hearing a sermon from someone who has studied the selected topic for an extended period of time. A good preacher will convict you, stretch you, challenge you and get you thinking about your faith. Without a regular test to your beliefs, how can you be solid in your faith or be able to defend the Truth to the skeptics (or even your own inner demons)? Note: Please never just accept a sermon’s theology; make sure you’re getting fed the Truth!
We are commanded to praise God; and part of this praise is through singing to Him. While I enjoy praising Christ during the week through my words and actions, it’s an experience to sing to the Creator with other believers and just worship Him for who He is and for what He’s done for you.
The church is not just there for you on Sunday mornings, many churches offer other services to their members (some do not require membership) like counseling, baptisms, Bible studies, classes on Biblical and extra-Biblical (finances, parenting) topics, addiction recovery programs and other benefits that can prove to be invaluable when you need them.
Lastly, one of the most controversial topics in the Church today is tithing. God commands us to give back a small portion of what we have been given, so by not giving back to Him in some fashion would be considered a sin (according to my interpretation of the Scriptures). Many churches or individual pastors seem to be constantly asking for your money; I understand and echo any unease this gives churchgoers and those that are considering whether or not to attend. I would encourage you to not give to that particular church if you do not feel like your money would be “wasted.” However, many churches do a lot of good things with the money! They need to keep the lights on, pay the staff, support their social programs, supply the classrooms, maintain their equipment, pay the rent, etc. If the regular attendees of the church do not contribute to the church fund, the church will shut down.
I hope this post was encouraging to you.
- The American church is, as a whole, dead and not passionate about Christ (this point can be argued, keep in mind this is coming from someone pessimistic about the American church)
- Christ says that where two or more people gather, He is there – so why go to a service at a specific church at a specific time just to be offended and/or disappointed by the church leadership?
- People that attend the church gossip too much, are hypocritical and judge too quickly
- All churches want is your money! (again, this is coming from a pessimist who has been burned)
- The benefits of gathering with a diverse group of people that share your beliefs, hold you accountable to your morals and enjoy the same activities you do are too many to mention.
- Sitting back in your chair and listening to someone give a motivational speech to improve your life is great. Throw in some conviction to change and you have a weekly “shot to the arm” to get you through the week.
- We are commanded to praise God, so by worshipping on Sunday morning we are obeying and we get to listen to some beautiful music by talented volunteers.
- Many churches offer services for their members such as counseling for the broken and baptismal services for those that wish to make a public proclamation of their faith.
- Christ commands us to give Him a portion of our finances; giving to the church you attend regularly could be one way to give back to Him.
My friend knows the Bible much better than I do; his recollection of Scripture astounds me. But there’s something about going to a gathering of those who believe like you and hearing a sermon from someone who has studied the selected topic for an extended period of time. A good preacher will convict you, stretch you, challenge you and get you thinking about your faith. Without a regular test to your beliefs, how can you be solid in your faith or be able to defend the Truth to the skeptics (or even your own inner demons)? Note: Please never just accept a sermon’s theology; make sure you’re getting fed the Truth!
We are commanded to praise God; and part of this praise is through singing to Him. While I enjoy praising Christ during the week through my words and actions, it’s an experience to sing to the Creator with other believers and just worship Him for who He is and for what He’s done for you.
The church is not just there for you on Sunday mornings, many churches offer other services to their members (some do not require membership) like counseling, baptisms, Bible studies, classes on Biblical and extra-Biblical (finances, parenting) topics, addiction recovery programs and other benefits that can prove to be invaluable when you need them.
Lastly, one of the most controversial topics in the Church today is tithing. God commands us to give back a small portion of what we have been given, so by not giving back to Him in some fashion would be considered a sin (according to my interpretation of the Scriptures). Many churches or individual pastors seem to be constantly asking for your money; I understand and echo any unease this gives churchgoers and those that are considering whether or not to attend. I would encourage you to not give to that particular church if you do not feel like your money would be “wasted.” However, many churches do a lot of good things with the money! They need to keep the lights on, pay the staff, support their social programs, supply the classrooms, maintain their equipment, pay the rent, etc. If the regular attendees of the church do not contribute to the church fund, the church will shut down.
I hope this post was encouraging to you.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Pirahnas
I've noticed a disturbing tendency among Christians (myself included) to have a pirahnic effect on our sinning brothers and sisters. The trend goes like this:
I'm posting this because I caught myself doing this very thing, and I wanted to throw it out there as a reminder: we have enough problems outside the church, let's not make church (or our church small groups) a burdensome place to be.
- Christian is told they are doing wrong (assuming this is done in a helpful, constructive manner)
- Fellow Christians come alongside the "sinner" and remind him of wrongdoing
- Christians talk among themselves about the "sinner" and the sin (gossip)
- Process continues until "sinner" feels condemned and leaves the church, extremely hurt and definitely not in the mood to repent
I'm posting this because I caught myself doing this very thing, and I wanted to throw it out there as a reminder: we have enough problems outside the church, let's not make church (or our church small groups) a burdensome place to be.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Spiritual Gifts and the Church
I’ll preface this post by outlining some conclusions I have come to: supernatural spiritual gifts are real, they are relevant, and they are powerful; any believer today can duplicate Christ’s miracles.
[Note: It is written that every believer should work out their faith for themselves, so don’t take my conclusive statements to be judgmental proclamations or factual points. If you disagree with my theological standpoint, feel free to email me and let me know where we disagree. Any constructive criticism related to my theology would be seen as an act of love for a brother in Christ you believe to be mistaken; and not as a personal attack on me or my beliefs.]
A church I attended regularly recently witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit through supernatural miracles. Before this experience the pastor was regularly preaching about the validity of spiritual gifts and the power we all have as believers. Now that this church has seen the miracles first-hand, the pastor is continuing to preach about the supernatural and our access to them. The reason I wrote this post is to ask this: is there a number of sermons (or another benchmark) by which we should draw a line for teaching about the same aspect of God? I’m concerned that a continued, non-stop focus on the same aspect will not edify the body; and as a result the believers will become stagnant and die!
Lastly, I want to state a disclaimer: I do not believe that the spiritual gifts should not be mentioned or imparted on a weekly basis. I am concerned with the focus of the sermons staying on the same topic; I am not implying or suggesting that we do not draw attention to the power of God on a weekly basis.
[Note: It is written that every believer should work out their faith for themselves, so don’t take my conclusive statements to be judgmental proclamations or factual points. If you disagree with my theological standpoint, feel free to email me and let me know where we disagree. Any constructive criticism related to my theology would be seen as an act of love for a brother in Christ you believe to be mistaken; and not as a personal attack on me or my beliefs.]
A church I attended regularly recently witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit through supernatural miracles. Before this experience the pastor was regularly preaching about the validity of spiritual gifts and the power we all have as believers. Now that this church has seen the miracles first-hand, the pastor is continuing to preach about the supernatural and our access to them. The reason I wrote this post is to ask this: is there a number of sermons (or another benchmark) by which we should draw a line for teaching about the same aspect of God? I’m concerned that a continued, non-stop focus on the same aspect will not edify the body; and as a result the believers will become stagnant and die!
Lastly, I want to state a disclaimer: I do not believe that the spiritual gifts should not be mentioned or imparted on a weekly basis. I am concerned with the focus of the sermons staying on the same topic; I am not implying or suggesting that we do not draw attention to the power of God on a weekly basis.
Monday, February 12, 2007
My Faith Has Been Rocked
Have you ever had an experience that completely changed the way you look at the world? And I don't mean in the cliche, oh-my-gosh-what-a-trip experience, but an event that makes you realize that your idea of reality is wrong? Well, I had one of those experiences on Saturday night.
Before I moved to Chicago I regularly attended church at Christian Life Assembly (Lancaster Blvd and 30th St East). This last weekend, CLA held a "Firestorm" meeting that was billed as a "healing service". I don't know about the readers of this blog, but I was more than skeptical - I was downright cynical that anything would happen. I didn't attend this meeting to be healed or delivered or anything positive, but to cast a skeptical eye upon these guests. The service was nothing extraordinary, and I didn't really find any holes in their theology or their explanations of miracles and the possibility of miracles happening today. I believe that God can still work through people if he wishes, but I hadn't seen it and I know some really "religious" (for lack of a better term) people, fellow believers that I look up to for wisdom had never had this happen to them.
At the end of the sermon, the main speaker and his team of about ten students stood up and gave an open invitation for anyone to come to the front to get prayed over. So, me and Kathy walked up to the front. I can't explain why I felt the urge to get prayer, but I definitely felt like I should go up there. I reasoned, "What's the worst that can happen?" One of the students came up to Kathy and explained she would like to get healed. Kathy explained to her how her neck's been in constant pain for years, her back's misaligned, her hip has been really bothering her, she had tendonitis in her knee and her right achilles tendon has been very painful as of late. So the woman prayed for her and asked Kathy, "Do you feel anything?"
Kathy moved her neck from side-to-side, bent her knees, moved her ankle in a circle and replied, "No, I don't feel anything. That's the weird thing. I was in pain two seconds ago!" I looked at Kathy with an are-you-nuts look...I thought she was pulling my leg here. She looked up at me and couldn't contain her excitement. "Alex! Oh my gosh, I have no pain! This is great!" Ever the unbeliever, I was happy but not quite yet to throw my towel in the ring. I asked her throughout the night, "Do you have any pain now?" "No! This is so awesome!"
Not to repeat myself, but I always believed God could work miracles and heal people as He wished. But it was never going to happen to me, or through me. I was wrong. It happened to my wife; and I'm a believer.
Come to Christian Life Assembly one Sunday and see what all the fuss is about.
Before I moved to Chicago I regularly attended church at Christian Life Assembly (Lancaster Blvd and 30th St East). This last weekend, CLA held a "Firestorm" meeting that was billed as a "healing service". I don't know about the readers of this blog, but I was more than skeptical - I was downright cynical that anything would happen. I didn't attend this meeting to be healed or delivered or anything positive, but to cast a skeptical eye upon these guests. The service was nothing extraordinary, and I didn't really find any holes in their theology or their explanations of miracles and the possibility of miracles happening today. I believe that God can still work through people if he wishes, but I hadn't seen it and I know some really "religious" (for lack of a better term) people, fellow believers that I look up to for wisdom had never had this happen to them.
At the end of the sermon, the main speaker and his team of about ten students stood up and gave an open invitation for anyone to come to the front to get prayed over. So, me and Kathy walked up to the front. I can't explain why I felt the urge to get prayer, but I definitely felt like I should go up there. I reasoned, "What's the worst that can happen?" One of the students came up to Kathy and explained she would like to get healed. Kathy explained to her how her neck's been in constant pain for years, her back's misaligned, her hip has been really bothering her, she had tendonitis in her knee and her right achilles tendon has been very painful as of late. So the woman prayed for her and asked Kathy, "Do you feel anything?"
Kathy moved her neck from side-to-side, bent her knees, moved her ankle in a circle and replied, "No, I don't feel anything. That's the weird thing. I was in pain two seconds ago!" I looked at Kathy with an are-you-nuts look...I thought she was pulling my leg here. She looked up at me and couldn't contain her excitement. "Alex! Oh my gosh, I have no pain! This is great!" Ever the unbeliever, I was happy but not quite yet to throw my towel in the ring. I asked her throughout the night, "Do you have any pain now?" "No! This is so awesome!"
Not to repeat myself, but I always believed God could work miracles and heal people as He wished. But it was never going to happen to me, or through me. I was wrong. It happened to my wife; and I'm a believer.
Come to Christian Life Assembly one Sunday and see what all the fuss is about.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Life in California
Man, is it great to be back in sunny California! I have a good job out here (I'm not sure yet how good of a job it is, we'll see as time goes by), my business is doing good and I'm hopping back in the political game. Me and Kathy have a *great* apartment in Lancaster, we absolutely love it. Kathy did an awesome job decorating the place (of course), pictures will be up soon.
Our marriage is different now. In Illinois, I relied on Kathy for support; out here the roles have reversed because of our friends situation. It's not bad, it's just different - arguably healthier. Married life is great and I love it; but man is it hard work! I can't imagine what Kathy goes through living with me! :P
Me and Kath are looking for a church out here, we really want to find a small, stable church where we can feel close to a lot of people (and not just a number) and be fed on a regular basis. I have a great community with a lot of the people at Christian Life Assembly, but I'm not sure that's where God wants us to worship right now. We're looking at a few places right now, we'll be attending Quartz Hill Community this weekend, if you're interested I'll let you know what I think of it after we go.
I am so, so happy to be back and be able to hang out with all my friends! I missed so many people, I need to work to get those friendships back to being solid again. Distance and time do a lot to erode friendships, it'll take some work to get them all back. Marriage also plays a big role in friendships, I just don't have as much free time anymore!
So that's my brief update, more blogs on my deep (?) thoughts soon.
Our marriage is different now. In Illinois, I relied on Kathy for support; out here the roles have reversed because of our friends situation. It's not bad, it's just different - arguably healthier. Married life is great and I love it; but man is it hard work! I can't imagine what Kathy goes through living with me! :P
Me and Kath are looking for a church out here, we really want to find a small, stable church where we can feel close to a lot of people (and not just a number) and be fed on a regular basis. I have a great community with a lot of the people at Christian Life Assembly, but I'm not sure that's where God wants us to worship right now. We're looking at a few places right now, we'll be attending Quartz Hill Community this weekend, if you're interested I'll let you know what I think of it after we go.
I am so, so happy to be back and be able to hang out with all my friends! I missed so many people, I need to work to get those friendships back to being solid again. Distance and time do a lot to erode friendships, it'll take some work to get them all back. Marriage also plays a big role in friendships, I just don't have as much free time anymore!
So that's my brief update, more blogs on my deep (?) thoughts soon.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The Man Has to Protect the Wife...From Herself
There are so many lessons to be learned from the first sin committed; I just want to touch on one of them that really applies to marriage. Reading out of Genesis 2...
Notice the last part of the verse, Adam was 'with her, and he ate it'. So he was just standing there watching this whole thing go down, then he took a bite of it too (followed her into sin). It's easy to point out that the woman "brought down the man" in this situation but was the man really doing what he was supposed to (quick note: Adam didn't have any scriptures to follow)? Absolutely not; the biblical guidelines for the husband clearly states we are supposed to be the spiritual leaders in the household. That means that it is my job to call Kathy on her sin when I see it; furthermore if I just stand there and let her do something we both know is wrong it is far more likely I will go down the same path.
This is just another call for me to be a stronger spiritual leader, and to set a good example. Imagine what it will be like when I have kids! *gulp*
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."
Notice the last part of the verse, Adam was 'with her, and he ate it'. So he was just standing there watching this whole thing go down, then he took a bite of it too (followed her into sin). It's easy to point out that the woman "brought down the man" in this situation but was the man really doing what he was supposed to (quick note: Adam didn't have any scriptures to follow)? Absolutely not; the biblical guidelines for the husband clearly states we are supposed to be the spiritual leaders in the household. That means that it is my job to call Kathy on her sin when I see it; furthermore if I just stand there and let her do something we both know is wrong it is far more likely I will go down the same path.
This is just another call for me to be a stronger spiritual leader, and to set a good example. Imagine what it will be like when I have kids! *gulp*
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Timeless Quotes from James Russell Lowell
I came upon these gems today and needed to share some of them...
"Fate loves the fearless."
"An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run."
"Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind."
"Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor."
"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle."
"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change."
Read more here! http://brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_russell_lowell.html
"Fate loves the fearless."
"An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run."
"Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind."
"Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor."
"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle."
"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change."
Read more here! http://brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_russell_lowell.html
Are Men Afraid of Strong Women?
This post may deviate a little from the title, there's a lot on my mind in relation to marriage and relationships in general. A little foreword: I'm reading the book titled "Power of a Praying Husband" and although I'm only in the first chapter, I highly recommend it to all the husbands (and soon-to-be husbands) out there. Stacie does a great job of laying out the biblical case for praying for your wife and what responsibilities the husband has in the marriage. There's a particular verse that should send a fear down every husbands' spine:
If you don't honor your wife your prayers (your direct conversations with God) will be hindered and cut off. I've read this verse before, but it freaks me out everytime I read it! Moving on to the main topic at hand; I got to thinking why some men were afraid of strong women, when I got a revelation! Men aren't afraid of strong women, they're afraid of stronger women! Men do not want to be the weakest link in the marriage; and one can make a case that this is the biblical guideline. As a result, some men will try and keep their woman down so their manhood is not threatened. Let's face some facts, it's easier to bring a woman down than a man (generally speaking). As husbands, we have to work with our lady to bring her up; we need her to be as strong and confident as she can be so that together we can accomplish what God has set out for us to do. If you've entered parenthood, you need your wife to be as strong a mother as she can be.
Moving on to praying for my wife...it's hard. It's not that I'm selfish with my prayers, but I just don't feel comfortable praying for other people that much. I'll pray for my accountability partners, but that's because I know they're praying for me as well - and for some reason that makes it easier for me. Incorporating our spiritual lives has been a huge struggle for me and Kath, because we have no idea where to begin. Sometimes we pray together, sometimes we share verses with each other, but I'm kind of lost on how to make us one as a spiritual unit (and what boundaries need to be set, if any).
Random note: am I missing the point of the " We will wait upon the Lord" song or does it make no sense whatsoever?
1 Peter 3:7 (AMP)
In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God's unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.]
In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God's unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.]
If you don't honor your wife your prayers (your direct conversations with God) will be hindered and cut off. I've read this verse before, but it freaks me out everytime I read it! Moving on to the main topic at hand; I got to thinking why some men were afraid of strong women, when I got a revelation! Men aren't afraid of strong women, they're afraid of stronger women! Men do not want to be the weakest link in the marriage; and one can make a case that this is the biblical guideline. As a result, some men will try and keep their woman down so their manhood is not threatened. Let's face some facts, it's easier to bring a woman down than a man (generally speaking). As husbands, we have to work with our lady to bring her up; we need her to be as strong and confident as she can be so that together we can accomplish what God has set out for us to do. If you've entered parenthood, you need your wife to be as strong a mother as she can be.
Moving on to praying for my wife...it's hard. It's not that I'm selfish with my prayers, but I just don't feel comfortable praying for other people that much. I'll pray for my accountability partners, but that's because I know they're praying for me as well - and for some reason that makes it easier for me. Incorporating our spiritual lives has been a huge struggle for me and Kath, because we have no idea where to begin. Sometimes we pray together, sometimes we share verses with each other, but I'm kind of lost on how to make us one as a spiritual unit (and what boundaries need to be set, if any).
Random note: am I missing the point of the " We will wait upon the Lord" song or does it make no sense whatsoever?
Friday, January 12, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Anyone have a crystal ball I can borrow?
So I find out in a week if I'm moving to California or not - and my emotions are mixed. There's so many things going on in my head:
- What will it be like back home now that I'm married?
- Will Kathy like being back in California?
- How will our marriage be different?
- What will my job be like?
- Will I be able to resume my political aspirations?
- How is church going to be? Will me and Kathy agree on a church to attend?
- How are we going to balance our marriage, family and friends?
- Shoot, what's it going to be like having in-laws over at my house!?
Monday, January 08, 2007
Why Do I Love My Wife? Let Me Count the Ways...
- She is beautiful (I know they say looks shouldn't matter, but...)
- She is spunky
- She doesn't take any crap from me, which makes me become a better person
- She makes me laugh
- She's great in bed (what, it's true!)
- She's optimistic
- She loves me for me and not who she wants me to be
- She's very encouraging
- She knows how to tell me No
- She pushes me to become better
- She gives me hope when I have none
- She's extremely well organized and clean...except for her pile
- She has the greatest laugh
- She is very creative
- She can cook an amazing meal
- She has an amazing voice
- She makes our home look so warming
- She's very supportive
- Her kisses make all the pain go away
- She is going to be a great mother
Friday, January 05, 2007
Hear My Plea
Dear Heavenly Father;
Please answer my cries for help. I'm in so much pain I can't breathe. Are you there? Have I fallen completely out of favor with You? My mind needs some light, or at least an answer.
I've done what I thought was right, I answered your call and gave up everything when you asked without asking for anything in return. Where are You now? Why have you left me with nothing but pain and suffering and anguish?
Please lead me out of this. Allow me to continue the mission you've given me. Please.
Please answer my cries for help. I'm in so much pain I can't breathe. Are you there? Have I fallen completely out of favor with You? My mind needs some light, or at least an answer.
I've done what I thought was right, I answered your call and gave up everything when you asked without asking for anything in return. Where are You now? Why have you left me with nothing but pain and suffering and anguish?
Please lead me out of this. Allow me to continue the mission you've given me. Please.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Happiness
* What makes you happy at work? Being challenged
* What makes you happy at home? Relaxing with my wife!
* What makes you happy with your friends and family? Quality time
* What makes you happy when you're by yourself? Being productive or, if I need to, just relaxing
* What do you love to do? Accomplish things people say I can't do
* What would you do with your life today if you weren't afraid of failure? Failure doesn't scare me
* What's not working in your life? My social life
* What are you currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy? Not having any friends out here kind of sucks
* What's working in your life? Everything besides my lack of friends
* Who's not working in your life? I wish I was closer with Steve K, Dan, Chris Little and my wife
* Who in your life is subtracting value from and adding misery to it? No one. I quickly weed out people who make my life miserable
* Can you fix any of these relationships, or should you let them go from your life? I let them all go
* What relationships are working in your life? My marriage, Kyle, and my family
* If we were getting together one year from today, what would have to happen for you to be able to tell me that you now have more joy in your life? I would be working on my political aspirations
* What's the single most important thing you've learned about yourself as a result of answering these questions? I really miss politics.
* What makes you happy at home? Relaxing with my wife!
* What makes you happy with your friends and family? Quality time
* What makes you happy when you're by yourself? Being productive or, if I need to, just relaxing
* What do you love to do? Accomplish things people say I can't do
* What would you do with your life today if you weren't afraid of failure? Failure doesn't scare me
* What's not working in your life? My social life
* What are you currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy? Not having any friends out here kind of sucks
* What's working in your life? Everything besides my lack of friends
* Who's not working in your life? I wish I was closer with Steve K, Dan, Chris Little and my wife
* Who in your life is subtracting value from and adding misery to it? No one. I quickly weed out people who make my life miserable
* Can you fix any of these relationships, or should you let them go from your life? I let them all go
* What relationships are working in your life? My marriage, Kyle, and my family
* If we were getting together one year from today, what would have to happen for you to be able to tell me that you now have more joy in your life? I would be working on my political aspirations
* What's the single most important thing you've learned about yourself as a result of answering these questions? I really miss politics.
Regret
At some point in your life you will do something you regret doing later, only the magnitude of the mistake is the question. After you've done something you regret and come to the place where you realize it was a mistake one of two things will happen: you will either emerge from the pain a better person or drown in self-pity and self-loathing. The pain of realizing a big mistake encompasses you in a darkness that is indescribable, only those that have been there can relate. You must walk towards Christ's healing power, or forever stay in the darkness - and endlessly try and drown out the pain using other methods.
From personal experience, there are multiple steps you go through on your way to healing. First, there's the realization that you made a mistake. This first step can definitely be the hardest to get past, because our human nature wants to deny that we ever made a mistake. To drown out the negative chorus we will usually do the exact same thing, or try and get others to follow our footsteps so that we don't feel as bad about our own errors.
The second step to recovery, once you have decided to right your wrong, is forgiveness of self. You do not deny that what you did is wrong, you do not minimize the pain you caused yourself and you do not forget your error. You forgive yourself. You must forgive your own ignorance, your own stupidity, your own weaknesses, and whatever else caused you to fall in this pit.
Lastly, you need to mend the wounds you've caused, to yourself and others. Some mistakes will stay with you for life. Ask the murderer spending the rest of his life in jail or the adulterer who will never see his bride again - they may have forgiven themselves but their punishment is lifelong.
2 Corinthians 7:10
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
From personal experience, there are multiple steps you go through on your way to healing. First, there's the realization that you made a mistake. This first step can definitely be the hardest to get past, because our human nature wants to deny that we ever made a mistake. To drown out the negative chorus we will usually do the exact same thing, or try and get others to follow our footsteps so that we don't feel as bad about our own errors.
The second step to recovery, once you have decided to right your wrong, is forgiveness of self. You do not deny that what you did is wrong, you do not minimize the pain you caused yourself and you do not forget your error. You forgive yourself. You must forgive your own ignorance, your own stupidity, your own weaknesses, and whatever else caused you to fall in this pit.
Lastly, you need to mend the wounds you've caused, to yourself and others. Some mistakes will stay with you for life. Ask the murderer spending the rest of his life in jail or the adulterer who will never see his bride again - they may have forgiven themselves but their punishment is lifelong.
2 Corinthians 7:10
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Fight For Me
The battle has begun
Two rivals fighting for one
The Enemy on one side promises Fun
The Redeemer opposing urging me run
The fork in the road before me
Fun and ruin or fight and glory
The war that rages within
Between what is right and what is sin
The drinks don't drown out the anger
Only pour fuel on the fire, raising the danger
Either drop the past and run
Or rectify the "waste" with fun
The end result remains to be seen
But we know this for certain:
The race will finish with either regret
Or the completion of a dream
Two rivals fighting for one
The Enemy on one side promises Fun
The Redeemer opposing urging me run
The fork in the road before me
Fun and ruin or fight and glory
The war that rages within
Between what is right and what is sin
The drinks don't drown out the anger
Only pour fuel on the fire, raising the danger
Either drop the past and run
Or rectify the "waste" with fun
The end result remains to be seen
But we know this for certain:
The race will finish with either regret
Or the completion of a dream
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