As the New Year approaches, so comes that time of the year when New Year's Resolutions are made and people reflect on the past year. Most importantly the year must start and end with God being the focal point of my entire life. I have seen so many different examples of God's presence in my life throughout the past year and I am so looking forward to a new year of putting Him first in my life.
Growth is so important in this time of my life and I have seen, through God's grace, a lot of personal growth. I have found focus and a career path for my time after college and this realization has allowed me to be more intensive with my studies and my relationships. To God be the GLORY!!!
I am looking forward to 2012 for all that it holds. I have no idea what God has planned for me this year but my personal desire is to be a MAN OF GOD!!! I find this section from Ephesians chapter 5 to be pretty much my desire:
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." (Ephesians 5)
Friday, December 30, 2011
...
There was a time in my life when I was so sure of everything. I knew what i wanted to do as a career, I was going to play college football and then graduate with a degree in Aerospace Engineering to work for NASA. Today my life looks nothing like it. After a year of horrible injuries in football, I was left with a body that could not sustain a full football season without 2 to 3 major surgeries. I also decided to transfer schools because I needed to get away from some of the more negative influences I had on Case's campus. I decided to go to Hillsdale and, while I know now that this decision was the best for me and something God wanted me to do, it has left me for the past year and half struggling to find my identity.
It seems like everywhere I turn I can't really fit in with anyone. To the athletes I'm not an athlete on Hillsdale's campus so noone can respect me that way. To the ordinary students, I am still too much like an athlete to be respected. I have seen friendships slowly slip away as I have been at Hillsdale for no apparent reasons so I am tempted to think its me.
The same goes for girls! To them, I am just like theyre "older brother." I get stuck in the friend stage with girls and then if they find out that I like them, suddenly things get weird. No girl on campus ever likes me in a dating kind of way so I am stuck in this single period of my life. I know this is probably because of my weight but girls dont stop and realize that the biggest reason why Im this big right now is because i couldnt run for like 8 months straight after I stopped playing football. You know its funny, cuz girls are always saying that they don't look at the outside of a guy when deciding if they like him, its the inside that matters, I think its just not true most of the time. I try not to let it get the best of me but when you see girls you like going out with guys that aren't good for them and you know they will never like you, its frustrating!
But anyways, what can I do?? I can't change the way people are or how they see me. I guess I will just concentrate on impressing the ONLY ONE WHO MATTERS, Jesus. Maybe one day it will be my turn to have a girlfriend seeing as I am the only one out of my friend-group who hasn't had a serious relationship ever. Maybe one day it will be my turn. Until girls can view me differently, it might be a while...
It seems like everywhere I turn I can't really fit in with anyone. To the athletes I'm not an athlete on Hillsdale's campus so noone can respect me that way. To the ordinary students, I am still too much like an athlete to be respected. I have seen friendships slowly slip away as I have been at Hillsdale for no apparent reasons so I am tempted to think its me.
The same goes for girls! To them, I am just like theyre "older brother." I get stuck in the friend stage with girls and then if they find out that I like them, suddenly things get weird. No girl on campus ever likes me in a dating kind of way so I am stuck in this single period of my life. I know this is probably because of my weight but girls dont stop and realize that the biggest reason why Im this big right now is because i couldnt run for like 8 months straight after I stopped playing football. You know its funny, cuz girls are always saying that they don't look at the outside of a guy when deciding if they like him, its the inside that matters, I think its just not true most of the time. I try not to let it get the best of me but when you see girls you like going out with guys that aren't good for them and you know they will never like you, its frustrating!
But anyways, what can I do?? I can't change the way people are or how they see me. I guess I will just concentrate on impressing the ONLY ONE WHO MATTERS, Jesus. Maybe one day it will be my turn to have a girlfriend seeing as I am the only one out of my friend-group who hasn't had a serious relationship ever. Maybe one day it will be my turn. Until girls can view me differently, it might be a while...
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
WELFARE...Destroying American families since FDR!!
I have been reading many different things over break regarding our current welfare state and have come up with some interesting solutions. The first thing to note is that almost every single welfare act was designed, in principle, for a very great purpose however, over time, that purpose has morphed into a business of sort. People complain about the loss of family values in the United States but never really look at the real reasons why such a loss has occurred. First and foremost, the downfall in TRUE religion in the United States has produced a culture where almost anything is considered normal and true. Secondly, the welfare state has produced a generation of people who expect everything to be given to them by the government.
The loss of religion has produced perhaps one of the greatest genocides ever in the ever-growing support of Abortion. Abortion is and will forever remain an act of killing an unborn human child. People can debate the issue of when does the heart start beating all they want but the truth is; from the moment the egg splits in two, that is a living organism and has a DNA structure which is completely its own. It's DNA is made up of each parents so it is unique!! This casual attitude my generation has taken towards abortion is fueled by society saying that having sex out of wedlock is ok. It's not ok alright!! Let's just get that out of the way. The government constantly preaches about contraceptives and how such protection is all you need to avoid getting pregnant. What this has done is to completely destroy the institution of marriage and then we wonder why the divorce rate is so high. Waiting until you are married to have sex is not a prude thing to do, it is that way because most people are not mature enough to have a baby until they are mature enough to get married. The government passed an act in the 50's to help independent mothers with their children. This bill was originally designed for a good purpose to help mothers who's husbands had run away or been killed. Today it is a corrupt business where women purposely have children out of wedlock and then make huge amounts of money off of taxpayer money! In short, WE are paying for these women to irresponsible! Even more important is the message this sends to young teens. By giving these women money, we are telling all teenage girls that it's ok if you get pregnant out of wedlock because, if you do, the government will take of you.
The loss of religion has produced perhaps one of the greatest genocides ever in the ever-growing support of Abortion. Abortion is and will forever remain an act of killing an unborn human child. People can debate the issue of when does the heart start beating all they want but the truth is; from the moment the egg splits in two, that is a living organism and has a DNA structure which is completely its own. It's DNA is made up of each parents so it is unique!! This casual attitude my generation has taken towards abortion is fueled by society saying that having sex out of wedlock is ok. It's not ok alright!! Let's just get that out of the way. The government constantly preaches about contraceptives and how such protection is all you need to avoid getting pregnant. What this has done is to completely destroy the institution of marriage and then we wonder why the divorce rate is so high. Waiting until you are married to have sex is not a prude thing to do, it is that way because most people are not mature enough to have a baby until they are mature enough to get married. The government passed an act in the 50's to help independent mothers with their children. This bill was originally designed for a good purpose to help mothers who's husbands had run away or been killed. Today it is a corrupt business where women purposely have children out of wedlock and then make huge amounts of money off of taxpayer money! In short, WE are paying for these women to irresponsible! Even more important is the message this sends to young teens. By giving these women money, we are telling all teenage girls that it's ok if you get pregnant out of wedlock because, if you do, the government will take of you.
Life...what really matters?
I have been spending a lot of time lately thinking about my plans for the future and something has really stood out to me. What does God want me to do? We spend so much time worrying about what jobs we will have or who we will date but so many times, we lose sight of God. It is a relief to know that, should we bring those worries or requests to God, He will as Paul writes in Romans 8:
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[h] for those who are called according to his purpose.
Think about it!!! God knows our desires and prayers before we even say them!! It is truly a humbling realization. So what does God want me to do?? I don't know 100%, all I know is God has put a desire in my heart to make a change in the way people in my generation view government. That is the desire I have and God has given me a yearning for this; I hope and pray this is His Will for me!! The same goes with girls, relationships, etc.. We will never know 100% if the one we like is THE ONE, but when two people are completely focused on God and He brings them together, I believe it is usually a good start!!
May the Lord Bless us
May the Lord Keep us
May the Lord Lift up His Divine Countenance upon us
And Bring us PEACE!!
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[h] for those who are called according to his purpose.
Think about it!!! God knows our desires and prayers before we even say them!! It is truly a humbling realization. So what does God want me to do?? I don't know 100%, all I know is God has put a desire in my heart to make a change in the way people in my generation view government. That is the desire I have and God has given me a yearning for this; I hope and pray this is His Will for me!! The same goes with girls, relationships, etc.. We will never know 100% if the one we like is THE ONE, but when two people are completely focused on God and He brings them together, I believe it is usually a good start!!
May the Lord Bless us
May the Lord Keep us
May the Lord Lift up His Divine Countenance upon us
And Bring us PEACE!!
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
The Price Believers Pay
In this day and age, so many so-called "Christians" live their daily lives and go to church on sunday. The problem here is if you were to examine their daily lives throughout the week on the premise of "if you are a Christian, I should be able to see Jesus Christ in all that you do every single day," there would be some major discrepancies. This idea has been weighing on my mind most of the past few months and I have turned to the Bible to find the answer to this question. First and foremost, Jesus plainly tells us in Matthew 16:24 that:
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."
For too many people, Christianity is a feeling and a process of going to church on sundays. Christianity is infinitely more. To follow the One who came to die for our sins, we must give up everything in us that works contrary to THAT reason for which Jesus' earthly existance was required. If we are not meant to actively get rid of those habits, whether its drinking or just acting wrongly with women; then why is the Bible filled with verses like:
For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other. For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always critical and catty, watch out! Beware of ruining each other. Galatians 5: 13-15
Anyone who says he is walking in the light of Christ but dislikes his fellow man is still in darkness. But whoever loves his fellow man is “walking in the light” and can see his way without stumbling around in darkness and sin. For he who dislikes his brother is wandering in spiritual darkness and doesn’t know where he is going, for the darkness has made him blind so that he cannot see the way.
1 John 2: 9-11
Yes, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14: 12
And I tell you this, that you must give account on Judgment Day for every idle word you speak. Matthew 12: 36
Your words now reflect your fate then: either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned. Matthew 12: 37
God tolerated man’s past ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone to put away idols and worship only him. For he has set a day for justly judging the world by the man he has appointed, and has pointed him out by bringing him back to life again. Acts 17: 30-31
Remember, too, that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.
James 4: 17
We MUST give up everything in us that works contrary to Gods' redeeming presence in us. There is no room for error, no time to wait, and the clock in our lives clicks on. More Christians need to have the attiude of "taking up their crosses" because if you put your faith in that context, the big truth immediately becomes clear. Being a Christian in these times is going to make many people hate you and that is a good thing!! It has taken me a long time to figure this out. I went through the Christian motions but, in the back of my mind, I always wanted people to like me, especially those who weren't Christians. None of us know the hour of our deaths so we cannot afford to say "oh, I'm gonna go out drinking tonight because I want to, but it will be the only time this semester" or "Im gonna date this girl, even tho I know shes not a Christian because shes cute and maybe through dating me, she will become a Christian." We do not have that time, I personally want to know that I have, to the best of my ability, been TRULY a man carrying the Cross of Christ when it comes my time to face the final test of death!!
We need to focus on the fact that we will stand in Judgment one day and we will be tried for our actions on this earth. I was watching a movie the other day called Kingdom of Heaven, its an awesome movie about the defense of Jerusalem by Crusaders against the Saracens attacking it. Its a classic war movie but I was struck by a line in the movie where one of the main characters, when speaking about virtue says:
But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time." This will not suffice. Remember that!
Our soul IS in our keeping and it is up to us to face the onslaught from the World with a happy heart knowing we are taking up our crosses!!! Remember, earth is temporary, but HEAVEN is FOREVER!!! Keep your eyes ever on Him who we owe everything!!!
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."
For too many people, Christianity is a feeling and a process of going to church on sundays. Christianity is infinitely more. To follow the One who came to die for our sins, we must give up everything in us that works contrary to THAT reason for which Jesus' earthly existance was required. If we are not meant to actively get rid of those habits, whether its drinking or just acting wrongly with women; then why is the Bible filled with verses like:
For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other. For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always critical and catty, watch out! Beware of ruining each other. Galatians 5: 13-15
Anyone who says he is walking in the light of Christ but dislikes his fellow man is still in darkness. But whoever loves his fellow man is “walking in the light” and can see his way without stumbling around in darkness and sin. For he who dislikes his brother is wandering in spiritual darkness and doesn’t know where he is going, for the darkness has made him blind so that he cannot see the way.
1 John 2: 9-11
Yes, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14: 12
And I tell you this, that you must give account on Judgment Day for every idle word you speak. Matthew 12: 36
Your words now reflect your fate then: either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned. Matthew 12: 37
God tolerated man’s past ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone to put away idols and worship only him. For he has set a day for justly judging the world by the man he has appointed, and has pointed him out by bringing him back to life again. Acts 17: 30-31
Remember, too, that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.
James 4: 17
We MUST give up everything in us that works contrary to Gods' redeeming presence in us. There is no room for error, no time to wait, and the clock in our lives clicks on. More Christians need to have the attiude of "taking up their crosses" because if you put your faith in that context, the big truth immediately becomes clear. Being a Christian in these times is going to make many people hate you and that is a good thing!! It has taken me a long time to figure this out. I went through the Christian motions but, in the back of my mind, I always wanted people to like me, especially those who weren't Christians. None of us know the hour of our deaths so we cannot afford to say "oh, I'm gonna go out drinking tonight because I want to, but it will be the only time this semester" or "Im gonna date this girl, even tho I know shes not a Christian because shes cute and maybe through dating me, she will become a Christian." We do not have that time, I personally want to know that I have, to the best of my ability, been TRULY a man carrying the Cross of Christ when it comes my time to face the final test of death!!
We need to focus on the fact that we will stand in Judgment one day and we will be tried for our actions on this earth. I was watching a movie the other day called Kingdom of Heaven, its an awesome movie about the defense of Jerusalem by Crusaders against the Saracens attacking it. Its a classic war movie but I was struck by a line in the movie where one of the main characters, when speaking about virtue says:
But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time." This will not suffice. Remember that!
Our soul IS in our keeping and it is up to us to face the onslaught from the World with a happy heart knowing we are taking up our crosses!!! Remember, earth is temporary, but HEAVEN is FOREVER!!! Keep your eyes ever on Him who we owe everything!!!
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