Saturday, June 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
YOUTH: THE MILLENNIALS
I will be addressing the youth of today. I want to try and get them to understand the concept of love, and what that means. The scripture we will be focusing on is 1 John 4:9-11 which says: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
This can sometimes be a hard concept for youth to understand since the only kind of love they see on TV is the love that includes sex and things that promote sexual promiscuity. So how do we get them to see Agape love and show that to one another?
For starters, when you have a large group, I have always found it best to get them to interact with one another in groups of three or four. The three works best for me because I like to do the praying in three, and reinforce the trinity through that example, so it just works best for me. Once they are in groups, I would get them to ask themselves and each other this question: “What does love look like?” There will always be that one that asks, “well what kind of love?” That’s when you have something up your sleeve like whatever love looks like to you.
It is important for them to get out their views of love because once they do that; they will make their opinions of it more rounded based off what their friends say. Sometimes it is best to have your key students stay away from one another, so that they can be in the groups that aren’t regular attendees, and possibly lost.
After you do that activity, it is time to bring the group back together. Once they have their own understanding of love, then we go off of what scripture says love is. There are many scriptures on this, but we want to emphasize the value of Agape love, and how we can show it.
How do you get the youth to feel that?
One thing to do is explain in detail what true Agape love is. Agape love is simply loving the un-loveable. You can always bring up the illustration of the boy who cried wolf, or those who don’t have the things you have, but you want to make sure and feel out the room, and know everyone’s status before you do this, because you do not want anyone to feel singled out. Another example you could use for youth is that we should love those who are thieves. This will be something they can see, and may even be a bit hard for them to even think about, but it will allow them to see this.
We must get them to love people who are not in their group of friends, or even who are not on the same level as them. Our youth now thinks only about them self most of the time, and it is time to get them to think about others, or this world will not go anywhere. So get them to be able to feel what it means to have and show Agape love.
Another good thing to do is show them how Christ did this. He loved the beggars on the street, and to reincorporate what it means to be a Christian: Little Christ’s. I think they lose what that means, and think that it is simply a club to be a member of. They become Christians and never do anything with that. To see them grow and allow Christ to be shown through them, I believe the first step is to get them to love others.
The next thing to do is to get them to show love. How can you get them to do this? Many times they think that they cannot do anything because they are too young. They feel as if they have no grounds to stand on, and as if that is what everyone else thinks as well.
We must get that stigma out their minds. We must challenge youth to get out of their comfort zone, and to not just tithe with their money, but also tithe with their time. There is only one problem with challenging youth to do something. If you truly challenge them, and even a handful of them accept and live out that challenge, they start changing their community. The people who are not up to the change will get freaked out, and possibly people in the church will leave because there are kids dressed in black, guys wearing makeup, kids wearing hats in church, etc., etc. the list goes on.
Once they see the value in showing love, and act upon that a firestorm can happen. Revival could possibly sweep this country. We just must make sure we are feeding the fuel to it, and pushing them to do the things that God has called them to do. We must not allow them to become lazy like so many generations before. Our youth needs to become again a generation that loves everyone, and leaves no one out.
There is only one other problem with doing this. People will be out of business. Porn industries will go under. Alcohol and tobacco industries will go out of business. There will be bars that turn into churches. Is it time for our youth to stand up and allow God to work through them and change this nation?
This can sometimes be a hard concept for youth to understand since the only kind of love they see on TV is the love that includes sex and things that promote sexual promiscuity. So how do we get them to see Agape love and show that to one another?
For starters, when you have a large group, I have always found it best to get them to interact with one another in groups of three or four. The three works best for me because I like to do the praying in three, and reinforce the trinity through that example, so it just works best for me. Once they are in groups, I would get them to ask themselves and each other this question: “What does love look like?” There will always be that one that asks, “well what kind of love?” That’s when you have something up your sleeve like whatever love looks like to you.
It is important for them to get out their views of love because once they do that; they will make their opinions of it more rounded based off what their friends say. Sometimes it is best to have your key students stay away from one another, so that they can be in the groups that aren’t regular attendees, and possibly lost.
After you do that activity, it is time to bring the group back together. Once they have their own understanding of love, then we go off of what scripture says love is. There are many scriptures on this, but we want to emphasize the value of Agape love, and how we can show it.
How do you get the youth to feel that?
One thing to do is explain in detail what true Agape love is. Agape love is simply loving the un-loveable. You can always bring up the illustration of the boy who cried wolf, or those who don’t have the things you have, but you want to make sure and feel out the room, and know everyone’s status before you do this, because you do not want anyone to feel singled out. Another example you could use for youth is that we should love those who are thieves. This will be something they can see, and may even be a bit hard for them to even think about, but it will allow them to see this.
We must get them to love people who are not in their group of friends, or even who are not on the same level as them. Our youth now thinks only about them self most of the time, and it is time to get them to think about others, or this world will not go anywhere. So get them to be able to feel what it means to have and show Agape love.
Another good thing to do is show them how Christ did this. He loved the beggars on the street, and to reincorporate what it means to be a Christian: Little Christ’s. I think they lose what that means, and think that it is simply a club to be a member of. They become Christians and never do anything with that. To see them grow and allow Christ to be shown through them, I believe the first step is to get them to love others.
The next thing to do is to get them to show love. How can you get them to do this? Many times they think that they cannot do anything because they are too young. They feel as if they have no grounds to stand on, and as if that is what everyone else thinks as well.
We must get that stigma out their minds. We must challenge youth to get out of their comfort zone, and to not just tithe with their money, but also tithe with their time. There is only one problem with challenging youth to do something. If you truly challenge them, and even a handful of them accept and live out that challenge, they start changing their community. The people who are not up to the change will get freaked out, and possibly people in the church will leave because there are kids dressed in black, guys wearing makeup, kids wearing hats in church, etc., etc. the list goes on.
Once they see the value in showing love, and act upon that a firestorm can happen. Revival could possibly sweep this country. We just must make sure we are feeding the fuel to it, and pushing them to do the things that God has called them to do. We must not allow them to become lazy like so many generations before. Our youth needs to become again a generation that loves everyone, and leaves no one out.
There is only one other problem with doing this. People will be out of business. Porn industries will go under. Alcohol and tobacco industries will go out of business. There will be bars that turn into churches. Is it time for our youth to stand up and allow God to work through them and change this nation?
The gray area..."I'm still a virgin, or am I?"
What is the gray line? I think it's a mixture between black and white. What does that mean exactly?
How many times do we push the envelope whether it be with drinking, saying to ourselves "I can handle my alcohol" or if it's us saying "I'm still a virgin" after we clearly are not in the eyes of God?
Where am I going with this? Here it is. Many times we want to put our own definition on what it means to be a virgin, and what sex is, and is it. We do this to justify our actions. We then many times compromise our values, and go just far enough to where we can "keep our virginity" in the eyes of the world. But what good is that? Does God look at that? How does God see that? Everyone has there own convictions, and it is 1:30 in the morning, but don't we many times allow ourself to get a little too close to the edge of the cliff, just to get a rush, and then back off. How many people have we seen do the same thing, yet fall over? Aren't we as Christian's called to honor Christ? So why do so many of us tread in the gray area?
So my big question is this: Is it ok to kiss? My opinion on that is that it is when you get married. Maybe you may think I'm going a little extreme, but let me explain. When you allow yourself to kiss someone, and get emotionally attached to them, when the break up comes, it's hard to avoid the hurt, rather if you would have not kissed them, you could get away from that a bit easier. Many times we are suppose to be an example, and others just see what they want to see, so when they see us kissing, they assume that we are doing other things behind closed doors. So in a sense, we are allowing them to go to the edge, and not have the "safety net" that we have. We are literally hanging them out to dry. What if instead, we decided that we would not only save our virginity for our partner, but not kiss anyone but our mate as well?
What would that look like for the non-believers who are watching us, or even better yet for the younger Christians who are watching us?
Just a late thought.
Comment and give me your feedback
How many times do we push the envelope whether it be with drinking, saying to ourselves "I can handle my alcohol" or if it's us saying "I'm still a virgin" after we clearly are not in the eyes of God?
Where am I going with this? Here it is. Many times we want to put our own definition on what it means to be a virgin, and what sex is, and is it. We do this to justify our actions. We then many times compromise our values, and go just far enough to where we can "keep our virginity" in the eyes of the world. But what good is that? Does God look at that? How does God see that? Everyone has there own convictions, and it is 1:30 in the morning, but don't we many times allow ourself to get a little too close to the edge of the cliff, just to get a rush, and then back off. How many people have we seen do the same thing, yet fall over? Aren't we as Christian's called to honor Christ? So why do so many of us tread in the gray area?
So my big question is this: Is it ok to kiss? My opinion on that is that it is when you get married. Maybe you may think I'm going a little extreme, but let me explain. When you allow yourself to kiss someone, and get emotionally attached to them, when the break up comes, it's hard to avoid the hurt, rather if you would have not kissed them, you could get away from that a bit easier. Many times we are suppose to be an example, and others just see what they want to see, so when they see us kissing, they assume that we are doing other things behind closed doors. So in a sense, we are allowing them to go to the edge, and not have the "safety net" that we have. We are literally hanging them out to dry. What if instead, we decided that we would not only save our virginity for our partner, but not kiss anyone but our mate as well?
What would that look like for the non-believers who are watching us, or even better yet for the younger Christians who are watching us?
Just a late thought.
Comment and give me your feedback
Sunday, May 3, 2009
9/11 one of the many touching stories from that day
This was forwarded to me...thought it was worth passing on...
A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept 11th, 2003, TWO YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11/2001.
His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both
heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. both very upset, we drove home.
I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight.
My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news for me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can't just sit by for; I have to do something.'
I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my grandchild. Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say good-bye.
Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child.
The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.'
He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to know.'
His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news.
Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves .
When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew, in honor of the man who gave his life so that a mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize this: God is always in control.
We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.
Please take time to share this amazing story. You may never know the impact it may have on someone... God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever Psalm 136:1
A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept 11th, 2003, TWO YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11/2001.
His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both
heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. both very upset, we drove home.
I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight.
My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news for me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can't just sit by for; I have to do something.'
I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my grandchild. Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say good-bye.
Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child.
The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.'
He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to know.'
His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news.
Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves .
When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew, in honor of the man who gave his life so that a mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize this: God is always in control.
We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.
Please take time to share this amazing story. You may never know the impact it may have on someone... God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever Psalm 136:1
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The perfect date
The perfect date....
From the world's point of view:
Pick her up at her house having a rose for her, introduce yourself to the parents if this has not been done yet, then walk her to your car and open the door for her. Drive down to her favorite restaurant. Allow her to get whatever she wants, even if she doesn't eat it all. Go see a late feature movie, of her choice, hoping she picks a love movie to put her in the mood. Then afterward drive to a dark parking lot, and talk then, whatever happens happens.....
From a Christians point of view:
Pick her up at her house having a rose for her, introduce yourself to the parents if this has not been done yet, then walk her to your car and open the door for her. Drive down to her favorite restaurant. Allow her to get whatever she wants, even if she doesn't eat it all. Pray for the food. Go see a late feature movie, of her choice, hoping she doesn't pick something rated R or with anything that isn't pleasing to God, and if she does then say something. But more than likely there will be nothing worth watching. So then drive to somewhere with lots of lights and people passing by so your not alone. Talk about how beautiful she is, and how amazing the night looks. How could anyone not believe in God with what all he has made?? Then hopefully if your lucky end up on your knees praying to God, seeking his face and asking him to be in this relationship, and take it as far as he wants it to go. Asking him to be the center of it, and challenging one another to hold the other accountable, and not doing anything that would take away from where the other is spiritually. After a long night of talking, bring her home, then as you open her door for her to get out, and she walks to the door, pray for her, and allow her to realize that you are for real about this..
One day...One day...
From the world's point of view:
Pick her up at her house having a rose for her, introduce yourself to the parents if this has not been done yet, then walk her to your car and open the door for her. Drive down to her favorite restaurant. Allow her to get whatever she wants, even if she doesn't eat it all. Go see a late feature movie, of her choice, hoping she picks a love movie to put her in the mood. Then afterward drive to a dark parking lot, and talk then, whatever happens happens.....
From a Christians point of view:
Pick her up at her house having a rose for her, introduce yourself to the parents if this has not been done yet, then walk her to your car and open the door for her. Drive down to her favorite restaurant. Allow her to get whatever she wants, even if she doesn't eat it all. Pray for the food. Go see a late feature movie, of her choice, hoping she doesn't pick something rated R or with anything that isn't pleasing to God, and if she does then say something. But more than likely there will be nothing worth watching. So then drive to somewhere with lots of lights and people passing by so your not alone. Talk about how beautiful she is, and how amazing the night looks. How could anyone not believe in God with what all he has made?? Then hopefully if your lucky end up on your knees praying to God, seeking his face and asking him to be in this relationship, and take it as far as he wants it to go. Asking him to be the center of it, and challenging one another to hold the other accountable, and not doing anything that would take away from where the other is spiritually. After a long night of talking, bring her home, then as you open her door for her to get out, and she walks to the door, pray for her, and allow her to realize that you are for real about this..
One day...One day...
Monday, February 9, 2009
So you think your a man?
While I was at the LiveLove conference over the weekend, Francis' last talk was on something that showed me something I have needed to see for a long time. You know how sometimes you know you're suppose to do something, but it takes someone to kick you in the butt to do it? That's exactly what this was like.
He said a phrase that I will always remember "You go your way and I'll go mine". That's what his grandmother told him which was buhdist. He never had the chance to tell her about Christ before she died. So we must realize that we may not have a second chance to tell someone, so we must do it now!! Take that time!! That is ever so true, but not what kicked me in the rear.
Francis used the this analogy. Say I have a daughter, and you think bad things about her, or treat her badly, or a son, and you do likewise to him. Do you think that I would want to be your best friend, and listen to you after that? You are thinking to yourself 'Of course not!!!'. Bad news. Many times we do this. We treat God's children this way. I know I did. I treated a particular young lady this way.
As men and women of God we need to learn how to truly love. We are so heavily influenced by the culture that we would rather be cool in their eyes, and don't want to miss out on the worldly things that all to often we put God in this little box for Sunday morning. We will go out and preach one thing, and then act another way. I wish I could sit down and talk to young guys about how they need to treat girls. Perhaps that is why I am going to be a youth minister. I have mistreated girls my whole life.
I wish I would have never kissed a girl. You may be thinking. Walt that is pretty irrational. But why? Why is it irrational? Can you look at a steak without your mouth watering, and then taste it a little bit without wanting to devour the whole thing? But then what if you were for some odd reason sworn to be a vegan? Wouldn't you stay away from the steak? Then why as a christian, when we claim to be a follower of Christ, we will not drink or smoke, for most of us, but yet we are willing to go parking, and kiss a member of the opposite sex, and allow it to go further, and still pray to God like nothing happened? I know we are not perfect, but shouldn't we try to be?
Is it better to live like a hellian her eon this earth, and not live for Christ, and then burn for the rest of eternity, or would it be better to save ourselves for marriage, and raise up a generation who is willing to save themselves for their spouses no matter what the cost so that they can give them a gift that is so very beautiful, one which money cannot buy?
You see I have screwed up, and may not get to see my promised land, like Moses did not get to. Maybe that is just the price I must pay. Who knows? I surely don't. But I know that my Savior can move the mountains, and with him anything is possible. So I may just get my 'promised land'.
We must be the hands and feet of Christ. So let us not look on what we have done in the past, but what we can do in the future, because unless you know something I don't, Back to the future was just a movie, and there are no time machines. If there were, I would change so many things. I am so sorry. If only I could have one more chance I would prove myself worthy to be the godly man I know God has for me to be.
So if you are reading this, and need some encouragement, or have questions how you can move into the right direction to change the way you are living your life, or so that you don't fall down the slippery slope into temptation and lust, please e-mail me at walt.etechgalaxy@gmail.com . God has put this on my heart, and I know the things I have gone through are not for nothing.
Through my pain and suffering, I hope many lives will be changed. Then again, maybe no one will ever read this......
He said a phrase that I will always remember "You go your way and I'll go mine". That's what his grandmother told him which was buhdist. He never had the chance to tell her about Christ before she died. So we must realize that we may not have a second chance to tell someone, so we must do it now!! Take that time!! That is ever so true, but not what kicked me in the rear.
Francis used the this analogy. Say I have a daughter, and you think bad things about her, or treat her badly, or a son, and you do likewise to him. Do you think that I would want to be your best friend, and listen to you after that? You are thinking to yourself 'Of course not!!!'. Bad news. Many times we do this. We treat God's children this way. I know I did. I treated a particular young lady this way.
As men and women of God we need to learn how to truly love. We are so heavily influenced by the culture that we would rather be cool in their eyes, and don't want to miss out on the worldly things that all to often we put God in this little box for Sunday morning. We will go out and preach one thing, and then act another way. I wish I could sit down and talk to young guys about how they need to treat girls. Perhaps that is why I am going to be a youth minister. I have mistreated girls my whole life.
I wish I would have never kissed a girl. You may be thinking. Walt that is pretty irrational. But why? Why is it irrational? Can you look at a steak without your mouth watering, and then taste it a little bit without wanting to devour the whole thing? But then what if you were for some odd reason sworn to be a vegan? Wouldn't you stay away from the steak? Then why as a christian, when we claim to be a follower of Christ, we will not drink or smoke, for most of us, but yet we are willing to go parking, and kiss a member of the opposite sex, and allow it to go further, and still pray to God like nothing happened? I know we are not perfect, but shouldn't we try to be?
Is it better to live like a hellian her eon this earth, and not live for Christ, and then burn for the rest of eternity, or would it be better to save ourselves for marriage, and raise up a generation who is willing to save themselves for their spouses no matter what the cost so that they can give them a gift that is so very beautiful, one which money cannot buy?
You see I have screwed up, and may not get to see my promised land, like Moses did not get to. Maybe that is just the price I must pay. Who knows? I surely don't. But I know that my Savior can move the mountains, and with him anything is possible. So I may just get my 'promised land'.
We must be the hands and feet of Christ. So let us not look on what we have done in the past, but what we can do in the future, because unless you know something I don't, Back to the future was just a movie, and there are no time machines. If there were, I would change so many things. I am so sorry. If only I could have one more chance I would prove myself worthy to be the godly man I know God has for me to be.
So if you are reading this, and need some encouragement, or have questions how you can move into the right direction to change the way you are living your life, or so that you don't fall down the slippery slope into temptation and lust, please e-mail me at walt.etechgalaxy@gmail.com . God has put this on my heart, and I know the things I have gone through are not for nothing.
Through my pain and suffering, I hope many lives will be changed. Then again, maybe no one will ever read this......
Sunday, February 8, 2009
What a Weekend!!
Wednesday night I was asked if I could help staff the LiveLove conference at First Baptist Euless. As anyone with a brain who knows the names Francis Chan or Kristian Stanfill, and know how gifted they are and how they are great messengers of God, I said YES!!
Friday came, and I got on the road off to find a Capital One and a FedEx. I found the Capital One and was on my way to the FedEx. I could not find one anywhere, and thought I left my house with plenty of time to make it to FBC Euless on time. Well guess what, I didn't so I get to the FedEx place, and normally they just take the package, but not this time, I had to stand in line, and wait just for them to take the package, which took all of 2 seconds max. As soon as I left, I had to get food, so I go to Chik-A-Flick as my mom calls it, known to everyone else as Chik-Fil-A. After waiting like 5 minutes, and they call it fast food, I left out of there like a set of rims at a puff daddy concert (Michael S. if you read this, no I did not get this from you). As I am on my way to the church, you would know I hit every single red light!!! I knew this would be an amazing weekend!!
So I get to the church at nearly on time, and get briefed as far as what we were going to be doing. I was helping the PD (Program Director). I know I know, I am a kind of a big deal. I have a library full of leather bound books that smells of rich mahogany. It was going to be awesome. Needless to say I did not get the backstage job, but still, I think this was second best. So I get to meet the AT2AP (All Things 2 All People) guys, and gals. They were pretty cool. I meet Jeffry who performed with them at Beach Camp over the summer and also meet his girlfriend, who happens to be Jack Allen's daughter (Missions Prof. at New Orleans Seminary). I think her BF got a lil jealous cause after the first night she didn't get to talk to me.... Anyways, I got to listen to Kristian and his band which = Awesome, as well as Francis Chan.
Let me just say, Francis as usual ruined my life yet again. He spoke on Revelation 4. Which taught me that my prayer life was not in check like I thought? Here are some key points from him: 'When we get into heaven, our new bodies will not be a perfect human one, they will be so we can see God without our eyes burning out', 'The being in heaven, which is God, is worshiped constantly by the high angels. He is the one who we pray to, not some got which we can babble to'.
This spoke multitudes to me. I never thought about God like that, I always thought of Him as just a giant who loves us. Read Revelation 4, and totally soak it in. I will post a new note about this verse later, but want you to totally soak it in. Think of who he is. How many times have you set up at night with the covers pulled over you, and just started talking, and wake up a little later to say 'Amen', and turn back over? I know I have done that a whole lot. We are praying to something bigger than someone who is just sitting on a little throne. We get the amazing chance to pray to the God who created everything. How awesome is that?, and yet all the time we take that for granted.
I am not saying this to brag or anything like that, but after I heard this, I woke up Saturday morning at 5:30 after getting in at midnight, and having a loser put a spoon that fell on the wet nasty floor at steak-n-shake in my mocha shake, and yes he paid for it, but that is another story in its own. I woke up, hit the shower, and then got on my face before God after reading Revelation. You see I have been cheating him, and not honoring him as I should.
Here lately Satan has been telling me 'You are not worthy of his grace' and I've been semi-believing that. I just did a study on Galatians, and just to show you how powerful God's word is, I looked over this verse, but someone reminded me of it. Let me give it to you. Its Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written (Deuteronomy 27:26): Cursed is everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law. Satan has been using this against me, because I am not worthy to even present myself before God each morning. I am such a nasty human being. I sin so much. I am filthy. I break at least one, if not more of the ten commandments each day. I do not deserve heaven. You see if you haven’t listened to Shane & Shane’s song Embracing Accusations you should check it out. It is talking about this verse.
You see Satan is absolutely correct. I do not deserve a spot in heaven. But, don’t you love the but? But in Galatians 3:13 it says: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree (Deuteronomy 21:23). Isn’t that so powerful? We are redeemed by his grace.
So with that all being said, after I had my morning prayer, which was amazing, we started all getting ready. Micky and Mitchell were going out to get our donuts, and then Mitchell being the trickster he is, came in and told me and Shelley our vehicles were gone, that is my brand new Ford Focus, and our old 1520’s model van. I was thinking, ‘its way too early for this’. So I went out, and sure enough they were both gone. So what do you do in a situation like that? Call the po-po!! They then told me that the apartment complex towed them away because they were not in one of the 10 ‘designated visitor’ parking spots, which they hired a duo of ants to paint on the parking lot ‘visitor’ just to where they could read it. So we call the tow company, and ask them how much to get the vehicles. They said 250.00. I was thinking, man that’s high for two vehicles, then they said each!!
Two and a half hours, a braided pulled out hair weave, sketchy part of town, having to go get cash cause they don’t take credit or debit cards apparently, signing an avadavat, feeling as if we were in prison, and being accused of working there later we finally got our vehicles back!! If you are thinking what I am thinking, then we are on the same page…..no not the hair weave….ok maybe the hair weave, but really Satan was really trying to mess us up! You see I won’t lie and say I wasn’t frustrated, nor was my good friend Shelley, but she was actually a whole lot calmer than I expected…..Anyways, Satan knew we were to be part of something extravagant that God had for us, and he wanted to do what he could to try and intervene.
We could have allowed him to do that, but we were stronger. We knew the truth, and that he was powerless. We missed Francis’s opening talk, but we did get to see the Facebook skit….no comment to that. But his second speech is one that will possibly change my life forever, perhaps even more than the first one, but that will be in a future post, so look for it. Anyways after the event was over, we ate with Kristian Stanfill, and Landry told her favorite joke to him, which he thought wasn’t too funny. Maybe you will find more humor in it. Here it goes: Knock Knock…who’s there…panther….panther who?...Your panther falling down… Yeah not that funny, but watching her tell it is probably the best part.
So after her running him off, we had to go and tear down the stage, and let me tell you that is no easy job. Many times we forget about the people behind the scenes. We need to remember them, and realize they do a lot!! Heavy speakers, miles of cables…the list goes on. So next time you’re in church be sure to go and thank the tech guys. They will definitely appreciate it!!
Well that’s it for me for now.
God Bless
Friday came, and I got on the road off to find a Capital One and a FedEx. I found the Capital One and was on my way to the FedEx. I could not find one anywhere, and thought I left my house with plenty of time to make it to FBC Euless on time. Well guess what, I didn't so I get to the FedEx place, and normally they just take the package, but not this time, I had to stand in line, and wait just for them to take the package, which took all of 2 seconds max. As soon as I left, I had to get food, so I go to Chik-A-Flick as my mom calls it, known to everyone else as Chik-Fil-A. After waiting like 5 minutes, and they call it fast food, I left out of there like a set of rims at a puff daddy concert (Michael S. if you read this, no I did not get this from you). As I am on my way to the church, you would know I hit every single red light!!! I knew this would be an amazing weekend!!
So I get to the church at nearly on time, and get briefed as far as what we were going to be doing. I was helping the PD (Program Director). I know I know, I am a kind of a big deal. I have a library full of leather bound books that smells of rich mahogany. It was going to be awesome. Needless to say I did not get the backstage job, but still, I think this was second best. So I get to meet the AT2AP (All Things 2 All People) guys, and gals. They were pretty cool. I meet Jeffry who performed with them at Beach Camp over the summer and also meet his girlfriend, who happens to be Jack Allen's daughter (Missions Prof. at New Orleans Seminary). I think her BF got a lil jealous cause after the first night she didn't get to talk to me.... Anyways, I got to listen to Kristian and his band which = Awesome, as well as Francis Chan.
Let me just say, Francis as usual ruined my life yet again. He spoke on Revelation 4. Which taught me that my prayer life was not in check like I thought? Here are some key points from him: 'When we get into heaven, our new bodies will not be a perfect human one, they will be so we can see God without our eyes burning out', 'The being in heaven, which is God, is worshiped constantly by the high angels. He is the one who we pray to, not some got which we can babble to'.
This spoke multitudes to me. I never thought about God like that, I always thought of Him as just a giant who loves us. Read Revelation 4, and totally soak it in. I will post a new note about this verse later, but want you to totally soak it in. Think of who he is. How many times have you set up at night with the covers pulled over you, and just started talking, and wake up a little later to say 'Amen', and turn back over? I know I have done that a whole lot. We are praying to something bigger than someone who is just sitting on a little throne. We get the amazing chance to pray to the God who created everything. How awesome is that?, and yet all the time we take that for granted.
I am not saying this to brag or anything like that, but after I heard this, I woke up Saturday morning at 5:30 after getting in at midnight, and having a loser put a spoon that fell on the wet nasty floor at steak-n-shake in my mocha shake, and yes he paid for it, but that is another story in its own. I woke up, hit the shower, and then got on my face before God after reading Revelation. You see I have been cheating him, and not honoring him as I should.
Here lately Satan has been telling me 'You are not worthy of his grace' and I've been semi-believing that. I just did a study on Galatians, and just to show you how powerful God's word is, I looked over this verse, but someone reminded me of it. Let me give it to you. Its Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written (Deuteronomy 27:26): Cursed is everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law. Satan has been using this against me, because I am not worthy to even present myself before God each morning. I am such a nasty human being. I sin so much. I am filthy. I break at least one, if not more of the ten commandments each day. I do not deserve heaven. You see if you haven’t listened to Shane & Shane’s song Embracing Accusations you should check it out. It is talking about this verse.
You see Satan is absolutely correct. I do not deserve a spot in heaven. But, don’t you love the but? But in Galatians 3:13 it says: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree (Deuteronomy 21:23). Isn’t that so powerful? We are redeemed by his grace.
So with that all being said, after I had my morning prayer, which was amazing, we started all getting ready. Micky and Mitchell were going out to get our donuts, and then Mitchell being the trickster he is, came in and told me and Shelley our vehicles were gone, that is my brand new Ford Focus, and our old 1520’s model van. I was thinking, ‘its way too early for this’. So I went out, and sure enough they were both gone. So what do you do in a situation like that? Call the po-po!! They then told me that the apartment complex towed them away because they were not in one of the 10 ‘designated visitor’ parking spots, which they hired a duo of ants to paint on the parking lot ‘visitor’ just to where they could read it. So we call the tow company, and ask them how much to get the vehicles. They said 250.00. I was thinking, man that’s high for two vehicles, then they said each!!
Two and a half hours, a braided pulled out hair weave, sketchy part of town, having to go get cash cause they don’t take credit or debit cards apparently, signing an avadavat, feeling as if we were in prison, and being accused of working there later we finally got our vehicles back!! If you are thinking what I am thinking, then we are on the same page…..no not the hair weave….ok maybe the hair weave, but really Satan was really trying to mess us up! You see I won’t lie and say I wasn’t frustrated, nor was my good friend Shelley, but she was actually a whole lot calmer than I expected…..Anyways, Satan knew we were to be part of something extravagant that God had for us, and he wanted to do what he could to try and intervene.
We could have allowed him to do that, but we were stronger. We knew the truth, and that he was powerless. We missed Francis’s opening talk, but we did get to see the Facebook skit….no comment to that. But his second speech is one that will possibly change my life forever, perhaps even more than the first one, but that will be in a future post, so look for it. Anyways after the event was over, we ate with Kristian Stanfill, and Landry told her favorite joke to him, which he thought wasn’t too funny. Maybe you will find more humor in it. Here it goes: Knock Knock…who’s there…panther….panther who?...Your panther falling down… Yeah not that funny, but watching her tell it is probably the best part.
So after her running him off, we had to go and tear down the stage, and let me tell you that is no easy job. Many times we forget about the people behind the scenes. We need to remember them, and realize they do a lot!! Heavy speakers, miles of cables…the list goes on. So next time you’re in church be sure to go and thank the tech guys. They will definitely appreciate it!!
Well that’s it for me for now.
God Bless
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