The last month has been both exciting and sad for me. Back on the 22 of Jan was the 3rd Anniversary of Brandon Stout's death here in Iraq. I was visibly shaken for most of the day, irritated at everything and everyone. In 08 and 09' I was home in the States for that day, I still hurt inside but it didn't affect me like it did this year being out here in Iraq. I spent the night after I got off of work praying for Brandon's wife and the rest of his friends and family. I miss ya Brandon and I will see you up in Heaven some day.
I look forward to being home in the next couple weeks. I am scheduled to be home around the 21st or 22nd of Feb. It will be a good break from this deployment. I am looking forward to being home and seeing my wife Kayleigh again. Driving my Mustang and hanging out with friends again. I thank everyone who has been praying for me, my wife and my fellow soldiers overseas.
I continue to lose weight. Today I was weighed in at 221 and my neck is at 16" and waist is 40.5 down from 42.25". I am so close to breaking that 30 lbs mark, but I will keep pushing. I hope to be down to 200-190 by the end of May.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
My weight loss journey
I think for me the hardest thing in my life has been battling my weight. When I was in 5th grade I was a more slender guy with the potential to be a mid-sized decently built guy. At first I wanted to blame all my weight issues on a medication that the doctors gave me while I was in Middle School. I gained so much weight because of it. Though I managed to get some what trimmed down to 201 when I graduated High School in 2002, I've since been on a roller coaster of weight problems.
When I got home from my last deployment (Oct. 07') I was down to 213. I was happier with myself, but let myself get really lazy. Slowly and without me noticing too much until it was too late, I gained 37 lbs and hit my heaviest at 250. That was my weight when I left for this deployment. Currently after being gone for 5 months, I am down to 224. My current goal is to be down to 210 or 200 by mid or the end of March.
Please pray for my continued weight loss. I am trying really hard to be under 200. It's what I need to do, so I can get promoted and receive some awards that are coming my way.
When I got home from my last deployment (Oct. 07') I was down to 213. I was happier with myself, but let myself get really lazy. Slowly and without me noticing too much until it was too late, I gained 37 lbs and hit my heaviest at 250. That was my weight when I left for this deployment. Currently after being gone for 5 months, I am down to 224. My current goal is to be down to 210 or 200 by mid or the end of March.
Please pray for my continued weight loss. I am trying really hard to be under 200. It's what I need to do, so I can get promoted and receive some awards that are coming my way.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Sacrifice
While I was in the gym earlier today, I was listening to the song "My Sacrifice" by Creed. It brought me thoughts of not only the sacrifices that soldiers make, but their families as well. As a soldier, I know first hand what goes on over here in Iraq. The hardest part though, is the wives and family members who have to wait and worry until they here from their soldier again.
With this being my second deployment. I am used to the isolation. But this is my first one being married and with someone that I truly love and would give my life for. Kayleigh has been such a blessing to my life and my friends. She truly can bring a smile to your face just by talking with her. As her husband, I constantly think of what I am about to do, so that I make sure I can make it back home to the gift that God gave me. She puts up with so much stuff around the house. The bills, cars, cats and anything else life throws at her while I am gone.
As I said in the beginning of this blog, all families of the military go through the same thing. It all depends on the soldiers location, as to the extent of the danger. I pray that God will continue to bring His hand of mercy to all families, friends and of course us soldiers that are deployed.
Psalm 91 says:
"1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" 3. For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. 4. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; 6. Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. 8. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. 11. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. 12. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 14. Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known my name. 15. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation."
Wow! What strength you can find in just that one Psalm. As far as I know, it's been commonly called the Soldiers Psalm. At least in my world of being in the military. I read that passage to Kayleigh the night before I deployed. She was some what comforted after hearing it. As comforted as she could be given the situation. But truly Brothers and Sisters, I say that all can gain strength in the Lord from this Psalm. If you know Him and I mean TRULY know Him, God will protect you always! But there is a catch. You must lay your life down for Jesus as He did for our sins! Yes, I say that because He paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying on a cross. The least we could do is live our lives in a manner that is honoring to Him!
I end this with a prayer.
Dear God,
As I am here in Iraq, I can't help but think of everyone back home. My wife and my family. I thank you gracious God, that you have shown improvements in Amber and Leah's father's health. I hope and pray that you continue to heal the infection in his shoulder. Give strength to the Turner family and to those who are close to him. I also pray for the men and women of the US military. I pray that those of us that are deployed are able to come home safe and be with our families yet again. But I truly truly thank you God for the Ultimate Sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross! Without it, we would still be lost sheep of the world with no Shepard. In your Son's name I pray, Amen
With this being my second deployment. I am used to the isolation. But this is my first one being married and with someone that I truly love and would give my life for. Kayleigh has been such a blessing to my life and my friends. She truly can bring a smile to your face just by talking with her. As her husband, I constantly think of what I am about to do, so that I make sure I can make it back home to the gift that God gave me. She puts up with so much stuff around the house. The bills, cars, cats and anything else life throws at her while I am gone.
As I said in the beginning of this blog, all families of the military go through the same thing. It all depends on the soldiers location, as to the extent of the danger. I pray that God will continue to bring His hand of mercy to all families, friends and of course us soldiers that are deployed.
Psalm 91 says:
"1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" 3. For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. 4. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; 6. Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. 8. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. 11. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. 12. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 14. Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known my name. 15. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation."
Wow! What strength you can find in just that one Psalm. As far as I know, it's been commonly called the Soldiers Psalm. At least in my world of being in the military. I read that passage to Kayleigh the night before I deployed. She was some what comforted after hearing it. As comforted as she could be given the situation. But truly Brothers and Sisters, I say that all can gain strength in the Lord from this Psalm. If you know Him and I mean TRULY know Him, God will protect you always! But there is a catch. You must lay your life down for Jesus as He did for our sins! Yes, I say that because He paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying on a cross. The least we could do is live our lives in a manner that is honoring to Him!
I end this with a prayer.
Dear God,
As I am here in Iraq, I can't help but think of everyone back home. My wife and my family. I thank you gracious God, that you have shown improvements in Amber and Leah's father's health. I hope and pray that you continue to heal the infection in his shoulder. Give strength to the Turner family and to those who are close to him. I also pray for the men and women of the US military. I pray that those of us that are deployed are able to come home safe and be with our families yet again. But I truly truly thank you God for the Ultimate Sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross! Without it, we would still be lost sheep of the world with no Shepard. In your Son's name I pray, Amen
Godly living in an ungodly society PT. 2
Here is the 2nd part of the Godly Living sermon.
The passage we are going to be diving in is Ephesians 4:17-32. "The Christian's Walk." But before we begin, I want to start with a word of prayer. "Father, we come to you humbly. Thanking you for the storms we had today. Some people would be afraid, and become overcome with fear. Whether it's because of the lightning, or whatever brings them fear. I thank you Lord for the power that you show in the storms. I come to you Father praying about this passage I am going to be reading, and making my interpretation of it. May you clarify what is needed to be, so that the message is clear and unmistakable. Thank you for the sacrafice of your Son, Jesus. Without His death and resurrection our faith in you would be void and useless. Again Father, thank you. In your Son's name, Amen."
Now to the passage. Ephesians 4:17-32. Paul says: "17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus , 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK THE TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of another. 26 BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for the edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not greive the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
I must admit that is a long passage, but again I say it's important stuff. Things said in that passage is not only must have, but should a major part of our lives. This passage can be broken up into two parts. The first part is verses 17-24.There are two things I can say about this section.
I must say that Gentiles (anyone who is not of Jewish decent) are simple minded, thus making us futile in the mind. What I mean by futile minds, is that the human nature is so easily quick to think our way away from God. We use excuses and intelectual pride to keep us from God. But there is a way to combat this futility, and that is Christ, Jesus. Our Lord came down to the Earth in His ministry to help us understand who we are and the place we have with Him. To be frank, we need to focus our mental, soul and physial bodies to Christ. That is the only way to fight the simpleness of the worldy person's mind. Their (or ours) mindset is that of pleasure and all about me, me, me. The Christian walk has no place for a self centered person. To be selfish and not concentrate our lives on Christ is flat out messed up. It is easy to get caught up in the world and it's ways. our reward in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." The Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preperation. It will not be easy to stay focused, but we must try with every fiber of our beings.The 2nd point, the darkness and hardness of our hearts. Before we know who God truly is, befor we started our relationships with Christ, we have darkened hearts and hearts that are hardened towards God. But in accepting Christ, He begins to chip away at the stone covering our hearts. It just takes our faith that God will be there for us, which by the way is really hard. I can't count how many times I have said will God be there for me? It should naturally be a yes answer, but human nature butts in sometimes says "maybe yes or maybe no."
So I ask you, Will you let God in your life? Will you allow God to chizzle the stone away and show a radiant heart that is on fire for Him? I hope you answer yes to both, because of you don't, I don't even want to fathom what can and will happen if your time runs out before God's Judgement of our lives.The newself I mentioned early is simply this: It's the complete change of our mindset and lifestyle. If we profess to be Christians and have a growing relationship with God, then stop doing the crap that is staining it.
Again my statement of not being perfect still rings true.I know I have a second section to cover yet in this article, but I think what has been covered deserves time to sink in. Time to evaluate where we are in our lives and where we are with regards to Jesus. So I will finish the "mini-sermon" next time. Thank you for reading this and I hope that it in some way helps you with your walk with Christ, and please feel free to comment on any the posts I've written.
Sincerely,Evan
The passage we are going to be diving in is Ephesians 4:17-32. "The Christian's Walk." But before we begin, I want to start with a word of prayer. "Father, we come to you humbly. Thanking you for the storms we had today. Some people would be afraid, and become overcome with fear. Whether it's because of the lightning, or whatever brings them fear. I thank you Lord for the power that you show in the storms. I come to you Father praying about this passage I am going to be reading, and making my interpretation of it. May you clarify what is needed to be, so that the message is clear and unmistakable. Thank you for the sacrafice of your Son, Jesus. Without His death and resurrection our faith in you would be void and useless. Again Father, thank you. In your Son's name, Amen."
Now to the passage. Ephesians 4:17-32. Paul says: "17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus , 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK THE TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of another. 26 BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for the edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not greive the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
I must admit that is a long passage, but again I say it's important stuff. Things said in that passage is not only must have, but should a major part of our lives. This passage can be broken up into two parts. The first part is verses 17-24.There are two things I can say about this section.
- Futility of the Gentile Mind
- Darkness and Hardness of the Heart and The Newself.
I must say that Gentiles (anyone who is not of Jewish decent) are simple minded, thus making us futile in the mind. What I mean by futile minds, is that the human nature is so easily quick to think our way away from God. We use excuses and intelectual pride to keep us from God. But there is a way to combat this futility, and that is Christ, Jesus. Our Lord came down to the Earth in His ministry to help us understand who we are and the place we have with Him. To be frank, we need to focus our mental, soul and physial bodies to Christ. That is the only way to fight the simpleness of the worldy person's mind. Their (or ours) mindset is that of pleasure and all about me, me, me. The Christian walk has no place for a self centered person. To be selfish and not concentrate our lives on Christ is flat out messed up. It is easy to get caught up in the world and it's ways. our reward in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." The Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preperation. It will not be easy to stay focused, but we must try with every fiber of our beings.The 2nd point, the darkness and hardness of our hearts. Before we know who God truly is, befor we started our relationships with Christ, we have darkened hearts and hearts that are hardened towards God. But in accepting Christ, He begins to chip away at the stone covering our hearts. It just takes our faith that God will be there for us, which by the way is really hard. I can't count how many times I have said will God be there for me? It should naturally be a yes answer, but human nature butts in sometimes says "maybe yes or maybe no."
So I ask you, Will you let God in your life? Will you allow God to chizzle the stone away and show a radiant heart that is on fire for Him? I hope you answer yes to both, because of you don't, I don't even want to fathom what can and will happen if your time runs out before God's Judgement of our lives.The newself I mentioned early is simply this: It's the complete change of our mindset and lifestyle. If we profess to be Christians and have a growing relationship with God, then stop doing the crap that is staining it.
Again my statement of not being perfect still rings true.I know I have a second section to cover yet in this article, but I think what has been covered deserves time to sink in. Time to evaluate where we are in our lives and where we are with regards to Jesus. So I will finish the "mini-sermon" next time. Thank you for reading this and I hope that it in some way helps you with your walk with Christ, and please feel free to comment on any the posts I've written.
Sincerely,Evan
Godly living in an ungodly society Pt. 1
Living as christians in a Godly manner. That is my hope for not only myself but for my marriage with Kayleigh. I feel God has called me to write these ''mini-sermons". I am not a preacher, just a simple man delivering the Word of God to people in a way that God has led me.
The first passage I'd like to explore is in Titus 3:1-11.
Titus says: "1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of our God and Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, beign self-condemned."
We as Christians are to be obedient to God first and foremost. Yet, God has put in place the governments we have today, so we are to obedient to them as well. We are not supposed to be rude, and malicous to people. More so to be considerate and attenative to their needs, and conversations. We do have to be careful though of allowing ourselves to be involved in conversations or "joke sessions" that are filthy, lude and immoral. The whole reason we are able to walk as Christians is the grace and mercy that God has poured onto us, washing us clean of the sins we have commited and are yet to commit. Yes, I did say yet to commit. Just because God wiped away the sins of our past, doesn't mean that we will sin no more. We are humans, and in our nature there is the filth of sin that continues to try to eat away at our walk or relationship with Christ. We cannot not be afraid of speaking to others the truth of our God, and the relationship we have with Him. We are to stand our ground and not give unclear answers of who the True Savior of the world is. That answer is Jesus Christ, and only Jesus. No other God, deiety, or religion can claim that Jesus is the Savior of all. Some religions try to come close to Christianity and sound believable. But Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism, none of these come close to the Truth of God's Word.
So Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I implore you to live Godly. Do not allow yourselves to be caught up in the world's ways. Present the Word of God to people who have not heard it, and even to those who are "christians" they can be deceived if not full shown the Truth.In the 2nd and final part of the Godly living in an ungodly society, I will cover the passage of Ephesians 4:17-32. Which dicusses more about the Christian Walk. Until next time, may God Bless always!
The first passage I'd like to explore is in Titus 3:1-11.
Titus says: "1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of our God and Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, beign self-condemned."
We as Christians are to be obedient to God first and foremost. Yet, God has put in place the governments we have today, so we are to obedient to them as well. We are not supposed to be rude, and malicous to people. More so to be considerate and attenative to their needs, and conversations. We do have to be careful though of allowing ourselves to be involved in conversations or "joke sessions" that are filthy, lude and immoral. The whole reason we are able to walk as Christians is the grace and mercy that God has poured onto us, washing us clean of the sins we have commited and are yet to commit. Yes, I did say yet to commit. Just because God wiped away the sins of our past, doesn't mean that we will sin no more. We are humans, and in our nature there is the filth of sin that continues to try to eat away at our walk or relationship with Christ. We cannot not be afraid of speaking to others the truth of our God, and the relationship we have with Him. We are to stand our ground and not give unclear answers of who the True Savior of the world is. That answer is Jesus Christ, and only Jesus. No other God, deiety, or religion can claim that Jesus is the Savior of all. Some religions try to come close to Christianity and sound believable. But Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism, none of these come close to the Truth of God's Word.
So Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I implore you to live Godly. Do not allow yourselves to be caught up in the world's ways. Present the Word of God to people who have not heard it, and even to those who are "christians" they can be deceived if not full shown the Truth.In the 2nd and final part of the Godly living in an ungodly society, I will cover the passage of Ephesians 4:17-32. Which dicusses more about the Christian Walk. Until next time, may God Bless always!
Love: In God's Eyes
Finally being married after pushing my way through many failed relationships is a blessing from God. I decided to re post this but with a few changes. I use to have a blog with the title of "The life of a Christian Moose". I am using those messages I put on there for this blog page along with other ideas and thoughts from overseas and when I get home.
When I decided to write about love, I wasn't sure I knew everything about it. Well I do know this about love, it is abundant in Christ. So I am going to reading from one of the most famous passages about love and that is 1 Corinthians 13. Before I get started though, I want to ask you this question. What is love to you? Is it the frilly, mushy wushy, pinch your significant other’s cheek? It could be, I guess. But I’d like to look at in a more biblical way.
So, let’s dive in.1 Corinthians 13 says:
“1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy (resounding) gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is Patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own; is not provoked; does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away…. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
What really defines love? There are so many variations. True love can be found in the text of the Word of God.To begin I would like to bring a few points of what love isn’t. Jealous, boastful ( bragging ), arrogant, provoked easily or at all, keeps no record of wrong-doing, rejoice in unrighteousness. What I get from this list of things love is not is this; I know that they are not easy to get around. Jealousy is a natural human feeling, but really it doesn’t have to be a common place emotion. If you are jealous, how much trust are you showing in your partner? Or if you boasting about the great and awesome relationship your in; how is that being Christ-like or honoring to God? Here is a good one, being provoked. In an argument and you get easily provoked into it, or even in a crowd of people and someone bumps into and insults you. Do you react in anger? Or do you say I am sorry and move on? What would Jesus do in this particular situation? Another thing keeping a record of wrong-doing, what does it actually accomplish? Trust me, it isn’t right either way. I’ve seen an argument that I have gotten into last over an hour because the person I was arguing with had a list that was very long. Because if I kept a record of all the wrong-doings done to me in my near 26 years on Earth; it would be a multiple volume library. But you see that is where the beauty of God’s love comes in. God doesn’t keep records of sin that he will then pound over our heads, rather He wants to forgive us and LOVE us and He wants us to love Him in return. 1 Corinthians 10:24 says this: “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” Now here is a few points of what love is. Love is; patient, kind, unselfish, believing, hoping and enduring in all things. Rejoicing in truth and patience is a virtue that God gives us. And trust me it is a much needed aspect in not only dealing with non-believers, but in our daily walk with Christ. Meaning that we need to have patience when we pray to God about things we need or things that might be going on in the church and in the lives of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Being kind is another good aspect of Godly love. I have not seen in my lifetime where being a jerk and highly unkind to someone shows love to one another. For example, if I went up to Pastor Chris and said need some deodorant? Is that being kind? Some might say sure. But really that is a rude question to ask. So Pastor Chris, please forgive me for that. What really should’ve happened in that instance was that I should’ve said Pastor Chris, you’re looking rather debonair. Now that’s what being kind is like. Being unselfish is a really important one in my mind; because it is hidden in the motives of our everyday lives. If went up to let’s say 10 people shook their hands and said thanks for coming and make sure you come back again. Now in the outward appearance you could say “what’s wrong with that?” In essence, nothing really is wrong in doing that, but if you have a motive inside you that says if I greet 10 or 12 people today and then people notice that, they will think I am a great guy. You’re doing it to get some satisfaction in knowing other think well of you. Really that isn’t the point. Being truly unselfish to me is going out and asking someone if they need help with something. You volunteer to help with kids because it is something that you love doing. Doing it to help kids grow in Christ, rather than seeking the glory of being noble is truly how you can do something out of love rather than self edification (unselfishness).Love that never fails is what I think is a harder aspect of love. Ultimately we fail the ones we love. Whether we mean to or not. But if come to God on His throne and ask Him for guidance He will lead us in a way that can help us to serve one another. A true example of an unfailing love is God Himself; the sacrificing of His only begotten Son for the sins of man, WOW, now that is love. He loved us so much that He was willing to send His precious Lamb to be slain so that we can come to Him and be with Him. Now doesn’t that excite into wanting others to share in that love? Or are we going to be that boy in the corner Pastor Chris spoke about and say “I am not going to share Him with others, because it will take away from what I have.” Brothers and Sisters I implore you go out and sit down and talk to people. But ultimately we need to spread that love of God. It isn’t going to be easy and that is the honest truth.Before I wrap up, I’d like to say this: God’s love is vast as the ocean and as high as the stars in the night sky. So, soak in that love and pour it out in mass volumes to a world that so desperately needs it.Let’s Pray.God,I’d like to first and foremost thank you for the awesome love that we as Christians share in everyday. Thank you for sacrificing your Son so that we may have eternal life with you in Heaven. I pray that people who hear this read, or read it for them selves can come away knowing more about your love. Who are eager to spread it out within the community and across the world. I hope also that we can soak the nutrients of your Word and understand what is being read.
In your Son’s name I pray,
Amen.
When I decided to write about love, I wasn't sure I knew everything about it. Well I do know this about love, it is abundant in Christ. So I am going to reading from one of the most famous passages about love and that is 1 Corinthians 13. Before I get started though, I want to ask you this question. What is love to you? Is it the frilly, mushy wushy, pinch your significant other’s cheek? It could be, I guess. But I’d like to look at in a more biblical way.
So, let’s dive in.1 Corinthians 13 says:
“1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy (resounding) gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is Patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own; is not provoked; does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away…. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
What really defines love? There are so many variations. True love can be found in the text of the Word of God.To begin I would like to bring a few points of what love isn’t. Jealous, boastful ( bragging ), arrogant, provoked easily or at all, keeps no record of wrong-doing, rejoice in unrighteousness. What I get from this list of things love is not is this; I know that they are not easy to get around. Jealousy is a natural human feeling, but really it doesn’t have to be a common place emotion. If you are jealous, how much trust are you showing in your partner? Or if you boasting about the great and awesome relationship your in; how is that being Christ-like or honoring to God? Here is a good one, being provoked. In an argument and you get easily provoked into it, or even in a crowd of people and someone bumps into and insults you. Do you react in anger? Or do you say I am sorry and move on? What would Jesus do in this particular situation? Another thing keeping a record of wrong-doing, what does it actually accomplish? Trust me, it isn’t right either way. I’ve seen an argument that I have gotten into last over an hour because the person I was arguing with had a list that was very long. Because if I kept a record of all the wrong-doings done to me in my near 26 years on Earth; it would be a multiple volume library. But you see that is where the beauty of God’s love comes in. God doesn’t keep records of sin that he will then pound over our heads, rather He wants to forgive us and LOVE us and He wants us to love Him in return. 1 Corinthians 10:24 says this: “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” Now here is a few points of what love is. Love is; patient, kind, unselfish, believing, hoping and enduring in all things. Rejoicing in truth and patience is a virtue that God gives us. And trust me it is a much needed aspect in not only dealing with non-believers, but in our daily walk with Christ. Meaning that we need to have patience when we pray to God about things we need or things that might be going on in the church and in the lives of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Being kind is another good aspect of Godly love. I have not seen in my lifetime where being a jerk and highly unkind to someone shows love to one another. For example, if I went up to Pastor Chris and said need some deodorant? Is that being kind? Some might say sure. But really that is a rude question to ask. So Pastor Chris, please forgive me for that. What really should’ve happened in that instance was that I should’ve said Pastor Chris, you’re looking rather debonair. Now that’s what being kind is like. Being unselfish is a really important one in my mind; because it is hidden in the motives of our everyday lives. If went up to let’s say 10 people shook their hands and said thanks for coming and make sure you come back again. Now in the outward appearance you could say “what’s wrong with that?” In essence, nothing really is wrong in doing that, but if you have a motive inside you that says if I greet 10 or 12 people today and then people notice that, they will think I am a great guy. You’re doing it to get some satisfaction in knowing other think well of you. Really that isn’t the point. Being truly unselfish to me is going out and asking someone if they need help with something. You volunteer to help with kids because it is something that you love doing. Doing it to help kids grow in Christ, rather than seeking the glory of being noble is truly how you can do something out of love rather than self edification (unselfishness).Love that never fails is what I think is a harder aspect of love. Ultimately we fail the ones we love. Whether we mean to or not. But if come to God on His throne and ask Him for guidance He will lead us in a way that can help us to serve one another. A true example of an unfailing love is God Himself; the sacrificing of His only begotten Son for the sins of man, WOW, now that is love. He loved us so much that He was willing to send His precious Lamb to be slain so that we can come to Him and be with Him. Now doesn’t that excite into wanting others to share in that love? Or are we going to be that boy in the corner Pastor Chris spoke about and say “I am not going to share Him with others, because it will take away from what I have.” Brothers and Sisters I implore you go out and sit down and talk to people. But ultimately we need to spread that love of God. It isn’t going to be easy and that is the honest truth.Before I wrap up, I’d like to say this: God’s love is vast as the ocean and as high as the stars in the night sky. So, soak in that love and pour it out in mass volumes to a world that so desperately needs it.Let’s Pray.God,I’d like to first and foremost thank you for the awesome love that we as Christians share in everyday. Thank you for sacrificing your Son so that we may have eternal life with you in Heaven. I pray that people who hear this read, or read it for them selves can come away knowing more about your love. Who are eager to spread it out within the community and across the world. I hope also that we can soak the nutrients of your Word and understand what is being read.
In your Son’s name I pray,
Amen.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Testing of Faith
This message is going to be a tough one, not only to preach, but to learn and apply for myself. Before I get into the message, I wanted to say life is short and precious. I just went through a funeral of a classmate, and it was hard. It was suicide. I can't plainly say how I can understand the thoughts of suicide, but I am lifting up all people who resort to this or think of it, to find Christ. I pray that we can learn from this death, and try to reach out to people.The passage I am going to be reading from is James 1:2-12. James says: "2 Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials. 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts are like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 Being a double-minded, unstable in all his ways. 9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of the pursuits will fade away. 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."The message I'd like to project is that of Perseverance and Discernment. One of the first things that jump out at me in verse 2 is the fact that James said "When"; not "if." A lot of people have a mindset that trials are something that might happen; When really in the reality of Christianity, trials are a certainty. We may not know when they are coming, but you better belive they ARE coming. Whether its family troubles, work issues, or even relational stress, they will try to bring you down to the point of losing faith in Jesus. Satan uses these trials as well to try and deceive us. But God uses trials for the betterment of us as His children. I think that trials in life are perfect opportunities for us to draw closer to God; to be able to learn about our character in times of hardships, to evaluate how we react to different issues in life.What are some trials that we could face? Well, here is a few I think are some examples of trials.1. Loss of a family member2. Loss of your job3. Family Betrayal4. Financial StrainThose are just a couple that you might run into, but the list could go on and on, because God will use whatever situation or thing He could think of to refine us like silver. A perfect verse about refining is found in Daniel 11:35; it saying, "Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time." What Daniel is saying in this verse that even the most spiritual of Christians; people that are living completely righteous or faultless lives will fall in times of trial. This could mean (1) falling into sin. (2) being fearful and losing faith, (3) mistakenly following wrong teaching or (4) experiencing server suffering and martyrdom. If only we'd persevere in our faith, any such experience will only refine us and make us stronger. We need to recognize them as opportunities to strengthen our faith; to remain steadfast in these experiences; we will be stronger in our faith and closer to God. If we would just give up our problems to God, life would be so much less stressful, and through the patience of God and His Strength we would be able to persevere.Discernment is another priority. If we don't learn how to discern right and wrong, how can we then follow God? Can we honestly live for God not knowing something we are doing or saying is potentially right or wrong? The answer is no way, man. In verse five James said; "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." Now the author of this book said Lacking Wisdom. What does that mean? It means that Wisdom is not only about knowledge, but the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. We are supposed to ask God if we are lacking the wisdom for a tough decision. An example would be; taking out a home loan, or something that would make or break your life. Or even proposing to your girlfriend. It may seem like a silly example, but it is a major life decision, a lot of people rush into marriage. They don't take the time to weigh the facts or the results of getting into marriage. That is why the divorce rate is so high in this society.To get back to the matter of discernment though, we need to ask God for His help; if you don't honestly think you can discern right from wrong. If you don't; it could have eternal implications; severe eternal implications. There is a ladder system to wisdom or practical discernment. It begins with respect for God, which leads to a better ability for right living, then into an increased ability to tell right from wrong. God is so anxious to give us wisdom, but won't give it to us without regard for the intentions of why we are asking Him for it. He wants our intentions to be centered on Him rather for our own selfish reasons.The status of our human life is a major point as well. I am not talking about money, material possessions, but of our spiritual standing ground. A man of riches can still be a Christian, but are his motives based on Christ or money? Ecclesiastes 5 speaks of the folly of riches. It's great to have money if it can be used for the betterment of those less fortunate. But really money cannot help your salvation. A Christian of humble means is to Glory in his high position as verse 9 of James chapter 1 said.I leave you with this. Throughout any trial or tough decision, whether you're rich or poor. Go to God for everything and your life will be fruitful and fulfilling in the eyes of Christ. God Bless you all and reach out to God.
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