Honestly there has been a lot of God's favor in my personal life throughout these past couple o f weeks. Close friends and Campus Outreach have found favor in Christ and he continues to bless his people even though we do not deserve it. Through prayer obedience and walking by faith on a day to day basis, I am truely amazed by his grace.
Some people who are might ask, if God is a giver than why does God take away? Why does God put me through bad situations? God does not owe you a dime! Because of our broken sinful nature we deserve death. The greatest gift in the history of gifts was given on a cross. That should be enough. If we look with a big picture perspective, time on this world is short. There is going to be a lot of giving in heaven. But now even on this world, I am truely content where God has me.
Sure Im not at 100 percent support yet, I have a lonngg way to go till I am a pastor, but God has blessed me time and time again. My love towards others and serving him is because of the joy I have through loving God. Besides if you look at any other person who has everyting a man could have, there is no everlasting joy there. I have seen to many people, and tried to find ultimate joy and purpose in this world. It all falls short! For the past couple weeks I kept asking myself, when will I get my big break? When will God follow through on a certain couple of subjects? I am done with that stuff.
The icing on the cake for that was last night at Winterjam. I met a lady who has honestly been through hell and back. She is from Iran and is a converted Muslim. She told me that a couple weeks ago she returned from Iran because of her son being killed by the government. Even with the loss of her son, she still jumped for joy! She had more joy for God and for life than anyone I have ever met so far in life. It left me speechless, it left me thinking about now and where I would be today if I did not have God in my life. Probaley sucessful but miserable. An alcoholic with a short temper and absoutley no true friends.
However by walking with God day to day (which is by means no walk in the park) I am a game changer! I am a man who is motivating other men to be game changers! I am motivating men to go to the nations and spread the gospel. God has given me the ability to lead people to salvation! God has given me the ability to be the helping hand in inviting people to heaven! Come on if that does not get you motivated then I do not know what will! If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you are a game changer! You are light in darkness! Light of the world! Be the Tim Tebow of your business! Be the Tim Tebow of your family! Let every thought and action be an overflow of joy for others so that they see Christ in YOU! Goodbye apathy goodbye discontent.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Old vs New
In the past things were very comfort, things felt pretty good. The reality is however if God is going to use me for the impossible for his kingdom, I must keep pushing, keep taking one small step than another. For 2012 I am headed to JU, Puetro Rico, North Carolina, and New York City, and Orlando Florida. I will be sharing the gospel, leading bible studies, leading a summer project, going to seminary, motivating and inspiring the next generation of men to do something big with their life. That is for his glory and honor. It is truly an adventure to serve God with everything. It is truly an adventure to do whatever it takes to grow a gospel centered revitalization on the college campus. When people think of Christian organizations, they think of a social club that sits on the sidelines. I want to motivate my boys and the men God places in my life to get off the sideline and get in the fight. To for once be captivated be his glory and presence. Sure there is a lot to give up, but you now walk with a good Shepard through light and darkness. Men you are now victorious because of our savior being raised from the dead! You are moved and built up by the Holy Spirit.
This has been a season of strict discipline and I still have to finish up strong. But I can see light at the end of the tunnel! My precious little self has been molded into a war hearted man who is in poverty. The only way I am made rich is through Christ alone.
The fuel to my life is Christ. If I try to fill my tank up with some other crap, then I will become complacent and apathetic. My sole purpose is to honor God, move through audacious faith, and build up the next generation of men who are going to honor and do the impossible for HIS kingdom. Let me give you a suggestion. If you haven't taken a look outside, this is not Kansas anymore. This world is falling in a plague of sin, depression, brokenness, and separation. But there is something more purposeful and more meaningful. Throughout the bible there are SO MANY scriptures about the hope and prosperity of following God. Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Corinthians 4:16, John 10:10, Matthew 11:29, John 3:16. But do not thing my gospel is one of prosperity. We are SONS and DAUGHTERS OF THE FATHER. I don't know what kind of father you had but a Godly father sometimes has to discipline his son..over..over...and over again. Sometimes God puts you through something because only through suffering you draw near to him. Only because of deprivation or removal or something you learn about his character.
There is so much I have learned about the character of God. Some has been breathtaking. Some has been kind of scary because, well of some of the stuff that I will ultimately be held accountable for. But one thing remains. Jesus is my sole purpose in life, and it is my goal and desire to bring a lot of folks with me up to heaven. Through my personal walk, Campus Outreach, or the future church (New Horizon Church sounds like a really great name), I am going to do that. The highest form of selfishness is to go to heaven alone.
This has been a season of strict discipline and I still have to finish up strong. But I can see light at the end of the tunnel! My precious little self has been molded into a war hearted man who is in poverty. The only way I am made rich is through Christ alone.
The fuel to my life is Christ. If I try to fill my tank up with some other crap, then I will become complacent and apathetic. My sole purpose is to honor God, move through audacious faith, and build up the next generation of men who are going to honor and do the impossible for HIS kingdom. Let me give you a suggestion. If you haven't taken a look outside, this is not Kansas anymore. This world is falling in a plague of sin, depression, brokenness, and separation. But there is something more purposeful and more meaningful. Throughout the bible there are SO MANY scriptures about the hope and prosperity of following God. Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Corinthians 4:16, John 10:10, Matthew 11:29, John 3:16. But do not thing my gospel is one of prosperity. We are SONS and DAUGHTERS OF THE FATHER. I don't know what kind of father you had but a Godly father sometimes has to discipline his son..over..over...and over again. Sometimes God puts you through something because only through suffering you draw near to him. Only because of deprivation or removal or something you learn about his character.
There is so much I have learned about the character of God. Some has been breathtaking. Some has been kind of scary because, well of some of the stuff that I will ultimately be held accountable for. But one thing remains. Jesus is my sole purpose in life, and it is my goal and desire to bring a lot of folks with me up to heaven. Through my personal walk, Campus Outreach, or the future church (New Horizon Church sounds like a really great name), I am going to do that. The highest form of selfishness is to go to heaven alone.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The mediator/gateway to heaven
I always get asked the questions why am I so relentless in walking daily with Jesus Christ. Why is it that I am always seeking God and wisdom through prayer, reading, and discipleship. Why is it that I am always preparing myself for spiritual battle. Why is it that I am constantly praying for the lost, and for some to get off their rear end and actually get in the fight. The fight I am talking about is between life and death. Do you want your life to count? Is it counting now? Are you living a life worth sharing with to God?
Because I hate to be the bearer of bad news, if you are not soley dedicated to following Jesus than your life will have no purpose. I am not talking about following him on Twitter but rather following him day by day hour by hour minute by minute. So there is my answer because almost two years ago my life had no meaning or purpose. In two years God has done so much and prepared for the glory of his kingdom. Most importantly I want to focus on salvation or being rescued.
"But we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" The name Jesus means savior. He is the savior of souls. He is the savior who brings honor and glory to the father. To die for all of my screw ups mess ups and idiotic mistakes is something I never ever take for granted.
Because I hate to be the bearer of bad news, if you are not soley dedicated to following Jesus than your life will have no purpose. I am not talking about following him on Twitter but rather following him day by day hour by hour minute by minute. So there is my answer because almost two years ago my life had no meaning or purpose. In two years God has done so much and prepared for the glory of his kingdom. Most importantly I want to focus on salvation or being rescued.
"But we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" The name Jesus means savior. He is the savior of souls. He is the savior who brings honor and glory to the father. To die for all of my screw ups mess ups and idiotic mistakes is something I never ever take for granted.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
I honestly have no idea what to write sometimes. God is doing so much in my life at such a fast rate it is hard to keep up. Since coming home from Orlando and entering a season of dilligence and obedience, God has provided SO MUCH. What I am doing is so "counter culture". What I am doing with my life goes against the status quo. But what I am doing with my life will hopefully bring others to heaven. That is my ultimate goal for my life to be a testimony to the grace and power of Jesus Christ.
My friend who is on staff with Campus Outreach in Melbourne Florida is doing some lets say some unexplainable things. At FIT he is discipling and growing strong relationships with international Muslim students from Saudi Arabia. He wants to share the gospel and Jesus Christ, grow in fellowship, graduate, and then show them that God wants to use them in amazing ways. He has a vision of them going back and planting a church in Saudi Arabia! I in 10 years hope to be a guest pastor at that church.
I know that someday in 3-5 years I will be preaching the gospel and leading a church that will be "the light of the world" for a broken dark chaotic world.
My friend who is on staff with Campus Outreach in Melbourne Florida is doing some lets say some unexplainable things. At FIT he is discipling and growing strong relationships with international Muslim students from Saudi Arabia. He wants to share the gospel and Jesus Christ, grow in fellowship, graduate, and then show them that God wants to use them in amazing ways. He has a vision of them going back and planting a church in Saudi Arabia! I in 10 years hope to be a guest pastor at that church.
I know that someday in 3-5 years I will be preaching the gospel and leading a church that will be "the light of the world" for a broken dark chaotic world.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
My generation
I have heard so many pastors tell me that my generation or the next one is going to be the one that restores the high power and honor of Jesus Christ in a broken chaotic world. The kids of yesterday that grew up on the Internet War on Terror and now the Great Recession are some of the hardet workers in modern history. There is an increase number of students graduating from college. About 30-40 percent of my friends are going to graduate school. I myself plan on going next summer. Ok seminary kind of like grad school. At our fingertips thanks to constant innovation, we have acess to a wide array of information. If you want to discover anything or anyone about the world, you are a few clicks away. You can get to know a person before you even meet them thanks to Google Earth, Facebook, and Twitter. You can find out their likes/dislikes cirlces or friends, and what they like to do for a living.
While this is HUGE for the Great Comission and spreading the gospel it has created an atmosphere of loneliness in the 21st century. The norm is to get through life by yourself and figure it out on your own. However my life and so many other goes against the status quo. Sure I do have an IPhone, Twitter, Facebook, and all of that jazz but what I do with my life down to the daily decisions is inter-connected. My close circle of friends and brothers/sisters in Christ cherish community. Look through the book of Acts and you will find that the church is not a brick or dynamic over budget ministries. They are a body of believers. A body of believers who get in the word together, pray, and suffer in the name of Jesus Christ. That group grew from 5 to 5,000 and so on. It then moved to the ends of the Earth and 2000 years later is "the light of the world."
So what does my generation need. They need close real authenticity. They need men and women who are going to be bold enough to point them in the direction of the cross. They need men and women who are not going to gossip about their struggles and past burdens. They need mission based organizations who are going to motivate and push them to the ends of the world. To sum it all up they need ACCOUNTABILITY....FELLOWSHIP....AUTHENTICITY.......AUDACITY
While this is HUGE for the Great Comission and spreading the gospel it has created an atmosphere of loneliness in the 21st century. The norm is to get through life by yourself and figure it out on your own. However my life and so many other goes against the status quo. Sure I do have an IPhone, Twitter, Facebook, and all of that jazz but what I do with my life down to the daily decisions is inter-connected. My close circle of friends and brothers/sisters in Christ cherish community. Look through the book of Acts and you will find that the church is not a brick or dynamic over budget ministries. They are a body of believers. A body of believers who get in the word together, pray, and suffer in the name of Jesus Christ. That group grew from 5 to 5,000 and so on. It then moved to the ends of the Earth and 2000 years later is "the light of the world."
So what does my generation need. They need close real authenticity. They need men and women who are going to be bold enough to point them in the direction of the cross. They need men and women who are not going to gossip about their struggles and past burdens. They need mission based organizations who are going to motivate and push them to the ends of the world. To sum it all up they need ACCOUNTABILITY....FELLOWSHIP....AUTHENTICITY.......AUDACITY
Friday, September 16, 2011
JU Lacrosse
I have never felt more convicted about a group of guys or an organization to spread the gospel to than this group of men. Since meeting up with them for volleyball and only speaking to them for a number of minutes, there is a DIRECT need for the love and grace of Jesus. From talking to a lot of folks on campus there is a definite reputation that follows the guys whether it be good or bad.
Most of them are straight up jacked and out of state. A number of the students are from the north so 7 times out of 10 have never seen a true example Jesus Christ. So that they have never been exposed to true love. They might know Jesus as a historic figure but I want to show these boys Jesus Christ as the PERFECT LOVING MAN WHO DIED ON A CROSS FOR US TO LIVE A LIFE OF JOY AND GRACE FREE TO CONDEMNATION OF SIN. Sure there is a lot to surrender but one thing I love about athletes: they are DILLIGENT. In whatever they do they do well. There is disicpline there is dedication 120 percent everyday. It is hard for even an average skinny golfer like myself to go get in the gym. Its kind of like "the dungeon". But when you begin to be dilligent in the small things, the big things day by day hour by hour month by month become atttainable rather than impossible. Starting this weekend till I get on the campus I will be praying for these guys individually every night.
Most of them are straight up jacked and out of state. A number of the students are from the north so 7 times out of 10 have never seen a true example Jesus Christ. So that they have never been exposed to true love. They might know Jesus as a historic figure but I want to show these boys Jesus Christ as the PERFECT LOVING MAN WHO DIED ON A CROSS FOR US TO LIVE A LIFE OF JOY AND GRACE FREE TO CONDEMNATION OF SIN. Sure there is a lot to surrender but one thing I love about athletes: they are DILLIGENT. In whatever they do they do well. There is disicpline there is dedication 120 percent everyday. It is hard for even an average skinny golfer like myself to go get in the gym. Its kind of like "the dungeon". But when you begin to be dilligent in the small things, the big things day by day hour by hour month by month become atttainable rather than impossible. Starting this weekend till I get on the campus I will be praying for these guys individually every night.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
A new man a new mission
There is something about the grace and love of Jesus Christ that is powerful to those who are willing to come dirty busted and broken to the cross. When you pray repent and give full control to Jesus Christ he will use you in uncapable ways. I came into this project with a lot of anxiety and control issues about the present and future. God in 8 weeks not only shattered every one of those but provided me with a plan and calling that is one of a life time. I get to disciple and build the next generation of Christ laborers at Jacksonville University.
A call to ministry is tough. It requires complete surrender of all worldy desires and patience. It requires a special type of man or woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to spread the gospel. However there is no need to worry or have anxiety because the battle over sin has already been won. When man conquered the grave the war against Satan is won.
It is time to fight cry and spread the gospel in a broken chaotic world. I hate to sound so dark at times but I have witnessed first hand two ends. On one end there is sin darkness brokeness and absoutley no joy. Sure there are temporary pleasures and emotions of happiness but for all of those years there was darkness and questions that I began to ask myself. However on the other it is costly it is sometimes painful but joy and happiness in Christ alone will reign forever.
Besides in Revelations chapter 7 for those who reach heaven, our flesh will be left behind and we will be crowned with a white robe of righteousness that is clean because Christ died for all of our sins in heaven. Can you imagine walking on this world not having to deal with anxiety fear guilt sadness depression from the present and past? That is heaven and I am a citizen of heaven who is captivated by king and kingdom. And the highest form of selfishness for those who haveexperienced the love and grace of Christ would be to go to heaven alone.
A call to ministry is tough. It requires complete surrender of all worldy desires and patience. It requires a special type of man or woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to spread the gospel. However there is no need to worry or have anxiety because the battle over sin has already been won. When man conquered the grave the war against Satan is won.
It is time to fight cry and spread the gospel in a broken chaotic world. I hate to sound so dark at times but I have witnessed first hand two ends. On one end there is sin darkness brokeness and absoutley no joy. Sure there are temporary pleasures and emotions of happiness but for all of those years there was darkness and questions that I began to ask myself. However on the other it is costly it is sometimes painful but joy and happiness in Christ alone will reign forever.
Besides in Revelations chapter 7 for those who reach heaven, our flesh will be left behind and we will be crowned with a white robe of righteousness that is clean because Christ died for all of our sins in heaven. Can you imagine walking on this world not having to deal with anxiety fear guilt sadness depression from the present and past? That is heaven and I am a citizen of heaven who is captivated by king and kingdom. And the highest form of selfishness for those who haveexperienced the love and grace of Christ would be to go to heaven alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
