Throughout the evolution of Facebook, people have flocked to the website in unbelievable amounts. These amounts could consist of over 200,000 members in a single month! How is that possible? Why aren't people flocking to church in the masses every week?
There are many reasons people don't want to attend church. Some say it's boring. Some say they are too busy and need their rest. Although, I think the biggest reason is because they don't feel comfortable with Christians.
What do I mean? People don't want to attend a church service because they feel that the members judge or look down upon them. I'll be honest with you though, I think judging naturally happens. It is a natural part of the human mind to judge others on the way we see them.
I think this aspect of our minds can lead to an increase in our own pride. As Christians, we try to be perfect and act as if everything is always alright. Our personal pride leads us towards a desire to be of high social standing inside the church. To get this so called, "ranking" we act as if everything is always perfect in our lives. Why would someone with problems a calculator couldn't count, want to come to our church and stand out?
Since when did church become the place where people go when they have their lives all together? Since when do all church members live the so called, "perfect" life?
Church should be the place where people go when they don't have it all together! It should be the one place where you don't have to act like someone you're not. Why haven't we created this atmosphere? This world has only seen one person who had it all together! Jesus!
Churches need to have an atmosphere where people feel like their lives can be changed. If you have a problem, there is no greater place to not only find help from God, but from other people. Many of those people, whether they want to admit it or not , have gone through the same trials. All this takes is the willingness to take our pride out of the equation and admit that we are hopeless without God! People have to feel comfortable to attend church. Church has to be the universal place for people to go when their life gets so bad that it needs fixed.
"I gotta get my life in order, then I'll start coming to church." No, come to church this Sunday and let God get your life in order!
Mar 31, 2011
Mar 16, 2011
Mar 14, 2011
Why You Aren't Truly Happy
How could it have taken 22 years to find what I was truly looking for? Why did it take so long? Why had I spent my life chasing things that never satisfied me? What was wrong?
I have always been, and always will be, the type of person that will do whatever it takes to accomplish what I want. The only problem has been that the accomplishments or success would never satisfy me. I couldn't find anything that could fill what was empty. The only thing that ever crossed my mind was success. Not only in team sports, but in games such as Age of Empires, ping-pong, and NBA Live. It's what I now call an addiction to success. I couldn't and still can't stand doing something worse than someone else. All of those traits are great and I'm still the same way. But why was it when I reached a goal, I still felt empty?
For a long time in my life, I thought it was because I had no direction. Now though, I have direction and know what I want to pursue in my future! How am I still empty at times?
It's because I've realized that God is the only thing that can fill the void in me. I can go 4-4 in a baseball game, but it does not satisfy me like the worship songs on Sunday morning do. I'll be the first person to say that it sounds crazy, but it's true. The peace, relaxation, and comfort that I feel during a song on Sunday morning is the only thing on this entire world that satisfies me.
It must be because those moments are when I feel like I'm in complete connection with God. I know I cannot be the only person who has this need. We all go after things in this world to satisfy us. We go after alcohol, fame, and money as if it will fill us. Yes, those things will undoubtedly be a lot of fun, but will they make you happy for the rest of your life?
Everyone has this void in some way. Maybe it feels different to you than it did me, but you have it. People will spend countless hours and amounts of money in hopes of getting what they want to fill their emptiness. Unfortunately, it takes most of us decades to figure out that we are searching for something that is easy to find. The presence of God!
I have always been, and always will be, the type of person that will do whatever it takes to accomplish what I want. The only problem has been that the accomplishments or success would never satisfy me. I couldn't find anything that could fill what was empty. The only thing that ever crossed my mind was success. Not only in team sports, but in games such as Age of Empires, ping-pong, and NBA Live. It's what I now call an addiction to success. I couldn't and still can't stand doing something worse than someone else. All of those traits are great and I'm still the same way. But why was it when I reached a goal, I still felt empty?
For a long time in my life, I thought it was because I had no direction. Now though, I have direction and know what I want to pursue in my future! How am I still empty at times?
It's because I've realized that God is the only thing that can fill the void in me. I can go 4-4 in a baseball game, but it does not satisfy me like the worship songs on Sunday morning do. I'll be the first person to say that it sounds crazy, but it's true. The peace, relaxation, and comfort that I feel during a song on Sunday morning is the only thing on this entire world that satisfies me.
It must be because those moments are when I feel like I'm in complete connection with God. I know I cannot be the only person who has this need. We all go after things in this world to satisfy us. We go after alcohol, fame, and money as if it will fill us. Yes, those things will undoubtedly be a lot of fun, but will they make you happy for the rest of your life?
Everyone has this void in some way. Maybe it feels different to you than it did me, but you have it. People will spend countless hours and amounts of money in hopes of getting what they want to fill their emptiness. Unfortunately, it takes most of us decades to figure out that we are searching for something that is easy to find. The presence of God!
Feb 16, 2011
You Can Walk on the Water!
I'll be completely honest with you, I started blogging to make money! I got bored one day and started reading articles online. I read one article that said it was possible to make money from blogging. Obviously that sounded like a great reason to start one! Also, being a young and aspiring business owner, I felt it would be great practice for online marketing. After learning both of these things, I didn't need to convince myself anymore. Blogging was for me!
All of this led me to starting a blog that night. Many of you probably don't know that it isn't this one! I started another blog on a completely different website. I actually wrote two different articles about completely random topics. The whole purpose behind those writings were to try and see how many views I could get on my stories. Throughout that entire process I felt like I was wasting my time and I didn't even enjoy the articles I was writing!
I now realize the REAL reason I was not happy with it. Throughout those few weeks I kept feeling like God wanted me to write my thoughts about Him. I had been writing what I thought people would be interested in reading, not what God wanted me to write. I was ignoring a pretty direct hint from our Creator. It was like God was sending me a daily text message and I refused to respond. You know what is really sad about it though? I wanted to write about Him in the first place.
How am I supposed to write about God? I was having a hard enough time getting readers on my articles that I thought were interesting! Now I'm supposed to believe people will want to read about God? People don't even want to talk to others who talk about God! There is no way people will read it. Even worse, they might stop talking to me because of it!
I then heard a song I had heard many times before. The lyrics had always hit me hard, but this time I knew why I had listened to it. Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole came on the radio and I finally realized it was time to step out. What do I mean by step out?
Matthew 14: 25-31
"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." "Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water. “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
I needed to step out of my comfort zone. Why was I doubting and ignoring the One true God? All I needed to do was step out and "walk on the water". I then decided to completely change websites and start writing about topics I believed God wanted. It was time to stop running away!
Wow! God did way more than I ever had imagined! The new articles are getting FIVE times as many views as the old website. People have now read them in TEN different countries!
I know there are other people who need to take that "first step". Your "step" doesn't have to be a blog. Maybe you're feeling God wants you to sing, but you're scared. Maybe you're called to start a bible study for a few of your close friends, but you doubt anyone will show up. There can be many different things that God wants you to do.
I encourage you to "step out" It is so much easier to run away when you're afraid. Although, the true rewards are when you take that FIRST step! Ignore the waves of doubt and have faith. Don't miss out on what you are really supposed to be doing. You can walk on the water too!
All of this led me to starting a blog that night. Many of you probably don't know that it isn't this one! I started another blog on a completely different website. I actually wrote two different articles about completely random topics. The whole purpose behind those writings were to try and see how many views I could get on my stories. Throughout that entire process I felt like I was wasting my time and I didn't even enjoy the articles I was writing!
I now realize the REAL reason I was not happy with it. Throughout those few weeks I kept feeling like God wanted me to write my thoughts about Him. I had been writing what I thought people would be interested in reading, not what God wanted me to write. I was ignoring a pretty direct hint from our Creator. It was like God was sending me a daily text message and I refused to respond. You know what is really sad about it though? I wanted to write about Him in the first place.
How am I supposed to write about God? I was having a hard enough time getting readers on my articles that I thought were interesting! Now I'm supposed to believe people will want to read about God? People don't even want to talk to others who talk about God! There is no way people will read it. Even worse, they might stop talking to me because of it!
I then heard a song I had heard many times before. The lyrics had always hit me hard, but this time I knew why I had listened to it. Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole came on the radio and I finally realized it was time to step out. What do I mean by step out?
Matthew 14: 25-31
"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." "Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water. “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
I needed to step out of my comfort zone. Why was I doubting and ignoring the One true God? All I needed to do was step out and "walk on the water". I then decided to completely change websites and start writing about topics I believed God wanted. It was time to stop running away!
Wow! God did way more than I ever had imagined! The new articles are getting FIVE times as many views as the old website. People have now read them in TEN different countries!
I know there are other people who need to take that "first step". Your "step" doesn't have to be a blog. Maybe you're feeling God wants you to sing, but you're scared. Maybe you're called to start a bible study for a few of your close friends, but you doubt anyone will show up. There can be many different things that God wants you to do.
I encourage you to "step out" It is so much easier to run away when you're afraid. Although, the true rewards are when you take that FIRST step! Ignore the waves of doubt and have faith. Don't miss out on what you are really supposed to be doing. You can walk on the water too!
Feb 8, 2011
You're Not Worthy of God
Have you ever been up late at night and felt guilty? Maybe you thought to yourself, "I am not worthy of God'. Believe it or not, that would have actually been a true statement. You are not worthy of God! I am not worthy of God! There is absolutely no one on this earth that is worthy of God!
It doesn't matter what you've done, you are not worthy of God. If you sat up all night and read the bible before church on Sunday, you're still not worthy! If you picked up 8 people before Sunday School, you're still not worthy! I'm not even close to being worthy and I write a Christian blog!
The same can be said for the complete opposite side of the spectrum. Maybe you've done something that you know you shouldn't of been doing and the guilt is absolutely killing you. The guilt is so bad that you start to believe that you cannot even pray. God doesn't want to hear what you have to say after what you just did. Unfortunately, I fall into this category most of the time.
Maybe you have spent the night partying and drinking. Lets say you get home about 3 a.m. and try to get some sleep. You had planned on getting up and going to church, but can't due to guilt. "God doesn't want to see me at church after a night like that. I just spent the last few hours, "getting hammered" there's no way God will even let me in His church." Trust me, that couldn't be farther from the Truth, God wants you there! Get your butt out of bed in the morning and get in church! The best place to get rid of the guilt your feeling for the bad decisions, church!
As Christians, we sometimes forget the whole idea of mercy. There is nothing we can do to win a spot in Heaven or be worthy of God. Reason being, because we are not worthy! We have been given the gift of mercy. Mercy means that we do not deserve what we are given. God is showing us mercy, through Jesus's death, by making a relationship with God even possible.
Please erase your guilt, because God has! If you ask, He forgets the mistakes you've made. Therefore, don't feel that you can't pray or go to church. If God didn't want to hear from us because of our actions, no one would be in contact with Him. The good thing is that He loves us so much, that He shows us mercy when we don't deserve it. Wow! What an awesome God!
It doesn't matter what you've done, you are not worthy of God. If you sat up all night and read the bible before church on Sunday, you're still not worthy! If you picked up 8 people before Sunday School, you're still not worthy! I'm not even close to being worthy and I write a Christian blog!
The same can be said for the complete opposite side of the spectrum. Maybe you've done something that you know you shouldn't of been doing and the guilt is absolutely killing you. The guilt is so bad that you start to believe that you cannot even pray. God doesn't want to hear what you have to say after what you just did. Unfortunately, I fall into this category most of the time.
Maybe you have spent the night partying and drinking. Lets say you get home about 3 a.m. and try to get some sleep. You had planned on getting up and going to church, but can't due to guilt. "God doesn't want to see me at church after a night like that. I just spent the last few hours, "getting hammered" there's no way God will even let me in His church." Trust me, that couldn't be farther from the Truth, God wants you there! Get your butt out of bed in the morning and get in church! The best place to get rid of the guilt your feeling for the bad decisions, church!
As Christians, we sometimes forget the whole idea of mercy. There is nothing we can do to win a spot in Heaven or be worthy of God. Reason being, because we are not worthy! We have been given the gift of mercy. Mercy means that we do not deserve what we are given. God is showing us mercy, through Jesus's death, by making a relationship with God even possible.
Please erase your guilt, because God has! If you ask, He forgets the mistakes you've made. Therefore, don't feel that you can't pray or go to church. If God didn't want to hear from us because of our actions, no one would be in contact with Him. The good thing is that He loves us so much, that He shows us mercy when we don't deserve it. Wow! What an awesome God!
Jan 24, 2011
So Your Trying to Tell Me There Was a Big Bang and Monkeys Evolved into Carrie Underwood?
My roommate this past summer, was born in the Dominican Republic. Obviously, growing up Dominican means you will speak Spanish. Although, after spending the majority of his lifetime in New York City, he was perfectly bilingual. Despite our cultural differences, we got along extremely well. Our language differences always provided some interesting conversations though.
After every game this summer, Albert (my roommate) would call his parents who were back in NYC. What made these conversations notable were the fact that Albert talked to them in Spanish about 95% of the time. As you can imagine, I sat there listening to him ramble on and on without having a clue what he was saying. Obviously, those three years of high school Spanish didn't pay off in the least bit. For all I know, he was saying, "My roommate is an absolute idiot. He smells and it drives me crazy."
Well, I feel the same way when someone tries to defend the Big Bang Theory. Supposedly (sarcastic tone), matter and energy was contained in one single point until it caused a great explosion which led to the name Big Bang. Magically, galaxies were created and continue to expand farther and farther from each other. This process led to the complexity of our earth and animals. As you've probably heard, the monkey, evolved into humans somehow.
I would really like to get more in depth with this subject (Lord, forgive me for that lie), but I'd rather not lose readers who will likely suffer serious consequences from extreme brain confusion.
Have you ever truly thought about our Earth and universe? I have read, that the Earth is the perfect distance from the Sun. If the earth was any closer to the Sun, humans wouldn't survive due to the heat. If it was any farther away, we wouldn't survive due to low temperatures. Another amazing creation, the ocean, is so deep that scientists do not know what truly exists at certain depths. After the Asian tsunami, there were fish that were found that are extremely abnormal. Some of these fish had never been discovered.
If you truly believe that the Big Bang theory created the universe and humans evolved from monkeys I want you to try this. Please, go watch a Carrie Underwood music video! Good luck trying to prove that a monkey evolved into looking like Carrie Underwood!
What bothers me most is that the media seems to make people who believe in a Creator seem stupid. They say, those people aren't smart enough to understand it, so they believe in a fake God. That should be considered a crime. The earth is so amazing and perfect that it could have only been created by someone. What makes it even more amazing, the same God that created the fish hundreds of feet below the surface, created us. Why does God love us so much? He created us!
After every game this summer, Albert (my roommate) would call his parents who were back in NYC. What made these conversations notable were the fact that Albert talked to them in Spanish about 95% of the time. As you can imagine, I sat there listening to him ramble on and on without having a clue what he was saying. Obviously, those three years of high school Spanish didn't pay off in the least bit. For all I know, he was saying, "My roommate is an absolute idiot. He smells and it drives me crazy."
Well, I feel the same way when someone tries to defend the Big Bang Theory. Supposedly (sarcastic tone), matter and energy was contained in one single point until it caused a great explosion which led to the name Big Bang. Magically, galaxies were created and continue to expand farther and farther from each other. This process led to the complexity of our earth and animals. As you've probably heard, the monkey, evolved into humans somehow.
I would really like to get more in depth with this subject (Lord, forgive me for that lie), but I'd rather not lose readers who will likely suffer serious consequences from extreme brain confusion.
Have you ever truly thought about our Earth and universe? I have read, that the Earth is the perfect distance from the Sun. If the earth was any closer to the Sun, humans wouldn't survive due to the heat. If it was any farther away, we wouldn't survive due to low temperatures. Another amazing creation, the ocean, is so deep that scientists do not know what truly exists at certain depths. After the Asian tsunami, there were fish that were found that are extremely abnormal. Some of these fish had never been discovered.
If you truly believe that the Big Bang theory created the universe and humans evolved from monkeys I want you to try this. Please, go watch a Carrie Underwood music video! Good luck trying to prove that a monkey evolved into looking like Carrie Underwood!
What bothers me most is that the media seems to make people who believe in a Creator seem stupid. They say, those people aren't smart enough to understand it, so they believe in a fake God. That should be considered a crime. The earth is so amazing and perfect that it could have only been created by someone. What makes it even more amazing, the same God that created the fish hundreds of feet below the surface, created us. Why does God love us so much? He created us!
Jan 17, 2011
Jesus Loved Prostitutes!
Jesus, the Son of God, loved prostitutes? Prostitutes!? The people that sold the body that God gave them? The same prostitutes that "religious" people would have nothing to do with , and still won't! (Luke 7:36-50)
Can you imagine living in bible times and watching Jesus help a blind man see? Can you then imagine seeing him walk over and spend time with prostitutes, thieves, and drunks? The average person in those towns wouldn't spend time or even associate with the group of so called sinners. Why would the only person who has ever lived without sin choose to spend time with people who society had downgraded? Jesus could have easily given up on everyone, including myself!
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17
Non-Christians don't feel comfortable in churches because they feel they are looked down upon. Whether consciously or subconsciously, it probably happens. As Christians, we have forgotten the purpose that rests upon us. "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:13)
If there has ever been anyone who was qualified enough to look down upon people, its Jesus. As Christians today, we automatically judge someone if they walk into church with their hair a mess. After seeing their hair we've already made up our minds that they have been drug dealers their entire life. If they walk into church wearing a plain white tee and cut up jeans, they've probably committed murder. If they walk into church with a mullet, then we're positive they are on America's Most Wanted list. Even if all this was true, Jesus would have made it a point to approach them. He would have wanted to show them the hope that he provided! Why can't we show them?
If we have a facebook friend who consistently uses bad language on their statuses, we delete them as our friend. Why don't we keep them in hope they will someday notice a bible verse that we have posted? We refuse to love a family member who can't beat their battle with drugs? We tell children to stay away from the 16 year old girl that's pregnant? She'll be starting a family soon, if anyone needs hope it's her!
We cannot expect for people to understand God's love if we won't associate with them because of their actions. We've all done stuff we are not proud of, yet we still judge others. Jesus continued to respect others regardless of the things they did. Why not do what He did? He's obviously a pretty smart guy!
Can you imagine living in bible times and watching Jesus help a blind man see? Can you then imagine seeing him walk over and spend time with prostitutes, thieves, and drunks? The average person in those towns wouldn't spend time or even associate with the group of so called sinners. Why would the only person who has ever lived without sin choose to spend time with people who society had downgraded? Jesus could have easily given up on everyone, including myself!
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17
Non-Christians don't feel comfortable in churches because they feel they are looked down upon. Whether consciously or subconsciously, it probably happens. As Christians, we have forgotten the purpose that rests upon us. "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:13)
If there has ever been anyone who was qualified enough to look down upon people, its Jesus. As Christians today, we automatically judge someone if they walk into church with their hair a mess. After seeing their hair we've already made up our minds that they have been drug dealers their entire life. If they walk into church wearing a plain white tee and cut up jeans, they've probably committed murder. If they walk into church with a mullet, then we're positive they are on America's Most Wanted list. Even if all this was true, Jesus would have made it a point to approach them. He would have wanted to show them the hope that he provided! Why can't we show them?
If we have a facebook friend who consistently uses bad language on their statuses, we delete them as our friend. Why don't we keep them in hope they will someday notice a bible verse that we have posted? We refuse to love a family member who can't beat their battle with drugs? We tell children to stay away from the 16 year old girl that's pregnant? She'll be starting a family soon, if anyone needs hope it's her!
We cannot expect for people to understand God's love if we won't associate with them because of their actions. We've all done stuff we are not proud of, yet we still judge others. Jesus continued to respect others regardless of the things they did. Why not do what He did? He's obviously a pretty smart guy!
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