God Is The Only Living Tyrant…

God, the creator used words to create the earth and all creation into being

by his spirit we have his characteristics in us and have the capacity to be greater human beings

when we acknowledge his self sufficiency.

He is not governed by time for he lives for eternity

give me a profound discussion, explain how there can be a giver of life

but there be no rules to govern this life

our God is the only living tyrant who yields his power justly

who else has given up his most prized possession for the sake of his creation

in his eyes we are undeserving of his mercy

yet he lives to show us his mercy

the immortal one became mortal when he came into this life

for no earthly pleasure, he came so we could earn a measure of his righteousness

he did not conform to the pattern of this world,

he chose to offer his body as a living sacrifice.

He is the I AM

a burning fire that was not dependent on the bush

he is the source he doesn’t need another resource

Adam disrespected him who is perfect in himself and became disconnected

the one who brought all things to existence

is not on trial, he is the judge.

He is worthy of our allegiance, try him and be connected

we can only take him by his word

but his word is more powerful than any weapon used to kill

his word is flawless, his word heals and resuscitates the dead to life

in his word i find hope, like Jeremiah his word is in my heart like a fire,

a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in;  indeed, I cannot.

By his word i am set free, because the word became flesh. In him was light

and that light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Now lets use our words to give him authentic worship!

John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all people.

God Is The Only Living Tyrant…

God, the creator used words to create the earth and all creation into being

by his spirit we have his characteristics in us and have the capacity to be greater human beings

when we acknowledge his self sufficiency.

He is not governed by time for he lives for eternity

give me a profound discussion, explain how there can be a giver of life

but there be no rules to govern this life

our God is the only living tyrant who yields his power justly

who else has given up his most prized possession for the sake of his creation

in his eyes we are undeserving of his mercy

yet he lives to show us his mercy

the immortal one became mortal when he came into this life

for no earthly pleasure, he came so we could earn a measure of his righteousness

he did not conform to the pattern of this world,

he chose to offer his body as a living sacrifice.

He is the I AM

a burning fire that was not dependent on the bush

he is the source he doesn’t need another resource

Adam disrespected him who is perfect in himself and became disconnected

the one who brought all things to existence

is not on trial, he is the judge.

He is worthy of our allegiance, try him and be connected

we can only take him by his word

but his word is more powerful than any weapon used to kill

his word is flawless, his word heals and resuscitates the dead to life

in his word i find hope, like Jeremiah his word is in my heart like a fire,

a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in;  indeed, I cannot.

By his word i am set free, because the word became flesh. In him was light

and that light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Now lets use our words to give him authentic worship!

John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all people.

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Worship With Me

i draw closer to you when i feel alone

just to surrender my heart completely to you is all i need

maybe there is someone out there who can feel my pain

someone who is not afraid to dance with me in the rain

but i need you to help me to breathe

so hold me a little bit closer, a little while longer in your arms

take me a little bit deeper, you’re life to my soul

oohhh, ohhhhhhh, ohhhhhh take me in

i need you to help me to breathe

i just need you to help me to breathe

i find freedom when i’m in your presence

i find my voice when i confess and cry out how you set me free

when i’m with you i’m free

free to lift my hands and worship, free to sing and dance

free to worship!

no more chains holding me

i’ve been set free from the expectations of men.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“Let your church Arise O Lord. And Hear our cry for the nations. Let the change i want to see first begin in me. I surrender so your world can be changed.”

Why I Dance

i just want a chance to change the world

even when the pain, and the anger, and the hurt

keep chasing me

because all it does is lead me back to you.

I bear no spirit of fear

for you have blessed me with a new spirit

a spirit of power, love and self-control.

And this world has nothing to offer me

because i would be foolish to turn down your offer

to rescue me

when i’m all alone

at the cross you set me free

now your love won’t let me be.

May those that i serve find your salvation

and be filled with hope; divine inspiration.

And please let our hearts be captive to your love and grace

so we may not be deceived any longer

of your existent spiritual reality.

Like flowers that fade away

we edge closer to our graves everyday

but with the assurance of your resurrection

those who hold on to their faith

will find redemption

and live for eternity, at home with you.

Social Equality? Please Just Shoot Me..

“..There are miracles in life i must achieve, but first i know it starts inside of me..” these are just lines from a song sung to inspire us to believe that we can achieve what we think is impossible. But what is inside of me? is it despair at how the rich keep taking from the helpless. or is it anxiety at the thought that there might be a chance my voice could be a catalyst for the reshaping of our world. There has to be an end to tyranny and corruption!

Some of us have been blessed with gifts so powerful we have no idea how awe-inspiring we can be. This life is too short for us to be holding back on what we know we can achieve, for where there is a will there is always a way. Anyone who is striving to succeed in fighting for social equality in our world today needs to realize the only way to achieving this dream is by letting go of everything this world has to offer. You have to be prepared to be a martyr or be one already to be deserving of any credence. Greed is a virus one can only cure by giving up what one has. Its like curing cancer, you have to kill the cells not feed them. Unfortunately, our world is driven by people who lust after wealth and power. We all are!

Freedom is not the equivalence of being able to make your own choices. Real freedom is in deciding to give up the comfortable things in life for the only heavenly treasure that can be found here on earth, which is his eternal love. If we take hold of this gift and share it with every human being then we will have realized our purpose. Love those who are marginalized by listening to them and teach them what you know and you will see how God will use them to teach you too. Love your enemies by being kind to them so your heart may be free from the wounds they inflict on you. And lastly, love yourself not with material gifts but with the gift of time. Take the time to listen to your spirit and have faith in the one who can hear you when you are alone.

The History of the Church (Part 1)

I’m sitting at a starbucks reading about the history of the
church, listening to Shane and Shane on my earphones and thinking to myself how
can I live a life of significance. Psalm 23, I will wait on you. I want to
worship but I’m sitting here alone?

Tradition has traced
apostles to far-flung parts of the world. Christians of south India trace their
Christianity back to the apostle Thomas, who they believe is buried near
Madras. John was believed to have been at the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor
(Efes in modern Turkey). Mathew may have been active in Ethiopia. Pilgrims
still climb mountain passes to the legendary burial place of the apostle James
at Compostela in northern Spain. (p. 4 of A History of The Church In The
Middle Ages by F. Donald Logan)

What is certain is that Peter and Paul both died at Rome and
a fairly early tradition links them as ‘founders’ of the Roman church. (p.5)

Christianity differed from other eastern religions for it
alone was monotheistic. At its center  was
not a mythological person but an actual historical person. In Tertullian’s
familiar phrase ‘See the Christians: how they love one another’ – provided a
powerful attraction to souls in search of a religion which affected their whole
lives. (p.7)

By 112 Pliny the Younger, once consul in Rome, wrote from
Asia Minor that Christianity was reaching even into the villages. By the end of
that century Christianity had reached remotest Britain. And by the conversion
of Constantine in 312, perhaps as many as six or seven million Christians lived
within the Roman empire and an untold but no doubt smaller number beyond its
borders.

In A.D 64 emperor Nero singled out Christians for
persecution for the burning of Rome setting a precedent that would permitt the
persecution of Christians as Christians. For the next two hundred years after
Nero’s scapegoating, Christians were persecuted sporadically but only in
specific locations. (p.8) the early Christians were afraid for their lives but
it was the blood of martyrs that acted as a seed for the growth of the
Christian religion as Tertullian put it.

After Constantine’s conversion in 312 the church was free
from persecution. In 392 Christianity became the official religion of the Roman
state.

From apostolic times the movement had some organization: the
unit was the local church (ecclesia). The local community at Corinth was known
as the church of Corinth, and so it was with other local Christian communities.
At each church some person presided; he was called by different names but has
become known as ‘bishop’. They all worshipped together in private homes at a
Eucharist (‘thanks-giving’) that memorialized the Last Supper of Christ with
his apostles. By the time of Constantine the ‘bishops’ of the great churches at
Antioch, Alexandria and Rome exercised authority beyond their local churches.

History occurs within the context of culture. Sociologists
say a culture is the way of life characteristic of a group. A culture includes
the physical creations of a people and their learned and shared behaviors and
beliefs. When Christianity moved into a new culture, it often adopted the
beliefs and symbols of that culture, at least in modified forms. Christianity
developed from Judaism and shares much with it.
Christianity, like Judaism, presents a linear view of history, which means that history has a definite
beginning and will reach a definite end.

The Prophets

After the death of
Solomon, the nation of Israel separated into two kingdoms. This period of the
divided kingdom ran from 922 to 722 B.C.E when Assyria conquered the north and
destroyed Israel. There arose many prophets during this time. The most
important were Elijah (850 B.C.E), Elisha (825 B.C.E), first Isaiah (742-695),
Jeremiah (627-580 B.C.E), Ezekiel (593-570 B.C.E), second Isaiah (540 B.C.E),
and third Isaiah (515 B.C.E).

The word prophet roughly means “speak for.” Prophets
assumed a special authority because they claimed to speak for God. They criticized
both the religion and culture of their day, usually by claiming they were
recalling a straying people to keeping the covenant of Moses.

True religion involved having a pure heart, not just
following set rituals.

The prophets held that Israel was not special to God because
God loved her above others, but because she was chosen to be a witness about
God all nations.

When Israel ceased to exist in 722 B.C.E, Judah survived as
the “bearer of the covenant.” This southern kingdom gave its name (Judaism) to
the religion traced to Abraham. The people who practice this faith were
eventually called Jews because at one time most of them were citizens of Judah.
(p.9,11-‘A Concise History of Christianity by R. Dean Peterson)

In 586 B.C.E Judah was conquered by Babylon. The Babylonian captivity
lasted until 538 B.C.E. when Cyrus, a Persian who had recently defeated the
Babylonians, permitted Jewish captives to return to their homeland.

Many scholars claim that during the Babylonian captivity the
practices and beliefs associated with Judaism actually emerged. Judaism became
radically monotheistic, which means the Jews developed a strong belief that
there was only one God. From this point
on faith in one God became the identifying mark of Jews. (p.11)

The Torah was written in its present form during the
captivity. The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Because these
books contain the “Law of Moses,” they also were called simply the Law. Obedience
to the Law became central features of Judaism.

One of the most important rules that developed during the
Babylonian captivity was observing the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a time of rest
and worship.

The synagogue, a local congregation where believers gathered
for worship and study, also appeared during this time. Rabbis emerged along
with the development of synagogues. They were teachers of the Jewish law who
settled disputes regarding the Law or rituals and performed other duties such
as weddings. Often the rabbis were the heads of local synagogues. Later the
term was applied by disciples to their teachers. It was in this sense that the
word rabbi was applied to Jesus.

After the Jews returned to their homeland they rebuilt the
walls of Jerusalem and the temple but they were still dominated by the
Persians. After Alexander the Great, a Greek, conquered the middle east, Judah
was captured from the Persians and placed under the control of a series of
Greek rulers. The Hellenestic (Greek) era ran from 332 to 167 B.C.E. Greek
culture and thought was now introduced to the region.

The Jews were briefly free from 167 B.C.E. to 63 B.C.E. when
Judah Maccabee led a successful revolt against Greek rule. General Pompey, a
Roman took control of Jerusalem from then on.

The Roman empire
stretched north to south from England to North Africa and east to west from
Syria to Spain when Jesus was born. Pax Romana (“peace of Rome”) was enforced
during this time. Highways were constructed for the army linked the empire.

Greek was the language of commerce and was spoken throughout
the empire. Christian missionaries were allowed to travel safely throughout the
empire and permitted to communicate the
gospel (good news) of Jesus wherever they went because of this.

The new church had to turn to both the Jewish and the Roman
worlds to understand itself and explain its faith to outsiders. This same
process operates today as each new generation of Christians tries to apply the
traditional faith to the world in which it lives.

Jesus taught about
ethics (ideas of right and wrong). The center of these ethics was an intense
love of God. Sincere love would lead to automatic obedience to God’s laws.
Jesus taught that a life focused on God would eliminate worry and give way to
contentment.

 

Hollywood Spirituality – Part 2

“Most prophets worked for social justice but didn’t achieve it in their lifetime.” I’m sure you’ve heard many people say they don’t believe in God, but yet they believe in right and wrong, in Justice and love, well all these things point to God. Ezekiel one of the great prophets in the Bible speaks of these things. An interesting note for me about Ezekiel is how he receives his call in exile while he was thirty years old. It was while he was beside the Kebar river in Babylon, that the heavens were opened to him and he saw visions of God. The Lord gave him a message and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him. The people of Israel were rebellious but God was about to send them a prophet whom He knew they would reject because of his message.

God knew how hard-hearted and stubborn the people of Israel were thats why he made Ezekiel as hard and stubborn as they were. He made him as hard as rock! (Eze 3:9) I see very many similarities of myself in Ezekiel and maybe you do too.

Right and wrong is a basic human instinct many would argue. We judge a person’s character based on their behavior. And whilst most hollywood movies depict the protagonist as an advocate for good and not evil. There is a sense of justice to be had or to be found in the way characters portray their roles in a social drama with love cast as the source for hope. Yet, the credits at the end of a movie are often reserved for the director and the producers. They acknowledge in movies the work of the artist who makes all of that come together but what about in real life. Do we acknowledge the one who ultimately directs and produces every scene we have ever had or will have. Debates on whether science or faith is the root cause of life here on earth has been going on for ages. But what if you were presented with the facts. I believe it would still take a measure of faith for you to be able to pick a side.

God is not looking for you to give him the answers, he is the answer. He is the answer to overcoming every weakness known to man. When we lose the ability to trust in Him, we lose the ability to trust in each other.

I’ve found my purpose in life and that is to seek social justice. Does that mean i’m a prophet? I’ll leave that to God, He is the judge.

Ezekiel 36:24-27

For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Church In The Wild; E’s Lyrics

Tears fall from the sky

whisper God knew every man would fall

priests need to confess their faults

loose lips sink ships

Thanksgiving disguised as a feast

Rolling in a Honda CRV, gas isn’t cheap

Only the employed got this, I’m blessed i ain’t rich

Church with empty seats, all divided up like gangs

while love is all we need to teach

Drug dealer reached

I’m wondering if there are churches that preach

Is Pius pious cause God loves pious?

Socrates asked whose bias do we all seek?

All for Plato, screech

I’m out here calling, I know yall see my tweets

Jesus was a carpenter, E laid beats

Jehova poured out the Holy Ghost

say your prayers and get out your seats, preach

[Hook]

Human beings in a mob

What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a God?

What’s a God to a believer who believes He is everything?

Will he make it out alive, alright, alright, there’s church in the wild

[Bridge: The-Dream]

I live by you, desire

I stand by you, walk through the fire

Your love is my scripture

Let me into your encryption

[Verse 2:]

Sin on her black skin

Made it light like a beer, don’t call that love either

You will not control your flesh without God in three son

Just roll the weed back his high is all i need to get me some

His love is my new religion

Every man sins God never gives permission

But when i ask for forgiveness He pardons me

So never fight anybody without telling Him

Sunglasses and Advil, last night was a bad ordeal

Sun coming up, 5 a.m., I wonder if there are girls who aren’t promiscuous still

Thinking about the girl in all black

Who was up in church singing like Kiki Sheard

Two tattoos, one read “Love Died On The Cross”

The other “Love Your Enemies and Pray For Those Who Persecute You”

Its something the pastor needs to preach

Mathew 5:44; Its something i want to teach

When we die the money we can’t keep

So we probably should give more so those in pain can be reached , preach

[Hook]

Human beings in a mob

What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a God?

What’s a God to a believer who believes He is everything?

Will he make it out alive, alright, alright, there’s church in the wild

Welcome To The Jungle

Intro

Black Axl Rose, Move halfs and wholes
Come down to the jungle,  Just ask for Hov
Move blocks and squares, Move apples and pears
Work pots  and pans, Just to cop me some Airs (giving is better than receiving)
My uncle died, My Daddy did too
Paralyzed by the pain, I can barely move
My nephew gone, My heart is torn
Sometimes I look to the sky, Ask why I was born (we were born to praise God)
My faith in God, Every day is  hard
Every night is worse, That’s why I pray so hard

 

(Kanye West)
Why I pray so hard, This is crazy God
Just when I thought  I had everything, I lost it all (we can’t hold on to material things)
So que sera, Get a case of Syrah
Let it  chase the pain, Before it goes too far (give your pain to God)

(Jay-Z)
My dreams is big, Reality set in
Let off a clip from a  automatic weapon,
Through shots in the door, it died in Vegas (those who live by the sword, will die by the sword)
Though it fought so hard, I knew it wouldn’t make it
I’m a tortured soul, I live in  disguise (we are all tortured souls, thats why we need God)
Rest in peace to the leader of the Jackson 5
I died in my sleep,  I’m still Big Pimpin
I ball at the mall, Beginning of the ending
Where the f is the sun?
It’s been a while, Momma, look at ya son
What happened to  my smile?
My tears is tatted My rag in my pocket
I’m just looking for  love, I know somebody got it (God does!)
Champagne for the pain, Weed for the low
God  damn I’m so high, Where the f did I go?
I’m losing myself, I’m stuck in  the moment
I look in the mirror, My only opponent
Where the f is the  press? Where the f is the Pres?
Either they know or don’t care I’m f king  depressed (ask for help, cry out to God)
No crying in public, Just lying to judges
Risking my life, I’m  already dying, so f it well

(Swizz)
Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well
God-have-it!

The pain in this world will never go away until Christ’s second coming.

All i can do is admit i’m helpless and look to Christ to save me and help me overcome every circumstance that comes my way.

God thinks about us everyday!

Am I Too Young To Be President?

What is your ultimate goal in life? And what adjustment are you willing to make to meet that goal?

Ambition drives some to take extreme measures. Every life needs a plan and a purpose but who determines your plan and purpose. When  I think about my plan and purpose in life I think about the things I am good at and the gifts and talents God has given me.

It takes maturity to be able to fulfill our purpose here on earth and as i strive to grow and be more mature i realize i have been blessed to have so many teachable moments along the way.

Everything i have done in the past and everything i have learnt was designed to point me towards my destiny.

There is no treasure greater than the love of God. By sending his son to die on the cross for us, he demonstrated his unconditional love for us.

It is his love that leads me towards my destiny.

I would never advocate for personal glory, only God deserves all glory. Nothing we do can ever compare to what He has done.

Leading others to accept and be filled with His love should be our goal. The things of this world will never satisfy us, its only His love, his never-ending love that will satisfy our thirst and hunger for more.

Prayer is our adjustment to life. I have had so many answered prayers that it is impossible for me to deny God’s power and saving grace.

The times i have had people come up to me and remark at how gifted or talented or blessed I am, i believe if it wasn’t for prayer it wouldn’t have been made plain to them.

For the troubles, trials and afflictions I have gone through I give thanks to God for. As Paul says, .”.we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

I need ambition in order to be driven in life, and the only thing i find capable of keeping me motivated is God’s love.

Money, power and sex are all short-lived in this life, but God’s love will live forever.

The best politicians are confident in the midst of expectation and often find ways of convincing their audience with boisterous statements.

I believe those who have faith in God can achieve the same and attain the highest goal, which is reaching others with God’s love and become presidents of their own destiny. With the knowledge and understanding that every circumstance is designed to strengthen our confident expectation of salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

For once the human spirit is intertwined with God’s spirit hope bursts forth and it is impossible to hide that hope from those around us. Hope, Faith and Love are the only three things that will endure. And the greatest of these is Love.

Lets not deny love, which is our ultimate goal. (1 John 4:7-21)

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (1 John 5:21)

The Good Life

When the Lord calls human beings into a ministry, He is right there to help and enable them to grow in His ministry.

God fills in the blanks.

To grow in faith means to be tested and to know that The Good Life is being rich in Christ, with all the things He gives us, like peace, healing, and joy and also being thankful and content for all the things he has already bestowed on us.

He never forsakes the righteous and he is present in those times when we feel helpless.

When the temptation is great and the battle is fierce, he offers to fight our battles for us.

God hears us when we cry out during the battle.

What he embodies is Truth, love, grace, mercy, justice, compassion, the way that Jesus lived.

Today as I was waiting for my new car to get an oil change I decided to take a walk with God and ask him what he thought his plans for me were when he called me to come to the States… and what I heard was that his plan for me is to learn everyday to depend on Him and to thank him for all the blessings and to share those blessings with others. He asks me to put my confidence in Him and what He can do even when others lack confidence in me.

So today I’m more blessed not because I received a free car but because I am even more confident that God is with me as he helps me continue to grow in my faith journey and I hope that you are too.

1 Tim 1:6-12 6

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Be encouraged and be blessed as you continue to live “The Good Life.”

A Timely Word From God

The sincerity of a person’s teaching can be determined by the fruit borne in a person’s life.

Money, sex and power are the greatest temptations man/woman faces today and I am no exception.

Having someone who loves you unconditionally is no guarantee that you will have food on the table everyday but it is written: ‘People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

And it is a great burden lifted off your shoulder when you can trust Him but when you are struggling through it, it is a hard lesson to learn.

The preacher today who is in the ministry for silver is doomed to disappointment because the more you long for it the more it will allude you.

But the more you pursue Him, He will bless you.

The reason people are disappointed in God today according to one preacher, is because of the expectation they have when they first walk forward to make that commitment to Him.

Have you ever heard the story of a little girl and a little boy who had a lot of marbles and she had a lot of candy. And one day she says to him, ‘If you give me all the marbles I’ll give you all the candy.’ He goes back to his room, thinks about and says, ‘alright.’ But then he takes the finest looking marble, tucks it under his pillow brings the rest of them, gives them to her. She gives him all the candy, he makes the trade. That night she’s sound asleep. He’s lying tossing and turning in bed with a question in his mind, ‘I wonder if she gave me all the candy?’

If you have never totally committed your will to Him  you go to bed most nights wondering if He has given His all to you.

Pray for me that I do nothing for personal gain or exploit people, renouncing secret sins because I cannot use deceptive means and preach a distorted message.

For this treasure that we have in jars of clay (our weak bodies) is the most magnificent treasure there is on earth.

To be at a place where God is teaching you what it means to trust in him even when you feel like your most basic needs are not being met like I am is to live like Paul who even in the face of death still held on to the truth.

Paul persevered and continued to preach because he had the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, and So I speak.”

That is why he never gave up.

Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4)

We are not to distort the word of God or use deceptive means to appeal to the consciouses of men because we preach Christ Jesus.

Here is a funny story that is told of a country preacher who distorted the word of God;

A country preacher went looking for a job and the interviewing committee interviewed him and finally they said , do you know much about the bible? he said, oh yeah I know the bible through and through. whats your favorite book? he says, the book of Mark. whats your favorite part? he says the parables. whats your favorite parable? he says the parable of the good Samaritan.

Can you tell it to the committee? he says, yep. It goes this way; once there was this man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked him and as he went on he didn’t have any money and he met the Queen of Sheba and she gave him a thousand talents of Gold and a thousand changes of Raymond. And he got into a chariot and drove furiously and when he was driving under a big janoper tree his hair caught on the limb of that tree and he hung there many days and the ravens brought him food to eat and water to drink and he ate five thousand loaves of bread and two fishes. One night when he was hanging there asleep his wife Delilah came along and cut off his hair and he dropped and fell on stony ground but he got up and went on and it began to rain and it rain for forty days and forty nights. And he hid himself in a cave and he lived on locusts and honey. Then he went on till he met a servant who said, ‘come lets have supper together.’ And he made an excuse and said, ‘no I won’t I married a wife and I can’t go. And the servant went out to the highways and hedges and compelled him to come in. After supper he went on and came to Jericho and when he got there he looked up and saw that old Queen Jezebel sitting down, high up on that window and she laughed at him and he said, ‘throw her down out there,’ and they threw her down. And then he said throw her down again, and they threw her down seventy times seven. And on the fragments that remained they picked up twelve baskets full besides women and children. And they said blessed are the piece makers, now whose wife do you think she will be in that judgment day?

Quite a distortion isn’t it!

How much more when the word of God is distorted to lure somebody into a commitment.

Paul contrasts this treasure we have in our hearts to these three things:

a. Moral Law: No moral law in the world can ultimately change the heart of man

b. Circumstances: No circumstance can coerce the heart of man

c. Mystical Experiences: No mystical experience can satisfy the longings of man

It is only Jesus Christ who sprinkles the conscious.

We cannot reach the consciouses of men by living secret and shameful ways or by using deceptive means because the message you and I have for this hurting world is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.

Mathew 7:

¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

How Can I utilize My Gifts…

Even after having had a seminary education I’m still trying to figure out what it means to be a good Pastor/Minister.

I know I’m not to neglect my gift as Paul said to Timothy, who was a young pastor in the making at the time.(1 Tim 4:14)

As according to Calvin: “To neglect a gift is carelessly to keep it unemployed through slothfulness, so that, having contracted rust, it is worn away without yielding any profit. Let each of us, therefore, consider what gift he possesses, that he may diligently apply it to use.”

And so the question is, how can I utilize my gifts?

Charles Brigdes in his book The Christian Ministry; with an Inquiry into the Causes of Its Inefficiency

comments on the things  he regards as contributing to ministry ineffectiveness and so if I can avoid them then maybe I’ll be able to utilize my gifts.

Here are the things he says a good minister should focus on:

1. Seek divine influence.

We neglect our gifts when we neglect God, when we fail to beseech Him for strength in the task, when we neglect asking for His favor in the gift’s use.

2. Avoid enmity of the heart

Enmity wars against the things of God, including the use of the minister’s giftedness. And that enmity is in both the minister and the congregation such that when they combine they most naturally tend toward an abandonment of the gift and its use.

3. Do not give in to resistance in the congregation or local area

Resistance will come from those outside the church. But most discouraging of all is resistance from within the camp!

Evidently there were some who opposed Timothy because of his youth. So, that pastor that feels this way is in good company, and Paul’s instruction is precisely for him. Display, improve upon, refine, wield the gift of God given to you.

It may be that use of the gift in the face of opposition is used of God to win people you think are hardest in their hearts against you.

Or, it may be that the gift God gives you hardens them further in the face of God’s judgment. It’s a terrible prospect. But we may be sure of this: if we fail to stir up the gifts the Lord has given us, resistance and ungodliness will carry the day. And we would be hirelings and unloving to stand idly, with gifts in hand, as the enemy runs through the camp. (purechurch.blogspot.com)

4. Avoid second-guessing yourself

Mind-numbing second-guessing will paralyze a man who is engrossed with this question.

“That which no man ought to do, almost every man does, in making himself the sovereign judge of his own calling” (Bridges, p. 93).

Don’t trust your feelings in the moment or the apparent lack of success or fruit. Think critically, carefully, and prayerfully about your gifts and calling. We may neglect them through pursuing the wrong field.

5. Improve on the deficiencies in your personal character

Our gifts may be neglected because our personal character is wanting.

We may have too little of heaven in our hearts and our view, and too much of this life’s vain and decaying pleasures, safety, and pursuits. We will neglect our gifts if we do.

We may desire our people’s approval more than God’s approval and thus neglect the gift God places in us. We may gratify our flesh too much. Exercising the gifts of God requires sacrifice and self-denial.

We may neglect our gifts because we are not resting properly.

“fatigue makes cowards of us all.”

Rest before you get tired. That rest will sharpen the use of our gifts.

And I added this last one to the list.

6. Make a point of reading scripture as often as you can

For if we lack faith, we will not exercise our gifts.

And faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17)

In conclusion, to be good ministers of the gospel, we must exercise our gifts and give ourselves to improving their use.

“Persons wonder that we are always preaching Christ; but the truth is, we have little else to preach about.” (Bridges, p. 20)

1 Tim 4:12-13 (N.L.T)

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.  Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

I’m Praying for You

Giving externally helps empower you as a human being. Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr. were held in high esteem because they practiced what they believed in and they sacrificed for their goals and dreams to be realized.

I heard a principal say, “the greatest thing you can give to your child is access to a better life,” and I agree.

When those who are in authority over us do nothing to help us find our way I believe it becomes easier for us to quit.

If Tiger Woods had never seen anyone make a put he would have never tried it himself. Or if Micheal Jordan had never seen anyone make a jump shot, we would have never witnessed the amazing things he did on a basketball court.

Thats why it takes a village to raise a child. One parent is not enough.

We need to help each other grow and challenge one another or we might stagnate as a community.

When you serve others in a community you learn and when you learn you grow and become confident. Thats my goal.

Serving is important.

As Kenny Smith, a former basketball player would say, the difference between a good basketball player and a great basketball player is Confidence.

That is true of us Christians too. When we sacrifice and serve our community by sharing our gifts and talents we learn and we grow and become more confident in what God can do.

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. (2 Corinthians 3:4)

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)

A Prayer for You

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family ^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Lets keep each other in prayer and also pray for other missionaries too who are willing to sacrifice all they have for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What Defines You and What Does Success Mean To You??

“Sometimes you just have to trust and know that God is in control and that God is going to lead you. And I learned that man is not my source. The system, the world’s system, the world’s economy, that is not my source. God is my source. And if I look to God and keep focused on God I am going to find the success and significance for him which is really what matters.” -Jack E. Shaw, author of the book Little by Little.

Too often how the economy is doing has a direct connection to our search for significance so what is it about feeling like we are successful that we all want?

One preacher says; It is how we find our identity in a world of tremendous competitiveness and…..how we try to relate to people – there is always that subtle pressure on the inside to measure up to the expectations around us.

In the material world, its millionaires. In the educational world, its the PhD. In the neighborhood, its the size of the house. Amongst teenagers, its the number of toys.

Success is defined in different terms but we all want it for the sake of being accepted or at least to appear secure in ourselves.

“I don’t need you, what I need I have in myself.”

Success is knowing God’s will for your life and setting out to do what God has called you to do.

Success is not going to be the measure of accolades, the measure of other people’s opinions but its that inner knowing that you have found God’s purpose and you are fulfilling God’s purpose in your daily life.

Do you desire to be a Faithful Obedient Servant?

Then challenge yourself to read the bible through just thinking about Obedience and Disobedience and see how Obedience plays in to success on the journey for life.

The journey of life is a journey of steps not an instantaneous happening.

Finding God’s purpose sometimes takes a while but when you find it, dedicate yourself to it and go forward.

You may not see all the evidences that you would like to see along the way but you can still have that inner knowing.

God’s economy has not changed. God’s promises have not changed. God is faithful.

You may not know the outcome but you can trust God because he is faithful to his word and to his promise.

Jack Higgins, a famed novelist when interviewed and asked what he wished he had known as a younger man said he wished he knew then what he knows now, that when you get to the top there is nothing there.

When you have an immense capacity to buy you can often times end up buying the wrong things because you are looking for a sensation and that sensation will give to you diminishing returns.

Wealth brings with it immense responsibility because it can shift your dependence from God onto yourself and all that you have.

At the same time you seldom find success without repeated failure. Failure is God’s megaphone in our lives to remind us we are not who we think we are.

Success isn’t always good. Failure isn’t always bad. And both ought to be teaching moments.

So may God make you immensely successful so that you can reinvest all that he has given you to his kingdom and lay not for yourself treasures on earth but treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not eat or corrupt.

Verses to memorize

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)

To whom much is given, much is required. (Luke 12:48)

Mathew 25:19-21

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Just a little more Money, that Must be the Answer.

Where there is money in abundance you will always find injustice.

If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things.. (Eccl. 5:8)

Where money abounds injustice is present.

Where money abounds spiritual indigestion is equally present.

Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. (Eccl. 5:10)

You can learn this by experience or you can learn this by reading.

There is an insatiable appetite created by wealth.

For those who don’t have money we always think just a little more money, that must be the answer.

They asked John D. Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) an American industrialist and philanthropist. -’which was your favorite million to make?’ He answered, ‘my next million!’

“If there is anything worse than the addiction money brings its the emptiness it leaves.”-Alistair Begg

The inward fulfillment which we have been told is to be found in money is really the sad part.

Affluence plus indulgence equals sleeplessness.

People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep. (Eccl. 5:12)

The best legacy you can ever leave behind is a good reputation not any amount of money in the bank.

A good name is better than precious ointment.  (Eccl. 7:1)

Life confirms what the bible conveys that more spiritual progress will be made through failure, disappointment, hard times and tears. Than will be discovered as a result of success, laughter, easy times, and trivialities.

But our whole culture holds out to us, hey come down here and let the good times roll.

The bible is counter-cultural.

Remember Patience is better than Pride.

And Self-control is part of the fruit of the spirit.

memorize:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead. (Eccl. 5:7)

A Reforming Theology of Youth Ministry

It is important to engage in careful theological reflection to know whom we are really representing and not abuse the name of Jesus in order to advance our own agendas, whether they are religious, political or social.

When we continue the process of theological reflection, critique of praxis, pursuit of missional passion and obedience to the Holy Spirit at work in the world we realize that we are always shifting from a reformed to a reforming theology.

For the youth today the biggest problem they are facing is a lack of adult spiritual mentors/models.

They are looking for authentic shephards, spiritual guides with a holy anointing to lead them into the presence of God.

Knowing they are not alone could spark a spiritual revival in their lives.

How can we as Youth Ministers do that?

By applying a Family-Based Youth Ministry Model.

and here are two passages of scripture that act as a catalyst for this model;

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home…

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

The Family Based Model is driven by the desire to empower families.

Encouraging a wholistic Church that not only seeks to integrate the young and the old but also seeks to meet the needs of the young and the old as they partner together and challenge one another to spiritual growth.

Discipleship, Missio-dei, Church growth, Ecclesiology, Community and Worship are areas the older congregation can address meaningfully when it starts to take its youth seriously and is involved wholistically in their Christian formation.

The youth of today are eager to embrace the agenda of God’s kingdom when it explores more categories than simply Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.- Stanley Hauerwas

Having been inspired to participate in Christ’s ministry at the age of 18, I hope to do the same by being intentional about forming relationships with young people and helping them mature in their walk with Christ.
And my vision for Youth Ministry is to make it more Prayer and Relationship oriented and less Program oriented.

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

A Sojourner

God I need you to be real today,

I know that you can do all things;

no plan of yours can be thwarted.

My ears have heard of you

but now I need my eyes to see you

like your servant Job.

I delight in your law though I am not perfect

and because of your grace I can find peace

please

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry;

hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee,

and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…

My Prayer in a Time of Great Pain, Anxiety and Sorrow

“Loneliness cannot be dispelled by love alone, it can only be dispelled by worship”- Ravi Zacharias

The pain I’m going through now is self-inflicted. Unable to submit my will to another I realize how incapable I am to love. I find no meaning or pleasure in submitting to the will of man.

The expectation is too great for me to satisfy and without purpose I become disillusioned with life.

God, you call me to worship and ask me to submit my will to you in return for a love that is unconditional but ask me to share the same kind of love. Yet my selfish ways are still evident and plain for all to see.

How can a man full of weakness be destined for greatness?

Your word says that if I commit to you I will find purpose; will I find food, clothing and shelter too?

I want my life, my body, my mind, my goals and my ambitions to all be governed by this act of worship to you.

As I seek to understand that worship is not just a moment or an hour or a service but it is a lifetime expression.

Help me not to go to the temple but to take the temple with me wherever I go.

So please Lord make my sacrifice complete.

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ -Malachi 1:2

I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

Dear Reader, I just wanted to let you know of the latest development in my life hoping that you may be of assistance.

When I came to America I knew that God had called me to minister to the youth. After graduating with my Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller I wasn’t sure where exactly God wanted me to pursue this call but one thing I knew for sure was he wasn’t calling me to go back home to Kenya, yet.

Last December an opportunity was presented to me to serve in a Kenyan church in St. Louis but I turned it down because I didn’t feel God leading me there. It was while I was in St. Louis that I was convinced that my ministry was to start in L.A and then it would spread to the other parts of the world.

For this to happen though I needed a job which I didn’t have at the time and an extension on my visa. I decided to enroll at Fuller again and take the Masters in Cross Cultural studies degree which would take me a year to finish. Even though I wasn’t sure how I would pay for it I just knew that if this was God’s plan he would make a way.

The degree would help me learn more about how to minister effectively in different cross-cultural settings and it would also help me in the future to be able to get into a PhD program because I want to research on how the church can develop opportunities for the Youth.
It has been a difficult and trying time as I struggle to get by without a real job and sometimes I’ve doubted if God really wants me to stay here but yesterday HE confirmed HIS word to me.

I received a call for a second interview which took place yesterday for this Youth Pastor’s position at Lapuente First Methodist Church and the interview went better than I expected. For the interview they asked me to prepare a bible study that I would teach to the Youth and then after that the kids asked me questions.

I had prepared a study on Daniel chapter 1 and titled it Obedience as the key to Faith.

After teaching the bible study and meeting with the youth I felt so at peace confident in the knowledge that God had ordained my steps.

Today @ 8:18p I got a call back from the church secretary who informed me that the kids at the church liked me because they felt like they can relate to me but before they make a final decision I have to meet with the Pastor-Parish Committee in about 2 weeks.

In the meantime I still need to figure out how I will pay for my tuition in a week’s time and purchase a car which I desperately need since the church is 40 minutes away.

If you can pray for me for these needs and also if you feel led to assist me by donating recession-free money or you would like to donate a car to me that would greatly assist me.

I am so thankful for how far he has brought me and I’m thankful that he has you in mind too.
God bless you all.
thanks.

“Hope can be the cruelest emotion but so is Love; I just don’t know what else there is to live for, except for Hope, Love and Faith.”-Ephany

Overcoming Sinful Addictions

Is it possible to bring the mind under the control and will of God? And why is it easier to conceal our emotional/psychological wounds with morally reprehensible behavior…

God knows the things I struggle with so I shouldn’t be afraid of admitting it to him because He grants grace to the humble and mercy to the weak.

I admit I am weak because  I need your strength Lord. I need your strength to overcome the temptations I face everyday.

It is arduous to let God have control of my mind when I hold on to my sin. Jesus came to take away my sin not to make me feel guilty about it all the time.

God warns us not to sin like he did Cain because there are consequences to our actions.

if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” -Genesis 4:7

We can master sin by accepting Christ and letting go of our past.

¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

What struggle do you need to let go off?

Remember your creator he can help you press on even in the difficult moments of your life. Seek out his guidance through his word and through those he has spoken to.

His love for you is unconditional. Commit to it.

“Poverty often encourages crime but if you have love you can encourage even the poorest of hearts.” Ephany

 

For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Read Psalm 25

God Hasn’t Forgotten About You

Its easier for me to curse the day I was born like Job but I can see that the sufferings of this present time can not be compared to the glory thats coming.

I have to admit, there are days I have felt like God is asleep, or like he’s left me but today is not one of those days. Even though the enemy has tried to take everything away from me, today all God is saying to me is don’t be deceived I’m not mad at you, just RETURN, COME BACK.

Come back to that place of worship and praise me through the pain. I know it hurts so deep right now and I can see those tears that aren’t cried out yet but I’ll never leave you.

But God

²⁵ What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. ²⁶ I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” (Job 3)

“I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me. (Job 30:20)

Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:

² “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?

Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:1-2; 41)

Don’t let your passion for me be taken away from you because I NEED YOU TO BE STILL AND KNOW that the sufferings of this present time can not be compared to the glory thats coming.

NO BUT ABOUT IT

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. (Job 42:12)

“God ain’t mad at you, don’t be deceived he just wants you back.”

ps. for the friends who prayed over me today, you are too cool for me and for those who keep praying for me and have even sent me support your blessing is surely on the way. I love you, truly, madly, deeply!

Scripture Verses to Meditate On before My ‘YP Interview’

Even though I am alone I know that God is with me. You have walked with me and brought me this far. Even when I stumble and fall you pick me up and strengthen me in my time of weakness. Lord be with me and go ahead of me, prepare the way and help me to walk in it. May your favor be upon me and your faithful servants. Reveal to them your will and give them discernment. Lord if this is your will may it be done and may your word continue to transform my life everyday.

As You speak through Paul help me to take to heart what he’s written so I may know how to act.

¹As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸This is why it^[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”^{[b] 9}(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶“In your anger do not sin”^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4)

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[b] 11}All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12: 7b-13)

¹If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13)

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

God’s word is not chained.

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

¹¹Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
¹²if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
¹³if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

“The Lord knows those who are his,”^[a] and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12: )

⁸Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”^[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b] 10}Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

Beginning A Youth Ministry; Imparting My Life To Others

I had the opportunity today to sit with one of my mentors and he shared a lot with me about  how God’s ministry looks like and my prayer is to direct this youth Ministry that God has entrusted to me in such a way.

This is what he taught me today;

Ministry is about imparting your life to others.

When you teach its not about information but impartation.

You can teach what you know but you reproduce who you are.

In ministry the first person you have to look at is yourself.

Like the psalmist you have to say examine me so that ministry doesn’t become what you do but who you are.

When you fall in love with Jesus you can’t help but fall in love with people.

Don’t take things personal.

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12)

²And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)

My life and actions should be congruent because of who I am in Christ

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

How do I glorify my God with my body

with dance

are they seeing Jesus in my dance

in my life

when we come together to worship in church or talk about God he is always looking to speak to us.

When I have that passion then ministry becomes exciting

if there is only one person will YOU preach like there are a thousand people?

Do i do ministry because of the offering or because of the passion God has given me?

There are people who know me who may never appreciate me AND there may be strangers who will meet me for the first time and they will get what I am about and appreciate me and thats good; but my motivation should only come from the fact that I know the Lord has made has made this day for me to glorify him.

If you think about the people Jesus imparted his life to-Peter the fisherman, Judas the Iscariot, or doubting Thomas you can see we will always have people like that in our lives-but can we handle them like Jesus did?

God has given these kids to us for a season so we have to do everything we can!

We live in a very transient community, a lot of people move on and California is that way. If you live for the moment because life is unpredictable and allow God to be your reward then you will not have to worry about tomorrow.

Preparing yourself and being interactive, building relationships and showing that you are there to be a mentor.

Sometimes they may not always see it because of the things they have let dull their hearing but if we get in tune with the Lord and with the kids and live a corporate life then we may be able to see what God is doing.

Sometimes our roles can be prophetic, don’t be afraid of that.

Sometimes we have to confront people lovingly because God has something bigger for them.

How do we help them be convinced that God is bigger than Britney Spears? By living out your life for God.

Pastoring is Mentoring. It is missional. We are helping others grow into the maturity of Christ.

Ephesians 4

In the process of mentoring God shows us who the leaders are in our ministries and the leaders we can partner with.

A leader is anyone who leads anyone. All Christians are leaders because we are all priests.

Recognize part of your calling is to help others recognize their gifts and develop those gifts.

Teaching them to worship is big. Teaching them to love God, which is the first commandment, is the greatest thing.

how do you feel when the party is over?

how do you deal with your emotions?

You make the choice as to how you submit your will to God.

what choices are you making now in your life that help you or hinder you in your walk with God?

Situational ethics;

If you were in a boat who would you throw out so that you don’t sink

Is it about the money or is it about the person

What values are our children being taught.

Romans 12:1-2

If Hollywood is spending millions of dollars to train people to do what they want them to do then how much more can the church do if we have the riches of God to impart his heart and his character???

Are we dealing with these issues young people are facing together or are we tying our identity down to what our cultural background or race or gender is instead of seeing that our identity is in Christ?

I am in a place to help others to cross barriers because we are like Christ when he was with the Samaritan woman.

We say we are in a melting pot in L.A but it is only on the surface because we haven’t examined our inner heart we only look at the external.

So how do we build the community of God?

If we can help the kids get past the superficial things; and it will take time, then God will break it all down; he will take away the things we depend on so that we are able to put our complete trust in God. He will take away that thorn in the flesh.

Are you willing to live a CRUCIFIED LIFE

God wants to build men and women of God from what you know to what you believe to what you do so that you may know your true identity.

He wants to change your thinking, your attitude and your behavior so that you may know who you are.

The Temple of God.

You will not defile the temple of God if you truly know that you are the temple of God.

What part of your life do you still need to submit to God, what do you need to lay at the altar so that you can live out your life without any fear…

The bible is full of questions

Probe, Ask the Lord don’t just think you have the answer.

Trust the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding.

what happens when no one is loving me, will I still trust in the Lord

what happens when I don’t have any money, will I still trust in the Lord

In American culture we don’t want to grow old because we think looking younger is better but a young person can also be old-When we are in God we don’t fear age because we welcome the experiences in our lives that make us more aware of his presence and more aware of his love and care.

The programmes we undertake as we try to keep up with the world, if we make them the center then those things will not lead us to maturity in the Lord.

The grandiose thing is not the end. We should build on LOVING GOD FIRST. Focus on being in God’s presence.

Money will not bring them closer to God but it is the passion you have for God.

Help others not to lean on you but to lean upon the Lord.

Who you are is not based on your circumstance it is based on what the Word of God Says.

AMEN

When you speak of a man, I BEG OF YOU PLEASE SPEAK OF JESUS

I couldn’t sit in chapel today to the end as they were reading from the book of Mark the prelude to Jesus’ death because I was unable to hold back the tears.

I don’t know of any man who could have done what Jesus did. He spoke things into existence. He healed the sick, raised the dead and changed the course of history by dying on the cross for all who doubted him and betrayed him.

Who else can love me the way Jesus does?

He cursed the fig tree that did not bear fruit to warn us of being complacent.

He cleared the temple to teach us that we need to always make prayer a priority

” ‘My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations’ (Mark 11:17)

Jesus never took his mission lightly. He fulfilled the call on his life because he knew  what his Father in heaven could do. He knew even if Peter denied him and Judas betrayed him, God’s love would still win in the end. He was called to reconcile all men to God.

Peter and Judas too.

He calls us today to point all men to him so that we can all be reconciled to God and share in his love. His love can help us overcome pain, suffering, persecution, envy, jealousy, hatred, unforgiveness, bitterness and betrayal.

When I decided to accept Christ in my life ten years ago, I was on the verge of being homeless and without any reason for living.

Today, I have a vision, a purpose and a life even I wouldn’t have imagined possible when Jesus asked me to follow him.

Great leaders are sometimes never appreciated while alive and that was certainly the case with Jesus, the greatest leader of them all. But He is Risen and that gives me hope that one day we may come together and allow ourselves to love another the way he wants us to.

If ever I doubted my reason for being I know now Jesus is my reason for being. Therefore, I beg of you please speak of Him.

²²“Have^[f] faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Love Your Enemies

It is no secret that most churches in L.A cater to a particular group of people; they are either distinct by class, race, ethnicity, gender or cultural background.

But Jesus’ philosophy is so contrary to how we have designed our ministries.

In Mathew 6:46-47 he asks, “If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

Jesus described his true family as anyone who does the will of his Father in heaven. His mother and brothers were his disciples not those he was related to by blood (Mathew 12:46-50).

Jesus did not withhold his affection to any of his disciples even though he knew they would desert him at his hour of need.

God too chose not to spare his own son to demonstrate to us that nothing can separate us from his love.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^{[l] 37}No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:32;35-37)

Yet we get caught up in the power struggles of our day and forget that the poor in spirit and those persecuted because of righteousness will be the ones who will inherit the kingdom of God.

Jesus was all about reconciliation. He continuously calls us to reconcile with our brother before we offer any sacrifice…

²³“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Mathew 5:23-24)

We are called to be agents of peace. And if we know of any injustice taking place then we should seek to confront it in love.

The measure of love we give is the same measure of love we will receive.

Jesus wants us to be One so that the world may believe.

²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Love does no wrong to anyone.

We owe each other love, if you claim to be a follower of Christ then you have no choice but to love. That is the only thing you can keep me accountable to, my love for you.

The world hasn’t seen this kind of love because we haven’t shown it to them and we need to.

It is no coincidence that the believers in Acts 2 were filled by the Holy Spirit when they were meeting together in one place, and those who witnessed this outpouring of the spirit were ministered to even though they all spoke in different languages.

Because it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to minister even when we don’t know how and He doesn’t show up where there is division.

God wants to do great things in our midst but we have to learn to submit to one another and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us to love with actions and not just words.

Like He did in Acts 4:23; 31

When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God:…

After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

I’m praying for this vision to: Unite Leaders called to be aAcountable to God’s Love.

His love that is not bound by class, color, race, ethnicity, gender or culture. Leaders who represent the values and character of Christ in order for transformation to take place and have an impact on society.

Hope you can pray with me too.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[h] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies^[i] and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Mathew 5:43-45)

The Enemy Has Been Defeated

God is raising a new generation of leaders who seek to please Him.

Lets give God the praise and come together and pray for politicians and leaders of the U.S. and the world tomorrow at 10-12p in the Geneva room.

I AM NOT POOR BECAUSE I HAVE NO MONEY…

I am poor if I have no relationship with God.

God lets me have meaningful relationships with others. He provides the support I need even when my family and friends are not there to help me.

God provides. God continues to give when I remain faithful to Him and sometimes He gives even when I’m not faithful.

According to Myers, ‘Walking with the Poor’, The nature of poverty is fundamentally relational.

What better relationship to have than with God, the giver of all things.

The absence of shalom is the absence of God.

Sin distorts our relationships.

When you have God you have something to offer even if the world calls you poor.

The non-poor are tempted to play god. Having too much is as bad for us as having too little.

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (Proverbs 30:8)

The non-poor get easily caught up in safeguarding their privilege and power with domination as the goal.

Jesus warns us of this in Mathew 6 where he says, ¹⁹“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

How can we store up for ourselves treasures in heaven?

I can’t explain how I am living in Pasadena and attending an expensive seminary without any money in my account except for God’s hand on my life.

He has given me the things I need when I needed them and He took away the things I didn’t need to help me learn to depend on Him.

What miracle is God doing in your own life?

I shared today ta prayer meeting about Josiah.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. ² He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. ³ During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. (2 Chronicles 34:1-3)

And it encourages me to know that God can use an eight year old to do His will as long as his heart is right.

I know God can use me even though some may think I am too young because of the passion He gives me. I can not boast in myself but I can boast in the Lord.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes.

What God says about me is what counts not what others say about me, thats how I know I am not poor.

God change our hearts and form them, God change our minds and transform them, God change our will and conform them to Yours, Oh Lord.

THE WORLD IS LOOKING FOR LEADERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE CALLED TO DO. LEADERS WHO ARE RICH IN LOVE AND POOR IN SPIRIT.

I know God is leading me from Glory to Glory.

I didn’t

Love Isn’t Sugar-Coated

Having a friend to pray with as we go through life is one of the best gifts anyone could ever give me. Knowing I can call someone and share with them what I am going through and receive prayer is a miracle in itself here in America.

I say this because I’m from Kenya and I don’t have any close family here.

One of the things I’ve needed prayer for since I came to the states is the ability to love cross-culturally.

The effects of race in America are too deep for me to even talk about now but the wonderful thing about knowing Christ is he knows how we feel.

The crazy thing though is he asks us to love another despite our differences. How is that possible?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (1 John 3:16)

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. (Romans 13:8)

To befriend someone is a risk that some are unwilling to take and I understand the implications…I mean sometimes its not okay to be seen with someone who is of a lower class, or who isn’t as cool as us or as smart because we don’t want to be seen to be lowering our standards.

But Jesus befriended you?

Jesus nurtures friendships that are submissive and open to love.

My question to you and to me is; are we submissive and open to love. Are we willing to die for one another?

” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

Lord I am praying for love in my community especially the one at Fuller. I am praying you will teach us to die for one another as we die to self. And for the youth group that has been entrusted to me, Lord please show me how to be a good shephard like your son, Jesus. Strengthen us in our weaknesses and help us use our strengths to build up your church and touch our families, friends and communities. Transform us as we read your word through your Holy Spirit.

And help me remember nothing I do for you Lord is in vain.

Our Friends or Lack Thereof can Affect Our Walk with Christ.

I believe the story of Job is timeless because he continues to remind us of how lonely life can be especially when one is going through suffering and pain, and how your friends can even make you feel lonelier.

Job was crying out for a friend who would intercede on his behalf but instead his friends resorted to judging him and rebuking him.

My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; (Job 16:20)

Who would you call your true friend and why is it important to have a true friend?

Here’s an excellent quote on friendship;

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” Henri Nouwen

and some reflections from the bk, Compassion, written by Nouwen, McNeill and Morrison to help us answer this question

When we read the second chapter of Acts it is easy to see how far removed our way of life is from the 1st century Christians.

Those who were first converted by the Apostles revealed their conversion by entering a new life in community. “The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed. They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone” (Acts 2:44-47). God’s compassion became evident in a radically new way of living, which so amazed and surprised outsiders that they said, “See how they love each other.”

By entering into fellowship with Jesus Christ, who emptied himself and became as we are and humbled himself by accepting death on the cross, we enter into a new relationship with each other.

It is not enough to say that a new relationship with Christ leads to a new relationship with each other. Rather, we must say that the mind of Christ is the mind that gathers us together in community; our life in community is the manifestation of the mind of Christ.

To follow Christ means to relate to each other with the mind of Christ; that is, to relate to each other as Christ did to us–in servanthood and humility. Discipleship is walking together on the same path.

Many very generous Christians find themselves increasingly tired and dispirited like Job, because they feel isolated, unsupported, and left alone.

We are able to do many hard things, tolerate many conflicts, overcome many obstacles, and persevere under many pressures, but when we no longer experience ourselves as part of a caring, supporting, praying community, we quickly lose faith. This is because faith in God’s compassionate presence can never be separated from experiencing God’s presence in the community to which we belong.

The crisis in the lives of many Christians today are closely connected with the deep feelings of not belonging. Without a sense of being sent by a caring community, a compassionate life cannot last long and quickly degenerates into a life marked by numbness and anger.

Apart from a vital relationship with a caring community a vital relationship with Christ is not possible.

“Our Friends or lack thereof can affect our Walk with Christ.”

I am interceding for you, will you intercede for me too?

I pray we can form caring communities and have a vital relationship with Christ. Lets reach out to one another so that we can in turn be able to reach out to a world that needs to see God’s love in action.

After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. (Job 42:7)

Love is helping your neighbor when they are in need.

Philippians 2:1-8

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

Youth Ministry Vision and Goals

Vision:

To empower families by nurturing Christ-centered relationships between the youth, young adults and older adults in order for transformational discipleship to take place.

Goals that will help us get there:

1. Weekly and daily prayers for each youth member and their family by allowing time for prayer partners to pray together every sunday and encouraging them to pray for each other during the week.

2. Taking time to study God’s word together in a bi-weekly bible study setting and in a congregational setting.

3. Develop a leadership mentoring programme with other leaders in the church that will be geared towards investing and growing mature leaders in the church.

4. Giving opportunities to the youth to share their spiritual and physical gifts and helping them identify those gifts.

5. Having a holistic approach to ministry by addressing the spiritual, physical, psychological, economic, and emotional needs of the youth and inviting their parents to participate in finding solutions to these needs.

6. Making time for social interactions outside the church building by having community meals together and participating in other important events which the members of the group are involved in.

7. Partnering with other churches through attending retreats, camps, bible studies and doing missions together.

8. Taking time every month to serve in the community.

9. Creating room for parents and kids to learn from one another by developing family based small bible study groups.

10. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home…

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

In Your Brokenness His Love Is Poured Out

“When hard times come, when there’s difficult stuff going on that’s when the light is seen pouring out from you…”

For we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

The Lord expects less out of you than you expect out of yourself. You may be thinking of painting your pot but the Lord says, ‘don’t do that.’

Relax. God knows what you are made of; dust.

Then the Lord God formed man from the [a]dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

The Lord doesn’t want you to beautify your pot, he wants you and me to be “crack-pots.” (smile)

TO BE BROKEN.

Because you know what comes out, the treasure. The Light! Jesus is the Light and he pours out when the pot is cracked. That is when the light is seen not when you try to cover up everything by painting your pot.

Read Judges 7

Genesis 2:16-17

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

God didn’t say if you eat of the tree I will kill you, he said if you eat of the tree it will kill you.

God doesn’t seek to punish us, he seeks to love us.

Some people think that if they do something wrong God will track them down, that’s not Father-God, that’s the God-Father.

Your sin tracks you down. The sin finds you out.

But why would God allow this tree to be in the garden in first place? Because God desires a love relationship with man.

Love demands that there be a choice. Without a choice there could be no love.

God could have forced his love on us but forced love is r….

He says, ‘here is your choice? if you want to dump me, eat from that tree.’

What else could the Father have done except say, ‘don’t do that. Don’t eat from that tree.’ When man ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil he began to die physically and did die spiritually.

This is the danger of knowing good from evil because knowledge puffs up. Knowledge can make you independent from God, especially in seminary (or cemetery) where we’ve let our pursuit of knowledge get in the way of our intimacy with the Father and with one another.

The forbidden fruit, it kills.

The knowledge we should go after is the knowledge that will get us into the word, to have fellowship with Him, communing and dialogue-ing with others.

Pray while you are reading. Pour out your heart to the Lord while you are reading. Talk to him.

And then,

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(Genesis 2:18)

God made Adam aware of that need even before Adam knew he had such a need.

Eve was created to complement him. Eve wasn’t created to complete Adam and neither was Adam created to complete Eve.

Strength and fulfillment can only be found in the second Adam (Jesus Christ).

You can be single and be complete. For In your Brokenness His Love Is Poured Out.

Prayer Is Having A Thankful Attitude

The word ‘pray’ appears 365 times in the Bible.

1. In the bible when prayer is offered something happens.

Hannah prayed for a son, Hezekiah prayed for healing, David prayed for mercy, Elijah and Solomon prayed and fire came down.

God answered all their prayers.

(1 Samuel 1:27;  2 Kings 20:5; 1 Chronicles 17; 2 Kings 1:10; 2 Chronicles 7:1)

Jesus prayed until his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:43-45)

He taught his disciples how to pray. He said,

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:
” ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us today our daily bread.
¹²Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. (Mathew 6:6-13 NIV)

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. (Mathew 6:14-15 from message bible)

2. Prayer brings us closer to the heart of God and to each other.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”(Mathew 26:41 m.b)

3. Prayer keeps us from falling into temptation.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.(Mathew 7:7-8 niv)

4. Prayer allows God to release His Power.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 m.b)

5. Prayer is having a Thankful attitude.

MARTIN LUTHER declared: “If I don’t spend at least three hours in prayer daily, I would never get my work done. If I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith.”

A.J. GORDON stated: “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.”

RICHARD BAXTER was a mighty ‘man of prayer. He stated: “I seek to preach as a dying man to dying men.” He delivered every message “as though it were the last message” he would ever preach.

JOHN WESLEY – founder of the Methodist church – stated: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth. God does not but in answer to prayer.”

“Let us never forget that the greatest thing we can do for God or for man is to pray. For, we can accomplish far more by our prayers than by our work.

BECAUSE OF PRAYER I CAN FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN.

BECAUSE OF PRAYER I CAN LOVE AND BE LOVED.

BECAUSE OF PRAYER I CAN GIVE THANKS FOR YOU.

God I love you and I know you love me too. Please watch over my friends and my family and thank you for bringing them into my life. May your love bring us closer to each other.

Amen

INSPIRING STORY

Saint Seraphim of Sarov (Russian: Серафим Саровский) (July 19, 1759 – January 2 (N.S. January 14), 1833)

is one of the most renowned Russian monks and mystics in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

After being ordained a second time in 1793, he retreated to a log cabin in the woods outside Sarov monastery and led a solitary lifestyle as a hermit for twenty-five years. During this time his feet became swollen to the point that he had trouble walking.

One day, while chopping wood, he was attacked by a gang of thieves who beat him mercilessly until they thought he was dead. Seraphim never resisted and was beaten with the handle of his own axe. The thieves were looking for money, but all they found in his hut was an icon of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary). The incident left Seraphim with a hunched back for the rest of his life. However, at the thieves’ trial he pleaded to the judge for mercy on their behalf.

After this incident Seraphim spent a thousand successive nights on a rock in continuous prayer with his arms raised to the sky, an almost super-human feat of asceticism, especially considering the pain he was already in from his injuries.

In 1815, in obedience to a spiritual experience that he attributed to the Virgin Mary, he began admitting pilgrims to his hermitage as a Confessor. Seraphim soon became immensely popular due to his apparent healing powers and clairvoyance. He was often visited by hundreds of pilgrims per day, and was reputed to have the ability to answer his guests’ questions before they could ask.

He was kind and gentle toward others—always greeting his guests with a prostration, a kiss, and exclaiming, “Christ is risen!” He died while kneeling before an icon of the Theotokos at the age of seventy-three.

“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.   – Abraham Lincoln

IS LOVE GREEK?

What I need in abundance is mercy, peace and love. And I am learning everyday that no one can give me these things except my heavenly father. Friendship or a lack thereof is a result of how I perceive and partake of these three graces.

I may not know how to be a friend but I know someone who does and his friendship fills me with hope that one day I will find love, a love that multiplies.

I can’t give what I don’t have that is why I am praying for your love.

And I can’t expect anything from anyone and I hope no one expects anything from me but if I am truly called to be a slave for Christ then I know that I am required to give love.

So Lord please may your mercy, [soul] peace, and love be multiplied in me.

Distinguishing Love (http://www.sjchurchofchrist.org/agape.shtml)

The New Testament was written in Greek and there are various Greek words for love.

Eros

Eros is probably what most people mean when they announce with a smile, “I’m in love.” This type of love covers everything from queasy stomachs and warm fuzzy feelings to strong sensual passion.

There are a couple of very interesting characteristics about Eros. First, in order to exist Eros is dependent upon the situation and circumstances. As long as a couple is enjoying a romantic situation, Eros can thrive. But, as soon as hurtful words or actions appear, Eros simply evaporates.

Second, Eros is also held captive to each person’s perception. For example, if someone perceives a particular quiet evening dinner with candles to be romantic, Eros will thrive. However, passion becomes squashed for someone whenever he or she interprets the current situation to be undesirable. Eros thus grows strong and then wastes away based upon our perceptions.

Although Eros at times might make us feel like we are on cloud nine, it cannot provide a reliable basis for building a deep and meaningful relationship since it is so fickle and dependent upon perception and circumstances. Because of such things as accidents, diseases, and the fact that someone can choose to doubt or despise you regardless of your actions, it is clear that we can not determine how others will perceive us nor are we masters of our own circumstances. Although Eros is exhilarating, this is not the Biblical word used for love.

Philia

We recognize philia and its meaning from the name Philadelphia, that is, the city of brotherly love. This is the love of friendship, best friends, and the fellowship of being with those people you enjoy.

Although philia is wonderful, it too is not reliable since it is also held captive by the sifting sands of situation as well as by ours and other’s perceptions and expectations. Unfortunately, we probably all know of a friendship which waned or was severed because of time, distance, harsh words, how someone interpreted another’s actions, etc. When the New Testament commends love, philia is the not the word which is used.

The Beauty of Agape*

Unlike the previous two types of love, agape is not limited to being held hostage by its environment and someone’s perception. The reason why agape can soar above these is because it is based upon the commitment of a decision. It entails the decision to proactively seek someone’s well being. Since it is neither a knee jerk reaction nor just a responsive feeling to how I’ve been treated, agape is capable of acting in a hostile environment where there are no warm fuzzy feelings. For example, Jesus’ teaching that we should agape our enemies is intended to show the boundless nature of the Christian commitment toward seeking another’s well-being. Luke 6:35

The New Testament is full of examples and teachings illustrating the nature of agape as well as teaching designed to train the disciple’s heart to be shaped by agape. A few examples illustrating the active nature of agape include:

• Knowing that sinful man would kill His Son, but also knowing that without Jesus we were doomed, God loved (agape) us by sending his Son. John 3:16

• Those who love (agape) Jesus will do what Jesus taught. John 14:15,23

• If a person has material resources and the love (agape) of God within him, his heart will take care of his brother who is in need. 1 John 3:17

• Just as Christ through love (agape) acted on behalf of the church, so too the Christian husband is to be motivated by love (agape) to act on behalf of his wife. Ephesians 5:25-29

If it were not enough that the proactive nature of agape has the power to rise above its environment, it can also empower passion and friendship! For example, when a spouse chooses to speak and act toward the mate with agape, this creates the loving environment in which Eros and philia can thrive! Although the proactive spouse might even perceive the other spouse as being unkind or rude, additional problems can be prevented by responding out of agape while the power of agape works at nurturing the growth of the other forms of love!

Jesus taught his disciples that the world would know that they his people if they would show agape toward one another. John 13:35

Africa Isn’t Poor, People Without Love Are

I am bearing my soul to you because this is how I find healing. I sometimes like to share my heart with strangers who I consider friends and friends who consider me a stranger because I can let go that way.

Like David I find acceptance in the Lord God, in my failures and my successes.

Everyday I learn to trust again.

Listen, God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help. Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar… (Psalm 5:1-3)

Its been more than a month now since my hardest break-up but now I can finally

Imagine me in a place of no insecurities, saying no to thoughts that try to control me. I can imagine me being free, trusting you totally…

Letting go of my past knowing I have another chance. I don’t have to live that page again…finally I can imagine me totally trusting you.

I admit to feeling like no one could ever fall in love with me again and I know it is hard to fall in love with someone like me

but all those feelings are now gone, all gone

Thank you God for reminding me to see myself the way you see me

All my scars and my pains are all gone-at least that’s what the song says-

When I give it up to the Lord he does make it easier for me to breathe again.

Now I can imagine me being strong and not letting people break me down.

You won’t get that joy this time around

Nobody has to live afraid because your love can take all their fears away. Yes, I’m talking to you.

Some of my friends, like Hannah have been there for me and I just want to say Thank You!!!!!!

I don’t have to live in fear, I don’t have to live afraid of what people say or think of me because of your love.

There were days when I just wanted to get away wondering if Jesus cared while I was hurting but when I took time to pray and wait on the Lord He came through for me.

All I needed to do was Count it all Joy, I didn’t know it then but I know it now.

For the pain was preparation for my destiny.

No matter the weapon it will not prosper.

Now I am stronger because of you, without you Jesus I couldn’t make it through. You loving me and accepting me.

I hope this encourages you too so that the next time you feel like giving up you will remember life is gonna get better.

The next time you look at your bank account, just remember its gonna get better.

I didn’t have any money to pay for school this quarter but God took care of it all. I didn’t have a job, but now I have two jobs.

So just remember it will get better.

Every situation is there to only make you stronger.

God loves you and He will never let you go.

can’t stop now!

So what are you holding onto?????

whats keeping you from love and loving others?

California and Los Angeles in particular needs men and women who are not afraid to love again.

…just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. (2 Corinthians 8:7-8)

The sincerity of your Love is tested in your giving.

Let Us Graciously Give Love.

When you give love you give all you have. Money, clothes, time, family, friends no longer belong to you because your desire is to share them all.

This is how we can overcome the poverty that is in the world.

Through our giving.

So I pray we can all give away our love freely just like our Lord does.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

My Love Is Yours!

Our Love can conquer the Poverty In the World.

Africa Isn’t Poor, People Without Love Are.

p.s-Even guys can show emotion, this doesn’t mean I’m less of a guy-it just means I’m free to be myself.

Guys need to stand up and be counted.

I heard this song for the first time last night at Pasadena House Of Prayer and Fell In Love with God even More…Lord I surrender all to You.

sincerely,

Ephany.

Jesus Did Not Come To Solve The Problem of The Poor

There are so many things I have struggled with since coming to the States. It is a land of plenty. Plenty of money, but plenty of money can create plenty of distortions.

We are living in a world full of distortions. I pray God will open our eyes to his eternal truth everyday.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Excerpts taken from my Development and Tools Paper)

Jesus, after beginning his ministry spent most of his time with his disciples. His disciples according to the standards set at the time were not considered to be poor. For the poor were the helpless who did not have enough resources. The disciples it seems were blessed with much as we read the story of the woman with the expensive perfume.

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” (Mathew 26: 6-11)

In this story there are three groups of people that Jesus interacts with. A leper, a woman and the ‘non-poor.’
The title the ‘non-poor’ here is referring to the disciples who were in a position of influence.
They were the voice of the community. Women and lepers were not given the same privileges as everyone else in Jesus’ day for they had a much lower status in society.

The disciples who followed Jesus apparently thought they were better off than the poor.

Their assumption was very much similar to the assumption most people in the developed countries have, which is the poor need our help and our resources can change their plight. Jesus does not buy into that.

He approves of the woman who pours expensive perfume on his head while the disciples take offense. They wanted the money she spent buying the perfume to go towards helping the poor, because the poor were the problem. If a development practitioner for example, had been present he or she would have been told the same thing Jesus heard.

Jesus though decided not to go along with their analysis because they did not think they were part of the problem. The woman on the other hand was more aware of her own shortcomings and this enabled her to recognize that Jesus had more to offer than she did. She understood the power Jesus had over the poor and the ‘non-poor’. She showed humility in her giving.

Her actions symbolize her recognition of her need for a savior, which is not greater or lesser than that of the poor. The disciples failed to recognize this as they thought they were better off than the poor.

According to them the poor are the ones who needed help but Jesus in his praise of the woman is saying to us all, you are missing the point.

Jesus did not come to solve the problem of the poor. He came to solve the problem of sin, which we are all guilty of.

Participatory Methodologies work with the assumption that it is the poor who need help. My argument is, Jesus does not think so.

The dichotomy between the poor and the non-poor should not be a license for the non-poor to impose their distorted worldview on the poor.

None of us have a clue about how to save the world except Jesus.

To waltz into a community thinking we can make a difference because we have the resources the community needs is a distortion from the enemy.

What we have on this earth belongs to God it does not belong to us. The failure of the disciples was that they bought into the social class system, which looked down on the poor and elevated the non-poor. Jesus warns them of this when he praises the woman’s simple act.

When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mathew 26:12-13)

He spends time with them to show them that they are just as much in need of redemption as the poor, no one class is superior to the other.

The narration of this story is a reminder to us of the distorted world-view we have created.

The way the disciples seemed to think they were more superior or more fortunate because they had more resources than the poor is very similar to how some of us think today, and this needs to be corrected.

The pouring of the expensive perfume is not what was pleasing to Jesus. It was the kind of worship the woman’s act symbolized as she recognized that only the ‘son of man’ deserved honor. Her wealth and status did not matter. What mattered was finding acceptance in Christ.

Sustainable development is only possible if we submit completely to the lordship of Christ.

Our expensive perfume means nothing. The money we could acquire from selling the perfume in order to give to the poor also means nothing if the assumption is money or the resources we have is what will improve our lives. What will improve our lives is our ability to be humble before God and men/women.

The non-poor should not be treated as ‘gods’ neither should they have ‘god-complexes’ because true power only comes from God. The non-poor are not superior to the poor, neither is their way of life better only God’s way is.

Until we the practitioners, the poor and the non-poor recognize this then our methodologies will still fail to produce the right kind of results.

Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.

To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:16-23)

Why do bad things happen to good people? becoz there are no good people…

Job was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He was, in fact, the richest person in the land.

God made him prosperous and protected him and his home and his property from harm.

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21)

See Job praised God even when he lost everything he had because he wasn’t in it for the money or the prestige.

God knew Job’s heart. He knew what kind of person Job was and he was pleased with him to the extent that he not only blessed him, he boasted about him too. (Does God boast about you?) – Job 1:8; Job 2:3

Satan was not pleased with Job. – Job 1:9-11; Job 2:4-7 (does jealousy and envy consume your thoughts??)

Satan tested Job and made him suffer and we read that God allowed for this to happen.

God did not test Job or make him suffer.

but why did God allow for Job to be tested and to suffer?

“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. (Job 1:12)

“All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. (Job 2:6-7)

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. (Job 2:13)

Maybe Job wasn’t a good man? God described him as blameless…

Maybe God was punishing him for his sins? Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6) See Job was blameless (mature spiritually) but he was not sinless…

Ecclesiastes 7:20
There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

Maybe he was being punished because of his wife Job lost everything except his wife (ironic?)

His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

But Job replied, “You talk like a godless woman. (Job 2:9-10)

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”

Faith in God does not guarantee personal prosperity, and lack of faith does not guarantee troubles in this life.

Satan’s strategy is to get us to doubt God.

Never seek a peace that comes from understanding.

If God gave us peace mentally we would argue continually.

We can’t understand everything God does. Only God knows why he does what he does.

He seeks to give us a peace that surpasses understanding. Not a peace that comes from understanding.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension/understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

God knew the plans he had for Job and he knows the plans he has for you and me.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

You may be going through testing or suffering and you might be wondering why that is. Or maybe someone you know is going through a hard time, what God wants you to know is his plan is to give hope.

Worrying about who I will marry or if anyone will ever love me is hopeless. God asks me to trust him as he has a plan to prosper me and his peace surpasses all understanding.

I won’t get what I deserve, I’ll get what God has planned for me if I continue to trust in him. That’s good news right there…

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Job did not know what was going on but in IN JOB’S SUBMISSION GOD WAS ABLE TO SILENCE SATAN

Satan is our accuser but when we show our submission to God in the little things we do each day God is able to silence Satan.

For true followers of Christ the real rewards are in heaven.

Behind all suffering of the godly there is a high purpose; and there is a great blessing beyond the suffering. – Pastor Jon Courson

Lord may your word continue to equip, enlighten and inspire us to do good works. Amen

Don’t Doubt Love

The book of Luke begins with Zechariah’s story. Zechariah, a priest was silenced for his unbelief. He and his wife were both upright in the sight of God but they had no children even though they always prayed for one. When God sent an angel to tell Zechariah they would have a son Zechariah thought it impossible.

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son…

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.” (Luke 1:13;18-20)

As believers in Christ we have faith God can and will take away all the suffering in the world but sometimes we chose to be like Zechariah and let our present circumstances silence us until the day this happens.

Its the same with love. If we chose to doubt in God’s love and the freedom it gives when we share in it then we will miss out on experiencing the Kingdom of God here on earth.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

The Kingdom of God according to Revelation 21:1-5 is a place of no pain because Jesus has come to make everything new.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Sunday Sermon Part 2: You Are What You Believe!

I grew up in a culture where most people are not afraid of sharing their faith and their personal journeys but in California it’s different. Most people here are guarded about sharing their faith or even their personal journey and I must admit it is quite a challenge for me to adjust to this culture. Preserving ‘self’ or your self-image is perpetuated by the society through the media and the lifestyles the people here aspire to.

 

Yet, we are called to esteem the ‘other’ and to live vicariously (in place of) but we would rather love ourselves rather than love our neighbors because we don’t want to jeopardize the ‘peace’ we have. This is subtly implied by our inextricably (complicated to solve) busy nature. We choose to hide behind work and the material things we amass to give us comfort. This is because we have been led to believe it is it easier for people to live peacefully in an orderly and controlled environment. Where people are able to enjoy the benefits of their hard labor because then they will feel less helpless.

 

But where does that leave God?

 

God is only allowed on Sunday for those of us who attend church. Like everything else in our lives he has to fit our schedule. It is never the other way round where we try to fit into his schedule. And yet he is the only one who can restore order in our lives and give us lasting peace.

When we think of the ‘other’ as a threat to our peaceful existence all we end up with is homogeneous Christian communities and there is nothing wrong with that. Except we live in a state that is distinguished as a ‘melting pot’ where you can interact with all kinds of people whether at work, school, park or grocery store. And so I believe it must be perplexing to non-Christians who hear us speak of love but we don’t even get along.

How long will we continue to say one thing and do another?

The thought of having our world view challenged by someone who acts, thinks or looks differently from us (from a different background either socially, economically, religiously or racially) causes fear in most of us as disagreement is seen as a barrier to coexistence. But what we learn from the bible about Jesus is he never let his disagreements with the Pharisees and teachers of the law stop him from advancing God’s kingdom. In fact his boldness led his doubters to be even more curious of where his power came from. Everyone knew Jesus was from Nazareth, a town many despised as we read in John 1:46;

 

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

 

But he never let the power of God be diminished by those who doubted in him. Instead he used those moments to share the amazing love of God by forgiving others of their sins. Jesus knew what the Pharisees and teachers of the law were thinking about him even before they said anything but he did not let that bother him.

 

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

 

To accept Grace is to have the unmerited favor of God on your life.

There is nothing you can do to merit God’s forgiveness and favor except accept his son Jesus Christ as Lord and savior for he is the only one who has the authority on earth to forgive sins.

 

Therefore, it is easier for me to say to you, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’

 

Like Jesus did before healing the paralytic (Read Luke 5:17-30).

 

If Jesus sought to please the Pharisees and teachers of the law he would have kept his mouth shut, but he didn’t. Instead he chose to share the truth with his highest critics and the people were filled with awe.

 

If you are like me and are worried sometimes about what people think don’t let that be a reason for you to stop sharing with them God’s love.

 

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

 

Sometimes you have to be discreet but never be afraid.

 

 

 

I’M AFRAID TO LOVE YOU

I’m afraid to love you

If I love you now I may never love you again

For my love turns cold at the thought of pain

When I love I try to laugh

Louder than California rain

I’m afraid to love you

If I love you I may never see you again

And my heart will only get weaker

I desire a love that goes deeper

Where our spirits are one and our souls meek

I’m afraid to love you

If I love you I may never speak with you again

For my love needs no conversation

Only faith built on trust

So let me love you and bury my fear.

Sunday Sermon Part 2: You Are What You Believe

I grew up in a culture where most people are not afraid of sharing their faith and their personal journeys but in California it’s different. Most people here are guarded about sharing their faith or even their personal journey and I must admit it is quite a challenge for me to adjust to this culture. Preserving ‘self’ or your self-image is perpetuated by the society through the media and the lifestyles the people here aspire to.

 

Yet, we are called to esteem the ‘other’ and to live vicariously (in place of) but we would rather love ourselves rather than love our neighbors because we don’t want to jeopardize the ‘peace’ we have. This is subtly implied by our inextricably (complicated to solve) busy nature. We choose to hide behind work and the material things we amass to give us comfort. This is because we have been led to believe it is it easier for people to live peacefully in an orderly and controlled environment. Where people are able enjoy the benefits of their hard labor because then they will feel less helpless.

 

But where does that leave God?

 

God is only allowed on Sunday for those of us who attend church. Like everything else in our lives he has to fit our schedule. It is never the other way round where we try to fit into his schedule. And yet he is the only one who can restore order in our lives and give us lasting peace.

 

We sometimes view the ‘other’ as a threat to our peaceful existence. This is why we have so many homogeneous Christian communities here even though California is the ‘melting pot’ where you can interact with all kinds of people whether at work, school, park or grocery store.

 

The thought of having our world view challenged by someone who acts, thinks or looks differently from us (from a different background either socially, economically, religiously or racially) causes fear in most of us as disagreement is seen as a barrier to coexistence. But what we learn from the bible about Jesus is he never let his disagreements with the Pharisees and teachers of the law stop him from advancing God’s kingdom. In fact his boldness led his doubters to be even more curious of where his power came from. Everyone knew Jesus was from Nazareth, a town many despised as we read in John 1:46;

 

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

 

But he never let the power of God be diminished by those who doubted in him. Instead he used those moments to share the amazing love of God by forgiving others of their sins. Jesus knew what the Pharisees and teachers of the law were thinking about him even before they said anything but he did not let that bother him.

 

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

 

To accept Grace is to have the unmerited favor of God on your life.

There is nothing you can do to merit God’s forgiveness and favor except accept his son Jesus Christ as Lord and savior for he is the only one who has the authority on earth to forgive sins.

 

Therefore, it is easier for me to say to you, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’

 

Like Jesus did before healing the paralytic (Read Luke 5:17-30).

 

If Jesus sought to please the Pharisees and teachers of the law he would have kept his mouth shut, but he didn’t. Instead he chose to share the truth with his highest critics and the people were filled with awe.

 

If you are like me and are worried sometimes about what people think don’t let that be a reason for you to stop sharing with them God’s love.

 

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

 

Sometimes you have to be discreet but never be afraid.

“…I Still Believe That People Are Good At Heart”

I was fortunate today to find someone I could relate to through the fears, hopes and experiences that they shared. Unfortunately that someone was Anne Frank, one of over one million Jewish children who died in the hollocaust. Before her capture, Anne kept a diary which documents her experiences during the German occupation of the Netherlands where she and her family were in hiding during World War II.

The excerpts I read from her diary not only gave me comfort but hope too as I chasten my heart from faltering and becoming weak as I find myself increasingly lonely without a soul with whom I can pray with relying solely on God.

July 5, 1944

“Its really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals

because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out.

Yet i keep them because inspite of everything

I still believe that people are good at heart.

I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death.

I see the world slowly being transformed into a wilderness,

I hear the ever approaching thunder which will destroy us too.

I can feel the suffering of millions.

And yet when I look up into the heavens,

I somehow feel that everything will change for the better,

that this cruelty too shall end and that peace and tranquility will return once more.”

“I Love You Too”

Like Henri Nouwen I hope to live my whole life with the desire to help others in their journey.

Realizing I have little else to offer than my own; the journey I am making myself.

How can I announce joy, peace, forgiveness and reconciliation unless they are part of my own flesh and blood.

I want to live and write from a place of vulnerability and truth.

Believing I am God’s Beloved.

Even though I’ll never be comfortable in my own body because of the rejection and pain that I will have to endure, I believe God’s love for me will see me through.

In my own search for intimacy with God I pray that ordinary people like me will also find grace.

By seeing through my false self and into my true self which is that I am God’s beloved child and having to not prove that to anyone is my life goal.

To discover God’s healing grace in my own suffering like Jesus.

Who never gave in to the temptation of trying to prove to the world how powerful or beloved he was in order for me to have the chance to say back to God, “I love you too.”

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew ^[a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

For the minister is called to recognize the sufferings of his time in his own heart and make that recognition the starting point of his service. Whether he tries to enter into a dislocated world, relate to a convulsive generation, or speak to a dying man, his service will not be perceived as authentic unless it comes from a heart wounded by the suffering about which he speaks. (Henri Nouwen-The Wounded Healer)

Love Is A Long Term Relationship

It dawned on me today that I’ve never actually ever had a deep, consistent and meaningful friendship with anyone for over five months. Meaning there is probably no one alive who can claim to actually knowing me, which makes me wonder if I am as vulnerable as I think I am.

Or maybe I don’t leave any room for mystery after the first few months…

what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:4)

With modern technology we now have the capability to commute emotionally but is this affecting our ability to be emotionally present with those we are in direct contact with on a daily basis? I believe so.

For those of us who have access to the internet and make use of cell phones we bear greater responsibility due to our privilege.

Only God is Omnipresent

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

I believe God knows me better than I know myself even though I don’t text or email him as much

He understands my frailties and encourages me to grow everyday. Sometimes he will send a friend along to remind me of his love for me and those are the times I long to relive.

I also hope he sends me to remind others of his  love for them even when there is a cloud hanging over my head. For that cloud could just be the opportunity for me to let his ‘reign’ fall.

God makes everything beautiful in his own time without any inorganic stuff and his love endures forever. (Read Psalm 136)

For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by (Psalm 90:4)

Even when we feel like he only loves us for a day his day is longer than a thousand years.

So a five month relationship with God is really a long long time. And if I continue to love God maybe one day I’ll be able to sustain a long term deep and meaningful relationship with a friend (or spouse) and vice versa.

A Short Prayer

Forgive me Father for the days I forget about your love. And thank you for all you have done for me and for my family and friends.

I need your help Lord with paying for school and I need your help with leading the youth group at my church. Please Lord I know only you can help me.

Help all my brothers and sisters out there too who are in need of your provision, love and salvation. 

I hope you know I love you,

in Jesus’ name, 

Amen

Puppy Love

How can I believe in a loving and faithful God when I am so far from home. So far from finding the love I so desperately need. Every day I long for you so I can escape this life of insecurity and fear. But instead I keep getting increasingly entangled by this ridiculous web of selfishness and pride. Devoting oneself to caring for others is becoming more like a metaphor for puppy love.

Things have replaced people as people are dispensable, especially those who don’t give you what you want. We have replaced your beauty with vanity and simplicity with class. And I don’t know what my neighbor is going through all I know is that they drive a nice car and live in an expensive apartment.

Our stories might be similar but we seem to have lost the time to stop and ask what is going on and really listen to each other and share our burdens. If I am wrong maybe you are right. The world is a happy place and I just need to forget about my problems and the thought of us being one in Christ.

Either way I wish I had puppy love and a place to call home.

Acts 2:45-47

Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Orphan Crisis In Kenya-And a Self-Absorbed Church

The church is facing a crisis and its not a crisis of numbers, its a crisis of care. We get so consumed with numbers that we forget that our mission goes beyond our four, five, six or seven walls. We have an obligation to God and to our neighbors to share love and that means being concerned for each other even for those who are less fortunate than we are in society.

Having left home to come and study here in California over four years ago, my biggest struggle has been fighting the urge to go back because there is a sense of being so self-absorbed here that I hate. Don’t get me wrong I know I am not perfect but I sometimes feel like having lived here for so long I have become even more self-absorbed than I was before.

There is a sense of entitlement that has creeped into this culture and its getting the best of us. The only way to becoming immune to this virus is to run- no you can never solve your problems by running. Its too late to try and prevent it from happening so what is the cure?

I would say a constant awareness and a willingness to get more involved in finding ways to love others, especially those who need it.

It is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than it is for the ‘rich’ to get into heaven and I am finding this out the hard way.

I am not ‘poor’ and I am not ‘rich’ but I am living in a culture that feels entitled to something????

Maybe we feel entitled to love!

But God gives it freely so we can freely give it away, so even love is conditional in an unconditional way.

I wrote in my previous blog how I wish I could find a home and it occurred to me that God is constantly calling me home. His kingdom is where home is and we are living presently in the kingdom of God though not fully.

God’s love can be lived out, we just have to be humble as a people to find a way to do it instead of feeling entitled to it.

Tomorrow I’m hoping to share about the Aids epidemic with my youth group but I hope to do more than share this facts. I pray that God will cause his spirit to move with mercy on us so we can be able to overcome sexual temptations which is becoming an increasingly easy tool for the enemy to use especially through the internet.

Please Pray and Act with Love.

TROUBLING FACTS TO PONDER:

Current figures indicate that, in Africa, there are over 34 million orphaned children.

1/3 of these children are orphaned by AIDS.

Kenya is not a large country; it’s only twice the size of Arizona.  Yet there are currently over 2.3 million children orphaned in Kenya alone.  Without significant intervention, an estimated 15 percent of children under age 15 are expected to be orphaned by 2015, and 30% will have lost their mothers, fathers, or bothparents.

Kenya is not a large country; it’s only twice the size of Arizona.  Yet there are currently over 2.3 million children orphaned in Kenya alone.  Without significant intervention, an estimated 15 percent of children under age 15 are expected to be orphaned by 2015, and 30% will have lost their mothers, fathers, or bothparents.

In the past, orphaned children in Africa were “taken in” by the extended family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc). In recent years, however, this has changed. The AIDS epidemic has decimated entire families, the socio economic decline has led to the breakup of the traditional African family, and the high unemployment rate leads to prostitution and abandonment of the resulting children.

While the statistics seem staggering, there is hope:

Over 50% of the children orphaned in Kenya are a result of HIV/AIDS; either from their parent(s) dying from it, or abandonment as a result of having it.  HIV children need three things: Good nutrition, love, and adequate medical care. Simple infections are treated very aggressively, because HIV positive children can decrease in health exceptionally quickly. With proper care and a lot of love, between 90-95% of the HIV+ babies became negative when 18 months old or younger, when receiving proper care and medication.

I Can Feel Your Heartbeat (A Poem Dedicated to My Friend)

your passing away hit me today and i couldn’t stop myself from crying

alone in my car all i could see were the days you shared with me singing and dancing.

when i had my sad face on you would always come along and replace it with your smiley face

and every time you said my name wrong  i knew that was your way of saying ‘you love me.’

i remember there were rocks we found harder to climb but your love will be even harder to find

because even though i can count the days we knew each other you still appreciated me like i was your best friend

we shared the same birthday and we didn’t even know it until much later but the hope and joy i saw in you,

i pray everyone will come to know it sooner rather than much later.

though there will be days like today when my faith will be shaken i know your love will carry me because i can feel your heartbeat.

There’s beauty in these words, ‘For what has been will be again’ (Ecclesiastes 1:9a).

The Inner Ache of Loneliness

“It is endemic, it is real and the trouble with most of us men is that we are unwilling to admit it because it renders us vulnerable to confide to a friend that we have this desperate sense of loneliness.” -Ravi Z.

C.S Lewis says, “the highest often goes with the lowest.”

Think of Elijah, he had seen an enormous manifestation of the miraculous intervention of God at Mount Carmel. Yet, moments later he is sitting under a tree so desolate and saying to God i wish you would take my life from me, i can’t face the anger of Jezebel. (1 Kings 18 &19)

And if you think well Elijah was human, then think of our Lord, Jesus who in the garden of gathesemane was also hit by that sudden pang of loneliness when his disciples could not stay up to pray with him.

Loneliness is real. The bible talks about it, experience teaches us.

Here is the common answer, “if you only knew that God loves you, you would not feel lonely.”

Yes, Love is what we need, but D.H Lawrence says, we want to delude ourselves that love is the problem but it is only the branches. Its not the root of the problem.

The root is beyond love, a naked kind of isolation. An isolated me that does not meet and mingle and never can. There is a beyond in you and me which is farther than love. Beyond the scope as some stars are beyond the scope of vision.

Lawrence is saying here, Yes I need love but there is something beyond me that can just respond to love and say that it is alright.

We know of Agape (unconditional love) , Phileo  (friendship love), Storge (affection between family members), and Eros (romantic love)

but principally Lewis says, there are basically two kinds of love that we can well understand because we see it.

The first one is “Need Love.” – it says, i want to belong, i want to be cared for…(a love that we need)

The second is a “Gift Love.” – where we give of ourselves to somebody else. Mother Theresa giving her life to the destitute is an example of a gift love.

But there is also: Need Pleasure (that which we long to satisfy) and Appreciation Pleasure (that which we did not anticipate).

Need pleasure has a momentary satisfaction that you envisioned because you planned it and can provide for it but  Appreciation pleasure is something you did not plan. You just stand back in awe and say I am going to enjoy this. You cannot really recount this kind of pleasure because it was beyond the inner you as it were.

It registered with you but you can only call it breath-taking.

In an age where we find ourselves connecting more and more with script and less and less with personal time, we need to be reminded of this.

“Yes, the Lord gave us his word but he also gave us his indwelling presence. And there is no substitute for a nearness and a voice and an inner presence. And that only comes from taking the time to be with people.” Ravi Z.

Worship Goes Beyond Love

Worship takes away loneliness because it binds the fragmented areas of your life fusing all of it with meaning.

Worship bestows dignity to every calling.

Worship brings purpose.

Worship brings gratitude with an Appreciation Love that is not momentary but is a posture of life.

God pours out his anointing on those who are empty and hunger for it so they can continue the cycle and in turn be blessed with  a fresh outpouring.

For a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Why Love

Is the reason I follow Jesus and decide to share my life with others. It can mean being humiliated sometimes but Jesus went through this so that we could be able to go through it too as our lives are changed and others are saved when we do so.

Mark 1

¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” ¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him.

¹⁹When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1:16-20)

Mark 8

³¹He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³²He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Mark 9

¹And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.“

Mark 10

²⁴The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[e] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

²⁸Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

²⁹“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Mark 12

²⁸One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[e] 30}Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^{[f] 31}The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[g]There is no commandment greater than these.”

³²“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Mark 16

¹⁴Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

¹⁹After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Love God and Share Your Life with Others and God will help You make Disciples

I follow Jesus so that he can make me a fisher of men/women. He is the example that i try to follow so that i can know how to love God and love my neighbor. To love God the way Jesus did, means to put him first before everything else believing he is always there and that his plans for us are to prosper us. To love my neighbor means to share my life with them like Jesus did. The kingdom of God will come with power when we do these things; when we go out and preach/share the good news about Jesus.

Pray to God to give you the strength and the courage to share your life with others

Blessings and Woes (Are the Poor and the Rich Worshiping the same God)

Who is my God? is he the God of the poor or the rich?

Jesus spent time praying. He prayed for power to heal diseases and to cure those troubled by evil spirits. These signs drew people towards him and after performing these wonders he began to teach them the truth about God’s kingdom.

He said to his disciples:

^{“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.}

^{But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.}

After reading these passages in Luke 6; I BELIEVE he is saying to me: This life was never meant to be comfortable for you or me,

because Jesus asks us to give to everyone who asks of us and to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us.

Otherwise, woe to us who do not hunger for the things of God and instead seek after  comfort in this life.

If you are seeking after a God who will make you comfortable in this life then you are worshiping the wrong God. True worshipers of God will receive their great reward in heaven.

They are the ones who do the things that Jesus says we should do.

³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.

³⁶Be merciful (compassionate, tender, sympathetic), just as your Father is merciful because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

The things that Jesus asked us to do will give us no comfort in this life, that is how we know who it is we worship!!!!

Read Luke 6

Pray In Order To Be Filled With The Love of God (That is the only way we can truly reach out to each other)

I woke up today feeling really challenged to pray for my faith, not because of any doubts that I have but because of the hardship I keep enduring for the comfort of others. I know God is the only authority for my faith and his word encourages me to continue on even in the midst of trials because he has called me to share the gospel with you. This is why I can relate to Paul, the apostle who in his second letter to the Corinthians mentions suffering and comfort as all being part of God’s plan for them in their appointed mission to share the gospel in Asia.

Who is also quick to point out that if it wasn’t for the Corinthians helping them, through their prayers many people would not have been able to give thanks on their behalf for the gracious favors they received.

Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

By putting myself in Paul’s shoes I can hear God speaking to me and I hope he causes you to implode in prayer for me.

I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships I suffer in California. I am under great pressure, far beyond my ability to endure, so that I have despaired even of life. ⁹Indeed, in my heart I have felt the sentence of death. But this is happening that I might not rely on myself but on God, who raises the dead.¹⁰He has delivered me from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him I have set my hope that he will continue to deliver me, ¹¹as you help me by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on my behalf for the gracious favor granted me in answer to the prayers of many.

You can also Read 2 Chronicles 6-7:1-3 (to understand the power of prayer)

I strongly believe if we commit to devoting ourselves to prayer the power of God will be released in our lives and we will be able to reach out to each other and to those who are hurting because we will be filled with the love of God.

Let us Commune with God Today through prayer and help others find deliverance and He will deliver us.

What is on your heart that You Need Prayer For?

Lacrae’s Love Song

Where would I be if I never met your love
Can’t imagine ever gettin up
Without knowin your grace how you placed me in your righteousness
I can’t get enough

Unconditional love is what you show me
In a world so cold and lonely
And the life that I’m livin was givin not based on me
But based on the fact you know me

You… interceeded on my behalf
You… gimme everything that I have
You… never leave me alone my sins I been told
Cause you can no longer take on my wrath

You been so true so faithful
For your word I’m so grateful
Your love is true
And not what they showing on cable, and I’m

So in love with your righteousness I fight to just
Keep you in my sight for just
Five seconds of my life since the day I met Christ
Never knew a love quite like this, I’m writin this

With tears on my face you was there for my grace
Cause a father wouldn’t hear my case
I was dead in my sins but you bled for my sins
That’s the best kind of love anybody can taste

Only your love can save somebody like me
Only your love can truly set the whole world free
And I’m so in love
With everything about you Jesus
Only your love, your love, your love
Only your love, your love, your love

Verse 2 Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm
Love me Lord you sho do
I done lied and cheated and cheated and lied
And treated the lies as if they was true but

Metaphorically you broke my legs
Like a sheppard does his sheep when it misbehaves
Not to hurt me but to work me
Into the man that you need me to be today, And it’s sweet to say

Even when I’m doin back I’m good
Work for the Lord I’m glad I could
Tell me you would give the son and die for the sins of the world
My daddy would

That’s a love like no other
Not my father not my mother not my sister not my brother nope not at all
Forget material things, I got every spiritual blessing in Christ
Eternal life, ya I got it all

Fall deeper in love with u everyday
No longer there so I know you hear me when I pray
And you show me your wisdom in many ways
66 books to keep me amazed

Only your heavenly love can manifest
In the death and resurrection
Your affection is sheer perfection
Divine election, you give me direction

Only your love can save somebody like me
Only your love can truly set the whole world free
And I’m so in love
With everything about you Jesus
Only your love, your love, your love
Only your love, your love, your love

Only your love can save somebody just like me
Was tempted just like me
But never gave in unlike me
I’m blown away

I never understood the kinda love that
Make somebody die for our world
Who doesn’t even care that you cry for the world
Who doesn’t care that you gave your life for the world

We do you dirty Lord, we not worthy Lord
Of your goodness and your mercy Lord
It hurts me that we remain to flirt with life that we got, to my Christ
So earthy Lord

Your love you know it rains
One day we’ll see it plain
That to live as Christ and to die is gain
So keep all the fortune forget the fame man

We need the love of Jesus
Ha, that name Jesus
I could say it all day, I be in a daze
Your love is amazin like man Jesus

Your love’s true and sincere
I reference you in fear
And as long as I’m around I’m down
To make sure the peopl hear

Only your love can save somebody like me
Only your love can truly set the whole world free
And I’m so in love with everything about you Jesus
Only your love, your love, your love
Only your love, your love, your love

Sex, Tea & and Love

There are people in my life who I am really fortunate to have. Those that are there to encourage me when I really need it the most and are not afraid to share with me their struggles and life lessons, those are the kinds of people I would love to be friends with for life. Of course I have to be willing to share my life with them too for them to be my friends.

So today I had a long conversation with one such friend and it was refreshing because I long for deep conversations with people. And since I am not in seminary any more I have continuously been challenged to seek this out in other avenues.

It seems there are more questions to ask in life than there are answers. And not even sex, tea and love could cure it all.

I was telling my friend how i struggle with singleness in ministry and she brought up the idea of dating different people in order to find out what you really like. But i was skeptical about that because in my heart of hearts i really wish i didn’t have to date anymore because i have never really been successful at it.

And then we talked about the idea of being human in ministry. And i was reminded of how i needed to be comfortable in sharing my own weaknesses with the people at my church or that i minister to because if they are looking for me to be God, then I am in the wrong place.

David was human and he made mistakes but God never stopped loving him.

There are consequences to our actions but we were never designed to be gods. We were designed to be human and part of accepting our humanity is realizing we are bound to make mistakes and have weaknesses. The neat thing though is that if we continuously depend on God His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Community and culture are the other key elements to any good conversation

How much are we influenced by our culture today when it comes to making our decisions about what values to keep and what values to loosen our grip on?

When we look at God’s relationship with the Israelites, its interesting because they were always on the move. Sometimes out of their own disobedience and sometimes out of God’s volition. In either case, they ended up where God wanted them to be.

Does God want me to be here?

Can I learn from my mistakes?

Am I called to be single in Ministry?

What kind of community is God calling me to?

You know we attract the people who are most like us, and I have been wondering lately, am I really attracting any friends?

Its all very interesting because I am learning something new everyday about myself.

God has definitely called me to be a leader in something and maybe its that church I have been dreaming of being a part of all these years!!!!!!!

What has God called you to lead?

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalms 27:14)

“We may not Dance the same way, but we can learn to Love each other just the same”

Are you in this because it is profitable to worship God?

They say it is easy to worship God when everything is going well, but when God does things that you think a Good God should not do or when you begin to see the pain in your life and in the life of other people

then the question becomes, is God still of value to me?

In  our trials his worth is always at stake.

When all is going well believers have little sense of their need for God but when calamity strikes they will tell a different story.

When you are struggling to find a job or when you lose your health or a loved one, something screams out inside, why?

So, What do you do when you have doubts?

Well, if we are to follow the example of Job then we are to fall to the ground and worship God and let God be God.

There are things going on in the spirit world which if you and I were preview to it would really impact the way we live here, because the way we live here is really important but we don’t see that so we think to ourselves ‘no big deal.’

‘Life just happens’!!!, without explanation, senselessly – from our standpoint

We don’t know why some people die young or why someone has cancer

But we have to go on trusting and believing because

Events on earth must always be interpreted in light of Events in Heaven.

God sent to us his Holy Spirit so We can worship him even when we do not understand. Even when we can not see the end.

Job wasn’t able to see the last chapter of his book when he was going through his great sorrow, but eventually he was there and he experienced it because he began to see the hand of God even in his suffering and disappointments.

Are you seeing the Hand of God working in your life?

The other day I was really meditating on this and I realized the things I complain about to God, don’t really make sense.

I mean I was asking him if its fair that i struggle to meet people with the same passion and desires as I do here in L.A

and he reminded me – the passions and desires i have are meant for me and not for anyone else and i should just appreciate the one or two friends that i have because their passions and desires are meant to be unique to them too.

“We may not dance the same way, but we can learn to love each other just the same.” – ePhanY

God doesn’t need to give us an explanation in order for us to worship him, His promises are enough.

He promises to always be there for us even when the circumstances of life turn against us, and that is all we REALLY need.

If God be for us, who can be against us. (Romans 8:31)

Spiritual Food (Sunday snippet)

What good is it, my brothers (and sisters), if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

imagine your friend or family member suddenly falling terribly ill and they are seriously in need of a doctor, what would your reaction be like?

would you go on as if nothing had happened or would you frantically begin to look for help in order for their lives to be saved?

You have been called to be a life saver whether you know it or not but if we continue to be indifferent or nonchalant about it  then we are choosing to ‘push the button’ by our silence and non-commitment to the cause.

I’m God’s salesman and I am here to make you an offer

if you choose to share your gifts and everything else that you have indiscriminately (without discriminating), i guarantee you God will save another soul.

Just Live out your faith everyday by your deeds and people who are different from you will begin to follow this Jesus that you claim to believe in.

 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Mathew 28:19-20)

I Don’t Have It All Together

I wish i didn’t care about you sometimes

i wish i didn’t love you sometimes

i wish i only lived for myself again

i wish you were out of my life like everyone else i’ve cared about

i cry out my heart every night just so you can hear me

but everytime i wake up my life feels empty just like before

empty of your peace

empty of your joy

empty of your love

its like when i draw closer to you

i keep losing more and more

i keep losing more of me

my brokenness leaves me weak

and all i know to do is retreat into a shell

i become just like them

and act like everything is okay

because they seem to have it together

they know where their next meal is coming from

they know who they will spend their holidays with

when all i can do is hope that i do find these things

its not as bad as it is for some

all the same i don’t want to be just another actor

i don’t need an oscar i just need security

but you keep telling me i can only find it at your altar

and yet you know how many times i’ve been down this road

you know how many times i have asked

for a deeper love

and not just for material things

i don’t want material things to draw me further away from you

but if i don’t have material things

how can i live in a material world

without a place to call ‘home’

Lord if only i could find someone who is just as wounded

someone who is just as passionate to share your love

then maybe i’ll be okay

maybe i’ll be able to come back

but until then help me find that place, that secret place

where I can be like you and you can be like me.

 

“The church will never change until those in it desire to really live a life poured out.”

If you give a blessing you will receive a blessing

YAZOO CITY, Miss., Sept. 4 (UPI) — A Mississippi high school football player is being credited for saving a school bus of elementary and high school students from a passenger wielding a gun.

Surveillance footage showed Kevin Eulls, 18, tackling the 14-year-old girl and wrestling the gun from her as other students fled the bus as it traveled to school Tuesday, CNN reported Friday.

“Things could’ve got real ugly and there would’ve been a lot of grieving families in Yazoo County right now,” Sheriff Thomas Vaughan said. “I’m just extremely glad this young man took the bull by horns and stopped a potentially deadly situation.”

Eulls said he acted because he “couldn’t let anything happen” to his fellow school bus passengers.

The unidentified girl withdrew a semi-automatic handgun from a bag, then paced along the aisle, threatening and shouting at children she said teased her, Vaughn said. The bus driver unsuccessfully tried to calm her before Eulls acted, the sheriff said.

The girl was arrested and taken into custody as a juvenile, Vaughn said. She faces 22 counts of attempted aggravated assault, 22 counts of kidnapping and one count of possession of a firearm on school property because the bus is leased by the school district.

Eulls’ mother, Ora Eulls, said she was a little shocked by the incident.

“I told him I was proud of him — we all was proud of him — and I told him don’t ever scare me like that again,” she said.

 

courage under fire

The Empty Space In My Life

“There are meaningful words and there are pointless words, and then there are words that hurt.” – Mary Horowitz

Like a crossword puzzle its sometimes hard to figure myself out but i’ve learnt in life what matters most is to believe in God’s love for me and to love myself in spite of what anyone says about me.

Because I am who God says I am.

“I’m not a hero. I’m a humble guy who is lucky to be alive.”

And thats worth being thankful for even though I’m spending another thanksgiving and christmas away from my own family.

 

New York times crossword editor, Will Short says, “We have a natural compulsion to fill empty spaces.”

And if the empty spaces inside of us come from making our way into a world that doesn’t always embrace unique then God can fill our empty spaces because he loves us just the way we are.

 

Which is why I pray to him to fill the empty space in my life, and that is to be a part of a loving family everyday.

 

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:13-14)

 

“In the journey of life just find someone as normal as you, if not a whole bunch.”

 

“A New Swag”

“I’m transformed not who I used to be, you should get used to me.”

Today I have “a new swag.” A new walk, a new focus.

Its amazing how darkness can turn into light.

The days I sleep wondering where will my next meal come from, or why does it seem like I have to do this alone

have sometimes led me to become angry at God and angry at people, but those days are gone now.

Not gone forever but gone for now because I choose to focus on his son, Jesus and the price he paid for my sins.

He has transformed me into a new creation and now all I want to do is dance to this song,

‘Transformers’ by Tedashii ft. Lecrae and Trip Lee

I pray we can all find ‘a new swag’ and show the world that we are transformed!

swagger: to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air

Love is always unconditional.

Invisible Tatoos

we all fall in love sometimes, right (at least you’ve heard the expression before) but what about staying in love and being completely loyal to our spouses, family and friends?

how can that be taught?

how can that be lived out?

can you give me something real, something i can feel!

“lust can sometimes override trust”

if my life was a song it wouldn’t be about living in denial

these words are not just mine

but writing these words keeps me going

i like to fly more than ten feet high even when i am down

ignorance is no excuse

the only thing that can change the world is you

what you believe in

because there is hope within you

don’t give up on yourself

we all have invisible tatoos

its all a part of the fight to find true love

when you find it

you will finally understand how to stay in love.

World Cup 2010 “Welcome to The Greatest Dance Showcase in South Africa”

2010 can not come any sooner because finally the world will take notice of Africa and what we are capable of achieving when we pull together and support one another.

The drums will be beating harder than they ever have before as the anticipation and excitement will be raised to an astronomical level.

Old rivalries will be rekindled and new ones will be evoked as the tension promises to keep us at the edge of our seats like Micheal Jackson’s “Thriller.” (I couldn’t resist. chuckle!)

The African Spirit is much braver than the heart of a lion and far richer than gold!

Unfortunately everything that is good about Africa has been exploited and taken from us but they have never taken our Spirit away!

Africa can be the shining light again in 2010, God willing, and we can all be a part of it.

Passion, Creativity and Class are the marks of any legendary artist and dancer. Now we have the stage to produce these qualities which will provide a platform for the marginalized people of the World, especially young orphaned Africans to build on and believe in.

So I urge you to join me and millions of other Africans in praying and promoting the true spirit of unity locked inside the “Motherland.”

South Africa Here We Come

The Perfect Song To End With This Year

Brandon Heath’s I’m Not Who I Was

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I’m not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I’m not who I was

I found my way around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you so

I found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I’m not who I was
You were there, you were right above me
And I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I was

When the pain came back again
Like a bitter friend
It was all that I could do
To keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it’s a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
Now I’m not who I was
I write about love and such
Maybe ’cause I want it so much
I’m not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
But I never did forget your name
Hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that’s what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I’m not who I was

My Secret Santa

You can only enjoy the rain when you can sleep under a shelter

if you are in the midst of a storm this too shall pass

for the children across the world dying of hunger

searching for a love much deeper

a love that is not afraid to sacrifice and be crucified

for the sake of peace, hope and a life beyond this one

don’t promise them love just promise them Christ

because His promises they can treasure

He alone can give them love beyond measure

In our moments of weakness we can find strength in Him

He is our shelter from the rain

but the world still doesn’t know His name

so may you continue to reveal yourself to them

as we continue to share your gift

and LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE beyond these walls

we have created out of our own insecurities.

Psalm 121

Honor, Its Your Decision!

Courage is a hard thing to figure. You can have courage based on a dumb idea or a mistake, but you’re not supposed to question adults or your coach or your teacher because they make the rules. Maybe they know best but maybe they don’t. It all depends on who you are, where you come from.

(Didn’t at least one of the six hundred guys think about giving up and joining with the other side? I mean valley of death, thats pretty salty stuff.) [This is referring to the poem below]

Thats why courage is tricky. Should you always do what others tell you to do? Sometimes you might not even know why you’re doing something, I mean any fool can have courage.

But Honor, thats the real reason you either do something or you don’t. It’s who you are and maybe who you want to be. If you die trying for something important then you have both Honor and Courage, and thats pretty good.

I think thats what the writer was saying, that you should hope for courage and try for honor. And maybe even pray that the people telling you what to do have some too. (from the movie, ‘Blind Side’)

The Charge Of The Light Brigade

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
‘Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns’ he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

‘Forward, the Light Brigade!’
Was there a man dismay’d ?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Some one had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

“The Charge of the Light Brigade” was first published in the December 9, 1854, issue of the London Examiner and was later included in Tennyson‘s collection Maud, and Other Poems, in 1855. In 1850, Tennyson was appointed by Queen Victoria to succeed Wordsworth as poet laureate of England. Although Victoria‘s reign is associated with the Enlightenment, a time when logic and reason were the celebrated ideals, this poem celebrates the native dignity of the uneducated cavalrymen, of whom Tennyson says, “Theirs was not to reason why.” Perhaps because it celebrates the common man at a time of social change that generally favored the intellectual, the poem was tremendously popular in its day, although generations that followed have remembered it, usually negatively, as a celebration of war’s glory. In Tennyson’s time, though, the poem had such all-around popularity that the poet was induced years later to return to the same battle, in a poem examining a much more successful assault by the British troops: “The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava,” published in 1885’s Tiresias and Other Poems.

What Would You Say If I Offered You The Greatest Gift This Christmas

what would you say if i told you the only way for you to live an abundant life is by giving up your life-giving up your possessions and sharing everything you have. (understand nothing belongs to you)

what would you say if i told you people will be healed today by the name of Jesus of Nazareth!

and Salvation is found in no one else!!!!!!!

what would you say if i told you those who pray without ceasing and speak the word of God boldly will leave the world shaken

what would you say if I told you God listens to our prayers and will perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of His holy servant Jesus, we just need to live like He asks us to

what would you say if I offered you the greatest gift this Christmas?

Please Read ACTS 4

¹The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ²They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.⁴But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

⁵The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹He is
” ‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.^[a]‘^{[b] 12}Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

¹³When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. ¹⁴But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.¹⁶“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

¹⁸Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. ²⁰For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

²¹After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. ²²For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers’ Prayer

²³On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
” ‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.^[c]‘^{[d] 27}Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people^[e] of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.³⁰Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³²All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. ³³With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. ³⁴There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

³⁶Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), ³⁷sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Tell Dem Straight, stop entertaining!

Christmas Feelings Come and Go

You can shed tears without it really affecting your heart. But even though you find yourself in a cold indifferent atmosphere it doesn’t mean God isn’t appealing to your emotions.

What we know in the mind comes through sense perception according to science.

“Reason always follows the state of the heart and what your heart is that is your reason.” – William Law

That is why we need a revival today. An atmosphere in which emotions can be expressed. Right emotion, not just cheap sentiment.

Because many today are turning away for they are in an atmosphere where hearts are becoming hardened. Yet, God appeals to our emotions and sense perceptions.

It was Huxley Miller that made this statement, “History looks back, science looks around, philosophy looks in but only faith can look up and beyond horizons of this present life to the mansions of God and eternity to the everlasting kingdom of heaven, which is as invocable as it is invisible.”

Faith is confidence in God.

Faith is not contrary to reason.

God appeals to the mind of man, he doesn’t ask us to take a leap in the dark.

God directs the gospel to all parts of man. The intellectual, emotional and volitional.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Faith is more than mental ascent or shedding tears, it is something we act upon.

Prayer

I know and accept your presence in my life God but my heart needs a revival. Financial insecurity and loneliness continue to plague my short existence here as reality hits in, mostly on Mondays!

So, I plead for your forgiveness and grace for my heart is wicked. And may you also please grant me the strength and courage to live and act by faith. Amen

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Love Begins With Friendship

What will it take for me to find a friend i can trust completely. someone i can call when i need some encouragement. What will it take for someone to completely trust me?

There are some things i wish i could take back but this year would not be one of them.

2009 has been a great learning curve for me as pertains to matters of the heart.

After meeting some well meaning people across two continents I can honestly say labels are not enough when it comes to choosing who your real friends are.

I can not count the number of relationships I have had to end or have been ended this year due to a lack of trust or whatever else (maybe it was my funny accent, or uncontrollable anger???, or my lack of knowledge on American pop culture, or my pride/arrogance according to some, or lack of ‘Benjamins’, or it could very well be my sensitive or insensitive nature).

The other day someone posted a comment saying, I shouldn’t feel lonely after I posted on my facebook status thing I was alone in my apartment on christmas day, because according to them God was there in the apartment.

And so I ask myself, who should dictate how I feel-is it my friend on facebook, is it me, or is it God?

If i feel lonely is that a sin?

As a Kenyan male from the kikuyu tribe, I did go through the traditional male initiation rite into adulthood where one is circumcised at the age of thirteen. And for me to be really considered a man I had to make sure I did not cry when going through this painful exercise.

Men are not supposed to cry! at least according to my culture.

To show weak emotions is not something I am accustomed to.

But after years of living in denial, i realize the only way for me to find healing when I am in pain is by being honest about how I feel.

Sermons can inspire one to change but  a preacher who only gives good sermons and is not willing to risk everything for the sake of the gospel is only fooling him/herself.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

I hate seeing myself and other christians living a double life.

Where we say one thing but live out our lives in a totally different way from what we preach. Nobody is perfect but it is equally true to say, nobody has the right to be misleading either.

It is Jesus who is quoted as saying, ‘But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.’ (Mathew 18:6)

I have to admit I don’t wake up everyday willing to die for my ‘friends’ or my ‘church buddies’

But I want to.

I want to be able to call someone I like, a friend.  Someone I can feel comfortable sharing my troubles with and vice versa.

From my observations in the five years I have been living here in America I am becoming even more aware of what it is people look for when they want to be your friend.

It is sometimes an unconscious thing but as time goes by it becomes obvious to both parties what it is their so called friendship is lacking or is good for.

The funny thing is most people seem to underestimate what others who are different from them have to offer. And by different, I mean someone who is not accustomed to your way of life or culture.

It never hurts to learn something new but it does hurt to admit you are wrong.

But thats what following Christ is all about, admitting we are wrong. We have to admit we are wrong before we can truly learn from Him.

I am wrong for not admiting this in the first place, that I need the Jesus in me and the Jesus in you to be friends so he can fill my loneliness.

Like Solomon, the wisest King, once wrote,

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 12:26)

Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man’s friend deserts him. (Proverbs 19:4)

Key lesson to learn: Never underestimate anyone, not even your ‘friend’.

I pray I can find my blessing in you.

Lets put our love in a friendship and not just in a love song!

Dying For Deeper Meaningful Friendships in 2010

my cell number: 626 376 0807 (looking for friendship-not casual dating

“In the journey of life just find someone as normal as you, if not a whole bunch.”

Africans Deserve Credit Too

I read the article on ‘Giving Double Blessings at Christmas’ on the Semi (A Fuller Theological Seminary student Magazine)  and loved the concept and thoughtfulness portrayed by the writer of the article. The only thing I really could not agree with her on was her idea of what delights God, which was alluded to in the article.

As a native of Kenya my heart always rejoices when I hear of people giving monetary and other kinds of gifts to the people of Kenya, whether it be the Maasai or Kikuyu, we are all sons and daughters of Kenya. What pains me sometimes is hearing how those who are priviledged to give from the Western world speak of how delighted God must be because they have chosen to give generously to the poor in Africa. Yes, God delights in cheerful givers but at the same time it is a command from God to those he has given much to give much more in return.

In other words, we are expected to give. Giving is a priviledge it is not something to boast about.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)

Those in the west and in the east (including Africa) should also remember God has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor (2 Corinthians 9:9).

Read the entire chapter of 2 Corinthians 9

Africa has been a hurting continent, but so have all the other continents, we just hurt in different ways.

And Africans are more than capable of coming up with solutions to their own problems too, we don’t need to always be reminded of how helpless we are when in fact, there are orphans and widows all around the world in need of help.

Having said all that, I hope this in no way detracts from what all the selfless westerners and non-westerners are doing to help the continent of Africa. All I hope to add to your efforts is our own voice, because we deserve credit too. For we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Anointed For Greater Things in 2010

I’m preparing for an important assignment tomorrow and this is the passage God has impressed on my heart to share with you.

1 Samuel 16 (Samuel Anoints David)

Samuel in this chapter is filled with Fear and Sadness and yet God had already chosen who the next King would be.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.”

I don’t know about you but I feel like God is preparing me for something greater. When the Spirit comes down on you with power then the Lord’s favor is always going to be with you no matter where you go.

I know you’ve heard this before but the only one who can bring down ‘Goliath’, is His anointed.

David was just out tending the sheep, he didn’t know his life would be taking a dramatic turn to greatness.

He had though, been fighting with lions and bears before he came face to face with Goliath.

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:36)

Do you believe God will deliver you this year, because I do!

I believe the Lord who delivered us yesterday from the bear and the lion will deliver us today from this ‘Goliath’.

There will be doubters like Eliab, David’s older brother who will think we are conceited and wicked because of the confidence we have in God, so we have to act in a manner befitting servants of God.

The struggle is never in vain, it is all part of the preparation.

God is looking at our hearts to chose whom He will anoint.

Your appearance is not what matters. What matters most is your Heart.

Have you been faithful in the little things He has entrusted to you already, before He entrusts to you the bigger things?

When I look up I know God is on the throne and He gives me the assurance and the confidence to speak these things.

So let us all take heart and ask Him to draw us closer to Him than ever before so we can have the confidence to act in faith this New Year!

Keep Looking Up!

Don’t just take my word for it, follow David’s example.

Prayer

Touch me in my innermost being Lord, for I hunger and thirst for you God. Heal me of my brokenness and continue guiding me. Lord you parted my Red Sea and now I am asking you to help me again to cross this  Jordan that threatens to stop me from getting to the promised land.

Yes, draw me close, closer than I have ever been and wrap me in your arms.

I no longer want to live in fear.

I just want to worship you and drown in your love.

Looking Forward To Laughing And Crying With You This Year!

INVISIBLE

I am insecure when I search for love elsewhere

for as desperate as I am to prove I am loved

the only person who can prove I am loved is you.

Out of all the friends I have you are the only one I am able to keep

closer to me.

Sometimes I feel invisible when my love is taken for granted

crushed by simple words

honestly its the words that hurt that keep replaying in mind.

Will you forgive me when I take your love for granted?

You are the only one who has promised to stay so far

even when they take everything away from me

my job and all the other material things.

To those I serve I hope I am not just a tool,

a machine to do the job

because their money is no good to me

what’s good is their love

And if I have to earn it I pray for the strength to persevere

through and work at it even when it hurts.

Love is the only thing that truly empowers and we transmit God’s love by what we say and do.

So let us empower each other by giving away this love that has been given to us freely.

Because even though for some only Sticks and stones may break their bones

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

No more Facebook

learn spanish

how come i still felt something for her

i shouldn’t be here

i prayed today so why did this happen

i’m lost God, i don’t know what i’m doing here

this is all crazy – i wish i could do more – i wish i was doing something else

why am i here, God?

why is all this happening

i want to learn and grow but it seems like i’m limited by the lack of opportunities and the money i have to pay

is this the end of the road

i love to dance and i wish i was doing that in order to earn a living instead of doing what i’m doing now

i was never patient with her

it seems like everything i touch crumbles

some things are never meant to be

its all over

God is real

people are messed up, me included

thats why its important for me to let go and let him have control

if i could change one thing, i wish i could change the way we love

because God loves every single one of us but we pick and chose who to love.

i struggle everyday to love others but i have no choice in the matter

God commands me to love you as much as i love myself

so why are we still living in a world where children are dying and mothers crying for change

christians claim to know love but we are all guilty of committing the worst sin since the beginning of mankind

the sin of disobedience

if i wake up in the morning not ready to love my enemies then i am just as guilty as they are

if all i do is preach and never put myself in your shoes to see how it feels then i’m only a resounding gong!

i’m at your mercy Lord, help me to love.

What Can I Do To Take The Pain Away

what can i do to wipe the tears away from my little sister

what can i do to wipe away the tears from my mother

why is there so much pain

why is my family falling apart

God this letter is meant for you, please give me some answers

i don’t want to play games anymore

the devil is a liar and i have seen first hand what he can do

he’s tried everything to make me end my life but i am still breathing

and i am not going to give up, not now, not ever.

violence will never solve anything

only your love can completely transform someone

Lord, help me to love

help me to pray everyday for your salvation and healing

my family needs it

the youth need to know only you Lord can give them what they are looking for

today is all we have

tomorrow is not promised

i can’t take the pain away

but i know you Lord can

please take control

provide for my brother, give him wisdom, knowledge, courage and strength

give my sister the same things too

and save my dad from his addictions and insecurities

i pray he opens his heart to you and receives your grace and becomes a changed man

i pray for my mom too, love her and let her know she is loved.

Lord bless all those who read this with your love and power to know they can change their lives too and they can forgive all those who have hurt them before.

I NEED YOUR PEACE AND FORGIVENESS EVERYDAY.

You are all I need God.

Life After Death

I’m trying really hard right now not to lose myself in this reality called life because it has been a crazy ride thus far and I believe its not about to get any easier.

There is  this well known swahili proverb that says, “Kikulacho kinguoni mwako.”

Meaning: The source of your problems is those close to you.

Think it through…

If there is anyone to blame for my problems I would have to say I blame myself but then I also wonder sometimes what if…

what if i had never decided to come to seminary and pursue a career in ministry

what if all this was made up

what if i walked away from a paying ministry job and decided to just work somewhere else

what if the color of my skin, or my tribe, or the fact I am broke was not really an issue and I was able to have and keep good friends who are from another culture, especially here where i live now in California

what if Jesus was actually real

Is it all a dream?

this ain’t no hip hop coz i don’t need no beat

but i respect your lyrics

when you have so much that you can afford to ignore those around you then power just becomes a game to you

fear intimidates but love eliminates fear

so where do you stand if you call yourself a christian

too many times we let our weaknesses dictate our strengths

live out your faith in the limelight until you get it right

this ain’t a game no more this …. just got serious

I am willing to die to find out the truth

I am willing to die even if you don’t love me

I love the dough like biggie smalls but i am not about to give up my life for yours

because in heaven my face is on that paper

E.P.H – Life After Death

“Bringing Love Back To Cali”

Look when i forget who I am

I look to someone else to show me

when i’m out of inspiration

I look to you to inspire me

this world is not my home

I wish you could come with me

coz I am not about to blow up

I already did with my lady Hope!

When I Flow…

Back in the lab again, young lads getting bad with the pad and pen
Holy Culture, a fabulous fabric blend, God’s people got fashion sense
That’ll take it pass your trends and get passionate
with passages from the text while we passing it
though we not highly paid to perform,
that don’t stop us from stepping on stages galore

You can take away the stage and the studio booth,
pull the label exec’s and the loot they recoup
That don’t change what we slang we not your usual group
We only jump for the Lord, so we don’t jump through the hoops
I see the culture’s distress, I got a lot to express
It’s just some things I had to get off my chest.

But it’s time to release the pressure, decrease the flesh cuz
Jesus, He seeks to bless us
Drop jewels see deep like treasure men seek the lesser
But Christians we seek His Pleasure

Hook:
When you see that this life is more than ice and rims and you ready to go
You can’t hide that pride deep down inside, playboy you ready to know
If ya hot with the proof and you got the juice of the Son, then ya ready to ride
But are you ready to do in the name of truth what the world might do for a lie

Rock shows with the Gospel (Gospel)
Long as I got breath in my nostrils (Gospel)
When I flow it’s Gospel (Gospel)
Cross Movement and Rock Soul (We rock souls)

Verse Two:
Oh no, the CM’s back, yeah, we’re intact,
was in the cut but the “C” ain’t slack
God was adding to what CM lacked,
now it’s like Phil Jack and ’02 Kobe and Shaq
The whole crew wanted true G-O-D in rap,
we’ve gotta view that’s a minority like being black
But we’ve agreed to feed and lead the packs,
Hip hop’s the key it’s like some cheese to rats
And they come if your beats are raw,
’cause the streets are raw, but all fall when they meet the Law,
’cause they meet their flaws and see defeat when they meet the Boss
And that’s terror like a beach with Jaws,
Yo, God’s got beef galore
Cause you tell Peace, “Get lost,” plus play Easter soft,
So peep the cross and weep no more
all rise, recognize that you need Lord, boy
who would’ve thought that a lost crook would
get brought to the point where the cross looked good

Repeat Hook

Verse Three:
Where’s the buzz
Better yet, where’s the love
Seems like, what we got wrecks the clubs
There’s no hugs, probably cause there’s no drugs
And no mansion that’s housing thugs
Here’s the thing, it’s an enigma thing
Sometimes it feels like a Q-dog at a sigma thing
We don’t try to jig the thing
Cause one day we gonna reign in the same chains that the stigma brings
Christ Supreme, all that means is:
Christ Rules Everything Around Me: C.R.E.A.M.!
If He’s the King, and you don’t let Him do His thing
That’s Gollum’s fellowship with the ring
Pain and strife, is how this world pays the price
Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life
That’s why we gotta get it right
ain’t nobody got it right
If you think so, Satan’s pulling off a heist
But when dealing with the Christ
[You] gotta be real, not fake like a Poltergeist

Repeat Hook

And The ‘Oscar’ Goes To…

We are no longer just watching actors on stage, we are becoming them in real life.

Imagine God having to chose between Denzel (for Training Day) and myself (for Ephany in Real Life) for the best actor oscar, who do you think He would pick? me, of course!

I think we all try really hard, especially here in California to make people believe this is the real “us”, when in truth we all know its just a facade.

Like On stage actors we constantly try to perfect the way we portray our characters and yet the essence of freedom is frankness of manner and speech.

Saturday nights used to be my best nights when I was back in Kenya, coz I used to stay up late listening to ‘Kubamba’ (a hip christian show) and dance in my room as I anxiously waited for Sunday morning so I could worship God with good friends.

Now I spend Saturday nights praying God doesn’t strike us all dead, because Sunday morning here just feels like going to the Dentist. ‘You just never know what to expect’

Its no surprise then that I ask God everyday, “why did you bring me here?”

and all I hear is,

I’ve given you my love freely so its up to you to chose to be vulnerable with it and give it away even when those feelings are not reciprocated. For I will continue to raise up a ‘Church’ that is not afraid to go that extra mile to show the world what it truly means to be the ‘Body of Christ.’

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5)

Racism And Its Effects On A Young Kenyan Living In America

Calling me ‘poor’ because I’m African is the     same as calling a black person ‘nigga’. See words can invoke strong feelings, just like a cold stare, an indifferent glance, or giving a cold shoulder to someone. Its all very subtle sometimes but we communicate a lot even when we think we are not.

How we communicate can make or break a relationship. (“I should know!”) And the worst part is, most of us do not know how to communicate with people from different ethnic, social or cultural backgrounds as us. (I’m guilty of this too)

Some of us try hard to hide our ignorance whilst others are very genuine in their efforts to integrate with new people.

The problem arises when there is a communication breakdown. When one party is dissatisfied with how they are being perceived or treated it becomes easier to stop trying.

This is why I appreciate so much these new lenses God has given me, ‘my American experience.’ I was semi-comfortable wearing my old lenses when I was in Kenya but I realize now I can not keep wearing the same old lenses if I am to continue with my search for the ‘truth.’

Firstly, there are personal struggles I am more cognizant of now than ever before.

Secondly, I sense I have accomplished something great by having graduated from a prestigious seminary like ‘Fuller Theological Seminary.’ The reason I say that is because ten years ago my parents and my teachers never thought I would amount to anything.

The sky is not the limit for me, Love is.

Thirdly, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had the courage to refuse to turn a blind eye to the “confusion in the land,” and now I am learning to do the same too.

“He spoke up for those in America whose voices were otherwise not heard in the halls of power.” (a quote from a friend’s article-Justin West)

But why are his words still being quoted today?

Justice should be synonymous with the Truth.

I’m no saint but I know God desires more from me.

Diversity was celebrated more where I came from than it is here but I’m not saying that to dismiss the complexity of it all. I’m only saying that to help you understand my struggle.

My high school friends were all from a different tribe and I was the minority in my own school but we didn’t just get along. (And this was in a non-christian school)

There is a longer history of institutionalized oppression to deal with here so I am not going to try and ignore your past, I just hope you don’t ignore mine too.

Also, I have to apologize on behalf of the African collaborators who sold their own people to the slave traders because they contributed to a system of injustice for the seductive mistress we call ‘power.’

The fruits of our labor have borne pain and strife and even up until today we continue to let outsiders trivialize our achievements for the sake of a bigger empire, whilst mothers are being raped and children orphaned.

Your charity will not save me and neither will your internalized indignation. I have a mind and a will of my own. Amalgamate that with my love for God and you have a nation powerful enough to stand on its own two feet.

But you keep imposing your insecurities on me and fail to communicate your courage so I can take no pride in myself and idolize thy wealth.

Let God be the only one worthy of my fear.

Because His love for me helps me to accept my own depravity.

Will you let His love for you let you accept me as your equal?

Most minorities in America don’t have the priviledge of learning their own history, so how can they understand me?

I grew up learning about European and American history and read western authors but how many Americans have read Kenyan authors?

Its no wonder minorities are still segregated. We are slowly losing our identity by buying into this passive aggressive technology age which is still being monopolized by the ‘establishment.’

Man did not need weapons to fight off the enemy, all he needed was Love.

Once we bought into this ‘superior weapons propaganda’ we jeopardised our own existence, so how long will we keep eating from the forbidden tree?

I’m not from the ‘third world’ and I’m not ‘poor.’

I’m from ‘out of  this world’ and I’m rich in ‘love.’

Yours sincerely,

K. E. (Kenyan Epiphany)

Seeking A Response To Kenya’s Meltdown

When I read up on what is going on back home I sometimes get anxious and wonder what more can I do… I begin to write hoping to find answers.

Though my writing lacks inspiration because I live without conviction, torn apart by the struggle within

And my prayers feel like empty sentiment void of commitment

I desperately search for someone to look up to, like a son without a father.

For even though we are virtually connected the distance between us is becoming a prison in which the joy of friendship seems withheld, lost in the mundane routine

which if not checked makes it harder to counter this corrupted mind.

Also our corrupt government/system is not far removed from a corrupt people so to apportion blame on others is to abdicate collective responsibility on our part.

So how can we lead by example if power is all we seek

like the disciples who disputed amongst themselves as to which of them was considered to be greatest

should we seek to serve or be served?

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8517338.stm

Teenagers At 30! A Facebook Phenomena

Most of us are disconnected from life. We struggle to find meaning or purpose as we helplessly get stuck in empty relationships. We become compulsive and seek attention by sharing our innermost thoughts but not our innermost feelings.

(I just want you to notice I’m here! That’s All.)

Getting praise or adulation is not our thing, at least not for those of us below 35 years old. Being recognized/noticed is the most difficult feat to realize at our age. (I think, I could be wrong)

(check out how many of us are on youtube or facebook)

Due to this fact, we have become blinded by the latest gadgets and technology advancements but they are just another gimmick designed to distract us from claiming our place at the ‘high’ table.

We have swiftly become detached from reality and do not realize there are sacrifices to be made in life.

Unfortunately, I think we have let ourselves become that sacrifice, as we seem to have surrendered our power to effect change.

We’ve let the media and the online social networks dictate how we should relate with one another.

Where have I heard that before???

I know people evolve with time but has our love ever evolved with time?

Have we become more or less intentional? Do we or do we not seek instant gratification?

If I know I’m a creature of habit and begin to act a certain way and never question my reason for doing so then naturally over time I will be unable to recall the purpose of it all.

But the severity of life affords me no such luxury. So I need to question my actions in order for me to understand my natural progression from Eden.

Life and Love are not mutually exclusive! Life was designed to accommodate Love and vice versa.

We should learn to accommodate the struggles of life and not seek to replace our pain, loneliness or emptiness with unfulfilling relationships just for the sake of being affirmed.

Because God affirms us through Christ.

When you truly believe that, you will be sure to find peace and purpose.

(Disclaimer: I need to hear this everyday, so I was just preaching to myself) what are your innermost feelings? I bet God knows!

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Mathew 3:17)

That’s What She Said :)

I’m getting used to American Satire and I’m even learning some of it now in the hope of appreciating America’s twisted side more…. I have a twisted side too which I pray you can learn to appreciate also.

The side of me that wants to see you grow and love even more deeply than before but struggles to show you how. After all I am human. (humanly awesome

These past few months though I have been struggling with my call to youth ministry as the challenges have began to feel like stumbling blocks instead of building blocks especially since the issues have been too much for me to address on my own.

From those with experience in youth ministry I am sure you understand that in this line of work, when you are all you’ve got, getting burned out and disillusioned about ministry is inevitable.

So to counter this self-destructive path I have decided to write up some suggestions for our youth group after having a discussion with some of them on what we could try and work on individually.

After sending this to them and reading them again, I believe these suggestions could be useful for any diverse youth group, such as mine. That is why I’m sharing this with you.

So please drop me a line/email with your suggestions, ideas or feedback after reading them so I know what you think! I value reciprocity just like any girl after a first fun date, especially after the guy says, “I’ll call you.”

Please don’t be that guy! (and yes I am confident in my sexuality)

Youth Transformation Goals (March 1st, 2010)

1. “You reap what you sow” (Galatians 6:7-8) -What are you putting into your relationship with God in order for you to reap something out of it? -It is more blessed to give than to receive (Mathew 20:35) – are you giving back to your home church or are you only expecting others to give in order for you to receive – FIRST UMC LA PUENTE NEEDS YOU -God promises a greater reward if you seek after Him – He will pour his blessings into you if you show the hunger and desire to be poured into Are you reading your bible on a daily basis or having devotional time Are you attending bible studies?

2. “Walk on water” – take a step of faith. (Mathew 14:29-31) Are you sharing your faith with others? -You won’t know how much faith you have until you take that step and share what you have learnt so far – until Peter walked on water he had no way of knowing he could do it.

3. Spend time with me (mentoring) (2 Timothy 2:2) -Are you teachable and accessible enough in order for us to share our life stories with each other? I understand you need to work to eat and you need to study but when are you free to hang out…should I call you more often?

4. Spend time with someone younger than you and help mentor them (2 Timothy 4:11-13) You don’t have to have a title to mentor someone – just share what you have already experienced in life and be that listening ear they need – we all need that. I do too!

5. Love one another as yourself and remember God loves you (1 John 4:7) -By showing concern and asking those you attend church with what is going on in their lives -You can’t love others if you are not open to receiving love yourself

6. Water your plants (Romans 10:17) -For a flower to grow it needs to be nurtured -Are you growing spiritually at home – In your relationships – with friends and family? -What are you learning from the larger Church Community? -Some flowers grow faster than others depending on how much we water them

7. Prayer (Philippians 1:3-6:9-11) -Who are you praying for specifically in your youth group -Do you pray for your teachers/pastors, parents, family and elders -Do you pray for yourself to grow and change – ‘How can I pray for you to be the change you’d like to see’.

Please pray for me to not give up and to be able to find volunteer leaders passionate about youth/young adult ministry.

P.S (God won’t get through to us if we are too busy to answer His Call!)

Who Wows Who? A Sexual Conversation

Guy: That was kind of a… powerful.. intimate situation

Girl: what was intimate?

Guy: just now, we….sharing the flame. I mean that was, that was intimate

Girl: if you say so

Guy: oh.. common now, you know what i’m talking about. our hands almost touched, i looked at you and you lifted your head up slowly and our eyes met. it was, it was… it was intense and it was intimate.

Girl: wow!!! stop it, i feel naked

Guy: well, you know what i have that effect on women. I mean not all women, not not all women but it has happened before so don’t be alarmed.

Girl: yeah.., i bet.

Guy: don’t ignore whats happening here, we’re having some kind of powerful weird outcoming and you have to pay attention to when that happens. that stuff is not to be treated lightly!

Girl: listen i only came out here to have a cigarette okay…relax, let me do my thing. so a…maybe another time.

(girl tries to walk away)

Guy: yeah but there may not be another time, okay i may never have this chance again and we may never be able to return to this moment.

Girl: well then you should know, i am married and happy.

Guy: right……and where is he?

(guy keeps trying to psycho-analyze the relationship this girl has with his man in order to wow her but in the end girl comes up trumps as she reveals she is a hooker!)

Look on his face? Priceless.

As a christian I’m taught to think of love and sex as two very separate ideas but the world mostly looks at these two issues as one and the same.

Hollywood loves to highlight how as humans we are wired to be sexually active. In the church we love to highlight how as humans we are wired to be spiritually active.

If Love is a covenant between two spiritual beings whose purpose is to glorify God and not the flesh

how do you then reconcile your sexual DNA, especially if you are single?

Historically we know Christians have often struggled to demystify sex and have instead chosen to be silent over the matter or have taken a more chastening approach.

But is that approach going to work in a highly sexually stimulated market/culture aimed at increasing consumerism/capitalism/individualism?

Its like a game of poker we are either all in or we fold when it comes to addressing this issue. ( No pun intended)

Having an honest conversation with God about sex I believe is a step forward to spiritual growth and we shouldn’t shy away any longer from engaging with others on this subject.

In my case one of the things I find hard to do is stop myself from flirting with the opposite sex as one of my best friends pointed out to me the other day. On the other hand though, I also find it hard to stop myself from flirting with God.

But am I the one who initiated the flirting in the first place, or did God initiate it first?

[ Sexual Immorality ] “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

Quotes From Oblivion

“Youth is wasted on the young. I’d go further, I’d go, life is wasted on.. people.”

“Dear Starbucks, In your attempt to manufacture culture at a fast-food coffee you have have been surprisingly successful for the most part. The part that isn’t covered by ‘the most part’, sucks!”-from the movie, Greenberg

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it.” – Mahatma Gandhi

A guy can change anything. His face, his home, his family, his girlfriend, his religion,his God. But there’s one thing he can’t change. He can’t change his passion…-from the movie ‘El secreto de sus ojos’

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it–always. – Mahatma Gandhi

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. – Mahatma Gandhi

“Life is full of pleasant surprises but I am yet to find one more genuine than a friend who cares enough to call you.” – Ephany

There Are Two Kinds of Churches

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ”Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

So

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven….For, those who do (their ‘acts of righteousness’ before men) have received their reward in full. (Mathew 6:1-2)

Punch line:

1. Those who are confident of their own righteousness and look down on everybody else will receive no reward in heaven. (“The Church That Looks Down”)

2. God’s reward awaits those who allow their flaws to draw them back to Him. His reward is not for those who are pleasing to men/women. (“The Church That Looks Up”)

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. (John 15:18-19)

Prayer

Lord, may your grace and love shine through even when we are weak!

What’s Your Envy/Craving

Envy: a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another’s advantages, success, possessions, etc.

How do we solve this problem of envy in our lives, Is it by

a. crucifying Christ or by

b. serving and giving of ourselves

1. Jesus was a threat to those who sought power and influence (Mathew 27:16-26)

2. Most of us know the truth about Jesus but we don’t like to admit to it. (Mathew 27:18)

3. We all want to be Great/Rich and Famous but only those who serve will become great. (Mathew 20:20-28)

Jesus Before Pilate (Mathew 27)

¹⁶At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

 19While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

 20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

 21“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
      ”Barabbas,” they answered.

 22“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.
      They all answered, “Crucify him!”

 23“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
      But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

 24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

 25All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”

 26Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

 

A Mother’s Request (Mathew 20)

 20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

 21“What is it you want?” he asked.
      She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

 22“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
      ”We can,” they answered.

 23Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

 24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Ephany Dance!

Please keep me in your prayers if you are reading this….

I still pray for God to keep opening doors for me to do what i love doing and i think He is. He has in the past and He will in the future, i’m sure of that.

This past year I had the priviledge of serving at a church as a youth pastor and now I’m actually serving at two churches and its awesome. The challenges and obstacles I have had or will have to overcome there, only help me realize even more how there is nothing greater than knowing God’s presence is there with you when you step out in faith.

To put that into perspective, while I have been doing that I have also had to deal with other complicated personal matters, e.g. my visa status and lack of money to pay for school and other important things but this has only made me become even more resilient and determined to serve others. Its actually easier to find peace when you are busy serving others sometimes, not always.

Thankfully now I have managed to find and keep three part-time jobs; hence a  quasi-stable life. And so far things have been going great at my day job as my co-workers have been really friendly and nice to me and the second best part about the job has been the hours as i only work from 9-3p. So now I have some mula and time in the evenings to finally dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of you might not know this but I’m real passionate about music and dance and it finally seems like I might get a chance to pursue this further right here in Pasadena. I just visited this cool dance studio here called ‘Athletic Garage’ dance and body work (thanks to an invitation from Dan Wang ) – and found out they teach all kinds of dances there.  I also bumped into a friend while there, who is part of a dance/music crew and her crew is open to having auditions for anyone who would like to join their ‘sick’ crew.

So i’m thinking of dedicating some time to getting my groove back on for at least a month and then see if i can audition and then who knows….

Its been a struggle to not be able to fully pursue all the things I love because I I don’t want to be defined as just a youth pastor, for God has given me so many other talents and gifts so I can do more. I can only be content if I know I tried my best.

So I believe my pursuit of dance and music would just be another gateway for me to get more ministry opportunities. And this will also help me to find my own voice as I continue to encourage and inspire others to find their own platform to speak out and seek solutions on issues that pertain to Justice and Equality in our present world.

There is so much to thank God for and at the same time ask God for, so please, please, please remember me in your prayers.

And be love

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. (2 Samuel 6:16;20-21)

Carpe Diem! “Seize The Day”

Love requires me to throw caution to the wind and seize the day! It asks for more even when I have nothing else to give. Love makes me feel like I am alone sometimes, but still I am confident of this; only Love will lead me home.

A love made complete with humility and repentance is the kind of love I want to be remembered for and not for right doctrine. For love will never cast the first stone so let us not live in denial for we all know what we are capable of.

“If Love is known to cure pain with hope then let me ‘keep on loving’ until I find my ‘Love’ who will not be afraid to carpe diem with me.”

LOVE NEVER FAILS.

“Use This For Your Glory!” – Where Are You At With God?

A lady who battled with cancer for 30 years died yesterday but her story touched me as it was being told on radio today. Why? Well when she first learnt that she had cancer she knelt down before God and just said; “use this for your glory.”

Isn’t that remarkable! I mean most of us find it really hard to accept or believe that every situation we go through in life can teach us a valuable life lesson or even draw us closer to God.

Which brings me to this reflection: If I/you had to answer these three questions truthfully what would Christ say about us?

Qn. 1: What do you do about those unresolved issues in your life that you can’t find answers for from either God, your family, teachers, therapist or friends? (You need to lose your life before you can find it)

Qn. 2: What are you doing with your short time here on earth? (Bearing in mind life is precious and tomorrow is not guaranteed-with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, terrorists, accidents and diseases waiting to strike at anytime)

Qn. 3: Do you spend time alone with God or do you only find time for ‘facebook’, twitter, cell phone, computer, iPod, TV, video games, family and friends? (Whoever or whatever you spend the most time with will shape your worldview and ultimately who you are.)

I have been on this Christ walk for ten years now and it’s still a trip! I’ve seen beautiful girls all over the world, I could be chasing, my mind would be racing but they got nothing on you Jesus

Because when I let God renew my mind the world has nothing on me. The looks, clothes, cars, money, achievements no longer define who I am because I purposely chose everyday to find my identity in God. When I don’t, I usually find myself complaining a lot and I become grumpy, basically not fun to be around.

So now it’s becoming clearer to me everyday that if God is to continue to take first place in my life then I have to first, lose my life. Secondly, I need to use the time I have on this earth wisely and try to give back as much as I can. And thirdly, I have to set aside time to be alone with God if I am to continue to mature in my faith. Then I’ll able to be at that place where I can accept the less joyous moments in my life are also meant for him to display his glory. Like Job in the bible.

Spending time with God should not just be by default. Like when I can’t go to sleep or when I am too lazy to jump in the shower early in the morning right after being rudely woken up by the alarm. It should be the motivation to experiencing a more fulfilled and fruitful life. For there is no better place to be than in the presence of God.

Prayer: God please use me for your glory. Use my inability to speak or sing, my plain looks, my funny Kenyan accent, my sweaty palms, my lack of a girlfriend, my less privileged position in society, my limited knowledge, understanding and wisdom… for your glory.

And teach me everyday how to use the pain and joy in my life to draw closer to you so that I may hopefully be a blessing to others.

Amen

Why PowerPoint Doesn’t Work-Article from The New York Times

PowerPoint has crept into the daily lives of military commanders and reached the level of near obsession.

“PowerPoint makes us stupid,” Gen. James N. Mattis of the Marine Corps, the Joint Forces commander, said this month at a military conference in North Carolina. (He spoke without PowerPoint.)

“It’s dangerous because it can create the illusion of understanding and the illusion of control,” General McMaster said in a telephone interview afterward. “Some problems in the world are not bullet-izable.”

PowerPoint’s worst offense is rigid lists of bullet points (in, say, a presentation on a conflict’s causes) that take no account of interconnected political, economic and ethnic forces.

The program stifles discussion, critical thinking and thoughtful decision-making.

Commanders say that the slides impart less information than a five-page paper can hold, and that they relieve the briefer of the need to polish writing to convey an analytic, persuasive point. Imagine lawyers presenting arguments before the Supreme Court in slides instead of legal briefs.

MY CHICK BAD

most girls are jealous of her

because she can do stuff better than they could

now every time i go out with another girl they always get mad

at her coz even though their moves are sick her moves are sicker

she’s down to earth like the african jungle

and never leaves me tied up in a tangle

her simple ways maybe complicated to some

but she always knows how to have fun

there’s never beef between us because we’re tight like buns

thats why my chick bad

my chick do stuff better than they could

when i’m sad she knows how to make me laugh

when i’m lonely she is only a step away

in good and bad times  she is always there for me

she loves me and i love her back

she dances with me and i dance right back

so please don’t be jealous of my chick

because you might replace her one day

if you are secure and loyal enough to dance with us

coz my chick bad my chick do stuff better than you could

p.s. keep praying for me as i get my groove back and try to reinvent the art of african house hip hop dance/keep pursuing my purpose in life.

Prayer:

Lord, loving me is so hard thats why i need you to remind me i am loved.

You Can Change Water into Wine

Why was changing water into wine the first miracle Jesus ever performed (John 2:1-11)? and why did Peter say to the crippled beggar, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6)

All this was done in faith. And Faith in God is just that. It is trusting in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

So how can I change water into wine or make a crippled beggar walk. If I have never seen God/Jesus, or even been certain of who the authors of the books of the bible are. I don’t even understand how a virgin could give birth to the son of God.

So if it is true that Jesus did walk on this earth and performed many miracles, most of which were documented by his followers. The first of which took place at a wedding at Cana in Galilee.

Then what does this all mean for me as I seek to grow in faith in the Great ‘I AM’.

Jesus changing water into wine, the first of his miraculous signs, revealed his glory, and led his disciples to put their faith in him.

But why did he chose to change water into wine as his first miracle? and in Galilee of all places-instead of Jerusalem?? (Galilee, which was in the north, somewhat removed from Jerusalem (which then was “the Holy City”), was associated with a high percentage of Gentile inhabitants)

And to pronounce the word “Gentiles” correctly in first-century Hebrew, a Jew had to spit at the saying of the final syllable to say it correctly. Gentiles, also known as “pigs” and “dogs,” to them resembled “unclean animals.”

Also, it was common knowledge in Jewish custom that everyone brought out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests had had too much to drink.

So the fact that Jesus saved the best till ‘now’! is indicative of something significant.

From John 2:9-10 we learn that the task of ensuring there was enough wine at the wedding was the bridegroom’s responsibility. Therefore, Jesus succeeded where the groom had failed.

He also reversed the order in which they were accustomed to by providing the best wine last in an unsuspecting manner.

Also this miraculous sign is presented as a preview of his death and resurrection. For in his death he would bear the sign ‘king of the Jews’ but in his resurrection Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and earth is given me…” (Matthew 28:18) Meaning he is not only king of the Jews, he is king of all nations; which includes the Gentiles.

This miracle therefore, happened in Gentile territory to highlight Jesus’ mission on earth, which was to purify and make the Gentiles clean as it were, filling them to the brim with His Spirit and overflowing joy (“New wine”).

And replacing the intended bridegroom (i.e. the Jewish rulers who would irrepsonsibly fail before God to bring His “wine” to the wedding guests). God would then supplant the failures – the apostles who were with him to help fulfill the duty of the bridegroom with saving the wedding guests from a failed celebration.

Now God would accomplish this in a way that offended the Jewish leaders and in a way that people did not expect, a way which seemed out of order to them.

Thus, by resurrection God had reversed a tragic situation and would bring joy (like that of a wedding) to the world — to Jew and Gentile alike by filled-to-the-brim “purified water pots” like John, like Paul, and like Peter.

Saving the best for last.

This wedding is still going on and there are many who are still thirsty for more wine, the question is do we know who can provide the best wine for the guests? And are we prepared to be the empty water jars that serve this new wine? Or are we just going to abdicate our responsibilities as the bridegroom did by not planning ahead and not caring enough to ensure the guests get drunk on the best wine?

Peter and John, Jesus’ closest disciples were at the wedding and they understood the kind of power Jesus  had was not confined to a particular set of people. Neither was it inferior to the wealth this world had to offer. In fact this gift of faith in Jesus Christ is the only gift they believed in to be enough to heal the physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and socially crippled in society.

This is why they were able to heal in his name.

This is true for us today too, if we let Jesus Christ reveal his glory through us, then the crippled will be healed and they will be able to drink of this ‘New Wine’, which has been saved for us.

“Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. (Psalm 2:8).

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. (John 2:23-25)

When We’re Not Fishing Are We Really Being Jesus’ Disciples?

How many of you have watched the movie, ‘The Joneses’? if you haven’t go see it. It may not be a riveting film to watch but what it lacks in suspenseful drama it makes up for in its fearless approach to expose the subtle lies sold by those seeking to maintain or gain power and influence in society.

The movie’s plot is simply about a picture-perfect family headed by Kate and Steve Jones, with children Jenn & Mick, move into a suburban neighborhood that is loved by all. In reality, they are a fake family commissioned by a marketing company run by KC as a way to introduce new luxury-level products to neighborhoods around the world, using undercover marketing techniques.

“a fake family commissioned” – sound familiar….

Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Hebrews 2:11)

[ The Great Commission ] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Mathew 28:19-20)

When I fell sick three weeks ago I didn’t really know of any ‘real’ friend I could call in the middle of the night and share with them my dilemma. Someone close enough to me to pick up the phone or to take me to the hospital in an emergency.

And even though God came through for me and surrounded me with friends from church who were present when I fell ill, in reality I still feel like I am part of ‘a fake family’ commissioned by Jesus to be ‘fishers of men.”

Fake in the sense that we are still afraid of letting others know who we really are. We appear more prone to hiding behind our looks, material things/wealth, relatives and acquaintances to find our self-worth, not realizing we become even more vulnerable when we keep a hold of these perishable ‘goods.’

An identity rooted in keeping up with anyone other than Jesus is doomed to crumble under pressure. Jesus’ identity was rooted in the Father.

This is why if you were to measure Holiness you would have to measure it by the amount of grace apportioned.

Thus, the grace we freely receive from God should freely be shared also.

Unmerited favor and love of God can’t be purchased but it can be lived out through an openly accepting community/family on a fishing mission.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mathew 4:19-20)

Be a fisher of men and see God transform your world.

I’M BACK AND I LOVE YOU

When you know whose you are then you can accomplish great things!

In this world when you are confident in your abilities and keep pressing on you most probably will have what you want and be what you want like Kobe with that fire in his eyes.

What about us is there fire in our hearts so people know we love them like God does. Are people drawn to the love and compassion in your heart or is it just the confidence in your abilities that draws people to you.

I know how it feel to wake up f….. up
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Not when I know God has me in his arms.

If you’ve seen the movie “roots” – remember how it starts in the beginning when Kunta Kinte is being held in his father’s arms just after his birth and his father holds him up to the sky and names him. Thats how I feel when I’m in God hands, I’m secure in his love.

The reason I share that is I’ve been having this discussion with God about who I am and what he would like me to do with my life. and he reminded me of this today – you are my son. I’m holding you in my rms and I love you. I’m your father – and I will do great things through you.

Do you have a Personl relationship with God

Signs and wonders are great but what we really need in our lives is God’s presence.

Reading the book of Acts in the N.T – and Exodus and Leviticus in the O.T – I’m reminded of how real God’s presence was to the Israelites and the servants of God.

And I stop to wonder is God real to me.

America is the modern day empire. With so much available to us. We have more at our finger-tips than any genertion in the history of the world – more information, more entertainment, more ideas, more ways to kill time, more options. More to distract us from what is really important. Love.

I love you.
Most of us are unsure of when or how to say it and some of us just can’t say it to anyone else except those we are related to.

Why?

Fear of rejection and a lack of trust in people.

Trust in God, he gives us a heart that is whole – whole enough to love even when we are rejected by others because he knows we will get rejected and abandoned but he promises to never do those things to us.

So everytime we do get rejected and abandoned and run to him he gives us an even bigger heart. How awesome is that! Imagine parents crying for their children and all the children in the world knowing they are loved and are cared for.

We are human that means we have the capacity to love and be loved.

I love you.

I’m not afraid to say it anymore.

Be secure in who you are in Him. Earnestly seek after God and wait on Him and you will experience His presence.

Its amazing and beautiful at the same time.

He supplies all our needs.

Just last week I lost my job but today I have an even better job.

God knows every single thing that goes on in our lives we just need to invest more in our relationship with him. Have that close personl relationship with him and you’ll know for sure that Daddy’s home!!!!!!!

And if you don’t know now you know.

You have a friend!

One of my friends told me this week they love me, just because I’m me. Its true friendship makes life that much sweeter.

You’re in God’s hands

My Love For You Is Not Limited

Love is unconditional. Complete and absolute.

It is not limited to the things you do or say

It is not limited to the resources we have or do not have

Love desires a chance to grow in our hearts everyday.

It is defined by what man can not measure.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Please take a moment today and pray for God’s unconditional love to shine through you.

You are loved

Romans 8:38-39

The Battle Is Not Yours

When you say you are a christian it means you are a witness for Christ.

so the way you live your life is how people will view Christ. (this might not be what you would like to hear but it probably is what some actually fear)

I’m not a preacher but I am a follower of Christ. I have my ups and downs just like you but I don’t want to ever give up in the middle of it all and I don’t want my imperfections to hold me back anymore from realizing my potential.

(If I’m not honest with you how can I be honest with myself?)

When I chose to be vulnerable and unselfish I don’t do it because I want to but because I’m tired of being like everyone else. I’d rather get hurt trying to love than get hurt trying to be hard!!

At the cross is where we find healing in the midst of pain. And death is just the beginning of this new life we have in Christ. (don’t let your pain make you even more insecure about yourself)

So I can chose to die to my own selfish desires and fears or I can chose to let them keep me from bearing the cross of Jesus; the only hope of salvation from all the social evils of this narcissistic world.

What cross do you have to bear?

Mark 8:34
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Say No To Racism?

put a beat make some money

I never thought i would do this but I’m doing it now

everything ain’t black and white but thats all they see

I came to America thinking love was the answer

but I realize now love is incurable like cancer

if you think i’m lying just ask your pastor

why are our churches defined by color or class

we are all dying slowly because of love

most of us struggle to give it a chance to manifest itself

through our broken selves

and just because I was born with two Kenyan parents

doesn’t mean I won’t be great like Obama

this world is God’s footstool and I was born to reign like his son

so say no to racism but don’t say no to love

because she was my best friend until I met you

for what you hide in your heart I see in your eyes!

ME TOO

Writer Anne Lamott says that the most powerful sermon in the world is two words: “Me too.”

When you’re struggling,
When you are hurting,
Wounded, limping, doubting,
Questioning, barely hanging on,
Moments away from another relapse,
And somebody can identify with you –
Someone knows the temptations that are at your door,
Somebody has felt the pain that you are feeling,
When someone can look you in the eyes and say, “Me too,”
And they actually mean it –
It can save you.

When you aren’t judged,
Or lectured,
Or looked down upon,
But somebody demonstrates that they get it,
That they know what it’s like,
That you aren’t alone,
That’s “me too.”
… “To the weak I am weak.”

At the heart of the church, in the soul of the Eucharist, is identification with the suffering of another human being. The church says to the world, “ Me too.” (???)

A church is where peace has been made. (???)

Because in the Eucharist, in Jesus’ body and blood, everything has been reconciled to God.
Paul calls this the “new humanity.”
The Eucharist is about the new humanity.

People who had nothing in common discover that the only thing they now have in common is the one thing that matters.
People who had previously found themselves on opposite sides of a wall find out that the wall has been destroyed.
People who had fought over an endless array of issues realize that peace has been made and there is nothing left to fight about.

You learn that your labels for different people groups are insufficient, because people are far more complex and unpredictable and intelligent and creative.

You used to have a rigid stance on a particular issue, but now you’ve heard the other side and it’s impossible anymore to categorize them all as stupid and uninformed and heartless, because you realize that they have thought about their position and they have weighed the consequences and they have some good points that you must consider.

In the new humanity our world gets bigger, our perspective goes from black-and-white to color, our sensitivities are heightened, we’re rescued from sameness and uniformity, because the wall has come down and peace has been made.

Them becomes us,
They becomes we,
And those become ours.

This is why it is very dangerous when a church becomes known for being hip, cool, and trendy.

Or when a church is known for attracting one particular kind of demographic, like people of this particular age and education level, or that particular social class or personal type.

When everybody shares the same story,
When there is no listening to other perspectives,
No stretching and expanding and opening up – that’s when the new humanity is in trouble.

Its written in the letter to the Hebrews that they shouldn’t give up meeting together because they should “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

When the goal of a church is to get people into church services and then teach them how to invite people to come to church services, so that they in turn will bring others to more church services – that’s attendance at church services.

Church is people living a certain way in the world.
People who have authority in the world, but authority that comes from breaking themselves open and pouring themselves out so that the world will be healed.

That authority doesn’t come from how right, cool, or loud it is, or how convinced it is of its doctrinal superiority.
This is why when Christians organize politically and start flexing that muscle, making threats about how they are going to impose their way on others, so many people turn away from Jesus.

When you give unconditionally, you will be reminded of the God who gives unconditionally.
When you extend grace to others in their oppression, you are reminded of the grace extended to you in yours.

Addiction, suicidal thoughts, anger, rage – we’ve all got darkness and slavery in our hearts somewhere. Prejudice, hate, envy, lust, racism, ego, dishonesty – we each could make our lists.

Even deeply antireligious people affirm that something is seriously wrong with our world and that wrong is nowhere more present than in the human heart.

In a world in which 840 million people will go to bed hungry tonight because they cannot afford one meal, in a world in which one million people commit suicide every year,
Jesus wants to save our church from the exile of irrelevance.
Walls isolate. So can gates, freeways, school systems, grocery stores, health clubs, shopping malls, homes and office buildings.
But when we hear the cry, everything changes.

The Eucharist is about all of us taking the next step out of Egypt, doing the next right thing, being open to whatever it means for us to be a Eucharist, right here, right now, with what God has given us today.
It isn’t just about trying to save the world. It’s about saving ourselves.
From the kingdom of comfort. From the priority of preservation. From the empire of indifference. From an exile of irrelevance.

Jesus wants to save our church from thinking that the priests are somebody else.

God is with us when we go, when we respond, when we hear, when we listen.

What if the Eucharist is something beyond the ritual? What if it was about following Jesus’ whole way of life?
He has chosen a path of descent; he comes into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a horse, with children, not soldiers, weeping, humble. And he dies, naked, bleeding, thirsty, alone.

Maybe that’s what he means when he says, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

(Excerpts from p.151,152,154,155,156, 160,161,172,174,176,177,178 & 181 of Rob Bell’s book, Jesus Wants To Save Christians)

“Ask, and ye shall receive.”

Its not You, Its Me

flesh and blood

you’re just flesh and blood

the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces

of evil in the heavenly realms

make it harder  for me to get closer to you

I need the armor of God so I can stand firm

truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation

and the sword of the spirit with prayer

will destroy the fear that keeps us apart

so be secure in your love for me

for even though our relationship is not perfect

just know its not you, its me.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Christians Please Tear Down Your Walls of Hate And Insecurity

Jesus did not go around trying to convince people he was the son of God. He allowed for the Holy Spirit to do that. (John 16:8-14) What Jesus did was lay down his life as a sacrifice for us sinners. His life on earth was not spent accumulating wealth for God’s message of love to be heard by billions of people, it was spent in giving of himself daily. Jesus came to live and die among us so we could learn how to pursue grace, mercy, peace, compassion, hope, faith and love. And our pursuit of these things should be never ending.

This is why our churches need to tear down their walls of hate and insecurity and instead build bridges of love because our walls have become breeding grounds for race and ethnic tensions to manifest. For the less priviledged members of society to become even more alienated from those who are priviledged. And for the young and old, male and female to struggle over who should have more power and control.

To fulfill our call as Christians we need to chose to die for each other. As stated in John 15:13, “The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends.” Death here is symbolic of giving especially of the things that estrange us from each other.

Therefore, let us not let anything come between us if we are truly honest in our desire and pursuit of grace, mercy, peace, compassion, hope, faith and love. For we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live but Christ lives in us.

Love is a sacrifice of mercy!

Christians Please Tear Down Your Walls of Hate And Insecurity

Jesus did not go around trying to convince people he was the son of God. He allowed for the Holy Spirit to do that. (John 16:8-14) What Jesus did was lay down his life as a sacrifice for us sinners. His life on earth was not spent accumulating wealth for God’s message of love to be heard by billions of people, it was spent in giving of himself daily. Jesus came to live and die among us so we could learn how to pursue grace, mercy, peace, compassion, hope, faith and love. And our pursuit of these things should be never ending.

This is why our churches need to tear down their walls of hate and insecurity and instead build bridges of love because our walls have become breeding grounds for race and ethnic tensions to manifest. For the less priviledged members of society to become even more alienated from those who are priviledged. And for the young and old, male and female to struggle over who should have more power and control.

To fulfill our call as Christians we need to chose to die for each other. As stated in John 15:13, “The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends.” Death here is symbolic of giving especially of the things that estrange us from each other.

Therefore, let us not let anything come between us if we are truly honest in our desire and pursuit of grace, mercy, peace, compassion, hope, faith and love. For we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live but Christ lives in us.

Love is a sacrifice of mercy!

The Early Church

1. Waited and prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit together (Acts 1)
2. Was evidently filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4)
3. Was mocked by non believers (Acts 2:13)
4. Witnessed to non believers by quoting prophetic words found in scripture (Acts 2:16-21; 3:22-23; 7; 13:16-41; 28:25-29)
5. Grew in numbers (Acts 2:41,47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1, 7; 11:24; 16:5)
*6. Continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
7. Witnessed many wonders and signs done through the apostles (2:43)
8. Had all things in common; were of one heart and one soul (Acts 2:43;4:32)
9. Sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:45)
10. Prayed for Boldness (Acts 4:23-31)
11. Upon them all was great grace (Acts 4:33)
12. Had none among them who lacked (Acts 4:34)
13. Did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (5:42)
14. Was persecuted (Acts 8:1-3: 12:1-4; 13:50)
*15. Did not have a designated preacher who only preached on sundays; They all preached! (Acts 11:19-21)
16. Determined to send relief to their brethren in times of need, each according to their ability (Acts 11:27-30)
17. Constantly offered prayer for the believers who suffered persecution or were incarcerated/in prison (Acts 12:5)
18. Gave all glory to God (Acts 12:23-24)
*19. Fasted (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23)
20. Spread the word of God throughout the region (Acts 13:49)
21. Was filled with joy (Acts 13:52)
22. Faced Strong Opposition (Acts 14:2-6; 23:12-14:5; 16:5-8)
23. Continued to Hope in God even in the toughest of times (Acts 24:15)
*24. Was racially and culturally diverse (Acts 10-11:18; 16:1; 17:17)
*25. Did not restrict their worship or witness to any one building or place (Acts 17:17)

“And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:42-43)

P.S: I was going through the book of Acts and thought of sharing this with you…are there any similarities you see between the early church and your church today?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN

It means to be:

1. Unwilling to remain in sin (Acts 2:38)

- Sin should be the exception not the rule  

Matthew 9:13

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

1 Timothy 1:15

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 3:19

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord

 

1. Holy Spirit filled (Acts 2:1-4, 38)

- For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms?

- Faith is sustained by the Spirit of GOD and by obeying Him.

Ephesians 6:11

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Acts 5:3

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

Matthew 12:32

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

1. Full of love not hatred (1 John 4:8)

- Jesus was revolutionary…since he did not offer an ideology, but Himself.

Luke 10:27

He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

 A follower of Christ witnesses Christ to the world with a repentant heart that is filled with the Holy Spirit and love when continuously seeking God, for it is only by equating love, faith and mercy to Him that one finds meaning and purpose to this life.

The Blues

how  many of you out there know about the blues…

well sit in the class of life watch a movie and reminisce about life, thats what i like to do.

the future sometimes may seem bleak but i don’t know anything more conceited and meek

at the same than love.

i know i’ve fallen in love before, and my love doesn’t discriminate

because happiness isn’t only found in one shade of color

just explore and let your heart go and maybe one day we’ll see more colors than the rainbow

fall in love.

its a distant memory sometimes, you think you have it then its gone

like when i used to write you a song and we’d sing together

until we could hardly hear the selfishness and pain that surrounds us here.

Remember those days?

And maybe it is selfish to want to have a home on earth and a mansion in heaven

but thats what i’m praying for

to be wed to a love less selfish and less painful

than the blues.

HIDING MY FEELINGS

i used to think i had the best end of the deal

but what have i got, really?

some money in my pocket

some nice threads, fancy car at my disposal

and i’m single

yeah, unattached

free as a bird

i don’t depend on nobody

nobody depends on me

my life’s my own

but i don’t have peace of mind

and if you don’t have that you’ve got nothing

so

so what’s the answer

that’s what i keep asking myself

what’s it all about

you know what i mean…

these maybe lines from a movie but i don’t know how else to articulate what i’m going through except by these words.

after moving away from home to come to the U.S and having lived here for a little bit over five years i’m starting to think maybe, just maybe i gave up the best years of my life for something that isn’t real.

and if you think you know me maybe you shouldn’t read too much into this but is it really worth it if all i am left feeling is alone and misunderstood.

these feelings i feel are not masculine or feminine, they are just real feelings that i hate hiding from myself.

so cry me a river, why don’t you

God is not dead

he’s just left me alone.

You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body. – C.S Lewis

I can’t fathom any other hope for mankind outside of the resurrection of Jesus Christ for nothing seems real anymore.

Our world is full of deceptions as the inception of a false reality is realized in a dream. Conceived by our selfish nature that seeks to gratify the flesh. Obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air.

He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

But God is so rich in mercy for it is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!

(Ephesians 2:1-8)

Truth actually matters!! (This portion is taken from Let My People Think with Ravi Zacharias broadcast.)

Life is a Lila. Its a drama and one day when the curtain is pulled down we will all be friends behind the screen, but right now the play has to go on.

But even in the Gita (the sacred Hindu scripture) the most fascinating thing is, Krishna uses the word ‘Prajapati.’
Prajapati literally means ‘a sacrifice’. And he talks of the need for the Prajapati but there’s no Prajapati provided in there.
There is a sense of atonement presented in all of the religions as a need for it. It is only in the Christian faith that the atonement is actually provided for you and me.

When arguing for the existence of God there are three stages of argument you can look at:
the first – the nature of truth
the second – correspondence and coherence
and the third: from history and social and individual experience

as Christians we look at the person of Christ.

Kill me and I will spiritually rise again. How do you prove a spiritual resurrection? There is no way to prove it. It is an intangible.
But Jesus made his claim falsifiable by saying, ‘I will bodily rise again.’ His claim to the physical resurrection is the ultimate testimonial that he was not about to deceive people. He was going to demonstrate to them the tangible evidence of the resurrection. (John 2:19-22)

And that is one of the supreme examples of how our Lord worked with people. He was not about to ‘pull the wool over their eyes’, he was to open their eyes and show them where actual blindness really lay.

Jesus never deceived people, he came to open our eyes to the truth.
Jesus payed the atonement for our sins. (John 3:16; Hebrews 10)

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” – C.S Lewis

What a profound statement that affirms my transcending reality beyond this physical, and yet reminds me that the physical is a concrete expression in which I am called to live now till the day He gives me the glorified body.

Mathew 26:41

From Hebrews 10

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

More C.S Lewis Quotes:

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

CREATE ROOM IN YOUR HEART TO LOVE AND BE LOVED, TO BE A DISCIPLE AND TO DISCIPLE AND TO SERVE OTHERS AND YOUR MINISTRY WILL FLOURISH BY HIS GRACE.

Struggling With Sin; Pleasing God

Worship is an outward expression of an inward submission.

Sometimes I have a hard time bowing down to God’s will for my life. And usually that’s when my heart finds it hard to worship him.

When I say, “Thy will be done”, do I truly accept it. If I do then the joy that can only come from worshiping the Almighty God will become my hearts’ only cry.

The trials that come our way either through our circumstances or the people in our lives are just God given opportunities for us to develop the ability he has already given to us to become godly people.

When your soul or heart is at peace with God you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13)

And where you chose to find your worth will determine how much of it you will be able to give to others in the end. This is why our outward expression of affection or lack thereof for other people or ministry is just a reflection of the inward state of submission we have chosen to subject our souls or hearts to in God.

Those who are willing to show grace daily must be willing to receive it daily from our Lord.

Romans 5:20-21
But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Its difficult sometimes to feel like you are special (or you please God) when you are only focusing on your circumstance and your surroundings but when you focus on being and staying in God’s presence then you will surely realize how special you really are (or how much you please God); for its not by might nor by power, but its by His Spirit says the Lord.

If you are religious, you will try to please God by doing good. But salvation comes by faith alone.
Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God.

The secret to pleasing God is a total trust in God, even when we are ridiculed for it.
Why does God test our faith?

1. To see if it is in words or in action
2. So that he can prove himself to you.

James 1:12

Less is more when God is in it. Grace and Peace Be With You all.

I Need To Be In Rehab!

Is more money really the answer to our problems? are we all going through a recession or is it all a spiritual misconception?

my world may be different from yours but we all feel the same heat, in the loo we excrete the same sheet… Blinded by love and hate, no one is immune from pain.

A hypocrite pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles,  etc. , that he or she does not actually possess especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. So why should I be considered a Christian?

I’m spiritually bankrupt, lacking a male role-model like a father to invest in my future, no one here to guide me, my past catches up with my future.

My insecurities have been passed down, taught to a large extent through association. What the media communicates the world reciprocates. My life is not a movie but still somehow I’m part of the picture.

When I see other young men struggle to find themselves in their teenage lives I easily identify with them because most of them never had a daddy they could look up to. Mom was never around, and bangin’ and getting girls was the respectful way to get around.

I can go all in but I chose not to. I thought I had self-control but I’m only driven by a fear of failure, my pride won’t let me give up control to the one and only immortal God.

I’m outnumbered so I can’t fit in with those who chose to be superficial. Money is no longer an issue, the Devil just has us trippin’. so we keep skirting the issue.

If you are like me and desire to be significant, frustrated by how dysfunctional most things are becoming then let me suggest taking the insignificant path.

I admit I am helpless, wreck-less and restless.

I want God to be my friend and not my foe. Only He can back up his words with actions.

Your words mean nothing to me because I’ve heard it all before. You fall into sin and say you’ll never do it again but then before you know it, you’re back doing the same thing all over again.

When will it all end?

Do we have to lose another soul, another baby, another mother, another father before we can save our sisters and brothers?

I Need To Be In Rehab!

If we keep running away like Lindsey we’ll spend the rest of our lives coming back every time and never realize our purpose before the end of time.

Worship makes my heart truly sing.

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:25-26)

DJ E’s Gym Work Out Playlist

Yeah I like to work out with my Jesus so I’m sharing this with other believers

1. Check In – Lecrae –   Rehab

2. The Rising (Ft. Trip Lee, and Erica C..  - Sho Baraka  -  Lions and Liars

3. Me, Myself, and I – Sho Baraka  -  Lions and Liars

4. Incredible – Mary Mary

5. I’m Running – Mary Mary –  The Sound

6. Used To Do It Too (Feat. KB)  - Lecrae –  Rehab

7. We Can Be More Ft. J.R – Sho Baraka –   Lions and Liars

8. Chisel Me (Ft. Th’sl, J’son, K-Drama, T.. – DJ Official  - Entermission

9. God Is Enough (Feat. Flame & Jai) – Lecrae  - Rehab

10. I’m Black (A Word from Tom Ason) – Sho Baraka  - Lions and Liars

11. Slow It Down – Sho Baraka   –     Open Book

12. In The Morning  - Mary Mary

13. We Can Be More Ft. J.R – Sho Baraka –   Lions and Liars

 

Coz we can be more!!!

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  (Colossians 3:1-4)

Is [Your] Christianity A Fraud?

The man who does not regularly fill the fuel tank will soon run out. The woman who ignores the maker’s instructions and never services her car eventually faces complete breakdown. And the man, so thrilled with his car that he sits in his garage all day, revving the engine just for the excitement, will inevitably blow it up.

 

There is power in Christianity, not simply the intellectual power of its doctrines, the moral power of its ethics, or the philosophical power of its ideas, but ultimate, limitless power – the power of the living God himself.

 

How we relate with God makes all the difference.

 

Don’t be fooled, evil will never be equal to Good!!!

 

God found a man – Abraham, who was willing to give up everything just so he could be able to relate with Him.

God also became man – to show us how man can be totally committed to Him.

Jesus endured all temptation because he was committed in his love to his Father, to his Father’s word and his Father’s Kingdom.

 

The secret lies in the Jewish Bible.

 

Jesus was certain of the truth, the written word of God.

 

At the moment of his greatest anguish, he bore it all alone. Satan’s opportunity was never greater.

But Jesus’ relationship with his Father sustained him just as it condemned him.

 

He could have denied he was the son of God, and seize control of his own life, exclude his Father and live – a dead man like the rest of us. Thank God he didn’t.

 

Here is what it means to be a man or woman: to know God’s purpose and to commit oneself to it no matter what it may cost.

 

It takes God to be a man.

It takes Christ to be a Christian.

It takes Humility to find God.

 

 

 

God asked Jeremiah to seek for one man who was honest and who was looking for truth.

“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. (Jeremiah 5:1)

 

Trust and Worship the great God of all things who now lives in you, and let the Holy Spirit flow from you. That is all he has ever required.

God is looking for weak men and women with the guts/courage to admit to him their weakness and to cling to him in total dependence.

And He does it for just one reason; he loves you and me and delights to show his great might on our behalf.

 

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

 

“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit. (Isaiah 57:15)

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)

 

 

Give up your ego (self-importance) and share Christ with others and you will realize what it means to be human and bask in God’s love so others may see His glory.

 

ILLMATIC: ITS AS ILL AS IT GETS

“I was born to use mics”

hip hop lost its value and significance as jazz did when it was “stripped of its social context” and emptied of the ideological crucible out of which it emerged: segragation, racial terror, and the creative impulse to resist and create sanctuaries of art and community.

For urban denizens, life is confined to the exploration of ghetto postindustrial decay: where the everyday persistence of poverty teaches one to make do with making do. Given this socioeconomic reality, to choose the hip-hop life – the wild style – in the face of a proven route, like military service, to escape such bleak conditions demonstrates a profound commitment by black and brown youth to transform rather than flee the poverty-riddled social space they inhabit.

The formative stage of hip-hop was less about leaving the ghetto and more about transcending the stifling conditions of ghetto life by transforming the street, stoop, and playground into a cultural workshop, a theater of the oppressed.

The block was where black and brown youth challenged and transformed their social identity from individual expressions of a disenfranchised socioeconomic racial group to that of a statiscally unquantifiable B-boy and B-girl.

The key contrast between hip-hop’s narrative of success and social transformation and the civil rights generation’s narrative of upward mobility is that hip-hoppers do not equate social mobility with escape but embrace the ghetto suite as a site and source of social identity.

For the hip-hop generation it’s not about representing the race or adhering to strict codes of morality. It’s about being “real” in representing hip-hop, and if that involves profanity, weed-induced philosophies, an aggressive social postrue, the glorification of violence, and coarse sexual politics lifted from everyday experience, then so be it. For hip-hop the issue is not over content; anything is fair game for discussion.

For the hip-hop generation, it’s no longer about holding the moral high ground to compel white acceptance or even God’s grace. in the cosmological lexicon of hip-hop, even gangsters get to go to heaven.

Nas’s ILLMATIC extends the following themes - an unapologetic internal dialogue on racial politics and pride, sex and salvation, inner city violence and moral relativism – to a broader audience.

Nas calls himself: the self-proclaimed hip-hop savior ready to resurrect the dead?

i wonder where he caught that???

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

Hip-hop has shaped the perceptions of people, especially young ones, wherever they are. From the hip-hop groups and grassroots organizations in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to the East African hip-hop groups Kalamashaka and Kwanza Unit whose raw rhymes routinely expose government corruption in the region-that demonstrate how the adoption of hip-hop outside of the U.S has been collectively construced.

Going beyond the naive idea that Black music is simply entertainment helps us to better understand the current crisis. Because most of us who were born into the hip-hop generation feel misrepresented by it and have begun to see the dangers and limitations of being collectively identified by a genre of music that we don’t even own. And it is our lack of ownership that has allowed corporate forces to overrrun hip hop with a level of misogyny and Black-on-Black violence that spurs some young folks to disown the label “hip-hop generation.”

Part of the crisis is centered around the distribution mechanisms for hip hop.

When we consider hip hop’s origins and purpose, we understand it is a revolutionary cultural force that was intended to challenge the status quo and the greater American culture.

The Post hip-hop generation is about the birth of a new movement propelled by a paradigm shift that can be felt in the crowded spoken-word joints in North Philadelphia. This shift can be felt at the krump-dance dance-offs in Los Angeles where young pioneer Tight Eyez proclaims, We’re not gonna be clones of the commercial hip-hop world because that’s been seen for so many years.

Somebody’s waitin’ on something different, another generation of kids with morals and values that they won’t need what’s being commercialized or tailor-made for them; custom-made, because i feel that we’re custom-made.

What does hip hop mean to you?

this is a summary from the first two chapters of the books: Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas’s Illmatics, and Its Bigger Than Hip Hop by M.k Asante

There’s more….

20 Things Ephany Likes About Ephany!!!

1. I have an uncanny ability of being able to get my friends to smile just by being me

2. I have a bodacious intuitive nature

3. I have super athletic abilities

4. I am competitive in nature

5. I’m a perfectionist with a tolerance for some things being a mess sometimes

6. I have a weird sense of humor

7. I love unpretentious people

8. I can adapt to any situation

9. I listen better than I talk

10. I give of myself

11. I am always good company

12. I am spontaneous

13. I am a leader

14. I am stronger than I look

15. I am an open book but hard to figure out at the same time

16. I’m hardworking

17. I love spending time with good friends

18. I make time for my friends

19. I live for Christ

20. And I know how to dance

 

P.S: IF YOU AGREE WITH ANYTHING I’VE WRITTEN PLEASE AFFIRM THESE THINGS IN ME AND I WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IT A LOT IF YOU SHARED 20 THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF WITH ME

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS!

A LONG WAY FROM HOME

I just want to ignore the pain

The pain I see in your eyes

I feel it too

 

Yeah we all want to change the world

But we can’t do it on our own

So we call on you Lord

 

But why does it have to be so hard though?

 

My arms are too short to fight with God

Like Nas I consider you greater than any man

But not every man knows Jesus is the son of God

 

We want to know the truth but we ignore the proof

 

If you say you follow Christ does the love of Christ

Warm your heart to the point of sacrifice

See he paid the price for every race, every tribe and every color

 

But why are our churches predominantly only one race, or predominantly only one color?

 

Are we all guilty of loving others as we love ourselves?

Or are we done searching the world for others who are just like us

To share the love that’s inside of us

 

God says he loves the whole world that’s why he sent his only begotten son

 

But I struggle to understand how He can love me

Because I feel all alone without a family to call my own

A weary traveler is all I have become

 

Because I’m still searching for that place I can call home

 

If heaven is the only place I can call home

Then death is the only cure to my affliction

For my suffering is like fiction to that remorseless soul

 

So God if your word says death is living for the cause of Christ then I guess I’m still a long way from home!

My grace is sufficient for you…

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

 

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

 

2 Corinthians 13:5;11

 

IN 2011 OUR MISSION AS THE CHURCH SHOULD BE TO LOVE OTHERS ESPECIALLY THE STRANGER

When you read the shortest book in the bible, you will notice why John praises one church for the good report it received from certain strangers. Today can the same be said about you??? or about the people you attempt to have church with?

It is no secret that church attendance in America has drastically deteriorated, as we seem to have succeeded in making it almost not worth the time to go to church with our repetitive sermons and superficial relationships.

We all the know the greatest longing in man is for love and man’s greatest fear is the fear of rejection and yet given the church’s mandate to be a light in this dark and cruel world we seem to only succeed in making others feel more alienated from a loving and gracious God.

A church that boasts of its righteousness fails to see that only Christ can impart righteousness. Only Christ can impart absolute love and satisfy our longing to find justice. His grace is always sufficient.

Let us then boast in our own weakness and not in our strength so others may testify of our love for them. There is so much for us to do if we are to get over this malaise that threatens to destroy our church but we have to pull together and stop seeking after personal glory. The strong need to encourage the weak so we can become a unified family in Christ.

 

With more prayer comes more power and more love. Seek after God with all of your heart, mind, body and soul and reach out to your neighbor with God’s love in mind and 2011 will surely be a prosperous year for all who partner with you.

 

 

(3 John 1:3-6)

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love.

 

 

Romans 11:6

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

 

Galatians 2:16

know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. 

2011 Recovery Plan; Worship in Spirit and Truth

Romans 12:2

“Is hip hop, just a euphemism for a new religion, the soul music for the slaves that the youth is missing” - Well as an increasing number of people are leaving organized religion I vow to keep praying for our souls to find salvation in the only one who claims to be the way, the truth and the life.

And for the brothers and sisters out there who are suffering for the cause of Christ, no longer chasing after paper but instead chasing after Christ may you receive your eternal reward and continue to shine like the sunrise.



Like you Christ gives me a reason for living!

1. Interlude – The World         Ambassador               Christology

2. A Girl Named World              ”                                    “

3. Interlude – One Point           “                                    “

4. It Was Love                         ”                                    “

5. Hold Your Ground                “                                    “

6. The Loophole                      “                                    “

7. Super stars                 The Cross Movement       House of Representatives

8. Products of The City Life  Ambassador                 Christology

9. I Love You Jesus             Ambassador                   Christology

10. True Security                Trip Lee                           20/20

11. Relief                              “                                       “

12. We Told Em                    ”                                       “

13. Hip Hop                          ”                                       “

14. Real Vision                     “                                       “

15. Inexhaustible                ”                                       “

16. My Lord                         “                                 Between 2 Worlds

17. Real life Music               “                                     “

18. Life 101                        ”                                     “

19. Bear With You              ”                                     “

20. Check In                   Lecrae                              Rehab

21. Children of The Light    ”                                    “

22. Divine Intervention      “                                    “

23. Just Like You               ”                                     “

24. Release Date              “                                     “

25. Boasting                     ”                                      “

26. Gotta Know                ”                                      “

27. I.T.W.N.O.I            Sho Baraka                     Lions & Liars

28. Half of Me                 ”                                       “

29. The Way                 CRM                               House of Representatives

Even A ‘Gangsta’ Needs That Jesus Love

Teachers and preachers teach us the things that set us free..

[At work i have the opportunity to share the truth with the kids i get to see

but sometimes i wonder is God even really into me

and then i remember to take time to talk to Him

so His love can be seen even through me

its like for most of these kids that i see  at work feel abandoned and all alone

without a home to call their own

they take some things for granted

but maybe its because society has taken them for granted too

they deserve our attention

and i hope they have it to the full

when i see them listen to that christian cd i made for them

or read that christian book

i realize just how deep God's love truly is

for even a 'Gangsta' needs that Jesus love]

God Help me to stop trippin’ and wonderin’ if Jesus is even really with me

as i seek for dudes who have also been through it

to share my brokenness feelings of hopelessness

for without Truth I’m driven back to sin.

Sin is spreading and the world is getting colder

Romans 13:10

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

All I ever wanted was to know the truth

Seeking Jesus at 18…

Man I really hungered and had this inner thirst

Absurd the thought of me even missin’ a day of church

Man it felt like heaven, especially Bible study

I had my Bible pen and pad sittin’ next to my buddies

The Word had us open especially certain verses

Spendin’ hours in worship man it just felt so perfect

And then after the service out on the parking lot

Laughin’ and rappin’ for hours afterwards we talked a lot

Felt like your second family for me felt like my first…

CHURCH ON THE MOON

Me, I’m all alone but i don’t want to be on my own

you had 12 disciples that you called your own

now you’re calling me to make even more.

While the churches are asking for money

you are asking me to live for your kingdom.

Joseph, Job, Jeremiah they are all great people in the bible

me, i struggle to even read the bible.

Is the world truly lost?

love is now a new religion

for those who think they are spiritual.

They rebel against organized religion

not realizing Jesus was crucified for starting the ‘true’ rebellion.

He laid down his life to prove his love for us.

My sins too heavy to bear without a cross,

this is where i lay it down.

If you are heaven bound

you don’t have to follow the crowd.

The things of this world are just an illusion

I pray and fast so i won’t perish for a lack of vision.

The nights i struggle with lust my spirit needs to fast,

the temptation is too much for me to overcome on my own

especially since i’m away from home.

Lord, how can I master the flesh and save my soul?

When there’s no one i can trust

you remind me you are with me

to fight my battles,

your power rattles all my enemies.

The love you have for me

is enough even for my enemy.

Those who’ve met me might not understand me

but you still get me.

If i’m not living for you then what am i living for?

The money and the cars will all pass away

but where will i end up when i pass away?

God please help me not to turn away

just coz i want to have my way.

Pride stands in the way

of us loving each other

but i pray that your love would draw us closer to each other

so we can fight the good fight together

and show the world your beautiful ‘church on the moon’

that’s outta this world.

Are you ready for God’s ‘Church On The Moon’?

“Our praise will take us where we’ve never been before!”

 

You Are My Strength Lyrics by Deitrick Haddon

it seemed like i had to lose

in order to win

and when they walked out on me

its when your love came in

and when i felt like dying

you made me feel better

took me by the hand

you told me we could make it through this together

 

you were my strength x2

when i was exhausted

you were my strength x3

helped me climb the mountain

you were my, my God, my sword, my shield, my joy, my life

your love so real

you were my strength x2

you were, you were my

 

its amazing to me

when i lean back and see

how i made it over

men i thought it was over

and when my heart was shattered

into a million pieces

your love put me back together again

you knew just what i needed

 

you were my strength x2

when i was exhausted

you were my strength x3

you helped me climb the mountain

you were my, my God, my sword, my shield, my joy, my life

your love so real

you were my strength x2

you were my

 

that is why i love you x2

say with me

that is why i love you x2

 

 

you were my strength x2

when i was exhausted

you were my strength x3

helped me climb the mountain

you were my, my God, my sword, my shield, my joy, my life

your love so real

you were my strength x2

you were my

 

you were my strength x2

when i was exhausted

you were my strength x2

helped me climb the mountain

 

that is why i love you x2

 

 

you were my strength x2

i will never forget how, you were

you were my strength x3 you were my

you were my, my God, my sword, my shield, my joy, my life

your love so real

 

you were my strength x2

you were my

 

The Tsunami in Your Life Hurts Me Too

“When you are experiencing one long scream on the inside, God hears the cry of your broken heart. He truly feels your pain. When you have lost someone you love, God really comes calling.”

I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through as I have never experienced such loss, all I know is God is calling us to reach out to each other.

“In the privileged parts of the world, where its easier to access so many resources like this, people are running out of meaningful relationships. Love is in short supply. Nothing seems to last. Folks are running out of purpose and meaning. Many people are depressed, overeating, and desperately searching for comfort and intimacy. And even those in the church are running out of energy and ideas about how to fulfill the great commission and reach our generation with the gospel.”

God is our comforter and He has given us His Holy Spirit to fill us when we are running on empty. When we cry out to Him in the midst of our pain, He listens.

“We have to cast ourselves on God in the middle of the awful mess and see what He will do or whom He will send to help us, for God often does His work through ordinary people.”

“Don’t be afraid to cry out when you run out.”

We have to empty ourselves in order to be filled.

As long as God is present, our lives will never be truly empty.

Everything comes full-circle.

We were placed here on earth to pour out to each other, its the only way we can be filled.

Its only when we are empty that we can be filled.

The world needs believers who are willing to be emptied so they can be filled by the Holy Ghost.

The Spirit’s filling makes it humanly possible to reach out to an empty and broken world.

As believers we need to cry out daily for the filling of the Holy Spirit in order for us to be able to pour out to others and in turn be poured into.

I will pour myself out to you in your time of pain and emptiness for your pain and emptiness is both our opportunity to be filled by God’s indwelling Spirit.

My prayer is that you will be filled by His Holy Spirit and find comfort in Him as you wait on Him to show you His will.

Can I Live Without Sin

my testament is more than thirty nine chapters old

as the new me still struggles to live out the twenty seven

i have spent what feels like forty years in the wilderness and been to the promised land

and by God’s grace i have been able to prosper in the midst of adversity

but with prosperity comes complacency

and now i have built altars for my idols without even realizing it

i worship the god of lust sometimes to get through my loneliness

i worship the god of pleasure to get through my emptiness

worship is no longer about Him, its all about me

i try to imagine a different life for myself

a life full of love

love from my family, friends and co-workers

but He keeps reminding me that only His love can fill my loneliness and emptiness

where is your love

is it up in the sky where no man can reach

or is it in the hearts of those are compassionately rich

 in dying on the cross you took up my iniquity

but where is my freedom

how can i rise from the dead

for the cross i bear is still weighing me down

i’ve prayed and confessed my sins in church

but i still feel like i’m fighting this battle on my own

death come and get me, please come and get me

can i die before i live

can i live without sin

you’ve sent your servants to prophecy over me

all i ask now is that you send your angels to love me.

Dum Dum ft Lecrae (Lyrics) by Tedashii

okay.. T’od, crazy

i guess i’m just a misfit ha……

am i coming right now…no, am i coming right now…

yah, yah, hey listen

real skinny, loud color, chase

body marked up like grafitti

i don’t push a mozaretti, bima, benz or bentley

and yeah i wrote it for him, (atleast i miss 50 …

hey go ahead and doubt us but you should know about us

and we ain’t gotta follow them, we’re taking another route

no we ain’t blowing trees bro, open up my window

i see you poppin tags but you know thats why your ‘ins low

i tried to tell ‘em we was comin, go ‘head and let us in

why they hatin like we all bunch of hooligans

no gimmicks, spirit in my lyrics

know that when people hear it they’re gonna love it or fear it

ain’t it, how we flow coz when we show up at a show they say

we goin so hard in the paint they can’t leave us alone

but some others say we’re preachy

some clothes miner gicci’s

like we ain’t heard marks like a nichy, believe me

dum dum dee dee dum dum da dee dee dum dum da dee dee dum dum x4

they don’ know about us, they don’ they don’ know about us x4 

they think we dum dum dee dee dum dum  

but they gon’ know

they gon’ know about us x

6’2, two plus, go on add it up

(hey that’s a big problem, call it calculus)

mad throw some trap book,

content like ya’ll had enough

long hair, don’t care, Samoan, plus i’m tatted up

i know this’ll blow ya mind and ain’t blowing pine

i’m talking women looking skimpy every other line

yeah i gotta dine, ’bout to make her mine

life in Christ got me finished like i crossed the line

with the way that you telling me to do it

cell after cell, nah man its so foolish

don don, tryina be you and don’ fit, misfit

i don’t trip, everybody hates Chris

they say get with this just like a membership

they talk

but its just jibberish

i say i’m interesting, they say i’m diffarant

oh you gon’ know even if you don’ let us in

they don’ know about us, they don’ they gon’ know about us x4 

they think we dum dum dee dee dum dum  

but they gon’ know

they gon’ know about us x

ProjectEphany@EphanyCares.org

Half a million people live in Mathare slums, most are without water, electricity and basic sanitation. Many of the children are Aids orphans. (How can i make a difference) What is God’s plan for His people?

“Change lives by giving back your gifts, talents and resources one child at a time.”

 

To Live and Die in L.A

Life imitates music

for every heart needs a beat

just like your love makes me weak

isolated and alone

why is heaven not my home?

please give me death

if no one knows i’m here.

why should i be alive

if no one holds me dear?

You can’t be sorry for the dead

love is unnecessary

to those in the grave.

i’m so anonymous in L.A

where everyone goes about their way.

yesterday is gone

along with all the moments

we shared today,

is that why i’m here

to live and die in L.A.?

Beautiful Monster Lyrics by Thi’sl

i can’t escape

i can’t run away

i’m not strong enough

to stay so long

you’re a beautiful monster

yeah everywhere i go

its like i can’t get away from you

everywhere i turn it seems like i’m facing you

no matter how far i go

there is no escaping you

find myself doing the very things that i hate to do

you, you, you, i’m sick of your lies

you decieve me, trying to ruin my mind

life it can’t be

i’ve got to break free

i know you hate me but i keep on pursuing you

ooh, ooh, ohh, its like i can’t breathe

sweet melodies tryin to hypnotize me

i smell your poison and it smells so sweet

but i ain’t tryin to go where you lead my feet

no, no, i got to let go

i don’t want to love you no mo’

my soul’s been bought, it hasn’t been sold

you’re so beautiful, but you’re a monster

you’re a beautiful monster

a beautiful monster x7

i can’t believe that you would even

have the audacity

to help me fall

to turn around and laugh at me

chasing you will lead to all types of blasphemy

i mess around and catch a murder case

like cassidy

el, el, ain’t gon’ lie

you were my life like Mary J. Blige

but i ain’t gon’ cry

i know how you do

laugh all you want to

nah coz i’m through wit u

oh, oh, i’m sick of your lies

i’m sick of your lust

and i’m sick of your pride

a war goin’ on now

where you gon’ hide

another set free

jubilation’s high

oh, oh, i had to let it go

baptized in the Lord, not a slave no mo’

my life been bought, it hasn’t been sold

you’re so beautiful, but you’re a monster (you’re ugly)

You’re a beautiful monster

a beautiful monster x7

ahh, she’s a, she’s a, she’s a

she’s a vision of perfection

i swear she is

in the mirror is my reflection

and there she is

my lust and desires

up in her prom dress

body of a goddess

trapped in a lockness monster

‘Cre told me she a killer

untouchable its crazy

though i still feel her

evil, wicked, deceit though sinister

but i’m still tempted to keep giving in to

the lust in her eyes

death on her tongue

chest full of pride

breasts got me sprung

nothing but destruction on her mind

but whats to keep me thinkin’ that its

loving all the time

she told me that we could make love

under the sunset

and when the night falls

we can name my son death

she calls my heart home

finally got the context

that she’s beautiful

but i’m the monster

You’re a beautiful monster

you’re no good for me

you’re a monster

but you’re beautiful

and i know

you’re not what it seems

noooo

You’re a beautiful monster

a beautiful monster x7

You’re a beautiful monster.

Dear Momma!

you saved me from the punches

cried for me when i was about to die

c i will hate you if you make her die

you showed me how to be strong

you told me if i gave it to God i would never go wrong

they say there’s a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow

but you are worth more to me than precious gold.

So if my love can’t stop death

i pray your love will be there for me when i lose to death.

i want life to be my friend

i chose this life before my death

because you’re my best friend

wouldn’t like to turn pale like Eminem

even though i’m trying to lose myself

rap isn’t my game

but if i curse you might pay attention

so xxxx death

xxxx life

there you go

you are already feeling my flow

this is for those i’ve lost

those who will love me even when i go

to the next life

why are you raising your eyebrows

there’s life after death bro

i wish we could share in each others pain

don’t be scared, death is just a scarecrow

Hov and Yeezy have their throne

but God sits on my throne

thats why i’m praying for you momma

may this life find you a home!

Money Money Money Lyrics by Thi’sl

(Lets go x4)

He think he Gucci Mane

cool as that dougie dance

he too legit to quit

just need some hammer pants

his whip on 24′s

matter fact on 26

couple of whips

both of them benzes

couple of cribs

thats how he lived it

he hustled hard

thats how he did, yeah

he trapped or die

thats how he get it

i hope he know that where he go

he can’t take it with him

e’thing designer

down to the frames

he say he fly

just like the planes

he walk in clubs

they say his name

he v.i.p

aces of spades

i hope he know that when he go

he can’t take that dough

but the greedy gather

grip it gotta grip it up on his soul

he say he gon’ stack his paper from the ceiling

to the floor

coz he gotta have, gotta need

money money mo’

chorus

money money money, mo’ x3

tryin’ to stack that paper

from the ceiling to the floor

he want

money money money, mo’ x3

tryin’ to tell that boy

can’t take that wit’ you when you go

(Lets go)

verse2

she lo’e that money

it make her dance

pull off her shirt

come out her pants

straighta out the club

into her bag

give up the cash

to get strapped

now run it back

i said she lo’e that money

and do anythin’

just to get it from him

have a baby by him

couple of babies

one of him his

tha other maybe

she lo’e that prada

dolce, gabbana

louie, and gucci

them red bottoms

lo’e to take a trip

make it bahamas

ye’ ain’t got no money

don’t even bother

i try to tell her

can’t take that wit’ u when you go

but she just can’t turn it loose

she gots to drop it on her show

she said she gon’ stack her paper

from the ceiling to the floor

coz she need it

gotta have it

need that money money mo

she want

chorus

money money money, mo’ x3

tryin’ to stack that paper

from the ceiling to the floor

she want

money money money, mo’ x3

tryin’ to tell that girl

can’t take that wit’ you when you go

verse 3

now we know loving money is an evil beast

we need that thing to live

we need that thing to eat

we got to pay the bills

unless you live for free

but some people are slaves

they see it then they sleep

they dreamin’ bout money money mo

cheap dropping honeyz, honeyz, oh

he on that c.e.o game

he run it, run it

24 years old and he own his own comp’ny, wow

he on that wall street

he work while ya’ll sleep

you make that in one year

he make it in one week

5 girls in palm trees

you still on south beach

used to the finer things

condos and mosis

i hope he know can’t take that with him

when he go

what does a man gain, the world

and turn around and lose his soul

he said he gon’ stack that paper

’til they put him in a hole

coz he need it, gotta have it

gotta have that money, money, money mo

chorus

money money money, mo’ x3

tryin’ to stack that paper

from the ceiling to the floor

he want

money money money, mo’ x3

tryin’ to tell that boy

can’t take that wit’ you when you go

(Lets Go)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2sU8VBE-wY

I’m So Gone

God will raise a man/woman to lead his people when they are ready to give him all the glory and realize its all about Him. God will give us the victory over death, pain, addiction and any other kind of affliction when we surrender our lives to Him. I’m all alone with my God and it feels like Heaven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=Afy30ngsg3A&feature=related

LIVERPOOL FC-2012 PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!

I’ve been following Liverpool Fc since i was six years old back in the humble surroundings of south east Nairobi. My love for football is really second to none. So before anyone opens their mouth piece and starts bellowing opinions devoid of any kind of knowledge of a Phd. calibre on all things football, here is my prediction for the new premier league season and why i believe Liverpool Fc could be premier league champions next year if they can take care of the following:

MIDFIELD

Arsenal have had one of the best midfields in the last few years and a big reason for that is there attacking mentality, talent and ability to keep the ball on the ground and pass it around.

This year Liverpool Fc have invested in three exciting midfield players who can keep the ball as well as open up defences with their passing and footwork.

Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing have all been brought in to strengthen our midfield. With the three starting alongside Steven Gerrard and Lucas, I believe we will have a stronger midfield than Arsenal. In addition there will be Alberto Aquilani, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Jay Spearing and Joe Cole on the bench.

STRIKERS

Manchester United boasts the most talented attacking line up in the premier league, on paper. With Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez ‘Chicarito’, Berbatov and Micheal Owen (traitor), and Danny Welbeck as cover.

Manchester City have a very young and talented strike force as well.

If Liverpool Fc can match these two teams in terms of the number of goals scored per match then we have a great chance of lifting the trophy. In Luis Suarez and Andy Carrol we have a potent front two, the only problem will be how well we cope in terms of scoring goals when they get injured.

DEFENCE

Chelsea’s defence is the strongest in the league. In Ashley Cole, Ivanovic, Luiz, John Terry and Jose Bosingwa goals will be hard to come by against this well marshalled defence. There is even a chance their defence could score more goals than their strikers. (see, Fernando Torres?)

Liverpool’s defence this season will be stretched a little bit if there is no cover brought in on the left side and in the central defensive area. For as much as i like Fabio Aurelio as a left back, he is very prone to injuries and so is Daniel Agger. If Liverpool can keep both of them fit for long periods of the season then we will have more than a 20 to 1 chance of usurping Manchester United from their perch at the top.

MANAGERS

Kenny Dalglish is a legend at Liverpool and so is Sir Alex Ferguson. Both have won the premier league more than twice and both are of Scottish descent.

A mutual respect is evident between them and their players but more importantly their fans are always behind these two great managers.

With the best supporters in the World, Liverpool Fc holds an edge over their illustrious rivals and this is why my gut feeling leads me to be optimistic about our future.

“YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE”

thats our mantra, what is yours?

Holy Spirit, Comforter,Friend.

As Jesus comforted his disciples, i would like to comfort you and say to you, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…”(John 14:1)

my heart has been troubled

my heart has been running faster than the chasing wind

unable to awake from my slumber

my spirit choked from the unmet expectations

my courage departed from me

and all i knew was fear and loneliness

but prayer gave me a fighting chance.

Life can seem unbearable when friends are gone

but just like a prized race horse

you help me run and win from behind.

Now i can run this race

because you’re running with me,

I find peace in your presence.

Jesus said to his disciples, “ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18) “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. (John 14:26-msg version)

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)