Brutal Simplicity

Maturity in Men

This next blog is very blunt; I would advise for only MEN of 16 and older to read the following:

It is hard to be a mature man in today’s society, as a matter a fact, its near impossible. I’ll explain why and also explain that some men would argue they are mature men within the Church but in fact are not.

What is a man suppose to look like? Maybe very stoic and have a great jaw line? From experience i can confidently say that a man can be very mature in one area but in another, not. Now if you are immature in one does that compromise your maturity entirely? Well this is an issue to be discussed in your Philosophy class’ but I would say…yes. To be mature you must be mature in all senses, spiritually, emotionally, socially, and sexually. Now mature does not mean experienced; you can be very mature with finance and never handle large amounts of money, you can be very spiritually mature and never have a spiritual encounter , you can be very emotionally mature and never turn the other cheek, you can be very socially mature and never socialize, you can be sexually mature and still be a virgin. It is the experience and actions that PROVE maturity, not define them. For example:

My brother is very mature in finance’s. Now before I go into my example I must say that the only reason I know he is is because he has proved his maturity through actions taken with his money. Every penny found is put into his piggy bank, every coupon that can be found is used, and every free “whatever” is taken and used or sold for money. You might be saying well, he is only mature because he dealt with these experiences, but oh on the contrary, before Lucas had money and had a dollar he was mature in finances. The mentality was their and therefore the actions resulted, you cannot act unless you think, its common logic. For me the writer to give you the reader an example on maturity via another individual is very complicated because you see i cannot know that the individual i am speaking about is mature unless I have seen their actions. If i give you an example through myself then you will say it is Bias, so what is the writer—me—to do?

What i came hear to write in the first place was to prove that men that claim to be mature are not, even some within the family of God. The group I am choosing to tackle is sexual maturity.

“The idea of sex sounds better than the actual act because in that sense it has maybe, 10 percent of the benefits with 0 percent of the problems.”-Anonymous

You see so many Christian men have this mentality, you want sex, and the mentality is their but because of the reputation and the possible outcomes of having sex, such as STD’s and pregnancy’s you just think, so they settle with the thought of being sexually active and impure and selfish. The same men will argue I am sexually mature because I dont have a bunch of kids running around and because I act mature. The truth is Jesus said,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be in hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body that your whole body to be thrown into hell.”-Matt. 5:27-30

Maturity is proven in actions and not defined by them; so many of us settle and God would rather have you completely cold or hot then luke warm. Dont believe the lies…you are called to maturity in Christ and if you fail sexually, you are not mature at all. 

Ephesians 5:3 is still the verse that we all need to live up to. You can’t ignore it and i dont care if I sound like a hypocrite for it, at least I try.

More to come… 

    

Is the Gospel still Good News?

As a rule, unless people agree on what the problem is, they cannot agree on what the solution is.-D.A. Carson

Have you ever encountered not sheer amazement but absolute hatred from someone in proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ? The news of a messiah to the Jewish people meant a lot more then what it means now to the average american in our present day. CONTEXT is important, especially to the important message of the Gospel. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord.”-Luke 2:11. God’s Chosen people, the Jews, were waiting for the Christ for century’s and the last time they heard from God through the prophets, to be more specific—Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Malachi— His message was clear:

“They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me. I trained them and strengthened them, but the plot evil against me. They do not turn to the Most High;”-Hosea 7:14-16

“This is what the Lord says: For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.”-Amos 2:6

“Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.”-Obadiah 1:10

“For the Lord has a case against his own people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.”-Micah 6:2B

The list goes on and on, Zephaniah 3, Malachi 2 and all of these point to how Israel, God’s chosen people, have become and adulterous wife to the Father, loving other idols and Gods (Hosea). The Jews knew the message the Prophets brought and were desperately waiting for the messiah that would save them from their curse. 

And just in case they forgot the message the prophets told to them 400 years ago, their was one sent before the messiah to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him,” (Matthew 3:3). John the Baptist’s message was simple, Repent for the Lord is coming, and with this reminder, God’s chosen people were ready to receive the Good news of Jesus Christ our Messiah.

Has that same message lost its essence of true salvation because in our CONTEXT we forget that our very nature is offensive to the God of the universe? I agree with D.A. Carson when he says that in order to agree on one solution we must first agree on the problem. It is only Good news if you know the Bad news… the Gospel should be told with the full effect that it once had, and has on those that remember the message of John the Baptist. 

“Thank you for the beautiful gift of grace through faith in your son Jesus Christ, oh how good this news is to a man that knows his sins were once the things that condemned him to everlasting separation from God.”-Me

OMG!!!!

Blackaby killed it today!! The lesson they put down was amazing, here it is…

http://www.blackaby.net/

Also, some good backround music to listen to while you read some of God’s word is this awesome song…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr_eVcCAUXo

In the World but not of the World

I was abducted by an alien named Jesus,

and sent back to my people but know one recieved us,

left as one but came back with another,

closer than a brother,

equal to the father and son,

the holy spirit lives inside of me to empower my choices,

I no longer listen to those foolish voices,

emplanted with a chip in the deepest parts of my soul,

enriched in knowledge,

truth is acknowledged,

and life is a fight for your soul,

Jesus saves and no one else.

Can you hear?

“Can you hear our father in heaven crying out for us to run, run this race marked out for us…you called us to the darkest parts.”-Fellowship Church;Light It Up

God will use your opportunities to give God Glory—to raise him up— and to grow you spiritually.

I want you to analyze yourself, what place has God put you in right now, this very moment in your life? Are you freshman class president, maybe wrestling captain, maybe you are someone everyone wants to hangout with, or maybe your the Hottest kid in school. Everyone of you has been given a stage were you can give God Glory in your schools, at work, or in your day to day routine. Do you know that God has marked out a certain race for you? He will use the strengths and weakness he has given to you to Glorify him! 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in my weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me!

To help you with analyzing yourself here is an Acronym that will tell you your SHAPE in God’s family:

Spiritual Gifts

Hearts passion

Abilities

Personality

Experiences

If you are having a hard time figuring out what some of these are, ask a close friend or family member. You know what they say, “two heads are always better then one.” Make sure to not miss any, for example: Underneath abilities you can put walking, hearing and talking. God wants to use every ability he gave you to Glorify him.

I know that I have been somewhat wasting the opportunity God has given me. I interact with 100’s of people every week and with the ability’s I’ve been given its time to stand for Jesus. Be different and Bold for Christ, and in today’s society for a 19 year old good looking kid I can give God Glory in many ways but one specific to me is Ephesians 5:3-“But among you there must not be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” This verse has become taboo to young Christians today. Almost as if it is impossible in today’s society. Let me remind us that “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”-Matt. 19:26. You have nothing to lose, join me and give God Glory with the stage you have, maybe these are not your area’s of weakness but whatever it is…GIVE GOD GLORY. I don’t care if people call me a hypocrite a couple of times, as long as i try to honor God’s opportunity to glorify him on my Stage. My name is Alexio Gomes, I am Broward College-North Campus President and I want to give all the glory to God; and I am not a Mormon. :) 

Lifestyles of Love After Love

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.-Romans 5:8

When I read scripture God’s actions sometimes seems to favor one of his very famous “God like” attributes, for example:

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven[killing men,woman, and children];-Genesis 19:24

I’d say from just reading that verse you might question why God would completely smite two entire cities; it seems a little wrathful. Why couldn’t he just kill one entire city and tell the other if they kept their ways evil they would perish just like the other, at least that way he would save some lives. All these questions seem to pop into your head while reading the Bible like “Hmm, he seems merciful here (Micah 7:18).” Or “Hmm, he seems so cruel here (Deuteronomy 7:16)! 

But God whether showing justice, patience, mercy, grace, wrath, or just sheer GLORY when you take a step back and look at the big picture he is a God bent over reaching down to the man/woman he created. God might be a God sitting on a royal thrown with Millions and Billions of angels worshiping Him for all eternity but he is not stooped back with an eye looking down…. He is God on a mighty thrown but he is always reaching out for us. Stand still in the presence of God and let his unfailing love capture you, so that you live a lifestyle of overflowing love pouring out to others. Also reach back to the God that reached out to you first.

New Band 21 Pilots

History of Our Band Name

Ok so, I was in theatre class last year and we studied a play called “All My Sons” written by Arthur Miller in the 40’s. It was about a father who ran a company that provided parts for airplanes used in WWII. He then found out that his parts are faulty, so he comes to a moral crossroads: 
1. He can take the parts back and not send them out, but he will lose a lot of money in a financially tough situation. He would also taint his business and his name and be known as unreliable in his trade. But this would ultimately be the ‘right’ thing to do.
or,
2. send the parts out, make the necessary money to provide for his family, not taint his name, etc.

He ends up sending the parts out and twenty one pilots died because of it.
His son was a pilot in the war who had lost his life. There was no evidence to prove that it was directly related but his daughter blamed her father for her brothers death.
He ended up committing suicide at the end of the play.

Here’s how i make it relevant:

I feel like we are all constantly encountering moral crossroads where the decisions that benefit the “now” will have consequences down the road; but the decision that might seem tough and tolling right away will ultimately be more rewarding.
example:
If Chris, Nick, and I market ourselves as a band that believes in something and has a religious agenda, it can definitely effect our success and make the “now” a lot more difficult.
Or we could keep our mouths shut about what we believe, i could write songs about girls, love, and the usual pop stuff, and maybe see some success for the “now”. But is that worth it? What is our purpose for playing music? We are constantly asking ourselves that question. The answer can change all the time. Right now I am just going to stick with something as simple as “we want to make people think”.
- tyler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmTc0sx_E5g

19 and Loving it

“There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning.”-Psalms 30:5

I’m 19 years old and I try to live my life the way Christ would want me too. If you fall into the same boat with me fella’s then you are going to relate a lot to this story. So I was hanging out late with my friends from school at a school event and…(OH NO) the opportunity to sin arrives. Maybe, for you, in the form of drugs or girls or money, but the enemy is clever so it is usually where you personally are weakest; your issue or hidden agenda. When it all boils down to it, you and I have two options:

1) Chose to obey God and deny thy flesh

2) Chose to disobey God and indulge in thy fleshly desires

Lets speak about the options respectively. You decide to Obey God and not smoke, drink, fall into temptation, or steal (whatever it may be). What happens next is you go into a state of psychological shock: “Oh my God I can’t believe you just did that , you are so STUPID, how could you say no to (Fill in your personal struggle)”-Your Brain. The rest of the night it becomes this battle of you holding your ground against giving in. Even if you leave the event/gathering we are in the 21 century people, we have cellphones and you’re always one text message away from flip-flopping. This is where Psalm 30:5 comes into play. So you might of chosen to obey but for the rest of that night, you are tossing and turning and your brain is playing tricks with you. For some it tries to justify option 2, the sin, for others it calls you names and makes you believe you chose incorrectly. For the person that is battling tonight, the bible says his word is sharper than any double edge sword and to fight back! Say, “ya, its tough right now and painful, but If I just make it to the morning joy will come! He will crown me with victory.”-Every 19 year old guy

 You decide to disobey God and take the (fill in with personal issue). You enjoy it maybe even for the rest of the night! It’s late so you get tired and you fall asleep. Sounds pretty nice doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it is, if sin wasn’t easy it wouldn’t be appealing. If sin wasn’t available and enjoyable then no one would sin! So why not chose to sin? Why not? Because to the ones that are really followers of Christ you have been sealed with the holy spirit and this spirit does not let you enjoy this…for long. Those pleasures only last for a short time and the reality of your sin is presented to you by shedding some light on your dark situation. Their is no true joy to be found in choice #2. Only false hope.

Maybe you say I’d rather chose to disobey, and that is probably because you haven’t looked into the ramification of that cause, but to the 19 year old guy that doesn’t believe in Jesus, God or just doesn’t care can I sway you with one last piece of evidence. Dont sell yourself short, don’t do it! Happiness and Love and fun and real life is found in obey God the creator. Stop worshiping the things He created, He is greater, He is the one that brought you into this world and the one you will give an account to when you leave it.

Evangelism

What is the best tactic for the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ (Merriam-Webster). It shouldn’t be this battle of wits that so many find themselves in when speaking the good news. When did facts ever win someone over to the King? I have plenty of friends that have the tough questions like how can one man take the worlds sins, or is the Bible really completely accurate, or are Adam in Eve recognized as historical figures? The list goes on, and lots of theses reasons or issues are reasonable questions that should be answered but I have yet to see one atheist, agnostic, Jewish, Muslim, or Buddhist friend bow there knee to Christ because their questions where answered. I’ve seen non-believers become educated in their issues or reasons of disbelief,even if the opposing argument is so valid and right that they themselves can say, “Wow, I understand how science points to the creation story and now agree with the Bible…”, for example, not once have I personally seen after someone become a follower of Christ; Not that it doesn’t happen that way. But getting rid of those hard to answer questions isn’t what saves someone.

It is when tragedy strikes that their reasons become smaller and the “idea of God” becomes personal. When a person’s Mother or Father dies and they find themselves trying to talk to the one God they thought didn’t existed in the first place the “idea of God” becomes personal, and notice their questions or reason for non-belief didn’t go away they only got smaller because God became personal. It is this reason that brings me to the conclusion that love is the greatest way to win over someone to Christ. Have you ever heard of the saying, “You might be the only Bible they ever read.” Well to those with the all the questions and reason as to why they can’t believe in Jesus, the Bible or God, you are the only personal experience with God they may encounter. “By their fruits you will know them,”-Matt. 7:16. Lets hope not only our christian brothers can tell one another apart by our fruits but also the world/non-Christians can tell by the wayyou live. Love on people, dont get into a Chess match with your brains on Bible accuracy.

Evangelism

What is the best tactic for the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ (Merriam-Webster). It shouldn’t be this battle of wits that so many find themselves in when speaking the good news. When did facts ever win someone over to the King? I have plenty of friends that have the tough questions like how can one man take the worlds sins, or is the Bible really completely accurate, or are Adam in Eve recognized as historical figures? The list goes on, and lots of theses reasons or issues are reasonable questions that should be answered but I have yet to see one atheist, agnostic, Jewish, Muslim, or Buddhist friend bow there knee to Christ because their questions where answered. I’ve seen non-believers become educated in their issues or reasons of disbelief,even if the opposing argument is so valid and right that they themselves can say, “Wow, I understand how science points to the creation story and now agree with the Bible…”, for example, not once have I personally seen after someone become a follower of Christ; Not that it doesn’t happen that way. But getting rid of those hard to answer questions isn’t what saves someone.

It is when tragedy strikes that their reasons become smaller and the “idea of God” becomes personal. When a person’s Mother or Father dies and they find themselves trying to talk to the one God they thought didn’t existed in the first place the “idea of God” becomes personal, and notice their questions or reason for non-belief didn’t go away they only got smaller because God became personal. It is this reason that brings me to the conclusion that love is the greatest way to win over someone to Christ. Have you ever heard of the saying, “You might be the only Bible they ever read.” Well to those with the all the questions and reason as to why they can’t believe in Jesus, the Bible or God, you are the only personal experience with God they may encounter. “By their fruits you will know them,”-Matt. 7:16. Lets hope not only our christian brothers can tell one another apart by our fruits but also the world/non-Christians can tell by the way you live. Love on people, dont get into a Chess match with your brains on Bible accuracy.

The Older I get…

The Older I get the more I realize this thing called Christianity is in my hands. I’ve started to understand the claim of being a Christian: I am saved from eternal damnation, I am an adopted son of God, I am forgiven of my sins, I am made known to the mystery of Christ,I am chosen, I am loved, I am marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing my inheritance, I die to my flesh and am born again to His Spirit (Ephesians). 

Why them am I not taken into heaven this very moment, why not just take me up in the clouds to chill with Jesus at the pearly gates? Well because just as Paul says “As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” WORTHY OF THIS CALLING, how can we get even close. To show you that we KNOW that we are saved, loved, guaranteed, and born again?

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”  Eph. 4:2 You will chose to be humble, gentle, patient, and loving to one another, and non of the glory will go to you who has chosen because he chose you first, and only by his power are you able to chose these things. We are called to be imitators of Christ, live up to your calling Christian brother and sister.

I pray for obedient heart and the courage to step up to the calling… until I see you face to face.

The Fear of the Lord is…

The thought behind this post is an old one but was brought up again by a conversation with a friend…

Proverbs 2:1-5

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” To understand and find the secrets of God, the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, you have to look for it without rest. You can tell by how many different ways the author writes it that without the search you will not find it. It is hidden somewhere that you would never stumble upon it, but I think that I have found not the “X’s marks the spot” but the next clue to the hidden treasure in Proverbs 8:13

“To fear the Lord is to Hate evil.” I HATE snakes to the point of just thinking about them makes me want to punch something. I hate thinking about them, seeing them, touching them, the idea of them just makes me sick to my stomach. What do you hate? Lions, tigers, bears oh my…The Wizard of Oz, Spiders, The Dark?

Do you hate Evil? Does just thinking of Pride make you sick to your stomach? Does just the thought of lust make you want to punch something, does seeing it, or even thinking of it make you want to scream? Does perverse speech just make you angry inside, does it move you to put a stop to it? I Hate snakes and to be honest when I see one I do one of two things, I run or kill it. Ask yourself do you really hate evil?