Why do so many scientists believe in evolution?

The obvious reason that so many scientists endorse the theory of macroevolutionary process as the best explanation for life origins and development here on earth is because they really believe such to be the case. But is that true, really? Is it possible that there's a lot more to the story than meets the eye?

Wayne Friar, Ph.D., AIIA's Resource Associate for Science and Origins, says this:

Polls have shown that about 40% of scientists acknowledge a supernatural power. But the majority of the scientific community, especially evolutionary leaders today, hold an atheistic worldview. As support for their anti-supernatural worldviews, these scientists need mechanisms for the origin of life, especially humans.

Atheism needs evolution to escape from any implications regarding a creator. If one starts with Darwinism, certainly it is easy to escape from any obligation to God. Those opposed to their reasoning are branded as obscurantists who are trying to intrude religion into science.

Dr. Emery S. Dunfee, former professor of physics at the University of Maine at Farmington:

One wonders why, with all the evidence, the (Godless) theory of evolution still persists. One major reason is that many people have a sort of vested interest in this theory. Jobs would be lost, loss of face would result, text books would need to be eliminated or revised.

Evolutionist Richard Lewontin in The New York Review, January, 1997, page 31:

We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of the failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so-stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism. It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is an absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.

Columnist George Caylor once interviewed a molecular biologist for an article entitled “The Biologist,” that ran on February 17, 2000, in The Ledger (Lynchburg, VA), and is in part reprinted here as a conversation between "G: (Caylor) and “J” (the scientist). We joint the piece in the middle of a discussion about the complexity of human code.

G: "Do you believe that the information evolved?"

J: "George, nobody I know in my profession believes it evolved. It was engineered by genius beyond genius, and such information could not have been written any other way. The paper and ink did not write the book! Knowing what we know, it is ridiculous to think otherwise."

G: "Have you ever stated that in a public lecture, or in any public writings?"

J: "No, I just say it evolved. To be a molecular biologist requires one to hold onto two insanities at all times. One, it would be insane to believe in evolution when you can see the truth for yourself. Two, it would be insane to say you don't believe evolution. All government work, research grants, papers, big college lectures—everything would stop. I'd be out of a job, or relegated to the outer fringes where I couldn't earn a decent living.

G: I hate to say it, but that sounds intellectually dishonest.

J: The work I do in genetic research is honorable. We will find the cures to many of mankind's worst diseases. But in the meantime, we have to live with the elephant in the living room.


G: What elephant?

G: Creation design. It's like an elephant in the living room. It moves around, takes up space, loudly trumpets, bumps into us, knocks things over, eats a ton of hay, and smells like an elephant. And yet we have to swear it isn't there!

Dr. John Morris, president of the Institute for Creation Research:

[Scientists] see the evidence for creation, and they see it clearly, but peer pressure, financial considerations, political correctness, and a religious commitment to naturalism force them to look the other way and insist they see nothing. And so, the illogical origins myth of modern society perpetuates itself

Biblical worrying.

Biblical Worrying (7)

This actually was not one of the lectures but I decided to talk about it today.

Is it biblical to worry?
My first inclination is to say no. It must not be because it says to worry about nothing:
Matthew 6:27, 34
Philippians 4:6,7,19
1 Peter 5:7
Luke 12:29
John 14:1

A closer look at these verses changed my mind. I separate worry and concern. (I'm just using these for what I'm saying, not for their actual definitions...)
Worry is noticing that you have no bread for tomorrow and staying up fretting.
Concern is knowing that your son is out fighting in Iraq and feeling anxious about him.

I think that it is biblical to be concerned about other's welfare, although it should not become a distraction that prevents a perfect relationship with Christ. As it says in 1 Peter 5:7 you should cast your concerns and anxieties on Jesus and let him handle the stress.

Worry is always wrong. It shows a lack of faith in God's providence and ability to provide for your needs. This is strongly supported by the verses above.

Image of the Logos

The Image of the Logos (6)
Being a word eater, part 1.

Key verses: But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4 ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 ESV)

The most significant event of the 20th century was the decline of the age of typography and the ascent of the age of television.

Why is this significant?
Because with no words you can not think. With no way to organize your thoughts into things with meaning you do not think. This is shown by Helen Keller.

She remembers when she didn't know how to communicate everything was just black nothingness in her mind. There was no meaning to anything. It was only on March 3, 1887, when she learned her first word that she said that she first had a thought and was excited for the next day to
come. She calls that day her soul's birthday.

The imago dei---what is it?
(Image of God)
We have five basic non-physical attributes of a non-physical God.
This is also what separates us from animals. Animals have the first three but to a lesser degree because of the lack of words.
•Intelligence- Language enables a much higher level of intelligence. With no language Helen Keller would have peaked at a low level of smarts. As it works out she was a genius.
•Personality- Animals have a certain level of personality but it is more in their breeds then the individuals. Golden retrievers are more friendly while terriers are more fierce.
•Gregariousness- (a fancy way of saying we like to hang out with other people). Animals form groups too but it is mostly for survival purposes. We group together because humans are attracted to each other.
•Morality-We have innate morality while animals do not. They have no problem killing each other.
•Creativity-We are the only creatures that create for our pleasure alone.

We should consume words.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

Being a question asker (part 2)

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11 ESV)

When we are consuming words we should not always do it by ourselves. Sometimes we must have discourses with others.
There are three ways we should do this:
•Language acquisition-hearing words.
•Oral discourse-Asking questions of people.
•Literary discourse-Having conversations with authors and books by reading them.

We are a generation raised by appliances. We are raised more by computers than by people. This is not a good set up for learning. The messages might be true but there is no room for questions.

So what is the difference between images and words?

Images:
-Communicate immediately and intuitively.
-Are impressionistic
-Are scanned subjectively
-Can not be judged true or false

Words:
-Communicate through abstraction and analysis
-Are precise and exact
-Are read in linear, logical fashion
-Can be judged as true or false.

The Principle Thing

The Principle Thing

Ok let's face it. Logic and reason are good but there is something better: wisdom.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15, 16 ESV)

Wisdom is ALL OVER in the scriptures. READ IT. It goes from Job to the Song of Solomon.

If we live by open doors and green lights we will never get anywhere. We must have wisdom to discern for ourselves what is the path to choose and not just go with the path of least resistance.

There is basically two types of wisdom:
1) That which is from man.
2) That which is from God.

These OFTEN CONFLICT. Obviously the wisdom of God is always gonna be right and because we are often wrong then they are not always gonna go hand in hand.

Wisdom is NOT: What you THINK.
Wisdom is NOT: What YOU think.
Wisdom IS discerning truth.
Foolishness is inventing truth.

Wisdom requires the same thing as a building:
Fortifica/Foundati
Basically that means that you need both a foundation and fortifications. But they must be in their proper place.

A Theory of Wisdom:
-Wisdom starts with worldview
-Wisdom is the consistent outworking of (a) belief (b) action (c) discernment from worldview.

Basically it means wisdom is deciding what to believe and what not to believe.

Three times in the Bible (Proverbs 1:7,9:10, Psalm 111:10) it says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I don't know a whole lot but I do know that when the Bible says something three times it means that it is REALLY important.

So what does it mean to fear God?
1. Establish the right relationship with Him.
2. See the world as he sees it, through His eyes.

Let's look at two examples of people who took different ways in life, one is man's wisdom and the other is God's wisdom. Watch how it turns out:

1. Path of Pleasure
Man: Solomon

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:10, 11 ESV)

It doesn't make you happy. It leaves you with the feeling that you accomplished nothing.

This is man's wisdom: Avoid pain, pursue pleasure.

2. Path of Pain.
Man: Job

Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:1-6 ESV)

You go to any public school, raise your hand in class, and tell the teacher that you despise yourself and repent in dust and ashes and you will probably be sent to counseling...

The truth is pain teaches a lesson.
The lesson: the inscrutability of God's ways and our need to glorify Him regardless.

God's wisdom:
Believe truth (the Bible), do good.

Clearly the second option looks foolish but in factuality it is the wise one. Does this mean that you should seek suffering and try to fail? No! It will come soon enough, just read 1 Peter 3:14b-17. It just means that you shouldn't try to avoid pain and pursue pleasure with all you've got.

The Power of Doubt

The Power of Doubt

Mark Bertrand

Read the following passage:

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." (Genesis 22:1-14 ESV)

Then read Genesis 18:22-33

Did you notice anything?

Abraham pleads for Sodom, but NOT for Isaac! Why?

Perhaps it is because Abraham knew something about God: God was perfectly holy and told Abraham that murder was wrong. Hmm... How would a perfectly holy God order someone to murder his own son? The answer is that he wouldn't, and perhaps Abraham knew this.

Would God ever order us to murder? This question is asked by atheists a lot as a way to get Christians to doubt. They say that "God told old testament people to kill all the time... Why would he not tell you to?" the answer is very simple: God is perfectly consistent and Holy. He also is perfectly just. Killing is not wrong if the person is being punished by God. Look at Sodom and Gomorrah.
I believe that Abraham knew that whole time that God would never tell him to murder, however he was so tuned into following God that he probably would have gone through with it had God not stopped him.

Let's look at Matthew 28:16-17

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. (Matthew 28:16, 17 ESV)

Did you catch it? "but some doubted"

Is doubt permissible? Yes. But it should not be commonplace.

In the play Hamlet, the prince doubts the legitimacy of his fathers ghost's claims. Hamlet is looking for verification. He must be sure before he kills his uncle. Abraham just believes God, he doesn't question him.

Doubt is powerful. Rene Descartes once said:
"I will suppose therefore, some malicious demon of utmost power and cunning has employed all his energies to deceive me."

Doubt requires grace to be overcome. We can't do it on our own.

Abraham doesn't have to go through with the sacrifice of Isaac but God went through with the sacrifice of Jesus.

Look at the parallels between Romans 8:32 and Genesis 22:16-17

What Kind of Monster are You?

Worldview seeks to answer two main questions:
1. What is the nature of man?
2. What is the nature of God?

We will deal with the first now.


In two books, Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, two different types of natures are described. In Frankenstein man, the monster, is basically good and corrupted by society over the course of the book. In Dr. Jekll and Mr. Hyde a man tries to seperate his good side and his bad side. It backfires when his bad side is created and formed a new man, but his good side is still corrupted too. In that book men are basically evil and individuals are responsible.

I'm gonna make a pretty hefty claim now.

Christianity is the ONLY worldview that assumes that man is basically evil.

Now I know what you are thinking. You have already made a list of other religions that assume that man is evil. These might include:
1. Jewish
2. Morman
3. Muslim
4. Jehovah's Wittness

Well let's look at them then!

1. In the Jewish faith you are required to maintain certain parts of the law in order to make it to heaven. These include sacrifices. If man is able to do anything good on his own then he is not totally evil, and can therefore save himself.

2. Mormons believe that everyone goes to some eternity. You mus work hard to become good enough to go to the good place though and must not be wholly evil.

3. Muslims believe that, even if you are not part of the faith, your good deeds and your bad feeds will be put on a scale and if you have at least 50.0000000001% good deeds then you make it to heaven. This implies that man can become mostly good and this is ridiculous.

4. Jehovah's Wittnesses that Jesus died for us, but God can chose not to accept that ransom. You will only be acceptable if you are good enough to make it in.

"For the wages of sin is Death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
--Romans 6:23

In Christianity man is totally incapable of doing anything not sinful before salvation. This means that we are not only evil, we are TOTALLY evil. The Bible says that men don't even desire salvation. It is all God. We are totally helpless until he decides to save us.

Charting Worldviews

Charting Worldviews

In this section we will look at the key points of Christianity vs every other religion, or the world for short.

MAN

Christianity:
-Man is basically evil. This means that we are born totally sinful and incapable of doing ANYTHING not sinful until we are changed by God. (Explained in Law Breakers, coming later)
-Total depravity. This means that we are completely helpless and unable to save ourselves.
-We are called to tell people the bad news. They need to know the bad news before they can hear the good news.

The world:
-Man is basically good. This means that we are born good and corrupted by society. This allows people to blame society for all the stupid stuff they do while still taking credit for doing anything of value.

GOD

Christianity:
-God is infinitely gracious and perfectly holy. The God of the Bible. Yes, he is gracious and holy even when destroying cities. (that is explained in The Power of Doubt coming later)
-The trinity exists.

The World:
-No, He is not.

THE UNIVERSE

Christianity:
-Genesis and John accurately describe Creation.

The World:
-No they don't. Jews will say that Genesis describes creation, but John doesn't.

TRUTH

Christianity:
-Truth is in the Bible. This means that the Bible is the ultimate source or truth and takes authority over any other "truth". No other "truth" has ever been able to disprove any part of the Bible.

The World:
-Truth is in man. That has to be a sad way to live! "You must find your own truth and purpose."


He had three other points (Morality, Family, and Politics) but he ran out of time talking about these.

As an Atheist, I Truly Believe Africa Needs God.

The following is an actual article that appeared in the london times, written by Matthew Paris.

Reposted from:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it's Malawi, and The Times Christmas Appeal includes a small British charity working there. Pump Aid helps rural communities to install a simple pump, letting people keep their village wells sealed and clean. I went to see this work.

It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I've been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I've been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God.

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

I used to avoid this truth by applauding - as you can - the practical work of mission churches in Africa. It's a pity, I would say, that salvation is part of the package, but Christians black and white, working in Africa, do heal the sick, do teach people to read and write; and only the severest kind of secularist could see a mission hospital or school and say the world would be better without it. I would allow that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine: but what counted was the help, not the faith.

But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith does more than support the missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.

First, then, the observation. We had friends who were missionaries, and as a child I stayed often with them; I also stayed, alone with my little brother, in a traditional rural African village. In the city we had working for us Africans who had converted and were strong believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall.

At 24, travelling by land across the continent reinforced this impression. From Algiers to Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Central African Republic, then right through the Congo to Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya, four student friends and I drove our old Land Rover to Nairobi.

We slept under the stars, so it was important as we reached the more populated and lawless parts of the sub-Sahara that every day we find somewhere safe by nightfall. Often near a mission.

Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away. They had not become more deferential towards strangers - in some ways less so - but more open.

This time in Malawi it was the same. I met no missionaries. You do not encounter missionaries in the lobbies of expensive hotels discussing development strategy documents, as you do with the big NGOs. But instead I noticed that a handful of the most impressive African members of the Pump Aid team (largely from Zimbabwe) were, privately, strong Christians. âPrivatelyâ because the charity is entirely secular and I never heard any of its team so much as mention religion while working in the villages. But I picked up the Christian references in our conversations. One, I saw, was studying a devotional textbook in the car. One, on Sunday, went off to church at dawn for a two-hour service.

It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in turn, influenced by a conception of man's place in the Universe that Christianity had taught.

There's long been a fashion among Western academic sociologists for placing tribal value systems within a ring fence, beyond critiques founded in our own culture: âtheirsâ and therefore best for âthemâ; authentic and of intrinsically equal worth to ours.

I don't follow this. I observe that tribal belief is no more peaceable than ours; and that it suppresses individuality. People think collectively; first in terms of the community, extended family and tribe. This rural-traditional mindset feeds into the âbig manâ and gangster politics of the African city: the exaggerated respect for a swaggering leader, and the (literal) inability to understand the whole idea of loyal opposition.

Anxiety - fear of evil spirits, of ancestors, of nature and the wild, of a tribal hierarchy, of quite everyday things - strikes deep into the whole structure of rural African thought. Every man has his place and, call it fear or respect, a great weight grinds down the individual spirit, stunting curiosity. People won't take the initiative, won't take things into their own hands or on their own shoulders.

How can I, as someone with a foot in both camps, explain? When the philosophical tourist moves from one world view to another he finds - at the very moment of passing into the new - that he loses the language to describe the landscape to the old. But let me try an example: the answer given by Sir Edmund Hillary to the question: Why climb the mountain? âBecause it's there,â he said.

To the rural African mind, this is an explanation of why one would not climb the mountain. It's... well, there. Just there. Why interfere? Nothing to be done about it, or with it. Hillary's further explanation - that nobody else had climbed it - would stand as a second reason for passivity.

Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God, unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human being, smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual framework I've just described. It offers something to hold on to to those anxious to cast off a crushing tribal groupthink. That is why and how it liberates.

Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.

And I'm afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.

Worldview

As most of you know I went to a Worldview Academy last few days. It was pretty epic, but instead of just talking about it I'm gonna try to put the main points of the many lectures in different posts and see how that goes. I am gonna do them in the order that they appear in the book, not how I got them. Without further delay, enjoy...


Blind Faith

First off there is no such thing as an unbeliever.
The absence of belief or faith is just not possible. In fact those who say that they rely on only logic and reason, namely the atheists, rely heavily on faith. For example there are actually at least twelve (12) things that an Atheist MUST take on faith. Here they are:

1. There is no God.
2. Free will and dignity do not exist.
3. Something came from nothing.
4. Life came from non life.
5. Mind and thought do not exist.
6. There are no absolutes.
7. Conscience does not exist.
8. There is no afterlife.
9. There are no angles or demons.
10. Your life has no meaning or purpose.
11. Miracles can not happen.
12. Souls do not exist.

Now I will briefly try to explain why all of these must be taken on faith:

1. Because you must search all knowledge to prove there is no God and when you have searched all knowledge they you will have become God the only way to say that He doesn't exist is faith. (original idea from David Platt)

2. Because, if we evolved and everything is scientific, we are run by different reactions stimulated by different events or emotions we are just robots. Dignity doesn't exist where free will doesn't.

3. Almost all atheists are willing to agree that the universe had to have a definite beginning point and because there was nothing before that then something had to come from nothing.

4. Even scientists with rigged science rooms have never been able to make life from non life, much less watch it happen with no prompting.

5. If we have no actual physical thoughts and there is no such thing as the spiritual dimension thoughts must not exist.

6. Unless you have a holy, eternal, loving, unchanging God you can't have absolutes.

7. If there is no standard for moral values we can not feel bad when we do something wrong because it would not, in fact, be wrong.

8. Pretty self explanatory. If there is no way to prove that there is no afterlife then it must be taken on faith.

9. With no spiritual realm at all them there must be no angles or demons. Hard to explain possessed people then.

10. Life is meaningless with no one giving it meaning. Mortal men can not give meaning or value to anything spiritual, much less life.

11. When you have mathematical proof (another lecture) of the historical accuracy of the Bible and it speaks of miracles but there is no spiritual dimension then something has to give.

12. Souls do not exist. No afterlife, no souls, no nothing.

So the question is not "who has faith and who has reason" it really is who uses the most blind faith.
For a worldview that claims to rely on reason and logic, it is strange that try would require so much faith.

Ronald Reagan Quotes

"My fellow Americans. I'm pleased to announce that I've signed legislation outlawing the Soviet Union. We begin bombing in five minutes." -joking during a mike check before his Saturday radio broadcast

"It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?"

"I hope you're all Republicans." -speaking to surgeons as he entered the operating room following a 1981 assassination attempt

"Honey, I forgot to duck." -to his wife, Nancy, after surviving the assassination attempt

"I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself."

"I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency -- even if I'm in a Cabinet meeting."

"Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"

"I have only one thing to say to the tax increasers: Go ahead, make my day." -threatening to veto tax-increase legislation after getting his record tax cut to date in 1981. He ultimately followed with two tax increases, though declined to go any further.

"Well, I learned a lot....I went down to (Latin America) to find out from them and (learn) their views. You'd be surprised. They're all individual countries"

"I don't know. I've never played a governor." -asked by a reporter in 1966 what kind of governor he would be

"Facts are stupid things." -at the 1988 Republican National Convention, attempting to quote John Adams, who said, "Facts are stubborn things"

"Trees cause more pollution than automobiles."

"All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk."

"There is absolutely no circumstance whatever under which I would accept that spot. Even if they tied and gagged me, I would find a way to signal by wiggling my ears." --on possibly being offered the vice presidency in 1968

"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards. If you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book."

"You can tell a lot about a fella's character by whether he picks out all of one color or just grabs a handful." -explaining why he liked to have a jar of jelly beans on hand for important meetings

"I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." -during a 1984 presidential debate with Walter Mondale

"The state of California has no business subsidizing intellectual curiosity." -responding to student protests on college campuses during his tenure as California governor

"Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation, so let's not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources."

"Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."

"We are trying to get unemployment to go up, and I think we're going to succeed."

"As a matter of fact, Nancy never had any interest in politics or anything else when we got married."

"I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born."

"Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement."

"I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress."

"Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other."

"I'm afraid I can't use a mule. I have several hundred up on Capitol Hill." -refusing a gift of a mule

"What we have found in this country, and maybe we're more aware of it now, is one problem that we've had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless who are homeless, you might say, by choice."

"How are you, Mr. Mayor? I'm glad to meet you. How are things in your city?" -greeting Samual Pierce, his secretary of Housing and Urban Development, during a White House reception for mayors

"My name is Ronald Reagan. What's yours?" -introducing himself after delivering a prep school commencement address. The individual responded, "I'm your son, Mike," to which Reagan replied, "Oh, I didn't recognize you."

"One picture is worth 1,000 denials."

"What does an actor know about politics?" -criticizing Ed Asner for opposing American foreign policy

"What makes him think a middle-aged actor, who's played with a chimp, could have a future in politics?" -on Clint Eastwood's bid to become mayor of Carmel

"How can a president not be an actor?" -when asked "How could an actor become president?'

The absolutely knock-you-off-your-feet glory of God

Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (Ezekiel 1:28 ESV)

He fell on his face. Hmm I would too...

And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you." And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. (Ezekiel 2:1, 2 ESV)

He couldn't even stand. The Spirit had to do it for him. Next time you pray to God, the God who can do a whole lot more then knock people off their feet by showing some of His glory, do it with total awe at who He is. Then try to talk.

Things I don't get:

1. People who tuck their hoodies into their jeans.
2. People who wear suspenders yet still manage to have their pants falling off.
3. People who write a review on a free app and say "worth every cent"
4. Evolution

Austronauts

Here is a favorite song of mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxWvgwnx1NA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

As I look through the evening sky
I think to myself
How much He must love you and I
The Milky Way makes me look
Like a piece of dust on the road
But the Milky Way is a speck of dust
Compared to my Lord
That's how big He is
That's how big He is

And I don't know that much about astronauts
But I know that Jesus cares an awful lot
He made the stars
He made the moon
Just think of how much more
He loves you

Space may be the final frontier
For a lot of people who show no fear
They step outside and they look around
They take a sample and come back down
Have they ever found the meaning of life out there
I don't think so, no way
I don't think so

Young and unashamed

I am kinda sick of always hearing about how being young and inexperienced makes people listen to what you have to say less. God can speak through anyone, they do not have to have had a long relationship with God or be respected in their community. Here are a couple songs that I like:


Young and Unashamed
By Trip Lee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTPqsaJvPg4&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Verse 1:
Hey when they see ya boy, what's they first impression?
Probably not a teen redeemed from the worst transgressions
That's repented from the path of His first ancestors
Was cursed but since rebirth this person's dressed in
The glorious righteousness of Christ
They probably think I'm on the stage 'cause I like the mic
Or like to get hype, but really I'm laid back main
But sometimes could lose my mind if you say that name
(Who?) Jehohah Jireh, my soul's provider
Life without Him's a contradiction like bein' poor with Prada
I done wrote a lot of flows, in my soul's a fire
That shut up in my bones, ah my soul desire
Is for some slick guys to the know the Lord He died
But still the Son did rise like it was mornin' time
So if you think you fully satisfied wit a vette wit chrome
You better check yourself like playin' chess alone
I'm a stranger, is Earth really my residence? Nope
I'm a alien and I can't wait to rest at home
My dress ain't always fresh to def I ain't impressed wit clothes
But Christ, He's the key to life dog and death's the door (and rebirth)
Since the moment I believed, my flesh was broke
Sin lost it's control and death it's hold
So maybe now you'll understand and get up in ya brain
Why ya boy so young and unashamed
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/trip_lee/young_and_unashamed.html ]
Verse 2:
They don't associate ya boy wit Christ Jesus kid
'Cause I got my hat cocked and my jeans is big
No suit and tie, tall tees and kicks
But you ain't gotta be a geek to preach that Jesus lives
So it's almost strange when they see me hit tha street blocks
'Cause with my life I copy Christ like a Xerox
No heat cocked, I roll wit the Lord and
Wit a team full of Saints like I play for New Orleans
We hold each other accountable when seekin sound doctrine
Through Christ we been found not guilty without Cochran
We kingdom people selected to rep His name
Forget bout cheddar main, Christ is the better thing
I don't let no weapon hang, I don't roll wit thugs
That's holdin drugs and spendin all they dough in clubs
I roll wit a gang of believers that's crazy for Jesus
That's saved from the flames and unashamed of His teachings
Cats be like, "You just a baby, how you know about the Lord?"
To know Jehovah at His core we had to open up our swords
We read His word on a daily, His inspired text
And submit to the Spirit dog, we died to flesh
I confess, they tell us that our youth is bein wasted
Instead of jewels up in a bracelet, we speak truth each time we make hits
So maybe now it's stuck up in ya brain
Why the 116 is so young and unashamed

Verse 3:
Cats don't really understand, they think I lost my mind
They hood on they back, but I rock a cross on mine
Walk wit Christ in light, blood bought plus I'm
Not dark as night, I'm light because I sought His shine
I was livin' for today, was always caught in crimes
Bout guilty as O.J., my talk and walk declined
The Boss of time and space, but I put that to rest man
I saw my old life, it wasn't right like my left hand
Now He orders my steps and with Him is how I walk bro
Got off the highway to Hell and I took the cross roads
Now I'm walkin with Christ, what beautiful thing
It's cooler than fame, more precious than jewelry and chains
Most think God is just old school like Kool and the Gang
They wanna be like Jeezy, Jay-Z and Ludacris main
But I'm here today to say that if you want a greater day
Don't fade away, cling to Christ and His amazing savin grace
If you a Christian who accepted the King and you clean
We gotta move, the Lord is pleased when we play on His team
I hope young believers understand, I pray it's in ya brain
If we love the Lord we must be young and unashamed


Young
By Andy Mineo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h46Hx0pyik&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Look it don't matter if I'm young
This life isn't mine I'm living for Him now
I ain't wasting time (*tick tick) never turn back
I really ain't missing nothing stead of living for myself
I be living for the mission of the King that'll soon be coming
Sin over promise under delivers
I ain't with the nonsense I'm in the Scriptures
Get to know Him early I tell 'em why I wait
So Imma serve Him all my days

It don't matter if I'm (Young 2x)
Yeah I'm unashamed (Young 2x)
That's right I'm living for the King (Young 2x)
Through Him I can do all things (Young 2x)
Yeah it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm Young

They say living in your twenties
Go and get yours go and get money
Sow them wild oats slide with some honeys
Yeah I tried that already and them lies don't satisfy buddy
This ones really dumb they like have some fun
Now and change tomorrow, but that may never come (*tick tick)
And they saying they excuses that they young
While you stop making excuses when a man's what you become
Don't believe the lies yeah ya'll ain't missing nothing
'Cept never ending gains of holding on to sand grains
They calling me a fool I giving what I can't keep
Gaining what I can't lose

It don't matter if I'm (Young 2x)
Yeah I'm unashamed (Young 2x)
That's right I'm living for the King (Young 2x)
Through Him I can do all things (Young 2x)
Yeah it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm

Wheezy told me get that money little duffel bag boy
Them dime-bags, nickle-bags, hustle that enjoy
But Eons D say go to jail get out you unemployed
Now you a Winn-Dixie, Publix or a Kroger bag boy
And uh and if I listen to the colleges
I probably come out sounding like a Darwinist
Agnostic and arguing tolerance I can do whatever no consequence
Partyin' partyin' with a couple barbies
Going to Bob Marley spliffs
And my god is in science, psychology
The only problem is Yahweh's real
I was locked up in a box car
Couldn't pop the top until the Son popped up
Then He copped us with a drop blood
He would adopt the flock and by the cross bring us
Brought us from the bottom though I lost
Over what I got was God and His love
How could I be missing out on everything I'm hearing now?
This better and better I'm glad I'm young
So they say you young live your life
Do what you want I think they right
Cause we want Jesus living in our sight
You only live once, my homie's living twice
New heaven homie new earth too

Yeah I'm unashamed (Young 2x)
That's right I'm living for the King (Young 2x)
Through Him I can do all things (Young 2x)
Yeah it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm (Young 4x)
No it don't matter if I'm

Part of a puzzle

A big theme on our recent trip to Honduras was how everything was part of puzzles. The big puzzle of God's plan, the smaller puzzle of relief to Honduras, and the even smaller puzzle of how our team works. With surgeons but now nurses the surgeries don't go well because nothing would be clean or orderly. With no anesthesiologists patients would have to revert back to the old practice of shotgunning some rum before the surgeries. With only doctors the patients would have knowledge of the drugs they need but would be no better off. With only pharmacists patients would get overdoses and wrong meds.

Also a big problem that people were facing on our last day was "is what we did actually useful and beneficial?" people had many ideas and were saying that while medicines help them in the moment, they still are gonna get sick again. The thing is if we only focus on the long run, people die now and there would be no one left to help later. Basically they argued it back and forth for a while. Then God had me say "Guys, it really doesn't matter if you think that you are doing any good. Or that others think that you are doing any good. If God called you to do this just do it. Don't ask questions." They thought that it was deep and it ended the conversation anyway.

The fact is when a puzzle is not put together it is hard to see how each piece fits. Only God knows everything and our job is to just trust him and praise him for everything.

Trip #2

Being the second part of our trip. Btw this is an event only version. The theology will be discussed more later.

Also forgive the grammar errors. All of this was written on site and I was not worried about grammar.


H-Trip
March 24 2012
I woke up at 2:57 to dad trying to make the clock near our bed snooze, though it hadn't gone off. Turns out he heard my iPod and thought it was that clock. We got to the airport and checked in before I realized that I had forgotten my carry-on bag in the hotel. Fortunately I had taken my wallet, my iPod, and some headphones from it right before we left. We ate at burger king before we took off. The flight lasted 2 1/2 hours. We landed, ate at mcdonalds, and got ready for the next flight. The plane was really nice and they fed us so we got three breakfasts today xD. After we landed we met up with the BMDMI head dude for the hospital and his wife, along with three interpreters. We waited at the airport for 3 hours or so as other team members arrived. This took that long because one of the flights was delayed by two hours due to a very strange occourance. After boarding the plane they were told that there was some problem with the nose cap. After two hours of waiting the were finally alerted that the problem had been solved with, of course, duc tape. The nose of their plane was held together with duc tape! Anyway, during the time we waited we got lunch at McDonald's. As soon as everyone had arrived we went over to pizza hut and ate another lunch (yes that is 5 meals so far). After that everyone loaded on the buss and we navigated streets that made New York look tame. There appeared to be no traffic signals, but somehow we got out into the country and drove three hours to our final destination. Once there we unpacked and settled in. Then, after a dinner of some rice and meat thing, we got briefed and took a quick tour of the hospital. Bed shortly followed.

March 25 2012
Not much happening today. Got up at 6:45 and spent a while after breakfast trying to work the tech. We went to church this morning and listened to a Spanish sermon, but they had a translator. Today we see no patients because it's Sunday. After a lunch of nachos we started pumping some pills. We sorted, counted, bagged, and bottled medicines from 12:30-20:30 at night with a break for dinner that lasted about an hour and a half. We played some frisbee during that time and it rained while we stood on a little watch tower thing. From then on we just chillaxed. It's 22:13 right now. Oh, one other thing, someone saw a coral snake today! They are very poisonous and can kill with a single bite so I hope I don't run into one xD.

March 26 2012
We woke up at the regular time (6:45) and took a bus, after breakfast, to Talanga nearby and set up a hospital. I worked as a pharmacist and distributed like 500 packs of pills. xD after about 8 hours we stopped for the day. I'll give you the basic thing that happens to the patients. First they fill out "una tarjeta," which means a card. Each card has the patients height, weight, age, and stuff like that for the doctors on the front, and on the back is a list of all out medicines with check boxes next to the name. Ok, back to the patient's experience... They get their blood pressure taken and sent to the doctors. After the doctor sees them and checks the correct medicines they take their tarjeta to me and the farmicia crew. Basically I take their card, grab the medicines that are checked, and say something like "esto es para usted" or "estos son tuyos". The first version is more polite. You would be surprised at how many patients don't say thanks after they get their medicine. We finished and ate dinner and played some frisbee and games. Then we cooked some utensils to sterilize them.

March 27 2012
Woke up again at the regular time. Again I went to telanga to work as a pharmacist. It's pretty awesome, now that I have been doing it for two days I started to be able to check other people's trays and give my own out with out having to check it with the head honcho. We got back and ate a dinner of enchiladas. After dinner we talked for a while and went to bed at about 23:00.

March 28 2012
Got up and ate breakfast. Then we talked about the day and other stuff. Today I am gonna go to Telanga (surprise, surprise) and be a pharmacist again. The trip out is always interesting. We will pass these little shacks with shingles falling off and stuff and on top of EVERY shack is a "claro" wifi dish. It's humorous. We distributed medicines until lunch. After lunch we went out on a house visit and bought a lot of EXTREMELY MEGA SOUR candies which we fed to a bunch of people off the street to see their reaction xD it was hilarious, one started to do some sorta dance from the mega sour part, a lot of people tried to be polite and not freak out and pretended like they liked it. After we got back we just hung out till dinner, and after dinner we chilled till bed.

March 29 2012
We went to a different place today; a small school near by. We saw patients till lunch and ate a picnic at a marble mine. To get to the mine you must go on a trail that would be easy for a jeep, but for a school bus it was nearly impossible. Actually we had to get out an walk for one section to take some weight from the bus. After lunch we went back to the hospital and played four square and dodgeball until diner.

March 30 2012
We are headed to the valley of angels today. There we did some shopping. After that we went to a orphan's home run by BMDMI. All the kids were lacking attention and basically mobbed us. It started out nice, then we started to play soccer. NOT A GOOD IDEA!! They were wild and played by crazy rules. I told the girls on the sideline my name when they asked and they started chants and stuff with it. For some reason they kept telling me that I had to hit the ball with my feet instead of my hands... xD All the kids loved my accent and especially how I said "benjamin" and "soy americano". The kids all lacked attention and were very wild. One little fellow just ran up and slugged me in the gut. Another was testing out his water balloon throwing abilities. The game ended 1-1. After we left the kids place we went to a mission home. The place was really nice. After a dinner of beef and potatoes we watched some videos of BMDMI and our trip slideshow. When we finished that we went up to a balcony and talked for a while. People were trying to figure out all sorts of questions like if short-term mission trips are useful and what if what we just did is only a temporary bandage and not fixing any problem. During one of the prayers suddenly God told me something to say and apparently knew I wouldn't do it on my own so after the prayer was over the guy kinda running it pointed right at me and said something to the effect that I have been pretty quiet so far. It was pretty cool. After we finished the talk I looked at all 2111 pictures that were taken and went to bed.

March 31 2012
We fly out today. Breakfast was at 7:00 and I had five omelets that tasted really good. When breakfast was over we drove out to the airport. At one point the road disappeared over the edge of a cliff where an avalanche had ripped out a hole. We avoided the pit. The trip took a few hours and we got to the airport at 9:30 or so. My bag almost was left behind but fortunately was put into the ambulance and showed up. The runway that we will be leaving from is one of the most dangerous in the world so hopefully we survive... We took off by going to the very end of the runway (and I mean the VERY end) then they turned the jets on and kept the brakes on until the engines were going fast. They released the brakes and we shot away! It still took almost all the runway to take off but it was very fun xD. We arrived in Houston at about 4:00 and prepared for our next flight which left at 7:30, 25 minutes late. Got into Minneapolis and eventually got to our hotel where we quickly realized that I was more sick then anyone else had thought. We went to McDonald's for a midnight snack at 12:05 and went to bed at 12:30. The major difference between Honduras and USA can be summed up by two sentences: I saw only two stop signs in Honduras. No one stopped for either.

Trip stats:

1337 total patients

4119 prescriptions total

I probably filled somewhere between 40-60% of the prescriptions.

Total miles traveled: a large number

Trip #1

This being the first installment in a two part series...

We got to our hotel and spent like 30 minutes checking in. Then we got up to our room and watched the wolf pack play some basketball. This ended at 10:27 and now I am blogging before bed.

Tomorrow at 3:15 we leave for the air port. Then I am headed off to Honduras to do what only Micah and I know... (not a word, Micah...) just kidding, but seriously this will probably be the last time I have internet until we get back.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 KJV)


See ya!!!
2 Timothy 2:22
(you knew I was gonna put that there...)

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5 KJV)

No more Justin

You can't call me Bibier any more! :PPP

All I have is Christ

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psalm 73:25, 26 KJV)

We sing songs all the time about this. *points finger* do YOU believe it? If God took everything from you, such as: friends, family, possessions, health, even life, would you still be COMPLETELY content in Christ? Not would you survive or get by. Would you be happy? I could talk about this for a long time but I can't really say anything more then I have just said. Just think about that for a while. All I have is Christ. Jesus is my life. That's my goal. How about you?

Job

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:7-12 KJV)


And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, (Job 1:19, 20 KJV)

Did you catch that? When Job received news of his family's death he still worshiped God!

And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:2-5, 7, 9, 10 KJV)

Smart Signs

-A sign hanging on the Alaska Pipeline-

"...emergencies may occur. Indication of such an emergency might include:
--The presence on the ground of crude oil, a heavy black substance.
--A strong pungent odor.
--A hissing or roaring sound of liquid escaping under pressure.
--A black spray above the pipeline or coming from the ground.
--A white cloud of steam or fog.
--A patch of dead or discolored vegetation.
--Flames
If you should become aware of a pipeline emergency, LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATLY!!....

Also see pic: kids eat free live clown every tuesday!

Father/Son

God is your father, your Dad. Do you believe that?

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9 KJV)

Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. (John 8:41 KJV)

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:2 KJV)

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10 KJV)

For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:20 KJV)

Verses for today

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. (Psalm 38:22 KJV)

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20 KJV)

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2 KJV)

For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. (Isaiah 50:7 KJV)

Verses for yesterday

I'm a firm believer in not worrying about anything. Some call me an optimist, but it's more of realism. Think about it...

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. (Luke 12:29 ESV)

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Matthew 6:27 ESV)

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34 ESV)

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 ESV)

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 ESV)

If you are worried about anything, just give it to God. He can handle it...

Verses for today

Prayer should define a Christians life...

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22 KJV)

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. (Acts 12:5 KJV)

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14 KJV)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18 KJV)

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)

(fairly clear)

Chan

Check out the second chapter of Chan's book "Crazy Love". I could quote it but that would just make you less likely to check it out...

Stay off the sidewalks...

I passed my test today!!! They weren't able to give me the license today though... You have till Tuesday.

Verses for today:

In the Jewish society, to say something three times showed perfection.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8 KJV)

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:3 KJV)

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy. (Psalm 99:9 KJV)

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. (Psalm 145:17 KJV)

For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:45 KJV)

Verses of the Day:

Is your God as awesome as my God? Are you continually speechless in His presence?


But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (2 Corinthians 10:17 KJV)

The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. (Psalm 113:4 KJV)

The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. (Psalm 104:31 KJV)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1 KJV)

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. (Psalm 57:5 KJV)

And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. (Deuteronomy 5:24 KJV)

Verses of the Day:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16 KJV)

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26 KJV)

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (2 Timothy 1:8 KJV)

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11 KJV)

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (1 Peter 4:16 KJV)

My near death experience

I don't know how "near death" it actually was, but it is a catchy title.

Anyway, so I was driving with dad tonight, on 93. I merged into the right lane. Suddenly, out of no where, this car comes flying past, gets a tire in the sand at the edge of the road, an spins right in front of me! (I say he came out of no where because I hadn't seen him in my rear view mirror, probably because he was going something close to 90 mph) Anyway, I applied the brakes and we slowed down to see the guy do two more complete 360's and end up in the ditch. He was in a tall car and could easily have rolled, which would probably have made me hit him. Keep in mind I was going 56 at the time. Well, there it is...

Worldliness-Part 4

Clothes:

This is more a topic for women. There isn't a whole lot of guys that are crazy about clothes...

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. (1 Timothy 2:9, 10 KJV)

(yes, I have been reading out of the KJV, and it's awesome)

According to John MacArthur:
"How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman who focuses on worshiping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance."

That's all for today, folks...

Worldliness-Part 3

Stuff:

Well, unless you live in a communist utopia you have some stuff. Some people have more and some have less, but they all value it. After all, he who dies with the most things wins right?

"Covet" seems like an old, outdated word, but what does it really mean? Put simply: coveting is desiring stuff too much, or desiring too much stuff.

But is it really so bad to like things?

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and money. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. (Luke 16:13, 14 KJV)

Having stuff isn't bad, what's bad is when the stuff gets us.

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:13-21 KJV)

Let's look at four things that attract us to stuff.

1. My stuff makes me happy

According to Gregg Easterbrook:
"The incredible rise in living standards for the majority of Americans and Western Europeans has made them more affluent, healthier, more comfortable, more free, and more sovereign over ever taller piles of stuff-but has not made them any happier."

Interesting, so maybe having the most things doesn't make you happy... Many of the most successful, rich, and outwardly happy people are inwardly depressed.

2. My stuff makes me important

He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

3. My stuff makes me secure

Luke 12:16... (read it above) the rich man's wealth didn't help keep him alive.

4. My stuff makes me rich

True riches are in the heart. We live in this world for a few years, we live in eternity for, well, eternity.

It's really late so I'm going to sleep...

Worldliness-Part 2

Music:

We all love music. Well, actually I take it back, almost everyone loves music, the rest just like to hate on us who do... :P

When I was in DC taking the Metro (subway thing) I noticed everyone had an iPhone, and 90% of people listened to music while in transit to work and home. Is music a bad thing? Of course not, if You think it is, read the Bible...
Music was created by God, and He enjoys it. We are told to sing a new song to the Lord and praise Him to the sound of musical instruments in the psalms.

What motivates us to like music the way we do? Is music entirely neutral? Why does music affect us so deeply? Does the music I listen to affect my thoughts or behaviors in any way? Does it say anything about my relationship with God? Most importantly are my music choices consistent with the gospel that has saved me?

Music effects our emotions in profound ways. The passions music draws out range from noble to base, from simple to complex, from God-glorifying to sensual. That's why music sells. It doesn't just sound good. If you are gonna go play basketball rap can get you pumped up, If you want to relax some Hillsong or Casting Crowns might be a good choice.

Music conveys content:

When you listen to music you also hear the words, believe it or not... If the words are not God glorifying (or at least neutral) find some other music. Generally a good indicator is the explicit tag... You can't just "ignore" the words, over time they will affect you. Listen to the song "slow fade" by casting crowns. It explains it fairly well.

When I listen to a song by someone I haven't listened to before I go look up the lyrics (if it's rap) so I can know what they are putting into my head.

To see how much you are dependent on music try going for a few days with out listening to any. It's probably nearly impossible for most people.

Worldliness

Ok... Fun topic right? Well actually I am gonna be taking somethings out of book that I got from a library just tonight. That book?
Worldliness
Resisting the seduction of a fallen world.
Edited by C. J. Mahaney
(btw, I'm not gonna directly quote from the book, because I'm not sure if thats legal and I don't want to get into any more trouble :P)

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15 KJV)

So what does it mean to not love the world? Well obviously this doesn't mean you are not to love anything in the physical *world*. (see my previous post about love, or just read the Bible)

The world, in the Bible, often refers to sin, sinful behaviors, all that good stuff. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. So how do we tell if we are loving the world? (you can figure that out... I hope...)

Now we will look at a few places that people commonly fall into loving the world, sometimes without realizing it.


I'm gonna do one every day (that I'm not gone) because I can't read the whole book tonight... xP
1. Media

Media is everywhere. If you don't admit this then you either live by yourself in a hole in the ground with a million cans of baked beans, or your a zombie... Just saying... So, let's look at TV. According to pastor Kent Hughes:

Today the all pervasive glow of the TV is the single most potent influence and control in Western culture. Television has greater power over the lives of most Americans then any educational system, government, or church.

This isn't very good, seeing as most the stuff people watch on there isn't Popeye... Maybe it isn't all REALLY. bad but it does push the creator's own world view, wether you realize it or not.
It isn't bad to watch some TV, movies, a morning talk show. You just gotta watch with discernment. If it isn't glorifying to God, it at least requires further investigation.

Watching with immunity:

Some Christians think, well sure I'm watching a murder, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna go shoot someone... They figure that they are immune. Maybe you won't murder someone, but I hope you have higher expectation for your life then just not deserving capital punishment... The drift toward worldliness is subtle, gradual, an internal. Assuming that you are immune is a sure sigh that the drift has begun.

96% people surveyed in a recent poll claim that they watch less TV then the average. Umm, maybe it's just me, but 4% is not a majority...

Living in front of God:

God watches when ever you do anything. If you are surfing the web, watching TV, or just talking with some friends, God is right there watching. If we truly fear God shouldn't we be careful what we do, say, think, watch, or listen to?

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:1-16 KJV)

Does this mean we should flee all media? NO! There is LOTS of great types of media and God glorifying programs, movies, and the like. Just before you watch something next, ask yourself, "is this really something I should be seeing?"

IMPORTANT NOTE
Just because some of your Christian buddies are doing something, that doesn't make it good to do. We are all men and make mistakes. The only person we should follow with no question is Jesus.

Shout out to:

Casting Crowns!!!

Well, I don't like them enough to BUY their songs, but they are nice to get for free off freegal, the library's free music thing.
Some recommendations

1. Courageous (buy this one right now)
2. My own worst enemy
3. What if His people prayed
4. American Dream
5. City on a Hill

Also, this is the last day of February... This is it. It's over... No more National Hoodie Month and no more shout outs... I am gonna try to blog every day still. Maybe I'll do it again next year.

Shout out to:

David!!! (the king)

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. (1 Samuel 17:48-51 KJV)

Not only was he a great warrior but he was merciful and would not kill the man who God anointed, though Saul wanted to kill him.

And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh–gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. (2 Samuel 2:5, 6 KJV)

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? (2 Samuel 9:1 KJV)


Obviously I am reading out of Samuel right now...

Shout out to:

Double dose today, they just go together so well.
Anthem Lights and Abandon!!!!

They make awesome songs... Check out all of them xD

Forgiveness

Unofficial shout out...

I just finished judges. God is forgiving and patient... BELIEVE ME!! Israel kept falling from God and worshiping other gods. They would be captured by other nations. God would raise a judge to correct them. They would become free for a few years. Then repeat. Over and over and over... You would think that after a few times they would learn, but apparently not! But sometimes aren't we the same way? Of corse we aren't being captured by other nations, but sometimes our desire for God just seems to lessen compared to something else. It could be anything: a car, sports, a game, even a person. It's not named baal, but it's just as deadly.

I'm glad God is forgiving. Are we forgiving? Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone before they reached the limit. Typically you were to forgive someone three times, in the Hebrew culture. Peter decided, "Hey I'll be generous, I'll do twice that, and add one more just for good measure." I'm sure he was surprised by Jesus's response. "not just seven, but seven times seven!" meaning there should be no end to our forgiveness. The guy I talked about about days ago, Jacob DeShalzer

Shout out to:

Jacob Deshazer!!!

Participated in the Dolittle raid on Japan. Jumped over china, captured by the japs, POW for a while. Released, back to America. Came back to Japan to be a missionary for 30 years to the people who would beat him everyday at periods.

Shout out to:

Childlike faith!!!

Ok it's a weird thing to shout out to, but I just thought I would talk about it for a bit.

So what does it mean to to have faith like a child? I think lots of people miss the point of this and say, "yeah we should just believe and not study the Bible or learn more about God." Clearly this isn't what Jesus meant. Faith means to believe with no strings attached. You can't just say "all right God, I will believe in you, I'll tell people about you, I'll try to live for you, IF..." No! God sets the standards, we fail to attain them, and we need a savior. We are not doing some sort of "favor" to God by believing, HE IS SAVING US!

Ok I went a little of topic :)
Back to childlike faith... I was talking to some kids the other day, and as is usual I try to see how they react to different things I say or do... This time I told them I had a tattoo. (I got a temporary one for my basketball game ;) ). One kid says "I don't like tattoos, and the others seemed to agree. Then I told them it was temporary, and made from hydroxide. Idk why I thought of hydroxide, but it was the first thing that popped into my mind and I was pumped up for a basketball game... Anyway, where am I getting with this? Well they accepted that my tattoo was made from hydroxide with no questions. That's how we need to come to God sometimes. "God you know everything and I know almost nothing, but You don't have to tell me about anything. You don't have to tell me why these various things are happening, I will just trust that You work all things together for good, for those who love you and are called according to Your purposes." Humility is also a part of childlike faith. Some kids may act really confident and able, but when a bigger kid comes, they still run to Mom or Dad. They know they can't do some things on their own. Likewise, we can not save ourselves, or do anything else. Of God didn't keep our hearts beating we would be dead. That's another thing to think of. We have been studying WWII and cold war times. The rulers of Germany, Russia, and China each killed millions and millions of individuals, yet God didn't let their heats stop. He has some purpose in all things.

Matthew 18:3-4

And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Ry-Guy
2 Timothy 2:22

Shout out to:

KB!!!
Another guy like Lecrae. Raps wonderfully and for the Lord.
Songs to listen to:
1. Head to the Heavens
2. Lighter Fluid
3. Go
4. Lion King

Shout out to:

This is actually for yesterday because I forgot to post... :-o
Me in Motion!!!!
Songs to check:
1. Yes we Can
2. Back 2 Life
3. Eye of the Hurricane
4. Let Mercy Hold You

God

So I was reading out of Deuteronomy tonight and basically if you think God doesn't take sin extremely seriously, read Deuteronomy. The punishment for anything major was stoning, outside the camp. If someone tries to get you to worship another god though, you were to kill them immediately. No trial, nothing like that, just cut their throat. In one chapter especially I noticed something. The chapter was 67 verses long. The first 25 were dedicated to rewards for doing what God tells them to, the rest were what would happen if they failed, rebelled, or forgot. But also there was hope, because after they had sinned and had been taken over by some other country, God would forgive them and raise up someone to lead them back. This happened A LOT in Judges. The God of the old testament is the same as the God of the new testament. He isn't unforgiving, He just can't stand sin. He forgave the children of Israel over and over.

Ry
2 Timothy 2:22

Lyrics for some songs

At least one person as been asking me what the lyrics for the songs I listen to are like. I decided to post a couple song's lyrics.

Background:

I can play the background
I can play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead

[Verse 1:]
It's evident you run the show, so let me back down
You take the leading role, and I'll play the background
I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines
I'm sticking to your script, and I'm reading all your signs
I don't need my name in lights, I don't need a starring role
Why gain the whole wide world, If I'm just going lose my soul
And my ways ain't purified, don't live according to Your Word
I can't endure this life without Your wisdom being heard
So word to every dance, a foe, a pop star
'Cause we all play the background, but mine's a rockstar
Yeah, so if you need me I'll be stage right
Praying the whole world will start embracing stage fright
So let me fall back, stop giving my suggestions
'Cause when I follow my obsessions, I end up confessing
That I'm not that impressive, matter of fact
I'm who I are, a trail of stardust leading to the superstar

[Chorus:]
I can play the background
I can play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead

[Verse 2:]
I had a dream that I was captain of my soul
I was master of my fate, lost control. and then I sank
So I don't want to take the lead, 'cause I'm prone to make mistakes
All the folks who follow me, going end up in the wrong place
So let me just shadow you, let me trace your lines
Matter of fact, just take my pen, here, you create my rhymes
'Cause if I do this by myself, I'm scared that I'll succeed
And no longer trust in you, 'cause I only trust in me
And see, that's how you end up headed to destruction
Paving a road to nowhere, pour your life out for nothing
You pulled my card, I'm bluffing, You know what's in my hand
Me, I'm just going to trust you, You cause the dice to land
I'm in control of nothing, follow you at any cost
Some call it sovereign will, all I know is you the boss
Man, I'm so at ease, I'm so content
I'll play the background, like it's an instrument

[Chorus:]
I can play the background
I can play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead

[Bridge:]
I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will, and trust Your Word
I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games
Got plenty aims, but do they really Glorify Your name
And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You
Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and gleam from You
Seems You were patient in my ignorance
If ignorance is bliss, it's 'cause she never heard of this

[Chorus:]
I can play the background
I can play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead

[Chorus:]
I can play the background
I can play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead.





El Shaddai:

El Shaddai God You're almighty
God You're almighty
And Father I worship You

El Shaddai God You're almighty
And Father I worship You
I worship You

I worship You ooh yeah
Father I worship You
Lord I worship You
I worship You

Jehove Nissi
Lord You're my banner
Lord You're my banner
And Father I worship You

Jehove Nissi
Lord you're my banner
Lord you're my banner
And father I worship you

I worship you oooo
Father I worship you
Jesus I worship you
I worship you

Jehova jirah
You're my provider
You're my provder
And father I worship you

Jehova jirah
Lord you're my provider
Lord you're my provider
And father I worship you
Jesus I worship you
Jesus I worship you
Lord I worship you
Jesus I worship you
Father I worship you
Oooh jesus I worship you
My provider I worship you
Ooh father I worship you

El shalom
God of peace
God of peace
And father I worship you
I worship you




After the Music Stops

Yeah, I got a question, after the show, after the set, after the music stops, what's next? Are we just writing songs or are we concerned with uniting a people to follow the great commission of Christ.
Yeah let's get it, let's go...

Back in the day I was a lunch line rapper, after that I guess I was a punch line rapper, then I got saved and sometime after, ya boy came back as a frontline rapper, and when I say the frontlines, that's not a frontline, I’m out here preachin’ Christ on the frontlines, and no it ain't about rockin' stages ‘coz some of my engagements are out on the pavements yeah.
I'm out to take the Bible, create disciples, who make disciples, disciple-cycles, that's why I want the beats to knock so after the music stops you can meet the rock i pray, that you would know him well, this is like show and tell, it's more than a show, I'm showing you Emmanuel,
So yeah I’m hopin’ that you're likin' the flow but it's only so you could know that God I’m writing it for let's go...

After the show, after the set, after the music stops what's next?
Will there be fellowship, prayer, disciples, will you open your bibles after the music stops.
After it’s over, after it ends, after the music stops, what then?
Will you understand that Christ is King? Or will you just like the words we sing after the music stops.

I recorded a couple songs some fast some slow, so the listeners would know the importance of the show, the importance of the show's not to excite these folks but make God's truth relevant, ignite these folks.
Discipleship is our call but we make disciples, this is not a suggestion, create disciples. The teachin' is a process, it's not over night and it’s not a stage and a mic nah, it's life on life Christ -
Walked with twelve, ate with twelve, talked with twelve, shaped the twelve, invested in 'em well you could say that he made the twelve. Who made many more, who made plenty more, now it's on you and me if there's anymore.
1 teach, 2 teach, 3 teach, 4 teach, 5 teach, 6 teach, 7 teach more, this is what we've been commissioned, it's the reason why I write, so that you could hear the truth, not so you can say I’m tight whoa...

After the show, after the set, after the music stops what's next?
Will there be fellowship, prayer, disciples, will you open your bibles after the music stops.
After it’s over, after it ends, after the music stops, what then?
Will you understand that Christ is King? Or will you just like the words we sing after the music stops.

So, we write this for the right the speaker was righteous, and then we might check for a culture who likes the hypeness. Some say we keep it crunk, some say we hype man; we just wanna pump the resurrection of the Christ man.
We in the -burbs and the hoods that's hostile, we share a common view like synoptic Gospels and you know we keep a couple young dudes around us and teach 'em the same truth God used to ground us.
This is a lifestyle so, when the mic's down I pray people follow Christ when they turn the lights down. I pray that everybody playin’ this song will be challenged by everything I had to say in this song.
I don’t do this for the money, I don’t do this for fame, I don’t do this so the industry can know my name, I do this and host to glorify Yeshua the King, if you’re feelin’ me you know you should be doin’ the same let’s go…

After the show, after the set, after the music stops what's next?
Will there be fellowship, prayer, disciples, will you open your bibles after the music stops.
After it’s over, after it ends, after the music stops, what then?
Will you understand that Christ is King? Or will you just like the words we sing after the music stops.

Shout out to:

Jeremy Lin!!! He plays basketball for the New York (city) Kincks. Probably one of the best players in the NBA, he has turned the knicks season around despite being paid *only* 770,000 dollars :P... Anyway, guess what music he recommends? Lecrae and Hillsong.

Look at previous posts to find what they do...

Oh, and guess what the most popular phrase searched in the biggest search engine in China is? That's right... Jeremy Lin.

Love again

We talked about love at youth group tonight so I decided to do a follow up of my earlier post...

Basically worldly love is a selfish love that depends on what the other person does, looks like, and makes you feel like. It is conditional and can easily be ditched at anytime.

Christian brotherly love is much different. Basically we are to love others the way God loves us. He sees us as clean now that we are redeemed by Christ. Our love is unconditional an not for selfish interests. When people outside the church see how we love each other they will notice. Most people will want what we have got. That's why in Acts 2:47 it says more were being added to their number every day.

Does everything we do make Jesus look great? If it doesn't, maybe we should rethink what we are doing.

Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Shout out to:

(you knew this was coming) Lecrae!!! And all the other 116 (there isn't 116 of them, they call themselves that because of Romans 1:16; "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ...") rappers who are changing rap from devil music into God glorifying music. Some awesome songs:

1. Background
2. Children of the light
3. Unashamed
4. Don't waste your life
5. Fanatics

The Case of the Missing Pants

Shout out to:

Love!!!
Being that it's Valentines day I figured I would do something different today. (well actually Valentines day is in 8 minutes) I am going to find some verses from the Bible that talk about love, clearly it is an important aspect of a christian's life.

1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he have his only begotten son into the world that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

John 15:13
Greater love has no man then this, that he lay down his life for a friend.

Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 John 3:17-18
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

1 Corinthians 13 1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13 4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.


So there you go.. Literally if you open the Bible up to any page, it probably will have something to say about love.

Ry-Guy
2 Timothy 2:22

P.S
Yes, it is spelled with just a Ry not Rye xD