10 Years!

It was 10 years ago that Jesus Christ saved me. 10 years ago that he chose to redeem me from my sin. 10 years ago that I realized that I couldn’t save myself from my own depravity, that I was addicted to sin, and that I was finally able to look to the cross for my salvation. In those ten years, God has granted me an amazing life, better than I could have ever dreamed of. I have met countless cool Christians and some square ones as well! haha I have served with different ministries, I have been a member of a couple of churches, I have been a youth pastor for five years, I have spent countless hours serving Him. I regret nothing. God has been so good to me, too good to me! He has brought me through tough days, weeks, months, years and seasons. My trust is in him.

On this tenth year of salvation, I look back at who I was, a lonely, depressed, addicted, perverted, messed up person. And I realize how utterly distant I was from God. I could not hear Him, I could not feel Him and I only prayed when I was in trouble, just like any other agnostic. I knew God existed and yet I was hostile towards him. I made fun of Christians, I went to church intoxicated, I accepted the fact I was going to Hell and I didn’t care. And yet it was in the middle of all that sin that Jesus looked to me and decided it was time for me to be saved. When it was impossible for me to choose God, He chose me, saved me from Hell and gave me a new life. All I can give Him is my entire Life.

Reflecting upon what Jesus did in my life, I can’t help but be amazed. I am in awe of what Jesus accomplished on that cross! I am amazed that I now have access to the Father. I am astounded that the Father looks at me and sees the righteousness of God! There is nothing I could possibly do to thank Jesus for His death on the cross. His grace and forgiveness are immeasurable! I don’t do this often but I do invite all of you to read the bible this week and attend a Church on the weekend. I promise you Jesus is so worth it. He will not make your life perfect, but he will be with you until the end. He is faithful, He is all loving, and He is completely set apart from the rest of creation!

God Bless!

The Cross

The Cross is heavy on my mind today. His face beaten and disfigured, his back whipped, torn and bearing a resemblance to butchered meat. Large thorns piercing through his skin poking his skull. His Hands and feet pierced with large nails in order to hang him from the cross. A spear slicing his side revealing a mix of blood and water, the two biblical cleansing agents.

I think about the people, who had once followed Him and believed Him, now staring at him hanging on the cross, hurling insults, questioning His divinity and ordering Him to get down from the cross, not understanding what they were asking for. I see Him hanging, thirsty, bleeding to death, his lungs working hard to breathe. Those who he once called him teacher scared to hang with him, and now hiding from fear.

I can Imagine Him on the cross, suffering the fate or a criminal, receiving the punishment of a slave, a trader or a thief even though He was perfectly without sin! I can imagine Him being crucified at 9am, the entire earth turning dark at 12pm and at 3 PM I see Him Saying “It is finished,” taking His Last breath and facing the death that we deserved, all to forgive our sins. And then He gives up His spirit… All on a day like today about 2011 years ago.

And then three days later He would rise, defeating death for us! He was victorious in His Resurrection! He made a way when we were hopeless, lost and dead in our sin, guilt fault and shame! He did it for you, He did it for me! PRAISE JESUS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!

30 Days of Truth: Day 26

Day 26 - Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

Yes. When I was 17-18 I had completely given up on life. I was addicted to marijuana, drinking too much, i had many friends who had betrayed me, I felt misunderstood, I was alone, i had no hope, no purpose, I wasn't doing anything good and the bottom line is that I hated myself.

And then one day I met Jesus...! :)

30 Days of Truth: Day 25

Day 25 - The reason you believe you're still alive today.

Perhaps some of you are getting sick of hearing me talk about God since almost every post has something to do with God! What can I say, it’s called 30 days of truth and to me He is ultimate truth! Therefore I will not apologize!:)

With that said, let me tell you about the reason I believe I’m still alive today: His Name is Jesus!

When I was 15 I entered into a race towards the grave. I entered a lifestyle of drug use, drug sales, crime, gang-banging, fighting, heavy drinking, and smoking. I honestly did not believe I would make it to see the age of 18. And while I maintained a strong front, I feared the consequences of the choices that I had made. I feared for my family, my friends and myself. I was headed straight to hell and self medicated with drugs and alcohol to forget this fact. I was depressed, tormented, addicted and destroyed.

Then one day Jesus stepped into my life of depravity and saved my life. He gave me His spirit to be able to overcome my addictions; I accepted His death on the cross as redemption for the sins that I had committed and the eternal torment that I deserved. I began a new life as a follower of Jesus. In many ways my life has gotten better, in many ways it has gotten worse but to tell you the truth, Jesus is so worth it. He’s the reason I’m alive today!

30 Days of Truth: Day 15

Day 15 - Something or someone you couldn't live without, because you've tried living without it.

Jesus. No Brainer there! Almost nine years ago I found myself dead in my sin and wrong doing. I was addicted to drugs, living the gang life, depressed, drinking every day, essentially heading straight to hell. I rejected God not only in thought, but also in action. Then one day God found me and He Rescued me. I learned that Jesus had died on a cross to take my place. I deserved death and instead He took that death so that I can have Eternal life! I am a disciple of Christ. I believe in Him with all my heart and The Holy Spirit gives me the power to die to my sin and to live my life for Him. I can’t live without Jesus!

The X-Factor

Great congregational worship, all band members playing well but something seems to be missing.

All these worship bands, one after another releasing new “fresh”, “anointed” material, and yet it all sounds the same.

All these huge churches with dynamic preachers trying to lead the people in the right direction and yet the congregation feels like they are going in circles.

What I’m not talking about is our consumer mindset, the idea that the church and God need to cater to my every needs. I’m talking about something deeper. Something in the pit of our stomach saying, there is definitely something missing! Something within that is seeking all or nothing, just to begin making sense of the entire belief that is Christianity. And although it is a time in which the Church is being questioned, criticized, and at times, brought down, it is a time like no other. We’re talking about a time of desperation, A time in pursuit of truth, A time to tear down and rebuild!

There is a hunger building up, but not like any hunger. I’m talking about a gut wrenching, stomach making loud noises, unbearable hunger for something more! And to be honest, I believe we are on the brink of something HUGE! Hunger drives us to do one thing: satisfy our appetite! I believe the day is coming when all of this hunger will drive us to search for and find the X-factor that will get our churches out of their loops, send worship bands to a brand new fresh genuine level, and congregational worship experiences directly to the presence every time! And What is that X-Factor? JESUS!

It’s time for us to Truly seek Jesus and nothing else! Not great bands, not great public speakers, not great buildings, I’m talking about a bride whose passion needs to be reawakened for the groom and not just for the wedding plans! If Jesus is our aim when we do church, sing worship, do ministry, write books, and live life, then we will find exactly what we have been looking for and then everything else will be added unto us. But all the extras won’t even matter, because when you seek and find Jesus in all his splendor and majesty, you begin to realize that HE is what you have been looking for all along and nothing else is needed. It’s time for us to seek the X-factor, it’s time for us to seek Jesus and NOTHING else!