Encouragement

Isn't it odd that we forget too often that the world wants nothing to do with our Christian faith? In recent weeks, look at all the media backlash against Christian speaking God's truth in regards to gays. I have been so used to living in an America run by mostly Christian ideals that I forget that the world is full of people who hate God and live to stop the advance of the kingdom of God. With all the recent persecution against Christians, (well, its been happening since the time of Jesus, I've just began to see it more) I'm beginning to see clearly that the world is driven by sin. Honestly, I am a bit surprised to see Christianity remain this vocal and prominent in America for so long. My initial reaction to the worlds hatred against the gospel of Christ was that of sorrow and discouragement, but after looking in the bible at many of the stories of persecution against the body of Christ, I saw something different. This is what the living for the faith is all about. We don't  do it because it's trendy or comfortable. We do it for God. And that will typically end in pain, suffering, and death. This should be encouraging to us though! 1 John 4:4-6 says, " 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood." 

Also, in the first 3 or so chapters of John, there are multiple verses that all come across with the same message, that the light came into the world, but the world did not know the light. This means that the light and the darkness in their truest forms, are insoluble. God and evil cannot mix. Yet in America, there has become this grey area that never should have existed.As Christians, our goal should be to not be apart of the darkness, even though we live in it. In the scriptures, there are many examples of people doing things that to the world would be foolish. Look at the way David praised God while dancing unashamed in the streets, the courage Stephen had before the Jewish council that held his life in their hands, the way Paul preached the gospel in chains, and the courage Christ had to die on a cross for something he didn't deserve. That is what my God, our God is about. I can't speak for any of you reading, but I know in my life, I want to follow God like these men of Christ did. As our country and the world pull further away from knowing God, things will get dangerous. Being a Christian will be dangerous and in many cases will cost us our finances, social standing and our lives. But I say bring it on. I want nothing more than to live unashamed of the gospel and to be persecuted for it, for I know that I will be speaking the truth. This world is a dark, dark place, but the Light will shine in it, and for those who want to believe, they will be redeemed. Be unashamed, people.

The Journey or the End

I was watching a movie today and I came to the somewhat obvious realization that most movies usually end up the same way. The bad characters die, the good guy (or girl) will get the girl (or guy) and the conflict is resolved. The funny thing is that despite the viewers knowing what will happen in the end, we still pay money to see it. Why? Why do we keep going back to something that will give us the same result? My conclusion is that we really don't care about the end, we care more about the journey. If you apply it to life, we use what has happened to shape the present, and the future to guide our transformed selves. So it really is about the present, the present journey we are in. As the nostalgic person I am, sometimes I linger too long in the past and pour my mind over the what should have been's or done's. It's torturous sometimes how much I beat myself for past mistakes that have made me a better person. I am also a person who daydreams quite a bit and I always play future scenarios out in my head way before they happen. So what I'm saying is that I am never really fully in the present.  I fully desire to live in the present though, without worrying about the future and holding on to the past. Life is not just a means to an end, it is a journey to an end.

In the definition of the word journey, the dictionary uses the phrase "a long time." Implying that the journey of life is not a shortcut, or a fast track to get to where you want to be. But it's a process that will take awhile and will provide its hardships, but I encourage you all to life that journey you have to the fullest, and not just try to get by waiting for something better.