Dear God,

Dear God,

It's been awhile. I wish I knew where to start or even how to apologize for my many shortcomings. I walked away from your truth for a mirage of a better life; a life of freedom, pleasure, and no limits which turned out to be a decision that I now know was made irrationally. My desire to bury my heartbreak, stress, and problems has created a whole new load of problems which has me seeking you because I know I could never overcome anything by myself but with you all things are possible. Mark 9:23 says "All things are possible for the one who believes" and I believe. I believe you are the creator of all, I believe you sent your Son to save us to break the chains of slavery from this wicked and false world and I believe that you are bigger than any problem I have and will ever have.Lord only you know the darkness and lonliness I felt and only you can bring me from this pit of destruction. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for walking away, I'm sorry for being shaken, sorry for believing there was something better than a life with you Jesus. The endless pursuit of something more has me broken and lost. I walked with you Jesus I believed in you what happened to me? My crys to you seemed like they never reached you, I pleaded for you, I prayed endlessly, my heart was crushed and I came to you and you never showed up. Everyone in my life seemed to up and walk away from me all in a short amount of time and I looked for you I waited for you to show me where to go, what to do, just for something to know you were with me but nothing came. I just spiralled fast after that. I couldn't feel you, hear you, I began to believe you never even existed. I just drowned out all the thoughts and pain and for ahwile It worked. But I began to notice that I was changing. Changing into someone that I wasn't. I chased the feelings, the rushes, the highs I lost my self in a life of lies and pain but continued despite the calling to come back. I was afraid of what people might think. Here's some guy who once walked with you, went on a mission trip to Africa, was seeking you than fell off fast and was than walking again with Christ I was afraid of judgement and having to come clean and get out all what I have been keeping in. But I know that a life with you is far more fulfilling than a life without you and I want to surrender and commit my life back to you. Help me. Help me shatter the barriers I have around my heart. Help me become who I am supposed to become. Shape me into the man of God that I am to be. Humble me. Love me. Help me love again. Help me let go. Bring me to a place where I soley rely on you. I want to know you. I want to feel joy, peace, and love and I know only you are the source of all those things. Father bring me back. Only you know my path so I am trusting in you to guide me and mold me into the man you intended me to be. I know now that despite my failure you will always love me, despite my contanst trangressions you still loved me, despite the hard road ahead you are with me. I thank you for what you did Jesus. Teach me to be selfless. Take my life and use it for your kingdom. I am at your knees.

Love,

A surrendered soul

Always a way back.

Despite my failures I have a way back. Despite my doubts and questions He will take me back. Despite the drug and alcohol problem He is there with open arms. Despite the fact that I am the biggest hypocrite He welcomes me back. Despite all my past, present, and future shortcomings He will always love me!

The past couple of months have been nothing short of a rollercoaster that had me falling faster than I ever expected. I traded in truth for the world's lie and found out first hand that the emptiness and lonliness that comes with it is far truer than anyone could imagine. The constant search for more was overwhelming and never ending. What once was a weekend thing became very quickly something we did everyday.

My life went from being a strong believer to one who gave it all up to see what the world offered. However, despite my doubts and fears I know there Is a God who loves me. Despite my struggles I know He is always there. And most of all despite my constant rebellion He will always love me!

-Charlie Alvarez

Slaves in America!

Galatians 4:8-9

"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?"

Slavery ended awhile ago correct? The Civil War and Abraham Lincoln put that all to rest right?Wrong! Our world holds more slaves today than any other time in human history and we are all both responsible and enslaved. Without you realizing you have become enslaved to the world, your possessions, your future, your boyfriend/girlfriend, your knowledge, etc.

The Greek translation of slave in Galatians 4:9 is translated as "douleuo" which literally means to give one's self up to. So what is it that you have you given yourself up too? Paul writes in verse 9 that the ways of the world are "weak and worthless", and this is what we want to be slaves too? The principles of the world teaches us that money buys happiness, sex before marriage is acceptable, the bigger the house you have the more respect you recieve, and the car you drive shows how awesome you are. But is life more than becoming rich and famous?

Mark 8:36, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfiet his soul?". We as a generation are responsible for the enslavement of millions to technology, pornography, money, possessions, ungodliness, and much more. It is our culture that has glorified the "rich and famous", our generation that makes viewing porn at age 11 ok "because it is a guy thing", and our nation that has become enslaved to the excess.

There is a choice we must all come to make which is to either go with or go against. Is a "weak and worthless" life on earth worth forfieting the riches in Heaven?

Socially acceptable to Reminisce.

Easter season is such an amazing and powerful time each and every year! We reflect and reminisce on what was done and what was accomplished through Jesus Christ on the cross. While I was at service last night it got me thinking as I looked around and saw the auditorium packed with people, Is this the only time we truly take the time and reminisce?

The cross to some is just a religious symbol, to some it was a horrible form of torture, to some it is the thing they wear around their neck, but to us as Christians it is hope, love, and freedom. We take time to look back at what Jesus went through on Easter weekend but what about on Monday when Easter has passed? Do we even dare say the name of Jesus at school, at our workplace, around our friends?

We are so passionate about Jesus on Sunday and it is gone by Monday. Let us change this. Let this year Be Different! Jesus Christ is more than someone we hear about Easter and Christmas. He is the almighty King who came and gave Himself as a ransom for many so that we may live a life abundantly filled with joy, hope, and love! Take the time today to give thanks. Give thanks Monday-Saturday and begin to live a life that is Different from this world.

-Charlie Alvarez

One or the Other.

What path are you on? Today I was reading C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters" and I came across an interesting line in the middle of a conversation between two demons in Satan's army. It reads, "Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts". Are you on the gentle slope?

How do you view God? Is he an old man in the sky? Is he a mystical being that has caused many wars and deaths?Is he a big vending machine in the sky? Or is he the guy you hear about but have never taken the time to get to know?

Many people never take the time to get to know God until it is to late. There is a God, a God that I know personally; that wants to be with you.He is a God that sent His only Son to be nailed to a cross for our transgressions.He is a God who can pull you up from the pit of destruction and make your steps secure.He is a God who can turn your fear and doubt into peace and love. He is a God who broke the chains of death.He is a God who hears our cries. He is a God who is a shield and refuge. And He is a God who is waiting for you to respond.

There is one place that God has allowed himself not to be and that is your heart. You must let Him in. Revelation 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock". The choice is yours.

-Charlie Alvarez

X marks the spot.

If I gave you a map marked with the location of 1 million dollars how many of you would take it and run? What about half a million? 100,000$? What about 100$? Chances are most of you would take it and be out of sight before I even knew what happened.

How is it that we will go to extraordinary lengths for money, power, relationships, and even possessions but when it comes to God we don't have the time. We seek to find the highest paying job we can, we expend all our energy trying to get to the top of the corporate ladder, and will go to any length to get our "dream" date, however God is left with nothing and we wonder why we feel distant and without understanding.

Proverbs 2:3-6, "yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding".

Are we willing to seek God like the treasure that He is? Can you seek God with the same enthusiasm you would for a million dollars? Our King has marked human understanding with a giant X and He is there waiting for you!

-Charlie Alvarez

Do you believe that He would come through?

There is one thing that holds every Christian back and that is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of persecution, fear of those "dangerous" places, and so much more. But if we are practicing Christians who or what do we have to fear? Why are we scared to walk into the "dangerous" places and proclaim Jesus Christ?

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:11 that, "my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra-which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me". From them ALL the Lord rescued him, Paul was in the midst of individuals that despised the very things he was saying yet the Lord delivered him from every situation. If God can do it for Paul why couldn't He do it for His other children?

We justify ourselves when we feel the tug to go to a certain city, a certain individual, or certain group by saying, "well I don't really think God would want me going there it is too dangerous". Who are we to say what God wants and doesn't want? Romans 8:31, "If God is for us who can be against us?".

What's holding you back? Fear? 2 Timothy 1:7, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control". Let us all begin to step out of our comfort zones and begin to see God move!

-Charlie Alvarez

Barefoot Business.

Why barefoot? Why for a year? Hasn't Tom's day without shoes passed already? These are some of the many questions I have received over the past week about why I do not wear shoes anymore. I have tried to come up with a simple answer that sums up all the reasons why I am barefoot to give people when they ask and what I have come up with is I Love Jesus Christ!

Who says Tom's day without shoes has to be one day? Why can't we put ourselves in other peoples shoes everyday? Have we become to comfortable with all our possessions that we take for granted?

Well to answer some questions about why I have decided to go barefoot again here are my reasons:

1. Tom's day without shoes doesn't have to just be one day

2. There are people in our world in far worse conditions than I will ever face barefoot and it is a constant reminder to pray

3.I don't want my walk with Christ to ever become comfortable

The Christian church has been overtaken with the idea that we are called to be safe. We have served a religion of don't do this, don't do that, don't go there because that's unknown. We have settled for a journey that God had never planned for us. The journey of safety. Maybe going barefoot isn't for you but what have you become comfortable in? Is your life consumed with thoughts of safety?

2 Timothy 1:7 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control". Step out of your comfort zone allow God to move in your life and live a dangerous life for God's Kingdom!

-Charlie Alvarez

Have you had a check up lately?

The Bible states that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Have you checked where your treasure is lately? Does your treasure lay behind the wheel of a brand new Lexus or maybe that house right next to the beach? What about that job that you are going to school for or even your boyfriend/girlfriend? Is it safe to say that your treasure is not stored in Heaven? Are you longing to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

The old adage that "the one that dies with the most toys wins" is a bit hard for me to grasp because 1. He still dies and 2. it is simple reality that you can't take anything with you to the grave. 1 Timothy 6:7 "for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world". So what's with the worthless pursuits of meaningless possessions?

Our world has become consumed with selfishness, greed, pride, disobedience, abuse and pleasure to name a few. I believe that it is safe to say we all, myself included; can be categorized in what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3. Verses 1-5 "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power".

We all need a check-up every now and than. Where does your treasure lie? What is it that your heart longs for? Is your life check listed in 2 Timothy 3?

Jesus Christ has a life worth far more than we can all imagine, far greater than the worthless possessions we exhaust ourselves after. 2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart". In a world the same lets be the different.

-Charlie Alvarez

Mini David becomes Many Davids! Part 2

How often do you run from your problems? They seem to big, to impossible to defeat, to overwhelming so you run and hide. David faced his biggest problem, In Goliath; by running towards him not from him.

God created us to be conquers. Timidity, fear, and anxiety should never be used when speaking of Jesus Christ's followers. Fearless passion and love should be flowing out of us all on a daily basis for all to see the power of the risen King!

David became a conquer because he was fearless and knew God would come through. Do you have the same passion or are you fearful that you will lose the battle with your own Goliath? The amazing thing is while David was running from King Saul, who wanted him dead; the only weapon David was able to acquire was that of the very giant he killed.

God wants to help slay your Goliath with you! But He also wants to use that very problem that once haunted you and kept you in darkness and use it to bring light for others. We were meant for so much more than timidity and fear. We were meant to be victorious in Christ. Step out and step up today!

- Charlie Alvarez

Thoughts on our First Be Different Trip!

This past weekend was such a huge blessing for us all as we were able to take a trip to Skid Row in Los Angeles to spend time with the less fortunate in the area. In our time there we were able to pass out nearly 200 meals that were so generously donated from Pizza Hut and Scoreboard Pizza.We were able to meet many amazing people that day but one in particular stood out to me.

His name was LaSaul. He had been on and off the streets for the past several years but his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ could not have been stronger. Prior to the streets he was minister in a local church and was doing community outreaches in the very streets that he calls home now. We spent a great deal of time with him as he explained his rollercoaster life but the one thing that continually stood out was his love and trust in Jesus Christ. He knew there was a plan and God would deliver him in due season. He knew that he was placed in Skid Row for a reason and he was going to make the most of it.

I've never met a man in his position that had so much faith. We all learned alot that day about what it means to wait on the Lord. Not waiting in spiritual sulks but waiting as a waiter would do which means serving the Lord. LaSaul was an amazing and transparent man which we were all blessed to meet.

I'd like to personally invite you out to our next Skid Row trip on April 30th . More information will be posted soon on http://bedifferentmovement.com/

or you can visit us on our facebook fanpage at "Be Different". http://www.facebook.com/pages/Be-Different/205133342836390. We would love for you to be part of our team!

What is Mainstream Mormonism?

I was reading an article in the New York Times this morning about a Broadway play that portrays two Mormon missionaries that travel to Uganda to share their faith. One quote really jumped off the page and stuck out to me as I read the article titled "Mormons Try to Relish the Big Time". Dustin Jones, a lawyer and a Mormon from Phoenix was quoted saying, "Mormonism is mainstream and when you want to be a mainstream religion you open yourself up to mainstream criticism".

What exactly is a mainstream religion? As I looked up the definition I came across such terms as fad, trend, and a prevailing current. Is Jesus Christ a fad or a trend or someone you can use when needed? Was He ever seeking to go with the flow, take all the glory, or be noticed for being mainstream?

Jesus Christ was a man who lived in such a way that He made his own stream. His current is one that chooses to go against the current of the world. Jesus Christ is not a fad or a trend that will come and go. He is not mainstream He is the stream! His way is difficult but his way leads to a life of abundant joy and peace! Matthew 7:14 "the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few".

Let us all fight the mainstream religion mentality and begin to live in such a way that proves Jesus Christ is not Fad or Trend! Revelation 1:4 "Grace to you and peace from Him WHO IS AND WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME!!".

-Charlie Alvarez

Mini David becomes Many Davids! Part 1

The Boston Red Sox vs the 3-0 lead New York Yankees in the 2004 AL Championship series, 2 Duke vs the 45 game win streak 1 UNLV in the 1990 NCCA Tournament, and the New York Giants vs Undefeated New England Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl are all real world examples that we categorize as David's vs Goliath's. If you are anything like me you always wish you were in these epic sports battles so you can say you were part of the big upset. But do we really need to go very far to face a Goliath of our own?

We all have Goliath's that we face everyday! Our addictions, desires, past failures, regrets, family, whatever it may be we all have the giant Philistine in front of us holding us back. Many of us, myself included; take one look at the beast and say "I can't do this" or "breaking this habit, addiction, telling this person, or getting over this is far to hard I'll just wait".

Goliath's call to David in 1 Samuel 17:44 is the exact reason why many cower from the monumental battle. Verse 44 says, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field". Our struggles and failures hold us back because of the fear of defeat or destruction but so often we forget how big our God is and the amazing things he can do through those who are faithful.

The fear of Failure holds us back from anything and everything God has in store for our lives but David left no room for failure. He stepped out and trusted that God would come through. 1 Samuel 17:45-46 "you come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head".

Whatever your Goliath may be are you ready to stand up and face it? Be Faithful and Trust because the battle is not fought by you alone. 1 Samuel 17:47 "For the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands". Is it time to defeat your Goliath? Allow David's strength and faithfulness be an encouragement as you begin your march on your own massive Philistine.

-Charlie Alvarez

Be There For Me Please!

Friendship. What a blessing it is when you find true friends. Friends who wont leave just because your life gets rough or because you make a few bad decisions. One of my favorite definitions of a friend is someone who is on the same side in a struggle, a supporter or sympathizer, someone thought to be helpful and reliable! But my all time favorite definition comes from the gospel of John.

John 15:12-13 "This is my commandment, that you love another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends".

A friend is one who willfully sacrifices for another not expecting anything in return. Jesus showed us all what a friend is supposed to look like and unfortunately I dont live that way. Jesus lived in such a way that he made people feel loved without even saying the famous 3 words. I want to get to that point. A friend is not one who is there on occasion or when it is convenient, or someone who expects things in return for their love, a friend is one who is there no matter what the circumstance.

Jesus calls us his friends if we do what he commands us to do which is "love one another as I have loved you". Show a self sacrificing love to someone today. Go above and beyond for someone and show them the love that Jesus showed us all. Are you willing to live a life not devoted to yourself?

John 13:38, Jesus answered "Will you lay down your life for me?"

-Charlie Alvarez

Keep on movin on

Philippians 3:13-14 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

• Are you scared of taking the next step?
• Scared that you'll be let down or hurt?
• Is something holding you back from going forward?

All of us have a certain amount of baggage that we carry from our past. Some of us carry lighter loads than others. Some have learned how to let their past go because they have found out that it will seriously damage their walk with the Lord and what He wants to do with their lives. They have found that carrying around some of the baggage from their past and constantly dwelling on it will take their joy and happiness in the Lord. They have found that it will distort their thinking and take away possibilities of good things that they have.

So why do we let the past effect our future? Isn't it the past for a reason? Do you think that God puts us through certain events so that we can get stuck in it and never fully be able to move on or is it that he puts us through events in our life so we have a challenge to go through that results in a life lesson learned? We go through hardships whether its family issues, health issues, abuse or relationship problems for a reason. With every issue we face we get the chance to overcome it and become stronger. God doesn't put things in our life to break us down to where we can't get up or move past it. If He did we would never grow as a person, much less ever fully walk to our real calls and destinies for the Lord. I see so many people who are scared or broken from things that have happened in the past and they miss out on so many opportunities or just can't full enjoy the here and the now.

We only get one chance in the eternal scheme of things to leave our mark in this world to some degree for the Lord. We should be able to stay strong with the Lord and know that he made a plan for us and we should just let everything go to Him and trust Him enough to let things go and keep pushing forward through life making the absolute best of it that we can.Don’t wait until the time is just right to take the first step toward achieving your goals. The time will never be just right.The choice is yours. You can either choose to let the hurts, wounds and pains from your past continue to stop you from going on – or you can choose to say enough is enough and give God a chance and a green light to free you from some of the bad things that may have occurred in your past. His power and His help is right there for you if you are willing to take His hand and allow Him to bring you up out of it!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.

- Jeremiah 17:7

- Lauren Bartlett

I'm so done with this!

Matthew 24:7-8 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. And these are the beginning of the birth pains."

Let me get transparent for a second. I am 19 years old and have wasted my life up to this point!If Jesus came back today I would have nothing good to say about the way I have lived my life. I have lived my life for myself and myself only. I have begun to ask myself, what have I done for the Kingdom? My answer: Nothing really.

It's time for that to change. No more living to fuel the passions of the world. No more allowing people to go hungry. No more walking past that individual who needs help! I am done with the selfish way that I live. Jesus came and showed us a pathway to a life worth living and daily we choose our own path. No more walking through the wide gate that leads to destruction it's time to walk the path we all know leads to life!

I hope you join me in this passion. No more living for ourselves. The time is coming where we are going to have to answer to our Lord and give an account of what we have done. I know I want to be able to say that I was like David a man after God's own heart. What will you say?

- Charlie Alvarez

What is Be Different?

Many questions have been raised about what exactly Be Different is so here you go!:

What is Be Different?

- Be Different is a movement of passionate individuals that want to live out what Jesus taught. So often we go to church and become passionate for the night and that's it. Be Different is all about taking that passion and doing something with it and allowing what we hear to actually change us! Jesus always bound his teachings, his word, and his life to action and Be Different is committed to living out that action: to serve and love.

Where does the money from the Tshirt sales go?

- 50% of every tshirt sold is taken and used toward feeding and clothing the homeless and less fortunate in the community and across Southern California. Each Tshirt is 15$ so every purchase in turn buys a meal for someone. The other 50% of profits goes back into making more tshirts, new designs, new ideas, etc so that we can continue our ministry.

Why "Be Different"?

- To be honest the term "Be Different" came from a random lady inside Morongo Casino while we were waiting in a room for the show "Minute to Win It" ha. However, since that day the simple phrase has become so much more to us all. It has become a way of life! John 8 tells a story of an adulteress woman being caught in the act and Jesus' reaction is the reason for Be Different. John 8:11 "Neither do I condemn you; go and from now on sin no more", Jesus is saying It's not ok for you to experinence my love, my grace, my forgiveness and you to stay the same! Be Different is all about encountering that love,grace, and forgiveness and allowing it to move us!

How can I help?

Join us! We have trips to Skid Row in Los Angeles planned we would love for you to be with us. Purchase a Tshirt and help feed the homeless! Also most importantly prayer! Like the Facebook fan page where you can contact us and follow where God takes Be Different.

Do you know how to reject?

I can honestly claim that I knew how to reject long before the famous dance move came crashing onto the scene. I have been doing the reject for as long as I can remember. This move was nothing knew when it came out we all knew how to do it someone just decided to put a dance move behind it.

Over 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ lived the reject was in full force and it certainly hasn't lost any momentum today. As Christians we put God in a box and whatever is inside the box He can handle and anything outside the box is too much for our god. We put limits on a limitless God and our problems, fears, anxieties, and so on become glorified and made much bigger than they ought to be.

Mark 5 describes a story of this very situation. God was placed in a box because their problem was too much for Him, it was impossible. Mark 5:35, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?". How many times do we face a problem, addiction, situation where we say to God, "it's ok all is lost I will clean it up myself. My addiction is to tough to break, my life is too lost, everything has fallen apart your too late".

However Jesus responds with "the child is not dead but sleeping" or in our case "your addiction is breakable, your life is not wrecked, and your life may have fallen apart but build on my foundation". Despite the overwhelming love and previous miracles what do they do, verse 40 says "and they laughed at him".

How many times have you laughed at Jesus? What has he promised to change that seems "impossible"? God does not know everything. There is one thing that He does not know and that is the impossible! Trust Him and Be Different.

-Charlie Alvarez

From the Outside Looking In.

First and foremost let me begin with the point that Jesus Christ does not ruin your life He restores it!

There is the misconception that Christianity breeds a boring life due to the lack of partying, getting drunk, having sex, etc. Yes, Jesus does call us out of our previous life and into a life of righteousness with Him, which means all unrighteousness must be stripped from your life (drunkenness, impurity, sexual immorality, evil desires, etc).

However, where most go wrong in their examination of what Jesus does to someone seeking to follow Him is they skip the part in which Jesus clothes them with righteousness! Let me say it again Jesus Christ did not come to ruin lives but to restore them! Colossians 3:12 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience".

Jesus Christ wants to trade. He asks for the self destructive lifestyle that we all live and in return He wants to give you a life filled with love, meaning, forgiveness, and joy ! Allow Jesus to change you. It's a process. Be Patient, Be Persistent, Be Different!

- Charlie Alvarez

Hooked on Jesus!

Oh the good ol' Hooked on Phonics! What can be better than learning to read, do math, and spell all for a great affordable price of 200$ ha. I honestly can't think of much! The essential tools for success in school, which eventually leads to success in a job and life; is all conveniently in the confines of one box! Without basic reading, writing, and math skills school will just be a hassle. However, with these skills school may not be made easier but the process of understanding may be made easier.

What if a relationship with Jesus was sold in a box? Would you buy it?

So often people want to take the easy road but still want all the benefits of choosing a different path. A relationship is a 2-way street and will always be that way. Jesus wants a relationship with you and just like any other relationship for it to flourish you must spend time with one another. Get Hooked on Jesus!

Learn the skills that Christ wants to teach you. Take the time to read about the love he has for you. Make it a habit to talk to Him learn from him! A relationship with Christ is one that will never fail and it is all free. It has been paid for you in full by a one time self-sacrificing gift of the cross!

This might hurt a bit!

Today's church(myself included)sadly seems to have been filled with 3rd party passion,automatons,and safety. We as churchgoers hear the stories of the missionaries, the radical life changes, and what a relationship with Jesus Christ is like and we take that and live through it never once experiencing a first hand experience of who Jesus truly is.

Our lives are consumed by safety and as a result we are put on the sidelines, yet we still expect to be used for Gods purpose. When we live safe our lives immediately become about us and not Him. We pray as a church that God would make our lives more about Him but we get real uncomfortable when He makes our lives unlivable without Him. How literal do you take what Jesus said?What if Jesus meant every word that He said?(which I'm about 100% sure He did).Would it mean you have to change the way you live your life, the people you hang out with, the way you interact with others?

I have been stuck in this mindset of safety but safety is not something Jesus Christ called us too. Throughout the gospels Jesus proclaims self sacrifice He says, "Ok you want this life to be about me, you want to see miracles, you want people to recognize that I am apart of your life? It might cost you a little bit". Matthew 10:38-39 expresses this very statement, "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it".

Mark Batterson says, "Passionate Christians are strange creatures because they thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know the impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles". Are you ready for this life? In order for you to live a life that takes risk you have to know the risk taker. You can't live this life without knowing Jesus, the great thing is He wants to know you! Christ is calling you out of the 3rd person passion and into a first hand experience with Him. Lets start the process together! Be Different.

Why me?

How many times in a day, a week, a month does the phrase, "why me" come up in your life? If your anything like me I 'm sure the answer can be summed up quite easily. Alot. One thing after another was my mentality for quite sometime and if it wasn't one thing going wrong it was another. I want you to know that if you are in that stage right now I have been there!

Rock Bottom is a real place, down and out is a true feeling, and brokenness is nothing a doctor will ever be able to fix. But more real than the destinations,emotions, and heartache is the love that God has for you!

Hearing that God loved me was something I simply didn't want to hear. For the skeptics who don't believe there is a God, I was there. For the one who believes God is not all loving, I was there. For the one who walked away from God because you couldn't trust him. I was there. And For the one who believed there was no way out. I was there!

Jesus Christ is the one and only source of Love.He is the defintion of what love is. The fact that we even face trials proves there is something very precious to our Lord in us, or else He would not spend so much time and energy on us. 2 Corinthians 4:8, says "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed". From one skeptic to another: He is Real! His love does prove true, his promises won't be taken back, and he really does want to have a relationship.

Trust Him! He who sends the clouds can just as easily clear the skies. Lets us be encouraged-things are better down the road!

Be Different.

Imagine yourself in New York City in the middle of a crazy rush hour mob and you just realized that your going the wrong way. The current has taken you many blocks past your destination and now you have a choice! Do you continue to go down this road because your afraid to turn around and face the crowd or do you make the choice to turn around and fight the current to find your way back?

Be Different!Fight the current, turn upstream, dont be afraid to hit the brakes and bust a U-Turn.

Jesus Christ came and showed us the way to encounter the rush hour mob with confidence. Jesus was not ashamed of being different he wasn't worried about fitting in, being rejected, or mocked in fact he promised it for all his followers (2 Timothy 3:12). However, with that promise he also adds the promise of a future, a hope, and an abundant joyful life(Jeremiah 29:11; John 10:10) something far beyond anything the world can manufacture.

Begin to fight the current, turn from the ways of the world and experience the life you were always intended for. While the world struggles to fit in begin to standout! John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this people will know that you are my disciples".

Super Storage

The whole moving process is such a pain! You have to go through all your belongings and decide what to keep, what to sell, what to throw away, it can be a bit of overwhelming chaos. When you take the time to actually sift through all your belongings you begin to realize that you have accumulated alot of unnecessary junk over the years. However, we keep this junk with the mindset of, "You never know when your going to need this" (Or maybe that's just me ha).

What about our lives do we accumulate alot of the "unnecessary junk", fears, failures, anxieties, etc; and never take the time to clear it out? We as humans hold grudges, keep our past failures at the forefront of our minds and allow it to control how we act, hold to the wrong that has been done to us and consequently it effects how we interact with others.

Moving may mean just moving your "unnecessary junk" to a storage unit or even the attic. However, despite the extra space around that is not going to get rid of the problem because somewhere down the road that storage unit and attic must be cleaned out. But what if you had someone to help with the whole process, someone who will rummage through your life and find the positive most beneficial attributes of you and throw away everything else.

Jesus Christ came to set us free of the "junk" that encompasses and binds us to the world and our sin. John 8:31," If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Our lives do not have to be defined by past failures, regrets, grudges, addictions, or anything else keeping us suppressed.

We have a God who has been through our struggles and has conquered them all. Hebrews 4:15, "he was tempted as we are, yet without sin", bring your struggles, failures,addictions whatever it is that is holding you back from experienceing the life of Christ has for you and walk with him today.

He wont Leave!

For someone like me, who suffers from the issue of abandonment; hearing that God loves me and wants to have a relationship with me was just something that I could never take serious or believe. My issue rooted from individuals who always said the words, "I love you", "I'll always be here for you", "We'll get through this together", etc yet whether intentional or not they walked out of my life leaving me with the empty feeling of abandonment. This issue has impaired my relationship with the one true person who would never leave me and truly does mean the words I Love You but through my interactions with others trusting God just seemed like a big risk.

For two years I have struggled and wrestled with the idea of trusting the words that "God will not abandon me and that He loves me". Through painful trials and constant reassurance over the past few months I can finally say that the words in Isaiah 49:15, " I will not forget you"; are in fact true.

To feel abandoned is a lonely place and to feel that the god you believe in is so far off and can't hear you is an even worse feeling. For so long I felt I wasn't good enough to talk to God because of all my problems but one thing has become very evident when reading the Word and that is He hears our cries no matter what state we are in. Psalm 18 so beautifully express', "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears". Love has no bounds. Love doesn't care what you've done. Love endures all things. Love is a refuge. Love is perfect. God is Love.

God's love for us is enough for him to engrave our names on the palms of his hands(Isaiah 49:16), God's love for us is enough for him to desire us to be with him(John 17:24), God's love for us is enough that he would send his only Son to die for the transgressions of all mankind(John 3:16). Without a doubt I can now stand confident and proclaim that the love of Jesus Christ is real and is never ending. Abandonment is never something you have to worry about when your walking with the King!

Where are you headed?

Would a soldier go to battle without his weapon? Is it smart for a baseball player to go to the plate without his bat? Than why would Christians today drive with their lights off?

Driving at night usually requires the use of headlights with the help of conveniently placed street lights to help illuminate our path so we may get to where we need to go safely. A street light is not normally intended to illuminate the driving route( headlights are preferred), but to reveal signs and hazards outside of the headlights' beams so why than do we as Christians consistently travel without the headlights on?

God has given us all the tools to travel safely on the road trip of life and as the street lights indicate He is there to help but turning on the lights is all on us. Gods radiance illuminates the potential danger and hazards and steers us away from it but His word is what will begin to brighten up and make clear where it is he is taking us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope".

The way of the Lord is a narrow path that few will find(Matthew 7:14) but those who do find it have the tools necessary to make the journey bearable with the help of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be the soldier who goes to battle prepared, be the baseball player who goes to bat ready, be the Christian who knows where they are headed and who is taking them there!