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!