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