Open Clarity

Man this is interesting....

2012-01-11T20:04:00.002-05:00

I see where he is trying to go but this is still off......man. :(

http://news.yahoo.com/pastor-joel-osteen-oprah-homosexuality-sin-gay-people-185334950.html

Joy - Redemption Hill

2011-12-29T15:42:00.000-05:00

Awesome sermon from Redemption Hill(I thought this one can hit home for anybody.)- Joy

Seek God With All Your Heart - I'll Be Honest

2011-12-19T10:44:00.002-05:00

This is Discipling

2011-10-17T16:02:00.001-04:00

Bring Your Loved One to Jesus - Charles Leiter

2011-10-17T11:09:00.000-04:00

The Creator God for a Material World

2011-10-06T17:32:00.001-04:00

Awesome sermon from Redemption Hill- The Creator

The Triune God for a fragmented World

2011-09-23T09:27:00.000-04:00

Good sermon from Redemption Hill

The Necessity of Belief for a Suspicious World - Redemption Hill - Robert Greene

2011-09-14T08:41:00.000-04:00

Great sermon by Robert Greene of Redemption Hill

Cut off Goliath's Head

2011-09-14T00:03:00.000-04:00

Returning to Biblical order in the Church and Home

2011-08-31T15:13:00.000-04:00

I have been making some major changes in my life. One area that has been important is my leadership in the home. As I get asked time and time again to lead in an area etc. I can only think to myself that before i lead other how is my family being led. That is what is key, we can lose the world we are supposed to look out for by trying to gain the world that wants what we can do for it. Here is an article that has really been haivng an immpact on my life.

http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/uniting_church_and_family/returning_to_biblical_order_in.aspx

The Perfect Storm - Rayshawn Graves

2011-08-08T10:33:00.002-04:00

Enjoy the Word of God from this young gifted brother. God has taken him pretty far but the Word can't be argued when brought to the front lines of our lives.

If you can't listen from the blog then go to below link to download MP3.

The Perfect Storm - Rayshawn Graves

Resolved Conference - Rick Holland

2011-06-27T18:12:00.000-04:00

Enjoy the Word of God from this conference.

If you can't listen from the blog then go to below link to download MP3.

http://media.resolved.org/2011/R2011Session01.mp3

Maintain Unity for the Sake of the Gospel By Tim Conway

2011-06-19T22:35:00.002-04:00

Great Blog Post By A Friend

2011-05-30T15:50:00.001-04:00

Thanks Rayshawn on your thoughts

http://adjustmythoughts.blogspot.com/2011/05/sermonette-on-rock-of-ages.html

Rapture Humor

2011-05-22T08:45:00.001-04:00

I will expound on this more at a later time but I am really having a hard time with the fact that we as believers were alongside the unbelievers joking about this thing. I was one of them at first and then realized that we as a group of believers had just enabled unbeliever\atheists to just keep doing what they do.

Very very sad as we should be lifting up the name of Jesus we insulted each other and allowed the world to view us a an un unified set a individuals who have now made light of a very serious Second coming.

Please read this article. Alot of souls are hurting right now because of this entire thing.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_apocalypse_saturday

Wow is all i can say. A very good article on what I have been worried about

2011-05-20T22:25:00.000-04:00

But really couldn't find the words to describe it. I am not saying I think youversion is bad. I like YouVersion but i see the point of this article

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/15/my-take-how-technology-could-bring-down-the-church/?hpt=C1

Completely Forgiven in Christ

2011-05-11T13:17:00.000-04:00

Very real article, hard pill to swallow.

2011-05-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

Love your enemies....

http://theresurgence.com/2011/05/02/love-your-enemies

Pole Dancing for JESUS!!!!!! (There is no nudity just blasphemy)

2011-03-22T22:29:00.000-04:00

This is what Christianity has come to. Due to our freedom of thinking as if we have mentally evolved above the Word of God!!!!???

Man sorry but this is WRONG I honestly don't wanna hear any seeker friendly responses to this thing. Just be honest with yourself and realize that this is the end of times and we will see this happen more and more.

This really breaks my heart that Jesus has been reduced to this. Will the Church ever stand up to defend or is it too concerned with losing members that help pay the mortgages???

Sorry but this really burns me up....THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS!!!!

If We Cherished The Word like this...America would be unstoppable

2011-03-07T22:26:00.000-05:00

The Kimyal People Receive the New Testament from UFM Worldwide on Vimeo.

The Kimyal People of Papua, Indonesia, celebrate the arrival of the New Testament in their own language.

Very Interesting

2011-01-24T20:16:00.000-05:00

I will definitely be trying to catch this interview

http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/24/pastor-joel-osteen-homosexuality-is-a-sin-elton-john-is-a-sinner/?hpt=C2

No man knows the day or hour!!!

2011-01-03T09:49:00.000-05:00

Matthew 24:36 - But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,nor the Son, but the Father only.

So why on God's green earth would this be pushed so hard. I honestly don't understand why people don't read scripture!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110103/ap_on_re/us_rel_apocalypse_soon

Life Changing Times (Part 1)

2010-11-21T22:45:00.000-05:00

Wow guys it has been a while since I have posted something. As some of you may know I have been on this personal journey of losing weight and gaining focus in that area of my life that I have not made priority in almost 9 years. This journey has been tough , happy , sad, joyous , stressful and overall exciting.

I just wanted to state that sometimes as we work towards a goal that some may say is unattainable we should stop ask why and then BUST it in the face:) God knows exactly what is attainable and He will help you reach your goal no matter what.

Are You Fasting for Christ? - Tim Conway

2010-10-28T22:37:00.002-04:00

The "Little Sins"

2010-10-11T16:17:00.000-04:00

So I find it funny that sometimes we can justify our actions because of no immediate consequence. This morning I went to a grocery store named Harris Teeter here and they have free box of sugar cookies and every customer can get 1 free cookie. It is clear as day that it is 1 cookie. Sometimes if I get a cookie I would grab 2 or more knowing that no one will really do anything or really care, but this morning I bent down to grab a cookie and read the sign and realized wow, I have been going against their rules and that is wrong and honestly a sin.

So as I walked to the car convicted over this cookie I realize man for months I subconciously justified in my mind that this was ok but guess what now I need to talk to God about why I didn't follow the rules as stated. I asked God to forgive me of my sin and I will be talking to the store this week to let them know that I took more than I was supposed to. Some may say thats nuts or don't beat yourself up but truth is that it is just real and I needed to follow the rules.

Thought this was interesting.Either way we need to pray

2010-09-29T19:27:00.000-04:00

Cut off Goliath's Head

2010-09-22T13:16:00.001-04:00

Christ is Worth Changing Everything for

2010-09-17T00:38:00.002-04:00

More teens becoming 'fake' Christians

2010-09-08T11:32:00.000-04:00

This is a tough tough article for people to swallow. If i really evaluated myself as a teen growing up in church I saw this coming. For modern day ministers,pastors , teacher, etc that think this is just a negative article to make things look worst then they are let's hook up and talk and I will gladly tell you about my life as a teenager in church and how I really saw this coming but didn't believe it myself.

Please be honest with yourselves and don't think to oneself that because we "connect" on "relevant" topics that things are growing better. Youth ministers may need to read this too

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/08/27/almost.christian/index.html

Are You Doing God's Will or Your Own? - Paul Washer

2010-09-02T10:56:00.002-04:00

Losing Wait!!!! (Part 1)

2010-08-26T11:07:00.001-04:00

So about 3.5 months ago I was "heavily" convicted about dropping weight and really trying to get myself back into good shape. It isn't an easy process whatsoever, the amount of works it takes to shed so many pounds is astronomical.

So why was I convicted, well one because God loves me. He knows what his plans are for me in the future and obviously wants me around for it. Also being a walking hypocrite is a tough thing to deal with, I know that sounds harsh but the truth is if I am claiming to know Christ and be a follower of Him why am I treating His temple like this? I know God is gracious and merciful but man I think I am pulling on his mercies more than anything else.

SO WHAT AM I WAITING (WEIGHTING) FOR!!!!

What next? Well I have been slowly implementing a process to help build habits around eating, sleeping , activeness, etc and it seems to be paying off. I do fear falling back into the same routines as before but prayerfully it won't happen as long as I push to conquer being a big man so I can just become an average sized normal man. My family needs me to be healthy so I can be here for them and them for me.

I am annoyed with being the ....

Guy who gets the front passenger seat for his size and not basic respect
Guy who can find clothes his size at a fair price
Guy who is looked at funny when sitting on a an area that isn't really secure or I can possibly break
Man who is suggested to have a bigger car because "You would look good in it"
Friend that no one would say the truth to because it may hurt my feelings (which I would accept honesty over topical avoidance)
The son whose is worried about his parents having to lay him to rest to early
The father who is concerned about how things will be if he died before I needed to due to my lack of control
The husband who leaves his wife because I couldn't keep it together

And more importantly the child of God who misrepresents His name by not taking care of his temple.

All and all this has been a life changing time for me personally and I pray for my family as well. I am putting this out there so people can hold me accountable and keep me in check as I journey toward reclaiming my health and life back the way I know it needs to be.

Thanks all for your prayers and future help as I do this.

The Perils of 'Wannabe Cool' Christianity

2010-08-24T09:47:00.000-04:00

This Wall Street Journal entry is very, very interesting. I don't know how to really describe how I feel or what I think about it but I have to admit there is some truth behind alot of what is being said. What are your thoughts?

I would love to dialogue but before I comment I want to give people time to read it. I will comment more on it by end of week.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111704575355311122648100.html?KEYWORDS=hipster#

Are You Crucified To The World?

2010-08-05T10:44:00.000-04:00

Something Wrong With my Hearing?? (How a walk through Target changed my life)

2010-07-26T10:52:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday I was coming out of my car at Target frustrated with my earpiece for my cell phone. It sometimes break up and loses connectivity depending on how I hold it. I get it working and proceed to go shopping for a few groceries, at the end of my shopping I needed bagels. So I turned up the aisle and saw an employee restocking a lower shelf so I yelled down the Aisle and this is how it went.

Me : Hello can you help me?
Clerk: *Nothing*
Me: Miss can you help me please? (as I roll closer)
Clerk: *Nothing*
Me: Excuse me I am looking for bagels (as my frustration grows but not badly)
Clerk : *Nothing*

As my cart gets closer she looks at me and I look back and say " Where are the bagels?" She stand up quickly and signals by point to her ears and mouth that she can't tell nor understand me. So I take out my blackberry and type "bagels" and she points me in the right direction. I signaled thank you in sign language and walked off and as I turned the corner instant conviction hit me. Not 20 minutes earlier I was complaining about my earpiece not working and this youngs lady's ears don't work. Extremely humbling moment for me that almost brought me to tears.

I thank God for the ability to hear and thank God even more for those who struggle in this area as they have a purpose for God as well.

How Can We Grow Together When We Run From Each Other? (Repost)

2010-07-19T00:42:00.002-04:00

So I was in a talk with a friend of mine this past weekend and we stumbled on something pretty interesting. Can Christians for the majority part try to get over their differences to find the truth or will they just be stuck in a box of "we can agree to disagree". Now I am not saying that we should be arguing all the time we are just wondering why is it easier to run from a disagreement that helps you grow than to stay and actually grow.

You ever begin a conversation with a fellow believer and can tell that there is about to be tension rising but not a terrible argumentative tension but in an area you know you both differ in. Or do you ever find yourself not bringing something up because you feel like you will get embarrassed or be wrong? Or better yet you ever avoid and or have been avoided by individuals because you know that whenever you do get together a topic may come up that makes you guys uncomfortable?

This has been on my mind ever since last Friday and it is a trip to see how much we remove from the friction of growth when we choose not to even have friction for growth. How can we as a believing body of Christ become one when we allow differences to shatter any form of unity?

God knows we are all different and he doesn't expect us to do everything exactly the same, if He did then Jesus would have had one disciple or He would made all 12 disciples act the same way, so I am personally not going there. But one intriguing thing about the disciples is that they were all different and followed the same God, implemented the same goals and reached people in a manner that was pleasing to Him but in different manners.

Looking at who they were below separated (some were obviously together before meeting Jesus) they left that all behind to become something great together.

Disciples
Simon Peter - Fisherman, son of John

Andrew - Fisherman, son of John, Peter's brother
James - Fisherman, son of Zebedee, son of Boanerges (thunder)
John - Fisherman, son of Zebedee, Boanerges (thunder), brother of James
Philip - From Bethsaida
Matthew - tax collector, son of Alphaeus
Nathaniel (Bartholomew) - from Cana, a "true Israelite"
Thomas
James, son of Alphaeus
Simon, the Zealot - Guerrilla fighter
Judas, son of James
Judas Iscariot - Guerrilla fighter, son of Simon

The One that made these men come together was Jesus, God incarnate. Isn't He the reason why we come together? Shouldn't He be the focus of us all and no matter how hard it may be to be on the same page we know we are focus in the same Book? The Bible, the word of God that brings us all together.

Ephesian 4 discusses Unity of the Spirit and how we can work together

Ephesian 4:17-32 is a very helpful set of verses.

17So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

18being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
20But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
26BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
29Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

I would love people's responses on this.

Why is the World the Glue? (Part 4)

2010-07-08T09:14:00.007-04:00

Man so sometime back in early 2009 I started forgetting stuff alot. I don't know why but it was weird. For those who don't know me I have a ridiculous memory, most likely due to my basketball size brain :).But seriously I remember alot of information, but back during that time I noticed that I would forget more and more of the smallest things that I had no problems remembering before. This all happened to be the most puzzling thing in the world to me, my mom used to call me an elephant because they never forget.

So this thing bugged me to no end for the rest of 2009 and into the beginning 2010 and in prayer time around February I was asking God "What happened to my gift?" "How come I am forgetting things I normally would not have?" So I didn't get an immediate answer and went about my business, frustrated but went about my business. The following month I got into an argument with my wife about something and she was wrong in my eyes because I was so sure based on my memory I was right. Come to find out I was 100% wrong and not only wrong but extremely forth right about it. Talk about a convicting moment.

Later in the day it hit me, I have been very prideful and arrogant about my memory and because I depended so much on it I negated any form of proper reasoning and this had been going on for a couple of years. I have been in many discussions with individuals believing I was right because of what I remembered but thinking back to it I was crushed wondering to myself "how many of those discussions I was completely wrong in but because of my arrogance of my memory I was forth right"

I went and read Proverbs 16 and it crushed me

Proverbs 16:18-20 (English Standard Version)

18 Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Since that time I have asked God on a consistent basis to help me not be prideful in this area through His Holy Spirit. And I have a better understanding of my gift and it is not to be used in an arrogant, persuasive or manipulative manner. It is to exalt the Lord, honor my relationships and more importantly it is a gift to be used for God's purposes here.

Thank God for His mercies!!!!

HOLA!!!

2010-06-27T19:00:00.001-04:00

It's been a long time since I posted. I have been so busy but got lots to post about in the very near future, look for something this week.

Live for Eternity

2010-06-20T00:36:00.002-04:00

The Church is ONE. False Prophets will pay

2010-06-08T12:45:00.001-04:00

Dangers Facing The Young and Reformed

2010-04-30T09:53:00.001-04:00

An Atheist then a Religious Hypocrite, now a Lover of Christ - Testimony

2010-04-18T19:30:00.000-04:00

Francis Chan - Catalyst

2010-04-14T17:18:00.003-04:00

Francis Chan - #CatWest '09 from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Hopeless Without Christ

2010-04-09T16:05:00.002-04:00

Hopeless Without Christ - Tim Conway from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Good Friday - God's love, Jesus' sacrifice means our Life

2010-04-02T13:25:00.000-04:00

Please take time to Thank God for sending his son Jesus to die on the cross today. I know everyone enjoys celebrating Easter which is the day Jesus rose from the grave but we need to remember Easter would be nothing without today. This is the day that Jesus (God in the flesh) died for the sins we have committed and the sins we do commit, he was broken for us today.

We must not forget.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053&version=NASB

Thank you Lord!!!!

My Wife

2010-03-28T20:18:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to post on how much I love my wife. She is my best friend and my closest accountability partner. I thank God for her everyday for he has blessed me definitely with a beautiful bride.

Thanks Starr for loving me unconditionally.

Hirelings and Shepherds

2010-03-23T17:56:00.001-04:00

Driscoll on Ministry Idolatry

2010-03-11T22:45:00.006-05:00

This is a great video. Here is a short version. Under this video is the link to the entire sermon which I encourage everyone to listen to. Also read the questions below.

Driscoll asks 11 questions about ministry idolatry in particular:

1.Attendance idolatry: Does your joy change when your attendance does?
2.Gift idolatry: Do you feel that God needs you and uses you because you are so skilled?
3.Truth idolatry: Do you consider yourself more righteous than more simple Christians?
4.Fruit idolatry: Do you point to your success as evidence of God’s approval of you?
5.Method idolatry: Do you worship your method as your mediator?
6.Tradition idolatry: What traditions are you upholding that are thwarting the forward progress of the gospel?
7.Office idolatry: Are you motivated primarily by God’s glory or your title?
8.Success idolatry: Is winning what motivates you at the deepest level?
9.Ministry idolatry: Do you use the pressure of ministry to make you walk with God?
10.Innovative idolatry: Does it matter to you that your ministry be considered unique?
11.Leader idolatry: Who, other than Christ, are you imaging?

Link to full sermon
http://theresurgence.com/advance_driscoll_idolotry

Why is the World the Glue (Part3)

2010-03-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

So my addiction to technology was very subtle and it took a different approach of revealing itself to me, SHAME. So let’s go back about 1.5 years ago after my beginning of breaking my wrestling addiction, Matthew Aghedo always had some form of an answer for someone around something regarding technical matters at work, church, or just straight up relationships. I mean if someone called me to say “Hey Matt, I want to buy this new model Dell Inspiron” I would say (without even needing to look it up because I knew about it already) “Yeah man, good purchase great hardware should work with windows Vista very well and give you what you need to function.“ Now the thing about that is in order for me to know that I would have had to be online or getting things in the mail spending hours upon hours of time researching different techie stuff to know the answer.

My concern for my “abilities” began when someone had asked me about a piece of software that I knew better than anyone at the company but I couldn’t remember the answer and I was crushed beyond belief. I spent the next 2 hours in a “stupor” wondering “How can I not know that?” The next thing I was asked about was the T-Mobile G-1 phone that had come out, I knew nothing. I noticed again I was hurt by me not being “that guy”, and after a couple more weeks of feeling like a complete failure in multiple opportunities I realized that I was an information hoard for selfish reasons. I wanted to be the one who knew it all, about it all and have no one at all question my confidence in what I knew about a particular technology. Even if I had to Google it real fast just to provide an answer I would. Man the PRIDE in that is terrible. I felt justified in my actions because I was in technology but until I began to fail in those areas I didn’t realize it. Now am I saying that people who keep up with technology are prideful? No way (I wouldn’t be in my field if that were the case), I am just stating that my intentions behind it were prideful and it took me falling on my face before I realized that I was prideful.

So I began to ask God how can He pull me out of this and I got no answer and then I realized that it takes work to not be in that state anymore. A few weeks later started accepting the fact that I just may not know the answer or even have one, began realizing that I did it to make it a source of connecting to people on that level at all times. So the truth is I got my answer, God just didn’t say it in a grandioso voice saying “WORK AT IT MY SON!!!!!!!!!!” he just slowly showed me through thought, action and more importantly his word. I was led to Galatians 6 and how it discusses fleshly pride by the example of circumcision, at first I said this doesn’t pertain to me then I hit verse 14 and it crushed me. Some of you may have seen this on the bottom of my public emails and the top of my blog.

Gal. 6:14

“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Man talk about being convicted to the nth degree. So because of these recent convictions I began to ask myself a question like “Why is the World the Glue?” and have a statement like “Christianity is Not a Skillset it’s LIFE”.

Defensive People Are Prideful

2010-03-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

Don't Get Carried Away (Pt.1)

2010-02-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

I thought this was an awesome!!!!!!

Power of the Cross Set You Free

2010-02-24T13:25:00.001-05:00

Has the Power of the Cross Truly Set You Free? - Tim Conway from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Good and Bad Hermeneutics (How we read the bible)

2010-02-17T21:53:00.002-05:00

Good Hermeneutics (11 min audio)

Bad Hermeneutics (10 Min Video)

Lovers Of Money

2010-02-17T12:03:00.002-05:00

Why is the World the Glue (Part2)

2010-02-13T07:00:00.002-05:00

What up friends,

I know I pumped out Part1 a while ago and wanted to get this out. For those who may not have read the first entry or you are receiving Part 2 without receiving Part 1 you can go to following link on my blog to catch Part1. Why is the World the Glue (Part1)
I guess over the last few months it’s been crazy but I wanted to discuss two addictions that I had to deal with in 2008 and a third that I am presently working on through Gods grace.

The first was wrestling (WWF) or (WWE) for years I watched wrestling religiously and couldn’t wait until Mondays and Thursdays or Fridays so I can blow a total of 6 hours a week watching grown men fly around the ring in choreographed fashion. It was something I enjoyed because of the over the top characters and the testosterone driven drama that could be confused with an episode of Young and the Restless. My wife and friends would crack on me because it is a joke and old school but I didn’t care, I just wanted to set my DVR and catch my wrestling.

One time in particular stands out the most. In January of 08 I was at an LDG (cell group, small group) it was held on Sundays but this Sunday in particular the Royal Rumble was on and it was free at Buffalo Wild Wings. Almost the entire time at LDG all I can think about was “I wonder what seat I can get?” or “I wonder who is going to win the rumble?” etc. As my mind was consumed with these thoughts I realized I paid less and less attention to the purpose I was there for, fellowship. Right when it was time to go to the event, LDG was still going and I became anxious and frustrated with everyone taking so long to eat (even though they weren’t taking long). I mentioned to the group that I was going to see some wrestling and may leave early and then the awkward looks from people it hit me like a ton of bricks, I was willing to sacrifice where God had me for where I wanted to be. Though it was tough I stayed the rest of the night and then went home with the family put kids down to bed and went online to get the latest from the Royal Rumble. Talk about an addict, even in my conviction I still operated in the flesh towards my wants.

About two months went by and God brought that day back to my attention and I felt the urge to fast wrestling for one month. So I chose the month of April to fast from wrestling and it was one of the best things to happen to me. The first week was hard but God still kept meeting me and by the end of the fast I learned I was addicted to wrestling and begun to strip it from my life with God’s help. It took about a year and now when I look at it I laugh because I can’t believe I let my flesh run my walk with God. I felt like Romans 11:32 I thank God for his mercy

My second addiction is technology. I will continue that shortly.

Do You Have Intergrity?

2010-02-04T17:20:00.001-05:00

Do You Have Integrity? - Tim Conway - Excerpt from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Appreciation of Pastors - Paul Washer

2010-01-22T13:53:00.000-05:00

Fixing Our Eyes On The Cross

2010-01-18T19:46:00.000-05:00

Haiti Article

2010-01-14T10:43:00.002-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/info/haiti-earthquake-2010/

Please pray for Haiti

2010-01-13T12:01:00.002-05:00

Boldness in Christ (Tiger Woods comment)

2010-01-10T17:25:00.003-05:00

I absolutely love when someone unashamed displays their beliefs publicly and doesn't care about his job prior to his faith. His remarks about Tiger are awesome!!!!!!!!!!! and truthful.

Without God

2010-01-07T23:46:00.002-05:00

How can anyone think that what they do is done without God? Those eyes you used to read this wouldn't have been able to without God. The brain used to process this wouldn't have been able to without God. And the hand that chose to type a response to this or close the window when done reading wouldn't be able to without God.

Romans 9:16-22

16So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH."

18So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

19You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"

20On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?

21Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?

22What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?

The Vine and The Branches

2009-12-28T10:57:00.001-05:00

The Vine and the Branches - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

The Enduring Life in Christ

2009-12-22T16:07:00.000-05:00

The Enduring Life in Christ - Tim Conway from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

It Will Cost You Everything

2009-12-02T12:02:00.000-05:00

It Will Cost You Everything from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Hebrews 11 Awesome Sermon!

2009-11-16T23:31:00.003-05:00

Avoid Israel's Mistake

2009-11-12T09:07:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (New American Standard Bible)

1 Corinthians 10
Avoid Israel's Mistakes
1For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3and all ate the same spiritual food;

4and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

6Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY."

8Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and (N)twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

9Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.

10Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Prosperity Gospel in Africa

2009-11-09T09:59:00.000-05:00

This saddens me.

The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

Why is the World the Glue? (Part 1)

2009-10-16T17:33:00.004-04:00

What up friends,

I have been thinking about this for the last couple of months and it is seriously concerning me. Being a "Christian" is supposed to be the antithesis of the world, yet among the saints I see the embracement of the world in a way that is subtle but dangerous. Myself included have been caught up into a world that is Godless, sinful, wretched and lost, we have added our Christianity to the schedules of the world which causes us to end up "struggling" with giving God our time.

The largest part of why I believe the world is as heavily ingrained in our lives as believers; is that we let it. Sometimes I personally get disappointed when I get into conversations with fellow believers and 95% of the talk is around the world. For example work, sports, and politics dominate believers' conversations just as much as the world lets it dominate theirs. Am I saying we should never talk about it? No, I am just saying why does it have to dominate?

I personally yearn for the day when we can all sit humbly with one another and talk about our struggles so we can pull each other out of them instead of using the world as camouflage to keep people out of our business. WE ARE THE CHURCH!!!!! Think about it for a second and let it seep in, Christ's body should not be this way. I repeat WE ARE THE CHURCH!!!!!

We should

· Hold each other accountable to the commission. Matthew 28:16-20

· Uplifting one another in the faith Hebrews 10:19-25, 1Thess 5:11

· Love one another so the world knows we are His disciples. The world questions us due to our lack of love, seems to me we act like them a lot. John 13:34-35

One thing I believe can help tremendously is if we pour into each other with reduced arrogance and increased humility. It allows new and fellow believers to not feel intimidated to talk about scriptures, life, family, work, etc around those who have been exercising the Christian faith for a long time. There is a belief that someone is above another in Christ, that is false and it is a worldly application to something as sacred as the faith we all hold dear. Luke 6:40

Another is remembering that the scriptures given to us is the basis of our entire faith and true exegetic discussions around it can be held without someone getting offended; either it be the deliverer of the information or the one who receives it. Neither are exempt from being offended we all know how it feels. Please don't mistake what I am saying as justifying beating each other up with scripture I merely mean understanding that all we do and how we live has to be measured by the Word and the Holy Spirit.

Let's look at Romans 12 together starting with...

Romans 12:1-2 -

¹Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Those two verses alone address the very beginning of what dedication to God is and how different it is from being attached to the world. God fully understands we are in this world but not of it John 17:14-15. Since the battle is tough and it is hard to remember, we all need each other to be successful at it.

Romans 12:3-8 -

³For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

⁴For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

⁵so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

⁶Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

⁷if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;

⁸or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

As you have just read in Romans 12:3-8 all of this is done through grace.

Joy from Christ, not your performance

2009-10-15T09:55:00.003-04:00

Deliver Us

2009-10-12T12:15:00.000-04:00

Shachah's "Deliver Us" ft. John Wells - The Tonic from CMR - ANTHEM Drops 10.6.09 on Vimeo.

What is Salvation?

2009-10-01T18:51:00.000-04:00

What is Salvation? (In 2 Minutes) - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Jesus Died!!!

2009-09-09T10:27:00.000-04:00

Jesus Died! - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Saved from Religion at 71

2009-08-26T23:04:00.001-04:00

Religious and Lost, to saved by God's Grace at 71 from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

It is very hard to explain this to anyone who views you as "the guy who grew up in church" I deal with that from a lot of people. This video is awesome.

Back to Basics (Part1)

2009-08-18T23:18:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I trip about how much we forget the basics. The basics of Christianity, the basics of a walk with God, the basics of our mission field and the basics of The Church.

2.What happened to just worshipping the living God not just singing but worshipping?
3. What happened to bible studies?
4. Where are the times of prayer with friends and family?
5. Where are the humble times with those who love you for you and not for your do?
6. What happened to ministering to the neighbors about Christ?
7. How are we as people going to get over the falsehoods of "Christianese" and grab onto the Rock?

And most importantly....

1.Where is Christ in our lives?

Christ Jesus is the God incarnate, He is not the founder of our faith He is our faith. He is the one who made it all and did it all. Born in this world expressing the greatest level of humility that anyone has ever seen. Christ is the educator of Life, the definition of love, the lamb who was slain. The God who lives and reigns.

How does He plug into your life? Is He all that you live for? Or have you made yourself all that He does for. I pray the first and not the latter but most of us unfortunately have him as the latter.

Christ is not an accessory He is the entire garment, He is all we need not what we add on. Colossians 3:12-15 is a beautiful set of verses that covers this. But not only what you put on but also what is supposed to be in you and what rules you. If Christ Jesus were just an accessory you can just take Him off and I pray we seek our own hearts to see if that is the case in our own lives. Remember where Christ is supposed to be in our lives and how we are lost without Him.

Empowered By The Holy Spirit

2009-08-07T14:13:00.001-04:00

Empowered by the Holy Spirit - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Do You Desire God?

2009-07-30T09:13:00.000-04:00

Do You Desire God? - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

MP3s

2009-07-21T11:05:00.002-04:00

Once in a while I am adding sermons to the left hand side for people listen to. Please feel free as they have blessed me tremendously.

Come To Christ

2009-07-18T12:57:00.001-04:00

Come to Christ, He is Mighty to Save - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Are you ashamed of The Gospel?

2009-07-09T11:17:00.003-04:00

What up friends,

This has been on my mind for a few days now. Where do you stand in your discipline of The King, Most High, Elohim, El Shaddai? Are you truly a student or someone who sneaks in like a college student but isn't registered?

I personally find that we do a phenomenal job focusing on our beliefs within our circle but when it comes to the workplace, social mixers, gym , and any other location that is outside of the organized functions of the body of Christ, we lack. Now if we have nothing to lose we talk about God or to people about God all day. Example: A town you visit and will never go back to, a job you are leaving and just put in your 2 weeks, around massive religious crowds (prideful gain), and any other environment where there is either nothing to lose or something to gain. ( There are more but you know...)

The disciples are a good and great examples of what it is to be a student of our Lord and Savior.

Matthew 10 is a great chapter on Jesus sending his students out to begin the work of the Lord. Within this chapter you read ..

Matt 10:1-4 when he calls his students,
Matt 10:5-15 when he give them instructions on what to accomplish while being sent out. Clearly stating this is a free gift that you received so give it freely. Basically do it without trying to gain something.
Matt 10:16-25 begins to touch on the persecution that will be received by the disciples for doing His will and facing the Gentiles.Calls them sheep that will be with wolves, says men will hand them over to their own synagogues. (Synagogues back then were not just temples but also a place for flogging).
Matt 10:26-33 is where Christ explains being His representative, actually saying His name and stating it clearly amongst men. He talks about why we should not be fearful of what anyone can do or say to us because of what we represent. ( Losing job status, losing a workout partner, losing church members, losing TV, internet, facebook, sports, losing your LIFE) None of these things you should FEAR losing because God is the only one who can destroy your soul. He further explains why all of this has to happen, the fact that He was not here to be bring peace but to bring a sword and to set people against each other due to their love for Him over them.
Matt 10:40-42 discusses the rewards from receiving Jesus, prophets, the righteous and hooking a child up with something to drink. :)

1. Are you ashamed? I know for me personally I have made decisions that clearly deny Christ and I regret them severely. Most of the time it was after the fact when I looked back and said "Man I literally didn't say anything because I didn't want to be persecuted."

2. Do you understand why you are where you are? (Trust me it isn't so you can be just blessed by God financially and have good setting for your family.) Those things are good and needed but not the call, it's the mission field.

3. Is the Gospel about being earthly successful?

Personally I am tired of letting the world explain to me how we are to operate.

Please read all of Luke 9, it is a good book to read, focusing on Luke 9:23-27 after he fed the five thousand and was praying alone. This is also after he asked who do people say He is. Christ describes what it is to really be a follower of His will..

Luke 9:23-27

²³And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

²⁴"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

²⁵"For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

²⁶"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

²⁷"But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

Verse 26 is a very true and real statement. Please evaluate your shame of Christ as you can clearly see what his response will be to you for being ashamed.

Pay attention to the decisions you make in the environment that God has placed you in, sometimes we make the non-prosecutable decisions that keep us safe and sound and in turn show Christ our back in the presence of opposition or possible loss.
Christ did not die for our safety, physical health, financial wealth, job status, etc. He died because we were lost and 100% SINFUL(Isaiah 53) and we should be ashamed of ourselves for turning our back on Him when He didn't turn His back on us. (Mark 14:66-72)
Doing your work unto the Lord is a noble gesture, but we must not forgo the work for The Lord. If your occupation conflicts with the calling we all share make the right decision for Him and for your soul. Mark 8:34-38

So I ask again Are you truly a student....?

I love everyone who has received this email.

--
"As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died."
Gal 6:14, NLT
Christianity is NOT a skillset. Its life

Matthew Aghedo

http://openclarity.blogspot.com

Thank you Lord - Psalms 118 NASB

2009-06-25T09:00:00.002-04:00

Thanksgiving for the LORD'S Saving Goodness.

1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2Oh let Israel say,
"His lovingkindness is everlasting."
3Oh let the house of Aaron say,
"His lovingkindness is everlasting."
4Oh let those who fear the LORD say,
"His lovingkindness is everlasting."
5From my distress I called upon the LORD;
The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.
6The LORD is for me; I will not fear;
(J)What can man do to me?
7The LORD is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
8It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in man.
9It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in princes.
10All nations surrounded me;
In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.
11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;
In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.
12They surrounded me like bees;
They were extinguished as a fire of thorns;
In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.
13You pushed me violently so that I was falling,
But the LORD helped me.
14The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
15The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17I will not die, but live,
And tell of the works of the LORD.
18The LORD has disciplined me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD.
20This is the gate of the LORD;
The righteous will enter through it.
21I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me,
And You have become my salvation.
22The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
23This is the LORD'S doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25O LORD, do save, we beseech You;
O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
26Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27The LORD is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
29Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

His awesomeness is matchless

The Few

2009-06-20T21:57:00.000-04:00

The Few from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Ezekiel 34 NASB

2009-06-02T23:53:00.008-04:00

Prophecy against the Shepherds of Israel

1Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,
2"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
3"You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock.
4"Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.
5"They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.
6"My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them."'"
7Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
8"As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock has become a prey, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock;
9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
10'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My sheep from them and make them cease from feeding sheep So the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore, but I will deliver My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.

The Restoration of Israel
11For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
12"As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.
13"I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.
14"I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
15"I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord GOD.
16"I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy I will feed them with judgment.
17"As for you, My flock, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats.
18'Is it too slight a thing for you that you should feed in the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pastures? Or that you should drink of the clear waters, that you must foul the rest with your feet?
19'As for My flock, they must eat what you tread down with your feet and drink what you foul with your feet!'"
20Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them, "Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
21"Because you push with side and with shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns until you have scattered them abroad,
22therefore, I will deliver My flock, and they will no longer be a prey; and I will judge between one sheep and another.
23"Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd.
24"And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the LORD have spoken.
25"I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26"I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.
27"Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure on their land Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them.
28"They will no longer be a prey to the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely, and no one will make them afraid.
29"I will establish for them a renowned planting place, and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of the nations anymore.
30"Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people," declares the Lord GOD.
31"As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God," declares the Lord GOD.

Nuff Said!!

Here is the same chapter in other versions NIV , KJV, NKJV, NLT,ESV

Vending Machine

2009-06-02T10:46:00.004-04:00

Loving Jesus for who He is and not what He can do for you is very key to our salvation. I can admit Jesus gets turned into a vending machine, I have done it. It's sad because His love for us is so huge but yet we treat Him like a Facebook friend.

The Lord God almighty is after a true relationship with us all and we are fooled into thinking we have one with Him if our talks with Him are "gimme, gimme, gimme". John 14:14 is taking out of context, please read the chapter as a whole.

James 4:3 says "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. " NASB

Please take 3 minutes to view below.

Hip Hop with TRUTH!!!

2009-05-29T11:03:00.002-04:00

This is awesome!!!

My Wife

2009-05-28T14:02:00.004-04:00

Proverbs 18:22 - "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. "

Man I have living proof at home that this verse is true. My wife is the most beautiful woman in the world. She ensures the growth of our children, the well being of the home and is my support. She makes me smile every time I think of her and she is willing to endure so much without asking. She helps me with reasoning and keeps me in line and on focus. My wife does a really good job of keeping me in check when I go off the deep end but then pushes me out to the front when my confidence lacks.

My God has blessed me with her and all credit goes to Him, no action committed by me earned my wife. Just the Grace of God on my life provided such a good person to me.

Romans 6:23 (But) - Part 1

2009-05-23T21:22:00.013-04:00

Romans 6:23 states "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." I am not a huge fan of singling out verses so please read the entire chapter when you are able to. But I wanted to share something I believe God showed me on Monday about this verse. The word "But" is a pretty important word when it comes to this verse. Alot of the words in here are pretty key...

1. Wages - payment for work

2. Sin - prohibited action against God, state of mind, lifestyle

3. Death - the existence of life ceases

4. free - without cost

5. gift - given to someone without work needed, freely

So lets walk through it, based on what these words mean and what is in scripture, sin is something that we are born in and something God wants to deliver us from. Keeping in context of this verse we see that sin = work and that our wages (payment) for that work is death. Without Christ in our lives sin will continue to be our god and we will serve it until death.Imagine working at a job and you feel as if you were doing everything you were supposed to and when payment time comes you are told "Hey based off the work you have done your payment is death" Man that would really not be cool especially if you thought you were doing right.

How can we make sure we are doing right and not earning that kind of paycheck? This is why the word "but" stood out to me.

But = Sin -> Repentance and Faith ->Grace through the Faith -> Gift being eternal life

We can not jump to the gift of God without understanding the "but"; that path must be taken to receive eternal life. This walk is much more in depth than a one liner and we can not think nor believe that we are there just because the verse makes sense and is easy to memorize. You can get some of the fullness of this verse by reading the whole chapter but I would urge everyone who reads this to start from Romans 1 and when you get to Romans 6:23 it will trip you out.

Question: How many of us are ready to quit the occupation of sin? combine that with Can a slave quit?

Please study the chapters before this verse and after it.

Slaves for Christ

2009-05-19T00:35:00.002-04:00

Slaves for Christ - John MacArthur from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

This is a short but yet humbling video.

Entitlement

2009-05-14T23:57:00.007-04:00

So I am about to roll to bed and have been thinking about this for a few days. Why as human beings do we have this certain level of entitlement? What causes us to believe that we deserve something or certain things should just be done for us. Craziness but even since the old testament this has been going on. One story that sticks out to me is 1 Samuel 8 when the Israelites are demanding a king. 1 Samuel 8:4 is where the request came in for them to gain a new king, they felt since Samuel's sons were not right and he was too old he had to appoint a king. They wanted to be judged or lead like all other nations, Samuel was not liking this one bit.

Samuel talked with God about it, (1 Samuel 8:6-9) God told Samuel the Israelites were denying Him as King just like they have in the past and now they are treating Samuel the same way. He informed Samuel to hear what they want but warn them about what they were asking for and they didn't care, they just knew what they were "supposed" to have like everyone else and they wanted it now(1 Samuel 8:10-18). After all that was said in those verses (please read them), they still said no, so God gave them what they asked/demanded for.

So in this chapter we see how the Israelites wanted what they wanted and God gave it to them. We also see that they felt as if it was theirs to gain, they had a right to a king, everyone else had one right? What else we see is pivotal, God's authority being usurped because of the wants of man. This is sad, how with our earthly,carnal desires we can remove God from our authority structure because that is just what we want.

Entitlement; man that can really bite us in the end. I encourage everyone who read this blog entry to read on in the latter chapters. We can learn from these passages to help us move forward.

God was giving them what they needed and yet they still chose what they wanted. Come on saints let's get it together, we deserve nothing but the pit of hell that Christ died to save us from.

Repentance (Part 2)

2009-05-05T21:32:00.009-04:00

The father is so ecstatic at the return of his son he requests a robe, a ring and sandals to be placed on him (this restores his appearance) and a fattened calf to be slaughtered for the celebration feast. I can only imagine the son's face when he was greeted with this large amount of love, he probably was even more humbled by all of this. This part I love the most "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:24).At this amazing point of this extremely short but significant story is where I stopped and re-read from verses 1-24 over and over again for up to 6 times blown away at what just happened. At this point is where get to see true repentance. The son could have just saw that he did wrong, felt bad about it and not take that walk back and say to himself, man what I did was really bad I will send a letter saying sorry and my father will forgive me. But he didn't he took the effort needed for restoration.

Can we find our self missing the mark when we throw the word repent around?

Do we truly repent of our sins or do we do this...

1. See our sin
2. Be remorseful about it
3. Make the adjustment that is comfortable
4. Say to God " I repent of my sins that I committed"
5. Live "good" lives

I may not have the order correct and I may be missing some parts but my point is that repentance takes effort not just a "sinner's prayer". The effort and challenge of true repentance reaps a reward greater than anything on this earth. We get a glimpse of that through the prodigal son, where his effort in returning to his father had restored him and his father. Just to add something else, don't think you repented because you feel horrible for the sins you committed. (I was guilty of this) You don't realize that you substitute that sin with another when repentance isn't truly manifested, most of the time that other thing is the lack of obedience to our Father above when it comes to His will for our lives. That is a sin within itself.

We can not consider ourselves repenting for our sins and still live in disobedience. I read this quote recently "But true leaving of sin, is when the acts of sin cease from a principle of grace infused into the soul—as the air ceases to be dark from the infusion of light." Thomas Watson

Now re-read Luke 15:7 and ask yourself, did I ever really give heaven something to celebrate?

Repentance (Part 1)

2009-04-30T17:06:00.010-04:00

I was doing some thinking about repenting and it is amazing how this key part of our salvation is taught the least in modern day Christianity. Don't get me wrong it is said over and over again but the true meaning of repentance and what it takes to complete that act is not explained in its entirety. Now I am not going to be able to explain it all in just a short blog (mainly because I don't know it all) but I wanted to point something out that I noticed. In Luke 15 Jesus uses multiple parables to explain why He hangs with sinners. One story He tells is about the shepherd who lost one of his sheep and how happy he is to find it and bring it back, another story is about a woman who loses one of her 10 coins, she finds it and is overjoyed. (It amazes me to see how we can be when we find something we have lost no matter how small it is.)

Then he talks about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) and how he committed a sin against his father by requesting his inheritance, leaving the home and blowing it on whatever he wanted. When the son realized his sin against his father he humbled himself and went back to his father, he even planned out what he was going to say in his shame and humility.(Keep in mind he was grubbing with the swine) As he was coming back his father saw him from afar, ran and greeted him with a warm embrace. The son repeated what he rehearsed and it didn't even matter to the father, what mattered the most was that he returned.

Intro of Open Clarity

2009-04-23T14:20:00.002-04:00

Hello All,

My name is Matthew Aghedo,I have decided to start a blog mainly to express myself in moments of thought and open conversations in and around God's clear vision for His people. The Word of God is the measuring stick for this and open debates and reasoning are welcomed. I believe in order for us to grow in the Lord together we must get a better understanding of who He is together. Hence the name "Open Clarity".