i am in a small group with a bunch of amazing dudes. we meet every Monday night. its always a great time. we hang out, eat some food, lately have been watching Monday night football. after the game we will get to talking. we are going through C.S. Lewis' book Mere Christianity. its truly amazing and as a group we have grown a lot from reading it.
something we read last night stuck out to me. everyone uses the term "God is love." all Christians seem to know this term and it has become pretty clique within the Christian community. which is fine. it works. but something that we started to talk about, which we got from our reading, was that people don't really understand the FULL CONTEXT of this saying "God is Love."
it has to do with the Trinity. people say they don't get the idea that God can be 3 different beings but they are all in the same. we try to use the "egg example" and the idea of water, ice, and steam to explain it. but the mere saying of "God is Love" explains this idea that God is 3 in 1. that He has to be.
think about this.
Love. it is an emotion. in order for someone to love something, truly love someone, there is an exchange of feelings. we love someone and they love us back. an irrational love is when you love something and it can love back. this is not the case with God. "God is Love" means that there is more than 1 there. love requires 2 or more beings (beings because we are the only ones capable of such complex emotions) there. meaning God is more than 1 being. God is love because love requires at least two.
a better explanation of this term would be "Love is God" for our culture today. Love is God is something that we are obsessed with today. it sounds similar, but its not at all. today, the act of getting love is turning into a god, an idol. where we are not pursing the love of God, but love in general, from anyone or anything. there is a big difference. its funny how our culture takes something that is amazing like "God is Love" and changes it something like "Love is god" which is something far from what is true, but it sounds so similar.
also, think about this. the fact that God is Love shows that he is living and active. showing love is an action. you give love and you receive love. God is Love then basically means that he is actively giving and receiving love. always. the saying "God is Love" proves that our God is always active and living. this is reassuring.
i hope that makes sense. i was just thinking about this whole idea. it blew our minds last night.
Random Fact: A head of human hair is strong enough to support the weight of two elephants.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Man Oh Man I'm Blessed
so this last Friday was my birthday. i turned the big 2-4. man i am old. holy crap. i woke up and the whole was planned for me. Kristin picked me up and we went down to Balboa Island. she knows that i have this fetish for little hole-in-the-wall diners and she took me there for lunch. it was amazing. mushroom and onion burger with a dosxx amber.....hmmmmmmmmmm. that was great. we walked around downtown a bit, a beautiful day, and then we went walking around the board walk looking at all the multi-million dollar houses. i thought it was funny that this ridiculously nice house had a huge raptor in front. kinda scary.
but, the day went on and we went back home. Kristin was getting ready for the night, which i thought we were going back to my friend Eric Ortega's house. Kristin was getting ready and i am not going to lie, she was taking for ever. i was sort of getting annoyed.
little did i know....she had a surprise for me and was buying time.
so we go back to my house, which i thought we were just stopping by to say hi, and i walk into my house like i usually do...like i own the place. and come around the corner into the kitchen and there are 25 of my closest friends and family standing there screaming, "SURPRISE!!!!!". i didn't know what to do. i just stood there in shock. my first surprise party. it was a success. apparently, this whole thing whole thing had been planned for weeks and i literally had no idea. ZERO. i was impressed.
throughout the night, people came and went. we had food. drinks. horse shoe tournaments. it was great. i had my family there, my friends, co-workers. over all, it was a amazing night.
i feel blessed to have such an amazing girlfriend. thank you Kristin. and i feel so loved by all my friends who came to celebrate. cant even tell you how lucky i am to know all of you.
but, the day went on and we went back home. Kristin was getting ready for the night, which i thought we were going back to my friend Eric Ortega's house. Kristin was getting ready and i am not going to lie, she was taking for ever. i was sort of getting annoyed.
little did i know....she had a surprise for me and was buying time.
so we go back to my house, which i thought we were just stopping by to say hi, and i walk into my house like i usually do...like i own the place. and come around the corner into the kitchen and there are 25 of my closest friends and family standing there screaming, "SURPRISE!!!!!". i didn't know what to do. i just stood there in shock. my first surprise party. it was a success. apparently, this whole thing whole thing had been planned for weeks and i literally had no idea. ZERO. i was impressed.
throughout the night, people came and went. we had food. drinks. horse shoe tournaments. it was great. i had my family there, my friends, co-workers. over all, it was a amazing night.
i feel blessed to have such an amazing girlfriend. thank you Kristin. and i feel so loved by all my friends who came to celebrate. cant even tell you how lucky i am to know all of you.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
LOGOS
This is something i think would be super helpful for me to have for my ministry. it will be able to help me study, way better than i am able to do now. its so expensive though. its only something i work up to getting.
They’re also having a special limited-time sale on their Mac and PC base packages and upgrades. Check it out!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Between 2nd and 3rd
i was doing my quiet time this morning. Read this section on Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) who was a monk in the monastery of Citeaux. The Section was called "Four Degrees of Love":
Out of the four degrees of love, I think I have maybe experienced 3 of the 4. I know for sure I have got the 1st Degree down to a “T”. The Love of Self for Self’s Sake. I believe that I am a master at that. “Human nature is weak and therefore is compelled to love and serve itself first.” I think we are all good at this one. I know have the 2nd degree in love, which is: Love of God for Self’s Sake. God makes himself to be loved. He blesses us with protection. And when we are free from trouble we are happy but because we are prideful we start to think that we are the reason for our own happiness. God then sends storms to humble us and makes us turn to Him in times of trouble. A big slice of Humble Pie. When we realize that we, who only love ourselves, can’t do it on our own and we need God, begin to love God. We begin to love God, even if it’s just to help our own selves out. I believe that I have this one down too.
I can easily think of many times where I am complacent where I am at in life and I start to think that I am the reason that everything is great, and then a storm comes and God rocks my face off and I realize that I need to turn to Him to help ME get out of MY situation. Even though I turn to God and start to love Him is because I am selfish and want His help. The 3rd Degree of Love is “The Love of God for God’s Sake”. This degree of love is the love by which God is now loved for his very self. This sort of love we give to Him is not based off of something we get in return. We love God because He is God. We don’t only love God with our words but with our actions. We love because we are loved; we love others because Jesus loved others. The 4th kind of love is rarely reached, according to Bernard of Clairvaux, so im not going to touch it.
I think we are really good at number 1. I think this is our default setting. We are all experts at loving ourselves and taking care of ourselves. I feel like it am mostly in the 2nd degree of love, where I love God my own sake, because I need Him. I think most of us struggle with getting out of this. I think we are in this degree of love and barely reach the 3rd degree of love of Loving God for God’s Sake. When we really should always be in the 3rd degree and rarely reach the 4th degree, which is Loving Ourselves for God’s Sake.
My prayer is that I am in the state of the 3rd degree of love, loving God for God’s Sake, and love because he has already loved me, and keep that on my mind always. Because I feel that I forget that. All the time.
Out of the four degrees of love, I think I have maybe experienced 3 of the 4. I know for sure I have got the 1st Degree down to a “T”. The Love of Self for Self’s Sake. I believe that I am a master at that. “Human nature is weak and therefore is compelled to love and serve itself first.” I think we are all good at this one. I know have the 2nd degree in love, which is: Love of God for Self’s Sake. God makes himself to be loved. He blesses us with protection. And when we are free from trouble we are happy but because we are prideful we start to think that we are the reason for our own happiness. God then sends storms to humble us and makes us turn to Him in times of trouble. A big slice of Humble Pie. When we realize that we, who only love ourselves, can’t do it on our own and we need God, begin to love God. We begin to love God, even if it’s just to help our own selves out. I believe that I have this one down too.
I can easily think of many times where I am complacent where I am at in life and I start to think that I am the reason that everything is great, and then a storm comes and God rocks my face off and I realize that I need to turn to Him to help ME get out of MY situation. Even though I turn to God and start to love Him is because I am selfish and want His help. The 3rd Degree of Love is “The Love of God for God’s Sake”. This degree of love is the love by which God is now loved for his very self. This sort of love we give to Him is not based off of something we get in return. We love God because He is God. We don’t only love God with our words but with our actions. We love because we are loved; we love others because Jesus loved others. The 4th kind of love is rarely reached, according to Bernard of Clairvaux, so im not going to touch it.
I think we are really good at number 1. I think this is our default setting. We are all experts at loving ourselves and taking care of ourselves. I feel like it am mostly in the 2nd degree of love, where I love God my own sake, because I need Him. I think most of us struggle with getting out of this. I think we are in this degree of love and barely reach the 3rd degree of love of Loving God for God’s Sake. When we really should always be in the 3rd degree and rarely reach the 4th degree, which is Loving Ourselves for God’s Sake.
My prayer is that I am in the state of the 3rd degree of love, loving God for God’s Sake, and love because he has already loved me, and keep that on my mind always. Because I feel that I forget that. All the time.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Hardest Thing Ever
so i started this new devotional book. i love it already. its called "Devotional Classics" and it as selections from the great Christian minds, questions, Bible References, and tons of content. i highly recommend it.
this caught my attention as i was reading. its a selection of C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity":
"Christ says, 'Give me ALL. i dont want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: i want you. i have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. no half-measures are any good. i dont want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, i want to have the whole tree down. hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked- the whole outfit. i will give you a new self instead. in fact, I WILL GIVE YOU MYSELF; MY OWN WILL SHALL BECOME YOURS."
also read: Luke 14:25-33
that to me is the hardest challenge. to truly give everything over to Christ. EVERYTHING. it says at the very end of that section in Luke 14, "So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all of your possessions." its VERY clear.
God i pray that you help me do this. die to natural self. give everything to you. EVERYTHING. so i can be your disciple.
RANDOM FACT: There are 302 characters in the movie Toy Story 3.
this caught my attention as i was reading. its a selection of C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity":
"Christ says, 'Give me ALL. i dont want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: i want you. i have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. no half-measures are any good. i dont want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, i want to have the whole tree down. hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked- the whole outfit. i will give you a new self instead. in fact, I WILL GIVE YOU MYSELF; MY OWN WILL SHALL BECOME YOURS."
also read: Luke 14:25-33
that to me is the hardest challenge. to truly give everything over to Christ. EVERYTHING. it says at the very end of that section in Luke 14, "So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all of your possessions." its VERY clear.
God i pray that you help me do this. die to natural self. give everything to you. EVERYTHING. so i can be your disciple.
RANDOM FACT: There are 302 characters in the movie Toy Story 3.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Human Trafficking
i got the great opportunity to share last night on the tough subject of Human Trafficking. i hope that i got to shed the light on a truly evil thing that is going on in today's world. human trafficking effects 27 million people around the world. there is more slaves today than there ever has been in the history of the world. we are to be a light to these people. there are some ways to combat this right now, even if its just a little.
START NOW!
Human Trafficking Stats
•27 million- Number of people in modern-day slavery across the world.
•It is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the 21st century - a nine billion dollar industry.
•1.2 million children are trafficked every year
•600,000-800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors.
•Human trafficking in the second largest source of illegal income worldwide exceeded only by drugs trafficking.
•Types of recruitment; include abduction, false agreement with parents, sold by parents, runaways, travel with family, orphans sold from street or institutions
•161 Countries identified as affected by human trafficking: 127 countries of origin; 98 transit countries; 137 destination countries.
Not just in European Countries:
Human Trafficking of U.S. citizens within the U.S.:
•The United States is one of the top three destination points for trafficked victims, along with Japan and Australia. California, New York, Texas and Nevada are the top destination states in the country.
•244,000- Number of American children and youth estimated to be at risk of child sexual exploitation, including commercial sexual exploitation, in 2000.
•12-14- Average age of entry into prostitution
•Los Angeles is one of the top three points of entry into this country for victims of slavery and trafficking. The diverse communities of this sprawling city make it easier to hide and move victims from place to place, making it very difficult for law enforcement to locate potential survivors.
•Immigration agents estimate that 10,000 women are being held in Los Angeles' underground brothels; this does not include the thousands of victims in domestic work, sweatshops or other informal industries.
Here are some great sources that i mentioned last night. get on there and get informed and create awareness!
HERE ARE SOME GREAT SITES THAT ARE ALL ABOUT STOPPING HUMAN TRAFFICKING (click on them to view them). All of these sites have information on how you can create AWARENESS around you today:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
INVISIBLE CHILDREN
LOVE 146 (the shirt i was wearing last night)
A21 CAMPAIGN
OXFAM
NOT FOR SALE CAMPAIGN
HERE ARE SOME FAIR TRADE STORE SITES TO WATCH WHAT YOU BUY:
THE HUNGER SITE STORE
Fair Trade (Where to buy fair trade items)
Global Stewards
i hope this helps to start to spark the fire to start sharing what is going on around this world!
Psalm 82:3-4 (New International Version)
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
START NOW!
Human Trafficking Stats
•27 million- Number of people in modern-day slavery across the world.
•It is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the 21st century - a nine billion dollar industry.
•1.2 million children are trafficked every year
•600,000-800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors.
•Human trafficking in the second largest source of illegal income worldwide exceeded only by drugs trafficking.
•Types of recruitment; include abduction, false agreement with parents, sold by parents, runaways, travel with family, orphans sold from street or institutions
•161 Countries identified as affected by human trafficking: 127 countries of origin; 98 transit countries; 137 destination countries.
Not just in European Countries:
Human Trafficking of U.S. citizens within the U.S.:
•The United States is one of the top three destination points for trafficked victims, along with Japan and Australia. California, New York, Texas and Nevada are the top destination states in the country.
•244,000- Number of American children and youth estimated to be at risk of child sexual exploitation, including commercial sexual exploitation, in 2000.
•12-14- Average age of entry into prostitution
•Los Angeles is one of the top three points of entry into this country for victims of slavery and trafficking. The diverse communities of this sprawling city make it easier to hide and move victims from place to place, making it very difficult for law enforcement to locate potential survivors.
•Immigration agents estimate that 10,000 women are being held in Los Angeles' underground brothels; this does not include the thousands of victims in domestic work, sweatshops or other informal industries.
Here are some great sources that i mentioned last night. get on there and get informed and create awareness!
HERE ARE SOME GREAT SITES THAT ARE ALL ABOUT STOPPING HUMAN TRAFFICKING (click on them to view them). All of these sites have information on how you can create AWARENESS around you today:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
INVISIBLE CHILDREN
LOVE 146 (the shirt i was wearing last night)
A21 CAMPAIGN
OXFAM
NOT FOR SALE CAMPAIGN
HERE ARE SOME FAIR TRADE STORE SITES TO WATCH WHAT YOU BUY:
THE HUNGER SITE STORE
Fair Trade (Where to buy fair trade items)
Global Stewards
i hope this helps to start to spark the fire to start sharing what is going on around this world!
Psalm 82:3-4 (New International Version)
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
My Confession
sorry it has been a while since i last posted. i feel like i have been running around like crazy lately.
with that, that is just an excuse i know. and im sorry for that. i have come to realize in the past few days that i am not as great as i thought i was. the past few weeks have been super humbling. i know i am great at a lot of things. i can run a service, i can make videos, i can make people laugh, i can help people out and listen when people have a problem. these things among many other things.
there are TONS of things i need to work on for myself. not just to better myself but to allow other people to help me better get along with me. i know i am a sarcastic person. thats just who i am. dry, short, witty humor. i just dont know how to turn it off sometimes. and it hurts people. adults and students. i am not patient with certain people. some people get on my nerves way easier than others. and my first reaction is to be sarcastic with them and belittle them. thats not right. i am not organized. because i am not, and i dont focus on the details of certain things, it leaves others in the dust picking up after my mistakes. im not okay with that. i know for sure i can be a lot nicer and literally show Christ's love to people. i have been slacking on that. my prayer life is, in my opinion, is awful. i know that is just Satan trying to deter me from from communicating with God. to the point where i fall asleep while others are praying. that kills me. i love my job. but i feel that i can do so much better and give more passion to what i already am doing.
i want God to use me in the most useful way possible. i want to show other people God's love for them through my actions and words. i want to be more of a light that represents who Jesus is.
this is my prayer. i would appreciate it if you kept these things in your prayers as well.
with that, that is just an excuse i know. and im sorry for that. i have come to realize in the past few days that i am not as great as i thought i was. the past few weeks have been super humbling. i know i am great at a lot of things. i can run a service, i can make videos, i can make people laugh, i can help people out and listen when people have a problem. these things among many other things.
there are TONS of things i need to work on for myself. not just to better myself but to allow other people to help me better get along with me. i know i am a sarcastic person. thats just who i am. dry, short, witty humor. i just dont know how to turn it off sometimes. and it hurts people. adults and students. i am not patient with certain people. some people get on my nerves way easier than others. and my first reaction is to be sarcastic with them and belittle them. thats not right. i am not organized. because i am not, and i dont focus on the details of certain things, it leaves others in the dust picking up after my mistakes. im not okay with that. i know for sure i can be a lot nicer and literally show Christ's love to people. i have been slacking on that. my prayer life is, in my opinion, is awful. i know that is just Satan trying to deter me from from communicating with God. to the point where i fall asleep while others are praying. that kills me. i love my job. but i feel that i can do so much better and give more passion to what i already am doing.
i want God to use me in the most useful way possible. i want to show other people God's love for them through my actions and words. i want to be more of a light that represents who Jesus is.
this is my prayer. i would appreciate it if you kept these things in your prayers as well.
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