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| What is a Christian, how does one become a Christian and how should a Christian act? A Christian is a follower of Christ. Someone who believes with his heart and confesses with his mouth (Romans 10:10), that God is triune, and that he sent his son, Jesus, to die on a cross in order to save the world from their sins and then rose on the third day. A Christian is someone who is called by God to stand by his side, and out of the crowd. Christians are called to be disciples of Christ, listeners of his word, and lovers of him and his people. Some would probably question the way that I worded some of the previous statement. Some would not add that one must believe that God is triune. To clarify triune, I mean that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, are three in one. The reason why I think that is important is because if one does not believe that, everything else comes into question. If Jesus is not the same as God, then he is a separate god, and while a separate god could be equal, they probably wouldn’t be, therefore, Jesus would have to be lesser or more then God the Father. Also, if you follow those lines, it becomes an argument of a hierarchal example. God the Father is first in command, Jesus the Son is second and the Holy Spirit is third. If that is the case then that would bleed into everything else, which would mean that everything is run on a hierarchy and as feminist would point out, there are no women in the example, therefore, women are forced into the status with no choice whatsoever. So, coming back to the point, if God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are not triune, everything can be questioned. Many people think that saying “the Sinner’s Prayer” is all that it takes to become a Christian, so, frequently people will simply say the words and not mean them. Yet, when it comes down to actually becoming a Christian it takes more then simply believing in Jesus, it takes acknowledging Jesus as Savior, Lord and Master of one’s life (Romans 10:9). It means admitting that one is a sinner and that Jesus Christ died for him. One has to accept God’s gift of mercy that showers him in Christ’s cleansing blood. Once one becomes a Christian, he dies within himself and lives on only in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). A true Christian will display different attributes, including fruit of the Spirit and unconditional love (Galatians 5:22). He would strive to please God in everything that he does; would be in constant conversation with and renewal in Jesus. He would also understand sin and not want to do it yet, when he did would want to confess and stop committing the sin (Romans 12:2). That’s my opinion, I could elaborate more, but I would like to hear some other opinions. Feel free to comment, thanks! Insurgent_Shadow | | |
| An old saying, one that still proves true today. No matter where one looks today, he is sure to find thorns around every corner, even in ministry. For those that know where they are going to be serving, their thorn is often, not knowing how they will get to that point. For those that have no idea where they will be, that is often their thorn, although sometimes, it is getting lost along the way. Personally, I have run into a thorn, I know where I am going, I know why I am going, yet, my journey is unknown. The past year I have been looking for answers, and looking for passion. It was not until today that I realized that I had been relying on my own ambitions to find those answers. And I finally gave up, and that was when I realized that the passion had never left, I was simply shouting too loud to hear the truth. The truth is that I miss leading, and teaching and being part of something greater then myself. I guess what I am trying to say, is that every rose has its thorns, yet, in the end, you will sorely regret missing the rose if you avoid it simply to avoid the thorns. For in the cut and bleeding from the thorns, we gain our strength, we learn to walk on towards tomorrow and whatever lies in store. Yet, we knew our strength when we are willing to admit our weaknesses. I have seen too many Christians be prideful in the things they know, head knowledge, and they have no life experiences. You can sit and talk with them for hours on end about anything and everything, yet, if you try to bring personal faith and experience, they will have nothing to talk about. The reason, at least the only one that I can see, is that they are too weak to use words of their own. They will quote other and then state what they think, yet, it is merely a paraphrase of the quote. Something that I have found to be true in my life is that a person is nothing without their past, and someone who refuses to look at their past, see their mistakes and admit that they have fallen, will never truly reach their full potential or strength, because they would not have learned from their mistakes and weaknesses. Therefore, all I have left to say is take time to stop and smell the roses, do not be afraid of the thorns and when you get pricked, learn from the scar and hold the rose a little more delicately. Insurgent_Shadow | | |
| For everything there is a time and a place. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to love and a time to hate. Yet, what are the consequences when we take a desire out of its proper time? What happens when we allow emotion to rule our minds and not Christ? Things get out of control and mistakes happen. One must remain focused on the cross and what it represents in our lives. The fact that Christ comes before all and is placed above all. Even when it seems like the right time, sometimes its not. No matter how much one wants it to happen, sometimes it is best to wait. Yet, when you are standing on the edge of a cliff how hard is it to fight gravity’s pull? It takes will power, determination and trust that the fall will come later. Through God’s strength we are able to fight that which pulls us down. We are able to soar on wings of eagles, because Christ’s strength and grace is more then sufficient, it is perfect! Therefore, we press on, knowing that God has a plan, knowing that his timing, his purpose is perfect. He is never early and never late. We press on with hope of tomorrow. For when we walk in step with him the thoughts and desires of our heart and soul will be in line with his. And he will give us the strength to wait, he will give us the hope and peace that only he can grant. Therefore, peace, perfect peace, takes over us and we relax in trust. Knowing that we can rely on him, and follow his lead. And in doing that we are enabled to lead others and share his love with them. For that is our purpose, to lead and disciple others, showing them who Christ is and what he is able to do. Therefore, we wait on our desires. We wait in hope and peace, knowing that Christ’s timing is perfect and that in him and through him, we can do anything!
Insurgent_Shadow
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| The answer to this question puzzles many. Some would say the subconscious; others would say the one that owns the brain, controls it. Yet, when one dreams, the subconscious rules, the owner has no say of where it goes. Therefore, as owners of our brains and subconscious we need to be careful of what we place in them. If we act pious and do all the right things, yet, do not believe, then we might as well a cathedral then when walked into strikes awe into a person’s heart, yet, as the first impression fades, that person realizes that the cathedral is empty and lonely. A beautiful masterpiece, yet, set aside to look at and not be used. For many people that I have observed, that is their life. Many people have the outward look of a masterpiece, but inwardly, they are like a dam. It looks peaceful, yet, if the pressure gets too strong it breaks and you have a catastrophe on your hands. Therefore, it is often the beaver that wins the war on having a peaceful life. He builds his dam with his own paws, and he knows every inch of it, so when one point begins to get weak, he strengthens it.
Perhaps, we should take a lesson from the beaver and know every inch of our mind. Yet, isn’t it always the case that there are certain points in our minds that we do not want to know, and in many cases run from? What do we do when it comes time to close our eyes and let our subconscious control where our dreams take us?
We release control, but not to our subconscious. We release control to the one who is not afraid of the dark corners in our minds, for he already knows them, inside and out. So, we trust in him to help us strengthen places where we are weak, and to help us be able to close our eyes and trust that our subconscious will not take us to a place of hurt and regret, but to paradise, where there is no pain, no broken hearts and no regret.
Insurgent_Shadow | | |
| Congratulations on making it through the school year folks!
Now, we all must struggle through the summer until we are back among friends. I hope that everyone has a wonderful summer. Enjoy interning at churches, making friends at camps, or just hanging out with friends and family.
Just remember in everything thing you do, you represent one person, make him proud.
If you need any prayer throughout the summer leave me a comment and I will be praying for you. I will be checking your entries, but just in case I get behind, let me know. Take care.
Insurgent_Shadow | | |
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