Stop...and Think

It's been over a week since my last blog post, so I have to start off by saying, Hi!  How are you?  I missed you guys.  I've had a bunch of different issues entire into my noggin, however, there has been one that has seemingly been etched into my brain.  It's an issue that we all have.  It's a body part (kinda) that we all have, both male and female.  If you guess the tongue, why don't you give yourself a 5 second pat on the bat! *smiles*.

But seriously people, what we say, or as the bible eloquently puts it, the "power of the tongue" is a dangerous tool that we have.  What you say impacts how people view you on the surface and how you view yourself under the surface.  One thing that the bible continually states, both in the NT and OT is that we need to watch.what.we.say.  Whether is lyin or over-truthin', we need to get to the point where we stop....and think to oneself, "Hmmm...is what I'm saying reallllllly necessary? Am I "speaking the truth in love? (Eph 4:15)."  If the answer to that question is questionable (see what I did there?), then you should probably refrain from saying it in that manner.

Solomon, who was a king over Israel was known as the wisest man that ever lived.  The majority of the sayings found in Proverbs are by him.  Most of the Proverbs speak to laziness or wickedness, but there's one shining one found in the 18th chapter, 21st verse, that says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."  You have the opportunity to help someone or absolutely crush someone with what you say.  I don't believe that we fully grasp the weapon that we have.  

He doesn't stop there though, he continues "And those who love it will eat its fruit."  Those that love the power of the tongue, those of us that love to hurt other people by words.  Those of us that need to tear other people down just to lift oneself up, will "eat its fruit."  What does that phrase mean?  It essentially means that you will use it.  What you say can have some HUGE consequences for not only others, but yourself.

Lets fast forward to the New Testament and hit the ever friendly book of James, where he devotes almost an entire chapter on the tongue (3:1-12).  No verse is more prevalent that the 8th verse where the author reminds us that, "no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."  Whoa. Restless Evil. Full of Deadly Poison.  Next time you just blurt out an in-the-moment-extremity, be reminded how powerful your words are...

James, as he often does, leaves us slightly depressed.  I mean, he clearly states that the tongue is untameable.  So why even try?  What's the point?  All of our work is futile right?  Welllll, we do we abstain from sin?  We will never ever ever be able to fully control our humanly sinful nature right?  Oh wait, because the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).  Because when I'm in Christ, I'm a new creation (2 Corith. 5:17). Those seem like great reasons to at least try to tame this muscle.

What do we do?  What do you do when that person that knows how to get under your skin just catches you on a bad day?  What do you do when you feel like the only way your significant other will understand the gravity of their actions is if you curse them out?  Is there another way to discipline your kids without yelling at them?  It's hard...it's hard to control our emotions sometimes.  I'm guilty of saying the wrong thing often.  I've also been on the other side of a loose tongue.  And I can honestly tell you that they both are sucky.

Paul has an answer, he urges us to, "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. (Eph 4:29)"  What is Paul saying her?  Basically, if the motivation for what you saying to to destroy, rather than building; to degrade, rather than uplift. Then, don't say it!  What's the age old phrase: "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Stop. And THINK. I'm not telling you to only say positive things. I'm not telling you to only paint the rosy picture of life because to be honest, we need to be knocked on our backs every once ina while (Especially men!) What Paul is telling you however is to stop what you are about to say and do a double check and determine if what you are saying is out of love or out of spite. There are plenty of different ways to tell your boo-boo s/he needs to relax. This method leaves room for "tough love." Just lay of the spite. There's enough spite and hate and Sphate (spite+hate) in this world.  But not enough building and loving and Buloving (I think you got that one!).

Let's go people. Lets work on controlling our tongues. Lets be responsible for what we say. Lets take this responsibility over our words seriously. No one deserves to get hurt over your words. Besides, it's less work in the long run when you don't have to take your foot out of your you-know-what.

So before you say anything (especially out of an emotional state):

Stop.....

And

Think.

--MJA

RED ALERT! RED ALERT!

Something has been brought to my attention.  Something dire. Something powerful.  Something big.  Without getting into too much specifics, I've been alarmed.  I've been slapped on the back of the head. RED ALERT RED ALERT. There's this thing that exisits.  This liar, theif, cheater, abuser.  This thing that knows every nook and cranny.  Knows how to get into people's minds and hearts. We need to be alert.  We need to be aware of this thing....

Satan is powerful ya'll.  I promise you he knows more about you than you know about yourself. Any weakness he will exploit.  Any crack in your life he will make worse.  Just picture your life as a little crack in glass.  If that crack goes untreated it will become worse and worse.  The best way to stop a crack from becoming worse is to nip it in the bud.

Unfortunately, our life isn't that simple.  It's interesting how we are all coded.  We all sin differently.  We are all born with natural weaknesses.  For example, my buddy can drink as much alcholol as he wants and not technically be an addict, but if I get a whiff of it, I can't control my inhibitations (This was only an example, not true for myself).

The interesting part is that by the time we hit our college years, most of us have discovered our weakness.  But here's the kicker, our weaknesses, although are bad for us spiriutally, are the things that make us feel the best; they give us the in-the-moment-high.  Unforutntely the things that typically make you the happiest short term, are usually the worst for you long term. It's like when Paul said in Romans,
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Romans 7:15)

And these are the things that the Adversary uses.  It annoys me how much the Devil knows me.  He makes the argument in your head that he is your friend.  That God has all these restrictions to kill your fun. He places lies in your head that tell you that you aren't good enough.  That you aren't pretty enough, that you all around suck!  It's a sad but true reality that sometimes he wins.  There are those nights, those days that the lies placed in mine head feel like a reality.  It's at those moments where I, the creation, begin questioning the Creator.  Who the heck am I?  Or even worse, I get angry at God for the itrocious things that happen in my life or in the world in general.  I start to blame God for 9/11 or the Natural Disasters that hit the earth or Sandy Hove Elementary School.

I am by no means claiming to know why bad things happen to bad people.  But I do know this, evil and God are complete opposites.  Maybe if we spent as much energy combating Satan as we do God we would become much stronger.  Maybe if we refocused (I love that word) our attention on the positive things in life rather than When the World is going to end we would become much more powerful.  Maybe if we strapped on our armor and shield and realized who the REAL enemy was we wouldn't be as miserable as we are.

But nooo, of course not.  That's too practical.

Yes, I'm angry.  I have a very focused anger pointed to the Devil.  No, not a red thing with horns onto of his head.  Nooo, I'm talking about a Fallen Angel.  An angel that wanted to be greater than God and has been continuously trying by making our lives miserable (by making it feel good). (2 Corth. 11:5-15)

I say this phrase alot, but my brothers and sisters, we are at a War.  I was listening to the song called Mr. Pretender by KB who is a Christian Rapper.  That song opened mine eyes.  I've heard the song a bunch of times, but I only recently looked at the lyrics.  It's amazing how many times you can hear a song and not completly understand it.  But this song basically talks about the Pretender (Satan), and the verses are what he's saying to us.  Now I may not agree with everything KB says, but the point is soo crystal clear.  No matter what we do, Mr. Pretender will just keep calling us.  The times where we feel the safest, we are actually the most vulnerable.  The times we feel the most secure are actually the times we are in the most insecure.

That's why I'm proclaiming a RED ALERT. All hands on deck!  We need to believe that Jesus conquered Death by dying on the cross, ascended into Sheol and was Resurrected.  When it all comes down to it, we have the Victory.  We just have to try to keep straight.  We will all fail.  We will all fall, we have all fallen.  But gotta get back up! We just have to believe: "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)  We don't know when the Lord is coming back.  Most of us have never seen his face to know that he exists   But I have Faith in the Lord.

My Hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness

----------------------------

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

All Other Ground is sinking sand

Our best bet is to build our foundation on the solid rock and to be aware.  Be aware of Mr. Pretender.  Be aware of Da Liar. As a matter of fact, I'm going to post the rap at the end of this blog.  I warn you again that it's Rap, but it's Christian Rap.

Be on Alert People!

The Christian Lovers' Dilemma

One day, when I die and go to heaven, I'm going to ask God, why did you make men and women soo different?  We are soo different and yet, for the most part, we can't stay away from each other.  Now whether that's a good thing or bad thing is TBD but this blog is about relationships.  I'm not in a relationship.  In fact I'm nowhere close to a relationship, but I've read a ton about relationships and I was told I give good advice, so I'm going to give this a try.

This blog right here, is dedicated to all my Christian Lovers.

Ya know, as a Christian it's tough.  We have to "deal" with all the things that a normal person has to deal with but we also have to "deal" with a spiriutal aspect.  We have to constantly make sure that we and the Man Upstairs are on the same wave length.  We have to consistently check to make sure that it's our Father's will that we do X or Y and sometimes we don't even recieve an audible answer so we go around blind hoping that we are making the right decision.

This is especially tough in the dating/relationship realm.  What's the proper way for a Christian to date? (Yeaaa...I'm not gonna go there) However, one problem that I've had in the past is the mindset.  Too many Christians, especially younger ones have this non-biblical principle that says that: "God has this perfect person out there that is perfect for me, all I have to do is meet her/him and everything will go smoothly."  Am I bowling down your alley?  My peeps, our concept of The One is.NOT.biblical.  If you go through your life turning down he's and she's looking for your Mr. Perfect, you are going on a wild goose chase.

Yes, I do believe that God has a plan for your life and every once ina while God does seem to pull you in one direction or another but I do not believe that God tells John Doe that he will meet Jane Doe on December 21, 2012 (when the world ends).  Noooooooooo.  We have free will.  God knows ultimately what we are going to do, and there are some people more compatiable than others for us, but there isn't that one person.  We need to get out that mindset.  Let's consider the compaitable beings as little tugs from God that this person is a possibility.

Once you get locked out of that mindset, you my friends are liberated.  I know I was!  You no longer look into ever person and think: OMG is this The ONE.  Getting to know people is about having fun.  We Christians are guilty of stressifying the dating period soo much that we lose sight of the true meaning of dating.  Everyone you go on a date with shouldn't feel like they are filling out a husband/wife application.  Nein! In the get-to-know phase you do exactly that: you _________________.  Find out their interests.  Find our their passions.  If you look at this phase as having fun, you're en route to living a less stressful life!

But wait there's more!  Actually, I held back on ya'll a little.  The concept of The One is biblical.  The One I'm talking about is Jesus. God is supposed to be first in foremost in our lives.  And logically if God is first, then maybe, just maybe, we need to start looking for Number Two.

Whoa.  Number two?  That's radical and yes, you can slap me later on.  But think about it.  Let it marinate in your noggin.  You can't have two number ones can ya?  Just a thought...

But seriously people, we need to revamp our thoughts.  If you are in a relationship and you are thinking about getting out of it because the person isn't you're Mr. Perfect but you are crazy about the person nonetheless, don't be naive and do that to yourself.

I'm going to let everyone in on a secret.  No matter who you date.  No matter who you marry. No matter...you are going to have arguments.  They are going to drive you crazy?  Why?  Because you are two different people with two different opinions/interest/livelihood.

I'm going to take off my Perfect-Christian Mask and say that I get angry at God.  Me and God bicker quite often. Sooooooo, if I disagree and question the LORD, why would I think that my relationship with another sinner like me will go smooth?  Stop having this expectation my brethren.  You are ruining chances with great people and you are ruining great relationships.

With the fact that relationships are tough in your head, I need to press you on one more issue. People give up on things wayy too quickly.  When the going gets tough, we run. We're afraid.  We give up. ESPECIALLY in relationships (I am one of the biggest culprits of this).  But somehow.  Somehow we think that we can grow.  We can grow closer to our guy. Grow closer to our girl and not work at.  Here's a question: What, if anything, can you do where you stop working on it, and still have growth?
*Insert Cricket Sounds*

So then why do we magically think that we can just go through relationships half hearted and expect them to become fruitful.  Why do we think that you are supposed to be happy evvvvery day in a relationship or else boo-boo gots to go?  Why do we think that this girl isa dime, and my girl is getting on my nerves, so I can just do a lil sumthin sumthin and it'll be ok?  Why don't we work on our re-lation-ships? If you are at the point where the grass looks greener, then you need to nurture and water your lawn!

If you aren't mature enough to handle the ups and downs of a relationship, then you probably shouldn't be in one! (Ouchie)  Relationships take commitment and growth.

So what am I trying to say?  Have fun in the getting to know phase.  Don't stress about whether that person can fill out your marriage application because who knows how much your app will change when you're ready to get married. We need to get rid of the myth of the "one"  God will order our steps using His Word (Psalm 119:133) as a map but he will never tell you that you HAVE to do X.  Remember that.

When you do find that person you want to settle down with, don't give up.  If you really lovve them, you wouldn't give up so easily.  In order to have growth you have to...have to...have to work at it!

Overall, I think we need a changing.  A shifting of the phrase.  I'm looking for Miss. Perfect.  I'm looking for The One is no acceptable.  God has placed people in your lives that are compatible to you. Not perfect, but pretty darn close.  However, He wants you to seek him first.  So, I don't know about you, but I'm excited for my Number Two.

Every Timothy needs a Paul

There's a biblical axiom that I surround my faith around.  (Well actually there are many axiom but, for this case there's one in particular.)
Every Paul needs a Timothy and every Timothy needs a Paul.

Or if you want to be gender pleasing, every Paul (or Paulina) needs a Timothy (or Timotheia) and every Timotheia (or Timothy) needs a Paul (or Paulina).

What does that mean?  I mean I kinda know that Paul was a great man.  I've heard that he was a thing called an Apsotle and wrote letters to churches.  But who the heck is Timothy?  Wait...is he the same Timothy in the bible.  Erm..as in 1 Timothy & 2 Timothy??

Why yes, yes he is.  You sir, deserve a cookie!  But Timothy is more than a book in the bible.  He was Paul mentee.  He was the person that Paul sowed into.  He met Timothy while he was a young age in Act 16:1-3 and taught him.  And then eventually sent him out into the world to start his own church.  But, Paul didn't leave good ol' Timmy alone.  He checked up on him as often as he could through at least 2 letters.  These letters are affectionately known as 1st and 2nd Timothy.

It's important to highlight here that Paul, like Jesus, recognized that we are put on this earth for a reason. One of the reasons is to speak life into others, especially those younger than us.  There are two things that are necessary for this occurrence to happen.  Firstly there has to be a willing "Paul," a man or woman that is willing to share their knowledge with someone.  And there has to be a willing "Timothy," a person willing and eager to learn.

Any well rounded Christian has the capability to be both a Paul and a Timothy.  I don't care how old you are, there is always someone watching you and you are always watching someone else.  It's about having the right attitude.

For me, I've been more than blessed with Pauls in my life.  Some of them have come seemingly for a season and some can happen a lifetime but I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that I am who I am because of them.  If it wasn't for their lecturing and constant perstering and prodding I just wouldn't be me. I need to personally thank them for speaking life into my heart sometimes when I've felt like giving up (and they might not even know that they have).  It means a heck of a lot that they even dedicated 5 minutes to me because they just didn't have to.  I'm not going to give full names, but they know who they are!

Rev. Dr. Byrd, I wanna thank you for continuing to press on me for my calling in this life to be a minister of the gospel.  I don't know when and I really don't know how, but you have kept the Word of the Lord in my life.

Mr. Frank, who would've thought that the man that I met in High School, whom I at times had an issue with would become someone I could call a mentor and a friend.  You have influenced me in more ways that one which is including but not limited to my trek to Messiah College where I became a History Major!

Now that I'm at Messiah, I might as well mention Dr. Fea.  I had no idea that you would've helped me in the ways that you have.  I never thought I would get this close to a History professor let alone an intimidating giant such as yourself!

Staying at Messiah I have to mention Dr. T!  This man has literally been like a second father to me.  We've hit every topic from music (most importantly) to relationships to ministry.  I wouldn't have survived my last two years with you!

If it wasn't for Dr. T, I wouldn't have met Pastor Woody.  Even though are time was relatively brief you have sown sooo much into me.  I just want to thank you for that and hopefully we can do a better job at staying in contact.

DKP, you have sown into me like no other Lawyer have.  This journey in my life is a new one for me but I am glad that you are willing to embark on it along with moi.

Finally, Min. Tucker.  Yes, you aren't that much older than me but you have spoken life in me from time and time again!  I am proud to call you my real brother and I love that despite the difference, we've kept in touch with each other.

Well, that's it!  I'm sorry this was soo long haha but I had to get out my sense of gratitude.  On a final note, I do realize that I have a bunch of Timothys and no Timotheias but that's ok.  I grew up in a household of mostly older women so I have PLENTY of those to hold me accountable! :)

--MJA

You Are So Beautiful!

I've realized that I've gotten away from my blogging roots.  The reason that I started to write blogs is to mostly encourage people.  To help boost people's self-esteem by telling them that they are better than they think.  Recently I've caught myself talking more about little 'c' christians and instead of uplifting people, I've been putting challenging them.  At the face of it, it's fine.  But, I'm the type of guy that needs balance and it's been far too long since I posted a truly uplifting blog (June was the last one).

I feel a need to speak life into someone's life.  I feel the inherited need to help someone out there.  I feel the need to tell someone something that they already knew: you are beautiful.

You are sooo beautiful.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are created in the image of God. I need someone out there to believe that right now.

Maybe I'm ina extra lovey dovey mood.  Maybe I'm dealing with my own issues, but I need to tell all my readers/nonreaders, believers/nonbelievers, friends/enemies (jk), groupies/haterz...You are loved.

I don't feel weird saying this as a man, because as a man, I've realized that I need to get better at expressing myself.  I need to get better at becoming vulnerable.  I need to be open and honest about my feelings.  However, as a man, I also realize my boundary of mushiness and I do believe that I have reached my threshold. So this first half was my gender friendly blog.

*Insert Woman Friendly Line Here*

This second half is dedicated to my ladies.  I know I've said this before but ya'll amaze me.  The essence of your being; your ladiness perplexes me.  Ya'll aren't just beautiful, ya;ll are gorgeous.  One of the things that I hope never ever ever ever happens is if I make a woman feel less than she's worth.  I don't know, maybe I have in the past and if that's the case I'm sorry.  I really am!

I'm not gonna lie, you women drive me up the walls Day N Nite (Kid Cudi Song).  Somedays I wanna yell at you.  Somedays I wanna curse you out (the Christian in me stops me), but when it alllll comes down to it: I love ya'll.

I don't care what other men say.  I don't care what your parents told you.  I don't care what other men say.  You are precious. You are sooooo beautiful.  (Borderline hot but only because I loathe that phrase).

*INSERT GENDER FRIENDLY LINE*

Don't ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever. EVER (did I say ever enough) let someone tell you different.  Don't ever let someone bring your self esteem down.  I used to let other people affect me (and I still do from time to time).  But once you realize who you are in God.  How amazing of a person you are in Christ.  You establish your identity in your Maker.  You realize that you are a privilege.

So I'm glad that I've had the privilege to know the men and (especially) women.  I don't always see eye-to-eye with them.  But I do see their beauty (once again especially women) coming from their eye.

You are all amazing!  To the women in my life, I love ya'll. To the women not in my life as much as you used to be, I love ya'll. To the women soon to be in my life, 1. What's taking soo long & 2. I love ya'll.  To the brothas in my life, you are beautiful (I say that in my deepest manliess voice possible).

Much love to God's Creation.  Always remember to smile!

Never underestimate the power of your smile. Smiles have the ability to light up the room. Even when skies are dark sometimes if you just smile, your day becomes better! Smiles are beautiful. Smiles are great! Why don't you go ahead and smile right now!

it vs. HE

Stop it!

I'm tired of it.  I'm tired of it trying to take over my life.  I'm tired of it actually suceeding in me.  I want to do right, but there's this urge in me to do wrong.  I want to proclaim victory over it, but defeat keeps ringing.  It just has so much control over me.  I...I just can't take it.

Thank you Adam and Eve for this.  Thank you Adam and Eve for exhibiting a lack of self-control.  A lack of reverence, a lack of humility.  Why did you have to listen to that serpant.  Why did you have to have the yearning to be more knowledgable...more greater than you needed to be? Are you happy now?  Are you happy that you thrusted future generations into turnmoil because of your decision.  Are you happy that you let it win.  Are you happy now?

Was it worth it? Is it worth gaining the whole world, yet losing my soul?  The answer to the question is obvious, but yet, the answer is never reality.  I think with my dream, yet my limbs do otherwise.  I think things with my mind, yet my tongue speaks otherwise.  Is there any hope for me?  Will I ever be able to conquer it? Will it continue to rule over my life?  Dictate my thoughts, my actions, my words, my dreams, my everything.  This control over my life..it's just...not good.

I hear the statements running over my head.  You will fail.  It's too deep inside of you.  Stop trying. It's futile.  What do I do?  Who do I turn to?  No one can really understand what I'm going through.  IT...IT...IT is just to strong.

I can't be like the faithful servants in the Bible.  I can't be like Moses who saved the nations of Israel by standing up to Pharaoh   I can't be like the prophets Micah or Elijah, or Amos, or Nathan who stood up to kings who had the power to kill them at a snap.  I can't be like the Apostle Paul who endured various beatings and imprisonment.  I'm not strong enough.  I'm just little ol' Michael.  It has it's grasp on me.

I just need to release the vices that the serpent has on my soul.  I need to be emptied.  I need to be filled with something greater than myself.  They say that we are yearning for something greater than we.  Well I'm looking...I'm looking..and I think I found him.  But now that I found him, what do I do?  What should I do?

This thing...this person inside of me wants to do wrong.  This person inside of me is nasty.  This person inside of me is cantankerous and vile and just wrong.

But I, I've heard about this man.  This man that came into the world and conquered It.  It thought that this man was dead.  Victory was obtained by it.  But just merely 72 hours later, this man rose with all power in his hand.  This man was the only man that lived a perfect sinless life.  All others before him sinned and fell at one point, but he failed to fail.

He wants to tell me that I can conquer it.  That my mind, my soul, my heart is not greater than he.  All I have to do is ask, trust, and believe.

But Lord, it's just too strong.  I'm a young man.  I have thoughts, pressures, doubts, fears..What the heck am I supposed to do when it comes like a thief in the night and wakes me, and shakes me, and just drives me up the wall.  How am I supposed to control it.

I am weak.  But he are strong.  He conquered it and he promised to keep me close.  Help me believe that he is strong than me; stronger than it.  Even when times are rough, even when my nights are long, Help me believe.  Lord, help my unbelief!  I know that he went into Sheol, knocked it in its place but how is that power transferred to me?  Where can I get his boxing gloves?

Sometimes I think I'm going crazy.  Sometimes I think I'm going to lose my mind.  Often times I think...I know that it is going to win.  But it's those moments where he causes my foundations to quake (like when he was crucified) and give me a slap on the face.  He gives me that wake up call.  The cockadoodledoo of the rooster.

Wow.  I am in awe of his might.  Great is Your Mercy.  Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.  I'm Not Afraid like Eminem.  I'll Trust You like Donnie McClurkin.  I know that he'll Roll Up like Wiz Khalifa whenever I need him.  He loves me.  He Wraps me in his arms.  And I just want to say Thank You.

it wants me to believe that it has the final say.  The devil wants me to believe that its over.  That there's no hope in me.  But "faith is substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1).  I KNOW that he will suceed.  I just know that JESUS will win.  I believe it.  I recieve it.  

So you know what I'll do?  I'm going to do like David does and bless the Lord at ALL times.  His praise shall continually be in mine mouth.

That...That is what I'm banking on.  it will NOT defeat he.

Struggle Well

I need to issue an apology.  I need to issue an apology for all those people, all those churchy folk, all those clergy men and women that put the lie in peoples heads that being a Christian/follower of Jesus is easy.  Yes, the steps of it is "easy," repent, accept BUT the hard part is living the life.  Now, I'm not going to get into all the semmantics of what makes the perfect Christian because when it comes down to it:

1. I am NO WHERE near the perfect Christian.

2. I am not quaified to even describe what the perfect Christian is.

3. We aren't expected to be the perfect Christian.

Besides, this blog isn't about being a perfect Christian.  This blog is about the myth.  The myth that has some christians (yup little 'c') believe that oh since I have Jesus everything is just gonna be flowers and daisys.  For anyone that believes that, you are in for a rudddeeee awakening.  If there is anyone out there that is willing to take their Halos off (like Rev. Waller would say), you would acknowledge that being a Christian is ridiculously hard.  In fact I will venture off to say that it hurts.  It can suck.  It's a rough rough non-ending-feeling journey.

There are times that I am so angry at God that I have temper tantrums in my bed (which happened a couple weeks ago).  There are times when I get in such big funks that I seem to snap at everyone for absolutely no reason.  There are times when I get so annoyed with everything and I need to a moment to "get away from God."  I have all these moments.  We all have these moments.

But I'm here to tell you that it's ok.  It is perfectly normal, rational, and understandable to get frustrated or dare I say angry at God.  There is not ONE person in the Bible (NT or OT) that questioned/was frustrated with God at least at some point.  What does that tell us?  It's part of or Christian growth.  It's part of life.  But most importantly, what happens after you have your moment with God?  A couple of things I realize is that:

• I realize that I was wrong and have to repent.
• I realize that it was nothing but the devil trying to get to me.
• I realize that God isn't angry at me for my mistake.
• I become closer to God even more because I didn't hold anything back.
• And most importantly, I fall even more crazy about God.

It's crazy.  We have to get to the point where we need to realize and believe that "all things work together for the good of those that love God, and are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 KJV) We HAVE to believe that.  We NEED to recognize that.  I know this phrase is overused, but: Everything happens for a reason. Can the church say, "For a Reason."  You may not see the reason right away.  But I will promise you that for a Christian, that reason is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS for your good.

So, I going to tell you to embrace your struggling; I'm going to tell you to struggle well.  Embrace your situation.  Dare I say love your situation.  I don't know what you are going through.  I know a bunch of my people still in college are dealing with the stress of Finals Week.  But I can tell you that if you struggle well by studying and listening, the fruit of your hard work will work out.

I know some people are going through financial situations.  But, I can tell you to keep trying in God.  Keep relying on God.  I'm not going to make one of those Name It. Claim It. Obtain It. people because it's more than that.  But know...remember Romans 8:28.  Make that a verse that you commit to your memory.  You may not know why, but you know that it's for your good.

As a matter of fact, let's make that everyone's memory verse.  Romans 8:28,  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV)  Just go.  Keep on trusting God.  Don't give up on him.  

Struggle Well my brethren!

--MJA

When Enough...Is Enough

Have you ever gotten to the point where you've felt like you've compromised, and compromised, and comprised just to make the other person happy?  Compromise at the heart of it, is a great thing to keep the peace.  It's a great thing to do when you have a relationship that you deem is "worth-it."  But when is too much compromising too much?  Now I know that phrase might've been a little confusing but think about it.  At what point in your life are you willing to absolutely say: No, I cannot do that.  I like/love you, but theres just somethings I cannot accept, there are certain things I cannot compromise to.  Where do you draw the line?

I'm writing this blog entry to challenge someone out there.  Not to over-compromise...no, something deeper, something more important than that...

What is your bottom line?  Ya know in marketing, companies have a bottom-line which is the least amount of money they can make and still survive, and still be successful   If the line is too low, they will certainly struggle through the life of the business, but if the line is too high, they'll push away too many people and ultimately lose money in our capitalistic system.  So the bottom-line is the happy medium between too much and too little.  Just the right amount to keep the right amount of people around.  Just the right amount to know who's their real friend.  Just the right amount to know who really supports them and...oooh...I kinda went off topic there a little bit.  But we, as humans, need to have a bottom line.

Unlike companies, our bottom line isn't necessarily to keep people or keep away from people, but our bottom line (or standard) is what makes us, us!  I'm looking around at my generation, seeing the things that people are doing and while I don't hate them for what they are doing, I can still fundamentally disagree with them and choose not to participate in that practice.  I have a standard.  I have a bottom-line that I will never cross again.  Unfortunately, in my short life span I've broken my bottom-line.  I've done things I said I would never do and in the end, it hurt me.  In the end it hurt those around me. You have to have a bottom line my brothers and sisters.

Here's the thing though, in order to have a bottom-line that's worthy of being broken, you have to have a bottom-line to begin with!  No (mature) person genuinely wants to hang around a "yes-man."  Someone that you know is down for whateva.  Someone that will never disagree with you.  Someone that just goes with the flow at all times.  That interpersonal relationship at the heart of it is shallow, it's a mile wide but only an inch deep.  We need to get to the point where we have a set values that we treasure and will not budge on.  Everything else in our life is disputable and open for discussion but these 3 or 4 things are not.  They are on the DO NOT DISTURB LIST.

Yes, I am a Christian and I will love you for who you are.  But my man, I gotta be honest with you, I don't agree with you sexin' up all those ladies like they are your property.  My lady, you are more than your body, don't let any ol guy be able to pick you up and steal your jewels.  When is enough...enough?

Yes you are going to lose friends, yes you may lose some cred for doing that but lets be honest, it's better to keep (gain) your soul than gain the whole world.  And I can tell you this, if you make your DO NOT DISTURB list now, people might not like you initially.  In fact there's a great chance you'll lose relationships.  However, in the long run, you will gain more respect for yourself and ultimately gain more respect from others.  How many people know that life is a marathon not a sprint.  We have to stop living in the moment with losing sight to our future.  I know that our culture tells us YOLO which at the heart of it is true.  But the things you YOLO can turn you into a HOBO down the line.  Yeahhh I know that was really rough.

I'm going to end it like this: God has a standard.  It's all written out for us in His Word right? When we choose not to agree or follow his standard he doesn't go chasing after us.  Overall he protects us, but when we are rebellious he doesn't protect us from "all hurt harm and danger."  He gives us his bottom line, and if we don't like it, we can (and often do) hit the road.  But, when we come around and understand why He had his standards don't we appreciate him more?  Don't we respect him more? (Check out the Prodigal Son story and imagine the father is God --Luke 15:11-32)   It's not unChristian to dislike what a friend of yours is doing.  It's not unChristian to tell someone that you don't agree with what they are doing.  It's not unChristian to just let people go if you don't agree with them.  It IS unChristian to hate people for what they do.  It IS unChristian to keep everything in.  And ultimately, it IS unChristian to just let people walk all over your bottom line like they own it.

When do you say that enough is just enough.  You have crossed the line and I can't do it anymore.  What is your Bottom Line?

--MJA

Refocusing on God (Clear The Stage)

This is going to be a unquie blog post.  It's going to be the longest, but the most meaningful.  For this blog, I'm going to do an entire exegetical study of one song.  It's a song that randomly pops into my head every once ina while, and when I listen to the lyrics, I glean even more from it.  So here's what I suggest you doing, listen to the song before you read my exegesis, and then read the lyrics+my commentary, and then listen to the song again.  The song is called Clear the Stage by Jimmy Needham, here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpYClnBtH-4

Verse 1:
Clear the stage and set the sounds and lights ablaze if that's the measure you must take to crush the idols.
This first line from the verse is the premise the the entire song.  It'll make more sense as you progress through the song, but what it's basically saying is that we need a refocusing.  We need to clear the stage in our life, we need to set ablaze or burn fiercely (according to the dictionary  all the stuff that covers our lives; the sounds and lights.  "if that's the measure you must take to crush the idols."

Jerk the pews and all the decoration too, until the congregation's few, then have revival."
This can be taken both literally and figuratively.  You know that in a typically church setting, not everyone is there to worship God.  Some people are there because the music is good and/or the pastor is a vibrant speaker.  But when you take the pews out, all the great tapestry and drapery and make it a room, who's going to be left?  That's the true congregation.  Thats the congregation that's ready to have a revival  a restoring.  And your body is the same way.  Strip down yourself (ok not literally so you wouldn't be so nasty, but figuratively.  Take the time and be honest and real with yourself and God.  It's that moment, in your weakness, you are made the strongest,

Tell your friends that this is where the party ends; until your broken from your sins you can't be social."
This is one of the hardest parts and I don't know if Jimmy means this literally.  There is nothing wrong with parties when done on an occasional basis.  But when it comes down to it, when you realize that you have a problem you have to fix it.  Sometimes you have to put other things on halt.  Put it on halt, fix your issue with your priority.

Seek the Lord and wait for what he has in store, and know that great is your reward so just be hopeful.
This is fittingly the last part of the first verse.  When you put your friends on pause.  When you recognize your priority, when you seek the Lord you're reward will be great.  I promise you that!  So even though you are ina bad spot in your life you gotta have hope.  If you don't have hope, you are dead basically.

Verse 2:
Take a break from all the plans that you have made, and sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper.
How many people know that God doesn't always shout.  I've learned that you can hear God's voice the most when you take rest in him.  When you just listen.  Stop talking and listen.  Sometimes whispers can sounds the loudest.  Picture this: have you ever been in a really quiet room where a couple is whispering and its the loudest thing ever!  But when everyone in the same room is talking at the same time, you can barely hear the person you are talking to!  Just be patient...

Beg him please to open up his mouth and speak; and pray foreal upon your knees until they blister.
Sometimes we have to do what Jacob did. (Genesis 32:22-32)  Sometimes we have to be intentional with ourselves and tell God, listen I am NOT going to let you go until you bless my soul.  We have to literally wrestle with our innerselves.  Yes, prayer works, but sometimes you just need to be persistent, like the persistent widow parable that Jesus told.  Don't give up on God, cuz I can assure you, he won't give up on you.

Shine the light on every corner of your life until the pride, the lust, and lies are in the open.
This goes back to the point that you just need to be honest with yourself.  No, you don't need to tell the whole world your business, but we need to be real.  When need to understand our fallings.  We need to understand that we put other things before our God.  If we can't be open about God, how can we expect to have a healthy relationship with him?? Think about it.

Then read the Word and put to test the things your've heard, until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken.
Another great way to end the verse!  After you've become intentional about spending time in prayer with God, you have to read his Word.  Faith comes from hearing, but from hearing (and reading) the Word of the Lord. (Romans 10:17)  And not only read, study.  Anything you see me write here, anything you hear your pastor say should continuously be put to the test.  Now this testing process isn't easy.  Your faith may be rocked, it may be broken, but take it from me, it will grow like crazy because of it!  I'm a testimony of that.

Chorus
Cause you can sing all you want to; Yes you can, sing all you want to...You can sing all you want to, and still get it wrong; worship is more than a song.
Such a legit and convicting chorus.  It's a very rigid and dense chorus when you look at it.  You can sing the songs of Zion.  You can extol the Lord all you want with your mouth like a trumpet.  But real worship, true worship isn't just singing.  It's praising with you heart, mind, body, and soul.  It's not about sounding good, it's not about looking good (cuz Lord knows I'm not an attractive worshipper).  It's about God.  It's about having a moment with your savior.  My..My...My.

Bridge:
We must not worship something that's not even worth it.
Plain and simple.  Jimmy Needham is getting to the point of this song.  Refocusing on God. The only...I repeat only thing that's worthy of our praise is God.
Clear the stage, make some space for the one who deserves it.

Hook:
Anything I put before my God, is an idol.
Here it comes.  The most memorable part of the song.  Everything drops out instrumentally except the piano. Absolutely anything.  Material Gains, Work, Parties, Relationships.  Anything that take all your time, anything that you put before God.  I'm sorry to say, it's an idol.

Anything I want with all my heart, is an idol.
Here's a nasty one.  You ever have that thing that you absolutely had to haave.  Whether it was the girl/boy of your dreams (for me it's Meghan Markle) or that car you lusted for (Benz for me again).  Well if it gets to the point where you legitimately want with all your heart.....idol.

Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol.
I don't think people understand that one.  When you are soo consumed with one thing that you get lost in it, it has become an idol in your life.  I think workaholics are very guilty of this.  No matter what time of day, the only thing they can think about is work.  Work.Work.Work. Hardly any family time or social time.  That's a problem.  I found a cool line from author Craig Groeschel that said: "If your iPad is you iDol, it's time to put it down." Nuff Said!

Anything that I give all my love is an idol.
I've always had a problem with love songs that the man (inpartiuclar) is telling his lady, "I'm always going to put you first in my life."  That right there is rank idolatry   You cannot, shallnot give all your love to any human.  Humans will let you down.  I promise.  The only thing you can give trust your heart fully in.  That you can give all your love to is Jesus.  He lived in the world without sinning.  Wow.

Final Thoughts
This song is so convicting because of how simple the instrumentation is while the lyrics are absolutely amazing.  I apologize for the length of this blog and I can tell you that I probably won't have a blog this long again for a lonnnng time.  I do hope this helps you.  I don't know where you are in your spiritual journey but just stay encouraged   Everyone can learn something from this song and when you feel convicted  when your heart and soul is broken, just run..run to the cross...run to God the Father who has his arms wideeee open.

Here's the song again.  This is the official video of it though.  Much more impactful.  Clear the Stage ya'll.  Paint it white.  Refocus your focus.

Racism is still alive..unfortunately

The recent College Football events have led me to ponder the topic of racism in today's life.  Let me start off by saying that I am indeed an African-American man whose decedents were brought over from Africa.  I personally have had direct acts of racism acted towards me, so racism doesn't have a deep effect on me.  I would be remissed to note that since I've been to college, most of my close friends are now white, so I have absolutely nothing against white people forrr the record.

Let's be clear here, I am not one of those crazy people that overuses the name of racism such as some of the politicians whom I disagree with.  I have been called a "nigger" before.  It wasn't a bad intent.  The guy who called me it just thought it was cool   So I calmly told him the origin of that word and he apologized for it and it was all good. But, I'll get back to that in a little bit.

If you don't know the issue, here it is in a nutshell, now former Colorado State Football coach, Jon Embree was fired yesterday after 2 years for bad performance.  Now firings in College Football (FBS) are nothing new, but it was Embree's comments after he was fired that started the discussion.  He exclaimed that if his skin color was different (white), he would probably still have the job.  This comment at first glance just felt like another man playing the "black card." But after hearing his argument dissected, there's evidence to support that claim.  The idea that his predecessor, whom happened to be white and happened to last his full contract term (5 years), was just as unsuccessful as Embree and received 3 more years was enlightening.

Couple that with the statistic that I stole from Stephen A Smith that notes: in the past 33 year, there have been 41 African American head coaches in FBS that left a team (voluntarily or involuntarily) and only 1 of them has been rehired.  Now let me pause right there, because I don't have any statistics on their white counterparts, however let me point out 2 issues.  Firstly, the fact that only 41 African American coaches were there in 33 years is alarming bad.  Secondly, that's a little more than 2.5% of black coaches given a second chance.

Maybe Embree has some merit?  Let's get beyond all the "official" mumbo-jumbo though.

We have a problem.  I do not believe that racism is really alive in the public (maybe a little, but nothing compared to before), but I do believe that it still exists deep in the soul.  When it all comes down to it, we all have racist/stereotypic  tendencies.  But, racism at it's core is a deep, ugly, nasty and rigid thing.  Let's be clear, I'm not just talking about Black vs. White (and visa-versa).  I'm talking about Black vs. Latino, White vs. Latino, Easterners vs. Whites vs. Blacks vs. Latinos...I can go on and on (all of them visa-versa).  What I'm trying to say is that at it's core, it's a heart issue.

There are people that are going to blabber about how there were Christians that justified slavery using the bible in the 18th and 19th centuries, which is fine.  And to that I say that I have a history degree from Messiah College when all I did was study stuff like that so I've heard it and I can refute it by saying one word: Different.  In the past there were different values and understandings so you have to look at it with different lenses.  You can't look down on an ideology in the past just because it seems invalid to you.  At the heart of it, it may be unjust, but you have to understand why they felt that way. Unfortunately, that's beyond the scope of this blog.

Like I said before, it's a heart issue.  It's not something I think we can tangibly change in 5, 10,or 15 years with strict legislation because when you try to force people to do something, there's resentment.  But something needs to be done.  Here's what I'm going to do, and I know I'm gonna sound like a Christan (Heaven forbid), but I'm going to pray.  I'm going to pray for the nation.  I'm going to pray my butt off!

When it comes down to it, the Bible tells us a story.  It tells us a narrative of huge issues between Jews and Gentiles...aka Jews versus everyone else.  For thousands of years, they hated each other.  They fought wars, rumored wars, killed, torture, and sometimes married to the detriment of themselves.  A lot of it stemmed because the Jews thought they were better than everyone else.  And if I had to be honest, they were, because they were God's chosen people.  BUT (and that's a big but) when Jesus came and died on the cross, he eliminated the "I'm better than you barrier."  He took on the sins of the entire world.  Thus, those that believe in him are now the "Jew" or the chosen one.

Wait!  It can be taken a step further!  Paul, in his letter to the Galatians tells us that we are all one in Christ! "There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ." (Galatians 3:28)  That's the beauty of it.  All one in Christ.

Lets be clear. Something needs to be done in FBS. Maybe they need to establish a Roony Rule such as in the NFL where at least one minority has to be interviewed during a coaching process.  That was a good way at giving minorities exposure to other teams because while they might not be hired, at least other organizations might know who they are and say "hmmm...I never thought about Jon Embree, lets take a look."We are all family.  We are all humans.  MLK said that we are human first.  We need to recognize and be proud of that!

I love all my black, white, Latino, Asian, male, female, lesbian, gay, short, tall, big-boneded, thin, light-skinned, and dark skin peeps.  Just keep the love comin!

Christian + Man = Paradox?

This post is strictly for the brothas.  Women, you can read it if you like, but it's about time I write something for men!

This is what the world tells us:

Christian + Man = A Paradox.

I mean how can a real baddd man. Be like Jesus?  Be a humble, meek, loving, man.  These values are completely different than what I grew up with.  A real man doesn't back down from nuthin!  A real man takes care of his family and himself.  A real man doesn't let no-one tell him nothin!  A real man does what he wants at all times.

Ok, maybe I'm going a little extreme.  But that's some of the values, albeit exaggerated  that I grew up with.  I grew up with the idea that I had to be Da Man.  Now don't get me wrong, I didn't learn that from my dad, but in the streets, in the schools that's what I saw.  I saw that we were graded upon how many girls numbers we had.  How many fights we've been into.  Basically, we were striving to be Samson (Judges 13-16)  Ya know, the things that are really important.  Just another typical story of an urban born boy.

But then, I grow up and run into this man called Jesus.  Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus was a smooth operator.  When those Pharisees and Sadducces tried to trick him, Jesus basically told them: "nahhh man,  you can try to trick me, but I'm smarter than youuu."  But here's the kicker, most of the times Jesus did a marvelous, miraculous miracle  he told the healed not to tell anyone what happened (of course they did it anyway).  He was meek in the sense that he wasn't looking for a fight.  He was looking to love people and save them.  He wasn't a Macho Macho Man in the earthly sense however, he fought and died for what he believed in.  The hardest thing for me to wrap my head around is the fact that Jesus was humble and selfless.  He did the will of his father regardless how much it hurt him.  Not my will but thy will be done right?

So how does this translate to the 2012 man?  It's hard.  It's hard to be a man in this day and age.  For me personally, it's hard to be a man of color in this day and age.  I have people around me that all they care about is money.  I have my fellow men of color in the hiphop genre that talk about 1 of 3 things 95% of the time: sex, drugs, or money.  I have the pressure from women to be different...to be different that all my bros that are leaving their women because they can't handle the responsibility   I got my bros that have absolutely no respect for other women while just seeing them as a trophy to obtain.

And ya know, if I'm going to be completely honest, I bought into that lifestyle for a little while.

Thenn, I have the church, (which is mostly filled with Holy Ghost Women) trying to tell me to break from the norm.  Trying to tell me get involved in the church because the kids need more (black) male influences. And don't get me wrong, theres nothing wrong with that, but there's an inherited problem...Where are all my Christian Men at??

You want to know what a real man is?

A real man is a man that loves, protects, and cherishes the ones he cares about.  He doesn't walk out on his responsibilities just because it got tough.  Sure, Jesus complained about the pain and agony he was in.  But when it all was said and done, he got the job done.

A real man knows how to exhibit self control.  Yea there's a lot of temptation out there.  Ya got pretty ladies dressing in skimpy dresses and outfits just begging to be holla'd at.  But ya know, I got to say this: There are things more important than sex.  There's a thing called love (which I, personally am still on the look-out for). I know its tough...but as a man, we gotta be man enough to control that urge inside of us and keep yo' zipper up!

A real man endures.  He doesn't give up.  Regardless if he has the entire world mocking him.  Regardless if he has people calling him a liar, a cheater, a deceiver   He knows in his heart of hearts, that he's doing the right thing.  They mocked Jesus, called him a hypocrite, called him the "King of Jews" and you know what Jesus said to that? "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."(John 18:37)  I am defined by what the Father sees of me, not by a statistic.  Not by a news article.  Not by a blog.  I am a child of the most high God.  What he views of me is what's important. Real Talk!

Finally, a real man submits.  He knows when he needs help.  He isn't afraid to call for back up.  He's prideful enough to not give up, but he's humble enough to ask for help.  And I don't just mean spiritually.  But I mean physically.  We need the help & support of other men because the world (including the women around us) just do not understand what we go through.  The struggles, the issues that we have.

A real man steps up to the plate.  The church needs us men.  Ladies, I love ya'll, but the church is yearning for men of God to step up.  I get tired, I got annoyed, I get heart broken when I survey the congregation and its over a 2-1 ratio between women and men.  I feel like I'm at Messiah College all over again!  Yes, statistically  there are more women in the world than men.  But I promise you that the world's population is 66% women while 33% men.  So why is it like that (sometimes even worse that that) in our churches? We need to step up and take our places, our roles in the church more seriously.  Women, I love you, you are doing a great job. BUT, we, as men, need to step up and take some responsibility   Not just over our kids, not just over our stuff, but over other people's issues.  It's not about me me me...It's about learning about me and figuring out how I can help you and then helping you!

It is not a paradox to be a Christian Man.  I repeat it's not a paradox!  Jesus was a man's Man.  He got his business done even to the death.  He rarely whined and complained, but handled his responsibility   He didn't shoot up those that he didn't agree with.  He didn't give people black eyes cuz they were lookin at his girl (metaphorically speaking).  He defended himself with words.  Made people look like fools.  When it all came down to it, he accepted his duty in this life.  He submitted to the authority of his Father, he loved and took care of those around him, and he, unlike David, exhibited self-control like none other.

Now let me be honest, I'm not perfect. I don't do all these things well. When I write this blog, I have a mirror in front of my face. But what I do know is that:

Jesus is the Greatest Man I Know.

Time to Breathe (It's Thanksgiving)

Well, the holiday season of thanks is coming up in less than 24 hours, so I absolutely have to write a blog post about it.  While you are being surrounded by craziness in life such as the great (horrible) Thanksgiving Song: "It's Thanksgiving"impeding school work, house preparations for the great family meal, I'm going to invite you to do something unnatural.  Take the time to breathe.  Instead of being consumed by the busyness of life, how about you spend this break from work, break from school, to breathe.  To have time with your family and loved ones.  To watch some football. To yell at the TV...to breathe.

Many of us have been living with a theory that seems like it is the right thing, but in reality it may not be.  I'm talking about workaholism   Doing too much work, not giving yourself margins to live your life.  Not being about to literally live your life to the fullest because you don't have any time to live out! Having margins in your life are not only necessary, but also, refreshing.

You know when you wrote a paper in school, and when you would type it on Microsoft Word (or something else), you had margins.  You had margins to restrict how much you are writing, but if you wanted to say, be cheap and get more bang for your buch, you could make the margins smaller...and smaller....and smaller...just to fit everything in.  But here's the problem, teachers had standardized margins, so when you tweaked with the default, you would lose points right?  Well if you look at life as a standard word processing document, and God as your teacher, you might view things a little different huh?

This is an interesting dynamic.  In our American lifestyle  the more you do, the better.  I mean logically, the harder workers (generally) will get paid the best.  (Generally) will live the more abundant  (Generally) will be the happi.... Oh wait.  I need to stop there because the hardest workers aren't (generally) the happiest are they?

An old wise saying noted to us that, "if the Devil can't make us really bad, then he'll try to make us really busy."  Why?  Because being busy with seemingly important things, stops us from paying attention to the most Important thing.  I'm too tired to work-out...I'm too tired to read...I'm to tired to do this-to do that....I don't have enough time to read my bible.  Sound familiar? (yes, Michael, it does)  God, err, Teachers, give us the perfect amount of space to get everything we need to get done.  When we fill our lives, errr..papers with fluff, we feel like we don't have enough space.  What we need to do is sift through our papers and dwell on the important things, God, our family...and then you can just keep going down the line.

I know..I know you need some scripture.  Well, if you turn yo Bibles to the story of Mary & Martha in Luke 10:38-42.  I'm not going to go into it too much because I want you to do some reading on your own.  But notice what Jesus said in verse 42.  If something great is 100 yds away, you shouldn't be occupied by the "good" thats 10 yds away.  Keep on pressing toward the mark my friends! (Phillippians 3:14)

So this Thanksgiving, be happy.  Sure there is going to be some prep time.  But the key is, don't let it drive you crazy.  Don't let it hinder your time with your loved ones.  This season is a time to have a heart of gratitude.

I'm going to end it with a great quote from Craig Groeschel:

"When something small loudly demands all our attention, 

its noise often drowns out the whisper of what's enormously important"

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

--MJA

Do You Know Who You IZ?

Yo. Yo. Yo. Do you know who you IZ??

You are a son of the most high God!

You are a daughter of the most high God!

So why are you hanging out there with your head down?

Why are you letting your haters tear you down?

I mean seriously, do you realize that you are an heir?

You daddy has a throne.  Your daddy is a king.  Your father which art in heaven loves you.  Doesn't want you to hurt.  But sometimes, sometimes, his kids get into trouble.  But guess what??? "God sent his Son, they called him Jesus, he came to love, heal and forgive. He lived and died, to by my pardon."  (Because He Lives) To by your pardon.

I mean when you look at it, you should already know what haters are gonna do....

Seriously though, why are you letting fear run your life?  Why are you letting your past dictate your future.  The Word says that when we are in Christ, we are a NEW creation, old things have passed away. (2 Cor. 5:17)  And for that reason, we shall move forward with our lives.  For that reason we shouldn't let fear hold us back.  For that reason we should do what God has placed on our hearts to do.

Don't let the doubts the Enemy puts in front of you tamper you.  Don't let it hamper you.  Don't let it...ummm...samper you? Maybe? Nah...

I guess when it comes down to it, we all have things on our minds.  A wise person once told me that when you survey your environment  the thing that you are the most annoyed with, the thing that you have the strongest feelings and desires for are usually the ones you should be interacting with.  Take me as a example.  When I go to a concert I used to be enamored with the Bass Guitar.  So, I eventually went out and bough it anddd I haven't been happier.

Ok...maybe that wasn't the strongest example.  But...Do You Know Who You Are??  By the end of this post, I want you to recite who you are.  Recite that you have a father that calls you his own.  Believe that you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you.  Believe that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly  ABOVE all you can ask or think.  (Eph 3:20)

You were made in the image of God. Wow.  Amazing. The Image of God. (Gen 1:27)

You are a child of God. Never ever lose grip of that. Young or old, bald or mullet-fied, dark or light, short or tall, 2-eyed or 4-eyed.  You are beautiful.  Don't let anyone tell you anything different.

--MJA

Get Out Of My Life!

Do you have that thing?  Do you have that thing that you can't get rid of?  That fallacy that will probably follow you for the rest of your life...That weakness that you have that you consistently have to keep it under grips or else it can ruin your life.  That burning desire that you just have to constantly be aware of or else it can consume you and those around you...

Of course you do.  We all do. We are broken, sinful people that are just screwed up.  We all have fallacies but we all have that one major fallacy.  For me, mine always seems to come out at the most inopportune times.  At times when I'm the most vulnerable. And to be honest, it's only my the grace of God that I don't allow it to consume those around me.

You know what I'm talking about.  That issue that you have that you hide.  That problem that you lock deep down inside of you.  You can't let anyone see it.  It's just between you and God right?  The Apostle Paul knew exactly what was going on. 

"Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleased with the Lord to take it away from me." - 2 Cor. 12:7-8

A messenger of Satan to torment you.  Does anyone here know what I mean??  TORMENT, won't leave you alone! Why can't these thoughts just leave my head...Why do I have this huge flaw?  I've asked God to take it away.  To fully cleanse me of this issue but He hasn't.  Are you listening to me God?  I need to stop, I need to fully take charge of my life.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties   For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Cor. 12:9-10

Why does Paul, why do you, why do I have this thorn in the flesh?  For one, it's to stop us from being conceited   But more importantly, it's so we realize...we recognize that it is literally only by the Grace of God that we are able to control it even a little bit.  When I have my "outbreaks" I have to literally stop and pray.  It's the times when I am the weakest, when I actually paradoxically become the strongest because I'm fully relying in the Lord.

But lets not stop there because trust me, I know.  I know that sometimes I slip.  And sometimes I have to repent.  Sometimes I say or do the wrong thing.  Sometimes my weakness(es) win.  And for that, I'm coming to realize that I need to tell someone about this.  I need someone to hold me accountable for my actions.  To check on me, to keep me grounded ya know? 

Here's the thing, I wouldn't suggest using a person that is of the gender that you are attracted to (for example, I shouldn't use a woman) because when you open up like that, feelings can become attached and if something were to happen such as a break-up, it could scar you for life.  Find someone that you can confide in.  That you can trust.  But most importantly, isn't afraid to get into your face and tell you to STOP IT. Or at least that's what I've realized.  I've come to the point where I keep losing.  My thoughts, my actions are failing.  My willpower is becoming futile.  I need help.  I need help from a brotha.  

You need help.  My brotha, you need to be able to trust another man to have your back!  My sister, you need to trust ya girly to hold you accountable.  It's a scary life out there.  BUT there is hope!   I know you need some scripture  "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them." (Matt 18:20) And a huge emphasis on the power of 2: "How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up." (Deut. 32:30)  By yourself, you can chase 1,000, but with another...10,000.  That's kind of a big deal.

Most likely, my Thorn(s) will always be around.  Most likely, I will succumb to it.  But I know that when I fall, I won't be weak.  I'll be stronger than ever before.  However, falling into is still isn't fun.  I don't want my thorn to tear apart my future, my friends..my life. So, I'm going to chase off the ten thousand and find an accountability partner. I will NOT let this ruin me.  And I know you won't either.

--MJA

My Prayer

This post is going to be a little different.  For one, it's probably going to be my shortest post, but it's also not going to be a normal one.  This one is My Prayer.  I don't know if people are actually going to read this or not, but this is My Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come into you name lifting up the readers,

I don't know if they are young

or if they are old.

I don't know if they are believers

or if they haven't yet professed your name.

But, I know that they are hurting.

I know that they are struggling.

I know that they need help.

I know that they need encouragement....

We all do.

I pray that you continue to use your Spirit.

To continue to dwell in the temple of your New Israel.

I just pray that you don't leave us...

I just pray...

Continue to bless our lives according to your will

Continue to accept us despite our faults...

our mistakes...

our blunders...

our sins...

I want to thank you for your Son.

I want to thank you for giving him up for the ultimate sacrifice.

I want to thank you for sparing your wrath.

Watch over us.

Please... watch over us as we embark on this crazy this crazy thing called life;

We need you...I need you!

I pray that this blog is reaching people in need.

I pray that your Word is being proclaimed eloquently and sufficiently.

Father, Your Grace Is Enough for me.

Ahhh your grace...it's so amazing and soooo undeserved.

I pray that you continue to use me as a vessel...

To use your people as a vessel for your namesake.

Teach us how to love...

how to forgive...

how to bless others as you did us.

When I doubt, be that comforter

When we cry, be the greatest hugger

When I yell, be my shoulder I can lean on

When we pray, hear us...

Bless Your people. Love Your People. Keep Your People

In Your Matchless Name I Pray.

Amen.

--MJA

I'd rather be Clark Kent than Superman

One time, my co-blogger, Moises made a status on his Facebook that said as follows:

"I've been reminded that it's okay to be weak because that's when God works in crazy amazing ways. I'm honored to serve an awesome, mighty God!"

Instantly, when I saw that I began to have a mini-shout in my head especially because of the first part of that statement. It's ok for me to be weak.  I don't have to do it all.  Thank God for that!

I recall that in my series about relationships (What's Goin On [part 1]) where I interviewed ladies on what annoyed them about me, one of the surprising things that popped up was that they don't like it when men try to fix everything.  Sometimes they just like to vent to us.  And if I'm going to be honest, that, as a man, as a man that loves to fix problems, shocked me.  Actually, it kinda rattled me.  But after hearing woman, after woman saying the same thing, I knew that it was a problem.  

Now, when I look back on it, I'm thankful that ya'll don't expect us men to be Superman; it's ok to be Clark Kent!  To be honest, I'd rather be Clark Kent than Superman.  God is similar, but different at the same time.  Let me explain what I mean:

There are over 600 Laws in the Old Testament (OT) that God gave the Israelites to follow which were transcribed through Moses.  The reason for the amount of laws, is because that would be Israel's way to prove to God that they loved him.  If they didn't follow the laws, God's wrath would be placed upon them (which happened PLENTY of times).  However, if they did, God would bless them and keep them from harm.  The problem is, they went through ebs and flows of doing the right thing, and then turning around doing the wrong thing.  They would worship only God for 20 years, and then devote themselves to idols for five years. And that drove GOD crazy! (The book of Exodus articulates this topic a ton)

It not only drove God crazy, but it also broke his heart.  He didn't want to see his people keep doing stupid self.  It got to the point, that there was soo much blood on their hands, sin had stained their souls that it was basically irreversible.  The only way to fix their faults was for a sinless man to be offered up a sacrifice.

Now, there wasn't a sinless man alive until God sent his only begotten son, Jesus into this earth. And let me tell you, Satan tried EVERYTHING in his power to blemish Jesus...butttt...it didn't work.  When it all came down to it, Jesus took on the wrath of God, conquered the deepest depths of Sheoul (Hell) to wipe our slates clean and to set us free from the wrath of God.

Because of that, we no longer have to be perfect under the law.  I'm hear to tell you that Christianity is not a set of do's and don'ts.  It's not about who is the "better" Christian.  It's not about legalism.  It's about love.

God wants you to have a good time.  But we have to keep in mind that every single commandment given to the Israelites also centered around one principle: love.  Take a few of the 10 Commandments, Do not love other Gods (because God loves you, so why would you love others), Do not murder (murdering implies anger towards your neighbor, complete opposite of love), Do not commit adultery (cheating on someone is for one a selfish act that act isn't loving others as you love yourself).  I can go on...and on.

But here's the thing.  Yes, Christianity, following Jesus isn't about legalism.  Because if it was....I would've failed a looooooonnnnng time ago and so would you have...don't front! BUT, when you commit yourself to love.  When you commit yourself to God. Something changes. The Bible tells us that, "when you are in Christ, you are a NEW Creation, the old ways have become new."  So, what does that tell me?  It tells me that, when you fully devote yourself to God, there's no way you can possibly do all the stuff you used to do and it feels the same.  There's a thing called the Holy Spirit that lives in us and that connects us to God and I don't know about you, but everrry once ina while, when I do something that I KNOW I shouldn't be doin, I get a little inner pull.  Now I can choose to ignore that tug and then I have to repent, butttt I've learned that it hurts a heck of alot less to listen and concede to that pull than not.

I have a problem with "religious" people that have placed the myth in peoples heads that God wants to keep you in bondage.  That God wants you to be boring.  That God wants you to be unattractive to others. Nahhhhhhh!  (I'm going to steal a line from Pastor Waller right here):  

God doesn't want to keep you in bonds; He wants to keep you from going OUT-OF-BOUNDS. 

He wants you to be safe in his arms.  He doesn't want you to get hurt.  You are his chilren'.  Ya hear me??  That tug, that kick, that pull you get from the Spirit isn't anything but God saying, hold on, if you keep going down that road something negative might happen.  It might not happen today, or tomorrow, or this year, but it will happen.  

Despite all the warnings in the world we get.  We still choose to go down the "bad" paths.  And the amazing thing is that we aren't going to Hell for it.  No one here is able to keep all 600+ rules faithfully to a teed.  But, you can easily confess that you are a sinner and that you need to be saved, and instantly, that weight is lifted off your chest.  I mean can you imagine trying to lift a 600lb barbell...I sure can't!

I'm so thankful that Jesus called to me when he said: "come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Ahhhh rest.  A book I just finished called Disciples of a Godly Young Man sums this point up perfectly:

"God save us from the misery of such a system that sets up spirituality as a series of wooden laws and then says, 'If you do these six, sixteen, or sixty-six things, you will be godly ' Christianity  godliness, is far more than a checklist.  Being 'In Christ' is a relationship, and like all relationships it deserves disciplined maintenance, but never the 'shrink-wrap' of legalism." - pg. 175

Mistakes are made, we live through them, we learn from them, but we don't go to Hell just because of them.  And I thank GOD for that!

--MJA

I Disagree...(2012 Election)

So, the election is finally over and we now have a victor.  Congratulations President Barack Obama.  But also, congratulations to Republican Candidate Mitt Romney for a well fought campaign that literally came down to the wire.  It was the prime example of how a great election could be numbers wise.

I now have to write an obligatory "political" blog about the election and how elated and/or disappointed I am in the results (I'll let you choose which one if any).  However, I've seen enough hate out of my Facebook friends, Twitter follows and talk within my ear that I don't feel the need to gloat/vent about the turnout of the election because everyone is doing it for me!

There isn't anything wrong with being passionate one way or another.  But it is wrong to put down someone else's view, to try to take someone else's joy just because you are upset with the outcome.  It is wrong to just be downright disrespectful to the victor or the loser.  It's dehumanizing as well as un-Christ like.  And that's what's bothering me about the outcome.

I can handle all the mudslinging for the politicians because that's what we've come to in todays life.  But when I hear, just like I did in '08 that the world is going to end, that everyone that's against the election is gonna move to Canada, my heart aches.  In life, there are winners and losers, in sports there are winners and loser, in politics there are winners and loser.  It's just the way things go.

Disagreeing with ones policies is one thing and if people were to say, that they don't think the economy, the deficit, education, etc etc is gonna improve then thats fine with me.  It's those extra extremities that is too much.  Whatever happened to civil disagreement.  That's how We are supposed to act.  We, Christians especially, are supposed to love one another despite differences, so why is there hate?  I just don't understand. And it reallllly frustrates me as I look through my feeds.  Aren't we supposed to do everything ina loving Christian manner as Paul continuously says through his letter?  Aren't people supposed to feel the love of Jesus through us?  Aren't we supposed to be the Salt and Light of the world??? (Matthew 5:13-16)

Mitt Romney put his heart out on this election.  He was sooo into it that he didn't write a concession speech. He didn't even wanna let the idea of losing creep into his head which is the sign of a great competitor   But when he lost, he went out with grace, respect, honesty, and love.  One of the (if not THE) most disappointed man in the nation, had to get out in front of his peeps, and tell them that its over.  I can't imagine all the thoughts that ran through his head...disappointment, anger, fear...But he knew what he had to do and did an absolutely amazing job at it.  He stated that we need to pray for this nation and the President.  And I get the feeling he wasn't just saying that if you know what I mean. He put it all out on the line, no remorse, just moving forward.

And that's what we all should do.  We should respond to the results with love and grace.  You can be disappointed, but don't become disrespectful ESPECIALLY in public my friends.  Join Mitt and pray for our nation, pray for our President, pray for each other.  There are plenty of issues in our daily lives that stress us out, sooo lets not let politics become divisions from friendships, spouses, or even the church!  You can disagree, you can be sad, you can be a little upset, but remember, in alll things do it with love. (1 Corinthians 16:1)  Let's chill with all this hate ya'll.

--MJA