So tonight I have spent sometime while also watching 24 just going through peoples blogs and reading what they have to say. Now I have to admit that I do not know half the peoples blogs I went to. I would start on one persons blog look who was following them and then just follow an endless path of random people's blogs. Sounds creepy I bet! But I am not trying to be creepy just trying to be someone who likes to read and see what exactly is going on in peoples lives from all over America. And when I was done reading I had come to know one thing and that is, I love people who have a heart for Christ.
Some of the blogs I read were about some of the most deeply and profound things about Christ that I have read. And everyone I read seemed as though they were college students not old bible scholars. From people my own age. These blogs showed their passions and love for Christ and all his mysterious ways. I have to admit that I admire people like that. People who take time to just write about the love of their Savior and the love he offers to all of mankind. I find it amazing and to be honest if it was a girls blog I read, kind of attractive.(haha yeah I know lame)
So people keep doing what you do and share the Love that Christ has given you. Share your hurt and your pain and share how there is only one way above the hurt. Though sorrow may last for the night Joy comes in the morning. Keep writing keep going deeper keep striving for the one worth striving for. I love you all, and cannot wait to read some more of your writings.
Your Brother in Christ,
Brent
P.S. There is a part 2 to my last blog coming soon so be ready. And read it if you haven't.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
What We ALL Need!!
Before you begin reading this I ask that you examine your heart first. Why do I ask you to examine your heart you might ask? Because I want you to be able to know what your heart truly looks like and how you are truly living while reading this post. I try not to write anything that will not first convict myself every time I read it., but to also convict those who take the time to read it. It is the reason I pray that God is my hands as they type and that God is the words that pour out onto paper. We all know that God is speaking it is just up to us whether or not to listen and I pray that God speaks through what I write here tonight. So please examine your heart before continuing on. Seek Christ and ask him what he truly wants to teach you and what he may be able to teach you through these words.
For the last couple weeks I have been in the intense searching and seeking period in my life. Now this is something we all go through from time to time and I truly think we should continue to seek Christ. In the midst of my seeking and searching I learned a few things that I feel helped change my mindset and I think will also change yours.
When I was done seeking I found out the one thing I was truly missing in my life and the one thing most Christians are missing in life is the brotherly and sisterly encouragement from the body of believers. I read Ephesians 4 and 5 and noticed that my life does not match up with those standards of how to love people and then I realized I have only met a few people who truly live that out. I began to think what if when we fall there was truly a body of believers that dropped everything they have to come help you up? They truly came out of know where to help you up and dust you off when you fail.
So many times today people fall into deep sin and instead of people trying to encourage them and help them we are quick to write them off and just constantly rebuke them for what they are becoming. Now do not get me wrong there is a right and wrong time to rebuke someone but sometimes all they need is a helping hand saying “Hey I am here grab my hand I am going to be with you through this trial”
I can think of a few friends of mine that I know that if I or some of my friends just stretched out a hand to help then they may not have fallen so deeply into the endless pit of sin that they did. I can think of a dear friend of mine who at one time was serving as a Youth Pastor and then the church this person was working out asked him to step down due to some dumb parents complaining about things. This was a very tough time on him and he fail into a pit and tried to cover up his pain with so many other things. When deep down he was screaming for someone to just reach out and grab him and say I am here for you.
What if we became a generation that stopped all the crazy judgments and tearing people apart and truly tried to lift them in their trials and temptations that they go through. If a brother or sister comes to you with a problem pray with them and say you will be here to help them no matter what that means. Ones salvation or relationship with Christ is so much more important then, school, friends, eating, or anything else. Lets start being the people that when we hear someone is in need that we stop whatever we are doing and run after them and show them the love of Christ through our actions. Allow people to cry on your shoulder and know that you are not judging them but truly loving them the way we are called.
I hope you stop and take a moment and just pray to God and ask him to help you in this. It is hard and I am the first to admit it that it is truly hard for me to do. But God is willing to help and He is looking for people to step up and be a light for him to this world. Sometimes we are like Peter and deny Christ and turn our backs but Christ is always calling us back. Sometimes it just really helps to have someone there with us to show us that light.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
- Ephesians 4:29
For the last couple weeks I have been in the intense searching and seeking period in my life. Now this is something we all go through from time to time and I truly think we should continue to seek Christ. In the midst of my seeking and searching I learned a few things that I feel helped change my mindset and I think will also change yours.
When I was done seeking I found out the one thing I was truly missing in my life and the one thing most Christians are missing in life is the brotherly and sisterly encouragement from the body of believers. I read Ephesians 4 and 5 and noticed that my life does not match up with those standards of how to love people and then I realized I have only met a few people who truly live that out. I began to think what if when we fall there was truly a body of believers that dropped everything they have to come help you up? They truly came out of know where to help you up and dust you off when you fail.
So many times today people fall into deep sin and instead of people trying to encourage them and help them we are quick to write them off and just constantly rebuke them for what they are becoming. Now do not get me wrong there is a right and wrong time to rebuke someone but sometimes all they need is a helping hand saying “Hey I am here grab my hand I am going to be with you through this trial”
I can think of a few friends of mine that I know that if I or some of my friends just stretched out a hand to help then they may not have fallen so deeply into the endless pit of sin that they did. I can think of a dear friend of mine who at one time was serving as a Youth Pastor and then the church this person was working out asked him to step down due to some dumb parents complaining about things. This was a very tough time on him and he fail into a pit and tried to cover up his pain with so many other things. When deep down he was screaming for someone to just reach out and grab him and say I am here for you.
What if we became a generation that stopped all the crazy judgments and tearing people apart and truly tried to lift them in their trials and temptations that they go through. If a brother or sister comes to you with a problem pray with them and say you will be here to help them no matter what that means. Ones salvation or relationship with Christ is so much more important then, school, friends, eating, or anything else. Lets start being the people that when we hear someone is in need that we stop whatever we are doing and run after them and show them the love of Christ through our actions. Allow people to cry on your shoulder and know that you are not judging them but truly loving them the way we are called.
I hope you stop and take a moment and just pray to God and ask him to help you in this. It is hard and I am the first to admit it that it is truly hard for me to do. But God is willing to help and He is looking for people to step up and be a light for him to this world. Sometimes we are like Peter and deny Christ and turn our backs but Christ is always calling us back. Sometimes it just really helps to have someone there with us to show us that light.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
- Ephesians 4:29
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Depression 101
I have really begun to fall in love with writing. I have been doing it just about everyday now. Who would have thought that a guy like me would have fallen in love with something like writing. Being able to use words to convey feelings and thoughts that one finds hard to say out loud is amazing. This blog I am going to use written words to once again write something that I find hard to admit out loud. Yes this is a blog that is all about me and the inner struggle that no one sees. I am usually a very straight forward person but even the most honest people still hold things inside. So this is me confessing some of the things that only God sees from me.
I decided the title for this note while walking around Wal-Mart at 2 in the morning. That’s right, the inspiration to write this blog came at Wal-Mart. Who says that place isn’t a good place to go to? Anyways, I have recently felt as though I may be struggling with depression. Not really sure why but I have for some reason been unable to sleep. I sit in my bed for about 3 hours before I finally fall asleep. I have to admit that this Depression is all because of myself and not the medical chemical imbalance problems in ones brain.
I feel God has begun to work in me in a way that honestly I was not prepared for. Thus myself has been fighting back very intensely. I know some of you are sitting here reading this and are thinking, “Why would you fight God?” Well honestly in some way or another we all fight God. I mean think about it God calls some people to be single but yet they continue to seek for a mate. Others he has called to the ministry but they fight him and act like their own life pursuit is much better.
Well since I have been fighting back I have just gone into this state of depression. I know God can cure me of it if I just submit to his will and run after his will and not my own. The thing is, Gods will for me is kind of scary. Following God at times feels like walking off a cliff blindfolded hoping that He catches you before you hit the ground. I know that is kind of an extreme example but I am explaining how I feel. Now how it may feel to you when you go through it. Everyone goes through things differently and everyone, even though we have the same emotions, feels things differently.
I pray that my honesty in this shows that I am human and just because I do write some very deep notes at times that I am human. I strive to be more like our Father in Heaven everyday but I come up short just like everyone else. And thankfully I do, because if I did not come up short if I was in my own mind perfect I would have no need for a Savior. Praise Jesus for my imperfection! Well I hope this blog has touched you in some way and I pray that whatever you are dealing with that you are open to admitting them. Accountability is a beautiful thing and it is through it that we can strive to be closer to Christ.
Love You ALL
Brent
P.S. Since I love writing do you think I should actually start grammar checking my notes? I never do that I just write and post.
I decided the title for this note while walking around Wal-Mart at 2 in the morning. That’s right, the inspiration to write this blog came at Wal-Mart. Who says that place isn’t a good place to go to? Anyways, I have recently felt as though I may be struggling with depression. Not really sure why but I have for some reason been unable to sleep. I sit in my bed for about 3 hours before I finally fall asleep. I have to admit that this Depression is all because of myself and not the medical chemical imbalance problems in ones brain.
I feel God has begun to work in me in a way that honestly I was not prepared for. Thus myself has been fighting back very intensely. I know some of you are sitting here reading this and are thinking, “Why would you fight God?” Well honestly in some way or another we all fight God. I mean think about it God calls some people to be single but yet they continue to seek for a mate. Others he has called to the ministry but they fight him and act like their own life pursuit is much better.
Well since I have been fighting back I have just gone into this state of depression. I know God can cure me of it if I just submit to his will and run after his will and not my own. The thing is, Gods will for me is kind of scary. Following God at times feels like walking off a cliff blindfolded hoping that He catches you before you hit the ground. I know that is kind of an extreme example but I am explaining how I feel. Now how it may feel to you when you go through it. Everyone goes through things differently and everyone, even though we have the same emotions, feels things differently.
I pray that my honesty in this shows that I am human and just because I do write some very deep notes at times that I am human. I strive to be more like our Father in Heaven everyday but I come up short just like everyone else. And thankfully I do, because if I did not come up short if I was in my own mind perfect I would have no need for a Savior. Praise Jesus for my imperfection! Well I hope this blog has touched you in some way and I pray that whatever you are dealing with that you are open to admitting them. Accountability is a beautiful thing and it is through it that we can strive to be closer to Christ.
Love You ALL
Brent
P.S. Since I love writing do you think I should actually start grammar checking my notes? I never do that I just write and post.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Are you Like James "the Brother of Jesus"
My last blog hit a subject that I believe effects many believers of Christ and that is the idea of apathy or being complacent to Christ. Since posting that I have gone into a lot deeper thought process on this subject and it made me come to the idea that “Most church people do not have a honest and personal relationship with Christ.” I know some of you read that and you are thinking Brent you are ridiculous that is not true at all. I am going to approach this idea in a way that I hope makes you think deeply about that statement and that I hope challenges you to examine your own heart. Understand everything I write is about something that I myself have been convicted of and something I feels others feel also.
When approaching this I want to look at one main person and that is James the brother of Jesus. Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 both talk about James and his brothers and sisters as people who took offense to the things that Jesus was doing. You would think that someone who was under the roof of the Christ for most of his life would be a believer. James is said to be the oldest sibling of Christ of course younger then Jesus himself but could have still be very near his age. With this point I make my claim that most church people do not have a honest and personal relationship with Christ. James had the center of church in his home for years. They probably played games together and talked together a lot since they were brothers. But yet when Jesus was out telling people who he was James took offense to this.
I feel that today this how a lot of us are. We are in church every Sunday but yet we do not believe. We know all the truths, we know what it truly means to follow God, we even know some scripture but yet we do not believe. We have seen Christ do miraculous things for some people but yet we still do not believe. It is very easy to say this because if everyone in the church did truly believe then the church would be doing amazing things for God and would be moving faster and farther into the unknown then we have ever known.
The main problem is that people think that they have an alright relationship with Christ because they go every week. Honestly that’s not true because without the repentance and without honestly following God we are doomed. James himself talks about that even the demons believe in one god and shudder.(James 2:19) We have become very set in our ways and because of this a lot of times we do not even know that we are like James. It took Jesus himself appearing to James after his resurrection for him to truly believe.
For those of you who are reading this I want you to earnestly look into your heart. Look and see if you are like James. See if you have been the one who has been in Church but yet honestly deep down never believed in the one who offers salvation to all who call on his name. (Please talk to me if you have anymore questions about this I would love to talk with you or take out to lunch if you want to talk more.) Also I want everyone to look and see what it is that you need to give up to truly do what God wants you to do.
I envision a world that has stepped up and pursue God in such a way that everyone who encounters them must also encounter Christ. Let us step up and Worship God the way he longs to see us Worship. Let us immerse ourselves in His Word and Pray without ceasing. Let us be like James after he encountered the risen Christ and take a stand even if that means be martyred like he was.
When approaching this I want to look at one main person and that is James the brother of Jesus. Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 both talk about James and his brothers and sisters as people who took offense to the things that Jesus was doing. You would think that someone who was under the roof of the Christ for most of his life would be a believer. James is said to be the oldest sibling of Christ of course younger then Jesus himself but could have still be very near his age. With this point I make my claim that most church people do not have a honest and personal relationship with Christ. James had the center of church in his home for years. They probably played games together and talked together a lot since they were brothers. But yet when Jesus was out telling people who he was James took offense to this.
I feel that today this how a lot of us are. We are in church every Sunday but yet we do not believe. We know all the truths, we know what it truly means to follow God, we even know some scripture but yet we do not believe. We have seen Christ do miraculous things for some people but yet we still do not believe. It is very easy to say this because if everyone in the church did truly believe then the church would be doing amazing things for God and would be moving faster and farther into the unknown then we have ever known.
The main problem is that people think that they have an alright relationship with Christ because they go every week. Honestly that’s not true because without the repentance and without honestly following God we are doomed. James himself talks about that even the demons believe in one god and shudder.(James 2:19) We have become very set in our ways and because of this a lot of times we do not even know that we are like James. It took Jesus himself appearing to James after his resurrection for him to truly believe.
For those of you who are reading this I want you to earnestly look into your heart. Look and see if you are like James. See if you have been the one who has been in Church but yet honestly deep down never believed in the one who offers salvation to all who call on his name. (Please talk to me if you have anymore questions about this I would love to talk with you or take out to lunch if you want to talk more.) Also I want everyone to look and see what it is that you need to give up to truly do what God wants you to do.
I envision a world that has stepped up and pursue God in such a way that everyone who encounters them must also encounter Christ. Let us step up and Worship God the way he longs to see us Worship. Let us immerse ourselves in His Word and Pray without ceasing. Let us be like James after he encountered the risen Christ and take a stand even if that means be martyred like he was.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Thinking....
I have recently been wrestling with the idea of writing a book. I know it may sound silly but one thing I long to do in my life is to reach people from many different areas. I long to help disciple and to teach everyone around me.
The books focus would be looking at the church in the way that our generation does. What it is that people our age want to see and how we want to see a revolution happen. A lot of books that are released today are pointed to more to the later adult hood age. Even the people that write to people of our age are 30 years older then us most times. I wanted to know your thoughts on this idea and if you think it is something I should pursue. If you think it would be something that maybe you would read or something you think I should undertake let me know. Feel free to be honest and you can even hit the anonymous button if you do not think it is a good idea, so that you do not feel like i will think differently of you.
I feel our generation needs to be herd and I think this would be an interesting book/study that will help people understand.
Thanks
Love You All
Brent
The books focus would be looking at the church in the way that our generation does. What it is that people our age want to see and how we want to see a revolution happen. A lot of books that are released today are pointed to more to the later adult hood age. Even the people that write to people of our age are 30 years older then us most times. I wanted to know your thoughts on this idea and if you think it is something I should pursue. If you think it would be something that maybe you would read or something you think I should undertake let me know. Feel free to be honest and you can even hit the anonymous button if you do not think it is a good idea, so that you do not feel like i will think differently of you.
I feel our generation needs to be herd and I think this would be an interesting book/study that will help people understand.
Thanks
Love You All
Brent
Friday, January 22, 2010
Complacent Christians are the Devils Greatest Weapon
It has been over 24 hours since the thought "Complacent Christians are the Devils greatest weapon," came to my mind. Complacency for those of you who may not know what that word means exactly means, one has become apathetic to ones need or problem. Ever since then I have been processing through writing this and what exactly I should say. I have to admit that this in my mind if probably the most important writing I have ever done in my mind. More important then the “where is worship” series I did. This is on a thought that has convicted me and has begun to change my relationship with God.
I began to look at scripture and the main scripture that comes to mind when thinking about complacency is Revelation 3:14-22. In this passage you have God talking to the church at Laodicea and he tells them they are nether Hot nor Cold and since they were nether he was going to spit them out of his mouth. This is the main spot in scripture that I feel really attacks the idea of Complacency. The followers of Christ at Laodicea have become so apathetic in their view for Christ that he says since they are nether hot nor cold he would spit them out of his mouth. I do not know about you but someone spitting something out there mouth does not sound like a good thing. Is this something that we really want done to us as quote unquote followers of Christ?
I have to be honest this thought scares me and makes me look at the world around us. I see a lost and dying world who does not care at all about the creator of this world. The worst part of all this is that Christians have become apathetic to Christ. We do not care anymore, we have allowed sin to creep so far into us that we can not even understand Christ love anymore. We have no love for His word or to pray to their father in heaven, we have a huge heart issue. We should be reaching out but instead we are becoming more like the world everyday. That is why I say we are the Devils greatest weapon.
Every time I look out at my quote unquote Christians brothers and sisters, it seems that we have become more worldly then the world. I understand that this life is not easy and we all fall short of Gods glory but there is difference between being complacent to sin and occasionally messing up and then repenting for it. As Christians we have become a un-repentant group of people and that is the very reason why more people are turning away from Christ then turning toward him. I had a friend say to me the other day that every youth pastor they know do not act like it outside of church. This is what made me think about all this.
I pray this has hit your heart and has convicted you in the way it has convicted me. We need to not conform to the patterns of this world but we need to transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) :We need to stand up for once and throw away all the garbage that is dragging us down. Whatever it is, cursing, smoking, drinking, porn, lying, and pick up our crosses and run after Christ. The one who saved and redeemed us. It is when we allow God to change our hearts that we can truly change the hearts of others.
I love you all
I began to look at scripture and the main scripture that comes to mind when thinking about complacency is Revelation 3:14-22. In this passage you have God talking to the church at Laodicea and he tells them they are nether Hot nor Cold and since they were nether he was going to spit them out of his mouth. This is the main spot in scripture that I feel really attacks the idea of Complacency. The followers of Christ at Laodicea have become so apathetic in their view for Christ that he says since they are nether hot nor cold he would spit them out of his mouth. I do not know about you but someone spitting something out there mouth does not sound like a good thing. Is this something that we really want done to us as quote unquote followers of Christ?
I have to be honest this thought scares me and makes me look at the world around us. I see a lost and dying world who does not care at all about the creator of this world. The worst part of all this is that Christians have become apathetic to Christ. We do not care anymore, we have allowed sin to creep so far into us that we can not even understand Christ love anymore. We have no love for His word or to pray to their father in heaven, we have a huge heart issue. We should be reaching out but instead we are becoming more like the world everyday. That is why I say we are the Devils greatest weapon.
Every time I look out at my quote unquote Christians brothers and sisters, it seems that we have become more worldly then the world. I understand that this life is not easy and we all fall short of Gods glory but there is difference between being complacent to sin and occasionally messing up and then repenting for it. As Christians we have become a un-repentant group of people and that is the very reason why more people are turning away from Christ then turning toward him. I had a friend say to me the other day that every youth pastor they know do not act like it outside of church. This is what made me think about all this.
I pray this has hit your heart and has convicted you in the way it has convicted me. We need to not conform to the patterns of this world but we need to transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) :We need to stand up for once and throw away all the garbage that is dragging us down. Whatever it is, cursing, smoking, drinking, porn, lying, and pick up our crosses and run after Christ. The one who saved and redeemed us. It is when we allow God to change our hearts that we can truly change the hearts of others.
I love you all
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Just read/Listen
Just so you understand I really did wing the song, I did not have any words written out or chords prepared or anything. I basically had something on my mind and wanted to do a song/prayer. Usually if I have a lot on my mind or anything I will pick up my guitar and just start singing. This is the first time in my life that I have added something I randomly was singing onto my blog or anything. So please do not judge thats it off tempo or some of the words do not flow well, I just liked the words that came out and I wanted to explain what it is from.
Tonight after the WKU basketball game I got back to my apartment and I got a phone call from a lady at the church where I work. She had informed me that one of my youth's father had died. Understand that I haven't been at this church even a month yet but I was filled with concern for her. It is of course hard to reach out to someone who barely knows you and it is impossible to find words to make any sense of a situation like this. Basically the only words that one could say during this time is to say "I am sorry" and offer to pray with the person. Saying things like "This is Gods will" or "We don't understand Gods timing" honestly do not help. And honestly for young people it can bring a sense of anger against God. So with all this going through my mind I turned on my webcam and started to play guitar and sing. The words I liked a lot and I may rework them a little bit and rerecord it sometime.
The words will be below this but there is one line that stuck out to me after singing. In the song I say "words theres so many words but none can explain the brokenness you feel inside" I wonder how often when trying to help someone we try to make them put words to there feelings when honestly feelings a lot of times do not have words that truly describe them. Well enjoy the song and I hope it can help you in some way.
Words cannot express the feeling you must feel,
Words cannot express a broken heart,
God she needs You now she needs your touch
God come down from heaven; show her your the one
God come down
she needs you now
words theres so many words
but none can explain
the brokeness you feel inside
I come before you now
hoping you will see
the Godwho loves you
the god who loves you
God come now
She needs your grace
Shes broken down inside
and she says it will never be the same
so god come down
she needs you tonight
really now she needs now
So come down from heaven
show her you are who you are
she needs you now
So God come down she needs you
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