Suffer

A Christian is someone who shares the sufferings of God in the world.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

To believe that everyone in America that claims is a Christian, is living this suffering life for Christ is preposterous. God has always commanded us that we must suffer for Christ and share in His sufferings. But its been such a burden to me, that the only reason so many people are "Christian" is so they have a ticket to Heaven. God is worthy of our entire lives, and I believe He expects the believer to commit his/her life to Him.

Why are preachers today only making sure they have attendance in Church? Let's talk about how we must give it all to Christ. He demands everything!!! And why do we rely on just our preachers to give the Word? Christians need to make a stand for God's word, and living out ALL the Word. It is the only way for change to occur.

Please join me in prayer for our church to wake from the deep sleep and become sold out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Take The Savior

Rocking back and forth, the boat continues to move forward. Sweat crawling down my face, my eyes are squinting for more victims who need to be saved. It was 12 years ago today, when I myself got rescued from this bottomless pit of water. This ocean is so vast, and swallows the lives of so many people. In return, I must live my life to give these stranded mortals a life preserver; which is all I can give them. But why do some refuse to use it? It is just so simple, but I ought not let the ones who refuse, to stop me from offering to everyone.

Today seemed somber to say the least. The waves would not stop crashing against the boat, and the debris made it hard to find anyone. "There has gotta be a wrecked soul," I kept telling myself. Immediately my eye caught a hand paddling against the salty monster. The victim then somewhat exposed his face, it was full of despair. So I prepared to put my training into practice. A chance to give someone life, a chance to provide what has already been given to me.

Approaching toward the body, I could sense he was not willing to acquire what I was about to offer him. "Get away, I can do this by myself. I don't need a savior." He exclaimed in disgust. But I continued to approach him, for I know there is hardly ever anybody who wants this gift at first sight. Throwing the life preserver, I begin to explain how and why he should take it. I pontificate on how he must give his life to this savior, or he will lose it. Why wasn't he budging? I knew I was going to have to persist.

I cried, "Trust me. I have been through this as well. I am aware that you think you can do this on your own. I thought so too." I began to plea. "Please! You don't understand. You need this, but I can't lie about it. It is gonna be hard to get into it, but it will be worth it." He continued to not want anything to do with me. Should I just leave this helpless boy alone? Or do I continue to persist in telling him what I know will save his life? I chose the latter.

"But I have made it this far, and I can keep going. I want to do what's best for me. My life is about me, so get out of it." The boy spoke aggressively. "If I choose this, then I can't do what I want. I want to live my life, by my rules." As he spoke, I knew of so many replies to give him. Of course he was wrong, of course he needs to take this only chance. Instead, I proceeded to show him love, the thing he needed most.

"Man, I know you think you can. We all do, but I care about how you end up. If I can just show you what is ahead in this journey, you will want to take this life. But I can't if you don't wanna hear it." Ending my sentence, I began to worry that I lost my chance of leading him to this boat of security. But there was no way I could force him, so what do I do? I fell on my knees in prayer. Asking God to soften his heart, and show him that he needs the only way. The way that requires him to understand that he could not do it. As I continue in relentless prayer, I heard a faint voice.

"Wait. I think I may want to have this life. But I have a few questions first." Not realizing he was still present and saw me praying, I got up and leaned over to answer his questions. He asked things such as where will he end up, will he be fed, and will I help him through it. I answered with such an excitement that I was emerging in dance. For they were the questions that made way for the answers to life.

"You don't need to recite any words after me, just take the preserver man!" I yelled. "I will not rush you. But here it is." So he took it. I was so overjoyed, and I pulled him in. He now was a part of my crew, and as he walked into the boat, he looked into the horizon. I could discern that he was wondering why there were so many other boats in the distance. So I decided to speak up. "Those guys experienced what you just did. They found that savior and want to offer it to all these drowning victims. It is the only way, and we need you to save more lives along with us." He gladly accepted the commission. Of course, we need some more boats to reach this whole ocean. But as for me, I can make a difference one life at a time.

We as evangelist need to realize that its not about numbers.. When Christians don't think about every person and care for their salvation. We just tell them to repeat a prayer so we can count them in our number of "saved" and "baptisms".

Yes, some do get saved from repeating the words... But honestly what is the ratio of it working?!?!?! I hear of a revival in towns and how thousands of people turned to the Lord, but then the people in the church in that town can't find any of them!!! Do we honestly think they are saved? James was not kidding when he said faith without works is dead. If we are truly transformed by the gospel, we change everything! We commit it all to God!

This is short, because I feel an urge to stop writing and to pray. I may elaborate on this later on, but please. please! Tell people the true Gospel!!! Let's realize we are not doing the people a service when we just say pray this prayer that I will say and you repeat. and then claim them to be a child of God. Let's be sensitive about the most precious gift ever given.

Essay for School

Don't Waste Your Life

With senior year coming and going, life is a big question mark to many people. What am I here for on this earth? What can I do to impact this world? These thoughts go through many of our heads whether we admit it or not. In fact, it'd be intriguing to hear everyone's answers if they had one. But what is my meaning of life? And if I know what my meaning of life is, do I show it through my actions?

To answer, the meaning of my life is all about Christ. I am a wretch, a sinner, a no good, dirty, filthy person that has been redeemed. Christ died on the cross and drank from the cup for me and for everyone else. He has extended an invitation to all, but God only rewards those who accept it. But sadly people falsely accept the gospel if they even do at all. Their gospel is to accept the blood and move on with life, the gospel that is in the Bible is to accept the blood and have it be our new life. To radically become a new creation; to understand the old has gone, the new has come. To live my life with a meaningful purpose, is to live for the gospel. To devote my entire life to Christ, even if it means to die for it. To take my money, my family, my job, my friends, and everything else I have as a way to glorify God and not myself.

Why would I invest in myself when I know I am going to die on this earth anyway? I'd rather invest myself in a savior who gives me eternal life, and work for Him by helping lead others to this same conviction. To not waste my life, is to proclaim the good news. And if I don't explain the good news in this paper, then I am a hypocrite. Its the news people do not hear about these days. The news that to get to heaven does not mean you can by a prayer that you repeat after the pastor. It is about recognizing we have sinned and therefore, we cannot connect to the holy God. By admitting that we cannot go to heaven by ourselves, for we are too messed up to get their on our own. We must open our eyes from the deep sleep and see that Christ is the only way to God. His death and blood has covered our sin, so that we can become holy and be near God. But most importantly, after this conviction, we must devote our entire lives for Christ. Its a complete surrender. Using everything to glorify Christ, which you can through all of your talents and gifts you receive, which are from God in the first place.

This simple instruction is the good news, but people would rather put it off another day. Who is to say you have another day? Or people tell me I waste my life because I put it all on Christ. In which I reply "If Jesus did not die on the cross, my life is wasted. But if He did, my life is well lived." People also say they cannot handle the persecution that comes with it. But 2 Corinthians 1:5 says, "For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." So not only is my life dedicated to this cause, but the cause continues to return the favor and give me peace that passes understanding. So this is my life's meaning, and I do not wish to coerce it on others. But simply invite them with a plea, for who can love someone and not be urgent to save them from death?