The "G" (Gospel)

I have noticed a significant change in my life. I am happy, joyful,confident, passionate and excited. I am fired up and have a fire in my bones that cant be put out. When I think about it, I can't help but to proclaim it. When I hear about it, I want to shout it. When I understand it; it changes everything.

 The Gospel. Something in our era, that is either assumed or taken granted for.
It is the story of Gods relentless pursuit of rebels, like me and like you.

We are sinners. We deserve death.Punishment. Eternal separation. We are unclean and therefore can not be in the presence of a Just God. There is nothing that we can do for him to love us. Our best works are as filthy rags( Isaiah 64:6) You're a sinner, I am sinner. We are enemies of the creator. Period. -this is bad news.

There is one God, who made us in his image male and female. He knew us and loved us, cared and provided for us and then we sinned against him. We wanted to be our own god, so we turned our back on him to sin, Satan, death and hell. He could have let us go that route( If that’s what you’ve chosen that’s what you get.)but he didnt. God is loving, passionate gracious, and caring, he didn’t just stand by and watch it happen, but entered into it as Jesus Christ wrapping himself in flesh. Coming as a person he took responsibility for our faults. He suffered and was tempted as we are. We treated him horribly. We laughed at him. We mocked him. We spit at him and then he went to the cross and we killed him. He took our sins upon him; past present and future. Dying as a substitute on the cross, in our place and for our sins. Three days later Christ rose again conquering sin, Satan and death; Forgiving us, and embracing us.

We no longer have to worry about what we have to do, because Christ has already done it.  There is now no condemnation, guilt, and shame. Though our condition is bad, our position is in Christ."He who knew no sin became sin, so that we may become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21).Though we are more terrible and wicked then we could ever imagine, God loves us more then we could ever hope or dream. This is very good news.

Though we are justified, we are continually being sanctified and one day glorified. The grace doesn't stop at the Cross, it only begins there.We are still sinners. We are still in need for grace; that never changes.  We are beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.When we understand the implications of the Gospel, it changes everything. The Gospel sets the non-Christians free from the penalty of sin, and the Gospel sets the christian free from the power of sin. The Gospel is the center of everything that we do.

are you with me?

 also, check out
(http://rylanauger.blogspot.com/2011/02/good-news.html)

lead me.

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/s/sanctus-real-lyrics/lead-me-lyrics.html ]
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

make me a man.

The lack of godly men in our world is now a cultural crisis.  We are not going to solve the problem by ignoring ``Ban``(males who have prolonged their adolescence; a mix between boy and man) and hoping that he eventually grows up.  We are not going to solve the problem by encouraging women to take up the slack. We solve the problem by modeling biblical manhood and calling adult boys to forsake their youthful lusts and become the men that God is calling them to be.




“God, make me a man with thick skin and a soft heart.  Make me a man who is tough and tender.  Make me tough so I can handle life.  Make me tender so I can love people.  God, make me a man.”

-church planter

do we get it?

I recently over heard a conversation while studying in a coffee shop. It disturbed and upset me. Two "christians" were discussing a mind set that so many people in our era have. They were saying how Christianity is all about getting to heaven (or escaping from hell)
There is a lot of confusion and ignorance in this mindset.This is not True Christianity.The point of Christianity, of Christs coming, isn't to save us from hell. Let me say that again.The point of Christs coming isnt to save us from hell it is to bring us back in relationship with the Father.

If God is this Holy and pure thing, and we aren't, there is a force of separation, and an incompatibility, therefore we can never be together. We turned our backs from him, decided we wanted to go our own way leading and choosing the path of sin, satan and destruction .He could have left us that way. If that's what we chose that's what we get; but he didn't. Jesus comes and lives the life we did not live, dies the death we we should have died, and gives the gift we can not earn. Gods holy, we're holy and now we can join together. The point of Christianity isn't to save us from hell, its to bring us back in relationship as it always was meant to be.  Now we get to know God, see God, understand God, be in relationship with God. So many "christians" miss this. I don't want to miss it, and I don't want you to either.

do we get it?

When I remember.

That boy is gone
Sometimes i miss the way he wept at night
To be still and not run
To be rocked to sleep in your light
These days there is not much that will bring tears to my eyes
But when i remember who i am and who you are
When i remember
A cloud moves in, rain falls, thunder strikes, and sunshine breaks through the clouds

I am walking blind
So distracted that i dont even feel when you hold me
When did i grow such thick skin
You are my sunshine and rain
My joy and sweet pain
I'm a spotless stain
That boy is gone
But nobody moves me like you do
When i remember

A cloud moves in, rain falls, thunder strikes
And sunshine breaks through the clouds
I can cry out of sorrow and joy
Every drop of rain turns into a crystal in the sun
So wash my eyes, my clothes, my skin, my bones, my soul
My feet, my love
I'm not forgotten
I'm in your thoughts cause i feel sunshine in the rain

To this day nobody moves
Nobody
Nobody moves me like you do