Month: April 2004

Just read an article from USA Today saying some top companies are changing their “thinking” on risqué ads. Companies such as Anheuser-Busch, Victoria’s Secret and yes Abercrombie and Fitch are all changing their “thinking”. Thanks to Joshua Claybourn’s Domain for the heads up.

I have been reading “Every young man’s battle” and although I thought it would be impossible to abstain completely from all lust, I have proven myself wrong. It is amazing to feel the change inside of me, I feel physically better because I’m not on sex overdrive anymore. Spiritually I feel more confident and most of all I am falling more in love with the person of Alexis rather than the body. I have made this choice in life, and I know I will not regret it. Sexual purity is very hard idea to grasp in full; it is more than simply abstaining from sexual intercourse before marriage, in fact even after marriage sexual purity is not “easier” to keep.

For me, it has only been a few days of mentally avoiding all lust. However, the rewards are already amazing, I feel liberated in many ways. I am spiritually, mentally, and physically more in tune with God now. This is a dream come true, it is possible I know it. God’s promises never fail, his voice is the voice of truth, I am no longer afraid. Choosing to listen his voice, his word, has repeatedly proven to be amazing.

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do!” Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowds, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the statement he had made. “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that what you eat won’t defile you? Food doesn’t come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then comes out again.” (By saying this, he showed that every kind of food is acceptable.) And then he added, “It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.” [Mark 7:14-23]

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul
But he’s moving on full steam
He’s chasing the American dream
And he’s gonna give his family the finer things

Not this time son I’ve no time to waste
Maybe tomorrow we’ll have time to play
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farter away

So He works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better;
Better in time

‘Cause he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin’ crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

His American Dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
“Daddy, can you come to my game?”
“Oh Baby, please don’t work late.”
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away

‘Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
he tells them things will get better
It’ll just take a little more time

He used to say, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins”
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I’ll take a shack on a rock
Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It’s not getting any better
Looks like he’s running out of time

‘Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

All they really wanted was you
All they really wanted was you
All they really wanted was you

Casting Crowns – American Dream
Song based on Mark 8:34-37 and Ephesians 5:25-33

This person, this man, this future husband and father, will not let this happen. The American dream is not what it is all cracked up to be, however, God’s kingdom is. God’s kingdom is built on the rock, this man chooses to live in that kingdom.

I want to be myself when I am a husband, I do not want to be one person with my wife and another with other people. I want to be authentic in everything I do, but I want to be sensitive at the same time. I want my wife to confide in me, not fear me. I want to confide in my wife and not fear her. I want to work through problems and not run through them. I want my marriage to be a true marriage, one where each party honors, respects, works with, loves, and that is centered on God’s principles. I want to pray together, support each other, be open to her suggestions her ideas. I want to be a husband who strives to fulfill all the biblical values for a good, God-honoring husband. When (and not if) hard times come I will seek God’s counsel in working through those times.

I am making a commitment now to be a husband of integrity, I will not say, “I can’t buy, but what’s wrong with looking at the menu”, that is wrong, dishonoring, and only drives impurity into the mind. I will seek wisdom in all I do, and I will live for what is right. I will also strive to always listen, and only “give solutions” when I have permission. I am moving forward up the mountain, I do not want to slip, but some surfaces are slippery, but in my heart, I seek strength from the Lord Jesus.

“But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Jesus Christ [Matthew 5:28]

Since last September, I have been in many places, spiritually speaking. However, through all of this I have discovered who the man inside of me is. He is a person God created to be full of life, to be fully alive. This man is created to move full steam into the glorious life of his creator. This man is created to live in God’s kingdom, not in his own. God’s hands build his kingdom God’s hands give life. This man does not build his own kingdom, there is no point, true life comes from living in the kingdom already made. This man wants to step up to the plate and stand on God’s promise. This man wants to pray to seek God’s face. This man wants to honor woman, to think of them as equals, submit to them in God’s ways. This man wants to live in a way that shows the world integrity. This man wants to live sexually pure, with integrity that cannot be taken. This man will be humble with his whole life. This man will treat all people as God’s creation. This man wants to be in the light as you are in the light. This man despises his own behavior. This man calls his Lord the rock of his life; he wields a life of grace.

I tried to make this place look springy… I think its more like “sunset in Colorado”, but that’s okay.

I want to seek God’s face in all I do. I want to be someone who is humble. I want to turn my eyes from evil things. I want to have clean hands, a pure heart, and not lift my soul to another. I want to be a person who is simply “out of this world”, yet able to touch the world with God’s hands. I want to be a person who cries for others, who can be the breath of God. I want to show the face of God to all others. I want to be his servant, because he is a master of Love. I want to be great in His eyes not in the world’s. I want to be known for my Christian love. I yearn to be the hands and feet of God. I want to be pure and holy. I want to be under the authority of Christ and not my sin. I want my eyes to sparkle God’s light. I want my body to be a pure and holy place for the Holy Spirit to dwell and work through. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – Make it so.

Lord prepare me
To be a sanctuary
Pure and holy
Tried and true
With Thanksgiving
I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You

In Jesus’ name, I declare myself free from your world. I am a child of Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit – He is my Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ has lordship over me and I submit my life to him and no other. You will no longer have power or authority over my thoughts and me. In Jesus’ name, your temptations will no longer penetrate me, they will no longer have any effect on my life. This is my declaration of dependence on Jesus Christ THE LORD and Savior. This is my declaration to you that I am no longer a part of your world, I am a citizen of God’s kingdom. It is my desire to only serve Jesus Christ, I will no longer serve lust, for it serves no purpose in His kingdom. I will no longer serve sin, it serves no purpose for His kingdom. You have no authority, you have no power, you have no effect in my life because of the name of Jesus and his ultimate authority, in which he protects me and loves me. You are no longer. I believe in the power of Jesus Christ, therefore I know and expect HIM to lead me from temptation – Satan you are finished with my life. War has been declared and Jesus has victory!

“My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” – Jesus Christ [Matthew 11:27]

(Let’s just say I am pissed)

Happy resurection celebration. Jesus returned from his total separation from God and was reunited, we all have a choice to be reunited with God, for eternity. Think about it.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.” [Luke 23:34]

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [Luke 23:43]

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Woman, he is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “She is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. [John 19:26-27]

Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [John 19:28-30]

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. [Luke 23:46]

He forgave of those who did not believe, he gave assurance to those that did believe, he moved with compassion on those who followed, and then he took on the pain and suffering of the world.

Last I heard the surgery went well and even ended earlier than expected. Then I received a phone call at about 5am my time, her heart was tweaking and so they rushed her into operation again. They seemed pretty confident, but it was a life or death kinds of situation, that’s the last I heard, I’ll be calling later this afternoon to see if there is any new news, thanks for your prayers. UPDATE: She’s home resting well, thanks for the prayers, and I’ll be calling her soon and I’ll give another update.