Jesus Christ Saved Us Because of Love

Here's what I want you to do... Think of the thing that is most cherished to you. Anything at all. Just bring that to the forefront of your mind really quick. Now think of this... We are all at the forefront of Jesus's mind. Jesus loves us and is obsessed with us. We are talked about as a bride: beautifully clothed and prepared to be wed.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (Revelation 21:1-4)


Jesus waits for us to come to Him and be His bride. He doesn't care about the conditions He has  to wait in or the amount of time it takes for us to come to Him. He's waiting for all of us to come back to Him and love Him.


He loved us enough to die for all of us and to show His love to the ones who were with Him before that. He loved me enough to take me out of the life I was living and use me for His purpose. He loves us!


For your Maker is your husband – the Lord Almighty is his name – the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. (Isaiah 54:5)

Radical Discipleship of Jesus

Disciple: One who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.

That is the first definition of disciple. The other major one talks about the disciples of Jesus otherwise known as the original twelve. The followers of Jesus today are the all branches of this original movement of Jesus' disciples. The disciples of that age were way more radical than we are today.

Let's look at the apostles lives:

• They were subject to torture just for preaching
• They were all killed for their beliefs (except John who died a natural death)
•  They continued preaching despite being told not to
• They usually didn't have any place to live and maybe went without food for periods of time
• They used whatever money they had for the good of others
• They believed in Jesus so much that they died for Him

That is just the things that come from the top of my head... but that is still way more radical than even I have ever been in my life since I found my faith. Here's the thing about what the apostles did... It was all basically exactly how Jesus lived. After Jesus ascended they continued His work.

My fear about the church today is that sometimes we can't say the same... (Yes I know I'm as guilty as everyone else) My hope and prayer for the church today, however, is that someday we can say the same for us. Let us continue our Kings work!

Boy Scouts: An Epidemic

My friend Andrew, told me a few weeks ago about this incident where he was trying to do a good deed for an old woman because of his faith and she simply said, "You must be a boy scout." It was kind of a funny thought for a second and then it hit me. Boy scouts today have a better reputation than Christians do. I haven't thought much about it until today when I went to Wal-Mart and I had the same thing happen to me. Here's a story from Acts 6:8.

Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--- Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia--- who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Acts 6:8-10

Everyone in that story knew where Stephen stood because of all the things he did. He spoke, acted and thought in a way that everyone around him knew who he followed. Even the enemies of Christ understood what "religion" he was a part of. They didn't stop Stephen and ask him if he was a boy scout...

So I guess now what we're left with here is a choice... Do we continue to let people think that being a boy scout changes you more then being one with Christ? Personally I think we need to shine bright for Christ. As Jesus says in Matthew: You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

So why are we hidden?

Being Undignified for God

I'm taking a break from the coverage of CIY for a little bit. I was just listening to the song "Undignified" by the David Crowder Band. This song brings about a lot of thoughts for me. Like the first thought is this: What are we all afraid of? Why don't we ever try to be undignified for God?

Then I realize something... I have troubles with the same thing! I have troubles some days letting go of everything that is holding me down from giving praise to God! David is a huge inspiration for me when it comes to being undignified for God. King David never thought of the idea of being over someone else because of the fact he was a king. He danced around in what was basically underwear for God! God deserves our worship and honestly I think we can look kind of silly doing it because of the fact that if it's our best, it's worth it.

Honestly if we have joy beyond comprehension of someone without Jesus in their life then we should reflect it while we worship.

If it seems like it's "too much" to give God I would have to say that you can never give too much to God... God deserves it all.

God bless.

CIY: New Found Knowledge

My dear friends, as I write this to you I sit in the Reed Library of Fort Lewis College. This college took it upon themselves to accomadate this year's CIY conference. I tell you my brothers and sisters it was a long drive here but it was well worth it. I've found out so much about the church's problems in this world. We are persecuted. We are beaten. We are tortured. We lose everything. There is something else though...

We are saved.

And it's for that reason that we speak out. It's for that reason that we continue to pray for the persecution to cease. I know my purpose and in all honesty it didn't change a whole lot. Just the direction of it and the focus of it. I owe my life for His cause. That is exactly what I hope people see in me. If they don't then I pray they will.

Jesus is everything. I am nothing. Absolutely nothing without Jesus. I am here to minister to the southern areas of this world. Where ever that may be. However I can do it I shall do it. Not by my own power but by God's power and grace in me.

This year at CIY I have seen God move in people and I've seen Him move me. This week will be remembered. Not just for the fun times but also for the serious times.

I'll post later with some stuff on "Love Costs Everything".

Grace and peace be with all of you.