Monday, June 30, 2014

Hell Is Important

There are two things that a lot of churches will not teach today in modern Christianity is a place called Hell and also the blood of Christ that is the only thing that can save us from it all. There are some out there that have gotten this idea that Hell is not a literal place, yet they still believe in Heaven and Christ as well. People seem to forget the sole purpose of Christ being born was to die, to bear the punishment that all mankind deserves but he took our place on that cross, so that we would not have to endure the punishment.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." -(John 3:16-18 ESV)


As shown above Christ was given to the world, so that we will not perish in Hell but have eternal life. Without Hell Christ would have absolutely no purpose to those that he came to save, he would be just another man that died on the cross which is like what we have today with the death penalty. Hell is a real place, and Christ was sent to save the world with REAL salvation. Without the shedding of blood there is NO REMISSION of sin and those who do not believe are already condemned. In today's world we often hear people say that all that matters is that you are a "good person" but scripture tells us that we all fall short of the glory of God.


"the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:22-23 ESV)


Friend, God loves you very much and he wants more than anything to come to repentance as he wants everyone to come to repentance according to Peter.


The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)



I plead with you friend, if you do not know Christ as your personal Lord and savior I urge you to start reading the bible starting with the book of John, and go talk to someone a friend or a pastor or a family member. Thank you all for reading. Please like share and subscribe by email, it would mean so much to me. I'm blessed to have so much support from you all and I hope you will continue to support this small ministry of mine, I hope to reach a many people as possible so please feel free to share this blog with anyone.

-The Christian

Sunday, June 22, 2014

The Church is Asleep at the Wheel

 The church seems to be asleep at present here in the united States and around the world as sin continues to creep into our lives and is becoming more accepted in our society. We continue to accept sin and say that it is alright to openly sin, but we are all beginning to forget that with sin comes consequences. The church continues to move closer and closer to accepting sin and letting it happen all around them. Most Christians today think that going to church on Sunday morning is enough, giving money to the church or completely labeling themselves as Christians when they know nothing about the very label they have taken on. Sitting in church as if church attendance is what really only matters to God. These so called Christians are also ignorant of the Bible, maybe only opening it on Sundays. The same can be said for devoted Christians as well, I myself need to read the word more, for my thoughts on that specifically go here here.

Another issue that we have in today's modern Christianity is what I like to call "feel good" churches that simply do and preach what people want to hear. These churches refuse to teach anything that will offend anybody and it is coming increasingly hard to find churches that will preach on the blood of Christ or hell or that homosexuality is wrong. If you preach that homosexuality is wrong, it is considered hate. In reality it is standing up for the principles of God. These "feel good" churches are one of the biggest reason that sin is continued to be endorsed like it is.

We need to take a stand against sin and stop letting it continue to be common place, because that isn't what sin is supposed to be. We are supposed to hate sin and repent from it and walk away. We need to take a stand against sin, even if it offends those who are openly sinning and they know that its very wrong. Churches are beginning to accept sin a okay within the church such as the Apostate Presbyterians. The world is taking over our churches, but they will never shake the true Church of Christ, the true body of Christ. God Bless you all, I hope you enjoyed reading! Feel free to share with your friends. I love you all.

-The Christian

Saturday, June 21, 2014

The Dreaded "C" Word

Most likely those of you that are reading this today have had someone in the family or close to the family that has been diagnosed with cancer, the word that continues to bring sadness and fear to everyone. The truth is I know all too well what that word can do to those who are diagnosed. Sitting here today as I have done for the past few weeks, I have a lot of time to think. Dealing with cancer isn't easy, and I wish I could say that I never had the experience to deal with the tragedy of a loved one being diagnosed, but that isn't the case.

The darkness of that time was like no other, but I can honestly say that my walk with the Lord was non-existent at this period in my life. So that is why I would like to take a moment to say that God has a hand in everything in our lives no matter how small that thing may be. The Lord brought me out of that situation and into his arms and into a wonderful church that to this day continues to help me grow in Christ and God's Word. I never understood how I lived without God in my heart, I would always try to do good and do my best but I always knew something was missing. If I had a chance to go back and change the time when my grandfather got sick with cancer, I would do it all over again, because it was god's way of bringing me closer to him. The Lord knows what he is doing, so it is up to us to have faith in him and his will for our lives.

I don't know what is currently taking place in any one's life that is reading this right now, but I do know this I know that God knows our hearts better than anybody ever will here on earth. I urge you to make time to spend with God each and every day in prayer, thought and God's Word as well. He loves when we talk to him, when we cry out to him and tell him what is on our heart, but we also need to spend equal time listening to what God has to say to us. Sitting there and simply talking to God won't help us, we need to also listen as well. There will never be a prayer that goes unanswered, for the Lord answers every prayer that is sent to him. I have heard the phrase "Well God didn't answer my prayers!" but the thing is you either aren't listening or you are refusing the answer that god has given you because it's not the answer that you wanted. I guess what I am getting at is that no matter the situation God will be here, it is us that walks away from God and not the other way around. Our God is greater than any earthly thing that you will ever face my friend. Thanks for reading friends! May the Lord bless all of you.

-The Christian


Friday, June 20, 2014

Trouble with Studying the Word

Tonight I want to just take a few moments and be humble, I have been struggling to study the Word of God as I should be. Time is not really an issue here, but it is a matter of keeping myself focused on devoting my time to the Word. I used to be really devoted to that, reading the Word at least a half hour a day. Part of the reason being is I think that I need a specific topic to study, I've been thinking of maybe doing a study on the women of the bible. This got me thinking, if I struggle with reading my bible and getting alone with God as I should each and every day, I know there are other Christians that are struggling with the same thing because in the end Christians are human too.

Now let me clarify here a little bit. I love the Lord with all of my heart, and I honestly don't know why I am struggling to read God's Word, but I'm going to do what I can to get back on the path to reading and praying every day, setting that time aside for me and the Lord. After all I think that we all owe this precious time to the Lord. Christ himself, who lived a sinless life and also a life of innocence was crucified for my sins. The hurt he suffered for me, a sinner who deserves to be in a place totally separated from the love of God. This brings tears to my eyes as I write this. We all need God, we are lost without him and his love, and guidance in our lives. No matter what I do in life, that is sinful I know by God's endless grace I am forgiven.

I don't mean to ramble on here and take up the time that you have today, but then again if you are either on Facebook or looking through blogs, I guess you have allotted this time for such things. Thanks for reading, next time i hope to have something of more importance to talk about, but until then thanks for reading and God Bless you all!

-The Christian


Thursday, June 19, 2014

Thank You All

I just wanted to take a few moments and say thank you to any of you that have kept up with my blog these  past few weeks since I have started it. The amount of views and the areas in which readers have read from besides the U.S. are Germany, Ukraine, Russia, the UK, and Malaysia. I hope and pray that my audience will continue to build and I thank you for the support that each and every one of you has given by taking the time out of a day to read what I have to say about different topics and issues from the perspective of a Christian. I must be straight forward with all of you and clarify that I am only one Christian, and my opinions alone should not be used as the standard of Christianity as a whole.

The success of this blog mat be seen as minimal at best to most people, but I am blown away at the response that it has received over this short amount of time that I have had this blog. I can proudly say that since the first day that I started this blog to present I have received 270 views and counting, a response that I never thought I would have so quickly and I hope and pray that many of you will continue to support me as I try to grow this blog into a tool not only to my brothers and sisters in Christ but also to those who are lost as well. In the coming days I will add a polling feature that I will use for anything from blog improvements to forming topics due to user responses. I encourage all of you to also subscribe to my blog if you use email a lot because it is an easy way for you to receive updates on what's new here at my blog when I post something fresh for you all to read. It can be found on the right under my photo. 

I really hope that the things I post here will bless you all in one way or another. I don't write this blog for myself,  I write it so that others around the world may get a glimpse of how a Christian views life and its surroundings. I would like to close with a special thanks to my parents, grandparents and my girlfriend for continuing to read my blog and encouraging me to continue to stick with it. Their support by far is the reason that I continue to come back and write so that you all will continue to have fresh topics to read about, I thank you guys for that and I love all of you for always being there (my parents, grandparents and girlfriend, you know who you are).To all of my continued readers, I thank you all for taking a chance and reading one of my posts and continuing to come back to read even more. I hope and pray that this blogs audience continues to grow around the world and that people everywhere, Christians and non Christians will get an idea of how I see the world around me. I am blessed and thankful for you all! I love every single one of you, and I pray for many blessings. thanks for reading, I hope you will come back next time. See you then!

-The Christian


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Standing for what is Right, not for what is Popular

In today's world more and more every day, we are continuing to slowly work away from God. People are beginning to support things that are sinful and unjust in the eyes of God and just in the eye of the world. Taking a stand for the Lord has a cost, but tat isn't of any interest to the lost. I now because I was once there myself, because when I was lost, I was under the impression that my life was mine to posses and my body was mine to behold. Today, I have come to the conclusion that I was wrong.

So what is the price for standing up for the Lord, and following Christ?

Now great cowards accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, If anyone  comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.-Luke 14: 25-27 (ESV)

So Christ has told us the cost of what it means to follow him, he is not speaking of hate in literal terms, but that we as Christians must be willing to give up everything for Christ. Even if it means that we may give up our own lives in the process. This is what happens when we stand for what is right, it has a cost. What is popular is what is easiest and Christianity isn't easy my friends, and if you where under the impression it was easy, then maybe you aren't a true Christian in the first place, it is so easy to take on the label of Christian. If you go to a church that never mentions the most important thing, the thing that most don't want to be told. They don't want to hear that they are imperfect, and that they fall short compared to God. They also don't want to hear they are sinners destined for an eternity separated from God. Furthermore, they don't want to hear about Calvary either, they don't want to hear of the suffering that went on there. The price Christ paid for our sins so we didn't have to endure that same fate.

They only talk of what is popular, that God is simply all loving and caring, so much that he would never create such a place as hell. That is what is popular, not what is right. We have a choice to make, that determines where we go when we die. Saying God sends people to hell would be like a criminal saying the judge sent them to prison. The judge didn't send them to prison, the criminals actions and choices sent them to prison. Thank you all for reading, God Bless.

-The Christian


Monday, June 16, 2014

Why I Write

Even at this point in my life, I'm still trying to figure out who I am in a sense, but it is quite hard to explain. I know my identity, the one that was given to me by my parents, but it is what I can do that is still a mystery to me. Now I have been told things that I'm good at such as poetry or writing. So I thought it necessary to explain to those who read what I write the reasoning and motives as to why I would consider doing such a thing in the first place putting my thoughts out there for most of the world to read and critique. Some of you think that this is crazy, but commendable at best. Others may agree or disagree, but no matter the outcomes that may come about in the minds of those who read these I will continue to write what I feel should be written, what I feel needs to be read.

Anyway, now that I'm done chasing rabbits down the rabbit hole, I will discuss what all of you came here to read in the first place. I have a lot to say, and writing seems to be a great way for me to do so. Behind that is a better reason as to why I write, I want people to see Christ in me through my writing. As a Christian I have always had trouble openly telling people about Christ. Evangelism is a very hard thing for me, besides the tracks I hand out to people every now and then that contain the information for me so that the gospel is right there for them to read. Giving someone something to read has always been a lot easier to me than trying to explain myself  to others out loud, because until I hit publish, what I write is simply just me writing to myself and nothing more then that. So when I publish what I write it is simply my thoughts to the world of the Internet. When I write I don't have to worry about not being loud enough, or if my words are coming out clear or jumbled or if I am pronouncing things right to the person that I am talking to.

My thoughts are seemingly clearer in my head, but it is when these thoughts are put into words by my mouth that problem are to arise. So I have decided it best to form words not through my mouth, but through my fingers instead. Lastly. I want to be known as a person who loves the Lord, I'm not perfect. I will always be imperfect, it initially is of no fault of my own but I can continue to attempt to do better, and hope that others will see Christ in my actions, my words both written and spoken. I want to be a megaphone for Christ, not to be known as a writer but as the writer who writes for Christ. These are the reasons I write, thee writings are nothing fancy, if anything they make up a small sliver of an even bigger group of writers that are much better than I will ever be. These reasons may never be of any importance to any of you reading this, but they are of great importance to me and how I wish foe the lost world to find out who I am and who I wish to represent all of the years of my life. Thank you all for reading my thoughts today, and until nest time God Bless every single one of you.

-The Christian

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Tolerance Has Changed

So it seems as if our society today has inadvertently changed or twisted the very definition of what tolerance actually means, and how it is used. You see I and many other Christians like me have been labeled as hateful and intolerant people because us as true Christians hold to biblical principles. So what is tolerance REALLY defined as? Lets look at the real definition so anyone reading this doesn't think I'm just some right wing, uneducated, and bible thumping nut.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary. tolerance is basically the ability to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one may not agree with.

You may be asking yourself where I'm going with this, well I am about to tell you where so strap in and I will take you for a ride down the road here for awhile.

You see increasingly the LGBT community (well the majority of them, I'm not going to even act like I am lumping them all in the same lump) has taken the stance that if you do not agree with their decisions that they make means you are a bigot full of evil, hatred and disdain. This means that in order to be viewed as tolerant you must adhere to their view on the matter, but that is just it I don't hold that same view. I'm entitled to my view just as equally as they are. So why then must we continue down this toxic path of hating one another? To say that we can not get along just because we can not see eye to eye about sexuality is a rather silly thing to think. The thing that hurts me the most is that the majority of the LGBT community seems to feel like they want to be define by their homosexuality, but there IS more to life about that. In order to get what they want they continue to try and shove it in our faces as if it is mandatory that we accept it, or they will make our lives miserable until the moment that we decide to do so.This is very wrong and very unfair to do such things.

This is causing a huge divide in our nation, along with many other very sensitive issues in our nation. We need to realize whether we are left wingers or right wingers or those in between and those left over that we are all HUMAN BEINGS that deserve the rights to speak our minds without the advent of annihilation from those who feel that it is there place to decide what is hatred. I'm a friendly person who likes to meet new people and if you can't find it in your heart as a human being to tolerate the fact that I see things in an opposite light as you, then you are the intolerant ones. The people who simply will not accept the fact that for every opinion there is an opposite one to go along with it. So when does this end friends? This war we are in, and somewhere down the line no matter who we are or where it is that we came from, we are all the same. We are people. We all have feelings, opinions, interests and talents. Somewhere along the way we can find something called common ground. People on both sides need to learn these things, that is part of the problem we continue to push people away, when Christians such as myself should spend more time embracing people and standing firm in what is wrong in God's eyes and what is right. Those are my thoughts, thanks for reading. God Bless you all.

-The Christian

Friday, June 13, 2014

The Forgotten Blessing of a Bible

Here in the United States we are all free to believe what we want to believe, and I myself am blessed to live in a country where I can freely express my belief as a Christian. With that comes the privilege to read my bible at any point in time of my choosing. Now I can only speak for myself on this, but as of now I have about four bibles in my possession altogether. This got me to thinking and considering the fact that we as Christians in America have forgotten how much of a blessing that a bible could be in our lives, and the lives of those around us.

I think that one of the greatest times that I myself had witnessed this was on the mission trip that I was so blessed to be able to go on. The church we worked with up in the mountains of the great state of North Carolina. The church didn't have the resources that where needed in order to put on a vacation bible school for their church, so we provided them with those resources by putting on a VBS for them to enjoy. I do believe it was towards the end of our time there, and I remember we gave each child a gift, which where small bibles that had been perfect for them to have and begin reading and learning the Word of God. They where so excited to have these bibles, that they had been asking questions on how to read them and where to start with such a task. It was a blessing to see this in my own state and my own country. Imagine that we have areas even in our own country where we have people that have never had their own bible to call their own. Most of us have more bibles that we need, only one maybe two that are used on a regular basis. There are also people in other countries that can't have bibles because they are prohibited by their own governments. Here we all are with our multiple bibles, and one of those are likely only being used.

The blessing of a bible, I think here in the United States has been forgotten. We all need to be reminded that having one bible is just simply a blessing from God, and having more than one bible is an abundance from the Lord. Take a moment as you are sitting there reading this and think back, and simply remember when you got the first bible that you ever owned. Remember how you used to read it, how you used to study it and ponder over it and how it changed who you where to who you are right now at present. All of us in the United States are very blessed, and we need to remember the simple blessing if having a bible to read, that the more we read it the more it changes us into better people that god can use to further his kingdom. Thanks for reading, God Bless all of you.

-The Christian

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The Miss Conception of Christianity

This topic is one that seems to really get me today, as the lost world continues to assume one Christian s actions make up for the whole lot of us as a whole. You see they compare us, it is like we are under a huge magnifying glass watching our every move, waiting to see if we falter once again. Then they begin to scream at us telling us that we are not perfect a we ought to be. My brothers and sisters in Christ, this is NOT what scripture says, now will it ever say such things. The world is wrong, and we must not get angry at them for what they will not allow themselves to understand and comprehend. There are "Christians" out there who do teach that after they are saved by the blood of Christ and the grace of God, that we no longer sin and this is not true. There has never been nor will there ever be a perfect person to walk this earth as long as we are all here. You must understand that Christ is the only person to ever fit the bill of perfection, this had to be so or else his sacrifice would have meant absolutely nothing to our salvation, and we would all be going to the very place that God had not made for us. We do not belong in this place, it is the will and choice of the person as to where they go. Heaven or Hell, or eternal togetherness with God or eternal separation from God.

It may surprise some of you that I am by no means perfect, nor will I ever attempt such a challenge or claim perfection. I am a human being that is subject to the same sin as every other human being on this planet. I know as the older i get the only thing that will ever differentiate me as a Christian and those that are lost, is Christ that lives in me. that is the only difference. I was born a sinner, I am living as a sinner, and I will die as a sinner. Just like everyone else all 7 or so billion of us.

We Christians are not the same, some aren't even really Christians at all. More often than not it has become all but a label today in our society. Churches are becoming feel good places where they are told what they want to hear and no what is needed to be heard. It is more than going to church or reading the bible, heck it is even more then prayer itself. It' about realizing that no matter who we are, we all need God. We cannot go at it alone, it is through God that we get our talents, strengths, weaknesses and our love for each other. Christian isn't just some label and if you are not willing to pick up the cross in front of you and follow Christ, you are not a Christian. If you have never realized that you are a sinner, in need of repentance and forgiveness then you are not a Christian. I do not write this to be mean, or unloving. I write this because i care, I want people to know about Christ and what he did for them n the Cross at Calvary. You need Christ in your life, if something is missing in your life I urge you to talk to someone TODAY. Do not wait until tomorrow or net week or next year. This is the most important decision that you will ever make, it  is a choice only you can make friend.

-The Christian

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Simplified Beauty

So on June 4th last Wednesday I had surgery on my lower right leg and foot, and I am really developing some cabin fever, but maybe that just God's way of showing me the simple beauty that life ha to offer. In order for my leg to heal properly, I was instructed to keep it propped up for the first week or so. This means that I have been laying in my bed for most of the day since Wednesday. I never realized the simple beauty of looking out the window and seeing the world flow by as the days progress. Everything outside that window of m room was created by God himself. The people, the houses and cars. Life continues without me, as i try m best to recover as quick as I am able, but I know that it's the Lords will and time. So I continue to look out of that beautiful window, if anything to help the time pass fast or slow.

My favorite thing to watch outside my window, is the Maple tree we have in the middle of our front yard. One minute the breeze will blow it to and fro, like it can bring life to its own branches and move about in a majestic manner. Then it will top as suddenly as it began, as if the wind was never there to begin with. I would like to think its the hand of god moving the branches about as he thinks he should. It is something so beautiful yet so simple and unnoticed that one would have to stop and watch in this fast paced world.

I urge you all as you are reading this to take just a few minutes out of the busy day you are in the midst of, and go outside and just watch and listen to the outside world around you, all of it was created by the hands of God. With so much thought and detail, it simply takes my breath away at God's master piece that is the world. Well thank you all for reading my thoughts, I appreciate the love and support that each and every one of you has bestowed upon me. I love you all! God Bless.

-The Christian

Monday, June 2, 2014

Surgery

When it comes to surgery, there aren't very many people that are thrilled to have it done no matter the procedure, whether the risk is minor or severe. I will be having surgery done on my right lower leg to help improve the mobility in my ankle, the last procedure done when I was younger has now worn off and something must be done in order to improve how I walk so that it will reduce the minor pain that my body is feeling. To say that I m not scared to have this done, would be a lie and I owe the readers here my complete honesty on this matter and any other matter that I will write on. There are a lot of questions that run through my mind, like what if I go under never to awake in this Earthly vessel ever again?

There are some other questions that come to my mind that are related the one that I had asked previously. Through out my twenty years of life on this earth, did I draw the lost to Christ or did I push them away? This means that my witness either pushed the lost away because they saw that I was not living a Christian life as I should. Or they saw something different in me as opposed to themselves that do not have Christ in their lives, a relationship with Christ. This is the ONLY thing that separates me from those that are lost, that relationship. This is an opportunity for me to look at myself, to change what is hurting my witness. The thing that is hurting my witness is SIN, and I must do all that I can to get rid of it. 

Then there is another thing that I need to work on as a Christian, something that I am lacking. I need to tell people about Christ more, explain to them the Gospel more and tell them all the things that Christ has done in my life to everyone that I come in contact with. I have excuses, but no excuse will fly with God. I feel sorrow because there are many people that I have talked with and met with that may have been lost, and I never told them about the very man that saved them from an eternity in a very wicked place, so that they would not have to suffer the punishment that he endured that every single person on this earth deserves. 

I know that by some chance something goes wrong and I don't awake to see the faces of those that I love, I know that I will see the face of my beloved savior Jesus Christ. I thank my God for all he has blessed me with and for his son that died for me so that by grace and his blood, I may be saved. Lord help me to be an example, so that others see Christ in me and give me strength to tell others the Gospel and all the thing that you have done in my life. Thank you all for reading, may God Bless you all.

-The Christian

Is Christianity under attack in America?


Is Christianity under attack in America? In order for this question to be answered the word ‘attack’ must be defined, so that this question can be better understood and easier to answer.
According to Merriam-Webster the definition of attack is to act violently against (someone or something) or to try to hurt, injure, or destroy (something or someone).
There are many countries out there today that deliberately act violently towards Christians.  Here in America that is not the case, Christians are not dragged out of their homes and murdered or thrown into prison for their beliefs either. I have to admit as a Christian myself that I am very blessed and fortunate to live in a country that doesn’t lash out in violence against its Christian population. Perhaps the most vicious country that lashes out against Christianity is North Korea, where even simply owning a bible can be grounds for execution or deportation to a work camp. today I am sitting on my college campus and if I where to open up my bible and begin to read it no one would say a word to me. In America people are free to be Christians, yet more and more each day I see the freedom to express my faith being taken away slowly day by day. In society today most see the expression of faith to be offensive. Our country has adopted this “If you aren’t for us, you are against us” type of mentality. Christianity, true Christianity rather and not the watered down versions that a lot of Churches are preaching today goes against almost everything in American Society. Our nation is becoming more secular each and everyday.
One thing that those that are anti-Christian or anti-religious rather today is the ability to pray in public areas. It has been banned from most public areas such as school, places of business and even within local governments as well. Faith seems to have become a private matter as well, as if we aren’t to express our faith in Christ and what he did for us on the cross at Calvary.
 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. -1 Corinthians 1:18
So to those who not saved, the cross and what it stands for is foolish. That seems to be most of American society, and it is becoming more apparent each and everyday. We all need Gods grace, and if his grace where an ocean we would all be drowning in it. Not one of us are worthy, we all deserve Gods wrath and eternal separation in a place called hell.
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12
People today seem to think that most Christians feel that they are above everyone else, but the truth is we are all made by the same creator in the image of God. We worry in todays time about our expression of faith offending those around us, but maybe we have the wrong party’s interest in mind.
“Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone – except God.” -Billy Graham
So we call ourselves Christians, but what does it really mean? The word Christian means “Little Christ” and I don’t ever remember Christ worrying about offending anyone with what he told them. He had no problem with telling them what they where doing was wrong, law that was told by God and then additional law that had been added by man. He told them the laws of man where wrong, yet most of us Christians stay silent. Christ told us that persecution will come to those who are true believers in him.

 ”Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. -Matthew 10:16-20
Christ tells us not to fear, no matter what may happen to us or what may come our way, because the Holy Spirit dwells in us and will give us the words that we will speak. Christ was persecuted, and let me tell you brother or sister persecution will come, maybe not today or tomorrow but if you are serving the one and only true God those of this world will hate you just as they hated Christ Jesus. We must remember what Christ said as he was hanging on the cross, for all of our transgressions.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  -Luke 23:34
As you started reading this I attempted to answer the question “Is Christianity under attack in America?” well the answer here is no. The thing we must remember is that Christ told us all through out the New Testament in scripture that persecution will come. Christ was mocked, spit on sworn at, called a false prophet and was put on a cross to die for the sins of mankind. Our freedom of expression is being hindered more and more each and everyday here in America. We as the body of Christ must remembered that the same was done to the followers of Christ in the times of Jesus. Do not let persecution and suppression of faith stop you from telling every person the good news of the Gospel and what the Lord has done for you. Chances are there is someone out there today that are lost just as you where weeks, months or years ago. We must also remember to love everyone just as Christ loved, we are under the microscope of the world brothers and sisters, lets show them the power of the Lord and teach them the good news of the Gospel. Thank you for reading, may God Bless all of you today.


-The Christian

Who Am I

Who am I? This question has been a question  that I have asked multiple times in the twenty years that I have been living. Yet, each time I have asked myself that same question it seems as if I can never really fully answer it the way I think it should be answered. Today I find myself relying more on God than I ever have before in my short life. Each and everyday God seems to help me answer more and more of that question as time progresses. Even though I am a child of God, I continue to doubt the purpose and abilities that He has blessed me with.

My parents call me their miracle, and rightly so simply for how I came to be in this world. I was born four months premature on November 24th, 1993 in Charlotte at one and a half pounds. I suffered from a minor brain hemorrhage on the left side of my brain, my parents had been told stents would have to be put in if it didn’t reabsorb. But by the grace of God it did absorb and I was left with a very mild case of Cerebral Palsy on the right side of my body. The times I have seen others with more severe cases of Cerebral Palsy are the times that God shows me that I am truly blessed, as I can do most things normally. I also had a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity or ROP in both of my eyes due to the fact that I was born early and of a low birth weight. ROP has a total of five stages meaning the first stage is the least severe and the fifth stage is total retinal detachment that would mean total blindness. I was diagnosed with stage four of ROP. Doctors today usually look for signs of ROP in premature babies, so that if a baby has ROP they can correct the problem. I am so blessed once again that I was not diagnosed with stage five full retinal detachment. I spent three months in the NICU, and in those three months and the years since then I have parents that have never left my side. Through it all I have never heard my parents give credit to anyone else but God Almighty for my health and the person I am today.

I have a story or a testimony rather as every Christian does as to how they came to know Christ. For a long time I knew who Christ was yet the relationship simply wasn’t there. I felt dead inside when I first started attending church regularly, I was struggling with the fact that my grandfather was sick and after he died in 2008 from colon cancer. I began to have doubts about what God could do and what control he had but I have never doubted His existence. Then after my grandmother died four months later right behind my grandfather. At that point I really felt like an empty shell taking up another persons pew space, a hollow feeling with no permanent way of filling it. Then my family had decided to move to another church, this was the turning point that has changed my life forever. The experience that really had an effect on my heart was when i went on my first mission trip to Bryson City North Carolina. I gave my testimony to the members of my new church that my family and I had recently joined a few months prior to the trip. I began to see how God could use me and many others to accomplish many different things for His glory. From that night in that little mountain hotel I began my walk and relationship with Christ. I began to really start reading and studying Gods Word each and everyday, which has become a daily routine to start my day off in the Word of God and also in Prayer.
Now for those of you who are reading this today, you now have some sense of who I am, or at least who I say that I am. The answer to the question that i have been seeking for most of my short life has now been answered, I am whoever God desires for me to be. God has made me in his image, and I owe all that I am and all that i will ever be to the Lord. We are all created in the image of God, and although we are all sinners we all have the free gift of salvation through Christ who died on Calvary for our sins. He took our place, and the punishment that we all deserve. I love all of you reading this regardless of what you think of me, because whether you love me or hate me I still love you as Christ loved.

-The Christian