Justified or Incarcerated

Gospel as a phase can be over used. People are very vague when it comes to give a brief description on the gospel. “Jesus died for my sin,” or, “a story about redemption” common phrases we speak or hear. Nevertheless, gospel is the essential truth that saves a sinner, saves us. When we talk about the gospel, there are truths like an anchor that holds the story together. Gospel is not the gospel without an understanding of who is God, men, Jesus Christ, and how that truth applies to our life. When we speak of the Gospel, the conversation always begins with a phase, “God…” —God— God is the center being of why our universe exist. Nothing would exist if it wasn’t for God who spoke words into reality. This makes him the only creator and the only God who has full control over the our universe. In addition, when God created the world, God had a purpose for every matter that be found, this includes a human life. He is the Creator Universe came into existence as God said, ...

Most of us take the passage Matthew 18:8-9 and apply it to the separation of sin.  Which to say it is true. "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.  And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."   However, looking at why Jesus said these words gave me a different view of Matthew 18:8-9. This chapter starts when Jesus called a child and placed him in front of the disciples.  "He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in th...

Interesting documentary on Charles Spurgeon:

We had our first small bible group today, interesting to note that there is rich background to how and when people come to Christ.  We took most of the time listening to each other about who we are.  Our relationship to Christ was the topic of that conversation.  I wish I could recorded that conversation, things that people said made me understand them much better then just asking their name at church.  To be honest here, I didn't expect more then three or four people coming, but more came.  I guess God is at work no matter what kind of expectation we have. There were two reason why this group came to life.  First is because of the constant visits of our English speaking friends.  Little by little God is drawing people that don’t speak Slavic language, but together we worship do to the faithful man translating every service—our church needed to move towards a deeper relationship level than just friendly greetings hi or bye at the church—fellowship ...

http://www.thezerosbeforetheone.com/wordpress/wp- content/uploads/2012/04/Never-Get-Married-300x300.gif My fourth month marriage anniversary has arrived, and there are already commitments that shaped and continue to shape my own heart.  It is an amazing ride, being Christian with a wife, who shares the same belief, goal, and purpose, makes life beautiful.  The more I live in the union, the more I see the culture differences.  For example, why won't we see love in marriage? Don't get me wrong, there is love in marriage but that's not something we see advertised or talked about everyday; what I am trying to say, love, most of the time promoted, advertised in songs, movies between two people but almost never in the context of marriage.  It is interesting, have sex, date someone, you were made for happiness, just not in marriage—no wonder why there are too many broken lives as people age. In one of my English classes, we talked about atmosphere that helps us be...

Recently Bubba Watson took the prize of the champion for 2012 Masters. In few words, when he was given the microphone, Bubba expressed his thankfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ, his savior. This video eventually went viral on the Internet, but in the comment sections creates a dilemma between those who believe and those who don't. People express their hate toward Bubba calling him moron, other expressed hate towards religion in general. But on the other side, religion people wrote something against evolution and atheism, interesting comments to read and see what is said about Bubba's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; people are more talking about his faith than his actual achievement as a golfer. One of the comments that got my attention was by the nickname: "Bennythebearful." This person said, "I think his comment about my lord and saviour shows that Bubba is mentally ill." Now is he? Is Bubba a person who is mentally ill? First of all, that is a hars...

As I was growing up, teenager then adult, my outside appearance was really important for me—I was chubby.  Ok, more then chubby my friends would say.  As a regular young guy, I desired for some girl to look at me and see some beauty, but that would only happen in my dreams.  Constantly from strangers, friends, and family members, I received comment's regarding my weight.  Comment would go like this: "who would ever marry you if you are that chubby."  Actually, I redraw the real comments that people would say. Knowing God, gave me comfort in the moments when I felt not accepted.  I was constantly comforted by scripture, always came back to the truths because the truth made me feel accepted no matter how I looked.  This is what makes God so beautiful, this is because of who He is in His nature—God looks at the human differently no matter how she or he has looks from outside.  Yes, the looks are important but so...

In February 2011, Clay was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma Cancer.  Married for three years to his wife Monique and have beautiful daughter named Hazel, cancer was the last thing on his mind.  Receiving pain in the lower abdomen, he went for the examination, the diagnose came back showing Lymphoma.  Going through months of chemotherapy treatment, "the tests began to come back cleaner and better. As of late this summer, Clay is in full remission from his cancer... One of the hardest parts of going through treatment was that Clay was not able to be with or hold Hazel because he could catch an infection easily in his condition that could be fatal."  But what helped him go through the trial was his faith in the Lord.  Isaiah 43:2-3 was a verse that he was meditating on: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 
and when you pass through the...

First time when I was away from my wife in three months.  It was guys retreat.  All guys from our church got away to an Orca Island to spent time together reading, laughing, playing, watching, in brief, just to enjoy time together.  But in the mid's of the active life, the topic was on "Real Man." When we arrived at the Island, I've received a text message from my wife stating that when I left, life has stopped.  I couldn't read those words without tear since that's what I felt also.   Those two days, (it was suppost to be three days) were the days when I was thinking about her.  I was with singel men who enjoyed life, for them it was a time of excitement, full of adventure, but for me it was a time of separation; a period of time that I will never have. Since the topic was about "Real Men," boys that were sixteen and guys that were in their twenties were easily united.  We had leaders from our church and a pastor covering...

An interesting interview on Larry King Show.  The faith in God made a difference in the quality of life.  "The weaker I became, the stronger I was relaying on Him" (Eareckson).     Joni speaks more about her life and faith in this video:

I was amazed with the colors and the designe of these birds; the world is full of life.  Another resone to give God the glory!

Communicating with elders in our church is one of the interesting conversations to have.  They always smile, say positive things, and make it look like everything is alright despite the disease and limitation that they experience.  I never heard an older man complain of being old, and yes, I do speak with elders.  It's something about being old, that young man always lack, is wisdom.  I see more self control and wise conversations from elders then youth.  Also, what divides the elders with youth is the involvement with the church.  Their faith and desire for God is clearly seen then in young. Robert V. Kail and John C. Cavanaugh in "Human Development" text book wrote an interesting quote about elders: "Health care and social service providers would be well advised to keep in mind that self-reported importance of spirituality in the lives of many older adults when designing interventions to help them adapt to l...

Going through week eight in our psychology class, I notice there was this "midlife crisis," dissatisfaction in the life circumstances.  After living more then half of the life cycle, people realize that what they desired, was not achieved.  The life expectation that were set up early on in life, were not accomplish, therefore, person feels guilty and depressed.  Carolyn Butler writes on expectation in her The Washington Post article : "If only it were that simple. 'Many of us have very high expectations for ourselves, and it can be hard to let them go... [the] problems arise when there’s a clash between what you expect — a perfectly clean house or a home-cooked meal on the table every night, for example — and what actually happens; the end result is guilt, particularly for women... There are a lot of men out there now who want to have it all and do it all, and they’re suffering in the same way as women... men have even more work-family conflict than...

Fifty years ago, divorce was something little to know about.  What changed?  The freedom for protection, the freedom to have happiness some say.  In the past, families were together no matter what happened.  But since there is an option for a divorce, the word divorce runs more ofter when couple fight.  Man in general, I would say, spoiled the reputation for all man.  Authority was abused, if you are physically and emotional stronger, it does not give you any right to abuse a person who God created.  

Most of the huge mistakes that are done is when a kid becomes an adult—adolescent.  It is a rebellious attitude: no one is right except me.  However, it all changes as this person grows and sees that the world that he lives in, he will have a totally view of the world later on in life.   Article on "Inside the Teen Brains," by Shannon Brownlee and Roberta Hotinski makes an interesting point on teenagers brains:  "Yes, teenagers do have brains, but theirs don't yet function like an adult's.  With the advent of technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging, neuroscientist have discovered that the adolescent brain is far from mature.  'The teenager brain is a work in progress,' says Sandrea Witelson."  Great scientific analysis on teenagers brain.  But what kind of conclusion can we make from this?  Lots...