Thursday, April 17, 2008

009. Sharing

People that I've encountered in my life are actually quite good at sharing. They're always there for me when I need them. They share advice, stories, gas money, ect. They're pretty good at it. Our country is real good at sharing also. We're a generous country. For example, the hunger going on in Africa. We're generous people. We donate endlessly with money and food. But money and food can only go so far.

Sure food is filling their stomachs up, but only until we give them more. Money is good, but what is it going towards? More food? Sharing these things is a great thing. But there is something else that is way more powerful and useful to these people. Knowledge. Knowledge is power right?  Instead of sending over money and food, we should send people. Send people to share knowledge.

2 Chronicles 1:10
"Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

Through sharing our knowledge we can help these people grow. Grow not only food, but grow as people. Planting a seed in there minds on how to plant seeds into the ground. If we teach them way of growing food and providing for thereselves, that would help the cause more than money or food donations.

Think of it like a parent and a kid. The parent provides for the kid throughout there life and shares knowledge with them on how to live life. The kid then grows up and has this great knowledge on how to live. then the kid spreads it to there kids, and they spread to theres and so on.

Instead of a family passing down generation to generation, how about we start sharing knowledge of life from person to person. Don't let knowledge grow your family tree. Help it grow the world. I was thinking about God making the world perfect last night. He could make it perfect in a instant. He has all the power in his hands. But I realized that he wants us to make it perfect. He wants to see us reach our full potential and become better people making a better world. He gave us the power to impact lives. He put the power of love in our hearts and wants us to let it out. He wants us to share this. This is what I want to do with my life. Share my knowledge with everyone on how to become a better person and love everyone.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

008. Respect

The last few hours my mind has been so caught up in this blog on Myspace called "God Is Imaginary." I think I've established that I'm not a Christian who criticizes and judges other people and religions. I respect everything. All views, everythings fair game to me. I love, don't hate. I have my views on religion and you have yours. But this blog just seems to attack Christianity over and over and over again. I don't mind if you don't believe in God or any other religion, I respect that. This blog just seems to lack respect. It's criticizing the faith, but what my whole thing about it is that it attacks the people.

I've gave my thoughts on how the media portratys Christians as hating "Repent now or go to hell" people, and how its not like that at all and real Christians are supposed to love, respect and help.
The world lacks respect. It seems to be a human nature when someone tells us not to do something
we turn right around and do exactly that.
Respect is all about co-existing. Co-existence doesn't
mean attacking people of a faith. Don't get your opinions of a whole group of people from what the media or one bad church The media is overstepping it's boundaries, attacking and making false claims based on a small group, without looking at it as a whole.

Im not asking you to find a religion or something to believe in. Anything you believe I respect. I just
ask everyone to respect each other and co-exist. Respect your family, your friends, your teachers,
or anyone else who you come across in life. If someone sets boundaries, don't step over them.
You would'nt want anyone disrespecting you. If a friend of yours asks you not to do something bad that you know is going to happen, find it in your heart to show your friend that you love them and respect that decision.
Peace happens through respect, respect happens when we can co-exist. Then maybe when we find peace with each other we can find the love for each other.












007. Substance

So in my English IV class we just got done reading Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. If you know about that book you know that Dr. Jekyll is good and has a alter ego, Mr. Hyde who is bad. Mr. Hyde is a creation of the small amount of darkness in Dr. Jekyll's heart. Dr. Jekyll turns out to be the only character in the book to embrace the dark side of himself. The truth of the hate in his heart made him go insane and eventually Mr. Hyde has consumed Dr. Jekyll.

I know this seems like it's going no where. But it will. Dr. Jekyll was being consumed by Mr. Hyde and would not accept that he had a small problem of hate that he would not embrace. Dr. Jekyll would not embrace that he was not perfect. The point is, we all have something about us that is not perfect.

We don't need to be afraid to admit the wrongs we have commited. We need to accept that we have problems and that we aren't perfect. We are what we are. Substance is what we're made of. We're made of heart, we're made of spirit, we're full of life waiting to be unleashed.

So many people live their lives in comparison to others. They want to be perfect. They want what other people have. We stay so stuck on the fact that we want to be perfect and be exactly like others. This is like a giant paperweight on our lives. We hang on to the past to much, and instead of embracing it and moving on we let it keep us down. Don't be someone you're not. Don' t let people
make you feel bad about your flaws. Don't be stuck on becoming another carbon copy of millions of other people in the world. Be focused on being YOU and being the person that you are meant to be.
Don't live up to the expectations that people have for you. Live up to your full potential, not someone elses.

Don't be afraid to say no when faced with peer pressure. The biggest thing that I take pride in my life is that I have never given into peer pressure and doing drugs or drinking. I wish all my friends could see this and stop. I love them more than anything, but I just wish that everyone could change that. I've heard some friends question why God is not working their lives, and I think to myself look at how you are pursuing him. God doesn't always answer prayers either. Maybe you're praying for the wrong reasons. Whatever it may be God may not always answer prayers directly. God provides the oppurtunity for what you want. God provides the oppurtunity to change your life and resurrect it like he ressurrected Jesus. The only question is are you willing to let him change it? Don't be afraid of what you are. Don't be afraid of what God wants for you.

I know this is lame but theres a quote from Star Wars:
"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."

Jealousy can comsume someone and fill them with hate. We don't need to be afraid of ourselves anymore, and start accepting that we're not perfect.
We cannot start to love others until we can become content with how we are made and love ourselves.





Monday, April 14, 2008

006. Truth

So have you noticed these Truth Box things going around Myspace lately? I've been thinking about it and they really don't do any good. If someone leaves a bad message about someone, it just adds fuel to the fire of insecurity. No one knows who leaves what, and it leaves people feeling insecure about their actions with their friends.

Some people can't handle the truth and would rather keep quiet about other peoples problems.  If you have something bad to say about someone, don't be a coward and do it secretly. Let them know what you really think of them. Help them change what you don't like that they may doing wrong. In some cases the truth will hurt people, in others in will help some people. It will make them realize their problems, and hopefully change them.

Ephesians 4:15
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."


The truth is the best way to build better relationships. I'm going through this right now. I want to confront one of my friends on this problem that they have. I'm hoping that I can help this friend of 
mine realize what they are/ are going to be doing wrong. I want this person to see the truth in what they are doing. Why it is wrong. All in hopes that I can help my friend achieve the full potential of their being as a human and as a true Christian. Telling the truth isn't easy. It isn't easy to take either. But it is knowledge that we can use to grow on. Your ability to tell and take the truth is based on the amount of courage you have in your heart. 
Do you have the courage to take the truth and realize what you are doing might be wrong? Do you have the courage to tell someone what they are doing wrong and help them grown into a better person? Courage comes from the heart. We all have heart.















005. Awareness

So in my 2nd block today I was browsing around blogger to find interesting stuff to read.
And I came across this blog:

http://gaza-sderot.blogspot.com/

Its a blog that 2 people contribute to. One lives in the Gaza strip, the other lives in Isreal.If you're aware what is going on over there you would know both of those areas are involved in very heavy violence right now. Both of these guys see the reality of what is happening over there. Both of them have settled there views and have agreed on one thing. They want peace.

Here is an excerpt from one blog:

"On Saturday a rocket hit with no warning. The blast was massive and the alert did not work this time. I got to the place which was about 300 meters from our home and a large crowd, police and ambulances were already there. The rocket fell on a side walk several meters from 2 kids that were injured. The younger kid (8) was severely hit and his leg had to be amputated."

Our understanding that we cannot wait for our leaders to solve our problems for us and that if any change is to happen it will happen from us, the civilians.

These 2 guys are different but share one common ground, peace. They've started a petition to put a end to this violence for one month, in hopes that talks will occur between the 2 countries and lead to peace. Please sign this petition and help bring the peace that these guys want to the world. Here is the link:

http://www.one-month.org/sign/index.php?sid=24594&lang=en

So many people are not aware of what goes on in the world. We always see it on the news and tv. But the media portrays war with casualities stats. A persons life is worth far more than just a number. The media doesn't show you the part of war like these guys see. The media doesn't show you war from these guys perspective.

I wish everyone would start thinking for there selfs. And stop letting the media and friends dictate what they should think. Start becoming aware of what is happening in the world. The world is our group. Our group is suffering. We need to do a better job of showing perspectives like these. We need to change our government leaders perspectives of the world. Think for yourself. And if you are human, you will do what is right.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

004. Time

Are you aware that the second that you are born you begin to die? If you were to die at this very moment, what would you feel you have accomplished? Would you be happy with your life?Or would you regret everything about and worry about the things you haven't done? So many of us, including myself would not feel content with our lives if it ended right now. There are so many things we have not experienced and so many things we have not done. Some of us have not made a impact. Alot of us are not living life to it's full potential. We are all missing out.

What if someone you think you hate dies? How would you feel? Have they done something wrong to you? Have you done something wrong to them? You would have missed out on a chance to forgive or apologize. The last thought they would have of you is what you did to them. You would have missed out on building a friendship with them and getting to know the real person that they are. Don't take people or anything else in your life for granted, becuase tomorrow is not guaranteed.

If you knew that you had one day to live what would you do with that last day? You would'nt go out and party, you would'nt go make fun of more people, ect. You would more than likely go forgive and apologize to people. Because you are'nt content with how people will remember you. So do something RIGHT NOW.
Leave a legacy and be remembered for the good in your life right now.

As Rob Bell says in the video "Today", "Don't live you life in the past and be stuck on all the things that you have and have'nt done, Live for today. " Let that statement sink into your mind. if you truly feel bad about stuff that you have done in the past God will forgive you. Stop thinking about what you did wrong and start thinking about what you can do right. It's not about what can people do for you, its about what can you do for people.

Our lifes are so small on a time table. We don't have forever in our human bodies on the earth. So do something NOW
and be remembered for the good later.









Saturday, April 12, 2008

003. Impact

So have you ever noticed someone who is a part of something and takes so much pride in being a part of it? Someone in a school, church, community, ect. But yet, they don't do a single thing that will help benifit the thing they are apart of. For example, a "hardass" kid who is apart of a school that they claim to be a part of. They claim to be apart of it but yet, they don't take part in anything to help it and make fun of the people in the very same school that they go to. This goes back to Realization, and realizing the wrong in it. And taking action. The reason you take action on a situation is to impact it.

We are all part of something that we take pride in. Small like a school or big like the world. Some people make an effort to benifit that group and it pays off, while others sit back and talk the talk.

One of the biggest problems some Christians face is that they talk about how faithful they are but don't actually walk out that faith. Chirstianity isn't just about loving God. It's about loving and helping people.

Mark 12:33
"To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."


Some people think that just because they throw their hands up during worship or donate money, that they are the greatest people on the face of the earth. I've encountered people who are turned away from christianity because of how other christians and churches treat them. A christian is supposed to love uncondionally, be accepting and forgiving of people. Not scruntinize them for any little mistake they make. EVERYONE SCREWS UP. Face it. We are all human. But the best thing
is that a God and a real Christian will forgive you. Doing that will change someones life one day.

Reaching out to people in your "group" that are in need is another thing. Whether it is a friend with family problems, someone having trouble with school, anything big or small will make a difference.
Some problems are bigger and require more of a persons heart to truly reach out. We are all part of a group. All religions, all races, all genders, all ages, everything. It is called the world. People
in our group, people in our world are suffering. It is an epidemic. I saw a commercial a few years ago about how hard making the world a perfect place is. It is that kind of attitude, that laziness that is why people are suffering. It gives them no hope and makes them think that they are in life alone with no one to offer guidance or help.
I said that "Life is perception". If you can reach out to someone and change their view, their perception; then you will have changed their life.


That is what making an impact is all about. Changing someones life. Reaching out. Stepping out of
your comfort zone to help others. You can have this kind of impact anywhere. A school, church, community, the world, any thing you take pride in and consider to be a part of.

Help each other
Love each other
Reach out to each other
CHANGE SOMEONES LIFE
There is no excuse not to

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations--these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit--immortal horrors or everlasting splendours."....."Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat--the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden."

-C.S. LEWIS "The Weight Of Glory"

No matter how many times you throw your hands up in worship
No matter how much money you donate
No matter what your status is in the world

You will not be TRULY
happy with yourself

It requires strength in ones heart to reach out and impact something, make a difference in something to be truly happy.