oh man so good

recently been getting into latin music. wahh too goooddd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8cmHPSW_7Q

You Might Not Finish This Chapter

An excerpt from Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, p. 41-42

When I am consumed by my problems - stressed out about my life, my family, my job - I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have the "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.

Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are?

the gate is narrow

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
- Matthew 7:13-14

I think that this verse refers to Christians as a whole; the wide gate and the wide road is often seen as the 'wrong way to go', and rightly so. But the narrow gate and the narrow road is one that leads to heaven. I believe that this applies to Christians who choose the narrow gate, but find it much easier to walk the wide road.

Christianity. Is. Hard. It's not meant to be easy living as a Christian. You will be persecuted (Matthew 5), you're meant to suffer (James 1), you're supposed to DIE to your earthly desires (Romans 6), and you should consider everything trash for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus (Philippians 3). Yet we live in a culture that clearly does not endorse these things. Heck, I live a life that doesn't endorse these things.

When was the last time you were persecuted? Or how often to you suffer because you are sharing the Gospel? Are you sin-free? Do you still value material possessions (a lot)? I'm not saying that you have to be all these things to be a Christian, but rather our lives should show a change if we have been changed by Christ. It won't be perfect, but as your relationship with Christ deepens, you'll naturally want those things, or you'll naturally suffer because you are sharing the Good News. Our lives will gradually but surely become more and more Christ-like.

being wrong

...it sometimes sucks. but guess what, it's relieving to know that you were.