Thoughts going into a new year...

Finished reading "Radical" by David Platt, which was a very good and challenging book. Disagreed with him on a few minor issues, possibly in the way he phrased some thoughts. I recommend the book but only if you are willing to change or more accurately be changed by the book.

My one resolution for this coming year is simply this, though when you think about what the resolution is it's not so simple, that I would continue to grow more in the likeness and less in the likeness of the world around me.

I thought of this resolution the other day and found it to be challenging and attainable yet only through keeping God foremost in my sight and not letting anything slip in between myself and Him. This seems to be done by vigilance and watchfulness of my position to God. It is very easy to allow little areas to grow further from Christ and His call on my life.

Another thought going into the new year is I will continue to cultivate relationships both with my fellow followers of Christ and even more importantly with those who are not in a relationship with Christ yet and look for opprtunities to share Him through invitations to my church: www.houstonsfirst.org and events related to the church.

Looking back at a blessed year

Yes I said blessed year, because this year came from the Lord. Truly it did, for myself and everyone on this wonderful planet. Now we need to learn to live out our days like the days are being done for the Lord, because in truth the days are being lived for the Lord.

My year started out with me living out of a hotel and some on the street yet ends with me staying with a friend who has been gracious beyond belief.

I will have a job with Express clothing again after the start of the new year and for that I am grateful, the Lord allows some difficulties to enter into all our lives, yet He also carries us through them. Never forget that. I have learned so much about God and my relationship with Him this year. The song "Stronger" by @hillsong kind of is like a musical example of how my year went a bit, about God being "Stronger, You are stronger. Sin is broken, You have saved me. It is written, Christ is risen. Jesus You are Lord of All."

I have had an extraordinary Sunday School class, yes still call it a sunday school class, despite the church's changing it to "Sunday Bible Studies" a few years back. Bottomline, the class is made up of, of just amazing individuals, who will continue to change the world. I will have the privilege of helping faciltate and teach our Midweek Bible Study this Spring. What an honor and privilege indeed!!!

Will ask the church I go to: www.HoustonsFirst.org on what kind of apologetics we are teaching to our high schoolers specifically the juniors and seniors as they prepare to enter the warzone that is college. Also hope to challenge our class to reach out in a get-to-know other classes time, so we are not meeting people for first time in times of service, such as at "Houston Project" and we already have a basis to build on. Not sure how to go about doing that, but will chat with outgoing director of our class.

That's all for now, but keep looking for more as the year winds to a close...

More on what I have learned...

Another thing I have learned from a friend, very recently is that either can live in the past or move past the past and concentrate on the future. "Mourn what might have been or what you perceive as might have been or move on and be the man that will get who and what you want in the present and the future." Just a great thought.

I also learned that life will hit you with the past and past misdeeds at the most unexpected times, but expect it and know that you will get past it.

Change occurs whether we want it to or not, what we do with the change ultimately determines our growth from the change. So accept the fact that our life is never at rest. It is in constant motion. Now secret is to figure out where the change is going and either go with the flow or if it is going somewhere you are not up for, figure out what you need to do to change or get off the chosen direction changes is going. I know, very Zen, haha.

There are alot of people out there that have clue to their purpose or that purpose even exists, help enlighten those who will listen, all that we do is for the glory of God. Simple, easy to remember and usually overcomplicated by us humans,hmmm.

Never underestimate the power of a smile or taking the time to stop and chat with people on the street. These people are going through life being ignored both deliberately and unintentionally and just taking the time to say "hey" can make their day. Slow down, if you cannot, then maybe you are too busy for your own good or consistently late for stuff to the point you can't slow down or stop to see what's going on around you. I always allow some extra time so I don't have to rush like a madperson to get somewhere, I know the Lord has things for me to see along the way if I will just take the time to see them.

Things I learned/applied in 2010

First off want to thank my friend ( who I wish was more than a friend) Miss Jessica , who I would say in my eyes is the most beautiful woman alive. She has challenged my faith, my belief system and caused me to desire to grow even more as a believer in Christ and as a man, more than probably ever before.

I read and have had the pleasure of applying a book, which I highly recommend, "Beyond Belief" which is a compilation put together by Ravi Zacharias, of different authors and speakers on the topic of apologetics, which quite simply the defense of the Bible. The book deals with different groups who attack and belittle the Bible, and how to answer their attacks and doubts. As soon as I started reading the book, I got the opportunity to start applying the principals presented. While it was a bit scary, and overwhelming at first, once I saw that God was preparing me and using me to reach people, who may not be reached by others, I became eager to be used and ready to share my thoughts with these people.

I also learned from Jessica specifically that we are given opportunities to share God in a veriety of ways and means that God has specifically equipped us for. Now if we choose to not share God, then He will still reach those people, but we may have passed over the chance to grow the way the Lord wants us to or delay the sharing of Good News with the people God is trying to reach. I think I was kind of blase or calloused to the thought of sharing God with people. I suspect I kind of passed the buck and assumed that the people would be reached regardless of whether I did anything or not.

I also learned the power of prayer in a person's life, again from Jessica, by her allowing me the privilege of praying for her and stuff she is going through. I again, don't think I ever took prayer as seriously as I did, as when a woman I care deeply about, asked me to pray for her. I was affected enough by her, through the Lord's help, to wake up on several days, very early and often, to pray for her and her well-being. I have not missed a day since she has asked me to pray. I cannot ever name a time when I have consistently prayed for someone and not given up or forgotten, until Jessica asked me to pray. For that I am deeply indebted to her. A great deal of my spiritual growth can directed correlated or was caused by her. I think I have grown more spiritually this year than ever before, possibly more than all the other years put together.

I saw that God provides, even when we don't think it is possible, specifically in my own life and being on the street and then the "Night Light" class at http://www.houstonsfirst.org/ reaching out in love and helping me get off the streets. God is always ready to reach out and love us, we just need to get out of the way and accept it!

This is is part one of possibly many "What I learned..." Stay tuned for more to come....

Feeling disconnected for no reason...

I usually give updates, or thoughts on the wonderfulness that is the show #Glee, but going in a different vein today, for that I apologize in advance, for those who only want happiness during the Christmas season, I am not feeling it today. I have been feeling disconnected from church and family for about a month or so and have not been able to put a finger on the reason for it. On the outside everything appears normal or even accomplishing great things for God. Inside, I have felt an intense loneliness and loss of connection with those around me.

An example of this was at two separate get togethers that occurred within a month, one I fixed beef brisket and had about 13 people over, to enjoy some time together. Yet, even being surrounded by people the whole night, still felt incredibly alone and not happy. It even got to the point, that I walked off and went downstairs to get away from everyone and reflect, yet, that did not help the feeling of aloneness.

Then on saturday, at sunday school party, with about 25 people there, still was feeling disconnected from everyone around me, even in a big crowd, and big crowds don't help, been to church at my church: www.houstonsfirst.org and that seats 3000 or so in worship center, and still felt alone and out of sorts, to point, that I was supposed to eat with class at a get together with out pastor: Gregg Matte and just went straight out the door instead of hanging out.

I am puzzled by what is causing this and if I had any common sense would probably really freaking out on my current emotional or lack thereof emotional state. The song "Stronger" by Hillsong helps some, sometimes doesn't make a dent in my emotions.

I just wanted to put this down in writing, just to get it off my chest, it accomplished nothing, but it is done.