I Wanna Live Again!

John Piper, preacher at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, says that prayer is "the intentional conveying of a message to God." He went on, in his sermon about prayer, to say that messages are always going up to heaven from us. When we talk to friends, go to class, joke with peers; these messages are all heard by God. It is the intentional messages; the ones that start with 'hello God' and 'dear God' that are the prayers.
Recently, I have become dependent on these prayers. As life has become more demanding, my heart has become more humble. Even more so, I have often relied on God hearing my prayers and providing a boost of confidence in my life through these prayers. However, before I relay the wrong message to my readers, I want to clarify that my position regarding prayer is not one that is narcissistic by any means. I do not intend to make God out to be a puppet that pleases me and, with the pull of a few strings, gives me what I need.
What I do see prayer doing is guiding my mind and my heart to be in synch with a God who constantly transforms and molds us into the Christian example we are called to be. It does not only help us to think and act as sons and daughters of Christ, but it helps us never give up.
Prayer happens all throughout the Bible. Everyone prays, even Jesus! Jesus prayed, and taught parables about prayer (Luke 18:1). James 5:13 encourages us to pray through our hardships. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray all the time! Colossians 4:2-6 advises us to prayer for others when they put themselves at risk for God's glory.
If any of you can't imagine a Bible scene, regarding prayer taking place, consider the inspirational scene when George Bailey is crying out, "I wanna live again, I wanna live again. Please God, let me live again," at the end of the 'It's a Wonderful Life.' He is at the end of his rope, crying out to God. He has given up on life, yet discovers he can pray to an omniscient God who cares about his needs.
Whether you want to live again or you just want someone to talk to, there is nothing more powerful than talking to someone who "knows when you sit and when you rise," who "perceives your thoughts from afar," who "discerns your going out and your lying down," and who is "familiar with all your ways" (Psalm 139:2-3). He even knows the words that are about to come out of your mouth (Psalm 139:4)!
If you start the habit of praying to him always, you'll certainly live again as George did at the end of the movie.

Warm Coffee, the Desert, and Colored Pencils

God is a mysterious God. So mysterious that it occasionally will leave us wondering what he expects out of us. Yes, many disciples of our Lord even have a hard time grasping how unpredictable and unnatural our Sovereignty can be. The issue this creates is rather colossal at times, especially since our humanistic society tells us we need to justify every bit of what we do. It has come to a point where we need to justify why we are allowed to drink an occasional Shamrock Shake. Sure, to some (or many), they have every right to gulp a shake, especially one as rare as the Shamrock Shake.

What is most horrifying is when it starts limiting our spiritual possibilities.

The best way to put this is through three metaphors: 1) warm coffee. 2) the desert. 3) colored pencils.

Revelation 3:16. The churches are becoming fake and need to be given a pep talk. Who better than John? So John writes a powerful message regarding the balance beam the people of the church should not be walking.

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

He is referring to God. In other words, God does not tolerate mediocrity, especially from fellow "believers." The issue is that our world has become so messy that even Christians are getting sucked into the wretchedness. Yes, there are "good" reasons to sin. Yes, it is not really hurting anyone. Yes, as long as you are in control, its ok.

I never liked coffee. But if I had to drink coffee, I would at least like it hot or full of ice cubes. However, I would never want to drink warm coffee. I would "spit it out" just as Christ would spit out lukewarm Christians. Its the perfect analogy.

"But you are a sinner too! You are lukewarm too!" Yes. chain me up. But, the point I am making has as much to do with me as it does anyone else. I am a nasty, filthy person as well. I am warm coffee as well.

Lets move on to the next analogy; hopefully this will clear things up. When one walks through a desert, there is not much water nearby. In fact, water might as well be a figment of your imagination in a desert because you most likely will not find a drop.

Now think about Christians. Aren't they much like the lack of water you will find in a desert?

You see, a desert is not only independent of water, but it also creates illusions of water. Much like a moisty asphalt road in the summer, there is the illusion a puddle of water is a mile away. As you inch closer, you realize the "puddle" is only an optical illusion.

Many non-Christians are wonderful on the outside, being servants and loving others unconditionally. However, as you inch closer, you come to realize they are just like the rest of the dunes. There is no difference. The Christians don't "stand out" like they are capable of doing so. Most Christians are completely swallowed by the world much like a desert swallows up the water.

Now lets consider the colored pencils. What happens when they do not have a sufficient amount of lead? They are dull. They are incapable of creating a sharp image. As fruitless Christians do not proclaim the Gospel well with their actions and words, neither can a dull pencil create a vivid picture. We are dull and useless. The Holy Spirit is not being properly used.

Yes, you can go down the infinite list of justifications to prove that you are not being "lukewarm." You can cruise down the street reminding yourself that "God will forever love us and catch us whenever we fall (the idea of mercy and grace)." And, as a believer in relationships and God, I agree with this statement. Where I find it wrong to say is when we use it as a rationalization for what we can or cannot do. When we start taking God's mercy and love for granted and use it to defend our wrongdoings is when it becomes devastatingly dangerous.

It is heartbreaking, to say the least.

So what can we do to prevent further justification of our sins and bad habits? We can start learning to accept our responsibility as Christians. We can adjust our mindset to think as a truly surrendered Christian should. In fact, we should go beyond that and remind ourselves daily that we are responsible for starting a revolution with the knowledge that God is our shepherd and has provided us the opportunity and protection to lead an army of staunch, sturdy, copious young men and women who spiritually "stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around [their] waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with [their] feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:14-15) Not many people do that, which is why it is so crucial to start doing in everywhere; no matter who you are with, you should be a revolution-starter.

Lets get ready for war and be the hot coffee that refreshes an evil world, that provides water for a quenching desert, and is the sharp pencil that creates a canvas of heavenly possibilities among stale hearts that add to the depression we live in.

Rise up! Turn from sin and start a revolution wherever you go!

Battle!

As I have grown older, I have recognized a truth that has come to my attention more and more. It is not that this truth has not existed until now, but that I have grown to become more dangerous.
What does this mean?
When we progress from adolescence to adulthood, we become more aware of ourselves; thus we also become more independent from others. Age three meant we would cling to our parents for everything; for food, for transportation, for appointments, and much more. At age twenty-two, we have to operate our life independently.
Therefore, we have more control over who we ultimately place in charge of our everyday engagements. We have the keys to our vehicle called life, and we can give them to whoever we so choose. Whether our boss, our family members, ourselves, gods, God, Satan, or anything else. The difference between adolescence and adulthood in this case is our choice. When we are young, we don't have much of a choice as to who will raise us or put us in our place. When we are older, we exponentially have more choices.
Due to us being increasingly independent by the minute, we thus become more dangerous from the perspective of our peers - including the heavenly realms.
This is not to say God nor Satan should or are daunted by our mortality, but to say that we have become an asset to any one of the two sides. If we are consistently living in sin, we are an independent who can choose to make a larger mess of this world (if capable of doing so). On the other hand, if we are living with the joyful realization that we can surrender to Christ and find our true identity, we can make an impact on this world for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Clearly, it's a battle, and your heart is right in the middle of it.
This spiritual battle is between God and Satan, and you are the target; you have a choice.
God or Satan?
You choose.

Rubber Duck (Float 'n' Sink)

As a kid who took many baths, I often wondered why the rubber ducks gathered together in the corner. They would bob in one place, but that place always seemed to be the corner. And to top it all off, they would do it with the water moving up and down repetitively. They would even remain in the corner while the water tried pushing them away. Up and down, up and down, up and down they would go. Then, worse yet, as the toddler I was, I would push the decorated ducks toward the middle of the tub, only to see them float back to the corner of the raging tank. It was actually quite vexing.

But, After a good talk on this night with a dear friend of mine, I made an analogy between the ducks and life that is fitting in the circumstances of being a senior in college.

It simply goes like this:
While we have an entire "bathtub" before us, we choose often the corner of the tub. We float in synch with the other "ducks" around us for fear that if we were to part ways, we would sink in the nefarious waves. We propound that life is better lived in safety; while the rest of the world is out there waiting to see your face in it. That is all they know; the corner of the bathtub is all they know.

And while the corner might be much more safe than the rushing waves in the middle, we only go as far as the chatter we experience with the other ducks. We only talk; we don't experience.

My advice is that you look at the waves and quack, "Bring it on." Don't let the nasty bite of the waves swallow you whole, but accept your place and let them teach you. Go for it. Don't be the duck in the corner, but go out and face the waves. Your best lessons learned are when you take risks, even if you fall flat on your face. Don't miss out. For the joy is in discovering what could not be found if you never went out and tried to find it.

So go, young duck, and explore the waves before you.

The Escapist

Ever wonder why we are given an imagination?

A question that gets placed in the cluttered closet never to be seen again is this one. It is not only forgotten, but it is one of the most underrated questions that people like myself do not find the time to seek out. Of course, there is no conducted study I have done to elicit any truth that people do not explore this idea (the imagination). I have only proceeded to make this assumption with the knowledge that many choose to ignore the deepest questions that make you really stop and think about who you are and why you are the way you are.

Recently (as in the past two weeks), I watched a low-budget film titled "The Escapist." This film was insipid at times, yet relayed a rather ingenious twist at the end of the film. In fact, I would see it again if I had the chance and the time.

However, what really intrigued me about this film was a simple phrase actor Brian Cox said. Unfortunately, I cannot provide proof that it was in the film, or furthermore that Brian Cox said it. However, whether it was actually said or only an audible illusion, it has absolutely no relevance to the fact that this simple quotation (or whatever else it could be) had some sort of impact on my line of thinking.

"Imagination protects you. It keeps you alive."

When life becomes boring and repetitive, our imaginations keep us motivated, makes us try new things, and helps us avoid ordinary thinking. Furthermore, it protects from losing jobs, losing hope, and losing our dignity. If we did not have an imagination, we would not be capable of reviewing the intricacies of life; we would not be able to discuss unearthly ideas. Life would be filled with robotic zombies discussing only what the eyes can see. In fact, since our eyes can also be used as bridges to our supernatural thinking, we would even have trouble focusing one what is in front of us without imagination. Logically, we use our eyes to imagine what we are walking into, from, and around. We imagine what we will see on the other side because of what we have already seen. Imagination is crucial because it keeps us alive. Plain and simple.

But, most importantly, for those who believe in the Heavenly Host, our imaginations allow us to think about our future resting place. We contemplate the "yellow brick road"; the place where our worries, doubts, sins, troubles, and struggles will disappear like the dust in the wind. Our imagination keeps us alive in the moment, but keeps us alive for the future as well.

Don't ever take for granted your ability to imagine. Your imagination keeps you entertained more than any HD plasma screen television can.