Hope I Don’t offend you but...

So lately I’ve gotten tired of a couple of things. First thing are people being afraid to present truth because they are afraid of offending people. To often Christians miss the chance to speak truth because they are afraid of offending people. We have to realize that the Gospel is offensive to people.

When people are faced with the fact that they are sinful, that they can not in their present state enter into the kingdom of God, it offends them. Why? Because people don’t like to be told they are wrong! It’s human nature. If I came up to you and said ‘Hey what you’ve been doing all your life is completely and utterly wrong,’ you’d be offended.

It happens, it’s part of life, you can’t be worried about it.

Now let’s flip this proverbial coin. One thing that I am highly annoyed with is people who take the excuse “Well the gospel is offensive and I’m just being real,” and use it, either knowingly or un-knowingly, to be a complete jerk. There is such a thing as tact.

I’m not in anyway saying that you should water down the truth; whether it’s the truth of the gospel of you bringing to light something that has been hidden. I’m just saying that there is a way of presenting the uncompromising truth that doesn’t have to make you (who represent Christ) sound like a jerk. (thus making Christ sound like a jerk) Let us not forget the words of Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.”

True sometimes it’s hard to say things in an easy way and in those cases you just need to play it by ear. That being said there is no reason for you to go in and just drop the hammer on everyone just because you think you have the right. Christ did not call us to change the masses. He’s called us to allow the Holy Spirit to use us to change the masses.

I’m just saying there is a balance there. On one hand it’s time for Christians to step up and be what they claim to be. Stop making excuses as to why you sin. Just do it! At the same time, do not be one of those annoying ones who go around condemning everyone to hell even those who are in the trenches with you. Learn to speak the truth in love.

I’m just say’n…

Something to Marvel

Check these out

This first one was given to me by my friend Caitlin Sattler. She's pretty much awesome. But she gave this to me because she knows i love marvel comics and because she's my friend.

This one was given to me by one of my students, Lizy. She's a pretty awesome kid too! She found this at some random comic shop up north. Needless to say i feel loved :)

lol no showing off these cool posters and talking about how much i feel loved is not the point of this post. This was just a clever way to talk about Marvel comics. Not because i'm a geek but because i have a point to make :)

Check out that last one. It says 70 years. wow. 70 years and idk how many characters and character changes. Over the last several years Marvel comics has become part of our culture and society. Why?

Because they were able to create a legacy. They created timeless stories that were passed from one generation to the next. People have taken these stories and they become part of their lives.

Stories about fictional people with real struggles. Struggles that relate to everyone in some fashion. As a result these fans willingly share their passion for these comics. Telling friends, family, and people they don't even know.

Now stop for a moment and think about this. what would happen if we had the same passion to tell other people about something actually life changing? An intense passion to tell people about how God came to earth in the form of a man and died on the cross just so that you, me, and everyone else can have a relationship with the Father.

Now that's really something to Marvel.

Hero Academy 2010 Promo

hey guys here's the Hero Academy Promo for more information check out www.heroacademy.wordpress.com

At least i'll always have memories...

Sad day my friends. Hollywood Video is closing. ::tear:: I'm sad because i have a lot of fond memories at Hollywood Video.

When I first moved to Louisiana years ago Family would go to Hollywood Video rent movies and then go home. We'd stay home all weekend watching movies together. I know many people don't believe that watching movies is good family time but for us it was. We'd eat dinner in the living room and fire up the VCR (yeah that's how long ago it was) and we'd just have fun. We had a habit of making jokes and commenting on what was going on.

I remember sitting on the floor searching through the "Special Interest" section trying to find new and interesting Anime! Then while checking out i'd check out the assortment of candy. I loved it!

Years later i found myself working there. It was fun for me. I loved movies, i loved finding new movies, I loved helping people find different and interesting things. The people i worked with were always fun and interesting to say the least. Sure there was stressful times but nothing a good taco from the taco bell across the street couldn't fix. I have story after story of interesting customers and employees.

haha i worked there for so long that people ask if they know me all the time because they recognize me from there. haha sadly i can still remember if they had late fees and and if they were decent customers or complete and utter jerks.

::sigh::

Oh well. So long old friend. You shall live on in the memories of people for many years to come.

Day 1 of district council

So day one of district council was pretty groovy! brother doug brought an AWESOME message!

i didn't know they were going ot make me stand up infront of everyone though... if i had i might have exited out to the restroom for a few minutes haha

afterwards we all wentout to ihop. praise the lord! it was good eating!! quick recap of the conversation.... carafe full of ranch dressing... destroy... jock strap....amen...

yeah you try and fill in the holes haha

welp i'm out peace and love everyone :)

long night

So we got this groovy speaker here at the moment. Great guy named Dr. Peter Wyns. I strongly recommend you get him to come to your church. :)

One thing... this brother can PRAY!! lol so when he comes make sure you have lots of time. last night we were at church until 11pm haha!

at the moment i'm in the kids church watching princess bride with the kids :) haha fun stuff

Review of Awesome God

So a few weeks ago Sovereign Grace Ministries had asked me to do a review of their children's worship music. I said sure so they sent me 2 cds. "Awesome God" and "To be like Jesus" I got together with my Kid's Worship leader, Adrian, and we listened to them and did these vids. Because of the restrictions of youtube i had to break it into two parts. so here you go Adrian and I's review of "Awesome God"

So... maybe it wasn't a dinosaur.....

Ok so i had a rather embarrassing moment the other day. Pastor Scott, Matt, Jenny, KB,Doug, and I were all on our way back from a minister's meeting in Lafayette. We stopped by a raceway for a bathroom break. Matt and KB took up the two working urinal so i went into the stall and closed the door so i could do my business with some privacy.

Well outside i hear KB making this hacking sound he makes. So jokingly i say "dude sounds like a velociraptor out there!"

i then hear Matt walk out of the room singing "jesus jesus"

i shrug and finish my business. I walk out and i suddenly stop.

A heavy feeling of dread comes over my face. I lower my head in immense shame as i look into the mirror before me. You see dear friends the velociraptor roars that i assumed to had come from my wee friend KB had, infact, not come from him at all.

Before me in the mirror was an older gentleman, probably some vet from Vietnam, who had a treak in his throat. it would appear the poor guy was attempting to clear phlegm from out of the hole in his throat...

I then proceeded to walk out of the room.... yeah... red face...

lol if you would like to know about jokes that were told after wards feel free to contact any of my friends who were on the rest of that ride home haha

Blog Suggestion

hey everyone! i want to highly recommend a really great blog!

http://thpshreveport.wordpress.com/

It belongs to my pastor, Pastor Scott Ethridge.