I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T

The American Dream: Rely on nobody.

Everybody wants to be able to say, "I don't need anybody. I can take care of myself." I applaud the effort, but let's get real. 

Life would be miserable if the only person you saw everyday was YOU. 

I mean, isn't our inability to be by ourselves the driving force that puts businesses like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter in the spotlight? Our dependence on others is so evident, in that we go NUTS if we stay home for 12 hours straight without talking to someone. Just admit it, you need others. The sooner you come to grips with that, the sooner you'll be able to develop better relationships. And the sooner you'll stop letting us all know you're using the bathroom via social media.

I've spent the past two months speaking to high school students about the realities of poverty in our city, and was also given the opportunity to share some of my life experiences with them. One thing I realized as I spoke was that I am the person I am today because people chose to invest in me. People chose to care. People chose to give. I do what I do for others, not because I am a good person, but because others did for me. And now, it's as if this gracious giving behavior is part of my genetic code. I would be a liar if I said I am where I am today because I "worked hard" or "dreamed big".

The common misconception is that one can find pride in doing everything for themselves. I tend to think of the dad on a road trip who refuses to ask for directions. The wife begins to say "honey, why don't you ask someone for help?", and he cuts her off by saying, "I don't need anyones help! I can figure it out!". We live like this stubborn father when we refuse to ask for help, and get caught up in the pride of doing things ourselves.

I've heard people say, "the idea of a God is just a crutch for weak people who can't accept reality." 

There's so much truth in that statement, laced with lots of bull. Let's take a moment to find the gold in that pile of dung.

Step 1.) "The idea of a God is just a crutch for weak people who can't accept reality."

Step 2.) "God is just a crutch for weak people who can't accept reality."

Step 3.) "God is a crutch for weak people who can't accept reality."

The Gold: "God is a crutch for weak people who can't."

We find the truth behind our need and God's gift in His Word:

1.) We can't: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

2.) God did: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Who Made You King?

Have you ever come across that person who's just too cool for school (or anything else for that matter)? Too cool to laugh at a joke, or even worse; be the center of one. Too cool to admit they are wrong, or walk away from an argument? How does being around that type of person make you feel?

Well, this isn't a counseling session, but I will say that too many Christians have this mindset. "Hey! I'm a Christian! Don't use that language around me!" or, "Hey! You shouldn't do that! That's a sin!" Now, I know what's going to come from this: "Alex, the bible tells us to rebuke people when they sin. How are people going to know what they are doing is wrong, and that God wants them to do something else, if we don't tell them?" I urge you to read on, as I address that issue AFTER the one I intended to tackle before you got ahead of yourself.

Borat got excited when he sat in his chair, and started saying "King in the Castle!" (I know what you're thinking; "Alex! You watched Borat! Gasp!" Let it go.) As Christians, we are told that we have gained sonship with God, and that we now have an inheritance in Heaven. We are, in essence, princes and princesses of a heavenly royalty. Without spiritual maturity, we can act like Borat, and get overly excited about this new chair we've gained ownership of. While there is much to boast about, the time to boast has not come because our work isn't complete. Just as princes and princesses are trained to not embarrass the family name, we have much training to do in order to bear the name "Mr. John Doe-Son of God."

While we are not to even consider watering down the Gospel or developing our own theology, we do have to be sensitive to individuals in order to effectively present the truth of God. Does your approach offend people and get them all hot and bothered, and leave them that way without any reconciliation? Do people not feel comfortable opening up to you about their struggles because they know that you are automatically going to tell them they are living in sin and should do things the way you say they should? Do you find yourself prying into peoples lives, instead of them coming to you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might want to reconsider your approach. Here are some pointers:

1.) God is King. He is Judge. He knows all things.

You don't know what someone is really going through. (Unless you watch them 24 hours a day. If that's the case, you might want to turn yourself in to the police on grounds of stalking.) You also don't know where they come from. Some people deal with certain struggles that are tied in with tragedies and experiences they went through as a child. We can easily assume that a drug addict is a deadbeat who got caught up in that lifestyle, and totally overlook the fact that they may have been sexually abused and drugs seem to be the only thing they can escape from this reality with. They need to know that God want's them to cast their burden on Him, not that He wants to send them to hell for their addiction.

2.) God calls us to be peacemakers. Not warmongers.

Blessed are the peacemakers, the Word of God says. If Christ came to bring peace between the Jews, Gentiles, and God, and we are to be a reflection of Christ, then shouldn't we put away our verbal weapons and promote a message of peace? If you constantly have a feeling to point out other peoples flaws, I urge you to read Jesus' words in which he asked YOU to pull the plank out of your eye before discussing the speck in your neighbors eye. When you realize how wretched you really are, and how much you need Christ daily, you'll begin to have a heart for the lost (and the found, because we all know we struggle as well.)

3.) You don't have to compromise Scripture to promote peace and share the Gospel.

Too many people falsely argue that if you don't point out someone's sin you are robbing them of the opportunity to learn God's truth. To that I say "Good is bad when it stops you from the best." Yes, one or two might be saved by a crazy looking man screaming "fire and brimstone" threats on the beach. This method has proven to be minimally effective compared to building relationships, reaching into people's hearts with your influence, and conducting proper discipleship based on God's Word. Once you've earned your position in this person's life, then you have the privilege of correcting them. After all, Jesus shouted at the religious Pharisees, and spoke out of love to the lost. What does this teach us?

I leave you with this verse:

John 13:34-35  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Fact vs. Fiction

Fact: I love coffee.
Fiction: I am a water buffalo.

Fact: Cinnamon rolls contain cinnamon.
Fiction: The Dolphins beat the Titans this past Sunday.

Fact: Water is wet.
Fiction: Gas prices are the lowest they have ever been.

Fact: Following Jesus is hard.
Fiction: Jesus called us to follow him on a pink magical pony.

This past Sunday, I found myself repeating the same sentence over and over again:

"Jesus called us to carry a cross, not a blankie."

This whole idea came up last week as I discussed scripture with a member of a very prosperity-gospel based church in Miami. The young lady kept on saying that God intends for us to be financially rich, free from sickness, and full of pride. This was her interpretation of Christ giving us an "abundant life" (John 10:10). Not only was it God's intention, according to her, but that if this wasn't the status of the life you've lived, then you have been out of God's will and must be living in sin. I can't help but notice how this whole faulty interpretation of Scripture might make Christians fall away from the faith, and make the unchurched world see Christians as money-hungry judgmental hypocrites.

My reasoning comes directly from the author of most of the New Testament: Paul of Tarsus. His writing in 2 Corinthians chapter 11 might as well be a direct letter to prosperity-gospel driven churches. Because of the intensity of his writing, I can't even summon up the audacity to paraphrase this, nor deprive you from the opportunity of reading it for yourself. If this was a blog about me, I would take up the entire page with my own writing, but today's post will be made up mostly of this Scripture. Enjoy.

11 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present youas a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

⁵ I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”^[a]6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge.We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. ⁷ Was it a sinfor me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷ In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. ¹⁸ Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. ¹⁹ You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! ²⁰ In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. ²¹ To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. ³³ But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

I think Paul has made it very clear. God doesn't display his greatness through riches, perfect health, and pridefulness, but through the glory He displays in the faces of the humble, poor, and weak. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

God bless you; in an abundance, in all the ways HE sees fit.

Career vs. Job

What is the difference between a job and a career? According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, the two can be defined as follows:

Job: a small miscellaneous piece of work undertaken on order at a stated rate.

Career: a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling.

Anyone old enough to be in the workforce should be able to point out some of the contrasting details between these two terms. We are going to look at three specific differences between jobs and careers, and how these apply in a larger sense to our lives on earth: Size, Duration, and Pay.

Size: By size, I mean the magnitude of work at hand. While jobs and careers both include minute, trivial, boring paperwork and tasks, this tends to be the only work involved in a job. Yes, a regular job may have the occasional professional lunch meeting, or celebrity visit, but more often than not a "job" is just something you do to get by. A job ends at 5:00 o'clock.

A career, on the other hand, involves building up. The boring tasks and paperwork are done because the individual sees themselves rising to the next level in their work, and not simply to make it to 5:00 o'clock so they can clock out. A career-minded individual's day does not end when their fingers touch the time clock, but instead carries on with them on the drive home, and in the way they present themselves to the world. A career-minded individual understands the importance of keeping a good image for the company they represent, whether in uniform or not. The work they have in front of them they deem as important; as future-shaping. This is probably because it is.

Duration: We see from the definitions above that a job is simply a "piece of work" while a career is undertaken as a "permanent calling". A job focuses on the activities at hand, while a career focuses on the purpose of completing those activities. While a dishwasher might feel that the purpose of washing the dishes is to provide clean dishes for customers and pleasing his manager, the owner of the company knows that without dishes, the restaurant cannot sell food. A career-minded individual understands the importance of the small tasks and applies them to the overall goal of the company. 

Because of this large view, a career-minded person is more accurately able to gauge growth over time because they are willing to invest time. One cannot notice grass grow by watching it for one day, but rather by watching it for several weeks. In the same way, a career-minded individual watches his career grow from decade to decade, making the necessary changes to stay growing, but keeping the overall goal in mind. On the other hand, the job-focused worker goes from yard to yard, seeking the highest grass. While they might feel like they have found the easy route to large gains, they are clueless as to what to do when the landscaper comes and cuts away their profit. It is because of this reason that people with "jobs" are at a bigger loss than people with careers when companies close.

Pay: The aforementioned definition of a job ended with "at a stated rate". Plain and simple, a job pays you for what you do on a daily basis at a fixed rate which may fluctuate, but rarely by much. In contrast, a career takes in mind everything you have done in the past, and your income is a result of how hard you work. Because you choose how much you want to invest into your career, you yourself determine how much you will make. You are aware of decisions you can make that may harm or help your income, and you take these into consideration daily as you make life choices.

So what does any of this have to do with a blog titled "Where is Jesus?"

Many people fail to realize that our lives as Christ-followers fall under the same category. We are called to a career of living for Christ, not a job! By distinguishing between "jobs" and "careers" based on these three attributes, we can see very clearly the difference between someone who is actually following Jesus and someone who is just "working a part-time" by attending church. God has called us to a large size mission, for a lifetime duration, with an incredible salary and retirement. For those who believe in the Word of God, check it out for yourself:

Size: 

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Duration: 

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me 
all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6)

Pay: 

"Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

Knowing this, we should begin to treat our relationship with Christ and our calling from God as a career rather than a job. In no way am I implying that salvation is works-based, but instead that salary is.

God bless,
Alex

Open Heart Surgery

This week I opened up the door for you readers to ask a question, and received some awesome responses. While I would like to answer all of them, for now I only have time for one. One young lady asked,

"If I'm saved by grace and forgiven for all sin (past present and future), why do I have to change my lifestyle? Friends? Surroundings? Walk?"

I feel like this is one of those issues that pushes people away from the idea of walking into a church, engaging in a spiritual conversation, and more importantly just reading the Bible. Nobody likes the feeling of somebody trying to change them, no matter how powerful, smart, or well-intentioned the person is. We all have that person in our lives...

That family member who always has something negative to say about us:
"Pero mija, que gorda estas!"

That friend who always wants to change the way we do something:
"You're such bad shooter! Just pass ME the ball!"

That math teacher that has it out for you:
"Sorry, but you need to show your work the way I taught you to solve the formula." 

The more people try to change us, the more we try to avoid them. Christians need to understand this better than anyone else, because it seems like they are always trying to change people. This question, coming from a Christian, shows the misconception clearly. We forget that it is GOD who changes people, and feel like we have to change our lives ourselves.

When I came to Christ, nobody gave me a rule book of things I was supposed to do, or not do. Nobody sat down with me and gave me a "new believer orientation" with a basic layout of things that were forbidden. Nobody showed me a bunch of scripture verses that looked down upon drinking, drugs, sleeping around, or cursing. And if someone who claims to be a Christian is giving you any of these, make distance. Quickly. You don't want to associate with someone like that just yet.

So how did my views, practices, morals, and interests change? God performed surgery; Open Heart Surgery. During the first two years of my walk with Christ, I still enjoyed the nightlife, partying at all the craziest clubs, and throwing house parties. When I got baptized, these interests didn't just "go away". It wasn't until my relationship with God grew that I lost interest in these things.

We forget that our relationship with God is just like any relationship with people. The more you get to know someone, the more you learn about them. And if you truly fall in love with them, you will do the things they like because you love them. Not because you have to. Not because they'll punish you if you don't, but because you just want to make them happy for making you happy. In the same way, while we are given complete grace for our sins by Christ dying on the cross, an obedience to the ways of God has nothing to do with obeying laws, and everything to do with showing God we love Him and put Him first.

And to run with this a little bit further, it is these very changes He makes in our lives that make the quality of life so much better! He doesn't just make up these things to have us perform for Him... My life has just been drastically less chaotic, less stressful, and less complicated since I left the "trap" and began listening to God. It's not that life becomes easy when we follow Christ, but that we now know what we are living for. A life completely devoted to Jesus Christ heads in one direction: Heaven.

Girls... Just Want to Have Fun?

Girls aren't the only ones. Humanity is plagued with this unquenchable desire to find pleasure. No matter where you travel, what you do, or how fast you go, you will always want more.

It is for this reason people spend 5+ days a week working, for two (or less) days of enjoyment. We pour everything into gaining what we need in order to have fun. We do all we can so that at the end of our life we can say, "That was enjoyable."

Yes, we value our priority to provide for our families. And yes, we say we want our lives to be one that helps the world become a better place. But all this ties around the fact that we all want to be able to say that we had a good life; one that we can honestly say we enjoyed.

If you reflect on your past- (if your young, you have less reflecting to do, but your time will come)- you will notice that the memories you cherish most involve people. 

Birthday parties with friends...

Accomplishments shared with coworkers...

Family vacations...

Romantic evenings with a special someone...

Christmas mornings with the family...

If people have been the center of our joyous memories, why do we live as if the money we make determines the joy we experience? Can you only enjoy the company of a person while on a roller-coaster with them? Or can that same person be just as enjoyable sitting on your couch? Is it the surrounding environment and situation that makes you enjoy somebody, or is it something more?

It irks me when parents spend so much time working, that they neglect their children. It's as if they think they can spend the next 10 years of their life working real hard, and then treat their children to all the luxuries that come along with wealth. The truth is, time ISN'T money. It's worth so much more. We will never be able to change what we did yesterday, but we can use it as an example for tomorrow.

Once again, if people have been the center of our joyous memories, then we should place a higher importance on the role people play in our everyday life. And when we do this, we display one of God's most evident characteristic: A Love for People.

In the last post I quoted John 10:10b: 

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Jesus says he came to give us an abundant life. Not to enjoy a vacation, or to provide for his family, or to experience romance. He came for people. Now, an abundant life can include all of the above, but I have a feeling that what this Jesus guy meant was that if we correctly prioritize the values we place on different proponents of life, we will enjoy it to the full. Not only to the full, but forever.

No matter what religious system you belong to, in your own way you wish to enjoy life to the full. I would even go as far as to say that if life were enjoyable to this capacity, you'd even want to live forever. Life, as it appears now through these worldly lens, is not something we'd want to have forever. But when we take off the distorted glasses we've put on because of sufferings, we see how beautiful life can be if lived correctly.

This leads me to my closing question.

What does an abundant life look like to you?

Overflow.

At this point, you may have come to one of three conclusions:

1. You're doing exactly what you need to do to get where you want to be. (Good job!)
2. You haven't really been moving in the direction you should be in order to achieve your goals. Or...
3. The goals you had in mind aren't really worth dedicating your entire life towards pursuing.

No matter where you find yourself in life, you can always find a way to get back on track. One of the greatest aspects of life is that no matter how many wrong decisions you make, you always have the option of making your next decision a morally/productively "right" one. If people applied this concept to their eating or exercising habits, we wouldn't hear so many say, "I'll start again on Monday."

Think about this:

If you have a hectic day, and happen to miss a meal, do you quit eating altogether? Imagine missing a meal and telling yourself, "I'm such a bad eater! I quit! I'm never going to eat again! I'm just not good at it!"

That would be pretty ridiculous, wouldn't you agree? Unfortunately, people tend to think this way about things such as abandoning addictions, prayer, exercise, and dieting. 

• "I hadn't smoked in 3 weeks, and now I smoked a cigarette. I'm not good at this quitting thing, forget it, I give up on quitting."
• "I tried really hard to not have sex, but I ended up sleeping with someone... I'll never be able to control myself. Forget trying."
• "I tried working out consistently, but then I missed a workout. And then another one. And another one! I don't have what it takes. Guess I'll try again next year."
• "I tried praying to God every morning, but I forgot to pray today. What's wrong with me? I must not love Him as much as other people at my church. Whatever, He knows my heart."

My point is this; Five successes and one failure is still a success. In the same way, five failures, followed by one success, is still success. No matter what you've done in the past, or what you do today, you still have an opportunity to live a good life. 

And the funny thing is, that's exactly what Jesus Christ said he wanted for your life. A lot of people look at God and Jesus Christ as a buzz-kill. Two supernatural, egotistic, self-centered fun-robbers. With the way the Gospel is incorrectly preached in many churches, I can honestly say I understand your confusion. But the truth is, Jesus himself was quoted saying, 

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life,  and have it in abundance." (John 10:10)

To the full. Till it overflows...

Whether Christian, Buddhist, Agnostic, or Atheist, an abundant life is probably something you crave. We all want enjoyment. Are you surprised that God wants you to have fun and be successful? Yeah, I said it. (The popes of the past are rolling in their graves.)

Today, I want to end with a very open-ended question. Write down as many answers as you'd like.

What brings you enjoyment?

YOLO.

In the last section, we discussed how "Attention influences direction, which determines destination." We pinpointed that the things you pay attention to direct the path you are on, which ultimately decides where you'd end up. I asked you what some of your goals were, and whether you were on the right track to achieve those things.

Reflect on your answers for a moment. (If you didn't participate, think about these things for a moment.)

A middle-aged man decides he wants to compete in a marathon that's two months away. He has all the right reasons for competing; it would be fun, support the research of a certain medical issue in the community, and overall help him improve his personal health. He commits to the event, and sends in his application to compete. Now, you as a reader, choose which two scenarios might lead to a successful marathon experience:

1. He goes shopping for Converse High-Tops, eats McDonalds every day for the next two months, plays fantasy football 25 hours a week, watches Track & Field events on Youtube twice a day, and reads an article about running every night before bed.
2. He buys a pair of high-quality running shoes, eats a balanced and nutritious diet, runs daily, invests in a stopwatch to record his times, conducts research on successful methods of training for a marathon, and completes a physical exam with his primary care physician.

You'd have to be a knucklehead to get that one wrong. Interestingly enough, however, many people don't realize this applies to other areas of life too. The things you invest your time, money, and energy in are the same things your future is built upon. You can't expect to be fit if you never exercise. You can't expect to be rich, if you never work. You can't expect to become a master pianist if you never practice. Yes, there are exceptions, but chances are that isn't you. 

So, knowing this, why do so many people do things halfheartedly? This applies to the religious and non-religious alike. Why do religious people say they love God, yet fail to love people? Why do people wish to be rich, yet never want to take risks. Why do people sign up for the gym on January 1st, but stop going by March?

This blog isn't a challenge to be religious, but instead a challenge to be real. 

• What is your real GOAL? 
• What do you desire to do, or be, more than anything else in the world? 
• Are the risks involved in reaching this worth it?
• Are you moving towards that?

I know it feels like these questions are almost exactly like the ones I asked in the previous post, but that's because I can't stress enough how important this is. You've heard it, YOLO. You Only Live Once. Is this an excuse for stupidity, or a CALL TO ACTION? You have one chance at this thing called "life", and I just want to make sure you are completely satisfied with how you choose to live it.

See you soon.

G.P.S

If you haven't read my last post, I'd recommend starting there. If you already did, then pat yourself on the back. You're doing good. This might just make sense.

I ended by asking you, "In your life, where is Jesus?"

I should start by saying that there is only one correct answer to this, which I'll give you by the end of this post. This question reflects the human tendency to think that the world revolves around us personally. Just the idea of locating something based on its proximity to me is completely egocentric, and ignorant to say the least.

Many of us know that until recently (recently being hundreds of years), scientists believed the Sun revolved around the Earth. Man was so caught up in the idea that our home was the center of the universe, that they failed to notice the Earth was dependent on the Sun, and not vice versa. Without the Sun, the earth would have no light or heat, plants would wilt, and nations would freeze.

While the historic way of thinking seems so illogical scientifically, many are stuck in this method of thinking spiritually. We think that God exists to serve us, or that he doesn't exist at all because he has failed to serve us. We base our GPS (God-Positioning-System) completely on emotions, situations, and circumstances. If we don't feel God, He's either "far away", or non-existent in entirety. We are an Earth with our own Sun.

I ask you to take this moment, and analyze your relationship to your home. When you are at work, is your home far from you, or are you far from home? When you step outside your house, are you standing in front of your house, or is your house standing in front of you? Because you are the moving being (like the Earth), it is safe to say that your location is in proximity to your house, and not vice versa. I hope I'm not losing you, I know this all sounds pretty confusing.

My point is this: God hasn't moved. No matter how many circles you've tried to run around Him, He is still right there.

Instead of trying to "look for Jesus", or "find God", why don't we take a second to figure out where we are? This is a challenge to atheists and theists alike. Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself to figure out where you stand in this universe:

• What role do people play on the Earth?
• What is the purpose of my life?
• Am I living in a way that would lead me to achieve this purpose?
• What goals do I have?
• Who is the central character of my goals?

A wise man once said, "Attention influences direction, which determines destination."

The things you pay attention to influence the direction of your life. The direction your life is heading determines the destination you end up at in the end of this vapor we call life. 

Are you living in a way that projects a proper course for the destination of your life? 

What are you doing to draw closer to those goals?

That's enough for today. Stay tuned for more.

Introduction

No, not Jesus, the hispanic kid who sat next to you in eighth grade. Jesus Christ, that guy Christians claim is the "Son of God". Many people have searched for him in tombs, graves, and monasteries all over the world. Some say he's alive and walking the earth, others say he died just like any other man. No one can find him. He's like the Waldo (or Carmen San Diego) of religion. Some claim they saw him on their burnt toast, while others say he is a myth. One thing is certain; everyone has something to say about Jesus.

What would you say if I told you I found him? If you saw me running to the local newspaper building screaming "I found Jesus! He's real!"? You'd think I was crazy, until I showed some type of proof. Even still there would be doubts, because fake evidence is easy to create. I would literally have to introduce you to him. Maybe coffee for three? That would open up some great conversation. I wonder what Jesus would order from Starbucks...

Maybe now is a good time to say that I haven't sat in front of Jesus in person and had coffee with him. I don't know where He is geographically. I don't even know what he looks like. But strangely enough, I've come to know him pretty well. He's definitely someone worth knowing. And while the three of us (You, Jesus, and I) can't share a Pizza from Frankie's, or go play Mini Golf, I think that it would be pretty cool if you and I could sit and talk with him. For those that don't believe Jesus is real, entertain yourself with the idea that you and I are having tea (or coffee) with an imaginary friend who happens to bring up some saucy topics about life. 

For those that do believe in Jesus, this blog should challenge you to pinpoint where he stands in your life. Is he kind of just behind you, watching all the decisions you make, and wishing he could be more than a backseat driver in your life? Did you leave him outside on the porch, afraid to include him in your private life behind doors? Or do you have him in the passenger seat, letting him take the wheel only when you need to take a bite out of your Big Mac? For you, the challenge is that you would unbuckle your seatbelt, and switch seats with him, letting him guide you through life.

Now I will ask you: in your life, where is "Jesus"?