Should have passed on French Class

One of my regrets in school was taking French over Spanish. In order to look good for college I knew I had to take a foreign language. I wanted to take Spanish but my sister was in French. I knew she did a good job kissing up to the teacher (Thanks Onna! Made my grade great for a while) and it would make it easier for me. I did enjoy what I learned and the teacher was good, but it was pointless. I never had a desire to go to France and I have used French maybe five times in my life. One time I can barely count because it was in Haiti. I was told they speak French/Creole. So I tried speaking some French, they spoke Creole and it was an extremely awkward five minute conversation.  Some things we learn are extremely practical if we remember them. Paul reminded the Thessalonians in the second book.

Education from the apostles was important. Paul shared this line with the people in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” Stand firm to the knowledge the apostles gave. False prophets and teachers that spoke well but deceived people filled into the church. Paul wanted the people to stand firm on what he taught, be filled with the knowledge of Jesus and what he did, this way they would know the true truth.

We need to apply Jesus’s teachings to our own lives. French class wasn’t as beneficial for me, it was still a good class, just not practical. What Jesus taught was practical, beneficial and worth applying the teachings to our lives. With what Jesus taught, what do you need to apply to your lives?

Have a great day.

Facebook, homosexuality, gay marriage, judgmental Christians, who are we trying to represent?

It’s just not fair.

Facebook has been an interesting place lately.

It seems like it can be ok to be friends with someone until you say something they disagree with.

My friend David Vang put a saying up on Facebook, “Yes I am a Christian. No, I don’t think that makes me better than anyone.”

With politics, Chick-Fil-A, gay marriage and any other hot topic subject, sharing your view might not be accepted and you could be considered judgmental.

A couple of times I have shared on these subjects and some of the responses I get back aren’t positive.

It happens.

What the problem is, if people don’t share your exact view, you’re not ok with them.

I have seen where Christians have been bold with this and say, “I am just sharing the truth of God and I don’t care what other people think, God needs to be lifted up.”

While there is truth to this, it’s not always done in love.

I have heard people say Christians just persecute me for my views.

Don’t forget, Christians are the number 1 persecuted group in the world.

Just for wearing a cross or admitting you’re a Christian can be instant cause for death.

I am extremely sorry if you feel that Christians just persecute you.

Not all Christians are like that.

Sometimes you might miss the point of what we/Christians are trying to say.

Sometimes we say things in the wrong way.

This happens throughout history.

I shared yesterday about Paul being beat and people beating him without knowing why.

In Acts 21:38, we find out what they think of Paul…

“Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?”

In other words, they had no idea who Paul was and what he represented.

Yet they still felt the needed to beat him up and they thought he was a different person.

Paul represented Jesus, and tried to share the message of Jesus with everyone.

Yet they thought he started a revolt and led 4,000 terrorist?

They didn’t know who Paul was.

Sometimes we don’t understand people and we are misunderstood.

As a Christian, I am sometimes misunderstood for what I represent.

This is who I am….

A sinner, full of mistakes, a father, husband to a (smoking hot wife), Christian, hypocrite, depressed, sad, happy, mellow, laid-back, goofy and  not perfect.

As a Christian, I live by the Bible.

I would love to say that everyone gets to go to heaven and no matter how good or bad you have been. I will see you in heaven.

That is me, but I have to submit to what the Bible says.

The Bible says the only way to heaven is through faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

As a Christian we follow the Bible and try to let that lead our lives.

We are not always the best at communicating that.

According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin, just like masturbation with lust, looking at porn, adultery, lust and every other sexual sin.

This does not mean I don’t want to be friends or we can’t still show love to each other.

Our first commandment is to show love to everyone, no matter what their views are or how they vote.

If I did not hang out with people because they sinned, I couldn’t even hang out with myself.

I am full of errors and sin.

I believe living for Jesus, is not living for my view on the world but his.

What do you think?

Who or what do you live for?

Have a great day.

It's been a while.

It feels like it’s been a while since I have been on here.

Wow, it’s because I have.

Mind pulling me a million different directions a second, thanks ADD.

So between going on vacation, dad visiting, Christmas, being busy and doing other stuff, today I make a commitment to get back on track.

Today is an amazing bit of scripture in Acts 2:14-41.

Peter gave a sermon which has some scripture that hits home with me everytime.

Peter mentions what David said in Psalm 16:8-11…

“I saw the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

There my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

My body also will live in hope,

Because you will not abandon me to

The grave,

Nor will you let your Holy One see

Decay.

You have made known to me the paths

Of life;

You will fill me with joy in your presence.”

I appreciate this scripture and Peter bringing it up again.

Some things are worth mentioning more then once and I am glad Peter shared this.

Peter continues on to give a great message to the people about Jesus and faith.

The people were very touched by his message and asked what do we do now?

He said this in Acts 2:38…

“Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Peter goes on to say…

“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

After giving this message over 3,000 people were added to the Church.

3,000 made a decision.

This is an amazing story and the Church took off.

Each person had to make their own decision though.

Where are you at with your decision process?

These people made the decision in faith.

What are you having trouble making decisions in?

There are some messages that are worth hearing time and time again.

The fact no matter how bad you think you are or how many mistakes you make God can forgive you.

Even in the hard times, Jesus still loves you.

Know matter who you are or what you do Jesus still loves you and wants a personal relationship with you.

What are you going to do with your life from this point forward?

Have a great day.

Where do women belong?

If you said in the kitchen and were not joking, shame on you.

Women and the role in Christianity and other religions can be a huge issue.

There is a show that is called All-American Muslim showing the relationship between women and being Muslim in America.

It’s really a different and unique thing to see.

From the little I have seen in with the show and with the role of women, it’s a completely different then the limited conversations I have had with Muslims.

I have heard that women are very much respected in Islam, in my very limited experience and knowledge, I don’t see it.

I had a female Muslim friend in college and we talked about the differences in religion.

We had plenty of great conversations about faith.

We once talked about how in the Qur’an it is ok to have up to four wives.

I asked her what she thought about her possible husband having more than her as a wife, she told me she would be disappointed she would not be the only women to please her husband but she would submit and follow his lead.

I said, “I don’t think that is the main issue. You are worried about having up to four mother in-laws.”

She had a pretty good laugh on that.

While the majority of Islam is very peaceful, this was written in the Qur’an in a section titled “The Women” Surah 4:34…

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means.  Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard.  As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, do not seek against them means (of annoyance): for Allah is Most High, Great (above, you all).”

I dreally don’t see peace when the way you handle a women in society if she does something wrong is to beat them.

There is no peace in that.

I know a person that was a domestic violence counselor and dealt with this issue.

Muslim women could get beat and if they went to the police in this matter it was going against their faith, they could be shunned from their family forever or face possible death threats.

I have heard the issue; the Bible is the same way against women.

People will throw out, a women is supposed to submit to the husband and I have heard in other words do whatever the man wants.

If a man ever said this to me, I would have major issues against them because they are going against what God intended for in the Bible.

I once worked with a guy that fully believed this he once told me this…

“Joel, if I want to go out golfing and it was to a place that was $40 for a cart and 18 or a much better place that was $78, I would go to the place that was $78 because I make the money in the household so I have the right to do whatever I want with it.”

Needless to say I lost a lot of respect for that person.

If you have come across Christians like this, I am sorry.

Christianity is showing love and respect to both genders.

We see this in John 20:10-18.

In this section of scripture, Jesus was recently not found in the tomb and Mary went to the tomb and saw two angels.

They asked why she was crying and she told them Jesus was taken away.

She didn’t realize that Jesus was right there with them and thought he was a Gardner.

When she realized she was talking to Jesus, she cried out “Rabboni” a.k.a. Teacher, in verse 16.

This is what happened in verses 17-18…

“Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not returned to the Father.  God instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.”

So Mary saw Jesus first, who cares?

This is a huge deal.

This is what The Bible Knowledge Commentary said…

“The fact that He appeared to Mary rather than to Pilate or Caiaphas or to one of His disciples is significant. That a woman would be the first to see Him is an evidence of Jesus’ electing love as well as a mark of the narrative’s historicity. No Jewish author in the ancient world would have invented a story with a woman as the first witness to this most important event.”

Christianity did something know other religion did, give value to a women.

Jesus loves each and every one of us.

Both male and female Jesus loves us.

If you meet Christians that don’t show respect towards women, I would like to apologize for those people.

Jesus loves you and values you much more then you could ever imagine.

Have a great day.

The Bible is full of mistakes

The Bible is wrong.

One area that I struggled in faith was the area of the Bible.
·         It’s been translated to many times
·         It contradicts itself
·         They pick and choose what they wanted to keep in

Any excuse you can think of, I probably said against the Bible.

It was tough for me to be convinced that it was true and right.

Even after I had faith, I still struggled to answer questions about the Bible contradicting itself.

I have a better idea now.

If you have questions about the Bible, message me.

Why I am going into this subject is a little section of scripture in John 7:53-8:11.

At the beginning of this section of scripture it says this…

“The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11.”

“Why is it in the Bible” is a common question.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary said this about the scripture…

“Almost all textual scholars agree that these verses were not part of the original manuscript of the Gospel of John. The NIV states in brackets that “The earliest and most reliable manuscripts do not have John 7:53-8:11.” The style and vocabulary of this passage differ from the rest of the Gospel, and the passage interrupts the sequence from 7:52-8:12. It is probably a part of true oral tradition which was added to later Greek manuscripts by copyists.”

So what it in in there?

Some scholars still claim this word is true, but would rather put this warning on it.

Better safe than sorry.

If you have any questions on the Bible, I will answer them and try to point you in the right direction.

The Bible is true, I believe in the word, and that it can change lives for the better when put in a practice.

Have a great day.