Fruitless

So today at work, a friend of mine was talking, and I said something that caught her off guard. I said, "I'm not religious, I can't stand religion."

This kind of struck her as odd, and she replied, "See Dan, that's what I don't understand, you're so discipline, and religious, but you hate religion. How does that even work?"

I looked at my friend and simply replied, "I have a standard, that doesn't make me religious. I don't live the way I do because I have to, nobody forces me to live like this… it's because I want to." She was profoundly confused, and didn't know quite what to say to this.

How can a man believe in God, live a certain way, and not be religious? When someone hears the word religion, they usually automatically think rules. I don't do anything I do because I was told I have walk and talk a certain way, I choose to live the way I do.

I don't look at porn, because I don't like to degrade woman, and lust after another man's wife… What is so weird about that? I don't drink because all you are doing is poisoning yourself, and I value my health, I also like to be in a clear state of mind. I don't swear because people only swear when they can't think of anything intelligent to say, and I don't like looking like a fool.

So in the end, I must say people are confused, you don't have to be religious to have standards!!! And when it comes to being religious, I am anti-religion, because it's against my relationship. I don't live out of rules and guidelines; I live out of love and relation. And for the record, what even makes someone a Christian? I hear so many people say, "I'm a Christian." yet they drink like everyone else, party like everyone else… how does that even work? All I have to say is this, a tree will be known by its fruit. I don't care what you say, let's see some action.

What Might have Been

What Might Have Been


In life unfortunately, sometimes we find ourselves looking back and wondering what might have been. It’s a hard thing looking back at a situation knowing that you could have made it better, but didn’t choose to take any action.

I’m not talking about a situation were you might have, or might not have been able to make a change. I’m talking about the time you knew you could do something, and you knew you could make things better, or that it would have been awesome, but you never took action.

I know for me, there are a few situations in life where I totally dropped the ball, now I’m wondering, we do we set ourselves up like this? If you know you can help, or make a change, and you know it won’t hurt you, why wouldn’t you?

Why do we let fear hold us back so many times in life? Why not do something, what if this could change your life, if it’s the thing that will help you break through, or advance on to the next level? Why hold back? If you’ve already assessed a situation, and know that there really aren’t any huge consequences, if any, than why not? The dream you don't fight for, could haunt you the rest of your life.

I guess I’m just thinking out loud… I can tell you this much though, I’m inspired not to hold back, I’m tired of saying what if, or thinking about what might have been. Get out there and “Do”. Don’t just say something, make a change.

Perceptions

Perceptions

So the other day, I heard someone talking about perceptions. He said how we let our perceptions throw us off, and how many things aren’t always the way we perceive, then it led me to thinking about how sometimes we have preconceived ideas that cause us to miss out in life. Which ultimately led me to thinking about how we perceive life, and value.

It’s unfortunate how our perceptions and preconceived notions can actually cost us in life. So many times we say, “I don’t know if can go on.” When there is so much left in us. We think, “I don’t have anything, or anyone.” When there are many people who care for us, and we have more than we really need.

The problem most of the time isn’t that we are lacking something; it’s that we are insecure, and have forgot how to be content. So many people, especially athletes, come out and say, “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me “but totally ignore the verses right before that in Philippians 4:11 - 12

Philippians 4:11 - 12
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. #

I love how Paul comes out and says “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” This is so relevant to society today, because we are never satisfied. We always want just a little bit more, enough is just isn’t ever enough; we need to learn how to be content…

Another huge problem is we have the wrong preconceived notions walking into situations in life. How can we expect to do well, if we are walking in with the mindset that we’ve already been defeated? Why do we act like we know everything that is going to happen? We let fear take it’s coarse in our lives, when the real question is what good does worry do for anyone?

Fear doesn’t change what’s happening, all it does is make you loose sleep, and makes you stress out. If something isn’t going good, worrying isn’t going to help, you need to “be the change you want to see in the world” if you don’t like a situation you’re in, change it. We need to be good at making the best out of every situation in life, no matter how bad it is, even when we do fail.

Failure is a part in growing, if you are too afraid to step out of your box, you will never do anything great in life. Failure lets you see what you can do better. Unfortunately, instead of taking a risk, we sit back and think, “Well if I screwed up…” and the consequences of failure run wild through our heads; and most the time, we make the consequences much worse than they are. If you are afraid of the horse, forget about going pro, or being bucked off, you’ll never get on the horse in the first place…

You’ve got to have the right mindset in every situation in life, and we need to realize that things usually aren’t what they seem. You’ve got to have an overcoming mindset, or else you will fall victim to fear, and to insecurities. What is driving you?

Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
So why should I be afraid?
The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
So why should I tremble?

Well ya, that’s all for now.

Be Blessed!

Distractions

Distractions

So I was just reading James, I love James and I read it a lot, when I started to think about Staying focused, and the Power of words. Lately we’ve been going through the series at Capital, and the main thesis is to go out and “Do”… or as Judah would say, “Don’t just say you’re a Christian, live it.” Then I started thinking, what stops people from going out and putting some action behind there faith? What kind of attitude do we have? What is our demeanor? How do we talk? What do we actually say, act like, and do when we go out and put some action behind our faith?

When looking at my own life, I can look at specific times, where I’ve gotten distracted. I spent more time in the gym then I did at the church I was doing an internship for during my second year there… What Happened? I lost focus, I took my eye off of the prize, and got distracted.

One of the biggest problems we see today is people simply get sidetracked. They say, “I’ll go out, and do that as soon as I’m done with work…” They get home and realize they didn’t do it, then say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Tomorrow comes and they say, “I’ll do it sometime this week.” Saturday comes, and they say, “The Pastor was just talking to the general public, he wasn’t actually telling me to go out and do something…” We need to learn how to prioritize. Which is more important, your hour of Bible study, or Lost? Which is more important to you, the Gym, or ministry? Which is more important, doing what the Bible says, or fulfilling your own selfish desires?

Now I’m not saying that everything you do should be centered around Christ, although it should, I’m simply saying that if you don’t prioritize correctly, you will never fulfill the purpose God has intended for your life.

Another huge question is our demeanor, and what do we talk like when we go out and “Do”? If you read James 3, The entire chapter is about the power of the tongue, and how we need to watch what we say. If you are going out, with the attitude of, “well I have to do this, better get it out of the way…” and complain while looking angry, how does that show the love of Christ?

Are we distracted? Have we become so self centered, that everything we do needs to benefit us in some way? Are we Selfish?


Colossians 3 8-17 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,# circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,# slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.#

Everything we do should represent Christ…

Well I’m challenged… God is Good!

Be Blessed