Thursday, April 14, 2016
Grace: Getting What We Deserve Least
Grace: Getting What We Deserve Least: Twenty years had passed since the time Judah and his brothers sold Joseph into slavery. He had no way of knowing that Joseph had risen above a series of misfortunes to become the prime minister of Egypt. During Joseph’s rise to political power, he engineered a massive government food campaign to store up grain reservesa href='http://www.faithgateway.com/grace-getting-deserve-least/' title='Read more' .../a
Saturday, April 9, 2016
The Importance Of Saving Oneself
We live in a world
that is completely saturated with sex. We can't escape it. Scantily clad women
are seen on various commercials selling liquor, cars, food, and various
Internet websites. Most of this note is based upon a class I took at 10th
District a few months ago. It was an informative class that opened my eyes
about sex. For those of you who know me, I can be a prude. I don't like to talk
about sex unless it is about having sex when one is married. I despise sex in
the context in a locker room manner. More importantly, I believe and know it's
very important to abstain until one is married. I am not judging anyone who has
had sex before they were married. I am not judging anyone who is unmarried
having sex. Sex is not what it used to be. Sex is no longer a beautiful and
loving act between a man and woman. It's seen as something that must be done
quickly. Let's delve into some of the things most of us have seen and heard at
a young age.
Young men are taught as young boys never to say no. Some boys are taught by older men that you become a man by the number of women you have sex with. Young girls are taught by some women that for them to be successful, one must lie on her back. People who teach lessons like this will receive their just due from the Lord above. Abstinence is seen as a weakness. Fornication is seen as strength. Sex is not what it used to be. A person shouldn't sow their oats because they can. We can do everything we want, but all things are not helpful (1 Corinthians 10:23). In fact, most of the young men my age who have had sex wish they didn't.
First, let's talk about how fornication is harming our bodies, a temple for the Holy Spirit as 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. Our bodies are vessels for the Holy Spirit to dwell in while we're on earth. Since we are now born-again Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Jesus sent it down to comfort us and guide us after His ascension. Since we are God's people, we are to act godly. Being godly is simply putting on God's nature. We should strive for perfection. God is not a man where He should lie. Neither is the Father a human being who would have sex before marriage. Our bodies should be pure, holy, clean, and undefiled. It's hard for the body to function as a holy temple the residue of another person being on us. Let me explain that. At 10th District, my teacher and his wife mentioned that when one loses their virginity before marriage, the person you were with is on your mind, heart, and spirit. It's hard to shake that person off of you since you are tainted by having sex with that person. Now, that you know that premarital sex taints your whole person, let's move on to how it can rob you of peace.
Second, Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter that has so many verses in it about the dangers of walking in lust. When we choose lust (not only lust for sex), we lose peace. Verse 6 tells of the perils of being focused on satisfying our mortal bodies. We lose peace and will die by making the flesh our god. The word death not only means dying physically, it means dying in other possible ways. If a guy and girl have sex, they may experience temporary joy once the sexual act is finished. However, peace will be stolen moments later. Peace is robbed when both parties worry about how to cover up their misdeeds. Both of them will worry about how they will appear to the public. The guy will have to worry how he'll appear to his friends. The girl will worry if the boy she was with will tell of their indiscretion which could make her out to be a whore. One's peace of mind is stolen. A second example of peace being stolen is if the girl believes she is pregnant. She has to worry about the stigma of being labeled as a single mother. She has to worry how her parents will accept the news of her pregnancy. The guy she is with has to now worry about finding employment, paying for child support, and taking care of this child. Children are not cheap. One moment of sinful pleasure can detour us from the plans God has for us. My final example of peace being robbed is one having sex with someone who is extremely promiscuous. One has to worry if a person caught something which is incurable. Lust has a heavy price.
Let's look at the opposite. When one doesn't give into lust, that person has peace. I'm going to brave with all of you, I'm a virgin. I'm the dreaded V-word. I'm not gay; I want to clear that up. I'm not ashamed of it and don't consider myself weak. God is refuge and fortress in everything (Psalms 46). I have peace knowing that by not having sex I will never have to worry about getting a girl pregnant. I won't have to calculate the exorbitant cost of childcare ranging from doctor's visits, diapers, formula, and clothing. I won't have to worry about a woman who got pregnant on purpose in order to take of herself rather than the child we conceived outside of wedlock. Also, I won't have to worry about going to family court trying to schedule visits with my child. I don't have to worry about catching an STD that can or can't be cured. I went to college, and have been tempted at times. However, God always makes a way of escape for us as is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Lust will always wrestle with our soul as is mentioned in 1 Peter 2:11.
Many of you are baffled as to how to overcome the lust of the flesh. If one continues to run after God, the appetite of lust will be dwindling as we continue to listen to God's voice. God's voice can be heard when we read and study the Bible. His voice can he be heard in the wise words of those who love Him and make God the head of their lives. Satan will always get us distracted from our Christian walk by throwing things that we were delivered from. Sin has greater prices that must be paid for. However, our sins have been paid for by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The price for sin has been paid for. Remember what Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4 says. Both chapters say that we shouldn't be in the world, yet we must live in it. We should never be entangled with the trends of the world; we are just pilgrims traveling in it until we see Jesus face to face.
In conclusion, I want to throw some interesting facts for you all. People who abstain from sex have higher self-esteem, more fidelity, no residue from prior sexual partners, joy, peace of mind, less worries, and people who abstain from sex until marriage get divorced only 2% of the time. Lastly, people who live together before they get married get divorced 70% of time. This information comes from various sources. Look them up if you don't believe me. A real adult makes Jesus Christ the head of their lives as is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:3. A man isn't man based on his anatomy. The same applies for a woman. Verses which talk about lust include 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Peter 2, Galatians 5, Hebrews 13, 2 Timothy 2, 2 Corinthians 6, 2 Corinthians 7, 1 Thessalonians 5, Ephesians 5. God bless all of you. Continue to walk in God so the flesh can die.
Young men are taught as young boys never to say no. Some boys are taught by older men that you become a man by the number of women you have sex with. Young girls are taught by some women that for them to be successful, one must lie on her back. People who teach lessons like this will receive their just due from the Lord above. Abstinence is seen as a weakness. Fornication is seen as strength. Sex is not what it used to be. A person shouldn't sow their oats because they can. We can do everything we want, but all things are not helpful (1 Corinthians 10:23). In fact, most of the young men my age who have had sex wish they didn't.
First, let's talk about how fornication is harming our bodies, a temple for the Holy Spirit as 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. Our bodies are vessels for the Holy Spirit to dwell in while we're on earth. Since we are now born-again Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Jesus sent it down to comfort us and guide us after His ascension. Since we are God's people, we are to act godly. Being godly is simply putting on God's nature. We should strive for perfection. God is not a man where He should lie. Neither is the Father a human being who would have sex before marriage. Our bodies should be pure, holy, clean, and undefiled. It's hard for the body to function as a holy temple the residue of another person being on us. Let me explain that. At 10th District, my teacher and his wife mentioned that when one loses their virginity before marriage, the person you were with is on your mind, heart, and spirit. It's hard to shake that person off of you since you are tainted by having sex with that person. Now, that you know that premarital sex taints your whole person, let's move on to how it can rob you of peace.
Second, Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter that has so many verses in it about the dangers of walking in lust. When we choose lust (not only lust for sex), we lose peace. Verse 6 tells of the perils of being focused on satisfying our mortal bodies. We lose peace and will die by making the flesh our god. The word death not only means dying physically, it means dying in other possible ways. If a guy and girl have sex, they may experience temporary joy once the sexual act is finished. However, peace will be stolen moments later. Peace is robbed when both parties worry about how to cover up their misdeeds. Both of them will worry about how they will appear to the public. The guy will have to worry how he'll appear to his friends. The girl will worry if the boy she was with will tell of their indiscretion which could make her out to be a whore. One's peace of mind is stolen. A second example of peace being stolen is if the girl believes she is pregnant. She has to worry about the stigma of being labeled as a single mother. She has to worry how her parents will accept the news of her pregnancy. The guy she is with has to now worry about finding employment, paying for child support, and taking care of this child. Children are not cheap. One moment of sinful pleasure can detour us from the plans God has for us. My final example of peace being robbed is one having sex with someone who is extremely promiscuous. One has to worry if a person caught something which is incurable. Lust has a heavy price.
Let's look at the opposite. When one doesn't give into lust, that person has peace. I'm going to brave with all of you, I'm a virgin. I'm the dreaded V-word. I'm not gay; I want to clear that up. I'm not ashamed of it and don't consider myself weak. God is refuge and fortress in everything (Psalms 46). I have peace knowing that by not having sex I will never have to worry about getting a girl pregnant. I won't have to calculate the exorbitant cost of childcare ranging from doctor's visits, diapers, formula, and clothing. I won't have to worry about a woman who got pregnant on purpose in order to take of herself rather than the child we conceived outside of wedlock. Also, I won't have to worry about going to family court trying to schedule visits with my child. I don't have to worry about catching an STD that can or can't be cured. I went to college, and have been tempted at times. However, God always makes a way of escape for us as is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Lust will always wrestle with our soul as is mentioned in 1 Peter 2:11.
Many of you are baffled as to how to overcome the lust of the flesh. If one continues to run after God, the appetite of lust will be dwindling as we continue to listen to God's voice. God's voice can be heard when we read and study the Bible. His voice can he be heard in the wise words of those who love Him and make God the head of their lives. Satan will always get us distracted from our Christian walk by throwing things that we were delivered from. Sin has greater prices that must be paid for. However, our sins have been paid for by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The price for sin has been paid for. Remember what Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4 says. Both chapters say that we shouldn't be in the world, yet we must live in it. We should never be entangled with the trends of the world; we are just pilgrims traveling in it until we see Jesus face to face.
In conclusion, I want to throw some interesting facts for you all. People who abstain from sex have higher self-esteem, more fidelity, no residue from prior sexual partners, joy, peace of mind, less worries, and people who abstain from sex until marriage get divorced only 2% of the time. Lastly, people who live together before they get married get divorced 70% of time. This information comes from various sources. Look them up if you don't believe me. A real adult makes Jesus Christ the head of their lives as is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:3. A man isn't man based on his anatomy. The same applies for a woman. Verses which talk about lust include 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Peter 2, Galatians 5, Hebrews 13, 2 Timothy 2, 2 Corinthians 6, 2 Corinthians 7, 1 Thessalonians 5, Ephesians 5. God bless all of you. Continue to walk in God so the flesh can die.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Take Me As I Am
I had
and have so many thoughts running around in my head about the images we as a
culture are inundated with on a perpetual basis. I believe the majority of us
are believed into thinking our individual quality of life will improve if we
have the hallmarks of success. Those hallmarks included tailored clothes, new
car, a spacious house in a neighborhood that projects an illusion of security.
That frame of thinking bothers me because success is relative, subjective with
no clear definition except for what we’ve been hoodwinked into believing. Is
the owner of a 20-year-old Mazda Prism drowning in a sea of despondency as
opposed to someone who drives a Bugatti? Why as adults are we forced to project
this exhausting façade of perfection to ward off the glum, pitiable expressions
from outsiders who feel that we hadn’t hit this alleged mark or claimed this
illusive prize?
As I neared the end of my shift a few weeks ago, I thought about this post and how it should be phrased? Fantasy or reality, huh? Both are polar opposites yet sometimes they bleed into every facet of our lives. We look at magazine articles where the women are crafted into these flawless beings with toned legs, flat stomachs, long hair, and perfect skin. They chafe at these images and bristle when members of the opposite sex expect them to live up to a standard society mandates. Men look at these glossy images expecting our future wives to have no flaws, tangible or otherwise. They spend every waking hour smoothing away their various idiosyncrasies, their strength, and determination so they don’t scare off a boy pretending to be a man. They are to morph in this hollowed out, plastic, cardboard version of herself.
Men succumb to the pressure of living up to expectations women yearn for a husband. He is to have a chiseled face, light colored eyes, six-pack abs, a piercing gaze, light stubble, and muscular arms – basically your average, airbrushed cover of Men’s Fitness. This man is to show no weakness, no emotion, and remove any doubts, worries, and concerns his doe-eyed, fragile, and helpless damsel has rattling around in her mind. As a young man who is still maturing, I find this superficial definition of masculinity untrue and downright insulting. As a gangly, awkward, and acne-ridden teenager I didn’t measure to what a teenager girl would define as handsome, cute, or marginally attractive.
I sit here at my computer thinking of the litany of images that demand who and what I should be. I still wrestle with the notion of what I’m supposed to off my future wife when I meet her. Am I supposed to project this image of a retired, strong-willed monolith who buries his true character to mask his eccentricities, frailties, and other flaws we try to hide behind a faltering veneer of strength.
Why all this subterfuge? It’s simple: fantasy. Some say fantasies are unhealthy, keeping us from facing the grim realities of life. Some also argue that fantasies keep us from progressing because we don’t want to admit that we are afraid of what a new phase in life brings. If fantasies are so dangerous, why do we indulge our insatiable curiosities by reading books, watching movies, or traveling to new places? One would say fantasies create a buffer that cushions us when we are greeted by crippling disappointments. If we are honest with ourselves fantasies gives us something to dream of, look forward to, and learn how to handle the inevitable curve balls life can hurl in our direction. In my opinion, fantasies have helped me shave off the excess baggage life has tried to nail on the cross I am charged with carrying. Every person has a moment of doubt, where they question if they have the fortitude to climb another mountain after wading through a valley where they were stripped of the essential or inessential. The inessential being the boundaries and definitions imposed on a society whose images sell a fantasy to make money. Fantasy or reality? Where does one begin and end? When we learn that God is perfect. He offers perfect love and perfect peace without a price except His Son Jesus Christ
As I neared the end of my shift a few weeks ago, I thought about this post and how it should be phrased? Fantasy or reality, huh? Both are polar opposites yet sometimes they bleed into every facet of our lives. We look at magazine articles where the women are crafted into these flawless beings with toned legs, flat stomachs, long hair, and perfect skin. They chafe at these images and bristle when members of the opposite sex expect them to live up to a standard society mandates. Men look at these glossy images expecting our future wives to have no flaws, tangible or otherwise. They spend every waking hour smoothing away their various idiosyncrasies, their strength, and determination so they don’t scare off a boy pretending to be a man. They are to morph in this hollowed out, plastic, cardboard version of herself.
Men succumb to the pressure of living up to expectations women yearn for a husband. He is to have a chiseled face, light colored eyes, six-pack abs, a piercing gaze, light stubble, and muscular arms – basically your average, airbrushed cover of Men’s Fitness. This man is to show no weakness, no emotion, and remove any doubts, worries, and concerns his doe-eyed, fragile, and helpless damsel has rattling around in her mind. As a young man who is still maturing, I find this superficial definition of masculinity untrue and downright insulting. As a gangly, awkward, and acne-ridden teenager I didn’t measure to what a teenager girl would define as handsome, cute, or marginally attractive.
I sit here at my computer thinking of the litany of images that demand who and what I should be. I still wrestle with the notion of what I’m supposed to off my future wife when I meet her. Am I supposed to project this image of a retired, strong-willed monolith who buries his true character to mask his eccentricities, frailties, and other flaws we try to hide behind a faltering veneer of strength.
Why all this subterfuge? It’s simple: fantasy. Some say fantasies are unhealthy, keeping us from facing the grim realities of life. Some also argue that fantasies keep us from progressing because we don’t want to admit that we are afraid of what a new phase in life brings. If fantasies are so dangerous, why do we indulge our insatiable curiosities by reading books, watching movies, or traveling to new places? One would say fantasies create a buffer that cushions us when we are greeted by crippling disappointments. If we are honest with ourselves fantasies gives us something to dream of, look forward to, and learn how to handle the inevitable curve balls life can hurl in our direction. In my opinion, fantasies have helped me shave off the excess baggage life has tried to nail on the cross I am charged with carrying. Every person has a moment of doubt, where they question if they have the fortitude to climb another mountain after wading through a valley where they were stripped of the essential or inessential. The inessential being the boundaries and definitions imposed on a society whose images sell a fantasy to make money. Fantasy or reality? Where does one begin and end? When we learn that God is perfect. He offers perfect love and perfect peace without a price except His Son Jesus Christ
Sunday, September 20, 2015
The cure for a broken heart
A broken heart is something we all have experienced, but want to a cure for it. Some listen to songs, watch movies, eat, and listen to others who haven’t gotten over a relationship which ended badly. The above mentioned solutions may assuage the pain, but are simply Band-Aid solutions which are temporary. However, the scars are still there, the pain comes back, and are still searching for answers. We lose sleep and often become allow our broken hearts to make us bitter. I know of someone who can heal our broken heart who is Jesus Christ. He literally died from a broken heart while being nailed to the Cross. There are scriptures and insights which I am about to share with you when it comes to dealing with having one’s hear broken.
Being broken hearted occurs when finding romance or getting over a bad breakup. I want to shatter that long held myth. People have had their hearts broken when not looking for romance. I have had my heart broken when being bullied for wearing glasses, braces, and being on the honor roll in junior high school. I have had my heart broken in high school by feeling less than my male classmates. I felt ugly, boring, and unworthy of the attention and blessings which were coming my way. In college I’ve had my heart broken when friends who I was there for weren’t there for me. I’ve had my heart broken after college when looking at Facebook albums of fellow Tech alums living the dream life and possessing all that I wanted. I remember when I worked at Chase, I sat at my cubicle during my fifteen minute break, and God was saying, “Chris, you need to give me your broken heart. It has nothing to do with me with romance, but being wounded by others.” I remember I read a familiar passage from the book of Psalms. The Father told me to chapter 51 and 147. In the former, I remember it saying that God us to surrender our broken heart. In chapter 147:3, it says that God can heal a broken heart. He can heal it if we give it to Him.
Holding on to a broken heart cultivates certain fruit within us. This fruit is dangerous and includes bitterness, jealousy, envy, and hate. We are bitter over our past and it not working out the way we expected. We become jealous when we see those we love be blessed by God in multiple areas of their lives. We become envious by thinking the grass is greener on the other side by not being grateful for what we have. We become hateful and want to see others fail because we are so miserable in our lives. All of the above is dangerous and towards the end of 2009 I learn that go. It wasn’t easy, but I had to give it up.
I recall several instances of being in a position where dangerous fruit was starting to grow in my spirit. I remember seeing Facebook photos of myself with my mentor, his wife, and two sons who I call my “little brothers”. I began to feel sorry for myself because my parents divorced at an early age, I never saw a template for a loving Christian marriage, and wanted that in my life. I became jealous and hateful. I began sending hateful messages to my mentor just to spite him. My mentor rebuked me for placing him and his life on a pedestal. I recalled an e-mail he sent me in August 2008 saying, ‘My life isn’t perfect, but I serve a perfect God.’ I allowed Satan an open door and not ask God for peace in my life. I couldn’t believe I began to fall back into old ways of thinking.
I started to pray and asked God why does my life seem hard? I read Psalms 16:11, Matthew 11:30, Colossians 3:8, Hebrews 12: 1, and 1 Peter 2:1. After the above mentioned verses, I was slowly delivered. I stopped thinking that my mentor’s life and the lives of people I went to college were perfect. I know that there were times where their lives seemed barren and hopeless, but they overcame. I overcame obstacles that I thought were insurmountable during college. Towards the end of 2009, I asked to take all of my broken heart. I asked Him for peace over opportunities that I thought I would work out during and after college. I asked Him for a better than I one I have, yet still be grateful for the present. Giving all of your broken to the Father’s hands is the key. We can turn to our Advocate, Jesus Christ, who understands all that we go through (1 Corinthians 10).
Being broken hearted occurs when finding romance or getting over a bad breakup. I want to shatter that long held myth. People have had their hearts broken when not looking for romance. I have had my heart broken when being bullied for wearing glasses, braces, and being on the honor roll in junior high school. I have had my heart broken in high school by feeling less than my male classmates. I felt ugly, boring, and unworthy of the attention and blessings which were coming my way. In college I’ve had my heart broken when friends who I was there for weren’t there for me. I’ve had my heart broken after college when looking at Facebook albums of fellow Tech alums living the dream life and possessing all that I wanted. I remember when I worked at Chase, I sat at my cubicle during my fifteen minute break, and God was saying, “Chris, you need to give me your broken heart. It has nothing to do with me with romance, but being wounded by others.” I remember I read a familiar passage from the book of Psalms. The Father told me to chapter 51 and 147. In the former, I remember it saying that God us to surrender our broken heart. In chapter 147:3, it says that God can heal a broken heart. He can heal it if we give it to Him.
Holding on to a broken heart cultivates certain fruit within us. This fruit is dangerous and includes bitterness, jealousy, envy, and hate. We are bitter over our past and it not working out the way we expected. We become jealous when we see those we love be blessed by God in multiple areas of their lives. We become envious by thinking the grass is greener on the other side by not being grateful for what we have. We become hateful and want to see others fail because we are so miserable in our lives. All of the above is dangerous and towards the end of 2009 I learn that go. It wasn’t easy, but I had to give it up.
I recall several instances of being in a position where dangerous fruit was starting to grow in my spirit. I remember seeing Facebook photos of myself with my mentor, his wife, and two sons who I call my “little brothers”. I began to feel sorry for myself because my parents divorced at an early age, I never saw a template for a loving Christian marriage, and wanted that in my life. I became jealous and hateful. I began sending hateful messages to my mentor just to spite him. My mentor rebuked me for placing him and his life on a pedestal. I recalled an e-mail he sent me in August 2008 saying, ‘My life isn’t perfect, but I serve a perfect God.’ I allowed Satan an open door and not ask God for peace in my life. I couldn’t believe I began to fall back into old ways of thinking.
I started to pray and asked God why does my life seem hard? I read Psalms 16:11, Matthew 11:30, Colossians 3:8, Hebrews 12: 1, and 1 Peter 2:1. After the above mentioned verses, I was slowly delivered. I stopped thinking that my mentor’s life and the lives of people I went to college were perfect. I know that there were times where their lives seemed barren and hopeless, but they overcame. I overcame obstacles that I thought were insurmountable during college. Towards the end of 2009, I asked to take all of my broken heart. I asked Him for peace over opportunities that I thought I would work out during and after college. I asked Him for a better than I one I have, yet still be grateful for the present. Giving all of your broken to the Father’s hands is the key. We can turn to our Advocate, Jesus Christ, who understands all that we go through (1 Corinthians 10).
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Christopher Hunter, author: From Your Eyes To Your Ears
Christopher Hunter, author: From Your Eyes To Your Ears: I'm pleased to announce to you all that the audiobook for Engaged To Be Murdered is now available as an audiobook. I want to personally...
From Your Eyes To Your Ears
I'm pleased to announce to you all that the audiobook for Engaged To Be Murdered is now available as an audiobook. I want to personally thank Thomas Fellows who served as the narrator and Glenn Koster who was the initial narrator but had to back out due to personal reasons. The audiobook is found at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. For those of you who want to turn your writing into an audiobook visit ACX. The website provides assistance in the form of email and phone calls in order to make the process seamless. Upload a sample of your writing and select the voice type you want. The matter of royalties and payment are explained on the narrators' profiles which makes the process in creating an audiobook even easier. Reach for your dreams and never cease to make them a reality. Everyone believes dreams coming to fruition are the privileged few. A dream coming true is God's gift to you and using it is your gift to the Father.
Christopher Hunter, author: Witness For The Prosecution
Christopher Hunter, author: Witness For The Prosecution: Last Thursday morning I was sitting in my car mulling over me twenty-eight and being single while those closest to me are dating or are ma...
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