When I Became A Man

A couple of weeks ago i was shown this video by my good friend Karlito. Its a video that i have watched many times and absolutely love. It really makes one think what it truly means to be a man. I wanted to share this just to pass it on just as my friend passed it on to me. Hope you enjoy!

Jesus and Basketball

I woke up this morning thinking I had it all figured out and life was good. My favorite NBA team the Dallas Mavericks were in the finals against Miami with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to close it out. Every year for the past 6 years I have tried to predict this would happen, I literally would. Before every season I go through the Mavs schedule and right down win or loss by each game. Then I rank the playoff teams and continue to go through the playoffs and every year I have the Mavs winning it all in hopes that one day it will happen. I guess you can say I am obsessed with this team. The funny thing is that this year I had the Mavs in the finals against Miami and winning it in 6 games. The exact scenario that I predicted before the season started was playing out right before my eyes. The game was coming on at 7:00 pm and I had it set to record with every intention of watching it after a bible study I had at 8:00 pm and ready to jump for joy if the Mavs win. I had my phone turned off so I wouldn’t get updates about the game and even had a friend walk in the house at bible study first to make sure the game wasn’t on. I was thinking I was getting the best of both situations, getting to dive into God’s word and still see the game I have been longing for my whole life. Bible study came and we were going through James. Still at the beginning of the book, we started discussing verse 2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” everyone started giving their input on what the verse means and how it applies to our lives. I sat there distracted thinking of what I may feel watching the Mavs win when I leave. Would it be joy? Joy is not a feeling we get from circumstances surrounding our lives. It is unchanging and constant. Joy comes from knowing that Jesus Christ has redeemed my life through His blood on the cross and His resurrection from the grave! Knowing that no matter what happens in this life, when trials come across my happiness can fade but my joy can never be taken away. And as I sat there realizing this truth God proclaimed to me, the very game I had waited my whole life for seemed irrelevant. Two areas of my life that I thought had co-existed together “side by side” since I became a Christian suddenly collided. After bible study I turned on my phone and headed home with no intention of watching the game. Text messages flooded in from people talking about the Mavs victory and how my prediction came true. And as I got home on the night that I thought I had it all figured out, the biggest night in the history of the Dallas Mavericks, I realized two areas of my life can’t co-exist “side by side” Only Jesus alone can bring us joy no matter the circumstances around us, and our obsession in life should be to Him alone!

Compassion or Pity?

Recently in my life i have been challenged with the idea of living out true compassion. I have been thinking to myself, What does this look like? Do i really have to? What happens if i don't? How do i get the feeling of compassion? All these questions having been running through my mind as i try to figure out what God wants me to do each day.The dictionary's definition of compassion is: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire toalleviate the suffering. Compassion is more than just sympathy. It's a deep down gut wrenching feeling that causes a response to whatever is causing you to feel compassionate. "And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matt 9:35-38) As Jesus was going through cities and synagogues he saw people's needs both physically and spiritually. He was healing their sickness but thats not why he had compassion for them. Jesus didn't have compassion because of their disease, He had compassion because they were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" Jesus saw their need and then responded by sending out his disciples to share with them what they were missing. I sometimes wonder in my life why when i see the need i don't respond. Maybe its because i haven't truly felt compassion, that maybe i have been showing pity to people all along. I believe that true compassion comes when we look on this world the same way that Jesus did when he walked this earth. We have to look at people with God's desire in our heart and not our own desire. The disciples didn't see the spiritual need of people until Jesus showed them. Jesus felt compassion because he was one with the Father. I have realized that in order to truly live out compassion, we have to be one with the Father first. Then when we see the need of many hurting people in this world, we show our compassion by our response to it.

Why Blogging?

To those of you reading this who know me may found it a little surprising that i have started a blog. I know what your thinking having a blog is cool and all but its just not me right? I completely agree! I don't think blogging is me either however, I decided to start this simply because i feel that ideas need to be shared at times and lets face it, technology is the fastest way to get an idea to spread. I really don't know what this blog will consist of. I have no theme, no structure, no schedule but i guess thats the part that makes it me. I do know that when i have some random thoughts to share thats when a new post will come about. I hope that those who read will be encouraged  to share their own ideas because i feel everyone has a perspective that can others can learn from.