Radical - Modern Christians

A few days ago, I finished a book titled "Radical". It was written by David Platt, and this book is a "Christian book". This book made me reevaluate my life as a Christian under the "American Dream".

First of all, the "American Dream" is a lie. I know that's an extreme statement, but that is what I believe. Now let me explain because my statement can be interpreted in many different ways.

The American Dream is achievable, and it makes logical sense. If you work hard and put in the time and effort, you will reap the benefits later on. No pain, no gain. Sure that makes sense. But Christians today are blinded by this false dream. We are so narrow sighted.

The average person lives around 70-80 years old. So according to the American dream, you need to work hard until about the age of 60. Then you can reap your benefits and chill for 10-20 more years and die. Cool.

Think about eternity. 70-80 years is nothing compared to an eternity. As a Christian, why would you waste your short life chasing money, fame, and power? And even if you did, you would have fun for 20ish years. After that, you'd be suffering for eternity. So why not work hard for 70-80 years and chill/have fun for an eternity in heaven?

This brings me back around to my statement. The American Dream is a lie. It is a lie created by Satan. He wants you to lose focus of the eternal perspective of God's plan. Look, if you're saved and you know that you are a child of God, then Satan can't bring you down to hell. HOWEVER, what Satan CAN DO is to make your time on earth useless. He's created this lie of materialism, power, fame, wealth in order to make you a useless servant of God.

So don't get caught following the trend. Forget pursuing wealth, power, fame, etc. Keep an eternal perspective. I'm not saying to not be rich, have some possessions or whatever. As long as you evaluate what you do and check if it's ultimately for the glory of His kingdom, then it's all good. But don't go chasing your own dreams for your own sake. 

Spread the gospel because that's what we've been told to do. Make disciples of all nations.

{ Continue Reading... }

Andy Mineo - Christian Rap?

So I've been looking around for some new music, and my cousin introduced a rapper named Andy Mineo. He's an italian rapper who is a Christian. Let me just say, I already respect this guy. My respect doesn't come from the sole fact that he's a Christian but how he goes about rapping.

After "youtubing" him for a bit, I understood a bit of his perspective about life and his rapping career. I'll try my best to summarize his idea.

First, he defines himself as a rapper/artist who so happens to be a Christian. That is different than being a "Christian rapper". A Christian rapper would try to force the gospel and message into everything he/she produces. But the way Andy Mineo approaches it is that he tries to depict Christ in everything that he does. He glorifies God in all aspects of his life. Rapping just so happens to be a part of his life. Therefore, he glorifies God with the abilities and talents he's been given in the art of rapping. By the way, he's pretty good at what he does.

Second, he comes to make a point about this, so called, "Christian rap". He doesn't define his music as "Christian rap". He defines his work as rap/hip-hop that so happens to have a positive message in it. He wants to bring positivity and bring something new to the table. 

We've come to identify hip-hop/rap as a negative thing. It's come to be defined with money, cars, women, drugs, etc. But who says hip-hop/rap has to have that as its content? That's Mineo's perspective.

Finally, to those of you still reading and are not really all that Christian. Give Mineo's music a chance. He makes a statement about Christians. Here's what I mean. Just because you have a bad encounter with a Christian doesn't mean all Christians are like that. You can't make an assumption about an entire group through the experience of a few individuals. In the same way, you can't assume that all apples are bitter because you've had a few that are bitter. You can't assume that all Caucasians hate Africans because of the KKK. The examples can go on and on.

Andy Mineo makes that argument for his music. You can't write off his music because he's Christian. He wants you to respect him as a hip-hop/rap artist because that's what he's making, hip-hop/rap.

Anyway here's his interview and some of his music. It's pretty dope. And make sure you check out the lyrics.

Interview:

 
Music:

{ Continue Reading... }

Sonny.

Since January, I have had the privilege to have a penpal. His name is Sonny. This is the first time I've had a penpal. We talked throughout the semester, and he's quite a funny kid.

At first, I had no idea how to talk to an elementary kid. I'll be honest, I'm not good with kids. So I started asking the basic questions: what he likes to do, what's his favorite color, etc. Soon, it became so simple to relate with him.

Today, I got to meet with him at his school. We had some lunch together and got to play together at recess. I wasn't sure how competent kids are at the age. But surprisingly, he's a smart kid. The way he spoke and presented himself was so... professional and respectable. I don't mean to brag, but I saw a little bit of myself in him. He knew when to joke around and when to become serious and professional.

So we talked a bit about what he enjoys doing. He wants to be in the NFL as a running back. He enjoys fishing with his dad. He has a big heart and big dreams. He's a good kid. It made me remember how I was like then. We always dreamed big as kids. Nothing seemed impossible. And now reality has hit us with what we can and can't do.

"And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" - Matthew 18:3

Sonny reminded me of this verse. Who is society to tell us what we can or can't do? It is God who is in control of all things. We are not limited to what society accepts and rejects. Our Father in heaven dictates what is "successful" or not. As long as you trust in Him in all that you do, you'll be empowered to glorify Him in all that you do. Dream big for the kingdom of God. Don't be discouraged by the standards and responses of this world.

Sonny lives in an area where most kids don't finish school. I hope and pray that I will continue to stay in touch with him. I want to encourage to dream big. I want him to understand the love of Christ for him and his family. I want him strive to glorify God with the abilities and passion he's been given.

{ Continue Reading... }

Graduations of Spring 2014.

This weekend has been hectic with college graduations. Who knew it would be so tiring to walk, sit, clap, and cheer all day long. But regardless, I am so thankful and happy to see my fellow friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ finish another chapter of their life.

Everyone is separating. Each individual is going down a different path that is set before them. Some friends may not see each other for a while. Others may still be living together. I guess you can say it's a bitter-sweet moment.

But a strange thought entered my head last night. It was quiet at home, and I was sitting at home thinking. People were out celebrating with one another. Everyone was having a good time, and I'm so happy for those who were celebrating.

But, in the future, there will be nights where you'll be by yourself. You'll be home alone. I know it sounds kind of depressing, but it's true. During those times, you may not have anyone with you. You only have one guy there for you. God.

It got me thinking. If it comes down to everyone disappearing in my life, will I still be joyful? Can I still be thankful, glad, and happy that I still get to have a relationship with my Father in heaven? Is my relationship with Christ that strong?

In the end, all that matters is you and God. Do you have a relationship with Him? Can you be confident and sure that He is everything and all you need in your life?

Honestly, I don't know if I can say that with full assurance. I pray and hope that I can deny all things for Christ. Just some thoughts.

{ Continue Reading... }

What does Love mean to you?

About two weeks ago, I made a video. Originally, it was for a mini competition without my college fellowship. But the video project turned out to be much more than that. For my video, I interviewed random people across the UT campus on a Saturday. In addition, I interviewed some of my own friends. Everyone I asked had a similar response.

No one knew how to answer the question: "What does Love mean to you?"

The majority of these people were college students. The surprising thing was that no one knew how to answer the question. They didn't have a response. The idea or thought of love never crossed their mind. To me, that was sad. But nonetheless, I may have sparked that thought in their head after I left them.

It's sad how so many people don't know what love means to them. My personal experience made me understand how there are so many people without love and kindness within their lives. Just this past week, someone committed suicide on our campus. People are empty. They have a void in themselves and don't know how to fill it up. It breaks my heart.

If people could experience love, then they wouldn't be so depressed, sad, lonely, etc. Love is the theme of our life as human beings. Let me explain from a recent sermon that I listened to by Judah Smith.

{ Continue Reading... }

True Love.

The Gospel. 
Most us have heard it or are familiar with it. It's that one story where Jesus, who is God, comes down to die on a cross to save us from our sins. After 3 days, He comes back to life and returns to heaven.

So many "Christians" think of this as just a story. In their minds, it's just like a childhood story they read and hear from any novel. It never becomes a reality to them. However, this story is real.

I'll admit that I was once like this. As a kid, it was just a story to me. I memorized the facts. I knew all the information. Then, over time, it became very dull, boring, repetitive, or whatever to me. I had become desensitized to the story.

 
But then I read it for myself again and again and again... it slowly become more and more real. I read the Bible trying to imagine what it would be like if it happened today. This passage has always struck me in awe.

"Going a little farther, [Jesus] fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ' My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'" -Matthew 26:39

"And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." -Luke 22:44

The story of Jesus coming down to save us isn't a simple story. It's not about a happy, giggly, jubilant Jesus coming down to do a little saving here and there. It's not about Jesus telling the Father, "Hey dad, I'll be right back. I need to go save mankind real quick. I'll brb with this errand." No.

Let me try to put this into a different perspective. Imagine the moon coming down from space. And then imagine that moon crushing a porcelain cup. If the moon came crashing down onto a porcelain cup, there would be nothing left of that cup. Magnify this proportion by 10000000000000 billion (then add 10 billion more zeros to that number). That is the wrath of God that Jesus had to face to save us. You think it was easy for Jesus to face the FULL wrath of God?

Even Jesus asks the Father, "...if it is possible..." please take this cup from me. Jesus is asking, "IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY TO DO THIS?" He was terrified of facing God's wrath. He sweat drops of blood just thinking about it.

But nonetheless, Jesus obeys the Father. Why? Because He loves us that much.

Jesus could have easily backed out of this. He could have quit at ANY MOMENT. But He obeyed the Father's will because He loves us. That breaks my heart every time.


This song by Phil Wickham always reminds me of that story. It reminds of those details that I become desensitized to.

{ Continue Reading... }

Hatred

Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor (Matthew 18:23-35)

 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. ²⁴ In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.^{[c] 25} He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
²⁶ “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ ²⁷ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
²⁸ “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars.^[d] He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
²⁹ “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. ³⁰ But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
³¹ “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. ³² Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
³⁵ “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters^[e] from your heart.”

 
Today was a beautiful day outside in Austin, Texas. Imagine the perfect day: clear blue sky, bright sun, light breeze in the air, etc. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day that I was blessed to be alive in.

With this beautiful day, I spent some time with my sophomore class and freshman class. We headed over to get some frozen yogurt together. As we were walking on the sidewalk, a car passed by us. An African American male began to make racial slurs and gestures toward us.

For a good minute, I was very confused. 

Why did he make such hatred gestures and slurs? What was his reason? Why do I feel like he ruined my entire day? What's wrong with him? I didn't understand.

It reminded me of the moments in elementary school when we did dumb things for no reason. For example...

Teacher: Now Johnny, why did you hit Jim?

Johnny: I don't know. I just did.

As I thought about this, I began to think about how that person will never get a job. I began to hope that his immaturity will cause him to completely fail at life. I hoped he would suffer the consequences and live a life of constant suffering/pain/stress/etc.

Then it hit me. Why am I thinking these things? What am I doing? Why is my natural response hatred? I prayed. I prayed for forgiveness of my thoughts of hatred. I prayed for that individual as well.... I prayed for a heart of compassion.

I was reminded of the parable of the unforgiving debt collector. Funny thing is that my friend mentioned this parable to me a few hours after this incident.

Look, it doesn't mater what he did to me. What I did to Christ is far worse than what anyone will do to me. Just as Christ forgave me. I must forgive anyone and everyone. It doesn't matter what they do. If they don't know any better, then we should pray for that person. We should pray that God will soon work in his/her life.

Pray that others, who don't know better, will come to understand the love of Christ. Pray that the Story of Love and truth will be revealed to them.

{ Continue Reading... }