I got to say...being a father to two young boys is not easy!!! Nobody gave me a "Guide to being a good father of a 6 year old" book. I am not complaining about having kids, but I am just voicing my concern as I try to learn (and believe me, I am reading like crazy books about parenting, techniques, praying and asking God constantly)
It is understood that we will get some payback from what we did, but we seldom think about it until we start seeing in our "babies" some similar attitudes and ways of doing things. Yes, it is very difficult to relate to what I am saying for some of you, but for some others, you know that feeling of incompetence, of anxiety, of seeing things not turn out the way you think should turn out with your children...
I have realized lately that I have to be more focused in my parenting, on my "fatherhood" due to the fact that my two boys will take most of my traits, most of my attitudes towards life, most of my ways of handling things, most about my reaction to life. That in itself is a scary responsibility and I pray and pray for wisdom and guidance from God and His word for that. But even then, some days I feel helpless...
Today, after seeing some of the things that are going around in the news, I was confronted with the reality that our world is becoming a "battleground" between good and evil more clearly. It has been that way, but clearly the devil has upped the ante in deliberately putting forth his agenda. What I mean is, the more I see some of the stuff on the internet, tv shows, and social media, I realize that his agenda is getting out there: Sex, drugs, fame and money, disrespect for authority (including disrespect for all things God), and many others.
This thing from the MTV VMA's that some, if not most of you have seen or heard about through internet or TV, has shaking my head. Reading about what Miley Cyrus aka "Hannah Montana" presented herself with before millions of people, I cannot help but be a little fearful. I was reading an interview that surfaced about her dad from 2007 (link here http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/26/does-a-2007-glenn-beck-interview-with-miley-cyruss-dad-help-explain-her-gratuitous-mtv-performance/) and what caught my eye in the interview was about how Billy Ray Cyrus was asked about his role as a father. He said he was her buddy and the mother was the disciplinarian and that's how they worked it out.
I don't want to get on anybody's bad side in regards of how you parent your children, but even if you have that agreement, you still need to be a parent!!! I am friends with my sons, they are everything that God has given my wife and I and we are grateful for that privilege, but even though I want the best for them and I feel that they need to have everything they need, I also feel the responsibility of having them understand and grow in a way that they see the whole picture, not only what they want, but what they need. I know that some of you have it all down and some of us are still working through some things, but my point here is that I need to recognize that I AM A FATHER first, and a friend second!!! You can work it however you want, but for me, I will sometimes deny my sons ice cream if they do not deserve it (specially after they threw a fit). I will not allow them to watch their veggietales if they did not pick up their lego's...I will not allow them to throw a fit in the middle of the store if we did not buy them what they want...I have to be a FATHER FIRST...
I sometimes receive their replies ("daddy, you are mean") but I can take it and move on because I know I love them so much that I cannot just be their buddy. I can listen to those words and maybe they will hurt a little bit, but in the big scheme of things, I am responsible for them and I know that in the future, with God's help too, they will see what I tried to teach them...Now, don't think that I do not buy them stuff or things like that, but there is a time, there is a process, there is ways for those things.
My point here is, that after hearing about Miley, and by the constant media barrage on things that are not productive or against God's principles, and after working with youth fully for the last year and seeing their struggles and their fight to survive in this world, I can only come to the conclusion that the family unit needs to be there. Father's and mother's are needed to help their children wade the troubles that await them. They are needed to encourage, to lead and to reprimand if needed. They are needed to teach their kids about what is right and what is wrong. They are needed to guide their children to Jesus. Without parents, very few adults will even care for others as we live in a very self centered world...
Father's, mother's, you are needed!!! Step up, pray and ask God for wisdom to help you with your precious ones. For one, I will pray for you and I ask you pray for me as we try to do this!!!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
The reasons behind volunteering
I wonder sometimes why do we do the things we do. Yesterday I had the opportunity to work alongside a group of volunteers from all over Texas at our summer camp in Lake Whitney. We were given the task of doing maybe what others may call menial tasks and there was not timetable on when we were going to finish. Just set up bunk beds, carry mattresses to them when done and insulate the cabins... In a day that turned out to be hotter by the hour and with some dust flying around, these volunteers basically gave it their all until they were done, 11 hours later.
And so, I started thinking, what moves people to serve and others to decline? Is it the kind of work? Is it their availability? Is it their desires? I know that some are really busy that they probably could not make the trip to the location. Some others maybe had something scheduled that they could not come. Some others may just say no and that is it... But what makes one accept invitations to volunteer and work hard for more than 10 hours and do it gladly?
I know that the mission of the call can be a very convincing reason (you have committed to the church, to an organization and you just simply feel compelled to do it because that is what you have signed for). Another could be vision (you believe in the cause and will do anything you are asked not because you have to but because you want to and support everything that comes from that vision). Another would be peer pressure (you know, you just do it because you were invited and everyone is volunteering so it seems that its the right thing to do at that moment, but maybe if your friends are not there, maybe you would not do it).
So, why did these volunteers do what they did? I believe is the nature of our vision that comes straight from our Master Jesus Christ. Let me show you:
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28
Service for a Christian is supposed to be second nature!!! We many times forget that we are followers of our Master and think that we should "lord it over them" and we "exercise authority over them". We forget that and spend time thinking of ways to avoid service, maybe dreaming of a day when someone would just do everything that we ask them without us moving a finger to help. Many of us forget that we are called to serve, to walk the extra mile, to turn the other cheek, etc...We don't want to do that, because our nature and our culture say that we need to be served...it is a "me, me, me" attitude that does not have service in mind!!!
Service for a Christian, follower of the Master Jesus Christ does the kinds of things that happened yesterday with this group of volunteers. A group of them even mentioned that if more was needed, they could come again and do more work!!! They would sacrifice another day and their time and work and help again if called upon!!! Now, that is a servant!!!
Why do we volunteer/serve then? Think about it for a moment and ask God to help you as you meditate on the meaning of being a servant...
And so, I started thinking, what moves people to serve and others to decline? Is it the kind of work? Is it their availability? Is it their desires? I know that some are really busy that they probably could not make the trip to the location. Some others maybe had something scheduled that they could not come. Some others may just say no and that is it... But what makes one accept invitations to volunteer and work hard for more than 10 hours and do it gladly?
I know that the mission of the call can be a very convincing reason (you have committed to the church, to an organization and you just simply feel compelled to do it because that is what you have signed for). Another could be vision (you believe in the cause and will do anything you are asked not because you have to but because you want to and support everything that comes from that vision). Another would be peer pressure (you know, you just do it because you were invited and everyone is volunteering so it seems that its the right thing to do at that moment, but maybe if your friends are not there, maybe you would not do it).
So, why did these volunteers do what they did? I believe is the nature of our vision that comes straight from our Master Jesus Christ. Let me show you:
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28
Service for a Christian is supposed to be second nature!!! We many times forget that we are followers of our Master and think that we should "lord it over them" and we "exercise authority over them". We forget that and spend time thinking of ways to avoid service, maybe dreaming of a day when someone would just do everything that we ask them without us moving a finger to help. Many of us forget that we are called to serve, to walk the extra mile, to turn the other cheek, etc...We don't want to do that, because our nature and our culture say that we need to be served...it is a "me, me, me" attitude that does not have service in mind!!!
Service for a Christian, follower of the Master Jesus Christ does the kinds of things that happened yesterday with this group of volunteers. A group of them even mentioned that if more was needed, they could come again and do more work!!! They would sacrifice another day and their time and work and help again if called upon!!! Now, that is a servant!!!
Why do we volunteer/serve then? Think about it for a moment and ask God to help you as you meditate on the meaning of being a servant...
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Forgotten
So it's been close to 4 years since I used this blogspot and I feel guilty about it. I have done so many things and things have changed so much in that span of time that I feel like I should have kept up. But another side of me thinks that not telling everything to the world is ok. Yeah, this blog was forgotten for a while, but I will just continue to post periodically about my ministry and what is going on.
And there is a question that has ringing in my head for the last few days. I started/continued to read a book by Simon Synek "Start with WHY" and it has opened a few thoughts. One of them is the question, "why do I do what I do?". I usually know WHAT I do and HOW I do it, but many times I tend to forget WHY I do in Youth ministry.
I know that many would say that that is a dumb question, but really, think about it. Many times we forget WHY we do things because WHAT we do becomes the theme and the topic of discussion that it becomes so normal to not talk about the WHY!!! I know that I do what I do because I want people, young people to come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. But WHY? Because I believe that Jesus is everything they need or will ever need. And by knowing Jesus they will find happiness and love and acceptance and they will in turn change the world in the right way!!!
It's also known that people who know the WHY of their call are more effective in reaching and moving others, not because they are extremely good, but because their WHY speaks louder than whatever they are doing.
So, what is your WHY for what you do?
And there is a question that has ringing in my head for the last few days. I started/continued to read a book by Simon Synek "Start with WHY" and it has opened a few thoughts. One of them is the question, "why do I do what I do?". I usually know WHAT I do and HOW I do it, but many times I tend to forget WHY I do in Youth ministry.
I know that many would say that that is a dumb question, but really, think about it. Many times we forget WHY we do things because WHAT we do becomes the theme and the topic of discussion that it becomes so normal to not talk about the WHY!!! I know that I do what I do because I want people, young people to come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. But WHY? Because I believe that Jesus is everything they need or will ever need. And by knowing Jesus they will find happiness and love and acceptance and they will in turn change the world in the right way!!!
It's also known that people who know the WHY of their call are more effective in reaching and moving others, not because they are extremely good, but because their WHY speaks louder than whatever they are doing.
So, what is your WHY for what you do?
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Against principalities and powers...
I don't think I am a religious freak that cannot accept different views or ideas, but one thing I know for sure: Halloween has taken more and more press and air time and attention lately. I mean, for years I have seen how this "celebration" has turned bigger and bigger with basically no one to say much about but enjoy the benefits of what it brings (i.e. buying costumes, candy, etc.) without thinking much about the context...
I am not going to tell you about the beginnings of Halloween, nor tell you about how it became what it is today, but I will speak against what its behind all this, for there is no way you can tell me that this Halloween stuff is completely harmless. I refuse to accept that its harmless for the simple reason that I read in the Bible and see that there is something going on behind the scenes that we need to be aware of. Ephesians 6:10-13 says "10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." NKJV
I am not going to sugarcoated, just as the Bible does not, for we are battling against the powers of darkness and when we accept and celebrate things like halloween, we are simply ignoring and accepting Satan's invitation to forget God...
And you might ask, why am I saying assuming that halloween is evil, if children actually have a great time asking for candy and dressing up? Well, the devil is cunning and too smart to introduce himself like he is right away, for he knows that he would scare many. So he starts with something so simple, so "harmless"...But do you understand that his tactics are the same? He wants to have control of your mind, of your actions and he will gain access when you grant him access with "little" things like halloween celebrations.
And I don't even want to get into the latest Harry Potter movie...that is just full of spiritualism and dark magic...that is for another time...but you get my point...things are not as they seem to be and we need to be aware of this. God wants us to be close to Him so that He can work in our hearts, protect our lives and prepare us for this battle that is raging in our lives...
I am not going to tell you about the beginnings of Halloween, nor tell you about how it became what it is today, but I will speak against what its behind all this, for there is no way you can tell me that this Halloween stuff is completely harmless. I refuse to accept that its harmless for the simple reason that I read in the Bible and see that there is something going on behind the scenes that we need to be aware of. Ephesians 6:10-13 says "10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." NKJV
I am not going to sugarcoated, just as the Bible does not, for we are battling against the powers of darkness and when we accept and celebrate things like halloween, we are simply ignoring and accepting Satan's invitation to forget God...
And you might ask, why am I saying assuming that halloween is evil, if children actually have a great time asking for candy and dressing up? Well, the devil is cunning and too smart to introduce himself like he is right away, for he knows that he would scare many. So he starts with something so simple, so "harmless"...But do you understand that his tactics are the same? He wants to have control of your mind, of your actions and he will gain access when you grant him access with "little" things like halloween celebrations.
And I don't even want to get into the latest Harry Potter movie...that is just full of spiritualism and dark magic...that is for another time...but you get my point...things are not as they seem to be and we need to be aware of this. God wants us to be close to Him so that He can work in our hearts, protect our lives and prepare us for this battle that is raging in our lives...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Understanding "Christian" attitudes
For once in my life, I would love to be in a church that has people who will live like Christians in the whole meaning of the word...See, since I can remember, there have been people in the churches I've been that simply are at odds with what they "preach"!!! Do you know any of those people? You know, the ones that speak of Christ's grace, yet when they speak about others they spew fire that hurts everyone around!!! The ones who when in front of people seem very kind and generous, smiling at everyone yet when you turn around you hear about how unworthy everyone is and how they are the only ones who are keeping up with the "Christian requirements and lifestyle"...
I would love to be in a church that just loves people and looks for redemption, not through our own ideas and strength, but through the understanding that Christ is the one who can redeem us, each and everyone of us...One that even though there are problems, people help one another and care for the situations that others face without condemning them and leaving them out because, "they are not worthy"...
Of course, that sounds like an utopia, for I know that a church like that in this world will never completely exist. I know that even though there might be some churches that have some of those traits (praise the Lord for you), I can assure you that no church is perfect...The church is full of people and when that happens, you will have problems, for we are not even close to be perfect...
There's people who think and try to be perfect, "just like your Father who is in heaven is perfect" Matt. 5:48, but in retrospect, and linguistically that word for perfection in the greek does not mean what people understand it means. The word in greek is teleo, which in this context means to be complete, to be compassionate, to be mature (according to Verlyn Verbugge in the Dictionary for New Testament Theology), and specifically, it calls us to be just like our Heavenly Father, to care for the ones who have nothing, to help others and to supply needs...
In light of that, the word perfection takes another meaning and leaves assurance that perfection by our own cannot be achieved. Throughout the Bible, we understand that we are sinners, that we cannot do anything apart from Christ and only through Him (Phil. 4:13). We know that everything we have are "filthy rags", and that no matter how hard we try, we will not be perfect... But in all this, I see hope...
No matter how your church is, if its filled with people who throw stones at the first mistake from other people, if you have church members looking at the others specks and forgetting that they have big planks in their lives...if you have "righteous living" people who behind close doors are completely desperate and do crazy things, there is still hope...
I know, I know...I started complaining about that, but after a few moments I once again realize that the only hope for me, for every person in church is not in how we live life, but in who gave His life so that we could have a chance for a different life...there is hope even though our lives are twisted and seem going down, because of One who gave His life so that we could go up when He comes for us...
So, even though I long for a "perfect" church, I am happy and content with what I have and accept the fact that God has given us a purpose wherever we are...the matter is if we take it or we complain and give up on it...
I would love to be in a church that just loves people and looks for redemption, not through our own ideas and strength, but through the understanding that Christ is the one who can redeem us, each and everyone of us...One that even though there are problems, people help one another and care for the situations that others face without condemning them and leaving them out because, "they are not worthy"...
Of course, that sounds like an utopia, for I know that a church like that in this world will never completely exist. I know that even though there might be some churches that have some of those traits (praise the Lord for you), I can assure you that no church is perfect...The church is full of people and when that happens, you will have problems, for we are not even close to be perfect...
There's people who think and try to be perfect, "just like your Father who is in heaven is perfect" Matt. 5:48, but in retrospect, and linguistically that word for perfection in the greek does not mean what people understand it means. The word in greek is teleo, which in this context means to be complete, to be compassionate, to be mature (according to Verlyn Verbugge in the Dictionary for New Testament Theology), and specifically, it calls us to be just like our Heavenly Father, to care for the ones who have nothing, to help others and to supply needs...
In light of that, the word perfection takes another meaning and leaves assurance that perfection by our own cannot be achieved. Throughout the Bible, we understand that we are sinners, that we cannot do anything apart from Christ and only through Him (Phil. 4:13). We know that everything we have are "filthy rags", and that no matter how hard we try, we will not be perfect... But in all this, I see hope...
No matter how your church is, if its filled with people who throw stones at the first mistake from other people, if you have church members looking at the others specks and forgetting that they have big planks in their lives...if you have "righteous living" people who behind close doors are completely desperate and do crazy things, there is still hope...
I know, I know...I started complaining about that, but after a few moments I once again realize that the only hope for me, for every person in church is not in how we live life, but in who gave His life so that we could have a chance for a different life...there is hope even though our lives are twisted and seem going down, because of One who gave His life so that we could go up when He comes for us...
So, even though I long for a "perfect" church, I am happy and content with what I have and accept the fact that God has given us a purpose wherever we are...the matter is if we take it or we complain and give up on it...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The balance between legalism and grace
What a way to start uh?? But this is simply because I cannot stay quiet at the fact that many of our young adults, young people are disenchanted with church not by the fact that we might have disagreements in theological stuff but many of them are leaving because of dear old "saints" that are hurting them with words and even glances of "righteousness"...
There are many things to talk about in legalism, for it is a lifestyle that runs people's lives like a little general..."You should not listen to that...you should not wear that...you better not do that...you better not even think about saying that out loud..."
I have a problem with that...Do you?? I just can't fathom the fact that no matter what I do I am always not good enough...I fall short....and that actually is true, but it hurts even more when someone is right there to tell you that you failed... The fact is that no matter what I do to try to be good, the Bible tells me that I can't because, "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)
So, that is my point...If we cannot be completely good, why are some people so entrenched into the idea that you have to live a certain way to earn "holiness"? The fact is that I also believe that we need to understand what is at stake here...No matter what I do, I am not good enough, but there actually has to be some kind of fruit from our understanding of God's grace...and therein lies the conundrum...
I have had the opportunity to see both sides of the equation (legalism and grace) into action...I know that there is a constant battle to see more people behaving the right way vs. the people who understand that they can't do it by themselves so they let go of everything that tied them down and go the opposite way... I've seen people hurt shooting hurtful words and critiques against the other side...One sees it one way, and the other sees it in another way...
I've seen churches being disrupted and divided by the fights...I've seen christian brothers and sisters fight over simple, banal things like food and dress...I've seen people riled up against each other and I always just shake my head in disbelief...
No, I am not perfect and sometimes I am part of the problem, but I have come to the conclusion that a balance is needed...For example, if the problem with how people dress in church would be as important for salvation as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, then I would understand the legalistic point of it...But in the big scheme of things, dressing is not an issue of salvation... of course, people could make a case for you know the need to be humble in everything (including the dress) to show that we care for God, but that is not the main issue in salvation...The main issue in salvation is that we are saved by what Christ did and not by how we dress!!!
And some of you can say, "yes, you tell them...grace is what we need"...but also, we have to look at the whole picture in the Bible that also tells me that I have to be careful with what I do, for whatever I do has consequences that can impact my "weaker" brother (see Rom. 14), so that basically I need to be careful with how I dress too, so that I may not harm others who are not as strong in the faith as I am...
This is just a start at understanding how to find a balance...we will probably never find a perfect balance to our actions, but the only thing that we have to keep doing is reading the Word of God and praying that He can give us clarity to find balance...These are simple thoughts, that have crossed my mind lately....
There are many things to talk about in legalism, for it is a lifestyle that runs people's lives like a little general..."You should not listen to that...you should not wear that...you better not do that...you better not even think about saying that out loud..."
I have a problem with that...Do you?? I just can't fathom the fact that no matter what I do I am always not good enough...I fall short....and that actually is true, but it hurts even more when someone is right there to tell you that you failed... The fact is that no matter what I do to try to be good, the Bible tells me that I can't because, "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)
So, that is my point...If we cannot be completely good, why are some people so entrenched into the idea that you have to live a certain way to earn "holiness"? The fact is that I also believe that we need to understand what is at stake here...No matter what I do, I am not good enough, but there actually has to be some kind of fruit from our understanding of God's grace...and therein lies the conundrum...
I have had the opportunity to see both sides of the equation (legalism and grace) into action...I know that there is a constant battle to see more people behaving the right way vs. the people who understand that they can't do it by themselves so they let go of everything that tied them down and go the opposite way... I've seen people hurt shooting hurtful words and critiques against the other side...One sees it one way, and the other sees it in another way...
I've seen churches being disrupted and divided by the fights...I've seen christian brothers and sisters fight over simple, banal things like food and dress...I've seen people riled up against each other and I always just shake my head in disbelief...
No, I am not perfect and sometimes I am part of the problem, but I have come to the conclusion that a balance is needed...For example, if the problem with how people dress in church would be as important for salvation as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, then I would understand the legalistic point of it...But in the big scheme of things, dressing is not an issue of salvation... of course, people could make a case for you know the need to be humble in everything (including the dress) to show that we care for God, but that is not the main issue in salvation...The main issue in salvation is that we are saved by what Christ did and not by how we dress!!!
And some of you can say, "yes, you tell them...grace is what we need"...but also, we have to look at the whole picture in the Bible that also tells me that I have to be careful with what I do, for whatever I do has consequences that can impact my "weaker" brother (see Rom. 14), so that basically I need to be careful with how I dress too, so that I may not harm others who are not as strong in the faith as I am...
This is just a start at understanding how to find a balance...we will probably never find a perfect balance to our actions, but the only thing that we have to keep doing is reading the Word of God and praying that He can give us clarity to find balance...These are simple thoughts, that have crossed my mind lately....
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