Life update

I have been asked what I am doing when I graduate hundreds of times in the past month and a half. I feel as if every person that I have seen has asked me. It's not a bad thing at all, I love to try and fill people in but when you don't know exactly what you are doing it can be tough. 

I remember when I graduated high school, and everybody would ask where I was going to school and what I was going to study. It was a little easier to answer a question that was only about my next four years rather than my whole life. I knew where I was going to go to college (obviously) but when I was asked what I was going to study I was undecided. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with my life. 

I remember thinking that I wanted to be a physical therapist. Since I had had plenty of experience seeing physical therapists for my injuries I thought that it was a good plan. Then I really looked into it and saw that it was not for me. I didn't want to major in anything business related because I had 0 knowledge. I didn't think I was smart enough to get a business degree. So I went into college trusting that God had a plan for me and that something would get figured out...

Fast forward four years and on Saturday I will be graduating with two degrees. A bachelors degree in both Business Administration and Sports Management. I also am getting a concentration in Marketing. God provided! I trusted that it would all work out and it did. 

When I look at these two significant seasons in my life they are similar and contrasting. I knew where I was going after high school but didn't know what I would be doing. At this point, I don't know where I will go but I know the field of work that I will most likely be in. 

There is a significant similarity. I was not worried about the future either time because I know who holds my future and that is God. 

It is a bit scary though, I will have to be making a very important decision here in the next month. That is where I am going to work. 

Hopefully I can answer a question that a lot of people in my life have been wondering about. What's next? 

I have two standing offers right now. The first offer I got is from a sports company in Kunming, China. That company is one that I have worked with the past two summers when I have spent time in China. They are looking for someone to move over there for a year and help run the company. This is a very intriguing opportunity to me. I love China and the people over there dearly. Since my first time visiting, the people have had a place in my heart. I also know a fair deal about sports and to be able to combine my love for the people and sports would be fulfilling. With a Sports Management degree and I would get a ton of experience that would be great if I am looking to work in sports. 

My second offer is from a Marketing Firm in Indianapolis. I interviewed there a couple of weeks ago and it sees like a good opportunity for me. If I were to take that job I would begin as an account executive. The people there were great and right now I told them I need some time to evaluate my options. 

Then there are a a handful of other companies that I am in the interview process with/waiting to hear back from. One of those companies is a large manufacturing corporation that I interned with this past summer. It's a company that I wanted to be a part of since day 1. I interviewed for a Leader in Training position. An LIT starts from the bottom up in the company to learn how everything works. I would be an LIT for a couple of months so that I can could a good grip on how the business works. This excites me because I don't know exactly what I want to do, and I want to learn as much as I possibly can. It's also great experience and would be a great fit for me getting my professional career started. 

I have also been in constant contact with a smaller business in the area. A business co-owed by two individuals. One of the owners sons is being promoted to VP so they are looking for someone to fill his role and I guess they think very highly of me and I am honored. I have heard nothing but amazing things about both the owner and his son from some people who's opinions really mean a lot to me. To hear such good things about those two is very encouraging to me. This company is waiting for me to hear back from the other before we go any further. A small business could be a good fit as well. 

God is so good. I had this post all typed up and was going to post it later. It's wild, I just received a call from a financial planning company that in interested in me. They have a four year training program that sounds right up my ally. I don't know much about financial planning, but it is something I would be curious to learn more about. It's amazing how an opportunity can come out of nowhere just like that. This company has a partnership with the Crossroads League and the commissioner of the league recommended me along with five other people for possible positions. One of the things I appreciated about the company is that they assured me that if I go to China, I will have a spot when I come back. I am excited to have another possible opportunity at hand.

For me, I am not worried about what is next. At times I have been, but am quickly reminded by close friends that there is nothing to worry about. I also look back at my entire life and God has always been faithful and has never failed me. Everything I have gone through has been for a reason and I know that will be how my entire life will be. I am in a spot where I am excited about what is next. 

Here is the timeline for me. I graduate on Saturday and I will be moving back to Ohio with my parents on Sunday. I will be in Ohio for the month of May. We are going out West on a family vacation May 14th-21st. I hope to know where I am going to begin my career by the end of May. I would prefer to start working in June. If that is the case, I will be moving back to Indiana. Which I would love. 

I hope this post was able to fill you in a little bit on my life and where things are heading. I was talking to one of my friends yesterday about how weird it is that nothing from here on out is legitimately planned. It doesn't seem like school should be over. I feel like I am just going home for the summer, but my whole life is ahead of me and I could not be more excited for what is next. I am excited for you to be a part of it. 

The taco gang

Would you believe me if I told you that three people could change my life in less than a months time? I am going to write a story to you telling you about how three people had an impact on my life greater than any words that I could ever use to write with. These wonderful people capped off my Bethel experience in a way better than anything I could come up with myself.

Here is a story about the taco gang...

It was Super Bowl Sunday. Brooke Conrady one of my closest friends invited me over to her house with a bunch of people I have never met before to watch the Super Bowl. For me, I like my Sundays to have a mix of productivity and rest. I enjoy getting up early and going to church, taking a nap and then grinding on homework and working out later in the night. Sundays are also days where I usually stick to myself and do my own thing. I was playing around with the idea to go to Brooke's in my head all day and she finally convinced me to go. I think what sold me was that there was going to be food. But in all actuality I wanted to make some new friends. I arrived at Brooke's and found myself a place on the couch because I had a paper to write along with a Spanish test to study for. I was stressing out about my Spanish test because I am well below average when it comes to Spanish. I was sitting on the couch and in the chair right next to me was Hannah Darling. I had seen Hannah a bunch of times on campus but had never talked to her before. She asked me what I was studying and I told her Spanish. With excitement she told me that she was a Spanish tutor. Heck yeah. I told myself that I was going to be just fine. After about 5 minutes of talking she created the perfect cheat sheet for me to study from and that helped me to well on the test. Hannah and I talked a lot throughout the game and I knew that I had made a new friend that night.

Now a little back story here. When I came to Bethel my freshmen year, I remember Coach Mike Lightfoot telling the basketball team how important relationships are. Not only the relationships with guys on the team but relationships with other people on campus. Ever since he told me that, I made it a priority to make some friends that weren't on the basketball team. It's a thing here for basketball players to only hang with basketball players, soccer to hang only with soccer, or music majors to only hangout with music majors, etc. Sometimes it's just easier that way. It's easier because as humans we like to hang out with people and be friends with them if they have the same interests. It can be difficult to be friends with girls at Bethel as well. At a place like Bethel, if you hang out with a girl who you are just friends with, everybody thinks you are dating. I don't like that it's that way, but it's just the way it has been the entire time I have been here.

If you take anything aways from that last paragraph, I want you to understand that this is sometimes a hard place for people who are not alike to get along and spend time tougher. There can be a lot of judgment that swirls around and opinions from people that you just have to forget about.

My new friend Hannah, is on the softball team and you normally don't see a basketball player and a softball player be friends and spend time together. Well, I am Luke Fisher the person. Not Luke Fisher the basketball player. God just blessed me with the opportunity to play basketball and meet some amazing people doing so. Hannah Darling is not Hannah the softball player. Hannah Darling is Hannah Darling, one of the most wonderful people that I have met while I have been here. I pushed the stereotype aside and we became close friends due to our time together while she was tutoring me.

So who is the next part of the taco gang? My man Elijah Kerr. Elijah and I have been cool all year. We see each other, dap each other up, have some small talk and go on with our day. One of the things that I noticed about Elijah is that we seemed to be a lot alike. He wasn't just hanging out with soccer players all the time. He clearly put in the effort with other people on campus and it shows. Elijah and I had two classes together this semester, Business Policy and Public Relations. At Bethel, class sizes are small, but at the same time, you really only notice who sits around you in class. For almost the entire semester we had PR together but never really talked that much in it. The last month and a half we have been working on a group project and my group sat in front of Elijah's so we were able to talk quite a bit. Those small conversations led to much more. We have done homework and studied together and I have really enjoyed getting to know him more and more.  Elijah is a cool dude. We have a lot in common and I am thankful for how close we have gotten this semester.

Allie Schweigert rounds out the taco gang. I had see her around all of the time but we never had said anything to each other because we really didn't have anything to say. I mean we had said hi but nothing else really. I had heard cool things about her but really didn't know what she was like. Back at midterms, I was standing up in the front of class waiting to turn in my midterm and she was right behind me. Allie is close friends with Ariana who was one of the girls who was in the car with me back in December when I slid all over the place on the toll road driving to Bethel. Ari had told Allie about what had happened to us, so Allie asked me about it when we were turning in our midterms. I remember thinking, I want to be friends with her! So a couple more weeks went by with just a little small talk here and there but nothing too deep. One night I decided to go to the coffee shop to study some Spanish and I saw that Allie was in there. I had sat a table right behind her and she asked me what I was studying and I told her Spanish and she insisted that she help me in whatever way that she could. We ended up sitting and chatting for about an hour and a half that night getting to know each other and really starting a new friendship. It was a lot of fun. Allie is a delight be around and to spend time with. One thing I have to share with you about Allie is that when I heard back about a job that I didn't get, she went out of her way to drive to Krispy Kreme and buy me a couple donuts. With the donuts she wrote me a card encouraging me to "donut worry about it." I knew right after that, I was going to have to keep these friends around and not ever let them go. A random act of kindness can open the floodgates to a blessing of a friendship.

So it turns out, we all had Public Relations together. The groups in class that I was telling you all about, Elijah, Hannah, and Allie were all in the same group that sat right behind me. I didn't know that Elijah was good friends with Hannah and Allie. We would sit in class and the four of us would sit, talk and laugh about so many things. I just thought it was a special class and we would never actually hang outside of class. I thought that because that is how things are sometimes. You meet some cool people in class and then nothing really happens. God has different plans.

I won't forget this day. It was a Thursday and I had promised Hannah that I would buy her some tacos because she sacrificed a lot of time to help me study for my Spanish quizzes and tests. We were planning to go get tacos that night and when we were confirming our plans in class, Allie seemed super interested in going as well. So the three of us were going to go. There was one thing missing. We couldn't leave out Elijah. He was itching to go as well. So we made plans. All four of us were going to get tacos together. I remember showing up and I was so excited to get to know these three wonderful people a little better. My excitement was greeted with nervousness. I didn't know much about these three. What were we going to talk about at dinner? Were we going to run out of things to say? As soon as we sat down at the table we were a riot from the very beginning. Instant chemistry was happening between all of us. We were having so much fun. I was so fulfilled because I had gotten to know some other people who weren't like me a lot better. I never thought that I would be out to dinner with those three and it happened. During dinner we were already talking about what was next.

I want to point out that this post isn't only about the taco gang. They played a huge roll in me meeting so many wonderful people the past month and half. Without the taco gang I would have left Bethel with a cup that was only half full.

Hannah is an RA in her building and every Sunday she cooks meals for people and it's pretty much an open invite. She invited me, Elijah, and Allie and you betcha I was going. I got there and there were lots of people I didn't know. Mahri, who is Hannah's roommate was one of those people. She is wonderful! She has made so much popcorn for me whenever we go over to their room to hang out. I was blown away by how amazing of hosts Hannah and Mahri were. They wanted everyone to come. That was eye opening to me, because I would normally just invite the people I know the best, but they were the total opposite. It was awesome. For a college student to buy that many groceries for a handful of people was really cool to see. I remember sitting in Hannah and Mahri's room that night being full and yet again, very fulfilled. This feeling of fulfillment seemed to be a common feeling I would get while I was hanging with all of these great people. I believe that feeling came from a feeling of longing. I have made many amazing friends during my time year at Bethel but these people are the friend's I've been praying for.

Besides our Sunday meals, it has been hard to find time for all of us to hangout together. We are all involved in a lot of things and this is the busiest time of year so the Sundays when we got to hang out were even that much more special. With the taco gang we have clean fun. We all have our levels of fun that we have with different friends. But good and clean fun doesn't compare to any other sort of fun. Clean fun is like the fun you have with your parents and family friends. I think that is some of the funnest times are when you're around your family because you aren't putting on any sort of front for the other people that you are hanging out with.

The taco gang is supportive and encouraging of one another. If we need to have a serious talk I know that I could sit down with any of them and be real, genuine, authentic and my real-self. There have bee times this past month where I have needed someone to talk to about something and I know that I can pick up my phone and call or FaceTime any one of those three.

One of the things that has made me sad is we all got super close at the end of the school year. But I have been told many times over and over again that the end is what matters more than the beginning. When I turned in my last final of undergrad today I was honestly sad. I was happy to be done with  school, but to think about this chapter coming to an end brought tears to my eyes. My eyes didn't just get watery. I had tears trickling down my cheeks when I got back to my room after I had turned in my final. I was sad because I learned how fulfilling relationships are to the fullest. I praise God for brining so many wonderful people to Bethel but specifically for the taco gang. To get close with a group of three people who had so many other friends that I got to meet and become friends with was about as uplifting and fulfilling as it gets.

The last month my life has really changed because of the people here at Bethel. To God be the glory. For anybody who has more school left, try to meet as many people as you possibly can. Be a social butterfly. Don't sit in your room all day. Get out, put yourself in situations where you will be around people and forced to interact with people. I have spent time in the coffee shop here at Bethel everyday because I know that I will see people I know and will be able to talk to whoever walks through those doors. Even though I sometimes sit and am locked into writing a blog post like I am right now. In this life you will experience a great deal of fulfillment when you focus on people. You could be the smartest person ever, the greatest musician, the best athlete but if you don't pour into the lives of other people what are you doing with your life? Relationships with other people lead to happiness.

With undergrad being over and graduation on Saturday, I can wholeheartedly say that I am leaving Bethel with a full cup. Before the taco gang it was half way. The taco gang filled up those finishing touches that couldn't have been filled at a better time.

Be intentional, be open, share friends, invite new people, be open, be honest, do fun things, choose to hang out with some new friends rather than sticking to what you're used to. There is power in exploring new things such as seeking out as many relationships with people as possible. We were created to be relational human beings.

Take chances and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. On Saturday I was cleaning my room and doing laundry when one of my new friends called me asking to get some froyo and pizza with a group of people from church. I was in the middle of laundry so I really didn't want to leave. I was also a little bit intimidated by the fact that I only new one person who has going to be there. My friend called me again, and I knew that was a sign that I needed to go. I thought to myself... my time here at Bethel is almost over and I need to try and meet as many people as possible before it's over. Life is short and you never know when your life could end. I wish that I would've been more intentional because of all the people I met the last couple weeks but then again, I don't think I would've learned as valuable of a lesson. My cup also might not have been full when I left.

Lastly, I want you all to understand that people are awesome. Love others. Your life will change according to how much effort you put into getting to know other people.

There is always someone

Before I get started with this post, I just want to inform you that this will most likely be the only time I post this week. It is the final week of college for me and there is a lot of work that needs to be done from right now up until Friday afternoon. It will be best for me if I don't write until the weekend. I want to be able to enjoy this last week the best that I can.


One of the things that encouraged me at church yesterday was not actually related to anything about Easter. It was when our pastor was welcoming guest at the beginning of the service. He reminded people at the church that they are always being prayed for. Whether you know it or not someone is always praying for you.

I have come to realize that in the past couple weeks that I have had people that I know approach me and tell me that they have been praying for me for years. We all have a couple people that are a given, like our parents or youth pastors. But trust me when I say, you are prayed for every single day and you probably don't even realize it.

There are two things that come to mind when I think about others praying for me. The first is that God is good. When somebody tells me that they pray for me everyday, I really think about that and let it settle in and it all makes sense. Without those prayers from others, I would not be the person that I am today. The second thing is a feeling of self-worth. Knowing that somebody is always praying for me makes me feel loved and cared for from the people around me.

There are people we know who pray for us on a daily basis and people that we don't know. There is always a group of people from churches praying for college kids somewhere.

I encourage you to remember that you are always being prayed for. Whether you believe it or not, there is someone who is praying for you every day. You are loved, cared for, and appreciated from others around you. Believe that. There is so much power in knowing that and being aware of how much you matter.

The unholy trinity

The anti-christ, beasts, and the unholy trinity are all very real things that we should be aware of. In Revelation chapter 13, John writes about two beasts very specifically. The beast was initially identified with Rome, because the Roman empire, in its early days, encouraged an evil lifestyle, persecuted believers, and opposed God and his followers. The beast also symbolizes the antichrist-not Satan, but someone under Satan's power and control.

Did you know that there is an unholy trinity? I am sure that most of you know that there is a Holy Trinity consisting of the God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Revelation chapter 13 introduces Satan's two evil accomplices: the beast out of the sea and the beast out of the earth. Together, the three evil beings form an unholy trinity in direct opposition to the holy Trinity.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, he wanted to show his power by turning stones into bread, to do miracles by jumping from a high place, and to gain political power by worshipping him. Satan's plan was to rule the world through Jesus, but Jesus refused to do Satan's bidding. When Jesus said no to this, Satan turns to the beasts. To the beast of the sea he gives political power. To the beast of the earth he gives power to do miracles. Both of the beasts work together to capture the control of the whole world. This unholy trinity-unite in a desperate attempt to overthrown God, but their efforts and doomed to failure.

While this is happening, people are impressed by power and will follow those who display it forcefully or offer it to their followers. But those who follow the beast will lonely be fooling themselves: He will use his power to manipulate others, to point to himself, and to promote evil plans. God, by contrast, uses his infinitely greater power to love and to build up. Don't be mislead by claims of greater miracles or reports about a resurrection or reincarnation of someone claiming to be Christ.

One thing that I find interesting is that the power given to the beasts will be limited by God. He will allow the beast to exercise authority only for a short time. Even while the beast is in power, God will still be control.

The beast will conquer God's people and rule over them, but he will not be able to harm them spiritually. He will establish worldwide dominance and remind that everyone worship him. And many will worship him-everyone except true believers. Refusal to worship the beast will result in temporary suffering for God's people, but they will be rewarded with eternal life in the end.

This post was more information rather than encouragement and I did it on purpose. Sometimes we have to know things and understand things in such a way that we can build up what we know and use the information to be encouraged or to find ways to be encouraged.

A lot of the time, information leads to awarenesses. When we learn things, we become more aware of what is going on around us. Now that you have more information about the unholy trinity, I hope you are more aware of it.

Although this post isn't very uplifting, I believe that it is necessary to read about topics like this.

Does something feel stale or am I believing a lie?

Every morning, I try to wake up between 7:15 & 7:30. I love to get the day started early and in the right way. I wake up, shower, get dressed and head to the coffee shop on campus to read my Bible and blog. Luckily, I don't have an 8am class so I can do this every morning. I love this routine, it's the perfect way to start the day for me.

This morning I got to the coffee shop, opened my Bible to the book of Revelation, opened my journal and just sat and looked at it. Something didn't feel right in both my mind and my heart.

Every time I journal I write down a question that I have and this question can be about anything.

Here was my question for today: Does something feel stale or am I believing a lie?

As I was sitting here thinking about that question, it hit me. Nothing is wrong with the faith that I have in the Lord. I am being lied to by Satan and I am experiencing spiritual warfare. One of the things that I have came to realize in my walk with Christ is that whenever I am on a spiritual high, or talk about having victory in Christ, I experience spiritual warfare more than usual.

Satan can't stand when I talk about Christ winning the battle when he died on the cross for our sins.

The apostle Paul tells us that we are in a spiritual battle. John says that the war is still being waged, but the outcome has already been determined. Satan and his followers have been defeated and will be destroyed. Nevertheless, Satan is battling daily to bring more into his ranks and to keep his own from defecting to God's side. Those who belong to Christ have gone into battle on God's side, and he has guaranteed them victory. God will not lose the warm but we must make certain not to lose the battle for our own souls. Don't waver in your commitment to Christ. A great spiritual battle is being fought, and there is not time for indecision.

God will not lose the battle but we can still lose the battle when we fall into the trap of believing Satan's lies. For example, when I was sitting here earlier feeling like my faith was stale, I could have believed that it actually was and my day would have been ruined because I would be believing in a lie.

I believe that it is SO important to be aware that there is spiritual warfare going on all of the time. I am not an expert on the topic and I really don't know that much besides the fact that Satan is trying to make us turn from God all of the time.

When I was sitting here this morning trying to figure out what was going on, I was sad and down. When I realized that it was spiritually warfare I immediately felt a huge weight lifted off of my chest. I really can't put into words how it felt. It was an extremely uplifting feeling.

Another lie that I feel like I am being told is that this blog isn't doing the trick. I say I don't do it for the views and I don't. That isn't the purpose. But right now, views are at an all time low. I spend my mornings putting together something to encourage and uplift others and enjoy when people get to read it. The lie I am being told is that what I am writing isn't making an impact because not many people are reading it. The truth is that I believe one person needs to read what I write everyday, and without this blog I wouldn't be at the place I am at spiritually. Without the blog, I don't know how I would get to experience true fulfillment.

I warn you to be on the lookout for spiritually warfare. The secret to defeating it is to be aware and to know about it. As believers we know we already won, we just have to remember that. Next time you are in a place where you are down, sad, stressed, or depressed, think about what is really going on. Things are never as bad at they seem.

The two witnesses

In Revelation chapter 11, John appoints two witnesses. These two witnesses are great representatives of every believer. I am sharing this with you today to encourage you to share with others what Jesus has done in your life.

These two witnesses bear strong resemblance to Moses and Elijah, two of God's mighty prophets. With God's power, Moses called plagues down upon the nation of Egypt. Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal. Both of these men appeared with Christ at his transfiguration.

I have never called any plagues down and you probably haven't either but we do have one thing in common with these prophets and that is we both believe in the story of Jesus Christ.

The Two Witnesses

And I will appoint my witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They are  "the olive trees" and the two lampstands, and they strand before the Lord on earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their months and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have the power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. 

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city-which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt-where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entreated them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a loud, while their enemies looked on. (Revelation 11:3-12)

These two witnesses are the perfect example for believers. They were believers, they witnessed, experienced death, were tormented and then went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched.

As representatives of every believer who has witnessed for Jesus Christ, the two final, faithful witnesses are a picture of both invincibility and vulnerability. They win, they lose, they win again. Truth remains victorious, even though human channels fall. Their message-and God's plan-march on in spite of death, for even death proves to be a defeated foe.

"They win, they lose, they win again." I love that. We win when we commit to following Jesus and believe that he died on the cross for our sins. As soon we we make that decision we are on the winning team.

Let me ask you this, knowing that we are bound to eternal victory, how does that affect the way you think about sharing what Jesus has done in your life with others? Seldom we face the possibility of death when we share our faith. Why should Satan threaten our lives when fear of embarrassment or rejection is enough to keep us silent? But if Jesus has truly changed our lives, we will find a way to let others know. Not to witness represents more than just fear; it also reveals selfishness. Have those near you heard what Jesus has done for you?

Sharing what Jesus has done in your life is something that is hard for lots of people. It's as hard as it is for me for anyone else. I love talking about my faith when I am asked about it. I am not very good at being the who brings it up out of nowhere. If I can think of one major area where I want to approve on, it is sharing what Jesus has done in my life with others.

If I can remember this, it changes everything: "they win, they lose, they win again."

This is a challenge to you and a challenge to me to share what Jesus has done in your life with at least one person this week. Try to do it face to face. You could text somebody if you want but that is not as powerful as speaking about it face to face. If you don't know how to start that conversation, begin with asking the other person what Jesus has done in their life. I pray that you are able to have some conversations like that this week.

Sour honey

Think of some of your favorite TV series that you cannot get enough of. When I think of my favorite TV series I think of the hit series, House of Cards. One of the things that intrigued me the most about that show was the anticipation of what was going to happen next. There were scandals happening every episode and the creators of the show new how to end each episode leaving the audience wanting more.

I loved House of Cards because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen the next episode. Episode after episode I was drawn to my computer screen because of the anticipation that I had.

I feel the same way about my Bible. There are so many amazing stories in there that all lead up to one thing and that is Jesus Christ coming back.

Remember the last two posts I had about the angels sounding their trumpets and talking about the partial judgments? Well in Revelation chapter 10, the seventh angel appears.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding the little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planned his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." (Revelation 10:1-5)

The purpose of the angel was to announce the final judgments on the earth. This powerful angel conveyed his high rank and his authority from God by straddling the land and the sea. His huge size contrasts with the smallness of God's enemies. When things are going bad in our lives, remember that this angel represents the kind go power that is on your side.

When the seventh angel finally sounds his horn, the mystery of God will be revealed. Throughout history people have wanted to know what is going to happen in the future. God revels some of what will happen in the book of Revelation. But John was stopped from revealing certain parts of his vision.

Thinking about it that way, I think of our lives. Sometimes it seems like the path God wants us on is well lit and easy to follow. Other times, the path is hard to follow because we don't know everything. When we are in the state, we long for a way to figure things out because we care about our futures.

Later on in chapter 10, John hears a voice from heaven that tells him to go take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land. So John went to the angel and asked him for the little scroll...

He said to me, "Take it and eat is. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. (Revelation 10:9-10)

John ate the scroll that contained the mystery of God because he was instructed to do so. Sometimes we might have to do the most obscure things for God in order to grown and learn about the things we need to and want too.

God's word is sweet to us as believers because it brings encouragement, but it sours our stomach because of the coming judgment we must pronounce on unbelievers.

So what do I want you to a take away form this? God has revealed all we need to know to live for him now. In our desire to be ready for the end, we must not place more emphasis on speculation about the last days than on living for God while we wait.

Partial Judgement pt. 2

The second part of the judgement is happening throughout chapter 9 and that is what I am going to share with you. If you thought that the first part of the partial judgment was bad, the second is even worse.

There are two things that I hope and pray you are able to take from this post. The first way is to motivate you to commit your life to Christ so you don't have to experience the judgments. The second is thing is God's power and authority. There are things that happen in this chapter that God lets happen because he has the power to do to. In chapter 9 one-third of all people are killed. In Revelation 6, one-fourth of mankind was killed. That is over one-half of the people in the world killed by God's great judgements. Even more would have been killed if God had not set limits on the destruction. That can translate to the things that we go through in our lives everyday. No matter how bad things may seem, God will not let you break. He could have had everyone killed, but didn't.

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came don on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people would seek death but not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (Revelation 9:1-6)

The locusts were symbols of destruction because they destroyed vegetation. Here, however, they symbolize an invasion of demons called to torture people who do not believe in God. The limitations placed on the demons show that they were under God's control.

Most likely these locusts were demons-evil spirits ruled by Satan who tempt people to sin. They were not created by Satan, because God is the Creator of all; rather, they are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion. God limits what they can do and they can do nothing without God's permission. Their main purpose on earth is to prevent, distort, or destroy people's relationship with God.

The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden alter that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." And the four angels who had been let ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number. (Revelation 9:13-16)

This is where one-third of the people are killed. This was a huge army, led by the four demons, that was sent out to destroy one-third of the earth's population. But the judgment is still not complete.

One of the other things that blows my mind is that there were people who were not killed by these plagues but still didn't repent. These people were so hardhearted that even plagues did not drive them to God. People don't usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly-they slip into a little bit at a time until, hardly realizing what has happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways.

Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, then a habit the next day, then death and separation from God forever. To think that you could never become this evil is the first step toward a hard heart. Confess your sins to God.

Partial Judgement pt.1

This is part 1 of 2 post that I will be completely both today and tomorrow. The partial judgment sounds so intense that it works better to actually separate the two posts. Also, it works perfectly because a new chapter begins for the other three trumpets that are going to be sounded.

I learned today that the seven trumpets are actually the trumpet judgments. Before today I did not know that these two things were related.

In the book of Revelation there are seven seals that are written about. The seven seals are the seven trumpet judgments. The trumpet judgments are only partial. God's final and complete judgment has not yet come.

There are three purposes of the trumpet blasts.

1. to warn that judgment is certain

2. to call the forces of good and evil into battle

3. to announce the return of the King, the Messiah

All of these warnings urge us to make sure that our faith is firmly fixed on Christ.

Something that I want you to realize before you read about the first four trumpet blasts is that each blasts destroys one-third of the earth. They only destroy one-third because this is only the partial judgment from God. His full wrath is yet to be unleashed.

There are four angels that blast their trumpets in Revelation chapter 8.

1. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:7)

Because of one angel's trumpet sound, a third of the earth was burned up and the trees were burned up and all the green grass was burned up. Think about what God's full wrath will be like...

2. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)

This is like some Marvel or DC movie stuff right here. A mountain that was on fire was thrown into the sea. I can't even image what that must have looked like. Then a third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Think about what God's full wrath will be like...

3. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a third star, blazing like a torch, feel from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water-the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that has become bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)

If you have read any of my posts in the past I actually wrote an entire post about Wormwood a couple of months ago. Wormwood was a planet with a very bitter taste, and it stands for the bitterness of God's judgment. An entire planet fell from the sky and caused a third of all the waters to become bitter and many people died because of that. Remember this, 71 percent of the earth's surface is covered in water. Think about what God's full wrath will be like...

4. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the starts, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. (Revelation 8:12)

This is wild to me. Imagine how dark things must have gotten when one-third of all things that cause natural light were destroyed. Think about the feeling you get when you're just chilling at home, watching some TV and then the power goes out unexpectedly. It's scary. Imagine what the people of the earth must have felt like when one-third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck. Think about what God's full wrath will be like...

As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels! (Revelation 8:13)

Crazy picture right there This picture is a strong, powerful bird flying over all the earth, warning of the terror yet to come. While both believers and unbelievers experience the terror described, the "inhabitants of the earth" are the unbelievers who will meet spiritual harm through the next three trumpet judgments. God has granted believers protection from spiritual harm.

Why did I share this with you today? I don't want you to have to be left to experience the full wrath of God. It sounds like everything will be on fire, covered in blood, mountains will be thrown around, water will be bitter, and there will be compete darkness.

Judgment is coming-be sure of that. Thank God for the time he has given you to turn from sin. Use the available time to work to help others turn to him.

The great multitude

Have you ever wanted to be a part of something bigger than yourself? I am not just talking about student council or being a part of a club or sports team. I am writing this post today to tell you that if you have committed your life to Christ you are a part of God's family. 

I share this with you today because it is easy to get caught up in a routine where we sometimes don't feel like we are a part of a family. With the things we do on the daily and the way the world works, it is easy to focus on only yourself. Especially right now for college seniors. Each one of us are in the process of searching and applying for jobs and we are rushing around trying to get the things done that we have to. For us seniors why would we even want to really focus on others right now? 

...It's easy to live with that attitude at this time of year.

For those of you who are younger, you might be watching the seniors and you are just ready to move onto the next step as well. When you want to skip right over a year or a couple of years of life you are automatically start to think about only yourself. 

If you're in the work force right now, you wake up and go to work everyday. How you view what you do is important. Are you just going to work? Are you making ends meet? Or is your work a calling? 

In a book that I am currently reading, one of the authors examples he uses is hotel maids. Hotel maids can view their job the way most people would...a maid. Someone who cleans rooms all day for a living. Or they can think about how active they are on daily basis and use what they do as exercise. 

These different groups of people have a tendency to become trapped. Trapped in the idea of "self" and forgetting we are a part of God's family. 

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)

What I love about this verse is that there was a great multitude that no one count count. People from every nation, tribe, people and language. There had to be a ton of people there to not even be able to count. Like I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that there was that many people. Every nation, tribe, people and language. 

One of the questions that came to my mind when I was writing this was how many people are in heaven right now? We know the population for all of the world and that is a big number, so to not be able to count all of the people that were at throne puts me in awe. 

One of the elders asked who all of the people in the white robes were and where they came from. 

John responded with this: "Sir you know, these are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

This my friends, is what heaven will be like. 

"they are before the throne of God

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne

will shelter them with his presence.

'Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,'

nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the thorns will be their shepherd;

'he will lead them to springs of living water,'

'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Those words are amazing. We have been sealed through committing our live to Christ. A seal on a scroll or document identified and protected its contents. God places his own seal on his followers, identifying them as his own and guaranteeing his protection over their souls. Our physical bodies may be beaten, maimed, or even destroyed, but nothing can harm our souls when we have been sealed by God. Those words are what our lives will be like when we die and go to heaven/or the rapture happens. I hope these words give you something to look forward too and I hope you are encouraged by the size of our family.

"No one could count them..." 

We are a part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves ever living and breathing moment of our lives. Even when death comes, we will be a part of a family for eternity. 

So when you are in a place where you feel all along and isolated, remember that you have something to look forward and you are a part of the largest family ever.

Sisters in Christ

The title of this post may say "sisters in Christ," but this post is for all my guys out there. I want to make this short and to the point so that you are encouraged by this and hopefully start to win some battles. 

My guys, I want to encourage you with this today. Being a man, one of the toughest battles that we face every day is how we view and think about women. It has become way to easy to see a beautiful woman and to have impure thoughts above her right away. It's a battle that we fight over and over again. 

Check these verses out: 

My son, keep my words

and store up my commands within you.

Keep my commands and you will live;

guard my teachings as the pole of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"

and to insight, "You are my relative."

They will keep you from the adulterous woman,

from the wayward woman with her seductive words. (Proverbs 7:1-5)

I find that to be a great thing to remember. In a way, ll women are our sisters and relatives in Christ who deserve the upmost respect that we have to give them. We wold never think about our sisters and relatives the way we sometimes think about other women right? 

Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.

Many are the victims she has brought down;

her slain are a mighty throng.

Her house is a highway to the grave,

leading down to the chambers of death. (Revelation 7:25-27)

There are some steps that we can take to avoid sexual sins. First, guard your mind. Don't look at pictures, watch movies, or encourage fantasies that stimulate the wrong desires. Second, keep away from the settings and friends that tempt you to sin. Third, don't think only of the moment-focus on the future. Today's thrills may lead to tomorrow's ruin. 

The Lion and The Lamb

One of the things that motivates me every day when I open my Bible is to learn something new. I feel as if nearly every time I open it there is something new, interesting, encouraging and exciting that I learn.

In the summer of 2017, a new fire was lit in my heart when it came to the word of God. I know I have shared it before, but that summer was when I was finally get able open up my Bible and read it every day. It became clear to me that you experience fulfillment when you are engulfed in the word of God. There was so much that I was learning that I had learned in the past but has forgotten about. Along with what I was relearning, I was learning new things. I was totally psyched out of my mind!

The fire and passion that I had, led me to wanting to share with people that reading your Bible is like the missing key to our lives. Two years later I have the same motives behind every post. Read your Bible! If what I write encourages you to do one thing, my prayer is that you read you Bible.

Even this morning, I learned something totally new. I am going to be honest, whenever I have read through Revelation in the past, I thought that all of the four-headed animals, men with the heads like animals, etc. were real things. I thought that animals were real things that actually existed. Not until these past couple of days did I learn that those animals symbolized characteristics of God.

Which may sound funny to you, I don't know how many of you knew that those were characteristics of God. That might be common knowledge! I think this is a good example of me not really knowing that much.

I am not perfect and all-knowing like God is. Not even close. I may write a blog every day, but that doesn't mean I know everything. I know I don't. There is so much that I want to and need to learn every day. As much of these post are for the readers, they're also vital in my growth as well.

The Lion and the Lamb, what does that mean? I thought there was an actual lion and lamb that were doing the things talked about in Revelation. Specifically in chapter 5, when John writes that the Lamb was the only one able to open the scroll. I wondered how a lamb was capable of physically opening a scroll.

Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the thorns, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Revelation 5:5-6)

Here is what I learned today: Jesus Christ is pictured as both a Lion (symbolizing his authority and power) and a Lamb (symbolizing his submission to God's will). Christ the Lamb was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind; therefore, only he can save us from the terrible events revealed by the scroll. Christ the Lamb won the greater battle of all. He defeated all forces of evil by dying on the cross. The role of Christ the Lion will be to lead the battle where Satan is finally defeated. Christ is Lion is victorious because of what Christ the Lamb has already done. We get to participate in the victory not because of our effort or goodness, but because he has promised eternal life to all who believe in him.

You all have the ability to learn something new everyday. I encourage you to live each day with a growth mindset.

A glimpse into glory

I am going to share all of Revelation chapter 4 with you tonight in this post. This is one of my favorite passages in the entire bible. It was quite the coincidence that this exact chapter was referenced today at church.

I am going to share it with you and then highlight some of the verses that are very important. This chapter of the bible really gives believers a glimpse into glory.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lighting, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in the front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in from and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

" 'Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,'
who was, and is, and is to come."

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being." (Revelation 4)

The first thing that I want to point out is that in verse 2 (underlined), John says that he was in Spirit. This means the Holy Spirit was giving him a vision-showing him situations and events he could not have seen with mere human eyesight.

The second cool thing about this passage is verse 6. (yellow) I didn't know this, but glass was very rare in New Testament times, and crystal-clear glass was virtually impossible to find. The "sea of glass" highlights both the magnificence and holiness of God.

Thirdly. I want you to look at the end of verse 6 and verse 7. (orange) The Holy Spirit is seen symbolically in the seven lighted lamps right? Well the "four living creatures" represents the attributes (the qualities and character) of God. These creatures weren't actually real animals. God's attributes symbolized in the animal-like appearance of these four creatures are majesty and power (the lion), faithfulness (the ox), intelligence (the man), and sovereignty (the eagle).

Lastly, the point of this chapter is summed up in this verse. All creatures in heaven and earth will praise and honor God because he is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. 

These are the words...I know

If you didn't know this, in the book of Revelation, there are seven letters written to the seven churches. Reading through the letters this morning I noticed something that I never have really paid attention to. It's something I want to share with you because I think that it is pretty cool.

Before I get though, I want to encourage you to read passages in your bible over and over. There are things that the Holy Spirit allows you to comprehend differently every time you read it. My buddy and I were just talking about this last night. We both had cool stories about how a similar verse both meant different things to us and was still powerful and amazing.

What I noticed today about the seven letters was that they all began with the same thing. "These are the words of him." The letters that were written to the seven churches came directly from God though John. "These are the words of him," are always followed by a name that was given to Jesus Christ.

After that, there Christ always writes about what he knows about the church. There is power in the fact that Christ is all-knowing. Christ knew everything that was going on within that church and how the people were living and he commended them, rebuked them, and gave them an action to improve on what they were lacking.

Isn't that kinda of what he does in our lives? He is all-knowing. He knows our thoughts, our desires, and our words before we even think or speak. It's wild.

Ephesus

These are the words of him who holds the seven starts in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. (Revelation 2:1-2) 

Smyrna

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are right! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews but are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:8-9)

Pergamum

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live-where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives. (Revelation 3:1)

Thyatira 

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. (Revelation 2:18-19)

Sardis

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven starts. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Revelation 3:1)

Philadephia

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know you're deeds. (Revelation 3:7-8)

Laodicea

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. (Revelation 3:14-15)

These are the words...I know.

The island of Patmos

The apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos because he refused to stop preaching. It says in my bible that according to tradition, John, was the only one of the disciples who was not killed for the faith. 

Jesus gave his message to John in a vision, allowing John to see and record certain events so they cold be encouragement to all believers. The vision that was given to him includes many signs and symbols that convey the essence of what is to happen. What John saw was indescribable, so he used illustrations to show what it was like. 

Another cool thing about John was that he was acquainted with the ability to write in an apocalyptic style. For those of you who don't know what that means, apocalyptic writing is a type of literature that uses symbolic imagery to communicate hope (the ultimate triumph of God) to those in the midst of persecution. 

This post will contain a lot of scripture and that is what's most powerful. My hope is that you are able to reevaluate the way you think of Jesus as you read through not only this passage, but all of the Bible. Allow his powerful presence to transform your life. 

Revelation will challenge your mental picture of Jesus Christ. I am curious to what forms your impression of him right now-famous paintings, movies, Sunday school? It's easy to let those things portray what we think Jesus Christ looks like since we haven't actually seen him. But John, saw him and describes what he looks like.

I, John, your bother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's day I was I the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on  a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyra, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodecia."

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven starts, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining all its brilliance. 

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

"Write therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands in this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:9-20)

There are a couple of things I encourage you to take away from this:

1. Like I mentioned above - The way you think about Jesus. Allow his powerful presence to transform your life. Remember these words that John used to describe what Jesus Christ looked like and don't forget. There is so much power in that. 

2. How the book of Revelation came to be. The scripture I just shared with you is the story of how it happened. John was exiled and then Christ appeared in the presence of the Holy Spirit. I find it helpful to know that as we begin this journey through Revelation together. 

3. John was isolated and all alone on an island. He was in Spirit and was listening for things that might be said to him. There were no distractions in his life at the current moment in time and look what happened. I wonder what it would be like for us to eliminate distractions from our lives on a daily basis. I am not saying every day we should eliminate everything that distracts us. I am encouraging you to eliminate distractions when you have Jesus time so that you are more aware of what the Spirit is trying to teach you. 

Contend for the faith

When you contend, you are struggling to surmount, or struggling to overcome something. In this day in age, it is hard to have faith sometimes. We don't know who too trust, and people tend to make themselves look good in the eyes of others. There are a lot of false teachers. Teachers who twist the words of truth in order to get more of a following.

It is important for Christians to contend in our faith because we cannot follow or listen to the teaching of false teachers. There is no good from those things. In the book of Jude, there are three examples of those who rebelled. In others words, those who didn't contend for the faith.

1. the children of Israel - although they were delivered from the land of Egypt, they refused to trust God and enter into the promise land. The Lord destroyed those who did not believe in him.

2. the angels - although they were once pure, holy, and loving in God's presence, some gave in to pride and joined Satan to rebel against God. The angels who did not keep their authority in position were bound to everlasting chains for judgment on the great day.

3. the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah - the people of the cities were so full of sin that God wiped them off the face of the earth.

If the chosen people, angels, and sinful cities were punished, how much more do you think false teachers would be punished?

Here is how Jude described the false teachers:

These people were blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the winds autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted - twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up in their shame; wandering starts, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 12-13)

Those are strong words written by Jude. It's wonderfully written to make the point clear. I read through those verses and to soak in the detail blows me away. False teachers were "twice dead" They were useless trees because they weren't producing fruit.

So I have written about those who have rebelled and how meaningless false teachers are. How do we contend in our faith so we don't rebel? Jude gives us three ways.

1. knowing the truth - We learn the truth from studying the Bible. If we don't study the Bible we don't  know the truth. It's as simple as that. We must understand the basics of the Bible so that we can recognize when there are false teachers and prevent the wrong teaching.

2. growing personally with Christ - Knowledge is something that is certainly important, but our personal relationship with Christ is essential. Through our personal relationship, God has given you the Holy Spirit. When we are unattached from God, we may know everything, but understand nothing. Attached to Christ, we are given spiritual understanding as well as experiences with Christ that underscore our faith.

3. remaining unified on the essentials - Christians can disagree on certain things. Like worship music, methods of worship, methods of outreach etc. But, we always must defend the truth of the basics of our faith.

I simply encourage you to contend in your faith. Overcome rebellion and the sinful desires of the world that entices us that we may be a light to all who struggle in those things on a daily basis.

Be like Gaius

I learned about a new character in the bible today. His name was Gaius. Have you ever heard of him? The book of 3 John was a letter that was written to Gaius to affirm and thank him for his Christian lifestyle, and to encourage him in his faith.

Do you remember those "Be like Mike" commercials? Well we should want to be like Gaius. He was the perfect example of God's children living by the standards of the gospel.

Other than 3 John, there is no other mention or information about Gaius. We know that he is someone whom John loved dearly. Gaius most likely opened up his home to John and showed him great hospitality during his travels.

John would have really appreciated these actions, because traveling preachers depended on expressions of hospitality to survive.  Hospitality is a lost art for many people today. I am not the best at hospitality either. I am a clean freak and really enjoy cleaning up, but when somebody makes what I cleaned up messy, I can easily become annoyed. Hospitality is something that I know I can work on and improve. Hospitality is an active and much-appreciated way to show your love.

In an individualistic time, it is even more important today. In a self-centered society, many lonely people wonder if anyone cares whether they live or die. If we find a lonely person we need to show them that we care.

Here is what John wrote to Gaius in 3 John:

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good healthy and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. (3 John 2-8)

You can see from these powerful words how loving and hospitable Gaius must have been. I  encourage you to live in such a way that would reflect what John had to say when he wrote his letter to Gaius.

Easily forgetten

One of the things I find to be the most fulfilling parts of my life is intentional face to face conversations. I am not talking about, stopping on the side walk and catching up for a quick 45 seconds. I am talking about intentionally meeting up with friends that you have and asking them if they want to get coffee and catch up. 

It has become easily forgotten to be intentional about these types of actions. Why? Let's be honest here, it take way less time to send a text to one of your friends to check in on them to see how they are doing. It's just so much easier. You can send a text from anywhere. It's so convenient. It's not like you have to drive somewhere to meet up with that person either. 

Don't get me wrong, I love getting a good text message, but when something is communicated to me face to face, it's so much more meaningful. You can intentionally text people to catch up with them, but that intentionality doesn't even compare with meeting face to face. 

You might wonder, how can I meet up with some of the people I want too when there is no time? Simply, just call them. Phone calls are extremely fulfilling as well. There is a lot of power in a phone call or a FaceTime conversation. Both are intentional. Both take more effort than sending out a text. 

Think about how meaning it would be to your parents for you to give them a nice phone call rather than a text. If you are thinking that you don't have enough for a 5 minute phone call you are full of it. There are plenty of times to make a quick phone call. Walking to class, driving to or from work, (bluetooth) or on a Sunday afternoon after church. If your busy for 24 straight hours I would love to meet you.

I try to make a couple of phone calls a day and intentionally meet up with friends a couple times a week. It really doesn't matter to me how busy I am because the fulfillment I get from these things fuels me. We are called to love one another and carving out time to pour into/get poured into is loving one another. 

I was encouraged to write about this today from John. When John wrote the book of 2 John, it could basically fit on one piece of paper. There are only 13 verses! Check this verse out...

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be made complete. (2 John 12)

John probably could've made 2 John so much longer but he didn't because face to face conversation was going to be more impactful to the lady he was writing it to. John says that he has much to write, but the only way that his joy would be made complete would be through face to face conversation. He could not be more right in saying that. 

Our joy is made complete in face to face conversations. 

I encourage you this week to intentionally reach out to someone and catch up. Grab a cup of coffee or grab a bite to eat. Call a friend or your family, FaceTime a friend or your family, etc. 

Be intentional about relationships and you'll be fulfilled. I have no doubt.