The Incarnation

"Christmas is more than just a baby being born in a manger. More than a poor fiancé engaged to a humble virgin teenager. More than a Magi, more than gold, frankincense and myrrh, it's more than the narrative of a nativity scene; it was so much more that occurred. It's the coming of the Messiah, the fulfillment of all Old Testament promises, the prophecy of the suffering Servant and all His accomplishments." –Odd Thomas

Just think: This is the day when the second person of the Trinity gave up His position and clothed himself with flesh to forgive the sins of men. This day was the day our Hero bridged the gap between God and man, grabbing our hand and God's to bring us together in perfect relationship. It’s crazy to think that today is the day Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God is with us)." Isaiah 7:14

Last week I stood in a checkout line holding a present for someone and was overwhelmed at how much we idolize everything, except Jesus on the day of His birth. For example, having fun with Santa and his elves is fine, but for these characters to take the place of Jesus negates the true purpose of this holiday. My chest tightened and I began to grip the present with emotion asking for forgiveness for the way I don’t celebrate and worship God for His decision to come as a man. When you think of it this way, all of a sudden it’s not about wreaths, trees and presents…, but it’s ALL about Him, our God, our Savior, our Redeemer, and Friend. This is the day that e v e r y t h i n g changed; we learned from the Creator Himself about our value, that wretched sinners like us were worth His sacrifice.

So this is our tradition, that we celebrate the coming of our God and Hero, our Savior that came to pull us from the pit of death and clothe us with righteousness. So before presents are unwrapped, mistletoe hung, men tune to their football games, food eaten, and Christmas songs sung, sneak off to your quiet place, shut the door and worship.  Thank our King as today is the day the incarnate deity came to a broken world and gave us the greatest gifts of all… crazy love, amazing forgiveness and everlasting life.

Merry Christmas,
Russell Gaither

Is Suffering Optional?

Have you ever read a passage that makes you just shiver? That makes you question, “am I really trying to follow Jesus completely, or is this something that I say I am, and that I only partly do?” Jesus has recently grabbed hold of my hand, and walked me through a brutal revelation that I find hard to swallow, and to be honest, that I don’t like. These revelations have haunted me throughout my campus as I pass one after another, after another of athletes, women, males, coaches, and professors, which need to have an encounter with Jesus. My heartaches, but my soul tugs in the other direction as I walk by them afraid to share a bit of information that is more important than anything that we are taught. Yet I don’t do it consistently, being both selective and prejudice of whom I talk to. I feel the tension of Jesus saying, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” While walking in this tension I have realized why I do not act on my faith consistently. It’s because I shriek, and step back from the bitter cup of suffering.

I would like to believe that I am a Romans 1:16 (For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes) kind of man. And in many cases I can be. Unfortunately, I’m not always that guy, and what I have quickly come to find out and struggle to accept, is that following Jesus produces suffering. Paul says “I will suffer for the sake of understanding Jesus,” and I have to question do we? As a people who claim to follow Jesus do we drink from that cup? We pray and state we are completely sold out to bringing the kingdom to our schools, work place, family and friends. If that is so, then we have to be married to the principle of suffering.

What does it mean to Suffer?
I want to be clear for multiple reasons. I feel as though if I didn’t clarify, some would write to me saying that there are different types of suffering and I believe that to be true. For example, what the Chinese go through if caught, we cannot match or say we will ever go through that form of persecution. But on the other hand for one to say, “The reason why we are not being persecuted is because we live in America,” I believe to be a weak statement in which I would argue if you are not being persecuted then it’s because you are purposefully avoiding persecution (just like I have). When I say suffering, I mean things like verbal abuse, your family cutting you off because you chose Jesus above all, losing friends, professors, bosses, and others calling you out and challenging what you believe. This is where I too am challenged.

The dictionary states that suffering is to undergo or feel pain or distress. I've come to the realization that I want to embrace my sufferings as the apostles did in Acts 5:40-41 (They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.)

This scripture raises a deep question: Does the world love you? Are you cool with everybody to the point that no one knows that you’re a Christian? If you were arrested for being Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Can you answer these honestly? I personally had to say no even though I've lead people to Jesus. I am not consistent and need to continue to pick up my cross and follow Him. While I continue to learn this, I feel the weight of the cross on my back becoming heavier as I walk up the mountain of missed opportunities.

Paul goes on to say in John 15:18-20, (“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master, if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.)

This scripture brings me to my last point. Jeremy Stephens always asks the question, “How many people have you pissed off lately?” I mean how many times have you brought Jesus up in a class, or with friends, teammates, co-workers, or family, where Jesus wasn’t the cool thing to talk about? After all Jesus was pretty good at pissing off the religious folks and others who weren't interested. So, whose feathers have you ruffled lately for His namesake? Or have you thought, “I would rather not deal with any form of persecution today.” We should consistently ask ourselves these questions understanding that Jesus was neither loved, nor liked by everyone. His main goal was to point to the Father and in doing so He was hated.

The disciples had plenty of chances to avoid persecution and suffering. Do you know Acts 4:19? When Peter and John were threatened to stop preaching in the name of Jesus? Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: To listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” What about Paul, he probably would have lived longer had he not gone to the dangerous places he did! Maybe he should have lived in a gated community in the suburbs, and done a little fellowship potluck every Sunday.

This has been a challenging piece to write. I feel like there is so much to say and yet I have so much to learn. I dislike suffering and persecution and I’m never going to be comfortable with it, but it comes with the territory and I’ve already seen what Jesus can do. I challenge you to take a step back and observe yourself. What was the last excuse you used when you passed that person you know you should have spoken to? How did you feel? Did you have a strong conviction? Hopefully Jesus will provide a fresh revelation to you as I recently received.

After all there are a lot of things that Jesus states that really makes me take a step back and shake my head no thank you. But is not suffering part of the message of Christianity? Are you willing to suffer, be excluded, and be looked at as the Jesus freak? I believe Jesus is walking me there. And what I’m seeing in the distance is a cross with my name on it, which is a place where i must learn to die to myself and my selfishness.

As Philippians 3:8 says, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ.”

Russell Gaither

God's Creation Exploded With A Bang

The blog is back... with deeper writings, strong topics, interviews, and more; Casey Foster starts by equipping us from where it all started off... BANG!

Do you think that the universe exists? Do you really KNOW for sure how it came into existence? Wouldn’t that be a good thing to know? Either if you are not sure what started the universe or to have evidence that backs up your viewpoint? Haven’t you ever wondered how everything we see today came into existence? Haven’t you ever been left with more questions after hearing your middle school science teacher’s explanation of the “Big Bang Theory”? – And no I’m not talking about the TV show.

As a college student, or just fellow human being, I have asked myself the same cosmological question, investigated the options, and have decided that God created the universe. Wouldn’t it be great to be done reading this blog and know 3 things: 1) What created the universe 2) Why that makes sense 3) What it means for your life? Let’s start where science left us hanging…

We have all heard of that “Big Bang Theory” right? Most scientists today accept this theory as the best explanation for how the universe began (according to Chris LaRocco of the University of Michigan). So there was a “Big Bang”. The universe did have a beginning. If it had a beginning, it had a beginner, or some cause that set everything else in motion. Like if I took your computer and threw it across the room into the trash…how did your computer get in the trash? It got there…cause I moved it. So yeah, I believe in the Big Bang; I just know who started it.

Just like that computer example, every effect has a cause. To believe that a God created the universe takes less faith than to believe that NOTHING created the universe. In the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, it says that there is an IRREVERSIBLE physical process where the universe is running down and the sun is going out. If the universe is eternal the sun would have gone out a long time ago. BUT the sun is still up there, we still get energy, so the universe MUST have had a beginning. Ordered things must go towards disorder. We have to put new paint on the walls, gas in our car, and our bodies wear down over time. The universe is not eternal.

The universe is also expanding. If we watched it in reverse, we would see it all collapse back to a starting point of nothing. If you can imagine a grenade exploding in the middle of outer space, you would see all the little pieces flying away from the starting point (much like a cone shape). But like that cone you can trace each piece back to that starting point where the universe began. It exploded out of nothing.

Einstein’s theory of general relativity according to NASA’s website describes “time, space and matter as co-relative. The universe came into existence WITH space and time together. Before time, before space, before matter – out of NOTHING, the universe exploded into existence. Nothing. Literally NO-THING. There was not positive and negative energy; there was no vacuum, no swirling, no gas, and no molecules! Steven Hawking said in his lecture on The Beginning of Time that “all the evidence seems to indicate, that the universe has not existed forever. Rather, the universe and time itself, had a beginning in the Big Bang.” Agnostic astronomer Dr. Robert Jastrow said in his book God and the Astronomers that astronomers have proven by their own methods that creation was caused by supernatural forces.

WHY in the world…would and AGNOSTIC astronomer say that super natural forces are at work?! Why couldn’t nature have created the universe? Because there was no nature! If it is not a natural cause, then by definition, it must be a supernatural cause. Something beyond the natural, This leaves us with one question….

Either no one created something out of nothing, or someone created something out of nothing…

So what can we learn from the cosmological argument? That this being must be space less, timeless, and immaterial. Why? Because it created space, time, and material. It must be powerful because it created out of nothing. It must be personal, because you cannot go from a state of existence to a state of non-existence without making a choice. And only personal beings make choices. It must be intelligent because it created such a highly designed universe. And it must be a creator because all of these characteristics are attributes of a God. A God creating the universe is the best explanation for how the universe began.

By showing you that what started the Big Bang was something space less, timeless, immaterial, powerful, personal, intelligent, and a creator, it points directly to a God. Revealing evidence to make the case that the universe is not eternal (it had a beginning), because the universe is expanding you can point it back to a starting point, and once there was no time, space, or matter, and then bang out of NOTHING the universe exploded into being.

So what – I just told you that a God created the universe. Does that in any way change how you see the world? Go figure it out for yourself! Is what I am saying the truth or a bunch of nonsense? Do your research! Don’t just make assumptions based on nothing. Does science really have all the answers you need or not? Read a book like The Case for a Creator and judge for yourself if it’s reliable. Go check out a small group discussion, and ask questions. Because whether you believe that a God created the universe of not, the BEST thing you can do for your faith (or unbelief) is to question it. As far as science has gotten us, it has never disproved the idea of a God creating the universe. So whether you like it or not, it’s a theory that needs to be tested. But are you brave enough to search for the truth of your very existence?

Casey Foster

Casey is both an Intervarsity leader and small group leader at the University Of Tampa where she leads freshman to knowing and falling in love with Jesus. Her knowledge, love for people, and friendly character helps people open up to the struggles that one may have while learning that as freshman they can strongly impact there campus through the power of Jesus.

The Fellowship Hall

Church, what does it consist of? Is it a building, band, or a pastor? In my mind, when I think of the church I picture a building or service; however, in reading the Bible, you realize this is NOT what Jesus was referring to. As Francis Chan states, “If Jesus was on the earth right now, and you asked him, “Hey, where is the church?” He is not going to give you an address or point to a building.” In pondering the question, I realized the church is deeper and more profound than we think. It is not a building or structure, but the collective followers or believers who fear God, follow Him, and are filled with his Spirit.

This collective group is called into fellowship by Jesus who calls us out of individualism and into community to form true relationships with one another. This is achieved by sharing basic human needs such as housing, money, food, transportation and material goods. It is also accomplished by sharing our time, heart, joys, fears, companionship, friendship, love and more. So many times I have treated fellowship as an after thought. It has never occurred to me how important it is to be a part of God’s family and body.

Did you ever have or remember the fellowship hall at your church? This was usually the gathering place for a potluck after the Sunday morning service or a place for sharing family fun, sporting activities and more. In Acts 4:32 it says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” This is what Jesus defined as fellowship. Isn’t this different from a potluck or a church softball game?

Francis Chan tells a story about a gang member who after repeated visits to his church and hearing the Word surrendered to Jesus. He was baptized, but after some time stopped attending. He later ran into a church member who asked where he had been. To this, he responded, “When I was baptized, I thought it was going to be like what happened when I got jumped into the gang. Suddenly when I was a part of the gang everyone had my back. We became family 24/7. So when I got baptized, I thought it was going to happen the same way with the Christians. But what I didn’t know was that it was just for Sunday mornings, and Wednesday nights. I thought we were going to be family. But I think I was wrong.”

The problem with this scenario and for the church is that he was right. It hurts to hear that a gang member who was lost and came to the knowledge of Christ was ultimately lost because he realized the church was far from true fellowship. This brother felt he was not brought into what was supposed to be his new family. It’s a scary realization that in this case the gang portrayed a better family unit than God’s church!

Yet, unity isn’t normal these days. We live in a time when people are so quick to ditch each other and walk out on relationships. God is calling us to be above our culture, to be in fellowship and in community. Though we are imperfect, at the end of the day it is about forgiving one another and showing the power of grace that keeps the body strong. This demonstration should show the power of fellowship to those who are not a part of God’s church body and community.

There is something about our unity that makes the message believable, yet many would rather do it on their own because they feel it is easier than having to put up with different personalities or arguments. It is easier to think, “let me just have my own relationship with God”, but that is not what Jesus created us for. Our mission to the world is to show Jesus by living as one, so the body may move together in unison. We weren’t created to do God’s mission on our own. I need you and you need me, so anyone saying, “I have a relationship with God; I don’t need the church, or these little gatherings.” is not only missing out on fellowship, but I dare to say may be lost. After all Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell won’t stand against it.” He calls us to congregate, so we don’t have to go at it alone. So the question is, do you want to be apart of this community, family, and unity or do you want to continue to live in insolation?

I challenge you to help strengthen your church, your community, and to pursue unity. We are the church and we need each other to function properly as the body of Christ moving as one in mission and in purpose. Potlucks and sporting events are great ways to become closer to forming a tight community, but it has nothing to do with the way Jesus intended fellowship to strengthen and mature His church in love, service and relationship to one another. Only this way will the church take its spiritual place and leadership, so that hell itself cannot stand against it.

Russell Gaither

Listening To God In The Desert

Alison Haupt challenges us to continue to pursue Jesus in the late stages of the summer even though we are away from our community.

I know that the summer is often one of the hardest times of the year for so many of us as we are away from our campus community and thrown back into our home environments which for some are great and amazing and for others are challenging and difficult. I know for me, whenever I am away from the community in which I experience God with the most, it feels hard to hear him, it feels hard to know he is there, to feel his presence and to believe that he can still speak to me.

I think that hearing God is something I have always had to work at in my life. I think when I first became a believer, I felt like I would begin to hear God with a megaphone and that everything would suddenly become extra clear to me, but unfortunately that has not been my experience. I have heard from God and do hear from him, but it is always something that I need to work at and it is not because God is not speaking, but that I am having a hard time listening.

I have come to realize that the reason it becomes hard for me to hear God when I am not around community, is not only because I hear God through them at times, but the truth is that the community helps me strip away all the unnecessary sound waves that get in the way of hearing God’s voice in the midst of all the noise in my life and helps me to focus on Jesus and allows me to hear him most clearly. This is one reason of many why a community of believers has become so important to me and why I have given my life to see that very thing created on college campuses because I want so badly for people to hear God the way I have been able to hear him and know that having a community around us spurring us on towards him is a crucial element of that. My life would be so different without this.

I am sure some of us have felt a little strained this summer to hear God, to know he is there because our community on campus that we are used to experiencing God together in has been fragmented and I hope that some of you have been able to find a community back home to connect with and to connect with God through, but I know that can be much easier said than done.

I remember being home at my parents house for the summer after having such strong encounters with God during the school year and feeling empty, feeling like I don’t know how to follow Jesus here, feeling like I was slipping back into old patterns and struggles, feeling like I couldn’t hear God and I had gone from being in a rich rainforest with so much life and was transported to a desert. I do remember though having some deep encounters with God even in those desert moments. I remember some mornings devoting time to spend with God before going to work and praying for my family and getting to see God use me in special ways, I remember God using me to have spiritual conversations with co-workers at my summer job. I remember visiting different churches in my hometown just to get a taste of how others worshiped and to try to find a community. Most of all, I just remember when I would take time to be silent and still before Jesus him speaking to me in subtle and simple, yet profound ways. I had poor discipline in my walk with Jesus and the times with him were so sporadic, but they were still rich and powerful and it was Jesus who sustained me through the time I had to live separate from my core spiritual community.

Although I believe with everything in me, that Jesus calls us to be in community with one another and worship him and do mission out of that community. There are times when we are away from community for a season and I still believe that God wants to speak to us in those times and show us more of himself and use us in the lives of others as well. I know that Jesus is everywhere because I have been in some dark places, but I know that even in that Jesus was there so I trust that regardless of how desert like our life feels, that he is still there wanting to speak to us if we are willing to listen.

I encourage you as the summer comes to a close to find places of silence to be before Jesus, to read his word and simply to listen to whatever he may want to say to you. I encourage you to look for ways to pursue Jesus in the environment you find yourself at home, at work, traveling, or wherever you may be. And I encourage you to stay connected to each other in our community in any way that you can. We need each other to push us towards Jesus and his ways so let’s be there for each other however we can in the last part of this season.

Alison Haupt

Alison's heart for the college campus has produced tons of students to follow Jesus and experience true christian community in an environment where its hard to find family away from family. she also is the Intervarsity area corrdinator for the tampa area.

Breaking Down the Wall of Perfectionism

Hannah Holmes Shows us how perfectionism can draw us to insanity if we don't let The Lord come and take our worries.

Somewhere, deep in my childhood, I formed this idea, this little false religion of perfection. Long before I can remember I decided I could, and would, get it all together and do it all by myself. I would have straight A’s. I would be the best behaved kid in my family. People would love me and respect me and I would have lots of friends. I would have a successful career. I slowly built, brick by brick, a standard, an image of the life that I would lead. Needless to say, my foundation was anywhere but where it should be.

And it didn’t take long for the flaws in my carefully constructed building to show up. Every grade that was a little less than I expected, every fight with my family or friends, every failure, big or small, was pure agony, like touching a hot stove. Every little detail in my life became something to worry about it. I learned that trying to control everything is a full time job. And it got harder and harder, going from middle school to high school, from high school to college. By the end of my freshmen year of college, my perfectionism was threatening to crush me.

That was the pinnacle of a realization that I think had been coming on slowly for years. The realization of what I was spending all my time and energy building. It was no grand palace where I could live, not even a sturdy dependable home- it was more like a wall. With every relationship I tried to control, every impressive group I got involved in, every test I killed myself over, I stacked up another brick between me and God. I even used ministry in building the wall. Just add that to the list of things I need to do, to be “good enough.” To be worth it. But at the end of the day I wasn’t sure what I was worth at all.

Perfectionism was the perfect lie, that I could do it on my own, that I could ever be “good enough.” I knew that was wrong, but it was somehow louder than all the truths I had ever heard about grace in my entire life. But in the end grace was all that could have broken down the wall. The craziest thing is to look back and to see that as I was carefully laying down bricks, God was chipping away at my self- made prison. And though the breaking down of the wall has been a long, continual process, I’m pretty sure it all started with me sobbing on my dorm room floor. In my spiritual journey away from a place of control to a place of being surrendered, the most powerful moments have been those where I am completely broken and aware of my desperation. Those are the moments when I can hear the loudest what I know Jesus has been whispering to me all along. “I love you.”

I am still struggling to understand this love. I firmly believe that the knowledge of it is the only antidote to our culture's disease of perfection. The truth of Jesus’ love is the only thing strong enough to drown out the lies we hear about needing the perfect grades, perfect body, perfect job, perfect family, perfect boy or girlfriend… because the truth of His love is that no matter how far you sink you’re not going to go below it. No matter how hard you run you’re not going to come outside of it. And no matter how high you go you’re never going to touch the top of it. It’s endless, incomparable, and it’s nothing we could ever pay back, nothing we could ever deserve. Knowing that, grasping that, even in the tiniest little bit, has been the key to breaking down my wall of perfection. It was the only thing that could convince me to surrender. And while in the struggle against perfectionism I’m not, well, perfect, it’s the only thing that convinces me to keep pursuing Jesus in all my weakness, because that’s the way He loves me.

When I started to understand Jesus’ love, it completely changed the way I looked at life and ministry. That’s the thing about His love; it doesn’t make you perfect but it changes your outlook. The very desires and motivations of your heart begin to look more like His when you let his love sweep over you. I could hear Him whispering in my ear, “I love you. Come with Me, I have something amazing I want to show you. I want to use you to bring My kingdom. Will you come with Me?” Suddenly ministry went from being a duty to being an adventure. Will you answer His call to adventure in your life today? Will you leave all your imperfections, your worries, your need for control behind and walk with Him, run with Him?

Hannah Holmes


Hannah is a leader at The University Of Tampa where she leads freshmen to christ and teaches them how to be leaders on the campus. Her natural instincts to love and listen brings Jesus's character to the campus in multiple ways.

From Barbies To Boys To Jesus: The Truth About Womanhood; Day 2

PART 3

Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Out of God’s unfailing love and for our own protection, God calls us to be pure spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. 1 Peter 1:16 reminds us, “Be holy, because I am holy.” God knows that if we compromise one of these areas than the rest of these areas will be contaminated and impure. By committing fully to purity in Jesus, we allow him to give us the fulfillment that he longs to give us. For women, an important step toward purity and integrity is the unwavering and genuine presence of modesty, not just physically, but spiritually, mentally, and emotionally as well. Modesty is “Freedom from vanity or boastfulness. It is the high regard for decency/ simplicity of behavior speech, and dress (Dictionary).” Modesty or lack thereof is communicated through non verbal and verbal cues. It’s been proven that 80-90% of human communication is non verbal. This includes body language and what is worn on the body.

Women of God are called to dress and live modestly. Showing body parts such as our midriff, butt, breasts, and excessive amounts of skin, draw attention inappropriately and away from the person we are beneath our skin. The same need for modesty applies for those of us who cover our private parts but never cease to wear the trendiest clothing and eye catching outfits. Modesty is not just about the exposure of bare skin. Dressing immodestly in one or both of these ways exposes our lack of security in ourselves and our selfish desire to be distinguished from other women. Modesty is not just about a rule to obey or break. Most of all, our practice of modesty correlates to the love and fear that we have for our Lord, which brings wisdom (Proverbs31:30). When we dress without modesty, we break the heart of our body’s owner, Jesus. We hurt him with our lack of faithfulness and respect for him. Genuine modesty corresponds to the genuine motive to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Genuine modesty also reveals that you love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). We must operate on love at all times. This love for our neighbor includes protecting our men by what we say, do, and wear.

When we are immodest, we do not protect our men or ourselves from the enemy’s chance of gaining leeway. When we dress immodestly, we make ourselves an object to the eyes of men, at the expense of their struggle for purity. We rely on their animal calls and compliments. When they fail to love or respect us properly, we respond by calling them “dogs, heart breakers, jerks, and cheaters.” It cannot be denied that many men’s actions take part in the destruction and belittling of women’s identity. At the same time, as a woman, I feel that we ought to own up to the fact that we are more than capable of making the choice to demand deference by what we wear, say, and do. Instead, many of us, me included, have made the decision to teach men to disrespect us. Like many women, I have encouraged men to disregard my inward beauty and praise my outward beauty, as a means of gaining a counterfeit of the real love and admiration I desire. I am still in the stage of discovering that my identity and worth do not stem from what I do, but from belonging to a God who has perfect identity and priceless worth. We must look for love and rest in the Lord and no further. Casting such great expectations on men leads to a lonely and empty dead end. Using our words or bodies as a weapon to manipulate is a disgrace to the Lord and his men. When we act outside the will of God, we seek our own selfish purpose that is bound to fail. To be followers of Jesus, we should not “seek our own good, but the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:24). As a matter of fact, Jesus warns us to keep from causing others to stumble (Luke 7:1) Lets serve our men and keep our sacred bodies a secret, unless/until, they are made one with a godly husband, given to us in marriage by the Lord.

I often mourn over my brokenness in this area, but God’s grace has given me the capacity to think and act in standards of love for myself and those around me. In no way am I suggesting that women ought to cover every inch of their skin. And in no way am I advising women to wear baggy turtle necks, sweat pants, or sweaters every day. Asking myself these following questions have been helpful hints to expose the deep motives that dictate my actions. When we interact with the opposite sex, it can be helpful to ask ourselves what our true motives are while answering the following questions.
-“Does what I’m doing, wearing, or saying yield to my highest standard of dignity and self respect? Are my actions an expression of my love and concern for men and their struggles?
Could my outfit cause men to stumble? Could my consistent fashions pressure women into dressing immodestly and competitively?”


PART 4
Romans 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

The spiritual plagues of pride and competitiveness are not just suffered by men. Women suffer and subject themselves to its poison as well. In fact, we will be just as protective and guarded over what we feel is our territory. Our territory may include the image of ourselves, and something, or someone we consider to be ours. If that means being in fierce competition with one another than so be it. If anything or anyone appears to be a potential threat, our jealousy and tactics of defense will take over. I can recall an experience illustrating my point.

Only a few months ago, my boyfriend and I were walking to the parking lot. We had just ended a long day of school. As we approached the crosswalk, an attractive girl was crossing from the opposite direction. As she passed us, I felt a sense of paranoia and inadequacy rush over me. From the corner of my eye, I glanced at my boyfriend to study his reaction to her passing. I was anticipating that he would look away from me to stare at her from head to toe. This girl went to our university. She was one of the boys’ favorites. I had seen them drooling over her, as they called her a “10.” They admired her beauty and how much skin she revealed.

Without even knowing her, I had often been judgmental and irritated with her for the way she dressed and flirted with the men. But, as long as she didn’t approach my boy friend, I could ignore her antics. Needless to say, I didn’t want her coming anywhere near my boy friend. Since childhood, I have expected all men to gawk at women with unrestrained eyes. I have consistently caught my own male family members, ex boyfriends, and guy friends doing it. In the moment we passed this girl, she made no direct action to interact with my boyfriend. Regardless, I felt that she was a threat to my boy friend’s affection for me. It’s a great grievance of mine to admit that I did not feel the love of God for her. I was unconcerned about her own struggle to fully love and respect herself enough to keep her body a secret. Instead, I was worried that in comparison to her, my effort for purity and modesty wouldn’t be enough to maintain my boyfriend’s interest. I felt tempted to retreat back to the old days of giving my ex boyfriend something to look at to keep him. In reality, I did not see my boy friend turn his attention toward her. Regardless, after she passed, I was among the group of girls who have made jealous remarks against her, “She wears too much makeup.” After the words left my mouth, I could trace the motive of my remark and I felt convicted by the Holy Spirit.

When we got to the car, my boyfriend knew something was wrong. He asked me and I denied it until I broke down in tears. I confessed my feelings and my guilt. He listened intently, comforted me, and thanked me for trying to pursue purity and Jesus, rather than short term, impure attention. His walk with Jesus not only gave him an appreciation for modesty and purity, but also a desire for it to be permanent in his relationship with me. Not once did he say “Dress a little sexier for me.” I was incredibly relieved to have such a man of God.

Later that night, I brought my pain, insecurity, and competitiveness to Jesus. I cried out for his love and grace. I asked him to remind me how to have compassion and how to love all women and men around me. I thanked him for giving me a boy friend who loved Jesus. However, the center of my desperate cry was for Jesus to remind me of my worth and identity in Him. I asked God, “What makes a woman beautiful in your eyes?” As I sobbed, I begged him to silence the world and its opinion of me. I begged him to make his voice the loudest and the one that matters most to me. In this situation, I may have been physically modest, but my emotions were impure and in need of the grace of God. I was lacking compassion for the girl, as well as a certainty in my God given identity and worth. I was unaware until God used this pretty and immodest girl to show me the condition of my heart.

God’s Word tells us that our “beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hair styles and the wearing of gold jewelry, and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3, 4). It is common for women to lie about their age and expend every effort and resource to appear younger. We have a fear and hate of death, old age, and ugliness. Despite our culture’s obsession with physical youth, we cannot and should not solely rely on our bodies or clothes to establish, measure, or preserve our sense of beauty. Our flesh and clothing will fade away, tarnish, and wrinkle quickly over time. Since we can’t measure our identity and worth in outward adornment, than where should our beauty come from? What should we dress ourselves with to make ourselves attractive?

Colossians 3:1-3,12,14 gives us valuable insight on how to live and what to dress ourselves with…1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God… 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

These are the treasures we should pray for, put on, and practice. We have the freedom to decide what to wear and how to wear it. The gifts quoted in 1 Peter and Colossians never lose their value and they never go out of style. They are the timeless and precious treasures on the inside of our cup that make the outside of your cup clean as well (Matthew 23:26). Rather than expose our fleshly assets, we are called to dress ourselves with these godly assets instead. We can make the choice to put them on every single day. They are the epitome of beauty in its truest form, because they inspire a life of sacrifice. Just as Jesus did, we are to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).” When we do so, we will no longer fight the wonderful bodies and image that God has given us. We will see that all of our joy, worth and identity come from a heart that rejoices in the heart of the Lord. The holy women of the past had an unfading beauty because they had such a love for their Maker (1 Peter 3:4). They kept the Lord as the center piece of their hearts and brought all glory and attention to him. This blog post is not condemnation to women, but it is a call to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. It is a God given call to defy the silence, and honestly acknowledge our struggles and wrongs as women. It is a call to repent of our sins, bring them to the cross, receive God’s grace, and live in spirit and truth (John 4:23)

Camara Bensinger


Camara Bensinger is the founder of Multi Cultural Bible Study at the University Of Tampa and is one of the most powerful spiritual leaders on campus. Her capacity to love on many girls a week and giving her time to multiple women a day who need spiritual guidance, or a listening ear makes her a light on the college campus. The passion and conviction that Jesus gives her allows us as a community to better understand the world that we live in and the honest struggle that it takes to live righteously.

From Barbies To Boys To Jesus: The Truth About Womanhood

It's apparent that women and men struggle with many things in the college culture. From the way we dress to the way we interact on Facebook. Camara Bensinger opens her heart, story, and what Jesus has opened her eyes to, while giving us an understanding that in everything we do, we must glorify The Father. Today is part 1 and 2, while part 3 and 4 will be put up on Thursday.

PART 1

Hosea 2:7,13
7 She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them.
Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now…
13 she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot,” declares the LORD.

From the first Barbie to the first bra to the first boy friend, young women unconsciously develop the foundations of their femininity. Despite the given love and freedom from our Creator, we are generally predisposed and occupied by the expectations and demands of our brutal culture. In our desperate attempt to fill our emptiness, the practice of giving ourselves away physically and emotionally has become an ancient pastime. Instead of bringing our brokenness to the altar of our Lord, we sacrifice our dignity and shove aside our lineage as beloved daughters of God. In the midst of such mess, Jesus awaits our surrender. My own battle with my body and my identity has made way for the insurmountable atonement of Jesus to be glorified.

Like most women, I am both a victim and perpetrator of my circumstances. In one moment, I am blameless for the emotional scars of being involuntarily objectified as a woman in my culture. In another moment, I am the one to blame when I make the male species my nameless toys to amuse my craving for love and attention. The origins of my brokenness reside on memory lane. For me, high school was a time of trials. Every girl’s body was developing into its own. Because I am naturally athletic, the curves and muscles of my body became undeniable. I was particularly dissatisfied with my legs, arms, and my hair. My insecurity continued to sky rocket as I compared myself to my peers and the women on television. The shorts and skirts of girls were getting shorter and shorter, while the shirts were getting thinner. Victoria Secret undergarments were not staying a secret when worn under see-through shirts and pants. In high school, it seemed that the quickest way to get attention and affirmation was to either wear less clothing or to be more distinguishable through having savvy fashion sense. The competition between girls was fierce. We were all blood thirsty for companionship and recognition from the opposite sex, as well as each other. We were unaware that our desire for boys was just a masquerade, covering a God given need for love and wholeness. At this time, the hormones of boys were going crazy, spurring curiosity for their female counterparts. They were being trained to believe that manhood was manifested in sexual conquest, so they were grateful for how generous girls were with their bodies.

At the beginning of my sophomore year, I caught the interest of a senior guy. Immediately, I was attracted to his charm and sense of humor, but his interest in me, intensified my hunger for an affirmation of my worth. We started dating, but I began to notice that keeping him required some work. Other girls were constantly after him and he had a wandering eye. Apparently I was behind and lacking in his standard of beauty. He would tell me, “You have man-arms and legs.” or “Straighten your hair more.” Most of all he’d say, “I wish you’d dress a little sexier for me.” After years of investing in him emotionally, physically, and mentally, I threw in the towel. At the beginning of college, I was deeply wounded and bitter. At the expense of my male peers, I teased and toyed with a few by using reckless words, and immodest attire. I now see that it was a sad attempt to try to redeem the control and dignity I had given away to my ex boy friend. Thankfully, my antics came to a halt when I met the man who has loved me all along, Jesus. Through an intimate relationship with him, I’ve discovered the equal love that he has for both women and men. My story full of mistakes, twists, turns, and brokenness was just condensed into a nutshell, but I know that many other women have a similar story. It is not only applicable for high school girls, but also for college women.

No matter what age, all women have a desire to be loved, valued, and needed. We long to be listened to and for our words and deepest thoughts to have a lasting impact on our listeners. We want affirmation that we matter. We long for someone to be trustworthy enough to see us exposed; “flaws and all.” We hope for that person to love the secret self that we have nurtured our entire life. Men have similar desires that are projected in different forms. Uniquely, women tend to place greater importance on what they hear and feel. In contrast, men hold their sense of sight to higher importance. When their eyes catch a glimpse of something visually pleasing, they are motivated to indulge in fantasy and strive towards physical contact with what they see. There is no denying that men have their own spiritual, physical, and emotional giants to battle. Reducing women to trophies and vessels of pleasure is inexcusable in the eyes of God. It is also inexcusable for women to seduce men or seek attention, orchestrated by desires such as control, and false affirmation. Women continue to play an equal part in the destruction of themselves and those around them. Understanding the inner most struggles and follies of men are a vital puzzle piece to creating the possibility of sharing Jesus with them. However, in this moment, I’d like to use this blog post to have an ongoing dialogue with women who long to have Jesus as the center piece of their lives. For women, this struggle with identity, worth, and body image is unavoidable.

PART 2

“Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself from the top of your head to the soles of your feet? -You should ask yourself who taught you to hate being what God made you.” -Malcolm X

Women, despite all attempts to protect ourselves, we are immersed in a culture that doesn’t value self respect, purity, or integrity. We are in a culture that encourages us to know one another sexually before we know one another intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Dating has become a youthful ritual of having sex first, and shaking hands later. Men are encouraged to be heartless, detached bachelors, while the media assures that they will continue to salivate over women. Women are treated as a man’s accessory, which is both inferior and consumable. It is confirmed in movies, advertising, pornography, sports, politics, and fashion. Women are fed mixed messages. “Don’t be too light, but don’t be too dark. Don’t be too thick, but don’t be too thin. Don’t be too boring, but don’t be too crazy. Don’t be too stupid, but don’t be too intelligent.” Women are hindered by our culture’s attempt to keep us in line with its degrading standards. Women are mistaken for commodities that can be bought, sold, traded, or disposed. We are reduced to being rated physically, on a scale of 1 to 10.

For many of us, our Facebooks hold public evidence of us questioning our worth. Have you ever noticed how so many women use a continuous string of self portraits as a default picture for their Facebook? Each woman becomes a supposed model and a supposed photographer simultaneously. Some default photos are a self portrait with provocative clothing, bathing suits, or suggestive poses. Others are less suggestive and more oriented by longing facial expressions. Each picture may be slightly different, but behind the lens of each camera lives a similar motive. Often times, the motive is vanity, loneliness, insecurity, and emptiness. Ultimately, the photos reveal that we are wrestling with a shyness of our worth. The underlying statement of these photos silently scream, “Look at me and how beautiful I am. My body and facial features appear flawless here so that you can see me at my best. Or at least, confirm to me that I am beautiful and desirable. Am I good enough to be wanted? Am I cute? Confirm my worth by leaving an encouraging comment or ‘Liking’ the picture.” When we do this, we not only reveal a shyness of our worth, but we also become a part of the world’s advertisements that display women as consumable products.

I also find it interesting and telling that we spend time praising and aspiring to the beauty of celebrity women. We rant, rave, and envy women like Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Frieda Pinto, Beyonce, and Halle Berry. We ask ourselves, “If I could look like anyone, who would I want to look like?” We ask ourselves this question without considering that much of their praise and worldly beauty actually comes from the accumulation of photographic manipulation, plastic surgery, dental surgery, hair stylists, makeup artists, personal trainers, fashion stylists, nutritionists, and light specialists. These celebrity women cave under the pressure to be eye candy, just as we do. In reality, their appearance in the magazines and on the big screen is far from their unaltered and natural appearance. Although they would look differently without all the extra professional alteration, they would still be beautifully matchless and wanted in the eyes of God. Considering all of this, is it really fair or healthy to claim these women as the epitome of beauty, let alone idolize their appearance? Just like them, we are pressured to fix our shortcomings through surgery, eating disorders, excessive exercising, tanning, bleaching, and purchases from shopping excursions. Self hatred of ourselves looms over so many of our thoughts and stains the truth of the mirror. The real comical irony is that the world is entirely wrong.

More than any other type of makeover, we need a spiritual makeover. We need the truth of Jesus to wash every lie, question, and wound. He mourns with us through the pain, pressure, and prejudice we live in. While the world tries to put a cheap price on us, the price at which Jesus bought us is the only bid worthy of our acceptance (1 Corinthians 6:20). As women, we should rejoice. We need not anxiously await and beg for the earthly boyfriend or husband of our dreams until we remember our first true love. We must acknowledge that we have an eternal husband in Jesus. We are his lovely bride. Our body and spirit are “betrothed to him in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion (Hosea 2:19).” Fulfillment, wholeness, and love do not reside outside of an intimate relationship with him. Whether you are single or taken, Jesus is man enough for you. Thankfully, we also find an eternal father in God. A perfect, holy, just, and loving God created us and fathers us. He is so perfect that he is incapable of mistake. He doesn’t make rough drafts or errors. As women, we constantly wallow over our desire to revise and alter our bodies and personalities. We treat our bodies as if they can be tailor made to our liking. By doing this, we not only hurt ourselves, but we call God imperfect. We were all created in his image (Genesis 1:26). Just being born, alive, and created, guarantees our inheritance and birthright to be of worth and to have an identity. We are given the limitless capacity for love, beauty, wisdom, and sacrifice because that compresses the character of God himself. I pray that we would know that we are matchless to the only One that matters, the Lord. Let’s not be critical of God’s craftsmanship. Our meager minds and the world’s perverted ways betray us. Our bodies and our Creator take no part in betraying us. Let’s be thankful for our bodies and treat them as a Holy Temple for the Lord to dwell in (1 Corinthians 6:19).

TO BE CONTINUED...

The Church IS NOT A Chick Flick!

I feel as though women have become the church. I have grown up in church and remember thinking that it was something that women went to, so they could express their feelings and sing songs together. While the men served as ushers or the ones that caught the women as they fainted when experiencing an encounter with Jesus. I have to say that as I grew older I noticed more and more women complaining about their husbands or boyfriends never attending church with them. Hearing that angered me because when I looked around there where few men to be found. But no question seemed to hit me as hard as this one... Where are the mighty men of God that I read about in the scriptures? Why are they not found in church?

Where are the David’s of my generation who one minute fought and killed a thousand Philistines and the next radically praised God until his clothes fell off? Or how about Elijah who got mad and got in a man’s face and said if you mess with me I’ll call down fire from heaven and burn you up! What about Moses who killed a man and buried him in the sand? And lastly what about Peter who was packing a blade and defended his Savior by slicing a guy’s ear off! These were real men. Men that God wanted and used... yes sinners and imperfect men, yet men with never-back-down attitudes who weren't afraid to get into an altercation every now and then. I’m not saying what they did was right or that fighting is acceptable, but I can say it’s part of the male genome. Yet when you study about these men, you can’t help but ask the question where are the radical men of God today in the church? These men were real men. They lead their people to victory, had a true relationship with God, and worshiped like no other.

I began to think and came to the conclusion that most of these men in the bible would not fit in the church today. Here are some staggering statistics to prove my point: 90% of men that live in the United States say they believe in God; 5 out of 6 men in the United States refer to themselves as Christians, yet only 35% of the men that claim to follow Jesus attend church, which means ladies, that only 1 out of 5 women will have their husband attend church with them. Why? Because there is a total disconnect between men and church. Especially in the American culture. Men outnumber women in the Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islamic faith. Only in Christianity do women outnumber men.

Why? How come men shy away from the church? I can tell you why: Check out these words “feelings”, “sharing”, “love”, “communication”, “help”, “support” compared to: “power”, “efficiency”, “achievement”, “skill”, “competition”, “success”. One group of words make women come alive while the other group make men come alive. There was a survey done in which they placed both words side-by-side and said choose which word describes church to you. All the men chose “feelings”, “sharing”, “love”, “support”, “help”. Men, how great does it sound that once you make it to heaven you will have your own cloud to sit on with a couple of fat little babies with angel wings sitting beside you while you play your harp? I know... makes you want to go to church, doesn't it? As a matter of fact, I think the western philosophy is turning men away from salvation. I’m pretty sure the men of the bible didn't think this way. They saw power, righteousness, strength, and knowledge with God.

You have to understand that the first century church was a magnet to men! For example, when Jesus fed the 5,000 people He was just talking about men. In Matthew 14:21 it says, "the number of those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides the women and children." Notice that the emphases is on the number of men with the women and children being secondary. In Acts it says that on the day of Pentecost there were 3,000 men saved besides women and children. He found 12 men as His disciples, not girly or super spiritual men, but real guys with real problems, such as Peter and Paul who got into it with each other. In Galatians 2:11 you can see the way Paul reacts to Peter saying, "I withstood him to his face and there was no small contention." I think it’s pretty clear the type of men Jesus was leading, and the type He wanted following Him. He came to build His church and it was going to be built by men He discipled.

My soul longs for the day that I witness men that will call out for Jesus and worship Him like they do for their sports teams. It seems odd that men sit quietly during service, but when they get home they get rowdy and pumped to watch a couple of fat men tackle each other on a field. I can only imagine what God is thinking when He watches such a thing. Last time I checked, our Dad is the creator of the universe. He spoke and the cosmos was formed. I would be willing to paint my body, scream and chant for Jesus the way we do at sporting events. The feeling of a buzzer beater is the way I feel when I come to the realization that I just witnessed the Lord using my body to save someone or teach the gospel to a lost friend.

Men, we must equate faith with guts. We must stand up and take back our roles and bring back the rawness that was once there. The church is NOT a chick flick fellas and the quicker we understand that the church is a group of warriors the quicker the church will strengthen. Oh and men, just another tid bit of information: In families where just the women serve God, 17% of the time the young ones will follow in that faith, but in the families where men serves God with the women, 93% of the time the children will follow Jesus. You have more of an impact than you realize; therefore, as Joel 3:9 says, "Wake up the mighty men and get ready for battle!"

Russell Gaither

A Week Of Poetry: Day 7

Today is day 7 of a week of poetry. I know you wish it could go on but we have many more writing coming up that will break you, and then fill you up. I must say that this week has been nothing short of brilliant. It has been full of great pieces and I would like to thank all you guys that have been reading, as well as those who submitted their writings. If you didn't get the chance and would like to submit your pieces, we will be having another week of poetry in the future. So stay tune! On our last day we have a special poem from the great artist Jon Dengler. Enjoy, and thanks again.


Praise
Jon Dengler

God I fought Thee

But you still sought me and you bought me

Pick me up and you taught me

So now how do I praise the name of a God whose love stays the same

And sustains me and keeps me from going insane

From the weight of my own sin and shame

Who pierced the main vein of his own son

Whose taken my blame though I forsaken his name

By living profane and living a deadly game

But you kept me safe through these mazes and phases

And it amazes me God

So here I am to give you the praises

And here I am to throw my life upon the altar

‘Cuz all I want to do with my life is exalt ya

And what’s more, like psalm 34, I’ll extol the Lord at all times

His praises always on my lips and my rhymes

And my soul will boast in the Lords voice

So let the afflicted, addicted, and conflicted hear it and rejoice

Thank you Jesus that you healed my diseases and you picked up the pieces

You’ve given me freedom and now the drugs and alcohol I don’t need’em

And you’ve turned me around

And put my feet on solid ground

And now my heart pounds to the sound of a new drum

Marching to the cadence of God’s only son

Yeshua , Hallelujah glory to ya, Lion of Judea

Come on and glorify the Lord with me like you’ve never done

Let us exalt his name together son

Yeshua, Jesus, the ancient of days

Yeshua, Jesus, the ancient of days

Yeshua, Jesus, the ancient of days

The way the truth the life Yahweh

Son of God son of David the Son of Man

Son of God son of David the Son of Man

Son of God son of David the Son of Man

The good the shepherd the word and that I AM

Bread of life, Adonai, Holy and divine

Bread of life, Adonai, Holy and divine

Bread of life, Adonai, Holy and divine

Lily of the valley, Root of Jesse, the vine

Consuming fire love the first and the last

Consuming fire love the first and the last

Consuming fire love the first and the last

The Lamb of God that was slain on our behalf

Yeshua, Hallelujah, Glory to ya

A Week Of Poetry: Day 6

Today is the second to last day of a week of poetry and we can thank Nicky MacKain and Fabiana Laplante for there lyrical rhymes and reasons.


Untitled
By Nicky MacKain

A sore mind and weak knees,
Torn jeans and dirty white T's,
A thousand cries and desperate pleas,
Temptation deceptive like the cool breeze,
Satan beginning his deadly squeeze,
This is when my Faith walk tends to freeze,
Gaps in my Faith looking like swiss cheese,
My Spiritual breath turns into a wheeze,
I'm desparately in need of a Savior who frees,
He can turn my life around 180 degrees!

Started life off and went the wrong way,
Venturing so far astray,
My Faith began to sway,
My progress would delay,
Black and white, but I was caught in the gray,
Trying to identify the demons I needed to slay,
But then this Man took all my worries away,
He paid a price I could never pay,
He turned my dark life into the brightest day,
He is my Coach and I execute His play!

So often I tend to backslide,
And its always due to my pride,
That arrogance is hard to hide,
I know the rules in which to abide,
But I often don't treat Jesus like my Bride,
Life has been overwhelming and I cried,
Waking up hoping my sinful nature died,
But that idea got fried,
Its not that easy of a ride,
You need strong Christians in which to confide,
But when you put it all aside,
What happens when God and pride,
Ultimately collide?
Guess who ends up face down with arms open wide?

God marked my life like a stain,
Sending my old life down the drain,
The old habits that brought all the pain,
At the Hand of the Father will all be slain,
Its been a wild ride ever since I boarded this train,
The things I've seen are radically insane,
It messes with my brain,
How Christ will always sustain,
His Love that will forever remain,
Pumping through my every vein,
Washing me clean like a delicate rain,
Tearing me free from sin's bondage chain,
My King will return like a lion with it's mane,
And I am forever His servant, Nicky MacKain!!



Untitled
By Fabiana Laplante

Stop being afraid to break!
We hit the brakes
whenever we get
too close to the truth,

Knowing when we hear it
we will break -
Break down the veil that has
for long covered our eyes

Once the truth pierces our world
like a needle to a helium-filled balloon
Life as we know it explodes before
our very eyes.

We're afraid to shatter like glass
so we stay stiff like rigor mortis
But no need for an autopsy
because the cause of death is sin.

We lose touch of reality
until something breaks
and then our whole world
starts crumbling down.

There is a God and
He came into our mess
and did not hesitate
to be broken for us,

His words echoed
"This is my body
that has been made
broken for you."
Don't be afraid to be broken!

A Week Of Poetry: Day 5

Today we have a pair of current translations from Gil Scott's famous poem The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. I hope you enjoy!


The revolution will not be televised (2010)
By Brian Sanders
adapted from the original Poem by Gil Scott.

You will not be able to stay home, brother.
You will not be able to plug in, turn on, log on and cop out.
You will not be able to TiVo, Netflix, Hulu it,
Because the revolution will not be televised.

The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will not be brought to you by Cialis or lipator.
In high definition or in 4 parts without commercial interruptions.
The revolution will not be tweeted, facebooked or blogged about.
it will not be commented on by Rush Limbaugh or John Stewart.

The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will not be aired on Fox or MSNBC
The revolution will not be syndicated or copyrighted.
The revolution will not give you sex appeal.
The revolution will not get rid of bad breath or germs that cause them.
The revolution will not make you look five pounds thinner,
because the revolution will not be televised, Brother.

And it will not be made into a movie by Michael Moore, or starring Kirk Cameron.
The story will not be written by Max Lucado or Philip Yancy.
The revolution will not be on TBN or CBN, because the revolution will not be televised.
It will not promise you 10,100 or 1000 fold for your love offering to this ministry,
the revolution costs you everything.
The revolution will not be wearing skinny jeans or graphic tees.
It will not be hip hop or hipster.
The revolution will not be on a home page, or the blogoshere, or your facebook wall.
It will not be available on itunes or for download anywhere.
It will not be open source, or linex based.
You will not be able to comment on the revolution,
there will be no user names, or logins.

Jersey Shore, Glee and Finding out who is the next American Idol
will no longer be so damned culturally relevant,
and no one will care who is dancing with the stars or
who is smarter than a fifth grader,
because the poor will be in the street looking for a brighter day.
The revolution will not be televised.
There will be no highlights on the eleven o'clock news
and no pictures of celebrities, or corporate moguls on the red carpet.
The revolution will not be on the cover of rolling stone, relevant, or charisma magazine.

It will not be on Mark Driscol’s podcast, or Rob Bell’s next speaking tour.
The revolution will not be sold in Christian Book Stores.
The revolution will not have a logo, a brand or a flash mob.
The revolution will be interactive, but not in a virtual world.
The revolution will not be texted or made into an app for your phone.
The revolution will not be available for iphone, android or blackberry.

Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg will not be leading the revolution.
The theme song will not be sung by Coldplay, Kanye West or the Black Eyed Peas.
The revolution will not be right back
after a message from any sponsor.
The revolution will not be televised,
The revolution will be no re-run brothers;
The revolution will be live.




Revolutionize The World
By Ryan Davis

You can't stay home sister
You can't talk the talk, if you aren't gonna walk the walk brother
Raising awareness will not work
Music videos starring Scarlett Johanesson, The Roots and John Legend will not work
You have to leave the comfort of your home

The world will not be revolutionized
The world will not be revolutionized by rich celebrities adopting African babies, collecting them like trophies
The world will not be revolutionized by going green, recycling, or picket signing
U2's next cd will not revolutionize the world

Donating a dollar to feed a starving kid in Africa will not revolutionize the world
Oprah can build as many schools as she wants in Africa, she still won't revolutionize the world
Watching Blood Diamond, Hotel Rwanda and Crash will not revolutionize the world

Electing the first black president will not revolutionize the world
Taking the "N" word out of Huck Finn will not revolutionize the world
Fox News will not revolutionize the world
Dr. Cornell West speaking at your esteemed college will not revolutionize the world
Random acts of kindness will not revolutionize the world

The world will not be revolutionized by dropping bombs in Iran, splitting atoms in Japan or by burning the Koran
Invading countries for oil(ahem) I mean for weapons of mass destruction will not revolutionize the world
Contrary to popular belief legalizing weed will not revolutionize the world
The Iphone 4 will not revolutionize the world

Fox News will not report on revolutionizing the world

The Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, The Cranberries, The Beatles play-list on your iPod will not revolutionize the world
"Revolutionize The World" will not be the next hit Black Eye Peas song
The Fugees, The Smith's, Little Brother, A Tribe Called Quest getting back together will not revolutionize the world

Go sit in a corner with John Mayer if you are just waiting on the world to change

Listening to National Public Radio will not revolutionize the world
Snookie, 16 and pregnant and the next winner of American Idol will DEF not revolutionize the world
Politics and politicians playing mind tricks will not revolutionize the world
Voting for people who have hidden agendas will not revolutionize the world


Talking about revolutionizing the world will not revolutionize the world.....
There is only one person who can revolutionize the world and his name is Jesus
If all these things can't revolutionize the world, then obviously something is missing
It's messed up when Gahndi says he likes our Jesus, but not his christians
and we wonder why people hate organized religion
We and I mean we as in Christians can revolutionize the world
We have the manual
All we gotta do is follow Emmanuel.


R.I.P. Gil Scott Heron

A Week Of Poetry: Day 4

On day four we have a special poetic story that should make you smile and realize that there has always been only one true love. 

Revelation 12:12

(“Therefore Rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth

and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury,

because he knows that his time is short.”)

By Camara Bensinger

Once
upon a time,
Darkness draped over the dawn,
Shrinking a relentless light into grey shadows.
A wicked prince peddled promises
To carry out his hastened plan,
For he knew that the triumph of his time would be short.
“I will begin with wo-man.”
he whispered a wounding whirl
Of lies
Into the ears of every girl.

Each one groaned from their emptiness,
“I feel such shame.”
“I will tame the pain
you speak of.
There is no cure
But I can make sure
that the gaping cracks will be further filled for you,
Let me tell you what to do.”
“What must I do?”
The girls cried out.

the prince answered,
“You are too pretty to ignore
But..
I can make you more.
If you would just do one small thing,
All will sing
Your praises.”
False hope was born from each girl’s desperation.

the prince continued in a lullaby,
“Dream my dream
of love, fame, and green.
Don’t you see
what this world has destined you to be?
An alluring apple awaits
for you to have a taste,

If you would just …
Become a disciple of
Sleeping Beauty.
Cover yourself in Cover Girl,
Drink this lipstick,
Let yourself trip
over a taste for testosterone.
Search high and low
and kiss every passing toad.
I will give you your dream abode.

I will make your worth surpass the finest gems,
If you would just obey
and sing along to my loving hymns…
Your home will have perfect, picketed
white fence, with a lawn
as neatly manicured as nails.
There can only be happy trails…
If you just follow me.

One by one,
The prince’s listeners fell into the pits of fallacy.
It began to feel like their home.
Propelled by the prince’s
mounting promises and fading gifts,
the girls ignored the emptiness
that always returned
when the satisfaction of each gift expired.
The girls obeyed without question.
They found his words
to be pretty and plausible.

Relentless in repeating
Youthful charades that the prince had ordered,
The girls danced through their years,
Singing along to the lullabies
of the prince’s lies.

But when the prince’s time met its end,
the rightful heir claimed His throne.
The sunlight of the imprisoned dawn seized the darkness.
As the true King’s blood was shed,
the prince, who once reigned, fled.
The powerful prince had lost.
And Hope carved and shaped itself into a Cross.

The King spoke tenderly to His battered Kingdom
“I am the LORD.”
I do not speak in seductive soliloquies or rotting riddles,
I tell you the truth,
I speak the Word of freedom- My breath busts through
the tightly bonded atoms of iron shackles,
Freeing you from the prison
You purchased with the earnings of your sin.

I am the LORD.
Yesterday yells to beckon you back
to your graveyard.
Like Lazarus, called out of his tomb,
I rescued you,
summoning you out
of the unrequited ruins
You resided in- yet still cling to.
You once were an orphan,
a mere tourist of My Kingdom, but
I do not settle for less than your full adoption.

I am the LORD.
I stopped the stones
pegged toward your path,
just as I did for Mary Magdalene.
Remember My beloved Samaritan.
I lured you out of loneliness,
away from the taunted water of your well,
into my arms- holding you more gently
than prince and man.

I am the LORD.
I formed the mouth of your spirit to devour
My living water.
I draped your faultless hair as a cooling curtain
for your hand made head.
I smeared My choice of colors atop your flesh.
I synced the sound of your voice to My liking.
I stretched the width
of your waist to Perfection.
You are a matchless beauty,
who wallows over the enticement
of unneeded revision and alteration.
As the perfect potter, I molded man
Without rough draft and error.
I am the LORD.

I clothed your shame, counseled its origin,
and courted its restoration.
I awakened your true self to see
that it was I who wrapped you up in wonder,
sealed you in safety,
and addressed you to Myself.
I am the love story you have waited for.
I am the LORD.”

A Week Of Poetry: Day 3

On day three we are blessed to read the powerful writings of Tammy Charles and Brianna Ebanks.


My Heart’s Cry
By Tammy Charles

My heart’s cry moans and echoes through the mountains of brutality
Pain stricken by the sorrow of sin’s agony
Left empty by the world’s definition of the best life

Empty hearts shattered by emptied minds
Filled with lies and deceit
Unwavering yet life taking
Souls falling from the hand of their Creator
Indulged in the lies of His deceptive so called imitator
Never duplicated, yet deceptively imitated and reiterated
It’s complicated, well we make it complicated
The gift of life sent to erased the turmoil of death’s grip
Yet the father of lies sends his deceit in a gold colored box
Fill with the things that charm the human imagination
Things that leaves them with short term satisfaction
And an eternity in misery and despair
People beware!
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side
The truth in this Great Master has caused a Great Divide
As we hope and pray that calamity will subside
But only in God Almighty can we only confide

Salvation is an open heart away
A gift so remarkable will leave you in dismay
Yet take you away from disarray
Such an immeasurable gift for One to pay

The truth sets you free
If you believe you will agree
That joy comes from the Father
Who only yearns to fellowship with His sons and daughters

My heart cries through the sea of animosity
Pain stricken by sin’s agony
Left wondering when humanity will see
That the resolution is in the hands of the Almighty

Treaties and wars won’t solve the problem
“if my people will seek My face then I will solve em”
The solution is at the palms of His hands
Why is it taking so long to understand?!

His Spirit is ever willing to enter through every door that will accept
I imagine freedom as I recollect
A joy so full inexperienced by too many
Because what man search for is in a place there’s hardly any

My heart’s cry is to see man surrender to the will of the Father
Pain stricken by sin’s agony
Left empty by the world’s definition of the best life
Why not surrender to the One who GAVE life?




Origin
By Brianna Ebanks

trying my best to make You the King
fasting and praying to be stripped of the dirt
seeing you delivering me, I shout with glee
yet, i see others struggling with the same thing, and wondering if freedom is really meant for me.
the lies spread like wild fire, and tell us we are destined for slavery and chains of despair
yet, i buckle my boots and refuse to back down, because I know my Destiny, and its Liberty in the Truth.
I grab my sword, and put on my armor for I fight and ward of spirits like flies after the rain.
I never back down, I never give up for the person I'm fighting for is much greater than any happiness this world has to offer
I keep my heads to the heavens, and ask His spirit to motivate me to fight, to fight for His glory, for the manifestation of His power
I get discouraged, knocked down, bruised, and walked over.
But He picks me up, washes my feet, and sends me out again.

I am chosen, I am prized, I am priceless.

I belong to the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, Provider.
I belong to my Husband, my Bridegroom, forever in covenant with me.
I belong to my Father, who enjoys and disciplines His daughter to love and make her grow.
I belong to my Friend, who is there 24/7
I belong to my Leader, who guides me in the valley and the mountain.
I belong to my Co-heir, who rules the heavens and earth.
I belong to His Kingdom, forever redeemed to do His will, to fulfill the Great Comission.

I belong to Jesus, the only Way to Life, the only Hope to this world. I belong to the Truth.

Who do you belong to?

A Week Of Poetry: Day 2

Today we can thank Tomy and Anisha for there brilliant work...


Untitled
Tomy Wilkerson

Foam from the surge lulls the sand
where my sword and helmet lie, glimmering
in the sun while Egrets search for thermals
to help them soar. Creatures, both mythic
and majestic, encircle me, waiting for my departure
knowing the King is waiting for me to arrive.
Perhaps, I should’ve prepared more for this moment.

Because I believe in Aslan’s Country and shades
of white so pure they’re blue and air so fragrant
you can taste it, but I am still afraid to approach
the stagnant wave, the resounding wall,
knowing Paul, Augustine, and Galileo await me
with seraphim and cherubim circling overhead.

And the very thought of God is enough to kill me again,
so overwhelmed with wonder I just might die,
so awe-stricken I’m forgetting to breathe, I am too big
for my body.

At the flaming bronze feet of the Father,
a mother dances with her daughter,
crying tears of exaltation and worship.
I think I hear her now.




FAITH
Anisha Cheryl Vashti Russell

Faith.
Faith is love.
Faith can be limitless.
Faith doesn’t have to be blind.
Faith can actually make us human.
Faith can see not just what is but can be.
Faith is trusting when there is no reason to.
Faith can make the blind see and the faint run.
Faith can make ordinary people do extraordinary things.
Faith requires the mind just as much as it requires the heart.
Faith is hoping in what we do not know and being certain of what we do not see. Faith is the understanding of powers and beings beyond human grasp. Faith is starting something you are not quite sure you can finish. Faith can be with reason. When it is blind, it is no longer faith. Faith is knowledge that has past the reach of tangible proof.
Faith is believing in what is perceived to be the unknown.
Faith in tiny tasks make us believe in the impossible.
Faith is inspiration, and always has been.
Faith is direction in a directionless world.
Faith in Jesus is unquenchable power.
Faith can be a resounding song.
Faith is the beginning of living.
Faith requires courage.
Faith is love.
Faith.

A Week Of Poetry: Day 1

Today is the first day of a week of poetry. You can check here everyday for one or two pieces that people have written. These pieces are peoples expression of the love of God and the things he does to and through us, by written word. I hope you enjoy this week.

Cracked

Listen to me breathe as I breathe with the buildings
Breathe in the poverty
Let the truth sink in
Listen to me breath, listen to me breath, listen and just breath,
Breath with the buildings

So look at at that man cracked like the buildin’s
He Fallin’ hard like a tsunami hit ceiling
I fought to fight it but the funk of the streets brought that feelin
Of the man being cracked like the cracks of the buildin’
He grew up like me between four walls of a buildin’
But he now sleeps outside where cracks come by the millions
Feelins ain’t feelin’ they failin’ and Im flunkin’
Out of what I was schooled to know—old education been dumped and
I was following a Jesus neva walkin’ I was a runnin’…
Selfish ambition had me skippin’ and a jumpin’.
(ain’t that somethin’)
The kingdom’s comin’ in the form of cracked buildings
These are cracked souls that are left for some mending
But not until they are emptied and God does the filling
And they can see Jesus in the cracked man and love in cracked buildings
Not until the sovereign Lord beats the hard heart to soft feelings
And captives are proclaimed free…and released from dark prisons
Crowns of beauty sweeps ashes into the pasts madness
While gladness escorts mourning into my God’s glasses
And he drinks the burdens of despair and sadness
Splendor is displayed like the healing of leper’s rashes
Cracked men become souls saved—no more crashes…
No more crashin into the emotions of the man like cracked buildins
Because there is a God in this life made hard
But life made cracks can be spiritually filled in

Listen to me breathe as I breathe with the buildings
Breathe in the poverty
Let the truth sink in
Listen to me breathe, listen to me breathe, listen and just breathe,
Breathe with the buildings

-Brad Everett

Worship: Defined

Tammy Charles teaches us that worship isn't just defined by how we sing and dance when the band is playing but challenges us as christians to worship God in everything we do...


The true meaning of worship is one of the most overlooked aspects of our walk with Christ, yet is one of the most important ways in which we honor and reverence God. Most of us who attend church services, conferences, etc. view worship as a part of the musical portion of the service. We entitle this portion “Praise and Worship”, where we sing songs such as “Oh How He Loves Us”, or “Here I am to Worship” to name a few. The piano, the guitar, the singers, all the elements of what we have called “worship” is one of the biggest misconceptions in the church. I must admit it, I am also guilty of incorrectly defining worship. Because this is just a GLIMPSE of what true worship is.

In John 4:24, Jesus answered to one woman saying that those who worship God must worship Him in “Spirit and in Truth”. What kind of worship is Jesus referring to? Worshipping God “In Spirit and in Truth” means that we must worship Him according to what is said in the scripture. Therefore, adding our own ways of worshipping God may not be acceptable, and at the end of the day if God does not see what we may be doing as worship then we need to be aware of that because it is Him whom we want to please, not ourselves. Even if we may feel that our “worship” is good to us, it would not make any difference if it is not honoring God.  Also, worshipping God must be in the Spirit. This is very, very important. Because true worship is pure, holy, spiritual worship, one that comes from the heart and not just from the lips. Matthew 15: 8-9, Jesus says “These people draw near to Me with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me”. Therefore singing alone or praising God with our mouths is not worship, if our hearts are not in it.

One the most important components of worship that is rarely mentioned in our church today is worship being a lifestyle. Our lives are total worship. My pastor said something powerful one sermon; “when worship begins, it never ends”. From when we wake up in the morning, to sleeping, working, having dinner, the decisions we make, the conversations we have with others, what we watch on television, what music we listen to, etc. all constitute ways of how we ought to worship God. Now  if we look at it that way, that should stir up some thoughts in our heads and make us wonder, wow, what have I done today that was worship to God. When somebody treated me rudely, did I not lash back and confront them with respect? If yes, that was worship to God. When I had a conversation with my unsaved co-workers, did I share with them the love of Jesus Christ? If yes, that is worship. Here is a good one, when I ate lunch today did I decide to eat a healthy salad and drink juice instead of eating a greasy burger and drinking soda. Yes! That is worship. When we take care of our bodies we are showing God that we honor His creation. Deciding to stay a virgin until marriage is worship. Trusting in God in difficult times as well, these all constitute as worship.

Also, very importantly, music cannot produce worship.  The origin of worship is not music. Rather music is just another form of expressing our love and adoration to God. We must be very careful not to confine what we believe worship is within the walls of the church because that is not the case at all.  

So why do we worship? Why is it so important? Not only is this question important to ask, but the answer to it should be our motivation to why we present our daily lives to God as worship. God is a merciful, graceful God, whose attributes are holy, loving, just, and so much more. Just for who He is alone should motivate us to want to exalt Him and love Him in everything we do.  When we worship God in Spirit and in Truth we seek Him through His Word and continually renew our minds and allow His Word to transform us. We sacrifice ourselves and live our lives not as if it were our own but the Lord’s (See: Romans 12:1-2). We worship God because He is deserving of our lives because He sacrificed His own for us (John 3:16). Therefore, living a life sanctified and set apart from the world, a life holy and acceptable to God is what is defined as true worship.

Therefore, the next time we think about worshipping God, we should think about what we are doing now at this very moment and continuously after that. Reading this blog is worship. Why? Because you are investing the time in learning more about God through this literature. The comments you write can be worship, if written from the heart and if it reverences God. The more and more we think of our lives as worship, the more it compels us to live obediently for God.

Tammy Charles 

Tammy Charles is the new leader of Black Campus Ministries at the University Of Tampa and for a long time was a leader in her gospel choir. Her heart has been molded and shaped to show the African American community the love of Jesus. Her passion and need to know Jesus in a real intimate and personal way has sprung her into being one of the most influential leaders on the University campus.  

Sources:

http://www.gotquestions.org/true-worship.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/theology-of-worship.html