We Are All Witnesses

Okay so the new Nike ads got my mind rolling with this thought. The add shows Lebron, about to throw down some MJ style dunk, and has wording on it reading “we are all witnesses”. Who would of ever thought Nike could be so right!?!? That statement is so true. We are all witnesses. God made us in the image oh Him, so we have a chance to live out our lives as Jesus did, to be a witness to the world of non-believers, and we mess it up. But that doesn’t change the fact that we are all witnesses. Its weird how a Nike basketball poster can convict you, and be so on point. We are all witnesses. I guess what got me on this topic was thinking about how I have lived/am living my life. Would people know I love Jesus? Does writing a blog about loving Jesus make me a witness? When people talk about me, do they describe me using fruits of the spirit? If I was to be honest, which I will be, I would say that I have been a crappy witness for Jesus. Weather its in my actions, or my lack of action, my passiveness, lack of self control, anger, jealousy, judgement, etc. , I have not been living a life that glorifies God in EVERYTHING I do. Yes I do love Jesus and want to follow Him, and I am very open about that. But like in my last post, when people talk about me, I have to believe they talk about what they see and what they hear in me. We are all witnesses.

” “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”-Isaiah 43:10

” You are witnesses of these things.”-Luke 24:48

“You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.”- 1 Thessalonians 2:10

Jesus For President

Ok so last night I got a chance to go see Shane Claiborne speak at the “Jesus For President” tour and it was totally different than I expected, but not necessarily in a bad way ya know. So instead of just Shane speaking, it was more of a conversation and has this 2-man band band in the background playing at specified times to drive points home. This band was pretty cool because it was one guy, the “drummer” who looked like the undertaker from wwf playin a bass drum, a jembe’ (spelling?) and a ramdom assortment of tabarines and such, while doing vocals (this guy had the sweetest voice, super deep and scratchy, kind of like something you’d hear in a petey pablo song) and then you had the other guy always playing some kind of stringed instrument weather be a banjo or a violin type thing and doing vocals which somehow did not tear his esofogus in half. Amazing voice, very distint. They sang songs like none other, really just tellin’ it how it is when it comes to just glorifying Jesus in the way He deserves it, which is with our all. Shane and another guy would basically tell the entire story of Jesus and the early church, really hitting on the political side of things which for me didnt do much because I’m not really intested in politics. However, one thing Shane said, really really struck me. He said, “When people would come to Jesus or a Christian, and asks about our faith, we should not boast or go talk about how we are Christian or Christ Followers or great people, as to shove it down their throats, but to ask, ‘what do you see in me?’ What is it in our lives that show the love of Jesus and the fruits of the spirit?” That really got me thinking, because I’m not sure if everyone that has come in contact with me would know where I stand or want what I have because those fruits of the spirit are not pouring out of me. So last night was good over all, different but good and I would definitley reccommend the book, “Irresistable Revolution” by Shane Claiborne. Its a challenge to us as Christians and non-Christians to live like Jesus did, in our areas of our life, to love unconditionally and hate less and less. sorry this is so much in a big jumble..

holla

-Bhavs

Does Anybody Hear Her?

Ok so pretty much songs are what do it for me usually. Today the song that got me thinkin was “Does anybody hear her” by Casting Crowns. First off, amazing song! I’ll attach it at the end of this. The words/video really hit some good points. The entrie theme of the song, as you could tell by the title, is can people hear the non-believer? The lyrics speak about a girl running 100mph in the wrong direction. Then it sings about how she waits on prince charming, “finds” him and in a “momentary lapse of reason gives herself away.” Then as it continues it hits the points of her being unsatisifed, and feels like she wont be accepted by the church. The song refers to “judgement under every steeple.” As Christ followers I think it is so easy to write off the non-beliver, not give them a chance, judge them, turn our backs on them and give them no hope in the God we love so much. The reason I can say these things is because I am so guilty of this. As a Christian, it is so easy to hold your head up higher than non-Christians because we know Jesus. The truth is, we are all in the same, sad, broken state and we ALL need Jesus. So why do are we so quick to judge and hate a non-believing world? As a Christian, I am called to follow Jesus and model the example He has set for me. Heres the amazing part, Jesus loved, cared, healed, wept, performed miracles, and died FOR THE NON-BELIEVER SO THAT THEY WOULD BELIEVE. If we can’t do any of those things, how do we expect people to want to know Jesus? If we are judgemental, hateul, unkind and have this “better than you” attitude, no one would want what we have. So this song was convicting in many different ways because I am one of those people who turns their back and doesnt care sometimes, and for that I am sorry. So ya, just wanted to spit some thoughts out that were on my mind, now back to studying for my anatomy quiz tomorrow, yikes.

holla

-Bhavs

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”-James 1:19

Youtubing at work, Came across this vid

Hey Everyone. Okay as I was at work today I was facebooking/Youtubing instead of studying because I have super bad A.d.D and well this video came as a result of it.  This video is challenging.  Its convicting but encouraging.  I guess before you watch I want to ask you one question, “would you be willing to stand up for God no matter what?  Or even to believe in Him if you dont?”  I’ll let the video do its thing here, hope ya’ll enjoy!  Peacee!

 

-Bhavs

 

” I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” -Romans 1:16

 

 

 

 

Anatomy: The suckfest continues

So ya, you know that new leaf I turned over about my attitude towards school? I still have it and will continue to work hard, but today was a pretty big discouragement when I got my anatomy lecture exam back. A fifty freaking nine. a 59! reallllllllyyyyyyyy….geez man i studying my balls of for this exam, especially compared to the last one (in which I got a 60) and I did worse. Does that not make sense to anybody else. I even felt confident leaving the exam. The multiple choice killed me and the short answer/fill-in-the-blank didnt exactly boost my grade. Anyways, that leaves my grade at a solid 68, almost a C. I would want a C and all but lets be serious, i could use the B and want to work for an A, which is officially out of the window now. Anyways just thought I’d let this one go to God, and keep praying for a work ethic to finish stronger than I started. Lab quiz on thurs, lab pratical on tuesday and another lecture exam that thursday, then hopefully I can escape to the beach that weekend for the 4th and not have to worry about this stuff.

holla

-Bhavs

This verse pretty much puts me in my place today though:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”-John 16:33

Matt Wertz Show: AMAZING

So last night I got a chance to go see Matt Wertz do an acoustic set at the Jammin’ Java in Virginia. Needless to say the show rocked. Matt played most of his hits and a couple new songs of his thrown in. He has a new album coming out mid to late august, and based on what I heard last night it should be pretty baller status. Playing with Matt was a guy names Justin Rosolino (video below) and wow that man can rock on the acoustic guitar. He was playing a electric acoustic Taylor and just absolutely lit up that coffee house. Along with the concert Matt addressed the Mocha Club. He and Dave Barnes are big supporters of this and what it is, is a “club” online basically where people can give ($7 a month) and it goes to help many different causes in Africa. The “mocha” part is that in the US, 2 mochawhatevers cost around 7 bucks. So you give per month what you would spend on 2 mochas and give it to Africa. Things being improved are water borne disease, hunger/starvation, malaria and so much more. Check out mochaclub.org and see whats going on and get involved! thats all i got, show was amazing, i recommend seeing Matt in concert whenever you get a chance. Below is a video of Justin and a picture of Matt from last night…

holla

-Bhavs

Book Review: Boy Meets Girl

So I’ve been reading this book lately (about a month) and was able to finish it last night. The book is Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris. First off, GREAT BOOK. There are definitely parts I could relate to, but also things he has to say that went way over my head. There are some books after reading I would either recommend or say don’t bother. This book, a MUST READ. The way Joshua goes about taking about everything from relationships (he calls them courtships, don’t be thrown off by that old school term) to life, really is relateable to everything we deal with today. The book is centered on relationships (the name pretty much gives that away) but some of the things he addresses really steps outside of that box. This is one thing he said that really rocked my world, which he took from his pastor,

“Your greatest need is not a spouse. Your greatest need is to be delivered from the wrath of God-and that has already been accomplished for you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So why doubt that God will provide a much, much lesser need? Trust His sovereignty, trust His wisdom, trust His love.”

Wow! Yea he is so dead on with this statement. So that pretty much sums up the basic message of his book, but the book also does a very good job of guidelining a healthy, God-centered, dating relatiionship. A very good book and if you have a chance pick it up and read it!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6

holla

-Bhavs

also, this song called “lookin’ for love” by LeCrae is a pretty sick addition to this post as well.

lazyiness

ok so heres whats up for the time being. This is really applicable to my life right now. I think a good, true, work ethic is hard to come by. Weather it be sports, work, job, relationships, i feel that we live in a world of true laziness. Not because all of us are lazy necessarily, but because thats the way the world has deemed acceptable. Showing up late, skipping out on reading, procrastinating, etc. I feel like I have really caught the lazy bug in my life. It seems like my work ethic is non existent. I can’t seem to motivate myself to get things done, and it feels pretty crappy. This summer for instance, I’m taking anatomy and its really kicking my butt. I am already struggling to get a C in the class, which is what I need, but it’d be nice to do better. My whole attitude was the problem though. It was a “aim for a C” rather than “work for an A you panzy” attitude which is what I have started picking up lately, after doing less than great on the 1st lecture exam and 1st lab practical. So ya..bottom line-attitude really does make the difference. I’m sure this wont be the first time I write about this class, so check in.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”-Ephesians 4:22-24

“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”-Proverbs 10:4

first blog

I’m new to the whole blogging thing. I guess my heart behind this is to get down thoughts that run through my head constantly, but more because i would hope that people that read are encouraged or entertained by what i post. i guess we’ll see how this goes…

-Bhavs