This is a great piece from Jefferson Bethke called Counterfeit Gods.
It has a lot of conviction
It has a lot of conviction
Friday, March 29, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
My Favorite Apps
Since apps were introduced, I've gone through my fair share. I've gone through my fair share of phones and laptops too lol. You could say every app that I've downloaded has fallen into 3 categories, used a little and uninstalled, used sporadically like my app that shows the lowest gas prices, and daily use. But these are the top 3 that add the most value to my life and push me towards Christ.
Google Reader lets you group all the blogs you follow together to see all their posts at the same time without having to go to each individual website. I follow many blogs, mostly faith based and some personal finance ones. It's great that I can read them on the go, or quickly see who's updated. A new feature I've discovered is that you can get the app to read you posts audibly. It's pretty neat, but it says Jesus's name with the Spanish pronunciation lol.
3/29/13 Update: Of course right after I posted this Google announced that it was taking down Google Reader July 1. So far I've been trying out Feebly as an alternative. Feebly syncs all feeds from Google Reader.
This is a Bible app. You can download different versions of the Bible to read offline when you're not getting a good signal. I currently read the New International Version most of the time. You can bookmark scriptures of the same topic together for easy reference. There's also devotionals and reading plans you can complete. I read the whole bible in 2011 with a reading plan.
Whenever technology and music meet, I'm in my happy place. Spotify is a virtual streaming collection of almost every song ever made. You can make your own playlists and even listen to them offline. Once I stopped listening to secular music, this was the perfect place to find new favorite songs and artists. I like it better than Pandora because I can pick exactly what I want to listen to.
I don't use Stitcher that much anymore, but it's great if you listen to podcasts a lot. In a nutshell, it's like Google Reader for podcasts.
Google Reader (gReader)
Google Reader lets you group all the blogs you follow together to see all their posts at the same time without having to go to each individual website. I follow many blogs, mostly faith based and some personal finance ones. It's great that I can read them on the go, or quickly see who's updated. A new feature I've discovered is that you can get the app to read you posts audibly. It's pretty neat, but it says Jesus's name with the Spanish pronunciation lol.
3/29/13 Update: Of course right after I posted this Google announced that it was taking down Google Reader July 1. So far I've been trying out Feebly as an alternative. Feebly syncs all feeds from Google Reader.
You Version
This is a Bible app. You can download different versions of the Bible to read offline when you're not getting a good signal. I currently read the New International Version most of the time. You can bookmark scriptures of the same topic together for easy reference. There's also devotionals and reading plans you can complete. I read the whole bible in 2011 with a reading plan.
Spotify
Whenever technology and music meet, I'm in my happy place. Spotify is a virtual streaming collection of almost every song ever made. You can make your own playlists and even listen to them offline. Once I stopped listening to secular music, this was the perfect place to find new favorite songs and artists. I like it better than Pandora because I can pick exactly what I want to listen to.
Honorable Mention
Stitcher
I don't use Stitcher that much anymore, but it's great if you listen to podcasts a lot. In a nutshell, it's like Google Reader for podcasts.
Friday, March 8, 2013
What Does Being a Christian Mean (To You) ?
There is a difference between asking someone what being a Christian means, and what being a Christian means to them personally. It's just like the difference between reading about God in the Bible and knowing God. Most people will say that being a Christian means you are saved by grace though faith. They usually reference Romans 10:9. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. This is true, but even demons know Jesus was raised on the third day. America claims to be a Christian nation, but our actions speak louder than words. Our culture is entertained by what God hates. In turn, it seems like shows compete to be the most sinful, with names such as "Scandal" and "Deception" to get our ever changing attention. Secular music artists try to be the most provocative, and so on. But as the Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. For example, Romans used murder to entertain and pacify the crowds via gladiators (sound familiar Scandal fans?).
This desensitizes us to sin, and make us think it's ok to be worldly, God loves me no matter what. That is true, but once you confess to be a Christian, you are saying you are new creation. You are saying, "I am putting to death the old me that found pleasure in sin though intimacy with my Creator". This comes through spending time with God, though prayer and reading the Word. You are called to be holy, simply because God is holy. A doer not merely a hearer of the Word. Seek God - the narrow path that leads to life - with all your heart, like your earthly life and eternity depend on it, because they do.
In fact, we were all created for His glory, but we replaced that with making ourselves our own gods, separating us from Him. Of course, we are nowhere near worthy of such a title. That is why Jesus was sent to Earth to die for our sins, to reconcile us back to Him. To free us from sin and the laws of the old covenant, in which sin could only being atoned, not covered. Because of that we have a relationship with Him. That, in essence, is the Gospel. Why would you want to continue living in a way that caused Him to die for you in the first place?
You are known by your fruit, your deeds. A bad tree can't produce good fruit and a good fruit can't produce bad fruit. Obedience is more important than what you say. The Bible says there are people who prophesy in His name that He never knew, and will not go to Heaven. Jesus said in John 8:51 "I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" This is in reference to spiritual death. The Word will make you want to get to know God deeply. Far beyond the culture's complacency of surface knowledge. To love what He loves, and hate what he hates. A true encounter with Christ will change you, and take you from lukewarm to on fire for Him. Notice I did not say you will be perfect, nor things will be perfect. However you will be on a path of growth and everything will work for your good.
So what is the evidence of your salvation? Does your lifestyle match your words?
What is your greatest influence? As pastor of the Gathering Oasis church Cornelius Lindsay says, "Do you hate the sin you once loved?".
These are questions we must continuously ask ourselves.
If you have time please listen to this sermon by Paul Washer here.
This desensitizes us to sin, and make us think it's ok to be worldly, God loves me no matter what. That is true, but once you confess to be a Christian, you are saying you are new creation. You are saying, "I am putting to death the old me that found pleasure in sin though intimacy with my Creator". This comes through spending time with God, though prayer and reading the Word. You are called to be holy, simply because God is holy. A doer not merely a hearer of the Word. Seek God - the narrow path that leads to life - with all your heart, like your earthly life and eternity depend on it, because they do.
In fact, we were all created for His glory, but we replaced that with making ourselves our own gods, separating us from Him. Of course, we are nowhere near worthy of such a title. That is why Jesus was sent to Earth to die for our sins, to reconcile us back to Him. To free us from sin and the laws of the old covenant, in which sin could only being atoned, not covered. Because of that we have a relationship with Him. That, in essence, is the Gospel. Why would you want to continue living in a way that caused Him to die for you in the first place?
You are known by your fruit, your deeds. A bad tree can't produce good fruit and a good fruit can't produce bad fruit. Obedience is more important than what you say. The Bible says there are people who prophesy in His name that He never knew, and will not go to Heaven. Jesus said in John 8:51 "I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" This is in reference to spiritual death. The Word will make you want to get to know God deeply. Far beyond the culture's complacency of surface knowledge. To love what He loves, and hate what he hates. A true encounter with Christ will change you, and take you from lukewarm to on fire for Him. Notice I did not say you will be perfect, nor things will be perfect. However you will be on a path of growth and everything will work for your good.
So what is the evidence of your salvation? Does your lifestyle match your words?
What is your greatest influence? As pastor of the Gathering Oasis church Cornelius Lindsay says, "Do you hate the sin you once loved?".
These are questions we must continuously ask ourselves.
If you have time please listen to this sermon by Paul Washer here.
Artist Spotlight: Michael Tait
Michael Tait has been the lead singer of the popular Christian band Newsboys since 2009. He was previously was a member of DC Talk group with Toby Mac and Kevin Max. DC Talk won 4 Grammys (Toby Mac won a Grammy for his solo album this year). They all met at Liberty University during their college years. He also has other projects such as contributing to books and solo albums. He taught himself how to play the guitar and has a song with one of my favorite Christian hip hop artists Lecrae called Bring Us Home based on Joshua featuring Blanca Callahan from Group 1 Crew. I would have loved to be in the studio when they recorded that!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Spoken Word - Identity Crisis of a Misfit
"Identity Crisis of a Misfit" by poet Ezekiel is one of my favorite pieces. He is affiliated with the Passion 4 Christ Ministries in California (P4CM). Everytime I listen to it I hear something new.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Lecrae for the Win!
One of my favorite Christian hip hop artists Lecrae, won the Best Gospel Album Grammy recently for his album Gravity. I have listened to it regularly since I pre-ordered the album last year. I also went to the Unashamed tour in Orlando featuring him and other artists of the Reach Records label last October. Since I stopped listening to secular music, I've greatly appreciated their music as it deals with real life issues but still glorifies God and not the rapper or culture. My favorite songs on the album are Power Trip and Gravity.
Artist Spotlight: Propaganda
Propaganda is an artist (graffiti and hip hop) under the Humble Beast label. Like Reach Records, this is a Christian label. The artists under Humble Beast provide a great balance to Reach Records artists, which i might go into more detail in another post. Propaganda is one of the deepest Christian hip hop artist out there. His lyrics are profound and thought provoking. His social consciousness mixed with theology is reflected in his latest album "Excellent". I would have stopped listening to secular music long ago if I knew of artists like him.
New Season
Hi, my name is Bri! I'm a native of Central Florida. I've kept a journal pretty much since I knew how to I write. As an introvert, sometimes I felt more comfortable writing than speaking. I also began to like technology, so when I discovered online blogging it just seemed natural to start one. I kept a blog on blogger since around 2004 but I felt compelled to stop around last year. Since then a lot has happened in my life, which had led me closer to God than I've ever been. I've grown emotionally and spiritually and my writing style has grown as well. So now I am giving blogging another chance. Thanks for joining me on my new journey!
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