The Unfiltered Truth About Christianity

I had the idea to write this post awhile ago. I wanted to write something that explained, for struggling believers and non-believers, what Christianity was really all about. Initially, I planned on putting together a lot of research that helped to prove God’s existence. I was going to attempt to give information to try and dispel some of the popular myths that attempt to stand against the Bible. I actually had a basic outline and was just simply looking for resources. However, while I was doing all this and researching what questions I needed to answer, I started to realize that isn’t what God is all about. God isn’t about facts and proof. He isn’t about information, science, history, logic or reasoning. He is about a relationship. He is about experiences. He is about love. Now, before all the non-believers start to think this is a post where I am admitting that God can’t handle the scrutiny of science, history, logic and reasoning and click the “x” in the corner; I would like to ask that you just read what I have to say with as open a heart and mind as you can muster.

The Unfiltered Truth About Christianity full post

(3465 words, 1 image, estimated 13:52 mins reading time)

Grace For Dahmer

Grace: (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

 

That is how Google defined grace when I typed the word in the search engine. It is a pretty simple definition that is easy to understand. I think if you were to ask most Christians what grace is they would give a similar explanation. Perhaps not as eloquently put, but I think the gist would be the same. However, going beyond citing a definition, we don’t seem to understand it as well in practice: accepting God’s grace, who can receive God’s grace and offering grace to those around us. We speak of an eternal and everlasting grace, but yet we still try to place it in a box that matches what we are comfortable with.

Grace For Dahmer full post

(2511 words, 1 image, estimated 10:03 mins reading time)

Thanksgiving: I Thank God For Evergreens!

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Thanksgiving is nearly here, and it would seem the cold weather has finally decided to move in, at least here in Tennessee. Just the other day, I was standing outside watching a large tree as it was raining its leaves down on the ground. It wasn’t particularly windy, and I was just standing there, watching, as the colorless leaves broke away from the tree that once gave them life. Initially, I was just standing there enjoying the autumn scenery, but as I watched what must have been 100 leaves fall from this tree in a very short amount of time, the image began to take on a new meaning.  Suddenly, instead of leaves falling away from a tree, I started to see “believers” falling away from God. People disconnecting from their life source and were now simply falling to the ground. I knew that the thought didn’t come from me, because that just isn’t really the way that my mind typically works, but nonetheless, here I was staring at a tree and thinking about how so many people were falling away from their Lord and Savior.

Thanksgiving: I Thank God For Evergreens! full post

(1331 words, 1 image, estimated 5:19 mins reading time)

To My Boys: …”You Will Have Trouble. But Take Heart…”

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Dear God,

I’ve been lost in the darkness, and blinded by light;

I’ve stood in your presence, but now you’re no where in sight;

You gave me the strength of thousands, but now I’m losing the fight;

I thought I was winning, I thought I was running your race;

Now I’m so broken, all that I see is disgrace;

I’m tired and weary, can’t keep up this pace;

I listen at night, hoping to hear you call out;

But all I hear is nothing…just nothing, not even a sound;

To My Boys: …”You Will Have Trouble. But Take Heart…” full post

(1729 words, 1 image, estimated 6:55 mins reading time)

Why?

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God I’m calling out to you from the darkness where I hide

But I’m not speaking of Your glories, I’m simply asking “Why?”

I’ve been begging for a miracle or at least for a reprieve

These pressures keep on mounting I need a reason to believe

So why haven’t you answered when I’ve been praying for so long

Haven’t I been patient? Am I being punished? Did I do something wrong?

Maybe I wasn’t loud enough and you just didn’t hear?

I’ll just scream it HEY LOOK I’M WAITING I’M STANDING RIGHT HERE!

Why? full post

(489 words, 1 image, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Is God Just Lazy? Why Must I Serve The All-Mighty?

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That probably isn’t a question that you would ask in church. It might not even be a question you would dare to speak out loud. Seriously though, why does God need me to serve Him? I mean He is an infinite being that can be all places at one time and can literally speak anything into existence. So what does He need me for? Bill Gates doesn’t walk around asking people to give him a dollar, does he? Why should I have to do something for a God who can so easily do it Himself?

Is God Just Lazy? Why Must I Serve The All-Mighty? full post

(997 words, 1 image, estimated 3:59 mins reading time)

Life Lessons I Learned from Poker

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I have been playing poker with friends since I was 18 and soon found that it was tailored towards some of my natural strengths: Patience, observation, deduction, and logical reasoning. Trying to better learn the game, I started to read books and watch professionals play on TV. I was able to learn it well enough to dominate the games I played with my friends, but never actually tried it in a tougher setting. However, as I have grown into a responsible adult I have learned that I am sometimes able to use the things that I learned at the poker table in everyday situations.

Life Lessons I Learned from Poker full post

(3881 words, 4 images, estimated 15:31 mins reading time)

10 Ways Social Networks are Ruining Your Life!!!

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Let me begin this by telling you that this whole list is just my opinion and in no particular order. I haven’t actually done any research; these are just things that annoy me and make me question the world’s sanity from time to time. You may have a completely different list and you may completely disagree with everything that I write here. That’s fine and I would actually love to hear your opinion. Here are the top 10 ways social networking sites are ruining our lives.

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We don’t enjoy vacations; we just take pictures of new scenery for Facebook.

10 Ways Social Networks are Ruining Your Life!!! full post

(3158 words, 10 images, estimated 12:38 mins reading time)