Why is Faith Hard?

I often ask myself this question. I hear about the joys of the Christian life, and while I do find my deepest and purest joy in Jesus Christ; I find myself struggling many times in my Christian walk. Paul writes about this in Romans 7, the struggle of what we want versus what we do, spirit vs. flesh, law vs. grace, Christ vs. the world in our life. But did not Jesus promise us joy and peace, a life full of abundance and blessings from him, for following him and spreading his word? The truth is that not only did Jesus NOT promise these things, but that we have examples of the apostles and disciples of the early church struggling, dealing with hardship, and dealing with suffering/persecution. I am sure the same question occurred to them and what we have to remember is that we are promised peace and joy, but this flows from Christ and our hope for the future and not some superficial materialism or emotionalism that we might get out of being a Christian today.

The truth is that in our current state we live in a fallen world, it has disease, suffering, crying, tears, pain, hurt, anger, bitterness, and many more things that are the opposite of joy and peace – yet, one day Christ will take all of the sin away – and with that wiping of sin from the world and establishment of his Kingdom; there will be eternal joy and peace, hope fulfilled. In a generation that seeks to have everything faster, whether cars or fast-food, we must remember to be patient and wait on God’s timing. This is not to say that we cannot and will never have joy or peace in life, surely we should seek for these and help others have them, being examples of the kingdom; yet we must realize that our hope is not fulfilled in the present world but in the future perfected world where Christ reigns eternally.

Last, we must begin to truly realize and understand that anything worth having requires work; anything worth having requires struggle, dedication, and commitment. We never expect to just have a million dollars fall into our hands (unless we lack common sense or luckily win the lottery), yet we expect to merely say a prayer of salvation and somehow magically become men and women of God with no work required. I think of those toys that have “no batteries required” stamped on the side and sometimes I think that as the church and as Christians we “package” the gospel with a stamp of the side saying “no faith required.” Another example could be our own relationships, whether friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, fiance, or spouses; do we not rearrange our schedule to be with or even be near these persons? Do not we work hard so that we can go on dates or outings or hang-out with these people? Would we not even sacrifice self for those we love? Yet, somewhere along the line while we believe it is valid to sacrifice for earthly things, to struggle and commit to tangible and temporary things while we nearly offer little or no sacrifice or commitment to Christ and the Kingdom of God at all. Why is our faith so little? Why do we live life confused? Where is the godly struggle in our life? Where is the Kingdom of God in our life, in our hearts? Your Brother in Christ,
 

Traveling this Journey of Faith Alongside,
~ Daniel

Mirror Image

Do you ever feel that who you want to be in Christ and who you actually are in Christ are too different things?? That the image others see from your past or even in the present is an imposter? What keeps us from being closer to God, closer to being the man or woman of God that we could be, yet seem to fall short of in actual life and practice?

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1st Corinthians 13:11-13

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. - James 1:22-24

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. - Romans 7: 15-25

In Christ,
~ Daniel

Spiritually Dry

I guess what is really bothering me right now is the fact that I have not been spending time with God lately. Like I have been feeling so spiritually "dry" this summer but have still not really done anything about it. why not? I do not know, I guess it is selfish nature to desire what I want over what I know I should be doing or what God desires of me. I seriously want to become and be a man of God and yet I find myself far from that image God has given me simply because manytimes i refuse to follow him; sometimes in the little things and every now and then in the bigger things. Urg, what makes us sacrifice God for self when we should be sacrificing self for God, giving him glory and being a true example and light to this world. I pray for myself and for others out there who are feeling spiritually dry to drink deep from the well of God and once again gain that passion for obedience, servant-hood, and sacrifice of self for the larger purpose(s) of God and his kingdom.

Your Brother in Christ,
Daniel

Feeling Better and Learning Still

Just so everyone knows your prayers were and are appreciated! I feel tons better today and God has given me joy in my situation. I didn't expect to feel so much better today, so the prayers offered on my behalf and the ones i had with God last night have comforted me and given me peace. It is nice to have a network online where i can call on my friends to pray for me. I have had such an awesome response(s) through messages of concern and encouragement... and it amazes me how God can work.

some scriptures that have gone through my mind:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins - James 4:17

I, just like anyone else am growing, simply because i am a minister or a teenage Christian does not mean I have everything figured out or that I am all-wise. Sometimes people expect this of me.. and while we are called to be "perfect" and "above reproach", sometimes it doesn't just come all at once but it is a process, a JOURNEY. That is the theme for my youth group and the theme for my life. I want to constantly be growing in my faith, in my walk, in my ministry, and above all I aim to make Christ happy and joyful with me above all things.

When we do evil or wrong by mistake there are consequences, sometimes that consequence is that we learn something about ourself and about the world, about our faith or our church.

The sin comes along when we do not act quickly to rectify the situation or when we take pride in what we want over the unity between members of the church or between people around us. James 4:17 says we sin when we do not do the good we ought to do.. and this is what I try to live by. So be careful in life, in hard times and situations; be wise, ask God for much help in gaining this wisdom, and above all, never forget that Christ is to be the center of our life - it is Christ who defines us. We were "bought with a price" and that is something we need not forget (but sometimes seem too so easily).

Well, those are some lessons and thoughts. God is a great God and sometimes lessons are learned beforehand and afterward, sometimes lessons are learned through reading scripture and prayer, sometimes through good conversation and laughter with others, and sometimes it is learned through conflict. It is what we do in these situations, how we react that show others if we are truly defined by Christ or by something else.

Are you learning from God?
If not, then why?
Are you growing in your faith?
If not, why?

In Christ
For the Glory of God,
Daniel

Real Life Update

Well, I haven't exactly written about my life the last few weeks or month, I don't know. God, seeking God, following God - they are all very important to my life, so many times I have more to say regarding HIM than I do regarding me because I think God deserves much more glory than I do.

The last few weeks have been interesting.. I don't know. Sometimes things are usual and start to seem like this unending pattern that you wish would stop or be interrupted by something or someone. My life thrives on order and organization but there are points where I wish I had someone to hang out with, someone around who was an awesome friend. With one of my best friends married and living an hour away and another who lived in houston and now moving is with his widowed grandmother - Friendship just seems distant to me, I miss those close connections and random jokes. computer games, Tv and movie only go so far. I've been trying to make some new friends, but one can only plant seeds of friendship - it is up to time and interaction to see where those go.

In regard to youth ministry. Things seem to be going pretty good. Our group only has a very small core right now that I am trying to grow.. but it can be hard when the youth come inconsistently, which may be there fault or not - depending on choice, step-familes, jobs, and other things that go on. I really try to emphasize commitment to Christ, obedience and servant-hood. Sometimes I wonder if I am getting through, if God is using me to speak to them; other times I can feel the Spirit working in me. We are reaching the conclusion bible Study this week in Philippians and after some thinking I decided going through the book of Acts would be good, it has many wonderful stories and shows how the gospel message was spread from Jerusalem to Rome, from Jew to Gentile, and Masters to Slaves. Plus, it would start after Easter Sunday, so it would work with the story after the resurrection and accension of Christ.

Besides that a G.A. (Graduate Assistant) position opened up for the fall i am going to apply for, as well as, some R.A. (Resident Assistant) positions for the summer and fall - I hope i can get one for the summer at least so I can stay in abilene and have a second job. If not i pray, and ask your prayers, for some way that I can stay and minister to these youth and continue to grow as a youth minister and a Christian at my church here.

Appreciating your prayers,
In christ,
Daniel

Defined by Christ, Not Sin

Have you ever heard someone say they are an drug-user, an alcoholic, gossiper, liar, abuser, porn-viewer, cheater, adulterer, or the like? Have you heard Christians define themselves in these terms?

What does it mean to have a besetting sin, a secret sin, or any sin at all that reaches its arms and continually tries to grab at us once again? What it means is that we are human, so take a little sigh of relief - but not for to long, because staying complacent, staying in the same place not only does not help us grow in Christ but also only helps to facilitate and fuel the attacks of the evil one, of this world, and even of our flesh.

So, who helps us with these problems? Romans 7:14-27, says that we face two selves, the one who wishes to follow God and the one who doesn't, these two are continually in a battle. Romans 6 speaks of us only being able to serve one master, either God or "not-God." These are our only two choices. With God, if you haven not noticed, there is no in between, in serving God there is no grey areas of life, for we are either serving God for his glory or serving for self, which leads to "vain glory".

Ok ok, so there is this battle waging within us, around us, inside and outside the church between good and evil, flesh and spirit, between being tempted and falling into temptation, between sinning and not sinning. What are we to do? Are we to give up? No. Are we to give in "so that grace may increase"(Romans 6:1). Of course not. Yet, we are also called to be holy, righteous, and set-apart.

What is a Christian to do?

The answer is that there is nothing that we can do in and of ourselves. We cannot rid ourself of theses sins on our own, nor can we ever be completely rid of them in our life. Yet, there is hope! It is the same hope that brought those who believe from death to life, from a trip to hell and now up towards the clouds of heaven - it is Jesus Christ. Yes, in Jesus we find hope to survive just a little longer until this life is past or we meet him in the sky after his return.

So, the answer is Jesus.. great thats a lot of help, right? I'm sure you already knew the bible or sunday school answer; however, did you ever consider the way that you define yourself. Many times when we have problems and difficulties we sort of take them on, we almost develop an identity with a certain problem, sin or with sin itself; we feel that we are chained to this sin, that it will ever be with us and we shall never be free of it. Oh, but Christ has released us from those chains. It is really only an illusion that you are chained, one created by satan to hold you down. While you, while I too, am so concerned with being chained, with not being good enough there is work out there that needs to be done, people who need to hear the name of God. Yet, we are so preoccupied with our own sin, with our own life and self that we are too blind to see it.

We must begin to see something new. We must begin to see that we do not define ourself anymore by the way this world may define us, or even how we would define ourselves - No, we are now bought with a price, we are not our own. We are now defined by Christ. We have power and strength in and through Jesus Christ, though the Holy Spirit that we so rarely know, think about, or tap into. When we define self by Jesus we are now shifting our focus from a mind stuck on sin and evil, now to a mind stuck on Christ and his goodness and glory. With our mind now on Christ we will slowly begin to find ourself not desiring to sin, not to follow the evil of this world and of self - no, we now will be immersed into the hope and goodness of Christ.

Will this be easy? of course not, anything worth having is never truly easy - but it is always worth striving for, persevering for, committing too, being accountable too... and that is what Christianity is all about. It is not just that first spark, that first moment of salvation but the ongoing process of sanctification, of pursuing holiness, that journey that takes us from being a naive child of God into being a man or women after God's own heart. Many times we are going to have to force ourself to read our bible, to pray, to go to church, and to stay morally right and pure before God in our decisions, remembering that we are witnesses of the most high God, who knows the intensions of our hearts. In the beginning training is hard, it requires much discipline and work - but later we will see the fruits of this in our life, in our relationships, and in our relationship with God the Father, Christ our Savior, and the Working of the Holy Spirit.

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10

For the Glory of God,
Your brother in Christ,
Daniel

Grenz & Conversion

"Conversion occurs as an individual responds to the gospel. in repentance we see ourselves as sinners: as alienated from God, justly condemned, and enslaved by sin. We acknowledge that our life's direction is misguided, we feel remorse for this condition, and we desire to follow a new direction. but we know that we are ultimately helpless. We are unable to begin anew and powerless to remedy our situation. Faith works hand in hand with repentance. We become aware of the good news of God's action in Christ: Jesus, God's Son, died for human sin and rose again by God's power. We acknowledge this gospel message as true, not only in some general sense but also as applicable to our situation. Finally, we appropriate the work of God in Christ, trusting Jesus alone for salvation and confessing him as Lord. As the working together of repentance and faith, conversion marks a great turning point. it is our personal break with the old life and our entrance into the new. Above all, conversion consists in a turning to God. In this great transaction God draws our face toward the one who in Christ has loved us and made salvation available. Through repentance and faith we dedicate ourselves to a new Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. Linked to this turn toward God is a turning to others. in repentance and faith we leave behind the old self-centered way of living and dedicate ourselves to follow the example of Jesus, the man for others. We seek the good of all persons, knowing that acts which minister to people in their need are acts of service to Christ (Matthew 25:40)." (Stanley J. Grenz "Theology for the Community of God." 409, 410)

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Are we truly changed after salvation?
Are we perfect?
Why are so many of us not changed and transformed like we should be?

I pray this week that we all take time to pray to God to teach us about himself and ways we fail him, ways we can change and tranform our self. In the end, we are responsible most for our own personal relationship with God and our own responses to others. Also, lets all take time to read Gods word, to "Search the scriptures" intently, not merely glancing and skimming but truly soaking in and absorbing God's word and looking for application and relation into our life.

What will I change?
What will you change?
What will our church change?
What will the American Church Change?
The Church as a whole change?

Will we minister?
How will we minister?
How can we allow God to use us?
Will we allow God to use us?

Your Brother in Christ,
~ Daniel Brockhan

Why Are We Sad?

In looking at the lesson this week about Paul and his Joy serving Christ
in the midst of jail and persecution I am struck by the question:

Why was Paul so joyful?

and then:

Why are we so sad?
Why is humanity so sad?
Why are Christians sad?
Why am I sad?

Well, I'm not always sad i guess - but i don't often feel happy and joyful, unless I am in the midst of all my friends. But Paul wasn't in contact with his friends all the time and he was being beaten and starved for his faith. Here I am nearly 2,000 years later and i have all this "stuff," all these "things" - but do these really make me happy, do these make me joyful?

There is something very vital about having relationships with people, about connecting with others. People who do not connect with people, those who have no one to open up too not only usually are depressed and lonely but also mostly they have no accountability in their faith, no friends, no mentors, maybe no mentees. I guess sometimes i feel like i am in the middle, somewhere between happy and depressed, some kind of calm middle - stoic ground. I am not really an emotional person, but i will show my different moods and emotions when i feel i want or need too - other than that I am just kinda there, just kinda going along and doing whatever it is I'm doing.

but there has to be something different between being stoic and having this joy that Paul had, and that i believe Jesus had as well. I think it is because Paul and Jesus opened themselves up fully to those around them. They both shed everything that no longer matted, they were no longer attached to certain things and objects but knew that the person and their relationship with God, with the church, and with others were the only vital things in life.

Why was Paul full of Joy?
Why does humanity not have this joy?
Why are Christians not joyful?
Why am I not joyful?

These are all good questions... I think a lot of it has to do with sometimes envying others, maybe sometimes feeling like an outcast because i am big or because i am single or because i just got my drivers license or because i have never had a girlfriend or because part of me wants to follow God in whatever he desires, yet i desire at the same time to follow myself and what i want.

Where is Joy????

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:14-25a

- Daniel

Babel, Pentecost, & Paul

Well, i think that today went good at View Baptist Church. I'm getting to know some of the peoples there pretty well, though in an ironic turn of events there were more college than youth today. This mornings lesson was over the TOWER OF BABEL in Genesis 11 - what i liked most about the lesson was its connection to ACTS 2 and the story of PENTECOST. It is truly a testament that God can work even after the fall, after we sin... these were not superhuman people who spoke in tongues of fire in different languages, they were merely people who chose to be used by God, so God used them in a mighty way.

Tonight we looked at Philippians 1:1-11 after i played some sweet-awesome guitar praise and worship music (if i do say so myself - and since this is my blog i do!). Its quite amazing the depth at which the author Paul used certain words to convey such meaning. I still cant get over the concepts of being a bond-servant for Christ, intercessory prayer, and the fact that Paul would take the time to write these long letters. I mean, Paul sincerely cared about the people, the congregations he sent these letters too. It wasn't just some formal answering back against some injustice or heresy, there were letters in wish Paul poured himself out - and all this while he was in PRISON, most likely being beaten, tortured, and starved because of his faith.

It makes me wonder about those being persecuted in other countries, those we, including myself, often forget about while we sit in our american houses with our american cars, our american view of church while their church is underground because its against the law for them to worship, sometimes even know God. It was in times like this that Paul continued his ministry despite everything that was happening to him.

Now, thats FAITH!

For More info on Christian Persecution go to:
http://www.persecution.com/

- Daniel

What Are You Worth?

Have you ever set down and thought about your worth?
Have you ever asked if you are worth anything? Are you worthy before Christ?

Why do people not ask themselves these questions? Why do people hide from God most of their life? well, i am tired of the mundane and want to show the world the real and true Jesus, not just a tradtional-fashioned-sunday-special that cost 10% of your income. God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit is so very much more than that.

Here is something from this book I've been reading "God.com: Extreme Intimacy with an Interactive God" by: James Alexander Langteaux:

"It's been a while since I've seen that kind of rain [of the Holy Spirit]. It's becoming a memory trace, sepia-toned and fading fast. Things seem pretty dry, and the hearts of man seem to mirror the cracked, parched soil in our sin-drenched land. What has happened to the rain? Mark twain said that everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. Well, maybe its time we do something about the lack of precipitation in our land. Maybe its time we stop talking - stop our idol chatter - and start doing. I want to do something about the dryness that consumes this spiritually arid desert. I want to see the floodgates of heaven open and pour down heavy drops. Maybe it has nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with our idols - idols that have captured our imagination, passion, and time." (Pg. 142)

A-men
- Daniel