42-Second Sermons #21: What People Say
(December 21, 2014)
"If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France.
Listen, kiddies. I've heard friends make fun of me literally right behind my back, been called a jerk, stubborn, and much worse things. I've unintentionally offended people even to the point of having to take down a video I made for a youth camp years ago, and caught plenty of flack for things I've posted on facebook.
You will always have critics, haters, and people who just don't know you or understand you. People will assume things about you that probably aren't true and make unfair judgments about you. We're human beings. Most of us have done it to someone, and it happens even when you have done nothing wrong to anyone or have nothing but good intentions.
Listen to me now; do not let this effect you. Do not let it get you down or feel like there's something wrong with you. Despite people just not knowing you, some people's personalities just do not get along with each other even if you can be civil to each other.
Be you. Be proud of it. You are exactly the way you are for a reason, and nobody else can offer what you do. Merry Christmas. Make good decisions.
Love you guys.
"If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France.
Listen, kiddies. I've heard friends make fun of me literally right behind my back, been called a jerk, stubborn, and much worse things. I've unintentionally offended people even to the point of having to take down a video I made for a youth camp years ago, and caught plenty of flack for things I've posted on facebook.
You will always have critics, haters, and people who just don't know you or understand you. People will assume things about you that probably aren't true and make unfair judgments about you. We're human beings. Most of us have done it to someone, and it happens even when you have done nothing wrong to anyone or have nothing but good intentions.
Listen to me now; do not let this effect you. Do not let it get you down or feel like there's something wrong with you. Despite people just not knowing you, some people's personalities just do not get along with each other even if you can be civil to each other.
Be you. Be proud of it. You are exactly the way you are for a reason, and nobody else can offer what you do. Merry Christmas. Make good decisions.
Love you guys.
42-Second Sermons #22: New Years Resolutions
(December 31, 2014)
Hey, guys. Hope you had a merry Christmas and watched 24 Hours of a Christmas Story.
It's that time of the year again, and you've probably already seen people posting about their New Years 'Resolutions'. Their plan for 2015.
Listen. Your Life will not be different tomorrow, January 1, 2015, than it is today on December 31, 2014. A new year is not a new Life. It is not about becoming a new person with the new year, and it should not require a new year for you to start making good decisions. Why do you think I say it? It is up to all of us at every moment of every day to make good or bad decisions. You are responsible for your Life and your choices and their consequences.
People get overly excited about New Years Resolutions and burn out on them just like people crash diet trying to lose weight and give up. Being healthy is not about dieting, and making good decisions and improving your Life is not about a sudden zero-60 change with the new year.
Love you guys. Make good decisions.
Hey, guys. Hope you had a merry Christmas and watched 24 Hours of a Christmas Story.
It's that time of the year again, and you've probably already seen people posting about their New Years 'Resolutions'. Their plan for 2015.
Listen. Your Life will not be different tomorrow, January 1, 2015, than it is today on December 31, 2014. A new year is not a new Life. It is not about becoming a new person with the new year, and it should not require a new year for you to start making good decisions. Why do you think I say it? It is up to all of us at every moment of every day to make good or bad decisions. You are responsible for your Life and your choices and their consequences.
People get overly excited about New Years Resolutions and burn out on them just like people crash diet trying to lose weight and give up. Being healthy is not about dieting, and making good decisions and improving your Life is not about a sudden zero-60 change with the new year.
Love you guys. Make good decisions.
42-Second Sermons #23: Make Good Decisions
(January 11, 2015)
January 11, 2010, 5 years ago today, my Life changed forever. I was 18, in my senior year at Christian Heritage School; Tyler, TX. I lost my Dad to a sudden heart attack (severe atherosclerosis).
Almost every Saturday since I was a kid, me, my Dad, and my brother would go to our farm to work, clear brush, and repair the fence line. The last two years of His Life, He would still go, and invite me every time, but I would blow Him off to sit on my stupid butt and play freaking video games. I'll never get to make that up to Him. I never even really got to know Him as an individual. I was a little airheaded. But I am Living to honor Him, and cannot wait for the day I go to Glory and see Him again.
My sophomore and junior year,I was a total jerk and let stupid high school drama and cliques ruin one of the best friendships I've ever had with the guest star in sermon #16, Mark Johnson. Luckily, my friend didn't give up on me like I did him, and we are now friends all the better because of it.
Summer 2012-Summer 2013, I was dating a non-Believer, directly going against my Dad's advice from 3 years before to "go after a woman with a heart for the Lord.", and among taking me away from family, friends, and church in general, it more or less dissolved my friendship with my amazing Wanna-Peas, Alex Fort, Taylor Graham, and Jayla Johnston. We didn't hang out or make a video for two years. Which is why I was so excited about our Breakdown video July 2014 after my Awakening.
Last October, my friend Kyle moved to Germany. and even after I told her months before that we need to hang out before she leaves, I was an idiot and didn't make time to see her, so I didn't even get to say goodbye.
Guys, in a way, all of these mistakes are a good things, because they have made me better so that I can learn from them and tell you this stuff, but I never wish anyone to go through the same things. Which is why there are catalyst scapegoats like me who stubbornly have to learn everything the hard way, to teach others.
Don't miss out. Don't throw away opportunities. Spend time with those you love and let them know you love them. Do not get wrapped up in a relationship. They aren't important. Life is important. Your mission is important.
I love you kids. Don't make the same mistakes I have. Make good decisions.
January 11, 2010, 5 years ago today, my Life changed forever. I was 18, in my senior year at Christian Heritage School; Tyler, TX. I lost my Dad to a sudden heart attack (severe atherosclerosis).
Almost every Saturday since I was a kid, me, my Dad, and my brother would go to our farm to work, clear brush, and repair the fence line. The last two years of His Life, He would still go, and invite me every time, but I would blow Him off to sit on my stupid butt and play freaking video games. I'll never get to make that up to Him. I never even really got to know Him as an individual. I was a little airheaded. But I am Living to honor Him, and cannot wait for the day I go to Glory and see Him again.
My sophomore and junior year,I was a total jerk and let stupid high school drama and cliques ruin one of the best friendships I've ever had with the guest star in sermon #16, Mark Johnson. Luckily, my friend didn't give up on me like I did him, and we are now friends all the better because of it.
Summer 2012-Summer 2013, I was dating a non-Believer, directly going against my Dad's advice from 3 years before to "go after a woman with a heart for the Lord.", and among taking me away from family, friends, and church in general, it more or less dissolved my friendship with my amazing Wanna-Peas, Alex Fort, Taylor Graham, and Jayla Johnston. We didn't hang out or make a video for two years. Which is why I was so excited about our Breakdown video July 2014 after my Awakening.
Last October, my friend Kyle moved to Germany. and even after I told her months before that we need to hang out before she leaves, I was an idiot and didn't make time to see her, so I didn't even get to say goodbye.
Guys, in a way, all of these mistakes are a good things, because they have made me better so that I can learn from them and tell you this stuff, but I never wish anyone to go through the same things. Which is why there are catalyst scapegoats like me who stubbornly have to learn everything the hard way, to teach others.
Don't miss out. Don't throw away opportunities. Spend time with those you love and let them know you love them. Do not get wrapped up in a relationship. They aren't important. Life is important. Your mission is important.
I love you kids. Don't make the same mistakes I have. Make good decisions.
42-Second Sermons #24 Common Grounds Edition: Passion
(February 7, 2015)
Kids, what is your passion?
We college kids went to Passion 2015 in Houston last weekend, and we heard some amazing stuff. What really stuck with me is something Christine Caine said that has been on my heart for a few weeks now.
Christine explained that the problem is not that there is not enough conferences, or worship songs, or churches. The problem is that there are not enough WORKERS.
We have to stop sitting around in our comfortable country club churches week after week talking about Jesus and talking about being a Christian and singing repetitive songs and talking about saving people, and GO DO SOMETHING.
Obviously there's nothing inherently wrong with church, and I'm not saying that. But there is a time to stop talking and being comfortable and actually do something. And it doesn't mean moving to Africa and being a poor missionary. I'm going to start getting involved with Hunger For Love and Church Under A Bridge, and I invite anyone and everyone to join me there or find some ministry in which to get involved, or start your own.
Below are two of her most impactful quotes on me from this weekend:
"You and I are personally responsible for the evangelization of planet Earth before the second coming of Jesus."
Talking about being on her possible deathbed with cancer on her trachea, she said "This is all I was thinking about: I said to Jesus, 'I really hope I did everything you put me on the earth to do.' Never once did I think, 'Did I have enough quiet times?'...and...'Did I bring everyone home that you sent me to earth to bring home?'"
Kids, what is your passion?
We college kids went to Passion 2015 in Houston last weekend, and we heard some amazing stuff. What really stuck with me is something Christine Caine said that has been on my heart for a few weeks now.
Christine explained that the problem is not that there is not enough conferences, or worship songs, or churches. The problem is that there are not enough WORKERS.
We have to stop sitting around in our comfortable country club churches week after week talking about Jesus and talking about being a Christian and singing repetitive songs and talking about saving people, and GO DO SOMETHING.
Obviously there's nothing inherently wrong with church, and I'm not saying that. But there is a time to stop talking and being comfortable and actually do something. And it doesn't mean moving to Africa and being a poor missionary. I'm going to start getting involved with Hunger For Love and Church Under A Bridge, and I invite anyone and everyone to join me there or find some ministry in which to get involved, or start your own.
Below are two of her most impactful quotes on me from this weekend:
"You and I are personally responsible for the evangelization of planet Earth before the second coming of Jesus."
Talking about being on her possible deathbed with cancer on her trachea, she said "This is all I was thinking about: I said to Jesus, 'I really hope I did everything you put me on the earth to do.' Never once did I think, 'Did I have enough quiet times?'...and...'Did I bring everyone home that you sent me to earth to bring home?'"
42-Second Sermons #25: Be a Black Sheep
(March 28, 2015)
-I have 4 cats who have their own facebook accounts.
-It's 2015, I'm 23 years old, and I don't have a smart phone.
-I'm 23, and I'm balding.
-I cosplay Batman.
-I go to Comic Con.
-I go to Walker Stalker Convention and spend way too much money meeting celebrities.
-I bought a $50 pair of Chucks just for Walker Stalker Con because my celebrity crush likes guys that wear chucks.
-I spend my Saturday and Sunday mornings hanging out with homeless people under a bridge.
-People don't get my dry humor.
-Nobody gets my references.
Guys. If somebody call you a black sheep, a weirdo, a freak, whatever, take it as a compliment. Don't fit in. Don't be "normal". Don't be "cool." DO not be anybody that somebody else wants you to be. You are awesome. Be you.
If you don't fit in with any in-crowd, if people don't get you, that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. And if they don't like you, it's their loss, and you aren't meant to be in their crowd.
March to the beat of your own drum.
But make good decisions.
Love you kids.
"Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" - Romans 12:2
"Envy is ignorance, conformity is suicide." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
-I have 4 cats who have their own facebook accounts.
-It's 2015, I'm 23 years old, and I don't have a smart phone.
-I'm 23, and I'm balding.
-I cosplay Batman.
-I go to Comic Con.
-I go to Walker Stalker Convention and spend way too much money meeting celebrities.
-I bought a $50 pair of Chucks just for Walker Stalker Con because my celebrity crush likes guys that wear chucks.
-I spend my Saturday and Sunday mornings hanging out with homeless people under a bridge.
-People don't get my dry humor.
-Nobody gets my references.
Guys. If somebody call you a black sheep, a weirdo, a freak, whatever, take it as a compliment. Don't fit in. Don't be "normal". Don't be "cool." DO not be anybody that somebody else wants you to be. You are awesome. Be you.
If you don't fit in with any in-crowd, if people don't get you, that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. And if they don't like you, it's their loss, and you aren't meant to be in their crowd.
March to the beat of your own drum.
But make good decisions.
Love you kids.
"Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" - Romans 12:2
"Envy is ignorance, conformity is suicide." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
42-Second Sermons #26: Country Club Christianity
(June 14, 2015)
There's a saying that goes "A church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints".
In modern America, we have gotten so wrapped up in our churches, that we forget the gospel. Matthew 22: 37-39 says "This is the first and greatest commandment, 'Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of of your mind.' And the second is like it; love your neighbor as yourself."
We get so cozy in our country club churches filling our faces with donuts and pig-in-a-blankets and casseroles, patting each other on the back, shaking hands, so obsessed with keeping up with the popularity contest, on "our" ministries, on having our own Sunday school classes, being deacons, and playing church politics - which shouldn't even be able to be a phrase - that we do away with God and put ourselves in His place. Instead of loving our neighbor, we judge them, chastise them, insult them, and look down our noses at them. When someone lives a lifestyle disagree with, we scorn and ridicule them. How do you think that makes us look?
Gandhi once said, "I like your Christ. I Do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." That stings. And it stings because it's true. We have become the pharisees that Jesus called vipers and hypocrites and white-washed tombs, flipped their tables over, and chased them out of the church with a horsehair whip.
Are you a member of a country club, or are you part of a church that loves unconditionally and leads by example as Christ did?
There's a saying that goes "A church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints".
In modern America, we have gotten so wrapped up in our churches, that we forget the gospel. Matthew 22: 37-39 says "This is the first and greatest commandment, 'Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of of your mind.' And the second is like it; love your neighbor as yourself."
We get so cozy in our country club churches filling our faces with donuts and pig-in-a-blankets and casseroles, patting each other on the back, shaking hands, so obsessed with keeping up with the popularity contest, on "our" ministries, on having our own Sunday school classes, being deacons, and playing church politics - which shouldn't even be able to be a phrase - that we do away with God and put ourselves in His place. Instead of loving our neighbor, we judge them, chastise them, insult them, and look down our noses at them. When someone lives a lifestyle disagree with, we scorn and ridicule them. How do you think that makes us look?
Gandhi once said, "I like your Christ. I Do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." That stings. And it stings because it's true. We have become the pharisees that Jesus called vipers and hypocrites and white-washed tombs, flipped their tables over, and chased them out of the church with a horsehair whip.
Are you a member of a country club, or are you part of a church that loves unconditionally and leads by example as Christ did?
42-Second Sermons #27: Who You Become
(September 23, 2015)
It's been 3 months. My bad. My Life has been insane since I graduated, especially in the last 8 weeks.
Guys, the people you hang out with and associate with WILL shape your behavior and the decisions you make, and this determines the person you become. Watch out for who you hang out with. My Dad passed to me His judge of character and common sense. Pray for judge of character and discernment in who you choose to associate with.
I dated a non-believer for 13 months, and even talked about marriage with her. We went way too far physically, and I was a jealous, insecure wreck when I was with her. It was awful. Halfway into our relationship, I had a small nervous breakdown, but ignored it, and stayed with her and stayed miserable until I finally hit rock bottom and blew my savings on her and we FINALLY realized how wrong for each other we were.
Don't be like me and have to learn everything the hard way. Be smart. Stay true to yourself and don't let others dictate to you who you are.
It's been 3 months. My bad. My Life has been insane since I graduated, especially in the last 8 weeks.
Guys, the people you hang out with and associate with WILL shape your behavior and the decisions you make, and this determines the person you become. Watch out for who you hang out with. My Dad passed to me His judge of character and common sense. Pray for judge of character and discernment in who you choose to associate with.
I dated a non-believer for 13 months, and even talked about marriage with her. We went way too far physically, and I was a jealous, insecure wreck when I was with her. It was awful. Halfway into our relationship, I had a small nervous breakdown, but ignored it, and stayed with her and stayed miserable until I finally hit rock bottom and blew my savings on her and we FINALLY realized how wrong for each other we were.
Don't be like me and have to learn everything the hard way. Be smart. Stay true to yourself and don't let others dictate to you who you are.
42-Second Sermons #28: WYB Part II - It's Never Too Late
(October 28, 2015)
"Those who obey Him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right." - Ecclesiastes 8:5
I don't like naming videos in parts (mainly because the titles are so long), but this video really is a continuation on Who You Become. Both of these ideas go hand-in-hand. Because of who I shouldn't have been three years ago, which was an insecure, jealous, insecure idiot, I completely ruined my relationships with almost all of my friends and coworkers at work, especially with management, who had just promoted me. At one point, I wrote a particularly stupid note on a facebook going on a rant, and in the process, seriously ruined my friendship with one of my best friends at Carmike, Jessica, my shift leader.
Last year, 2 years after all of this went down, I messaged her on facebook and apologized, and her and I are cool now, but I still have apologizing to do and messes to clean up from 3 years ago.
Watch yourself. Do not become someone you are not supposed to be. 2012 is a heads and tales coin of one of the best years of my Life and at the same time, the worst. The spring was amazing and the fall was, needless to say, a fall. If you hang out with the wrong crowd or date someone you should not, then you will become someone you are not supposed to be, who makes very bad decisions, and ruins friendships and your relationship with your family and true friends.
Make good decisions.
"Those who obey Him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right." - Ecclesiastes 8:5
I don't like naming videos in parts (mainly because the titles are so long), but this video really is a continuation on Who You Become. Both of these ideas go hand-in-hand. Because of who I shouldn't have been three years ago, which was an insecure, jealous, insecure idiot, I completely ruined my relationships with almost all of my friends and coworkers at work, especially with management, who had just promoted me. At one point, I wrote a particularly stupid note on a facebook going on a rant, and in the process, seriously ruined my friendship with one of my best friends at Carmike, Jessica, my shift leader.
Last year, 2 years after all of this went down, I messaged her on facebook and apologized, and her and I are cool now, but I still have apologizing to do and messes to clean up from 3 years ago.
Watch yourself. Do not become someone you are not supposed to be. 2012 is a heads and tales coin of one of the best years of my Life and at the same time, the worst. The spring was amazing and the fall was, needless to say, a fall. If you hang out with the wrong crowd or date someone you should not, then you will become someone you are not supposed to be, who makes very bad decisions, and ruins friendships and your relationship with your family and true friends.
Make good decisions.
42-Second Sermons #29 Parable Edition: The Scorpion and the Toad
There'a a parable called The Scorpion and the Toad.
A scorpion and a toad come to a ravine in the forest, and it goes like this:
Scorpion says, "So how are we gonna cross this?"
Toad replies, "I don't know. I could float across and get help for you."
"No, no, wait. I've got it. You get in and let me get on your back, and float both of us across."
"What? No way. You're a scorpion. If I let you on my back, you're gonna sting me."
"Now why would I do that? If I sting you, we both go down. Trust me. I promise."
"Well. That's true. Okay."
Toad gets in the water and lets Scorpion on his back. As they start floating across, Toad feels a sharp pain in his back.
"Scrorpion! Why did you do this? We're both gonna drown."
Scorpion grimly looks down on Toad and says, "I'm a scorpion. It's what I do."
My people, some people are just toxic. Trying to 'help' them will only bring you down with them. Take it from a guy who unknowingly got romantically involved with a recovering drug addict. Some people will not change or get help until they hit rock bottom and decide for themselves to change. And sometimes that day never comes, and it's not a happy ending; but it happens; it's Life.
Always pray, but do not get too close to scorpions, or you will get stung. Stay away from scorpions. Make good decisions.
A scorpion and a toad come to a ravine in the forest, and it goes like this:
Scorpion says, "So how are we gonna cross this?"
Toad replies, "I don't know. I could float across and get help for you."
"No, no, wait. I've got it. You get in and let me get on your back, and float both of us across."
"What? No way. You're a scorpion. If I let you on my back, you're gonna sting me."
"Now why would I do that? If I sting you, we both go down. Trust me. I promise."
"Well. That's true. Okay."
Toad gets in the water and lets Scorpion on his back. As they start floating across, Toad feels a sharp pain in his back.
"Scrorpion! Why did you do this? We're both gonna drown."
Scorpion grimly looks down on Toad and says, "I'm a scorpion. It's what I do."
My people, some people are just toxic. Trying to 'help' them will only bring you down with them. Take it from a guy who unknowingly got romantically involved with a recovering drug addict. Some people will not change or get help until they hit rock bottom and decide for themselves to change. And sometimes that day never comes, and it's not a happy ending; but it happens; it's Life.
Always pray, but do not get too close to scorpions, or you will get stung. Stay away from scorpions. Make good decisions.
42-Second Sermons #30: Our Own Worst Enemy
"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under the sun." - #Ecclesiastes 3:1
"This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you shold follow.'" - #Isaiah 48:17
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." - #IITimothy 1:7
We are all made up of good traits as well as bad traits, or character flaws, and these bad traits and effect and sometimes negate the good ones.
I'm very passionate, and very stubborn, which is not always a bad thing, but it definitely can be. Around spring of 2015, I felt a calling to go to Church Under A Bridge. This was after the new college group began atColonial Hills Baptist Church and I was no longer a youth leader. I was convinced that being a youth leader was my calling, and I didn't want to let it go. Had I not let go of that, I would have missed out on an enormous opportunity that has changed my Life. We must go wherever the Lord leads us.
I am an introvert. That's not a bad thing, but I can be very withdrawn and anti-social, which makes it hard to evangelize and show Jesus to the world.
I am a very analytical thinker, which is a good thing, but it can easily make me worry about things, make the worst of everything, and work myself into a frenzy. That is not a spirit of power.
Until recently, I was single for 2 and a half years, and finally discovered the joy and contentment of being single. I preached about not needing a mate and depending on God. Now I have to make sure I stay true to what I said and not hinge my relationship with God on another person.
Make good decisions.
"This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you shold follow.'" - #Isaiah 48:17
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." - #IITimothy 1:7
We are all made up of good traits as well as bad traits, or character flaws, and these bad traits and effect and sometimes negate the good ones.
I'm very passionate, and very stubborn, which is not always a bad thing, but it definitely can be. Around spring of 2015, I felt a calling to go to Church Under A Bridge. This was after the new college group began atColonial Hills Baptist Church and I was no longer a youth leader. I was convinced that being a youth leader was my calling, and I didn't want to let it go. Had I not let go of that, I would have missed out on an enormous opportunity that has changed my Life. We must go wherever the Lord leads us.
I am an introvert. That's not a bad thing, but I can be very withdrawn and anti-social, which makes it hard to evangelize and show Jesus to the world.
I am a very analytical thinker, which is a good thing, but it can easily make me worry about things, make the worst of everything, and work myself into a frenzy. That is not a spirit of power.
Until recently, I was single for 2 and a half years, and finally discovered the joy and contentment of being single. I preached about not needing a mate and depending on God. Now I have to make sure I stay true to what I said and not hinge my relationship with God on another person.
Make good decisions.