Less Than Normal: Whats Holding You Back?

Less Than Normal: Whats Holding You Back?: Why do people push Christianity away like its a sickness? Or avoid it like it is a crazy ex-girlfriend? Is the idea of grace and forgiveness...

Whats Holding You Back?

Why do people push Christianity away like its a sickness? Or avoid it like it is a crazy ex-girlfriend? Is the idea of grace and forgiveness really something to be shunned and put off? Why? Why are you (or your friends) tip-toeing around the subject of Jesus as a weird or crazy thing?

If you are a Christian (avid church goer) ask yourself; who is to blame? The "non-believer" or is it the church?

If you are not a Christian, tell me what it is. Is it because we believe in "a man in the sky bossing us around"?

Lets start at ground zero. I, as an avid church goer, blame the church. There I said it. IT IS THE CHURCH. By the church, I mean the congregation, the people who run it, CHRISTIANS.

Here is why:

• We preach love, but we act judgmental
• We are flying hypo critics

Christians are so judgmental! We are not welcoming. I firmly believe that ANYONE can get into heaven.

**God accepts you the way you are, but wants you to change for Him**

(Loves you but doesn't mean what you do is okay) 

"...but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,..."

          -Romans 12:2

And even I have been very judgmental at times, but the church has done a HORRIBLE job at accepting people into church. For example; the gay, bi, lesbian community. The church pushes these people away like they are the sickest people on earth. SHAME ON YOU... How the heck are we going  to fix the people we want to fix if we don't allow them into the ONE PLACE ON EARTH where they can be forgiven and helped.. Now that I have said that, I don't believe that homosexuality is okay. It is a sin. But there is forgiveness and healing. We cannot help those that need help if they can't even make it to our doorstep. We do not reach out with love this way.

I apologize to those who have been pushed away from the church because of me or any other christian.

So now, you Christians, we need to now ask ourselves how we can be more accepting and loving. Practice what we preach, and grow the church of God. 

So to you non-believers. I know we may be judgmental and off putting, but put aside the people for a moment. What is it about the christian faith that puts you off? The "morals" we try to abide by are not unreasonable. Forgiveness, love, peace, and kindness, are all by society's point of view, great to uphold and make you generally a "good person". Is the idea of sacrifice hard to grasp? Is it because we believe in an all powerful God? Or is it a fear of rules? I really don't know what you think because I have never been on your  side. But please tell me or if you have a Christian friend ask them! 

Your brother in Christ,

              Derek Tilt

Let It Go

I find myself often frustrated with the fact that I all ways mess up. I feel like everywhere I turn I'm doing something wrong. Don't get me wrong I have had some great successes this year, getting accepted to the school of my dreams (with a great scholarship), I've kept my grades up despite my senioritis. I have behaved well, not getting into trouble. But still, why do I feel the constant weight of being not perfect, on my shoulders?

The answer is pretty simple and I feel stupid because I didn't realize it sooner. I need to let it go. Three short words. LET IT GO. We find ourselves in these struggles, big and small, but we as human beings try to hold on to them and fix them ourselves. But the honest to God truth is WE CANT. We can't fix everything. No tool, no doctor, no inspirational quote, can help us let go of something forever. So many people hold onto things for far to long. Bad relationships, unhealthy addictions, objects, lost loved ones, all plague our minds.

 Why can't we stop?

We put emotions into everything whether or not you think you do. Every facebook post, instagram picture, person you see, and even the objects you touch, you feel a certain way. Some are outright emotions while others are more subliminal. But the fact is that you FEEL. Often times we feel and we get connected to these things. Once again this is not a bad thing, but how we handle what we get connected to, is very important. The things we get most connected to are what cause the most trouble.

Here is where I will raise another question. Why do we need to let go? Why is it so important? 

 Well here are several reasons:
                 1. They cause an unnecessary weight on our shoulders.
                 2. They can turn into "worth"ship.
                 3. They are unhealthy.
God sent Jesus to carry the sins of the world on himself when he died on the cross. I fully believe that he did this and that it was for a reason. God calls us to give up our worries to Him. By doing this our focus turns to him and he deals with it the way he wants to. See, if we are to give everything up to God and LET GO, we are doing what He says! When we connect with people or things we are giving them "worth" in our minds. While this is not bad, often times we give things too much worth, then these worries or objects become first in our hearts in place of God. This all together causes unhealthy stress and just takes up space in our minds.

As the New Year begins, I will be taking a step back and letting go. I encourage you to do the same! Instead of coming up with these "resolutions" and putting more weight on your shoulders, let go of things and start fresh. Give it all to God.

Your brother in Christ,
                   Derek Tilt

Grace is a Gift

Well, I was driving in my car when a song came on that brought up the question, "What would you say to God if He was right in front of you?" Here it is:

"Why me? Why us? WHY?! After EVERYTHING we've done.. You didn't have to, but you did. I will put aside everything they have done, but look at me! A screw up. I've sinned so much. Nothing I can do will make any of that up! Yet you did it anyway! Why? I want to do better, I want to have more strength, but the world is pulling me away from that. I fall short every time. And even if there was something I could do to make it all up, I wouldn't be able to accomplish that, without ruining it five minutes later. Forgive me, give me your grace, without it I would not be here, and I would certainly not be walking into Your Kingdom when I die. Save me.."

So why? Why did he do it? So many people think that they can earn their way into heaven by their good works. But its not possible, "Grace is not a paycheck, its a gift." No matter what you say, think, or do, NOTHING can pull you away from the love of God. And because he loves us, He invites us into His family, and gives us His GRACE. Grace is receiving something though you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you don't deserve it.

People who run themselves ragged trying to do good works (which is great), sometimes miss the fact that God's work is what gets us to heaven, not what we do. He died on the cross FOR US, to SAVE US from Hell. If we had to do works to get there then what was the point of Jesus' death?!

Lean on God, let Him carry your cross, accept the Grace He is GIVING you.

As a brother in Christ,
            Derek  

Class of 2013

I can't believe its here. Really. We are seniors. When they said it would go by fast I really didn't think it would go this fast. The many days put into school, hours of pain enduring homework, and the countless memorable moments shared with friends will come to a close in 9 months.

We have 9 months to make memories and build even greater friendships that will last a life time! As much as I want this year to be over with and begin a new stage of life, I can't hide the fact that I am a tad bit scared and excited! Some of us will move on to bigger and better things while some of us will take a slower road. This year lets make memories and come out strong.

CLASS OF 2013

People Like You, Make Me Sick

You can't make anyone happy. Not one person in this society is happy with everyone around them. And pleasing people is just about as impossible.

You can bend over backwards for everybody you come into contact with, just to help or satisfy them, and people will still complain or need something else. There is this kid who is a full time student, pulling 2 flexible jobs, is involved with many extracurricular clubs and organizations, and pays for his own car and everything. This kid is pretty responsible, so much that a lot of people depend on him and ask him for help. This may not be a bad thing, but while this kid puts on a mask of happiness, he struggles. He is stressed, tired, but he can't stop what he does because if he does, a lot of people will begin to distrust him or disapprove. He feels like if he says no, people will be upset. So being the kind person he is, he just does what he is asked to do. Despite the fact that he runs around doing all he can without his head exploding, people (other kids) have the audacity to tell him he can't do it,he is under them for the fact that what they do "matters more".

I'm sick of saying yes. I'm sick of being the nice guy. I am so tired of all these lazy, helpless, arrogant, children that call themselves young adults. You don't have a job. You have a car your parents bought you. You get what you want without working a day in your life. Kids my age make me ANGRY. I am a happy loving person, but in all seriousness, I am FURIOUS when i get around these slobs. I get physically sick to my stomach.

I wanna stop my ranting for a minute, and applaud those of you who do work, and are involved. I am not mad at you, but I hope you feel the same way I do. But if you are reading this and you know I am talking about you, good. I'm sick of you. I really am. Don't claim you work hard, don't complain about your life and how its "SO HARD". Get real. We are in high school. You need to get mature and figure out what you're gunna do in your life.

Being A Christian Isn't All Rainbows and Butterflies

It really is funny how people, when they come to Christ, expect thier life to suddenly change into this happy land of perfection. There was once this testimony on KLove; "My life was terrible, but now that I have excepted Jesus into my heart, my life is PERFECT!" ...No. I do believe that by God's grace we are saved, and there is a transformation in your life when you come to Him and repent. But I don't believe that when we become a christian, that we are perfect, for many reasons:

1. "We are by nature, SINFUL and UNCLEAN."
2. Jesus' life on earth was HARD
3. Christians, all throughout history have been rebuked and mocked

First off, everyone has bad days, right? Bad, not perfect, bad. There is no getting around the fact that we humans have bad days. Why? Sin. As plain and simple as it sounds many people forget that. We, as humans, are naturally inclined toward sin. The desires of this world are sin! Its inevitable. We can not get around that.

Joel Olsteen had this sermon I watched, and he said "God made you to be successful, to live a stress free life." He said that... I respect him as a brother in Christ, but No!! This can be argued with the life of one man: Jesus. He wasn't rich, he was poor and most of the time homeless. He was put on a cross, to die the most horrific death known to man, that is not "stress free". Life will not be easier, but what are these 70-90 years on earth compared to an eternity in heaven or hell?

Hardships as Christians are inevitable, but we have the best weapon that gives us the Peace that passes all understanding: God. In today's messed up society, Christians get weird looks, or just avoided completely. It is sad but its true. It is very rare to find that the most popular kid in school, or the richest person in the world, to be Christian. But why is that? It just isn't "cool". So sad.

But to jump away from the negativity; think about the universe for a minute. It never ends.. How incredible is that?! So crazy to just imagine something that never ends. Now picture eternity, like the universe it never ends, however unlike the universe, eternity will have an effect on you no matter what. Everybody will be spending eternity somewhere, heaven or hell, no question. But where will YOU go?

Life is better with Christ, and without we are destined to perish in hell. I am here to tell you that you will be saved from hell, not to give you the false impression that you will become perfect.