iChristian

Why should we follow Jesus?

Who is He that I should worry about Him?!

Just read this for a start; unless you are scared!

You can lead a man to water

But you cannot make him walk on it

So, just how do you get a faith?

It comes to different people in different ways (we are a differing bunch):

All roads do not lead to God but God will come down any road to meet you

Let me just repeat something that my friend said yesterday:

‘I dare you to put your trust in Jesus – I DARE YOU’

I have and He changed my life

Once you do you will see just how incredibly Real He Is

Tell me about this trek that we are on
Where we have caused so much damage
And become so scarred
Travelling through time; whatever time is
Although it’s surely just the fact that we continue to exist
And that we are able to move
Which is itself only a neutral aspect of life
But how is it that we can move in good and also bad directions
That must be another dimension outside of time
Time doesn’t tell you what is wrong
It is only part of the arena
In which good and bad are played out

They say that with your life
You ‘write a story’ or ‘paint a picture’
We are certainly painting a picture
But time is not the canvass or the paint or the artist
It is merely the fact that we are able to move the brush
There is another question, a much more important…

I have some time on my hands
So I starving my tiredness
Hopefully to death
But he’s a resilient beast
On his varied diet
He seems to have adapted
To feed on all kinds of things
Including sleep; so just be careful
He tricked me into lying-in too long
And it just made him stronger
What a crafty animal
I have discovered
That he feeds on rest
More than on work or play
He thinks he’s so clever
Television; he drinks it in
His brain-take power-shake
But exercise kills him
A silver bullet
He’d do anything to stop it
So watch out tiredness
Your days are numbered
Maybe I will beat you into a coma
With my tennis racket

So, let us discuss all of these crazy feelings
They’re causing us problems and pain to the ceiling
We have to stop doing things that are wrong
That is what Jesus has said all along!

Lust is a problem destroying so many
Fixation on bodies, to countless, is deadly
Prostitution and slavery are part of this song
That is what Jesus has said all along!

Greed is so terrible who could imagine
We’re feeding a monster that’s eating our children
Starvation and murder; there’s no word too strong
That is what Jesus has said all along!

Money has got us all tied up together
So many people doing things that don’t matter
We should be helping each other along
That is what Jesus has said all along!

Our pride and our vanity they must be broken
Look at our mess; consequences have spoken
We’re trapped by our feelings; it’s been…

Cutting corners and making life easy
Making our music and movies so sleazy
Taking risks with our lives with a grin
These are a few of our favourite things!

Cursing and swearing and telling rude stories
Being selfish and hogging the glory
Chasing riches and the problems it brings
These are a few of our favourite things!

Smoking and drinking; ruining lungs & livers
Doing our hair and staring in our mirrors
Doing what we want; forgetting everything
These are a few of our favourite things!

Hardcore pornos and strip clubs and ‘lad’s’ books
Half-naked women every-where you look
Lots of sex attached with no strings
These are a few of our favourite things!

Shopping on credit and filling our houses
With so many shoes and handbags and nice trousers
Buying so much that it should make us cringe
These are a few of our favorite things!

Spending our time…

“Huneeee, do you think that since we are approaching our 7 year anniversary all the debt we’ve accumulated over the years will be forgiven?”  “I don’t know.  Have you asked God for that?”  “Not exactly, I’ve been a little vague.”  “Well dear, the Bible says we have not because we ask not.”

I’ve got to hand it to my man, when he makes a point, he sure does drive it home like an iron spike straight through the heart of the matter.  As painful as it is to admit, he was right (somebody better write that down).

We go through this life filling our days with wishes:

I wish we had some freedom in our finances.

I wish my friends marriage would be restored,

I wish the cancer would stop wreaking havoc on my mother’s body.

I wish my lost family member would come to know Jesus.

Do you know…

Darkness, darkness, everywhere
In shadow and in light
Tell me friend, who can be spared
Without the gift of sight

How will we see the Way to flee
Before we are consumed
Now we’re settled with our eyes
Adapted to the gloom

The men have gone and sold their minds
To every evil vice
Instead of getting life aligned
They’d rather roll the dice

The women pander to the men
Insecurity must be stilled
Get the attention that is craved
So that they feel fulfilled

The young are given space to lose
Their lives before they start
The adults seeking wealth
Have sold the future race’s heart

Darkness, darkness, welcomed in
By all who crave this world
Why do we love to do such things
That clearly leave us doomed

Long ago
Before this age of darkness
There was a perfect place
Perhaps only in the mind of God
Or perhaps a different world
Not physical; no birth or death there
A world of pure energy; the home of the Father of Life
Only He knows; but there was Life before this brokenness
And He Was and Is that Life; everlasting and pure

There came a point when a decision was made by Him
New life was created and this life was given it’s own freedom
Responsibility was shared among these people
Choice was given and decisions were made
Many motives were circulating in their new world
Their life had many aspects and their minds became conflicted
And, so it came that the first lie was born
That was a terrible day in the history of existence
In truth, this is a story too awful to be heard
But it…

What an epic story
The history of the struggle between life and death
Rolled out in metaphors that are only understood
When you don’t try to understand them
Creation and destruction; the working of an Almighty Hand
Or are we just the difference made by a switch on the wall
How deep do you want to go

Darkness says:

Hello friend, so tell me; what do you think I am – evil
But how many times have I been just what was needed
Doesn’t a dose of me often send you back off in the right direction
Tell me; can you cure evil with evil
I am a concealer – sometimes things need to be hidden
Although, surely I’m not just ‘night’
Day certainly wouldn’t be what it is without me
But I am more than only your nap-time
Let me tell you this:
Me and light; David said: ‘to…

What is our problem with Purity?

When did we become ashamed of doing what is right and good?

Certainly this is nothing new; a man called Paul said the same thing a long time ago: Why do we do the things that we don’t want to do? Or the things that are not helpful? Or, why are we attracted to things that are bad for us?

We want a paradise to live in but we don’t want, or don’t seem able, to build it. We know the things that we crave: love, peace, trust, honesty, safety, happiness etc… but we persist in keeping them at bay.

We know where these things come from; it’s not difficult to figure out. If you sat us down in a classroom for an hour, like children, we would be able to come up with a pretty good list of the things that we need…

So, this amazing world we all desire
The pure life to which we all aspire
What’s the issue; why aren’t we moving higher
Seems like the fat lady has left the choir

This is the question: why do we feel ashamed
Of the build blocks that are acclaimed
Components of this world we’ve named
The dream-world that our minds have framed

We want honesty and we chase easy money
We want fidelity and we love indecency
We want stability and we love to disagree
We want equality and we seek the most for me

Those are the traits of the world we pine for
Where trust is the currency used to pay for
All we need, and life is worth living for
So why don’t we build this world we’d die for

Why do our bodies move against our minds
Why do our actions contravene our dreams design
Why is…

Surely, all we are seeking is surety
In a future laid out with some clarity
A place where we all will act morally
Where evil is no more than history

This is not a case of insanity
But a people of grave insecurity
Somehow the masses act horribly
The individual lost in the majority

Has goodness become an obscurity
With billions relying on charity
We still see such acts of barbarity
And every country shares in this tyranny

So if you are after sincerity
And a world that is structured with honesty
There is one question that leads to maturity
Have YOU fallen in love with PURITY

Well, this is just typical
Take a fundamental part of life
And mutate it into something horrible

Need says:

Of course, I’m normal
There’s nothing wrong with me
I’m merely part of the circle of this life
And thanks to all the feelings
Plus the emotional triggers and responses
That are a part every one of you
I can help you explore and enjoy
Come and get me
I’ll always give you something to do
But take care that you don’t focus on me
Rather than on the other people
That you share me with
Or it could get very nasty….

Greed says:

Why did you have to unleash me onto the world
And you thought mutants only lived in SyFy movies
All you have to do is satisfy your real needs
And life is beautiful; A trillion flavours
So much that you can do
And more importantly; share
You…

Is there even any difference between us
Well, put it this way
Pain certainly gives birth to suffering
But is really only a surrogate mother
It’s your baby

Pain says:

You think you don’t like me; I understand
But without me you would be
In all kinds of trouble; I speak truth
And that truth reveals very important facts
So I’m fulfilling my vocation
It’s you that is letting the side down
I say: ‘don’t do that’
Or: ‘that is not a good idea’
You say: ‘Shut up – leave us alone’
And then, further down the line
You look at me and my child
The child you fathered
And hate us – thanks

Suffering says:

I think I should mention
That many people leave me stronger
Than they were when we met
But to be fair, I don’t like my position
It’s true, I am one of Pain’s children
The…

We are definitely a team
You can’t make one of us work
Without the other – so be careful
Truth alone does not make you smart

Truth says:

I certainly am what it says on the tin
And I have no problem
Hitting you where it hurts
It’s correct: Until you get hold of me
You will not be set free
Because I always show you what’s what
But I can be like fire
So don’t dispense me unless you have to
And how do you know that
Well, my friend can help you

Wisdom says:

Like a good wine – I mature with age
And without me you will get into trouble
There are impostors, pretending to be me
But you can spot them a mile off
Always telling you just want you want to hear
I am much more subtle – not always liked
I am very serious…

Although we walk hand-in-hand
We are not the same thing
Be very careful how you treat us

Freewill says:

I do not care much about anything
I am just here to obey you
I will do whatever you say
And if you don’t speak carefully
Then I will happily destroy your freedom
To myself I seem simple
But you are always struggling
Is there a man among you who can control me

Freedom says:

No-one can understand me
I’m here one minute and gone the next
One false move from freewill
And you won’t see me for a long time
This is sure: you only think about me when I disappear
And you only feel me when you have been held captive
You may not even know what I am
Until it is too late – so tread carefully

Do we cry in vain
Because tears only fall on the lost
Will it feel the same
How will we count the cost

In the next age
When there will be no crying
No more rage
We will have seen the death of dying

When we are there
Will there be people missing
Cause now we share
A fear of weeping

Those tears will not go
Where we will be
They will not flow
On our side of eternity

But now don’t shy away
From shedding tears
Please cry all day
For those who need your prayers

Cry for the lost
Use tears while you have them
Once the line is crossed
You can’t go back again

With all of us now so far lost in our mess
Who can turn things around for us

Who can show us where we have gone wrong
And not get caught up with us in everything we’ve done

Who can free us from the motives that bind us
And the needs that mean we our always out for ourselves

Who can overcome this vindictive world that we’ve made
And create a new Spirit that can be used to cure us all

What would his qualifications be; What CV would do
Let me think just what would be required

He must be innocent; Not just another hypocrite
He must speak the truth; Not just another liar

He must be able to stand the test of time
He must be proved right in all He does

He must not be working for Himself; Not with selfish motives
He must never give in…

Life is not the fact that we live and breath
But what we do with every breath we have

Life is not a biological condition that means your heart beats
It is something we build when our heart makes choices

When a life chooses error over good, then life itself gets damaged
Those errors cloud the world with terrible consequences

The results of those errors are not just individual evil acts
But binds that are placed around our collective hearts and minds

The more error we choose the more error we contain
And the less we remember about life and the less we like it

The more we choose death over life the more we damage the world
The more we live in this damaged world the more it blinds us

So, how do you change a world intent on destroying itself
How do you find out what that need…

It is only when we surrender that we are set free
And only while we continue to hold on to what we think we deserve that we give evil a place to live

Holding on = retribution
Letting go = forgiveness
Retribution = More destruction
Foregiveness = Rebuilding

We have all done wrong; and we have all been wronged
We can all seek retribution and continue destroying the world
Or we can all forgive and start building a new one

We can all hold on to the past and see where it gets us
Or we can all let go of the past and take hold of the future
It’s our choice

What can be nailed down
What can be held in place with metal spikes

A body; the body of an ancient Man
God; can you fix God in place with things that He created
A plan; an idea from the Mind that knows everything
A change; a ripple in time that confronts all evil
A future; the future of every human who has ever lived
Captivity; can you nail enslavement to a piece of wood
Lies; can you expose wickedness with a tree and some nails
Life; you can tie-up a person but you cannot tie-up Life

It was in nailing down a Life that life itself was set free
Perfection exposing a broken world to itself
Giving it the chance to see what it truly has become
Allowing it to be released; that is if it wants to be
Have you been set free; or have you not yet…

You put yourself
So high on that wall
The only way down
Was to have great fall

All the kings horses
And all the kings men
They ran away when they saw
The state you were in

But they’re not the ones
Who rule in this place
There is One greater
Who’s power is His grace

So if you’re there thinking
Your life fell apart
Just remember this, friend
That’s how it all starts

Just one King
No horses, no men
He’ll put you back
Together again

I took my ‘no way’
Put it on ebay
Sold it to yesterday
Now who can say
Not today
With nonsense at bay
I am no longer prey
To the one who would slay
I will walk in the Way

Went to tomorrow
So that I could borrow
Things that cast a shadow
On today and bring sorrow
Killed them with an arrow
Reduced them to zero
Now I can’t wallow
In all that was shallow
Enabled to follow a life with that Hero

So now it’s today
This is where I will stay
No longer to stray
Into things that are grey
Yesterday is where my mind will no longer play
And tomorrow will no more cause me to sway
Cause, come what may
I know I will lay
A good path – when I walk in the Excellent Way

Now – Let me give you some proper wisdom
Any ‘Life’ that you have managed to birth
You keep locked up – closely guarded by your fear of losing your wealth
And your need for control – because trust can’t live in this atmosphere
Your mutated feelings are binding you tightly

So, even if you want to change you can’t
You must first kill your love of money
Treat any desire for wealth with contempt
And trust the way of purity
Then you will start to hear me

As you are, millions die
Because your invisble cravings are so powerful
Your passion for money and false attention hold me prisoner
And don’t let me become what I was designed all along to be
I don’t want to remain out of reach

Listen to this: The only good reality is created between you
Relationships; experiences shared with clean and selfless motives

Listen to me
You humans are all the same
So good at blaming others
For your self-imposed deafness
You deliberately hold yourselves back

I am your friend
Do you know how loudly
I am shouting at you
You don’t hear because
You have filled you ears with money

I only keep this name
Because you continually fail to learn
I was born to change
Hindsight was designed to become wisdom
And that would change the world

Something went wrong
In the invisible realm that surrounds you
Progress got divided
Technology advances
While relationships remain out of control

Along the way your feelings have mutated
Taken control of you
Overpowered you and tied-up your logic
Now, you have little idea about life
I am completely ignored

You choose the easy life
Obeying every whim you have
Like a dog
Who will eat until he makes himself sick
That is the cowards…

Hindsight, I know that you are my good friend
But I don’t like the way you treat me
Always showing up late
With that ‘what did you do that for’ look
Splashed all over your face

I know I need you
I see – using you – that it is your job
To help teach me; teach everyone
About what is right and wrong
And how to change

I am just puzzled
About our relationship
You’re always there
But only after I needed you
Am I not treating you properly

Personally, I would like to keep you around
Perhaps you would stay
Or does my stubbornness keep you away
I know there’s something coming between us
Am I too hard-hearted to ask you to join me

So tell me – what do I need to do
To persuade you to stick around
Be onsite before I slip up
Then you…

Now I look back
I can easily see the deception
The feelings that were driving me have left
Gone to trouble someone else
Leaving me to see you for what you are

You’re handsome – that’s your disguise
Evil is written on your face in beauty
What kind of place is this
Beauty, who turned you into a liar?
Now you’ve corrupted the whole world

Well, at least I have changed
I see your reality
Through my Truth tinted spectacles
You put me through so much
I can’t believe I fell for you

Wisdom – where were you when I needed help
You left me; I was conned by my own heart
Tell me hindsight, where were you
Remaining cruelly in the future
I have some words for you

Some would consider me a newbie blogger but I can say it is something I am truly passionate about. Recently, while searching the internet for other diabetic bloggers, I discovered that there was a (fourth annual) Diabetes Blog Week. This link here (BitterSweetDiabetes) is where you can find the signups and all the information you need about participating. I’m very excited about this whole thing because 1) I love writing/blogging and 2) the topics are diabetes related..and I know all about that. 🙂 With that said I thought I would share in case some of you that blog about diabetes would also like to take part in this. It hasn’t started just yet, signups are today, and the week starts on the 13th.

I  am a huge advocate of anything that gets people talking/learning/sharing about this disease.

I am looking forward to reading new blogs. There…

Now my addiction has moved on from the prior; no longer in denial
Still with life altering habits but not faltering; no longer a buyer
Untangling the barbed wire, I found something higher
Before the consequences were dire but now – like Friar Tuck I’m in simple attire

I was preoccupied with an immediate gratifier
A modifier of truth – so I would perspire, call my supplier
Surrender my entire mind to a filthy liar
His words seemed to inspire me – but all they brought was fire

My feelings were twisted; used like pliers to remove my hearts desires
I got life-jacked by a beast; I was an occupier
Of a broken mind; my freedom was for hire
I had admired evil but now I know his style

On that road my wisdom got a flat tyre
Set to expire; I was a fake like Mrs Doubtfire
But I…

Who Am I?

I am a Christian – I thought I always was but my behaviour certainly didn’t say so. Maybe I am the opposite of one of the people John talks about in 1 John 2:19:

“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”

I was outside and refusing to come in for some reason, probably because I thought I was already there. Anyway, I am in now and I’m staying so I guess that means I always belonged!

I am also a husband and a father. I have a son from a previous relationship (the best son you could ever wish for) and a step-son (also amazing). I am a Street Pastor in the UK. I am a member…

How could I have got here; been tricked
Punched and kicked – now I feel sick
Why didn’t you tell me that you would take me
Twist me and make me do things that would break me

You said ‘this is good’; not that you would hold me
Grip me and mould me, secretly building the power to fold me
Now where do I go; is there still life to find
How do I think when you’ve stolen my mind

I’m lost – but the road was well marked
The signs they lied, saying ‘this is the way’ but now it’s so dark
There is no light here, just thickest emptiness
Is anything left for me; I couldn’t have less

I can’t leave you; a battered wife
I need you – but you’re killing my life
Somehow we’re connected; your evil in my soul
You have infected my spirit and…

Someone new
You meet – exchange some words
There’s nothing wrong
No sense of danger

You talk without thinking
Conversation flows
Before long friendship lives
Deep inside, unseen, unnoticed, things are connecting

Soon you are comfortable
Still unaware
You are happy, or
Still tidy; you hair has been brushed

Now a new thought has spoken
Things are ok, aren’t they?
This friend is to taking you
To places you’re not sure you like

It starts moving faster
Or has it been gradual all along
You’re so angry
But you don’t seem to care

You were only doing what you wanted
Isn’t liberty a good thing
You know you have been deceived
Has your freedom killed itself

Tell me
How much sex do you need
Until you have enough
So you can hear its voice saying
I won’t fulfil your life

Tell me
How much pain do you need
Until you have enough
So you can hear its voice saying
Something is wrong here

Tell me
How much money do you need
Until you have enough
So you can hear its voice saying
I don’t love you

Tell me
How much proof do you need
Until you have enough
So you can hear its voice saying
There must be another Way

If you thought yesterday was bad
Let me tell you some more
Although if you told me to listen
I probably wouldn’t

You see:

If someone tells me
Something’s wrong
I say
Don’t be stupid

When they tell me
Everything’s alright
I find something
That isn’t

If they tell me
I can’t have something
I’ll probably take it
Or get my own

But if they say
I can have it or even – I need it
That’s the last thing
I’m going to get

I doubt the truth
But I believe lies

The more I want to stop doing certain things
The more I seem to crave them

I remember to forget
The things I don’t want to do
But I forget to remember
What got me into that situation in the first place
So I carry on

I have compassion for bad people
That I don’t know
But if…

When I was young and foolish
I thought I was so clever
Now I’m wiser
I think I’m stupid

Calm people make me angry
Tiredness keeps me awake
I’m blinded by the things I see
I tell lies to be true to myself

Hunger makes me lose my appetite
Money makes me poor
Strength makes me weak
Problems make me positive

When I didn’t know God
How I needed Him
Now he’s with me
We hardly speak

I see impending doom – but I’m optimistic

Someone once told me I was full of contradiction
They’re probably right

A woman’s figure is absolutely powerful. It has the ability to completely intoxicate a man. It is one of the most beautiful sights that has been beheld on the face of the earth. It is sacred, and therefore should be treated as such.

In this section of Crystalina Evert’s “Pure Womanhood,” the main topic is modesty. She describes how dressing inappropriately will attract men who are interested in only one thing.

Women have power. By the way we dress, by the way we dance, and by the way we carry ourselves, we can invite a man to be a gentleman or a beast. So if a girl wants a guy to appreciate her intelligence and personality, she’s probably better off not distracting him with her pierced belly-button (pg 4-5).

Crystalina then poses an intriguing question: “What do I really want? Is it more exciting to be loved by one man…