Beautiful Unmerited Favor

So this homie’s VIDEO has got a lot of play and even had some spoken word rebuttal videos haha, well if you care here are my thoughts i hope you take the time to hear :) GRACE AND PEACE 

please do not read the CAPS as yelling… but as passionate expression :) 

SO!! How about we SPIT THE GOSPLE!!!! and stop having semantically based arguments through less then sub par rhyme schemes….

CLick the following to view———> LYRICS:      VIDEO: 

The “reglion” homie was speaking of was the kind shown and preached by the Pharisees and the circumsion movement THAT JESUS REBUKED …And the works based religion of today…. Peep above bible references for context…

Notice the book of James in the same two verses gives examples of both God exalting religion and WORTHLESS religion…

James 1:26-27 
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Further more Paul makes his distinction between his new (relationship/ true religion/ grace covenant) and his old dead worthless religion…

Acts 26:1-11
1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,
3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.
5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,
7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!
8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

KEEP READING THE ENTIRE CHAPTER TO SEE THE HIS CONVERSION TO “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God”

He also brings further clarity when he spoke in Colossae calling out “self made religion” the same type Jesus rebukes through out the scripture….

Colossians 2:20-23
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-
21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)-according to human precepts and teachings?
23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made RELIGION and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. 

SO LETS STOP THE SEMANTICALLY BASED ARGUMENTS… and let the WORD define both a healthy religion and the unhealthy religion that Jesus, Paul, and this homie hated!

((click on verses to read them via internet))

There is nothing I can do to make God love me more, for God loves me perfectly already as He reconciled me and died for me while I was still an enemy and sinner. (Romans 5:8-11)

And wonderfully there is nothing I can do to make God love me less, due to this same perfect prodigal love that is forever faithful as it started, sustains, and will complete my faith! (2 Timothy 2:10-13)

God loves me as I am to help me become all that I have in me to become! When I realize the deep love that God has for me, I will strive In life to the point of death for my Love’s sake to do what ever it takes to please my Lover. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17)

And to those who think continual prodigal grace opens up a door for moral laxity you are sorely mistaken, for Love is much more demanding than the law. (Philippians 1:20-21)

And those who think life long longing to please such a demanding Lover leads to streasfull dutiful obedience have obviously never been in Love. For though this Love demands much, He empowers us to fulfill it’s demands… And though it costs greatly, Love paid this cost! Now leaving us with the reward and hope (Christ) that Is of infinite value, who’s promise is one of unwavering joy! (Romans 8:18 & John 17:13-26)

First off I would like to thank you for taking the time out to read this letter. It’s hard to believe but my collegiate journey is finally coming to its end. This journey has accompanied a year hiatus from school as I worked full time after my freshmen year, as well as attending a local community college here in Arizona for 2 years. However when it’s all said and done I will be receiving a degree from Arizona State University in Global Studies. My major’s specific tract is Violence, Conflict, and Human Rights which was a curriculum centered on global issues and proposed solutions on subjects ranging from genocide, sex trafficking, border conflicts, and religious conflict just to name a few. This tract was passionately chosen in light of my faith. Throughout my time in Arizona I became a Christian, and have been involved with campus ministry. My most recent stint was for the last 3 years as I participated on the leadership team of Campus Crusade for Christ (asucru.org), as well as becoming a more active member of my Church home Redemption (Redeptionaz.com). Both these ministers have equipped me to in short, love God and love people more genuinely and effectively.  The people that I have been doing life with in Arizona have empowered me greatly in not pushing a religion on others, but rather in loving on others in hoping to exemplify the all-satisfying relationship with Jesus Christ.

It has been such a blessing to have both my faith and my studies compliment one another during my time at ASU. As I would sit in classrooms daily hearing about the world’s wicked acts and the horrific wounds that accompanied such acts. My heart was in a constant state of brokenness and anger at such injustice that created these horrific wounds in peoples hearts and life’s across the globe. I began to learn both in and out of the classroom about how people have holistic needs.  That is that human beings have emotional, physical, and spiritual needs! That the horrendous subjects mentioned above, never just affected one sphere of humans needs. I learned that a person could be miserable and oppressed with a full stomach and bank account or empty ones. I learned that sending aid to African’s with aids isn’t enough. A good physician does not just simply treat the symptoms, but treats the root cause of the symptoms. 

So as you may or may not already know I have been given an incredible opportunity to finish up my major with a required 6 credit internship. Proof once again of how my major and faith complement one another, the University is allowing me to go to Port Elizabeth, South Africa with a dozen students from all over the country with Campus Crusade and do ministry on a campus there as well as work within villages. South Africa is a relatively new country, only 14 years or so post apartheid. It is a very complex country with a dark past and a challenging present as 60 percent of college aged men & women are HIV positive. Some studies show that 1 in 3 men have committed rape, and an avg. of 50 people are murdered each day. With all these issues there is a great need of love and support for the country. I wish to only play a small part in this role on bringing about such love with both what I have learned in the classroom as well as in my faith. This being said I believe the way to bring about such love on both the campus and in the villages is having a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship I hope to encourage with the rest of my team as we venture to meet the holistic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people we encounter.

However this is a role I  am unable to play with out you :) ! As the bible says in (Rom 10:14-15) How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” The attention I wish to bring you to is the “how are they to preach unless they are sent?” This has so often been used to bring attention to the great calling of the missionary who goes. Yet this passage speaks just as much to the immense importance of you the sender! How could I go if not sent? The feet can only be beautified when generous senders enable them to go.  So I am asking you dear reader to please consider how you can come along side me and bless this nation!

We will be leaving July 14th and will be gone for six weeks. In order for this to happen, I need people to partner with me to raise $5,500. I need to raise this money by July 10th which will cover my plane ticket, food, housing, and any other in country expenses. Would you prayerfully consider joining my team by giving a gift of $50, $100, $150 or any other amount that you feel led to give? Whether you can give $5 or $5,000 it is greatly appreciated!  All gifts are tax-deductible and checks should be made out to Campus Crusade for Christ. If you have any questions about anything please do not hesitate to send me an email at Jesussaves416@yahoo.com or call me at 262-385-9007. I would also love to tell you more about my faith and journey after this life changing event, and plans to return and bless the city of Phoenix Arizona.

YOU CAN GO TO THIS LINK TO GIVE SUPPORT :) 
https://give.ccci.org/give/View/5609368;jsessionid=D7A5C2C9C92D82AC5D3FE103C765091A.dss1
 

beauty no doubt does shine bright…. Yet there is a Beauty even more yet pleasant that makes even the bright lights appear as but a dim bulb or flame. The stars to the moon, a flicker to a flame, oh how this Beauty does bring a more robust clarity to its one True and Everlasting source!

Some light blinds while others sight.

For as Son light shines and covers the night….

The once dark is exposed

As one stark with no clothes

Beautiful like                                                                                                                    Adam and Eve naked

Before they                                                                                                                       had sin and leaved, in laced fig!!

Let’s take of the fig leaves and be as we are naked before a holy God!