The UNfallen Blog

God is good. All the time.

2010-03-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

The other night, I was working. 'Cause that's what I do. I work. Gotta make a living. (I have to confess that when I work, I generally don't look for God to do much. He's there. I thank Him for my clients and my work. But I don't generally think about ministry while I'm designing a web page.) And yet. He is there anyway.

So, as I was working, I checked facebook. I try not to, because it ends up distracting me. But I did this time. And I got a message from a friend. We'll call him "John". He had questions about God. Now, "John" and I go way back. We go back to high school, more than ten years ago. We used to party together. Now, I'm a Youth Pastor. So "John" from high school has questions about God, and God uses me to answer some of those when I am supposed to be working. I'm posting this to show that there is never a time when God can't/won't use you. We must always be listening.

I won't post what was said. I will only say that a changed life gave rise to a question about why I changed. The cool thing is, this is not the first time someone from my past has asked why I changed.

There are many things that will serve to evangelize, but few are as powerful or as irrefutable as your testimony and the sign of a changed life. If your faith is true, your life will show fruit of that faith. The fruit of my faith is a changed life in Christ Jesus, and a testimony of the things He has put out of my life. And God uses that testimony again and again.

Wherever you are. Whatever you are doing. Know that God can use you. Even more, that He wants to use you. And it's awesome when He does.

Be rad for Jesus. And be ready.

To those who struggle... (by unfallenbrian)

2010-03-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

Struggling with sin. We all do it. And, in a way, the struggle is good. Don't give in. Fight for your righteousness. Fight to stand in Christ, and let Him put your sin to death. Let your King take your entire broken flesh and put it to death.

But death is painful. And it feels like a loss. Like an end. In those times, and in the times when it seems like the flesh has risen up and conquered your will, maybe this will help.

This is something that God placed on my heart as I texted with a friend one night. And then I sent it to someone else who struggled. And it turns out that God had something to say here. So if you struggle, read on and find some encouragement and peace. And hopefully victory.

Pray. And be strong, God wants repentance, but not in a despairing kind of way. He wants you to turn back to him and give him glory. Let the Light shine on you and remove the darkness. It's the devil's trick to make us not lift our eyes to God in times of struggle.

I know. It's hard enough to fight the temptation when things are fine. But then it goes south and you slip.

But be strong in Christ. He did not vainly hang on that cross. Christ did not get up there in weakness. Your God is strong and mighty. He conquered in ways deeper than battles and wars. Run into the arms of LOVE in those times. I know the pain of disappointment and betrayal, but those things are soothed and forgotten in the presence of The Almighty King who conquered even death itself to save you from your sin.

And He saw this day when He hung on that cross. And he died for you knowing full well this day. He died to forgive you for this day. And all others!

In victory, stand! And be clean in HIS righteousness.

If you take on the burden of this, and all the world around you, it will crush you. So, as you enter the presence of the King, know that His grace and power is sufficient. And he has a future for you. He Has plans of blessing and glory.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart And you will find REST for your SOULS. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Mat.11.28-30

May you find peace and rest in the presence of Jesus. May you find freedom and righteousness in His love. And may you find victory in death, as you are transformed from glory to glory in the life of Christ.

Be rad for Jesus.

GRACE: free to receive. (salvation and broken chains) [by brianlucas]

2009-12-19T01:58:00.000-08:00

Grace was once defined to me as: "when God gives us that which we do not deserve."

It is by the grace of God that we are saved. Our salvation has been given to us freely. We do nothing to earn it, and nothing we do in thanks can ever repay it. This is the gospel; the Good News. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen." (Gal.1.3-5) This greeting from Paul to the Galatians sums it up perfectly. Jesus gave himself up for our sins. It was the will of our God and Father. To Him be the glory. There is nothing in there for us to take credit for. All I have to offer in that is that those were my sins. I contributed to the reason Jesus was nailed to a cross. The forgiveness was a free gift. I had nothing to do with that part, and get no credit.

But I do get to reap the benefits. I am forgiven. I am free. I am free to cast off my life. I am free to walk away from sin. I am free to live in the glory of God, because He sent his son to die for me. And He has set me free.

There are those who would question the "free-ness" of the gift. "There must be something we have to do," you might say. Read on in Galatians 1: "⁶I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! ⁹As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" Not only is salvation a free gift, but to claim otherwise is to deny Christ. There is no other way. There is no other gospel. Christ died for you. Nothing else.

And, so what? Well, look at how this plays out in life. I like the way Thrice puts it:

Come All You Weary | The Alchemy Index vol. iv | Thrice
"Come all you weary, with your heavy loads. Lay down your burdens; find rest for your souls. My YOKE is easy and my burden is kind; I'll take yours upon me, and you can take mine. Come all you weary, who move through the earth; who've been spurned at fine restaurants, and kicked out of church. I've got a couple of loaves, so sit down at my feet; lend me your ears and we'll break bread and eat. Come all you weary. Come, gather round near me; find rest for your SOULS. Come all you weary; you crippled, you lame. I'll help you along; you can throw down your canes. We've got a long way to go, but we'll travel as FRIENDS. The light's growing bright; further up, further in."

Matthew 11:28-30 [NIV]

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The song is obviously based in the words of Jesus as Matthew records them. "Come all you weary." Jesus says this as he is speaking to a huge crowd. He says: "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (mat.11.27-28)

Jesus came to take our burdens. He came to SET US FREE from the sin that holds down our souls. Jesus wasn't here to praise the efforts of the religious elite; but rather to heal the sick and wounded, and to raise the dead. Not only in the physical, but in the spiritual sense as well. Jesus preached grace and freedom; healing and salvation. "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near [here]." (mat.4.17) Turn your eyes to heaven. There is nothing we can do, but come to Christ. He takes our burden. We don't earn it off. We don't pay it down. We come to him and he trades us. He takes the sin and weight of the world upon himself, and gives us his yoke. What is this yoke? A right relationship with God the Almighty Father. His yoke is FREEDOM.

Paul, again in Galatians, elaborates on the yoke of Christ: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Gal.5.1-2).

We are set free, to be free, and it was done for free!

As Jesus said to Nicodemus (who came to find out what Jesus was really all about), "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (john.3.14-17) Jesus came to save the world. And how is that salvation administered? Through the belief in the savior. Just like Moses lifting the snake, the healing comes with the simple faith to look to Christ for salvation.

Check it out:
"They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived." (num.21.4-9) The people's actions earned them death. But the Lord's deliverance required only the sight of salvation. All they had to do was see the bronze snake and it would save them. There is nothing they could do for themselves but believe.

It is the same with Christ. He came to save the world. Not by telling us how to live right and earn it; but by showing us God's salvation once again, and all we have to do is believe. THERE IS FREEDOM from all sin, all burdens, all sickness, and all death. For when we believe in Jesus as our Lord, our Savior, we have eternal life with God. And all the sickness, pain, suffering, and death the world has to offer cannot overcome that.

So how does that play out? How does being set free actually change me? How does it happen?

Through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be our counselor/guide/helper. It looks like this: "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. The are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." (Gal.5.16-18) Live in the Spirit. Let the Spirit of God fill you and lead you to a new and different life. Our human nature, the thing that makes us sin, will make us sin. But if we allow the Spirit of God to lead us and change us, not only are you free from the law and its penalties of death, but you are free to live in the Spirit.

But what does that look like?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." A life in the Spirit is full of these nine things. If you see this "fruit" begin to grow and develop in your life, then you are on your way. A life that is free in the Spirit is free to love and be like Christ.

WE ARE FREE IN CHRIST.

May you find peace and relief in the loving arms of Christ, as he imparts the saving love of Almighty God through the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. All you must do is believe, and let the Holy Spirit of God take care of the rest. Amen.

The Jesus you share will be the Jesus they know. (by BSoltis)

2009-12-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

My buddy Dennis shared a quote with me from one of his teachers in seminary.

"The Jesus you share will be the Jesus they know."

Some people have told me before that I am bold about sharing my faith and one of the things that spurs me on is this quote. As a Christian, if you don't share with others about Jesus then whom do you think will?

A lot of times we think that we're doing our part simply by inviting people to church. We think that if they reject our invitation then we can just write them off as a heathen. It's always good to invite people to church, but think of it from a secular perspective. If one of your buddies invites you to a bar and you don't drink, would you go? If they are Muslim, Jewish or Wiccan would you go to temple with them? Probably not. This means that the best influence you can have on them would be to show you are a man of integrity. Show them through your life/lifestyle what it means to be a follower of Jesus; an ambassador to Christ; a Christian.

Also, take time to listen. A lot of times people are talked AT, but few are talked TO, especially by Christians. Brush up on apologetics and ask your friends/strangers about their faith and learn the differences. More often than not, people can remember the false encounter they had with a "Christian" who didn't know their material. This is yet again another reason why we need to be reading our Bible daily.

Here's another solid quote.

"It's not about trying to win an argument; it's about winning a soul."

I think that was taken from Mark Cahill's book "The One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven" (a book about evangelism). Mull these quotes over and check out this definition of integrity. I think it goes hand-in-hand with this theme and should be applied in our everyday lives.

in-teg-ri-ty (noun)
1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.

Have a heart for the lost and view others as God would view them. Call one another out in TRUTH and in LOVE.

Make sure you're reading your Bible to hear all that God has in store for you. God bless you all!

Been Here Before (by Homespun Reality)

2009-11-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Hey wait, I recognize you...I've seen you here before
And with that simple thought more is revealed of me than of you
Because I don't know your story, but I know why I keep coming back
And it's the terrors inside my head that drive me here when I have nowhere else to go

But I won't expose you because I'd hate to expose myself
And all of that's because I'll be vulnerable and this life's about saving face.
Don't worry about how you really feel inside
Because all that matters is the plastic smile plastered on your face

Here we go one more time saving face and saying that we're fine
Why can't people just accept us for not being okay?
Not every day does the sun shines brightest and forces the rain clouds away
But it's not like that matters much 'cause I'm still here saving face

I won't tell you precisely what I've done to bring me here again and it's because I'm afraid
Perhaps it's my pride covering up my sackcloth attire underneath it all
All in all, I will leave this as a cliff hanger glimpse into the real me
Because I know otherwise I'd be judged seen differently in the end

So now we'll keep this secret that we both recognize each other here
For I know sometimes the pressure is too much and the shadow's call during lonely nights
And I lack the strength to right now to turn and flee so I accept my choices
And I leave this unanswered, put on my plastic smile and continue saving face

Dying to Get Inside by HomespunReality

2009-10-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

People are outside looking in

Seeing the lights, the crowds and hearing the voices inside

But it’s all too familiar of a sight for tired eyes

So they keep on walking because they’ve been in there before

Oh, so long ago they remember being inside of those doors

Amidst a group claiming to be so loving, but all too human for the rest

Trying to be inclusive to anyone willing to walk in the front door

But can be as exclusive as a Hollywood nightclub to those on the outside

Some have been there, sat in the back and were acknowledged once

Others came in scared and alone, sat in the seats among the rest, only to leave unchanged

Seeking for the secret that brings such masses together, but finding a cliché

Seeing outsiders in your circle is sometimes so hard to do, because we get into routines

You come in, take the bulletin and find your seat

Casually talk to the people around that you have seen before

Sing along during the songs and listen quietly during the message, maybe take some notes

Only to leave just like you came, passing so many others just like yourself

And it repeats like this week after week, or at least that’s the pitfall

We get into a routine where we come to be fulfilled, taken care of and healed

And listen week after week to another message about loving others and God’s love for us

But too often we get caught up in ourselves and miss the outsider stumbling in

Forgotten and alone they sink to the back of the crowd

Are casually greeted and then left alone for the rest of the time

They’ll be lucky if they are talked to again before they walk out the doors

Only to realize that these insiders are just like the people outside these walls

Why would they be any different?

So, they walk out the doors and leave disappointed

Cursing God and calling us hypocrites because we don’t practice what we preach

And we wonder why there are so many people just like them who despise us

Giving us bad names because of one bad experience they had and didn’t choose to return

So I end with this for anyone who’s been left out and forgotten about

I am sorry for the way that you’ve been treated, it shouldn’t have happened but we’re all human

We really didn’t mean to overlook the fact you’re new, forget you or just plain leave you out

And we’re trying to get it right, but we’re still human after all

And when the times come that we can’t reach you, God’s still there

He’s reaching out with loving arms continually to you

He’ll never leave you or forget you even when the church makes mistakes and overlooks

He’s still watching and waiting, all you have to do is ask Him to rescue you

the devil hates you. by (brianlucas)

2009-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1peter.5.8-9:

i was thinking about how much the devil sucks and tries to destroy us, and how he even hates the part of us that enjoys sin. he hates us completely. he seeks to devour you. not just to tempt you, or to lead you to something not as cool as God. but he seeks the utter destruction of your soul. he wants you to sin. not because it makes him happy, or because he wants your worship. the devil desires your attention because it breaks God's heart. the devil doesn't care about you at all. he only wants God to hurt, and hurting us does that more than we can imagine.

but God loves us. even the part that enjoys sin. He wants to see that part fixed, healed. He wants to see us turn toward the light and let it shine out the dark spots. Darkness cannot exist in light. God desires for us to get closer to Him, and allow Him access to our hearts where he can sanctify us. He desires for us to know His love, and share in it with Him.

There is an enemy who seeks to destroy.
There is a savior, who created us for love, and wants to heal us so we can be loved and love better.

Seek creation. Not destruction.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" _2corinthians.5.17

Be in Christ. Be in love.

"Daughter of Kings" by Mandy

2009-09-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

"Lord you have searched me and you know me." Psalm 139:1
For the last few months there has been a recurring theme in my life. I keep hearing over and over again the challenge: "be who you are called to be."
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
Now I have always prided myself on knowing who I am. I know who I am, I am very aware of my strengths and weaknesses. I know what I am not, and usually I am fine with that. Please note a disclaimer here: I am not accepting the things about my character or personality that may not or do not glorify God. I believe that He will always be burning things out of my character that do not need to be there. But who I am at my core, I generally understand. I am not girly, though I am feminine. I played water polo and I swam competitively in high school, so I was once very athletic. I am an achiever; I am driven. I highly value people. I am inspired by movies like Batman, Gladiator, Dead Poets Society, Men of Honor, Remember the Titans, and Braveheart. I am confident in who God has made me.

However, I have long struggled in the Christian culture to be me. I became a Christian at 17. I was introduced to church culture as a high-schooler and have learned to adapt. I have a perceived notion of what I should be and how I should act in the church and I have struggled to find very many Godly examples of the type of woman I am. Usually when people describe Godly women, they use images that I do not fit. When they tell me that we are daughters of a King, I think of Esther. I see perfume bottles, oils, scented lotion and a very reserved woman who with a great measure of wisdom acts in perfect time. I am not an Esther. I have felt that I just do not fit the mold. So, here I am. I am called to minister to people, to nations, to children. I am called currently to my local church and I have long felt that I don't fit in, that I don't fit the mold.
"...he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.."Eph. 1:5
Something happened recently. I think I finally understand why this theme of being who I am called to be has been following me around. I went to a meeting for women in ministry this week. One of the speakers shared that we are daughters of a king. FYI: I have been watching all three of the Lord of the Rings movies with my husband this week. In fact, just the night before this meeting, we had watched The Return of the King. Immediately, when the speaker at the meeting said this, that we are daughters of a king, the voice of Aragorn was in my head; I could hear his response to Eowin when she expresses to him that she is afraid of dying in a cage. He tells her that it will not be so, that she is "a daughter of Rohan, a daughter of Kings." Now you may remember that Eowin is the one who ends up killing the Nazgul. She was pretty hard core, definitely not a princess that is all about nails, and primping, and being proper. She was a warior and she desired to stand and fight the battle.
I have to express, this is the first time that I have been truly able to feel like a daughter of the King. I am realizing it is not about what I think (and generally it is probably a wrong perception) I need to do or be to fit the mold. It is more about being and becoming all that God made me. Whether other people accept that or not is not my deal. Again, it is still my responsibility to allow God to burn out the things that do not belong in my character.
"And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Eph. 2:22

Paul is always talking about becoming, becoming more of who God made him. The struggle between abandoning self and trusting that God is at work in you is a difficult one...especially if you think you have it all figured out. Man or woman. Minister or lay man. We are all a part of the Kingdom of God. We are all in process until we enter His Kingdom. If God isn't speaking to us about ourselves, are we asking him to? Are we listening? This has been my journey of late. I hope and pray that God continues to make me more than I am, and more fully me than I ever knew I could be.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Roots Beneath the Surface__Simply Jason

2009-09-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

There are deeper, underlying issues to the pain we cause God. Those times when we look upon His face, even hear His voice and turn our backs and walk slowly with our heads hung low in the other direction. These things we do which cause Him so much pain are often done grudgingly even though we seem to anticipate joy in the upcoming moments before we slap Him in the face. And shortly after...grief, embarrassment, sorrow, guilt, that feeling as if you were just beat up by several people and then kicked repeatedly when you fell down. It hurts and the enemy chalks one up on the board for himself.

Unfortunately, this happens again and again, but why? We know that this thing we are doing is hurting the only One who would never think to turn His back on us...so why aren't we able to conquer it and begin walking in the glory that God desires us to walk in? These deep, underlying issues lie beneath the surface of the acts of rebellion we partake in against God. These issues are the root of the foothold that the enemy has against us.

Fortunately, there is One who can bring these roots to the surface and expose them to the light. Satan, try as he may, will continue to water these roots, feeding them until we can't take it anymore and burst out in and act of rebellion. We give in to our addictions, we give in to our anger and attack others, we give in to any other act that separates us from the One who is trying to heal us. God wants to expose the roots in order that we recognize, admit to, and entrust them unto Him...the only One that can remove them. The roots may be issues of insecurity, bitterness, jealousy, loneliness, a fear of inadequacy, a fear of rejection, or countless other issues. Realizing these roots exist and that our acting out in rebellion is not the main issue that needs conquering...letting God work on your heart and letting Him bring the roots to the surface in order to destroy them is the key to us running towards God every time an idea of rebellion comes instead of turning our backs on Him.

Ephesians 5: 13-14

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Let the light shine on that which it needs to be shined on. Be open to having your heart exposed, for God only wants to do good, amazing things with it.

"Now We're Two" by Mandy Lucas

2009-09-12T21:28:00.001-07:00

Right. So, I was watching Batman Begins (a personal favorite) and there is a scene, just as Batman is begining to stand against injustice he visits comissioner Gordon. He is looking for someone to help him "rattle the cages" someone who is willing to stand with him against injustice, someone who isn't afraid, someone of integrity. Anyway, he is standing there in the dark office with a stapler to the comissioner's back, and the comissioner says: "You're only one man." To which Batman replies, "now we're two."

I have been walking around with this for about a week now. I am a Kids Pastor. I have several volunteers and a few leaders. I firmly believe in team ministry, I believe that God has placed unique gifts in each of us, and that He intended those gifts be used to build the Kingdom of Heaven. You see the criminals of Gotham city had all of the good people, like comissioner Gordon, isolated. Much like the devil creeps and sneaks thoughts into our heads and convinces us that we are the only one who cares about whatever vision or calling God has placed in our lives and our hearts. The few good people in Gotham had no hope, they saw no possible help on the horizon. After all, what could they do? They were looking for a hero, and that is what Batman became, but he knew he could not succeed without good people beside him.

All that to say: we, as leaders, need good people around us. We are not alone, there are people in whom God has a placed a burden for His mission and purposes. There are people that are waiting on the sidelines for a leader to step up and stand up to fulfill the dream.

But what if Batman didn't enlist comissioner Gordon's help? What if he tried to do it alone? He couldn't--trust me on this one, the DC universe would have exploded. We can't do it alone either. If God has put a vision or a dream into your heart, you can not accomplish it by yourself. First, of course, you need God, for it is only by His will that anything on earth is accomplished. Second, you need a comissioner Gordon. Don't pretend that there is no one there. The bible says that wherever two or more are gathered in His Name, He also is there. (Matt. 18:20) It's biblical. Christ is with us when we work together; when we go alone...we go without him.

It's simple. God did not intend for us to do this on our own. Jesus didn't. Jesus gathered disciples to himself, trained them, spoke mission and purpose to them and then comissioned them to continue the work after he had gone. (Gospels and Acts)

If you feel like there is no one else who cares, pray. Pray hard, because chances are you are either outside of God's plan, or about to do something fantastic and the devil is trying to isolate you. Take a good look at the vision God has placed in your heart; is it biblical? Is it Christ centered? Does it further the Kingdom of heaven? Have you told anyone else? Have you asked people to help? Don't be a silo. Batman couldn't do it. Neither can you.

Find others. Glorify God. Where two or more are gathered, he is there with you. Is it just you? You're just one man, now be two.

Two brothers _brian.unfallen

2009-09-12T21:19:00.001-07:00

Are you a child of promise or a slave to the world?

Galatians 4 talks of trusting in the law, or the ways of men, vs trusting in the salvation of God's promised redemption.

21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."[b] 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[c] 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman"
_Galatians 4:21-31

The way of Hagar: the covenant of Sinai. Worldly wisdom. Following a set of rules or guidelines to be saved. Thinking you can earn your way into heaven or being righteous. These things are not salvation. They are not even pleasing to God. The ones who live under this "mother" are slaves. They must live as slaves to their laws forever. And as it happened, God did not accept and extend His promise to Ishmael. Instead, he sent him and his mother away. He gave Ishmael a curse that looked like the promise, only broken and incomplete:

10 "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count." 11 The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery.

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."
_Genesis 16.10-12

Ishmael was Abraham's firstborn, and therefore heir to Abraham's inheritance, and the promise from the Lord. But God doesn't give it to Ishmael. He promises to increase his descendants, just like Isaac, but also curses them to be at odds with everyone including their brothers, Israel. Trust in the law to save you, and you may see a glimpse of God's blessing,or something that looks like it, but with that you will also see the curse, which is the penalty of the law, and death. God does not accept the sons of the law, but sends them away.

Do not fall into this, but follow the promise of the Lord.

The way of Sarah: the promise of God, fulfilled in God's time.

God promised Abram that he would be the father of many nations, and changed his name to Abraham.

God promised that Sarah would bear him a child. This promise came when Abram was 75! And she was 65!

After 10 years, when nothing had happened, they turned from God's promise and through the slave woman, had Ishmael. We have shown how he was received by God.

14 more years pass, and Abraham is 99! Now, says God, you will have a son and call him Isaac. Now God's promise will be fulfilled. Not when Sarah was young enough for it to be natural. Not when Abraham took a younger mistress. But NOW. When Abraham is 100. When Sarah is 90. Now you will have a child; when it is completely incredible and impossible. When no one will have any choice but to acknowledge God's miracle - His hand - in fulfilling the promise. It is by the Hand of God, or not at all.

There is freedom in the promises of God. There is salvation in the work of the Lord. And all else will lead to being cast away, cursed.

Be rad for Jesus.
Fallen in sin.
UNfallen In Christ
Brian Lucas
art.design.photo
714.553.9766
brianlucasart.com
unfallenart@yahoo.com
Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Windows and Mirrors by HomespunReality

2009-09-10T13:09:00.001-07:00

Before I knew what happened I awoke in the midst of a dream
Hollowed out my perceptions, leaving the world serene
Convoluted were my thoughts, ideas and sights
That I gave up finding the ground and continued on in spite

Filled with inglorious lights blinding my eyes
I felt unprepared, dazed and wondered why
What was the purpose of the tint, shimmer and the shine?
And why were there mirrors reflecting truth unparalleled in my mind?

Filling up my sight with images of yours truly
Blinding my mind and letting vanity become unruly
Saving face became the only objective
And altogether I felt cold, lonely and utterly defective

I covered my eyes to safeguard what sanity I had left
Hoping to uncover more than losing my deft
And in an instant I awoke in the midst of another scheme
Hollowed out my world, leaving my perceptions intact or so it seemed

Found myself in the room filled with windows and a door
Facing outside, revealing satisfaction of more
Confused at the stark contrast, dark in here, light out there
Signs directing to a message, but at the present I couldn’t care

I know that there’s a change and I need to find a clue
Searching for answers, any help would do
There’s no focus on me or the here and now
But the perception shifted more than my vanity would allow

And now I understand why I was shown the mirrors and the light
To contrast my-self perception with outward sight
Knowing that we all struggle with mirrors, saving face and vanity
But Christ came to shift our focus with windows, towards genuine care for humanity

Love that makes sense By Scott Lucas

2009-09-08T23:38:00.000-07:00

Well, for the lay man, Love is pretty straight forward. It is a feeling of joy and romantic harmony. A complex string of wonderful emotions. A sure thing worth searching, dying, and fighting for. It is a feeling. A feeling.

What's the problem with feelings...let me think...oh yes, they change. Feelings change often. And they are always subject to change. They are always conditional as well (hence the changing). So love is a complex string of emotions that most people feel and want to feel. The feelings love contains are all subject to change...and we intrinsically believe that this is worth fighting for? Something that always changes? No wonder the divorce rate is so high! It simply cannot be that people don't have values or morals or don't believe enough in the power of love. It's not that love isn't capable of enduring. The problem is that we believe too much in feelings.

Jesus was capable of loving us without a reason, beyond feeling. He IS love. And while we were yet sinners he came and died for our sins. Why? Why do my sins need dying for? Why a man coming down here to do it? Jesus came down and felt humanity. Not just because of the old levitical law that states that sin must be paid for in blood, God wrote the law, he wasn't tying his hands with it. Jesus came down to suffer with us, along side us, and ultimately for us. He cried while he was here, he was tempted in all ways, he was a man who was capable of feeling immense pain and going beyond it. And so he related to us in this way, born under the law so that he might redeem those under the law. So that makes sense, but why?

Love is the reason. Not the feeling that we often attribute to the word no matter how much you swore-you-loved-your-high-school- sweetie-and-told-her-"the-band's-gonna-make-it" Love. REAL love. God IS love, so he really can't not love. He is love. Love that existed before emotions and feelings did. It is love that was not born or created or crafted under any conditions or expectations, so it will never ever be subject to conditions or expectations. The love will remain no matter what we do or don't do. It is an essence that pre-dates our time and will most definitely outlast it.

Be loved then in all you do because that is the truth of every moment...love.

S.L.

Filthy Rags _brian.unfallen

2009-09-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

"You welcome those who cheerfully do good, who follow godly ways. But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. How can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags." _Isaiah 64.5-6

I read this and thought, how amazing that our most righteous offerings are merely dirty, filthy rags compared with the glory of God; but that He chooses to love and accept us. In our failure, He shows himself to be truly deserving of all of our love and attention. All of our time and devotion. All of our lives.

Step out today and follow God. As my friend, Jarret says, say Yes to Jesus. Say YES. Get close to God and walk in power and truth in the glory of the Holy Spirit of God Almighty dwelling within your soul. Do something amazing by letting God work in and through you.

All for Christ.
because we are fallen sinners,
but we are UNfallen in Christ.

Awakening (Redeemed) Love by HomespunReality

2009-09-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

The flashing lights, the music playing and the billboards spilling their ad campaigns
It’s just another night in a world looking for love
Everyone’s got their pitch that they’ll drop everything to lay it before you
But with all the lights and sounds around, how come no one seems to know love?

We live in a hollowed out tree of a world that was once something beautiful
Created for a unique purpose but since then, has degenerated over time
Too much influence from all the wrong sources chip away at the inside
And now the roots have dried up, the leaves are brown and it’s just about over this time

The world is lost, confused and doesn’t know which way is up
But it believes that the love it’s seen it is true, and that is good enough
So everybody sell your product, play the games and you’ll find love out there somewhere
But the love you’ll come across says everything about who you are, and whether you’re good enough

Their love is not the kind of love that I want anything to do with
Love that I have to work for time and time again, because the flesh is more honored than a word
The world will say it loves me and that what I seek is normal, just like everyone else
But what if I don’t want to go down that road? What if I want something different than what I’ve previously seen or heard?

True love cannot be found amidst the flashing lights and blazing sounds
It’s all about the calming peace one feels when their alone, but they know this is something better
Better than the lies that the world offers, give yourself away because you don’t want to lose them
And so many people fall into that trap because we’re scared of what would happen if we waited for something better? And it never happened

We so scared of feeling alone; heartbroken, cold and lying awake at night with no one to hold
Wondering if we did something wrong because we don’t fit in with the world
I paint you this picture not to depress you or play with your head, heart and soul
But to show you the reality of this world and tell you that Christ’s love will overtake this world

He’s offered His life one time to forgive us, heal us, and love us eternally and that was enough
So why do we force our brothers and sisters to prove they love us, over and over again?
If one act from Christ was enough why do we question if God loves us when we feel so alone?
I know that Christ has come to show love and to be love and that’s all He’s ever been

So when you feel alone at night, desperate for what the world has to offer think about what He did
Dwell on the facts of the pain, and torment than He withstood just for you
If Christ died because of love one time and proved it for all of us
Why do you still think that He doesn’t love you?

When is too much, enough? by JustLite

2009-09-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

When is too much enough? I find that we never ask ourselves that question until it's unusually too late. For those addicted to substances, too much is enough when either they can no longer feel it, or the feeling has taken their lives. Here in America we live in the land of good and plenty, where our value meals, cars, and debt continuously increase in size. However, we did not become labeled consumers by accident. It was the byproduct of a need to fill the gap, because we in America have fallen under the belief that if we buy enough, or if we own enough, or maybe even if it appears as either, we will be happy.
This is based off of the belief that you can achieve happiness via an exterior object, whether it be something that you wear, be entertained by, or even an identity. Although, this train of thought did not work two-thousand years ago, for some odd reason, we believe that it will work today. Humor me for a moment, and think of yourself as a cup. We tend to try and clean the outside of the cup, and yet neglect the inside, but still expect results. We dress our cups up, we try to add new fancy designs on them, we believe that maybe if we can change our look, or maybe if we were a different cup things would be better. Or perhaps if we begin to hang out with that other cup we always liked, or maybe even the ones we didn't, or what about a table coaster? Perhaps, all I ever needed was that table coaster, and from there maybe all of my emptiness and need for companionship will be met, but this has never worked, and it never will.
Simply because, it's not the outside of the cup that matters, but the inside and if on the inside we are filled with nothing more then greed and self-indulgence, well, everything we achieve and strive for will be only to achieve the ends of greed and self-indulgence, which may be happiness for a moment, but it's never the eternal joy of Christ that is with us tell the end, and beyond that which is the end. although, this is because we must first clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will be clean, but you must fill your cup with something that is not greed and self-indulgence, so when you're at Starbucks today, and you're ordering that Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato upside down with Soy; realize that it's not the Venti iced cup you care about at all, and nor do you care too much for the green label with the Siren on it, but you care about what's on the inside, that sweetness which will poor out and fulfill your desires, and realize for that moment too, that that is which God cares about.

cm link

2009-09-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

working on a newsletter for the Children's Ministries over at Covina AG. Good times! Stoked to get parents more informed and hopefully more involved.

haters hating all that is good

2009-08-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

there was a time when i thought that bands like NOFX and Bad Religion had something to say. But I realize that it has now become cool and trendy to pick on the little guy, or just the one who doesn't fight back. Bullies are never the strongest or toughest; they're just the ones that no one will fight. In that same way, bands that slam politics and religion are taking the weakest path. They fight the way bullies fight: picking on the ones who can't or won't fight back.

I just listened to a few recent songs from NOFX, and I remember why I stopped listening to them. The tagline for one of their albums says "your prayers have been answered, less songs about Bush, more songs about Jesus."

They write songs about how Christians are bad, and Jesus was... whatever. Funny that the same people who often say things like this (including NOFX) end up becoming bigots, hypocrites and predjudicial hate-mongers. They rant and rave against those whose views differ from theirs. If a church says a sin is against their beliefs, THEY will call them jerks and tell them not to hate, in a hateful voice, of course.

There are jerks and idiots in all groups/areas of life, and unfortunately the Church is no different. Some people get it wrong. But you can't write off the whole thing because a few in the whole are bad and lame, that's called predjudice. To yell and scream and hate those who have a different belief system is stupid and ineffective; it makes you look about as smart as someone who tries to have a logical argument with a two-year-old child.

The Church, meaning the Body of Christ as described in the New Testament, is founded on two principles that override all other commands:

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

LOVE is the command and purpose of the Church. Sometimes that means telling someone that they are wrong, but always with a desire to bring them to the truth, not beat them to death. All true Christians are pursuing LOVE and trying to live a life of love, not hate. Sorry if we gave the wrong impression.

Writing a song is an easy way to win an argument. You can say what you want, and no one can challenge you without looking like an idiot yelling into a stereo or ipod. But, instead of writing verbal hate missiles, try engaging with actual humans and doing what your kind (those who blindly attack religion) always ask us to do: broaden your mind and consider that just because a message sounds different, doesn't make it wrong.

So, thanks NOFX. You have reminded me why I stopped letting angry punk-rock tell me how to think, and why I began to think for myself. Which allowed me the freedom of thought to find the only true love in this life: Jesus Christ.

Beach bonfire

2009-08-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hanging out with the seniors at the beach. Good times! Funny! Funny!
Brian Lucas
art.design.photo
714.553.9766
brianlucasart.com
unfallenart@yahoo.com
Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry

UNfallen is now mobile!

2009-08-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

Go to http://www.unfallenclothing.com/mobile from your phone/pda to check out our new mobile version of the site!
Brian Lucas
art.design.photo
714.553.9766
brianlucasart.com
unfallenart@yahoo.com
Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry

New photos up at brianlucasart.com

2009-04-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

I've been posting a ton of new stuff this week, and I wanted to make sure and tell everyone.

Here are some samples from the engagement photography page:

My good friends Luke and Mari:

Collision Jr High

2009-04-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hey, so I just got done setting up a shirt design for this Jr High ministry in Indiana called Collision. Pretty sweet. Pretty stoked on the shirt, too. Can't wait for mine!

The whole idea behind this shirt is based in the name, Collision. The verse on it, 2 corinthians 5.21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." This is God touching man. Not just reaching him in a meaningless way, but reaching across the chasm of sin and becoming man. The creator of the universe taking our place to collide with sin and destroy its hold on humanity forever. Like David Crowder sings, "Here it comes, a beautiful collision.... You and I collide."

The back of the shirt presents the place where this all took place: the cross.

Be reconciled to God, accept His sacrifice on your behalf, made in love. Follow Him with all that you are. Live for eternity. In Christ.

Saturday at I Will Follow Christ

2009-04-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Awesomeness! This is such an incredible portrayal of the Gospel, and such a powerful showing of his death and resurrection.

We've been doing really well with the bake sale as well. Here are some photos of our booths! Viva equipo espana y guadalajara!

Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry

New UNfallen look.

2009-04-09T23:50:00.001-07:00

This is part one of the new style. Hope you enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

I Will Follow Christ

2009-04-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

So, we totally have this rad easter play called "I Will Follow Christ" at our church. It's completely free! It's really an amazing show, I've heard it even rivals the Glory of Easter at Crystal Cathedral (but theirs is $24/person!).

The only thing that costs any money there is the bake sale. Now that is worth spending on, because it supports missions. I'm going to Spain, and every dollar helps! 100% of our sales go to the missions fund for our Spain and Guadalajara teams. So come check it out!

If you are in SoCal and are free, you should see the show, and buy a cookie!

Thursday 7pm

Friday 7pm

Saturday 2pm and 7pm

Sunday 7pm

God bless!