Daring to Believe

Fuge:Day 1

2012-06-25T22:41:00.002-07:00

Fuge: Day 1

Today my youth group traveled to Jackson, Tennessee for Lifeway’s Centrifuge Camp. Our group comes to Fuge every year and I have yet to find someone who hasn’t fell in love with it. Fuge, in my eyes, is one of the best places that you can go to truly take time and experience God.

Today was the opening celebration for the camp. We settled in our dorms and went to the celebration. We sang a few worship songs and were separated into classes based on our age groups. After our class we headed over to a devotion time with our church group. Our message was brief but very important.

Our youth pastor based his message out of Ephesians 1 verses 22-23. “²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

He couldn’t tell us enough about how things in this life will fade. These things that we put our confidence in are not fixed. However, Christ is fixed and when we have Him in our lives we will be whole. We will not be perfect by any means but we will have someone we can take refuge in; someone that we can turn to when the times are tough.

The theme for Fuge this week is The Pursuit. I would like to ask that you pray for our group. Pray that we open our minds and hearts and hear what God has to say to us.

-Fletcher

Reality Revived the Church

2012-06-22T08:03:00.003-07:00

Reality Revived the Church

As I said in my last post, sometimes we separate ourselves from the church or God because they do not always work at our convenience. God doesn’t work at our convenience but He works at His. I don’t think I can stress the fact that we are an imperfect people enough! When we constantly sin and do wrong we feel a sense of shame and we strive to seek forgiveness for our faults. You could say reality sets in; this is when we need the church and God. This is how reality revived the church…

When I sin I feel something tug at me and say, “What’s wrong with you?!” I was talking with Mom in the car yesterday about sinning. Sometimes we are tempted with things that make us “feel good”. It is one of the absolutely hardest things to do when tempted and turn it down. Some of the time I give in…

Stop reading this for a moment and think about church. What it means to you, how you serve it, and how it serves you…

When I think of church I think of a place you can go to hear God’s Word; a place where believers gather to share their opinions on things about Christianity. A place, in my mind, where anyone is welcome. We need church! We are not always going to be accepted and feel like church is a place where you can be. Most importantly, we need God. Yes, He is always there but that doesn’t mean we are a perfect being because He is by our side 24/7.

When we step away from God we kind of think we can do just about any and everything we want. I was just thinking, one day I will be judged for everything I have ever done wrong. I’m only 15 and I already think it may take a while! After we do wrong for such an extended period something, may be a tiny something, flips the switch and reality sinks in. Everything we have done suddenly shoots across our minds and we realize we are such a broken person.

Thefreedictionary.com defines forgiveness: To excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon. The only way to receive forgiveness is through God.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”–John 4:16

We may not always agree with some of the things said at church and that’s okay! That doesn’t mean to drop church totally, that just means God has other plans for you somewhere else. Being church, especially being involved is so fulfilling! My amazing youth group alone is such a blessing!

When we sin and do wrong we are dead in sin. When reality sinks in seek Him. I dare you to search for somewhere where you can find Him. I dare you to believe…

Convenience Killed the Church

2012-06-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Convenience Killed the Church

When I say “Convenience Killed the Church” I mean that convenience has drawn so many people away from church, God, and religion itself. We are a spoiled people! I know I am!

Today we have access to so many things that we didn’t have 10 years ago. In the Apple App Store alone there are over 500,000 apps available! That just blows my mind! We can access these apps at our own convenience. We are a people who want things now; not later but now! This is why so many people put a barrier between them and the church because things don’t always happen instantly and that is what we are used to.

Being the imperfect people we are we usually get into some trouble throughout our journey. We believers usually pray for guidance or forgiveness. I’m going to be frank, these things we ask for don’t always happen instantly or at our convenience. When this happens, people slam God and say things like this, “Your God isn’t real! He would have answered you by now!” They do this because they do not fully understand how out God works...

“Cast not away your confidence because God defers his performances. That which does not come in your time, will be hastened in his time, which is always the more convenient season. God will work when he pleases, how he pleases, and by what means he pleases. He is not bound to keep our time, but he will perform his word, honor our faith, and reward them that diligently seek him.” - Matthew Henry

God answers us when convenient to Him, not to us. As I have said, we are a spoiled people and are turned off by something we have to wait for. But if we wait for Him, for His love, we will come to see that is worth more than any app we could ever download!

Some say, “Oh yes, it is easy for you to have patience with God because you are a Christian!” Anyone, I mean ANYONE, can be a Christian! The deciding factor is whether you have the patience to wait on Him and His plan. It is as simple as that! I will admit I have had trouble when times have been tough; but He has always come through for me.

Waiting on something can be very frustrating sometimes! I dare you to have patience and experience His love. I dare you to believe…

Reaping What You Sow

2012-06-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

Reaping What You Sow

So many times I find myself in the middle of doing something that is wrong and thinking to myself that I will have no consequence for these actions. However, soon after I find myself in trouble for what I did. We will always reap what we sow.

Galatians 6: 7-8 tells us plainly, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

We are an imperfect people trying to please a perfect God. When we ask forgiveness for all the wrong we have done our God looks past these sins we have committed. It is like they were never there. We are still stuck with these sins in our earthly lives but we know we are forgiven from them. Isn’t that awesome? This doesn’t mean we are going to have it easy down here. Say someone burns down a department store. They will be sentenced to prison for however long the judge decides. That particular person is stuck in a cell for his sin, but when he asks for forgiveness his spirit is free! He still reaps what he sows…

Now reaping what you sow isn’t always meant to be put in a negative context that it sometimes is. Some people sow sin and reap weeds that never seem to go away. This is what we particularly think of when we hear the phrase we reap what we sow. There are some people that plant service or fellowship (for ex.) and reap beautiful flowers (like the ones above) that make your garden look beautiful. As Christians we want to strive for the flowers and avoid the weeds as much as possible. We are human, that means there is always going to be a few weeds hanging around. Just like the man who committed arson, we can be forgiven and pull those weeds right out of the ground.

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,” –Colossians 1:13

We may be judged for what we have done. We will always reap what we sow. But remember God is always here and will always forgive you.

Sometimes we are stuck in sin and see no way out. I dare you to seek guidance in your time of need. I dare you to believe…

Unplugged

2012-06-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

Unplugged

As some of you may have noticed, recently the blog had ads. This was so that I could generate some extra money since I cannot get an official job yet. Today I received an email that said my account had generated too much money over this little time and that my account was disabled…

With these ads you earn a certain amount of money for every click. I started out with $0.17 a click, so every time an ad was clicked I received $0.17. I had told some family and friends about the ads and they had decided to help me out by clicking a few ads a day. Well, I got to where I was earning anywhere from $5-25 a day! This was great for me, considering I did not have a job and all I did was blog. Before I was disabled I had made $90 in 5 days! Sounds like a solid plan, huh?

I think I reached a point in the past few days where I wouldn’t care about writing another post. I would get on my site to see the revenue I generated. I told myself, “Oh its fine, you wrote two days ago. Don’t worry about it!” Before I placed my ads I really took time to research it all. One woman said, “Don’t worry about your revenue, it’s all about content. Content, content, content!” My mind was in different place.

My mission with this blog is to reach out to people who know Christ but also to find those who do not and hopefully witness to them. When I placed those ads it seemed like none of that mattered anymore. It was all about, “Wow! I made $12.98 today!”

1 Timothy 6:10 describes my situation oh so perfectly! “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

I removed myself from the mission and was distracted by what it was doing for me and not what I was doing for it. The money was meant for a car. Yeah, it’s defiantly a bummer! No doubt! However, I have to understand that God will provide. That money was practically being stolen rite out of Google’s hands. I am thankful I was banned!

I know some of you may think I am crazy for saying that! It was hard seeing that email, I was really looking forward to putting that money in my savings! That just means that I will have to work harder for money now. Which Dad says, “Is good for ya!” Philippians 4:19 reminds me that God is our provider! Not Google, not Blogger, but God!

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:19

Being banned was actually a blessing! Being banned opens my eyes to why this blog really exists. It’s not to make money, but to share The Word. I was too naive to realize that those ads would distract me. I just thought that they would just be another thing, nothing major. When I got them, it was revenue, revenue, revenue! Not content, content, content like it should have been from beginning to end.

We all have those little distractions in life that keep us away from our true purpose. I dare you to be unplugged from those things. I dare you to believe…

Lost

2012-06-09T14:40:00.002-07:00

Lost

We come in contact with people that are lost in our everyday lives. You could even say we see dead people every day. We are just like the little boy in “The Sixth Sense”.

When we are down on our luck or going through a tough time it can seem like we are lost in the darkness. We are lost and we cannot seem to find something to cling to, something to drop anchor on. This is the reason that so many individuals dog Christianity. We as Christians preach that God is Omni-Present, which means He is always here. However, we cannot see him. This is why faith plays such a major role in our beliefs. A lot of people live by the saying, “ I don’t believe it until I see it!”

I can defiantly see their concern/questions they have about our faith. I too find it hard sometimes to really stop and remind myself that He is right there beside me. Here is another big concern people have about our faith, “If He is always here, then why is the world like this? Why are we like this?” I have mentioned this before, but it won’t hurt to do again. Adam and Eve were the first of us on this Earth. God had intended for the humans that inhabited this Earth to be perfect. But Eve was tempted, another thing we all struggle with, and she ruined that for us. We cannot blame her for that, I am 100% sure that almost all of us would have taken the fruit. We need someone that will steer us into the right direction.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:6-7

We have someone to find us when we are lost. I dare you to venture out and find Him. I dare you to believe…

Click or No Click

2012-06-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

Click or No Click

It seems like every day that I see a picture on Facebook that says, “Like if you love Jesus. Ignore if you don’t.” If you “like” those that is perfectly fine! But if you don’t, that is perfectly fine too! Our love for Christ is not determined by liking a picture on Facebook.

1 John 4:16 says, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

Our love is determined by how we love Him, not how we “like” Him. We do not earn eternal life by clicking a picture of Jesus on Facebook and live our lives however we want. Our youth pastor told us we all have a Death Penalty. We are all dead before Christ enters our lives. However, we are also given a second chance, redemption. This is possible when we pick up our crosses and follow Him. Now I’m not saying to make a cross and carry it around. This cross is a symbol, a symbol of witnessing to others, helping others, loving others, and pushing through when times are tough.

We all have choices we make every day whether it is Subway or Sonic, Fries or Tater Tots, or even Click or No Click. Whether we click or not Christ loves us the same. You could click a million different pictures and still be as lost on the last one as you were on the first. Our love is determined by our actions. Yes, clicking is an action but not the right one. Loving, caring, and being compassionate are some of the actions we need to carry out in our day to day lives.

I have trouble with these just as much as you. I fight with my siblings quite regularly, is that showing love? Compassion? Every time I fight I take a step away from Christ. I can improve this, I know I can, He doesn’t put more on our plate than we can handle. If I can improve myself you can too, we are both human, we are both imperfect.

Salvation doesn’t come from a picture; salvation comes from your love for the One in the picture. I dare you to love not like. I dare you to believe…

Overcoming Our Giants

2012-06-05T13:47:00.001-07:00

Overcoming Our Giants

The other night in VBS we talked about overcoming our giants. Everyone has giants and our giants may be different from others. This got me thinking about my own giants.

In my day to day life I battle a giant, his name is Selfishness. I’m sure others giants have different names because they are different giants. I find myself thinking about myself more than I do about others. I tend to grab a plate and load up diner first, cook for myself first, etc. This isn’t right for me to do by other people and it really puts a damper on my character.

David also had a giant, his name was Goliath. In 1 Samuel 7:23, David notices Goliath for the first time. Surprisingly, little David does not fear Goliath. We shouldn’t fear our giants either because we can overcome our giants. God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states,"....but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

My giant tries to tell me that it is all about me. However, God doesn’t think the same way. We are put here to serve others, not ourselves. I still have a hard time putting others first. But I’m trying to think differently. You could say I am fighting my giant one stone at a time.

We all fear our giants. David did not fear his giant and killed him with one stone. We should not fear our giants either and there is a reason for this. God is always with us and he can deliver us from any situation. When we learn to fear God and not the giants our lives will be much easier. Learn to trust Him and pray about your giants. A very familiar verse says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13.

Battling our giants can be a challenge. I dare you to overcome your fears. I dare you to believe…

Memorial Day

2012-05-28T07:15:00.002-07:00

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a holiday that honors all of the soldiers who have died in a war. Just think about how courageous each and every soldier was. No matter the rank or job they all served equally because they served us willingly. I do not think I have the courage of those men. I do not think I would be able. Just the thought frightens me. That is why I have so much respect for our service men and women.

Some may think that they would be fit to be a soldier because of how good they are at “Call of Duty”. This is game is far from a real military experience. The closest thing to serving I would ever like to do is play that video game. For the men and women who serve and die I want to take a part out of my day and honor them. They were willing to put their own lives on the line so that we would have an easier life here. That is a true act of valor. They answer the Call of Duty.

If you are reading this post and have served or currently serving I want to honor you as well. I know this is Memorial Day but everyone deserves recognition. You also put your life on the line daily. I want to thank you for that.

We all take our freedom for granted. We go through our daily lives and rarely stop to think about how good we have it. In some countries, women cannot even ride bicycles. We have it good. We often forget about our soldiers overseas, away from their families, making sure our women can still ride bicycles. We forget about the lost also.

Take today to remember the lost. I dare you to say a prayer for the lost and also for the ones still fighting for us. I dare you to believe…

LOL

2012-05-26T21:17:00.001-07:00

LOL

Today the slang phrase/term “LOL” stands for laugh out loud. Almost everyone knows what this means, despite their age. This term is often used in text messaging as a substitute for “ha ha” or “very funny.” But lately I have noticed a change in the use of the term. I’ve noticed that this phrase has being used after almost after every sentence; even when the sentence has no comical value what so ever. I have noticed God being used after a lot of sentences as well…

In Exodus 20:7, it plainly states "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." I will go ahead and tell you, as I have many times before; I am defiantly guilty of this. I can make excuses and say “oh it slipped!” Or “I was just so angry at so and so!” But I want to own up to it because one day we will be judged by The Creator (you’re going to have to one way or another). In our daily lives we are surrounded by a very different group of people. Not everyone you are around is going to be a Christian; God NEVER promised us that our walk with Christ would be an easy one.

When we are around non-believers we are sometimes influenced by them. Whether we want to admit it or not this does happen. I have done things that my friends have just like you. We are all the same. We are all human. It is a matter of self-control (which I still struggle with). As I said earlier, God’s name is being used as an average, everyday, phrased used when we are mad or excited (both are still just as wrong as the other). I have tried to use replacement words like gosh and goodness but they aren’t good enough. Our society has made us feel like saying His name is fine. They may think this is okay to do because they may have felt abandoned at one time and cursed him and abused His Holy Name. They think this is okay so in turn (if they have some influence over us) we think the same.

Say one of our friends say His Name and we “LOL” about it. Exodus 20:7 says, “… the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” There is a serious punishment for what we consider clowning around. We don’t take this seriously because the people around us have dethroned God in their lives and we conform to whatever they do. Where will they be on you judgment day? Will they be there to back you up like they do now? Could they, in any way, get you out of your judgment?

We place all of our faith in the things of the world (friends, laptops, gaming systems, etc.). But when we are judged by the One true Judge we are empty-handed. Things of this world wither. However the treasures of Heaven are here forever.

Mathew 6:20 states, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

It’s easy to go along and just say it a few times. I dare you to believe that you can overcome this pressure. I dare you to believe…

Odd Inspiration

2012-05-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

(Don’t let the picture of this cheesy 80’s band prevent you from reading the post!)

The other day I was working on the blog and I had Pandora Radio on in the background. I love the band The Police so I put it on The Police radio and started working. On Pandora you pick and artists and their songs play as well as similar artists. In the middle of my work the band Tears for Fears came on playing their hit, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” As I was listening to the song I got to thinking about what the song was saying…

This post may sound similar to “On the Radar” but I have so much to say. The song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” simply talks about a person who is blindsided with their own plans. What I mean by this is that they are only concerned about themselves. I think everyone does this sometime on their lives. As I said in my last post, we sometimes get on these “highs” and think we are all that and no one can tell us what we should/shouldn’t do. Sometimes it goes to the extent where we think we could just rule the world (this is typically not the case but it has happened: Kony, Hitler, etc.). I know being on top of the world feels great but sometimes when we’re on top we tend to forget or not care about others and hurt them.

When we are “on top” we have a bad case of tunnel vision. We are almost like a train heading in one direction and it would take a lot of force to pull us off the track. That’s when prayer and self-control are our best friends. I believe that God can lead us out of anything (no doubt about it). But sometimes, I have done this, we feel like God can care less and we cut him off. You may not be able to see The Big Guy, but He is here. Some people may sever communications (or they think they do!) when they’re mad. However, some people don’t believe at all. I asked someone once how people could believe that we just popped up, how they could not believe in God. I received a simple response; it went something like this… “They do know something is here. I mean just look around, you have to know something is here, they just think they are above it.” That really hit home with me…

Guys, we all have our moments when we feel we are above everyone. It is ok to admit it; it is good to admit it! In fact, James 5:16 states it plainly, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” We should not take refuge in our status or possessions because they aren’t accepted In heaven. Our status may stay here and we might be remembered by it, but in the long run it is totally worthless to us or anyone else.

We may feel like we can “rule the world” sometimes and we have it all (but we really have nothing). I dare you to reach for God in these times of selfishness. I dare you to believe…

"On the Radar"

2012-05-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

“On the Radar”

Thanks to today’s social media and a few friends my little blog is finally getting out there in the world! I’m not going to lie; I have kind of enjoyed seeing the views go up. Today was an all time high and I feel blessed to have such a great group of people viewing my blog. However, the fame isn’t for me, the fame is for Him.

I think people get caught up in these little “highs”. I was excited myself but I sat down and told myself that the glory is for Him and not me. The purpose of this blog is to reach out to all, believers or non-believers; all. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We are here on this earth to praise the One who put us here. We are not here to praise the things of this earth, but the One who made the things of the earth. See guys, each and every little thing (no matter what it may be) involves God whether we realize it or not!

Some of you may be thinking that I’m saying we must praise God 24/7 and never do anything fun or for ourselves. That is not at all what I’m saying (*Writer’s Note*we will cover that subject soon). God does not call us to spend every second praising and worshipping us. He calls us to fear Him and show love and mercy upon people like he does to us. And when we are on these “highs” we are fast to forget about God and only focus on our success.

Forgetting about yourself and thinking about God can be a challenge. I dare you to take time and realize just what He has done for you. I dare you to believe…

Time Flies Part 2

2012-05-22T14:35:00.004-07:00

Time Flies Part 2

Today my 6 year old brother graduated from kindergarten. As soon as I saw him walk out with his cap and gown it all hit me. I remembered my post about how time flies…

Living life to its fullest isn’t an “every once and a while” event. So many times we are sitting with others planning activities for the next day, week, or month. Just today I was planning my vacation with my dad. We aren’t even promised the next second, so why do we dwell on the future? I think people today are used to waking up every morning and a day just being a day (tomorrow is tomorrow, etc.). I am a few short months away from being 16 and man am I excited! I am always complaining to mom about how time is passing slower than ever. But I realized I need to savor every moment, no matter how long they are.

I’m sure you have heard of a bucket list. Today made me realize that our “bucket-lists” should be lived out each and every day. I know financially we are not able to support these dreams. However, we can still live our life as it was about to end. I, in no way, am trying to make you feel like you are “wasting your life away or procrastinating.” I am guilty of going day by day myself. What I am saying is that every opportunity that comes to you take it! I am reminded of the movie Yes Man. The main character is stuck in a dead-end job and is constantly saying no. Once he learns to say yes, his life becomes a much better one. Again, I am not saying if you always say yes your life will become better. It’s just a way of saying be open to each and every opportunity that comes your way.

Not being guaranteed tomorrow is a scary thing. I dare you to live your life to the fullest. I dare you to believe…

Finally Getting Social

2012-05-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Finally Getting Social

I have finally had the time to set up accounts for Twitter and Facebook for the blog! Some of you may have noticed the icons on the top-right corner of the page of Twitter and Facebook. When clicked they do not work (for me at least). I will be working on that problem soon…

Follow & Like Daring to Believe!

Follow (Twitter): https://twitter.com/#!/daringbelive2

Like (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daring-to-Believe/389083634466769

Sorry that it has taken so long to get these up and running! Tell your friends and family about the blog and pages!

-Fletcher

Family Time is the Best Time

2012-05-19T21:35:00.001-07:00

Family Time is the Best Time

Tonight Emma, Graham, and I stayed with our grandparents. Whenever we stay, Pa usually cooks up a big dinner and we all have a great time. Tonight I actually had the opportunity to cook dinner (which was not too bad). Afterwards we decided to go fishing…

At the end of our trip I caught 8 (no joke), Gray caught 2, and Emma had no luck. As I sat on the dock I realized that I have been self-conceded on trips. I realized that I always put myself first and the others got whatever was left after that. What I mean by this is that I have had a mindset that it should be all about me. This isn’t the path I (or any of us) should be walking. I know I shouldn’t act like this and I’m going to try better to be more caring and not always think about myself. I realized that when I’m not always stuck up, I actually enjoy what we are doing. I feel very stupid for not realizing this earlier. I’m sure my Mom is reading this and saying, “I told him, I told him!!” The point is that I should have thought about this long ago.

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” –Philippians 2:3

It’s not always easy to stop and think about others (I have experienced this many times before). However, I dare you to believe that selfishness is just a small bump on the road of life. I dare you to believe…

Stepping Up

2012-05-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Stepping Up

My youth group’s “new year’s resolution” was to be a more mission-based group. Days after the ball was dropped we all loaded up and drove to the Nashville Rescue Mission to serve (which was an amazing blessing). Since January, we have yet to assist the elderly, serve the poor, or feed the hungry. Doesn’t look like the resolution has worked out, huh?

I could blame the pastor or staff or I could step back and blame myself, as well as the other members of our group. I feel like it is somewhat a responsibility to the youth that we speak out instead of keeping quiet and let the adults handle everything. We are a YOUTH group which means we should be the most involved, sadly we are not. As a youth group we should form close bonds with one another and be one.

In our group there is the head honcho (the pastor), the deputy (assistant pastor), and finally the common folk (the youth). But the cool thing is that we all have a say. I have the right to speak out about our issues in our group and figure out the best ways to work out the kinks. Everyone has these rights. I want to take the initiative and be our leader. I want to be the person that people can come to talk to. I want to be our voice and most of all fix one of my main problems with the group.

If our group had a leader, (not necessarily me, anyone who would be willing) they could speak out and fix our problems. If I was our leader I would fix our lack of missions. I want our group to be more than an every Wednesday and Sunday group. I want us to be a mission based group. A group that goes out in the spare time we have (as a group or even individuals) and better our community and ourselves as well.

If you have listened to 94.1 FM (WAY FM) this past week you may have heard about Blood: Water Missions. This organization, when you donate money, builds wells for the less fortunate in African countries. One “campaign” you can start with your group is the Lemon: Aid campaign. This certain campaign consists of setting up a lemonade stand and serving lemonade to thirsty bystanders. All the money made from your stand can be donated to the organization to fund a building of a well. There are many more campaigns you could start yourself! Check out the website here: http://www.bloodwatermission.com/take-action/campaigns.php

I believe that if our group really comes together as one we could make some amazing things happen in our community. I believe that change can and will happen…

New Blog "Logo"

2012-05-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

New Blog “Logo”

I came across this picture the other day and thought it would be perfect for the blog. I saw it and thought about God’s children. We are all God’s children, each and every one of us. However, not all of us believe in our creator. I think the blue arrow represents the believers and the red represents the non-believers.

The main reason I started this blog was to bring non-believers as well as believers the word of God. I want to reach as many people as possible and hopefully lead them in the right direction. When non-believers and believers come together they are one and that is what the black arrow represents. I hope that one day the world will be one big black arrow.

Please comment and tell me what you think about the new logo.

Time Flies

2012-05-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Time Flies

“Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.” –Hebrews 11:1

Tonight a former youth came to speak to us about the importance of our faith. He is a college student that has had his up and downs (as we all do). He went to the same church and youth group that I now attend. He shared with us that when he was in our group he was plugged in, he was very close to God. I feel the same way… sometimes.

We all have our good/bad days. I feel like when I’m not close to God it is my fault. Dakota pointed out the same thing. When he moved away he wasn’t always able to make the Wednesday night classes. This slowly put his relationship with God on hold. I think we all have our moments when we are “unplugged.” We don’t have to move off or miss a week; we can have perfect attendance and still be the worst student. People and media all throw us off of our spiritual path. We also throw ourselves off our paths. I haven’t posted in over a week and I do apologize for that. I messed up right there in my faith and I was at church for a few Wednesdays in a row.

We’re overwhelmed in our daily treks and we fall short. I try to post at least 2 to 3 times a week. I didn’t post last Wednesday and told myself I will Friday and didn’t. I put off my faith. Just like I posted about, but I said we cannot put off our faith. But I did, I contradicted myself. Dakota stressed to us that “time flies.” It seems like just yesterday that it was Christmas and it’s almost summer. Time does fly, which means we don’t need to procrastinate in our faith. I’m guilty for doing this, we all are. I didn’t post on my blog for a whole week I mean what’s next?

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” –Psalm 119:18

You’re used to living each day and looking forward to the next. But tomorrow we might not wake up. I know, it sounds kind of harsh but it is so true. We are not guaranteed tomorrow or next week or even next month. Today is here and we should live it to the fullest. Just like procrastinating in our walk, we take our days for granted.

Dakota also mentioned something a pastor told him. Look back and think, “What did I do for the kingdom during my (elementary, high school, college, etc.) years?” I have tried to talk about God a few times. I’m not going to lie, it was tough. My blog is a form of ministry. I should walk the extra mile in my faith. That’s not going to be easy. But I am willing to try. I post to provide a message for believers as well as non-believers. I should also step out of my comfort zone and talk to the lost about the very thing I do on this blog.

Time flies and we take it for granted. I dare you as well as myself to step out in your faith and minister to the lost. I dare you to re-kindle the flame in your relationship with God. I dare you to believe…

Shot Out of the Sky

2012-04-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

Shot Out of the Sky

Every year our church goes to CentriFuge or Fuge for short, a Christian camp for teens. We room in dorms with other boys from our youth group. Four boys in a room with one another for a week is the equation for pranks that usually don’t end as intended. I have pulled my fair share in my three years. Some I still regret.

So, as any idiot (I) would do I look up more pranks to do on YouTube (awfully stupid decision). One prank was to unscrew a shower head, put Kool-Aid powder in the head and let a Kool-Aid shower pour on your friend. I decided to see how it worked on my mom’s $60 showerhead and I totally destroyed it by screwing it on wrong. So that’s $60 out of my savings account…

Mom and Chad talked to me about it and the conversation expanded to more than the damage of simple pranks. I have made mistakes with my choices of pranks and I think I have forgotten the seriousness of this. They asked how I was even thinking about pulling more pranks. They told me I could rise above and lead.

At that moment I was shot out of the sky. It all sunk in. I had pulled some harsh pranks and now I was willing to pull more… I must be brain dead. I could lead. I could lead my group of peers out of thinking that pranks are essential to a trip. I have never thought of it like that.

I write a blog about Christian leadership, discipleship, and love. And I didn’t think that I could lead my peers? Once again, my brain’s motor needs a tune-up. The conversation wasn’t just about leadership and maturity. It was about being what God intends me to be in my teen and adult life. I think we all need to realize what we could be doing that we ignore every day. Like I ignored…

Over Spring Break I stayed with my Nanny and Pa away from Mom, Chad, Emma, and Graham. When I returned Emma had missed me more than I think anyone had missed me before. This was such a bittersweet moment. Bitter because I have treated her badly at times and sweet because of the love and affection she showed me. I was amazed.

Mom pointed this out to me, this was another bullet that knocked me out of my little (self conceded) world. I haven’t always treated Emma right but she still loved me and missed me. It was the closest thing to unconditional love that I have experienced from a person other than my mother. That absolutely blows my mind. To know that you can pester someone and disappoint them and they still love you. That, in my mind, is a Christ-like love. You can’t buy that…

Emma looks up to me because I am her big brother. I am here to protect her. Chad said I’m a littler him (Even though I have a few inches on him). I am supposed to be an example of the man she would want to marry one day, a man that she would love. I am here to be her protector. To be honest, I have done a very crappy job of that. I pray that changes soon.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." – Proverbs 31: 8 - 9

I think I am here for a purpose, we all are. I had medical issues that most don’t and that gives me an amazing advantage to be a witness for Him. I feel that this is my calling in life. I believe I am on this Earth to witness and rise and be a leader to the lost; a refuge to a lost. Yeah, I WRITE a blog but now I have to step up and WALK THE WALK. I was told that this needs to happen, and it is true. Again, shot out of the sky…

I feel disgusted with myself that I have let all of this just be for so long. I am thankful for my reality check. We all need one, no matter how perfect we think we or our lives are. Being shot out of the sky and having your flaws pointed out may seem harsh. But it is such a humbling experience; such a great awakening.

Being pointed out is hard, but so rewarding at the same time. I challenge you to think about the problems in your life. I dare you to believe that change is real. Change is here…

Algebra 2 End of Course

2012-04-27T16:56:00.001-07:00

Algebra 2 End of Course

As you may know, school is slowly but surely coming to a close. Tuesday, I will be taking my Algebra 2 End of Course. So, I will spend my weekend, as well as Monday, studying for the test. I will not post until next Wednesday or Thursday but if you have any ideas about a post you would like me to write feel free to comment or email me at fletchermoore@rocketmail.com.

Thank you for understanding,

-Fletcher

Ask Him/Her They're Home Schooled

2012-04-23T19:45:00.001-07:00

Ask Him/Her They’re Home Schooled

I go to church with some kids my age that are home schooled. Every time a question is asked, biblical or not, people say ask him/her they’re home schooled! They think because they are home schooled that they are more knowledgeable. This is not true…

I’m not going to get in to the scholastic aspects of this topic but I am getting in to the biblical ones. People assume if one is home schooled they are smarter than the average public school student. I think people think this because they make better grades. It is actually because they are more focused. They don’t have all the distractions that us “average” students do. They are more committed.

This is so true in both aspects, biblical and scholastic. Some kids, that are home schooled, take time out of their day to spend time with God. People in public schools complain that they don’t have enough time because of sports or homework. But what do you do after these activities? Watch TV? Play Xbox? Why not spend time with God? You have free time then…

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” -1 Peter 2:2

We often get the misconception that home schooled kids have grown more spiritually than us. This may be true because we are lazy Christians. We excuse ourselves out of spending time with God and when put to the test we simply say, “Ask him/her they’re home schooled.” We shouldn’t have this mentality.

I think we all have the same chance to spend time with our God but we are too busy excusing ourselves out of it. If we are too busy take a day off and just pray about it. Today we are too caught up in ourselves and in others to even think about this idea.

Being home schooled doesn’t guarantee a better relationship or knowledge about God. Having a relationship like that is being a devoted Christian. Some are not ready for this and I feel like I do my fair share of slacking.

It’s hard to find time in our busy schedule to be with God, but we can do it. We don’t have to be home schooled…

Uncondtional

2012-04-20T16:02:00.002-07:00

Unconditional

I was just lying on the couch with Pearl when I thought about something. I thought that no matter how cruel or mad I get with her she always loves me. Dogs, well most, love you with an unconditional love. I feel like Pearl has and always will love me.

Pearl is two now and I have loved that crazy dog for both of those great years. My first dog, Jackson, died about 2 years ago. Months later, we got Pearl. Now Pearl is a big part of the family. A best friend to all of us, except dad… Sometimes she is a little crazy but we still love her and she still loves us.

When Jackson died, I was extremely upset. I had Jackson since I was 3 years old. I was angry at everyone really. I should have prayed for guidance and comfort but I never did. I was mad at God, just like when I was sick. But I don’t think I realized something then that I do now. God loves us unconditionally too.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” –Romans 8:35

I separated myself from His love. I chose to rebuke God and blame him for this sudden death. I was so wrong to do that. Some say, “God doesn’t love unconditionally, if he did life would be fine, no death, sickness, hunger.” They are just as wrong as I was. God originally intended for life to be peachy. However, Adam and Eve fell into temptation and God punished us all for their actions.

God loves us unconditionally, and here’s how I know this…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16

God may have seemed harsh to some for punishing us. But He showed us how amazing He was when He sent His Son to the cross for our sins. How many fathers do you know who would do that, not only for you, but everyone who ever did and ever will exist. No one comes to mind. That was God saying, I love you to the ends of the earth and back.

Sometimes we feel alone in life. We find comfort in our animals who love us unconditionally. In my mind God sent us our pets as a reminder. A reminder that He is here and He will love us unconditionally.

God may seem absent in our lives sometimes. But He is always here to guide us. To love us unconditionally.

Maturity

2012-04-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

Maturity

“Maturity is the capacity to endure uncertainty.” – John Finely

I feel that in some aspects of my life I am mature. I can drive a car and be trusted, even stay at home while my parents are away. However, in other aspects my maturity switch is stuck in the middle. It is similar to a flickering light bulb, it’s either going to turn off or on but you never know which. This part, my dysfunctional switch, is located on my relationship with my siblings.

I would like for people to think of me as an outstanding big brother who always provides and makes my brother and sister happy. Sadly, this is not always the case. And yes, I am ashamed of that. Say the kids are being too rowdy and I get on to them for this. This is not my place and I constantly think otherwise. I am also constantly punished. I think I am the adult and well I’m not.

I actually feel more obligated as a Christian as well as a person because I write this blog. If I slip up or contradict myself my mom will point it out; which is amazing to have your mom as an accountability partner. I was fighting with the kids the other day and she posed a question, why don’t you post about fighting with the kids on the blog? That got me thinking, I have been contradicting myself and I didn’t truly realize it. How could I post about all this and go do the total opposite? I am blessed to have her to point out things like that.

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” -1 Corinthians 13:11

Wikipedia defines maturity as, “a psychological term used to indicate how a person responds to the circumstances or environment in an appropriate manner. This response is generally learned rather than instinctive, and is not determined by one's age.” This hits home for me. It is not determined by one’s age, which means I don’t have to be a man to be mature, I can be mature now. It will be a hard road though. If you truly want something, you have to work for it (seems like I have learned that the hard way, huh?)

In any family, there will always be conflict. But we can work together to resolve it. That’s why they call it family! Families are meant to love one another as well as guide one another on the right path. As a family, you should always provide for one another. If Gray had an anger issue we would guide him through or if mom was stressed we would try to calm down and give her peace. I’m sure if I were to ask to be held accountable, they certainly would. I think I just might do that…

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” -1 Timothy 3:4

I challenge any member of a family who reads this to hold your family members accountable. But also be held accountable yourself.

I dare you to love, I dare you to believe…

This is an excerpt from something i've started writing...

2012-04-13T16:07:00.001-07:00

Part One

Young Lust

“Young Lust, you're dying and you're screamin' inside

Oh, you're guilty way before you've been tried

And it's crazy but you're diggin' it”

–Aerosmith, “Young Lust”

Aerosmith is a world renowned rock band known for their crazy antics, drug use, and numerous #1 hits. They may not be a Christian band, but they have a solid point.

“Young Lust, you’re dying and you’re screamin’ inside,” Lust is present in everyday life whether you’re a boy or a girl. Lust is here for one reason, to tempt. You see someone attractive, what do you want to do? Talk? Date? Even have sex with the person? When we lust we desire for a person, we want the person because of their money, physical features, etc. We are quote on quote “dying” to be with that person. You see the person more and more and that means we lust more and more. You are literally “screamin’” inside because you want the person so bad.

“Oh, you’re guilty way before you’ve been tried,” To me, this can be easily viewed at a biblical standpoint. When we lust after a person who is not the person we are meant to be with we are guilty.

Mathew 5:28 states, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

One day all of us will be tried. Not by a court judge or the jury of neighbors, family, or church members but by God Almighty. We are guilty in our hearts and in our minds when we lust, far before we are tried.

“And it’s crazy but your diggin’ it,” Sometimes we tell ourselves it’s okay to do it a few times, that we’ll eventually stop. Lust is crazy, especially in our teenage years. Our hormones are raging and we are desperate for a quick fix. We want something that will satisfy us for the moment. However, we can change this; we can prevent these “quick fixes.” God can deliver us from these difficult times.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” -Proverbs 3:5

The teenage years are crazy. I am only halfway through myself. Lust is seductive, lust is cruel. Yet, sometimes we fall into lust and are “diggin’ it.” I’m not saying that you will never lust, I’m saying when you do, and there is a way out. Some teens could never get out, some of those people never tried. This ruins future relationships including marriage, family, girlfriends and boyfriends, etc.

You can get out; you just have to have the faith and the patience to do it.

My Easter Experience

2012-04-09T15:44:00.003-07:00

My Easter Experience

This Easter for me, as well as my family, was a new and exciting experience. After all of the eating and egg hunts our family settled down in a tent and sang both old and new worship songs. We had communion and ended with a short Easter message.

I have never thought of our family to be a very religious one. My mother, step-father, and siblings go to church but we are about the only ones in our family except for some cousins. This all changed last August. Every year we have Easter at my grandmother and grandfather’s house. I knew my grandmother believed in God but never practiced her beliefs. She would come to church when my siblings or I sang in the choir or other special events but not a regular occurrence. I was worried.

One Sunday in August my grandmother went in front of the church. It was one of the best things that have happened in my life. From that moment on it has been easier for me to express my faith around her and we have helped guide each other. My grandmother is one of the most important people in my life to me. Her decision to follow Christ more than strengthened our bond.

This Easter was very special as well. Usually we would eat, hunt, talk, and go home. Having that worship time with my grandmother as well as other family members was amazing.

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." –Colossians 3:16

I would have never thought that Easter would be a celebration there. But I was so wrong. Being wrong in this situation is such a wonderful wrong.

Next time you get the chance just sit down with your family and share your thoughts. It is defiantly a good risk to take.

“There are many things which a person can do alone, but being a Christian is not one of them. As the Christian life is, above all things, a state of union with Christ, and of union of his followers with one another, love of the brethren is inseparable from love of God. Resentment toward any human being cannot exist in the same heart with love to God. The personal relationship to Christ can only be realized when one has "come to himself" as a member of His Body, the Christian fellowship.” –William T. Ham