My Sunday Testimony

I wrote this testimony to be read at Richfield Church of the Nazarene's December 26th Sunday service. It was a very special day because it had been my only visit in four years, and most likely my last. Swartz Ambulance Service volunteered to transport me for free, making it a real miracle. I sat in the sanctuary after the service when the lights went dark. Jesus was there. I felt His surge of power and saw the beauty of the large illuminated cross behind the alter. Tears came to my eyes, because there is nothing on this earth that could ever be more powerful than that moment.


The last time I was here in church, I had no idea what would come to pass the following week. I was feeling sick, so I stayed home. Hours later, I was passing out. Waking up after that operation that saved my life, I fell into quite the depression. I couldn't move, and found out I would never regain the strength I had lost. Months, almost a year went by and I had to accept that I would be confined to a bed. I would not be able to attend church, or travel anywhere. People tell me they would not be able to handle what I have gone through. For awhile there, I did not handle it well. I made an effort to look strong on the outside, but inside, I was craving a deeper purpose in life beyond just surviving. On the recommendation of a few people, I started this blog. By inspiring and reaching out to others about Jesus Christ, I found a newfound strength to keep going. That I was finally making a difference.

Why does God allow so much suffering? It's a topic that isn't easy to explain. There are times when I just have to ask, "Why?" Not everything is made known to us. We don't know God's master plan, We wouldn't even be able to comprehend it.

God does not wish us ill, He does not enjoy seeing us in pain, or dealing with hardship in our lives. Satan is the one to blame for that. God has complete control over everything, that is true. God may step back and allow Satan to throw his stones, but God does not supply the slingshot. He knows how much we can handle, and how much we can't. God knows us deep down more than we know ourselves.

When I think back to the time where my existence was on the drawing board, I think of this. God knew I would love Him heart, mind, and soul. He was so sure, He said to Satan, "Okay, give him Muscular Dystrophy. You may have control of his body, but I will always have his soul." Satan took the challenge, and I can say with absolute certainty that he failed miserably. I will admit there were times when Satan was probably feeling pretty good about himself, but once the Lord was in my corner, he never stood a chance.

Considering all the hardships that come with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, I do not believe it is a curse. In many ways, it has made me stronger. I would not be who I am without this condition. God knows it hasn't been easy for me, but I know this life is not my last. Knowing that is what gets me through, what keeps me going. My biggest hope is that my condition will show others how faith in God can help them overcome the toughest of battles they may face in life.
I am very thankful of all the special people in my life, and those who have made this church visit possible. This may be my last chance to attend, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity.

What Keeps Me Going

One of the most asked questions asked by non believers is, If God is so loving, why does He allow so much suffering? It's a topic that isn't easy to teach. Even Christians wonder from time to time, I know I have. There are times when I just have to ask, "Why?" Not everything is made known to us. We don't know God's master plan. Even if He came down and told us, we wouldn't even be able to comprehend the magnitude of His plan.

God does not wish us ill, He does not enjoy seeing us in pain, or dealing with hardship until we break. You will need to look down if you want to see who is responsible for that. God has complete control over everything, that is true. God may step back and allow Satan to throw his stones, but do not think for one second that God supplies the slingshot. He knows how much we can handle, and how much we can't. God knows us deep down better than we know ourselves. After all, He did create every one of us.

When I think back to the time when my existence was on the drawing board, I think of this. God knew I would love Him heart, mind, and soul. He was so sure, He said to Satan, "Okay, give him Muscular Dystrophy. You may have control of his body, but I will always have his soul." Satan took the challenge, and I can say with absolute certainty he failed miserably. I will admit there were times when Satan was probably feeling pretty good about himself, but once the Lord was in my corner, he never stood a chance.

Considering all the hardships that come with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, I do not believe it is a curse. In many ways, it has made me stronger. I would not be who I am without having this disease. God knows it hasn't been easy for me, but I know this life is not my last. Knowing that is what gets me through, what keeps me going.

Never Give Up

I have to tell you, there has never been a time in my life where I have been this discouraged about the world around me. Every time I turn on a news broadcast or open a news web page, I am greeted with the worst of our civilization. It's depressing, and so easy to feel hopeless, like nothing I will ever do will change anything. Like no one has any hope of righting the course that our country, and the world, has been sent down.

Then, I find myself thinking, why bother wasting my time? One day, I will be in a place where none of it will matter anymore. I'll be in Heaven and finially know peace. But, that kind of thinking is dangerous, and it sure isn't the kind of attitude God teaches us to have. Giving up on doing good and making a difference is the worst kind of message you can send. When people no longer care about each other and living their lives by example, evil develops and grows like a wildfire.

What do you think would happen if everyone gave up and conceded that the world is going to chaos no matter they do? The world would be a much more terrible place. I will tell you this, I believe the work we do now as Christians is more important than ever. As long as we don't give up and keep following God's will, the Lord will shine through us and into others. Even if you lead only one person to Jesus, that is one more person in this world loving the Lord, and that is something that will really make a difference, both to that person, and the lives they will change with Jesus shining through them. You never know just how many lives you might influence by never giving up on spreading God's Word.

Life Is A Gift

I was reading an article about Euthanasia and mercy killings, and the negative impact of making it legal for doctors to assist in suicides. As someone that is terminally ill, I can imagine the fear of being admitted to a hospital with doctors who participate in ending lives. Many people think assisting terminally ill patients to die is an act of compassion. It isn't an act of compassion, it's an act they can't come back from. In the Lord's eye, the doctor would be a murderer and the patient would be committing a sin they can't ask to forgive. If people want to show compassion, they should talk them back from the ledge. Suicide, whether they are a moody 16 year old or a terminally ill adult, it isn't the answer. They need the help and support to overcome the difficulties in their lives.
Years ago, I woke up in a hospital with most of my mobility gone. At first, I wished I never woke up from surgery. I slowly got past that, but it was a long time before I fully appreciated being alive and given the gift of a second chance. I have a family and a savior who transformed my life, making me see things in a different light, a better light. I can't imagine what my life would be without my faith and where I would be. It isn't something I even want to think about.

When I think of the people who have committed suicide, I want to shout to the world that life is a gift, and not something to be taken lightly. There are those who will deceive us into taking our lives for granted. Deception is Satan's favorite tool, and he will use it to make your life miserable. But, there is protection and His name is Jesus Christ. Having the Lord in my life has given me the peace to be happy with my life. God does not give anyone more than they can handle. He knows our true potential more than we know our own. Every life includes trials that test us, they shape us into who we are. To give up on those trials is to deny ourselves the chance to become who we are meant to be. God has a plan for us. It might not make sense now, but it will. Take it from someone who knows, the road is much smoother with the Lord beside you.

The Beauty of God's Glory

I was listening to this song the other day. I don't know who was singing or what the words were because it was in a language I didn't recognize. That doesn't matter, what matters is the feeling it gave me.
A couple minutes before, I was in a depressed mood. I was feeling sorry for myself and i was pretty down. There was this music file i didn't know was there. I played it to see what it was, and it was this beautiful song of a woman singing with a piano in the background. This feeling of awe washed over me at how beautiful and powerful the song was. I'm not one to be moved and amazed by artistic talent, but this song got to me and every trace of depression left me in a flash. What it showed me is just how beautiful God's glory is. Here He created this woman with a gifted singing voice, Here He gave a man the hands and inspiration to build the first piano, and Here He brought everything together making it possible for me to hear this song when I desperately needed to.
The Lord reminded me of his beauty and it amazed me to the point where I broke down and cried. Here I was feeling sorry for myself, oblivious to all of God's blessings surrounding me. Blessed with the greatest family I could ever dream of having, blessed with a great life full of happiness, blessed with the freedom and safety of an American, and blessed to know Jesus as my savior and best friend. What more could I ever ask for? My tears turned to those of joy when I felt how much I truly love the Lord. I just can not put into words how much I love Him. The words do not exist to properly express myself. After all He has done for me and given me, how could I not love Him with all my heart and soul?
When things get the best of you and your feeling down or depressed, stop and look around you. Find something you find beautiful, a picture, song, or an open window. Just let go of your troubles. Let God show you his beauty and embrace the miracle of it. Nothing is more powerful than God's beauty, nothing.

Stay Committed

In this world where tyranny, violence, and chaos rules supreme, spreading from continent to continent, so many have lost sight of what is really going on. An absence of God and an absence of morality.
When the United States of America were founded, Christianity played an important role in defining the way of life for most of Americans. "In God We Trust" and "One Nation Under God" says it perfectly. For most citizens and leaders of that time, They trusted God completely to see to their needs. And the Lord did. In just 200 years, our great nation became the most powerful in the world. Yes, that power corrupted some of our leaders into making grand mistakes. But, that power also saved the world from evil dictators, brought great aid to countries in turmoil, and freed total strangers from tyranny when no one else would. We led by example, God's example. Helping those who couldn't help themselves.
But of course, with great power comes great responsibility, and we lost sight of that. Too many of our fellow citizens became arrogant, greedy, and egotistically proud of themselves. Our safety and freedom made our lives easy, and was taken for granted. God became an after thought to some, and that attitude has grown over time. The values and morals families were proud to pass on have continued to decay with every generation. I don't have to tell you, you see it happening every day. Greed, selfishness, sexual immorality, depravity, violence... the list goes on. Our leaders and citizens are so used to this behavior, these acts become normal and accepted in our society. Politician's and Businessman's Greed are putting people out of work, the selfish have no regard for the well being of others if it means disrupting their comfortable life, homosexuality is being taught to children as acceptable behavior, and people are going on shooting sprees when they are in a bad mood.
I don't know about you, but that is NOT normal, and it should NOT be accepted as just a cruel world. I have heard it said, that we hear so much of this on the news because it's getting easier and easier for people to communicate in this age. But I am not buying it. Satan is getting more followers each day. With less people following God, that is less people paying attention to the morals and values we Christians live by. They give into the temptation of living by their own rules, which are Satan's rules in disguise. And we know how destructive that can be.
It is now, more important than ever to teach the Word of God to the souls that need His guidance. The best thing we can do for this country, this world and the people in it, is spread the Word, the love, and the support of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bringing just one more person into the light of Jesus will be one more soul praising Him in Heaven, and nothing, not one thing is more important than that.

A Force For Good

It is so easy in today's world to find evil, all we need to do is walk through a busy public area, turn on and watch a news channel, or even through the Internet. And seeing that evil, we naturally want to hide from it any way we can. Cut off access and forget about it, driving it from our minds. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, it probably is a big part of how we stay sane. Believe me, there are days I do nothing but retreat into fiction to escape from the harshness of reality.
But we must not do that too much, as we can not bury our heads in the sand and hope something fixes everything for us. Being Christians as we are, we have a responsibility to spread God's word among those who do not know it. It is so easy to see someone who is lost, especially those doing distasteful things, and want to totally shut them out, too easy. But that is not how God teaches us to act towards the unsaved. Instead, it is our job to prepare them for Jesus. I know most are not going to react well if we condemn them to Hell if they don't accept Jesus then and there. It takes patience and care. Treating them with kindness, lending a helping hand, or just being a friend.
That is love, God's most powerful weapon against Satan. Every day is a fight, and every decision is a battle. Be a force for good and you can not lose, it renders Satan powerless. So I say, be a thorn in his side, and smile. God made us in His image. That smile could go on to introduce a lost soul to Jesus. And that is one less soul serving Satan. The way you interact with others, showing respect and kindness, that will do wonders. It reflects Jesus onto others, and that is our mission in life.

God Has A Voice

A lot of people ask me how I come up with the words I write. Considering my situation, I know I can seem helpless. A year ago, Even I felt helpless without a purpose. But, I didn't give up on my faith or my trust in God, and He didn't give up on me. In truth, it isn't my word. It's God's word. I only spread it.

I wasn't in tune with His word, and I just needed to find the right station He was broadcasting on. My mind was trying too hard, and seemed to be drowning out what was in my heart. Once I tuned out the static, It became clear I have purpose. And the way this blog, the way my ministry has turned out, testifies to that fact. God does not speak in a literal sense, not as actual words, but as subtle thoughts and signs and a nudge in the right direction. It just isn't something that can be explained to those without faith. Because only through faith, will people hear His word. I wake up in the night with one central thought. I can feel something isn't quite right and a word or phrase pops out at me, A news headline maybe. Or my daily routine brings me across an opportunity that is just too perfect to be a simple coincidence. These things happen and I just know the Lord had his hand on me, inspiring me in ways that will inspire other people. It isn't something to be explained with words. Through spreading the word of God and the sacrifice of Jesus, you spread all that is good in this world. When people are exposed to God and see the joy He brings, their faith grows. And through faith, God speaks.

Why Me?

First, I want to thank everyone for their congratulations and well wishes on my recent Ordination as a Minister. This was not something I expected or aimed for when I started my blog, My only intention was to spread God's word and inspire people through Him. Thank you to all those who have helped me make my mark in the world, and I intend to influence this world as much as I can, in the way that God commands us all.

I think this calls for a topic that relates to me strongly. Too many people convince themselves that they are not worthy of being saved. They ask, "Why me? Why would God care about me? I'm just a regular person." The truth is, we all are just regular people, regardless of status. But, through God, we are made for greatness.

Look at Moses, he was just an uncharismatic shepherd, but through God, he freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Look at David, a servant of Saul, who struck down the giant Goliath with a single stone. These men were not born as princes or sons of wealthy officials, they were just regular men at a disadvantage, whether that be physical or social standing. God called on them and they answered the call. They trusted the Lord to provide for their needs, and the Lord blessed them.

God does not see physical abnormalities, social status, skin tones, or gender. He sees his children. We may make mistakes, sin against others, or break His commandments, but He still and always will love us. As long as we live our lives through Him, He will always be there to power us into doing what we previously thought impossible. Accepting Jesus into our hearts allows us to tap into the greatness He provides. It doesn't matter how ordinary we think of ourselves as being. To the Lord, we are his precious and non replaceable children. Do not think of what you can not do, think of what you can do. God gives us all a purpose and the power to do that purpose. What can you do to serve God best?

God and Country

I read an article earlier that just burned me. Not really as in anger, but in sheer disbelief as to how far society has fallen, and how blurry the line between good and evil has become. A religious watchdog group has complained to a Denver Army hospital to remove a cross and motto from their emblem, in fear that it may offend our enemies in the middle east. According to the Obama administration, "The war on terror is not a war on Islam." "We are not a Christian nation." I'm getting the urge to throw water into their face and yell at them to wake up. Our enemies don't want a hug, they want us dead. That may sound blunt, but it is the truth. Despite if people want to believe it or not, This IS a Christian nation and we are at war. We fight in this war to protect all freedoms, including the freedom they use to speak out against us.

The atheists love to preach how intolerant we Christians are. Yet, they are the ones who want every and all traces of God removed from society. Is that tolerance? Because to me, they sound like hypocrites. They also love to cite the constitution, which states:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
Removing God from society is prohibiting free exercise from practicing our faith, when our traditions get attacked because 1/100th of the population might be offended. Our traditions have been in place for hundreds of years, kept in place because our founding fathers were Christians just like us. The far left tries to tell us that the State acknowledging Christianity is unconstitutional. The founding fathers meant that the State will not officially adopt one religion and prohibit any other religions. To my knowledge, that amendment has never been discarded. If anything, the current administration seems to support Islam more than it does Christianity.

Most government officials were Christians, as well as most citizens at that time. Why should we lose our traditions just because a few atheists are so insecure in their beliefs, that they can't stand seeing God in society? If they don't believe in God, why do they make such a fuss over Him? It could be that deep down inside they feel guilty, and don't want reminders of their sins. Sometimes they need a push in the right direction. Don't get me wrong, they infuriate me at times, but deep down they are human beings. What is one theme in the Bible? Anyone can be saved if they wish to be. Pray for them. Never give up on good, it will always prevail over evil in the end.

A Love Most Powerful

Sometimes you really have to ask yourself, with all the evil and sin that the world as a whole brings upon itself every day, do any of us really deserve to be saved? All of us are guilty of sin at numerous times in our lives, none of us can escape it. God has blessed us all with life, in all of it's beauty and grandeur. Yet we still allow sin to creep in and strike at us. So in answer to that question, no, we do not deserve God's love for us.

But despite it all, He blesses us with a love that is more powerful than words can describe. God recognizes that we have a flaw, the same flaw that caused the fall of man in the garden of Eden, and He knew we needed a savior. That savior being Jesus, God's one and only son that sacrificed His life so that we can have everlasting life. That is love, the very definition of it.

All that God wants in return is our love, and for us to put our faith and trust in him. As for me, I can not imagine doing anything less. Despite my tough trials, He has blessed me in more ways than I can list. I may not be perfect, I may not deserve it at times, but the Lord is always there. And for that, I give Him all the love and trust I can give.

Americans Standing United For A Better World

I have three main priorities in my life. 1) My faith and relationship with the Lord. 2) My values and ideals as a Christian. 3) My love for my country and what it stands for. More and more, I see these three priorities disappearing from the world's eye as the decades tick by. Modern society teaches that you can be good without God, that morals and Christian values belong in an old fashioned world, and that the big bad US of A needs to apologize for our past and current foreign policies. Modern Society is wrong. It is not an improvement over old ideals, it is one step away from total chaos.

The fact of the matter is, this world needs us now more than ever to stand up and loudly proclaim that we are Christians, and that we will continue spreading God's word to those who need it. That is our God given duty. This country is still ticking and God is not done with us yet. The White House may be bringing this country down to the lowest level in history, as God has said would happen to those who curse Israel, but the rest of us still have some fight left in us. I for one will not give up on this country or the good left in this world.

What the masses don't seem to understand is what would happen if the US stopped policing and giving aid to the nations of the world who need it. It would be like selling our soul, giving up on what made this country great. Have they truly forgotten what this country stands for? A force of good, an example of honor, and a light shining bright in the darkness. Trusting in God, and being blessed by God. The blessed are our friends, and evil is our enemy. The evil in this world may be winning at the moment, and our cause may seem lost, but the second we admit defeat is the moment where despair sets in. Whether they know it or not, whether they thank us or not, they need our help. If we abandon our mission to fight tyranny and oppression, the world loses because who will pick up our slack? With no one to take it on themselves to fight the unjust, everyone loses.

I stress this, we can not give up. We can not give up and just say, "You know what, the rapture is coming anyway, why waste my time?" or "You know what, if Israel is so ungrateful and rejected Jesus, let them fend for themselves." NO. That is Satan talking, that is what he wants. He wants Iran to nuke Israel off the map. He is enjoying watching God's chosen people being surrounded and taking flak from all sides. Do not give him the satisfaction. In a world full of evil, anger and hate, the world needs our love, our compassion, our sense of good, our prayers, and they most of all need to know our savior. Teach them, show them the way, and give them the hope they need to put their faith in a higher power, in God. If at least one person, even just one turns to the Lord and follows his example of love and generosity, you have Succeeded in making this world and the next a better place.

Standing Tall Against Persecution

Estimated 500 Christians dead after massacre in Nigeria. The attacks were led by the Muslim Fulani group, who have clashed with Christians recently in the region. I just happened to come across the news headline buried beneath Oscar fashion and NFL draft news. A tragedy like this happens, yet to the media it doesn't seem to have much priority. Maybe by the morning it will be paid more attention, but I suspect it will not defend Christians, as most of us know we often are shown as the aggressors.

I quote comments as saying "Religion should be declared a mental illness", "Remove religion and you would remove 95% of crimes in the world", "Muslims killing Christians is a lie fabricated by American Christians." DO NOT give in to these opinions, for it is Satan who is trying to discredit religion with anger and hate. That is his goal, that is what he wants. But stand firm, praise God in the face of persecution, and pray for the souls that have been led astray.

As Christians, we will endure, for God is on our side and will give us strength. It would be easy to give in to anger and lash out back, but God wants us to take the high road. This is what seperates us from them. To them, the innocent are merely tools to be sacrificed in the name of "Jihad". But we value life as a God given gift to be treasured, even if it means putting ourselves in harm's way. The way I see it, God gives us all a purpose, no matter how big or how small. If it is your time, God will bring you home. If God has further plans for you, He will see that you endure. Either way, in the end, the Lord will bring us home.

Stand up, stare Persecution in the eyes and make it clear that you will not be broken. The Lord, Jesus Christ is our savior, who we love, and who we serve.

God Bless,
Stephen

God Loves All, Forgives All

My name is Stephen and I am a sinner. I have made mistakes, and I will continue making mistakes until my last days on this earth. That makes me human. I am not perfect and I accept that the wages of my sins is death.

But as I believe in Jesus Christ My Savior, as I have a relationship with Jesus and love him, my sins are forgiven. As a human being, I have not been pure, I have not been perfect, and I do not deserve to be forgiven. But as a Christian, I am saved. As I believe in Him, God has looked past my past transgressions and has forgiven me.

NIV John 3:16: “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."

We may be sick and hurting with regret over past mistakes, and do not think God can forgive us, but here is the truth: None of us deserve to be forgiven, but God loves us as we are, as he has created us. His heart beats inside of ours, because we have accepted Him in. We are His children. We love and have faith in Him and that pleases him.

Believe. Keep faith. Love. Rest soundly, He is coming for us.

God Bless,
Stephen

God's Beauty of Creation

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast glory. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." (Genesis 1:31-2:2)

God's beauty is everywhere, and our creator, our loving God has truly blessed us. Breathtaking mountains and valleys, streams and seas intricately carved with his gentle hands. Dense beautiful forests of trees seeded out of his giving hand. Graceful Cheetahs running wide open across the African grasslands, created by God's grace. The Human Beings that love, laugh, and smile, created in our Heavenly Father's own image.

Is today's technology and science at a critical step to become tomorrow's advancements to the human race? No. The only critical step to advance ourselves is to accept God, believe he sent his only Son to die on the cross, so that we can have everlasting life. I have nothing against technology, in fact, it keeps me alive every day. But explaining everything away as "breakthroughs" in technology and science is not the answer. Science can not prove to me that the earth evolved from some random "big bang" event, and that human beings evolved from a ball of rock. Scientists look toward science to be their savior, but in reality, they just can't explain how the earth was created, and their egos will not accept that they are wrong. To them, believing in an all powerful being is "illogical."

The truth is right in front of everyone, but Satan puts blinders over their eyes. Look at the world around you, is nature's beauty a result of millions of years of evolution? Your computer, a man-made piece of technology, is the inventor's brain a result of evolving from primitive cavemen? No. These things could not have been created without God creating the heaven and earth, humans and beasts. God's beauty surrounds us all, and it is His will, everything ultimately was created by Him. We owe everything to God, and that is why I will serve him in this life and for eternity.

God Bless,
Stephen

Disaster Strikes

After the devastating earthquake that rocked the foundations of Haite, the death toll has risen to heights that is an absolutely terrible thing to witness, especially to the relief aid volunteers on the ground. I ask everyone to take a few minutes out of each day to pray for the population that has lost homes, businesses, family members, and hope. Pray for the relief aid volunteers to restore hope in the hearts of the population. Pray for and give praise to those bringing in much needed supplies, the good Samaritans lending a hand, and conducting prayer meetings to touch the hearts of the lost who need God's love. May God bless Haite and put his hand on their rebuilding efforts.

I can understand how some may have trouble accepting God could let this happen. I admit I have had the same trouble accepting God's reason for me having this disease that I have, but I can not stress how important keeping your faith in God is at these points in your lives. Doubt, resentment, anger... are all tools that Satan uses to trap you in a dark, dark place that is hard to escape.

Faith in times like these is critical. Putting that faith in God will get you through the hardest of times. In God you must trust, and He will never let you down. Trust me, at the time you may not understand God's plan, but in the end, He will always be at your side, no matter what.

God bless you all,
Stephen