For anyone who is under some false impression that I am no longer tempted, please allow me to be transparent with you (Please be advised that the content of this journal entry may not be suitable for pre-teenagers). I am not ashamed to admit that today, even in my zealous pursuit of righteousness (to be in right standing with God), I still fall into temptation. Each day I awake, I am tempted by the evil, and identical twin spirit of lust that Edward wrestles against (read September 27 journal entry). I say twin spirit because whether the spirit is heterosexual, or homosexual, they both come from the same evil father, and both of their objectives are the same: to lead us into sexual immorality and, ultimately, to our death. So, what is sexual immorality? Sexually immoral behavior is any sexual activity that one engages in before, or outside of the sanctity of marriage. And for clarification: the sanctity of marriage was established by God to cultivate the union of a man and a woman. Read More
My visit to the LA today taught me an extremely valuable lesson about this thing called pride. Upon arriving to Union Station, I took my usual path to the bus stop, and was greeted by a young women (probably in her early twenties). She asked me for a few dollars, but not having any cash on me, I responded, “No. I’m sorry.” Then, while taking a seat near her on a cement bench, I said,
“But I can pray for you.”
“Okay,” she replied.
“We can pray right now if you want?” I responded.
“No thanks,” she replied.
After her response, she proceeded to ask others for a few dollars, and when she heard “No,” from three more individuals, she said, out of what appeared to be pride, as well as disgust for her current circumstances,
“I can’t believe I’m out here asking people for a dollar.” Read More
A few days ago, this thought came to mind, I have to make sure that I am not going out into the streets for the sole purpose of having encounters with people, simply to journal about. No…I have to remain mindful that my journaling is simply a vehicle in which the miraculous move of God, through and in my life, is being shared with others. After this thought, despite being confident that my heart was in the right place, and set on doing exactly what the Lord sent me here to do, I was compelled to be still. So, for the past few days I have not visited the Metrolink train station, and I have had no encounters with strangers to write about. Instead, I have simply spent time waiting…patiently waiting for the Holy Ghost to minister to me…and He did. What I have learned in this period of waiting is, I must rid myself of all expectations. Read More
the Measure
By ian | Los AngelesA few months ago, while examining my own response to the commission of Christ: my willingness to stop fighting in the courts for the custody of my daughter, walk away from the NFL and sell my home…all for the cause of Christ, I found myself asking God this question: Why aren’t more people willing to forsake all? Why are there so few that are willing to walk away from homes, family, jobs, etc., for the cause of Christ? Then, just as quickly as I asked the question, the Holy Ghost sharply responded, Read More
This morning I boarded the train and after finding a seat, I began a friendly conversation with Ms. Lopez, a woman, in her sixties, that is soon to be married and nearing retirement. As we talked about music, God and life, I was led to gift her a CD just before she exited the train. Then, as a man sat in her empty seat, I smiled and acknowledged him. The train made one stop after another, and with the train finally approaching LA’s Union Station, a man dressed as a woman walked by me in his preparation to exit. While waiting to exit, in an effort to ensure that my encounter with the man I had a few days ago did not repeat, I, shamefully, avoided eye contact with him. If my response to Ed exhibited the love of Christ, my reaction to this gentleman certainly did not! Then, before I knew it the Holy Ghost rebuked me for my unwillingness to love and be receptive to ALL of God’s children. Read More
