Revival

     Revival is the renewal of the first love of Christians, resulting in the awakening and conversion of sinners to God. In the popular sense, a revival of Christianity in a community is the arousing, awakening, and reclaiming of the more or less backslidden church and the more or less awakening of all classes, and insuring attention to the claims of God. It presupposes that the church is sunk down in a backslidden state, and a revival consists in the return of a church from her backsliding, and the conversion of sinners.
    
A revival always includes conviction of sin on the part of the church. Backslidden professors cannot wake up and and begin right away in the service of God, without a deep searching of the heart. The fountains of sin must be broken up before revival can take place.

     Backslidden Christians will be brought to repentance. A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God. Just as in the case of a converted sinner the first step is a deep repentance, a breaking down of heart, a getting down into the dust before God, with deep humility, and forsaking of sin.

     Christians will have faith renewed. While they are in their backslidden state they are blind to the state of sinners. Their hearts are hard as marble. The truths of the Bible only appear like a dream. They admit it all to be true; their conscience and their judgment assent to it; but their faith does not see it standing out in bold relief, in all the burning realities of eternity. But when they enter into a revival they no longer see men as trees walking, but they see things in that strong light which will renew the love of God in their hearts. This will lead them to labor zealously to lead others to Him.

     A revival breaks the power of the world and of sin over Christians. It brings them to such vantage ground that they get a fresh impulse towards heaven. They have a new foretaste of heaven, and new desires after union with God; and the charm of the world is broken, and the power of sin is overcome.

     When the churches are thus awakened and reformed, the reformation and the salvation of sinners will follow, going through the same stages of conviction, repentance, and reformation. Their hearts will be broken down and changed.

-Charles Finney

Profile of the Lukewarm

 

     I am currently reading a book called Crazy Love by a California pastor named Francis Chan. In this book, Mr. Chan outlines what a real Christian life should look like. He talks about how a true sold-out life will break the status quo and go past the usual.
     People in this modern age, Americans primarily, are caught up in "religion" and not so much in a personal relationship with God. They somehow think that their good deeds will get them to heaven. They assume that just because they are not smoking, drinking, cussing...ect. that they are on their way to heaven. This largely adopted opinion could not be farther from the truth!

     I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
-Revelation 3:15-16

     It is very clear from scripture that God is not satisfied with a half-way, in-out, lukewarm Christian walk. The speaker (Jesus) is basically saying that anyone who is lukewarm needs to get saved! In the following verses he talks about "buying gold tried in the fire" and "White raiment that thou mayest be clothed", all symbolic of becoming born again.

     "Profile of the Lukewarm" is the fourth chapter in Crazy Love. It outlines what a lukewarm life will look like, why lukewarmness is not acceptable, and how we can be pulled from a life of lazy Christianity.

Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly, it is what "good Christians" do, so they go.

Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church....as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. When it is time to give, they never move out of their comfort zone.

Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, co-workers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by bringing up topics such as religion.

Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is indeed a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time and money, but He is never allowed to control their lives.

Lukewarm People do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account! They do not need God to help them-they have their retirement plan in place. They don't seek God's will, they already have everything mapped out.

 

     These are just a few examples of what a lukewarm life will look like. It will be only half-way committed to working for God. Are you only partially living for your God? Is he really controlling your life, or only just a small part? Do you fit into this group? Can you really look at your life and say "I am really dedicated to God, nothing is too much to ask?" If you cannot truthfully answer the question with a resounding "yes!" then there is a major problem!

     

     When you look at the lives of the disciples, you notice that Jesus demanded total surrender. He expected nothing less than complete commitment from those who followed Him. He didn't tell James and John "Well, you finish fishing, and come follow Me whenever you have the time" He told them strait out that this is a commitment and that they would have to be willing to give up some things to follow him.

     I hope that you don't just brush over this article and forget about it. Please just try to retain an open mind and think about all i have said. The verses from revelation (above) state that if you are classified as a lukewarm, if you are not totally sold out to God, you may not be going to heaven! This is serious! Please get out your Bible and look up this reference for yourself. Ponder all that i have said. If you let God have full rule and rein in your heart and life, then there is no telling what could happen! If you are not lukewarm, if you are hot on fire for God and are getting closer to him every day, then just keep on the path! Continue to walk in the paths of righteousness and love God with all of your heart!

It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is proud, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity.

-Francis Chan(Crazy Love)

-AaronU

(Many of the points, references, and examples are quoted directly from Crazy Love, I encourage you to buy the book and read it for yourself)

Tis' so sweet to trust in Jesus!

I was in church this morning and I heard my favorite hymn of all times. It spoke of relying on God even when the times are tough. It talked about how we can trust God even when we cannot see him. I am not trusting God to the extent that I would want to, but I am ever growing closer to him. This song reminds me of his trustworthiness. I am sure that most of you have heard this song at one time or another, but i think that alot of us just brush over songs like this instead of really meditating on them and thanking God for things like trustworthiness.

(Verse 1)

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take him at his word.

Just to rest upon his promise,

Just to know, thus saith the Lord.

(Chorus)

Jesus, Jesus, how i trust him,

How i've proved him o'er and o'er.

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,

Oh for grace to trust him more.

(Verse 2)

I am so glad I learned to trust him,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend.

And I know that he is with me,

will be with me to the end.

-AaronU 

Thursday's Lyrics

One more depending on a prayer,
and we all look away.

People pretending everywhere,
it's just another day.

There are bullets flying through the air,
and they still carry on.

We watch it happen over there,
and then just turn it off.

They tell us everything is alright,
and we just go along.

How can we fall asleep at night,
when somethings clearly wrong?

When we could feed a starving world,
with what we through away.

But all we serve are empty words,

that always taste the same.

-Chad Kroeger

AaronU

Saturday's Insirational quotes

 

Modern Christian music...is it really Christian anymore?

As the American evangelical church drifts farther and farther from true Christianity, so does its music. The pop/rock culture has taken the place of hymns and spirituals songs sang in churches that truly glorified God. Children growing up in this modern age are confused about who God truly is, one of the reasons for that is the lack of true Christian music to back up their beliefs.  

First of all, music is good. God invented music and he loves it when we use this gift to give him praise. Music is mentioned throughout the Bible. Moses and the children of Israel sang a song after the miraculous red sea crossing, David sang and played his harp in praise to the Lord. Psalms (music quoting passages of scripture), Hymns (music glorifying God in his three beings, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost), and finally spiritual songs (music telling of how God has touched you in a personal way) are all excellent ways to glorify God and encourage us in our faith.

Anointed artists (such as John Newton, Bill Gaither, C Austin Miles, Phillip Bliss and many more) who wrote songs that truly glorified God are many times considered obsolete in this modern age. Artists such as Skillet, TobyMac, and Switchfoot are replacing the old gospel tunes we love. A lot of these artists start with good intentions but in the end, begin to lift themselves up instead of God, it turns into a career, instead of a ministry. The “pastors” of today say, “We need something more exciting than just plain Christianity”. They replace the classic clean guitars and pianos with wailing instruments of rock and roll. The churches make their “worship services” louder and louder, and sometimes their congregation begins to grow, but they should ask themselves “Are we really helping these people?” “Or just entertaining them?”

Think about this as you go about your day. Do your play lists include “Contemporary Christian” music that is not truly Christian? Do you listen to secular music that contradicts what you believe? Perhaps we all should search our entertainment and ask God, and ourselves “Is this going to drag me down? Will this discourage my faith? Is God pleased with this?”

 

-AaronU

Mowing? Or Weeding?

When caring for your yard or garden, there are two ways to eliminate the plants that you do not want to be a part of your yard.

First, there is the quick mowing. Mowing does not kill any weeds or grass in your yard, it only chops off the tops of them to give the appearance of a nicely trimmed lawn. You may mow with your mowing device on the lowest possible setting, but in a few weeks all those weeds and blades of grass will faithfully spring up to annoy you again!

Weeding, however, is a different concept altogether. In strategic places of your land (such as a vegetable or flower garden) you may “weed” the annoying plants instead of just mowing over them. Weeding involves finding the roots of the bad plant and completely destroying it, so that it never returns again. Weeding is a little tougher than mowing though. While you can just do a quick job with a riding or push mower, weeding takes a little more effort.

In our lives there are weeds that we would like to see gone. We sometimes ask God to remove the bad or annoying blemishes in our character. As we make these requests, a lot of times we expect instant results. We want God to simply remove the visible results of the weeds that are in our lives (similar to just mowing over the weeds in your yard). However, God knows that if he just does a “quick mow job” those things won’t be truly gone. God is not interested in a surface deep work in your life. He wants to really dig in there and completely destroy the ugly things from the roots up. Sometimes God’s weeding process takes more time than we have the patience for. It almost seems like God is ignoring our request. This is not true! God is simply doing the best work possible in your life. Trust him for the answer.

 

-AaronU 15

The Government!

Who can take your money?
With a twinkle in their eye.
Take it all away and give it to some other guy?
The Government!


Who can tax the sunrise?
Who can tax the trees?
Let you run a buisness then collect up all the fees?
The Government!



Who can give a bail out?
Tell us to behave,
and make the founding fathers roll over in their grave?
The Government!


Who can take
everything we make,
to pay for all of their "solutions?
Healthcare, climate change, pollution...just throw away the constitution!
The Government!



Who can be a failure?
In so many ways.
But instead of being fired, hey! lets give ourselves a raise!
The Government!





Typed by AaronU

Written by Tim Hawkins
(look up the real video "The Government Can" on Youtube to see this in song form, its halarious!)

In the Garden

 I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing’

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him

Tho the night around me be falling;

But he bids me go; thru the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And he tells me I am his own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

  

-C. Austin Miles



Audrey Hepburn Drawing

One of my friends scetched this actress, and it looked so good, i had to do one of my own!

We say Pro-Choice, God says Murder

When our great nation was founded, moral standards were known and people abided by these codes of conduct and decency. Most people knew their place, and were happy to stay there.

            As the years went by we began to become discontented with our lives and wanted to break free from moral conduct. It started as women began dressing and acting like men. Men lost their backbone and began conforming the mindset of “there are no absolutes”. In the 1960’s drugs came on the scene in a whole new way. The “if it feels good do it” standard of living swept America by storm and many homes, lives, communities were ripped apart by the overwhelming plague called addiction. In the 1960’s fornication also began to become a normal and accepted event! Belief in God began to become a thing of the past for many people. However, drugs, alcohol, and fornication are nothing compared to the sin that has recently swept the country…Abortion.

            In America murder has always been seen as a crime and a sin. If a citizen of the United States of America were to murder someone, he/her would be subject to severe punishment.

            Yet, in this nation there is a slaughter of hundreds taking place that is more tragic than the holocaust.  The number of murdered babies in this country is well over the Jews and other victims that perished in the holocaust. The only difference between the holocaust and abortion is that the victims of Adolph Hitler’s rule could fight for their own freedom and well being. There were entire nations fighting against Hitler and the Nazis. We fought and died for hundreds of people we didn’t even know. However, Americans sit idly by while thousands of our own children are slain before they see the light of day.

            God has a perfect plan for every life. If you study God’s word thoroughly you will see that God knows you from before conception and into eternity. A baby is never just a piece of flesh to God. He loves that little unborn child and is very sad when he/she is killed before his purpose for their lives can be fulfilled.

When George Tiller (Well known abortion doctor) was shot and killed, the media talked of the grief of his family, the grief of America, and hundreds of women who would have to go without their abortions. The media never once mentioned the thousands of babies being brutally burned and suffocated before they even got to open their eyes.

Abortion is devastating, abortion is selfish, and abortion is sin. As the world’s leader in the practice of abortion we could, and should be judged for our foolish, greedy, selfish behavior.

AaronU-15

War on Boys

Introduction

There are many sites, blogs, and other types of literature talking of how the feminine attitude, and way of life has began to slide into oblivion. First, Feministic supporters began to fight for the right to vote.  In the 1950’s women began to wear pants, and dress like men.  Now however, women pretend to be completely independent and claim they don’t need men in their lives to prosper.  I completely disagree with that point of view and feel the God has set a man and a woman together to work as a team. However, this particular article is not about feminism. This article is about this generation of boys, and the men they will become.

Work

            The first thing we should talk about is work. Work was not an issue when Adam and Eve were created. However, when sin and death entered the world, Adam, and men that would come after him, would have to toil tirelessly to feed themselves and their families.

            In past generations such as the 1800s, and some of the 1900’s, men trained their sons to work. Farmers would teach their son’s the way of the fields, and the ways of animals. Men in business and other lines of work would teach what they could to their sons, sometimes just through some simple chores and/or tasks around the house. Young boys would learn at an early age, how important work really is. They were taught to “earn your keep”.

            Sadly, today this is not the case. The willingness to work and earn a living is not burning in the hearts of many young boys. Chores are not a common thing in many American homes today. When children want money for games, snacks, toys, and other things that interest them, they do not get a small job and work for it, they ask their parents for some money and 9 times out of 10, they will get it.

 

Chivalry

            Next, lets talk about girls, and how they relate to boys.  Since the first newborn boy came into the world, fathers have been teaching them how to treat and respect a woman, until now.

            In past generations (mainly 1950’s and back) boys were taught that a woman was to be protected and respected. Men in wars gave their lives so that women and children could be free. When the Titanic began to sink it was “women and children first”.

            Today, women are not sheltered, protected or cherished.  Boys are not taught to protect a girl/woman even if it means their life.  The police officer that comes to the door is many times a woman.  The person slaving away at their job while their mate sits at home and relaxes is many times the woman.  The marines now enlist hundreds of women soldiers for service in Iraq and many other areas around the world. God did not intend for men to sit idly by while women are attacked in the streets, or die in battle, or in any other way.

            Boys were once taught that if you are attracted to a particular girl and want to pursue a romantic relationship with her, the goal was marriage. They were taught to spend time with her in public and never do anything to compromise her honor, or the honor of her family.

            Today, young boys and teenagers consider “going out” as a serious relationship, and see no need for marriage. Society no longer considers living together before you are married, an abomination (as it was considered in past generations).  Nowadays a “gentleman” means you wait to have sex until the second date.

           

      America is quickly becoming an outright, heathen nation. The blurred standards of moral conduct and decency are confusing the boys of today. The lack of definite right and wrong will eventually destroy this nation and it's people.

AaronU-15

A Higher Purpose

    

     Hi friends, welcome to my page, New Generation. I hope to explore a variety of topics in this blog from Timely Issues to Art to Faith.
    

The youth of America have become lazy and content to just get by with what they can. If the children of America truly are the future as many say, we need to establish some moral standards and revive the desire of knowledge that our parents and grandparents had when they were young.

    The purpose of this blog is to inspire teens and young adults to go above the usual and strive for a higher purpose. First of all, we need to establish what we believe in. If you are believing in your own strength, you will be very disappointed.  The earth we live in is solid proof that God exists. Scientists claim the earth has been developing for billions of years, but true, unbias science disproves that statement, and demands that for the complexity and perfection of the world, there must be a creator.

    
    There are hundreds of historical documents claiming different creators and paths to heaven.  Some people say their way is the only way, others say many ways will work.  If you study facts about history, things discovered in our modern day(such as chariot wheels in the red sea, and others), and the outward changes in lives touched by God's power, you will come to the conclusion that the Holy Bible is the ONLY 100% truthful document.
   
    Now that we have established the Bible as 100% truth and there are no other ways to heaven lets see what the Bible says. God's word is packed full of heavenly information about how we should live our lives, how we should witness and handle people, and much, much more. Psalms 119:105 says "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path".  However God desires more than just being our book of guidelines. As we study God's word we see that God desires to be not only your God but also your friend, your teacher, your father, your healer, and much more. God can become all of these things in your life if you will surrender to him your will, and follow him into a personal relationship.

    Now since the Bible is the only absolute truth in this world, it only makes sence to refer to it every time we wonder about the events and issues facing our world today.  When I am discussing a moral or spiritual issue i will try to include scripture as much as possible.  Dont take my word for it! Look up the references yourself and ponder them, pray about them so as to come to your own conclusions.  This is a totally new experience for me and I will enjoy putting in time and effort on this page, I hope you enjoy it too!

Thanks!
AaronU