First year of college

My first year of college is completed and I couldn't be more happy with the decision I made to go to a Christian college. I've made friends that will last a lifetime, joined a social club, observed in a school for the beginning of my teaching career and so much more. Now that my freshman year is over I can't want to see what the rest of my college life will hold.

Coming Together As One

Often times teams have a hard time acting as one. There's a bunch of people who think they know what they are doing but only the coaches actually do. This often happens in the Church as well. People butt heads, get mad when something doesn't go their way, some don't see eye to eye with another. All of these things can tear a Church apart. There is one person over the Church and that is God. There is only one person over the team and that is the coach. There are some teams with wonderful athletes but the attitudes and not coming together as one sabotages any chance they have at succeeding. This is like the Church. There are wonderful Christian people in the church but sometimes they let stupid childish things tear them apart and sabotage their chance at going to Heaven. So which one are you going to be? The one who tears the Church apart or the one that helps bring everyone together?

Matthew 14:28-33

We read in Matthew 14:28-33 of the story of Peter walking on water with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus in verse 28 "Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Jesus answered "Come". So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. When Peter saw the wind he got scared and started to sink sand started crying out for Jesus to save him. Jesus reached out to him then said "Oh yes of little faith, why did you doubt"? You see Peter could have walked all the way to Jesus  if he just didn't get distracted. He let his fears distract him of his goal. This how many of us are today. We go to Church on Sunday ready to face the rest of the world and spread the Gospel but then by Tuesday we have already lost that spark and sinned greatly. Jesus is always with each and everyone of us. He never leads us alone. If we continue to lose our faith and spark in the Gospel then we will never make it to Heaven. Don't be like Peter and be afraid and let our "fears" take over our faith in Jesus. He died on the cross for us to be able to have repentance of our sins and have a chance at going to Heaven, we can at least keep faith in him. My grandad has used the phrase doubting Tom for some time now to describe someone who don't have in God to get them through a hard time like a tornado or losing a job. Are you a doubting Tom or doubting Peter? Do you struggle with my your faith and doubting Gods abilities? Don't be like Peter and start to sink and if you have already started then get your life right before it's too late and you "drown".

My Aunt Benny

My Aunt Benny has been in and out of the hospital now for the last couple of weeks. Starting with pneumonia to falling and them thinking she had a stroke to now her being in a lot of pain. Throughout this time our family has supported her and continued to pray that she gets better. You see no matter what you go through with family or what disagreements you experience when you have no one with you physically they are there. My Aunt Benny is a crazy funny aunt who isn't going to give up easily. Every one has one of those family members. If all of y'all would please keep her in your thoughts and prayers we would greatly appreciate it. It's going to be a long road ahead but with God, family, and prayers she will overcome this.

Candy

I love candy especially blow pops and Reese's! There is so many types of candy. There's chocolate, sour, sweet, sour and sweet, hard, soft, ones with layers, and even ones with gum in them. Each type unique in its own way each good to someone. This is how we must be in life. We can't go around being sweet to some but sour to others while on the other hand we can't be hard and not let anyone in and not open up to people. It's our job to open up and be there for others and teach them the way of the Gospel.

Being There For Other People

In the Bible we read of the story of the Good Samaritan. This one person helped the poor soul that he met unlike so many others that passed him. Often times we forget of the Good Samaritan and how we should be like them. Here lately my school has went through a lot of tragedies in the past 6 months. We lost a senior in October when she got hit by a car then just a week ago a young man went to a church to fight and ended up getting shot in the neck and is now in the hospital paralyzed from the neck down. This young mans life and the family of that girl will never be the same again. Just yesterday there was a house fire in Adamsville killing 4 people and leaving a 1 year old in the hospital. We all go through tough times some worse then others but together as a society we can get through them. No matter how bad you think your situation is there is always going to be someone out there going through something worse. It doesn't matter if we know the ones in need personally or not it is our job as Christians and human beings to help each other. Let's be more like the Good Samaritan and less like the ones who just walked away.

Suicide

There are people who die everyday by committing suicide. People are judged so much for committing it but do the people judging think or even try to figure out why they did what they did. Suicide is caused by bullying, depression, abuse, thinking that they don't have a purpose or meaning, and so many other reasons. You never know how what you say or do will affect someone else. That one thing that you say bad about their clothes or that one time you let your anger get the best of you and you hit them could set them off and cause their decision for suicide. Being to someone might be cool to your "friends" but how do you think it's affecting the person your bullying? Or do you even consider that at all? I've had friends in the past that have been suicidal. Friends that I was close to. It was my job as their friend and as a Christian to be there for them and get them away from that path. So many times people try to avoid the situation because they think they will just make it worse but as their friends and as Christians we NEED to help them. God didn't create mankind for it to be destroyed over something so crazy as suicide. The World is crazy enough and this could be the one thing we do to help change it around and get it back to a Godly world.

Should I Keep Posting After Lads to Leaders?

This is my last year being able to participate in Lads to Leaders. I have been working on this blog for a while now and have loved doing it. People keep coming to me asking if I am going to keep my blog after this year. I would like to know what everyone else's perspective is on this issue. I write to help others and help spread the Gospel, hoping that someone will be able to learn from what I share with all of you. I greatly appreciate everyone's support and encouragement with my blog. Whatever decision is made after this years convention has nothing to do with the present and as of now I will be continuing to blog at least up to Lads to Leaders and I hope that it will continue to inspire and help everyone in some type of way.

Blaine

Recently I received a comment from someone named Blaine and I'm glad that I did. So many times we consider how things have affected us but forget to consider how they affect other people. Blaine like myself has gained confidence through participating in Lads to Leaders. Blaine I don't know if you are reading this but thank you for sharing part of your story with me. It means a lot! I would love to hear more of everyone's stories so please comment and chime in on your experience and growth through Lads to Leaders. Not every one story is the same that's what helps make everyone different. Some things affect some people in ways that they don't and never will affect another person, but that doesn't mean they can't experience them through someone else's words. So please let the comments flow in and lets see how everyone has grown as people and Christians!

Exposure Youth Camp 2015

This year was my last year going to Exposure as a kid. If you have never heard of Exposure Youth Camp and are wondering what it is then here you go: exposure is held in Huntsville, AL from Sunday December 27th to December 30th. When going to exposure you are getting the opportunity to be around 1800-2000 Christians from all over. You are put into teams that you spend time with and make friends while playing games and having devotionals. There are worship services, spiritual challenge sessions which are different classes that you can chose from to attend and the Atrium singing. This is when everyone at exposure goes to the balcony outside of their rooms or to the lobby and the entire hotel is filled with joyous melodies sung to the Lord. I had so much fun this year and learned a lot. Growing closer to old friends and making new ones. If you didn't go this year you missed out and I recommend that you put it on your calendar for next year!

Child Abuse

Did you know that children die everyday from abuse or neglect? In 2005 alone about 1,460 children died from being abused or neglected. Most of these children about 76.6% were 3 years old and younger. This is truly sad and heartbreaking. No child or any person no matter who they are ever deserves to be abused and neglected. Parents that don't even want their child or children often take advantage of the fact that they have them. According to National estimates that about 15 to 20 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriages. There are people who love children and want to badly have some of their own while there are others who don't want their child or children at all. Children are beaten, starved, hated, sexually abused, and emotionally abused. Some people just honestly are crazy and don't care about anyone but themselves. It doesn't have to be physical for a child to be considered to be abused. Ignoring, rejecting, isolating, exploiting, corrupting, verbally assaulting, terrorizing, and neglecting the child are all considered emotional abuse. It sickens me that someone can harm and hate a creation of God. God could've hated us but he chose not to and instead sent his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to die for OUR sins. If you don't want your child and you have the tendency to hurt them get yourself some help because that is just plain crazy. Adoption is an option but it seems to be forgotten about any many circumstances. Let someone who will actually take care of the child or children take care of them as their own. If you know about a child that is getting abused report it. You might be the one to save a life. STOP THE ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Busy Busy Busy

Busy, busy, busy! That pretty much sums up everyone's life styles during the year. Busy working, busy with school activities, with friends, with sports, always busy with something. This continues throughout the entire year even during the Christmas holiday. When we stay so busy we become guilty of losing sight of the things that really matter. Everyone has been guilty of this and some point in their lives. Having a well paying job is important you have to be able to survive but at what cost? Is it honestly worth working so much that you miss spending quality time with family because you "have to have the money"? Is it honestly worth it to miss a grandparents birthday party? A child's play? A family get together? Christmas Dinner? All of these things are important because one day these loved ones your neglecting for worldly desires aren't going to be around. People say all the time I can't miss going out with my friends, if I miss the dance at school I will be an outcast, if I take off from work because my grandmother is in the hospital on her death bed I won't get the raise. When it honestly comes down to it family just isn't as important to some people in the World today. Then as soon as something happens to a loved one they will be the first one balling their eyes out, when they were never there when the person was in good health and alive. Not everything is about gaining something in life. I would rather spend quality time with family making memories that I can cherish for a life time over hanging out with friends, making extra money that I don't really need, or even going to a school activity any day. Maybe it's time we all slow down and look around us at everything we are missing. Even say thank you to God for everything he has done and is still doing for us or are you to busy to do that either?

How Lads to Leaders Has Helped Me

Lads to Leaders has helped me in so many different ways. When I was little I didn't have any confidence in myself. Throughout the years of participating in Lads to Leaders I have grown spiritually and emotionally. When I first thought about ever giving a speech my knees would shake and I would get really sick. I never and I mean absolutely never had the nerve to talk to strangers or get up in front of a crowd. Doing Bible reading, giving speeches, and leading songs for Lads to Leaders has helped a whole lot with that. I am now 18 years old and jump at the chance to get up and teach others about the Gospel. I might not have won in every event I was participating in but the leaders have taught us from a young age that winning isn't everything we are all winners in Gods eyes. One of the best parts of convention is being around almost 10,000 Christians from all over the World. Often times we get so caught up with the competition side of things we miss out what really matters the most. Don't get me wrong winning is great but soon enough we will have a much bigger award. Bigger then any trophy or medal, it will be an award that makes your whole life being dedicated to the Gospel worth it. We just have a few rules first we have to honor and obey God and make sure to teach others and take them with us.

Guardian Angels

Do you believe in Guardian Angels? Personally I absolutely do believe in these special creations. When I was younger my great uncle was my best friend I could talk to him about anything and everything. He really enjoyed when I would bring him up a plate of my grandmothers food or a piece of a pie me and my mom made. We used to sit out on his front porch and just talk for endless amounts of time. Then a few years ago my great grandmother moved in with us because she was really sick. We would always sing Christmas songs, fight over who was going to where the Santa hat, laugh, and spend quality time together. We used to talk about later on when I would be a Senior and she even promised me that she would be at my graduation. That's one reason why this year being my Senior year has been so hard for me. You see I lost both of these very special people in 2011 just 3 months apart from each other. I've never been close to someone like that before or ever after again after that. Tonight at church my Bible class teacher was taking song choices for the invitation so I said my great grandmothers favorite song Jesus Hold My Hand. She loved this song and every time it was lead her whole face would light up. Right before the invitation part of the service started I checked my little box in the foyer that we made for Lads to Leaders and there was something in it placed in a small Christmas bag. Right before the first song was lead I opened the gift and as the song leader started the song I took out the gift and their in my hand was a little smiling Angel ornament in my hand. It meant so much to me and seemed to be discovered at the right time. The Angel reminded me of my great grandmother in so many ways because she always had the most kind uplifting spirit of anyone I have ever known. I would never have made it this far without these two people in my life. No my great uncle and great grandmother won't be able to get a ticket to my graduation but I know that they will be there because they wouldn't miss it for the World and they are watching over me. Dear God please don't ever take my Guardian Angels away from me please, and to whoever put the gift in my box you will never know what you have done for me I think you from the bottom of my heart. 

Staying True to Who You Are

Have you ever changed as a person even if it was for a brief amount of time? We all have there's no denying it. Between friends to family, trends, to being at work or school there is always something going around us that will compete with who we really are. It doesn't just affect teenagers or little kids. This issue affects everyone! You could be the nicest sweetest person in the whole entire World but when someone is acting mean towards your kindness or your goofy personality you shut down and just don't say anything to anyone. If you are this person that tries to change others let me give you a piece of advice. GET A LIFE OF YOUR OWN AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE! People are not all made the same. Some are really goofy others are laid back. Some talk a lot others are quiet. Some people want everything to be about them and if it's not then they aren't happy. These people are usually the ones that try to change someone the most when they realize that they are liked more, going to go farther in life, or maybe just nicer and a better friend. These are the people we can't worry about because one day sooner or later they realize that they are the ones that need to change not the other person.

Drama

Have you ever been involved in drama? Truthfully everyone has at some point and time, but to be 100% honest drama is stupid and childish. Drama can destroy friendships, hurt people, and make things 10x worse then they ever should have been. As teenagers we are surrounded by drama 24/7 even adults are often involved in drama. Drama is pointless. We as Christians need to often think before we get ourselves involved in something like this. Yes we might get talked about, stabbed in the back, or even bullied but it's not worth the fight. 

Islam vs Christianity

All the recent tragedies involved with the group ISIS is truly devastating. They are killing people with no right at all. ISIS worships a so called God Allah. They don't worship the Holy Bible like Christians do they worship the Koran. Their faith and confidence is making them a huge opponent. ISIS IS COMING OVER HERE TO OUR COUNTRY KILLING OUR PEOPLE!!! ISIS IS KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES TAKING THEIR LIVES FOR NO REASON AT ALL. Christianity doesn't believe in killing people. NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO KILL ANYONE UNLESS PUT IN THE JOB POSITION TO HAVE TO DO SO. ISIS is coming and they are going to come bigger and worse next time. They are trying to inflict their beliefs on everyone else. They think they are involved with the end of the World. Sorry to break it to you but the only ones involved with the end is Jesus Christ and God Almighty. We have to stand for our belief in Jesus Christ. He said that whoever denies him he will deny to his father. Get your life with God today! We are the object of terrorism. It's our job to stand strong and don't back down. ISIS is not the only terrorist group but right now they are worst and we will have to join hands and be willing to say I DO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST. GOD IS MY CREATOR! I AM NOT ASHAMED TO SAY THAT I GO TO A CHURCH OF CHRIST AND THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN!!!!!! NEVER DENY THAT YOUR A CHRISTIAN. ANYON CAN BE CONVERTED! SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN THE QUESTION IS PRESENTED TO YOU??

Full Of Energy

Have you ever realized how much energy little kids have? They will run around for hours and hours and will still have energy to carry on. Often times as we get older we lose our energy. As we gradually lose energy it starts affecting everything we do. Yes you will lose energy but that should never affect your life with God. Generally older people come to Church less. They make awful comments about certain speakers that they don't like using that as an excuse for why they don't come that much anymore. Now as time goes on younger people and adults are starting to do the same thing. WE CAN'T DO THIS PEOPLE! A CHANGE HAS TO BE MADE! no we will never have as much energy as little kids do again but we can try. How our outlook is on church and life reflects on other people! Age shouldn't matter at all. Whether your old or young you should still be at Church every chance you get. Not liking a certain teacher or saying you can't drive at night isn't a good excuse. If you need a way there and back home all you have to do is pick up the phone and call someone! Don't let not having the energy to drive stop you!  People would love to help especially if it means giving someone a ride back and forth to and from Church. I love all of my teachers. They have taught me so much over the years. Just because someone might not teach in a certain way doesn't give you the right to not like them. If you don't feel like going to Church because you wasted all your energy before hand shopping or something like that then maybe you need to get your priorities straightened out. If your sick its understandable. Family emergency? We all have those at times. Sometimes people might even have to work. But for people to not come to Church just because they don't feel like it or don't have the "energy" is ridiculous. If you have enough energy to sit st home then you have enough energy to sit at Church.

Special Education

I have decided to be a special education teacher. I want to make a difference in children's lives when they think all hope is gone. Some people think that special kids don't deserve to live, those people are probably also the same people who believe in abortion. Killing innocent children because they aren't per say "normal" is stupid. Some people just don't use the common sense they have. If that moral was true then God had the right to kill you because trust me not even you are normal. Everyone has flaws. Special ed children and adults are some of the sweetest, loving, kind-hearted people that you and I will ever meet and have they have a right to life just like me and you.

Being Noticed Isn't Everything

Have you ever wanted to be noticed by someone or a group of people? Everyone has, it's human nature. Being noticed isn't everything though. People come in and out of your lives, them noticing you is not likely. Recently I have had to learn this lesson. Personal things have been going on and people that I thought was my friends haven't been there when needed. I've had to learn that the only friend I need is God. He's there when no one else is or ever will be. He's there when you need to talk. He's there when you need someone to get advice from. He is there! See often times we get lost in being supported and have friends here in this world but if you have family and God that's all you need. People that do you wrong will be punished one day. Keep your head up trust me I promise everything is going to be okay. People will use you, hurt you, even abuse you but it will be okay. Things aren't as bad as they seem. Don't ever let anyone break you or make you give up. When you let them do that your giving them exactly what they wanted. If people that are friends and some like your second family can't see that you are a good person that's their loss not yours. You have God on your side they might not.