The Testimony that inspired The Freedom EP

Hello everyone I know it has been long while since I have written in this blog but I woke up this morning and decided it was time to reach out again and share some things that God has done for me. I want to thank you all for viewing and hope you enjoy it. 

            About 2 years ago I was just finishing up what I thought was the end of my undergraduate career at the University of Houston, I had walked at graduation and was very content. My family was doing great, I was in an awesome relationship with an awesome lady, I had made some huge strides as a musician so at that time I believed I was truly “free”. However, reality usually kicks in and then the test of that so-called freedom gets put to work. I had neglected to take one class and because of that I was unable to move forward with going to graduate school and I had to go back to school for one more year but since I was free I had taken a job as a driver for NAPA Auto Parts and then later would be offered a job at Ahern Rentals where I would start off on their counter sales and then be promoted to Assistant Parts Manager and was making great money (even though I was prolonging going back to finish the class). I knew inside that I was not in his will and that my desire to be so called free was driving this need to have my own place and my own money. The farther I got away from God the more restless he allowed my spirit to be and that began to frustrate me so that frustration turned into constant stress and anger and I was NEVER happy and void of everlasting joy. I kept trucking along though thinking, “…this too shall pass”. I was content to hide behind the word of God even though I knew I was so deep in disobedience and far from God’s plan. Eventually, I managed to get engaged and surely then I was on cloud 9 but still not doing what he wanted me to do with my life. So, I lost my good paying job and had to teach private lessons full time and find myself struggling HARD not even to make ends meet but simply just to make it. As the friction heats up so did my kindled anger and stress and I become difficult to live with and or be around. The people who loved me the most were on the receiving end of it all, but remember I’M STILL FREE!! As it turns out when people get fed up with it sometimes they just have to leave, I lost relationships that were so valuable to me because I was angry with myself for being disobedient to God. In the beginning of the year God had enough with it and broke me down to my core where I could do nothing but speak to him and only him. I was no longer engaged, and barely making it by. God revealed to me that it was time to rebuild through revelation from the book of Ezra and Nehemiah. He took the things that he knew would hurt the most to check my mind, body, and spirit and indeed before him I was BROKEN.

            Nevertheless, he pushed me to return to my passion that I had abandoned for 2 years and that was PERCUSSION. I began studying with a Houston legend Sebastian Whitaker and my zeal to practice intensely had returned. For hours on end I would practice and on February 25^th, 2012 I went and re-auditioned at the University of North Texas (after having being told to re-audition because I had not prepared properly just a year before) and was accepted at the audition into the University of North Texas masters jazz drum set performance program. God reminded me that at age 18 I committed myself to be his musician and therefore consecrated for his purposes and to live in contrary to that violates our agreement and God doesn’t lie so neither should I. During this time God began to give me song after song and I began to write the music and lyrics. He exposed me to so many different people that poured so much into me that I was learning without even knowing I was learning. At about the end of June while recording drums for someone the studio engineer at 2018 studios suggested I do an EP and instantly I ran with that idea. I picked 5 of 70 something songs that I had written and decided to push forward with an EP. I immediately knew to call it “The Freedom EP” because I truly was beginning to grasp the meaning of this word Freedom. Grant it I had not lost as much as I could’ve lost, I lost the things that meant the most to me and that hurt. My anger, my disobedience cost me more than I was bargaining for but only to reveal to me how free I was not. The freedom comes not from doing what I want to do, but having the power to do it and choosing not to. Sin is a choice not a requirement of man, Jesus grants us the power (and it is a lot of power) to make that choice. When one chooses Christ he gains life (Paul said in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”) and when he chooses sin he chooses death in that he is eternally separate from God. (Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”). If it took all of this just for me to get that fact than in spite of the pain and all that comes with it was worth it because I would rather learn while I am still a young man than to learn when I am older man these hard lessons. The Freedom EP simply provides the evidence that it does not matter how far you ran or have gotten away from God he still loves you and like the parable of the prodigal son, he will see you coming from far away and welcome you with open arms, put a ring on your finger, dress you in the finest robes, and kill the fatted calf for a celebration for you. Why? Because you have come back home, and that’s all God wants is for us to come back home after we have come to our senses. I’m not perfect and neither are you but that qualifies you and I as vessels that can be used for his Glory. It’s not about album sales here, its about hearing the message that Christ can and will set you free, if you turn your life over to him. In 8^th chapter and the 36^th verse of the book of John it says “So if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed”.  So my cause is for all my brothers and sisters in Christ to truly be free in order that we may reach to the lost so that they can be free as well.  

The FREEDOM EP will be available August 13,2012 on tunes, spottily, Amazon mp3 and CDBABY. I Love you all with the Love of Christ and I thank you, we can only go forward now!

 

Do You Want to Be Made Well?

                                                         "Pick Up Your Mat and Walk"

On my drive home Dallas this past weekend so much was going through my mind about life and the responsibilities of life. I pondered hard on the concept of being sleep while awake. LOL! I know that’s kind of an oxymoron right? Think about it though people, it’s the idea you are alive and breathing but completely unaware of what is really going on. Merely moving through the motions of everyday life, that would to me be like a sickness. Would it not be crazy to be sick with something and not know what to do to cure it? Consider beloved, The Healing at the pool of Bethesda (Jn.5). Thirty-eight years this man sat there sick (Jn.5: 5) trying to be the one of a multitude to step into the pool and be healed and thirty-eight times he had no luck with it. He was alive but sick and unable to move and because of that he had no choice but to lay on his mat with a gleam of hope that it would somehow change.

            While continuing on my drive home I realized that it was possible to be alive and functioning but rendered incapable to move due to paralyzing factor that caused one not to be able to move. I don’t mean just physically but I mean spiritually, and yes even mentally. Especially with the times we are living in the spirit of mediocrity and settling is all around us. Jobs are scarce; money is running low as the bills continue to climb higher and higher. Should that then be our reason to remain in the presence state we are in? I am not approaching this from the mindset of “get-rich-schemes” but rather it’s about the attitude we have within and towards ourselves. The inspiration of this blog came from a month long series of learning experiences. I learned so much about true work ethic, that working hard at all the wrong things literally moves you nowhere but right where you started. I also learned that an honest assessment of one’s skills is essential to positive growth. We have enough problems with paying bills, living Christ-like in a world that openly rejects Christ, and surviving that we ought to do ourselves a service and fix what we can fix. I love the way Jesus approached the man in John 5:6, he simply asked “Do you wish to get well?” That right there is the Savior making it be your choice instead of him making the choice for you. Isn’t it easier to say I tried but no one will give me a chance? If that’s true the question still is “Do you want to get well?” This question makes it be about your own accountability for your life. If you notice the man does not even answer Jesus question directly. In stead in v.7 he says, “The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Understandably, thirty-eight years on a mat and nothing changing will change the way you answer questions like that, but when the master comes to your door and asks do you want to get well, in spite of it all we got say YES LORD. Jesus goes on ignoring the previous statement and simply says in v.8 “Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” My people, all God wants to know are you tired? Do you want to get well? His answer is simply “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk”. It doesn’t mean I am going to be a millionaire, but it means I am creating the million-dollar idea, or starting the million-dollar company. Get this, he has given you the power to get up, but would you stay on the mat waiting for someone to push you in the pool, or under his power raise up and take those steps. I admonish everyone (myself included) forget about the fear, ignore the negativity and MOVE!!! It takes more courage to move and fail then to not move at all. You have to know that rich, poor, high, low, he if you are doing your part God will do his. Philippians 4:19 is accurate when it says “ And my God shall supply all of my needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.” I am not looking for anyone else; I am looking for God’s hand so I have to be exactly where I need to be so I can receive what he has for me, so that when he moves I won’t miss it. We shouldn’t get worse but we can always get better, so maybe the mat your laying on is depression, financial, physical, or spiritual. Regardless, of what it is position yourself in the right place so that when comes to you and ask “Do you want to get well?” You can simply say, “Yes” and he tells you to “pick up your mat and walk” and instantly you are made well, and GO! I believe this aligning yourself in God’s place designated for you will fix it for you.  Let’s individually make the decision to get better and live to tell the story of how I got over, and who the person who brought me over. Peace and Blessings unto you all.

                                                                                                           

The Silent Killer in The Church: Pornography

                            






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What does God have to say about all of this? Find out in this installment of The New Horizon Audio Blog. Click the link above to hear the blog.

audio blog #1 RELATIONSHIPS

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This features Minister Kimberly Jones, Minister Brian Malone, and myself. God Bless and Thanks!

Wax On, Wax Off

I know it seems like I am really into movies involving martial arts but generally some good metaphors come out of these movies. I wonder do you remember a movie called "The Karate Kid". (the orginial one with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morito) The main chacter was "Daniel" or "Daniel-son" who was the pupil of an immigrant from Okinawa named Mr. Miyagi. Daniel so desperatly wanted to learn martial arts in order to defend himself and prove he was tough (self) but Mr.Miyagi wanted to enrinch his mind and heart so he had a different plan. In the first movie Mr.Miyagi would have Daniel perform tasks like painting his fence, waxing his car, washing the windows. Mr.Miyagi's most classic when teaching him the way he wanted to perform these tasks was "Wax on, Wax off". As one would expect Daniel grew impatient because it seemed like every day it was the same thing, there was no actual "moves" being taught. Daniel began to grow angry and think Mr.Miyagi was a joke and finally Mr. Miyagi reminded of when he taught him to paint the fence, he kicked at Daniel and by reflex daniel blocked the kick. The motion of painting the fence was teaching him to have correct technique, when he threw a punch the motion of cleaning the windows taught Daniel to deflect the punch. The lesson happened repeatdly to ensure that Daniel was learning from it what Mr.Miyagi wanted him to learn.
         When God has made up in his mind that he wants you to learn a lesson, he will like Mr. Miyagi give you a series of lessons designed to teach you the skill NEEDED(pay attention to that word) to learn. You come to him and you say " I want to be better" so he makes you better he just uses his own tactics because he knows they are sure to work. Like Daniel you began to feel like a servant boy, as if your doing things that serve no purpose or perhaps why do I constantly have to go through this. Until you see the lesson being taught you will never learn and move on. It's so hard for you because you won't sit down and learn, God isnt putting too much on you its just your flesh not wanting to move out of the way. My biggest problem is getting too frustrated too easily. I'll get so frustrated I am unreasonable and even harder to reason with, so my first thing is to blame the thing that is frustrating me not asking myself "why is this frustrating me?" James 1:14 clears this all the way up "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."So it's not the situation its really ME! I found that my anger comes from my own selfish desire in other words what I wanted, or because I didnt like how something turned out. Refusal to learn to the lesson of how to control my anger keeps me in a perpetual learning cycle of dealing with situations where I am forced to control or Im forever taking the same text. We often forget that the lesson is to get you where God wants you to be, in order to do that somethings have to go. So yes you will find yourself like Daniel in this movie doing the same thing over and over until you get the lesson. Picture it like this learning this lesson could be the pathway to a better job, better marriage/relationship, better life. 90 % of the time its yourself that makes it so much harder for you. When you won't yield to God's plan your plan conflicts with his drastically so the friction you feel is his plan working against yours. Refusal to yield makes him repeat the lesson over and over and over. 2 step process, Teaches the lesson ( his statues found in his word), applies the lesson (the test or experiences that try you.) This part is personal because it is just you and God, family, friends merely can pray but you and God have to work this out together. When you finally grab ahold of the lesson and past the test like Daniel-son you are ready to move to the next thing. Ask yourself this question if you need "What am I not seeing that you want me to see Lord?" I promise you wont have to look hard it will be clear. God Bless Beloved...and thanks for reading.

Who's The Master?

Remember that movie The Last Dragon that to me was an instant classic, in that movie it featured a character played by Julius Carry by the name of "Sho'nuff". His classic line in the movie was "Who's The Master"? His crew would respond by saying "Sho'nuff!!". Though it was just a movie I began to wonder  to myself who is really your master? Fact is most of us don't even know the answer to the question because we are not paying attention. Read a great entry in Our Daily Bread the author of the article Anne Cetas made mention of the scripture Romans 6:16 " Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey..." Whomever your master is essentially is the one whom answer when they call. If it's God ultimately you follow his lead, you go where he tells you to go, and will generally live the life he tells you to live no matter the cost. If it's self (believe it or not) you generally do what feels good for you and comfortable for you, God is a master to you but not the master over you, meaning you will hear what he is saying and IF you want to submitt than you will which is a haphazard approach in it of itself. If it's another person, they generally can do whatever they would like whenever they would like and you will submitt generally in this case out of fear of losing them, being hurt by them, or lack of concern for yourself due to being so heavily invested in them, once more God is a secondary choice so that when he serves notice that you in too deep you will MAKE A CHOICE (very important) on weather or not to heed his advice. As we all know money, the need of to fulfill physical desires etc.. all will control you as they have power that you have given to them when you submitt to them. Here is the thing, everyone of these alternatives are imperfect in every way so they are bound to let you down, thing is because they are your master and you their slave (in essence) they have no desire to be concerned with your feelings about the issue. After all YOU CHOSE TO SUBMITT!!!! When you choose God, he won't let you down and when I/You/We feel as though he has he will understand how you feel (though he know he hasen't let you down at all). It makes sense why God would inspire Paul to right that verse in Romans, because in his infinite knowledge he knows the danger in that. He knows that no matter how loyal those other things lay claim to be they will let you down. He in essence is protecting you from that, but when your lured away from him by enticing pleasures its your own fault and unfortuantely you will reap the consequences. I was most convicted by this because I realize how often I would be reluctant to follow God's orders that were so specific because he was my alternative. I would let my drums, money, and people steer me, and the minute I was let down I was upset or mad when I had no right to be. Let us be clear on this God will not fight for our attention ever, if I would rather push him to the side than he wouldnt fight to be first because than my free will would be taken away from me, it has to be my choice to put him first. The bible is so well put together because not only is it the written inspired word of God, its also God's way of saying "Hey!!! I'm just trying to look out for you" Love my family to death, my music, my church, my girl, my life but guess what they cant be master over me, it's not their place. I have to call into account that God is faithful, just, and righteous and if I submitt to him he will elevate me to my rightful place. The bible says in James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you" Why this can be challenging because of the comfot in those things and search for validation, and catch this (just fell on my heart) If you know that your having that much power over someone and/or taking advantage of them STOP!!!! As a believer I cannot allow you to submitt to me before God, now don't get it in twisted in marriage the bible is clear that a woman is to submitt unto her husband but the idea is not before God ever!! That example is the divine order in which God addresses the house but if that man is clearly not following God you are still loyal to him and submitting  but never denying or not living for Christ rather be the light in the dark place. (my pastor broke that one down..thats the marraige guru) . I am no one's master and no one master's me but God. I have to be conscious daily of this and now even more pray that my focus be turned back to God. God bless you beloved...thanks for reading.

My Sin is not like Your sin!!

"When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and  sinners?" -Mark 2:16.

The Pharisees who were our traditionalist, the one's who favored a man made tradition to God's word. These were the ones who believed it to be more important to outwardly appear to be righteous but inwardly sinful. Quick to point out who was unlawful, and to declare their righteousness because they followed the law and knew the law so well. In the scripture above Jesus is seen here eating at a table with "sinners and tax collectors" and the Pharisees with malice and contempt in their heart for Christ (already) began to question why he is sitting amongst sinners and tax collectors. Understanding the setting, Jesus is seen sitting with those who are typically see as  not aligned with God and perpetually in sin, and then tax collectors who were always then (and now) viewed as thieves and crooks because of the high taxes they levied on the people. The Pharisees bring into question why this man who claims to be the Son of God dines with these people. Let stop right there and establish and deal with this issue of self-righteousness. In their own carnal and self-indulgent minds these Pharisees truly believe they are in a position to judge as if they are the Chief Judge(God). They didn't sit and look to see what was going on? Or. Sit down and listen to see what this man who clearly has more wisdom than they have has to say. They merely began the act of chastising and questioning him, had he committed a Sin? No, but once again those traditions of looking the part of the righteous one takes over and they come down on Christ because he is doctor coming with good medicine for people who want to get well. Beloved, believe this,  no matter how saved you think you are, you were sick and Jesus came and healed you right where you were. I'm not talking about physical sickness (but that too) I mean sick from plague of sin, the evil that so easily controlled and kept you from God. Sometimes if your not careful while even being saved you fall back into old habits, but a self-righteous man who sins is still a sinner. The bible says in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" NOT fell short but fall short that means even now. Prove it? Paul writes in Romans 7:19-20 "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me." Paul knew better than to think he was immune from sin, and we should do the same. The idea is not to feed into your own hype, recognize that  any opportunity to sit down with someone who is not saved or is struggling with sin is a prime time for God to get glory. Philippians 2:4-5 "do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" Jesus sat the table with these people because his focus was bigger than their status according to man, he saw a need and he met the need. Their souls were crying out for help, he sat with them as to be amongst them not above them. He never compromised who he was but he illuminated them with his character, that light shined so bright that they had to come out of that dark place into the brilliant light of Christ. When you become so self-righteous and  think so above people you forget your human values and sometimes it takes you having to fall to realize that. Self-righteous can land you around hypocrites, those who want to appear right and that can lure you away from God easier than anything else because your being un-reasonable with yourself and others. Ultimately we have a duty to present ourselves before God as a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1). But none of us goes a day with sinning, weather in thought or deed so we are constantly in sanctification , repenting and turning away from sin back to God. When we forget that we get lost in ourselves, and God's not getting the glory. Your witness is ineffective when you are consumed with self-righteousness, your unapproachable and utterly hard to deal with. When your heart is for God's people and to seek out lost souls for Christ you move, do, and say what God tells you to say.
   "And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Humble yourselves daily before God, consider the walk you made and if I'm certain still making with God. You may not be as you were (grace) but you know we can always do better. If you Love God, than you should love all his children (saved and un-saved). You may hear some thing or see things that are not pleasing to God and that may invoke a self-righteousness in you but recognize that if your in the midst it could be an opportunity for God to shine through you, and then you may not be the vessel to be used to do the work so don't let it taint your walk. Pray with out ceasing. But don't condemn and surely don't hesitate to tell the truth. Be overcome with Love, always speaking the truth (in Love) never compromising the Savior for Sin, remaining ever faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Satan's biggest weapon against us is not the world rather its our self, none of us can save anyone, it is God who saves we are the vessels or tools he uses to do his work. Ultimately if we won't humble ourselves he will find someone who will. Blessings...