The world is crushed.

6,971,772,299

That's how many people are in the world today. That is how many broken, hurting, lost, helpless, doomed people there are ing the world. Now. At this point in time. With that many people in the world, why do we get so wrapped up in our group friends. There are 6,971,772,299 other people in this world. 

^ they need hope.

^ they need love.

^ they need purpose & meaning. 

^ they need Jesus. 

Something I have never, ever understood is this: if there are apparently so many Bible believing Christians, why is nothing being done in the world? 

Why is there not the biggest revelation in history happening?

Why is there no world wide revival?

Why is there war all across the nations, when the war was already won?

Can you imagine what kind of work could be done with that many people?

You know what's even crazier? That many people were beat; overcome; crushed; by one guy. 

By one God.

By one Cross. 

The world that hold those 6 billion people has been overcome.Don't miss that. 

He's not only a friend.

He's definitely not your "homeboy."

He's not someone you would hang out with.

He is God.

He is your savior. 

Without Him, you are nothing. I am nothing. This world would mean nothing. 

Don't be deceived. Don't think you're something Christ needs, you need Christ. 

Stop being one with the world. Take up your cross, be one with the Savior of the world. 

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple (to be one with me) must deny themselves (stop believing the world) and take up their cross (trust me) daily and follow me (come, I'm waiting)." 

-Luke 9:23

6,971,772,299

                            

                                                           Don't be another one. Be the one. 

Safe.

There is none like You.
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity long.
And find, there is none like You
Your mercy flows like a river wide
And healing comes in Your Name
Helpless children are safe in Your arms
And there is none like you.

-Shane&Shane

Believe it?


Have you ever thought about what was really done for YOU? 
The literal torment and sacrifice embraced for YOU?
The beauty that hung upon the Cross for YOU?


Sometimes the ignorance seen in the Church today blows my mind. It is crazy to me to think that a group of people can try and dictate what was done on the cross.
Christ 
died 
for 
YOU.


Freedom, hope, purpose, life, love, forgiveness, promises, eternity. 


"Welcome home, the war is over."

Give me Jesus.

"Often, in the business of life, we forget what Christ has done for us. Our eyes begin to drift from the truth, and before we know it, we can believe a thousand lies about who He is and who we are or aren’t. This song was written to remind us who we truly are and what we have because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ." - Shane Barnard

I think somewhere along the way we've begin forgetting what it means to live out a faith. The Church has all these 'rules' that we are to follow. And according to them, if we do them successfully without screwing up too bad, then we're alright. We're good people. Or, how about the Churches that tell us we have to be 'fine' always, because we love Jesus? And because we love Jesus, we are automatically happy, because that's what Christianity does to you.. it makes you smile. And then one day, if you forget to put up your fake wall that says your 'fine' your just some lost soul that doesn't even know anything about Jesus.

All Churches do this to some degree. They all have their own standard of what Christianity should look like. 

What makes it all a little bit ironic is this: all these rules are designed to help you get to a Jesus that has already broken apart any 'rule' coming down to us. Rather than trying to bring ourselves UP to a standard approvable for Jesus, He came DOWN to us that way no standard was needed at all. 

"For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." -Matthew 9:13.

When Jesus lived on earth, He went to the people who didn't follow a set of rules. 

He went to the ones who weren't just 'fine.'

Jesus didn't die to encourage the righteous and the 'good people'; He died for the helpless. 

That's why I hate when Churches try and portray themselves as a congregation who is so happy all the time, because according to some materialistic standard that's how Christianity should be. 

That's not how it is at all. In reality: 

We are really, really broken people. 

We are incredibly helpless.

We are lost. 

We are not 'fine'.

And as soon as we, as a body of Christ, can humble ourselves long enough to admit that to the Creator of the world; to the one who's allowed you all access to Him; to the one who is patiently waiting for us to be real.. when we can admit it to him, it's then we begin to experience true joy in the Lord. 

Joy. Not happiness. Joy. (Nehemiah 8)

Passion.

Love. 

Trust. 

Hope. 

We can't experience these things through a surfaced religion that follows a set of rules and fake personas. 

It's not until then, the Church can start changing the world. This world won't change because of tough surfaces, it'll change through vulnerability. 

I'm tired of watching people hurt because of the pride they've grown up with inside of Church.

Break down the walls; the Son of God has already torn the veil. He's waiting. 

"The Curtain of the temple was torn in tow from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surly this man was the Son of God!" 

Mark 15:38,39.

"Here I am, I'm calling out Father. 

Can you hear me? Can you here me?

I don't wanna go without you.

Here I am, can You talk a little louder?

So I can hear You, I want to hear You.
I don't want to move without You. "

-Shane&Shane

Jesus rocks.