Integrity

It's when he one is looking right? Well, for a while I've been looking at "FREE" movies On my phone. By free I mean stolen. I was the PIRATEBAY master.

But a child of God must have integrity. Just because nobody knows it's still steeling. So, gone are the pirate apps for a few Weeks now.Even when no one knows God knows.

ABIDE

If you abide in my word... that was the part of the verse from my morning reading that has been echoing in my mind the whole day. John 8 :31 To abide, in the ESV version. In the KJV version, to continue. But somehow the word abide speaks louder to me. Not just to continue in God's Word,  but to live in it. To live through it. For the Word to live in me. To live through me. The sign of a disciple. A true disciple, not perfect but true.

Sancho Pansa

El Quixote De La Mancha,  is the name of the Spanish classic I've been listening to in audio book form. It is the story of a man in the 16th century who went crazy after reading many books and decided he was a medieval knight. Among the many outrageous things he did was a fight he had with some windmills that he thought to be giants.

Sancho Pansa was the name of his armour bearer. Supposedly his mind was not gone as Don Quixote's. He just agreed to serve the mad knight because he was promised a kingdom as a reward. To me Sancho was crazier than The Knight Of The Sad Countenance, Quixote's alter ego. The knight actually thought that he was a knight and that all of his imaginary enemies were real. But Sancho believed because of greed. He was promised something that was truly too good to be truth, but he wanted it to be truth with all of his heart.

How much Sancho do we have in our hearts? How desperately we want to believe in lies and wait for promises that will never be fulfilled?  To fallow after a world that offers us what we know can't be attained? B

There is a Way, a Truth, and a Life.

"For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. ... " 1John 2:16

WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN?

I googled the title of this article and found a myriad of answers. It seems that scientists define the beginning of life depending on what they are studying. For metabolism study, it is the simple matter of a cell functioning or not. Genetically, life begins at conception. Embryology places the start of life at gastrulation, about fourteen days after fertilisation. For neurology, the start of life can be defined as the start of a recognisable Electroencephalography, or brain activity. On top of this confusion, every state varies on its understanding of life and its laws regarding the beginning of human life and abortion laws. The supreme court has ruled the period of the first trimester of pregnancy as the time when an abortion can take place and the second trimester only after a doctor has done thorough exams that ensure the woman's safety. But even their position is a little misleading. In the famous case of Roe vs. Wade, The Supreme Court stated that prenatal life was not within the definition of "persons" as used and protected in the U.S. Constitution and that America's criminal and civil laws only sometimes regard fetuses as persons deserving protection.

The reason i was prompted to write this article was a young man facing murder charges for giving his girlfriend abortive pills. What he did was wrong. But was it murder? I believe it was. But what changes things when she does it.

I believe life begins out of Gods breath. He is the giver and taker of life and we humans shouldn't try to play that role.

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."Genesis 2:7

Hollywood's Agenda

Recently I was watching a movie that was supposed te be an adaptation of a biblical story. Oh it was an adaptation all right. As in very, very changed.

I would  somewhat understand if the changes were made to focus on the secular or historical aspects without going into the spiritual side too deeply.  I could understand that from a person who doesn't believe in supernatural things. But the movie was plagued with mythical creatures and men with special powers. What was missing was the main character in the true biblical account, the Creator.

It seems that the world doesn't have much problem watching  supernatural or paranormal films. But when the presence of  a Holy God is even hinted at, there is major upheaval. People get upset. People get sued. People get fired. What a strange reaction to the mention of someone who is not supposed to exist.

... A fool said in his heart, 'There is no God.' 
PSA 53:1

Faith In The Shadows

In the pages of The Bible, there are many characters known by believers and non believers alike. Characters that fill page after page with the stories of the things that God did in their life, and the things they did with their lives for God. These characters have inspired sermons, movies, songs, poems, and billions of children's have been named after them.

But today I don't want to write about those famous men and women of faith. Today I want to write about the ones whom are mentioned once or twice. The ones with no name that lived their faith out of the limelight, in the shadowy backstage. The ones that, in our eyes didn't play such a big role, but on the eyes of God were found faithful. Like the woman at the well. Like the people who owned the donkey in which Jesus would ride Jerusalem to fulfill he prophecy. Like the boy who owned the bread and the fishes that were turned into hundreds.

This one time mentioned acts were acts of huge importance. Without them, prophecies wouldn't have been fulfilled, people wouldn't have been saved, history wouldn't have been written as we know it.  But it was because those people stepped out in faith to perform the smallest of tasks. 

Are you ready to perform your small task? The one that will be remembered for all eternity?

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke 16:10

The Day I Drowned

"You called me out upon the waters,
the great unknown, my feet may fail..."
These are the lyrics of "Oceans", by Hill song United.  They make me remember the day I drowned.

Almost ten years ago, yet it is still vivid in my memory like it happened yesterday or even a few hours ago. I spent my teenage in a spiritual sore. I would feel the Spirit of God inviting me into the water. Sometimes to bathe in a quiet almost mirror like sea, others in a raging ocean. But I refused.  I dipped my feet once or twice but I ran back to the sand.

The fight lasted years. I would feel the water pulling me, pulling me, pulling me.
But I wouldn't give in. Why? I don't even remember.  I didn't want to let go of my sins? Yes, I didn't want to let go of my sins.

But one day. One day I left the sore. I gave into the power of the tide. And in an instant I drowned. Water rushed in from every where.  Or I rushed in the water. I don't know.  I do know that I got lost in that vast raging sea. I surrendered,  and in a flash of thunder I got lost in God. I don't want to go back to the sore. I don't ever want to go back to the sore.

"... You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. ... "
Jonah 2:3

BY GRACE

Before man sinned he had to work. But from what I understand,  work was not something strenuous. The "sweat of the brow," is a direct result from sin. Does this mean that man's body did not perspirate? I can't say but I don't think so. It seems to me that the whole idea of working or having to struggle to receive things is a direct result of sin.

What do I have to DO to be saved? Was the question Jesus was asked again and again. His answer was the same. Believe.  the people seemed not capable of grasping this. It goes against our very fallen nature. Everybody has to work for what they have right? And if anybody takes something without earning it they go to prison. But Jesus came to restore us to a place before we had to work for things.

 Creation itself tells us that the work for it system is flawed. Who ever payed God for oxygen? Did we steal it? No, it's a gift. You just have to believe oxygen is good, open your nostrils and breathe as deep as you can. The same with God's gift of salvation.  You don't have to work for it. You have to open up your heart and let it shake you to the very core. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Ephisians 2: 8-9

Commitment

Commitment is a very important thing. It is essential for the functioning of relationships, family, and society. I don't know if you have experienced this, but I have no trouble with committing... that is for things of this world. I can spend hours on the phone with a friend or a family member.  But when it comes to pray?? After only a few minutes a thousand very important things rise up that seem to superseded my time with God. I do what my employer tells me to the "t" and I'm at work 10 or 15 minutes early every day. But it's ok to be late for church or other activities involving the body of Christ.

This isn't right. God should be receiving the first fruits not the leftovers. I should honor my relationship with Him above any other relationship. And, that is the desire of my heart.


JAY C.

"... When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? ... " Malachi 1:8

IT IS NOT A MYTH.

There are many saying that the death of Jesus on the cross Is a myth. But secular history itself tells us otherwise. Tacitus, a roman historian from the first century, mentions Jesus in his renowned work called The Annals:

 "Christus... suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus ... "

Annals, book 15, chapter 34.

A very interesting thing it is how the world's educators choose their sources with a very clever agenda. The aim is to convince young people that all learned men in history have been atheists. If not atheists, they have seen through our "fables" about an Allmighty God.

But the following very learned men beleived in God. Or at least that the most logical thing was the idea of a Creator that we couldn't fully comprehend. Because He created us, we didn't create Him.

"I believe in Spinoza's God, who reveals Himself in  the harmony of all being."ALBERT EINSTEIN

     “The existence of God is the first and the most eternal of all truths that exist and the only one from which proceed all others.” RENE` DESCARTES


“God is immaterial; as He is invisible. He can, therefore, have no form. But from what we are able to perceive in His works we conclude that  He is eternal, almighty, omniscient, and omnipresent. LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

and many , many more .

To learn more visit . http://togodandjesuschrist.tripod.com/introgreatestminds.htm

"... Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of
the world? ... God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. ..." 1st CO. 1:20

GOD'S GIFT

To rest. To be able to just sit back and disconnect from work , bills , school , and all the things that occupy our time and space on a daily basis. To just be able to disconnect from all the small and large mundane appointments, schedules, worries, and responsibilities that just seem to drown us. To disconnect from the Matrix for twenty four hours. To be out of the machine's grasp from sundown to sunset. That is The Creators sweet gift of The Holy Sabbath , the day of rest. It was made for you. Enjoy it today.

JAY C

"And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:"
Mark 2:27

INDEPENDENCE

July 4th 1776 was the day that the United States of America,  although the states were not united yet, declared it's independence from the British Empire. The British,  many years before becoming a bast empire that never saw the sunset,  became independent from the Roman Empire.  It was around the year 409 AD when the Brittons expelled all the Roman magistrates from their cities.  A thousand years before,  500 BC, the Romans became independent of the Etruscans.

We could continue this tale of  independence to the beginning of time. I believe that freedom is the most undervalued gift man can ever receive. To be able to say what we want, to believe what we want. A freedom that has cost blood sweat and tears. But the true tyrant is not the past empire nor the next. It is the evil in man's heart. What an awesome thing to know that God gave his only son to give us true independence,  a new and righteous heart.

Happy 4th of July,

Jay C

"....the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will." DANIEL 5:21 kjv.

WHOSE SIDE?

General George Patton had a major role in the  second World War. His army advanced through Europe covering more miles and at a faster speed than any other army in history.  I was listening to a recording of one of the many speeches he gave to his men. In it, he assured his soldiers that America would win the war because God was on our side.

Was God on America's side? I believe that God is on his own side. We are the ones that side up with him if we do right or side up against him if we do wrong. Because if God was on just America's side we would've won every war after  that second great war. History tell s us otherwise.

History also tells us That God is on the side of His people. Every time his people are threatened with extinction,  God raises up an army to protect them. Therefore, pray for the peace in Israel and for America to continue to support them as allies.

Jay C.

"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Artthou for us, or for our adversaries?14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come..."

Josh. 5:13-14, kjv.

First Word

Hey everyone! My name is Jason Cardenas but my friends call me Jay. A few years ago I found an amazing relationship with my Creator and God. Around the time, almost 10 years ago, I discovered a love for the written word. In this blog I will be posting daily meditations inspired on that amazing relationship and on God's Living Word. It is a true blessing for me to share them with you.