We're all like Tiger...

BATHOS

Yes we are all like Tiger Woods...to a certain degree that is. No most of us will certainly never play golf like Tiger but nonetheless we are all like Tiger. On Friday even if you don't care about the Tiger Woods saga you most likely listened or heard about his much anticipated public apology.

It's amazing how so many people even those who never watch golf are fascinated and intrigued with the personal life of Tiger Woods. I wonder though if perhaps some of these people are this way because well...we're all like Tiger.

If you didn't get to see/hear his public apology you could do so here. During his short apologetic speech he said this:

"I've had a lot of time to think about what I've done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before."

You see we're all like Tiger to the extent that, "we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23).  If some how we think that we are better than him or anyone else because we haven't done what he did we are comparing ourselves with someone we know that we can look favorable. Maybe at this point is when we really should be like Tiger and spend some time and think about what we've done, and perhaps look at ourselves in a way we never wanted to before.

Tiger Woods recently was dropped by Accenture one of his sponsors. This was the sponsor that ran an ad (watch it here) that said, "...we know what it takes to be a Tiger." People of course had much to say of these words after everything became public what Tiger had done.

But the reality is though as we have noted Accenture was actually right, "we know what it takes to be a Tiger", because we have all sinned, maybe not like Tiger but sinned nonetheless.

Though we are all like Tiger in this sense. I though don't believe in Buddhism I believe in Jesus Christ and praise Him for these words:

"If you confess your sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)  

So if I believe this text then...well I'm no longer like Tiger.

Javi


image from [www.thewrap.com] 

40 Day Challenge: Are you in?

BATHOS

"Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Wellspring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor" 

WOW what a powerful statement to say the least. The statement above is from a book called Gospel Workers written by a well published deceased Seventh-day Adventist writer named Ellen G. White. 

There is no doubt that without true hearted prayer our relationship with Jesus and any possibility of going deeper with Him is basically impossible. The bible tells us that after having a very busy Sabbath day teaching and healing the multitude into the late evening (perhaps even early morning). Jesus, "...in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there." (Mk. 1:38)

Though he had had an exhausting Sabbath Jesus understood that unless He spent time in prayer with His Father He had no strength. He needed daily of the Spirit of God! 

Our church today has begun 40 Days of prayer and devotions. It's a book written by a pastor named Dennis Smith you can check out his website and books here. I challenged our church today and also challenge those reading this post to join us, buy the book using the link above or you can also buy it at the Adventist Book Center or if you prefer to speak to someone call 334-272-6450 they'll ship anywhere.

Take note though I have already noticed the devil getting angry. This will happen when we step out of our comfort zone and truly seek our Lord. But fear not If God is for us who can be against us?

So will you join us? Will you step out of your comfort zone for these 40days and see what God can do?

Javi

Why I Twitter

BATHOS

Ok so I know what your saying "Twitter?" I'm on facebook! Facebook is without a doubt impressive with its 400 million active users and counting. Interestingly enough I'm not one of them.

Now let me be clear I'm fully aware of Facebook and how it works and what one could do with it and even the security issues it recently had aaaannnnd how Facebook is soon to name its own president of it's 400 million active user country...ok maybe not that last one, but you get the point.

With that said though I do tweet and I'm slowly getting into 'buzzing' (still feels weird to say that) which is googles new social media venture. If some of you are still on myspace...why?

But before I tell you why I twitter if you have time check out The Beginner's Guide to Twitter and 12 reason's Thomas Nelson's CEO Michael Hyatt twitters. By the way Thomas Nelson is the largest Christian publishing company in the world. Also please check out my friends blog Rodlie he had a good post on 'The Value of Twitter VS Facebook.

Twitter has about 75 million people open an account, but the amount of people that actively use it is much lower. Simply stated I have found twitter useful for the following reasons:

• I learn of any national news immediately (even before I hear it on t.v)
• I receive my local news immediately (even before I hear it on t.v.)
• I keep up with the latest technology immediately
• I keep up with a lot of what's happening in the evangelical world (conferences, sermons, trends, etc)
• I keep up with what's happening in the Adventist world (the church I serve)
• I obviously follow what some friends are doing

Now perhaps you are saying I can do all this with Facebook, but there is something with Twitter because since you can only type 140 characters you don't spend a lot of time on it (sometimes) so I can quickly browse through my tweets and spend more time on the ones that get my attention.

One important thing though it's important who you follow in order for twitter to really be useful at least how I like to use it. I have received 'tweets' (some with links to a Christian blog for example) that have made me wonder and ponder and made me go deeper with Jesus.

So what are you waiting for get own www.twitter.com open an account if you haven't and follow me @javid21

Javi

image by [mfilej]