Update #2

I am deeply sorry for my sudden disappearence in November. School was getting harder and I am currently in the middle of taking my final tests. But other than that, I truly have no other excuse.

But now I am back and active so let me fill you in
on what is coming up. Instead of going with my old plan, I have chosen to take a closer look at Jesus (in both the Old Testament and the New Testament) Why? Because I want to know Jesus so that I may truly be able to live for him. You need to know a person before you choose to live for and with that person.

That is all I wanted to say for now. I will be posting, so make sure you check the blog later on.

Your brother in Christ our Lord,
Alexander de Freitas

Treasuring Him – DWYL Sermon Jam Video

Sermon jam: Treasuring Him (produced by www.1031sermonjams.com)Video: Produced by Desiring God (Seth the Intern)Sermon excerpts: John PiperDon’t Waste Your Life Sermon Jams Album available at w…

more about “Treasuring Him – DWYL Sermon Jam Video“, posted with vodpod

The Logo is Finished

What do you guys think? Comment!

The Logos

Now I will show you the options of logos that could be the logo for my blog. All you need to do to vote is comment the number of the picture that you think should be my logo:

(Don’t worry, once you guys choose the best one I will do edit it, I will put in some more color and then I will type the name of the blog on the logo and the size may be different.)

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6.

The Logo’s Meaning

OK guys I am ready to post the logo ideas (I will put up the logo ideas in the next post). I am not going to actually choose the logo. I am going to give you the choice to choose which one you think is the best for my blog. All you have to do is comment!

But before you see the options I want you to know why I chose the pictures that you see. They are all lyres (not harps). I chose lyres because of a very impacting illustration that a teacher at my school used to represent the satisfaction Christians have in Jesus. Here it goes:

In Greek Mythology the Sirens were mermaid-like creatures that had beautiful voices. And whenever a ship would sail by their home (which was usually extremely rocky) they would sing and all the sailors would go crazy because they wanted to be with the Sirens but when they tried to sail close to them they died because the sailors would crash.

Odysseus was curious about the Sirens.  Legend had it the Sirens would give men knowledge, wisdom and a quickening of the spirit — and Odysseus wanted to experience their lethal charms.  Known for his guile and treachery, Odysseus instructed his sailors to plug their ears with beeswax and tie him to the mast.  He ordered them to leave him tied there, no matter how much he begged to be set free.  When Odysseus heard the Sirens’ bewitching songs, his heart ran with longing to follow their voices, but the ropes held quick and his men stuck to their orders.  The ship sailed quickly to safer waters. (link)

The teacher said that Odysseus yelled at the top of his lungs LET ME GO! LET ME GO! but the sailors didn’t hear them.

In a different story:

In the story of Jason and the Argonauts, Jason is urged by the gods to include Orpheus — the great singer and musician — in his entourage to find the Golden Fleece.  As Jason’s ship passes the island of the Sirens — and their fatal songs begin — Orpheus draws out his lyre and plays his music more loudly and beautifully, drowning out their voices. (link)

The teacher at my school said that Orpheus played so well that the sailors thought that the Siren’s song wasnt even comparable to the beauty and glory of Orpheus’ melody.

And the teacher ended the illustration like this: Are you going to desire sin and yell at the top of your lungs that you want the very thing that will kill you in the end or will you want Jesus. The man who’s song, if you could only hear it, is the most amazing thing in the world. His song made sin’s song die down under the sound of his lyre.

And that is what I want with this blog. I want people who want to follow Jesus, not because they will get a “get out of Hell free card”but because they understand that Jesus is the best thing in this world and those who believe that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (the Gospel) is THE WAY, TRUTH and THE LIFE.

John 14:6 (New International Version)⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

And once people believe that. They change completely. They no longer live for themselves but for Christ, the one who gave them their life.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (New International Version)¹⁵And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

This is my desire and my passion.

Sincerely,

Alexander

2 Corinthians 13:14 (English Standard Version)¹⁴The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

What is the Unwasted Life?

This is a video by John Piper based on his book Don’t Waste Your Life. I am currently reading this book. I am planning on writing posts using this book as a reference. Here are the sites in this video: Desiring God and Don’t Waste Your Life

more about “What is the Unwasted Life?“, posted with vodpod

Update #1

The update is on a voice recording of me; here is the link: Update#1

Another thing I would like to add is that you are now able to rate my many blog posts from 1 to 5 stars.

WARNING

If you are somebody who reads this blog continually and really wants to work for God and not for yourself then I just want to warn you, you will suffer. Sorry, its true.

²⁹For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, (Philippians 1:29)

¹Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (1 Peter 4:1)

Of course Christians don’t look for sufferings. The sufferings come by themselves. Because when you choose to serve God the enemy  gets angry and starts messing with your life (I’ll do a blog about a Christians 3 main enemies later). So take this decision seriously. Are you going to live like Christ with all the sufferings and all the blessings? or are you just going to be a half-hearted Christian that lives for himself?

² so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:2)

⁷For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. (Romans 14:7)

In C.S. Lewis’  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Narnians tell the Pevensies about Aslan (who represents Jesus in the made-up world of Narnia) and the Pevensies ask if Aslan is tame and the Narnians respond saying that of course he is not tame but he is good. What C.S. Lewis is trying to get across the table is that a life with Jesus is not a safe one but a good one.

Paul the Apostle is another good example (This is a conversation between Ananias and God and God is sending Ananias to go to Paul)

15  But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 16  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” Acts 9:15-16

Paul, example of a man seeking God, suffered 50 years in prison (if you add all his years in prison) he was whipped and beaten. but he didn’t let that affect his work or his passion for God. Because of his mindset.

¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

⁸Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)

Wow! Doesn’t this just amaze you! He considered everything as rubbish. The only thing he wanted to do in this world was to serve Christ. I wish that people where more like this and that is the reason for this blog, to make ordinary Christians have a passion for Christ.

Another mindset Paul had on suffering for Jesus:

³More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

I hope you take this to heart and understand what you might have to go through to serve Jesus. The early Christians were thrown into an arena to be eaten by lions. William Tyndale was burnt on the stake because he was translating the Bible into english.

Maybe you are thinking: “I should probably not even serve God it seems to dangerous and risky”. If you are then let me just say that the people in the Army are suffering as well but, why should they be on the battlefield risking their lives? They don’t have to fight. They are out there because they love their country and they want to protect it. A Christian should act like that. Living for God because he (or she) loves God and not worrying about the sufferings.

And don’t worry about the sufferings that you will endure because God is sovereign and he’ll take care of you. He didnt save Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from being thrown into the fire but he did not abandon them. He didn’t save Daniel from being thrown into the lion’s den but he did close the mouths of the lions. God didn’t save me from getting into a serious car crash but he did save me and my family from death.

And that is all I have to say. Ponder on these things before you make your decision to devote your life to Christ. And if you choose yes, then I am happy for you and I hope you do many things for Christ.

With love,

Alexander

⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phillipians 4:9)

To Live is Christ

Jesus died for our sins. So when I became saved Alex died and I was born again not as Alex but as a Christian. Or as Paul puts it:

²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

⁵If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Romans 6:5-7)

So as a Christian now I am different, I am not a normal human being anymore, I am holy and righteous not by works but by grace. But I dont exactly act that way. As Christians we must live like Christ and for Christ all our life (in other words: we should be Christ-like Christians). A great example of this kind of life is Philippians 1:21 where Paul the Apostole (who used to be known as Saul the Osama Bin Laden of the first century) writes to the church of the Philippians while he was in jail facing certain death:

²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Phillipians 1:21)

This is my favorite verse because it shows that Paul cares only about Jesus and the Gospel. And by living like that he began to act like Jesus, love like Jesus, risk his neck for Jesus and do everything possible to make Jesus known to the world.

Since we were talking about Paul and his Christcentered life we should let his words teach us now on how to be a Christ-like Christian

Paul tells the church more then once to have an attitude like Christ:

²⁷Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27)

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

And I also want my readers (both of them) to see this text:

(19) For I know that this will turn out for my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (20) according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but {that} with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. (21) For to me, to live {is} Christ, and to die {is} gain. (22) But if {I} live on in the flesh, this {will mean} fruit from {my} labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, {which is} far better. (24) Nevertheless to remain in the flesh {is} more needful for you. (25) And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, (26) that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:19-26)

I want my life to glorify Jesus. I dont want my relationship with God to be the strongest when I am on my knees at the altar; I want my relationship with Him to be become stronger and stronger each day by living for him and loving him.  This passage is impacting to say the least. My wish is that every Christian would live like this.

Another thing I would like to point out is that we live for Christ because we love him. And just to remind you we show him the most love by obeying.

¹⁵“If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15)

And that we cant please our God without faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

I hope this blog post was helpful for your life.

The tree hoping to bear fruit,

Alexander

⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phillipians 4:9)

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Active Christians

When do non-believers know you are a Christian? They usually figure it out when they notice that you don’t get drunk and party or don’t do drugs or cuss. No wonder people think we Christians are boring! I am not trying to make Christians look cool to the world (I do not want people thinking that being a Christian is “cool”at all). But what I am trying to communicate here is that non-Christians don’t see us in action because Christians are rarely in action. Christians should be known for what they do and not for what they don’t do. But you may say: I am doing Christ like things. And if you are then I congratulate you. But are you doing Christ like things every day and thinking about how you can act like Christ 24/7? If we are going to be disciples of Jesus then we must reject ourselves and begin to live like Jesus: moving forward with a cross on our shoulder.

23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)

Another thing we should have in mind is that should not only do little things for Jesus but also the HARD things for Jesus. Just like the early Christians gave everything they had to the poor just like Jesus commanded. Jesus looked at him and loved him.

“One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. (Acts 2:44-45)

We must witness to people, we must never quit when persecution comes and generally act like Jesus 24/7.

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (Phillipians 2:5)

May God be with you,

Alexander

9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phillipians 4:9)