What I Learned In Church: Temptation, Excuses and Focus

Some announcements: The church is sorry for the delay in delivering the message this week. Perhaps it was meant to serve those who resolve to change Sunday afternoon and only make it to Wednesday before they are sinning again. No names on that one. Plus, it being Valentine's day, the naked-dickers might need a word before they get off into their plans for the evening.

Also, the interaction has dwindled lately in these blogs. I see that you are reading. But my blogs are a contact sport. Feel free to slap me upside the head with whatever you are feeling at the time. Anything. Anytime. Everyone!



Today, we will be reading In Genesis, Romans and Mark:

In Genesis, temptation and sin begin. AS WELL AS EXCUSES! Eve is tricked into eating the forbidden fruit and convinces Adam to do so. Immediately after, the finger pointing and deflecting begin. True to naked-dicker form, The World's First couple refused to accept responsibility for their own actions.

In Romans, if one man (Adam) can begin sin and lead us to death, then one man (Jesus) can bring salvation and lead us to life. So even after all the shit we've gotten ourselves into, Jesus gives us a way out.

In Mark, Jesus was tempted as he fasted. Contrary to popular opinion, it was not easy. Even for God in the flesh, the devil is stronger than mere temptation. He is Peer-Pressure to the max! Take it from a man who has been called the devil for tempting my peers to sin, Jesus had a tough time in the wilderness.

We have always been tempted. We always will be. Never is there room for excuses. We will fall. And we will GET RIGHT BACK UP! We will get stronger. It will never be easier. Ask a weightlifter. He/She will start out lifting One Hundred and some odd pounds. And today they lift Over Three Hundred. They got stronger. It did not get easier. It's still Three Hundred pounds. Get stronger. In prayer. In focus. In drive. In commitment. In dreams. In Goal setting. In life. In Love. In family. In friendship.

Life is tough. It gets hard. It doesn't matter how hard we hit. It's how hard we can get hit. And get back up and keep on keepin on.

That is what Lent is! It is defeating temptation so that we can pray, listen, focus.
Lent is not about giving up candy. We give up what distracts us from our goals. WE LISTEN. WE FOCUS. We may need the whole six weeks of Lent to get to the level focus we seek to achieve.

So, a few days late I know what to give up for Lent. What I'm giving up for EVER is excuses. I'll start with lent and if I fall, I'll just jump right back up and go at it harder.

We are all weak. But we can be strong. That is the glory of GOD. We proclaim God's ability to do anything. If we call ourselves Christian, we must know WE can do anything too! We must believe that. We must LIVE that!


I think I remember hearing the same verses in Church too. But then again, I slip and forget how Catholics use the miselettes (Don't know if I spelled that right, but I tried). The Lenten season should be used as a time of reflection and focus. In giving up something, you should focus on other things. That's what it's about. I hear friends that are Catholic talk about giving up various things for Lent. But, i would challenge them to improve something about themselves during Lent. To me, that's what this time is about. If we're to get closer to God, I believe that we have to be the best people that we can be. So by sacrificing and focusing, we can try to improve upon our flaws and thus become more God-like and become the people He truly wants us to be. You're right, it's NOT an easy thing to do, but it's possible...attaining our full potential that is. So my challenge to everyone during this time would be don't just sacrifice for the sake of appearances and then go around letting everyone know what you gave up (I believe there is a scripture that says we should sacrifice willingly and not for public acknowledgement). Sacrifice privately but let that sacrifice improve your focus and bring you closer to God by you being able to become a better person.

I told you! I am glad you liked. I hope I can continue to speak to people

When I look at you I could never imagine those words coming out of that brain of yours. Normally when I read your blogs I'm in an "whatever" mode, but todays bolg actually hit home. Life is filled with trials and temptations and I am a witness, I am tempted sorely everyday. Somedays I feel like I should stop resisting and just give in, but I know I can't. I know God has a plan for me. "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future". I paraphrased that verse, it's somewhere in the book of Jerome, who when he stopped giving into temptation, later changed his name to Jeremiah. (sorry I couldn't resist LOL). There are many things in my life that I need to give up and give over to God without looking back. Thanks Jason!!!...we fall down but we give up...(I would insert music notes but there are none on the keyboard).