As Christians, we are raised in the Church to believe in Faith Versus Fate. This belief in a Higher power can sometimes be a battle. Many of us go through life believing in coincidences and destiny. They call their life plan, their spouse,  even their dream job..FATE. This creates a constant internal battle of faith versus fate. FATE defined as “the development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.” Hmm that really sounds familiar to what we Christians believe… FAITH … “makes us certain of realities we do not see” ~ Heb 11:1 Seems to me very similar in definition. And yet we are quick to declare something was of fate rather than giving God the glory in our faith. I spent many years blindly going through life thinking “everything happens for a reason.” I would be so focused on my own fated plan that I ignored His plan. Allowing others’ opinions of me interfere with my own believing. Fate beat out faith every time in my reasoning for quite some time. “There is an appointed time for everything,     and a time for every affair under the heavens.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 Raised in the shadows of an older brother. It was common to be compared to him (not the best example). I grew up believing that it was my fate or destiny to fail. Hearing words of discouragement and comparison spoken into you at a young age can change the way you see yourself. This self-doubt caused me to depend on fate versus faith. The […]

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Vision Comes From Within When you look for a movie to watch over the next couple of weeks the pickings are slim. It almost seems that family movies get buried behind movies like John Wick starring Keanu Reeves which people will go see just because it is Keanu. Then there is Ouija which no matter how you spin cannot turn out well for anyone. Buried among the weekends travesties is 23 Blast, a movie that everyone that likes inspirational true stories should see, yet many never heard of. We went to see it on opening weekend last weekend. Like many faith filled, feel good or family movies it was tucked in the back of the theater. for we walk by faith, not by sight Click To Tweet The movie itself was thoroughly enjoyable, it has a PG-13 rating due to football violence and some teen drinking. It carries a faith undertone unlike many recent faith-based movies. You are not burdened with cheesy scripts and a heavy message. The acting is actually top-notch compared to the budget. Being that the movie is based on a true story made it all the more enjoyable. Without giving away too much of the story, here is a brief synopsis. The movie is based on the true story of Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka) a high school football player that loses his eyesight his junior year. His football coach (Stephen Lang) talks him into coming back and playing for the team. Needless to say he comes back and plays and inspires […]

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For many years, I like many people thought I was a pretty faith filled religious person. I went to church every Sunday. I tithed and volunteered at the church when I could. I prayed over my meals, and before I went to bed. This all makes for a faithful religious person or so I thought. We spend our days giving praise and glory to God. Striving to be a good person and follow His commandments. Spending time each day reading His word , that too grows our religion right? As we strive to grow our religion and find measurements to tally our success we miss the mark. We miss it by focusing on the religion rather than on the faith. Faith does not come from appearances or how much we put in the Offertory basket. Being religious is practicing the doctrine that we have been taught, yet with little understanding. Faith however is believing in the unseen, unproven being because we believe. Faith is doing good works out of true charity of heart not to count the cost. Faith is believing in a higher power beyond the pulpit. Some of the most faithful servants I have known never stepped foot in a church for service. They were faithful stewards that loved and honored God through their actions not words. They served God and his people not for recognition or power but solely out of love. Society gets lost in the representation of religion that true faith gets lost. Churches are focused on raising money more than raising […]

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