January 2019 Revision Hey, if you’re messaging me about work, please just ask me for my cell # instead. June 2018 Revision Hey, there. #InsertSmileyFacesHere #InsertUselessHashtagHere #InsertAnotherOneJustBecause Want to discuss something? :) Send me a message, and I’ll try to get back with you, within a few days or less. IF you’re reading this (wondering why we’re not friends anymore), I deleted thousands of contacts between April & May (2018). You’re welcome to send me a message to engage, but I won’t be adding tons of people. It was much too stressful, from trying to help everyone, that I deactivated my account to refresh. I’ve been focused in other areas. I’m back since late-April, but not planning on adding tons of people (like before), and also doing things a lot differently on Facebook .. With that said: Like my “bio” says, I’m Christian, so if you have any prayer requests — Don’t hesitate. Disclaimer: I might preach to you a bit, from experience, and where I believe I can offer some advice based on your situation etc. ** Being in my late-twenties, and looking forward to where God is leading me in my life, I’m blessed to be here. I have stable employment (which I enjoy), family who loves me (and vice-versa), and friends who actually care etc. It wasn’t always like this, though, and this is where you might not care to continue reading — Or, you can see who I was. If anyone reads this, that knew me from before God offered me a (2nd) chance to obey Jesus on April 11th, 2016 — I’m sorry. AKA, below is a super-long post about why I recommitted as a Christian, and *why* you might care. Thanks for stopping by today. ** My past was a lot of wrong-doing, from how far I could push things, and people. Somewhere between 2011-2016 was when my life was working through various low points, and significant life changes .. I ruined a lot of good relationships, caused unnecessary strife & division, and wasn’t able to effectively grow, professionally. My attitude was cocky, picking fights with people — The little things, like spelling & grammar, then moving to confrontation. From annoying people with useless excessive comments, to starting “online” fights to get reactions, I got all of the WRONG types .. I got some good laughs, even at the expense of hurting others — But, it got to be who I was becoming, and not who I needed. Becoming narcissistic, someone who enjoyed controlling others, and influencing what & how others thought — It wasn’t right. It probably stemmed from being bullied when I was younger, and wanting to “get back” at people, even those who never did me any wrong themselves. It was a bad cycle .. I hope it’s not your path, or for those who felt rejected in life, who were bullied, because two wrongs don’t make a right. Right? There were times when I felt bad, that I knew I took things too far - But it didn’t change behavior long-term, because I didn’t. My life was still halted, or stagnant, because I projected my own hatred for my life onto others. It was my self-sabotage circle. I connected with people online, those I found to be like me, and I met some friends that supplied that need that I often lacked. I found people who were like me — First low-key sarcastic, comical, and easygoing. These were the types that I could have stayed around. Maybe it was me influencing them, or maybe it was the other way around. Then, I found people who were like who I became — Those arrogant, selfish, the short-tempered trouble-makers who I should have avoided, yet joined .. I grew up really shy, in a strict household, and when my parents divorced — It got really hard with moving around often. There were many times in my past where I knew something was wrong, but I did it anyway — From class clown, to Internet troll, I became my own stumbling block. It was like: Everything I did (or tried to do), fell apart before gaining real success. I did a lot of self-sabotaging, and the results created guilt to repeat it. When you don’t know HOW to break free, when you don’t have the solution, what can you do — Except go on “repeat”. The spiritual truth was simple: A lot of what I tried to do in my life was stunted by my willful sins — hurting the people around me from folly. Maybe you’re reading this, and maybe you don’t believe in God, sins, or eternal punishment. I believe in these. I’ve spent a lot of time wanting to do things over again, to not be so rebellious. If I really didn’t like my life, I could have just *got off* Facebook, stopped talking about what I wanted to do, then focused. The years of bad choices, even amidst some good works, outweighed the benefits of the latter. I didn’t like my life, and others were dragged down from my sad reality too .. Personal relationships failed when I couldn’t keep self-made commitments, business relationships failed when I couldn’t sell despite knowing how etc. I could advise people in their relationships, or business with success, but mine failed. Why? ** A long time ago, when I was 11 years old, I said a “Sinner’s Prayer” - And asked Jesus into my heart. I grew distant & wasn’t saved. This is pretty typical of the “mainstream understanding” of Christianity — Say a prayer, you’re saved, now go on living. But, where’s the change of heart? True belief includes true obedience. It’s not about earning your way to heaven with good works, it’s about believing in what Jesus did, and Who He Is — And *wanting* to follow. No matter what I DID to fill the longing in my heart — Alcohol, occult knowledge, violent games, movies & music — I was far away. The love of money (my way of wanting to reclaim things I missed out on in my past), and the love of sin caused my failures in life. I was lost in my sins — Lost in bad choices, and seemingly no way to climb out of the deep. But then God reached on down. The ONLY way that can fill that longing in your heart for peace, is truly believing in Jesus — And receiving the Holy Spirit .. The Gospel (Translation: Good News) has the power to change the WORST of people into people who love God. Do YOU love God? When someone loves God, they love people, and love does no wrong to another person. The simple truth is this: Jesus is the Way. Yes, sometimes people make mistakes. Sometimes Christians make mistakes. Yet when hearts change, actions do. And this makes me consider: Did I *really* believe back then? Did I believe enough to obey? I certainly didn’t care enough to change, because I didn’t. I changed enough to temporarily avoid painful situations. However .. True belief makes someone turn from their unbelief, turn from their sins, turn from hopelessness to the only hope for eternal salvation from death. The choices we make will have consequences. If you’re the type to push things to get a reaction, please stop. Whether it’s drinking, or drugs, or the occult, or causing trouble — whatever your case might be — There’s more to this life. I didn’t know how much “more” there was, and I didn’t know how lost I was, until the God of the universe reached out for me. ** This happened in a big way, and it was built-upon from many instances in the past. Since God offered me a 2nd chance to obey Jesus on April 11th, 2016 — Life has changed in MANY ways so far .. There are too many experiences to share, but they include spiritual warfare, miracles, stern rebuke from the LORD, and much more. Growing up in a Christian home, I wanted to do the things I wasn’t allowed to do, but I soon found the consequences. From starting trouble between people, to heavy drinking, and neglecting my own health, I was going downhill and fast. It was God’s mercy on me — despite my rough past, that gave me the opportunity to start over in everything, and begin fresh. You can watch a video testimonial here: about.me/secondchancetobesaved From everything that happened over these past 2-3 years, God has led me to Orthodoxy. It’s the “Undivided Faith” — Long before these denominations brought along various teachings, there was / is the *original* church. So, why does this matter? For one, there’s appropriate order. Can you imagine Facebook connecting believers from all over the world, and many who believe different things? That’s exactly what happens, and it’s a great blessing to connect to other believers, for sure. However, where’s our structure? If we say we *follow* Christ, what does that mean: And, how can we measure it based upon what the disciples / apostles did .. The very people who put together our Bibles, the original writings — They carried on the traditions of Jesus Christ, in Orthodoxy. At this time, I’ve committed to learn more, and I’m not on Facebook as much — Being so busy trying to help out everywhere. My life nowadays is between working, catching up on bills, reading, sleeping etc. For most of my adult life, Facebook was a huge part of my life — I went from weird guy online, to trouble-maker, to having businesses, to *redeemed* Christian. I’m open to new friendships, however, I’m keeping a lot off social media day-to-day. If you want to connect, talk & learn more about me .. Just send me a private message.
