Not of this world

The Bible says we are to be in the world not of the world. We are here whether we like it or not. All we can do is choose what to do with the time we are given. I want to go home as much as anyone, but I don’t get to decide when I go. Only God knows that. So what should we do with the time we have? Luke 12:33 says Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. What that’s saying is live life for God and not yourself. Everything in this world will be gone soon and all your money, cars, TV’s and computers will be no more. Don’t live for the trappings of this world. John 18:26 says Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Don’t get to protective of what you think is yours, because it’s really not. The only thing you can keep is your heavenly treasure. How many jewels do you want on your crown?
I will receive my first degree black belt next week (if I don’t fail the test) and even though it has taken 6 years and 9 months of my life to get what does it do for me in eternity? Is God going to say, Wow Josh, you got a black belt. For that you get more eternal reward. I don’t think so. In fact I know so. I want to be loved by the Lord. Oh wait, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. You all know where that is in the bible so I don’t need to put the reference. I am loved and so are you. Lets break that verse down. For God so loved the world. Lets break it down even more. For God so loved Josh, Jenny, Scott, Rose, Daniel, and Stephanie. He loves everyone so much that he gave his one and only Son to save us. What if you had a son? Would you just give him up? That was an amazing act of love that we didn’t deserve.1 John 4:19 says We love Him because He first loved us.
May God bless you and keep you.
Josh Martin

Respect

Respect
Effort
Strength
Patience
Enthusiasm
Commitment
Tenderness

Short and sweet. Respect is something that is earned, not just given to you. However, God has made roles that should receive respect such as parents and teachers. We need to give them respect because they are authorities to us. Let’s start with parents shall we? I know that most of my followers and in fact I think all my followers are teen agers. I know that at this age it is hard to show respect to your parents but we still need to do our best. It says in the Bible many times to honor your father and mother, it’s even one of the Ten Commandments. So we need to do it because it is a direct order from God. I know it’s hard now and it will get harder before it gets easier but we still need to do it.
“When I was 14 my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand him, but when I turned 21 I was amazed at how much he had learned in 7 years.” Mark Twain. I love that quote because it typifies how the world looks at it. We feel like we know more and our parents are so old fashioned, but they really do know more than they let on.
Now we move on to teachers. Clearly they know more than we do. If they didn’t they wouldn’t be teaching. I don’t know if you have trouble respecting teachers or not. I don’t really, but if you do just keep in mind that God has placed them in a spot of authority over us and we need to respect them for it.
And then of course there is how we earn respect. We earn it by standing up for what we believe in and doing everything to the best of our abilities. Even if you don’t like another person, take me and Katie Ong. We can’t stand each other but I respect her for who she is. She bugs me (that’s an understatement) but I won’t try to change her because she is who she is and I am who I am and that’s the way God made us. God made us all different but all in his own image. We all like different things and different people and I respect you all for who you are and what you like.
God bless you all and if you know anyone who you think would benefit by reading my blog please invite them.
Josh Martin

Independence

The definition of independence is, freedom from dependence on or control by another person, organization, or state. We just celebrated the 4th of July or Independence Day. Why do we do that? It’s just another day on the calendar. Or is it? As you all know, on July 4th 1776 we declared independence from Great Britain. Here is a little known fact, we declared independence on July 2nd but we didn’t celebrate until the 4th. Just think, there were 217,000 people in America, 4,435 men were reported dead and 6,188 men were reported wounded. Also remember that most of the wounded men died shortly after being wounded because medicine was really low quality back then. Hard to believe that so many men died just so you and I could be free. But here is a thought; there was another man who died to make all men free. One man died for trillions of men, and he didn’t even have to. He did it out of love, love for you, and love for me. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.” Our soldiers made us free to live in America, Jesus made us free to live in heaven. As the Battle Hymn of the republic says
“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in his bosom he transfigures you and me, As He died to make men holy let us die to make men free, while God is marching on”.
Even though that was a civil war song it still holds true. As Winston Churchill said “Never was so much owed by so many to so few”. He said that during WW2,but that also is still true today. These men died for us. They died so we might be able to do something great, and we did. For the last 200 years we have been a nation under God, inadvisable with liberty and justice for all.
God bless America, the land that I love.
Josh Marin

Express Yourself

One thing I can’t stand is how people are so sucked in by anything the world has to offer. One of the most hideous things I have ever seen was a large group of people (mostly guys) all wearing V-neck shirts, Skinny jeans, and vans. That has to be one of the worst fashion statements I have ever seen. John 15:19 says “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”. I am a very strange person. I make my own statements by always being the different person in the crowd. Every time it rains I go out in it in my trench coat and newsboy hat. I get a lot of weird looks from people but I just smile and keep walking. I dare all of my followers to be different, to stand out from the crowd, to honor God with everything you do. It won’t be easy and you will be made fun of, but isn’t it worth it? Take some pain down here and get a big reward in heaven. It sounds good to me. There are some guys on my football team who have earrings and almost all of them have girlfriends. Keep in mind they are 14, 15, 16 and 17 years old. That is just wrong in my mind. And they don’t do it because they love the girl it’s just something to do. Then 3 months come and go and they have a new girlfriend. I am one of the oldest guys on the team and the only Junior/Senior That doesn’t have a girlfriend. I get made fun of a lot but I really don’t care what those guys think of me. I just do the best I can to set a good example for the younger guys and hope that they see how happy I am being different. Something most guys on the team try to do is to fit in, be one of the guys. If you looked at that team and said who doesn’t fit in, who doesn’t hang out together after practice? I hope you would say me. Don’t get the wrong idea here, not everyone on the team is bad. I have some friends there but not too many. I have tried many times to witness to some of them, and I hope to keep doing it but you can’t force it on them. Please pray for me as I continue to try and help some of these guys.
Josh Martin

This kingdoms upside down

In the world we live in there is a big Emphases on Being on top, being rich, and having everything your own way. That's not the way the Lord wanted it to be. IT IS THE SERVANT WHO WHERE'S THE CROWN. What if first was last and last was first? Where would we all be then? I am going to try harder from now on to be more of a servant and less of a master. What does that mean? Well I'll tell you. It doesn't mean that you cant lead and take charge but you shouldn't be Obsessed with moeny or power. I know that sounds like a clique but I ask you to stop and think. When was the last time you said "I'm out of money and want more" or asked you parents "can I have more privileges"? Now money is fine in its own way, but it says in Matthew 19:24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Does this mean you should go through life broke and without money? No. Just dont dwell on money. Now I know most of you dont care about football but look at Kurt Warner. He made several million dollars last year. Just because he made so much money doesn't mean we wont see him in heaven. Now I dont mean to keep dwelling on this, I just want to make my point, and this is my blog and you are reading it to see what I think so there. Now for power. Everyone loves power, just suckup your pride and admit it. We all love being in charge but you must be a good a steward of what you control. 1st Peter 4:10 says "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. You should always seek out advice and wisdom even when you think you know what to do. I openly admit that I dont always do this, ok I hardly ever do it but that doesn't mean its ok not to. When Solomon asked God for wisdom over money and power he receved all of the above. I'm not saying you get lots welth if you seek wisdom but you will be better for it. I want to be and I want you to be the greatest servant of all.
Josh Martin.