Killing Sin

Answer the questions and tag the people you want to get to know more about. Yes, yes, pass it along.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
11:00

2. How do you like your steak?
Medium well to well done.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Transformers 2.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Hands down, 24!
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Tucuman, Argentina!

6. What did you have for breakfast?
Corn flakes.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Don’t know.

8. What foods do you dislike?
Vegetables.

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
Los Hermanos (Mexican place in Chula Vista).

10. Favorite dressing?
Doesn’t exist.

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?
’99 Hyundai I think (later this yr).
12. What are your favorite clothes?
White t-shirt, jeans (more in the house).

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Hawaii.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire?
Wherever God seems fit to place me, that’s where I want to be.
16. Favorite time of day?
Time I’m with people from LBC.

17. Where were you born?
Coronado, CA

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Soccer (but I’d rather play it).

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
Everyone in the world.
20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
No one.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
The one who reads this.

22. Bird watcher?
Apparently I didn’t watch long enough to see it poo on my head this past Monday at the beach.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I wish morning, but more night.

24. Do you have any pets?
Rottweiller-Doberman (though I’d rather not have one).

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share?
Not yet.

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
A police officer, fireman, wrestler. Hahaha, not gonna happen.

27. What is your best childhood memory?
Eating pickles in the kitchen with my mom.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Neither.
29. Are you married?
No.

30. Always wear your seat belt?
Usually.
31. Been in a car accident?
Sort of; it was more bumper to bumper love tap.

32. Any pet peeves?
When people don’t punctualize nor capitalize when writing. But then my grammar’s horrible, so I try not to hold it against people. J
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Pepperoni.

34. Favorite Flower?
Tulips hahahaa!

35. Favorite ice cream?
Vanilla.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Dude, easy answer. In-n-Out. C’mon now (I like Andrea’s answer).

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?
Nada.

38. From whom did you get your last email?
Encouraging email from Jenna Kim.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Possibly Evangelical…but I would never do something like that.
40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
Not really…

41. Like your job?
Depends on which place hires me.

42. Broccoli?
No thanks.

43. What was your favorite vacation?
I think they were all the same.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Angelo and Abe…good times man.

45. What are you listening to right now?
Sons & Daughters (new Sovereign Grace CD).

46. What is your favorite color?
Any shade of blue…although lately, I’ve been liking green a lot (strangely, this is Andrea’s answer too).

47. How many tattoos do you have?
None.

48. How many kids do you have?
None. Want? Now, that’s a more interesting question.

49. Type of person you don’t like.
Prideful people (hey, I’m one of them).

DWYL Song Lyrics

Hook (Cam)

Don’t wanna waste my life

Verse 1 (LeCrae)

I know a lot of people out there scared they gone die/
couple of em thinking they’ll be livin’ in the sky/
but while I’m here livin’ man I gotta ask why,
what am here fo I gotta figure out/
waste my life?/ no I gotta make it count/
if Christ is real then what am I gone do about/
everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21/
you really oughta go and check it out/

Paul said if Christ ain’t resurrect then we wasted our lives/
well that implies that our life’s built around Jesus being alive/
everyday I’m living tryin’ show the world why/
Christ is more than everything you’ll ever try/
better than pretty women and sinning and living
to get a minute of any women and men that you admire/

ain’t no lie/ We created for Him/
outta the dust he made us for Him/
Elects us and he saves us for Him/
Jesus comes and raises for Him/
Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser/
he made us so we could bless Him
and to the world we confess him/
resurrects him/

so I know I got life/
matter fact better man I know I got Christ/
if you don’t’ see His ways in my days and nights/
you can hit my brakes you can stop my lights/
man I lost my rights/
I lost my life/
forget the money cars and toss that ice/
the cost is Christ/
and they could never offer me anything on the planet that’ll cost that price.

Verse 2 (Dwayne Tryumph)
(Note: verse 2 is not part of the music video)

Armed and dangerous
So the devil jus can’t handle us
Christian youth them a stand wid us
Livin’ n driven/ given a vision/ fullfillin the commission he handed us

London to Los Angeles
Da rap evangelist
Ma daddy wouldn’t abandon us
“I gotta back pack fulla tracts plus I keep a Johnny Mac”
So are you ready to jam with us

So lets go, gimme the word an lets go
Persecution lets go
Tribulation lets go
Across the nation lets go
Procrastination bes go

Hung on the cross in the cold
Died for da young and the old
Can’t say you never know
Heaven knows
How many souls are going to hell or to heaven so we gotta go in and get em

Verse 3 (LeCrae)

Suffer/ Yeah do it for Christ
if you trying to figure what to do with your life/
if you making a lot money hope you doing it right
because the money is Gods you better steward it right/

stay focused
if you ain’t got no ride/
your life ain’t wrapped up in what you drive/
the clothes you wear
the job you work/
the color your skin naw you Christian first/

people living life for a job/
make a lil money start living for a car/
get em a house a wife kids and a dog/
when they retire they living high on the hog/
but guess what they didn’t ever really live at all/
to live is Christ yeah that’s Paul I recall/ to die is gain
so for Christ we give it all/
he’s the treasure you’ll never find in a mall/

Your money your singleness, marriage, talents, your time/
they were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine/
that’s why it’s Christ in my rhymes/
That’s why it’s Christ all the time/
see my whole world is built around him He’s the life in my lines/

I refuse to waste my life/
he’s too true ta chase that ice/
here’s my gifts and time cause I’m constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ/
If he’s truly raised to life/
then this news should change your life/
and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.

This is my first in writing a series of me coming back and writing about wanting to write with more substance. It’s been about 4 months since I last promised an update about certain things going on in my life and interests that have been keeping me from writing in depth. I’m actually a little disappointed in myself, in that I have the time to write about how I haven’t been writing but not enough time to actually write what I want to write (that’s the philosophy speaking). I’ve learned so much at Lighthouse, from Sunday sermons to retreats to books that have seriously taken root in my life, including the continued study of Psalm 119 and now the Gospel According to John. Discipleship has been hard but fruitful, guys have continued to sharpen me by words of admonishment, encouragement, and simply by example, and God has continued to show me areas of my life that have not been under His Lordship and thanking Him for revealing that to me. I have many influences, but an audience of One (for what purpose do I write what I write?). Life involving my family still awaits further reflection, and even preparation in order to go through what I’m about to go through, but with God to remind me who I should be living for, it’ll be a blessing, and not a curse. Thanks for being patient, the two of you who read this (what can I say? I’m optimistic ). Until next time…

This is crazy. It’s been over a month since I’ve last written on this blog. Hopefully, I’ll have more time (especially this weekend) to come up with posts that are marinating in my head that I’ve been wanting to write about for quite awhile (including a book review and a continuation of Psalm 119). I’m too used to posting links more than writing, so I’m going to have to eventually break the habit and take responsibility with what I write instead of what I link to. I seriously can’t wait to take advantage of this weekend to enjoy the teaching from Andy Snider and the fellowship that will hopefully be overwhelming in a good way. Looking to come back here in about a week. See you then!

The Word is holy because it comes from a holy God. Its nature testifies to the nature of the One who speaks. It’s this Word that has led many who believe in the goodness of God to write countless books, testifying to what gives them joy and strength to continue the daily battle against sin and Satan.

This thought helped me have my mind be wrapped around Psalm 119:1-8, which is a glimpse into the life of the psalmist who is deeply in love with the Word of God, because it brought him great joy in getting to know the mind of God, and ultimately, God Himself. Here’s the text:

¹How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. ²How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart. ³They also do no unrighteousness, they walk in His ways. ⁴You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently. ⁵Oh, that my ways may be established to keep your statutes! ⁶Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all your commandments. ⁷I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. ⁸I shall keep Your statutes. Do not forsake me utterly!

Under the first Hebrew letter of the alphabet, this stanza begins this great psalm with a recognition of the state of those that walk in the ways of the Lord. Psalm 119 is a psalm that has been broken up into 8 verses, meaning 22 stanzas that correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, with the beginning of each verse starting with that Hebrew letter (if only that could translate to help us English-speaking people ). I found it fitting to title this psalm for my benefit, “Devotion to the Word of God and the God of the Word.” Meditating on these precious words has helped me evaluate my own heart in how I truly view the Word of God in my daily life. Reading and reflecting on these words have me jump at the excitement of the psalmist, who had no reservations in giving praise to God for His Word, that leads to blessedness, a desire to know God with passion (v. 2), and a plea to have his own life be a life without shame in encountering His Word (v. 6). This kind of worship stems from a desire to study the Word to reach new heights in giving honor to God in walking in His ways.

You can hear the psalmist’s heart yearn in this passage to obey the One who has delivered His Word to those who don’t even deserve to hear a peep from the One who created him. He wants to “walk in the law of the LORD,” he wants to “seek Him with all [his] heart,” he wants to “look upon all [His] commandments” without shame. His soul is poured out in the addition of the word, “Oh” in verse 5. His will is to do the will of God, and that is obvious for all to see. The way he shows love for His Word is displayed in having his own life be transformed by the power of this Word. Twice he writes, “I shall…” in terms of obedience continuously as time goes on. Twice he mentions the heart in matters of how he relates to God: in seeking Him with fullness of heart (v. 2), and in giving thanks with uprightness of heart (v. 7). The ESV and NIV render it, “I will praise you with an upright heart…”;

You can also see a glimpse into the character of God in the way the Word of God is mentioned in this psalm: “law of the LORD” shows Him to be a lawgiver; “…commandments” shows Him to be the one with authority; “judgments” (or “rules” in ESV) show Him to be the ruler, the righteous king.

Who are the blessed? Those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord, observe His testimonies, and walk in His ways. How do you seek God in order to be blessed? With all your heart. How can you tell who are the blessed ones? Those who do no unrighteousness. How do you keep God’s precepts? With diligence. Is there a limit to which commandment we are to be diligent in? No! Do we need to know the law of the Lord in order to walk in it? Yes!

These are only some of the questions that are asked and answered in these verses. The Words of this Psalm already challenge me to examine my heart to see if I can respond in the same way as this psalmist. I must walk in the law of the Lord with diligence, not when it comes to salvation, for I can never redeem myself, but as an act of love because I have already been redeemed. If I do not know the law of the Lord, which is His Word, then I cannot walk in it, or live my daily life under the Word of the Lord. This pushes me to make sure that I diligently seek to read more of His Word, to study His Word, to memorize His Word, to meditate on His Word, and to listen to the preaching of His Word in the hopes that I will live in His law out of love for His character revealed. It’s a blessing that awaits those who desire to love His Word enough to study it and obey. It also is a pressing desire for me to commune with God in prayer, to seek Him with all my heart in speaking with Him and depending on Him to guide me, that my ways may be established. The cry of the psalmist must be my cry as well: “Do not forsake me utterly!”

The power of the Living Word is revealed even more in the incarnation of the divine Son made flesh to reveal to me who God is truly like, and how our lives must be in accordance with the will of the Father, which was what Jesus’ life on earth was made for. This also displayed a love for being in submission under the Father’s will, which God calls us to as slaves of righteousness, and no longer unrighteousness. I have to give up my self-centeredness and live a crucified life for Christ, taking up my cross daily, so that I may “seek Him with all [my] heart.” This means no longer doing the things I wanted to do which has nothing to do with pleasing God and obeying His Word. Hopefully, by trusting in His Word, my heart will soon soften and change to keep His Word diligently in order to know God and love Him without the fear of man.

Sorry if this sounds like a lot of random thoughts thrown in together, but I had to write it down before I quickly forget and not seek accountability in this. Hopefully, the words of the psalmist, and ultimately, the words of God, challenge you to want to love His Word more and seek to rely on His Word when troubles arise, giving you more hope in this pure and holy Word.

When I start to get to know people at church, one of the many topics that come up are our favorite authors. MacArthur, Piper, Mahaney, and Bridges are usually the names that come up in the discussion, and I always want to hear the stories they have when encountering what they’ve come to learn about God through their books. It’s even great to hear how they came to know of their favorite authors and how they have been a great help in times of crisis, fear, or even depression. The main reason people within the church have favorite authors is that they are led to a deeper knowledge of the God who saved them. Books like Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis or Knowing God by J.I. Paker have been truly instrumental in building up a faith that is rooted in the Word of God, creating a trust in God and His Word to protect them from daily struggles in temptation. They even break habits of sin resulting from a diagnosis of their self-admitted distortion of who God has revealed Himself to be. Tim Keller spoke of John Owen’s The Mortification of Sin as the book that saved his own life and that were it not for that great work, he would not be in the ministry today.

I personally have given God thanks for having R.C. Sproul write his most popular work The Holiness of God, which truly removed the veil of sinfully not taking into account God’s only attribute thrice-repeated of holiness and how serious He takes His and our own holiness in sanctification. You cannot help but praise God in song and tears for being given His own revelation, whether it be in creation, the written Word, or the living Word made flesh. It’s awakened in me a desire to want to tremble at the listening, reading, and study of His Word.

One of my favorite authors, if not, my favorite author, is my fellow brother in the faith, James White. His books have been such an encouragement to me and give a refreshing look at truths defended in the same way they were defended at a time when life and death were literally at stake. He takes it just as serious as those who were persecuted for it. I was first made aware of his ministry by a somewhat overzealous interest in apologetics, which is an area that specifies how to defend the faith against differing cults and religions. He opened the Scriptures in every radio program I’ve ever listened to in responding to those who would be proponents of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, Roman Catholicism, Oneness Pentecostalism, Islam, and more. He is well-versed in the Scriptures and relies on the veracity of the Word to be the foundation of an effective ministry that could open up opportunities for the Gospel to be preached with passion. He has truly been an example of one who has a strong belief in the local church to grow as a Christian (which I hadn’t come to understand until the last couple of years). That seems a little rare in ministries focused on apologetics, since some are bent towards defending the truth at all costs, even to the point of sacrificing truth to win an argument. James White has been a man of God who pointed me to the cross as a truth to cherish and a truth to fight for in a day where even many professing Christians would be quick to throw under a bus.

James White is an elder at the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, who has degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary and Coumbia Evangelical Seminary. He was a Critical Consultant of the NASB Updated Bible, and has taught Greek, Hebrew, Systematic Theology, Christology, Apologetics, and more. He has been in over 60 moderated public debates with Roman Catholic, Mormon, Islamic, and Oneness Pentecostal apologists. He’s written many books that are faithful to Scripture, and very God-glorifying in pushing for a deeper knowledge of God that will lead to a life that will seek to defend His name when slandered or devalued.

His work on the Trinity has led me to love God in knowing more of who He truly is, and that it isn’t enough to just know the truth; it must be lived out in greater love for God and people. His work on Roman Catholicism challenged me to represent the beliefs of others for love of the truth and to never be slack in representing Christ in a day where doctrine is no longer considered important. His work on John 6:35-45 has led me to see a picture of God’s sovereign plan in redeeming and reconciling those who are completely undeserving of His mercy and grace. His work on justification shattered my soul in ever having the idea that I could bring anything to the table to merit salvation in any way.

He’s been known to say a few phrases such as, “Theology Matters,” or “No Compromise” or “It is evil to pervert the Word of God,” and especially, “What you win them with is what you’ll win them to” (in matters of the Gospel you present to unbelievers). He has been gifted by God to see the issues clearly, and defend the Gospel in a way that will make you want to be a student to see how God can use one person to bring Himself much glory. The truth of God’s Word is genuinely at stake, and White makes you aware of that. He has been caught up by the God of the Bible, and seeks to honor Him in presenting Him before others in an accurate way.

When you can find a Christian writer who can bring you to the presence of God in a way that leaves you in awe of what you’re getting a glimpse of, stick with them! James White is a man I commend to anyone who wants to see how theology can direct your life and thoughts to ponder the deep truths of God’s Word, and give you a deeper desire to “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence…”  

I never thought this post would end up this way, but the sovereign providence of God has helped me re-evaluate my heart in a certain area of my life that not a lot of people know about. That has to do with the absence of my father throughout my entire life. I meant to write a post that would allow me to express my thoughts about where I am, and who God has put in my life, along with who He hasn’t placed in my life, that would hopefully be of help to someone. Let me explain.

When I was younger, I always had a hard time dealing with the fact that I did not have a father figure in my life. I would see my other friends who had both parents meet them after school or at sports events, and I never understood what that was like. I used to play tee-ball and would end up calling my uncle dad simply because of the fact that he came to watch me play (he never corrected me for saying that). Growing up without a father soon became the norm for me, and I thought those with both parents were the strange ones. I grew up watching WWF and baseball, seeing the strength and power they exuded in front of thousands.

When I realized I didn’t know how to shave or how to tie a tie, I panicked. My cousin ‘Coco’ helped me with both, and I have barely managed since then. NJROTC showed me, among many things, how to dress appropriately. There were, of course, the officers that displayed a sense of manliness that I wanted to emulate simply from the fact that I was extremely scrawny in high school (it hasn’t really changed since), and yet they, not being completely buff, still had a presence of manhood surround them. My vague conception of a father only worsened a couple years back when working at a grocery store. The other men prided themselves in being strong and doing well at their job, yet at the same time have an utter disregard for the women there (one of them told me, “You’re too Americanized and not Mexican enough because you respect women too much”). I lost all hope of finding a good father figure.

The absence of my dad has hit hard over the years, building up a dangerous view in my own mind about how I was going to be as a father. I resolved to become a good father to spite my own father, as if this would somehow shame him. It had nothing to do with wanting to please God or living in the light of Gospel truth. My kids would receive love and care merely for the sake of ruining any chances of reconciliation with him, should the opportunity present itself. Fellowship with the Father soon began to fade, which came from my distaste in fathers, particularly my own. The idea of becoming a man slowly dissipated. I was in sin, covering myself with filth as time flew by. This was one area I didn’t believe God addressed in His Word; and yet that just showed my lack of intake that would have shaped my heart and mind sooner, among other things.

The absence of a father makes you try to find a substitute, and I had none in sight. Everyone I knew became a huge disappointment, and I’m sure they weren’t consciously trying to be one. I always shifted the blame to those in authority to be my example to follow, and yet, they never managed to satisfy my expectations. My selfishness completely directed my own actions, hardly ever submitting to Christ’s Lordship in this matter, and truly searching His Word to see what He has to say.

The Gospel is this: that God created the world, and as creator, has complete ownership of His creation. We were created to bring God glory and worship Him, yet we failed miserably and are deserving of eternal punishment because of our complete disobedience to the eternal God and His Word. Our being completely unable to save ourselves is what drove the Father to display His love for us by sending His own, unique Son, to die for us, His enemies. The Heavenly Father is showing how good He truly is by the death of His own Son, and yet loves Him, and Christ to His Father. Infinite love is displayed on the cross to give God the Father infinite glory, for it shows His infinite holiness, justice, and love, all at once! Those who believe in Christ the Son as the sole Savior from sin and God’s wrath and repent of their repugnant sins are now called ‘sons and daughters.’ God the Father is now our Father, having a new heart and a new nature to seek to obey Him in love as a redeemed slave. The Son loves the Father, and wanted to show His love by obeying Him always, to the point of death. Even now, as the resurrected Christ, constant fellowship within the Trinity displays the love one has for the other, and vice versa. Do you see the implications this has on cultivating a right view of fatherhood?

This is one of the reasons I love being a member at Lighthouse, because it fosters that community of the older men teaching the younger to be an example of good deeds, since the older men are examples of good deeds, as Titus 2:7 exhorts. The instruction of sound doctrine led to a changed mindset in my own life to no longer see my father as an easy target to hate, but a sinner in need of sovereign grace, and I can’t allow my bitter feelings get in the way of the most important relationship that has been broken, namely, that of my earthly father and my Heavenly Father.

Why have I brought all of this up now? Well, I recently received a call from a cousin on my dad’s side of the family, who wanted to get to know my mom’s side of the family, and let me know that my father is still alive. I was taken aback by this, not really knowing what to say. Before, I could say, “Sure, I’d love to meet my dad; of course, I won’t be mad at him because he left.” Now, the opportunity might come and my words be put to the test. Will I ever meet my dad? I have no idea. How will I respond? No clue. And yet, now I know what I will never say: “I wish you were dead.” I hope to say, “You are dead, but you must live.” I must tell him the Gospel. That is of most importance; not who was hurt the most by him leaving, or how he must make amends. As much as he may have hurt me, it’s nothing compared to how much he has hurt God and offended Him in disobeying His Word. I am not holy; He is holy, and my father has slapped Him in the face with his sin, and that multiple times. He was responsible for the death of God’s only and unique Son, and He must be punished if he doesn’t bow the knee. God has given me a love for Him, and that creates and builds my love for my earthly father. I pray one day my father and I will have true, biblical fellowship with each other and look to the loving Father for grace and mercy, praising Him for being the God He has revealed Himself to be, and that all honor would go to Him, and never to me nor my father.

In spite of the fact that I cannot transfer my xanga entries onto WordPress, I think I might press on and start up a new blog here. I have to admit, WordPress is appealing in its clean look (and I do love clean). I do not plan on giving up Xanga altogether, since I’ve been on that thing for more than 2 years (4 if you count the one I had before). It might take time, but I do want to be more focused on what to write on this blog, and write a little more of what I am learning, instead of posting a dozen links for every post (though I love doing that). It’s going to be a challenge, but I pray to God that He would continue to renew my mind and heart in how to write a blogpost, so that I may show Him to be the Supreme One in my life, knowing that I must die to self and live for Christ. Hopefully, there will be overlap, even identical posts on both sites, but an increasing opportunity to show how wonderful Jesus truly is when He is seen in a true light: as the Sovereign Master over all, my life in particular, and that He has died in my place as the sinless suffering servant, and rose again from the dead to reign in the heavens with His Father, with His Spirit in us to make us more like Christ in preparation for the day of His second coming. I hope and pray that the Gospel and Christ are at the forefront of my mind and heart when I write a post, and that this is only a minor extension into the Christian life that must also be lived outdoors as well. It seems like I’m treading new ground here, and am not sure where I will go. Hopefully, I will follow Christ deeper and with more zeal, in the hopes that I please Him in telling others about Him and living a life guided by His perfect and pure Word.

Sea La Gloria Solo a Ti

To God Alone Be The Glory

If I can bring my xanga posts onto this site, I’m switching over. But I don’t know how to do that.

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