Confessions and Convictions

I grew up in the church, but gradually gravitated toward the things of this world. In doing so, I was deceived into thinking that being plugged into the world wasn’t so bad. As I began to wake up, I was able to see the contrast more clearly as the years went by. By now, the contrast has made me a stranger even to many of my brothers and sisters in the church. I thought we were supposed to not be confirmed in the world? I believe God wants us to be set apart from the filth of this world, physically and spiritually. How can I say I’m a Christian and then plug into Satan’s media hours upon hours every day? We need to be vigilant with the content we consume. We need to use discernment when we’re online and I wholeheartedly believe that we need to unplug and get rid of the majority of the programming that we’ve been allowing to condition our beliefs. Only then will we be able to think of ourselves and begin to wake up to the fact that we’ve been lied to our whole lives.

“Bro, where did we go wrong?” In Confession #5, I got to sit down with my big brother, Gabriel Gomez, at his new place in Austin, Texas. It was good to talk about our childhood and discuss what influences affected us shortly after we got saved. Accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior was the best decision he and I ever made, but subsequent decisions made many years of our lives very very tough. Thankfully, God has been so gracious and merciful and I thank God for what He has done and is still doing in our lives.

I allowed myself to be programmed for the majority of my life. Companies that cared nothing for me controlled a large part of my thoughts and behavior, and I didn’t even realize it. I ignored so much preaching against the media that was being poured in my mind. I scoffed at the idea that the devil was behind all of it. I thought I would be ok, but I was wrong.Knowing what I know now, it would be completely logical to continue to allow myself to be programmed from the channels on the tel-a-vision. I encourage you and everyone I love to unplug from the predictive programming that is subtly taking over your mind and turn you into an NPC . “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬Confessions and Convictions:Through expressing my sincerest struggles wrestling with self, sin and the Savior, I seek to offer hope and encouragement through pointing people to the only resolve we have in this life: Jesus. I seek to share the lessons that I have learned through mistakes that I have made and poor thinking patterns I have often embraced. In the aftermath of so much destruction, I open my Bible and I begin to set my convictions based on His way rather than my way concerning what is that good and honest path: the straight and narrow (and often lonely) road that leads to greater faith and true fulfillment. The path of self denial, self discipline, personal restriction, a submission to the Father… for lack of a better metaphor, the cross.

Even though I learned the famous words of the prophet Isaiah as a youth in church “Here am I, Lord. Send me,” my actions have largely been telling the Lord a different statement. If a needs scene is an assignment given, I have missed most of life‘s assignments and have failed courses upon courses of divine curriculum. I don’t wanna live a life that ignores these needs and assignments anymore.Confessions and Convictions:Through expressing my sincerest struggles wrestling with self, sin and the Savior, I seek to offer hope and encouragement through pointing people to the only resolve we have in this life: Jesus. I seek to share the lessons that I have learned through mistakes that I have made and poor thinking patterns I have often embraced. In the aftermath of so much destruction, I open my Bible and I begin to set my convictions based on His way rather than my way concerning what is that good and honest path: the straight and narrow (and often lonely) road that leads to greater faith and true fulfillment. The path of self denial, self discipline, personal restriction, a submission to the Father… for lack of a better metaphor, the cross.

I have been guilty of living my life as a people pleaser for decades. This got me nowhere. Living a life of people pleasing will neither allow us to please others or our ourselves. In this type of self-destructive lifestyle will definitely not please God. I have adopted a solid conviction to not live a life that necessarily pleases others, but to live a life that does please God and I hope to encourage you to do the same.Confessions and Convictions:Through expressing my sincerest struggles wrestling with self, sin and the Savior, I seek to offer hope and encouragement through pointing people to the only resolve we have in this life: Jesus. I seek to share the lessons that I have learned through mistakes that I have made and poor thinking patterns I have often embraced. In the aftermath of so much destruction, I open my Bible and I begin to set my convictions based on His way rather than my way concerning what is that good and honest path: the straight and narrow (and often lonely) road that leads to greater faith and true fulfillment. The path of self denial, self discipline, personal restriction, a submission to the Father… for lack of a better metaphor, the cross.

Today I have a confession to make: as a lifelong church goer, I have often times been guilty of talking a bigger faith than I could walk…