The Thomas Complex

The Thomas complex 

The United States of America is begging to decide its fate. Politicians are starting to campaign and make impossible promises to the voters. In the midst of the talks, footage showing the multimillion dollar business behind Planned Parenthood gets to the public. This video clip shows how this company, who claims to help women by "safely" terminating their pregnancies, uses the aborted babies as sources of tissues and organs to sell to companies for research purposes. In some instances, it was found that the babies were carefully aborted to not damage important, and expensive, organs and tissues. I don't know about you, but the mere thought of this process produces goosebumps in my skin. 

After this video came to the light, a petition was started to defund the organization. However, many people oppose this petition on the basis of women's rights. Somehow, these people are very passionate to defend the rights of some, while overlooking the rights of others: the unborn babies. In other words, it much resembles the exclamation of the apostle Thomas when he was told about the resurrection of Jesus; he said: "except I shall see". The silence of Planned Parenthood further this complex in the American people, who decided to not believe in the claims, unless they had more evidence. 

However, this morning, in awe, I watched how the media covered yet a couple more dreadful testimonies of Ex-workers, not only of planned parenthood, but also of the companies who buy the "specimens" from them. Their eyes saw first hand what happens to these parts which, some times, are still functional. For example, one testimony recalls a technician touching a heart that started beating right after. Yet another, accounts how the brain on the baby is carefully dealt with in order to preserve the brain. Still, some Americans seem immune to these accounts and not see the truth. 

To me, this shows the degree of moral degradation this country has fall in, which has blinded the judgment of its people. The question is, how much more does the rest of the American people need to know? How much do need to see? How many more videos need to come to life? Let's pray so that God can show them the truth of what happens in these companies, so that they can promote the rights of these babies as fervently as they do those of women. 

In the midst of the Storm

Many Christians, when reading scripture, can but only imagine the things that will happen as Jesus second coming approaches. For example that moment when Christians will be confronted and asked to deny the lordship of God in their lives. What would you do? If you are like me, I see that moment as a Katnis Everdeen moment. If you have seen the movie, or read the Hunger Games books, you know what I mean: a moment of pride mixed with rebellion, and hunger for justice. However I honestly have had to ask the Lord to help me change these feelings. Why? Well, as I ponder up on the word I see that these are not the reasons why He wants me to stand firm: He wants me to do it out of the love I have for Him and understanding what He has done for me; and frankly, in these times it takes much less to declare the Lord publicly. What I mean is that our society is so corrupt that the minimum thing you do that doesn't go according to the norm, destabilizes everything. People start asking questions, judging, calling you names, etc. Back in Rome, there was an ancient custom to burn incense to a statue of the emperor as a sign of respect as a god, and as a confession of faith to him; Paul was advising the Romans not to do this, for in doing this they will be denying the work of God in their lives (Rom. 10: 9-11). I can imagine what they were doing to their faithful Christians; I don't think they were only calling then names!

Recently, I read that the Grammy Awards were the center of blasphemy, as every televised show has become. Luckily there was someone representing in the midst of the storm: Natalie Grant, who was nominated for two Grammys that night in Gospel. She did what many hadn't had the guts to do: get up and leave! See, something so simple can make a statement. Not only that, but when asked about why she left, she only responded by saying she was very happy she belonged to the Lord! Again, if you have the same level of craziness as me, you always think of the awesome situations you can encounter to "pride in the Lord", but it could be much simpler than that, and it could be now: By leaving when people around you are having unedifying conversations, by not laughing at inappropriate jokes, by refusing to watch what you know shouldn't watch, and listen only to what you know is beneficial. At the end we can just say: "I'm so glad I'm Christian"

https://twitter.com/NatalieGrant

CHRISTMAS THOUGHT

As Christmas approached, I was impressed by how Christmasy everything around me was. Why? Well, recently I have heard of a lot of moves atheist groups have made to encourage people to forget about Jesus. Expensive billboards in Times Square, atheist literature, etc. I honestly got a bit worried of the consequences this might bring for Christianity. But honestly, not a lot of people gave mind to it.

I am not saying that they are not gaining terrain, but I think their strategy is to influence governmental offices to pass laws that prohibit saying Merry Christmas in professional and academic settings. However, I had a nice relief when I saw that pretty much everyone is ignoring all these efforts to "take the Christ out of Christmas". In the supermarket, in restaurants, in the streets, and especially in the malls, with Jewish, Muslims, and Christians alike, Merry Christmas is a must. At my job, in a restaurant, when I was telling my customers Merry Christmas, they responded with a smile and a "you too. Have a happy holiday". So I want to encourage you to be bold and confess the real purpose of Christmas. That our savor Jesus was born!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

Game of Words!

In a day like today in 1517, a brave monk who was starving for justice, posted on the doors of his church what was known as the Ninety-five Theses. Martin Luther did this as a protest against the sale of indulgences of the Roman Catholic church of the time; In short, they were selling salvation, which was completely contrary to what the Christians were supposed to believe. The way they used to do it was by saying that people needed to actually pay money so that their loved ones could go to heaven. Priests would use soothing words, and the name of God and the pope as the highest authorities, to justify their desire for money. A saying became popular, attributed to a friar named Johann Tetzel, that persuaded people by telling them that "as soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory [also attested as 'into heaven'] springs." These times were very critic for the church, and required of the faith of this young monk to bring reformation.

 More than five hundred years later the word game has once again won territory among us, and this time by underestimating a perversion such as  pedophilia. Yesterday the American Psychiatric Association announced that pedophilia will not be considered a disorder anymore; instead, it will be treated as a sexual orientation or preference. I can't but to question: who gave them the authority to come up with this nonsense? Unfortunately, the public did: WE DID!

We did when we decided to believe more in the so called "science" than in the established laws of God.

We did when we gave our back to God, and to the laws that are supposed to protect us.

We did when, as a country, decided that it's better for us to pursue our dreams regardless of the consequences they might imply for others.

We did, when out of selfishness are looking for our own individual benefit.

Up to what I know, the only people who support pedophilia are pedophiliacs themselves. Lets see now what the public will do: will they get persuaded into believing such a lie. I pray that we can be like Martin Luther and stand for what is right.

Are we going to leave our children in the hands of a society that is considering as normal when they get abused by perverts? Certainly not!

(LATER IN THE WEEK, THE ARTICLE BELOW WAS "CORRECTED" SINCE APPARENTLY WASN'T CONSISTEN WITH WHAT THE APA MEANT. THE LINK IMMEDIATELY BELLOW IT ADDRESSES THE CORRECTION. HOWEVER, THE GAME OF WORDS CONTINUES IN THE CORRECTION.
-TRY TO READ THE COMMENTS LEFT ON THIS NEW ARTICLE. ON OF THEM RIGHTLY SAYS :"This is nothing but Orwellian Doublespeak on the part of the APA. Pedophilia in any form is vile perversion" )

http://afa.net/Media/PressRelease.aspx?id=214754054
http://www.charismanews.com/us/41597-pedophilia-not-classified-as-sexual-orientation-afa-mistaken
http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm/summary-of-text-changes-from-dsm-iv-to-dsm-iv-tr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther

Decisions

It seems that when we decide to act, is at the moment when we see that the consequence of ignored past decisions has gone just too far. Currently, a lot of my friends, and I included, are supporting a protest that sprung in Colombia, in support of the movement occurring in the country against the inhumane treatment the farmers are receiving from the government. Due to the Tratado de Libre Comercio, (Free Trade Agreement) the country signed with the United States, being a farmer has become the least desired life someone would like to have. Their fields have been taken away from them, they have been forced to plant government approved seeds, aka Monsanto's, which are distinctively costly, and they have been stripped from any kind of human right they had with beatings, humiliations, starvation, and all kind of verbal and physical abuse. Meanwhile, in the United States, people are in shock, including Christians, at the obscene presentation Miley Cyrus gave at the MTV video music awards last week.

Here is where people are wrong when they think God is not relevant in our society. All these things, both our farmers and this singer acts, are the result of the unscrupulous people who, at some point in their lives, imposed values totally against what is true, just and fair, while almost the majority of the rest of citizens stood silent. Some people might say that these are relative terms; meaning that what is true, just and fair for one person, might not be the same for another. However, I dare to say that these terms are absolutes in their essence. The God who created this world has put the same law in every conscience, and it is us who choose to abide by it, or ignore it. Let me make it a little clearer: killing, lying, stealing, or any kind of injustice, is the same for every culture and for every conscience. If there is any difference, it lies in the will of the person who takes the decision of whether to break, or abide by these values.

Therefore, it is this act of the will of some that has our society at the edge of a cliff where morality, as we have known it, is threaten to no longer exist. 

I don't think Miley was forced to do what she did, or the government of Colombia: they decided. However, this is the result of a decadent society; of a domino effect that started long ago. I understand this article might sound a bit hopeless and discouraging, but its purpose is the contrary. We can still be a change, and we can still fulfill the purpose for which we are living in this time: to be salt and light, to defend the cause of the poor, to instruct our children in the ways of life, and to show love as the strength of the few. I am confident that when a believer is constant into inquiring God regarding everything that happens in the world, the divine answer will push him to do something: whether to pray, speak, or act.

Verses to ponder on:

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid". Matthew 5:13-14

" Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy". Proverbs 8:31

UNORTHODOX

I recently had a great trip to Colombia, the country where I was born and spent my childhood and most of my teenage years. As soon as I walked out of the plane, I immediately felt like if my senses had gotten much better. I smelled the fresh air with its still foreign, but yet unforgettable scent, of green pastures and coffee. Although the streets seemed smaller than I remembered, the mountains around them seem just as majestic and presumptuous as the tall buildings in New York City. In short, all the things that before looked small and sincerely meaningless to me, now seemed to have grown bigger and impossible to ignore. One of the things that really caught my attention was that every time my wife and I would take a taxi somewhere, the courtesy of the drivers was just impressive; Most of the times, after paying for our ride, the driver would wish us a good day and say "God bless you".  I assumed that was the norm for a country that is Catholic in its majority, but I couldn't but wonder multiple times the implication that such a phrase could produce in the "Land of the free".
Just days before our trip, my wife told me of a story she had heard of a high school valedictorian in South Carolina who ripped his school's approved speech, and started telling the audience of how proud he was of his parents for having him raised as a Christian, finalizing by reciting the Lord's prayer, in defiance of the decision of school districts of banning prayer at graduation ceremonies. My immediate response was to think out loud: since when did the Lord's prayer become unorthodox and a threat to our freedom?

This "rebellious" act, performed by 18-year-old Roy Costner IV, immediately sprung into countless arguments from groups that defend the "freedom" in our country, who argue that their freedom entitles them to not to have to hear these things in public events. In fact, the Washington times quotes Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-founder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, saying that the young man "insensitively inflicted Christian prayer on a captive audience". Reading this, honestly produces in me the greatest indignation since it degrades something that is precious to a person, and good in its essence, to an act of rebellion and torture to others. Imagine if our city's taxi drivers start "inflicting" us with the pain of the now apparently unorthodox "God bless you, have a great day". Probably a lot of "tolerant" New Yorkers would start suing the city for such a disgrace.

It was very interesting that in a country that is still economically developing, such a freedom can be found. But once again, a person from any "modern" country can counter-argue by saying that that is not true freedom, but ignorance, since it doesn't give enough room for atheism. What is true freedom then? Every time I go to the grocery store, I have to deal with the fact that the pornography industry is making me see things I don't want to see, by publicly displaying dozens of magazines next to potato chips. When I share this thought with atheist friends, they tell me I am free to not look. Well, I can also say to Mrs. Gaylor, you are free to cover your ears, and not be tortured by people who want to honor and praise their God, even when they bless you.

A couple of verses to ponder on:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5: 43-45

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour" 1 Timothy 2; 1-3

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/7/atheist-group-blames-school-student-reciting-lords/

The Importance of Morality in the Workplace

Javier, was a Latino who had been working at a factory for a couple of months after having been unemployed for quite a long time. One day his bosses called him to their office and told him that they had been observing his work and would like to give him a chance to be a manager at their company. That week, there were a number of trucks coming to the company carrying merchandise, and they were asking him as a favor to sign as if he had receive one less. Javier went home very troubled to consult with his wife, who, without hesitation, advised him to do it because they could really use more money. What would you do if you were in Javier's position?

This example comes from the movie "Courageous", and serves as an excellent example for this article because this situation is very common, to various degrees, in a lot of jobs.

One of the greatest challenges Christians have is to be open about their beliefs at the workplace; especially when those beliefs are put to the test by others. Why do I talk about beliefs?, because your beliefs are what determined your reactions to any situation, especially in the workplace. Reacting morally correct is much more easier said than done, as when these situations arise, they are usually accompanied of fear of rejection, frustration, a lot of confrontation, and sometimes the fear of being in the "bad side of the boss"! Word of advice: regardless of how many arguments you might have to back up your good actions, when people don't want to believe or are hesitant to morality, they will just not understand you. However, our reactions as God-fearing Christians should always reflect the truth of Scripture regardless of the situation.

Moral principles are what separate you from the rest, and it's what, in some instances, can turn you into the linchpin of your company (that person who is essential for the proper functioning of your WHOLE company). In fact, there will always be a chance in which the person they will look for advice or help is you; and just because you have proven yourself to be trustworthy. It is not about shoving "religion" down people's throats (as other's might do to you about their humanistic beliefs), it's about letting your actions do the talking. As the Bible says, there is no law that tells you that you should not love, be joyful, or faithful (Galatians 5:22-23). Similarly, and at least until now, there are no constitutional laws that prohibit you from speaking truth, obeying, being honest, loving your coworkers, doing what is morally right.

Sometimes, your coworkers might want to tease you and put you in uncomfortable positions. I think the greatest advice I can give you is to not have pity for them, instead, have as much mercy and love for them as possible. Remember Jesus died for them too!

Javier's story finished the next day when he went to his bosses and told them how thankful he was with the opportunity they wanted to give him. However, he explained that he would not be able to do what they asked him to do, because it was against his principles and, especially, because he wanted to honor God. His bosses were in shock. They told him that because of his decision, he had put them in a situation in which they had to decide to do something about him, and they pressured him with other words to take the job. He then told them that he understood that both the promotion, and his job, depended on his decision, therefore he would take any decision they would take about him. After this, they looked at each other and then told him: we have interviewed a lot of people for this position, and all of them have done what we told them to do. To cheat. Now we know we can trust you. We were testing you. You got the job!

La Question de la Igualdad.

Actualmente nuestro país ha estado debatiendo sobe la igualdad; Específicamente en si las uniones del mismo sexo se deberían aceptar  como constitucionales o no, y si estas uniones se deberían considerar iguales a los matrimonios entre un hombre y una mujer. Aun así, me parece que la igualdad que  estos debates quieren alcanzar es aquella que declararía al hombre con la misma autoridad que Dios tiene para cambiar leyes solo hechas por El. Creo que los hombres solo debería cambiar leyes que han sido hechas por ellos, las cuales se han mostrado imperfectas. Pero, puede el hombre creerse igual a Dios como para cambiar leyes establecidas por El?

El matrimonio es una institución establecida por Dios como la base de la creación. Si usted no quiere ser spiritual, un psicólogo le diría que la institución de la familia, formada por un hombre y una mujer, es la base de la sociedad. Si la gente no cree en Dios, al menos estarán de acuerdo que la naturaleza misma instituye la procreación entre un macho y una hembra, en lo que son llamadas las leyes naturales, y que esto asegura la supervivencia de la raza humana. Otras leyes, las que regulan a los humanos como seres sociales, son hechas por los hombres y se han encontrado históricamente con errores. El hecho de que el hombre tenga la habilidad de corromperse, hace que las leyes que él ha creado sean falibles, por lo tanto permiten que cambios sean hechos a esa misma ley.

Por otro lado, si hay leyes creadas por Dios, entonces son divinas, perfectas, y necesarias; por consiguiente sin necesidad de cambio.

Si esto es así, me atrevo a decir que es mi impresión que el hombre se está convirtiendo en un ser blasfemo al pensar que puede tener la misma autoridad que Dios.

Y usted, qué piensa??

The issue with equality.

Currently our country has been debating on equality; specifically on whether same sex marriage should be accepted as constitutional or not, and if these unions should be considered equal as those of male female unions. However, it seems to me that the equality these debates is aiming for is the one that will declare men as having similar authority to that of God, as to change laws created only by Him. I believe that men should change laws made only by them, and which have been proven themselves to be imperfect, but, can man think of himself equal to God as to change natural laws established by Him?

Matrimony is an institution made by God as the basis of creation. If you don't want to be that spiritual, a psychologist will tell you that the institution of family, that formed by a man and a woman, is the basis of society. If people don't believe in God, at least they would agree that nature itself institutes procreation through male and female, in what are called natural laws, and that this ensures the survival of the human race. Some other laws, the ones that regulate humans as social beings, are men made and have been proven throughout history to have errors. Because men have the ability to be corrupted, the law created by them is flawed, therefore allowing for changes and amendments of that same law.

On the other hand, if laws are created by God, then they are divine, perfect and necessary; therefore with no need of change.

If his is so, I dare to say that it is my impression that men is turning into a blasphemous being in thinking of himself as having equal authority to that of God.

What do you think?

 

Giving back to the community

A couple of weeks ago I had my first day doing fieldwork at a Public High School. Right after I finished, I rushed to school as I had a meeting in the Biology Club. As I came in, a lot of people greeted me, including a couple of people I had met in previous classes. Since I was in my "teacher's" clothes, you know: trousers, button down shirt, and dress shoes, some of them started asking me why I was dressed like that. As passionate as I am about what I'm trying to achieve, I started telling them about my experience and the daily challenges the profession brings, in dealing with youth now a days. As expected, they gave me looks of skepticism and let me know how crazy I was in thinking about that profession.

However, I became even more excited when one of these classmates told me that he was also doing a Major in Biology and wanted to become a Secondary School teacher. My full attention turned to him, and I started inviting him to apply for a current scholarship that was specific for our case. He politely said that he did not want to apply because his plans were quiet different than being a teacher in a New York Public School. My curiosity grew and asked him about his plans. He then went on to explain that we was doing all this school process because he wanted to give it back to his community.
He went on to explain that he belonged to the Bruderhof community, which is located in Upstate New York, and  that he had already some experience teaching kids there; therefore, he is getting a Degree in Biology to get the content on the field, and then go back and teach the subject with all the background information he is acquiring.

My encounter with him was very inspiring and made me ponder on how important it is to give freely what is given to us freely (Mat. 10:8). Our communities, regardless what they are, or the kind of people that conforms them, should be one of the main reason why we, as Christians, should be eagerly pursuing a Degree. Often times, our careers serve as mediators to access people, and therefore they will open the doors to share the gospel. Regardless of the field, whether Law, Social services, Medical, Business, Media etc, our sole focus should be on glorifying God through them and to always understand that:  ^"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning". James 1:17.

With this article I want to commend my friend for having such a pure heart in to looking for the things that are above. God bless you brother!

Did you hear the benediction?

Monday of last week was a historical Monday, not only because it was Martin Luter king Jr.' s day, but because Mr. Barack Obama gave an oath, for a second time, to become the 44th president of the United States of America. As in every inauguration speech, a minister prayed asking for God's favor over our country and for His divine guidance for our president, finishing with the words "in Jesus' name. Amen." No; if you were watching, like millions of Americans, this past Monday, it didn't happen like that. Rev. Louie Giglio, a pastor from Atlanta, was invited by the White House to lead the prayer, but the Thursday before the inauguration he decided not to (1). Even before the event, the election of pastor Giglio, who had been merited the honor of leading the benediction because of his great efforts against human traffic in his Atlanta home church Passion City Church, was already being a controversy among the homosexual community, which had been moving heaven and earth to move Rev. Giglio out of the way. The reasons for such a commotion were comments he made in the 1990's calling homosexuality a sin and disagreeing with same gender relationships (2).

Of course our president could not afford to have someone praying for him who disagreed on an issue that he recently agreed on and supported. Therefore, Rev. Luis Leon, an Episcopal minister, prayed that with God's blessing we would be able to see that "we are created in your [His] image", which included white or black, "gay or straight" (3). This incident, which by the way has not been as widely mentioned by the media as the first lady's new stylish hairdo, shows the degree of importance our government is putting on its agenda of being liked by the "victims of an intolerant society", aka everyone who could feel "attacked" by the Christian "moralists", over the tradition of asking God for His blessings in Jesus' name, something Myrlie Evers-Williams, a civil rights activist did (4).

I can just imagine what would have happened if Rev. Giglio, or as a matter of fact any God-fearing-Christian, would have led the prayer: president Obama would probably have faced endless criticism as it happened 4 years ago when Pastor Rick Warren, a man with the same views as Rev. Giglio on the issue, led the benediction. My question is, if we are such a tolerant society, how come it is such an offense to have a Christian praying on such an important event, especially when it has been the tradition of a country whose founding fathers were continually expressing the need of the Creator's guidance?

However my brothers and sisters, I encourage you to keep our country and its leaders in your daily prayers as is our duty as Christians (1 Tim 2:1-4). Pray so that the church can stand up firm against all the pressure this world is putting upon us, not forgetting our need to preach the gospel of love. I ask you to please be informed on all the news that point to the coming of our Lord, as this one is, and encourage one another by keeping a good testimony. Many blessings and please feel free to comment, share, and subscribe. The purpose of this article is not just to inform, but to stir in all young Christian professionals the zeal for God's ways in our country, and to not be fooled by the mediocre information the media gives us.

(1) http://www.passioncitychurch.com/blog/?p=1436

(2) http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/01/10/louie_giglio_pastor_withdraws_from_obama_inauguration.html

(3)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/rev-luis-leon-benediction_n_2527051.html

(4)https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=RfgQlhKXIaM&NR=1

A PLEA TO VOTE BIBLICAL

Dear brothers and sisters.

Please vote carefully. I humbly ask you to make your decision based on a biblical standard and not what could be good for you, but what could help the kingdom. The word says that we should not worry about what provisions we have in this life, and rather to look for the things that are heavenly (Mat. 6: 33, Luke 12:32-34). I have lately read a lot of posts on facebook of so many brothers and sisters arguing on political views and forget that these are biblical times in which we as Christians must be careful into not being deceived, and should be looking for the perfect will of our God (Eph. 5: 15-17).

My greatest fear is that you, my dear brother and sister, may be deceived according to what our Lord said was going to happen in the latter times, “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Mat. 24: 10-13). Please, I beg you to pray and think rationally of your decision, and above all, I ask you to take a radical, biblical stand that reflects your desire to please God and to be salt in this world. I know there is no good candidate at the moment, and at the end, God will always take care of His saints, but it is our responsibility to let our voices be heard. Please vote defending life (Jerem. 1:4-5), biblical family conformation (Gen. 2:24), and the best for the future of the church. I sincerely thank you for taking time to read this and I hope the Holy Spirit may stir you into His will. 
Many blessings!

Here is a link that could help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmxP5jSVjm8&feature=share&list=UU9-DrZoQ963zKRyv_wi5mGg

Religion, Adolescents, and Morality

   Note: This is a reflection I had to write for a course in Adolescent Education I am currently taking. Please feel free to comment and share. Many Blessings!!

        The development of morality in adolescence includes various factors coming both from the nuclear family, and from external influences. To my opinion, family factors such as strong communication between adolescents and parents, parental acceptance and trust, and type of discipline, are the ones that shape most of the morality of teenagers. Religion, although is categorized as an extrafamilial influence, is also correlated to the quality of relationships parents have with their children, and with the amount of religious exposure adolescents get from their parents (Dolgin pg. 188). Therefore, the way parents teach their religion to their children, and the consistency they show in practicing what they teach, will have a tremendous impact on how receptive adolescents will be in their faith, and this in change will impact, for better or for worse, the moral development of the growing adolescent.

            Personally I would consider myself a religious person. I have to agree that, as I was growing up, my family showed great levels of devotion to Catholicism, and I was obsequiously following those footsteps, even to the point of practicing things not encouraged by the organization, such as the constant reading of the Bible, and active participation in church activities. There was a point however that I found inconsistencies in the moral decisions that I saw in people who were “deeply devoted”, including my family, and even myself. The point is that this lack of morality was somehow overlooked by the organization as something normal, although it violated what I was reading in the Bible, which was supposed to be their highest authority. This moral dilemmas ranged from accepting man-made traditions as if they were God’s, to condemning people who would openly expose the church’s contradictions. In the midst of this conflict I came to know that there were organized individuals, condemned by the traditional church, that were willing to follow the faith accordingly and to respect the moral laws instituted by the Divine Creator, with the understanding of a need of a savior from those infirmities. The protestant church gave me the answers I needed, and I was “born again”.

            As a result, my whole life, and my view of it, changed to include God’s moral law as the law by which I should abide and behave as my ultimate goal; not to achieve recognition or self gain, since that will go against the purpose of God’s law, but to live my life pleasing Him. I believe in universal truths and that men should do as much as he can to protect them, and to behave in a manner that would elevate the value of these truths in society. In this times, calling myself a religious person carries with it a very negative connotation since it is equated with a close-minded and archaic way of thinking; however, I believe faith in a divine law is the only way a society can have moral order. My decisions ranged from not lying, not cheating, and being honest, to disapproving abortion and supporting the view of a biblical family conformation. Therefore, most of my decisions and behaviors are based on my understanding on this divine law, and on the desire to look, not for my own gain, but to give a better understanding to the people around me on the role of a Creator (God) in a functioning moral society. 

Reference

 Dolgin, Kim Gale., and F. Philip. Rice. The Adolescent: Development, Relationships, and Culture. 13th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2011. Print.

Days of our lives!

I graduated from the school of leadership of my local church about two years ago and one of the courses I found more fascinating was history of the church. In this class we studied the different periods of time of the church according to the biggests events affecting the church at the time (For example, the Persecuted Church, the Imperial Church and the Medieval Church, which was also subdivided in other topicis such as the Crusades and the Reform). Surprisingly, the purest of all the churches was the one that was persecuted starting from the times of the disciples. The people who were saying they were belivers at this time were immediately labled, rejected, discriminated, persecuted, and in some cases, made martyrs through barbarian tortures. Hence anyone who really wanted to confess Jesus' name, would REALLY have to give his life for His name; as expected, only a few really wanted to take this cross. When Christians gained the freedom to express their religion in the imperial times, everything changed, and many were deceived by comfort, selfindulgence and carelessness for the spiritual things. They forgot what was really important and gave themselves in to the fear of rejection by allowing pagan traditions to the church.(Does it sound familiar?). Up to this point in the class I was in awe of all the things the Bride of Christ had gone through throughout the years. However, there was only one period of time that we didn't study: It was the modern church, and I assume it was because we are making it as we speak. The question then is: what would be the name of the church we are part of according to what the church is doing??

First lets start by mentioning a couple of things that are particular about this times:
Recently one of the elders of my church received a letter from the superintendent of his building telling him that because of  "fire departments reasons" he could no longer hold in his apartment more than a couple of peole at the same time. This apartment is very special because it holds meeting almost every day with over fifteen peole that gather to pray and study the word every day and had never had any complaints from any neighbor. They are now holding their meetings at another place, but are wondering why is it that this letter was sent to them and not to other tenants who hold meetings of their different religions as well.
In recent news, preachers in the streets have been arrested because of "disorderly conduct", "anoyance", unlawful use of public space,  excess amount of people in one space (3!!!), or even  on the basis of a law "restricting the size of signs carried on public sidewalks to the width of a person's body". This is without mentioning the amount of college students who are deprived of their right to share their faith in their campuses.
In academic or professional settings it is a challenge to give an opinion on the latest news. Why? because we don't agree with what is happening, and if we don't, we find ourselves going against the flow. But wait, isn't it what we are suppose to be doing according to Paul when he firmly tells us to"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 12:2
See, reading in the word we find that in these times all we as believers are going to face are trials and persecution. A lot of people think that it is not happening, but believe me, it is knocking on our doors.
Recently I took a botany course at City College of New York where I learned about a very interested plant. It's commonly known as the "resurection plant" because of its ability to endure intense droughts in a dormant stage and then come back to life at the moment it comes in contact with water. I think the modern church can be named the "Dormant Church": although it seems dead or silenced, it's essence it's still there. The problem with the church, as well as with the plant, is that it is undervalued by the world because of its dead appearance.What are the chances that the church of Chirst is getting to this point of comfortableness and "death"? Very high.  A healthy plant will always be undergoing metabolic activities such as growth and reproduction but in a dormant stage, everything will stop. And it would stop because of a lack of water. This is exactly what is happening to us! We lack the Spirit and the understanding He gives us of the times. Besides we have forgotten that we have access to water in order to live again. The word says: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)Jhon: 7: 38-39. See!!! It is the same Spirit, it's the same Lord, It's the same God!


I believe it is time for the church to speak and to start making a difference in the way people see the truths we hold. We know there are a lot of social things that are wrong, but still we don't have the courage to stand up and say something.What this persecution is bringing is a fear that is taking us to a silent state. On the contrary, it should encourage us to live our lives completely for our savior; if we have to give everything that we are for our savior, so be it. I encourage you to PLEASE not be silent. Read the word, pray, fast and do what the Spirit is telling this generation to do. Let us pass to history as a generation who was not silent but who revived and spoke against anything that was contrary to the knowledge of Christ.  Maybe after all, we are like that dormant plant that need just a little bit of water to revive, just a little bit more of His Spirit..What are you waiting for... Start yearning and crying out for this church, for your church.

^"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17

What are your thoughts?
How do you think this church will pass to history?
Feel free to share your comments...
Below there are some links about recent persecution and the latest news on politics.

http://www.officialstreetpreachers.com/Persecution/PERSECUTION%20IN%20AMERICA.pdf
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/tag/street-preaching#tab-section

Science for kids

I am part of a program designed to encourage college students in science majors to also do studies in education. The program was created as a response to the lack of science teachers in city schools. It wasn't until I became part of the program that i realized that not all of the science teachers in public schools are exactly "science" teachers; most of them are good-hearted teachers who hold a degree in education, but don't have any science experience! In fact, some of them don't even know what they teach. In the first day of the mandatory workshop of the program we were told of how in a research made by the directors, most of our "science" teachers don't even know how the scientific method works, which is the base for all scientific research. They only limit themselves to follow the curriculum given by the Department of Education.

The problem with this is that the new generation is getting second hand information; In most of the cases, not even true information. I'm not saying that having teachers with science degrees is any better, but at least, a person with this kind of knowledge could get closer to the truth, or confuse this generation a little bit more! For example, as part of the program, I was required to shadow a biology-graduated teacher for about 5 hours. The topic: evolution. When the teacher was asked if there was life in other planets, the techer accurately described the uniqueness of the earth in the solar system and the minuscule possibility there was, but she gave them hope by saying that, "although is statistically impossible, we are on it". The fact of giving only facts according to what they believe, creates a conflict for our kids. The information they don't have is that  most of the greatest discoveries in science have been made by God fearing people who have found God and His creation in science, and who understand that nothing created had been possible if there wasn't a creator involved.. Francis Bacon said:

“A little science estranges a man from God. A lot of science brings him back.”

 I want to encourage you to make a difference by learning more about current science for the sake of your own generation and the one your kids are going to live in. Our public schools are teching our kids that God isn't real, and that everything they see is part of a massive accident. Don't pray for your kids' lack of faith. Believe me, they have an even greater faith by believing in evolution, something that has NOT been proved, and that brings a lot more social problems than what we can imagine. Pray so that God can reveal himself to them the same way He did to Daniel and Paul, who were both educated people in their own time. When that happens, they  are going to use all their knowledge to glorify God.

"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." Daniel 2:20-22

PRAYING YOUR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE

Graduation season has begun, and already you see in the streets of New York City all kinds of people parading in the streets with the distinctive gowns from the most prestigious universities in the city. I remember that when my wife graduated, both from her bachelor's at LIU, and her masters at Columbia, everyone will congratulate her in the streets for her achievements. A sense of pride captures everyone and words of encouragement such as Dr. Zeus "Oh , the places you'll go", become usual and feed unto that excitement. It feels great! However, in order to get there, you first must go through four years, sometimes more, of intense commitment, and as a Christian, intense persecution.

Currently, I know a lot of young Christians who are going to college, including myself, and encounter many ideological obstacles. For instance, evolution reigns in every science classroom and Freud and his theories challenge values in every social science lecture. What is its purpose? To make sure that every student is indoctrinated in such a way that they could become the greatest leaders of the future! Students are fed with humanism and with the belief that there is no God, resulting in the assurance that morals are established by those who have acquired a higher education rather than a Mighty Creator.Therefore, a young christian encounters, not only these teachings, but also classmates who have already given in to the system and will challenge anyone who believes differently with astonishing confidence. If anyone tries to be different and to act, think or even speak against these beliefs, they are going to be rejected and criticized; and their values are going to be diminished. It is inevitable for a young person to face doubt and to feel discouraged. However, the purpose of this post is to encourage you to be different. When someone is different, it can also stir people’s hearts to wonder what is it that you have.In the Bible we see how the young Daniel was taken to the kingdom of Babylon to be taught of all the costumes and sciences of the time. As his story develops, Daniel, through some miracle events, becomes one of the greatest of his time and of the kingdom and we learn how he withstood even the fiercest persecution bringing glory to God and allowing the whole kingdom to respect and honor his God. How did he do it? He decided not to contaminate himself with anything from the kingdom and make sure his superiors knew it (Daniel 1:8); and he constantly prayed and fasted (Daniel 9:3), specially in hard times (Daniel 6:10); HE PRAYED HARD! Being in college is difficult, but it is the perfect place to start change and to get closer to your Savior. Just as with Daniel, God can use you to bring truth to the people you know and to impact others by the way you live. Many times it has a happened to me that before a class I have the necessity to pray and ask God to give me understanding and true wisdom, which only comes from Him, to stand firm in my beliefs. We have to act and talk as those who are children of God; and above all, we need to pray so that God can bring salvation to everyone around us.See college as a field prepared for the seeds of the gospel.
One day I was praying for my food in the cafeteria at my school, and just when I finished, a guy in front of me looked at me perplexed and asked if I was praying. I said yes, and with a smile he said: “I’ve only seen this in the movies!” Perfect moment to share the gospel. Believe me when I say there are a lot of people in your campus who believe the same things you do, but who are in the same boat of doubt. Look for them,pray for each other, encourage each other, and don’t be afraid of speaking up against what you know is wrong.

 PRAY YOUR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE!
This summer, we will be celebrating one of my friends' graduation from Penn State University. This post is dedicated to her and to everyone I know who has made it through college and who have valiantly stayed firm in their believes allowing others to know about Jesus through their testimony.

I would like to recommend a ministry that is called Change Collegian Network. This ministry has been specifically created to equip campuses around the country to preach and defend the faith effectively. Here is the website http://www.changeyourcampus.com/

TAKE A STAND

Have you ever been in the middle of one of those conversations where the points expressed by your peers are completely the opposite of what you believe? Usually the immediate response is a protective silence that is frequently interpreted as agreement; especially in topics regarding morals. Yesterday President Obama openly declared his "personal" support to marriage between people of the same gender. It took him about 3 years to come out with this declaration and the impact will be great in the young population that took him to the white house. His announcement shouldn't have taken any Christian by surprise though. The word says that in the last days " men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebrakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" 2 Tim. 3:2-5.We all know that it is a political strategy president Obama is using to win a second term, but it also fulfills what the word says. Can we stop president Obama from saying what he thinks is best for him and his desires? No. But we can imitate his courage!! See, the same way he is using his influence to influence the whole nation (v. 13), we, as professional Christians, can do the same by stating our personal beliefs and influencing others. Remember that God has allowed you to be in the position that you have as a means to reach others and share the good news to your coworkers. I encourage you to not be afraid; to take a stand against anything that contradicts the word, including same gender marriage, and to live a godly life. The immediate result will be resistance. What a joy! The word says: “and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). If you want to please God, TAKE A STAND. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!