Hey guys!!! I have switched over to tumblr.com it’s super easy to use and  I really like it my address is tylerellison.tumblr.com check it and keep looking for more post from me…

-tyler

This is what sparked this topic for me… I am always frustrated with the division in the religion of Christianity but it has some how just become the norm, kinda weird because I thought it was a religion based on unity and love and hope no matter where you are or were in life… i dont know… denominations? weird concept to me….Anyways what got me thinking about it again was reading all of these blogs about a book called The Shack by William P. Young.  There has been so much controvery over this book it makes me sick.  This book is helping so many people and yet we as chrisitians still find something to fight about just because doctrinally it may not line up with exactly what you believe or how you imagine God to be but let me remind you that it is a fictional story….fictional…. Christians spend more time fighting than any other religion I know.  Maybe not killing each other physically but definately spiritually.  We beat each other down with rants on pre-destination vs. freewill, or gifts of the spirit are they for today or have they passed away, should we dunk people when they are getting baptized or sprinkle them with water, how should we take communion.  I think we spend so much time arguing about God that we forget Him all together.  I have wanted to walk away from going to church on several occasions because of these petty arugments.  But the would only be hurting me because if you really want change you have to do it , you can’t wait for someone else.  Sometimes I think God is looking down on us and is dissapointed,  no we aren’t making golden calfs to worship but have we made the religion of whos right and whos wrong our idol.  I sometimes think that we forget that Christianity is a relational ministry.  Think about that for a second.  Not just relational with each other as humans but relational with God the creator of the world.  Do you spend more time talking to God or about Him??  I think I am guilty of the later.  I think about God like he is George Washington or Thomas Jefferson rather than my spiritual Father and recite facts about Him like I am reading from a text book.  It is weird what american Chrisitiany has become.  You have to ask your self if we took a wrong turn, or is there a better way?  There has to be more than just fighting with other Christians and reciting facts from the Good Book.  We are supposed to show people love and liberation from the weight of sin that is carrying this world to it’s knees.   I don’t know I could go on and on and this is probably the first blog of many about this subject. What are your thoughts??

-Tyler

I think change is coming  … the question is can we change? Or are we stuck in our ways? In everything , every portion of our life?

I wrote a song about 7 months ago  with this theme of revolution:

On the rooftops screaming out for our King

Rise a Banner High for the world to see

Light a Fire Burning all through these streets

Revolution, Revolution

Marching onward closer to victory

Sound the trumphets for the returning King

You are God you will not be moved

We’re Your church we will not be moved

Revolution, Revolution

Come all Ye faithful and Join in the Chorus

Sing Hallelujah , Sing Hallelujah

It has been an anthem echoing in my heart and it has just been growing politically and spiritually, I think God is calling us as Christians to a revolution one of the heart and spirit to change our ways of viewing the world, the church and our walk with Him:

rev·o·lu·tion

I was talking to one of the guys I work with the other day his name is Paul and we started talking about why people do what they do especially “Christians.” So, I start going on a rant about this and that and why I believe people are the way they are and why most Christians seems to be Luke warm.  Then it happened one of those moments , I am sure you know what I am talking about the moment in which you say something that is so revealing that it even shocks you and your the one who said it.  These are great moments because I feel like they are the moments when God drops a bit of truth in all the junk that you yourself are spitting out of your mouth.  I said “well Paul I think there is a time in everyone’s life (meaning all Christians) where they accept Jesus but, there is another point in your walk with Him, that’s the point where you surrender to Him.”  We both stopped talking.  For me it was a revelation, Paul is a writer as well and said he was going to write about it.  I said you can’t it’s my thought which it wasn’t it was God’s thought that He gave to me … Thanks God…  But anyways so I am thinking on this accepting and surrendering thing and for those of you who grew up in church you probably have a similar story to mine. I remember a specific moment in my life.  When I was 5 years old in Sunday school I accepted Christ at Church on the Rock in Quitman, Texas.  There was something beautifully simple in that moment, something was drawing me to accept Him. I had heard of Jesus my whole life up until then all 5 years and wanted to have Him live in me sounded like a great idea and it was.   I think Jesus loves it when we accept Him as a child because our love for Him is so pure there are no hidden motives, there are no selfish prayers, there is just acceptance and at that age alot of honest questions.  But what happens when you grow up?  What happens when the prayers aren’t even happening anymore?  This is a scary place to be I have been there and if it wasn’t for a youth pastor forcing me to lead worship one week while he was out of town I might have stayed there longer maybe forever, probably not, but you never know right?  So after many long battles over the phone with this youth pastor and him stopping by nagging me I decided to fill in even though my heart was dirty and I was in no position to even try to lead any one into worship.  So we had rehearsal and the service started and everything is going good accept for the nervous sweats that I am having.  Then it happens I am singing these lyrics,” In the secret in the quiet place in the stillness you are there,”  God opened my eyes to see all of these people lifting there hands in worship to Him not me and I knew in my heart that this is what I was supposed to do forever worship Him.  He put a verse in my heart that’s night Num. 20:12 go read the story it’s good and that’s the moment I Surrendered to Him and it was just as beautiful as the moment I accepted Him.  This doesn’t mean that I haven’t still tried to run from Him but through everything I have been through from that moment to this one sitting in front of my computer I have tried to live out that moment of surrender.  When was your moment?  Ask yourself? If you haven’t had it don’t worry it will find you just like it did me even if it drags you kicking and screaming…

I am about to use one of the most ridiculous examples to prove a very simple point.  I was at my Bachelor party, which was more like a weekend with my closest friends goofing off at a lodge in central Texas.  There is something about being out in nature with all of your closest friends that brings out the so-called man in you. I actually laughed as I wrote that. So anyway I went down for breakfast since all my other friends were asleep I figured this would be a good time to catch up on some reading and enjoy the hill country for a bit before the day started.  So as I was sitting in the dining hall I was enjoying my coffee and a granola bar looking out at the lake feeling one with nature and at that point it hit me the uncontrollable urge to you know take a number dos.  If your thinking this is too much information it is probably because it is.  So I started speed walking to the bathroom like those old ladies you see walking at the mall arms flailing, mind focused, determined, every muscle in my body clinched.  So I get there (I am excited) and do my business thinking of life changing thoughts as all men do when that’s happening.  Then it came time for the clean up not the most fun part of the experience, everyone who has done this, which is everyone, knows what I am talking about especially men.  Women if you do not know by now this is a scared moment for a man it is our time, it is our way to get away from the rest of the world and enjoy deep thoughts and relaxation and the older you get it is of the only times that still qualifies as me times.  So as I was reaching for the toilet paper I realized it was jammed, in the holder, the kind that holds two or three rolls, I hate these holders they are my enemy because the paper keeps breaking.  So I am pulling and it keeps breaking, at this point I am losing my cool and just start ripping and tearing the paper clawing at it and when I am done it looks like paper mache, like wolves got a hold of it no piece was bigger than a quarter.  So to the point, in my furry, my rage, I did not happen to notice to my left sitting on the stale were two fresh packages of toilet paper.  I laughed, in frustration though and immediately thought as I was washing my hands, that most of the time we do not even realize the thing that could help us is right next to us.  Our saving grace is right there and we are to blind to see it, truth is that sometimes we would rather be in our rage.  I told you it was going to be ridiculous for a simple point, but how many times do you think God is on the ledge wanting to be your saving grace.  He wants to help you in your life through your struggles through your pains.  I can not explain why bad things happen to good people, I can just lean on the comfort that God is there to help me pull out of it and the thing of it is, even when we want to be mad and rage pours out of us He is still there waiting isn’t it crazy that God does not come when we call that he is always there waiting on us to realize Him, wanting us to lean on Him. I am about to get married and it is a beautiful romantic feeling when you find someone that you would do anything for.  Finding my fiancée Jenn has help me to rediscover my love in Jesus knowing that unconditional love, even when you fight or your mad at God He is still waiting for you to get through, cheering for you in your small victories in life.  Remember small victories may not be as small as you think, small battles win the war and God is there to help you make it through yours.  The word Emmanuel means, “ God With Us,” that’s so powerful.  When Jesus came to this earth He ended the separation between God and man.  The covenant broken in the garden was made a new.  Jesus came taught us what we needed to know he equipped us with His Word and Holy Spirit:

John 1:1-5

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2He was in the beginning with God.

3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

This is amazing because it shows the deity of Christ.  But I think what is truly amazing is Christ laying his life down for everyone in the world showing us true compassionate love unconditional love that once you discover in Him still reigns true in your life to this day.

So, when you pray, when you seek God, when all is lost do not pray for Him to come down, do not put a separation between you and your maker because you’re making more work and trouble for yourself.  He is always on the ledge waiting for you to notice Him.  He is there with you even until the end of the age sound familiar (Matthew 28:20) these are His promises and His words do not return void.   His spirit is manifested inside of you and He did not create you with a longing in your soul, a void in your heart to leave you high and dry. Nothing can separate you from His love other than yourself a true tragedy, I think that is the only way to put it.

Have you ever been in that moment? The one where you don’t know if you are awake or asleep, where your stuck in some kind of limbo in between the world you know and the one that exist in your head? Well, last night I found myself in just a place. This is a peculiar place to find yourself because you are not fully here, but your not fully there either, it’s like superman when he’s running to save the day but he hasn’t made the full transformation from Clark Kent to Superman. So back to it, I found myself there the other night in that limbo and I was sitting down having an interview on a very well known show with a very well known man. The show Larry King Live and the man well I think you have probably figured that out by now. The topic of discussion was “Why Do Christians Judge The Rest of The World,” at least that’s what I am assuming it was about because of the statement that came out of my mouth next, a statement that brought me back out of limbo into the world that we all know. I do not recall the question but I remember watching myself (as if I were a camera man in this scenario and also the interviewee) sit back in my chair legs crossed, hands clutched like a child saying a night time prayer and brow furrowed, and I said this, “ Most Christians in the church today look for any reason to pick apart or (crucify) another Christian especially ones in leadership, but then we find ourselves in no better place than the Pharisees that did it to Jesus 2000 years ago. Not only as Christians but also as humans we love to tear apart our own kind either from war in far off countries or children at the lunch table in an elementary school, its human nature, it’s sad. When did it become our place to judge people and stop loving them? When did God appoint us humans to judge the rest of the world based upon class, race, religion and sexual orientation? What in us thinks that it is ok to stop loving one another as Christ loved the church?” I awoke in a vertigo state with Larry King’s laugh still echoing through my brain as I was stumbling for a pen and paper to write this down. I guess the answer to my question was that God did not appoint us to pass judgment at all; we elected ourselves into this position. We are self elevated; we have reached higher than are means. A haunting thought came over me the one that sends a chill down through your bones. What does God, Creator of everything think of what we have become? I am sure He is not surprised but surely heart broken that we have become such a selfish race. It is easy to blame God from all our hardships and shortcomings but even looking back through the Bible we see that God’s wrath never comes upon us because he is bored or any such thing, it comes because of the consequence of our own actions(2 Chronicles 36:16, Genesis 6:17, Exodus 32:1-10, Numbers 20:12). That may be the scariest revelation of all.