Tattooed By Jesus: Marks Of A Man

This is a video I recently made and put up on my YouTube page about Biblical Manhood. Please check it out and pass it on!

You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea: The Diary Of Colossae

God is good Beloved! I haven't written in a while and to see that these posts are being read reminds me how insignificant I really am. As I thought about what I would post today, I couldn't help but think what our high school Bible study discussed in our small group this week. A little background,  we have recently moved away from the Gospel of John-because we finished the journey through it-and are now as a community venturing into the book of Colossians. Many of the young men and women in our study are starting to grow a deep hunger for God and His Truth, but we know we have a lot of growing to further undergo.

Weeps & Death Garments

Hello all! I feel as though it’s been a common theme that I write a ton of these and then take a break, and write another. But enough about me, let’s get into this new post ASAP! Today we are going to focus on John Chapter 11 and look at a few key verses. Please take time to read this chapter if you are not familiar with the story.

How Can I Aim If I Can't See?

The past few weeks we have been going over the Gospel of John, specifically chapter 9. I ask that you take a few minutes and read the whole chapter to catch the context of what it is I’m about to share. Beloved, I want to focus on a few things Jesus does and says and how it applies to us.

The Big Little Words

Hello all! Back for another week of diving into the Word of God and I cant begin to explain how excited I was that I had a chance to read through a particular part of Scripture with my weekly bible study this week! You’d think after about 11 weeks we’d be about halfway through the Gospel of John, but we are slowly moving along and are currently at the end of chapter 8.  Today we are going to dissect John 8:30-59.

Arise Oh Sleeper

Today I wanted to piggyback off of my recent blog post All Day, Everyday. Last post I was reminded how God calls us to be submitted more than just an hour a week, one day a week, or even part of the week. He wants us submitted every breath of our lives. See here in America it's very hard to see the point in fully surrendering. We have so many distractions. Video games, television, Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, work, let alone our own family and friends. I can see how someone could read my last post and think, "I get what you're saying Bryan, but you don't know the chaos that goes on in my life! You don't know the limited time I have to even do what I want, not to mention what God wants." 

All Day, Everyday!

As we have read through the book of John, there is a common theme that has recently come up in the past two chapters that cannot be overlooked. In chapters 6-7 we find that there are people constantly expecting Jesus to do something one way, yet Jesus does it another way. On top of that, his way was the better way! This theme boils down to the idea that we must not only believe with our mouth in Jesus, but we must live it. Living it s a little different. This is because we must be submitted to His Holy Spirit's abilities and not our own! I love this theme, even though it's my own struggle from time to time. 


But as I have talked about it with others I have come to the realization that the American Church is in a world of hurt. Questions like, "How often must we submit?" or, " is there a better time than others to submit?" I feel like we sometimes miss the point! See if Jesus would be asked this question he would answer the way he did in Luke 9:23...

" 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." 

What's this mean you ask? Look we all have a cross to carry. For some of us it's depression. For others it's the fear of rejection or failure. Maybe even others struggle with drugs or sexual immorality. We all have a cross to bear. In this passage Jesus says that those things that bring you joy, it's time to crucify them, put them to death. Not only that but carry that cross of submission DAILY. Let's break down that word real quick. There are 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute. This means every 86,400 seconds of the day we should be submitted. That means basically every breath of your life should be his! 


"Bryan, being a Christian isn't always appealing to everyone else though!" Look I get that Christianity sometimes won't win you popularity points, sometimes it can make people uneasy, but know that it's God's desire that we are walking in his Spirit all day long. "Bryan, I don't think you know my coworkers! I don't think that you know my friends! I don't think you know my family!..." the list could go on and on. You're right, I may not know these people, but I do know the heart of Jesus. 

"32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33 

It's a hard saying, I get that. I share it with you because I check myself with it. And no, I'm not the greatest at it all the time, but I will keep fighting to be the person God calls me to be! You should too! You see when you are submitted, the Spirit will give you the words and opportunities. He will give you the wisdom and the guidance to know what to do. He will give you the love and compassion to communicate him! It all starts with 86,400 seconds. 


You see my heart hurts that we as a church have decided to be all about Jesus for one hour a week and then set our bibles on the shelf the rest of the week. When is the last time you spent an hour eating food and said that was everything you needed for the week? I'm assuming never! Why then do we think we can live this Christian walk daily without feeding ourselves? God has given us the tools. He's given us his Spirit. He's given us his Son! It's time brothers and sisters to rise to the challenge. I don't care if you just started, or have been walking with Christ for years, the time is now to fully submit to Jesus! I promise you that you will feel a sense of purpose, a sense of joy, and a sense power that you've never felt before. However, the cost of it all is your life, your way of doing things everyday and all day! 


 I love you beloved!

Get Your Weight Up!

I’m not a guy who likes to promote my life, but for this blog I have to slightly to give context to the story. Recently I have been working out more regularly than I have in the past few years. This past week alone I ran roughly 5 out of the 7 days. After all, I am getting married this summer to and amazing and Godly woman. Anyone getting married could tell ya, they have a slight desire to look their best for such a special day. I’m no different. Further, anyone who has wants to slim down will do some crazy things in order to lose the weight. Now I’m not a person who would ever do anything unhealthy to lose weight, but I do take tips from time to time about how to lose some stomach fat.

I realized something the other day while I was praying earlier today, God showed me something in a new perspective. I was at the gym earlier this week and there was an older gentleman doing an intense ab workout. It’s super hard to explain, but I can tell you that after seeing him do this workout and seeing the results it had on him, I instantly tried it out. “How was it,” you ask! All I can say is ouch. I’ve been hurting all week even when I do the workout again, it still leaves me sore. That’s the funny thing about working out though, it hurts sometimes. Sometimes, it can seem to be harder than you anticipate, and the struggle can make you want to quit, but any regular person who works out can tell you that when you push through the pain and struggle it’s all worth it when you see the results.

“Okay Bryan, nice story. I thought this was a devotional blog?” Check this out… God blew my mind with two different avenues today.

#1 Our faith journey is like an extended workout. We should never think of our faith as those twenty-minute “best abs you can have” workouts. It’s a series of daily workouts that help you gain stamina and endurance as you grow. Yeah certain muscles can be sculpted quicker than others, sometimes the workout for a day, or two days, or even weeks can feel awkward and super hard… but just like working out, you’ll gain spiritual muscle that will help sustain you during that time.

“4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:4-6

“1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Both of these passages show that faith is a process and persistence is necessary. Further, they also so our dependency upon Jesus, our perfecter and originator of our faith! We are in this life still, we still struggle with sin, and we still have a lot of work ahead of us. But with the end means in mind, similar to the workouts we do, it’s all worth it!

#2 This guy at the gym not once speak with me. Not once did he come and show me how to do his workout. Not once did he ask if I wanted his help. He just went through his regular routine of his workout. He didn’t care who was watching, didn’t care how much pain he looked like he was in, didn’t know he was impacting my workout plan, and didn’t anticipate being this example. Check this out, it was through his persistence in his own workout plan that he impacted me. Moreover, I was telling a friend this guy’s workout for abs and how it really was a good workout when I did it, and she looked at me and said he had already been doing that because she saw the same guy doing it, and also saw the results it produced on him.  You see, TALK IS CHEAP. But his actions spoke far greater than his words. In one week I found that a man impacted two peoples workout plans by simply working on himself.

You see there is a world of people who think that the Christian lifestyle isn’t worth it.  It would have been one thing if this guy told me the workout, or pulled out a paper showing me the workout, but instead he just did what he knew he needed to do! Now the paper he could have given me could have shown me the proper form, and his words could have be very helpful, but watching him do it sucked me right into it!

“2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

We should aim to be the living version of the Gospel. What if you are the only Gospel somebody ever reads? He lived it!

Are you aiming for a speed workout or the extended daily routine?

Are you a living example of the faith you claim to have?

Be blessed Beloved

That Sounds Interesting

Today we continue our trip through sections of John’s Gospel and today is no different then before. This passage may be small, but God has big plans for this word. Now normally verse 15 is the end note of the previous story but it has it’s place here so as to enlighten us to a characteristic of Jesus. Remember, Jesus just fed the 5,000 (closer to 7,000 or 10,000) right before this section.

15 Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. 16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 Then a high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. 19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid!” 21 Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. John 6:15-21 HCSB

We first find Jesus, after doing the unthinkable feeding, somewhat fleeing from people to the hillside by himself. Many biblical scholars will agree that this was a moment that our Savior was praying. His Apostles were most likely near by, but he was alone with His Father. Now he just fed the people around mid day and now after retreating to prayer I found something interesting. Verse 16 alludes to the idea that from his mid day rendezvous with his Father, has now turned into a 4 to 5 hour prayer and quiet time with him. From the mid afternoon all the way through verse 17 we are given the impression that Jesus prays until darkness. So involved in his prayer, that His disciples find it okay to leave him there. When is the last time we found ourselves in this situation. Did you ever think about how Jesus, being perfect, never had to ask for forgiveness, yet he is spending this much time with God. Some Christians wouldn’t know what to pray for that could last that amount of time. I struggle with this very same thing at times. We say we’re Christian, yet we don’t strive sometimes to seek God like Jesus.

Another crazy thought is who of the disciple first decided, “Hey guys, I think we waited for him enough, it’s time to go.” Not only did they suggest the idea, they were able to put it in motion. Jesus’ twelve best friends decide they don’t want to wait for him, and give the impression that they can get across that lake without Jesus. If it were me, I’d say, “How about we get far enough off shore to get Jesus’ attention, then when he sees us and comes… we go back and get him.” But that’s not what happens. They go 3 to 4 miles out into the lake.(The average person can take 20-30mins to run this distance, let alone row a boat this distance) When you row a boat, that’s a long time! On top of that, the water is getting rough and it’s dark outside. In my opinion, something is not adding up. They just left the miraculous Jesus and are in the middle of the dark and rough lake with no way to find land.. Then the word pointed the finger at me, how often do you misunderstand Jesus and decide that you know the easier way to do something? You may call these Apostles idiots, but you must remember you do the same thing sometimes! How often do we leave our self worse than we started sometimes.

Lastly, Jesus does something, which I will love him for, yet never understand. After being somewhat forgotten, Left behind, and utterly disrespected by his closest friends, he walks on water the whole distance to reach them. Notice his greeting is not one of frustration, not one disappointment, but one of joy and grace. This shadowy figure comes closer to the boat and cries out, “it’s only me, Jesus, don’t worry!” Jesus in spite of the right to let them perish in the lake, he pursues after them, and gently guides them to the right path.  He chose to love them in this time. Look for some of you reading this, you’re in the middle of what this story calls the rocky lake, it’s dark, and you’re terrified of what could happen next. Be encouraged because what may seem like a far off shadowy figure will turn out to be the Lover of our soul walking on water toward you. Literally acting in the supernatural and radically trying to grasp your attention. If that’s you today, give in to him. Be willing to let him in your boat!

How often are you praying?

How often are you telling Jesus to wait on the shore of your life while you think you can make it across the lake?

How often are you letting him in the boat?

I love you Beloved

The Little Things

1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing by healing the sick. 3 So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near. 5 Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” 6 He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do. 7 Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they for so many?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down. The men numbered about 5,000. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were seated—so also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were full, He told His disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they collected them and filled 12 baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.14 When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, “This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world!” 15 Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. John 6:1-15

Today I wanted to focus on the story of the feeding of the 5,000. In all actuality, it probably would have been closer to 7,000 or 10,000 if the women and children were included in the counting. That’s right Jesus actually fed that many people with five barley loaves and two fish. There is so much going on in this story that I could probably write several different blogs on it, but today I want to focus on one thing in particular.

It’s the idea that Phillip’s response is different than that of Andrew. Jesus asks Phillip a question to test him, “How are we going to meet all of these people’s needs?” Now in this instance it just so happens to be that food is their need. Phillip responds with what would seem to be a natural human response, “8 months worth of wages would even help everyone have a little.” In other words, in his own mind and in his flesh he can’t see a way to possibly help all of them. 

Andrew on the other hand says something quite different. I’m not sure exactly what was going on in his mind that made him say what he does, but we see a glimpse of faith in Jesus from Andrew that Phillip didn’t display. Andrew says, “I don’t know how it’ll help you Lord, but here is the little that we have.” If I was another apostle I probably would have chuckled under my breath and thought Andrew was ridiculous for even bringing that up.  He seriously thought that five loaves and two fish has the potential to make an impact in everyone’s lives, enough so to fill all of their needs. That’s crazy, and seems preposterous.

Check out what happens next though. Jesus takes the little of what Andrews offers up, he blesses it, and….. He meets their needs with it. Now That’s Crazy!! Imagine if we as Christians came to the Lord in a similar way to Andrew.

There is a lot of hurting people in our city, workplace, schools, and families. It seems as though that the challenge to meet their needs is unbearable. That all the work in the world we could do wouldn’t meet their needs. However, God is longing for a people, a generation to come to him with the little we have,  let him bless it, and watch it feed the masses. It in fact will not only feed them until they are satisfied, but it will fill them to the point of over flow.

Some of you reading this would say that you fall under the idea that, like Phillip, there is nothing you could possibly do! Does this story back that claim up?

What would it take for you to come to the heart of Andrew? One that says, "Here is the very little I have, but I know you can do something with it!"

I love you beloved

When SON Equals ONE

It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these, this is a common saying of my recent posts, but that’s about to change. For those of you who follow me on here, I have currently started a season of my walk with God that is always challenging me to improve as God graciously uses me to improve others. All of this being said, this passage will be a recap and a re-up for some on a challenge I’ve already issued, while for other a new challenge and experience altogether.

“16 Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus replied, “I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21 And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to anyone He wants to. 22 The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:16-23 HCS

This passage is one that is either very easy to read past, or it is too confusing for some people to dig at. Let’s look at its key components and see what’s going on.  Right before this Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and the fellow Jews are persecuting Jesus on doing such things on a day of rest, as we see in verse 16. Things seem to be a bit confusing around verse 18 because it seems outlandish in our modern American minds that when someone claims to be the son of someone, it makes you equals with that person. Almost seems as though these Jews were angry for no reason.

Let’s look at it this way. Everyone knows that England has a Queen! Duh.. What are some things that happen when the Queen enters the room? Out of honor everyone rises to their feet, as she walks past them they bow, and when she declares something to happen it HAPPENS. Why? This is because she is the Queen, and has the authority to have it this way. Further, everyone knows that the Queen of England has a grandson that was recently heard about all over the world. That’s right, he got married… YAY! Don’t get me wrong, marriage is a great thing, but people get married everyday and don’t get the press he did. Anywho, quick question, what happens when the Prince walks in the room? Everyone rises to their feet, everyone bows when he walks passed them, and he has a similar power to the Queen. He can look at the country and say something like, “By the power invested in me by the Queen of England…” about something and it will happen. Meaning he has the same power and authority of the Queen through his relationship with her.

This principle is almost exactly the same with what the Jews are feuding over with Jesus here. To call himself the Son of God, means he has the same authority and power as God and could be seen as equal to him all because of his relationship with him.

The rest of what Jesus says in this passage is actually focusing on this principle! But what does all of this equality debate have to do with us. As you read in earlier chapters of John, we see that by faith in Jesus as Savior, we too are now seen as sons and daughters of that very God. Which means everything Jesus is referring to in this passage could be said about us! This means we should only be aiming to do what we see the father doing. This means we should be aiming to do greater things that what has already been seen. This means we should have a relationship with God in such a way that people could read this passage and say or think, “I know this guy named Bryan who lives these very verses out in his everyday walk. Bryan owns this ability and his sonship so much so, that I can honestly say that what I see Bryan doing, it’s what I would see the father doing.”

I can’t honestly say that this is something that can be said about me all the time. I will say this, now that I know this standard, I will aim for it as much as possible. 

Take some time to think about what this means for your walk with God!

Where do you place yourself, Walking in God’s authority as the Prince of England does with his Queen, or not?

In what way can you improve or what area can you start to live this way?

(Feel free to leave your answers in the comment box below)

I love you beloved

Get A Life!

What is Life? Recently I have been mentoring some students from a local school in town and have realized that this question should be addressed. As I searched through scriptures, and then gave the presentation at a chapel this morning, God assured me that this is something worth sharing to the masses. Not saying that a ton of people read this, but this is my obvious and easiest way to reach the masses :)  


Dictionary.com defines life as
"the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally."


In other words, it is the essence of everything living and it is the term to decipher whether or not something is animate or inanimate. So what is Life? It still feels undefined because we don't have the proper lenses at time to see the definition.

John 1:1-4
"1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, 
and the Word was God. 
2 He was with God in the beginning. 
3 All things were created through Him, 
and apart from Him not one thing was created 
that has been created. 
4 Life was in Him, 
and that life was the light of men." (HCS)

There are many things to look at in this passage, but the thing I want to focus on is the fact that an uneducated man that followed Jesus over 2000 years ago gets what life is! He explains in this passage that the Word Made Flesh, Jesus, not only has always existed with God, but He is the Essence of life. Let me rephrase it for you. Life is the essence of everything that is animate, and Jesus is the essence of everything that is living. This means that from the beginning of time as WE KNOW IT, everything has sustained life because of Jesus. 


So when the title of this says, "Get a Life", I'm trying to remind you that you need to get right with Jesus. 

John 14:6
"Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.""(HCS)

If Jesus is THE LIFE that means that there is no other life. Now the real thinking question comes into play. Why then Bryan are there a lot of people I know that are living that don't know Jesus? Isn't what your saying that Anybody that doesn't know Jesus dead? 


If you are to look at my argument literally you could read it that way, but what I am here to state is simply,  "it's not that life is too short, it's that we are dead for so long." (Anonymous Author) 

John 10:10
"A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance." (HCS)

Think about the way our city, our schools, our families, our friendships, ect.. could be if we truly acted as though we believed that Jesus is Life! Do we think that students of this generation would act, dress, and defines success the way that they do if WE lived our lives as if Jesus is Life? There is a part of the divine nature of man that longs to be fully alive in Christ.


See when you are born of your flesh, normal birth, you are alive in the sense that people define you as living, but God may not see it that way. It's the idea of the God-head saying "Let Us make man in Our image...." (Gen 1:26) It's the flesh we carry around everyday. But Jesus as Life is something that is the essence of living.

John 3:3
"Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”"(HCS)

What He means is that your spirit can only be made alive by Him! That the only way to truly fulfill the idea of, "according to Our likeness...." (the other half of Gen 1:26) is if a man or woman fully submits themselves to Jesus. This is because Jesus is Life, so to become alive to have to lay down what you think is living to receive the life He gave you through the power of the Holy Spirit by His resurrection from the dead. Do you believe Jesus is Life? If so, are you alive or are you metaphorically brain dead in the spirit (the flesh is alive, but the brain is dead)? 


I challenge you today, Start Living! 

Romans 8:19
"For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed."(HCS)

I love you beloved!