Breakfast Club

 “Another great movie from my high school days is “The Breakfast Club” written by John Hughes, who probably wrote so many of my favorite movies. The movie, if you haven’t seen it, centers around Five different people who come from different backgrounds. One is a rich young girl who is very popular, one is a jock that is also popular. One is a rebel punk rock bully, who gets high and lives in a broken home, and one is a “nerd” who is driven to get straight “A’s” in his class work. The last one is an introvert, who isn’t anything or anyone, other than another body at school. The teacher is also a bully, who just is there to watch the kids, and basically get paid for babysitting on a Saturday. The cool thing about this movie is that; I think most of us can relate to at least one of these characters, whether in high school or even as grownups. We all want or need a sense of belonging, and sometimes it’s easier to hide behind our persona than to actually be who we are supposed to be.

The Apostles were a band of misfits; that in the “religious” world, they were not wanted or not thought of as anyone. In the real world they were men of different backgrounds of different status, and like the movie, would not have been seen with each other outside of “detention.” Now that’s the way the world looks at us as Christians that we are being held by rules and restrictions that make us outcast, and of no value, or that we can’t have fun. We are mocked in movies, lumped into narrow minded, hypocritical, unloving, and zealot nuts. We’re stereo-typed as money grabbing, child pedophiles, and doomsday outcasts, that can’t live in the world and be successful.

The enemy watches us and isn’t really there with us, as most of us are not in the “work” of God. By this I mean, Satan isn’t the reason for all the bad that happens to us on a daily basis, most of it is our own actions of not following God. (I just laugh at all those, “Not today Satan” shirts) We talk the right words and go to the “in” churches, and can help here and there, but our hearts are just not committed. Too many times we allow the way the world looks at us to define who we are and we shy away from who God says we are, His children. 

The kids in the movie were asked to write an essay, and Brian the smart one, writes it and says at the end which I love, “You see us as you want to see us in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions!” People see us as they want to, and this also translates to their version of who Jesus is. Peter reminds us that we need to see ourselves in the light of Jesus, in First Peter Two, he writes,

 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS into His marvelous light.” ‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) 

I see Peter, when he wrote this remembering when he was denying Jesus, and how secluded and in darkness he must have felt. I have been there, feeling like no one can love me, and that even Jesus wouldn’t and couldn’t love me. The kids entered detention as strangers, but left as friends because they saw their value above what the world or teacher thought of them. Peter saw Jesus look at him with compassion, and he cried bitterly, knowing he was Jesus’, and that he would no longer care what the world thought of him. Darkness can do that to us,  if we stay in our separation from God and not fellowship, we too can deny Jesus and walk away. 

The world will knock you down, and kick you while you’re there, but Jesus knows this and realizes that all you have to do is trust in Him. He knows our hurts and our past, and yet He still loves us. He desires that though we all come from different upbringings and backgrounds, there is nothing He can’t fix you from. 

So my question is, are you a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess or a criminal, it doesn’t matter for Jesus doesn’t judge where you are, but desires to change where you are going! I love what Isaiah one says beginning in verse sixteen, 

“Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Stop doing the evil things I see you do. Stop doing wrong. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Punish those who hurt others. Help the orphans. Stand up for the rights of widows.” The Lord says, “Come, let us talk about these things. Though your sins are like scarlet, they can be as white as snow. Though your sins are deep red, they can be white like wool.” (NCV)

The stains of our past can be washed and renewed in Jesus, but you have to come in repentance, and talk with Jesus. He knows it anyways, and He won’t judge you here on earth. In the simplest terms, He sees us as we are and He still loves us, because that is why He held the nails for us. Won’t you let go of whatever you’re holding onto, and let God’s light shine on you?” Jose Barajas

High Anxiety

 I started a new job a few summers ago, and on the first day of work, I had my first anxiety episode. Yes people, Christians have anxiety too, and it is okay because we are human. I was in orientation class and just felt like I was having trouble breathing, and my left arm was hurting, so I thought I was having a heart attack. We went on a tour of the facility, and my breathing felt like it was beginning to feel constrained. I got back to the conference room and the other people went to lunch, and I fell to the ground, breathing heavy and my heart was pounding in my chest. I called my wife; and my daughter and son came to get me, but before they came, the paramedics had arrived. They ran test on me and said sit up and breath, you’re fine and your numbers look good. I started breathing as instructed and felt better. My son, when I got into the car said, “welcome to the world of anxiety.”

Jesus in His sermon on the mount, talked about a lot of different situations and instructions, and also wrote about being anxious. Matthew  six beginning in verse twenty five said, 

“"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (ESV‬‬) 

At the end of it Jesus concludes with, 

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ‭(ESV‬‬)

Paul reminds us in Philippians Four, 

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (‭ESV‬‬) 

I read these and thought, my faith isn’t strong, I must be doing something wrong, but then I remembered that I’m a work in progress and life is tough, and it is okay if we have moments of anxiety. It doesn’t make us frail and or wrong, as I think that Jesus knew we still would worry. He was our example and also gave us these verses to remember how much we need Jesus. David cries out in Psalm Sixty one, one through four,

“HEAR MY CRY, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to You when MY HEART IS FAINT. LEAD ME TO THE ROCK that is higher than I, for You have been MY REFUGE, A STRONG TOWER AGAINST THE ENEMY. Let me DWELL IN YOUR TENT FOREVER! Let me take refuge under the SHELTER OF YOUR WINGS! Selah” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

We are human and our hearts grow faint, but it’s not that that we grow faint, but where do we turn when we do? Drugs don’t help, alcohol is just as bad, therapists are like mediums, in that they only use key words to try and pry tears from you. The enemy uses lies to make us feel inadequate and lost, just like he did with Adam and Eve, by lying to them that they could be like God. But all it did was leave them outside of Eden after it was all said and done. Perfection isn’t attainable without Jesus as much as we try, and even Jesus dealt with anxiety as we read in Luke Twenty Two beginning in verse forty one, 

“And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS, be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And BEING IN AGONY HE PRAYED MORE EARNESTLY; and HIS SWEAT BECAME like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

Before you write hate posts, listen to what I am saying. Jesus is God and He was showing us how we should look to God in prayer, in the Spirit and allow God’s will to be done. I grew up memorizing the “Lord’s prayer” as a Catholic during the rosary,  and reciting “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” so why wouldn’t we believe and follow that? Again, it’s okay to doubt, have fear, wonder why, but to also remember that Jesus went through the agony of death on a cross, so that we wouldn’t have to.

Paul was human and dealt with lots of persecution, and he also knew that we would be anxious in a world gone crazy, so it was a reminder for us to not be anxious, but that only really happens in Christ. I’ve learned that it helps me and reminds me to just stop and pray and seek God more in those times. It’s easy to be like Peter and focus on the storms instead of God, but we have to stop and breath and remember that God is our peace. Peace that the world will never understand, and as I’ve grown deeper into God’s word, I’m learning to set my life on Him and not on things of me.  I love what Psalm One Hundred Twenty-one says,

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” (ESV)

I think Psalm Ninety one is deeper in meaning of evil and anxiety, but listen to what the Psalmist says beginning in verse one, 

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” (ESV)

So in those times of anxiety where do you seek help? Where is your refuge and shelter,  and your trust for deliverance? The world is full of chaos and the terror of night is everywhere, but Jesus has overcome it all. It may not seem that God cares or exists, but don’t lose hope, even in your anxiety. Jesus comforts us in some of my favorite verses, Matthew Eleven beginning in verse twenty eight,  

“Come to Me, all who LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, and I will GIVE YOU REST. Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN FROM ME, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you WILL FIND REST FOR YIUR SOULS. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (ESV)

Jesus doesn’t say that you will find rest in your bodies, in your workload, in your burdens or life, but He says, you will find rest in your souls! The solution is so simple that so many think us crazy for how Jesus can save us, and the world still struggles and tries all the solutions out there, but the choice is yours! Do you repent and come into Jesus rest, or do you stay anxious? When in reality, it truly is nothing, and it leaves us restless!.” Jose Barajas

Where is our Hope?

by Jose Barajas

I love the movie, “The Shawshank Redemption. It is based on a short story from one of my favorite writers when I was growing up, Stephen King. Andy Dufresne is imprisoned for killing his wife, even though he didn’t do it. After having spent two weeks in solitaire confinement for playing opera music over the prison loudspeakers, Andy is telling his fellow inmates how it was the two easiest weeks because of the music he had in his heart and mind. Him and Red, his best friend in prison, go back and forth saying, 

“Andy Dufresne : That's the beauty of music. They can't get that from you... Haven't you ever felt that way about music? 

Red : I played a mean harmonica as a younger man. Lost interest in it though. Didn't make much sense in here. 

Andy Dufresne : Here's where it makes the most sense. You need it so you don't forget. 

Red : Forget? 

Andy Dufresne : Forget that... there are places in this world that aren't made out of stone. That there's something inside... that they can't get to, that they can't touch. That's yours. 

Red : What're you talking about?