Andre Cabrales

caution: I might ramble... but this is good stuff I think... DON'T SLEEP ON THIS!

1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

I often (very often) consider leaving my faith an assimilating back in to the proverbial "world". But then I realize what that entails... I'll talk about this later.

I truly believe living out my faith, and pursuing knowledge and Christ, has freed me in more ways than the world can ever do so.

Here's why:

If I were living as the world does, I would be very competitive. This, I mean, in the sense of money, relationships (including: business, friendships, and with women), materialism... pretty much be the best and have the best of everything.

The scripture above could not describe more about how my soul disdains these things because of the malnourishment the world brings to my soul.

Let's think about the world for a minute.

What is the point, really, of being the best and having the best?

The answer is status... just so we can feel better about ourselves and "be better" than others. Don't get me wrong, competition is not all evil, and wanting what's best is great.

But I believe being caught up in the world's race is stifling to individuality and real freedom.

I believe Christ has taken that burden of performing off of my chest.

Side note: Performance is an easy "christian" entrapment too... in my opinion, the easiest lie to believe.

Galatians 5:1
[ Freedom in Christ ] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

BOOM!

The world says to be free is to express that freedom in a lot of ways. As a young man, that would mean exploring my sexuality, being free to drink and explore drugs... pretty much do the opposite of what "Christianity" is or what is labeled as such.

This exclusion of morality (I believe to be a divine installation to every human's psyche and one the world fails to explain) has imploded so many lives and left many void of meaning and outright joy. It has led the world to believe that it's okay to feed off of others and to "get ahead" or "be better" or even have a good story... by whatever means the individual feels is necessary to do so.

Why is being Christian (truly following Christ) so deviant.... so different from the world? Because being a part of the world is waaaayyy easier to do.

Why am I so free? Because I don't prescribe to the world's standards. I don't care about being the best.... I care about being and living life... at least trying to.

Here's my plan for life: If God so desires, raise a family with my best friend (wife!) that I don't believe I've met yet, and spend as much time doing random things that will enhance the enjoyment of the little time I have on this little space of the universe. I will preach the Gospel ALWAYS... sometimes I'll use words.

If no familia... do the same. Simple as that.

I can't believe that I would be the same man I am if it were not for Christ. As hard as it is to follow, He keeps showing up in ways that always surprise me. As much as I want to go back to the world sometimes (don't get me wrong... I DO fall in to the world here and there... I AM NOT above anything or anyone else in this world)... He'll remind me that the World is hell on earth.