The Power Within

There is a story of a black boy who was sitting down at the porch of his house, observing a man standing by the square right across the street, selling balloons, inflated with helium. 

He became intrigued with the man's attitude as he would release only blue, red, white, colored balloons and see them go all the way up in to the skies, but never the black ones. He thought the man was racist. 

He decided to cross the street and inquire from the man why he wouldn't release the black balloons.

"Sir, why do you only let go of the other colors but never the black ones?"

The man then did let go of one of the black balloons and showed the young boy that it'd go up too.

Then he told the boy, "It doesn't matter what color the balloon is. What makes it go up is what's inside."

LESSON: 

The day you realize that what makes the difference is not how much money you have in your bank account, how many friends you have, the handsome/beautiful boyfriend/girlfriend you have beside you, nor your academic level, BUT THE SPIRIT YOU CARRY INSIDE YOU, the Spirit of God, then you'll succeed in life.

Luke Castro

YPG National Coordinator

R U READY?

It comes for EVERYONE.

Luke Castro 

YPG National Coordinator

You Might Need a Diaper Change

Seriously, let me tell you why.

Kids wear diapers because they can’t control their bodies. Whenever they feel like doing #1 or #2, they just do it. For them, any place is right, anytime okay. They don’t care if they are in bed, the car, someone’s arms, etc.; if they feel like doing it, they will do it.

Only with time do we learn to control our sphincters. Suppose that nature calls when you are in class. Do you do it right then and there? Of course not! That would be shameful! So you hold it, you wait until you can get to the restroom.

You can control your body; you tell it not to even though it’s begging you please (and it does it in a very convincing way).

That’s my point.

Why can’t you also do it when it asks you to have sex out of marriage? Why don’t you tell it not to when it feels like saying hurtful things to someone else? Why can’t you JUST SAY NO when you feel like smoking? And the list goes on: lying, cheating, looking at girls (or guys) in a dirty way, pornography, procrastinating, masturbating, heavy petting, cussing, etc. You body will ask for it, you will feel like it BUT you don’t always have to do what it says.

Doing what you feel like doing it’s almost never the answer. You need to control what you feel, stop any impulse or desire your body has that you know will hurt you, hurt others or drag you away from God. You must discipline yourself.

If you don’t, you are acting just like a baby, with the slight difference that there won’t be anyone to clean after your messes. Mommy can’t do it anymore. You'll be on your own and with dirty pants.

Paul the apostle put it like this: “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.” (1 Corinthians 9.27)

So, do you need your diapers changed? 

Fernando Carrera

YPG Pastor - Katy, TX

New Name

You know that guy who always looks like he's on something? 

How about the one whose parents divorced? Or the father left? What's his name? 

And that girl who always looks depressed? 

People like to label each other by the things they see – or imagine they see. 

You may not even know who you truly are, but maybe you’ve just accepted the labels that others have stuck on you.  But for others to see you in a positive light, you need to see yourself through new eyes first.  You need to know what God sees when He looks at you.

Jacob was known as a cheater, a hustler, a deceiver, and he lived up to that name, big time.  But one day he wrestled with an angel all night, demanding a change, demanding the blessing of God. He was fed up with those labels, with who he had become.  He had the guts to fight for a blessing.  Then and there God changed his name to Israel: one who fights with God. 

"Your name will no longer be Jacob; From now on you will be called Israel." Gen. 32:28 

God will change who you are – not just with an outward name, but who you are inside.  But just like Jacob, your change has to begin with you, throwing off the old labels and your old self-image.  Each of us has to wrestle with God on our own, and maybe you’ve never done that in your life.  Now’s the time you can.  

January 14th, 2011 is The Night of a New Name, a YPG all night vigil from midnight till dawn nationwide.  We refuse to leave until we’re blessed by God. We'll have music, performances, testimonies, new members consecration and baptism in water for those who mean it when they say they want a new life. But best of all – we’re going to fight! Prepare for this day, only if you're ready for change.

Pr Luke Castro

YPG National Coordinator

Let's Talk About Music - Soul or Spirit?

It's the most influential forces today; it can make you happy or sad. It can bring you closer to God but similarly can lead you into the devil's hand. Of course, we are talking about music.

Considering that both Christian and secular music use instrumentals, convey a message and influence the hearer one way or the other, what is it exactly that makes one different from the other?

For the next five weeks we will be exploring this subject by answering the following questions:

• Soul or Spirit?
• Whose Glory?
• Leading to where?
• Moral or Immoral?
• What Effect?

Let's take a closer look at the subject of this week by concentrating on the first on the five questions: Souls or Spirit? Both secular and Christian music touch you in a particular way, communicating something to you while you are listening. But what's the message of that music is doing to you? Is it feeding your soul (emotions) or your spirit (faith)?

                       

                               SECULAR MUSIC                             

Soul: Secular music taps into your emotions and causes you to feel happy, sad, angry, aggressive, etc. A sad love song will make you feel sorrowful, while the upbeat song that follows will make you feel happy and lively.

Effect: The effects are temporary simply because what you feel is an emotion. A song allows you to escape from reality for a few moments, but as soon as the song is over, it's back to reality. There is no doubt that music influences the mood of a person, but imagine making choices based on the feelings of the moment?

                              CHRISTIAN MUSIC 

Spirit: Unlike worldly music, this is directed at your mind, which is connected to the spirit. As you are led by the spirit, it often helps you express what you cannot put into words and leads you closer to God. It causes your mind to focus on the things of God rather than on your feelings.

Effect: It helps you think, ponder about your life, faith, etc. It inspires you to act on your faith and brings you closer to God. It strengthens and encourages your faith. For example, when you sing a song of faith - directed at your problem - the words cause you to think, which in turn inspires you to take action based on faith, not emotions.

Next week we'll talk about the second point: Whose Glory?

Pr Luke Castro