The Bible In America






The Bible has sold more then 6 billion copies and has been around longer than any book in the the world. With those staggering numbers I wonder how many people have actually read it? Thanks to technology you can now access the Bible on your computer, smart phone and tablet which makes that number of 6 billion only increase in regards to the availability of the Bible. 

If you read the Bible or not you cannot say it doesn't have an influence in the world we live in. Look at our laws. Many of the laws today are laws that were first written in the Bible clearly showing that this country was formed on Godly principles. I think the churches job and the job of spiritual leaders is to teach and enforce God's word to the people so they can go out and follow what the Bible says. If you're not in a Bible teaching church I pray you find one that's going to tell you the truth.

What's interesting is many don't realize what the bible and Christian influence have accomplished for the betterment of our lives, especially in the US. People are often taught to despise the Bible yet these same people walk around enjoying a good life with abundance here in free America which really we owe this all to God's word. Amazing how people can read the truth (Bible) and not believe in it. This country we live in has been taught to believe in what feels good and what they want. When Jesus was preaching and teaching people didn't believe so what are we to expect today? If you read the word and know the word my prayer is you share it with family and friends who may not know the truth for themselves yet.

Why Church? Why Starting Life Church?

When you start something you begin an activity, movement or journey. Have you ever thought about what the meaning of life is? Starting life is when you wake up and realize that your existence in this world is far more than just waking up and moving around only to go back to sleep. We all are called to do great things and to fulfill our purpose in life. 

At Starting Life Church the goal is to build a community of people who want to win, but only through Jesus Christ. God has called me through our church to encourage and help people understand their purpose in life. So it was appropriate to name the church "Starting Life Church" because I believe if people can understand who God is they can understand their purpose more clearly. 

Starting Life Church


Over the years in ministry I have seen and had the chance to meet with different people inside and outside the church and I've noticed that many people in the church were no different then those outside. How you might ask? Because there were people in church that didn't know really who God was and people who didn't know their purpose in life. As the pastor of this church my goal is to encourage people to go deeper in their relationship with God and also understand their calling and then teach them how to walk in it. The Bible is an amazing tool but it must be used and used in a way that people can understand so that they can take what they learn and start to live it. I don't have all the answers as a young pastor but I can say what God has called and given me to do. I pray that if you don't come to Starting Life Church that you're involved in a church that's teaching the truth and preaching Jesus Christ. I also pray that you are doing more than sitting but actually going out and making an impact in your local community because we can't change the world until we change those around us.

Have You Grown Up Yet?

The older I get the more I've began to notice what is really important in my life. I have also grown to understand more how naive and ignorant I was when it came to different things. I'm only 24 and God willing I have a long life ahead of me; however the things that once excited me no longer do. I think we all get to a point in life where we grow up and mature into who God wants us to be. Amazing how many people I know and I'm sure you do as well who are in their mid 40's or even older who still act like they did when they were younger. I have come to a point in time in life where I want more for myself and I've began to view things from a different lens. The bible tells us "when I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me". This helps us understand why we have people who still operate and act as though they are inmature even though they know better. It's because many people want to live life and neglect the responsiblities of life. One thing no person can run away from is time but time is something we all wish we can have more of. Growing up can be painful and can be something a person struggles with but it's a must if you want to grow and fulfill your purpose in life. How much longer will you run from your calling in life and if you know your calling when are you going to grow into the person you know you need to be.

Why Addiction Can Ruin Your Life!

Addiction is something we all have struggled with. I don't care who you are and where you're from you have a struggle or have had a struggle. An addiction is the continued use of a mood altering substance or behaviour despite adverse dependency consequences. Pretty much an addiction is when you depend on something as a means of fulfilling a desire. Once you get addicted to something, your dependence on that behavior or substance can be out of control. People who are addicted don't even understand or realize the people around them they are hurting and effecting. Any addiction is dangerous when it isn't pleasing to God and when it's against what the bible teaches and tells us. There are many things people are addicted to openly such as drug abuse, alcoholism, smoking and so on. And things done in public can be so easy to judge and ridicule but what about those things done in private that no one can see? Things such as pornography and masturbation. All these things are bad and it doesn't matter if you openly struggle with something or privately struggle, the struggle is real and addiction are killing people daily. So all that gets me to this point.... How do we overcome addiction and how do we get our life back in order from this terrible problem? Well the first step would be to acknowledge your problem to yourself then to God. So many times we go to God and we aren't real about what we are dealing with like God doesn't know our problem. Secondly, have a willingness to change, God can't save you if your not willing to be saved because he isn't going to force you to do anything. Christ died so that we can have power over sin, but many don't choose this and they settle to struggle and live in defeat to sin. I heard a quote that someone said once and it was "some people need to be liberated from themselves" and that's so true because people are enslaved to sin and addiction and can't break free. Don't be a prisoner to your mind, free yourself and give your addiction to God it may take some time but don't give up. God hasn't given up on you and he is willing to save you from it but you have to be willing to give it to him first. I'm praying for you today if you're struggling with addiction. I'm challenging you to live better, because once you live better you will feel better.

Suicidal thoughts?


Almost everyone would agree that life is the most precious gift that human beings have been given. And we should all be thankful for this wonderful gift but it's easy to take it for granted. But the question is why? Life is full of amazing moments and times and also life is filled with stress, pain and anxiety. Many times people allow the trials of this world to get them down and to the point they no longer appreciate the gift they once believed to be precious called life, this can happen to anyone doesn't matter who you are. Suicidal thoughts are real, suicide is a grievous sin that seriously hurts both the heart of God, and those who loved the deceased. God wants you to know there is hope and life for you. He is the great Healer and Restorer of what has been lost or stolen. Never give up on hope because when you follow God the word hopeless no longer exists. The Bible tells us "Do not be a fool--why die before your time?" Ecclesiastes 7:17 love God and love yourself because your life is bigger then you and bigger than where you are right now in your life. It doesn't matter what you have done in your life God will forgive you through Jesus Christ. The only unforgivable sin is rejecting Christ (Mark 16:16) and blaspheming the Holy Spirit. All other sins can be forgiven so whatever is going on in your mind, body and spirit give it to God and move forward.

The Struggle

None of us can overcome our deficiencies, our sins or our shortcomings without God's help. So the question is why do we even try knowing this? It is only by God's power that we are able to overcome our struggles. The world tells us and teaches us that we can handle our own problems but we can't. And Paul made it clear we can't in the book of Romans 7 when he said "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me." Paul made it clear that it doesn't matter how hard we try that there will be temptation all around us. And we all can understand where Paul is coming from because we aren't perfect so we need God. It's only by his power and strength that we can stand and make it in this world. So seek God when you're weak and don't wait but do it now.


Who Are You Focused On?

Too many times we talk about what we want and what we need. And don't talk about what God wants and what he needs from us. In the world we live in today its easy to lose our way we start out on fire and focused but along the way we can get off track.. Why does this happen? It happens because we put our guards down and we listen to everyone and everything around us. When we do this we slide back into a state of thinking we can do it ourselves and that we don't need God. God has called us to follow him and  seek after him. None of us are perfect but all of us can be better and seek to be more like Jesus each day. Learn from your past and your shortcomings and grow each day. Don't let people hinder you from your purpose and your call. I remember when I first got into ministry I would have to get validation from people to feel like I did the right thing or spoke the right word. But i quickly learned that you can't please people and your not suppose to. Once I went after what God wanted me to do I was able to lose fear that my best wasn't good enough for people and I focused more on pleasing God and being the best person I could be.


Focus- The center of interest or activity.


Death Penalty For Pastor?

Iranian Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been charged, convicted and sentenced to death for apostasy (becoming a Christian.) When Iranian officials demanded that he recant his faith in Jesus Christ or die, he responded, “I cannot.” He has been illegally imprisoned and separated from his wife and two boys since 2009. This man exemplifies a true Christian who is willing to sacrifice everything in this life on earth for his faith the question I ask today is how strong is your faith and would you be willing to do the same?
Pastor Youcef

We must take a stand for what we believe and not shy away from things when they become hard and challenging. No one should be proscuted for what they believe and stripped away from their family this is a major injustice that deserves every bit of attention that it’s receiving. And we all can learn a thing or two from this story and this man I ask that you pray for his family as well as his strength during this time

What Are You Doing?

When was the last time you lead someone with your actions and not just your words? I read a great quote that said "If your actions inspire others to dream more. learn more, do more and become more. your a leader."I see too many people in leadership positions that don't understand what it means to lead others we all have a voice but not all of us use it. The question I ask is what are you doing? The word doing means, the activities in which a particlar person engages. so better yet what are you engaged in right now in your life and is it getting your closer to God and your future?


"What are you doing?'
 This is something that we must think about from time to time because its easy to lose our focus. I have learned the best way to not lose focus is to never lose it to begin with. This is why its very important to keep good people around you and people who are moving foward in life and not causing you to go back. When we lose our focus and when we aren't engaged in things that are of God we not only hurt ourselves, but we hurt the people around us. So I ask again what are you doing? Be an example for someone and understand it's not about you. Let your actions speak and your words follow stay focused and trust God to guide your path.