The Rock n’ Roll Jesus Guy

I am known for being Zaq, the kid who spells his name with a "Q." I am known for being the funny, random and wild person who makes you laugh. I am known to be an odd blend of metal head and a flower child rapped in one. I am known to wear black clothes and pants that are said to be "too large." I am known for my long hair that is unkempt.

I am afraid what I am known for is not who I am.

Oddly enough what I am not known for is what defines my life. What I am not known for is why I am sober, not depressed and alive today. What I am not known for is what I want to be known for more than anything.

I need Jesus' strength; so I can step out of my bed and into the battlefield. So I can fend off any of the enemy's attacks. So I can be strong for others.

I need Jesus' wisdom; so I can walk a path less traveled. So I can help others. So I can be closer to him.

I need Jesus! To redeem me, to be my friend, to be my everything.

I love Jesus from the bottom of my heart, from morning to dawn, from now until he holds me in his forgiving arms.

I love Jesus; he is my strength, my shield, my sword, my savior, my redeemer and my best
friend. He is my model for my life, even though my life does no justice to it. I screw up, constantly but luckily I do not (and more importantly He does not either) define my life by my
mistakes.

I love Jesus because he loves me. Agape, the unconditional love he has for me. Jesus loved me when I was drunk and high and now that I am sober. Jesus loved me when I did not know him. Jesus loved me when I hated myself. Jesus loved me when I hated him.

I am saved!

I am redeemed!

I am God's child!

I am on fire for Christ!

I am a lamp for the world!

I am the salt of the earth!

I am ready to do whatever God ask me to do!

I am because of what he was!!!

I want to be known as a Jesus freak. I want to be known as "Rock n' Roll Jesus Guy!" I want to
be known as the guy who is so in love with Jesus that it radiates off of me. I want to be so under the influence of the Holy Spirit that you can see it my eyes, feel it in my touch, hear it in my voice, taste it in my cooking and smell it on my breath.

And through my actions…

I will be known as a…

loyal and faithful…

servant of God.

Amen

Forgotten Soldier and my desperate prayer

Today there are several thousands of soldiers in Iraq and each one of them is there to protect you. There is no doubt about it; the purpose of their personal sacrifice is to defend you and your country. I am lucky to know a few veterans of Vietnam who are personal heroes to me. Personally I love the USA; it is the greatest country of them all. I may jokingly say I am moving to Canada to live among my fellow hockey lovers but I would never trade Old Glory for that stupid maple leaf. Since I love the USA so much I have thanked the veterans I know and have had a chance to meet. When they fought I was not even a thought here on earth but I cannot tell you how much their sacrifice means to me. Would you believe not one of them has ever said, "I made this sacrifice but…" anything? Their sacrifice was unconditionally to all Americans and so many soldiers go unrecognized for their contributions but one goes unrecognized more than any other.

Unfortunately today you can barley turn on your TV without hearing about a death in Iraq. Everyday someone loses a father, a son, a mother, a daughter, a friend and so and so forth. Rarely you will hear story about a soldier who jumped on a grenade to save his platoon but you never hear the story of the soldier who jumped on the grenade to save the whole world. I am talking about Jesus.

There is no difference if you are White, Black, Asian, Native American or anything else. There is no difference if you are Catholic, Methodist, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim or anything else. There is no difference because God loves the world so much that he sent his one and only son so for whoever believes in him shall not perish but receive eternal life. If you barely sin or sin like hell there is no difference because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is no difference. Jesus gift was unconditional more than any other gift. He will never say I died on the cross for you but… anything. He paid off all your sins once and for all.

When will we see that there is no difference, I am tired of going backwards. I love my veterans including Christ, who is at the top of my list and we owe it to them to move forward. The only way we can move forward is to love. Hate does not change anything or anyone it just pisses you off and I am tired of being pissed off. I want to be like Christ so bad and fail so much but I just got to keep going. He changes, heals and most of all loves you; without that I am nothing. Help me get through this.