Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

Matthew 7:13

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." — Hudson Taylor

"The road to ruin is paved with good intentions," is an old saying that I am starting to appreciate. I realized that not everything is bad, and if I try to fix everything, my good intentions may ruin it. I'm the type of person that draws heavy lines between right and wrong. I‟m right, you are wrong. Once you're wrong, I have the right to judge you. My experience in Africa showed me that sometimes things are just different. I became angry about the way Africans asked me for things, even though asking isn‟t always wrong. Jesus told us to ask God when said, "Ask, and you shall receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." There are two reasons why I was so upset with people asking me for things; the first because I‟m selfish, and the second is because I struggle with asking. I don't want to humble myself to ask others for help, instead, I would rather fail independently. Does that mean I should model the Africans in their ability to ask? Not necessarily. I‟ll never find JUTE; Josh's universal theory of everything. I try though. I want absolutes in life, so I can pride myself on my good deeds instead of living by faith. The bible has a lot to say against that: "Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11.

I'm going to sidestep, and ask that you think about what I am about to write: some things are wrong. The phrase "Jesus is a great man and moral teacher," is an example. Jesus doesn't say He is a great man or moral teacher, He says He is God Himself. That's why He was crucified by the religious leaders in His the day. Jesus repeatedly called Himself God (Matthew 26:63-64), and that He alone holds the key to eternal life, "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me," john 14:6. I believe that He alone can save me. The reason I believe Jesus is God, is because He said so. He was dead for three days and rose again, and I will listen to the one who has authority over death. I also can testify that my life has been changed by knowing Him in an intimate way. I never would have thought that one day I was going to sell the things I own, say goodbye to the girl I love, and head off on a journey to better understand Him. But that is exactly what I‟m doing, and it's because I want to. He changed my desires. I‟m scared, but I‟m also excited to experience intimacy with the creator of the universe. I'm trusting that He knows what is best for me, and will always accept me despite the flaws I have. If you are seeking that kind of eternal and unconditional acceptance; ask. If you have accepted it; then trust. If you are trusting; then tell the world about what He has done for you.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled conclusion; to quote the 70's, "what a trip, man." God has shown me amazing things about Himself, and helped me realize that I‟m not the center of the universe; He is. I'm just another guy grateful to be here, and trying to live out my faith the best I can. What do I know of holy? I'm trying to learn how to accept differences and love people in spite of them. I'm trying to learn that I‟m not a macho man; just an ordinary Joe that has an extraordinary God to sustain him. I'm trying to learn that it's okay to fail, because my righteousness is credited to me by faith. And I‟m trying to learn that God deserves all the glory. He is beyond anything I can even imagine.