“Let every soul be subject unto the [U.S. Constitution.] For there is no [Constitution] but of God: the [Constitution] that be [is] ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the [Constitution], resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For [the Constitution is] not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the [Constitution]? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For [the Constitution] is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for [the Constitution] beareth not the sword in vain: for [the Constitution] is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for [the Constitution is] God’s minister, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

My first passion is for Christ. I believe in Christ, Him crucified, and Him raised from the dead. I beleive that He is who He says He was and that He will return again. That makes my entire life center around Christ. That is my first passion and it works itself out in my activities, my prayer, my reading, and the way I view the world around me.

Second, I have a deep passion for education, knowledge, and wisdom. These are things that can be gained during a lifetime and passed on to others. They are also things that can’t be taken away by another person. They cannot be stripped by job loss or circumstance. They can only be lost if you let them go or you pass away. They are valuable beyond words. It is also knowledge and wisdom that protects us from each other, from businesses, and from government. Education, knowledge, and wisdom are a shield that will serve you well throughout your lifetime.

Third, technology. I simply love it. Computers, programming – it’s all good stuff. I want to learn as much as I can and use technology to help improve life for myself and others. That’s the long and short of it. My end goal would be to teach technology to others while maybe doing some research and progressing the field.

My last passion is economics. Economics truly seeks to define human behavior and interaction. Economics governs our economy and our government systems. Match it with history and you are in the perfect place to understand politics and what is really at stake on the political stage. While it is all in God’s hands, He doesn’t expect us to sit back and be idle. He expects us to go forward and act in a manner that is prayerful, respectful, and Godly.

So go find your passions. Seek after them. Enjoy your life. You only get one so do not live with regrets or misgivings. If God has put passions in your life, then pursue them. He wants you to and He intends to fulfill the desires that He has placed in your heart!

1. Blessed is the man you instruct, O Lord, and teach out or your law. that you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast of His people, nor will forsake His inheritance. Psalm 94.12-14
2. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2.10
3. An anxious heart weighs a man down. Proverbs 12.25
4. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15.13
5. He must turn from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3.11
6. Cast all you anxiety on Him because He cares for you! 1 Peter 5.7
7. There remains, then, a Sabbath rest or the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4.9-11
8. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8.10
9. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3.5-6
10. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12.9
11. It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5.1
12. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8.32
    

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” -Romans 5.3-5

This verse amazes me because it hones in a very defining characteristic of human nature: HOPE. But there is something new in this verse that has caught my eye. Did you ever realize hope is actually painful? Look at the process that this verse defines in order to reach hope:

suffering -> perserverance -> character -> hope.

Isn’t that crazy? The process of clinging onto and attaining true and reliable hope is actually an extremely painful process. But let me tell you that it is absolutely worth it! There is so much more that I could say about this verse, about perserverance, about building character, and about standing firm and building a life worth living – and maybe eventually I will. Who knows, but until then continue standing firm in your faith!!!

Yet it turns out that in life this is not the case. A due process, a fair process, taking all of the right steps does not guarantee a certain end. Sometimes by following the proper process we suffer. Sometimes we even fail miserably and absolutely miss the ends that we were seeking. But the truth of the matter is that the process is what defines us. The process is what scars our face, hardens our back, builds our muscle. The process is what makes us face adversity head strong and hell bent.

A true leader will always inspire people to ideals and goals greater than himself and thier selves. He is the one willing to make the hard choice when it must be made regardless of consequences. He is the one that takes one more step forward when no one, including himself, has the will or strength to press on. A leader lives for others in a way that drives the world forward, that stimulates growth in people, and inspires this world to be a better place.

I have devoted my life to one process: Christianity. Christianity, real Christianity, forces one to struggle forward in life. Christ forces me to make hard choices, to be the better man, and, in the words of a dearest friend, to be “a man”.

The process is painful, but I will live my life by it and will be gratified to be part of the process that others go through as well as the process that I myself am struggling through. I will choose to be a Christian, to be a man, and to be a leader in this world. And I will go down to the grave struggling and striving to become such a person.