We can evangelize or socialize. It all depends on whether you are saved or not.

Many Worthless Prayers

I remember living in Sioux Falls when I was younger. Looking back then
and reminiscing life then and now I feel joy and distraught.

Then:

At the age of 6, I loved going to Church. I remember having the desire
to "know" God. At that age I asked many questions.... I remember being
told and explained "The Trinity." Every Sunday I'd get up early and get
ready to head to Church/Sunday School. While my mother and the rest of
the 'old' folks where being lectured by the Pastor, I was singing songs,
learning Bible verses, and if lucky won prizes.....

As I started knowing more and more about God/Jesus. I started to like
the idea of one day going to heaven. I mean no one wants to feel the
Wrath of hell, and if they do... (I'm sure they don't want to be in a
place that is constant torment, absolute pain and suffering, and knowing
that God is not present).....They don't truly understand the purpose of Hell . With all
the tragedies that have occurred since the existence of man, none of that
could compare to Hell. Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the reign of the
Roman Empire, Crusades, Bubonic plague, Famines, Napolean Bonaparte, Hitler, Genocides, and now
most recent the Earthquake in Haiti and Chile.

ALL OF THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE
PRESENCE OF GOD! Now imagine without him.

After hearing this (how bad hell was) at the age of six but obviously not to this degree... I made a conscious decision that probably 10 of
10 would make. This place is a bad place, therefore I don't want it.

I remember thinking that praying and saying that I don't want to go
there... Was really all I had to do.

A week or two passed and I went and then I went back to my old ways

Years passed and I was just like any typical boy. I did my thing. I went to
school, and would attend church with the family on Sunday. At this
moment it was still kind of a ritual/task rather than purpose. Nothing
changed how I went about my life... You can say I was comfortable with
where I was at in life.

I'd go to retreats and there I'd re-dedicate my life because I didn't
feel secure enough with my life that I would go to heaven if I was to
die at that instant.
Again days/weeks passed and then I would go back to the old way.

At the age of 11 the day after the tragic 9/11 I started to attend a
Private school (Worthington Christian School). I remember on that cold morning, I
had blistering anxiety as I got up to deliver the morning newspaper
(Daily Globe). With the tragedy of the past day, I didn't know what to
think. Was there gonna be a war? More attacks? Will we have a WWIII?

That morning I remember being very scared. I went out that morning in
a pretty fearful state. I didn't know what was going to happen next. So
I prayed a prayer, that got me through the moment.
This did give me some assurance or re-assurance (depending how you look
at it).

Years past and not much changed with me... Sure I began the whole
puberty stage, but in all reality I was the same typical pre-teen/teen.
School, sports, athletics, and church on Sundays was the typical routine.

The only time something drastic or dramatic would occur in my faith was when a
Preacher/Teacher or other 'Biblical Leader' would ask the kids/youth to
come up if they haven't' dedicated their life or wanted to re-dedicate
their life.... As always people would look around, start mumbling the
person beside them "Are you gonna go up"? "I'll go up if you go up."
"Will you go up with me"?.... etc.

As one, two, five people starting going up... Many would follow... We'd
be up there and pray and go through some prayers... Maybe receive a
Bible if we haven't already received one. Say some scripture. A lot of
little things would happen in the 5-30 minutes you were up there.

I remember always feeling a spiritual high. But this was all it was a
high. As I went back home and went about my normal life, things went
back.
WHY???? I mean I prayed. I said and did a lot of things that night. Why
do I feel like this?

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Now:

Years have past since all of those things, and thankfully life has to.
But it wasn't the prayers in itself that changed me. That along with
changing my attitude, ways, methods about the ideal life, and most importantly the Grace of God was how I was "transformed."

I had to breakdown my lifestyle and in a way build it back up. (Romans
12:2)

I learned that saying a prayer doesn't cut it. Shoot even Baptism
doesn't cut it. (I'm not lessening the meaning of it, but it has to have meaning)

It honestly takes not wanting to do the things that make us fail or our
Conscious cry out because it's being put through the sins that Jesus died for.

I remember attending Life light (Biggest free Christian Concert in America located in Sioux Falls, SD) a few years ago..... I attended it at a
time that my life was very difficult.

I remember the constant
songs/prayers/fellowship. This made me forget about every worry, every
bad feeling, and anything else that caused shame in my life.

While I was in the moment and in the midst of other Christians, life was
so enjoyable. I mean people weren't ashamed to say they were a
Christian. You got to feel the presence of everything good. (I'm sure
a lot of you know what I'm talking about)

But like everything else this feeling quickly left my grasp. Why???

In 1948, 97% of America claimed to be Christian or have some Christian
denomination.
Since that time, the numbers have been gradually decreasing. Now it's at
75% percent.

So that means 3 out of every 4 people try not to lust,
steal, cheat, fornicate, covet, use God's name in vain, commit
adultery?...etc or in other words don't purposely want to acknowledge and/or take part in the very thing that Jesus Christ died for.

When I heard this I kinda smiled because, I don't know many people that
would say they weren't Christians really... Society has that effect on us.... lol

...... But actions do speak
louder than words right?

I don't wanna seem arrogant or cocky, but just here me out.....

If we were to honestly read the Bible and then examine our lives....
What would occur?

If we were to honestly see that the lifestyle we see and acknowledge on
TV could be the key that leads us to Hell.
(too much???)

If we stopped comparing ourselves to the next guy/gal....... but Rather
to the famous but so true slogan WWJD?

I wonder if the number would still be 75%. (In all honesty, I highly doubt it'd even be 50%)
Again Society has that effect on us.

Well that's all I got for now... I need to head to bed. Just
remember...........

That two men next to Jesus on the Cross.

The first said "save yourself and then save us".....

He never took the time
to think why he is on the cross... Nothing has changed in him, he just
wanted to be off the hook for that time being.....

Kinda like when we call on God to get us out of a situation, but that's the only time we call on him....... hmmm

The second took a different approach. He acknowledged his wrong doing,
and that he deserves the punishment that has been brought to him. They (Him and the other thief)
deserved punishment, because they sinned/committed a crime. He asked to
be remembered in the Kingdom.
He was sorry, he knew he was unworthy,and that he lived wrong all his life..... Then he said
"Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom"

It wasn't being baptized, many church services, saying he was a
Christian, or even prayer, for all we know he probably never prayed.....

It was the faith and the re-assurance that his old ways wouldn't cut it
and that only righteousness and the Grace of God would allow for this
to happen. I honestly believe that if he was to be set free from that
cross you'd see a different man walking down Skull Mountain than the guy
going up it...... That's the change! That change is the one that makes the Angels rejoice in Heaven!
A sinner acknowledging he's a sinner.

God/Jesus saw sincerity in his heart. This guy confessed and wanted nothing to do with his old self.

Well I hope that explains a little bit of where i'm coming from, if not
just message me and i'll explain a little deeper...... or just read 1st
John... it explains alot!

21st Century America: Everyone wants to go to heaven, they just don't
want God to be there when they get there. - Paul Washer

God-Speed.
Ajuda Alwal