Monday Messages: Secrets & Regrets "(Don't) Let It Go"

I'm back! After a couple months off of doing Monday Messages, I'm glad to finally bring them back! I am starting a new series today called Secrets and Regrets where I'm gonna tell you my 4 biggest secrets or regrets and give you ways to avoid it. As always, I hope this will help you. So here goes nothing!

Have you ever let someone out of your life because they were dragging you down or wasn't helping in your walk with God? Well I did that a few years ago and to date it is one of my biggest regrets. We will get to that story a little later because right now it is time for a little bible time.

Today we are going to be reading Proverbs 3:1-8 in the NLT version
My child,[a] never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. 2 If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. 3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

So here it goes. A couple years ago, I was best friends with this girl and she was a Christian turned very strong atheist. The way she talked, the way she acted brought me down and really was not helping in my walk with the Lord. So out of the blue I just told her I couldn't be friends with her anymore. She literally said nothing to me and I sent that message. Mind you again, we had some history (not as a couple) but that added in the factor. I should have let the past in the past. Now that I preach and am a youth coach on Saturdays and Sundays I realize how wrong of me it was to do that. When you are a Christian ESPECIALLY a wanna be pastor, you have to be the light in the darkness and not let the dark take over your light.

Now how do you avoid this? Instead of letting them go, keep praying for them. Keep telling them about Jesus. Keep inviting them to church. If they stop being friends with you, keep praying for them. Maybe one day in the future they will become a Christian and you have to know that you played a HUGE part in that.

I'm currently trying to become friends with her again and will keep you guys updated.

Until Next Time, Alex

5 Bands/Artists To Watch For In 2016

I have decided to make my "Artists to Watch" feature on this blog an annual thing so here we go!

1.) Blondfire

Blondfire is the now solo project of Erica Driscoll. Let me start off by saying her second album "Young Heart" is a Dreamy Summery Indie Pop masterpiece. In fact, the song "Where the Kids Are" from that album is regularly played in Taco Bell. So often, that I have heard it the last 3 times that I have eaten in-store. Now that it's 2016, she is releasing her new EP "True Confessions" which is more of a rock feel than anything on Young Heart. But it is still amazing and you should definitely check them/her out.

2.) Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Man, I hope you have heard of this band. They are going to revive Rock-N-Roll. If Elvis made a song about drinking called "S.O.B." it might as well be The Night Sweats song of the same name. Not even kidding, their style sounds like Elvis and Nathaniel himself could be Elvis with his voice. "Son of a bitch! Get me a drink!" because this could be a great band to drink to.



3. State Champs 

Pop Punk is back! Whether or not you want to admit it, 5 Seconds of Summer is a big reason why it is. State Champs is on the rise in the Pop Punk scene and they are headlining several tours. Their 2nd album "Around The World And Back" just came out and trust me when I say it is one of the best Pop Punk releases in recent history. The same goes for their 2013 debut "The Finer Things" Get into it.



4. Chase Huglin

My boy Chase! Man if you are a fan of Ed Sheeran, I really suggest checking him out. He is getting pretty big selling out all the cassette tapes and hats he had. If you get his EP "Glow" on vinyl, it makes it that much better. Chase has a full band record due out this year and if its any bit as good as his acoustic stuff, it will kick some ass.



5.) The Wonder Years 

Last one for 2016 of course has to be a Pop Punk artist. The Wonder Years are from Philadelphia. They just released their 5th studio album "No Closer To Heaven." It is an extremely sad concept record about losing someone close to you. It's really relatable for me as I lost my grandfather just over 6 years ago and it still hurts. If you like Pop Punk, I suggest checking them out.




Well there it is! My list of artists to watch this year! Let me know if you have checked any of the bands out. Also let me know if you know any bands that should be on this list.

Until Next Time, Alex

Monday Messages UPDATE!

Just realized it has been over a month since I have posted anything on here! I'm first gonna let you all know that I am alive and way better than ever! If you are wondering what happened to my Monday Messages, they are on a little break as I started preaching in Youth Out Loud! From one blessing into another, I am baptizing one of my students next week (whaaaaat). They had a choice to be baptized by the pastor or their coach and my student chose me over the pastor. I got emotional because that means that God is using my life which is so far from perfect to speak to a 6th grader. Honestly I could die happy and know that I am going to heaven because I have changed a life. Before I go, Let me leave you with James 1:2-17 because It's really resonated with how last year compares to this year.

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

Also, keep an eye out for the return of Monday Messages next week. ;)

Until Next Time, Alex