Amazing. Absolutely amazing! :) See this why you and your band are my favorite band. It's not just about the music you make, but about your heart outside of the music. You guys have truly touched my heart and I love telling my friends about y'all. Not just because your music is awesome but because when I look at y'all, I see Jesus, and when I hear y'all, I hear Jesus. Keep up the awesomeness and God bless! :)
So thankful for that illustration that Mike put forth and corrected so rightly. The former is exactly how the Pharisees acted and thought, and it's SO easy to go into that way for thinking, and forget or be blinded to how Jesus redefined greatness - humility. Thank you guys!!
I've seen this demonstration many times, but never saw it that way. I've also recently been wondering about whether I should spend time with people I believed would bring me down. BUT, Jesus did that very same thing. Love it Mike! You'r journals are incredibly encouraging.
This man is amazing. He is funny and yet he is serious. I love his stories and his inspiration. What I would say to him if I could meet him face-to-face....
These videos are so inspiring, and each and everyone one of them no matter how short are so full of depth and meaning. thanks for making them, and please continue! I thank God so much for discovering your band.
Mike has such an interesting and beautiful way of presenting things. I love how thoughtful and inspirational he is. This man saved my life with his music and he continues to teach me how to live for God everyday. He truly is a blessing to this world :)
Good illustration, Joe. This video story needs to be shared around. "Bad company corrupts good character, but a servant of all has no further place to fall."
Dang, some of this stuff you post is SO good! Seriously. Don't ever stop the video journals. I like that you think about things and dissect The Word and figure stuff out. And then (the best part) you share it with us!!! Thanks!
This is absolutely amazing...a few years ago when I was in the depths of my anorexia and self harm I was suddenly surrounded by a group of Christians who wanted to help me by being my friends and showing me Christ's love. When I couldn't overcome the anorexia and the cutting, as I kept falling every time I was faced with a hard situation they confronted me and told me that since I couldn't leave my sin that it was time for them to leave me to my sin, and I could come back when I put my trust in Jesus. I had never felt so lost in my life, I thought that was what God thought, that I was undeserving, and since I couldn't stop hurting myself that He was no longer with me, could never love me. It was at that point that my life hit the darkest moment, thinking that God could never love me or forgive me I gave up and tried to end my life. It was by the grace of God that one friend I had came over to my apartment unexpected that night and found me, and I was able to see the light of day from the room in the intensive care. It was a long battle up, but I realized that God had never left me, that He was with me through everything, all the pain I was feeling inside me He felt. I am twenty eight now, been in recovery for almost five years with a husband and a miraculous little three year old. Though I battle a disease that has caused intestinal failure and our lives are difficult I see the blessings the Lord gives us in everyday, and even when I have to be in the hospital away from my son and husband the joy I have that God has blessed me with them is always allowing me strength to smile and praise Him. I thought for so long it was wrong of me that I couldn't overcome my addictions and I deserved to be shunned by the people who I thought were my friends, my church, and I believed that Jesus had given up on me. Thank you for posting this...I spend my days talking to people who are struggling with eating disorders and cutting problems along with other things and I don't feel that it brings me down at all, the Lord has given me the words and the past to offer some help, and I find that a blessing.
Oh my goodness that was so harsh. I am sorry that happened but I am so glad God held you up. I can relate. I had strayed from God for about 3 years. But in those 3 years, only one friend confronted me in love and asked me "what is going on?" The others stopped talking with me. Basically abandoned me to my sin and not doing the biggest thing we are called to do; to love people. It hurts... I know. It was just last year for me when I started to seriously pursue Christ. I learned the hard lesson that people will fail, but God will always lift us up and never leave us. Even when we don't know it. You are amazing Andrea and I have no doubt God will help many through you! God bless!
Kelsie5 Thank you so much for replying. It is a horrible feeling to feel like you have failed Christ so much that He has abandoned you, I feel blessed in my life now to know that He is always beside me even in the toughest of times like right now.
Andrea Schneider this is such a powerful story to me and this touched me so deeply and reminded me of God's amazing grace and love... thank you so so much for sharing this story. I pray that God heals you and restore you from every pain and disease that you had to face and bless you beyond your imagination...
Amazing video and a great lesson. I was confused at first but it all came together by the end. God is so good! Love tenth avenue north's music as well as spiritual insight
wow mike... this is so true... I had never thought about this perspective... This is amazing, this is grace! Thanks for teaching and showing us in all of your videos how amazing it is to serve God! God bless you guys!
great message Mike...If one is mature enough in his faith to get down on his face and wash the feet of the outcast, he/she should definitely do it. There is some wisdom in 1 Cor 15;33 though, a recently saved and recovering alcoholic may want to think twice about witnessing in the bars. Yes, he may -- enabled by God's Spirit and strengthened in prayer -- be specifically called to share the gospel and minister to those in the bars, but he also may be playing with fire. We're still fallen creatures after we're saved...and still subject to old temptations. Obviously your SS teacher didn't explain the verse adequately, or perhaps didn't understand it. For sure, we are to minister to everyone, but we are also warned not to "fellowship" too closely with people who don't respond to our message/service, and yet our own temptations are pulling us off the chair.
Awesome Mike!!! I was taught the exact illustration as a kid and was just thinking something similar a while back. Thanks for putting words to what I was thinking. Keep the video journals coming!
Love! Also, if you could only hang out with people who weren't less than yourself, no one could hang out with anyone because we are all on different levels.
Actually we are all on same levels all sin is the same,all we need to do is repent for the sin too receive forgivenesses of it,we do need to be carefull who we are around you will tell by the fruit they are producing shine the light and if it’s not a good situation get out pray for god to intervene,
There is still the scripture that says "Bad company corrupts good morals." When I was first saved I had to temporarily cut off those that were pulling me down away from God. If I hadn't it would have been easy to fall back into the same bad habits. God is in control if you ask him which way to go,so I can't say as you are showing that I can always be around bad company. He will send those that CAN be around those that are bad company,but it might not be me that he sends. I won't eat meat sacrificed to idols if it offends me,but it might not offend another Christian. May God's work carry on no matter what. Thanks for the video!
This is exactly what I am going through right now. I am living with people who stand on that chair and look down on me like I am scum because I don't go to the same church they do so therefore I am flawed, a sinner and just plain no good. Its one thing to be standing on that chair, but its a whole other when people look down at you and treat you like you are scum even though you aren't. We all make mistakes, we all fall down, but we are still human, we are still people with feelings and beliefs. Get off of the chair!
This is a great message but there's wisdom in love as well... this may be sending an empowering message to teenagers to hang out with negative influences. Jesus didn't hang out with sinners until He was 30 and had fasted and prayed in the desert for 40 days and nights. Maybe instead of teaching teens to judge whether or not people are good enough to hang out with us, we should be teaching teens to make themselves a ready enough servants to love the hurting people in this world. THAT'S how Jesus did it.
Wow, yes! Excellent! To agree and expand on both this comment and Mike's illustration, the point of both is to look not at your surroundings, but at your own heart. If you are walking in Spirit (Holy Spirit) and not in the flesh (sinful, human nature), it's God who is influencing you, not man.
That's what Mike said. What does it mean to be a "servant" for others? You can't serve if you don't know how, therefore you'll have to be ready for this. Teens can doge bad company, but as long as we live everybody in the same world, you can't runaway from the influence at all times. Unless, you learn not to dodge, but to deal with it.
The warning is still this: If you follow Jesus, don't allow the actions & choices of others to corrupt you! Don't be deceived, bad company *can* corrupt. Choose you're friends wisely. Your *closest* friends should not be bad company. Those closest to you will influence you. Love everyone but choose your closest friends wisely. If you follow Jesus, stay upon the narrow path: * stand up for truth * speak truth in love * walk away when the path before you is not what Jesus would do. * there is a time to associate & a time to not associate with those who make choices that are not good, just & Holy. Everyone makes their own choices but followers of Jesus must also choose to be in the world but not *of* the world. Love the sinner, hate the sin. 😊
I've heard of the chair illustration being used like that before except the youth pastor was using it to explain why "missionary dating" is a bad idea.
*Meaning he cannot be influenced by morally bad people, BUT we also are called to love the prostitute and the undesirables of society, for our great and Heavenly Father desires all to come to repentance unto faith, God is good!
I never thought of that instead of staying away from people that will pull you down you need to become like Jesus. That's why Jesus stayed perfect by serving others :)
I think we should all never think ourselves to be too good to be with anyone. If we even think for one second that we are better than someone else, then we should go back and read God's word. We are called to go to everyone. But with that being said, we need our own circle of support that will keep us with God. That will not let us stray and hold us accountable. Because I know of too many people who do not so great things depending on who they are around. In addition, everyone is at different walks in their faith so some have to be more careful with how close they get with others. Some are weak in their faith or still very young so they're easily lead astray. Others are easily influenced by those around them. I think what Mike was trying to say here was to not avoid hanging out with these people thinking they are lower than us. Not that we should have only one or the other. I think most of us take things to the extreme when we hear something. I just think what Mike meant here was to not avoid certain people and to go be friends with them. It's good and encouraged to have Christ-like friends, but how are we going to spread God's love if we don't associate with non-believers? Which believers need to be ministered to just as much as non-believers. Both are equally crucial. :) I love Mike's journals and so I am ecstatic to see what else God has given him to say!
Psalms 37:23-24 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." Joseph was in probably the most corrupt environment when he became 2nd to Pharaoh in Egypt. Heathen worship on all sides. Yet he did not fall. Because "....the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob...."(Gen 49:24). Is humility groveling in the dust? Or letting the Father hold your hand from above? Is standing upright a sign pride/self righteousness or is it trying to balance on your own feet which incidentally are below you? God is standing ready to hold you upright AND keep you from falling. Yes you may trip and stumble like a child over something in your path but if you are letting God hold you up instead of trying to pull free from his grip you wont land on the ground. No one, not even Satan himself, can pull you down when God holds you up.
Great message. I mean, if we are supposed to avoid those people altogether, how else are we going to spread the gospel to them so that they could be brought into the loving arms of of Christ I have numerous friends in school who are involved in less than legal activities. However, when they ask why I don't do that, it would be a perfect opportunity witness, to explain what Jesus has done for us, and we do a lot things out of love for Jesus. I mean Jesus even said "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven." Matthew 5:16
I love the way you teach! I praise the Lord for you!
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing. Absolutely amazing! :) See this why you and your band are my favorite band. It's not just about the music you make, but about your heart outside of the music. You guys have truly touched my heart and I love telling my friends about y'all. Not just because your music is awesome but because when I look at y'all, I see Jesus, and when I hear y'all, I hear Jesus. Keep up the awesomeness and God bless! :)
Janet Ybarra
Another video that Mike made. I don't know if you've seen it but it's very inspiring. :)
Ashley C.
Omg this is amazing!!!!; D
Janet Ybarra
Ikr! :) I love T.A.N and I love Mike! ;)
Ashley C.
Me too!!;D
Ashley C. You're so right. So much so that you make me feel guilty about my recent attraction for Group 1 Crew who are okay but not this real...hmm...
So thankful for that illustration that Mike put forth and corrected so rightly. The former is exactly how the Pharisees acted and thought, and it's SO easy to go into that way for thinking, and forget or be blinded to how Jesus redefined greatness - humility.
Thank you guys!!
Wow. I never heard such illustration before. Here's wisdom, folks.
So powerful. I wish our churches got that.
I've seen this demonstration many times, but never saw it that way.
I've also recently been wondering about whether I should spend time with people I believed would bring me down. BUT, Jesus did that very same thing. Love it Mike!
You'r journals are incredibly encouraging.
Oh my Lord! Just amazing!
WOW. :) thanks for this message.
^_^
Awesome. I know God is at work in this band
Perfection defined.❤
Thank you Mike! God bless!
Wow, what a message! Wonderful!
So spiritual!
Wow. Mikes always opening my eyes to something new.
Speak the truth Mike !
Amen brother.
Thank you so much for sharing that!!!!
Mind blowing.
Much needed. Much love. ❤️
That was money! Bravo.
This man is amazing. He is funny and yet he is serious. I love his stories and his inspiration. What I would say to him if I could meet him face-to-face....
That was beautiful thank you so much
OH MY GOSH I did not expect that.. that was sooooo DEEP asdfghjkl I LOVED IT
Wise words Mike!!
These videos are so inspiring, and each and everyone one of them no matter how short are so full of depth and meaning. thanks for making them, and please continue! I thank God so much for discovering your band.
Great message!!!
Amen!
Mike has such an interesting and beautiful way of presenting things. I love how thoughtful and inspirational he is. This man saved my life with his music and he continues to teach me how to live for God everyday. He truly is a blessing to this world :)
These video journals are awesome! Super deep thoughts to think about...Can't wait for more, Mike!
Awesome message.
mike im a big fan and youre videos are aossom and youre songs
I love this video
Great illustration. I appreciate this video.
This is awesome! Thanks!
Love your video journals, Mike! Thanks for sharing with us once again in the most insightful ways.
Amen!
Appreciate the MeWithoutYou reference!
That is AMAZING!
Awesome video. True.
Awesome indeed ! Thanks for that !
Good illustration, Joe. This video story needs to be shared around. "Bad company corrupts good character, but a servant of all has no further place to fall."
Dang, some of this stuff you post is SO good! Seriously. Don't ever stop the video journals. I like that you think about things and dissect The Word and figure stuff out. And then (the best part) you share it with us!!! Thanks!
Amazing as always.. Yet again you inspire me.
WOWamazing
this was great guys
YES!!!!!!! Yes! Yes! Yes! That's what I've been saying! Thank you!!!!!
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing it!
whoa. awesome!
Wow!
great!
Ameeennnnnnnnn !
Amen.
These are always so inspiring. Thank you. ❤️
WOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS TOTALLY GREAT!! God Bless you.
Amen Mike Amen. You speak truth and I am so happy about that
This is absolutely amazing...a few years ago when I was in the depths of my anorexia and self harm I was suddenly surrounded by a group of Christians who wanted to help me by being my friends and showing me Christ's love. When I couldn't overcome the anorexia and the cutting, as I kept falling every time I was faced with a hard situation they confronted me and told me that since I couldn't leave my sin that it was time for them to leave me to my sin, and I could come back when I put my trust in Jesus. I had never felt so lost in my life, I thought that was what God thought, that I was undeserving, and since I couldn't stop hurting myself that He was no longer with me, could never love me. It was at that point that my life hit the darkest moment, thinking that God could never love me or forgive me I gave up and tried to end my life. It was by the grace of God that one friend I had came over to my apartment unexpected that night and found me, and I was able to see the light of day from the room in the intensive care. It was a long battle up, but I realized that God had never left me, that He was with me through everything, all the pain I was feeling inside me He felt. I am twenty eight now, been in recovery for almost five years with a husband and a miraculous little three year old. Though I battle a disease that has caused intestinal failure and our lives are difficult I see the blessings the Lord gives us in everyday, and even when I have to be in the hospital away from my son and husband the joy I have that God has blessed me with them is always allowing me strength to smile and praise Him. I thought for so long it was wrong of me that I couldn't overcome my addictions and I deserved to be shunned by the people who I thought were my friends, my church, and I believed that Jesus had given up on me. Thank you for posting this...I spend my days talking to people who are struggling with eating disorders and cutting problems along with other things and I don't feel that it brings me down at all, the Lord has given me the words and the past to offer some help, and I find that a blessing.
Amen! Blessings in the wonderful name of Yeshua! :-)
Oh my goodness that was so harsh. I am sorry that happened but I am so glad God held you up. I can relate. I had strayed from God for about 3 years. But in those 3 years, only one friend confronted me in love and asked me "what is going on?" The others stopped talking with me. Basically abandoned me to my sin and not doing the biggest thing we are called to do; to love people. It hurts... I know. It was just last year for me when I started to seriously pursue Christ. I learned the hard lesson that people will fail, but God will always lift us up and never leave us. Even when we don't know it. You are amazing Andrea and I have no doubt God will help many through you! God bless!
Kelsie5 Thank you so much for replying. It is a horrible feeling to feel like you have failed Christ so much that He has abandoned you, I feel blessed in my life now to know that He is always beside me even in the toughest of times like right now.
Andrea, Thanks so much for sharing.
Andrea Schneider this is such a powerful story to me and this touched me so deeply and reminded me of God's amazing grace and love... thank you so so much for sharing this story. I pray that God heals you and restore you from every pain and disease that you had to face and bless you beyond your imagination...
Well said
Very true
sososososo good
Amazing video and a great lesson. I was confused at first but it all came together by the end. God is so good! Love tenth avenue north's music as well as spiritual insight
wow mike... this is so true... I had never thought about this perspective... This is amazing, this is grace! Thanks for teaching and showing us in all of your videos how amazing it is to serve God! God bless you guys!
sooo good! thanks for the reminder Mike
Don't stop doing video journals! God's using you in such an amazing way. Keep Going!
great message Mike...If one is mature enough in his faith to get down on his face and wash the feet of the outcast, he/she should definitely do it. There is some wisdom in 1 Cor 15;33 though, a recently saved and recovering alcoholic may want to think twice about witnessing in the bars. Yes, he may -- enabled by God's Spirit and strengthened in prayer -- be specifically called to share the gospel and minister to those in the bars, but he also may be playing with fire. We're still fallen creatures after we're saved...and still subject to old temptations. Obviously your SS teacher didn't explain the verse adequately, or perhaps didn't understand it. For sure, we are to minister to everyone, but we are also warned not to "fellowship" too closely with people who don't respond to our message/service, and yet our own temptations are pulling us off the chair.
Awesome talk man! #pedastool
Awesome Mike!!! I was taught the exact illustration as a kid and was just thinking something similar a while back. Thanks for putting words to what I was thinking. Keep the video journals coming!
I love how he went in a totally different direction than I thought he was going to, and made it so inspirational. This is a great perspective.
I love this. This is just amazing...!
Love!
Also, if you could only hang out with people who weren't less than yourself, no one could hang out with anyone because we are all on different levels.
Actually we are all on same levels all sin is the same,all we need to do is repent for the sin too receive forgivenesses of it,we do need to be carefull who we are around you will tell by the fruit they are producing shine the light and if it’s not a good situation get out pray for god to intervene,
WOW!! What a great and appropriate message for all who follow JESUS CHRIST!
Thank you!!! God bless you
There is still the scripture that says "Bad company corrupts good morals." When I was first saved I had to temporarily cut off those that were pulling me down away from God. If I hadn't it would have been easy to fall back into the same bad habits. God is in control if you ask him which way to go,so I can't say as you are showing that I can always be around bad company. He will send those that CAN be around those that are bad company,but it might not be me that he sends. I won't eat meat sacrificed to idols if it offends me,but it might not offend another Christian. May God's work carry on no matter what. Thanks for the video!
Powerful.
This is exactly what I am going through right now. I am living with people who stand on that chair and look down on me like I am scum because I don't go to the same church they do so therefore I am flawed, a sinner and just plain no good. Its one thing to be standing on that chair, but its a whole other when people look down at you and treat you like you are scum even though you aren't. We all make mistakes, we all fall down, but we are still human, we are still people with feelings and beliefs. Get off of the chair!
wow. this was an awesome message :))
This is a great message but there's wisdom in love as well... this may be sending an empowering message to teenagers to hang out with negative influences. Jesus didn't hang out with sinners until He was 30 and had fasted and prayed in the desert for 40 days and nights. Maybe instead of teaching teens to judge whether or not people are good enough to hang out with us, we should be teaching teens to make themselves a ready enough servants to love the hurting people in this world. THAT'S how Jesus did it.
Wow, yes! Excellent! To agree and expand on both this comment and Mike's illustration, the point of both is to look not at your surroundings, but at your own heart. If you are walking in Spirit (Holy Spirit) and not in the flesh (sinful, human nature), it's God who is influencing you, not man.
That's what Mike said. What does it mean to be a "servant" for others? You can't serve if you don't know how, therefore you'll have to be ready for this. Teens can doge bad company, but as long as we live everybody in the same world, you can't runaway from the influence at all times. Unless, you learn not to dodge, but to deal with it.
The warning is still this: If you follow Jesus, don't allow the actions & choices of others to corrupt you! Don't be deceived, bad company *can* corrupt.
Choose you're friends wisely. Your *closest* friends should not be bad company. Those closest to you will influence you. Love everyone but choose your closest friends wisely.
If you follow Jesus, stay upon the narrow path:
* stand up for truth
* speak truth in love
* walk away when the path before you is not what Jesus would do.
* there is a time to associate & a time to not associate with those who make choices that are not good, just & Holy. Everyone makes their own choices but followers of Jesus must also choose to be in the world but not *of* the world. Love the sinner, hate the sin. 😊
I've heard of the chair illustration being used like that before except the youth pastor was using it to explain why "missionary dating" is a bad idea.
jesus is also perfect
*Meaning he cannot be influenced by morally bad people, BUT we also are called to love the prostitute and the undesirables of society, for our great and Heavenly Father desires all to come to repentance unto faith, God is good!
I never thought of that instead of staying away from people that will pull you down you need to become like Jesus. That's why Jesus stayed perfect by serving others :)
Wow. That is all I can say about this.
sarre i spelt that rong awesome
I think we should all never think ourselves to be too good to be with anyone. If we even think for one second that we are better than someone else, then we should go back and read God's word. We are called to go to everyone. But with that being said, we need our own circle of support that will keep us with God. That will not let us stray and hold us accountable. Because I know of too many people who do not so great things depending on who they are around. In addition, everyone is at different walks in their faith so some have to be more careful with how close they get with others. Some are weak in their faith or still very young so they're easily lead astray. Others are easily influenced by those around them. I think what Mike was trying to say here was to not avoid hanging out with these people thinking they are lower than us. Not that we should have only one or the other. I think most of us take things to the extreme when we hear something. I just think what Mike meant here was to not avoid certain people and to go be friends with them. It's good and encouraged to have Christ-like friends, but how are we going to spread God's love if we don't associate with non-believers? Which believers need to be ministered to just as much as non-believers. Both are equally crucial. :) I love Mike's journals and so I am ecstatic to see what else God has given him to say!
Welp... I know what that's like. . . I'm gonna go wash some feet now... *walks away*
Reference made to mewithoutyou :O life made...
Why did they make Joel Hodgson's clone a devout Christian?
Psalms 37:23-24 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."
Joseph was in probably the most corrupt environment when he became 2nd to Pharaoh in Egypt. Heathen worship on all sides. Yet he did not fall. Because "....the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob...."(Gen 49:24).
Is humility groveling in the dust? Or letting the Father hold your hand from above? Is standing upright a sign pride/self righteousness or is it trying to balance on your own feet which incidentally are below you?
God is standing ready to hold you upright AND keep you from falling. Yes you may trip and stumble like a child over something in your path but if you are letting God hold you up instead of trying to pull free from his grip you wont land on the ground. No one, not even Satan himself, can pull you down when God holds you up.
1 Corinthians 15:33 -- Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character."
Great message. I mean, if we are supposed to avoid those people altogether, how else are we going to spread the gospel to them so that they could be brought into the loving arms of of Christ
I have numerous friends in school who are involved in less than legal activities. However, when they ask why I don't do that, it would be a perfect opportunity witness, to explain what Jesus has done for us, and we do a lot things out of love for Jesus. I mean Jesus even said "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven." Matthew 5:16