I'm a child of the American middle class suburbs. All the debates and philosophical discussions really had little bearing on my life. But you know what did? Materialism. The heartless tyranny of the bureaucratic red light green light of modern American living. The awful evil of the chase for wealth and prestige, the esteem of neighbors and friends. Such was my nightmare growing up.

Materialism is possibly the most limiting and imprisoning of all philosophies I could imagine. Probably because I've experienced it first hand.

Christianity was the shattering of a lie, a glass house prison where everyone was telling me what you see is what you get! While materialism had all the benefits of rationally appearing to be true, it was at the same time the most diabolical lie, by exclusion. The elephant in the room was God. Everything in my head was screaming foul but at the desk they could shame me & describe with such precision the bottom line of materialism, the profit motive, that I felt guilty for even asking why.

Christianity is the perfect binding of all great principles in the perfect amounts.

Before Jesus saved me, did I give a crap about the Bible? Nope. Some old book? Why would I? But once I was saved, I could not put it down. I was reading, listening, learning, studying, and it's still the same.. I can't put it down. It's such truth. It shines like a beacon above the din of lies, consumerism and foolishness that clouds the culture.

We know Christ Jesus was tempted in every way possible, and that he endured the pains of a human life without sin. This paid the debt that humanity incurred through it's endless disobedience of God. Our faiths will not be perfect, but let me encourage you to rise again when you fall. And if you can't seem to rise up out of the gloom in your head, or the mindset of sin going on, ask your loving Father for a hand up. We know he answers our prayers. Because he loves us truly.