SERMON OF THE WEEK

 Once a week will post a sermon  that has encouraged me or has opened my eyes .

The video above is a sermon by Jeremy Bedenbaugh   , he speaks on the story of Joseph and how apply's  to our life .  I hope this opens up your eyes  and encourages your heart :) 

LEAN ON GOD ! BY BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN

As humans we at times think we have all the answers to our problems , our friends  problems ,  and the world's problems .

You  know what ?  we don't have all the answers !

Now don't get me wrong , it s ok  to ask for advice from people we consider wise but our main source should be God!

Proverbs 3:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.[a]


 In Proverbs 3:5,  We are called to  trust  God with all hearts  and not lean on our own understanding . When we Lean on are own understanding we tend to fail or miss what God wants us to know/ he has for us .

In Proverbs 3:6 ,    We are called to submit our ways/ our life  to God and when we do that , God  will put life on the right path, now that does not mean life will be easy but with leaning on God's understanding  , you can deal with life's problems .

Here is a example of a time in my life  when i didn't lean on God's understanding.

Between the summer of 2011  and summer of 2012  i was looking for work , i was having a hard time  finding work and put myself into a depression .  I kept on saying i am doing all i am suppose too .
I was leaning on my understanding and others , i wasn't praying and asking God what i should i do    .
God blessed me with a opportunity to move to New york to live with a friend from bible college .
I was able to find a job there.   God showed he was in control and that i need to lean on him.

In closing i want to leave you with a Psalm and a quote .

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going

    both now and forevermore.


“Let go of what you think you know. Something amazing happens when you let God and trust.” ― Tammy L. Kubasko   

BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE ! BY BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”-

 Mahatma Gandhi

That is one of my favorite  quotes of all time  because there is so much truth in this quote! 

There is a lot of injustice in this world  and it seems that it is not going to get better , but guess what ?

It can get better !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You don't just stand there and complain ,  you  have to make a effort to  change want you don't like in this life !!!

Look at the life of Martin Luther King Jr. , he did just stand by and wait for equality for people of color !

He Marched against  and spoke against racism!

He also showed that all types of races could together and make a change  

Another example Bono the lead singer form U2,    He not  did standby  and do nothing cause he is a rockstar.

Bono is  helps out with Aids charity's  and child poverty  charity's, he is behind Live 8 . Live 8 has managed to get promises from world leaders concerning increased financial aid, debt cancellation for 18 countries, and access to AIDS drugs and care for AIDS orphans.  ( source: www.looktothestars.org)

One of the thing i feel strongly about is sex trafficking , it breaks my heart hearing women and children  being tossed and used like garbage !

Well  i am not going to just stand there and do nothing !

My plan is as soon i can get the funds together and find the right  organization ,  i will  help in anyway i can to stop Sex Trafficking .

 In closing,   Things will not change unless you become that change !

“How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world.”

Anne Frank 

   

DEAR MR. CHRISTIAN BY BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN

DEAR MR.CHRISTIAN ,

I write this letter  to you MR. CHRISTIAN  because I need  to talk to you .

I walked into you're Church on a Sunday morning  and  I have tell you that I left feeling like a bum.

I don't own a tie or any nice dress clothes  , all i had was nice t shirt and a nice pair of blue jeans ,

I thought i was going to be ok  but i guess not .  

I was told  that  i wearing was not appropriate for church  and   my tattoos were offensive, so  was given a suit coat to wear .

I was embarrassed but    I stayed  .

When it came time for worship  , i didn't know the songs and i was given dirty looks by the people in front of me .

When  the offering plate came to me , i did not have any money to put into the plate and again i was given dirty looks . 

At the end of service , i went to try to talk to the pastor  and i was stopped by ushers .

I was told the Pastor could not be bothered by non church members .

My wife had just died and just wanted to set up a time for some counseling but i guess i was not worth the time . 

So i guess my question is if i am not welcomed in your church , would Jesus be welcomed in your church?

sincerely,

a lost soul 

Brian here,  sadly we get caught up in what we think a Christian should be and what a church without actually want God want us to be . I hope this entry gets you thinking .  I leave you with this song : 

You Are Not Alone !!! BY BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN y

I have been single for a little awhile , an at times i feel lonely !

But i do not let the feeling lonely stay long , because i know God has a special lady for some were out there .

Maybe being single is not the reason why you are feeling lonely ,  maybe its  because your friends have abandoned you ,  may be its because  of  a death of someone special in your  life , or maybe  for many other reasons .

I want to give you some verse's and short to show you are not alone !

Joshua 1:9

New International Version (NIV)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Matthew 28:20

New International Version (NIV)

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

New International Version (NIV)

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:10

New International Version (NIV)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Matthew 6:25-34

New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE !!!!

A elderly man sits on his porch on a cool fall night  contemplating his life.

Five year's ago  he his wife died , to him , that was his life force   .

His kids Try to cheer him up but nothing works. 

So on that cool fall night on his porch he lets out his pain.

The Elderly man :  God ???!!!!! are you there ??!!

I know we have never talked before but my wife seemed to think you can hear her. 

Since she died , it feels like time has stopped .

I feel like living here on earth has become a chore for me,  i am mainly staying around for my kids and my grand kids .

I feel so alone  , God , can't you just bring her back  to me ?

Th elderly man breaks out into tears, then he hears a voice .

My Child , you are not  alone !  Give me your sadness , your loneliness,  give me your heart !

On that cool fall night on his porch , the elderly gave his life to Christ .

The elderly man started going to church ,  praying everyday , and reading his bible every day .

There were times were he felt alone but he Remembers God's promise that he is never alone .

Maybe you feel alone and don't know Jesus ,  Jesus loves you and wants you to know you are not alone .  Give you life to Jesus , all hve to do is ask him to forgive your sins and surrender your heart to Jesus .

Follow Your Heart And Dreams By BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN

This is a short story about why you should always following your heart   and dreams .

I hope with this short story will inspire you to follow your dreams  .

FOLLOW YOUR HEART 

Jake is a  ten year old boy stuck in the hospital because of  brain cancer .

Three months earlier Jake was playing at recess when  all of sudden he fainting .

Jake's Parents  and school nurse thought it was just heat exhaustion , so they thought nothing of it .

But Jake started to  have more spells of  fainting  at school and at home .

So Jake's parents  took him to his pediatrician and the pediatrician ordered some  x rays to be done.

X Rays showed Jake  had cancer in his brain.

This devastated Jake's parents ,  they took  Jake to a Doctor that specializes in cancer .

The doctor gives the worst news ever  : " Jake's brain cancer is too advance  to treat ,       he only has six months to live , i'm sorry ".

Jake's parents  sat down Jake to explain to him what is happening to him , an surprisingly Jake doesn't cry but says :  " well if i only  have six months to love then i have some things i need to do !" 

Jake's Dad ask Jake " if there were  five thing's you could do , what would they be ? "

Jake said : "  First thing i want to do is watch Disney movies all night and eat junk food with my friends"

So Jake's  parents arranged  to have all Jake's close friends  to come over to watch Disney movies and eat junk food all night .

Jake: " the second  thing i would like to do is volunteer at a animal  shelter , i always to help animals when i grew up."

Jake's dad arranges for Jake to help out at a animal shelter , Jake had the time of his life !

 Jake starts to cry ans says : " i am sorry i can't help  more of you in future "

Jakes dad says : " son, what you did today will last a life time. "

Jake says: '  The third thing i want do  is  see the statue of liberty."

Jake's parents   take Jake to New York and visit the statue     ,  Jake says: "  what a beauty !" 

Jake says: "    the fourth thing i want to do is  have  dinner at Olive Garden  with mom."

So Jake and his Mom have dinner  at there local Olive Garden ,  Jake says to his mom : "   Mom , you are the most beautiful  woman i know  and I want to thank  you for being my mom .  I love you so much !!" 

Jake mom says in tears ": "  Thank you for being my son , you are my shining star ! "

On Jake's last day on earth  he asked for final thing he wanted to do : "  I don't  have something i want to do but  my final wish  is that  you Dad and Mom live  life to the fullest and  help anyone that needs your help. I love you both . "

Jake parents say: : we will and we love you too. "

Jake died that day , an at his funeral  his dad said this : " although   Jake has left us , he has left us with a life lesson  .  That life lesson is to follow your hear and never let go of your dreams .

A LETTER TO MY GENDER BY BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN

 So i wanted to take time to write a letter  to my gender for two reasons.

1.  For my Female readers , don't want them thinking with some of blog entry's that i have vendetta against them . Although  i still believe that you ladies  need to start  taking  more responsibility  for there actions  and stop putting good guys in the same category as bad guys .

  2.  I think the Male Gender  needs a healthy dose of  brutal honesty .      I might get some hate from my gender but the truth hurts !     I hope open the eyes of my gender .

DEAR  GUYS ,

My first question is were are the real men at ?

Why are so many  being lazy and sponging off   there Girl friend or wife? ( this does not apply to stay at home dads )

I understand if  you are having a hard time finding work  or have been layed off but for those are  just lazy and are using women  for there money ,  SHAME ON YOU LAZY BUM'S!!!!!!!!!!!

Another thing i noticed is that hardly do see men hold doors open the for ladies and  push her chair in  for her.

We need to showing ladies that there are still real gentlemen out there.

Men , we need to stop  putting down Women's looks ,  They already have it hard with comparing themselves to female  celebs  on magazines and female models  , they don't need us making it worse .

An one more thing ,  i sick and tired of hearing about  fathers abandoning there kids !

If you didn't want the responsibility of have kids , then you should not have had sex ! (  disclaimer : i am not for having sex before marriage )   

In closing i want to leave you with this quote: Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. - Albert Einstein 

Sincerely,

Brian Leeman 

Don't Sugar Coat The Truth! By Brian Luke Leeman

2 Timothy 4:1-5

New International Version (NIV)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry

One of  the biggest thing's as Christian  that annoys me  is   TV Evangelist's and Preachers  sugar coating God's Holy Word .

I 100 % believe that  if   you are  going to preach God's Holy Word , then you should not put your spin on it  and sugar coat God's Holy Word because you want more people to come  to your church or want to draw more viewers to program .  

Matthew 7:15

New International Version (NIV)

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.



Today there is a lot of false Prophets , teachers ,  and preachers, way too many if you ask me.

People like benny hinn , rev. peter popoff ,  paula white,  kim clement ,  Kenneth copelend  ,  paul crouch, cerflo dollar ,  joel osteen , TD Jakes, so many more  have distorted the Gospel  and put there own spin on the gospel.
they preach stuff like  name it and claim it ,  you are gods , that you are not saved by grace, that you don't have to be born again to be saved ,  and deny the Trinity.

Titus 1:9

New International Version (NIV)

9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 1:12-13

New International Version (NIV)

12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”[a]13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith

God Calls us to rebuke theses false teacher's who distort  God's Holy Word , not to call them out but  to help them to repent and come back to God .

We do need to make sure we know the Bible Good before we do rebuke because we need sure we have our facts right .

In closing, i leave you  with this qoute : Let us be on our guard against false doctrine. Unsound faith will never be the mother of really sound practice, and in these latter days, departures from the faith abound. See then that your loins be girded about with truth, and be very jealous of receiving anything which cannot be proved by the Bible. Do not think for a moment that false doctrine will meet you face to face, saying, “I am false doctrine, and I want to come into your heart.” Satan does not go to work in that way. He dresses up false doctrine like Jezebel — he paints her face and attires her hair, and tries to make her like truth. Do not think that those who preach error will never preach anything that is true. Error would do little harm if that was the case. No! Error will come before you mingled with much that is sound and scriptural.

~ J.C. Ryle

I APOLOGIZE, SORTA OF BY BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN

So i want  to take time in this blog entry  to sorta of apologize  for  some of the negative blog entrys/ FB statues  and to my family ,those who are friends with in life , those who are friends with  on FB.

I want to apologize  for not posting but more positive statues  and blog entry's ,  but.............................. What i will not apologize is for being real !

I want you know something about me that i don't normally share , i have Generalized anxiety disorder , Bipolar disorder, and Dysthymic Disorder . 

Here are some  links to what these disorders are :Dysthymic Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder:

Bipolar Disorder
just click and a article will pop up

“I feel like I'm a snow globe and someone shook me up and now every little piece of me is falling back randomly and nothing is ending up where it used to be.” 
― Amy Reed, Crazy

I have my good day and my bad days , it just sometimes for no reason my bad days last longer .

I don't want to be nor do i like being down  for being a long periods of time .

This is not something i choose , even though some ignorant fools would have believe !

When i have my bad days  i don't want to wake up , i don't want to leave the house , i don't want to talk to people ,   i  eat way too much , and   when it does get really i have cut myself .

All praises go to Jesus , i have not cut my self in 3 months  !

Here is a poem on bi polar by Heather Saine 

Haunted 

Once again, I lie awake
Unable to do the one thing I want most
To sleep off the madness
My thoughts race and my mood darkens
Everything around me takes on a shadow
Like being surrounded by demons
Only the demons are in my head and I can''t run from them for there is no hope of escape 
It feels like I am being attacked from the inside
My own brain has turned on me and I no longer even know myself
I can''t trust my actions because if my thoughts don''t make sense then how are my actions supposed to?
I look in the mirror and I do not see an attractive person
The ugliness is seeping out from the inside and affecting the outside
Engulfing me
Everything I thought I was is gone
Leaving me a broken shell
I never knew the depths of this kind of self-loathing were possible
How could anyone love me when I hate myself so much?
I hate feeling so hopeless
What control do you have over anything if not yourself?
And the lack of control makes me loose control even more
Everything is just so overwhelming
Even the little things feel as though they may bury me under their weight
And part of me would welcome that if it would at least put an end to the pain
But it is something I will never escape
It will haunt me for as long as I draw breath
A banshee shrieking a constant reminder that I am simply a ghost of who I should be
Just call me Casper....

This Poem shows what a mind of a person with bi polar looks like ,  it is dark place most people will not understand.

I am so grateful Jesus saved   me  because he has brought me through the long period of bad days i have had .

Here some verses that have helped me  :

Philippians 4:13

New International Version (NIV)

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Psalm 18:32-34

New International Version (NIV)

32 It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Isaiah 41:10

New International Version (NIV)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Exodus 15:2

New International Version (NIV)

2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense[a];
    he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Romans 5:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

3 Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

so in closing, i hope i have open some eyes  and  helped someone realize that they are not alone in this battle of the mind .

My Hero , My Dad By Brian Luke Leeman

This Sunday is Fathers Day and so I want to take this time to share with you about my Hero , My Dad.

There is no limit of word's that can describe  my love for my dad but if i had to pick just 5 they would be : Caring , selfless , courageous, smart , and hard working .

Growing up my Dad worked a lot  but he always made time for me and brother  even though he was exhausted  from a hard day's work.

I remember we didn't have a lot of money , so my Dad would bring home boxes from work , My brother and I always had a blast for hours .


 My Dad taught me life lessons not by his words but his actions .

He taught me to help anyone in need  , respect the people who came before you , and always  be there for your family .

My Dad loves to read, he is the main reason i love to read .

My Dad  has dementia, it has been hard too see him struggle with this .

But He does not let dementia stop him ,  my Dad had a stroke before  he was diagnosed with dementia,  but  he trucks on   and helps out at the our church .

See him continue to live life even with all he deals with , is amazing !

DAD,  i love you , i am proud of you , and  thankful for you always being there for me .

Will You Hold My Hand? By Brian Luke Leeman

So i want get personal  in this blog  entry , I hope this does not come off as me  sounding whiny.

Lately I have been at war with myself  and  there has been days were i have losing the battle.

I struggle with self  worth , body image ,   and feeling like i have failed in life .

Most of time i am a happy guy but last the 6 months has been rough.


So here is  somewhat of a poem  ( not too good at writing poems , so here goes nothing !)

WILL YOU HOLD MY HAND ?

When  I can't find nothing positive to say about myself , Will you hold my hand and make me find something positive to say about myself?

When I cry  and  don't know why i am crying , will you hold my hand and tell me everything will be ok ?

When I feel stuck in life  , will you hold my hand and help me get  unstuck?

 When I feel alone , will you hold my hand and tell me i'm not alone ?

When I want to give up , Will you hold my hand and tell me not to give up?

5 things going through B Leems's Mind part 3 By Brian luke leeman

So here is another edition  of what  is going through  my Mind !!!

This is a Rant , so you have been warned !  READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!




1. America got Talent  is better then American Idol and The Voice combined !

After last weeks episode , AGT has me sold !!!!

What i love about AGT is a real talent show , it has singing , stand up ,  dancing , circus acts ,  and so much more .

This year the voice was boring and  had few talented singers , also Christina  grimme  should have won!

 American idol has not been good  since simon , randy , and paula were judges ,  the show is just lame now.



2.    Trying to lose weight  and being healthy suck!

I have been trying to lose weight  and get healthy  for almost  2 weeks , it s been a struggle.

The main reason i am doing this is  so maybe some girl might find me attractive  .

Tried of being alone , so i am hoping this will work.

Keeping a food diary has been helpful ,  it has shown me   what i need to get rid of .

I am hoping to get down between 140 -150.


3.   NBA finals

My official prediction for the NBA Finals : spurs beat  heat in game 5


4.   a sermon that touched my heart

here is a sermon that touched my heart recently by Lecrae  :
just click on the on it to watch !


5.  Next Monday is the 5 year anniversary of me clean and sober

So next monday  will be my fifth year sober , although i proud of this , to it s kinda of sad this is my only accomplishment . but i guess if this is my only accomplishment then i guess thats ok .  

THE WISHING WELL BY BRIAN LUKE LEEMAN

Ever wished life was different?

Ever wished you could go back in time to change  the mistakes of your past?

This is  a story of man named Blake  who is at a cross road in his life and  is looking for answers .


Blake is 25 year old man who feels stuck  and needs a change, so decides to go for a walk.

Blake goes for a walk in the park  and stops at the the wishing well .

Blake : " wishes , i wish mine come true for once !"

Blake throws in a nickel  and  says :  " I wish for Girl that will love me "

Blake throws in another  nickel and says : "  I wish i had the career i wanted "

Again Blake throws in another nickel in an says:  " i wish  i could make a bigger impact for Jesus".

 Blake heads back home thinking : "  Dreaming is for ignorant fools " .

Blake goes to bed that night with a heavy heart  and hope tomorrow will better

He wakes up the next day  and finds a letter  on  his dresser , the letter says :

Dear Blake .

I am so sorry you feel so down , can't imagine the pain you face daily .

Sorry to say this but life does not always go you're way and just have to accept this sad truth.

Maybe there is a girl out there for you i don't , not everyone can find that one .

Sometime you just have to accept your place in life .

I wish i could give you all the answers to your life questions but i can't ..

Love ,

Reality 

Blake takes a breath and realizes he needs to accept the way things are now .