Presenting: The Gangstas

For those of you who used to read my xanga, you'll recognize this post. It got such a great cult following (kidding) that I decided to post it again!

The Poser Gangsta: This gangster tries his best to be someone that he's not. No matter how hard he tries, he'll never be who he wants to be because he's always trying to be someone other then who he really is.

The Pirate Gangsta: This gangster sees everything from only one perspective: HIS. It's all about him him him. He takes what he wants, and never thinks of others. Nobody ever wants to be his friend because he never makes them feel wanted. In fact, those that do end up his friend are usually used by him.

The Party Gangsta: This gangster always tries to have a good time. He's always either drunk or high. He's always trying to get his temporary fix. He can't seem to get things together so he parties more to forget about his troubles. All in all, the "fun" he has in the present will mess up his life completely.

The Multicolored Gangsta: This gangster loves wearing the latest fashion. He feels like he has to have all of his cool clothes in order to feel like he belongs. He thrives when his threads are colorful and new. In reality, he has a low self-esteem. He never really discovers himself. You'll find him with the poser gangsta.

The Puppet Gangsta: This gangster leads a life that isn't his own. He sees what society says life is, and he lives it that way. He's never really stopped to think about what is right and wrong, he just does what everyone says is right. Most of the time he's passed out with the party gangsta.

The Elf Gangsta: This gangsta got tired of where he was livin so he left and started his own life. The problem is that he was made to be where he began. He can't be used where he is now and the life he lives is a lie and he knows it. He doesn't want to go back home in fear of unacceptance when he gets home.

The Oldschool Gangsta: This gangster thrives on doing things the same way all the time. He never does anything new and leads a very boring life. He knows that there are plenty of opportunities out there for him, but he'd rather feel "ok" where he's at than have to try something new and feel "great".

The Jungle Gangsta: This gangster lives a very hectic life. He worries all the time about all of the scary things that his life brings. He hides from these things so he won't have to deal with them. All in all he's a very week person. You'll usually see him with the cowboy gangsta.

The Witness Protection Gangsta: This gangster does not want to be exposed. He hides everything about him and doesn't want anybody to know why or how he lives his life. You won't ever see him with another gangster.

The Gospel Gangsta: This gangsta is all about Christ. He carries his Bible with him everywhere and let's everyone know what he's all about: GOD! All of his close friends are fellow Gospel Gangstas but you'll occasionally see him with the other gangstas trying to share God's word.

I'm sure many of you are wondering where I was going with this. Others may be thinking, what is wrong with this guy? And still, others might be extremely interested in finding out where they can get a cool santa hat like The Elf Gangsta.

The point was to show you that we all lead different lives, but the only true way of living our life is to live for God, just like the Gospel Gangsta. The other gangstas are all lacking in a lot of areas in their lives.

The poser gangsta needs to stop pretending to be someone else and start living the way Christ wants him to: as himself. We are all made special and unique in our own ways. We should never want to be something that we aren't.

Psalms 139:14, "I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well."

We should never be like the Pirate gangsta because we are to love others before ourselves.

Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them."

The Party Gangsta is definitely someone you shouldn't look up to or hang with. When you hang around this type of person, like let's say you go a party with alcohol or other sinful things, then you are putting yourself in a dangerous position. You are walking right into temptation.

1 John 2:15-17, "Don't love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don't have the Father's love in them. Not everything that the world offers--physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles--comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever."

The Cowboy Gangsta is also someone who you shouldn't be like or hang around. The Bible commands us that we are to remain sexually pure until marriage. Some people think sex is bad. It's not! God created sex, but He wants it only in the context of marriage.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 says, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God."

Though it is not wrong for us to have nice things, if the things that we posses take control of our lives and represent who we are then we have a problem. Ultimitely, we should be able to give up all that we have and follow the Lord. Unlike The Multicolored Gangsta, if you can commit yourself to the Lord and have a lot of great things too, then more power too ya.

Mark 10:25, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

The Puppet Gangsta must learn that he shouldn't do what the world says he needs to do. He must know that what God wants him to do is not what the world wants him to do. He needs to turn from his ways and return to the Lord.

Romans 12:2, "Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants--what is good, pleasing, and perfect."

Just like The Elf Gangsta we too will realize that we were meant to be where we began. God made us all for a specific reason. We should not be scared to return to Him, He will not turn us away.

Ezekiel 18:32, "I don't want anyone to die," declares the Almighty LORD. "Change the way you think and act!"

God has given us this life so that we may enjoy it, but we can't truly enjoy it until we accept Him. The problem with The Old School Gangsta is that he's never accepted Christ because he doesn't mind his life being just "ok". He has no idea what life is truly about. He must act now or tomorrow may be too late!

John 9:4, "We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming."

We should not worry about what is going to happen? The Jungle Gangsta is worrying for no reason! He is not in control, only God is. It would be best for him to pray to God and ask Him to remind him that He is in control.

Philippians 4:6-7,"Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus."

The Witness Protection Gangsta needs to wake up. He thinks he can hide his sins and that will make them get better. That's not what the Bible says!

Proverbs 28:13, "Whoever covers over his sins does not prosper. Whoever confesses and abandons them receives compassion."

The Gospel Gangsta is the man to be. He's got his priorities straight because his commitments line up with God's principles. He understands that God wants us all to spread His holy word and to be a light to a dark world. We should all strive to be more Godly, just like The Gospel Gangsta!

Matthew 4:19, "Jesus said to them, 'Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish.'"

I hope this illustration has helped you realize the many different ways that people live and how it effects them spiritually. You should know though, the only truly happy person in The Gangsta Family is the Gospel Gangsta!