It’s a Cover-Up

It’s a Cover-Up

 Elevation Church: It's a Cover-Up

            When we describe the world, Earth is our surrounding body. We are encircled by people, buildings, bodies of water, and space that no one has ever explored. We live a life on a human scale. When I say that, our problems are on a scale that we can relate to. When breaking that down into the view God has, our problems are on a scale of a garden with plants and flowers. When we come across an issue, we identify whether it is large or small and whether we should take flight or fight the problem. In God's view, our problems are comparable to plants that are growing. We can observe the process of a plant growing just as we can observe the process of an argument building up between two people. God created us to tend the Earth and be gardeners; pulling the small, destructive plants up before they can override us and become a larger issue. Why wait for harmful things to grow so big when they can just be conquered while they are small dilemmas. We must communicate and find a solution to small problems before they grow too big. It is as simple as speaking, acknowledging, and solving.

            God acknowledges that the greatest cover-ups are the ones that are planned in advance. God knew that there would be evil in this world and he planned ahead for the benefit of us. His plan was sending Jesus to cover our sins, guilt, and shame because He loves us and forgives us.

            God can only cover what you uncover. You must be able to admit your flaws, wrongdoings, and sins to yourself. Nobody in this world is perfect and we must acknowledge that we should not strive to be perfect because it will only bring upon more ill-reality. You must live a lifestyle uncovered. You must be able to admit your sins to God and be able to confess. You must be able to admit your sins to someone else that you committed a wrongdoing and let those around you love and pray for you.

God:

• Calls you.
• Comes to you.
• Covers you.

  

           We all sin, find ourselves in feelings of guilt and shame, but if we admit our wrongdoings and sins to God and those around us, we will be covered and forgiven.  God calls us to follow His message. He calls us in new directions to learn. He comes to us when we are in trouble. He comes to us to teach us that perfection is not achievable. He covers us when we sin, and when we pray for forgiveness. But, we must understand that like a relationship or marriage, the road travels two-ways and the effort put forth must be equally represented by both parties. Therefore, we must be able to admit to our sins if we expect God to forgive us. We must communicate with our friends on issues-at-hand before they become too destructive. Essentially, we must be open with ourselves, open with God, and open with those around us. We must accept our imperfections. We must not dwell on our mistakes. We must admit to our flaws and pray for direction and learning, so that we can continue to grow and live a life we love with the people we love.

-Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 

Twitter/Instagram: @ABakerPresident

DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com

Life is Unpredictable

Life is Unpredictable

            We live our lives every day, not knowing what is going to happen next. We live each second in the moment, riding along the roller-coaster of life as it takes us up and down. To an extent we have control over situations, but essentially, there are too many outside forces that control what happens to us. However, we do have the ability to control how we react to life's curveballs and the attitude that we emit to the world and public eye. 

            Because we do not know what will happen next in our lives, we sometimes get lucky, we sometimes fail, and we sometimes succeed beyond measures. We prepare ourselves for obstacles by practicing and learning. We grow through our failures if we make changes after making poor decisions. We fail to grow if we believe in making the same mistake again or fail to realize something was a poor decision. Growing means that you are experiencing and then learning from those moments.

            We are going to fail. We are going to make poor decisions. We are going to live a life that is not perfect. What we must understand is that God does not need us to be perfect because He knows that nobody is. The more we strive to be perfect, the more we will not be. The more you try to be something you are not, the farther off the path you stray. If we admit to our flaws and accept our imperfections, we are illustrating a sign of maturity. If we can admit that we have failed and acknowledge that we will continue to educate ourselves and devote ourselves to growing, we will grow. If we fail to announce our flaws, then we will stay in a hallucinated, unrealistic world of thinking we are perfect and never changing. 

            Life is full of surprises and full of conflict. We will find ourselves in good situations and we will find ourselves in tough situations. The question that needs to be answered is, 'how can you learn from this and how can you become a better person, while helping those around you become better as well'. The first step in any situation is identifying if it is good or bad. Then, you must take initiative and analyze how the situation happened. Next, you must determine how to make the situation better. Finally, you must be able to tell yourself that the situation happened, and you must continue to live as the person you truly are, but know that changes need to be made to become a better person. We are always coming into new situations, new experiences, and new discoveries...so how can we not learn then? You will always learn if you are living. What separates those that learn more than others is that those who learn experience more, fail more, and live more, and are open to changing who they are for the benefit of not just themselves, but for the people around them. Those who are willing to change for someone are the ones you want to be with because they are illustrating their love and commitment, showing you that they will give up themselves and their lifestyle to meet you halfway.

            Life is unpredictable and we have to respect that. We are on a journey that will have both high and low moments, but we must realize that just because we may be in a low moment does not mean that life is worthless. I say this because a couple hours ago, life could have been at its highest for you, and a couple hours later, it could be at its lowest for you. But, does that low moment take all the good moments away...No, it does not. You cannot let one situation determine the end result for you or the direction in life you take. 

            If you truly want something in life you will not let a situation take that away from you. Life does not end for you when you make a mistake, so why give up on life? God gives you another day. God gives you another chance. God gives you your character and the person you are in strength, so that you can withstand the pain life has, but overcome the obstacles thrown at you if you care enough to do so.

            Nothing in life is what we expect, and life is unpredictable, but you must understand that it is all a test; A test to help you discover what and who you care about, the degree to which you care, and how devoted you are to learning, growing, and sharing the world with those who you care about.

-Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 

Twitter/Instagram: @ABakerPresident

DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com

Wake-Up & Be Thankful

Wake-Up & Be Thankful

"If the world does not know truly, then they cannot judge you"

           

            When you wake up every morning, you start your day as you would the day before. You run through the daily routine and motions. You check your phone, take a shower, eat, and head off to school or work. You spend your day completing tasks and thinking about whatever chooses to pop up into your mind. After your day, you relax and take a shower, watch TV, read, talk to your friends and family, and then head to sleep reflecting on your day, if even that. 

            The questions we must ask ourselves is whether or not the life we are living is worthy and do we realize how little time we have left to live. People will take each day for granted and take it as "just another day to live and do the same things on repeat". 

            People will tell you that you need to be more careful, need to do this and that, and live your life like this and not that...but do they know? Do they know the right answer and the direction that you should take with your life. Of course listening to your elders and those older than you is a sign of maturity because they have been there and done that. Those older than us can provide beneficial information that can help us to avoid making the mistakes that others were blinded from. However, you must address for yourself the true answers of this world. Just because a professor, adult, President, or anyone else states that you are wrong or that something in this world is supposed to be a certain way or anything of that nature, does not mean that you are wrong. Over generations information is regurgitated from one person down to the next and so on. We are being told how to live life based on the minds of those in years' past, not in today's world looking onto the future.

            Going back on the idea of the repeated process of each day, we do not realize what our lives are really about because we could be living the same day over and over again, but perceiving it as a 'yesterday', or a 'tomorrow', or a 'last year'. We invent time and when we close our eyes and fall asleep, the control is no longer in our hands. Therefore, I look at the future as something I do not know could be coming. I also view life as something we should live one day at a time and that you should not fear nor regret because each day will pass. The storm that was happening is soon to be passing, with the sun shining and breaking through the clouds.

            I look at the world around me as an open canvas that is waiting to be painted on. I can take up the entire canvas, a portion of it, or none of it. I can paint multiple stories, some big, some small. I truly do have "the whole wide world in my hands"...Pre-school must have taught me something right. 

            I look at the life around me and take great appreciation in what is available and what God has allowed me to do with my five senses. It is remarkable that there is a such thing called Earth, and then we have people and freedom. We have the ability to learn and keep information in a thing called a brain. We can make sounds travel out of our mouths to communicate with other people. We interact with animals. The world is truly amazing and it is illustrative of the idea that only God knows because the world is too great for us to comprehend. We use what we know from others to link new information and life together to bring upon new conclusions and theories.

            Essentially, if we do not know the world and what it is all about, then nobody else can tell you that you are not doing your life right. Furthermore, if you have goals, ideas, or thoughts you want to tell people, stop fretting over the idea that you may be mocked, judged, or abandoned. Go for the greatest goal you have. Chase after the person you love. Give your success back to the world. Love who you are. Realize how fortunate you are in every single way.

Remember, just living already makes you one-of-a-kind.

-Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 

Twitter/Instagram: @ABakerPresident

DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com

 

Wind: Its Meaning on Life

Wind: Its Meaning on Life

A movement of air, that we cannot necessarily see, but something we can feel. Our perception is that wind can be a force of air that causes the movement of things, such as trees. We perceive that wind will blow our light items, such as newspaper and trash down the road. We see wind as the thing that causes the paper we dropped on the ground to blow away. We see wind as the catalyst for cold air in our face during the winter. We see wind as what moves so many things. 

But have we ever pondered what wind could be in terms of a cause for a reaction that could lead us in a new direction or down a new path that directs us to the destiny God has for us? Those who are against change see it as a detrimental effect. Those who are for change still are questioning whether it will bring a better or worse outcome. We must understand that "If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone." (John Maxwell) and "If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living" (Gail Sheehy). Over the years of our lives, we will run into situations where we must adapt, change how we act, and commit to new things. We will change, and we are changing...every single second.

If the wind is God's hand pushing us in a new direction, we have a choice to buckle down and stay back or we can go with the wind and follow the path God has for us. We all want to explore the world, so why not travel with the wind, and if you want to travel it with someone you love, ask them to see the world with you.

I always perceived wind as something that ruined the day. It blew dirt in my eyes on the baseball field. It made the great day on the beach turn into a sweatshirt day. It made trees fall down in storms. There were such a vast number of effects that the wind contributed to in a conflicting manner that I never appreciated the benefits that it stirred up for the world.

Those benefits are not the ones that we can see from the start, but rather the finish. If it was not for the wind, would I have turned my head in the opposite direction to avoid the sand blowing in my eyes to see the sunset that made me realize how fortunate I was to see? For the wind took me away from many old situations and took me upon itself on a journey to a new place. Riding in the car with the windows down on a summer day is a feeling we can all enjoy. If it was not for the wind would I have traveled a few more feet down the beach to find the mysterious shell that we place meaning in. The wind pushes us to keep going. The wind is a motivational force that wants us to succeed. So, when you say the world is against you, realize that the wind is behind you (or in front of you) pushing you to keep working towards your ultimate goals.

The wind has impacted me in a way that I am grateful for. When I feel that there is nothing else to look forward to, I can trust in God's hands that He and the symbol of the wind are moving me in the right direction. On days wind is not present, I think to myself that the wind is helping someone out who needs it more than me.

I have complete trust that where I have started, where I have gone, where I am, where I am going, and where I will end up has and will be impacted by the wind in some form and fashion. Even in the past year I have found myself with new thoughts, with new surroundings, and new dreams. Right now, I have an amazing surrounding of people by my side, a family that loves me, and friends that believe in me. I have an amazing girlfriend and I am thankful for her family, and their farm animals that make me realize that the chance I took to follow the wind has made me not only happier, but motivated to learn, grow, and experience with someone who I can do anything and be myself with.

I continue to praise God in the work He has done for this world and I am constantly realizing how lucky I am to be where I am, while discovering that there is so much more that I will be learning. The wind truly does have an impact in our lives other than the force it has on material objects and God's hands are always waiting to catch us if we are misguided by the wind, to turn us in the right direction.

-Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 

Twitter/Instagram: @ABakerPresident

DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com

 

Appreciation for Music

Appreciation for Music

The respect I have for music continues to rise to a new level. Nothing else in this world allows me to be alone and reflect on my life like music does. We all have our own outlet(s), whether good or bad that takes us away or clears our mind to think with clarity.

            Thinking with emotion and deep thought brings you into a different mindset that nobody knows about you. I even wonder where I go when music kicks in and I begin to focus. I just become inspired to the extent that anything I think about becomes my motivation. Without music, I would not be as motivated as I am today and as a result, I have acquired a great appreciation for all types of music and the impact it has on the lives of people it touches.

            Although music brings me to an emotional state, almost like a depressing setting in a sense, I am able to discover what is really important to me because what comes to my mind first tends to be what I care for most. I never plan on music reaching my senses so greatly, but when I start thinking, the engine begins to start and the wheels begin to turn.

            I am able to connect to my own life and realize what I am doing right, what I am doing wrong, and how I can grow to be a better person in all areas of life. Music, whether presented in the form of Rap or Gospel is telling a story of some sort and there is a reason behind it. Just like paintings, novels, essays, or poetry, music is a form of art that illustrates one’s emotions, mindset, and feelings at a given time.

            The late night motivation kicks in when the music plays, and the late night thoughts follow…Just another day to appreciate the life I am living.

            -Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 

Twitter/Instagram: @ABakerPresident

DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com

           

           

           

Living My Life

Living My Life

We wake up every day from whatever cause chooses to wake us. We go through our daily routines and then we are off-and-running. For myself, it is either to class or work. For everyone else, it is likely the same. We are all living the same life in terms of breathing, but we are all taking our own unique paths and choosing what we want to achieve each day.

I live my life and only my own because this is the only life that I am in control of. I strive to grow through personal development and to learn through my Faith in God and the guidance I receive from The Lord. I learn through experiencing and I learn through my failures and successes.

I have discovered that I learn best when I fail because if I succeed on my first attempt, it is either luck or a natural gift. Therefore, I did not have to work for the success, unless I had placed prior planning and organization into the work. Additionally, failures motivate us to change whatever it was that caused us to fail. We improve if we make changes. We cannot expect to grow unless we learn and we cannot learn unless we fail. That does not mean that we should focus on failing first and pushing it out of the way so that we can succeed, but rather, it means we should give every push of effort we have to ensure successful growth. I define growth as moving forward to become a better person in all areas of life, including the assistance a person gives to those around him or her.

When it comes down to living my own life, I strive to focus on my future goals and reflect on the decisions I make to evaluate how I am doing in my personal opinion. When we with others or competing for positions, we may want to make excuses or verify falsely, but I have realized that no matter what happens in one’s life, you cannot evaluate yourself based off another human being, no matter who they are. We are representing ourselves and the name we were given at birth. We are serving Our Lord and should be fortunate to see this world of extraordinary sights and sounds. When we are worried about failure, we should not be. When we are worried about those around us, we should not be. We should have full-on Faith in God and understand that life’s happenings’ are meant to be. We should not force anything upon ourselves or those around us.

Essentially, you should live your life and continue to work on what you want to do, while helping those around you become successful. You should not worry, stress, or fear. God has a plan and if He wants certain people in your life or wants you to go through certain situations, He will do what He deems is necessary for you to grow on Earth and spiritually in Christ.

Life has its mysteries and we are seeking to discover our individual purpose. We must place our Faith in God and trust His plan. No matter what is happening in your life, realize that you are growing while you are living. As long as you can say you have given all of your strength to be the best you can be when you put your head down at night, you have achieved a daily task. The plan God has for each of us is unimaginable, because it is too remarkable for our eyes and mind to comprehend. Place God in the center of your life and surround yourself with Faith and Trust. Live your life and only yours. Be who you are and let people think what they want of you.

It is smarter to be who you are and discover who respects you at the beginning than it is to be portraying a false you and discovering who does not respect you at the end.

-Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 

Twitter/Instagram: @ABakerPresident

DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com

Everybody Eats Holdings

Everybody Eats Holdings

Since I can ever remember, I have dreamed of making a difference in the world through my own business or product. I sit in class pondering new inventions. I speak with anyone who is willing to listen, about my ideas on how I will become successful. As of April 15, 2015 I can say that I have reached the point I dreamed of. I am proud to announce that I am a Co-Owner of Everybody Eats Holdings. We are a movement created from the collective efforts of our non-profit VisionTree CDC & our for-profit Triad Food Hub. Through the two, we are creating stronger local food systems for the 21st century, with a focus on urban farming & farm produce aggregation. Triad Food Hub makes the direct connection from farm to fork, which allows us to provide top quality products direct from the producer. We currently have accounts providing Farm fresh brown eggs, and Organic Tilapia to retailers in Greensboro and surrounding areas. Our creation is critical to the area of High Point/Greensboro. As of April 2015, Food Research and Action Center ranked Greensboro-High Point the “#1 Worst Food Hardship in the United States of America”.

The problem has been identified. We are at the right location. We have the right team. We have the solution. Now, we need the world to realize what we are doing. I have been supported over the years by so many and I cannot be more grateful and appreciative. I have been taught, educated, mentored, and pushed to the maximum by remarkable people, and I am blessed. I have a vision, and I am continuing to chase my dream. Dreams, Drive, Determination. It is time to work and time to chase the dream!

            -Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 

Twitter/Instagram: @ABakerPresident

DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com