Artist Statement:

When I first came into this project I was only motivated to do it because of the money reward, but since then, my understanding of what manhood is has changed. The catalyst that lead to my becoming able to act like a man, was coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Before I came to Christ, I was enslaved to sin, without hope and without God in the world, bound for hell and therefore had no understanding of what it truly meant to be a man. I discovered that because I had lied, stolen, used God’s name in vain (including “OMG”), had premarital sex, looked at women with lust and hated other people, that that made me a liar, thief, blasphemer, a fornicator, adulterer and a murderer at heart. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death.” It’s like a judge who says to a heinous criminal, “we’re giving you the death sentence, this is what we’re paying you for your crimes.” Sin is so serious to a holy God that he’s given us the death sentence. If God judged me by the Ten Commandments I would have been guilty and sent to hell for eternity. This is the condition of every human being on the planet because the Bible says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and “the soul that sins shall die.” I had earned my wages. Knowing this, I began to fear God, but this fear was my friend, not my enemy because it showed me my need for God’s mercy. Here now is the good news: you and I broke God’s law, the Ten Commandments, but Jesus paid the fine in His life’s blood. His last words on the cross were “It is finished!” In other words, the debt has been paid in full. If you’re in court and someone pays your fine, the judge can let you go even though you’re guilty. This is legal, right and just. The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God proved His great love for us through the cross. Then Jesus rose from the dead, and defeated death. It is because Jesus paid the fine for sin on the cross that God can dismiss your case and let you walk out of His courtroom on Judgment Day. And the way to find everlasting life is to repent of your sins (turn from them), then trust alone in Jesus, like you would trust a parachute. When I repented and trusted in Jesus, I received a promise from the God who cannot lie that I will go to heaven, but also God has given me a new heart with new desires. I was born again and now love righteousness and consequently I have a new understanding of what it means to be a man according to the Bible. Firstly, getting right with God is the precursor to true biblical manhood. Now that I’m in a right relationship with God, I take what the Bible says to heart and have been enabled by the Holy Spirit to obey what it says. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 says to be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. To be a man means to be on the alert because danger is everywhere. To not waver in your belief and convictions, and to be strong, having fortitude and courage. Courage in the face of danger, temptation, loss and suffering. There is nothing more manly than to have conviction, courage, and endurance, and to be marked by love. That’s manliness—not being weak, wavering or fearful, but to be loving.

Bio:

In the past I had struggled with severe anxiety and depression that was erased when I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I grew up in a Christian home and prayed the sinner’s prayer but there was nothing different about me. When I acknowledged that I was a sinner and was willing to turn from my ways, Jesus delivered and saved me. Ever since then, my life-which was headed nowhere fast-took a 180 degree turn. Jesus has given me a new purpose and as a man, I want to follow His example.