Tears from the Saints

Evil, Like a Beanbag

2009-11-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

Dawkins Encourages Students to Deface Darwin's Book

2009-11-11T21:22:00.000-08:00

NEWS RELEASE

Dawkins Encourages Students to Deface Darwin's On the Origin of Species

Well-known atheist Professor Richard Dawkins encouraged a group of university students to take a copy of the special 150th edition of Charles Darwin's famous book, and tear out the Introduction. There have been more than 140 different editions of On the Origin of Species and many have had Introductions, so why is he afraid of 170,000 students reading this one? See http://www.livingwaters.com/origin "Press kit" for textual, audio, and video sound bites.

Daily Bread and Nothing More

2009-10-20T16:12:00.001-07:00

Planned Parenthood at it Again

2009-10-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

I STRONGLY recommend you read the full story here: www.fvfapp.org/blog/parking

"Eric Scheidler to speak at SFLI Summit 10/24"

2009-10-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Pro-Life Friend,

In the midst of all the difficult pro-life battles going on right now -- the Chicago Bubble Zone, abortion in the health care plan, and so on -- there are still great signs of HOPE.

One of those signs of hope is the organization Students for Life of Illinois. All across our state, SFLI is raising up a new generation of committed, energetic pro-life leaders.

A week from Saturday SFLI is holding a Leadership Summit at Loyola University, and the Pro-Life Action League's Eric Scheidler will be part of the program.

The theme of this year's summit is "Leadership. Media. Activism."

As you might have guessed, Eric is giving the talk on ACTIVISM. The other topics will be covered by two top pro-life leaders:

* David Bereit, National Director of 40 Days for Life, will speak on LEADERSHIP.

* Kristen Hawkins, Executive Director of Students for Life of America will speak on MEDIA.

Eric spoke at last year's summit too and had a great time, and with heroes like David Bereit and Kristen Hawkins on the roster, this year's summit should be a homerun too.

The Summit is open to high school seniors, undergraduate students and graduate students.

EVENT: SFLI 2009 Leadership Summit
WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 9:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Loyola U Crown Center, 1001 W. Loyola Ave, Chicago
MAP: http://tinyurl.com/crowncenter
REGISTER: http://ProLifeIllinois.com/Summit

Early registration for $20 runs through tomorrow, October 13, which includes lunch and seminar materials. Then the price goes up to 30, so register NOW.

Please pass this message along to all the pro-life college students and high school seniors you know. The Leadership Summit is an opportunity no pro-life student should miss.

For All, for Life,

-- Matt Yonke

The Fire

2009-10-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

I don't agree with everything Mr. Pfeil says here, but I found it extremely convicting, and a message I needed to hear...

What are your thoughts?

Michael Jackson - Real Cause of Death

2009-07-23T20:52:00.001-07:00

The Divided States of America

2009-07-02T19:26:00.001-07:00

(A forward from a friend, with my one-sentence summary added.)

A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Shelby. She wanted to know what the United States looked like. Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Shelby and said, 'Go into the other room and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today.'

After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. 'Oh,' she said, 'on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together..'

When Jesus is where He should be in our lives, the rest comes together.

Publicly Declare Your Faith

2009-06-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

I just got this, what are your thoughts? - p

Dear Friend,

Around the world, millions of Christians are deprived of the basic freedom all Americans can share - they cannot openly express their faith.

In parts of Asia, committed Christians risk their freedom and even their lives if they declare their faith. In the United Kingdom, militant atheists are calling for the public to participate in "de-baptisms" to revoke their Christian faith.
Will America be next?

We are calling on a quarter of a million Christians across the United States and beyond to sign a declaration of Christian faith and mark our freedom to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

We want to show the world how important it is to be able to share the Christian faith and that starts with publicly declaring 'I am a Christian'. Sign the declaration today, and enjoy the freedom we have to call ourselves Christians.

Make your declaration now!

Peter Kerridge

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect". 1 Peter 3:1

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16

Telemarketing on your Cell Phone

2009-06-24T18:18:00.001-07:00

This is not a scam, we've been using the Do Not Call list for years, and now it's available for your cell phone. - p

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public next month.
REMINDER.... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls.

.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

Even if the message is saved on your phone, you will be charged for the minutes to listen to it.

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.. It takes about 20 seconds.

You Give Them Something

2009-05-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him.
“This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send
the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
MARK 6:35-37

The disciples have returned from their first mission. They excitedly report back to Jesus, but they’re exhausted, and he is marvelously aware of it. They seek refuge in a remote place, only to find that as many as 15,000 hungry men, women and children have followed them into the wilderness.

The ludicrous command of Jesus, “You give them something to eat,” is meant to prepare us for the miracle to come. The miracle of the loaves and fish seems so unmiraculous that many scholars argue that there was no miracle at all. They suggest that the generosity of the one who provided the loaves and fish simply inspired everyone else to share their food as well. When we look at the story, it’s not hard to understand why they could reach such an erroneous conclusion. After all, what does Jesus do? He simply says the blessings.

PRAY: Bring to the Lord any needs for which you do not have the resources – whether spiritual, physical, emotional or financial. Ask him to provide. Keep your eyes open for an inconspicuous miracle.

The writing is taken from the devotional book, “Joy in the Journey Through the Year”, (c)2007 by Michael Card. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove IL 60515-1426 ivpress.com

Urgent Prayer Request: Jessica

2009-05-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

(I got this by email one day ago, please pray for Jessica right away...)

Hey, prayer warriors. I need to ask for prayer for a friend, Jessica Hulcy. She is the author of a homeschool curriculum called Konos. It's Bible based and focuses on character traits all pointing to Christ, all the while learning about history, science, Bible, music, literature, etc. She homeschooled all four of her boys, they're all grown now, and she paved the road for thousands of others to be able to homeschool their own children. She, her husband, Wade, and even their boys continue working with homeschoolers and she has become a shepherd to so many homeschool moms. Jessica is an amazing woman who loves God and lives what she preaches.

Now for the specific prayer request:

Wade just called. Jessica was broadsided by a firetruck. She is in critical condition but stable. Her lungs are collapsed. She has no broken bones. There is some brain trauma but nothing to operate on. She is unconscious.

Please pray for:

. Jessica's lungs and brain to return to normal function without any long-term damage

. God to guide the doctors' and nurses' hands as they care for Jessica

. Wisdom for the doctors, nurses, and Wade as they make decisions

. Wade and his family to be surrounded by God's comfort and peace as they wait and anything else God puts on your heart to pray for them.

Thank you,

Trisha Batchelor

Insight on the Charismatic Movement and Beyond

2009-04-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

(A close friend of our family wrote this to my mother, who asked for her opinion on the fact that parts of the Christian community are focusing so heavily on Israel and the Jews.)

To offer insight into what's happening in the Charismatic movement (and beyond)...here are my thoughts.

I have a dear friend who is a Messianic Jew. Both of her parents are Holocaust survivors who disowned her after she accepted Jesus (Yeshua) back in the 80s. She's restored to her parents now but they are very resistant to the Gospel.

She and I talked recently about a troubling trend whereby Christian Gentiles are converting to (Messianic) Judaism and in some cases abandon their faith in Christ to take up the Jewish traditions. Most years I attend a Seder Dinner because I want a deeper understanding of all Scripture but have noticed many putting themselves back under the law.

Several evangelical preachers are now teaching that Yom Kippur is the best time to ask for forgiveness and that there are special rewards for following the Jewish calendar.

John Haggee doesn't allow Messianic Jews to join his political organization CUFI which has Christian and Jewish membership because he doesn't anyone. This week I caught just minutes of his sermon on Christian TV--he actually says that when Jesus was telling the disciples that they could be handed over and killed that Jesus was really foretelling the crusades and Jewish Holocaust.

Middle East Missionaries often have a perspective that we no longer have in the American Church. When they pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they pray for both Muslims and Jews to know the Only One who brings peace--the Prince of Peace. Unfortunately Christians across denominational lines are subtley beginning a season of denying Jesus.

It seems that believes need to look at the Biblical mandate to carry out the Great Commission and desire to see all men come to the Lord. In terms of Christians involved in public policy, we need to continue to consider Israel's unique position in the Middle East and the world. Somewhere along the line Christians (in and advocating in the political arena) became so focused protecting the country of Israel that they seem to have lost sight of sharing Jesus with Israel's occupants. Many now believe that Jews either will be saved after the Rapture or that Jews don't need to be saved.

"Congratulations! You've been labeled a domestic terrorist."

2009-04-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

(I got this email today, from the Be Heard Project.)

Dear *name removed*,

It was awesome! More than 59,000 young people like you decided not to stay quiet anymore and signed our Petition to Protect Pro-Life Doctors.

That means your voice, along with thousands of others, was heard at the White House and by President Obama. All I can say is, thanks for your involvement and support!

Now, it's time to remobilize - to get fired up! Because if you're reading this email right now ... if you're a supporter of the Be Heard Project ... you should know something:

YOU'VE BEEN LABELED A ''RIGHTWING EXTREMIST!'' ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, YOU'RE A DOMESTIC TERRORIST!

Insanity! Young people with values are not ''domestic terrorists.'' It's time to BE HEARD!

Add your name to our online Demand Letter that will go directly to the Department of Homeland Security and let them know you're not going to take this outrageous assault on your First Amendment rights lying down!

You may think we're blowing things out of proportion. I wish that were true. But this report from the Department of Homeland Security is REAL. And it's incredibly dangerous to conservative young people, Christians, and pro-lifers.

Defend your right to BE HEARD without being stamped a ''terrorist'' by the Obama Administration!

Sign the Demand Letter right now and then alert EVERY SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS FRIEND YOU KNOW TO BE HEARD!

We are going to be holding Social Network Sit-Ins - special events for our Facebook Cause members and Twitter followers. Join our Cause on Facebook - 38,000+ members and growing! - and follow our every step on Twitter and stay up-to-the-minute on issues that matter most to you and our country!

ALWAYS BE HEARD,
Logan Sekulow
Be Heard Project

Are You Ready?

2009-04-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

(Miss Rebecca Cicione wrote this)

So it was the night of January 19, 2009

I went to sleep like normal. Probably way too late. But that's beside the point, because if my memory serves me right I was still on winter break at that time. Or no wait, that next morning was the first day of school.

So maybe it was the excitement or anxiety of a new semester that prompted that night's dream. I do not know. It's not often that I remember my dreams after dreaming them. But when I do, they are quite dramatic, profound, or just plain odd.

So here's the deal. After I went to sleep..at some point in the night...I believe it was more towards the morning actually..I started dreaming a Bible-related, yet very unbiblical dream.

Here's how it went:
It was the end of the world.
You see - this is how the Bible says the end of the world is going to happen. At least, I think so. I'm not too up on my end times prophecy studying. First there will be the rapture. That is when all those who have believed on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be taken up into heaven. Just like that - they'll vanish. Their bodies will suddenly disappear from view and they will immediately be absent from the body and present with the Lord. All of the saints will be caught up in the clouds with him.

Then, there will be a period of tribulation and somewhere in all that is the battle of Armageddon.

I say all that so that you realize that what happened in this dream of mine isn't exactly Biblical.

In my dream I suddenly knew that it was going to be "Armageddon" and that this Armageddon entailed all of the Christians being raptured up to heaven, while many people were left behind. (But in reality no one will know when the rapture will be)

But in this case, I somehow knew that it was coming. In fact, it was coming momentarily. My heart started pounding and I began to freak out. I got together some other believers and I started running up and down the street shouting to people about Jesus and attempting to share the Gospel before it would be too late. And when I say freaking out.. I mean really, really freaking out. I was even freaking out in real life while I was sleeping.

So after I tell random people on the street corners and in my neighborhood I suddenly stop in the middle of sprinting and come to a horrible revelation. What if I'm not ready? What if I've been faking it this whole time? What if I'm going to be left behind? What would happen to me? At that moment I totally broke down. I started crying uncontrollably and fell to my knees. I couldn't believe it - I'd waited so long to share the Gospel with people. I'd gone to classes on how to learn the tricks of sharing my faith, I'd been to every Bible study and fellowship imaginable, but had never applied any of it. In that moment, in the middle of the street, all of my seemingly worst fears came true. I hadn't done any of what I was supposed to be basing my entire life around. And to top if off I didn't even believe it myself?

I woke up with tears streaming down my face and on my pillow. I was quite troubled by this dream. It was so weird - could it be true? Why, of course it could be. I really haven't shared the Gospel like I should. The whole reason I'm alive - and I've been pretending it's for other reasons.

I felt really convicted that day - I tried to shove the feelings deep down inside, to push them out of the way. But I couldn't.
I shared brief parts of the story with people that day...never sharing the part about how I doubted my own belief. I told one person and he suggested that I write it down, and that he too had been recently experiencing an urgency. An urgency that Jesus Christ may indeed be coming back this very night. An urgency that should compel us to live our lives as an offering each day.

And it took me 3 months to get around to writing it. But here it is.

I still struggle with this - honestly, I don't want the world to end any time soon. I want to finish school, get a job, get married, experience life. The thought of being raptured before all of that happens doesn't bring the greatest excitement to mind. Yet it should.

And what about all the people I interact with each and every day? what is going to happen to them? It's our job to let them know. To show them with our lives what it means to believe. But do we really do that?

So I pretty much wrote this for myself...but if you read it, I hope you enjoyed it. Maybe even learned something about yourself through it.

High School is No Musical

2009-04-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

(A friend of mine wrote this recently, see her blog here)

I’ve finally seen all three of the High School Musical movies, and here is my extremely informal review of these movies. Please remember that this is just my opinion, and I tend to be rather strict about the movies I like.

Overall I did not care for the HSM movies. I found the overly bright colors of the costumes and set a little nauseating (ESPECIALLY the second movie!). Most of the costumes weren’t very modest, the dancing was a bit secular, and the music ungodly. I found the emphasis on boy-girl relationships disturbing. While these movies are “clean,” they severly blow high school life out of proportion.

While some might say this movie is “cute,” I thought it was a bit shocking at how much of an illusion this movie creates. There isn’t much in that movie that is relativly close to real high school life. High School Muscial is pathetically idealistic and unreal. This movie is only setting up middle schoolers for dissapointment. Severe dissapointment. The movie fails to show the hardwork, drugs, parties, broken families and relationships that sometimes come with high school. I know this movie was made to appeal to a younger crowd, so the the producers were limited on what they could include.

I just got done reading “Do Hard Things,” and it really did change my perspective of the teen years. This movie shows teens wasting their young adult years on frivolous things. This is not God’s design for young people. Teens should be seeking the Lord about how they can be vessels for Him in a way that has an impact. The younger generation (like pre-teens) is easily influenced, and it’s sad that the world wants to create such a dissillusioned, disjoined movie. I’m sorry if I seem harsh about this movie, but this is simply how I feel. I don’t mean to hurt ANYONE’S feelings, and I still love my friends who like this movie. I just hope I can be an example to them…

Now, lets talk about Hannah Montana…….

The Pickle Jar

2009-04-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

(I received this forward from my choir Teacher)

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.

As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.

I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.

Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.

Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. 'Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back.'

Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly 'These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me'

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. 'When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again.' He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. 'You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,' he said. 'But you'll get there; I'll see to th at.'
No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar.

To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. 'When you finish college, Son,' he told me, his eyes glistening, 'You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to.'

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed.

A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her.. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.

She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt Neither one of us could speak.
---------------

This truly touched my heart, I hope it has yours as well. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for Good in others.

The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller

- Happy moments, praise God.
- Difficult moments, seek God.
- Quiet moments, worship God.
- Painful moments, trust God.
- Every moment, thank God.

Abortion Facts 26-31

2009-03-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

Fact:
Without abortion and the strategic placement of abortion clinics in minority areas the Black community in America would be 30% larger than it is.

Fact:
If it's morally reprehensible to kill a developing human being after birth, why is it permissible to kill a developing human being before birth?

Fact:
Every 2 1/2 weeks, year in and year out, there is an aborted child for each of the 58,132 names on the national Vietnam Memorial.

Fact:
Each year in the US, the abortion industry brings in approximately $831,000,000 through their abortion services alone.

Fact:
If the pro-life position is correct, abortions are human casualties and every day number nearly 1,000 more than all lives lost in the 9/11 attacks.

Fact:
If the 50 million legally aborted children and their children were alive to vote abortion would be illegalized by the popular vote.

www.abort73.com

Abortion Facts 18-25

2009-03-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

Fact:
A baby can survive birth at 6 months. A baby can see, hear and taste at 7 months. Abortion is legal in the US throughout all 9 months of pregnancy.

Fact:
"We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population" (Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood).

Fact:
It is illegal to execute a pregnant woman because the fetus living inside her is a distinct human being who can't be executed for another's crimes.

Fact:
Between 1970 and 1981, the time period in which abortion was legalized, the frequency of ectopic pregnancies increased by 300%.

Fact:
At 3 weeks from conception, a baby's heart begins to beat; at 6 weeks, brainwaves are measurable -- both before most of the earliest abortions.

Fact:
More than 70% of abortions -- at least 800,000 each year -- take place after 6 weeks, bringing an end to the embryo's heartbeat and brainwaves.

Fact:
The Jews, as well as "unfit" Germans, had a "choice" most Germans did not. This meant that the Nazis saw abortion as a very useful weapon.

Fact:
There is a twofold to threefold increased risk of miscarriage for women with a history of two or more abortions.

www.abort73.com

Deborah Drapper

2009-03-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

(Warning, if you watch the entire hour long set of videos, some of the latter ones show Miss Drapper going to dance clubs and college parties with her older brother. Discretion is not suggested....discernment is required.)

Abortion Facts 15-17

2009-03-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Fact:
A woman who has had an abortion is at least 50% more likely to
contract breast cancer by age 45. 182,000 American women develop it
each year. - Abort73.com

Fact:
40% of minors having an abortion report that neither of their parents
knew about the abortion. - Abort73.com

Fact:
4D scans reveal that babies have REM sleep. This could be a sign that
the fetus, not yet born, is already dreaming. - Abort73.com

Free Pro-Life Handbook

2009-03-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

(Thought you all might be interested, I got this by email and on Facebook)

"I've got some great news.

My co-workers and I at the Pro-Life Action League -- Generations for Life's parent organization -- have published an amazing new pro-life handbook called "Sharing the Pro-Life Message", and we want to send YOU a FREE copy.

I want to tell you more about "Sharing the Pro-Life Message", but if you want to order your free copy right now, go here:

http://FreeProLifeHandbook.com

Right before the March for Life, we printed 10,000 copies, and they were all gone by the end of last month-- that's how popular they are!

This time, we printed another 30,000 copies. We just got them delivered to our office this week, and we're ready to send them out.

You know abortion is wrong. You know abortion is bad for women. But how do you talk about it?

If you've ever had to explain or defend the pro-life message with classmates, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or complete strangers, then you need a copy of "Sharing the Pro-Life Message".

This 96-page handbook is filled with all the facts, figures, and arguments you need to share the pro-life message with compassion and conviction.

To get your free copy, go here:

http://FreeProLifeHandbook.com

You're going to love it!

Yours for Life,

John Jansen
Co-Director
Generations for Life"

Abortion Facts 9-14

2009-03-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

Fact:
It's impossible for you not to know a woman who has had an abortion,
because nearly one in four women have had one. - Abort73.com

Fact:
Women who abort are 6 times more likely to commit suicide than women
who carry their baby to term. - Abort73.com

Fact:
At 10 weeks from conception, a baby can smile, frown, wince or pout.
While still in the womb a baby will learn to recognize his mother's
voice. - Abort73.com

Fact:
Every year, more innocent children are killed by abortion in the US
than the combined total of Americans who have died in all wars in our
history. - Abort73.com

Fact:
Between 1882 and 1962, 3,446 Blacks were lynched. That number is
surpassed in less than three days by abortion. - Abort73.com

Fact:
What should be the safest place to live in America -- a mother's womb
-- is now the most dangerous place. - Abort73.com

Abortion Facts 5-8

2009-03-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

(Sorry everyone, I've been way behind in emails, messages, and blog posts!)

Fact:
More than 50 million unborn children have died in legalized abortions -- over thirtyfold the number of Americans lost in all our nation's wars. - Abort73.com

Fact:
Over 1 million children are killed by abortion in this country every year. Over 3,700 each day, 12 every 5 minutes, 1 every 25 seconds. - Abort73.com

Fact:
Planned Parenthood receives more than $330,000,000 in taxpayer money each year. They kill more human fetuses than anyone in America. - Abort73.com

Fact:
A Black baby is almost as likely to be aborted as he is to be born. He is 4.8 times more likely to be aborted than a White baby. - Abort73.com

Embracing Accusation

2009-03-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

Abortion Fact 4

2009-03-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Fact:
Abortion has affected the Black community more than slavery itself. If
the current trend continues, by 2038 the Black vote will be
insignificant. - Abort73.com

Abortion Fact 3

2009-03-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

Fact:
Emotional, mental and psychological disorders are 63% more likely
after abortion than delivery. - Abort73.com

Pre-debate Debate

2009-03-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

I found this article really interesting, what are your thoughts on it? (Regarding how they treat each other, and the terms they're discussing.)

Atheist wants debate to cost Christian author $100,000
(http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=89999)

Is it just me, or are they debating over how to debate?

Abortion Fact 2

2009-03-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

Fact:
Statistics show that a soldier's chances of survival in the front lines of combat are greater than an unborn child's avoiding abortion. - Abort73.com

Lia, Fighting For Life at 12

2009-03-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

Face the Facts

2009-03-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

Face the Facts is a campaign to spread the truth regarding the overriding social justice issue of our day.

Slavery still exists. Poverty exists. We have not won against AIDS. All of these things destroy the body, stealing life and freedom, and are seen for what they are. But one issue is not. There is one thing that destroys millions of human beings, stealing life and freedom from human souls, that is still seen as okay -- justifiable.

If you don't believe me when I say this is abortion, maybe it's not your fault. Maybe you haven't heard the truth -- maybe you've even been lied to. Maybe the facts have been hidden. Well, I say it's time we prove them, and face them. It's time we educate ourselves, and our
world.

When people heard about the extermination camps the Nazis instigated during World War II, most didn't believe. 'Why would one group of people kill another group of people?' 'That just doesn't happen these days.' 'Things like that don't happen in a civilized society.' Research history -- those are the kind of thoughts that went through people's heads. Yet, horribly, they learned the truth -- near the end of the war they found out it was all true.

You may argue that abortion is not murder. But let me just ask you, What if it is? If there is even the slightest possibility, wouldn't you want to know -- before it's too late? If I am wrong, I am a
lunatic. But if I am right, consider the possibility, the magnitude of this crime, and don't allow history to repeat itself any longer -- don't let a holocaust continue while you turn your head.

Action:

This campaign is incredibly simple: "Attend" the event, invite your friends, and commit to posting one fact/statistic in your status each day for the 31 days of the month of March.

And then spread the word to every pro-life group/cause you know of -- several have already joined us and will be sending out action alerts via their mailing lists, but we need your help spreading the word if this will have the impact needed.

The Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=56429116740
The Facebook cause: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/121747
The Facebook group (NEW!): http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51667160171

The Facts:
1. If you're a teenager, you should take abortion seriously. For every two of you, there's one person missing. -Abort73.com

(from Cry Action, and the newsletter of Generations For Life)

Stop Killing the Dream

2009-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

Go here to see what you can do.
(http://www.stopkillingthedream.com/)

Free Entrepreneurial Bootcamp Audio Download

2009-02-25T14:02:00.000-08:00

I read a post recently on The Rebelution forum about this free audio series, we actually already own it, but for those who don't:
This is a audio series on being an Entrepreneur (starting your own business, "being your own boss", etc.), it's a free download and was created by Vision Forum, a ministry I certainly respect.

The catch: Registration is required, which means you'll provide email, name, and billing information, though you won't pay anything.

The reason this is significant to me:
Christians often need to start their own business', because most everyday jobs do not account for family time and such. It matters to me because if I want to evangelize, and work on the side, I may have to create a company instead of working for one.

For the blog post where this was originally announced, go here:

Money Saving Mom: Free $100-Value Download for My Readers
(http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/02/behemothcom-free-100-download-for-my-readers.html)

Catholicism and Evolution

2009-02-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

(I received this in a recent newsletter from Living Waters, and thought I needed to respond...)

Christianity and Evolution
The Vatican released a statement saying that Christianity is compatible with the theory of evolution. I released one saying that it's not (see Home Page www.LivingWaters.com). William Donahue, the president of the Catholic League replied:

The simple mind of Ray Comfort. Protestant author Ray Comfort recently said that "the Vatican has chosen to officially believe Darwin rather than Jesus." He accuses the Catholic Church of failing to exercise "common sense" and of failing to think "too deeply" about evolution. The best-selling author doesn't mince words: "The Vatican, in essence, is saying 'Don't believe Jesus or Genesis. Believe Darwin instead.'" He even goes so far as to say that "In the name of diversity, the Vatican is encouraging atheism, and that's a terrible betrayal of Christianity." Comfort is wrong. The fact is that in the 1950s, Pope Pius XII said there was no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of faith, as long as God was not excluded. Pope John Paul II affirmed this teaching in the mid-1990s. In other words, the Catholic Church teaches that God is the author of all creation. How stages of human development have unfolded is a legitimate area of scientific inquiry, and it has nothing to do with rejecting God as the Creator. Moreover, to say that one must believe in either Jesus or Darwin smacks of an inability to "think deeply" about the subject. Even more preposterous is the assertion that the Vatican is encouraging atheism. What's next? The pope is the Anti-Christ?

[End of newsletter quote]

I think this was basically the entire response to Mr. Comfort's statements:

"The fact is that in the 1950s, Pope Pius XII said there was no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of faith, as long as God was not excluded."

Being Catholic, I can see why the Pope just saying something could be considered a valid response, or even refutation. But I'm not Catholic, and I do not believe that whatever the Pope says is the word of God. (Correction: "If it wasn't declared dogma then it's not something that Catholics have to believe.")

With that aside, I just want you to consider the possibilities of creation if the only requirement is that "God was not excluded".

Perhaps a man created the world, just as a toy, so that he could kill people whenever he desired, but there was a god over him, the one that Christians know as the God.

That would be a perfectly valid explanation of creation by the Pope's definition.

Perhaps I'm being too technical, but I think the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary explains well the (original at least) meaning of the word "Catholic":

1: a often capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the church universal
2: comprehensive , universal ; especially : broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests

Please do not misunderstand, I have multiple Catholic friends, and I respect them. My point is the problem with allowing fallen men to decide what is "dogma" (and therefore truth), and trying to make it universal.

Application:
Please talk to Catholics! They're quite human, and most are very kind! But please speak respectfully with them about Scripture being subject to whatever is declared dogma, and the possibilities that entails.

"This Is Justice?"

2009-02-22T21:41:00.001-08:00

(From Generations for Life)

This Is Justice?

— Posted by John (February 20, 2009 at 2:15 pm)

If you attended TeenSpeak 2009, you heard Dr. Alveda King talk about Rev. Walter Hoye, who was facing charges of “unlawfully approaching patients” at an abortion clinic in Oakland, CA.

His “crime”?

Holding a sign saying “Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help you!”, and asking women, “May I talk to you about alternatives to the clinic?”

You see, Oakland had recently enacted an ordinance — which is probably unconstitutional — preventing protesters from coming within 8 feet of anyone entering an abortion clinic.

And so yesterday, at trial, even though there were no patients who said they felt he had threatened them, Rev. Hoye was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay a $1,130 fine, and told to stay away from the clinic—an order Rev. Hoye is refusing to agree to, God bless him.

If you’re on Facebook, you can send Rev. Hoye a message of support here. (And, while you’re at it, you can join the GFL Facebook group here.)

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.” —Matthew 5:12

"Life - Imagine the Potential"

2009-02-22T11:06:00.000-08:00

Purpose - Warren Barfield

2009-02-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

(From the newsletter of Warren Barfield)

Purpose

The purpose of this newsletter I started a couple of months ago was for me to have a way to share with you once a week something that I am learning in hopes that it will encourage you and lift you up. It has quickly grown to thousands of subscribers, many of which have turned this into a time to encourage and lift me up. I appreciate the responses that many of you have written me. I’m sorry I can’t reply to all of them, but be assured that I do read them all and I’m grateful to share this journey with you.

This weeks thought…

Lord I’d love to rise to a new level, but I’m afraid of heights.

I read a convicting statement today about why most of us don’t accomplish our goals. The writer said that it is because we come up with great excuses that shift the responsibility from ourselves to things that seem out of our control. For example one might say, “If I made more money…” or “If only I had more opportunities…”, or “Things would be different if they….” Passing off responsibility can be the kiss of death. When you start to believe that all the negative things that happen in your life are out of your control then you quickly loose hope. A hopeless person is a dead person. Hope will keep us alive. (Pretty sure that’s a song lyric) If we don’t have hope we will quit trying.

I believe in hope. I believe it is a powerful gift from God. I believe that we have the ability to nurture and grow it by taking responsibility for the life we have been entrusted with. The book QBQ by John Miller teaches that the answer is in the question if the question is asked properly. Q: How can I become a better husband? A: I can become a better husband. Q: When can I make time to spend more time with God? A: I can make time to spend more time with God. Q: What can I do to help someone in need? You guessed it. A: I can help someone in need. When you take responsibility for yourself instead of making excuses, something amazing happens. God will give you hope. Hope will give you vision. Vision will give you purpose. Purpose will change your life and every life you touch.

What are you waiting for? God is calling you to another level. Quit making excuses. START, GO, MOVE, DO!!! These are powerful words that once acted out are sure to propel you to success.

“If people can’t see what God is doing they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals they are most blessed.” Proverbs 29:18 (The Message)

-Warren Barfield

www.warrenbarfield.com

Dwight Schrute/Rainn Wilson on Religion

2009-02-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

I don't watch The Office, or any other TV shows really (except Way of the Master!), but some do. So here's a post by Mr. Dwight Schrute/Rainn Wilson, on his religious beliefs:

Rainn Wilson, on his Baha'i faith
(http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/17/wilson.faith/index.html)

I don't agree with his stance, but what are your thoughts?

Worship Volume

2009-02-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

How loud is too loud, and why? Here are some interesting quick reads on worship volume that I ran into recently.

Memo to Worship Bands (Christianity Today)
(http://www.Christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/february/14.50.html?start=1)

How Loud the Worship Team? (Worship Matters)
(http://www.worshipmatters.com/2009/02/how-loud-the-worship-team/)

Video Game Addicts Tell Their Stories

2009-02-14T20:22:00.001-08:00

Video Game Addicts Tell Their Stories

Also, see the video in the comments for more interesting input on the subject...

I used to be what I now would probably call a "hard-core gamer", though back then I knew many people who gamed more than I did. I guess I still do...

I'm open to questioning on the subject.

Prayer Update on Katrina F.

2009-02-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

An update on Katrina,

Many thanks for the prayers that have ascended on behalf of Katrina and David. Katrina has been improving remarkably. Katrina acknowledges that it is only the hand of God that has preserved her through this. This is also something that all of us can be extremely thankful for. We prayed, and God has heard and answered our prayers. We can join in with the many in the O.T. that cried unto God and God heard their prayer. This was very serious. Katrina said, "it came down to a battle for life". One doctor told her that she survived only because of prayer.

Katrina's blood pressure and heart rate are stabilizing. Her blood count is improving. She will have many difficult days ahead on her road to full recovery. They anticipate her to be in ICU for another day or two, before moving to another floor to be with the baby, Annette.

Annette (meaning "the mercy of God") Gabriella is doing very well. She is eating and responding well. The nurses have been thrilled to be able to help care for her. The doctor told David that Annette will not leave the hospital until Katrina does.

Please continue to pray for Katrina's continued recovery and that the entire medical staff will have the needed wisdom in caring for her.

On behalf of David & Katrina, "many thanks for the prayers that ascended and the kindnesses showed".

Thanks again,
Paul and Mary Eadie
Eunice and Roger Bunch
Jesse and Mary Fitch, Abigail and Rebekah

The No Stimulus Petition - Sign Immediately

2009-02-12T09:10:00.001-08:00

Please disregard this email if you have already signed the petition. This is the only time that I have ever sent out an email to my entire contact list! So this is very important. Please sign the petition against the "so called" stimulus package at NoStimulus.com. And also forward this email to all your contacts! Thanks! Read on for more information.

This petition has been signed now by 415,000 + Americans, and will be presented to the senate at 2pm this afternoon. Please, Please, sign it ASAP. We must make our voice heard!

Facts about the bill from Nostimulus .com

This bill provides the least tax relief of any version yet, even cutting President Obama's signature middle class tax cut from $500 per individual and $1000 per couple to $400 and $800. That takes money out the pockets of regular Americans to pay for more wasteful spending.
This bill, by all accounts, still funds the stealth imposition of health care rationing via so-called "Comparative Evaluation Research," that would let bureaucrats decides whether people are too old or too sick to receive a treatment.
The price tag, is still astonishing. $789 billion might be less than the Senate's $838 billion, but it's massively more than the $300 billion this bill originally was proposed at, and still tops a trillion dollars when interest is including. This is money we don't have being spent on things we can't afford on every city and state's pork wish list.
President Obama promised the federal government would be more open and transparent, and that all legislation would be available for 5 days of public review. The House voted unanimously to allow a 48-hour public review that now looks unlikely to happen. Can't we slow down and properly evaluate a measure that will (including interest) cost taxpayers over a trillion dollars?

What's Wrong with the Stimulus Bill?

The so-called "Stimulus Package" is being sold to taxpayers as an investment in useful infrastructure like roads and bridges. But the facts prove otherwise.

Only 3.6% of the scheme's $825 billion price tag would actually go to real, practical infrastructure projects--roads and bridges.

Most of the other 96.4% would go to special interest pet projects, and to cramming years' worth of radical policy changes into the single largest spending and debt scheme in history.

Even the Congressional Budget Office, the official scorekeeper of the economic impact of legislation, has said that it would, on balance, hurt the economy.

Why are our nation's leaders doing this? Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel was strikingly honest when he said "Never let a serious crisis go to waste...it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before." Exactly what fringe policies are big-government politicians attempting to ram through with this colossal bill?

Under the auspices of a "Comparative Effectiveness Review," the package heavily funds the first steps towards the socialization and government-mandated rationing of health care. And this is just one of many government power grabs being shoehorned into the so-called "Stimulus Package."

In fact, even by the most charitable estimates, the bill would force taxpayers to foot the bill for at least 600,000 new government bureaucrats. That's six tenths of a million more people on the government payroll -- adding little or no value to our economy and being paid with billions upon billions of your hard-earned tax dollars.

And just what sort of special interest giveaways and wasteful government spending are included in the so-called "Stimulus Package"? To name just a few...

- $4.19 billion in slush funds for ACORN, the left-wing advocacy group best known for allegations of voter fraud during the 2008 presidential campaign
- $600 million to buy brand new cars for government bureaucrats
- $335 million for adult sex workshops (one of the few line items which could conceivably deliver "stimulus" )
- $150 million for honeybee insurance
- $2.8 billion for the US Department of Agriculture in a misdirected program more likely be spent to build unnecessary broadband internet services in urban areas than in the rural areas that lack service.

These are just a few examples of the shameless feeding frenzy taking place in halls of Congress today with this so-called "Stimulus Package."

This trillion-dollar debt and spending scheme will provide little or no stimulus, but will put each and every American household in at least $6,700 of new debt, to be paid by our children and grandchildren.

Written by a Friend.

The Red Envelope Campaign

2009-02-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!
I thought this sounded like a great idea -- it's simple, it's inexpensive, it's easy. The idea is to send a pro-life valentine to President Barack Obama.

The original challenge was to send one or two, but I'm going to encourage you all to "Do Hard Things" and each send ten -- and then to spread the word and ask everyone you know to do the same. Between Rebelutionaries on this email list alone, without spreading the word, that would equal more than 2,300 envelopes sent!

The goal is that Obama would receive 50 million to represent the 50 million lives lost in legal abortions since Roe v. Wade was passed.

Here are the instructions:

Purchase some red envelopes at an office supply or party supply store -- or make some out of red construction paper.

On the front, address the envelope to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Don't put anything inside, seal it, and on the back of it write the following message:

"This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.
Responsibility begins with conception."

Put a stamp on it and mail it!

Ideas for spreading the word:

* Post this in a Facebook note and tag people.
* Send this out in an email blast to your friends.
* Invite people over and make some valentines together.
* Write your friends at the Rebelution and direct them to the thread at the Bulletin Board: "CRY ACTION: The Red Envelope Campaign"

Immediate Prayer for Katrina F.

2009-02-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

We would like to ask for Prayer on Behalf of Katrina Fitch. She delivered her fifth child at 2:30pm on Monday Feb. 9. She started bleeding heavy after the delivery and the doctors have not been able to get it to stop. She has since received as of 1:00 am 9 units of blood and 3 surgeries. She is now in her 4th surgery hanging on to life. She is in extremely critical condition. Pray for her and her family, and the doctors that would attend to her etc.

Thank you,
On behalf of David and Katrina Fitch

Mary Eadie
Eunice Bunch
Jesse and Mary Fitch, Abigail and Rebekah Fitch

Beasley Prayer Update

2009-02-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

(Again, this is not written by me, it's from an email loop)

I'm sure many of you have heard the impending charges that may be pressed against Josh Beasley in relation to his wife's death over the weekend. I feel strongly that we, as a believing community and as a home school community, need to fight the war in the heavenlies for Josh and stand behind him and the families. None of us are in this world alone, and if there is ever a time to stand together for our brothers and sisters in the Lord, now would surely be one of those times.

"Lord, in the name of Jesus, we come before you on behalf of Josh, the Moore's and the Beasley families. We ask you to protect them from every arrow of the enemy, that you will surround them, uphold them, and stand in front and behind them every minute of the day. We know we fight against powers and principalities. So, we ask, Jesus, that you would fight for them. Please protect their hearts and minds, that they might be girded up with the truth. Would you send angels to do battle for them? Would you bring them to mind often that we would all pray each time we think of them? We claim your promise that you use circumstances for your sake, and ask that great glory would be brought to you somehow out of this sad, sad happening. Thank you for your faithfulness and goodness to us. Lord. We trust you. In Jesus' name, Amen."

(mrtjk)

Beasley is scheduled to appear in Lancaster County Court at 2 p.m. Friday to be arraigned on a felony manslaughter charge in connection with Alaina Beasley's death. If convicted, Beasley could be sentenced to probation or up to 25 years in prison. Link to Omaha World Herald Article: http://www.omahaworldherald.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10555424

Asking for Forgiveness

2009-02-03T04:51:00.000-08:00

To everyone I've ever wronged,

I've been convicted recently, that I have been apologizing without asking for forgiveness. Saying I'm sorry is one thing, but I should have been directly asking if you would forgive me.
I pray I'm not annoying you all with these notes, I think apologizing in person is much better than online, but I wanted this to be online because there were so many of you that I needed to tell, and ask.

I'm sorry for not specifically asking if you'll forgive me, I think I was being indirect, avoiding difficulty. I can't stand having that on my conscience. Will you please forgive me?

Update: My sin nature is prone to legalism, and all-around making things harder than they are. I don’t think it’s as much about saying the actual words “Will you please forgive me?” as it is just making sure you’ve repaired the damage done to the relationship. Sometimes after apologizing, the response is something like “It’s alright”. What’s the big difference between “it’s alright” and “I forgive you”? As far as I know, there isn’t much of a difference…I think I’ve just been making it harder than it is. Trying to find the black and white, in the sea of grey, so to speak. Please forgive me for letting my sin nature get the best of me, again. I’m still learning, and definitely open to correction on my stance…

Pray for the Beasleys

2009-02-01T20:47:00.000-08:00

(I received this from the HEN email loop, from the Sorensens)

I just spoke with our dear sister in Christ, Annette Beasley who has asked me to ask you all to please be in prayer for the family of Joshua and Alaina Beasley. Alaina was accidentally shot and passed into the presence of the Lord early this morning (2-1-09). Please pray for an under girding of strength and God's peace as they walk through this most unexpectant event. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Yours in Christ,

Pamela Ehlinger

for the Beasley family

60 Second Prayer

2009-02-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

(I seldom receive forwards that are worth sending on, but I definitely thought this one was. My Uncle knows me well!)

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?

A:
Psalms 117

Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?

A: Psalms
119

Q: Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?

A:
Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118

Fact:
There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118

Add these numbers up and you
get 1188.

Q: What is the center verse in the Bible?
A: Psalms
118:8

Q: Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find

God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to

be in the center of His will, just send them to the

center of His Word!

Psalms 118:8

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Now isn't
that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?

Before sending this I said a prayer for you. Got a minute?
60 seconds for God?

All you do is say a small prayer for the person
who sent you this.........

"Father God bless my friend in whatever it is that you know

he/she may be needing this day!

And may his/her life be full of your peace,

prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a

closer relationship with You.

Amen"

Then send it on to 10 other people. Within hours 10 people have prayed

for you, and you caused a multitude of people pray to God for other people

Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life...

When things get tough, always remember...

Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it !!

God Bless You!

March for Life Report, What's Next

2009-01-29T15:19:00.000-08:00

(I received this letter yesterday, January 28th, 2009.)

In this letter: A report on the March for Life . . . the petition count has crossed 500,000 signatures! . . . an update on FOCA and what to expect next -- "FOCA-by-Stealth."

Dear Subscriber,

Surrounded by over 300,000 fellow pro-lifers -- many of you! -- on Thursday, the AUL Action team and our families marched up Constitution Avenue here in Washington DC, from the base of Capitol Hill to the steps of the Supreme Court. There were so many thousands of people thronging the streets that at times we couldn't move.

My eight-year-old daughter, Sarah, marched next to me, and I explained to her that we were headed to the Supreme Court so that the judges would know we believe abortion is wrong.

"Mommy," she asked, "how many people will it take to overturn Roe v. Wade?"

How many people indeed. My thoughts immediately went to you -- the hundreds of thousands of you who have signed the FightFOCA petition -- who have taken a public stand to say: our voices will not be silenced.

The day before the March for Life the petition count reached
HALF A MILLION signatures!

As I write today, the number has jumped to almost 600,000. That's partly because many people saw FightFOCA signs at the March.

But it's also because so many of you responded to our call to spread the word to your churches on Sanctity of Life Sunday -- the flyers were downloaded over 20,000 times! Thank you!

The success of this petition is because of YOU. The message has spread through email and through blogs and through Facebook and through word-of-mouth. Your efforts.

In fact, we have been so successful that now Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood, and others are saying that they aren't going to try to pass the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).

Don't believe it for a second.

If your opponent gives up the frontal attack . . . you better start watching your flank.

We are now seeing the abortion forces waging an incremental battle -- working to pass what we have termed "FOCA-by-Stealth."

They think that if they take FOCA and repackage it and pass it in pieces and under different names . . . that we won't notice.

But with apologies to Shakespeare, FOCA by any other name, smells just as bad. And as they pass the Stealth FOCA's, more babies will be killed and more women victimized by the abortion-on-demand regime.

Case in point: I'm sure you've heard that the day after the March, President Obama used an executive order to overturn the long-standing ban on funding organizations that promote and perform abortions overseas. The media portrayed him as sensitive to pro-lifers because he waited till after the March -- in fact, he released the order at 5:00 on Friday -- a textbook stealth move to keep the story under the media radar.

And now they've added subsidies for the abortion industry into the economic stimulus package. No surprise: Cecile Richards used to be the Deputy Chief of Staff to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. So it's no wonder we saw Pelosi on the Sunday shows arguing that more tax dollars for Planned Parenthood -- and fewer children -- helps the economy. Incredible.

Friends, this is just the beginning. We have a lot of work in front of us.

Please keep encouraging your friends to sign the FightFOCA petition.

We will be using those signatures on Capitol Hill in the days ahead to argue against FOCA and ANY and EVERY piece of legislation that promotes abortion.

The FightFOCA petition says to Planned Parenthood and their Congressional allies: we will not be silenced.

The week before the March, my husband, Jack and I had the honor of attending the funeral of the pro-life hero, Father Richard John Neuhaus.

We were all reminded that in one of his last speeches, Father Neuhaus encouraged the pro-life movement by saying, "We shall not weary, we shall not rest, until every unborn child is protected in law and welcomed in life."

How many people will it take to overturn Roe? It takes you.

Thanks for your work and being a part of this movement.

Yours for Life,

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
President & CEO
AUL Action The Legislative Arm of Americans United for Life
FightFOCA.com
FightFOCA@FightFOCA.com

P.S. -- More pictures from the March are posted on my Facebook page.

Quick Links
FightFOCA Petition
FightFOCA FAQ
About FightFOCA
About AUL Action

FightFOCA.com is a project of AUL Action

Chicago Office:
310 S Peoria St | Ste 500 | Chicago, IL 60607 | 312.568.4700

DC Office:
1413 K Street, NW | Ste 1000 | Washington, DC 20005 | 202.289.1478

22 Weeks

2009-01-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

Young Death, Please Pray

2009-01-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine recently had their friend die, at a very young age.

Please pray for the family that had their young girl die, for their moral support, as well as financial. The medical bills from her time in the hospital are very high, they'll be starting a fund I believe...I'll let you know when I find out about it.

Also, please pray for all those who knew her, and were close...and that this situation would lead to the salvation of many. That it would open up opportunities for the Gospel, make people think about how short life is, and where they'll go when they die.

Thank you for your prayers.

No one can be sure of their next minute, no one can say "I know for sure I'll be alive tomorrow"...we don't even have a guarantee of our next breath.

Where will you go when you die?

"When's it gonna happen?"

2009-01-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

It's true, they're waiting, when's it going to happen?

With that thought, there are a few things I would like to clarify...

I do not believe that people need God because they have some sort of "hole", though everyone does search for satisfaction. What would you say to someone who's completely satisfied with their life, and yet unbelieving? They are out there.

We need forgiveness because we've broken God's law, we need justice.

A just judge wouldn't let a criminal go free, he would give that criminal whatever punishment was deserved.

Why would you and I deserve punishment? What crimes have we done?

Please take the following test, to discover the most important thing anyone could ever know...
(this is free, and does not record anything, no-one can see the results but you)

For more clarification, see this short, clear, video, as an example.

"Pro-Choice" Souls

2009-01-11T21:38:00.000-08:00

I won't take much of your time, I would much rather have it spent in prayer.

Perhaps it's because of my calling of evangelism, but as I pray for God to save the unborn, and protect them from the "Freedom of Choice" Act, I can't help but end up praying for the souls of those who would have them killed.

Those children, as far as I know, will know Paradise as their only home. God bless them.

Those doctors, nurses, and patients, may end up in eternal torment for what they've done. Or they might be saved, perhaps the prayers of you and I are more important than we think. Not that we have any control, or power, I can't even say I believe in the "power of prayer". God has the power, we are simply asking Him to use it. To me that's extremely humbling, not a power-filled. It's a common term, I'm sure most people that use it find prayer humbling, they just haven't thought about stating it differently. How should I know, God sees the heart.

The point is, (probably because of my calling) I'm more concerned about those who commit murder than the unborn that are murdered. That sounds terrible, but I'm stuck in the light of eternity; comparatively, if the former die without salvation, they're in much worse condition.

As I pray in faith for God to stop FOCA, save the unborn, and bring to salvation those involved who are guilty in God's court of law, please pray with me.

Emergency Prayer Request

2009-01-07T21:07:00.000-08:00

(Note: I am not Catholic, but I wholly oppose the FOCA and greatly endorse prayer and fasting!)

From Fight FOCA:

If you are opposed to abortion, then there is bad news on the horizon. For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is set to be signed if congress passes it on January 21-22 of 2009.
The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law, then all limitations on abortion will be lifted which will result in the following:

1) All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals, more then 30% of all hospitals in the United States .

2) Partial birth abortions would be legal and have no
limitations.

3) All U.S. tax payers would be funding abortions.

4) Parental notification will no longer be required.

5) The number of abortions will increase by a minimum of 100,000 annually.

Perhaps most importantly the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, down syndrome babies, etc) and could even regulate how many children women areallowed to have.

Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.

The Plan :

To say a novena ( 9 days of prayer ) along with fasting starting
on January 11th. For Catholics, the prayer of choice will be the rosary with intentions to stop the FOCA. For non Catholics, I encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intentions, also for nine consecutive days.

The hope is that this will branch and blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact. We have very little time so we all must act fast. Just do three things:

1) Pass this letter to 5 or more people

2) Do it in three days or less

3) Start the novena on January 11th and pray for nine consecutive days.

(please also fast for at least two days during the novena)

Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of
prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of
defenseless children, then the time is now to do something about it!

May God bless you all!!

Upward Momentum is UP

2009-01-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

I'm still in a bit of shell-shock, praise God! Sometime soon I'll have to post about why this only happened because of Jesus...but for now, please head over to the new video branch of Upward Momentum!

www.upwardm.com

Office Space Need

2008-12-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow Laborers,

Two options I thought would work out fell through to replace free space I have had the privilege of using for 11 years at 3701 "O" St-- 9 years for Real Men of Integrity and the last two for Christ For the City International-Lincoln.

I am still asking God to provide free office space beginning in early January. An extra office in a church or company could be options. I use wireless internet with laptop computer and have a fair number of books. I also have a donated copier that would make it difficult to move my office at home. Having space for small group meetings would be a plus too.

I will be out of town from Dec. 18 - 30 in California with no internet access (I promised my wife I would not take my laptop or do business) for our middle son's wedding.

My present landlord said I could move out of my present space during the first week of January.

Thanks for your concern and prayers.

Mark Pomeroy
Christ For the City International
3701 "O" St. #B5
Lincoln, NE 68510
(402) 474-7325
cell: (402) 617-4959
email: mark@cfci.org
www.cfci.org

God Knows You

2008-12-15T08:43:00.000-08:00

Psalm 139
(NASB, see footer for copyrights)

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,"
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
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.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand
When I awake, I am still with You.
19 O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
20 For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

Amen and amen.

(If that psalm didn't make you smile at the love of Jesus, you should read it again!)

Fight FOCA

2008-12-12T18:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend,

I'm writing to let you know about a terrible piece of legislation called "The Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).

FOCA would establish the right to abortion as a fundamental right (like the right to free speech) and wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide.

It will eradicate state and federal abortion laws the majority of Americans support and prevent states from enacting protective measures in the future.

FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial-birth abortion, and on all other protections.
FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.

Please read the expert analysis by Americans United for Life (AUL) and sign the Fight FOCA petition at: http://www.FightFOCA.com

Thank you,

Of God (Part IV)

2008-12-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

"When I first wrote "Of God" I said that man has a hole or emptiness inside of him that causes both unrest and despair. Man has an emptiness that keep him from bring content, and drives him to focus his life around some object, be it alive or not alive. Man will, if you will allow me to say, worship something through his devotion and obsession to that something. Today we continue our discussion of God by looking once more to the empty hole that exists in every mortal who has ever existed.

All life must be moving from one place to another. The scientific word has accurately said that for something to be alive it must be able to adapt to its surroundings. For humans to truly be alive we must have a driving force that strengthens and motivates us. Without this we feel worthless and unneeded, and feel like it would be better if we died now and ended life altogether.

As much as we might deny it or reject it,all humans worship a god. When we are young we worship those who have taken care of us, we depend on them, we wish to please them to the best of our ability, when we do something to upset them we feel a sense of guilt and try to do better. As time goes on however we begin to draw away from our parents and instead we obsess over something else, maybe friends, or work, regardless of what it is we will knowingly or not try and draw our happiness from this 'god' and will try and fill this void inside of us with whatever god we have set up.

Now you might pull me off my soap box and tell me that you are an atheist and do not worship anything as you do not believe a god exists. My response to this is that first, you cannot deny something that is wired into your very nature, and secondly it is not that you do not believe a god exists, because you do (if you will pardon my forwardness), not only do you believe he exists, you believe that god is yourself, and you are quite offended when you are not treated as such.

I have already spoken to some detail on the first of my reasons so I will only repeat that if we do not have a drive, a motivation, something that we worship , then we are left with no reason to be alive.

What of my saying that we really think that we are god? If you would join with me in thinking without bias you will agree with me. We all wish to play god, we all demand to be treated as if the world revolved around us. From the moment we are born we demand the focus, care, and attention of the world, quickly do we discover that our desires are not those of the world, and we scream out our frustration. Well, you will answer, I have matured sense then. Have you now? When have you ever been content? When has what you had ever been enough?

The hole still remains to be filled with some kind of god, the question now is what kind of god does it point to? I would like to suggest the god it points to is a god who is more. For this god to be real he must be able to fill the hole that exists inside of us. And as anyone can attest the things of this physical world can never fill that empty hole. The conclusion from this is that god must be perfect. For this being to be god he must be able to do what nothing else in this flawed world can do, and to be able to do that, god must be perfect. Anything short of this and eventually this force will lose its appeal.

[...]for now consider what conclusions can be drawn from God being perfect." - Written by a friend

Of God (Part III)

2008-12-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

"When we last left off, I stated first that the religions of today's world have a single great and common flaw, and that is they are selfish. Now I do not mean this is an attacking sense, but merely as stating a point, the religions of today's world all have a focus on Man reaching God. I also stated that their entire religious system was based off of this facet, this idea that humans, if they tried hard enough, could be like God in a sense, that if they tried they could attain the level of holiness that only God has. I am getting ahead of myself here, we have yet to agree that there IS a God, and that he is good or holy or just.

I must return to the looking at the two facets we already dealt with, first being a sort of common moral standard that we all seem to have inside of us, and second that man as a whole is not satisfied with the things of this world. That as a whole we cannot fill this hole that exists inside of us with anything pleasurable that we can see touch and feel on this earth. Now from this last point we drew two conclusions, either there was something else that we couldn't see or necessarily feel that existed to fill that hole inside of us, or there was not. Both of these lead to faith, but those faiths lead to two different effects. Either you have hope in that there is something else that can fill your empty and unsatisfied feeling, or you have despair in that you cannot fill this gap in your life, and as such you commit suicide, or allow yourself to be distracted by the cute tunes and the quick thrills that are the pleasures of this world.

How does this prove there is a god? In the first it does not, it merely proves a power force or happiness that we cannot see, feel, or touch, the god (if we wish to call it that) is emotionless and is not all powerful, but merely a blunt instrument that we use to fill ourselves and make ourselves whole. I do not believe this is the case, for if this were then the "god" would be just like the pleasures of this world, and as such would eventually lose its luster and would expire, and we would be left looking for something more.

I have not dealt with this before, but if we are to agree there is a god, then one of the conclusions we must make is that this god is more real than this world. What I mean is that for god to truly fill this hole inside of us he must be perfect, and must be able to fill that hole 100% of the time. This god must be able to give us that peace and therefor must be infinitely greater in strength and goodness than we are ourselves. In short, if this is a proof of god, then the god we have so far is good, and also infinite in his power

I would like to focus more now on the former of these two facets, I said in the end of my last post that all humans have a somewhat universal set of moral codes that exist in all of us. From this we derive the sense of what is "fair." When someone cuts you off on the road, or maybe jumps in line you feel this thing call fairness. We see someone doing something they shouldn't and our first universal response is "that is not fair!" but why? What makes it unfair? Who stated that there was something fair in the first place?

First of all, this does not just apply to today, in all of history you can see that the governments set down moral standards and codes, ways of life that kept their citizens safe from harm and injustice. You also saw in certain cultures courts and lawsuits going on from one side to another, this sense of injustice that the people feel as they sue their fellow human beings. From the ancient times to today you have had a very structured sense in all human beings of fair and unfair, and also what is right, and what is wrong.

What of the Post modern view of what is right and wrong? Can all these religions be crushed with a single argument that there all right? No. Post modernism is an oxymoron. For post modernism to be correct, it must not be a view on God in itself, which it is. For post modernism to be correct it must be impassive and unbiased. But it is just as much a religion as Islam. What is more, post modernism takes faith. This is not a war over reason and faith, this is a war of faith vs. faith. You must have faith that the side you have taken is correct.

Let's say you are driving, and you come up to a wooden bridge that spans a deep chasm. Now you have two choices, you can choose to go over the bridge, or you can choose to find a different crossing. No big deal right? No matter what you choose (to cross the bridge or not), you must have faith that the choice you made was correct. the same goes with what religion you choose, or if you choose the religion of post modernism, you must have faith that the choice you made is correct.

I will deal with how a universal moral code is proof of a God, and also continue to sort of piece together the kind of God we have proven, but I have bored you enough for the time being." - Written by a friend

Of God (Part II)

2008-12-07T17:12:00.000-08:00

"Humans that say there is nothing more than what we can sense have a very grim outlook as we have already said. As we have said, their existence is already marked by selfishness. As they believe that there is nothing they cannot sense or explain, then they believe that there is no afterlife. From this they conclude that they should spend this life to the extreme; giving their whole energy toward pleasing themselves. The results of this we will discuss later.

There is another, more grim result from this thinking, however. For man who leads a life trying to please himself will quickly find that he cannot accomplish this. This leads to a sense of hopelessness. And eventually to thoughts of suicide.

One major points that this leads to is the idea of post modernism. In what way does it? How does a lack of belief in anything lead to saying that all religions should coexist? Understand that to say that there is nothing that cannot be sensed is to bundle all religions together. In truth, the idea that there is no God, no heaven, nothing, makes all religions equal and the same. What is the main charge of post modernism? That all religions are talking about the same thing. That, under the skin, they all really mean the same thing, but with different words attached.

I am going to surprise you before I move on I'm this thinking. I will almost tease you as to what I will deal with later on in my writing. But I would like to suggest to you that post modernism is correct. That all religions, say the same thing, but with different phrasing. However before we can deal with this we must get a better grasp of the meaning of the word religion. We cannot get ahead of ourselves just yet by diving into this. So I will let you sit on those words, thinking that I am now totally insane and have completely contradicted myself.

Now moving back to the results of believing in no God, as we have stated earlier, no belief in God leads us to the idea that Man can live as he please. Usually this lifestyle runs into areas that cause us to scream foul. Now, the modern mind will say; "AHA! What is wrong for you is not wrong for him. You just have a different set of morals than they." Fair enough; my question would be if someone murdered your family, would you still say; "what is wrong for me is not wrong for you."

Now then you will say "They have crossed the line and must be punished." For all of the sudden its not someone else that is being hurt by the person's actions, but you. suddenly the truth comes out that there is an equal field that all actions are judged by. Now of course the question arises as to what are the standards. I will discus this later." - Written by a friend.

The Untitled Song

2008-11-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

"Do you hear the hollow souls?
Crying out tonight.
Do you hear the withered hearts?
Wanting to be alive.
Do you hear, the empty and confused?
Do you hear, the mistreated and abused?

Why do we hide the joy inside?
Why do we let the dying die?
Why do we go on like nothing’s wrong?
When the world is crashing down,
And when the world is crashing down,
It needs a savior, needs a friend,
needs salvation that only Jesus can bring,
And it needs, you and me.

Do you see the people’s cheeks?
Stained from all their tears.
Do you see the bodies beat?
The ones that hold much fear.
Do you see, all those without any place to sleep?
Do you see, all the children weep?

How can they believe it,
If they have never heard?
Beautiful are the feet,
That bring good news.
It’s our job to tell them,
It’s our greatest priority.

They need a savior,
They need the cross.
We need to tell them,
No matter then loss.
In a world that’s broken,
In a world that torn.
In a world that hungry,
A world like ours.

I wont hide this joy inside.
I wont let the dying die.
I wont go on like nothings wrong." - Written by Olivia

Of God (Part I)

2008-11-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

"My two nieces, Emily and Ashley are (in my opinion) two of the most adorable nieces in the world. When they were younger they had a toy with several different tubes with different shaped openings. Each tube could only fit a uniquely shaped object. For an example only a square shaped object could go in the tube with the square opening, and the same with the circle, the star, and the triangle.

Humans as a whole is unsatisfied. We as a whole race are unfulfilled and empty. In every single one of us there is a hole or void that (just like the toy my two nieces used to play with) can only be filled by the unique object that has the same shape as the hole. Now, humans tries to fill this hole through many different pleasures; wealth, power, fleshly desires. Anything that man can find enjoyment from, he tries to pour into this void to see if it is the answer.

However these different things that temporarily make humans happy, cannot fill this void. This emptiness has left humans perplexed, of course humans dislike what they cannot understand, and thus attempt one of two things.

1) Humans will guess in order to build an understanding about the void. They will try to understand based on calculated guesswork, forming different explanations as to what great force should fill the void, from this, forming the different faith groups and religions.

2) Humans will ignore the unknown void and continue to try and fill the void with the pleasures of the visible world. In short, he/she will say that if we cannot grasp something with our senses, it simply does not exist. This logically leads man to assume that this life is all there is, and that regardless of his actions, the outcome will be the same. The end result of this thought is life without morals or code, and selfishness. Humans, that do not believe in an after life, believe that their ultimate goal throughout the whole of their lives is to please themselves, regardless of the outcome and consequences it leaves for those that come after.

I will continue this line of thought later, although I have not really gone deeper than there being a void that no physical or emotional pleasure can fill, and the need for there to be something more than just this world." - Written by a friend

God Bless President Bush

2008-11-29T10:04:00.000-08:00

Good Bye, Mr. President.

"Whether you voted for him & love him, or you’ve disagreed with all his policies and dislike him... Could we all agree on this? We owe President Bush a sincere thank you. As the historic Inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama approaches, StevenCurtisChapman.com pauses to thank our outgoing President for his service to our great country. This Thanksgiving weekend, we hope you’ll enjoy a new song by Steven written in President Bush’s honor." (Click here to listen)
A hearty amen to the song, and their message. I shouldn't stop praying for President Bush and his family just because he won't be president anymore...

Public Apology, again

2008-11-27T18:45:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Here I am again...apologizing for the same huge struggle...pride.

I need to apologize to everyone, for not being as respectful as I should be (in conversation, and online) and for tolerating lies in my life.

Though some of you may not know of these lies, I hadn't allowed them to convict me until recently...and they've been eating away at my conscience, which is eating away at me.

I'm not ambidextrous, and I never originally "needed" glasses.

I've allowed these, and other apologies, to eat away at me...and by doing so, I gave many inches to pride...which greatly damaged an important relationship in my life, and possibly a second one...

I've been prideful, once again...please forgive me...and pray for me, if you would...

Tagged.

2008-11-22T13:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings brethren,

I'm not accustomed to ignoring when people tag me, or send me a message, or an email, unless of course they are machine generated!

I thought I should probably explain why I don't do forwards, with notes, messages, or emails.

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." - James 1:17
Time is definitely a good thing, which comes from above. I'm no busier than the average home educated teen, but I simply have absolutely no "free time". Because time is not free, it's a gift from God.
I want to use every bit of that gift to praise Him, every day of the week. I'm definitely not perfect, I haven't always believe that time was a gift from God...and I haven't always wanted to spend it all on Him. But Christ redeems, and I do now.

When purchasing an object, you and I usually consider what's called the "cost-benefit" ratio. We ask ourselves "Do the benefits outweigh the costs?". Everyone knows that money comes and goes, but oh how quickly time does pass!

Time is so much more valuable than money, and it diminishes so much more quickly.
"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year
here and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like
tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." - James 4:13-14

What a picture, like when you breath into the cold air and see the vapor diminish instantly. That, is the length of life. We don't know how long, we have no guarantee of tomorrow. (Though, this most certainly doesn't leave the Christian hopeless!)

Time is not free, it is exceedingly precious, and sparse. Therefore, we are to use it very wisely.

Using it wisely means to do what's right, not what's "okay, but not bad". The whole point of the name of the ministry I'm in (Upward Momentum) is that every activity in life can be put in one of two categories: 1) It brings you closer to God, or 2) It brings you farther away from Him.
Some things help us gain momentum in our flight toward God (upward), and other things slow us down. I firmly believe that there is no such thing as a spiritual "standstill", we're like a ball on a hill, either going up, or down.

In that same chapter (four), James goes on to say:
"...Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." But as it is, you
boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do
and does not do it, to him it is sin." - James 4:15-17

Verse seventeen seems simple, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, you're sinning. But that means (please don't react harshly, this takes much thought...I didn't just decide this suddenly, and I don't find it "easy" to believe or claim, it's a hard truth...) that sin isn't just committed by doing bad things, but can be committed by not doing the right thing, as well. (Those familiar with Catholic beliefs have probably heard this before, and know of it as the two types of sin: the sins of "omission", and sins of "commission".)

For example, reading a book isn't an inherently evil act (depending on the book of course, we're being generic here for the sake of the example), it's not a sin. Reading a book when you're supposed to be doing school, on the other hand, is sin. Why? It's not the act of reading that's sin, it's the act of not doing your school.

Where's this all going?
Time is precious, and not doing the right thing is sin.

I believe that writing notes (blog posts, or otherwise) about me, and my tastes, and my favorite this, and my favorite that...is a waste of precious time. Not only that, but it greatly supports my greatest enemy (and mightiest!), pride.

Other posts/forwards I'm too busy with ministry and school to be able to spend time on, without pushing aside the right thing. Forwards about me, myself, and I just are not priority when saving souls, "running the race", and "fighting the good fight" come into play.

But, please don't believe that I think any lower of you because you tagged me...not at all! Thank you, there is care communicated in tagging others, and for that I thank you. Also, thank you very much to those who forward me things of great importance, concerning souls, lives, ministry, and our Divine Lord!

Thank you all for reading this less than par explanation, I'm no greater than anyone for writing this, or believing what I just stated. Actually, I condemn myself for my past acts by doing so.
If anything, I just pray that the Scripture's power will recharge your day, focus, and relationship with Christ.

God bless you all.

(all photos in this post are Owned, Copyrighted, and reserved property of ShiftCreative.org)

ABC's respect for the Bible

2008-11-22T10:42:00.000-08:00

Jim Neugent is a coach in Childress, Texas .

Jim writes:
My name is Jim Neugent. I wrote to ABC (on-line) concerning a program called 'THE PRACTICE.' In last nights episode, one of the lawyer's mothers decided she is gay and wanted her son to go to court and help her get a marriage license so she could marry her 'partner.' I sent the following letter to ABC yesterday and really did not expect a reply, but I did get one.

My original message was:

ABC is obsessed with the subject of homosexuality. I will no longer watch any of your attempts to convince the world that homosexuality is OK. ' THE PRACTICE' can be a fairly good show, but last night's program was so typical of your agenda. You picked the 'dufus' of the office to be the one who was against the idea of his mother being gay, and made him look like a whiner because he had convictions. This type of mentality calls people like me a 'gay basher.'

Read the first chapter of Romans (that's in the Bible); and see what the apostle Paul had to say about it.... He, God and Jesus were all 'gay bashers'. What if she'd fallen in love with her cocker spaniel? Is that an alternative life style? (By the way, the Bible speaks against that, too.)
--Jim Neugent

Here is ABC's reply from the ABC on-line webmaster:

How about getting your nose out of the Bible (which is ONLY a book of stories compiled by MANY different writers hundreds of years ago) and read the declaration of independence (what our nation is built on), where it says 'All Men are Created equal,' and try treating them that way for a change!

Or better yet, try thinking for yourself and stop using an archaic book of stories as your lame crutch for your existence. You are in the minority in this country, and your boycott will not affect us at ABC or our freedom of statement.

Jim Neugent's second response ! to ABC:

Thanks for your reply. From your harsh reply, evidently I hit a nerve. I will share it with all with whom I come in contact. Hopefully, the ArkansasDemocrat Newspaper will include it in one of their columns and I will be praying for you.

- -Jim Neugent- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Note: Wouldn't Satan just love it if people stopped using the Bible for a crutch?
Please resend this to everyone in your mailbox.

Jim Neugent

I wonder if the person from ABC considered how many people would read this e-mail!

This is one we should definitely pass on.

Dollar for a Drink

2008-11-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

www.dollarforadrink.org

A Simple Concept:

Give up One Drink

Give One Dollar

Help Build One Well in Sudan

(Before Christmas 2008)

One well costs $8,000

You can make a difference with a dollar!

___________________________ ___________________________

Our Mission . . .

is to increase the availability of clean water in the most needy areas around the world, beginning with Sudan, Africa.

Our Vision . . .

is to improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people by making clean water available for drinking and irrigation, thus reducing thirst, water-born diseases, and military conflict that stem from lack of adequate water resources.

Furthermore, it is our hope to get as many teenagers involved in this project as possible, showing that it doesn't matter your age, you can make a difference in the world!

Dollar for a Drink is a registered 501 (c)3 organization. Please contact us if you have any further questions.

___________________________

___________________________

Did you know . . .

1.1 billion people (approximately one in six people on earth)
lack access to a clean water supply.

Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.

Sudan is one of the countries with the highest number of people
with access to only contaminated water - 12.3 million

The lack of water in Darfur plays a part in worsening military conflict in the region as various groups compete for water resources.

Furthermore, did you know . . .

The average American uses 100 to 176 gallons
of water at home each day.

Pacific Institute estimates that total consumer expenditures
for bottled water are approximately $100 billion per year.

Bottled water can cost as much as $10 per gallon,
which is twice the price of gasoline.

___________________________

___________________________

There is a great need for fresh water in Sudan Africa. We as Americans have a great wealth of water and material resources. We need to ask, do we have the right to keep to ourselves resources we don't really need—resources that can greatly reduce the suffering of others?

To learn more about the condition in Sudan or the resources we as Americans are wasting, check out the resource section of the site. To donate, please click here. If you would like to go an extra step and help promote the project, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please see the promotion page on this website.

Thank you for your interest! Let's change the world together!!

DfaD is an Association Registered with the IRS as a 501 (c)3, and is endorsed by Mr. Palmer of BGR

God is Just

2008-11-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

Job 5

1 "Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 "For anger slays the foolish man,
And jealousy kills the simple.
3 "I have seen the foolish taking root,
And I cursed his abode immediately.
4 "His sons are far from safety,
They are even oppressed in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.
5 "His harvest the hungry devour
And take it to a place of thorns,
And the schemer is eager for their wealth.
6 "For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 For man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.
8 "But as for me, I would seek God,
And I would place my cause before God;
9 Who does great and unsearchable things,
Wonders without number.
10 "He gives rain on the earth
And sends water on the fields,
11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 "He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd,
So that their hands cannot attain success.
13 "He captures the wise by their own shrewdness,
And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
14 "By day they meet with darkness,
And grope at noon as in the night.
15 "But He saves from the sword of their mouth,
And the poor from the hand of the mighty.
16 "So the helpless has hope,
And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.
17 "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 "For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.
19 "From six troubles He will deliver you,
Even in seven evil will not touch you.
20"In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
21 "You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22 "You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
23 "For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 "You will know that your tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
25 "You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 "You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.
27 "Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.
Hear it, and know for yourself."

WOTM, Season 3

2008-11-18T11:38:00.001-08:00

www.wayofthemaster.com

Advent Conspiracy

2008-11-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

www.adventconspiracy.org

The Response from Letters2President.org

2008-10-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hi Preston,

Thanks for your inquiry. We do have a few home educated students participating, and homeschoolers are welcome to submit letters. A few home school blogs and newsletters advertised the opportunity.

It is true, however, that there needs to be an adult involved. In your case, it could be a parent or other family member. Part of the reason for this has to do with privacy and permission requirements for young people under 18 on the internet. These are legal requirements and we cannot waive them. We also require registration as a way of prevent spam, etc. So, if you have parental permission to publish, we would welcome your letter. We would be happy to send to a family member the permission form and register them to publish a letter. So in essence, your family member can serve in the ‘mentor’ role for the purpose of publishing.

As for topics, each student chooses his or her own. There is no pre-existing list of topics and all the tags you see on the site were suggested by the writers themselves. We only stress that 1) the letters be written about issues that either candidate, if elected, should address. (In other words, the site is not devoted to arguing for one candidate or the other, but rather for the social issues that whomever is elected should address.) And 2) that the letters be occasions for the writer to engage the broad and diverse audience of the website through writing. That is, however, a pretty open prompt.

Let us know if you would like to publish a letter.
Elyse
--
Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, Ph.D.
Director, National Programs and Site Development
National Writing Project
2105 Bancroft Way
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-1042
510.642.0963

A Letter to Letters2President.org

2008-10-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

Dear sirs,

Your "About" page says:

"Writing Our Future is an online writing and publishing project for students, ages 13 - 18, co-sponsored by Google and the National Writing Project. We invited young people to write about the issues and concerns that they feel are central to their future, issues they would hope our next president would act on. Topics were chosen by the students themselves to reflect their specific personal, regional, and age-related interests. Teachers and mentors guided students through the process of writing a persuasive letter or essay to the presidential candidates using Google Docs."

I have a few questions:

First of all, since you stated that this project is for "students, ages 13 - 18" does that mean any students? I am home educated, and see no possible way of writing a letter for your website. If students like me are not allowed to add letters, I have another question: did you "invite" any home educated students to write about these "issues and concerns"?

Were any home educated students chosen to help pick topics?

Thank you for your time, God bless.

[name removed]
(Home schooled student, age 16. Lincoln, NE. This letter was written by my own will, I did not have "teachers and mentors guide me through the process of writing a persuasive letter or essay" to you. But I did use Google mail.)

Opened Eyes, by Alise

2008-10-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

"Well, I was saved when I was about four years old, but up until a couple of years ago I felt like there had to be something more to being a Christian. Life seemed simple...too simple.

Gradually God has been opening my eyes to things that I never saw before. The biggest thing being that just because we're Christians, doesn't mean we automatically know everything-right from wrong.

Christians can so easily walk through life with tunnel vision, because we feel like we have everything figured out. But by dismissing something just because it doesn't seem to fit our definition of a Christian, we could be closing our minds and hearts to what God is trying to teach us.

God has been reminding me how small I really am and how blind to truth I can be! He is All-knowing and all-powerful, and I have only begun to see how much I DON'T know. I want to be teachable.

A couple verses that have been on my mind is Matt. 7:13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therat: Because strait is the gate,and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Alise

Universally Legal Abortion

2008-10-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

[EDIT: Sorry for the formatting problem! It's fixed now.]

This is huge, please sign and forward!

October 20, 2008

Dear Colleague,

On December 10th, radical pro-abortion groups will present petitions asking the UN General Assembly to make abortion a universally recognized human right.

We have met the challenge and you can help.

We have initiated a petition drive that calls for governments to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as protecting the unborn child from abortion. Along with a coalition of pro-life groups from around the world, we will present our petitions at a press conference at UN headquarters.

So far, in only three weeks we have generated 46,417 names endorsing our petition; that is 15,000 a week! I now fully expect that we will present 100,000 names on December 10th, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In order for this to happen, though, I need your help and I need it now.

If you have not signed the petition, do so now HERE or by going directly to http://www.c-fam.org and clicking on the icon "UN Petition for the Unborn Child." Then, after you have signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

If you have already signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS and urge them to sign it.

What we are trying to do is create a real global internet campaign that will shock the pro-abortion radicals at the UN on December 10th! To help you, the petition has been translated into 11 different languages and each can be found HERE or by going to http://www.c-fam.org

So, please act now. Go HERE or here http://www.c-fam.org and sign the petition. Then send this message or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Yours sincerely,

Austin Ruse
President
C-FAM

PS We absolutely must submit more names to the UN than the pro-abortion radicals. They are bigger, richer and stronger than we are. So, act now; sign the petition HERE or go here http://www.c-fam.org. And send this message to everyone you know!

Prayer Request Update: Trent

2008-10-16T04:57:00.001-07:00

"Thanks for asking! As far as I know, last I heard they weren't gonna operate - I think they were just gonna keep him hospitalized and see where it went from there. Apparently, he's walking and eating on his own all the time now, so he's showing good signs of recovery. I honestly don't know much myself, since I have been unable to talk to the classmate that told me about him. When I find out more, I will definitely let you know. Again, thank you for your prayers and concern."

Prayer Request: Trent

2008-10-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

This means please pray, right now, right where you are.

If anyone who reads this could please take the time to pray for a little boy named Trent. He's hemophiliac, and yet only ten years old. He was experiencing back seizures and neck stiffness when his family decided to take him to Children's Hospital last night. The doctors found out that he has a blood clot in his spine, which is seriously compounded by his being hemophiliac. Children's is calling in a specialized surgeon, but they're not sure whether they should operate or leave it as it is. I don't know whether Trent is a Christian or not, but from a quick read through the gospels, it's easy to see that God has a soft spot for children. Praying for him would only take a few seconds out of your day, and yet can make all the difference.

Don't wait, don't say you will, please pray for him right now.

Dependance on The Father

2008-09-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

...Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

UM Newsletter - spoilers

2008-09-11T00:16:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your patience!

Here's the current situation:

Under Construction:

Team

The team of pastors, elders, parents, adults, young adults, and teens is being assembled. We have three basic groups at the moment, the Veterans team (For accountability: elders, pastors, and parents), the Pilots (Leaders: adults, young adults, and teens), and the members. [NOTE: These team names are NOT final]

Website

Not only is the video editing branch under construction (releasing January 1st) but as the team is organized, the entire new website is continually be pieced together as God provides inspirations and devoted team members.

Film

Obviously there's major work going on right now to set up the filming work, such as how we'll train, what equipment will be used where and when, which script, and so on.

PRAYER

We NEED your prayer for all of the above listed things! PLEASE pray right now, and spread the word!
Also please pray for:

Finances (we are not fund-raising)

to come in for the filming and missions trips. (Oops, did I let that spill? It's coming with the new website...)

Team members

to stay in touch, pray, and for God to keep bringing them!

Opportunities

to share The Gospel in our everyday lives, eyes to see them, and the Holy Spirit to speak!

[The primary purpose of this email is to keep people up to date, and praying! See below to sign up.]

Thank you! God bless! ~ The UpwardM Team
www.upwardm.com

You can sign up to get these updates by email, right over at the website.

Stall

2008-09-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

This blog will probably be in a stall until January 1, as you can now receive updates in your email box on the ministry.

Please continue to pray, God bless!

www.upwardm.com

2008-08-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Yes, we're all still around, but we've been working so hard there hasn't been much publication of our whereabouts...and for that I apologize. But it will be this way no more.

Please tell your friends, family, and all others that Upward Momentum is alive! The film making branch of the website WILL BE UP JANUARY 1ST! Thank you for your patience!

Once it is up, we'll be organizing a film making cast and crew...don't think we won't need you!

The best part is, you can now stay up to date...without the hassle of checking the website! It's on us, just go to the new homepage (www.upwardm.com) and click where it says "stay posted. click here".

Your email address, is of course, very safe. It's sent directly to our personnel and your put on the loop.

Any questions? Please ask!

Thank you for your prayers, please continue! God bless!

P.S. Love to know your opinion on the pages, thank you for any feedback!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

2008-08-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

(from Cyber Hymnal:

Words: Joseph M. Scriven, 1855. Scriven wrote this hymn to comfort his mother, who was across the sea from him in Ireland. It was originally published anonymously, and Scriven did not receive full credit for almost 30 years.

Music: Erie, Charles C. Converse, 1868. In World War I, the tune was paired with the words to “When This Bloody War is Over.”)

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Blessed Forgiveness

2008-08-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

Psalm 32 (NASB)

Blessedness of Forgiveness and of Trust in God.

A Psalm of David. A Maskil.

1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

Look What He's Done For Me

2008-08-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

(from ChristianLyricsOnline.com, "Look What You've Done", by Tree63 on their album Blessed Be Your Name, the hits.)

Look what You've done for me,
Your blood has set me free.
Jesus my Lord, look what You've done for me.

I haven't been the same,
Ever since that day I called Your name.
YHWH, YHWH! Look What You've done for me.

What can I do for You my Lord?
I want You to know my heart is Yours.
It's not a question of what You can do for me,
But what can I do for You my Lord?

Up to Your cross I crawled,
Now I am standing teen feet tall.
Jesus my Savior, look what You've done for me.

Free at last I'm free,
I owe You my life completely.
YHWH, YHWH! Look what You've done for me.

I Just Want To Be With You

2008-08-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

(from LyricsKeeper.com, Smile by Chris Rice on his album Short Term Memories)

How far are you, how close am I?
I know your words are true and I don't feel them inside.
Still I believe you'll never leave,
So where are you now?

You're all I have, You're all I know.
Your breath is breathing in my soul.
Still I am gasping, aching, asking...
Where are you now?

Cause I just wanna be with You,
I just want this waiting to be over...
I just want to be with You,
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer.

Every minute takes an hour,
Every inch feels like a mile,
Until I won't have to imagine
And I finally get to see You smile!

My journey's here, but my heart is There.
So I dream and wait, and keep the faith, while You prepare:
Our destiny, til You come back for me.
Oh, please make it soon!

Cause I just wanna be with You,
I just want this waiting to be over.
I just want to be with You,
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer.

Every minute takes an hour,
Every inch feels like a mile,
Until I won't have to imagine
And I finally get to see You smile!

I just wanna be with You,
I just want this waiting to be over.
I just want to be with You,
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer.

I just wanna be with You,
I just want this waiting to be over.
I just want to be with You,
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer.

Every minute takes an hour,
Every inch feel like a mile,
Until I won't have to imagine
And I finally get to see You.

Every minute takes an hour,
Every inch feel like a mile,
Until I won't have to imagine
And I finally get to see You smile!

Be Still and Know

2008-08-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

The lyrics to "Be Still and Know", by Steven Curtis Chapman; on his album Speechless.

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know he is our Father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of his unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still

The Goal of Life

2008-08-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

Philippians 3 (NASB)

The Goal of Life

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;

3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Thirsting for God

2008-08-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Psalm 63 (NASB)

The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Here I Go Again

2008-08-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

(by Casting Crowns, lyrics from AZ Lyrics. This song can be found on the playlist at the bottom of the page.)

Father, hear my prayer
I need the perfect words
Words that he will hear
And know they're straight from You
I don't know what to say
I only know it hurts
To see my only friend slowly fade away

So maybe this time I'll speak the words of life
With Your fire in my eyes
But that old familiar fear is tearing at my words
What am I so afraid of?

'Cause here I go again
Talkin 'bout the rain
And mulling over things that won't live past today
And as I dance around the truth
Time is not his friend
This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love Him
But here I go again, here I go again

Lord, You love him so, You gave Your only Son
If he will just believe; he will never die
But how then will he know what he has never heard
Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life

This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love him
This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love him
You love him, You love him

What Am I so afraid
What am I so afraid
What am I so afraid of?
How then will he know
What he has never heard

Delay

2008-07-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay everyone, the day before City on a Hill ended detasseling season started.

I'll be posting again once it's over, thanks for your patience...and thanks for actually reading this guys!

God bless!

P.S. Let me know if there's anything you would like to see more (or less) of in the comment section please, thanks!

5. Warfare -- Praise The Lord and Pass the Ammunition

2008-07-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

This is Principle 5 of 10. If you've started on this page, please make sure you read the first page.
(found at Living Waters)

5. Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is every Christian's ongoing battle with the world, the flesh,
and the devil. What are your weapons? Have you been trained?

When you became a Christian, you stepped right into the heat of an age-old battle. You have a three-fold enemy--the world, the flesh, and the devil. Before you became a Christian, you floated down stream with the other dead fish. But now, God has put His life within you, and you will find yourself swimming against a three-fold current. Let's look at these three resistant enemies.

First, the world. When the Bible speaks of the "world" in this context, it is referring to the sinful, rebellious, world system. This is the world that loves the darkness and hates the light (John 3:20), governed by the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4)( -- the "prince power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2). The Bible says the Christian has escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. "Lust" is unlawful desire, and is the life's blood of the world --whether it be the lust for sexual sin, for power, for money, for material things. Lust is a monster that will never be gratified, so don't feed it. It will grow bigger and bigger, until it weighs heavy upon your back, and will be the death of you -- see James 1:15.

There is nothing wrong with sex, power, money, or material things, but when these become predominant in God's sight, the Bible calls this "inordinate affection" (Colossians 3:5). We are told, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." "Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (1 John 2:15, James 4:4).

The second enemy is the devil. As we have seen, he is known as the "god of this world." He was your spiritual father before you joined the family of God (John 8:44, Ephesians 2:2. Jesus called the devil a thief, who came to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).

The way to overcome him and his demons is to make sure you are outfitted with the spiritual armor of God listed in Ephesians 6:10-20. Become intimately familiar with it. Sleep in it. Never take it off. Bind the two-edged sword to your hand so that you never lose its grip. The reason for this brings us to the third enemy.

The third enemy is what the Bible calls the "flesh." This is your sinful nature. The domain for the battle, is your mind.

If you have a mind to, you will be attracted to the world and all its sin. The mind is the data-processing control panel for the eyes and the ears. It is the center of your appetites. All sin begins in the "heart" (Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 15:19). We think before we sin. This happens because we don't think before we sin. The Bible warns that lust brings forth sin, and sin when it's conceived brings forth death. Every day we have life, we have a choice. To sin or not to sin -- that is the question. The answer to the question of sin, is the fear of God. If you don't fear God, you will sin to your sinful heart's delight.

Did you know that God kills people? He killed a man because he didn't like what he did sexually (Genesis 38:10). He killed a husband and wife because they told just one lie (Acts 5:1-11). Knowledge of God's goodness -- His righteous judgments against evil, should put the fear of God in us, and help us not to indulge in sin.

If we know that the eye of the Lord is in every place beholding the evil and the good, and that He will bring every work to judgment, we will live accordingly. Such weighty thoughts are valuable, for "by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil" (Proverbs 16:6). Jesus said,

"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:4-5).

Cross References

2008-07-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Does anyone find the cross references useful? If not, I don't have to put them in.

[please post your opinion in the comments]

UPDATE: Thanks for your input, they've been removed.

Trials and Tribulations

2008-07-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

Psalm 66:10-12

10For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
11You brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.
12You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.

"We often blame tribulation on the enemy when God uses this very instrument to fulfill His will for our lives. God takes us through the fire, not to burn us, but to purify us. He takes us through the water, not to drown us, but to wash us. Understanding that the Lord chastens those He loves enables us to endure trials. The psalmist wrote, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn your statutes" (Psalm 119:71). See also Hebrews 12:10-13." - Ray Comfort, The Evidence Bible

Hebrews 12:10-13

10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

13and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God is God, concluded

2008-07-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Job 42

Job's Confession

1Then Job answered the LORD and said,
2"I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
3'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'
"Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."
4'Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.'
5"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
6Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes."

God Displeased with Job's Friends

7It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.

8"Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has."

9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job.

God Restores Job's Fortunes

10The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.

11Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold.

12The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.

13He had seven sons and three daughters.

14He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.

15In all the land no women were found so fair as Job's daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers.

16After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations.

17And Job died, an old man and full of days.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God is God, part 5

2008-07-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Job 41

God's Power Shown in Creatures

1"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?
Or press down his tongue with a cord?
2"Can you put a rope in his nose
Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3"Will he make many supplications to you,
Or will he speak to you soft words?
4"Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him for a servant forever?
5"Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you bind him for your maidens?
6"Will the traders bargain over him?
Will they divide him among the merchants?
7"Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?
8"Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle; you will not do it again!
9"Behold, your expectation is false;
Will you be laid low even at the sight of him?
10"No one is so fierce that he dares to arouse him;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?
11"Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
12"I will not keep silence concerning his limbs,
Or his mighty strength, or his orderly frame.
13"Who can strip off his outer armor?
Who can come within his double mail?
14"Who can open the doors of his face?
Around his teeth there is terror.
15"His strong scales are his pride,
Shut up as with a tight seal.
16"One is so near to another
That no air can come between them.
17"They are joined one to another;
They clasp each other and cannot be separated.
18"His sneezes flash forth light,
And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19"Out of his mouth go burning torches;
Sparks of fire leap forth.
20"Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth
As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21"His breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes forth from his mouth.
22"In his neck lodges strength,
And dismay leaps before him.
23"The folds of his flesh are joined together,
Firm on him and immovable.
24"His heart is as hard as a stone,
Even as hard as a lower millstone.
25"When he raises himself up, the mighty fear;
Because of the crashing they are bewildered.
26"The sword that reaches him cannot avail,
Nor the spear, the dart or the javelin.
27"He regards iron as straw,
Bronze as rotten wood.
28"The arrow cannot make him flee;
Slingstones are turned into stubble for him.
29"Clubs are regarded as stubble;
He laughs at the rattling of the javelin.
30"His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
He spreads out like a threshing sledge on the mire.
31"He makes the depths boil like a pot;
He makes the sea like a jar of ointment.
32"Behind him he makes a wake to shine;
One would think the deep to be gray-haired.
33"Nothing on earth is like him,
One made without fear.
34"He looks on everything that is high;
He is king over all the sons of pride."

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God is God, part 4

2008-07-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Job 40

Job: What Can I Say?

1Then the LORD said to Job,
2"Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it."

3Then Job answered the LORD and said,
4"Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5"Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;
Even twice, and I will add nothing more."

God Questions Job

6Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said,
7"Now gird up your loins like a man;
I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
8"Will you really annul My judgment?
Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9"Or do you have an arm like God,
And can you thunder with a voice like His?
10"Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
11"Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.
12"Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him,
And tread down the wicked where they stand.
13"Hide them in the dust together;
Bind them in the hidden place.
14"Then I will also confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.

God's Power Shown in Creatures

15"Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16"Behold now, his strength in his loins
And his power in the muscles of his belly.
17"He bends his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18"His bones are tubes of bronze;
His limbs are like bars of iron.
19"He is the first of the ways of God;
Let his maker bring near his sword.
20"Surely the mountains bring him food,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
21"Under the lotus plants he lies down,
In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.
22"The lotus plants cover him with shade;
The willows of the brook surround him.
23"If a river rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24"Can anyone capture him when he is on watch,
With barbs can anyone pierce his nose?

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God is God, part 3

2008-07-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

Job 39

God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings

1"Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the deer?
2"Can you count the months they fulfill,
Or do you know the time they give birth?
3"They kneel down, they bring forth their young,
They get rid of their labor pains.
4"Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field;
They leave and do not return to them.
5"Who sent out the wild donkey free?
And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
6To whom I gave the wilderness for a home
And the salt land for his dwelling place?
7"He scorns the tumult of the city,
The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.
8"He explores the mountains for his pasture
And searches after every green thing.
9"Will the wild ox consent to serve you,
Or will he spend the night at your manger?
10"Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with ropes,
Or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11"Will you trust him because his strength is great
And leave your labor to him?
12"Will you have faith in him that he will return your grain
And gather it from your threshing floor?
13"The ostriches' wings flap joyously
With the pinion and plumage of love,
14For she abandons her eggs to the earth
And warms them in the dust,
15And she forgets that a foot may crush them,
Or that a wild beast may trample them.
16"She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers;
Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned;
17Because God has made her forget wisdom,
And has not given her a share of understanding.
18"When she lifts herself on high,
She laughs at the horse and his rider.
19"Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20"Do you make him leap like the locust?
His majestic snorting is terrible.
21"He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He goes out to meet the weapons.
22"He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
And he does not turn back from the sword.
23"The quiver rattles against him,
The flashing spear and javelin.
24"With shaking and rage he races over the ground,
And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.
25"As often as the trumpet sounds he says, 'Aha!'
And he scents the battle from afar,
And the thunder of the captains and the war cry.
26"Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
Stretching his wings toward the south?
27"Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
And makes his nest on high?
28"On the cliff he dwells and lodges,
Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.
29"From there he spies out food;
His eyes see it from afar.
30"His young ones also suck up blood;
And where the slain are, there is he."

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God is God, part 2

2008-07-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

Job 38

God Speaks Now to Job

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2"Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3"Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
5Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
6"On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8"Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10And I placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11And I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop'?

God's Mighty Power

12"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14"It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment.
15"From the wicked their light is withheld,
And the uplifted arm is broken.
16"Have you entered into the springs of the sea
Or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17"Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18"Have you understood the expanse of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
19"Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20That you may take it to its territory
And that you may discern the paths to its home?
21"You know, for you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
For the day of war and battle?
24"Where is the way that the light is divided,
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25"Who has cleft a channel for the flood,
Or a way for the thunderbolt,
26To bring rain on a land without people,
On a desert without a man in it,
27To satisfy the waste and desolate land
And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?
28"Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29"From whose womb has come the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30"Water becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
31"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades,
Or loose the cords of Orion?
32"Can you lead forth a constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her satellites?
33"Do you know the ordinances of the heavens,
Or fix their rule over the earth?
34"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
So that an abundance of water will cover you?
35"Can you send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, 'Here we are'?
36"Who has put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given understanding to the mind?
37"Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
Or tip the water jars of the heavens,
38When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?
39"Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40When they crouch in their dens
And lie in wait in their lair?
41"Who prepares for the raven its nourishment
When its young cry to God
And wander about without food?

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God is God and I Am Not

2008-07-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

God is God - Steven Curtis Chapman
(listen to it at the bottom of the page using 'playlist.com', it's mis-titled "God Follower")
"And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through
Him and from Him are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone"

Tears from the Saints

Evil, Like a Beanbag

Dawkins Encourages Students to Deface Darwin's Book

Daily Bread and Nothing More

Planned Parenthood at it Again

"Eric Scheidler to speak at SFLI Summit 10/24"

The Fire

Michael Jackson - Real Cause of Death

The Divided States of America

Publicly Declare Your Faith

Telemarketing on your Cell Phone

You Give Them Something

Urgent Prayer Request: Jessica

Insight on the Charismatic Movement and Beyond

"Congratulations! You've been labeled a domestic terrorist."

Are You Ready?

High School is No Musical

The Pickle Jar

Abortion Facts 26-31

Abortion Facts 18-25

Deborah Drapper

Abortion Facts 15-17

Free Pro-Life Handbook

Abortion Facts 9-14

Abortion Facts 5-8

Embracing Accusation

Abortion Fact 4

Abortion Fact 3

Pre-debate Debate

Abortion Fact 2

Lia, Fighting For Life at 12

Face the Facts

Stop Killing the Dream

Free Entrepreneurial Bootcamp Audio Download

Catholicism and Evolution

"This Is Justice?"

This Is Justice?

— Posted by John (February 20, 2009 at 2:15 pm)

"Life - Imagine the Potential"

Purpose - Warren Barfield

Dwight Schrute/Rainn Wilson on Religion

Worship Volume

Video Game Addicts Tell Their Stories

Prayer Update on Katrina F.

The No Stimulus Petition - Sign Immediately

What's Wrong with the Stimulus Bill?

The Red Envelope Campaign

Immediate Prayer for Katrina F.

Beasley Prayer Update

Asking for Forgiveness

Pray for the Beasleys

60 Second Prayer

March for Life Report, What's Next

The day before the March for Life the petition count reached HALF A MILLION signatures!

They think that if they take FOCA and repackage it and pass it in pieces and under different names . . . that we won't notice.

Please keep encouraging your friends to sign the FightFOCA petition.

22 Weeks

Young Death, Please Pray

"When's it gonna happen?"

"Pro-Choice" Souls

Emergency Prayer Request

Upward Momentum is UP

Office Space Need

God Knows You

Fight FOCA

Of God (Part IV)

Of God (Part III)

Of God (Part II)

The Untitled Song

Of God (Part I)

God Bless President Bush

Public Apology, again

Tagged.

ABC's respect for the Bible

Dollar for a Drink

A Simple Concept:

God is Just

Job 5

WOTM, Season 3

Advent Conspiracy

The day before the March for Life the petition count reached
HALF A MILLION signatures!

UM Newsletter - spoilers