Monday, March 31, 2008
Abp. Oscar Romero
not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. We accomplish in our
lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's
work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the
kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No
prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No
pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church's
mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything. This is what we
are about: We plant seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already
planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will
need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our
capabilities. We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in
realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It
may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an
opportunity for God's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the
end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the
worker. We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs. We are
prophets of a future not our own.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
International Justice Mission from the Field
Salila will never forget the day she set out for a new job in a nearby city. She had been offered the position by a man from her village who recognized her teenage ambition and drive, and she trusted him when he told her of a good job only half a day's train ride from her hometown.
They boarded the train together — but by nightfall they had not yet arrived at their destination, and Salila realized that something was terribly wrong. "He said it would only take a day, but two days are already gone and I am still inside the train. What is this man up to? I was really scared," Salila later told IJM staff.
Her once-friendly companion told her that if she tried to leave him or tell anyone he was taking her by force, he wold have her parents killed. "I just had to keep quiet," she recalls. "I did not want to put my parents in danger."
I want my life story to be known to all. I want to tell all the sisters who are toiling against their wish, 'Take my story as an example. Do not get disheartened.' ... I want to give them that hope in life. I was once like them. But now I am standing on my own feet.
2007 Victories
In 2007, through your faithful support, IJM brought rescue and restoration to more than 200 children and women victimized by forced prostitution and secured 40 convictions against the perpetrators who abused them.
The brothel was a place ruled by violence and despair. When Salila attempted to refuse the brothel's customers, she was beaten and threatened until she submitted to the violence. She was subject to constant physical and emotional abuse.
Salila's captors worked to make her invisible. They dragged her through alleyways of sewage to hide her in a back room of the brothel and forced her to give a different fake name to everyone she met to ensure that she would not be found. Salila had never been to Mumbai and did not know where she was in the city. The brothel owners convinced her that if she were found by police on the streets, they would simply return her. There was no hope. Escape was impossible.
But Salila was not alone. IJM investigators in Mumbai had discovered that she was being held in the brothel by force, along with several young girls. The investigators carefully documented proof of Salila's captivity and brought the information to local authorities equipped to protect her.
The IJM team worked with local police to set up a sting operation to rescue the girls. On a December night, local authorities and IJM staff entered the brothel and safely removed Salila and five other girls held there against their wills.
Salila was free. The night she was rescued, "I could not believe my eyes," she says. She left with IJM staff, who ensured that she was placed in a safe aftercare home.
The wounds of Salila's abuse where deep. But, through the care, stability and support she experienced in her new home, she began to heal and regain parts of her life she had thought were lost forever.
Simply put, Salila began to live again. She completed her education and was trained in many career skills; she developed warm relationships with new friends at the aftercare home.
"We thought we would have to live and toil there [at the brothel] forever, but it did not happen," she explains. IJM staff "not only released us from that wretched life, but they showed us the way to a respectable life and gave us confidence."
Salila now works for a jewelry manufacturer fixing the intricate jewel work on bangles. She and another young woman share an apartment, and Salila remains in close contact with IJM staff. She has a savings account in her own name and has built a stable life. In freedom, Salila has hope: "I can take care of myself well," she explains. "Now, I can help others also."
Today, Salila knows freedom and security, but if IJM had not been able to intervene at the brothel, she would still be held captive.
Your support will change someone's life. Healing and hope are possible. Together, we can bring rescue to those who wait.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Battle Rages On...
There was a church who recently got together to prepare for the Easter Services. They recite bible verses about the death and resurrection of Jesus. It got a bit intense when some of the members were fighting over the Bible readings.
Can you imagine what that would look like? I could see it now!
"I want to be Jesus!" says one man!
"No, I'll be Jesus!" says the other, "You be Judas!"
"What! You can't do that!"
Ouch! That has gotta stink! What if we read further in the good book?
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness."
(Philippians 2:3-7)
Bonhoeffer
"The hot countries, from the Mediterranean to India and Central America, have been intellectually creative countries. The colder lands have lived on the intellectual creativeness of the others, and anything original they have produced, namely technology, serves in the last resort the material needs in life rather than the mind."
- Deitrich Bonhoeffer, "Letters and Papers From Prison"
Monday, March 24, 2008
Valentine
For God so loVed
the world ThAt He gave His
onLy begotten Son
that whosoEver
believes iN Him
shall noT
perIsh but
have everlastiNg
lifE.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The New Video Games!
I'm a little startled at the new video games out there. There is Grand Theft Auto where you win points by commiting crimes. You can also pick up a prostitute in the game. Than there are the new 'shoot them' games where you score by killing people like the classic 007 Bond game and who can forget the Halo series! But the kids told me about a new one called, "Spank the Monkey!"
Now, you are probaly thinking what most people are thinking but it isn't what you think! It is an actual video game where you spank a virtual video monkey... THE ANIMAL! Oh! FORGET IT!
Well, if you want to know what I mean, check out:
http://www.noolmusic.com/blogs/Play_Games_Online_Flash_Free_Player_Broadband_Spank_the_Monkey.shtml
One A Face Behind the Numbers
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Most Complex Physical Structure.
- Science and Religion, Temple University Press.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Wonderful Times with Wonderful Friends!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Ethnic Marriage
I have a friend who's daughter just married a person from southern India. My friend's daughter is from an east Asian country. My friend told me that the people at the south Indian church were really unaccepting of her ethnicity... These people would probably kick out Jesus for not being from the same neck of the woods.
It was frustrating hearing this but Jesus will have His way and the ignorance of people will not stop Him!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Real Leadership
I just love the fact that Jesus never begged anyone to follow him. He invited them! He called them!
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."
(Matthew 4:18:22)
Jesus would also tell them what it would take to be his follower.
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
(Matthew 8:18-22)
Saturday, March 08, 2008
K-Dawg Get's His Credentials
Praise God. Dr. K got his new credential as Reverend! See and celebrate this grand day!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zM-lGIf4xEs
Thursday, March 06, 2008
I Miss the Kidz
I miss the kids. I had a brief stint working at a day care. I hated the hours, the duties and much more... but I LOVED those kids. I miss them allot. I think about them and wonder how they are doing and where they are and where they are going and even miss the times we fought, laughed, cried, yelled, ran, played and shared the Lord. OHhhh where are my babies now? Where are you?
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The Commandments We Love to Obey.
There are some commandments we just love to obey. Here are a couple we obeyed today. It was great to see some old friends and some new ones get their credentials as ordained Pastors. Two buds, K and J just got their new credential. We are so proud of them! Than some new friends, R and P's wife got theirs as well. It is a night to celebrate.
The ones in ministry for 50 years were honored as well. Can you imagine doing this thing for fifty years? Crazzzy! Some are travelling around the world doing crusades and others are doing local stuff in the north and other parts. The fragrance of God is spreading everywhere and no one can stop it! It is awesome!
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (2 Cor 2:14)
Monday, March 03, 2008
The Ministry is Never Finished.
That was one message. The ministry is never finished! There will always be needs, crisis', emergencies. It will never be complete, finished, done and most people burn out and just loose their zeal, quit and write bad books about Christianity and churches. Hmmm...
T.O
I'm back from T.O! It was a thrilling weekend. D came and talked about missions. I just love that about this ministry. They look beyond the western spoils to the world abroad. Not many do... They are doing some national work hitting every province. I want to join the movement and be apart of it. Thank God for people like D and J. They will go far!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Josh Bidwell
(born March 13, 1976 in Winston, Oregon) is a punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While a rookie for the Green Bay Packers he battled testicular cancer.
He is a graduate of the University of Oregon.
PMC @ Mt Seymour
There are some days where nothing is better than this. Sure, there are seasons where you get the blues or times when you think you can't go on or get any further and days that don't seem to end early enough.
Not today! It was time to unwind and gaze at God's beautiful creation and be a kid again. There is a kid in all of us that refuses to die. Today was a day to forget about being weighed down by things that you can't control. There was no point on thinking about things that are beyond your grasp! Today was a day to take in all the simple stuff. We were glad to do it.
I had time to get to know S. She was dieing to go. She told about the stuff she is learning in school. She told me about the holocaust and other things... She is so bright!
I saw a tractor which reminded me of life in Man.
The weather was great and who can forget the mountains. The kids were playing. There is a kid inside all of us fighting to come out. We want to remember being so innocent, simple, care free, stress free and even secure. Kids are great! They have nothing to prove. I just love them at this age... We can learn so much from them!
The kids decided to crash Mtn Seymour. We talked about how Jesus prayed on a mountain for a whole night. Than we hopped on some tubes and raced and screamed down a mountain.
The weather was awesome! I love the west coast! But I know there is still more out there! Time to arrange, rearrange and engage!
I'll be off to T.O. It was the retreat that blessed my pants off last year. It is time to bless some else for a change. See you than!