Currently Listening The Life and Times of Absolute Truth By Tree63 see related

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11973510/

Wow, this is the kind of thing that I thank God is in the news.  We need to know about this stuff, and pray for the persecuted brothers and sisters out there who are being punished for standing for the name of Jesus Christ.  This is a fellow brother in Afghanistan, Abdul Rahman, who committed his life to Christ many years ago, and is now on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity, and PUBLICLY confesses his faith in front of the media.  Please pray for him, his safety and protection, because people in the streets will be on the verge of killing him if the courts free him.  It is a crime in many Muslim nations to convert from Islam to Christianity.  He is one of many cases out there unreported.  What an honor to be "counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (Acts 5:41)."  You may think that's crazy, but it is an honor to suffer for standing up for what we believe.  Stand up for what you believe and don't be afraid to tell everyone around you.  Shout it from the rooftops!  Let's take advantage of the fact that we actually HAVE the freedom to do it,  praise God!

Fellowship of the Unashamed (an African Martyr's Last Words)

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."  The die has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.  My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, tame visions, mundane talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.

I won't give up, back up, let up or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.  I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.  My colors will be clear.  "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ"(Romans 1:16).

For once we aren't the bad guys.  Now what if they start making fun of Christians, would we (here in the US) do the same thing that they are doing right now?  Certainly not.  I see a double standard here.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11383819/

Please pray for the victims of the mudslide in the Philippines. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11400414/

Currently Watching Lost - The Complete First Season By Jorge Garcia, J.J. Abrams see related

Eternity is coming.  Are you ready?   I just had a very what-seemed very real dream to me before writing this.  Here is a little insight into the dream.  I hardly ever share dreams with others, especially on a blog site, but this one I must.

I was being held hostage by a group of people persecuting me for my beliefs in Christ who had me locked away in this one room on which lay many of my treasured possessions here on earth.  Many other Christians were locked away in other rooms in the vast complex.  Beforehand I had been shot a few times in the shoulder areas when I attempted to escape.  As I am in this room, and a guy with a handgun comes in and tells me to about-face him as I face the side of the bed and he right behind me.  He points the gun straight at the back of my head and asks me if I am ready to die.  I ask him if he could give me a few minutes to pray, which he obliges me.  I lift my hands both toward heaven and just pour out myself out in tears and utterances to my Heavenly Father asking for his divine intervention in the situation but also praising him for the life that he has allowed me to live and all his wonderful blessings in my life.  I then ask the man if he would give me a little more time.  He proceeds to take away many of my possessions as well as the cash in my wallet, but I ask him, please, can the remaining contents of the wallet and some other things be given to my family.  He agrees.  I then ask him if he would like to hear about the reason for the hope that I have in Christ.  He gives me a few minutes while I sit down facing him in this room and share the message of salvation through Christ with him. 

I told him, "Look me in the eye, I care deeply about where you are going eternally--I wouldn't be sharing my message with you otherwise."  He seemed to ponder about it for a little and then leaves the room with the stuff that would be given to my family.  While sitting thinking on the bed, my whole life races right before my eyes.  Why am I sad about dying?  There were still so many people--so many friends, so many classmates, so many co-workers-that I had not yet told about God's Good News of grace that comes through our Savior Jesus Christ.  I had so many opportunities to tell them---and didn't use them.  I felt joyful and hopeful knowing once I died, I would be forever in the glorious presence of my Lord and King; but in that same moment, I felt sorrowful and regretful about the lives I had not informed about salvation through Christ and the impending judgement to come.  "Lord, I need more time, I can't go yet, not yet." were the thoughts that kept going through my mind.  The guy came back with the assurance that we could finish our conversation about Christ before he killed me.  This has to be a dream I told myself---but I couldn't wake up from it.  Then I did.  Praise God it was just a dream and that I am still alive and able to have the privilege of serving Him on this earth.

Do you have people--friends, family, classmates, co-workers, acquaintances in your life that still need to know about Christ?  If you have the opportunity, go for it, don't put it off till later.  There may not be a later.  Jesus is coming soon, so be ready.  Keep eternity in mind.  Remember, eternity minus this life still equals eternity and this present life is but for a moment.  Let's make the most of the time we have right now.  God's blessings and peace with you all and may He continually strengthen and empower you to live a life that brings Him the glory due His name.

The new Mutemath CD is flippin awesome!  What does it sound like?  hmm....original, can't think of any particular band they copy

Internminated:

1.  The state of being layed off as an intern.  2.  The state of being let go as an intern.  3.  The state of being released from an internship.  (fr. ME intern + ME terminate)

Don't let anything or any evaluation keep you from succeeding at whatever you are doing.  If it dissapointed you, you know what to improve on for the next opportunity.  Remember, when something happens that doesn't let you continue status quo, God has something even better for you in the future, so hope in Him and wait on Him because He has your life safe within the palm of His Hand.  Who knows, you may be transferred to an even better place because there is someone there who needs to know the message of salvation through Christ, or there may be no new opportunity right now because He wants you to spend more time sharing your faith with fellow classmates at school.  God knows what He is doing, and it is all for His glory and that all may repent and turn to Christ as Lord and Savior.

Currently Listening God He Reigns: Live Worship From Hillsong Church By Hillsong All For Love see related

If only we had the faith like that.  There was this young black dude preaching up a storm at the free expression area this afternoon.  His wife and another supporter were close by to answer any questions.  The police were telling him he had to leave cuz he was causing a disturbance but you know what?  He kept on going, they kept pulling him aside and telling him to stop but he kept going.  People were throwing questions at him testing his faith, but he would bounce right back and keep on going. He know his scripture too, so many verses he would pull out of his Bible he had with him and he preached.  It was such an encouragement watching him do that, I was like, wow, I need to learn from this guy, so I just stood there and listened for a while. 

I don't think I would do it exactly like he was doing because he was very vocal about if you are a homosexual or lesbian or if you smoke or fornicate or whatever sinful lifestyle you are living you are going to hell.  But he did talk about why Jesus came to die for us and how He made the atonement for are sins and all we need to do is repent and turn to Him.  I give him major props for boldness, that's the kind of thing the early Christians did in the cities proclaiming the Good News.  Why can't we?  I'm nowhere there yet.  For those of us who saw him this afternoon and those who didn't, let it be an encouragement to us to be strong in our faith and be bold in sharing our faith.