Vote!

Next Tuesday we will have our general election. The big news is Obama vs. McCain, as well as Proposition 8. But did you know that Prop 8 is just one of 12 propositions that will be on the ballot? I sure didn't.

There's more at stake than just the definition of marriage on this ballot. There's also a measure that wants to ensure parental notification before their daughter has an abortion (Prop 4), not to mention other various issues of importance.

The website of the California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, contains a lot of information regarding the 12 propositions. They are located here. Scroll down a bit to get to the heading: Propositions that are on the November 4, 2008, General Election Ballot

Clicking on each individual proposition takes you to the "Title and Summary" of each. At the top of the page are links entitled: "Analysis," "Arguments and Rebuttals," and "Text of the Proposed Law." These links are very informative in helping you to decide what to vote for and against.

Especially helpful is the "Arguments and Rebuttals" link, as you can read about both sides of the argument in a particular issue.

Please, please, please take the time to look over the issues and vote as God would have you. The ballot you will be voting on next week has a lot more at stake than you may realize.

Would You Eat Dirt?

Yesterday I saw a movie (adapted from the book with the same title) that really spoke to me on many different levels. It's called "The Kite Runner."Yes, it has been out for about a year, but hey, I guess I don't get out much. The trailer for it is below.



I was touched on a lot of different levels but one that jumped out to me is in the area of servanthood. In America, we don't really know what that looks like. Well, at least I don't - not in its fullness anyway.

For example, here is a quote from the book, taken from one of my favorite scenes in the movie:

He (Hassan) turned to me (Amir). A few sweat beads rolled from his bald scalp. "Would I ever lie to you, Amir agha?" Suddenly I decided to toy with him a little, "I don't know. Would you?" "I'd sooner eat dirt," he said with a look of indignation. "Really? You'd do that?" He threw me a puzzled look. "Do what?" "Eat dirt if I told you to," I said. ... "If you asked, I would," he finally said, looking right at me. To this day, I find it hard to gaze directly at people like Hassan, people who mean every word they say. "But I wonder," he added. "Would you ever ask me to do such a thing, Amir agha?"

Being a servant means doing whatever your master tells you to do, even if it means doing something you don't want to do. Or should I say, rather, ESPECIALLY if it's something you don't want to do.

But isn't that how we are to relate to our God? Being his servant means doing whatever he tells you whenever he tells you to do it. But the cool thing about God is that even if he did tell us to do something equivalent to the level of eating dirt, it wouldn't be to fulfill some sort of cruel, sadistic fantasy - he would use it for our good as well as to accomplish his plan; his good, perfect, and pleasing plan.

True servanthood comes not on our terms, but on the terms of our Master. How far would you go to obey all that God commands of you?

M.I.A.

Sorry to be missing in action, things have just been crazy busy this week. Check back later, after things slow down a little for me. In the meantime, why don't you read your Bible and pray?

What Do You Do Now?

One of my new favorites, this song is called "True Love" recorded by Phil Wickham. I think it might be really good communion song. If only I could sing and play it like he does... sigh.



True Love - Phil Wickham
Come close listen to the story
About a love more faithful than the morning
The Father gave his only Son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the Father's broken heart
Tears were filling heaven's eyes
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day the true love died, the day that true love died

Search your hearts you know you can't deny it
Lose your life just so you can find it
The Father gave his only son just to save us

Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive
He rose again!

Come close listen to the story

Mark 15:37-39
37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Can you imagine how sad that day was, but praise God that the story doesn't end there. Jesus is alive! Do you believe it? What difference will it make in your life that Jesus rose from the grave?

What If?

“The power of prayer has never been tried to its full capacity in any church. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine grace and power wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let the whole Church answer God's standing challenge; ‘Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knows not." - Hudson Taylor




Go to prayer meeting. This is YOUR church too, and your prayers do matter! Let us take up our crosses, follow God with reckless abandon, come together in prayer, and see what God will do in us and through us!

Let us bathe all that we do in our church and in our lives in humble prayer to our Lord and may we never, never again wonder, "What if?"

A Fish Story

Found this on the internet...



A guy who lives at Lake Conroe (50 miles north of Houston) saw a ball bouncing around kind of strange in the lake and went to investigate. It turned out to be a flathead catfish who had obviously tried to swallow a basketball which became stuck in its mouth!!


The fish was totally exhausted from trying to dive, but unable to because the ball would always bring him back up to the surface. The guy tried numerous times to get the ball out, but was unsuccessful.


He finally had his wife cut the ball in order to deflate it and release the hungry catfish. You probably wouldn't have believed this, if you hadn't seen the following pictures... Be kinder than necessary. Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.


This was probably some sort of "feel good" internet posting, but there great truths in it nonetheless. Sometimes people can be a little less than kind to one another, but if we all spread some of God's grace around, realizing even other people have bad days, then maybe we will just shine the light that is God's in the darkness that we all face at one time or another.

Keep Going!

For you sports-minded types, this is one of the most inspirational illustrations of perseverance and encouragement I have ever come across. It's a little long (6+ minutes) but well worth it.



Jesus persevered and so should you.

It is also probably safe to assume that Brock wouldn't have gotten as far as he did without the encouragement (yelling!) by his coach. God created us to be in fellowship with one another and the video just goes to show how encouragement from others can go a long way in helping us to carry out the work that God has for us...

Hebrews 12:1-3
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Faith...

Alonzo's new book...

One of my heroes is Alonzo Mourning. I like him because he is a great basketball player who has maximized his potential on the court. He never struck me as the most talented person skill-wise, but he is athletically gifted AND works hard! As a result of his hard work, he became one of the top centers in the NBA.

But recently I found one more thing to like about him: his faith.

I shouldn't have been surprised that he is a Christian because off the court he is involved with a lot of charity work, but that aspect of his life is not as widely publicized as his exploits on the court.

Excerpt from the book.

It's always inspiring to hear about people who live their faith in times of darkness. Way to go, 'Zo!

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Mighty to Save

Sometimes it's easy to feel down because people you love don't know Jesus. But this song is a great reminder that salvation belongs to God and no one else. Even if it seems that your loved one is so far away from Jesus, God is greater!

Though salvation is God's, we must still be faithful and share the Gospel. But have you ever had problems with sharing your faith, especially with close friends and/or relatives?

There is a great opportunity for those of us in the Bay Area to attend a great training session to share Christ with loved ones on October 18th. If you register before this Friday, it will be $29 (vs. $39 after that). You can get more info and register online at the Heaven Together website.

Rockin' for Jesus! This is another one of my favorite praise songs. I like it because the music and lyrics really go together well. For those of you (all 3 of you!) who attend prayer meeting, this is how it's SUPPOSED to sound!

Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Jesus Reigns!

Even though it often doesn't seem like it, God is still in control. Never forget that God reigns and Satan gets what's coming to him in the end!

He Reigns
by Peter Furler & Steve Taylor
It's the song of the redeemed rising from the African plain
It's the song of the forgiven drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe every tongue every nation

A love song born of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singing
Glory glory hallelujah He reigns He reigns
It's all God's children singing
Glory glory hallelujah He reigns He reigns

Let it rise above the four winds caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals

To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation

Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples

None rings truer than this

And all the powers of darkness tremble at what they've just heard
'Cause all the powers of darkness can't drown out a single word

Matthew 16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

I can't wait to praise God in heaven with all the other believers!

Trying Times

During this unstable financial climate, many Americans are truly beginning to worry about their future. But the Apostle Paul faced a much more dire situation; while jailed for the sake of the Gospel, he didn't know if he was going to live or die.

Nevertheless, he had this to say:

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have."

What great faith! But it isn't an unattainable faith. We need only be obedient and wait on the Lord. Truly, when it comes down to it, isn't that quite simple?