Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Sinner's Creed

Sinner's Creed, a memoir by Scott Stapp of Creed, is due to come out October 2, of this year. I strongly encourage you to get it, if not to encourage him, to deepen your walk with the Lord by hearing someone else's testimony. I personally am curious to know what he went through as a Christian, rising to great heights as a world renowned rocker to the Creed breakup and then to now. Until now, it was always really blurry to me, where he stood as a Christian. I follow him on Twitter and I realize that he has always been a Christian, but like me, went astray and returned like the prodigal son.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Machine Gun Preacher

My son can tell you that I don't watch many movies, and you can hopefully understand why, but a few days ago he told me about one that he had seen a while back called "Machine Gun Preacher." He thought of it as I was talking to him about our responsibility as Americans to bless and help people in other countries with food, clothing, medicine, etc... I started getting upset as I told him of the time that I emailed most everyone on my email contact list an opportunity to bless and possibly save a kid's life by donating $8 to feed them for a month. I was surprised that only one person approached me. I couldn't believe it. Out of all those people, especially in one of the richest countries in the world, no one could shell out $8. That's pathetic. I mean we're talking about 8 Hershey bars, not a new car. The point is, kids are
dying over in Africa and other places, just because there is no food. I have even read that they will put dirt into their mouths because their stomach hurts so bad. We don't have to go and hand it to them. There are ministries that need our help. They will do it! All we have to do is what we're supposed to do. Tithe. 10%. That's it! We don't need to build bigger churches and have more programs here in America. We need to do what Jesus told us to do and that's look out for the least of these. As I rambled on about it with my son, he said that I should really see the movie because it's along the same concept.

It is a true story about a man named Sam Childers that was a chief sinner (drugs, guns, prison) who found Jesus and decided to go on a mission trip. While over there, his heart was moved with compassion about helping the kids so he started a church back in the US and with their help (and out of his own pocket), he built an orphanage in Sudan. But their was danger, and still is. He had to protect the children by using force against the LRA. The movie goes on and shows you how real the struggle over there is. He is still there doing this as I write this. Great movie! I hope you go and rent it, because if you have a heart for helping kids and those less fortunate, you will be inspired to see his story.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Metal Bible

I just wanted to let everyone know about this Bible that's out called Metal Bible. It includes the New Testament writings as well as testimonies of metalheads like Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth, who gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

The Metal Bible is currently featured in Swedish, English (NLT), German and Dutch languages and they are currently working hard with Portugese, Italian, Slovak, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Spanish versions.

The contact for this project is Johannes Jonsson and he stated that the purpose of the Metal Bible is:

...to break down prejudices and misconceptions that many metalheads have about the Bible and help people to realize that the Bible is not a boring book but an interesting and living book that has a lot to tell us today. Hopefully many will through this special bible edition see that the Bible and its message is something for them too.

You can view this Bible by following this LINK

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Pray!

Let's join in together pray for this prayer request that I received. Thank you!

There is a boy of nine here in Israel who has been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer around his heart. It was discovered because he had a persistent cough that would not go away. Every major medical center -- including top flight places in the US -- that has had its doctors review the pictures (MRI, whatever), has said that it is inoperable. They will not touch it.

The prognosis is so grim that the mother has made a decision to decline chemotherapy, so that he should not be made totally miserable in his last weeks or months.

There is, then, nothing but prayer. And I ask it of each of you, and that you put out the word as extensively as possible. Miracles do happen, and we cannot turn our back to that possibility.

Pray for NOAM JAY BEN INBAR.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Coffee = Christian Crank

Ok, so today was the official last day (by the grace of God of course) that I will ever drink another cup of coffee. This was a hard one for me (and it took a while), before God brought me around to repentance. I drank very consistently for the last 6 years. I enjoyed grinding and picking up a fresh roast of Kenya AA, sometimes right out of the local roaster. I remember twice for sure that I felt like my heart was trying to jump out of my chest on that particular brew.

At that time, I really didn't see anything wrong with it. However, over the last several years, I started to notice that I would go out of my way to get it, almost craving it like an illegal drug. Once I tried to quit "cold turkey" and I remember getting headaches over the course of day 2 and 3 that eventually caused me to almost vomit in the car. We just so happened to be passing a Starbucks so I ran in and picked up a cup. My problem went away almost immediately. There is also apparently a lot of history to caffeine, possibly going back to the book of Job in the Bible. For those of you that drink coffee, you may want to seriously ask God if it's right for you. If you are a drinker and want to stop, here is what I recommend. Gradually take it down to one cup a day for a month or less; make up your mind not to go past that one cup. At the end of that month, start skipping days and then after a week go and throw your favorite cup away along with your brew machine and any coffee that you have. Once you have done that, go to the Lord and ask Him to give you the strength to move on. God bless!

NOTE***DAY 2 - Ok, even with these weaning recommendations, I am experiencing a lack of focus, blurriness and severe back stiffness and pain. Something to think about.

NOTE***Day 8 or 9? - I'm not sure of the exact day since I quit, but I can honestly say that I have more energy and I feel great.