It's a Thriller!

Want some of my pumpkin?

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4, NIV)

I know, I know; yo sé, Halloween, pumpkins, Saw, EVIL!

Nah. Halloween is (supposed to be) one of the scariest days of the year. To some, the zeal of killing random people with engineer-like traps (as in Saw), or the craziness of talking to dead people (as in Medium or Ghost Whisperer, good shows... sorry!), or even the outrageous deaths of teenagers (as in Final Destination), nevertheless the chance of dressing up like a fool or a "fool-ette" without no one telling you anything!

Back in Puerto Rico, I remember once that my grandma told me that Halloween was satanic, evil, and demon-evoking. By that, I followed her call. But at one time, when one of my cousins had a birthday party, my sister was dressed as Pocahontas, and I was dressed as a ghost. (Lame, huh?) There’s this really lame division right there, people don’t celebrate Halloween that much (unless you’re in an American base or a little kid). More of “treating”, they use it for “tricking”, T-Ping houses, egging people and houses, and making ugly concoctions for no reason! These “maldades” were just child’s play compared to many weird cults in the mountains. Some –no joke- used blood –real blood- for sacrifices! We knew where they were (their altars were set up), so the churches used to do cultos (services) that night to counteract it! And we have faith that they succeeded!

Now that I’m in America, I see an apartment door decorated with Halloween stuff. I see another house in Adelphi (¿?) decorated for the event. I imagine some kids will trick-or-treat that day (dang! Don’t have no tracts), and a lot of parties, too. Alas, I’m not going to celebrate it, lest I see a good scary movie and there’s some spare candy for the little tykes who wish to show up at my apartment door. It’s also a big mess the “to do or not to do” debate among Christians. There’s something I can do (and believe me, God knows me well, I am going to pay for this…)

(Nothing personal, I'm just joking...)

Happy Halloween! Dios bendiga!

José E.

Too Much Blood?

(Wrote this yesterday.)

A massacre, in a bar, late last Saturday night. A cold death scene with a young child, victim from a gunshot. Another teenage is murdered in his school, a "model school", in broad daylight. Marches and prtoest stubbornly fight their fate. What is happening to the Puerto RIco I know and love? Why is it victim of too much blood? It is a far-fetched fact: my Puerto Rico is crumbling, cracking along its own rim. Where to I dare find fault? I have never believed that this crime wave would shake us to the core! Is it being invaded by its own foolishness? There is nothing we can do, other than pray and watch for its own fate... or is it?

On par, I turn back to the cross, where all began.. I turn back to what was the feat of agony, the forsaking wretch on the purito ofour Lord. Screams, books, wiping tears follow. Oh, risen Savior, why did You endure so much torment!? Is this the price of love? ANd I graciously have this? Why is it too much blood?

Let me clear: blood of sinners and saints have been spilled on this earth, but not in most occurence as this time. It will become worse until His awaited return. (Is this me writing?) As we ready our feet for eternity, our own future lies on the message of His blood. For much of the blood spilled now returns to the Earth, soon to be fired down, we rely on Jesus' blood who cleanses us whole... like a dialysis! Now, I dare not to chuckle at other people's despair. One thing certainly remains: the blood of goats and calves made cleansing on the outside, but Jesus made full cleansing with His blood, pure, holy, for once and for all.

Referenced in Hebrews 9:13,14

The More You Grow...

I planted the seed. Apollos watered it. But God made it grow. So the one who plants is not important. The one who waters is not important. It is God who makes things grow. He is the One who is important. (1 Corinthians 3: 6-7, NIRV)

The more you grow…

I SUCK in ear training. I mean, I can identify notes, lines, and (somewhat) key signatures, but hearing has met my match. Oh, identifying intervals has become a pain in the… tush! I can keep up the pace in a few moments, but then… I get messed up fast! Then I have to start over. And I’m only practicing for the first two intervals! (Lord, help me! Or, please help the teacher so he can help me. Indirect approach…?)

All right, all right. I have to fess up: I am not a musician. It is seemingly frustrating to see that many of my Musicianship class are in the school choir, and another one plays piano. (Some are gunning for auditions!) I just… write. And I don’t know when to use it! This is a nasty burden! At least, the teacher told me, “you’ll be fine” last Tuesday. This means that he’ll help me along the way, provided I show to him that I want to grow…

Wait a second! What about God, you say? Sheer desire for growth is not the only thing He pleases for in our walk. God has promised us growth in spirit, but we have to put the first stone (not throw it!) for Him to grow. That’s called faith. And (as usual), I really need to take this home. I am my obstacle of growth, focusing too much on what I can’t do, than in the things Jesus wants me to do. (Lord, I’m too much of a sinner to blog, lest to help that poor guy out on Geometry!) Ah, the pains of spiritual growth. Like the church, Jesus uses both who plants and who waters so that we can grow hands-on to His power and grace.

The more you grow…

In The Moon

Focus On: Psalm 72: 1-12

Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Colossians 2:12, NASB)

I have discovered many reasons to write: it brings me freedom, it helps me cope with distinct (personal) problems, it helps me share the word of God in a new light. There have been, however, other limits to writing: I need to get a life, I need to grow up, I need to stop whining. There is no gray spot where the two goals can’t agree with each other!

I am, in fact, definitely in my moon. When I mean, “in the moon”, I mean, separate from what I know: friends, family, a job, and studies… everything I know. And while I see that place disintegrate, I have to make over in this land, of freedom, bravery, and lawsuits! It is, in fact, tough to restart everything, but with God, He will carry all our burdens… if we’re willing to give them away.

This separation from what I know also has taken the toll: the inability to stop sinning. For more that you think of not sinning, you get so wound up by trying to not sin that you sin without measure of that same thing you told yourself can’t sin! Darn, it is hard! It is a true fact: serving the Lord is hard.

Being “in the moon”, I also realize how separated of God we were. Without Him, we were in our own separate “moons”, not wanting anything Supernatural –or nothing righteous- to aid us in our life. Until we bumped into Christ. Things totally changed, proving that our “moons” couldn’t be reined alone, but with Someone on our side. Jesus became the center of our lives, crowned and worshipped in glory. We do know this, but how much of this conviction is in our heart? How many times have we pushed Jesus away? And how many times has He returned?

In the moon, God will always pick up His stray sheep. He will always carry us in our weakness. It is hard, sure, letting this sink in our heart, but this is why we pray: Lord, please help me know that we are nothing without You.

Shut Up and Worship

(I'll be doing something different today. Hope you like it!)

Amado, can you stop for a moment? There is something I have to tell you.

Amado, which church, if any, you go to? Which denomination? Why I ask, you ask? For a moment, I thought you were going to throw me with something! Sorry, my friend. However, there is something I want to tell you.

Why do we concentrate so much on proving who’s right or wrong? Who says that pants are sin? Who says that raising hands in worship is uncanny and outdated? Who says that modern praise music is from the devil? Who says who? Why do we concentrate so much on who knows more doctrine than realizing that –even though it is necessary- doctrine is just a way to recognize the order of Christ?

I know, amado, you’re rolling your eyes already. Can we lay our Bibles up, put our “guns” down, and just worship? Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. (Psalms 96:8-9, NIV) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. (Psalm 29:2, NIV)

Should I beg? Amado, we are brothers in Christ. We will correct each other, care for each other, love each other deeply, even if we are in different denominations. For that is not serving God? Please, brother, don’t point at me, it makes me feel bad. Just help me worship the Lord.

Please, amada. Let’s shut up and worship freely and deeply. Let us cleanse in His water and blood, dress in His Sprit, and worship without any malice.

I pray, Lord, help me shut up and worship You as You deserve to be worshipped.

God's House of Horrors

Hell houses!

“…they, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 13:10,11, TNIV)

Hell. It’s freakishly unsettling to many (even to me), so this topic is becoming knocked out from the pulpits, for the dismay of some. Just thinking of the fact that we’re headed straight to hell is not comforting- at all! Just the fact that Christ can save- now you’re talking different! It has become a debate on what type of “hell” really exists, if (according to many denominations, they question) exists any. And how people envision it can be hilarious, or scare the bejeebers out of you!

Now that we’re in Halloween, it’s imperative we should talk about hell houses. Like a haunted house, it is the Christian-alternative version of it, growing in number (and kits!) for many Evangelical churches. Some say it’s a fundamentalist tactic, some say it’s an emotional manipulation, some say they’re nuts, others defend that they’re presenting the evils of the world, showing them the truth, and saving them with the true Gospel. It’s confusing!

As you know, with “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, there have ever been pictorial representations of Hell in view. But allow me to explain: a scene has a date rape; another scene has a gay marriage and subsequent death of one of the spouses by AIDS; a Columbine-like shooting; a teenager tempted by the devil to commit suicide- and succeeds; drunken car crashes; a botched abortion. These are day-to-day scenes of life here in America, and they’re presented in a bloody way.

In a world which loves blood, these hell houses sure are giving some blood! Hell houses, unfortunately, have become a fear-mongered spectacle. This really has become adept at making the world, Godly! However, I cannot say: they are doing a great job by acting out these parts, but this can’t cover for the faulty representation of many things- gay people aren’t the only one who die from AIDS, and not all abortion procedures (though wrong, in my viewpoint) are that botched. This has succeeded to see that many have been “saved” because of it; was it for the medium, or for Jesus?

Food for thought: Read “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, from Jonathan Edwards. (We'll use for much of this week!)

Where's Love?

Focus On: 4: 7-21

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18, NIV)

Do you remember? (NEW! Look at these posts for a quick recap): Make Me Complete, Lord and Don’t Leave Love and Faithfulness!

I have something personal to share (as if it was enough?): I’m afraid. Of spiders. Arachnophobia. The skirmish of these eight-legged freaks (sorry, God!) is just too tempting for me to come forward. In fact, this has let me slow to enjoy Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant last night on the movies (without counting my corny misadventures)!

It was when I was six, in 1st Grade. I was playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time when a stupid skulltula appeared on the game! I was so shocked, I ran to my bedroom (we all had a big bedroom) to my mom and dad. Thus, this has harbored my fear of spiders. Now, the watching, viewing, or even thinking of spiders haunts me. Where is the love?

This is what many people experience: hatred, hardship, trial, pain, suffering, and many more things. This leaves many more in confusion, doubt, envy, losing faith, etc. John declared that God is love (1 John 4:8,16), and made it the central part of the book. In God’s love, fear is not harbored. In His love, His grace flows mightily open for all who desire and/or need so. Just like my irrational fear of spiders, God helps me cope with those frights of horror. His grace is enough, such a wondrous revelation! No fear can take us away from God’s mighty hand.

As always, you know the drill: It will take time for me to apply this truth (if I do something at all in this lifetime!). It may take time for me to squeal at some spider pictures, videos, or magazines, but what the hey? JESUS IS ENOUGH and that is all I need to hear.

Food-for-Thought: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:14)

So I lift my eyes to you Lord
In your strength will I break through Lord
Touch me now, let your love fall down on me
I know your love dispels all my fears.
Through the storm I will hold on Lord
And I pray I will hold on, Lord
Then I'll see beyond my calvary one day
And I will be complete in You.
-Parachute Band, Complete, chorus (Remember the song?)

The Brave Surrender! (Or, How Come!?)

Focus On: John 6:1-15

"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" (John 6:9, ESV)

We all know the story: Jesus, realizing how many of the people He teached were hungry and couldn’t set them home, made a banquet out of only five barley leaves and two puny, little fishies. However, my point is not on the miracle, or the fishies, or the bread, (Jesus will always be glorified), but on the vessel Jesus used: a kid.

(On some days, followers of the blog may need to go back to some key posts to understand what I’m talking about.) The Lord knows. It’s amazing that I am struggling in the same thing –look it up on Blogger-, not long, and I’ve still fell for it… IF I’ve fell for it, knowingly. Yesterday, I saw a Pfizer commercial so touching. What a teen looked like he was going to vandalize, he wrote a “BE BRAVE” in graffiti for a sick girl (maybe her sister?). What does this mean, other than more than medication?

I saw another video on Yahoo! last night, about a woman in Indianapolis, who prayed for ten minutes while being robbed. As the Lord is merciful, the robber had a change of heart, and talked to her for like forty minutes. She also received faith that maybe was lost, and pleaded for Christians to open up. What happened to the robber, then? When he left- with nothing more than $20, he turned himself in later. She was being brave, with her life.

Two stories, different, have one connection: bravery. What became a calling for bravery also became a chance to point down unorthodox ways in which encouragement can be displayed. Back to the story, I ask: “How Come?” How come a kid, a small kid, could give up all that he had so that God could use a miracle? (I have this marked on my Bible in Spanish.) This, in fact, was the study the last Thursday I went to church. How come the apostles, knowing that many people may have had way more or way less, decide to pick a child with only a 5/2 ration? What does this mean? Why did he give that up that easily?

The boy was being brave. What he didn’t know is that his contribution was marked as a miracle in history, perpetuated by generations of the Bible. The kid had a large amount of faith to willingly –willingly- give all what he dad. He gave it all for Jesus, One that he may have heard, even if it was so small. How can we imitate this kid? How can we imitate his faith? How can we surrender, being brave, even if we face trips and falls, deliberate sins, fears and failures?

Let me be brave, let me be brave...

Another Day, Another Squabble!

(Wrote this last night :) )

Focus on: James 1:19-27 (This is NEW!)

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (James 1:22-24, NLT)

"Let God change it!" has become one of the main precepts of laziness, thought He is the Only One fit for the job. Leaving one's burdens is relatively easy: confess to God our inability to carry our own selves, and giving it to Him. As you know, it is a myriad of food-for-thought accessible at this point: surrender, change, completeness, grace, faith, hope, love, guilt, sorrow, among other abstracts. In each I do my God-given best in portraying a unique identity to the youthful Christian life.

Problem is, it is easier said than done. Of the near 100 posts I’ve done, very few of them have struck to the core. ON surrender, I’m not willing; on change, I’m not acting; on completeness, I don’t feel like it, yeada, yada, yada, all over the space. What would God do? What will he say…? Who am I preaching to, God, the people, or to myself? (If any?)

Friends, it is tough to listen. Worse, it is tougher to apply His word in our lives. What can be more fruitful than that delicious unction of His hope embedded on His Holy Book. Writing, however, is just an imperfect medium; how we do this? God knows. Be mindful of how those truths are done, not only on faith and tongue, but on our actions. THIS, in fact, is the hard part.

Change does not only come from accepting the Truth, but by doing what the Truth- Jesus Christ- says and does. And, yes, it is a hard thing to strive for, for the standards Kingdom are high, but Jesus Christ in us will reach to the unimaginable. Everything is done in Him (Phil. 4:13)

The problem isn’t when we grow; it’s when we grow without knowing why we grow. (Did somebody quote that?) Padre, let us listen more –but better, do Your will. Even when we fail in the most miniscule detail.

Food-for-Thought (This is also NEW!): How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. (Psalm 119:103-104,NLT)

Borrón Y Cuenta Nueva (Or, The Click)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

It was surprising, horrible. I couldn’t believe myself. We needed to move forums in… a week!? How in the world THAT came from? What I do know, however, is that I lost EVERYTHING, from June to now in October. I didn’t lose EVERYTHING, however, since I copied the posts sporadically to Blogger. I did, lost, however, a week of posts, even my prayer for the 100th post. I would estimate the percent, but let’s leave it lost in memory for the sake of simplicity.

When we were told to move forums, I knew what it felt. I moved from a small Caribbean nation, for crying out loud! But it was heartbreaking, because I have to close soon and not enter again. (Or at least, that was my own proposal.) You all know the drill. Because I applied in February –but entered in April-, the worst is that all my history is gone –posts, pictures, videos, even the blog. All my history –poofed! , and I knew that I had to give that darned click out. I knew I had to detach from there to another place. It was hard giving that last click –and praying about it at the same time-, but I have faith that God will do wonders back here.

It also whisks that as much as the forums are definitely having problems restarting, also we have problems acting –or at least leaving our own whims- as “new creation”. Do you know how many times have I warned that the “jerk” can also be a sexual connotation? (I know: Once!) Do you know how many times have I not helped anything or pick up a tray? (This is definitely going to be addressed in the future.) You may also have problems in dropping off something that God’s not pleasing, and you may wrestle with Him. (I know, dude!) But Paul was right: anyone in Christ IS a new creation! NO sin can’t take us; NO evil will take us from His hand. He holds us dearly, His grace is high. We are new, Nuevo, shiny like stones. Like a new forum, it could take a while to break us and mold us (maybe a lifetime); like an old forum, it takes time to drop things and close. For God, it is worth it.

God, make us anew, make us shining.

Con todo el amor de Cristo,
With all of Christ's love,

Entering No More

I will not enter the old Commonwealth forums anymore.

It was hard to do that last click on "logout".

I will see you tomorrow, Dios los bendiga.

Joe.

Prepping for the Big Day

Hey, people! It's me, Joe, from "My Life In You"!

Right now, I'm finishing stuff up for the big restart on Wednesday. I'll change the outlook, use more multimedia, and show more pictures of me! There are a myriad of topics that I want to speak, and I changed my logo for its sake!

Don't think that I am liking the free time! (If I only had a life... Maybe I have one, that's why I write...). but I'm adjusting some stuff to -you know- make it appealing. Here's my new motto: Custom-made Writing!

Sorry I haven't checked in with a lot of my antics this past weekend (except Saturday), but it's just prepping for the big day. Please be considerate! I'm anxious!

With all of Christ's love,
Con todo el amor de Cristo,

José E.

To The One My Heart Loves

A few days ago, I was doing some things in the computer when I found the intro from Hillsong’s “Mighty to Save” in YouTube. It featured six verses, but a comment caught my attention and one verse specifically:

Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me. (Song of Solomon 3:4, NIV)

I know, huh? It’s strange to use Song of Solomon (or Canticle of Canticles, how you prefer to name it) in a non-sexual fashion. The point of the book is to exalt the virtue of Godly love, in all spheres –be it sexual, mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual, never to be left out. It is extra-hard to expound it without prior looks or biases of love.

I have read Song of Solomon. Beautiful book. It brings to my attention that this verse –as the comment correctly stated- was not much used in churches anymore. (Do I remember hearing it?) It is also interesting, because the lover doesn’t want to let him go. NOT. ONE. BIT. She was deeply in love with this man –is he Solomon?- and would not leave him, not any chance. She has dared to find him wherever he is and take him to her mother’s house- as a sign of marriage and respect.

Well, maybe we can draw something to us. We need God, NOW! She was desperate to seek him, so are we? She wanted to know him more, so are we? She was to go to the harshest circumstances, so are we? Yes, we do fail to strive for the ideal that brings seeking God, but we start in bits by bits. I guess God looks our desire to grow in His grace. Just a simple, “Lord, I don’t want to let you go”, with the most simple and humble heart, is more than enough to begin.

Some more food for thought: His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. (Habakkuk 3:4, NIV)

Here’s to the One my heart loves… the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

A Bit of God in the Midst of all Madness

Honest. At the mad, raged. At the eager, bummed.

I wanted to write about the strikes in Puerto Rico –at this point, they have already ended in peace, praise be to God. When I also heard about the sudden movement to another forum, from the one in which I’ve been with such blessings of people, to another one from scratch…? What is going on in here?

Maybe scheduled maintenance failed. I don’t know much, only God and the people that deal with these forums know what really happened. Just noting that the data has been wiped out to this very point upsets me. All that I have written, ALL… has been erased, forever spread to the cyberspace. At least, I salvaged some part of my works, as I took a week or so and copied the posts into Blogger. It is in fact, sad, that most of my recent work got lost… I estimate a 7 or 8 percent.

In the midst of the turmoil that comes in change, I also know this by experience. (We shouldn’t, however, value experience more than Scripture on its own.) You have known –which, by the grace of God- my journey into moving 1500 miles near to America. In just a month, God’s Almighty hand has moved in our favor, I say this by faith. However, there are many things to clear up, and moving is one of them.

I still find succor in this verse:

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10, NIV)

I do, in fact, remember using this on a post in summer (shhh!), but I find a new light on it. Though most refer it as the quiet on my own hearts, I have read (on the frame on my uncle’s Quest NIV Bible) that it can also refer to the “cessation of armed conflict” or so quoted. It is also of such respite to see that we…

Uh… lost my analogical track.

Well, we are in fact warriors in this world. God, our King, our Adonai, our Lord, has become so gracious to fight our battles, to shield our souls, and to battle the good battle of faith. Not for the Commonwealth, the USA, Puerto Rico, or anything, but for the Kingdom of God.

Worship Week Promo...

(On late July, I was to speak about worship for a full week. Unfortunately, the idea failed. However, I want to share you a promo, just to even out some things.)

What is worship? How we worship? Why we worship? Who we worship? Where we worship? When we worship? There are many questions surrounding this.

For centuries and millenia, worship has been the main grain in the Christian Church. Now, there are many traditions, forms, ways, recordings, fears, dangers, loves and many things worship can bring or evoke.

Am I a worship leader? No, not for now. But if we take steps and we decide to give to God all we have, then we ARE ALL worship leaders.

Follow me on a journey of worship.

Joe

One Thing...

Jamming to this song. Won't write tomorrow. Remember MTO topic. Behave.

José E.

Let Me Try and Be Mature...

Reality hit me today. Though I’m in a good mood, I have to run and point out my sin:

What I mean is: if God Himself showed up and told all of it, people will still find a flaw of His existence.

To sum up, we had a discussion about the existence of God (as always), while finding a tangent to the conversion of Paul. I never imagined that it was candidate to the most frustrating post ever written! I never knew that I could act as a jerk, not one bit. It makes me feel… dirty, perverted, a nuisance. Please, forgive me.

Now that I look of it, it is in fact, disrespectful. With this simple sentence, I am giving mouth to those who disprove of God, even that His perfect will to know humanity we fail to grasp. I also failed to grasp when to shut up, as always.

I also faced what to answer early this morning. Of course, I waited for a reply. To date, I still wait for one. However, I do not believe that I have disrespected God, my friends, my peers, even myself. I will ask for forgiveness.

Also, there is no reason to push what I believe and shove it into other people’s minds. It doesn’t work that way! This made me consider if I’ll take out the MTOs for now. Let me try and be mature.

Please, forgive me if I have been a nuisance; and God, forgive me, too.

The Battlefield

Today, I will depart from the normal circumstances that I present. You may ask: Why?

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (Jude 3, NIV)

During the week, I have come face to face with the fact of being contending. If you remember my post in July, I had struggles with many things, insignificant as for most may be. Another fact is (while I need to do more homework), that sooner or later I need to stand up, make ground for myself. This is somewhat tricky for me.

Like the 80’s song, “Love is a Battlefield”, also the whole scope of life is involved in said battlefield. The world always presents that the winners are the cheaters, the trampers, the wisecrackers, etc, regarding meekness as weak. In fact, God so wants broken, meek hearts, that Heaven is made of those unwilling to rush to the hot-buttoned world. This also has meaning, because pressure –especially self-made- is unknowingly destructive.

When I came here, I had biased thoughts about the people. Will I have to be tough, gangsta, a mo… you know? Will I have to hide Christ –which is the most basic form of rejection- to get friends, or go “secret-Christian-mode? What about my somewhat cheesy lingo? When I came here, starting to experience a normal, American lifestyle, I never knew that it would be (sorry for the redundancy) normal. I also prayed to God while getting ready for school. (I had a rough night, to say the least.) And this, I uttered while opening the window blinds in the 46-degree cold of the Mideast:

THE ONLY WAY TO STAND UP TO OTHERS IS TO NOT STAND UP TO YOU (God).

Or at least, giving or taking a few words.

This is something I quickly pondered, and I had it hidden in my thoughts, until now. The only way we can stand up to the world, letting them show our walk and power, is to not (and I mean, NOT) stand in self-centered arrogance to the Lord of the Heavens (though, He loves to work with wild hearts, I do not know why). You know that the value of self-respect is an important life skill (which I need, by the grace of God, work on it), but also more important is the value of humility to God. It is still impossible to be haughty to God and submissive to others at the same time, but it is also impossible to be submissive to God and haughty to others, too. There should be a balance, and only God, with our Helper, the Holy Spirit, will transform in the long haul, up until eternity.

After this, I’m back to more homework!