"I BELIEVED, AND SO I SPOKE"

I made a commitment a couple months back. I signed a lease on an apartment for one whole year. It's significant because not only does this mean that I'll be living in LA for the whole next year but that I will need to pay about $445.00 every month to live there. From August 2010 - August 2011. I am posting this on my blog as a sort of self-motivation to myself. Self-motivation to myself because I don't have a job. Which means I don't have any steady income. Jesus has provided for me graciously over the last couple months through short stints as an apartment manager and traveling cook. But now I'm wanting to pursue a job by faith. I'm asking God to provide a job that would somehow bring honor to the great Name of Jesus Christ. Also a job that I would enjoy doing, that would give me the satisfaction of laboring and earning my own living. Preferably I'd like to work at an organization that serves spanish speaking immigrants, or perhaps a job at an auto store, o...

“Those who cling to worthless idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." Jonah 2:8-9 Disaster was coming. The prophet had proclaimed that in yet 40 days and the city and its people would be destroyed. But this prophet wasn’t always so bold. At first when the Word of God came to him he ran away from the Lord! He clearly wasn’t as excited about the call given to Him as God was. Maybe it was selfishness, racism or fear that caused him to not want to save the people of Ninevah. One thing it definitely was is disobedience. Yet God used the prophet to turn a nation from evil to Himself and to be saved from certain death. This is the story of Jonah. I’ve been taught a powerful lesson from this tiny book in the Bible over the last year as my heart often persuades me me to run from doing what God wills rather than trusting Him and doing the har...

Only One Life – C.T. Studd By Charles Thomas Studd, Missionary to China, India, and Africa Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat; Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. When this bright world would tempt me s...

Gospel for Asia is a ministry whose primary aim is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who have never before heard His name. Check out this inspiring website: http://www.gfa.org/ Particularly on my mind and heart are the Aug. 08 killings of Christian believers in the India's western state of Orissa.500 were left dead and thousands homeless. Pray for boldness and strength for these Indian believers who continue to trust in God in the face of evil.

A week ago John Piper preached a message at the Gospel Coalition Conference in Chicago entitled "Feed the Flame of God's Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel ." http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/3837/Audio/. I listened to it as I ran 8 miles for my marathon training (May 31st San Diego) and was completely rocked by it. This message is worth listening to. In it he preaches about the boldness that we must exercise as we give witness of the reality and beauty of Jesus Christ. Enjoy!

I wrote and read the following before the Easter meal at my parent's home this last Easter Sunday. _________________ Today we celebrate Easter. We celebrate the triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ over death by His rising from the dead and His absolute and final defeat of sin and death. We celebrate our adoption as sons and daughters of the One True and Living God through His death and rising. And we celebrate that He alone is the God of Justice & He is Love. But not everyone has seen and believed this most glorious truth of what God has done for each of us. And once knowing we are quick to forget and sure to falter in our deeds and thoughts. The truth is that it’s not easy to accept Jesus words that we are evil at the core of who we are and that we need to be born again and we can’t make it happen. It is not easy to accept that we deserve Hell because of who we aside from all the evil we think and do. Jesus speaks the truth out of love in Matthew 7:9-11: “Which of you, if his...