The Music of Opportunity & The Sound of Potential

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xwCG0Ey2Mg

Make A Difference

This summer at Skate Night, we watched a video series put out by Voice of the Martyrs with a group of teenagers who went to Vietnam to work with the persecuted church there and smuggle Bibles and Biblical materials into Vietnam. I also read "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand. It's easy to sit back in a chair in the US and read a book about modern day martyrdom, and although it's a little harder to watch a video about it, it's pretty easy to detach oneself from the reality that this is actually happening around the globe.

Tonight I received an email from Voice of Martyrs asking if I would "Be A Voice" for persecuted Christians around the world. I had to say "Yes" as I sat in my comfortable house with a full belly after just spending what we call "Falloween" with my family. Tonight, I wrote my first letter to a prisoner. She's in jail in Punjab, Pakistan. Why? Some Muslim woman were talking to her about their religion, and she responded by talking to them about hers. She went to prison; they went home. It took me only about 5 minutes to write the letter and less than a dollar to ship it to Pakistan. 5 minutes and 1 dollar for this woman in prison; for her, it could be the ounce of encouragement she needs to press on.

If you want to make a difference too, go to https://www.be-a-voice.net/qry/bv_home.taf and find out more.

God bless.

Mr. Rogers

This is an incredible viewpoint that more people in America should hear!

Congressman Rogers on health care reform
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G44NCvNDLfc

I know nothing about this guy, but I can tell you that I am 100% behind what he says in this video.

Amen!
Hallelujah!
Preach it brother!

Family

Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday to celebrate Isaac! The baby shower was fantastically fun, and it was great to see so many faces of family and friends we consider part of our extended family.

Thanks to John and Katie for hosting, Bethany Bible for allowing the use of their west wing, Mom and Dad Bennett and Mom and Dad Spore for all the time and energy you put into helping out, and thanks to Carrie Spore for helping decorate.

Where would we be in life without family? I am truly blessed.

Thank you Lord for all the loved ones you have surrounded us with. May we be always grateful. Amen.

My Heart Cries Out

This video is long, heart wrenching, and totally worth watching!

http://www.ahi-ug.org/media/Uganda/Uganda.htm

Writing

I don't take much pride in my writing, but every now and then I find something I've written and truly step back and say, "Wow. God hit a home run with that one." Not sure this will strike you that way at all, but I'm throwing it out there anyway. I found a box of old college papers, and as I was going through them to see what I should keep and what I should toss, I came across these little snippets from a couple of assignments I had written in one of my many English/Literature classes at Northwest.

Topic 1
Grace and mercy, God's gifts to mankind, burrow their way into our hardened hearts and turn our lives heavenward. Grace and mercy, the twin engines of God's love, ignite our souls and illuminate our flaws, so that we can examine ourselves with the thorougness of God, while the action of mercy covers our pride like a flame and consumes it.

Topic 2
A lot of times people judge where you are in life harshly or take what you've accomplished in life so lightly that you want to stand up and show them a video recording of your life, so they will appreciate you for who you are and what you've done in light of your past. Maybe then, they would understand and accept you. Then again, maybe not.

Isaac Adrien

We found out on August 13th that we are having a baby boy. We named him Isaac Adrien. Last night was an exciting night. As I was in bed getting ready to fall asleep, I felt Isaac moving around like he often does at that hour. Although this wasn't the first time I'd felt him move, it seemed like it might be strong enough that by some chance Jason might be able to feel it. So, I asked Jason to come over to see if he could feel it, and then I said, "Isaac, can you kick for daddy? Can you kick again for daddy?" And Isaac kicked harder than he's ever kicked before and Jason was able to feel it. It was a pretty cool night!