Christian Life Today

Lost and Found

On February 8, 2010

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

This is a very funny yet simple illustration of being lost. As Lisa Leslie (WNBA Player) said it “No matter what your situations are, being in the inner-city or broken homes, the Lord’s grace is so amazing He’ll cover you.”

Don’t Waste Your Life: A True Story of an Ex-Catholic

By Thor

On February 6, 2010

In testimonies

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:23-24

Read and watch the testimony of James.

My conversion from a practising Catholic to a Bible Believing Christian is primarily down to the change that I witnessed in my father’s life. One day I heard him listening to an old time American preacher. I remember saying to him: “Why are you listening to this? You’re a Catholic and we’re good people.” He responded by saying to me: “It isn’t enough for me now. I need something else. And I am not a good person.” Now, I must say that for a person who went to church every day, was on most church committees and had even penned a book about our church (which sold very well), this amazed me. This was to be a major turning point for my father and little did I know, for me too.

During this period, I was a singer with my own big band orchestra. We were at the level of semi-professional (I even worked with a trombonist who played with Frank Sinatra) and I absolutely worshipped this musical world that I was a part ofAll my energy and spare time after work went into making music my future. I would record 3 CDs and spend a small fortune producing these to float around to prospective agents. However, with the drastic change in my father’s life, I couldn’t ignore it and we would spend hours talking about the Bible, morals and the Catholic church. It took me 3 years to fully realise that I too needed to be Born Again.

I can remember very well, my father giving me a copy of an old 1880 King James Bible, which I still have. I read this and found its content totally amazing. All the years of being in the Catholic Church, with its many rituals and its repetitiveness, and yet the Bible was so fresh. Later I would seek out other translations and versions, but the King James has and will remain my Bible.

As band leader it was my responsibility to not only hire and fire musicians but also to find adequate venues to rehearse the orchestra, sometimes twice weekly. On numerous occasions I was able to secure two different church halls. I distinctly remember one being a Methodist church and one of the elders of that church, for a period of perhaps 18 months or so, never once witnessed to me or my musicians.

All I recall him stressing was that “no smoking or alcohol was permitted on the premises.” Also intriguing was how our keyboard player was their Sunday organist and he too never shared the Gospel with me or the 17 other guys. One can be “religious” yet not saved. Needless to say, when I got saved, Gospel tracts were sent to both parties and other “religious” people I had long known, prior to my new birth.

For More info visit: http://www.excatholicsforchrist.com/a…

Video and story: Youtube BereanBeacon

tags:
Ex Catholic, Ex Catholic testimony, Ex Catholic story

Humor: Letters to a Pastor

By Thor

On February 4, 2010

In Headline

Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister.

Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 8, Nashville.

Dear Pastor, My father should be a minister. Every day he gives us a sermon about something. Robert, Age 11, Anderson.

Dear Pastor, I’m sorry I can’t leave more money in the plate, but my father didn’t give me a raise in my allowance. Could you have a sermon about a raise in my allowance?
Love, Patty. Age 10, New Haven

Dear Pastor, My mother is very religious. She goes to play bingo at church everyw eek even if she has a cold. Yours truly, Annette. Age 9, Albany

Dear Pastor, I think a lot more people would come to your church if you moved it to Disneyland. Loreen. Age 9. Tacoma

Dear Pastor, Please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God’s helpor a new pitcher. Thank you. Alexander. Age 10, Raleigh

Dear Pastor, My father says I should learn the Ten Commandments. But I don’t think I want to because we have enough rules already in my house.Joshua. Age 10, South Pasadena

Dear Pastor, I liked your sermon on Sunday. Especially when it was finished. Ralph, Age 11, Akron

Source: CrossWalk
Photo: http://www.humor-day.com/funny_pictures/251.jpg

Would You Sell Your Virginity For $45,000 dollars To A Stranger?

By Thor

On February 3, 2010

In christian articles

To a young New Zealand teenager, the answer is YES! She auctioned off her virginity to a stranger for over $45,000 to fund her university tuition fees according to a New Zealand news headline story. The 19-year-old Northland student, who listed her virginity to an unpopular auction website i need.co.nz, even thanked more than 30,000 people who viewed her ad and to the more than 1200 offers made.

Is this a growing trend? Are teenagers resorting to a high class prostitution taking advantage of the advancing technology and the obscure legality of prositution? Earlier this year, In the United States, a Fox News Story reported a 22-year-old woman, Natalie Dylan, is selling her virginity online — offering her body to bidders nationwide in an auction that reportedly has netted a $3.7 million offer — and the law isn’t doing a thing to stop her. Then another teenager Alina Percea, 18, in the United Kingdon auctioned her virginity on a website so that she could afford to pay for her computing degree. Percea said she was inspired to auction herself on a German erotic website after reading how American woman Natalie Dylan, 22, from San Diego, had put her virginity up for sale for £2.5million. Percea even revealed her “first time” story to be published.

What’s going on? Have we lost our sense of morality in our society? Our once “daddy’s little girls” are now putting their “fresh meat” on the market! Yes, these young girls obviously needs money. Yes, they have their own private and personal reasons to do it. And yes, they are no longer “minors.” But what is disturbing is the apparent laxity of concerned parents, government officials, and unmindful businessmen. Is our world now so wicked to tolerate and allow these things to happen right before our eyes?

To some governments like New Zealand, prostitution is legal. But we have to understand that what is legal is not necessary moral. I lived in New Zealand for several years and I have witnessed how government officials tolerate scandalous and obscene activities like the yearly “Boobs on Bikes” at the heart of Queen Street in Auckland. That despite several killings of prostitutes in its major cities, the New Zealand government is not doing much to address the perils of prostitution. I wonder how many teenagers are working in various brothels, dim streets, and even public toilets.

But what about the auction website ineed.co.nz? Are the owners of this website just trying to gain publicity or just plain insensitivity? Of course, this is a “little known” auction site knowing that “Trade Me” is so popular in New Zealand. All I can say is, shame on this website! Kiwis shouldn’t be patronising such irresponsible auction site.

To the young teenager, I hope you realise the moral consequences of your actions. I hope that the winning bidder does not have AIDS, Syphilis, or any STDs. I want to tell you that God loves you despite of what you’ve done. God does not condemn you. Jesus Christ can make you clean as white as snow. He can remove even the toughest stain of sin if you are willing. May you encounter the love of God and realise that He has great plans and purpose for your life. Repent and put your trust in Christ.

Finally, to the patron bidders of this young girl’s virginity, I hope one of these days you will not be bidding on the virginity of your daughters, grand daughters, sisters, or even grandmas. Seek the Lord while He may be found.

Photo Credit: http://www.chitramala.com/img2/2009/07/virginity-for-sell.jpg

Australian Idol Winner Stan Walker sings Hallelujah

By Thor

On January 29, 2010

In Headline

I have to agree with Marcia Hines’s comment that something very special happens when Stan Walker stands on the Australian Idol stage. If you are a christian, you know what it means. Glory to God and thanks to Stan Walker for standing his christian beliefs.

Stan Walker’s interpretation of this song “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen is one of the best. He really sang it from his heart not only to please the fan base of the Australian Idol but also to glorify God. Stan is a messenger, a vessel, and a light connecting Jesus Christ to the Australian Idol viewing Australians.

“Hallelujah” Lyrics
Leonard Cohen

Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I’ve walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What’s really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don’t even know the name
But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?
There’s a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

source lyrics: azlyrics.com