Osama Bin Laden's Death: Should we rejoice?

When I heard about the news, I thought to myself well he DESERVES it and started to thank God for the victory.

It was when I was chatting with a friend that made me rethink things.

This friend asked, why would we as Christians rejoice for somebody's death?

And he's right.

Because even if how sinful a man can be, he's still a man God loves unconditionally, a man whom Jesus died for just like you and me.We can all say, well his SINS are greater compared to our petty ones. But the truth of the matter is, it's still sin and God detests it. Small or Big.

So the question is, should we rejoice or should we be sad?

Thank God, I found the answer from my favorite author's blog, Joshua Harris:

Justin Taylor helpfully states that "it's appropriate for Christians to intermingle grieving and gratitude. Grief for a life made in the image of God but so destructive of human life and so dishonoring to God. And gratitude for justice being served as an instrument of God's wrath."

Now that's the right perspective!

Just like what Jesus said "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

Source: http://www.joshharris.com/2011/05/how_should_we_respond_to_osama.php

Tiger Woods and Father in Nike Ad | A Story of Second Chance

1 Cor. 13:5 (New International Version)

"Love...keeps no record of wrongs"

When I heard about the greatest golfer Tiger Woods falling for temptation having affairs with multiple women, A lot were hurt, a lot got discourgaed and I guess a lot more condemned him (as if they're as not as sinner as Woods is).

Along with it, advertisers and sponsorships started to back out and dropped him as their model.

I'm sure Woods intentionally or unintentionally did what he had done is sorry and had learned his lesson (hopefully).

Very true were the words of Jesus,

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" referring to adulteress Mary Magdalene. John 8:7 (NIV)

and true enough God's Love doesn't keep record of wrongs. it may sound like a cliche but it's a FACT God is a God of second chances. I have failed a million times, but God is always ready to accept me no matter what.

Here's a story of second chances. Woods failed, and the time has come to rise up and be back again. He's scheduled to the PGA Tour this week and as a start Nike (one of the brands who stood by him) gives us a treat. An Ad featuring Tiger Woods and his father Earl Woods who actually was his mentor and teacher.

Praise the Lord!

Here's the video:

"Tiger, I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion," Earl Woods says. "I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. Did you learn anything?"

Truly he did. How about you?

Source Story

Atheist Author Gina Welch Going Undercover among Christians

Okay.


To be honest, i don't know who Gina Welch is and what books she has written but she has caught my attention when I was browsing Time.com with an article entitled "Going Undercover Among Evangelicals". As I read through the article, I then knew Gina Welch is an Atheist who spent two years with the Evangelicals to know what's up with the other side of the "Faith World". She did this according to the article with the goal of bridging the gap between believers and unbelievers and also most probably for her to write her newest book In the Land of Believers: An Outsider's Extraordinary Journey into the Heart of the Evangelical Church with more depth and truth because this time it will be from personal experience.


The full interview is here: "Going Undercover Among Christians" but let me pick some interesting "discoveries" she had during the "undercover" period which can even level up our very own faith.


1. She thought before that Evangelism is just too invasive to another person where one faith or "theory" is forced to a person and convinced him to believe. She realized that it is "very different" than what she had thought it was. It's more of doing something for another person to save him from eternal suffering. And she hit it bull's eye. That's actually the main reason why there's evangelism to tell the people about the salvation God has for them through the Lord Jesus Christ.


2. She thought that people are just concerned about the glory they will have in the after life. But she experienced an entirely different thing again. She saw people who were very concerned with being good in this life. They wanted to do as Jesus would do in this life. And TRUE enough! Let this just be a reminder to each one of us that our relationship with our God is not just about us getting eternal life but to show this life to others as well!


3. Lastly, she said "Being around people who disagreed with me on almost everything, I had to re-examine every part of what I believed to make sure I believed it for a reason." I just pray knowing in two years I'm sure TRUTH has been planted in her heart, that the Holy Spirit works in her heart and convict her of the truth and bring her not to a new religion but to a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.


I also pray, maybe not all atheists will do what she did but through her book people will be blessed and be drawn to Jesus Christ. Drawing people to Jesus through a book of an atheist? Impossible, maybe. But nothing is impossible with God!

Unconditional Acceptance

Breakfast at McDonald's


This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):


I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.


The last class I had to take was Sociology.


The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.


Her last project of the term was called, “Smile.”


The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.



I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.



Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.



We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance......

He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching..

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.



He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm.

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand..

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son... When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..'

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

e are not church goers, but we are believers.



That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.



I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?'

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE..

Picture from here.

Why is there HELL?

Anyone of us has asked why would a Loving God create a place like Hell where people are tormented and punished? Why don't we just all go to Heaven and be with Him?

The 11 minute video will explain to you why. The next video, I would say would be the most important 11minutes of your life!

Open your hearts and Listen to God's message!

Relient K: Who I am Hates Who I've Been Video, Lyrics

Here's a great song that has touched my heart.

It's a song from Relient K enttiled "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"

Amazing meaning! Great Song!

Check out the Video and Lyrics after the jump!

"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"

I watched the proverbial sunrise
Coming up over the Pacific and
You might think I'm losing my mind,
But I will shy away from the specifics...

'cause I don't want you to know where I am
'cause then you'll see my heart
In the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus]
Stop right there. That's exactly where I lost it.
See that line. Well I never should have crossed it.
Stop right there. Well I never should have said
That it's the very moment that
I wish that I could take back.

[Chorus]
I'm sorry for the person I became.
I'm sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to be sure I never become that way again
'cause who I am hates who I've been.
Who I am hates who I've been.

I talk to absolutely no one.
Couldn't keep to myself enough.
And the things bottled inside have finally begun
To create so much pressure that I'll soon blow up.

I heard the reverberating footsteps
Synching up to the beating of my heart,
And I was positive that unless I got myself together,
I would watch me fall apart.

And I can't let that happen again
'cause then you'll see my heart
In the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus x2]
[Chorus]

Who I am hates who I've been
And who I am will take the second chance you gave me.
Who I am hates who I've been
'cause who I've been only ever made me...

So sorry for the person I became.
So sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to be sure I never become that way again
'cause who I am hates who I've been.
Who I am hates who I've been.

You are a new CREATION! The OLD has gone, the NEW has come!

I Do What I Don't Want To Do

I Do What I Don't Want To Do

How many times did you feel that way? Right now, that's what I am feeling. I don't know. I really don't.

I can just relate to what the Apostle Paul had said in his letters to the Romans:

 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.  I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. [Romans 7:14 - 15 (New Living Translation)]

I believe that this experience will surely result to more praises to GOD! So please pray for me...

I can boldly say, apart from God's grace and love, I AM NOTHING!

Blessings to you more! May God's grace truly overflow in your life :-)