Currently Listening Intermission: The Greatest Hits By dc Talk see related

6 Nov 2005

I have found myself sitting on a balcony in Virginia Beach. I would like to say I have a beautiful view of the ocean, but rather I have the view of gas station and a busy city street. Across the street from the beach front hotel is the motel that greeted me without the necessities for a hot shower or the luxury of a working telephone. Somehow though, I find myself content sitting here at night on this balcony enjoying the light breeze and the soft glow of the city.

I have met a unique individual. He is from Liberia and I have found it refreshing and inspiring to be around a fellow visionary. He sees himself as a future president of Liberia and all that he does revolves around gaining experience for this vision. He does nothing without considering its affects on him as a future leader. I have decided that this man, John Kaykay, is either mad or lives a life inseparable by faith. I can only compare his actions and faith to that of King David as he was not yet king, but a shepherd anointed by the great prophet Samuel. We have exchanged visions and made comments about how I will visit Liberia someday as a Christian leader and I will visit my friend, President John Kaykay. Either that or sometimes he threatens that if I write down too many dumb things he has done on this trip already he will deport me if I ever show up to Liberia.

I have come to Virginia to work on the governor’s Republican campaign. I have become those who annoy me the most. While working twelve hour shifts, I have left pamphlets on hundreds of doorknobs and my group alone has called over a thousand people asking them for a Republican vote. I will admit that I am not a fan of politics, but this campaign experience and my dialogues with John have brought politics to the forefront of my mind. The authenticity of Christianity is what my heart longs for, but politics seems to be a necessary evil. For I do not believe by voting Republican or Democrat you are in reality voting for good or evil, but rather politics is about electing the lesser evil. I believe that at this moment in history, the Republican Party is the lesser evil of the two, simply because they are anti-abortion and stand for the traditional values of marriage. The Republicans seem to hunger for war and money and in any war innocent lives will be lost and in any capitalistic society greed will reign, but I rather stand before God and say I voted in a man with those principles compared to a man who stands upon the mountain of untold millions of slaughtered children and watches the foundation of the family crumble under the weight of homosexuality and tells me these are alright.

One might say think that it would be better not to vote at all. I would say that letting a greater evil, whoever it might be, govern your life is not wise nor righteous. A capitalistic society is neutral in nature and war may be justified, but murdering unborn human beings and letting homosexuality destroy the sanctity of marriage is not neutral nor is it ever justified. If you choose to sit back and remove yourself form exercising your free will and become passive, then you are lukewarm and deserve nothing less but to be spit out of the mouth of God. I do not ask you to vote because you agree with the lesser evil, but I ask you to vote because we agree there is a greater evil.

I met a man named Brandon this evening at a gas station. John and I were finding something to eat when John’s exuberant personality introduced itself to Brandon. We discovered Brandon was a Republican and John tried to convince him to vote in the upcoming election for governor. During the day John had asked random people we encountered key political questions. I really don’t know why he did it; maybe it was to absorb experience or to see another’s perspective or maybe it was simply because John enjoys the sound of his own voice. Whatever the case, Brandon did not escape John’s wrath. John quickly asked Brandon’s view of abortion while we stood in the middle of the gas station convince store. Brandon stood with a drink in one hand a snack in the other and quickly replied telling us that it was simply the murder of another human being. At this answer I smiled and was about to give an echo of agreement when I realized John’s wrath was not quench. Brandon would not be escaping John any time soon. John asked if Brandon was married and Brandon said yes. I failed to see a clear connection between the questions as I stood there and realized I was about to learn something. John then asked another question to this man who was basically a complete stranger as we three still stood in the gas station and in ear shot of all other patrons. He asked Brandon if his wife were to be raped and was to become pregnant, would he abort the baby? Brandon without hesitation replied, “Why would I kill the child? What did the child do?” It was at this moment I realized how many Christians I had heard say that they were against abortion overall, but on several occasions gave the objection that a rape victim could have an abortion. In no way am I trying to downplay the vulgarity and devastating affects rape embodies, but since when does an act of evil negate an innocent person’s right to live? What sense does it make for murder to be a step in recovering from rape? How could one evil sooth another? I then realized that the baby would be a life long reminder of evil and was puzzled. I stood silent realizing I had become a complete student of the situation.

Brandon went on without hesitation to tell John that he would not give the child up for adoption but would actually raise the child as his own. The missing puzzle piece. In having the baby and raising it as your own; the act of evil would not be soothed by another evil, but by parents love. Maybe it was because John and I share the same views or maybe it was the Spirit, but John and I simultaneously looked at each other and then at the Brandon and replied, “You are a good man.” At this moment my mind checked out and began to meditate upon what I had just heard. How so much truth could be embodied in such a simple answer and in a tone that suggested it to be common sense. John went on to find out that Brandon’s wife had filed for divorce and John, being a married man, took Brandon to the back of the store and talked with him. Several moments later I turned my head to see John and Brandon standing between the shelf of candy and the mini-fridge of popsicles with their eyes closed as John prayed for Brandon. They finished and Brandon made his purchase and left. John purchased his drink and we left the gas station. 

Extolinjah

Currently Listening The Fundamental Elements of Southtown By P.O.D. Southtown see related

"Luther's Return"
Martin Luther Rises from the dead and has a conversation with Soren Kierkegaard
by
-Soren Kierkegaard-

Martin Luther: Are you a believer? Do you have faith?

Kierkegaard: Yes, I am a believer.

Martin Luther: How is that? For I have not noticed anything in you, and yet I have watched your life; and you know, faith is a perturbing thing. To what effect has faith, which you say you have, perturbed you? Where have you witnessed for the truth, and where against the untruth? What sacrifices have you made, what persecutions have you endured for Christianity? And at home in the family life, how has your self-sacrifice and abnegation been observeable?

Kierkegaard: I can protest to you that I have faith.

Martin Luther: Protest, protest - what sort of talk is that? With respect to having faith, no protestation is needed, if one has it, and no protestation is of any avail if one does not have it.

Kierkegaard: Yes, but if only you will believe me, I can prostest as solemnly as possible...

Martin Luther: Bah, an end to this nonsense! What avails your protestation?

Kierkegaard: Yes, but if you would read some of my books, you will see how I describe faith, so I know therefore I must have it.

Martin Luther: I believe the fellow is mad! If it is true that you know how to describe faith, it only proves that you are a poet, and if you can do it well, it proves that you are a good poet; but this is very far from proving that you are a believer. Perhaps, you can also weep in describing faith, that would prove then that you are a good actor.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
      Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Currently Listening Songs About Jane By Maroon 5 She will be loved see related

So fall break was amazing... I got to see a ton of people and just relax.

By request....

Hayley being Hayley

     I dont have much to post but i would like to say that God is good to me and He loves me very much. It never ceases to amaze me how He blesses me and shows His love to me. He is sooo good to all of us it is just... awesome. For instance He gave us Hayley Stewart to brighten up all of our lives lol. Oh and if I can just interject something kinda random... tithe. Tithe off any income you have and show God your faith is not in money, the economy, or whatever but in Him. It is ridiculous how many nice things I have that have just been given to me or have some other crazy story behind them. Start to tithe and be obedient and watch what happens with you put your faith in God not money.

Malachi 3:9-11 - Check it out, this stuff will change your life.

Love you all,
Extolinjah

Party at the Smooter's

Currently Listening Turn the Tides By 38th Parallel see related

“There is no happiness like the happiness like willingness and obedience.”

“FEAR tolerated is FAITH contaminated.”

“If your memories are bigger then your dreams you are in trouble.”

“The willing and obedient life does not consist of isolated acts of faith, but rather an atmosphere.”

“Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul.”

“Faith is a lifestyle.”

 
“Abundance in every area of our lives is a sign to others that we serve a good God.”

-Jesse Duplantis-