Where Are You, America?

I love my homeland. I am American, through and through. I love the Star-Spangled Banner, freedom and McDonald's. I watched when terrorists attacked our blessed nation, flying our own commercial planes into a pair of towers in New York, a government building in Washington, and a field in Pennsylvania.

I watched as we dropped bombs on Afghanistan and Iraq, all in the name of democracy and freedom, and as our soldiers came home, in either a plane or flag-draped casket.

I watched as an economic crisis crippled my country.

I watched as the fruits of the Civil Rights Movement came alive, and the United States voted in a minority president.

I watched this past year, as a World Cup team fought their way to a top-16 finish, and a hockey team got a silver medal.

I watched America react to our own problems, like city-sinking hurricanes and beach-killing oil spills.

I watched America react to other nations' problems, like earthquakes and tsunamis.

All of this, and so much more, has happened in the last ten years. Ten years ago, I was in third grade. Ten years ago, a former president's son was being sworn into the same office. Ten years ago, it was easier to fly on a plane. Ten years ago, the New York skyline was different, and it was a time of peace in the United States. No one was worried about topics like recessions, the Patriot Act, Bin Laden or Saddam. No levees had broken in New Orleans, and no earthquakes had flattened Haiti. As I sit here, looking back at the tragedies and triumphs of my country, the land of the free and the home of the brave, tears well in my eyes. Nothing, however, breaks my heart more than our biggest tragedy.

America, we have forgotten God.

"The cultural Christianity of America is the Kingdom of God's worst enemy. Like a flu shot, it inoculates people to the real thing."

This quote was featured on a post I had on my old blog. It was one of my final posts on the now-lifeless blog, known as "Life in a Mason Jar of Lightning Bugs" before the lightning bug (me) was set free. This quote, unfortunately, is not my own. It was found by looking at a Twitter feed belonging to my family friend, Trent Barnett (here's his blog). Trent got it from someone else, but the source isn't important; the words are.

We live in a nation of "Christians." People would deny this; we are, after all, founded on a principle of religious freedom. And yes, Christians are not as prominent on the grand stage of America as they once were. Yet, as I browse through my Facebook friends (ok, so I Facebook stalk. You do too. Admit it.), I see an overwhelming majority of them with the label "Christian." I see athletes pointing upward to God after a home run or touchdown daily. Every time I'm in traffic, I see an incredibly tacky bumper sticker, with something to do with God on it. Jesus is everywhere.

You may now be wondering how, if Jesus is, in fact, everywhere, I can claim that America has forgotten God. It's really simple: what does God mean to you? How do you plan on getting to Heaven? Does being a Christian impact your life?

Of course it does, you say. You're a good person. You give a five to the Salvation Army bell ringer several times during Christmas. You attend church some (or maybe a lot) and maybe even drop a few bucks in the plate as it's passed. You have a Christian fish on you car. You "Like" one of the following on Facebook: "Jesus", "Jesus Christ", "The Jesus Revolution Movement", "The Bible", or "I Bet Jesus Can Get More Fans Than Any Other Page". You probably listen to Air 1's Christian radio station, or maybe just one modern Christian artist like: Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Skillet, Family Force 5, or Lecrae, among others.

You've been baptized. You sing along in worship. You own a Bible, and read it when you get the chance. You pray occasionally. You try not to cuss, drink, or smoke. Maybe you are even staying a virgin before marriage. This is enough, right?

I am here to tell you that you can do all of that...and still go to Hell.

I'm as guilty of this as anyone: we try really hard to "be good" and please Jesus. Here's a heads-up:

"23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -Romans 3:23, HCSB

You've screwed up, somewhere, and sinned. You lied. You cheated. You disrespected your parents. You stole something. You were jealous. Every single person has: me, you, your neighbor, your pastor; no one is exempt. You may have gone down those things I listed earlier and checked off every single one of them. Kudos. It isn't getting you anywhere closer to God.

"26 Then you [so-called "Christians"] will say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets!' 27 But He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you're from. Get away from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness!'" -Luke 13:26-27, HCSB

Did you catch that? There will be people who die, thinking they are "saved", and come before the God of the universe. These people will be completely confident that when they meet up with Jesus after their lives, He will issue them their golden ticket and they will march into Heaven. Yet, they will be completely stunned when Jesus looks at them and says that He does not know them. The Bible goes on to say that there will be a "gnashing of teeth in that place." Hell is that place.

Ever seen a video of a rabid animal, like a dog? Maybe you've seen Old Yeller? That's how I picture "gnashing of teeth." I picture Hell as a place of so much agony that people appear as upset as rabid animals. And there will be people that believed they were Christians there. That's scary!

I don't write this to make you doubt your salvation. If you truly know that you are saved and that Jesus will say He knows you, then the majority of this post isn't for you. If you have ever wondered, however, if you are really a Christian, then don't miss the next few paragraphs.

Yes, we all fall short of the glory of God. We cannot do enough to save ourselves, and this is where I believe America has forgotten God. We have placed our faith in the acts of going to church, being good, and other things instead of God. If we do what we "are supposed to do," we will be "fine." That's quite arrogant, don't ya think? I mean, we supposedly believe that Jesus came to Earth and died on a cross to save us, and yet we still feel that we have to go down a checklist of deeds to punch our ticket to Heaven? If we can save ourselves, what good did Jesus do? What point was His suffering and death for? Are we capable of doing more than Christ, the Creator of the universe? Really?

It is the self-centered, diluted Christianity that has led America's Christians to quit caring. We don't care, really, about anyone. The poor of our country are still poor. The majority of the world, as in 53% of the billions of people alive, are living on less than $2 a day (stat from Crazy Love by Francis Chan). People we work with, go to school with, and see everyday are suffering in all kinds of ways. Are you reaching out to anyone? If we are focused on ourselves, we cannot adequately watch out for anyone else, and lots of people need someone to love them.

Let me tell you now: it is very easy to ensure your salvation, so you can quit focusing on saving yourself and start focusing on others: let go. Quit trying. You won't save yourself, because you can't. Only Jesus can.

"9 if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame, 12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." -Romans 10:9-13, HCSB

It's that easy. Believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead (by the way, He is God, and therefore raised Himself from the dead). That's all it takes. Let go, America. Please, I'm begging you. I know it is hard; I struggle with letting go of control as much as anyone. But we cannot do this on our own. If we try to do it on our own, all we will be doing is setting ourselves up to a future of teeth gnashing, and condemning the world to the same fate. Let's stop focusing on ourselves, and instead focus on One who really can save the world. Let's remember God.

Please, take time to think about what I've just said. Pray over it, mull it over. There is no greater Truth in the world than that of Jesus Christ. Below, I have posted a video, and I ask that you watch it while you think. Contact me with anything. Thanks. I love you, and so does Christ. Remember Him.

Country of the Day: Ecuador

Ecuador is a South American nation, bordered by Peru and once-featured Colombia. The nation is quite mountainous, as the Andes Mountains run through it. The world's tallest active volcano is in Ecuador, and the nation is also home to one of the largest mountains in the world.

14,790,608. That's the number of people in Ecuador. Of that 15 million, 7.6% are unemployed and 35.1% are below the poverty line. Disease is an issue here, as the usual culprits are in Ecuador, too: malaria, dengue fever, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A.

I feel like I'm repeating myself, as the stats from the Dominican Republic (yesterday) seem to ring true here, as well. Spiritually speaking, 95% of Ecuador is Roman Catholic, and 5% are "other." Sounds good to me!

God, we pray for Ecuador today. They are overwhelmingly Catholic, and we pray that they live what they claim to believe. We pray that a revival happens in this nation, and that the lost of Ecuador would be drawn to you. We pray for their physical needs, and that their needs would be provided for. In Jesus's name, amen.

Country of the Day: Dominican Republic

Today's country is the Dominican Republic. It's on an island in the Caribbean, sharing the island of Hispanola with their news-making neighbor, Haiti. The DR is a nation of 9,823,821 people. Out of this almost 10 million, 42.2% are below the poverty line. 14.2% are unemployed.

Now, yesterday, I discovered something. In my ignorance, I had not realized something: I didn't really know what the "poverty line" is. I just didn't know. So I have reasearched. The poverty line varies a lot from country to country, as everybody has different amounts that it requires to live "nicely" and thus, there is no standard. The UN uses $1.25 USD as the standard line, but of course, this is inaccurate. In some countries, US money is worth tons. The lesson here is: if they are below the poverty line, then they are struggling to get by, and that's as much detail as we can have. I just thought I'd clear that up.

The D. Republic has a high risk of disease, with HIV/AIDS, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, malaria, and dengue fever being common issues. However, their life expectancy is still in the 70's, which is pretty good.

Spiritually, 95% of the country is Roman Catholic, with another 5% being other religions. This 5% may include Protestant Christians. Needless to say, they have a lot of people professing to know Christ.

Father, we pray for the lost of the Dominican Republic. They need you, God. Also, we pray for the Christians there, that they be engulfed in your love and be compelled to share it with all. We pray for the physical needs of DR and that you provide for the people of this nation. Thank you God. In your Son's name, amen.

Just Stop and Think

Francis Chan is the man. Plain and simple. :)

Country of Day: Dominica

Hello friends. It's been awhile, and I have been quite busy! So the new new new plan for country posts is... I'll do it when I can. I hate that I won't be able to write on every country I pray for (I am continuing to pray for a different nation every day). Thus, when I post, I'll start by saying who isn't getting a profile, then continue to the day's country. If only I had more time!

Thursday: Cyprus
Friday: Czech Republic
Saturday: Denmark
Sunday: Djibouti

Today, we are looking at Dominica (not the same as the Dominican Republic, which is tomorrow). Dominica is a tiny island next to Puerto Rico in the eastern part of the Caribbean.

As it is a very small island, it has a very small population: 72,813. This is less than half of my hometown (Lexington, Kentucky). There are no reported health concerns, which isn't shocking. I mean, most island nations avoid health concerns, as far as I have observed on my posts. The nation relies heavily on tourism and bananas, both of which have struggled a bit from the sagging global economy. However, there is still just 30% of the population below the poverty line, which is high, except in comparison to some other countries we have looked at. Their unemployment rate is at 23%.

Spiritually, and predictably, 89.7% of Dominica is considered Christian. Most Caribbean islands that Spain colonized look the same. This is promising; the 6.1% of non-religious people is not. The 1.2% Jehovah's Witnesses, the 1.3% Rastafarians, the 1.6% unspecified are not.

Father, we thank you for the beautiful landscape you gave the people of Dominica. We thank you for their health and semi-stable economy. We ask for movement. A movement that is guided by You and Your Spirit that starts in Dominica, reaches everyone there, and then explodes through the Earth. We pray for the lost of Dominica, that they open their eyes and ears and hearts to You, and accept the gift of eternal life they are ring offered. In Your Name, amen.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone! :)

Country of the Day: Cuba

Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. Most Americans are aware of Cuba's location because, well, it's right off the Floridian coast. Cuba is known to be a Communist nation, with a history of disagreement towards the US. The United States put an embargo on Cuba in 1961, which is still in place. Therefore, without the ability to trade with its powerful neighbor and with the collapse of the Soviet Union (which had supported Cuba for years), Cuba's economy has suffered greatly. No one, as far as I could see, has any consistent information on the amount of poverty in Cuba. Some reports say Cuba has almost no poverty; others say there are tons of suffering people. If I was the betting type, I'd be willing to say that Cubans are probably fairly poor. The rest of their economy is in trouble, and if the economy is down, logic says the people are without money, too.

Overall, the population of Cuba is 11,477,459. The nation is relatively HIV/AIDS free, but does have an "intermediate" risk of disease, including hepatitis A and dengue fever.

As with China, Cuba's Communist government makes religion tricky to figure out. Prior to the Cuban Revolution and the Communist takeover, 85% of Cuba was Roman Catholic, with other branches of Christianity filling in most of the rest of the population. The revolution was over 45-50 years ago, though. Now, much of the population claims to have no religious beliefs. This is in direct result of a life of Communist teaching. The past decade or so, much like what we found in China, has featured an increase of religious tolerance. Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, and since then the Church has suffered less. Protestantism, particularly the Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians, have increased in number in the past few years. Still, some other religions stay strong, too, as Jehovah's Witnesses and the African religion Santeria have faithful and growing followings.

Father, we pray for the people of Cuba. They have been raised in a nation of atheistic values and don't know you. We pray that the believers of Cuba are able to spread the news of your Word to everyone on that island, and that your love penetrates the souls of Cuba. We pray for the Cuban government, that they are able to loosen their grip and learn to follow you, not reject you. We pray for the economic and physical health of Cuba, and we pray that you help heal both. In your Son's name, amen.

Country of the Day: Croatia

Croatia is a smaller country in Eastern Europe, next to Slovenia and Hungary (across a small amount of water from the eastern shore of Italy's boot). They have a population of 4,486,881 and only 17% are below the poverty line (almost identical to the unemployment rate). They have a mild risk of disease, largely because avian (bird) flu has appeared there. Overall, they seem to be a fairly healthy country with a growing tourism industry.

Spiritually, 92.6% of Croatia claims to know Christ, with Catholicism leading the way, numbers wise. The rest of the country is either Muslim (1.3%), unspecified (0.9%), or not religious (5.2%).

God, we pray for the nation of Croatia today. We pray for the Christians of Croatia, that you, as David Crowder sings, "shake the ground with the sound of revival". What a beautiful thought: the ground of Croatia literally shaking from the praise of your name. We pray for the lost of Croatia, that the love and truth of Christ comes to them and that they are willing to accept the grace you have extended to them. God, we pray for the economy of Croatia and that you help it grow, and we pray that you rid their nation of disease. We love you. In Christ's name, amen.

Country of the Day: Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Cote D'Ivoire (which I will refer to as Ivory Coast from now on) is a West African nation that borders fmr. "Country of the Day" Burkina Faso, among others. Just over 49% of their population is literate; 42% is below the poverty line. Disease has wrecked Ivory Coast, as they rank within the top-20 of every HIV/AIDS category that the CIA World Factbook offers. Avian (bird) flu, hepatitis, malaria, yellow fever, and typhoid fever have all taken a toll on the people there.

The country is also a spiritual mess, with only 32.8% of the nation being Christian. Muslims make up 38.6 of the Ivory Coast's population. 11.9% are into indigenous practices; another 16.7% are without a religion.

God, we pray for Ivory Coast. They are a dark nation in need of you, God. Help these people. We pray that the Christians there are filled the the brim with your Spirit, and that they overflow with the good news. We pray for their physical worries and that they are able to be resolved. In Christ's name, amen.

As Expected...

I was afraid this would happen. I over committed, guys, and failed. You see, I just am not a morning person. In order to blog and have a quiet time before I have to go to class, I have to get up around five, and that just hasn't happened. So, here's what's going to happen:

1) The "Thoughts from the Retro Bible" are now extinct. I know, it was very short-lived. However, they required time and effort that I do not have, especially in the morning. Besides, I felt kind of lame ripping off things from someone else....

2) The "Country of the Day" posts will continue. Now that school has started, I know that I have a window in my schedule of classes between 11a-12p that I will now be able to consistently do a country post during. These countries were my countries the past few days that did not get covered, and therefore we will be covering them for a few days instead of moving forward and skipping them in blog form:

Cote D'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus

Today's would be the Czech Republic, but the Czechs will be scooted back so Ivory Coast can be covered today.

3) I will hopefully be able to do some deeper posts soon, including a blog version of the testimony/mini-sermon I spoke at church on Sunday. Stay tuned for those.

Thanks for everyone that reads this, and I hope you email me so we can talk! :)

Country of the Day: Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a Central American nation. Therefore it is a lot warmer than Kentucky, where I am located...

Jokes aside, let's look at Costa Rica a but deeper. They have a population of 4,516,220, which is a bit low for a country their size (Costa Rica is about the same size as West Virginia). They have a moderate disease problem, but there really isn't one disease that causes problem, aside from some dengue fever. This differs from most countries we have looked at, which often have had multiple disease issues. HIV/AIDS has not impacted Costa Rica very much.

They are a fairly well off country, economically, as they have multiple exports and only 16% is below the poverty line.

Spiritually, Costa Rica looks a lot like most of South and Central America: predominantly Catholic and mostly Christian. 90.7% of Costa Rica is officially reported as "Christian." As we saw with Colombia, stats aren't everything; however, I was unable to find any problems in Costa Rica. Awesome!

God, first we pray for the lost of Costa Rica; they are in the dark and need you, Father. We pray that the followers of you in Costa Rica are filled with the Spirit, and able to effectively spread your Word to the masses. We pray that Costa Rica keeps improving their health, and that they do not struggle economically. We pray that the nation can be a force for you. In Christ's name, amen.

Thought From the Retro Bible: The Guide

"4 Show me your way, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." -Psalm 25:4-5, NIV

David didn't straight up ask for a new brain. He wasn't like Veruca Salt, saying "Daddy, I want it right now!" No, David instead asked God to show him and guide him to more knowledge. He knew this was the correct way to become wise and mature (heavily modified from Revolution: The Bible from Teen Guys).

Thought from the Retro Bible: God Will Guard

"4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." -Psalm 23:4, NIV

What is the closest you've ever come to being in the "valley of the shadow of death?" God is the only one who can offer the kind of comfort and security you need in the worst times. Your best bet is to draw close to Him, as much as you can. He will guard your every step (paraphrased from Revolution: The Bible for Teen Guys).

This is amazing that the Retro Bible's post for today's reading would be Psalm 23, as my family, friends and I mourn the loss of our friend Anthony Horsman. God is truly in the valley with us, always. He is there to comfort us and lead us back out the other side. Never forget that He's with you.

Countries of the Day, Part Two: Comoros

Note: Colombia was the "Country of the Day" for January 10. However, while I personally prayed for Colombia, my desire was for the blog to be devoted to Anthony Horsman and God only. Therefore, I have combined two countries today, in order to stay with a country every day.

Thank you for bearing with me today as I am now posting my second "Country of the Day" post, and have a "Retro Bible" post to write in a bit. The plan is for these posts, beginning tomorrow, to be written in the morning, and therefore you will be able to ponder them throughout the day. Whether I actually am able to get up early enough to read, pray, and post will be determined.

Comoros is a small group of islands off the coast of southeastern Africa, near Madagascar. The nation has been unstable since 1975, when they became independent from France, having multiple power struggles since. As I said, it is a small group of islands, and therefore it's population reflects this: 773,407. This bears a strong contrast to Colombia, huh? As with the other island groups we have looked at, Comoros appears to be fairly healthy. They even seem to have missed out on the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is killing mainland Africa just a few miles west. They are fairly poor, however, with 60% of the population below the poverty line.

The sad news, as seems to be a consistent theme as we look at these countries, is that this nation doesn't know Christ. Reports from CIA World Factbook say that 98% of Comoros is Sunni Muslim, which isn't surprising, per say, but all the same sad. 2% are Roman Catholic, but that doesn't change that this is heartbreaking. 2% says that, out of nearly a million people in Comoros, only around 15,500 people know Christ. This is a shame, and I bet most of you have never even heard of this nation!

As we continue to crawl through the nations of the world, I hope you realize how urgently American Christians, as well as Christians all over the world, must get their act together and reach out to these people. Every one of the lost people in Comoros, Columbia, China, and every other country I've profiled, and every country in the world is going to Hell if they do not know Christ. There are literally billions of people in this world that do not know Christ and are headed for an eternity of suffering. Church, what are you doing to reach them? There is no time to waste!

God, You are great. We thank you for Your grace, and stand amazed in your presence. And God, we pray first for the people of Comoros. Many of them do not know you, God. They are bowing and praying and fasting for Allah, who is a false God! He, despite what people like to say, is not you! Yet, we as Christians call ourselves followers of You and still sit on our comfy seats in our homes and keep Your Word and Your light hidden. God, we pray that you not only the Christians of Comoros, but that all who call themselves followers of you would bow their knees to You and submit to Your Will. We have been called to tell the nations of Your Name, yet we don't even tell our own. God, strengthen us. Help us do Your work. In Your Son's Name, Amen.

Countries of the Day, Part One: Colombia

Note: Colombia was the "Country of the Day" for January 10. However, while I personally prayed for Colombia, my desire was for the blog to be devoted to Anthony Horsman and God only. Therefore, I have combined two countries today, in order to stay with a country every day.

Colombia is located in the northwest part of South America, bordered by countries like Venezuela and Panama. It is a very troubled country politically, as warring factions have been tearing the country apart for decades. The illegal drug trade, particularly that of cocaine, is strong in Colombia. There are 44,205,293 people in Colombia, which makes it a top-30 nation, population wise. Bacterial diarrhea, dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, leptospirosis and HIV/AIDS are the more prevalent diseases in the nation, and 46.8% of the population is below the poverty line.

Spiritually, 90% of the nation is Roman Catholic, with some reports saying that up to 97% of the nation are Christ followers. This is misleading. According to Christianity Today magazine,

"Over the past three years, more than 200 churches have been forcibly closed and 35 pastors assassinated in the South American country..."

There is a difference between Colombia and China, which we profiled on Sunday. In China, it is the government that is limiting the Gospel. In Columbia, we find that it is a lack of government that limits the truth of Christ. In the cities, where government is still in control, we find Bibles and the truth of Christ abound. It is the rural areas where the problems begin. Parts of Colombia as big as Texas are rural areas of jungle and mountains. It is in the jungles where the guerrilla terrorists and drug traders rule, and it is in the jungles where the Gospel finds resistance. For obvious reasons, a Jesus-loving culture is a counterproductie culture for war and drugs. This is where Bibles Unbound steps in.

This is the first cause I will highlight here on my blog, and not the last. I came to know about Bibles Unbound through the Passion conference I attended last week. At the Passion conference, they always set a huge area in a convention center called "Do Something Now." In the "Do Something Now" area, they highlight multiple causes that the people at Passion have felt led to share with 20,000 college-age kids, in hopes that we would jump on board.


One such cause was Bibles Unbound, an organization that focuses on bringing the Bible into countries hostile to Jesus, such as: Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. Sometimes, they must perform covert missions in order to get the Bible into some countries, and Colombia is one such country. So, what they've done is print up Bibles in Spanish. The hope is that everyone that doesn't have a Bible can get one.


Passion challenged the people there to raise $20,000 for Bibles Unbound, which would allow them to send 20,000 Bibles into Colombia. Some of these Bibles would even have to be dropped from helicopters! The students and volunteers at Passion responded to the need for Christ to reach Colombias outskirts, and together raised an astonishing $31,554 for the same amount of New Testaments to be taken into Colombia! Praise God!

God, praise You for the good you do in this world! I know that sometimes we focus on the negative of the world, and forget that it is You that keeps us breathing, blinking, and heart-beating. Thank You so much for compelling the people at Passion 2011 to donate that much money for the people of Colombia, but we know that Your job isn't finished. We pray that the people of Colombia continue to be able to get the Bible and delve deeper into Your Word. We pray for a revolution, not politically, but spiritually, in Colombia. We pray for the Christians there, that they remain steadfast and faithful to Christ. We ask that you bring healing to a nation that is very wounded and sick, not just spiritually, but also physically. Thank you God. In Jesus's name, Amen.

If you are interested in learning more about Colombia, here's some links:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/co.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/april/24.17.html

http://www.biblesunbound.com/qry/mc_home.taf

New Book to Read: Do You Have the Forgotten God?

After starting and stopping multiple books, I finally managed to start one and stick to it this week, as I wrapped up my Christmas break from school with Francis Chan's book Forgotten God. The book focuses on the part of the Trinity that we don't put a lot of thought or reverence toward: the Holy Spirit. We spend all of our time focusing on God the Father, the Creator of the universe and Sustainer of life, or God the Son, Jesus, the Savior and Godly go-between for mankind. Yet, it's the Holy Spirit that we have here, in our midst. The Holy Spirit isn't just around us; He's in us. Everything the believer does, the Holy Spirit is inside of them, watching and trying to guide them. However, the Spirit only guides us when we allow Him to. We must be willing to turn our life over to Him completely. Are you willing to do that? Looking for a close, intimate relationship with the God of the universe? I recommend this book.

Without a Grumble

"14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. 16 Hold firmly the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run in vain or labor for nothing." -Philippians 2:14-16, HCSB

These can be difficult verses to live out. So often, we want to complain. It's too cold. It's too hot. My car won't start. My haircut is awful. I have no money. My boss is a jerk. On and on and on we go. Yet, verse 14 clearly says to "do everything without grumbling or complaining." Can anyone do that? I'm here to tell about someone who has.

No one in my life has ever been a stronger testimony for these verses than Anthony Horsman. Anthony fully believed in "living life to the fullest," as he was always in a great mood and looking to start some new adventure. Never, in the year and a half that I have known him, have I ever heard a grumble or complaint come out of Anthony Horsman's mouth. He loved his parents deeply. He had a fiancee in Canada that he loved dearly. He was a fitness freak, spending his time at the gym wisely and getting more muscles than a G.I. Joe (If you aren't impressed by that, you haven't seen a G.I. Joe). He was an avid sports fan, particularly for his beloved Cowboys. Yet, even as they struggled on the gridiron this season, he never really complained. To Anthony, what was the use in complaining? Complaints rarely fix anything, and don't even help you feel better about a situation. Life is simply too short to waste time on complaints. That was his motto.

Just as much as Anthony was the person in my life that complained the least, he was also the person that had the most excuse for it. You see, Anthony has cystic fibrosis (CF). As Google Health puts it,

"Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive tract. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults, and may result in early death."

I came to know Anthony as the "person with the car for sale." My little brother Michael was turning 16, and my parents were looking for a car to get him. Just down the street, a shiny blue-green Oldsmobile Alero was for sale at a reasonable price and it would become Michael's first car. This car's previous owner had been Anthony's sister, Amber. Amber, who also had CF, had already left the pains of this Earth to go see her Father in Heaven. My parents, through talking with the Horsman parents and Anthony, got to know the family. So, on the day Michael turned 16 and got his new car, Anthony was there to see him get it. A friendship began that day.

Michael and Anthony became very close after that. While the rest of my family all loved Anthony, it was Michael who really hit it off with him. They'd just hang out, ride in the car or go workout at the gym, just whatever. Anthony particularly liked to drive them around in his Hyundai Tiburon, which he adored. I meant a lot to me, as a protective older brother, for there to be someone that could drive my brother around and do things with him, and I didn't have to worry at all about him. Anthony was someone I could trust to take care of my brother.

Anthony had a little business to the side, as a way to make a little more money than his job in the electronics department at Wal-Mart could give him. He would take your iPhone apart, fix whatever was wrong, and then you get it back. He was a wizard with an iPhone. My mom actually bought her iPhone from him, and I cannot tell you how patient he was, coming back to my house on several occasions one night, all to make sure my mom's phone would work for her. He didn't do that just because that's good business; he was just that great of a guy and friend.

Despite his great physical condition, his lungs finally caught up with him and sent him to the hospital in mid-December. CF had reduced his lung function tremendously, and now his lungs were in bad shape. At first, this was of little concern. He's been in the hospital several times before, and this should have been routine. However, it ended up being more troublesome than expected. After weeks and weeks of battling this disease, Anthony went to see the Father this morning.

"5 But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. 6 I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously." -Psalm 13:5-6, HCSB

This verse may seem out of place. Here we are, discussing the passing of a great guy, and then I throw out this verse about rejoicing God. What?! We should be questioning why God didn't heal him, right?

These two verses are the last two in one of the shorter Psalms in the book of Psalms, Psalm 13. I read this Psalm yesterday morning in my quiet time, and then didn't think about it the rest of the day. Do you know what the author, King David, wrote about in the first four verses? He was praying to God to remove a sickness from him. And while God didn't choose to remove Anthony's sickness from him, which he certainly could have, he did deliver Anthony. He did treat Anthony generously, and we should rejoice and sing for this.

Anthony loved God, and God is repaying him for that now. Anthony is, right now, standing in the presence of the Creator of the Earth. Anthony is with God's Son, Anthony's Savior. Anthony is surrounded by the glory of God, with a healthy body and perfect lungs and even better G.I. Joe muscles. Anthony is now in a flawless body, and couldn't be happier than he is right now. His pain, suffering, and sickness are all gone. I used the past tense for the majority of this post, as Anthony's Earthly life is over. But Anthony lives, and couldn't be happier. For that, I rejoice in God's mercy. Thank you God, and thank you Anthony. We will see you soon.


Anthony and Michael in the Alero









The Hyundai, Anthony's baby






Anthony's Halloween costume this year








Anthony and Diana, his fiancee

Country of the Day: China

China, as many of you know, is a country in East Asia, near Mongolia and Japan, among others. It's population of 1,330,141,295 ranks it as the largest nation, by way of population, in the world. It is also the fourth largest country, by way of land mass. China possesses one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

They do have a bit of an issue with disease: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, hantaviral hemorrhagic fever, and H5N1 avian influenza are all currently issues. However, their healthcare is growing, and these diseases are more of the result of having over a billion people in one country than anything.

China's biggest problem, though, is its Communist government, and their stance on Christianity. As a Communist nation, they, by default, have an atheistic philosophy towards religion. Due to pressure from other nations, and in order to advance it's trading abilities, the Chinese government has established a state-approved church.

This state-approved church can only teach certain things from the New Testament, and therefore doesn't teach the full truth of Christ. That's why there are still underground churches in China: people need to know the whole truth of the Gospel, not just a part that the Chinese government allows.

This restriction of the faith is why only between 4-6% of the country is religious at all, with the most gracious numbers saying that 4% of China is Christian. That leaves a minimum of 1,276,935,643 lost people in China. Allow me to spell it out: one billion, two-hundred and seventy-six million, nine hundred and thirty-five thousand, six hundred and forty-three lost souls in China alone . If you are a believer reading this and that doesn't break your heart... I'm not sure what can.

Father, I struggle even to come up with words to describe the pain on my heart when I see that number of people up there that are lost. Over one billion. Lord, my mind cannot even comprehend that amount, its just so enormous. God, we just pray, beg, for your light to be brought to the leaders of China, and to the rest of the people of China. They are an atheist nation, God. So many lost people. So many souls. Please, God, please. Please protect the underground churches, and help them spread your Word throughout that country. Please, we beg. In Christ's name, amen.

Thought from the Retro Bible: Rippin' on People!

"1 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? 2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue..." -Psalm 15:1-3a

Trashing other people makes us feel good. For some reason, we enjoy putting other people down in order to lift ourselves up. That's why we make fun of people, points out their faults, and spread rumors and gossip. The truth is, though, that is directly against what God has called for us to do.

A person that talks bad tells more about that person than the person they are dissing. Ask God to give you a heart that isn't bitter and feels the need to put others down.

This thought is paraphrased from Revolution: The Bible for Teen Guys.

Country of the Day: Chile

Chile is a South American country, located on the extreme western coast of the continent. It is fairly wealthy, peaceful, literate, and relatively free of disease. Sounds good to me!

Spiritually, Chile is overwhelmingly "Christian," with a strong 86.1% of the population claiming to have a relationship with Christ.

Of course, there is no way to know how many of these are "cultural Christians:" people who claim to bs a Christian because if the way everyone else is, not off of a true belief in Christ. Without belief in Jesus, you cannot be saved. However, I am not here to call the belief of Chile into question; instead, let's rejoice in their belief!

Not everyone in Chile believes, sadly. 8.3% of the population is without any religious belief at all, 4.6% have some other belief, and 1.1% are Jehovah's Witnesses. That's still a lot of lost people.

Father, we pray first for the lost of Chile. We pray that they be convicted if their sin, and turn away from things of the world to focus on things of Your glory. We pray that the believers in Chile are set ablaze by the Spirit, and that, as David Crowder sings, You "come shake the ground with the sound of revival." We pray that a revolution begins in Your name, and if it begins in Chile, then that is fine with us. In Your name we pray, amen.

Thought from the Retro Bible: You Aren't a Loner

"1 Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men." -Psalm 12:1, NIV

Ever feel like you are the only person you know that is trying to follow God? Don't let that discourage you! Someday, your faithfulness will be rewarded by God. He promises this.(Paraphrased from Revolution: The Bible for Teen Guys).

Don't fret about being alone. Lots of Christians feel this way. That's because we live in a world full of Satan and his promises to the masses of wealth, power and happiness. The thing is, his promises are not only shaky, but earthly. Eventually, we will all die. That's a generally accepted fact. The question is: will all of what you do on earth matter after death? Only one accomplishment matters, and that is that you believe in your Lord and Savior. If you do this, you will desire to glorify God, and that is the point of our lives. After all, wouldn't it be great to live for something bigger than ourselves? God is really, really big.

Country of the Day: Chad

Chad is an North African nation, located in the middle of the Sahara Desert. They are an extremely poor people, as a staggering 80% of the population of 10,543,464. This is heartbreaking. Chad is also in the top 30 nations on HIV/AIDS prevalence among adults, amount of adults living with the disease, and deaths caused by HIV/AIDS. They are also plagued by hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis, and menigococcal meningitis. Only 25% of the nation is considered "literate:" that being, someone over age 15 that can read and write in a local language.

Even more sad is the amount of lost people in Chad: 53.1% of the population is of the Muslim faith. 7.3% are animist. 3.1% are atheist. 2.2% are other religions. Only 34.3% of the country is Christian. That's just a whole lot of lost people.

Father, we pray first for the spiritual needs of Chad. There is a heartbreaking amount of problems in this nation, and a lack of Jesus is at the forefront. Between the disease, poverty and lacking education, they are already having a rough go. Add on a lack of a Savior, and you have a sad, sad nation of people. We pray for the Christians in Chad; help them remain strong and true to the Word. Please fill them with the Spirit and help them share the love and news of Christ to the rest of their country. In Jesus's name, Amen.


For more information on Chad, go to https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cd.html

The "Thought from the Retro Bible" posts will return in the morning.

The Expedition Continues...

Yes, I have finally concluded Phase 1 of my expedition through the Bible! I completed my journey through the New Testament two days ago, and now will be trekking through the Old Testament. I encourage all of you to read through the New Testament, or join in my adventure through the Old Testament. If you woud like to start the new year with my route through the second part of the Bible, here's the order the Spirit lead me to as I read through:

1&2 Corinthians
1&2 Timothy
Romans
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1&2 Thessalonians
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1&2 Peter
1,2&3 John
Jude
Revelation
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts

So, there ya go. And, just so you know, I have begun the OT with the Book of Pslams, and I pray that you are spending time in the Word, and try to dig into its meaning. Enjoy reading! :)

PS: Today's "Thought from the Retro Bible" and "Country of the Day" posts should be put out tonight around 9pm, EST. If not, there will certainly be posts in the morning.

A New Year, and a New Focus

Hello! It's been a couple of days since I posted, and there's a myriad of reasons, one of which being that I was exhausted. Passion 2011 was crazy, in every sense of the word. I learned so much, I don't even know where to begin. More than anything, though, was the lesson I learned from Francis Chan about living life in a manner worthy of the Gospel.

Obviously, as humans, we cannot live up to the Gospel. However, this verse, accompanied by his message, really hit home with me and challenged me. I have lost friends all around that I am not reaching, and odds on, so do you. We must do better. We must live according to the Gospel, and the Gospel tels us to take His Word to the nations.

Louie Giglio, in the last main session of the conference, reminded us not to be annoying, though. While we strive to be filled with the Spirit, and to do the works of God, we must remember that actions speak louder than words. You can spit verses and church invites out of your mouth all day, but without acting on what you say, it is meaningless. James 2:14 says,

"14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works?" -James 2:14, HCSB

This is my challenge to all believers: live out your faith. I know it's hard; I struggle with it as much as anyone. But screaming out the dangers of God's wrath every five seconds will not show the Truth of the Gospel nearly as accurately as showing love and compassion towards others.

I have learned this lesson since I returned home from Atlanta, as I was convicted for some of my actions toward other people. I wasn't showing them the love of Christ; I was acting out of love for myself. Now, more than anything else, my focus is to love everyone in the way that Christ would want me to love them. It will be hard; this is a very self-focusing society that we live in. But here's the facts: God loves everyone. Yes, even that weirdo down the street. That showoff in class? Yes sir.

"16 For God so loved the world..." -John 3:16a, HCSB

That's pretty clear to me. Let's all just love each other. If you are faithful to the Spirit, opportunities to share your faith will arise.

Pray. Read Scripture. Pray. Praise God. Pray. Show love. Pray.

I believe that if we do those things right there, the Gospel will spread like a wildfire. People are hurting everywhere. Let's be a shoulder to cry on.

Country of the Day: Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) is, surprisingly, an African nation. It is located, also as its name suggests, in the center of Africa. It falls between the Congo, Sudan, Chad, and Cameroon.

The CAR has a population of 4,844,927. These people are in a nation of very high disease risk, with bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, schistosomiasis, and rabies being some of the lead problems on the people's health. They are also one of the biggest victims of the HIV/AIDS plague, as 6.3% of the adults in their country have the disease. That's more than one in twenty. That is mind-boggling.

Their economy is strongly affected by the diamond trade. If you haven't seen the movie Blood Diamond, I urge you to do so. It will help you understand the miserable state of the lives affected by diamonds. It really is sad.

Spiritually, Christians make up 50% of the population. This is with an asterisk, however, as they reportedly are strongly influenced by animistic practices. If they are putting their faith in anything more or worshipping anything more than Jesus Christ, then they are not saved. 35% are into indigenous beliefs and the remaining 15% are Muslim. That's a lot of lost or confused people.

God, we lift up the Christians of the Central African Republic to you God. They claim to know you Lord, and yet a lot of them are putting their faith in something extra, like nature and animals. This is not the same Christianity that I follow, God. I pray that it be revealed to them that You are the only One worthy of worship. Now, we pray for the lost people of CAR. They don't know you Lord, and I pray that your people in that nation come to them, and share the Truth with them, Lord. I pray that somehow, they come to know you. Nothing else matters. We also lift up their medical and economical needs to you Father. This is a broken people; please help them realize that someone cares and loves them. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Thought from the Retro Bible: Don't Stay Mad!

"36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.' 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches." -Acts 15:36-41, NIV

We don't know who was right or who was wrong in this argument between Paul and Barnabas. The Bible didn't tell us. The importance is that they didn't stay upset with each other; We can see that they were friends again in 1 Corinthians 9:6, and again in Colossians 4:10. This is the importance: despite their difference, they were brothers in Christ with the same goal. That same goal was to share the Good News of the Gospel with the world.

Are you in disagreement with someone right now? That disagreement may be affecting your ability to follow God's will, and therefore you should fix it. Your relationship is more important than the argument you are in.

This thought was paraphrased and added to from Revolution: The Study Bible for Teen Guys.

Passion Blog: Do You Have a Stew?

This morning's main session was great, as everything here in Atlanta has been this weekend. The speaker was Andy Stanley, a life-long friend of Louie Giglio (the first night speaker/founder of Passion).

Andy focused on the story we find in Genesis 25:17-34, as we see Esau selling his birthright (inheritance+power+blessing) for stew. In retrospect, we see this as a major blunder, which is true, except that we say we'd never do the same.

Andy pointed out that we don't know what God has planned for our life, but a lot of determining if we accomplish it has to do with managing our appetites. I know what you just thought about: food. But there are other appetizing desires: progress, responsibility, respect,winning, love, acceptance, fame, recognition, things, and to be envied. All of these things, as God made them, are perfectly fine. Ok, so I'm not sure desiring others to envy is fine, but the others are all clear. By managing our appetites, we can stay focused on what matters: God.

You see, nothing can fill an appetite. I don't care if it's recognition, sex or actually food; you'll never find enough to quench that appetite. That is, you'll never find anything of the Earth that will be enough. Luckily, we have God to fill our appetites. God is the only one who can fulfill an appetite completely, because He is so great and huge that HE is the only thing big enough. The question is: what is your stew? Esau gave up his future, God's plan, for a bowl of food. What is keeping you from following God correctly?

I will update on the talks by John Piper and Gabe Lyons tomorrow morning because, honestly, I am exhausted. Goodnight world!

Territory of the Day: Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are a British territory, and therefore we do not have a "country" of the day. I skipped them, and went on to the Central African Republic, and then realized: I couldn't skip a group of people just because their political label is "territory" instead of "country." After all, we are called to pray for the whole world, not just the ones that are official nations.

This group of islands is located in the Caribbean sea, nearest to Cuba and Jamaica. The group of islands has a total population of 50, 209. Out of this number, just under 75% are Christians. While this is a ridiculously high number, it is also coming out of a small total population. The islands are relatively lacking in disease and sickness, as CIA World Fact book doesn't even report anything worth note. As far as money needs, the Cayman Islands are pretty well off: they enjoy some of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world (World Fact Book).

Let's pray for this well-off group of people to be focused on God, not on physical worries and desires. Pray that they come to a realization of the greatness of God, and that they are led to take the Gospel to the remaining 25% of their territory that doesn't know Jesus.

For more information, go to https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cj.html

Passion Blog: Are You Balanced?

Tonight's main session featured great music by Chris Tomlin and Charlie Hall, but that was nothing to the lesson by Francis Chan. Allow me to jump right in.

"27 Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." -Philippians 1:27, HCSB

This is the verse that Francis spent the most time focused on. He had an old time scale, like that you weigh what he guessed was gold or barley on, to demonstrate. We are supposed to live our lives in accordance with the Gospel of Christ, so that our lives are balanced with the words in the Bible. Yet, this so rarely happens.

Francis told about students in China that are having church in hiding, because it is illegal there. When Francis told them about how Americans pick and choose churches based on who is speaking, what kind of music is played, or what kind of programs that church offers, the Chinese laughed. They literally burst out in laughter. You see, in a country where the punishment for loving God is death, these are petty, unimportant things. Yet, in the States, we are afraid we may lose a few friends for the Word of God. We may not get to go to a party. We may, heaven forbid, be laughed at.

I don't know about you, but the idea of having to have a life that is "worthy" of the Gospel is a terribly convicting passage. Francis asked the question: "If you believe in Hell, why aren't you trying as hard as possible to keep people from it?" This really struck me.

I immediately thought of my co-workers at Kroger and all the lost people around me in my life. I've been working at Kroger for almost 3.5 years, and really haven't shared with people the Gospel, the Truth of Jesus. What a waste of time! What have I been doing?! Do I not realize that these people's eternity is at stake?!

If you're like me, this is a hard thing to swallow, and one that must be corrected. We cannot sit back any longer; we don't know how much longer the lost may have.

Passion Blog: Being Radically Renewed

This morning's main session featured a great worship service, as a heavily-bearded David Crowder and his band lead us in praise of our Lord. As if that wasn't enough, a legend in Passion history spoke this morning: Beth Moore.

Beth spoke on having our mind renewed in Christ. The only way to successfully discern God's will for your life is to have a mind that is focused purely on God.

We are charged to focus every thought on Christ, and through that, you will change the way you think. By changing the way you think, you change the way you feel. By changing the way you feel, you change your actions. By changing actions, you better glorify God. It's all dependent on itself. Are you ready to change?

Also, David Platt spoke today. If you've followed my blog for awhile, you would see that I am a huge advocate for his book, Radical: Taking Your Faith Back from the American Dream. He did a condensed version of book in one-hour form, and it was as convicting as ever.

Americans have made Christianity a cultural joke instead of the very real Truth that it is. When you make Jesus and the Gospels conform to the American standard of life, you quit worshipping Jesus. You are then worshipping yourself.

Let go of your possessions and useless junk that you waste your time, money, and resources. All that matters is Christ and His future for us. He will take care of the rest.

Let's pray that the people of the world are renewed for Christ and let go of useless stuff and focus on God. There's no time to waste; people are dying every minute and going to Hell.

Passion Blog: We Are All Ants

What a great day to learn about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I have learned so much today, and I still have a lot left!

The day opened with a Community Group session. Community Groups, by the way, are a smaller grouping, a fraction of the 22,000 people here. That way, more personal connection can be made. This morning, we looked at Philippians 2, which talks about some characteristics of Christ, and how Christians should imitate Him. Particularly, we discussed the servant heart of Christ, and how He was obedient, even up until the cross.

One girl, a student at Texas A&M University, discussed how we are tiny and dumb compared to Christ, like ants compared to a human. This is truer than we realize: we are puny compared to God. Like ants, we have limited information about life. We focus almost purely on our meaningless tasks. The only difference is that we move around things other than just dirt. Regardless, it's all pointless.

Christ fits the role of the person, as well. He sees the entire anthill of our world: every ant, every job, and every good and bad thing found within the anthill. In fact, he designed the anthill, and the only reason it isn't perfect is because there is imperfection in places that reject the designer.

But here's the crazy part: the "human" volunteered to become an ant, be squashed in the nest He designed by other ants, and then rise again...to save the ants. Would you save the ants? I know I wouldn't.

Let's just praise God that He came to the ants, and was willing to be one to save us all.

Country of the Day: Cape Verde

Today's country is Cape Verde. Cape Verde is a group of small islands off the western coast of Africa. This island nation has avoided the disease of the mainland of Africa, as they have a low number of HIV/AIDS deaths, as well as a low number of other health concerns. 30% is below the poverty line, so we haven't found a Utopian group of islands, but it does seem to be in better shape physically than mainland West Africa.

Religiously, they are a bit of a mess. The predominate religion in Cape Verde is Roman Catholicism, which wouldn't be bad, if they didn't have that combined with their indigenous beliefs. This mix-and-match Christianity has appeared in the United States, as well, and is very dangerous to one's faith. If we are to come to a full understanding of the Gospel, it can only be through the reading of God's Word and prayer. No other belief system can be fused with it.

Let's pray for the lost of Cape Verde, and that they come to know Christ and His love. Let's also pray for the Christians of Cape Verde, and that they would come to desire a fuller understanding of Christ: uncut, direct, and without the fillers of another religion. Let's pray that they are set on fire for Christ, and that a revolution begins there.

Thought from the Retro Bible: Powerful Prayer

"5 So Peter was kept in prison, bu the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the enterance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 'Quick, get up!' he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, 'Put on your clothes and sandels.' And Peter did so. 'Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,' the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but had no idea what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came through the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked tohe length of one street, suddenly the angel left him." -Acts 12:5-10, NIV

Never, EVER, doubt the power of prayer, particularly the power of prayer when it's offered by a group of faithful believers. God has unimaginable power at his disposal (including a huge group of angels like the one that helped Peter) to respond to your prayers.

This Thought from the Retro Bible is brought to you by Revolution: THe Bible for Teen Guys.

Passion Blog: Chained Up

Wow, what a first night! My mind has been blown. Worshipping and learning with 25,000 college-age people is amazing.

Chris Tomlin was the main worship leader at tonight's main session, and he was spectacular. The first two songs were some of his better known, as he played "Our God" and "Chosen Generation" back to back. "Our God" was a bit special, though, as Christian rapper Lecrae made a surprise cameo in the song, rapping and adding hip-hop flair to the emotional lyrics of Tomlin's original. "Chosen Generation," however, is my favorite. Here's some lyrics to ponder:

We are a chosen generation.
Rise up holy nation.
God, we live for you.
You have called us out of darkness
Into light so glorious.
God, we live for you.

I just wish that this generation, the I belong to, the one here at Passion, would realize that they could be that very generation. Please pray that happens.

Louie Giglio was tonight's speaker, and he was fantastic. He taught from the first chapter of the book of Philippians, teaching how Paul used his situation (he was in jail, shackled to another prisoner) to further God's kingdom. He challenged us to put away all the distractions and obstacles and other "stuff that doesn't matter." This is so true. So little in this world matters; why dwell on it?

Let's pray that every student here in Atlanta takes this to heart and goes home to make an impact. I'll talk to you soon!

Thought from the Retro Bible: Keep Your Rep Straight

"21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?'" -Acts 9:21, NIV

Do you know anyone who'd be shocked to hear you talk about Jesus? What's your reputation with those people? Think about what you can do differently to let everyone know just how serious you are about your faith.

This thought is brought to you by Revolution: the Bible for Teen Guys.

Passion Blog: Bus Ridin'

Right now, I am on a bus in the middle of no where, Georgia with a bunch of people I don't know to go somewhere I've never been. Sound crazy? I agree.

I am accompanied by several friends, and a bunch of other college-age people I don't know, on this bus on my way to Atlanta, for Passion 2011. Passion is a huge conference full of well-known speakers and musicians, all praising and worshiping and learning and teaching about the amazing God that created us. The event is focused on college-age people, and the goal is to help teach and set a fire in the hearts of this generation.

This is my first year that I am old enough to attend, and I couldn't be more excited. I can't imagine the experience of 20,000+ students praising God and worshipping their Creator. I'll be keeping you updated on the events of this weekend, and try to convey the amazing experience I will be sharing with so many other young believers.

I ask that you pray for those of us attending, as well as the speakers, musicians, and volunteers at Passion 2011. Let's pray that a revolution is started this weekend in Atlanta, and that a wave of God's love and truth sweeps out of Georgia to the rest of the United States and the world. I pray that God makes himself palpably present in that place, and that our hearts be consumed by Him. Talk to y'all soon! :)

Country of the Day: Canada

Today's country is a more familiar one for my American readers: Canada. Canada is vastly different from the African and Asian countries I've profiled the last few days.

Canada is around 70% Christian, in a nation of 33,759,742. That's a lot of believers! However, we cannot overlook the non-Christians of Canada. Around 2% are Muslim, but the big thing is the amount of non-religious people. This is the first time we have seen this in a Country of the Day nation. About 16% of Canada is not religious, and this is a lot of people.

Join with me in prayer for the lost people of Canada, as those are the people that need our prayers most of all. But let's not forget the 70% of Canada that professes to know Jesus. Let's pray that Canada's Christians join together, feel a desire to spread the Word, and express the love of Christ.

For more info on Canada, go to