The International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is delighted to announce that Dakota Main was returned to his mother on Sunday, February 20, 2005. ISAA believes that it was the lobbying efforts from the public -- from you -- that made the difference in this weight-related child removal to foster care. ISAA sends its heartfelt congratulations to Dakota, his mother and his family in friends.

To read more of this ordeal, please visit the "Free Dakota" section of the ISAA website.

FREE DAKOTA!

Funeral For A Friend

Today was my friend's funeral/homegoing service. Although the morning started out rainy, by the time the service began, it was just cloudy and peaceful. The church was packed with people: her family, friends, coworkers and the church congregation. It was a beautiful service, with encouraging music plus words of commendation and praise for her life in Christ. I sang with the choir and was very proud to do so. The gospel was also preached for the living and the service concluded with music, including one of the songs that my friend was known for singing. It was moving and encouraging to do this, to feel the church was honoring her life by singing this song she not only loved but whose lyrics of testimony she lived.

A few years ago, another friend of mine from church passed away. We sang one of her favorite songs which she had performed during her life, a Hebrew song, at her homegoing. We did this because she was greatly involved in the foreign language program at the church. Although I had only known her for about 5 years, this woman was one of the first people to witness Christ to me and my wife. It is very consolating to be able to do something that would have pleased them, to do honor to their memory, especially at their homegoing.

Before I became a Christian, I used to fear death. I really did. Now, I don't feel that way. We're all going to die someday, that can't be helped. What matters is how we live this life. I can think of no better way to go on living than to tell people about what my God and His Son, Jesus Christ, have done (and continue to do) for me.

I have felt many emotions today but I am happy tonight. I am happy my friend has made her peace with God and gone to be with Him.

Best Wishes,
Allen

Tribute To A Friend

A very close friend of mine passed away today from an illness. She was in a wonderful interracial marriage to a dearly devoted husband. She was also my sister in Christ whom I had known for about 25 years. Out of respect to her family, I will not mention her name or go into the details of our friendship and history.

I only want to honor her memory here on IR Haven. I will miss her friendship here on the Earth but I know she made it to her spiritual home in Heaven. That is a true comfort. I am a witness to her sinless life as a Christian, which was only made possible by the Spirit of Christ.

The Lord knows, I aspire to make it home someday, too.

Best Wishes,
Allen

Taking History For Granted

A lot of people are using the term "nazi" these days, mostly for political purposes. It's coming from both sides of the spectrum, people trying to drive their point home that "those people are as bad as the Nazis." I want to discuss the relevance to us at IR Haven and why everyone should be a little more careful about what terms they use. The term "nazi" has a special place in history, as well as in infamy. It should not be used casually or out of proper context.

I was not even alive when the Nazis came to power and attempted to conquer the world. The end of World War 2 came over 20 years before I was born. I state this because some of the people using these terms are younger than me.

I did not really have a good understanding of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis until I did two things: I researched World War 2 on my own and I watched "The Pianist." That film chronicled the perspective of an actual Polish Jew who survived the occupation of his homeland, which included the creation of the Nazi ghettos (which is where the term "ghetto" originated) and the Nazi death camps.

"The Pianist" is the only movie I have ever watched that truly and utterly disturbed me in a way no movie ever has. I have only had that sensation one time before, back in the early days of IR Haven, when it had a forum. During a brief period, some racists would make seemingly harmless posts but include racists links.

One post at the forum led me to a website with a gallery of "art" by a racist. That art gave me a glimpse of what went through the mind of someone who has no regard for the life of someone of another race, who sees a group of people as less than human...lower than animals. I knew, in seeing the proud creations of this kind of mind, that I was looking at evil itself.

The Nazis killed millions of people, most of them Jewish but also gypsies, homosexuals, the elderly and the disabled. Hitler was a nationalist, a socialist, a euthenasist and an athiest. The Nazi military was smart and brutally efficient. They took advantage of every perceived (and real) weakness of every nation they occupied. They would have dominated the world like the Roman empire had they not been stopped by the Allied forces.

People on the Left call people on the Right nazis and vice-versa. While there is certainly room for healthy debate concerning political leanings in either direction, the use of the term "nazi" to describe either side is to disrespect history and the true victims of Nazism. I think everyone should research World War 2 and the Nazis from that era.

We who are a part of the IR community should have a special understanding of this. Some people have experienced discrimination. Some have even been brutalized, imprisoned and/or had their lives threatened. But if we did not live under the Nazis, first of all, we should thank God and second, we cannot call ourselves victims of Nazis.

I'll conclude this with a true story someone once told me. He was in a shop and a young man was there to get a specialty item. The shopkeeper was unable to accomodate him and the young man accused him of racism. The older man assured him he was not being racist. The young man said "What do YOU know about discrimination, old man?" Then the older man lifted up his shirt sleeve and showed the man the barcode branded into his arm from the Auschwitz death camp. Upon realizing what he was seeing, the young man walked out of the shop without another word.

Best Wishes,
Allen

Long Time No Blog, I Know...

Lots of changes in my life recently, but as I've come to learn, that's not always a bad thing (even if it may seem like it in the moment). My last work assignment ended a couple of weeks ago, which led to a mad dash to look for new work. I've done a couple of temp jobs while putting in applications for permanent work. I got a call yesterday that makes an interview for one of those jobs look likely. Also, some of the state and government jobs have long processes they go through even before calling for interviews, so it's just a matter of time and patience.

My wife and kids and I are all in good health and good spirits. It's days like these when I truly see that the Lord is in control of everything and I have to depend on Him to supply our needs. He always does. We have not lacked for food or gasoline or shelter, so I am not complaining.

I'll update as possible.

Best Wishes,
Allen

A Very Special Anniversary
(LONG But Worth The Read!)

Yesterday was a milestone for me. Nine years ago -- January 18, 1996 -- I gave my life to the Lord and became a Christian.

It was not a decision I made lightly. Dramatic as it sounds, I had to face the possibility of my own death. But let me start at the beginning...

My wife had become a Christian months earlier and had occasionally invited me to bible studies her church had. I had been happy for her that she'd found a church that she was happy at, but at the time, I just wasn't interested. I noticed over time, however, that she had changed for the better. She became a better wife to me and a good mother to our firstborn son, Adam. Over a few months' time, the tenderness and love that she showed me made me want to do nice things for her. So, one time, when she asked me to come to the bible study, I relented and said "okay." When the day of the bible study came, though, that's when I started getting ill...but I was determined to try to please my wife. I told her that evening "If I have a fever, I can't go. But if I don't have a fever, I'll go." She took my temperature and, to my amazement, that thermometer read normal (even though I knew I had a fever!)

We went to the bible study, which began with a veritable feast of good food! Unfortunately, I was not very hungry because of how bad I felt. After the dinner, the bible study was led by the pastor of my wife's church. Throughout the study, a pain built up in my back. At first, it was just annoying and I focused past it. But it kept getting worse and worse. For love of my wife, I began to battle my body to focus past the pain to hear the pastor's words. The pain became constant and fierce. I found I had to focus on every single word the pastor was saying in order to hear him...and that's when something incredible happened: I recognized the truth behind his words! I saw my life and how the Bible pertained to it...and I saw that I needed to do something about that. After the bible study concluded, I went up to the pastor and shook his hand and asked if I could come to his church that Sunday and give my life to the Lord.

But that's not where my journey led...not right away. Later that night, I woke with a "coughing fit" so bad that it knocked me off my feet by the time I made it to the restroom. I barely caught myself on the sink counter with my elbows before falling to the ground. In the process, I wrenched something in my back and was in agonizing pain. Somehow, my wife coaxed me back to sleep. The next morning, the pain returned and we knew we'd need to get me to the hospital. Angel called her pastor because we didn't even have money for an insurance co-pay; she'd hoped he would know someone who could lend us the money. He told us to come by his house on the way to the hospital. When we arrived, he gave us $40 out of his own pocket and said he'd be praying for me. Once we were done at the hospital, the insurance co-pay was $35 and the prescription co-pay was $15...for a total of exactly $40! My wife and I were both astonished at that.

I didn't go to church that weekend, I recouperated at home. I didn't go the following Wednesday, either. By the following Friday, I felt a sort of strange paranoia and intense nausea followed by dry heaves and general physical misery. I was severely dehydrated from not replentishing the fluids I'd lost while suffering the flu. Angel called her pastor and asked for prayer for me. Somehow, Angel got me through that night, too. The next day, I wasn't any better, so we took me to a nearby minor emergency center.

After a two hour wait, they finally saw me and they were alarmed. The nurse told me they wouldn't even let me leave until they got at least 2 liters of fluid into me. She hooked me up to an I.V. but my veins kept collapsing! After that happened four times, I started getting really scared. Feeling weak, I closed my eyes and thought "I could die today!" Soon after that, I began remembering the preaching from the bible study the week before. I remembered that the pastor had talked about there not only being a God but a Devil too -- and that they war over people's souls.

In contemplating my own death, I had to ask myself "If I die right now, am I going to go to heaven?" The answer was a clear and resounding "no." What had I done that was worthy of it? How could a life of marijuana and alcohol use or selfishness towards my wife or feelings of murderous hatred and vengefulness pass a righteousness test of any kind? I knew it couldn't and that terrified me!

I realized I hadn't made a decision of who I would serve in this life -- God and His Son Jesus Christ or the Devil? I also realized that not making a decision was the same as making the wrong decision! Desperate, I prayed to God right there, in my thoughts. I made a vow to Him: I said "God, if you let me live today, I will go to church tomorrow and give my life to you!"

Minutes later, the fifth I.V. attempt succeeded in getting one liter of fluid into me before that vein collapsed as well. The nurse said they could attempt to run an I.V. into my ankle or I could try to drink a liter of orange juice. I opted for the orange juice and drank it down as fast as I could, so they let me leave.

The next day, I fulfilled my end of my vow and went to my wife's church and went up at the time of the invitation. The pastor led me through the plan of salvation in the Bible and I made my confession of faith. That is, I publicly acknowledged that I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He was born, He died and that He was resurrected on the third day. I understood that, because of the sin of Adam (the first man), humankind was spiritually separated from God as sinners and that God sent Jesus as the mediator between humankind and God. So I confessed the sins of the bible that I was guilty of and prayed to Jesus to ask Him to forgive me of those sins and to send His spirit into my heart to change me.

Unlike when I was six years old and went in front of the congregation of my parents' church to impress them and get baptized, this time I felt His presence. And more than that, there was a change in my life. I forgave those who I had any old grudges against and I let go of old hatred and rage. The man I used to be died that day and was reborn a Christian.

I do not claim I am perfect but the Lord has been spiritually perfecting me these last nine years. I have faults and have made errors out of ignorance but I cannot willfully sin against my God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I no longer curse or drink alcohol or do drugs. I cannot hate, although I have been made angry. I no longer hold grudges though I have endured trials and temptations.

My ultimate goal is to see my God and His Son Jesus Christ in peace on the day that I die. Secondly, I want to share the hope that is in my life now. It goes beyond race, as God is no respecter of persons, and it is about a perfect love that He offers.

Thank you for your patience in reading this. I apologize for its length but I wanted to get it right and give God His rightful glory. He deserves no less.

Best Wishes,
Allen

Catching Up

The last several days have been something of a whirlwind and I'm trying to catch up. Most of what I've been doing on IR Haven has been updating the design of the blog. You've probably noticed the new banners for Traffic Pods and Fast Freeway. These are new methods I'm trying to drive traffic to IR Haven, in combination with Blog Explosion and Blog Clicker.

I'm going through some challenges in my personal life but I'm not quite ready to blog about them yet. All I can say is that my family and I are healthy and well and the Lord is growing my wife's and my faith. If I can blog about things once they're in their proper perspective, I will.

How Can They Be So Close Yet So Far? Oh, Yeah...Faith!

UK Science Center to Probe Mysteries of the Mind

Can there be a predisposition for fundamentalism? Do the faithful cope more easily with pain? Are they faster to recover from illness? Such are the questions scientists and theologians will attempt to answer at a new study center which starts experiments into human consciousness in the next few months.

Does that mean they think fundamentalism is genetic, therefore it can be cured with some wonderdrug?

OXSCOM has received a $2 million grant for a two-year pilot run from the American-based philanthropic John Templeton Foundation to carry out a range of experiments, some of which will use pain techniques to see if the faithful cope better with pain than non-believers.

Scientists will use chilli pepper to burn volunteers' skin, said OXSCOM deputy director Toby Collins.

Then, religious icons or other symbolic artifacts will be shown to them to see if they make a difference in pain perception.

*shakes head*

It's not the image of Jesus or the symbol of the Cross that brings peace. It's the living, resurrected Jesus and the knowledge that He suffered on the Cross for our sins so that His Spirit could dwell in our hearts.

The people of faith who are survivors of the tsunami are not being comforted by pictures; they are comforted by their faith.

For crying out loud, the public are not lab rats and you can't treat them like lab rats in an experiment and hope to get ANY meaningful results.

Greenfield said its time has come because of people's propensity to go against all logic, based on certain beliefs and faiths.

She highlighted the rise of fundamentalist beliefs as a concern.

"We are very mindful as to the state of the world as to the strength of beliefs and what that can do for world peace and well-being," she said.

"What is it in the brain that, in the presence of evidence, refutes that evidence?"

Beliefs can be remarkably resilient, even against logic, added Oxford theologian, professor John Brooke, and this merits study.

He used the example of the Asian tsunami disaster to suggest that even a huge tragedy can often fail to force the faithful to flounder in their beliefs. Why is that?

This really would be insulting except these people obviously do not realize that they are being condescending and ignorant about people who have faith and spiritual beliefs. I believe science has yielded some very helpful technology (like computers, the internet and medical breakthroughs) but when science tries to understand faith and/or religion, science gets way out of its league.

I Corinthians 1: 18 - 21 and 26 - 31 (King James Version)

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

...

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

The Tsumani Topic Is IR-Related

I was telling my wife about my "Tsumani Afterthought" post yesterday. Out of that conversation came an interesting conclusion: everything about the Tsumani impact and relief response is interracially-related...not exclusively in the relationship sense (although that is a factor) but in the scope of nations affected.

People of more than 12 nations were involved. More than that, actually, because of many of the devastated locations being tourist resorts. Many "foreigners" were killed, injured and/or traumatized: Europeans, Australians, Americans and Africans, to name only a few.

Relief efforts were spearheaded by several of these "foreigner" nations. People were horrified at the incredible extent of death and they empathized for the survivors. Based on the amount of giving, from all over, it doesn't seem like people stopped to think about the color of skin, nationality or ethnicity of those they were helping.

Finally but hardly least, there were many IR couples either separated or devastated by the earthquake/tsunami. Many "foreigners" were either involved with or married to people of the affected nations. Quite a few were there visiting the native families from those countries.

So, just to clarify: the tsunami topic is not merely relevant for its "newsworthiness," but it's also very relevant to us here at IR Haven. It will be interesting to see how this continues to develop...

Best Wishes,
Allen

Tsunami Afterthought

I've been keeping up with the statistics and many of the news story angles, even some of the various international perspectives on this tragedy. Sometimes I have to purposefully take a break (unlike the unintentional break I took from blogging last weekend) from all the news and commentary because it is truly overwhelming. It is painful to realize that, before this is all over, more than 250,000 will most likely be counted dead and certainly millions of lives have been devastated.

Of course, the survival stories, public sympathy and generosity have also been reported. It is truly inspiring to comprehend the positives that have come to light recently. I won't bother with the political side, except to say that many political differences have been temporarily shelved to deal with this crisis.

But one element that has stood out to me is this: Why does it take massive amounts of death and suffering to make people start acting the way they should act all the time? People should care about each other. People should put aside differences of opinion to create positive change, regardless of whether they gain personal power or a quick buck out of it. People should be generous. People should ask themselves "what can I do to help somebody in need?" without asking "what's in it for me?" So why don't more people do that? The answer is surprisingly simple: sin. The Bible speaks well on this and does a much better job than I could.

Best Wishes,
Allen

James 4: 1 - 10 (King James Version)

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Back In The Swing Of Things

My apologies for not blogging yesterday, I was ridiculously exhausted. You know you're "ridiculously" exhausted when somehow, in your mind, you know that you're just one step away from seeing things. It is bad when you're at work on the verge of exhaustion-induced hallucinations. Next thing you know, you're answering the phone "Hi, I'm Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" Next thing after that, BAM! you're fired, right? I did not want that on my resume, so I just tried to quietly focus on work...

I'm also really looking to build readership of IR Haven. I've tried Blog Explosion, which has helped, as well as cross-linking with some very nice bloggers. What has worked for other people? You can either comment below or send me an e-mail. Thanks!

Best Wishes,
Allen

Earthquake/Tsunami Update: A Wonderful Response To The Question "How Can A Just And Loving God Allow Suffering?"


God Alone Knows Why There Is Suffering On Earth
(The Age - Jan. 3, 2005)

I would put the full text here but The Age's website clearly stated "This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited." So please check this link out, it's well worth the read (there may be a registration but it's free)!

Best Wishes,
Allen

Tsunami Update: Let The Media Pedantics Begin

Who thought that it was a good idea to send network morning show anchors to the devastated regions of the earthquake/tsunami disaster to interview survivors of this tragedy? Whoever thought of it should have included recommending at least some basic tact and real understanding for the producers and anchors, instead of what I saw on ABC and NBC this morning. What I saw was a Today Show anchor repeating everything that a man from Sri Lanka (who lost his wife and youngest daughter) said because she wanted to make sure people understood him. Then there was Diane Sawyer from Good Morning America looking way out of her league trying to relate to a group survivors; the syrupy tones of voice were painful to listen to.

To their credit, CBS just had their host talk via satellite to a correspondent there (Allan Pizzey - a longtime, respected foreign correspondent) who didn't interview anyone. I got considerably more information and perspective from the CBS report...

Don't get me wrong. I'm really not criticizing the anchors who went over there; they're doing what they were told to do. I think it's the producers and heads of the programming that may regret trying to get higher ratings out of a disaster in this manner. After all, the world is already watching the coverage of the recovery efforts -- why, oh, why do they need to send over anchorpeople who are used to interviewing celebrities and government officials? How can these anchors possibly hope to relate to the suffering of these poor people? It's a shame.

Best Wishes,
Allen

Before You Consider Weight Watchers, Consider This


Size Acceptance Organization Challenges U. of Pennsylvania Weight Watchers Study

I did the research on this myself. Although as a size activist I wasn't terribly surprised, it has been amazing to me the extent to which respected medical and health professionals ally themselves with the diet industry and try to help promote it. There couldn't be a financial motivation -- or is it just the

Weight Bias Among Health Professionals Specializing In Obesity? (PDF File of the shocking study by the Rudd Institute at Yale)

Within ISAA's press release is our organization's alternative to the yo-yo dieting frustration: fitness, healthy food choices and improving self-esteem. Not all that profitable, but they work.

Happy New Years -- stay safe, everyone!

Best Wishes,
Allen

More Earthquake-Tsunami Assistance Efforts

From the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website:

Sending Aid to Asia



Dear Friends,

My heart is saddened over the scenes that we have seen the last few days on our television sets as it relates to the tragedy in Southeast Asia. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives within minutes after the wall of water hit; and for most, there was absolutely no warning.

Twenty-eight years ago, I was preaching in Calcutta when a similar disaster hit South India. The government provided a helicopter for me to go personally and view the damage, which was very similar to what we see today. I committed that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association would help to rebuild one of those villages that was destroyed. A year later my son, Franklin, and members of our team went back for the dedication of the new village that we rebuilt.

Ruth and I have been praying that maybe we could do something like this again where we could find an isolated village that was completely destroyed and take the responsibility to rebuild it. We have a fund at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association we call the World Emergency Fund. Over the years when there have been tragedies and we have quietly given from this fund, whatever comes in goes out—100 percent of it. Not even a penny is taken for any kind of administration.

I hesitated to write because I didn’t want to burden you with too much mail, but I thought this was too important. If you would like to help, you can just make your check payable to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and designate it to World Emergency Fund.

We will help immediately in a meaningful way; and of course, we will do it in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Please remember these people that have lost so much in your prayers. I wish I had the strength to go myself. Thank you and God bless you.

Billy Graham

Donate online now to the World Emergency Fund >

Or mail your check to:
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
World Emergency Fund
1 Billy Graham Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28201

In Canada:
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada
World Emergency Fund
20 Hopewell Way NE
Calgary AB, T3J 5H5


Interrace Haven is not associated with or a part of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I just thought this was a wonderful idea.

Best Wishes,
Allen

Death Toll Reaches 100,000

If it's reached 100,000 this early, this could get much more harrowing before it's all over. It's only been 3 days since the disaster...

More updates later.

- Allen

The Earthquake/Tsumani Disaster Part 2: I Can't Quite Get Past It...

...and I'm not sure I want to. Horrible as it was and continues to be, this is a world event. The planet's geographical map was forever altered and the rotation was even momentarily affected. Seismologists even registered shockwaves as far away as Oklahoma (Thanks, Drudge).

Just knowing that more than 50,000 people were killed (with that number expected to grow, perhaps significantly) is almost numbing. I feel a sense of grief for people I never met, for survivors I will probably never meet -- but nevertheless, I feel a connection and I feel a tremendous sense of loss.

I felt this kind of loss with the Iran earthquake last year, though not this profoundly, I will admit -- and I felt this way after the Columbia shuttle disaster. Only 9/11/01 affected me more than any of these; that made me physically feverish and ill trying to cope with the onslaught of emotions those attacks brought out in me and my family.

I have updated the ISAA webpage to include an appeal for people to give to one of the organizations involved in the relief efforts. It's the least I can do, besides pray for the survivors. The U.S. government is giving $35 million in assistance and other countries are giving significant donations of money, food and supplies but this will be a very costly recovery for those 11 countries.

It's going to be a long week...

Best Wishes,
Allen

9.0 Earthquake Causes Tsunamis To Hit 9 Asian Countries, Over 20,000 Killed

Vast area reels from aftermath of deadly quake

Bodies Piled on Coasts After Tsunami Kills 22,700



DEATH CAME FROM THE SEA

"Death came from the sea," Satya Kumari, a construction worker living on the outskirts of Pondicherry, India, told Reuters. "The waves just kept chasing us. It swept away all our huts. What did we do to deserve this?"

Luke 13: 1 - 5 (King James Version)

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

I don't think that anyone who perished in this calamity expected to die that day. I didn't expect to face an 18-wheeler the other week, at which time I could have easily been maimed or perished. Everyone will die someday; that is a certainty that we can't change. What is so important is to do our best to be as ready as possible, so that when death comes, it is not an enemy but a friend.

Somebody just said to themself: "What on Earth is he talking about??"

Whether or not you believe in or accept the God of the Jews and the Christians, He exists. He has offered a way to make peace with Him and a way to spend eternity with Him after death comes. Everyone will have the opportunity at sometime in their lives to accept Him, His Son and His Holy Spirit.

Many people have been "burned" by people calling themselves Christians. Note I said "calling themselves Christians" and not "Christians." Those people are, in fact, some of the worst sinners on the planet (through hypocrisy and not living this life). I grew up knowing people like that and it drove me away from the churches for a long time...but eventually, through my longing to know REAL Christians, this God I now serve and worship sent one of them my way. That Christian witnessed to my wife about living free from sin (something not preached in too many churches) and about what the Bible says about how to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and ultimately, how to make it "home" to Heaven.

"Our paradise turned into hell," said American tourist Moira Lee, 28, who was on Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand.

I am not a minister. I am just a Christian who cares. It's times like these when I just hope to say something that is a comfort...



...in such troubling times.

Best Wishes,
Allen

A Very Merry Christmas and The Happiest Of Holidays To Everyone!

I will most likely not be blogging through the weekend so I want to wish everyone my best now. Stay safe, stay warm and stay in good spirits!

Best Wishes,
Allen

More Holiday Updates

First Light performed last night at the Alamo Recreational Center in Austin, at the Operation Christmas Gift giveaway. It went very well and the small rec center was packed (it has a capacity of 50 - 75 and I would say it was definitely maxed out) with young children and their parents.

There was an introduction and a scripture and prayer (in English and Spanish, one of the church brothers acted as an interpreter). A group of young girl cheerleaders from a school (whose name I didn't catch) came forward and did a couple of cheer routines. Then First Light performed "Joy to The World" (mostly acapella; our band's leader played guitar and sang with us). There was an 8-minute video presentation about Operation Christmas Gift before First Light came forward and did three more songs (which were well-received by the audience).

Then came the preaching of the gospel by one of the associate ministers from our church. He started by calling the young cheerleaders to the front and asked to lead them in a cheer by spelling out "J" then "E" then "S-U-S." The cheerleaders gleefully complied and it was both cute and inspirational. It also set the stage, so to speak, for the preaching, which was also interpreted into Spanish.

First Light was called upon to sing the invitation song ("Just As I Am") and then to play music as the gifts were distributed to the children. Afterwards, the children got goody bags with cookies and candy.

It's always a joy to see happy children's faces at Christmastime, especially since without this effort, some (maybe most) of these children might not have gotten any presents. But the most important thing is not the gifts, it's the love behind the giving -- and that would not have been possible without the love of Christ that's in the hearts of all those who participated in this effort.

And a final IR tie-in: there were children of different nationalities there. We even sat next to an IR couple (Black man, Hispanic or possibly mixed- woman) and their 4 or 5 mixed race children. My oldest son befriended one of their sons and two of their other children befriended one of the other bandmembers (who has two Hispanic-Black biracial sons herself).

The whole event was a lot of fun and truly accomplished something worthy by evening's end. I'm proud to share it with you all.

Best Christmas Wishes,
Allen