Category: Life in Christ

Avengers 4 Life in DC – Official Video – “Where’s Arturo?”

Peanut Gallery: The large presence of young people at the 2013 March for Life was most heartening. The numbers of Pro-Life young people are increasing while the old guard,  radical, pro-death feminists are fading into the sunset as their numbers decline. The demographics are with the Pro-Life movement.

"Avengers 4 Life"
“Avengers 4 Life”
2013 March for Life, Washington DC

Biltrix described this Pro-life Generation in a recent post. And Students for Life were everywhere. Check out their web sites to see what they’re doing to reach young people for Life.

As part of that youth movement, RC Mission Corps Volunteers made their missionary presence known with “Avengers 4 Life.” Here’s a picture I took of them along the March on the way to the Supreme Court.

Arturo Mid-March
“Arturo” Mid-March
Are we there yet?

"Arturo" Pre-MarchReady to go.
“Arturo” Pre-March
Let’s roll.

The funny thing is – they took a picture of me taking a picture of them in their official video. What are the chances of that happening with 650,000 marchers?

So, here’s the challenge – “Where’s Arturo?” – that’s me. Can you find me in their video? If you take the time… and find me – click like. Trust me, I’m there… and the video is well worth watching all by itself.

Morning Reading: Luke 7:1-10 ESV – authority

Reading: Luke 7:1-10 ESV

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them.

unworthyWhen he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”  And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But say the word, and let the ones I love be healed. Look into their hearts – you know their names – and speak your word of forgiveness and healing. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Come just as you are” (YouTube)

Come just as you are. Hear the spirit call. Come just as you are. Come and see; come receive; come and live forever. Life everlasting. Strength for today. Taste the living water and never thirst again.

Please Pray for Christians in Afghanistan – World Watch List #3

Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – Afghanistan – #3 (worldwatchlist.us)

Teen in Afghanistan beheaded for refusing marriage proposal
Teen in Afghanistan beheaded for refusing marriage proposal

“Family and societal pressure combined with government persecution have pushed the church underground. The state treats converts, who all come from a Muslim background, in a very hostile manner.

Christians cannot meet in public; even gatherings in private houses require extreme caution. No church buildings exist, even for expatriates, and both local and foreign Christians are subject to kidnapping, abduction, killing and having to flee the country.

The Taliban is regaining power and has vowed to purge all Christians from Afghanistan, both foreign and local.” (worldwatchlist.us)

Please Pray:

  • For peace and stability as international troops withdraw in 2013-14
  • That God would thwart Taliban attempts to target NGOs and relief organizations
  • That Christian radio and TV programs will strengthen isolated believers and bring the gospel to this closed country.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You created all people in Your image, from every tribe and nation, and You offer them a future and a hope. Have pity on the wretched people of Afghanistan; show mercy to the people of this miserable country. Lord Jesus – By the power of Your Blood shed on the Cross, break their bondage to the spiritual forces of darkness that grip this land. Holy Spirit – Plant Your seeds of Life and Light in the hearts of these people, through dreams and vision, radio witness, and the living witness of Christian workers in that country. Shield them and protect them. I ask it in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

See “Religion in Afghanistan” (Wikipedia)

From 1987-1992 the country’s official name was the “Republic of Afghanistan” but today it is an “Islamic Republic.”

For Afghans, Islam represents a potentially unifying symbolic system which offsets the divisiveness that frequently rises from the existence of a deep pride in tribal loyalties and an abounding sense of personal and family honor found in multi-tribal and multi-ethnic societies such as Afghanistan.

Mosques serve not only as places of worship, but for a multitude of functions, including shelter for guests, places to meet and converse, the focus of social religious festivities and schools. Almost every Afghan has at one time during his youth studied at a mosque school; for some this is the only formal education they receive.

Some unconfirmed reports state that there are 500 to 8,000 Afghan Christians practicing their faith secretly in the country (among a population of 30.4 million.) [20]

Walk for Life West Coast Videos – Public Catholic re-blog

walk for lifePeanut Gallery: The “West Coast Walk for Life” in San Francisco can easily get lost with all the attention given to the “March for Life” in Washington, DC. Special thanks to Rebecca Hamilton for bringing these videos to our attention.

The Pro-Life movement is growing… from sea to shining sea.

Morning Reading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT – collapse

collapsed houseReading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.

It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Forgive me for calling on you to fix what I’ve broken in my own life. Draw me close to you and fill me with your love… and the grace to accept responsibility for my own decisions. Give me a willing spirit to follow you… do what you tell me to do… and put my life on a solid foundation. For your greater glory, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Draw Me Close to You”

Draw me close to You; never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I’m Your friend. You are my desire, no one else will do. Nothing else can take Your place, to feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find a way, bring me back to You.

You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. You’re all I want. Help me know You are near.