“The Proposal”

The sun slowly sank behind the sea, casting colorful reflection on the water.  The sky was exploding with colors of dusk and the sound of crashing waves seemed to sing the sun into its slumbers.  The palms swayed in the summer breeze as two young adults walked hand in hand across countless grains of sand. 

The young man’s heart raced with anticipation until he could wait no longer.  In front of his one true love he knelt, pulled from his pocket a ring, and placed it on the girls finger.  To this in love couple such a ring meant the beginning to what they prayed to be an eternal bond of love and companionship.  Little did the pair realize all that she now wore on her left hand…for as the sun bid the joyful couple farewell, it cried daybreak to a war torn continent.  A continent out of which seems to flow a never-ending current of innocent blood.  Some of that blood is now worn on this young girls finger.  For along with the ring, this young man placed the lives of hundreds: hundreds of innocent men, women, and children full of dreams, inspirations, and aspirations similar to those of this couple.   But due to such naïve, love struck folk the dreams of one people crumble as those who are naïve have their dreams birth reality. 

Was it even possible for this young man to know that when the jeweler placed the ring in his hand, he was in exchange placing a rifle in the hands of a brainwashed child half a world away?  Hard as it may be to believe, with the proper amount of time and energy, he could have discovered that which he was doing.  Therefore, I to you make a proposal:  Do not rush to fulfill you own dreams at the cost of destroying the dreams of another.  We live in a world torn and shattered.  Horror rages all around us, and at times it indeed seems hopeless.  Yet we can make a difference by making an effort, taking the extra time and energy, to seek truth and do what is right.  Thus, let’s do our part and not play dumb.  For it’s a dangerous game to play.  A game that can cost a human being we’ll never know a loss we can never repay.

“The Proposal” was written by Andrew Riel Schottleutner and inspired by the films

Currently Listening Phil Wickham By Phil Wickham see related

WOW!!  Crazy changes to xanga...not to mention the fact I had to figure out how to post because it's been so long...But anyway!
Hiya Gang!  Life is grand!  We'll keep names unmentioned but life really couldn't be better.  Musically: Phil Wickham... a Christian artist with serious talent...wow, that's new   Then there's Antique...the techno, pop like Greek group...they're pretty rockin out as well!  Since it's the season we have a little Harry Connick Jr going too, not to mention the standard Rat Pack...yes, life is good!

Now for something serious: from the service this morning:
Sacrifice something for these 2 weeks before Christmas, that is if you haven't already.  Even if it's something basic like taking it easy on sweets at preleminary Christmas parties...Just hold back...Christmas is an extremely special day that happens once a year, so do all you can, even little things, to make it a special day.  Give of yourself, not just material gifts, but gifts that last eternally.  Finally, do not let it end come midnight of the 25th.  Every year people talk about how they wish the good cheer of Christmas would last all year around, but that isn't what I'm talking about.  I'm talking about remembering the meaning of Christmas all year around, not just during this season.  Remembering the sacrifce of Christ that started in a manger.  Remembering that the King of Kings left Heavenly glory and came to us in diapers.  Suffered humiliations that we face, and suffered in ways that we will most likely never have to suffer, and he did it for you and me.  Remember these things (and obviously more, I'm just being brief) throughout the year.  It doesn't make any sense for us to move on as soon as Christmas is over, for Christmas was and is the beginning, not the end! 
God Bless! And Swing Easy!
"I'm depraved on account of I'm deprived!" ~West Side Story
"I will wait for you there, down on my knees where I met you." ~Phil Wickham
"I would die for you, look into my eyes and see it's true, really I would never lie to you!" ~Antique

Currently Watching The Hustler see related

2007!! 2007!!! 2-2-2-2-Thousand SEVEN!!!!  Heck yes folks!! It's official: we're seniors!!
Okay, so in other news: The sermon at Berean this morning was absolutely amazing.  It consisted of 10 questions.  With scripture to show that they are not just suggestions but true convicting questions we need to be asking ourselves concerning our Christian walk.  I will just give you the references so that the post isn't hideously long, but if you have some time, I'd encourage you to look them up.  Well, here they are:
1. Am I desperate for God? Mark 10:27
2. Do I daily pursue Christ? Luke 9:23
3. Do I daily repent my sins and seek God's grace to follow His will for my life?
1 John 1:8,9
4. Is prayer (individual and corporate) a daily part of my life? 1 Thessalonians 5:17
5. Do the things of God mean more to me than the things of this world? Philippians 3:8
Matthew 10:37-39
6. Do I love my fellow believers, live in unity with them, and seek to build them in their faith? Ephesians 4:3
7. Am I more concerned about what others think of me than what God thinks?
Galatians 1:10
8. Am I deeply concerned about the needs of others? Matthew 25: 37-40
9. Am I a witness for Christ through my life and my words? Acts 10:8
10. Is Jesus still my first love?
"When will we truly start serving Christ?  When will we stop saying: 'Yes, but I...' No buts!  The time is now!  We must begin to serve Him whole heartedly!"
Swing Easy folks, and God Bless!
"I raise my hands and bow my head; I'm findin' more and more truth in the words written in red, they tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see...I believe"~Brooks and Dunn

Currently Watching The Long, Hot Summer see related

Well folks, I'm on a bit of a Paul Newman kick so I'm just gonna leave you a few great quotes from a few great movies.  And since there's just one day of finals left, I wish all of you a very happy summer!  To those of you who are already on break....I'm glad I can join....As Ben Quick (Paul Newman) says in The Long Hot Summer: "Summertime, and the livin' is easy."  I hope you all get some opportunities to rest, but please remember that there's a big difference between resting and being lazy.  Use your minds, dont let three months go to waste....something I know I've done all too often.  If you're saying there's nothing to think about...man you've got a whole lot!  But, Enjoy your summers and I hope you enjoy the quotes.  Swing Easy and God Bless!
 "Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand." (Cool hand Luke)
"He’s a natural born world shaker (Cool hand Luke)"
 "You wild, beautiful thing you…You crazy handful of nothin’" (Cool hand Luke)
"How does one drowning man, save another drowning man?" (Cat on a hot tin roof)
 "You couldn’t tame me, but lady you taught me." (Long hot summer)
"Life's very long and full of salesmanship, Miss Clara. You might buy something yet." (Long Hot Summer)
And finally, one that some of you have seen before...because I've posted it before:
"All right then, run, lady, and you keep on running. Buy yourself a bus ticket and disappear. Change your name, dye your hair, get lost - and then maybe, just maybe, you're gonna be safe from me." (Long Hot Summer)