Lord renew my attitude...I dream of Africa...

After my little struggle the other day, I began to pray that God will change my attitude. He totally changed my attitude. I remember just reading God's word the other day, and I remember being convicted at how selfish I was. God just rebuked me, that I was just thinking about myself, "me me me." I realized that I needed to focus my energy, time and thoughts on His priorities. Indeed He has given me His priorities to focus on: Justice, International business, worship, young adults, cell group, reconciliation, evangelism, friendship, family, work, leadership, prayer and His word. I guess I can't really go into specifics, but once I changed the way I thought about things, I had the greatest peace ever! I realized that there are many things I cannot control. I am actually waiting for a lot of things to come into my life, things that I have always wanted to have and to achieve. I'm pursuing these things, but at the same time not being anxious and waiting and letting these things go into His hands. Not that I'm being passive, but I realize that I just need to pray and wait for God to open the doors for me. So I'm devoting a lot of time and energy on His priorities. I have peace...

I also dream of visiting Africa....I hope maybe next year or the year after. I would like to especially visit the orphans and minister to them......I dream of Africa....

So help me God!???

Sometimes I allow myself to get pulled down emotionally and mentally when I focus on a thought. Once again I find myself confused and sad and I don't know what to do. At this point, I start to question God and His integrity. Right now I'm tempted to yell at God and complain. I don't want to!! argggg!!!! Once again, I'm praying that God would help me, speak to me, and tell me what to do!

Help me God..and answer my prayers...

Convicted about justice....

God has recently convicted me about what His idea of justice means. I really want to be more like Him, and one of the ways is to know God's heart.

In Luke 11: 42, Jesus says to the Pharisees: "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."

Deut 24: 17 says: Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.

From these verses I really see that God cares about the people in our society who are treated like second class citizens, or who are not treated fairly like everyone else. I feel convicted that I should reach out to these people and lift them up, help and encourage them as much as possible. Recently I've been thinking about the orphans in Africa who's parents have died because of AIDS. I think if God allows it, I would like to go visit them and help them and understand what they are going through.

Convicted about reconciliation, friendship, kindness...

I've been thinking about the people in my life that I should reach out to, and show kindness and grace to. Sometimes we hurt each other, and if not dealt with, can cause broken relationships. I just feel like there are some people in my life that I need to reconcile with and show kindness, and grace to, and to try and restore our broken friendships. I really am not perfect at doing this, but I'm trying, it's going to take a while, but by His grace through time and continued effort and prayer, I hope that broken friendships can become blossoming friendships. God is all about unity and keeping harmony in the church. God is all about forgiveness, kindness, grace, mercy, and love.

I am convicted about this one thing: there are no enduring relationships without forgiveness.

Ephesians 4: 1-5, 29-32

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

A Critical view of The AIDS Conference

I think that we should find drugs to fight this terrible disease, and act with compassion to help AIDS victims. But I am troubled at the same time about Bill & Melinda Gates description of "Empowering Women" - "We could revolutionize the fight against AIDS."
Melinda Gates echoed her husband's comments and in a clear swipe at leaders who preach abstinence over condom use, she said: "If you oppose the distribution of condoms, something is more important to you than saving lives. Withholding condoms does not mean fewer people have sex. It means fewer people have safe sex and more people die," she said to rapturous applause from thousands of delegates. "Saving lives is the highest ethical act."

I have a critical view of the AIDS Conference from my friend Daniel Nelson. The following came from an email He wrote to me after I asked Him his opinion on the AIDS Conference.


1) Its a horrible disease and something has to be done.

2) The things that have been done in the past haven't and aren't working. And I fear untill the message gets across, nothing is going to work. Free condoms and new needles for drug users aren't going to work. They have had a dismal success rate and people are dying as a result of these failures to get the message across.

3) Something needs to be done about it sooner than later. The message needs to get out.

4) Someone has to tell these people that sex and drugs in an indiscriminate fashion is what's killing people. So instead of saying... the lack of condom use and the lack of clean needles is what's killing them. People need to spell it out. If you have sex with a person who is infected, there is a chance that the aids virus, which incidentally is smaller than the pores in Latex, will be transmitted and you will get sick and die. Even if you get all of the medical attention known to man... the technology only prolongs the inevitable.

5) So far the happy message of "eat drink and be merry" isn't working. So long as you drink from a clean cup and use condoms and clean needles, you will be happy and you don't have to change your lifesyle. This is a myth and it is a typical deception produced by satanic influences. I'm not saying that Gates is the Anti-Christ. I'm saying that the goal of the devil is to destroy God's creation.

The lifestyle is killing people. And yes, it has tragic consequences for the wives, children and eventually the entire country where the people are infected.

I'm not being judgmental or insensitive. The facts are there but they aren't being promoted.

Drug Free, Sex with one partner for life, and drink out of clean cups will actually work. But instead of promoting this because it sounds so horribly old fashioned. We say. We as modern people have the right to free sex, free drugs and a sense of careless euphoria for as long as we shall live.

Unfortunately, when we follow our lustful passions we tend to get careless, infected and eventually we are destroyed.

And the devil celebrates yet again.

6) The pope needs to take a tougher stand and respond.

7) Unless the Canadian government is going to pay for all the drugs going to Africa, we don't really have anything to say or to contribute. Harper doesn't have anything to say on this issue. At least not anything that people want to hear... So why upset the apple cart needlessly.

8) The women's rights issues are yet another smoke screen for people to think.. as long as they could just say no... it would be alright.

As long as they wear a condom... they will stay safe.... Somehow we don't want to change our lifestyles to conform to the realities of it all.

But people in Canada get infected the exact same way. I sometimes think that everyone is afraid of the truth.

Aids was originally spread through anal sex between men. Now its spread from anal sex between couples. After the man (typically uncircumsized) is infected from another partner. Sometimes it can spread from regular sex, such as oral or intervaginal penetration. But my own research indicates that normal types of sex don't actual cause any blood vessels to rupture. At least for the vast majority of couples.

I didn't hear Gates tell people to stop engaging in any high risk activities. Just wear your rubbers and stick it in anything that moves and as long as she doesn't complain too much, Bob's your uncle.

Well excuse me if that sounds crude and unchristian. Its precisely because people haven't been spelling it out that we have this epidemic all around the world. You know if you have sex three or more times a day, with two or more partners a week, you are more likely than not to get infected with something you really don't want.

You do it long enough and you will get sick and die. That just sucks. And if you infect your kids along the way... they get to suffer as well as you. That just sucks even more! But it is a natural consequence of high risk behaviors.

If you never have sex except with a virgin, you will probably never be infected. If you never use intravenous drugs or get a blood transfusion in the 80's, you will probably never be infected. And your children won't be affected and you will probably have to work at a pathetic job for the rest of your life. Until you fall down a flight of stairs and get pneumonia in the hospital while you attempt to recover.

The only difference is really what we have done for God and what we have done to serve those around us. Compassion for others.

Nothing about rights, nothing about empowering anybody, nothing about clean needles and millions of condoms and nothing about the indiscriminate dissemination of viral drugs to shore up the T-Cells. The science isn't going to save them.

Its all a good thing.. but without compassion its futile. Without Christ and a God-centered world view, its all going to end poorly.

Things start in the mind.....

I was recently convicted about a passage in the Bible found in Eph 4:17-5:20. After reading the passage, I just really felt that I need to work on a few things in my life, so I can claim victory over sin, and be the person He wants me to be.

Ephesians 4:17-5 :20says:

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These are some of the things I need to work on:

1. Remember that I am a child of God, and I ought to live like one, which includes making decisions that would please Him.

2. Jesus is the pattern of what we should imitate; his love, forgiveness, passion, sacrifice and holiness.

3. My tongue is used for thanksgiving, giving grace and kindness, building another person up, and not foolish talk, and rubbish talk.

4. My life is about purity! and I will be intentional about avoiding the things that can make me impure.

5. My life is growing to be more like Christ-likeness, and not the other way around.

6. I am in the world, but not of the world, and will maintain my integrity and purity but associate and love others at the same time.

7. I will be serious about my own sins, and not make excuses for myself.

8. I will be wise about how I live, prioritizing my life to reflect this.

9. My mind will be pure.

10. I will be filled with His Spirit, and His word will renew my mind.

11. I will seek and maintain accountable relationships.

Compassion, action and the future...

http://www.elsauzal.org/

I've just returned from my mission trip to Mexico. It was a very challenging trip for me both physically and mentally. Like the same with previous mission trips to the orphanage, we tried to build relationships with the kids through different activities. These orphans were left here by their parents because they couldn't afford to raise them anymore. Many of these orphans have been there for a long time, especially the older kids. Sophia for example, is about 17 years old. I am discouraged of the fact that the government will not support health care, and university education for these kids. Also, when I look at these kids, I wonder what their future holds for them, only God knows. One of the kids was born deformed and he needs surgery, but cannot afford to pay for only the expensive fees, his only hope is to find a doctor who will perform it in California for a reasonable fee. On the flip side, there is a young man who attends University there and who is studying to become an engineer. His funding comes from somebody from the States who has compassion on him.As I think about how I can love them, I think of building relationships with them, providing for their needs, and providing a future for them. I may not be there for them next year, but I can certainly give financially to them and pray for them.The challenging project we worked on was to build a bathroom for them. It was more of a mental challenge for me, since working on bathrooms and toilets was not the ideal thing for me. It was indeed a very challenging task for me, since I had to overcome the psychological factor of working with toilets. Some of us even had to clean old toilets so that we could install them into the bathroom for their use. But thank God! after a week, we finished the bathroom, and the kids are now using them. Praise God!I'm so thankful for the relationships I have built with my mission team members, and hope that we can continue our relationships even now.I thank God so much for reaffirming my burden to work, help, and love people from different cultures and nations whether it be through a career or volunteering.

Through this trip He reminds me the importance of compassion, action and comfort. His word says:

James 1: 27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

2 Cor 1: 3-7Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

I don't think we always encounter orphans and widows, but God's heart is full of compassion and He wants to provide comfort for those in need. Wherever we are, we can do that for people He puts in our way. His compassion moved Him to heal the sick and the lost and to die for all of mankind so that we can have eternal life. It is critical that we have the same heart as Christ for His creation.