Truth VS Opposition

"Truth, passing by those who despise and reject it, will triumph. Although at times apparently retarded, its progress had never been checked. When the message of God meets with opposition, He gives it additional force, that it may exert greater influence." Evangelism, p. 20

Flame On...

Do Unto Others...

Last week I was hurrying though the Student Center, pondering how to finish nearly past due assignments I didn’t have time to complete earlier, when a nameless acquaintance crossed my path.

My acquaintance is nameless because, as far as I can gather, is deaf and was never taught any language skills—resulting in him not being able to communicate except through grunting and gesturing. He’s a middle-age man, not a student, who likes to hangout on campus.

I smiled and gave him a hug as I’ve often done in the past and then began moving to the Southern Accent newspaper office so I could work. But before I reached it he stopped me. With his right hand he began rubbing his stomach in a circular fashion.

“Oh, your hungry,” I said and he smiled back.

He then pointed downstairs to where the cafeteria was.

“The cafeteria won’t open for another five minutes,” I said, trying to figure out a way to disengage and finish my assignments.

He opened his wallet and showed me he only had a dollar.

“Oh…you’ll only be able to buy yogurt with that much money,” I said.

He nodded his head as if he understood me, rubbed his belly again and started walking downstairs to the cafeteria. I took that as my cue to head in the opposite direction. I looked over my shoulder at him in time to see him glance back at me with a puzzled look. At that moment I realized that he wanted me to join him. I don’t have time, I thought. I kept walking away when it hit me: He was hungry and he wanted me to buy him lunch. I have work to do, I thought and I turned my back on him as I walked through the office doors.

Later that day I thought about what a hypocrite I was. I used not having time and busyness as an excuse not to help my nameless acquaintance. But the reality is I would have gone to the cafeteria if it had been any one of my other friends inviting me. The only reason I didn’t go with him was because he wasn’t worth my time then. I began reflected on a passage from Ellen White’s Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings…

“The standard of the golden rule is the true standard of Christianity; anything short of it is a deception. A religion that leads men to place a low estimate upon human beings, whom Christ has esteemed of such value as to give Himself for them; a religion that would lead us to be careless of human needs, sufferings, or rights, is a spurious religion. In slighting the claims of the poor, the suffering, and the sinful, we are proving ourselves traitors to Christ. It is because men take upon themselves the name of Christ, while in life they deny His character, that Christianity has so little power in the world. The name of the Lord is blasphemed because of these things.” (Mount of Blessings, pg. 136).

What’s really sad is my friend Ezequiel Vasquez had shown me that previous quotation at the library several minutes before I ran into my nameless acquaintance. I even remember agreeing with Ezequiel with what we just read and thanked God for that insight…

And minutes later I walk out, betray Christ, and blaspheme God’s name by turning my back on a hungry brother in need.

Bridegroom cometh...I'm gonna Myspace

My friend Justin Wilson once showed up on my frontlawn colporteuring. We had a nice conversation and before leaving he asked me a question.

"You want to hear some good news?" he said.

"What's that?" I said.

"Jesus is coming," he said.

And with that Justin smiled and headed to the next house. 

It's funny, I usually remember entire paragraphs of conversations from years ago. But that last exchange with Justin is the only thing I remember about our talk.

I can't tell you the number of frivolous conversations I start everyday...and meanwhile there are people who need to hear about Jesus.

I can't tell you how many frivoulous articles I read in the news...and meanwhile God's word (my Bible) is unopened in my backpack.

And here I am blogging...and Jesus is longing to return...

What am I doing to fulfill the Great Commission?

The Bridegroom is coming...dare I go Myspace?

Unholy Amalgamations

Britain allows creation of human-animal embryos

Thu Jan 17, 3:30 PM ET

Britain's fertility regulator said Thursday it would allow scientists to create human-animal hybrid embryos for research.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) approved applications from two universities to create "cytoplasmic" embryos, which merge human cells with eggs from animals such as cattle or rabbits.

Scientists argue the research could pave the way for therapies for diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, although opponents condemned the HFEA's decision Thursday as a "disastrous setback for human dignity".

"An HFEA licence committee has considered two applications, from King's College London and Newcastle University, to carry out research using human-animal cytoplasmic hybrid embryos," the authority said in a statement.

"The HFEA licence committee determined that the two applications satisfied all the requirements of the law and has now offered one-year research licences to the two applicants, subject to a series of detailed conditions in each case."

Researchers want to produce hybrids that are 99.9 percent human and 0.1 percent animal.

Read the rest of the story here.

What is Comedy or Stress Relief from School

"Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die."

Mel Brooks
US actor, comedian, & movie director (1926 - )

Why is it that I take so much delight in other people's pain? I know it sounds horrible, but please see the five-second video and perhaps you'll know what I mean...

Jeff Tatarchuk: Wakes up and blogs!

Hoorey... make merry people. Jeff's awake...

Jeff awoke after his Rip Van Winkle-like slumber to satiate the blogging needs of his fans. As we recall, it has been nine months since his last post. I'd like to thank the Anh Fire Army (i.e. the AFA, i.e. Thomson, Christy, Kristin, Kelsey, Caitlin, et. al.) for its near daily bombardment of Jeff until he heard the loud cry and awoke.

Brother Jeff! Welcome to the land of the living bloggers!

The bridegroom is coming!

Reyna Joy Pham

For the last nine months I've worried and agonized about becoming a father. Such as: Would I be capable of the job? What did I get myself into? Etc., etc.

But whatever questions I may have had vanished the moment Reyna Joy was born at 4:11 p.m. Tuesday, January 8.

How is it that I can be madly in love with someone I've never met?

I remember when Reyna was in the womb, Vanessa would have me by her belly, talking to our baby so Reyna would know my voice. I often had one-sided conversations with Reyna. Other times I would read from the Bible, Oswald Chambers, Mark Finley, Ellen White, or some other devotion.

The moment the nurse placed Reyna in my arms a feeling of exhilaration flooded my senses.

When I said, "Reyna" she stopped cooing, opened her dark eyes, and looked up at me. After that all I could do was hold her and cry.