When Worlds Collide:

I believe that on more that a once-in-a-lifetime event, the physical realm and the spiritual realm collide.
I write this on Halloween, a holiday that divides a lot of people and a lot of Christians. Some people see it as a meaningless thing, a day/night where people give out candy to kids...

But for me and some Christians,
Halloween is Satan's Holiday; where (perhaps) the dark side of the spiritual realm is stirred even more so, in which the Satan, demons, other fallen creatures revel in this day that pays homage to their darkness. While some people might disagree with me, I don't mind, but since I have see the colliding of both realms, I do not wish to 'go out and have a good time getting candy', so I've decided to write a little bit from my experiences with the spiritual manifested into the physical.

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My first rememberance of the spiritual manifested in the physical was when I was younger at the Brookfield Zoo. I was with my sisters and Mom and I was at the lion's cage and I was reciting the Bible verse (1 Peter 5:8) "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." As I was quoting this verse, this woman was getting very pissed off at me, in which she glared at me and when I looked back into her eyes, they were not the eyes of a human, but of a demon...

I don't know if she was demon possessed, but the look I received was not from human eyes...

On occasion, I've avoided some places because it has felt laden with demonic activity - whether seen or unseen - sometimes it is a physical feeling, and sometimes it is a in-the-spirit kind of thing...

The last time that I was disturbed by the dark side of the spiritual realm was the other day in which I was clear-headed and I was just praying, but someTHING did not like it... again, this was a in-the-spirit kind of event, but there are times where the attack or whatever form of disturbance takes on a physical nature.
I must admit, there are times that I am scared and just disturbed by the whole event, in which I usually rebuke the darkness (as it were) in the name of Jesus.

So for those of you who read this and you are Christians who celebrate Halloween, that's your own prerogative, but for me... I won't be the person going out in costume getting candy, I may get it after Halloween in the store when it's on sale, but that's about it.

I'm saying this is my finite decision for Halloween, say when I'm married and my kids want to go to a Halloween Party or something of that nature, I don't mind having them dress up for it. Yet for now... Yeah, I've said enough.

Take care and God bless,
{nv}

Christian Beaten by Muslims for "Polluting" a Public Drinking Glass Brought to you by The Voice of Martyrs

Nasir Ashraf Nasir Ashraf, a Christian stone mason, was brutally attacked by militant Muslims just outside Lahore. While working on the construction of a room at a school near Manga Mandi in Pakistan, Nasir took a break after becoming thirsty. He drew water and drank from a glass chained to a cemented public water tank next to a mosque, which was reserved for "all" poor people. Returning to the construction site, a Muslim man asked him, "Why did you drink water from this glass since you are a Christian?" The man accused Nasir of polluting the glass. The Muslim man yanked the glass off the iron chain, broke it and threw it in a garbage can. The man summoned other militant Muslims to the scene, furiously saying, "This Christian polluted our glass." Hearing this, the incensed mob began beating Nasir, yelling that a Christian dog drank water from their glass. The militant Muslims encouraged bystanders to beat Nasir because it would be a "good" deed that would benefit them in heaven. The attackers pushed Nasir off a ledge onto the ground. The impact of the fall dislocated his shoulder and broke his collar bone in two places. This knocked Nasir unconscious and he did not regain his senses until he reached a clinic. A doctor told Nasir that some people had brought him there. Here's the thing, by no means am I apathetic to this man's plight for being a follower of Christ, but regardless to the pain that has been inflicted upon him, Jesus said this would happen... The organization that covered this story is Voice of the Martyrs in which they're helpers, aid givers, Bible writers, smugglers (in God's name - Bible, supplies, etc.) and a few other things. Sometimes they ask readers to write for them, I really haven't done anything significant besides repost things like this as well as writing about the various forms of persecution that is taking place around the world. Several years back (2001-2002) I considered doing an internship at their headquarters in Oklahoma, but my parents really didn't want me to help out, with their why-do-if-you're-not-getting-paid spiel, it's not as bad as it sounds, but still- I don't mind working at something without being paid; tho not as a life career! I want to go and serve and be/do and make a difference, and sometimes that takes place in a setting where the basic amenities are covered without a salary. Back to Nasir's abuse: God has blessed him on multiple levels, for one, he's still alive. Yet at the same time his life will always be in Jeopardy- maybe not in the form of physical attacks, but spiritual: Satan does not like losing, and as a result he sends his demons to maim, wound, hurt, break down (yet he cannot destroy) those who are followers of Christ. To my brothers and sisters in Christ, fear not and take heart- may we pass through the fire, may the dross be removed and may we be purified by The Alchemist. In time...In time. [n][v]

Lately I have been running around, been rather busy, been involved with Young Life and all the while I've been acting like a chicken with it's head cut off. But God has been speaking to me, he's been subconsciously been telling me to breathe...

*breathe in...breathe out...breathe in...breathe out...*

The cycle is repetitive, but I'm not catching my breath and sometimes there's not enough of oxygen and I pass out... figuratively speaking of course. But it is true, I've become too busy for my own good and sometimes I suffer the consequences - that is, sometimes it piles up deeper and heavier, and I must climb out of the mire, I must climb out of the pit...

but this is how I do it, how I do anything for that matter: source I do it with God's strength:

What does this look like? I have yet to see the teleological implications completed, but what I do know is that every breath I take is a gift from God, every day I'm alive is a gift from God. His breath, his strength is my breath and my strength - I cannot carry on living as if I were in control, as if I were the master of my own life...

So breathe good friends/readers/etc. - Breathe because God is the giver of breath, the giver of every good gift.

[n][v]

So to make a quick post before I catch up where I can in homework-

I was on a Young Life leaders weekend/retreat, it was a trying and painful experience at times; just being real and vulnerable with those who have become my second family...



I've been crying a bit more than I usually do, and it's because of what God's been doing in my life (good things) and just the first family scene.

I love my fellow Young Life leaders,
I really do-
I like being honest and open and truthful to those I trust.
I love it when Bethany asks me questions me about the opposite sex, and when others do as well; it's like talking to an older sister, someone who has a listening/caring ear+heart (I love to hear her laugh as well, it's beautiful).

More to come after the jump!
[n][v]

Well... My Fall break was bittersweet...

I made plans and some fell through, but for what remained...meh, it was bittersweet.

The highlights of my break were:

~ Going out to NIU to hang out with Sonia, which lead into hanging out with Drew as well. I miss those people, they have been some of the people I miss the most from Waubonsee, back in the day when we were all there. In different classes, in different groups... I miss my old school for the friends I made, the classes I took (for the most part), the groups I was involved with... Those were a good two years.

~ Hanging out with the fam. - though I didn't see everyone (I will not explain via blogging), it was good, and yet some things hang over our heads and... Well, I won't say what I'm going through, just keep my family and I in your prayers...

~ Hanging out/Bible study with B-Bard and J-Nix: Two awesome guys from my church, two guys who I like to hang out with and have a good time and a Bible study. (what could be sweeter?) We had a good time, and yet as I like SexyBack they overplayed it in my ride, and now...the song has lost its luster and it sounds dreadful to me. (Thanks a lot B-Bard!!! Soft music my...foot!)

In all, I'm still tired and I'm a bit behind in my homework (so I really shouldn't be blogging! )

Oh well, back to the homework...

~nv~

p.s. I have a cellphone now, and if you'd like to reach me...ask and you shall receive, unless you're a stalker...nix stalkers and my number.

As a writer, I've recently hit a rut in my writing style; I've been styling my writing in a similar vibe of three authors in particular - C.S. Lewis for the theological impact, and for usage of metaphors. Gabrielle Garcia Marquez (sp?) for the odd, almost bizzare style that changes all the time and yet remains the same. Hunter S. Thompson for the gonzo style of writing...

But as I write, I'm becoming angry with who I was back then; some of it remains the same, but the vices I had back then, the pent up kick-everyone-in-the-face anger, it no longer exists.
Sure, I get angry, but my anger no longer consumes all of me, it comes and it goes, but it isn't something that wants to maim and destroy- I get angry out of frustration on a personal level for the most part, not getting something whether in school or elsewhere, I get angry at me.
***
I'm a writer at heart, and while I don't write as much as I used to, I still like brief breaths/pauses in the day in which I can write a little.
(Blogging can be writing, but when I write, I write for myself and for an intended audience that's not present in the blogging world.)
[n][v]

God has been good to me...

And lately it has been two things in my life; friends and attitude.
Friends: I have a lot of acquaintances here and there, but God has really put some wonderful people in my life I can call my friends; people who listen/talk/dialogue with me, but have a good time as well. This last weekend I went test driving Lexuses/Lexsi(?) with Alicia, Jeremy and Jeff. Jeff has been a really cool upperclassman/big brother to me in more than ways consisting of fun - he's been a mentor, prayer partner, listener/talker/aider, etc... He's truly an amazing guy... And I've only known him for 1 school year!

Attitude: I have not been a downer type of person my entire life, I realize (with hindsight) that I've been acting too much of a realist/pessimist, and because of it, my life has been in the shadows...kind of. God has been changing me (always has, always will) and I have been rather bright and cheeful lately; no, it's not prescribed drugs, it's God!
Yes, my life is rough, rougher in some areas more than ever, but God is good.
I've been practicing how to hesychía, which, according to my Elder in the Faith has shared with me that it's a prayer of the heart out to God, in a repetitive form. One way Romanós mentioned that it can be done is by repeating "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner" - and I will practice in that fashion soon.


~Take care and God bless!~
[n][v]