Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Gift of Life

In my last blog entry, I admitted that I have endured dark times throughout my life. My faith in God and Jesus Christ turned most of that darkness into light. There are still moments when I lose hope and wonder what the point is. Why I'm still here? What can I do when the world is ignoring all moral thought? Then God gives me perspective. This light turns on inside my head, my heart, my soul and I just know what I have to do. Either make a choice, speak out about something, or live a certain way to lead by example. I sincerely believe that is God speaking to me.

I live a life where I am literally imprisoned inside my own body. Muscular Dystrophy deteriorates my muscles slowly, making me lose ability after ability. I don't fully know why God let me be born with this disease, but He gives me ways to use it, to gain perspective. I know the value of life, the blessing that it is. Every night I pray to God, thanking Him for each breath of life. I thank Him for blessing my life with my wonderful family, the great friends I have known and those that I still know. I thank Him because He has given me such a great life.

How am I so thankful when I have lived my entire life with a muscle deteriorating disease? Because I know the value of life. It is common for us to not realize the value of something until we lose it. We have all heard stories of people who have held on to life destroying vices until they were faced with losing almost everything, then came back to be amazing human beings. I'm thankful I have Muscular Dystrophy because if I am honest with myself, I know without it, I would not be the person I am today. It took me a long time to accept that.

The main purpose of my blog is to inspire people and bring them closer to God. Because if I can endure this life and still be thankful to God and believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I hope it tells others they can too. I hope it tells others even though they may be going through a tough time, they can get through it. There is an untapped strength in all of us, there to help us endure anything life throws our way.

I wish with all my being that I could reach the world and help everyone realize what a gift life is, and who gave us that gift. That I could also tell them this: When your having a good time with good friends, take a moment to make them know how much you appreciate them. When you realize you love someone and never want to let them go, look them in the eyes and tell them how much you love them, every single day. If you have a spouse, kiss them the same way you kissed them on your wedding day, every single day. If you have children, take a moment to hold them and tell them that you love them, every single day. Tell the Lord you love Him, every single day. And thank God for every breath of life He grants you.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Stand Up Against Anti-Semitism

It is very frustrating for me to hear all of the anti-Israel anti-Semitism hate going on throughout the world. Because I am someone who can not stand up and do anything about it. All I can do is speak out against this, and like many other writers and bloggers, hope people hear me and seriously consider what I am saying. When anti-Semitism goes ignored, it grows out of control. The Jews and Israel have to put out the wildfire, but they need our help, or it will consume them.

The hate for the Jewish people and anything Israel I see happening in the world today just astounds me. I don't believe many of these people (Activists, Palestinians, and Muslims) even know what they are talking about when it comes to Israel. Most, if not all of the hateful rhetoric they speak of are total lies. These lies have been repeated and exaggerated so many times, a lot of people are believing them without question. Palestinian children are taught lies and misinformation in attempts to rally them against Jews and Israel. I can not tell you how frustrated that makes me, because I am someone who has studied the truth and can see through the anti-Semitic propaganda.

I'm going to go through a few things. I hope I can clear things up and set the record straight for those who are reading this and do not know the whole truth.

"The Jews came in and stole the land from the Palestinians who were indigenous to the region."
False. Biblical and Archaeological evidence proves the Jewish people have lived in the region for over 3,000 years. Palestine was a name given to the region by the Roman Empire when they conquered Jerusalem. In the late 1800's, many Jews began to come back to the region, buying and settling the land legally.

"Israel is an apartheid state."
Lie. Apartheid (put simply) is when a minority rules over and oppresses a majority. That is not true in Israel. The Palestinians are governed by the Palestinian Authority, not Israel.

"Israel has committed war crimes and genocide by massacring Palestinians."
Lie. No one can prove this because it never happened. There are no reports of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) gunning down Palestinian civilians in the streets. Anti-Semitic groups charge Israel of genocide at their rallies, yet never give any proof of it ever happening.
In the case of Palestinian terrorists attacking Israel, that makes them enemy combatants. Israel has every right to defend themselves against their enemies.

"Israel is a terrorist state."
Lie. The IDF only target terror cells and military installations. In fact, the IDF has a history of dropping thousands of leaflets, warning civilians to leave the area prior to striking terrorist targets. On the other hand, Palestinian and Hamas terrorists intentionally target Israeli civilians in their attacks.

"Israel wants peace with their neighbors."
True. The Jewish settlers hoped that restoring the barren land would benefit everyone, and that is what they did, drastically improving the standard of living. Then conveniently, the Arabs began starting riots and mob attacks in the 1920's through 1940's, aligning themselves with Adolf Hitler. In the 1960's, Egypt helped form the Palestine Liberation Organization, hence the name Palestinian. For decades, the state of Israel has been offering land in negotiations. Yet they receive rejections and escalating violence.

"Palestinians only want a land to call their own."
False. When the state of Israel was formed in 1948 with the help of the UN, it was to be partitioned with a Jewish portion and an Arab portion. Instead, Arab leaders invaded in an attempt to seize the entire land. If Israel concedes to Palestinian demands, what will stop them from doing the same thing again?

The Palestinian demand for their own state is only a smokescreen for a much larger agenda. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority does not accept Israel's right to exist. Hamas, a terrorist organization, is aligned with the PA and openly calls for the killing of every single Jew. If Israel is forced to go to the borders proposed for the Palestinian state, genocide will become very real.

That is why knowing the truth about this issue is so important. If we do not stand up against anti-Semitism, who will protect the Jewish people from a second holocaust? This is not a theory, this is real. Radical Islam and activists around the world openly call for Israel's destruction. History is literally repeating itself. No one believed Hitler was a threat until it was too late. We must not let that happen again. I am asking all of you to stand up against all forms of anti-Semitism.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Battle of Life vs Death

I haven't told many people this because I don't like talking about it. It was seven years ago, just before my tracheotomy operation, when I was really sick. I didn't have any energy, Everything made me short of breath. Eating, drinking and sleeping. It was terrible and thoughts of suicide did come up. I just wanted everything to end. I wasn't strong with God and I didn't know Jesus. I sure didn't know suicide was a sin. I do not believe I would have been able to do it, but it scares me that I even thought about it. Little did I know what my life would turn out to be. A great life with an inner peace only the Lord can provide.

God created our bodies with a purpose in mind for each and everyone of us. Doing harm to our bodies is a grave insult to Him. God sees all, knows all. Trusting Him to lead us and trusting His son to give us the comfort to get us through is faith. We must hold on to that faith during the bad times and trust we will be led to even greater times. Only God knows how we fit into His grand plan. We do not. When someone decides to destroy their body because they can't see any way out of their situation, they are telling God, "I don't trust you and I don't believe you can help me."

The thing about suicide, they can not ask for forgiveness because they are no longer alive. I see suicide all the time in our culture. So many don't even bat an eye when hearing a report of someone committing suicide. Euthanasia being promoted as a means of "dying with dignity". Hollywood glamorizing suicide, portraying them as finally being at peace and suffering no more. Our culture's view on suicide could not be more wrong. This is very harsh to think about, but they are not at peace and their suffering will become much worse.

God does not wish any to perish, and nor do I. Hell is an awful place, and it physically and emotionally hurts me every time someone has to go to that horrible place. I wish I could lead them all to Jesus and away from Satan's deceit, and I am sure many besides me have that same desire. Unfortunately, it just isn't very realistic.

That is why we have a job to do. To continue spreading the message of Jesus Christ. When you see someone down or overwhelmed, give them a warm smile and offer a helping hand. If you see someone going through a devastating time, no matter the cause, sit down and be there for them. With people in a vulnerable state who can't see a way out, the best thing we can do is make them feel loved. That God, that society, has not given up on them. Pray that they will find a reason to live through our efforts.