What’s Going On? Wednesday, Apr 23 2008

Hello, faithful reader; It’s been a while since I’ve written a post, but I hope the wait has been worth it Alot of interesting things have been occuring in my life lately. I recently have started a job at sears in the receiving and shipping department. It’s been an adjustment to me though, quite a different change of pace since my last job. A few months ago I worked as a janitor at my church and it was pretty great! Good pay, great people, easy going work, and all the free food and drinks I could want( If you know me personally, I’ve got quite the horses mouth). Working at sears as been harder; lifting lawnmowers, moving tractors, water heaters, T.V.’s etc. Anyways, the biggest adjustment has been the people I work with. Most aren’t christians, they not very open about God, or their faith; a few curse quite alot, and a few other deporable actions that they engage in but I’m not going to into that.

Now, don’t get me wrong there all great guys but not the kind I usually associate with. I really have begun to think that God has placed me here for a reason. As Christians, I think we become to comfortable with other christians and begin to only associate with other christians. It’s important not to forget God’s commandment to minister to all people of other races. codes, and creeds. I believe the greatest thing we could hope to accomplish in this world, is to spread the message of christs love to all people! After all, there is no greater love than God’s love:)

I’ve begun talking to a coworker alot lately. For most of his life he has been a Baptist christian, but lately he’s off the wagon. In the past two years his pastor who was like a father figure died, and the next year and only a few months apart his father and mother passed away. He explained to me that this contributed to a large lack of faith and led to his leaving the church. I really understand where he’s coming from. In one year two of my Great-Uncles, that I was very close to passed away. This really led me to becoming despondent and angry with God. It caused to avoid my friends and church for a few months. I was angry that such a God filled with love would people like that away from me. Luckily though, I realized that every has their own time, and God has a plan. We may not always understand it, but that’s okay. My uncles where both faithful servants of the Lord, and I’m confident in the fact that their in heaven.

Also, my life has been going great. This weekend I’m going to be looking at a 944 85′ Porsche that I’m considering buying, my biblical studies have been going well; I’ve just finished Acts and man was it a doozy, easily one of the hardest books in the bible to get through. This summer I’ll be teaching VBS,( Vacation Bible Study) I’m really excited about it and I know the Lord is going to be doing some exciting things through it:) Though, I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to keep my sanity through the whole week of it.

                                                                                                                                                       – A.G.

SIDENOTE   IMPORTANT!!!  – please visit this website to sign the petition to save John wiley’s Blog. It needs to come back.  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Savewiley1/

p.s. – thanks Taylor, for making sure I finally wrote something.

 

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Death by Faith Wednesday, Mar 26 2008

WESTON, Wis. (Map, News) – An 11-year-old girl died after her parents prayed for healing rather than seek medical help for a treatable form of diabetes, police said Tuesday.

Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said Madeline Neumann died Sunday.

“She got sicker and sicker until she was dead,” he said.

Vergin said an autopsy determined the girl died from diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment that left her with too little insulin in her body, and she had probably been ill for about 30 days, suffering symptoms like nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness

The girl’s parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, attributed the death to “apparently they didn’t have enough faith,” the police chief said.

They believed the key to healing “was it was better to keep praying. Call more people to help pray,” he said.

The mother believes the girl could still be resurrected, the police chief said.

A telephone message left at the Neumann home by The Associated Press was not immediately returned Tuesday.

The family does not attend an organized church or participate in an organized religion, Vergin said. “They have a little Bible study of a few people.”

The parents told investigators their daughter last saw a doctor when she was 3 to get some shots, Vergin said. The girl had attended public school during the first semester but didn’t return for the second semester.

Officers went to the home after one of the girl’s relatives in California called police to check on her, Vergin said. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The relative was fearful the girl was “extremely ill, dire,” Vergin said.

The girl has three siblings, ranging in age from 13 to 16, the police chief said.

“They are still in the home,” he said. “There is no reason to remove them. There is no abuse or signs of abuse that we can see.”

The girl’s death remains under investigation and the findings will be forwarded to the district attorney to review for possible charges, the chief said.

The family operates a coffee shop in Weston, which is a suburb of Wausau, Vergin said.

Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin with this issue. I just can’t simply believe, that these parents (If you can even call them that) would willingly put there daughters life in jeopardy from diabetes that could be easily treated. As a christian I’m conflicted by this; who knows maybe they read Exodus 15:26. “ ‘If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God … I will put none of these diseases upon thee’

I talked with a friend whether  the parents should be charged with some sort of negligence. He’s an avid supporter of the Church, and State and he believes this is where gray areas arrive.   There is no way I believe this; choosing not to provide medical attention for your little girl that is dying isn’t a gray-area! They were gambling with a little girls life! Guradianship of a child is the responsibliity for another individual, thus they are expected to take the best course of action when determining the safest care for a child.

 Now, I don’t mean to say prayer is useless. I truely believe in the power of prayer, but C’mon! You  just can’t sit by and ignore the medical advacements and treatments that are avaiable to use today. God never would have granted use the knowledge or tools to discover treatments and medicines. People can live full lives from diabetes, I know from testaments of my friends. I truely hope the parents receive some sort of punishment for there actions. Anyone that like to discuss this with me, please do!

                                   – A.G.

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Easter Wishes Saturday, Mar 22 2008

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

 Happy Easter Everybody!!!! Let’s make it a great one!

                                                        – A.G.

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I’m Trying Saturday, Mar 15 2008

Just got back from a spring break trip to Somerset county,(hosted by my college church group) it was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. It ranged from relaxing in a hot tub, hiking, jamming out on Rock Band, listening and dancing to some great music, and best of all general fellowship with my peers. Another great part was I turned 20 the day we left(Yep I’m a pisces). While there, without my knowledge they bought me a birthday cake at Wal-Mart, and caught me by surprise later that night. Signing me happy birthday- the whole shabang. These people are the greatest ones I know.

Right, back to my point of this post. Lately the Lord has been weighing heavily on my heart. And the trip reinforced just what I thought he was trying to say. I need to study more and devote more time to him. While at Somerset, every night we had a 30 minute bible study. It was fun until he started to dwell into detailed information on the original twelve apostles. I realized I hardly knew any of anything about these men. Almost not a thing. I felt like A complete dunce compared to everyone else. I sometimes think others in my church catch onto my inadequacy in theology and don’t want to deal with me. Or help with any of the passages int the bible. None of the other nights helped me feel any better either. To see all of my peers well beyond me in theology made feel like a child toddler in comparsion. Two guys at my church I know, H.Y and T.W are what I aspire to be, about my age they are confident in their faith and seem be giants in their knowledge of  the Word. They just seem to have it all together. It seems that talking about the bible and the lord, just comes so easy for them. As much as I love all the people in the group, I feel as none of the people understand where I’ve come from.

My home has never beenwhat I could call a “christian” home. Everything I’ve ever learned has always been on my own. I never have had the benefit of parents who could help guide down the right path of what I should follow. It seems that everyone I know has a leg up on me, and are everyday are widening the gap. I know it seems like I’m whining but i’ve always found it tough to feel inadequate to almost everyone of my friends; it has been one of the major reasons I’ve skipped out on church service most of my life.

 I’ve been given some great advice though. Kenneth, one of my old youth pastors has past unto me some great advice. He too was not born into a christian home and knows how it feels to be in my position. He told me I need to schedule times of the day for reading passages of the bible, and setting aside quiet time with the lord. He told me “There’s 3 things that will help you: singing, praying, and reading the word”. He also told me a great start would be the gospel of John. So I’ve really started to do these things. I just hope one day I can really be the kind of christian I should be. What can I say, I’m trying.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               -A.G.

                                              

                                                                                                                                                              

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Prologue Saturday, Mar 15 2008

Whoahh! My first attempt at writing a blog…. I think the excitements still hasn’t worn off. Anyways, this is more of a way to vent off problems in my everyday life. Anyways, I’m a 20 yr old christian living in Lex Vegas trying to deal with my everyday problems. Let’s see how it goes.

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