The restoration of... Stephen Baldwin?

As I was surfing the world wide web, I stumbled across this: The Restoration of Stephen Baldwin. You can check it out, but basically the premise is, that because Stephen started living radically for Jesus Christ, he fell upon hard times... just like Job. Somebody has taken it upon themselves to create a site to ask for donations to build his wealth based on what took place in Job 42:11.

Here are my initial thoughts on this issue:

• Are we to assume God works the exact same way in similar situations?
• Are the people spearheading this movement thinking God does not care about Stephen that we must come to his side?
• Are the people spearheading this movement putting God in a box, thinking that the only way people will see that our God is greater by the "restoration" of one's bank account?

My gut reaction on this is that this is wrong. I believe in a God that can do whatever he wishes, because he is in control. At the same time. I do not want to be presumptuous on what God wants to do. I want to be a follower who listens intently on his voice and his will for my life and the lives of his children.

Be Sick, Be Loved

I love following Jon Acuff, on twitter, face book, and his blog, Stuff Christians Like. Last week he spoke at a conference in which he explains his satire behind his writing, and goes on into a great message. If you have the time watch this:

Be Sick, Be Loved from Foundry LA on Vimeo.

Remembering, Praying, Trying to live differently

I strongly believe that God wants us to look back at history and previous events to learn about ourselves, human nature, and how God fits into the picture.
I am a little saddened this morning as the 0nly reference to a earth shattering event is on Twitter by my favorite band.

Do you remember what I am talking about? I am talking about that day eleven years ago in a high school in a suburb of Denver, Colorado.
Everyone focuses on the victims, and traditionally the two shooters are not thought of as victims. But I feel that they deserve compassion as well.
What pushed Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to do shoot an injure 24 people and kill 13, and then themselves? Were these to kids evil incarnate, with nothing that could have been done differently? Or did the Christians who were daily around these two, in a sense, fail miserably in Christ's mandate in pointing them to Jesus Christ?

I don't want to make accusations and say that something else should have been done differently, we cannot change the events that have transpired. My point in thinking out loud is to ask what can we do now? Those who else who live in a relationship with Christ should hurt for the people that Christ hurts for, should show compassion on those that Christ has compassion for.

Do you really ever wonder what they did to themselves? I will refrain from putting the picture up on the blog due to the graphic nature, but if you wish to see it, here it is. I believe that the darkness that was in their hearts, was once a part of me. And now that I claim to follow Jesus Christ, I need to live like him, to see people like he did, to love on people like he did.

I will leave you with the tweet from @fiveironfrenzy via Twitter:
"A new hope. Where is your freedom? A new hope. Cast off your burdens." Let us remember, forgive & hope for the future.

Hi. This is my blog. Here is Stew drawing during church.

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