Some real a.m. ink.

Well, this might be the first time I've actually posted in the morning as I had intended. The purpose of posting in the morning was supposed to be to motivate me to get out of bed. I just could never remember. I'm not sure why I'm awake at this hour, but I am, and I thought I'd write. This helps clear my head from the billions of thoughts I have everyday. It would probably be better to post at night. Actually, when I think about it, that's probably not a good idea. Night is when I'm most dramatic and I over react to situations. I'd be taking a lot of things off the record if I wrote them down here when I was like that. It'd be good entertainment for my readers though.

Moving right along...

I've been thinking about how destructive it can be to one's life to believe that your life has already been written and there's nothing you can do about it. If you think that you can't change your life, then you also believe that you can't make real mistakes because it wasn't really your choice. You then don't feel real contrition for your sins and can not have a true conversion.

That is something that bothered me about time travel movies. Did you see that Ben Affleck movie "Paycheck"? Very entertaining. His character built a machine that could see the future. How can you see something that isn't there? And he saw the future and didn't like it so he took some steps to change it. However, if the machine really worked, wouldn't it have seen what he was going to do all along? It just didn't fit.

Okay, just some food for thought.

God protects His children from Tsunami

God uses all things to bring glory to His Name! God Protects His own!

We know that 80% of the town of Meulaboh in Aceh was destroyed by the Tsunami waves and 80% of the people also died. This is one of the towns that was hit the hardest. But there is a fantastic testimony from Meulaboh. In that town are about 400 Christians. They wanted to celebrate Christmas on December 25th but were not allowed to do so by the Muslims of Meulaboh. They were told if they wanted to celebrate Christmas they needed to go outside the city of Meulaboh on a high hill and there celebrate Christmas. Because the Christians desired to celebrate Christmas the 400 believers left the city on December 25th and after they celebrated Christmas they stayed overnight on the hill. As we all know the morning of December 26 there was the earthquake followed by the Tsunami waves destroying most of the city of Meulaboh and thousands were killed. The 400 believers were on the mountain and were all saved from destruction. Now the Muslims of Meulaboh are saying that the God of the Christians punished us for forbidding the Christians from celebrating Christmas in the city. Others are questioning why so many Muslims died while not even one of the Christians died there. Had the Christians insisted on their rights to celebrate Christmas in the city, they would have all died. But because they humbled themselves and followed the advice of the Muslims they all were spared destruction and can now testify of God's marvelous protection. This is a testimony of the grace of God and the fact that as believers we have no rights in the world. Our right is come before God and commit our lives to Him. Our right is kneeling down before the Lord almighty and commit our ways to Him. He is our Father and is very capable to care for His children. Praise the Name of the Lord.

Bill Hekman Pastor Calvary Life Fellowship in Indonesia

God is so good!

I've got a story brewing'! It's going to be great. The Lord sort of dropped it in my lap. I've been wanting to do a film that's Christian based, but that isn't your typical "conversion story" film. I wanted a film about someone who's walking with the Lord, but having issues. A story about how to run the race, so to speak. And that's exactly what this film is about. I was looking at some digital cameras and thinking about how much they cost and where I would get the money to do a film when I realized that I have a loan offer from my credit company that's been sitting here staring me in the face. It never once occurred to me that I could use the funds for a film! I just keep throwing away the offer because I only thought it'd be good for a new car or something similar, which I have no use for. So, now I have the money and the story, there's nothing that can stop me! ...... uh..... I'd better go write the script now!

new toys

I recently purchased a new camera phone for use in Europe. It's a tri-band phone so I can use it practically anywhere. The pictures aren't that great and they cost a quarter to send anywhere, but it'll be fun anyway. I've yet to figure out how to send any pictures directly to my blog from the phone. Here's a picture of Candice and I at Walmart shopping for sheets to use at the hostels. Some hostels don't provide linen and will charge an arm and a leg for them.