Save Saeed!

As you watch the video embedded above, please think of signing the petition to save Saeed.

In America, we have an immense blessing to have the freedom of religion so that we are not in fear of going to prison for our beliefs. But do we really understand how other countries feel about faith and belief in Christ?

We, Americans, read the Old Testament and think that we are so thankful that we don’t have to live a life filled with persecution as the followers of Christ did during that time. We take for granted the freedom we have to sing his praises, to attend a church, to openly say that we are follower of Christ. We take for granted so much of the blessings we have had in this country. We don’t stop to think of what the person in another city, state, or country feels or goes through because our lives tend to revolve around us. What a small, empty, little world to have.

In other countries, the stories in the Old Testament and New Testament about persecution still exist and happen today. Saeed is an example of an American who lives to spread the Gospel and is being persecuted for his belief and profession of faith. He is being beaten, he feels forgotten, he is holding on to the hope that God will come through for him — God can use you to free him! Save Saeed and Sign the Petition. Can you image being a fly on the wall when the same men who beat Saeed hear his words of forgiveness and love toward him as a fellow human. Can you see the tears flowing from their eyes as they follow orders to  continue to beat Saeed. Can you feel the pain and see the sacrifice? Can you see God’s purpose in all of this? God can use Saeed’s love and forgiving heart to share His Good News – Saeed will receive his reward and God will destroy his enemies.

Others who give their lives to Christ in other countries realize that the decision means that they will no longer be accepted by their families and they must leave the tribe. They are homeless with no where to turn to except their faith in Christ. Other countries must hold secret churches so that the Word of God is spread among the nations. People are persecuted for carrying a Bible. They are slashed, beaten, slandered, cursed, and killed because they believe in Christ. Yet, they did so in an act of faith. They know that God is with them and will avenge them. They hold on to that promise.

Are you an individual who has found comfort in staying at home at a secret Christian? Are you an individual who has found comfort in sitting in a pew or seat at your local church gaining knowledge on what you and everyone else should do but never going out and sharing your knowledge with others? God has a purpose for you. I, too, sat in my chair at church or at home because I was too tired to go and just prayed for the hungry to be feed, for the naked to be clothed, for the thirsty to get a drink, and for the persecuted to be safe. It is time that we do something that reflects our heart. Is our heart into following Christ, even unto death? Is our heart willing to go anywhere that we are called? Is our heart willing to act in a weird way if we are lead to because someone has spoken to God “If you are real then someone will stand on their head and sing Mary Had a Little Lamb in the third row.” God has a plan for you, find what He has called you to and do it. Is our heart willing to sign a petition to save a life? Save Saeed and Sign the Petition

For those who are reading this in other countries who are facing, have faced, or will face persecution because of your faith in Christ Jesus, please know that we are praying for you, God is sending people to you in His time, and God will avenge you because you have suffered in His name. He loves you, and, though I have never meet you, I love you in the faith. May God bless you and keep you and let His face shine upon you.

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Philippians 1:29

1 Corinthians 12:26

Mark 13:11

1 Peter 3:14

1 Peter 4:12 -Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Revelation 2:10 – Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for  ten days  you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you  the crown of life.

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“View That Never Cease, To Keep Me From Myself” by  We Came As Romans

I am so far away
And it’s more than I can take
I haven’t heard your voice in days
I haven’t heard your voice in days

What is the measure of a man?
Is it wading through the worst?
Or is the measure of a man
Admitting when he is defeated?

But I am not and will not be defeated
I have given everything in my life for this
I’m counting down the days
Though I’ve been broken down and beaten
I know I can’t let it, I know I can’t let it win

This feeling that there is nothing left
That my purpose is gone
These views, they never cease
To keep me from myself and who I am
So what makes the measure of a man?
Is it being too stubborn to let go of the good and move on?

But I am not and will not be defeated
I will wade through the worst of it all
I’m counting down the days
Though I’ve been broken down and beaten
I am not done with this
I know I will not fall

This is my deepest dream
Or is this a nightmare in disguise?
What makes the measure of a man?
Is it always trying to do right?
I’m’ so far away
And I don’t know if it’s more than I can take
With these views, that never cease to keep me from myself

With these views, they never cease to keep me from myself
I will keep moving forward when I have nothing left

I am not and will not be defeated
I’ve given everything in my life for this
But I am not and will not be defeated
I’ve given everything in my life for this

The Temple

“Don’t seek God in temples. He is close to you. He is within you. Only you should surrender to Him and you will rise above happiness and unhappiness.” – Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

Many people have been to churches and felt alone, excluded, and judged. They went in seeking comfort and love and found a judgmental place that resembled the world. This is not a temple of God, but a temple of people. The Pharisees ruled over the temple in ancient times; they said what was to go on and what was the law, man’s law. When Jesus turned over the table in the temple (Matthew 21:12), it was because the people were treating it as a market, a place that resembled the outside world. People were full of greed, even the high priests. As I read this, I find that “we” are what turns people away from Christ.

When people enter a place that resembles the outside world, why would they turn from the outside world? When people enter into a place that people think they are better than you, why would you want to stay? The answer is, you would not want to change and you would not want to stay. This is not the purpose of Church, this is not the temple; we are the temple.

Many churches stand to accept those who are unaccepted and love those who feel unloved. Many churches fulfill this mission; however, it is not because of the building, alter, or the red velvet chairs, it is because of the people within the church that shine the light of Christ. When the people within the church show, through their fruit, that everyone is equal in Christ and everyone is loved, no matter your past or your present situation, more people let down the walls they’ve built within themselves and find Christ.

Many Christians know that we are the temple and we should treat ourselves as such, but do we really think about what that means to others? If we are the temple, it means that we are body of Christ. We, through our actions toward others, show who Christ is. I have thought of it this way: if I saw myself, would I believe in who I claim to follow; would I follow the same person? Through my actions, words, and character, I should show who Christ was, is, and will be. I should show grace, forgiveness, love, patience, virtue, and strength so that others may see who God is by His temple. When the church is made up of people who show the love of Christ, the church will be the place for the hurting, lost, broken, messed up, and forgotten. Be cautious, however, that our temple does not reflect the world – the standards of this age. Show those who do not know Christ that the difference is real, the difference in you is Him.

The difference between who we were and who we are is Christ. The difference between a Christian and a Practical Atheist is showing through your actions and character that you follow Christ and not just say you do. The difference between the temple that is within us and the temples of the Pharisees is the knowledge that Christ died on the cross for our sins while we were still sinners. He wiped away our sin and accepted the punishment that we deserve. He overcame my sin; He is greater than my sin; He is greater than death. I follow a loving, giving, compassionate, fruitful, grace giving God who would rather care for the poor and broken than those who believe they have it all in their hands. Show others who Christ is by the way you act, the way you respond, the way you behave, the way you love, give, and forgive. Tell them who God is by showing them who God is. Remember, though, you cannot give what you have not received. If Christ is not in your heart, I pray that He shows you His love and grace that saved a sinner like me. He’s love is freeing, kind, and merciful. He will not let you down when you trust in Him. When you receive these gifts from God, you can present them to others and show them that you are the temple; God lives in you.

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16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future–all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-23).