The Great Separation

Late Night Keyboarding.

Shouldn't I be in bed? - The answer is yes. But for some unknown reason to me I'm sitting at the computer avoiding bed and checking on the new commenting engine I installed here today.

It's quiet here except for the steady rain falling outside the open window and the sound of vehicles speeding down the wet street. I love that sound, it conjures up a host of images for my writer's brain. It also stirs up some emotions. For some reason I wish I was somewhere else tonight. In fact the urge to drive or play a video game is very strong right now.

Odd comboniation you're probably thinking.

But it isn't really. The result is pretty much the same. Escape.

Driving nowhere in particular but just driving to drive is escape for me. As would playing a video game be.

Though today a video game would probably be cheaper.

I'm not sure what the source of this feeling is. Perhaps unrest. More likely just a desire to relax and like I wrote above, "Escape."

But now escape for good, mind you. Just escape from things on my mind, things pulling at my time, and well, things. Maybe it's just that time of the year.

If you're expecting some great insight from the post right now, I'm afraid I haven't any.

Although there is this: If you're sleepy, go to bed.

Manhunt Going Down in My Town.

Who can sleep? - It's 11:11 pm Eastern and there's a sheriff helicopter buzzing overhead and I can look out my window and see a cop car with lights flashing on the corner.

There is definitely some kind of manhunt going down. They've got my street locked down from the looks of it. For the past hour sirens have been sounding all over the neighborhood.

I even heard a fire engine ten minutes ago.

I'd like to go out and find out what's going down but I don't think that they would like that.

And since it's very dark out, I think I'll just stay put and see if the thwap-thwap of the chopper blades can lull me into a peaceful sleep. \

:-/

Update: 01-27-2009:

Took me a while to fall asleep with the police lights bouncing off my blinds and the helicopter doing sweeps. But I eventually I did.

I have no idea what happened though. The news this morning was silent on the events of last night.

Oh, well, life thankfully goes on.

More Christian Persecution out of Eritrea

They hate you because of me - I've been following the Christian persecution in Eritrea for some time. One of the common practices there by the ruling authority is to take Christans and lock them in metal shipping containers out in the heat and sun.

Today there's an article by Ethan Cole for the Christian Post that reports the murder of two Christians arrested for naming the name of Jesus.

Here's the link: More Christians Die in Eritrea's Military Detention

Two Christians were reported to have died under harsh conditions in Eritrea’s military confinement this month, bringing the total of known deaths within the past four months to three believers.

Mogos Hagos Kiflom, 37, and Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, 42, both died in the northeastern Mitire Military Confinement camp in the eastern African nation of Eritrea, sources told the Christian persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA.

Remember to keep our brothers and sisters in lands where being a Christian is looked down upon. Pray to for their persecutors so that the light of Jesus would shine upon their souls.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

What I woke to this morning.

Brrr!Get a load of this video I took this morning here in central Florida.

My New Year Resolution.

Seriously? You make them? - You know what I think is wrong with resolutions today? They are made so off the cuff or without commitment because a fair many of we folk just really don't want to change our condition.

Of course our condition may not be bad. So maybe we don't need to make any resolutions, but that could lead to something bad: Stagnation. And no one likes the smell of a stagnating person.

We are a people, even we redeemed, who need to evaluate ourselves and resolve to add to our lives qualities that require resolution on our part. Speaking to my fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus, consider 2 Peter 1:3-7. Paul makes a list of godly qualities that we must work at adding to our lives. Even though in verse 3, Paul states that we are equipped for everything, we must still add to our lives these qualities. And the addition is not just a one time deal. It's an ongoing, daily, dare I say second by second, activity in this fallen world where we wrestle not only with our own flesh but against powers we can't see with our physical eyes.

Each day we must resolve to live for Christ. So making resolutions are not bad things. What is bad is making a resolution outside of God's will for us.

With that in mind I've been attempting to evaluate my current condition in the Lord for the purpose of making right resolutions. One of the things that's become abundantly clear to me is that I wrestle with fear at times. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of losing control, etc. I dare say it's a common malady for a number of us living, breathing humans, but it's not a condition that God desires us to stay in.

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."" (Ro 8:15 NIV)

So Romans 8:15, will be my verse for the year and I purpose to not let a spirit of fear rule me but will live my life in Christ as the victor He has made me. I will attempt to step out of my complacent zone and go until I hear a, "No," from God. And I will continue to work on the tasks God has given me until He halts them.

I resolve to live this year as a child of God the Father.

The Great Separation continues.

New Year Resolutions.

To make them, or Not to Make them? That is the question. - I'm contemplating resolutions for the 2009. One of the things I want to do is live without fear. After all, I am a son of the Living God, made alive in Christ Jesus. What have I to fear.

On that end, I am trying to think of some things to do this year that match that condition in God. So if you have any suggestions let me know either through an email or as a comment.

Press Release: 51 Christians Detained in Xinjiang, One Young Mother Sentenced.

They hate you because of me - I just received the following press release from China Aid.

XINJIANG – At 1 p.m. local time on January 2, 2009, a house church in Shayibake District of Urimuqi city, Xinjiang Autonomous Region was raided by a number of Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers. Fifty-one Christians were detained for questioning, with forty-eight released later that day.

 

Authorities held three church leaders, Ms. Zhou Li, Ms. Zhu Jinfeng and Mr. Yang Miaofa, an extended time in PSB custody. Mr. Yang Miaofa was released after paying 500 yuan fine. Ms. Zhu Jinfeng suffered a longer detention before her eventual release. Ms. Zhou Li was sentenced to 10 days administrative detention. She is currently separated from her son who is almost two years old.

 

Contact the following Chinese government offices to express your concern for Zhou Li. ChinaAid recommends English speakers to communicate by fax:
The People’s Procurate of Xinjiang Autonomous Region
Tel: +86-991-2642000
The Office of Inspector General for Law Enforcement of China
Tel: +86-10-62251925
Fax: +86-10-62254181

Let us continue to lift up in prayer our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.