I sat here utterly dumbfounded as to what to write. It had been nearly a month since Ive touched this blog, so I began with what was on my mind. I sighed as my fingers hit the keys in such a routine manner, awkwardly missing letters due to the unfamiliarity of this laptop. I wrote to complain, to argue and to question, due to the fact that there was nothing I could find in my mind to say. Around a page and a half of ranting later, i discovered that the purpose of my writing, and more importantly this blog had been lost. SO i started anew. I desire to inspire and enlighten. I want to utilize the rhetoric conventions of the English language to spark an epiphany in one of your lives, or at least allow a pleasurable read for a few moments. My rants and worries need not be of your concern, additionally, they need not be of my concern either.

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6

It is interesting how difficult it is to take this message to heart. We tend to shift our focus from God to the problem, and then begin to question why God isn't solving said problem. But he is, all in his time. This Christmas my prayer is that we do not get so involved in the hustle of life that we forget the peace that Jesus promised us, and came to this earth for. Pastor said today that Christmas time is the season of the year that people are the most stressed. Which seems like a horrible epidemic to me. Take note of the shoppers that have forgotten the reason for the season, fighting and killing each other for a gift for their children. I do not think this is the way Jesus wanted us to celebrate his birthday. Please, i pray for peace in my heart... not an excuse for lazyness, but a calmness that helps me remember that you are here with me. Remind me of where you brought me from, that you in all essence are good and have my best interests at heart. Please help me push aside my will for my life and help me be attentive to yours and your calling. Lead me and I will follow. For I wont dread the terror by night...

Also, I've been wondering about all that I've held dear to my heart growing up. I've always longed to be part of an epic adventure. A protagonist character in a battle between good and evil, where my role involved slaying the darkness as an advocate for the light. But where did it end? It involved sacrifice and pain, joy in the running, but an overall martyrdom. It speaks to me now. You are dead to this world. You do not treasure the tangible items or false pleasures that the world does because you were not created for this place. I can see us Christians being persecuted in the future. Not simply disliked, but discriminated, the victims of hate crimes... to be a Christian would be similar to "coming out" these days.

I remember an analogy that a preacher must have told me when I was a child. It was about running a race in a schoolyard. And how there were certain strategies we children employ to ensure victory. One of which was leaving the fastest runner on the team to run last, to pick up any lost ground that the others before him left. This is true in the professional world as well, the slower runners go first, and the last spots are reserved for those fast enough to put up a last fighting effort. The strongest are left for the last... the last push... the final battle. As is with time. I believe God has left his strongest fighters for the end times. We have grown up with many more temptations and corruption in the world than previous generations. Different struggles. The devil is attacking in different and new ways, and God is countering in different and new ways. I do believe that we are some of Gods last runners. Let us run with all of our strength. What have we to loose? Our life? Did we not say as World Changers that we were willing to die for God?

Do not be afraid.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” John 15:18-20 NIV

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it." Mark 8:35

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.” Matthew 5:10 (MSG)

“It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22.

This is my adventure.