Mercy Now

Memorial Wknd

This marks the beginning of my summer beach treks; therefore, it's GREAT!

posted by Mercy Now @ 12:22 PM 17 comments

A Word on AI

SUCKS!

Now for my thoughts: I decided to watch the last 20 min just to see what the hoopla's all about and I was sorely disappointed. Neither of the two finalists can sing but Taylor was worse of the two. I couldn't stand it but had to stick it out just to see the ending.

What was up with David Hasselhoff crying when the winner was announced?

posted by Mercy Now @ 10:04 PM 1 comments

I Stand Amazed

As I was pondering about my friend Luke last night, I came across this song by Chris Tomlin. This is an awesome hymn even if you're not a fan of it. The words are so soothing, it's a reminder of how wonderful is Jesus' love for us, especially in the midst of Luke's ordeal.

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And I wonder how He could love me,
A sinner condemned, unclean.

How marvelous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be.
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Savior's love for me.

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv'ry,
And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
'Twill be my joy thro' the ages,
To sing of His love for me.

posted by Mercy Now @ 12:16 PM 0 comments

Complete Utter Helplessness

A state of complete utter helplessness is how I feel now as I was informed that my friend Luke suffered a stroke while recovering in ICU earlier this afternoon. The only one I can turn to is God since He's the only one who is in control. I cannot imagine what life is like not knowing Jesus as the Savior.

posted by Mercy Now @ 6:07 PM 2 comments

Extraordinary Prayer?

I went to Redeemer.com and found that they have a prayer conference this week. My first thought was what is a prayer conference since I've never heard of one before. Then I clicked on this video and Tim Keller explains it well so check it out.

posted by Mercy Now @ 12:54 PM 0 comments

The realization that we are mortals

Well, my friend Luke got a blood clot this AM and went into open heart surgery this eve. The doctors said it's a miracle that he's alive but God has allowed him to make it through this far. He's now in ICU recovering for the next few days. As I was calling others to give the latest update, I got a call that the grandfather of a friend of mine just passed away. When we think that we are in control and we have a lifetime ahead of us, I've been reminded that God is in total control. The question I pose to myself lately is am I living all that I can for God or am I wandering off to the path of selfishness?

posted by Mercy Now @ 9:05 PM 1 comments

$ Is Not Everything

They said $ can't buy happiness and that is true but not to all extent. If you can't support yourself or your family, then you're more than likely to be unhappy most of the time. In addition, that means you're not fulfilling your duty to work and providing food for yourself. Have you ever met a homeless person who is happy? More than that, have you met a working poor family that's happy? Sure they do smile and do enjoy some of life but for the most part they are not b/c they don't know if they can live through next week.

The reason I bring this up is that we Christians tend to have this idea that since $ can't buy happiness, we don't need to do anything to provide for others, esp those who are in need. We have this godly self righteousness to go and share the "Gospel" with them. We ask them to put their trust in Christ and when they pray to ask Jesus into their hearts, we are ecstatic and we walk away thinking that we've done something great when in fact we have not.

I mean imagine that you're homeless and some guy walks up to you who doesn't have to worry where his next meal comes from and who has a home to go back to lay his head and he tells you about this wonderful Savior and how you're loved and all that yet he leaves you with nothing after the conversation? When we do this we are just like the first two people who walked by in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

posted by Mercy Now @ 8:09 PM 5 comments

Robertson a modern prophet?

So what do you think of Pat Robertson's latest statement? This is not the one about assasinating the Pres of Venezuela.

"If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms," Robertson said May 8. On Wednesday, he added, "There well may be something as bad as a tsunami in the Pacific Northwest."

See this article for details.

posted by Mercy Now @ 12:12 PM 5 comments

Latest update on my friend Luke

Below is from Luke's wife, Destiny:
Preliminary reports of the biopsy show that there are two infections in the absess and the doctors have already started Luke on some pretty strong antibiotics. I almost hesitate to breathe a sigh of relief about the infections until the final reports come back, but the fact that some infection is showing up is very good and very treatable. Luke will also begin some very intense rehabilitation therapy in the next day or two. Please pray for strength of mind, body, soul and will as begins this therapy. It will be one of the biggest fights of his life.
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This sure has been a wild ride for me but so much more for Destiny so pray for her as well. Luke has gained back some motion in his right leg but still not much with the arm. He was told by the doctor that it may take him awhile to gain motion back in his right arm. Please also pray for his spirit. Thanks.

posted by Mercy Now @ 12:35 PM 0 comments

The First

So last night I did a first and that was playing ultimate frisbee at night (w/o lights). My cool and awesome married friend, Matt K, invited me to play with him and a bunch of college kids. The reason I said cool is Matt's one of those who remains a good friend after he got a girlfriend and then marriage. Others disappear and only call when they need something which is really a friendship of convenience. Anyway, it was from 1030PM to 1145PM and was really fun until I became exhausted. I guess that mini marathon training would have come in handy. These kids seem pretty cool and they are here for an orientation to go overseas for summer missions, some to closed countries. Therefore, pray for them that God would use them and that they may be called to be long term if that's the case.

posted by Mercy Now @ 8:12 AM 0 comments

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer

There are some songs that just keep the blood pumping and the eyes watering, even for a masculine guy like me. Here's one where Fernando Ortega lead us in worship today.

I will sing of my Redeemer
And His wondrous love to me
On the cruel cross He suffered
From the curse to set me free

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer
With His blood He purchased me
On the cross He sealed my pardon
Paid the debt and made me free

I will tell the wondrous story
How my lost estate to save
In His boundless love and mercy
He the ransom freely gave

I will praise my dear Redeemer
His triumphant power I'll tell
How the victory He giveth
Over sin and death and hell

posted by Mercy Now @ 4:20 PM 5 comments

TGIF!

Thank God it's Friday. I discovered this week that our pastors are under appreciated. After two hospital visits and two family visits, I'm worn but our pastors have been at the hospitals daily this week. The biopsy on my friend's brain went well as no tumor was found. This means it's some sort of infection so hopefully they'll find what it is in order to prescribe the proper treatment. Thanks for praying.

Tomorrow is Sat and I'm hoping that this kid I mentor will call me today to take him out. We met as a group this past Tue and he asked me if I can take him to do fun things. I said sure but that we'll have to go to the bookstore first and read. I think that may have scared him since he just wants to have fun. This brings me to my rant about the public school system. Most kids in this group live in the inner city and I discovered that mine is illiterate and he's in the 5th grade. How he got into the 5th grade is beyond me. He has a great spirit and really fun but he just doesn't like to read probably b/c he can't.

posted by Mercy Now @ 8:24 AM 3 comments

Would you pray for Luke?

The latest on my friend is the biopsy must be done. It is risky primarly due to where the "growth" is located in his brain. It is in the middle of brain, in the nerve input and output center, which is very difficult to get to. The main risk is internal bleeding which could cause paraylsis. There is always a chance of hemoraging or cutting some nerves on the way down to the where the "growth" is located. The surgery is Thu @ 10AM so please pray for my friend Luke.

I feel helpless b/c there's absolutely nothing I can do. I feel fear b/c of the uncertaint future for my friend and his wife of almost two years. I dread answering my cell phone every time "Bert" appears on the display screen b/c the news may not be "good".

But then I think about Hebrews 11 which is one of my favorite passages. I think about the many uncertain times those that came before us have suffered. I think about the ultimate prize and that it is not about here. I think about Romans 8 (another fav passage) and about how the sufferings of this world cannot be compared to the glory which shall be revealed to us.

These are my feelings and these are my thoughts, how do I bring the two together? The only thing I can do is to rely totally upon God. The only thing I or anyone else can do at this point is to pray so will you pray for my friend as well?

posted by Mercy Now @ 9:46 PM 2 comments

When it rains, it pours.

I was out of town this past wknd on a retreat and got a call that one of my good friends, Luke, was hospitalized for what they thought was a stroke. This guy is in his early 30's and in top notch athletic health. Short story is that he has lost much feeling on his entire right side and will have a biopsy Tue AM. This procedure is high risk.

As I was calling another good friend, Pete, to inform him about this situation, he told me that he just found out that his father was diagnosed with bone cancer in the lower spine which is incurrable. Chemo will make it worse and the only thing to do is to let it take its course which means that my friend's dad will eventually be in a wheelchair and need daily doses of morphine to subdue the pain, a very slow and painful way to die. His dad is also in good health, well, atleast up to this point.

If that wasn't enough, I got an email today that another friend of mine had a nasty head accident and required a cat scan. He's in good condition now and is recovering.

Last, I was notified that a teenage kid ran away from a family that I'm good friends with at church.
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Part of me says, Why Lord? Why are all these things happening to your children? Then I was reminded that through perserverance that our faith is strengthened, but easier for me to say as I'm not the one going through these trials. Things like these make me want to see Christ coming soon. Please pray for them, that God will grant them mercy and grace. Yes, all of us can use some mercy now.

posted by Mercy Now @ 7:53 PM 3 comments

The Attempted Triple Screws

No, this is not the latest ice skating move since I DON'T watch ice skating as no man should w/ the exception that he's with his wife, a date, or his mother. In this fallen world, there are people that will screw with you as that's just part of life. Since I am somewhat a skeptical person, those that screw people on a regular basis have to be deviously conniving to get past me but here's a first for me:

Someone tried to screw with me but in his attempt in doing so, he's telling me he is actually doing me a favor. It's like hey, not only am I gonna screw w/ you, I'm gonna convince you to like me when I'm gonna cheat you out of some $$$. This is called the Double Screws. When I confronted him about his lie and told him he's not doing me a favor by any means, he told me that he's doing all this b/c I'm a friend of this contractor that he goes to church with. So b/c he's a "Christian" and a friend of a contractor I used, I should let him double screw me. This then becomes the Triple Screws. Fortunately, due to my eagle eyes, it was the Attempted TS. What this person doesn't know is that he has just ruined his reputation in the area as my friend Brinkley says to me, "You know a lot of people in town."

posted by Mercy Now @ 9:44 PM 4 comments

Boycotting Yahoo!

Please read MVB's blog for details. I really never cared for Yahoo's search engine as it wasn't that fast and their interface wasn't the greatest. Now, here's another reason for me to dislike them.

posted by Mercy Now @ 7:34 PM 0 comments