This is the blog of a friend of mine from college. I’ve always admired his dedication to the faith, as well as his knowledge of the Bible. He is currently undergoing chemo treatments to battle colon cancer. Despite the toll these treatments are taking on him, he retains a positive outlook and upbeat attitude. He also keeps his blog updated regularly, which, obviously, is something I still struggle to do.

Please remember to keep him in your prayers as he fights this disease.

::The Sundry Blogger::

Today’s Monday Update comes with some bad news. This past Thursday I was told that I am being laid-off, my last day is Wednesday the 31st. They gave me the option of whether or not to go in until then and today I’ve decided only to go in to get the last of my stuff.

I have been reading Matthew 6 and Romans 8 a lot. We’ll be fine. The Lord will provide and I will find another job. Prayers are welcomed and encouraged.

I did present my lesson on Wednesday about choosing sides. I’ll be putting that up later today or early tomorrow. I still need to edit the audio. Yes, I finally remembered to record it.

Other than those two highlights of the week, not much else has happened. At least in contrast to them, everything else seems unimportant.

One of the topics I’ve yet to really talk about here is my gaming hobby. I plan on doing some articles on some of my favorite games, as well as provide some links to several of my favorite blogs and sites related to them. This will definitely emphasize the “geek” side of DiscipleGeek. If you had any doubt, this should cement my geekiness in your mind. Even with all the job searching I plan on doing, I should have plenty of time to come up with the articles now that I’m unemployed.

Speaking of job searching, my resume is available at request through my Email Me page if you know of a place hiring.

Back in this post I mentioned that my mother-in-law (and I neglected to mention my step-father-in-law) teaches in China and had a Bible burned on her doorstep. She is in America at the moment and I got to meet up with her the first week of January. She shared with me the photos of the burned Bible and the accompanying note and I thought I’d share them with you as well.

I’ve blacked-out the note to remove vulgarities. Part of the note got burned as well, so the first line is hard to see. For reference, here’s what it says: “**** you! **** God! **** Jesus! Your Bible is here! I am not fooled by your religion. GO HOME!”

I believe that they are still going back this year to continue to teach English through the Bible. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

The Gray family was in an accident this weekend. They lost their almost 3 year old daughter Helen. Brian has been released from the hospital. Kristy on the other hand has apparently broken her back. My heart cries out in prayer for this family. May God comfort them in their suffering and loss. Please add them to your prayer list.

::News Article::
::Facebook Group::

My mother-in-law teaches English in China and one of the books she uses to do this is the Bible. Sometime this weekend they found a burnt Bible on their doorstep. Underneath that Bible was a threatening letter demanding (with much profanity) that they leave China. They’re not worried, but understandably, my wife is.

This morning while browsing Facebook I ran across the standard Monday morning sentiments. “It’s Monday again, blah, when’s Friday going to get here?” Since I’m in a rare mood for morning (I’m NOT a morning person, at all) I felt the need to seek out some familiar scripture to express my appreciation for the day. (This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24) What I found as I read the full chapter was something that applied very well to the situation in China, so I felt the need to post it in its entirety here.

Psalm 118
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
     For His mercy endures forever.
Let Israel now say,
     “His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron now say,
     “His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD now say,
     “His mercy endures forever.”

I called on the LORD in distress;
     The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
The LORD is on my side;
     I will not fear.
     What can man do to me?
The LORD is for me among those who help me;
     Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
It is better to trust in the LORD
     Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
     Than to put confidence in princes.

All nations surrounded me,
     But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
They surrounded me,
     Yes, they surrounded me;
     But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
They surrounded me like bees;
     They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
     For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
     But the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and song,
     And He has become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation
     Is in the tents of the righteous;
     The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
     The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
I shall not die, but live,
     And declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD has chastened me severely,
     But He has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness;
     I will go through them,
     And I will praise the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD,
     Through which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise You,
     For You have answered me,
     And have become my salvation.

The stone which the builders rejected
     Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing;
     It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
     We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I pray, O LORD;
     O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
     We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
God is the LORD,
     And He has given us light;
     Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise You;
     You are my God, I will exalt You.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
     For His mercy endures forever.

(Emphasis Mine)

I would like to request your prayers, not only for the safety of our family overseas, but that we may obtain peace in the face of worry.