Into Iraq #2: What the News isn’t telling You & Why We Can’t Afford to Pretend It’s Not Happening [Sozan’s Impossible Choice — and Our Very Possible One] | A Holy Experience

A CHRISTIAN BLOG POST

This is a blog post by Ann Voskamp. Something to ponder. Take a look.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/05/into-iraq-2-what-the-news-isnt-telling-you-why-we-cant-afford-to-pretend-its-not-happening-sozans-impossible-choice-and-our-very-possible-one/?utm_source=email+marketing&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_medium=email

Journal your thoughts and prayers.

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Life and Writing Chronicles 05-06-2015

MY APOLOGIES

I apologize for posting multiple blog posts today. It certainly is not my preferred method. However, current events have made it necessary. This post will hopefully be the last blog post today.

WRITING "THE STORY" I AM MEANT TO WRITE:
AN UPDATE ABOUT MY WRITING

Four days ago, I started writing THE STORY of a lifetime. I have no doubt whatsoever it is the one I am supposed to write. Truthfully, it could be a lifetime series. I am so excited about it. I finally found it. My story. The story. The one I was made to write.

Then this happened...

I AM VERY DISTURBED: MY PERSONAL JOURNALING ABOUT THIS DISTURBANCE (ISIS IS IN THE U.S.)

I woke up this morning to this article:

Headline: "Purported ISIS warning claims terror cells in place in 15 states"
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/06/purported-isis-warning-claims-terror-cells-in-place-in-15-states/

Please read that article before you read another word or do another thing. And, if you journal, do so now regarding the news article.

This news disturbed me. Greatly. And it disturbs me more by the minute.

How about you?

I woke up this morning, feeling fresh, alive, thrilled with a new and glorious day. What a gift and blessing! Today... an opportunity.

I even had ideas for my new book and series I couldn't wait to put down on the page. So many ideas. Oh, it felt glorious to know what to write. Oh, I was excited. I jumped out of bed, took care of my critters, and then sat at my favorite place on the sofa in the family room of our temporary home to capture the ideas on the page.

Then, I read this article.

And, everything froze. Life was frozen by a pressing of the pause button. I could not carry on. I had to stop and take this in. I am still doing this. (Even as I re-read this again later, I am still frozen where I am.)

My concerns were validated. (And then some.)

Quadrillions of thoughts went through my mind--and still are going through the wormhole of my present mind-state. Which thought should I get down on the page? What should I journal? I started to type in my online journal, Penzu.com:

"Closed-minded people, wake up!"

No. That is too harsh. Too derogatory. I should soften it. Right?

"Intentionally clueless people, wake up!"

No. Still too harsh.

"Narcissistic, me-centered, look and focus on me people, wake up!"

No. Strike that.

"Uninformed, ignorant, and people in denial, wake up!"

No. That is also too harsh. Sticks and stones.

I then wrote a scathing blog post, which I won't post, trying to slap people out of their stupor and force them to action.

But, that was too harsh as well.

Sigh. I grew frustrated and disturbed at this point.

I then wrote in my journal for the Church to stop talking about everything they are talking about... for pastors to stop writing their present sermons... for Christian bloggers, authors, and ministries as well to stop everything they are working on now... And get to the real discussion: the CURRENT HOLOCAUST.

But, that seemed too harsh, too.

But, there IS a current holocaust. No one is talking about. No one is taking a stand. IS it possible to get too harsh? The answer is no. Absolutely not. Harshness might slap people awake and force them to action. So would a real slap, but violence is not the answer.

But, should I say any of that?

"The world, the Church, the people, and most individuals are in a stupor and are clueless to reality."

Wait. That is harsh as well. While all of this is true, beyond shadow of a doubt, I should look within first. I should look in the mirror.

LOOKING IN THE MIRROR:
TELLING MY STORY

I should share where I am in my journal, which I then share with you. I should share my thought-FULL-ness about the current holocaust. How did I become educated and well-informed on the subject of the current holocaust? How did I research it for myself and not take anyone else's opinions or stances in account? In other words, how did I form my OWN, personal, informed stance on terrorism and on the current holocaust?

Maybe through sharing my story, I can help others to do the same.

Let me stress again, though, how greatly I am disturbed. This is why I must write about, and journal, the current holocaust and terrorism. Then, I will write my story, my fiction one.

I will do one more blog post today and start this personal journaling about the current holocaust and terrorism.

A TERROR ATTACK ON U.S. SOIL

This happened three days ago. Did you know that?

It happened in Texas.

Where are the voices?

NEWS LINKS ABOUT THE TERROR ATTACK IN TEXAS AND ON U.S. SOIL

1
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/06/fbi-was-investigating-texas-gunman-at-time-cartoon-contest-attack/
2
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/06/gunman-final-tweet-hashtag-hinted-at-texas-assault-on-cartoon-contest/
3
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/06/after-weeklong-controversy-charlie-hebdo-receives-pen-award-at-literary-gala-in/

OTHER NEWS ARTICLES TO READ, PRAY ABOUT, JOURNAL, AND KNOW

1
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/06/after-weeklong-controversy-charlie-hebdo-receives-pen-award-at-literary-gala-in/
2
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/05/federal-judge-agrees-to-let-ohio-terror-plot-suspect-privately-review-video/

TWO LINKS TO KEEP READING FOR NOW AND FOREVER SO WE CAN STAY INFORMED:

1
http://www.foxnews.com/us/terrorism/index.html?intcmp=subnav
2
http://www.foxnews.com/world/terrorism/index.html?intcmp=subnav

NEWS TO READ, PRAY ABOUT, JOURNAL, AND KNOW

1

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/06/purported-isis-warning-claims-terror-cells-in-place-in-15-states/

Please read this link immediately (#1).

2

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/we.cannot.stand.by.while.christians.are.executed.abused.or.enslaved.because.of.their.faith/53376.htm

3

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/taya-kyle-chris-kyle-texas-attack/2015/05/05/id/642788/?ns_mail_uid=97105315&ns_mail_job=1619723_05062015&s=al&dkt_nbr=pumgvc95

4

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/241065-huckabee-jumps-into-2016-race

5

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/241157-hillary-makes-play-for-blacks-hispanics

6

http://townhall.com/columnists/brentbozell/2015/05/06/hate-group-blamed-for-isis-attack-n1994825?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=

We cannot stand by while Christians are executed, abused or enslaved because of their faith | Christian News on Christian Today

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/we.cannot.stand.by.while.christians.are.executed.abused.or.enslaved.because.of.their.faith/53376.htm

Purported ISIS warning claims terror cells in place in 15 states | Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/06/purported-isis-warning-claims-terror-cells-in-place-in-15-states/

PLEASE read this. It is critical all Americans read this and become informed.

Life and Writing Chronicles 05-04-2015

RESPECT: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

Why is it we demand others to respect us, but we do not offer everyone else the same respect we demand others give us?

Journal your thoughts.

I think this can be said about every single one of us if we were to stop, get out of the emotions, and really think.

Journal your thoughts.

How is it this can be said about you?

Journal your thoughts.

Read the news links below and come back to this journaling prompt or exercise and journal your thoughts.

How did we ever get to this point? I disagree with you, so I will kill you? Terrorism... Riots...

Journal your thoughts.

Every single human has a soul and a heart that beats. Every human makes mistakes and no one is perfect. None of us deserve respect because we are not perfect. However, it is the civilized thing to do and show respect to everyone, regardless of whether we agree or not. For, our agreement does not matter. Our respect for one another's lives, regardless of belief, should be what defines us.

Journal your thoughts.

NEWS TO KNOW AND PRAY

1

http://www.ijreview.com/2015/05/311756-nyc-police-officer-was-shot-in-the-head-and-now-hes-clinging-for-his-life/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningnewsletter

2

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/04/police-shooting-at-muhammad-cartoon-contest-in-texas/

3

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/penny-starr/expert-terrorist-group-boko-haram-has-killed-more-10000-people-nigeria

4

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/03/with-rescue-near-boko-haram-fighters-stoned-nigerian-girls-to-death/

(Side-Note and My Personal Journaling: This is the article that has me the most disturbed, moved, saddened... WHERE is the outrage? Where is the outrage of the Church as a whole and every single Christian? What about the USA?)

5

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/04/across-mideast-islamic-state-group-challenges-al-qaida-but-veteran-terror/

6

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/03/isis-killed-25-captive-yazidis-lawmaker-says/


~*~*~

WORD OF THE DAY OR BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY

I wrote everything above this BEFORE I went to BibleGateway.com to see their verse of the day. Here it is:

2 Chronicles 7:14 Expanded Bible (EXB)

14 Then if my people, who ·are called by my name [belong to me], will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek ·me [L my face] and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will ·heal[restore] their land.

Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer journal your thoughts day and night about this verse and the journaling prompt and news links I shared.

~*~**~*~

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease

Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com

Blog:
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

White House condemns ISIS video that purportedly shows killing of Ethiopian Christians in Libya | Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/04/20/isis-video-purports-to-show-killing-ethiopians-in-libya/?cmpid=NL_morninghl

A Day of Prayer, Day 3

WORD OF THE DAY, ROMANS 1:1-12, DAYS 1-3

A prayer for each day and each time we open the Word of God, the Holy Bible:
~*~
Psalm 19:14 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
--New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
~*~
DAYS, DATES, AND READINGS
Day 1 = 04.18.2015. Romans 1:1-4.
Day 2 = 04.19.2015. Romans 1:8-12.
Day 3= A Day of Prayer.
~*~ 

I will share something on my heart today instead.

It's a news story:

"Video: Islamic State kills Ethiopian Christians in Libya"

See this link: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/video-islamic-state-kills-ethiopian-christians-libya

~*~ 

I am reeling. You? (Prayer journal your thoughts.)

Back on February 15, 2015, ISIS beheaded 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians. (Prayer journal your thoughts.)

Do you see why I am upset and really cannot focus? How about you? 

I am taking some time today to pray about this and search the Bible for... something... Encouragement? Understanding? 

~*~

2 Thessalonians 1:3-8 Expanded Bible (EXB)

3 We ·must [ought to] always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. This is only right, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love that every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4 So we ·brag [boast] about you to the other churches of God. We tell them about the way you ·continue to be strong [persevere; endure] and have faith even though you are being ·treated badly [persecuted] and are suffering many ·troubles [trials; hardships].

5 This is ·proof [evidence] that God is ·right [just; righteous] in his judgment. ·He wants you to be counted […so that you will be considered; or …to make you] worthy of his kingdom for which you are suffering. 6 [L For] God ·will do what is right [is just/righteous]. He will ·give trouble to [pay back with trials/hardship] those who ·trouble [inflict trials/hardships on] you. 7 And he will give rest to you who are ·troubled [suffering trials/hardships] and to us also when the Lord Jesus ·appears [is revealed] ·with blazing fire from heaven [orfrom heaven; C “with blazing fire” may go with the next sentence] with his powerful angels. 8 Then he will ·punish [or punish with blazing fire] those who do not know God [Jer. 10:25] and who do not obey the ·Good News about [Gospel of] our Lord Jesus.

-- Expanded Bible (EXB)

The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

~*~

2 Corinthians 4:6-18 Living Bible (TLB)

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that it is the brightness of his glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own.

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 10 These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger to our lives because we serve the Lord, but this gives us constant opportunities to show forth the power of Jesus Christ within our dying bodies. 12 Because of our preaching we face death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you.

13 We boldly say what we believe, trusting God to care for us, just as the psalm writer did when he said, “I believe and therefore I speak.” 14 We know that the same God who brought the Lord Jesus back from death will also bring us back to life again with Jesus and present us to him along with you. 15 These sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank him for his great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified.

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day. 17 These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever! 18 So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

-- Living Bible (TLB)

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

~*~ 

Boko Haram adopts ISIS' bloody religious cleansing strategy | Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/04/19/boko-haram-adopts-isis-bloody-religious-cleansing-strategy/

~*~

I apologize to break my hope of only posting one blog post per day. This is now my third for today. However, I also said if I do make multiple posts, it is important and is for a good reason. The current holocaust is a really good reason if you ask me.
I share this news as a prayer point and to help us with awareness so we can take a stand individually as Christians and as the Church.
I also share other news on my RYP Stories blog (link is below in my signature).
Please do not skip any of the articles on this blog, or on my other, and read them word for word. It is our duty as Christians to stay informed so we can more accurately and thoroughly pray for one another and the world.
Thank you.
I will write my thoughts on the current holocaust in my blog post tomorrow.

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease

Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journaltheword.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Islamic State Video Purports to Show Ethiopian Christians Being Shot and Beheaded in Libya | CNS News

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/islamic-state-video-purports-show-ethiopian-christians-being-shot-and-beheaded-libya

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease

Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journaltheword.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Son of Holocaust survivors fights to save Syrian refugees | Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/03/31/son-holocaust-survivor-fights-to-save-syrian-refugees/?intcmp=HPBucket

Son of Hamas founder claims Islam wants to control the whole world | Glenn Beck

http://www.glennbeck.com/2015/03/30/son-of-hamas-founder-claims-islam-wants-to-control-the-whole-word/

Read this to learn the truth. Quite enlightening. For whoever isn't sure if terrorism is as bad as people claim, this is an eye-opener.

Read and then, prayer journal your thoughts.

Silence is Not Acceptable: My Camp NaNoWriMo Writing Project Monday, March 30, 2015

Silence is Not Acceptable: My Camp NaNoWriMo Writing Project Monday, March 30, 2015
~*~*~*~*~
Bible Verse of the Day, Daily Devotional, and Prayer Journaling:
~*~
Isaiah 53:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
-- New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
~*~
Prayer journal your thoughts to what you just read.
Prayer journal your thoughts of this verse during the holy week of Easter.
Prayer journal your thoughts of this verse and our era of terrorism, our current holocaust, and a New Exodus.
What did God say to you?
What did you say to God?
How will you apply this verse to your life today? This week? This month? This quarter? This year? Etc.?
Re-read this verse as much as possible all day, night, and week long. Then prayer journal whatever comes to mind and what God reveals to you. Spend as much time with this verse as possible and go as deep as possible with the verse.
~*~
Other Thoughts of Isaiah 53:3-4: Daily Devotional and Prayer Journaling:
Please prayer journal your thoughts about each of these sentences and questions.
This is what our God did for us.
Intentionally.
Knowingly.
He did it because He loves us.
How many other gods and idols love you this much? (Answer = None.)
And, no. Just because a religion calls their god, "God," does it mean we worship the same God or god. Our God is Jehovah, the Great I AM, the Father of Jesus Christ, and who also is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
~*~*~*~*~
Romans 6:20-23 New Living Translation (NLT)
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
-- New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
~*~
Take some time to prayer journal your thoughts.
Again, this is what differs our God as the One and Only God.
We receive eternal life merely through our belief in Jesus Christ--and for no other reason. The moment we believe Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, so we do not have to, our sins--all of them--are forgiven as a free gift by the Lord.
Prayer journal your thoughts.
We do not do anything to merit eternal life and forgiveness of our wrongdoings, except believing. That's it.
Prayer journal your thoughts.
We do not have to murder others in older to stand up for our God and earn His favor.
Nor do we have to commit suicide in His name.
Prayer journal your thoughts.
This is the true Easter message. Particularly this year... After 21 Coptic and Orthodox Christians were beheaded in February 2015 because of nothing more than their belief in Jesus Christ and how He died for the forgiveness of their sins. They did not die to prove He was God. They died.. we're beheaded... murdered... because they didn't believe what the terrorists do.
And now, they are living the free gift of eternal life... of no more sadness or pain... of endless time with perfection and beauty with the One True God Almighty.
This is the Easter message this year.
How serious are you about your belief?
Are you silent about the truth of Jesus and the Bible? Are you afraid to offer? Do you want to be tolerant? Are you afraid of standing out and people disagreeing with you? Would you take a real stand of real belief in Jesus and speak out against terrorism and the current holocaust and the New Exodus?
This is the only true Easter message that should be shared this year.
If our faith is comfortable and we are happy, then we aren't really living a true life of faith in this world today.
The Christian faith is quite uncomfortable today. And, we have a choice to run from it it, deny it, ignore it, or dive right in and make sure that the 21 (and the children beheaded, and the girls and ladies being sold into sex slavery to fund the terrorists) did not, have not, lived and believed for nothing or in vain. We must remember. We must be as uncomfortable as possible because of our faith, so we remember to turn from our own personal and collective wicked ways so God will hear our prayers. As we are uncomfortable, we should be praying 24/7 for God to forgive us and heal our land.
This is today's one, true Easter message.
If your Easter avoids this, ask yourself if you are celebrating a comfortable Easter or the real, true Easter.
Prayer journal your thoughts.
~*~*~*~*~
Ouch. I wrote all of the previous and am looking in the mirror. I will prayer journal my thoughts now. Stay tuned.
~*~*~*~*~
I will say this. I refuse to go to any Easter Sunday at any church that doesn't focus on this. A happy, easy, comfortable Easter is not what I want to celebrate, given the scores who have died and have been tortured and sold into slavery as the Church and most Christians have been silent... including me. I want to remember the truth of our world today and everything  Jesus said about why He lived and died for us... and what He said about the last days and His second coming. I want to make sure I am ready... and that I have prayed as much as possible for the forgiveness of our sins individually and corporately for Israel, the USA, and the world.
This is my Easter this year.
~*~*~*~*~
Isaiah 53:3-4 Expanded Bible (EXB)
3 He was ·hated [despised] and rejected by people.
·He had much pain [ A man of pain/suffering/sorrows] and ·suffering[one who knew/was acquainted with pain/grief].
People ·would not even look at [turned their backs on; hid their faces from] him.
He was ·hated [despised], and we ·didn't even notice him [or did not esteem him].
4 But he ·took [bore] our suffering on him
and ·felt our pain for us [carried our sorrows/sickness].
·We saw his suffering
and thought God was punishing him [ …stricken and afflicted by him;C God].
Expanded Bible (EXB)
-- The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
~*~*~*~*~

Silence is Not Acceptable: Camp NaNoWriMo Writing Project Sunday, March 29, 2015

Silence is Not Acceptable: Camp NaNoWriMo Writing Project Sunday, March 29, 2015
~*~*~*~*~
Happy Sabbath. I hope all is well with you and that you have much to be thankful today.
I wanted to let you know my current writing plans for this blog. There is a great deal going on here and in our world, as I am sure you are aware. Therefore, this blog is currently a combination of:
1 Current events or news articles I think are important to read, pray about, and journal about. They are articles important for every American and every Christian.
2 Bible Verse of the Day to ponder and prayer journal about, particularly with how it applies to America, the world, every Christian, and the Church as a whole (all four at once).
3 My personal journaling and prayer journaling about #1 and 2, along with a call for us to wake up and take a stand against terrorism individually, as Americans, as a world, as individual Christians, in our local churches and denominations, and as the Church as a whole.
4 The Current Holocaust
5 The New Exodus
Starting in this blog post, I will share several different thoughts each day and each thought will be divided by this symbol: " ~*~*~*~*~ ."
After all, I am struggling with my role as an American and as a Christian in this war terrorists have declared on everyone who does not believe in the way they have deemed important. How am I to take a stand, given my resources and abilities? This blog, and my current writing project, is a reflection of all this.
~*~*~*~*~
Camp NaNoWriMo Preparation
Yesterday I announced how in spite of my crazy life right now, I still plan on participating in Camp NaNoWriMo in the month of April. Camp NaNoWriMo, by the way, is short for Camp National Novel Writing Month. However, it can also be for nonfiction works, which is precisely what I am writing.
I have chosen to write a minimum word count of 15,000 words, but hope to do 30,000 words ideally, or even 50,000, but I am not sure how I could do either of the latter. We shall see. I hope I can (thinking of "The Little Engine That Could").
My Camp NaNoWriMo Writing Project for April 2015 is:
"Silence is Not Acceptable. We Must Take a Stand. There's Too Much at Stake."
I refer to terrorism and the current holocaust that's occurring today again anyone who does not believe as the terrorists do, whom they call "infidel." It's also brought about what NEWSWEEK has called the "New Exodus" as Christians flee from their homes in the Middle East.
{See article: http://www.newsweek.com/2015/04/03/new-exodus-chri...}
This is what this blog is focusing on now. It's about getting informed about current events and doing something to take a stand against terrorism in the way I am able, which is with my pen.
People are being tortured and murdered as I write this, since they do not have the terrorists' beliefs. And, here I sit on a comfy couch in a nice suburban neighborhood, where people are not wealthy or poor. We don't really have a care in the world and have a normal life everyone dreams of. We are free. We can believe what we want, thanks to the forefathers of our nation and the American Military who have fought for our freedom--then and since.
But, there are those who are the exact opposite. They are being murdered and tortured. Now. As I write this.
How can I ever forget this? How can I ever overlook it or deny it?
No one deserves to die because of a difference in belief. No one. Not ever.
God is asking me, asking us, "What are you DOING about this today and tomorrow? How will you take a stand for my people?"
Pause.
And, I am humbled. Silenced. My heart tightens and my breath grows jagged.
I am ashamed for ever focusing on myself and complaining o myself or another about how my cushy life isn't fair or how God isn't doing what I want or when I want it. Shame on me. How can I ever be concerned  or anxious? How can I ever complain? I am supremely blessed. I have everything and everyone I want and need. God has blessed me immeasurably.
God asks what I will do in their name, and His, and not in mine. God wants to know what stand I will take.
My answer: "I have no idea, Lord. Please show me what You want me to do. I know you have equipped me in my own unique way, given the resources and abilities I have. Please show me what to do, how, and when."
The truth is it is rather intimidating.
I realize if I speak out, people might laugh, belittle, or deny the truth of what I speak and share. I also realize I could be hated for this or seen as a nut. But, am I here on this planet to live for public opinion or for the Lord and His purpose for me and my life?
What did Israel think of the prophets and their message?
No. I am not a prophet. But, I realize the prophets, who spoke the Word of God, sounding the alarm to the Israelites, were seen as whacky, nuts, crazy, and lunatics. Therefore, some may think the same of me. But, the truth is the truth.
We Christians have lost out first love and have lost our way. I certainly have, most moments of most days, if I am honest.
So, what can I do?
This, I will pray about and ponder.
For, this isn't about me. It's about the current holocaust the New Exodus.
~*~
Revelation 2:3-5 Expanded Bible (EXB)
3 You have ·patience [perseverance; endurance] and have ·suffered troubles[endured much] for my name and have not ·given up [L grown weary].
4 "But I have this against you: You have ·left [abandoned] ·the love you had in the beginning [or your first love]. 5 So ·remember [consider] ·where you were before you fell [L how far you have fallen]. ·Change your hearts [Repent] and do ·what [L the works] you did at first. If you do not ·change [repent], I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place.
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
~*~
Prayer journal your initial thoughts.
Now, think about all those slaughtered, tortured, and sold into sex slavery because they do not have the terrorists' beliefs. Then, prayer journal your thoughts about these verses.
How have you abandoned your First Love of the Lord Jesus Christ?
What keeps you from your First Love? He? How can you prevent it?
~*~*~*~*~

Mother of Coptic Christian martyred by ISIS says she is thankful he 'died for the cross' | Christian News on Christian Today

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/mother.of.coptic.christian.martyred.by.isis.says.she.is.thankful.he.died.for.the.cross/50721.htm

The real Easter message today.

ISIS's Mission: Burn Their Churches And Kill Their Pastors

http://thefederalist.com/2015/03/20/isiss-mission-burn-their-churches-and-kill-their-pastors/

The New Exodus: Christians Flee ISIS in the Middle East

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/04/03/new-exodus-christians-flee-isis-middle-east-316785.html

Question

Question
What are you doing about ISIS?
Terrorism?
The current holocaust of anyone who does not believe in the way the terrorists do?
What are you doing about them? Today? Tomorrow?
What should you be doing?