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Hello Blog world,

I haven't posted in a long time. I wanted to update my blog again.

I have officially graduated college and gotten engaged in the timespan since my last post. I have also taken the law school admissions test (LSAT) and received my score back. I will need to take the LSAT again if I hope to apply for law school after a year or two of missions. I'm working and living in Jackson currently. Ranjita and I are prayerfully considering missions training schools for either next spring or the following fall. My family and I will travel to India for an engagement party at the end of July. I will return in the middle of August. Lord willing, I will find a job in the Jackson or Starkville areas.

More is soon to come. I'll fill you in more about my spiritual journey in my next post.

If I haven't heard from you in a long time, please email me (eliot587@gmail.com).

In Christ,
Eliot

North Korean Christian Endures Intense Persecution

"Yang" tells her persecution story to Voice of the Martyrs

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: Survival, faith and courage in North Korea:

Please take a break from what you are doing to watch this less than 10 minute video.






I watched this video today about the testimony of a North Korean Christian named "Yang". I could not believe what I was watching. "How can this be?" I kept telling myself. I was utterly stunned when I saw the pain and suffering she has endured, yet her hope remains in Christ. I sat and prayed in silence stunned.


What strength she has to be alive today! She was abused and beat for praying and becoming a Christian. She was on the verge of starvation. She ate sand and wood. She was enslaved and raped. She lost a child. She lost a friend. She lost parts of her feet. She remains in pain to this day. This little woman survived all this. Still she wants to return to North Korea to save her people...


Nothing can explain that away. The world would call her a fool, but her mission for Jesus is that serious. She would endure the pain of tyrannical oppression to share the Gospel in North Korea. She is not living for this world, but for the next. What an amazing testimony! Wow! Only God could have given her something so great that she would want to do that.


I was immensely humbled by her bravery and perseverance. Through everything she lives for God and lives to make him known in North Korea. How wretched are we? I wanted to break down on my knees and beg forgiveness for wasting the many opportunities I have had in freedom. God has given us so much, and we abuse it daily. Yang was given so little, but she has shown tremendous faith and strength.


What an amazing woman! What an amazing God!

Lord, we pray for North Korea, South Korea, China, and Mongolia. Make your name great in these countries, Lord. You have allowed these atrocities to continue in this part of the world. Lord, we plead to put them to an end Lord. Turn this country upside down for your glory. We thank you for the air, food, belief, and life you give us. Forgive us for taking our lives for granted. Give strength to your missionaries to North Korea and China. Use these people to bring glory to you. If you send us Lord, give us but a pebble of this woman's strength and boldness. We thank you for the privilege to see your love in action through Yang. Use the missionaries in this part of the world to reach North Koreans with your love.

Here is a link to the video.

Prayer for the Persecuted: Asia Bibi

Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi

"Our Christ sacrificed his life on the cross for our sins. What has your prophet done for you? Our Christ is alive. Your prophet is dead. Our Christ is the true prophet of God and yours is not true." - Asia Bibi (she said this and was shortly after arrested)


In Pakistan June 2009, Bibi was charged with blasphemy and locked in jail for what she said about Jesus and Mohammad. She was sentenced to death in November 2010. She remains in jail while she appeals the sentence. 


~Remember to pray for the persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe.


Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. - Hebrews 13:3


"Jesus is my faith. He is with me."
- Asia Bibi (in a letter from prison)


What a bold woman! Pray for her. Let's be bold like her to stand firm in the name of Christ! He is the greatest prophet. He is the Messiah! He is True! He sacrificed His life on the cross so that any and all sin is paid in full. He rose again to give eternal life. This is the Gospel, the Good News! Believe in him and have eternal life. Asia Bibi sure does. Do you?

Click here for the full story from Voice of the Martyrs.

Paul's Letter to America

Hey Everyone,

I read this Letter to America by a renowned pastor and walked away blessed in the depths of my soul from reading his words. It wasn't written by John Piper, Billy Graham, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, William Carey, or the Pope, for that matter, but it was written by a saint, brother and martyr in God's kingdom. It's an awesome reminder. Although many things are attached to his name, it's easy to forget he was first and foremost a Christian activist and evangelist. We as the Body of Christ so often forget that we, also, are united to his mission-- to glorify Christ.

The letter is over half a century old, yet it speaks still so much truth to us today. Take a few minutes to read this. You won't be able to put this down without a feeling of love for this man, his connection to the Spirit and the compelling need to get out there and do something. We must do our part to recognize his rebuke and do something about it. 

To all of God's children out there reading this doing something to fulfill this mission, I respect you and love you for all you do as a brother and sister in Christ. If you have read this letter before, I hope this reminds you of something new, especially the power from which this man did such great things. Let this encourage us to do more in this way.

In the love of Christ,

Eliot

P.S. hint: that renowned pastor saw thousands of people standing around this pool (click the link to see the letter)....

The Washington Monument from Lincoln Memorial

Remind me I'm yours.

Hey friends,

It's been a while since I've written in my blog, but I've had an interesting last couple of months. Too much has happened to type it all, but here are some highlights: Wandered from reading the Word and seeking God towards the end of last semester. Signed up to take the LSAT in February. Went to Cabo San Lucas on vacation with family. Got back on path towards God. Went to Breakthru with Emily's youth. God confirmed that Atlanta and India is where he wants me to go, but that I need to seek him in the now. Went to the Gator Bowl (Go Dawgs!). Started school again. Stumbled again. God has made it clear that I need to remove obstacles that are keeping me from doing his will (John the Baptist, Matthew 3 => “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” and "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’). Snow Day happened. We're up to speed now.

I read 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 today:

Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (emphasis added)

Charles Spurgeon

We must not boast in the person who showed us Christ, but we ought to remember that we belong to God. Through the commentary of Charles Spurgeon's commentary these verses hold a valuable defense against temptation and sin because remembering whose possession we are will change our actions toward godliness. Check it out:

"Ye are Christ's." You are His by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; His by His bloody purchase, for He counted down the price for your redemption; His by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to Him; His by relation, for you are named by His name, and made one of His brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, "I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ's." Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ's, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ's. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the sweat stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, "No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ's. If I were not purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ's, and cannot loiter." When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, "Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ's." When the cause of God invites thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ's. Never belie thy profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour's, recognizing in you His features of love and His countenance of holiness. "I am a Roman!" was of old a reason for integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, "I am Christ's!"

The feet of Jesus on the Cross

Spurgeon's commentary on Paul's letter to the Corinthians is a practical way to make a stand against temptation. We are Christ's. Our conduct ought to point to him. The price he paid was much too high for us to cheapen it with our continued unrepentant sin. It's easy to say, but I know all too well how disobedient is my heart. I have let sin take root in me. I have bonded that to Christ. In this admission Satan attempts to own me in condemnation, but he will not this day. Christ owns me, thus God owns Christ. He has bought me and holds no wrong against me because of the substitution of the Lamb. Lord, provide us the strength this day and all our days to say, "No!" to ungodliness.

I am yours, lure and strengthen my focus on you.

When I seek to be lazy with my tasks, remind me I'm yours.

When I think to do evil in your sight, remind me I'm yours.

When I want to quit following you, remind me I'm yours.

When you invite me to your works, remind me I'm yours.

When evil lays a snare in my midst, remind me I'm yours.

When I'm selfish and puffed up, remind me I'm yours.

I'm yours, Christ Jesus, all yours.