What Do You Do With Your Freedom?

We are re-posting this 4th of July blog by Steve Murrell. Hope that the question challenges us.

I thank God that I was born in a nation with religious freedom.

I was not born in a religious family, but I was born in a religious state - Mississippi - the belly that the Bible-belt is wrapped around.

And because of freedom, Ron Musselman, an upstart Presbyterian youth pastor was allowed to visit my high school every week and do Bible studies during lunch break. Eventually, after about six months of Ron's pitbull persistence, I turned to Christ in repentance and faith. Many others did the same, and no one went to jail for expressing their faith.

I have been to many nations where people are persecuted and prosecuted for things Americans take for granted. We call them rights. I have friends who have suffered in jail, and some who are still in jail, for living out their Christian faith. They don't have rights. But they have convictions.

So many of my friends all over the world are ready and willing to make great sacrifices for their faith, while many in the West live anemic spiritual lives. But that is a topic for another blog. This one is about me being thankful for the freedoms my forefathers fought to preserve.

May God bless America with a spiritual revival that results in thousands of missionaries going to restricted and dangerous nations with the gospel.

What do you do with your freedom?

One Month to Live on The CBS Early Show

We have written several times about the book "One Month to Live" by Kerry and Chris Shook. We also took on the challenge as well -- as a couple in our stay in the United States and along with the church that we serve here in the Philippines.

We would like to share a video from The CBS Early Show featuring a town in Oklahoma taking on the One Month to Live challenge.

Hope it inspires you today!

Jesus Christ is Everything

I needed to see this today. I am moved.

I Choose Community!

This week, I was once again reminded on how grateful I am that God requires all of His children to actively belong to a spiritual community. I am glad that I have a Father who believes that prayer and friendship are interconnected and that we must not reject it.

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24)

Aside from the fact God commands us to be among the community of His children, here are other great reasons:

1) People experience authenticity.

"If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other... If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves."
(1 John 1:7-8)

2) People experience mutuality.

Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving.

"Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification."
(Romans 14:19)

3) People experience sympathy.

"As holy people... be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient."
(Colossians 3:12 GWT)

4) People experience mercy.

"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
(Colossians 3:13 NLT)


And if you are not convinced by the four benefits mentioned above, I have a 5th one:

5) People stay healthy and live longer.

People who are not in a group are twice as likely to die in the next year as those who are in a group. People who have strong social connections, but poor health habits (eating, exercise, smoking, etc.) are just as healthy as those with good health habits but weak social connections.

As John Ortberg says it, “Better to eat Twinkies with friends than to eat broccoli alone.”

One study injected 270 people with a virus that causes the common cold. Those with strong social connections did not get as sick, did not stay sick as long, and produced less mucus than the less connected group.

Again, to quote John Ortberg, “This goes to prove that lonely people are snottier than the rest.”


Therefore, if a spiritual family allows me to eat more ice cream -- then so be it!

*Note: Big thanks to Pastor Paolo Punzalan for reminding me again that my spiritual journey must not be undertaken on my own.

The Caterpillar Game

We are committed to serve at the Real Life Foundation Feeding Program every Saturday morning. Before the hungry kids get fed, we play games with them.

It brings such a huge blessing to us to hear these kids laugh and scream from having so much fun playing the games. The most popular one is the caterpillar game.

Watch this short video and you will see for yourself how happy the kids are.

Gary Valenciano

Gary Valenciano is probably the biggest music superstar in the Philippines. He is also a proud follower of Jesus Christ.

We would like to share a video of Gary V singing at Steve Murrell's surprise 50th birthday party.

He truly is incomparable.

Get Ready for Victory@25!

We’re sure you can¹t wait to get a seat at the Araneta Coliseum on July 24 for Victory@25. But all you need to do is keep an eye on this official website where we will make the announcement for the registration. We will be posting registration guidelines here as well.

Latest Victory@25 updates and announcements will also be on Multiply,Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, Plurk, and the Victory main website to make sure that you won¹t miss out on any important stuff for the anniversary. So for now, just sit back, prepare your schedules, and be excited with us as we anticipate and prepare for our big celebration on July 24!



Reposted from: Victory@25 Website

Kris Allen

He never sang this on any American Idol episode but "God Of This City" by Chris Tomlin remains to be one of our favorite worship songs.

We are excited to see how God is going to use him! Congratulations Kris Allen.

Watch Your Walk by Richard Baxter

Just got done reading "Watch Your Walk: Ministering From a Heart of Integrity" by Richard Baxter.

This classic book is filled with rich lessons that extend Biblical truths and encouragement to people who have pastoral gifts. It talks about pastors who are disillusioned by the church, putting focus on the quality of ministry versus quantity of church members, and most importantly, how spiritual leadership calls for a higher level of purity and holiness.

Just thought of sharing with you a section of the book that we feel is important and must be recognized by anyone who is considered a leader in Christian ministry: the four mains sins that now threaten the church.

1. Pride

Pride, sometimes, is the core reason behind the topics on which we choose to preach. Our own popularity and status is more a concern than the salvation of our audience.

2. Undervaluing the unity and peace of the whole church

Many of us are guilty of failing to look beyond the realms of individual denominations. In this, we lack perspective and fail to see through God's eyes how we can best serve one another and promote unity.

3. Lack of commitment to the work of God

It is the unfortunate case among us, that there is not enough zeal in our sermons, stemming from lack of passion for what we do and who we do it for. We are serving God and not men, performing tasks and doing work that God has ordained as highly significant for ushering His children into His kingdom.

4. Lack of church discipline

Every pastor must count the cost before entering headlong into ministry, because if he does not, he will be surprised and disappointed to learn of the suffering that may occur. Hearers of the messages may hate the straightforward approach to proclaiming the gospel, but there should be no apologies in speaking the truth the love.

Many thanks to: Kristyn Chiapperino