Word Wednesday by KM Wilsher PG-13

This post may be a little heavy. Thus the PG-13 label :)
Word Wednesday is back!
What are you reading in the bible this week?
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A few days after I was baptized, I heard the following story:

Angie loved Jesus, and after she gave her life to Him, she apprised her family about His infinite love. Her parents did not want to have anything to do with religion. In fact, they soon got a divorce and went their separate ways.
Angie graduated from high school and got her own apartment. Dad was never around, but mom stayed close by her. Angie loved her mom and wanted her to discover Jesus, that He was good, that He wanted Mom to spend eternity with Him.
Angie prayed, “Jesus, I don’t care what happens to me, but I will go through anything you deem necessary that will allow Mom to see the truth.”
A month later, on a cold beach at night, Angie was raped and killed. Her mother is now a believer.
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This story traumatized me in the early days of my faith journey. It invited horrible events from my past to haunt me. It deposited a constant fear within me. I used to babysit overnight for a single mom at church, and they lived in a very dark area. I remember being petrified that it was “my turn.”
My faith has grown.
I can’t imagine why someone would have told a new believer this story, but I imagine they might have had their own horrible events in their past. I don’t know. However, I think the story is not true --an urban ghost story that Satan uses to his benefit, not to ours. The way I see it, the bottom line is that Jesus is the sacrifice. He would not “allow evil to happen to one” in order for another to be saved.
Like I said, my Faith has grown.
Here is what I read this week that reminded me of this abominable story. These verses bring truths that are the exact opposite of what the above story is designed to deliver. I have seen the following lines from the Word come true in my life and in the lives of my brothers and sisters. This is not to say that bad things do not happen. It’s just to say: The only sacrifice is Jesus. He died for you and me -and Angie. If you haven't already, give Him a chance to show you.

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This is the truth of how God loves:
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

3Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge—
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14Because he loves me, says the LORD, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation
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What are you reading this week?

FOCA by KM Wilsher

If you knew me, you'd know that I'm not an activist, and I am not outspoken about any issue. However, I think this one is truly important, and we don't have much time. We only have a couple of days.

FOCA will weaken the present laws that make sure there is parental consent for a young girl to get an abortion, it will allow partial birth abortion, and it will use state funds to fund abortions. (your money)

I am asking you to click HERE and write your state Representitive and ask him/her not to send your tax dollars to support abortion. (the site gives you all the directions: Just find your State Representative and then it will give you a place to fill in your name)

I can not take credit for becoming a warrior fighting FOCA. First of all, God has put it heavy on my heart, and like Jonah, no matter how I tried to hide, He continued to press me to do something; second, JC LAMONT (click on her name to check out her blog -it's so cool!) showed me how to easily get to the sign up for FOCA; and third, First Christian Church of Phoenix reminded me yesterday that this will happen in the next couple days.

Phantasmagorical Freek Friday by KM Wilsher

Here's my monthly music review. Or 'music according to the freek'

I am a “Freek” for Christian music that can be described these words: hard, speed, rock, Goth, metal, alternative, grunge, heavy. . . oh, you get the picture.

This week I'm seeing RED *** I don't know the meaning behind the name, but I like the name RED for a Christian rock mega group.

RED lays out electric rock instrumentation, adds great lyrics that glorify His name, and tops it off with great vocals broken up by subtle harmonies. I'd say these guys from Tennessee are like Kutless meets Skillet edged off by a little Pillar. But their sound is all their own!

I know you'll want to hear them after reading this quote by one of it's members:
"At the end of the day we're Christians before anything. That's exactly the reason we're doing what we're doing. We've been saved by grace, this is what it's done for us, and we believe that it can do the same for you."
--Anthony Armstrong

It doesn't get any clearer than that. These guys are fellow Jesus Freaks and not shy to say so. In a world where compromise and beat around the bush faith statements rule -I'm a fan and seeing RED.

If you have time, check out some of their tunes!

For heavy, click the words below to listen to:
Breathe into me

For a softer, longing call to heaven, click the words below to listen to:
Pieces

For their newest release, click the words below to listen to:
Death of me

What group are you a fan of?

Fill in the blank by KM Wilsher

It's Friday the 13th and Jesus Christ is on the throne.

I've been thinking this week:
Sometimes you just have to ________________

Have French toast and bacon for lunch.

Pull over and let that guy pass you that's been tailgating you for 30 miles on the two lane highway. (even though the line has been broken yellow dashes for 22 of those miles)

Invite people over after church so you'll finally do that spring cleaning. (Don't forget the singles - support your local christian singles!)

Call Grandad the day after his B-Day since you were sick on the real day - And NOT beat yourself up ALL day.

Break down and get highspeed internet.

Get involved.

Write it one page at a time.

Cling to hope.

Renew your trust in Him.

Dance all night.

Turn the page.

Go out with the girls on Valentines Day!
(I'm free later on, however ;)
The one God has is worth the wait!

Fill in the blank my friends!

Honest Scrap Award. . . mmmmmm

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program, Word Wednesday, for station identification and The Honest Scrap award.
I was tagged by the Blundering Discoverer himself: TheBlunderingDiscoverer
to receive:

The Honest Scrap award:

A) First list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it honest (hence, the award 'Honest Scrap'), even if you have to dig deep!

B) Pass the award on to 8 bloggers that you feel embody the role of the Honest Scrap. (This is an award only to display on your blog that everything you write on it is in truth, sincerity, and integrity.)


Drum roll please:

1 I am totally overwhelmed by paper. When I visit other people’s houses, I am amazed and stumped. Where is all your paper? Mail, critiques, notes to yourself, receipts, handouts, church bulletins, coupons? Oh, you get the picture.

2 In 1985, I received a ticket for swimming in the drinking water supply in Cortez, Colorado.(It was a lake! We didn't know!)mmmmm. . .do you really want to go on?

3 I love movies and watch at least one new one a week. I would love to do a screenplay! And, I drink at least six Diet Cokes per day.


4 I love muscle cars. The most beautiful car of all time: 1972 Chevelle Malibu Super Sport – positive traction, red and black, 350 Big Block engine! Hear me roar! One day!

5 My favorite color is pink, but I dream and write in blue. And when I’m in traffic I see RED! It is not my friend!

6 I have spent 4 years working towards the skill of stenography(225 wpm - I am writing 160 wpm). For now I edit for court reporters, but I will be a closed captionist/court reporter one day. And I will see my novels in print. Oops – did I say that last line out loud?

7 I love to hike! Surprising? My favorite place right now is Papago Park, but in Colorado I almost made it to the top of a 14er once! We used to go every weekend and hike and rock climb and camp. That was a few years ago when there seemed to be a plethora of time! Where did all that time go?

8 Though I haven’t been on a set in a while, I am a drummer. I received a full ride scholarship for it in high school, but turned it down to follow my dreams of being a heavy metal rock star! I never made the cover of Rolling Stone, but you can find me on the advertisement page of: RevolvingCrystal.com

9 94% of the men I’ve dated have been musicians or artists. (Thus my single status maybe? No offense to any artistic gentlemen reading this!)

10 I have a racy heritage. My great, great, great grandfather, Mr. JR McChesney invented the GAL LEG SPUR.

Okay, Travis. Revelations? – There is the good, the bad and the ugly!
Now, I am suppose to tag 8 others, so ta da! Here they are!

Brandon Barr The Christian Science Fiction guru and Coauthor of "When the Sky Fell" (pre-order now on the side of my blog)

Lynn Rush Paranormal guru, author of Light of Truth and the most interactive blog on the net.

JC Lamont Shaydenite warrior princess, author of Prophecy of the Heir, leading the battle for the unborn.

Avily Jerome Model of fairy wings, author of Identity Crisis, Finding Fantasy, and the best word and story games ever!

Tracy Keck Beautiful mother and her blog is an ezine -- just check it out! The female Max Lucado.

Shawna Williams Brilliant author of Edgy Christian Fiction. Mother, wife, and cruise buff!

Kat Harris Our resident authority on journalism, music, and pop culture. The author of The long Road to Heaven.

Gabby Industrial Revolutionary Beautiful and writer extrodinaire --the only one who can say more with 2 words than most people can in twenty!

Hey guys, REMEMBER, it’s a tag not a rope! Don’t get tied down if you don’t want to! It's just - I'd love some honest scrap from ya'll!

Phantasmagorical Freek Friday by KM Wilsher

RAINING AND OK
I have grown to love the name.

You have to check these guys out.

I'm going to take a break from the head banging, the Goth, the Metal, and the alternitive this week because Jeff, my buddy and brother in Christ, turned me on to an up and coming mega group called: RAINING AND OK. . . . Well, maybe a little head banging;-)

If RAINING AND OK were a dish, the recipe would call for one part Hoobastank, one part Goo Goo dolls, one part REM, and one part Jars of Clay. Then cover that with a sauce made up of unique, modern and relevant. And lastly, top it all with a sound that's altogether their own. RAINING AND OK adds a punk edge to a modern rock sound as they soar through desirous melodies that grab at your heart and stir the longing in your soul.

Their new album: "Always will be" debuts this week, February 9.

The songs that hooked me were "Endless Love" and "The Devil on Your Shoulder".
I've heard from their friend and mine, Jeff, that they are Christian, and Christ is brilliantly reflected in some of their lyrics:

Lord, I am a filthy man
I lay my heart upon your hands
or
Love, tear your walls down
Love, take this crown upon my head
Love, bring our enemies to rest and I'll take a bow
When will we sing? And when won't we fight?
OR
God I hope I fight this through.

Click below to preview the music on their MySpace. You can listen to several songs. I am torn for my favorite - a tie between "The Devil on Your Shoulder" and "Endless Love", but I really like "Send Your Angels Down" too.

Preview RAINING AND OK's "Always Will Be" - click below!

RAINING AND OK

What music are you and your buddies talking about this week?

THIS IS WHY THE CARDINALS LOST?