Pocket Power

In a comment on my post about my mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico, Richard told me about PocketPower.org. PocketPower.org is The Pocket Testament League's website. The Pocket Testament League is a small non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide the gospel of John to individuals free of charge (there is a small shipping & handling fee) to help them witness to people. In addition to several English versions of the Bible, they also have Chinese-English and Spanish translations. On my next payday I am going to order some of the "Finding Your Way" gospels of John. In June I will be ordering some of the Spanish gospels of John to take with me on my mission trip. Membership is free. Click here to sign up today.

Last Wednesday I got hired at Club Vortex. Club Vortex is one of Utah's few 18+/21+ night clubs. I will be working as a Bouncer there every Wednesday. Wednesday is their busiest night because it is Ladies' Night (ladies get in free all night long). I will also be working any special events they have. I had talked to Gary, the Head of Security, about getting hired on there back in January, but he didn't hire me. Gary ran Security at Club Shakers, the first night club I worked at 9 years ago. I have been going there almost every Wednesday for the past few months. When fights have broken out, I have helped break them up. I have also been keeping an eye on the waitresses and go-go dancers there, helping them through the crowd and making sure no one bothers them. Grant, the owner of Club Vortex, has noticed this and put me on the payroll last week. So basically I am working directly for Grant. I enjoy protecting people so I am glad that I am working as a Bouncer again.

I've added a link to Jim's blog, Psalm 145:11-12, under Brothers & Sisters in Christ (Christians) in the Blogs section in the sidebar on the right.

Abdul Rahman to be Freed

According to an article in The Detroit News an Afghan court dismissed the case that had Abdul Rahman facing possible execution for converting from Islam to Christianity, and an official said he could soon walk free, perhaps as early as today. Another Afghan official closely involved with the case told the AP that the court ruled there was insufficient evidence and returned the case to prosecutors for further investigation. But he said Rahman would be released in the meantime. Abdul had to be moved from a Kabul jail Friday because of threats from inmates, officials said. But, underlining authorities' security problems, he was put into solitary confinement at the notorious Policharki prison - where riots sparked by Muslim extremists killed six people last month. I pray that he is released soon and is not killed by Muslim extremists when he is released.

Last night Phil and I saw Inside Man at the Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing. I rate it 4 (out of 5) stars. Denzel Washington played his role well as he always does. Some parts were predictable and other parts were kind of vague but it was a good movie. I do wish they had tied up some loose ends at the end of the movie. I'm planning on seeing Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Brick, Lucky Number Slevin, The Sentinel, and United 93.

Gulsoma

Kevin Sites posted an article in the Hot Zone about Gulsoma, an Afghan girl who, at the age of four, was given away in a promise of marriage to her neighbor's 30 year old son. Because she was a child the marriage was not expected to be sexually consumated, but she was treated like a slave. She was severely beaten and tortured until one night, after almost being beaten to death, she crawled away and hid under a rickshaw. When the rickshaw driver found Gulsoma, he listened to her story and took her to the police. The police took her to the hospital. They also arrested her father-in-law and "husband".

After a month of recovery, Gulsoma stayed at an orphanage in Kandahar. When the Ministry of Women's Affairs found out about her, she was brought to a Kabul orphanage, where she lives today. Click here to read the full story.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs -

heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,

if indeed we share in his sufferings

in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings

are not worth comparing with the glory

that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:17-18 (NIV)

Help Save Afghan Christian Convert

Abdul Rahman, 41, faces death because he converted from Islam to Christianity and refuses to convert back to Islam. His family accused him of being a Christian. During his trial last Thursday in Kabul, Rahman confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. Read the WorldNetDaily article here.

"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law. It is an attack on Islam," Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada said.

The prosecutor, Abdul Wasi, said he offered to drop the charges if Mr. Rahman converted back to Islam, but Rahman refused. "He would have been forgiven if he changed back. But he said he was a Christian and would always remain one. We are Muslims, and becoming a Christian is against our laws. He must get the death penalty," Wasi said.

Please email President Bush and ask him to intervene to save the life of Abdul Rahman.

Help Stop Illegal Internet Porn

For years, Grassfire has been standing on the front lines in the battle to protect our children and grandchildren from illegal Internet pornography. They have delivered petitions to key leaders, actively supported legislation to protect the rights of children and even drafted their own model legislation to keep kids safe from e-mail porn spammers. Will you stand with me in allowing Grassfire to represent you in the fight to protect our kids from illegal Internet porn? Click here to sign.

Brigham City Outreach

Yesterday over 150 people from my church, Calvary Chapel Salt Lake City, and I went to Brigham City to distribute 10,000 "The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon" DVDs to homes in Brigham City. While riding in one of the two charter busses that Calvary Chapel had rented to get up there and back, I got to know Jim Harris, one of the Assistant Pastors, a little bit better. When we got to Brigham City, Jim and I helped Living Hope Ministries organize the outreach. After everyone had been sent out on their routes, Jim and I went out and did our route. After everyone was done, we rode the bus back to Calvary Chapel. Then I gave Jim and his daughter a ride home.

Jim is also the Bikers for Chist Salt Lake City chapter elder. Under LINKS in the sidebar on the right, I have created a new category, Biker Links. In this category I have added links for Bikers for Christ Salt Lake City, Bikers for Christ, Road to Freedom (another Christian biker ministry), B.A.C.A. (Bikers Against Child Abuse), Patriot Guard Riders, Utah Rider Education, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

My Favorite Posts 8

1. Sleeping Beauty is Awake and Walking!!
2. SPIRIT TV and Sky Angel Satellite
3. Clay Soldiers
4. Patriot Guard Riders
5. Furey's List of Required Subjects
6. The Map
7. How to Relax and Recharge
8. Sammy Franco
9. Never Too Busy
10. Logically Impossible

Logically Impossible

Recently, while browsing the C.A.R.M. website, I came across an article* giving logical proof that Morminism is false. I'll repost it here:

A LOGICAL PROOF THAT MORMONISM IS FALSE

Mormonism teaches that God used to be a man on another world and that he became a god (this is called exaltation) and came to this world with his goddess wife. He was able to become a god because he followed the laws and ordinances of the god he served on another world. That god in turn was exalted by his god, who was exalted by his god, ad infinitum. In other words, there is a progression of gods being formed as far back as you look in time.

Truth does not contradict itself. If I gave two statements about a subject and the two statements contradicted each other, then you would know something was wrong. The law of non contradiction states that something cannot be both true and false in the same sense at the same time. In other words, truth does not contradict itself. This is basic logic. That which is true is internally consistent and contains no logical impossibilities. If something does contain a logical impossibility, then it cannot be true.

Mormonism teaches an infinite regression of causes. This means that it teaches that each god was made a god by a previous god. This means that as far back as you look in time, this process has always been occurring. This means that from an infinity of time in the past, the Mormon plan of exaltation (become gods) has been in effect. The only problem is that this is logically impossible. Since it is logically impossible, this means that Mormonism is false. Let's look closer.

There cannot be an infinite regression of causes. It is logically impossible. Why? Because you can not cross an infinity.

In other words, in order for us to get to the present state of this god on this planet, there would have had to be an infinite number of exaltations in the past. But, this cannot be because in order to get to the present, you would have to transverse an infinity of exaltations and that is impossible since you cannot transverse an infinity -- if you could cross (transverse) an infinity of time, then it isn't infinite. Therefore, the Mormon system of infinite regressions of exaltations to godhood is impossible and Mormonism is proven false. Simple.

However, Mormons will not give in to a logical proof since their testimonies are not based on facts, but on what they claim is a testimony of the Holy Spirit. Of course, all cult groups have testimonies that their church is true (proving that testimonies are contradictory and untrustworthy as a means to determining truth). Nevertheless, they are taught to "feel" theological truth, not think it through.

How then do they respond to this logical proof that Mormonism is false? Normally they say that it is a mystery. Mysteries are fine, but they cannot suffice as an explanation if they contradict logic. In other words, if a principle is blatantly illogically, it cannot be true. Did you get that? It cannot be true. Saying it is a mystery means nothing if the proclamation of that mystery violates the laws of logic. Mormonism is proven false.

What is the truth?

Okay, so if the Mormon principle of eternal regression of exaltations is logically impossible, then what is the truth?

The truth is that there is a single uncaused cause. Logic necessitates that there must be a single being who is without beginning and upon which time has no meaning or affect who is the single uncaused cause. The Bible says that God is unchanging (unlike the Mormon god) and that he has been God from eternity. This is exactly what logic necessitates as being true. The God of Christianity is not an exalted man from another planet with a goddess wife. The God of Christianity has always been God and has never been anything else.

Check out the following verses:

"I the LORD do not change.

so you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."

Malachi 3:6 (NIV)

"Before the mountains were born
or You brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting You are God."

Psalm 90:2 (NIV)

What is sad is that this simple logical proof, and it is a proof that Mormonism is false, will mean basically nothing to those whose spiritual eyes have been blinded by the god of this world.

"And even if our gospel is veiled,

it is veiled to those who are perishing.

The god of this age

has blinded the minds of unbelievers,

so that they cannot not see the light

of the gospel of the glory of Christ,

who is the image of God."

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NIV)

*I have shown the verses in the NIV (New International Version)

Never Too Busy

Theorian (a.k.a. Dissaster) emailed me the lyrics to a song by gospel singer Byron Cage titled "Never Too Busy". Here they are:

Never Too Busy

As you climb the ladder of success

And the blessings, they begin to pour in

Make sure

That you're never too busy

To praise Him

As He wakes you up everyday

Don't forget to lift your hands and give Him the praise

Make sure

That you're never too busy

To praise Him

You gotta' trust in Him in everything you do

And all these things,

They're going to be added unto you

Make sure

That your never too busy

to praise Him

He's been too good

He's been too kind

For you to push him away

And say that he won't mind

He's been too good

He's been so good

So make sure

that your never too busy

(to shout hallelujah every now and then)

Your never too busy

(to clap your hands and give God some glory)

That you're never too busy

(to shout for joy because the joy of the Lord it is your strength)

That your never too busy

(to dance around in a circle and don't care who's lookin')

You're never too busy

To praise Him

I like the lyrics to this song. I haven't heard any of his CDs but I would like to get one and check it out.

Sammy Franco

Sammy Franco is one of the world's foremost authorites on reality-based self-defense. He is the founder and creator of Contemporary Fighting Arts, a state-of-the-art offensive-based combat system that is specifically designed for real-world self defense. Sammy is the author of several books. He also has several instructional DVDs. I just found out today that he recently started a blog. You should go check it out.

I've added a few more links to some of my favorite Christian artists under Christian Music in the LINKS section of the sidebar on the right. I've added links for Third Day, Chris Tomlin, and Jaci Velasquez.

I'm planning on seeing Ultraviolet next week. I also want to see Inside Man, Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Brick, and Ice Age 2: The Meltdown.

Censure Feingold

I just found out that liberal Sen. Russ Feingold has called forPresident Bush to be censured for "unlawful" and "misleading"actions. I think Sen. Feingold is the one who should be censured and I just signed a "Censure Feingold" petition. For more information and to join me in signing click here.

How to Relax and Recharge

Today I read a helpful post on Tania Gabrielle French's blog about 9 Ways to Relax and Recharge. Tania Gabrielle French is a musical composer whose Secret Power of Words and Music package helps you relax and rejuvenate. Tania also has The Science of Getting Rich for Artists package which can help all kinds of artists become more prosperous so they can take full advantage of their gifts. You can find 9 Ways to Relax and Recharge by clicking here.

Reynosa, Mexico Mission Trip

My church, Calvary Chapel Salt Lake City, is sending a group on a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico from June 24th to July 1st. I will be going on this mission trip. Reynosa is ranked # 2 in the world for child prostitution. Reynosa is the home of Boys Town, one of the most spiritually dark places on the face of the earth. Contained by high cement walls, Boys Town is a small area of fatherless, homeless, loveless people, known mainly for prostitution. Anything goes inside the walls of Boys Town, where 200-300 girls and women, many under the age of 18, work and live in squalid conditions. Founded around 150 years ago, Boys Town has largely been ignored when it comes to ministry.

Teams will travel to Boys Town for dual ministry, both within and without its walls. Inside, small teams will perform random acts of kindness for the girls and other residents. Outside, larger teams will participate in evangelism, drama, construction projects, prayer walking, setting up an impromptu beauty shop, and holding V.B.S. (Vacation Bible School) and soccer clinics for the children. In short, we're going to spread the love of Christ inside and outside Boys Town. You can read about a similar mission trip by clicking here.

There are currently two opportunities for construction projects: First, there is a strong possibility that we may be helping to build a drop-in center/refuge for the women of Boys Town. The drop-in center has been the heart of missionaries there. They want to have a place where these women can come and be shown that they are special. This can be accomplished by giving them a way of leaving the only lifestyle that they have known and showing them a life of love in Jesus Christ. Prayer, mentoring, teaching practical skills, and job training are some of the goals of the drop-in center.

If the land that needs to be bought to build the drop-in center hasn't gone through all its proper channels by the time we go down there, we will have building option # 2. This job is equally as important. We will help the local pastors of the colonia (neighborhood) to raise their church up off its current foundation to avoid all the flooding that has been occurring. We will also be working on improving the living conditions in the colonia by either building homes or fixing the current ones that are there.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,

because they were harassed and helpless,

like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,

to send out workers into his harvest field.

- Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)

I am going on this trip because I believe that God has led me to help Kelly and the other missionaries in this area by showing these people the love of Christ and building the drop-in center. I want to share the gospel with the people in this area. I also want to help the girls and women in Boys Town find a way out of the way of life they are trapped in.

I need to raise $750 for the trip and another $300-$400 for the plane ticket to McAllen, TX, which is 4 miles from Reynosa. Please pray about whether God is leading you to support me on this mission trip. In addition to financial support, prayer support would be greatly appreciated. If God is leading you to financially support me on this mission trip, please email me and I will send you a form so you can send your tax-deductible donation to Calvary Chapel. Any extra money raised will be used for the construction projects described above. If you would like to use your frequent flyer miles to purchase my plane ticket, please email me and I will send you the flight information. Thank you and God bless you.

The Map

While using Google to search for the church in Orange Heights that I attended while living in Melrose, FL (near Gainesville, FL), I came across James Croft's blog. James Croft is an evangelist that lives in Olustee, FL. On his blog I found the following post that I really liked:

THE MAP

A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl. She wanted to know what the United States looked like.

Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to her, & said, "Go into the other room & see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today."

After a few minutes, she returned & handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was surprised & asked how she had finished so quickly.

"Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."

Furey's List of Required Subjects

Here is an excerpt from a recent post on Matt Furey's blog, titled What to Study if You Want to be Successful:

In a recent discussion with some friends, I told them about some of the ridiculous drivel that Frank's kindergarten teacher (Frank is Matt's son) has tried to dump his way. And during that discussion I mapped out a list of the truly important subjects that a person, of any age, should study if he wants to succeed in life. As you look at this list of subjects, take note of how many you do or do NOT know. Or better yet, think of the failures you know - and consider how little they know from this list.

Furey's List of Required Subjects to Study for Life-long Success

• Physical Exercise - don't take care of your machine and it falls apart - not intelligent if you ask me (I exercise, but not regularly. I have not been sticking to my Physical Goal for 2006. I need to stick to it.)
• Wrestling or some other form of Martial Arts - not my advice; this comes from Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and so on. (I know some basics, but I want to learn more.)
• Meditation/Deep Breathing - imagine that, learning to relax (Deep Breathing is incorporated into Matt Furey's Combat Conditioning and Combat Abs exercises. If I start doing these exercises regularly, I will benefit from the relaxing aspect of these exercises.)
• Reading - how many people today who can read - ever DO read? (I do read, but it wouldn't hurt to read a little more.)
• Writing - not being able to write a simple letter is pretty sad (You're reading my blog, so I obviously do write.)
• Speaking in Public - should not be biggest fear of mankind - tis easy if you simply get up and do it. (I frequently have to communicate with large groups of people in my Security work. Would like to learn more about this subject.)
• Anatomy/Biology - you oughta know how your machine works (Wouldn't hurt to know more about this subject.)
• Basic Math - especially what I call "money math" (I am very good at math.)
• History - those who don't know the past are doomed to repeat it (Not my favorite subject, but I do agree that it is an important subject.)
• Computers - sort of a no-brainer these days (I know a lot about computers and want to learn more.)
• Goal Setting - not taught in schools - but mega important (Definitely something I need to learn more about.)
• Time Management - once again, not taught (Another thing I definitely need to learn more about.)
• Positive Attitude - most teachers need this one (Working on this one.)
• Marketing/Selling - nothing happens in a business until something is sold (I am going to be starting a Promotions business this year.)
• Relationship development - How to get along with others - not a bad idea, eh? (I've made some new friends this year, and have been putting less energy into relationships that are not helping me become a better person.)

Bear in mind that these subjects are the basics. If you want to be a lawyer, doctor, dentist or accountant, you'll need more than the above - but to become a successful human being - these pretty much summarize the necessities.

PGR Appreciated

Monte Smith, who was one of the Patriot Guard Riders for Staff Sgt. Gourley's Mission Ride, emailed the following message to Craig Larsen (the Utah PGR State Captain) and Craig forwarded it to the rest of the Riders:

As I was the last bike in line, and just before we mounted up for the ride to Ft Williams, I was approached by either Staff Sgt. Gourley's father or uncle who asked me to make sure everyone in the group was told how very much the family appreciated our being there and that, to them, it meant a great deal to have us there. He did this with tears in his eyes. I told him I'd pass the word.

Here is some footage from Channel 2 News about Staff Sgt. Gourley that includes some footage of our escort to Veterans Memorial Park. In the picture above, I am in the back row on the left behind Craig Larsen, who is wearing a black hat. Kelly "Tinman" Crouse, the Northern Utah Ride Captain, is in the maroon hat to the left of Craig.

Last night John and I saw 16 Blocks at the Century 16. I rate it 4 (out of 5) stars. Mos Def (who his been in many movies) played his role well and so did Bruce Willis. Bruce's character was a washed up cop who struggled to kick butt, but came through none the less. This was a deviation from his normal, one man army type of role. I'll probably watch Ultraviolet on Tuesday. The Shaggy Dog and Evil come out on Friday.

Patriot Guard Riders

Yesterday I got an email from the Media Research Center about the Patriot Guard Riders. I have joined this great group. The Patriot Guard Riders are a nationwide group of patriotic riders (mostly bikers) who's main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors (this is accomplished through strictly legal and non-violent means).

This morning was the PGR's first Utah Mission Ride. This Mission Ride was to honor Staff Sgt. Gregson Gourley. We met this morning from 9:15-9:45 A.M. near the Union Fort Stake Center in Midvale, UT. Then we went to the stake center and lined up in front. I don't have a bike so I parked my car down the street and stood out front with the other PGR members. The viewing was at 10:00 and the funeral was at 11:00. After the funeral we helped the Midvale Police Department escort the hearse and the hero's family to the interment at Veterans Memorial Park in Riverton. The Midvale Police department led the escort and we followed. There was 32 riders in all - 30 on bikes followed by Craig Larsen (the PGR Utah State Captain; he is also involved with the Southeast Utah Chapter of B.A.C.A.) in his Tahoe and me in my Ford Taurus. At the interment I held up an American flag and stood with the other riders to show our support.

There were no protestors at the stake center or at Veterans Memorial Park. Hopefully there will not be another PGR Mission Ride in Utah, but if there is I will be there. For more information about the Patriot Guard Riders, please visit their website.

By the way, I've changed the name of this blog from Drew's Life to Guardian Spirit so my RSS feed address has changed. Please go here to reset your RSS link to my blog.

Clay Soldiers

Chris Jacobs, who goes to the same Bible study that I go to, has a new blog called Clay Soldiers. The name of his blog, Clay Soldiers, comes from 2 Bible verses. "Clay" comes from Isaiah 64:8:

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.

We are the clay, you are the potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

"Soldiers" comes from 2 Timothy 2:3-4:

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;

that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Chris is a graduate of Calvary Chapel Bible College. He knows the Bible really well. He recently moved his website to Blogger after viewing my blog. I sent him some links to help him improve his blog. If anyone, especially my brothers and sister in Christ, needs help with blogging, please email me.

My cousin, Amber, is steadily getting better. Please continue to pray for her. You can donate to the Amber Fund to help pay for her extensive medical bills if God leads you to do so.

I've added some LINKS under Christian TV in the sidebar to the right: Trinity Broadcasting Network, Bobby Jones Gospel, and Lift Every Voice.