Joie de Vivre A Wretched Man’s Quest To Follow Jesus Christ

I have been with a write-for-money service since earlier this month and have just received my first assignment. According to the terms of the assignment, I stand to earn US$5 if my post were approved.

The money is sure helpful, but there’s just one problem.

I am unwilling to write it, because I don’t agree with the topic that was assigned — infant baptism.

To be more precise, the paid advertorial is for an online merchant selling invitation cards to celebrate the baptism of an infant.

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Just a short post before I retire to rest ahead of another long day at work tomorrow.

I have met and made many new friends, Christian brothers and sisters through this blog, and truly I feel blessed.

And it has occurred to me that all of you are known to me by your real names instead of by your nicknames, so I feel it’s time I introduce myself to you proper.

From now on, if you’d like, please just call me by my real name — Isaiah.

In Hebrew, it’s Yesha’yahu (according to the Encyclopedia Britannica) and means “God is my Salvation”.

God bless, and Shalom!

Photo by mindgutter.

One of the great things about blogging so far, for me at least, is that I have been able to get some of my friends to also start on their own blogs. It’s great because with such busy schedules, it’s seldom that we get to meet up and reading their blogs lets me keep in touch with them on some levels at least.

The first to catch the bug was Willy, who now authors .:f.ART.boystinks:., a blog that’s all about his passion in CG. Like me, he’s also a procrastinator and I have to admit I did kick his butt into it after he told me he’s always wanted to start his own blog.

And I’m, well, delighted to say that I might be soon pulling in another ‘victim’ — Peishan.

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Phase 1: Indignation

I just read this piece of news saying that as part of the ‘peace’ deal between Israel and the Palestinian people, Ehud Olmert’s government has turned over control of the Temple Mount to the enemy.

According to top Palestinian sources, the proposal is for Jerusalem’s Old City holy sites near the Mount to be governed by a Jewish, Christian and Muslim task force; and the Western Wall plaza below the Mount to be controlled by Israel.

In addition, Israel will evacuate from most of the West Bank and cede the eastern sections of Jerusalem.

The Temple Mount is Israel’s holiest site, for crying out loud, and people who have no claim whatsoever to land either historically, religiously or otherwise are demanding that the Jews give up their holiest site within their own state to foreign control?!

That made my blood boil with indignation.

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My dear readers, brothers and sisters, here’s a quick question for you and I hope you do answer honestly.

I would like to find out what you’d be interested in reading about in the future. Essentially, let me know what you’ve enjoyed reading and what didn’t really catch your fancy.

No, I am not becoming a write-to-please blogger, but I just wish to know what exactly it is about my blog or content that keeps you coming back or leaving in disgust.

Paranoia? Perhaps, but besides reading all my favorite Christian blogs, I also read a lot of content on the finer points of blogging, and one particular advice was to actually ask your readers what they like or dislike about your blog.

Just don’t tell me to stop blogging about Christianity or my walk with God or Israel. This blog is all about those issues, and it’s a fact that won’t change no matter what.

And I am improving this blog bit by bit. As some of you who have been with me from day one might have already noticed, I stopped changing themes. Yes, I am quite happy with this but I might upgrade to something nice that Sadish did (if you think this theme is fine as it is, please let me know too, lol!).

So, please, go ahead and give me your honest opinions. It can be on anything, from the design of the blog to writing style to how much you like/hate the Google ads that come with the posts. Most of all, let me know how I can improve.

I await your feedback with much anticipation.

God bless you, my friend.

Shalom.

Photo by Orange Beard.

It’s really wonderful and amazing how sometimes God reinforces a message that He wants me to remember and keep in my heart.

Just a couple of days ago, I was telling Michelle about how I came to write the piece on being the salt of the earth as our Lord Jesus Christ said those who follow Him are to be.

And today, while doing some belated reading of the many Christian blogs I love, I came across this poem that Hummie shared.

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One of the most asked questions when I used to be a road-side witness with my youth group eons ago was “Huh? You mean it’s so simple!?”.

They were responding to, of course, the fact that it was easy to become a Christian — say a simple prayer admitting that one is a sinner, invite Jesus Christ as your personal savior, and end off with “amen”.

Some people were flabbergasted that it was that easy to become a Christian, and sometimes I feel that it is this ease that cause many to stray or leave the faith just a short while later.

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