Update on Orissa Visit

Last semester, Lauren and I had a friend name James Bennala, another student at Austin Grad. whose home was in India. During the semester, James requested prayers for Christians in India; he said that radical Hindus had begun destroying homes and churches and killing many Christians and preachers.

Recently, James sent Austin Grad. a letter and a few pictures by email that was shared with the students:

Dear venerable friend.
This is James Bennala from India.
I was so glad to return to Andhra Pradesh from Orissa. God has done a wonderful things in our visit to Orissa. During our visit to Orissa we were so scared to visit the persecuted Christians and villages.

Hindu radicals still threatening Christians in Orissa, also they are not allowing other Christians go and help them, if any body does this they are getting in big problem. Some Christians who went to help to the victims were beaten by these Hindu radicals. But we praise God for His marvelous guidance upon us, we did not face any problem. In fact we dressed up like tribals in Orissa and we mingled among the persecuted Christians, so the other Hindu people were unable to recognize us as strangers.

We are the first visitors to the Kandamal district where the persecution last for 6 months. Many christian leaders went there but they did not visit the persecuted Christians and have not visit their destroyed homes. When we went and visit their homes and christian families in relief camps they were so happy and they told us that no body came to them and comfort them. We were very happy when we heard this from them.

In Kandamal district whole villages up to 4000 villages were destroyed. 15000 people hiding in the forests and sheltering in relief camps, 400 churches have burnt, 86 preachers were slaughtered or choped to death and hundreds of people were killed in the persecution.

Hindu radicals looted every thing and destroyed what Christians has. These people have no a tip of compassion towards Christian children, Christians and pastors.

We have taken some pictures of destroyed Christian homes, churches and bones of the martyrs.

When we were there some Christians have oranged meeting in secret place, we have encouraged and comforted them with the God's word. I believe it is really good to work with Christians in Orissa, encouraging them in growing spiritually.

Orissa has lot of poverty and back ward state. It is not growing and developing state. People have no good facilities like transportation, schools, hospitals and etc. If some body is serious or at any emergency they needs to go to the cities like Bhuvaneshwer and Katak, these cities are far from the villages like 300 miles.

I am just giving the picture of Orissa and Christians.

I will give some more report after a while.

Thanks for praying for our trip to Orissa and our work in India.
Please do remember Orissa Christians in your prayers.

Thank you each and every one.

God Bless
James Bennala

(this is James in this picture)

Destroyed houses

Destroyed church building

Dead bodies

Burnt bones of Akbar Digal-Ponuel

More Engagement Pictures

You can click on the link below to view some more of our engagement pictures. There are some new ones since the last link that we posted. If you're interested in ordering any of them, you can get 20 free pictures if you create a FREE account with Kodak and order before March 10th. :)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=ektonze.lson8j6&x=0&y=mi2bkx&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_button

Valentine Banquet

Mom, Dad and Elijah came down to Austin to go to the church Valentines Banquet with us. Matt played in the "Pond Springs Church of Christ House Band" as someone referred to it as. The whole theme was 50's sock hop so the band played some oldies. The whole thing was a blast!! Some of the people we go to church with are NUTS! We had a lot of laughs and a lot of fun! I took some videos of the band, but you cant SEE a thing! Matt will insist on me telling you that the band isn't that good - but they were a lot of fun. They are all members of the church and they put this all together for the ladies. So even though there were some mess ups they did a great job and put on a great show!

This one is Jailhouse Rock. Matt sings this one...

Great Balls of Fire - Matt plays electric guitar on this one. He has a solo in this one but you can't hear it all real well... you can barely see in the video when he steps up.

The last one they did was Rock Around the Clock - Matt plays trombone on this one...

They also sang Blueberry Hill (which Matt sang) and Hound Dog (Matt played electric) but I wasn't able to get those on video.

We also took Elijah to the oh-so-fun Chuck E Cheese while they were here. We told him LAST time he was here that we would go the next time he came, so we all went. It is a close call as to who had more fun: Elijah.... or Dad. I think in the end Elijah wins, but it is a close call! ;) Here are a few pictures that mom took while we were there...

Matt making a weird face. When I showed him this he said, "What am I doing?" Haha!

Elijah on one of the game/rides. He was riding through a gold mine!


Our silly faces!


Playing some airplane game...


We had a great weekend in Austin! Friday is when we go to the Missy Higgins concert, so I'm sure I'll have more pictures to post then!

(sorry, you can't enlarge the pictures on this post... blogger is being a little difficult tonight :))

It's My Way or the Highway

“It’s my way or the highway!” Have you ever heard this phrase? I’m sure, like me, many of you have heard it used at one point in your life. Do you notice something about this statement when we, as humans, use it? Unless said in a joking manner, it is never used in a positive way! All too often, though, the idea of this phrase is portrayed in our churches; however, we’re not the first to face such a negative attitude.

In the numerous churches, such as in Galatia, Paul encountered the very same opposition. Paul had been given the mission to preach to the Gentiles, not an easy task. For a short while after Jesus’ death, Jews and Gentiles began meeting together in homes, sharing in a common meal together. Soon, however, the issue of “cleanliness” arose. Because they were each bringing food to the meal, similar to a modern day pot luck I suppose, the Gentiles would, at times, bring items that were not considered clean by the Jews. Therefore, some of the Jews began meeting together separately from the Gentiles in order to follow the Jewish customs. Soon after, they also began preaching that, in order to follow the Way, one must first follow in Jewish customs, including circumcision. Although they had seen and been taught about the Messiah, Jesus, they were stuck in their old, legalistic ways.

In the Old Testament, when it was prophesied that a Messiah from God would come, the people pictured an earthly king; what they expected was a deliverer, not in the form of a suffering servant, but one who would lead the Jews to power. After all, God had made a covenant with Abraham that He would make him a great nation, and Abraham was Jewish. To add to this, the promised Messiah had now come, and he too was Jewish. He himself was taught great respect for the Torah. It would seem of great importance to follow in the Jewish customs in order to follow in the Way. Paul, however, preaches something much different.

In Galatians 3, Paul attempts to handle this issue, beginning by saying, “You foolish Galatians!” Paul has already preached to them the gospel, and they have believed; however, they have been persuaded back to their old ways. He asks them, “How did you receive the Spirit? Was it the law that gave you the Spirit or was it God?” He then approaches the argument of Abraham:

Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

He then goes on to add:

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Here, Paul reminds the people that it is not because of their Jewish heritage that they are included in Abraham’s great nation, nor is it by the law that they have been justified. It is through their faith in the Christ that they have become one of Abraham’s children. It’s not just the Jews, but all who believe are allowed in. He says that it’s not the law that has brought atonement, but it is only through Jesus Christ that they have been set free from the law and from their sin to receive the Spirit.

Later, in verses 23-29, Paul urges them into maturity. He says, “When we were under the law, it was our custodian, our nanny. The law was there for us to nanny us until we reached maturity by faith. Now that we have been given faith and trust in the place of atonement, at the cross, we now live in maturity as a new creation.

Today, we too are very much a part of this new creation. Our ways, traditions, and customs are of little importance compared to the greatness of Christ Jesus. In chapter 5 of Galatians, Paul urges them, as well as us today, to live by the Spirit. Since we are part of this new way, we are to live in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. “Against such things there is no law.” He also calls us, once again, to love each other.

All of creation comes together at a great climax at the coming of Christ and the new creation. It all comes together at the cross, although we are to still read the rest of the story in order to understand it and become a part of it. In this time between Christ’s resurrection and our resurrection, between the cross and the return, we must live by the Spirit. In this “time between times,” we must learn to love each other and remember daily that it is not by our own way that we have received salvation, but it is through one way: by grace through faith. I pray grace and peace to you all as we faithfully insert ourselves into the ongoing story of God until he decides to bring about the final chapter.

-Matt

New Pictures

You can click on the link below and see some of our engagement pictures! We will be getting some more in the mail later this week hopefully, but here are a few of the good ones!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ViewSlideshow.action?&collidparam=31734135914.28082135914.1234134239489

There Will be a Day

In his recent single, musician Jeremy Camp sings:

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more,
We’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

Jeremy receives inspiration for this song from Revelation 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

These words are, most definitely, words of hope for us all, but what gives the lyrics to his song so much more depth and meaning is in understanding Jeremy’s story.

Early in his ministry, Jeremy met a young woman named Melissa. The two began a relationship together, but it didn’t last long before Melissa needed a break. So, they parted ways and went about continuing their ministries. It wasn’t long before Jeremy received a call that would change his life forever.

Melissa, now 20, had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Jeremy immediately went to the hospital to visit her. After spending time with her, he left confused and broken at seeing somebody he cared about in pain. Soon, he found himself praying strange words to God: “God, if you want me to marry Melissa knowing she could die from this cancer, then I will....” On October 21, 2000, after five months had passed and with Melissa feeling much better, the two became husband and wife; however, their happiness together did not last long.

While on their honeymoon, Melissa began having complications once again, and, upon returning, they received the news from the doctor they had feared. Melissa only had months to live. On February 5, 2001, Melissa breathed her last as Jeremy and his family sang songs of worship. Jeremy recalls the day as a time “...when (he) was learning something about obedience.”

Today, many are hurting, suffering, heart broken, and torn. Along with the world’s problems of terror, war, poverty, and hunger, we also face our own daily struggles. There are days we ask God why, and there are even days we feel like giving up.

But praise be to God for the hope he brings of a new day. Praise be to God for his grace, mercy, and love. And praise be to God for the life he freely offers in Jesus.

There will indeed be a day when he will wipe away all death, mourning, crying, and pain, and we will see our savior, Jesus Christ, face to face.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39

-Matt

22

Well, I am 22 years old now! 21 didn't seem odd to me - just another year. 22 though.... that sounds like I actually have to be an adult now! Of course I don't FEEL any more like an adult, so I guess I don't have to ACT it either.... right? :)

I had a really good birthday - nice and relaxing! The only thing that would've made it better is if the Cowboys had been playing in the Super Bowl. I told a few people yesterday about the year that my birthday landed on a Super Bowl weekend when the Cowboys were playing and I had my "Troy Aikman birthday party" as I remember it. I remember wearing my white turtle neck with my Troy Aikman tshirt over it. We had it at the skating rink and everyone had to wear their Cowboys shirts. What a memorable party! :)

Anyway, Matt took me out on Saturday night because we had a lot going on yesterday. We went to Pappadeaux's and both got shrimp and crawfish etouffee - Mmmmm! Then we went and saw the movie Doubt with Meryl Streep.

On Sunday we went to Texas Roadhouse and they made me get up on the saddle and swing my napkin above my head and yell, "YEE HAW!" Matt enjoyed that more than I did... haha! :) He thought it was hilarious. As if he hadn't gotten me enough, he also got me tickets for a concert later this month! It is someone we saw back a few months ago during our concert phase, but at that time she was opening for someone else - this time she will be the headliner. It is Missy Higgins! There is another guy playing with her that I like ok. His name is Justin Nozuka. There is one other girl, but I have never heard of her and I can't remember her name. I am so excited to go see Missy again and get a chance to hear more of her songs. I teased Matt and told him that he couldn't get sick on me this time! (Last year he got me concert tickets for my birthday then ended up getting sick and not being able to go with me! Mom and I had a great time at the concert though. ;-))

We had planned on just watching the Super Bowl by ourselves, but we ended up not getting to watch very much of it at all! We got to see the very end when it was really exciting, but we missed the rest of the game and all of the commercials. For some ODD reason, Pond Springs still had class last night! :) I got teased a little bit because I just had never been to a church that didn't have a big Super Bowl party and I just didn't know what to think about that... so anyway, by the time class was over and we made a trip to Wal-Mart to get some junk food, the game was just about over. I heard you can watch all the commericals online at http://www.hulu.com/superbowl . I haven't watched them yet, but I'll probably check them out later...

I'm also excited because I got enough birthday money to get an iPod! I got one in high school but it died. I found out that it would cost more to have it repaired than it would to just get a new one. I have been wanting one recently because I am taking the bus to class now and I wanted something to listen to while I ride. I stole Matt's for the ride this morning, but I'm excited to get my own now! I am researching a few different kinds before I buy one - but hopefully I'll have a new one soon!

So, all in all I had a great birthday! Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes!

P.S. Sam told me that he would be mailing me our engagement pictures this week! I will be sure to put them up somewhere for everyone to see. He sent us a few to look at and we love them, so we're really looking forward to seeing the rest!