AnythingUrban - by R Eldridge

TV Presenter Gets Death Sentence for 'Sorcery'??

Do you remember the movie 'The Flying Guillotine'? This movie scared the -ish out of me when I was a kid.  And as deep as the ancient Egyptians that invented algebra, decapitation by guillotine was the usual means of execution in Germany until the abolition of the death penalty in West Germany in 1949. Now 'vas ist los' with that?

I heard that in England it was considered a privilege of noblemen to be beheaded. I don't necessarily connect with that at all either [pardon the pun]. Truly bad math. But seriously though...

  The Saudi government says that beheading is still sanctioned by Islamic tradition. State-ordered beheadings are performed in courtyards outside crowded mosques in major cities after weekly Friday prayer services for crimes including murder, homosexuality, armed robbery and drug trafficking... and sorcery. Yeah. But there's more...

Amnesty International has expressed concerns over executions of foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia, and they continue to bring awareness to the high rate of foreign nationals that are beheaded each year.  In 2009, the Saudi Arabian government executed, on average, more than two people a week. Almost half of them were foreign nationals from developing countries, including Nigeria. Some migrant workers are reported to have even been unaware that they had been sentenced to death until the very morning of their execution.

Spiritual Bootcamp by AnDrea Watkins

AnDrea Watkins shares these great spiritual messages with me via email that are always timely.  It feels as if these messages are a by product of thoughts that I reflect on.  As we all take moments to reflect in life, I'd like to share a really great message that really added a spark to my day.  I will testify on this in the near future.  Enjoy.

Today's message was encouraging and enlightening.  Taken from Isaiah 40:29, it speaks about the strength that the Lord increases within you...to make you strong enough to endure and overcome any challenge.  I was tremendously blessed by this word because it really reminded me of the many things throughout my life that God has brought me through.  But, He didn't just allow me to skate through...He allowed my spirit to be shapened and toughened...so that I can proceed through life with more wisdom, patience, and determination.
 
I tend to think of a walk with the Lord like boot camp.  The moment you reach the point in life where you decide to live for God...training begins.  It seems almost immediately, you are faced with tests.  You're jumping hurdles, running laps, pushing up and down, crunching...all the while...someone is breathing down your neck, questioning your dedication.  Are you strong enough soldier?  Will keep the course?  Will you give up?  It is in boot camp where a soldier's resolve is tested and strengthened.  Before you can be trusted to go out into the battle zone, you must be given the tools to win the fight.

The same is true in the things of God.  When you are going through a storm...think of it as your boot camp.  Utilize your tools...pray harder, fast longer, praise louder.  When that enemy is breathing down your neck...read more, confess more, give more.  You see, you are in boot camp...you are being prepared for the fight. (Joshua 10:25).  You are being prepared to win the battle.   You are being prepared to live victoriously.  You will better appreciate wealth...after you've been in a financial bind...yet had the dedication to keep tithing and giving cheerfully. (2Corinthians 9:7).  You will better appreciate a relationship...after you've experienced heartache...yet continued to seek God's heart and God's love. (Psalms 37:4).  You will better appreciate a new job/position if you know what it is to be dissatisfied with a job description or discouraging manager.  (Psalms 75:5-7).  You will better appreciate your life...once you've endured a few hard times...yet watched the Lord bring you out.  You see, your tests are preparing you for your testimony.  If you are going through something right now...know that it is simply boot camp.  You're being trained to fight and win.  So...gone on out there...and win.

I love you all,
Drea

Would you like to read more from AnDrea?  Please read Living Breakthrough Minded by AnDrea Watkins.

Living Breakthrough Minded: by AnDrea Watkins

Got Faith?  Well, I would like to introduce you to AnDrea Watkins.  AnDrea has been a great supporter of my blog, and I feel really blessed to know her.  As I have valued her spiritual messages, I found this particular message to be very appropriate after Father's Day... and on a Monday morning as well.  After all, nothing beats a positive, upbeat message on a Monday to get you going.  Enjoy.

(From AnDrea to YOU)... 

"I'm originally from Chicago, but have lived in Houston for over a decade.  I have a BA in Communication Studies and an MPA in Non-Profit Mgmt.  Before moving to Korea, I worked as the Director of Student Affairs and an adjunct instructor at a proprietary university in Houston.  While making my own plans to relocate and pursue other goals...the Lord redirected my plans, and pointed me in a direction which really changed my personal, professional and spiritual life.  I've lived in Incheon, South Korea for almost one year, and serve as an ESL teacher for an all-girls high school.  Being here has really revealed my passion for teaching...and has instilled a fervor for the things of God.  In August, my contract will expire, and I will be returning to the U.S.A. with a renewed focus, passion, and purpose."

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Today's message is incredible!  I thoroughly enjoyed and needed this message today.  It is taken from 2Samuel 5:20 and speaks about the Lord's breakthrough in our lives.  As I read today's word, my mind was set on the importance of remembering.  

Many times in life, we can have the tendency to become so forgetful.  We receive one blessing, one accomplishment, one achievement... and we briefly celebrate this milestone.  We briefly tell all of our friends and family how amazing the Lord has been, how thankful we are for God's goodness, how humbled we are by the experience.  We laugh, we cheer, we praise, we worship...then, time passes...and for some reason, we forget those celebratory feelings.  What was once such a blessing, such a miracle, such an extraordinary occurrence....is now a burden, a hinderance, and a headace.  How soon we forget...and move on to the next best thing.
 
So you seek another breakthrough of the Lord in your life...but, how well are you regarding the ones that you've received?  The Lord blessed you with a new job...are you showing up on time?  Are you going the extra mile?  Are you maximizing your gifts and talents?  The Lord blessed you with a new relationship, or restored your current one...are you being honest with your mate?  Are you communicating with her/him?  Are you cherishing her/him?  The Lord turned around your health challenge...are you eating healthily?  Are you exercising?  Are you getting enough sleep?  The Lord provided a financial miracle...are you tithing?  Are you saving?  Are you investing?
 
You see, many times we seek a new breakthrough...but just like children in the natural sense...our Father wants us to learn how to treat the gifts that He's already given us, before He can trust us with new ones.  He wants you to prosper...He wants you to prevail...He wants you have more than you could even imagine possible (Ephesians 3:20)...but can He trust you?  Remember how good the Lord has been in your life.  Remember how much He's protected you from.  Remember how much He's brought you through.  Remember how He unconditionally loves you.  Remember that He has positioned you for victory!  Remember to not allow the luster to wear off of the gifts He's already given...so that you are prepared to receive more of His abundance!

I love you all,
Drea

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TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God of the Breakthrough

"A breakthrough is simply a sudden burst of God’s favor. It’s an
explosion of His goodness. It’s when suddenly, God releases His power
in such a way that it overwhelms you and drives out your enemies!...

…the Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the
bursting out of great waters…”. (II Samuel 5:20, AMP).

Listen to the podcast, or read the read of this message here:

The Burdens of Martyrdom

First and foremost, I wanna thank everyone that chimed in on yesterday’s blog “Fatal Thoughts of Suicide.” Y’all got real deep on me and folks shared some real serious stories and emotions. I truly appreciate your openness, and I’m glad to see that although people tend to associate the Swagga with arbitrary news and info, we were able to talk about something that had absolutely nothing to do with the birds and the bees and all things between.