Judging Others

skit we performed in the San Jose youth group back in 2010 

Let's get real for a second.

Fact #1 - there is such a thing as right and wrong.

Fact #2 - we're all inconsistent in our lives in one way or another.

Fact #3 - judging is REALLY risky business.

Fact #4 - churches should be concerned with morality.

I fully believe that everything I just said in the above list is completely true, but with reference to fact #4, I find the question of how? to be super complex.

On the one hand, I explained in my last entry that we shouldn't teach "cheap grace"; and on the other hand, I know that if I'm trying to reach non-Christian young adults, or if I've already started a church with new believers who have somewhat "morally complicated lives"... well - let's just say that things can, and will probably (and actually most definitely) at some point get a little gnarly (or in most cases really gnarly).

So for starters, let me just say that there are two huge differences that need to be taken into account in this discussion: 1 - how we perceive and approach anyone outside the church, and 2 - how we work with and tenderly correct anyone within the church.

I honestly don't believe that it's worthwhile to tell everyone outside the church who is in sin that they need to change, or to try and make them understand that what they are doing is wrong, or to somehow disassociate ourselves with them because of their incorrect lifestyle. Rather, what we need to emphasize is that we've all failed and have been crippled by sin, and that because of it, life is really messed-up, but there's a remedy, and it has come in the person of Jesus Christ who actually really loves sinners, and with whom he not only associated with, but also found his whole life purpose in giving us the opportunity to be forgiven through his death, no matter what.

That's the main point that needs to be talked about with our friends (and even enemies) that aren't part of the church... or in other words, who aren't Christians.

Agreed?

I really hope so, because the idea of judging people who aren't in the faith, and telling them that who they are is wrong (or telling other Christian friends to stay away from them because they're wrong) - I don't know man - I mean doing so is liable to turn us into something like arrogant, irrelevant, judgmental, hypocrites (even though I do understand the danger in being 100% tolerant of everything, and becoming desensitized towards sin, as well as being overpowered by it).        

But, what about for those who are a part of the church but are blatantly living in sin?

Well, let me give you a real-life, unfiltered, really-complicated situation:

The first guy I ever baptized in my life is a guy named Elkin.

I met Elkin while he was living with his girlfriend with whom he has a daughter, and sure enough - after hanging out with him for a while and studying the Bible together - he decided to put his trust in Christ.

I baptized him, because I view baptism as the symbol of salvation - that in Jesus we have died to our selves and been buried with Christ in his death and resurrected through him in his life... I didn't baptize him to say that he is morally perfect in every sense, and that he has his whole life together - but it is to say that he has been justified (legally declared perfect or righteous in God's sight because of Christ, irrespective of his good works or even his recurrent tendency towards sin), and that he's now a new creation.

That's what I was saying when I baptized him (or better said that's what he was saying as he got baptized), and yet here's the catch: now after 4 years have passed (and as he's matured, and grown in his knowledge of Christ, and brought other members of his extended family to the Lord); still, he has not officially gotten married to his girlfriend either by state or church standards (even though they do live together and their relationship has been flourishing a lot).

So that's really awkward because 1: he's a poor role model to young believers; 2: he's a bad testimony to unbelieving outsiders; and 3: he's a bad example to his daughter who may be inclined to think that a lifelong commitment before God, the state, and your friends and family members towards the person you love and desire to live with, is unnecessary.

And that's not all right.

It's not all right, and so the church needs to do something about it.

At the same time though, it's clear that his involvement in the church has benefited him, his family, and other members of the church significantly (including myself), and by 1: forcing him to get married we run the risk of embittering him and having him do something against his will; by 2: judging him all the time and incessantly talking about the issue could make us seem more interested in him signing a paper and going through with an official ceremony than in seeing him grow deeper in love with his girlfriend and daughter; and by 3: dismissing him from the church we are effectively handing him over to the devil who is extremely powerful, and could very well even go so far as to physically take his life away from him (1 Cor. 5:5).

So that's some pretty serious stuff, isn't it?

What's ironic is that many other people who I know from San Jose that at one point were actively involved in the church there, have voluntarily handed themselves over to the devil in a sense, when they arbitrarily decided to leave the church out of their own volition... that reality should sadden us so much, and we should lovingly aim to do all that we can to get them back.

And what's tough in Elkin's case, is that I honestly think that the most Biblically logical way to deal with the situation, is to tell him that he can't come to our meetings until he repents, thereby showing him the supreme importance of needing to be serious about this issue, while fervently praying for him to follow through with the act - and to once again find restoration among us once he has (2 Cor. 2:6-8).

But even better than that, is that I think we should hope and do everything we can to encourage them to separate by mutual consent for a time (1 Cor. 7:5), while still letting them be active within the church, and hoping that in the mean time they would be compelled to officially get married.

Obviously, the way we go about this, and the way we talk about it has to be extremely tactful and loving and sensitive, but I honestly don't think that just having more patience will solve the issue... Even though everything inside of me wishes that I and the elders from the church in San Jose wouldn't have to do this - I think it's time that we be a little more radical about the issue; and hope that God in his infinite grace will work the situation out for his glory.

...And so there's an example of really complicated religion.

However, in going about it (and in relation to EVERY form of judgement), I find Jon Foreman's words concerning religion really apt, so as to keep us in check, when he says the following in his song, "The World You Want" from his Fading West album:

What you say is your religion,

How you say it - your religion,

Who you love is your religion,

How you love is your religion,

All your science - your religion,

All your hatred - your religion,

All your wars are your religion,

Every breath is your religion, yeah.

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Believe it or not, according to the British weekly newspaper The Economist, in 2012, Colombia was said to have the lowest percentage of marriages in the world

http://www.eltiempo.com/gente/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-12587116.html

Learning How to Die

Picture of a vulture I took last week in Calamar

Reading my last entry, some might think that I'm getting kind of soft with all this talk about sensitivity, and teaching a message that can be easily digested in the initial stages of hearing the gospel... Even worse, I kind of focused on aspects of "new birth", and "drinking milk", and "being a baby"; but I fear that along with these concepts, perhaps I was sharing an incomplete gospel, by not talking about death.

Cause see, along with receiving new life, one of the main prerequisites for it, is death itself (Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:20, 3:3;)... but that's usually something we'd rather not talk about. New life is exciting, death is hard. New life is refreshing, death is discouraging. New life is something we anticipate, death is something we dread.

But either way you look at it, death is inevitable. Just like every seed dies before it grows (1 Cor. 15:36), so also, everyone one of us is heading towards death before we are resurrected... in a sense, life is kind of like learning how to die.

And spiritually speaking, death is indispensable. In fact, if anyone wants to be born of the Spirit, that person must necessarily put to death the misdeeds of the body (Romans 8:13). We have to die to ourselves in order to live for Christ. Jesus isn't going to share our allegiance to him with our allegiance to the world or to our flesh... In order for us to truly follow him, all else must die (Matt. 10:38, 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, 14:27). With Christ it's all or nothing.

Now, what's tricky about all of this is that when we think of salvation, the main concept that comes into play is grace (and rightly so), but as profound theologian and authentic Christian Dietrich Bonhoeffer has said, "The only man who has the right to say that he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ" (The Cost of Discipleship p. 55).

...Granted, we are saved exclusively by grace through our belief in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but the question then becomes: "how can we believe in something we don't obey?" How can we live for God if all the while we are living for ourselves? How can we call Christ "Lord" if we don't do what he says? (Luke 6:46).  

We can't. Just like we can't expect a house that's built on sand to hold up in the middle of a storm (Matt. 7:26)... [because it won't (just like it would be impossible for us to expect to live our lives in Jesus if we never bother to listen to him or put his words into practice)].

See, that type of "diluted salvation" is what Dietrich coined as cheap grace... "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, (it's) baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate" (p. 47).

But grace isn't cheap! It's the most valuable thing in the world because it cost God his only son so that we could have it (John 3:16)... How dare we depreciate that sacrifice with a morally flippant lifestyle...

See, right after Bonhoeffer describes cheap grace - in diametrical opposition to it, he articulates the wonderful essence of costly grace in the following paragraphs:

"Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

"Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

"Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'ye were bought at a price,' and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God" (p.47-48).

...Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood this costly grace so much that he considered it well worthwhile to defend it, even with his very life, against the opposition of perhaps the most powerful villain the world has ever seen, namely Adolf Hitler.

Bonhoeffer was martyred on April 9th, 1945 (click here to read about what happened on that very day 3 years later), but in Dietrich's estimation, his physical death was of seemingly very little importance. Dietrich had already died spiritually in Christ a long time before this instance, and his physical death at the hands of the Third Reich by no means implied the end of his life... rather it was just the entrance into a fuller one.

In the movie clip above, it's interesting to notice Bonhoeffer's peace as he walked, quite literally, into his execution...

...And at the beginning of this post I mentioned my fear of promoting some sort of "easy gospel," but actually the gospel of Christ is quite easy indeed... See, because even though Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow him (Matt. 16: 24), he also promised that his yoke is easy and his burden is light (11:30).

...Even though Dietrich had to pick up his cross to follow Jesus all the way up to the gallows, somehow that yoke of doing so was still quite easy and light.

So, even though I've expounded a little more on the implications concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ than what I did in my last entry; I still conclude with the same encouragement:

Taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

...Just keep in mind that the ultimate demonstration of his goodness came at a very costly price, and that to truly taste and see it, you do, in fact, have to accept Christ as Lord.

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Picture Cited:

http://lifeondoverbeach.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/dietrich-bonhoeffer-on-what-marriage-is-for/                

Good to Go!

Hi, 

I'm here in Colombia now, and although I have no promise from anyone that I will be supported financially as I serve the Lord, I do have the promise from Jesus that all my food and clothing will be taken care of; as well as the promise that he’ll be with me always, even to the end of age (Matthew 6:28-33; 28:20).

If you believe that the Lord has empowered me for his service and would like to take part in the practical outworking of my ministry's needs and expenses, you can be informed on how to do so by clicking here, or by sending checks to CMML at this address:

CMML, Inc.
P.O. Box 13
Spring Lake, NJ 07762-0013

Just write the check out to CMML with a note that says it's for Sam Killins; and 100% of all your donation will be transferred to me personally to be used at my own discretion for various life and ministry purposes.

Christian Missions in Many Lands exists to facilitate missionaries in their work to the Lord oversees, but they have no oversight or authority over me as such. The reality is that the Holy Spirit is the one guiding and empowering me in the decisions that I take as I seek to make disciples – baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20).

My elders who have entrusted me to the care of the Lord (Acts 13:2-3) might occasionally suggest things, highlight certain principles, or give me well-grounded and Biblical feedback; but then again I would also enjoy hearing from you!     

The idea is that this earth's history has a lot at stake, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I would like to be numbered among those who are turning the whole world upside down for Christ and his gospel (Acts 1:8; 17:6).

Some might think that's a pretty presumptive thing to think I can do, but I trust that as I go, the Lord will work mightily on my behalf as well as provide for all my needs. He's done so in the past, so why won't he do it again?

Let's stay in touch.

E-mail: sam.killins@gmail.com

Cell: 011.57.310.318.3209

Physical Address: 
Calle 66A # 17-19 Apto. 501
Bogota, Colombia

My Sister Suse Gave Birth to her Second Son

Being a little outnumbered with girls in my family, I'm really excited about the birth of my second nephew Lukas Josiah Pineda.

But the other thing that I wish I could see more of is people being born again with eternal life (John 3).

And it's kind of interesting because one of the couples that I most got to share the gospel with in Illinois, have recently discovered that they are going to have a child themselves.

Emily got pregnant a couple months back, and I was the second person they told this to. Emily has said that it's been a really tough process for her body to adjust, and I can tell that at times she feels really wiped-out since she barely has any strength from the few foods that she can eat without regurgitating.

Similarly, I think that the process of receiving New Life is pretty intense.

There are huge adjustments of things you have to leave behind in all of a sudden entering into a brand new relationship with God... I mean the Holy Spirit is literally going to start living inside you! and so he's not going to automatically accept every sinful thing you once did. He'll want to regurgitate a lot of stuff that at one point you felt so comfortable with, and you'll have to resort to the pure water of knowing that in Jesus you can have eternal life, not much else (John 4:10; John 7:37-38).

Once you are born by the Spirit, you'll start to get a craving for pure spiritual milk, which is something like a true understanding of God being good, and you'll just want to sip it all up (1 Pet 2:2-3). To the degree that you do, your faith will eventually be strengthened and you'll start craving heavier type doctrines which are like the equivalent of solid food (Heb 5:12).

  

Stuff like the sovereignty of God or his justice and omnipotence as well as certain aspects about the purpose and practice of the church are a little harder to digest, but they are essential for our nourishment, if we honestly want to grow up in him.

Initially I suggest that anybody who wants to father someone else in being the first to present that person with the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15)... I suggest that that person concentrate primarily on aspects of encouraging others to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8), and to explain how Jesus is the bread of life that we need (John 6). If in an "already believing youngster" you would like to play more the role of a tutor for instance, then yeah - get into more of the profound teachings found in Scripture, but just give it in viable/steady doses that the person can consistently get his or her hands on.

Because I mean after all - it's only a matter of time till you're going to be wanting to see your own protégé being entrusted with the responsibility of teaching others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

Notice in the above pictures how Kaleb goes from being bored to eventually touching his little brother's head with the affirmation of his dad.

Jonny and Susie Pineda live in Memphis, TN and are the proud parents of Kaleb, Aliyah, and Lukas (not pictured). Jonny is an incredible musician/songwriter/worship leader as well as a 3D animation artist; and Susie is an amazing stay at home mom.

Shawn Spencer the Psychic (Samaritan?)

Some of us know that, without a doubt, the TV series 'Psych' is the greatest show of all time.   

A few of us may know that, this Sunday evening the 15th, the long awaited 2 hour monumental 'Psych' musical will be aired on USA at 9/8 Central whaaaaaat?

But practically none of us, however, know that James Roday (also known as Shawn Spencer), is half Mexican.   WHAT!?!

...Yep. It's a true story, even if you never would have guessed it. 

James David Rodriguez (not to be confused with his awesome namesake/Colombian soccer super-star mid-fielder James David Rodriguez Rubio), was born in San Anotnio, TX to a multiracial couple.

The son of Jim Rodriguez (a pure Mexican/Air Force Veteran/Taco Cabana Regional Manager/ former High School Principal); James Roday gives off the impression of being a goofy/spontaneous/psychic/white boy in his murder mystery comedy 'Psych', but really isn't. He's a professionally focused, and hard working half Mexican actor/screen writer who is living his life's dream; while making millions in the process. 

James Roday with his dad and sister

But the fact that he's a racial "miti-miti" (or in other words a "half and half"), as well as a psychic... these 2 factors made me think of a correlation between him and one of the most surprisingly anti-stereo-typical stories in the Bible.

This is the story about Jesus talking with a marginalized Samaritan woman at a well somewhere in-between Judea and Galilee (John 4), and the reason why Shawn Spencer makes me think of this story is because (like a Samaritan), he's kind of like a "half breed" too, and just like Jesus who knows everything - Shawn Spencer tries to act like a psychic himself.

That may be a really crazy correlation to come up with, but I honestly came up with it, and I think that's probably just because the other day in our mid-week Hispanic Bible Study, Ben Jimenez expounded on John chapter 4, and with my anticipation of 'Psych the Musical', I think somewhere along the way, my mind just put both of these intriguing multi-racial story lines together.

Ben Explaining John 4

While Ben explained to the hodgepodge group of racially confused American residents like Carmelo, Emily, Gonzalo, Raymond, himself and I*, that Samaritans were the socially unacceptable half-breeds that Jews generally avoided; he also described Jesus - the unconventional/anti-prejudiced/loving Messiah who seemed to intentionally arrange a meeting with this fascinating young lady (should I also say attractive?), who probably had more than a couple reasons for which she was discriminated against (v. 18). 

*Hodgepodge of racially confused American residents (with exception of Allison, the girl in the middle, who I'm pretty sure knows where she comes from).

And somewhere in the middle of this digressing conversation, Jesus psychically (or sovereignly, rather) knows that this woman had previously been married 5 times and is currently living with a man to whom she wasn't. Regardless, Jesus engages with this woman in one of the most significant conversations found in the whole New Testament.

...And trying to connect this story back to 'Psych' again haha, I can just picture Jesus in verse 17 and 18 when the woman tells him she has no husband, responding with something like, "I've heard it both ways", when he replies: 

"You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true" (NIV).

But the main thing about this passage that I think the Samaritan woman was so impressed by is that Jesus truly knew who she was (v. 29)... and that his knowledge of her did not alter his unconditional acceptance of, and outlandish respect, towards her... That despite her frowned upon history and heritage - Jesus valued her and dignified her in a way that I'm sure no one ever had. 

So what about you? How many licentious women have you shared the gospel with?

How many racially "complicated" people have you recently sat down to drink a bottle of beer or a glass of pop with? 

It would be one thing if I were talking about James Roday or Dulé Hill who are both super cool racial minority super-stars... but what about the ones that live in your own home town that you kind-of disregard? 

...In the picture below there are 3 different guys that came to our Bible Study on Wednesday night that each represent 3 different levels of "political legitimacy"; and I want to ask you: Which of them deserves to get to know Jesus the most? Ricardo (the boy standing in the red jacket who is a half Mexican but born in the States?); Gonzalo (the improperly documented and some would say "illegal" Mexican who works downtown?); or Giovanni (the cute little boy standing in the gray jacket who is the son of Gonzalo, but who was also born in the US?).  

If you answered that the 2 kids deserve to get to know Jesus more than Gonzalo does, then you make me sick... And if you answered that they all equally deserve to get to know Jesus all across the board - than I like you a lot more, but you're still wrong.

However, if your answer is that none of them (or any of us!) deserve to get to know Jesus at all; but only because of Jesus' friendship and love towards all mankind that was made evident on the cross (John 15:13), then we can all confidently and unabashedly approach God through Christ's mediation (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25-26)... If that's your answer - that none of us, no matter who, or where, or with what... none of us deserve to get to know Jesus at all; but only (and I mean only), because of his wonderful grace that he poured out on every one of us at the cross... then we are all free to do so... If that's your answer - that it's by grace alone that we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:4-9), then you're dead on... You're completely dead on, and I congratulate you for your unbiased understanding of the only true gospel of Christ; the only one with such great implications for all mankind.

And whether or not James Roday even cares that he's semi-Latino, I really don't know; but at least I think it's pretty cool.     

-----------------------------------

Pictures and Works Cited:

http://www.usanetwork.com/psych

http://www.waxahachietx.com/news/waxahachie/psych-star-james-roday-s-reel-take-on-life-family/article_55c0d1ce-630d-11e1-af52-001871e3ce6c.html

http://myawow.blogspot.com/2012/07/jim-rodriguez.html

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm305510144/tt2092746

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1406889-colombias-national-team-looking-to-make-waves-at-the-international-level

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritans

http://television.mxdwn.com/news/psych-preparing-for-season-8/       

Switchfoot Sings Straight to my Soul

You know how sometimes when you're hearing a brand new song you get the words messed up? ...Like when it sounds like it's saying something and you swear that's what it's saying cause it fits so perfectly, but then like a day or a week or a month or sometimes even a YEAR! later you realize it's saying something else?

Well, in the brand new song "Who We Are" from Switchfoot's most recent EP called Fading West, I was almost sure the lyrics for the chorus were, 

In the fever of our youth

We've got nothing left to lose

We're still dumb enough to choose

Who we are

And that's because at the beginning of the song it talks about just being kids with wide-eyed innocence, living in a van practically, but believing in something more than just some sort of justified ends to a means.

And so the point Switchfoot makes is that to the whole rest of the world that's a pretty dumb way to live; but they're like, who cares? We're still dumb enough to choose that way of life, because We Know Who We Are... And because as sure as we breathe, we want something that's more than just a feeling or that just lasts for a season... We want something with meaning, we want something we can believe in.

And I love it man, because that's exactly the way I want to live my life too.

In their other hit song "Love Alone is Worth the Fight" they talk about taking they're own advice, and going back to the basics. They ask why we live and why we breathe, why we're born and why we die, why we always fight to try to make things even? and then they ask if too many times in our lives maybe we're being controlled by fear. If so, love alone can erase fear; so "love alone is worth the fight." 

...It's as if in the midst of all the chaos and confusion of the world, in the midst of all the meaninglessness, that's the one thing they can always go back to... Love alone is worth the fight.

They're dumb enough to choose that, because they understand that they have nothing left to lose... or well, that's basically what I thought they were saying, but actually the words for the song are really: 

In the fever of our youth

We've got nothing left to lose

There's still time enough to choose 

Who we are

And honestly that's an even better message because that's really where I'm at as well. I know that my real dream is as a missionary, and I still got enough time to choose that... even with the privilege of being supported full time.   

I will say this though: being a missionary is no joke. Even though it's been the funnest, most fulfilling job I've ever had; at the same time being a missionary is the hardest job that I know... It requires an extremely high level of strength in each of the following areas: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.    

But as Switchfoot says: Love Alone is Worth the Fight.

...It's awesome then when towards the end of "Who We Are" Jon Foreman concludes,

They said it's complicated

They said we'd never make it this far

But we are

They said the fight would break us

The struggle helped to make

Who we are

And then after saying that they wanted something that was more than just a feeling or that lasted for just a season; the last exclamation is

Yeah, we become what we believe in  

  

...Or just wait a second. Did he say,

 "We become who we believe in"? 

Probably not. That was probably just my ear getting the best of me again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Corinthians 3:18

New International Version (NIV)
18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Santos' Stipulation for Sutay's Release, Stendal's Solution to FARC's Subversion

So the word on the street is that Sutay might soon be released with the help of political activist Jesse Jackson*, but apparently Colombian president Santos remains firm on the stipulation that Kevin Scott Sutay's handover will not turn into a "media spectacle"*

I understand where Santos is coming from, and I have doctrinal and practical reasons not to like the FARC's selection of Jesse Jackson as Sutay's mediator (click here to read an alarming evaluation of some of Jackson's teachings and practices), but I do hope for Sutay's imminent liberation.

Since I wrote my last blog entry about Sutay, this whole situation is just getting weirder and weirder; and I honestly think that in light of it all, I'm just starting to really appreciate and admire a different type of "media production" which is based on a true story, and - contrary to all the political mumbo jumbo that seems to be going on in Havana - this film actually gives a truly uplifting and encouraging real-life example of an amazing instance of reconciliation that took place on one beautiful day in the midst of Colombia's ongoing ugly years of internal war...

Based off of Russell Stendal's unconventional ministry with guerrillas, paramilitaries, and soldiers; the film La Montaña* shows how even the worst of enemies, through a powerful work of God, can be reconciled towards one another as they sit down together and honestly share their covered-up agonizing wounds from the past, and start looking to God for answers.

Written and directed by Russell's 2 daughters Lisa and Alethia, this professional quality independent film has served as a greater tool for me in evangelism than any other book or tract, and its awesome soundtrack with its original song composed with the word for word verses from Psalms 139 is like the greatest inspirational music to do push-ups and sit-ups with ever! haha.

As the world may keep their eyes pealed for any upcoming "media spectacle" (or avoidance thereof) of Sutay's release, I really hope that whoever may be reading this blog right now - that you would also be able to find a way to turn your eyes on to this far better "media production" which actually brings with it an incredibly inspirational message of hope for change.

*For more information concerning the movie La Montaña* please visit this website: http://www.lamontana.us/

--------------------------

Works Cited:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/302274-kevin-scott-sutay-release-of-kidnapped-former-marine-is-imminent/
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/reverend-jesse-jackson-to-mediate-for-us-captive-in-colombia-425161
http://www.calvaryroadbaptist.org/sermons/00-05/sermon__jesse_jackson.htm
Pictures Cited:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24319772
http://www.farc-ep.co/
http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-12955722.html
http://www.lamontana.us/