29 December 2012

A Wheelchair, a Cross, and the Glory of God - By Tony Miano

From Cross Encounters



Richard Story grew up in Southern Alabama. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. Until he was 15 he was raised by his mother and grandmother. His grandmother was the greatest influence in his early years. She was a very godly woman who read her Bible daily. She would give Richard his first Bible, which he has to this day.

During his latter teen years, as so many young men do, Richard was captivated by the world. All the while he held on to the false perception that he was a good person. He went to church, but not to worship. He treated church as if it were a night club -- a place to pick up girls. It was during this time in his life that he prayed a prayer and walked down the aisle of the church. He thought this made him a Christian, but there was no appreciable change in his life. Frustrated, over the next several years he would "pray the prayer" several more times, hoping each time it would stick.

Richard graduated with honors from a small, rural high school. His chosen career path kept him in the Southeast, but he moved frequently. He worked in the energy management industry, which encompassed a number of different fields. He even spent some time in Antarctica.

Richard lacked contentment. The job was never good enough. The pay was never high enough. He always wanted more. He wanted to be the best at whatever he did and to earn more money than anyone else doing it. To him, contentment was a sign of weakness. God would soon strip him of his spiritual facade and his self-reliance.

A Life-Altering Drive

One day in 2006, Richard, who was working away from home, was driving his pickup truck, which was pulling a trailer. Suddenly, one of the tires had a blowout. As Richard slowly tried to maneuver the truck and trailer to the side of the road, another vehicle collided with the trailer. The vehicle that struck Richard's trailer was traveling at an estimated 70 miles per hour.

Read the rest of this incredible and God glorifying story HERE

26 December 2012

"Genius" The Movie -



Los Angeles, CA. "Genius" is a new and chilling movie based on the life and tragic murder of John Lennon. The Producer of the Los Angeles-based film company, Ray Comfort, said, "It's chilling because it reveals what people will do for money. There are ordinary people out there who would kill you. All they need is the right amount of money and the belief that they won't get caught."

Just before he was murdered, John Lennon told Playboy magazine that he didn't want to die at 40. Ironically the famous singer was gunned down at the age of 40 by a man who killed him just because he wanted to become famous.

Comfort said, "Many think that John Lennon was a musical genius. His music has crossed cultures and even generations--the Beatles have sold more than 2,303,500,000 record albums, and in June of 2012 they hit number one on iTunes. They are as big now as they ever were and they're half dead--with the tragic loss of Lennon and Harrison."

Ken Mansfield, the former U.S. Manager for Apple Records said, "Genius will open your eyes." Other reviewers have called it "fast-paced, thought-provoking and compelling." It is being promoted as "33 minutes that will rock your soul." Comfort's last movie "180" received more than 3.7 million views on YouTube and aired on television around the world. "Genius" has been released for free viewing on www.GeniusTheMovie.com to coincide with the December 8th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.

Comfort added, "Abraham Lincoln said, 'Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored.' That's what John Lennon did. He pushed the musical envelope of creativity."

The Genius trailer: http://youtu.be/ZW2lhWfa28g
Pictured: Each of these people freely admitted that they would murder for money.
Interviews or questions: aalvarado@livingwaters.com

21 December 2012

Vernon Costolo and 100 Days with the Cross!

"It is only fitting that the last 100 days I spent with the cross would be the 100th post on my blog. The 100 days out with the cross was a result of being inspired by my friend and dear brother Paul Latour of The Word Street Journal during Mission Ottawa 2012. He took his cross out on multiple days during his vacation. That inspired me to challenge myself to go at out on the streets for at least an hour a day for 100 days. (Unless there were hurricane force winds :-) )This is a brief synopsis of my last 100 days with the cross."

So begins a re-cap of the 100 days my brother in the Lord, Vernon Costolo, writes about his cross-walking adventures on his blog "Proclaiming the Truth".

I first "met" Vernon via his blog while he was still living in West Virginia and was blown away by his boldness and faithfulness to take the gospel to the lost. About a year and a half ago, Vernon re-located to Georgia and whether he is open-air preaching, handing out tracts, having one-to-one conversations or standing alone on a corner with a cross, Vernon's boldness is unmatched in the north Georgia area.

I have been blessed many, many times to go along side Vernon and share in what God is doing through him. I am very thankful and blessed that I have been given the privilege to know him, labor with him and witness first hand how God is blessing this man.

I love this brother!

Please take a few minutes and read the rest of his post on the last 100 days he has been out with his "Are You Ready" cross -

















20 December 2012

Wretched: Be silent when you talk.

Can we "live" the gospel and lead others to Christ....or, do we actually and specifically have to communicate the gospel to the lost?

Please watch this 3-minute video -

 

19 December 2012