It's easy to open up the newspaper each day and think that God is silent. Take a quick glance at the world and you immediately feel like something is wrong. Most people would wonder where is God in this world? Why isn't He doing more? Why can't any of us see Him?

I've come to the conclusion that if God is silent, it is because His followers are silent. How can we expect the world to recognize the presence of God when we ourselves live like He doesn't exist? It's in our actions. It's in our attitude. It's in our speech. God is manifested through His people and I can personally say I myself have been too silent.

So it's no wonder the world can't accept God. The only way God will become tangible to the world is if the body of Christ starts living the kingdom of God, starts living in love, patience, faith.

God has revealed Himself to those who were willing to listen. He has set the mission. It's up to us now to be His hands and feet.

Such a simple concept but I'll probably be spending the rest of my life figuring it out. This isn't about religion, politics, rules, or guidelines. This is about how I live. Do I love?

This song is for you.

Hillsong United - You Hold Me Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx2-Inc8TkA

This is a tribute.

For anyone who has ever had a bad day. A day where they had to stay in bed due to sickness. A day of illness. A day where they learned their best friend has died. A day where the tears flowed unceasingly with no end in sight. A day full of pain and sorrow. A day where someone told you had weeks to live. A day of disappointment. For anyone who has ever had a reason to frown, a reason not to smile. For those with aching hearts. For those with broken dreams. For those with nothing to call their own. For those who have lost the world. For those who have hit rock bottom.

One of the great things about being a Christian is I have this hope that there'll be a day when my life will be flooded with joy and happiness. I know one day I'll smile with my heart and I won't be able to stop it. I know one day I'll never be sick. I won't be underweight. I won't be out of shape. Not that any of that will matter to anyone then. I know one day any sadness remaining in my heart will be replaced with love. The bandages I've placed on my heart will fall away as I'm given a new heart perfectly filled to the brim with love.

Until that day, I have this song to remind me of what I've living for.

Here are the lyrics.

Hillsong United - You Hold Me Now

On that day when I see
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face
There surrounded by Your grace

All my fears swept away
In the light of your embrace
Where Your love is all I need
And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold
In Your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

In this life I will stand
Through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day
There's a hope that never fails

Where Your name is lifted high
And forever praises rise
For the glory of Your Name
I'm believing for the day

Where the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

I purchased a Blackberry Bold with two year agreement!!

So at my new job the company pays for my cell phone service. This means I can finally have mobile access to the internet! Truth be told, I've had a Blackberry phone for months now, but no data plan. A Blackberry with no data plan is like a man who has had a vasectomy; no potency. (NOTE: But that doesn't make him less of a man!!!!) It was very anti climatic every morning waking up and realizing I had an internet phone with no internet.

So with free cell phone service, I needed to get a killer 3g phone! Yes the iPhone came to mind. But I despise Apple products. (Not because Apple sucks. They make excellent, solid, and trendy products. But they also somehow managed to cultivate a user base that partially consists of really snobby wannabe tech geeks that think they're better than everyone else because they own an Apple product. BAH!) But a more objective reason for not getting an iPhone is that the whole purpose of my getting a phone was that I had access to corporate email. And mobile email is synonymous with Blackberry. So hmm what is like an iPhone, but not... ah the Blackberry Storm. I went and tested that phone out. It's a beautiful phone but typing on that phone is the opposite of what typing on a Blackberry should be: Fast.

It seems so simple now that I write it down but I was torn between the Storm and the Bold for weeks! I thought that only Verizon Wireless, which carries the Storm, was the only carrier that included voice-navigation-gps features and the ability to use your phone as a modem so you could get internet anywhere you get a signal. But then I learned the Bold can do both of that. But then Verizon Wireless has the largest 3g network in the nation. But the Bold doesn't suck at typing.

So anyway I ordered the Bold today. Please congratulate me with 2 eprops or a free gift on facebook.