So amazing

My girlfriend Kathy Freeman is so amazing! She left Lancaster for Chicago three years ago, she struck out on her own to leave a bad situation behind. She has become independent; she is a strong and courageous woman that is able to put her fears behind her and work for what she wants. It is such a blessing for me to have someone like Kathy by my side because I can look to her in times of trouble for encouragement and support.

What inspired me to write this blog now? Well...she's about to start her own business! I am so excited for her, I can't wait to see God just bless her socks off with this new endeavor. I know that she will be an upright, godly businesswoman and that God will bless her efforts. Kathy Freeman is a Proverbs 31 woman: noble, kind, caring, works with eager hands and a natural leader. Proverbs 31:30b tells us that a woman like Kathy is to be praised, so I'm letting the world know that I'm blessed to know her and I'm letting Kathy know that I'm here for her in good times and bad.

Integrity in Academics Update

Friends,

There have been many questions relating to what we're trying to do. Integrity in Academics is working to get a brief video into our junior high classrooms explaining one of the scientific challenges to Darwin's theory of evolution. Integrity in Academics is not a religious organization, nor are we anti-evolution: we want to improve the way evolution is taught in our local schools. You can learn more at our web site, http://www.integrityinacademics.com

Our proposed policy at the Lancaster School District has been delegated to Dr. Sundberg, the Director of Education Services, for his approval. We need to show some community support and encourage Dr Sundberg to give his approval to our policy. Please do not harass Dr Sundberg, one email per person will be plenty to get the message across. Dr Sundberg's email is:
sundbergh@do.lancaster.k12.ca.us

Thank you for your continued support, and do not hesitate to email me with questions.


Regards,


Alex Branning
alex@integrityinacademics.com

Kathy Freeman

When I talk to Kathy I throw out the phrase "You're Amazing" a lot - I wanted to expand a little bit on that:

She's gorgeous
She's funny
She's godly
She has a great heart
She has a loveable personality
She's smart (*cough* nerd! *cough*)
She's a leader
She is independent - she doesn't need me or anyone else; and that's so cool!
She's caring
She rocks my world

I just sum all that up with "You're Amazing."

A martyr's faith...

I went to church this weekend expecting to be taught - instead I was stunned. There was a young woman getting baptized named Allam, a seventeen-year old foreign exchange from Tunisia. Tunisia is a Muslim country. Allam knows that when she returns to her family in May, she will at least be ostracized from her family, and it is very likely she will be sexually assaulted and killed for her conversion. In other words, she converted to Christianity knowing full well it means near-certain death. She was smiling as she was telling us this, and said that not only was she returning to her home country, she was going to spread the gospel as much as she can when she returns. She knows that returning to Tunisia will result in her losing her family, any hopes of a prosperous future and most likely her life. She has a martyr's faith.

Needless to say, this got me thinking: do I have that kind of faith? Do I have that level of commitment to my Savior? He died for me, am I willing to die for Him? My initial reaction is a strong "Of course I am! Bring it on!" but upon further soul-searching I realized that I am holding myself back. My selfish desires tell me that suffering for my faith is counter-productive, how can I serve Christ in jail or dead? The answer is obvious and we see it throughout Scripture: the Christian message gets louder once the martyr goes to the grave. It's not about me, it's about the Message I'm preaching.