Happy Holy Ghost Birthday to ME!!

Some people believe that miracles were a thing of the past, but I know that they still happen on a daily basis. It was November 23, 2008 I was 19 at the time. It was the first time I had ever walked into an Apostolic church, and it felt completely different from anything that I had ever felt in my life. I didn't know that that service would completely change my life forever. I had been living a life of heartache and pain wondering around without purpose. I had tried everything, said the sinners prayer on a daily basis, and nothing helped me to change. My brother, his girlfriend (now wife), and my best friend and I were all sitting in a pew together. I remember looking around watching people worship and raise their hands. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. I turned to my brother and said "When can I get baptized?" He looked at me and smiled, "Courtney its worship service now just wait." Everyone had their eyes closed and they were worshipping! I knew if I didn't get baptized in that moment, it may never happen. So, I left the pew and walked down to the altar over to a preacher and said, "Excuse me, if you do not baptize me now, I will leave here the same way I came."  He jumped down from the platform walked me to the back where the baptismal was. I was so excited and nervous all at the same time, but I knew that I needed this. Finally, Kendra and Misha noticed I was not longer with them. Kendra turned to Brendan and said, "Wheres Courtney?" In that moment they opened the curtain to the baptismal, everyone turned and looked. My family and friends saw that I was being baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus. Finally, my sins were remitted and I was washed clean by the blood of the lamb. While worshipping at the altar I was filled with the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost. I had never felt cleaner nor had I ever felt lighter. After altar call we were walking out of the church and someone turned to me and said, "Courtney your pimples are gone, and your hair is laying perfectly." Now for some of you reading this, that is no big deal but for those of you who knew me then you know that I battled with painful cystic acne and well I have curly hair so enough said there. God showed me that night that nothing is impossible for Him.

As I sit here and write this post my heart is full! Knowing that 4 years ago God changed my life. I will never go back to the life that I had lived. Through all of my heart ache and trials nothing will ever convince me to not live for God. I can't believe its already been 4 years, but yet it feels so much longer.

The Rock Youth Group

Wow, What a powerful move of the Holy Ghost tonight.

Bro. Chris and Bro. Mike spoke and really,

Opened our eyes to what God has for us.

They helped me see that God has his hands stretched wide

Open for us to run into but yes

Some of us are choosing to be lost.

I believe that this year God has something great for our Youth.

The thing is that we must find a way to tap into it.

Coming from the world I see what it does to people,

I have seen many friends turn out way different from how we planned.

The world took them for a loop they never saw.

I pray that our young people see that there is,

nothing there for them.

That we belong to a great church where God has so much.

We have leadership that has given such example,

there is so much love we just have to choose.

Tonight I made a choice, I am staying with the Lord.

Come what may, if you ever think huh wheres Court,

Just remember, IM HERE TO STAY.

This may be so simplistic to some.

But you must look deeper, It takes deep revelation.

Like what Bro. Mike said, Its a relationship you have to work at.

I feel so blessed to serve a God who loves me.

Paper I wrote why I don't watch TV

So many of my friends and family received a text that I got an perfect score on the essay I wrote for english class. I want to remind everyone that I go to Sac State, not a Apostolic College. This is quite the testimony because I was worried my teacher would give me a bad grade...HAHA DEVIL. Anyways I hope you enjoy my paper!!

Thaler, Courtney

English 20

Prof. Hake

15 October 2010

The Stranger We have Welcomed in Our Homes

“How can you not watch television, is it because you don’t have money for cable?” As funny as that quote sounds it is a question that I am asked daily. Once you mention that you haven’t seen a show because you don’t watch TV, you begin to open the door for questions and justification. I am not writing this paper to convince you that you should not watch TV, but to inform you of why I have made this decision to not watch television myself. Before I begin giving reasons I want to set the record straight. I am not Amish, I have enough money to buy one (and pay for cable), and I also do not watch movies. This is a personal conviction; no one forced it upon me. I chose not to allow strangers in my home.

As children our parents drilled into our heads do not open the door to strangers, never get into a strangers car and most commonly never, ever, talk to a stranger. Parents are in a constant struggle to prevent their children from being influenced by a stranger doing something contrary to their beliefs. They want to prevent their children from being hurt by a stranger. But unbeknownst to them they are allowing a stranger into their home. When you allow a television into your home you are allowing strangers to influence your children. It is said that children soak -up everything they here and see, as they are watching television they are learning from people that parent’s do not know. On television whether they are watching a children’s channel or a regular channel they are being exposed to things that their parents do not want them to see. Whatever channel you turn to the media fills their minds with sex, drugs, violence and rebellion. No matter how hard parents try, if their children are watching TV they cannot shelter them from the inappropriate things. When I have children I do not want to expose them to the things that I am trying to shelter them from. I want to protect them from things that they do not need to see or hear as children, if I have chosen for my family to live a lifestyle that is different from what is being supported by the media I will make conscience effort to prevent them from taking that in daily.

“I will not look at anything wicked. I hate those who turn against you, they will not be found near me.” (Psalm 101:3). This scripture was written by David, who had an intense love for God, he choose to live for God. Many times as Christians we chose to take this at only face value without applying it to every aspects. As well, the Bible says that, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1Peter 2:23). Thus, this scripture is telling us that once we commit ourselves to God, we must “… Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16). We, consequently, have duties as being Christians to filter everything that we ‘digest’ in our ‘temples.’ The Bible calls us to mirror our lives and what we do in our lives, after Christ, everything on television is completely contrary to Christ. Many people claim to live by the Bible, but they choose to leave out many different scriptures or choose to interpret it in a way that is pleasing to their own flesh. In order to live a life that is set apart from this world we must not indulge in the things of the world. I feel if I love God I should love the things of God and things that please God. Thus, I chose not to partake in watching the sin that is constantly thrown at us through the television. If we are called out of sin and commanded not to partake in sin, why do people that are Christian enjoy watching people sin on TV?

Though there are many religious reasons of why I do not partake in watching TV, there are many educational and simple reasons. Sadly, enough this stranger that has crept into to our home has begun to take over. Children spend more time in front of the television than they do with their own family. The television has become many parent’s first choice for babysitter and even become a parent in itself. “Therefore children learn moral principles from the television, where by the age of 16 they observe 100,000 violent acts and 33,000 murders.” Many wonder why our society has become violent or the rate of murder is on the rise, well the reason lies in that box American’s have placed in their living room. The health of American children is at risk, the rate of childhood obesity is on the rise and what are doctors saying that one of the main causes is, television. “United States are spending more than 25% of their waking hours in front of the television set.” If we were to factor in eating (which many do in front of the TV), sleep, and going to school, there isn’t much time left to go outside and exercise, especially with the cut in physical education. I know that many do not agree with my stance and quite frankly, think that I over react with not watching any sort of TV. This decision has so many different levels and accompanied by much research, that I must stand by what I feel. Television may have a few good things on it but the underlying affect will constantly be negative. I refuse to allow some stranger to influence my family and I, and what we believe.

Here is the Poem I used for my essay...

Stranger In Our Home

Unknown

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... not from our friends, any visitors or us. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... and NEVER asked to leave. More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?

We just call him, "TV."