BEARRIE BIDNESS
1. Jace got married! Alot of us went to the sealing up in Logan. It was a cool experience and the reception was a lot of fun. The rap had seen better days but we're working on that.
2. Charlie is engaged! Dang son... the kid is in the military too so nobody has talked to him except his fiance, Sammy. We're getting details from her. P.S. She is planning this wedding pretty much alone and right now its scheduled for Dec. 27th in Sacramento. She is really busy and could use a lot of help so if you know a guy who knows a guy about weddings post it on here and we'll put you two in contact. Also, she is trying to get a flight down to Georgia for Barles' army graduation. We're trying to put together a fund to help out and pay for a flight or maybe organize a road trip? She's dirt poor and could use some help to make the trip. It would make the world for her. So comment with any ideas.
3. Cees and I are working waffles nowadays. Its sick! Come grab a liege at Bruges waffles!
4. Also, I made a blog for my family and anyone interested. Check it out at zachholub.blogspot.com
good enough for now...
DEVO
So a Sunday or two ago, I was watching some videos on youtube and came across this gem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA1SCqp9hO0
Its kind of a doozie at 25 minutes long but it makes a great Sunday movie to watch after church. Its about a guy named Stypulkowski. He is a member of the Polish underground resistance movement during WWII. After being lured into capture he faced crazy mind torture to get him to confess. Here's a summary I liked that I found on another website:
Prior to the trial, guards rigorously interrogated the men, attempting to break them mentally, emotionally, and spiritually--to destroy their integrity--so they would confess to anything demanded of them. Fifteen of the 16 men broke under the grueling pressure. Only Stypulkowski held out. He endured 69 nights of brutal questioning in a series of 141 interrogations. At one point even his interrogator had a mental breakdown and had to be replaced. Relentlessly his tormentors examined everything he had done, or hadn't done, to find anything that could be used against him. They found plenty of dirt--Stypulkowski was no saint--but they were unable to extract a confession for the crimes of which he was being accused.
Starved, sleep-deprived, and in constant terror, Stypulkowski resisted even in the face of the signed confessions of his best friends blaming him for their trouble. His torturers told him his case was hopeless and as good as closed. They advised him to plead guilty so they could lessen his sentence; otherwise, he could expect certain death. But Stypulkowski continued refusing to make the full confession they wanted. He confidently stated that he had not been a traitor and could not confess to something which was not true. Throughout all these horrors he kept his Christian faith vital by regular prayer. He subordinated every other loyalty to his loyalty to Christ. Most impressive of all was the completely natural way that he witnessed about his faith.
At his trial he pled "not guilty," expecting to pay for the rebellion with his life. However, mainly because of the western observers who attended the trial, the Russians reluctantly dropped the charges against Stypulkowski and he was freed.
Starved, sleep-deprived, and in constant terror, Stypulkowski resisted even in the face of the signed confessions of his best friends blaming him for their trouble. His torturers told him his case was hopeless and as good as closed. They advised him to plead guilty so they could lessen his sentence; otherwise, he could expect certain death. But Stypulkowski continued refusing to make the full confession they wanted. He confidently stated that he had not been a traitor and could not confess to something which was not true. Throughout all these horrors he kept his Christian faith vital by regular prayer. He subordinated every other loyalty to his loyalty to Christ. Most impressive of all was the completely natural way that he witnessed about his faith.
At his trial he pled "not guilty," expecting to pay for the rebellion with his life. However, mainly because of the western observers who attended the trial, the Russians reluctantly dropped the charges against Stypulkowski and he was freed.
I really think that Stypulkowski is a stud. What a man to push through that! He made the guy go crazy who was trying to make him go crazy! The incredible faith and perseverance of Stypulkowski in this situation was very inspiring for me. No matter what happened he held on to the truth. He persevered through some rough situations and, with patience, maintained his faith. I was reminded of this scripture:
"2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever" (Jacob 3:2).
I believe that being strong in mind is a very important attribute to becoming a true disciple of Christ. Sometimes, the Lord needs us to be warriors in the way Stypulkowski was, to take a stand and stay true to what you know, and to not let others around you, or circumstances, or emotions, or any other thing cause you to throw in the towel. We have to be focused and concentrated on our purpose. We have to have strong minds about the gospel like Stypulkowski had about his sentence. This was a really good reminder for me to be an unwavering disciple, to not slip back in my obedience and to have unshaken faith in Christ. I know that if we seek to be disciples of Christ like that and always stand up for the truth, we will find happiness and joy in our lives. Its the right thing to do because the gospel is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
What a boss. I want to be TOUGH IN THE BRAINS like this guy.
ReplyDeleteHey! Does she still need money for a flight?
ReplyDelete