So tell me, how did you do it?

"Wow..is this...no way! How did he change like that? بيلعب ايه رياضة عشان يتغير كدة؟ olli ya captain..eih elli khalak keda..T25 p90x instanity..gym we khalas..oh, that Trainer..i know him..ok i ll talk to him!..thanks for telling me ya man!"
"Just a minute...are you telling me that this lady there lost all that weight and became what we see now...esta7ala..i really need to know the secret!!! Hi ezayek..sou2al..meen doctor el Regime beta3ek..momken nemreto..Wow thanks..i ll call tomorrow to book an appointment!"

Nothing speaks louder than results! We all look around us and keep asking for referrals when we see outstanding results. We as human beings love the comfort of asking and getting to know the experience others went through and proved successful (and we invented this..3ala ra2y el masal es2al megarrab wala tes2alsh tabib!).. Ask anyone using Booking dot com check on a certain hotel reviews and experiences of travelers who have been there before booking that hotel..or anyone reading reviews of a movie before watching it! And lately the revival of health awareness made all men seek the most effective sports and women seek the breakthrough in nutrition. In a way, these people are walking examples of successful change. Thank God for our social interests of sharing the "recipe of our success". personally, i do promote whatever brought the positive result i experience..if Running changed my fitness, i would simply tell you to put on your shoes, open the door and Run if you want to be fit..because i know what it did to me!

Do you know that this curiosity and need for referral was there as well 2000 years ago! Saint Peter told the believers that accepting the Lord in these days will bring them change..will bring them hope..and peace despite all the persecution and fight they will go through..despite their hard times..he told them that this world's fear wont reach them..wont impact them..and asked them TO ANSWER ALL who ask about the change they went through..about refer them to the ONE who made them the new Hopeful persons they are..

بل قَدِّسوا الرَّبَّ الإلهَ في قُلوبكُمْ، مُستَعِدّينَ دائمًا لمُجاوَبَةِ كُلِّ مَنْ يَسألُكُمْ عن سبَبِ الرَّجاءِ الّذي فيكُم، بوَداعَةٍ وخَوْفٍ، (بُطرُسَ الأولَى 3:15 AVDDV)

But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. (1 Peter 3:15 ERV)

In this unstable world, specially in our beloved county these days, will people come ask you how are you keeping your peace? Will you be ready to share this great love you receive from above and tell them why you have no fear when even you walk in the valley of the shadow of death?

Will your faith be a referral to Him? I am sure you can..just ask and you will be given!

Hola, hablo español

"Vamos a la playa...يلا نروح البلاج" was probably the most complex sentence I could say in spanish:-) and suddenly i had to move my life to Madrid where only with one sentence, I wont go anywhere (!ثم مدريد ما فيهاش بحر اساساً). I started studying Spanish..since we are not in Amsterdam anymore where 105% of the population speaks English..in Spain..it is Spanish..even in every single moment at work! Friends, i can confirm that statement..Language is Practicing! Learning the verbs, studying the vocab, listening to the radio/tv wont get you any where if you dont practice it and put it to action!

I want to share with you an observation, Leila and Farida after 3 years in Amsterdam school, they went out with almost zero dutch words..their entourage didnt require it..almost all kids were french! BUT here in a school where 90% of the kids are Spanish..they had to face the tough moments in their playground الفسحة when all their surrounding was only interacting and playing in Spanish..was very tough change...but they had a choice..either practice their languange, face their world and blend in..or decide to keep their spanish only for the classroom and get broken, hopeless facing their outside real world (being their playground). Thank God they decided to put their learning to action!

Same is our faith, we can not just decide to read about it, or know about it, have someone read it to us, keep it for church time only...if we want to live a strong faith and have flexy spiritual muscles..we have to train and train hard..accept the tests you go through as training field, go out and practice what you believe is your faith..and most of all, speak about it, live it, talk it, sing it...Bring it to life..Make it a Life!

St. Paul wrote it perfectly in his letter to Philippeans (فيلبي)..Even him with all the spiritual strength he owned..he knew what training meant for his faith..

ليس أنّي أقولُ مِنْ جِهَةِ احتياجٍ، فإنّي قد تعَلَّمتُ أنْ أكونَ مُكتَفيًا بما أنا فيهِ. أعرِفُ أنْ أتَّضِعَ وأعرِفُ أيضًا أنْ أستَفضِلَ. في كُلِّ شَيءٍ وفي جميعِ الأشياءِ قد تدَرَّبتُ أنْ أشبَعَ وأنْ أجوعَ، وأنْ أستَفضِلَ وأنْ أنقُصَ. (فيلِبّي 4:11, 12)

And guess what..these verses come just before the famous verse of "i can do all things through Christ who strengthen me"..so throughout our training..we do have a great Coach!

Dear God, I thank you that you asked us to go out to the world and live our faith, thank you for being our strength and for the Holy Spirit that guides us daily..to put a faith in action. Amen.

Friends, may i ask you to pray for my aunt who is, in this moment, going through a critical operation..she as well as us are thrown in the training field. Your Cheers "prayers" will help us through it.