My life

My name is John Murray. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 22 1964 and raised the small town of Chalmette for most of my life. (Chalmette is 2 miles east of New Orleans.)

I was brought up in the Catholic faith and became a born-again Christian in 1985 when I was 20 years old. I’ve had plenty of struggles and trials so let me share a few with you.

By the time I was 17 years old, both of my parents have died. I felt alone even though I have stayed with relatives. Eventually, I found employment and moved out on my own by the time I turned 19 years old.

I’ve had some physical challenges including a lifelong weight problem that resulted in rejection from relatives as well as my peers both believers and unbelievers. I felt as if friend and family continued to be taken away from me, first my parents and then everyone else. This weight problem eventually turned into a morbid obesity condition that almost ended my life at 36 years of age until I had stomach surgery in January of 2001 that helped me lose 300 lbs in 2 years.

In August of 2005, my hometown of Chalmette, Louisiana was destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I lost many material possessions including my family’s home, car, other belongings as well as a few people I knew well. My fiancé and I stayed at a friend’s house in Alexandria, Louisiana for 2 weeks and then we moved to her hometown of Portland, Oregon.

Emotionally, I suffered from severe depression. It was so bad that I was taking 80MG of Prozac every day until GOD healed me over 1 year ago. In 2009 things got worse, my fiancé & I broke up. I loved her and thought she loved me. Church was not her thing and I stopped going to church for over 5 years, I stayed away from fellowship with other Christians. Shortly after the break up I attempted suicide, but thankfully GOD spared my life.

And then to add one more thing to my troubles, I in May of 2010 I lost my job. Now what was I to do? After months of searching all over Portland for work and found nothing, I moved to Elk, Washington in July of 2010 to live with my sister. I worked part time job until it ended in November of 2010.

After much prayer, the Lord sent some people from the Spokane Dream Center Men’s Discipleship program my way and after much consideration, I began the program on December 29 2010.

The point of this testimony is to speak proudly of the fact that through all of the pain that was in my life, GOD had me in His hand and carried me through it all. GOD allows such trials to happen because He knows that as long as a believer is faithful, and trusts in GOD, that believer and the unbeliever(s) will see GOD move and be glorified as the ultimate source of comfort and strength throughout the good times as well as the bad.

This whole year has re-established my foundation of the faith that I once had in Christ Jesus. My faith is many times stronger than it ever was in my entire Christian walk. I believe that going through this one year discipleship program was worth the limited contact with the outside world so I may have a strong focus on Bible studies, Christian service work and learning to trust in Jesus all over again.

I am almost completed with the program and I am presently seeking full time employment and looking for direction wherever GOD may lead me.

I would like to personally thank my dear friend Barb Hollace for her encouragement and help in editing my testimony.

When all means fail

When all means fail
David Wilkerson's devotional from 4/27/2011
The day he went to be with the LORD

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).
Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.
Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.
That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”
Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”
Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.
To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”
Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

It's all about love.....

I wanted to share my favorite passage of scripture with you. As you may know; many ministers and ministries pride themselves on their divine gifts. Yet have no compassion in their hearts. This mindset has caused many faithful people to forsake going to church out of resentment. As believers of Jesus Christ we should love one another as well as the people that we minister to. this passage is a great example for us to remind ourselves of what is important.
1 Corinthians 13 (King James Version)
1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

CAJUN SUPER HEROES?

Remy LeBeau (AKA "GAMBIT") is the only Cajun super hero I know of (thank you Stan Lee of Marvel Comics). If you know of any other Cajun Hero or Heroes found in comic books, cartoons or any other media. Please let us know with your reply. This could be interesting....

Displaced New Orleanians

If you've been living outside of our hometown of the New Orleans, Louisiana area for whatever reason, no matter how long you have lived outside of our home sweet home called the "Big Easy". Tell us how your life has changed either good or bad. I would like to know how you are doing?