Heart of Flesh

My heart is broken again tonight. 

Over the past two days, two men have been shot and killed by the police. Tonight, 4 officers were killed at a protest. I don't have adequate words to convey what's in my heart, or in my head. But I feel the weight of the past few days. 

More lives cut short. More death. 

Love is wrecking my life recently. And it’s a good thing. Opening my eyes beyond my ideals. Not shaking my convictions of right and wrong, but challenging my (at times) tunnel vision. It's easy to dehumanize these situations when we want to dig in our heels for our ideals. And sometimes, it's easier to ignore the problems than address them. And in so doing, we often forget that there are people on the other side of every story. People with families, and places they belonged. We’ve forgotten our humanity, it seems. 

Lives are being taken, right and left, all the time. 

I believe it so grieves the heart of God when the lives of his children are taken. He wrote our stories, you see. From beginning to end, every day was written out. Long before we born. He knows the whole story. He cares about the whole story. 

I pray we find our humanity again. Remember that no matter the circumstance, it’s about PEOPLE. Life is about PEOPLE. Eternity will be full of PEOPLE. We’re all the same, you know. 

We come from different families, with different values. Sure, we have different skin color, maybe even different sexual orientations. 

But when you strip away all the labels, we’re all the same. We’re people. With breath in our lungs and dreams in our hearts. With purposes and destinies to fulfill. 

It’s not about sides. We’re are one side. We’re human. 

Ezekiel 36:26

“I will give you a new heart and a new spirit; I will remove your heart of stone and restore your heart of flesh.” 

Oh God, take our hearts of stone and restore our hearts of flesh! That our hearts would beat for one another again. Let us leave our differences on the ground and weep with our brother. 

Let our hearts beat for one another again. 

Great Britain

I wish someone could tell the beautiful young people in Great Britain to have courage. 

It's funny, I read the result of the vote, and I listened to your government members make their statements and share their reactions. But all I could think was, how are the people? Are you ok? How are you taking the news? 

And I've seen your heartbreak. It fills my social media feeds. I've read your comments, and posts, as you candidly share your thoughts and disbelief. I don't know why my heart goes out to you. Or why I can't stop thinking about you. There is something aching in my heart for you. 

I have to tell you, I so believe in you, and in your country. You are intelligent, capable people. You can do this.

I know I'm just an American. And you can say it's none of my business. I just wish that in your passionate quest for freedom and future that you could see this with an open mind.

I wish you could see the possibilities, not the limitations.

I wish you could see the hope, not the disappointment.

I wish you could see a bright future, not a broken one.

I wish you could see the excitement, not the devastation.

I wish you could see courage, not fear.
I wish you could see a beginning, not an end.

Forgive me, I see things different than most. I see the world in endless possibility. And the warrior in my spirit will always fight for freedom to make my own choices, not to have them decided for me. 

I know it's scary, the future you see now. And my heart aches for you.

I know what it is to be in a country with a broken political system, as you may well know. 

I hope you can be encouraged. You've never seen a Great Britain without the EU. It's entirely possible you'll be an even Greater Britain now.

Instead of rules decided for you, you can help make the rules. You can determine who you are. And that's infinitely exciting.

I've been to your country. I've sat in your pubs and looked out at the rain with you. I spoken to you on street corners and in shops. We shared ideas on politics and world issues. You welcomed me into your country, into your city, with smiles. You're wonderful people. Beautiful people.

I don't believe for a second you'll be limited by this referendum. I believe this is a catalyst to a greater future than you can imagine.

Either way, whatever you choose, I love you. 

And I'll pray.

-your American friend

Orlando

We have different view points. We might not vote the same way, or love the same things. We have different personalities. We're passionate about different things. You're good at one thing, I'm good at something else. You might believe one thing, I believe something else. We have different jobs, in different cities. Our skin are different colors. We have different families.You might have brothers, I have a sister. 
Maybe you like cats, I like dogs. Maybe you like blue, I like green. Maybe your hair is brown, mine is red.
You live in Orlando, and I live in Tucson.
But you laugh, and so do I.
You cry, and so do I.
You get hurt, and so do I.
You feel pain, and so do I.
You love, and so do I.
You have a purpose, and so do I.
We're different, but we're the same.
I believe we're made and loved by the same Person. You might not, and that's ok. That's not the point.
We're different but the same.

I can't accept what happened last night in your city. To your friends, your family. To you.
It doesn't matter where it happened. Because no matter where it happened, the victims are PEOPLE.
People who laugh and cry and think and dream. People who have a purpose, a calling, and an eternal destiny. People who ARE LOVED by the Eternal Father.
People who matter.

Sorry isn't enough. There's not a word big enough. I can't seem to describe what's in my heart.
But it's broken with you. I wish I could be there. I would hold your hand. I would hug you or cry with you. Or just sit in silence with you because there's probably nothing to say.

I am praying for you.
I don't know your names or your ages. I don't know your personality type or what you do for a living.
It doesn't matter.
We're people.
We're different, but the same.
And I love you.

Stand Firm

We’re in an interesting place in the world. Every day more news stories come screaming into my line of vision and surprise me. Not because they should, but because sometimes I just can’t believe my eyes. For the record, I’ve read the Bible, cover to cover, and am quite certain that God is not surprised by current events. In fact, I would be willing to say he’s seen it before. 

I was reading a book recently, written by a pastor I know. It's a book dealing with the issue of homosexuality. In our current social climate, you can understand why this is a big deal. Anyway, he made a statement, just a simple phrase in regards to our response. He said, “You must stand firm.” 

Instantly I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit. This phrase was important. 

As followers of Jesus, we’re familiar with the concept of “standing firm” from Ephesians 6. Often I think we view this in the context of a spiritual assault, in which we’re standing firm against deception, discouragement or weariness; some kind of physical attack of the enemy. To be clear, I don’t believe this context is incorrect. 

But the Lord really wanted me to understand something here, a fresh insight, as it were. 

I was reminded how in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3 the very first scheme of the serpent was to create doubt in Eve’s mind. Doubt about what God said, about God’s intentions. We must note that this is a CHIEF strategy of the enemy. 

Think about the encounters you’ve had with God. Have you experienced doubt later? You think to yourself, “maybe I just imagined God said that. Maybe I made it up. Maybe it was just me.” It’s more common than we like to admit. But we need to recognize that this is the strategy of the enemy. He loves to get us to doubt God. In fact he NEEDS us to doubt God, because this creates an opening that shouldn't be there. A vulnerability that shouldn't exist. Doubt is a slippery slope. The more you doubt, the easier it becomes to not truly believe that God is who he says he is, that he’ll do what he said he will do, that you are who He says you are, and that (uh oh) sin is what He says it is. We should also note that doubt is rarely an OVERT assault. But rather a subtle, or COVERT assault. Meaning, we're often quick to dismiss thoughts and ideas that we should examine and "take captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Then I started thinking about the major issues bombarding us as Jesus-followers and the Church as a whole. 

Again, the chief strategy is doubt. There are major concerns for us here because when we doubt the validity of God’s word; we are opening the door to deception. This is serious business, because deception gives birth to death. 

I read through Ephesians 6:10-18, and in verse 11 pops up that phrase “stand firm.” 

It’s such a simple insight. 

First: Our battle is not against flesh and blood. It’s not people we’re struggling against (although sometimes it's hard to tell the difference), but against powers and principalities in the heavenly places. We need to recognize that we are in a spiritual war. Constantly. Sometimes it's like we think that spiritual warfare only happens when we engage in it. This is not so. It wages around us, whether we engage or not. I would like to submit to you that there are no pacifists in the Kingdom of God. There is no room (or Biblical foundation that I've ever found) for us as real disciples of Jesus to sit back and not engage in the warfare that surrounds us. I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 8:36: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.” We have brothers and sisters at war- and there is a place on the line for each of us. There is a constant battle surrounding us and we need to be equipped, seasoned in the Word and obedient to do what it says. 

Second: In light of this spiritual battle, we need to recognize the strategy of the enemy. I am astonished at the amount of believers that are molding and adapting the Holy Word of God to fit with what society says is acceptable. We have generations growing up who are standing on a crumbling foundation because we aren’t familiar enough with the word of God, and more importantly, aren’t willing to STAND FIRM upon it. 

Ultimately, what I really felt like the Holy Spirit was saying to me, is that our stance in ANY spiritual battle, is to STAND FIRM. 

This isn't just about standing firm in the storm and hoping we somehow make it through. It's much more significant. It means we don't waver in our Biblical stance. There will be other believers who tell us our theology is incorrect, that we've misinterpreted scripture, that we’re too harsh, that we can’t judge, that we should only love, that we’re under grace not law…the list goes on and on and on. 

Our role is to be Biblically correct, not socially charismatic. Can you be both? Sure. Maybe for a season. But eventually one will demand allegiance. Something about not serving two masters, I think... But I'll leave that to your discernment. Too real, maybe? Oh well. I believe in radical faith. Actually, I don't think it's radical. I think serving Jesus is an all or nothing kind of deal. It's not radical. It's just how it is. 

So Believers: Know the Word. You cannot hope to STAND FIRM if you don’t read the Bible, if you aren’t in His presence daily, in HIs word daily, in prayer daily. 

The assault of the enemy will come against what you believe, what you profess, what you know to be the TRUTH. It will come in the form of little compromises (“Did God really say…?"). It will come in the form of people who say they believe what you believe. People who attend your church, your school, people you work with. Friends. Maybe even people you look up to. 

All of this can sound quite discouraging. But as I’m writing this, I’m reminded of what David said in Psalms 119:9: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” ESV. 

We often equate this scripture with sexual purity. It absolutely applies. But purity is much deeper than just our sexuality. Purity needs to permeate our lives. It should be a defining quality for us who love God. The Lord stated in Leviticus: “Be holy, as I am holy.” He IS purity. But I digress. 

I want to highlight to 2 keys in this Psalm 119:9 scripture. The word “guard” is a big one. It implies that it’s intentional, active and not at all accidental or by happenstance. Be diligent in your guard. 

The second one is “according to your word.” No need for deep exegesis here. You can’t guard your path according to a word you don’t know or read. It’s simple. Know the word of God, read it, study it, meditate on it, obey it, and guard your life with it. 

This is how we STAND FIRM. 

Conversations In Heaven

What did God say about the cross? Was there a conversation in heaven?

A long time ago...long before the day came. Maybe they stood in heaven, looking out over the universe they'd made. I imagine a quiet moment between Father and Son contemplating all that was to come, like the breath before the plunge.

Jesus knew, of that I’m sure. But I can't help but wonder what the Father said to his Son.
Maybe it was simple. No need for a conversation because Jesus already knew. Maybe Jesus put his hand on his Father's shoulder and simply reassured his Father, “Don’t worry Dad. I’ll do it.” And God just nodded and looked proudly at his Son. 

Or maybe God thought out loud about his plan. Posing all the big questions, all the concerns. Vocalizing all the pieces of the plan, just to make sure they both understood. Which Jesus knew of course, but he listened anyway. 

I like to think God simply said, “You know what we have to do.” And Jesus simply nodded and humbly said, “I’ll do it.” 

And then they lapse into comfortable silence, looking out over the humanity they love. 

2016: Great Expectations

I have high expectations of the year ahead. I’m not talking about resolutions. I don’t care much for resolutions. I’m inclined to think they’re silly. If you want to make a change, just do it. You don’t need a new year to change things, you just need a decision. 

But I digress. 

I’m in the home stretch to my thirties, and I fully expect my thirties to blow my twenties out of the water. All this time has been prep. I expect to cross that threshold. And things are gonna change. 

I expect my thirties to realize some major things. Sorry, let's not get ahead of ourselves. 

I have some specific expectations for 2016. 

I expect to have more confidence in 2016. I expect to be more self-assured in 2016. I’m disinclined to live by other people’s opinions anyway, but I expect 2016 to be a turning point. This might not make sense, but I expect to have a surer footing in 2016. A stronger foundation. I even believe that 2016 is a launch pad for all the dreams and purpose I’ve been longing for. I expect that 2016 will be a year of intimacy with the Lord. A closeness like never before. I expect that 2016 will be a year of revelation. Which only makes sense. Intimacy breeds revelation. 

I expect 2016 will answer questions; a lot of questions. 

Ultimately, I expect 2016 to be a good year, full of obedience and new challenges. 

It's time to start rehearsing these words. 
Get a mark on the target so I know what I'm aiming for. 

So here’s 2016. A whole new year. 

Things To Remember

So I have this list. It's simple, maybe silly even, but these are things I want to remember, in case there are times when I forget. 
It's actually quite personal, as most of it are things that matter to me deeply. 
But I digress. 

Things To Remember

Never choose to isolate yourself. Separation from someone you love is never the solution.

Always remember that love is a choice. 

Always honor your commitments and be a person of your word. 

Never forget that life is not meant for the temporal, but the eternal, so everything does matter. 

You'll make a difference no matter what you do; make sure it's for the better. 

Discipline in love is what counts, not punishment from anger. 

Never make important choices when you're upset. Make your choices when you are calm. 

Always fight to make things right and to work things out. 

Never be satisfied with giving up, on anything. 

When you want to give up, remember your strength is the Lord's, so get up and keep going. 

Keep your passion for being like Jesus at the front of your mind.

Keep perspective. Always ask the question: why do I do what I do? 

Don't be afraid of doing something no one else understands, sometimes you have to stand alone to make a difference. 

Nothing will ever replace honesty and integrity. They are worth fighting for- even when no one else does. 

Remember it's ok to not have all the answers. 

Don't let your emotions tell you what to do. Make your decisions intentionally, with a clear mind. 

Don't let fear of failure keep you from what you need to do. 

Don't be lazy. Laziness will bring you nothing, and take you nowhere. 

Enjoy life right now. 

When it comes to kids: 

Love means that I will do what it takes to teach my children to be kind, selfless people. 

Remember, love disciplines. 

Don't parent out of your need. What you had, or didn't have. Parent out of what your children need. Know them well enough to do it.