God Doesn’t Make Average & Ordinary People

So… it’s been a while since I posted.

There has been so much going on both in the world at large… and here at home for my own family.

In the world at large, more specifically here in America, well… let’s just say it isn’t pretty.

Problem seemingly number one would be: Our unkind and unfriendly words towards each other.

You can call me all the names you want. It’s not like I haven’t heard them before.

But let me make this abundantly clear. That old worn out saying that says “sticks and stones… blah, blah, blah… “ C’mon I know that you know it. Well, let me say that that saying is a bunch of crap. Words do hurt.

The Bible says that the tongue is a flaming fire.

The words hurt.

They just plain hurt.

And they reveal a whole lot about the ones who are using them.

Two wrongs never make a right… and they never will.

Our race divide in this country will never go away. Not unless we agree to start from a pre-determined ground zero. And, forward motion will take a beautiful and exquisitely painful thing called forgiveness. And, something else: understanding and empathy.

Many other individuals in this country… have experienced their own disadvantages too.

You see, it’s not really about the circumstances. God says that he allows the rain to fall on the evil as well as the good. And, what’s your criteria for good anyway? Have you ever read up on what God’s standards are? They can be found in scripture… you know… the Bible.

So, what’s my point… Each of us. Every one of us. We didn’t get to choose where we were born. We didn’t get to choose who are parents are (were). We didn’t get to have a say in whether we were born to privilege or born to lack. These choices aren’t ever ours. So what you say?!

What I’m getting at is this: Yeah, your circumstances, the place you live, the stock you come from… they may not be so great. From a human perspective that is.

You may live somewhere where a stray bullet could come through your wall and take you out on any given day. You may wonder every day where your next meal may be coming from and if you’ll be going to bed hungry again today. You may live in a place where there is no lack and you never experience poverty, or hunger, or anxiety. But, no matter what your circumstances and no matter what each day brings, one thing stays as an absolute truth:

How you experience your lack or your abundance is now and will always be based on a personal choice to view it the way that you do.

There are many who live in abundance that would rather not be alive because they simply don’t recognize the blessings of their abundance, or they have found like so many have, that things, wealth, status, success, and sex just can’t fill the missing void they feel inside.

(that unfillable void… I would definitely argue, is: a relationship with your creator, the one and only God)

And, there are those who in their great poverty and hunger choose to live in gratitude for the good that comes their way.

We have choices. We can either count our blessings, or we can lament each and every day for what we perceive that we deserve and don’t have.

It all boils down to making a choice to be thankful, grateful, and the most painful of all… to accept that we must be the agents of change in our own lives. We must be our own advocate and we must be the one who decides to throw out all of the negative in our lives.

Now, I get it. That is sooo much easier said than done right? Can I get an amen?!

But, I can tell you. Please understand, (this is me being transparent here) I know depression. I know anxiety. I know fear. I am familiar with these.

And, I know how disabling these things can be. Sometimes we need counseling. Sometimes we need a close confidant that can run interference for us. If you need that, then seek them out. People are not mind readers, generally.

If you need immediate help, then seek it out and don’t delay.

All that being said though. You cannot move forward into brighter days without making a decision.

Decide today that you will seek help. Decide today that you will throw out the negative influences in your life. I know it’s overwhelming but do it one thing at a time.

You’re gonna hate me for this: Start with the television… Yes, you heard me right! Turn off the news! Do you think that the news services get ratings from positive content?

The television and social media are negative hotbeds! Gossip, misinformation, manipulation, etc. – Get rid of it as much as you can. Take a daily or weekly vacation from it and see what begins to happen. I have and it has made a difference.

Guess what? I don’t really miss t.v. most of the time and even better, you get so much time back to do more productive things.

You will immediately get to have more fulfilling relationships with the people around you too. You may find that you’ve been missing out on something valuable for a long time.

To overcome negativity, you must begin a quest to replace it with positivity.

There are many self-help books out there and many books about changing your thinking. Pick them up and read them yes, but make sure that you begin to practice what they preach.

One of the best ways to leave the old grouchy, negative self behind though is this: practice gratitude. Be grateful for the many good things that you do have:

Life and breath. A bed to sleep in. A roof over your head. Family and friends that love you. Food on the table, etc. You get the picture. I know that you may lack some of these, but I know that even in the midst of life’s inevitable storms, you can find a few things to be grateful for.

Beyond that, if you want the world to be a better place, then guess what? You need to be an agent for change. Go out of your door today, determined to be kind, to practice gratitude and thankfulness, to be selfless and helpful, to be friendly and to keep your mouth closed (like your mama used to say) when you don’t have anything nice to say.

You will be surprised by how much your day can be when you choose to focus on the positive, when you choose to be positive.

Now, this is not meant to be cliché. I know there are times when awful things happen and they are often not under our control. I know that difficult circumstances can come, but guess what? It is our choice to react in the way that we react. We must take back control of our actions and must fight the urge to be angry, vengeful, and ugly in response to the world’s ugliness. TWO WRONGS WILL NEVER, EVER MAKE A RIGHT!! – This is absolute truth.

I’m winding up here I promise.

God does not make average and ordinary. Look around at the wonders of nature. Look at the beauty of the people you love and admire. And yeah, maybe do a difficult close look in the mirror. I know, it’s awkward but guess what? There has never been, nor will there ever be, another you! You are extraordinary and unique! God does not make mistakes!! Not now, not with you, not ever!

And because of that, you have unique gifts. You have unique contributions to give to this old world. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Every day is a new opportunity to find your niche in this world. Seek God in this. Go to him in prayer and ask him what he would have you contribute to the world. In time, He will show you.

And as you find your way to a better you, others will be made better by your contributions!

The world will be made better, one person at a time. And, maybe, just maybe, the problems that we face in our country and in our world will be made less by the actions of a whole lot of individuals that decided to draw a line in time and say now is the time to be an agent of positive change.

And, that race divide I mentioned earlier, well... let's just say this. We need to be friends 1st and colors later. We need to defend one another regardless of our ethnicity, social status, or backgrounds. We need to just start from a friendly hello and become professional friend makers. Don't let fear or prejudice keep you from expanding your world and learning that it's about a whole lot more than you.

Decide today whom you will serve. Serve God. Serve humankind. Serve with kindness, mercy, and grace. Serve with forgiveness, humility, and integrity. Put others needs before your own and I know you’ll be surprised by the outcome. You will get back so, so much more than you put in.

Seize the day!

In Christ’s love,

Mike Meehan

Thoughts with the Courage to Take Flight

Courage and bravery

Faith and hope

These aren’t easily won

In sacrifice are they born

Decisions and choice

Clarity and focus

Some ingredients for victory

The foundation for finishing

Standing here on the brink

The past haunting my heels

The future requiring a leap

Indecision weighs on heavy heart

Comes down to one thing:

Fear

Humankind’s nemesis

It leaves us shaking

Causes us to hide

It dares us to stand

And it boils down

Coalesces into a choice

Will you walk the easy way?

Will you embrace regret?

Light and dark

Confidence or Confusion

Winning or Losing

The key has been presented

We hold it here in our hands

You’ve been gifted

We’ve all been blessed

We’ve all been cursed

With free will’s heavy burden

So we stand here

On the cliffs

Overlooking the foggy shores

Our futures clouded and unknown

Fear snapping at our heels

Doubt gnawing at our hearts

Prayers whisper up to heaven

Quiet voice speaks of hope

And this hope won’t disappoint

For it overcame more than fear

Destroyed far more than doubt

Laughing, stole away death’s very sting

So we can have this confidence

Fear is such as very small thing

When in the presence of God

And we can lift our chins

We can run towards our fears

With God’s hand at our backs

Our thoughts given wings

And the courage to take flight

So we leap into the wind

Wings buoyed by His victory

We sail up and over our fears

Leaving them lying behind

Laying there in the shadows

Of an old rugged cross

Your past self formed by lies

Its burden no longer weighs

Lightened from former façade

You rise from ashes to glory

Shining like a new risen star

His spirit carries you aloft

And from this new vantage point

The past loses its iron grip

Our fears fade into the distance

So, like eagles we rise into a new dawn

Playing For the Wrong Audience

One could spare their thoughts

And spend far too much time

Weighing the value of emptiness

And this society soaked in crime

Facebook, Instagram

Snapchat, and Twitter

Just so much hot air

And mind numbing litter

We’re all so convinced

There’s an audience out there

Needing our two cents

But truth is they don’t care

So when I empty out my heart

And it bleeds out for all to see

My thoughts fly into vacuum

Lost in the cold so far from me

The meaning vanishes without context

The point missed by all but a few

We all long for a listener

Someone to care for our heart so blue

But we’re barking up the wrong tree

And looking for love where it’s not

No commitment and an open mic

Just the right place for a soul to rot

So many shares

So many likes and views

We value the wrong things

Wonder why we lost our muse

Comes a time where we wake

Open our eyes from longest sleep

Realize all that we’ve missed

Having dug a hole so very deep

Yet a voice of hope still whispers

Behind life’s distractions deafening

Shrinking hearts recognize the sound

And strengthened there comes a reckoning

We stop addressing our every critic

No more throw pearls to swine

Set aside unaccountable podium

Realize that we’re just fine

You see we’re all wonderfully made

Each a unique and valuable soul

And yes, we have something to offer

Because our Creator gives us each a role

So turn a blind eye to the naysayer

A deaf ear to the stealer of dreams

Commit every day to your Maker

And overcome our enemy’s schemes

Put Not Your Faith in Princes (or Presidents)

Something to keep your spirits up and focused on the right things today:

"Don't look to men for help; their greatest leaders fail; for every man must die. His breathing stops, life ends, and in a moment all he planned for himself is ended. But happy is the man who has the God of Jacob as his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God - the God who made both earth and heaven, the seas and everything in them. He is the God who keeps every promise, and gives justice to the poor and oppressed, and food to the hungry. He frees the prisoners, and opens the eyes of the blind; he lifts the burdens from those bent down beneath their loads. For the Lord loves good men. He protects the immigrants, and cares for the orphans and widows. He turns Topsy-turvy the plans of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever." Psalms 146: 3-10, Living Bible

Give this day to the one who holds us in the palm of His hand and pray that our nation remembers who it is that gives them (us) life and breath.

We have hope

"We have hope...rebellions are built on hope."

Can't wait for Rogue One in December!

A new rebel cry. Maybe what's needed to take America back from those who seek to subvert and destroy her.

Just sayin'

Weeping for America

Every chance I get

I’m drowning in my falling tears

Can’t stop myself

Weeping even as the sky clears

The storm clouds boil

And my fears rage

Enemy screams and devours

Can’t seem to turn this page

Want to lift my eyes

Long to see the sun rise

Raise my voice in praise

But I’m distracted by deceiver’s lies

Watch the black and blue fall

Neither deserved this end

Wonder how this could’ve been different?

Crying to You as these knees bend

My hands bound by uncertainty

Know that I’m not a divine entity

And my answers are shallow

Weakened by my humanity

So in my impotence

I reach for the only one

That intimately peers into my soul

And mends this flesh and bone

On the horizon and coming into view

For beautiful America, Is this the end of days?

We’ve lost our way

Deeply divided and lost in hatred’s haze

And yet, there’s a quiet whisper

Echoing in His children’s prayerful pleas

Adopted children all singing a lovely chorus

Bringing hardest hearts to their knees

And you might ask what song they sing?

But you need a heart change to hear it

A desperate transformation is needed

There’s no need to fear it!

No reason to rage against brothers and sisters

Who like you long for freedom and peace

Trying to win the wrong battles again

We should instead ask for rain on this fleece

Yeah, the answers are just not easy

But we can have answers just the same

Our Lord and Savior longs to free us

Our chains melted away in eternal flame

Dear America rise up from your slumber

Adopted sons and daughters wake

Hear the battle cry of your Savior

Take up the chant for your future’s sake

There’s no more to say

And because calling’s crystal clear

Love one another as yourself

And there’ll be nothing left to fear

Again I cry out from the rooftops

America! There’s just one thing to do

Let your haughtiness turn to bent knees

Pledge your lives to the only God that loves you

There’s a Whole Lot of Hate Goin’ On

With the recent mass shooting in Orlando, I (we) are being bombarded by massive amounts of information, opinion, and politicizing of this horrific tragedy. I wanted to “gently” put in my own perspective.

Unfortunately, being both a follower of Christ and a political conservative, I am finding myself frequently cringing at the ugly things being said about Christians as a whole. To be fair, there’s a lot of ugliness being slung all around towards a number of people groups and individuals in the aftermath of this tragedy, but as a Christ follower I want to address a couple of things.

First, I get that there are differences of opinion over what Bible believing Christians believe about marriage and sexuality. I get that. But, what you my readers need to understand is that for those of us who hold to scripture, there are things we cannot ignore unless what you really want is for us (me) to renounce our faith.

I personally hold to a very conservative view regarding scripture on many subjects. One of the core things that I hold to is that God does not change (ever). He is not moved by we humans and He does not have changeable opinions that are swept along by human cultural changes. He is rooted in absolutes whereas we humans are increasingly drowning in relativism, humanism, socialism etc. More and more where it concerns the modern human that does not follow Christ, the world is seen through a very changeable lens that for the most part cannot fathom any moral absolutes.

The world at large wants to label my (our) beliefs about sexuality (among other things) as hate. I take issue with that. Belief about what scripture labels as sin, is core to what I and most other Christians believe. Sin is what causes the divide between humanity and God. This is core to our belief regarding our need for a savior in Jesus, a savior that had to die on a Roman cross to pay for humanity’s sins. We may accept or reject the free gift of salvation offered by Christ as God is a gentleman and He does not force us to believe and obey which makes us the recipients of the greatest gift (or maybe curse) of all time.

So, bottom line for a conservative Bible believing Christian, sin is sin. That does not change and for others to judge me (us) for these beliefs is just as ridiculous as they seem to think I(we) am to think that they will change their deeply rooted beliefs.

The issue here is that apparently many people in society seem to think that in order for us to love others, we must agree with what they say and do as well. I sometimes think that we Christians are being singled out and outright “hated” more than the very groups we are claimed as hating. Since we often say “love the sinner, hate the sin,” I believe that society refuses to accept that tolerance and love can happen in the same space.

Followers of Christ know that we can definitely show love and compassion while still not agreeing with either people’s beliefs or their actions. We were not called to an easy life, we were called to be overcomers and that road is often rough. But, we do not have to walk it alone. Christ in fact asks us that we let him bear the burdens that inevitably come with life.

Now, the harder part. I am sadly very aware that some people out there, who unfortunately are being heard over social media as well as television, are in the name of Christendom preaching hate. And, the hate that is being vomited out by these “so called Christians,” is even sometimes being tied to scripture.

You need to understand something. Just as so many people in this world who falsely self-label themselves as being “you fill in the blank,” their actions often will call attention to their true nature. You need to hear this, as Christians, we are called out by not only the Bible, but also our brothers and sisters in Christ when we are not living out the type of life we are called to live. Real love reaches out and corrects or at least speaks truth to those who need to hear it even when it’s difficult because we don’t want that person to have to face the painful consequences of sinful actions. We do this knowing that just as Christ was (and is) rejected, we may also be rejected.

I accept the rejection of others who judge me because of my beliefs, and I accept that they have different beliefs and so live out actions that I do not agree with. I agree to disagree with their “chosen (free-will) lifestyles.” Hear me again people: this is called tolerance. Can you say it? There you go, I knew you could.

What I cannot accept is the interference of our increasingly socialist and dictatorial government. (both here in California (Jerry Brown) and in the federal arena (Obama)) In California, we have just been made aware in the last few days that our governor has approved 6 new gun control laws, one of which added background checks for ammo!! This law will only hurt law abiding citizens. The evil criminals that would do us harm will always ignore and find a way around the law.

Additionally, in California once again, our state government (liberal Democrats) are pushing a new bill through that would force all “religious” institutions of higher learning to immediately adopt and enforce the same secular laws, codes, and expectations that are in the secular places of higher learning, i.e. our Christian colleges would have to accept LGBT lifestyles and accommodate them.

Not once were “we the people” given a chance to vote on this. These are the actions of a dictatorship run by dictators who are giving the people no voice.

Ask yourself honestly, if you were in the position of the church at large, or the Christian people in this country who hold to the truths of Biblical scripture, how would these actions by our government make you feel? I for one am angry, sad, and scared.

If we hold to our constitution, then our government is now very much in the wrong and in violation of the core values and original laws that established our rights as citizens. Our government has crossed the line and has broken the separation of church and state by dictating what we must believe and how we live it out in our daily lives.

Bottom line is this: as Christians, we can in fact demonstrate our love for people who we believe are disregarding God’s laws and doing that which He has condemned as sin. We can love people while at the same time, thoroughly disagreeing with how they live their lives.

The people in that club in Orlando did not deserve to be judged and murdered, no matter whether I disagree with how they live or not. As a Christian I am commanded to love and to be kind to those who do not agree with my belief. I try every day to live that out.

Conversely, we as American Christians do not deserve the mistreatment or character assassinations over our beliefs either. We have the right to determine how to educate our children and ourselves without persecution by those who disagree. With true tolerance, we need to make every attempt to live in peace and love with each other. We need to accept our differences and to be kind to each other while at the same time, understanding that it’s ok to disagree and to discriminate inasmuch that we can choose who we associate with, who we do business with, and who we accept into our organizations.

Our government should stay out of our religious beliefs and stop trying to assume a dictatorial role in our lives. And, we as concerned people, Christian or otherwise need to put our government back in its rightful place. After all, they are supposed to be public servants.

Let’s stop wasting time and energy on hate. Let’s pay it forward when it concerns love. Let’s defend each other whether we agree with each other or not. After all, isn’t that part of what free speech is all about? And, let’s go after the real enemies of peace: radical Islam, those who promote artificial class, race, and economic divides that sap us of our corporate strengths, and wannabe dictators.

Don’t just pray for peace, be an instigator of peace!

Seize the day!

Mike

Arise & Shine!

"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you." Isaiah 60:1-2

The Hidden Dangers of Pride

I won’t steal the thunder from our pastor and his sermon this past Sunday. However, I was reminded in his talk by something that many of us often overlook in our daily lives. What is this hidden something you ask?

It is the danger posed by our own closely held opinions, beliefs, traditions, prejudices, and rules for living.

Hidden at the core of these things is what can at times be something good, but more often than not, it is a stumbling block to forward motion, personal growth, learning, maturing, and as followers of Christ, our becoming more Christ like. This hidden thing is none other, than this: PRIDE.

What our pastor said in passing was this, that often we even take pride in things that you might not ordinarily associate with pride. And, inherent in that, we may miss that these things are stumbling us and impeding us from becoming the persons we want to become. More than that, this strange form of pride can be the thing that keeps us from reaching the goals we long to reach.

You see, our pride can lead us to wear some things like a badge of honor. As if they marked us as walking wounded, worthy of both people’s pity and also of their admiration. Visible marks not of our longsuffering ability to rise up and conquer the world mind you, but instead as our reasons for doing exactly the opposite, to stay indoors and keep to ourselves and to accomplish virtually nothing with the lives God gifted us with.

Yes… we are to be pitied, but not for our suffering, but instead for our lack of faith to grasp ahold of the strength God offers to us for the taking. Strength by which we could be what scripture speaks of as “more than conquerors.”

So many of us lament and complain about the unfairness of life and our lack of breaks, our unfortunate position, and circumstances. And, I am not even going to debate that these things could be fact for any one of us. Many of us are sadly struggling and often with circumstances that are truly out of our control. This may seem callous of me but if you knew my life story, like you, I could tell you some hard and sad tales about my own life. Many of us do not live a charmed or fairytale like existence as much as we may desire it.

Where am I going with this, you may be asking yourself at this point.

Really, I am just going to point out that God hates pride. Not the pride that comes when you are rightly warmed and happy by a personal accomplishment, a victory over sin, or a new skill learned. No, if we proudly hang onto some weakness, some circumstance, some oppressive and difficult lacking in our lives and then we use this as an excuse for not trying, for giving up, for accepting defeat, then this is the pride that we must repent of.

This is the pride that comes before the fall. This is the pride that if we are in the midst of it, God cannot reward us or accomplish His purposes for our lives. If we are living in this, He has to shake us up. If we are living in this, we may have to get beat up and end up at the bottom. For here in the depths and in the reality created not by our circumstance, but by how we face them, is where our God can begin to teach us and lift us up. Whether we are on our faces or on our knees, we can finally hear His voice and begin to shed the heavy burdens that hold us back from the victory that God has for us. We must repent of our pride and place life’s burdens on Jesus’ shoulders where He has said He will gladly bear them.

After hearing our pastor speak of this, I was reminded that like many of you I must take an inventory of my attitudes and beliefs regarding my own life and circumstances. In order for me to continue to become the man God has envisioned for me to become, I have to see my old self crucified to my pride. Pride can only hold us back.

So, shed your pride. Shed the skin of your old self. Take up the cross we are all called to bear though yours is more than likely different than mine. Take it up and allow God to show you how you can be an overcomer. Take it up and one day you can look back on a life well lived. A life lived with no regrets.

Live well and seize the new day!

In Christ,

Mike

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Don’t Ignore the Message… and Don’t Kill the Messenger

We live in one of the most connected ages in all of history. When important or urgent news happens, within moments the rest of the world can be informed. It spreads like a shot heard around the world. We can reach out to each other individually or collectively through many different platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. And on a smaller scale in one on one communications we have the same options plus the much more sophisticated versions of an old standard, the phone.

Despite the things we have available to us though, this time in history is also one of the most disconnected times in history.

Some of you might relate: You can see someone through Facebook, see that they’re online. You can see when they’ve seen or looked at a private message for example. And yet, amazingly they don’t respond to you… not even to say that they are busy, or headed out the door, or will get back with you later.

You leave a text or a voicemail and it dies there… left in limbo… forever… ignored.

There was a time, not so long ago, where that would be considered… well, impolite to put it mildly.

Once in a while I’ve even heard the… umm, sorry can’t put this one mildly…, lame excuse, that your text or voicemail was: dropped, lost, or otherwise didn’t reach its destination. Sorry… don’t buy these anymore.

Can we just agree on something here?

 The reality is that for whatever reason, you chose to ignore it… to ignore the person who in good faith sent it to you.

Communication only works when it runs both ways.

If you want the communication to stop then you have to man or woman up and let the sender know that you’re being bothered.

If you think that this sounds like someone is being hurt by your lack of response, guess what Einstein: “Yah think?”

Being ignored… yeah it does hurt… it hurts both ways. Because, I can tell you, it’s definitely a lot less likely that the person who just sent you that ignored communication take that risk again with you.

Keep this in mind… if that communication was face to face, would you have actually been that rude in person? Think about it… if it’s not right to do face to face, then how could you think it’s ok to do in any other form of communication?

This generation needs to grow up in so many ways, but they definitely get a “D” on communication.

Just because the tools exist does not mean they are used properly.

I am a man of words. I am a writer and I hope an ok communicator. I wrote this piece because there are times I feel that very few of us are continuing to sharpen our communication skills. I am very far from perfect and I know that this piece will ruffle a few feathers but, well… so be it. Sometimes feathers ought to be ruffled. Comfort just like silence needs to be interrupted so that change and growth can happen. Maybe we all ought to wake up once in a while and understand that just as often as our actions can cause good or evil to happen, equally, our inaction and our ignoring of events around us can also cause unintended negative events to unravel.

Think about it…

That’s all this was about, at least if you had the patience to read this, to hopefully make you think the next time you ignore someone reaching out to you… yeah, maybe even me…

Peace…. Mike

Enemy Vanquished

Light leaks into these eyes

A new day dawned

Open the blinds to see

A breeze ruffling the trees

In the near distance

Storm clouds moving

Ever closer in darkening sky

My heart flutters in this chest

In fear, some lock the door

Some grow tired

And bury their heads

And accept the victim’s path

Some, despite their fear

Put on the whole armor

Slip their hand in His

Step from their door

And face into the wind

As for this soul

Though wounded and scarred

No longer do I close these eyes

My desire to thrive overrules

Though the enemy is real

And his weapons do sting

I will no longer be intimidated

His lies can’t wash away the truth

His fate already written

On his epitaph stone

His lies unable to wash away

My name from the Lamb’s book

Seeks to bind our dreams

And wound us into inaction

Turn our eyes from Savior’s

Rendering us ineffective

But we are not helpless

Don’t have to be alone

For we can be anchored

On the Rock of Christ

On this solid ground

A life formerly adrift

Can now be grounded

And stand against any storm

So this too I choose

To bury this anchor deep

Heart protected and grounded

Venturing forth in the new day

Unafraid I step out my door

The storm still rages

But my frown turns to a smile

Because I don’t travel alone

And the enemy is powerless

In the New World Order, I’ll Be a Criminal

So, I know the title was shocking right? Can’t see me in that light? Oh, but Mike’s such a nice guy…

You must think this out too. Where will you sit when the changes come. Oh, and they will. You say I’m overreacting or that I’m crazy or at least a little paranoid.

I might be a little of the latter. But, I came by my paranoia naturally. It happens when you live in a land increasingly full of entitled brats and socialists in denial.

Again, where will you stand on that day.

When our rights to free speech have ended.

When freedom of religion only means that you better keep it in the closet.

When the right to bear arms means that you can wear tank tops whenever you want.

Seriously, one day if the liberal majority gets its way, what will your life be like? How will you react when you see me? Will you be one of the turncoats who turns me in to the authorities?

You say it’s a fantasy. We live in a democratic republic Mike and we get a say in how things go, right?

Some small part of me hopes you are correct.

But, what if in your naïveté, it’s you that’s wrong. Are you going to turn a blind eye when they haul me away? Will you applaud the actions of the political elite when they imprison me? When they try to “rehabilitate” me? When they decide to execute me?

You see, I saw an article today by Franklin Graham that exposed some real hypocrisy.

Those of us who the liberals like to refer as those religious people, were pigeon-holed as being every color of foolish, dangerous, deluded, misguided, pitiable, etc. “How could we be so stupid as to believe that our Savior who was/is God, was born of a virgin, etc., etc., etc.”

These same liberals applaud a company (PayPal) that haughtily pulls out of a state that approves a law that upholds the right of “religious” people to “discriminate” against those who’s practices violate the practices and beliefs we hold as not only sacred, but true. This same company gladly does business with numerous countries that instead of legislating people’s right to do business with whom they choose, chooses to turn a blind eye to the fact that those countries regularly imprison, torture, and kill people for their sexual choices. Unlike PayPal, we Christians do not condone that sort of treatment, however we do believe we have the right to our ability to associate with those we choose to associate with.

Let me be clear, there is a world of difference between a Christian who has the right to choose who they do business with when the other individual’s practices violate our beliefs, who has the right to decide whether they are comfortable with a “transgender male’s” “right” to enter into a bathroom where my daughter or wife has legitimately entered in, or whether an LGBT person has the right to enter into my child’s “Christian” school and potentially teach them things that are contrary to our beliefs. No government has the right to make that choice for us and we have every right to make those distinctions. This is not discrimination, it is the right to choose who we associate with and what we will be/will not be indoctrinated with. The LGBT community has the right to choose not to associate with us and frankly if they so choose, then we will applaud it. It is not the right of the LGBT community to force their closely held beliefs or acceptance of their lifestyle on the rest of us any more than it would be for us to force ours on them. Ultimately that is their agenda though, that we call what we consider to be evil and sin, instead as being good and acceptable. If God does not, then we in turn do not.

Let me remind you that our constitution where it defended the right to religious freedoms, was structured to keep government out of religion, and not the other way around. If a government felt it was in the rights to force by legislation how we practice our religious beliefs, does that not smack of the government overstepping its constitutional decrees about the freedom of religion?

I may not be able to in any great manner, affect change or be a great influence on our society now or going forward, but I’ll not stand by and say nothing.

Jesus didn’t stand by and say nothing. He called it as he saw it. He is often quoted as saying that people should repent of their sin, and to “go and sin no more.”

I am not man’s eternal judge, but the scriptures explain what sin is and call out any number of specific sins that humanity often commits. And God is/and will be bringing judgement on us. So when people wag their fingers at me or any other Christian for calling sin…. Well, sin, guess what? They have four other fingers pointing back at them.

God does not change like shifting sand. It says he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has right as our creator. And, he is not the one who when given free will, chose sin over doing what’s right. Our ancestors chose that and we often still do. The result is well deserved eternal punishment. But being a merciful and just God, he did give us a way out through Jesus Christ. It is ultimately us that will individually choose to accept the free gift of salvation through Christ or reject that gift and be condemned by our choice to Hell.

So, as our world continues to spiral into degradation and debauchery, I for one won’t go quietly into the night. I will choose to call it as I see it. If the emperor in fact has no clothes on, then guess what, I’ll point it out.

If telling the truth, calling it as I see it, not suffering fools makes me a criminal, then well… so be it.

Slap me in irons.

Seize the day!

- Mike

Dear Jesus, Thank You (a Resurrection Day prayer)

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for this life. Thank you for each day that your Father gives me the breath to lift my head from my pillow.

Thank you for all that you have allowed me to experience and learn. Even though some of the lessons have been painful, I know that you love me because you have kept your promise to never leave my side.

Though the gifts you have given to me are freely given, I know they came at a tremendous price. And, I know that I have not always shown that I am grateful for what you’ve done. For this I am ashamed. Please accept my apologies Lord. I know that I need to continue to allow you to transform me at every level of who I am. Please cleanse me of all the sinful and wicked ways that I still harbor in my selfish heart.

Thank you Lord for taking on all of the punishment that was due for me (us) on the cross. Forgive me for so often not understanding that what you did was once for all and I have been set free. Forgive me for blindly taking the chains of my sin and bondage and putting them knowingly or unknowingly back on.

Lord, please help me (and us all) to be a person of prayer. Please act powerfully to empower me so that I might tread on the enemy’s head. May satan and all of his armies be defeated in every corner of my life and those that call you their Savior.

As we enter into a new day tomorrow, which is Easter, may we contemplate our lives in such a way that we set aside the things which hinder us. May the chains of our bondage be set aside forever and may we experience victories in every moment. May we glorify you Jesus in all that we do, all that we think, and all that we say.

There is none like you Jesus.

Religion is empty, but this relationship with you will carry me (us) into eternity.

Thank you Jesus for dying to pay the penalty for my sin, but above all dear Lord, thank you for finishing the work and rising from the dead to prove all of those who would deny you wrong. May our enemies in this world see and experience your mercy and grace the way I have. May they experience the joy of being accepted as adopted sons and daughters with their hope justified as they one day enter into heaven.

Happy Resurrection Day dear Jesus!

One of your adopted sons,

Mike

Our Voices Carry On

Here under billowing clouds

Sad thoughts an undertow

A new emptiness at my side

Eyes like pending thunderstorms

Walking these roads

Made easier by companions

Goodbyes come too often

Loneliness oh so frequent

Created for relationships

Islands we are not

Not created for singularity

Our gravity drawing others

Orbiting each other we share

In companionship’s strength

And warmed by friendship

In love’s bond made stronger

Weaving through our souls

The roots of friendship

Silently entwining two lives

And blossoming into love

Yoked together for a little

Combining strength and focus

Our entwined lives reach higher

Drawing us to the Son

But this life is tenuous

And ever so fragile

Our every breath and day

Written by our Creator

Our final chapter known

Only by Heavenly author

That day and hour calls

Shadowed in mystery

Our final breath comes

And for most a surprise

So we grasp for a chance

For one last embrace

Our parting leaving scars

Marks of bittersweet pain

We are parted but not separate

Living again in memories recalled

Your voices speaking on

In our hearts resurrected

The roots you placed there

Still flowering and bearing fruit

Parted from us and yet

Never really gone

When we honor you

And the seeds you planted

So faint not from friendship

Give yourself away always

Rooted deep in those you love

Flowering again in each new season

Long after you are gone