Today’s a new day!
Dear God, please teach us to truly love our neighbors. Teach us to reach out to our neighbors in need. Teach us how to show grace to our neighbors. Teach us to show respect to our neighbors. Teach us to bless our neighbors. So, who is our neighbors?
The Homeless
Those With A Different Opions
The Refugee
The Person Who Speaks a Different Language
Those Of A Different Faith
The Single Mom or Dad
The Republican
The Democrat
The LGBTQ Community
The Addict
The Atheist
The Convict
Today’s a new day! Here are some question for the Church and the Nation:
*When the media leaves Minneapolis, will you still be standing up and speaking out for the rights of our brothers and sisters of color?
*Will you still be having conversations about racism and injustice in America?
*Will you remember all the African-American men and women, who were simply murdered because of the color of their skin?
*Will you just go back to regularly scheduled programming? ~OC
Today’s a new day! Dear Jesus, pour out your peace and healing upon your people. ~OC
As I hear about another black man in America being murdered for simply being black, my heart breaks. My heart breaks for the families. My heart breaks for every person of color that fears for their lives when dealing with law enforcement. My heart breaks for every parent that sits home late at night, praying their son or daughter of color makes it home safely. My heart breaks for America.
Racism is still alive and well in America. If you don’t believe that, you are fooling yourself. My brothers and sisters of color are discriminated against every day. That’s just truth. If you doubt that truth, your living in denial. If you doubt that truth, take the time to have a real conversation with a friend that looks different than you. If you don’t have a friend that meets that criteria, you might be part of the problem. Racism is sadly still alive and well in America. That’s just truth.
Christians everywhere need to stand up against racism and social injustice. We can no longer sit around and just pray for the families. Churches can no longer just talk about racism and injustice after the murder of another black man in America. Church leaders need to be having regular conversations about racism and injustice with their congregations on a regular basis. God’s people need to have real and honest conversations about racism and injustice in America. We need to pledge to make a real difference. Until we have these tough conversations, we will continue to be a divided nation and my heart will continue to be broken. ~OC
Thank you! ~OC
Today’s a new day! In your pain God is at work. In your struggles God is at work. In your fight God is at work. Never forget these truths. ~OC
Today’s a new day! When we refuse to step out of our comfort zone in faith to embrace our God given purpose, we steal the blessings He had for us and for those in our sphere of influence. Don’t rob God. ~OC
I truly enjoyed the ESPN documentary The Last Dance, chronicling the career of the GOAT Michael Jordan. But without Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, there probably is no Michael Jordan or NBA. Magic and Bird saved the NBA. Let me explain.
Some of you are probably too young to remember, but once upon a time the NBA playoffs and finals were taped. That’s right, you had to avoid the news all day if you did not want to know the scores of the games. The NBA was coming off a drug scandal. Most people were just not interested in watching the NBA. Then March 26, 1979 happened. The NBA would never be the same.
On March 26, 1979, the Michigan State Spartans took on the Indiana State Sycamores for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Ervin “Magic” Johnson, the kid with the big smile vs. Larry “The Hick from French Lick” Bird. Most of America watched the drama play out from Salt Lake City, Utah. That night Magic’s Spartans got the best of Bird’s Sycamores. But that would not be the last time we would see these two compete against each other. That night in Utah would change the NBA forever.
Magic Johnson would be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird would be drafted by the Boston Celtics. Magic and Bird would turn around the two most storied franchises in the NBA. Most importantly, they brought the fans back to the NBA. No longer were the playoffs and finals on tape delay. Fans could not get enough of Magic, Bird and the NBA.
No doubt Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever play in the NBA, but we must never forget that the kid with the infectious smile from Lansing, Michigan and the Hick from French Lick saved the NBA. ~OC
Today’s a new day! God uses unlikely situations to perform amazing miracles. ~OC
Today’s a new day! You will face challenges today. Some will be small, but some will feel overwhelming. I encourage you to overcome those challenges. I encourage you to look at past victories. You have overcome challenges before and you can do it again. It will not be easy, but I believe you can make it. Don’t back down. Don’t give up. Keep believing. Keep pushing forward. God is in control. He will be with you every step of the way. God can turn your challenges into opportunities. Embrace those opportunities. Keep Overcoming! ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 