Today’s a new day! Let’s be clear: Christian Nationalism – the movement that’s gripped so many Christians and Churches in America is a misinterpretation of Jesus’ teachings. It’s in direct opposition to them. It’s an affront to the Sermon on the Mount, the fruit of the Spirit, and everything Jesus stood for. If you’re claiming to follow Christ, you cannot ignore this false theology. ~OC
It’s Time
Today’s a new day! As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, I wanted to share the following with you. ~OC
Today, It’s our calling to support our friends, colleagues, and family members and to stand against senseless acts of violence and systemic racism. We need each other now more than ever if this nation is to ever truly move forward and heal the broken systems established years ago.
It’s time we stand in solidarity as individuals and communities to change a system that has been filled with racism for way too long.
It’s time we educate ourselves.
It’s time we change our broken systems.
It’s time we respect our black brothers, sisters, and People of Color.
It’s time we demand equal rights for all.
It’s time we allow the destruction for powerful reform to take place.
It’s time to accept and respect each other regardless of our differences.
It’s time we stopped using hate to conquer hate.
It’s time we truly love our black brothers and sisters. And not just for the month of February.
It’s time we bring real change to America and beyond.
America
Today’s a new day! So many thoughts swirling around, as I see everything that is happening in America and around the world. I definitely do not recognize America at this moment.
I love the United States of America, but I do not think of it as a country that is united at this time. It’s not the America that most of us grew up in or that the rest of the world looked to for hope.
What does the world see when it looks at America in 2025? What do I see? What do you see?
How do the choices each of us make every day affect, influence, impact the future that is before us, the direction America is headed and the world that upcoming generations will inhabit?
What combination of events and attitudes and circumstances has brought us to this point in our history?
How did we get to this point, to this current version of America?
I have far, far more questions than answers as unprecedented events unfold in our nation and around the world. I still believe in America, in the sense that there are so many people I care about so very deeply that are standing up for ALL people who are currently living on American soil. My concern is at heart-wrenchingly-high levels for the well-being of everyone who calls America home this very hour and for those living in every part of this beautiful world.
How do we move past this era of woeful words of hatred and division, how do we work together for the better world that I do believe, that I have to believe is possible? How do we shape a brighter future for all, a future of connection, compassion and peace? Those are some billion dollar questions for sure.
I will continue to pray for brighter, more stable and peaceful days for America and the world. I hope you will join me in this prayer. ~OC
No Longer
Today’s a new day! I am never surprised or disappointed when my non-Christian friends choose to no longer call, visit or stay in touch. Maybe a little saddened, but no longer shocked or disappointed.
But when my Christian friends do the same thing…. I am no longer surprised or disappointed. Maybe a little saddened, but no longer shocked or broken. ~OC
Life
Today’s a new day! Our wrinkles mean we have laughed and cried in life. The gray hair or lack of hair means we have cared for someone. The scars collected over the years means we have truly lived. Celebrate Living! ~OC
Our Voice
Today’s a new day! Sometimes I think I should stay silent and just keep the peace. But then I think if I choose to stay silent, will I cease to do good. I believe if we adhere to respectful silence, we provide space to those who are pushing forward false and harmful ideas. We create greater opportunity for the voices of error and harm to be heard and believed. God has gifted some of us with prophetic voices, ones that can issue a clarion call to the things that are true and good and pure and right and beautiful. We need to pray for those with this gift and encourage them to be brave and bold, yet marked by grace, love, humility, and kindness as they seek God for how to steward this gift. For others, we can each be loving truth tellers in the relationships and situations in which we have a platform. That may be within our families or our friend groups, within our schools, churches or our work places, and even on social media. No doubt, we will sometimes be met with criticism or rejection, even if we speak prayerfully and intending to speak peaceably. Jesus, who is the ultimate truth (John 14:6), likewise experienced rejection (Isaiah 53:3, 1 Peter 2:4). But if our goal is the well-being of others, then we will lovingly speak truth to them and risk offending them, for true life and blessing only come by way of truth. Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” In keeping silent, we say nothing. And in our silence, perhaps we have ceased doing good. You and I have a voice. We have a platform, be it large or small. May God give us wisdom to know how to use our voices to bring honor to him and to bring good to others with wisdom, love, and kindness. ~OC
Rise Above It All
Today’s a new day! Tragedy is written into every human story. Not a single one of us will escape it. We will all experience hardships that will test us on this journey called life. People will shock you with their capacity for cruelty. But be sure of this: speaking truth will be most challenging when life is the most difficult. Courage is necessary to remain a faithful witness despite the hardships of life. Cynicism will always be ready to creep into our hearts. But through it all, I encourage you to rise above it. ~OC
A Friday Prayer
Dear God, today’s a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures we may have experienced. Today’s a good day to be glad and give thanks, and we do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, serve and be all that you desire us to be. Use us today to be peacemakers. We pray all this in the powerful name of Jesus. ~Amen
Not Your Enemy
Today’s a new day! You may consider me your enemy. But I am not your enemy. I do not hate you. I do not wish you harm. I do not foster harmful designs against you.
At the same time, we may not be able to be friends. If you deny people the right to have their own opinions, to freely share their opinions, attack them when they do, you may not be a safe person for my friends, family or myself to be around and we may not be able to be friends. If you want to deny people the right to freely worship in their own way, you may not be a safe person for my friends, family or myself to be around. We may not be able to be friends. If you want to share hate and spread lies, we may not be able to be friends. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point. These statements do not mean that I wish harm to you. And this doesn’t necessarily mean we can never talk over a meal. If you are willing to engage in good faith, we can try and we will see how things go. We may be able to be acquaintances and perhaps even friendly, but it will take a lot of time and effort before it’s possible for us to be friends.
Even though we may not be able to be friends, I am not your enemy. And so know that If you are hungry or in need, I will do my best to help you find food and have your needs met. I will work for a society where you have access to affordable health care, and a job that pays a living wage. I want you to have access to a good education, and to clean water and air. I want you to have freedom of religion and speech. I want you to read the books you want to read. I do not want you unjustly detained or imprisoned. I do not want you to be harassed when you walk down the street or go into a store. I want you to be able to flourish. I do not wish you harm. I am not your enemy.
If you can manage to not do harm to the people I love and care about; if you can work for these same things for the people I care about, we can begin a relationship. We do not need to agree on exactly how we solve our society’s problems, but we need to be able to speak with respect and kindness. Because I am not your enemy. ~OC
A Thursday Prayer
Good Morning! A Thursday prayer for my friends:
Dear God, I lift up my friends to you. I pray you would give their hearts rest in the things that are weighing heavy on their lives this morning. I pray you would open their eyes to see how amazing they are and how much they mean to the people that love them.
I pray you would bless their families, their homes, that their households would flourish and that they would have more than enough to meet all of their needs.
I pray you would bless them in their pursuit of their hopes and dreams and that you would open doors that they need opened to get there.
I pray you would bless their relationships: their friendships, their marriages, their connections with their kids and their family members.
I pray you would cover my friends with your presence and your peace, that you would draw them close to you and that they would feel your love.
I am so thankful for each of them oh Lord. Thank you for bringing them into my life. My heart is full. ~Amen
The Blessed Overcomer 