Tag: Family

Jesus Is Not An Add-On Or An Accessory

In today’s world, accessories are everywhere. We add things to our lives to enhance our appearance, improve our image, or make life a little more comfortable. Accessories are optional. We can put them on when we want and take them off when they become inconvenient.

Unfortunately, many people treat Jesus the same way.

Jesus was never meant to be an add-on to our lives. He is not a spiritual accessory we wear on Sundays and remove on Monday. He is not a good-luck charm we call upon when life gets difficult. He is not a decoration for our social media profiles or a label we attach to ourselves when it is convenient.

Jesus is Lord.

When Jesus called His disciples, He did not invite them to simply add Him to their existing lives. He called them to leave everything and follow Him. Their careers, plans, comforts, and ambitions became secondary to their relationship with Christ. Following Jesus was not a part of their lives—it became their lives.

Too often we try to fit Jesus into our schedules instead of building our schedules around Him. We ask Him to bless our plans rather than surrendering to His plans. We want the benefits of salvation without embracing the daily surrender that discipleship requires.

The Gospel calls us to something deeper.

Jesus doesn’t want a portion of our hearts; He wants all of our hearts. He doesn’t want to be one voice among many voices competing for our attention. He wants to be the foundation upon which every decision, relationship, and dream is built.

When Christ becomes the center of our lives, everything changes. Our priorities change. Our perspective changes. Our purpose changes. We begin to see our jobs as opportunities to serve Him. Our homes become places of ministry. Our struggles become opportunities to trust Him more deeply. Our victories become reasons to give Him glory.

The truth is that Jesus is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.

This does not mean we live perfectly. We all stumble, fail, and fall short. Yet even in our failures, we continue to run toward Him because our relationship with Jesus is not an accessory we can set aside. He is our Savior, our Shepherd, our King, and our source of life.

As believers, may we examine our hearts and ask an important question: Is Jesus simply a part of my life, or is He the center of it?

The world offers countless accessories to make life look better on the outside. Jesus offers something far greater—He transforms us from the inside out.

Jesus is not an add-on.

He is the way, the truth, and the life.

He is everything. ~OC

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If The Twelve Disciples Applied For Church Membership Today

“Think about this for a moment: the twelve disciples of Jesus could not pass a background check to get into most churches today.”

That statement may sound shocking at first, but take a closer look at the men Jesus chose to change the world.

Peter was impulsive and publicly denied Christ three times.

James and John earned the nickname “Sons of Thunder” because of their fiery tempers and desire to call down judgment on people.

Matthew was a tax collector, viewed by many as a traitor and a sinner.

Thomas struggled with doubt.

Simon the Zealot was associated with a radical political movement.

And Judas would eventually betray Jesus.

If these men submitted applications to many modern churches, some would likely be rejected before ever making it through the front door.

Yet these are the very people Jesus chose.

Jesus did not build His ministry around people with perfect resumes. He built it around people whose lives would be transformed by grace.

The Gospel has never been about finding people who have it all together. It has always been about redeeming people who know they don’t.

Too often, we can be tempted to evaluate people based on their past failures, mistakes, addictions, broken relationships, or reputation. We forget that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future when Christ enters the story.

The church was never meant to be a museum displaying perfect people. It was meant to be a hospital where broken people encounter the healing power of Jesus.

Imagine if Jesus had looked at Peter’s denial before calling him. Imagine if He had focused on Thomas’ doubt instead of his potential. Imagine if He had rejected Matthew because of his profession.

The early church would have looked very different.

Thankfully, Jesus sees beyond our failures. He sees who we can become when His grace takes hold of our lives.

This doesn’t mean sin doesn’t matter. It doesn’t mean character is unimportant. Transformation is real, and discipleship matters deeply. But we must remember that transformation is often a process, not an instant event.

The disciples were not finished products when Jesus called them. They were works in progress.

So are we.

So is everyone who will walk through your church doors. 

The next time you encounter someone whose past makes you uncomfortable, remember the men Jesus chose. Remember that the kingdom of God has always been built by redeemed sinners who encountered extraordinary grace.

After all, if God can use fishermen, doubters, hotheads, tax collectors, and former rebels to turn the world upside down, He can certainly use us.

The church should never become a place where people are judged solely by where they have been. It should be a place where people discover who they can become through Jesus Christ.

Grace saw something in the disciples that the world could not see.

May we learn to see people the same way. ~OC

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A Love Connection

Today’s a new day! 

Yesterday, Laura and I drove up to North Florida. If you have lived in Florida or parts of the South, you know what time of season it is. Yes, it’s love bug season. Those little insects can be a nuisance, but what if we looked at these annoying little bugs a little closer. Maybe there is a lesson to be learned. 

Every year in parts of the South, love bugs show up in swarms—small, unassuming insects that spend much of their short lives attached to one another. They’re not flashy or impressive, and to most people they’re just a seasonal nuisance. But if you pause long enough to notice, there’s something quietly symbolic about them. Love bugs are almost always seen in pairs, joined together, moving as one. In a simple, created way, they reflect a picture of connection, persistence, and a kind of devoted closeness that’s hard to ignore.

That image can point us to something far deeper—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel tells the story of a God who didn’t remain distant, but chose to draw near to us, to bind Himself to humanity through Jesus. Where love bugs cling together for a season, Jesus stepped into our world and held fast to us even through suffering, rejection, and the cross. Scripture reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ—not failure, not pain, not even death. That’s a far stronger bond than anything we see in nature.

There’s also something humbling about love bugs. They don’t try to stand out or make a name for themselves—they simply live out what they were created to do. In the same way, the Gospel calls us to a life not centered on self-promotion, but on abiding in Christ and walking in love. Jesus said that people would recognize His followers by their love, not by their status or accomplishments. When we remain “connected” to Him, like branches to a vine, our lives begin to reflect His grace, patience, and mercy to those around us.

So the next time you see those tiny insects paired together, maybe it’s more than just a seasonal inconvenience. Maybe it’s a small reminder of a greater truth: that we were created for connection—first with God, and then with one another. And through the Gospel, Jesus has made a way for that connection to be restored, secured, and sustained forever. ~OC

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Grace Over Judgement

In a world where news travels faster than ever, it didn’t take long for headlines and social media feeds to light up after the news broke that a famous golfer had been arrested on a DUI charge. Within minutes, opinions flooded in—many of them harsh, judgmental, and unforgiving. It’s striking how quickly people can shift from admiration to criticism, often acting as though they themselves have never stumbled, never made a poor decision, never had a moment they wish they could take back. The reality is, we are all human. We all have flaws, struggles, and chapters of our lives we’d rather not have put on public display.

What’s often forgotten in moments like these is that behind the fame, the trophies, and the public persona is a real person—someone who may be dealing with deep personal challenges. Instead of rushing to condemn, perhaps this is a time to reflect inward. How would any of us feel if one of our worst moments became front-page news, dissected and debated by millions? It’s easy to judge from a distance, but empathy requires us to pause and consider the full picture. Fame should never strip someone of their humanity or make them an easier target for criticism.

Today, rather than adding to the noise of negativity, I encourage each of us to choose compassion. Lift Tiger Woods up in prayer—for his health, for his healing, and for his family. Life has a way of humbling all of us at different times, and when it does, what we need most is grace, not judgment. Let’s be mindful of the words we share and the attitudes we carry, remembering that kindness and understanding will always speak louder than criticism. ~OC

You can check out the Spoken Word version of this post at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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My Life With Dementia

Today’s a new day! As I continue to walk through this crazy beautiful health journey, I have always wanted to be upfront and honest when sharing my journey with you. So this morning, I want to share a post I have been working on for several weeks. It’s my life with dementia. I apologize in advance for the long post.

When I was diagnosed with young onset dementia last year, part of me thought there has to be a mistake, but it was also a relief to have some answers on why my life seemed a little out of focus. But it was still hard to hear “you have dementia.” Like so many people diagnosed with young-onset dementia, I was still planning a future with my bride. How was dementia showing up in my 50’s?

But here I am, almost a year later.

What I have learned is a dementia diagnosis isn’t the end of life. It just means life looks a little different.

Of course my life has looked a little different for the last twenty-three years dealing with multiple health issues. But over the last two decades, my faith and life experiences have taught me it’s possible to live a fulfilling, purposeful, and even joyful life even while dealing with the uncertainty of declining health. A diagnosis of dementia was not going to change that. At least I hope and pray that will be the case.

So as I walk out this journey called dementia, I wanted to share a few things that are working for me. This is not a neat how to live with dementia list, because dementia is not an easy follow these instructions and everything will be okay disease. No, dementia is a unpredictable roller coaster ride. Every day brings new challenges, but also new opportunities.

My hope and prayer is that this blog post will help create conversations. If you’re living with dementia, or supporting someone who is, I hope these tools help you live a full life regardless of the diagnosis.

My Dementia Toolbox:

I choose to live each day with Hope and Purpose.

I choose to live a life full of new adventures. Never stop making memories with family and friends.

I choose to maintain my independence as long as possible.

I choose to continue connecting with family and friends.

I choose to adapt to the changes dementia brings and never give up.

I choose to hold onto my identity and what makes me “me.”

I choose to keep learning new things each day.

I choose to live out my life and faith.

I choose not to avoid the declines that dementia brings, but to make the most out of every day and refuse to let dementia silence me.

Finally, living with dementia is not an easy journey. There are moments of loss and frustration, but there are also unexpected discoveries, laughs, and the good will of family and friends. ~OC

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Taking A Break

Today’s a new day! I love connecting with people on social media and reading about what everyone is up to. I also love sharing my thoughts and journey through social media and my blog. But I believe it’s time for a break from social media and my blog post.

The past several weeks, I have noticed the time I am spending on social media constantly increasing. I began wondering how much life am I missing by being on social media so much. The Pay Attention and Embrace Life portion of my brain sounded something like this:

“This crazy beautiful health journey is making life more difficult in so many areas of my life. I need to spend more time embracing life instead of looking at a screen. I need to make time for more face to face interactions and less online interactions. I need to spend more time reading a great book and experiencing new music. Or maybe spending more time enjoying the music of my youth and remembering the many memories that those songs bring back. As my health continues to decline, do I really want to spend precious time staring at a screen? Or do I want to make more memories with my bride, family and friends? I need to be present for them. I need to let go of social media in all areas  for a little while and give those around me more time and attention. I need to focus on things that truly matter instead of having my eyes and mind focused on some type of screen.”

“Not only that, but I really need a break. I need to recharge. I need some time to focus on things other than what I am going to write about in my blog or post on social media. With my health issues becoming more of a challenge, it’s getting more difficult to write out my thoughts. I need to use my energy and the brain cells I have left on living life and making amazing memories.”

With that in mind, I have decided to take some time away from all social media and my blog. I have no idea how long this break will last. It will last as long as I feel God telling me to stay away. I believe that a break will breathe some new life into my creativity, which is never a bad thing in the realm of writing. I hope you all understand.

So, I want to wish everyone a Happy Birthday and Anniversary that I might miss as I am away. I pray your summer is filled with family, friends, vacations and good memories. Take time for the important things in life.

Feel free to come by and visit if possible or give me a call. Let’s stay in contact the old school way…in person or actually talking on the phone. See you later. God Bless. ~OC

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Truly Living

Today’s a new day! Are you just merely existing in this journey called life?

As I look around me, I see so many people who are just walking through the motions of everyday life, but they are not truly living life. They are not embracing it. For whatever ever reason they have stopped living before their hearts stopped beating. 

As I have walked this crazy beautiful health journey for the past twenty-three years, I have learned that living a meaningful life has nothing to do with how much money you have in the bank or the materialistic things that you may possess. To truly live has nothing to do with your status in life.

To truly live life is to appreciate everything that you are. To live your life being aware of all your shortcomings but still loving yourself. To understand that those imperfections are part of who you are. To realize that you do not need to change anything about yourself to just impress others. Make changes because they make you a better person. To understand that you are far from perfect but you are unique. There is only one of you walking on this earth. To truly live is to be happy with the person that God uniquely created…You.

To truly live life means to take that trip now, instead of waiting for the right time. The right time is now. A lot can happen in life between now and the right time. Choose to embrace adventure now.

To truly live life means to be in the present, to live in the moment and not waste your time dwelling on the past, or what could have been. To let go of what has happened and focus on what you can do right now to live a better life. To be a better person.

To truly live means to appreciate everything around you. To take time to watch the sunrise or sunset, listen to the birds singing, sit by the ocean or call up some friends to get together to just celebrate living.

To truly live life is to be okay expressing your feelings. To accept that sometimes we need to laugh, cry or scream. To allow yourself to grieve and heal.

To truly live life is to appreciate each moment. To find awesomeness and wander in every day life. To make the choice to get up every day and try to make the best of every day because you don’t know if you’ll be here tomorrow. To try and learn something from each of your life experiences.

To truly live life is to spend time with friends and loved ones. To surround yourself with those that encourage, challenge and inspire you to live your best life.

To truly live life is to find your purpose and live it out. To chase after your hopes and dreams and then go out and accomplish them. To never give up!

To truly live life is to be kind and respectful to others. To buy breakfast for the person in line behind you. To reach out to family and friends to let them know how much they mean to you. To smile at a stranger. To take time to do one selfless act, big or small, on a regular basis. To truly live is to try to make a difference in your part of the world. 

To truly live life is to make the world a better place for the next generation. This one life is a beautiful gift. Embrace it! ~OC

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A Flicker

Today’s a new day! As this crazy beautiful health journey gets a little tougher each day, I want to take some time to share a few lessons I have learned along the way. The following has been written over a series of weeks and months. I hope it brings a time of reflection as you walk out your own journey.

  • Do not waste your time on things that you don’t enjoy. I have learned it’s hard to succeed in something that you don’t like. Patience, passion, and dedication come more easily when you love what you do.
  • Do not be concerned over other people’s opinions. Being caught up in others opinions can weaken and paralyze you. If you let it, it can grow worse and worse every day until there is nothing left of you, but a empty shell of yourself. Listen to God’s voice and go with it. Some people may call you crazy, but many may be encouraged by your choices.
  • Do not allow any person or situation to control your life. Take full responsibility for your actions. Limit bad habits and try to lead a healthier lifestyle. Find a hobby that makes you happy. Most of all, do not procrastinate. Make the most of each day. Let your life be shaped by the decisions you make not by the ones you didn’t.
  • Do not be so busy, that life slips past you. Appreciate the people around you. May your friends and family always be a source of strength and love. Never take them for granted.

It is difficult for me to fully express my feelings about the importance of these simple realizations, but I hope that you will listen to someone who has experienced how valuable time is.

I am not upset or scared about what lies ahead because this health journey has helped bring meaning and purpose to my life. Each day is a beautiful gift to be celebrated. So every day, I take some time to take it all in. Time is truly a beautiful gift.

As I continue to run this health journey, I have learned that everyone has potential. But potential means nothing without the courage to realize it. To believe that God has given each of us purpose in this life. To turn that purpose into amazing opportunities.

We can move through a life created by circumstances, missed moments and opportunities or we can strive for what we believe in and write the amazing story of our life. I hope you will make the right choice.

I pray you will leave a positive mark on this world. That your life will be filled with hope and meaning. Life is a beautiful playground, where dreams are possible. Yet, we are not here forever. Our life is a short spark in this beautiful world that flies by with incredible speed. So, live your life with meaning and passion. Embrace every moment. Make it spectacular. Make it count! ~OC

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We Can Never Forget

Today’s a new day!

“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find their parents have disappeared.” ~Diary of Ann Frank, January 13, 1943

It’s important to reflect on the words of Anne Frank from her diary in 1943 as we face the challenges of this world in 2025.

These words, though written during one of the darkest periods in human history, echo eerily in the stories we see and read about across the country in today’s current state. Stories of displacement, family separations, and the marginalization of the vulnerable persist, reminding us of the importance of empathy, advocacy, and action in the face of injustice.

The entries in Anne Frank’s diary serve as an enduring reminder of the consequences of indifference and the necessity of standing up for humanity. It calls on us to reflect on how we treat one another and to ensure that history does not repeat itself. It is our responsibility to build a society rooted in compassion, love, understanding, and unity. We can never forget. ~OC

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Gift of Time

Today’s a new day! Here is another “Lost Writings from “OC”. This was written back in 2023.

I have a few questions for you. How are you using the gift of time God has given you? Do you walk around thinking you have all the time in the world?

As I continue to walk out this crazy beautiful health journey, I realize more and more that we are invited not to take our time on earth for granted, but to use it to love, encourage and serve others. God is calling us to not squander the gift of time, but to recognize its limit and value and be deliberate in how we use it.

Here are some practical ways I believe we can use our time more wisely:

**Assess Your Current Schedule. Look at everything you are spending time on for the next few weeks. Evaluate each scheduled use of your time. Ask yourself: “How is God calling me to use my time? What matters most and what is most important?”

**Pray Over Your Schedule and Cut Some Things Out. Ask God in prayer as you look at your schedule: “How would you like me to use my time for your glory?” Through God’s guidance, minimize your schedule and let go of some things that you may have taken on out of obligation or expectations of others.

**Learn to Say No. Once you start being more aware of your use of time, you’ll be better able to say no to things that are not in line with how God is calling you personally to use your time, while saying yes to those select things that are most important.

**Be More Intentional With Your Technology Use. We have all ended up wasting time watching too much Netflix, using social media for long periods of time, and staring at our smart phones. Using time intentionally is not about cutting these things out altogether, but being more deliberate in how much time is used with technology. Consider time limits, paring down watched TV shows, and maybe even short-term technology fasts (for a few hours or days) to break bad habits of time-sucking technology use.

**Spend More Time With Family and Friends.We often hear people share one of their biggest regrets in life is not spending more time with loved ones. Be intentional about paring down your schedule so that you can spend more time with family and friends.

**Set Aside Time for God. Do not get so caught up with your busy schedule, that you neglect time in prayer and studying God’s Word. Take time to listen for the Spirit’s leading, and enjoy this time apart from work and other life duties. As you spend more time with God, you will be better able to hear God’s voice and see God’s actions in your own life and in the lives of others.

God has given each of us the gift of time. How is God inviting you to use your gift of time more wisely? ~OC

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