Tag: Freedom

What About The People?

There is something I keep coming back to, and I believe we need to ask ourselves some hard questions.

What about the people?

People are struggling to put food on the table.

Families are feeling the pain at the gas pump. Gas prices have risen substantially this year, with the national average reaching levels above $4 a gallon amid the continuing disruption of global oil markets.

America is involved in an ongoing war with Iran—one that has already cost American lives and continues to affect energy markets and the global economy.

And healthcare?

For millions of Americans, affordable healthcare remains out of reach. The Census Bureau reports that 26.7 million Americans—7.9% of the population—were uninsured for the entire year in 2025.

Meanwhile, the current administration is pursuing major construction and other high-profile projects in Washington, including a proposed $400 million White House ballroom complex and plans involving a proposed triumphal arch.

And that’s where I have to ask:

What about the people?

What about the mother standing in the grocery store trying to figure out what she can afford?

What about the father watching the gas pump climb higher and wondering which bill he will have to postpone?

What about the senior citizen choosing between medication and groceries?

What about the person who is sick but afraid to seek medical care because of the cost?

What about the military families worrying about loved ones serving in a war zone?

What about the Americans who are working hard every day and still struggling to make ends meet?

These aren’t abstract political issues.

These are human beings.

I believe government should never lose sight of the people it exists to serve.

And that’s why I struggle when it appears that enormous buildings, monuments, renovations, and political legacy projects can command so much attention while ordinary Americans are struggling with basic necessities.

There is nothing inherently wrong with building something beautiful.

There is nothing inherently wrong with investing in infrastructure.

There is nothing inherently wrong with having ambitious national projects.

But there is something wrong when the people begin to feel forgotten.

Leadership, in my view, isn’t measured by the size of a building.

It isn’t measured by how impressive a project looks.

It isn’t measured by how much attention a president or politician receives.

Leadership is ultimately about people.

It’s about serving.

It’s about listening.

It’s about protecting.

It’s about making difficult decisions with the wellbeing of the country—not personal legacy—at the center.

And that’s why I believe Americans have a responsibility to pay attention.

Not just Republicans.

Not just Democrats.

Not conservatives.

Not liberals.

All of us.

We cannot afford to treat politics like a football game where we automatically defend our team regardless of what happens on the field.

Our allegiance to a political party should never be greater than our commitment to truth, integrity, our neighbors, and the wellbeing of our country.

So as we approach the November elections, please do your homework.

Don’t simply believe what someone posts on Facebook.

Don’t let a television commercial make your decision.

Don’t listen to only the people who already agree with you.

Look at the candidates.

Look at their records.

Read their policies.

Examine the spending.

Check the claims.

Look at what has actually happened—not just what someone promises will happen.

Listen to opposing viewpoints.

Ask hard questions.

And then—

pray.

Pray for wisdom.

Pray for discernment.

Pray for our country.

Pray for our military.

Pray for our communities.

Pray for the people who will be elected.

And perhaps most importantly, pray for ourselves.

Pray that we won’t be motivated by hatred.

Pray that we won’t be controlled by fear.

Pray that we won’t become so politically tribal that we can’t recognize truth when it comes from someone we disagree with.

Because the November election isn’t simply about political parties.

It’s about choices.

It’s about accountability.

It’s about the direction our communities and our country take.

And we each have a responsibility to participate.

So don’t just complain.

Learn.

Listen.

Question.

Verify.

Pray.

And vote.

Don’t vote because I told you how to vote.

Don’t vote because your neighbor told you how to vote.

Don’t vote because a political party told you how to vote.

Vote after you’ve done the work.

Because democracy requires more than passionate opinions.

It requires informed citizens.

And regardless of where you stand politically, I hope we can agree on one thing:

The American people should never become an afterthought.

People matter.

Families matter.

Our seniors matter.

Our children matter.

Our veterans matter.

Our sick and vulnerable neighbors matter.

And the people who are struggling today matter.

What about the people?

That’s the question I hope every candidate—and every voter—will be willing to answer. ~OC

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A Prayer For Healing

Dear Jesus,

Be near to the person walking through this cancer battle today. Give them strength when they feel weak, peace when they are afraid, and hope when the road feels too long.

We declare in faith that cancer does not have the final word—Jesus does. We speak life, healing, strength, and restoration over their body. We ask You to touch every cell, strengthen every organ, calm every fear, and bring healing where healing is needed.

Guide every doctor, nurse, treatment, and decision. Give wisdom to those providing care and courage to the one receiving it.

Lord, let Your healing power move through this body. Let every treatment accomplish what it is intended to do, and let there be strength where there has been weakness and renewed hope where there has been exhaustion.

We believe You are still the Healer. We believe miracles are still possible. We believe this battle is not the end of the story.

Surround them with Your presence and remind them that they never walk alone.

In the mighty, powerful and healing name of Jesus, Amen.

~OC

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I’m Curious

In a Facebook post, one of my friends poised the following questions.

The questions peaked my curiosity.

Can we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God while serving under the banner of the American government?

Can we claim to be a nation founded on freedom while ignoring the freedom, dignity, and humanity of our neighbors?

Can we call ourselves a Christian nation while forgetting that Jesus never told us to love only the people who look like us, vote like us, worship like us, or were born where we were born?

Is our country poised to encourage us to love our neighbors as ourselves?

I’m curious.

Because Micah 6:8 doesn’t say:

Act justly when it’s politically convenient.

Love mercy when the person deserves it.

Walk humbly when everyone agrees with you.

It simply says:

“Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”

And Jesus didn’t give us a list of exceptions when He said:

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Our allegiance to Jesus must always be greater than our allegiance to a political party, a government, an ideology, or even our own comfort.

America has laws.

America has leaders.

America has political parties.

But Jesus has disciples.

And disciples are called to something higher.

We are called to feed the hungry.

Welcome the stranger.

Defend the vulnerable.

Care for the forgotten.

Stand with the oppressed.

Speak truth when truth costs us something.

Love our enemies.

And treat every human being as someone created in the image of God.

So maybe the question isn’t simply:

“Is America doing enough?”

Maybe the harder question is:

“Am I?”

Am I loving my neighbor?

Am I showing mercy?

Am I pursuing justice?

Am I walking humbly?

Am I willing to speak when silence would be easier?

Am I willing to stand with people Jesus would have stood beside—even when standing there costs me friends, followers, comfort, or approval?

Because before I am an American…

I am a follower of Jesus.

And when the values of my government, my political party, or my culture collide with the teachings of Christ, I don’t get to rewrite Jesus.

I have to follow Him.

That’s not anti-American.

That’s discipleship.

Jesus first.
Neighbor second.
Politics somewhere far behind.

So yes…

I’m curious.

What would America look like if Christians actually took Jesus seriously?

Not just on Sunday.

Not just in our churches.

Not just when it benefits us.

But everywhere.

Maybe that’s where the real change begins. ~OC

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Dear Christian, Please Stand Up

Dear Christian, please stand up.

I think it’s time for Good Trouble and to start flipping some tables.

For too long we’ve confused being nice with being faithful. We’ve stayed seated. Stayed quiet. Stayed polite while the temple filled with money changers.

Jesus wasn’t crucified for being nice. He was crucified for flipping tables.

He walked into the house of God, saw exploitation, saw corruption, saw people using the name of God for profit and power, and He didn’t write a polite letter. He made a whip. He turned over tables. He drove it out. John 2:15.

John Lewis called it Good Trouble. Necessary trouble. The kind of trouble that says love is not passive. Love protects. Love confronts. Love refuses to look away.

So I’m asking you, brother and sister in Christ:

Stand up when it’s easier to sit down.
Speak up when it’s safer to stay silent.
Flip the table of injustice in your part of the world.
Flip the table of corruption in your church, your neighborhood and politics.
Flip the table of lies in our political system. Regardless of party affiliation.

We were never called to fit in with this world. We were called to shake it.

My Friend, it’s time. ~OC

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Our Neighbors Face

I BELIEVE THAT IN THE FACE OF EVERY NEIGHBOR, WE CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE FACE OF GOD.

Not just the neighbor who looks like us.

Not just the neighbor who agrees with us.

Not just the neighbor who votes like us, worships like us, speaks like us, or comes from the same place we do.

Every neighbor.

The hurting neighbor.
The lonely neighbor.
The immigrant neighbor.
The poor neighbor.
The forgotten neighbor.
The neighbor who is struggling.
The neighbor who doesn’t believe what we believe.

Jesus didn’t tell us to love only the people who were easy to love.

He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Matthew 22:39

And when Jesus described the Good Samaritan, He shattered the walls people had built between “us” and “them.”

Maybe that’s the challenge for the Church today:

Stop looking for reasons to separate people and start looking for opportunities to love them.

Because every person we encounter is someone made in the image of God.

So before you judge them, see them.

Before you condemn them, listen to them.

Before you walk past them, love them.

Before you ask, “What do they deserve?”
ask, “What would Jesus do?”

Because sometimes the person standing in front of us isn’t an interruption to our ministry.

They ARE the ministry.

Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
— Matthew 25:40

So today, look a little closer.

You may discover that in the face of your neighbor…

you are seeing a glimpse of the face of God.

Love your neighbor.
See the person.
Serve the hurting.
Welcome the stranger.
Feed the hungry.
Lift the broken.
And let the world see Jesus through the way we love.

Because the Gospel isn’t just something we preach.

It’s something we live. ~OC

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Would Jesus Do This?

STOP SCROLLING.

I have some questions for the Church and the Christian Community.

Would Jesus separate families from each other?

Would Jesus force children off food assistance or healthcare while they are already struggling to survive?

Would Jesus disrespect people, call them names, demean them, and then claim it was all being done in His name?

Would Jesus terrorize an immigrant who is working hard to provide for their family?

Would Jesus use Scripture as a weapon to justify hatred?

Would Jesus turn His back on His neighbor because they were different, poor, undocumented, politically opposed, addicted, broken, or simply didn’t look like us?

When I read Scripture, study the life of Jesus, and look at the way He treated people, I keep coming back to the same answer:

NO.

No.

No.

No.

Jesus touched the untouchable.

Jesus welcomed the rejected.

Jesus fed the hungry.

Jesus defended the vulnerable.

Jesus showed compassion to the hurting.

Jesus loved His enemies.

Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors.

Jesus didn’t tell us to find reasons to hate people.

He told us to love God and love our neighbor.

And here’s the uncomfortable part:

We don’t get to put Jesus’ name on something simply because we believe we’re right.

If our politics make us cruel, something is wrong.

If our theology makes us hateful, something is wrong.

If our Christianity makes us dehumanize people, something is wrong.

If we’re screaming about protecting Christianity while refusing to show the love, mercy, compassion, grace, and truth of Christ…

we may be defending a religion while completely missing Jesus.

I’m not asking you to agree with me politically.

I’m asking something much more important:

Does the way we treat people look like Jesus?

Because one day, we’re not going to stand before Jesus and explain what our political party believed.

We’re not going to stand before Him and defend our favorite politician.

We’re going to stand before HIM.

So before we say, “I’m doing this in Jesus’ name,” maybe we should stop and ask:

“Jesus, would You do this?”

Because if the answer is no…

then don’t put His name on it.

BE THE HANDS.
BE THE FEET.
BE THE LOVE.
BE THE TRUTH.
BE THE LIGHT.

And above everything else—

BE LIKE JESUS.

That’s the Christianity this world desperately needs. ~OC

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A Letter to God

Dear God,

I look at this world and my heart breaks.

There is too much hatred.
Too much division.
Too much violence.
Too much fear.
Too many people hurting while the rest of us keep scrolling.

So, God, don’t just change the world around me. Change Me.

Give me eyes to see the people everyone else overlooks.

Give me ears to hear the cries nobody wants to hear.

Give me courage to stand up when staying silent is easier.

Give me compassion for the broken.

Give me grace for the difficult.

Give me strength to love people I don’t understand.

And God…

Don’t let me just talk about Jesus.

Let people SEE Jesus in me.

When someone is hungry—let me feed them.

When someone is hurting—let me sit with them.

When someone is lonely—let me show up.

When someone is afraid—let me bring hope.

When someone is pushed aside—let me stand beside them.

When someone has fallen—let me reach down and help them back up.

God, make me Your hands.
Make me Your feet.
Make me Your voice.
Make me Your love in action.

Because this world doesn’t need another Christian yelling about Jesus.

This world needs Christians who will LIVE like Jesus.

WAKE UP, CHURCH.

Stop asking God to send somebody else.

Maybe YOU are the somebody.

Maybe the miracle someone is praying for is supposed to walk through your front door.

Maybe the answer to someone’s prayer has your hands.

Maybe the encouragement they desperately need has your voice.

Maybe the love they’ve been missing has your name attached to it.

So, Lord…

SEND ME.

I’ll go.

I’ll love.

I’ll serve.

I’ll stand.

I’ll get into the Good Trouble that love requires.

I’ll keep showing up.

And I’ll keep pointing people back to You.

Not my name.
Not my platform.
Not my glory.

YOURS.

Because if I claim to follow Jesus…

then I better be willing to walk where Jesus walked.

Jesus, make me Your hands and feet.

AMEN. 

~OC

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Classroom or Coffin

Every one of us has made mistakes.

Some of us have made BIG mistakes.

We have said things we wish we could take back.
Made decisions we wish we could undo.
Trusted people we shouldn’t have trusted.
Ignored warnings we should have listened to.
Taken roads we never should have traveled.

But here’s the truth:

Your mistake does not have to become your identity.

A mistake can become a Classroom when you are willing to learn from it.

But it can become a Coffin when pride keeps you from admitting it, repentance keeps getting postponed, and you continue making the same destructive choices over and over again.

Don’t waste your pain.

Don’t waste your failure.

Don’t waste the lesson.

Learn from it.
Own it.
Repent from it.
Grow from it.
Then keep moving forward.

You don’t have to stay buried in yesterday because you made a mistake yesterday.

Grace is bigger than your failure.

Mercy is greater than your mess.

And God is not finished writing your story.

The enemy wants your mistakes to bury you.
God wants to use them to build you.

So get back up.

Take the lesson.

Close the chapter.

Walk forward.

And remember:

YOUR MISTAKES CAN EITHER BE YOUR CLASSROOM OR YOUR COFFIN.

DON’T DIE IN A LESSON GOD INTENDED TO TEACH YOU.

Get up.

Learn.

Repent.

Overcome.

And keep fighting the good fight.

Your story isn’t over.

Jesus still saves. Jesus still restores. Jesus still redeems. And Jesus can take the broken pieces of your life and create something beautiful.

KEEP OVERCOMING. ~OC

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Human-The Soundtrack Of My ICU Battle

Sometimes God speaks through a sermon.

Sometimes through Scripture.

Sometimes through another person.

And sometimes… He speaks through a piano.

While I was lying in an ICU room at a local hospital, fighting for my life, Tommee Profitt’s new project, Human, was released.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

As many of you know, things did not look good.

This was the second time this year that I had been hospitalized and found myself fighting for my life. There were moments when the road ahead looked incredibly uncertain.

But while I was lying there in that ICU room, I put Human on repeat.

Over and over.

And over again.

Human is, in many ways, a simple project—beautiful instrumental pieces centered around the piano. There are no complicated words. No elaborate message being preached through lyrics.

Just music.

But somehow, those piano notes said everything I needed to hear.

That album didn’t just become background music in my hospital room.

It ministered to me.

It brought peace into a room filled with machines, monitors, alarms, medications, uncertainty and fear.

And something else happened that I didn’t expect.

It touched the people who walked through that ICU door.

Doctors.

Nurses.

Hospital staff.

Family.

Friends.

People would come into my room while Human was playing, and for a few moments, the atmosphere seemed to change.

The music became part of the story.

Part of the battle.

Part of the healing.

For me, Human will forever be connected to those ICU days.

Not because the album saved me.

God did.

Not because music performed a miracle.

God did.

Not because I somehow fought my way back on my own.

God carried me.

Today, I’m home.

I’m recovering.

And my new medical team is amazed at how far I’ve come.

After everything that happened, I don’t take that for granted.

All praise, honor and glory belong to God.

He never left my side.

Not in the ICU.

Not in the darkest moments.

Not when things looked impossible.

Not when I was fighting for my life.

And not now that I’m home.

He was there through every breath, every prayer, every tear, every medical treatment and every uncertain moment.

And I’m incredibly thankful.

I’m also thankful for artists like Tommee Profitt, whose music became an unexpected companion during one of the hardest battles of my life.

Especially Human.

Sometimes we don’t realize how powerful a gift we’ve been given until it finds us at exactly the moment we need it most.

For me, Human found me in an ICU room.

And I will never hear those piano notes the same way again.

They will always remind me of a battle I survived…

A God who never abandoned me…

And another chapter in this crazy, beautiful journey called life.

I’m home.

I’m still standing.

I’m still fighting.

I’m still overcoming.

And most importantly…

God is still writing my story.

May you have a beautiful, peaceful and blessed day.

And wherever you are today, whatever you’re facing, remember this:

You are not alone.

Keep fighting.

Keep believing.

Keep overcoming.

And never forget who is carrying you through the battle.

Jesus.

~OC

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Twenty-Five Years Later…We Remember

Today marks 25 years since September 11, 2001.

Twenty-five years.

And yet for those who lived through that day, it can still feel like yesterday.

We remember where we were.

We remember watching the first plane hit.

Then the second.

We remember the towers falling.

We remember the Pentagon.

We remember Flight 93.

We remember the confusion.

The fear.

The unanswered questions.

The phone calls.

The tears.

And the overwhelming realization that America had changed forever.

Before 9/11, we worried about ordinary things.

After 9/11, we looked at the sky differently.

We looked at airports differently.

We looked at strangers differently.

We hugged our families a little tighter.

We prayed a little harder.

And for a brief moment, something happened in America that we desperately need to remember.

We came together.

Political parties didn’t matter as much.

Arguments didn’t matter as much.

Our differences didn’t matter as much.

We were Americans.

We stood together.

We mourned together.

We prayed together.

We served together.

And we discovered an incredible truth:

When evil tries to divide us, love can still bring us together.

But 9/11 also taught us something else.

Freedom isn’t free.

Peace isn’t guaranteed.

Evil is real.

Life is fragile.

And tomorrow is never promised.

We learned that heroes don’t always wear uniforms.

Some ran toward the burning buildings while everyone else was running away.

Firefighters.

Police officers.

Paramedics.

First Responders.

Military personnel.

Flight attendants.

Ordinary citizens who made extraordinary choices.

Some gave their lives trying to save complete strangers.

That is courage.

Twenty-five years later, we should ask ourselves:

What have we learned?

Have we learned to love our neighbors?

Have we learned to appreciate the people sitting beside us?

Have we learned that hatred only creates more hatred?

Have we learned that our disagreements don’t have to make us enemies?

Have we learned that our time with the people we love is precious?

Have we learned that America is stronger when we stand together rather than tear one another apart?

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth:

We cannot change what happened on September 11, 2001.

But we can decide what September 11, 2001 will continue to teach us.

We can remember the innocent lives stolen.

We can honor the heroes who ran toward danger.

We can pray for the families who still carry empty chairs at their tables.

We can remember the survivors.

We can remember those who spent years battling the physical and emotional consequences of that day.

And we can refuse to allow hatred, division, bitterness and political tribalism to destroy the unity we discovered in the ashes.

Twenty-five years later, don’t just remember the buildings that fell.

Remember the people.

Remember the sacrifice.

Remember the courage.

Remember the unity.

Remember the prayers.

Remember the heroes.

Remember how quickly life can change.

And most importantly…

REMEMBER THAT WE ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE DO WITH THE LIFE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

The next breath isn’t guaranteed.

The next conversation isn’t guaranteed.

So call somebody.

Forgive somebody.

Hug your family.

Tell someone you love them.

Help somebody who is hurting.

Stand up for somebody who cannot stand for themselves.

And when the world tries to convince us that we have to hate one another because we disagree…

REFUSE.

We can remember September 11 without living in fear.

We can remember September 11 without surrendering to hatred.

We can remember September 11 by choosing courage over cowardice, love over hate, unity over division, and service over selfishness.

25 years later, we remember.

25 years later, we mourn.

25 years later, we honor.

25 years later, we still stand.

And may we never forget.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 — NEVER FORGET. 

God bless the families who lost loved ones.
God bless those who served.
God bless those who continue to carry the scars.
And God bless America. ~OC

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