Tag: love

Love Over Hate

Hate continues to rear its ugly head in America. We have have experienced four mass shootings. We have experienced more hateful tweets and comments from our elected leaders. It seems it’s gotten easier for people to choose hate over love.

It would be easy to get caught up in all the hate. All we have to do is turn on the tv, open up social media or just walk outside. Hate is all around us. Some of our political leaders have earned their PhD’s in the area of hateful rhetoric. How did we get here?

If you’re a conservative you’re told on a daily basis the liberals are to blame. How liberals are out to destroy America. If you’re a liberal, you’re told on a daily basis the conservatives are to blame. How conservatives want to take America back to the 1950’s. The talking points change daily, but the game has been the same for years; exploit fear and distrust. Make it Them Against Us. My prayer today is that we will make a Bigger Us and a Smaller Them.

We need to stop demonizing people who have different political views than us. We need to stop demonizing people who look different than us. We need to stop demonizing people who have a different faith than us. We need to stop demonizing people who were born in a different country than us. Instead we need to celebrate our differences, because that’s what has always made America great.

So we have a choice to make. We can keep pitting Them Against Us or we can all come to the Table of Love and have real and significant conversations. I believe we will find we have more in common than we realize.

As you know, I love to share take away points in my blog post. Here are some ways we can choose to Love More and Hate Less:

*We have a choice. We make the choice what we believe. We make the choice what we watch and listen to. We make the choice to be part of the problem or part of the solution.

*Replace Judgement with Grace. The world is constantly beating people down. Instead of being the Judge and Jury, make the choice to show some grace.

*Truly Listen. It is so easy to bombard people with your beliefs and opinions. Make the choice to take some time to listen to people who think, act, look and speak differently than you. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with them, but take the time to listen to them.

*Choose Love. Choosing love can be difficult at times. Let’s face it, some people are hard to love. I bet that hard to love person just came to mind. I did not say choosing love would be easy. Choosing love is a daily choice. But I believe it is worth the hard work.

“I have decided to stick with love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

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I Love You

To my brothers and sisters in Baltimore, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters of color, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters in the LBGTQ+ Community, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters on the other side of the political aisle, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters of a different faith, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters who spew hate, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters who wish me harm, I love you.

To my atheist brothers and sisters, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters who have a different opinion than me, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters that feel lost, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters who want to give up, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters in prison, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters who do not feel loved, I love you.

To my brothers and sisters who might attack me for this post, I love you. ~OC

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Love Over Hate

Hate can be easy. Hating someone or something, means you don’t have to learn about what you hate. You don’t worry about finding the truth. Hating is an excuse not to deal with your feelings. Also hate is easy to find. Just turn on the news. Turn on your computer or phone. Go outside. Take a look at our so called political leaders. There is enough hate to go around. But I believe hate is also tiring. Lonely. Have you ever watched a racist on tv? They all look mad, tired and lonely. Why would anyone choose to hate? It definitely does not look healthy.

Love can be hard. It takes time. It takes the choice to actually listen to other opinions. Not to close down when someone challenges your beliefs. Love means you have to be willing to forgive others. Even when your right. Love means that sometimes people will take advantage of you. Your heart might get broken. More than once. Why would anyone choose love?

Even though love can be hard, it is always the right choice. Love brings out the best in people. Love allows strangers to speak up for each other. Love allows us to look past our differences. Love challenges us to be the best version of ourselves. Love forces us out of our comfort zones. People who choose love are full of life. Love doesn’t keep score.

I wish, when we opened up the newspaper or turned on the news, the first stories that greeted us would be full of love. When we scrolled down social media, we would smile/laugh more than we would cringe. That would be amazing. Not sure that’s going to happen anytime soon, but this blessed overcomer is always going to choose love. How about you? ~OC

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Church In America

I saw this sign posted on some friends’ social media pages this week. Some of these friends would call themselves Christians. This photo made me angry and sad all at the same time. I almost posted something ugly in response, but God reminded me two wrongs don’t make a right. Yes, this church was wrong to post this message. Anyone who liked this photo, gave a thumbs up or a smiley face was wrong.

I am concerned that too many churches have become more concerned about politics and less concerned about the gospel. If this church and it’s leadership were more concerned about the gospel, they would have looked at that sign and decided to post something that would bring people together. But I fear, like so many churches in America, they put their political beliefs over their obligation to love God and love people. Even people they disagree with.

Did that church have the right to post that sign? Yes they did. Would I feel welcome in that church? Probably not. Sadly, that would not be the first time I didn’t feel welcome in a church. So my challenge to churches across America, is to be more concerned about living out the gospel of Jesus Christ and less concerned about living out your political beliefs. Thanks for listening. ~OC

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Silence Is No Longer An Option

This past week, has been a tough one in America. For the last few years, I have kept fairly silent about the things going on in Washington and around our country. I have spent my time praying for this nation and her leaders. I have spoken with some close friends about the issues facing our country. I made the choice not to share my thoughts in a public way. Then the President of the United States decided to comment that four women of color should go back to their country because they have some different beliefs than he does. Then he stood silent at a political rally, while his supporters chanted “Send Her Back.” These comments were directed to four American citizens. Regardless of what you think about their political views, they are American citizens. As Americans, they have the right to their views and should not have to deal with racist comments from the leader of the free world and his supporters. Yes, the comments from the President and the chants of his supporters were racist. A lot of people will disagree with me on this subject, but in my opinion there is no debate.

As I spoke with some of my friends of color this week, they shared that on more than one occasion they have been told to “go back to their country.” Their home country is the United States of America. My friends shared how hurtful these comments made them feel. As a white man in America, no one has ever told me to “Go back to your country.” I do not believe I have ever heard that comment directed towards a white person. That is why I feel the comments by the President and his supporters were racist.

I may not agree with everything the four Congresswomen stand for, but I do stand for their right to say it. That is what America was built on. The freedom of speech and to express your opinions. These four women are elected leaders. If their constituents disagree with their views, they can vote them out. But in America, we should never tell fellow Americans they should go back to their country. They are already living in their country.

I will continue to pray for America and her leaders. I am thankful to live in this beautiful country. With that said, I can no longer stay silent, when I need to speak out. I encourage everyone to pray for this country and our leaders. I also encourage everyone to speak up when needed. I still believe better days are ahead for America. Let us stand together with all of our fellow citizens and demand more from our political leaders. And more importantly, demand more from ourselves. ~OC

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Stop Judging People

Everyone you come in contact with today has a story. A story we might not understand or relate to. We may not know or understand their stories, but God does.

The last few years, God has truly been teaching me to stop judging others and to genuinely show them God’s love and to learn their stories. God showed me that I was judging people without even realizing it. I was passing judgement without getting to truly know a persons journey. What they were going through in life. Instead, at times I was placing a label on them based on what I saw on the outside. Why did they look or act the way they did? But what if I knew their story? I mean really knew their stories. Not the masked they put on for the public.

To look past that public mask, we would have to slow down and get to know that person. That would take our time. It would take some effort. It might get dirty at times. Are you willing to get a little messy to truly look past the mask?

There are hurting people all around us. Doing their best to put on a happy face. It is time to open our eyes. It is time to trade our judgement for God’s love and compassion. It is time to pray that God would give us His eyes, so we can truly see the hurting people around us.

Are you ready to step out of your judgement and to truly love those around you? To take time to learn the stories of the hurting. Hurting people are asking if anyone really cares. Today could be your day to stop judging them and truly get to know their story. To show them you really care. ~OC

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Encourage Others

I love encouraging everyone around me. Each morning I pray God will bring people my way that need some encouragement. Here are a few easy ways we can encourage others.

Pray for other.

Call a loved one.

Share words of encouragement.

Pay for someone’s meal.

Send someone a card or letter.

Leave your spouse or roommate a post-it note with some encouraging words.

Be patient with the clerk at the grocery store. Share a kind encouraging word with them.

Share a smile.

Encourage your coworkers.

Share a hug (Be appropriate).

Spend some quality time with family and friends.

Take your neighbors garbage can to the curb or return the empty garbage can.

Send a positive text to a loved one or friend.

Tell your boss, coworkers, employees, pastors and friends that you appreciate them.

Always say Thank You.

Be quick to listen and slow to speak.

Recognize others and their accomplishments. Celebrate them.

Turn your cell phone off when visiting with family and friends.

Be a positive and encouraging person.

Don’t always talk about yourself.

These are just a few ways to encourage others. Find ways to encourage those around you. ~OC

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True Love

When I think about true love, I think about my beautiful bride Laura. If there was a picture of true love, her picture would be be front and center. This is not just a husband bragging about his wife on Valentine’s Day. Let me share a little love story with you. A young man meets a young girl while rollerblading in Palm Beach almost 20 years ago. This young couple gets married in the same year. I am sure a lot of people thought what crazy kids. In year three of this beautiful love story, the young man gets sick. Maybe just a little bump in the road. No, that little bump would become a crazy beautiful journey that would still be going on in year 20 of this love story. So what does this young girl do? She steps up and becomes the young man’s cheerleader, health advocate, caregiver and get in your face kind of protector when needed. This young lady has been my champion. That young couple could have never known the journey they would travel. But they decided to make the most of all the hospital stays and doctor visits. Many Valentine’s Days spent in the hospital. That young couple has always found a way to turn a negative into a positive. They have always decided to run, sometimes limp through this crazy beautiful journey together. Always together. ~OC

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