Tag: Peace

Dangerous Temptation

Today’s a new day!

There is a dangerous temptation in the modern Church to preach against only the sins we personally dislike while remaining silent about the sins we tolerate, excuse, or even benefit from. Over the years, I’ve noticed that when some preachers confront the sins of American culture, the focus is often narrowed almost entirely to sexual morality, transgender debates, or Islam. While Scripture certainly calls believers to holiness and truth in every area of life, the Bible’s prophetic voice speaks just as forcefully against corporate greed, political corruption, racism, systemic injustice, slander, deception, pride, exploitation, and the neglect of the poor.

The Word of God does not allow us to selectively condemn sin based on political convenience or cultural comfort. The prophets confronted corrupt leaders who oppressed the vulnerable. Jesus rebuked religious hypocrisy and exposed systems that devoured widows while pretending to honor God. The apostles warned against greed, favoritism, division, and lovelessness just as seriously as they warned against sexual immorality.

Faithfulness to Christ means proclaiming the whole counsel of God — even when it confronts our own tribe, ideology, assumptions, or lifestyle.  

Too often, Christians can become passionate about the sins “out there” while ignoring the idols hidden within our own hearts. We may denounce immorality while harboring bitterness. We may speak loudly about truth while spreading slander or conspiracy. We may defend “Christian values” while neglecting the poor, the immigrant, the orphan, or the widow. Yet Scripture consistently reminds us that God sees all sin clearly and calls His people to repentance, humility, mercy, and holiness.

The apostle Paul paints a sobering picture of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21. The list includes sexual immorality, yes — but it also includes hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, envy, and drunkenness. Likewise, Colossians 3:5-9 confronts not only sexual sin, but greed, anger, malice, slander, and lying. In 1 Corinthians6:9-11, Paul reminds believers that many of us were once trapped in various forms of sin, “but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

That is the hope of the Gospel.

The answer is not pretending some sins matter less than others. Nor is it weaponizing morality against people we fear or dislike. The answer is repentance at the foot of the Cross. The ground is level there. Every one of us stands in desperate need of grace.

God’s grace is greater than all our various sins.

Romans 13:14 tells us to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” The call of Christianity is not culture war obsession; it is Christlikeness. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to expose every corner of our hearts — not just the sins that are easiest to preach about.

The Church must recover a prophetic voice that is not controlled by political parties, media outrage, or cultural tribalism. We are called to speak truth with courage and love, whether that truth confronts personal immorality, greed in the marketplace, racism in society, corruption in government, or pride within the Church itself.

Biblical Christianity does not belong to the “left” or the “right.” It belongs to Jesus.

And when we truly follow Jesus, He will challenge every idol we try to protect. ~OC

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A Country Divided

Today’s a new day! I debated on whether to share the following or not. But after praying about it, I decided it was time to share the newest writing. Well, new for you, but I have been holding on to it for some time. 

As I have watched the news, scrolled social media, and had conversations with family and friends, I have been heartbroken. The division, the cruelty, the “us versus them” mentality… it literally makes me sick to my stomach. I have watched the name-calling. I have watched politics turn human beings into teams, tribes, targets, and enemies. 

People ask me all the time if I’m a Democrat or a Republican. My answer is simple: I vote for whoever I believe will do the least harm in that moment. That’s it. Politics has taken on a level of hatred I want no part of. 

A house divided cannot stand. 

 And I am afraid this country is tearing itself apart piece by piece. 

The last time I remember seeing this country truly united in my lifetime was when those towers fell on September 11th. For a brief moment, we were not White, Black, Democrat, Republican, Rich, Poor, Blue State, Red State Left or Right. 

We were simply Americans. 

We cried together. We prayed together. We held each other up. And as tragic as that moment was, the unity that followed was a beautiful thing to witness. 

I miss that. 

Now everybody wants to be right, but not enough people want to be righteous. 

My health issues have taken a lot from me over the years. But at the same time, it’s allowed me to see life with a whole new perspective. So I do not share to gain anything. I am not afraid of backlash. I’ve got nothing left to lose except my place in heaven, and I refuse to give that up. 

I don’t agree with sin — any sin — but I will always love the person. 

That’s what Jesus did. 

When the woman caught in adultery was thrown at His feet, the crowd wanted to stone her. They wanted punishment. They wanted to feel righteous by destroying someone else. 

But Jesus didn’t join the mob. 

He protected her dignity first. 

Then He said, “Go and sin no more.” 

He corrected the sin without crushing the soul. 

That’s the example I try to follow. 

And look at how Jesus treated immigrants and strangers. 

He said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”  

He praised the Good Samaritan — a foreigner — as the true neighbor. 

He never taught us to fear people crossing borders. 

But today, we treat immigrants in ways we wouldn’t treat our dogs. 

We act like every one of them is a criminal. 

We forget they’re human beings — fathers, mothers, grandparents, children — many running from danger, hoping for a chance to do things the right way. 

Not all of them are criminals. 

Not all of them are threats. 

Every one of them deserves dignity and a chance to become a citizen the right way. 

This is who I try to be: 

Someone who chooses decency even when it costs something. 

Someone who refuses to join the outrage machine. 

Someone who speaks up for people being dehumanized — whether they’re immigrants, LGBTQ, disabled, poor, or simply different. 

I do not have a platform. 

I do not have a microphone. 

I have a body that doesn’t work very well anymore. 

But I still have eyes. 

I still have a conscience. 

And I still have a responsibility to speak the truth as I see it in the scriptures.

When God finally calls me home, I want to leave it knowing I stood on the side of compassion — not cruelty. On the side of humanity — not division. On the side of Jesus — not the crowd with the stones in their hands. ~OC

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Keep Going

Today’s a new day!

There are moments in life when the journey feels too heavy for words. Doctor appointments, setbacks, unanswered prayers, victories nobody else sees, and quiet tears in the middle of the night can shape a person in ways the world may never fully understand. Health battles have a way of stripping life down to what truly matters. They teach you what strength really looks like. They teach you who stays. They teach you how deeply you need God.

And through my own crazy, beautiful health journey, there are two words I have learned to live by:

Keep Going.

Not because every day is easy.
Not because every prayer gets answered overnight.
Not because fear magically disappears.

But because God is still God in the middle of the struggle.

Sometimes “keep going” looks heroic.
Sometimes it looks like worship music playing softly in a hospital room.
Sometimes it looks like praying through tears.
Sometimes it looks like simply getting out of bed when my body wants to quit.

The world often celebrates dramatic victories, but heaven also sees the quiet endurance. The days when nobody applauds you for surviving. The moments when faith is not loud, but stubborn. The seasons where all you can do is whisper, “Jesus, help me make it through today.”

That still counts as faith.

Health journeys are strange because they are both painful and beautiful at the same time. Painful because suffering changes you. Beautiful because God meets you there in ways comfort never could.

When life is going well, it is easy to say God is good.
But when your body hurts, your plans collapse, your future feels uncertain, and you still choose to trust Him anyway — that kind of faith becomes refined like gold.

I have learned that healing is not always instant. Sometimes healing comes in layers. Sometimes God heals physically. Sometimes He heals emotionally. Sometimes He heals spiritually first while your body is still fighting a battle.

And sometimes the miracle is not that you escaped the storm.
Sometimes the miracle is that you did not lose your faith inside it.

“Keep going” became more than motivation for me. It became survival. It became worship. It became a declaration that sickness would not have the final word over my life.

Because Jesus always has the final word.

There were days I questioned everything. Days I was exhausted from being strong. Days where I wondered why the road felt so long. But every single time I thought I had reached the end of myself, God reminded me that His strength begins where mine ends.

That is the beauty of grace.

Grace carries you when your legs are weak.
Grace holds you together when your emotions fall apart.
Grace reminds you that your identity is not found in a diagnosis, limitation, or medical chart.

You are still loved.
You are still chosen.
You are still called.
You are still valuable.

The enemy wants suffering to make you bitter, isolated, and hopeless. But God can use suffering to make you compassionate, authentic, and deeply rooted in Him.

Some of the most powerful people I have ever met are people who have suffered deeply yet still carry kindness in their hearts. People who know pain but still choose love. People who understand weakness yet continue encouraging others.

That is real strength.

Maybe your own journey feels messy right now. Maybe you are waiting for test results, fighting chronic illness, battling exhaustion, or carrying silent struggles nobody else understands.

Keep going.

Even when progress feels slow.
Even when your prayers feel repetitive.
Even when fear tries to speak louder than faith.

Keep going because God is still writing your story.

One of the hardest lessons health struggles teach us is surrender. We like control. We like plans. We like certainty. But faith often grows strongest in uncertainty.

Sometimes God calms the storm.
Sometimes God calms His child while the storm still rages.

Either way, He remains faithful.

Looking back, I can honestly say this journey has changed me. It has forced me to slow down. It has humbled me. It has deepened my prayer life. It has made me appreciate small victories. It has taught me to stop taking ordinary days for granted.

And strangely enough, in the middle of all the pain, I have found beauty.

Beauty in quiet mornings with God.
Beauty in people showing up unexpectedly.
Beauty in learning that weakness is not failure.
Beauty in realizing that hope can still exist in hard places.

This crazy, beautiful journey has taught me that life is fragile, but faith is strong. Bodies may struggle, but God’s promises remain unshaken.

So if I could leave you with anything today, it would simply be these two words:

Keep Going.

Not because you have all the answers.
Not because you never feel afraid.
But because Jesus walks beside you every step of the way.

And sometimes the greatest testimony is not a person who never struggled.

Sometimes the greatest testimony is the person who went through the fire and still chose to trust God. ~OC

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The Kingdom

Today’s a new day! I want to share a poem I wrote a few years ago. It’s entitled “The Kingdom.” ~OC

They can empty my pockets,
strip the paint from my name,
close doors in my face
and leave me standing in the cold of rejection.

They can take the title,
the comfort,
the applause of crowds
that fade like smoke in the wind.

They can break my body with sickness,
bury my dreams beneath ashes,
and tell me I am forgotten.

But there is one thing
this world will never touch.

It cannot steal the crown
prepared by nail-scarred hands.
It cannot silence the promise
spoken by the risen King.
It cannot chain eternity,
cannot lock Heaven’s gates,
cannot erase my name
written in the Book of Life.

For my treasure is not built
from the dust of this earth.
My hope is not hanging
on the fragile thread of tomorrow.
My inheritance is guarded
beyond the reach of thieves,
beyond the power of kingdoms,
beyond the grave itself.

So let the storms come.
Let mountains crumble
and fortunes disappear.
Let the world take all it can carry.

Because when the final shadow falls,
I will still stand redeemed,
still held by mercy,
still clothed in grace.

The world may take everything from me,
but it cannot take away
the Kingdom of Heaven from me.

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Microwave Waiting

Today’s a new day! 

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of the Christian life. We pray. We cry out to God. We ask for direction, healing, provision, or restoration, and deep down we often expect an immediate answer. We live in a world of instant downloads, fast food, overnight shipping, and microwave solutions, so naturally we sometimes expect our prayers to work the same way.

We pray about a job and hope the phone rings tomorrow. 

We pray about a relationship and expect immediate reconciliation.


We pray about a health issue and long for instant healing.

And sometimes God does answer quickly. Sometimes doors swing wide open almost immediately. Sometimes healing comes fast, provision appears unexpectedly, and breakthrough arrives sooner than we imagined. Those moments remind us that God is powerful, loving, and fully able to move in an instant.

But other times… God’s timing feels like forever.

There are seasons when heaven seems quiet. Seasons where the prayer has been repeated hundreds of times. Seasons where tears have become part of the daily routine. In those moments, it can be tempting to believe God has forgotten us, ignored us, or moved on from our situation.

But the silence of God does not mean the absence of God.

Often, the waiting season is where God does some of His deepest work in us. While we are focused on the answer, God is focused on our heart. While we are praying for a destination, God is shaping our character during the journey.

Waiting teaches us trust.

Anyone can praise God when the answer comes quickly. But faith grows stronger when we continue trusting Him before we see the outcome. Waiting teaches perseverance. It teaches surrender. It teaches us to seek God not only for what He can give us, but simply for who He is.

Sometimes God delays the answer because He is protecting us. Sometimes He is preparing us. Sometimes He is arranging circumstances we cannot yet see. And sometimes He wants us to learn to hear His voice more clearly in the quiet place of dependence.

The Bible is filled with people who had to wait.

The Book of Psalms is full of cries from David asking, “How long, O Lord?” Abraham waited years for God’s promise. Joseph waited through betrayal and prison before stepping into purpose. Even the disciples had to wait after the resurrection before the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.

The waiting was never wasted.

Neither is yours.

If you are praying today for a job, a relationship, healing, direction, or peace, do not give up because the answer has not arrived yet. Keep pressing in. Keep praying. Keep opening God’s Word. Keep worshiping when it is hard. Keep listening for His voice.

Sometimes God speaks through open doors.
Sometimes He speaks through closed doors.
And sometimes He speaks through the waiting itself.

Do not let delay destroy your faith. God is still working even when you cannot yet see the evidence. A seed underground looks invisible before it becomes a harvest.

God’s timing is not microwave timing. It is holy timing.

And when the answer finally comes, you may discover that the greatest miracle was not simply what God did for you, but what He did inside of you while you waited. ~OC

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The Water Station

Today’s a new day! Over the last few months, I have written a collection of short stories entitled “Miles That Still Matter.” I thought I would share another one with you today. ~OC

The church hosted a community 5K every spring.

For years, Ed had been one of the lead runners. Now he volunteered at the water station near mile two.

At first, he hated it.

Watching runners glide past felt like torture.

But halfway through the race, a teenage boy stopped near the table, bent over, exhausted.

“I can’t do this,” the boy gasped.

Ed handed him water.

“What’s your name?”

“Eli.”

“First race?”

The boy nodded.

Ed smiled. “You know the biggest lie in distance running?”

Eli shrugged.

“That strong runners never struggle.”

Ed pointed down the road.

“The best runners in the world hit walls. They cramp. They doubt themselves. The difference is they keep moving.”

Eli looked unconvinced.

Ed continued, “That’s true spiritually too. 

Following Jesus doesn’t mean you never get tired. It means you keep turning toward Him when you are.”

The starting horn echoed faintly in the distance behind them.

Ed said softly, “The cross was uphill too.”

Eli stood quietly for a moment.

Then he took another cup of water.

“I think I can finish.”

Ed grinned.

“One mile at a time.”

As Eli jogged away, Ed realized something holy:

God had taken him off the racecourse so he could stand at the water station for hurting souls.

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Alive, Awake, Alert

Today’s a new day!

As I continue walking this journey, I do so alive, awake, alert, and enthusiastic for Jesus. Life has a way of trying to wear us down. There are days filled with uncertainty, storms that seem relentless, and moments when exhaustion tries to silence our praise. Yet through it all, Christ continues to breathe fresh life into my spirit. He reminds me that faith was never meant to be passive or lifeless. Following Jesus is an active, living relationship that transforms the way we walk, speak, love, and endure.

To be alive in Christ means my heart still burns with purpose. To be awake means I refuse to sleep through the calling God has placed on my life. To be alert means I recognize that every conversation, every trial, and every blessing is an opportunity to reflect His light. And to be enthusiastic for Jesus means I will never apologize for celebrating the One who saved my soul, carried me through valleys, and never once abandoned me in my darkest hours.

This journey is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Jesus never promised a life free of hardship, but He did promise His presence. Even on difficult days, there is joy because Christ is still King. There is hope because the tomb is still empty. There is peace because God is still on the throne. The enemy may try to discourage believers, but discouragement does not define us. Our identity is found in Jesus Christ alone.

So I will continue forward with passion and expectancy. I will continue loving people, speaking truth, extending grace, and pointing others toward the Savior. I want my life to reflect a heart that is fully surrendered and fully alive in Him. This world desperately needs believers who are awake to the movement of God and enthusiastic about sharing the Gospel without fear or hesitation.

Today, I choose joy. I choose faith. I choose worship. And above all else, I choose Jesus. ~OC

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The Empty Road

Today’s a new day! Over the last few months, I have written a collection of short stories entitled “Miles That Still Matter.” I thought I would share one with you today. ~OC

Every morning at 5:00 a.m., Ed still woke up before sunrise.

For twenty years, he had laced up his running shoes before the world stirred awake. Marathons had shaped his life. He knew the quiet roads, the rhythm of breath, the ache in his legs at mile twenty-two, and the victory of crossing finish lines.

But now the shoes sat untouched beside the door.

A neurological condition had changed everything.

“Maybe tomorrow,” he whispered every morning, though he knew tomorrow would not come.

One chilly Florida morning, Ed sat on his porch with a cup of coffee, listening to a Carolina Wren sing from the oak tree nearby. His neighbor, Marcus, walked by slowly with his dog.

“Haven’t seen you running lately,” Marcus said carefully.

Ed forced a smile. “Doctors say those days are over.”

Marcus nodded awkwardly. “That’s rough.”

For a long moment, neither man spoke.

Then Ed quietly said, “You know what marathon running taught me?”

“What’s that?”

“That life isn’t won in the fast miles. It’s won in the hard ones.”

Marcus looked at him curiously.

Ed continued, “Anybody can run downhill with fresh legs. But when your body screams to quit and you keep going anyway—that’s where character shows up.”

Marcus stared at the ground.

“My wife left last month,” he admitted. “I honestly don’t know how to keep going.”

Ed leaned back in his chair.

“In a marathon,” he said, “you never focus on all twenty-six miles. You just look for the next step. Jesus works that way too. He doesn’t always give us the whole roadmap. Sometimes He just says, ‘Walk with Me to the next mile marker.’”

Marcus wiped his eyes.

That morning, Ed realized something.

He could no longer run races.

But he could still help weary people finish theirs.

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Cereal And The Gospel

Today’s a new day! 

In many ways, cereal can remind us of the Gospel. On the surface, a bowl of cereal may seem simple and ordinary, something many people rush through every morning without much thought. Yet when you pour the milk, every piece in the bowl is covered equally. The Gospel works the same way. God’s grace does not only cover the wealthy, the famous, or the “perfect” people. The love of Jesus reaches every person willing to receive Him. Some cereals are sweet, some plain, some colorful, and some broken into crumbs at the bottom of the box, but they all belong in the bowl. In the same way, the church is filled with different people from different walks of life, yet we are all invited to the same table of grace through Christ. The Gospel reminds us that no one is too broken, too small, or too far gone for the love of God.

Cereal also teaches us something about spiritual hunger. No matter how good cereal looks sitting in the box, it cannot nourish anyone until it is opened and received. The Bible says that Jesus is the Bread of Life, and just hearing about Him is not enough; we must personally receive Him into our hearts. Many people today are spiritually starving while trying to fill their lives with temporary things that never satisfy. Just as breakfast gives strength for the day ahead, spending time with God through prayer, worship, and Scripture strengthens our spirit for life’s battles. And sometimes, like the prize hidden in old cereal boxes, God places unexpected blessings inside seasons we thought were ordinary. The Gospel is not complicated religion; it is the daily reminder that Jesus meets us where we are, fills what is empty, and gives us exactly what our souls need. ~OC

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Not In The Storm

Today’s a new day!

There comes a moment in life when you realize the journey is not about pretending to be strong every second of every day. It is about learning how to walk honestly with God through both the beautiful moments and the painful ones. As I continue walking this crazy beautiful health journey, I am jumping into the deep end of life.  I am choosing to live fully, love deeply, and embrace every moment God places in front of me. I am taking trips with my bride, cherishing the laughter, the quiet moments, and the memories we are building together. I am having deep and meaningful conversations about real life, real struggles, real faith, and real hope. No sugar coating. No masks. Just honesty wrapped in grace.

Some days are incredibly good. Some days feel light, hopeful, and full of strength. Then there are days that are really tough. Days where the storm feels loud and exhausting. But through every high and every low, I refuse to let the storm become my identity. My diagnosis is not my identity. My struggles are not my identity. My difficult moments are not my identity. My identity is found completely in Christ, and that is the only identity that truly matters.

The world often tries to define people by what they are going through.   God defines us by who we belong to. We belong to Him. We are loved by Him. We are redeemed by Him. We are sustained by Him. Storms may shape parts of our story, but they do not get to name us. Jesus does.

What this journey has taught me more than anything is this: life is too precious to spend buried under fear, hesitation, or regret. Too many people are waiting for “someday” to start living. Someday they will take the dream trip. Someday they will say “I love you.” Someday they will forgive. Someday they will have the hard but healing conversation. Someday they will step out in faith and pursue what God placed in their heart. But someday is never promised.

So my encouragement to everyone reading this is simple: live life to the fullest. Trust God enough to truly live. Take the trip. Make the phone call. Sit down and have the real conversation. Laugh loudly. Love deeply. Pray boldly. Stop allowing fear to keep you trapped in a life of “I wish I would have.” The storm may still rage around you, but there is a way to live beyond the storm.

Living beyond the storm does not mean pretending the storm is not real. It means refusing to let the storm steal your joy, your purpose, your faith, or your ability to truly live. It means understanding that even in the middle of pain, God is still writing beautiful chapters. It means choosing to see every breath as a gift and every day as an opportunity to love God and love people well.

At the end of our lives, most people will not regret loving too much, believing too much, or trusting God too deeply. They will regret the moments fear kept them from fully living. So live courageously. Live gratefully. Live authentically. And no matter what storm comes your way, never forget who you are.

Your identity is not in the storm.

Your identity is in Christ. ~OC

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