Today’s a new day! Woven into the fabric of my life is an understanding of what it is to suffer, and from that understanding flows compassion, love, mercy and grace. ~OC
Prayers Up!
When it gets deep in the night
Where time seems to stand still
I can hear my heart beat and my thoughts screaming and that’s not always a good thing
It’s going to be one of those nights
Where sleep is a distant dream
Sometimes the voices get loud
And the hallucinations seem so real, I have to remind myself they’re not legit, just a short circuit in my brain
But through it all, I stand tall
Not allowing all those voices and thoughts to become real
I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all
I will focus on the prize
Not all the junk, this disease
tries to steal from my mind
I keep fighting, gettin off the canvas
I keep running towards the One who
clears the cobwebs and reminds me
I am His precious child
I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all
I will continue to fight through the
night, all the negative thoughts
that keep me from counting sheep
and getting a good night sleep
I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all
The giants who try to bring me
down at night, are no match for
the One who used a boy named David to bring down one of the biggest
giants of all
I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all
It’s time to be Brave
It’s time to keep Overcoming
It’s time to be Fearless
I am ready to Battle
Refusing to back down
I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all
I am focused on the mission
Not going to backdown
Not going to run away
Going to walk with the King
I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all
As the night slowly creeps on
I will press into the promises
of my King, thankful they get me
through another night, time to be
fearless and pray through it all
I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all
As the night moves on and
My thoughts begin to wonder
the adrenaline starts flowing
and God’s angels get moving
the morning light will soon come shining
So, I will keep standing tall
Lifting up my prayers
to the One who created it all
I will keep fighting, refusing to fall
choosing to embrace faith over it all. ~OC
Views on Halloween
Today’s a new day! Here is my question for the day: Is it okay for Christians to celebrate Halloween?
It’s hard to outright ignore Halloween. It’s everywhere. In our condo, several people have their doors directed for this October 31st holiday. Have you walked into a store lately? Most are stocked with various Halloween items. In 2023, Americans spent $12.2 billion on Halloween. That’s a lot of candy and costumes.
So there’s no hiding from Halloween. But should Christians participate in it? Should Christian children be walking the neighborhoods trick or treating? Or should the Christian community rise up and boycott Halloween altogether?
Some say, yes, Christians should boycott Halloween. In arguing that Halloween should be off-limits for Christians,people will site the origin of Halloween back to pagan festivals in the first century AD. Some people will claim that blood, witchcraft, and horror have become the dominate themes of the day. Furthermore, Christians opposed to Halloween will cite Bible verses that condemn witchcraft and sorcery, as well as Bible verses that command Christians to separate themselves from all that is impure.
Others will say, no, Christians don’t need to boycott Halloween. I read where several writers call it revisionist history to claim that Halloween is rooted in a pagan festival. They each wrote that Halloween is actually rooted in Christianity. All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day (Nov. 1). These writers challenged Christians not to back down to the culture, but instead to reclaim Halloween. Many feel it’s possible to “soften” the holiday by wearing non-scary costumes like classic superheros and princesses and establishing wholesome family customs.
But here is the argument that has been most persuasive for me: Halloween is the rare occasion out of a busy calendar filled year to get out of our houses and interact with our neighbors.
I have been so amazed and happy how interactive the neighbors in our condominium have been. I have lived in neighborhoods where neighbors barely spoke with each other. That’s a totally different blog post, for a different day.
Let’s keep in mind, that God is infinitely resourceful. What if, in His perfect wisdom, God desires to leverage Halloween to build community among people? Halloween can be a strategic time to see your neighbors face to face (or maybe mask to mask). Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) We understand “neighbor” to mean any human being … which includes actual neighbors in your neighborhood.
So, Laura and I will happily be opening our door to the excited children with their colorful costumes screaming trick or treat and filling their creative buckets with tasty treats. And we will be looking for opportunities to engage with our neighbors. Happy Halloween! ~OC
Character Matters
Today’s a new day! Dear Christian Community, this is your boy “OC”. I need to confess something. I am getting pretty worn out defending us. As Christians, we claim to stand for truth. We shout a loud amen on Sunday mornings when our pastors speak about truth and character. We love to refer to stories in the Bible about character. But if some Christian’s continue to believe and spread lies about the 2020 election, migrants eating pets, and hurricane relief, all for the sake of “winning,” an election the Christian community can never expect to be taken seriously as “truth tellers” again. So please put your desire for political power aside and be truthful. Character and truth still matter, even if it doesn’t fit your agenda. ~OC
A Trip Back to 2016…Never Again
Today’s a new day! Let’s take a trip back to the election season of 2016. It’s an election season that changed America and the world forever. And I believe personally for the worst. In 2016, I saw so many white pastors, white Christian leaders and many white Christian’s trash their moral compass to gain political power.
There are many issues I could point to, but one area I want to address is loving everyone. There are many scriptures that discuss the importance of “Loving your neighbors.” All of our neighbors! Below are some scriptures I think many Christians, including myself need to review.
“‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Matthew 12:31
“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:44
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
As a longtime white Christian, I have been heartbroken to see so many white Christians focused not on loving all of their neighbors, but rather having an enemy that must be hated. Fear of these enemies is the ultimate motivator, not love. I have witnessed some white Christians create, fabricate and inflame hate for those they disagree with. Sadly, so many white Christians have chosen fear and hate over the love of a Savior they claim to serve. Here are some examples of how so many “White Christian Nationalists”are choosing to live their hate filled lives…
If they love minorities as themselves they fear the minorities will take over the church and society, and they’ll lose their white way of life. Their white privilege.
If they love African-Americans as themselves, they might have to take a real look at racism, true equality, true police accountability, true legal fairness, true economic justice, and true opportunity.
If they love the LGBTQ+ community as themselves, they’ll have to look past their hate and see a real human being. They will find people who love their families and only want to live a peaceful and better life.
If they love the least-of-these as themselves with economic equality, affordable health care, a real living wage, social security, long-term care, educational fairness and the removal of poverty they will have to come to terms with a thriving economy where everyone has a chance at the “American Dream.”
“Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.’” -Matthew 25:41-45
“He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich–both come to poverty.” -Proverbs 22:16
“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” -Ezekiel 16:49
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” James 2:8-9
In these scriptures, we see where God admonishes that our highest motivation should be the unconditional love and care for all of humanity equally. In contrast, there is truly no other fuel that drives White Christian Nationalism than having enemies to fear, hate, marginalize, fight, and treat unequally.
This is why the former president has the addictive support and allegiance of this UnChristian group of White Christian Nationalist. For the only thing they understand is fear, and the former president speaks their language like no other. He mocks special needs people, bullies his perceived enemies, embraces racism, fosters white supremacy, mistreats women, ignites division, worships greed, and loves himself above all things.
Biblically, this is the ultimate blaspheme of the Spirit.
To see love as the enemy.
To see fear as the friend.
To see enemies as the goal.
To fight at all cost, with lies, violence, duplicity, and sin.
To see a white, conservative, Republican, American Jesus as the way, truth, and life.
To see white, conservative Evangelicalism as the Kingdom.
Sorry, I want a President with whom love is greater than fear. I want a country where to love all people equally is a friend and not an enemy. I want see character in a flawed leader, a great society, a great economy, and a great nation to be defined by its love for all people equally, not fear nor hate.
I choose this way of life because the Bible commands me to. ~OC
“Evangelicals”
Today’s a new day! We see the word “evangelical” all over social media and the news these days. But what does this word really mean? The word “Evangelical” comes from the Greek word “euanggelion” which means “Gospel” or “Good News.” The aim of Christians, including myself, is to spread the Good News of love, forgiveness and salvation in the name of Jesus Christ.
Sadly today, the word “evangelical” has taken on a negative meaning to many around the world, because people recognized as “evangelical” have supported a man for president who clearly does not represent the teachings of Jesus Christ. This man is known for his lies about winning the last election, when he was shown many times that he did not win. He is known for his lack of respect and demeaning language for others, both opponents and previous supporters.
The most dangerous aspect of this man’s words is his threats to take revenge on his opponents and concentrate power in himself. He is certainly not the kind of person we want as an example for young people or anyone to follow as leader of our beautiful and imperfect nation. It is very difficult to think of him as a person who represents America to the world. I am very familiar with the argument that God chooses imperfect leaders to aid God’s people, like Cyrus of Persia, who released the Israelites from captivity. This is used as an excuse for supporting the former president who lacks integrity and poses a great threat to American democracy. He shows his love of power by his admiration of autocrats and supposed “strong men.”
Christians may vote for whomever they like, but it certainly does not reflect well on “Evangelicals” that they have become a key part of the voting block for the former President. This man has been described as a defender of Christianity, just as many authority figures and rulers in the past have been. The connection of Christianity to governmental power has been one of the historical hindrances to the spread of the Gospel. In contrast, the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, walked away from claiming such power and did not urge his followers to seek such power.
Christians who carry the label “evangelical” discredit their witness to the world by their association with the former president with his great desire for personal power and his revengeful attitude. This may appeal to some “evangelicals” who feel disdain for today’s society, for those in the media, for those in science, in higher education, and especially by those they consider liberal Christians in churches. These “Evangelicals” like that the former president talks down those he considers an enemy. The main purpose of Christians in relation to those seeking office in the government should be to create and support a government that cares for the disadvantaged and marginal people in the nation and gives opportunities to the poor to receive a helping hand, so they can work through the tough times and have a better life. Sadly, so many “evangelicals” have spoken out against any programs or laws that would extend a helping hand. These “Evangelicals” have supported this guy in his isolationism as he opposes aiding our allies in maintaining their democracies.
In the end, any message conveyed to the world, including the message of Christians, whether known as Evangelicals or not, must stand on its inherent power to change lives, not on the backing of any political power. The challenge for us carriers of this good news is to show its genuine spiritual transformative power by demonstrating that power in our own imperfect and flawed lives to benefit all people, communities and the world, especially those in need of lifting out of misery to a life of peace and joy. Our democracy gives freedom to all faiths to proclaim and demonstrate their messages. In today’s world, the challenge is to make the message truly Good News for all. ~OC
Advice….
Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I am given a lot of advice from well meaning people regarding my health and how I am living out my journey. Some of the advice comes from friends. Some from people who have heard about my story, but really don’t know my story. I am thankful for some of the advice and some I could live without. This journey is my story and I cannot live and be something or someone I am not. I am sick and my health is declining day by day. That’s just a fact. But I wasn’t created to live a dying life. So I will continue to live a life of purpose. I will live the life God created me to live. ~OC
Reflection
In light of recent comments, I am reminded of this powerful poem. I encourage everyone to spend some time reflecting on these words. ~OC
What Are You Feeding?
Today’s a new day! Want to know something interesting? Fear and Faith require the same thing in order to exist, uncertainty. Without the uncertainties of life we cannot have either. Our Fears and Faith only grow in “the soil of the unknown”. While we cannot get rid of all life’s unknowns, we can decide whether we “feed our faith” or “feed our fears.” Our choice. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 