Tag: Purpose

Unity

Today’s a new day! It is very rare to find someone who has not experienced church hurt in some way. In a very me society, it is much easier to faze in and out of churches when we like what it teaches or offers (or dislike what it teaches or does). The type of unity that the Bible speaks about and commands is rarely experienced. In fact, when a church tries to move in this direction, it’s easy to be skeptical and defensive.

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” ~Psalm 133:1-3

“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” ~Ephesians 4:13

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,” ~Romans 15:5

It is both good and pleasant when a church lives its life together in a unified manner. It’s like the anointed blessing of God in so much abundance that it covers us with God’s blessing from the top of our head to the soles of our feet. It is here, in unified fellowship, that God has commanded the very blessing of eternal life. In other words, when we live in a unified manner, we experience a taste of Heaven, where we will live eternally in perfect unity.

I truly believe that if we want to experience a taste of heaven, experience the joy of our Savior, and provide a faithful picture of Christ to the world, we need to pray and work for unity in our local churches. Because the enemy wants nothing more than to divide believers in the local church. As believers we must sit in the love, grace, forgiveness and love of Jesus. Let unity reign! ~OC

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2AM Thoughts

Today’s a new day! It’s 2am on this Tuesday morning. I have been unable to fall asleep. It’s just one of those crazy nights with Parkinson’s and Dementia. So I have walked around the house more times than I can remember. I have watched several YouTube videos to pass the time. Finally, I have decided to share my experience and thoughts with you. Writing is still something my brain allows me to do on occasion. Lately, God has filled my brain with many thoughts. I feel an urgency to write as much as possible before I can no longer do that. Tonight, my brain is extra active. That’s not always a good thing.

I have good days and bad days as I navigate through the multiple health issues that are slowly robbing me of so much. On a bad day, I cannot do anything at all. My energy levels are low and I feel fatigued. The only way I can describe it is that I feel like I have run a hundred marathons in a very short amount of time. I feel totally drained.

But I have lots of coping strategies. I choose to use those days to pray a lot more. I choose to reach out to friends even though I know, I will not hear back from the majority of them.

I think it’s important to have something that gives you a sense of purpose in life. I try to share my journey to help encourage others walking through their own life struggles. If I can help just one other person, that’s enough for me.

When most people think about neurological issues, especially dementia they think it’s all about memory loss. But I have cognitive issues also- trying to figure things out can be difficult and frustrating. Also too many voices at one time can be overwhelming. I get frustrated and anxious if I am struggling to follow the conversation. I also deal with a lot of rigidity and pain, which creates so many issues.

Over the years I have lost many friends as I have walked through this crazy beautiful health journey. I believe a lot of people have a difficult time talking to and relating to me. But I am still me. My story has just changed a little. A lot of times when Laura and I are around other people, they will address questions to her, not me. My prayer is that people would see the person, not the disease.

But I am blessed that a few friends have decided to stick around and not jump ship. I hold those friendships very close to my heart.

I choose to embrace each moment of life. I try to share my love and thoughts now. Not waiting for the perfect moment. Because the perfect moment is today. Laura and I do not wait for the perfect moment to buy that gift or take that trip. Now is the perfect time. Now is the perfect time to take care of future arrangements. Which we have done. I did not want Laura dealing with all of that on her own.

It also means we’ve had really indepth chats about what quality of life really looks like. Everyone has to figure that out for themselves and their loved ones.

Life looks different every day. What I could do yesterday, might be more difficult to accomplish today. I continue to live my life with my cup overflowing. I try not to beat myself up too much when I cannot do something anymore. Because there are still many things I can do. So today, I choose to embrace the now and what I can accomplish today. ~OC

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Guiding Light

Today’s a new day!

Our hope in Jesus, a beacon of light in our darkest moments,

With every step, with every misstep

He lifts us up, standing tall

In His love, we find our way

Through trials and tribulations each day

With faith as our guiding light

We navigate through life’s struggles

Jesus, is our Savior, and friend

Our hope in Him will never end

May His presence be our guiding light

Leading us step by step. ~OC

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Love…It’s That Simple

Today’s a new day! As we end another week, I thought I would challenge my Christian brothers and sisters with the following question:

As followers of Jesus, what can we do about all of the issues the world is facing right now?

There are many different directions we could go in answering that question. But as I have sat and pondered this question, one thing stood out to me above everything else. What the world needs from Christians in this time of so much division is Love. It sounds so simple, maybe even a little cliches, but love is the most powerful and effective tool we possess. Love can unlock doors and hearts that have been closed for years. Love is every Christians primary calling from God (Love God and love people Matthew 22:37). So why are so many Christians not extending love to everyone that God brings into their daily lives? I believe it’s because so many Christians are just as hurt as the rest of the world is right now. I believe we all hate where the world is today. But the more Christians choose to express hate, the more division and negativity is spread.

I believe it’s time for Christians to step into the calling that God has placed in each of our hearts. That takes changing our attitudes toward those we disagree with. That means loving those who think differently than us. That means loving those who look differently than us. That means loving those who speak differently than us. That means loving those who worship differently than us. Here’s a big one; it means loving those who vote differently than us. God’s love commands us to love people for who they are, not for what they do. Let that sink in for just a moment. But what does that mean? As I continue my faith journey, God is constantly reminding me that I need to love everyone because He created them in His image, and Jesus came and died a brutal death on the cross for each and everyone of them, regardless of their lifestyles, actions and beliefs.

I believe the job of every Christian is to love people for who they are, not for what they do or don’t do.

Loving people for who they are is the way that Jesus loves each and every one of us. He showed that love while walking on this earth. Throughout the Bible, we see examples of Jesus loving people right where they were. The actions or the position of a person did not matter to Jesus when it came to loving them. All that mattered was that God created them. Loving people unconditionally is the example that Jesus set. In 1 John 4:19 we read these words, We love because He first loved us.”

Loving people unconditionally is not something that comes naturally for most people. It’s a daily choice. We have to choose to love the people in our lives that can be difficult to love. I encourage each of us to make a conscious effort to love even the most difficult people in our lives. Take a moment to think about those difficult people in your own lives. No matter what they believe, no matter what political party they follow, no matter the lifestyle they decide to live, love them because Jesus does. He gave his life for them.

As Christians, we have been called to live like Jesus and unconditional love is what we need to be showing the world.

Jesus died willingly on the cross so that we would be saved. Jesus died regardless of our views, beliefs, or our lifestyle choices. Even if we decided never to follow Him, Jesus still saw each of us as worth dying for. Now that is unconditional love. I believe every Christian is called to love others in the same way that Jesus chooses to love each of us.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, love always perseveres. Love never fails.” ~1 Corinthians 13:4-8

This world is currently in turmoil. This is a great time for Christians to step up and truly love people. All people! Regardless of where they’re at in life. So today, just love people and let Jesus do the rest. Have a great day! ~OC

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Marriage Vows

Today’s a new day! On this date twenty-six years ago, I had the honor of marrying my bride Laura. When we shared our vows on that Friday night we had no idea that the majority of our marriage would center around my health issues.

Like every newlyweds, we thought The big stuff, the hard illnesses, would come later in life. That definitely has not been part of our story.

I was taken by surprise when life-threatening illness hit our home – and even more surprised when it happened to me. Without any warning signs, I began experiencing severe fatigue and muscle weakness. Within a few months and after a number of tests, Laura and I were told I had several forms of crippling arthritis. Only to find out a year later, I was actually dealing with a very rare type of cancer. (only 2% of the population deals with this type of cancer). We had no idea how that diagnosis and then multiple life threatening diseases would become part of our everyday lives.

My wife Laura and I were still in our honeymoon season of our marriage. This kind of thing wasn’t supposed to happen. I felt helpless as Laura cared for me in addition to working her full-time job and working on her masters degree. While I was in the hospital, she stayed by my side, trying to work and get some rest in some uncomfortable chairs. Watching her husband struggle to just breathe at times.

Over the years, Laura has taken on most of the she household responsibilities. She makes meals, vacuums and chauffeurs me to multiple medical appointments. She does this all with a smile and encouraging words.

I was and still am blown away by how Laura continues to care for me all these years later. At times, I have found myself frustrated that I cannot do more to make her daily grind a little easier. Her kindness continues to overwhelm me.

As I reflect on this health journey we continue to walk together, it gives me a deeper appreciation of God’s purpose for marriage. Sacrifice is lived out in homes around the world as couples serve each other through illness, financial crisis and family issues. No matter their story, husbands and wives face opportunities to love without seeking anything in return. Why? So they can experience God’s heart through one another and live His love for one another.

Every opportunity we have to serve our spouse gives us the chance to live out the love story God crafted for us. He gave His Son so that we could have life. There was nothing we could give in return – nothing we could do to pay Him back. And yet He chose to give anyway.

Laura continues to live out her commitment to stand by me in sickness. She has more than fulfilled her marital vows – she has become a living illustration of God’s love. ~OC

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Don’t Back Down

Stand up for what’s right, don’t be swayed

By the voices that try to make you stray

Be brave, be strong, and hold your ground

Fight for justice, let truth be found

Raise your voice, let it be heard

Speak out against injustice, undeterred

Don’t let fear silence you, don’t back down

Stand firm, wear your heart in this town

Be a beacon of hope during the dark times

Shine your light, let it guide the way

For a brighter tomorrow, a better day

Stand up for what’s right, come what may

Your voice matters, your actions too

Make a difference, see it through

Stand up for what’s right, be bold

Create a world where love never grows old. ~OC

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The Race Called Life

Today’s a new day! During my running days, I was blessed to complete 350 marathons. Yes, you read that correctly. I can take no credit. It was all God pushing me through those marathons. People often ask me why I ran 350 marathons? I tell them I did not like the number 349.

It’s been a number of years since I was able to run based on my health issues. While I would have never considered myself a professional by any means, I like to think I learned a few things during my running days. Like how to stabilize my breathing (well, I did my best) and how to run at a steady pace. Once again I tried my best. Running is a lot like living the Christian life. We have many lessons to learn. I learned a lot of lessons during my running days that I have been able to apply to my Christian journey.

One of the first lessons you learn when you start running is that you need to have endurance. Whether you’re running a 5K or a 50 miler (yes, I did that), you need to train so that you can run at a steady pace and not get worn out quickly.

The Christian life requires endurance as well. Life can seem long and hard as Christians, especially in the midst of challenges. Many people have made the comparison that life is a marathon, not a sprint, and the same goes for the Christian life. As the writer of Hebrews says, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Hebrews 10:36).

When you’re running, especially long distances, you want to lay aside everything that could weigh you down so that you only have the essentials. Lightweight shoes and light breathable clothing. As a runner you need to find the perfect balance between bringing what is necessary and those things that would just weigh you down.

In the Christian life, we are called to lay aside what weighs us down—namely, sin and any idols in our lives. Hanging on to those idols can cause our faith to falter and stumble. Letting go of idols in our lives frees us to live a life that is dedicated to Jesus. As the writer of Hebrews says:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2)

As a runner, you come across trials and challenges. Whether that’s a heatwave, snowstorm, rainstorm, or injury, runners face challenges that impact their race. You can never predict these trials and instead you just have to take them as they come. But you cannot allow the obstacles in life to keep you from living the race God has designed just for you.

In the same way, as Christians we can face unexpected challenges and suffering. From a poor diagnosis, a lost relationship, a lost job or a broken family. This race called life can be difficult. But thankfully, we are being made perfect through the grace of God. As James writes in James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”

My prayer is that we will all run this race called life with endurance and receive the beautiful gift of eternal life. ~OC

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Doorway

Today’s a new day! It was through the doorway of suffering that Jesus opened the way for us to walk through suffering with supernatural joy, peace, and hope. ~OC

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Bearers of the Mat

Today’s a new day!

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at a home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.” ~Mark 2:1-4

I have always loved this story. It truly demonstrates the love of friends and our need for solid friendships. The four men in Mark 2, went beyond normal friendship and became “Bearers of the Mat.”

These four friends saw their friend needed a miracle in his life. They heard Jesus was in the area, so they decided to pick up their friend’s mat and get him to the Great Physician. We have no idea how far these four men had to walk carrying their friend, just to get to Jesus. No doubt they were exhausted by the time they reached the door of the house where Jesus was. There they found a new obstacle. The house where Jesus was speaking was beyond packed. But these four men persevered. Their friend needed a miracle and they were determined to get him to Jesus. Even if it meant carrying their friend to the roof and cutting a hole into the roof, so they could lower their friend into the room where Jesus was speaking. Can you imagine what a sight that must have been? What an amazing moment it must have been when after all that hard work, these four friends watched in awe as their friend was completely healed by Jesus. What a day of celebration that must have been.

Every time I read the story in Mark 2, two questions come to mind:

1). Do I have friends like these four men?

2). Am I a friend like these four men?

I pray we will all take the time to check our hearts as we reflect on these two questions. I truly believe Jesus wants each of us to serve one another willingly and wholeheartedly. Let’s become “Bearers of the Mat” ~OC

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Are You Willing?

Today’s a new day! A lot of people want to achieve success in life, but are you willing to do the following:

Are you willing to fight through the excuses?

Are you willing to fight through the challenges?

Are you willing to fight through the negative talk?

Are you willing to put in the work?

Are you willing to make sacrifices?

Are you willing to give it all up for God? ~OC

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