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 “What If” Game
Dear Christians Brothers and Sisters, who still support former President Trump let’s play the “What If” game. It’s pretty easy. Here we go….
What if Vice-President Harris, President Biden or former President Obama spoke about or said the following:
The Vice-President is a piece of #%*€< to a crowd with children in attendance
The Vice-President is stupid and retarded
Described a former golfer’s genitalia at a rally with children in attendance
Lying about hurricane relief
Claimed to be the Father of IVF
Threatening political opponents with arrest
Claiming with no proof that Haitian immigrants are stealing and eating cats and dogs
Continues to talk negatively towards veterans and those who gave their life for America
Suggested Abraham Lincoln could have avoided the Civil War by cutting a deal with the South—which, as a reminder, wanted slavery to remain legal.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point of the “What If” game.
If VP Harris, President Biden or Obama would have said the above things, you would have declared them unfit for any political office, let alone the office of President. But you seem to find it very easy to explain away these words and comments of former President Trump. Why is that? Are you more concerned about political power than you are the Gospel? Does truth and character only come into play for those candidates you do not support politically? Every word that comes out of a President or former Presidents mouth matters. Or at least it should.
I know most of you will claim Todd you’re being political, you’re attacking the former President, you’re being divisive and negative. You’re a hater. You are welcome to your opinion, but all I am doing is asking some questions. Because truth and character still matter to me. ~OC
Starting a Campaign…Not a Political One
Today’s a new day! As I scroll through social media and watch the news, I am heartbroken about all the division I see in our world. So as I was praying and reflecting this morning, I thought how can I make the world a better and kinder place? So here is the idea that came to my mind. Are you ready?
Today, Saturday October 19, 2024, I am starting a campaign (no, not a political campaign), that I hope brings some smiles and happiness to a broken world. The campaign is called #OCencouragedmeto. I am encouraging everyone to perform a simple act of kindness for someone and share it on your social media pages or on the Facebook and Instagram pages OCencouragedmeto using the hashtag #OCencouragedmeto. These simple act of kindness could be an encouraging sticky note left on your coworkers desk, buying coffee or lunch for the person in the line behind you. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Just a simple act of love and kindness towards someone else, using the hashtag #OCencouragedmeto.
As I continue running this crazy beautiful health journey, I want to spend whatever time I have left encouraging people. I hope you will join me on this fun, let’s make someone smile adventure. ~OC
Live Out Your Legacy
Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, here are some lessons I have learned along the way. I pray you will spend some time looking them ever.
Do you truly know yourself? Spend some time in self reflection. As a person of faith, I spend a lot of time in prayer asking God to reveal the good, the bad and how I can be the person that created me. I encourage each of you to find out what works for you.
Our words and actions make a difference. I personally want my life to be full of encouraging words and life changing actions. It’s simple to share a kind word or smile. Forgiveness is a beautiful gift for all parties. It brings freedom and healing.
What is the legacy you want to live out? As I continue to fight for my life, I have had a lot of time to reflect on my life. I really do not care about career or finances, even though those are important things. But as I move into the 4th quarter of my journey, I think about the time spent with my bride, family and friends. The memories made. I think about the many conversations with fellow patients as they walk through their own health journey. The encouragement, the laughs and tears. That is the legacy I want to live out. I encourage everyone to spend some time to reflecting on what legacy you want to live out.
Remember to laugh? Stop taking life so seriously. Do not allow yourself to get so caught up in work, school, ministry or life that you forget to laugh. When’s the last time you really laughed?
Sometimes there are no laters in life. People spend a lot of time saying “I will do it later.” What happens when they’re no more “Laters.” I encourage everyone to make sure your time on earth counts. Take in the amazing life around you. Not just the screen in front of your face. Stop focusing on quantity and spend more time on quality. Live well now. Let me asked you a few questions: 1). Do you have any “laters”that if you could do life over would become now’s? 2). Do you have some “laters” that have turned into “never’s”?
Here is one of my favorite quotes: “Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’ve living?” ~Bob Marley
Here is my last question: How are you living? ~OC
Worthy
Today’s a new day!
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.. ~Romans 8:38-39
A lot of things can try and separate us from God. Not feeling good enough, the business of life, the upcoming election and a host of other distractions. But we have to remember that these thoughts and distractions are only temporary and we do not have to give into them. If we let them consume us, we will easily become overwhelmed. But we can choose to open our heart’s to God’s truth. That is, we are enough, just by being us. We are not our past, nor do we have to return to our past in order to be loved, accepted, etc. we are enough – right here, right now – because our identity is in God, not in our weaknesses, and certainly not in the things of this world.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ~John 8:32
I read a story where a group of students were asked how much they thought they were worth. “A million dollars,” some of them said. “Infinity plus infinity,” called out another. But the truth is, we are worth more than we can possibly comprehend. We are way more than a number. God loves us so much that He sent His only son to die for us so that we will not die but have everlasting life with Him in Heaven.
So, I am going to pose a challenge for everyone – myself included: When those thoughts of not being good enough rise within you and you feel like you’re drowning in their lies, seek God. Remember His truth – YOU ARE ENOUGH. You were created in His image (Genesis 1:27), and He loves you. You do not have to change what you look like to be loved, and you may as well stop trying to earn grace because it has already been given to you. Find strength in God, and know He is with you wherever you go.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. ~Psalm 27:3
We can find confidence in God today. We can treat ourselves with love and self respect because we’re God’s beautiful masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). We can trust that we are enough. We can find peace, hope, love and confidence in God. I pray we will all lean into that truth today. ~OC
A Night With Dementia and Parkinson’s
Good morning! I pray everyone is sleeping and will see this after a great night sleep.
I can tell tonight’s going to be one of the nights. I wrote the following to share what those sleepless, hallucination filled nights are like. I wrote the following to give you a glimpse into my life with Dementia and Parkinson’s on most nights. ~OC
A Night With Dementia and Parkinson’s:
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
Spoiler Alert
Today’s a new day! Spoiler Alert: God can use people who do not believe in him or call themselves Christians.
It is so easy to forget that God often uses non-Christians men and women to move His kingdom projects forward. It is a sad misunderstanding to assume God won’t, or can’t, use people who haven’t surrendered their life to Him. All throughout the scriptures we read numerous stories about how God used unbelievers to accomplish His great purposes. We cannot forget that people such as Moses weren’t the only instruments in God’s hand; God used the Pharaohs of the world too.
Furthermore, if we think evil is the only attribute God can use in pagans, then we’ve been misguided. God can use good qualities in ungodly people to accomplish His work too. One only needs to read the story of Rahab to see this play out. Check out Joshua 2:1-24.
Here’s a fact. Everyone who has ever walked this earth, was made in the image of God. Yes, we are all marked by sin and the sanctifying work of the Spirit helps the regenerate the brokenness, but all humans, saved or not, still carry God-like qualities deep inside.
The misguided view that God cannot use the good qualities of unbelievers for His plans could easily lead to an unhealthy us versus them mentality if we’re not careful. In reality God doesn’t side with Christians only, He sides with all humanity. Of course, God would love to reconcile the unbelieving world back to Himself, but He can use non-Christians and their good works to further that mission. Years ago, when I realized this fact, it revolutionized the way I view the world and the way I live. I began to see non-Christians for who they are and the wonderful talents they possess, instead of merely projects to be converted. This has motivated me to invite my non-Christian friends into the work/ministry I am involved with so they too can make a lasting difference just by offering a little bit of who they are.
So to my brothers and sisters in Christ, invite your non-Christians friends or friends of another faith to your next event. Their gifts could be a true blessing. ~OC
Vote with Love
Today’s a new day! Sadly, Christian Nationalism will be on every ballot this election season and the consequences for communities of faith — and for the practice of open government — have seldom been graver than this one.
As a white person of faith, I will embrace the opportunity to vote against every candidate who embraces or refuses to speak out against the hate of Christian Nationalism. On November 5th, I will take a stand against this ungodly theology and choose to “Vote with Love.” ~OC
Transformed Nonconformist
Today’s a new day! Did you know there are 1,430 hate groups in the United States alone. Sadly, those numbers are growing. While many tend to be small, they have political power and want to see unrest across America.
Hate groups will continue to poison hearts, stir up violence, and polarize people in 2024 and beyond. So to gear up for these challenges, I reflected back on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book Strength to Love. I encourage you to check it out.
The book is a fascinating read, but one of the phrases Dr. King used truly grabbed my attention. Dr. King calls us to be “Transformed Nonconformist” Here is the scripture that Dr. King used to come up with this beautiful term.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
Transformed nonconformists reject racism, discrimination, hatred and anything that tears our society apart and tries to divide us.
Transformed nonconformists break the chain reaction of evil by refusing to “fight fire with fire.”
Why? Because as Dr. King explains, “Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence… in a descending spiral of destruction” This is one of the main reasons for not responding in kind to evil. In the powerful words of Mahatma Ghandi, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
The second part of Romans 12 describes the divine reason we break the chain reaction of evil. The Scriptures command us to conquer hate through the power of love:
*Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (v. 14).
*Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone (v. 17).
*If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (v. 18).
*Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath (v. 19).
*If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… (v. 20).
*Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (v. 21).
These commands indicate that a transformed nonconformist is in fact a peacemaker. And these peacemakers break the chain reaction of evil – through suffering, absorbing pain and responding in love.
Peacemaking is not for the faint of heart. Peacemaking demands an uncompromising rejection of the unloving ways of the world and a radical embrace of the enemy-loving way of Jesus.
I read an article once where a civil rights worker was asked how he was able to endure racial hatred and violence while working for justice. “The hatred coming at me in those fists and clubs was bouncing right off me back into the air, and it could just continue to spread like electricity. I decided not to fight back. I would let my body absorb that hatred, so that some of it would die in my body and not bounce back into the world. I now see that my job in the midst of evil is to make my body a grave for hate.”
Did you catch that last sentence? “Making my body a grave for hate.” That sounds scary. It is! That is why I chose to follow Jesus – the one who made his body a grave for hate, the one who rose from the grave, and the one who said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21).
I pray you will join me on this journey of Love over hate. ~OC
Comfort Zone
Today’s a new day! Are you planted in your comfort zone? It’s so easy to live in our comfort zones. So many people say they want God to move in their lives, but when God shakes things up, so many people decide to hide under their covers. Our comfort zones are so comfortable. So predictable. So convenient. But remember, nothing ever grows in the comfort zone. So today, make the choice to step out of your comfort zone. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 