Sweet Treasures

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A great treasure in the body of Christ is the way two complete strangers can develop an instantaneous bond, particularly in the midst of suffering. Providential connections that take places in the midst trials are especially precious when losing a loved one. The mutual understanding, even (and especially) when unspoken can touch the heart in a manner deeper than any conversation. God sovereignly aligns hearts in tough times and divinely creates bonds that bring the sweet into bittersweet. I liken it to the beauty of a new flower that unexpectedly sprouts up after a vicious storm...

Honor

What words could ever do justice to the sacrifice that so many have made in our nation? And to the families of those who gave their lives and to those who are presently serving. “Thank you” just doesn’t seem enough, no matter how beautiful all the tributes, presentations, and articles are. We have been so incredibly blessed in this nation and the freedom we experience should never be taken for granted.

As this Memorial Day comes to a close, instead of writing something of my own, I thought it would be more appropriate to share my Dad’s recent blog post, Remember Memorial Day. It was written to honor the memory of my great-Uncle Vernon, (my Grandma’s brother) who was wounded by a direct hit of a mortal shell. On January 7, 1945 in the Battle of the Bulge, he gave the ultimate sacrifice. 

Remember Our Nation’s Heroes.

Modern Day Abolitionists

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Last Saturday I finally had the opportunity to see the film,

Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, which I posted about a few weeks ago. About a week after that, I wrote a little more about Exodus Cry, the organization that put Nefarious and the Incurable Fanatics tour together. I have such a respect for this ministry and they way they are fighting this war on human trafficking.

They are true modern day abolitionists...

The Day Of Surrender

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Fourteen years ago, May 24th fell on a Sunday. It was Memorial Day weekend. I’d gone to a party that Saturday night and was hangin out and drinking with some friends. I decided to run out to my car to get something but one of my friends stopped me because she knew what that “something” was. I’d picked up another habit that my friend called me out on. Aside from the drinking, smoking, cursing, anger, sinful relationships, and straight up rebellion that had been a way of life all throughout high school and the years afterwards, I’d begun to use cocaine here and there with different groups of friends. Each set of friends that I’d get high with thought they were the only ones I’d do it with and that it was [semi] under control. Though it wasn’t quite every day [yet], it was headed that way because I really liked it. A lot. In fact, I liked it more than any drunken feeling, more than any other high, more than another other guy. And the friend who I was with saw that look in my eyes and was courageous enough to say to me what I didn't want to hear but needed to...

Transparency

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There’s something really attractive about transparency. Stop and think about a transparent person who you know and respect. Don’t you find that admirable? I do. The reality of what one might be dealing with isn’t necessarily beautiful but the authenticity about it is. It truly is a testimony. When a person is genuine in a raw yet humble way, people are drawn to that. We live in a twisted society where the images and standards that the media portrays is far from authentic, it’s a façade. And in the rat race of too many people trying to keep up with the Joneses, great comfort can be found when a person chooses to take off the mask and keep it real...