Two Words

I think sometimes we believe altering the course of significant aspects of life is like making a u-turn with an enormous cargo ship in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Crews have to be readied, switches have to be clicked, levers have to be pulled, and wheels have to be turned. Engines have to stop and be restarted in the other direction. Then, eventually, slowly, the giant vessel begins its change in course.

But as I think more about it, altering the course of the truly meaningful parts of life is nothing at all like that. At least it doesn’t need to be. It’s really more like turning around in a canoe in a small pond. All you have to do is stop paddling in one direction and start paddling in the other direction. And it doesn’t take much to do that. In fact, it really only takes two words.

Think about the power of these phrases to completely transform a situation, a circumstance, or even a relationship: “I do.” “You’re hired.” “I’m sorry.”

Just two words can conjure up emotions of love or hate, hope or despair, purpose or lack thereof. Those small, two-word phrases have power, healing, potential, and hope. 

In recent days, a few two-word phrases have captured the attention of our nation and brought to light some serious problems in our nation. “Gay marriage.” “Hate crimes.” “Political correctness.”

There are more, I’m sure. But that’s not what I want to dive into. Here’s the real point:  

As I sit here on my patio on July 4^th, thinking about all that our country has done and been over the last 239 years, I’m in a weird state of mourning. Yes, mourning. I’m mourning for so much of what she used to be. We once stood as the city on the hill, a beacon of hope and light for the world. But today, I cannot confidently say that’s true. It certainly used to be. But I don’t know if the world looks at us as the ultimate symbol of what a nation could – and should – be. We find ourselves fighting each other, tearing each other apart. And for what? Because we have different points of view on certain topics? Isn’t that one of the things that made us great to begin with? Our diversity used to be a source of our strength. Now, it’s a cause for our division? It’s sad, really.

But here’s the thing. I don’t think it’s too late. I refuse to believe that our country cannot heal and move forward, stronger than ever. I will not cower to the idea that what we had before, what our forefathers bled and died for, is gone forever. I am still proud to call this country my home, in spite of our imperfections and shortcomings. There are still men and women – heroes – who fight for and defend what we have every single day. The foundation of our country may feel like it has been cracked, but it’s not broken.

But there’s another two-word phrase that we need to…no…that we MUST embrace if we ever hope to get back to what we once were. It’s a phrase that represents something that has been lacking in our nation for far too long by far too many people.

“Under God.”

I desperately want this country to be great again. I think we can be. But we cannot deceive ourselves with the idea that we can do it without God. It simply won’t happen.

So this Fourth of July, celebrate what we have. Because there truly is no nation like ours in the world that experiences the freedom we have. But as you celebrate and remember all we have done over the last 239 years, remember that if we’re going to last another 239 (or even another 10), we must return to God! Pray today for healing in our nation. Pray for our leaders to humble and submit themselves to Him. Because without Him, nothing is possible. But with Him? With Him, nothing is impossible!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 33:12

#38Years38Lessons

In three days, I'll be 38 years old. And while 38 doesn't actually constitute "old" in my book, there are some things I've learned. I only wish I'd gotten most of these when I was "younger". What are they?

1. Be yourself - in every situation.

2. Love wildly.

3. Admit when you're wrong.

4. Shut up when you're right.

5. Never sell yourself short.

6. Never let anyone negate your value.

7. Find God - early in life.

8. Turn to God - regularly in life.

9. Rely on God - constantly through life.

10. Find the right woman (she'll make you a better man)

11. Get involved in the church. And stay involved.

12. Test yourself.

13. Don't give up on yourself.

14. Be the kind of friend you want to have.

15. Become part of something bigger than yourself.

16. Never think you've arrived.

17. Never look down on other people.

18. Play. A lot. 

19. Laugh. Even more. 

20. Don't be afraid to cry.

21. But don't cry too much. 

22. Learn to shoot - and learn to shoot well.

23. Love your country. 

24. Be willing to die for it. 

25. Read. A lot.

26. Don't believe everything you read. 

27. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. 

28. When you make mistakes, learn from them. 

29. Ask questions. 

30. Pray the right prayers (hint: they're not about you.)

31. Teach someone something. 

32. Never stop learning. 

33. Find something to be in awe of every day. 

34. Don't be afraid to get messy.

35. Learn to trust.

36. Stay humble.
37. Listen more than you talk.

38. Realize there's more to life than what you think.

The cost of freedom we don't consider...

Today is a day that we remember and reflect on the sacrifice of those men and women who have laid down their lives for our freedom. It’s a time when we pause and consider how their great loss became our great gain.  

On a day like today, we see pictures and hear stories of those valiant soldiers who fought and died in places like Omaha Beach, the Chosin Resevoir, and Hamburger Hill. Faces of those who died in Khe San, Al Kut, Ramadi, Fallujah, and Kandahar scroll across newsstands and tv screens, and they echo in the hearts and minds of people who knew them. And through it all, we thank them for the cost they paid. What they did can never be repaid, never be earned.  

But as I reflected on those who have laid down their lives in the name of freedom, I began to realize something. The security of our freedom in America is only found in our willingness to continue paying for it.  

 

See, the freedom that we experience in our nation has never been secured with one payment. Unlike our eternal freedom through the sacrifice of Jesus, our freedom in America requires constant payment. It’s something we don’t like to think about. But it’s nothing short of the truth. 

As a father, I cannot fathom the pain of losing one of my sons on the battlefield. But I’ve spoken with many parents who have. Their resolve and their strength are utterly amazing. And each one that I’ve spoken with has told me essentially the same thing. One of the reasons they can go on; one of the reasons they can press forward is because they believe the sacrifice their child made wasn’t made in vain. They know that the freedom of many was secured because of what their son or daughter did. And they know there will be others who step up to carry on. 

My question is this: what are we willing to do to carry that sacrifice forward? I have to ask myself, what sacrifices will I make in the future to secure the freedom of others? It’s a responsibility we all have.  

We cannot and we must not simply rely on others to do for us. We must take responsibility and ownership of what has been given to us by those who went before us.  

You want to honor those who have gone before us? Then be willing to step up and sacrifice. 

Many have. Many are. Many will. And that cost is one we need to remember today as well.

 

 

 

God Is Too Big

What do you think of when you think of God?

Some people think that God is too big; that he’s impersonal, detached, removed. They say he spun the world into existence and left us on our own to figure it all out.

Some people think that God is too small. If he does exist, they argue, then why is there evil in the world? What’s with all the disease, abuse, corruption, anger and hate? To them, if God is real, then he’s too small to handle what we deal with every day.

Some people think it doesn’t matter. They don’t really care either way. This existence, this reality is all there is. We live. We die. That’s it. No more.

Some people think he is the Savior of the world; that even in our depravity he provided a way back to him. They say that way is Jesus Christ. And what we do with him is up to us.

What do I think of when I think of God?

I do believe he’s the Savior. I owe him everything for the saving grace he has given to me through Jesus. I was lost; now I’m found. In other words…I was headed to hell; now I’m headed to heaven. I was wandering through life alone; now I have a relationship with him. I was lacking purpose; now my life has true meaning!

I do think he’s too small. Too many times in my life, I don’t make a relationship with him a big enough deal. I need to place more urgency in pursuing him.

And ultimately, I do think God is too big. He's too big to fit in any box I try to put him in. Simply put: He is God. I am not.

C.S. Lewis once said (in my paraphrased words) that if the Christian faith is all for nothing, then nothing has been lost. But if our faith is for everything, then everything matters.

Is God too big? Big doesn’t even begin to cover it!