On this 4th of July, I reflect on the expression "For ye are bought with a price... and ye are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6: 20, 19)
 
May we live in remembrance daily of the sacred cost of the liberties we enjoy, not only by our founding fathers, but by He who authored all liberty, even Jesus Christ...
 
Whose life and sacrifice binds up the brokenhearted, gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and proclaims liberty to captives; with power to raise up the former desolations, even the desolations of many generations, to clothe with the garments of salvation and cover with the robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:1-4, 10)
 
May we be mindful of the accountability that is ours to use our freedom well, for freedom isn't free...
 
Wishing you and yours a meaningful 4th...

For me, every day is Memorial Day - to live each day so as to honor those who have gone before, be it each soldier of true freedom, our forebears, Christ himself as well as posterity that is yet to be.  I’ve always appreciated the adage, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  The freedoms we have aren’t free and as Christ poignantly expressed, “ye are bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20).  That alone should rally each of us to stretch and strive to make our lives everything God would have us be to show gratitude for the breath we have been given and gratitude for the lives that have been offered for that gift and accountability.  That each of us may commit every day to hold the title of liberty well and live in memory of our God, our religion, our freedom, our families and our peace.  The good fight…that’s what it’s all about.

According to Dionysius Exiguus, attributed inventor of the Christian calendar, the very first Easter of record occurred today, March 25th, back in 0031 A.D. 
 
It has been said that the depth of our belief in the Resurrection and the Atonement of the Savior will determine the measure of courage and purpose with which we meet life’s challenges.  I firmly believe that.
 
Just as no tomb could hold Christ, no adversity, no loss, no betrayal, no tempation, no tragedy need defeat us.  With Christ, we too can go from tomb to triumph.  “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”  John 11:25
 
As we make the Resurrection sure anchor in our lives every day, we will be able to rise above the challenges of this life for a glorious place with him always.
 
May we choose to live in remembrance of his and our Resurrection day.

 

Hard to believe it was a month like this... the 17th day of the second month and a Bible ago to be exact... that Noah and his family entered the ark with 40 days and nights of relentless rain ahead of them.   And, where they would remain until the 27th day of the second month a year later, when the earth was dried and God directed them out of the ark.  What a time it must have been... to be the only 8 living people on earth with such a task as theirs... to rebuild and renew a world.   To start where they were and look forward... one goal at a time, one day at a time.  Each of us do indeed have deep relation, and each of us, in our own unique way, will have journeys of rain and devastation in our lives, be it physical devastation as the earthquakes in Haiti, financial devastion amidst the flailing economy, familial devastation or health, emotional well-being or experiences that shake spirituality and belief itself.  Each of us will traverse waters and waves.  The key for Noah, his family, and for us, was and is to choose to trust God, even when there is reason to question, reason to turn away, reason to be frustrated or despairing or broken with whatever the circumstance may be.  "Be still, and know that (He) is God"... is a choice... To choose to be still, steadfast in one's convictions, immovable in one's loyalty and know, no matter how deep the darkness gets... that He is God and He will set things right... in His time and in His way.  It is a choice... 
 
It is a month like this, the 28th day of the second month in our day, the Be Still and Know tour begins.  Grateful for the message and look forward to sharing in your home town.  God bless.

A time to begin again, a time of errand, a time to send...
 
To stir the gift within, to be about the Father's business, to strengthen and defend all that is good, all that is true, all that is right.  A time to strive for that meaningful end.
 
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.  From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king"  J.R.R. Tolkien
 
"Let us lay aside every weight... and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross... and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1-2
 
May 2010 bring you and yours all that is of His purpose. 
 
NEWS: “This Life” from Loaves & Fishes CD was recently recognized at the USA Songwriting Competition, the leading international songwriting competition, being awarded Gospel / Inspirational Finalist.  Other honorees were from Spain, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Indonesia and others.  Such terrific news... Working hard and much ahead.