Refugee

The events around the world Friday have cast an ugly shadow in the days following. We have seen a resilient stand against terrorism which is noble. It is inspiring to see us stand with allies, even though they are strangers. And while there is much kindness that was shared following the heinous attacks, the world has been left also with fear and doubt. 

Fear and doubt are the cause of many of the worst atrocities known to man. It is human nature to feel the need to protect what is ours. And this enemy, whom we do not understand, looms in the shadows. They have become our neighbor, our store owner, the guy standing on the subway, they could be anywhere. So we assume they are everywhere. 

We baton the hatches, and we race to arms. We have perpetuated the image of terrorism our enemy has so desperately tried to create. So it is easier for us to remove the variables and ensure our safety.

In the wake of 9/11 Muslims were immediately demonized. Ever since then, any darker skinned person, becomes a person of interest. Heaven forbid they wear a turban! Despite the fact that many Sihk wear turbans, and share no geographical affiliation with terrorism, let alone idealogical. But it is EASY! it is easy to say, "You are different, so you are a threat." It is no longer guilty until proven innocent; we have resorted to,"Guilty... let's not even take a chance!" It is this sort of fear mongering that our enemy is looking to incite.

Let's address something right away. First, yes, ISIS is an Islamic institution. They are fighting an idealogical war in which death is a victory because they have chosen parts of their sacred teachings to hold onto. Second, YES, there are a lot of radical extremists who believe they are fighting for Islam. It is an alarming figure and growing every day. This cannot be ignored, and must be deemed an immediate global threat! Third, NO, not all muslim people are terrorist. I know many devout Muslims who abhor this senseless violence just as much as we do, maybe even more! They are now forced to hold a belief system in a world that does not understand their religion, and fears what they do not know. 

I said all that to say this, what does it matter? Let's imagine a world where every single muslim could be a terrorist. Does that change the fact that they need hope and love? Does that change the fact that I, as a Christian believer, am called to love them? Jesus tells a story about a man who is traveling on a very dangerous road. Men jump him and rob him. They strip him naked and leave him for dead. a religious leader, a poor man, and a rival citizen all pass him. It is the rival citizen that risks his stature and his own safety to help the man. So too are we called to reach out to those who are strangers to us. 

 We are shutting our borders to Syrian refugees. Some of whom, have lived their entire lives knowing only violence and death. We hold our American dream for those we deem worthy. And yes, there are people within our on borders that need help. Why does that immediately negate the needs of others? We are privileged to live in a country that can protect our basic human rights. That is not a luxury afforded everywhere else in the world. There is an immediate need for compassion and humanity.

There is one more aspect of that story that has always gotten me. What about the thieves that left a man for dead. It can be assumed that the others in the story were either Jewish or at least knew of right and wrong. But what about the characters who blindly beat a man, stripped him of everything he had, and left him for dead? They exit the narrative with no further mention, but what about them? Did they continue to live their lives as always, preying on the weak and alone? If Christ' love is good enough for a rival, is it not worthy for those who seek to do harm? Are these not the ones who are in the greatest need for a change of heart?

We are fighting an ideological war. Every bomb we drop, every refugee we turn away is adding another round to the ammunition of the enemy. We are giving them all they need to say, "Look what they are doing! THEY are the enemy! Join us to defeat this evil plague that cares nothing for you. In us you will find strength, and community, and a purpose!"

I speak now to the Christian church in which I share my faith. Have we fallen so far from the message of Christ that a terrorist organization has more of an appeal? That those searching for acceptance and a purpose are turning to radical Islam to find a sense of belonging? 

To those of other faiths, or no faith, have you allowed your humanity to be married so bad by fear that you have lost compassion? Has your faith in others fallen so far that you refuse to see that there are good people suffering because of a marginal few?

ISIS does not care about its members or those it hurts. We must! We must stand and fight in the only way we can. Those responsible for these attacks should face swift justice. There is a place for bombs and bullets, but our ammunition must pierce further. Our ammunition goes beyond supportive statuses and wonderful profile pictures. While that is all a great gesture, the world needs more. The world needs its faith in humanity restored. It needs compassion. it needs to know that there are those fighting for the wounded day in and day out. That is how we defeat the fear that is threatening our way of life. So I urge you, find some way to do more. To be better.

Thank you,

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:29-37)

Stand United

There have been many articles, speeches and opinions raised in the wake of the tragedy in Charleston on Wednesday. We have seen opposing views on every issue surrounding this horrific event. Some are calling it a racial issue. Others are calling it a gun control issue. Some are saying this is an attack on a Christian church, so therefor it is a religious issue. For every argument, there are others defending against these claims. Each side digging in their heels using this event to prove they are correct. Our society is seeing an influx in violence and mass murder. Each time the polar sides cling to their “hot button” issues, hoping to gain support in the momentum of a tragic event. The shooter himself said he was looking to start a race war. He was hoping to incite the very dialog so many of us are engaging in now!

This is not a race issue, or a gun control issue, or a religious issue. It is not because the media feeds us sensationalized rhetoric on topics that sell. It is because throughout every tragedy we have faced, we have created an “Us vs. Them” mentality. In the wake of white vs black police shootings, we rioted at injustice. In the wake of 9/11 we sought to attack Islamic extremist. In the wake of the Sandy hook we attacked gun rights. Every time we furthered the divide between us. White vs. black, Christian vs. Muslim, Pro-life vs. Pro-choice, “Haves vs. Have Nots”; we pit ourselves against one another time and again. We wonder, “How can this continue to happen?”. The fact is we are ALL responsible.

What if, just once, in the face of tragedy we stood together? Not together against some evil, or to fight back, but simply together. We put aside our calls for justice, and hoped for peace. If in the face of these terrible moments we didn’t search to glorify the aggressors by analyzing their lives and their past. What they watched, who the talked to, who they were. The fact is they were human. They were a son or daughter, they were a neighbor or coworker,  maybe they even were loved or loved deeply. And yet, somehow they found hate. They found something to become so impassioned about they found no better way to express themselves than act out in violence. And every time we divide ourselves further.

I ask you reading this now; despite your color, or gender, or religious preference to turn to hope. Stand together with those family’s that mourn. While we grieve as a nation, use this as a remembrance to be better. Be better when it is hard. Be better to those who disagree with you or you may not like. This is a time to love those who may have done you wrong. Love knows no color, race, or religion. It is only in love that we will conquer hate. It is in love that we be united.

Something pretty cool happened today!

I am not a superstitious person, and I find it kind of annoying when people blame the devil or praise God for things that really have no place. I know that sounds weird coming from someone who follows Christ  but really, the devil is not responsible for you gaining 5 lbs and God did give you an A on your test. Now, I do believe we can be tempted, and I do believe that God has given us incredible facilities to be able to accomplish great things. I also believe that God works all things for His glory, and that no matter what the situation we should give God thanks. The past few weeks, God has really been laying on my heart my finances. Two weeks ago the pastor of the first church I went to down here was talking about using wisdom and how through faith God will provide all of our NEEDS (not necessarily all of our wants because some of our wants are stupid). Throughout the past few weeks I have been researching money management and smart practices for money.  I didn't really realize it for anything other than me thinking about it today when the entire sermon was on breaking free from financial burden. A topic that usually centers on giving God (or the church) 10% and God will bless you. But in this case was more about using wisdom in your finances and also about being content with what you have. Being THANKFUL for what God has provided you with. The main theme was that, "Money can be a powerful tool, but a terrible God." And I left thinking, "Boy, There sure seems to be a theme going on in my life right now, probably should take note."
So I started thinking about how I am going to start saving. And not even a really hard core system, simply when ever I am about to buy something sugary, alcohol  soda, fast food, or basically anything really crappy for me, I am going to take that cash and for one month save it in my coin jar. Just one month to see how much I spend without thinking. I thought this was a good idea.
Now to back up a bit, my beautiful 50" plasma screen tv has been broken for almost a year now. I say broken, but really the remote simply doesn't work anymore. If I want to change the channel or the volume, I physically have to get up and do it on the tv! GASP! How I have managed thus far I do not know, but alas, I have overcome. So I have been diligently shopping looking for a new one. I have been unemployed so the time was never right, but now that I am working again, I thought I could save up and get a new one. A 3D one. A BIGGER ONE. Flip back to today when after church  I had to return some movies.  As I passed Best Buy, Sears, Sams Club and finally stopped at Walmart I so badly wanted to go look at tv's. Not to buy, but just to browse. But I thought, "No, be thankful for what you have. You don't need a tv you just want one. Just be content."
I get home and I find my box of important office papers and things of importance I left out for moving. Inside this shoebox I find the remote for my tv. And just for kicks I thought to try it, maybe the long trip across country shook something loose. And sure enough, after almost a year of frustrating tech support calls and many trips to and from my seat, it flipped on. The channels work, the volume, everything works like new. Now again, I am not trying to say that God rewired my tv, I am saying that my tv did not work until I the day I was content with it and thankful that God had blessed me with it. I think that is pretty cool. And I am going to continue to thank Him for all that He has done and all that He will continue to do

Tragedy

The events that took place in Connecticut today really make you stop and think. It makes us as the human race evaluate the state that we are in. This tragedy is not about a political or social reform, it's not about gun laws, I'd even go so far as to say that it is not about the religious climate of our country.  We have forgotten how to treat people in this world. There were 22 students who were attacked by a knife wielding man in China today as well. These survivors will forever be scarred by the events the witnessed today. Christian or not we have lost the love for each other that heals the deep emotional wounds that cause people to act out. We do not love our neighbor let alone a stranger. We get angry when they cut us off, curse them when they take our parking spot, and are willing to fight them in trivial confrontations. Not only can we not forgive our neighbors, but how many of us have the family member that has wronged us? The family member that we haven't talked to in five years because we can not get past the terrible thing they have done. You may have even said, "I will NEVER forgive them for what they did to me!" And I will admit, you may be justified in your anger! But at what cost? How have we come so far that we would rather hold on to bitterness and anger? 

Our focus has shifted from loving others, to focusing on ourselves. And even there we are failing!

We are told we are not strong enough, not beautiful enough, not fast enough, not smart enough. We push ourselves more and more to be like the photoshopped images we see in magazines. And we abhor ourselves when we don't measure up. We can never be good enough, or pretty enough, or rich enough. We dig ourselves into deeper despair over false images of success that we can not seem to attain. It's no wonder why we are in such disarray. We cannot love each other because we do not accept ourselves. And so we isolate ourselves and push each other apart. It is in that solitude that some are pushed to drastic measures to be heard. Whether taking their own life, or even worse, taking the lives of others. This may be a morbid way to live, but in highschool I used to treat every person as if they had a gun in their pocket. That every person was on the brink to take out their anger on the school. I made it a point to treat everyone in a way that want to spare my life when they snapped. Again, I'm not sure this is healthy thinking, but it sure made me rethink the way I treated some people. Making sure that the kid who always sits alone felt invited to come sit by me. Or the one who gets picked on, knows that someone is willing to stick up for him. I wonder what would happen if we all were willing to take the time to reach out to the outcast.

This season, especially in the light of today's events, I urge you to take a serious look at yourself. Put aside your pretence and your bias, and take account of what you are grateful for. Put aside your anger and your bitterness and reach out to the person you haven't talked to in too long. This world needs love! We need parents who are willing to teach their kids right and wrong. Family's who are willing to fight for each other, not against each other. Take the time to help your neighbor and reach a hand to those who are downtrodden. Before we change our gun laws, or discuss school policy, or casting blame on each other, let us love. This is a time to grieve and reflect. Hold your loved ones close and tell them how important they are to you. You never know when will be the last time they hear it!

Too Big To Miss

4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span...
8 And he stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, and said to them, “ Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 “If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” 10 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.”
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
-1 Samuel 17:4-11

Goliath stood before an army. He was their Champion. He was the guy in the movie that is the finisher. The immovable object that seems insurmountable. He comes out and starts speaking death to Israel. And rightfully so! He had the experience to back up his smack talk. Who would be able to kill such a man. His smack talk was more a cautionary tale of what was sure to be Israel's fate.  Verse 11 says that Israel was not just afraid, but dismayed. They had given up hope that even God could deliver them from such an enemy. His words pierced their faith and they had lost the battle even before they took a swing. 

They say words can never hurt us, but in fact the words that we speak determine how we live. Science has shown that there is no communication between our subconscious mind and our conscious. What our subconscious processes is our daily interaction, life as we know it. It also processes how we handle those situations. If we win a huge tournament in a dominating fashion but we are told how terrible we are and how we are worthless, even though our conscious mind may be able to rationalize the difference, our subjoins mind cannot. We will internalize that defeated attitude and it will shape who we are and how we approach situations in the future. The only way to speak to the subconscious is just that, SPEAK to the subconscious.Just as there is destructive power in our negative self talk, the opposite is just as true. Our words are powerful and we can motivate ourselves to do amazing things when we speak it. It sounds a little cheesy new-agey but in fact there is power in positive self talk.

If we look at the rest of the story we can see the power of speaking truth and speaking life.

43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” 

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 “This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands. 

And the rest is history. David knocks him out and runs up and with Goliath's own HUGE sword and cuts off Goliath's head.  David did not allow the words of Goliath to diminish his worth with God. He knew his value because he was constantly singing of God's glory and of God's power and might. Before this he even talks about how he has gone out and killed a lion and a bear that took one of his sheep! Now, I am tough and not afraid of much, but if a LION comes and decides to take one of my sheep.... that's a write off in my book! But not David. In his mind there is nothing that can defeat him because he has God on his side! Goliath was not too big to kill, he was too miss!

When I was thirteen I was in a state Tea-Kwon-Do tournament. It was the final round of sparring and the winner of the match went on to nationals in Florida. All the kids were with their coaches or parents getting last minute advice and deciding their plan of attack. Meanwhile, I was in the stands playing tag running around with my friends. My match was approaching and my dad (and coach) called me down by him. He asked, "Ben, do you have a game plan on how you are going to fight?" I looked at him and said, "Yeah, I'm gonna win." I knew without any hesitation that there was no other outcome. I was a winner and that was all that I was going to do.  In the same way the Romans 8:37 says that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

So I ask, what is it in your life that you need to speak to? What challenge or goal seems insurmountable and you just don't know how to get through it. Speak life and it will happen. It may take a while and it will not be easy. But if you continue to OUT LOUD speak life that, "I can do this." "I know that God has a plan for me." "This is not the end, but only the beginning." While the world spits words that tear you down, speak life to yourself and those around you and watch at the transformation that takes place in your life

Better news than last time

In my last post I made a comment that some may not agree with. I know some people that got very upset at the fact that I would discredit such a comforting notion as, "Everything happens for a reason." Which I maintain is still scientifically accurate, just not biblical. So I wanted to highlight a promise that I find much more comforting. 


             Be still and know that I am God.
             I will be exalted among the nations.
             I will be exalted in the earth.
                                                                  
                                                  Pslams 46:10


Now a little bit of background to this... David was an AWESOME king. This is the same David of David and Goliath that you have probably heard of at least once in sports metaphors. He served God and God loved him.  And he had a wonderful time as king. No hardships, trials, God said, "David I like you! Sit back on your thrown and take a load off. You've been so faithful to me, I'm going to make sure everyone leaves you alone!"
Wait.... that's not right. 
Oh yeah, David was constantly being invaded and had people trying to kill him. Even before he was king he was running for his life. And David through it all praised God. Sometimes he got a little whinny; but if you have nations trying to take your head as a trophy you might get a little worried too! But through it all David trusted in God.
This was written at a time where the nation of Israel was being invaded by an army WAY bigger then them. They should have been whipped of the face of the planet, but God prevailed. He interceded and changed the game and saved Israel. And they write this as a testament to God's greatness.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³ Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling...

 ^{7 8} The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge...

 ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

                                                              Psalms 46 1-3, 7-8, 10

If you want to talk about promises, this to me is much more comforting than, "It was supposed to happen. Let's take a look at this verse, If the earth is obliterated, mountains crash down into the ocean making it flood and destroy everything, if there are earthquakes, it's ok. 
Think about a bad day that you had, I know even my worst day didn't look like this. And even if it did..."Be still and know that I am God!"
It doesn't matter what is happening in your life right now. If your whole world is crumbling down around you and you are completely lost, broken, and hurt... He is God. He does not change, He does not fail. 
I discovered this verse the day after I found out my dad had cancer. It was a bible study at college that just happened to be talking about this verse. I remember the fear, uncertainty, and pain melting away as I read this. "I am God." 
I have stood fast in this promise, that even when bad things happen He will always be God. He doesn't care if you've been to every sunday service, or doubt his very existence, he will be there for you in your times of need. All you have to do is ask Him. And time and time again He will be faithful. He will be God.

I have a follower!!!!!!

Hey Mon! Hope I dont disappoint!