I am a husband, father, brother, son, pastor, poet, activist, and engineer... I care deeply about the world and am often overwhelmed by all that is going on... I'm most offended by greed and rudeness, and I believe that selfishness is the practical opposite of love...
In uncertain times, it is essential to cling to simple truths.
There is no justification for disobedience. As stated in Matthew 22:37-40, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. These commandments form the foundation of all moral law.
Every action, thought, and policy should be measured against these principles. Behaviors or systems that fail to demonstrate love for God and others—exploitation, objectification, or violence—are never acceptable, regardless of how they are rationalized.
Arguments that attempt to excuse such actions are articulate exercises in disobedience.
We must consistently choose to love God and our neighbors—now and always.
In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. posed a question that still resonates today: “Where do we go from here—chaos or community?” Despite the remarkable achievements of the civil rights movement, King recognized that deep-rooted issues—racism, militarism, and the flaws of unchecked capitalism—continued to foster poverty and despair for millions. Progress had been made, but the journey toward justice was far from complete.
Where do we go from here?
Today, we find ourselves facing similar uncertainties. Our communities, our nation, and our world are once again at a crossroads. History seems to echo itself, not because we lack knowledge, but because we often fail to learn from its lessons. Even as we celebrate advancements, we are confronted by instability and doubt about what lies ahead.
So, where do we go from here?
Can technology, politics, or human ingenuity alone lead us into a brighter future? The evidence suggests otherwise. Is it possible that a visionary leader will rise to inspire transformation and peace? Experience tells us this is unlikely to be the sole answer.
Perhaps, the solution is as familiar as it is overlooked. The wisdom of those who came before us—and the faith that sustained them—may hold the key. When we are anxious about the future, we do not need to have all the answers. Instead, we can trust in guidance greater than our own.
As the Psalmist writes:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23
Whether in our personal lives or in the public sphere, when uncertainty arises, we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone on the journey.
We may not know every step ahead, but we can trust that there is a path—and a Shepherd—who knows the way.
Today is a national holiday set aside to celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – a peaceful soldier – drum major for justice – and the face and voice of the Civil Rights Movement.
His vision, activism, and determination transformed the nation. His dream inspired generations to hope and courage, but in the end, despite his commitment to non-violence, he died from an assassin’s bullet.
It’s funny how we celebrate his life but so many fail to remember how his life was snuffed out by the very violence and hatred he eschewed. MLK’s language has been co-opted, his words by those who at once rejected him.
Ironically, his words have been sanitized while his character is maligned by those with motives that are inconsistent with his message…
Sound familiar?
I’m reminded of the words of the musical prophet, Bob Marley, who sang…
“How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it’s just a part of it;
We’ve got to fulfill the book…
Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
‘Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Redemption songs…”
Happy MLK Day, to all those who celebrate, but let’s remember him rightly.
This morning, as I sit in the silence and sip my coffee, my heart and mind travel to all the places in the world, in this city, in my neighborhood, where there’s trouble, and I wonder what I can do to make a difference.
Do you ever do that?
The onslaught of terrible news and the absurdity and wickedness that is playing out right before our eyes, the malaise that seems to be stifling the hopefulness of the faithful – it is enough to make a soul wonder, ‘Where is God?’
Take a breath.
Feel your heart beating.
Hear the still small voice of the Spirit whispering, ‘I am with you…’
As I finish my coffee and head to work, I will remain sensitive to and aware of the Spirit. I will let the Spirit guide and empower me to find and to do some good. I will not yield to despair.
Where is God?
God is not here or there, yet God is somehow near, and even within, whispering amid the din of sorrow and suffering. So, I open my eyes, my heart, and I extend my hands, revealing kindness within.
I light a candle and turn my shoulders into these cold and bitter winds. I give myself to grace and kindness, and I begin again.
What can I do? Where is God? I can hear the voice of the Spirit, ‘I am with you..’ So, I will do some good, right where I am…
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;
While they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?
For most of my Christian life, and honestly for most of my life period, I have wrestled with one thing or another. There always seems to be something going on. Struggles, conflicts, adversity, trials, afflictions, loss – I’ve seen and been through a lot.
I have experienced internal striving, and sometimes external pressures – sometimes both at the same time. Sometimes there were struggles with consequences for my own actions, and other times there were trials that I didn’t ask for, invite, or create.
If it wasn’t one thing, it’s been another, but always something going on.
Have you ever heard a word from the LORD that was both confusing and comforting? Jesus’ whole idea of an ‘easy yoke,’ has been both haunting and helpful, depending on the circumstance..
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30
I have read, sang, meditated, written about this passage before, but today it just dawned on me that the ‘easy yoke’ that Jesus speaks of is directly related to one’s willingness to heed to His guidance and yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
In a word – OBEDIENCE.
Sadly, most of us (present company included), are absolutely committed to learning things the hard way. We resist surrendering as a sign of strength, and we commit ourselves to struggle unnecessarily, when submission is actually the goal.
Plainly put – we make things harder on ourselves than necessary because of our own stubbornness of heart, pridefulness, and hard-headedness.
‘I did it my way…’ (imagine my best impression of Frank Sinatra)
But what if we may avoid some of life’s harshest lessons by learning how to listen, by learning how to be led, by being willing to accept corrections, and sometimes just by asking for help!?
Alas, I am a stubborn man. Will you pray with me?
LORD, grant me more grace to LEARN from YOU. LORD, that I might accept this easy yoke and find rest for my soul.
Yesterday was marked by a series of what I will call missed connections. Most of these ‘missed connections’ were a series of technical issues. Devices not syncing, missing charging cables, internet outages, and Zoom meeting interruptions. At some point, I began to feel like someone was playing a cruel trick on me.6
I was missing connections.
We rely on connection to access the energy we need. We rely on connection to maintain communications. Without connection, we are not only isolated but we are powerless.
As Christians, our connection to God is supreme, only to be followed by our connection to one another – this means our commitments to prayer and community are not optional but necessary. Otherwise, we succumb to isolation and ultimately render ourselves powerless!
Get it?
Learn from my cautionary tale from these previous days. Seek, maintain, and protect your connections to God and one another! These are lifelines for us!
So…
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
As one who tries to give my best effort in whatever I try to do, I’ve learned this valuable lesson:
Perfection, as we are taught it, is a myth that enslaves us – an elusive carrot that compels us but rarely elicits any peace. The pursuit of this idea of perfection is soul crushing…
Perfection, as we are taught it, has become a relentless specter that holds shame as its consequence when we are confronted with its impossible demands.
We need a new and better definition.
In Scripture, perfection, when applied to our humanity is not an achievement accomplished through performance but rather a condition conferred upon us by grace and through faith.
Perfection is a process – a witness to one’s growing understanding and acknowledgement of one’s need for grace – a state of being achieved not by achievement but by acceptance.
Perfection is completion, wholeness, and maturity realized through a humility that liberates us from performance based pressure and stress.
Paradoxically, to become perfect, in the eyes of God, is to acknowledge one’s imperfection and accept the sufficiency of grace alone that allows our weaknesses to become witnesses to God’s providence, wisdom, and power!
Remember Paul’s thorn?
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Yes, do your best, but never forget that God’s grace is enough! In a word – Christ is perfect, so needn’t be.
Release yourself from the burden of perfectionism – be kind to yourself today!
I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve flown around the world. I’ve practically memorized the safety speeches they give at the beginning of each flight. The one that stands out to me is the one about changes in cabin pressure that require the deployment of oxygen masks.
The flight attendants make it clear that if there is an incident, the first thing everyone should do is to secure their own mask. And if you are traveling with someone who cannot secure their own mask, always make sure to secure your OWN mask first.
The Underlying Principle
For me this translates to a simple truth.
We cannot care for others well, when we do not care for ourselves. We set up unhealthy habits and codependence’s based on guilt-savior complexes that can ultimately break us and stifle the growth of those we are aiming to care for when we compromise caring and loving ourselves well.
Secure your own mask.
Encouragement for Caregivers and Leaders
So, if you are a parent, a caregiver, a manager, or a ministry leader, I encourage you to ask for support and seek prayers from those you trust. But when these are missing, do NOT feel bad or guilty about taking time to care for yourself. This is not selfishness; this is wisdom.
Secure your own mask.
The Overlooked Needs of Supporters
While prayers are easy to remember for those who are struggling, those who are ill, or for those who require special care, sometimes prayers for those who provide support and care are lacking. And oftentimes, the actual support for those who care for others is conspicuously absent.
So, the wisest and most compassionate thing you can do for yourselves and for others is to learn to…
Secure your own mask.
We cannot help anyone if we are incapacitated. Get it?
I have been intentionally working to slow down in the mornings. This choice helps me carve out time to breathe, think, and pray before I get caught up in a daily routine that often pulls me in many directions.
Rethinking Discipline
In the past, I thought discipline meant always moving forward—staying on task, reaching goals, and taking care of every detail. I thought discipline was about checking off boxes and being productive. But over time, I’ve realized that discipline also shows up in moments of stillness.
Finding Maturity in Calmness
There’s a kind of maturity in calmness—the ability to resist the urge to be constantly busy. I now see that much of my busyness comes from internal reactions to anxiety, fear, and insecurity. These feelings show up as worries about being unprepared, fear of failure, and insecurity about my abilities.
Reflecting on Busyness and Drive
Even though my busyness can lead to productivity, it’s not always necessary. Likewise, my drive might lead to external accomplishments, but these successes don’t always bring true fulfillment or happiness.
Learning to Be Still
As I get older, I’m learning to slow down so my soul can catch up with my body. Being still isn’t the same as being idle; it’s an act of trust—trusting that God has everything under control.
So, as we close out the first full workweek of this new year, I pray we all learn to trust God more, lean into His promises, and accept the grace that allows us to rest, renew our minds, restore our strength, revive our spirits, and rediscover joy.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thankfulness, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Regardless of your stance on vaccinations, I’m grateful to have followed my doctor’s advice and kept up with them. Even when doubts crept in, I chose to trust the process—and this week, that decision made all the difference. After feeling unwell, I bounced back quickly, reminding me that vaccines aren’t cures, but powerful tools that help us recover more quickly and face challenges with greater resilience.
Faith works in much the same way. It doesn’t shield us from every hardship, but it equips us to respond, endure, and grow stronger through adversity. Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
So, what can we do to prepare ourselves for life’s ups and downs?
Stay connected through prayer, meditation, and fellowship.
Practice your faith in service.
Take care of your body with rest, exercise, and healthy habits.
Nourish your mind and spirit with scripture and reflection.
These disciplines build resilience, helping us not just to survive, but to thrive when challenges come our way. Take care of your health, nurture your soul, and step into each day with confidence and hope!
“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
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