Rewritten and Rebuilt

   “God don’t like ugly.” I cringed a little inside as I overheard two women chatting. I had no idea what the conversation was about but that phrase caught and cut me. Cliched sayings many times make God more like an American Idol judge rather than our sovereign Creator. But is it true? And if so, what does God consider ugly?    If I were to ask people what they considered ugly, the responses would be as varied as the people. Polka dots, stripes, polyester, sexism, feminism, toxic masculinity, racism, the list would never end. But what is ugly to God? It’s not gender fighting, racism, clothing types etc. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (NIV), “I have become all things to all people so that by all means possible I might save some. I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I might share in its blessings.” Earlier in the same chapter Paul states that he became weak to win the weak, under the law to win those under the law etc. So clearly God does not consider our...

*Disclaimer: This isn't actually a new blog post but something I posted on Facebook a few weeks ago. But as always feel free to read!* Chains of Freedom Once I wanted to be free. I set out to find freedom anywhere I could. “I could be free out partying,” I thought. Having a good time, making new friends, drinking, what could go wrong? Clink, Clank! My search yielded only a chain bound tightly to my jaw and brain. Addiction had just made a new slave. Next, I turned to the “noble” art: combat. What could be more freeing than saving or taking life? What a rush it would be, after that I would truly be free! Clin k, Clank! The chains of violence, anger, and hatred rattled as they settled around my soul. My freedom search was beginning to slow me down. Love, that was what I was missing! So away I hobbled looking for a companion to complete my missing pieces. The ability to pick my own partner, the ultimate freedom of choice! Clink, Clank! Homosexuality loudly snapped shu...

The Spirit  of the Sovereign  Lord  is on me,  because the  Lord  has anointed  me  to proclaim good news  to the poor. He has sent me to bind up  the brokenhearted,   to proclaim freedom  for the captives  and release from darkness for the prisoners,  to proclaim the year of the  Lord ’s favor  and the day of vengeance  of our God,  to comfort  all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—  to bestow on them a crown  of beauty  instead of ashes,  the oil  of joy  instead of mourning,  and a garment of praise  instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness,   a planting  of the  Lord   for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3    Growing up I was terrified of this mythical "day of vengeance" that so many people, preachers, and evangelists kept ...

I have always loved knives and sharp objects. I remember when I got my first knife, I was about 8 years old, it was a small Old Timer lock blade. I thought it was the most coolest thing in the whole world! I couldn't wait to carve something, what masterful whittling I was going to be able to do! Oh I carved something alright, a nice slice right into my palm about 20 minutes after getting the knife. One might think this would curb my enthusiasm for sharp objects but it didn't. In fact the danger element made it that much more appealing.    As I grew older my love affair with sharp objects grew as well. I expanded to Buck knives, butterfly knives, and always the ever present lock blade, now it was a Gerber, sharper and bigger than the Old Timer. Somewhere along the way I stopped trying to whittle things probably when I realized another aspect to knives, destroying things! Why carve a little wooden animal when I could slash a bus seat, tire, or business sign? It was also right a...

  So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love.   There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Romans 8:38-39 If I were to talk about Paul, almost every one would talk about the tremendous work he did for God. Or maybe how he was persecuted for Christ, or his travels, or letters, the list could keep going on. But I wonder what he would think of if he looked back over his life? What was he thinking when he wrote to Timothy,    I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful, 2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)...

  “My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives;  for the nails of his cross crucified me with him . And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me— we live in union as one ! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine!  Galatians 2:20 (TPT)    This is the Passion Translation version of the very familiar verse, "I've be crucified with Christ and I no longer live but it's Christ that lives in me." Most of us have heard this Scripture multiple times in our Christian walk. There has even been a song written with this as the chorus, very poetic and moving. But what does it mean to die or be co-crucified really? If I really think about it, it sounds terrifying. And I have been thinking about it a lot.     When I came to Christ, I had reached an end to myself, I no longer knew...