“If you bite and devour each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:15)

Not long ago, I learned that another of my beloved pastor friends was asked to step down from his pulpit. This event marks the third time such a despicable act has entered my world. I know, full well, what kind of destruction this action can wreak as the first time it happened to me. 

I served as my church’s Director of Christian Education about sixteen years ago. The former director didn’t like my actions of starting a youth group, hosting Vacation Bible School outdoors in Biblical apparel, and other such things. She and her family brought me to the church board to mock and pass judgment on me for my ideas. I’ll never forget the rage expressed in that meeting. I thought one of the women might physically hit me when I chose to defend my actions and faith. Ultimately, the pastor sided with the family, and I resigned from my church position. It was a bitterly painful experience. 

After leaving that church, I attended another whose pastor eventually came under fire by his church board. His cardinal sin was admonishing his congregants not to argue amongst themselves over things like the color of the carpet.

“If you are thinking about such things and who you’re going to contend with after the sermon,” he said, “you aren’t a real Christian.” He closed by reminding his parishioners that we are called to serve God and not man. 

A few weeks later, my pastor contacted me to say that he, too, had to defend himself to a governing body that decided his words had offended them. He then asked me to write a statement to the church council attesting to his character and impact on my life. It was my privilege to do so.

Unfortunately, I later learned that the pastor was voted out of his position. My letter and those written by others made little impact on a group that seemed determined to rid themselves of their shepherd.

I’ll never forget his last sermon on Palm Sunday. He preached about the betrayal of Christ as He entered Jerusalem. I cried halfway through his message, barely able to stay in the pew. I never went back, hurt again by men’s actions against those who stand for God. 

And now this. 

I had only recently told my pastor friend how much his sermons meant to me – especially one in which he took a stand against the church’s general acceptance of everything from the indoctrination of children into gender neutrality to the common acceptance of abortion and homosexuality. 

His sermon text that week was based on 1 Corinthians 6, which says the following: “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (v. 9-11)

The pastor explained that we may have condoned or even participated in some of this immoral behavior in the past. He readily admitted that he, too, had led a sinful life before being called and saved by God’s grace. 

But that’s not who we should be now, he reminded his parishioners. Now, we are followers of Christ. We are called to come out of sin and be different.  

His scripture reading continued, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” (V. 12-13) 

More than just an indictment of our sinful nature, the pastor used this scripture to talk about how we are given the “freedom” to become slaves to Christ. While such a concept may seem contradictory, it is only by freely choosing Jesus that we can wholeheartedly follow our Savior – even into servitude to Him. 

As Paul told us in his letter to the Galatians, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (v. 13-14)

We are called to love one another. This command is second only to loving God. If we love each other, we will be less inclined to attack our Christian brothers and sisters- even if we don’t like what someone else says or if it makes us uncomfortable. 

As I wrote in an open letter to the church, “Your board’s decision will cause unrest, apprehension, gossip, slander, heartache, and turmoil. Such actions are not how God intended His church to comport itself.

“Actions have consequences. You are not helping anyone by ridding yourself of your pastor — quite the contrary. You cannot grow, thrive, and nourish your congregation by breeding distrust, fear, and animosity. Such actions stand opposed to everything the Gospel stands for. 

“I believe the devil is having his field day right now. He doesn’t want anyone with conviction to be serving God as he knows his days are numbered. He will do anything within his power to stir up dissension and drive people away from our Heavenly Father. I continue to be shocked at how easy that is and how quickly people can turn against the faithful. Pastor David Jeremiah calls them ‘the great pretenders.’

“As the Apostle Paul told Timothy, ‘For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.’ (2 Timothy 4:3) 

“I am writing to you, telling you these things, hoping that you will see that [your pastor] has made a difference. He is a man of God called to the ministry of serving others. The world needs more people like [him], willing to stand up and preach on difficult topics while delivering the unflinching, unfiltered Word of the Lord. 

“There will come a day when we will all have to account for what we’ve done before the only God of the universe. [Your pastor] serves our Creator with his whole heart, and I know he will one day hear Christ say, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’ (Matthew 25:21) 

“What will the rest of you say when God asks you why you took such action against one of His servants? You need to consider that question while there is still time, as I truly believe Christ is coming for His church soon. I would not want to be on the wrong side of that judgment if I were you.”

And so ended my letter. Did it make a difference? Unfortunately not. It hurts my heart to say that, yet again, my preacher friend was not invited back, and the church is operating as if he was never there. 

But God knows the true story. Throughout Biblical history, divine prophets – the precursors to modern-day pastors – preached uncompromising messages that were often poorly received. Many of our Creator’s spokespersons were killed by their peers or authorities for the messages they delivered. God’s murdered mouthpieces include the following: 

• Isaiah was tortured and killed by King Manasseh, who ordered him to be sawed in half. 
• Joel died two days after being hit on the head by Ahaziah. 
• Amos was tortured and killed by the priests of Bethel. 
• Micah was killed by Joram, King Ahab’s son. 
• Habakkuk was stoned to death by the Jews in Jerusalem. 
• Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern earlier in his ministry and later stoned to death by Jews in Egypt. 
• Ezekiel was murdered by Jews. 
• Ahijah was killed by a lion. 
• Zechariah was killed by King Joash. 

Given the above, I’d say my Christian brothers are in good company.

God’s messages are never easy to hear, but that doesn’t give us the right to “kill the messenger.” Ironically, as my minister friend preached a few weeks before being asked to resign or be terminated, his prophetic scripture reading included Galatians 5:15: “If you bite and devour each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other.”

The world is in chaos right now, with more attacks against the church, Christians, Christian values, and morality than ever before. Now is the time to pull together – not attack, vilify, and condemn. The world does enough of that without our help. We need to stop hurting one another and start healing. 

The devil will do everything he can to destroy God’s church and keep Christ’s message of salvation from being preached. Let’s not be the ammunition he needs to do so. 

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (Proverbs 31:26) [KJV]

As a wordsmith, speech matters to me. I probably take the remarks of others deeper than I should, as a result. 

Such a concept must work both ways. While I can’t help but pay close attention to the comments of others, I must also remember that what comes out of my mouth must be tempered and sweetened before utterance.

A few months ago, I wrote about being disappointed when my mother and brother decided not to move to Georgia. Since then, the world has changed, and their opportunity to live near me solidified. While it will take time for us to get used to such new living arrangements, the biggest thing I need to remember is to watch my words. 

What I mean by that is I think, live, and talk differently than they do. Many years of existing worlds apart have served to establish alternate mindsets. I need to remember to watch what I say and how I react to what others say. 

My mom, for example, has adopted a straightforward way of speaking that I told her should be captured in a book of “momisms.” Here are a few small samples: 

• My mother loves birds, so I thought she’d enjoy going to an avian conservatory to see Wood Storks nesting in our area. “Birds are birds,” my mom said, choosing to go to the beach instead. Since then, whenever we see a new bird, I can’t help but use this unique expression in her presence. “Birds are birds,” I say as we both laugh.
• After dining out a few weeks ago, my mom called the waitress to let her know we wanted our check. “Excuse me,” she said. “We’ve accomplished all that we wanted to here.” I could only shake my head.

Obviously, this phraseology makes me chuckle – but sometimes, such utterances have the opposite effect. In one such instance, my mom and I had eased into a weekend with a big breakfast requiring substantial cleanup. I was taking things a bit slowly, but it quickly became apparent that my mom was ready to move to another activity. Tensions were a bit high, and comments were, unfortunately, escalating. 

“We’ve gone around like two cats today,” my mother said, which likened my mind to a mental image of two fighters preparing to pounce. My defenses rose, and I responded that such a statement wasn’t fair or kind. 

Perhaps, instead, I should have kept my mouth shut and let it go – understanding that my mom thinks differently than I do. 

And so, I will endeavor to live up to today’s Bible verse: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Proverbs 31:26) [KJV]

If I can keep God’s wisdom in my mind and mouth, perhaps my patience will follow suit. It’s a gift to have my mother near me. I know she is happy to be close to the beach where we both always longed to live. 

Help me to speak love, Lord Jesus. You are the author and finisher of my faith. Help me live it out, even when challenged by the words, actions, and deeds of others. 

#SpeakLove; #SpeakLife

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

It’s the little things that make me happy. God’s love gifts often leave me breathless.

A few weeks ago, I opened the front door to encounter a bird quickly flitting away. Since I don’t have any trees right next to my house, I wondered where he came from and how I startled him?

Attached to my door is a grapevine wreath wired with silk magnolia blossoms. Wondering if my suspicions were correct, I placed my cell phone in camera mode and reached up to snap a photo looking down at the wreath from above.

Imagine my joy at seeing my captured photo of a nest resting amongst the vines in my wreath. Reaching up again, I angled my phone to look down inside the nest to see two tiny, light-blue, speckled eggs. Birds had not just made a nest in my wreath; they had laid eggs inside it!

Watching the nest, I later spotted my bird parents flying away and into one of the trees in my yard. Seeing their coloration, I was able to identify my feathery friends as house finches. Two weeks and three more laid eggs later, I’m now watching the five hatchlings growing bigger and happier each day – right at my front door!

And so it is with God. From out of death, life. From the inanimate life of my dead wreath, God led this tiny bird couple to create, incubate, and nurture new life.

What a lesson that is for all of us! How often have I felt that I was at my wit’s end, with no hope for anything new to blossom?

And yet, it is often when I lay my old self and my dead dreams down at my Savior’s feet that He can bring forth new life in a more magnificent manner than I could have ever imagined.

Surrender is hard but necessary if we want to grow. As I’m watching these little babies growing bigger each day, I’m excited to see the miracle of new Creation played out in front of me. Witnessing this miracle before me, I am committed to re-surrender myself to the only one who can renew, restore, and rejuvenate me.

I am a consistent work-in-progress and need my Savior each and every day. I crave my Heavenly Father’s love, guidance, and discipline to create, incubate, and mold me into who He wants me to be. While I am no longer the weak hatchling I once was when I first accepted Christ, my struggle toward His perfection continues every day of the life that He has given me.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

I am your Creation, Lord, and I need your steadfast love and support to overcome my sinful nature and grow closer to your side. Today and every day, I surrender anew to You, Lord Jesus. I am your servant. Make me who You want me to be.

Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Sometimes, the devil in the pulpit is more evil than the sinner on the street. 

Carlow University, a private Catholic college in Pittsburg, PA, recently hosted an event to discuss ways “to create a different cultural foundation upon which to base one’s faith.” That topic alone should have raised red flags at a Christian university – but no one could have imagined the heresy that would emanate from the podium. 

Guest speaker Miguel De La Torre is a professor of social ethics and Latinx studies at the Iliff School of Theology in Colorado. His presentation, entitled “Rejecting White Christianity,” began with an explosive statement. “All white theology and philosophy is detrimental to communities of color.” 

Excuse me? Pardon my ignorance, but when did theology become segregated by melanin? Christianity is color-blind. God created the human race. There is no distinction between races, skin pigment, birthplaces, or national origin in the plan of salvation. Christ sacrificed His life for all mankind so that the separation between humanity and deity could be paid – once and for all. 

There is no greater love than that demonstrated on the cross. (John 15:13) This love is for all of us. There is no mention anywhere in the Bible of salvation being for a select group. There is, therefore, no such thing as “White Christianity.” There is only Christianity. 

“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) That scripture is crystal clear. All means all. To interject skin color into the Gospel is blasphemy. It demeans and devalues the blood of our Savior. 

But Prof. De La Torre had just started speaking. The rest of his presentation only got worse. 

De La Torre told his audience that the solution to racism is obvious. He directed event participants to Matthew 25: 31-46. “Feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the alien among you, provide healthcare, also provide prison reform,” advised De La Torre.

I’d like to know what version of the Holy Scripture this speaker was using, as healthcare and prison reform are not listed as God-given directives in any Bible I’ve ever seen.

One of my all-time favorite pastors once told me that we must be careful never to add to God’s Word. That scripture has always stuck with me. Deuteronomy 4:2 tells us, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.” 

And yet, adding to scripture is precisely what De La Torre has done. 

The speaker went on to describe the difference between what he called “White theology” and Latinx ethics” – beginning with his definition of the word “hope.” 

“We embrace Euro-centric concepts like hope because it helps to pacify the oppressed during their oppression,” he said. 

De La Torre later rejected hope as a white concept – not as a “gift of the Spirit.” He further classified the same as a “middle-class excuse to do nothing.” 

Rev. Mark R. Wenger disagrees. “Real hope, I contend, is rooted in God. Hope is a spiritual gift and virtue more than a human achievement.” 

But in his presentation, De La Torre continued, “[Hope] leads to spiritual liberation and ignores physical liberation. It helps us believe in the riches of the hereafter, rather than the riches of the here and now.” 

Christ, Himself warned directly against De La Torre’s mentality when He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6: 19-21)

Rather than embracing hope, De La Torre asked his audience to “embrace hopelessness.” He argued that doing so “is to be propelled forward into practice and action.”

While the speaker seemed unwilling to defer his hope to the promises of heaven, the Bible cannot be more explicit in its directive of the same. 

• “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
• “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
• “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31)
• “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
• “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrew 11:1)
• “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your Word.” (Psalm 119:114)

Not content with his attempts to debase the Gospel with division, disavow the hope of heaven, and add to the Word of God, De La Torre further directed his audience to embrace the concept of “ethical lying,” which he called a “trickster ethic.” He believes the same is necessary to transform society.

According to De La Torre’s convoluted logic, we need to learn to “ethically lie so we can discover what is true, how to steal so ethically we can feed those who are hungry… (and) how to disrupt the structures that have trained us to oppress ourselves and to take upon our body our own discipline.” 

Continuing with his blasphemy, the speaker guilted the audience into believing that “[white theology is] such a colonized way of understanding theology [that it] makes God false.” 

Alternately, De La Torre shared the words of his intellectual mentor in evidencing his way of thinking. 

“We will make our wine out of plantains, and even if it comes out sour, it is still our wine. We will make our theology. We will make our ethics out of our own cultural symbols. And even if we get it wrong, it still is ours,” said De La Torre. “We have to learn how to see with our own eyes. We have to crucify our colonized minds. And for our white brothers and sisters, they need to crucify their whiteness.” 

To this, I can only say, Prof. De La Torre, you did get it wrong. You do not get to make up your own theology. You may believe your own convoluted concepts, but God does not. You cannot add to His divine Word, twist your ideas into political psycho-babble, and still make it into heaven. 

Shame on this speaker for trying to pass along his heresy as gospel. 

And shame on the Catholic university that hosted this event. As their website boasts, they prefer to embrace “social justice, ethical forward-thinking leadership and meaningful service to the community” more than the Christian concepts that founded their origin.

When asked to comment on their guest’s controversial speech, they replied, “Carlow University is proud of our Catholic heritage and mercy mission, which welcomes all. As such, the University welcomes respectful discourse and multiple perspectives, including being open to hosting speakers like Dr. De La Torre whose topic may engender thoughtful reflection and dialogue.” 

In response to both the speaker and Carlow, I can only ask you to fully digest the scripture incorrectly quoted and enhanced during the event. 

Matthew 25:46 warns, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

And to my readers, please allow me to remind you that there is always hope in Christ. No matter what the devil in the pulpit may tell you, Christ is our eternal, living hope. 

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. (Proverbs 25: 21); If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. (Romans 12:20) 

War is evil. There’s no disputing that fact. But hateful rhetoric disguised as love can be just as sinister – perhaps even more so. Please allow me to explain. 

There is no disputing the ugly and disheartening headlines that have been on constant feed since the Russian-Ukrainian War began. Russia invaded Ukraine without confrontation. The acts of violence that have left Ukrainians fleeing their homeland in fear for their lives are indefensible. 

But what of the public shunning of everything Russian that has come thereafter? Have we lost all thoughts of reason and humanity in the aftermath? Has the world forgotten that there are innocents on both sides of the battlefield? Do we not give credence to the Russian citizens facing economic sanctions, the lost lives of untold thousands of Russian soldiers, and the brave Russian public who are unafraid of protesting the war at the potential cost of a 15-year prison sentence? 

I must ask, how do discrimination, intolerance, and narrow-mindedness make oppression any less malevolent? 

The first public reaction I heard of in protest of the war was the disposal of Russian vodka. Media outlets across the country showed liquor store owners proudly pouring out the perceived offensive liquid in a symbolic show of defiance against the eastern war machine. 

Earlier last week, Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak was denounced by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for daring to wear the letter “Z” on his uniform. The Russian military has used the “Z” to mark their vehicles, so its usage is perceived to endorse the war. According to public sentiment, there can be no other application of this symbol – even when there is. 

Prior to Kuliak’s performance, the FIG had ordered the removal of all Russian flag emblems from uniforms. Kuliak chose to display the “Z” in replacement of the same. This 20-year-old athlete is now facing disciplinary measures by the FIG for what they have deemed to be “shocking behavior.” The FIG subsequently banned all Russian and Belarusian athletes from further competitions. Isn’t their punishment of this young athlete and all others from his homeland even more “shocking” and outrageous?

In Kuliak’s case, he wore the symbol to stand in solidarity with his homeland – a fact that most media outlets and even the sporting world refuse to acknowledge. 

“I saw it with our military and looked at what this symbol means. It turned out [it means], ‘for victory’ and ‘for peace,'” Kuliak explained. “I didn’t wish anything bad on anyone, I just showed [what] my position [was]. As an athlete, I will always fight for victory and stand for peace.”

The International Soccer group, FIFA, has also banned all Russian athletes from their competitions. The European Soccer group, UEFA, forbid Russians to participate in the 2022 World Cup. Even disabled athletes who dared to try to compete for Mother Russia have been banned from participating by the International Paralympic Committee. Their decision came as other athletes refused to play against the Russians and threatened to boycott the events if the eastern athletes were allowed to participate. How are these acts not deemed prejudicial? 

The sporting world is not alone in its attempts to punish all Russians. Artists have also faced the same inequitable treatment in an unsurprising yet equally frustrating manner. The New York Metropolitan Opera, for example, recently terminated its relationship with its most beloved, highest-grossing soprano, Anna Netrebko. Her crime? Netrebko refused to denounce Russian President Vladamir Putin when asked to do so by her employer.  

“It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,” Met general manager Peter Gelb announced on March 3rd. “Anna is one of the greatest singers in Met history, but with Putin killing innocent victims in Ukraine, there was no way forward.”

Similarly, renowned Russian conductor, Valery Gergiev, was fired from both the Munich Philharmonic and the Rotterdam Philharmonic in the Netherlands for his refusal to denounce his long-time friend, Vladimir Putin. Apparently, remaining silent when asked for condemnation is enough to lose one’s livelihood. 

In the angry crescendo of warped justice, animals, too, aren’t immune from being blacklisted. Under the “that’s a bit too much” category of outrage, the Federation Internationale Feline announced that Russian-bred cats are now banned from competitions. Not satisfied with this action alone, the FIF will no longer allow Russian exhibitors to participate in their events. 

Closer to home, I’m watching the ostracization of all things Russian in my own backyard with equal parts shock and sadness. History is potentially being rewritten before my very eyes in one such demonstration. 

In June 2004, Sea Island, GA, hosted the G8 Summit. This annual event brings together the leaders from the top eight industrial nations to discuss economics, public health, human rights, and even nuclear proliferation. As is typical, Putin represented his nation in this event. 

A large photo of that era’s world leaders walking in the sand is displayed in the lighthouse museum on St. Simon’s Island. The heads of state are all pictured with broad smiles on their faces. The conviviality captured in this photo always made me feel happy. Something extraordinary occurred in the Golden Isles during that gathering, and by all counts, everyone truly enjoyed their time here. Such events testify to all things good in the world as we work together to remain friends and promote peace. 

Since war broke out in Ukraine, the Sea Island Authority embraced public calls to remove the Russian flag from their G8 memorial. The lighthouse museum has also removed Putin’s name from the chair he sat in during the Summit. Public outcry is now pushing the organization to cover Putin’s face in the photo. I expect the portrait to ultimately be removed from their walls as a final act of appeasement – all under the guise of Ukrainian support. 

Perhaps more than any of the above, the complete absence of calls for prayers for both Ukrainians and Russians may bother me the most. “Pray for Ukraine” has become an acceptable mantra. “Fly the Ukraine flag” is today’s fashionable battle cry. 

But what of prayers for the Russians? What of sympathy for Russian-Americans living in all parts of the world, including on our little Sea Island? When attacking all things Russian, banning Russian athletes and other society standouts, are we not showing rampant discrimination against individuals who have done nothing wrong? Will demonstrating hatred against anything Russian help end the war, or is it, instead, teaching intolerance, illiberalism, and injustice? I fear acts of retribution and violence are soon to follow. 

Alternately, aren’t we – especially Christians – to speak love to everyone, including those we may think of as our opponents? Absolutely! There is no higher calling than demonstrating love in the face of injustice, violence, and evil. 

The Bible tells us as much in the scriptures I quote at the top of this blog. In both the Old and New Testaments, we are told to be kind to our enemies. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. (Proverbs 25: 21) If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. (Romans 12:20) 

Is that easy to do? Never. Should we do so anyway? Absolutely.

Sabina Wormbrund was the wife of Richard Wurmbrand – a Romanian atheist turned Lutheran pastor who later established the Christian organization Voice of the Martyrs. Both Richard and Sabina were tortured under the German Nazi and Russian Communist regimes for their faith. Despite their brutal treatment, Sabina and Richard remained outspoken proponents of love and kindness, even to their persecutors. Sabina once said, “While others are bent on revenge, on ways of doing more evil than their neighbor, God gives the ability to return good for evil.” Who are we, now, to do any less? 

And so, I caution those who would speak out in love to the Ukrainian people to do the same for the Russians. Canceling, discriminating, and shunning anyone is not only harming a civil society; it’s fomenting hatred in return. God told us to love one another. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.” (Romans 12: 17)

We cannot invoke hatred against anyone. The collateral damage of hatred is injustice evoked under a mantle of support for a preferred party. The only force that can overwhelm malevolence is love. As Romans 12:21 reminds us, “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” 

May we all remember to love one another more deeply – that includes everyone on both sides of the battlefield, even in times of war. 

#LoveOneAnother; #PrayforUkraine&Russia; PrayforPeace

On Thursday morning, February 24, 2022, residents of Ukraine no longer needed to wonder if Mother Russia would use force to invade their beloved homeland. War had arrived – by land, sea, and air.

In an unprecedented move for the tiny nation, the Ukrainian government hopes to defend itself by providing arms to its citizenry. A civilian militia may sound vastly inferior to a superior army – but the Ukrainian people may have an even more incredible super-power residing within her borders – the power of prayer to an Almighty God.

Using social media to broadcast his message, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted a petition for his fellow countrymen/women to bear arms against their invaders. “We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country,” Zelensky tweeted. “Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.”

Even before the invasion began, Zelensky promised his nation would fight to defend itself. “If they [Russia] attack, if they try to take our country – our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children – we will be defending ourselves…As you attack, it will be our faces you see, not our backs.”

CNN reporter Clarissa Ward showed a different image than civilians holding automatic weapons on day one of the attacks. Below her vantage point above the central square in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Ward reported as cameras showed a group of about seven individuals gathering to kneel on the cold Ukrainian ground to pray.

“I think this really speaks to the sort of desperation of this moment,” Ward explained. “We just see a small group of people…a small group of people has gathered in the main square, and they are kneeling and praying.”

While the reporter seemed stunned at what she witnessed, my heart rejoiced at the image. “Where two or three gather in My name, there I am with them.” (Mathew 18:20)

In ancient Bible times, Judaean King Hezekiah faced a similar struggle to that seen in modern-day Ukraine. In pursuit of kingdom dominance and through a great show of strength, Assyrian King Sennacherib’s superior army surrounded Hezekiah’s walled city.

Before attacking the city, Sennacherib sent a message that could have done much to intimidate the king. “Say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them…?” (2 Kings 19: 10-12)

Sennacherib could not have known that Hezekiah would take his letter directly to God. Instead of feeling fear after reading this letter, the Judaean king saw his enemy’s threats as blasphemy against his Creator.

“Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.’

“‘It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.” (2 Kings 19: 14-19)

After hearing from God, the prophet Isaiah advised Hezekiah that his Creator would defend him.

“‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with a shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came, he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the Lord. I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David, my servant.’” (2 Kings 19: 32-34)

While they slept that night, God took the lives of the 185,000 Assyrian soldiers encamped outside of Judah – leaving only dead bodies for the Judeans to count the next day. God did, indeed, fight for and preserve Judah – just as He promised. 

While we know that mass casualties already exist in Ukraine – with countless others yet to come – we cannot discount the power of God to hear the prayers of the small gathering in Kharkiv and around the world for this imperiled nation.

Let us join our hearts and hands in prayer and petition for the Ukrainians as they face the dangers of war on their soil. God alone knows how this will all end. God, alone, is always in control.

#PrayForUkraine. May God have mercy and protect us all.

#PrayForUkraine; #TrustGod; #KeepPraying

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You. (Psalm 33:22)

I’ve never been a fan of holidays created to promote the sale of overpriced products under the guise of demonstrating love. Call me cynical, but in my way of thinking, Valentine’s Day serves one of two purposes: 1) the recipients of cards, chocolate, and compassion feel overwhelmingly loved in receipt of the same; or 2) the recipients who don’t receive cards, chocolate, and compassion feel rejection and despair in a more pronounced way on this Hallmark ® holiday than on any other day of the year. 

I speak from experience. I remember back to my high school days when students could gift silk roses to each other on Valentine’s Day. These outward tokens of affection could be purchased and sent anonymously or openly, tangibly advising both the recipients and the rest of the student body that secret or overt admirers really existed. I used to dread the delivery of those roses during class time – knowing full-well that no flowers would be delivered to me. 

And that’s okay – because I’ve always known how much my Savior loves me. His love matters more to me than anything.

As Christians, we are all called to demonstrate love continually – no matter the day, hour, or reason. There can be no more elaborate contrast between the children of God and the rest of the world than the love that we exemplify – despite our circumstances. As Christ said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

A perfect example of this unique type of love is embodied in a story I read recently about a Utah father. While transporting his three daughters to basketball practice, Joe Tuia’ana spotted a young man poised precariously on the side of an overpass, just past a parked car. The youth had his hoodie pulled over his head and stood on the opposite side of a security barrier. This young man was preparing to end his own life by all outward appearances. Shocked into action, Tuia’ana stopped his car a short distance away, advising the oldest of his daughters to call 911 and remain in his vehicle. 

“I got out of the car and immediately thought, ‘If you screw this up, not only is this young man going to die, but your daughters are going to see it happen,” Tuia’ana said. “I nearly passed out due to fear and anxiety.” 

While slowly approaching the young man, who appeared to be in his 20’s, Joe called out to God, praying for divine assistance in this life or death encounter. 

“From that point, I felt inspired to do what I thought Jesus would do: walk slowly to this young man, with your arms open to him,” said Joe.

“When close enough, I told him, ‘I love you. I love you, bro,’” Tuia’ana recalled. “He looked at me with fear and pain, crying so hard. With my arms open to him, I repeated, ‘I love you. I love you, bro.”

A few minutes passed until the young man finally surrendered to Joe’s demonstration of tenderness, responding with a simple cry of “help.” 

Tuia’ana immediately jumped up, hugged the youth, and guided him back to safety. 

“I held the young man in my arms like he was my own child and cried with him,” said Joe. “No words said, no questions asked. Just time for him to hug and sit with someone who loved him in peace.” 

“He was hurting, and I felt like he just needed someone to love him.” 

First responders arrived moments later. After de-escalating the situation and moving the young man to a nearby parking lot, Joe stayed with this hurting soul for a bit longer. 

While Tuia’ana never learned what propelled this young man to nearly ending his life, Joe remains hopeful that he will see him again at some point. Moreover, the encounter left this dad with a greater appreciation of the importance of demonstrating compassion. 

“This was an amazing, horrible, beautiful experience for my life,” Joe said. “I now view people with a greater love and with open arms. My heart needed an upgrade, and this young man gave it to me.”

As this story demonstrates, tenderness and devotion should be as much a part of our existence as breathing. While florists, candy, and card-makers may view Valentine’s Day as an annual opportunity to amass profits, the rest of us should never limit our affections to one day a year. There are 364 other opportunities to do so, 24-hours a day, with no need for calendar prompting. 

God demonstrates His unfailing love to us in the beauty of His creation, the air that fills our lungs, and the sending of a Savior who also stretched out His arms of compassion – on an old rugged cross. 

“I love you, bro,’ arms open and no questions asked.” Those are more than words expressed by a stranger to a starving soul, hungry for affection, standing on a bridge. They embody the single most perfect message of unconditional love that has ever been demonstrated on earth. 

Nothing can match the unequivocal, unrelenting, unfailing love of God. Even better, no holiday is required.

#UnfailingLoveofGod; #ChristianLove; #DemonstrateLove; #LoveOneAnother