Grace wins.

June 23, 2019

I need to periodically remind myself about my mission in life, perhaps you need that too. So, I repost this, written 6 years ago.  The sun came up again today...

"'Huffington Post...'WASHINGTON -- The Defense of Marriage Act, the law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by the states, is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday by a 5-4 vote.'

'The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity,' Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion. 'By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment.'

An urgent reminder to my friends who identify themselves as followers of Jesus...

'Yesterday (June 26, 2013) The Supreme Court published its opinion on United States v. Windsor. 

The sun came up this morning, as it always has. A new day. Here's the reality: nothing has changed. As believers we are called to love the world as Christ loved the world, unconditionally, and be instruments of grace and healing.

If history teaches us anything, it's that culture, people, tend to go the way they're going. The Court's opinion simply affirms what history so clearly demonstrates. 

As a follower of Jesus, my mission has not changed one bit. This ruling serves to underscore the urgency (NOT to fall back and counterattack) of what God has called me to do personally, within my spheres of influence, and corporately, through my community of faith; seek to demonstrate the love of God in tangible ways that will move people closer to personal faith in Christ. This means I must do everything I can to make hard lives easier--regardless of the spiritual outcome.

My church (the community Christ-followers who have embraced effective faith--Romans 10.9-10) must understand that it is not about us; about making the world bend to what makes us comfortable and secure. 

It's about the world. We should expect that people who have not embraced the reality of God's love, will choose to live in ways that do not reflect that reality. 

This fact should not repel us, it should compel us to resolve to love those not like us, in the same way that God loves them--generously, redemptively, graciously.  This is faithfulness to God's vision for His church, and our mission in His world: that all might come to know Christ, the reality of His power, and the freedom, finally, to say `yes` to God.'"

GRACE WINS.

Liveitwell!

Sleep well noble prince.

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince; And flights of 
angels sing thee to thy rest."
― William Shakespeare, Hamlet

It`s been a year since we lost Charles Karuthammer.  His passing has diminished us all.  Not many people have that kind of impact on a Nation.

He was a good man.  An overcomer. A great thinker. A remarkable wordsmith. He called it the way he saw it, and the way he saw it, was usually the way it was. We desparately need people like CK today; more than at any time since WW2. 

A voice of reason.

CK was a man directed by values and ideas, but not a driven ideologue. He was pragmatic enough to realize that when politics becomes a zero-sum-game, there aren't winners and losers--because everyone loses.  

It feels like `overtime` in America.

That said, our hope remains the most high God...I choose to trust in Him.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth." 

PSALM 121.1,2 ESV

Liveitwell!