dear child
will you stay with me
for a moment
will you listen through my tears
i am searching for words
through the rubble of my life
i need to help you see
so that 20 years from this moment
you will remember
and weep
and tell the story again

dear child
there is evil in this world
it is plain to see
all of history
tells the same sad story
but greater still than all we see
is the darkness in you and me
the darkness in you and me

all the change
i want this world to know
all the healing that i want to see
all that is broken deep inside of me
oh God
start with me

dear child
there are heroes in this world
men and women
brave and true
facing evil
charging
running
the fire of courage
in their eyes
greater than the fires all around
and when walls and steel
when glass and stone
fell down
down
down
it is now upon us all
to remember
our sons
our daughters
our mothers
our fathers
our sisters
our brothers
oh my God they are gone
they were heroes on that day
there are heroes in this world
today

dear child
do not fear
there is evil
yes
but greater still
is the song of hope
is the melody of light
do you see this cross
made from broken steel
rising from the ashes
hope
rising from the pain

do you see the Cross
the Son of Man on a tree
all the evil of the world
all the darkness in you and me
he bore on the tree
He ran into the darkness
the ground zero of our souls
to set us free
to mend our hearts
to redeem

dear child
life is
unimaginably beautiful
delicate
and fleeting
so remember
to sing songs about
the heroes that are gone
so remember
the Cross still stands
and calls to all
giving faith
giving hope
giving love

dear child
remember
tell the story
remember
the Cross

Did you miss it this morning? It was such a beautiful start to the day. It’s OK if you did. Often in my life I miss the beauty all around me. Whether or not you and I see it, or acknowledge it, there is also beauty within. Everyone on this planet… everyone… is created in the image of Almighty God. If we truly understand this then we can define people properly. I don’t always live up to the image that I carry of my God. And many people around me don’t either. It doesn’t change how I define them… how I fundamentally understand, welcome, and accept them. This is what it means to love your fellow man… to be a good neighbor… to move into this world with light and grace.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

“I have come into the world as light…”

“…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Merry Christmas! We are celebrating the coming of Grace, Truth and Light into the world and into our hearts. On a personal note, we are also celebrating the no cancer report for my dear wife. She had surgery Nov. 24, and while the recovery process has been difficult, we are so grateful. I will be updating the blog with images from that journey over the next few days. God bless you and yours!

My wife has been diagnosed with a clival chordoma, a rare cancer. She has surgery scheduled for Nov. 24. Thank you for your prayers.

we must tell the stories of this great land
the stories of our struggles and flaws
the stories of tragedy and suffering
of all that needs to be healed and restored

we must also tell the stories of valor and bravery
the stories of unimaginable courage
in the face of unspeakable evil
stories of men and women
who represent
our highest ideals
our best selves
men and women
who through their character
their love of country
and their other centered hearts
remind us that we must live for others
that we must reach beyond self

with gratitude for those who protect and serve
for those who rescue and heal
we sing
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer strain
The banner of the free!