Live Brave

Diploma

This has been a tough week for the O'Leary household.

As many of you know, it is near impossible to find a job. I have been looking for work for a long time and applied to pretty much every job on Long Island - including going to school and spending an enormous amount of money to learn how to treat poop water.

Yup. Poop water. And I didn't get the job yet.

But we have been under attack spiritually, emotionally, and mentally as well.

We got home this weekend with no money in the account to find out house INFESTED with fleas. Our flea bag cat decided he wanted to share the wealth I guess. So we took some money we didn't have and treated the house and the cats to protect our kids and our ankles (those suckers bite HARD).

Then, after a very encouraging Arise meeting, I got a call that Daneal had broken down on the side of the road. The brakes needed fixing. More money we don't have. I went to buy the parts I needed and I realized I lost my wallet. Ouch.

After that all worked out Daneal went to the beach. Brennan was playing too close to the water and fell in. This took an emotional toll on Daneal that she could not handle.

Needless to say, we are broken.

To make the matter worse, I had to scan my college diploma over to the state so I can took the poop treatment test (officially called waste water treatment, but we call it "poopsmithing"). I left the diploma on the desk and my son destroyed it.

I lost it.

Why did I lose it over a tattered piece of paper? Because it represents something I cannot change. It represents a physical image of what is really going on. I have a Master's degree and I cannot land a minimum wage job. That piece of paper is useless right now. It hit too close to home at a bad time.

Now that that has all been said, I have to say that when the smoke cleared, I still saw Christ. It was hard to acknowledge He was there, protecting me, but I know He is. And that will not relent.

John 11:1-4 speaks of Lazarus. Here is the beginning of the story:

"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.' When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.'"

Now if you read on you find out Lazarus dies. So was Jesus lying? No. He said, "this will not END in death." He then raises Lazarus from the dead, a physical image of what He does for all of us in sin.

There are some situations I am in, and I am sure you may be in, that look like an illness that is untreatable. A pathway to death. This could be an actual disease, a financial struggle, a relationship... I don't know. But what I do know is that for those who believe in Christ, His people are covered and not meant for death. These things happen so that Christ can be glorified.

Whatever situation you are in, especially the hard ones, know it is an opportunity for Christ to be glorified. Even the situations that appear to be death-bound.

Live Brave.

Lord, have mercy. 

 

Independence Day

John Adams said this concerning July 2, 235 years ago:

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Now he thought the Declaration was going to be signed that day, but it turns out further editing needed to be done, and the prophesy of our forefathers was delayed by 2 days. But other than the date, he was spot on. He forgot to mention the burger, brat, and steak though.

It is so important to remember our past. As a nation, we were built on freedom and liberty. It started with freedom of religion and faith, then moved on to freedom to grow tobacco, freedom from taxation without representation, and finally, freedom to live in a government by and for the people.

We have strayed from this as a nation. Our government is bigger than ever and our people are not happy. The USA is not living up to what the forefathers wrote about so long ago. The idea of America is not yet realized. The dreams of happiness are being shattered. It is time for a real change. And only the people can do do it!

We need to stand united again. I am proud to be an American. And I will celebrate our 235th year of independence because the reality of our situation may not be ideal, but the dream and idea of American liberty will always be in our hearts whenever our flag raises high.

As a Christian, my faith and foundation is in Jesus Christ. And as an American, I strive to support our country to remain free, so people can hear God's voice without somebody else forcing them to do things they do not believe. We are a free country, and it is time we went back to that. To all Christians, Christ set us free, so we are free indeed. But we are also free to believe this. Let us not forget our message is Jesus, and as Americans, our message is freedom. We are to love people who do not agree with us. That is our responsibility as Christians and Americans.

Our government is full of crooked rich folk who are looking out for themselves. It is high time as Americans that we stand up to our government and let them know, Christian or not, we are free.

To all our troops, thank you. To all our civil service people, thank you. For those in power of our government and in office working for the liberty of our people, thank you.

But to those crooked, evil men and women in office who don't really care about the true idea of America, freedom and liberty, we will be celebrating on the 4th together, but understand that your people are tired of tyranny, and your day is nearing its end. In the following years, we the people will take over if you are found lacking in compassion, love, courage, decency, and liberty. That is not a threat, that is a Constitutional fact.

We live in the best country in the world. But there are too many enslaved to this system we have set up. It will change because it has to change. Otherwise it will be our downfall. America was built on freedom, and most Americans are not free.

Smaller government. Compassion to the needy. Power to the humble. Restored rights to the people. Land of the free. Home of the brave.

We will be free. I thank God every day that I am an American.

Do not let this be a false cry for change like we have seen in the past. The government should fear the people, not the other way around. I hear many people talking about real change, but nobody wanting to risk the little they have to attain it.

I'm not a huge fan of politics, but if we really want to see change we have to stop voting for the status quo. I know I cannot separate myself as a pastor or an American, and I also think endorsement from a church is immoral, so this has nothing to do with my office as a Reverend. But as an American, somebody like Ron Paul is a leader who can bring America back. He's crazy enough. You will not hear that from the pulpit, only from my personal blog (disclaimer: NO candidates or parties are affiliated with Arise Community Church).

But do your own homework. Find a leader who represents you and your family and go for it. If you can't find one, run for office yourself!

I know this has been a rambling of thoughts, but if you're sick of seeing people lose job after job while the rich continue to get tax breaks and bail outs and in turn get elected for office, then you understand where I am coming from.

Quit getting held up in superficial squabbles and take a stand for true freedom. I mean for crying out loud, most Americans haven't even read the Constitution! Let's unite under liberty. On July 5th please seriously consider doing something for your country. If you already do, thank you. It's time to live up to our standard of bravery with faith in our country and faith in God who provides for us. And whatever you believe, at least believe in the real dream of freedom.

For now, let's get back to celebrating America. God bless the USA.

Politics and Church

Recently, I  was asked to be part of a conversation on a Christian talk radio podcast called "Getting Real".

This was a lot of fun. I got to catch up with my old friend Marv Nelson and "meet" and converse with a church-planting pastor from Louisiana named Nate Lawson. It was an interesting conversation on politics and the church. I thought it was going to be awkward, but all 3 of us kind of agreed on the same things. I kinda wish a Bill O'Reilly fan would have called in and cursed us out. But either way, it was a ton of fun and Jesus' Name was made more famous. You can listen to it here:

Politics and Church - "Getting Real" With Marv Nelson

Here is the link to the show if you want to tune in next week as well with Marv and his other guests ("Getting Real" is Thursdays at 4pm EST):

"Getting Real" - A Podcast from ACAC

Marv also has a book out. Pretty ambitious young man! Check it out here:

Pinocchio vs. The Real Boy

That's it for now! Look for an update next week about the Extreme Tour!