Ron Popeil’s death prompts thoughts of eternal life

The recent passing
of late night informercial pitchman
Ron (Veg-o-Matic) Popeil
got me thinking about our universal attraction
to short cuts and quick solutions.

But no matter how you slice it or dice it,
we can’t cut corners
when it comes to becoming a Christian.
There’s no earning a relationship with our Creator.
There’s no getting cuts in the Disneyland-long line for Heaven.

We will never be good enough
to merit the favor of a holy God
who doesn’t grade on the curve.
But a God who refuses to wink at sin
still couldn’t close His eyes on those created in His image.
The Creator’s heart pulsated passionately
like a mother for her child.

And God’s unconditional love
for flawed imperfect individuals
(like you and me)
drove Him to find a way
for His righteous requirements to be met
without sacrificing His integrity as a holy deity.

Becoming one with us,
and experiencing our passions,
hungers, fears and grief firsthand,
this God-Man drank the poison of our plight
dying in our place.
His perfect life and undeserved death
was accepted by the Holy One
as just payment for the moral debt of humankind.

And that’s not all.
The God-Man who gave his life
to meet the holy demands of a holy God
defeated death standing up
to those who laid Him flat.

But wait! There’s more.
All that is necessary for us
to experience the abundant life our Creator intended
has been achieved.
But we must personally appropriate the transaction
that was made on our behalf.
To activate what has been funded to us
by an account transfer,
we must check the box that says “I accept.”

By faith we must acknowledge our flawed nature
and our need of a Savior.
We must thank a good God
that our bad choices have been forgiven.
Isn’t that great news?
Isn’t that better than sliced bread?

Pressing the pause button in order to play

When Biles bravely looked inside,
she saw the place where feelings hide.
She freed the prisoner of her pride
embracing peace of mind.

Her mental health meant more than gold.
And so Simone would break the mold
that frames what other people think
instead of what we need.

When “doing life” we lose our place
and lose perspective (lost in space),
the bravest thing that we can do
is asking for some help.

By “calling time” or “pressing pause”
to heed our fears or own our flaws,
we find our balance once again
to face what life will bring.

The most important race in the Olympics

When the world comes together
to compete in one place,
it all boils down
to just one certain race.

If you’re thinking that race
is the men’s marathon,
that’d be a good guess.
But your guess would be wrong.

The race that I’m meaning
is not run with feet.
It does not involve bikes
or some swimming pool feats.

The race most important
is that which unites.
It’s what makes us a family.
It’s what lights up the nights.

The race is called human.
We are diverse yet one.
And this race calls for walking
in peace as we run.

Let’s hear it for the human race!

What the Bible has to say about our climate (and so much more)

Al Roker’s weather map reveals
torrential rain and heat.
Tornadoes, fires, smoke and drought
and flooded city streets.

Yes, climate change seems obvious.
What’s happening is rare.
Dramatic weather’s on the rise.
There’s trouble in the air.

It’s what the “Good Book” said would be
as we approach the end.
Disruptive patterns in our world.
Apocalyptic trends.

But there are other truths within
the Word of God to heed.
There’s much more cause to hope than fear.
So crack “The Book” and read.

*Luke 21:11
**Jeremiah 29:11

Reflecting on the condo collapse in South Florida

When a high rise of condos
collapses and crumbles
without provocation
and without warning,
we are left without hope.

Against the backdrop
of a beautiful blue ocean,
we watch a replay of a building’s last gasp.
It rekindles emotions
we haven’t felt for twenty years.

Suddenly, we are at Ground Zero again
witnessing the horror of twin towers
disappearing into a cloud of dust and despair.

Yet another makeshift memorial for the missing.
Photographs and flowers.
Mourners and pray-ers.
Grief-stricken survivors
who aren’t sure they want to survive.

And in the rubble
reminders of the fragility of life
and the evitability of unexpected tragedy.

Lord, have mercy!