A Crowded Christmas

Ah, the beautiful bustle of the Christmas shopping. Store promotions. Wish lists. Lights. Tinsel. Trees. Carolers. Snow. Food. Family. Love. Gifts. Parking lot gridlocks. Seemingly endless checkout lines. Crammed food courts. Screaming children. Stressed mothers. Frustrated fathers. (With the gentle strains of ♫ Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia. Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born. ♫ playing in the background.)

We return home with armloads of gifts for others. In a frenzy, we wrap the last of the presents only to have them ripped open moments later. Then, we rush off to catch the next family gathering. Exhausted.

And here we are again. Christmas. It's not that we don't want to hear the angels singing. Yes, we need a star to follow, as the wise men did, and if you're like me, we desperately want to kneel at the manger. We truly long to adore that child wrapped in swaddling clothes, just as Mary did. And we yearn to worship with the shepherd and bring our gifts beside the magi. It's just, well...no time. 

Not much has changed. It was crowded then...even Bethlehem had no room available. Just too crowded. And it still is. "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12) God doesn't force His way into crowded lives. He knocks. Sends an invitation. That invitation is Jesus. 

Interesting. We have time for other things. Work, friends, sports, food, sleep, TV, family, Facebook. Yet when it comes to time for the Author of Life, a few minutes is a sacrifice. No room for the very heartbeat of our existence. Maybe it's time to stop. To stop and ponder, wonder, worship, adore, bring your gift...to the nucleus of Christmas. "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) It's Christmas. Time to follow the star to Bethlehem. Time to leave your sheep and head to manger. Time to open the door to your inn. Stop.

As a ten year old, I participated in a Christmas Cantata, entitled Noel, Jesus is Born. A particular number impacted my young life. 

♫ No room, no room for him. No room, to let Him in. No room for Jesus in the world He made. No room. No room, for the king of kings. But room for others, and for other things. No room for Jesus in a world he made, no room. 

Room for houses, lands and pleasures, room for things that pass away. But for the one who reigns forever, there's no room today. No room, no room for Him. No room, to let Him in. No room for Jesus, in the heart He made, just for Him. 

No room for the King of Kings. Room for others and for other things. No room for Jesus in the heart He made, just for Him. He just keeps knocking, but He hears you say, "No room." ♫


I know. You're life is busy. He still is knocking. Any room?

The King Returns

Life goes on. History unfolds. World leaders come. Others go. Wars start. Peace negotiations are held. Economies thrive. Others collapse. Celebraties are made. Others head to rehab. And life goes on. A cycle which numbs our minds. Blinds our eyes from seeing eternity in the everyday numbs our hearts to treat the temporal as eternal. And life goes on. Or does it?

Sitting in Starbucks with my Eggnog Latte, I'm reminded the time of year. The trees, lights, wreaths, holiday beverages (hence, the Eggnog Latte), and special promotions vividly refresh my memory. Constantly. But are all these festivities numbing my mind to something more? 

Sure, a Child was born in Bethlehem a long time ago. Got that. Who could have known back then that history itself was about to change as an infant entered the world? Who contemplated our timeline would be divided based on this One? Who could have known that God Himself was about to become a baby with a beating heart? Who knew? Strangely enough, these questions are not rhetorical. True, most missed Him, but some were waiting. Some were watching. For some, this was no surprise.

The characters are few. Several magi, Anna the prophetess, and the devout Simeon. And then there were those who were alerted directly by God. Mary and Zachariah by Gabriel the angel. Joseph in a dream. Elizabeth indirectly through her husband. And a scruffy bunch of shepherds who had the sky break open one night with His birth announcement by rousing band of angelic hosts. His arrival into our cosmos was long-promised, yet most lost sight of it as the years drifted by, the prophets went silent, the fatigue of life set in, and the oppression of the Roman world was reality. 

Today, I suggest we make the same mistake. Yeah, our televisions are blanketed with It's a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown's Christmas. Our radios serenate the home with Kenny G's Christmas masterpiece or Billy Idol's Jingle Bell Rock. Yet amidst the drama of this wonderful season and the chaos of our world, we miss the Savior. No, not His birth. Not even His person, His work, or the truth of who Jesus is. Rather, are we missing the present reality? The story isn't over. We love to speak of His salvation, but we lose sight there remains a conclusion. Are we living with the same expectation of Anna who was looking for God's "redemption" (Luke 2:38) or with the promise of Simeon who was waiting for God's "Consolation" who would be "a light to bring revelation" to all peoples? (Luke 2:25,32) 

Jesus didn't come to reform a sick world, but to transform it by giving His life. First as a newborn in Bethlehem's manger. Then as a man on Calvary's cross.  He didn't come to make this world our "home." He came to bring us "home." That is why He lovingly shared with His disciples, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:1-6) 

Does God's promise seem outdated today? Have the stresses, advancements, and demands of the 21st Century made Christ's promise seem faint and surreal? Has the hectic pace of life numbed your mind from focusing on the reality of God's promise? No doubt, it felt the same way for a couple young people living in the occupied territory of Nazareth a couple thousand years ago. 

As we celebrate His birth into this world, are you eagerly considering His return to this world? Still today, most miss Him. Are you waiting? 

Interesting. His last words in Scripture read, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20) Will it be a surprise for you when the sky breaks open again, as it did on Bethlehem's hills? Are you watching?

Handful of Sand

A few pyramids. A handful of sand. A young girl. 

Each year, millions of visitors flood to the archaic Pyramids of Giza to capture a snapshot of time itself. To encapsulate their moment of history.  Arguably, the greatest wonder of man's creation, these pyramids stand as a monument to past greatness and collapsed empires. Ah, but the sand.

Just recently, my seventeen-month old niece made her first trip to this ancient site on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. Nestled in the far Eastern portion of the Sahara, the desert compiles the base, backdrop, (depending on which direction you are facing) and natural beauty of this spectacle.  Despite the buzzing atmosphere of camels, vendors, KFC/Pizza Hut, Sphinx, and yes, the Pyramids, what captivated her young mind was the sand of Giza. Content to let others drool over the imposing structures in the background, she found more pleasure in handling the sand of the desert and immersing herself in the fascination of its fine grains sifting through her fingers. A child's mentality. 

But wait. Are we any different? Are we playing in the sand when the Pyramids of Giza lie behind us?

We stress over academic results, job promotions, the outcome of sporting events, expectations of others, or even our physical safety. We earn and save our money to invest into houses, education, vacations, retirement, and emergencies. And for what? To make our seventy-year existence as pleasurable, comfortable, and stable as humanly possible, along with leaving a name for ourself, and possibly an inheritance for the next generation. Noble pursuits, perhaps, but mere sand in the shadow of a Pyramid. The eternal. The Word of God vividly reminds us, "we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

God did not create man merely to exist in time. He did not create us merely to play with sand. Rather, we were created "in His image" (Genesis 1:27) that we might intimately know and experience His love.  It is true that we live in a world of heartache, disappointments, disease, and death but these distractions are but reminders of life's brevity. A reminder that there is an enemy seeking to blind our eyes to the reality life's purposes. (2 Corinthians 4:3-6) We can know God who revealed Himself through Jesus, the very "image of the invisible God." (Colossians 1:15) We are not mere creatures of God's creation, but the object of His love. Hard to believe? Yeah. It should be. Takes faith. He conquered sin and death that we might experience true life, eternal life, through the grace (something we don't deserve) of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Life is more than what we see. In fact, that which we see deceives us into reckoning it is the truest reality. 

Perhaps we are missing the big picture. Completely. An old nursery rhyme sums it up so appropriately. "Pussycat, pussycat, Where have you been? // I've been to London, To visit the Queen. // Pussycat, pussycat, What did you there? // I frightened a little mouse, Under her chair." Are we focused on the mouse under the chair when in the presence of the Queen? Are we focused on the vain pursuits of this world when the God of the universe offers a personal relationship with Him?

Those who have tasted of truth of Jesus cannot live as before, playing with the sand of this world. (Thus begging the question, have many so-called follower of Christ actually experienced the true Jesus?) Those who have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus will not continue living for nationalistic ideologies, personal pursuits, or comfortable living. In the words of Jesus, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26)

What is Jesus saying? The only way to follow is to live for the eternal at the expense of the temporal. We have to abandon the gods of idealism, materialism, and nationalism so that this world will see the hope of eternity which transcends race, religion, affiliations, and ethnicities. Rather than pursuing selfish, egotistical, self-exalting pursuits, our time, energy, and resources will be invested into a hurting world so that the love of Jesus may be experienced and known by the nations. Our definition of "emergency" will be redefined by 26,000 children starving to death daily, hundreds of millions of street children, countless lives trapped in the $40,000,000,000+ sex-trafficking market, the millions displaced by war, or the billions still searching for peace and hope for time and eternity. This will induce action rather than a possible future medical problem, a potential financial crisis (since Matthew 6:25-34 is still true, last I checked), or a sudden whim/desire. Our identity will not be found in a political affiliation, citizenship, ideology, or social cause but rather in the truth that there is purpose, meaning, and hope in life and death.

C.S. Lewis put it this way. "Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." (excerpt from Weight of Glory)

Are you playing with sand? Turn around.

Masks of Our Lives

Venturing through the narrow alleys of Venice, (Italy) punting down a canal in a gondola, perusing the quaint sidewalk boutiques, or sipping an espresso at a corner cafe evoke romantic, idealistic and renaissance sentiments in one’s soul. A walk through these historic cobblestone corridors cause one to reflect on the footsteps of the past. What was, what might have been, and what could have been. Yet as my journey took me through this ancient and picturesque city, one vivid historic element caught my attention. An element, I suggest, we need to remember, for I fear we are returning to the past.

In the glory days of Venice, it was a city noted for its carnivals and parties but one tradition garnered my interest. The Venetian masks. Designed in Baroque style, they were often decorated with ornate and vibrant designs. Ultimately, however, these masks were tools to mask identity, social status, and permit scandalous romantic ventures, illicit and/or illegal activities, all without identification of the person.

Yet the mere history of these Venetian masks and their uses starkly expose the crisis of today’s world. We may not veil our face with a Bauta (full-faced mask) or Columbina (the eye-only mask), yet daily, we seek to conceal our true identity. That person we are when no one is looking. This is no new phenomenon. In fact, from the beginning of time, our ancestors, Adam and Eve did likewise. Rather than a Venetian mask, it was a fig leaf. When they rebelled against God by disobeying His one command, they used fig leaves to “hide” their nakedness in an attempt to conceal their sin before a holy God.

We have this built-in mechanism that seeks to gain the approval of others. Perhaps the approval of our boss, teachers, peers, friends, coach, or a significant-other. We hide behind a “fig leaf” for fear of being exposed. Of being found out. Of the inside scoop being revealed. What fig leaves are we using to cover our “nakedness.” Perhaps our occupation, humor, intelligence, personality, or accomplishments? Today’s online virtual reality world has outlined our desire to live “other” lives. From the expansive virtual world of “Second Life” to the Facebook profiles we offer “friends”, we pursue virtual identities revealing only the side of life chosen to be made public.

Yet when elements of our life crumble, from relationships, to employment, to dreams, to expectations, to ultimately death, where will we hide? Hebrews 4:13 tells us that “no creature is hidden from God’s sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” As the song from (The) Razz goes, “You can run, but you can’t hide!” This is the truth before God. We can live our lives behind a veil and fool every individual around us, but in the end, we will give account to an all-knowing God. But there is good news.

Unfortunately, many of us have a confused and skewed view of God. We assume that He is like the all-seeing eye of Sauron in Tolkien’s trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, constantly seeking out his enemies and ready to destroy them at moment’s notice. On the contrary, we have a God of love who is seeking a relationship with us. Our sin has separated us from that intimacy, yet God in His mercy has made all the provisions for us to be reunited. It is now a choice on our behalf to repent, to remove the fig leaves we are hiding behind (such as self-righteousness & religion) and allow the cleansing blood of Jesus to purify our soul and restore the intimacy we were created to enjoy.

Interesting thought. A week before Jesus died for the sins of humanity, on His way into Jerusalem, He cursed a barren fig tree. (Matthew 21:18-19) Why, we might ask? Jesus was declaring that mankind’s original attempt at covering their “nakedness” (sin) was inadequate. Our good works, righteousness, and pursuits of social welfare are a barren fig tree (of no good), when it comes to being righteous before God.

It goes on to say in verses 14-16 of Hebrews 4, “We know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” We need to be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness; not our futile fig leaves. We didn't need a manual for how to be good. We needed a Savior! As in the story of the two wayward sons of Luke 15, God is waiting for us to come home to Him. As the prophet Solomon said, we are created with “eternity in our hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) A homesickness for heaven satisfied only in a relationship with God through Jesus.

As a child, when I was scolded or simply embarrassed, I would cover my face with my hands and declare, “You can’t see me!!” Clearly, it was a childish action, yet it epitomizes our attempts to hide from God. Psalm 139 starts out with the amazing words, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.” God loves us for who we are. Not what we do. The Holy Scriptures also say, “WHILE we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) His love is NOT conditional, neither is His offer of eternal life and a relationship with Him forced on anyone. It is a gift that requires acceptance, and acceptance of this gift will breed a changed life.

A great old hymn by Charles Tindley states, “Nothing between my soul and my Savior, so that His blessed face may be seen.” If we desire intimacy with God, we must remove the masks in our life. If that relationship has been established, our hearts will long for a closer walk with Christ. A deeper knowledge of Him. If this desire is absent, then “examine yourself” to see if you even know this Jesus. (2 Corinthians 13:5) With the apostle Paul, we will declare, “I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8) That is the heart of one whose life has absorbed the love of God. A life which gladly throws aside the masks of this world for intimacy with God. How easy it is to develop and adopt masks in order to preserve our pride. How many “would-be followers” of Jesus choose self-preservation over intimacy and this world over eternity?

What mask is it time to remove?

To Be Greatly Missed: Tom Zacharia

Three missed calls. Picking up my phone at 15:52 on Thursday afternoon (June 24, 2010), I cheerfully answered my dear friend, Karim Hassan’s fourth attempt to contact me. The message on the other end, however, was not expected. Details were vague, my memory clouded. Something about a treadmill, and…Tom Zacharia---passed away. Blindsided by life’s brevity. Struck by death’s reality.

As Tom’s youth group leader and more importantly, friend, I treasured his presence and wisdom. No, not the intelligence which earned him a 4.0+ GPA in the classroom, but rather, his wisdom which sought to live life in a way that counted…in a manner which impacted lives. His wit, humor, passion, and love earned him a place in hearts. His early departure at seventeen years old has left a void in our lives. In one word, Tom was extraordinary.

And now, as we pick up the pieces, the fragments of our torn hearts, where is our hope? Many find the words of The Roots to echo their questioning spirit. "Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you, dear God, I see your face in all I do. Sometimes, it's so hard to believe you. But God, I know you have your reasons. I know I'm thinking out loud, but if your love's still around, why do we suffer? Why do we suffer?"

At times like these, it is right to question, to search for answers, and to ache for the presence of a lost friend. Yet it is these very times that remind us of our reality. We are mortal beings. As Solomon the prophet aptly noted, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

Yet Tom, being a believer in Jesus Christ, knew there was more to the story. In that same chapter, Solomon also reminds us, “God has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” (3:11) We were not created merely for time, but for eternity. We were created to last forever. Whether our life entails seventeen years, or seventy, each day is gift from God. A day by which we may (by faith) better understand His love through experiencing God’s ultimate gift, Jesus. Sometimes God speaks through the joy of life, and sometimes through the megaphone of pain. To answer the question of the song, perhaps it is God’s very love which allows us to experience loss and heartache so we can be reminded that life is for more than eating and drinking---rather, it is humanity’s opportunity to know their God. The Jesus Tom embraced said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” Tom was loved with an “everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) He now can experience that love in full measure.

 As much as I’m tempted to question God for taking my dear brother Tom’s life so early on (according to our perception), I’m forever blessed that I got to call Tom Zacharia, “friend.”

Living in Egypt, the phrase “inshallah” (God willing) has become deeply embedded into our minds, yet what truth it portrays as we reflect life. James tells us, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.’” (James 4:13-14) Tom had plans…for university, his major (sorry, his triple-major), and occupation. But Thursday concluded Tom’s race towards eternity. How easily we make our plans and plan our lives, yet forget our mortality? How often we forget life’s most important question?

Are you prepared for your step into eternity? As the author of Hebrews reminds us, “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Jesus Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And Jesus will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28) This life is about more than solely existing. We were created to love. To love God and to know Him. Not by compulsion, but by choice. Tom’s life had a purpose. Your life has a purpose.

Though the tears continue to fall and with my heart still aching, my eyes fall on I Corinthians 15: 55-57. “‘O grave, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Tom, love you brother! 

(Dedicated to my dear friend, Tom Zacharia)

Going Green (Robert Green, that is)

The world’s biggest stage. Over a billion eyes glued to the action. A mere grass pitch. Twenty-two men. A place where heroes are birthed, legends established, and goats created. 

On Saturday night, my eyes were two of the billion-plus focused on the highly heated, hotly contested, star-studded match between England and the United States of America. The names emblazoned on jerseys reminded viewers of the magnitude of the match. Rooney, Donovan, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Crouch, Altidore, Howard, Dempsey. Yet one name stole the show. Robert Green. 

Understand this about me. As a Senegalese/American, my football allegiances lie with Senegal, other West African teams, and France. That said, when watching any match/game/meet, I have a tendency to root for the underdog or the largely unrepresented fan presence. Thus, when I entered a sports club in Larnaca (Cyprus) on Saturday night full of British fans clad in their colors, my lot as the biggest USA fan in the joint was confirmed. Ok, so I was the only one. 

Though sporting the colors of Senegal, my accent and skin tone identified me as an American and thus, the enemy of the night. The next ninety minutes contained threats to my well-being (no exaggeration)  iif the USA was to win, along with the constant flow of incessant vulgar and explicit language directed at every player, fan, and play. There were also the creative remarks of “You stole our language, you misspell our words, and now &)^@%9-7$!#^@. ..” Ah, sports.  Please note, I love the British and if I had been watching this game in the USA, I would have been rooting for the English, for the sake of creating rivalry. But this all revealed a fact of life and a lesson to be learned.

In the 40th minute of the match, everything changed. A script which destined one unwillingly for the pages of sports history. With the English leading one-nil, Clint Dempsey of the USA unleashed a 25 yard strike directly at keeper Robert Green. What ensued was a moment of dread for every Anglo-Saxon. With history being written, the ball was mishandled escaping the grip of Green’s gloves and rolled gently into the open net providing the “Yanks” all they needed for the draw. The blunder etched Green’s name beside legends such as David Seaman, Scott Carson, and Paul Robinson who are remembered agonizing moments on the pitch.

Since that infamous (can you call something “infamous” which happened but a week ago?) day, Green has asked Brits and fans worldwide for forgiveness. Facebook groups are emerging out of the woodwork with hundreds of thousands of members, such as, “That awkward moment when Robert Green asks you to play catch with him”, "I can catch... LOL jk I'm Robert Green”, or "My computer's got the Robert Green virus. It can't save anything." One group, entitled, "I forgive Robert Green" has but a few thousand members. Yet what deeper lesson is embedded in this account?

Forgiveness is a lost art in society and in our world. We seek an object of blame. The last thing we want to relinquish is our pride. In the very beginning of time, when Adam was questioned by God, he immediately passed the blame on to the Eve, even implicating God in the blame with his notation, “the woman YOU gave to be with me.” (Genesis 3:12) When Eve was questioned, she immediately pointed at the serpent. At least Robert Green didn’t blame his gloves, the wind, or even the highly controversial Jubalani World Cup ball. 

Unfortunately, in life, we have all made a similar blunder. We have directly gone against God’s perfect law of love.  We have chosen hatred, lust, envy, chauvinism, racism, bigotry, and rejected the truth on the grounds so that our superiority and pride be not touched. God’s word aptly notes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Since God is completely holy and perfect, our sin separates us from God and from the intimacy He desires with His creation. Yet, in God’s grace, complete, unconditional forgiveness is offered through the work of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. (Colossians 1:14) Fortunately for us, God did all the work necessary for us to be forgiven. (II Corinthians 5:18) Now, it requires a complete humbling of self by admitting we actually went wrong and need God’s solution. Warning: Faith required.  [For the full story, see HERE] 

True forgiveness is an interesting thing requiring two components. First, the one seeking forgiveness, (repentance) and secondly, the one offering forgiveness (mercy). Note, forgiveness is not telling someone they “didn’t do anything wrong” , a denial of having been hurt, or a simple, “forget about it!” Rather, forgiveness acknowledges the wrong committed and chooses to fully relinquish all rights of resentment and revenge. When God forgives, the Bible says he removes our sins (forgives us) “as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) Never to be brought up again. 

Repentance, however, if more than self-pity, vexation, or a simple, “I’m sorry!” Jesus called hearers to “Repent and believe the good news!" In Greek, the word for repentance is metanoia. This literally means, a "change of mind and heart." To repent is to turn from our wayward ways. To change our habits and our way of life. Many so called “Christians” are sorry for their sins, but have yet to repent of their ways forgetting that "IF anyone is in Christ, he IS a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) Are our lives actually producing "fruit worthy of repentance?" (Matthew 3:8) Fakes do exist which is why the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians to "Examine yourself!" (2 Corinthians 13:5) 

Resentment, bitterness, and anger is embodied by those who choose not to forgive. (AND I’m not referring to the Robert Green dilemma) Rather, we have all been wronged (and wronged others) by words, actions, and thoughts. How futile to hold grudges when we consider God’s willingness to forgive us. Around the world on a weekly basis, Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer and utter, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” REALLY? You really want God to forgive you as you forgive others? Personally, I need mercy. Mercy from a God who forgives me in spite of my woeful ability to love as HE loved and my failure to forgive as He forgives. 

Just as Robert Green released that Jubalani ball into the back of the net, the time is now to unleash forgiveness on those who have wronged us. As one said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU.” In forgiving, we find freedom. In repentance, we find hope. 

Before we judge the hands of Robert Green, perhaps we ought to examine our own life. 

When a Barbie Becomes a Gun

Meandering through the streets of Casablanca (Morocco), Richard (a Dutch friend) and I came upon a bulldozer removing boulders from a construction site. As we watched this powerful piece of machinery clearing the terrain, our conversation branched into how such things (machinery, engines, etc) are naturally enthralling (especially for guys). As our discussion progressed, Richard noted, despite disallowing toy guns in their household, his five-year old began using his sister’s Barbies as makeshift guns. His ensuing comment caught my attention. “When a Barbie becomes a gun…"

Interestingly enough, my parents had the same policy in our house. Raised in West Africa, war was reality and guns were no joking matter. The reality of death was evident from a young age and it wasn’t beautified by a plush morgue and men in black suits. To this day, my friends poke fun at me since I would choose to watch The Wedding Planner or How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, rather than Saving Private Ryan or Braveheart.

As the calendar turned over this morning, so did my age. Entering my 27th year of life, (indicating this is my 26th birthday celebration) there is a truth which is vividly becoming a trait I desire to portray. Martin Luther King Jr. said it well, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We live in a world rampant with gossip, hatred, backstabbing, broken relationships, revenge, and fear. Though this is the normal course of human existence, we must throw love into the spokes of the status quo.

This only happens with a paradigm shift. Innately, it is our inclination and reaction to respond in kind. A beautiful articulation of this is in Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus declared, “You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." This is completely contrary to our human nature.

But that is Jesus’ point. He wanted us to see our need for God. We live in a world where it is not politically correct to say we are “sinners.” People shudder when congregations sing, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” or quote Romans, 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Yet, I find it more amusing that Isaiah states that our righteousness in God’s eyes is as “filthy rags.” (64:6) More literally, it could be translated as soiled “menstrual clothes.” (Which made one defiled according to Jewish law—Leviticus 15:19-33) No articulation needed. And that’s our RIGHTEOUSNESS. Imagine our sin.

If God offers forgiveness and a restored relationship with us through Christ, how much more must any follower of Jesus demonstrate that same love to EVERY life with whom they come in contact? Paul reiterated, “Repay NO ONE evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of ALL men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with ALL men… If your ENEMY is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-18, 20a, 21)

Note that we are not only to respond to the needs of our enemy, but furthermore, actively look to meet them. A peacemaker is not a pacifist. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” he wasn’t defining those unwilling to pick up the sword. (Matthew 5: 9) In fact, the other time that word for “peace” is used in the Bible, it speaks of Christ “making peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19) That is not my definition of passivity. Rather, a true peacemaker takes action with love; not ignoring or avoiding the crisis.

In the words of Sydney Harris, “Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a ‘necessary evil,’ it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil.” We can easily convince ourselves that the course of action we are taking is justified and necessary, but is it our pride, self-preservation, and agenda obstructing our simple obedience to Christ?

When a Barbie becomes a gun, it is a reminder of our problem. Are we ready to “wear humility” and demonstrate love to those who have rejected, ignored, or wronged us/or others. As the apostle John stated, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (I John 4:7) Thus, my prayer is this, as I launch into another year of my earthly existence. From the old Christmas Carol, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

The Great Divide: Perspective

If you frequent the international travel scene, without doubt, you have witnessed the plethora of mesmerizing and thought-provoking ad campaigns HSBC has pushed over the past couple years. Plastering the jet ways of terminals globally, their images and words are engraved into our mind provoking contemplation. Subtle, yet stimulating. Gently passive, yet provocative. In the end, they encapsulate one concept.

Perspective.

HSBC’s slogan, “The World’s Local Bank” seeks to identify their recognition of various cultures, traditions, religions, identities, and ultimately, values. On these billboards read, “The more you look at the world, the more you recognize that people value the same things but in different ways.” Brilliantly illustrated, these ads contain one word accompanied by a few pictures depicting that word OR vice-versa with one picture identifying a few words describing the same image. My personal favorite depicts the word, “courage.” Three powerful images. A solitary microphone, a young man bungee jumping, and a woman in her garb of mourning. Distinctly different. Strikingly similar. Unquestionably linked.

Courage.

Our lives tell a story. The attributes we display are no random occurrence, but a product of time and decisions. How easy to label others a villain or hero, a terrorist or saint, a failure or success...yet is our urgency of branding others a fear of change in our own lives? Are so entrenched in our perspective that we fail to see truth or opportunity? 

A few years ago, I had the privilege spending an evening with a wonderful group of Palestinian refugees from a camp outside Beirut (Lebanon). Over a cup of coffee we discussed our life’s dreams, hopes, and visions. That evening, the voice of one young man caught my attention. He shared his passion. To one day be a suicide bomber. Be assured of this. He did not wake up one morning and identify himself as an extremist, fundamentalist, or terrorist. Rather, the pain, hopelessness, turmoil and hatred of life changed his value system.

How easy for us to allow our pride or politics to fill us with animosity and judgment blinding our eyes from seeing a soul in need of love and hope. Perspective. Courage. A step in their shoes. A taste of their pain. A tearfor their loss. A prayer on their behalf. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."

I believe it is our perspective that prevents and limits our lives from the pursuit of excellence. One writer put it, "God has called you to see the invisible and do the impossible.” We live in a fabricated box of limitations and settle into a life of mediocrity. We accept the boundaries, social norms, and expectations of others. We live to avoid failure, disappointment, or loss. William MacDonald said, “With faith, if impossible is the only objection, then it can be done.” 

In the Torah, a beautiful illustration of perspective in revealed. Moses sends twelve spies into Canaan to scout out the land God had promised to give His people. He tells them to “Be courageous!” (Numbers 13:20) [See here for the full spy report] As the spies returned to Moses, the reports were conflicting. Two spies, Caleb and Joshua, proclaimed, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it!” (13:30) while the remaining ten declared, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we…we saw the giants…and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight.” (13:31-33)

Twelve men. Two perspectives.

What was the difference? Caleb and Joshua looked to the promises of God as reality (remember God had ALREADY promised the land to Moses and His people) while the remaining spies saw only the impediments and threats of man. The ten hid behind excuses and belittled themselves in the process while Caleb and Joshua amplified God and prepared to go forward. Does the lens of fear magnify every obstacle or do we trust a loving Heavenly Father who says, “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  

A fresh perspective is born, not through meager self-will, but rather through a fresh gaze on Jesus Christ. Like Caleb and Joshua, we are not called to understand the answer to the question “Why?” but rather, to trust the One leading. If we know Him, love Him, and trust Him, then we will obey His commands. (John 14:21-24) We will choose to love when staring hate in the face, we will choose to forgive when retaliation seems more fulfilling, we will choose to give when to take is more satisfying, we will choose to sacrifice when selfishness is more appealing, and we will choose to listen when pride is more alluring. 

True perspective is when we can lift our eyes from fog of this world’s chaos and declare, “the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) The journey of truly trusting God starts in knowing the One who said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know and the way you know. I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-4,6)

My eternal hope is not bound in this world. We can focus on the superficial symptoms of suicide bombers, nuclear weapons, economic crises, or broken relationships, or we can look at His provision and promises.

Do we see ourselves as helpless “grasshoppers” (Numbers 13:33) or have we lifted our gaze to God’s eternal promises? Are we living for more than the eye can see, or are we trapped in the reality of the present?

It takes courage. One word: Perspective.