In today's culture we see many statements, quotes that fly around facebook attributed to different people. There is one in particular that I saw yesterday morning that said this:
"You can't hang out with negative people and expect to have a positive life" - Joel Olsteen
At first glance reading the quote above on my facebook, it would make sense and then I had to ask myself this question? Who did Christ hang out with ?
The bible tells us that Jesus was a friend of sinners, He was so because he engaged them, and he engaged them because He could see their hearts and He loved them and He loves you.
Is the ultimate goal tosecure our life here to be positive?? Or would it be to share the knowledge of Christ as your Lord and savior, the most positive news in the world, to the world.
The Pharisees at the time noticed who Jesus was hanging out with and pointed this out numerous times, an adulterous woman, a leper, entering the tomb of a dead man? Christ, loved them.
The next time you feel like the person you are hanging around with seems to be negative, perhaps you have a place there, a purpose to share the most positive message of all is that Christ is alive and loves each of us, that He died so that we may have an ongoing relationship with Him, that the creator of the universe knew this life would be hard and knew we would need Him. How dare we just say we can't hang out with negative people at the risk of not having a positive life? Really?
Should not our faith be so strong, and the news so positive that Christ resides in our hearts that hanging out with someone who is negative could not touch the fact of who we are nor effect the promise that our life is more than positive its eternal. Should not that light shine enough to effect the negativity of the people that we come into contact with?
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Circle of Life, memories, the past and a glimpse of the future.
The opening to Broadway's Lion King was one that immediately teleported me back in time. I had heard the tribal scream opening a thousand times before followed by laughter of little girls as the sun rose on our tv screen years ago. We had purchased the VHS tape the Lion King, and it quickly became a favorite of my girls who were all able to sit on my lap. It also provided some relaxation time for dad if mom happen to be working or out doing some shopping. I did not mind watching the Lion King particularly since I had reached the point of dreaming of ways I could render extinct a certain purple dinosaur who kept saying he loved me.
Our small house in Ozark, Missouri on a quiet cul-de-sac frequently was full of the sounds of an African jungle and the presentation of the young prince of Pride Rock followed by the laughter of three princesses. They would dance to Hakuna Matata, cautiously looked at the screen when Scar was giving Simba the evil eye. To this day instead of having a deer in headlights moment we describe those type of moments as Simba moments realizing the stampede is coming as the cameras close in on Simba's face and a look of horror comes across the screen. This movie has been part of my kids lives as much as Superman was for me as a kid. Simba however was a kid himself, one that they related to, and the life lesson of running from life's troubles or facing them is something that touches every human on the planet. They would dance, giggle, and applaud as Simba assumes his role as King of Pride Rock and the happily ever after coming full circle as Simba's child was presented at the end of the movie.
As the crowds walked in and the mezzanine and balcony began to fill up at Tulsa Performing Arts Center I snapped a shot of those three princesses sitting next to me eagerly waiting for the curtain to rise on the broadway show. No longer in my lap, they were three young women all looking forward to the show starting. For me it was a circle of life moment, you see that night my youngest daughter turned 18 years old and in that moment I related to what Mufasa was saying to Simba when he said there comes a time that you will take your place in the world. My daughters have all three begun a transition from being under our care to learning their place in the world.
I am so proud of each of them and who they are becoming, they each are kind and have hearts for others. The realization that my kids are grown is one that is still taking some time to set in as I write these words. I looked over several times during the play as those three princesses watching eagerly and again it was amazing to see how far we had come together as a family. I am looking forward to embracing what is ahead with my daughters the joys, the sorrows, and the challenges for them because I believe they know who they are and that God has a plan for each of their lives and that He is making sure that plan comes about.
Monday, May 6, 2013
If I had a son he would grow up to look like Chris Stevens, American Ambassador in Libya.
Not so long ago, September 11, 2012, there was a 3 a.m. phone call to the Obama Administration and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that an attack was underway at our American Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Inside that embassy were brave Americans and four of them were killed, Christopher Stevens, Tyrone Woods, Glenn Doherty and Sean Smith.
We have been told this week that it happened a long time ago and not now an issue that the current administration is focusing on. We have been told that the attack was because of an American made video that caused a crowd to riot. I believe that the current administration was more concerned with a coming election than they were with the facts or sending help to the embassy that had requested it.
We are a nation of people that serve and for each person that is now serving and who has served in any capacity the words "What difference does it make, Why 4 Americans are dead" uttered by the occupier of the head office in the State Department rang like a slap in the face. This quote also shows a person who is so focused on keeping a reputation, rather than doing a job that her capacity to serve in any future office as far as I am concerned is destroyed.
We now have 3 more brave Americans who claim that they have been threatened with career ending consequences should they cooperate with a congressional investigation, these whistle blowers are testifying now as to their knowledge of the events that evening. These are also people that are serving that are providing us with a different picture than what has been provided to the American people so far.
You have to ask yourself if three friends of the Boston Bombers can be charged with covering up the evidence in that bombing that happened during the Boston marathon, what then are we calling what this Administration has done to hide the fact that Al-Qaeda was involved in the attacks in Benghazi.
I believe there will be legal strategies played out, it happened a long time ago, it does not matter now, there will be accusations of Monday morning quarterbacking on what could have been done and that this is all about politics. The issue however is getting to the truth, and look at what it is taking to get there because we know now that it was not a video as we were told, and our leaders have NOT been forthcoming with the facts. Abraham Lincoln said,
In the end it is about 4 Americans who are now deceased who served this country and anytime an American dies in the line of service asking why always matters, and is never to long ago.
Darren Stewart
Monday, November 5, 2012
A City on Hill - Election day 2012
Tomorrow is November 6, 2012 and my country, the United States of America will be participating in an election to choose the next leader of our country without a bullet fired and without a war declared.
While there is no war, this has been a battle getting to this point and I know without a doubt that Americans are battle scarred. We have looked back on the last four years and how this country has changed. We look at divisions and start questioning which category we belong in, male, female black, white, asian, latino, the 1 percent, the other 99 percent. We have focused seemingly on differences without figuring out how to come together as Americans. Most Americans are now tired of the illness in government of hyper partisanship, along with its symptoms of gridlock, delays, cronyism.
It would be easy tomorrow to treat this as another day and not do you part but even though this is not a revolution but an election please realize the price that has been paid for the opportunity for you to cast your vote for President of the United States. The blood of this nations defenders has spilled so that you have a choice in this election. The greatest generation our grandparents and great grandparents fought and sacrificed against forces that would deny our rights to vote and change our way of life from that of freedom to despotism.
I am reminded of the words of Ronald Reagan tonight that he spoke on the eve of his re-election:
The greatness of America doesn't begin in Washington; it begins with each of you—in the mighty spirit of free people under God, in the bedrock values you live by each day in your families, neighborhoods, and work-places. Each of you is an individual worthy of respect, unique and important to the success of America. And only by trusting you, giving you opportunities to climb high and reach for the stars, can we preserve the golden dream of America as the champion of peace and freedom among the nations of the world."
While there is no war, this has been a battle getting to this point and I know without a doubt that Americans are battle scarred. We have looked back on the last four years and how this country has changed. We look at divisions and start questioning which category we belong in, male, female black, white, asian, latino, the 1 percent, the other 99 percent. We have focused seemingly on differences without figuring out how to come together as Americans. Most Americans are now tired of the illness in government of hyper partisanship, along with its symptoms of gridlock, delays, cronyism.
It would be easy tomorrow to treat this as another day and not do you part but even though this is not a revolution but an election please realize the price that has been paid for the opportunity for you to cast your vote for President of the United States. The blood of this nations defenders has spilled so that you have a choice in this election. The greatest generation our grandparents and great grandparents fought and sacrificed against forces that would deny our rights to vote and change our way of life from that of freedom to despotism.
I am reminded of the words of Ronald Reagan tonight that he spoke on the eve of his re-election:
The greatness of America doesn't begin in Washington; it begins with each of you—in the mighty spirit of free people under God, in the bedrock values you live by each day in your families, neighborhoods, and work-places. Each of you is an individual worthy of respect, unique and important to the success of America. And only by trusting you, giving you opportunities to climb high and reach for the stars, can we preserve the golden dream of America as the champion of peace and freedom among the nations of the world."
November 5, 1984
Tomorrow no matter what you are doing, no matter where you are go and make time to vote.
Our future depends on it.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Peace through Strength vs Peace through Apology
From an early age we are taught that if we have done something wrong we need to make sure and apologize for it. It is an attempt to right a wrong, restore a friendship or settle things between 2 parties, or just plain good manners. The apology has many applications for each of us however it is not a strategy to achieve peace.
If peace truly is the goal for our nation and we accept that freedom and liberty are to be defended then history teaches us that there are forces that rise to challenge the cause of Freedom and Liberty. There are many parts of the world where freedom is absent and the characteristics of nations in the absence of freedom are often a controlled economy, an oppressed people, and deep in the heart of an individual in that populace an instinct that something is not right.
I believe we are not only endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights but we are also blessed with a human heart that recognizes when those rights are taken away from us. Even those born to a life where they are not free and are ruled by a dictator, despot, a party who exercises force over its people know that something has to be better than this. Instinct is not only given to us by God but America stands as an example to the rest of the world, a city on a hill.
America and the experience of this country calls to those that are oppressed, that are under rule, and are not free, it is in the very DNA of our nations founders. We do not force anyone to believe one way or the other but we strive to live peacefully with those that differ from us and each of us have an opinion.
The killing of our nations citizens in Benghazi, Embassy in Libya we are told was provoked by a video - to which I say SO WHAT. The focus is not someone who made a video it should be that 4 of our citizens died on American soil while representing us in a foreign country. No matter how heinous the video may be, no matter what was said - and perhaps we need the ACLU to confirm this, that video, its content, and its producer are NO EXCUSE to kill or harm American citizens abroad.
We have leaders who are worried about damage control in the media, and not bringing damage to the ones who perpetrated this act because they are a school yard bully. America this is not the time we get behind a leader and look those in the eye who murdered someone and say we are sorry, however it is a time we say in our country - we have freedom - and you attack any American for any reason you attack all of us.
Unfortunately by trying to appease and apologize for the maker of the video we fuel the hearts of those that would attack us on these grounds. While we can condemn the video at home, and we can say all we want about it, what we can not and SHOULD not do is excuse the murder of Americans because of something on You tube.
In other countries we see the absence of freedom, and unfortunately in this country we currently have an absence of leadership. In this playground - an apology doesn't cut it.
We stand up for freedom and bring to justice those that would harm and attack her. While these past attacks did not see our mortar crumbling to the ground, lives were lost and there is no excuse you can say in the media and if you truly want to deliver apologies - start by talking to the families of those that lost their lives.
If peace truly is the goal for our nation and we accept that freedom and liberty are to be defended then history teaches us that there are forces that rise to challenge the cause of Freedom and Liberty. There are many parts of the world where freedom is absent and the characteristics of nations in the absence of freedom are often a controlled economy, an oppressed people, and deep in the heart of an individual in that populace an instinct that something is not right.
I believe we are not only endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights but we are also blessed with a human heart that recognizes when those rights are taken away from us. Even those born to a life where they are not free and are ruled by a dictator, despot, a party who exercises force over its people know that something has to be better than this. Instinct is not only given to us by God but America stands as an example to the rest of the world, a city on a hill.
America and the experience of this country calls to those that are oppressed, that are under rule, and are not free, it is in the very DNA of our nations founders. We do not force anyone to believe one way or the other but we strive to live peacefully with those that differ from us and each of us have an opinion.
The killing of our nations citizens in Benghazi, Embassy in Libya we are told was provoked by a video - to which I say SO WHAT. The focus is not someone who made a video it should be that 4 of our citizens died on American soil while representing us in a foreign country. No matter how heinous the video may be, no matter what was said - and perhaps we need the ACLU to confirm this, that video, its content, and its producer are NO EXCUSE to kill or harm American citizens abroad.
We have leaders who are worried about damage control in the media, and not bringing damage to the ones who perpetrated this act because they are a school yard bully. America this is not the time we get behind a leader and look those in the eye who murdered someone and say we are sorry, however it is a time we say in our country - we have freedom - and you attack any American for any reason you attack all of us.
Unfortunately by trying to appease and apologize for the maker of the video we fuel the hearts of those that would attack us on these grounds. While we can condemn the video at home, and we can say all we want about it, what we can not and SHOULD not do is excuse the murder of Americans because of something on You tube.
In other countries we see the absence of freedom, and unfortunately in this country we currently have an absence of leadership. In this playground - an apology doesn't cut it.
We stand up for freedom and bring to justice those that would harm and attack her. While these past attacks did not see our mortar crumbling to the ground, lives were lost and there is no excuse you can say in the media and if you truly want to deliver apologies - start by talking to the families of those that lost their lives.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
The American Dream and American Business - things that Obama does not understand are interconnected.
President Obama shows a complete inability to understand the link to business and the American Dream. The latest speech in Roanoke, VA has him telling supporters that business owners did not build their business without the help of the government that the government not only played a roll in their enterprise but without this government you would not be where you are today.
With all due respect Mr. President more and more the story is becoming in our business community that businessess are where they are today in spite of your efforts. You see President Obama, see's the American dream as a bunch of workers not business owners or anyone taking risks, workers working for the government, or employees - don't dream of running your own enterprise, that would make you part of the problem, the enemy, the 1% or whatever devisive name this administration decides to label a business owner next.
Business owners are American People who have risked more than anyone to pursue a dream. Behind every business is a person or persons or family who have risked and are providing services, and they do it more efficiently than our government could ever dream of.
Our current president says where would you be without the roads and infrastructure your driving on, we got that for you? Yes - and business owners pay taxes Mr. President - on the income they make, and we even paid for or thought we were paying for shovel ready jobs to help those roads the first go around of tarp money that was authorized by the people elected Congress.
Mr. President you forget who the American government is, that it is made up not of just the people of Washington DC that hold power - but it is the American People you work for, we don't work for you.
In November I truly believe that you will be reminded of this fact when the people of this nation fire you, but don't worry the taxes paid by Americans and business owners of the past have built a great infrastructure to send you on the road back to where you came from.
With all due respect Mr. President more and more the story is becoming in our business community that businessess are where they are today in spite of your efforts. You see President Obama, see's the American dream as a bunch of workers not business owners or anyone taking risks, workers working for the government, or employees - don't dream of running your own enterprise, that would make you part of the problem, the enemy, the 1% or whatever devisive name this administration decides to label a business owner next.
Business owners are American People who have risked more than anyone to pursue a dream. Behind every business is a person or persons or family who have risked and are providing services, and they do it more efficiently than our government could ever dream of.
Our current president says where would you be without the roads and infrastructure your driving on, we got that for you? Yes - and business owners pay taxes Mr. President - on the income they make, and we even paid for or thought we were paying for shovel ready jobs to help those roads the first go around of tarp money that was authorized by the people elected Congress.
Mr. President you forget who the American government is, that it is made up not of just the people of Washington DC that hold power - but it is the American People you work for, we don't work for you.
In November I truly believe that you will be reminded of this fact when the people of this nation fire you, but don't worry the taxes paid by Americans and business owners of the past have built a great infrastructure to send you on the road back to where you came from.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Witnessing a Come Back Story is truly inspirational October 2011 and the St. Louis Cardinals
Most everyone loves to hear a comeback story and sometimes in your life you get to witness a comeback and it changes the whole way you will tell the story to future generations. This week the St. Louis Cardinals that had been down by 10 and 1/2 games in August, was invited to playoffs as the wild card pick went on to beat the Phillie's and the Brewers then beat out the Texas Rangers for their 11th world series title.
Even if you are not a baseball fan if you watched game 6 when they were down by 2 in the 9th and 10th innings and came forward to tie it and then pull it out with a walk off home run in the 11th you could feel the tension and the magic that was happening on the field. The Cards came back and to watch and listen we now have a story to tell about this awesome game how they came back and went on to win.
Future generations will be told about this and thanks to today's technology we have video of it. We will swap stories about how great it was to see it happening and how awesome we felt as we watched it. A good comeback story resonates with the human soul and it speaks to each person in a different way but also in a common way.
I could not help but think that America's game this week perhaps pointed to hope in 2011 a time when so much seems hopeless, economic conditions keep getting worse, the political climate is volatile and wars and disasters are all around us. I also believe that perhaps that there is a lesson in America's game for America- don't count America out yet - yes we have our issues but we are the greatest nation on earth with the most amazing people in the world within its borders.
I can't help but also think of another hope and another comeback story that happened around 2000 years ago - we find twelve men dejected for their leader had just been killed this man that had called them to love so much and taught them what true peace was had died a tragic death. He was blameless yet took a punishment that killed him. He was innocent and yet hung on a cross with the guilty. These men who had spent close to three years with him had lost hope, were down and dejected and then the 3rd day came and the ultimate comeback story was written in History. He came back from the dead to announce that there is hope and He was it. The day's technology was writing and story telling and those people who witnessed it began to write and tell and today those words are preserved so that all will know who Christ is and what He did.
Comeback stories give us hope, they point to history and make us look at what has been overcome and promise hope in the future with what is to be. I think we love comeback stories because we have a King who promised another return that hasn't happened yet one where He himself returns, one that will be the ultimate comeback story - how do I know this? Through the words and writings of those men who at one point went through three days of loss to witness His return.
John 14:3 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.
Even if you are not a baseball fan if you watched game 6 when they were down by 2 in the 9th and 10th innings and came forward to tie it and then pull it out with a walk off home run in the 11th you could feel the tension and the magic that was happening on the field. The Cards came back and to watch and listen we now have a story to tell about this awesome game how they came back and went on to win.
Future generations will be told about this and thanks to today's technology we have video of it. We will swap stories about how great it was to see it happening and how awesome we felt as we watched it. A good comeback story resonates with the human soul and it speaks to each person in a different way but also in a common way.
I could not help but think that America's game this week perhaps pointed to hope in 2011 a time when so much seems hopeless, economic conditions keep getting worse, the political climate is volatile and wars and disasters are all around us. I also believe that perhaps that there is a lesson in America's game for America- don't count America out yet - yes we have our issues but we are the greatest nation on earth with the most amazing people in the world within its borders.
I can't help but also think of another hope and another comeback story that happened around 2000 years ago - we find twelve men dejected for their leader had just been killed this man that had called them to love so much and taught them what true peace was had died a tragic death. He was blameless yet took a punishment that killed him. He was innocent and yet hung on a cross with the guilty. These men who had spent close to three years with him had lost hope, were down and dejected and then the 3rd day came and the ultimate comeback story was written in History. He came back from the dead to announce that there is hope and He was it. The day's technology was writing and story telling and those people who witnessed it began to write and tell and today those words are preserved so that all will know who Christ is and what He did.
Comeback stories give us hope, they point to history and make us look at what has been overcome and promise hope in the future with what is to be. I think we love comeback stories because we have a King who promised another return that hasn't happened yet one where He himself returns, one that will be the ultimate comeback story - how do I know this? Through the words and writings of those men who at one point went through three days of loss to witness His return.
John 14:3 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.
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