If I was a younger man, I would use more commas than exclamation points, make pregnant pauses mean something more in conversation and ponder longer the silent moments I was dealt.

If I was a younger man, I would take up causes that mattered most, view my future the least and risk much more for what I believed.

If I was a younger man, my contemplations would be richer, reflections clearer, and conversations more indelible.

As a younger man I would spend more time writing poetry, longer notes on greeting cards, and make more calls to those I love for no particular reason at all.

My friends would be closer, my enemies further, and my heart much softer as a younger man. I would listen to older men more, memorize better quotations, create more memories, and remember more of what was most important.

Everything I’d do would be taken down a notch or two, time would be much more precious, and life would boil down to a single purpose. And I would do it today instead of tomorrow, look at the big picture,
and take more snapshots on the way.

The clock would pale in significance and my “I” would be much less important than my “you.”

As a younger man, my gains would be more intangible, my virtues more apparent, and my focus more intense. I’d play more, give more,
and say more thank you’s to complete strangers for their unacknowledged acts of valor.

I would pet more puppies, take longer walks, and pause a few more times to see smaller things around me in bigger ways. And I wouldn’t be afraid to cry.

I would be an older soul in a younger body, chasing more inventions, reading more genres,
and blazing more trails for younger men to follow.

I would scour the dictionary for just the right word, enter more contests, and share more of my winnings with strangers.

I would edit less, listen more, and use smaller words to say the same things to more people so they could understand the wisdom of men much older than them.

And maybe then, the younger men would see the value of using commas more, exclamation points less, and the perfect power of a pause.

After performing so many miracles, Jesus discharged his apostles to serve the world. 

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Their call was as distinct as black and white. 

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It’s not that easy bein’ green

Having to spend each day

The color of the leaves

When I think it could be nicer

Bein’ red or yellow or gold

Or something much more colorful like that 

Like Kermit, Christian life is not an easy existence. 

It’s against the flow, certain to hurt, and widely unpopular. Just like the gospel itself.

Pain, rejection and discomfort is a friend to no one. But it’s part of taking up your cross. 

This world grows colder to receiving our message everyday. People want gray areas over absolutes. Some still think being a good person is enough without accepting what the resurrection clearly demands.

It’s easy being gray. But every shade of gray is lukewarm spittable (Rev 3:16)

If you won’t stand 💯 for something, you might just stand or fall for anything. 

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Contrary to popular opinion, lightning doesn’t strike a church you walk into. God welcomes you as you are with open arms. 

The real issue rarely discussed however, may be that some over-schooled believers remain unnecessarily slow to mature, still wanting milk over meat and not taking up the difficult tasks of the cross. 

Let’s call it an unwillingness to wean. 

The church needs to step up and challenge people to step out. Graduate into the ministry into which you’ve been trained and called. 

Get off the teats and into the streets. 

It’s not the healthy who need doctors, it’s the sick. 

I once knew a man who had a brush with depth.

He failed to resurface, lost the life he knew and was never the same again.

Each of us is given one or two moments in a lifetime to dramatically change course if we want it bad enough, having vision to recognize the opportunity and the courage to act upon it.

This world would have us believe that succumbing to the shallows is the only safe existence.

Never venturing into unknown waters, we risk dying without discovering our purpose or knowing the endowment of an internal superpower that equips us to see beyond the drivel of the commonplace and into the extraordinary world of the unknown.

For too many, the price is too high, but for the priceless few fortunate enough to heed the call and take the leap, turning back becomes an unconscionable act certain to imprison us forever by the if onlys.

Deepest changes cost every cent you own, the allocation of your wealth to those with none, then makes you perform acts of enrichment upon the lives of others.

So don’t fall into the lie that goes no deeper, reaches no further and leaves you like a child on the beach afraid of the water…
because I once knew a man…

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Statistically, 85% of things we worry about never come to pass. 

But that won’t stop some people from trying to beat the odds. 

Worry pays the premiums we owe ourselves for being better than everyone else. 

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Worry is a thief. 

It steals your future time and energy on its quest for a one-off moment of glory only you appreciate. 

Your now is suffering. 

Because you have ignored the lesson, living happily in the present has become unbearable. 

And despite all this wisdom, you persist.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Stuff.

2 years after giving away 80% of my possessions to live lean in my tiny 1b/1ba home, I’ve since accumulated more stuff than I should.

Fortunately, I’m not attached to any of it. If it all burned in a fire, it would be inconvenient but not heartbreaking.

65 years have taught me that what matters most isn’t stuff. It’s the intangibles.

The yearnings on behalf of my family and friends , the desire for good to prevail over evil, for the remaining personal adjustments of mind, heart and behaviors that will leave permanent impressions long after I’m gone.

These are the intangibles that drive the last 15-25% of my time on this earth.

They can’t be stolen or destroyed because neither their pursuit nor value can be measured by any earthly yardstick.

Treasures are no longer hunted like prizes of youth.

Treasures lie in what pumps from your heart through your veins and brings precious life and love into a darkened world.

It’s what I live for.
It’s life itself.

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Virtue signaling.

Doing right things for wrong reasons.

We are all occasionally tempted to showcase our good deeds. In doing so, we sacrifice a divine blessing of God for the temporary praise from humans.

Maybe news stories are always so bad we want to turn the tide. Maybe we try to get others to follow our example.

Noble rationalizations all, but they deny our basic sinful nature and obedience to God.

Humility is the opposite of virtue signaling.

Humility isn’t performative but quiet, grounded, and internal, seeking no affirmation or social score.

Our culture extols the virtues of random acts of kindness but the problem is in the random.

True humility is neither random nor planned. It’s a way of life. A spontaneous and reflective manifestation of the Holy Spirit within you every day in every situation and every opportunity.

Few things please God more than us doing right things for the right purposes.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This world is a contentious place. 

Nowadays you can easily make enemies of friends without even trying—and never know it. 

Unfriended, unfollowed, or worse yet, a comment in a thread demonstrating they’re unraveling over your differences.

More people are standing up for what they believe in on both sides of the aisle. And while free speech should be celebrated, the casualties can be enormous. 

It’s easy to love and respect those who agree with you. It’s much harder to feel the same for those who don’t. 

But. 

In Christendom, that’s a big word usually to instruct us to do what doesn’t come naturally. 

All people matter to God. 

While this world is loaded with principles and values that oppose God, it doesn’t nullify the value of the people who possess them and advocate for their beliefs. 

This scripture instructs us to separate the person from their position and show love and respect for them as children of God as important as those who are already in your camp. 

As far as reconciliation is possible, it’s up to you to take the first step to affirm the relationship. It doesn’t require affirming their position, just respect of it. 

Pray for those who persecute you because of your position. 

As long as we’re here still walking this earth, God’s not finished with any of us. 

“The lord is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭118‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The upside down.

If you’ve ever seen the series Stranger Things, an upside down reality exists alongside the one in which we now live.

It’s the ugly opposite reality but stick with me for a second.

Quantum theories posit that multiple simultaneous realities exist.

So perhaps the reality in which we now live is actually the ugly opposite and the upside down reality is the perfect one. One where humanity lives by Jesus’ beatitudes.

Even Gandhi said that if people lived by Jesus’ beatitudes, all of India would be Christians today.

That’s the upside of the upside down.

Jesus completely flips worldly values upside down then calls it blessed.

It’s not just radical thinking, it’s the way of living.

The beatitudes aren’t a set of commands but the life that is produced in us by living an upside down life in Christ.