Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19
In February I shared a quote on Notes from author Doug Murano. It went like this:
“I get tired of 'under 40' lists. Show me someone who got their PhD at 60 after losing everything. Give me the 70-year-old debut novelist who writes from a lifetime of love and grief. Give me calloused hands and tender hearts.”
That post unexpectedly (and undeservedly) rendered my Substack quite a few subscribers. That is, until, many figured out I was a Jesus lover? Or just a boring person? Or annoying? not your thing? etc., etc., …
And.
Truly.
IT’S ALL GOOD. I don’t expect anyone to think like I do or jump on my artsy-fartsy Jesus train. I just love Jesus. I hate cancer. I hate what cripples human beings to destroy other human beings. I’m cool with you, because the idea of life, love, goodness, graciousness, generosity, honesty, family, dedicated friendship, individual gifts, passion, forgiveness — just feels like the right direction.
The one thing I want to express, at this point, and in light of the murder of Charlie Kirk this past week — is this: I am not here to be anything else other than what God made me to be. I am also not here to get likes, follows and subscribers. I am here to engage, to lay down what I feel God is asking me to do. Offer up my life, concerns, talents to God first. Only God can judge me. Only He can set me straight. It’s deeply personal. We will all face judgement. And death.
Each of us has to figure out how we want to leave the world: a better place? — or a worse, more selfish one?
I look at the gift of earth, of America, and I see God’s INCREDIBLE creations. Earth given to each and every one of us. Wow. All of Creation, including us, asks only to exist to be cared for, revered, not used and abused for power and gain by mere men and women, no more special than the other. But to be loved deeply, as we should love each other, if only as an offering back to the Creator of everything — everything we take for granted.
Sunday night we went to the Hollywood Bowl to see the season closer with my favorite band of all time, Chicago — opening with Christopher Cross, and ending with fireworks galore. Once again, all I could think, as Chicago played reels and reels of video footage behind them, of various events in our country, old footage of them performing, cool black and white photos — how incredibly blessed we were to be there.
17,500 seats of stories. The world.
I don’t think one was empty.
As the American flag hung half-mast, stage right, I thought of our individual freedom and who I would choose to be, if given an ultimatum. Would I speak God’s love for us? or would I spend my life angry, dismissive, know-it-all, making excuses and buts for murder? I know the answer.
And who am I? I know nothing except for I am a walking miracle in a miraculous land — and I oughta know better and be more humble.
Can we look at a sunset without holding our breath, or a peacock and wonder how we take credit for color and pattern? Can we see children of God in each other? Can we learn to engage, debate, discuss, out of a Love for the gifts given to us? Can we walk away unhurt — follow behind Jesus’s footsteps? Can we find it within ourselves to be in absolute awe of Creation?
I cry out to you today. Please don’t make your family and friends feel less of themselves because they love God and mourn the life of a believer, weeping a little harder. They are part of a huge family. They come in every color with stories to tell.
And now they tell them.
They tell the stories of how their lives changed because they showed up to challenge a fisherman.
Charlie’s death opened up streets and stadiums all over the world to a mass revival.
CHECK IT. SCROLL THROUGH. HE UNSUPRESSED THE SUPPRESSED.
THIS IS GOD.
HE DOESN’T TEAR DOWN, BURN AND PILLAGE. HE BUILDS UP.
All lives matter to Him — with no buts behind that. And if you believe in God “but” have a but? Or haven't dug deep enough - “but” needed to take Charlie’s words out of context?
Charlie's perfectly imperfect life has busted the algorithms.
The silence among our loved ones can feel so empty — but that silence doesn’t own you.
Love owns you.
When I say “do you” — which I have stated throughout my writings — I mean do exactly what God made you for. Pray, talk to Him, and ask Him “what am I all about?” “What is my purpose here on earth?” “Is there something more, while I feel my life isn’t worth much right now?” There is always more. God is not boring. He’s creative.
When I say “do you” I don’t mean to listen to the influence of those who worship ideas that man has devised for their own benefit. And not yours.
We will never know all the intricate details of those who hold earthly power over us. Imagine yourself their chess piece. They are shuffling you around. Break free of that matrix.
What are you made of? What unique talents or gifts are you wired with? Let God be your guide because I can personally tell you it’s beautiful.
Put the phone down. See each other and the precious gift of this world a little deeper.
He wasn’t sent for hate. Satan hates.
He was sacrificed for LOVE. A second chance for humanity to get it together.
We were meant for each other, for family, for Love. For open civil debate.
“Jesus wept,” (the shortest verse in the Bible) at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, showing compassion to Lazarus’ grieving sisters. He showed us the way. He did the work. This is a pivotal time to show each other compassion — the work.
Revival IS HERE TO STAY.
You can kill the messenger, but never the message.
God always uses every birth, every death, every tragedy, for His good.
“And when it’s time to function as a feeling human being, will our Bachelor’s of Arts get us by?”
We can make it happen.
… Are you optimistic
'Bout the way things are going?
… No, I never ever think of it at all
… Don't you ever worry
When you see what's going down?
… Well, I try to mind my business,
That is, no business at all
… When it's time to function
As a feeling human being, will your
Bachelor of Arts help you get by?
- Dialogue Pt. 1
We can make it better
We can make it better
We can make it better
Yeah, yeah, yeah
… We can change the world now
We can change the world now
We can change the world now
… We can save the children
We can save the children
We can save the children
Yeah yeah yeah
- Dialogue Pt. 2
Sounds like it was one hell of a show. I’ve seen Christopher Cross (in his heyday), but never Chicago (any combination). We were slated to see them in ‘20, but well, yeah, we didn’t.