Hope... for all people...

Today was a good day, a very good day. I took time, or found time for people. Time for play. Time for conversations. Time to make others believe they were meaningful. Time is always in short supply. Lack of time keeps us too busy. Today I decided to chuck my entire agenda and it was so good - so kingdom good, as if it was kingdom kissed.

Tonight was good. Met with a young couple only weeks away from marriage. Great hope for their future. Watched a bit of Grey's Anatomy on the recorder and realized that we are so riveted by television when there is reason to hope. And I watched some coverage of Guantanamo Bay and its ability to drain humans, created in God's image, of nearly all hope.

The ways of the kingdom are about hope. A hope for a better tomorrow. A hope for a future. A hope to prosper. So, are we people who bring hope to brokenness, or do we bring indictments? Do we bring healing or do we make people fully aware of all of their broken parts?

If we are talking work, we need to be aware of our coworkers. How are we talking about them? How are we helping direct their lives in a hopeful direction? If we are talking neighborhoods, how are we bringing real hope to people who have succumbed to the world of bigger and better?

As I end this amazing day, I am saddened by two things: That the day was not longer and that my country is holding hundreds of men who have done nothing wrong (State Department admissions) but we are denying them of all hope for their future. On this matter, I can only say, "God help us."

Good night and good luck.

Calling all youth pastors...

If you have been a youth pastor, are currently, or are considering... watch this video. It's funny as can be, but be sure to watch the entire thing...

While it's the funniest thing I've seen in a while, it speaks volumes of truth. It forces us to consider the role of youth pastors, and I wonder if they are not more signficant to the church than senior pastors... really.