America the Beautiful

We live in an amazing country.
14 years ago on a blue-sky sunshiny day, bad guys brought evil to us.
Tragedy. Trauma. Destruction and death.

But what did that evil bring out in the people of America?
Bravery. Selflessness. Prayer. Generosity.
That is uncommon in the world. Often, evil is met with fear, self preservation, despair, and greed.
What is the difference here? The difference is Christ. Our country was founded on Christian principles.
The influence of Christ has had a profound impact on our nation, who we are, what we value, how we respond to evil.

I was thankful then and I am thankful now that I was born in America. That the land I live in is filled with men and women who are willing to die to save others. Better love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends. Or strangers.

I am thankful to God that He would bless a whole nation in response to our imperfect, inconsistent desire to try to follow His ways. He has made us a better people. Firefighters are willing to do the job of soldiers. Civilians become paramedics. We are kind, brave, and selfless because that is our heritage.

And now, the bad guys are terrorizing Syrians. People who were not blessed to be born in the land of the free and the home of the brave are facing the darkness of evil without the light of being surrounded by bravery, selflessness, prayer, and generosity. They live in the land of the bad guys. But we are still America, and our hearts break for their tragedy. The pictures of their despair as they try to outrun the dark make us weep. And, crazy enough, some of us are willing to send the light. In the face of the enemy, on their home turf, we go, we give, we mend, we pray.

2 days ago, I saw a picture of two Syrian kids being blocked from entering Macedonia. The next morning I woke singing:

There’s a call comes ringing over the restless wave,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
There are souls to rescue there are souls to save,
Send the light! Send the light!

Refrain

Send the light, the blessèd Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessèd Gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

We have heard the Macedonian call today,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a golden offering at the cross we lay,
Send the light! Send the light!

Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found,
Send the light! Send the light!

Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light! Send the light!

I have seen two ways to send some light to those drowning in darkness:

http://wewelcomerefugees.com/

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A CALL TO ACTION:

This Sunday – September 13, 2015  we are inviting all churches and Christian Leaders to take a moment in your services and gatherings to discuss the incredible humanitarian tragedy and faced by largely Syrian Refugees. 

Globally we must become a collective voice and partner to be the hands and feet of Jesus and create enough leverage to start to turn the tide on this urgent and significant issue.


Keep being

brave

kind

selfless

generous

prayerful


XO