I am just a regular guy from suburban America. I grew up in a family with a mom and dad and have two sisters. We were the stereotypical WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant) family. My parents did the best job they could to raise us fairly and with solid morals discerning right from wrong (and encouraging us to choose what is right). We were a God-centric family.
Are you waiting for the drama?
Surprise, there isn't any. Nope. We were a middle class family in middle class America with middle class problems... of not being able to buy everything we wanted but always being provided food, clothing and shelter.
I never lacked anything.
Are you waiting for the drama?
Surprise, there isn't any. Nope. We were a middle class family in middle class America with middle class problems... of not being able to buy everything we wanted but always being provided food, clothing and shelter.
I never lacked anything.
SO... how did a guy with this type of family and this fairy tale type of upbringing end up with brokenness in his life? Good question!
I have a theory.
There is an epidemic among us. It is spreading. I have been infected and, most likely, you are too. What are we all suffering from? Why all of this dissension? What is the cause of our pain and why does it persist?
It is an epidemic of brokenness. I am convinced that brokenness can spread. I have seen evidence of love spreading (careful, it's very contagious). Laughter spreads too. However, I have begun noticing that brokenness can spread if we are not intentionally battling the source of the brokenness in our own lives. Of course, that means we need to get real with ourselves about where all of this junk is coming from and it is easy to start by blaming someone else.
In my own life with this "want-for-nothing" upbringing, I am now a daddy and husband and I have been wondering how on earth I got screwed up?!? Quite simply, I made some bad choices. I chose to follow in broken footsteps from people who were screwed up because they never got real about their brokenness.
I could have chosen a different path.
Additionally, I chose my own road several times against the way that I knew was right but rather chose to not listen to wisdom and did my own thing resulting in... you got it, brokenness.
Now, this is an epidemic. I am at the brink of passing along this toxic disease to my son and... well, that scares the crap out of me! I don't want to mess him up. He'll have plenty of opportunity to do that himself. What do I do? How do I stop the cycle? Who can rescue me from me?
Love. After all, in the end love wins (thanks Robbie Seay).
Love is an epidemic too. It spreads just like brokenness being passed from one individual to another.
Now, I am not talking about some type of hippie, tree-hugging "love" that is really promiscuous lust and carnal infatuation. Heck no! I am talking about outside-of-yourself-take-away-the-pain-serve-humanity-with-reckless-abandon-take-the-world-by-surprise-revolutionary-love-that-gladly-puts-others-first-and-lays-down-my-life-for-others type of love. ((whew))
Real. Sacrificial. No-strings-attached. Love.
To do this, you must be connected to the source of this type of love- Jesus. Yes, you knew this would somehow point to Him, huh? Why God and Jesus? 'Cause he is the source of love and His love endures forever.
Check it out:
"His love endures forever" (Psalm 136; did you know that there are 44 references in the Bible about God's love enduring forever. Think He's trying to make a point?)
"God is love" (1 John 4:8 & 1 John 4:16)
Jesus sacrificially gave up His life for us (John 15:12-14 & Romans 5:7-8)
I could go on and on and on. In fact, there are 697 references to the word "love" in the Bible.
So how am I doing with this? Ok. Sometimes I can love generously and without any self-serving intent and other times I absolutely suck at it. It is just SO hard to love some people. Can ya' feel me on this? I mean, it's like some people just want to crush you with every bit of strength that they have... yet, I am told to love them (see what I mean here). I am told to love without expecting anything in return (see what I mean here).
However, I am trying. I fail at times but my heart is to live this out in a tangible way to everyone that I meet. Jesus said that if we expect to accomplish these things then we need to do something.... stay connected to Him. (John 15:5). By staying connected to the One who gives life and love we then have a chance to combat the epidemic of brokenness with the love of the Author of Love, God, through His Son, Jesus.
In the end, love wins.
Love Wins by Robbie Seay Band from Ryan Detzel on Vimeo.
I have a theory.
There is an epidemic among us. It is spreading. I have been infected and, most likely, you are too. What are we all suffering from? Why all of this dissension? What is the cause of our pain and why does it persist?
It is an epidemic of brokenness. I am convinced that brokenness can spread. I have seen evidence of love spreading (careful, it's very contagious). Laughter spreads too. However, I have begun noticing that brokenness can spread if we are not intentionally battling the source of the brokenness in our own lives. Of course, that means we need to get real with ourselves about where all of this junk is coming from and it is easy to start by blaming someone else.
In my own life with this "want-for-nothing" upbringing, I am now a daddy and husband and I have been wondering how on earth I got screwed up?!? Quite simply, I made some bad choices. I chose to follow in broken footsteps from people who were screwed up because they never got real about their brokenness.
I could have chosen a different path.
Additionally, I chose my own road several times against the way that I knew was right but rather chose to not listen to wisdom and did my own thing resulting in... you got it, brokenness.
Now, this is an epidemic. I am at the brink of passing along this toxic disease to my son and... well, that scares the crap out of me! I don't want to mess him up. He'll have plenty of opportunity to do that himself. What do I do? How do I stop the cycle? Who can rescue me from me?
Love. After all, in the end love wins (thanks Robbie Seay).
Love is an epidemic too. It spreads just like brokenness being passed from one individual to another.
Now, I am not talking about some type of hippie, tree-hugging "love" that is really promiscuous lust and carnal infatuation. Heck no! I am talking about outside-of-yourself-take-away-the-pain-serve-humanity-with-reckless-abandon-take-the-world-by-surprise-revolutionary-love-that-gladly-puts-others-first-and-lays-down-my-life-for-others type of love. ((whew))
Real. Sacrificial. No-strings-attached. Love.
To do this, you must be connected to the source of this type of love- Jesus. Yes, you knew this would somehow point to Him, huh? Why God and Jesus? 'Cause he is the source of love and His love endures forever.
Check it out:
"His love endures forever" (Psalm 136; did you know that there are 44 references in the Bible about God's love enduring forever. Think He's trying to make a point?)
"God is love" (1 John 4:8 & 1 John 4:16)
Jesus sacrificially gave up His life for us (John 15:12-14 & Romans 5:7-8)
I could go on and on and on. In fact, there are 697 references to the word "love" in the Bible.
So how am I doing with this? Ok. Sometimes I can love generously and without any self-serving intent and other times I absolutely suck at it. It is just SO hard to love some people. Can ya' feel me on this? I mean, it's like some people just want to crush you with every bit of strength that they have... yet, I am told to love them (see what I mean here). I am told to love without expecting anything in return (see what I mean here).
However, I am trying. I fail at times but my heart is to live this out in a tangible way to everyone that I meet. Jesus said that if we expect to accomplish these things then we need to do something.... stay connected to Him. (John 15:5). By staying connected to the One who gives life and love we then have a chance to combat the epidemic of brokenness with the love of the Author of Love, God, through His Son, Jesus.
In the end, love wins.
Love Wins by Robbie Seay Band from Ryan Detzel on Vimeo.