Assuming that a friend or family member has heard or knows something is the beginning of a disconnected relationship. At scale and duration, it becomes toxic and destroys that relationship. I was taught the implications of assuming early on and I never imagined that such a simple concept could become so pervasive and destructive thanks to social media. ASS.U.ME is a dangerous word and it spreads like a virus in our 2020 culture of selfaggrandizing self interested obsession. ​

If you ask a man what he thinks, you should be prepared to hear what he thinks, not what you think.
Equally, Writing publicly (I.e. posting on FB) invites comments and engagement. To the brave souls that actually post what they think, Bravi tutti.
Foolishness is fueled by disconnecting. In 2020, arguably the most connected and diverse generation in history is unable to talk and share because too many seek uniformity over unity of purpose.
​

Solid question asked today in our era of crime and punishment and evidence and science. If you died today, is there enough evidence available for your friends, neighbors, family members and even strangers to review and convict you of being a Christian? It isn’t about talking, being good, nice or moral... the case is made in your words and deeds. Your legacy in sharing the good news of the Gospel. We are so easily distracted these days, consumed with a desire to look good, be good, do good. Those things are indeed good, but the way to heaven is through Jesus. Belief and devotion to a man that lived, died and was resurrected for us. Earthly standards are just that. God’s standard is all or nothing. Everything ventured. Everything gained. 

​“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life— your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life— and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.” Romans 12:1-2 MSG

Snooze for 30 days is excellent.

This cancel culture mantra of think this, say this, or unfriend me is terrible. The costs in the long run are terrible. Life is not a video game that can be reset easily. Friendships and relationships are the keys to our future prosperity. Popularity is not all that valuable in the end. We don’t have to agree but we should find a way to stay connected.

At sporting events. Passions and tempers flare, and the people get excited. It is expected. Political conventions and rallies are the same. These days the energy and excitement is expressed on social media. If we grant sincerity and look through the energy to the substance, policy, and record we are afforded a better view of reality. That said, conventions and energy are fun. It is awesome to stand up and be proud of a position, an idea, a team, and even a protest. The rub, is that it all needs to remain peaceful. When the games becomes too violent in words or actions then everyone loses.

Quote of the day. “People in the bubble have no concept of what it is like to be poor.”
They literally can not conceive of the severity of the problems for internet usage and virtual schooling and the fear associated with feeding a family in the middle of this economic catastrophe. Poor people are not dumb. They have often made bad decisions and are in a bad spot. They are not dumb and they are not lazy. They do need some help, but not at the cost of their dignity.

Most people I know are virtuous hard working people.  They seek wisdom,  exhibit courage, revere honor, and are generally measured and respectful in their words and judgement.   Empathy and caring is a tricky thing to show authentically at scale. Some choose to virtue signal and tell you want they intend, how much they care while focusing on how much better it would be if they had more control.   I tend towards a different model. I care deeply, but I believe that my actions and choices, in spending of precious resources like time and money, must deliver results in support of my principles.    To be nice is nice. To actually help others is nicer. 
My concern, shared by most, is that leaders also set an example of morality and character. This is unavoidable and critical.  How I perceive words and actions can be completely disconnected from reality when leaders play the spin game. All leaders do it. All leaders must do it.  Competency in this game is about using character and record of results to find the right balance. Inspiring the masses is an extraordinary ability and responsibility.  Until Trump came into the picture it was almost always about walking the lukewarm middle to avoid a radical appearance.  He trumped this norm and embraced a model of in your face, out loud thinking, and counterpunching that broke the mold and hit the reset button. 
Donald Trump is not a nice measured communicator.  He does get the job done in my view. In his next term, I’d like to see him adopt a more measured persona. Alas that want is not effective in national elections and the current environment. Trump’s drain the swamp approach reset the playing field. He bears responsibility for ushering in and condoning a “key signature” that is harsh and mean spirited.  A decision is starkly presented for US. Do we prioritize result over rhetoric. Nice, well mannered elderly intentions over snap decisions and sometimes harsh decisions.  I like what Biden said last night. Character is on the ballot. America’s character is not built on flashy rhetoric and Marxist progressivism in my book. My choice is clear.  To keep America great, we must get results and then manage the optics. 
Managing optics up front with controlling and autocratic decisions in the back rooms is toxic.  The central committee begins then to set the moral standards and uses rule of law and force of government to destroy the rights granted by God.  When coupled with a victimization, cancel culture that rejects rule of law in favor of mob movements, the rights of the people to speak and live freely are damaged and maybe even destroyed. A deep feeling of resentment and disgust spreads like a virus as omnipotent morality reigns in place of one on one decisions. 
My solution,  vote your conscience and search your heart. Go to church and put God back in charge because of your own interpretations.  Talk less, smile more. Above all, decide if you prioritize image over results. To evaluate the results you MUST get past the image and find real numbers and metrics that matter. Look ahead, but don’t ignore the past.  With politicians and leaders, past results are a predictor of future decisions. 
My view of politicians is that most are not virtuous hard working people.  They ignore wisdom, rarely do anything courageous, are willing to sacrifice honor for poll results and votes, and in recent years are not measured and respectful.  That last one, I’d really like to get back to measured and respectful, but when push comes to shove, progress will provide jobs, and security both physically and financially. I can overlook the bad behavior if the results continue to pile up.  If I see decisions ultimately bearing fruit over time and at scale.  That is the bar.  Progress is not about who is nicer, it is about what decisions best enable life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On that front, we have come so far, but we have so far to go. Choose wisely when you vote. 

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”  —C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (1970)

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.” 
― Theodore Roosevelt

National political strife and division in face of a historic election decision , violence and protest.
Disease, sickness, death.
Isolation, mental illness, bullying, tyranny
Entertainment, education, and evolving expectations of everyone.
Too many spending too much time focused on not dying above all else.

we must choose to live and be alive in Gods world.
The sun rises. Today is an opportunity to serve. What we see and how we see matters. Don’t worry, be happy is more than a platitude. It is a critical principle to living. Faith. Hope and love remain. That is a trinity of advice we must see and say every day.

See something. Say something is wrong. This is correct:

SEE SOMETHING WRONG? Do something about it.

​You. Yes you. Expecting someone else to handle it is the root of the problem. Need help, ask for it. PERIOD!!!

Breaking News!! Very little in the real “local” world is actually about President Trump.

He doesn’t represent conservative right Christian principles any more than Biden represents the progressive left. Ultimately we vote on ideas, not people. This is why identity politics and the emerging cancel culture born of a victimization systemic oppression mindset is useless.

We cannot live on past success and failure any longer. We can live and love into a future based in service ams choice in place of control and dependency. In community and society based on liberty, we can choose to help.

I do think that President Trump is the best choice available for now but I dream of a brighter future.

​Raising a child to be happy and productive and to not take for granted all of the advantages provided them.  How? My children benefit from my decisions and support but they make their own. If they become entitled and poorly educated with little understanding of where they come from then the fault lies with me as the elder and senior. 

Blame and shame is pathetic and useless. The young and uninformed do not know. The obligation to model, share, and teach values and principles while upholding standards AND maintaining relationships is on the elder/parent/mentor.  The apprentice journeyman must understand and embrace their role under the authority and experience of the elder but they must be left free to question and innovate. This balance is the essential spark of success.  

When we choose to blame and shame, or claim credit and crow as we inevitably do we must remember the balance and dependency.

Failure brings a fault line just as success does. We must release the pressure a little at a time and manage the explosion of energy to capture and evolve. 

​Every group, family, and relationship has cracks.  Here is the thing.  When that foundation stone is under intense pressure, it is NOT possible to repair the cracks.  If nothing is done, then cracks will widen and eventually the foundations will crumble completely leaving a disaster zone for everything, and everyone connected.   The problem to manage is repair, without driving wedges into the cracks and making the problem worse.  

In our world today, our families, our churches, our institutions are under immense pressure.  Cracks which have been present forever, are being stressed and widened.  Many of these “institutions” will suffer catastrophic failures.  As a leader in my family, in my church,  it is my job to care for the entire system.  I seek to repair the cracks, or at least fill them.  HOW? 

First, I use time to remove pressure and then I find the strong pieces, and use them to carry the load for the weaker sections as we add strength.  
The mortar is love, but the solution requires more than simply loving and accepting.  It is a balancing act of stress and relief, communication and care and accountability for change.  Understanding the true pillars of the foundation is a required step.  For me, that is faith and commitment to God.   

As a family comes apart, there are flex points.. fulcrums and pressure points.  The process is the same for bring one together.   We must accept the cracks, and seek to fill them so that we can lift one another and shore up the foundation.  

Disagreements must not be allowed to move to contempt.  
Actions and decisions affecting the “whole” must take into account the needs of the individuals.   
People are equal.  Ideas and solutions are not.  Decisions and actions separate but they also unite when connected to a shared purpose.  Unity of purpose does not require uniformity of action, but it does require a shared understanding and direction.  

FAMILY.  FAITH.  These are flawed and cracked…  but the foundations rooted in stone, rather than sand will stand the pressure… and by working together, we can find a way to avoid collapse.  IF… we choose to do so.  
For me, it is unacceptable to see the coming failure and do nothing, but doing something must not spread divide and weaken the whole.  We must agree on the definition of the whole.  

The vision to move on with life embracing faith and fellowship over fear and isolation threatens the houses of sand for many in power. Reputation, position, even authority is shifting. A powerful vision. evokes fierce opposition from many who are comfortable and just want to return to how it was “before”.

Our times are a chrysalis. We will emerge and fly soon enough. God is in command and evolving HIs space and time around us as He decides. We are changing and when we live in Him we are remade...literally. EVERYTHING CHANGES.

Tutto cambia. Vedo la luce.

Will you seek a future filled with faith and hope, rooted in love? Now is the time to decide. Don’t be one of the millions who is acting a part, performing for man rather than worshipping a loving and living God.