In today’s lifestyle it is difficult for anyone to walk past a mirror without taking a moment for self-absorption or self-loathing.  We have become a society that is focused on the way we look to the rest of the world. “Sometimes I hate the man in the mirror.” – Lecrae Instead of being consumed by what is wrong with that guy in the mirror, we should focus on the gifts within. Public opinion makes the assumption that the psychological disorder of vanity is mainly a female problem. Yet I am sure you like myself know many a man who spends more time in front of the mirror than is healthy, maybe even it is you. Rather than dwelling on how skinny or young we should be; or how we need the abs we used to have back in our hay-day.  If we focus on God’s grace in the gifts that we have to share to others, all the rest will come naturally. Focus on making yourself into the reflection where others see Christ when they look at you. If your actions speak volumes it will not matter what the man in the mirror may look like to you. “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.” – Psalms 94:11 We look into the mirror and see ourselves big and mighty strong as a lion. Yet many of us are with scars of hurts and pain of sin that we carry unable to forget our past.  Unlike the women in our lives, we […]

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” How are you going to answer than question this year?  By coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. We can all make a difference in our own neighborhoods and communities and in turn change our cities, states and nation.  This is the twentieth anniversary since the designation of a day to serve.  We together can celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream by serving and helping others as he would have done.  By choosing to live to our potential and using ways of non-violence to improve our communities, we too can empower others and build bridges to heal the nation. By taking the day that most of us have off and transforming it into a day on in our communities we can begin a trend of service that can heal our country. So take a little time out of your busy day off, go out and serve others and in turn you will be serving yourself.  I will be heading out to share sandwiches, clothes and the gospel with the homeless in my city today.  What will you choose to do to continue the dream?   Blessings, CJ

Everyone wants to be a leader or do they? Most of us go through our days wanting to hide in the shadows and complain about those that lead.  We are quick to judge and criticize but slow to step up or recognize.  We allow fear to paralyze our ambition and rather than lead we rather be submissive. Leaders have to be strong … right? Well that guy is just more confident than me. He must be a born leader destined to win.  I don’t want all that responsibility, they can have it.  Strength comes through weakness, a true leader must humbly serve or they can never lead. “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3 A true leader sets aside his ego, does not focus on what he can gain, turns his attention to those he leads. Take a moment, reflect, is there a leader in you? Every man is born a leader, as we all are born into a humble beginning, it is our decisions that determine how we will be.  There are more leaders in the followers than in the leaders that forcefully lead.  Put the needs of your fellow-man before your own.  Turn your eye towards God’s word.  You too can be a leader others will see as worth following. “He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:30 Blessings, CJ