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In an excellent post by my friend John Wilsey, the idea of a divided America is put in political and historical context… thinking back to the week MLK was killed (see my next post) and its context and referring to another article that makes the case for the assertion that, in ’68, this was the worst week in US history, Wilsey says, in the heart of his argument…

“In our contemporary political environment, we can make a choice about how we are going to behave ourselves. We can adopt a warfare mentality and draw lines in the sand and consider our political opponents to be the enemy. Or, we can compromise our values and our convictions, give in, surrender to our political opponents for the sake of just getting along.

Are those the only two options? Need we bifurcate on the issue of civility? I think not. I think it is possible to maintain your convictions and not be divisive at the same time.”

READ MORE from John Wilsey.

I think we all (Americans and my dear friends in Hungary too) need to think deeply behind the heart of Dr. Wilsey’s words.

CLICK HERE to see the website!

Everyone has insecurities. Being aware of our insecurities is the first step toward working through them. It is when we are able to gain our security from outside ourselves that we gain true security. 

Indeed, being rescued from our insecurities is only truly possible through Love. I think That’s what this week is all about. He came to die so that we could truly place our trust in him and then he, Jesus could be our security, our strong tower.

Did you check out my review of the new-ish video series from England?

No? CLICK HERE

Yes? did you check out the trailers?

No? Well, then… click here

I asked this question of you a couple or three weeks ago: What are you grateful for?

Last Thursday and Friday I sent an email to people who are on a special email list. Occasionally I ask these people to pray for urgent matters regarding our lives and work. Last week, I asked them to pray that God would provide us with enough funding to cover our organizational expenses (we were pretty low on funds). People prayed (I know ‘cuz I heard from some of them) and this morning I learned that God indeed answered those prayers in several very cool ways from a couple of unexpected places (not that I had an expectation).

In that email, I told my praying friends that I would be thankful no matter what we received. But then, it’s really a blessing to go to God and have prayers answered in a very specific way. I rejoice in His provision. Yes, yes… I know… I know that there are many, many (perhaps you) people who have not had important prayers answered and that is frustrating, isn’t it? (I have a half dozen of you in mind right now).

Believe me, there are things I have prayed a long time for. There are things that we need, wish for and desperately want that just do not come to fruition. There are things that I have prayed for and wanted for a very long time. For these things, I have learned one main thing: it is better to pray and wait. In the pray-and-wait mode, God can really work on my heart (I can’t, that’s for sure). I too have lost loved ones, lost employment, done without and been broke and felt alone. But when I pray, God is there. I have found that many, many times. And that is why when my (our) prayers are answered, it is particularly sweet. It has not always been that way.

I want you to know that getting to this place of peace on the journey has not been a cakewalk. It has only come as I have made time for an ever-deepening relationship with God. Each morning (and consciously through the day) I practice being thankful. I need to do this because I have learned that as I practice gratitude, God works on my heart and helps me be even more thankful. I have learned that God builds my faith in Him as I practice being grateful. I start with thanking Him for my beating heart and breathing lungs and then I work my way outward in gratitude to include you dear reader (by the way, thanks for reading).

This spiritual practice of gratitude has, as time has gone by, enabled me to not only be grateful for the things that are easy to be grateful but also for things and situations that are hard to be thankful for. 

On today’s occasion, I am thankful that God had it worked out that JUST enough funding came in today that all our bills are paid and I could get paid. God is good, but then, guess what, if I don’t get paid next month, God will still be good. I know this to be true and am cultivating gratitude in myself to try to always remember that, and I hope that you will as well.

If you would like to be on one of those prayer email lists email us at prayer@ceokids.org and I will add you and let you know from time to time about prayer needs and if you would like to get involved in financially supporting supporting our work, click here.

By the way, I am VERY thankful for YOU dear reader! 

Yesterday I bemoaned the fact that there was yet more bad news in Hungary… click here to see my wailing and The Economist’s reporting (I wail, they report… nice). And a couple of hours ago I read that honor has been lived out after all… the president resigned, in disgrace, but he’s gone… more details from The Economist HERE.

Now, as you read, there was an outcry for Mr. Rubber Stamp to step down since his refusal to resign on Friday and his spot on the International Olympic Committee is in jeopardy, but to me, this is good news. At least he had the will to hear the bell toll and get the heck out of office. I am glad… but that is not all the good news from Budapest, culture is raved about too!!! In the very same publication (The Economist), though in a different place, culture in Budapest is lauded in the midst of political … uh… um… upheaval, there is a fresh article about the arts in Budapest … CLICK HERE to read so good news!