What a week!  I have read many uplifting things this week as we watch anarchy unfold before our eyes in living color.  My brother Tom Draffin sent me a piece from Max Lucado which reminded us that God created us in His image, reflecting His nature…all of us.  I grew up in the South in the 40’s and 50’s and experienced desegregation first hand, very painful time and it took me a lot of years to unlearn what I saw.  This concept of creation helped me after I came to God to realize what I saw was wrong and I must except everyone as a creature of God. “Every person on the planet is God’s idea, and God has no bad ideas.”  Rev. King said he had a dream that one day we all would judge a person by his character and not the color of his skin. Amen!!

I am white as per Gods plan and am told that I can’t possibly understand, I accept that and do my best but it seems to me that what we are seeing in the cities all across America is a lot of pent up hate.  Maybe it is exacerbated by the lock down or the loss of jobs due to the virus but I have been seeing a change in the generations behind me.  They are working together with classmates, doing business together and judging by character, no matter the color of their skin.  I thought we were seeing the healing that we had hoped for.  Our government has drastically changed in the last 20 years as evidenced by the leaders we have elected.  I know the problem is an old one and wounds go deep, but I am still hoping for things not seen yet.  Hatred weighs us down, forgiveness frees us to live our lives to the fullest.

As we prepare our hearts for fasting and prayer tomorrow I am reminded once again of one of my favorite scriptures, Psalm 46; “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore I will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Life meets tonight at 7:00 in person, please call me if you would like to join in.  Be blessed! Jim