We Are America

Hi again, everyone. Today I wanted to write about something a little more serious, but I feel like it's a message that everyone needs to hear.

Photo: Greg Ogletree

As you all know, today marks the 14 year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on our great nation. When I woke up this morning (not having class or work I slept in a little) I changed my Facebook profile picture to a photo I took at the WTC memorial and displayed the hashtag #NeverForget like nearly everyone else on social media. You all probably did this, too. Or, at the very least, some form of this. Whether you tweeted #NeverForget or added the 9/11 filter on Snapchat or gathered this morning to pray for our country, we all issued our condolences and thoughts of remembrance.

Right after I changed my picture I realized that we all do this every year as a sign of solidarity, a sign of unity. Then I began to think of the state of our nation; how we were 14 years ago, and how we are today. In many ways we have made enormous strides towards equality, strength, and patriotism, but in many others ways we have regressed. I don't really want this post to be about race, but I do need to address it. Today we are all battling between the #BlackLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter movemenet, riots, police brutality, profiling, gang violence, gay marriage, not to mention campaign season getting into full swing.

While each side has their arguments and their pros and cons, I implore you all to stop the talking and arguing, and listen. Open your eyes ears. For every one instance of hate, there are 10 acts of love that go unnoticed. I personally blame the media. I believe they only show the negative and instigate more
hatred. Just look at this picture that was taken during the middle of a protest. This is what the media needs to show more of: love. Yes people make mistakes, yes people say the wrong thing, yes people act out of emotion, but if we truly think about it, are we any better? We all mess up every day in some way or another. To steal a line from my favorite movie speech ever: "We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests." And our common interest, as Americans, should be the betterment of our country through love. All we have is each other. When are we going to stop tearing down what built this country? We had to stand firm against injustice in order to become the United States of America, and if we want to continue to be recognized as the greatest country on Earth then we must stand together again!

As I sat and thought about all these things this morning while posting my photo it hit me that 14 years ago we were still worried about color, but it wasn't about black and white. It wasn't about how we differed from each other. It was about how we were the same, and how we all felt the same sense of being wronged. It was about how we all showed an outpouring of love that rocked our nation. 14 years ago we were all the same color. We were all Red, White, and Blue.


I don't know if you remember where you were and what you were doing when those planes hit, but I do. I don't know if you remember the mass panic no matter where you were in America, but I do. I don't know if you remember the following days and months, but I do. And what I remember about those following days and months was EVERY store running out of flags. I remember streets and houses being lined with the American flag. Row after row, house after house. We bonded together and showed the world that terror would not be tolerated. We showed the world that, even though we had taken a major hit, we would stand strong and not be intimidated. What would our country look like if we did that again? I know everyone screams 'Merica and posts bald eagle memes, but what if we all stood together against hate. What if we united under one banner again and said that we aren't going to tolerate terror, coming from home or abroad.

Photo: Greg Ogletree

Not to forget about what this anniversary is about, I would like to offer prayers and condolences to the families of those lost, as well as a thank you to those who perished while selflessly trying to save others. The casualties of September 11th, 2001 number nearly 3,000. 2,606 in the World Trade Center and surrounding areas, 246 on the four planes, 125 in the Pentagon, 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers, and 55 military personnel. Overall, citizens from over 90 countries lost their lives in the attack.

Photo: Greg Ogletree

As we go through this day and see the countless posts of remembrance and love, let us also think about today's world and how we can change it. Let's remember that we made this country great and it is up to us to keep it that way. It's time that we unite again. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, democrat, republican, gay, straight, Christian, or atheist; we are all Americans. We are all Red, White, and Blue.

In Loving Memory of Jamie Lynn Ferguson

Hello, all! I know it's been many months since I've posted anything, but today I have feelings I just need to get out. This blog seems like a good way for me to express my adoration for a great friend of mine.

As most of the UAM community knows, our beloved Jamie Lynn Ferguson passed away on Monday. I've been holding off on posting this because it would make it seem too real, but it's time to tell others how great Jamie​ was.

I first met Jamie when I attended a BCM worship service my first semester of college, and I was astounded (because I didn't know anyone) that she knew every person there, and everyone knew her. As soon as we were introduced she gave me a hug and said how glad she was to meet me. She immediately motioned for a high five and when I went in to slap her hand she coolly pulled her hand away and said "gotcha." She got me alright. Every time I saw her since that day she gave me a fake high five and a hug. Never once did I see Jamie without a smile on her face - well, unless someone took her phone or her sonic drink. Not long after meeting, I learned of Jamie's debilitating condition; Huntington's Disease. As I learned about the disease and what it was doing to her, I wondered if she was ever in pain or sad, because she sure didn't show it.

Jamie did everything she possibly could all the time. She was a staple at all of the UAM sporting events, especially the softball games. If a homerun or foul ball was hit, you better get out of the way because Jamie was on a mission to get it before anyone else. She loved the sports teams and athletes with intense fervor. She went with us to Passion which included 11 hours in a bus, standing in line, walking countless steps on the concourse, taking the stairs to the floor seats, then getting back to the hotel late and getting up early the next morning to do it again. She played games with anyone that was around. And she loved everyone. Everyone.


Jamie was a walking, glowing example of Christ at this university. She had a warm smile, a kind word, or a hug waiting on every person she saw throughout the day. Despite her physical limitations, and almost certain pain, she carried herself with the utmost positivity. Instead of complaining, each day she sought to make someone smile, and she succeeded.

Even though Jamie's passing is terribly sad, I can cry tears of joy knowing that she is running full speed into the arms of Jesus. And you can bet He has a route 44 raspberry peach sweet tea waiting on her!

Jamie, you made an impact in so many people's lives that we cannot begin to measure it. I hope that we, as Christians, can follow in your example and love wholeheartedly without bias, and without complaint. I know you will continue to teach us until we see you again. Oh, and save a high five for me.

Power of Prayer #PoP

Hey guys! So, I know it's been a while since my last post (finals, mission trip, snowboarding, starting a new semester), and I apologize. Tonight something just hit me and I was going to post a Facebook status - which I rarely do - then I thought that I would display it to a wider audience.

"Pray without ceasing." I Thessalonians 5:17 The Bible clearly states the importance of the act of prayer. It is necessary for growth in our relationship with Christ.

I'll begin this post with a little backstory again. Last semester a core group of students from the BCM, or Baptist Collegiate Ministry, on the campus of UAM decided to commit to more fervent prayer. There is a group message that we are all in and we send prayer requests to each other all the time. We began this endeavor with small acts, like if a situation arose where something could be prayed about, instead of waiting, we stopped what we were doing and prayed right then. Then we downloaded the Pray app, which allows you to put in multiple prayer requests and then it gives your phone a regular notification about that request to help your prayer habits. When a prayer was answered we started saying "Power of Prayer" among ourselves or in the text message. Then my roommate, Jeremy, and I instituted a hashtag #PoP for "Power of Prayer". I sent out a group message that asked everyone when they encountered an answered prayer to post it on social media with #PoP.

The event that transpired tonight was one of these moments of prayer. There was a group of friends at my apartment and we were all talking and listening to music and procrastinating from homework; you know, the usual. Our friend, Jessie, asks if we can pause for a moment and pray for someone, so I pause the music and we all become silent and she starts to pray. During her prayer I thought of a prayer request, so when she finished I asked everyone to keep their heads bowed while I prayed for a friend. I am an RA on campus and Thursday is my duty night, and I'm on call all night long for 3 housing facilities. Well, about 15 seconds into my prayer the duty phone starts blaring its extremely annoying and insanely loud ring tone from my dresser. I interrupted my prayer for my friend and asked that God take care of the situation of whomever  was calling "because I'm not going to stop this prayer."

Once I finished my prayer I ran to my bedroom and immediately returned the call I had just missed. The person answered and I asked "did you just call the duty phone?" She replied that yes, she did, but that she called because she was locked out of her room because her lock was messed up, and after I didn't answer the door opened and she was able to enter her room.

#PoP

Now, I realize that this is a really, really small thing, but it absolutely rocked my world. I had literally just asked God to handle that situation so we could lift up a friend through prayer and the request was answered.

The willingness of God to have a relationship with us is mindblowing enough, but when a prayer is answered like this - even something as seemingly insignificant as a locked door - I can't help but be pumped about it.

I encourage you all to start praying more and see how God can impact your life, and I'll be praying for you as well. Goodnight and God bless.

The Condemnation of a Blessing

Have you ever been in a situation that left you at an absolute loss for words? I recently experienced something that was mind-boggling and completely inexplicable. And it actually inspired me to start this blog.

This is my first ever blog post on my ever first blog and I don't fully know what I am doing yet, so please bear with me and we will start this journey together.

Well, I guess I should start at the beginning, so here it goes. I have just begun a new Bible study through the YouVersion app called "Heartwork". The 'Heart' part concerning the scriptures being read and how it should affect a change of heart. Then the 'Work', this refers to daily acts that are suggested to help me become a better servant.

Anyway, I'm a couple days into this new plan and I get down to the 'Work' section and it asks me to do something nice for someone I don't know that I don't expect to be payed back for. Now, I don't remember what was going on this day, but I remember not seeing another human - including my roommate - for many hours. 

Evening rolls around and my friend, Austin, and I go to his house to play some Halo (Master Chief Collection just came out!) when another friend, Phil, comes over and starts to play with us. After a while we all get hungry and decide that we should go eat before Phil has to leave for work.

We decide to go to Wendy's. On the way it dawns on me that I can pay for someone's meal at the drive-thru, sort of like that pay it forward thing that happened at Chik-fil-A a couple of years ago. Well, we end up going inside to eat and there isn't another soul in the whole restaurant. I am the last to order and I'm thinking about giving the lady at the window some money to pay for the next order when a couple, who appears to be their late 30's/early 40's, walks in. I place my order and the cashier asks if that will be all, I step to the side and say "and whatever they would like." The woman looks at me questioningly then the cashier asks "you're gonna pay for their meal?" I reply that yes, I am, and she smiles at me then she and her husband(?) step up and place their order.

When the order comes out they place it all on the same tray and the woman asks what all I had ordered. I ask for a separate tray and begin splitting our food. At this time, the man steps up and looks confused (he's holding money in his hand), I now realize that he must not have heard me. He asks about paying for their meal since it has been served and he's still holding the cash. The cashier explains that I paid for them while he hands us our drinks, and the wife nods in agreement to her husband then turns and thanks me.

This is where things get weird.

The man just starts yelling. "Oh, no. Give him his money back! Why did you pay for my food?"

       

       "I'm sorry, sir. I was just trying to bless someone tonight."

       "I don't know you. You don't pay for my food. You bless somebody else." Then he turns to his wife and yells at her "You don't thank him. You don't know him either."

Now, this whole situation is super awkward for me (and for the cashier and for the couple that just walked in the door, heard the outburst, shook their heads, and walked out) and I'm trying to be really calm, but when he started yelling at his wife I got very upset. I kept my cool, don't worry. I just apologized to him again while he called the manager over. He wanted me to be refunded the cost of their food, but the manager, rightfully so, didn't understand the problem. She tells me to be seated and she'll give me my money later.

I finally get to the table where Austin and Phil are quite perplexed about what just happened. They're nearly done eating so they talk while I eat. Austin suggests that maybe it was just pride that caused the situation, like the man felt as if I thought he couldn't pay for his own meal, but I've been in those situations and even felt that way myself and this didn't feel like that at all. We finish and I go to the front and ask the cashier "Do you need me to do anything?"

       "To wait right there.......while I give you your money back."

She shakes her head and talks about the nerve of some people, then opens the till and hands me $10. Their meal was only $9 and some change. I hand her the money back and tell her to use it - when she thinks it would be safe to do so - to pay for the next person who comes through the drive-thru or in the restaurant. She thanks me for what I did and how I handled the situation then she and the cashier inform me that, anytime I feel inclined to pay for their meals, they would not have any qualms about it whatsoever.

I get home and tell my roommate, Jeremy, about it and he says that he thinks it's just the devil trying to bother me. He thinks that satan is working to make me feel like it's more of a hassle to help people than it is worth.

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Now remember how I said I got mad? I was mainly angry at the fact that this man yelled at his wife for no reason, but I was undoubtedly upset about the whole situation. 

Then I started thinking. Really thinking.

How many times in our lives have we been given a blessing by God and just outright refused it? It can happen in so many different ways, probably a lot of ways that we don't even think about. The most obvious way, of course, is that we don't accept the free gift of eternal life given to us when Christ willingly died for our sins, but it could be as simple taking something for granted. We have, in America anyway, the freedom to worship pretty much anywhere and in any way we want, yet we skip church to watch television while people in other countries are being shot to death on the way to their underground churches. Or we throw away our leftover food when plenty of others go days without eating. Our privileges and excess have numbed us to the fact that the things we have are blessings. We have all these freedoms in America, we have so many advantages. When we take those blessing for granted we are refusing God's goodness. You see, I had no right to be upset with that man, because I reject God on a daily basis. And does God get angry with me? No. He continues to love me. He doesn't just love me in a "I'm your creator so I guess I have to love you" love; He loves aggressively, passionately, jealously, and without fail. He loves me in spite of my rejections. Because of them. Not only does he continue loving me, but He keeps piling on the blessings! More blessings than I can even recognize right now. Blessings that I won't realize are blessings until years down the road. 

When I reject God, I am rejecting the biggest blessing of all, Jesus Christ. I have multiple opportunities throughout the day to say "Thank you" to my creator for so many things in my life: family, friends, central heat/air, education; but I don't. And He doesn't get angry with me. He doesn't yell at me. He doesn't tell me that I'm ungrateful. He just loves me more than ever. And that's exactly how we should approach rejection. When we try to do something good for others it isn't always going to go the way we plan it out in our heads. Instead of getting mad, we just have to keep on trying to bless others.

If we are going to call ourselves Christians then we have to practice the love we preach. Never stop giving. Never stop loving.