The Great Designer

I don't have enough blind faith to be an atheist.  I've known that for a long time, but it became clearer to me at the doctor's office yesterday. 

I was there for a regular check-up of my very healthy heart.  As I waited 'patiently' for the cardiologist, I studied the numerous detailed color depictions of the human heart displayed on the office walls. 

I thought of the dozens of moving parts functioning in perfect synchronicity over 3,000 times just as I waited for my doctor.   

I was speechless with awe. 

I was Not tempted to look at the elegant and vital simplicity of the human heart and think 'Isn't this a wonderful coincidence of random natural forces!'.  

As I studied the heart I was struck with renewed awe for a creative and loving God who not only could, but chose to engineer such a marvel.  The intricacy, reliability, and dependability cannot be accidental. 

There are hundreds of equally amazing body functions, millions of natural functions outside of the body that integrate to wonderfully support life. 

I don't know how God did it or how long it took Him, but I know none of this happened by accident.  I have to believe there is a Great Designer behind all this.   I don't have enough blind faith to believe otherwise. Nor do I want to. 

Focus Scripture:  'By faith we understand that the ages were prepared by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.'  Hebrews 11:3

Run To The Arms of Jesus

Where do you run to?  Who do you run to?  Why do you run there?

Yesterday I ran to Jesus. I know that's a very 'Christian' thing to say.  But yesterday was different. Yesterday was Communion Sunday. 

Usually I pause with deep reflection before partaking. I reflect on the tortuous death of Jesus and His life-giving blood.  I consider the comprehensive rejection He embraced so that I could be restored to God. 

But yesterday I didn't pause; I didn't hesitate.  I was drawn immediately to the front where I knelt and immediately opened my hand for the representative Bread. 

For some reason I couldn't wait.  It wasn't because I was in a hurry to get this over with. It wasn't because I take the mysterious and tactile metaphor lightly.  And it wasn't because I was struggling with some life crisis. 

I ran to a closer encounter with Jesus because I want more of Him.  I ran to communion with Jesus because that's where I belong.  I ran to Jesus because that's where Life is. 

So no matter the life valley or desert or hilltop or plateau you face today . . . . run to Jesus.  He has the words of Life, Eternally. 

Focus Scripture:  Jesus said ‘This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.’  John 17:3

Live Every Day, Laugh Every Day, Love Every Day

My friend died today. It's hard to know what to say after that. 

I could say he was recently diagnosed with a body-wide cancer, so that he didn't suffer very long.  I could say he's a Christian and he is now in the wonderful and unimaginable presence of Jesus.  I could say he lived a good life and he lived it to the full. 

These are all true statements, yet in the aftermath of loss they offer little comfort.  Today my heart only knows the pain of loss.  Today death wounds me with the reality that every speck of my consciousness rejects; at the core of my soul I know that death is not supposed to happen. 

And it is the pain of death that teaches me. 

It is through death that I realize the importance of life—how I must make the most of every moment.  It is through death that I realize what my true values are—that life is not about stuff or accomplishments, it's about relationships.  It is through death that I remember I was created for life. 

And death reminds me to be living my epitaph: 'I lived everyday; I laughed everyday; I Loved Every day.'

Focus Scripture:   ‘But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.’  I Thessalonians 4:13-14

The Simple Importance of Thanks

Thanks. It's so simple, yet so profound. 

Thanks. Simple because it is so easy to express. Profound because it comprehensively changes your life perspective. 

Thanks moves you from an attitude of entitlement to an attitude of grace.  Thanks changes your focus from yourself to others.  Thanks simply moves you from arrogance to humility. Thanks changes you from a selfish mentality of 'What can I get?' to a selfless mentality of 'What can I Give?'. 

Giving thanks is so important it is the first manner we teach young children.  Just saying a mumbled 'Thank-you' frames their mentality that the world doesn't owe them anything. 

And God doesn't owe you anything.  God has graciously granted you everything you are and everything you have. Thanks reminds you that you are the one who is indebted. Thanks simply reminds you to give back.  

Thanks frees you to focus on the Author of your soul.  For eternity. 

Focus Scripture:  'O LORD surely I am your servant, I am your servant the son of Your handmaid. You have loosed my bonds.  To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the LORD.'  Psalm 116:16-17

Be Fully Thankful

What are you thankful for?  I know I'm a bit early, but it's always good to think about what you're thankful for. 

Most of us are quick to answer 'family, friends, and health'.  That response is obviously good and well-motivated.  Far too often we take for granted what we value the most, and it is good to stop from the crush of our life-frenzy and give thanks to God. 

But let's not just be thankful for the good in life. Let's be thankful for the tough times that make us grow, the difficult decisions that clarify our values, the relational conflicts that increase our determination and capacity to love, the life losses that reinforce the importance of investing every life moment, the fears that teach us where our hearts need to be strengthened, the down times that teach us what our core values are. 

Let your soul be one that never takes God's blessings for granted, and one that never lets life's lessons remain unlearned. 

Appreciate every life blessing, and learn from every challenge.  Let these be the fuel for your love of God and your love of people. 

Focus Scripture:  ‘Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him, bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.’  Psalm 100:4-5

Are You a Human Being?

Rest. I'm not really that good at it. I'm good at activity—increasingly—and even in my old age. 

There is so much good to do.  So much to learn. So many books to read.  So many letters to write.  So many people to counsel.  So many talks to prepare.  So many places to see.  So many adventures to be had.  So many projects to complete 

And then I remind myself that I am a human being . . . . I am not a human 'doing'.  

The deep, eternal truth: God loves me for who I am, not for what I can do.  I am not defined by my activities—even good ones. I am defined by my Creator.  There are many times I need to stop.  And listen.  And be quiet.  And let His Spirit speak to the depths.

I need to stop and drink deeply of His love and care and freedom.  

Rest. Breathe in God; breathe out life. 

Focus Scripture:  Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work.’  Exodus 20:8-10.

Thinking Outside the Box

Can you think outside the box?  It's a hard question to answer—there's always the lingering doubt that the box that you seem to be thinking outside of, is actually inside another box that you don't even see. 

The human mind thinks inside the box because we need a structure and a frame of reference.  Even the most divergent and creative mind must be able to bring their ideas into a structure within which they can be acted upon. 

We actually like thinking inside the box. The box gives us comfort. The box keeps us safe. The box makes us feel powerful as we master the territory within its boundaries. 

But you can't put God in a box. No matter how big and expansive you build the box, God is always bigger.

That's what makes it so hard to understand God at times, so hard to comprehend the depth of His forgiveness, the completeness of His grace, or the steadfastness of His love. 

It is also hard to see beyond the walls of the box you're living inside of, so hard to see the unexplored and wonderful future He has set before you. 

That's where faith comes in, and that's why faith is so important.  Faith in God and where He's leading you is the catalyst required to move you from inside the box of your present and into the future of His purpose. 

Focus Scripture:  'Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and disappear; for I am accomplishing a work in your days, a work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.'  Acts 13:41

Clothed From On High

'Who told you that you were naked?' has to be one of the greatest questions of all time.  And it just might be the most important one. 

It is the first time that God sought to speak healing truth into a broken human soul. 

You're probably familiar with the Genesis story: God creates humanity as His crowning achievement, Adam and Eve break God's perfect creation, then they let fear and shame keep them hidden in the shadows, wounded. 

Not much has changed in all these millennia, has it?  God is still laying out beautiful lives before us.  We're still messing up that beauty.  We're still trying to hide our failures from God. God is still reaching out to us to extend the forgiveness and healing that we so desperately need. 

It is a timeless story, and an endless one. 

But end it Today.  Hide from God no longer.  Tell Him today where you've messed up and where you've been messed up.  Tell Him where you're hurting.  Tell Him where you feel exposed and naked. 

Today, step into the loving and healing presence of the Living God.  Let Him cover you with His grace.  Let Him arm you with His power.  Let Him clothe you with His love. 

Focus Scripture: 'As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.'  Psalm 103:12-13

Break Barriers

Build the wall!  Maybe you've heard about that idea. It's interesting, isn't it, that nothing seems to divide us as much as that particular issue. 

I find that ironic. I also find it hypocritical. 

You see, I think we're All wall builders at heart. We build fences to determine Exactly where our property ends and the other's begins.  We build walls to categorize each other.  We build walls to protect our heart from pain. We build walls to protect ourselves from each other.  We build walls to protect ourselves from ourselves. 

We build walls to prevent interference . . . . especially interference from God. 

And that reminds me that Jesus is the master at wall de-construction.  Jesus tears down walls; He breaks every barrier.  Jesus breaks barriers between men and women.  He breaks barriers between races and ethnicities.  He breaks barriers between political parties.  He breaks barriers between religious factions.  Jesus breaks barriers between rich and poor. 

Most importantly, Jesus breaks barriers between you and God. 

Let's strive to be like Jesus.  Start by identifying barriers you've erected, then use His power and follow His direction to courageously and systematically break them down. 

Focus Scripture:  'But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.'  Ephesians 2:13-14

Who Is Your Audience?

What audience are you playing to?  Who are to trying to please?  Who are you looking to get a reward from?

Depending on your perspective, you might consider your life audience to be strictly business or you might consider it be your lover, your family, your friends, your neighbors. 

The question 'Who's your audience?' matters because it points to the belief about your underlying life purpose.  Who do you let judge the value of your work? . . . . the value of your life?  

That power only belongs to God.  It's obviously important to care about your audience, meeting their needs can be a matter of economic and emotional survival. 

But if you let them judge the value of your life, you've acquiesced power that only belongs to God. 

God is the only audience that isn't fickle, the only audience that isn't self-serving, the only audience that will never leave you.  God is the only audience that loves you for who you are, not what your can do for them. 

Play to God as your audience and you will not be ashamed or surprised; He will not confusingly give your reward to someone else.  God is the only audience that fully knows you and fully loves you.  And His rewards are complete and they are Eternal. 

Focus Scripture:  Jesus said 'Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.'  Matthew 6:1

Got Your Attention Yet?

One of two things is true: either God already has your attention or He's trying to get your attention.  Or both. 

Interesting, isn't it, that God would even concern Himself with getting your attention?  I mean, with all the effort it takes to administer the universe, all the needs of people besides you, people more important than you, it'd be easy to think He wouldn't concern Himself with you. 

But He does. I know this by personal experience and I know it's the most unexplainable mystery. 

There are a variety of ways Jesus might try to get your attention. He might use a threatening life event to remind you of your mortality.  He could use a life challenge to remind you that you are not designed to journey through life without Him.  

He might use a broken heart to show you how much He hurts when you're not connected to Him.  He might even let you have everything you thought you wanted so you could realize that none of it fills your soul. 

Jesus knows that the fullness and permanence of life only exist in Him.  He knows that's how you were created; He knows that's Why you were created. 

So if God already has your attention, keep it up.  And if He doesn't yet have your full attention—Listen Up.  His is the calling of a Lifetime. 

Focus Scripture:  'Choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God and by holding fast to Him; for that is your life and the length of your days.' Deuteronomy 30:19-20

The Art of Conversation

Conversation. Such a simple concept, so complex at times. Conversations can be deep or they can be superficial, loving or self-serving, heart-warming or coldly impersonal, compassionate or judgmental. 

Wherever you fit on the introvert/extrovert scale, conversation matters—it's the primary way of connecting with others.  Conversation is at the core of every relationship. 

So . . . . What conversations are you having with yourself?  What conversations are you having with others?  Most importantly, what conversations are you having with God?

Are you talking to Him about trivialities?  Are you speaking only what you think He wants to hear?  Or are you willing to have deep talks that both reveal and heal your heart?  

Talk to God today. Tell Him about your doubts and fears, your confusion and your desperation, your hopes and dreams. Tell Jesus where you've been hurt and where you've hurt others. 

Speak to Jesus—He's waiting to hear from you.  Then listen to Jesus.  Listen for His words of forgiveness, healing, direction, and power.  Listen to Him tell you how much He loves you, how He has always loved you. 

Pour out your heart to Jesus and let Him pour back into yours.

Focus Scripture: ‘ “I love You, O Lord, my strength.”  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.   I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.’  Psalm 18:1-3

Do More Than 'Do No Harm'.

'Do no harm'. Have you seen those bumper stickers?  There are few phrases that raise the hackles of my disdain more than that phrase.

I know it wasn't intended that way. I know that it has its roots in the Hippocratic Oath—the principle that doctors shouldn't make their patients worse. 

The thought still rankles me. It rankles me because it's not enough for us just to not make things worse, we Must be intent on making things better. 

The world is broken. Everyone knows that. So it's not enough just to leave it no more broken than when we found it. We must be intentional in working to improve our families and our communities. 

Even more—People are broken. They're all around you.  It's not enough just to not hurt them any further.  You must be intentional in speaking words of love and courage, of engaging in actions of kindness and strength toward all the people whom God brings your way. 

Look for situations and lives around you where you can be the hands and feet and mouth of Jesus.  Look for where your intention can make the difference between surviving and thriving in the life of someone else. 

Focus Scripture:  ‘Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.  Ephesians 4:15-16

Small Agent, Big Effect

Catalyst—it's an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. 

You are a catalyst. God has designed you that way.  It's not always easy and it's rarely comfortable. 

It means you affect every moment you step into or ignore, every conversation you engage in or avoid, every interaction you seek or flee, every embrace you welcome or shun. 

It means every word you speak as well as the words that go unspoken change those around you.  Your every courageous action, your every response of fear, either moves people forward or holds them back. 

Whether you know it or not you take Jesus with you into every moment, every relationship, every conversation.  

Today, your actions and words will be a catalyst for change. Today, your actions and words will either move people closer to God or further from Him. 

Which will you choose?

Focus Scripture: 'As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies, so that in all things God maybe glorified through Jesus Christ.'  I Peter 4:10-11

You Are the Example

Are you worth emulating?  Are you living the kind of life you would want others to follow?  

It's a loaded question, because the 'right' answer is pretty obvious.  We all want to be men of righteous and genuine character.  We all strive to live lives that are worthy of admiration. 

But most of us fall woefully short of that goal . . . . or, at least, we think we do. 

I have a suggestion: let's cast aside our self-doubt and self-criticism. Let's focus on what we're doing right, without losing sight of where we still need to be stronger and better. 

Let's view ourselves the way Jesus does—as His treasured servants, as His beloved sons. 

Through the power and grace of God let's strengthen each other, so collectively we can live up to our identity as 'Christians'—being and speaking and living like Jesus.  

Increasingly. 

Focus Scripture:  'Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.'  Colossians 3:1-3

What Does Your Heart Need to Heal?

I remembered a painful memory today.  

I hadn't completely forgotten it.  I'd hidden it away deep, where it was safe. For years it lay dormant, quarantined, safely sequestered in the deep shadows of my heart. 

Then it came to the surface. I couldn't ignore it any longer. At first, the memory came back factual, then more detailed. 

Then I remembered my breakdown, the crushing pain of my past that had dissolved my heart in a river of convulsive tears. 

Then I realized why God had brought it to the surface at just the right time . . . . He wanted to remind me that He had been there the whole time, He had prepared me for the intensity of my wounding, He had helped me not just to survive my trauma, but to Thrive from it. 

What in your past is unrepaired?  What deep hurts lie in the shadows of your heart?  

Work with God to search your heart, to uncover your deep wounds. Let Him heal you, let Him strengthen you.  Let His Spirit purify you from the inside-out, and streams of Life will forever flow from your heart.

Focus Scripture:  'Those who sow in tears will reap with joyful shouting.'  Psalm 126:5.  And

'The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching the innermost parts of his being.'  Proverbs 20:27

Simply Follow Jesus

Follow Jesus. It's not complex, nor is it easy. 

Follow Jesus. It is especially important today.  And especially difficult.  Here are some specific ways to follow Jesus:

1.  Never let politics get in the way of the gospel of Jesus.  From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus turned away from power to work with the people around Him. 

2.  Partner with those different than you.  For His posse of 12 Jesus chose from the Broad political spectrum: Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector.  That's more extreme than combining Bernie and Donald supporters.

3.  Don't criticize the government. Jesus never did. And Tiberius Caesar was morally worse than anything we even want to imagine. 

4.  Ask questions to learn where someone is coming from, and to guide conversations in a healthy direction.

5. Be more anxious to listen than you are to speak.  Genuine listening leads to understanding. Understanding leads to reconciliation. Reconciliation is at the heart of God's character. 

6.  Love your enemies, pray for them. This includes people who disagree with you politically, morally, religiously, and economically. 

7.  Look for the good you can do in a broken world. The world has never been 'fixed'. That will not change today.  But what can change today is the good that You can do and say.

Finally, Whatever you face today depend on God's power, don't worry about the government's.  Jesus never let the oppression of Rome keep Him from God's work, and we shouldn't either. 

Focus Scripture:  And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.  And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.  Luke 9:1-2

Be On The Alert

Expect the unexpected.  Just how am I supposed to do that?  

Whenever God tells me He's doing something that I can't even imagine—can you guess what I immediately start to do?

Right—I try to guess what it is.  Of course, I've never been successful. I can't seem to get ahead of God, nor do I want to. 

But I want to be ready. I know that God will unfold events when the time is right.  Meanwhile, it's my responsibility to prepare in any way I can, any way Jesus leads me. 

Whatever expected or unexpected events come your way, remember they aren't unexpected to God; He's always there ahead of you.  Follow His leading as He prepares you, then trust that you can handle whatever comes your way.  And remember He not only goes before you, He's there With you. 

Focus Scripture:  'For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing lifted up against the knowledge of God and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.'  II Corinthians 10:3-5

No Average Guy

I never want to be average.  I was reminded of this as I waited in the doctor's office yesterday. 

There were people from all walks of life, all ages, all attitudes, all economic situations, nine different ethnicities, and six different languages. There were people of different sizes and body shapes, people with varying states of mobility, some with trivial health issues and some with terminal ones. 

There were people with money problems, health problems, attitude problems.  People transfixed by their phones, desperate to connect with anyone in the world who wasn't in the room. 

This cornucopia of humanity made me realize that 'average' doesn't exist . . . . humanity is far too diverse to be so narrowly defined. And it made me realize that God doesn't love the 'average' person . . . . He loves us all and He loves each of us. 

He loves us despite all our problems and issues and attitudes. And He doesn't desire 'average' for any of us.  His desire is that we each come to a full understanding of who He is and who He has uniquely created us to be—created individually, but created to be in community with each other and with the Living God. 

Focus Scripture: 'This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.'  I Timothy 2:3-4

What Battle Rages?

There is a battle raging. Did you know?

I'm not talking about the current political and societal and moral conflict in this country. If you lived through the 1960s like I did, you know such conflict is nothing new for the United States. 

I'm talking about the battle for your heart and soul, for the hearts and souls of those around you, of those coming after you. 

It's a battle over choices. Will you choose comfort or meaning? . . . . Safety or adventure? . . . . Sexual gratification or intimacy?  . . . . Individualism or community? . . . . The predictability of aloneness or the risk of love?

These are the battles that define both the quantity and quality of your life, battles that will determine your values as well as your legacy. 

These are the battles that are at your doorstep and the battles you are in the midst of. 

You are designed to fight these battles, but you are Not designed to fight them alone.  You are designed to fight them with Jesus in your heart and your brother by your side. 

Step up to the battle that is before you, the battle that is before us.

Focus Scripture:  'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the One who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'  Deuteronomy 20:3-4

Speak Love, Speak Life

I changed the world today with three simple words. I told my friend I loved him. 

I'd been planning it for a few weeks, waiting for the right time. I wasn't sure I could eek out the words. It seemed so cheesy, so mushy, so un-masculine.  The simple but significant statement might trigger an awkward discomfort. 

I wasn't sure I could bring myself to utter those three simple words.  It's not part of the guy code.  Guys are barely allowed to utter those words in a romantic sense; their utterance to a another guy crosses into male no-man's-land. 

He didn't see it coming. He was stunned. He was speechless.  He was unprepared and utterly defenseless against my words. 

Those three words took aim at his heart like a heat-seeking missile, igniting an immediate and permanent healing in his heart. 

Our intense embrace afterwards told me all I needed to know.  The risk was worth it.  My courage paid off.  My simple, honest expression not only healed my brother's heart, it also healed my own. 

The raw honesty of those three words 'I love you' forever bonded our brotherhood, and forever changed the world. 

Focus Scripture:  'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear . . . . This command we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.'  I John 4:18,21

Listen in the Silence

What do you do when God is silent?  

I don't know how to answer that question.  Maybe I should've warned you earlier that I don't have all the answers. 

I don't know how to answer it because it's never happened to me. I don't mean I've always heard Him immediately—sometimes it takes me a while to see what He's doing and hear what He's saying.  And I don't mean I hear God audibly—although as far as I know that's possible. 

I mean I hear Him in more profound, enduring ways.  I hear Him speak through His written word.  I hear Him speak through the wisdom and guidance of others.  I hear Him speak through His creation. 

Most of all, I hear Him speak deep in my heart. He speaks of love, strength, and, at times, correction.  His voice is unmistakable when He speaks the expected, but no less clear when He surprises me. 

Yes, sometimes He is silent . . . . when He refuses to shout down the voices of noise and distraction I put in my own head.  I have to stop long enough to hear Him.  And sometimes He's silent when He's spoken enough to me, when it is time for me to move from listening to action. 

But that's when His voice is the clearest and best—when I'm not just listening to His voice, I'm living it. 

Focus Scripture:  Jesus said 'I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep . . . . My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.'  John 10:11, 27

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech. It's a right I don't take for granted.  And it's a right that's worth defending—for others as well as myself.   

We are blessed in the U.S. to enjoy this right—we were the first country to fight for it, making it an expected right in all modern societies.  Yet even today most people on earth don't have it. 

But where does this fundamental human right come from?

As Christians we make a crucial error if we consider freedom of speech as a right bestowed by the government.  

Jesus granted humanity the freedom of speech when He created us.  It is from His hand and His hand alone that we can express ourselves through language. 

He didn't grant speech so we could say anything no matter how meaningless, or hurtful or toxic.  He granted us speech so we could fully experience life, so we could fully experience each other, so we could fully experience Him. 

He gave us freedom of speech because freedom of speech drives creativity of thought.

He gave us speech so we could speak of His wonder and His works and His love.  He gave us speech so we could strengthen and encourage each other.

Exercise your God-given freedom of speech.  Speak courageously.  Speak lovingly.  Speak of His love to and for others.

Let no fear hold you back.

Focus Scripture:  'But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 'Go, stand and continue to speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.'  Acts 5:19-20