The Father's Eyes

"The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Psalm 145:9


What could be seen as tragic is now given the power of redemption.
While researching events in the Mideast, I came across this such redemption.
Now, some may see this as quite a controversial take, but I see it as God's unique sight into the heart of all his creation.


"Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so."
Hebrews 13:9


This scripture, I believe, could not be more true in the life of 14-year-old Umar Fida captured in this article on redemption. 
In what Umar thought were words of truth, was actually the truth that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. On the very day that Umar and his friend Ismail strapped suicide jackets to their chests, they had been deceived to believe that their cause was good and for it they would be going to Heaven.
Ironic how the enemy works to twist things- simply because he has no power to create. 
In an effort and ancient teaching of lies to turn a community against one another, the term "un-Islamic" has developed. Of course, for no other purpose does this word serve other than to divide.
Umar and Ismail, barely of teenage years, had been recruited by the deception of the Taliban they initially resisted saying that if they wanted to kill people they should do it there self, not ask children.
Unfortunately, they kept coming back to them during their classes at school feeding them lies that studies would do nothing for them and then finally grabbing them with the lie that the Sufi's worship was "un-Islamic."
An example of the ongoing brainwashing is stated here by Umar upon arriving at one the Sufi shrines for his first and only mission saying, "But when we travelled by bus to the place of our attack, I saw it was still Pakistan so I questioned them. They said the people who pray to the dead at shrines are even bigger infidels, and I believed them." 
Insanely enough, upon commencing their suicide where they said they had all peace as they prayed for one another believing they were going to Heaven, the mission failed as Umar lay on the ground unconscious missing an arm and his torso ripped open. 
It was here, on the teeter of life and death that Umar had a revelation.

Umar said it was only when the police were trying to defuse his explosives and when he saw the care the doctors were giving him, that he started to realize he had been wrong.

"I am so grateful, because I have been saved from going to hell. I am in a lot of pain, but I know there are many people in hospital even more severely injured than me and I am so sorry for what I did and for what Ismail did.

"We did a very bad thing by killing children and old men and women. I now realise suicide bombing is un-Islamic. I hope people will forgive me."

Upon being carried away by strange teachings (lies), Umar's heart was strengthened because He received grace to see the. 

Now, it does not end here for Umar as the article states. He may still be fighting for his life and even more against the Taliban seeing as he failed his mission.

But he has seen the truth and I pray that this truth set him free.

The Father is jealous for ALL his creation and I believe he saw that Umar's heart was good with a desire for Heaven.

I cannot judge, for am I no judge, but may God judge Him according to his knowledge of His heart. For it is by His compassion and kindness that we are led to repentance.

The enemy has been defeated and even in His attempts in the Earth today, Christ is alive and at work for the cause of redemption.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good."
Psalm 34:8

Remember

While some may see this contribution as trivial and maybe not even enough, I choose to see it as hope for those who felt loss.

What's more hopeful, to me, was that I found this eloquent article on The Washington Post which can often show much scrutiny in political matters. 

President Obama continues the declaration that "Justice has been done," just four days after Bin Laden's death by stating, "When we say we will never forget, we mean it." While exclaiming these words, it was a wreath that he held in his hands to pay this remembrance. It is a circle, like a ring for a marriage vow. It is a circle, like that of life. It is a circle, yet it has a hole.

As the reporter said so, "There will always be a gaping hole where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood." 

This, too, is true for the families that suffered the loss of a loved one on September 11th, 2001. It is almost ten years later, and the United States has accomplished some sense of achievement that we could show to the people. 

If you have read my other excerpts, you may know I feel on the celebration of Bin Laden's death and our response to be had. It is also shared here. While some may mock this effort and see it as a political stunt to the whole ordeal that is still decorating every news channel, I choose to perceive peace through my filter of hope. 

That even if this so fabricated effort is true, redemption is still here to take place.

The families of 9/11 may have their justice, but they do not have their loved one back.

Congruently, nor will Bin Laden's family and the others effected by the attack get their fathers back. 

No matter the cause or the evil, it has been done.

So may we not proceed after such a monumental event with scrutiny and criticism, but rather hope.

Today is a new day. A new day to see hope. A new day to seek peace.

Everyday we are given choice. Choose to remember.


From the front of the Book to the very back, Remember is inscribed.
How will we remember?


"And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the LORD is witness between you and me forever."
1 Samuel 20:23

From Dust to Dust we Thrive

The art community has apparently awaiting some grand day that may be approaching soon for them, the discovery of the famous Mona Lisa's body.
In the article mentioned, I find my self of an odd feeling. Granted, this was found in the "Odd News," I still wonder where is line drawn between oddity and disturbance?
I, too, am one who is keen on the arts, but I a stand first for it's celebration in life and preservation thereafter. There was beauty in the mind of da Vinci while he was here painting the strokes of her inquiring smile, yet, she too was living beauty that painted this land with every stroke of her feet.
To celebrate is a living noun that means to know and to be made known. I believe that parallels with living. We not only live, but thrive; we make life known.
I also believe that art plays a key role in this thriving, because I see it as a gift from the Father. Jesus said, "This is the day that I have made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
The Father made the day, therefore the work is done. All that is required of us is to rejoice and take delight in the day He has set before us- before our time.
For ages, back to the Bible, art and skillfulness with your hands has been a way of life and making a living.
I believe, that we can still use these gifts He has given us to live in abundance of Life that points to its Author.
We do not have to dig in the grave to restore what is old. Everyday is new.
I think that the painting of Mona Lisa an her intriguing smile was enough. We do not need to dig her dead bones out of a grave to bring assurance to a community of avidness.
She was here. She lived. I hope she thrived.
But she also died and is now in her afterlife.
Now, it is our time to create and celebrate life.
If they find her, they may also find an inscription upon her common to many others in her state-
rest in peace.
I pray that she is living now a life of rest.
Let the dead bones live their life in this earth.

How to Stand in the Storm

On a middle-of-the-week sort of night when the week feels like a full and people everywhere and pulling on energy sources to make it through to Friday night, something happens that changes not weekend plans, but lives.
On Wednesday night of April 27th, 2011, a record-breaking storm collided with the South hitting it with winds of almost 200 mph and a tornado taking approximately 167 miles of ground in one landing. The word Devastation is impregnated with a whole new meaning taking effect on multiple levels.
With over 270 tornadoes reported, over six states were affected by this storm; to name the primary route- Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky.
Due to the intensity of the storm(s), the death count continues to rise as bodies are discovered beneath the remains on what was. Over 300 have been declared dead up till now with most of the deaths occurring in area hit by the record-breaking, should I say heart-breaking storm in Birmingham, Alabama. 
Yet, in the midst of this disastrously evil storm, there is ground to stand on. Being one who had the storm route detour at a moment's last, I feel inadequate to speak from the affect, but I do know what it looks like to have gone through storms in life and come out to see redemption that I never could have imagined. From my personal belief and, moreover, relationship with the Father, I know Him to be not of the storm's cause, but instead the One who fights jealously in it's midst. 
As I mentioned, I endured the wind but did not feel it's affects. However, I do have a friend who did and lives to tell her testimony. Just 20 minutes South of my home, she received a call at about midnight on Wednesday, and 30 seconds later was huddled in her kitchen pantry with her family. It was not until opening the door of her unshaken pantry that she saw it was the only structure that still stood. Everything else around had been swept away including her entire second floor where her father, who had just come in town to visit, was sleeping. 
Quite frankly, it is a miracle that she ended up in her pantry with her husband and two children when she did. Prior to that moment, her friend had been up watching the news and saw that the storm was right over their home in Spalding County, GA and decided to call her friend to let her know in case she was asleep, which she was. Unknowingly, 30 seconds is all the time she had to jump out of her bed, gather her children and find shelter in their pantry before the tornado hit her home. Her husband had actually tried to make it up the stairs to his father-in-law after after making sure his family was safe in the pantry, but the vacuum-force of the twisting wind was so strong he couldn't get to him and had to bolt back to his family. He told his wife ad they had prepared for the worst. Yet, in the midst of the swirling fear they did not stop believing, instead they quoted scripture from the Bible as it came to mind. 
The way that storms work astound me, because even then the jealousy of the Father cannot be stopped.
Her father had been awoken with a sense of alarm knowing a storm was near and as he scrambled to get out of bed and make it to the stairs, the roof collapsed and was swept away. Cannily enough, there were two armoires in the room that just happened to collapse together right over her father making a teepee shape, with the headboard to the bed blown onto another side. He was protected in his own little bubble. 
After the storm has passed, he crawled his way out out his shelter and made his way down the roof of the house that now lay in remains in the front of the house. 
As this concerned daughter opened the door to her pantry where all the food still remained on the shelf, she walked out expecting to find her father dead, but instead what she saw was her father walking around the side of what was her house to find his family. 
Though this two story home was simple a foundation now, one wall that still stood had painted on it already "Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle." And on a small wall in the kitchen, they had inscribed "The Lord is my Strength and my Refuge."
These words would never be as true to them as they were at this moment.
Though all material things had been blown away, along with a barn and RV in their backyard that was literally nowhere to be found, she had all she needed- the ones she Loved. They were all unscathed with their faith still intact.
Though they are now in the process of finding a new home and replacing lost things, all has been coming together with the help of many. 
As I walked on to the site, I could not help but cry. Oddly enough, the emotion that initially could have been sadness, was turned to a refreshing joy that could only be experienced standing on this Holy ground- for God was there. 
He does not cause the storm to come, but he works in it to a finished end of Redemption.
The One who gives every good and perfect gift proclaims that "He who started a good work will finish it."
This phrase that was so true to me in the emotional storms of my life, still rings true here.
"Do not tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is."
Jesus said, "Peace, be still."

Peacemakers

On May 1st 2011, President Obama announced the death of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden with the words "Justice has been done." Unfortunate to my observation, an eruption of boisterous celebration took place in front of the U.S. Capitol building. Now, I understand the worldwide relief that has spread like a blanket due to this event, but I do not believe that such celebration is the right response.
While doing some research and contemplating my thoughts in relation to this monumental event, I found this article and it began to work in my train of processing. This report, instead of describing the conditions of his death, covered the conditions of his life leading up to his death. What hooked me was that it mentioned these two devoted men who dwelled with and defended their comrade to death.
Now, once again hear me, their lives were ones leaking hatred and leaving disillusionment, but I believe this truth to be a result of true delusion.
Following a faith from a divided book, I believe that the Islamic community is oppressed by their devotion to the Koran- a book that in one half preaches peace and the other advocating peace solely with followers of Allah, therefore leading to war and ultimately terrorism. Discern for yourselves, "[4.74] Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward." While this verse mentions peace, it is under the condition of giving your life in a fight for the "way of Allah," which is not a way of peace.
Carol Lutker, resident teacher of the Maitreya Kadampa Buddhist Center in Atlantic Beach encapsulates the truth in the power of our reactions and responses by stating (in a different article), "The real enemy is not a particular individual, it's that the delusion ... and fear that caused him to do what he did causes us to do what we do." This, to me, even proves that when I do not share the same belief with another individual, they may share a truth even if they do not believe in the Source of all Truth- God.
It is for this reason, that I can separate these men from a category of hate by viewing them as men who were human and exemplified human devotion, unfortunately through a veil of confusion and deception.
These men are not separate from the human race making them an exception for celebration upon death.
I support the response from the Vatican on this issue where Vatican spokeman Fr. Frederico Lombardi states, “Faced with the death of a man, a Christian does not rejoice in anything, but reflects on the serious responsibility of everyone before God and man, and hopes and pledges that every event is not an opportunity for a further growth of hatred, but of peace.” 
Further responses on faith have surfaced labeling this as not a time for celebration, but a time of solemn remembrance of his (Osama's) victims. Others supportively respond saying, "Violence is always... an occasion for deeper reflection." If we, the one's capable of making a change, do not seek the cause or the truth behind such violence then this can lead to the danger in vengeance. 
Hatred cannot be fought with hatred. 
With reports on the controversy of such celebration, Lutker further stated, "Gloating distracts those celebrating from seeing their own faults." 
We must look into the tragedy of this situation on a human level through a lens of Belief in Redemption. Truth is- a girl lost her father and is wounded, her mother is also wounded and is now a widow, multiple families have to live with the absence of their fathers and the conditions of a single-parent home, and  three men may have lived their entire lives empty of the Truth and a relationship with their Heavenly Father, God.
With people of the Christian faith taking this opportunity to make their voices heard, Krish Kandiah of the Evangelical Alliance encourages Christians to follow Christ's example and be Peacemakers by declaring, "In these difficult days its time for Christians to get busy doing the family business – seeking peace."
Matthew 5:9 proclaims, "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they are the Children of God."
It is this truth they declares this role as not a deed, but rather wrapped in an identity. Peace flows not simply from actions, but the heart of individual. We must make peace so that those oppressed with fear, confusion, and deception may Know the Truth and the Truth set them Free.
This is an opportunity for growth of Peace, take it and make a change.

Discovering the Unseen

Often times, what is unseen manifests before our eyes simply because we shift our view.
Recently, scientists discovered 657 islands that had yet to be revealed. Technology did aid in this discovery with thanks to the development of satellite imagery. However, I believe there was a shift in search. For some time now, we have navigated our way using set maps and the world globe when it was not even complete. Yet, we did so because we believed we had the whole picture. There are now 54 islands over a stretch of 354 miles off the coast of Brazil and now the list of identified islands has grown to an additional 30 percent. While this is a discovery witnessed in nature, I believe that there are many of things left unseen in our own personal worlds. See, we create our world through the film we desire and we have the choice to say when we think it is complete. Unfortunately, I believe this exploration gets cut-off far too short of the destination simply due to our perspectives. We get to decide whether we will enjoy a movie or whether we will learn in class purely based off of our mindsets and if we are open or have already closed the door with an early assumption. What if we shifted our perspective in every daily scenario to take it as it is in the present? Would we learn something new? Would we grow beyond the preset line we formerly drew? Maybe we all have 657 more islands in our life left to see if we open our reset our conclusions and decide to just walk each day out.
Personally, I hope I never stop short on this journey and cut down this tree.
For, I am not a stump.

Why have we become a "preventative" society?

THIS is ridiculous!
It is a sad day when our younger generations are having to take "preventative" measures, based upon their appearance, to make it in the world peaceably. What is even more sad, is the fact that these "expectations," or should I say social constructions are coming from disillusioned former generations. Precious 7-year-old Samantha Shaw cannot even accept the truth in the very first word of this sentence- that she is precious. Not solely because of the pressure from her elementary friends, but from their even more maliciously deceived parents did Samantha face criticism. Samantha may have heard it a bit from her young peers, but it was the remarks made by her peer's parents to Samantha's mother that led her mother to the decision of nipping and tucking her daughter's ears. Not only does the tragedy lie in the fact that this was done as preventative measures for Samantha's future, but the fact that this practice is openly accepted, even on a child.
Young and innocent-minded Samantha cannot even grow up in an unbiased, un-littered environment because of all the social constructions we have made today to define a culturally-varying term such as, "attractive." Fortunately, she has blonde hair and blue eyes, because otherwise she may have to have that altered as well. I mean seriously, society has created a picture of what is acceptable to our eyes and what is not. Yet, this negates and brainwashes the people from the truth that we are created uniquely and fashioned in such a way that there is no other like our selves. Having pale skin no longer is a trademark of your image, but a curse because you were born "unacceptable" or "cursed." This truly breaks my heart. In the "Land of the Free," not one person came come and live the "American Dream." This endeavor is literally impossible and I honestly hope people come to see this truth through eyes of enlightenment. That we are beautyfull.

Set Apart

In this article, one young man steps outside of genetics to explore his extreme giftedness and uniqueness. With an IQ of 180, exceeding the estimated IQ of Einstein himself, 12-year-old Jacob Barnett is already taking on Einstein's theories of quantum physics. Interestingly enough, not only was this sort of endeavor unforeseen by his parents, but also by his doctors as he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at the glimmering age of 3. This story portrays to me the beauty possessed in the mind of innocence. At age 3, a child has no cracked-foundation for the term Asbergers or disability. They simply do what they were made to do- explore. I feel that young Jacob did just that, he did not allow the foreign words diagnosed by the doctor affect him, he simply just did only what he knew. He lived within the means given to him without the stifling false assumptions of the world to limit him. And explore he did, into not just undiscovered land for a toddler, but for some of the most learned and accomplished astrophysics. Biblically speaking, we are the Children of God made in His Image. I simply do not see anything more unlimited than that very identity. He declares that because of this creation, we have been Set Apart, not confined to the fallen nature of the World, but that from us, Greater things have yet to come. Now, some may want to call this boy a scientific wonder, but I think we meagerly wonder because we cannot wrap our science around this identity. It is not of this world.

What is in your heart?

Cause of death, an enlarged heart. This was the findings that forensic pathologist, Dr. David A. Start had released to the family of high school athletic star, Wes Leonard, after finishing Leonard's autopsy. In my opinion, this seems like quite an unfair cause of death for a kid of only 16 years of age. Leonard was considered as not just another normal kid in his sphere of influence, but rather a star. Most would state this claim for his relentless determination in athletic competitions, but I believe it was more than that. Yes, not only was he a star on the basketball team, but also the quarterback of the school's football team. And on both teams, Leonard made it his personal goal to run an undefeated 20-0 season, and that he did. Leonard's football coach, Tim Schipper stated from his relationship with the athlete that, “He had a personality that, when people were around him, they played better. Everybody around him played better, because he was a leader and the best athlete.” 

Here, Coach Schipper pegs it right on my message. You see, Leonard and his family had no idea of his enlarged heart condition his whole life until this one tragic day. Leonard did not play the way he did because of the size of his heart, but instead because of it's content.  When his friends were around him they didn't play better because they knew he had a heart condition, they played better because they felt what was in his heart. They felt his perseverance, the strength he exuded, and how he conveyed community and love to his fellow teammates. His teammates would even go as far to call him family. Leonard was a leader among his peers because he believed in his self. 

While, I was reading this article it reminded me of a very similar story, though a different species.Secretariat, the American Thoroughbred racehorse, is known throughout history and to this day as the first horse to win the U.S. Triple Crown in 1973. Though interestingly enough, upon his passing, the veterinarian who performed the necropsy of this great horse, Dr. Thomas Swerczek, head pathologist at the University of Kentucky, revealed a similar finding. He worded his experience this way, "We just stood there in stunned silence. We couldn’t believe it. The heart was perfect. There were no problems with it. It was just this huge engine." Weighing more than double the size of a normal horse's heart (6.4 kg, Secretariat's weighed in at an astonishing 14 lbs. 
Now, this certainly is a scientific wonder, yet just like Leonard, none of the horse's caretakers knew of this condition. Instead, Secretariat had faith placed in him. Starting out as a horse that was looked past by renown names in the racing industry, Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery(Tweedy) saw something more. She saw great potential and believed in her horse. Not only did he defy the odds, but this great beast of muscle defied the records with his still standing today.
In closing, the message I am sharing is the power in Belief. More often than not, we don't believe in ourselves. Yet, we are all made uniquely and so it is important to surround ourselves with peers that not only see that uniqueness, but believe in it and call it out! What if we looked past all of our perceived "conditions" that limit us to the depth of our hearts? What would we see? Because, I believe that even if we have been blinded, scaled eyes can open. Surely, if we seek, we will find. And what we find will be what has always been since the beginning, the unique mark of our Maker.

Small but Mighty

I have found this article to be a refreshing gem in the clutter of media that I come across through the day.
Not only is it snow that can wash the land, but the pure heart of a courageous 4-year-old girl. This story of this precious girl named Averie Carrion touches me, because it is not only something that I would find difficult personally as a 21-year-old woman, but also the will and intelligence she had at this age to fathom such a great feat. Furthermore, I am not an individual who usually enjoys paying attention to the news. This is most often due to the fact that majority of the time it is tragic and disheartening. Still, this story caught my attention and the very woman in this story who got to hold the young hero in her arms captured my feelings on it in a very pure way.
Jean Zenk declared this statement saying, "We always hear about the bad things in the world, so it's nice to hear something with a happy ending. She had a guardian angel over her that night." 
And this I do believe, that no matter whether we pay attention to the news or not, God still has His hand in every circumstance. So often I feel that news is overflowing with heart break because we as people of His creation do not see the potential within ourselves. If we are made in the image of God, then we are missing out on some extraordinary truth to believe that we are anything less than that- extraordinary. 
Yet, here a small girl who has yet to reach a full hand in age reached in deep and pulled out that something extraordinary. I cannot say what that factor may have been seeing as I cannot imagine what was going on within her when she took this leap.  Perhaps she manifested supernatural strength, and that she did. However, I believe that beyond this simple characteristic that can fade in given circumstances, she believed this identity. That not only was she protected by guardian angels on a special assignment by the Lord, but within her very own DNA she believed that she was extraordinary, and moreover, made in the image of God. 
Furthermore, what if we all did see this very truth too? What if we believed that the actual power of the resurrected Christ resided in us? What fear could come against us then, if we knew Perfect Love and that it knew us? It is then, that I believe news would change forever. We truly would share the good news. Beyond the Gospel of Jesus, we would exhibit the Life of Jesus that overcame the odds of the world. Surely, this is the good news.

And it begins.. a bit longish

        So I've done it. I have finally started my very own blog, an idea I have toyed with for quite some time. Frankly, I have tossed the idea up and down since the online trend has been birthed, seeing that it is writing that is a passion of mine, and moreover a tool I refer to as a gift. Now, let it be known, this honestly was not upon my own accord but rather the fact that it has been required for a writing class I am taking at present. However, I have been given the freedom to use this tool that I am quite keen on- words.
       Now, in this class, I have been assigned to take a look at the news going on around us and give my take on how it effects me. However, it will be the news captured by words that I have to reflect upon. Furthermore, it is the latter part of that statement that I am concerned with and quite intrigued by. What if it were our words that we altered our attention to rather than the news that came from them? What would happen to this thing called "news." Would the content change? Would it become something that solely came from our mouths to one another instead of a pastime spent in front of the television or hidden behind a 3-by-3 newspaper? What if the connotation changed to where the word "news" actually made one smile?
      It is for this reason that I have taken the creative liberty of calling my newfound source of sharing (blog is such a stale word), "Words & Birds."Now, yes these two words rhyme so they work together to attract an artsy smile, but it is more of the meaning they hold for me that I saw fit for such avail. You see,  the two seem as if from two different worlds being that words can often be overused and birds overlooked. Still, each have a choice toward how they will communicate themselves and how they will choose to live upon suchlike choices.
      Words can be heavy and often drag not only the speaker down, but the ears that hear. Words can also be violent and untrue and lead the listener to fear and destruction. On the other hand, words can be few and true and transcend to a lighter way of life. Still, speaking in truth can be daring and can evoke a revolutionary change, of course with ultimate good in mind. And so it is too, the bird, that must also make alike choices.
      One feathered fellow may choose to stay in the nest and never fly nor make a change in the wind, or he could chance the elements. Conversely and ultimately, the bird could make flying a light-hearted way of life and chirp a melody when felt or needed and spend the rest of his time simply gliding. Then, when night falls he could go back to his nest and rest his head. Rather than he be kept up spinning over a labor-some day of fighting the elements and proving the superiority of his perspective way.
      So it is with this that I consider the gift of words and begin a privileged journey to interpret what my heart hears. For it is also the air that we share with such winged-creatures as our words do not simply stay on our lips, but rather ascend into (or tug down) our environment. Hopefully, the flight will get lighter as you take to the air with me.