My heart is breaking over the breakdown … 

I’m reminded of the crude way that sanitariums in Europe many years ago evaluated the mental health of a patient… 

They would bring their patient into a janitors closet where the sink had been plugged and water had begun overflowing onto the floor. Before the doctor left, the patient was given a mop and then left alone to face the problem of the overflowing sink. If upon the doctor’s return the patient was found mopping the floor, the doctor knew that the patient still wasn’t ready to leave – because the real solution was to unstop the drain. The patient wasn’t well enough to see the “big picture” and identify the source of the problem. 

Today, humanity is drowning in the “overflowing water” of emptiness, shame, unforgiveness, racism, breakdown of families, ignorance, purposeless, materialism, sensualism, relativism, etc, etc, etc, 

We are trying to solve the problem with:
Political mops,
Economic mops,
Psychological mops… 

But none of these are addressing the actual source of society’s problem – which is a broken relationship with God! Therefore, if the source of our problems is a broken down relationship with God, it means that the only solution is having a right relationship with God!

We’ve all been reeling from the demonic act of terror in Nice, France that resulted in the deaths of 84 innocent people. I was so moved by the story of a motorcyclist who lost his life desperately trying to climb into the front seat of the truck to stop the driver from running over and killing innocent people! Truly, there is no more powerful narrative than a person giving their life for another in a love rescue. 

I think of the Cross of Christ. 

What Jesus did on the Cross, it could be said, was stand in front of the “crazed truck” of death, sin, breakdown, the devil, and judgement, in order to protect each and everyone of us from what will destroy us and keep us separate from Him. God demonstrated His selfless, “others oriented” and protective love on the Cross by paying the debt of our sin, and providing power over it’s self-defeating and destructively morphing consequences in our lives both now and forever. Jesus “became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him!” (Cor. 5:21)

Without the Person and work of the Lord Jesus – sin, hell and death continue to break us down… But in Christ we do “not perish but have everlasting life!” (John 3:16) Jesus is our only hope… He rescues us! Follow Him! And tell others to follow Him too. 

We’re amidst a major breakdown in society. It is totally heart-breaking! We’re presently reeling from a series of unbelievable reactionary events. Our culture is increasingly toxic. More and more the modus operandi is a mob mentality.

But here’s the reality: we’re being played by a third party.

The real enemy is not Russia, Iran, gangs, the police, Republicans, Democrats etc.  The third party is the darkness of satan!

Something new in world history? Not really. Just read the first chapter of Romans penned during the reign of Nero who had been married twice both to men.

When a society approves and even legalizes what is contrary to God’s  natural law — such a society is in the throw of a full blown breakdown.

Sin is no friend of anyone. When left unchecked it morphs into worse self-defeating realities:  death to dreams, inner life, relationships, family …

Some are calling that “America needs to return to God!”  Is that the right course of action? It’s essential that we don’t mis-diagnose at this point. If we do, we will miss the right prescription at this critical hour. We need to be more specific!

The problem? Broken relationship with the Heavenly Father. The right prescription? “…the gospel of Messiah …is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile …” (Romans 1:16-17).

In short, it’s time that American’s (and the entire world) turn to, Jesus! The Lord. The King. The Savior – who is building a Kingdom that will never breakdown. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the Father except it be through me” (John 14:6).

Anyone who has lived in a community for a period of time knows that when it comes time to preparing a house for a move it is a kind of “archaeological dig” with multiple layers that often reveal special treasures and memories. These are just some of the pictures we found and enjoyed. They are of my good friend Greg Laurie. Greg has had a huge impact on my life and to whom I am super proud–faithful to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the best yet to come!!
#1 Preparing for a service in Auburn

#2 Behind the scenes in Philadelphia at the Spectrum Arena Harvest Crusade where Greg was speaking

#3 In flight to a speaking engagement in Nashville

#4 A great day in the City of Jerusalem (King David Hotel)