Friends are made by spending real live time with each other. Together you consistently dig past the small talk and into how real life feels and affects each person. You test loyalty, generosity and either agree on life’s issues, or respect each other for why you don’t. Friendship does not involve passive-aggressive memes or little, blue thumbs up cartoons. It takes consistent time to find out who each person really is. Friends are not made with little, blue buttons and digital hugs. Social media may be a gateway, but it is not a true test. Our ability to love and honor is not validated by how many people are on our social media list. Our value is not determined by the reactions we get from posting our looks, opinions or activities. This is my kid. I do not use stock photography. See more of my own images in my portfolio. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 KJV In other words, if you’ve ever used social media to bash anyone, to validate or sell yourself or to make a passive-aggressive post, as I’ve regretfully done, that gives you and I an opportunity. We can do ourselves a favor and read that screen like a mirror before we click send. There is still, and will always be value in being wrong. The moment we use social media for education, love and respectful conversation, we go against the world and join something bigger and far beyond.

So many times I faced a choice to comfort myself or sacrifice what I want/need to help someone else. And while I'm finding more and more value and strength in that, there have still been many times I chose my own relief over someone else's. We've all done it and we've all heard the excuses to not help others, like: "They made their own choices". And yet the life we celebrate today belonged to a human who had no excuses. Jesus kept a vision of love and rescue for you and I through tremendous pain and sacrifice. His journey is provable. His gifts are easily accessible and they last forever. Merry Christmas!

Gotta hum-dinger for ya! I do not use stock photos. See this photo and more in my personla portfolio. Christmas wasn’t actually Jesus’ birthday, but was put on its date, not only to celebrate the approaching time of renewal, but also to overshadow pagan holidays while celebrating “Christs’ Mass”. That often causes argument and accusation toward myself and other Christians, until I explain how Halloween was placed on the 31st of October to overshadow the original holiday; Reformation Day. But it gets even more ironic. Reformation Day was created by a man who opened minds to a crooked system, one that used its own version of “Christianity” to dig deep into people’s pockets. Today that practice is known as “Religion” (different from Christianity, which is a relationship with Christ). The man who caused that reform was Martin Luther. Later, in the 1950’s, along came a man who largely shared that name, Martin Luther King Jr. He, understanding and following true Christianity, made some very painful sacrifices to bring the real Christian attitude into everyday life for everyone. Today, even secular folks appreciate Martin Luther King’s work, while ignoring how such an intelligent man based that work on what he knew was provable; the life and work of Jesus Christ. He, like Jesus, carried a cross because he understood what it means to have an often misunderstood freedom; not a worldly freedom, but an eternal one. And now we have people who knowingly benefit from the works of them and others like them, but don’t understand the core of the work and the comfort and safety those people give up. #IronicWisdom

7 Signs You're Being Called to Ministry (even if you don't believe) Click image to see/ purchase it in writer's photography portfolio . . . More 7's lists Share this list Here are seven signs you're called to ministry (even if you don't believe). If you had the money, you’d feed the hungry, house the homeless and educate the poor; every... last... one of them. To you, uplifting someone is a greater gift than a new TV, When someone or somethinng hurts you; you’d rather respond in a way that helps everyone, than to throw your hands up and hurt others, saying “oh well, they did it to me”. In your eyes, the world’s gear shift is jammed, duct taped, glued and welded in "R" (for reverse), Small talk is somewhere in the same ballpark as going to the dentist. Deep subjects, like how life feels when you get into a new romance or when a loved one dies; that’s as refreshing as going to a buffet after starving for 3 days. You feel sympathy/ empathy for just about everyone, even people who most others see as disposable, You react to bad personal experience in a constructive way, thinking about how sharing it would help others avoid it. . . . . Share this list . More 7's lists . . Thanks for reading :) I spend a lot of late nights and challenging moments working hard. All content is done by me... the writing, recording, editing, web design and setup, photography and publishing content. If you find value in it, please consider any of the following: ​ Supporting my work , Passing it on , subscribing for free updates . . . . Uplifting The Church Pt 5 - You Might Not Know (video) Uplifting The Church Pt 5 - Wake Up Call Uplifting The Church Pt 4 - Shining The Critical Light . . .

Articles in PDF Form for Supporters I Taught Myself to Find God ​ Get PDF Putting God First - Our Experience ​ Get PDF Putting God First - The Pain of Arm's Length ​ Get PDF

Infographic / Meme The Bible, Best Seller Click here to see/purchase original image Facebook Share Pintrest Share Share on other social media from my portfolio at SlyFocal.com Share to website via HTML, copy and paste code below: More Infographics and Memes in writer's photography portfolio (if link doesn't work, image is not available in portfolio.) Related Media: The Bible - What is it and how do I Read? (related article) - And people say there's no manual to life. Back to the Manual (related podcast) In God's time, it's only a day after the word was written. Policy hasn't changed. .