ConVICteD

Good morning, family and friends.

Got a question for you before you start downing your cup of coffee and before your work day becomes the chaotic mess we all have come to love and expect.

What would it take to make you give up on your convictions?

Conviction, according to Dictionary.com, is defined as "A fixed or firm belief, the state of being convinced."

The English major can't help but notice that the word "convict" is neatly placed in the word conviction. Whether it be in the legal sense and in a court of law or public opinion or in personal application, it's all about being convinced. What would make you change your mind? What would make you move from your position?

I had a friend of mines that I knew for several years. We weren't best friends but we worked closely together and spent probably every break together. My friend had a couple pet peeves but was a HUGE advocate against smoking. Not many days went by when I didn't hear a rant about the subject. My friend thought it one of the most disgusting and loathsome habits a person could have. They would readily and routinely avoid anyone who dared have such a habit. My friend met someone and fell in love with them almost instantly. The person my friend met, dated, and fell in love with, was and is an avid smoker. They'll soon be married. Hmm. You see that, right?

I thought this particularly profound for those who hold any moral standard, religious or political belief, or that consider themselves "good" people in a "bad" world. In today's climate, it behooved me to step back and look at the drama and ALL the proponents of it. Even what part we play in it all. It takes a combination of actors, electricians, stage hands, producers, sound techs, directors, writers, and set designers to make a stage production.

In the political world, we are witnessing epic battles where people refuse to budge or let up from their convictions initially but decide based on the right impetus. Religious leaders are lashing out at each other and refusing to be inclusive of others based on a denominational standard. Businesses and corporations have a code of conduct but it's often circumvented depending on certain factors like managerial discretion and fear of turnover or bad morale. Different strokes for different folks the way I see it.

At any time, we could all be victim to our own desires and our circumstances but what will make you move out of position? Change is coming whether we like it or not. The question is will we change with it or will we remain "convicted" on the important issues.

Imagine (if it doesn't totally freak you out) being in the middle of a hurricane that you didn't expect. You are in the middle of a street and this torrent comes down upon you. What is your first instinct? Do you run for cover? Do you just lay down on the ground and wait it out? Or do you reach for something stable that will not move?

I want something stable to hold onto. I don't want to "go with the flow" in this case, because you will be blown away with the "flow". I want to be grounded. I don't want to be like this....

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything." (James 1:6-8 GWT)

Or this....

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Ephesians 4:14 KJV)

Think really long and hard about what will make you shift your position. Re-evaluate the position and your place within it. Ensure that is it something you want to do and not something others obligate you to do. Popular opinion may beckon you to join their club or group but at the end of the day, you must live with your decision. Determine beforehand if the stance you choose is worth the price you may be asked to pay because there is indeed a cost.

"For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36 NIV)

Thanks for reading Mirror Time. Have a great day!

TakE uP YouR CroSS aNd FoLLoW hIM

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Matthew 16:24-26 speaks to this better than I can ever hope to in all my eloquence and prose. My whole life was speckled with people who openly professed how much they loved Jesus Christ and how faithfully they served the Lord. They were not just in the churches I attended. They were administrators in my private school. They were teachers and cafeteria workers in my public school. They were the neighbor down the street that frowned upon my horseplay and our friends being loud in front of their brownstone. They were the cashier at my local supermarket. They were everywhere it seems. They said all the right things in front of company. Actually they still do. Their public persona is nearly spotless and not a wrinkle is detected by the untrained eye. But when the only one that is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient looks at his creation in that person, what does He see? Does he sees spots? Does he detect wrinkles? Does he sees something that the outside person cannot?

We're in the midst of a process in our ministry where discipleship is being emphasized in a big way. That should be the normal in today's church but it is sadly at a premium and not at all common nowadays. People don't really want to know what Jesus would do. They just want all the benefits that go with being associated with him but not make the necessary sacrifices. Romans 12:1-2 does an excellent job of speaking to this as Paul asks his brothers and friends, "I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

1. Be a living sacrifice. That terminology might be lost on some of us especially since the word "sacrifice" has been cast in a negative light in cinematic and literary circles. It is defined as "an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure."

That doesn't sound good and I understand that but in the terms and context the scriptural passage is detailing, it is meant "an official offering prescribed by God that is acceptable because it is offered on His terms."

That implies there are many kinds of sacrifices that are offered to God but not all of them are acceptable? Why? Because they are not given on His terms or they don't meet His specific standards. The sacrifice must be living and it must be holy, or without spot or blemish -- it must be our best and it must be for lack of a better word, sacrificial. Essentially, it needs to cost us something. If a man has a thousand dollars and he gives a homeless man a penny, it didn't truly cost him. If a man has a million dollars and he donates five, it didn't truly cost him. If a man gives away his only automobile to someone who has none, he has given something that costs him. If a woman pawns her most precious and valuable piece of jewelry in order to help a friend with a heavy medical cost, she has given something that costs her greatly.

We have to daily and willingly lay ourselves on the altar and allow the Lord to do His work, no matter how painful, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. The dead sacrifices don't get a choice. The live ones give glory to God because they have decided to choose God. That's how you worship God.


2. Take up your cross. This is not a pleasant visual for anyone that understood the Roman tradition of crucifixion in earlier Biblical times. The understanding was that if someone was taking their cross, they were taking it to their eventual death. It was, in effect, a one way trip. They would not return. What does it sound like Jesus is asking us to do? It could appear He is asking us to pick up our proverbial crosses and die with Him. Maybe some of you are hearing that we should follow His example in every facet of our lives. Perhaps a few of you are understanding this to mean that we should be executing that aspect of our selves that is carnal, fleshly, and in stark opposition to God. Maybe you have gathered that all three are appropriate determinations to come to.

I am going through one of the fiercest trials I have ever been through. That is a clear indicator for me that there is something even greater at the end of it but I still have to go through. I can't go around. I can't circumvent or slide under. I have to go through and I fully intend to. For me, in the light of all that God has done in my life and the mercy he has shown this crazy Brooklyn kid, standing and following His example is the least I can do. I hope today you will do the same.

Thanks for reading Mirror Time and for subscribing with us. We appreciate you.

LaboR iN vAIn

Sure, the New Year is the preferred time to evaluate your life. This blog isn't called "Mirror Time" because I enjoy gazing at myself in the mirror. It's because, in my humble view, those kind of evaluations are few and far between.

Like I said previously, last year and perhaps even this year, "we misjudged people. We put our own wants above those that we say we loved. We were selfish. We were vindictive. We pointed fingers. We joined figurative lynch mobs and condemned people on social media. We made decisions without regard for its impact on others. We showed contempt and disrespect for authority. We lied to others and we lied to ourselves. We have compromised our beliefs and our faith." 

The level of profanity and hypocrisy that comes out of our mouths or is typed into the comment section of an inflammatory or polarizing news piece is epic and I can only wonder what how much we are trolling people or do we really buy into the vitriol that we spew out.

But everyone is not focusing on being the next big troll. Many people are hard working, morally conscious, humane, and wise enough to know that finger pointing only delays the inevitable need for accountability and personal responsibility. I am sure you imagined what the world would look like if these two nuggets were trending. Hmm. 

So I speak today to those of you that want more out of this life than you are currently seeing. I don't mean a better car or a better house or anything like that. I am referring to wanting to fully exercise the fullness of the purpose inside of you. I am talking about living this life out loud and squeezing out every ounce of potential, purpose, and vision that is in you. When the time comes, you leave this world behind with no regrets, knowing that you gave all of you and did your best. Hmmph. Maybe nobody else thinks like that but you. Perhaps you are in a vast minority that think generationally and not just in the present moment. Could be that words like legacy and inheritance are not important to your circle of friends.

If that is you, I wanted to give you one thought to ponder. 

Ingenuity. Guts. Heart. Grind. Determination. Work. Genius. Innovation. Consistency. All words that symbolize the standard for the hard working person. They, however, are not guarantees for the kind of success that matters. 

In this life, there is a lesson that has prevailed. I'm not saying it is widely known or adhered to. I am just saying the lesson is still being taught daily. If you don't build a house with a strong foundation, adding it to only helps to hasten a momentous fall. It's not theory. It's going to happen. 

I bought a new home for my wife that was built hastily to say the least. There were many shortcuts taken but the house survived three storms during our time living there and structurally it proved itself to be sound. That limited some of the stress that we were dealing with but it was a great reminder. The winds and waves and storms came crashing down on the house but it stood. Because it had a strong foundation. I used practical examples to make an analogy here so even if you don't know about building a foundation naturally, hopefully, you'll get the point theoretically. 

What kind of foundation are you building? (home, career, work, church)

Did you pick a location that had good "soil conditions"? (If there are any foreign elements in your soil that conflict with what you are trying to develop)

Did you survey the land to make sure there was enough room for what you intended to build there? (Taking care to evaluate your whole life, your time, and counting the cost before you start any building process)

Did you have deep enough trenches before pouring the concrete? (If you have enough of a relationship with your Heavenly Father that will stand the test of time as you build your faith)

Did you allow the concrete adequate time to dry before you begin to add to or build upon it? (Were you open to waiting and trusting God or did you hurry forward in haste to achieve your own goal and not the best plan of action?)

Did you properly seal the walls so no moisture can get in? (Did you provide adequate protection so that dangerous elements can't penetrate your building and erode it?)

Were the "builders" that you allowed into your life qualified and professional and were careful with all the details? (The people that you trust to join you and help you achieve your goals)

You don't have to know how to build a house to understand that you probably don't want to work hard for years and have nothing to show for it. Who walks around with a bag full of money knowing that there are holes in the bag? No one ever. If there is no other takeaway in this, please remember that you can work hard for years and do all you think is best, but without the guidance of the "master builder", our work won't be of true value. I was in the same place until I decided to trust the Lord with the whole process. This blog site is full of articles that highlight just how that looked if you're interested in reading them. 

Work smart, not hard. Who better to trust with the framework of your life than the one who fashioned you and molded you in the first place? Just a little something to think about.

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalms 127:1 ESV)

HappY NeW yOU

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Thank you very much for your support of Mirror Time with Mista Yu and we really appreciate your subscribing with us. That means you don't mind opening up your emails and seeing a new blog piece from us. That speaks volumes and I wanted to say thank you. Please keep sharing us with your friends and family. THANK YOU for being a big reason why Mirror Time is growing and reaching into the lives and hearts of more people than ever before.

Only a few days into the brand new year, we had ourselves an unprecedented winter storm event. Unprecedented because it rarely ever happens in the Holy City but it certainly did and in a big way. More than 7 inches of snow, ice, hail, sleet, and more than 1,000 accidents on the roads and highways locally. In a place like Charleston, because this kind of event is...well, an event and not the normal for January, it rocks the city to its foundations and causes a ripple effect of change that shakes up everything. Where I'm from, you just put some rock salt down and you keep going, you keep working but here it's different. 

Most people revel in the fact that they don't have to go to work and still get paid for it. Many are just glad they don't have to go to school that day. Some would just like to catch up on sleep. This massive amount of snow brought the entire city to a grinding halt. We were not prepared for it and we didn't have the know-how to handle it. We are just in the midst of an epic event. For me, this event brought my life to a grinding halt too. Just in a different way.

These kind of "events" don't announce themselves. They don't come with much warning. They just happen. As much havoc and chaos as this storm has caused this city and the lives that were affected by this tragedy, this storm made me totally stop and reflect. I couldn't drive anywhere. I didn't make many phone calls. I didn't scour social media much. No distractions from work or business. Just me and my thoughts. For some throughout the U.S., this is normal and happens every winter like clockwork but for some, this was life-changing.

Going into the new year is often met with resolutions and big, bold proclamations. How many people really took the time to evaluate where they are in this life and where they really want to be? These "events" happen in life periodically but most times they are misread. We don't look at what we should be looking at. We just look at the external factors that seem to speak louder. But, in that, we tend to miss the little things. We need to look in the mirror!

How do you want to start this year? The way you start it is likely to be a factor in how it ends. Last year, we probably made huge mistakes. We misjudged people. We put our own wants above those that we say we loved. We were selfish. We were vindictive. We pointed fingers. We joined figurative lynch mobs and condemned people on social media. We made decisions without regard for its impact on others. We showed contempt and disrespect for authority. We lied to others and we lied to ourselves. We have compromised our beliefs and our faith. But here we are. Going into a brand new year. Hoping for a restart in 2018. Or just hoping to forget 2017.


Allow me to encourage you. Going into the new year ignoring what is the "elephant in the room" of your life is only going to make this year an extension of the one you want to leave behind so desperately. Face that mammoth beast. Look into the eyes of that elephant. Resist the temptation to make the same mistakes and react the same way. Take that step towards better. These life "events" have a peculiar ability of exposing what's wrong or deficient in our lives. These events have a way of revealing us. Now the question is do we want to see what is revealed.

You never know when you'll face another "event" in life. Take advantage of the opportunity to reflect.   Who knows? It could change everything. Eventually, the snow or ice will melt and the seasons will change but the consequences of our decisions are much harder to get rid of. Choose well. Live better. Have a prosperous and blessed New Year.

ResT iN pEAce, MiCHaEL

This young man was what I would call an "old soul". 

It was extremely astounding to watch someone who could have easily been another statistic in a neighborhood that is known to swallow hopes and dreams whole come out alive but he did.

There was nothing fair about his life but I don't recall him complaining all the years that I have known him.

He said hello to people in a city that was notorious for being grumpy, closed off, and not at all friendly. He kept smiling and kept offering the biggest hugs to anyone who wanted one. He was trusting when there was no outward reason to be. He was eager to please and very motivated to receive affection and approval from others. The best description I can use for Michael is that he was "everybody's best friend". It wasn't until now that I asked myself why.

It was the one thing I never truly understood about him. I grew up with him in some of the roughest parts of the old neighborhood. Wherever I was, he was. We were as close as two people could be and that afforded me the opportunity to see some things I never noticed before. In some significant way hidden from the view of the onlooker, he was broken. I didn't know how or where it happened at the time but he was. He was literally taking his broken pieces with him everywhere he went. He covered contempt, anger, rage, low self esteem, and doubt with a smile and a hug. I don't want to speak for him but I think he tried to love all the ugliness in the world away with a hug. I think he hoped that would make him feel better in the process. 

Then the news came that his father died suddenly alone in his home. His daughter found him. It was a pity that Michael didn't know him well no matter how hard he tried. But Michael loved him and chased after him with a reckless abandon. Guess they call that in poetic circles "unrequited love". But that's when I saw it. The sole reason why Michael did everything he did and acted the way that he did that defied logic and reasoning. There it was, all laid out on a silver platter for all the world to see. There was a huge hole in his heart and he was trying feverishly and desperately to fill it. When his father died, not even three days later, Michael expired too. There was nothing to rally for or against. He ceased to exist because his whole life up to that point was merely a game of chasing shadows. He died chasing someone who either didn't love him or, at least, was unable to express that love in any tangible way. That was the legacy of his life. A sad and incomplete ending to what could have been an incredible comeback story.

But Michael is gone. Perhaps he never found the right "world" for what he had inside him. The world he lived in just didn't understand his way and his level of affection. It was too much, deemed unnecessary, or met with skepticism in the world he lived in. I am going to miss a lot of things about him but I am glad he's at peace. If I can be honest, the only reason he was here at all was to shine a light on a larger problem myself and others might not have seen: what it looks like when a father's love is missing from a son's life.

A lot of people, that didn't appreciate your hugs, your encouraging words, your poems, your songs, that big laugh, how freely you gave to others, and that big infectious smile then, will probably miss it now. You were living in an era totally unprepared for your special gift. Rest in peace, Michael. The world is full of sons just like you. Unfortunately.

ExTRa, EXtrA, ReAD aLL abOUt It

Well, the online world has done it again..........scratch that.....the online world is capitalizing on and growing due to what is already inside of us. Yeah, maybe the problem isn't everyone else after all. I don't know about you but it becomes increasingly difficult to read friends' posts and hear what seeps out of their hearts on the daily. I, for one, have been forced to re-evaluate my life choices.

If we are consistently passing blame onto others, we leave little time for self evaluation. We are distracted by the perceived attacks against us that we don't realize we could use some good old-fashioned crop failure in some areas of our own "gardens".

"When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce......" ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

The online world is reactive, judgmental, and headline oriented. Very few dig deep for the real story. We like what appears to be sensational and over-reaching and even explosive. That tantalizes us, draws us in, and makes us crave even more. It's an insatiable hunger that cannot be satisfied. And in all the melee, we don't even realize that we have become what we have claimed to detest. We are the judges. We are the antagonists. We are the hypocrites. We are just like the "them" we vowed never to become. Luke 18:9-14 gives us a great example of what that looks like and what the only real Judge thinks about it.

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Two men, both blessed enough to carry the breath of God in their bodies. Both in different stations in life and one with quite more advantage and opportunity than the other. The difference that matters to the Lord is the one that is not always seen with the naked eye. God is after the hearts of men, unconcerned with the attempts to self-elevate and make grand gestures to garner favor. Despite popular belief, we are not on the same page as the God we claim to follow if we forget this memorable passage.

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (I Samuel 16:7)

We claim to have, or people that we like, have "good hearts". There's a passage that dispels that thinking too.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Just when you think we got it all figured out, we realize we don't know as much as we thought.

This piece is not written with the intent to get you to spend less time on the web and less time on your Facebook and Twitter pages. You can take all the selfies you like on Instagram. And you can give yourself reindeer eyes to your heart's content on Snapchat. The overriding point is that while we are entering into this world that seemingly has little rules and a low standard of decorum, perhaps we can consider holding fast to the profession we so often say we have.

I can tell you that we are wasting time and we could at some moment, find ourselves unprepared and on the other side of eternity. I could say that you could have years of training and education and degrees in divinity and the one moment you decide you will not help someone you deem undeserving could be the deal breaker. I could say that before we press "Send", maybe we should take twelve hours, or 24 hours or whatever it takes to be sure that these words we release into the "always" is what we want attached to us for our kids and grand-kids to see.


I'll leave this to your consideration. To those that try to espouse positive messages and promote things that edify and encourage, I say "Thank you." You are probably feeling lonely and unappreciated and you might be wondering why you should keep doing what you are doing. Someday, somewhere, in some part of the world we live in, someone will look past the scathing headline and actually read the content. Someone will scroll past the clickbait and thirst traps and look for something that feeds the need they have and presents itself as a salve for the wounded hearts. Someone might even respond with a "Thank you" themselves. Some may not have the heart to respond in any form. Keep the momentum and don't quit. The world is inundated with so called "news".

I fully intend to take my own advice. So you are not at all alone. Godspeed!

ThrOUGh ThEse sTOrmS

A common phrase that, like so many others of its kind, loses it value and relevance because it is so irresponsibly tossed around and often misunderstood.

You know what a storm is and you have been in many natural storms, especially if you live anywhere in the USA. You know the rain, wind, hail, lightning, thunder, and snow are all elements of what you have experienced. The kind of storms I am talking about are similar except that they can't be avoided with an umbrella or finding your way under some kind of shelter. These kinds have to be endured until they pass over.

Through these storms...........you are going to get wet.

Through these storms...........your vision may be impaired.

Through these storms...........you may need more time to get to your destination safely than what you planned.

Through these storms...........the "clothes" you enjoy wearing may get damaged and you'll need new ones.

Through these storms..........you may become better evaluators of true value when you find it. What was lost might not be as valuable as you originally thought.

Through these storms...........the foundation of every relationship you're in will be revealed.

Through these storms...........it will be really difficult to see the Sun (Son) and blue skies.

Through these storms...........you will discover greater opportunities for "alone" time.

Through these storms...........you may lose your balance and fall down but you can't stay there.

Through these storms...........the temptation to make a permanent decision based on a temporary situation is greater.

Through these storms...........you will hear many voices but you're not insane, just at a critical life-stage.

Through these storms...........the sounds of the storm might be louder than the storm's actual impact.

Through these storms...........you will find out just how strong you are and still you won't be able to take full credit. All the glory belongs to God.

ChaSIng ThE wINd

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NLT) says "But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless--like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere."

This is a very common phrase usage in the Bible. Wonder why? Maybe because if we're not chasing God, we are "chasing the wind". A circular path that has no definite destination, a string of meaningless tasks, a point that adds no virtue or value.

Have you ever tried to catch the wind in your hands?

It is literally the most time consuming, fruitless, ineffective, wasting of energy and effort there is on the planet. You can gain nothing from this futile exercise. Why? Because one, it is not possible to achieve this feat. And two, there is nothing to be gained that holds value or merit even if you could accomplish this task. In the magical whimsy in the mind of a child, they may think this is worth the effort and they may even find it challenging to try to do it, even though all the adults in their life watch them, knowing it will not happen. They probably view the wind as a convenient but unseen babysitter that gives them a spell from their arduous every day. But honestly, most recognize that this is just not time well spent. Still so many adults that I know personally waste their efforts, traipsing down the same unproductive path they have in the past, and still expect a varied result. Basically, they make the same mistakes, thinking the outcome will change each time.

King Solomon spoke often about the fruitlessness of life and wasted energy. What do you value in this life and/or the next life? What do you see as precious? What do you see as worthless? People throw hundreds of dollars into the stock market daily because they believe that a company has the propensity to produce profitability and their product is worth purchasing and using so they invest. They want to capitalize on the boom that's taking place. Where do you place your valuable insights? What value do you place on your time? What energy do you put into relationships? What conversations, in person and online, do you invest time in listening to? How do you spend your free time? I think King Solomon is onto something. He encourages us to fear God, which is the starting path to attaining wisdom. If you can live in peace with the little that you have, (which I guess could be considered a minimalist lifestyle) then it is perceived to be better than chasing after things that are not worthy of attaining and missing out on what is important and valuable.

"Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NIV)

I watch friends, family, and church mates buck against the authority they are under, clamoring and chasing after things that tantalize their flesh. All the while, they are being drawn away from what matters the most. Not much different than the thinking in that eighteenth verse of the opening passage.

"...For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

The stuff that we waste our time going after is not worthy of achieving if it doesn't better us spiritually. We can have all the frills of the "good life" and all the popularity and all the accolades, but if we retain a soul that is still out of alignment with the "manufacturer's" purpose and plans, then we as the "product", are ineffective, of little use, and carrying diminishing value. Our value comes from not only our proximity to Him who has forged us into existence but also in the functionality of the purpose we are called into. A life without purpose is a life wasted.

We all want lasting happiness and we all want value but either we don't know where to find it or we don't know what true value looks like when we see it. Bigger paycheck. Multiple intimate relationships. Fuller bank accounts. An abundance of hobbies. A larger family. A bigger house. The list goes on.

What are you chasing? What are the priorities in your life? How much time do you invest in those priorities? Are you able to detect a tangible result for all of your works and energies? Or are you running into a wall at every turn?

If nothing else, I just want to encourage all of you that despite all the bad theology out there and the horrible role teachers in our social and spiritual circles giving us the wrong advice, we have hope. Wisdom seems hidden at times but it is easily locate-able. When I was at my wit's end, and the only options I could see were dark and pretty permanent. I called out to God (despite limited knowledge and no relationship with Him to speak of) and he gave me answers that led me to a peace I hadn't experienced in ever.

You are not as far away from those answers as you think you are. Please don't give up hope and please don't think you have no other way out. It is a lie and not the truth. Just like the initial passage in 2 Corinthians teaches us, we are not to focus on things around us, meaning current circumstances, people issues, etc. They won't always last and they will eventually fade. They are, in effect, temporary. What is permanent and forever? What makes your life worthwhile? What adds to yours and the lives of others? What challenges you to step out beyond your limitations and previous foul ups? What enriches you and takes you beyond what you think or imagine? What brings you true joy?

You can answer in your own way but my answer is God. Instead of chasing what He has made, I simply chose to chase the Source instead. Maybe someday you can see that as worth your time and energy. Please let us know if this blog has inspired and touched you personally. Thank you for reading.

"Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them." ~ Russell H. Conwell

To LoVe iS DiVInE ❤️

If I may, I'd like to tell you a story. A story about love.

(Note from the editor: This is not designed to mimic any previously told stories or to convince our readers that this is fiction or non-fiction. We'll let you decide how you feel about the story and you can share those thoughts in our comments section. Hopefully, this will do what most of our posts have been doing and that is even if you laugh, even if you cry,  or even if you get angry, it will always make you think.) 

One cool but sunny Sunday morning in the heart of the city, a handful of members began to file in through one of the side doors of the church to get ready for the day's service. It was clear that no one notices a man in a dark overcoat and a tattered hat huddled at the front door of the church. He sat there for more than an hour before any one noticed he was there on the porch, leaning against the wall of the building. Some of the members, arriving with their families, looked over at him and even pointed but no one approached.

Very close to the start of the service, the front door of the church was opened from the inside and members and visitors alike began to enter the front door of the church, some looking down at the mystery man huddled near the door and some not acknowledging him at all.

One of the leaders came out of the door and asked the man what he was doing. The man didn't respond initially. The leader asked him to please move away from the door so that the visitors can come inside.

One visitor and her young daughter walked through the front door of the church and the little girl stopped and looked into the eyes of the disheveled man and then they walked inside.

Another leader came outside to greet the members and guests and he stood a few feet away from the man and asked him what his name was. The man didn't respond. The leader shook his head and continued to stand at the door to greet people who entered the church. Another greeter came out to him and they both stood at the door greeting but none further acknowledging the man.

The Pastor stepped outside and saw the man huddled at the door. He crouched down and asked the man if he needed anything or we could help him. The man didn't respond. The Pastor told the man that he could come inside if he wants to and that we would be honored to have him. He then went back inside and left the man outside. The leaders that were standing outside greeting looked over at the man and continue to greet the guests and members.

After about fifteen minutes, all of the greeters went inside and the man remained outside, sitting on the ground next to the front door.

Inside the church, praise and worship had just concluded and the Pastor stood up with His Bible in his  hand as he approached the front of the room. He asked everyone within earshot one question.

"Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord", he asked.

Almost everyone in the congregation nodded in agreement or responded verbally with an "Amen".

He shook his head and scanned the room and asked another question.

"Do you believe that the Word of God and every account in it is true?" he asked everyone with a slightly louder voice.

The response from the congregation was identical to the first.

He put his Bible down onto the podium next to him and asked yet another question.

"How many of you saw the man sitting at the front door this morning?"

The congregation began to rustle in their seats with some nodding as if to say yes. But there was not any verbal responses to this question. Many dropped their heads or looked away from the glare of the Pastor. There was a long and uncomfortable silence before the Pastor said anything further.

The Pastor opened his bible and began to read from Hebrews 13:2. He said, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have show hospitality to angels without knowing it."

He then closed the book and one of the young children darted out of the service and into the hall. He quickly opened the front door and looked around for the man but could not find him. The young man ran back into the church and looked at the Pastor.

"The man is gone!", he yelled across the room. "I can't find him."

The young man appeared confused and very concerned. The people in the pews began to grow unsettled as the grumbling and mutterings can be heard throughout the room.

The Pastor shook his head and looked around the room watching the confusion began to build. He wiped one of his eyes and became emotional as he held his head down.


"I think we all need to re-evaluate some things. I'd like to know what you guys are thinking right now.", he says as he waits for responses.

"I thought he was homeless. I can't give him a place to stay so I....."

"I've seen this before. I just figured he didn't want anything. He didn't say a word."

"The church is not very big right now. I wonder why he showed up here."

"I used to be homeless and it brought back really bad memories for me."

"If they were still there after service was over, I was thinking about giving them some money."

"I didn't know what he wanted. He kind of scared me."

"With all the church shootings lately, I didn't know what to think."

One young woman stood up and was fighting back tears as the Pastor and then the entire congregation turned to her as she spoke.

"I don't know what to say.", she muttered as she began to weep again. "I saw the man or the angel or whomever he was. I'm new here but I have heard the Word for years but I just didn't know what I should do. I just figured one of the leaders would talk to him or try to help him. It was so strange but...I felt like I knew him from somewhere. He was sooooo familiar."

The room grew strangely quiet. The young lady sat down and dropped her head as did any in the room that heard her words. The Pastor looked up and walked up the aisle and walked through the front door as the entire congregation turned around with the eyes fastened on the front door of the church. He walked back into the sanctuary with the man right behind him. He walked up to the front of the room as did the man that was huddled outside the front door of the church all morning.

"He should be familiar to all of us, not just because we're Christians but because we should especially  know those that labor here with us.", the Pastor said as he looked at the young lady who spoke as well other members of the church.

The man opened his coat and took off his hat as the entire congregation gasped and the young lady stood up onto her feet, with her hand over her mouth, gasping. She began to weep even more as did several members of the congregation.

The Pastor asked one more question.

"Do we know love when we see Him?"

eDiToRs NoTe fROm tHE MTWM dESk

Good morning, friends, family, and fans of Mirror Time!

It's been our great pleasure to hear from so many of you that are enjoying our work and those of you that are seeing the value of what we are putting out in a world with so much other "stuff" all over the social media pages, forums, and throughout the blogosphere. 

It's our desire to continue to uplift, encourage, inspire, and shine a little light wherever possible. 

Let's be honest for a moment. This is not the most popular blog you can find. I would like to believe that's because don't know about us yet or perhaps we don't offer to delve into the world many blog enthusiasts want to live in. We don't talk about technology and gaming. We don't offer insights into the minds of Hollywood's elite. We don't teach you "How To" tips on how to make your old house look new. All we do is, in our own unique way, to try to offer something hopeful and inspiring in a time where it is needed the most. That may not amount to much to the masses but I know enough people that say they need this and it matters to them so as long as there is a demand for it, Dang! will continue to live on another day....

We reached a small milestone where we have published 80 blogs to date and that is a great accomplishment for us due to the time we started and how many blogs we could get out to our readers monthly. I fully expect that number to rise even higher and we're excited about our 100th blog. Maybe we will do something really special that day for one of our faithful readers. Apologies for the formatting issues that we had with the page for several weeks. They have been fully resolved and we're back to the professional look that we come to expect from TTMYGD! Thank you for your patience!

This is not the first blog I have been associated with or have built but this is definitely the best and most honest. The reaction to the pieces are not always without controversy as we don't shy away from tough topics. But even though our readers have both laughed and cried, I think they will agree that more than anything they have thought about and saw things a little different than before they joined our readership. That is the greatest prize of them all and the goal of Mirror Time! Be outraged. Be somber. Be aware. Be demonstrative. Be active. But by all means, be thoughtful. The moment we start reacting to the headlines and neglect to read the content, we slowly lose our ability to be introspective, to educate ourselves, and to make competent decisions. We will simply react to "external stimuli" and lose a very valuable and necessary part of ourselves. This blog was born as a response to that and an alternative for those that get why this is critical for all of us.

As much as we can clearly see the growth of this blog that is near and dear to our hearts, we see much room for growth. As much as it is shared on social media and in the email inboxes of our friends, we know we can't do this without you, the reader. That's a perfect time to say a sincere "Thank You" to all of you that have been reading Dang! from day one and have subscribed with us. I can't say enough about your support and even some of your hilarious and thoughtful comments. You are even making us think too and that's something we appreciate. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!!!

One of the coolest things about our blog is that there is no limit to what we might post about. From our mobile office, we could write and post our blogs from anywhere we are in the world. Some of the most beautiful landscapes and the most interesting of conversations with strangers could become the backdrop for our next piece. That's exciting! You never know where we might end up next and who we might meet.

We look forward to giving you more insightful posts about everything from the world of sports, to issues on personal and spiritual growth, politics, and even some of the fun quizzes that have left most of our readers stumped and surprised. Keep your suggestions and those comments coming! We love to see them and we love to hear from you. I don't know how long this blog will live but we're committed to doing all we can while we can.

If you haven't been reading from the beginning, go back to the beginning and grow us with us on this incredible journey. Thank you again,

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Yu

'You might laugh. You might cry. You might get mad. But my ultimate goal is to make you think!'

MilK aNd MeaT

Good morning. If you can see this, you are a beneficiary of a mercy and a faithfulness we didn't do anything to deserve and by all accounts, we can not earn with our own goodness. It was simply granted to us out of a love many of us still struggle to understand. This was and is definitely my struggle.

Not having a father makes the concept of receiving the love of God, our Father is a challenge I grow through daily. I have three beautiful daughters and six incredible grandchildren that I love so deeply. Still I struggle to fathom the "why". Why would He make such a significant sacrifice for someone with the numerous flaws, scars, and a propensity to do so much wrong? Why would he attempt to stand tall during His scourging which only caused the Roman soldiers to react with an even greater level of brutality? Why would he remain on the cross until He presumably choked on His own blood, slowly asphyxiated and died for a people who didn't seem to see the big picture of such a sacrifice? Why would He give His life when He could have called down a legion of angels to undo what was being done? Why, Lord? These and many others are questions that don't even matter to the common mind.

Generally speaking, we are living as we see fit. We say what's "on our heart" and we don't care where it lands. We mistreat others out of a direct dysfunction that we carry around as an outer garment. Everything around our world seems to be disintegrating at a rapid pace. Fingers are being pointed but very few look within to locate the cause for why we can't make ourselves care beyond offering a blanket prayer, or why we can't feel anything more than a passing pity for our fellow man, or why we just can't get out of the endless negative cycles we find ourselves bound to. We appear to be missing the purpose for the greatest sacrifice ever made for us.

Maybe you don't see this as a real issue.........Maybe from your view everything looks great and promising. There is no reason for critical thinking and over-analysis--just let it ride, live, and enjoy the fruits and pleasures. Maybe this specific blog post isn't your cup of tea.

What floods my mind is gratefulness for a grace that covered me when I could have been in a place I could not come back from. I am painfully aware of the kind of person I used to be. I am cognizant of my mistakes and errors in judgment that once plagued my current walk with Christ. The wise see their second chance as an opportunity to turn a corner and make a critical adjustment. Some see it as a fallback option that provides wiggle room to intentionally make some more questionable decisions. There is a passage in Hebrews 6 that I think hits the mark here.

"Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God..." (Hebrews 6:1 AMP)

The danger Paul is speaking about are those who consider themselves "believers" are not advancing. They are not getting further beyond the elementary principles of their faith. They walk in one direction for years and are still unable to discover their place. (Or in some cases, they search for purpose that can only be defined with a specific ministry title. That's a separate situation altogether.) John Calvin even added this thought: "As in building a house one must never leave the foundation; yet to be always laboring in laying the foundation would be ridiculous."

It's expected that once the initial, introductory functions are received and understood and put into action, there needs to be a "moving forward" so that progress can begin. Progress can't be gained in a believer's life if they are too content in the stage of "milk-drinking". What a sad visual to see a believer retreat back into a cage that has an open door! They are free because Christ has made them free but they live as if they were still bound.

Paul emphasizes the point more than once in scripture so it must be a consistent problem.

"There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong." (Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT)

You are spiritually dull? You don't seem to listen? You should be teaching others because you have believed so long? Instead, you need to learn the basics over and over again? If this is an accurate description of where we are, then we can't be relied upon to do the right thing until we start doing the first thing. We simply need to grow up. If a 13 year old child was being breast fed in a public restaurant, we would find that out of the ordinary. If a 15 year old child was still be carried by its mother or placed in a stroller, we would gawk at them, wondering what the problem was. How can we look at our lack of growth in the basics of our faith and not be at all concerned?


Remember the short story about the elephant?

"As my friend was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.

"Well, " he said, "When they are very young and much smaller we use the same size of rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free." My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were."

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36 KJV)

What made what Peter did in Matthew 14 so incredible was that he broke rank from the norm and took a significant and literal step. He exercised his faith. It could very well be just that simple for the believer that returns nightly to a cage that Christ Jesus has already opened up to free them. We can listen to all the preaching our ears can take. We can cry out to God with tears and shouts. We can surround ourselves with all the positive influence and mentors we desire. Ultimately, we still have to get up and away from the "common view" and take a step in our faith. An old mentor always taught me that to have something you never had, you often must do something you've never done." If you never had deliverance and healing in a specific area, you need to put yourself in a position you've never been in.....a position of true sacrifice and humility. It's time to move!

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)