Everyone gets a new name (and why that matters)

How many times could you use some encouragement? When you’re about to try something new, or get out of your comfort zone. Or just to remind you you’re ok. Maybe even about your name..

I was getting coffee with some special service recently. I asked the name of the server taking such care with my order, who replied “Lucas.” I replied, “nice meaning” and he mentioned actually not knowing the meaning.

I looked it up to be sure, found “light-giver”

He said he never knew, beamed, and I was so happy to share it!

But how many of us need reminders that we are light-givers, warriors, wisdom-tellers in this world?

Hey Peeps, this is a Series in the making: Popverse. Taking some flash verses and sharing inspiration and a break down as swift and fresh as I can. Let’s give it a whirl! (don’t forget to check the updated site at thisisheartinformation.com)

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

(1 John 4:12)

Ive heard you have to see it to believe it. But some say the reverse–believe and then you can see it.

When it comes to God/Love/The Universe, how many of us have searched, wondered, asked “God,give me a sign you’re real..”

Lightning high fives

Dear Christians at the feet of Trump: Don’t Forget King Saul

I know many of you may be burning inside. Flags of God flying high in your hearts, prayers rising like incense for the unborn, or the lack of organized prayer in schools, or against the pledge of consenting adults to live a life of love and faithfulness together..

I see you.

WordPlay #3 : Liberty/Library/Libra | Freedom/Books/Justice

If you live across cultures you can stumble on language quirks– words your brain hears or sees differently than intended simply because you’re not a native speaker.

Last time I flagged Vote/Stem/Stemmen/Tuning –where “Stem” is Dutch for “vote,” and multiple votes is the equivalent of the English “tuning.” Our votes should thus “tune” the instruments in power. (but how many Listen?).

My Octopus Teacher: Unexpected Siren on Love vs. Law

Oh dear, I saw My Octopus Teacher on Netflix and had such a strong reaction I had to walk–I couldn’t finish.

Like when everyone started turning to ash in Avengers: Infinity Wars. By the time Peter Parker was blowing away, I was eyeballing the Exit at the bottom of the theatre.

My Octopus Teacher was worse. It was real life.

Ok, Rewind.

Wordplay #1: Funk/Fonk/Vonk/Spark

If you live across cultures you may stumble on language quirks: words your brain hears differently than intended, simply because you’re not a native speaker.

Yo soy = “I am” in Spanish

Two night back I saw some fab Torb the Roach vids (thx Siem!), full of mad Breaking, whimsy, and first class funk.

Porn, Kids & Other Mess: 5 Simple Ways to Help Protect Kids Today

Hey dear reader, if you popped here looking for porn, but maybe actually want to kick the habit, don’t give up! Pls check some resources on FTND here, or stories here.  I also wrote this some years back. ❤

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It’s been summer, Corona, lockdowns, parents stressed, and lots (Lots) of kids on screens.

Between Fortnite, Scratch, TheKidShouldSeeThis (which is brilliant but taps Youtube), TikTok it’s easy to lose track. But convenience sometimes comes with a price.

1 in 10 visitors to a porn site is under 10 years old. (2016).

How many more kids have smartphones and screen access at earlier age since 2016?

And it’s not just porn. These generations are confronted with so much.

Hope& Community: 7 Bright Spots from the Covid Lockdown

No one toasting New Year’s Eve could imagine that a global lockdown would become part of our human experience.

For all the troubles and straight up grief, the Covid lockdown has also sparked new ways to connect, deeper connections, and a greater appreciation for one another, including strangers.

WWVD? 9 Life Hacks from Voltron, Legendary Defender

The new Voltron (Netflix) blows my mind. I never saw the original (ahem, Thunder Cats), but 30 years later with my own kids, I’ve been longing for cartoons with solid stories and, uh, steady volume. We even blocked a few “kids” channels since so much was like junk food.

But Voltron-Legendary Defender has been a revelation. Rich story lines, deep and diverse characters, 23 glorious minutes of adventure and self-reflection.

One day my little had a meltdown about biking to school. We were running late so my eldest had to bike ahead. I hated separating and spontaneously called out, “What would Voltron do?!”

That got me thinking, so here’s my top 9 Voltron – Legendary Defender Life Hacks for a little fun and encouragement.

God Wouldn’t Fly First-Class: 3 Surprising Reasons the Streets are Gold in Heaven

Imagine a city so loaded with gold and gems they become standard building materials. Add other precious metals and stones to the mix and just marvel. It’d be palatial, decadent, … God-like?

Hmmm.

“Streets of gold” is a phrase probably rooted in a bible passage on heaven: “… The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass…” (Revelation 21:21)

But I don’t care if it’s true or not. The real question for me is: What good is all that Gold??

Social Justice or Sodomy? The Real Reason Sodom Burned

When did two people getting married become a bad thing?
When did consenting adults committing to a life of love and faithfulness together become something to mobilize against– by people professing a doctrine founded on unconditional love??!

There’s much judgement and hate directed towards those with a homosexual or bisexual lifestyle, and those identifying as transgender have recently been called out of Armed Service, cruelly (e.g. via twitter), and without genuine cause, despite each of these people writing blank checks to Uncle Sam payable up and unto their very lives.

You want to watch these remarks from Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to US soldiers deployed in Jordan.

HT. @DefenseBaron pic.twitter.com/gqyDhGNuar

— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) August 25, 2017

Secretary of Defense Matthis urging Soldiers across all Branches to “Hold the Line” as America gets it’s act together…

Dear Readers! The blog has moved & The Book is here!

Dear Readers! The blog has moved & The Book is here!

The First 3 Christmas Gifts: A Little Life Encouragement

It’s been a rough year. Some of us have lost so much. Lives, livelihoods.. but dammit, we can’t lose hope. Covid has turned our world upside down, but there have also been some bright spots, like really “seeing” people.

But as the year closes, gratitude and Gift-giving are on some minds. I thought a reflection on the first “Christmas” gifts might boost us all.  Who doesn’t like a gift?

I’ll start with this: the gifts given to Jesus are gifts for each of us.