For Freedom Christ set us free: stand firm therefore,
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. . . .
SonnyAnne and I are
sitting outside Starbucks in Old Town Square, Prague. We begin to hear it; bass
reverberating so loudly that things around us begin to rattle. We start following the
noise. Large vans pull into Old Town Square, about eight or ten of them. Each
one equipped with speakers, each one exploding its own sound. Techno, reggae,
rap, hip hop, something indistinguishable. Out of no where the square is flooded
with costumes. Hundreds of them. Painted faces, anti-religious, anti-political
symbols, nudity, 5ths of whiskey, cups of bear, liters of vodka, groups huddled
on the ground rolling joints, weed is in the air, chaotic dancing, drunkenness,
families with young children, a 5th of whiskey in one hand, your daughter’s
hand in the other. . . .
My spirit grows heavy and restless within me.
. . . “it’s a carnival.” . . . . “What is the point? the
message? the statement you are trying to make?” . . . . ‘it’s a carnival
for freedom.” . . . . “Freedom? what does freedom mean to
you?” . . . .
“you know freedom to express yourself without
fear.”
Really Prague, really? My heart breaks because this is what I see: I see masks. I
see painted faces. I see costumes. I see people pretending not expressing. Are you really
portraying you? Is that
truly you in the depths of who you are? I don’t believe it. More accurately,
these costumes are hiding you.
They are covering you up. Why? Fear? Uncertainty? Pain? Do you see yourself as a monster?; or a clown?; as evil to the core so you identify yourself with Satan himself?; Is that why you are
dressed like that? I do not see that in you. I believe more for you, even if you won’t believe it for yourself. I see hidden beauty and infinite worth.
Do you only possess courage to “express” who you are
when drunk or high? I don’t believe it. You are running from something, hiding something, numbing something. You don’t want to go there so you escape from you, not to you. You dull the senses and lose yourself. But, I see talent, creativity, artistic ability, ingeniousness. I believe that for you.
Will you only use your “freedom” for
self-indulgence? What about others? Do you know you have the ability to hold
the power that can change a person’s life? Will you use that for good or evil?
truth or deception?
For this is the will of
God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish
people. LIVE AS PEOPLE WHO ARE FREE, NOT USING YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVER-UP FOR
EVIL, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2: 15-17
This is what I see when I look at you Prague . .
. I see sons and daughters; lost and searching for that missing relationship
with their Father. You think He has left you abandoned. You feel He has been
silent. So silent that not only do you think He doesn’t have anything to say to
you, but you do not even believe He exists. But THE TRUTH is, You have been
kidnapped. Your mind, hostage. You have been held for ransom. But your Dad has paid the highest
price for you. He payed for your life with the life of His other Son. And He
has something to say to you. . . .
COME HOME. YOU HAVE BEEN
SET FREE. COME HOME.
COME HOME. I HAVE PAID
YOUR RANSOM. COME HOME.
COME HOME. STOP
PRETENDING. COME HOME.
COME HOME. YOU DO NOT
DISAPPOINT ME. COME HOME.
COME HOME. I CREATED YOU.
COME HOME.
COME HOME. I DELIGHT IN YOU. COME HOME.
COME HOME. I LOVE YOU.
COME HOME.
I AM WAITING FOR YOU TO
COME HOME.
join me in praying that
the Kingdom of Heaven
will come to Prague
