What does it mean to love the world the way God loves the world?

For years, many of us have been taught to keep this world at arm's length, as though loving it somehow distracts us from heaven. But Jesus said, "For God so loved the world." I believe it's time we take those words seriously.

In this episode, I reflect on the beauty of creation, the difference between loving the world and loving worldly systems, and why every sunrise, every grain of sand, every full moon, every breath, and every person is an invitation to live more deeply in love.

If I'm alive to love, then I'm here for this world. I'm here to care for it, to wonder at it, and to be fully present in it. Maybe that's one of the most faithful ways we can follow Jesus.

Take a deep breath with me, look up, and let's remember what a gift it is to be here.

What if the most important commandment isn't a list of rules, but a single word: love?

In this episode, I reflect on a powerful quote from Saint Augustine: "Love God and do whatever you please." At first glance, that might sound reckless, but Augustine's deeper point is that a life genuinely shaped by love naturally moves toward what is good, beautiful, and life-giving. Together, we'll explore why love isn't a sentimental idea but a practical way of living that can guide our choices, our relationships, and even our disagreements.

Along the way, I'll share wisdom from Jesus, Saint Augustine, Bernice King, Mother Teresa, and a few stories from my own life about moments when love showed up and changed everything. From grocery store lines to community meetings to personal struggles with depression, we'll consider what it means to make love our true north instead of outrage, fear, or judgment.

Ugly is getting done to death these days. Maybe the invitation before us is simpler than we think: be love, do love, and create a little more beauty in the world. So take a deep breath, settle in, and let's talk about the power of a life arranged around love.

Fear is what actually creates a loveless life. I don't believe anybody is born to hate. We're born to love. But when we live too long in the zone of fear and hurt, hate can become part of the curriculum. I've lived there, and on this episode I want to tell you about finding the exit signs.

As Father's Day approaches, I share some of my own story growing up in a dysfunctional family, navigating pain, discovering the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the people God used to show me a different way. From an old German immigrant who told me, "God loves you, and I love you," to hearing my own father finally say, "Randy, I love you," I found my way out of the zone of fear and hurt and into the zone of love.

I hope my voice becomes a voice in the wilderness for somebody. I hope you hear me saying that there is a way out. I challenge you to do something beautiful, to say "I love you" with intention, and to help others find the exit sign out of fear and hurt and into love.

Ugly has had its day. Let's do something beautiful.

“There's more hunger for love in this world than there is for bread.”

— Mother Teresa