Rob Massie

What defines the message

At seventeen, I really only wanted to do one thing: communicate the good things I was discovering in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures to others. That year I sat in my home in Chino, California, reading my dad's Bible. I was alone, it was raining, and I prayed, "Lord, I want to be your friend."

Somewhere in my past I had heard that Abraham was a friend of God, so I went looking for him. I didn't know where to find the details of his life, but I figured his story had to be early, and I read the chapter headings until it began in Genesis 12. I read the story of his life with Sarah, the lives of his sons and grandchildren, culminating for me in the incredible story of his great-grandson Joseph. Joseph was sold by his ten older brothers into slavery, something we still do to our brothers and sisters today through social, political, and religious constraints. Joseph did not become bitter. He sought to be a blessing to everyone he served: Potiphar, the jailer, his fellow prisoners, Pharaoh, and finally his own brothers.

The story of Joseph's forgiveness and reconciliation with his brothers became for me a story of hope for the reconciliation of the most grievous betrayals: wars, racism, bigotry, adultery, cancel culture, political differences, and every other rejection of others. I find the forgiveness and enemy-love preached by Jesus to be the most compelling path forward for the reconciliation of all people. And I define "all people" as all people, from every nation, kindred, culture, tribe, and tongue.

I get my greatest sense of satisfaction when I am able to clearly convey my inspiration around God's plan for the gathering of all people into harmonious relationships. And I am most grieved with myself when I fail to live my vision for the inclusion and embrace of everyone.

Why words

I believe people are central to God's plan for the salvation of this planet, and that people are also the biggest challenge God faces in that plan. Salvation comes through the creative power of words to create new realities. That power was at work in Paul's letters from prison on the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile, and in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream." Words can divide, undermine, and disempower, or they can unify, create, and emancipate.

I want the content on this site to be part of the solution to this planet's woes, but I want to discuss those woes through the lens of positive action, not by cursing the darkness. I want to speak with grace and not with overconfidence. I have been given a mind and a voice to express myself, and I hope you find what you read and hear here both challenging and practical.

Listen, ask, learn, and share.

Background

Rob has worked in information technology for more than twenty-five years and holds an MBA from Pepperdine's Graziadio Business School (2017).