As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
The day has finally arrived, today myself and several good friends strike out on our annual Great Adventure. Traveling north into Ontario, Canada this year, we’ll be canoeing, fishing, camping, eating, praying and generally enjoying the counsel of fellow Christian Men.
I’m sometimes asked why make this journey to such a far off wilderness; wouldn’t a trip to a State Park be adequate for some “male bonding” time? The answer might be a little different for each man who goes, but all the answers will share some of the same themes. One is that men need Great Adventures to challenge us physically and emotionally in ways we aren’t challenged in our normal daily lives. It makes us feel “real” as compared to our often times very pampered and indulged existence. We also feel the challenge to go to a place where not many go, to feel that pioneering spirit which resides deep within us. We want to see and feel as John Eldredge put it in his book “Wild at Heart”, “Most of the earth is not safe; but it’s good.” And finally to be in the company of men who want to be real with themselves, with each other, and with God.
Being in the company of other Christian men is an extremely under rated concept today. General fellowship with other believers is needed and proper, but I believe men really need the fellowship of other men to grow in their faith and their manhood. I encourage each man reading this to get away to a Men’s Retreat, Adventure Outing or other men’s event. You’ll be blessed by the experience.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Shortcuts
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention. Matthew 7:13 (The Message)
Whether it’s finding a way around that traffic delay or sheer boredom with the daily commute, I sometimes fall for “the shortcut” lure. Even equipped with the best maps, trusty Garman, and my automobile compass, it usually turns out poorly. I find out the alternate route is just as bad as the original route or has delays which would have made staying on the normal course more efficient.
There have been a number of books out lately which have, at least it seems to me, trying to sell me a surefire way to a successful life. Successful, in the book, is usually measured by material possessions, health, and happiness. They tell me if I’ll just belief hard enough and if I think the right way that I will be successful in this life and have everything that I want. While I certainly think that there are right and wrong ways to live and good and bad attitudes toward living it, it just seems to me that this is trying to take a shortcut to God’s will. GOD holds the high center, he sees and sets the world's mess right. He decides what is right for us earthlings, gives people their just deserts. Psalm 9:7 (The Message)
Is there a shortcut to Gods heart? I think so; it is reading, and inasmuch as possible understanding and living by his Word. Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health. Proverbs 4:20 (The Message) Sticking with the tried and proven route will always get me there. Worked well for Moses and Paul, I’m sure it’ll work for me too.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Whether it’s finding a way around that traffic delay or sheer boredom with the daily commute, I sometimes fall for “the shortcut” lure. Even equipped with the best maps, trusty Garman, and my automobile compass, it usually turns out poorly. I find out the alternate route is just as bad as the original route or has delays which would have made staying on the normal course more efficient.
There have been a number of books out lately which have, at least it seems to me, trying to sell me a surefire way to a successful life. Successful, in the book, is usually measured by material possessions, health, and happiness. They tell me if I’ll just belief hard enough and if I think the right way that I will be successful in this life and have everything that I want. While I certainly think that there are right and wrong ways to live and good and bad attitudes toward living it, it just seems to me that this is trying to take a shortcut to God’s will. GOD holds the high center, he sees and sets the world's mess right. He decides what is right for us earthlings, gives people their just deserts. Psalm 9:7 (The Message)
Is there a shortcut to Gods heart? I think so; it is reading, and inasmuch as possible understanding and living by his Word. Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health. Proverbs 4:20 (The Message) Sticking with the tried and proven route will always get me there. Worked well for Moses and Paul, I’m sure it’ll work for me too.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Fearless
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Let me start out by saying as my public confession that I’m a big fat chicken. I have my moments of absolute fearlessness which are usually reactionary to emergency situations. You know the things you do then afterwards ask yourself, “what was I thinking?” The Bible uses fear often as terms meaning honor and reverence of God, Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:13. But there are several instances where God definitely means, people, you’d better be afraid, especially of those who worship him. People in places like Jericho found this out in very real ways.
Aside from some physiological issues with my body which give me a rational fear of fast moving directionally erratic objects which cause my inner ear to freak me out, I must admit that my fear of most things is a direct or indirect fear of dying But the question is who or what I should fear. David poetically and emphatically put it this way, The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1. Then Jesus responded, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:5. Then Paul summarized and drove the point home, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14,15
To modify Winston Churchill’s famous quote: We’ve nothing to fear but the devil himself. Looks like I’m out of excuses for not doing that cliff jump this week.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Let me start out by saying as my public confession that I’m a big fat chicken. I have my moments of absolute fearlessness which are usually reactionary to emergency situations. You know the things you do then afterwards ask yourself, “what was I thinking?” The Bible uses fear often as terms meaning honor and reverence of God, Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:13. But there are several instances where God definitely means, people, you’d better be afraid, especially of those who worship him. People in places like Jericho found this out in very real ways.
Aside from some physiological issues with my body which give me a rational fear of fast moving directionally erratic objects which cause my inner ear to freak me out, I must admit that my fear of most things is a direct or indirect fear of dying But the question is who or what I should fear. David poetically and emphatically put it this way, The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1. Then Jesus responded, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:5. Then Paul summarized and drove the point home, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14,15
To modify Winston Churchill’s famous quote: We’ve nothing to fear but the devil himself. Looks like I’m out of excuses for not doing that cliff jump this week.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Three things to remember
“But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." Luke 6:49
There’s an old joke that there are only three things that a man needs to know; who you are, where you’ve been, and what time it is. The punch line was that when guys arrive home in the wee hours of the morning after spending a late night reveling with friends, that there were three questions their wives will ask; who do you think you are coming in this late?, where have you been all night?, and do you have any idea what time it is? Unfortunately, there are some guys around who never got the point that those questions in that situation would be rhetorical and there would be no acceptable answers.
I’ve always remembered those three questions though. I’ve found that is good for me to continually ask of myself, “who am I?” Especially in regard to who it is God calls me to be. The Bible provides answers, from Genesis to Revelation. Now the question “where have I been” is only relevant as it relates to the general direction I now head from the origin of my journey with Christ, and begs the question, is my path HIS path? And finally, perhaps the most important question, what time is it? Not that it’s 5:00 PM on July 15th, but that I’m potentially a millisecond away from my eternity. I keep reminding myself that I don’t have until next Wednesday to make decisions that will impact my eternity, those must be made now. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:32
The questions are still relevant, and the answers are more important than ever, but in some ways just elusive as ever. At least I know where to look. And as long as I remember that it’s not so much about the journey as it is the destination, the answers just keep coming.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
There’s an old joke that there are only three things that a man needs to know; who you are, where you’ve been, and what time it is. The punch line was that when guys arrive home in the wee hours of the morning after spending a late night reveling with friends, that there were three questions their wives will ask; who do you think you are coming in this late?, where have you been all night?, and do you have any idea what time it is? Unfortunately, there are some guys around who never got the point that those questions in that situation would be rhetorical and there would be no acceptable answers.
I’ve always remembered those three questions though. I’ve found that is good for me to continually ask of myself, “who am I?” Especially in regard to who it is God calls me to be. The Bible provides answers, from Genesis to Revelation. Now the question “where have I been” is only relevant as it relates to the general direction I now head from the origin of my journey with Christ, and begs the question, is my path HIS path? And finally, perhaps the most important question, what time is it? Not that it’s 5:00 PM on July 15th, but that I’m potentially a millisecond away from my eternity. I keep reminding myself that I don’t have until next Wednesday to make decisions that will impact my eternity, those must be made now. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:32
The questions are still relevant, and the answers are more important than ever, but in some ways just elusive as ever. At least I know where to look. And as long as I remember that it’s not so much about the journey as it is the destination, the answers just keep coming.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
From the ashes
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5
Just a few days ago, on July 4th an accidental fire, which originated on the outside of the building, caused extensive fire damage to the two year old Muncie Mission, the inspiration and dream of founder Rev. Ray Raines. It renewed painful memories for me, as all fire losses do, of the house fire my family survived in 1985. The feeling is hard to describe but it’s like when you’re doing and job and your hand makes unexpected contact with a sharp object or a tool and through the pain all you can think about is getting that glove off and making sure all the digits are there. And finding all members present the pain is so much more tolerable. The most important thing we learned as a family from that experience was fully realizing that the most important things in our lives are our health, our family and our faith.
I’ve been in spiritual winter the past week. A chronic sinus infection that I’ve been battling all summer turned severe and its symptoms caused me to lose focus, concentration, motivation and inspiration. I equated it to having a three beer buzz with a constant headache. It is times like that I find myself clinging to my faith feeling the full impact of Paul’s words, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I’m now going through what my EENT Specialist called “blasting” (high dosage of antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, etc) in preparation for a CT scan of my sinus’s and I’m starting to feel somewhat normal.
Just as our home rose and grew from the ashes to be a loving and fruitful home, and as my spirit has been renewed and refreshed by the onset of healing of my body, I’m just as certain with the help of servants faithful to the calling of Christ through the Muncie Mission, it too will rise to be stronger and more fruitful than before. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Just a few days ago, on July 4th an accidental fire, which originated on the outside of the building, caused extensive fire damage to the two year old Muncie Mission, the inspiration and dream of founder Rev. Ray Raines. It renewed painful memories for me, as all fire losses do, of the house fire my family survived in 1985. The feeling is hard to describe but it’s like when you’re doing and job and your hand makes unexpected contact with a sharp object or a tool and through the pain all you can think about is getting that glove off and making sure all the digits are there. And finding all members present the pain is so much more tolerable. The most important thing we learned as a family from that experience was fully realizing that the most important things in our lives are our health, our family and our faith.
I’ve been in spiritual winter the past week. A chronic sinus infection that I’ve been battling all summer turned severe and its symptoms caused me to lose focus, concentration, motivation and inspiration. I equated it to having a three beer buzz with a constant headache. It is times like that I find myself clinging to my faith feeling the full impact of Paul’s words, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I’m now going through what my EENT Specialist called “blasting” (high dosage of antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, etc) in preparation for a CT scan of my sinus’s and I’m starting to feel somewhat normal.
Just as our home rose and grew from the ashes to be a loving and fruitful home, and as my spirit has been renewed and refreshed by the onset of healing of my body, I’m just as certain with the help of servants faithful to the calling of Christ through the Muncie Mission, it too will rise to be stronger and more fruitful than before. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Real freedom
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts… Psalm 119:45
At this 225th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I pause to consider what real freedom is. God has always intended for man to be free, but we placed ourselves in slavery to sin from the get go. Then 2000 years ago God sent Jesus to free us from our slavery to sin. But even after Jesus freed us, governments rallied to prevent the free expression of worship. Then 225 years ago the United States was born not just for the sake of political freedom, but as President George Washington said in his Farewell Address in 1796, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
John F. Kennedy in his 1962 Independence Day address at Independence Hall said, “The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; that the word went out to all, in Thomas Jefferson's phrase, that "the God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." And today this Nation--conceived in revolution, nurtured in liberty, maturing in independence--has no intention of abdicating its leadership in that worldwide movement for independence to any nation or society committed to systematic human oppression.”
The real freedom I have comes from the same God who gave me life. He never intended for me to be a slave to sin or other men who tell me how, where, or when I can worship, live, or a host of other things. There are those who worship Christ daily in countries which forbid it under penalty of death. I pray for them and that the USA will continue to offer a place of freedom to live and worship; to experience Real freedom.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
At this 225th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I pause to consider what real freedom is. God has always intended for man to be free, but we placed ourselves in slavery to sin from the get go. Then 2000 years ago God sent Jesus to free us from our slavery to sin. But even after Jesus freed us, governments rallied to prevent the free expression of worship. Then 225 years ago the United States was born not just for the sake of political freedom, but as President George Washington said in his Farewell Address in 1796, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
John F. Kennedy in his 1962 Independence Day address at Independence Hall said, “The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; that the word went out to all, in Thomas Jefferson's phrase, that "the God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." And today this Nation--conceived in revolution, nurtured in liberty, maturing in independence--has no intention of abdicating its leadership in that worldwide movement for independence to any nation or society committed to systematic human oppression.”
The real freedom I have comes from the same God who gave me life. He never intended for me to be a slave to sin or other men who tell me how, where, or when I can worship, live, or a host of other things. There are those who worship Christ daily in countries which forbid it under penalty of death. I pray for them and that the USA will continue to offer a place of freedom to live and worship; to experience Real freedom.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wheat and chaff
”His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3:12
I occasionally wonder how hard I can push someone toward a life of faith in Christ without alienating them. John the Baptizer painted, in this scripture from Matthew, what I believe to be, a very prophetic image of Jesus’ return. John announced that Jesus was bringing the way and the truth (of God’s Kingdom) to mankind, and made it quite clear that some were going to accept it and some weren’t, and furthermore that those who didn’t would face dire consequences.
Jesus spent a relatively short time here on earth showing and telling his message of redemption and salvation and relaying in every manner understandable to those of the time and now the hope of eternity and the price of rejecting it. And all the while the reality of his message was there, "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” John 12:47.
The message that I take from all this is that I need to be authentic, be serious, and be bold. The next to last thing I want to do is push someone away from discovering Christ, but the worst thing would be to allow them to die without ever having known about him. One of the most often misquoted sayings of Jesus is, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:51 Taken out of context is sounds completely contrary to virtually everything else Jesus ever said, but the true meaning is that no matter how much love I pour into the mission of bringing all to Christ, some of people are destined to be wheat and some chaff. I surely don’t want to be responsible for chaff that could have been wheat.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
I occasionally wonder how hard I can push someone toward a life of faith in Christ without alienating them. John the Baptizer painted, in this scripture from Matthew, what I believe to be, a very prophetic image of Jesus’ return. John announced that Jesus was bringing the way and the truth (of God’s Kingdom) to mankind, and made it quite clear that some were going to accept it and some weren’t, and furthermore that those who didn’t would face dire consequences.
Jesus spent a relatively short time here on earth showing and telling his message of redemption and salvation and relaying in every manner understandable to those of the time and now the hope of eternity and the price of rejecting it. And all the while the reality of his message was there, "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” John 12:47.
The message that I take from all this is that I need to be authentic, be serious, and be bold. The next to last thing I want to do is push someone away from discovering Christ, but the worst thing would be to allow them to die without ever having known about him. One of the most often misquoted sayings of Jesus is, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:51 Taken out of context is sounds completely contrary to virtually everything else Jesus ever said, but the true meaning is that no matter how much love I pour into the mission of bringing all to Christ, some of people are destined to be wheat and some chaff. I surely don’t want to be responsible for chaff that could have been wheat.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
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