Blog Archives - IRONSTRIKES

Sunday Meditation

11/30/2014

In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength
Isaiah 30:15

Our work is an important part of our identity. We have a legitimate need to contribute and to feel competent. Too often, however, this legitimate need is distorted by a compulsion to work. We work and work and work because we want to prove ourselves, because we want to feel capable and strong. When our identity and value are primarily wrapped up in our productivity it provides us with an appearance of strength. But this strength does not go deep - it is only a matter of appearances. The more we achieve or produce, the more anxious we become. We wonder when it will all come crashing down. We wonder when we will be 'found out'.

This text suggests that strength comes from other sources. Probably the most surprising suggestions are that strength comes from quietness and salvation comes from rest. Why would rest and quietness be so important?

Salvation is not possible when we are in charge because we are not the Messiah. We cannot save the world. We cannot even save ourselves. When we rest, we are forced to abandon our messianic illusions. When we rest we accept our place as creatures in need of being saved by someone with power greater than our own. When we do this, repentance comes and salvation is possible.

Quietness has a similar effect. We cannot hear what God has to say when our lives are full of noise. The frenzy of life can drown out God's voice. But when we rest, we can again hear God's voice. And it is God's words of love that can make us strong.

Lord, I am not very strong.
All my striving, and doing and proving
haven't made me strong.
I long for the deep strength
that comes from quietness
and from trust.
I rest my weary soul in you today, Lord.
Give me the courage to be quiet.
Give me the faith to trust in you.
Strengthen me today

Amen.

Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
National Association for Christian Recovery

He says hello....

11/29/2014

It is an odd conversation to have; with someone who does not know

Someone who is confident; someone on the go

A person who has life all figured out

A person whose life is defined by doubt

I become so frustrated with those who do not believe

I wish so much that they could achieve

…a life that is defined by joy, hope, and love

a life with power bestowed from above

I get so mad at those who refuse

I feel they have their life and soul to lose

But then, I realize, to this story; there is more

Because I have not given them a great example to explore

I have not always lived as I should each day

and have not shown people how to drive doubt away

But still: for those who do not know

It is odd, because I have seen that youthful glow

…of an elderly soul that waited long to committ

to surrender his will as God saw fit

…of a woman who was violated, used and chained

…by the very habits that kept her soul stained

It is odd to talk with someone who refuses to see

…because the one who they deny happens to live in me.

A God that doesn’t exist; they could not possibly obey

That makes sense, I suppose, but I just spoke with Him today.

He says hello: and He hopes that you hear

..that He loves you: despite the fact you think He is not near.

This poem was written by Rev Landon DeCrastos. For the original post, go to: http://other-words.net/2014/10/17/he-says-hello/

Excitement about heaven

11/28/2014

I've been excited about heaven recently. It's kinda strange because I have been preoccupied with looking forward to going there.

This is different than what I have had in the past. I have written about a dream that I had about heaven. I have speculated about my reaction to heaven possibly being similar to how our kittens experience transition from one home to another. I have also considered how people with disabilities may experience heaven. But this time, my thoughts about heaven seem different.

This is not about my frustrations of living in a sinful world. This is not about my frustrations of living in a body that is aging. This is not about my desire to finally be free of my sinful tendencies. This isn't a reaction to the bad news that I read about everyday and wanting Jesus to return to end suffering.

This time, for the past couple of weeks, I have been filled with excitement about the prospect of heaven. I don't know what started this emotion but I am enjoying it. Maybe I spend too much time in my head pontificating about what things could be like. Maybe I'm too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good.

But, I'm just putting this out there.
Heaven is something that gets me really excited.

I don't envision all the imagery found in Revelation.
I don't think about flying around playing harps and acting all righteous.

I see heaven as a place very similar to this world but being at total peace with myself and everyone else.

God's Peace will rule heaven.

I imagine running and not getting tired.
I imagine climbing mountains and not worrying about gravity.

I imagine traveling, visiting, remembering, spending an eternity with those whom I have only read about.

I imagine hearing story after story of God's faithfulness and grandeur.

I imagine meeting people that the world threw away and trashed but are highly prized by God.

I imagine getting to REALLY KNOW people and not worrying about time, expense or image.

I imagine time spent with Jesus.

I imagine times of review of people's lives and seeing where God intervened and nobody knew about it.

I imagine that I will be surprised at how involved God's Holy Spirit has been with us.

I imagine there will be no concept of time.

I imagine...

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

11/27/2014

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you’ve done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for our successes, which satisfy and delight us — but also for the disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ — for the truth of his Word and the example of his life.

We thank you for his dying, through which he overcame death — and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your Kingdom.

Father, may we — at all times and in all places — give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

From the book of Common Prayer.

I'm tired of being thankful...

11/26/2014

John Madden’s famous six legged turkey is being prepped for Thursday’s NFL postgame show.

Church signs are splashed with Thanksgiving themed bible verses (which, let’s admit, is a welcome change from most church sign content).

Facebook walls are awash in “thankfulness challenges” and clipart quotes about turkeys and pilgrims.

My kids Thanksgiving school crafts adorn the refrigerator door.

Charlie Brown is once again convincing himself that he can actually kick that football.

And retail stores are filled with….well, who are we kidding? They’ve been decorated for Christmas since Labor Day.

Thanksgiving is here! It’s hard to ignore. It’s everywhere. But can I be honest with you? I’m sorta tired of being thankful. Yeah, I am. I’m just going to take a few minutes here and call it like it is.

Thankfulness is hard.

You know why? Because thankfulness forces me to accept that I’m not the source of things. That there is something bigger than me. That all my blessings, my relationships, my resources, my opportunities, my food and shelter, my creativity, my inspiration, my parents, my kids, my friends, my coworkers, my money, my successes, my joy, my purpose, my identity, my meaning, my very next breath…

All of it.

Every. Last. Bit.

Is a gift to me.

And I hate that. No, I mean I really do.

I. Hate. It.

I don’t want to be thankful. Thankfulness means I’m in need. I’m needy!? Who wants to be in need? I mean, come on, really?! I want to be the author, the creator, the origin, not the recipient! I want to be in control, to be strong, to be powerful and put together.

I don’t want to be thankful. I want to be thanked.

Yet with every passing year, I become more and more aware of my true makeup. I am weak. I am broken. I lack. I need help. Geez, doesn’t that sound empowering?

Or is it?

In some great gospel paradox, with every downward step I seem to find myself rising higher. With every admission of inadequacy, I find myself growing stronger. With every acknowledgement of brokenness, I find myself a little bit more whole. With the loss of self-made meaning, I find more of my true identity.

Such is the mystery of grace.

So perhaps I’m not actually tired of being thankful. Perhaps I’m just tired. Tired of pretending to be put together. Tired of acting like I’ve got it all figured out. Tired of trying to be the central character of my own story. Tired of striving to become my own savior.

The strength, and control, and peace, and connection, and wholeness, and power I so desperately long to construct can only be created when I stop looking for it inside of myself.

I was made to be thankful.

So let’s eagerly humble ourselves this Thanksgiving, and find our greatest joy in our need to give thanks.

This post was written by Rev Erik Cooper. For his original post, go to: http://beyondtherisk.com/2014/11/25/im-tired-of-being-thankful/

Using a discipleship checklist

11/25/2014

In their book, Switch, Chip and Dan Heath share a fascinating story about Dr. Peter Pronovost, who developed the holy grail of “checklists” in the medical community. Patients in ICU units have intravenous lines put in to deliver medications. Pronovost observed that when lines are not properly established, nasty health complications resulted in infected lines. This was tragic because all of this is preventable. By introducing an easy five-step checklist before inserting the lines, Pronovost revolutionized ICU treatments. Over an 18-month period, Michigan ICU units nearly eliminated line infections, saving hospitals an estimated $175 million dollars, and in the long run saving about 1,500 lives. The Heath brothers’ assessment of this story is simple: Checklists can be game changers that save lives.

Whatever your primary discipleship environment is (Sunday school, small group, huddle, etc.), you need to begin to ask: What is your checklist? If you do not have one, how will you determine if your present environment is healthy and working to its God given capacity to further the kingdom of God? In my present ministry context, our checklist can be defined in what we call three core directions. We want our groups to be moving upward, inward, and outward. These directions have been greatly influenced by Mike Breen’s work found in Building A Discipleship Culture. So why these directions? These directions guide us to the destination of what it means to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Upward - In our quest to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we must consistently direct our lives upward. Everything Jesus did in ministry flowed from His intimate connection with his Father. John’s Gospel tells us “the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” (John 5:19) Jesus’ upward rhythm with the Father should be our model. Therefore we must we ask ourselves: Is my group developing this same upward rhythm? Do we allow spiritual disciplines such as prayer, study, worship, etc. to draw us to these two pivotal questions: “What is Jesus calling me to do? And what am I doing about it?” When we faithfully walk into those two questions and respond, the kingdom of God naturally advances, and disciple making occurs.

Inward - A small group is an ideal context for our emotional and spiritual health. The early church was a compelling example of this truth: Great investment in a few equals greater kingdom impact. Jesus had twelve disciples, and these twelve not only impacted one another, but those around them and eventually, the world at large. In particular, the “inward” rhythm of small groups directs us to sincerely invest and care for each member of our group. The inward checklist challenges us all to care for two of the greatest words found in the New Testament over fifty times: “one another.” Do our groups consistently strive to love, accept, serve, encourage, forgive, etc. “one another,” just as Christ has cared for us? We must never forget that our love for one another will prove to the world that we are Jesus’ disciples (John 13:35).

Outward - A disciple not on mission is an oxymoron. Our identity is as ones who are sent (John 20:21-22). Most of us have heard this call, desire to fulfill it, but often question how to do so. Being in community is key. As Alan Hirsch states, “the most vigorous forms of community are those that come together in the context of a shared ordeal or those that define themselves as a group with a mission that lies beyond themselves-thus initiating a risky journey.” Every small group has to determine how they are going to proactively and reactively serve those around them. Jordan Elder defines proactive mission “as mission by design,” whereas reactive mission can best be understood as “mission in the moment.” With whom are your groups proactively partnering? Are you partnering with a local missions partner, a school, or neighborhood? Likewise, each group must evaluate how they are reactively responding to the spontaneous needs that arise around them. When groups take seriously the call to proactively and reactively be on mission, the Gospel will fill our lives and be on display (Col 3:16-17).

Take The Time To Check The List! From both experience and conversation with my small group leaders in the trenches, I often find that most groups are only able to live into 2 out of 3 of these directional rhythms. When this happens, we are out of balance and will wobble though life according to Breen. So the question should be asked: Which direction is your group not heading towards, and how can you start moving that way? Checklists are beneficial because they challenge your group to move in new and unique ways–in ways that breathe new life thorough them! When groups choose to periodically grab the checklist, and intentionally walk in the rhythm of Christ (upward, inward, outward) they will observe life change naturally happening. In the end, they will begin to notice disciples being made. And when this happens, we can easily agree with Dan and Chip Heath’s assessment that checklists can be game changers that save lives!

This post was written by Rev Eric George. For the original post, go to: http://seedbed.com/feed/discipleship-checklists-way-need-head/

Teaching your child biblical sexuality

11/24/2014

When it comes to the matter of teaching kids about sex, Christian parents are often confused about what to say and when to say it. The Talk is a series of 7 studies, all anchored in the Scriptures, that helps parents to talk meaningfully with children about sexuality.

What information is included in this study?

Each lesson takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.

Lesson 1 deals with the differences between male and female (Genesis 1:24-27), giving children a simple understanding of their own bodies and the differences between male and female sexual organs. (Line drawings of internal male and female anatomy are included.)
Lesson 2 discusses God’s command for the human race to multiply (Genesis 1:28-31), giving children a basic understanding of sexual intercourse and how babies are conceived. (Line drawing of sperm and egg is included.)
Lesson 3 addresses the development of human life in the womb (Psalm 139:13-18), giving children a picture of the wonder of how babies grow and are born. (Line drawings of fertilization, implantation, and a baby’s growth in the womb are included.)
Lesson 4 deals with the intimacy that is created through sex (Genesis 2:18-25), giving children an understanding of the goodness of sex in marriage and how it creates a strong bond between a man and a woman.
Lesson 5 discusses the sin of adultery (Exodus 20:1-2, 12-17), giving children a biblical understanding of why it is wrong.
Lesson 6 addresses the difficult subject of rape and sexual abuse (2 Samuel 13:1-2, 16-14), reminding children of the importance of talking to their parents about anyone who touches them in an inappropriate manner.
Lesson 7 deals with the importance of honoring God with one’s body because God has bought us with a price (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

Download The TalkThe Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality is currently available in our store for $5.95, or you can get a printed version from Amazon.

For more information about this terrific resource, go to: http://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/the-talk/

Sunday Meditation

11/23/2014

No more lying then. Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow believers because we are all members together in the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:25

Honesty is essential to recovery. Honesty is essential to intimacy. But honesty is not easy.

We were not created to be isolated, independent creatures. We were created to be interdependent. We need each other. And in order for us to be helped by others and to be helpful to others, we need to practice honesty. That means we must learn how to talk to each other about our thoughts and our feelings and our needs. We must learn to talk about our struggles and failures, about our dreams and our successes.

Honesty is the soil in which intimate relationships grow. It creates the possibility of being known and loved for who we really are. But it is also full of risks. If we tell the truth about ourselves, people may not listen. They may not want to know. They may not understand. They may judge and reject. They may dislike us. They may give us simple answers to unanswerable questions. They may repeat what we have said to others.

We hesitate to be honest because we have experienced these things in the past. Our feelings may have been minimized. Our thoughts may have been devalued. Our reality may have been denied. But in order to grow healthy relationships, in order to heal and recover, we need to begin to take risks. Learning honesty will be a process for us. It will not come quickly. But as we practice the disciplines of honesty we gradually become more secure in telling the truth.

I am tired of lying, when it would be just as easy to tell the truth.
But I am afraid of honesty, Lord.
It's not as easy as it sounds.
Help me to pursue honesty today.
Help me to be honest with you.
Help me to be honest with myself.
Help me to build a community of faith
where honesty is the norm.
Build in me a capacity for truth.

Amen.

Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
National Association for Christian Recovery

6 things I wish pastors understood (including me)

11/22/2014

I can only imagine that many of you veteran pastors out there are opening this blog post to read it, and you are thinking, “Hey…wait a minute…you are a young pastor. How are you qualified to say any of this?” You are probably right, but these are things that I have observed as I have seen pastors at work, and as God has guided me through His word. I think many pastors can relate to the following thoughts as well as those who consider themselves Christ-followers. More than anything else, I hope young pastors who have not yet stepped into professional/ vocational ministry will read this and prevent their hearts from being overtaken by these ideas.

When I entered formal ministry, I made sure to read the full content of dozens of books, and I even read the back synopsis of many more (oh c’mon pastor…you have done the same thing) and assumed I knew the gist of them. Pastors, by nature are lifelong learners and students of God’s word as we all should be, but I wish I would have known a few more things before entering ministry. I know others should know these things too. I say these things because I observe so many pastors that fall into the same habits and thought processes as their collegues. These thought processes seem like a great idea, or are very convincing, but I think we began to lose the point of who we are supposed to be…

So, here are 6 Things I Wish Pastors Understood (Including Me).

1. It’s okay not to have all the answers- It is true that pastors are designed and called to be resident theologians. They study for many years, and read many books to understand scripture better so they can be a resource for their congregations. Sometimes, it is okay to be stumped. You are human, and it is okay to admit you do not have the answers…but you know where to get them. God’s word is a living organism, and the people who seek you for advice or thoughts will respect you if you give time to research specifically regarding their inquiry.

2. You are not as hip as you think- So you just got a new tattoo, you are not afraid to say a curse word from time to time, and you are lenient on social drinking? Bravo pastor, you are as cool and hip as they come! Ok…so I do not know many pastors that are setting the standards for “coolness” in our society, but there are so many that try. You do not have to be hip…you just have to be there. No, not one just preaches on Sunday morning, but a person who desires to sit with, and comfort those who are away from God or even those who know Him…those that are broken. We are in the mending business. God can use you even if you do not have a v-neck tshirt and frequent coffee shops.

3. You are not as lame as you think- Many pastors can relate to this one. If you are like me, you find yourself accepting the negative self talk that you are not relevant and that people are looking for someone more exciting. You are called to be obedient, and attentive to the Holy Spirit. It’s great to feel young and vital, but if God has called you to ministry, you can guarantee that He will resource you with the skills needed to get the job done. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking no one will listen, because God can open ears, hearts, and minds.

4. God has better ideas than you- You have so many good ideas and your church marketing pieces are beautiful. I get so excited and pumped up when I am listening to your church’s music, and when I watch all of the clever videos you make. Is this what ministry has come to though? All of our time (and I am now speaking to me) is now caught up in things that give glory to us, and our creativity, than the pure word of God? I will let you wrestle with that one…because I am still struggling with it.

5. Put down the leadership book for a minute- You have read every book that has the word “leader” in it and you perhaps have given leadership workshops. Excellent! Now…slowly put the book down and look around you. Imagine people that are lined up in front of you and all they need is an infusion of hope that will get them through until tomorrow. Granted, we all know that they need to know Christ more and grow in Him…but take a little time to listen. Oh…and grab a bucket. One of the kids just threw up in the nursery. Books are vital, but being a servant should be your first posture.

6. Your role matters- Whether you believe it or not, the art of pastoring is not going anywhere. What is looks like in a practical sense may change drastically over the next several years, but there will always be people that are called to lead, guide, and shepherd. Not a CEO of an organization. A pastor. One who hurts with people, prays for them, and has the resources to be ready for the collapse of society. A person who is not a politically driving mastermind, but a prophetic voice to the culture.

Pastor, you matter, and we are called together to storm Hell. Thank you for being my coworker…now let’s get back to work.

The post was written by Rev DeCrastos. For the original post, go to: http://other-words.net/2014/11/17/6-things-i-wish-pastors-understood-including-me/

How children understand the natural world

11/21/2014

“Name everything you can think of that is alive.” How would a child respond to this question? Would his or her list be full of relatives, animals from movies and books, or perhaps neighborhood pets? Would the poppies blooming on the front steps make the list or the oak tree towering over the backyard?

How might the animals children name compare to those named by children raised in a different cultural or language background or in a community that offers more direct contact with the natural world?

In a study conducted by Andrea Taverna of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Formosa, Argentina) in conjunction with Sandra Waxman and Douglas Medin in the psychology department in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University, children were asked to name “everything you can think of that is alive.”

The children were from three very different cultural and linguistic communities in Argentina: some were urban Spanish-speaking, others were rural Spanish-speaking, while others were Wichí-speaking children from the remote indigenous Amerindian Wichí community in the Chaco rainforest.

Wichí have more extensive direct contact with the natural world than either the rural or urban Spanish-speaking populations with whom they were compared.

The children’s responses revealed clear convergences among these distinct communities but also illuminated differences among them. They found that a general framework for organizing living things is in place for a child by age 5, and that this framework is enhanced during a child’s development and with experience. They also discovered that children in each community named many animals but fewer plants.

In addition, children’s responses also differed across the communities, offering a glimpse of how linguistic, cultural and experiential forces shape our understanding of the natural world.

“I believe these results may provide a foundation that permits teachers from these different contexts to identify their students’ knowledge of the natural world and the different sources that may have shaped them,” said Taverna, lead author of the study.

The names children offered reflected the source of their knowledge about the natural world. Urban Spanish-speaking children, who get much of their knowledge about the natural world from books, movies and TV, were most likely to name exotic animals — ones they had learned about in movies or books but had never seen.

Rural Spanish-speaking children, who have more direct contact with the natural world, also included many native animals in their lists. These results converge with results from English-speaking children in the United States. But among the Wichí, who have little contact with media and other cultures and extensive direct contact with the natural world, children overwhelmingly named native animals from the surrounding rainforest.

In addition, Wichí children used far more specific biological names for both plants and animals, an outcome that reflects the cultural importance attached to these entities.

“The results of the study demonstrate how language, experience and culture shape children’s acquisition and organization of fundamental folkbiological concepts,” said Waxman, Louis W. Menk Professor of Psychology and faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern. “This helps us to understand how best to teach young children from diverse communities about the natural world that surrounds them.”

This post was from Northwestern University. For the original post, go to: http://www.psypost.org/2014/07/linguistic-cultural-forces-shape-childrens-understanding-natural-world-26738