Category: Faithfulness - IRONSTRIKES

We are carriers of God's kingdom

9/12/2014

Random thoughts on the Kingdom of God: We are carriers of the Kingdom of God. It is like a circle around us—like a huge hulahoop and where we go it goes with us. We carry the Kingdom with us into different arenas of life. Or imagine a frog sitting on a lily pad. There is friction between the frog’s feet and the surface of the lily pad. And friction is connection. If I were to push the frog the lily pad under him would be carried along with him. Where the lily pad goes the frog goes and where the frog goes the lily pad goes. The Kingdom of God is like that lily pad stuck to our feet. Where we go the Kingdom of God goes and where the Kingdom goes we are carried along with it.

Therefore our job is to develop a connection of friction with the Kingdom of God so that it becomes “stuck” to the soles of our feet. As Kingdom people we have the capacity to bring new “ground”, new “soil” and a new “atmosphere” into a country simply by bringing our presence into a country and abiding there. It is not necessarily us that changes and transforms anything within a culture. Rather it is the presence of our Lord and Savior abiding within us and being lived out through us. In that sense we are simply carriers of the presence of our King and therefore carriers of His Kingdom.

This post was written by StriderMTB. He directs an orphanage in an Asian country. For the original post, go to: http://atheologyintension.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/we-are-carriers-of-gods-kingdom/

Paying the price of failure

7/1/2014

Specifically, I want to zero-in on the price of moral or ethical failure here. Certainly, all forms of failure come with a great price. But personal moral and/or ethical failure hold the potential of being permanently debilitating near to the point of no return to any semblance of normality. For example, if a man commits adultery, even though he may be forgiven by God, hIS spouse, family, and society, he may still struggle with the failure in hIs future days and never get over it -- bound to suffer the effects of the failure for the rest of his life.

Should he be made to suffer? Were there not contributing factors leading to his offense? If made aware of them, and is then able to live his life in the light of them, with knowledge as to how to function without submitting to those negative factors, should he still be made to suffer the guilt and shame for his failure for the rest of his life? A Christian worldview would answer no. We believe Jesus would answer no (Luke 7:36-48). If so, then why do some self-professed believers want to keep such a man under their shame-inducing thumb?

We would do well to remember that we are all failures to some degree. Not one human being, exempting Jesus, has ever lived a sinless life. If moral or ethical failure maintains an equal degree of culpability as does any other kind of failure, on a spiritual level, that is, then the forgiven man should be encouraged to lift up his head, not in pride, but in confident humility that he has been forgiven by God in Christ, granting, of course, that he has asked for forgiveness, and longs to live out his life in that forgiveness and repentance.

To all who have failed on moral or ethical grounds, let me encourage you out of my own moral failure, out of my own guilt and shame. Do yourself a favor: though the memory of the failure is bound to enter your mind frequently, and though the guilt and public humiliation may at times weigh very heavily upon your soul, refuse to allow yourself to dwell on those negative aspects. (You are baptized in Christ, not baptized in your failures.) If you allow yourself to dwell upon them, they will only overpower you, and ultimately yet tragically debilitate you.

Being overwhelmed, you will only want to withdraw from society; but not only society, but also from family members, and even from yourself. You will begin to despise yourself, adding insult to injury, so to put it. This is because you refuse to be forgiven. You want to pay the price for the failure. But you can't pay the price for the failure. Only Jesus can pay that price; and He already paid that price. If God has freely, willingly, eagerly forgiven you then you are free to also forgive yourself. Live your life now in the freedom for which He set you free.

This post was written by Credendum. You can find the original post here: http://www.credendum.net/home/paying-the-price-of-failure?

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

Got Risk . . . Discomfort?

6/5/2014

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere—Psalm 84:10

Years spent in luxury and comfort can’t compare to one day spent with God—in his presence; experiencing his love; living his truth; doing his work. And, astonishingly, God doesn’t offer us just single days . . . mere glimpses, fleeting encounters. He offers himself “more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20-21). He offers all of himself, all the time—as much as we want, as much as we choose.

One proven method of choosing him is to strip away worldly comfort, strip away predictability and self-sufficiency . . . and intentionally move into situations we can’t handle on our own. Jesus sent his disciples into such situations: “I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3). He told them to travel light and resist taking anything that could provide comfort, predictability, self-sufficiency: money, extra clothing, extra stuff (Luke 10:4). They had to rely on him. And they returned full of joy (Luke 10:17). Because they’d been willing to move, in faith, into risk and discomfort, they got to spend precious days with God. Jesus told them:

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24).

Okay, so what do we do?

Ask yourself, what am I doing—right now—that requires faith? We get used to choosing risk and discomfort by practicing. So, look for ways to practice, brother. Look today for what moves your heart. Reach out to someone who needs help. Spend time with someone who needs a friend. Commit to a service project. Sign-up for a short-term mission trip. If you do, you’ll too have great stories to tell.

Copyright © 2013 Gather Ministries

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

With whom do you gather?

5/24/2014

For where two or three are gathered . . . there am I among them—Matthew 18:20

We men often find it hard to gather with other men in Christian community. Calendars are full: “I just don’t have time for one more thing.” Pride is high: “I’m good . . . I’m doing fine on my own.” Aversion to vulnerability is strong: “Oh, man . . . I’m just not that good at opening up.” If we are followers of our King, Jesus Christ, though, we must gather--“not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some” (Hebrews 10:25).

But . . . why? Why is community so important for men? Well, a couple reasons. “Two are better than one,” Scripture tells us—we are stronger, less vulnerable, together (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

“For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:10).

Even more important, though, Jesus tells us that he is uniquely present when we gather in his name (Matthew 18:20). You see, God the Holy Spirit dwells within each follower of Jesus (John 14:17). Therefore, when we gather, the power of the Spirit flows from one to another and back. When we gather, the work of God is done: confessions are made; sins are repented; love and compassion are expressed; hearts are healed; encouragement is given; lives are transformed. Men are lifted up, up out of sin and rebellion, into life and identity and calling. Work is done that just cannot be done in isolation.

Copyright © 2013 Gather Ministries, All rights reserved

http://www.gatherministries.com/wire/

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

Thankful Wisdom

4/19/2014

My family means the world to me. This is not only because they are the people that care about me the most, but because they are also the ones who teach me about who I am called to be. My wife encourages me daily, softens my heart and also helps me to grow as a person. My extended family tells me the truth when it is hard to do so and knows the private version of myself…the part of me that can release professionalism and embrace nonsense from time to time. My kids are a like a mobile classroom and simply raising them is the equivalent to pursuing a doctoral degree in physics, chemistry, biology, theology and psychology.

Tonight, my son and I had an interesting conversation about the church. I asked him if he knew what I did at church every Sunday. “You sing for people at church”, he said confidently.

“Sometimes I sing with other people, but what do I normally do at church?”

“I don’t know”

I engaged him in a conversation that was meant to explain what I do. To simplify, I told him I teach people about God at church. Then, what came out of his mouth was incredible.

Josiah: That’s good to teach people about God…I am glad we have a thankful church.

Me: A thankful church? What are we thankful for?

Josiah: We are thankful for each other and thankful for Jesus.

Me: Why are we thankful for Jesus?

Josiah: (pause)…because He has been faithful to us.

When my 3.5 year old son says something like this it is hard to know how to respond. I struggled to know what to say, and finally I told him he was right….even though he didn’t realize the full implication of what he said.

Why can’t we get this right? Why can’t we embrace God’s faithfulness fully and reject our tendency to walk away from His love? Why do we spend so much time hating what is right and desiring what will destroy us? Most humans are stuck in a delicate balance between desiring to be independent and wanting to be guided in the direction of wisdom.

Let’s face it…sometimes kids remind us of things we have swept under the proverbial rug of our lives. It’s a humbling experience, but we need it. It is time for us to wake up and remember why we are followers of Christ. Not because He gives us stuff, but because, through discipline and tenderness, He is always faithful.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. You can find the original post here: http://other-words.net/2014/04/11/thankful-wisdom/

7 Things I do that upset Jesus

4/5/2014

In today’s Christian subculture it is trendy to spend a lot of time pointing out what “Christianity” is doing wrong. Many Christ followers get whipped into a lather when they start talking about “religion” and how our faith life should reject this concept and a relationship should be embraced instead. I get it…God is looking for a relationship not a religion…Christians constantly mess up and make the Kingdom look like a joke, but while I could sit here all day and talk about what everyone else is doing wrong I get uncomfortable when I think about the ways I make Jesus upset. It is hard to admit, but it may speak to others.

Today, I want to talk about 7 things I do that make Jesus upset:

1. I incorrectly define “blessing”-Too often, when I think about the concept of blessing I get it mixed up with being pampered by God. Blessing, in my experience, has more to do with enjoying God’s favor…not collecting more possessions and marinating in temporary happiness. Remember, even though we do not like to admit it, Job was blessed. Not because he got his stuff back at the end of the Old Testament story, but because of his closeness with the Father.

2. I label too many things “legalism”- When I am confronted with a Biblical truth that puts me in my place or rebukes a pattern of behavior; it makes me uncomfortable. I want to live my life the way I feel is right, and often when approached in this way I claim that the information being presented is legalistic. I would rather stick with the way I think about things or react to situations and convince myself that Jesus is still happy with me despite my disobedience to Biblical truth.

3. I put down the Body of Christ- I always post statuses on Facebook that talk about how the average Christian misses the mark. I have to remember that each believer is a sibling…and just as valuable to the Kingdom as I am.

4. I trust God only with my surplus- It is easy to give God praise when there is money in my bank account. It is also easy to trust Him when I have extra. God desires that I step out without a guarantee that my foot will hit pavement. The Lord, who is perfect in love, knows what I need, and has historically always provided.

5. I spend too much time talking to God- Much of my prayer time consists of me asking for things, or different circumstances. I think that God has more to say to me than I allow Him.

6. I study His word instead of living it- God’s commands are not meant to be merely memorized, but obeyed. Enough said here.

7. I don’t thank God enough for my family- My biggest support system consists of my wife, children, parents (and in laws), grandparents and siblings (including sister in law). I always yearn for encouragement, but it seems to always come for free with them.

I am so glad that grace is a real thing. Jesus puts up with so much that I do.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. For the original post, go to: http://other-words.net/2014/03/28/7-things-i-do-that-upset-jesus/

The Tyranny of More

2/1/2014

Today, I enjoyed an extremely unhealthy cheeseburger at a fast food establishment. It wasn’t organic…..it wasn’t supporting local farmers and family business…it had preservatives in it and the proceeds did not benefit a charity…it was simply a greasy cheeseburger…..and I needed it. Don’t judge me. You don’t know my life…..

Anyway….I ordered this meal and requested the smallest size they had when they asked for my drink size preference. We have all been to this place, which surprisingly has served more people than actually exist in the world. The smallest size they had was a “medium”. When I got my food, I was astonished at how large the medium was…There had to be some mistake. The cup was so big that it made me slightly nervous.

As anyone else does, I took my tray and proceeded to the drink fountain where I made plans to enjoy a tall lemonade. After my drink was full I reached over to grab a lid…then I discovered something interesting. My cup actually was a large. I needed a large lid.

This happens all the time. No matter how may times I ask for the smallest size, I get the largest possible one. I am not complaining, but as I thought of this concept I began to think about the direction of our culture. Now, “small” isn’t even an option. Why? Perhaps, it is because we have conditioned ourselves to never be satisfied. We want a drink that we can guzzle in excess and refill on our way out. We want this drink to last all day until we are on our way home from work, so that we can be content until the next day when we repeat the process. As a culture, we have left no room to feel disappointment and a sense of loss.

Look in the Old Testament and you will see an Israelite people that begged God for abundance in the wilderness. He didn’t give it to them at first. Why? Because they had what they needed….and the only reason they wanted more is so they didn’t have to spend the energy to come to Him daily for provision.

Don’t get me wrong. I love cheesburgers. I love large cheeseburgers. I just think God cares more about enough than He does about excess. This is because, when we rely on excess, we forget that life is meant to be lived in the midst of a healthy amount of uncertainty. Our faith grows in this condition. We also begin to find contentment in God’s presence instead of only God’s provision.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. For the original post, go to: http://other-words.net/2014/01/24/the-tyranny-of-more/

What happens when you skip church...

11/18/2013

I am a die-hard Georgia Bulldogs fan. I rarely miss a game, and if I do, be sure, it is being recorded to watch at a later time, even if I know the outcome. I love Georgia football. And if I had tickets, which I do not, I would do everything I could to go to the game. I would amend my calendar, reschedule my appointments, and prioritize my activities to ensure my attendance. But if something happened, and I couldn’t make it, it would not affect the dynamic of the crowd, or the outcome of the event. It wouldn’t change, one little bit, the atmosphere. Simply put, my attendance would not be missed. The team would stick to their game-plan, the crowd would maintain their electric charge, and the prices would be exactly as they are. The same is NOT true for my attendance at church.

When a church member misses worship service, the church drastically suffers.The Bible is emphatic about church attendance. The writer of Hebrews challenges us with convicting words, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Have you ever thought about the effect your absence has in the House of God? When you are not there:

The body of the congregation is incomplete
Your voice is not heard in the worship and singing of the saints
You cannot actively serve others who may need your gifts
You cannot contribute in the offering
You do not receive the Word of God in a preaching format
You miss out on corporate prayer
You forfeit fellowship with other believers
You send a message to the youth that missing church is acceptable
You make it easier to miss the next week, and then the next
You become susceptible to apathy and indifference
You make it harder for others to bear the weight and burdens of ministry
You miss opportunities to share your own struggles with the saints of God
You cause unnecessary worry for your pastor, teacher, staff, and leaders
You miss out on altar invitations, life-changing decisions, and spiritual experiences

I assure you, your church needs you. And it needs you to be there this Sunday. Faithfulness to the House of God is still a required characteristic for believers. From time to time we all need sabbaticals, vacations, and sick days. But when missing church becomes a regular or extended practice, we not only stymie our spiritual growth, we weaken the abilities of the entire congregation. I would like to encourage you to be in your place tomorrow, come ready for worship, and thank God He has purchased a place for you to attend. Now that, my friend, is even better than Georgia football!!

This post was written by Kenneth Kuykendall. Even though he is a Georgia fan, here at Ironstrikes, we agree that church attendance is vital to a man's spiritual walk. For the original post, go to: http://kennethkuykendall.com/what-happens-when-youre-not-there-the-effects-of-missing-church/

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

Sunday Meditation

11/3/2013

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4

Children are naturally curious about life. They look at everything, hear everything, want to know about everything. They are ready for growth and responsive to life. But, childhood dies for many people because of neglect, abuse and losses experienced during early vulnerable years. The eagerness and engagement are poisoned. The responsiveness to life yields to fear and shame.

It is possible, however, to reclaim a lost childhood. It is possible to change in ways that allow us to experience the wonder, the awe, the engagement in life that God intended for us in childhood.

God invites us to experience this kind of change. God invites us to become like little children. Children are humble - they have a straightforward honesty about their feelings and needs. This humility makes childlike awe and engagement in life possible. It is a vulnerable, humble thing to be a child. Children get tired and need naps. Children need other people. Children have more questions than answers.

Jesus invites us to change and become like little children. It is an invitation to true humility which leads to spontaneity, curiosity and engagement in life.

Lord, I want to reclaim
the wonder and delight of childhood.
I want to be eager to learn again.
I want to be ready to love and be loved again.
Give me, Lord, the security and safety I need
to be vulnerable and humble.
Help me to be ready for surprises.

Amen

Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
National Association for Christian Recovery

Who have you carried lately?

10/24/2013

Today at Church our Pastor talked about how as Christians we need to take the opportunity to carry people in their time of need. Although this isn’t a physical action, it does require effort. The action of carrying someone means to take someone and they are down in a valley or having a hard time and walking alongside them. Now your responsibility is to only walk with them as far as you are capable of, then someone else will take over. I got the opportunity today to carry someone. I’m not telling this story to toot my own horn, but to show the power of God!

I was at the gas station earlier and I saw a guy standing outside the door. I had never met him before and I don’t even know his name. He was holding an empty gas can. I asked him if he needed help, and he said “I am begging for change so I can get gas, I need to get to the south side of town and get some money from my mom so I can feed my children.” Now there is a disclaimer that comes with this. I usually don’t help people in this situation. This is because I know we don’t have a lot of money. But something made me go back to our van and get him some change. But something stopped me and I proceeded to take him over to the gas pump and fill his gas can up. He then proceeded to tell me that his car was down the street parked at an apartment complex. So I ran inside and purchased what I came for and took him home. The Lord changed my heart and my attitude during this experience. I got the opportunity to carry someone in their time of need.

So I ask you who have you carried lately?

This post was written by Ironstrikes member, NazyP. For the original post, go to: http://fpccnazyp.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/who-have-you-carried-lately/