Our nation's Founding Fathers had an understanding of where our "rights" as human beings came from; something of which would do our nation well to understand today. I suspect that most people either out of ignorance or denial forget the words penned by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. Here are the first several lines which make very clear the answer as to where our rights as human beings come from:
"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these trust to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, at to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html
So the answer is that our rights are given to us by the Law's of Nature and of Nature's God (simply affirming what is already known in the Holy Scriptures). Rights are not given by men, by government or any other entity that is of this world, but by God alone. Don't believe me, you try to extend your life by just one day in any given situation. The death rate for every person, regardless of "stature" is 1 for 1.
When I see comments such as the one's made my Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City I take issue and must take a stand against them. The excerpt below is from the following linked article:
"Stand aside, privacy-rights protectionists. The bombings in Boston prove the nation needs to change how it interprets the Constitution to give government greater power to protect citizens, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said." ~Emphasis added
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/23/ny-mayor-michael-bloomberg-constitution-must-chang/#ixzz2RfzvGfWw
Consider for a moment the words of Benjamin Franklin in 1755 to the Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, Tue, November 11, 1755:
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/quote04.htm
Benjamin Franklin is right on. Anyone who is foolish enough to believe that their safety depends on a government or someone other than God and themselves does not deserve either. This falls right inline of the rights given to us by our Creator, we have the right to live, to pursue happiness and safety. We are responsible for our own actions and accountable to our God (regardless of whether you believe in Him or not) for those actions. Bloomberg's assertions of how we need to "change how it interprets the Constitution" is completely wrong. Makes me wonder if he has ever even read the Constitution. The Constitution starts off by saying:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
"We the people"... this right to safety is firmly in the hands of its people clearly defined by the Constitution. Some might say well it was to form a government and that government is responsible for our safety, to a certain extent it is. If you know your American history the original purpose of the Federal Government was to provide defense for our borders, regulate interstate commerce and to provide infrastructure (infrastructure being roads, communication, etc., not welfare, that was/is the responsibility of the Church... or aka the PEOPLE of God) for this nation. The states are responsible for all other components of government. Additionally it is the citizens of this nation that are responsible for there own safety. We wouldn't go walking through grizzly bear country without protection so why would we walk through this world that does have evil people in it without protection, regardless of the weapon used? There are wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs in this world. (If you don't know what I mean read the following http://www.gleamingedge.com/mirrors/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html. Which one are you?
So getting back to "Who gives us our rights", if your answer is that our rights come from people or a government then who is to say those "rights" are actually rights at all and not just subjective ideas defined by whatever we feel in that particular moment? However, if our rights come from the one true God, our Creator, then our rights are clearly given to us through the Holy Scriptures of the Bible and are forever timeless regardless of how we feel. Of course the latter is true and our Founding Father's were right on!
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that … it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; … "
Thomas Jefferson - letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. ME 16:45.
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/presidents/thomas-jefferson/letters-of-thomas-jefferson/jefl278.php
We live in a world where evil exists. The culture in which we live is determined to remove any reference to God from it. We are not the first nation to do this. Read 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles, Israel attempted the same, and you can read the outcome and about how evil prevailed. Many other nations have followed suit since then, we aren't any different.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Serving One Another in the Midst of the Trials
One of my struggles of late has been with my job. Last September I was moved into a role that required significantly more travel, something I absolutely despise. I hate being away from my family, the hassle of flying and all the preparation that goes into that. It makes it hard being on the road a lot of weeks, something of which I am convinced is not the Lord's will for a long period of time. As I have wrestled with this for several months, along with some other things, one aspect of God has become very clear to me. That is the Lord's sovereignty over my life. For whatever reason, like it or not, we are asked to walk through certain things in our lives that we may not like. The book of Ecclesiastes makes that very clear, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Ecclesiastes also tells us that, "there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9). I have asked the Lord to remove this from me, to allow me to find another job, to take whatever it is that I am struggling away from me; however, He has not. Over the months I have instead begun to ask the Lord to give me the strength to endure, grant me courage, hope, and full and complete trust in Him, regardless of the wind and waves that might be crashing about (I'll write more on this in another post at some point). This season in my life has been a trial for me, teaching me more about who the Lord really is. While our God could be a tyrant and take joy in our misery, He is nothing like that. Our God in all His might and majesty tempers that might and instead in His perfect holiness reveals Himself in love to us. That perfect love of God the Son.
I was reminded today of the love of God in the midst of my trials and how He exemplified that love through His son. Take a look at John 13:1-17. It is the account of Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet after they shared supper on Jesus' last night on this earth. Obviously there was no greater love shown than what Jesus endured during His passion leading up to and on the cross; however even in the midst of what Jesus knew he was going to endure he served his disciples. Once he was finished washing their feet he says, "If I then, Your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." The Lord clearly reminded me that even in the midst of trials and various seasons that we go through we have to serve one another, for isn't that true love? Later in that same chapter Jesus states, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34, 35).
We can get so wrapped up in our own trials, our own desires, thoughts, ideas and totally forget that in all of those things we are called to love one another, and by that love the world will know we are Jesus' disciples. Perhaps that is why such a darkness has fallen across our land is that the disciples of Jesus are not washing one another's feet and loving well, even in the midst of trials.
I was reminded today of the love of God in the midst of my trials and how He exemplified that love through His son. Take a look at John 13:1-17. It is the account of Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet after they shared supper on Jesus' last night on this earth. Obviously there was no greater love shown than what Jesus endured during His passion leading up to and on the cross; however even in the midst of what Jesus knew he was going to endure he served his disciples. Once he was finished washing their feet he says, "If I then, Your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." The Lord clearly reminded me that even in the midst of trials and various seasons that we go through we have to serve one another, for isn't that true love? Later in that same chapter Jesus states, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34, 35).
We can get so wrapped up in our own trials, our own desires, thoughts, ideas and totally forget that in all of those things we are called to love one another, and by that love the world will know we are Jesus' disciples. Perhaps that is why such a darkness has fallen across our land is that the disciples of Jesus are not washing one another's feet and loving well, even in the midst of trials.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Walking in the Light
"We are not told to 'walk in the light' of our conscience or in the light of a sense of duty, but to 'walk in the light as He is in the light...' (1 John 1:7). When we do something out of a sense of duty, it is easy to explain the reasons for our actions to others. But when we do something out of obedience to the Lord, there can be no other explanation--just obedience. That is why a saint can be so easily ridiculed and misunderstood." ~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, February 28
This exhortation could not have come at a better time for myself. Earlier in his exhortation he brings up Proverbs 3:5, 6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."
To me that is a verse so many folks know but, it seems to me, forget that the emphasis isn't so much in verse 5 as it is in verse 6 (yes first we have to trust, but the trust requires an action in acknowledging the Lord). It harmonizes so well with 1 John 1:7 which states in it's entirety - "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." In all our dealings in this world, walking in light means to first trust in the Lord, in trusting we will then acknowledge the Lord in all of our dealings and turn to Him first for everything. We will not rely on our own conscience, or what we "think" is right or what the culture (either the worldly or church) has taught us, instead we will turn to His word and test all things in light of His word. From there He will direct our paths and guide us. We must seek to understand His will, not seek to harmonize his will with ours, but rather ours with His.
This exhortation could not have come at a better time for myself. Earlier in his exhortation he brings up Proverbs 3:5, 6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."
To me that is a verse so many folks know but, it seems to me, forget that the emphasis isn't so much in verse 5 as it is in verse 6 (yes first we have to trust, but the trust requires an action in acknowledging the Lord). It harmonizes so well with 1 John 1:7 which states in it's entirety - "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." In all our dealings in this world, walking in light means to first trust in the Lord, in trusting we will then acknowledge the Lord in all of our dealings and turn to Him first for everything. We will not rely on our own conscience, or what we "think" is right or what the culture (either the worldly or church) has taught us, instead we will turn to His word and test all things in light of His word. From there He will direct our paths and guide us. We must seek to understand His will, not seek to harmonize his will with ours, but rather ours with His.
Friday, January 11, 2013
What Changed
For those that have known me for a long time you might wonder what has changed in me that I post so much about the firearms? What caused me to want to move to Colorado and make some other changes. Those have all stemmed from changes that have occurred in my heart. It all started with a prayer out of brokenness, and directly from Psalm 139:23, 24, "Search me, O God and know my heart; Try me and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Several years ago I found myself in the midst of almost losing everything from some very poor errors in my judgment. I stood at the brink of a precipice and there was no one there to pull me back. The Lord literally intervened and saved me. That was some 6 years ago. Prior to that I had lived the "nice guy" Christian life, but felt like I was dead inside, I chased fruitless dreams, seemed to wander around a bit. I even had a "friend" and whom I thought was a mentor tell another friend of mine that I was "wishy washy". Later this same person, after things had come to light, stated to me that "I knew something didn't seem right with you." I don't disagree with those things that were said of me, I just wish that he had confronted me directly on those things, maybe it would have uncovered the deeper, darker things in my heart, maybe things would have gone differently. I was "aloof" in my heart, and even though I knew the scriptures I was very much like a Pharisee, I had not let the Word of God pierce my heart or break me.
After the set of circumstances in 2006 and upon the realization that I was broken I began to pray Psalm 139, I really took to heart Proverbs 4:23-27, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids right before you. Ponder the path of your feet and let all of your ways be established. Do no turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil." God really began stirring in my heart. It was at that time we joined a small church, where, I have met some of the most honorable men I know to this day. They surrounded me. Kirk, my dear friend and at that point in time my new Pastor had a true Shepherd's heart, (he still very much does, we talk fairly regularly). Us men began the study of the book Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzerro. That book taught me so much, what it means to love well, how experiences and my past had shaped me and my actions both present and future. It taught me to love incarnate. I highly recommend that book.
It was also during this time that I really began to wrestle with the nature of God, who God is. I found that I didn't really understand His grace, I really didn't understand why He didn't just strike me down because of my sin. I read the whole Old Testament during this time. I knew the New Testament pretty well, but it wasn't until I read the Old Testament that it really opened up to me who the Lord really is. It also reshaped so much of what I thought I knew in the New Testament. I found out about how the Lord has perfect mercy, perfect grace, and perfect wrath and judgment. I learned more about His eternal nature. I began to think critically about what I believed about the Lord. One of the biggest struggles I had was with my own mortality, I was afraid to die; of course, who isn't? Most of the men in the Old Testament, didn't seem afraid to die (neither did those in the New Testament, especially for their faith in Jesus). One book I struggled with the most was the book of Job. Man, what a story! It had a profound impact on the way I viewed the Lord. The history of Israel, amazing, how God deals with people's hearts on such a personal level, but when it comes to nations it is in judgment. The Old Testament has shaped much of the way I view our nation today and why I mourn for the people of our nation. God hasn't changed.
During a set of counseling sessions that Shannon and I had in 2006 our counselor recommended to Shannon and I that we read the book Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. Shannon bought that book for me in 2007, I finally picked it up in 2010. It took me about 2 weeks to read the book. Since that time I have reread that book (as well as the others) about 3 times now. Again Wild at Heart is a must read. It helped me to uncover a lot of what I knew in my heart, but really couldn't articulate. It dealt with me on things like why just being a "nice Christian guy" is killing me. Why I need to make a stand for what is right and to be an example to my sons. As Kirk would say, "more it caught than taught." The aspect of God that is a fierce warrior, but tender at the same time and that us men are made in that same image. Again it helped me peel back the layers of my heart and it continues to this day.
The other book I read during this time period (among some other theologically deep books on "end times", the sovereignty of God and some others) was a book by Steve Farrar called King Me. This is a must read for any father out there, young or old. One of the struggles I had early on was that I wanted to do great things for this world, I wanted to change it and be "great for God". Many know this, but I love to sing, I thought that one day I would have that as my "ministry" to the Lord and be great. I pursued it, even to the point of being gone practically every night doing "church" things. I left my family at home. I had, at the time, two sons at home who really didn't know their daddy (which at that point may have not been a bad thing). I was an angry man, frustrated, lost my temper often, my values were not real good, but I really did desire and love the Lord. What I didn't understand at that time is that love required that I value the things that are important to the one I claimed to love more than what I valued. That is true love. That is what the Lord requires of us, if we are to truly love Him. I can relate to the David's historical account in many ways.
King Me is about the legacy that David passed down to Solomon, and then from there on down the line. If you are familiar with the account, it eventually leads to the destruction of Israel. Is our nation any different than that? We did not get to the place that we are overnight, it started some generations ago, the exact timing could be up for debate, but more than likely it started around the turn of the 20th Century. It's not something we can fix overnight either. It will take generations to fix, and honestly, (and I am sure folks will disagree with me on this) but we aren't ready to fix it. The fields are NOT white with snow, they are dead in their hearts. The people are still in the mode of turning from God, there is no brokenness, only disobedience. The hearts of the people are hardened. Our model to know when the heart is ready is with Jesus' words in Matthew 5, or what most know as the Beatitudes. There was none more guilty than I; I was not around for my wife nor my sons and my heart was very hard. The legacy I was going to leave was not going to be that much different from the rest of our culture. I bought into the culture, I was a micro-chasm of the culture, just like many of the churches I attended. (Save for Living Springs, which to this day is very counter-church culture and yet I know the Spirit is working mightily among them. They are an organic church.) Then it hit me... What sort of legacy am I leaving, what am I instilling in my sons. What will their grandchildren remember me as? I realized that I would not be remembered for the "great" things I did in my life or any of my accomplishments, but that I would be remembered by how I lived my life. Not necessarily in specific events, but by how my sons will have grown up to be men and then what traits and values they will have passed along. Will they pass along the love of the Lord? How can they if I do not live that way. The Scripture defines what that looks like very clearly and no I am not talking about generational curses or anything like that, no such thing exists; however, what does exist is what they will "catch" from the way I live. Our children WILL learn it and take it to the next level, they will amplify whatever it is we do, both the spoken and unspoken, both the good and the bad. I came to the realization that my GREATEST LEGACY will be my sons. That is how we change the world, by living out our 70, 80 years, or whatever time we have on this earth and living in such a way as to teach our children but to also walk the journey out with them. Again more is caught than taught.
Men, it is time to be men, that is to stay the course, be steadfast, men after the Lord's own heart. To turn away from the darkness; it is clearly defined in the scriptures as to what that is. If you have any doubts, look at the evil that abounds in our world today and ask yourselves how did we get here? History is the greatest teacher about the future. We are not the first nation to go down the current path we are on, and it is very clear about what happens to the nations that do continue down this path.
This is just a brief glimpse into what has shaped me into what I am today, and this journey is by no means over, far from it. There is also no single answer to the question on what has changed, this has been a step-by-step journey, the Lord reveals new things to me with every step. Because of where I am at and what I have learned, by heart breaks for our nation, it breaks for my sons and the type of world they will have to live in. I want them to be able to defend themselves from evil, both spiritually and physically. They will have to raise families in this world, I want them to be able to do it in a free nation; however because of the evil it very well could be in bondage, and they may have to once again fight for their freedoms. I want them to be prepared as men, men of God. I want them to live passionately for the Lord, because it is that passion that future generations might need to be able to live freely for God, the Creator of all things and they just might have to fight for it.
Several years ago I found myself in the midst of almost losing everything from some very poor errors in my judgment. I stood at the brink of a precipice and there was no one there to pull me back. The Lord literally intervened and saved me. That was some 6 years ago. Prior to that I had lived the "nice guy" Christian life, but felt like I was dead inside, I chased fruitless dreams, seemed to wander around a bit. I even had a "friend" and whom I thought was a mentor tell another friend of mine that I was "wishy washy". Later this same person, after things had come to light, stated to me that "I knew something didn't seem right with you." I don't disagree with those things that were said of me, I just wish that he had confronted me directly on those things, maybe it would have uncovered the deeper, darker things in my heart, maybe things would have gone differently. I was "aloof" in my heart, and even though I knew the scriptures I was very much like a Pharisee, I had not let the Word of God pierce my heart or break me.
After the set of circumstances in 2006 and upon the realization that I was broken I began to pray Psalm 139, I really took to heart Proverbs 4:23-27, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids right before you. Ponder the path of your feet and let all of your ways be established. Do no turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil." God really began stirring in my heart. It was at that time we joined a small church, where, I have met some of the most honorable men I know to this day. They surrounded me. Kirk, my dear friend and at that point in time my new Pastor had a true Shepherd's heart, (he still very much does, we talk fairly regularly). Us men began the study of the book Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzerro. That book taught me so much, what it means to love well, how experiences and my past had shaped me and my actions both present and future. It taught me to love incarnate. I highly recommend that book.
It was also during this time that I really began to wrestle with the nature of God, who God is. I found that I didn't really understand His grace, I really didn't understand why He didn't just strike me down because of my sin. I read the whole Old Testament during this time. I knew the New Testament pretty well, but it wasn't until I read the Old Testament that it really opened up to me who the Lord really is. It also reshaped so much of what I thought I knew in the New Testament. I found out about how the Lord has perfect mercy, perfect grace, and perfect wrath and judgment. I learned more about His eternal nature. I began to think critically about what I believed about the Lord. One of the biggest struggles I had was with my own mortality, I was afraid to die; of course, who isn't? Most of the men in the Old Testament, didn't seem afraid to die (neither did those in the New Testament, especially for their faith in Jesus). One book I struggled with the most was the book of Job. Man, what a story! It had a profound impact on the way I viewed the Lord. The history of Israel, amazing, how God deals with people's hearts on such a personal level, but when it comes to nations it is in judgment. The Old Testament has shaped much of the way I view our nation today and why I mourn for the people of our nation. God hasn't changed.
During a set of counseling sessions that Shannon and I had in 2006 our counselor recommended to Shannon and I that we read the book Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. Shannon bought that book for me in 2007, I finally picked it up in 2010. It took me about 2 weeks to read the book. Since that time I have reread that book (as well as the others) about 3 times now. Again Wild at Heart is a must read. It helped me to uncover a lot of what I knew in my heart, but really couldn't articulate. It dealt with me on things like why just being a "nice Christian guy" is killing me. Why I need to make a stand for what is right and to be an example to my sons. As Kirk would say, "more it caught than taught." The aspect of God that is a fierce warrior, but tender at the same time and that us men are made in that same image. Again it helped me peel back the layers of my heart and it continues to this day.
The other book I read during this time period (among some other theologically deep books on "end times", the sovereignty of God and some others) was a book by Steve Farrar called King Me. This is a must read for any father out there, young or old. One of the struggles I had early on was that I wanted to do great things for this world, I wanted to change it and be "great for God". Many know this, but I love to sing, I thought that one day I would have that as my "ministry" to the Lord and be great. I pursued it, even to the point of being gone practically every night doing "church" things. I left my family at home. I had, at the time, two sons at home who really didn't know their daddy (which at that point may have not been a bad thing). I was an angry man, frustrated, lost my temper often, my values were not real good, but I really did desire and love the Lord. What I didn't understand at that time is that love required that I value the things that are important to the one I claimed to love more than what I valued. That is true love. That is what the Lord requires of us, if we are to truly love Him. I can relate to the David's historical account in many ways.
King Me is about the legacy that David passed down to Solomon, and then from there on down the line. If you are familiar with the account, it eventually leads to the destruction of Israel. Is our nation any different than that? We did not get to the place that we are overnight, it started some generations ago, the exact timing could be up for debate, but more than likely it started around the turn of the 20th Century. It's not something we can fix overnight either. It will take generations to fix, and honestly, (and I am sure folks will disagree with me on this) but we aren't ready to fix it. The fields are NOT white with snow, they are dead in their hearts. The people are still in the mode of turning from God, there is no brokenness, only disobedience. The hearts of the people are hardened. Our model to know when the heart is ready is with Jesus' words in Matthew 5, or what most know as the Beatitudes. There was none more guilty than I; I was not around for my wife nor my sons and my heart was very hard. The legacy I was going to leave was not going to be that much different from the rest of our culture. I bought into the culture, I was a micro-chasm of the culture, just like many of the churches I attended. (Save for Living Springs, which to this day is very counter-church culture and yet I know the Spirit is working mightily among them. They are an organic church.) Then it hit me... What sort of legacy am I leaving, what am I instilling in my sons. What will their grandchildren remember me as? I realized that I would not be remembered for the "great" things I did in my life or any of my accomplishments, but that I would be remembered by how I lived my life. Not necessarily in specific events, but by how my sons will have grown up to be men and then what traits and values they will have passed along. Will they pass along the love of the Lord? How can they if I do not live that way. The Scripture defines what that looks like very clearly and no I am not talking about generational curses or anything like that, no such thing exists; however, what does exist is what they will "catch" from the way I live. Our children WILL learn it and take it to the next level, they will amplify whatever it is we do, both the spoken and unspoken, both the good and the bad. I came to the realization that my GREATEST LEGACY will be my sons. That is how we change the world, by living out our 70, 80 years, or whatever time we have on this earth and living in such a way as to teach our children but to also walk the journey out with them. Again more is caught than taught.
Men, it is time to be men, that is to stay the course, be steadfast, men after the Lord's own heart. To turn away from the darkness; it is clearly defined in the scriptures as to what that is. If you have any doubts, look at the evil that abounds in our world today and ask yourselves how did we get here? History is the greatest teacher about the future. We are not the first nation to go down the current path we are on, and it is very clear about what happens to the nations that do continue down this path.
This is just a brief glimpse into what has shaped me into what I am today, and this journey is by no means over, far from it. There is also no single answer to the question on what has changed, this has been a step-by-step journey, the Lord reveals new things to me with every step. Because of where I am at and what I have learned, by heart breaks for our nation, it breaks for my sons and the type of world they will have to live in. I want them to be able to defend themselves from evil, both spiritually and physically. They will have to raise families in this world, I want them to be able to do it in a free nation; however because of the evil it very well could be in bondage, and they may have to once again fight for their freedoms. I want them to be prepared as men, men of God. I want them to live passionately for the Lord, because it is that passion that future generations might need to be able to live freely for God, the Creator of all things and they just might have to fight for it.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wolves, Sheep and Sheepdogs
I know that I have mentioned and posted this before; however it is such an important mindset, issue of the heart to remember. We live in a fallen world, evil abounds. Whether you believe in him or not we have an enemy, if you don't believe in him then he has already won the battle, subterfuge is his best weapon along with complacency. Dave Grossman has written a book called On Killing. I have yet to read the book (although I plan on doing it soon); however I have read the article he wrote On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs. This is an article that has shaped my mindset on evil, and I am not only talking about whether I will carry my pistol or not, more so it is being aware of the evil in this world. Paul states it so eloquently in Ephesians 6:10-18. I want to focus just on the first couple of verses. Starting in verse 10 Paul states, "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ultimately we are fighting an enemy of our hearts. Just as we are under his attack, so are others. John states in the Gospel of John the following, starting in John 3:16, and skipping ahead to verse 19. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." and then vs. 19, "And this the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." The two verses in between talk about how Christ came into the world to not condemn the world. Please be sure to read it in context. Notice how God redeems the world through His son, but because people love the darkness, they reject Him. The enemy has enticed people in their hearts to love the darkness. It is an age old problem. No matter what we do while we are on this earth evil will exist. God will set that wrong to right at the final judgment, until then we must do what Paul states in Ephesians.
With all that being said God gave us the ability to be prepared for that evil both in the spiritual, as outlined in Ephesians, and in the physical. Nehemiah was tasked with rebuilding Jerusalem after it had been destroyed by the Babylonians because the nation of Israel had turned their hearts against God. The first task that Nehemiah set out to do was to rebuild the wall that protected Jerusalem. While he did this his enemies set out to stop the rebuilding, their hearts were set on lawlessness and evil. So let's pick up the story in Nehemiah 4 (again please read in the entirety, I am going to focus on the highlights) where Nehemiah sets a watch day and night (vs9). He positions men and their families near the unfinished portions of their walls with their swords, their spears, and their bows (vs13). He then has half the people worked at construction and the other half held the weapons (vs16). Even those that worked, while they worked one hand built the wall and the other held a weapon (vs17). Nehemiah armed the people, he prepared them for the wolves, they were sheepdogs, they were prepared for the evil.
Dave Grossman in the following article talks about the mindset of being prepared for evil, protecting those that we love and guarding against murder. Please read the article and consider what you are and what you would like to be. Here is the Article
Lastly, watch this 20 minute video (located here). It is an interview with Dave Grossman and Tim Schmidt, President of the United States Concealed Carry Association. Keep in mind this interview was done several months ago. I am interested in any healthy discussion on the topic so please leave any comments below.
I will end this post with this thought: We must be prepared for evil both spiritually and physically. Our nation, which means the people of this nation, have wholly rejected God and His commandments. God did not make us robots and will allow us to walk the path we have chosen (as a nation), he has given us over to our depraved minds (Romans 2:24). There are consequences to every action.
With all that being said God gave us the ability to be prepared for that evil both in the spiritual, as outlined in Ephesians, and in the physical. Nehemiah was tasked with rebuilding Jerusalem after it had been destroyed by the Babylonians because the nation of Israel had turned their hearts against God. The first task that Nehemiah set out to do was to rebuild the wall that protected Jerusalem. While he did this his enemies set out to stop the rebuilding, their hearts were set on lawlessness and evil. So let's pick up the story in Nehemiah 4 (again please read in the entirety, I am going to focus on the highlights) where Nehemiah sets a watch day and night (vs9). He positions men and their families near the unfinished portions of their walls with their swords, their spears, and their bows (vs13). He then has half the people worked at construction and the other half held the weapons (vs16). Even those that worked, while they worked one hand built the wall and the other held a weapon (vs17). Nehemiah armed the people, he prepared them for the wolves, they were sheepdogs, they were prepared for the evil.
Dave Grossman in the following article talks about the mindset of being prepared for evil, protecting those that we love and guarding against murder. Please read the article and consider what you are and what you would like to be. Here is the Article
Lastly, watch this 20 minute video (located here). It is an interview with Dave Grossman and Tim Schmidt, President of the United States Concealed Carry Association. Keep in mind this interview was done several months ago. I am interested in any healthy discussion on the topic so please leave any comments below.
I will end this post with this thought: We must be prepared for evil both spiritually and physically. Our nation, which means the people of this nation, have wholly rejected God and His commandments. God did not make us robots and will allow us to walk the path we have chosen (as a nation), he has given us over to our depraved minds (Romans 2:24). There are consequences to every action.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Perspective
A couple of great articles with perspective on the mass murders. This is such a terrible tragedy and unfortunately is "nothing new under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9. Take a look at this Wikipedia article on a very early mass murder in America dating back to the French/Indian War: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac%27s_Rebellion_school_massacre
Some additional reading.
Good article on the firearm issue:
Massad Ayoob
http://backwoodshome.com/blogs/MassadAyoob/2012/12/15/against-monsters/
Great article on the heart of the issue. I highly recommend this one!
http://tybenbow.blogspot.com/2012/12/reflecting-on-american-tragedy.html
One last thing I will say. I have observed a lot of discussion on Facebook between "friends" on the gun issue. I would encourage everyone to have an actual conversation about the issue, debate vigorously but don't divide.
Some additional reading.
Good article on the firearm issue:
Massad Ayoob
http://backwoodshome.com/blogs/MassadAyoob/2012/12/15/against-monsters/
Great article on the heart of the issue. I highly recommend this one!
http://tybenbow.blogspot.com/2012/12/reflecting-on-american-tragedy.html
One last thing I will say. I have observed a lot of discussion on Facebook between "friends" on the gun issue. I would encourage everyone to have an actual conversation about the issue, debate vigorously but don't divide.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Step by Step
It has been just over a year since we have moved to Colorado. It has been a journey of full of mountain top experiences, hikes through the valley and even crawling through some dark places; however the Lord has been faithful through it all. I want to share just some of what I have learned over the past year and what I still learning to this very day. This will take several posts, so please be patient with me as I step through this journey.
I updated my playlist to start off with Rich Mullins' song Sometimes by Step. That song has been such an incredible guide for me. Our last Sunday at Living Springs Community Church back on Sunday, September 18, 2011 Pastor Kirk taught a message to us that he called "Step by Step: Abraham: Genesis 12-25". There were five key ideas he shared about vision and letting the Lord lead you step-by-step (Shared with permission from Kirk and Livings Springs Community Church). This has been a guide to me over the last year and has become more real to me that I ever could have imagined. I have experienced in some way each of the points covered below:
I. Being called & Led
a. Be available to be led by a vision
b. Build altars along the way
i. Serve as reminder of our vision
ii. encourage us to continue the journey
iii. inspire faith in us when times are dry
c. call upon the name of the Lord
i. make your vision about honoring God with your life
ii. worship the Lord along the way
iii. walk with God, step-by-step
II. Fighting for your vision
a. There are forces against your vision
b. there are allies standing with you regarding your vision
i. share your vision with these people
ii. have these people pray for you
iii. Allow the Lord to bring people into your life that He will use to help your vision along the way
c. Giving so the Lord gets the glory
i. A form of trusting God with your vision
ii. The way of honoring God with your blessings
iii. Generosity strengthens your vision but also the faith of those around you
iv. Makes our outcome reliant upon God’s blessing
III. Believing
a. Genesis 15
IV. Growing through mistakes as we pursue vision
a. Abram lies to Pharaoh about Sarai, Genesis 12:10-20
b. Sarai gives Abram Hagar to bear them children, Genesis 16
c. Sarah lies to the Lord about laughing, Genesis 18:13-15
d. Abraham lied to Abimelech, King of Gerar about Sarah, Genesis 20.
Proverbs 24:16 – for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity NIV
V. Living Your Vision
a. Carrying the marks of your vision, Genesis 17
b. The birth, Genesis 21
c. Growth, Genesis 22
d. Tests of obedience, Genesis 22:12 (The test of Abraham over sacrificing Isaac)
e. Even through loss, Genesis 23:1, 2 (Sarah died)
f. By passing it on, Genesis 25:5-11
Conclusion:
Proverbs 16:1-3
Proverbs 16:9
This sermon had a profound affect on us. I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with Abraham's story in Genesis 12-25 before continuing onto the subsequent posts. This journey has been and will continue to be step by step for Shannon and I.
I updated my playlist to start off with Rich Mullins' song Sometimes by Step. That song has been such an incredible guide for me. Our last Sunday at Living Springs Community Church back on Sunday, September 18, 2011 Pastor Kirk taught a message to us that he called "Step by Step: Abraham: Genesis 12-25". There were five key ideas he shared about vision and letting the Lord lead you step-by-step (Shared with permission from Kirk and Livings Springs Community Church). This has been a guide to me over the last year and has become more real to me that I ever could have imagined. I have experienced in some way each of the points covered below:
I. Being called & Led
a. Be available to be led by a vision
b. Build altars along the way
i. Serve as reminder of our vision
ii. encourage us to continue the journey
iii. inspire faith in us when times are dry
c. call upon the name of the Lord
i. make your vision about honoring God with your life
ii. worship the Lord along the way
iii. walk with God, step-by-step
II. Fighting for your vision
a. There are forces against your vision
b. there are allies standing with you regarding your vision
i. share your vision with these people
ii. have these people pray for you
iii. Allow the Lord to bring people into your life that He will use to help your vision along the way
c. Giving so the Lord gets the glory
i. A form of trusting God with your vision
ii. The way of honoring God with your blessings
iii. Generosity strengthens your vision but also the faith of those around you
iv. Makes our outcome reliant upon God’s blessing
III. Believing
a. Genesis 15
IV. Growing through mistakes as we pursue vision
a. Abram lies to Pharaoh about Sarai, Genesis 12:10-20
b. Sarai gives Abram Hagar to bear them children, Genesis 16
c. Sarah lies to the Lord about laughing, Genesis 18:13-15
d. Abraham lied to Abimelech, King of Gerar about Sarah, Genesis 20.
Proverbs 24:16 – for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity NIV
V. Living Your Vision
a. Carrying the marks of your vision, Genesis 17
b. The birth, Genesis 21
c. Growth, Genesis 22
d. Tests of obedience, Genesis 22:12 (The test of Abraham over sacrificing Isaac)
e. Even through loss, Genesis 23:1, 2 (Sarah died)
f. By passing it on, Genesis 25:5-11
Conclusion:
Proverbs 16:1-3
Proverbs 16:9
This sermon had a profound affect on us. I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with Abraham's story in Genesis 12-25 before continuing onto the subsequent posts. This journey has been and will continue to be step by step for Shannon and I.
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