Favorite Quotes...

These are some of my favorite quotes. This one's gonna be pretty long cuz I'll continue to put new quotes as I find them, but here's the first batch:

"We need to stop trying to figure out God, and instead just draw close to him."
-Ken Martin (my dad)

"More today, Lord, than yesterday. More tomorrow than today."
-Voddie Baucham

"What makes life worthwhile is having a big enough objective, something which catches our imagination and lays hold of our allegiance; what higher, more exalting and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?"
-J.I. Packer

"For defending the truth in our day, we are called proud and obstinate hypocrites. We are not ashamed of these titles. The cause we are called to defend, is not Peter's cause, or the cause of our parents, or that of the government, or that of the world, but the cause of God. In defense of that cause we must be firm and unyielding."
-Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians 2:11

"Perhaps one reason our preaching about the love of God has such little resonance in the world today is that there is such meager evidence of the holiness of God in our walk and ways."
-Timothy George: "A Theology for the Church" p. 225

"The cross is the place where God's righteousness and mercy embrace, where the holy one of Israel was made to become sin on behalf of and instead of lost sinners. This is the basis of our reconciliation with God and also of our concern to maintain standards of justice and equity in society. We affirm the goodness of creation, the sanctity of human life, and the integrity of marriage not out of humanistic concerns but because we are accountable to a holy God who calls us to seek justice, love mercy, and work for peace in the world that this great God has made and will one day judge.
-Timothy George: "A Theology for the Church" p. 225

"Jesus gives the world the right to decide whether those who bear his name truly belong to him based upon their observable love for one another (John 13:35)... such observable love as the "untried apologetic" the world is waiting to see demonstrated with in the church. Such love is the mark of genuine Christianity."
-Timothy George: "A Theology for the Church" p. 228

"The incarnation and passion of Christ therefore are set forth for our contemplation, in order above all that we may behold and know the love of God toward us. So John 3 says: "God so loved the world," etc. Here God pours our not sun and moon, nor heaven and earth, but his own heart and his dearest Son, and even suffers him to shed his blood and die the most shameful of all deaths for us. Shameful, wicked, ungrateful people. How can we here say anything else but that God is nothing but an abyss of eternal love. We have received from God naught but love and favor, for Christ has pledged and given us his righteousness and everything that he has, has poured out upon us all his treasures, which no man can measure and no angel can understand or fathom, for God is a glowing furnace of love, reaching even from the earth to the heavens."
-Martin Luther as quoted in Philip S. Watson's "Let God Be God"

If our lives and ministries are expressions of what we actually believe, and if what we believe is off center and yet so pervasive that it is seldom even brought to conscious discussion, much less debated, then this explains why our impact on the world is so paltry compared to our numbers.
-J. P. Moreland
Love Your God With All Your Mind: Ch1

It may, perhaps, be pleasant to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely - a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on.
- Jane Austen
Pride & Prejudice: Ch. 6

Be careful what you shoot at Ryan. Things in here don't react well to bullets.
-Sean Connery
The Hunt For Red October

For now,
Jeff (12/27/08)

NEW QUOTE (3/23/09)

(Biblical preachers are) "in a line of great succession. The reformers, the Puritans, the pastors of the Pilgrim fathers were essentially expositors. They did not announce their own particular opinions, which might be a matter of private interpretation or doubtful disposition, but taking their stand on Scripture, drove home their message with irresistible effect with 'Thus saith the Lord.' "

-F. B. Meyer

"Thinking is difficult, but it stands as our essential work. Make no mistake about the difficulty of the task. It is often slow, discouraging, overwhelming. But when God calls us to preach, He calls us to love Him with our minds. God deserves that kind of love and so do the people whom we minister."

-Haddon W. Robinson

"Biblical Preaching" Ch. 2 p. 46

New Quote (9/16/09)

"A woman has a close male friend. This means that he is probably interested in her, which is why he hangs around her so much. But she sees him strictly as a friend. This always starts out with, 'You're a great guy, but I don't like you in that way.' This is roughly the equivalent for the guy of going to a job interview and the company saying, 'You have a great resume, you have all the qualifications we are looking for, but we're not going to hire you. We will, however, use your resume as the basis for comparison for all other applicants. But, we're going to hire somebody who is far less qualified and is probably an alcoholic. And if he doesn't work out, we'll hire somebody else, but still not you. In fact, we will never hire you. But we will call you from time to time to complain about the person that we hired."

-Unknown

New Quote (12/11/09)

"There are two different senses in which a number of people can have a good in common. In the weak sense, the common good is whatever is good for each other irrespective of whether there is any bond between them. You do not have to know that Tom is married to Rosemary to know that having shoes that fit is good for both. But in the strong sense, the common good is what pertains to there partnership in a good life. Marital love is a good for Tom and Rosemary in a wholly different way than having shoes that fit; apart from their bond it cannot be understood."

J. Budziszewski on Aristotle's view of the common good

Hang in there....

Just wanted to throw out a blanket statement..... somebody who is reading this is going through something that they don't feel that they're going to be able to make it through. It's inevitable. Someone at sometime is going to read this blog and feel like the whole world is crashing around them.

So to that I say, take heart. I don't know what you're going through, or what your struggle is. I don't know the situations that you're facing in your life, but there is one thing that I do know. There is a Savior who says to come to Him, and to give Him your burden and exchange it for His. Your burden is cumbersome and heavy, His burden is light. Come to the cross, lay down your anxiety and fears, and take up the comfort that comes from losing your life ambitions, goals, and aspirations in the peace and rest that He gives.

Go, and preach saying, "The kingdom of God is near",
-Jeff

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-Jeff

The New Name...

So, after a few months, I've finally realized that "the musings of urban squirrels" was much too long of a name... I mean, who would've thought that having a title that's 26 letters long was too long for people to remember.

Anywho..... I've decided to change the name to Red's Reflections. I figure that this name should be much much easier to remember. So from now on... if you'd like to catch all of the madness that's running through my head, you can catch me at http://redsreflections.blogspot.com

-Jeff

Another oldie...."At the cross where I first saw the light"

Would it be so fragrant of an offering if I were as holy as your son?
My sacrifice could n'er attain the righteousness due to your name.

If my rags were robes, would they be acceptable as the curtains in your throne room?
Surely my riches are expended at the very thought of you.

If my possessions were that of a king, could they buy me but a moment with you?
Indeed, that minute were all too much for my kingly treasure.

No, in all of it, O God, I am depraved. A sinner's sinner is my decree. My name is marred with that of transgressions and iniquity. My righteousness is as filthy rags in the light of your glory.

But oh that I might bask in that glory! For it is here that my sin is laid barren. It is desolate before the mercy found in the cross. In that pain and anguish that should have been mine, I find the only propitiation for my wounded and hurting soul. It is here that mine eye has seen the glory of the Lord, who was before time and never ceasing. My every need is fulfilled with the last breath of my savior. Yes, it is in this, the greatest act of love, that I find my rest.

To you, O Lord, is my praise. For there is no one else worthy of exaltation. In your name will strength and power be found for the weak and downtrodden. Be glorified in all that you do my divine King. Let all the people of the earth praise the name of the Lord forever. May he make a footstool of the wicked, and lift up the humble with His mighty right hand. Be honored my God by the turning of the pagan to the salvation of his soul. It is here that I find my praise and adoration. In my depravation you have lifted my heart and spirit. Praise be to the Lord of Hosts for He is good to all the nations.

Three Words. Ten Definitions. One Constant.

Refine:

1. to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities
2. to purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing
3. to bring to a finer state or form by purifying
4. to make fine distinctions in thought or language
5. to improve by inserting finer distinctions, superior elements, etc.

Purge:

1. to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse; purify
2. to clear of imputed guilt or ritual uncleanliness.
3. to clear away or wipe out legally (an offense, accusation, etc.) by atonement or other suitable action.

Purify:

1. to make pure; free from anything that debases, pollutes, adulterates, or contaminates
2. to free from guilt or evil

Three words. Ten definitions. One constant.

Removal of unwanted, undesirable, even at times toxic substances from a raw source by a third party for the greater value of the source being acted upon; often including the insertion of something not previously innate to the original source.

Often times, we go through these processes in our growth as human beings, but especially as Christians desiring a more intimate walk with God. Unfortunately, there are rarely times that this happens without spiritual surgery. Sometimes minor, sometimes major, but an undergoing all the same.

As I was reflecting on the first 24 years of my life, I realized something. There is a deep longing and desire inside of me to be wild and reckless. To not be tied down. To travel and see more of the world. To be free to pick up and move at any time to any place. Extravagance is not needed for these endeavors. Simple accommodations will do. But why not? Why not go through with these all too natural desires…

Three words. Ten definitions. One constant.
Refinement
Purging
Purification

Here it is here it is 14 months after moving to Texas. I’m in a great city, at a great school, have great friends, serving at a great church, and still I am constantly meandering through conscious daydreams of lands far away, distant, and removed. A land of a different language and culture and people; a land of beautiful mountains, woods, streams, and family; and a land of crystal blue oceans, raging seas, and friends. All three of which I have called home.

All too content to be constantly on the move, never content to be still. Worried of what might happen if I am still for too long. What will happen if the surgeon’s scalpel cuts too deep? To the things that I don’t want exposed, the things that only I know about.

Oh no, I do not want this refinement. I do not crave this purging. I do not desire this purification. For with these surgeries comes not only pain from the removal of dross, but also times to heal and be still. It is this stillness that I am so terrified of.

So why? Why do I stay? Why do I not take flight and run to pleasures untamed?

Three words. Ten definitions. One Constant.
Refinement
Purging
Purification

It is the reason why we all must learn to submit to the surgeon’s knife. My Constant is the Great Physician who forms and molds the clay of His earthen vessels for His will and His purpose, and their good.

We all have ambitions, desires, wants, and needs. These are not unknown to our Father. He does not turn a deaf ear to His children, but He stretches them and conforms them to Himself.

We do not declare that we are martyrs for a cause. We are not unlovingly sacrificed upon the alter of a malicious, distant, apathetic god. No. We are refined, purged, and purified because of who we were, who He is, and who we have been redeemed to be.

We were:

• Haters of good
• Doers of evil
• Opponents of truth
• Enemies of God

He is:

• The source of all that is good
• Righteousness incarnate
• The true light that has revealed Himself
• The gracious redeemer of those who opposed Him.

Make no mistake about it. We were those things, but we are no longer so. We are no longer simply clay in the ground, but now sculpted vessels in the Palace. We have been given finer qualities by the superior Spirit. We have been made rid of whatever is impure and undesirable by the blood of the humble Servant. We have been freed from guilt by the righteous Judge.

We do not sacrifice our lives for pity or for sympathy. No. Our sacrifice of ambitions, goals, aspirations, and even the rights to control our own lives is for the Kingdom of our Holy God. That is what we do. That is who we are. We are servants of the Most High God who is worthy of all that we have, and we refuse to give Him any less.

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

-Mark 8:34-35

OOO-WWWEE!!! THANK YA JESUS!

Here it is, a month-month and a half down the road from my last post, and I finally have time to not only gather some thoughts together, but to post them as well. For about the last week or so, I've been wanting to write something, but I haven't had a clue what it would be about. That was up until tonight in my Old Testament class.

It seems funny to me that it would be my OT class of all my classes that would give me fuel for the creative fire of my blogging, but there you go....

You see, I don't know if you've noticed yet, whether by my previous writings, or my profile pics, or by my personality, but I am a 23, almost 24 year old DUDE; a GUY; an HOMBRE... I am a MAN! And I love it. Now with that in mind, here's the question: What is the difference in the thought patterns of a 14 year old boy and a 24 year old man....

Well, believe it or not, there are some, albeit probably not too too many, differences. But there is one thing that has not changed. GIRLS. You know I don't know if we ever get over that. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mean that when we get married that it's ok for our attention to be directed to any other woman other than our wife. And know this is for sure....... I ain't never gonna get over that girl that the LORD's got for me, and that's dang skippy! OOO-WWEE!!! THANK YA JESUS!

Here's what I'm getting at... We have been talking for the last two weeks in my OT class about the Patriarchs in the book of Genesis, and it all started with a discussion of Adam.

And it begins (the inspiration for this blog, not the creation account), not with the forming of Adam, but with the bringing forth of Eve from Adam. If there's one thing that Adam's response was not, it was him being lackluster about the entrance of Eve into his world. Adam was STOKED when he saw Eve for the first time. I'm tellin you, that boy was happier than a bird dog on the opening day of hunting season. If he would've had a tail, it would've been waggin. Look at what he says when the LORD shows him Eve for the very first time... Genesis chapter 2, verse 23:

And the man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

Now, I really wish that I could do the passage justice, but because it's written down for us and we don't have a video of it, we can't really get the full depth of what he's actually saying here in English. Now, I'm not a Hebrew scholar (in fact, I haven't even taken Hebrew yet), but it is my understanding that in the original language Adam is just about to jump out of his skin. My unauthorized Jeff Martin interpretation would be something like this....

Hallelujah! God, You are way to good to me! You were able to take something out of me and make that beautiful creature.... OOO-WWEEE!!! THANK YA LORD! WOW! In fact, that's what I'm gonna call her, WOMAN, cause she came out of Man, but then again, she ain't no man, and for that God, I praise you! You do excellent work!"

Now, I can already tell that this blog is going to go way too long, but I don't give a rip cuz I've got a lot to say.

If you skip a couple of chapters ahead, you move past Abraham and Sarah (who was SMOKIN by the way), and Isaac and Rebekah, and you come to Jacob and Rachel. So check it out, I'm gonna try and give you the abridged version (It's in Genesis 29; go look it up.)

• Jacob has already not only stolen Esau's birthright, but also his blessing, and Esau is beyond pissed at Jacob and wants to kill him.
• So Jacob ends up fleeing from his brother and sets off to Paddan-aram.
• On his way, he has a dream at Bethel, and then he ends up at this field with a well in it and sees three flocks waiting to be watered.
• Now, the shepherds are chillin because they've got to wait for everybody else to get there so that they can all remove the stone that's on top of the well. This is a big #*&#% stone. That's how they keep just anybody from using it. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that water in a desert = super valuable.
• Jacob starts chattin with the guys and he's like, "What's goin on? So you guys know some dude by the name Laban? You do, cool. Is he doin alright?"
• The shepherds are like, "Yeah, we know Laban, in fact here comes his daughter"

And here's where we pick up. Jacob sees Rachel coming and immediately he realizes that not only is he supposed to choose his wife from the house of Laban, which she is, but that this girl is SLAMMIN! Dawg, this girl is F.I.N.E.- FINE! So what's he do? What every other brother on the face of the Earth would do... "Hey guys, don't ya'll have something to do with these sheep.... Go on, water them and get them out in the field." AKA... "Go on dawg, get outta here. Ya'll are playin with the business and need to get to steppin."

The shepherds respond that they've got to wait for everybody to get there so that they can move the stone together. But Jacob ain't havin it. You see, by this time, Rachel's gotten to the well and so the brother has got to take some initiative. He rolls the stone out of the way on his own, and then goes on to water her flock.

He then proceeds to strike up a conversation with her and he's like, "Oh you're from the house of Bethuel, check it out... ME TOO!!! Yeah! Oh girl, I'd love to meet your father. Yeah, tell him his nephew's in town."

So Jacob stays with Laban, his uncle, for a month, and Laban tells him that he should name his wages so that he'd stay and would work for him. Now, Laban has two daughters:

1. Leah - the oldest who's not bad looking, but she's not all that good looking either. The Bible uses a Hebrew idiom, "And Leah's eyes were weak" meaning that she was just so-so to look at.
2. Rachel - the second of the two who is Miss Middle East. Jacob is already head over heels for this girl.

So Jacob says, "I'll work for you seven years, and you'll give me Rachel." Laban agrees, and the deals done. It turns out that Laban deceives Jacob (hmm, the one who supplants (Jacob) is deceived by Laban), and the story goes one for another 20 chapters until Jacob (now Israel) dies in Egypt.

But here's what I want to pull out of Jacob and Rachel's story:

1. Rachel is just doing what she does on a normal basis and going about her life being faithful to her task.
2. Jacob is running from his own family because he's a lying thief, and only agrees to serve God if God will protect him on his journey to and fro. And yet, God's grace is not contingent upon Jacob's attitude, but God's nature.
3. Jacob gets Rachel by serving her. He removes the stone from the well and waters her flock. When he's deceived and given Leah as his bride, he works another seven years to get Rachel. Jacob is not the most outstanding and upright man at this point in his life, but one thing is for sure, he is vigilant and determined to get this girl.
4. Just as Eve was a gift to Adam, Rachel is a gift from God to Jacob. We already know that Jacob wasn't exactly the stereotypical guy that you'd want chasing you, but God was gracious to him all the same so that His divine plan would come to pass.

Here's the deal, this blog has been written with mainly other guys in mind. And this is the kicker:

Fellas, sometimes we have to go looking for the girl of our dreams. And you know what, she may very well end up looking like Leah or Rachel. That doesn't really matter. What matters is that when we do find her, we see that she is a woman who is not only faithfully going about what she's supposed to be doing, but she is respecting her father, and being submissive to his will. I don't believe for a moment that Rachel was not impressed by Jacob offering to work 7 years in her father's house in order to win her hand in marriage. If it would have been me, I would've been like, how's 7 months sound? Sound ok? So when it came time for her to marry Jacob, I don't think that she was too happy to watch her sister be given to Jacob instead of her. Then she had to wait 7 more years to be with Jacob. Let me tell you, 14 years is a long time. Our response to such a woman should be that we understand that she is indeed a gift from God to us who don't always deserve her. And because of that, we are to serve her, pursue her, fight for her, and cherish her all the days of our life.

Now I know that there are a lot of cultural differences between this story and our own cultural constructs. Incest, polygamy, and arranged marriages to name a few. But here's the deal: This is the inspired, infallible Word of the Living God, and it's message doesn't loose any potency when it doesn't match up exactly to our culture.

Go out and find that Eve, that Rachel who captures your eye, makes you want to serve her, who forces you to draw closer to the Lord, and who is submissive to the authority in her life. I didn't say subversive, that's a-whole-nother story. After all, Rachel was a little firecracker herself. I don't know about you, but I don't want just a ho-hum kind of girl. I need a girl with personality and wit and who fiercely challenges me to not only be a better man, but a better man of God.

This girl is not going to be easy to find. But she is findable. Search for her, serve her, love her, and lead her. Be more than what Jacob was to Rachel. Be so wonderful to her that you fulfill the example to the world of the relationship between Christ and His church set out in Ephesians 5. Do this and never forget the moment that God brought her into your life and you said, "OOO-WWWEE!!! THANK YA JESUS!"

-Jeff

Looking For Sparks: Lessons from a "Modern Day Drifter" - Lesson 2a

Have you ever known a lone-wolf Christian? I'm sure you have. Now here's an even more pertinent question, have you ever known an effective lone-wolf Christian? I’m going to say that you have not. And if you have, please, introduce this person to me. I truly want to meet them.

Why do I, with a great degree of certainty, say that you have never met an effective lone-wolf Christian? Well, in a nut shell, the very idea of a lone-wolf Christian is antithetical to the nature of Christianity. Christianity is, and always has been, a relationship based belief system that is structured around dependency. Most notably on our dependency as fallen beings on an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving Creator God who has, for the purpose of redeeming His helpless creation (us), revealed himself through

• Primarily: His inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word
• Secondary: His natural revelation in His creation, specifically through: nature and the commonality of the human condition expressed in the need of a redeemer

Even the Old Testament Jews were known by God through a relationship. Don’t believe me? Well, they were God’s chosen people (Ex 19) for one. In fact, the very word for "lovingkindness" used in the Old Testament is often times the Hebrew word that evokes the image of a covenantal relationship between God and his chosen people.

Therefore, our dependence upon God is paramount in our Christian life. However, to say that our dependency upon God is the only kind of fellowship necessary in the Christian life is preposterous.

If I have learned one thing in all of my travels, it is the need to surround myself with believers who have, what I call, that special “spark”. Notice that I didn’t stop at the need to surround myself with believers. If you walk away from this blog with the notion that you merely need to surround yourself with believers, you’ve missed the point. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers is a given (Heb 10:23-25). But so is being in the midst of nonbelievers (Matt 28:18-20).

What I’m speaking of, is surrounding yourselves with people who are so in love with Jesus, that they are just about glowing with the radiance of God. (Example A: Moses and God Mono y Mono) (Example B: Stephen’s Appology)

These guys were literally glowing (well, Moses was at least) from the Glory of God. Think about it... It got to the point that Moses actually started wearing a veil (backfired later) because he freaked out the assembly when they saw him. I mean, they couldn't say, "Moses, have you been standing too close to the nuclear reactor again?", now could they? Nope, they were like, "Yo dude, you're kinda freakin us out here with the whole shining face deal." Now, I don't know anyone who is so close to the Lord that they actually glow. I'm not gonna lie, that'd freak me out to.

But there is another kind of spark inside of us. That is the life that is given to us by the Holy Spirit. Check out Jeremiah 20:9. Even though the Holy Spirit had not yet been given at that time, I think that he illustrates quite well what I'm talking about.

You need to look for those people who have that "burning fire" inside of them that is uncontrollable. AND YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THEM TO BE APART OF YOUR LIFE!!! I'm going to speak about the various kinds of examples that the Bible gives us as far as what these relationships might look like in my next post, but I can not impress upon you how important it is to get these kind of people in your life.

Find people who have something different about their personality, character, love for the Lord, and even about how they carry and present themselves to others.

Here's some things that you may consider when trying to get involved in the life of people who you think have that special spark:

• Ask them to dinner to get to know them better: Guys, it is perfectly ok for you to ask another guy out to dinner (for this purpose). Probably don't want to phrase it like that, but you already know that. And if it's someone of the opposite sex, be casual and upfront. For Pete's sake, you're trying to get to know them, not ask them out on a date. If you're afraid that your intentions may be skewed or misinterpreted for some reason or another, let them know up front that you would just like to get to know them.
• Find out what their interests are and ask them to help you with whatever that interest may be: But only do this if you happen to at least somewhat share this interest. I love golf, so I may ask someone to go play golf... two stepping, etc.
• Engage in conversation with them... AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY! This is probably not that big of an issue. I mean, if you've asked a person to hang out with you because you believe that there is something different about them, you're more than likely going to want to hear what the person has to say.
• Invite them over to watch the big game/fight/whatever: Here's a shoe-in for all the guys out there that aren't quite comfortable asking some dude we don't really know to have dinner at IHop with us. (Girls don't seem to have this problem) Have a grill out and smoke some dogs on the grill and invite them to come over for the game. If your in Texas, its an automatic yes.

Here's an all around good rule for doing whatever it takes to get these certain people as apart of your life. Be friendly. If for some reason they are too busy or can't sew into your life for some various reason or another, move on. That sucks, but you can't force companionship. Some people you hit it off with, and some you don't. I just want to reassure you that you are not going to develop relationships by being a stalker.

Remember that your relationship with Christ is of chief importance, and that your relationship to fellow believers is secondary, albeit vital. Seek after the Lord with the entirety of your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), seek Him and His kingdom first (Matt 6:33), and delight yourself in Him (Ps 37:4) and He will put these kinds of people in your path.

-Jeff

When Everything Stops: Lessons from a "Modern Day Drifter" - Lesson 1

What happens when the ever changing lifestyle you've become accustomed to comes to a halt? What happens when your routine of shifting timezones and places comes to a screeching stop, and the adventure that you called life has now come to a standstill?

You see, in the last four years, I've made three trips to China (including living there for a summer), three extended trips to Hawaii (2 for semester long stints, and 1 for a summer), I finished my college degree, and I moved to Texas to start my seminary training exactly one year ago today.

But now, having stayed in a single place for an entire year straight, I feel like I'm at a crossroads in my life. If it's alright with you, I'd like to be a little transparent with you tonight. I'm not going to lie to you, I don't really like it that much. There aren't too many days that go by when I don't want to trade in my shoes for my favorite pair of slippers (flip-flops for all of my fellow haoles out there), and head back to my island home of Maui.

But you know, we must all be shaped and formed within the rigors of life if we are to be capable to contend with what it dishes out to us. The Marines have a system that they call the crucible that every Marine recruit must complete before they are allowed to graduate basic training. And the more specialized job assignment that they have, the more training they must go through.

And as I was contemplating this analogy in my own life, I see that the Lord has had me all over the world doing various things. Whether it be teaching English in China to kids anywhere from 3-14 y/o; to helping start a college ministry in Maui; to being a marine naturalist working with the public on the Pacific Ocean, my life has been truly blessed beyond anything that I could put into words.

And I've also seen that just as a Marine who has graduated basic training may have to go "back to school", if you will, to become more efficient at his/her particular job, so have I. Often times, a Marine will be with his unit serving, and then be called back to get more specialized training so that when he rejoins his unit, he can be a better Marine and help serve his unit to get their job done. And that's exactly how I feel sometimes.

I feel as though I've been pulled from my unit, specifically in Hawaii, and am now back at boot camp once again in Texas. And let me tell you, I long to get back on the front lines.

But here's the deal, sometimes we get reassigned...

I'm now the college pastor at a local church in Grand Prairie, and who knows where I'll be going from there. Hear my heart though, I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. I have been blessed with a wonderful Church home here in Texas (more about that later).

Look at what Jeremiah says:

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! (18:3-6)

and Romans says:

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? (9:20-21)

Now before you bust my chops for taking scriptures out of context, let me just say that I know what I've done. I understand that God is speaking to the nation of Israel in Jeremiah about the exaltation, humbling, and destruction of nations at his will, and that Paul is speaking of God's right to perform his plan of salvation however He chooses to, but go with me on this for a second.

Both of these passages have everything to do with the sovereignty of God. Now, if God is sovereign, then we find that those of us in His service do as He says, when He says, and how He says to do it. We are the clay in the hands of the potter. As He shapes us and molds us, we don't look back at him and ask, "Yo God, why am I in Texas and not in Hawaii. That's not cool God!" Instead we ask, "Alright God, why have you moved me from Hawaii, aka the nearest thing to heaven on Earth, to Texas? What are you trying to teach me, and how am I to be used during this time?" You see, it is a condition of the heart.

What I'm talking about is not a blind subservient faith. No! It's ok to ask questions! What I'm talking about is submitting to the will of God in our lives so that we can have the maximum impact on those around us for the cause of the Kingdom of God. Just because I don't like something, doesn't mean that I can't submit. If you think for one second that Jesus was thrilled about the prospects of going to the cross, you're ignorant and have clearly never read the gospel accounts. (sorry, truth hurts sometimes) Just because I don't feel like doing something, doesn't mean that I can't do it. You see, feelings and emotions are controlled by the flesh. However, we are not to be controlled by the flesh, but instead, we live by the Spirit of God. When we love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30), we see that our will controls our emotions and/or feelings, and thus we can follow through with whatever God has set for us to do despite what our feelings say.

There is so much more that I want to say about what I've been learning lately, but this blog is already much too long (as usual). Therefore, I'm going to write a few more on the things that I've learned as I've traveled in the service of the Lord in the very near future.

But before I let you go, do this one thing for me. As you go about your day, ask the Lord, "Lord, what are you trying to teach me by having me where I'm at in my life?" You'll be surprised what happens when you ask God the right questions with the right heart attitude.

Goodbye for now,
Jeff

Olympics, Commercials, and Fulfillment

So I’ve been watching the Olympics fairly religiously for the last couple of nights. In fact, even while I was two-stepping last night, I found myself glued to the TVs at Billy Bob’s watching Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson go 1-2 in the women’s all-around gymnastics competition (congratulations ladies).

But much like the Super Bowl, the commercials have been quite entertaining. The one that really caught my attention though was one for United Airlines (I think).

It opened with a woman and a man (cartoon) embraced in a hug, and as the woman breaks away, she removes her heart and slips it into his jacket pocket as they once again embrace before she leaves on her trip across the ocean.

Throughout the rest of the commercial, she’s gives a business presentation, goes sight seeing in what looks to be someplace like Italy, and even runs into a curious little bird who flies right through the hole where her heart once was. Throughout the entire commercial, she has this hole from her heart, and no matter what she’s doing, it just can’t be filled until she gets back home to Mr. Right who hands it back to heart. Now that she is with him once again, she is whole.

Now, being the hopeless romantic that I am, I was thinking to myself, “Awww, that’s nice.” And would even like to be that guy who is the only one in the whole world with her heart, and the only one who can give it back to her and fill that hole in her life (how bout we keep this between us though, I’ve got a reputation to uphold).

But then it hit me.

We as people do this all the time. Young men and women alike give their hearts away to whoever their boyfriend/girlfriend is at the moment, and very rarely protect themselves by guarding their heart.

But their flame doesn’t always have to be a person either. How about the Olympic athletes? Would it be safe to say that many of them have given their heart to their respective sports? I don’t think that would be a far cry at all. What happens when their career is over? Or when injuries happen? Or when they fall off their apparatus, or foul out, or when they don’t do anything wrong but because of someone else’s folly, they’re eliminated?

And what about those who have given their hearts, like the young woman in the commercial, to another person? How many times have we all consoled a friend who has been hurt by someone, even when it was unintentional by the offending party? What happens when that person who we’ve put so much time and energy into walks away and leaves us devastated in the wake of an emotional breakup?

You see my friends, we were all created to give our hearts away in some form or fashion. The question is, to whom or to what will you give it to? When we give it to people, or objects, or expectations, we are inevitably let down. Why? Because no one and nothing on this earth is perfect.

However, there is hope. You see, we were created by someone to give Him our heart. It is by no accident that we have within us a desire to give ourselves away to something. It is because there is an Almighty, perfect, loving God who has shaped us in our mother’s womb (Ps 139:12-14), and knows everything about us (Ps 139:1), and still loves us enough to adopt us as sons and daughters (1 John 3:1). And here is the love that has been poured out on us, while we were still in sin, Christ died for us, the just for the unjust. (Rom 5:8, 1 Pe 3:18)

But the question remains… Who or what have you given your heart to? You should feel free to try whatever you like, but please know this, if it is anything but Jesus, you will never be satisfied. The simplicity of salvation is what makes it so incredibly beautiful. While it is nothing that we have done for ourselves (Eph 2:8-9), Christ has done everything for us (Rom 5:6). And instead of it being some esoteric journey to find inner-enlightenment within our own wicked hearts (Jer 17:9-10), God has set his plan of salvation in motion so that all we would have to do is confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead, then we shall be saved! (Rom 10:9-10)

Won’t you consider that today my friend? Would you look at the Son of God who gave himself for you and say yes to his invitation to new life? Would you say yes to his grace and love that was poured out for you on Calvary? Would you accept the forgiveness that he freely gives? Would you accept him as Lord? I can not put into words how much I deeply wish that you would.

And for you fellow Christian, would you begin to find your contentment once again in the one who has given you life? Would you move to leave behind the comforts of this world that you and I put our hope and trust in, and instead, rely on Christ to show us how to live by the Spirit of God? I would encourage you to do just that. May we truly walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the desires of the flesh.

-Jeff

Dang Skippy I'm a Fundamentalist.... I guess

What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Fundamentalist You are a fundamentalist. You take the Bible as the foundation of your faith and read it very literally, and it shapes your worldview. Non-fundamentalist Christians have watered-down the Gospel in your view, and academic study of the Bible stops us from 'taking God at his word.' Science is opposed to faith, as it contradicts basic biblical truths. Fundamentalist 89% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 82% Reformed Evangelical 75% Emergent/Postmodern 61% Neo orthodox 57% Charismatic/Pentecostal 43% Classical Liberal 36% Modern Liberal 11% Roman Catholic 11%

Ok, Hold up, hold up. I'd just like to clear some stuff up here...
1. "Non-fundamentalist Christians have watered-down the Gospel." Ok, I'm not afraid to admit that I have some pretty strong opinions on pretty much everything, and yes, sometimes this is one of them. However, let it be know that I know that I don't have a corner on the market when it comes to all things spiritual. I know the one who does, and try to draw closer to Him (no not Jerry Falwell or Paige Patterson... "Him" would be Jesus) , but other than that.... Let's just say that I'm not one of the guys who thinks that I can't at least learn something from other Christians who may not hold every doctrinal viewpoint that I do.

2. "Academic study stops us from 'taking God at his word". Why in the world would I be in seminary if academic study stopped me from taking God at his word? Heck, I'd save myself a whole lot of time and energy if I thought that way. And, secular academic study of the Bible doesn't scare me either. Truth is like a lion. There's no need to defend it. Let it loose and it'll defend itself.

3. "Science is opposed to faith, as it contradicts basic biblical truths." Um, for all those of you who think that science is evil, you may feel free to go ahead and hop on the next plane to the middle of nowhere and proceed to lead your life like a cave man. Actually, scratch that, you can't fly there because science brought us the airplane, so you've got to swim your merry way to whatever deserted island that you're headed to. Science is a wonderful thing! And who were the innovators of the arts, including science, during the renaissance? The Christians. So here's what bugs me... why is it that we've gotten so scared of the magnificent field of science to withdraw from it, and instead allow some yahoos who only have their expertise in the physical world go on and on and on about the existence, or lack thereof, of a creator/god/higher being; when they have no clue or training about metaphysical things? Seems like we've allowed microscope wielding, pocket-protector toting, bullies get the better of us because we are convinced that just because science doesn't always fit into our idea and worldview, that we should dismiss it completely. How ridiculous!

Ok, there's my hot sports opinion for the night. I told myself that I was going to bed early tonight, but thanks to the Urban Squirrels, that didn't have a chance.
-Jeff

p.s. I have no idea why the text-sizer-thing-a-majig isn't working on the last 2 paragraphs.

Thank you Dahda...

This is an excerpt from my personal journal from 2006. It's about my grandmother, and her influence on my life during quite a turbulent time in my life. My grandfather had passed away that summer, and it was weighing heavily on me at the time. I was serving as a missionary in Maui at the time, 5000 miles away from home, and was pretty homesick. As I remember, this was about 2 1/2 - 3 months after Papa went on to be with the Lord, and it was really the first time that I was able to sit down and have a good cry about it. There are a few people who leave a lasting impact on your life, and she has done that in mine. So, this is just one way that I can say thank you to her...

"…I miss Papa, and his death still stings like a knife through the flesh of my heart, but He (God) is faithful. I am enamored by Dahda. She defies my understanding of love. If there is any women who I would pray that my wife is like, it is her. My unrelinquished tears are no longer able to be held back, as I must take a minute to clear my eyes. I can not imagine the pain and the loneliness that she endures. Papa was gone a long time ago with the Parkinson's, but Dahda never wavered. Steadfast, she stood by his side, even when there was no reward for her. There was nothing that awaited her everyday at that hospital except for pain and agony. And yet, through the only kind of love that matures from school children's playground infatuation to 60+ years of faithfulness and devotion, she was able to endure. And I sat there. I sat there as the time drew to an end, when that race that Papa had run came to a finish. I was there when she took his hand and put her head by his and whispered, "I love you. I love you." I was there in the room as she continued to remain faithful to Papa as he went to be with our Lord. As he drew his last and stepped over the river onto the banks of the other side of eternity. And as I pause to wipe the tears from my eyes, I wonder, "How many tears have fallen from the eyes of this angel? How many nights has she cried herself to sleep?" If there has been anyone who has taught me the meaning of love, it has been her. If I have but one desire and one request, it is that God would grant me this one thing. That my wife will be half the woman that she is, and I will be all of the man that she deserves. Thank you Dahda, for your witness to me. Because of it, I have seen the love of Christ made flesh in you."

-Jeff

The Christian's Haircut...

Original date of writing: Satuday, Nov 4, 2006 - Maui, HI
Revised/reposted: Monday, Aug 4, 2008 - Ft Worth, TX

Have you ever been faced with something that you know that you need to do, but you just didn't want to/didn't have to the time to do it? Take me for example. I need desperately to cut my hair. Have I? No. Am I before I get home? Of course not. But why? Well, I'm in Maui, where it doesn't really matter what my hair looks like. I've got nobody to impress out here. Would it look better shorter than it is in its ballistic, out-of-control state that it presently resides? Sure it would. But I just don't have the time, or the inclination to do so at the present.

Sometimes I wonder if that's the case with our spiritual walks. Is it that we are in a place of comfort/apathy that says, "It doesn't matter what it looks like?" Or even worse, "It doesn't look the best, but it sure does look better than his/hers, therefore, its ok. Don't worry about it." Is the apathy of our culture deafening the outcry of the Cross? Are we in a place when we say, "I'll do it later"? Have we come to the marketplace of ideas trying to pawn off our sacred, absolute truth for some other trinket of far lesser value (if it holds any at all)? I think that a lot of us have. Including myself. Shall we heed the battle cry of the Cross demanding us forward inch by inch into all of the world, making disciples of all men? OR, will we instead sit on our blessed assurance waiting for someone else to charge into the fray? There are absolute truths in this world, and we have the greatest of them all. Jesus loves you, died for you, and wants to take your soul and renew you with His righteousness. And yet we feel that we must incorporate other thoughts and ideas in order to be "Culturally relevant."

I say that we stand on the firm foundation of Calvary (1 Cor 3:11), realizing that the blood laid down that day on a cursed tree (Gal 3:13), has given us the right to stand up in love and to proclaim the truths of the Word of God. There is but one name by which all men shall be saved (Acts 4:12), the name of JESUS CHRIST(John 14:6). And it is by that name that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that HE is Lord (Rom 14:11). There is only one way to get to heaven, and that is not of our own doing, but instead by the undeniably single greatest act of love in the history of world (Eph 2:8-9). That the creator would reconcile the creation to Himself by sending His Son on the cross to die for our putrid souls (Rom 8:1-4), and upon the acknowledgement of His lordship leave His Spirit to dwell inside of us earthen vessels (Rom 10:9-10).

If we should long to find truth (John 3:16-18), If we should yearn to have understanding of the things not of this world (1 Cor 1:26-30; Is 55:9), If we should desire to make our lives count for something far greater than just a "good life" (1 Cor 15:12-19), we must acknowledge the one who created it all and seek His face (2 Chr 7:14). That is the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has never failed me yet, nor shall he ever. To Him be all praise, honor, and glory forever, Amen.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility: but when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger... I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game's afoot: follow your spirit, and upon this charge cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!"
-William Shakespeare
King Henry V, 1599

I'm Hunting A Princess...

I DON’T DATE UGLY WOMEN AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU!!!

Ok, now that I’ve got your attention… Let me go ahead and clarify what I mean by that before I get hate mail flooding my inbox for being a sexist pig.

What do I mean by “ugly women”. Well, here’s what I don’t mean: a woman’s physicallity & sexual appeal to a man. I’m not talking about how good a woman looks at all. In fact, the very title, “Hunting a Princess”, is probably quite a quandary to a lot of folks. I was telling a married couple whom I’m good friends with about this blog that I’ve been wanting to write for some time now, and the wife's initial reaction was, “Hunting a princess? You don’t hunt a princess.” And the husband’s immediate response was, “Oh, yes you do.”

But back to my opening statement, I don't date ugly women. Now, that's not to say that I haven't in the past. And this is not supposed to be a slam on anyone in particular, but if I'm not talking about a girl's physical attractiveness, what am I trying to get at?

I've been on plenty of dates with girls who are by all means, very physically attractive. I'm pretty sure that some of them had to be blind because, physically, they were way out of my league. But when it came right down to it, they were merely girls. They weren't women who garnered respect. They tried to demand it, but as we all know respect is not something that is achieved by demanding it. Respect is earned; it is given. It is never taken. A woman does not need to require it from you because her character instead makes you want to freely give it. Physicality is what makes a woman hot. And even the hottest stars in the sky burn out. It’s her character, her attitude that makes a woman beautiful.

And while we're on the topic of clearing things up, let me go ahead and dismiss something. I want to clarify this notion of "Hunting a princess". First of all, if you think that by hunting I mean that I am sneaking around trying to find someone whom I can club over the head and beat my chest at saying, "Me man, you woman. Me say, you do.", you are sadly mistaken. You see, if you are thinking that a princess is someone to be conquered, then all I can say is, "Help you!" You obviously don't understand the character of a princess.

Also, if you think that princess is someone who is all frills and can't get down and dirty, well you need to check yourself and rethink your criterions for a princess.

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

1. A princess is not someone who is to be conquered: A woman who is worthy of my time and effort, is not a woman who is willing to be overrun by any man who comes along that looks good enough and has a big enough bank account to supply her overzealous shopping habits. (Disclaimer: When it comes to shopping, I really can't say anything. Let's just say that working at Express has not helped my current financial situation.)

No, no, no. A princess is destined to become a Queen. In fact, I’m not going to even be looking at any particular princess unless I think that she's capable of being MY Queen. (Don't kid yourself though; I'm definitely not in any kind of rush whatsoever.) That would just be a waste of my time, energy, and money (remember, there's not much of that one to go around).

And what exactly does a Queen do? She is the main helper and confidant of the King. She is his life’s partner; his missing variable that solves the equation of his purpose in life. The King cannot do what he is called to do without her. She is not a lowly caricature of a figure-head, but is instead a vital support which the King must lean on in troubled times. She is a strong woman who can rule over and take care of her responsibilities with honor, prestige, and grace. For the portrait of an insanely amazing woman, go check out Proverbs 31.

Now, don't be goin and putting words in my mouth either. I am not saying that a woman should be equal in responsibility to a man in a relationship. A Queen must be submissive to the King as outlined in scripture. But don't think for a moment that Biblical submission is in any way an oppressed state of subservient indenturedness.

It's interesting to me that the word for submissive in Eph 5 is a Greek military term used for the voluntary ranking of oneself under another. Biblical submission is not about value, it’s all about order. A man must exercise headship because the buck stops at him. (Who was blamed for the fall? ADAM!!!) He is ultimately responsible for the family, and will give an account for his leadership. But if there are two people in the house who are always jockeying for position of headship, how will there be peace in that home? (Proverbs 25:24) Anything with two heads is a monster: you either kill it, or put it behind glass and stare at it. (Thank you Voddie. If you haven't heard anything like this before, check out Voddie Baucham's sermon series on relationships that he gave at 722 in Atlanta a few years back. This whole paragraph was pretty much lifted off of his 4 part series. It will rock your world.)

I think that Freddie King put it best in one of his songs when he said, "I need a strong woman who knows how to be weak."

2. A princess is all frills: Ok, I don’t know if you’ve taken a look at Proverbs 31 like I told you to, but the woman pictured there is anything but all frills. (Doesn't mean that she ain't F-I-N-E though.) And I don’t know if you’ve taken a close look at what it takes to be a mother, but it’s a heck of a lot of work. My mom is a great mother, and is an even better grandmother. What’s great is that I’ve been able to see all of the time and energy and effort it takes just to be a good grandmother, and that’s when the kids go home at the end of the day.

A princess is someone who can multitask with the best of them. She knows how to balance a career, a ministry, and still keep her family as her top priority. That my friends, is no easy task. And it goes back to my point about earning respect. Why in the world would I ever want to spend my time with someone who is not able to win over my respect as a single young woman? How much more important is it for me to understand her character as being the potential mother of my children?

I can’t even begin to describe how badly I want to be a good father. It aches deep down in my bones to have a son to teach how to hit a baseball and how to drive a stick shift. And to have a daughter to train up in righteousness so that when some bum of a 14 year old kid comes up to her, he won’t have a chance unless he matches up to the godly gentleman that she deserves. (Not to mention that I'm already planning to be oh so covieniantly cleaning my shot gun collection when her first date comes to pick her up. The very collection that will begin the day she's born.) And to gird both of them (or more) with the understanding of the Gospel and Christ’s love for us, and then catapult them into the world with one purpose in mind: The Glory of God.

Fellas, listen up. We have to realize that we are to be the men of God whom he has made us to be, and that we are to be the leaders of our households. But not only that: If there is any way that we are to accomplish the ministries that our Lord has given us, then we cannot do it alone.

Ladies, this one’s for you. Please don’t give into the lies of the world that are so rampant in our culture. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God! And let me tell you, he doesn’t screw stuff up. If you will begin to set your standards higher than, "Oh, he was baptized once and says that he knows Jesus so he must be a Christian", and move towards seeking someone who is not only a Christian, but a young (or not so young) man who is capable of being able to lead and disciple you and your future (or present) children in love, then you’ll stop falling for the losers who always leave you disappointed and hurt.

I’m hunting my princess: not only for myself per se, but for the Kingdom of God and what he has in store for both of our lives. I don't know if I even know her name yet, but rest assured, I will find her.

Gen 2:23-24 "The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

The Throws of Battle (part 2, finally)...

Well my friends, its been a long time since my last blog, in fact, much too long. So I’m sorry to be so far behind, but c’est la vie.

In my last post, I wanted to write something that would put you into my head during a regular martial arts training session. That’s even me in the picture. But what in the world would that have to do with anything of any importance? What kind of implications could a short-story about a sparring match have in the grand scheme of things? Well my friends, if you name the name of Christ, then it has oh so much to do with our daily lives.

Let’s look at some various scriptures that really get me going… because when it comes right down to it, the Bible is covered from front to back with this sort of thing. But what sort of thing, pray tell, are we talking about…

Well, what I recounted in my little story there was a fairly typical (albeit slightly embellished) account of a sparring session between two black belts. The key to it is that at the end, the two stop from seriously hurting each other… and will probably go out afterwards and get some wings or pizza or whatever and relive their most recent foray. But the purpose of our scrimmages is to prepare ourselves for an altercation in the streets. In real life there’s no stopping, no rules, only a winner and a loser. And we don’t want to be the one on the losing side. So we beat our bodies, training our minds to endure all sorts of pain and to ignore it until we’re out of danger’s way. (Trust me though, after we’re out of harms way, the pain comes rushing back and we hurt just as bad as anyone else)

"Ok Jeff, but what's the thing you're trying to get at?" I'm glad you asked:

Self-Discipline in a Christian’s spiritual life: I would have never made it to the rank of a 3^rd degree black belt without some self-discipline. No one likes to hold a sitting stance (aka horse stance) for 10 minutes straight, but it helps to teach you to endure great amounts of pain and discomfort when your legs begin to ache and quiver and you feel like you won’t be able to make it another second but you push through anyway. (Try it at home... spread your feet out to the right and left side of your body about twice as wide as your shoulders with all ten toes pointed forward and sit your butt down to where your legs are at roughly an 80 degree bend with your back perfectly straight. Now time yourself and see how far you get.)

So let’s take a gander (now that’s a great southern word right there) at those verses shall we?...

Ezra 7:10 “Now Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” – Ezra had made it his life’s focus to study the law of God AND TO PRACTICE IT. Listen, I can sit and memorize as many scripture verses as I can possibly cram into my brain, but if I’m not practicing them…. well that doesn’t do me a dang bit of good, now does it?

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” – Hey fellas, are you struggling with pornography (Yeah, I said the “p” word. I ain’t scared… neither was Paul; see 1 Thess 4:3-5; 1 Cor 6:18-20; Rom 13:13)? Ladies, are you a malicious gossip (1 Tim 3:11; Titus 2:3)? These are physical problems that we must confront and beat our body into submission so that we not only continue to deny our flesh, but we begin to walk in the Spirit. And when that happens, we don’t fulfill the sinful desires of our flesh. (Gal 5:16)

Colossians 2:5 “For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.” – Discipline goes hand in hand with the stability of our faith. Ask any athlete what happens when you get out of your normal training routine? You get weak, and your fundamentals get shaky. And what happens when your fundamentals get shaky…. very bad things. You often times lose.

1 Tim 4:7-8 “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – What’s the purpose of our discipline? The purpose of godliness, which in turn glorifies the Lord more than anything else we can do. (this, btw, is the very reason for our existence)

2 Tim 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” – Ok, check it out. If God has given us the spirit of discipline, guess what… That means that we can actually do it! Could you imagine if God had just said, “Ok, live a disciplined lifestyle Ready, GO!” Well then, I don’t think that many people, if any, could really do it. But here’s the deal… because he’s given us the spirit of discipline, the same spirit that allowed Jesus to endure the cross, we CAN have our daily quiet times (preaching to myself on that one there folks), we CAN praise him in the middle of the crappiest moments of our lives, we CAN run the race marked out for us. {I freaking love 1^st & 2^nd Timothy}

There’s so much more that could be pulled from this analogy, but I want you to divide the scriptures for yourselves. See how the Lord is applying this to your own life. Take on the mindset of Ezra and make it your purpose and mission to study the Word of God and practice it. That my friend is stout.

I’ll leave you with this, every believer can find themselves in one of two categories.

(1) Someone who's going through a struggle in their life…

(2) Someone who has come out of a struggle and is on their way to another one.

Number 2 seems like a pretty bleak outlook, but it really isn’t. Struggles in life are not bad things. In fact, they are most often times good things. When does your faith grow the most? At the mountain top where there’s nothing opposing you? Or is it when you are clawing and scraping up the side of that mountain and the rocks are seemingly falling from the sky on top of you? You really learn to trust and rely on that rope of yours that’s anchoring you to the face of the rock you’re climbing. That rope, that lifeline, that’s your Lord making sure that you are secure on your ascent up the rocky crag of life. And when you look back at the past walls that you’ve scaled, you realize that they seem to get steeper and harder, but that the one inside of you, the Holy Spirit, is constantly strengthening you more and more. And guess what, your muscles are getting stronger, and those seemingly insurmountable problems that you thought would end your life seem like child’s play now.

Run your race in such a way as to win it, and don’t you dare step into the ring of life not ready to knock out whatever comes your way. You’ve got the best team in your corner that anyone could ever ask for: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. If things get out of hand, they’ll take care of it. (Ps 35; Deut 32:39-43).

-Jeff

The Throws of Battle (Part 1)...

"Face front, bow!" Peace and serenity.

"Face each other, bow!" The body bends at the waste, rigid and strait. The eyes never leave their opponent. They tell him nothing. No fear, no worry, no pain, no doubt, nothing is in them. There is no emotion, not even fatigue in them. They are as empty as the sea.

"Fighting stance!" Left foot steps back, right foot forward. Your hands lift to guard, fists clinched tight enough to hold a rod, but gentil enough to cradle a grape. Your body is loosed from ceremnoial rigidness and is light.

The mind is calm. No thought runs through it. You don't think any longer. You anticipate his movements, and predict his attack, but there is no thinking, merely reacting. The belt you wear is dark and tattered. It has seen many days. You no longer deliberate you course of action. You simply dance to the rhythm of battle. You do not fear it because you have met it before. And now, you shall meet it head on once again.

Your eyes work from the floor, up the body of your opponent, and find their target in his. But now there is a message that flashes across them like red lightning in the midnight sky: "I'm ready." It is the calm before the storm.

"FIGHT!"

He lunges forward. You shfit sideways. He is overzealous. He punches, and his fists are blinding. Pain rushes through your body like ice water through your veins, but you are not shaken. He comes again, but you parry and counter with your own. He spins and his foot rushes towards your head, but you are not concerned. You slide your head back just far enough to let it pass; but not too much. No, you want him close. You allow only the smallest margin possible. His foot passes you and the breath of wind kisses your face. Momentum squares his chest to yours. Still, your mind is quiet. Your side kick finds its mark in his chest. Not anywhere, but in a precise location as if it were a surgeons scalpel. Your heel fits nicely below his sternum and above his stomache. It is the chink in his armor. A crevice ever so small where the muscles meet, and his weakness is exposed.

The breath rushes from him, cast out by the force of your heel. Your opponent is stunned for a most breif eternity. STILL, you do not think. You react. Your hips twist and your shoulders turn. Your head is the first around and you see your target. Your foot follows the path given to it by your eyes and accomplishes its task. The back of your heel strikes his helmet. He faulters to the ground. You lord over him, one foot on each side, and grasp the jacket of his uniform. Your right hand is fixed into postion, cocked and ready to thrust downward to his temple. Fear grips him as he looks up at you. Your eyes are no longer yours, but instead the lioness' before she takes her prey....

And then, you stop.

Your enviornment floods around you as if you were pulled by the collar back into time and a realm not of violence, but of learniong and sanctuary.

Things that were no longer acknowledged, the smell of sweat, the sounds of hands and feet rustling and pads popping, and even a stinging sensation in your nose rush back to you. Your hand moves swiftly downwards, but not as a fist, and not towards an opponent. It is open and offers help to a friend.

You help dust him off and a small smile creaks across your face. You return to your spot on the floor, and you prepare to begin again...

An American Reformation...

There is a great speech at the end of the LOTR: Return of the King where Viggo Mortenson delivers a rousing monologue that many of the readers of this blog are familiar with. It goes something like this:

Hold your ground! Hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers, I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight!! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!!!

Aragorn's battle cry reached out from beyond the movie screen into the hearts of the audience. I hope too that this blog will reach into the hearts of its readers.

Just as Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door on that infamous October day in Wittenberg, Germany, I pray that the Lord God of Hosts will so impress on our hearts the need for the reformation of the lives of Christians in America. However, as Luther's Theses divided the church, I pray that the reformation birthed within us would unify our hearts together for the cause of Jesus Christ. That it would go beyond denominational walls and minor doctrinal issues, and it would fuse together our hearts under the banner of the Glory of Christ Jesus.

It could be said that only in America can a person go to church, tithe, sing about the mercy and grace of God, be stirred by a sermon; and then continue on to a restaurant and be absolutely uncouth to their server and not think twice.

That here, in America, Christians find ways around accepting verses like Romans 8:17. That where it costs so little to follow Christ, we find ourselves asking God to lift the burden of suffering off of our backs. And yet, all over the rest of the world where dire persecution reigns, believers are only asking for stronger backs until the day of their glorification with Jesus.

Many times our weekly worship turns out to be nothing more than fulfilling an expected ritual. The same rituals whose concepts of religion are completely opposite of the original intent of Christianity, by replacing the newest praise and worship songs and lights and the best sophistic preaching instead of the disciplined effort of cultivating a relationship with Christ. Of which I am to be condemned first, (if it were in deed right to condemn an heir to the throne of Heaven in such a way).

It is in the only nation established Under God, and conceived in Liberty, that Christians will ignore the open attacks against the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of our Souls because of our careful attention not to impede on anyone's right of free speech. All the while we forfeit our right to stand up and defend the one who purchased us with His blood, in the name of political correctness. Ignoring that the one slandered in the status quo of pop culture is the very one whom destroyed sin and the grave at the price of His own life. And yet, we stand aside and allow the world to curse Him and call Him a fool. May God forgive us of our indifference.

What I propose is the reformation of the hearts of American Christians. May we begin to stand in the promise of the freedom of Christ our Lord. When will we begin to listen to James when he says,

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does."

Have we forgotten that Christ has called us to "take up our cross" and follow Him? That it was St. Paul that said that he had crucified himself with Christ, that he disciplined his body and set his mind not on the things that are carnal, but that are spiritual so that he would not gratify the things of his sinful nature? Has the open freedom to worship and discuss, with uninhibited passion (or lack there of) about the glory of God made us forget the time when the Church had to hide for risk of death? Have we forgotten the death of the martyrs who would rather face the sting of mortality than the shame of denying the cross?...

May it not be so!

I say to my brothers and sisters that today is the day for our stand. Now is the time that we begin to live what is preached from the pulpit. Not that we would become masochistic or violent, but that we would live the life that Paul described as, "worthy of the Lord." That it would begin with us, the simple few. That we would begin to "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS". That we would begin to seek the gift GIVER and not the gifts.

Will today mark the end of our confident boasting of Christ and Him crucified?...

By no means!

I tell you that the day of our sterilization has not come! There may be a day when our children will hide in fear of reproach because of their faith, but it is not this day. My fellow Christians, I would call you into action along side of me. Stand with me now without quiver or reservation. May today be the day that is reckoned as the awakening of the American Christian!

-Jeff

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

The Reepicheep in Me...

I have never fancied myself as much of a reader. However, over the last 6 days, I have been completely entrenched in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. And in the seven books, the one character that has struck the chord that resounds most in my own soul was none other than Reepicheep, the Captain of the Talking Mice of Narnia.
There were very few characters in all of Lewis’ works that were worthy of a comparison to the chivalry or bravery of this mouse. And there were none the better in regards to his sense of adventure in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Indeed it was Reepicheep who, upon the hearing of King Miraz’s imminent attack on the Narnians under the leadership of Prince Caspian, was the first to say,

“Hurray! Let them come! All I ask is that the King will put me and my people in the front.”

And in the flight of courage from Edmund, Lucy, and even King Caspian himself, it was Reepicheep that stayed the course and charged,

“If I were addressing peasants or slaves, I might suppose that this suggestion proceeded from cowardice. But I hope it will never be told in Narnia that a company of noble and royal persons in the flower of their age turned tail because they were afraid of the dark… And here is as great as an adventure as ever I heard of, and here, if we turn back, no little impeachment of all our honours.”

And I think that somewhere deep down inside of all men, there is a little Reepicheep in us all. And if it be that such is not the case, I would believe it with all of my being that at some point in every man’s life, there has been a longing for that very spirit.
So how do we men, especially men of God, embrace this feeling of longing for the adventures of old in a world of fast paced living being driven more and more by our ever-incessant cell phones? Have the nights spent under a heavenly blanket of stars in the backyard of our youth been replaced by the taming of our souls to no longer seek out a greater quest than the one we're on? I feel that we are in some great and terrible danger to succumbing to a life of melodramatic office meetings and deadlines.
But there is most assuredly an illustrious venture set before us. As J.I. Packer said,

"What makes life worthwhile is having a big enough objective, something which catches our imagination and lays hold of our allegiance; what higher, more exalting and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?"

Reepicheep doesn’t inspire because of the fact that I was always the smallest kid in my grade and he seemed to be constantly reminded of his stature as a mouse (even by his friends). Or because as any good son of Ireland (no matter how far removed), I'm not afraid of a confrontation coming to blows regardless of the assurance of victory or the heavy handed foresight of an impending defeat.
Reepicheep inspires me because I should hope that within me, there is a man who would ask to be in the front of a battle for the souls of humanity and the cause of Truth. That there is one within me who has completely sold out to the cause of his Lord and that by all costs would find himself in the unreserved service of his Master.
They say that young men are made for war and old men for peace. And whilst peace is on all accounts more desirable than war, may it be far from me that I should look back on the days of my youth and find myself unwilling to contend for my Savior. All those who have tasted of battle long for the stillness of amity, but those who have found themselves in the service of the great King of Glory find that there is nothing sweeter than to be spent in the service of such a high and noble calling.
1 Corinthians 16:13Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.