Holy Spirit 101

Posted: August 13, 2023 in Something to think about
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Have you ever struggled to really understand a topic? I mean you work hard desperately trying to comprehend the facts, but they just seem to elude you. And then suddenly one day, the light just seems to come on and the pieces fall together. Does this sound familiar to you?

I had this same feeling when it came to the topic of the Holy Spirit. In my mind, I grasped the concept of the Trinity, meaning, how scripture reveals it as God revealed as one essence existing in 3 distinct persons who share a common divine nature. They possess a perfect unity of one nature and essence. 

Scripture goes on to say that, of the persons in the Godhead, none is God without the others, and each, with the others, is God.

OK…Whew!

Fortunately, this post is not about the Trinity because even though I understand the words above in meaning, to truly grasp how that can happen is why God is God and we are not. I do look forward to the day when I can ask Christ himself about the Trinity and also see it for myself.

So today, I wanted to share with you some interesting things I learned about the Holy Spirit which I think can help all of us. To be honest, I think it is essential that believers recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit and the function He plays in God’s redemptive or saving purpose. I really did not understand the role He plays in the Trinity or for that matter, what he does for you and me

So let me start with a question, what difference do you think would it make if there was no Holy Spirit in this world? 

Let me help answer that.

  1. There would be no Creation
  2. There would be no Universe
  3. There would be no Human race – Genesis 1:2, Job 33:4
  4. There would be no Bible – 2 Peter 1:21
  5. There would be no New Testament – John 14:26, John 15:26-27, 1 Cor.2:10-14
  6. There would be no power to proclaim the Gospel – Acts 1:8
  7. There would be no Faith
  8. There would be no New Birth, or being born again
  9. There would be no Holiness
  10. Finally, there would be no Christians anywhere in the world

This is a staggering list and my guess is, you really never thought about this have you? Me neither, but when I investigated scripture, I realized He (the Holy Spirit) was present in all of the activities I mentioned above. Moreover, He is always working in a complementary and not contradictory manner towards the efforts of God. He is perfectly efficient.

Throughout scripture, the Holy Spirit is revealed as a person with an individuality all His own (2 Corin. 3:17-18). He is a divine person just like God and Christ so we can’t just think of him as merely an influence or just power. 

Additionally, He has personal characteristics like the examples I listed below:

He thinks:

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Rom 8:27

He feels:

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.  Rom 15:30

He wills:

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.  1Co 12:11

His main job is to help you and me. Period. He was sent into this world to bring believers into the intimate presence and fellowship of Christ and most of the time, we forget He is there ready, willing, and capable of helping pull us out of the mud or wherever we happen to be stuck.

I encourage you guys that when you pray, ask for the presence of His Spirit in your daily lives. Think of Him as a person that is just there to help you. Jesus did the exact same thing when Satan tempted him. He relied on the strength of the Holy Spirit to help him get through that. You can do the same-

I have a few more notes on this topic that I will get organized and try to get you another post about this topic. Hopefully, you found this as interesting as I have.

Until next time guys-

Throwing Some Jars Over the Fence

Posted: June 29, 2023 in Father
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A belated Father’s Day story-

When I was 9 years old, my family lived in Phoenix, Arizona in a big house with an even bigger backyard. The size of this yard was a 9-year-old dream but for some reason, the garbage barrels were located at the extreme end of our property and a long way from the house. I mean like, in another zip code. 

And so we begin our story because, on this particular day, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I happened to wander into our kitchen when my mother decided to ask me to throw away many, many, many, many paper bags…completely full to the brim of glass jars. There were jelly jars, peanut butter jars, and pickle jars, In fact, I think any jar she had ever owned, ever, she wanted me to dispose of on that day. 

As I think about this now, she may have well just told me to traverse the Sahara Desert without water. That actually might have been easier.

Nevertheless, I remember thinking this task would take me all day because of the distance and the brutal heat in Arizona. I think it was close to 150 degrees that day.

But then I had an idea…like 9-year-old boys do…I would make it fun. So I proceeded to take care of this task in my usual manner and turned this massive project into a game…with a little ingenuity of course. As I schlepped each bag the many miles to the back of the yard I began to hatch my idea of slinging all those jars over the fence and into the garbage cans on the other side. I wanted to hear that sound of breaking glass and I thought this might be the greatest game of jar basketball ever played.

But then something went terribly wrong. You see unbeknownst to me, just as I completed my last shot in the general direction of where I thought the garbage cans were, I saw my mother moving towards me at what I call her “mall” pace; Which was the pace she used in the mall which was crazy fast as I could never keep up with her…but I digress.

She must have seen me throw the last few jars from the house window and then start moving towards me. For one brief second, I experienced a moment of relief as she blazed by me but that was very short-lived because she opened the yard gate and gazed at what was on the other side. 

You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that I actually didn’t land any of the jars into the garbage barrels as I thought. Rather ALL of them ended up in the city street in a long pile, 6 inches high with a peak of broken glass right about dead center…Yep…dead center in the street. Cars could not get past this mess. In fact, I remember cars flipping U-turns and heading the other way it was so bad. 

My mom slowly turned her gaze on me. Her eyes peered deeply into my soul and all she said was one phrase, “Wait until your father gets home.”

Now, you are probably wondering why that simple phrase would strike true anxiety in me? Because I had the Fear of Dad…real bad, and not because he beat me all the time; No, because he was Dad and he had the power to beat me all the time, or at least that is what I thought because that is what 9-year-old boys think.

At that moment though, my mom and I shifted into hyperdrive and we spent the next 2 hours cleaning up the mess I made. After that, I got to spend the rest of the afternoon in my room, thinking about what was going to happen and how bad it would hurt. 

I remember hearing my Dad drive up and park. Then I heard the car door open and close. Then I heard the whispers coming from the kitchen…and then my door opened. 

You need to understand that my father was NOT a tyrant when I was a kid. He wasn’t the kind of Dad who yelled when he was angry. He was never violent but yet there was never any doubt when my brother and I crossed the line. Unfortunately, this particular incident appeared to be one of those times. 

He came into my room and he sat down on my bed and asked me why would I do such a thing. I remember thinking, why did I toss 48 jelly jars over the fence? I forgot to mention there were 48. I thought it was such a great idea at the time. He listened quietly not showing much emotion but when I was finished, he said that I would have to be punished with the belt…

AAAAhhh, no…not the belt! 

And then he stood up, pulled off his belt, and told me to assume the position…I don’t have to tell you what happened next. 

When he left the room, I was mad and in pain. To a 9-year-old kid, I thought the punishment was too severe for throwing jelly jars…

But a little while later my Father returned to my room and sat down. He told me that if he didn’t punish me it was like telling me that being disobedient was ok and he couldn’t do that and call himself a parent. He told me that punishing either one of his sons hurt him just as much as it hurt us…which at the time, I found that hard to believe. BUT…I certainly get that now.

He said I would understand someday how this punishment was really saying that he loved me…and I knew he loved me because he told me so. You see, I feared my father’s belt, yet I knew he loved me. 

All these years later, I do understand and realize that the fear I experienced was what helped me to stay in line and maintain obedience to both him and my mother…

So really…I guess the verse, “Spare the rod, spoil the child” really did work in my case-

Happy belated Father’s Day-

Until next time guys-

Breakfast for Dinner

Posted: June 27, 2023 in Inspirational
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I came across this simple story recently and couldn’t help but think how this could apply to all of us men out there… we all can agree…sometimes life doesn’t go the way we want it to but our reaction can be the key to how the ones we care about think about us… 

I have no idea who wrote this and would love to give the credit to who did but we can all still enjoy it just the same…

And so the story goes…

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make “breakfast for dinner” every now and then and we were ok with that for us. I remember one night in particular though when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my Dad and I remember waiting to see if anyone would notice.

Instead of reacting, my Dad simply reached for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit and he ate every bit of that thing…never making a face or uttering a word. 

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my Father for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said, “Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then.” 
 
Later that night, I went to hug my Dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. I remember him wrapping me in his arms and saying, “Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she’s very tired, and besides…a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone”…

As I’ve grown older, I’ve often thought about that night because I have found that life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I’m not the best at many things; I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else but what I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept one another’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and long-lasting relationship…or family. 

 That is my prayer for you today…that you will learn to look at life differently by taking the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and laying them at the feet of God. Because frankly, in the end, Jesus is the only one who can give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn’t a deal-breaker…

“Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket – keep it in your own.”

So, please pass me a biscuit, and yeah, the burned one will be just fine.

Until next time guys…

My Sheep know My Voice

Posted: June 11, 2023 in Heaven Bound
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I heard a story this past weekend of a Palestinian woman who had recently lost her husband in a conflict. And it was during that conflict, that she also lost her family’s small flock of 25 sheep. Moreover, as it turned out, many of the local sheep farmers also lost their flocks during the same conflict, and eventually, all of the lost sheep were rounded up by the Israeli soldiers into one big herd and kept in a single holding area in the region. At this holding area, the Palestinian woman pleaded with the Israeli guard standing at his post at the gate of the sheep pen. She explained that she could easily separate her sheep from the others without any effort from the soldier. After a while, he was tired of listening to her so he relented and allowed her to enter the pen with her son.

After they entered, the boy lifted a small flute to his lips and played 5 notes very loudly. Immediately, some of the sheep, out of the hundreds, lifted their heads and peered in their direction. The boy played the notes again and sheep began to move in his direction and in less than 5 minutes, the woman, her son, and 25 sheep marched off down the road towards home.

Sheep are followers by nature and learn to listen to the voice of their shepherd and in this case, the sound of a flute. No matter who tries to call them, they will only come when they hear the shepherd’s voice. Jesus said it this way, “ they (sheep) will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice”. John 10:5

So why is it essential for you and me to know about sheep? Because you and I, literally every day, are being hammered by what everyone out there is calling “truth”…or their version of the truth. News media, friends, the internet, social media, and even pastors or Church leadership. Everything and everyone is overwhelming you with so MUCH information and all is being presented as TRUTH. 

With so many voices coming at you simultaneously…How do you separate all the “words” into what you should believe versus what you shouldn’t? Honestly, it isn’t easy. It takes real discernment to understand the right voice that is calling you. Not to your death, but to life, and guys I am not being melodramatic. This is the fight of our lives because it is a fight for our lives.

We MUST be able to separate the right words from the wrong ones not just for you, but for your family as well. Remember Christ’s words to the Pharisees, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…” John 10:14. If you are connected with Him, and have a relationship with Him, you WILL be able to discern through the mayhem and hear the words He is speaking to you. This does require a relationship with Him which means time spent reading and praying…and you can do this-

Here is the REAL truth. The reason there are alternative options to Christ’s message is that the enemy also has a message for you. It is very simple; Follow me for your pleasure and you’ll have the time of your life.

My message back to you; Don’t listen to him. EVERYTHING he offers you is temporary and will lead you to a place that trust me… you don’t want to go.

Instead, listen to the voice of our Shepherd with the message of Good News-

Until next time guys-

Wrestling with Unbelief

Posted: May 30, 2023 in Father
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“My son says he doesn’t believe in God anymore”. Those were the anguished words I heard my friend speak to me just the other day when we were together. He said, “he made that announcement to my wife and me with the proclamation that he no longer needs to go to church either”. My friend’s son is just 17 and only a junior in high school. He went on to tell me that this announcement was really just the tip of the iceberg inside their home because he and his wife had been dealing with a pure rebellion in this young man for close to a year. Moreover, with younger kids still in the home, this situation is beginning to tear his family apart.

How do you respond to someone when they tell you that?

My brothers, I am sure many of you can identify with this very same situation with all the battles that happen as a result. As the father, some of us may get firm, stand our ground in front of our wife and kids, and shout back, “ITS My Way or the Highway!” while others of us may be more fearful and not want to upset the household too much. Therefore we don’t do anything…leaving everyone confused because there aren’t any boundaries coming from Dad…

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

The Bible tells us this in Proverbs:

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 ESV)

So if we give our kids the correct Christ-like foundation and a home that believes in Him and loves each other, no matter what…then if I understand God correctly, He will take care of the rest?

The answer is a resounding YES.

Guys, I am NOT a parenting expert; I simply speak from experience in my own life when I was a teenager as well as now being the father of 2 sons.

It all starts with love in the home. By building a foundation of love inside your walls and providing for your children in the best way YOU can…then you have laid the foundation for God to work with later on when they are older. You see, the reality of this life is that our children get to make their own choices about their lives…and that includes whom they will serve. As much as you and I may try, we don’t get to make that decision for them. They make it for themselves…your kids and mine. All we can do as parents are to give them the best we have and then it is up to God. He does the heavy lifting.

Now, please don’t misunderstand me about this point, I am NOT saying we walk away from them…OH NO. I am saying that once they reach that age and begin to question everything…we continue to love them, pray for them, and provide guidance as they walk through this valley. That is our job and that is exactly what I told my friend. “Your home is being attacked by the enemy through your son and no matter what happens, you have to stand strong in Christ and work to try and love your kid through this major episode…together”. I encouraged him like I would encourage you with these words:

God is working in your life, even when you don’t see it, even when you can’t feel it, even if it’s not evident.

You are NOT alone on this battlefront. Remember that God is beside you, no matter how many MEAN things our kids say to us…WE STILL TRUST HIM…

Please don’t give up guys…Let me leave you with one of my favorite verses from the Bible in Joshua:

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”    (Joshua 24:15 ESV)

Until next time guys…

Keep the Door CLOSED!

Posted: May 27, 2023 in Something to think about
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“Luther said that when the devil came knocking on the door of his heart, he would send the Lord Jesus to the door. Christ would say, “Martin Luther used to live here but has moved out…I now live here.” Then, says Luther, when the devil would see the nail prints on Christ’s hands and His pierced side, he would take flight immediately.!”

Guys, I am giving you this famous Luther quote today to remind you of one thing…Keep the door closed when the enemy comes knocking. Even though sometimes he is pounding so loud it is hard to stay focused on what you are doing…keep the door closed.

Because here is what happens if you open…you expose yourself to things you know you should not…and the next time you do, you open the door just a little bit wider. Remember that in any battle, defending a position is much easier than trying to recapture it once it has fallen into the enemy’s hands.

Keep in mind this important point today, no matter what role the enemy plays in mine or your temptation, there is one fact that you must remember; God will hold you and hold me accountable for what we do, or what choices we make. Your strategy cannot be to simply blame Satan and avoid being responsible for your own actions. You and I must learn to say no to the devil, just as we saw Christ do.

Today I want to give you 4 ways to help you keep the door bolted from one of my favorite books, God’s Devil, by Erwin Lutzer. These are paraphrased so I highly recommend you pick this book up and read them for yourself.

  1. We must pause and give thanks for our test. Our faith will be strengthened when we see our struggles coming from the Heavenly Father. Remember, we don’t give thanks for our sin; we don’t give thanks for the devil; but we can give thanks that God has found us worthy to be tested.
  1. We must learn the meaning of the word “resist”. Many people think that victory over Satan should be easy. We speak Christ’s name, recite scripture and assume the temptation is gone. But the truth is, the battle with Satan is a war and is a matter of life and death and there will be casualties.
  1. We must be convinced that sin is always our enemy. One single act of disobedience can trap us. Remember the mouse usually does not have the luxury of having a series of experiences with traps before it is caught. Just once might be enough.
  1. We must use scripture against Satan as Christ did. You and I MUST be able to say to Satan, “GO, for it is written…” Such concentration blocks Satan’s attempts to confound us with his lies.

Guys, you are being pounded right now by this world. Every day there is something new and frankly, disgusting to see shown on the evening news. My word to you today is Keep the Door CLOSED and resist!

Until next time Guys…

Lutzer, Erwin. (2015) God’s Devil, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.

How Comfortable Are You?

Posted: April 30, 2023 in Something to think about
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After watching the chaos and mayhem of this world over the last few months, it is clear to me who is in charge…our collective enemy, Satan. Moreover, if you have ever read any of my posts, you know that  I have talked about “navigating the path” we all face as Christians during this critical time. Things are not easy for believers. Especially when I watch what is happening in the United States towards the people of our faith I find myself stunned. We are truly under attack. That statement is not meant to scare you but to remind you…

But…the name of this blog involves comfort. So you may ask how do I get from the statements I made above to being comfortable? That is what I want to talk about today. You see, even in the midst of this storm I mentioned above, there are Christians that don’t feel the pressure of this world against them. Frankly, to me, IS the scary part. Why? Because they have gotten too comfortable. Here is what I mean-

Ahh, yes… “Comfort” has become one of our favorite words, and most effective tools. Because when you’re comfortable, you don’t rock the boat. You don’t challenge corruption. You don’t take any chances on greatness. You don’t critically look at yourselves. Nefarious, “A Nefarious Plot”. Page 23.

If you do not know what Nefarious is, look it up. It is a movie and a book by Steve Deace that is written by a demon who is a General and works for Satan. The paragraph above is important because it illustrates my point; if you(me) become too comfortable with your(our) personal situation(s), then you(me) are NOT a threat to the enemy.

Look at what Christ says about this topic:

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

So do I read that correctly? If I love my life I will lose it? Jesus was very clear in this verse about a Christian’s responsibility to hate his life while in this world. PLEASE understand me…There is NOTHING wrong with being happy… But being satisfied or comfortable with your situation; meaning you are in neutral and no longer in pursuit…those are the people Jesus is referring to. This behavior comes across to God as you only need Him when you are in trouble. So my attitude might be now with my house, my job, $ in the bank, my friends, and my local church…I am pretty comfortable. I have it going on…

Let me put it another way; when the things of this life are more important than your eternal future; When your desire for earthly success becomes more of a pursuit than your personal pursuit of God, that is what I am talking about today…and  I am desperately trying to wake you up.

If you love this life on earth, you WILL lose it. It is that simple. 

Guys, the remedy to all of this is a relationship with Christ that is ACTIVE. Not just on Easter and Christmas when you might attend church. It is a daily choice you make to seek Him. 

What I find interesting is that some guys approach a relationship with God with a“one and done” mentality. What I mean is, they say, “ I spoke to God when I was 10, and after that, I was a Christian. I haven’t actually prayed to Him since”. Let me be honest…THAT WILL NOT WORK.

What I have found is that you should approach your Christian more like being a member of your gym. If you regularly exercise, you probably are a fit person. If you don’t, then you are not. It is exactly the same way with God. If you participate in an active relationship with Him, YOU will know HIM and He will know you. 

If you don’t pursue Him, He will tell you at the end of your life, “ I never knew you”. Don’t believe me? Read this…

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Matthew 7:23

The bottom line…for you and for me is from Jeremiah 29:13-

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

When He says, ALL of your heart, He means it. He knows when you are apathetic and are simply just “mailing it in”. You have to make the choice and then work at it. I urge you to consider this post wholeheartedly and DO NOT get comfortable.

Until next time Guys-

Deace, Steve. (2017) “A Nefarious Plot.” Nashville, Tennesse. Post Hill Press. Page 23

Rules to Teach Your Son – Part 2

Posted: April 16, 2023 in Father
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This time we are continuing on with the previous post called “Rules to teach your son”. If you did not read the previous post, you need to as this list just finishes off that list. As I mentioned last time, I would like to give credit to whoever wrote this however, I have no idea who did…but we can enjoy this great list anyway.

I hope you enjoy them and if you have the time, leave me some feedback on which one is your favorite.

17. Never be afraid to ask out the best-looking girl in the room.

18. Never turn down a breath mint.

19. A sport coat is worth 1,000 words.

20. Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising.

21. Thank a veteran. Then make it up to him.

22. Eat lunch with the new kid.

23. After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it.

24. Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win.

25. Manners maketh the man.

26. Give credit. Take the blame.

27. Stand up to Bullies. Protect those bullied.

28. Write down your dreams.

29. Take time to snuggle your pets, they love you so much and are always happy to see you.

30. Be confident and humble at the same time.

31. If ever in doubt, remember whose son you are and REFUSE just to be ordinary!

32. In all things lead by example not explanation.

Guys, if you can teach your son to grow up and understand the need to be strong, yet humble, wear a sport coat, behave with manners, and love their mom…you did a great job…

Until next time guys-

This man they call JESUS

Posted: April 8, 2023 in Inspirational
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He was the GREATEST man in history 

He, who had no servants yet they called Him MASTER

He, who had no degree, yet they called Him a TEACHER

He, who was not a Doctor, and He had no medicines, yet they called Him a HEALER

He, who had no army, and no military experience, yet Kings feared HIM

He, who had won no military battles, yet He conquered the world

He, who committed no crime, yet they crucified Him

He, who was buried in a tomb, and He was resurrected, and yet HE LIVES TODAY

HE LIVES TODAY

YES…HE STILL LIVES TODAY

Happy Easter to you 

Happy Resurrection Day

Rules to Teach Your Son – Part 1

Posted: April 8, 2023 in Father
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A few years ago, a friend presented me with this list called “Rules to Teach Your Son”. Some of them are solid and others funny but mostly good advice. One thing to point out is that some of these are not rules, but rather important things you should know as a young man, like #14…REALLY important to know. Keep in mind that you probably won’t agree with all of these, but that is part of the fun.

I always want to give credit where credit is due but in this case, I do not know where these rules originated so I cannot.

Finally, there are a total of 32 rules so I am going to split them up into two posts. I hope you enjoy them and leave me some feedback on which one is your favorite.

And so here we go…Rules to Teach Your Son-

1. Never shake a man’s hand while sitting down.

2. Don’t enter a pool by the stairs.

3. The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king.

4. In a negotiation, never make the first offer.

5. In the Hotel, request the “late” check-out.

6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it.

7. Hold your heroes to a higher standard.

8. Always return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas.

9. Play with passion or don’t play at all…

10. When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye.

11. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.

12. You are completely missing the point if you need music on the beach.

13. Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her.

14. Remember, when you marry the girl, you marry her family.

15. Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.

16. Experience the serenity of traveling alone.

Again, all in fun and I hope you enjoyed them. The remaining Rules to Teach Your Son will come in my next post so stay tuned-

Until next time guys-

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