Wrestling with Unbelief

Posted: May 30, 2023 in Father
Tags: , , , , ,
0

“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
Tags: , , , ,
0

“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
Tags: , , , , ,
0

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
Tags: , , , ,
0

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
Tags: , , , ,
0

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
Tags: , , ,
0

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-

The Devil is a LIAR

Posted: April 5, 2023 in Tough Times
Tags: , , , ,
0

The more and more I learn about our common enemy, the devil, the more I am continually amazed at his deception tactics. Simply put; he will do whatever is necessary to destroy you. Now we all know that he is a liar. In fact, he is called the father of lies according to the red letters of Jesus below…

…He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44b

Satan’s foundational character at his core is to lie, and his number one job is deceiving you and me. One of my favorite authors Erwin Lutzer said this, “Though Satan is at war with all of humanity, his special attacks are aimed at those whom he knows will belong to God forever. Conceivably dialogues such as those in the book of Job are still happening today”. Look at it this way, he thinks that if he cannot keep you from heaven, then at least he can keep you from being useful on this earth. 

As a result, every single day,  Satan whispers in your ear because he can. Yes, he has the ability to inject thoughts into your mind that you think are your own. Lutzer also said,” Satan wants YOU to develop confidence in YOUR  ability to handle the consequences of disobedience”. If he can do that, you become desensitized to hearing anything from God. When you can’t hear from God, then despair can set in and that can be Satan’s greatest weapon toward you and your family.

So what do you do?

Lutzer tells us that “a life of praise to the Lord is one of the most effective weapons against the enemy. Satan hates praises to Jesus and we can use those praises against him”. I love that. Just humming one of your favorite praise songs is a deterrent to the enemy!

Secondly, it is imperative that the power of God, or the Holy Spirit is active in you. And this happens through your faith in Him. Then…each day you can claim the assurance that the Spirit WILL be active in your life, daily. Remember, you received Christ by faith, and since then, you walk by faith, again, daily. Because of this, the Spirit can make us free and keep it that way.

Guys, it does take effort each day for you to participate. Look at your situation like this; warriors “suit up” before they go to battle. Police Officers and soldiers wear body armor. Roman soldiers wore breastplates and carried shields…all for protection from the blows or bullets from the enemy. Essentially, you must do the same thing by wearing God’s armor and protecting yourself.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph 6:11-12

Guys, this is just a simple reminder that our battle is for our eternal souls, and you can’t take days off from thinking about this. It requires time spent and solid effort from you every day to connect to God. That is what He asks and that is what we must do. No more and no less.

Until next time guys…

Lutzer, Erwin. (2015) Gods Devil, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers. 162.

Your Attitude determines your Altitude

Posted: March 24, 2023 in Inspirational
Tags: , , , ,
0

Personal stories always seem to affect me especially when I see ones about people who change other people because of their actions. I really like that. I found one of those stories that I want to share with you. 

This one is on a topic that sometimes I struggle with personally which is my attitude. It is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to choose…good mood or bad mood? Well actually…when things are good… the good mood is easy but when things are not so good…maintaining that good mood is VERY difficult and that is why I share this post with you…

 Because YOU GET TO CHOOSE your ATTITUDE…Enjoy…

Michael is the kind of guy who can drive you crazy because he is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!” This guy was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of their situation.

Seeing his style every day really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, “I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?” Michael replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or…you can choose to be in a bad mood. For me, I choose to be in a good mood.” 

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to either be a victim or…I can choose to learn from it…I simply choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or…I can point out the positive side of life. In every circumstance I come across, I choose to take the positive side of life.

“Yeah right, it’s not that easy,” I protested. “Actually yes it is,” Michael said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation you face is a choice and you get to choose how you react to those situations. You are the one who chooses how people will affect your mood. 

You either choose to be in a good mood or in a bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life and not anyone else”

I reflected on what Michael said and soon thereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch but I would often think about him when I made a choice in my own life rather than reacting to it. 

Several years later, I found out that Michael was involved in a very serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was finally released from the hospital with steel rods being surgically placed in his back.

I saw Michael about six months after the accident and when I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins…Wanna see my scars?” I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. 

“The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be-born daughter,” Michael replied. “Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die…I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked. Michael continued, “…the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine but when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” I asked.

“Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Michael. “She asked if I was allergic to anything.

‘Yes, I replied.’

The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled,

‘Gravity'”

Over their laughter, I told them, 

“I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.”

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude…I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday and you are still alive and functioning. Remember…when you trust in Him…You have a reason to hope.

I truly pray you will make the right choice…but in case you forget, choose attitude.

Until next time guys…

Undercover Christians

Posted: March 19, 2023 in Something to think about
Tags: , , , , ,
2

Do you remember the movie “Gods Not Dead” from a few years back? The plot was about a bitter college professor who tried to push all of his freshman students into proclaiming that God is dead before his class began each semester. He asked each of them to write, “God is dead” on a sheet of paper, then sign it, and turn it into him. In the story, one of his incoming freshman students could not do this because of his faith, which prompted this angry professor to challenge him to prove the existence of God. 

From a Christian perspective, the apologetics were very powerful in the movie. Honestly, to think that this was a movie released to the masses in secular theaters was very exciting to see. 

But if you know me and have read this blog, you know that something stood out above all else when I watched this film…and that was the verses quoted below from Matthew 10:32-33 in which Christ said,

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

Guys, this one hit me like a brick in the head because I know, like you, I am surrounded by Hidden Christians who never say anything about their faith. For those of you who are Salt and Light in this world, this post isn’t for you. This one is for the rest of us Christian men who exist in silence before one another and before God. I am speaking to those who go about their days focused on their “busyness” with the light that is supposedly inside of them, hidden deep inside where no one can see.

My point is that our God is real, no matter how you and I feel about Him, and in my mind, I believe that as each day passes, is one more day we will never get back again. 

For Christians, God continually places opportunities in front of us to share and be an influence for Him…no matter where we are…These are chances just for us for you and me. They can be opportunities to just say an encouraging word or something more…

Guys…God never intended for you to be undercover. You are not a spy for Christ in this world; you are one of His disciples and it’s time for you to be a voice for Him rather than silent. I am NOT trying to guilt you or scare you but Christ’s words are very clear in the verse above… 

…But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Please think about these words. They are for you and for me…Do not find yourself in that position someday…

Until next time Guys…

The Rules of Engagement

Posted: March 15, 2023 in Something to think about
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Throughout the history of the world, nations have fought against nations with the intent to control the other. The goal is always victory and to the “victorious, go the spoils”. But the reality of war is incredibly painful. So much in fact, that nations have met between themselves to establish the ground rules of war or the Rules of Engagement. The most famous of these is the Geneva Convention, where countries gathered together for one purpose, to Protect the Vulnerable in War. This convention established battlefield articles that countries were to follow when one overtook the other and more.

Why am I talking about Rules of Engagement for war today in this post? I learned something recently that struck me and I believe is imperative to share with you about how we, you and me, engage with our number one enemy in this life, Satan. What you learn may surprise you.

If you were unaware, you are in a war but not like a war that you see in the movies.

Paul said it this way in Ephesians 6:12:

  • For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Even though this war is located in the heavenly realm, don’t be misled…it impacts all of us.

Next, it is critical for you to be familiar with your enemy. Learn who he is and what is his plan for not only you but strategically for this Earth. Peter does a very good job explaining that for us:

  • Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  1 Peter 5:8

Satan’s plan is to devour anyone and everyone if he can….or if you let him. Because this is a different kind of war, it has a different set of Rules of Engagement. You must know these tools and the armor that God gives you to RESIST, otherwise, you won’t win.

But please notice what I said in the previous sentence. I mentioned, resisting…not battling, fighting, or pursuing. We are NOT called to do battle with Satan or his minions. We will lose. Why? Because Satan is one of the most powerful created beings ever. He was created by God and he is currently the Prince of this earth. How do I know that? because Satan himself said so when speaking to Jesus in Luke.

  • “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. Luke 4:6

God delivered earth to Satan so that he would do the bidding of God…but that is another blog post.

So if we are not called to fight Satan then what do we do?

You are called to stand and resist. See these scriptures given to explain.

  • Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Eph 6:11
  • Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
  • Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:9

With the full armor of God in place, if you resist, then James says, HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU. That is exactly what we want to happen and exactly what our role is. Stand firm and resist…the rest of the battle belongs to God and His warrior angels.

And that is the best part…God does the heavy lifting so we don’t have to…

So today, put on your armor and resist-

Until next time guys

Older Entries
Newer Entries