Posts Tagged ‘Jesus Christ’

Reminder – 5 Reasons for all of us to have HOPE right now…

Posted: April 6, 2024 in Strength for Today
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Almost 10 years ago, I wrote this post based on what I sensed and felt going on in the world at that time; which was only sadness and destruction. Fast forward 10 years later, everything kinda looks pretty much the same. I don’t know about you, but that fact causes me to seek God every day for the very same thing I did back then…a reason for hope.

I know that I cannot provide anyone with the reasons why our world is like this other than the Bible states who is “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4, John 12:31, 1 John 5:19)  who prowls around seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8) those who don’t resist him. Believe me, my friends, NOW IS THE TIME TO RESIST THE ENEMY. Don’t give up on yourself but rather look to Christ for your hope. Here is what I mean;

God’s word is clear…” I will never leave you or forsake (forget) you” (Joshua 1:5)

By its very nature, the word hope concerns the future, our future. Now I know that I have written before on this blog that Hope is NOT a Strategy, however, I am not referring to a simple hope such as, “I hope I can get a nicer car or bigger house”, but rather I am talking about Biblical hope, which is very different. Biblical hope consists of assurance inside your heart or just firm confidence about future things because of God’s promises and His revelation to us. 

Guys, real Biblical hope in Christ Jesus is something that never fails when you place your trust in Him. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 15:13;

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In other words, Biblical hope is inseparably linked with a firm faith in Him. They go hand-in-hand with one another. As a result, what is yielded is a confident trust in God that is unshakable when the adversity of life hits you like a wave…(Like right now).

So with all of the chaos our world is throwing at you every single day, I wanted to give you some actual reasons why you can still have faith and HOPE that things are going to be alright…

So here are my 5 reasons for all of us to have HOPE right now…

God is still on the throne – He hasn’t gone anywhere. He is still alive and at work in our world. I know it is very easy to look at what happens in this world and say God is dead or maybe He is just sleeping? Believe me, I have heard that before. But the Bible assures us He is alive and well and knows exactly what is happening on this earth.

With man, things are impossible…but with God, ALL things are possible (Mark 10:27) It is so easy to just give up and give in to all of the adversity that is constantly thrown in our direction because we simply forget God’s promises. The bottom line, God has NO limitations. His ways are NOT our ways and therefore he will not react or think as we do…our response needs to be to simply ask, to trust, and to hope in Him.

You Are Not Alone – We are told in Joshua 1:5, “He will never leave us nor forsake us” and I’ve come to realize that my trying to understand the ”whys” of this world is NOT my job. My job is to completely trust in Him…even though I don’t understand. LET GOD DO THE HEAVY LIFTING. Do you remember the story of Peter when he got out of the boat and started walking on the water to meet Jesus? (Matthew 14:29-30) He was actually walking on water until he took his eyes off Christ and then what happened? He started sinking fast…and what was his reaction? He cried, “Lord save me!” which is exactly what we are supposed to do…

All of what you are going through right now is only temporary – Weeping may last for the night…but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5).  It is easy to “get caught up” with what we SEE. But I am here to remind you that Jesus has prepared a place for all of us IN HEAVEN (John 14:2) and this place we see around us, will all pass away. It is only temporary. Heaven is eternal.

I know how this story ends – All of the difficulties and adversity we face every day sometimes can be overwhelming. It may seem like the bad guy in this world may be winning. But let me assure you with an overwhelming confidence. Have you ever read Revelation? Because I know who wins in the end. You and I will be victorious.

    But you MUST STAY THE COURSE. Don’t give up. Have faith and put your trust in Him.

    He will give you the reason to HOPE…

    Until next time guys…

    5 Fun Football Facts

    Posted: February 10, 2024 in Locker Room
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    Hey Guys, here is a quick break from our normal Iron-Man-Strength.com Blog programming. It is almost that time of year when millions of Americans will all huddle around their monster television screens just to watch the Superbowl commercials…just kidding, I am sure many of you will actually be tuning in to watch the game. 

    Either way, Superbowl 2024 is coming this weekend so I thought I would take just a few minutes break to provide you some Football Fun Facts I found online. Never wanting to plagiarize, I pulled this article from the website below and want to ensure I give them full credit.

    I hope you enjoy and you can expect a new blog post soon-

    AFI | American Football | 01/24/2023

    https://upletic.americanfootballinternational.com

    Are you a football fan? Then you’ll love these fun football facts! Football is one of America’s favorite sports, and it has been around for over 100 years. From the early days of leather helmets to today’s modern game with all its technology, the sport continues to evolve and bring joy to millions of people each year. 

    Did you know that some teams have never changed their names since they were first established? Or that college players can be drafted from other countries? Here are some amazing facts about NFL football that will surprise even the most die-hard fans!

    The New York Jets have never beaten the Philadelphia Eagles

    The New York Jets have never beaten the Philadelphia Eagles, and this is a record that has lasted since the team’s first meeting in 1973. Since then, the Eagles have maintained an incredible 12-0 winning streak over the Jets. The two teams have met a total of 12 times in their history, and not once has the Jets managed to get the better of their cross-state rivals.

    This impressive streak is not only one of the longest in NFL history, but it also puts into perspective just how dominant the Eagles have been against the Jets.

    The longest NFL game ever was played in 1971

    In 1971, the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs went toe-to-toe in what would be the longest NFL game ever. The two teams battled it out for a total of 82 minutes and 40 seconds, culminating with a dramatic field goal by Garo Yepremian to secure the win for Miami.

    The game spanned four quarters plus an overtime period, making it one of the most exciting and exhausting games in NFL history. To this day, it remains the longest professional football contest ever played.

    An NFL Kicker Once Won the MVP

    Mark Moseley was an NFL kicker who made history in 1982 when he became the first and only kicker to win the MVP award. Moseley played for the Washington Redskins at the time and had a career-best season, converting on all but one of his field goal attempts. His consistent kicking helped propel the Redskins to an impressive 8–1 record in conference play, clinching them a berth in the playoffs.

    The strike-shortened season created an utterly strange situation where a kicker of all people would win MVP in the nine games he played. This truly amazing feat is one of the most unlikely events to ever occur in NFL history, making it an amazing fact for all football fans!

    Ohio State Has the Biggest College Fanbase

    According to Sports Illustrated, the Ohio State Buckeyes have the biggest college football fanbase in the United States. This comes as no surprise, given that the Buckeyes are one of the most successful programs in college football history. The team has won eight national championships and produced dozens of NFL stars, making it a fan favorite for generations.

    The Ohio State fanbase stretches across the entire country and continues to grow each year. The passionate fans create an electric atmosphere at home games, making them some of the best-attended events in all of college sports. Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s hard to deny just how impressive this feat is when compared to other universities around the nation.

    Ohio is a gigantic football state in general, with the Bengals playing there. The Ohio sports betting market is huge, with its residents spending millions of dollars each year on NFL and college football.

    The Super Bowl Wasn’t called the Super Bowl Originally

    Originally, the Super Bowl was just called the NFL-AFL Championship Game. It was only after Lamar Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, coined the term “Super Bowl” that it became the name we know and love today.

    As time went on, the Super Bowl grew in importance and popularity, and eventually, it was decided that the new name would become official.

    The Super Bowl is one of the most important events in all of sports, and it’s amazing to think that it started as just a simple championship game with no real fanfare. Now, it’s one of the most watched sporting events in the world and has become synonymous with American culture.

    And with sports betting now growing rapidly in the United States, the Super Bowl has also become the most wagered-on event on the US sports calendar.

    American sportsbooks have been quick to pounce on the opportunities presented by the big game, using the Super Bowl platform to promote their features and best NFL betting offers.

    Television advertising during the Super Bowl doesn’t come cheap! In fact, the event commands the most expensive advert rates on US TV.

    Finally

    These fun football facts highlight the amazing history of the NFL, as well as the impact that individual players and teams have had on the game. From impressive streaks to unlikely MVPs and even an unusual name change, these facts give us a glimpse into some of the most memorable moments in American sports history. 

    Whether or not you’re a fan of football, these facts are sure to impress and provide an interesting look at how much this sport has changed over time. So next time you’re watching a game, be sure to keep these wild stories in mind!

    Until next time Guys-

    Eternal Life – What is it?

    Posted: February 3, 2024 in Kingdom Living
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    The Bible talks plainly about eternal life, which is, simply put, living forever with God as His saved people. This means that only those who have a saving relationship with God; meaning one that is active and fruitful, are identified as people who will receive eternal life.

    Humanity, of course, has taken the concept of eternal life and added its dose of limited understanding to bring it down to a level where they can understand it in their terms and not in Gods. They have watered eternal life down to a point where either the concept is so ridiculous that they do not believe it, or they adjust what is required to get there so that they can live their life as they want to. Kind of the “have your cake and eat it too” mentality. I have seen this and I am sure you have as well.

    Maybe you don’t believe in Eternal Life yourself…

    I will be honest with you, Eternal life, without faith, is hard to understand. The idea of living forever is something we only see in the movies. Our collective reality is we are surrounded by death and even though living forever sounds amazing, it is hard to think that could happen. When your loved one passes, they are physically gone and until you die yourself and find out where they went by then it is too late.

    Guys, I want to give you some help with this topic so we can better understand…but I have to warn you…this topic does require faith in what you cannot see. Remember, the author of Hebrews said it this way,

            Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

    First of all, eternal life is more than some endless existence floating around somewhere. I am sure you have seen the cartoon of the guy floating around on a cloud playing the harp…that is NOT eternal life.

    Eternal life will be a special quality of life that we as believers receive when we partake of the essential life of God through Christ His Son…all this means is you have an ongoing active relationship with Christ. And that eternal life I am speaking about is a present reality while you live on Earth. Jesus said it very plainly this way,

    “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

    As I said, the present possession of eternal life requires a living faith…meaning at your very core, you believe. I must make clear that Eternal life is not just secured and maintained merely by repenting and having faith from a long time ago. But rather it involves the present living connection with Christ…Because there is NO eternal life apart from Him.

    Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12

    Finally, there is our FUTURE Hope…

    We have a hope that lives in us because of our salvation in Him. The bottom line for you and me is that our Eternal life is directly connected with the future coming of Christ for all of His faithful believers. We have been given hope, through many scriptures that He will return and fulfill His promises.

    ..which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10

    How can I sum this up for you? I specifically kept this post separated from the topic of Heaven as that is the “where” and I am referring to the “what”. Eternal life can begin on Earth with a saving salvation in Christ Jesus. That is living by the Spirit daily and something that you participate in like going to the gym. Yes, it is like exercising your spiritual muscle.

    That daily and faithful relationship produces eternal fruit for you. But the easiest way to understand is to use the same verse we all learned as children:

    For God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that whosoever believes in Him would not die, but have eternal life. John 3:16

    I know this was short, but hopefully, this helped you grasp eternal life a little bit easier. Your walk in faith takes effort and time but the relationship you develop with Christ is the beginning of eternal life and will be the most rewarding thing you have ever experienced…that I can assure you.

    Until next time, guys-

    Boy, Do We Need Grace…

    Posted: January 15, 2024 in Faith Journey
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    I have heard that word my entire life but what does it really mean? Or maybe I should say, what should it mean to you and me? I remember saying “Grace” before each meal growing up and I always give gratuity when someones service goes above and beyond what is expected…which is also Grace. 

    The acclaimed author Philip Yancey calls the word Grace, “the last best word”, because he believes that Grace is “still one grand theological word that has not been spoiled”by a society that tends to weaken the meaning of words. 

    I agree with Yancey because when you hear the word “Grace”, the core of its meaning hasn’t been spoiled. Grace still shouts “I’m going to help you!” which is something all of us need to hear. Yancey goes on to ask the question, “Where can the world go to find Grace?” and that is the cornerstone of this post.

    Grace is simple in meaning. I looked it up in the dictionary and it says, “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration”…which means, something God gives to humans that is completely undeserved. 

    But you can also experience Grace from a friend or even a stranger through kindness or acceptance. Have you ever experienced an undeserved gift from a stranger? Maybe the Grace gift that was provided gave you some needed relief yet was completely unexpected…

    That is what Grace is at the core…

    Recently, I found myself thinking about Grace because there is so much “ungrace” or the opposite of Grace that I see in this world. We like to bully each other especially online. We are a “no mercy” society and when you look around, giving Grace seems to be the last thing on the list.

    Christ provided the greatest example of Grace for all of us by sacrificing Himself for all of us but yet showing Grace to each other STILL does not come naturally.


    So what do we do with this information? How do you move from ungrace to grace? I can tell you from personal experience that the first step is forgiveness…something also very difficult. 

    When you can forgive a friend or family member that has wronged you, you are extending Grace to that person. Obviously, that means some work on our part with God because we do tend to keep score on wrongs committed against us. 

    If we think we have been wronged, the other person needs to make the first move…right?. WRONG…Extending Grace means you take the first step by forgiving. Grace is acceptance, Grace means, I forgive you, and I am there for you…

    Let me put it to you another way. Do you realize that achieving heaven is IMPOSSIBLE without the Grace extended to us through Jesus Christ? That means you, me, or any other famous person ever to live, cannot get to heaven without Gods Grace. 

    That means you must rely on Him…and not on yourself…you need His Grace to make it through each day and ultimately, to Heaven. But that begins each day with a dose of Grace from Christ and Grace that you give to other people who need it too. 

    Remember the words of Christ in Matthew 6:14:

    For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

    Grace freely given and Grace freely received…

    So I again ask the question Philip Yancey asked, “Where can the world go to find Grace?”

    Look in the mirror…It starts with you and me…

    Until next time guys…

    Yancey, Philip. (1997) What’s So Amazing About Grace, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan

    Friendship with this World

    Posted: January 6, 2024 in Kingdom Living
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    Do you think it is possible for a Christian Man or Woman to “ride the fence” so to speak with their relationship to this world and then with God? Can we do what we want Monday through Saturday and then make it all up to God on Sunday? I don’t know about you, but I have a work friend that does exactly that. He knows how I feel about what he is doing and so now he just avoids me.

    So I thought about this issue recently on my way home from work and I realized that all I can do for this person is to NOT judge him, but rather just be there and be me. What I mean is, to show him that I can live in this world by creating boundaries for myself that I choose not to cross. As far as our friendship goes, I can and I WILL continue to be his friend but I just don’t approve of his choices.

    My dad used to tell me right before a spanking, “I love you, son, I just don’t love what you did”…and that is where I am now with my friend.

    Because of this situation, however, I went back and looked at what Scripture says about a Christian’s relationship with the world, and what I found was God has a lot to say on this subject. In fact, scripture is crystal clear on how we are to cohabitate while we are here on this earth.

    Without preaching to anyone, here is how God feels about our relationship with this world. Again…He does not mince words and He starts with this statement below-

    Friendship with the World is hatred toward God

    Secondly, James had some very strong words for his audience when he spoke these scriptures below about their friendship with this world.

    You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity (hostile) with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

    Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 

    Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.    James 4:4-8

    I get it. This is STRONG scripture but I think the important points to recognize are:

    1. If we are focused on anything ELSE other than Him. 
    2. If we are spending time on something that is a distraction from our relationship with Him.
    3. If we choose to not attend church to enjoy an activity outside regularly

    Guys, the list goes on and on. But the reality is that if you find yourself compromising your walk or your relationship, then these scriptures, HOPEFULLY, can help bring you back to center so you can prioritize what is really important for your eternal future.

    You, me, we have to separate ourselves from this world…just like scripture says

    Jesus said it this way, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  Matthew 6:24

    My intent in writing this to you today is simply a reminder that because life does indeed go on, it is VERY easy to lose focus and compromise your faith. And the reality for us is that just because we are not focused on our walk with Him…HE STILL IS… and compromise is the first step towards a fall.

    I care about you guys and want each of you to experience eternal life with Christ. Let me end with what the Apostle John says-

    Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 

    1 John 2:15-17

    Please stay strong-

    Until next time Guys-

    The Temptation of Jesus

    Posted: January 2, 2024 in Strength for Today
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    Before Christ began His 3-year ministry on earth, he was led by the Holy Spirit out into the Desert where He was subjected to temptation from Satan. This lasted 40 days and during that time,  Jesus did not eat. 

    I don’t know about you, but I am confident I would not last even a few days without sustenance before pure weakness set in… but Jesus did it. I want to remind you that at this point, He was just like any other man, which means His body would have started to break down due to a lack of nourishment just like yours and mine would.

    Compounding that fact, was that He was being subjected to temptation from Satan, who was and is, the Prince of this World, which made this entire ordeal even more difficult. But, let me be clear, this encounter was not by accident. Christ did not go to the desert to hide but rather He was led to this confrontation by God. Why?, Because as Erwin Lutzer states in his book, God’s Devil, “God wanted to prove that Christ would win in the very arena of temptation where Adam failed”.

    In case this fact slipped your mind, Jesus already knew Satan. How? Because He created him. Lucifer, as was his name, was one of the highest-ranking angels ever. He led worship in Heaven and had a direct connection with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. However, evil was found to be in his heart so God cast him out of Heaven along with one-third of the angels he had corrupted. 

    Today, I wanted to take a couple of minutes to add some color to these “temptation” events and try and bring the supernatural perspective that the Bible only tells us in 2D. What Satan presented to Christ would have been truly amazing and frankly would have blown you and me away.

    Temptation #1

    And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Matt 4:3

    First of all, Christ could have turned the stones into bread in a second. In fact, He basically did the same miracle just a few weeks later when He fed the 5,000 but, we know Satan does not play fair. As Lutzer states, “The essence of this temptation was to show the needs of the body are more important than the needs of the soul.” This was low-hanging fruit and he knew Jesus was hungry, famished, and even starving. But Christ saw through his plan and would not give Satan the disobedience he wanted.

    Temptation #2

    The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone”. Matt 4:6

    This temptation is far more sinister because if Christ quotes scripture, then so does Satan. Lucifer knows the scripture better than you and I. But think about this, Satan quotes scripture to entice Christ into sinning. He literally tried to hamstring Christ by using scripture against Him.

    Next, consider this; Satan somehow takes or carries Christ to the apex of the temple in Jerusalem…using his demon power. We know that Christ would NOT have allowed him to do this without His consent. 

    Thirdly, do not be misdirected here. Satan was deliberately trying to misuse God’s word just as he will do with you. Are you ready for when you hear the word of God used in the wrong way? Can you discern the difference? Remember when I mentioned this temptation is the most sinister by far?

    Finally, Christ simply responded, “DO NOT put your Lord God to the test”. Christ did not fall into the trap that Satan set. He wanted Christ to choose sin even while pointing to a verse and Christ would not.

    Let me remind you of Martin Luther’s words from many years ago when he said, “The devil is God’s devil. We have forgotten that only when we know who God is can we know who the devil is. Blessed are those who are convinced that the prince of this world has become a slave to the Prince of Peace.“

    Temptation #3

    The devil led him up to a high mountain and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Matt 4:8-9

    Again, Christ is taken or carried up to a very high mountain on earth using the demon power of Satan. In an instant, He is shown all of the Kingdoms of the world. Think about that for a second. Christ witnessed Rome in all of its splendor or Ancient Greece or Egypt with the Pyramids. Consider the amazing supernatural experience of ALL these kingdoms displayed to Him at the same time.

    Now, I realize that these are earthly kingdoms and NOT Heavenly ones but the sheer power of this should not escape you. Why did Satan do this? It was his last act of power with Christ. He was providing Christ a “shortcut to the kingdom”. He was offering all the authority of the world if He, Jesus Christ, would bow down and worship him.

    As we know, Christ did not deviate from the will of God and told Satan to go pound sand. Sorry, that was my paraphrasing. He told him that “you shall worship the Lord your God and him only you shall serve”.

    This Case is Closed…

    What is the point of writing and sharing this post today? You and I can follow the very same example that Christ set for us by refuting and resisting the enemy using God’s word. Frankly, that is exactly what God wants us to do with it but with one caveat…you must know God’s word well enough to discern when it isn’t… 

    That is my challenge to you today-

    Until next time Guys-

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

    Where is your Heart Committed?

    Posted: December 29, 2023 in God Perspective
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    Well, we find ourselves again on the doorstep of another New Year…only this time 2024. If you are like me, you are wondering, where did this year go? When I was a younger man, I never could grasp old folks telling me that as you age, time accelerates…now I get that.

    I found myself at the end of this year reading in the Old Testament, specifically the books of 1&2 Kings and 1&2 Chronicles, which were stories about David, his son Solomon, and all of the Kings that came after. Honestly, what the Bible shares about these people is either good, bad, or ugly. Frankly, I wonder how God had the patience to deal with so much failure due to rampant idolatry amongst his people. There is one thing that stood out to me which is why I decided to finish Ironman-Strength 2023 writing a blog today rolling into 2024. Here is just a short story for you to think about.

    I want to introduce you to a guy by the name of Asa. Asa was one of the many Kings of Judah who reigned starting in 910 BC and his throne lasted close to 40 years. Like many of these Kings, Asa started off going down the right road. The Bible tells us that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of God” 2 Chronicles 14:2. He went about destroying all of the idols that were in his kingdom with the intent of turning the people back towards the Lord. 

    The Bible also tells us that Asa did a good job and because of his relationship with Him, God blessed him and his people.

    Unfortunately, as Asa grew old, he changed his focus. He decided that he could run his own life without God’s help. Worse yet, Asa went in the opposite direction and gave himself over to Satan ultimately turning into a brutal oppressor of his people. Asa learned through his transition from good to bad that “the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9. Asa’s choices caused devastation to himself and God’s people.

    All God asked Asa to do was to make a choice and then stick with it. Serving God your entire life, through the good and the difficult times is tough. When you can’t see Christ or worse yet, you can’t feel Him, your first thought is you are alone. In Asa’s case, he listened to Satan. I want to remind you that even now Satan is in a wrestling match with God over YOUR life. God seeks to refine you as you navigate painful situations whereas Satan’s sole intent for you is destruction. If you choose the enemy, your condition might improve for a time, but in the end, with Satan as your pilot, death is coming.

    Guys, I hope you don’t find me harsh to end this year with a strong message like this one but I speak the truth and it is critical to hear because, in my mind, it is all about where you plan to spend eternity.

    God distinguishes between those of us whose hearts are completely HIS and those whose hearts are divided between HIM and this world. Where is your heart committed?

    Until Next Time Guys – Happy New Year-

    Holy Spirit 102

    Posted: August 20, 2023 in Biblical Wisdom
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    Recently, I posted a blog about the Holy Spirit that I found interesting. To summarize, there is a great deal of Creation that would NOT be around had it not been for the Holy Spirit on this earth, including you and me. Secondly, the Holy Spirit thinks, feels, and He even wills things, meaning He determines the best course in a situation…My recommendation is to find that post, Holy Spirit 101, and read it for yourselves.

    Also, before I get too far, I wanted to share that there is a HUGE amount of material about how the Holy Spirit was active during the Old Testament, so…, if I can get my act together and get that organized, I will work to post that portion also.

    Today, I have some more meat for you, meaning, some fundamental details about what the Holy Spirit is doing right now that I think you will find very relevant to you and your family. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just float around in ether all day, He is actively working on God’s plan for earth, which translated, means God’s plan for you and me. 

    Finally, I have elected to provide this information to you in outline format with scripture references and some commentary to make it easier for you to consume.

    So back to the question, What is the Holy Spirit doing right now?

    He is the Envoy of Salvation

    1. He convicts us of guilt – John 16:7-8
    2. He reveals the truth to you and me about Jesus Christ – John 14:16, 26
    3. He gives us new birth. John 3:3-6 – Please note, this is a fundamental element about Christ saving us. Christ refers to this as being reborn or born again. This is the Holy Spirit at work in us.
    4. He incorporates you and me into the body of Christ – 1 Cor 12:13

    When we accept Christ into our hearts at our conversion, we receive the Holy Spirit – John 3:3-6, John 20:22. When this happens, you and I become participants in the Divine Nature of Christ – 2 Peter 1:4

    This last point is HUGE because when we are part of His Divine Nature, we can escape the corruption in this world that is caused by evil desires.

    Guys, this is not rocket science, we need help navigating all of the garbage that the enemy is or will throw at us while we are in this world. I have written a great deal about this in previous blogs. TRUTH STATEMENT: the Holy Spirit is what helps you and who guides you when all of the bad stuff happens. Please remember: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

    He is the Envoy of Sanctification

    Please don’t stop reading at this point. I know that “Sanctification” is a $50 theological word that most people don’t understand but it is very simple. It means you are set apart, you have been made different, you are purified – Romans 8:9, 1 Cor 6:19

    Because He lives in us, look at what He does:

    1. He cleanses us and motivates us toward living a Holy life
    2. He constantly delivers you and me from the bondage of sin – Romans 8:2-4, Galatians 5:16-7, 2 Thes 2:13. And believe me, we need to be delivered from those shackles.
    3. He reminds us that we are children of God – Romans 8:16
    4. He helps us worship God and helps with our prayer life – Acts 10:46
    5. He intercedes when we cry out to God –  Romans 8:26-27

    This list is far longer and more comprehensive to provide and I don’t want to lose you from reading on.

    He is the Envoy of Service

    1. He empowers us to service and to be His witnesses. The actual work of the Holy Spirit is related to the Baptism in the Spirit or also the fullness of the Spirit. When we are baptized, we recipe power to carry the message of Christ forward – Acts 1:8

    Again, there is a HUGE amount of material about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that if you have any interest, I highly encourage you to investigate further or leave me a note and I can send it to you.

    He is the Envoy who incorporates all of us (believers) into the body of Christ, together – 1 Cor 12:13

    The Church is the cornerstone of the ministry of Christ on Earth and the Holy Spirit moving is at the center of this.

    1. He lives inside the Church – 1 Cor 3:16
    2. He actively builds the Church – Ephesians 2:22
    3. He actively inspires the worship of the Church – Philippians 3:3
    4. He actively directs the mission of the Church – Acts 13:2,4
    5. He actively appoints the workers in the Church – Acts 20:28
    6. He actively appoints the Pastors for the Church – Acts 2:4, 1 Cor 2:4

    I think it can be very fair to say that without the moving of the Holy Spirit in a church, the church is dead. I realize those are very strong words to use about a church but I believe they are spoken in truth. It is required by you and me to seek a church where the Spirit is active and alive in the ministry so we can be fed each week. 

    The hard part about writing a blog on this topic is the fact that I have to leave out so much information just so the blog doesn’t become a book. That is where I rely on you, the reader, to take the next step of at least, looking up the scripture references simply because the Bible clearly states HIS Word will NOT return void.

    Drop me a line in the comments section-

    Until next time Guys…

    Wrestling with Unbelief

    Posted: May 30, 2023 in Fatherhood
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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 God Perspective
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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.

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