Semper Fi - X

Semper Fi - X

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Semper Fi - X

The Truth!

Don't you think that every person should be able to tell the Truth as a Statement of their Faith to share with others?

This is what I have come up that applies to my faith and how I interpret Scripture and the Gospel ( with the help and counsel of the Holy Spirit and the the counsel of numerous books, sermons, study groups, prayer and Christian mentors that are much more educated and mature in there faith then myself ).

First there is a faith that Christ grants us to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah of Israel and Savior of the World.

Second, Scripture tells us none of us are righteous...but...Jesus lived a perfect life and died as our Savior, a Holy sacrifice for everyone that believes the Truth and trusts in His sacrifice on the Cross. For these believers that accept the life and then death of Christ as a substitute for our payment of death we are justified by faith and belong to the Kingdom of God - the Church Universal. By placing our trust in the Cross, the Holy Spirit draws us to repent of our sins and with the Spirits counsel to follow the teachings of Christ. While many books have been written interpreting the teachings of Christ for a believer to follow...Jesus has boiled it down to simply Loving God first and then Loving your neighbor as yourself. You do that and everything else falls in line.

Who is your neighbor that we are to love? Jesus explains that as the Good Samaritan in his parables. Jesus says we should love others that show mercy and compassion on the weak and helpless and strive to do the same ourselves.

Does that mean we love everything and everybody? Scripture also tells us that we should hate those things that stand between us and God and the purpose God has for our lives. Jesus even called the founder of the Church... St Peter..."Satan" when he tried to dissuade Jesus from giving Himself up to his fate on the Cross.

Modern Christian authors can write all the 450 page books they want to try to add to, explain away or complicate Scripture but the Truth really isn't all that complicated. I believe that Christianity is a simple religion that offers the same invitation of eternal fellowship with God to the uneducated farmer in Guatemala, the peasant in China or the Aids infected African orphan as it does to soccer moms and business executives in Dallas Texas that spend hundreds of dollars a year at Starbucks and Lifeway Christian bookstores while searching for this simple Truth. Surely God has designed the Gospel to fit the needs of a guy on a camel just as it does the guy in his Mercedes Benz. Not that reading Christian books is wrong...I have read, learned from and enjoyed many of them myself...but the Bible tells you all a person really needs to know in very simple terms and you may need to pray to ask God for the faith to believe that Truth much more then you need to buy more books. ( But keep the coffee coming ! )

How do we spread the Truth ( that is the Gospel message of Jesus ) in a way that is easily transferrable, understood and accepted by the seven billion people of the World today?

Next post!

Believe the Truth, live the Truth, tell the Truth.

 

Small group mojo ( with a feminine twist)!

I attended a Small Group Committee meeting held at our church last night.

Of the Small group leaders there ...I was the only male that was leading a small group in attendance...the rest were all ladies. That speaks volumes on its own.

We went around the room to discuss events that were occurring in our small groups to share with the others in attendance and I have to tell you I was impressed with the leadership skills of the women in our church.

A couple of comments made by three ladies in particular stood out:

A) Benevolent Dictator - this strong leader of a large Sunday School class of young married couples said that while you need to listen to your groups wants and needs...you are in charge! She said it is like being a benevolent dictator to get things done! I loved her comments...it rings so true in effective leadership and is evident by the size and success of her class.

B) Step up to the plate - this lady said that her class is starting to diminish a little and she is revitalizing her group by asking her small group members to step up to the plate and do their fair share so they will feel more ownership of the class and more committed to its success. So far it is working!

C) This is the most important thing I do in my life! While a comment like this may be considered by some to be a little extreme it demonstrates the passion, energy and enthusiasm that she holds for her role as a small group leader. Even if she fails...she fails swinging for the fences! You have to love and appreciate a person that gives their life to a cause. Jesus said no greater love has a person then to give up their life for their fellow man!

If they weren't ladies I would ask them to serve in leadership positions in Men's Ministry! If only more of our men in church would do more taking charge, running with the ball, giving their all and stepping up to the plate...more men would be reached, discipled, saved for eternity and our families and church would be stronger for it! We could use these ladies as role models for the men!

Bald is beautiful!

Before you get to making fun of my bald head again, you might want to read a little Scripture first.

Click these links to read two verses out of Leviticus.... and then a different message from 2 Kings .

Don't say I didnt warn you!

Like a Good Neighbor!

In the Gospel of Luke...Jesus is explaining to the lawyer the the greatest commandment is the Love God and right behind that is to love your neighbor. When pressed who your neighbor is ...Jesus tels the story of the Good Samaritan. I always read the Parable of the Good Samaritan and thought of the mercy and compassion of the Samaritan and how he truly fulfilled the commandment of "loving his neighbor" as he tended to the injured victim of a robbery.

But in re-reading the account in Matthew ...Jesus asks the lawyer to tell Him who his neighbor was...and the lawyer responded that the Samaritan was the "Good Neighbor" because he showed mercy to the helpless. Now that puts a different light on who "my neighbor" really is. Not the helpless and injured on the side of the road (whom we certainly should help anyway we can) but rather the people in my life that show me forgiveness, compassion and mercy. Those folks I need to appreciate more and love them ...even if they are a "Samaritan" and not of my skin color, financial status ( higher or lower)  or religious denomination.

How about the guy on the side of the road? Are we commanded to love them? Sure ....Jesus tells us that when we helped the least, we helped Jesus Himself. In addition Jesus tells us that we should not only love God #1 and then our Neighbor ( those that show us mercy as Jesus does )#2 that #3 we should also love your enemies and those that seek to harm and persecute us. That just about covers everyone and everything. The Almighty, the gracious, the least and your enemies.

Is there anything to hate? Jesus tells us we should hate anything that stands in the way between us and Him....From our family, our love for financial success,and all the things of this world that tempt us into seperation from our Lord.

When creation speaks...listen!

God speaks to us in many ways. I hear His voice in prayer, in sermons, in my circumstances and in advice from Spiritually mature Christians. We can also hear His advice from creation.

The following pieces of advice come from a catalog I recently browsed through. Some are funny...others right on!

Advice from a bear: Live large, eat well, live with the seasons, take a good long nap, look after your honey!

Advice from a bass: know when to keep your mouth shut, don't take the bait, don't give up without a fight, be a good catch!

Advice from a wolf: trust your instincts, be at home with nature, stay on track, howl with your friends, be a leader!

Advice from an eagle: Let your spirit soar, see the big picture, fly high, bald is beautiful!

Advice from a whale: move with grace and beauty, explore the depths of your true nature, think big, remember to come up for air, no blubbering!

Advice from a shark: take a bite out of life, stay active, keep moving forward, live fiercely, stay sharp!

Advice from a butterfly: let your true colors show, get out of your cocoon, take yourself lightly, take time to smell the flowers!

Advice from a tree: Stand tall and proud, sink your roots deep, go out on a limb, drink plenty of water, enjoy the view!

Advice from a mountain: Rise above it all, patience! Reach for new heights, enjoy the view!

Advice from a canyon: Carve out a place for yourself, stand the test of time, listen to the voice of the wind, reach deep!

Advice from a bat: trust in your senses, hang out with friends, don't be afraid of the dark, guano happens!

Advice from a dog: be loyal, delight in the simple joy of a long walk, make new friends, learn new tricks no matter your age, when loved ones come home...run to greet them!

Be Strong!

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of effort is the same. —Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998), author, philosopher

Whoever you are, whatever your dream, you have to be strong in your head and strong in your heart. Be strong. There is no quitting for the person who wants it bad enough. —Carly Patterson (b. 1988) gold medal gymnast in 2004 Olympics

Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others. —Plato (427BC-347BC), Classical Greek philosopher

Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength. —Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), author, Bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, Catholic Saint

The real man smiles at trouble, gathers strength from distress and grows brave by reflection. —Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author, revolutionary, pamphleteer

My big mouth!

No Problem!

Buck it up!

Step up to the plate!

If you have known me for a while, you know I tend to use these three sayings from time to time.

I explain No Problem! here.

Buck it up comes from my failed attempt at being a compassionate Stephens Minister. It was great to hear Dr Les Parrot tell his wife Dr Leslie Parrot to Buck it up! at the Marriage Enrichment Conference today at our Church.

Step up to the Plate is a Sports Analogy that is often used when guys are involved in an organization or a cause and they are needed to start walking the talk they have been talking. It is not an attempt to lay a guilt trip on anyone but rather a challenge to live out the life they have been professing to live when the need is presented to them.  A baseball player doesn't feel guilty about the coach asking them to "step up to the plate" but instead he feels needed, important to the team and wants to perform to the best of his ability. It is his moment to show the team why he is there in the first place. This is actually Scriptural. 1 John 3:18 tells us to quit talking about "love" and "start practicing it" Or in the Art's Message interpretation of the Bible: Step up to the Plate! If you love Jesus, love your Church, love your fellow Christians...then step out of all your posing, talking and pretending and show it! Jesus needs you in action not just in meetings!

So Step up to the plate, if you feel insecure about that commitment then Buck it up! If you don't agree "No Problem!"

Tornado !

We had a close call early this morning as a tornado touched down a few miles from my house and office.

When two of my clients called the office for help...I got in the truck and went out there with a case of bottled water and a claim check book.

Here are a few of the photos I took today.  Click the image to get a full screen view.

We were lucky no one got hurt. I gave out a few hugs, words of encouragement, insurance advice and some emegency money. Glad I could help. One of those times that makes you feel good you are in the insurance business!

God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy.... Romans 9:18

Kairos Boyd #12 - Final Day Report

This is Sunday morning...our Final Day of the Four Day Weekend. The drive in was misty, foggy and a little warmer then the day before. It is a peaceful, holy start to the day. This is also my birthday and I know God is going to bless me beyond anything I could ask for.

We went through the routine of getting in the unit and I walked in with the guard who was in charge of escorting us. I noticed he had a holster on but his gun was gone. He explained that this was a medium/minimum security unit but you still had to use common sense about it. No guns are allowed past the first check point. A guard could easily get overcome and his gun taken away when you are walking among a 100 residents. The empty holster reminds me that we are in a dangerous place and that I was maybe getting a little too relaxed as I befriended some of the residents. Men staying here have been found guilty of crimes against society and most were paying the price for that against their free will. I haven't heard anyone say they just walked into a police station and gave up...they had to be caught and sent here in shackles. There is a good reason for the razor wire, the guard tower equipped with the high powered rifle and scope along with double security gates and lots of rules to get in and out.

He did explain that the history of this unit however was pretty non-eventful and if you have to spend time in a state prison this is a good one to do it in. I was told later that the Boyd-Kairos is a role model across the state for other Kairos and Christian Prison Ministries and that the leadership and teams of the previous Boyd Kairos Weekends here get a lot of credit for keeping the violence down. Not too long ago a new resident was being processed in and was being held in the yard for a while and he asked one of the others what was the best gang to join....his answer was Kairo's!

Have you ever seen the televison show that highlights stupid criminals with their crime. One of the residents told me that he wasn't a very good robber. He went into a convenience store and pulled a gun, demanding cash. When the cashier put the cash drawer down on the counter...he laid his gun down and started grabbing all the money. Meanwhile, the cashier calmly picked up the pistol and held him at bay till the cops got there. He laughs about it now and blames it on the drugs he was on for making him do a lot of dumb things. That was funny...but then another told me he was in for 40 years for murder. He volunteered that he killed him because the man had what he wanted...money and drugs and wouldn't give it to him...so he shot him. He says he deserves to be there ...ten years down and ten to years to go until he is up for parole. He says he is OK with that and wants to get to know the Lord better in the meantime. Remember the resident that I wrote about yesterday whose mom and sister were in the photo shooting him the finger? He told me today that he doesn't blame them...after all he got them both hooked on meth. Addictions to meth and alcohol seemed to play a good part in the downfall for a lot of these guys.

It is said that in the free-world we have an average of 200 choices a day to make...when to get up, what to wear and where to eat. In prison you have about 25 choices every day. That is all part of the freedom you lose being an inmate but at the same time it does reduce a lot of the clutter and busyness of their lives and allows them to focus on whatever it is they want to focus on....Kairos gives them a focus that once the Holy Spirit takes hold...it can be on solid ground.

Today was shorter then the rest...with the Talks and meditations being over about lunch. Seems all the conversions and re-commitments were complete after Saturday as the flood of the Spirit washed over those willing to submit early. I learned that is a common occurrence actually. Of the forty two participants there were only a small handful that did not profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior by the end of the 72 hours. After we ate pizza for lunch ( which they loved! ) we brought out birthday cakes with slices for each resident to celebrate their new birth in Christ. Each piece had their names written on it in icing.

The residents were all given lanyards with crosses on them during a special ceremony and they were told the lanyards were worn all week by the outside cooking team and prayed over constantly. That meant a lot to them. During the closing the outside team and other visitors were able to attend inside the unit. All the guys hugged and cried with the ladies that prepared the food and wore their crosses for them. It was a neat time. We were also able to sing a few songs and show the outside team just how joyful and spirit filled they were in worship. Awesome!

Open mike time is an important part of the closing ceremony. Scripture tells us that this is very important to recieving the Holy Spirit and salvation. You can read that here in the Book of Romans.

I recorded some more statements that were given at open mike time as follows:

I have been waiting 16 years out here for God to show up and He finally did!

When I saw the prayer chain and realized people around the world were praying for a nobody like me... it touched me.

Christ is counting on me...I don't want to let Him down.

Momma ( who has passed away ) ...I am home!

If I stumble brothers...please help me back up...I don't want to turn my back on God.

I partied 27 years for myself...the rest of my life I party for Jesus.

Found love I have never felt in my life..thank you.

Came for the food but discovered Jesus and the food didn't matter any more.

I've been locked up my whole life doing things my way...it is time for me to start doing things Gods way.

I have always filled the void in my heart with sex, drugs and money but from now on I will fill it with Jesus. 

I used to be a Christian but got angry with God and turned my back on him but after coming here I realized God is and has always been my friend and I am important to the Body of Christ.

I have spent 30 years in prison...from the time I was sixteen to my age now of forty six ...this is the best thing that has ever happened to me...this is the best day of my life.

The last speaker was the resident that had "White Pride" tattooed on the back of his head...yesterday I wrote that he said that he discovered God was tougher then he was...today he explained that a little further...He said he was the toughest man in this jail ( I wasn't about to argue that point with him ) but when he found out that a young girl had the Christian compassion, love and forgiveness in her to cook sixteen dozen cookies while her Mom was battling a courageous battle with cancer...that he thought she was tougher then he was...and he could follow a God that produced strong and tough people like that. He said "Today I give up my life for Christ" and  broke down and cried like a baby in front of 200 people.

A soul was saved because of a cookie. You just never how a small act of kindness handed down out of Christian love can help turn a life around.

I am reminded how self-righteous I have become when I think back on Scripture and recall that of all the miracles, healings, compassionate acts and teachings of Christ, of all the people he hung out with, the only person He personally guaranteed a spot in Heaven...was the condemned thief on the cross that died with Him on Good Friday. 

We closed with the resident I told you about yesterday looked like the condemned killer in the movie The Green Mile as he sang a beautiful rendition of Ray Blotz song "Thank You". There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

This Four-day Weekend has been a birthday blessing to me from the Lord.

Thank you!

Amen.