Someday Soon

I'll be back. I think I need to blog whether anyone reads it or not. Look for updates soon...



 ...ish.

God's Provision

I was writing a sermon today and struggling with the idea of God's provision.  You see, Matthew 6 tells us not to worry about food and clothing, that God knows what we need.  He will provide for all those needs as we seek after Him.

But what about my Christian brothers and sisters in third world countries?  Or for that matter, my brothers and sisters in America who go to bed hungry at night?

Why isn't God providing for their very real needs?

Then it hit me...He has.  No, He's not dropping manna from heaven or miraculously filling jars of olive oil (well, not that I know of).  But I'm blessed.  And I'm meant to be a blessing to others.  I won't change the world with what I can give, but I can change a life, or two, or three.

You see, we are the hands and feet of Christ.  If this hand is holding money that can help someone, hasn't God provided for them?  It's up to His children who are blessed to make sure that His provision reaches those in need.

To that end, I need my friends to help me help others.  If you know of a great organization to which I can give in order to directly help some people, whether overseas or at home, post it here.  I don't want 50 cents of my dollar tied up in bureaucracy, so I'm looking for responsible organizations.  Feel free to post as many as you are personally familiar with and this can be a resource for others who may be seeking the same information.

Consider this my obligatory, anti-consumerism, holiday post.  No, I don't want you to feel guilty for buying presents for your family and friends (I am),  Yes, I want you to consider how you can help others' very real needs (I am).

Merry Christmas!

Back Soon!

I've obviously been on an unannounced blogging hiatus (previous post was about an Easter video and it's now the end of August) but I'm gearing up to relaunch my efforts. Thanks for stopping by, check out the archive on the right, feel free to comment and restart the conversation, and come back soon for some brand spanking new content!

Need an Easter Video?

Snag a great Easter resource and help a church plant at the same time!


What Is Easter? from Element Church on Vimeo.

Details here.

And the final video will have the spelling errors corrected. (Yes, we caught them too.)

God's Will for YOUR Life!!!

Come on.  Do you think it was going to be that easy?

If you're like me, you've often times wondered, perhaps even lamented, "What is God's will for my life?"

What should I do next?

Which decision is the right one?

If you're like me, you've probably noticed that not much comes easy being a Christian. (Probably has something to do with that whole "Take up your cross" thing.)

So why do we think that We can shoot a quick "prayer rocket" into the heavens and get an instant answer as if God is some cosmic magic 8 ball in the sky?

Want to know the not-so-secret secret to knowing God's will?

Are you sure?  It's not easy...

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."  - Romans 12:2

Do not conform and be transformed.  We need to take some proactive steps here.  Essentially, stop being like the world and start being more like Jesus.  We put away all the worldly things, habits, desires, and attitudes and we allow the Holy Spirit to renew us, mold us, and craft us into the image of Christ.  It's a process that we can work with or against.  But the payoff is so sweet.  We will be able to know what God's will is.  Not to simply ask in hopes of an answer, but to know, in the depths of our being, because He is in the depths of our being.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [your needs] will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33

Put Him first and everything else falls into place.  I think that it's safe to interpret that passage, in light of Romans 12:2, by saying "As long as you are truly putting God in the place of highest honor in your life, and earnestly seeking what lines up with HIS will as revealed in Scripture, you can't make a wrong decision."  Even if we don't get an audible voice, trumpets, or an archangel hand delivering a reply from God.  It doesn't mean we won't make mistakes, it just means we won't make mistakes when God is really first in the decision.

Thoughts?  How do YOU discover God's will in your everyday life?

P90X: A Little Bit of Death

This is either exercise or "Yay for Poop!"

So I started this P90X workout today.  It was awful.

Truly, horribly awful.

I thought I might die, which of course it the opposite of my exercise intention.

But it really was that awful.

And yet somehow satisfying.  I guess the knowledge that I'm finally taking a proactive approach to my health should be a point of celebration.

After 3 shoulder surgeries and the uncertainty of my future job situation, I decided I could no longer wait on the assumption that I would get back to a physical job that, by its nature, forced me to work out.  So I made a proclamation in my young adults group that I needed someone to hold me accountable to getting into shape or I was going to die.  Maybe not tomorrow, or 10 years from now, but certainly sooner than I would had I been living with a correct view of my body.

And that's because I made this realization:  Exercise and a healthy diet are not just good for you. They are expected by God.  And not just in the traditional ways that I've heard people voice that thought before with the idea of self-control or discipline.  I realized that my body is a gift from God, one designed specifically for me, and as such I MUST be a good steward of that gift.  Not only will I feel better and be a better example of living a disciplined life, but being a good steward of my body gives God a return on His investment.  I'm here longer (in theory) and more able (because of  the advantages that health affords) to accomplish the things that God has created me for and called me to.  I'll be a better husband, a better father, a better friend, a better pastor, a better employee.  Do you see where this is going?  Our bodies and our health are gifts to be invested in with the intent of returning glory to God in the better and longer ability to serve Him.

So in my attempt to not die (which ultimately I hope to stave off a little longer by a healthy lifestyle) I've actually died a little.  To myself.  My whims.  My unhealthy desires.

And my comfort.  My quads are killing me.


What do you think about the idea of viewing your health in terms of good stewardship?

Jesus Wants You To Go Home

I was reading Mark 5 this morning and came across the story of the demon possessed man.  Now, I've read this story countless times but, as is often the case with the Bible, I drew something fresh from it this morning.  If you're not familiar with the story you can read it here.

Specifically, I want to draw your attention to verses 18-20.

"18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled."

This man experienced a life change.  He had an encounter with Jesus that drastically altered the course of his life.  Is it any wonder that he wanted nothing more than to spend every moment after that in the presence of the One who saved him?  But Jesus tells him no.

No.  Go home.

But not JUST go home.  "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."  You see, once we experience Jesus, once our lives have been changed by Him, it's not enough to simply want to experience Him for ourselves.  He wants us to serve Him by telling others, by living our changed lives in our communities, among our friends and family, and in our workplaces.

And we don't have to have seminary degrees or two decades of salvation behind us to do it.  This man had just been delivered from demonic possession by a presence of demons so large that they referred to themselves as Legion.  And whether that is a literal number compared to the size of a Roman legion (5,120 legionnaires plus supporting auxiliary troops) or just a figurative amount meaning a lot, there were enough to drive a herd of 2,000 pigs into the sea.  This guy was as seriously messed up as a person could be.  But he left his encounter with Jesus changed and immediately began to share it with others.  Verse 20 says he was proclaiming in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him.  The Decapolis was a group of ten cities.  This guy spread the message all over his region!

How many would never have heard the message if he had climbed in that boat with Jesus?

I guess that's the point of this post.  We love our "mountaintop" experiences with God.  Camps, revivals, worship gatherings, retreats, etc.  But we spend so much time trying to hold onto or duplicate those times that we never share it with others.  We're trying to climb in the boat when Jesus really wants us to go home.  The difference for us is that we have an advantage over this man.  While not all of us have been saved in such a dramatic fashion (although I would argue that we pay attention to circumstances that often betray the greater miracle that is accomplished when God saves us), we have the advantage of the Holy Spirit.  God is with us when we go!

God is interested in so much more than a Sunday morning.  He wants us to move from the seat to the street.  Get out of the boat.  Go home.  Share what He's done for you.  Let it show in your relationships with those around you.  Seize the opportunities that God gives you everyday.  You don't have to be a street-corner preacher, you just have to live what you say you believe.

Here's What's On My Mind At 1:30 In The Morning

• Sometimes I feel like I should blog more.  I want to.  But I don't seem to find the time.  Perhaps that's because my posts tend to be so long.  I need to find a happy medium between twitter and borderline-novella...
• I am tremendously disappointed in the amount of my tax refund this year vs. last year.
• Couple of questions regarding my current ministry projects:  Assimilation - Does anyone have a better term than assimilation?  It sounds too mechanical and seems to emphasize practicality over the real objective of spiritual transformation.  Also, any ideas from those more experienced?  Small groups - what model has worked best for you and why?
• I really need to hit up some dieting and exercising.  I don't mind the dieting so much, but I despise intentional exercise.  I need to fool myself somehow.  Oh, and this Dr. Pepper and container of chocolate chip cookies isn't helping matters...
• The Pittsburgh Steelers are headed to the Super Bowl!  Coach Tomlin is a class act and while I'm a fan of his quiet confidence, it was nice to see some real emotion shine through when he was holding the AFC trophy.  Looking forward to a great game.  Go Steelers!!!

I Know It's Last Minute But...

Check it out if you're in the Pittsburgh area!  This is tonight at 7pm at Mr. Smalls in Millvale.  It's going to be an awesome time with young adults from all across the city of Pittsburgh coming together to worship the Lord.  And yes, it's free.  So come on out, make some new friends, bring some old ones, and join us in giving glory to God!

Church Shopping: Are You a Consumer?

My last post was about how we put God in a box.  At the end of that post I concluded that we should celebrate the diversity of churches and worship styles as pieces of the bigger picture of God and representative of His creativity.  In this post I want to explore the potential downside.

The danger in such variety is in falling prey to a consumer mindset, something that touches most everything we do in America.  We church shop.  There's no denying it.

It's one thing to find a local body of believers with which you connect and are able to develop your walk with God.  We are all different.  We all worship differently, we study differently, we learn differently, we grow differently.  And we are blessed, in this great nation, to have the freedom to worship, so we have the luxury of choice.  I'm thankful for that and I would never condemn anyone for searching for the church God has for them. It's a much different thing, and a danger, when we look for a church that works for us, instead of looking for a church with which we can work.


You see, as a Christian, church is not really about you.

What?

Church is not about you.

Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy.  If we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus, we are to go to the sick, not the healthy.  Yes, we're called to gather together with other believers as the Body of Christ.  We are called to worship together.  But that's where many stop.  We (me for a long time) are comfortable sitting with other "healthy" people (we assume) and listening but never acting.  The problem comes partly from our view of the church as a place we go and not something that we collectively are.  As if "church" is a building or a service rather than the living, breathing embodiment of Christ.  More about that in this post.  And so if we are the church, and we don't go to a church, then we should be functioning in the ways that we expect the church to function.  Meaning we come together to serve, not to be served.  We come together to bless, not to be blessed.  We come together, not only to be equipped, but to equip others.  And we come together to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ, not simply to hear the Word preached to us.  When we do this, the secondary result is that we are served, blessed, and equipped because we are participating according to God's design.

So consider this your call to find a body of believers to commit to if you haven't already, to quit shopping, to worship God together, but not to expect the church to be a Band-Aid for your week. Don't be idle, get involved, make a difference with the gifts God has given you, find out what those gifts are, experiment, exercise them.  Be a producer instead of a consumer.  Serve.

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant..."  Philippians 2:1-7 (ESV)

God in a Box

God - The eternal, omnipotent, all-knowing, Creator of the universe.  Redeemer.  Healer.  Provider. Father. Friend.  Lover.  Our Peace.  Our Hope.  The Sustainer of our very existence.

A box. - Finite. Limited.  3-dimensional. Confined in time and space.  Manageable. Convenient.

We put God in a box.

Yes.  There is absolute truth.  I believe the Bible is God's Word, and so from it, we can see some of the facets of God.  We are able to see a side or two, some of His traits, but somehow we think we have the whole picture. Yes, God will never work in ways counter to how He has revealed Himself in His Word.  He is the same yesterday today and forever, but that doesn't mean we knew everything about Him yesterday, or that we will know everything today, or tomorrow.  In fact, I'm fairly certain that, as we know Him in eternity, we will continue to marvel at discovering new and wondrous things about Him.  The problem occurs when we mix what the Bible says, with what it doesn't say, what we "feel", tradition, and our limited experience.  If thousands of years of human experience multiplied by billions of people hasn't been able to define God more than in part, what makes us think we can?  I believe that we can know all we NEED to know about God through the Bible, that is its purpose as His written revelation.  But I do not believe that the Bible contains ALL there is to know about God. That would be a "box" of sorts.  And God doesn't put Himself in a box either.  Indeed, the Bible paints a picture of a God whose depths are unfathomable, whose ways are higher than ours, whose creativity is unparalleled.  Just read God's descriptions of Himself in the book of Job!

I hate the box.  I hate the box I've put Him in.  Sure, it's grown bigger over the years, but I still have to remind myself not to try to stuff Him in there.  I hate the boxes that churches have put him in.  As if we've all cornered the market on the right "version" of God.  Am I saying that doctrinal statements are a bad thing? No. They help us to convey the picture of God that we understand.  But we shouldn't represent our position as containing the only legitimate way to see God.  In fact, I think the Creator God who made such diversity, is glorified in the various expressions of worship, in the variety of focus that different "denominations" have.  The problem is when some try to sell or push their focus as the only true one.  God can be found in liturgy and God can be found in spontaneity. God can be glorified through blazing guitar riffs and through organ music.  God can use quiet, reflective people and energetic, outspoken ones.  The point is this: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  My box is not the Way the Truth and the Life.  Church boxes are not the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  We are called to faithfully point to the One who is.  And He uses such variety in order to extend His reach, to deliver His love in as many forms as possible, so that all might hear the message and come to repentance.

Do you ever feel like you've put God in a box?  In what ways?

How do we make sure we separate expressing the importance of the message of the Gospel from disparaging the way that "others" deliver it?

Thoughts?

Snowmageddon: Unraveling the Mystery of Weather Prediction

Here in the Pittsburgh area, as I'm sure is the case in many places, we have a curious...what to call it? Tradition? Habit? Delusion? Every time that there is a forecast of greater than 2 inches of snow, things get a little crazy. Despite the fact that the majority of Pittsburghers have lived in and around this city for decades, a city well acquainted with wintry weather, it's as if every snowfall is a strange new weather phenomenon. I'm not sure where the idea of stocking up on provisions such as milk, bread and toilet paper came from, or why there is a rush on those particular products as if we couldn't possibly survive 3 days (the longest I believe I was ever "snowed in", and I live in the sticks) without them. Ok, so I agree, toilet paper is a staple, but is there a reason to stock up on it? Or does everyone coincidentally just run out right before a snow storm? I'm not certain, but I think there may be a secret pact, a conspiracy if you will, between grocery stores, salt mines, and meteorologists. Someone's getting a kick back (I'm looking at you Jeff Verszyla - you and your unusually large collection of really nice ties).

So, as a public service to you, the people, oppressed for too long by larger than life snow forecasts, I present a public service announcement.*

30 years in the 'Burgh have qualified me to comment on what I see as an egregious affront to the dignity of the people of our fine city and its suburbs. Too long you have been conditioned to stampede, like a herd of cattle, to the nearest purveyor of fine foods, dispensable minerals, and papier toilette. You have hoped, in vain, for accurate weather forecasts. So I present to you, free of charge or obligation, a mathematic formula to accurately predict snowfall amounts, despite what the talking heads may tell you.

The formula is as follows:
Amount of snow (S) forecast (where S = the mean number in inches) multiplied by the number of days (D) they've been talking about potential snowfall (not counting the day/days of said storm) minus the number of gallons of milk (M) left on the shelf in any given convenience store (preferably a suburban one in an area with plenty of snow removal competency and experience, further pointing to the absurdity of the idea of running out of milk in the "Blizzard of ___") minus the amount of convenience store clerks (C) that comment on the milk you just bought in relation to the storm (even if you bought it because you are out, not "stocking up") divided by 5 (the amount of times Pittsburgh meteorologists have accurately predicted snowfall amounts in my lifetime) equals real snowfall amount (R).

So the equation is: (SxD-M-C)/5=R

Let's plug in the numbers.
Average inches forecast (3-7 is what I've heard): 5
Talking about this storm since Saturday: 3
Gallons of milk left at the GetGo in Monroeville last night: 3
Number of clerks who commented on the milk/snow phenomenon: 2

(5x3-3-2)/5=2

Simple math.

2 inches of snow. Hardly worth a trip to the store. Be empowered.

As a childhood hero of mine was known to say, "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle."










*This post is humorous in intent. No reference to professions, industries, or particular people should be taken seriously...or litigiously. Especially you, Epic Tie Collection Man.

Yay for Poop!

I struggled with what to name this post.

A Celebration of Defecation.  Exalting Evacuation.  Poo in a Pot.  

So I went with what I actually said: "Yay for poop!"

No one ever tells you that, as a parent, you will hold a mini celebration when your child chooses the toilet over the diaper.  But you do.

That moment when your child decides that they don't want to walk around in their own filth anymore is more than a small triumph. And it calls for rejoicing -which is what we did this morning with my son, Joshua.

I imagine it's the same in a spiritual sense. Too many Christians walk around as spiritual "babies" and the Bible paints that picture when it talks about "milk" versus "solid food".  But I think I can read between the lines.

"My friends, you are acting like the people of this world.  That's why I could not speak to you as spiritual people.  You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned.  So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk.  You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, because you are not yet spiritual.  You are jealous and argue with each other.  This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world."  1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (CEV)

So if milk and solid food are what goes in, then the things that the Corinthian Christians are doing is what's coming out.  If they're babies, then the jealousy and arguments must be like a dirty diaper. And they are walking around in it.

Gross.

I hear what you're saying Paul.  It's time to grow up.  You didn't like dealing with the "dirty diapers" of your spiritual children any more than I enjoy the stink from my kids.  And no doubt you felt the same relief when they finally started growing up in the faith.  When you finally got to rejoice with them over putting their worldly actions behind them.  Figuratively looking into the toilet proclaiming, "Yay for Poop!"

Today's challenge is the same:  Don't walk around with a messy diaper, child of God.

Food for Thought

What's a guy to do?

I've got what feels like a million (read 3) things going on this week that all require some level of creativity.  Leading a small group tomorrow night, a Christmas party on Thursday, and a sermon on Sunday.

This really isn't an overwhelming amount by any means, but I've got nothing.

Not to mention I haven't blogged in nearly a month (and yes I'm aware I owe you two more blogs on the armor of God - it's been a crazy few weeks).  In any case, I'm stuck right in the center of a major slump in creativity.  So what better to do than just start writing and see what happens?

The first thought that occurs to me is that I'm really busy.  Everyone is.  It's the holiday season.  But I've also got 4 small children at home, and while my wife handles the bulk of the duties of the day to day home operations (she is truly Supermom), somehow all my time and energy still seem to disappear into an all-consuming black hole.  I'm blessed.  But I'm busy.  But I think that I'm not busying myself in productive ways, rather, I'm allowing my time to slip away from me in a variety of non-productive activities.

And in that busyness lies my fatal error.  I see it now.  I'm not feeding my mind, and my creativity suffers for it.  I still get my Scripture time in, but I'm not digging in as deep.  I'm not journaling, which is something that really helps me to work out what I'm reading (if you're not doing it, give it a shot - as a supplement to your devotional time, not a replacement).  I've been reading the same book for roughly 2 months now.  I usually devour books in 2-3 days.  Even my late night television (after Conan) tells the story.  The meaningless drivel I've been watching lately is a departure from my regular habit of seeking out some brainy independent films on Netflix (some real gems) or watching something on the History or Discovery channel.

To borrow from the old adage,  "You've got to spend money to make money," I think I can make the case that I need to spend time to make time.  Or rather invest it.  Invest time in feeding my mind which, in turn, will foster creativity, which will save me time in the long run.  I must admit, this is not a foreign concept, nor would I dare classify it as an epiphany.  Apparently I just needed to remind myself to focus on my mind's diet.  It's been junk food and irregular meal times lately.  Trust me, I've seen what that can do to a body...

How do you feed your mind?  What do you do when you hit a creative drought?

Equipped: Faith

Continuing this series on the armor of God is a discussion of the next piece of essential equipment: the Shield of Faith.  We've already talked about three other pieces: the cingulum militaire, the lorica segmentata, and the caligae.  Paul now says:

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."  Ephesians 6:16

The scutum was the shield used by a Roman legionnaire. The shield was made out of bonded strips of wood covered in several layers of thick leather.  It was about four feet tall and two and a half feet wide and was curved rather than flat.  When carried into battle, the scutum would extend from below the knee to just under the eyes and curve around the body of the average soldier, effectively creating a mobile wall of protection. The curvature of the shield deflected blows and caused arrows and spears to glance off to the sides.   Before battle, the shields would be drenched in water to soak the leather in order to make them resistant to incendiary weapons such as flaming arrows.  The scutum was also used in a corporate defensive formation called the testudo or "tortoise".  Soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder would raise their shields together side by side with those on the flanks and the rear facing the appropriate direction and those in the middle of the formation raising them over their heads.  This formation was a virtually impenetrable defense but required the troops to move in unison to be effective.

What is Faith?
Faith is not simply a belief that something is or exists.  Faith is one very important step further - placing your trust in that which you believe.  We learn from Hebrews 11:1 that:

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Faith gives reality to belief.  It is an active participation in a belief; the very real response to it.

Faith as a Shield
Since Paul is writing to Christians, we know that he is not talking about saving faith when he refers to the shield.  The faith that acts as our shield is a daily decision to place our trust in God.  Faith in His love.  Faith in His forgiveness.  Faith in His plan, provision, and promises.  The Shield of Faith protects us.  It takes the brunt of the enemies attacks.  While we do have our other armor on, our faith is the first line of defense.  With faith absorbing the impact of the attack, our peace is undisturbed.  When faith intercepts a flaming arrow our righteousness remains intact.  Faith is able to completely preserve us spiritually in any battle.  Paul writes that this shield is able to "extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one."  The reality is that some of these attacks do hit us.  Our peace is shaken, we forget truth, and our righteousness comes under attack.  This can only happen when we let our guard down; when we drop our shield on the ground or lower it and so leave an opening for attack.  The good news is that Satan can't force us to lay down our shield.  It can withstand every spiritual attack if we are prepared.  The effectiveness of your shield is dependent on two things.  The first is your understanding of God.  In order to have a complete faith, you must have a complete picture of God.  Strive to know Him through His Word and through prayer.  The second thing is actively "taking up your shield".  Practice faith.  Live what you say you believe.  Act on direction and wisdom sought in prayer.  Give sacrificially.  Share your faith with others.

Flaming Arrows
Satan is a liar.  And two of the primary ways that he will attack you are doubt and pride.  It could be any number of specific situations or lies, but most of it will boil down to these two.  If he can convince you to doubt God (His promises, His character, etc.) you'll drop your shield and be wide open for a full attack.  Likewise, if he can convince you that you don't need God (in a specific area - remember, Paul is talking to Christians), you'll let down your guard.  This is essentially what pride, in this sense, is.  This is especially dangerous to more mature believers who may feel that they've come far enough in their spiritual walk that they couldn't possibly fall to some sins.  As if they are somehow good enough in and of themselves.  The Roman soldiers kept the leather of their shields wet to quench the flames of the arrows.  Keep your faith growing, exercise it, keep it "battle-ready."

The Testudo Formation
Imagine a community of believers who were all striving to take up their shields of faith; standing together against the attacks of the devil.  A group of Christians doing life together, moving with unity and purpose with complete faith in God.  Here's what it looked like in terms of the Roman legions:

Is it any wonder that Satan fears the Body of Christ?  Is it a surprise that he attacks our unity? Certainly a single legionnaire, properly equipped, is a daunting opponent.  But a group in formation is a fearsome foe indeed.  The clear call seen in the tenth chapter of Hebrews is to take part in a community of believers.  The purpose of this is to help us persevere in our faith.  We are better together.

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  Hebrews 10:19-25

Take Up Your Shield
Paul's charge to take up your shield does not mean that this is always easy.  Whereas you put on the other pieces of armor, you have to hold the shield.  You have to be vigilant and remember that the attack can come at any time. The encouragement you need to hold fast to your faith and to trust in God completely is that this same faith is able to withstand ALL of the enemies attacks.  So take up your shield.  Prepare for battle.  Stand firm behind its protection.

God Owned Me

You know what I hate?

When God uses my own words to convict me.

Now let me clear up any confusion.  I don't mean that I hate God's conviction (though it can be uncomfortable).  I mean that I hate that I seem so blind to things sometimes that I can say something and not see that God is telling me the same thing.

Let me get right down to it.

My kids.  When they aren't drowning me with cuteness, they are usually testing every last nerve I have.  One of the more frustrating things that they do is play on/sit on/lay on/jump off certain pieces of furniture in our living room.  I don't keep many things off limits, just a couple, but they consistently disobey my very clear and oft repeated prohibitions from those couple things.  It drives me CRAZY!  I don't feel like it's deliberate.  I don't know if they are just forgetting, or ignoring, or somehow misunderstand the simple two letter word 'NO'.

Here's the kicker.  They'll inevitably start doing whatever it is that they are not supposed to be doing and then in a moment of sheer frustration I'll yell out something like "How can you possibly be doing what I've been telling you at least ten times a day every single day not to do!!!"  Yeah.  Then approximately 2.4 seconds later, heard just above the thumping sound of the blood rushing through the veins in my head/neck from the kid-induced rage attack, I hear that still small voice.  And it says, "That's a good question.  I was wondering the same thing."

Owned.

By my own words.

It's pretty effective though.  And humbling.  It reminds me that, although I've made some great strides in my walk with God, sometimes I can still be that rebellious child that I see in my preschool-aged kids.  It challenges me to pay attention to what my Father is saying and make the necessary changes.  I know the Christian life is a journey in faith toward maturity, I guess sometimes I just need that wake-up call that I'm not there yet.

How about you?  Has God ever flipped your own words around on you?  Did you learn from the experience?

Equipped: Peace

Peace.

It seems like a somewhat foreign concept these days.  Wars, terrorism, racial tensions, gang violence, economic uncertainty, financial hardship, domestic disputes, et cetera ad infinitum.  With so many things happening around us, one wonders how we can possibly have peace.  Yet despite the volatility of our times, indeed because of it, peace is precisely what we need.  In Ephesians 6, Paul highlights the need for peace when he lists it as part of the armor of God that we are to put on in preparation for spiritual battle.  In previous weeks I've blogged on the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness.  This week's post is on what I'll term (since you'll see it described in a variety of ways) the Sandals of Peace.

"Stand firm then...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."  Ephesians 6:14a, 15

A soldier of the Roman Empire wore a specific type of footwear called the caligae (singular = caliga).  These sandals laced up tightly in the center to provide support for the ankle.  They featured a thick sole designed to protect the feet from sharp debris as well as traps.  One of the more common traps in use by the enemy consisted of burying sharpened sticks with their tips just above the surface of the ground.  Without the protection of the thick soles, a soldiers feet could be pierced, severely hindering their ability to fight.  If infection set in, they might be removed from battle altogether.  Another distinctive feature of the caligae was the hobnailed bottoms.  These iron nails, which protruded from the soles of the sandals, provided traction for the soldier when climbing a slippery hillside or or an enhanced ability to stand firm on grass or mud (similar to today's athletic cleats).  The caligae were an essential piece of the armor of a Roman soldier.  Without protected feet and firm footing, a sword and shield would matter little.  To be effective, one's feet had to be prepared with the right equipment.

War and Peace

It may seem strange that we're told to pursue peace in order to prepare for war.  But in the same way that the caligae protected and prepared the feet of the soldier, so peace protects us and prepares us for battle.  An effective soldier was ready for debris in the road and the traps of the enemy because his feet were equipped properly.  Peace prepares us for the turmoil and uncertainty of life and also helps us stand firm when (not if) the devil attacks.

Let's look at 2 different types of peace:

Peace WITH God

Before a person becomes a Christian they are an enemy of God.  Once a person accepts Jesus as their Savior, they have peace with God.

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved form the hope held out in the gospel."  Colossians 1:21-23a

 "...since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..."

There is a peace that comes from our changed status before God.  Satan will never ultimately prevail against us because he has already been defeated at the cross.  Peace with God allows us to stand firm on the knowledge that we have eternal life.

Peace OF God

Our peace with God results in eternal life.  The peace of God gives us the abundant life Jesus talks about (John 10:10).  Too often, Christians stop at peace with God, they never really pursue the peace of God.  But Paul tells us (those who already have peace with God) that we need to put on peace.  Lives without peace often end up characterized by other things:

• Stress
• Depression
• Hurt
• Hopelessness
• Panic
• Guilt
• Fear

Without God's peace, we have no effective way of dealing with these things.  Peace is not the absence of trials and temptations; it is a gift from God that, when utilized, allows us to have a settled mind and focus fully on the battle.

So how do we put on the Sandals of Peace?  I think there are two very effective ways; two things that we need to pursue for peace.

Prayer

Daily prayer is like the protection afforded by the thick soles of the sandals.  It acts to protect us from the debris of everyday life, the things that happen all around us that tend to erode our peace.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

Pray for God's wisdom.  Peace comes as a result of knowing your decisions are directed by God.

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom...all her paths are peace."  Proverbs 3:13,17

Give your anxiety to God.

 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."  1 Peter 5:7

Promises

Dwelling on God's promises helps us dig in for the fight just like the hobnailed sandals provided traction for the soldier.  Standing firm and focusing on His promises through reading His Word daily helps us to battle the enemies of peace.

"Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble."  Psalm 119:165

 Here's some of the promises I stand on to battle my own personal enemies of peace:

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

 "Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'  The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them.  Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants.  Then all your other needs will be met as well."  Matthew 6:31-33

 The peace of God depends on trust and obedience.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

 Final Thoughts

Pursuing peace is all about perspective.  It's about "upward", instead of inward or outward.  To have real peace we have to put our trust in God and obey His Word.  When we do that, instead of focusing inward on our worries and fears, or outward on circumstances beyond our control, we will be putting on the Sandals of Peace.

Redesign

Even though I've only been blogging since June, I thought it was time for a redesign.

When I first set up this blog, I intended it to be a place where I could just throw my ideas to the wind with no real thought to those who may stop by to read it.  I just grabbed a template and went to work.  In recent days, I've been rethinking the purpose of my writing and I think that perhaps I SHOULD be writing for other people instead of myself.  With that in mind, I plan on my posts being less research-heavy and include more personal thoughts and application.  (I'll finish up my Equipped series in the same format I've presented it so far)

Since I'm redirecting my writing, I thought it an appropriate time to redesign the site to be more user-friendly as well.  So tell me what you think or if you notice anything not working (it's my first time working with HTML).  I hope you'll continue to stop by and participate in the conversation.

Thanks for reading!

Equipped: Righteousness

This is the second installment of the Equipped series (see the first one here).  We're taking a look at the the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6.  Last week we saw that the Belt of Truth provides us with a foundation and also offers freedom.  Today we'll look at the second piece of armor.

"Stand firm then...with the breastplate of righteousness in place..."  Ephesians 6:14

The lorica segmentata was the breastplate of the Roman legionnaire.  It literally means "armor in pieces" and was made up of 4 sections.  Each section consisted of several strips of iron arranged horizontally, overlapping downward,  and fastened together internally by strips of leather.  The 4 separate sections (right and left torso and shoulder pieces) were buckled, hinged, strapped, tied, etc. by brass fittings.  The unique construction of the lorica segmentata proved to be an improvement over the previously used lorica hamata (a type of chain mail), offering a greater level of protection at about half the weight.  When a soldier had all the pieces in place and fastened together, all of his vital organs (save the brain) would be protected inside the most advanced body armor of the day.  It offered heightened protection from slashing and thrusting attacks from an enemy sword in the melee of battle, and an additional line of defense (beyond the shield) from an unexpected spear or arrow.

What is Righteousness?
In our battle with spiritual forces, righteousness serves as the breastplate.  The physical breastplate protected the vital organs of a soldier and the Breastplate of Righteousness protects a vital "spiritual organ", the heart.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."  Proverbs 4:23

The condition of the heart determines a life.  Not just its course or direction, but everything that it touches.  Is it any wonder that the enemy chooses the heart as a battleground?  We are urged to guard the heart, above all else.  What do we guard it with?  Righteousness.

But what is righteousness?  It is goodness, holiness, moral virtue.  In short, righteousness is living right.  This includes thought and action.  Biblically speaking, righteousness is conforming to God's law.  No one is capable of perfectly conforming to God's law.  Isaiah 64:6 says that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags compared to God's righteousness.  We have no hope of being righteous, of being good enough, in and of ourselves.

Then how can we possibly have righteousness as protection?

As with all of the other armor, the source is outside of ourselves.  We must have Christ's righteousness imputed and imparted to us.

IMPUTED Righteousness
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, His righteousness is imputed to us.  God then views us in light of our imputed righteousness.  That is, He judges us according to the righteousness of His Son rather than our imperfections.  Paul puts it this way:

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  2 Corinthians 5:21

The Breastplate of Righteousness is given to us; it is not something we can manufacture on our own.  It protects our heart first by renewing it.  We can stand up to the condemnation that Satan so often brings against us by standing firm in the knowledge that, although we sin, our righteousness is secure in the work of Christ; a work that doesn't depend on our good deeds or our mistakes.  After having having our heart transformed by Christ's imputed righteousness we put on the breastplate daily in the power of Christ's imparted righteousness.

IMPARTED Righteousness
Not only is Christ's righteousness credited to us as salvation, but He imparts it to us allowing us to live righteously.  Essentially, to be who we are.  As our behavior prior to receiving Christ's righteousness showed our separation from God, so our renewed status before Him should be represented by how we live our lives.

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.""  1 Peter 1:15-16

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."  Romans 6:13

The power to do this; to be holy, to obey God, to live righteously, is also given to us.  We are responsible to use it, to put on the breastplate.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."                     2 Peter 1:3-4

While imputed righteousness saves us from the condemnation and punishment of our sins, imparted righteousness (the practical, daily application of the breastplate) protects us from the corruption of sin.  We are able to live righteous lives, free from sin's power.  If we make righteousness a daily pursuit, we will guard our heart and close what could be a giant hole in our defense.  If we live righteously, the sometimes unexpected attacks from our enemy will be less effective as the arrows that were meant to pierce our heart are instead completely deflected off the breastplate provided by God.

Equipped: Truth

Last Tuesday I decided I was going to do a blog series (my first attempt, and more of a commitment than I'm used to making to the blogosphere) dealing with spiritual warfare and the armor of God from Ephesians 6.  Then, last Tuesday night at our Element Church staff meeting I found out our next sermon series was All Out War: Investigating Spiritual Warfare, based on...you guessed it: Ephesians 6.  (you can check out the sermons here)

Coincidence or providence?  I don't know...but I'm running with it either way.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."   Ephesians 6:11-12 

There are three critical things to notice from this passage:

1. You have a very real supernatural enemy.
2. He will attack you.
3. God provides us with the equipment we need to overcome the attacks.

The original readers of this letter would have been very familiar with the image of armor as Roman legionnaires would have been a common sight throughout the empire. Since you may not be so acquainted with the garb of a soldier of Rome, in each blog post I'll describe each piece and its function before tackling the spiritual counterpart.

Let's take a look at the first piece of equipment.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."  Ephesians 6:14

The cingulum militare (sometimes referred to as a balteus) was the military belt of a Roman legionnaire.  This piece of equipment was a critical component of the armor of the soldier.  In addition to carrying his sword (as well as his dagger and perhaps some provisions in pouches), it provided support for the breastplate, taking some of the load off the back and shoulders.  It was also adorned with the apron which afforded some additional protection though was probably more decorative than functional.  One of the most important uses of the belt was to "gird the loins".  This involved tucking the otherwise knee-length tunic into the belt in preparation for a battle or march.  The extra movement afforded by this would make a soldier more mobile and agile.  As you can see, the function of the soldier's belt was twofold: foundation and freedom.

We can draw a comparison of the spiritual value of this piece of the armor from its physical counterpart.

Truth as FOUNDATION
Our spiritual battle must first find its anchor in the truth of God.  Jesus himself is our foundation.

"I am the way and the truth and the life..."  John 14:6 (emphasis mine)

The truth of Christ, who He is, His work on the cross and resurrection, and His intercession for us before the Father provides us with the foundation (and the source) for all of our other armor: righteousness received from Him, the readiness of the gospel of peace brought by Him, faith placed in Him, salvation worked through Him, and the Word of God proclaiming Him and empowering us.

God's truth is a sure foundation because it is eternal and unchanging.  When we have accepted the truth of God into our lives and have the risen Lord dwelling in us, who is Himself the truth, we have truth as our foundation, and we have the consistency of character that flows from that.  In this day and age, truth is seen as personal and subjective - what's true for you isn't necessarily true for me.  When we put on the belt of truth, we acknowledge and accept that there is absolute truth and we live in that reality.  Prepare to stand out from the crowd if your life is characterized by truth.  William Shakespeare once wrote:

"To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand." - Hamlet, Act II, scene 2

If you live by truth, if you "bind [it] around your neck; write [it] on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 3:3), then you will not only have a rock-solid foundation to live upon, but you will walk in freedom.

Truth as FREEDOM
The truth of Christ is freedom.  It is freedom from the power of sin and freedom from the penalty for that sin.  Jesus said:

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  John 8:31-32

We are no longer slaves to sin if we accept the truth of Christ.  Sin loses its power in the presence of that truth.

Truth is also freedom when we are real with people.  Authenticity.  Letting people see who we really are and allowing them into our struggles.  Much of sin's power thrives in the dark.  Truth acts as the light that dispels that darkness.

"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."  John 3:20-21

The individual soldier was certainly strong, but a conquering force consisted of many soldiers doing battle together.  Confessing weak areas allows our fellow soldiers to come to our aid.  Trying to hide your sins and struggles from true Christian brothers and sisters is counterproductive.  It would be like a soldier going into battle alone.

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."  Proverbs 28:13

"...each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."  Ephesians 4:25

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices."  Colossians 3:9

There is freedom in honesty.  You don't have to try to hide who you really are while secret struggles tear you apart.  You don't have to waste time and energy trying to maintain "two lives".  You are free to simply be you.

A final thought on the belt.  The cingulum militare was not a standardized piece of equipment, rather it was a valuable personal possession.  Although made in the Army workshops, it is thought that the belts were not issued at random, but instead selected by individual soldiers as taste and budget allowed.  According to The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History by Pat Southern, most scholars agree that "it was the leather belt more than anything else that proclaimed the wearer as a soldier."  This means that the belt would have been worn in and out of uniform.  On or off duty, a soldier could be identified by his belt.  Let me draw one last comparison.  No matter where we are: in church, at home or at work, participating in an outreach or riding the bus; as followers of Christ, we should be marked by truth.

"Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding."  Proverbs 23:23

We should "spare no expense" to clothe ourselves with truth and never part with it for any worldly gain.  There is no bargain worth your character.