Unfortunately, a day rarely goes by without a fight, shooting or stabbing making headline news. Students, workers and innocent bystanders are being caught in the cross fire of violence. As a vehicle of peace, Gandhi believed you had to slowly wean people from violence without force. Over time, you will win people toward your point of view.
Jesus demonstrated this belief during his 3 year ministry in the late 20’s of the first century. When his fellow Jews flirted with the idea of overthrowing the political leaders in Israel, Jesus chose peace. Despite being falsely accused of crimes he did not commit by the Sanhedrin, Jesus gave up his right to life so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled, Matthew 26:52-56. Although he invested 3 years into 12 men, the temptation to fight back could not be quenched.
Today, domestic violence is a common occurrence, like a nagging cold that won’t go away. Instead of demonstrating temperance, going the right distance and no further, human beings have lost control of their emotions. Patience has been discarded, as anger, control and power is urging frustrated souls to lash out, often harming family members. The only way I know to wean people from violence is to adhere to the apostle Paul’s advice in Ephesians 4:25-32. When you reach this state of mind, God will lead you to lay your weapons down.
What’s your solution to wean Americans from violence?
Aspiring athletes and students are always looking for an edge, seeking to attain new heights. Meanwhile, coaches and teachers use motivational speeches to get the most out of their pupils, trying to maximize their God given talents. However, sometimes you need to remember the words of Job, “the Lord gives and takes away.” Thus, whether you’re enduring a trial in life, struggling your way through a test or trying to stop a losing streak, God only has one question for you: what do you have left?
The apostle Paul shares this sentiment, reflecting upon a physical ailment he was forced to accept, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Paul’s health concerns led him to embrace this situation, leaning on the Lord to help him cope with daily pain. Humbled and helpless, Paul found inner strength when he placed his trust in God with what he had left. Once he reached this point in his life, Paul uncovered the power of Christ in human weakness.
As for me, I find myself doing just the opposite, relying on my own strengths and talents to get by. The end result has been predictable, lacking joy, peace and unfulfilled in my current state of life. Despite my failures, I serve a God of second chances, able to rescue me from myself, Psalm 91:14-15. Therefore, if you find yourself in a similar predicament, swallow your pride by giving God what you’ve got left.
Peace has always been temporary throughout the course of history. Subsequently, cities created ramparts, defensive walls to protect their citizens from potential enemies. Thus, the only way to enter certain regions was through gates, strategically located around city walls. Although this fortification system was not perfect, gate keepers could warn city officials if aggressors were approaching on the horizon.
During the Roman Empire, soldiers were responsible for defending a 6 feet by 6 feet area, to prevent attackers from breaking the line of defense. At their disposal, these men possessed a large shield coated with a non-flammable liquid which extinguished flaming arrows shot by enemy troops. The apostle Paul compared this weapon to a shield of faith, Ephesians 6:16. When overwhelmed by incoming fire, a solider could entrench themselves under this shield until help arrived.
Unfortunately, faith can be a mystery, especially if your prayers aren’t answered or help never comes. According to 1 Peter 5:8, the devil uses discouragement to lure depressed souls away from church. If depression leads to disenchantment, doubting the existence of God, the fortification of faith can be destroyed, Hebrews 10:26-27. In this age of suffering, its important to arm yourself with the right weapons, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Despite where you are on the spectrum of faith, its time to fortify yourself with the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18.
What advice can you share to help anyone currently struggling with their faith. People are waiting for your suggestions.
The competitor inside of me yearns to win, doing what it takes to bring a team into the winners circle. Yet, what do you do when you find yourself a part of a team without any players? Sure, you might have some individuals who can make a play or two, but you can’t expect each teammate to be perfect when they don’t possess essential skills to succeed. This is where I find myself this baseball season.
Like a high school student who can’t add, read or write, some where along the way young people get neglected, promoted and pushed ahead without meeting appropriate standards. Currently, the NBA is seeing a similar dilemma as phenoms are great one on one players, but most don’t know how to move, set picks or space the floor when they don’t have the ball. Whether this is rooted in a lack of discipline, poor coaching or selfishness, every sport is in jeopardy of becoming a team without players.
Patience is a vital attribute while you wait to experience victory for the first time all season. Teachable pupils is also important to keep morale from slipping toward doubt, constantly correcting errors, mistakes and poor habits as they occur. The best thing you can do is live out Colossians 3:17, maintaining a positive attitude like a beacon of hope for sad faces. Until you taste the joy of victory, keep your head up as you make strides to develop players for the future.
What advice do you have for coaches who have inherited a team without players?
Record players, eight tracks and cassette tapes were just the beginning to the revolution called music. Today, MP3 players, iTunes and computers able to download thousands of song, enable the soothing sound of music to be just one click away. Life without cell phones, electronic devices and voice activated technology is now unthinkable as silence has been replaced by your favorite play list.
Yoga and meditation rely on music as an alternative to healing and relaxation. Serving as a substitute for God, retreat centers, seminars and private classes are exploding in popularity, ushering in a New Age. The angel of song, Lucifer, uses all kinds of music to entice individuals like Eve in the garden, replacing an apple with a catchy beat, void of any true meaning. Meanwhile, whispers penetrate your soul, “I don’t listen to the lyrics,” planting seeds for compromise to commence.
To battle this movement, churches are introducing Soaking in the Spirit, turning prayer rooms into a comfortable place to relax while listening to worship music. Based upon the principles within Romans 12:1-2, minds are being transformed by words inspired by the Bible, Romans 10:17. Considered a skilled musician, 1 Samuel 16:14-23, David understood the gladness, joy and peace one experiences while listening to music, Psalm 45:8.
For me, the choice of my music often dictates my mood and or behavior. Whether you prefer hip hop, rap or classic rock and roll, pieces of the songs you listen to stay with you for hours, days or weeks. If you’re skeptical, take the Music Challenge.
Spend one day listening to secular music, journal at the end of the day how this music influenced you. Then, take a day listening to Christian/Gospel/Worship music, using Pandora if you don’t have a large selection. Compare your language, thoughts and overall mindset. If you don’t see a definite difference, consider a longer time span, like the challenge found in Daniel 1:8-16.
Feel free to share any findings you discover or interesting insights on the soothing sound of music.
How many times in life do you seek an emotional high? One that never ends; giving you a sensation like a drug, 24 hours a day. Many go through their entire lives searching, but never find the real thing.
Do you recall your first day of school? As formal education begins, innocence gives way to curiosity and terror. Fears over finding friends and earning acceptance by your peers takes precedence. However, the thought of being away from your parents provides a sense of freedom temporarily. This freedom entices you to try new things, experimenting with fruit, forbidden by parents and teachers.
By the time junior high arrives, eyes start to wander… BABES, STUDS, ALCOHOL and DRUGS! Perhaps you might not be as distracted as some, yet juicy stories spread fast through the grape vine peeking your interest. The closer you look, the mind takes on an alter ego, longing for items on the other side of the fence. Fleshly desires, peer pressure and the unknown leads you to the verge of sin thinking, “Oh baby this sure does feel good.”
A junior high experiment often leads to a senior high life style. Marijuana, pranks and sex are just a few of the choice behaviors one indulges in to obtain the real thing. Sure, there are risks, even consequences; but what will my friends think if I go straight? “Everybody is doing it, why can’t I,” says the follower. As high school drifts by, the next hurdle to jump is college. Hobbies you once did for a buzz no longer provide satisfaction. Call it what you may: a habit, obsession, way of life or obliterating time, something inside can’t let go. This quest for real life has turned into an addiction.
Have you ever stopped to wonder why you do what you do? Has it occurred to you that you’ve missed something along the way? Is there something else out there beside living for the weekend? I don’t believe you and I were placed on this earth by accident. Growing up, working for a living 9 to 5, have fun for a while then repeat this cycle over and over again til you die? This doesn’t make sense! There must be a greater purpose or meaning in life, but what is it?
Jesus Christ, the son of God the Father is your answer. God sent His one and only son, Jesus, down to earth, to die for blemishes on earth, John 3:16-17. Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father according to the Apostle’s Creed. Jesus didn’t just die on a cross and rise from the dead for His own glory, Romans 5:8. Rather, Jesus became sin for us: for you, me and everyone ever born on planet earth. Jesus did all of this so that all of us might be seen as righteousness before God, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
This may sound crazy, yet there is no other HIGH greater than entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ, Romans 10:9-10. Nothing else compares to dedicating your life to God in your living years, John 10:10. Thus, peace is found in no other place, Galatians 5:22-23. This isn’t about High’s and Low’s. This is about life and death, living and dying, Deuteronomy 30:11-16. The only way to Jesus is through denying yourself, Matthew 16:25. You may think I’m odd, strange or simply old-fashion, yet God has placed the words of this blog on my heart.
If you have tried most everything else, don’t waste your precious time any longer; embrace the Real Thing, Jesus Christ!
When you look into a mirror, what do you see? Does pain from your past come into focus? Is the stress from life visible on your face? Or does a lack of faith leave you slumping over, doubtful that you’ll achieve anything significant in the future? From my vantage point, I feel like a mere phantom, unable to capture the person I want to be.
Apparently, King David struggled with a similar dilemma in Psalm 39:6. As he reflected on his days on earth, what he saw was disappointing. Essentially, David described his life as a phantom, roaming to and fro, like a ghostly spirit unable to find rest for their soul. His son Solomon echoed David’s sentiment, recognizing that laboring and toiling on this planet is meaningless, Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.
If this is true, what can one do to reclaim joy? Perhaps, you need to have a private meeting with Jesus, John 3:1-2, to see what’s holding you back. From here, individuals need a daily dose of the Holy Spirit, like 5 Hour Energy Drinks to move beyond this material world, John 4:13-14. Yet, to escape the phantom inside of you, stepping out in faith is necessary to begin utilizing the gifts created inside of you, Romans 12:3-8. Don’t let a low self-esteem paralyze your progress. Rather, begin to see your reflection through the eyes of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Please feel free to share any words of encouragement to those who don’t like the person they see in the mirror.
As the final 2 play in games conclude late Wednesday, Thursday marks the first full day of of the 2014 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Known as March Madness, over the next 3 weeks a Cinderella will arise from 64 teams, a David will likely slay Goliath and brackets will be destroyed. Unfortunately, office pools tend to spoil this month long event for many, worried about how much money they lost instead of enjoying the moment.
I’ve been one of the victims of this trend, deciding to forego filling out a bracket the last few years. Sure, its just a contest, but I found myself frustrated by every wrong choice, bad call by an official and near miss which would have resulted in a perfect bracket. Perhaps the thought of winning a billion dollars brought me back one more time or the challenge of seeing how well your picks stand up against college experts led me to participate? In the end, I returned because I love competition, sports and the unknown of watching NCAA basketball.
Three weeks from now, I’m either going to be crowned champion, chump or fool. Whatever the outcome, I will try to savor this experience win or loss. The Bible’s advice for those indulging in this event is clear, “in your anger, do not sin,” Ephesians 4:26. Although these words may be hard to apply, reflect on this teaching when you’re tempted to curse, punch a wall or throw the remote. Sit back, relax and let the madness begin.
by Jay Mankus
Please let me know by commenting who you have in your Final 4. I have Florida, Virginia, Arizona and Louisville. I look forward to hearing from you.
As I turned on the television this morning, I felt like God was talking directly to me. Dr. Tony Evans was reminding his congregation that neutrality does not exist in the spiritual realm. You’re either drawing closer to God, gathering up treasures for heaven or you’re falling away, disappointed by the lack of promises you’ve received if any. Instead of blaming God for unfulfilled promises, disobedience, rebellion or unbelief essentially delays one from experiencing these blessings on earth.
According to Matthew 12:30, Jesus can’t be any clearer about his expectations for his followers. “If you’re not with me, gathering people toward the kingdom of God, you’re against me!” Though it sounds good today, you can’t pick and choose which commandments you follow and which you ignore and or neglect. During my month long ordeal with my lung, liver and ribs, I began to slip away from God, frustrated by the hand I have been dealt the last few years. However, my response has delayed God’s timing, waiting for obedience from me before I was accompanied by blessings, Deuteronomy 28:2.
I guess the easy thing to do is blame God for your lack of progress, success or wealth in life. Nonetheless, David says it best in Psalm 37:3; “trusting in the Lord and striving for holiness comes first.” Until this occurs, peace and safe pastures are on hold. Therefore, don’t delay God’s promises any further by idleness. Rather, delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4.
Synonyms for perspective include angle, outlook and position. As a former teacher, I tend to approach information as a student trying to make sense of each topic that I read and study. This morning I stumbled upon an interesting Psalm David wrote while pretending to be insane. Despite being successful in his efforts, the Holy Spirit speaks to David like a lesson from God’s classroom, Psalm 34:11-14.
Apparently, the Lord is convicting David of his fear of Abimelech and subsequent trust in himself. God uses his misjudgment as a teachable moment, encouraging children to listen how one can and should be able to fear the Lord. Getting the classes attention by painting a vivid picture of success, God asks his students, “how many of you desire to see many great days in your future?” Gaining my interest, the main lesson is found in Psalm 34:13-14.
1. Keep your tongue from evil.
2. Prevent your lips from speaking lies.
3. Turn from the evil desires in this world.
4. Do good to everyone you encounter.
5. Seek peace and pursue any broken relationship that you may have.
The author of Hebrews includes 2 hints to bring this lesson from the classroom into daily living. First, faith in an invisible God is crucial to applying the words of Psalm 34:13-14. One must possess hope and certainty of a living God, Hebrews 11:1. Finally, genuine faith believes God rewards those who earnest seek the Lord, Hebrews 11:6. Therefore, when you’re struggling to see the fruits of your labor by fearing God, remember this lesson from God’s classroom.
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