Remodeling of Dreams

If my pastor knew what I really took  home from some of his messages I think he'd be frustrated with me.   I 'm sure there are times when the message God gives me, personally, isn't the message Pastor Jeff intends me to get - or maybe it is.   Last night in church was one of those times.  

Something he said stuck with me through the night and I'd like to share it with you and maybe build on it.  As humans, specifically Americans, I think we get trapped in the ways of popular culture.  I know I do.  Culture says that to be respected I should own my home - after all, interest rates are low and it's a buyer's market.    Culture says I should drive a clean, newer model car - if I can't afford to buy I should lease.  Culture says I need to send my kids to school in the latest casual fashion designs.  Culture, culture, culture.  

Romans 12:2 is a piece of the Bible that my pastor used to support something on an entirely different subject.  

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.

He paraphrased this in a way that made it real for me.  Think of this as Remodeling your Dreams.  Having spent some time in the home improvement business - I got this!  Remodeling my dreams!  

As men, we are constantly pressured to establish our identity in cultural things.  The big thing is our careers.  Without a job that pays a respectable amount of money we're somehow just not men.  Maybe we feel that our identity is defined by the car we drive, the home we live in, or something else.  We need to remodel our dreams by tearing out and demolishing what popular culture wants us to be, rebuilding our manhood after what God thinks we should be.  

I say we.   When I'm writing here and when I'm talking to you, I'm also talking to myself.  I had a chat the other day with a spiritual heavyweight.  I told him that when I write this stuff I'm writing it first for myself.  I can't expect to have an impact on  your life unless mine is in line.  Yet, I struggle with the same things you struggle with.  We're in the canoe together.

Please think about how  your dreams need to be remodeled.  And please share a comment if you can.

Soldiers in Boxer Shorts

This post is an addendum to the post I made toward the end of June regarding the spirit realm.

 

I spend a lot of time reading stuff on the internet and listening to talk radio about the war against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.  One of the things you hear democrats and republicans squawking about is the issue of properly outfitting troops.  This is not politics, so I'm not going any further with this - except to establish the analogy.  

As Christian men, we go into battle from the moment we open our eyes in the morning to the time we close them at night.  However, I'm guessing that a lot of us leave our armor in the barracks and go off to fight the good fight in our spiritual boxer shorts and T-shirt.  Can  you imagine a US Army recruiting commercial on TV showing a GI standing in the sand in his underpants with his hand shielding his eyes from the sun in an effort to see the enemy on the horizon?   

This is what the Bible says about how every Christian (not just men) are to outfit themselves for battle with the dark side.  

Ephesians 6:12,13

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.  Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes so that you will be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Not only do these verses acknowledge battle in the spirit realm but also tells us that we shouldn't go into battle in our boxer shorts.  What's more, this is how we should outfit ourselves.

Ephesians 6:14- 18 

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

So, here is the 4betteror4worse challenge for this week.

1. Find your Bible (if you don't have one post a comment and I'll send you one).
2. Find this verse and put it somewhere where it'll be in your face. (Mine will be taped to the side of my computer monitor).
3. Read this verse every day and do what it says.

Your life will change during these 7 days.   When it does, I'd like to hear about it.

Thanks for tuning in.

Keepin' it Real

Galations 6: 1a

1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. 

I've been working with Donnie, painting houses for the last couple of months.  Donnie is not only a great guy for the work he does and the craftsman-like way that he does it.  Donnie is one of those individuals in this century that you can call a man of  God.  For Donnie, to move from painter to pastor is not a big step.  

Donnie has no fear of being seen as a Jesus-follower.  He possesses a courage and confidence about his faith that I envy.  Further, as a brother in Christ, he has no problems with calling someone out on issues of faith and Christian living.  I know this first-hand because, in the past three weeks, Donnie has called me out on a couple of things.  He first called me out on the issue of God's providence (God's ability to provide everything my family needs and in His own perfect timing).  He also called me out on an issue of stewardship - a matter of wants versus needs.   What's more, he did it in a way that didn't belittle or berate me.  He simply called it what it was and pointed out that what I was doing is wrong.

You see, Donnie lives the verse listed at the beginning of this post.  He knows the verse, knows where to find it, knows what it means to practice it, and has the courage to actually put it to use.  How many of us men can say that?  How many of us that call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ can say with sincerity that we live the Bible?  If I do - I don't do it nearly enough.  

Donnie doesn't have a gold cross hanging around his neck, he doesn't have the little Christian fish symbol on his business cards, he doesn't witness to the waitress at the diner.  However, spend any amount of time with this cat and it's very clear where he comes down.  He's just keepin' it real.