To the Tick Tock and You Don't Stop

Paul says in Colossians 4:2 to

“devote yourselves to prayer.”

Devote (proskartereo) – to continue in, devote, to hold strongly, clasp on

Think of being in a stormy sea, maybe in the midst of a hurricane in the middle of the ocean. As you gasp for breath and frantically fight to stay above water you notice a buoy close by. You reach out and grab the buoy, embracing it with all your strength and might. You hold on for dear life, for this buoy is the only thing keeping you alive in this storm.

That’s the word Paul uses to describe our prayer life in Colossians. Pray diligently, devoting yourself to it. Devotion has to do with dedication and an investment. Too often we pray as an afterthought (“well, I tried everything else, I might as well pray about it”), or we pray mechanically (blessing the food, before we go to sleep, before a test or presentation, etc) or we pray out of a reactive panic (“oh no, my world just collapsed, God help me!!”)

Prayer is simply communicating with God. We all know relationships cannot survive without proper communication. If we only spoke to our loved ones as an afterthought, or mechanically, or only when things were as jacked up as they could possibly be, what kind of relationship would we be involved in? A dying one, if it isn’t dead already. Yet many times we approach God like this. To keep our spiritual relationship fresh and flourishing we need to live a life of communication. That’s why Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without intermission”. During plays and Broadway shows the acts are separated by intermissions. This is a time where the audience can socialize, freshen up, hit up the concession stand etc. Let’s bring it home to us. Halftime during a football game. It’s not the game; it has no relevance or determination towards the outcome of the main even – the battle that’s happening on the field.

Paul says don’t have a “halftime show” in your prayer life. This game is too serious to pause. Once we’ve been engaged we don’t want the enemy to have a “halftime” to go over our plays and our strategy and figure out how to come out in the 2nd half and be better, stronger, and more efficient. No! Let’s keep the game going; our strategy – prayer. Prayer without ceasing. Prayer works, and when we have a play that works, that the opposing team can’t stop, what do you do coach?

Join us tonight after service for our Men’s Prayer service. And let’s begin and continue to live a life of dedicated, invested, and devoted prayer.
God bless…

Synergy...

It’s a term you hear a lot in the corporate world (or so I’ve heard) used to describe some sort of teamwork or team effort that brings about an overall better result than if each person was working toward the same goal individually. Merriam-Webster defines it as, “a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements.” Plainly put, there is a benefit, a valuable goal out there and synergy is the joining of like-minded groups going after that goal. Oh, and it also has the idea that individually the benefit or valuable goal would not be reached on its own.

Think of baking a cake (though not one of my frequent past times). The individual ingredients are disgusting by themselves. A raw egg, a teaspoon of baking powder, or a swig of vanilla extract isn’t the most desirable treat. But when mixed together with other “not so appealing” ingredients, a delicious cake is made.

Synergy comes from the Greek word “sunergeo” and is the exact word used in the famous Romans 8:28 verse:

And we know that God cause all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

All things don’t work together for our good in and of themselves. GOD CAUSES all things to work together (synergy) for good. All things that happen in our lives – good or bad – God mixes them together like a Holy Baker to produce a beneficial, valuable goal in our lives. His providential power is shown in the “all things” part. “All” means “all” and that’s all “all” means! Things that we bring on ourselves, things that others do to us. Things we deserve, things we don’t deserve. Consequences of our own actions, consequences of other’s actions. God causes all things to work out for our benefit. That’s what “good” means. Not good as in a pleasurable, happy, wonderful emotional experience. No, God will ”sunergeo” or “mix together” everything in our lives to become beneficial, spiritually profitable, and useful = good.

But, don’t get so excited about the “good” part that you stop reading the rest of the verse. Paul says that there is a major condition here. In order for God to work all things for your benefit, you must (1) love God and (2) be called according to His purpose. The love here is a lifestyle of love. Are you living a love lifestyle? Check 1 Corinthians 13 and make sure. If you are not living a lifestyle of patience, a lifestyle of kindness, a lifestyle of protection, a lifestyle of trust, a lifestyle of hope, a lifestyle of longsuffering or – if you are living a lifestyle of envy, a lifestyle of boasting, a lifestyle of pride, a lifestyle of rudeness, a lifestyle of anger, a lifestyle of jealousy; then guess what, this promise doesn’t apply to you. And secondly, His purpose is to make us like Christ. How’s that going for ya? Are you becoming more Christ-like? Check yourself out. Be honest with yourself.

God desires to bring synergy to your life. So live a lifestyle of love while working to become more like Christ. Then come what may, God will work it out for good.

The Instruction Manual

Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. Psalm 1:2

God bless Gladiators. It's been a minute (I know) but we're still here, still working, schooling, daddy-ing, husbanding, living, breathing, fighting, struggling, rejoicing, stressing, worshiping, depending, thinking, planning, wishing, hoping, praying, caring, nourishing, listening, obeying, and the myriad of other thing we do as men. It's funny, no matter what, life don't stop. There's no pause button to conveniently press. This "being a man" thing is real. That is, if you doing it right. Unfortunately there are still slackers out there. Those who refuse to "man up" and take the responsibility that God gave us seriously. These "Losers" are poor excuses for men and give those of us putting forth the effort a bad name. It ain't easy, by no means. It's a 24/7 job; or shall I say, career. But the good thing about it is that God gave us the manual to this “man” thing; His Word.

My son's 7th birthday was last week (wow, I got a 7 yr old son!). One of the gifts he got was this model helicopter thing that could be made into three different things. For speed’s sake, my first attempt was to just look at the box and try to build the helicopter. Problem was this thing came in about 550 pieces all the size of a nickel. Impossible. I had the tools and the material to build it, but without specifically following the provided instructions nothing was getting done. Oh, I screwed some stuff together and matched some pieces, but to no benefit.

It’s the same thing with this “man” thingy. We got the body parts and we see what it's supposed to look like, but a lot of times we don't even look at the "manual" much less follow it specifically. Of course by manual I'm referring to the Bible. It starts with that. Not coming to church, not signing up for track classes, not being faithful in your giving, or to a ministry or a pastor; those things are just the tools, and tools without the manual aren't worth a thing. I’m getting the impression from conversations with church folk that the act of “coming to church” is in some way all that is necessary. I hear people saying things like, “before I started coming to church…” or “when I wasn’t going to church…” sounding as if the emphasis for this new life is going to church. Nope! By no means! Our faithful journeys to 2500 Oak Ridge every Friday and Sunday aren’t even close to being sufficient. Heathens go to church every day! The Pharisees in the Bible were not only in church every day, but all day; and they taught the Scriptures. Jesus called them a den of snakes and referred to them as “white washed graves”: clean on the outside, but dead, decaying, rotten, and putrid on the inside.

A personal relationship with Jesus is where it begins. Personal = 1 on 1. Relationship = having a harmonic connection. Think of an orchestra with all the different instruments and how they all come together in “harmony”. So, do you have a one on one harmonic connection with Jesus? If not, all your church going is just wasting gas! Get to know Jesus. Start with the Bible. Make it an everyday thing. Read it, memorize it. It's hard out here enough already without help from our Creator. Pick up the Book and ask God to make it come alive to you. He will.

Question, have you read the manual today?

Reputation vs. Character (Part 2) - Integrity

Following up with Part 2 from the last blog on reputation and character, one’s integrity comes to mind. Being a lover of math, it was interesting to me that the word integrity comes from the mathematics word “integer”. Now walk with me back to elementary school for a minute. Remember integers? They are the mathematical way of saying “whole numbers.” Get it –”whole”? Not divided, but whole. The formal definition states that integers are a collection of numbers whose positive elements are well-ordered, and in which order is preserved by addition. As a matter of fact, the word integer is from the Latin word integer which literally means “untouched” or pure.

Being undivided has the idea of being consistent. What’s on the inside is shown on the outside. You are who you say you are and you are who you show you are. A person of integrity has private and public standards that are the same anywhere and anytime! God said Job was one who “maintain[ed] his integrity” (Job 2:3). Can He say that about us?

This is just as important in how we live as well as what we say. When a person of integrity speaks his yes is yes and his no is no. He keeps his word even if it hurts him. A person of integrity is careful about making commitments because he keeps them all.

The basis of our integrity comes from God:

“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom I the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” – Psalm 51:6

David knew that only God’s forgiveness and grace could make him a man of integrity, and depended on the Holy Spirit’s power to keep his integrity.

Here are a few benefits of integrity…
Integrity pleases God (1 Chronicles 29:17)

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.”

Integrity gives security and peace (Proverbs 10:9)

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”

Integrity gives guidance (Proverbs 11:3)

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”

Integrity gives authority (Psalm 78:72)

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands He led them.”

Steps to Develop Integrity

• Value the integrity of the heart as something precious to guard – 1 Kings 9:4, Proverbs 4:23

• Decide beforehand never to compromise or be defiled – Job 31:1, Psalm 15:1,2

• Draw a clear line on your limits of behavior and step well back from it.

• Be on your guard at all times. Guard your mind, eyes and the little things – Philippians 4:8

• Be accountable to others – James 5:16

Finally, I leave you with these truths from Dr. Tony Evans. If you haven’t read his book, “No More Excuses” I really recommend it!

How to Internalize Integrity (from “No More Excuses”, by Tony Evans)

1. Don’t wait around for your boss or your wife or your environment to get better before you make a move.
2. Set your standards in advance.
3. Develop a daily devotional life, which includes bible memorization.
4. Find some friends who will hold you accountable for living up to your standards.
5. Major on God and not your circumstances.

Reputation vs. Character

This past weekend we discussed the final “F” in the Man of God series: faithful. The Greek word has the understanding of someone who has been won over, who has been totally persuaded to the point of willingness to obey. The word faithful means to be trustworthy, it means to be dependable to do what God says to do in His Word.

Let’s think about our reputation. All of us have a reputation. What’s yours? Are you a “hot-head”, a “laid-back individual”, a “loving, peaceful person”, a “no-nonsense kind of guy?” Maybe your reputation is a “quiet” person or a “loud” person. Whatever it is, your reputation is what you want people to THINK you are. Conversely, your character is what God KNOWS you are! Big difference. We all have a reputation at the workplace, at church, at the gym; but who we are when no one is around, who we are when we are in the privacy of our homes – that’s our character. Your faithfulness to Christ points directly to your character.

This character reflecting faithfulness starts with the little things.

“Whoever can be trusted (faithful) with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” – Luke 16:10

Are you holding a grudge against someone? Are you angry at someone? The Word of God says in Ephesians 4:26 to never go to sleep angry at anyone. We must deal with these issues, and if we don’t, we are not dependable to do what the Word of God says to do – NOT FAITHFUL! What types of words come out of your mouth when [fill in the blank] isn’t around? How did you fill out that federal tax form or that state assistance form last quarter? Your dependability to do what God’s Word says do starts with the “little” things.

Your faithfulness in the little things – that’s your character. It’s what your family knows about you. It’s what happens when you are sitting there watching the television and something immoral comes on. It’s what goes on when you are by yourself. It’s what goes on in your thoughts.

And the word is dependable, not perfect. Sometimes it is after the failure in your life that your faithfulness (character) is seen. What do you do when you mess up?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

God’s Word lists the instructions for after we fall. Confess – to agree with God about your sin. To look at what you did just like God does. Like King David after being approached by the Prophet Nathan. Are you dependable to the Word of God after a failure?
Now this character trait doesn’t come from us.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." – Galatians 5:22

Only those who have the Spirit of God in them can be faithful. How about you? Can God count on you in the little things? Can God trust you? Are you faithful? How’s your character?

God's House vs. The White House...

Gladiators, I take a moment and step away from our normal weekly bible study review to draw your attention to a recent development that has long-term ramifications on what God has established, and on what, as Men of God, we need to be geared up for. I preface this with this statement: in every issue, topic, conversation, ideology, etc., we need to absolutely represent God’s Biblical View! That’s it, not how I feel or what’s “fair”, but what God’s Kingdom view is as laid out in God’s Kingdom View Manual – the Word of God, the Bible.

This month, our President Barack Obama, has officially proclaimed June as “National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.” In this press briefing (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-LGBT-Pride-Month/) the President stated how his administration was committed to the “[advancing] of a wide range of [LGBT] initiatives.” To put this in Biblical perspective, the President has taken a perverse, abnormal sexual behavior, an abomination to God, a stench in God’s nostrils, a sin – and proclaimed a National Month to relish in their “pride”.

As Men of God, we need to take a stand for the family. This perverse, abnormal sexual sin destroys the family. God designed the family to be one man and one woman consummating their covenant before God in producing a child. It is the DNA, the genetic structure of civilization. If you don’t have that you don’t have civilization, so you are striking it at the very core of civilization. It overturns God’s fundamental design for human relationships. What has happened is that this abomination, this perverse, abnormal sexual sin is being treated as a non-sin – even in the church!

Those who participate in this perverse, abnormal sex act are so bent on to ridding themselves of any guilt, so bent on releasing and freeing themselves from any assessment that they are sinning – that they are promoting and selling their perversion as if it’s normal throughout this nation, starting with little kids in schools, TV , movies, etc. And now the highest office of the land has proclaimed this month to “bask in the pride of their perversion.”

Satan’s goal from the Garden of Eden was to get us NOT to look at things how God sees them. God said if you eat the fruit you will die, Satan said if you eat the fruit you won’t “surely die”. Do we bash those who participate in these perverse, abnormal sex acts? Do we harm or abuse them? No! Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 that, “of such were some of you”. Christ’s love and His blood are extended to all.

It doesn’t matter what the sin is, Christ has provided forgiveness, salvation, and the hope of eternal life to those who repent and embrace the gospel.

But we need to get to the point where we call sin, sin.

Why am I so disturbed with this? Well, I can’t recall when any President has declared a day to celebrate sin. There is no National Murderer’s Month, or National Pedophile Month or National Lying Month. Men, let’s make sure we represent God on every issue, influence those around us to represent God on every issue, and fight for this thing called The Family.

Aggressive Meditations - Joshua 1:8

Success! Webster defines success as, a “favorable or desired outcome”, also as “the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence (a position of prominence or superiority).” The world has its plans and paths to success; get a degree from a big time school, diversify your financial portfolio, work 30 hours a day, etc. But our memory verse for this month makes it plan and simple.

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8

Prosperous is:

• to accelerate the growth or progress of
• to raise to a higher rank
• to bring forward for notice or consideration

Success is:

• the ability to govern/discipline oneself by using reason
• level-headedness in the management of affairs
• skill and good judgment in the use of resources
• caution or alerness as to danger or risk

So you wanna be prosperous and successful in life, at your job, in your relationships, in your marriage, as a father, financially, physically, spiritually? Easy, meditate on the Bible day and night! No conferences from famed motivational speakers, no seminars from multi-millionaire philanthropists, just meditate on the pure Word of God.

The word meditate used here isn’t this mystical, mind-emptying chanting. It’s the word used to describe a cow chewing the cud. A cow eats its food, digests it, then regurgitates it (brings it back up from its stomach to its mouth) and chews it again repeating this process over and over. Dairy cows spend almost eight hours a day chewing their cuds! To meditate on God’s Word means to “chew” it up over and over again. “Digesting” it, then bring it back up to chew again. It’s an aggressive absorption of the Word of God.

Your success in all aspects of your life is a direct reflection on your aggressive absorption of the Word of God!

Why are you constantly experiencing broken/failed relationships? Why is your marriage so difficult? Why can’t you focus and concentrate on what you’re supposed to? Why can’t you stop that terrible habit/addiction? Why does it seem like nothing ever goes right in your life? I challenge you to evaluate your aggressive absorption of the Word of God!

Gladiators Doin' Work

God bless you this week as you continue to live a life of the 3 F’s: Fleeing, Following, and Fighting! This past weekend’s meeting focused on the fight that we as followers of Christ are in. We looked at the word Paul used for fight in 1 Timothy 6 which was agonidzomi. It carries the idea of an athlete “competing for a prize in the Olympic games.” It’s also where we get our word agonize. Paul says that the Man of God must be ready to compete in this walk with God. It describes a level of concentration, and a level of effort, coupled with discipline and conviction that lead to success.

Have you seen the Spike Lee’s ESPN documentary, “Kobe Doin’ Work”? Wow! Kobe does a running commentary of a 2008 game against the Spurs. During the documentary you hear him talking to his teammates on the floor, while also hearing what he’s thinking during every move and every series of plays. It’s a phenomenal piece which shows the level of preparation, the level of discipline, the level of respect he has for the game. It shows how he meticulously dissects every second of action and how he monitors the entire floor in real-time. His vast knowledge of the game, his careful attention to detail, and his amazing work ethic (along with his God given ability) make him arguably the greatest player in the game today.

The running theme throughout the documentary is execution. There are set plays, there was practice, there was watching film, but what it comes down to is the execution; how well you carry out what you are supposed to do. Kobe said it doesn’t matter if the opposing team knows what plays you are going to run; what matters is the execution.

Men, how’s your game? What would the “[Your Name] Doin’ Work” documentary be like? Would it show your level of preparation, discipline, and respect for your walk? Would it show you meticulously dissecting every second of your daily actions while monitoring your surroundings? Will it highlight your vast knowledge of the Christian life, your careful attention to detail, and your amazing work ethic? How is your execution? Paul said to agonize the agonidzomi; fight the good fight. There should be some sweat, both physically and mentally in your pursuit of being the Man of God.

Fellow Gladiators, as we live this life, are there chants of “MVP” bellowing down from heaven, or when we get “on the court” do they just head for the concession stands? Let’s execute men.

Gladiators to Transformers (Romans 12:1,2 continued)

So, you want to know what God’s will is for your life. That would make this living thing so much simpler right? If only I knew without a shadow of a doubt what God’s will was. Should I take that job? Should I marry this girl? Should we move in this house? Should I tell her? Should I go, should I stay? Is this the right decision for my family? Will this bring success or failure?

Paul gives the simple, cut and dry answer to all these questions in Romans 12:2:

“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.”

I hear people all the time saying, “I just want God to show Himself to me,” or, “I want to know God.” God’s will, His heart’s desire for you can be known. But it starts with a “mental revolution”! Our mind is the control center of our attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions. We must continually “make new” our attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions. This is only done through the Word of God, the Bible. We must meditate on the words of God which comes through bible memorization, bible study, feasting on the Word of God – this alone renews the mind.

And as our minds are renewed, we are transformed. From what? From mimicking the world system. Conformed has the idea of fitting into a mold. When I was little, I used to help my momz make sugar cookies. She would lay the dough out and I would take cut-outs in the shapes of stars, people, balls, boats, whatever mold I had, press against the dough and the exact shape would come out. The world is pressing on each and every one of us with the desire to “shape” us or “form” us to look, think, react, and feel, like it. Paul says here, No More! Don’t allow the world to shape you. And by world, Paul is referring to this present sinful age, which is all about SELF; pleasing the self, indulging the self, concerned only with self – totally unconcerned with the needs of anyone else. The world’s view is opposite to God’s view. Don’t conform, be transformed!

What’s happening today is that many of us are conforming to the world’s way of thinking and not spending enough time meditating on the Word of God allowing His Spirit to renew our minds causing us to transform. This is why we have problems figuring out God’s will for our lives. Until we lay our life on God’s altar as a living sacrifice – until our will is dead – God’s will won’t be manifested in our lives.

Living Sacrifices, Holy and Pleasing to God (May 7th 2009)

Hundreds of years before Christ was born, God set up a plan/procedure to handle the sin problem with His people. From the beginning, God said that the “price” or “penalty” of sin had to be paid for, and the only thing He would accept for the payment of sin is blood. Something had to die. So, God’s people would bring a lamb, a perfect lamb (one without any spots or bruises or any other blemishes) to the priest (the man who went to God for the people). The lamb was killed and the blood shed was presented to God as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. God saw the blood and “passed over them.” The people were forgiven once the blood was shed.

The focus here though is that the lamb cost them something. Their main food, clothing, and buying power were in these animals. A family’s wealth was determined based on their amount of livestock. God required something “precious” or “important” to be given to Him for the forgiveness of sins. Webster defines sacrifice as an “act of offering to a deity something precious.”

What Paul is begging in Romans 12:1-2, is that we present ourselves as Living Sacrifices. The lambs who were sacrificed gave their all – literally! As followers of Jesus, Paul said the least we can do is give God our all, everything! Based on all He has done for us, this is the least that we can do. Give your hands to God, give your eyes to God, give you feet to God.

But, notice, we’re no good to Him dead. God needs living sacrifices. But the only problem with living sacrifices is that they keep “crawling off the altar” (smile)! When everything is going well, when the bills are paid, when the family is acting right, when the job isn’t stressful, when there are no problems at the church – it’s easy to sacrifice. But when the hard times come, we find ourselves crawling off the altar. We don’t mind “sacrificing” the easy stuff! Sure, I’ll go to church Friday’s and Sunday’s; but if someone needs my help during the week? Well, that’s my “me time”! Or, “if you want me to be in charge of this, oh, great I’ll call the shots; but you need me to help behind the scene? Well, I don’t do that” Or, “I’ll sing in the choir, but help feed the homeless, nah.” Or, I’ll pray for her, but go visit her in the hospital, nah, I’m really busy.” When it’s not convenient or something we’d do anyway, we crawl off the altar.

God is looking for living, active, sacrifices! Your body isn’t your own, you have been bought with a price. Excuses like, “that’s not my personality,” or “I’m too busy, I’m doing too much already,” or “I’m just tired, I need a break,” just don’t cut it in this “Walk-With-Christ” thingy we signed up for. And, don’t bring God no junk! That’s what “holy and pleasing to God” means. It’s got to be a total sacrifice – give your all. It’s got to be a holy sacrifice – nothing filthy or done half heartily. And it needs to be delightful to God. Put a smile on God's face...

Romans 12:1-2 "In View of God's Mercies" (May 5th 2009)

God Bless Gentlemen…

Gladiators Inc is coming soon, if you haven’t noticed yet, it’s the 3rd Saturday of every month. So next week, the 16th we will be meeting @ 9am to continue our quest for Christ-likeness (being more like Jesus Christ) as we bathe ourselves in the Bible, the Word of God.
As we memorize our verses of this month, Romans 12:1,2 I urge you to meditate on what Paul (the author of the book of Romans) is saying:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. 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.

Whenever you see a “therefore” written in the Bible, its good practice to go back and look in the passages (Bible sections) above it and see what’s it “there, for” (smile)! Paul, from the beginning of the book of Romans, talks about how we are disgusting, vile wickedly, sordidly filthy individuals. We all had a one-way ticket to burn in hell for ever and ever. “But God”, in His incredible mercy, made a way for us to be as holy, clean, and perfect as Jesus Christ Himself. Because of His mercy we now are:

Redeemed – we have been “bought” out of slavery to sin, I’m free!
Justified – “Just-as-if-I’d” never sinned. Not only am I free from the slavery of sin, now Christ has cleansed me of “all my unrighteousness”.
Sanctified – Not only am I cleansed from my sins, God has begun a process in me to keep me pure and holy
Glorified – And one day I will stand in His presence PERFECT

The verses right before Romans 12:1,2 reads as follows:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Based on ALL this, and in view of ALL God’s mercies toward us, Paul says the least we can do is “offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.”

More to come…

April's Meeting Minutes (April 23rd 2009)

God Bless gentlemen.

To those who couldn’t make it this past weekend, you missed an amazing time in the Word! It was great to have more vocal participation from everyone, you comments and thoughts not only help others in understanding, but they also help you individually vocalize what God is speaking to you. This forces you to formulate the thoughts in your mind, which is a major part in meditating on the Word of God.

And speaking of meditating on God’s Word, congratulations to the men who were able to memorize last month’s scriptures! I did my heart good to hear God’s Word being spoken from the mouths of His people. Paul wrote that “we all, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18) If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must steadily see Him. This happens in the Word. “The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the Word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus steadier and clearer.

A great question was brought up Saturday about the word “precepts”. I wanted to expand on my answer. Precepts are defined in scripture as statues, principles, or doctrines. The Hebrew word for precepts means to set as an overseer, or to put in charge of – guidelines. Similar to the list of instructions (guidelines) parents would give a babysitter. Think of the painted lines on a two lane highway. They are “guidelines” to keep you moving safely on the highway. Move to the right and you end up in a ditch, move to the left and you end up meeting a Mac Truck @ 80 mph! But inside the “guidelines” all is well. Though the highway lines are “restrictions” and “limitations” they are designed for your benefit! The same with the Word of God. That’s why David says, “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Only inside the “guidelines” is freedom. Outside the guidelines is death and destruction (definitely NOT freedom). By staying within the “precepts” of God, we can move through this life with freedom.
Thanks to Hubert for the great session on finances. There were sooo many questions and not enough time. Hopefully in the future we can set up something. For those who missed it, we’ll try to get you the info.

I’m praying for you guys everyday, literally. May God strengthen you as you move through this life!

Don’t forget next month’s verses:

Romans 12:1,2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 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.

God Bless!!!

Walk This Way, Psalm 119:101 (April 10th 2009)

This week’s memorization verse is:

Psalms 119:101 - “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey Your Word.”

David points out that he has made a decision. “I have kept” is a phrase that denotes action. Forceful action demonstrated on oneself. If we don’t apply some “force” our feet will go any and every where. We have to make conscious decisions not allow our “feet” to go where they naturally want to go.

Notice the verse says “every evil path”. Even before we get to the actual evil, the Psalmist says that he avoids even the road (path) to the evil. A lot of times as men we think we know our “tipping point” – how far we can go without actually getting in trouble. I bet 90% of the time I’ve jacked up has been because I flirted too close to the road to evil. We don’t really wake up in the morning and say, “you know what, I’m gonna get in some evil trouble today!” Nah, that’s not how it works. It starts by playing too close to, flirting with disaster.

The only way to live a life of obedience is to consciously, forcefully, and mightily keep our feet off of the path to evil. Think of all the things we could have avoided in life. Your particular “evil path” might be that girly you need to consciously, forcefully, and mightily stay away from. It may be your homey(s) that don’t have your betterment in mind. It may be that bookstore or video store. It may be those thought patterns that lead your mind to places or times in your past that you don’t need to be reminiscing on. What ever it may be, let’s join David in this verse and avoid them at all costs.

Let’s start now Gladiators!

Good Judgment, Psalm 119:66 (March 30th 2009)

This week’s verse to memorize is:

Psalm 119:66 “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe your commands.”

Good judgment…I must say that this has been, by far, the most complicated, complex, convoluted issue in my life – having good judgment. I would say that over 90% of the jacked up stuff that’s happened to me has been based on my own bad judgment. I wish, so often, that I could travel back in time and tell my self, “Olu, don’t do it that way, try to handle it this way.” It is difficult, and as men we are forced to make a lot of judgment calls. Be it at home, at work, church, in our own lives and in the lives of those close to us. Just think where you would be today if you used “good judgment” in all the decisions you’ve ever made! (A small tear just trickled down my face…LOL)

The Great Preacher Spurgeon compared our actions somewhat to that of birds that fall for a “bird call” by a hunter then ends up getting shot! Due to the bird’s lack of judgment, he is unable to distinguish between a call from an actual bird vs. a man-made call from a deadly hunter. Our own flesh, Satan, and this World System all serve as cunning hunters with their tricks and traps that appear harmless and at times beneficial. We need that “good judgment” from God to aid us in making correct decisions. And this good judgment only comes from the commands of God – His Word, The Bible.

Earlier in chapter 19, the scripture says the commandments of the Lord are pure, enlighten the eyes. God’s Word gives us clear understanding of things otherwise not understood. The muddy world is made clear through the Word of God. So as you memorize these verses, know that applying God’s word to your hearts (memorizing) will help you have “good judgment” now and forever in your life!

PS. Keep your running shoes on!!!

God bless…

Gladiators, Come Out and Play! (March 25th 2009)

Fellow Gladiators!!!!

Well, its been about a week since our first meeting, and I am still excited and tremendously blessed by what God is doing! And, as Satan would have it, I've have had several opportunities to put in practice what we studied and have to "FLEE" a couple of times or so! LOL! It's funny how the more "fresh" we keep the Word of God in our hearts, the more impact it has on our lives. Since last week I've been more aware of things to flee from, and I must say God has given me strength for the victory!

That's why memorizing His Word is so important. I don't know about you, buy when I walk out of a movie theater from just seeing an action packed crazy off the chain flick (something like the 1st time I saw the Matrix), as soon as I walk out of the theater I'm soooo hype! I'm running along the sides of walls, fighting invisible Darth Lords with my invisible light saber, sparing with Jason Bourne during a high-speed boat chase, I mean just hype! (OK, I'm secure in the fact that I may be a nerd...). But as we keep God's Word fresh and on the forefront of our minds, its more powerful than any rush you get from your most exciting past time. And it stays with you providing a 24-hour action packed adrenaline flow!!! And that's what we need to make it in this life of ours. 24-hrs of action packed adrenaline flow. And its only found when we have His Word in our hearts.

Just as a reminder, be reading the rest of the notes passed out during last Gladiator Inc. (I attached a copy in case they mysteriously disappeared). Paul went on to tell Timothy what as a Man of God we need to Follow, Fight, and be Faithful to.

The verses to memorize are:

Psalm 119:45
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

Psalm 119:50
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Psalm 119:66
Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.

Psalm 119:101
I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.

God Bless!!!