Old Posts from 2007:

"Romans 8:28 - A Crutch to Christianity?" 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."


I was reading this morning, searching for something to hold to, while under attack. And this verse, the "everything for good" verse was my first stop.

But, I think that we, as Christians, especially those who do not spend much time exploring the Word, have taken this verse and turned it into a crutch.

Christians view this verse as some sort of Heavenly bank note. As if with every hardship and trial, we should be issued some sort of "good things" debit card, which we can use at our discretion.

(i.e.: "Okay, God, it's time for you to bless me, because I've got several "good things" credits built up from those hardships I went through last summer.")

God doesn't promise that for every hard time we go through we will have an equally good and blessed time.

He does, on the other hand, promise that every hardship that we go through will be used for the good of those who love Him. "Those" being His people.

Now, I am not saying that God doesn't use what we go through for our good, because He does. But, it goes deeper than that.

There are things that happen to us that bring about little or no fruit in our own lives: being raised by a single mom, losing a brother, going through a rift in your family.

But, those are the things that happen to us so that, once we come out stronger, we can minister to others who are going through something similar.


So, a crutch?

 

"Connected and Loving: Hurting as Others Hurt"

 
Paul had a good idea of what it meant to be connected to God and to the family in Christ.

"Love must be sincere." "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:9,10)

And, speaking of love, he says, "It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:7 NIV)

I think that the Living Bible describes this verse better. "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

Sometimes I find myself dealing with pain that is only a reflection of what the people I love are dealing with.

That's part of what love entails. It's not all feel good. Sometimes, maybe often, it is my spirit interceding for your spirit because you are hurting.

We are connected, you and I, and when you hurt, I hurt. That's part of life, and part of love.

 

"Ready to Give Up for a Brother?" 

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with action and in truth." 1 John 3:18

I've been reading through John's letters today, and what strikes me is his passion for the brotherhood to have each other's backs.

He doesn't shy away from the tough subjects like Christians do today.

He says that the world is going to hate us, so we should be ready to give up ourselves for the brothers.

Am I living in a ready manner that I would be able to give up my life for my brothers? I think so.

 

"Being a Four-Pillared Man" 

"Of all the men I have known and admired most in life, it is the four-pillared men who have most impressed me - and most impacted their world!

These are not perfect men. They come from diverse backgrounds - from good homes, bad homes, no homes. They are men who had strong dads, weak dads, and no dads. Men who are rich and not so rich. Men who are famous in this world, and men known only to their small civilizations around them.

But they are men who never stop growing. When one or more of the pillars begins to crack or lean out of balance, they turn to their Lord - the ultimate King, Warrior, Mentor, and Friend - to make them straight, strong, and true once again.

These are not lone rangers. They realize the enormity and the impossibility of being a four-pillared man alone. They are rusty knights who need a round table of other rusty knights to share joys and challenges, fears and disappointments. They need men who will both call to encourage them - and call them on the carpet. They choose to never be too busy - or too lazy - or too proud - to lock arms with men walking in the same direction.

These men are not cowards who give up and quit when the task seems overwhelming. They are not so concerned about their own personal rights, freedoms, and happiness that they sacrifice the sacred principles of manhood.

They are men who have known failure, but not defeat; disappointment, but not despair. They are men who can see through these hard things in life because they have their compass set on truth (!!), not on the fancies of a fickle society.

These are men who are willing to live - and if necessary, die - for principles far bigger and greater than they.

They are men determined to live life to the fullest...by the Book."

-From Stu Weber's book: Four Pillars Of A Man's Heart