No Hope...

I sat with three young men on Friday. I asked each one of them to give me some goals that they would like to achieve this year. One goal in four areas of life. Financially, physically, spiritually & academically.

Out of the three guys - not one of them could offer a goal. So I began to feed them with some ideas on goals that they could attempt to achieve. Still, they refused to dream of what could be.

Where has the dream in young men to do something with their life gone?

I finished the day reflecting on these three boys. Each one healthy, each one capable, each one a man of the future, but with no hope.

Proverbs 13:12 reads: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

In the old testament a woman by the name of Rachel wanted to have babies but could not. She became jealous of her sister just as Jacob (her husband) was of his older brother. This jealousy made their hearts sick.

These young men can look at what others are doing & be jealous which makes their hearts very sick. And yet, they could aim for something & find fulfillment by achieving what God has enabled them to do.

Isaiah 40:31 reads: but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Those who hope in the Lord are described as, "trusting in or looking expectantly to." You see, I want nothing more than these young men to hope in the Lord. Not in money. Not in good grades. Not in physical abilities or musical abilities. There hope must be in the Lord! And when they are trusting in the Lord, He will renew (exchange) their weaknesses which will give way to God's strength.

The Hebrew word used in this passage for this verb is used of changes of clothes which can symbolize strength and beauty. Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ instructs us to clothe ourselves with Christ (Ephesians 4:24).

Well dads, there are alot of young men who need a male role model. They need to be encouraged to hope. How do you help a young man hope?

Here's four ways...

Holler praise

Offer to model obedience.

Patience will be required

Encourage often

Perhaps you can practice this with your own children, I know I need to.

You know - we can often be tempted to think we need to do more. But the Gospel is our HOPE... have a look at Romans 4:18-25 & rejoice in the finished work of the cross...

A great addition for your Library: Do Hard Things

If you have kids that are between the ages of 8-10 you want to get this book and read it before they get to the next age bracket. That way you can prepare yourself for how to encourage your child, and put into practice 'Do(ing) Hard Things'.

If you have kids that are 10-12 you want to get a copy for yourself and a copy for them. Then you can work through the book together and encourage each other to put your mind to 'Do Hard Things'

If you have a child between the ages of 13 - 18 you want to buy yourself a copy, your wife a copy & your child a copy as well as all of their friends...

You can buy copies of the book by clicking on the title: DO HARD THINGS

I trust this resource will help you in your role of parenting with an eternal perspective...

2010 Begins...

Hello - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all! I trust you have had a wonderful season of celebration with family & friends! I trust you are ready to get cracken into 2010 with new vigor! I trust you have thought through some plans & purposes for the year. My mother always said, "if you aim for nothing - you hit nothing"! How true is that...

Well, even though my entries have been scarce thus far, it doesn't mean that I have given up on this blog. In fact I am trying to marinade in all that I am being taught, and considering what is appropriate to share and what not to share...

As I continue to work through this, let me share just a few random articles/entries I have been chewing over lately...

Haiti crisis : please read this article. Click 'Haiti crisis' to read the article.

Tattoos: a great entry by a mate of mine who has thought through reasons why others get tatted! Well written, comical & provoking. Click on 'Tattoos' to have a sticky beak.

Be back soon with more!

Following the "Godly Man's Picture" Series

Over at the CBMW (The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood) they are running a series on 'The Godly Man's Picture'. I have found this to be a really helpful read. (If you click on the title of the series you can read the post in full.)

Jeff Robinson has done a brilliant job helping us see that there is more to our role as men/husbands/fathers than to lead, protect & provide. He mentions that part of our role has to do with sanctification. And this is rarely mentioned when we are attempting to lead, protect & provide for our family.

In this article, Robinson is committed to reminding himself as well as others of the God given task we have been called to, in leading our homes & churches. But not only what we have been called to - but what we must be first. This list is challenging and yet exciting.

Let me share with you the six attributes that Robinson has borrowed from the Puritan Pastor, Watson and what he says a godly man is: (you can read the article to read the explanation of each attribute)

1) A man of knowledge.
2) A man moved by faith.
3) A man fired with love.
4) A man like God.
5) A man careful about the worship of God. (challenged afresh by this one)
6) A man who serves God, not men.

Lord may we experience YOUR grace as we attempt to apply these attributes to our lives & then in our leadership.

You gotta see this...

When you find something that is awesome, don't you want to tell everyone about it? I do!

Look what I found: CLICK on VERSE CARD MAKER...

This is a wonderful way for us to serve our families and lead them in Scripture memory! A great initiative for 2010 - to have your family meditating on God's Word.

Men Loving Each Other? A Helpful Place To Start

I'm learning that there are alot of guys out there who love Jesus and want to serve others. This is greatly encouraging and exciting, to say the least!

I have only read this blog a few times, but each time I do I find wonderful encouragement. Hope you will enjoy this article. It' is called Men Loving Each Other? A Helpful Place To Start. I think these three suggestions offered will serve all of us in our quest to provoke others to godliness.

It will definitely serve our sons when they see their daddy's putting this into practice.

OK - You GOTTA read this...

Brothers - This article/post that I am recommending, really ministered to me today! It hit me right between the eyes! In fact it wounded me to the cross & I pray it will do the same for you.

This guy, Erik Raymond has been used by God to encourage me several times & today was one of those days that I wanted to be encouraged and boy did I get it.

Erik's Blog is called Irish Calvinist. Here is a picture from his blog that he says, sums him up: I reckon this is way cool!


Anyway, CLICK on the bold typing: to read this encouraging post about what true theology is... - IRISH CALVINIST

I trust you will be encouraged. If it does, encourage Erik with his ministry!

What's your perpective in times of trials?

What kind of perspective do you keep when you are going through a trial? Ashamedly, my perspective can sometimes depend on how I am feeling. Am I tired, irritated, frustrated or lethargic.

So what is a trial? When I speak of a trial I am meaning: the act of trying, testing or putting to the proof. (a trial of one's faith). an attempt of effort to do something. a trying, distressing or annoying thing or person.

Trials are very testing, are they not? They can discourage us, frustrate us, tempt us to sin and for some become to much and we give up hope. If you are facing trials of many kinds can I remind you of what James 1:2-4 says? "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Listen to this insightful reflections from Milton Vincent on Perspective in Trials:

"More than anything else could ever do, the gospel

enables me to embrace my tribulations and thereby

position myself to gain full benefit from them. For the

gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in

which I live and move; and every hardship in my life

is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel

purposes in me.When I view my circumstances in this

light, I realize that the gospel is not just in piece of

good news that fits into my life somewhere among all

the bad . I realize that the gospel makes

genuinely good news out of every other aspect of my

life, including my severest trials. The good news

about my trials is that God is forcing them to bow to

His gospel purposes and do good unto me by

improving my character and making me more

conformed to the image of Christ.

Preaching the gospel to myself each day provides a

lens through which I can view my trials in this way and

see the true cause for intelligent rejoicing that exists in

them. I can then embrace them as friends and allow

them to do God's good work in me."

This is of great encouragement to me & helps me remember that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes. I trust it will serve and encourage you in your current trial or future trial...

Is God glorious in our eyes?

Psalms 24:8 says, 'Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!'

Is the Lord seen as glorious in your eyes?

If not, may I persuade you to consider what the Lord has done on our behalf?

Jesus, upon Calvary defeated and conquered every enemy, breaking every weapon of the enemy into pieces by His finished work of complete obedience. Not only that but He triumphantly rose from the dead and ascended. CH Spurgeon comments that, "when this happened He completely overturned the hopes of hell leading captivity captive, making a show of our enemies openly, triumphing over them by His cross." How mighty & glorious is our Lord!

You know, every arrow of guilt that Satan might have shot at us is broken, because who can charge us? Our Lord is mighty!

What victories has grace won in our evil hearts? Can you rejoice when Jesus' work in your life has subdued your will, and sin is dethroned? What a mighty Lord!

Brothers, the name of Jesus is great beyond compare! For we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Through Him, we shall cast down the powers of darkness which are in the world. Spurgeon writes that "by our faith, and zeal, and holiness; we shall win sinners to Jesus, we shall overturn false systems, we shall convert nations, for God is with us, and none shall stand before us." Praise HIS HOLY NAME!

What a Mighty LORD!!! He is GLORIOUS!!!

'Obedience Borne of Romance'

I have often heard the question, "How do I love God with all my heart, soul and mind?" If you are interested in an answer: I want you to do me a favor. Read the following:

"To love God with all my heart, soul, mind and

strength is the greatest commandment in the Law.

If I could simply fulfill this one commandment, I

would gladly fulfill all others as a natural matter

of course.

So how can I come to love God with all of my

being ? The Bible teaches that genuine love in my

heart for God is generated by an awareness of His love

for me, and nowhere is the love of God more clearly

revealed than in the gospel. Therefore, preaching the

gospel to myself is a great way to keep God's amazing

love before my eyes, so that I might experience its

power to produce in me a passionate love for Him in

return . Romanced by His love in this way , my

increasingly smitten heart will burn to do His will and

will feast itself on doing so."

I reckon that is a helpful response! Thank you Milton Vincent.