Pick Up Your Stones

One of the beauties of reading the Bible is that you can pick up something different every time, depending on your current life situation.  I've read the story of David in Goliath numerous times.  I've heard it taught from elementary through adulthood, and yet I get a different lesson out of it nearly every time.  I truly believe that every little detail in the Bible is there for a reason.  It is those details that add that different lesson to each reading. 

This week I was reading through the story once again when something occurred to me that I hadn't thought of before.  Why did David pick up five stones?  If you understand the training that he had undergone, you would know that he would have complete faith in himself to make the hit with the first stone.  There would be no doubt that he would achieve enough velocity to easily strike down the giant that stood before him.  Yet, he selected five stones. 

How many times in life do we face an individual battle?  There's a reason for the saying "when it rains, it pours".  I believe that one reason that David chose five stones, was because he knew the enemy rarely used a single attack, and he was prepared to face the next enemy, should he choose to attack. 

I believe, like David, we need to pick up our five stones, because the enemy will rarely send a single attack, and we must be prepared for each one.  Here are five stones that I believe are essential to our battle readiness.

1) God's Word.  This is our battle plan.  This is where we will receive our instructions for battle and learn to understand our enemy. 

2) Prayer.  It is one thing to read the battle plan, but there is much more to be said for spending time with the commander.  It is through prayer, which is simply conversation with God, that He will bring to light an understanding of what we have studied in His word. 

3) Worship.  Worship is so much more than music.  Worship is a way of showing total reverence to God.  It is a celebration of who He is and a reminder to us of the battles He has already lead us through.  It is an anthem to let the enemy know that we are celebrating his defeat before the next battle even begins.

4) Protective measures.  We all have our battles that we face.  When you have a weakness in war, you would be foolish not to create a barrier or put in place a plan to protect you from the vulnerability of that weakness.  For some, this will be a blocker on your internet that only your spouse has access to.  Maybe for you it is complete vulnerability with your finances with someone you trust.  It may even be to professional / clerical counseling to deal with anger or struggles from your past.

5) Brotherhood.  This is an often overlooked, yet essential part of facing our battles.  As men, we tend to believe we're alone in our battles, no one else will understand what we're struggling through.  We must find a few guys that we can trust and share our battles with one another. 

As David did, let's pick up our stones, study our enemy, and charge into battle. 

Giving Satan Extra Credit

I follow several men's groups online, and I've been involved in several small groups, camps, and retreats as well.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard guys say, "I'm really under a spiritual attack right now."  Now, don't get me wrong, I believe in spiritual warfare, and I'm all for praying for someone who is facing a hard time.  We are definitely facing an enemy that wants nothing more than to take us out (John 10:10). 
But I have to wonder if we're not giving Satan extra credit at times.  For example, if you eat horribly and are struggling to get the energy to do what you know needs to be done, this is a result of your lifestyle, not necessarily a spiritual attack.  If you've been unfaithful to your wife, and you are struggling to earn back her trust, you are facing the consequences of your past mistakes. 
This doesn't mean Satan can't use your past or this situation against you, or when you get that feeling that you are unworthy because of your past, that Satan isn't using those thoughts as a method of warfare to take you out of the game.  I just feel that sometimes as men, we take the easy route of calling it a spiritual attack, rather than owning up to the consequences of our past mistakes. 
Whether spiritual warfare or simply the results of our past, I still believe the approach needs to be the same. 
1) We have to acknowledge our part in what we are struggling through.  Let's use the example of unfaithfulness.  We must acknowledge this, not only to God, but to the wife we've been unfaithful to.  Whether forgiveness is initially given or not, honesty is the start to healing and the removal of guilt.
2) Put measures in place to prevent a return to the sin.  This may include cutting all connections with someone, placing porn blockers on your devices, and allowing your spouse or someone you trust complete access to your life, including all electronics. 
3) To piggy back off of the "someone you trust" point, find a few guys you know you can trust to stand with you through your recovery.  If you don't have those guys, seek them out.  They're out there.  Having guys in my life that I can be completely transparent with has been key to me dealing with my personal struggles. 
4) Trust God through the process.  God will give grace and forgiveness as soon as we truly repent and ask for it.  He never guarantees instant healing, or even a simple path to healing.  Ask God daily what He wants you to learn through that day's struggles.  There may be times you are impatient and get frustrated, but you must continue to trust God and do what you know is right in the process. 
I am on the same journey as every other man who is seeking to be closer to God.  I don't have all the answers, and I'm sure many of you could break these down into better steps or may have better insight into this subject than I do.  I do believe in spiritual warfare.  I also believe that whether that's what we are facing or the consequences of our past mistakes, God is still the same.  He offers amazing grace, and He is a loving God who wants to walk with you through the process.
I welcome any thoughts or feedback that you may have.

Purposeful Struggles

Recently, a great family in our church was faced with a horrific tragedy when they received a phone call that their son was killed in a motorcycle accident.  This was a family that not only loved God, but whose other son was recently baptized and was turning his life around.  As I spoke with the dad, I couldn't help but ask myself why this would happen to such a great family, and I was immediately faced with the fear of how this might affect their other son's newly found faith. 

Over the next couple of days, I would reflect back on my own life.  I thought about my mother who died a horrible death after battling cancer, my brother who had gone through cancer himself with a young family and lost all he had at the time and had to start over, and lastly about my six year old son who was born prematurely and would have to live out his life with severe cerebral palsy.  Why would God allow so much suffering in the lives of those who had chosen to follow him? 

Throughout the week following their son's death, this family continued to trust God and used this as an opportunity to share His love with friends of their son.  Did they suffer and have moments they struggled? Absolutely!  But in the end, it was obvious where their faith was through this difficult time.

Then something unexpected happened...at least for me.  The day of the funeral, six people who had been watching how this family lived their lives during this tragedy gave their lives to Christ.  I was even able to be present at the tear jerking baptism of one of the young ladies who did so.  When I received the news that six people had been saved, I had my answer, and it seemed so simple.

God cares for all of us, whether we are his followers or not. 

By allowing this family who was already part of His family to face difficult times, six others would become part of His eternal family.  Again, I reflected back on my own life.  My mom had incredible faith through out her struggle with cancer, and there is no doubt that she was being watched by others.  My brother's faith through his cancer was the very reason I would come back to church.  Finally, my son's struggles with cerebral palsy.  His story was shared across the country through a blog that I wrote during those difficult times, as well as being sent out to missionaries in 13 different countries who would share our story with those they would witness to.

I believe that God allows those of us who have faith in Him to go through difficult times, because it is in those moments that those who don't have faith in Him can see how our faith carries us through those difficult times.  It is in those moments of seeing the relationship we have with Christ carry us through our struggles that people are able to see past the hypocrisy and hurt they have seen or felt from church in the past.  They see that it is a genuine faith, rather than a religious practice. 

Does this make those moments easy for us as believers?  No way.  I still have struggles with my son's condition, but I am also more aware now more than ever, that God has called me to stand strong in my faith and trust Him, so that those who are watching can see Him through my life.

SOULCON

Mission Statement: A Christian nonprofit organization committed to inspiring men to increase their fitness levels and embrace a special forces lifestyle for Jesus Christ.

Vision Statement: Through Soulcon challenges and retreats, evangelism, discipleship, and any other means necessary, we desire to see every man take the necessary steps to a special forces lifestyle for Jesus Christ daily.

These two statements are only a small glimpse into what SOULCON is all about.  Like many others, I was hesitant to jump on board with yet another men's ministry / fitness program.  Was this just another fitness fad using a Christian label to promote itself to the men of the church? 

It wasn't until a friend of mine decided to go through one of the six week challenges and was adamant that I needed to check it out as well, that I decided to give it a try.  I wasn't disappointed.  What I quickly became aware of was the fact that this was a community of men pushing each other physically, mentally, and spiritually to be better in each area than they were before.  During my first six week experience (Team Foxtrot), I dropped 25 pounds, learned to eat in a simple but healthy way, and began to gain energy I had been missing for years.  That wasn't the best part of it.  The best part was meeting men all over the country and having an instant connection where we would pick each other up during our struggles and challenge each other to push harder, whether we were giving our all or struggling to keep going.

I was amazed at how quickly I felt like I was letting these total strangers down when I would come up short on a challenge.  Yet, they would never judge, but only encourage and push for me to do more.  There are daily challenges, daily readings, and a weekly meeting with the most down to earth and supportive leader of a group like this that there could be. 

So, if you're looking for a cool fad exercise program, I don't recommend SOULCON.  If you're looking to be challenged in every aspect of your life in way that is life changing, then SOULCON is a must.  I'm finishing up my second of many challenges to come as I continue to use this as a tool to make me a better man for my family and a better servant of God. 

www.soulcon.com
    

Silent Drifter

How often to we desperately want to hear from God but don't?  You hear stories in the Bible of God communicating with His people and it seems like a common occurrence.  Reading through Genesis, God commanded Noah to get on the ark.  He then waited 7 days for the rains to come, it rained 40 days, and the waters swelled for another 110 days.  Three weeks later his dove didn't return and another 3 months before he could see land drying.  Finally, after another month, he was able to get off the ark.  For 377 days, Noah was in the ark, including times of serious storms.  Not until after he leaves the ark, does the Bible say God spoke to him again.

God put him in a boat, during a huge storm and appears to go silent.  How did Noah react?  Three things I believe he did.  He did what he had to do to get through the storm, he remembered it was part of God's plan, and he remembered what God had done for him and brought him through in the past. 

The Elephant in the Room

When they are just babies, circus elephants are chained to a relatively small stake in the ground.  This stake is just big enough that the young elephants are unable to pull them out of the ground to make an escape.  The elephants, known for their great memory, will continue to grow and remember that they were not able to pull that stake from the ground.  As they grow into large and powerful animals, the memory of that stake will keep them pinned to the ground, even though they have grown to have enough strength to easily pull it from the ground and escape. 
Many of us are living the same way in our own lives.  Though our relationship with Christ has allowed us to grow and have enough strength to easily walk away from the things in our past, we continue to let their memory pin us to the ground.  We may judge ourselves by what we've done in the past and not allow ourselves to move forward in who God has called us to be.  Maybe it's something someone else has done, and we're pinned down by anger.  No matter the "stake", we allow it to keep us from experiencing the true freedom that is available to each of us. 
For me, I lived with anger and bitterness towards my dad for not being a part of my life.  I blamed him for my shortcomings as a father and husband, because he had never taught me to be either.  This was my stake.  It would consume me to the point that I was more comfortable being angry than happy.  So, how did I move forward? 
First of all, I found a couple of guys that I fully trusted to talk through my struggles with.  Honestly, I didn't really know how bad of an issue this was for me until I began to share with these men.  It was through these conversations that I began to find healing.
Second was forgiveness, and not just from me to my dad.  I came to realize that I was more angry with myself than I was with my dad.  I had to forgive myself before I could ever truly forgive him.  Forgiving myself was way harder than forgiving my dad.  Once I had forgiven myself and allowed myself to accept God's forgiveness, forgiving my dad was the easy part. 
What you are struggling with may be completely different than my situation, but I pray that you will be able to recognize as I did that your past is just a stake, and you will pull it from the ground and be free. 

What is Element 26?

Element 26 is a men's ministry designed to draw men together in pursuit of living a Godly life through camping, hiking and outdoor adventures coupled with transparent conversation, accountability and sound Biblical teaching.

Iron (element 26) is one of the most common elements on Earth. In its purest form, it is relatively soft, however, through the smelting process, or adding of impurities, it is hardened. With enough smelting, steel is created, which is up to 1000 times harder. Once hardened, iron can be used to do great good or great harm.

Like iron, men will face outside influences that will tend to harden us. Also, like iron, this hardening, or toughness, can be used to do great good or great harm. Too many men are forged into anger or bitterness. More men need to be forged in strength and boldness.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
- Proverbs 27:17

Like many men, I've struggled with insecurities as a father and husband.  For most of my life, I didn't have a good relationship with my own father, as well as other struggles that life would throw at me.  For years, I faked my way through life, pretending it was all good, and seeing other men who had their lives together.  I wondered why I was failing where they were succeeding.  It wasn't until I plugged into a group of men who shared their own struggles openly that I began to recognize I wasn't the only one facing these struggles.  It was then that I began to heal.  The goal of Element 26 is to create a place for more men to find those connections and help them be the men God called them to be. 

I'm looking forward to putting some of my own life's lessons, struggles, resources and victories in words that will hopefully help others through their own battles. 

Learn more at www.element26.cc