Traditions (Part II)

I received a couple of emails about my last post which have led me clarify my position. I am not for throwing every tradition down. I believe there are definite benefits to having traditions among a body. Like Matt said, "I agree that traditions are necessary (everyone has some sort of traditions, even if they think they don't). They can also be a great blessing."

I also believe that all of our traditions are rooted in good intent (that I know of anyway). The purpose of that last post was not to tear down traditions as valuable practices. I posted it as a warning to keep traditions in their proper perspective. Just as cunningly as Satan can slip in and make you think that traditions are simply worthless commandments of men, he can also slip in and lull you into a sense of false holiness, if you lean too heavily on the traditions as your refuge. This can cause a believer to cease striving for personal spiritual growth, and into placing their trust in the traditions instead of the Holy Spirit to sanctify them and draw them into closer communion with the Father.

One of the emails I received mentioned the benefits of eating lunch at church; "the tradition of eating lunch at church does help us stay united, as it is time we spend visiting with and getting to know one another" To clarify, I'm not writing this with these types of "operational traditions" in mind. I'm thinking more of the traditions that have been given as guidelines for holiness and separation from the world.

In closing, let us go forward in unfeigned love for one another. Let us praise God with every aspect of our lives. Let us serve our Lord and Creator not out of spirit of fear, but of adoption where-by we cry Abba, Father. Romans 8:15
To quote the January 24th post,"It's the difference between obedience and worship. You can have obedience without worship, but you can't have worship without obedience. Worship involves our hearts. It involves our minds. It involves our motives and our desires. God created us for Worship with the intent that out of that worship would flow unfeigned obedience. We were not created to do works for the Father out of a sense of fear, or obligation, or any other reason besides that of loving worship."

Traditions

On January 9th, I posted the following short post:Samuel Froehlich
"The insistence upon externals and forms is the best weapon for the destruction of the congregation of God, and what the foe cannot do by the means of outward force and persecution, he succeeds in doing by such sly artifices, whereby one runs after a shadow and fights about words and loses substance."

~Froehlich~

I found that quote to be a powerful reminder in light of our church today. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus brothers and sisters!The following exchange took place in the comments of that post:
comments

Mark said...
Froelich's mindset was very much shaped by the experiences he had. Much of what he wrote centered around the religion he saw around him.

A common theme in his writings is commenting on what he saw as legalism, dead formalism, disunity over forms, and misplaced human authority. At the root of most division, as the quote implies, is making something into something it shouldn't be.

The ACC has been definately shaped by Froehlich's views to some extent, although I think in some ways it has at least partially become something he may have never even approved of.

Here are a couple of other quotes that may be interesting to read.

"The priests of the high places give their own fiction, legends, fables, and inventions, precedence over the Word of God, and the people accept these spurious, man-made commandments blindly and implicitly, as if they came from God. At first an addition was made to the divine commandment, and in the course of the time the man-made commandment was raised above the divine order, and the sacredness of the latter was transfered to the former."

"By such hierachial power and pretension the religious ceremony has been impressed with the stamp of the anti-Christ who in the course of time has not only grown much richer in such inventions and new commandments, but has also been by far more despotic than even the old Pharisees and scribes, by being able to confer on his decrees the respect due to divine authority, as it is customary up to this very day."

I wonder if Froehlich ever envisioned being quoted on a blog? ;)

God bless,
~Mark

3:55 PM


thedoors said...
Mark,
Thanks for what you said in addition to the post. We just had a Bible study on tradition, and it prompted a lot of thoughts, I may post a larger passage on my blog soon, after I run it by our Elder, but in the meantime, I think this aligns with Froehlich and the Biblical purpose of traditions:

Traditions are important to preserve the unity of this Biblical brotherhood and even more so to keep us from sin, but never to reduce Christianity to a set of rules that form and define our relationship with the Father. Instead, we must establish a relationship with the Creator-Father and seek Him first and foremost. Live for Him and you will then desire to live out a truly Biblical life including traditions and all around Godly integrity.

Problems with tradition only arise when the people of a church group begin to focus on a said tradition instead of first seeking out Christ and living for Him out of love for what He's given them, salvation based upon their FAITH.

2:19 PM



Mark said...
the doors,

I agree that traditions are necessary (every one has some sort of traditions, even if they think they don't). They can also be a great blessing.

However, I just want to add that I don't agree that traditions preserve unity or keep us from sin. The only thing, in my mind, that can preserve unity is brotherly love and the operation of the Holy Spirit. And the only thing, in my mind, that can keep us from sin is love for God, walking in the truth, and the regeneration of our hearts and the operation of the Holy Spirit.

Traditions may appear to give us unity, but if that is what causes our unity, we are in trouble (though on the surface thigns may seem fine). Same with sin, tradition can not be a crutch to keep us from sin. Because it is not powerful enough to do that and will never succeeding in keeping us from what evil desires want (sin) anyways.

I don't want to detract from your points, they are very good. I just wanted to response to the first sentence in the middle paragraph to hopefully clarify things a bit.

8:30 AM

I would welcome any further comments or discussions on this issue.

Grief

Do they know how much they mean to you? Do they know how much you care?

Tomorrow is never promised.

My favorite Joke

Jake posted the following comment on my last post:My all time favorite RD joke (at least that I can remember):

Q: What does Snoop Dog use an umbrella for?

A: Fo' drizzle.

This is also my guess for your favorite.I can not, in good conscience, pick any other joke but that one. I know, I know, it's not fair. Especially for those of you that picked my favorite before Jake left his comment, but seriously, that joke is quality.

If you don't get it...ask your mom...or something...

RD.com

I needed a joke today, so I went to RD.com and found a few. Vote for your favorite and tell me which one you think is my favorite. :-) Pick one and only one. Who knows...you might even get a prize.

1. During his speech at my cousin's graduation, Bill Cosby was making the point that true wisdom comes not from a classroom but from life. When he was in college, he said, his class endlessly discussed the question: Is the glass half full or half empty? So Cosby asked his grandmother the same question. She had it all figured out: "Depends on whether you're pouring or drinking."

— Joke contributed by Jennifer McGeorge


2. When I went inside the station to pay for my tank of gas, I noticed a sign asking patrons to tell the cashier the number of their pump. Even though I was the only customer, I decided to be silly and tell him anyway. "I'm Number One," I announced. He smiled. "Well, now. Looks like those motivational tapes are really working for you."

— Joke contributed by Virginia Worzalla, Pewaukee, Wisconsin


3. Stormy weather diverted our Dallas-bound flight to another airport. As we approached the runway, the pilot came on the intercom: "For those of you who are not familiar with the area, this is Lubbock, Texas." Then he paused. "And for those of you who are familiar with this area, I think this is Lubbock, Texas."

— Joke contributed by Darrell Burton, Richmond, Indiana


4. Sounds of crashing and banging in the middle of the night sent me and my husband out to our garage. There we spotted three raccoons eating out of the cat dish. We shooed them away and went back to bed. Later that week we were driving home and I noticed three fat raccoons ambling down the road. "Do you think those are the same ones we chased off?" I asked. "Hard to tell," said my husband. "They were wearing masks."

— Joke contributed by Cherie Konvicka, Carson City, Nevada


5. Nothing seems to dim my 13-year-old son's sense of humor. And he's certainly not above being the butt of his own joke. Shortly after he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), he threw this at me: "Hey, Dad -- how many ADD children does it take to change a light bulb?" "I give up," I said. "Let's go ride our bikes."

— Joke contributed by Richard Hurd, Nazareth, Pennyslvania


6. "Your grandmother and I are going out to dinner," I said to my teenage daughter, Alicia. "Do you want to join us?" "No way," she answered grumpily. "I'm going to stay home and study." That evening my mother asked if Alicia was feeling well. "She's okay," I said, "just a little cranky." "Intelligent children can be very temperamental," my mother sighed. "I certainly didn't have that problem with you."

— Joke contributed by a.j. plaski

7. On a chilly winter evening, my husband and I were snuggled together on the floor watching television. During a commercial break, he reached over and gave my foot a gentle squeeze. "Mmmm," I said. "That's sweet." "Actually," he admitted, "I thought that was the remote."

— Joke contributed by Stephanie Eele, Kingsville, Maryland


8. My sister Darlene has the courage -- but not always the skills -- to tackle any home-repair project. For example, in her garage are pieces of a lawn mower she once tried to fix. So I wasn't surprised the day my other sister, Jesse, and I found Darlene attacking her vacuum cleaner with a screwdriver. "I can't get this thing to cooperate," she explained. "Why don't you drag it out to the garage and show it the lawn mower?" Jesse suggested.

— Joke contributed by Judee Norton, Tuscon, Arizona


9. Without realizing it, I walked right into a police stakeout at my local Blockbuster. When a young man stepped out the door, a group of officers pounced, cuffing him and hustling him into a squad car. Seeing my astonished expression, one cop said, "When they say the movie is due by noon the next day, they mean it."

— Joke contributed by Danny Krumbholz, Midland, Texas


10. My wife, a flight attendant for a major airline, watched one day as a passenger overloaded with bags tried to stuff his belongings in the overhead bin of the plane. Finally, she informed him that he would have to check the oversized luggage. "When I fly other airlines," he said irritably, "I don't have this problem." My wife smiled and replied, "When you fly other airlines, I don't have this problem either."

— Joke contributed by Joe Conforti

Charity

"1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth:...13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

Wait...So you're saying that I can: 1. Speak with the tongues of angels
2. have the ability to prophesy
3. understand all mysteries
4. understand all knowledge
5. have faith to remove mountains
6. give everything I own to the poor
7. be martyred through fireand they won't count as ANYthing unless I have charity?
Nothing?
I won't even profit a little bit?
I mean...surely God will be somewhat impressed right?


nope.

Ok...well...if it's that important, what is it?

Charity: 1. is longsuffering
2. is kind
3. envieth not
4. boasteth not
5. is not puffed up
6. behaves itself seemly
7. seeketh not her own
8. is not easily provoked
9. thinketh no evil
10. rejoiceth not in inequity
11. rejoiceth in truth
12. beareth all things
13. believeth all things
14. hopeth all things
15. endureth all things
16. never failethIt's the difference between obedience and worship. You can have obedience without worship, but you can't have worship without obedience. Worship involves our hearts. It involves our minds. It involves our motives and our desires. God created us for Worship with the intent that out of that worship would flow unfeigned obedience. We were not created to do works for the Father out of a sense of fear, or obligation, or any other reason besides that of loving worship. I mean, think of it, you could have faith to remove mountains, give all your goods to the poor, and die a martyr, and it could all be worthless if your motives or intents were misplaced.

Is that a hard concept for you to truly give into? One of the reasons that it seems to be difficult for many is because it often requires change in us. Not just outward change...but heart change...the painful change...the effective, lasting, God honoring change that we can't do by ourselves. Let's turn our faces to God the Father so that He can change us from the inside. Don't look at your neighbor. Don't look at your brother. Look at Jesus and pray, "Lord, create in me a clean heart oh God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Introspection

Have you ever asked God to reveal areas in your heart that aren't in line with His Word? Have you ever asked God for the ability to view your heart as Christ views your heart? Think about that for a second...

How does Christ view our hearts? Remember, He knows every thought, motive, wish, or desire you've ever had. He knows the true depth of your sorrow, and He knows the full height of your joys. Would you let Christ change anything He found that displeased Him? Anything? Are we willing to be radically transformed, or do we just want to be shined up on the outside?

I prayed that prayer towards the end of last week, and the answer was both convicting and thrilling at the same time. I've been struggling with something in my life for a long time, and I asked God to give me wisdom to search my heart truthfully. I wanted to see if there was anything that I was harboring that was keeping me from effectively dealing with my struggle. I wanted to know how I was hindering God's power in my life.

Dare you ask the same?

Sorrow without repentance

Sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death (2 Corinthians 7:10, NLT).

Dear friends:

During one of my messages to a group of laymen, I emphasized, "We cannot get right with God until we confess our sins to Him and to others against whom we have sinned."

At the close of the sermon, a troubled young man ran up to me. "My employer is an unbeliever," he exclaimed. "I have talked to him many times about his need of Christ, but he scoffs and ridicules me. Now I realize why. I have been stealing materials from the plant where I work and what I have done is making me feel guilty and miserable. I know that I cannot have peace with God until I confess my theft of those materials and make restitution."

"That's right," I agreed. "We need to be sure that there is no unconfessed sin in our lives if we are to be effective in our Christian lives and witness."

A couple of days later, the young man joyfully approached me and announced, "I confessed my sin to God and to my employer, and when I admitted I took the materials and offered to pay for all that I had stolen, he was very moved and said, 'If Christianity makes a dishonest workman confess that he has been stealing, it's worth having!'"

That young man confessed his sin with the right motivation. It is not godly confession when celebrities write a book and describe all the steamy (and sinful) activities in their lives. They are interested in profits, not forgiveness. It is not godly confession when people describe to a psychiatrist their immoral lifestyle. They only want to feel good.

Godly repentance comes from a true sorrow about a wrong action. The Bible says, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret" (2 Corinthians 7:10, NIV).

In Hebrews chapter 12, verses 1 and 2, we are admonished to "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (KJV).

Keeping short accounts with God by confessing our sins to Him, with a sincere heart, the moment the Holy Spirit reveals them to us, is vital to living a victorious, joyful and fruitful life for our Lord.

Respect

We had a bible study on "Respect" tonight at Washington.

Respect God (that one's an understatement)
Respect your spouse
Respect others

The thing that struck me is that, when the Bible talks about esteeming your brother higher than yourself, it gives no qualifications. None. Esteem your brother higher than yourself. Wait...you mean all my brothers...even that whiney one who never says anything intelligent? (I didn't have anyone in mind there so relax) Yes, even that one. Wait...Even that one who hardly ever comes to Young Group stuff? Yep, that one too.

Who am I to think, that because some peoples struggles are more visible than mine, I'm any better than they are in God's sight. Especially when I don't really know their heart.

I'm convicted.

Gender Specific ATM Directions

The following joke is stereotypical and in no way reflects my opinion of women. I love the fact that God saw fit to make males and females so differently! With that said, I still find it amusing.

Male vs Female ATM Procedures
A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads: "Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through teller machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE procedures have been developed. Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender."
MALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up UPDATE:5A. Check Balance in account.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Reinsert card the right way.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and reenter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.
18. Recheck makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re -empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided.
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Redial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
27. Release Parking Brake.

All the way Shay

The following story was forwarded to me awhile back. While I have no idea of it's origin's or it's basis in fact, I was touched by it, so I thought I'd share. I hope it warms your heart and makes you think about how Christ wants us to treat others. At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and a few boys nodded approval, why not? So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay as the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team. That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world." Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Christ's Passion

He died for you...

Will you live for Him?

It was here that He took our sins. It was here that He felt the seperation from His Father. It was here He died so that we may live. And it's here, that we slap His face everytime we think we can do it on our own.

Surrender...100%

The following is a daily devotional copied verbatim from the January 10th page of My Utmost for His Highest. I found it very thought provoking. The Opened Sight

"I now send you, to open their eyes...that they may receive forgiveness of sins..." (Acts 26:17-18)

This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.

God's first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, "...that they may receive forgiveness of sins..." When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people's eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion--only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.

This is followed by God's second mighty work of grace:"...an inheritance among those who are sanctified...." In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God's ministry to others.The first thing that jumped out at me was the statement, "When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything." The first time I read it, I wondered if he was using the word "fails" as a replacement for the word "sin", but the more I thought about it the more I don't think so. I think Chambers was referring to a complete failure in your Christian life. A turning and walking away from what you professed. I think that's much more inline with the context of this passage and the Word.

The second passage that really hit me was, "Conversion is not regeneration." My first thought here was, "Whoa...It's not?" However, the way he defines conversion he's right. He's seeing conversion as the decision of the individual to decide to follow Christ. You can make the decision and never be born again, but I don't think you can be born again without making the decision.

What Chambers seems to be warning against is the idea of people saying, "Yes, I'm going to be a Christian." without ever fully coming to the Lord broken and receiving forgiveness of our sins.

The last paragraph is convicting for me. I still have so much to learn about the person of Christ. I have so much to learn about deliberately giving up myself to Christ and identifying solely with Him. Lord, Help me, today, to continue dying to myself and my own desires, and help me to fill my heart with thy Word, which contains all your desires for me. In Jesus Name, Amen

Samuel Froehlich

"The insistence upon externals and forms is the best weapon for the destruction of the congregation of God, and what the foe cannot do by the means of outward force and persecution, he succeeds in doing by such sly artifices, whereby one runs after a shadow and fights about words and loses substance."

~Froehlich~

I found that quote to be a powerful reminder in light of our church today. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus brothers and sisters!

Martyrs of Sebaste

Dear friends:

They are known as the 40 martyrs of Sebaste.

In the year 320, Constantine was Emperor of the West and Licinius of the East. Licinius, under pressure from Constantine, had agreed to legalize Christianity in his territory, and the two made an alliance (cemented by the marriage of Licinius to Constantia the sister of Constantine), but now Licinius broke the alliance and made a new attempt to suppress Christianity. He ordered his soldiers to renounce their faith in Christ or suffer the punishment of a cruel death.

In the "Thundering Legion," stationed near Sebaste in Armenia (now Sivas in Turkey), 40 soldiers refused, and when promises, threats, and beatings failed to shake their commitment to Christ, they were stripped naked one evening and herded onto the middle of a frozen lake, and told, "You may come ashore when you are ready to deny your faith."

To tempt them, fires were built on shore, with warm baths, blankets, clothing, and hot food and drink close by. The mother of the youngest soldier was present and encouraged her son from the bank.

These Christian warriors bravely replied, "You can have our armor and even our bodies, but our hearts' allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ." They refused to renounce their Savior, who had died for them. Instead, they huddled close together and sang a song of victory.

As night deepened, 39 men stood firm, but one broke and ran to the shore. Then a remarkable thing happened.

The officer in charge of guarding these men had secretly come to believe in Christ. He then replaced the man who had broken rank and walked out onto the ice. He threw off his clothes and confessed his faith in Christ.

At sunrise the roman soldiers found 40 frozen men who gave their all for the cause of their Lord.

We still have what some scholars believe to be an authentic eyewitness account of their martyrdom. It includes farewell messages to their family and friends written shortly before their deaths.

Dear friends, if your Christian walk ever seems weary and you may encounter opposition, remember "the 40 martyrs of Sebaste" and how blessed you are.

Or think of the apostle Paul, who wrote about his "troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger" (2 Corinthians 6:4-5, NIV).

Or think of our glorious Savior, who "was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.... He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:5-6, KJV).

Refiners Fire

Have you ever wondered why our flesh fights so hard to be accepted by our peers? Why does man's esteem mean so much to us? Is it pride? Why do we strive so hard to meet man's standards, but let God's standards slip to the back? The Bible commands us to be holy, for God is holy. Have you lost sight of what it means to live a Holy life?






Purify my heart. Let me be as gold and precious silver. Purify my heart. Let me be as gold, pure gold.
Refiner's fire, my heart's one desire, is to be holy, set apart, for You Lord.
I choose to be holy, set apart, for you my master, ready to do your will.
Purify my heart. Cleanse me from within, and make me holy. Purify my heart. Cleanse me from my sin, deep within.
Refiner's fire, my heart's one desire is to be holy, set apart, for You Lord. I choose to be holy, set apart, for you my master, ready to do your will.

Struggles?

Do you ever wonder why you struggle with sin? I've been wondering that lately. I mean, here we are as Christians. We have the God of the universe on our side. We have the grace of our Lord and Savior. We have the promise of salvation. And still we struggle.

I don't know about you, but I think I know why I struggle. I look at the times I've fallen down in my life, and I can, almost inevitably, trace it back to the "I wants". Whenever I make a decision based on me and what I want, I'm treading on thin ice. Deep down I want what God wants for my life, and that's to be more like Christ, so why do I listen when satan whispers in my ear? Why do I make provisions for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof (Romans 13:14)?

A lot of it has to do with immediate gratification. Most of the I wants immediately fulfill an current desire. We, as humans, tend to struggle with delayed reward, even though the reward we're promised is beyond comprehension (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Let's acknowledge before God, that we are wretched and that we can't do it by our power. Then lets exercise our will and surrender completely to His power.

Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on thee. Help to make my sole focus a desire to be more like thee. In Jesus name, Amen.

Yep It's True

I definitely have some of the cutest nephews ever. And after seeing THIS MOVIE(I believe you can right click and "save as". If you want to stream the movie go HERE) you'll have to agree these two cousin-in-laws of mine are way up there on the coolness scale too. The movie's large, but worth it...oh so worth it.