I normally do not get into politics in my Blogs. But I do want to touch on a topic that I have been seeing lately and it impresses me as I see Christians talking about their beliefs.
As you know the United States of America that we live in has become extremely divided in Morality issues from a Christian’s view point. For so long we as Christians have set back and not spoken out because we have been told we need to be Tolerant…. I want you to know that I believe the Tolerance that has been preached is harmful and the Morality Issues that Christians disagree with have become normalized because of it.  I am one who has been guilty of not “SPEAKING OUT”.
 
Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down with a young man (Garret) who is doing a Ministry on the Colorado State University Campus. He stated that the Holy Spirit has prompted him to start speaking out about Jesus and so he is doing that on the CSU Campus (His boldness is inspiring).   That was a WOW moment to see young people stepping out of their comfort zone and “SPEAKING OUT”.
There have also been allot of articles in the local newspaper from Christians talking about what they believe in and disagreeing with some local issues that are going to be presented to our City Council.   I attended a Ward 2 meeting last night with 3 of the Councilmen and Mayor Orr.   The Topic of the SOGI ordinance came up and several people expressed their opposition to the Ordinance (not the people). During the meeting it was stated by some that this is the way the country is going so we just need to keep up with the times.   OUCH>>>>>
 
My question is:   Is it too late to start speaking out about our Christian beliefs in order to change what is happening in our world or can we speak out and make a difference? GREAT QUESTION:
I have to believe from what I am seeing with Christians “SPEAKING OUT” is that it is starting to have an impact.   The Leadership are starting to open up their doors to listen to what is being said and it is impacting those who are pushing the issue that we disagree with.   So it is working – keep it up….
We must remember as we are “SPEAKING OUT” it must be done in a peaceful manner and Jesus must be working through us to show our Love for our Neighbors.

So are you “SPEAKING OUT” to let others know what you believe?

Now is the time to start….

 
Bobbyg

I have been reading the book “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey and it has enlightened me on how we make Rules to be better Christians. Today’s Christian walk can be dictated by several different entities such as: 1. The Church – 2. Other Christians – 3. Myself  – 4. The Media.           We seem to need these extra rules in order to feel like we are living the Christian life – but we forget that the Christian walk is supposed to be easy and not built on allot of rules (Read below).
 
I went to Cowboy Church this last Sunday and the speaker spoke along the same topic and used this scripture from Paul.

Freedom From Human Rules

Colossians 2: 16-23 > Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Paul lays it out really good in this scripture – Christ is our guidance now…..
 
I have been one to lay down rules for myself in belief that it would make me a better Christian. For Example:

1. I must go to Church every Sunday!!!   If I go to church every Sunday under this belief, I feel sorry for the person sitting next to me – he will experience a negative person.   I go to Church now because I am excited to hear Pastor Shaun’s message and I like to fellowship with most of the people there.
2. I always felt guilty because I had not read the whole Bible!! I finally set down one year and did it. I have to tell you it was just reading and it did not have much of an impact on me.   I have learned that there needs to be this desire to Learn about the History in the Old Testament and a Hunger to learn about Jesus in the New Testament. If I read from this aspect it has a life changing impact on me.
3. I must sit down and have a set quiet time during the day to pray and study!!   I have to tell you that when I do this, I normally fall to sleep. I personally have learned to take Prayer Walks and focus on Praying throughout the day – and then set down during the day when times are calmer and read.   It works for me…

As you can see – there is a perception that I put upon myself that did not work – I needed to have a desire and passion to do each of these.   The more my Relationship grows with Jesus – the more the Holy Spirit supplies the emotions that are life changing.
 
In the book Grace Walk on the back of the cover it has a note:

Nothing you have ever done, nothing you could ever do, will match the incomparable joy of letting Jesus live His life through you. It is what makes the fire of passion burn so brightly in new believers. And it is what causes the light of contentment to dance in the eyes of mature believers who have learned the secret of Grace Walk.

AMEN!!!!
**Now do not get me wrong – there will be trials as we live the Christian Life, but we must always remember that Jesus is there walking and directing us through it all. Remember to let the Holy Spirit guide you as you go forward……  When we walk in Obedience to Jesus – contentment comes.
Bobbyg
 

I have been on vacation with my Grandkids for a couple of weeks and we included their parents on one of the weeks – LOL.   If you are a Papa or Nana you will understand that joy is in being with grandkids.
 
About a month ago Pastor Shaun was sharing his vision of what our church should look like and it came from:

Acts 2:42 > The Fellowship of the Believers:    They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

There are four parts to the vision of what the church should look like.

• Teaching

• Fellowship

• Breaking of Bread

• Prayer

 
I took these teaching and really looked at how I could incorporate them into my daily living and also looking at how they can be included into the GMM Team. So as I was looking back on my vacation with my Grandkids I pondered on how each of these were present in our time together.   The Breaking of Bread was easy – we ate together allot and enjoyed our conversations at each of them.   Prayer is something we may have missed more than usual but my grandkids pray at meals using the Alphabet.  We stayed at a mountain resort so I enjoyed some great prayer walks.
But there is one story that I would like to share on Teaching and Fellowship.   While we were visiting my youngest son in Spearfish my daughter in-law had one of those GEO Cash programs on her phone so we decided to go find one. It had a hint of magnetic and the coordinates will take you to within a few feet of the GEO Marker.   Well it took us to this bench along the Spearfish River where there was a couple sitting and no one wanted to bother them. So we searched everywhere else but the correct spot….
 
    “Now comes the question: “How do you meet people you do not know?”  Some people avoid making any contact with strangers and never get to really know the people around them and there are others that find a way to connect – “Fellowship with people”.
 
I am not one to be overly bold about meeting others around me – but this couple was sitting on our GEO Cash – so I took the chance at meeting a stranger. I have to tell you, they were really pleasant about meeting us and we had a great talk. When we explained to them that they may be sitting on our adventurous find – they let us look….   It was there….. They were as excited as us. WOW
 
My grandkids came to me and said Papa everyone says that we should have left them alone… My response to them was:  “If we had never met them then they would not have gotten to enjoy the adventure with us”. There are times that we should not interrupt a stranger, but the Holy Spirit is there to guide us at the moments when we can. This was a great moment…
 
So looking at the four aspects of Acts 2:42 >

How do you incorporate them into your life?

Do you Fellowship with People in front of you?

Are you listening to the Holy Spirit when he says to go and say HI?

 
Bobbyg

Today my wife shared an article with me that she found on Facebook that she really wanted me to see…   As usual it took a while for her to get me pass my Hmmmm’s and Uhmmmmm’s to get me to pay attention to what she wanted to show me.   I complained about the Web site being to slow and probably messing up our computer and then she got discouraged and walked off.   (OK – I did it again – I did not pay attention).
Well after getting the article into a format that I could read and concentrate on, she was right (don’t tell her that) – this is a great article on the battle for our Wife’s. The author wrote down a list of vows that he was going to work on. Below is his article…   I have underlined a few of them that I liked… but I really need to work on some of the others….     Enjoy the article…   Bobbyg
 
Fighting For My Wife: By Timothy Willard  –  You will need to read the whole article to understand why he wrote these vows  – so please look it up (http://www.timothywillard.com/)
So, I vow …

• To love big, and stay small. Doing what I need to do to keep the humility of Christ ever in my heart.
• To get off my devices and be present for my wife and children.
• To let her see me turn away from images I know my heart can’t handle.
• To guard my heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
• To get into the wilderness regularly. Not just with dudes, but with God. (This is a must for men – Bobbyg)
• To seek quiet, stillness, and solitude. To let it breathe through me and into my household.
• To show my ladies the value in a good fire, a yummy s’more, and a terrifying ghost story.
• To not give in to the rat-race of busy-ness, and be home—not just sitting around, but doing, building, playing, laughing, failing, singing, cooking, loving.
• To work harder at being a husband and dad than I do at my job.
• To let the blows of God mold me. For when I am in his hands, I am my best self.
• To make play with my girls and wife more important than watching football.
• To never let my mind get weak by the amusement and entertainment the world flings at me on an hourly basis.
• To be active in my church.
• To spiritually pastor and lead my household by initiating times of prayer, Bible reading, and worship.
• To let praise, to God and to my ladies, be ever on my lips.
• To try new things so that I will never stagnate.
• To give my wife every opportunity to shine: in her home, in front of her daughters, in front of her friends, in front of her parents.
• To buy her that expensive chair, and then sit with her in quiet, reading praying, and dreaming.
• To defer whatever power I might think I have to God, and to my wife.
• To not fuss over things that don’t matter. Like where we eat after church, or what should hang on the wall, or what movie to watch.
• To live as a shield for my wife and pixies—to take on pain, so they won’t have to.
• To let my wife know I live, laugh, and sleep with the real Wonder Woman. J
• To empower my wife’s gifts with my own.
• To let her see me cry. (Really tough one for me – Bobbyg)

 

• To kiss her just because.
• To kiss her again, just because.
• And again.
• To be honest, to seek truth, but always with a spirit of love and encouragement.
• To have the French Press hot when she walks down the stairs.
• To let her know how much I learn from her.
• To rub her arm in church.
• To confess to her during communion.
• To speak to her with a heavenly tone, and with words that make the angels cry with jealousy.
• To be a warrior-poet for my girls—by setting standards, not just rules, by warding off culture’s constant voice with the sword of my imagination, and by winning the fight for their hearts with a holiness I seek like silver.
• To YAWP for my wife; in triumph, in pain, in ecstasy, so we never forget the ferocity of life, and the God who makes it so.
• To die. To my self. To my passions. To my lust. Over and over. As many times as it takes.

My wife and I watched a movie on Pure Flix last night called Gabriel about a young boy walking into a town that had lost hope.   The young boy was the Angel Gabriel and he was coming to help them get hope back to their town dressed as a young boy with a prayer mat. His biggest solution to bringing back hope was to have a group of ladies make Prayer mats for everyone in town.   It was the life saver for the town that was lost when they got back on their knees and then hope came back.
 
This reminded me of a comment that my pastor Shaun made last week about when he calls for a Prayer Meeting – very few people will show up. He has to name it something else to get people to come together to Pray.
Our GMM Team led by Lester L. have selected a day to Pray for the City of Cheyenne on the 12^th of every month.   Today only 3 guys showed up to pray for our city – this is sad. One of the most important and powerful actions we can do is pray……..   If we are called to only pray as a group one day a month and avoid it because of inconvenience (this is my explanation to why men do not come) – then what is going to happen to our city if we are not talking to GOD?
** If you would like to join us on the 12th of each month please let me know – it is a very powerful and moving time.
 
I would like to share a song from Reba McEntire that explains “A call to Pray!! –  we have to get down on our Knees…   The name of the song is “Back To God”.

[button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9q-08aTNh8″ type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] A Call to Pray[/button]

Here is a portion of lyrics and they are powerful – I cannot say much more than what Reba has said in this song.

Oh have you looked around

Have you heard the sound

Of Mama’s cryin’

Or do you turn away

When you see the face

Of the innocent dyin’

In these darkest days

Are you not afraid

That it’s too late

 

You gotta get down on your knees, believe

Fold your hands and beg and plead

Gotta keep on praying

You gotta cry, rain tears of pain

Pound the floor and scream His name

‘Cause we’re still worth saving

Can’t go on like this and live like this

We can’t love like this

We gotta give this world back to God

 

Have you lost a love?

Do you feel like givin’ up?

Has your heart been broken?

Are your kids okay?

Will they come home safe?

Do you lie there hoping?

You can make a wish, you can knock on wood

Oh it won’t do no good

 

You gotta get down on your knees, believe

Fold your…

        
Bobbyg
 
 

Pastor Shaun has been teaching from the book of Acts at the present time and last week’s sermon was about the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost.   The men were filled with the Holy Spirit and were able to speak in every nation’s language and this caused some confusion…   In verse 12 its states:
Acts 2:12 > Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
In my study Bible it explains the situation like this:

“When the gathered crowd recognized that something supernatural was taking place, they naturally wanted an explanation. At this point, Peter stepped forward and explained the truth about God. This should be the pattern in our lives as well. Hopefully we are living in such a way that people will see Christ in us. If we do shine and sparkle and if we are “salty”, we will get the attention of others. They will surely want to know what is so attractive and different about us. Then we can explain our “hope”.        What is different about your Life? What supernatural evidence would cause someone to stop you and say? “What does this mean?””

   I really liked this explanation of what was happening and it made me question myself to see if people would have the same reaction to my life. Would they see Jesus working through me in such a way that they would question what is different about me?
 
I have shared this in one of my blogs a long time ago about one of my encounters while I was working for the Post Office, but I would like to share it once more.   I was working at the Post Office in Green River and the employee I was working with mentioned someone who shared their faith allot. He did not like it and then asked me if I was one of those “Jesus Freaks”? This hit me really hard because he did not know.   If I had been living my life the way I should have, this question should have never been asked.”   My life should have reflected Jesus in such a way that I could have shared my hope that I have in Him.                             Never again will I be asked that question.
I am still in the molding process to become the person that shines around others so that they will see Jesus working in me.   As I go forward I am becoming bolder in my faith so that someday the question that will be asked of me is:    “What does that mean?”
 

So what does your walk with Jesus look like to others that you come in contact with?

Will they ask the question: “What does that mean?”

Bobbyg
 
 

In the last several months I have heard of different Pastors and Lay people describing what their vision is.

1. Pastor Jason’s vision about a Christian Community.
2. Pastor Tracy in helping the poor.
3. Pastor Jeff taking some time off to enhance his vision.
4. Jim S. in mentoring young men.
5. Bob W. in connecting with our elected officials.
6. Me in leaving a smile on everyone I encounter.

My vision is something that I have been working on for a while and it is one that when I encounter someone I would like to leave them with a smile. If I am at a business that uses name tags I make an effort to identify that person my name – this is something really simple but it can make a big impact on people when you make a connection with them.
 
I looked up the Definition of Vision and here are a couple of the meanings:

• The act or power of sensing with the eyes; sight.
• The act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: Prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.
• An experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency:

 
Vision is an important part of our future and what we do – I found this explanation that is very helpful in coming up with a vision in a 3 step process.
“Vision is knowing who you are, where you’re going and what will guide your journey.” By Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner

• Who you are – is your purpose
• Where you’re going – is your picture of the future
• What will guide your journey – are your values

 

So what is your Vision?

Are you looking at the future to see what impact you can have with it?

 

Bobbyg

I was at a Men’s Retreat this last weekend (I like to call them a Men’s Advances – but that is just a preference) – but back to the Retreat. The speaker’s main topic was about the Holy Spirit and how we receive it snd but then how it works within our personal lives. This reminded me of one the GMM Conferences “Driven by the Power of the Holy Spirit” so I was excited to hear what the speaker had to share.
The part that I really enjoyed was how the Spirit works within us after we have received him into our Hearts. One of the major attributes of the Spirit is to tell us what Truth is.   A question was asked if feeling guilty was the same thing and the answer was Yes.   The Spirit works within us to help us identify what is right or wrong.
 
I had to learn the hard way about allowing the Spirit to work with in me.  I had quenched the Spirit’s power by some garbage that I had allowed to build up within me and it had been there for about 20 years.   I had to let it go. I would like to share more about this, but it would take too long – so please send me an email and I will gladly set down over coffee to visit.   I have to tell you that when my heart had been cleared it got scary – it was like this loud voice inside of me started directing and molding me. There were times that I actually looked around to see if someone else was with me….
That is when the theme of our GMM Conference “Driven by the Power of the Holy Spirit” became active for me. Just to give you a couple of examples on what happened to me are:

1. I was driving home from a business trip up north in Wyoming and the closer I got to Cheyenne a voice was telling me that I needed to talk to a specific person on an issue. This issue did not even involve me – so my answer was No – Not my problem. The voice became louder so I finally said if I go there and he is at his desk I will do it.   When I got there the person was not at his desk – he was at the front door with open arms (We Talked).
2. Then several times during my travels throughout Wyoming I would pass by cars at the side of the road and keep going – not my problem.   Now when I would pass the promptings would speak so loud that I would have to turn around and go back. Every time that I did this the people I encountered had been waiting a very long time for someone to stop.   I learned fast that when prompted to stop  I just needed to do it – it takes time to drive back 10 miles to be obedient.  I do have times when I go by and know it is OK…  **On one special occasion the people stated  “you must be a Christian – we have been praying for someone to stop” – They had been waiting a long time and no one was stopping. WOW

 
The Holy Spirit has an important role in our lives and we need to clear the junk in our hearts so that He can speak to us.   It is a powerful tool that we need to have working in us…

Have you cleared your Heart for the Promptings of the Holy Spirit?

Are you being Driven by the Power of the Holy Spirit?

Can you hear His voice when He Speaks?

Bobbyg
***Pray to be empowered by the Holy Spirit Daily or even several times a Day – it will be amazing what happens.

I woke up yesterday just feeling this calmness that can only come from a Great Relationship with Christ.   It was a morning of listening to some Worship songs that really got me going in the morning.   The song that really inspired me was one by Crowder…. Listen and enjoy as I did (Lyrics at the bottom of the page).
Forgiven (Crowder):   [button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ZWEO36jok” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Forgiven[/button]
The song talks about all the failures that I do to mess up a great relationship but that Christ still forgives me in the end.   I cannot think of a greater Relationship and this is where my freedom comes from.   This is the way I should start every morning – on my knees..
 
Then the morning took me to one of my most favorite artists: “Carman” – I have set up my last celebration with a few of his songs.   I just need to talk my wife into it since I am not going to be here. LOL     But this should be my response after having a great start of a morning…   enjoy this one also:  This is a song that reminds me of my Dad (who is in Heaven now) and we played it at his last celebration.
I will serve the Lord: (Carmen)  [button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6T96RQjW8k” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] I will serve the Lord[/button]
 

So how has your morning started?

Did you start your relationship with Christ in a great way?

What gets you going first thing in the morning?   Prayer? Worship Songs?

Remember there is freedom in a Great Relationship!

 
Bobbyg
 

I’m the one who held the nail

It was cold between my fingertips

I’ve hidden in the garden

I’ve denied You with my very lips

God, I fall down to my knees

with a hammer in my hand

You look at me, arms open

Forgiven! Forgiven!

Child there is freedom from all of it

Say goodbye to every sin

You are forgiven!

I’ve done things I wish I hadn’t done

I’ve seen things I wish I hadn’t seen

Just the thought of Your amazing grace

And I cry ”Jesus, forgive me!”

God, I fall down to my knees

with a hammer in my hand

You look at me, arms open

Forgiven! Forgiven!

Child there is freedom from all of it

Say goodbye to every sin

You are forgiven!

I could’ve been six feet under

I could’ve been lost forever

Yeah I should be in that fire

But now there’s fire inside of me

Here I am a dead man walking

No grave gonna hold God’s people

All the weight of all our evil

Lifted away forever free

Who could believe, who could believe?

Forgiven! Forgiven!

You love me even when I don’t deserve it

Forgiven! I’m Forgiven!

Jesus Your blood makes me innocent

So I will say goodbye to every sin

I am forgiven!

Forgiven! Forgiven!

Child there is freedom from all of it

Say goodbye to every sin

You are forgiven!

 
 

Several of my conversations recently have included the reference to Prayer: Please pray for this issue in my life – Pray for our Leaders – Pray for my family – Pray for our City.   This is a powerful tool that Christians have and it must be part of my daily routine.
I googled “The Power of Prayer” and it came up with this meaning:
Question: “What is the power of prayer?”
Answer: The idea that power is inherent in prayer is a very popular one. According to the Bible, the power of prayer is, quite simply, the power of God, who hears and answers prayer.
Then it came up with several verses about Prayer – here are a few of them:

• Mark 9:29 and he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

• Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

• James 5:14-16 is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

 
There were several other verses, but I will let you look them up.   But throughout the Bible it will reference that Prayer is a powerful tool that is there for us to take ahold of.
 
I know that I struggle in disciplining myself in having a regular prayer time or as the Bible says that I must be doing it continually.   I have to discipline myself to come up with a prayer life that Christ would like me to have and it is an act of Obedience that I must achieve.  I have several different ways that I have created to help me in my prayer life. I have 2 war rooms (you will have to watch the movie “War Room”) and I go on Prayer walks (My favorite).   There are also a couple of groups that I meet with just for the purpose of praying and this helps allot. I am still working on getting to a consistent Prayer Life in my daily routine and the more I do it – the better it gets.   Tapping into “The Power of Prayer” has been extremely helpful for me and sometimes this is my only tool in meeting the issues of the day.  I have to understand that  “God is in control and I must let Him do His work in His timing”.  During my Prayer walks I am in Worship for Him being there with me – it is GREAT.
So what are you doing to Connect with “The Power of Prayer”.

Have you set aside a specific time to Pray?

Do you have a War Room for Prayer?

Who do you Pray with?

Bobbyg