A friend of mine (Steve CZ) suggested a book that I might enjoy reading “The Way Back: How Christians Blew our Credibility and how we get it back”. He was right I really enjoyed it and it challenged me in several areas.
The first part of the book went back to the beginning of how we became Christians and what they did to have an impact on the World.   Basically they did not try to impose their beliefs on others but were an example of what Life should be like.   They met the needs of all of those around them so that people looked and knew there was something different about them that they wanted.   They also suffered for their beliefs.

They were examples of Christians who loved and served.

     The book gives seven examples of what we as Christians can do to get back our credibility and live the example of what a Christian life should look like. We need to just not talk the talk but actually live the talk.
The Seven S’s

1.  Surrender:

·       Is Jesus really the number one Priority in my Life?

·       What are examples?

·       How often this week have I allowed outside distractions to become my first priority?

2.  Scripture:

·       How many times this week have I spent significant time in the Word of God? Is that amount of time growing as time goes by?

·       How often do I explore Scripture for answers before I consult other sources?

·       Am I reading randomly, or do I have a structured guide to help me study?

3.  Submission:

·       Am I honestly submitted to the authority of Scripture?

·       Do I respect and submit to my Pastor’s authority?

·       Am I submitted to my spouse and family?

4.  Service:

·       How do my actions reflect my faith?

·       What have I done this week for someone who could never pay me back?

·       Do I have any friends who can do absolutely nothing for me?

·       Do my nonbelieving friends notice that there is something different about my life?

5.  Sacrifice:

·       Is there anything in my life that has a stronger hold on me than Jesus?

·       Would I be willing to answer God’s call even if I knew it meant losing everything?

·       When was the last time I fasted or gave up something important in exchange for finding a deeper relationship with God?

6.  Simplicity:

·       Do material things have the right priority in my life?

·       Does work, food, alcohol, hobbies, possessions, or anything else stand between me and God?

·       What can I give up that might be a distraction from loving others?

·       What does my bank account say about my Christian life?

7.  Suffering:

·       How often am I sharing my faith with others?

·       Have I done anything this week to help those being persecute in other places?

As you can see that I bolded one item out of each of the Seven S’s that I would like to work on.   I would ask that you to do the same…. and maybe buy the book and read it.
Bobbyg

Our Tuesday night Men’s study we have been going over the book “The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus” and we covered Chapter 7 this week (Stand Your Ground).   I have to tell you this was a convicting chapter for me and I questioned myself if I was in a tough situation would I Make a Stand.
In this chapter he talks about one of David’s most trusted men – Shammah.   Here is the verse.

2^nd Samuel 23: 11 & 12 > Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

As you can see when Israel’s troops were fleeing Shammah  made a stand and defeated the Philistines.   This must have been really hard to watch all the warriors you are fighting next to flee and leave you by yourself.
So this has challenged me to look at what is really important to me that I need to make a Stand on even if it means that I will be in Danger.   Shammah took his stand knowing that there was a good possibility that he would die.   I also have to be willing to make that stand on my own even if the warriors fighting the battle with me refuse to stand beside me.
Making a stand for me could be:

1. Telling my sons about the need for Jesus in their lives.
2. In today’s world we are encouraged to be Politically Correct – I need to make a stand against this when it contradicts what the teachings of the Bible.
3. When I need to be bold and just share my faith.

This is just a small list for me and it and not too dangerous – my list is longer by the way.   I do not have to be as courageous as Shammah but it is a list that I need to stand for.   I just need to start working on my fears and start making a STAND to overcome those fears.

So where do you need to make a Stand?

Have you got a list you can work on?

Bobbyg

I went to Spearfish SD this weekend to visit with my youngest son and we attended his church.   Pastor Steve preached on ‘Suffering for God” and utilized the passage that we all enjoy.   You know the one about being glad in your suffering – It is one of those hard passages that is difficult to live up to.   I do know that when you are going through those hard times it helps to be positive through the experience and it helps those who surround us.
Here are the verses: 1 Peter 4:12-19 >

Suffering for Being a Christian

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Pastor Steve shared a couple of other verses that helped..

• Acts 14:22 > strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
• Philippians 1:29 > If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Pastor Steve did finish with an uplifting line:   “Through are suffering this will put us exactly where I am supposed to be. God I working through me…..”
 
I do not know what you are going through at this time – it may be:

1. A death in the family.
2. A family member or friend who is really sick.
3. Someone who has betrayed you.
4. Financial difficulty.
5. Someone close who is having problems with drug, alcohol or some other type of addiction.

**The list goes on.   **Some of these are current to me.
I would tell you to listen to the words from Peter above and remember God has a purpose and will get you through it. Peter is speaking from experience…  I do have to remember to be Positive when I am going through the molding process and know that when it is accomplished I will be much stronger.
Bobbyg

I was reading an article in this morning’s paper titled “Can your family handle a day without complaints?” by Danny Tyree.     I really had to think about that – Could my family handle a day of just being positive or can I handle a day of just being positive.     The article was a fun read (you can read it at the bottom).
I do have to confess that the reason this article got my attention is that I have noticed in the last couple of months that I have been more negative than positive.   I have been complaining about:

1. The Wind is blowing too much and I want to walk more outside.
2. My boys play to many video games.
3. My brother is recovering from a Knee replacement and he is not doing his rehab correctly.
4. The team is not doing what I want them to do.

***My list can go on for a very long time….
 
So when I read this it convicted me into start having more days of being positive and stop complaining………..
I looked up some scripture to help me correct my behavior – here the are:

• Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
• Romans 12:2  do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect
• Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things
• Ephesians 4:31-32  let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
• Matthew 15:11  It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
• Proverbs 15:1  a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
•                            ****There were several more verses but you are getting the point…. It is extremely helpful to look up scripture when I want to have a day of being Positive and eliminate all my complaints….   We will see how it works tomorrow, I have already blown it today and this week.

 

So I encourage you to take the challenge of no complaints and being positive for a whole day…   Then a week – then a month – all the time…

Bobbyg

“Can your family handle a day without complaints?”

Did you notice that Thomas Lickona recently adapted a portion of his book “How to Raise Kind Kids” into the online Time magazine article “How to Raise Grateful Kids in An Era of Thankless People”?
My own son Gideon is a gentle, cheerful, kindhearted lad; but I set aside the time to read the essay because I realize he is still a work in progress.
Even though Gideon has mostly outgrown the “This is the worst day of my life” tantrums, he is still prone to swiping my French fries, neglecting “thank you” notes, delivering perfunctory prayers (“Thank you for our food and our beds. Amen”), procrastinating about his burdensome chores (which require half a hand of fingers to count) and whining about clothes shopping trips that last longer than unlacing the left shoe.
Among the suggestions in Lickona’s essay was to take “the no-complaints challenge.” In this exercise, everyone in the family must agree to go 24 hours without complaining about anything.
Raising the issue of going cold turkey on negative vibes can stir up a storm of discord all by itself. (“Did someone say something about ‘cold turkey?’ Is the microwave busted again? Didn’t that thing come from the Pilrgrims’ yard sale? The neighbors have a new kitchen and a new car, and probably Paula Deen and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to manage those necessities for them …”)
Yes, if you’re going to plunge into smiley faces and fortitude instead of slowly weaning your family from self-centered habits, you need to find ways to lessen the shock. You might want to set the mood by streaming something like “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or “Man, they said we better accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch onto the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.”
Your little cherubs will probably gush an enthusiastic pronouncement such as, “I’m so glad that Bobby McFerrin and Johnny Mercer aren’t here to get their feelings hurt when I crank up Black Sabbath to drown out their music!”
Break out all those uplifting posters, such as “If you can’t say something nice about suppertime telemarketing calls, the Washington, D.C., swamp, Fluffy’s hairballs and the creepy neighbor boy with the binoculars, don’t say anything at all.”
Of course, a little common sense is required if a family is to go all-positive. Or when the kids laugh about the 24-hour “ordeal” afterward, they’ll say something like, “Ha! Ha! I wanted to complain about that suspicious-looking mosquito crawling up your arm, but I just zipped my lip and went to my happy place.”
Classmates and teachers will notice a changed attitude in youngsters who have learned to eliminate their egocentric bellyaching. (“What do you want to be, Johnny — the class president or the captain of the football team?” “Nah, I wanna be a Stepford Wife.”)
I just hope that complaint-free days can be the beginning of a lifetime of putting things into perspective. If, instead, they become like Lent, followed by an outpouring of pent-up desire, things could get nasty.
“Why does the sun have to come up so early? Why does it have to be 93 million miles away? Why does it have to possess a mass 330,000 times that of Earth? Why does it have be a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, with internal convective motion that generates a magnetic field via a dynamo process???”
Danny welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol.com and visits to his Facebook fan page “Tyree’s Tyrades.” Danny’s weekly column distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc. newspaper syndicate.
 

I finally watched the Musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” last night – I cannot remember seeing it in the 70’s, I suppose I was one of those kids that their parents refused to let them watch it. After watching it I would have to say that I probably am not a big fan of it and one of the major reasons is that it was unfinished.   **No resurrection….
My wife helped me understand the impact that this musical had in the 70’s. This was during the hippie revolution and when the musical was played it started a Jesus Movement that was unexpected. Allot of the people who watched it wanted to know more about this Jesus and what He was about. The Jesus Freak movement started… By the way I enjoy being called a Jesus Freak even today.   So I am hoping that it has the same impact today.
 

          I was moved by a few parts of the Musical…

1. Jesus was a person who loved people and when it came time to be crucified you could see the anguish that he went through as he went through the process of going to the cross. Very moving….. And through it all His major concern was doing the will of His Father.
2. Peter’s response to denying Jesus 3 times showed what an impact it had on his feelings after he had done what was prophesied.  Very repentant afterwards.
3. Mary Magdalene:   I did question what they were trying to show as a relationship between her and Jesus – But throughout the Musical she was trying to understand why her life had changed so much and what was this deep new feeling that was inside of her….
4. Judas – I have heard but do not know that he was saved when he died. I enjoyed the fact that if he was saved, in the end he was worshiping Jesus in a powerful way. This was a new light on seeing the character of Judas.

 

So after watching this I had to ask myself.

1. When I go through a major crisis in my life and through all the anguish: Do I make sure that I am in the will of God?
2. As Peter I have blown it several times but am I repentant of what I have done and changed my life as Peter had done.
3. Do I feel that change in my life and know where it is coming from? The Holy Spirit works in all of us in a powerful way.
4. Am I worshiping God with the same passion as Judas did at the end of the Musical?

 
Bobbyg

If you have not seen the movie it is a must. This is a powerful movie on Forgiveness – how Christ can change even the hardest hearts – Grace – Not giving up – and more…….
When the movie was over you could see the impact it had on the people who attended…. allot of the audience did not want to leave and did stay and visit for a few minutes with those who were there.

Enjoy the following Video’s:

Movie Clip:  [button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsMyv9Q4_OU” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Movie clip on I can only imagine[/button]

Song by Mercy me:  [button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_lrrq_opng” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”]I can only imagine[/button]

 
It would be great to post some of your comments on what you thought of the movie:    gmmgodsmightymen@yahoo.com
Bobbyg

I am attending a Men’s study on Tuesday night and we are reading the book “The Last Arrow” by Erwin McManus. Last night we had a great discussion on the first chapter and there is one part of the Chapter that talks about the Prophet Elisha sharing his wisdom with the king Jehoash.  Elisha was telling the king what it would take to be successful.   Read the story below.

2 Kings 13: 14>20 Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.” Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.” Elisha died and was buried.

 
The wisdom that Elisha passed on was an act of Obedience on the part of King Jehoash and the king did in great on the first portion of the instructions.   Now when he was told to strike the ground with his arrows that is when he lost the full blessings of God.
Our discussion was. How many times would I have struck my arrows to the ground? I have to tell you that I may have done what the king did – it did not make sense and a few times would have been enough.   When God is calling on us to do something – how many times do we just go far enough?   I believe God is calling us to go farther and not stopping at a point that is comfortable.
The first chapter talks about being Average and how comfortable we become by not going farther.   We like that spot of being average when God is calling us to be extraordinary.
 
A couple of quotes from the Chapter are:

1. We are to shoot and strike, but we are what we are not to do is stop.
2. I wonder how many times in my own life I thought I failed but actually the only thing that happened was that I quit.
3. We are living a life that is uniquely our own.

So I am back to the original question:  

How many times would you strike your Arrows?

Bobbyg
 
 

I would like to do one more tribute to Billy Graham… If you did not see the special on Fox this last Sunday please take some time to watch it here minus commercials.
Billy Graham remembered  
[button link=”https://billygraham.org/video/a-life-remembered/” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Billy Graham Remembered[/button]
Then Bob W.  sent me a fun interview of Billy Graham with Woody Allen…
[button link=”https://youtu.be/-BEa_DqbEYE” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Billy Graham and Woody Allen interview[/button]
I hope you have enjoyed all the articles about the life of Billy Graham…
Bobbyg

I am going to devote this blog Reverend Billy Graham – he was one of the most influential evangelist of all times. He will be remembered…
This week at Church we had a Special Speaker – Pastor Shaun invited Billy Graham to speak. It was a sermon that he did in 1957 (I was only 2 years old) and his message had as much relevance today as it did back then.  It was a powerful talk on what it looks like to be a Christian.
 
My wife and I came up with several of our Favorites on Billy Graham – here is a small glimpse of what we have enjoyed reading.

1. One of Billy Graham’s quotes about Death: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”
2. Billy Graham’s Entrance into his library: “The Entrance to the Library is a shape of a cross, a visual reminder to visitors that it is only through the Cross of Christ that we can be reconciled to God”.
3. Billy Graham’s Coffin: Inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola made this treated plywood casket for the Rev. Billy Graham in 2006, at the request of Graham’s son, Franklin. Graham, who died Feb. 21, led ministries that supported the construction of two chapels at the country’s largest maximum security prison.
4. Billy Graham’s son (Franklin) stated that a couple of years ago his father said that he would have liked to do one more sermon on this verse: Galatians 6:14 > May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
5. Here are a couple of his sayings that inspired Diane and me:

• “My one purpose in life, is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”
• “I have never know a man who received Christ and ever regretted it”
• “Some of you today are going through heartache and grief so intense that you wonder if it will ever go away. But I want to tell you that our God cares for you and for your family and for your city. For God loves you, and he shares in your suffering.”

I would hope that when our last day’s come that we can be remembered in the same way as Billy Graham will be remembered.

A follower of Christ!

 
Bobbyg

Today my wife and I got up at 04:00am to take a friend of hers who lives in Longmont to DIA.   When we left it was a negative 12 Degrees outside and the roads were somewhat icy most of the way. Then we had to deal with the Denver rush hour and on the way home there were about 12 vehicles in the ditch that slowed down the traffic.   When we got home it was time to take a nap.
After getting up I read the newspaper and in the Letters to the Editor there it was: an article named “Look around and realize that today is a good day”. (Do they know what my day was like!!!!!)
I would like to share the Article by “Win Ratz”:

Today is a good day…….   Someone smiled as we passed each other at the library. – The heavy, gray clouds parted, and the sun came out. – Our neighbor cleared our driveway of snow. – A friend called, and my day was lighter. – A neighbor refilled her bird feeder today. – I called an old friend who is sick. We laughed about shared memories, and were lifted up to a brighter place. – Two little girls came to our door selling Girl Scout cookies. We choose our favorites and the girls went happily on to the next house. –

“Today is a good day…..”

 
It made me realize that a bad day like mine is only because I look at the day through the wrong colored glasses. As Pastor Shaun stated in his talk at the Interfaith Prayer breakfast we need to look at the World through rose colored glasses and see Jesus shining. That is what this person did and it brightened their day.   So now I am looking at my day a little different today… Here it is:

1. We were able to help a friend get to the DIA and really enjoyed our talk.
2. We did not have an accident and got home safe.
3. I cleaned my walk and then went down to the neighbors and got to visit with a couple of the guys.
4. The sun has come out and it is a really bright day.
5. My sister is coming over for a visit – well maybe that isn’t too good LOL…   nah we had a great talk.

As you can see we should have a good day every day – we just need to set our minds on being positive….

So remember – Today is a GOOD DAY!

Remember that with Jesus you can never have a bad day!

 
Bobbyg