At the end of my 4-mile run last night, I reached into my pocket and found a hole instead of my house keys. I calmly determined if any door or windows were left unlock and when my daughter would return home. Back tracking the steps of my run seemed like the most practical thing to do, so I set out on an adventure.
During my first few steps I asked God to help me find my keys. I knew that re-walking the 4 miles was a little ridiculous and wondered if God would be interested enough to guide me to success. Suddenly another thought popped into my mind: what if someone found my keys, would God take me to the place where I lost it, even though the person with their own free will might have picked up the keys and walked away?
The mental gymnastics I played in my mind helped me realize that the experience was going to be a spiritual one. It would determine if my faith was strong enough to trust that God was interested in the little insignificant details of my life.
I came to a crossroads a block from my house where the path I ran intersected itself. It was a point of decision. I wondered if God wanted me to go right or left. Could I hear the soft-spoken voice of the Spirit guide me or not? The left side was the logical choice and my emotions were in agreement, yet I felt drawn to the right and started walking the path.
After a few steps of not knowing for sure if I was following the Spirit, I thought it would be more prudent to turn around and take the left path, so I did. Second-guessing myself was amusing and it made me feel like a little indecisive kid. To bring an end to my foolishness, I decided to trust in God’s sovereignty and continued down the left path, only to return back to the same intersection.
It was time to explore the right path and I wondered if I would eventually find my keys. After all, tracing back over 4 miles to find a small set of keys that could have bounced anywhere was not practical, but deep down inside I knew that God was going to help me.
After another mile of walking, I saw a group of kids headed toward me and the one called out, “Are you missing any keys?” A smile came upon my face and I reached out to receive the keys. It was a miracle and I desired to bless the boy. Pride swelled up in his heart as I thanked him for being a responsible and honest person. I could tell it was the only praise he had received in a long time and he soaked it in with a big smile on his face.
As I headed home with keys in hand, I realized that if I had taken the right-hand path from the start, I may have found my keys before the boy arrived. He would have missed out on being a blessing to me and receiving back a blessing for himself.
It turns out that I had heard the gentle voice of the Spirit earlier and taking the longer route didn’t hinder God’s plan. He was still able to lead me to my keys and in His providence put me in front of a boy who needed a blessing.
I didn’t have to struggle with hearing or not hearing God’s voice, as He had already planned for the moment. I could rest comfortably knowing that God would work everything out in my life for His glory, my good and the good of others he wanted to bless.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Shared Experiences Heal
There is a genuine solace in the shared experiences of others.
~Lee Woodruff
I was devastated this week by news that turned my stomach into a spaghetti bowl of sorrow. It was similar in impact to when I received news about my father dieing in a plane crash or when my ex-wife asked for a divorce – events that brought forth uncontrollable tears in my life.
Accompanying each event were feelings of my heart being ripped to shreds and there was nothing I could do about it, save for one experience. This weak I responded differently and saw a faster healing process engaged into my life. Oh, I’m not through it yet, but I can already see signs of healing taking shape.
It took me about 6 years to get past my dad’s unexpected death, especially since the fire required a closed casket and we couldn’t really say goodbye. The divorce took me several years to recover from as well, but this time I can already sense my healing won’t take multiple years. The difference, I confided in a close trusted friend.
Lee Woodruff was right about finding solace in the shared experiences of others. Not only did I have the opportunity to share my deepest feelings with someone who could keep it confidential, but he also shared equally with me his related experiences, giving me hope in my emotional recovery.
I’m confident that the reason Woodruff got it right was due to his philosophy being based on a Kingdom principle.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
The intimacy shared with another man can go very deep when both are committed to keeping confidences for the other. I could find no deeper bond than the one between David and Jonathan in the scriptures. They shared the deepest of heartfelt secrets and were both blessed. The blessings were sufficient enough to cause David to bless Jonathan’s household to the next generation.
Finding a trusted friend, who is willing to listen and then share his heart equally, will take time. The blessings you receive from the friendship will be life changing and last for decades to come. Be of good courage my friends and find another man who you can share your deepest thoughts with and not feel any sense of rejection.
~Lee Woodruff
I was devastated this week by news that turned my stomach into a spaghetti bowl of sorrow. It was similar in impact to when I received news about my father dieing in a plane crash or when my ex-wife asked for a divorce – events that brought forth uncontrollable tears in my life.
Accompanying each event were feelings of my heart being ripped to shreds and there was nothing I could do about it, save for one experience. This weak I responded differently and saw a faster healing process engaged into my life. Oh, I’m not through it yet, but I can already see signs of healing taking shape.
It took me about 6 years to get past my dad’s unexpected death, especially since the fire required a closed casket and we couldn’t really say goodbye. The divorce took me several years to recover from as well, but this time I can already sense my healing won’t take multiple years. The difference, I confided in a close trusted friend.
Lee Woodruff was right about finding solace in the shared experiences of others. Not only did I have the opportunity to share my deepest feelings with someone who could keep it confidential, but he also shared equally with me his related experiences, giving me hope in my emotional recovery.
I’m confident that the reason Woodruff got it right was due to his philosophy being based on a Kingdom principle.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
The intimacy shared with another man can go very deep when both are committed to keeping confidences for the other. I could find no deeper bond than the one between David and Jonathan in the scriptures. They shared the deepest of heartfelt secrets and were both blessed. The blessings were sufficient enough to cause David to bless Jonathan’s household to the next generation.
Finding a trusted friend, who is willing to listen and then share his heart equally, will take time. The blessings you receive from the friendship will be life changing and last for decades to come. Be of good courage my friends and find another man who you can share your deepest thoughts with and not feel any sense of rejection.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Man or Wimp?
According to society, during the 60s and 70s man’s level of macho-ness defined him. During the 80s and 90s, being in touch with ones “feminine side” defined manhood. At the turn of the century, man’s level of assertiveness versus aggressiveness defined him.
Throughout all decades, men weren’t really defined by the ebb and flow of society, but by their own actions.
Proactive people take the initiative and responsibility to make things happen. They cause action rather than being victims of circumstance.
~Chris MacAllister
After pondering the above, I realized that God is the only one qualified to define manhood, as there are proactive people who are good and bad.
One day on the radio, I heard Ron Hutchcraft define a man based on Psalm 16:32.
“Better a patient man than a warrior; a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” See, God says that a real man is a conqueror—he conquers himself…his temper, his passions, selfishness, his coldness, his dark side.
I can testify that conquering oneself is by far the greatest achievement a man can hold. That elusive decision to take control of oneself is the greatest challenge of all. The ability to be gentle (holding ones power under control) when it is appropriate can only be done by a real man.
When I was coaching little league football, I had the opportunity to chat with Mike Singletary (Current head coach for San Francisco 49ers). I asked him, knowing that he was a Christian, how he could pound the daylights out of people on the field as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears. He shared that when he was on the field, he had a job to do and he did it with passion and excellence (proven by his record), but when he left the field he was a man of God who chose gentleness above all else.
For a man, it is right to take control of your life and make sure it reflects the person you desire to be. As for me, I will serve the Lord.
Throughout all decades, men weren’t really defined by the ebb and flow of society, but by their own actions.
Proactive people take the initiative and responsibility to make things happen. They cause action rather than being victims of circumstance.
~Chris MacAllister
After pondering the above, I realized that God is the only one qualified to define manhood, as there are proactive people who are good and bad.
One day on the radio, I heard Ron Hutchcraft define a man based on Psalm 16:32.
“Better a patient man than a warrior; a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” See, God says that a real man is a conqueror—he conquers himself…his temper, his passions, selfishness, his coldness, his dark side.
I can testify that conquering oneself is by far the greatest achievement a man can hold. That elusive decision to take control of oneself is the greatest challenge of all. The ability to be gentle (holding ones power under control) when it is appropriate can only be done by a real man.
When I was coaching little league football, I had the opportunity to chat with Mike Singletary (Current head coach for San Francisco 49ers). I asked him, knowing that he was a Christian, how he could pound the daylights out of people on the field as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears. He shared that when he was on the field, he had a job to do and he did it with passion and excellence (proven by his record), but when he left the field he was a man of God who chose gentleness above all else.
For a man, it is right to take control of your life and make sure it reflects the person you desire to be. As for me, I will serve the Lord.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Faithfully Defend the Truth
I was in a corporate meeting a while back and listened to a man lie through his teeth. He was in upper management and no one had the guts to call him on it. Within a few weeks, the lie was treated as fact and things within the business started to change for the worse.
The Edmund Burke adage was proven true, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Unfortunately, I was one of the men doing nothing, but that was going to change. I dove into a plan to right the wrong that I witnessed, in hopes of restoring truth within the ranks. It didn’t take long for me to realize that if I wasn’t careful in how I exposed the lie, I could quickly become a thing of the past.
The sobering thought gripping my heart was how important it was to stand up for truth no matter what the cost. If nothing else, it would be easier than trying to make up for lost ground or cleaning up after corruption turns into a new standard of operation.
The issue led me to reflect on 3 John 1:3, “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.” I wondered if someone would have spoken such positive praise of me had I gently corrected the executive with grace the moment it happened. Instead, I faced a series of painful days trying to correct what could have been avoided with a simple grace filled comment in the moment.
Today, I try to stand faithfully for truth.
Welcome
The Iron 8 are an elite, ironclad team who battles for the souls of men, each other and their families. They are proud men who choose to humble themselves in order to serve others. They make no beef about their rough edges, but support each other when one falls.
Together they stand, brought together by a lifelong resounding motto: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
This elite team has never lost a war, though many battles have been won and others lost. With each successful battle comes a victory worthy of praise and each loss brings about a silent victory of deep heartfelt growth. In all cases they stand together, as a standard for other men to witness and take strength.
Their power is substantial, yet they choose gentleness (power under control) in encouraging others. They freely admit their sins and failures and readily accept the forgiveness graciously given to them. It is with their marred lives, that they enter every battle with victory in their sights.
Their formations are strategic as they get on their knees to pray for family members, friends and their enemies. Their boldness is not hindered by the liberal feminine culture, but by choice they graciously empower the women around them with love and respect.
These are the men of the Iron 8, whose very human and sacrificial lives make a difference in our communities one person at a time. They are a remnant who stand to preserve eight precious treasures: The things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
Is it time for you to become a member of the Iron 8?
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