" And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"...
"We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose"
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them"
"My ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts, as far as the heavens are from the earth, so are my ways from your ways and thoughts higher than your thoughts" Isaiah 55:8-9
"Lord, teach me to number my days, that I may apply wisdom to them" Psalm 90:12
So here's something that I have been trying to meditate on over recent months, especially in light of some challenges both personally and within my circle of friends, and that is:
Nothing is lost in the economy of God
Just think about it for a minute, God is outside of time and space. God is not just real clever, He knows ALL things. See the versus quoted above.
Jesus, while in time and space, saw the joy set before him, and followed through with the cross.
I am not a "predestination" person in the sense, we don't have a choice, effectively. If you follow that logic, then why was Jesus tempted, why did he ask the cross to be taken away, yet submitted himself to the event, why has God allowed us freedom to do all things, "thought not everything is beneficial".... Love doesn't work like that.
Though with God all things are possible.
Which brings me back to the text: Nothing is lost in the economy of God.
A person with no faith or comprehension of God as He describes himself and His character in the Bible, or a person of a "fate" / "fatalistic" predisposition to life, would be likely to say:
"everything happens for a reason..."
Hey even myself and fellow Christians have said this.
And to some extent this is laced with truth, but without the construct of God's economy, that saying leaves an air of fatalism and unaccountability to it... like we don't really have a choice, it's just a reaction to our action... or whatever...
I mean, follow that line with say " hey I left my wife and kids, and had sex with this woman and now my wife doesn't want me back, but you know everything happens for a reason...."
Yes doufus, you messed up and are paying the consequence. There's no fatalism happening there that was outside your control....
So when God says "ALL things God works for the good of those who love him", that is a mind bend, when you're tithing, working diligently, looking after the poor, living out His principles, and the deals your trying to close at work aren't happening, or you're marriage breaks down because she's been sleeping around, or your business partner screws you over and leaves you with the debts and no assets or goodwill to on-sell, or your investments you have go belly up due to the GFC (and Greece and Italy not paying taxes and corrupt governments..) or you're trying to have a child at 42 and she's not falling pregnant.....
Okay, let's bring it a little closer to everyday scenarios: your customer accuses you of poor service, your church leader chastises you or someone falsely gossips about you, or your wife doesn't want to work at the marriage, or you can't move beyond the hurt you experienced from being sexually assaulted or having your father die at 2.
you write the next issue... there's an infinite source of scenarios... bit like God really...
and we know in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him
So what I meditate on, when bad stuff happens or doesn't go my way, I try to say "Thanks God that this happened because nothing is lost in your economy, and somehow this will be used for good".
These are not flippant words or "nice" sayings, but God's very own words, backed up by his Son.
There is so much more we could go into with this, but we're out of time. My departing thought is to mix God's economy with his statement of "your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as in heaven".... and see what personal revelation that impresses on you.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Building a Culture of Servant-Hood
I was listening to (yet another) Bill Johnson podcast while funnily enough competing in the Sydney Marathon (I had to take my mind off the pain and Bill Johnson engages my spiritual intellect) and he was talking about the power in unity of prayer and the weightiness of anointing that follows that.
What engaged my spirit was his labor on the concept of bringing or drawing forth the anointing of the Holy Spirit through a corporate prayer and one accord. There is precedence for this: e.g Pentecost.
What also follows then is the capacity to achieve multiple times more through that anointing than what would have been achieved individually.
(Now don't hear me wrong, in that I am not saying that God is the answer to an equation: Corporate Prayer = stronger God's presence and anointing = ability to go greater miracles or be more productive. Period. Though this tends to be the case and has spiritual principles, e.g “When 2 or more are gathered in my name, I will be there”)
If we continue down that train of thought, what I instantly thought when listening to Bill, was Ecclesiates 4: 12: A cord of 3 strands is not easily broken.
What follows is this concept of building a servant-hood culture that can achieve so much more than individually.
This is not rocket science, but track with me:
God's culture / DNA is family, togetherness, unity, love. The outcome of those aspects/characteristics are peace and productivity. God is never unproductive. “My Word goes out before me, it does not return to me empty, it achieves the purpose for which I sent it and accomplishes my desire”
Unity / Family are central to growth, whatever definition of growth you want to apply.
Growth doesn't happen in isolation. For example, how can you practice patience or generosity with others when you are single?
Unity / Family is at essence about servant-hood. “Love one another as I have loved you” “If any of you wants to be first in the Kingdom of God, he must be last” 'Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you”
So let's think about this for a moment in our immediate worlds: Work, family, marriage, friendship, church, local communities, global communities....
When I asked this question it struck me so simply in 2 main areas:
Work: It is amazing when you think about it, that a corporation actually achieves the productivity and value that it does given the amount of disunity, back-stabbing, and selfish behavior, be it outwardly or within our individual hearts.
Could you imagine the level of productivity and growth and increase in value (to shareholders, customers, employees, governments, affected communities, environment) would be if all had a servant hood heart and culture? It would be unstoppable. Just look at Babel, and that was not to achieve necessarily anything positive for people, just a very tall tower.
Just imagine if I in my own heart, I adopted a spirit of servant-hood, I brought with me and led by example, a spirit of serving others for their benefit, not mine, what change and impact that would have?
It's at times like this I wish I was an MD speaking and more importantly leading (by example) this stuff. To usher in a corporate wide sense of serving.
Family: I thought I would like to strengthen the spiritual culture of servant-hood within my family and that's got to start with me. I was thinking as I was running down Anzac parade, in Randwick my family already has a healthy mindset to serving each other and those in our worlds, but to be spiritually aware and actively cognizant of cultivating a serving culture, is something that I would highly esteem.
To my mind the immediate practical questions of: what can I do to serve Nim and the kids better or more of? e.g. be more helpful with the day to day stuff (make kids lunches for the next day, clean the bathroom because I know he likes a clean bathroom – what woman doesn't, make the bed?, Make a cake or dinner with the kids help to give to a family in need, I don't know you figure something out! Whatever it is the opportunities are generally endless... )
I mean it doesn't take Einstein to figure out that a massive issue in marriage in general is the lack of serving. I'm not throwing stones at separated couples, I'm just stating truth, that for a significant lot of our marriages, putting ourselves last and the spouse first would help a truck load (oh and forgiveness). And yes we can (and I do) put up a line of excuses that allow me not to serve Nim, but where does that road lead to.... follow it down and see where it takes you... and your family and marriage. I don't see Jesus saying, " God I'll serve these 12 disciples and wash their feet if they just serve me better". You get the picture.
Which brings me back around to the broader Ecclesiates passage:
4: 7-12
“So I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: a solitary person, completely alone, no children, family or friends, yet working obsessively late into the night compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask “Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares? More smoke.. a bad business.
It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps. But f there's no one to help, tough!
Two in bad warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.
By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend, you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three stranded rope isn't easily snapped”
Serving with others of the same mindset, is not easily broken, in fact it can carry many multiple times more than 3 individual ropes could added together. The point is, get serving, bring others with you and see the results.... it's a wise principle because its God's principle and spiritual rule.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Walking in the Presence of God Part 2
Walking away from His Presence,
Let's ponder this for a moment.
So you're in a room, you're talking (maybe not), and you're aware of the other's presence. You KNOW, that the other is there.
Then the other person leaves, says nothing, but makes an exit.
Even if there are other people in the room, you know when the other person leaves, merely by their presence not being there, a sensing, intuition, call what you will.
(It's interesting that we all have a unique presence that we bring when we enter a room, setting, place, gathering. God's is the same. It's unique)
In that setting, I often feel like that is me. Exiting the room from His Presence. I don't announce it, declare it, but walk away, slowly, a drifting you might call it.
Are you a drifter? Do you drift away from His Presence?
I have an image of Jesus following me around, as I drift, keeping my steps firm, "though I may stumble, I will not fall"... ""If I go up to the heavens you are there or to the grave, you are there"..."I can never get away from your presence"
A question that comes to mind is at what point do I recognise I am now not in His Presence? That can mean many things, granted. For instance, when you're in the tangible presence of God, worshipping, with that mixture of fear, joy and peace all blended into one... and then you walk out of church and the atmosphere has changed. I am not talking about that scenario, in that you have not walked out on God, you've just left church and it's time to go home.
What I am referring to is a drifting in my day to day walk. It's probably why Jesus calls out to the Church of Ephesus to come back to their first love.... (Rev 2) They'd drifted from Him, not from doing the right thing, but the source of why they were doing it.
Looking at this from Satan's view, to covertly numb and dull the awareness that you are drifting away from God's Presence, is a great strategy.
To that end, His Presence can be located at any time, anywhere. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you... because "I am with you always to the very end of ages"
Let's ponder this for a moment.
So you're in a room, you're talking (maybe not), and you're aware of the other's presence. You KNOW, that the other is there.
Then the other person leaves, says nothing, but makes an exit.
Even if there are other people in the room, you know when the other person leaves, merely by their presence not being there, a sensing, intuition, call what you will.
(It's interesting that we all have a unique presence that we bring when we enter a room, setting, place, gathering. God's is the same. It's unique)
In that setting, I often feel like that is me. Exiting the room from His Presence. I don't announce it, declare it, but walk away, slowly, a drifting you might call it.
Are you a drifter? Do you drift away from His Presence?
I have an image of Jesus following me around, as I drift, keeping my steps firm, "though I may stumble, I will not fall"... ""If I go up to the heavens you are there or to the grave, you are there"..."I can never get away from your presence"
A question that comes to mind is at what point do I recognise I am now not in His Presence? That can mean many things, granted. For instance, when you're in the tangible presence of God, worshipping, with that mixture of fear, joy and peace all blended into one... and then you walk out of church and the atmosphere has changed. I am not talking about that scenario, in that you have not walked out on God, you've just left church and it's time to go home.
What I am referring to is a drifting in my day to day walk. It's probably why Jesus calls out to the Church of Ephesus to come back to their first love.... (Rev 2) They'd drifted from Him, not from doing the right thing, but the source of why they were doing it.
Looking at this from Satan's view, to covertly numb and dull the awareness that you are drifting away from God's Presence, is a great strategy.
To that end, His Presence can be located at any time, anywhere. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you... because "I am with you always to the very end of ages"
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Walking in the Presence of God -Part I
“Lord, if your presence does not go with us, do not send us from here.
How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us.
What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
Exodus 33: 15-16
Presence: source: dictionary.com
pres·ence
/ˈprɛzəns/ Show Spelled[prez-uhns] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.
2.
attendance or company: Your presence is requested.
3.
immediate vicinity; proximity: in the presence of witnesses.
EXPAND
4.
the military or economic power of a country as reflected abroad by the stationing of its troops, sale of its goods, etc.: the American military presence in europe; the Japanese presence in the U.S. consumer market.
5.
Chiefly British . the immediate personal vicinity of a great personage giving audience or reception: summoned to her presence.
6.
the ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance, especially the quality or manner of a person's bearing before an audience: The speaker had a good deal of stage presence.
7.
personal appearance or bearing, especially of a dignified or imposing kind: a man of fine presence.
8.
a person, especially of noteworthy appearance or compelling personality: He is a real presence, even at a private party.
9.
a divine or supernatural spirit felt to be present: He felt a presence with him in the room.
What is God's presence?
What does it look like, feel like, what is it's fruit?
Why care?
How do we encounter it?
How do we lose or weaken it?
“as soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”
Matt 3:16-17
(interesting that God didn't say much there, except 2 sentences in public affirmation of His Son – I wonder how much we'd like to talk and hear more of God, but in reality, because we hear, see and prophesy in part, it's best we hear a few concise sentences and get that right than a whole essay and muddle it up? Just a thought.....? )
“The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him...all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from him lips” Luke 4: 20-22
A pastor once said: When you pray, stay there until God warms your heart.
As we look through this topic, I can think of not much more important areas for a man to grasp hold of and develop a personal revelation of what it means to encounter and carry God's presence.
So we know God's presence is encountered by the Holy Spirit. That is how He imparts and engages with us. To some there is the tangible presence of God, a feeling, a sense, a warmth, a knowing, to others there is the physical witness and power of Him in healing, prophesy, knowledge, vision and the like, to others it is theoretical, to others it was something that was experienced many moons ago when they got “saved”, never repeated since. It can be all that and more. I'm just suggesting that for each man, there is a wide spectrum of experiences, but that it is critical for each man to find His presence in every day.
To Moses' request, if we have not God's presence, if we carry not His name, as we carry our own name throughout life, then how will that distinguish us from those that don't carry the Creator's presence? Why would another man come to be restored with his Heavenly Father, if the Heavenly Father's presence was not there? It would then be theoretical and of no consequence, no point.
So God's presence is encountered by the Holy Spirit, which is often referred to as a Dove. The question to my mind, as one Pastor put it, how do you walk with the Holy Spirit sitting on your shoulder like a Dove and make sure it doesn't fly away (spiritually that is) ?
Answer: you walk every step with the purpose and awareness of the Dove on your shoulder.
Commentary Interlude: For those that think as Christian men, we need to walk around in life with the concept of this flattering, highly sensitive dove of a holy spirit that needs mody-coddling, park that thought.
Just think about it: there is every distraction, voice, message, image, multi-media, person, thing, place, from one extreme to the other, that fills in the space where the presence of God should be.
How cognisant have I been over the last couple of months of walking each day with the active mindset of keeping God's presence with me and trying to make sure I don't replace Him with other “stuff"? And what a change I have noticed in myself about how I speak, what I spend my time doing and what I use to say and don't say.
Okay, what are you talking about Ben? You try this for a week, every day as you wake up, get His presence on you, then walk through the day, with 3 or 4 reminders during the day to actively invite God into your presence, before you go to bed, do the same.
Watch what happens to your words, your general language, what gossip or slander you'll shy way from, what negativity you cease, how you react to your kids and wife.... it won't be perfect, but you 'll notice a change.
Why? Because you can't have God's presence on you and simultaneously be cursing your wife next to you.
How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us.
What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
Exodus 33: 15-16
Presence: source: dictionary.com
pres·ence
/ˈprɛzəns/ Show Spelled[prez-uhns] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.
2.
attendance or company: Your presence is requested.
3.
immediate vicinity; proximity: in the presence of witnesses.
EXPAND
4.
the military or economic power of a country as reflected abroad by the stationing of its troops, sale of its goods, etc.: the American military presence in europe; the Japanese presence in the U.S. consumer market.
5.
Chiefly British . the immediate personal vicinity of a great personage giving audience or reception: summoned to her presence.
6.
the ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance, especially the quality or manner of a person's bearing before an audience: The speaker had a good deal of stage presence.
7.
personal appearance or bearing, especially of a dignified or imposing kind: a man of fine presence.
8.
a person, especially of noteworthy appearance or compelling personality: He is a real presence, even at a private party.
9.
a divine or supernatural spirit felt to be present: He felt a presence with him in the room.
What is God's presence?
What does it look like, feel like, what is it's fruit?
Why care?
How do we encounter it?
How do we lose or weaken it?
“as soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”
Matt 3:16-17
(interesting that God didn't say much there, except 2 sentences in public affirmation of His Son – I wonder how much we'd like to talk and hear more of God, but in reality, because we hear, see and prophesy in part, it's best we hear a few concise sentences and get that right than a whole essay and muddle it up? Just a thought.....? )
“The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him...all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from him lips” Luke 4: 20-22
A pastor once said: When you pray, stay there until God warms your heart.
As we look through this topic, I can think of not much more important areas for a man to grasp hold of and develop a personal revelation of what it means to encounter and carry God's presence.
So we know God's presence is encountered by the Holy Spirit. That is how He imparts and engages with us. To some there is the tangible presence of God, a feeling, a sense, a warmth, a knowing, to others there is the physical witness and power of Him in healing, prophesy, knowledge, vision and the like, to others it is theoretical, to others it was something that was experienced many moons ago when they got “saved”, never repeated since. It can be all that and more. I'm just suggesting that for each man, there is a wide spectrum of experiences, but that it is critical for each man to find His presence in every day.
To Moses' request, if we have not God's presence, if we carry not His name, as we carry our own name throughout life, then how will that distinguish us from those that don't carry the Creator's presence? Why would another man come to be restored with his Heavenly Father, if the Heavenly Father's presence was not there? It would then be theoretical and of no consequence, no point.
So God's presence is encountered by the Holy Spirit, which is often referred to as a Dove. The question to my mind, as one Pastor put it, how do you walk with the Holy Spirit sitting on your shoulder like a Dove and make sure it doesn't fly away (spiritually that is) ?
Answer: you walk every step with the purpose and awareness of the Dove on your shoulder.
Commentary Interlude: For those that think as Christian men, we need to walk around in life with the concept of this flattering, highly sensitive dove of a holy spirit that needs mody-coddling, park that thought.
Just think about it: there is every distraction, voice, message, image, multi-media, person, thing, place, from one extreme to the other, that fills in the space where the presence of God should be.
How cognisant have I been over the last couple of months of walking each day with the active mindset of keeping God's presence with me and trying to make sure I don't replace Him with other “stuff"? And what a change I have noticed in myself about how I speak, what I spend my time doing and what I use to say and don't say.
Okay, what are you talking about Ben? You try this for a week, every day as you wake up, get His presence on you, then walk through the day, with 3 or 4 reminders during the day to actively invite God into your presence, before you go to bed, do the same.
Watch what happens to your words, your general language, what gossip or slander you'll shy way from, what negativity you cease, how you react to your kids and wife.... it won't be perfect, but you 'll notice a change.
Why? Because you can't have God's presence on you and simultaneously be cursing your wife next to you.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Initiation
Initiation & the Wound
I'm sitting in my room on a Saturday afternoon, the kids are upstairs calling out for daddy, my wife is at work, i'm working through the usual Saturday chors and general house duties, while i manage to get 15-20 minutes to read some more Wild at heart, and come across the section: How God initiates a man....
And i'm on the edge of the bed so moved i can't sit still, i'm upset and there's this beating in my chest and weight on my spirit asking God : am i a man, am i the man you wanted me to become? Will you initiate me jesus? What is my name Lord?
'who can give a man this, his own name? God alone for no one but God sees who the man is' Mcdonald
The history of a man's relationship with God is the story of how God calls him out takes him on a journey and gives him his true name. Most of us have thought it was the story of how God sits on his throne waiting to whack a man broadside when he steps out of line.
Initiation involves a journey and a series of tests through which we discover our real name and true place in the story.
A bunch of us have been misinterpreting life and what God is doing for a long time....
What are you teaching me here God? What issues in my heart are you trying to raise through this? What is it that you want me to see?
What are you askig me to let go of?
(from pages 104-105 in Wild at Heart)
God begins by breaking you down.
The spiritual life begins with the acceptance of the wounded self"
So God goes after the false self of ourselves and takes away our false identity to restablish it with a true one:
Just think about it: jesus at times went straight for the juggular, he didn't beat around with some guys asking him questions and what they need to do to have eternal life.
What establishes you as a man: your accomplishments, your gifts and talents your bank account and possessions, your job role and level of authority, where u go on holidays... ???
Each time God calls a man out to do something he renames him. Why is that? Imagine walking in life going hey last week u knew me as ben but God's renamed me benjamin: son of his right hand, i'm his right hand man, the doer the fixer.
Imagine God whispering in your spirit: this is your name, this is what i call you: ....
Wound:
It does matter, it matters deeply to God, he's peeved about it and he like any father is in the busienss of restoring his son to his rightful position.
A man broken in and on the path of rebulding rather than self wallowing and continual self deprecation, is a strong man
The way in which God heals our wound is a deeply personal process. Makes sense really as every wound is personal and unique.
Healing never happens outside of intimacy with christ. The healing of our wound flows out of our union with him.
It's important to grieve our wound, it is the only honest thing to do. For in grieving we admit the truth- that we were hurt by someone we loved. That we lost something very dear and it hurt us very much.
Then simply let yourself be loved by God and let God the Father, father you.
Father says: your heart is good. Not perverted evil and cheap, but good.
Out of the wound is where a man's genius is:
It become a place of strength and you realise what u have to offer the community.
Don't let satan take u off the field and accuse you of not being worthy, capable, trustworthy, competent or sinful.
I'm sitting in my room on a Saturday afternoon, the kids are upstairs calling out for daddy, my wife is at work, i'm working through the usual Saturday chors and general house duties, while i manage to get 15-20 minutes to read some more Wild at heart, and come across the section: How God initiates a man....
And i'm on the edge of the bed so moved i can't sit still, i'm upset and there's this beating in my chest and weight on my spirit asking God : am i a man, am i the man you wanted me to become? Will you initiate me jesus? What is my name Lord?
'who can give a man this, his own name? God alone for no one but God sees who the man is' Mcdonald
The history of a man's relationship with God is the story of how God calls him out takes him on a journey and gives him his true name. Most of us have thought it was the story of how God sits on his throne waiting to whack a man broadside when he steps out of line.
Initiation involves a journey and a series of tests through which we discover our real name and true place in the story.
A bunch of us have been misinterpreting life and what God is doing for a long time....
What are you teaching me here God? What issues in my heart are you trying to raise through this? What is it that you want me to see?
What are you askig me to let go of?
(from pages 104-105 in Wild at Heart)
God begins by breaking you down.
The spiritual life begins with the acceptance of the wounded self"
So God goes after the false self of ourselves and takes away our false identity to restablish it with a true one:
Just think about it: jesus at times went straight for the juggular, he didn't beat around with some guys asking him questions and what they need to do to have eternal life.
What establishes you as a man: your accomplishments, your gifts and talents your bank account and possessions, your job role and level of authority, where u go on holidays... ???
Each time God calls a man out to do something he renames him. Why is that? Imagine walking in life going hey last week u knew me as ben but God's renamed me benjamin: son of his right hand, i'm his right hand man, the doer the fixer.
Imagine God whispering in your spirit: this is your name, this is what i call you: ....
Wound:
It does matter, it matters deeply to God, he's peeved about it and he like any father is in the busienss of restoring his son to his rightful position.
A man broken in and on the path of rebulding rather than self wallowing and continual self deprecation, is a strong man
The way in which God heals our wound is a deeply personal process. Makes sense really as every wound is personal and unique.
Healing never happens outside of intimacy with christ. The healing of our wound flows out of our union with him.
It's important to grieve our wound, it is the only honest thing to do. For in grieving we admit the truth- that we were hurt by someone we loved. That we lost something very dear and it hurt us very much.
Then simply let yourself be loved by God and let God the Father, father you.
Father says: your heart is good. Not perverted evil and cheap, but good.
Out of the wound is where a man's genius is:
It become a place of strength and you realise what u have to offer the community.
Don't let satan take u off the field and accuse you of not being worthy, capable, trustworthy, competent or sinful.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Heart of a Man: Part 2 - have we got what it takes?
Have I got What it Takes?
Society has been great at raising boys to become... boys.
Is the church much the same..?
So we've talked through the breakdown of the Masculine spirit and heart, our image of God as our Father and the idea of what our impressions are of our father and impact that has had on us.
The framework of finding something in our heart worth fighting for, stepping up to the plate so to speak. To answer the question: Have I got what it takes?
“To give a man back his heart is the hardest mission on eartth”
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out”...Proverbs 20:22
Out of the heart of a man, spring the issues of life... Proverbs
So the question in my mind, is “how do I answer the question: Do I have what it takes to be the man?”
I think another way to ask this is: Do I think other people see me more as a “nice guy” or as a “man of substance, a man of influence?”
Becuase a good measure is, am I my own man? i.e am I comfortable in my own skin, my own presence, or do I put a front up? Better still, can I be honest with God and stand up like a man to him.
So coming back to the question, how do I know I have what it takes..?
For many of the following statements are true:
No one has trained me in manhood
No one has initiated me in manhood
No one has validated me as a man reaching this milestone
My wife has never said: “you are the man of the house, the man of my life” (and with respect! Too!)
I have never heard God say: “'Insert name', you are my son, you're a man, becuase you have my heart and you are not intimidated to accept Me”
From my personal experience, I somewhat joke about the line to other single guys: a boy becomes a teenager when he get's married, but then he becmes a man when he has a child.
Hear me straight, I am not saying you have to have kids to be a man, but the converse is very true for many of my age group (30's), for single guys: they're teenagers in adult bodies, unable to committ, unable to save, unable to take the risk of having kids and accepting that the world is not about Saturday night, the next OS trip and the next upgrade of the BMW. But I digress.
So let's focus on one are that may help answer this question: Do I have what it takes?
Our Wives
Just think about the woman you married: She captiavted you, made you feel like a million bucks, a hero, a man. You won her heart, her trust, she opened herself up to you and you felt like you could be her man, her protector, her lover.
Years go on, she know's your patterns, habits, she sleeps with you, feeds you, has your kids... and how do you feel about your “manliness” today around her.
She had the power to validate you as a man, and she has the power to invalidate you.
Do you respect the deepest desires of your heart and the deepest truth that you need validation as a man? Do you have self repsect?
Next week we'll go through the initiation into manhood and finding the most important initiation: our heavenly father's voice
Society has been great at raising boys to become... boys.
Is the church much the same..?
So we've talked through the breakdown of the Masculine spirit and heart, our image of God as our Father and the idea of what our impressions are of our father and impact that has had on us.
The framework of finding something in our heart worth fighting for, stepping up to the plate so to speak. To answer the question: Have I got what it takes?
“To give a man back his heart is the hardest mission on eartth”
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out”...Proverbs 20:22
Out of the heart of a man, spring the issues of life... Proverbs
So the question in my mind, is “how do I answer the question: Do I have what it takes to be the man?”
I think another way to ask this is: Do I think other people see me more as a “nice guy” or as a “man of substance, a man of influence?”
Becuase a good measure is, am I my own man? i.e am I comfortable in my own skin, my own presence, or do I put a front up? Better still, can I be honest with God and stand up like a man to him.
So coming back to the question, how do I know I have what it takes..?
For many of the following statements are true:
No one has trained me in manhood
No one has initiated me in manhood
No one has validated me as a man reaching this milestone
My wife has never said: “you are the man of the house, the man of my life” (and with respect! Too!)
I have never heard God say: “'Insert name', you are my son, you're a man, becuase you have my heart and you are not intimidated to accept Me”
From my personal experience, I somewhat joke about the line to other single guys: a boy becomes a teenager when he get's married, but then he becmes a man when he has a child.
Hear me straight, I am not saying you have to have kids to be a man, but the converse is very true for many of my age group (30's), for single guys: they're teenagers in adult bodies, unable to committ, unable to save, unable to take the risk of having kids and accepting that the world is not about Saturday night, the next OS trip and the next upgrade of the BMW. But I digress.
So let's focus on one are that may help answer this question: Do I have what it takes?
Our Wives
Just think about the woman you married: She captiavted you, made you feel like a million bucks, a hero, a man. You won her heart, her trust, she opened herself up to you and you felt like you could be her man, her protector, her lover.
Years go on, she know's your patterns, habits, she sleeps with you, feeds you, has your kids... and how do you feel about your “manliness” today around her.
She had the power to validate you as a man, and she has the power to invalidate you.
Do you respect the deepest desires of your heart and the deepest truth that you need validation as a man? Do you have self repsect?
Next week we'll go through the initiation into manhood and finding the most important initiation: our heavenly father's voice
Monday, February 14, 2011
Heart of a Man: Part 1 - What's broken down?
Do we bear our Father’s image and where has that broken down.
“The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives”
“You can tell what kind of man you've got simply by noting the impact he has on you...”
Am I a man? If so, who's said so or validated this?
Am I am man in God's eyes?
My WIP definition: A man accepts responsibility and has authority. (“dominion mandate”)
A man of God: accepts responsibility and takes authority and is guided by his heavenly Father.
“This is my son, I am well pleased in you Jesus...”
If a boy is to become a man, if a man is to know he is one, this is not an option. A man has to know where he comes from and the substance of what he's made of. (JE)
Substance: The image we bear: God's, our Father's?
“You're just like your father...” is that a good or bad thing?
If it's negative (as many men are trying hard NOT to be like their fathers), then where do we derive our strength and validation from?
Who does that leave them to follow after?
If we bear the image of God, what is the perception of God?
To me it's mixed with Angry/almighty/unobtainable/holy/magnificent/unfathomable to loving/gentle/patient/generous/ to unknowable/unpredictable/beyond being figured out/remote.
But then, usually at odd times in the quietness of my spirit, he's a Father, proud as punch with me or disciplining me or advising me.
The important point to note here is, God has placed in us a unique person(ality) with a male heart (desires/wants/needs/predisposition/thought processes/dislikes etc). To my mind, if you look at Jesus, he was an out there man. Pursuing, conquering, doing a work greater than himself, building a platform for others to do greater works than him....
The Struggle
There is something fierce in the heart of God
.
For men, the heavenly is a battlefield, as too is earth. Not to over dramatise it, but I do know from personal experience, Satan has done a fine job of neutralising this aspect in us. That is to say, men have in some way been drugged or sanitised to the battles we face ( or another way is deceived). And the biggest one, is the spiritual battle - to know and seek our heavenly Father. Better still beyond recognising that God exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, Satan has a great knack of base-lining the relationship - much like many of us have with our fathers.
12And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew chp 11.
There is something adventurous in the Character of God
There is something captivating about God and his desire to relate with us.
What’s broken down?
“Without a great battle in which a man can live and die, the fierce part of his nature goes underground and sort of simmers there ina sullen anger that seems to have no reason”
“ How come when men look in their hearts they don’t discover something valiant and dangerous, but instead find anger, lust and fear? Most of the time I feel more fearful than I do fierce”
“So many of us have been told to put that adventurous spirit behind them and “be responsible”, (JE)
What is man for? The dominion mandate: Build, rule, conquer, create, administer
“Every man repeats the sin of Adam, every day. We won’t risk, we won’t fight and we won’t rescue Eve. We truly are a chip off the old block” (JE)
Fear:
“I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid..”
Behind our job, gym, clothes, we what achieve.
To me a really good telling point, was finding the personal space to “relax” and just be a Man in the presence of others, don’t need to say anything or be someone else or fill in the void of silence, but to just be me. To let the other person feel the weight of my presence as a man.
For work a really good question to ask, is what if you lost your job, where would that leave you on the status of Manhood?
“Am I really a man? Have I got what it takes.. when it counts?”
… to fight for my marriage, my job, my self respect, my dignity, my children’s future, my Pastor...
… to say No and be ok that people aren’t going to like it
…to pursue that woman, to give an honest answer....
Just look at Jesus: he didn’t pull any punches, he stated his position, whatever the environment. And he fought, for something greater than himself. A real man.
“The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives”
“You can tell what kind of man you've got simply by noting the impact he has on you...”
Am I a man? If so, who's said so or validated this?
Am I am man in God's eyes?
My WIP definition: A man accepts responsibility and has authority. (“dominion mandate”)
A man of God: accepts responsibility and takes authority and is guided by his heavenly Father.
“This is my son, I am well pleased in you Jesus...”
If a boy is to become a man, if a man is to know he is one, this is not an option. A man has to know where he comes from and the substance of what he's made of. (JE)
Substance: The image we bear: God's, our Father's?
“You're just like your father...” is that a good or bad thing?
If it's negative (as many men are trying hard NOT to be like their fathers), then where do we derive our strength and validation from?
Who does that leave them to follow after?
If we bear the image of God, what is the perception of God?
To me it's mixed with Angry/almighty/unobtainable/holy/magnificent/unfathomable to loving/gentle/patient/generous/ to unknowable/unpredictable/beyond being figured out/remote.
But then, usually at odd times in the quietness of my spirit, he's a Father, proud as punch with me or disciplining me or advising me.
The important point to note here is, God has placed in us a unique person(ality) with a male heart (desires/wants/needs/predisposition/thought processes/dislikes etc). To my mind, if you look at Jesus, he was an out there man. Pursuing, conquering, doing a work greater than himself, building a platform for others to do greater works than him....
The Struggle
There is something fierce in the heart of God
.
For men, the heavenly is a battlefield, as too is earth. Not to over dramatise it, but I do know from personal experience, Satan has done a fine job of neutralising this aspect in us. That is to say, men have in some way been drugged or sanitised to the battles we face ( or another way is deceived). And the biggest one, is the spiritual battle - to know and seek our heavenly Father. Better still beyond recognising that God exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, Satan has a great knack of base-lining the relationship - much like many of us have with our fathers.
12And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew chp 11.
There is something adventurous in the Character of God
There is something captivating about God and his desire to relate with us.
What’s broken down?
“Without a great battle in which a man can live and die, the fierce part of his nature goes underground and sort of simmers there ina sullen anger that seems to have no reason”
“ How come when men look in their hearts they don’t discover something valiant and dangerous, but instead find anger, lust and fear? Most of the time I feel more fearful than I do fierce”
“So many of us have been told to put that adventurous spirit behind them and “be responsible”, (JE)
What is man for? The dominion mandate: Build, rule, conquer, create, administer
“Every man repeats the sin of Adam, every day. We won’t risk, we won’t fight and we won’t rescue Eve. We truly are a chip off the old block” (JE)
Fear:
“I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid..”
Behind our job, gym, clothes, we what achieve.
To me a really good telling point, was finding the personal space to “relax” and just be a Man in the presence of others, don’t need to say anything or be someone else or fill in the void of silence, but to just be me. To let the other person feel the weight of my presence as a man.
For work a really good question to ask, is what if you lost your job, where would that leave you on the status of Manhood?
“Am I really a man? Have I got what it takes.. when it counts?”
… to fight for my marriage, my job, my self respect, my dignity, my children’s future, my Pastor...
… to say No and be ok that people aren’t going to like it
…to pursue that woman, to give an honest answer....
Just look at Jesus: he didn’t pull any punches, he stated his position, whatever the environment. And he fought, for something greater than himself. A real man.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The heart of a Man
The Heart of a Man
Okay, okay, okay... stop right there, I can sense the flyscreens and doors closing in and the male protectionist wall being relaid... not another b*&%$dy one of these guys talking about getting in touch with his inner self and going out to find himself....
Or better still, you might be one of those “I'm on a journey, seeking the higher power within”.... and you've been following the karma policy of “don't harm another's (heart)”... so “lovely” isn't it...
Oh yes, and then there is Jesus, so meek and mild, “turn the other cheek” guy... his heart was so soft and loving... wasn't it, he just loves people.... with the wildest form or execution thrown in at the end...
Guys, this year we're going to crack this nut if it takes hugging a tree, crying like a baby or jumping out of a plane solo. If it takes, going up to the great dividing range, shooting something, having an absolute barney with God or taking up boxing...And the nut is, your heart and mine. A man's heart.
To be upfront, I'm taking much of this topic from the book : “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge and my own walk back to where my father died on September 12th 1977.
So here's the deal:
“A man will not change unless he accepts the truth about himself and situation first”
to put it another way
“Why normalise your dysfunction and instead take responsibility for the truth of the matter ”
I say this to say, whatever your prejudices are to this topic/theme, build a bridge and get over yourself and be prepared to stand as a God ordained man (no you are not some lucky dip prize that happen to turn up as a man in some women's uterus and out you popped with no thought and purpose behind you) and find out what the freaking heck your heart is made of.
“where your treasure is there your heart is also” - who said that..? JC
“a hot furnace tests silver and gold, but the Lord tests hearts” - Solomon
“Heavenly Father, examine me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts..” David
Introduction:
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out”...Proverbs 20:22
I'm just thinking out loud here, so bear with me: if we look around at ourselves and men today, be they in Christendom or not, there is a sanitisation, washed through, cleaned up (I'd say possibly cleaned out), dethroned persona of men. If I look directly in my own socio-economic sphere, we're so tight and clean and wincy that we couldn't recount the last time we actually got dirty. Oh yes, and we're polite and nice, some women would be making chatter in a cafe between themselves, that we're “lovely”.... what a compliment. Lovely and nice...
Ohh, can't you imagine the women of 33 AD in Jerusalem sitting at there local hang out (well? Square, markets...? I'm not a historian, can't you tell) and saying about Jesus: “Oh isn't he just lovely, he's so nice and charming, and so good...” not! How could they, when he says: “let the dead bury the dead...” “ If you want to follow me, give up everything and take up your cross daily” or “ I have come to separate families...”
Jesus was on the frontier of Spirituality and the end result speaks for itself: “The Kingdom of God is a battlefield and the violent will take it by force”.
Somewhere in that sanitisation, we have been “dethroned” of our heart. I am not speaking as a victim, or having been victimised by society. A man's heart is powerful, authoritative, grand, visionary, and wild.
I can hear someone yelling out, what about the other men that aren't nice and clean and “lovely”, those other men that are rough around the edges or those men that are politely described as having a “colourful” personality.
If getting drunk, speaking demeaning words of your wife and kids and calling other's “f&%$wits” is any better than the sanitised nice man, then let's pack up and live on mars.
And of course I am making sweeping generalisations that leave individuals out, but there is an element of truth for all men in this:
“Out of a man's heart, spring the issues of life” - Proverbs.
As a man, would you rather be remembers as a “nice” guy, a decent man, a lovely man? Or a man who “followed his heart”, fought for his family and friends, conquered his demons and set a platform for his children and community to do greater works than himself...
I think John Eldredge put's it so well:
What if? What if those deep desired in our hearts are telling us the truth, revealing to us the life we were meant to live? God gave us eyes to see, ears to hear, wills that we might choose and gave us a heart that we might live....
You must head up into the high country of the soul into the wild and uncharted regions and track down that elusive prey....
Okay, okay, okay... stop right there, I can sense the flyscreens and doors closing in and the male protectionist wall being relaid... not another b*&%$dy one of these guys talking about getting in touch with his inner self and going out to find himself....
Or better still, you might be one of those “I'm on a journey, seeking the higher power within”.... and you've been following the karma policy of “don't harm another's (heart)”... so “lovely” isn't it...
Oh yes, and then there is Jesus, so meek and mild, “turn the other cheek” guy... his heart was so soft and loving... wasn't it, he just loves people.... with the wildest form or execution thrown in at the end...
Guys, this year we're going to crack this nut if it takes hugging a tree, crying like a baby or jumping out of a plane solo. If it takes, going up to the great dividing range, shooting something, having an absolute barney with God or taking up boxing...And the nut is, your heart and mine. A man's heart.
To be upfront, I'm taking much of this topic from the book : “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge and my own walk back to where my father died on September 12th 1977.
So here's the deal:
“A man will not change unless he accepts the truth about himself and situation first”
to put it another way
“Why normalise your dysfunction and instead take responsibility for the truth of the matter ”
I say this to say, whatever your prejudices are to this topic/theme, build a bridge and get over yourself and be prepared to stand as a God ordained man (no you are not some lucky dip prize that happen to turn up as a man in some women's uterus and out you popped with no thought and purpose behind you) and find out what the freaking heck your heart is made of.
“where your treasure is there your heart is also” - who said that..? JC
“a hot furnace tests silver and gold, but the Lord tests hearts” - Solomon
“Heavenly Father, examine me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts..” David
Introduction:
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out”...Proverbs 20:22
I'm just thinking out loud here, so bear with me: if we look around at ourselves and men today, be they in Christendom or not, there is a sanitisation, washed through, cleaned up (I'd say possibly cleaned out), dethroned persona of men. If I look directly in my own socio-economic sphere, we're so tight and clean and wincy that we couldn't recount the last time we actually got dirty. Oh yes, and we're polite and nice, some women would be making chatter in a cafe between themselves, that we're “lovely”.... what a compliment. Lovely and nice...
Ohh, can't you imagine the women of 33 AD in Jerusalem sitting at there local hang out (well? Square, markets...? I'm not a historian, can't you tell) and saying about Jesus: “Oh isn't he just lovely, he's so nice and charming, and so good...” not! How could they, when he says: “let the dead bury the dead...” “ If you want to follow me, give up everything and take up your cross daily” or “ I have come to separate families...”
Jesus was on the frontier of Spirituality and the end result speaks for itself: “The Kingdom of God is a battlefield and the violent will take it by force”.
Somewhere in that sanitisation, we have been “dethroned” of our heart. I am not speaking as a victim, or having been victimised by society. A man's heart is powerful, authoritative, grand, visionary, and wild.
I can hear someone yelling out, what about the other men that aren't nice and clean and “lovely”, those other men that are rough around the edges or those men that are politely described as having a “colourful” personality.
If getting drunk, speaking demeaning words of your wife and kids and calling other's “f&%$wits” is any better than the sanitised nice man, then let's pack up and live on mars.
And of course I am making sweeping generalisations that leave individuals out, but there is an element of truth for all men in this:
“Out of a man's heart, spring the issues of life” - Proverbs.
As a man, would you rather be remembers as a “nice” guy, a decent man, a lovely man? Or a man who “followed his heart”, fought for his family and friends, conquered his demons and set a platform for his children and community to do greater works than himself...
I think John Eldredge put's it so well:
What if? What if those deep desired in our hearts are telling us the truth, revealing to us the life we were meant to live? God gave us eyes to see, ears to hear, wills that we might choose and gave us a heart that we might live....
You must head up into the high country of the soul into the wild and uncharted regions and track down that elusive prey....
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