Hooking up, Shacking up, Divorce, Part 2.

Rita and John’s Marriage Certificate (Photo credit: mary hodder)

   The absolute best thing for kids is to see their parents humble themselves, repent of their selfishness, forgive one another, and recommit their marriage. The convenience of one no-fault divorce has come to an extremely high price. And millions of innocent kids are forced to pay that price every year.—-The Resolution for Men

This quote came from a new book called The Resolution for Men which was authored by the Kendrick brothers who created the movies: Courageous, Facing the Giants and Fireproof. In the book, which goes along with the courageous bible study they talk about standing up and being a man. Not just any man but a Godfearing courageous man  who has resolved to give everything they have to God. Standing for Christ and not backing down from the truth.

The quote up above plainly states that if men would just get over their selfish desires, let go of their pride and take the leadership role of the household and commit their marriage to Christ, there would be a lot less divorces and children on the streets. Statistics show that a child needs their dad, period. If couples would give their marriage a fighting chance, and the husbands did what they had to do to be a man, the divorce rate wouldn’t be higher than inflation. Fathers today have succumbed to the Hollywood way of life by putting on such a façade that they have lost heart.

I know when my father passed away when I was a child I was left empty and alone which set forth a life of self-destruction. This usually happens when the father is gone in any child’s life weather by death or divorce, the child usually goes awol and escapes into a world of flesh and pleasure. Now this doesn’t happen to every child that loses a father, I have met a lot of people who turned out to be great God-fearing men, but the studies today say it’s getting worse. Aside from death and adultery, there is no reason for a marriage to just fall apart. (Remember, porn is adultery as well.) I can guarantee if husbands and fathers set the example, children today would be better off.

I have a passion for this topic as you guys have noticed I have blogged about it several times and thats because I hope to be a husband and a father someday, and the only way I can do that is by learning to be a Godly man. I don’t want my children growing up without a father and having those feelings of loneliness and emptiness or living the self-destructive life this pathetic society says is acceptable. I want to leave a legacy for my children based on the love of God and what Christ did for us at Calvary. This is my hope and desire.

So let me call you out again men, WERE ARE YOU?? Were are all the men who will fight the good fight and run their race for the sake of Christ? Were are you men who claim to be men but are just plain cowards with your pants down with someone that’s not your wife? Were are you men who play more video game than your kids and leave black marks under mom’s eye? The adulterer, the drunkard, the sloth, the angry and proud, are you not tired of letting society run your family? Step up, shut up, pull your pants up and MAN UP, its time to get right with God and lead your families for Christ.

Thanks for reading!!!! Be Blessed!!!!!!

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The Good Life.

The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, MI (Photo credit: vanderhe1)

Man, I look like a lobster that spent too much time in the tanning bed! That’s what I get for spending 8 hours on the golf course. I wasn’t golfing because I don’t know a thing about the sport but I learned a great deal from my nephew and one of my best friends Mark. We were at the Senior PGA tour at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores and let me tell ya, it was a spectacular event. I got the tickets through work because the college I worked for let the PGA use one of their buildings and parking lots, and in return the PGA gave all the college employees two free tickets! (Just one of the many facets I love about my job)

We couldn’t have asked for better whether it was a high of 85 with a slight breeze and the course ran the course of the river and along side Lake Michigan. The seventh hole overlooked the lake and sat atop a sand dune and this was by far the best view of the lake I had every seen before. With a crisp blue color and the sun reflecting off of it, one could see that God is a great designer and artist. My friend Mark filled me in on the little things about golf; the rules a regulations, etiquette and such, but most importantly I was impressed with my nephew.

Nick has golfed for about a year in now in school, and at the age of 15 and a half, I was extremely impressed with the knowledge he had about the game. He was telling me about the different clubs they use and the purpose of the tees, right down to the course and the bunkers! Not bad for a 15-year-old who only has played a year. This brings me to scripture when Paul is writing to Timothy and gives him this charge; Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

I love this verse because even though young people today has a lot of challenges, they can still claim their faith in Christ. Young people today have the potential to do great things, if only they lived by this verse. Don’t let ANYONE look down on you because you are young. When Paul says anyone, well that means us adults too. My nephew lives this verse because he strives to do better and grow more in the Lord. He quit the football team because he didn’t like the stuff that went on in the locker room. (for anyone that’s spent any amount of time in high school locker rooms, you’ll know what I mean.)

I praise God because Nick decided to keep morality over bad behavior, which in return the Lord has blessed him tremendously. I just wonder what the lives of young people today would be like if they strived for better morals  and a closer walk with God? Just think about it, if more young people had a relationship with Christ, and would stop at nothing to follow him and His way, we wouldn’t see young woman graduating from high school with 2 kids.  Unfortunately with everyone being offended by the word of God and trying to get God removed from anyone and everything, one can see why the world is going to hell in a handbag.

For me though, I will serve the Lord and continue the good fight and if you want to sue me or be offended for the things I write, or have me imprisoned for my faith, the very faith this country was founded on, good, because Christ won.

Thanks for reading!!!!! God bless!!!!!!!!!

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Quit trying to Quit, Just Surrender..

I Surrender All (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I heard this last night at a meeting and wow! It hit me like a brick because I have struggled lately with an issue and my problem is I was trying to quit and not surrender. I’m thankful that I have surrendered and the Lord has removed the issue I was struggling with, only when I stopped quitting and surrendered.

Surrender seems like a weak word in today’s society seeing how everyone tries to be independent only to fall by the wayside shaking their heads wondering why they fell. Surrender is not only strength but its courage as well, because we have to surrender to Christ to become strong.” In my weakness He is strong” is a very real, life changing verse in many ways. One is that when I realize how weak and pathetic I am on my own, that’s when He is strong.

But the key is I have to surrender, not quit, there is a difference. Quitting is the cowards way out. Quitters are the ones that have given up on life and have no hope. People who surrender are the true champions in life because they are the one’s who have come to Christ and let Him change them. I have heard it so many times from people, “I will change when I’m ready.” No you wont because it is humanly impossible to change on our own. Without God, there will be no change in one’s life.

When the Lord say’s to “surrender all to Him,” He means, “all.” Not just the things we want to or the things we feel like giving Him, but ALL. Good and bad and then He in his majestic grace cleans us and forgives our sins as far as the east is from the west.  But we have to surrender every day, not just when we feel like it. Remember when Paul says “he dies to self everyday” well that’s the point. We have to die to ourselves and surrender to Him to gain strength.

We were made in the image and likeness of our creator which tells me we are all beautiful people because God is beautiful. It is such a humble feeling to know that the God of the universe, wants me to surrender my life to Him.  It’s a necessity for this guy to surrender every day because I know where I could end up if I don’t, and that’s not a place I want to go back to. (This is the point were you say to your self “Self, I wonder what kind of life he lived before Christ?” then you go back to check out the rest of my blog, its good stuff!)

So on that note I am signing of for the evening as I prepare to go watch the Senior PGA tour in the morning and enjoy a long weekend, so till next time my friends; Run your race, fight the good fight and remember that you bear the image of God, you may be the only Christian some people will ever meet, what will you do?

Thanks for reading!!!!

Be Blessed!!!!!!!

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Judge, I need a break.

Man in the water, “I wanna be alone…” (Photo credit: Adib Roy)

The other day I read an article on-line about a “man” who had 30 kids by 11 woman and was asking the courts for a break on child support. Really? Yup, clear as day this guy was asking for a break in his responsibilities. As far as I’m concerned he stopped being a man after 1 child. No one in there right mind would have 30 kids with 11 woman but unfortunately this happens more and more every day.

I know I talk a lot about this subject and its because    I have a deep concern for men these days because their not really men. Actually I just want to enlighten men on their actions with hopes of them becoming better Godly men, that’s all. Ya see I am a firm believer in Biblical principles and if all men lived by them, the stuff we see on the streets these days would not be happening. To many men want to eat the cake and have it to and it just doesn’t work that way. I mean I see woman putting up with more than they should by their husbands or boyfriends and it saddens me.

True men don’t skate around on their wife’s and the old saying  “things happen,” just doesn’t cut it.  Of course that’s what this pathetic society we live in says anyways because they put the value on marriage right there with donkey flop. No one respects the covenant of marriage they took before God. It’s no wonder there’s so many broken homes because they have no idea what a biblical marriage or a biblical man looks like, because the churches aren’t teaching it anymore.

How is a Christian man supposed to learn how to be a man from a homo-sexual pastor? They can’t because the pastor and the church has lost their Lamp Stand by going against everything God says. I f we are to learn how to be a man, we need to learn from a man, bottom line.  I understand people may take offense to this and that’s O.K because this suffering that I endure for Christ will be rewarded one day.

These are things I have thought about the past few days and just wanted to share. I’m no expert, nor am I perfect, I just pray for men these days to stand up and take courage and stake their claim in the royal family of God. Christ teaches us to be men, and how to love the woman in our lives, so if you don’t know Him, I challenge you to find out how much He loves you. Your life will never be the same.

Thanks for reading!!!!! Be Blessed!!!!!!

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Continue, continue, continue………….

A photo of a stalemate in chess, based off the image in said article on Wikipedia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Scripture tells us that when we confess our sins we are free indeed, but that’s not a one time thing. A lot of people believe that when we accept Christ, confess our sins and everything’s fine and dandy right? Don’t get me wrong when we accept Christ into our hearts we are a new people, no question, but we have to continue. What do I mean by continue, well its the steps we take as a Christian to grow more Christ-like in everything we do and say. We have to have continue, or be subject to a stalemate.

Stalemate im sure you’ve heard before but let me give a different definition; Staying the same and doing nothing to grow as a Christian or a human. Sounds pretty harsh but isn’t it true? Think about it, every time we choose to go our own way and do things our way, it’s not only direct disobedience to God, but we also start slipping little by little back into that old life and old way of thinking. When we let the pleasures of the flesh  win out, we become stalemate.

I’ve had this happen several times since I have been a Christian and as I look back I’m saddened that I missed opportunities to serve our Lord in some capacity. When I think I know better and when I think I can handle it (which I can’t) I fall back into that old way of thinking and soon I can be doing things I don’t want to do. That’s why today I have to stay vigilant in my studies of the word and service because I don’t want to go back to that life again.

Ya see, that life I used to live is how the world lives today. It’s not how God wants us to live so today I choose to live for God because His ways are way better than anything I could come up with. Unfortunately there are a lot of Christian that still live in the world. Oh yea, they come to church and sing some songs and say a few Amen‘s,  but that’s the extent of the relationship with the Lord. For some Christians it’s all about popularity and being seen and not worshiping Christ and what He’s done for us.

Let me fill you in on a little secret; If you’re coming to church and proclaiming to be a Christian for social status and praise from men, your missing the boat! Church is who we are, not were we go. Church is everyday, 24/7/365 days of the year, the relationships that we form at church are just a bonus. The relationships we have with other Christians are God-ordained and meant for encouragement and prayers, not a popularity contest or a queen contest, stop being fake.

Thats another way we become stalemate is when were worried about what others think of us. I struggled with this for years when I realized that God loved me right were I was, so what difference did it matter what other thought? None. All I want to do is grow closer to my heavenly father today, and I cannot do that if I’m concerned about “what others think.”

Continue, continue, continue is how I want to live today. Continue in the faith, continue growing and becoming more Christ-like and becoming more of the man God wants me to be. How about you???

Thanks for reading!!!!!

Be Blessed!!!!!!!

 

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Honor begins at Home.

father son (Photo credit: alandberning)

I’ve heard it said before that “Honor begins at Home,” which is great, but who do you learn this from? In most families it starts with the father, he is the provider and protector of the family. The spiritual leader in the home and the one the kids go to when mom says no. Now my question is this; Who do the kids go to if there is no father around? Ouch, hard question but one that’s necessary in today’s society. I was raised without a father not because he jumped ship on my mother, but because he passed away when I was only 11.

I was mad at him for years and by my way of thinking he did “jump ship,” because he left me all alone with no answers. My mother God bless her, did the best she could raising me, but I was by no means any help as I was in a rage and the beginning stages of alcoholism. These are things I still wonder about sometimes; what would my life be like now if dad would have been alive even for just a few more years? I have forgiven him and know that he sits with Christ in heaven, and I do understand I had to go through what I had to, to get to the place I am today. But sometimes that thought does cross my mind.

Now let’s get down to more pressing issues like the dads that leave, or the ones that have a one night stand only to find out 9 months later the have a child and pretend it never happened.  Society wonders why there are so many stressed out moms these days, it’s because the dead beat dads are no were to be found. Even if they are around, a lot of them don’t have that intimate relationship with their child that the child is craving. If more fathers were involved with there children, led them in the way of scripture and ministering to there needs, there would probably be less violence and gangs. Am I wrong, maybe but studies have shown that children with a father that nurtures them and loves them are more likely to succeed than those without.

There is good news though and his name is Jesus Christ. When I came to Christ I realized that though I do miss my earthly father, my heavenly father will never let me down. He takes care of my every need and loves me more than I could ever dream. So if your out there struggling without a father, someone to pitch the baseball to you or go camping with, lift your head high, because God has great things planned for you!

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The soul of a Mother.

Mothers’ Day Cake crop (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Scripture tells us that God loves unconditionally because He is love and nothing can separate us from His love which is great. Now let me tell you of another unconditional love which is a mothers love.   A mothers love is a rare kind of love because they stop at nothing to love their child and I know this to be true because my mother stopped at nothing to love me. Its only by the Grace of a loving God and her kind and loving soul that I’m even here today, with that being said, this post goes out to my mother, and all mothers who will stop at nothing to love their child.

To the one who gave birth and sacrificed everything for me; To the one who loved me through the good times and the bad; To the one who worried about me when I didn’t come home or bother calling; To the one who prayed for me to come home; To the one who not only brought me home, but gave me a home; To the one who saw me getting baptized, Happy Mothers Day!

The Lord, my mom and sister, and my nephew have been my all in all since I started this journey, without them I wouldn’t be here telling my story. I was that kid that hated his mom growing up because she made me do things I didn’t want to do, like get good grades in school or wash the dishes after dinner, nor would she let me hang out with the wrong kids, which I wanted to do and did. She loved me and supported me at all times, through the hell and recovery, she loved me. She held my hand in court, and cheered when I decided to do to school. She cried with me when dad passed away and jumped for joy when I celebrated 5 years of sobriety.

So to the one who may read this hating their mother or not doing what your mother says, stop for a minute and think; what are you doing to make the situation better? What part are you playing in the scheme of things? I do understand there are some mothers that are unfit and unloving, for those I will pray for. But for the mothers that work day in and day out, sacrificing everything for your child like mine did, I salute you and my hope is that your children will understand that what you do is priceless.

Thanks for reading!!!

Be Blessed!!!!!!!!!

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Rejection of a different kind.

Rejection (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

                     Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit. 1Thessalonians 4:8

Rejection comes in many forms; getting turned down for college, a loan, credit cards, people, and many more ways, but has rejecting God ever been a thought? I know when I was younger I dealt with rejection a lot, from people mostly, actually it was the fear of being rejected, so I never tried anything because I was going to get rejected anyways so why bother? I still to this day, have a struggle with rejection at times, but then I remember who I serve and He got rejected also, so I stand firmly on the belief that I have to try.

But what about rejecting God? I came across this scripture this morning during my studies and it really brought to my attention that we reject God on so many levels. Every time we sin, we reject God. Every time we don’t do what God is telling us to do, we reject God. Just the other day He was nudging me to do something and I didn’t, that’s rejection. I don’t even think about it half the time of the many ways we reject God. I mean think about it, when were not being kind, or being envious or lustful, all forms of rejection.

I know growing up I was rejected a lot, by many people because I wasn’t the cool kid in the class room, because there was a time when I didn’t drink and drug and did good in school, but still got rejected. So I figured if I stopped doing good in school and joined the “cool” kids I would be accepted and that’s exactly what I did, except as you all know I took it further than anticipated.

As a Christian I have learned that rejection comes with the territory because Christ was rejected, mocked, tortured and died on the cross for my sins, so me getting rejected today has a different meaning. I get rejected for my beliefs and morals and to me that’s exciting because I know I’m doing my job. But when I reject God, I feel like a little child that has just stolen the cookie from the cookie jar and got busted. The more I grow in Christ, the more I learn how vulnerable I am to sin and temptation and how important it is to stay in prayer and in the word.

Rejection by humans can be hurtful and heartbreaking. It can make you feel the lowest in life and depressed but there is good news! Jesus accepts everyone just the way we are. He takes us and molds us into something beautiful, much more beautiful than the world could offer, so I ask this question this morning; Who are you being rejected for?

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Obedient Mind.

Cover of CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK

                 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:1-3

The other morning as I was reading I came across this verse and its been pounding in my head ever since. I love it when the Holy Spirit moves scripture across my heart because there’s usually something God wants me to do. By reading this scripture several times, I have come to the conclusion that I need to set my mind more on Godly things rather than worldly things. I know this is something we all struggle with, but its imperative to growth.

When we come to Christ, we are to put all things that we used to do down, and start living a holy and blameless life. So, how do we change our thinking, or let God change our thinking? I know in my own life I had to stop hanging out with unsavory people and ask God to bring quality, Godly people into my life. I used to hang out with some rough, negative, and unpleasant people and when I came to the Lord, I knew that had to change. Especially when I first sobered up, my mind was fried and I had no idea what was going on, all I knew was I need to stay sober. Hanging out with people that still drank every night, and did the detestable things that I did, wouldn’t help me at all.

I started hanging out with quality people, sober people that were on fire for the Lord, and my way of thinking began to change. I’m a firm believer that God puts the right people in our lives, but we have to decide whether or not we will form a relationship with them. I new I had to because I didn’t want to go back to the life I lived, the bottom of hell, or Satan‘s hatchet man were not things I wanted anymore. So I set out on a journey and what I have found is some of the most phenomenal people I have ever met.

I also had to get into the word. Easier said than done, but when you don’t understand what the Bible is or about, you get lost. So I had to ask questions, many questions to understand scripture, but most importantly I had to ask God to open my mind to understand His word. Every time I get into scripture I pray for guidance and understanding of what God wants me to do. He does just this and more when were sincere about it.

The bible isn’t just some outdated book that has no meaning or reference to today’s culture, it’s exactly what this culture needs. With babies having babies, kids joining gangs to feel like they belong, homosexuality and same-sex marriage considered to be a normal lifestyle,(which it isn’t), but with all these things, the bible don’t apply anymore? Sad. I heard a guy the other day say “He was going to live the way he wanted to live,” and this philosophy is no different from what the “Hollywood Culture” says today, live your life for yourself. Let me know how that works out for you.

If you want to change the way think, if your mind is bombarded by earthly things, turn it to Christ and see what happens. He will “change the way YOU think” because its not about us, it’s about Him and what He did for us. Has anyone else ever died on a cross for you?

Thanks for reading!!! Be Blessed!

 

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