Valor

val·or: boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery: a medal for valor

Pat Tillman was killed in friendly fire on April 23, 2003 in Afghanistan. Tillman was a successful defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals. He was so successful he was on the brink of signing a multi-year contract worth millions of dollars. He had turned down more money from the St. Louis Rams the previous year out of loyalty to the Cardinals. Tillman was so moved by the terrorist attacks of 9/11 that he felt it was his duty to join the Army and serve his country. He gave up fame and fortune to follow what he felt was his obligation at the cost of his own life.

To me this is the definition of sacrifice. When we sacrifice it means we give up something for the benefit of others. I am thankful for those in the military who sacrificed their comfort and convenience for the rest of us. Numerous men and women have shown incredible valor by facing danger and adversity for the sake of  the freedom of others. There are not enough words to express thankfulness for their bravery. 

Memorial Day makes me think of someone else who possessed incredible valor, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ laid down His life to give freedom for sinners like me. He did not have to do it, but He chose to do it because He loves us: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

The reality is we should be mindful of the sacrifice of those we remember on Memorial Day more than one day a year, and we should be even more mindful of the sacrifice of Jesus everyday.

2 Corinthians 5:21
"For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." NLT

As soldiers do their best to defer, deflect, and detour those who would harm us, so Jesus did when He died on the cross. The cross of Jesus Christ will never make sense nor be fully appreciated until we grasp the sinfulness of sin and the holiness of God. Sin destroys lives that is why God hates it so much and that is why it took such a great sacrifice to atone for it. Scripture puts it this way:

"We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus." (Romans 3:22-26 NLT)

Jesus turned away God's righteous judgment of my sin and yours when He died on the cross.God treated Jesus way I deserved to be treated. He was judged so that we do not have to be judged. Jesus showed what valor was all about when He faced the agony of the cross. Christ's valor was motivated by perfect love. He was not dying for land, governments, policies, oil, or any earthly kingdom.

"...He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven." (Hebrews 12:2 NLT)

 

Great quotes from an honest Christian

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."

"I gave in, and admitted that God was God."

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."


 "There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."

C.S. Lewis 

Concerning life: Choose quality over quantity

Ecclesiastes 8:7-8
Indeed, how can people avoid what they don't know is going to happen? None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. NLT

We really do not have much say over the quantity of our lives. Yes we can do somethings to take care of ourselves, like eat right, exercise, wear seat belts etc. but we ultimately do not have control over when we die. We cannot control accidents, cancer, heart problems, war, the weather, or the choices of others. However, we do have a say in the quality of life we live. By quality of life I do not mean possessions, money, or material goods, but a life of peace, joy, and happiness that money cannot buy. Money and possessions are outward things, peace, joy, and happiness are internal things therefore quality of life is not dependent on outward circumstances, but rather an inward attitude of faith. The thought of dying and the reality of dying makes me want to live better today. It makes me want to live more fully and to live fully alive.
I want to fully enjoy God's gifts.
I want to love more and complain less.
I want my life to be a walk of faith, hope, and truth.
I want to die having lived beyond regret.
I want my actions to show the people in my life that they are important to me.
I want my words to bring life and encouragement rather than pain and disappointment. 
I want to learn from my failures and mistakes.
I want to forgive and be forgiven.
I want to judge less and trust more.
I want God to use my life to bless others.
When all is said and done and I crossover into eternity I want to look into Christ's eyes and hear His words: "Well done."

God has given us life. We have been given a certain number of days. We do not choose how long we live but we do choose how we will live. We do not choose the quantity of our lives but we do choose quality of life.

Praying written prayers

The majority of my Christian life has been spent in a Non-Denominational Church. Non-Denominational churches tend to pride themselves on not being enslaved to tradition and being free from the shackles of dry and dull liturgy. As a Non-Denominational Christian I understand and agree with the premise of the arguments against stale and predictable prayer and worship, I do not agree, however, that there is nothing to be gained or experienced by reading or participating in liturgy or liturgical services especially when it is from the heart. Anything can be can become predictable and dry if it is not done or offered from a sincere heart.

With that in mind, I have found reading and praying the prayers of others to be significant in my own spiritual growth and intimacy with God. I was not raised going to church much, so the majority of hymns in modern hymnals I have never sung (although there seems to be a great revival amongst contemporary Christian music in bringing back the old hymns put to modern music & melodies). Several years ago a pastor in Scotland gave me a hymnal from the Church of Scotland. It has been a treasure to me in my private devotional life. I find myself reading them as prayers to God and He always strengthens my faith through them.

When we read the Psalms we are simply reading the written prayers and songs of people who followed God thousands of years ago.

I have found that writing out my prayers to God and then reading them aloud to be a great way to pray. If you struggle with prayer, not knowing how to pray or what to pray, try writing out a prayer to God, get on your knees and read it out loud to God. God will use it stir up other things and lead you further into His presence.

The following is a prayer you can recite first thing in the morning as you offer your day to God

"Almighty and everlasting God, Creator & Sustainer of the universe, I worship you.
Lord Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord of the world, I worship you.
Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the people of God, I worship you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day your fruit may ripen in my life-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Holy blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God, have mercy upon me. Amen."

The expense of our salvation & our discipleship

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

Salvation is free; however, following Jesus costs us everything. The good news of Jesus is that God sent his son to live and die in our place. He lived a perfect life meaning he loved God perfectly and loved his neighbor as himself perfectly, thus he never sinned. However, he willingly stood in our place dying on the cross for our sin, sin he had never known or committed. In the Old Testament we are told: “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God…” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, NIV). The scripture goes on to list blessings for obedience. In the same chapter we read:

“However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you…” (Deuteronomy 28:15, NIV).

The chapter goes on to pronounce a curse for disobedience. Did you notice the “ifs” in those Old Testament verses? Here is the beauty of the gospel: Jesus answered the “ifs” of the law. He lived in perfect obedience, and he paid the penalty for disobedience. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’" (Galatians 3:13, NIV).

Salvation cost you and me nothing, but it cost Jesus everything. However, following Jesus will cost you and me everything.

Taken from "Noblesse Oblige" by Scott Applegate pages 111-113

God never wastes a hurt (Happy St. Patricks Day!)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

It has been said, “God never wastes a hurt.” This truth is illustrated in the life of Saint Patrick. Most people, including the Irish themselves, do not know why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Much to the chagrin of most, St. Patrick’s Day is not about drinking green beer or even the Irish people, but rather, it is the celebration of Saint Patrick bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Ireland.When Patrick was young, he was kidnapped from his home in England and forced into a life of slavery by the Irish. Several years later, he escaped and went home to England. At home in England, he became a dedicated follower of Jesus. During a time of prayer, he felt led to go back to those in Ireland who had enslaved him and bring them the “good news” of Jesus Christ. Needless to say, his work and impact literally changed a people-group. It is amazing that God brought Patrick back to his place of pain so he could use him to grow his kingdom in the same people that had no regard for him years earlier.

Like St. Patrick, God wants to use us to further his kingdom as well. He wants us to use our life experiences to help others in need. God does not require us to have great skills and abilities He requires faith and obedience.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW: BE BLESSED!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7O9OqBd2us

(From "Noblesse Oblige" by Scott Applegate pg. 41-42)

Random thoughts of a hopeful Christian

"I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." Jesus

Statistics seem to indicate that Christianity in the USA is declining at a fairly dramatic pace. Some groups say that in 1990 86% of Americans claimed Christianity as their faith. In 2008 it dropped to 76%. I understand that there is a big difference in someone saying they are a Christian and someone who actually follows Jesus Christ. A follower of Jesus Christ is someone who bases their life, actions, hopes, and dreams on the sacrificial death of Jesus and on His teachings.

The reason I feel these types of statistics are important is because they reveal not necessarily the truth about who are Christians or not but how our culture views Jesus. George Barna points out that the majority of people who say they are Christians are what he calls "casual Christians" and the rest are what he calls "captive Christians". He says: "The lives of Captive Christians are defined by their faith; their worldview is built around their core spiritual beliefs and resultant values." Where as the lives of Casual Christians are marked by: "...balancing everything just right so that they are able to maximize their opportunities and joys in life without undermining their perceived relationship with God and others."

"Liminality" is a word I have just recently discovered. A basic definition for liminality is a state where what used to work does not work anymore and what is going to work in the future has not yet been revealed. In other words, things are ambiguous. Its sort of like a 13 year old boy. He is no longer a little boy, but is not yet a man.

Liminality seems to describe Christianity in our culture. What used to work or the norm is no longer working and what is going to work has yet to be revealed. I realize that Jesus, His truth, and His true followers contiune, but how that looks in our culture is in a state of liminality.

Christianity in the United Kingdom has been on the rapid decline for several decades. As a matter fact, many parts of England and Scotland are considered unreached people groups. How did this happen? First, The church became irrelevant to culture. It stopped answering the questions of its society. The church became a building rather than a living movement of people who followed Jesus with their whole lives. In other words the church became casual in how it influenced culture. It is easy for the church to have a fortress mentality where people are invited in but the people living on the inside have no influence on those on the outside. The church in America seems to be following in their footsteps.

I know Jesus is building His Church no matter what I think or see. I am actually excited that we find ourselves in "liminality" because that means something good is coming. Whenever God makes changes its always good. I talk to people every day who are bored with their faith or disillusioned about what it means to follow Christ. The statistics of how many American Christian kids leave their parents faith behind once they turn 18 is staggering. I think people are hungry for something beyond casual Christianity. They are hungry for something that they can base ALL of their life on. I am banking on it. I am not ashamed to be a Captive Christian. How about you?

Mark 8:34-35 "If any of you wants to be my follower," he told them, "you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life. NLT


http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/13-culture/268-casual-christians-and-the-future-of-america