Honoring Army Sgt. Joseph M. Nolan

Honoring Army Sgt. Joseph M. Nolan who selflessly sacrificed his life sixteen years ago in Iraq for our great Country. Please help me honor him so that he is not forgotten.

 

4 "Bear" Essentials For Men

 Every man has critical moments in his life when he cannot bear one more problem. Stress at work or home is pushing you to your limit. Here are four “bear” essentials for men to help realize the blessings God has for us.

For many years, I have taken many personality tests to help me be a better leader. One test used animals’ personality (beaver, golden retriever, lion, and otter), but I have always felt that I was more like a bear. Being a stocky kid, then a burly man with a thick torso, I resembled a bear. My wife and family would say that I am mostly a “teddy bear,” but my inner grizzly comes out when I get really stressed out.

Grizzly bears are violent and dangerous when something appears to be a threat. When someone gets between a grizzly and its food or cubs, then watch out! When someone or something poses a threat to a man’s family, home, or job – lookout! Most of the time, I believe most men are like the black bear who measures a threat and finds a different path. “Grizzly” moments happen for men when they are already stressed out and fight out of a sense of rage.

In 2nd Kings 2, there is a famous story of when Elisha, the prophet (who succeeded the prophet Elijah) met a gang of disrespectful teenage boys who did not honor God and even called the prophet the name “baldy.” We may laugh at the “baldy” comment, but Elijah called out to God to curse the boys, and two female bears came and mauled 42 boys! I think Elisha could not handle one problem that day. The people at Bethel and Jericho wanted Elijah and refused to believe Elisha was the next prophet until he did a miracle.

Every man has critical moments in his life when he cannot bear one more problem. Stress at work or home is pushing you to your limit, and you want to just blast your anger at the offending parties. Knowing how to cope with and healthily release your rage is even more of a struggle if you have been told not to get angry since you were a child. Well-meaning brothers in the faith will even question if your anger is self-righteous or on the side of seeking God’s justice. Here are four “bear” essentials to help you realize the blessings God has for you.

1. Give God the Heavy End of Your Burdens.

Moving is never fun, especially when you have to go up staircases. I now try to have the younger guy take the heavy end or when we move a heavy piece of furniture up the stairs in my “old age.”  One interpretation or usage of the Greek word, bastazo, means to carry or bear weight. Worrying is a heavy burden for many men. Financially providing for your family can feel like a great weight of responsibility.

When Jesus saw his disciples struggling, he said,

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:29-30.

Men, no one can avoid responsibilities if they are connected with those they love. Instead of trying to do alone, Jesus promised that God will take the heavy end of our burdens, and we find relief.

2. Carry Yourself Like a Strongman.

Some of you may be too young to remember the circus strongman who did amazing feats of lifting huge weights and bending steel to amaze the crowd. The strongman looked the part with huge muscles (i.e., Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson”), but I suggest that the man’s self-confidence was part of his aura.

The second Greek word for bear, pherēte, refers to how you carry yourself as a man and a leader. My dad used to say that a man should be calm, cool, and collected when faced with a challenging situation. In a TV commercial for an antiperspirant, the slogan is “Don’t Let Them See You Sweat.”

When a man is a Christian, he is living with the Holy Spirit and can walk with confidence. He is no longer on his own, but is carrying himself with the hope of Christ as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:49:

“And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”

3. Keep grounded, and you will bear fruit.

The third Greek word for bear, karpophoreó, describes the process of having blessings or burdens in your life.  As a young man and newly married, I was uneasy about my job and felt pressure to succeed. I prayed for weeks with no clear answer.

Finally, when I was away at a business conference, I left the evening session early and returned to my hotel room, totally frustrated with God’s silence. As before, I got down on my knees and prayed. After fifteen minutes with my prayers, seemingly going no higher than the ceiling, I opened my Bible to the gospel of John, and God showed me three truths.

• I have to trust in God always (v. 4 - grounded and secure in the love of God)
• I am a friend of God’s, and complete joy is possible (v. 11).
• God has chosen me, through Jesus Christ, to bear spiritual fruit that will last for me and those I love and encounter (v 16 – “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”)

It takes time for any tree or life to bear fruit. Don’t give up, and don’t give in! Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower that those who protect and nourish their faith within time enjoy “a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  Matthew 13:23

4. Keep eating the “good” food.

I love chicken fried in peanut oil. Give me some fresh french fries or kettle chips, and I am happy. Food happiness, especially fried foods, is often temporary and regret coming later. The best way to bear the fruit that God desires is to focus on the Holy Spirit;

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Apostle Paul learned to not give in to temptation but chose to be a man of all these great qualities that others admired and appreciated.

As your mind goes, so goes your life. Keep your mind trained on the best God has to offer you.  Reject the negativity of the world and the lies of Satan. When I need an extra amount of spiritual encouragement, I read what the Apostle Paul was inspired by God to write in Philippians 4:8-9.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I will end with the “bear” truths.”  Men, you are not alone in your burdens. God will help you bear under the pressure of life. You will be blessed when you help others through their times of need. You will bear fruit that will last because through Christ, you are chosen! 

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The Ramblings of a Crusty Old Sailor - Bible Verses That Remind Us God is in Control

 Reposted from Lesli White

Anxiety and fear are relentless. These are two of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. Unchecked fear can keep you in bed for hours past what is healthy or wise. Anxiety can also show us as a fiery anger, in unkind speech and hurtful attitudes. The longer you struggle with fear, the more likely it is for you to be overwhelmed by it, allowing it to control your every decision and move. Choosing not to deal with it can leave you with scars. Even still, we have a promise that “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1 Corinthians 10:13), and this includes the sinful unbelief of an anxious heart. One of the best ways to rid yourself of the fear that is plaguing you is to turn to Scripture. Here are eight Bible verses that remind us God is in control.

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Sometimes, we can read certain verses from Scripture a hundred times and fail to take them to heart the way the Lord wants us to. Other times, we can linger on a verse or two, and let them minister life, healing and comfort to us. Isaiah 41:10 is so rich with the promises of God that it warrants some special attention from us. Ultimately, the Lord wants to impart to us through this verse that we shouldn’t be afraid. “Fear not [there is nothing to fear].” One reason why God warns us against fear is that it can short-circuit the answered prayers and blessings that He has in store for us.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”Psalm 46:1

By definition, a refuge is a safe place. When the Bible describes God as our refuge, it is saying that God is our safe place when we need protection from something. Knowing God is our refuge enables us to trust Him more freely. We need not fear situations or people who threaten our well-being, whether in a physical or spiritual sense. There is no situation we will ever face that is out of God’s control, so the best place to be, always, is right with Him.

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

According to data released by Amazon on the most highlighted passage in Kindle ebooks, the most popular passage from the Bible is this passage from Philippians. Most biblical scholars agree that the apostle Paul composed Philippians while he was in prison so the fact that Paul was able to reject anxiety even during his own imprisonment makes the passage all the more encouraging. Although it might seem novel to see biblical writers addressing modern worries, the lesson from this passage is timeless and can affect anyone. The life of faith is filled with constant challenge to risk more to become our true selves.

1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The One who fears is not made perfect in love.”

In the previous verse (verse 17), John tells us how to have confidence or boldness on the Day of Judgement. And in verse 18, he tells us how to cast fear out of our lives. These are simply positive and negative ways of saying the same thing: getting rid of fear is the negative way of saying become confident. John wants to help us enjoy confidence before God. He does not want us to be paralyzed or depressed by fear of judgment.

Psalm 94:19

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19

What this Psalm tells us is that even in rough or desperate situations, we can be filled with the joy of the Lord. He is our consolation and His Word eases anxiety like nothing else can. God can bring joy to your soul even during times when you’re most anxious by simply knowing that He’s present and trusting in His power.

Luke 12:22-26

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

Psalm 27:1Life is more than food and clothing. God has reminded us of that throughout the Scriptures. Jesus reminded us of it when He faced temptation from Satan. So we shouldn’t worry because God will take care of the big stuff and the little stuff. Worrying doesn’t change things, big or small, except to make those problems appear worse than they really are. So why let ourselves get so worked up into a frenzy over “big things”? Cast your cares on God and then trust in His wisdom.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Like many psalms, King David wrote this from a season of trouble. Yet, it is a song of confidence and triumph because David was not in darkness or ultimate peril because the Lord was his light and salvation. God Himself brought light to David’s life. He did not despair in darkness and all that it represented. His life was filled with the Lord, and his life was filled with the light.

Revelation 1:17

“Then He placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.”

Jesus said first, “Do not be afraid” This is what we need to hear these days when many of us are so anxious. Remember, fear doesn’t glorify God. Jesus was always saying “fear not” to his frightened disciples. The Gospels record that every time they were in trouble, they expressed themselves in manifestations of fear, anxiety, worry and panic, but the Lord always came along at the right moment and said, “Fear not.” We are called to do the same.

One of the best ways to combat two of the enemy’s weapons of fear and anxiety is through the power of Scripture. Read God’s Word, and repeatedly immerse yourself in it. The more you read, the better you will understand His Word and the truth found in it. While fear may continue to show up for you, when you acknowledge and truly believe God is in control, fear and anxiety will no longer paralyze you.