Hammer on Anvil '

I struggled a little bit yesterday with what to post, and I often deal with questions like: What do I have to add to the conversation? Anyhow, my struggle ended with "I'll figure it out tomorrow!"

So I was browsing my twitter feed and a friend wrote this: "In Christ, your past no longer defines your future."

I think we can all relate to that statement. I think that each and every person has a history and items in the past to deal with that do not easily go away. It's a dichotomy of sorts in that as we grow closer to Christ we can feel worse about our past - yet, growth in Christ is the only way to beat our past.

I am studying through Hebrews this summer and I read at the end of chapter 5 this morning. It spoke of growth and being spiritual infants and such - "We need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child."

I want to use this space today to encourage you to GROW! Take the spiritual milk, but crave the spiritual meat. The way to get past the guilt and shame of your past is through increasing your walk with Jesus.

So today - make time - cultivate your heart - connect with Him - GROW.

Stop stumbling over the past and leap toward the future!

As a college student, nothing got my attention more than the word FREE, especially if followed by t-shirt. Random volunteer opportunities, campus events, and blood drives were always met with a "Sure, I'll do it. Free t-shirt!" So it followed that now I have quite a few blood drive shirts and others I never payed for; they were "free." Is that exactly true? Were they really free?

Eventually I thought about it and realized...No, they're not free; they do cost something. The blood drive shirts, for instance, cost me a pint of blood. (certainly more valuable than, say, a $10 t-shirt.) The t-shirts also cost somebody money to have them made. This slogan of "Free" masks the reality that there is always a cost, whether to you or someone else. Now I always wonder/ask what is the cost, even if I'm told it is free.

Now I've used this with simple objects like t-shirts, does it happen elsewhere? We are told that Salvation is free, but does this overlook or mask something? While there is nothing we can do to earn salvation, it was not without a very heavy cost. Too often I see that Jesus' sacrifice is discounted or devalued by the advertisement of "free salvation." We overlook what it cost him to come to earth, to live among us, to suffer, to be executed. We can see it in how we speak of that salvation; rarely as something precious or wondrous to us, something we are dieing to share.

So let me end by encouraging you to always think of the cost of salvation, that is, the heavy cost that Jesus paid. I know last time I said I would talk about "is it worth it?" I'll get there after this discussion of What's the cost?

Brett

How do we attain to that we want to be? I don't mean how do I guarantee I'll be a millionaire or how do I manipulate life to get everything I've ever wanted? But instead how can I be the man I want to be and the man God created me to be? What stands in my way? Is there an area of responsibility I'm ignoring? Have I failed to recognize my own crap and objectively look at how I handle and react to life? Is there maybe a level of personal responsibility and sober judgement of self that I need to be applying to myself? Do I actively pursue the things that I know make for a better me?(patience, peace, wisdom, understanding) Have I been living passively in a simple reactionary mode to life just taking it all in and never stepping out on a limb or taking a risk?(Have I been upfront with that girl I like and just straight up asked her out?) Do I force myself to do the disciplines that make a better man?(prayer, Bible study, worship, service) Am I living in the shadows and walking the footsteps of everyone else around me or do I recognize when I must lead?(Are my friends defining my beliefs or am I) Am I willing to look different, even foolish in order to courageously provide an example for the people around me to see the light and joy of salvation? When nothing seems to work out do I give up or are my expectations aligned such that they are sighted on Christ or are they set on the things I'm hoping he will provide?(when that girl I like says no she's not interested, does it phase me? Does it grow me as a man or do I let bitterness grow?) What leads me to step out? Am I simply looking for a payment for what I think I've earned or is there a greater purpose? All these questions could go deeper and be dug into further, but for now I'll tie them together with this.

Do I;
Accept responsibility
Reject Passivity
Lead Courageously
Expect God's reward

Hi all! Just a quick note from me this week and next (I got married on Saturday!). This week, I just want to share with you a very short story that was written by a high school senior. It's called "Skipping Stone."

One day, I was throwing stones into the lake. I marveled at the ripples and thought about how the stone mirrored life. Then, the Lord came to me. “Lord, I am like this stone,” I said, tossing another stone into the lake. “You have cast me into the world where Your love resonates outward.” With that, He smiled and picked up His own stone. In one swift motion, He sent it gliding towards the lake, where it gracefully skipped across the water. I watched as several sets of ripples appeared, each with its own unique pattern. Then, He turned to me and said, “Be like the skipping stone. Go from place to place and follow my will. For foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has no place to lay his head. Follow me and I will lead you home.

Matthew 8:20
Matthew 9:9

I don't know about you, but I love summer camp! More specifically, I love summer BIBLE camp. In fact, I have been attending the same bible camp since I was 7 years old. Of course, I'm not a camper, anymore. I've served as a cabin leader, song leader, program director, activities director, class teacher, water slide facilitator, table wiper, and about any other camp role I can think of. Why am I talking about camp? Because it starts… tomorrow! After morning worship service, My wife Deanna and I will come home, eat a turkey sandwich, finish packing last minute items, hop in our car, crank up an old FFH album, and ride away to a camp ground that holds many fond memories for the both of us.

But I have to say that the greatest part about leaving for camp is that I had a chance to take a little Sabbath rest this week. My wife and I had the opportunity to go have dinner with a pastor friend and his family. We ate, we talked, we encouraged one another. We talked ministry, we talked spiritual growth, we talked Super Mario Brothers. We came home sometime after 11 p.m. that night, tired and worn out… but my, were we refreshed! Man, did I ever need that! Why? Because everyone needs a Sabbath.

When God delivered the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses, they had some issues to deal with. Having been in the land of Egypt for about 400 years, their minds were so bent towards the Egyptian gods and their polytheistic way of life and thought, the Israelites literally didn't know how to be anything but Egyptians! They needed to be schooled, retaught… and God did it for them in the desert. They complained, they groaned, they accused God of bringing them out into the desert to die, and time and time again, God provided for their physical needs, in spite of their whining and unbelief. So God provided for their needs by providing them with food, morning and evening. The only catch is, He commanded that they only gather for six days. On the seventh day, they were commanded to rest. Later, God made it one of the official Ten Commandments.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. (Exodus 20:8-10)

But why?

"For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:11)

What's the point? God created, and now He's DONE! What does He think about it? "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."(Genesis 1:31)

We work and labor to make a living for ourselves, which is a good thing, for God Himself ordained work. But in the wickedness of our hearts, we tend to look around and say "Not good enough. I can do better. If I don't do it, nobody will." Something happens deep inside us where we depend on our own strength and ability to build our little world into what we want it to be. Not only that, but we begin to take the credit for what we've accomplished. The reality is this: God is the giver of all good things. He is our provider. If you have it, it's because God provided you with it, and commands you to use it wisely.

And the people of Israel… gathered, some more, some less. …whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. (Exodus 16:17-18)

Sometimes we don't like to be dependant. "If I don't do it myself, it'll never get done." "I don't need anybody's help." We like to think that we are in control of our circumstances, and anything good that we have, it's because of our individual ability, status, good looks, or intelligence. But God wants to teach us the same lesson He was trying to teach the Israelites: He is the giver of ALL good things. And He commands you to stop, rest in the fact that you're not alone, and honor God. Jesus taught a large crowd on the Sermon on the Mount, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Sabbath is about dependence. I like to depend on myself to get things done. I depend on my own creativity and intellect and bible knowledge whenever I am preparing to teach or preach (or write!), and my sinful heart tends to think that it is all pouring out of me. But when I take a day to stop and rest, I am reminded that whatever gifts or abilities I have were given by God. In fact, God could do just fine, with or without me.

God commands you and I to STOP periodically and SABBATH. "Sabbath" is just a Hebrew word that means "to rest, to cease from labor." We may even tend to feel like our salvation is dependant upon our good works. "God loves me… but He'll love me a little more if I would just_____________." Stop trying to earn your status with God, and rest in the fact that if He saved you, it was HIS doing, not yours. It was because of HIS sacrifice, not yours. You are HIS new creation. "You are not your own, but you were bought with a price." So REST! God commands it! You and I need to stop and remember that we are not in control, and that the world will not stop spinning if we don't keep laboring.

As I get ready to leave for camp tomorrow, I have several lessons and devotions that I am preparing to teach, and an anxiety comes over me, and I hope that I am able to say all the right things for just the right effect. But when the anxiety is over whelming, I need to stop and SABBATH: A full, 24-hour period in which I simply cease doing my work and just rest in the fact that God is in control, and that He will work things out, whether I am involved or not.

What about you? How do you like to take control of things? Are you dependant upon God, or do you tend to think that God will never be able to build His kingdom without your help? Or are you working hard at your job, trying to build a life for yourself, and forgetting to take a rest from your labors and trust that God is in control? God is commanding you: "STOP. Sabbath. Honor Me." Sabbath is a command given for your benefit, to keep you in a right attitude toward God, and is a sign to the world that you belong to a God who is in control. God is saying to you…

'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. (Exodus 31:13)

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9)

Now, take this literally, as well… are you working 7-day weeks? Stop it! You sin against God by robbing Him of His time with you. And you sin against yourself by drawing yourself farther away from Him. Get Saturday or Sunday off, get yourself into a church fellowship with your family, and take time to worship and thank God for providing your every need. Rest in His ability to provide. Don't use that time just to nap, or to play. Deliberately take time to give God the glory for the way He provides, and trust that He will continue to do so. Seek His kingdom first… the other stuff will come. Practice the art of dependence upon God.

Tell me if you've heard this one: "I have my own beliefs about God," or: "I like to worship in my own way." What about: "I just haven't found a church that's right for me." I'll confess-I've used these excuses in my lifetime...to avoid living in community with other believers. Why can't I worship on my own terms, at my own time? What's so special about Sunday morning anyway? I'm not really that good with people; and church people always want to TALK to you.


Last week, God in His patience reminded me again why it is important to live in community. A good friend of mine requested a meeting with me--no details, just "Can we meet?" Of course, my mind rushes to conclusions: "Did I say something in a not-so-private place that was overheard and taken out of context?"; "Have I offended someone in some way?". I tried to squash those shouts in my head as I drove to my friend's home. Turns out, this was a God appointment. Something that had been nagging in the back of my mind for weeks was nagging in my friend's mind as well, and God spoke to her directly about it the morning of our meeting. It was in regard to a sin; one that we were both engaged in.

Often when someone says the word 'accountability', we hear the word 'confrontation'. After all, having an 'accountability partner' is all about keeping our behavior in check, right? So many of us avoid this particular relationship simply because we don't like friction; or, more accurately, we don't like being told we've messed up.

God's Word is instructions for our lives. In John 1, He tells us, "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him , nothing came into being that has come into being." vv 1 & 3. This is God--living in community. The Holy Trinity is the perfect example of how we should view our relationships.

Rather than being an argumentative and confrontational experience, my accountability meeting was shockingly encouraging, peaceful and liberating. I was able to realize I didn't have to hold a grudge against myself for falling into this sin, and I believe I was able to alleviate some of that same guilt from my friend's shoulders. More importantly, we were able to put our heads together and formulate a plan of repentance and learning from our mistakes.

God's grace is immeasurable; but it is also dynamic. It comes at us not just from above, but also from next to us. If we refuse to live in community, we miss out on so much of the grace, mercy, love and encouragement God wants to give us through the believers He wants us to walk beside.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

A couple years back on the 4th of July, a group of us went to see the fireworks in Columbia. We watched them on a parking garage and had parked near the top. After the show, we see the nice long line of cars trying to get out, and we were about to join them. Then we thought, "everyone is trying to get out, and no one is trying to get in..." So Jeff (the driver) goes down the entrance ramp (yes, the wrong way) and we were out of there in about 5mins instead of 30.

True, this was not quite legal and it would have been right for us to get a ticket, but we were not caught or stopped. We simply looked at the line of cars and scowling faces as we quickly reached the bottom. This is when I noticed it. While everyone disapproved of what we did, at the same time, every single one of them was jealous. Can you remember a time when you were jealous of someone doing something wrong, or have ever thought: "They always get away with it" or even "Doing the right thing has never gotten me anything." You are not alone.

It isn't constantly on my mind, but the question lingers in the back of my mind...kind of like that girl you know that wears too much perfume and you still smell it an hour after she's gone. Why is it that "bad people" seem to always get away with it? Tough question, not easily answered. The most encouragement I get is from Psalm 73, which shows one man's struggle with this question. A solution, look past the moment and at the big picture, their seeming prosperity is at best temporary.

To those who feel the temptation to envy those who do wrong, check out Psalm 37 (not verse 4): "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away."(v.1-2)

To those that are not, wait awhile and remember: "if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

Again this is a tough question and I haven't even scratched the surface of it. However, it is good to struggle through these thoughts. Next post will ask, Is it worth it?

Brett

With the open content of these blogs, I wanted to follow up on my post from last week and send a letter I started years ago to a man who had a great impact on my life. Perhaps someone stumbles across this and knows him or he see's it. He was my high school wrestling coach at Blue Springs High School and I appreciate him very much. Thanks for listening.

Dear Coach Berry,

I just wanted to write you a letter, and express my appreciation for you. I can still remember when I was in your gym class in 10^th grade, and you challenged me to wrestle for you. I am not sure if you know but my life was a real wreck before that point. I was living a grown up world at the age of 14. My mother didn’t really care where I was at, or what I was doing. In fact, she would offer to buy alcohol for me and my friends. I was hanging out with people in their early 20’s, and things were not pretty. I appreciate you stepping in and teaching me things in life that I would never have otherwise learned.

I have 2 sisters and one brother – of whom none completed more than the 9^th grade, all struggle with substance abuse, and none hold steady jobs. I had the same chance to fail. In fact before coming to Blue Springs in 1988, my mother had to fight to keep the high school in Belton, MO from flunking me from missing too much school. I am often asked how I turned out OK. I reply that I had a coach who cared. A coach who taught me about life. A coach who taught me courage, character, commitment, and class! Remember the 5 C’s! Well, I do! Thanks!

I really believe that being involved with wrestling kept me off the streets, kept me away from any further substance abuse, and kept me focused. In fact the second semester of my sophomore year was the first time I had ever cared about grades. I missed a 4.0 by like 2%. Though I was not one of your top wrestlers of all time, I still learned a great deal, and count it a privilege to have learned under you. I use my wrestling skills still today as I work as a Youth Minister. In addition, I was the first to finish high school and college – in my whole family.

I have a wife of 17 years, and 3 kids. I dated my wife in high school. Micah, 13, is a future state champion, Denaia is 10, and Makenna is 4. She is the sweetest thing ever – they all enjoy our nightly ritual of wrestling! All kidding aside, I have a wonderful family, and a great life. Whether you know it or not, you had a significant part in it.

I guess what I am saying is THANKS! I appreciate your time you invested in my life, the care you gave, and everything you taught me..

Mike Johns

Often I feel so overexposed to religion and church that the truth and excitement of the Bible dies before it makes it off the page. I fully believe and know that the Bible is the inspired word of God, but have I really lived as if that were the truth? Where is my zeal for pouring over the Word and for working out my beliefs and faith through close examination and testing of the Word? When I read the Word of God am I doing so with ferver? Am I doing so because I'm operating under the knowledge that it leads me to know God more and helps me to draw nearer to him? Or is this a check mark? Just one more Christian duty.
Hebrews 4:12 - For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power, sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.-

If His word is alive why don't my actions reflect that? Have I looked to Christ and have I made way for the Spirit to enter in? Reading about Christ is fine, but experiencing the fullness of the Spirit which he sent to us ought to be our goal. Fortunate are we that he is not here so that His Spirit could come.
John 16:7-12ish - However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is good for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the advocate/counselor/helper/strengthener will not come to you; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness and about judgment. ... But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth. For He will not speak His own message; but He will tell whatever He hears, and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of what is Mine and will reveal it to you.-

The promise of the giving of the Holy Spirit for God's glory is astounding and radically opposed to the self focused priorities of this world. May it be said of us as Christians that we truly walk in the Spirit always remembering our great and privileged commission to be made alive in Christ. That we are so alive that the dead bones around us come back to life and are made whole again.
Galations 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

When I was in college, I went through a difficult time of depression. There was no real reason for it; it was just there. I remember pleading with God on several occasions to please, please stop the pain. It turned into a pivotal moment of questioning my faith (which is okay to do btw). After all, how could a loving God allow me to have pain? Eventually (and long after I would have liked), the answers came. It was very much a “sieve moment” like Jerrod was talking about yesterday. God truly opened my eyes to the question of pain in a way that never would have occurred if I didn’t go through that difficult time. I’ve since written a 5-page Word document to explain the revelations I had during that time. What follows is a seriously condensed version.

Imagine this scenario. A dog that has stepped on a thorn and gotten it stuck in his paw. It is very painful for him, so he goes to his master for help. His master knows that the thorn needs to come out, but he also knows that pulling it out will hurt the dog very much. The dog, who does not think like humans, only knows that the thorn hurts and offers up his paw for his master to fix it. The master pulls it out quickly. The dog yelps in pain and runs away from his master. In the dog’s mind, the master has just caused him great pain, and so he must be bad.

Or another scenario. Consider the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The caterpillar gathers resources and stores fat in preparation for his transformation. When he is ready, he builds a cocoon. Amazing things happen over the next several days. However, at the end of this time, the cocoon becomes very tight. It won’t budge. The butterfly is in pain. If you could hear its thoughts, it would be screaming, “Help me! Help me!” Hearing this, you might be tempted to help the butterfly by quickly opening the cocoon for him. However, if you do that, the butterfly will probably never be able to fly. The actual struggle of emerging from the cocoon forces the butterfly through a process that is necessary to enable it to fly. “Helping” the butterfly may be condemning it to sit on your windowsill to watch all the other butterflies soar through the air.

Both of these analogies have lessons that we can learn from. In comparison to God, we are like dogs or caterpillars. Despite how smart or wise we might think we are, we know nothing compared to God. Just like it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

There are SO many instances of pain that we don’t understand. We just look at it and know that it sucks. But as Christians, we need to look at everything a different way. We need to look at it with eternity on our minds. For myself, that 3-4 years of depression really sucked, but I would not be nearly the man I am today without having gone through it.

Now, remember I said that I pleaded with God to end my pain? From my perspective, here is what happened. I was in pain, I prayed, God heard, God waited, God delivered, I praised God (for what He accomplished through the pain). Now, remember that God is an infinite being. He hears all prayers and all praises at all times. That means that God was allowing me to continue through depression at the same time that He was listening to both my pleading that He end it and my praise that He allowed it to continue.

This is why NOW when I pray, I do my best to pray like Jesus prayed in Matthew 26:39. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (underline added)

When Jesus prayed this, he knew that he would soon be betrayed and crucified and he would take all of the sin of the world upon himself. How petty do our own concerns seem next to this? And yet still, in his prayer, he let God know his desire, but made it very clear that God’s desire was most important.

I’ve already gone longer than I meant to, so let me end by urging you to take a look at the lyrics to a couple of my favorite songs that deal with this issue:

Blessings by Laura Story

Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns

Oh yeah! Do you have a time when you had to go through a season of pain and later saw how God had worked through that season? I LOVE hearing stories like that, so please share it with me in the comments. Thanks!

Hey guys, my name is Jerrod. I'll be posting on Saturdays on "Hammer on Anvil". I am a youth and children's pastor at a small Baptist church in Fredericktown, MO. It is meticulously inscribed into my DNA to be late, and this has been an abnormally long weekend of ministry, so while I already had this blog entry typed up and ready to go all week, Saturday came and went and I forgot to post it... so here it is, late Sunday night!

If you’ve been following this fledgling blog for the past week, I commend you for your desire to read the ramblings of a few believers who are sharing the nuts and bolts of their walk with Christ. There’s nothing pretty about discipleship, and quite often, there’s nothing pretty about the disciples that Jesus often chooses for Himself. Thus, "we have these treasures in jars of clay"...

I was seven years old when I first attended bible camp, heard the gospel preached, and decided… “I want in”. My growing mind still had much to process about the gospel, and what it meant to be a disciple. All I knew is that I wanted to be on the Lord’s side. And that’s how I grew up. Wanting to be on the Lord's side, and learning what it takes to be that guy.

Belief didn’t come too incredibly hard for me… at first. I was surrounded by believers, and by messages of faith. But as I grew into my teens, and began trying to engage with other people who were agnostics or atheists, hoping to win them for the Lord, I heard more and more “testimonies” of disbelief: “A good God wouldn’t create a world with so much evil”; “A loving God would never send anyone to hell”; “There is too much evidence for the Big Bang and evolution for me to believe in a six-day creation”; “the bible is a fairy-tale for little children”.

It’s hard to explain in a few short paragraphs what exactly began to eat away at my heart. During my early 20's, I came to a point in life when the Christian life was not turning out the way I thought it was supposed to be. Circumstances had led me one night to a grassy field after dark, after having gotten off of a late night shift at a Christian conference center where I had been employed for the summer. I laid on my back in the grass, staring at the stars, angry, frustrated, suddenly troubled and doubtful. I asked myself, gazing into the sky, “Do I really believe that God created all of this? Or am I just fooling myself?” That became, for me, what many would call a “crisis of faith”. At 20 years old, I was a licensed minister, loved to preach and teach, but for the first time, my heart was having a hard time believing the gospel that it had loved for so long.

The next few years that followed saw much intellectual struggle, asking questions I didn’t know how to find answers to. I was terrified to talk to anyone about my doubts, because (I assumed) everyone expected the best out of me, and surely no one would understand why I had these doubts, all of a sudden.

A lot of things have happened between then and now – relationships formed, books read, discussions with people who have wrestled with the same troubling questions. But early on, I made two firm resolutions that I continue to stand upon to this day. My first resolution was that if I should come to the irreversible conclusion within my heart and mind that I could no longer sustain a faith in an unseen, unheard, all-powerful, all-knowing, personal, creator God… then my life surely has no meaning. The day I come to that conclusion, I resolved, would be the day that I begin planning and preparing for my own suicide.

But the second resolution I made was equally as crucial for me: If life without God is not worth living for, then I certainly have nothing better to do with my life than to pursue and to know the creator of the universe with everything I have, everything I am. “…you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

Get busy living, or get busy dying.

I wanted to live. I wanted to know, to pursue, to walk with God. But I felt incredible defeat and discouragement for what I perceived to be my own failures in the faith. I couldn’t see everything, the unknown was killing me.

Peter and the other disciples were in a similar predicament. Right before Jesus was arrested, He spoke these words to Peter and the disciples:

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you (speaking to Peter and ALL the disciples), that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you (speaking specifically to Peter) that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death." Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me." (Luke 22:31-34)

Do you know what sieve is? A sieve is a tool used to separate wheat grains from the chaff – the part of the stalk that is useless, the shells and dirt, only good for burning. “Sifting” was the process of putting harvested wheat grains through a sieve, to separate the useful stuff (the grains) from the worthless. Satan so badly wanted to put Peter into a sieve and shake him up and prove that his faith was worthless, he even petitioned God for permission to do it – to sift him like wheat. God granted permission. God never grants us to be tested if he didn’t intend to break us in for His use.

Peter would have his faith tested like never before. He would suddenly find that this Jesus that He thought he knew so well… he didn’t really know at all. That night, as Jesus was being threatened with violent arrest, Peter pulled his sword from his sheath and took a swing to shed first blood in which he believed would be the greatest battle to end all battles, and would put his king (Jesus) on the throne. But at his first swipe of a sword, Jesus stopped him and said “put it away. This has to happen.” Next thing Peter knew, Jesus was healing a man’s ear that Peter had just lopped off, and was then led away to be tried and crucified. Peter’s world just got turned upside down.

But before any of this took place, remember, Jesus had told him something very important. His words for Peter have struck a strong chord in my own life, and should for anyone who has ever put their faith in Christ: “I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.”

I have this assurance on my side: Jesus is praying for me. Interceding for me. Fighting for me. I am not in this alone. And if you are striving to know God, you are not alone either. “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

The second thing Jesus said was “when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” No one will be in the sieve forever. Peter would be no exception. Jesus knew that Peter would soon after come to his senses, be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), and be able to minister to others who are in the same confused, frustrated state that he was in.

This is my story. If you’re honest, it is probably your story, too. If not, it will one day be. Rest assured, Satan is asking for you, that he may sift you as wheat, and that day will come. But the Lord Jesus Christ is interceding for you, that your faith will not fail, and that you will be able to stand as a testimony of His faithfulness and mercy in the very end. The VERY end.

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:13b)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

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By the way, if you happen to be something of a cynical/skeptic type like me, you may find a lot of compelling and helpful material in books like these:...

http://www.amazon.com/Reason-God-Belief-Age-Skepticism/dp/1594483493/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310958736&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652888/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310958829&sr=1-1

Hello there! My name is Misti. I am so very excited to begin this new adventure--blogging! I am a married mother of two wonderful young ladies (who are growing faster than I can keep up).


I grew up in church...sort of. My family were what is referred to in Christian circles as "Creasters", people who attend church during religious holidays. My dad's family was Methodist, so I was "sprinkled" as an infant-or, christened. At age 11, I was enrolled in confirmation class.


As a pre-teen, I never really "got it". Confirmation was something that you did at a certain age, not necessarily as a response to a specific call. I learned a lot about the Bible, but without a spiritual understanding, it didn't really mean much to me.


I met my husband while I was in college. He had grown up in the church as well, but with a very different background. His parents were strong Christians who taught their children about their need for Christ. Unfortunately, when we started seeing each other, my husband had pulled away from his church-he was in rebellion.


Three years after we were married, we prepared to bring our first daughter into the world. God had been working on me for some time, but it all crystallized when I realized I would be responsible for a new life. I desired to raise my children in a Christian home; but God helped me see that I could not do that without Him.


My life has been blessed immensely since that decision. The Lord has given me a mission to work with students. I believe He is using my personal experiences to give me a unique vision into the minds of young adults. It has been the most wonderful time of discovering what my purpose is in the world.


I can't wait to see where this new community will go. As iron sharpens iron, I believe that faith grows by being in community with other believers. God uses those who are willing; and I'm so happy that he gives us the desire to be willing!

• Character


• Class


• Courage


• Commitment


• Recruitment

Right now I am a single, 24 year old college graduate with a degree in Biblical Studies/History. Yeah, so I now work at a bakery. For church, I go to a local Hispanic church where the service is predominantly in Spanish. No, I'm not fluent, I just enjoy it. If this seems confusing then you have discovered my recurring questions with identity, haha.

So I've been a Christian since I was a kid. Not only raised in a Christian family, but my dad was also a pastor(make any assumptions you want, they might be true). To give you an idea, when I was younger I used to be able to count the number of times I missed church (in waking memory, of course) and I knew all about Noah's Ark before I even heard of Columbus. I went to Sunday School, read the Bible on my own, and was a pretty good kid (unless you were a girl, in which case I most likely picked on you).

Typically there 2 routes for a PK (pastor's kid) to go: rebellious or goody-goody; neither was me. I have always been an intelligent individual and definitely mischievous, but never a trouble-maker. This isn't a bad thing, and I am still these things, but I had missed something. I became puffed up in my knowledge of the Bible. I became prideful of the kind of life I lived: "At least I don't live like them" "God must be proud of the things I do." In all my reading, I had missed such verses as "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" and did not see that I was the Pharisee in Jesus' parable (Luke 18:9-14) Thankfully I eventually saw my error.

I don't know exactly all that happened for me to see this, but it did. Knowledge should not be used to puff up myself but rather for building others up. My own righteousness amounts to nothing more than used toilet paper, but I now look to Jesus' sacrifice only. This is where I'm at. Much of life for me is questions, but to serve faithfully is the goal. How? We'll see...

Brett

Rather than share the beginning, because we'd be here for hours, I thought I'd start in the middle or approximately two thirds into my journey according to my current age. Suffice it to say I've been a Christian for as long as I can remember probably first giving my life to the Lord at some point in my childhood.>>>>fast forward>>>>stop age 24 - 27.

I'm a very honor/integrity bound person so I always wanted to do right by the Lord, but the reality of still being a sinful man continued to discourage and weigh me down. I tried to pursue Christ's example but naturally being human I fell short and I continue to fall short; so how was I/how am I to deal with this shortfall? How could I reconcile my present sinfulness with the churches admonition to and insinuation that I should be capable of perfection? In my life this gap between where I was aiming and where I truly was manifested itself in depression. The constant knowledge of my short comings which seemed to stand opposite my confession of faith weighed me down and was constantly on my heart and mind. I was face to face with Romans 7:24.
-Oh wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death?-

Compounded on top of this guilt and shame, which was more than enough believe me, was also plenty of disappointment. Everyone around me seemed to subscribe to the idea that God immediately or always answers our desire for a mate and I was dang ready for that to finally happen. While that's the rosy butterfly and puppy dog view it is not always the case. My apparent inability to find and lay hold of someone, preferably just as strange as I and incredibly beautiful to boot, to love discouraged and added to the weight I already felt. Was this because of my sin, because sometimes it can be an unchecked heart or an unrepentant spirit. "What Lord, WHAT!" I wrestled with him late one night on the way back from a MUTEMATH show in Tulsa. "I'm doing everything I know how! I'm stepping out into the sea when you're calling me to. I'm working as hard as I know how, but my strength is not enough to meet your requirements."
...tears, frustration, disbelief, anger, confession, trust, surrender.
It is only looking back now that I can see that to my yelling/wrestling(and by the way it's ok to wrestle with God about things you don't understand - Lt. Dan style if need be) he just said, 'I know'.

The point he was making was that it was not for me to do in my own strength, but through the surrendering of my weakness and insufficiency. That's where he truly began to work. Confession, trust, and surrender were the most important things to come out of that wrestling. I struggled a lot with wanting things on my own time table because I didn't trust enough to surrender and accept his plans for me. I was struggling to achieve and pursue my own goals without thought or hesitation to consider his purpose and plans. My fear was and sometimes still is, "Well what if his plans for me don't include the things I most desire at this moment?" Though the work completed on the cross was all done for me it is stopping short to leave off there and think this life should be focused on me. Indeed I'm finding I'm not here just to see what I can attain, but rather for the adventure and that there is a purpose and an opportunity in whatever is sent my way. What he spoke though Isaiah 55:8-9 is still the case.
-For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts-
So I confessed that I hadn't been trusting and surrendered to the knowledge that He is greater than I am and that I must and will trust Him through smooth sailing as well as the most difficult times. Even when it is the most perplexing and my human mind cannot grasp a reason I'm striving to surrender. Job13:15
-Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him-

Grace and trust were the concepts I just could not comprehend and allow to sink in before this surrender finally happened. It wasn't about something I could produce or attain due to my own strength and it wasn't about any plan that I could work out in my own timing. I continue to learn that God's grace is indeed greater than my sin, it is freely given, it is his unmerited favor and love. I now trust that his love is so great for me that even though I may not see or understand what it is that he has my best interest in mind. With these things in line it put me into a place to really begin to come alive and see freedom from the chains of my depression and sin. I then began to truly see and continue to see transformation as the Holy Spirit works in my life; great joy even through pain, peace even in trial and hope where I once was hopeless. The idea of trust or faith in God has not removed the frustration I often feel, made me sinless, and it definitely doesn't mean everything is sunshine and rainbows, but it does give me a rock to stand on when everything else seems to be coming down around me.
-And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Matthew 7:25

Hi everyone!

This is the beginning of a new Christian blog!  Our motto comes from Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."  Our goal is to share insight and teaching about Christ in an effort to sharpen each other and our readers.  Please join in by sharing your thoughts, opinions, and questions in the comment area of each post and we'll do our best to respond to you.

This is a team blog, so at least one of us will be posting every day.  Here's the schedule we're planning to use:

Monday - Nick Smith
Tuesday - Red Beard
Wednesday - Brett Kelley
Thursday - Mike Johns
Friday - Misti Runyan
Saturday - Jerrod Tune

On Sundays, we're planning to have guest contributors.  If you would be interested in being a contributor, let us know by leaving a note in the comments section of one of the posts.

One last thing.  Each of our contributors is open to share whatever he or she wants, but occassionally, we'll have a topic-of-the-week.  As we're just starting out, our topic for this first week will be testimony.  As a way for everyone to get to know our contributors, each one of us will be sharing at least a portion of our testimony this week.

Thanks and God bless!