 |
Subscribe to this blog using your choice of the following feeds:
What's a feed?
A feed simplifies your web experience by adding to your internet browser a button
that will keep you up to date when a blog entry is added to this blog. Without having
to check this website, you’ll know when there’s a new post.
Archive of posts by month:
March, 2010February, 2010January, 2010December, 2009November, 2009October, 2009September, 2009August, 2009July, 2009June, 2009May, 2009April, 2009March, 2009February, 2009January, 2009December, 2008November, 2008October, 2008September, 2008August, 2008July, 2008June, 2008May, 2008April, 2008March, 2008February, 2008January, 2008December, 2007November, 2007October, 2007September, 2007August, 2007July, 2007June, 2007May, 2007
About ADVANCE
ADVANCE is about Men Moving Forward. We are made for more. M than just a career
or a title, we have been called by God to first belong to him, to lead honorably,
and to faithfully pursue growth and health for ourselves, our families, and our
outside world.
For more about ADVANCE »
For more about Pastor Zack Totten »
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Tough Times
The economy is bad.
But is it that bad??

|
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Truth in a Season of Anguish
|
This has been such a season of anguish in so many of our
lives. I've watched my dreams die, my business die, my dream home soon to die,
and creditors call on Sunday at 8:05 AM with no respect for anything but a
return on their usury…Threatening litigation for an account not yet 30 days
late!
I have been subject to condemnation from those who haven't
suffered in this economy looking down smugly as if they had some great wisdom I
do not. I’ve watched cheap and incompetent labor replace the highly skilled
with smug arrogance. I've suffered as my wife's emotions have escalated
to despair and discouragement. I suffered sharp criticism to my faith and been
ridiculed for my optimism…slapped instead in the face over/over again with a
worst-case scenario.
I've suffered as old demons of hurt, disappointment, sin,
and anger try to rise back to the surface of my life when I'm at my weakest.
I've watched close families lose their jobs/businesses, lose
their’ hope/faith, lose their homes, lose heart, and some have lost their
spouses. I've watched control-freaks unable to control anything. I've seen the
unjust prosper off the backs of the disadvantaged. I’ve watched the rich
protect their financial empires and take the homes of those they betrayed.
But this I declare to you my friend:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath
anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and
the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be
glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3
|
Thursday, February 11, 2010
"Do we really believe this stuff" by Jeff Solomon
|
As I
ponder another long day, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by everything that's on
my plate, my bible reading is in Luke where Jesus is asked this question:
"Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus
replied, "What does the law of Moses say?
How do you read it?" The man answered, "You must
love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength
and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself." "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live. "
So is
it really that simple? Do we really believe this stuff? How can
we focus on "eternal life" when we are so weighed down dealing with
this life? What comes to my mind is getting back to the basics.
These guys had nothing…just their sandals, some basic stuff.
Obviously, how they lived is nothing like today's society, but they still
walked through the reality of their times. They had challenges too.
Perhaps the answer is as simple as loving God and loving others.
Today, before I start my work projects, I'm going to thank Him, praise Him and
send a positive word to another brother. It's simple…but I'm believing
and trusting God for an awesome day. Love God. Love others.
I think I can understand that.
|
Friday, January 29, 2010
Going Fishing!
|
Some guys
are going deep sea fishing. Why not join them?
Paul
Hemmingway is putting together a trip out of Channel Islands Harbor
that no doubt will be a ton of fun and a great time. If it’s like other tips he’s
put together, a lot of fish will be caught.
The date is Friday, March 12.
The cost is $60 per person.
This is not
a Sanctuary event, so call Paul for details: 661-212-1627.
Don’t
delay as there is limited space and he has to give the final count to the
charter company by February 15
|
Friday, January 15, 2010
Covenant Eyes
|

We live in a day where the
opportunity to sin is incredibly easy largely due to the Internet. In the
privacy of our bedroom, home, office, or even on a cell phone, we can access images
and information that use to require a concerted effort. All it takes now is a
click of a button. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to get there, but all too often, it takes everything we have to get away from it!
With so many inappropriate
websites and Internet temptations, what we do online can have a big impact on
our lives offline. Removing the secrecy changes how a person surfs the web.
Online accountability provides new strength.
Covenant Eyes can help us
be the men we so desperately desire to be. The Covenant Eyes browser is not an
Internet filter. Instead, the Internet monitoring service scores
websites visited for
mature content and sends a report to a person you choose.
This friend, spouse, parent or other person you select is your Accountability
Partner and receives your reports by email or views them online.
Accountability is a good
thing. It is a must for us to live free and strong as were intended to.
To find out more about
Covenant Eyes, visit www.CovenantEyes.com.
|
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
New Drivers
|
Parenting an older teenager
is like sitting in the passenger seat as your licensed son or daughter is
driving. They can drive on their own without you so it doesn’t do them any good
to nit-pick their driving. That training should have happened when they only had
their learner’s permit. No doubt they are going to drive differently than you; they’re not you. But if they are driving safely, keep your mouth closed to criticism
and open for praise. They will navigate life more effectively knowing they have
your confidence rather than criticism.
|
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Perception...Something to Think About

Washington,
DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin
played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2
thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He
slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his
schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the
hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his
watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A
3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid
stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the
child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated
by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their
children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for
a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.
The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded,
nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the
greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces
ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua
Bell sold out a theater in Boston
where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station
was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception,
taste and people's priorities.
The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate
hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we
recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in
the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most
beautiful instruments ever made.
How many other things are we missing? |
|
Friday, December 18, 2009
Regarding "manhood"
|
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's
rite of passage?
His dad takes him into the forest blindfolded and leaves
him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not
take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it.
He is all by himself.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives
the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each
lad must come into his own manhood.
The boy in our story was, naturally, terrified. Her could
hear all kinds of noise. Beasts were all around him. Maybe even a human would
hurt him.
The wind blew the grass and earth and it shook his stump.
But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold.
It would be the only way he could be a man.
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he
removed his blindfold.
It was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump
next to him - at watch the entire night.
"I will never fail you. I will never abandon
you."
- God (Hebrews 3:5)
|
Friday, December 04, 2009
Game Plan for Life Joe Gibbs’ Playbook for Success
|
This is a recent article from BreakPoint with Chuck Coleson. I'm posting it because a lot of you love football and admire the great coach Joe Gibbs. There
aren’t many American men who do not know the name Joe Gibbs. He’s a member of the
NFL Hall of Fame, and former head coach of the Washington Redskins who led the
team to three Super Bowl championships. He’s also a three-time NASCAR champion.
But what
many fans may not realize is that my friend Joe’s ultimate goal has never been
victories on the football field or the race track. It’s been to be a witness to
how Christ was leading his life and career.
In his new
book, Game Plan for Life, Gibbs writes that, as a young man, he’d bought
“into some of the biggest myths our modern society has to tell” about what is
important in life—money, fame, career success. But he had a nagging feeling
that “this life is not all there is.” He writes, “I knew there was
something deeper, something more important out there than me and my frantic
quest to make something of myself.”
Gibbs
wants to pass on to other men some of the truths he’s learned and the
discoveries he’s made about life—and help them avoid some of the mistakes he
made.
“Wherever
I go,” Gibbs writes, “on business or for speaking engagements, sporting events,
or whatever—I run into guys who all seem to have the same questions and
challenges.” These men look at Gibbs, see the success he has achieved, and ask
how they can succeed, too. Not just in terms of money or fame, but how to be
happy, to be good husbands and fathers and live lives of relevance.
Gibbs
wants to teach these men that, whether they are professional athletes or not,
all of them are, every day, playing the most important game of all—the game of
life. And that the head coach is God Himself.
Gibbs’s experience
as a coach and team builder convinced him that to win a game, including the
game of life, one needs a game plan. So he decided to put together a
book to provide solid answers to the questions men asked him. But while he was
great at building teams, Gibbs knew he was no theologian. So he gathered
together a team of “assistant coaches”—people who are experts on the spiritual
playing field.
John
Lennox, a professor of mathematics at Oxford University, wrote a chapter on how
life begins. Christian apologist Josh McDowell writes about the truth of the
Bible—the ultimate play book. Christian scholar Os Guinness describes how to go
about building a successful life and career. Ravi Zacharias, a great Christian
thinker, writer, and radio broadcaster, explains how to overcome sin and
addiction. Tony Evans, founder of The Urban Alternative, tells men how to get
the most out of life.
And I’m
honored that Gibbs chose me to write a chapter on salvation—how to get on God’s
winning team.
If you
know somebody who loves sports, but has never done much thinking about what
should be the ultimate goal of life, give him a copy of Game Plan for Life.
Visit BreakPoint.org to order it.
This book
is co-authored with Jerry Jenkins, one of the best writers in the Christian
world. And it’s in an easy-to-understand style for men who have not done much
thinking about spiritual issues.
Joe
Gibbs’s Game Plan for Life will teach them how to get on God’s team—and
win the biggest game they’ll ever play.
|
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Looking upward
|
I am so glad the Bible is
relevant today. Though it was written 2000 years ago, it is often exactly what
I need, when I need it. Let me give you a case in point.
Recently, I’ve been
discouraged because of sense impending doom related to political, economic and
cultural issues today. The uncertainty of our day can cause me to have a reactionary
respond of fear. When I look around at the horizon line of the world, it does
not look hopeful.
The vertical look contradicts
the horizontal one. When I focus my eyes upward towards heaven, I am filled
with hope because God is in charge and He is a good God. The hopeless and
uncertainty of this world will always
be there like an impending storm, but the sovereignty and faithfulness of God
will also always there like a safe
haven of protection from the storm.
Today, my gaze is upward
because I was reminded of his goodness through scripture. If you are feeling
overwhelmed, hopeless, fearful, uncertain due to the storm of life, look upward.
Remind yourself of God’s truth found in the Bible. Look to Him for your
solutions. He is good. He is faithful. He is present.
|
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Growing In Proverbs Part II - The Wise
The Wise
The book of Proverbs is ultimately about wisdom. Through Proverbs, we see that fools never seem to think they're fools, but the wise don't assume their own wisdom, they work hard to attain it. Their wisdom comes from God, so let's dive in and see what His Word says about how we can wise up!
The Wise...
* Obtain guidance (Prov. 1) * Shun the "wisdom that comes from within" and run from evil (Prov. 3) * Inherit honor (Prov. 3) * Work hard (Prov. 6) * Listen closely to instruction (Prov. 8,21) * Lovingly accept reproof and accumulate knowledge (Prov. 9,15) * Are a blessing to their parents (Prov. 10,15,23) * Will rule over the foolish (Prov. 11) * Turns sinners from destruction (Prov. 11) * Listen to counsel (Prov. 12,24) * Use words to heal (Prov. 12) * Grow in wisdom by relationships with others who are wise (Prov. 13) * A wise woman builds her house faithfully (Prov. 14) * Are cautious (Prov. 14) * Have favor from authorities (Prov. 14,16) * Have discernment (Prov. 16) * Are careful not to become drunkards (Prov. 20) * Deal sharply with the wicked (Prov. 20) * Wisely manage resources (Prov. 21) * Shun the rebellious (Prov. 24) * Aren't impressed by wealth (Prov. 28) * Minimize conflict (Prov. 29) * Are careful with what they reveal (Prov. 29)
While the fool would shun anything that would hint that wisdom isn't already in them, the wise readily accept that their very lives depend on the wisdom that comes from God. The wise embrace God's covenant and purpose to live it out in their lives, remaining each day in steady goodness. The wise are characterised by righteousness (holding onto God, and His grace) and prudence (the faithful application of wisdom).
Proverbs shows that wisdom isn't just attainable, wisdom is abundant to those who are after it. The foolishness of fools only multiplies, like a person who smacks their head on a table when they reach to pick up something that they kicked under it. Likewise, the wisdom of the wise grows exponentially when the wise come together.
How do the foolish get wise? They get with the wise.
How do the wise get more wisdom? They get with the wise.
How do we gain the most wisdom... we get with Jesus.
Since the days of the early church, Christians believed that Jesus Christ was the incarnation of the wisdom of Proverbs. Jesus embodied what the Proverbs say is a wise man.
So when was that last time you sat at the feet of the wise man? Pastor Damian
|
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Camping at Lake Isabella and Surfing: What’s the connection?
|
For the last few years, I’ve been learning to surf. It’s not been easy or quick. I’ve spent so much energy and time trying to catch waves. If it wasn’t for my 17 year old son sitting in the water next to me encouraging me to keep trying, I would have likely given up long ago. After all I don’t need to learn something new like surfing at 45 years old. I’m content to watch others and just hang out.
This summer my learning curve took a dramatic change. I actually started getting up. The first time a caught a wave and rode it for more than 2 seconds made all the batched attempts worth while. The first time my son and I caught a wave together was a landmark memory I’ll cherish forever.
It is OK to hang out and watch others, but I’ve decided it is so much more fun to get into the water occasionally even catching a few waves.
For many of us joining the men of The Sanctuary in camping at Lake Isabella is somewhat like me learning to surf: a bit intimidating and overwhelming, feeling like everyone knows each other and understands how this thing works, and why bother trying something new because I’m content the way things are.
If you feel like that, you are not alone. It’s daunting to do something new with people we don’t know well. Regardless, get in the water and try. You won’t be sorry. It will be tough at times, but oh so rewarding. Join the men at Lake Isabella where great memories and friendships begin!
TRANSFORMability at Lake Isabella
September 25-27
Register and pay at church by Sunday, September 20.
Cost: $40
Email ADVANCE@TheSanctuaryChurch.com for details.

|
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Silence and Solitude Prepare Us for the Crowds by Pastor Zack
|
At The Sanctuary we use a Bible reading tool called the GROWth Journal. It is a daily reading schedule that helps those who use it to consistently read the Bible and process its principles. It you want to grow you must be in the Word (Bible). GROWth is an acronym:
- God’s Word: writing it down
- Reflect: taking it in
- Offer: Giving it up through personal prayer
- Walk: living it out
As we write down God’s Word, reflect on what the Holy Spirit is saying to us through it, offer it up to the Lord in the form of a written prayer, and think through how to walk out the principles discovered, life transformation happens.
Below is a recent GROWth Journal entry for me.
God’s Word: Luke 4:42-44 - Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.
Reflect: Jesus began his public day in private. Before all the needs and activity of the crowds, he spent time in silence with His Father. In Genesis the creative word that spoke the universe into existence came out of silence. “Silence remains as indispensable today as it was in the past. The Word of God is born out of the eternal silence of God, and it is to this Word out of silence that we want to be witnesses.” (The Way of the Heart, H. Nouwen, p.40).
Offer: Father I want to sustain my public ministry. I want to go the distance finishing the task you have put before me. Thus I must give regular occurrence to silence. Transform and teach me through your Word and your presence in silence.
Walk: Consistently get up by 6:00 a.m. which requires me to get to bed at a decent hour.
If you would like to pick up a GROWth Journal, stop by our Resource Center: Grow on the Go on a Sunday morning while at the campus. The cost is $10.
|
Friday, August 07, 2009
Four Feet of Light by Rod Gregory
|
A couple of weeks ago, I hiked to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with all four of my sons. This trip is 9.5 miles each way and is a strenuous trail which encompasses a deep gorge with three waterfalls, hundreds of steps cut in to granite, steep climbs through the forest, and an elevation gain from 4000 to 8800 feet. When that part is behind you, the last several hundred feet of ascent up the back of Half Dome is done by clinging onto ½ inch steel cables attached to fence poles sunk in to the slick rock at a 60 degree pitch. (Picture walking up the back of a bowling ball!)

I have done this hike twice before in 1995 and 1996 and wanted to do it again with all four of my boys together. The day before the hike, I had the bright idea to do the hike at night so we could watch the sun rise from the top. All the guys agreed it would be an adventure and we would avoid the 100 degree temps we were expecting the next day. Little did we realize how the Holy Spirit was preparing us for more than we could know.
I honestly did not remember how difficult or how long the trail actually was from 13 years earlier and it was a good thing. There was no moon at all that night and climbing through the falls gorge and the deep forest was eerie. We used headlamps but without them it was pitch dark and we could not see even a hand in front of us. The sound of the river and waterfalls echoed across the canyon walls, but we could see nothing. All we had was a four foot circle of light from the headlamp to illuminate our next two or three steps. None of the trail ahead was discernible at all and we had no sense of distance traveled other than the occasional trail sign. To make it even more interesting, we knew that bears and mountain lions were quite active in this area at night! Well, we made the top and watched the sun rise over the Clark Range from behind a peak called Cloud’s Rest in a glorious display of God’s majesty I will never forget. After an extended rest on top we began our retreat to the valley floor as we passed hundreds of hikers on their way up in the increasing July heat.
In the light of day the difficulty of the trail became obvious to all of us and we were each amazed at what we had accomplished with nothing more than our four foot circle of light to guide us. The amazing scope of the climb, the number of stairs, and the sheer drop-offs and wet river mist on the trail is much more intimidating in the light of day. As we hiked down, we all admitted that had we seen what lay ahead it surely would have discouraged us and made the climb more difficult. Two of the boys said they may have given up completely if they had been able to see what was ahead.
God clearly revealed that this is His way with us in life. If we all could look ahead at the path He is leading us in we would likely become weary and discouraged or even give up. Where He wants to take is higher and farther than we would choose to go in our own strength. He always gives us enough “light” for the next step or two and asks us to trust Him for what lays ahead in the dark. In the end it is His strength that will get us to the top of the mountain, not our own. We must learn to accept that we cannot know every twist or turn of the trail and that He will protect us from the dangers of the journey. But I know that all I need for today is my “four feet of light”. For the rest, He can be trusted to guide my steps and what awaits me at the end is worth the trip.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
|
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Facebook / My Space
|
Social networking websites are huge today in our society. My kids are much more savvy using them than me. My son regularly talks with friends on Facebook from different parts of the country and the world. He uses it to stay connected but also to problem solve school, friendship, and ministry items.
What has been a challenge in our family is determining safe usage and an appropriate amount of time spent “chatting.” In most areas of involvement with my children, my wife and I have much more life experience than our kids. This allows us to stay one step ahead of them. With social networking websites, it’s just the opposite. The kids are way ahead of us. We’ve found ourselves needing to become familiar with the technology and search out guidelines to help insure healthy use.
Go to All Pro Dad’s website, page http://www.allprodad.com/pod/viewplayoftheday.php?date_pod=2009-07-16 to read a useful, but simple list of guidelines for social networking.
Pastor Zack
|
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Upcoming Men's Event at The Sanctuary
|
Impossible situations happen. Events align to cause the perfect storm in our lives. Conditions develop that cause us to question our value as a man, husband, father and provider, God’s love and goodness, and even our commitment to those dear to us. These can be very dark periods in our life with no sense of hope or change. They happen to all of us at one time or another. The question isn’t “If they will happen,” but “When will they happen?”
FORTITUDEability is being able to make it through impossible conditions. It is coming through life’s dark seasons and becoming more like Christ. There are no easy answers. No quick fixes. No inoculations protecting us from these perilous times. But we can learn from and be encouraged by Christ’s example of living through unimaginable darkness and lonliness.
Join the men of The Sanctuary THIS Saturday, July 18, for FORTITUDEability as Pastor Zack brings biblical hope and practical steps to make it through these rare but intense seasons. The two hour event begins at 8:30 a.m. at the church campus (26444 Friendly Valley Parkway, Santa Clarita) with a feast of a breakfast for free.
God bless you on your journey,
Pastor Zack
|
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Portraits in Proverbs
The Fool The book of Proverbs illustrates the many facets of a fool. The fool's biggest sin is thinking that he knows something.
Assuming that you don’t want to be that guy, I’ll lay out some of what the book says about him, and where you can find the text.
The Fool...
* Despises wisdom and instruction and hates knowledge (Prov. 1,15) * Easily falls into sexual sin and adultery (Prov. 7) * Grieves his parents (Prov. 10,15,17,19) * Won’t shut up (Prov. 10,12,13,14,15,17,18,19,29,30) * Sees his sin as a joke (Prov. 10) * Doesn’t think he’s a fool (Prov. 1,12) * Won’t listen to advice (Prov. 12) * Hurts his family and friends (Prov. 11,13) * Makes light of service to God (Prov. 14) * Is angry and quick to fight (Prov. 12,14,27) * Is proud of his foolishness (Prov. 12,13,14) * Is dangerous (Prov. 13,17,26) * Is a bad steward (Prov. 17,19,21,26) * Won’t focus on what’s in front of him (Prov. 17) * Is just asking for a beating (Prov. 18,19,26)
Is any of this familiar to you? Do you see any pattern or trait in your life that would reflect any characteristic listed above? If your answer is not at all... i have bad news. You are this guy.
Even the very wise will admit they’re foolish at times. Our goal as disciples is to love instruction, to welcome discipline and be trained in righteousness, ready for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16,17). I’m pretty sure there have been a few bad days when I hit everything on the list! We're in a culture that embraces foolishness and promotes it as a lifestyle. Television, Movies and Magazines encourage you to stay as foolish for as long as you can as if foolishness were the fountain of youth. Foolishness isn't solely the domain of comedians, it's in the generation that looks up to Hugh Hefner, to those raised on the anti-proverbs of rap music, to the self-made man self-help gurus of our day. Foolishness isn't just being a boy, it's trying to be your own man. God's Word is clear, it's His way, or it's our way... and our way leads us straight to hell. God’s desire is that you’re His man, not yours.
The Fool isn't beyond hope, but he needs a lot of correction and training.
Want to know if you're a fool? Try the following:
* Ask your wife. If she says there isn't any area of foolishness in you, ask again... she's lying, or she's afraid of your reaction. Commit to think about what she says and take it to heart. Don't get angry or defensive about it... yes... i've tried this, and no, i didn't like it either. * Ask someone who leads you. A boss or a pastor will be able to help you with this and tell you if you're prone to excuses, quick reactions or foolish choices. * Observe your children. One of the best ways to gauge the foolishness in yourself is to observe it in your children. Some of the very things you chastise them for may be the things they've learned from you. * Think back to your childhood. Did your parents give up on trying to keep you in line? Were you the kid who could thought he could teach the class better than the teacher? A history of foolishness is the curse that keeps on giving.
Now, consider what you can learn from any of the above steps and repent. Make a focused and intentional effort to turn to God, and away from your foolishness.
If you’re struggling with foolishness, reading Proverbs can be like being beaten with a bag of oranges... but it's for our ultimate good, so put your mouthguard in and take it like a man. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us and reveals that love often through correction (Hebrews 12:6) that leads to our growth.
May you commit yourself to discipline and may you grow away from foolishness! Pastor Damian Kinsella
|
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Spotting a Fool by Pat Campbell
Be careful not to waste your precious time with fools - how to spot one.
A fool makes foolish decisions, but he is not young or naive. He has developed his character by a series of foolish decisions—a life of folly. He demonstrates a distain for instruction. He treats virtue as contemptible fantasy. Doing wrong is like a joke to him. Like a child, a fool will not face responsibility for his own actions. Rather, he casts the blame on others to justify his poor behavior. He is not going to be persuaded by reason or collective wisdom. It's like putting an expensive necklace around a wild pig. The pig not only doesn't want it, he will turn and attack you.
The hardened fool is the center of his own ever-shrinking world, and is consumed with his self. He will continue in foolish pride, because changing would be too difficult. He hates instruction or criticism and is quick to be angry and contentious. His pride and insecurity prohibit his accepting rebuke. He tends to be explosive and uses intimidation and violence to quell his opponents. He is the center of controversy…living life in a serious of tragedies often blamed on others. His talk is cheap, and there is no fruit in his life. Like a child he goes from one mess to another, leaving someone else to clean it up. “A fool and his money are soon parted,” and he has nothing to show for his arrogant plans. He has loose lips and associates with evil.
Unfortunately, one who chooses to be such a fool cannot have sense even beaten into him. Proverbs 17:10 says "a rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool." Proverbs 27:22 says "crush a fool in mortar with an instrument for grinding, yet his folly will not depart from him. His mentality will not be changed because of his hardened heart. You will waste your time trying to "drive in wisdom" because of his pride, a fool is mentally immune to instruction. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” Or, he knows there's a God but refuses to serve Him. A fool’s life finally runs dry over time and he becomes spiritually, emotionally, morally, and financially bankrupt.
|
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
A Thought on Storms
|
The sense of storm is not determined by the environment around, but the environement within.
Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.
Serenity has to do with being calm, serene, tranquil.
|
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Three areas of endurance as Men we need to heed:
|
(Edited from a recent Christian Men's Network article)
1.
Consistency
Being
‘Christ like’ means focused on raising up strong men who live, talk, act like
Jesus. And….the other areas of marriage, family, relationships, and
business/job will come to wholeness as we stay focused on that.
2.
Decisiveness
This
is an area where most men fail to fulfill their dreams, destiny and gifting in
life. We must, as men, remain resolute in our determination to be a real man -
and, to recognize that it isn't always pretty - stuff happens, but it is the
endurance of the decisive man that carries him through the fire of adversity.
3.
Strength
This
is a moral strength - that we follow through with the intent of our hearts, no
matter what anyone says, what it looks like at the moment, what it takes to get
it done...Victory is always on the other side of a fight! This is courage,
prayer, maturity, moral excellence, tenacity and the all the fruit of the
Spirit exhibited in a man’s life - that when pressure comes, the man of
strength pushes back on the pressure.
|
|
|