upward & inward

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 From A.W. Tozer: Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly offering. Help me to remember that I am a prophet--not a promoter, not a religious manager, but a prophet. Let me never become a slave to crowds. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions and deliver me from the itch for publicity. Save me from bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay Thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.... And now, O Lord of heaven and earth, I consecrate my remaining days to Thee; ...

Many of us are tracking the incredible challenges that the leaders and citizens of Fargo, ND, are facing right now. The pictures speak a thousand words of drastic changes to their lives as they deal with the current calamity and plan for the aftermath of cleanup. One quote stood out to me from Tim Mahoney, a Fargo city commissioner as they tracked the onslaught of incoming water: "Now it's time to stand and defend." Have you ever felt that way? I have - and I do still sometimes. Those are the times when I've done all I can within how God has enabled me, but then find it's time just to stand and defend. As I read how the federal government has responded to the current onslaught of economic and social woes, I sometimes feel that way. I feel that all I can do is stand and defend: God's honor and glory, the sanctity of life, and the sanctity of soul-to-soul relationships between husband and wives, brothers, and sisters, parents and children. Today, there is snow ...

Today I was privileged to teach one of our Sunday School classes. Whenever I teach, I like to spend a few hours the previous day getting ready, speaking through what I feel God leading me to say, as I pray through the lessons He's teaching me so that I can teach others. Speaking to the class today, I was warmly greeted and, for the most part, intently listened to. I suspect that Fred Winters did the same thing this past week - going to God in prayer, studying the scriptures, searching for illustrations, pinning down how his listeners might take the lessons and apply them in their lives. This morning, he drove to the church - perhaps early ahead of his wife and daughters so that he might finish his spiritual preparations for the privilege of sharing God's Word with those who have ears to hear. During the 8:15 service, I wonder what he was thinking when a man came up the center aisle toward the front of the church. Did Fred know him? Was Fred wanting to help him? Fred used ...

What is a dangerous man? The first image that comes to my mind is someone who is armed and seeks to hurt someone - anyone. But, I was reminded of a quote by author James Baldwin: “The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.” Nothing to lose. The Apostle Paul had nothing to lose. Everything he'd been given he considered far less than the "surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus." Do we consider Christ above all else? Really? This is a tough one. While I know from God's Word that the true treasures for me are waiting in heaven upon my arrival, I still demonstrate in thought, word, and action that I hold too tightly on that which is temporal. To what are you and I holding too tightly that prevents us from being dangerous men and women for Christ - true world changers?