Living a 220 life

Are you following from a distance?

As I was reading in my quiet time this morning I had a realization that many of us are placing ourselves at great risk by our actions. The ironic piece of the puzzle is this: we live our lives as Christians very cautiously, trying not to make any waves and be a good person, but this caution is the very aspect putting us at risk. I’ll explain through the example of three people: Peter, Judas Iscariot, and Joseph of Arimathea.

The realization hit me when I read Mark 14:54, “Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance…” Now, I got it, Jesus had just been arrested and it’s a really scary time. I mean, I’m pretty sure Peter understood his life could be on the line and he was pretty brave just for following Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard but, he still followed at a distance. He was cautious and hesitant. He wasn’t completely committed to following Jesus even if it meant death. Peter’s distance resulted in denying that he even knew Jesus. Now hear me on this, the ultimate result of Peter’s distance is found in Mark 14:72 where we find Peter broken and weeping. Peter thought he was preserving himself but in fact had destroyed himself inside. You see, the pain Peter had inflicted on himself was the same pain Judas inflicted on himself.

Yes, the situation is a bit different between Judas and Peter. Judas sold Jesus to the Pharisees so they could kill him. However, at the core of the issue, both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus and both Judas and Peter were extremely remorseful of their actions. Both men followed at a distance and both men fell greatly. Please understand, this pain was self inflicted through actions they thought were self preserving. They thought following at a distance was safer than following the “radical” Jesus. They were wrong. Let me give you an example I witnessed just this morning with my son.

Last night we caught a baby snake outside our house. The snake is very small and barely even has teeth. My youngest son has become very interested in snakes and wanted to keep him as a pet, so my wife and I agreed. Well, this morning we opened the cage so my 5 year old son could attempt to get the baby snake out all by himself for the first time. His hand went in very confidently and with great excitement until… a slight movement by the baby snake. The snake barely moved but all confidence ran out of my little boy’s body while his hand and the baby snake had a stand-off. He hesitated because he didn’t want to get bit. However, due to the hesitation the snake became more defensive of the intrusive hand and eventually bit. He quickly pulled his hand back and was clearly freaked out by the incident though the bite didn’t even draw blood. I immediately stuck my hand in and grabbed the snake with no issues. The snake didn’t even make a sound; he just simply curled around my finger and went for a ride like a good little boy. The point is, my son’s hesitation gave rise to the altercation just like our following Jesus from a distance gives rise to our downfall.

Joseph of Arimathea gives us a great example of taking a risk to follow Jesus. In Mark 15:43 the New Living Translation of the Bible says, “Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God to come.) Jesus was still hanging on the cross so obviously being a follower is not yet a popular thing. Clearly Joseph is potentially risking his life by requesting Jesus’ body from Pilate but he’s also risking his career. Joseph was a respected member of the high council, a council which was certainly filled with people who just crucified Jesus. Joseph DID NOT follow from a distance but risked his life and his career to follow His Savior.

My friends, let me ask you this: Are you confidently following close to your Savior or are you cautiously following from a distance? If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ the opportunity will arise every day to associate yourself with Jesus. Do you? Do people even know you’re a Christian? Now I’m not implying you need to be an abrasive, in your face, Bible thumping zealot only concerned with your own goal of proselytizing the world. No, I’m implying you need to be a follower of Jesus who is so in love with your Savior that you identify with Him every chance you get and you lovingly share Him with everyone you can. I’m also implying that you, like Joseph of Arimathea, risk everything to follow your Savior. Joseph gave his time, money, devotion, career, and potentially his life for Jesus. Are you willing to do that? Remember, if you go through life cautiously following Jesus from a distance it’s only a matter of time before the baby snake bites you. Confidently stick your spiritual hand in the cage and follow Jesus as closely as you can. AMEN!

New experiences in Iraq

“I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” (1Corinthians 9:22b)

Well my friends, the Iraqis have taught me another important lesson. Again, this lesson is a bit humerous but has a legitamate lesson. First, let me catch you up on my current job in Iraq . I’m an intelligence officer working inside an Iraqi Intelligence fusion office with the mission of taking American intelligence and matching it up with the Iraqi intelligence in order to provide the most accurate picture. OF course, Iraqi intelligence officers are not the most trusting people in the world, so building a relationship built on trust is vital. Therefore, my goal is to create a bundle of new best friends. This is the fun part.

Well, I’ve heard stories about the Iraqi culture being very intimate once initial formalities are past and friendship is established. I had NO idea how intimate that intimacy runs. You see, apparently I’m doing a pretty good job of building friendships and trust because my new counterparts see no problem hugging, giving kisses on the cheek, and holding hands as they walk. The first time I was walking along and one of my co-workers, an Iraqi man about 45 years old, reached over and held my hand I flinched and shook my hand like I had just been stung by a bee. He was just as startled as I was because holding hands is quite normal for him. So there we stood, two grown men facing each other with a million thoughts screaming through our heads. (well, I did any way) I stood there, appauled that this man thought I was gay, when it hit me. He doesn’t think I’m gay, he thinks I’m trust worthy. Then Paul’s words popped into my head, “I’ve become all things to all men”.

Though I was not witnessing to this man, I was loving him as Christ would love him in order to work together. The Lord calls us to step out of our comfort zones and meet people where they’re at. The Lord calls us to get up out of the pews and meet the lost in order to bring them closer to Him. Christians, we need fellowship but we don’t need holy fraternities. Let down your walls, risk being hurt, and step out into the unknown in order to win just one for Him. This isn’t easy, I know. But neither was holding that grown Iraqi man’s hand. However, once I got over the weird goosebumps and creepy feeling, my relationship with the Iraqis has blosomed into a much deeper trust than experienced before; a trust that would never be reached from inside the American comfort zone.

My friends, I challenge you to become all things to all men. Let down your guard, take a risk, and walk off into the sunset holding a middle aged Iraqi man’s hand in order to win but one for Him. AMEN!

Learning to lead from the Iraqi Army

Let me begin this blog post by saying I’ve met some amazingly talented Iraqi Army and Police officers during my two tours in Iraq. The professionalism these organizations display is comendable. I’ve made many great friends, some of whom have risked their own lives for me, and I will forever be indebted to them. During my time in Iraq I’ve also seen some very humorous things as well. One such event caught my attention and taught me a very valuable lesson.

I was walking into the chow hall on an ordinary Iraqi fall day when I saw a group of Iraqi Soldiers entering in front of me. These Soldiers were a part of the security detail for a higher ranking Iraqi Officer who was visiting that day. Typically these ‘body guards’ are better equipped and better trained than the ordinary Iraqi Soldier. Most of these Soldiers have been extensively trained by American Special Forces or some other Special Operations group. This particular group bore all the signs of this training: U.S. Patches proudly displayed on their Iraqi uniform, bandana’s worn rather than the typical beret, combat gear that looked like it was just purchased from Ranger Joe’s, the whole nine yards. Then I saw it: some of them had knee pads around their ankles. They were worn by only a few and they only had one knee pad a piece.

This one knee pad puzzled me. I mean, it looked about as weird as the first time the world saw Michael Jackson wear only one glove. I just couldn’t figure out why in the world they would be wearing one knee pad around their ankles. So I asked them, and the response blew me away. You know what they said? They said, “You wear them like this”

In other words, what they were saying is they had no idea what those things were for, but their American brothers were wearing them and they were going to wear them also. You see, some American Soldiers will push their knee pads down around their ankles when they come in off patrol. They certainly aren’t supposed to since it’s against Army regulation, but they do. These Iraqis saw this and began mimicking the action though they had no idea why.

I realized the burden of leadership at that moment. I realized as Christians we are called to be living examples all the time. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” Let me challenge you as a Christian, as a parent, as a leader; as you walk through life remember the people you come in contact with may be pushing their knee pads around their ankles. Is your life teaching others exactly what you desire them to learn? Parents, are you living the example you wish your children to mimick? They will certainly push their knee pads down every chance they get. Are you imitating Christ in order for others to imitate you? Friends, I pray we may all live a life imitating Christ that others may imitate us. AMEN!

Raising a spiritual child

“Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:22-26)

Let me give you a brief picture of what’s going on here in Acts chapter 11. The Gospel has been opened up to the gentiles and they are now accepted into the faith. The city of Antioch is full of people readily accepting Jesus as Lord. In fact, so many people are accepting the Lord that word spreads to Jerusalem about the city and Barnabas is sent to investigate. Upon his arrival Barnabas saw the grace of God and was over joyed by the fruitful labors in the city. Then, Acts 11:25 says, “Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.” ????Why did Barnabas do this???? Why did he leave to go get Saul? Let me explain.

The answer to this question lies in Acts 9:27 where we read, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.” You see, Saul was feared by the believers because he was greatly persecuting the church. So when he was converted on the road to Damascus he was still feared. The early church didn’t believe he was changed and thus didn’t accept him with open arms…except for Barnabas. Barnabas accepted him by faith and brought him to the apostles. Barnabas became Saul’s spiritual parent.

Barnabas understood that his role as Saul’s spiritual parent involved more than simply welcoming him into the faith. This is why we find Barnabas leaving Antioch to go get Saul. Barnabas was bringing Saul because there was much training to be had in Antioch with the explosion of new believers. Barnabas could have easily handled the city on his own but he understood Saul needed to watch him operate. He needed to offer an example just like Jesus offered His disciples an example of ministry.

Friends, this has several implications for us today. We must get out and involve ourselves in the Lord’s work. We must be laboring in the fields for the Lord. Also, we must bring someone with us to watch. If we are doing ministry and no one is learning from us we must ask ourselves the question, “who am I laboring for?” Will this ministry die with me? Remember friends, it’s not about us, it’s all about Him. We must make provisions to train others to carry on the work of the Lord. AMEN!

Impacting your world for Christ 4

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)

I’ve heard it said that all people desire to be loved by someone. I can’t speak for all people but I can testify that it is, in fact, wonderful to be loved by others. I’ve also heard, all too often, that people just wish they had at least one good friend. Unfortunately, most haven’t found that good friend and spend a majority of their time secluded within their own house and family. Christian fellowship is desired by so many yet pursued by so few.

My friends, as we see in the early church (Acts 2:44-47), fellowship was an integral part of their Christian lives. The early believers didn’t consider fellowship to be a “hang out” time but rather a way of life. They understood that when they entered the body of believers they intertwined their lives with the lives of all other believers in Jesus. Consider this: verse 45 says they sold their possessions and divided them among all. Fellowship for these believers was more than casual friendship with other believers;no, fellowship was a deep, intimate, family.

If we wish to impact our world for Christ we must open our lives to other believers. We must love one another with a true and sincere love. (John 13:34-35) Step out of your comfort zone and begin spending time with other people. Open your heart and allow your ‘family’ to grow. When we begin to love one another we will be seen by non-believers and we will impact our world for Christ! AMEN!