I want to be something
I am not quite yet.
Something more
Something better
than I am now.
I wipe my
guilt riddled brow…
not that I am wretched
or maybe I am…
Still there is this
longing
deep
within
my Heart.
It drives me
propels me constantly
forward
call it passion
call it charisma
call it a compulsion
to become who I was made to be…
Can’t you see,
there is something more…
something deeper than
all of this.
It’s like a handshake instead of a kiss a ‘like’ instead of LOVE
But God blew the doors open
when Jesus was sent
from above…
I am pardoned
once condemned…
no longer hemmed into
this death sentence
cornered because these wages of sin weighed
heavily on me.
Instead,
I am free.
And in this freedom
in this perfect light I now can see
with heavenly sight
from broken and shattered
to a pardoning matter
a redemption
a promise
and now… I want to be more
than this.
I was the one
who kissed His cheek
i was the one
who denied His name
I was the one
who played sin’s game
But now…
now, I want to soak up
His presence
to capture…………………………………………….this essence
of holiness inside this
pardoned heart.
Now I find the chains
are not gone
and the day has
dawned on this fire to burn
me into His reflection
so that before the Father
no sin can be detected
and love has intersected
with one lost and now found. I am ready.
I am ready to be more
to live more
to become even Christ on a cross.
Paul had Barnabas to inspire and encourage him even if they didn’t always get a long in the end.
Paul became Timothy’s mentor who inspired a new generation of the early Christian church.
Throughout history there have been those who have stepped up to lead by example. They have been mentors, accountability partners, strong godly leaders, examples of holiness. Despite all of these things, none of them (and most will freely admit this) were perfect or had it “all together”.
Get this:
Our Army needs more inspiring leaders like the ones I am about to list!
Perhaps this is you…perhaps you are the next generation of leaders about to step up and take this mantle. This isn’t some sort of popularity contest, or ego trip…this is leading and serving as a godly example for others. Many do this without any fan fare.
Most simply want to be like Christ and so they strive daily to humbly serve and become living examples of Him to the rest of us. We certainly need more of these inspiring servants in our Army today!
Scriptural Reminders for us today:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” -Ephesians 4:2
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ…” 1 Corinthians 11:1
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved [a]you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2
This is not an exhaustive list, and I know that as I share my personal list with you, you will undoubtedly have others that come to your mind. Also do not be offended (I will get my self in trouble with family and friends…sorry) if I do not list people that you know, or if I do not mention you…as I have already said this is not an exhaustive list. There are many more!
10 Salvationists That Have Inspired Me… This isn’t some sort of ranked order, rather this is simply a list that I have currently compiled.
(sorry I may not have pictures for everyone)
1. My Mother and Father – Colonels Dennis and Sharon Strissel
My parents have exemplified godly living to me.
I have witnessed their impact on this army both in the United States as well as in Africa. They have always been servants first. Both my mother and father have been advocates for those without voices and have stood up for the marginalized. I count it an honor to have these two as my parents. They are faithful soldiers even as they head into retirement. They have inspired me to be better, to make the army better, and to never settle for mediocrity when we can, in own selves, do more.
2. Majors Bill and Betsy Cox
If I were asked who exemplifies holiness to me, these two loving people would come to mind. They have been mentors to my wife and me, and like second parents in the army to us.
I know that when I talk to either of them, when I have concerns and problems, they always give careful thought and grace in their responses. They are just genuine people who love the Lord with all of their hearts and it just pours out upon those who are privileged to know them. They make me want to be a better pastor and follower of Christ.
Colonels Dahl restore historical Will Rogers sign at Camp Wonderland.
3. Colonels Marv and Bodil Dahl Admittedly not the best picture of these two beautiful people, but you must know that Colonel Marv is a painter and despite current physical challenges, he is still a wonderful artist. This picture is recent and both Colonels Bodil and Marv gave 90 hours each to this amazing restoration project.
Words cannot express how encouraging these two saints of God have been to me in this present appointment! These two have been Barnabas’ to us. They are truly servants first and then they offer their wealth of leadership advice! I am inspired by Colonels Dahl because they operate from a place of compassionate care and concern for fellow soldiers and officers. They take the time to listen and they are willing to make time for you.
4. Commissioner Dinsdale Pender
This was years ago. I was just a small boy with parents living on St. Helena Island. My parents where the missionary officers there on St. Helena for four years. I distinctly remember Commissioner Pender coming to the Island for a visit. As the band welcomed him at the seaside docks with a rousing song, he fiddled with his brief case as if attempting to pull out his cornet to play as well. For me the reason he inspired me wasn’t so much what he said, honestly I was a small boy and cannot remember much of that time. But what I do remember of him was his charisma and humor. He made leadership within the Army look smart as well as fun. He always seemed to have a smile and brought a sense of whimsical humor with the concept of leadership.
5. Major Stephen Court and Major Danielle Strickland
Both Stephen and Danielle bring a sense of “in your face” kind of Salvationism that’s been missing in our army for a while (in my opinion). Their ministry has been global, it has challenged me. I truly appreciate their leadership (albeit from afar). I can remember going to a commissioning in which they were the guest speakers. They didn’t hold anything back, and it was powerful. I’m not attempting to puff anyone up here, it was just something I will never forget and it has inspired me within the ministries I have been privileged to lead. Both in their own rights are extremely talented writers and communicators and I admire their willingness to challenge our Army onward!
They are a spark within in our army which has become a catalyst for a new generation of Salvationist!
6. General John Gowans
I remember his leadership as General.
How he spoke of the three legged stool of Salvationism.
His leadership style at times chaffed against some, but I found him to be refreshing. He was a shot in the arm for the Army. He had vigor and passion to see a greater army at work in the world. I admired him and he inspired me to be a better writer and communicator for this army. He also inspired me to push the boundaries of our “bubble” within the Army.
7. TransMission (Southern Territory, USA)
This is the real deal Salvationist. They have a passion to minister to the hearts of young people through music. They are just down to earth guys who love the Lord.
I appreciate how TransMission have incorporated doctrinal truths into their music ministry and their passion and zeal to lead others to Christ is inspiring! Being a movement of holiness, the progression and integration of modern styles of music has planted and watered a seed within a younger generation of Salvationists.
8. Commissioner Clive Adams
Commissioner Clive has been a source of encouragement to me within my officership as well as a writer, contributor and avid fellow blogger that I greatly admire. He is a gifted leader and communicator and another down to earth Soldier who inspires others…plus he’s a fellow Man-United Fan!
When I read his blog postings I am encouraged and enjoy his humor as well as his candid honesty within our Army. 9. Commissioner Harry Read
In my heart I have a special place of poets and Writers.
Commissioner Harry Read is still an avid poet who conjures up lines of thought provoking honesty within the minds of Christ-followers and Soldiers. His ‘Heart-talks’ posted on social media as well as in the printed word inspire me to better articulate this holy path we all walk on. He is a treasure to the army and although I may embarrass him in this post, I admire his ongoing active ministry. He spurs me on, and I am sure he provides this boost in many other Salvationists around the globe.
10. General Albert Orsborn
My life must be Christ’s broken bread My love His outpoured wine A cup o’erfilled a table spread Beneath His name and sign That other souls refreshed and fed May share His life through mine
(SASB #512 My Life must be Christ’s Broken Bread)
Obviously I never met General Orsborn, but his words within some of the songs that we still sing in our Army strike me at my core. These lyrics speak to me about holiness, selflessness, servanthood, and what our Army should be all about. I get inspired every time I sing the above mentioned song among others that he has written.
These are just ten Salvationists that have inspired me in my lifetime.
There are many more and, as I have already said, please do not become offended if you or someone you know isn’t mentioned. This is not an exhaustive list.
Question:
Who has inspired you?
Please share your comments below, it is wonderful to hear these rich stories as we testify of God’s redeeming love!
Something more for our Army to ponder today!
To God be the glory, and may we aspire to be all that God has called us to be not only to inspire others but because we deeply desire to be like Christ in every way.
You don’t have to be in a political office in order to view politics…it’s everywhere including the church.
Church/corps splits have happened because of truly silly things – “the color of the carpet in the sanctuary”…really??
I’m feeling a little feisty today, so please bear with me. Rhetoric…and Holiness???
The Salvation Army struggles with too much rhetoric and not enough practice sometimes.
What do I mean by this?
We (like any church) are so good at saying all of the right things.
We (like any church) are so good at wearing all the right clothes…ahem the uniform.
We (like any church) are so good at touting our scripture verses and doctrines…but can it become more about outward appearances like when the DC, TC or General comes to visit than about personal/corporate holiness?
Sometimes I feel as if we are very good at polishing the outside of the cup while we just keep neglecting to do the hard stuff like cleaning the inside of the cup (our hearts). We try and try to impress the “brass” with our efforts and works but are we truly living consistently? This isn’t some sort of witch-hunt today. I’m not pointing the finger at anymore more than I am pointing fingers. back. at. myself.
This is Personal…
This is truly personal.
if this resounds with anyone else, then great!
Let’s do something about this together.
I honestly know that I am not the only one who struggles with this.
We are so good at singing ‘the Founder’s Song’ in Holiness meeting and thirty minutes later we’re at our favorite “Sunday Lunch Spot” complaining about the wait time, the server, we barely give a tip and then we complain on our way home about the traffic and some ignorant sap who just cut us off…do you get what I’m saying?
This is Deadly…
I, for one, do not want to be a member of the Salvation Army in Laodicea, if you get what I mean (Revelations 3:14-22).
If I’m honest, I’d rather rip off this uniform and walk away from it all before I start striving to become a pew warmer and a luke-warm one at that. The church of Laodicea, according to Revelation, didn’t get their act together. They didn’t have the passion to serve Christ as His bride. They weren’t on fire for Him, instead they were barely tepid in their faith. Sometimes I feel that in our Army we walk a fine line too. We can utter all of the “catch-phrases” of our Army like “Fire a volley” and “Hallelujah” but on the inside we’re so caught up in the bickering and pettiness that are missing out on the fire of the Holy Spirit. I don’t think we need another Pentecost, it’s already here we are just so caught up in our own issues that we can’t see it…that’s just how I see it…I hope I’m wrong. When did we desire to be a mediocre Army? When did we sign up to warm a pew but as soon as the hard work comes we’re suddenly absent? If we are truly “witnesses for Jesus” why aren’t we more visible with this message in the streets? We cannot hole ourselves up in beautiful Halls of worship and expect the brokeness of neighborhoods to be mended by how well we sing and play an instrument. We’ve got to get on with it! We’ve got to either catch fire and be moved by the Holy Spirit or we need to get out of the way and stop hampering the Spirit and the potential growth of other Soldiers. Either warm up or be spit out.
This is real…
I have felt this sting of conviction.
I don’t write this as a “guilt trip” for anyone before it strikes my heart and brings ME up short first.
We need to stop “playing” army and be army.
We need to stop fighting amongst each other and fight the real war for the souls of those who are lost.
We need to stop spouting half-empty words of rhetoric when our hearts aren’t in it and instead fall upon our faces and recommit ALL OF WHO WE ARE to Christ once more.
We do not need pew warmers and more apathetic bodies in uniforms, instead we need leaders who are servant who will serve and love regardless of where someone came from or what their last name might be.
We don’t have time to play “church politics”…this gets in the way and stunts our growth as a corporate body of holiness.
It’s “Put up” or “Shut-Up” time.
I have seen the walking dead amongst soldiers and officers.
I have seen the passion-less works of apathetic hearts.
I have witnessed the “going through the motions” without a resemblance of the practice of holiness.
We have a choice.
We can either put up or shut up.
We can either live lives worthy of this calling upon our lives, or we can stop pretending and get out of the way.
This is a wake up call.
This is a call to holiness.
This is a reminder that there is more to it than donning on the uniform and spouting all the right words.
How is your heart today?
How is your spiritual journey?
This is something more for our Army to ponder today.
To God be the glory!
Those moments in life when,
both big and small injustices take place.
It is mind boggling that there are people in our world who
truly do not care about other people at all.
It goes far beyond being inconsiderate.
It’s about self-preservation over anyone else’s needs.
These injustices are fueled by greed.
These injustices are fueled by selfishness, power, anger, covetousness…Sometimes I get so angry at these injustices…
If I were truly honest
I get more angry at the people who perpetrate these injustices.
much so that I want to exact my own kind of justice.
So much so that I sometimes imagine watching them regret their decisions
fighting fire with fire
a tooth for a tooth.
Sometimes, in my mind
I take on this role of judge, jury and executioner.
sometimes, I let this fantasy taint how I see other people…
And within that lens
I am better than them.
I am the pious one.
I am the perfect one.
Then I realize that I am a
I have become a ——
So busy looking for
the flaws in others
that I have neglected
to look at my own Heart.
How dare I do such a thing…and yet it’s done every day.
Am I the only one in this —- Am I the only one?
I don’t think so.
Are there injustices in this world? Should we fight against these?
Yes.
but then I am reminded of another verse:
And I am reminded how lost some people are.
I am reminded that despite our hopeless situations
Christ STILL died for us.
Despite our evil ways.
Despite our ignorance and selfishness
He still died for us.
Then another thing strikes me
like being struck across the face.
I. am. not. the judge.
I am. not. the. one. who. exacts. ultimate. justices.
Can I fight against injustices in this world?
Yes.
But first…I must contend with my own heart.
But first…I must pluck out the board in my own eye.
But first…I must practice sacrificial, Christ-like love for my enemies.
It is here at this cross roads that I continue my journey…
Yesterday we explored three basic lies that many have convinced themselves are important in order have a sense of self-worth. (See Pt. 1 Link Here)
(RECAP) These basic lies are – #1 Self-worth is all about what you do (Employment/Career). #2 Self-worth is all about how others see you (the People pleaser trap) #3 Self-worth is all about being “happy” all the time.
Now onto the “good” stuff – Discovering true self-worth.
You can’t buy self-worth…at least not in the long term.
You can’t work capture self-worth by attaining your “dream job” either.
These things are temporary.
Our Lives Are Like Vapor:
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)
Understand how temporal this all is.
I don’t mean to sound all “doom and gloom”, but this life is brief…we can make a difference in how we live by recognizing this one. small. truth.
We. Are. Like. Vapor. So…what are we going to do with this “vapor” of ours?
#1 Our true Self-Worth is found not in who we are but Whose we are! “And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” -2 Corinthians 6:18
Beyond anything that we can “do” in this world, the most vital argument for finding our true self-worth is tied up with Whose we really are. Places of employment and careers are great things but they shouldn’t be the primary definer of who we really are. From the very onset of creation God longed to fellowship with us. He has made a way for this to happen even when we distorted our true identities with sin. In a very real sense realizing Whose we are leads us to find our true self-worth in life. This doesn’t mean that nothing else matters now in life, it just means that we re-align our perspectives in life allowing for this primal and vital identity to take first priority in our being, thereby releasing false images of self-worth while reclaiming this ancient, yet eternal truth – We are God’s creation, and we are called sons and daughters.
In moments when we feel the sting of rejection by others around us, let us remember that despite all of these things we are His -both first, last and everything in between. #2 Our true Self-Worth is found not in our identity but in Christ’s!
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” -2 Corinthians 5:17
I hope you get the sense that all three of these “self-worth declarations” are interconnected.
Once we can come to terms with the notion that we are children of God, we too must understand that our self-worth isn’t tied up in the old life prior to conversion. Since Christ has conquered sin and death, we too can share in this eternal redemption story! If we are Christ-followers, we too recognize that the old lives we used to live prior to our salvation story no longer dictate where our self-worth comes from. Before this we followed the ingrained patterns, we indulged in selfish gain, we strive to climb the corporate ladder because that’s where true success and self-worth came from…But now, ah now we are no longer blind to these trappings. It doesn’t mean that we have become better than others, it just means that we have begun to identify with the eternal Christ more than the temporal measures of self-worth.
Becoming crucified with Christ means that we have aligned ourselves with His love, His redemption, His purposes, His grace. We have allowed Christ to replace the lie with His truth within us. This new creation (because of Christ) provides us with a deeper, more clearer sense of self-worth because it is divine and untarnished by our old sinful selves.
Within this identity shift, recognize too that we must be gentle on ourselves. What do I mean by this? Don’t denigrate and berate yourself when you slip and fall back into some of the old patterns. These old habits are sometimes hard to break. That doesn’t mean that Christ can’t miraculously redeem you from them, but many times we must strive to overcome them through His power…sometimes inch by inch and yard by yard. Be gentle on yourself as you realign your self-worth with that of Christ’s. Sometimes we can become our own worst enemy…If Christ believes in you, you too should find some encouragement and confidence to believe in this new creation that is “You”.
#3 Our true Self-Worth is found not in being served but through service! “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…” 1 Peter 5:6
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” Ephesians 4:2
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
Jesus washed His disciple’s feet.
He did this to display how vital humility and servanthood was.
Serving others because of our new identities in Christ is an outpouring of this new self-worth and purpose!
No longer are we tied to what others think of us.
No longer are we tied to a self-indulged lifestyle.
No longer are we tied to a selfish success oriented binge of climbing the corporate ladder.
Fame and fortune (which is temporal) take a back seat to the utter gravity of the Salvation Story.
We find our self-worth in serving others because we long to be like Christ in every way!
When we follow this path of servitude, we further execute our old ideals of self-worth while taking up far more significant and eternally impacting cause! Sometimes we assume that we have this humility thing all worked out, only to find that we still have miles to go in this journey. Be patient. This is day by day. Submitting to Christ completely can be will be difficult…But isn’t identifying with authentic worth…worth it?
So…
How is your own sense of self-worth today?
Has it been tied up with all the wrong things?
Mine has too.
This is a reminder for all of us.
This is a pondering of encouragement also.
Perhaps we can break these old lies of their power over us, and rediscover how God intended us to live all along.
Something more for us all to ponder today!
To God be the glory!
Self-worth: Many people struggle with this issue in life.
Some people decide that they truly are worthless and in that moment they become full of self-loathing.
At the very least it is counterproductive, at its worst it is a pathway to self-destruction.
Questions:
How do we live this life and feel complete…satisfied?
How can we retain a measure of self-worth when we encounter discouragement?
Are we worth anything?
Do I matter?
These are very common questions that are thrown around.
Sometimes circumstances in life lead people to question their identities and self-worth.
Others grew up being told they were accidents, freaks, or simply that they were “good for nothing”. NEWS FLASH: These are lies still being told today to people all around the world.
You may feel as if you are all alone in this.
You may feel as though you are truly worthless and if you were to simply “disappear” no one would care.
Please know that this IS A LIE that many tell themselves.
I do not want to delve too deeply into the realms of depression today, but I do want to say that these depths can be extremely dark and lonely and that it is perfectly normal to seek out professional help in the form of counseling!
let me further illustrate the lies that we buy into sometimes in our lives before I include just 3 ways to discovering self-worth again:
3 Lies About Self -Worth
Lie #1: Your self-worth is all about where you work and what you “DO”.
Perhaps if you had a better paying job you could afford nicer things and a nice home…
people always seem to associate self-worth exclusively with where they work and how much money they make. Perhaps having more money might solve some issues in life, but when people place all of their identities into what they do they can discover that at the end of the day they still feel empty and unfulfilled.
NEWS FLASH: What you “DO” shouldn’t be who you are!
What I mean by that is this: The Apostle Paul earned a living as a tent maker while serving as a missionary. Tent maker wasn’t who he was, it was a means of supporting his purpose and calling in life. Jobs may come and go, and often times we place so much power upon what we do that in the process we lose the “who we are”. Our identity in self-worth is so much more than our place of employment. Beyond this, if you are a person of faith and a Christ-follower, our self-worth is inexplicably tied to WHOSE we are and from that the calling He has placed upon our lives…but I will get to that later.
Lie #2: Your self-worth is all about how others see you – the “people-pleaser” We ought to make a distinction here, there is a big difference between accountability with peers and mentors and the need to constantly seek the approval of others. Our self-worth should not be inexplicably linked to pleasing people. When we connect our happiness with making everyone around us happy, we crash and burn. Being a perpetual people pleaser might provide us some satisfaction and happiness at the onset, but eventually the shine wears off and we will find ourselves constantly running for that applause and approval while at the same time never reaching any personal goals or achievements.
This is where self-care comes in. You cannot help others and be a source to others if you have nothing left in the “tank“. There must be times when you step away and seek out selfishly (in a good way) those things that will restore your energies and confidence in yourself. Jesus got away from His disciples from time to time. He prayed to the Father. I’m sure He reflected too. I’m sure He also replenished His “tank” while in the process. Don’t tie your self-worth exclusively up in the applause and approval of others. Living as a people pleaser is an empty life and will only serve to wear you out both mentally and physically. This “People Pleaser” mentality is a lie that will leave you feeling worthless and spent in an endless pursuit of utter insanity.
Lie #3: Your self-worth is all about being happy all of the time! This last lie (and I know there are many more) attempts to force us to entertain the erroneous notion that all is not well if we are not happy all of the time. If everything is not candy canes and lollipops something must be wrong. In the Church this lie is sometimes perpetuated by people who think all Christians ought to be smiling and cheerful all of the time. We even sing songs about being happy all the time. The truth is we cannot be perpetually happy every moment of every day…and THAT’S OKAY! Self-worth shouldn’t be about “am I happy all the time?” Happiness is much different that being content. Contentment doesn’t mean that you are constantly cheery and everyone thinks you shine like the sun. Contentment means there is a peace within us. It means that we have found a “sweet spot” in life and we live within that sweet spot. It doesn’t mean there won’t be bad days. It doesn’t mean that we won’t experience sadness either. Being content is vital – being happy all of the time is not…it’s a lie.
Understandably we ought not look like the character Eeyore either, where we’re just mopey and down every moment and we tend to bring other people down…But self worth is more than just experience happiness and smiling so much our jaws ache.
So where does our self-worth come from?
How can we recognize the lies being told about self-worth while striving for a genuine self-fulfilled life?
I am happy you asked.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s edition as we jump into the 3 ways that we discover this important characteristic in all of us.
Until then ponder these words:
“It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.”
-Abraham Lincoln.
-See you tomorrow!
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” -Mark Twain
How do you become a quality soldier of Christ?
How do you find out why you were born and how to become the very best “You“?
Perhaps you became a Soldier of this Army and wondered to yourself “what next?”
Perhaps there have been those in your life (in the corps, in your family, in the Army in general) who have truly paved the way for you to strive and have set certain quality standards for you to emulate.
Without a doubt we have witnessed negative examples too, but let us focus today upon 5 healthy habits for healthy salvationists. These are obviously transferable and not singularly exclusive to the Salvation Army experience. Certainly I could have easily called this “5 Healthy Habits for Healthy Christians”…but for the sake of continuity and for the sake of a majority of this Salvation Army readership, I will leave it the way it is…you’re welcome. 😉
5 Healthy Habits for Healthy Salvationists
1) Become a Reader (Challenge Yourself!)
I still recall a certain Commissioner whose first question would always be “So what are you reading?”
This was asked to prompt critical thinking and to communicate the importance of reading.
No matter if you are a fast reader (my wife) or you are a rather slow reader (myself), reading challenging material is rather important to developing healthy habits in our lives.
DON’T:
Don’t just read fiction.
I love fiction, it spurs on my creative side and I can easily become immersed in the characters of a good novel…BUT there are numerous quality spiritual writers out there who can challenge us and shake our preconceived understanding of God, the Universe and the world in which we live. If we only reside in the comfortable fiction section of the bookstore or library, we will limit the opportunities for personal growth and further spiritual understanding.
DO:
Do seek out challenging writers of various topics – not just Christian writers.
Do read the works of certain writers that you might fundamentally disagree with. When we simply refuse to read books from certain writers, speakers and thinkers just because of what others have said about them, we may miss out on some critical thinking/development and real teaching moments. Reading these challenging pieces doesn’t mean you have to always agree with them, but refusing to read these works could limit you and prove just how closed minded and small your ideology is. I don’t mean to insult anyone here, but I have heard people speak from uninformed – closed minded perspectives. They sound like fools regurgitating bits of information that others have spouted and rather than discovering it for themselves rely on others to formulate their opinions. When we challenge our understanding of God, even by reading controversial books, we begin to formulate our very own personal spiritual understanding of God. This is vital as we mature in the faith. Challenging traditional and even contemporary views by reading books from various authors from a wide spectrum of thought can help us to better define our love relationship with the Most High. I will caution you though, in the same breath, to be on the lookout for crackpots, charlatans and heresies for they do certainly exist.
2) Ask The Hard Questions
When we become “readers” we in turn begin to develop and formulate difficult questions that we ourselves cannot answer. Do not shy away from such conversations of faith. Also do not be afraid to ask these questions to those with whom you know to be more mature in the faith. It is not wrong to ask such questions. It helps us to grow and become healthier followers of Christ. When we refuse to step up to such challenges, we could very well be limiting the possibility of growth that could occur in such ventures of spiritual exploration.
Understand too that pillars of our faith have walked these paths before us. These “saints” of Christendom did ask the difficult questions. These “saints” of Christendom did not bypass such important defining ventures of faith. Do not be afraid to ask and to seek out that which currently is unknowable to you.
3) Accountability, Mentors & Sharpening
In order to possess the healthy habits of reading and asking the difficult questions as a Salvationist, there is also the crucial need for accountability and mentors which help us to sharpen and hone ourselves into spiritual maturity. It is understandable that maintaining a consistent accountability partner or mentor can be daunting and sometimes impossible, but strive to continue to seek out these people in your life. Sometimes these individuals will change over time as people move in and out of our lives. We NEED the assistance of fellow believers to spur us onward in becoming healthy Christ-followers. Here within this vulnerable yet safe environment the difficult questions can be asked, the spiritual “check-ups” can take place. Some people are more determined than others to possess these kinds of relationships and so they actively seek them out. Others are more reticent to ask because of fear of rejection or making the wrong choice for accountability and mentor. Be aware that such relationships will give us tools we ourselves do not personally or currently possess, after all, a solitary piece of steel cannot sharpen itself can it?
4) Exercise & Healthy Eating (here goes…I hope I don’t step on anyone’s toes…)
What we put into our bodies in regards to nourishment matters!
We cannot feast every day on junk foods, carbonated drinks and fast-food. These may momentarily satisfy our cravings and sometimes aide us in times of stress, but they WILL lead to health issues. How we treat our bodies and what we eat can determine how long we have on this earth to be effective Soldiers of God! It may sound kind of funny, but realistically if we have surrendered our ENTIRE life to the Lord, this includes our eating habits and our daily activity schedules. One could argue that our physical bodies are secondary to our spiritual conditions but I believe that these are interconnect and not mutually exclusive. What we do with our bodies can have a lasting impact on our spiritual journeys as well. To simply limit our existence within the spiritual realm while discarding our physical condition seems foolhardy and wrong.
A healthy soldier is also concerned about the upkeep of their bodies as well.
It may not always be the first priority, but it should be a close second as we become conscientious of our active and inactive lives as well as the foods that we eat. Discipline shouldn’t be exclusively utilized within our spiritual path and completely vacant within our physical well-being.
5) Develop A Disciplined Personal Prayer And Devotional Life
A Healthy Soldier is not only a reader; questioner; involved in some measure of accountability and in possession of some form of healthy physical attributes, but they should also seek to develop a disciplined personal prayer and devotional life. There are many ways to do this. Do not think that just because one soldier reads THAT devotional book that everyone must follow suit.
Do not underestimate the gravity of a healthy prayer life!
Also do not underestimate the need for a healthy devotional life either.
These two forms of spiritual discipline can become dry and drab if we do not change our study/focus habits up from time to time. Without a healthy prayer life, we are essentially placing limits on our interconnected relationship with the Father.
SUGGESTIONS: Find a simple, yet profound daily devotional if this helps you to develop the discipline of spiritual study. This is not the same as the first suggestion of “Become a Reader”, this is in addition to “digging deeper”. There are numerous spiritual classics that can be used in tandem with the Word of God. Even some contemporary devotionals can help to “feed” and “nourish” the soul. Seek these out, and purposely take times of the day to pray for yourself and others.
These are just five suggestions to developing healthy habits for healthy Soldiers.
This is not an exhaustive list and understandably there are many more ways to become a healthier soldier.
Consider these today!
Something more for our Army to ponder today!
To God be the glory!
“There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end! It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.” (Matthew chapter 10, The Message)
Dear Soldier,
are you struggling right now?
Have you experienced resistance, obstacles, opposition? Good.
I don’t say that to discourage you, but to encourage you.
If we are fight this good fight for the right reasons and with the right heart, we WILL face opposition and discouragement.
If we “take up our cross and follow Jesus” we WILL find times when we feel like quitting…when we feel like throwing in the towel and mutter to ourselves “someone else can do this, I’m done.” Don’t quit…don’t give in. Be a survivor, dear soldier! This isn’t about the call for more officers or soldiers, this is a call for more holiness and more humility within our ranks. This is a call for each of us to push ambitions aside and the thirst for power and authority to “do what we want”.
This has never been about the applause of man.
This has never been about the acclaim by and approval of leaders.
This has been about fearing God first, putting Him above all other things and within that selfless first step be survivors and dare I say “thrivers” in this campaign against sin.
How is your heart today, dear soldier?
Defeated?
Lost?
Empty?
Struggling to “catch a break”?
Be encouraged.
The One who has overcome the world stands with us!
The One who loves us beyond measure upholds us!
The One who provides us peace WITHIN the storm calms our weary hearts as well and gives us the power to overcome and survive…and hopefully thrive as well.
Something more to ponder today!
To God be the glory!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.26“You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.” -Matthew 23:25,26
I hate doing dishes, just ask my wife…There, I’ve said it.
Sometimes I put dishes into the dishwasher and put that little soap dispenser in and just hope for the best.
Most of the time that little soap dispenser lets me down…but sometimes I get lucky.
We do this too sometimes within our spiritual journeys too.
This passage of scripture may have been originally directed at the Pharisees and “hypocrites”, but it may as well have been directed at us too.
Jesus blasts these teachers and scholars of the Torah. They know all the right things to do and all the right things to say, but their hearts are far from clean.
Sometimes we just load up our spiritual practices.
We just pile up the songs and scriptures and outfits that we wear…and we hope for the best.
Sometimes we get lucky.
Many times we do not.
A lot of the time, it makes us feel hollow and empty inside…almost as if something is missing or somehow, something has been overlooked.
Why? Because the inside of the “cup” has not been cleaned.
We can polish away at the soft glow of a sparkling clean exterior, but if the interior is still gross and filthy – what good will that polishing do? I’m sure we can fool everybody. We can fool even ourselves into thinking we have it made spiritually…but we aren’t fooling God.
News Flash:
You. Can’t. Fool. God!
I’m not saying we don’t sing songs of praise.
I’m not saying we don’t read the scriptures.
I’m not even saying “don’t go to church”.
But if all that we do is for “appearances”…then what’s the point?
If all we do in “worship” is hope that we sound good and “man did that worship team nail that last song“…we’re misguided and we could be avoiding the “camel” for the gnat (Matthew 23:24)…me may have some serious internal issues to deal with.
How is the inside of your cup?
Does it still need work?
Does it still need some cleaning?
A lot of cleaning?
This is a personal thing.
This is deeply personal…and yet this is also a corporate “Church-family” thing too.
Each of us should be mindful first of the condition of our own hearts before we even begin to contemplate the condition of others.
Are you sick of just going through the motions in Church? –So am I!
Are you tired of comparing yourself with others of the faith because they seem to have it all together and you’re just pretending? -So am I!
Are you ready to do the hard work?
Are you prepared to allow the Holy Spirit to strip away the grime and caked on gunk in your heart? -Me too.
You see this is the constant work of the Lord.
We must not stop seeking to be like Christ in our lives today.
We must not give up because holiness seems to be so far from where we are right now.
How is your cup?
May you seek Him out.
May you diligently allow Him to reveal and remove the dirt within.
God Bless you today!
-Something more for us all to ponder today.
To God be the glory!
instead of a kiss
a ‘like’ instead of LOVE
of sin weighed
I want to be
Pastor's Ponderings 