Marv – Quest For Truth

Superhero: Armor of GOD: Shoes of Readiness

August 1, 2018June 13, 2019Tagged Achilles, agnostic, agnosticism, Ant-man, Antman, apocalypse, apologetics, armor, atheism, atheist, avengers, bad, bare feet, bare foot, Batman, battle, battlefield, Black Panther, Black Widow, blind, blindness, born again, call of duty, Captain America, captain marvel, Christianity, combat, Cyclops, Daredevil, DC, Deadpool, Doctor Strange, Doomsday, eternal, eternity, ethics, faith, faithful, fight, Finding Nemo, forgiveness, fortnite, gauntlet, God, good, grace, Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy, guilty, heel, Helen Keller, heroes, heroic, heroine, Holy, Home Alone, Hulk, immorality, Incredibles, Infinity War, innocent, Iron Man, Ironman, Jesus, judgment, Justice League, landmine, love, Magneto, Marv, marvel, materialism, materialist, Matthew Michael Murdock, mercy, mine, mines, morality, morals, nail, naturalism, naturalist, Nick Fury, Nightcrawler, power, preparation, prepared, readiness, ready, Redeemer, redemption, repentance, rescue, right, righteous, Roman, roman soldier, Rome, salvation, saved, saving, Savior, Saviour, Scarlet Witch, sight, sin, sinful, smash, Spider-man, Spiderman, stones, Storm, super, superhero, superheroes, superhuman, Superman, Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles, temptation, tempting, Thanos, Thor, TMNT, truth, vision, walk, walk by faith, walk of faith, walking, walking dead, walking with purpose, war, war zone, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, wrong, X-men, Xmen7 Comments

If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

This is Part 17 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty. In Part 9, we saw that superheroes never give up! In Part 10, we saw that superheroes don’t need recognition – they are motivated only by love! In Part 11, we saw that relationships matter and teamwork works! In Part 12, we saw that the struggle is real; however, Jesus is the real solution to our real problems. In Part 13, we saw that despite problems, superheroes are more than conquerors! In Part 14, we saw that true superheroes do not have identity crises – they know who they are even if others don’t! In Part 15, we saw that superheroes are always ready to fight evil with the belt of Truth. In Part 16, we saw that superheroes are always ready to resist evil by putting on the breastplate of righteousness.

In this message (Part 17), we will see that superheroes are always ready to walk with purpose.

Continuing the examination of the whole armor of GOD, we are now instructed to put on the shoes of readiness (Ephesians 6:15).

Marvel’s superhero, Daredevil, is a great example of having feet of readiness. In his true civilian identity, Matthew Michael Murdock is a skilled and respected New York attorney, detective, tracker, and interrogation expert, as well as being an expert marksman. But the amazing thing about this superhero is that he is blind! However, Daredevil – though he is blind – is always alert and ready to respond appropriately to any situation and is prepared to dodge danger and evade evil. But not only is Daredevil ready to avoid the attacks of his adversaries, he is also ready to effectively combat evil and accomplish good.

Many people might believe Daredevil to be far-fetched fairytale nonsense, but there are numerous accounts of people being amazing despite being blind – click on the examples to see their inspirational stories:

So, what are the shoes of readiness? What purpose did shoes serve for a Roman soldier? What purpose do these spiritual shoes serve for us? The shoes were primarily composed of two parts: the greave and the shoe itself. The greave was a fitted piece of bronze or brass that began at the top of the knee and extended down past the lower leg, finally resting on the upper portion of the foot. The shoes were equipped with spikes on the bottom. How does this apply to our lives as superheroes for the Savior? Well, imagine a solider being completely covered with protective armor yet having bare and exposed feet. Just one rock, glass shard, or nail could bring a soldier down to his knees, trip him up and cause him to be overcome in battle. Because the feet carry the soldier and direct him to the battle and through the battle, protection for the feet are necessary.

For example, in Greek mythology, the most enduring story of the death of Achilles describes how one single arrow shot from a man named Paris landed in the one spot Achilles happened to be vulnerable – his heel. The one area of exposed weakness was enough to bring the great warrior down in defeat. Another example can be found in the comedic 1990 movie, Home Alone. In a hilarious scene of boobytraps and mishaps, the criminal, Marv, steps on a nail with his bare foot and then falls down stairs:

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
(Ephesians 5:15-16) -NASB

May you also understand that it’s not necessary to have physical feet in order to put on the shoes of readiness. This is a spiritual war and the spiritual armor still applies to those who don’t have physical legs. There have been many people who have either lost their legs or were born without legs yet they accomplished good deeds in life. Consider the following examples:

Stand Your Ground:

The spikes on the bottom of the Roman soldier’s shoes helped him to have firm footing and prevent him from being pushed back or slip and fall down. Scripture tells us that we are to stand in the confidence of knowing that we have on the shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace. The word “peace” is taken from the Greek word eirene, an old word that conveys the idea of a peace that prevails or a conquering peace. When you have strapped on that peace and you have peace on the bottom of your feet, you are immovable. This peace helps us stand our ground and hold you in place when the enemy tries to drive you back. The person who has the footing in peace is like a tree with deep roots that won’t get knocked down during a storm. In Ephesians 6:14, 1Corinthians 16:13, and 2Corinthians 1:24, for example, we are instructed to “stand.” It’s interesting to note that the majority of verses in the New Testament that have to do with standing also have to do with faith. It’s time to take a stand. Stand your ground! Don’t allow the enemy to push you back!

Dodging Danger; Evading Evil:

Due to fallen humanity’s inclination toward evil and war, it is estimated that there are about 110 million land mines throughout the world that are still in the ground right now. That’s what we created! Think: What are we creating? An estimated equal amount of mines are in stockpiles waiting to be used or destroyed. If de-mining efforts remain at about the same rate as they are now, and no new mines are planted, it is estimated to take over 1,000 years to get rid of all the world’s active land mines. Research declares that about every 20 seconds, someone in the world gets injured or dies due to mines. And that’s merely the danger of human physical warfare. Now imagine how many ‘mines’ have been strategically placed in the spiritual war that is waging all around us.

[Recommend Reading: Is Religion the Cause of Most Wars?]

Even after war is over, the remnants of war remains; wounds still must heal – both physically and mentally. The full extent of war’s destruction is evident in the aftermath through the process of rebuilding. The spiritual war was won when Christ sacrificed Himself on the cross and then rose again on the third day; however, there are still traps for those who refuse GOD’s gift of grace and mercy. There are traps for those of us who have accepted GOD’s gift of grace! Even though the enemy has been defeated, the spiritual mines still remain active. Until Christ returns and takes us to the New Earth under the New Heavens (Isaiah 65:17-25; 2Peter 3:13; Revelation 21-22), this current life is still Operation Relentless Rescue.

Observe. Think! Analyze. Be aware. Do you truly believe that the temptations which come your way are merely coincidental? Is it possible that Satan knows your selfish desires? Do they seem too subtle to be certain? The physical enemy plants physical mines where there is a likelihood for people to travel; likewise, spiritual mines are also planted in places where people frequently travel through life.

Like the birds in the 2003 movie, Finding Nemo, many people scream, “Mine! Mine! Mine!” Many people are so accustomed to saying, “mine” for selfish reasons that when the word is heard, they believe the word to be a proclamation of possession. Like many people, I am also screaming, “Mine!”; however, I am screaming for your sake, not mine. Consider this message of mine to be yet another warning. This is just one of many warnings I will preach.

Our culture that is contaminated by corruption of the Counterfeiter has planted millions of mines within our advertisement and entertainment industries (see my article, “Reflection and Direction“). Be careful: these mines look like your desires. All mines are strategically placed around sex, money, title/position, stimulants, and material possessions. Why do you think this would be so? Well, Jesus told us the answer:

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
(Matthew 26:41) -ESV

Those who work in the entertainment and advertisement industries know that the flesh is weak – that’s why they promote their products in the appealing ways that they do! We must put on the shoes of readiness and watch our steps or we will find that we won’t even have a leg to stand on. We better watch our steps or we will lose our way. If we’re not careful, we’ll not only lose a limb or life, but we can also lose our purpose and then our eternal joy in Heaven will instead be eternal sorrow and anguish in Hell. Consider the wisdom of what is written:

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
(Matthew 16:26) -ESV

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
(Proverbs 14:12) -NASB

It may be tempting to allow the anger within to explode outward, but do not sin in your anger (Genesis 4:5-7; Ephesians 4:26-27). #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to puff up with pride, but don’t walk into anger, step into that argument, and allow poisonous words to spill out from your mouth (Ephesians 4:29-31). #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to see if the grass is greener on the other side, but don’t walk over boundaries and step into another person’s romantic relationship (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21). #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to get credit and receive praise for something you didn’t do, but don’t walk into dishonesty and dishonor by stepping into another person’s place of honor (Proverbs 3:27; Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3). #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to immerse yourself in the entrancement of technology, but don’t walk into a dead end by stepping into isolation (Genesis 2:18; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Proverbs 18:1; 1Corinthians 12:14). #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to exchange personal information for the sake of friendship, but don’t walk down Disrespectful Drive or Slander Street by stepping into the realm of gossip (Exodus 23:1; Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 11:12-13; 20:19; James 4:11). #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to compromise an area of Truth to experience ‘fun’ or receive pleasure, but do not walk into disobedience to seek temporary desires that never fulfill. Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion. Don’t trade away GOD’s lifelong gift to satisfy a short-term appetite (Genesis 25:29-34; Hebrews 12:16-17; 2Samuel 11-13). #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to escape suffering and sorrow, but do not walk down Evil Lane and step into the entrapment of drugs. Don’t walk into that store and step your way into becoming a drunken fool. #Mine 💣💥
It may be temping to risk everything you currently have in order to attain everything you desire, but don’t step away from responsibility by stepping into unrealistic odds that are not in your favor. #Mine 💣💥
It may be tempting to escape the pain in life by ending your life, but do not walk into the possibility of Hell by stepping your way into suicide. #Mine 💣💥

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
(1Corinthians 10:12-13) -ESV

Advance Forward:

The spikes on the bottom of the shoes isn’t only for standing your ground and refusing to be pushed back, it’s also for traction in order to gain ground and advance forward. Are you taking ground or losing ground? In Joshua 1:3, GOD told Joshua that he would possess all the land he walked on. GOD freely gave the children of Israel the Promised Land; however, in order for them to possess that land and enjoy it, they had to advance forward while overcoming opposition. It is written in Romans 16:20 that “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” The word “crush” is taken from the Greek word suntribo, and it was historically used to denote the act of smashing and utterly crushing grapes into wine. But it was also used to denote the act of snapping, breaking, and crushing bones. Because of Jesus, Satan is under our feet. Alone, we are no match for Satan. But because we have partnership with the Lord, we can overcome. Jesus completely destroyed Satan’s power over you through His sacrificial death and resurrection. Standing in faith is a defensive move and a refusal to go back; walking with the Lord is an offensive move and a decision to advance forward. And because we walk in the confidence and peace of knowing this, it’s time to advance forward and walk with purpose.

Walking With Purpose:

It is good to be able to dodge danger and evade evil, but that does not mean that we should avoid the adversary or stay away from sinners. Superheroes do not run away from problems; rather, they embrace their callings and seek solutions.

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
(1John 2:3-6) -ESV

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ ”
(Matthew 28:16-20) -ESV

Wherever Jesus had directed the disciples to go, they went there. The shoes of readiness help us to dodge danger and evade evil; however, the shoes of readiness also guide us to walk with purpose. Our purpose for walking by faith is to share the Gospel (good news). If your feet don’t take you out of your comfort zone and into the battlefield, then you’re not wearing the shoes of readiness. The Couch Potato Christians might as well wear ankle monitors and consider themselves prisoners of their own probations.

When Saul of Tarsus became Paul, Jesus helped him to realize that he had been blind to the Truth all along (Acts 9:3-19). From this, we can learn that without Jesus, we are all dead in our own sins (Ephesians 2:1-3). The Lord is the Light (John 8:12) and the only reason we have sight (Isaiah 42:16; Ephesians 2:4-9). Without Jesus to give us vision, we would all be blind darkness dwellers. Without GOD as the Light that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105), we would all be the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39). But because Jesus called us out of the darkness and into the Light (Colossians 1:13), we became the light-bearers (John 9:5; Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 5:8; 1Thessalonians 5:5; 1Peter 2:9) who act as travel guides. Just as tourists typically follow tour guides until they reach their destinations, the “lost” only follow Christians until they come to Jesus. People ultimately follow Christ, not Christians. But as light-bearing guides, we must put on the shoes of readiness if we are to lead those in the dark to the Light. Don’t walk in the darkness without your shoes on; don’t go into the battlefield with bare feet. Are your shoes on? Are you ready?

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ ”
(Romans 10:14-15; see also Isaiah 52:7) -ESV

Prayer:

GOD, thank You for the shoes of readiness You gave to us. Please open our eyes and help us to see what You truly want us to see. Expose the lies and reveal the Truth! Please open our ears and help us to hear what You truly want us to hear. Help us to recognize the ‘mines’ for what they truly are. Help us to walk the straight and narrow path of righteousness (Proverbs 4:25-27; Isaiah 30:21; Deuteronomy 5:32-33; Matthew 7:13-14) and keep us from deviating from the path of Truth. And when we encounter the ‘mines,’ please help us recognize the path of escape that you promised to provide (1Corinthians 10:13). Please lead righteous people our way and surround us with good and righteous influences who will keep us accountable and inspire us to rise to new and higher levels in our lives of faith. Please use us to guide others away from the destructive ‘mines’ of the adversary’s mind. Please help us to guide the lost to the One who can save. I humbly recognize that if You had not given me vision, I would still be blind. Help me lead others to You so that You may heal them of their blindness, open their eyes and help them to see — truly see! Help me to be a bright light in the darkness of this world. Help me to provide my light to those without sight so they may find their way Home. Help me to give light to those without light so they can also go shine their lights and help others acquire light. A candle was designed to provide light. A candle can either refuse to be lit and remain a mere candle all its inactive days or it can accept the fire of the Holy Spirit and provide light as it was designed to do! I understand that as I provide light, my life will dwindle down to nothing, but in doing so I will truly live (John 11:25-26). And truly, I’d rather live than merely exist. It is better to sink while sailing for the Savior than to forever float in Hinder Harbor, tied to the devil’s dock.

GOD, I am only another mere candle creation, but please help me light as many other candles as possible before my time ends. Please guide our steps to be in step with Your perfect will. Amen.

You Doing The Most

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018Tagged 100-year prayer, 1611, 18th Amendment, 1914, 1925, 1945, 1948, 67 Articles, 9/11, 95 theses, a posteriori, a priori, A Tale of Two Cities, abbot, Abraham Lincoln, Act of Supremacy, Adi Granth, Adolf Hitler, adopt, adopted, adoption, adoptionism, Adventist, African Methodist Episcopal Church, after-life, afterlife, again-baptizers, agnostic, agnostic-atheist, agnosticism, ahimsa, ahisma, Ahriman, Ahura Mazda, Aimee Semple McPherson, Albert, Alexander Campbell, all you need is love, allah, allahuakbar, alms, altruism, Amaterasu, Amazing Grace, ambrose, AME Church, America, American History, American Revolution, Amish, Amritsar, Anabaptists, Anacletus II, Angelus Temple, Anglican, Anglo-Saxons, Anne Boleyn, Anselm, anti-christ, anti-Semitic, antichrist, apocrypha, apollinarianism, Apollinarius, apologetics, apostasy, apostle, apostolic, archbishop, arianism, Aristotle, Arius, Arjun Mal, Arminian, Arminianism, Arminius, Aryans, Ashavan versus the Druj, Atatürk, athanasius, atheism, atheist, atman, atonement, attila the hun, Augustine of Hippo, Austria, avatar, avatars, Avesta, Avignon, Aya Sofya, Azusa Street, B.B. Warfield, bahai, balance, Baldwin of Flanders, baptism, baptist, baptize, barbarian, barbarianism, barbaric, barbarism, Bartolome de Las Casas, Barton W. Stone, basil, Basilica, battle, Battle of Agincourt, Battle of Tours, battlefield, beatitude, beatles, Benedict, Benedict Spinoza, Benedict’s Rule, Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield, Bernard of Clairvaux, Beza, Bhagavad-Gita, BhagavadGita, Bhakti, bible, Bible study, biblical, bigot, bigotry, Bill Clinton, Bill of Rights, Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, bindi, Black Death, black magic, blackmagic, Blaise Pascal, Bloody Mary, Bob Pierce, bodhi, Boniface VIII, Book of Common Prayer, Brahma, Brahman, Brahmin, Brahmins, Bruno, buboes, Bubonic Plague, buddha, buddhism, Buddhist, building blocks, Bulgaria, bull, bulletin, Bunyan, burned at the stake, burnout, Butler Act, Byzantine, Byzantium, C.S. Lewis, Calvin & Hobbes, Calvin and Hobbes, calvinism, Calvinist, Campus Crusade for Christ, Cane Ridge, canon, cappadocians, cardinal, caste, caste system, catechism, Catherine of Aragon, Catholic, Catholic Reformation, Catholicism, CCC, Celestine V, Charlemagne, Charles Augustus, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Charles Fox Parham, Charles G. Finney, Charles Martel, Charles Spurgeon, Charles the Great, Charles V, Chicago White Stockings, Christ, Christian, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Truce, Christopher Columbus, Christotokos, Chrysostom, church, Church of Holy Wisdom, Cistercian, Cistertium, Civil Rights, civil war, Clarence Darrow, Clement VII, clergy, Clive Staples Lewis, coexist, Colloquy of Marburg, Common Life, communion, communism, communist, Compendium, Confessing Church, confucianism, confucius, conquest, Constantine, Constantinople, constitution, constitutional, consubstantiation, contagion, contradiction, contradictions, contradictory, convent, coptic, cornerstone, Council of Chalcedon, Council of Constance, Council of Nicea, Council of Pisa, Council of Trent, Count von Zinzendorf, Counter-Reformation, counterfeit, counterfeiter, creed, Critique of Pure Reason, Cromwell, cross, crusade, crusader, crusades, Cyril, Cyrillic, D.L. Moody, da Vinci, Da Vinci Code, dalailama, dalits, Dante, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Dante’s Inferno, Dao, Daodejing, Daoism, Dark Ages, darwin, Darwinian, Darwinism, David Hume, David Livingstone, Day of Disappointment, Dead Sea Scrolls, Death Machine, December 25, Decius, Declaration of Independence, deism, deist, deities, deity, Demi Lovato, democracy, demon, demonic, denominations, Desiderius Erasmus, destiny, determinism, deus vult, devil, Devotio Moderna, dharma, Diet of Speyer, Diet of Worms, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Digambar, Digambara, Diocletian, Dissenters, docetism, doing the most, Dome of the Rock, Dominican, Donation of Constantine, Donatism, Donatist, Donatus, Dr Seuss, Dream Center, dualism, dualistic, Duke William III, Dwight Lyman Moody, Easter, Eastern Orthodoxy, ecumenical, Edict of Milan, education, educator, Edward I, Edward VI, eightfold path, Ekankar, elightenment, Ellen G. White, elsa, emancipation proclamation, empirical, empiricism, Empress Irene, encomienda, energy, enlightened, enlightenment, episteme, epistemology, Espeville, ethical, ethics, ethos, Eucharist, Europe, eusebius, Eutychianism, evangelical, evidence, evolution, exegesis, exorcism, exorcist, faith, Faith and Order, faith and reason, faith seeking understanding, faith-full, faithful, faithfull, fallacies, fallacious, fallacy, faravahar, fate, Fatih Sultan Mehmed, February 14, Felix Manz, feminism, feminist, feng-shui, feudal system, feudalism, fideism, fides quaerens intellectum, finite god, finite godism, First Crusade, first principles, five solas, flagellation, forgery, Forrest Gump, fortune, fortune cookie, fortune teller, fortune telling, fortuneteller, fortunetelling, foundation, foundational, foundationalism, four noble truths, Fourth Crusade, Fourth Lateran Council, Francis Scott Key, Francis Xavier, Frankish, Franks, Franz Ferdinand, fravahar, Frederick III, free choice, free will, freedom, Friends’ Society, frozen, Fuhgeddaboudit, Fundamentalist, Fundamentals, Galerius, Galileo Galilei, Ganesha, gender, Geneva, Geneva Bible, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, George Carlin, George Whitefield, George Williams, Georgetown University, Germany, Gideon, Gideons, Glenn Cunningham, gnostic, gnosticism, Gobind Rai, Gobind Singh, God, goddess, Godhead, Good Friday, good versus evil, good vs evil, goth, Granth Sahib, Great Awakening, Great Depression, Great Papal Schism, great schism, Greek, growing pains, Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Nanak, hadith, Hagia Sophia, haiden, Hampton Court Conference, harmony, Harvard, Heaven, Hebrew, Heidelberg Catechism, Heinrich Bullinger, Hell, Hellenistic, Henry Stanley, heresy, heretic, hermeneutical, hermeneutics, Herrnhut, Herrnhutt, hierarchy, Hildebrand, hindu, hinduism, Hippolytus, Hiram Edson, historian, historical, history, holy flame, Holy Grail, Holy Land, Holy Roman Empire, Home Alone, homoousios, horoscope, Hudson Taylor, Hugh Latimer, Hugo Grotius, Huguenots, human rights, humanism, humanist, humanitarian, Humbert, humble, humility, Hundred Years’ War, hypostasis, I Have A Dream, I think therefore I am, icon, iconoclasts, iconodules, icons, idol, idolatry, idolize, idols, Ignatius, Ignatius of Loyola, Imam, Imitation of Christ, immaculate conception, Immanuel Kant, immersion, immoral, immorality, incarnation, independence day, indeterminism, India, Indian, indigenous peoples, indulgences, Industrial Revolution, inerrancy, inerrant, infallibility, infallible, infant baptism, Innocent III, inquisition, Institutes of the Christian Religion, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, intolerance, intolerant, Ira Sankey, Irenaeus, Isaac Newton, Isabella, islam, Israel, Italy, Jacob Ammon, Jacob Arminius, Jainism, Jakob Ammann, Jamestown, Jan Hus, Jan Huss, Jansenism, Jataka Tales, Jeff Foxworthy, Jehovah, Jehovah's Witness, Jehovah’s Witnesses, jehovahswitness, jen, Jerome, Jerry Falwell, Jesuits, Jesus, jew, Jewish, jihad, Jim Crow laws, jnana, Joan of Arc, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Johann Eck, Johann Gutenberg, Johannes Scotus Eriugena, John Bunyan, John Calvin, John Cassian, John Damascus, John Knox, John Lennon, John Newton, John Scopes, John Smyth, John Wesley, John Wycliffe, John XII, Josef Stalin, Joseph Smith, josephsmith, judaism, Julius Caesar, Julius Wellhausen, JW, kairos, kami, kami-no-mihi, Karl Barth, Karl Marx, karma, karuna, khalsa, khanda, king, King Charles, King Edward III, King Henry V, King Henry VIII, King James, King James Version, King Pepin III, King William II, knight, Knights Templar, koan, koran, Krishna, kshatriya, Kshatriyas, Lao Tzu, Lao-Tse, Lao-zi, Last Supper, Latin, Latter Day Saints, lds, leech, Leo's Tome, Leonardo da Vinci, let it be, let it go, life after death, Life and Work, liturgical, liturgy, living stone, logic, logical, logician, logos, Lollards, Lord’s Supper, love is love, love wins, loveislove, Ludwig Feuerbach, LXX, magic, magician, Magisterium, Magna Carta, magnum opus, Mahabharata, Mahavira, mahayana, Mainz, malignant, malignant growth, Mani, manichaeism, Manichean, manors, manu, Marburg Colloquy, Marcion, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King Jr, Marv, Mary Tudor, mass, Massachusetts, Matthew Barnett, Maxentius, maya, Mayflower, Mazdaism, mecca, mediator, medieval, Medieval Times, meditate, meditation, mendicant, mendicants, Menno Simons, Mennonites, Methodism, Methodist, Methodius, Michelangelo, Middles Ages, Milton, MLK, modalism, Modern Devotion, moksha, monasteries, monastery, monastic, monk, Monkey Trial, monks, monophysitism, Monotheletism, monothelos, Montanism, Montanist, moral, morality, morals, Moravia, Moravians, mormon, Mormonism, mosque, Mother Teresa, muhammad, Muratorian Canon, muslim, mustikos, mysteries, mysterious, mystery, mystic, mystical, mysticism, NAE, nahan, narrow-minded, national anthem, Native Americans, naturalism, naturalist, nature, navjot, neopaganism, neoplatonism, nestorianism, nestorius, New Age, newage, Nicene Creed, Nicholas Ridley, Nicolas Copernicus, nihilism, nihilist, Nikolaus Ludwig, nirvana, nobles, nonconformists, nonnus, noumena, Novum Instrumentum, nun, occult, occultism, October 31 1517, Odovacer, om, omnipotence, omnipotent, omnipresence, omnipresent, omniscience, omniscient, one degree, One-Nature, ontological, ontology, ordination, Origen, origin, Origin of Species, Orthodox, orthodoxy, Ottoman Empire, Oxford, pagan, paganism, Palestine, Palestinian, Pali Canon, paradise, Parsiism, Passover, pathos, patriarch, peace, Peace of Westphalia, peasant, Pedro Claver, pelagianism, Pelagius, Pennsylvania, pentecostal, Pentecostalism, phenomena, philanthropic, philanthropy, Philip Jacob Spener, Philip Melanchthon, Philip Schaff, philosopher, philosophy, Photius, Pia desideria, Pieta, pietism, piety, pilgrim, pilgrimage, Pilgrims, pillars, pious, plague, plantations, Plato, plotinus, pluralism, pluralist, Polycarp, polytheism, polytheist, Poor Folk of Lyons, Pope, Pope Calixtus III, Pope Gregory XI, Pope Innocent III, Pope Julius II, Pope Leo III, Pope Leo IX, Pope Leo X, Pope Paul III, Pope Urban II, Pope Urban VI, Post-Reformation, Prague, praise, Praxeas, predestination, Presbyterian, Presbyterianism, presbyters, priesthood, Princeton, Prohibition Amendment, prosopon, protestant, Protestantism, providence, puja, Puranas, purgatory, purge, Puritans, Quakers, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary I, Qumran, quran, raj, Raja, Rama, Ramakrishna, Ramayana, rationalism, re-baptizers, reason, rebaptizers, red cross, redeem, redemption, Regula, reincarnation, relativism, relativist, religion, remnant, Remonstrance, Remonstrant ende Vertooch, Remonstrants, Renaissance, Rene Descartes, republic, restorationist, revere, reverence, revival, revolution, Revolutionary War, Rhode Island, Richard Allen, Richard the Lionheart, ring around the rosie, rishis, Robert E. Lee, Robert Raikes, Roger Williams, Roman Catholicism, Rosa Parks, sacrament, sacraments, sacred flame, Saint Nicholas, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, saladin, Salem, Salem witch, salvation, Salvation Army, Samadhi, Samaritan’s Purse, Santa Claus, satori, sattvic, saved, Savior, Saviour, sawdust trail, schism, schola, Scholasticism, Scholastics, schole, school, Second Crusade, secret knowledge, secular, secularhumanism, secularist, self-awareness, self-determinism, self-mutilation, selfish, selfless, Seljuk Turks, Separatists, September 11, Septuagint, servant, serve, Severus, Shakespeare, sharecropper, sharia, shen-dao, Shiite, shinto, Shiva, shrine, shruti, Shudras, Siddhartha Gautama, Sigismund, Sikh, Sikhism, Sir Edward Coke, Sistine Chapel, Sita, smriti, Society of Friends, Society of Jesus, Socrates, Sojourner Truth, sola fide, sola gratia, sola Scriptura, soli Deo gloria, solo Christo, speaking in tongue, spirit, spiritual, square circle, St Bartholomew’s Day, St. Peter’s, St. Peter’s Basilica, Star of David, Star-Spangled Banner, starofdavid, Sticky Bandits, Stoicism, suffer, suffered, suffering, sultan, Sultan Saladin, Summa Theologica, Sunday School, Sunni, supralapsarianism, sutras, Svetambara, swastika, Swetambar, Swiss Brothers, syncretism, syncretistic, synod of Antioch, Synod of Dort, Synod of the Oak, Synod of Whitby, T-Swift, tabula rasa, Tao, Tao-te-ching, taoism, tarot card, Taylor Swift, teach, teacher, temple, terrorist, Tertullian, testimonial, testimony, Tetzel, thanksgiving, the force, The Rule, the way, Theodosius, Theodotus, theologian, theology, theophany, Theotokos, theravada, thetes, Third Crusade, Thirty Years War, Thomas A’Kempis, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Cranmer, Thomas Valentine Sullivan, three popes, Tirthankar, tolerance, tolerant, Tome, Tommy Barnett, torii, torii gate, toriigate, tortoise and the hare, transgender, transgenders, transubstantiation, Trent, tres personae, trinitarian, Trinity, tritheism, truth, Turks, Two-Nature, Ulrich Zwingli, Ulysses S. Grant, una substantia, Unam Sanctum, unconstitutional, Underground Railroad, Unitarian, Unitarianism, unity, university, Upanishads, Vaishyas, vaisya, Valdes, Valdesius, Valentine, Valentine's Day, Vardhamana, vassal, Vatican, Vedantic, Vedas, Vedic, veneration, vernacular principle, virgin, Virgin Mary, Vishnu, Vladimir Lenin, vulgate, Waldensians, Waldo, war, war zone, warlock, Wartburg Castle, Watchtower, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, western, Where's Waldo, white magic, white privilege, whitemagic, wicca, wiccan, William Booth, William Carey, William J Seymour, William James, William Jennings Bryan, William Miller, William Penn, William Tyndale, William Wilberforce, wisdom, wise, witch, witch hunt, witch trial, witchcraft, Wittenberg, World War, Worms, worship, worshiper, worshiping, WWI, WWII, X-mas, Xmas, Yahweh, Yale, Yasumaro, yin yang, yinyang, YMCA, yoga, yogi, Youth for Christ, Zarathustra, zen, Zoroaster, Zoroastrianism, ZurichLeave a comment

First and foremost, I want to present a challenge to you (the reader) to read this entire article even if you’re not a Christian – especially if you’re not a Christian. May this serve as insight into Christianity, but also challenge your worldview. You may not think that you’re “doing the most,” but you probably are.

In ministry and in life, we are not meant to merely survive, but to thrive. How do we not only stay in the game, but stay on top of our game? To be able to stay on top of our game, we must first ensure that we stay in the game. Life can be draining. Ministry can be draining and cause people to quit. Selflessly loving people can be draining sometimes – especially when we receive so much hate simply because we live to love others. It’s disheartening.

According to John Maxwell, more than two-thirds of all biblical leaders finish poorly. That is alarming! How could it be that about 67% of biblical leaders finish poorly? I believe it’s because they ran out of gas and lost sight of the ultimate end goal. The key to staying in the game is to prevent burnout. When ministry is a challenge, that isn’t an indication of failure or ineptitude. It’s simply reality. There will be tough times of conflict, disappointment, and loss, so ministry requires a heart and soul that are alive and full to the point of resiliency. In 1Corinthians 9:24, Paul tells us that we need to run the race well so that we finish well (see also, Hebrews 12:1,7). This requires endurance. This life is a marathon, not a mad dash to an immediate goal. Those who go too fast, too quickly, find themselves too tired to finish the race. What good does it do if you started the race yet never finished it? We must challenge ourselves to grow, but also be careful not to grow too quickly. If the growth happens too quickly and overtakes ability, we will feel overwhelmed and we will burn out. Yet we must grow. We must not be complacent and remain comfortable. We can’t be stinky stagnant water. We must practice self-leadership. How do we do this? It is much easier said than done. I have failed at it many times. We need as much input as we output. We need encouragement, motivation, and inspiration. And to be inspired, we must be learning. We must also have fellowship and accountability. We are not meant to live life alone.

Unlike Demi Lovato — who believes allowing love within will cause a heart attack — I know that love is what heals the heart. We need to make sure that our heart is full of love and that we are fully devoted to GOD. But to be full of love and fully devoted to GOD, we must constantly cast out all the bad that tries to stick to us. And they will stick if you let them! It’s easy to allow bitterness, resentment, disappointment and pain to stick to us and pile discouragement on top of us, forcing us to carry an unnecessarily heavy load. They are the Sticky Bandits who steal our joy and our drive to thrive. These Sticky Bandits will hinder us and prevent us from fulfilling our purpose. And those things that stick to us act like muck and guck that clog a pipe and won’t allow water to drain. They act like the various substances that clog the coronary arteries, which causes heart attacks. Dear Demi, heart failure is not because of love, it is from a lack of love.

And as unfortunate as it is for me to admit this, we need to heed the advice from Taylor Swift and “shake it off.” How do we ensure that the muck and guck won’t stick to us and cause us to become jaded and faded, pained and drained? It’s simple. We must make time for GOD. (Remember: being simple doesn’t mean it’s easy.) It’s possible for us to work too hard in ministry yet spiritually starve ourselves. When our pace is too fast, discouragement follows close behind. In 1Peter 5:6-11, Peter tells us that the devil prowls around like a lion, just waiting to pounce on its victim (vv.8)! But he also informs us that we will encounter difficult times (vv.9-10) and he instructs us to cast our anxieties on GOD (vv.7).

C.S. Lewis had once said that what one calls the interruptions of life are precisely one’s real life experiences. Think about that. Those ‘interruptions’ are not actually interruptions as we perceive them to be. They are a part of life. Certain parts of life may interrupt our plans, but our plans are not part of real life experiences until those thoughts actually become actions. Thus, those perceived ‘interruptions’ are real life experiences we just happen to stumble into as we’re trying to figure out what we’re doing. We’re running into things and we’re getting mad at the things we’re running into! (This sounds like a George Carlin stand-up comedian act.) Have you ever seen the video with the woman who falls into a fountain while texting? How dare that stationary fountain interrupt her entire world of important text messages!

Do we have a solution to this problem? Yes. Don’t get bitter; get better! We’re going to get interrupted. None of our plans are going to work perfectly. Surprises will happen. We must make room in our lives for interruptions and surprises. Overscheduling leads to being overwhelmed and overreacting. Our day should begin with GOD, pause in the middle of the day to be with GOD, and end our night with GOD. In Luke 5:16, it is written: “But [Jesus] would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Quiet time is important. Time alone with GOD is important. Time with GOD brings clarity. We must discipline ourselves to be in constant connection with GOD.

If we try to do too much, we will collapse under the weight of expectation and we will end up hardly doing anything at all. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells those who are weary and burdened to go to Him and He will give them rest. Jesus also tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. With the knowledge of this in mind, wouldn’t it be counterproductive to crush ourselves under the weight of ministry, thereby being ineffective in ministry? If there is a routine panic over not knowing how things will get accomplished, then it might be a heavy burden that’s too heavy. If projects are abandoned before they’re completed just so new initiatives can begin, then it might be a heavy burden that’s too heavy. If volunteers leave because they feel overworked, resulting in a smaller team to carry all the weight, then it might be a heavy burden that’s too heavy. Instead of the Jeff Foxworthy “you might be a redneck if” jokes, this is starting to sound like a teenager’s “you might be doing the most if” commentary. If your family suffers because they’re being neglected while all your focus is spent on other people, you might be doing the most.

When the burden becomes too heavy, our attitude tanks, our hearts strain, and our call to ministry becomes foggy with frustration and clouded by confusion. This type of workload does not honor GOD. We must remain realistic. We should not continue to pile on the ambitions if the ability simply isn’t able to carry that ambitious load. Success can still happen and be recognized in a steady and gradual growth. When Dr. Seuss told us about the places we’ll go, he gave us wisdom we can use in the ministry:

“So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
And remember that Life’s
A great Balancing Act.”

It’s true — we must be balanced. So how do we stay balanced? We could simply take advice from a mafia member: “Fuhgeddaboudit!” We could also listen to Elsa from Frozen: “Let it go! Let it goooooo!” But how about we seek the Source and dive into GOD’s Word instead? It is written in Philippians 3:13-15: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way.”

We must give ourselves a complete shake-down to loosen evil’s grasp on our lives. What are these Sticky Bandits we need to shake off? Bitterness? Resentment? Disappointment? Doubt? Fear? These Sticky Bandits are also sneaky suckers! Picture them as leeches. A leech latches itself onto you and sucks the life (blood) out of you. But know this: a leech releases an anesthetic into its host to prevent the host from feeling the leech. Although you may not feel the life being sucked out of you, you must realize that life is indeed being sucked out of you! The sneaky sucker releases an anesthetic into you while it is consuming you! Also, the leech injects an anticoagulant into its host to ensure that the blood will continue to come out. Likewise, the sneaky suckers ensure the depletion of our life-force. As long as those Sticky Bandits are attached to us, they will continue to suck the life out of us. You need to give yourself a good shake-down and thrash those sneaky suckers off you! Go ahead and scream it – “GET OFF ME!!! You don’t know me! Get off me! You don’t know me, son!”

To stay balanced, we need to shake off the Sticky Bandits and keep our eyes on the prize. We can’t allow the past to affect our present so much as to prevent us from going into our future with purpose. After we shake off the Sticky Bandits, we need to leave them there. Let it go. If we refuse to allow our focus to be on the Sticky Bandits, we can place our focus on the truth that GOD loves us and love wins in the end. Don’t get stuck staring at the muck and guck, continually placing your focus on the leech while screaming, “This sucks!” Just shake it off and keep going. We will experience difficulties. That’s reality. There will be some hard times. That’s life. But those things are the ‘interruptions’ in life. That’s all they are! When looking at the bigger picture of life, those difficulties interrupt us for mere moments at a time. At the time, they seem like they might last forever; however, in the big picture, they are mere moments sprinkled throughout a lifetime. Pastor J Don George of Calvary Church in Irving, Texas constantly tweets out advice in the form of “West Texas Wisdom.” One of his tweets said, “Stop yer stinkin’ thinkin’. Nuf said.”

View this post on Instagram

Where is your focus? #NOTW

A post shared by Trenton Gill (@pointless_thorns) on Jan 1, 2016 at 4:31pm PST

To be balanced, we do need a heart full of love, but we also need a healthy mindset in order to produce realistic goals that will accomplish healthy results in all that we do. Shaking off the Sticky Bandits is necessary in order to maintain the healthy mindset that prevents us from overcompensating and “doing the most.” What is the best way to shake off those Sticky Bandits? Again, seeking the Source provides us with an answer:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:6-9) -NLT

So, what are we placing our focus on? The negative or the positive? I have learned the hard way that placing my focus on the negative life-sucking Sticky Bandits only creates a negative mindset. With a negative mindset, failure is inevitable. Our focus must be placed on the positive and praiseworthy things as it is instructed in Philippians 4:6-9.

Many years ago, there had been a little boy caught in an small explosion due to mistaking kerosene with gasoline. He had been found unconscious in the building engulfed with flames. Later, the doctors told his mother that he would probably die. This boy’s name was Glenn Cunningham. He made a decision that he not only wanted to survive, but that he wanted to thrive. The doctor had told his mother that since the fire had destroyed so much flesh in the lower part of his body, it would almost be better if he had died, since he was doomed to be a lifetime cripple with no use at all of his lower limbs. Thankfully, Glenn’s mother refused to let the doctors amputate. Though he was unable to use his legs, Glenn made up his mind that he would not merely survive — he would thrive! He was determined to walk again. Over time, through his parents’ persistence in massaging his legs daily and Glenn’s persistence and resolute determination to walk again, he eventually developed the ability first to stand up, then to walk haltingly with help, then to walk by himself — and then miraculously — to run! Glenn began to run to school. He ran for the sheer joy of running just because he had been able to run. Like Forrest Gump, Glenn ran everywhere that he could simply because he could. The people in his town would often see him run by on his way to who-knows-where and smile. Later in college, Glenn made the track team where his tremendous determination paid off. He eventually received the nickname the “Kansas Flyer” or “Kansas Ironman.” In 1933, Glenn won the prestigious Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete. In 1934, in New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden, Glenn — who was at first expected to die, and then expected to never walk again — ran the mile in four minutes and eight seconds, which had been the new world’s fastest indoor mile! He eventually went on to beat his own record by shaving off another four seconds. After setting a few world records, he eventually retired from running competitions in 1940. Glenn also eventually earned both his master’s degree and doctorate. Dr. Glenn Cunningham and his wife later opened the Glenn Cunningham Youth Ranch in Kansas, where they helped to raise thousands of underprivileged children. Glenn kept his eyes on the prize and ran the race in such a way as to finish well. But him finishing well didn’t happen overnight. Success takes time. Glenn decided that he would not merely survive, but that he would thrive. With that as his mindset, he finished well. It’s important to start, but it’s more important how you finish. We can even learn that lesson from the tortoise and the hare, can’t we?

When I was 17 years of age, I had written out a suicide letter. I almost didn’t finish the race. There are a lot of people who have quit and never finished the race. Don’t be one those people. I’m not going to be one of those people. Despite where we are currently at in life right now, we are going to finish the race well. We are not going to merely survive. We are going to thrive! We are going to stay in the game and we are going to stay on top of our game. And we will do this by keeping our hearts full of love, being fully devoted to GOD, shaking off the Sticky Bandits, moving forward, keeping our eyes on the prize, remaining at steady pace, growing slowly, and allowing for time alone with GOD.

If you happen to be an unbeliever reading this, I want to challenge you to assess your life. You obviously know that you started. Do you know where you will finish? You’ve been doing things your own way. Is it truly working? Have you built your life on the firm foundation of Christ? Or have you built your life on sinking sand? After all, if there is no GOD, why are you doing what you’re doing? In fact, why are you here at all? Are you spinning your wheels and only spitting out sand and never really going anywhere? Building on the firm foundation of Christ provides the traction necessary to move forward with purpose. If you do believe you’re driving somewhere, do you know where you’re headed? Do you know the purpose of it all? If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to have a friendly conversation with you. I’d love to introduce you to the One who saved me from myself. I had once been an atheist. I’m now a Christian. To find out why, read my other article: “Why I Am A Christian”