Stop by Curwensville Alliance tomorrow from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and check out the trains, miniature villages, and the kids’ activities!
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Category Archives: Spiritual Formation
The Nobility of the Battle
This paragraph, from E. McManus stood out to me this morning.
Many choose battles that are anything but noble. And the outrage of today becomes trivial in just a few years – if not months. Haven’t seen that? Keep watching.
There is one battle that I find worthy of the warrior – the battle for the cause of Christ.
It’s not political. It’s not economic. It’s not tribal. It is the battle, in a world marked by the darkness of sin, to shine the brilliance of Christ.
- To show his love to those who struggle to believe him.
- To bring his healing heart to those who have been injured.
- To show compassion to those whose life is marked by shame.
- To share his forgiveness with those who carry great guilt.
- To bring his redemption with those whose lives are damaged.
History shows that this battle is difficult – mostly because it’s not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
But warriors embrace this battle – because it is THE noble battle.
Spiritism & Halloween
As a kid, I loved Halloween because of one thing: Candy. I’d dress up and collect all the candy I could score.
Candy, in those days, was at the heart of Halloween. In my mind, it still is.
But during this time of year, there are those who choose to celebrate darkness. And that makes Halloween a great time for someone like me to present what the Bible says about spiritism.
I am not speaking on it this year, so I offer a previous message on spiritism here.
Since it was recorded before we were doing video recordings, I have inserted the PowerPoint as the video.
If you’d rather catch just the audio in a podcast, click here.
Halloween: Enjoy the candy. Avoid the darkness. Shine the Light.
Cynicism, Negativity, Distrust…
Erwin McManus, in The Way of the Warrior, addresses something that has seemingly become epidemic in our society, just two years after the book went to print
As a person who has earned advanced degrees in cynicism, I can tell you that it is death to my soul and runs counter to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) 1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
And I can tell you that a closed mind and closed heart are the hiding place of the cynical spirit.
Remember, your brain is inherently lazy. It will retreat to whatever previous boundaries and patterns you’ve established from your past behavior. This is why it’s so important to always try something new. People who travel have significantly higher IQs than people who don’t. People who read authors with different perspectives become more open-minded and empathetic. You can start with small things: try new foods, meet new people, learn new language, consider a new idea, try a new approach.
In other words, break out of the routine you have established for yourself and force your mind to engage the new. This will begin to unlock opportunities and possibilities. This will open your mind to the beauty and wonder all around you.
-E. McManus in Tender Warrior, pp. 88-89
Discerning minds (the spiritually discerning) will apply this to their soul – their spiritual center – and will consistently be learning more about Jesus.
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) 19Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
What Are Your Strengths?
Reading The Way of the Warrior, by Erwin McManus, I am struck by something he says about loving God.
In his chapter titled, The Warrior Finds Honor in Service, he notes that as we read Jesus’ words about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we seldom consider what that last word means – our strength.
Then he makes a great suggestion:
Maybe a good exercise would be to sit down and make a list of all your strengths. After all, you can’t take mastery over what you are unaware of. Your intellectual capacity is a strength. Your physical health is a strength. Your emotional intelligence is a strength. Your ability to influence others is a strength. Your ability to create wealth is a strength. Your resilience and determination are strengths.
-McManus in The Way of the Warrior, p. 62.
So I am asking myself, how am I loving God with my strengths? How are you loving God with…
- Your intellectual capacity
- Your physical health
- Your emotional intelligence
- Your ability to influence others
- Your ability to create wealth
- Your resilience and determination
- Your…
Those strengths are gifts from God. And if we are loving him with heart, soul, mind, and strength, those strengths will increase – for God’s glory.
30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ - Jesus in Mark 12:30 (NIV2011)