We Are the Have-Nots

Everything belongs to God and we are the stewards of His possessions. He is free to take away at any time the material riches, health, a beloved child, a good name, a friend, fame. These things are only ENTRUSTED to us. If they are taken away we lose nothing. They are not ours. This constitutes [...]

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Material Beings

There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes [...]

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Responding by Fear

The second way a man can respond to God is out of fear. This response says, I hear clearly what you’re saying, but I just don’t believe You can meet my needs as well as I can. Like pride, fear causes us to reserve control of certain areas of our lives and keep them away [...]

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Surrender to His teeth

I spent much of last year looking into the jaws of the Lion, but still avoiding them. Surrendered to his teeth? But that meant … death. Not just a wound. Not even just a deep cut. Giving myself to the teeth of the Lion would mean the end of me. The. End. Of. Me. And [...]

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BE More

I’ve found that it’s not about asking guys to do more; it’s about asking them to be more. It’s not about asking them to pursue a plan or respond to a cool idea or even to a dare. It’s about convincing guys, deep down, that being God’s man is worth the risk. Why is that? [...]

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Double Life and the Mortification of Sin

I chose the better part, and was found wanting in the strength to keep to it. – Dr. Henry Jekyll —   Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers [...]

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A Cadence for the Battle

Since God is the highest good, he would not allow any evil to exist in his works unless his omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil. + Saint Augustine And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been [...]

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Driving the Nails

I’ve been driving the nails firmly in your tree You’ve been talking to your Father on behalf of me Nothing at these check points I care to defend So why do I raise the hammer up and drive the nails again? + Bill Mallonee/Vigilantes of Love, “Driving the Nails” (1995)

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Obedience As an Act of Humility

The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ. + Rule of Benedict, Chapter 5 The self-giving of real obedience is very clear to Benedict. When we follow the voice of the ones who call us to higher service, we put [...]

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The Path to Knowledge Is Obedience

“Obedience Unto Death” by Rita Ford The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience. + Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”

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