<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293</id><updated>2011-11-27T19:18:40.406-05:00</updated><title type='text'>ManBlog</title><subtitle type='html'>One man's thoughts on men, manhood and the God-Man</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>15</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-2721695513897942405</id><published>2009-05-27T14:14:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2009-05-27T14:17:23.829-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Man-up</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://shar.es/0hum"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;I just listened to Mark Driscoll share about the different men that inhabit our churches on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. Right on in my opinion. In your face, but right on. Check this out and prepare to get blasted! In a good way...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://shar.es/0hum"&gt;FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Posted using &lt;a href="http://sharethis.com/"&gt;ShareThis&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-2721695513897942405?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2721695513897942405/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/familylife-today-familylifecom.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/2721695513897942405'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/2721695513897942405'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/familylife-today-familylifecom.html' title='Man-up'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-3657332766791352677</id><published>2009-04-09T14:44:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2009-04-09T14:54:01.351-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Guns for Jesus</title><content type='html'>In just a week our church will be filled with almost 400 men, many of whom do not attend church regularly. But they do hunt regular. I couldn't be more excited. Not because of the hunting. I like guns, knives and all, but the real excitement comes from the hunting Jesus will do. I have been praying for weeks now that Jesus will hunt down and "bag" some trophies for his "game room" in heaven. There will be men coming who think we are filling their bellies with deer meat, when what they are really getting is the Bread of Life and Living Water. There may be some who think our crass way of reaching the lost somehow compromises our integrity a as Bible believing church. Crap on that. I see it is a fulfilling the gospel call to be all things to all men to win some (1 Cor. 9:22). If I have to wear flannel and listen to country music for a few hours to win some guys to Christ, or even just plant some seeds, then I am willing to go out of my comfort zone for a while. And it will be. But God will get the glory when Bubba lays down his gun and his sin for the "guy who died on the tree up there". What an awesome, creative, freeing God we serve that lets us use our own creativity to bring people to Him. Hope those guys next week can run fast, cause God is a pretty good shot. Go Jesus!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-3657332766791352677?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/3657332766791352677/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/guns-for-jesus.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/3657332766791352677'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/3657332766791352677'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/guns-for-jesus.html' title='Guns for Jesus'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-5590843913096284587</id><published>2009-01-30T21:11:00.005-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-30T21:57:12.015-05:00</updated><title type='text'>No good answer</title><content type='html'>I have a sister living in South Africa for 6 months. While there she is experiencing poverty on a global disaster scale. This is causing her to genuinely question why God allows the suffering of His children and the world in general, especially based on Matthew 6:25-34. Good question, here was my response.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Kristin,&lt;br /&gt;I guess since I am the Pastor in the family, I should be the one to field this question. In a nut shell...I don't know. I don't know why God allows some nations to suffer and others to prosper, at least monetarily speaking. But, I think the real indictment lies not with God, but with man, Christians in particular.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As you read Matthew 6:25-34, make sure you also read 1-24. Those verses establish the context for 25-34. If you notice, 25 starts with the word "therefore" which means the argument is based on the verses preceding. In summary - We should give to the needy for the needy's sake, not to proclaim how great we are (1-4) - We should pray not in pride, but in humility, knowing it is God who hears us and that is what really matters (5-15) - Fasting should be private, not public...again no pride (16-18) - and finally we should value the wealth of heaven over the wealth of earth (19-24). Therefore, based on these things just said, God provides for the world, the way He provides for the animals. (25-34)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I would say the primary way He does that is through the generous, humble giving of people who pray, fast and value the Kingdom of Heaven over the Kingdom of this world as evidenced by their sacrificial lifestlye (read 1-24 again). The indictment is not against God, who gave His most important commodity (Jesus), but rather us (Christians) who will not sacrifice a night at the movies, or buying that 4th study Bible so that a South African might eat. 1-24 need to be obeyed and taken seriously, not metaphorically, to make 25-34 a reality.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now could God supernaturally provide? Of course! Like with Elijah and the ravens. But that is not how He typically works. For some reason (another question with no good answer) He has bound himself, to a certain degree, to humanity. Ours is the responsibility to share the Good News. Ours is the responsibility to clothe the poor, feed the hungry, bind up the sick, cast out the demon. Can God do it without us? Yes. Absolutely. Will He? Not usually. Does that make Him less loving? No. It makes US less loving. He has given this world all it needs: trees for food, animals for clothing, intelligence for multiplying all of it. WE abuse it, fill it with pride, and hoard it. The fault is ours.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I think the passage has a tinge of eschatological flavor to it as well. What Jesus says is sometimes true NOW in this world. My friend Ron has 4 kids under 8 and has been laid off 6 times this last year. God has provided in amazing ways for his family, primarily through sacrificial, generous Christians. This passage is sometimes true, NOW. But there is coming a day when it will ALWAYS be true. 100% of the time.When He returns. Until that day, WE have a responsibility to bring the Kingdom of God to bear on the kingdom of this world. Now. We do. Us. God does His part, we fail in doing ours.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's all I have to say about that..."&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-5590843913096284587?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/5590843913096284587/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-good-answer.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/5590843913096284587'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/5590843913096284587'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-good-answer.html' title='No good answer'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-275190687956730513</id><published>2009-01-28T11:51:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-28T11:51:53.218-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Ted Dekker</title><content type='html'>&lt;object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="playerLoader" width="207" height="296" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://farm.sproutbuilder.com/load/FQDWS_zwEKCRNoOS.swf" /&gt;&lt;param name="quality" value="best" /&gt;&lt;param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /&gt;&lt;param name="wmode" value="transparent" /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://farm.sproutbuilder.com/load/FQDWS_zwEKCRNoOS.swf" width="207" height="296" name="playerLoader" align="middle" wmode="transparent" play="true" loop="false" quality="best" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTIzMzE2MTM4MjUxMiZwdD*xMjMzMTYxNTEyMjMxJnA9MTIwNzQxJmQ9RlFEV1MlNUZ6d*VLQ1JOb*9TJm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTImdD*mbz1lYmY4NDUwMGI2MWQ*ZDM3OTFiYWM3ZTRmOGFlZWRlNA==.gif" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-275190687956730513?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/275190687956730513/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/ted-dekker.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/275190687956730513'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/275190687956730513'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/ted-dekker.html' title='Ted Dekker'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-6428493523027420046</id><published>2009-01-22T15:21:00.005-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-23T19:29:24.761-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Patience takes too long</title><content type='html'>I've been thinking alot about patience lately and how little of it I have. Not the kind that allows you to wait in line, or get called for your food, or receive a book in the mail. I got that. It's easy. I mean &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;real &lt;/span&gt;patience. The kind that allows you to wait until the fruit of salvation is seen in a new believer's life. The kind that inspires hope in me that someone will change when they are presented with the Truth. The kind that gives me faith that things will not always be the same with my kids and their sickness.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am reading this book called "&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Way-Life-Transforming-Aspect/dp/0385518587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;s=books&amp;amp;qid=1232655987&amp;amp;sr=1-1"&gt;Love as a Way of Life&lt;/a&gt;" by Gary Chapman. Great book, but really raises the bar on what it means to love. This week, &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;patient&lt;/span&gt; love. The kind that waits until it hurts. Just when I get impatient with people not moving forward in their spiritual journey, I remember how patient God was with me. It took me 18 years to come around. 18 years of waiting and dragging my feet, sinning and spitting in God's face. But He was soooo patient. Patient with the whole world. Patient to wait until the fullness of time to send Jesus, and now patiently waiting to send Him again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I guess I can be patient too. Patient to wait until God bears fruit in a person's life. Patient to see better days with family health. Patient to see more of the image of Christ in me. How's you're patience? In the BIG things that really matter for eternity?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-6428493523027420046?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/6428493523027420046/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/patience-takes-too-long.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/6428493523027420046'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/6428493523027420046'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/patience-takes-too-long.html' title='Patience takes too long'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-3856239348926578639</id><published>2009-01-14T15:27:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-14T15:41:50.896-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Satan is a poo-poo head</title><content type='html'>I can still remember seeing these words on a t-shirt at a Christian concert more than 15 years ago. And the truth of that statement is more than I communicate in one blog. Satan really is a poo-poo head. I have had one hell (this is not vulgarity, but literal statement of the source of my bad week, keep reading) of a week. My family has battled sicknesses, unknown smells in the house and more. Now I am not a guy who sees Satan behind every door. Sometimes bad stuff happens in a fallen world. So this is howyou can know the poo-poo head is on the attack:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;when you feel discouragement rise out of nowhere&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;when you feel like you can't breath from the weight of your troubles&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;when anxiety marks your thoughts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;when fear of the future outweighs the hope of tomorrow&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;We tend to give the Devil too much credit. Keep in mind he is a deciever (2 John 1:7) and a master liar. His main tactics are to so beat you down, you do not remember your strength in Christ (1 John 4:4). If he can convince you all is lost, he has won. Remember too he is not all powerful, all knowing, all seeing. Those things are incommunicable (non-sharing) attributes of God. He is a creature, beautiful (Ezekiel 28), powerful (Isaiah 14) but still just a creature. 'God's dog' as Martin Luther called him. When he starts nipping at your heels, kick him. Put him in his place, outside your house in a fence. Submit yourself to God, his truth and the truth of the situation, resist the Devil, his lies and junk and the Devil WILL flee from you (James 4:7)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fight on brothers. And PRAY!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want a good sermon on the Devil check this out &lt;object width="400" height="275"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.marshillchurch.org/v/upazzm4sgpfw"&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.marshillchurch.org/v/upazzm4sgpfw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" allowscriptaccess="always" height="275"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-3856239348926578639?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/3856239348926578639/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/satan-is-poo-poo-head.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/3856239348926578639'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/3856239348926578639'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/satan-is-poo-poo-head.html' title='Satan is a poo-poo head'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-1948251563408317864</id><published>2009-01-08T16:16:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-08T16:17:53.675-05:00</updated><title type='text'>All Dogs: the Sequel</title><content type='html'>So get this, I come home today and Madison has led her 3 year old sister, Avery, to Jesus! Wow! How's that for fruit! Isn't God sooo good!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-1948251563408317864?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1948251563408317864/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-dogs-sequel.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/1948251563408317864'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/1948251563408317864'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-dogs-sequel.html' title='All Dogs: the Sequel'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-1198801537338210734</id><published>2009-01-07T21:42:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-08T09:46:20.329-05:00</updated><title type='text'>All Dogs go to Heaven</title><content type='html'>This is not a theological statement of belief, rather the culmination of many years of prayers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tonight, my daughter became a follower of the Living God. God saved her! Her asthma has been terrible again and tonight we were watching the movie, All Dogs go to Heaven. At one part, the main character gets a trip to Hell where he encounters lakes of fire, and the Devil himself. This gave me a good opportunity to talk with Madison about Hell (not the first conversation we have had about that place or the main resident, Satan). At first she was unphased, but after we put her to bed, she came out all crying and fearful of the Devil. This was a great opportunity to explain to her my own fears about the Evil One's work in my life and how I do not fear ultimately because I am a Christian and Christians do not need to fear him (Matthew 10:28-29). Knowing that she was not a Christian (by her own admission), I took the opportunity to ask her if she was ready.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now at this point you may be shaking your head thinking I used scare tactics with my 6 year old. I did. But I think this kind of fear is healthy, truth filled fear (Luke 16). Understand too that this was not the first time we had shared the gospel with Madison. We have taken over a dozen chances to stop life and explain Jesus, the cross, heaven, hell, etc. Each time when we have asked if Madison wanted to accept Jesus, she would say no. What a knife in the heart of a father! I have led dozens of people to Christ with one conversation, but can't lead my daughter with a dozen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Kylie and I have always lamented that there is a spiritual hardness of heart with Madison, a quiet rebellion. We prayed that it would be the love of God which drew her to Himself. But in this case, it was His justice. His justice was the hammer that broke up hard ground. She has always prayed, sang songs of worship and talked freely of Jesus, but resisted taking the step her family and many friends have taken. Not that night.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She prayed and asked God to forgive her of her sins towards mommy, daddy, Avery and God. She asked for His help and healing. Now, is she really saved? I don't know, really. That will be born out in the fruit she bears as a follower of the Light or the darkness (Matthew 7). But I trust the Word when it says that we must believe like children (Matthew 18) and confess with our mouths (Romans 10). I'll leave it up to God. it always was up to Him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thought I would share my "good news".&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-1198801537338210734?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1198801537338210734/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-dogs-go-to-heaven.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/1198801537338210734'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/1198801537338210734'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-dogs-go-to-heaven.html' title='All Dogs go to Heaven'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-4514312517507266611</id><published>2009-01-06T19:07:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-06T19:31:44.775-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Resolutions for wimps</title><content type='html'>New Years Day. The #1 promise breaking day of the year. Or at least the birth of a promise broken. On this day people all over the world make promises they probably never will fulfill. They range from weight loss to drinking less to exercising more to watching your language to...and the hits keep coming. I hate New Year's Resolutions. Here's why. It offends my navel. Ya, my navel.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Year's resolutions give people world wide permission to turn the focus of their lives inward and change one thing about themselves that they do not like. Me, me, me. What about what God likes? Who cares whether you like what you are changing or not? Why not ask God what He likes and what He wants to be changed in you. Maybe that is how you approach New Year's Day. Great! So what took you so long to get there? Why were you waiting for New Years? Why not make the change at Thanksgiving? Or Memorial Day? Or now!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Resolutions" should be a regular part of our every day. That's how I read Ephesians 5:18. Don't get drunk (read 'controlled by') on wine, but be filled (read 'controlled by')with the Holy Spirit. The tense of the verb suggests this is a daily occurrence. The control of the Spirit requires us to be making "resolutions" each day and fulfilling them to God. I may not want to do, it may not feel good or meet my self centered, navel gazing needs, but they will meet God's. Be filled, be filled, be filled with God's Spirit. His control. Not just at the start of the New Year to be lost by the time June kicks in, but every moment of every day for every holiday. See &lt;a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/Edwards/index.html?mainframe=/documents/Edwards/j_edwards_resolutions.html"&gt;Jonathan Edwards&lt;/a&gt; for an example of a godly man who took resolution making seriously. Not for weight loss, but sin loss.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope the Spirit's control this year is greater than last year's. Not for your sake, but for God's. To Him be the glory, the honor and the praise. Amen.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-4514312517507266611?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/4514312517507266611/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/resolutions-for-wimps.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/4514312517507266611'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/4514312517507266611'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/resolutions-for-wimps.html' title='Resolutions for wimps'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-900898223231918088</id><published>2008-12-30T16:04:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2008-12-30T16:27:17.460-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Thru the Bible</title><content type='html'>You may be surprised to hear this, but for the first time in my life, I have read through the entire Bible in a year. I imagine you are surprised because, as you know, I am a Pastor. As a breed of humans we are supernatural and do all things well. We never sin, always have the right answers to every problem, and are available whenever you need us. Of course, none of this is true, except me finishing the Bible this last year.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am really excited about being able to do this. In the past I tried and tried and would always lose ground, get behind and give up. Well, this last year I started again and it seemed much easier. I don't think it was due to me being more spiritual this year than years past or related to the promise I made to God to get r done. The big thing for me was the format of the Bible reading. Ya, that simple. Let me explain.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In years past, I would read several chapters each day starting in Genesis and just keep reading. The problem was when you got to Leviticus and the books that follow. Man, all that Law and chronology was harder to stomach than back to back episodes of Dancing with the Stars. It just wore on me day after day until I couldn't read anymore. I admit it, I am weak. Then I came across www.bible-reading.com. This handy-dandy website has a bible reading program that was great! Yah, you still have to read first and second chronicles, but only for one day. The next day you are in an entirely different portion and genre of scripture, reading about a battle, healing or teaching. Props to Jessica Sliter for connecting me to this great website and bible reading plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you have a plan? I change mine up every year so I don't get bored. Last year it was thru the Bible in a year. Next year, I am going to pour through the Book of Romans. Each day I want to pick apart a few verses in the original language and try to really understand this book for reasons I will mention later in another blog. I also have this book, &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;A Passion for God&lt;/span&gt;, that has thoughts, meditations and prayers on Romans. Next year, it will probably be something different.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I would argue that one of the biggest reason we as men are so ineffective at home, on the job, in the church, is because we do not know the God we claim to serve. And how can we know Him apart from His word? If we do not know Him, how can we know ourselves? He is our Creator and knows best how we are designed to function. And He has written it all down for us to know as well. Not reading His word and hoping to make it in this life is like you trying to put together that indoor trampoline for your kids that you got them this Christmas with no instruction manual. Good luck! It will be a mess, with frustration, heart ache and pain.  You will let your family down, feel like a failure and just end up chucking the thing ( can you tell what my kids got for Christmas?). Of course, I am not talking about the trampoline. These things are true of the Christian life lived apart from the Word.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope you get a plan. One that really challenges you, doesn't just keep you in the status quo of life. Get a plan that changes your mind, enforces discipline, and helps you understand and appreciate The Master's Plan for your life. Don't just get frustrated and chuck the manual and life you could live with a little hard work and trust in the Master Designer. If you need help let me know...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-900898223231918088?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/900898223231918088/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/thru-bible.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/900898223231918088'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/900898223231918088'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/thru-bible.html' title='Thru the Bible'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-3530016990341527792</id><published>2008-12-24T16:48:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2008-12-24T17:01:00.555-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Christmas...grinch style</title><content type='html'>Well, it's that time of year again...Christmas. I'll come right out with it, this is not one of my favorite times of year. Don't get me wrong, I love being with family, focusing on Jesus, stuffing myself full and getting/giving gifts. But the holiday itself ranks right around Arbor Day for me. For years I have railed against the consumer mentality of the season, and I am not going to take much time in the blog to do that now. You know the complaints: we spend too much money that we don't have for stuff we will not like, or use 6 months from now, only to be replaced next year by more stuff. Somebody let me off the hamster wheel!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My family has started, slowly but surely, to intentionally downsize our Christmas. There are less presents under the tree, more intentionality in the gift giving, and an attempt to lift up Christ as the "reason for the season". This year we decided to drop gifts for extended family and instead take the money we would normally spend and give it to a charity of choice. I like that. For our family, some guy in Burkina Faso and his wife will be getting a brand new bicycle that they can use to get back and forth to work so they can make a living. Now that's Christmas. Kind of puts little Johnny screaking for an Xbox 360 in persepctive. That's something that could even cause a heart like mine to grow 3 sizes this day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope you and your family take time to give thanks to Jesus and reconsider what you do on this holiday. You don't have to eliminate presents all together, but maybe there is something you could genuinely do for others that would roc their world. Touch their hearts. Make baby Jesus smile.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Merry Christmas all you readers. I hope the love of Christ is real to you and the giving of the Son of God to a hostile earth prompts you to give of you and your family to others that may need it, but may not deserve it. Just like you. Just like me.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-3530016990341527792?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/3530016990341527792/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/3530016990341527792'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/3530016990341527792'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas.html' title='Christmas...grinch style'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-4207217806396275010</id><published>2008-12-20T10:39:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2008-12-20T11:24:48.130-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Powerless and impotent</title><content type='html'>Well, my daughter is sick again. Many of you brothers have stood in the gap with me in prayer over the years and know all too well the struggles my daughter has with asthma. Every time she gets a cold or virus, 3-4 days later it triggers her asthma, bad. This looks like sleepless nights, constant coughing and, for me at least, great frustration, fear and anxiety. Let me explain why.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From the age of 2 until now, my daughter has struggled with her asthma. Early on, she was even hospitalized because we could not control it. Control. That's the issue. I have never really struggled with sickness in my life or the life of my family. In spite of not eating well or paying much attention to washing my hands or exercising, health has always, well, just been there. So when my daughter started having these uncontrollable coughing fits, I was out of my element.  There is nothing more emasculating than watching your daughter being hurt by some unseen enemy and not be able to lift a finger to help. If it was an assailant at the door, I would rip his head off! But this enemy, this sickness was out of the norm and I was out of my mind. Out of control.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I like control. I like knowing where I am going, what my day looks like, what chapter I am on, how much I need to do and getting it done in the time allowed. I like to follow the rules. I like to color in the lines. I tuck my undershirt into my underwear so it doesn't ride up during the day (probably more information than you like, but it is my blog). I like my hair cuts high and tight. I like my kids healthy. My life in order. And doesn't life always go the way you planned? Ya, right.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Early on during Madison's sickness, I just got depressed, cried, lost alot of weight. I wrestled with God and felt cheated by Him. I gave my life to Him as a pastor, full time ministry. He owed me for that. How could He give me this burden? How could I do the work he called me to with less sleep and divided attention? What had I done wrong? Was there some sin in my life? I really had to wrestle with my understanding of who God was. Was He just a cosmic santa claus, come to bless me if I was nice, punish me if I was naughty? Was He a gumball machine...I put in a quarter (my career or calling) and He gives me the gumball (perfect life). Or was He something more? Something greater? Something beyond my simple, selfish understanding? Obviously you know the answer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As I wrestled with God, man did I wrestle, He began confronting me with my idolatry. I had spent 4 years in seminary learning who God was. 2 years of Greek, 2 years of Hebrew. And after all that learning, I still thought God was what I needed or wanted Him to be, a creature of MY own making. I always prided myself on not putting God into a box (I'm a Calvinist so I strongly believe in the all encompassing sovereignty of God for His glory). But, what I came to realize was that my box was just open at the top, but still a box. He still had to fit into my air conditioned, climate controlled, stress and sickness free environment. If not, then there was something wrong with Him, certainly not the box. God was screaming for me to let Him be God. Sounds funny, huh? LET Him be God? He is God! But I was not allowing Him to live out in my life verses like Psalm 115:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref1_1" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Ps 29:2; 66:2; 96:8; Isa 48:11; Eze 36:32" /&gt; because of your love and faithfulness.&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref1_2" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ex 34:6" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?"&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref2_3" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ps 42:3; 79:10" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. &lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref3_4" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Ezr 5:11; Ne 1:4; Ps 103:19; 136:26; Mt 6:9" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref3_5" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Ps 135:6; Da 4:35" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. But their idols are silver and gold,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref4_6" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Rev 9:20" /&gt; made by the hands of men.&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref4_7" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Dt 4:28; S 2Ki 19:18; S 2Ch 32:19; Jer 10:3-5; Ac 19:26" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. They have mouths, but cannot speak,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref5_8" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Jer 10:5" /&gt; eyes, but they cannot see;&lt;br /&gt;6. they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;&lt;br /&gt;7. they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats.&lt;br /&gt;8. &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. O house of Israel, trust&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref9_9" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Ps 37:3; 62:8" /&gt; in the Lord-- he is their help and shield.&lt;br /&gt;10. O house of Aaron,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref10_10" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Ex 30:30; Ps 118:3" /&gt; trust in the Lord-- he is their help and shield.&lt;br /&gt;11. You who fear him,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref11_11" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Ps 22:23; 103:11; 118:4" /&gt; trust in the Lord-- he is their help and shield.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was weak and falling apart because the God I created, the God I worshipped was weak, made of something that easily fell apart under pressure. Either I had to accept these verses as true, God does what He pleases, or worship a different God. He is as He reveals himself, like it or not. I love these verses because not only do they scream of His total control over all things, but they also proclaim just as loudly His goodness:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12. The LORD remembers&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref12_12" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S 1Ch 16:15" /&gt; us and will bless us:&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref12_13" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ge 12:2" /&gt; He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron,                             &lt;br /&gt;13. he will bless those who fear&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref13_14" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ps 112:1; Ps 128:1,4" /&gt; the Lord-- small and great alike.                             &lt;br /&gt;14. May the LORD make you increase,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref14_15" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Dt 1:11" /&gt; both you and your children.                             &lt;br /&gt;15. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref15_16" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ge 1:1; 14:19; Ps 96:5; Ac 14:15; S Rev 10:6" /&gt; and earth.                             &lt;br /&gt;16. The highest heavens belong to the Lord,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref16_17" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ps 89:11" /&gt; but the earth he has given&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref16_18" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ge 1:28; Ps 8:6-8" /&gt; to man.                             &lt;br /&gt;17. It is not the dead&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref17_19" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="Ps 6:5; 88:10-12; Isa 38:18" /&gt; who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence;                             &lt;br /&gt;18. it is we who extol the Lord,&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref18_20" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ps 111:1" /&gt; both now and forevermore.&lt;img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/biblestudytools/skin/CW/Icon_CrossRef_wht_bg.gif" id="iconpopupCrossref18_21" style="display: none; padding-right: 2px; cursor: pointer;" longdesc="S Ps 113:2; Da 2:20" /&gt; Praise the Lord.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love it when God is God. Just when I think have Him figured out, He reminds me of why He alone is worthy of my worship. I mean, if I could figure Him out, with my feeble mind, limited education and inadequate life experience, is He really a God worth worshipping?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm still struggling: with myself, with the asthma and with God. I hate this sickness. I plead for God's healing and we use medical knowledge to the full. But God is different now. He has changed. Or maybe I have...and I am glad. Glad to have a God who loves me, really loves me. Glad to have a God I can run to in times of trouble (Psalm 91). Glad that He is not the wimpy, capricious, santa claus God I had invented Him to be. I won't say I am glad for the sickness, but I am glad for Jesus. He is so wonderful. So God. I am powerless and impotent in the face of this sickness, but He is not. He can and has used this to change my heart, my worship, my life. &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Thank you Lord for showing me the end of myself, and revealing the edges of who You are. Amen.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-4207217806396275010?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/4207217806396275010/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/powerless-and-impotent.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/4207217806396275010'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/4207217806396275010'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/powerless-and-impotent.html' title='Powerless and impotent'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-92340674701794594</id><published>2008-12-17T13:34:00.005-05:00</published><updated>2008-12-19T11:19:12.382-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The Masculine Trinity</title><content type='html'>I am studying the Trinity with a group of men this evening and have been spending alot of time thinking about and focusing on God as Trinity. Here is a good video to watch on the Trinity if interested: http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/doctrine/trinity-god-is&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is a fascinating topic for me and has been a topic of discussion for 2000 years. I like what Augustine said, "Deny the Trinity and lose your soul, try to figure out the Trinity and lose your mind." Mine is mostly gone anyway, so why not lose the rest...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the things I love studying about the Trinity is learning how God represents himself to us so we, as fallen man with limited minds, can understand Him better. As I look more and more into the concept of the Trinity, I am more and more impressed that God presents himself to us as...well...man, male, masculine. God is our heavenly Father (Psalm 89:26, 103:13; Isaiah 63:16) and Jesus came to earth as His son, our brother (Matthew 3:17) and the Holy Spirit is a masculine noun (Acts 5). Christianity is a distinctly masculine religion, with a God who is fully masculine, riding on a white war horse with a sword coming from His mouth, prepared to slay the nations (Revelation 19). That is not say that women can't or shouldn't relate to God or that it is a faith only for men. God is not bound by gender, but he reveals himself in that way to us so we will think of him as that. If He did not reveal himself that way, we might be tempted to worship Him as a twig, tree or dolphin... and some do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But the Trinity has reminded me that God loves men. Women too, but definitely men. So why is the church so female heavy? Why are their more women than men in churches? Well, that is another blog for another day...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Side note - The book, &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;The Shack&lt;/span&gt;, has become very popular in the past year in the Christian Community, even endorsed by the likes of Michael W. Smith. How unfortunate. This book, while not the source of all evil some make it out to be, does very little to advance our understanding of the Trinity,and quite frankly does alot to harm it. Within the video above, Mark gives some thoughts on the dangers of the book.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-92340674701794594?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/92340674701794594/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-am-studying-trinity-with-group-of-men.html#comment-form' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/92340674701794594'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/92340674701794594'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-am-studying-trinity-with-group-of-men.html' title='The Masculine Trinity'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-7776682360932588082</id><published>2008-12-15T08:34:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2008-12-15T08:47:39.561-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The why behind the what</title><content type='html'>So this is why I have a manblog...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We are sitting at the lunch table and I am minding my own business finishing off the Sunchips when out of no where, Kylie crushes the remaining chips! For no good reason! I appeal to my 2 daughters for support, taking a teaching moment for them to understand how wrong it is to do that and implant in their forming minds the evil of crushing another person's chips. Instead of loving support and outrage, the girls support their mother. No sympathy, no tears, no righteous indignation. (The "facts" of this story are open to interpretation)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That is why I manblog.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Men need a place where they can go and be men for a short time. In no way am I advocating men escaping their responsibilities or fleeing their God given role as provider and lover to their family. Instead, I want to suggest that the private world of a man (not things he does in secret, but a place and space that is his own with his thoughts) prepares him to reenter the world of wives, kids, and potato chips a better man, stronger husband, attentive dad.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But guys, don't take this for granted. Don't leave your family thinking you don't want to be with them. Don't give them an abandonment psychosis. When you leave, remind them how much you can't wait to come back, and then come back when you say. Find a place to be a man: garage, barn, tree stand, gun range, bookstore, coffee shop, den, cabin, sports arena or cab of your truck. See that as sacred space. A place to reconnect with God and for Him to reconnect you to your manhood. Ask Him what it means to be a man. Ask Him for help as you reenter the "family world". And thank your family for letting you go. You don't deserve it for all the hard work you do, it is a grace gift from the most important people in your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love my girls. I love pink, barbies, stuffed animals and doll houses. At least I am growing to love them...but sometimes I like to just go down stairs and stare at my gun. I don't pick it up or touch it. I don't clean it or load it. I just stare. I imagine shooting through cans, hitting the target. I mediate on all things men, smile, and head upstairs. I love my life...but I am a little hungry. I wonder if there are any Sunchips left?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-7776682360932588082?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/7776682360932588082/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-behind-what.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/7776682360932588082'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/7776682360932588082'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-behind-what.html' title='The why behind the what'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665185773027139293.post-2561171971085711917</id><published>2008-12-12T13:57:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2008-12-12T14:56:33.413-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Some and some not...</title><content type='html'>This is my first blog. First written, first read really. I am not a fan of blogs. In my opinion they tend to be a mass collection of combined ignorance. It's the chance for every Tom, Dick and Harry to tell their story, opinions and thoughts related to a variety of topics ranging from toe fungus to nuclear proliferation and everything in between. So, I thought I would start one. Does that sound like a contradiction of thought? Well, that fits. I think most men are walking contradictions. You'll get that if you keep reading these blogs. But that's up to you. I wouldn't blame you if you stopped. They are a waste of time...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First, some of what this blog is about. It's about men, for men, to men, by a man. Not exclusively, but my target audience is men. Women, feel free to read, post, reply, respond and interact, but it isn't really targeted to you. Sorry. It's for your men. It's meant to educate, encourage and challenge.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Men need encouragement. We live in world that has emasculated men. We tell them to explore their feminine side, be sensitive, bring home the bacon AND fry it in a pan. Then we are surprised when they abandon their post as defenders and protectors in the home and leave children uncared for and alone. Women abandoned. Men need to be lifted up. Lifted to heights that enable them to see what GOD has desgned them for. I hope I can do that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Men need challenge. We HAVE become comfortable. Aren't we supposed to be the warriors? Leaders? The tough ones? But challenge needs to come from one of our own. A man. I hope to be that man for some of you men.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This blog is also about my life. I love men. Not in a proposition 8, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Castro&lt;/span&gt; district, civil union kind of way. But in a ultimate fighting, huddle up, knuckle knocking, meat eating, home building kind of way. As a pastor to men, I love seeing them embrace who they are in Christ. I love being a part of the revolution of the heart that changes the world's men into God's men. I love it when they learn to hug their daughters, die for their wives, battle their culture, support their churches, stand arm to arm with other men and serve their Jesus. It is my life's heartbeat, my greatest desire, the thing God has made me for.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some of what this blog is not.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's not the answer for every problem. It's not authoritative, not completely at least. When God's Word appears, and it will &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;alot&lt;/span&gt;, THAT is authoritative. You may be able to argue with me, but don't try to argue with God. He is one "guy" who won't be argued with (Job 38:1-3).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This blog is not politically correct. I am calling men to be different than the society around us calls us to be. You will not hear me tell you to explore your feminine side. I don't have one, neither do you. I will not tell you that women are better &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;communicators&lt;/span&gt;. They aren't. Maybe with words, definitely with words. But men communicate on a much more primal level...more on that later.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This blog is not all I have to say. You will see a snapshot of my thoughts on a topic or subject. If something I say doesn't sound right, ask me about it. Never assume you got me figured out. Men aren't that simple. Against conventional wisdom, men are not simpletons enamored only with the thoughts of food, sex, work and sports. We are deep wells that have much to say about everything. If you want me to clarify, ask. I'll be glad to when I can. Or maybe I won't...it is MY blog.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hope you enjoy my musings on various topics. I look forward to interacting with some of you soon...man to man.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Scott&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;PS - Don't know how often I will write. I do have a life filled with work, 3 beautiful women and growing myself to be more like Jesus. Write when I can...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6665185773027139293-2561171971085711917?l=manhoodblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2561171971085711917/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/some-and-some-not.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/2561171971085711917'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6665185773027139293/posts/default/2561171971085711917'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://manhoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/some-and-some-not.html' title='Some and some not...'/><author><name>Scott</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08392112887595477631</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UV05bBsNG-4/SWY2yGFS-OI/AAAAAAAAAA0/F2p4ZnK9TWw/S220/DSC_0108.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
