Christian Dads has rung in 2010 with a new site design. Please pardon our dust as there’s still a bunch of revisions going on. We’re not even close to the full launch. Consider this the beta launch.

Site contributors will be getting an email shortly explaining everything.

2010 don’t tell God how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big God is!

Anyone else curious what “the commander of the army of the LORD” looks like? Joshua met this commander who told Joshua to take down the city of Jericho by playing a trumpet. Not exactly what I would have in mind for battle plans. Really, t…he band leader? Lord your ways are not mine… but make your ways mine.

For the last few years I have been thinking/learning/sharing the “Lord’s Prayer” as not just a prayer that Jesus taught us but as a blue print of how to pray. A few weeks ago I had a length talk with a friend about it and that today I heard a sermon about it again. I feel that God just wants me to share this message with others.

1. Make prayer a priority. Praying is to your spirit as breathing is to your body. For your spirit to be healthy, to grow you must pray.

2. Pray alone. Make time for the Lord. He wants you to know Him. Matthew6:5-6 basically tells us not to make a show of prayer, but to do it in private.

3. Surrender to God. It is about God not us.

4. Frame your prayer with God’s character not our circumstances. he is our ruler, redeemer, healer, provider, wonderful counselor, prince of peace. We are nothing without him.

5. Prayer recognizes our dependence on God. Matthew6:11 Everything is a gift from God from our day to our food. It is from Him.

6. Prayer restores and delivers us from evil. Matthew 6:12-13 We are forgiven from our sins and are given strength so we do not fall into temptation. God rescues us from the evil one.

7. Prayer is available to anyone but there is only one authority God! Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in Heaven hallowed be your name.”

Another words, start with how great and righteous God is, pray for God’s goals than finally for us.

God Bless.

Posted by brianW in the ChristianDads Forums

I just read AP sports writer’s Teresa M. Walker’s article on McNair’s pastor and close friend cautioning against judging the ex-NFL quarterback, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone.

Tolerance is going to be the death of the US. As the everyday Christian’s values are daily under attack and repressed the so called leaders of the kingdom of God have become weak and compromised.

First it was Micheal Jackson now McNair’s sexual exploits are being over looked due to lifetime achievements. There are ways to comfort a family in loss but please don’t cheapen the Gospel by allowing these high profile individuals sins go unchecked. Give me a break, don’t cast the first stone is what Bishop Joseph W. Walker brought to McNair’s funeral? How about he was a great athlete and a godly man that was imperfect like the rest of us. But Steve’s Lord and Savior overcame our sin so that Steve can live this day in heaven.

But please don’t tell me to not use my God given ability to discern what is right and wrong. Here’s some verses that come to mind…

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Where was McNair’s “good friend” Bishop Joseph W. Walker’s correction of 2 extra martial affairs?

1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Can the world say they saw God in McNair’s example?

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Where’s the old/new?

John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Our action are to set us apart.

1 John 5:18
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

Two extra martial affairs at the same time?

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

James 2:8-9
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

We have all sinned but lets not dilute the message that it’s acceptable because we’re all sinners. What kind of “man of God” does that?

Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

1 Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Is it possible provide here means more then just a financial obligation? Perhaps the father of his house is also provide a spiritual example.

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Isn’t time the clergy of the kingdom start stepping up and calling sin “sin”. Lets not put earthly achievements such as scoring touchdowns over parenting, role modeling, and setting ourselves apart from the world. I would expect the “don’t throw the first stone” argument to come from a teammate. Men of God need to lift up JESUS CHRIST not Steve McNair.

A man dies and goes to heaven. St Peter meets him at the gates of heaven.

“Here’s how it works”, says St Peter. “You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.

“Okay”, the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, not even in my heart.”

“That’s wonderful”, says St Peter. “That’s worth 3 points.”

“Only three points?” the man says, looking a bit dejected. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported the ministry with both my tithes and my service.”

“Terrific!” says St peter. “That’s certainly worth a point.”

“One point?” Now the man really looks worried. “I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for the homeless. That’s got to count for something.”

“Fantastic, that’s good for two more points”, says St Peter.

“Two points?” the man cries. “At this rate the only way I’ll get to heaven is by the grace of God.”

“Bingo, 100 points!!” cries St Peter. “Come on in!!”

There was a popular movie several years ago that revolved around a man who heard a voice that told him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. A statement from that movie is as well-known as the movie; “If you build it, they will come.” A pastor friend of mine has his own version of this sentence with regard to getting Christians to come to an event; “If you feed them, they will come.”

As you read through 1 Peter and come upon chapter three verse fifteen, it would seem that Peter had the same idea in mind. This verse tells us that if we have set Christ apart in our hearts as Lord, our lives are then lived in such a way that will get people curious. You could say that this verse conveys, “If you live Christlike, they will ask.”

The verse actually reads, “But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” This charge was given to a people who were facing brutal persecution because of their life in Christ. They would never be able to endure faithfully unless Christ was Lord. Their hearts had to be wholly His.

As they set apart Christ as Lord, they had hope. Jesus was the reason for their hope. Indeed, He WAS their reason and their hope! That faith and hope could not go unnoticed. In their suffering, the fruit of the Spirit would be evidenced rather than bitterness and hatred. Their lives were so radically different from others that people asked them about it. Their responsibility was to be ready to give the answer to the question when asked. Their answer was simple – Jesus.

The radical contrast between a Christian’s life and those in the world is no different – whether under persecution or freedom. That is one reason why Peter elsewhere refers to Christians as “aliens and strangers.” Christians cannot hide their life in Christ any more than a city on a hill can be hidden in the night. Jesus told us that we are “salt and light” in the world. Neither of these can be concealed.

There isn’t such a thing as a secret disciple. It’s not that we wear name tags or badges. It isn’t the bumper stickers on our cars, or posters on our walls. It is our life – our actions, conversation, habits, work, lifestyle… It may not be visible immediately to everyone, but in the day-to-day routine, it will show. And what shows will generate a curiosity in others. The Holy Spirit intensifies the curiosity prompting them to ask us about the hope we have. We need to be ready to give the answer when they ask.

There is a great amount of discussion these days among church leaders about how the church can be more effective in reaching the unsaved. And so there should be. Going into the world to make disciples is the church’s divinely-given mission and must be kept a central part of our worship. Many methods and programs, both to reach out and to motivate and mobilize people, are being suggested. But, amidst all the discussion let us not forget, that the most effective way to reach the lost is for God’s people to live Christlike – “in their hearts setting apart Christ as Lord.”

For, if we live it, they will ask!

Submitted by Greg Helle
Sports Pastor
Willow Creek Community Church

I have seen this in my email a few times. I thought I’d share it this time. Pretty cool how it points out the ways God provides. Amazing, what a great reminder.

The Lord is my Shepherd -Relationship

I shall not want – Supply

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures – Rest

He leadeth me beside the still waters – Refreshment

He restoreth my soul – Healing

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness – Guidance

For His name sake – Purpose

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death – Testing

I will fear no evil – Protection

For Thou art with me – Faithfulness

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me – Discipline

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies – Hope

Thou annointest my head with oil – Consecration

My cup runneth over – Abundance

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life – Blessing

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord – Security

Forever – Eternity

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Looking for some positive input into your life? I have two sources to help you out.

KLove
During these days of political confusion, and economic strife it’s hard to find peace at home. KLove helps keeps my general outlook on life positive. If you’re in Chicago give it a try for an hour and see if you’re affected the same way. You can find KLove at FM 94.3. If you’re outside of Chicago you can listen online at KLove.com or click here for a station listing in your area.

Gospel Music Channel
I found a cool new resource on direcTV I’ve been enjoying this week, Gospel Music Channel. When I first stumbled on the channel I thought it was going to be old southern country music. I was totally wrong. GMC carries modern music for the whole family with contemporary beats. It’s basically a family MTV channel. I especially find it enjoying when I’m in the kitchen doing dishes. I can pop on the TV to GMC and get energized rather then listening to more news about how the whole country is going down the drain.

To watch Gospel Music Channel tune into 475 on Comcast & 338 on DirecTV.