Author: Chuck & Deb

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

I was on the edge of my seat listening to a Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient share his testimony. One of the things he mentioned was that he and his comrades had counted themselves as already dead in order to deal with the stress and fear of combat. This gave them tremendous focus on the job at hand and gave them the ability to overcome very dangerous circumstances. Wouldn’t we be wise to adopt the same attitude as Christians? We need to come to realize that we are already dead to sin and the ways of this world. We have died to self and now live for Christ. This frees us up seek Christ’s will for our lives with courageous focus, fearing only God Himself. SP299

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD . Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:31-32

I learned how to execute an “About Face” when I was a JROTC cadet in high school (my sons are doing the same today.) FM 22-5 says “On the command of execution…move the toe of the right foot to a point touching the marching surface about half the length of the foot to the rear and slightly to the left of the left heel…On the second count, turn to the right 180 degrees on the left heel and ball of the right foot, resuming the position of attention.” Sounds complicated but after some practice, you get the hang of it. The intent is to turn from one direction to the opposite in one movement. I learned another kind of “About Face” a few years later. It turned out to be the most important “About Face” I ever made. It’s a spiritual one. God calls us to repent and turn from our sins to His righteousness in Christ. This “About Face” is so important; it’s a matter of life and death. SP300

And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
(Luke 2:51-52)

It doesn’t seem right for God to “fast forward” through the mundane. I’m sure Jesus experienced everything from diapers to the awkwardness of puberty. He embraced the natural order of things. All for our sake He became human. Experiencing the things we do so He could be an effective model that we could identify with and emulate. FJ13

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14

Some of the most moving photos of American GIs in action are those of soldiers taking care of children. In a past issue, the cover of the “Army Times” exhibited one of our finest carrying a wounded child to aid of the medics. The muscular warrior with camouflage and body armor is a stark contrast to the small defenseless kid in a hostile environment. The photo speaks volumes of the protector and defender. Power coupled with compassion is perhaps one of the most striking characteristics of the American soldiers. Could it be that we are only following the example set by our Maker? In this war torn world there are also spiritual casualties and the Almighty scoops them up in His loving arms and rescues them. He knows our frailties and weakness. He is our protector and defender. The Great Almighty and Compassionate Warrior comes to our aid in our time of need. SP298

Finding her “lost” son, Jesus’ mom asks, “why have you treated us this way?” He replies, “Did you not know I had to be in my Father’s house.” Answer: the Father has priority in my relationships. Jesus would teach about these competing loyalties later in His ministry. He would explain how relationships, material goods, or pride may become an obstacle to following Him completely. Each disciple must make a choice because ultimately they could not serve two masters. Jesus demonstrated as a 12 year old boy that His supreme loyalty belonged to the Father. FJ12c

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“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12

I’ve witnessed some pretty awesome things in my life; skies filled with parachutes over Panama, sunsets in Kuwait, an M1 tanks firing the main gun, early morning flights over the North Georgia mountains, a demo charge sending debris 100’s of feet in the sky, and the beaches of the Solomon Islands. But there is nothing more awesome than our God. I have seen miracles of healing and reconciliation. I have seen His crushing judgment on those who would practice evil. I have seen Him rise up the down trodden from the ashes. Our God is awesome God, He reigns from heaven above! Worship Him for He is worthy. SP297

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

One of the toughest transitions I’ve ever had to make was going from enlistedman to Non-Commissioned Officer. I went from follower to leader, from carefree to the burden of responsibility, from one looking up to one being looked up to. It was a challenging transformation. It meant a different relationship with my peers and my leaders. I could no longer do some of the things I could as a private. I now had to set the example. I took on greater responsibility for technical and tactical knowledge. I had to shed the old enlisted ways and take on the new NCO ways. In like manner we do the same as we go from an unregenerate person of the world to a child of God. We have new values, responsibilities, and even new authority. Live up to those stripes. SP296

The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Isaiah 57:1-2

The bad news carried on the airwaves. A plane carrying soldiers from the 101st had crashed in Gander. Initially, we had no report of who was on the aircraft. But three of the Company Commanders in the Battalion were very close friends of mine and the odds were high at least one of them was on that plane. In time, I discovered Brian had perished in the crash. Brian was an energetic young West Pointer with loads of potential. He was a man of God who had committed his life to the mission field while deployed to the Sinai. Why would God take such a talented young disciple in the infancy of his service? The answer may never be clear, but my wife found the verse above in her quiet time and it was great comfort to me. Perhaps God was bringing him home early to protect him from some evil. Even in our deepest grief we can be certain that God is in control and has a plan. SP295

Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
(Luke 2:46)

The two most important skills of a disciple, listening and asking questions. At 12 years old Jesus was listening and asking questions in the temple. As He did so intently as a child, He would expect the same of His disciples later (Mk 4.3,9-10). Carefully listening is the first step of faith in Jesus. Not allowing all our presuppositions to plug our ears but straining to take in all that He says. The next is having the spiritual hunger and thirst to ask questions. To be inquisitive, investigate, to be humble enough to say to God and others, “I don’t understand.” God loves a seeker. (1 Chron 28.9) Listen and ask questions. FJ12b