The Encouraging Men of God...

We are come from different walks of life. We are hunters, pilots, cowboys, truck drivers, movie producers, construction workers and a lonely baristo.

 These are the type of men that you would see and come to know in the church that I attend every Sunday and Wednesday. In the outer appearance, you would only see them as simply, "common men." But there is something special inside of these men. They hold a secret within that unites them. A thread that binds them. A love that surpasses all understanding. These men unite together in good times and in the dark times. They are tried and tested almost everyday. Sometimes they win, sometimes they fail. But they never faulter in their "faith."

 Men over the dawn of time have been described and taught to be the "bread-winners" and "head of the house." There is alot to bare as a "man of God" when you are the head of a family. But, I am sure at times, they get overwhelmed. They lose their patience with the wife, kids and the bills. But I would like to think that in those times, that even if someone is suffering outside of their own family, they would step in and encourage the ones that are hurting. A couple of the men that I go to church with have been great encouragements to me in the past. Some have really encouraged me in the things of God. Most men today wouldn't take the time to even talk to you and help you learn how to deal with the temptations. As men today, we are constantly tempted by the things of the world. Whether it's toys, women or money, we are constantly thrown into the ugliness of temptation. But it's up to us whether or not we rely on God or ourselves to deal with such thoughts. Being a single man myself, I cannot even think of the temptations that married men face today. I can only assume that it is worse than the single men. But, I have been blessed and encouraged by some of the men in church. I have one friend that I have become very close to. We enjoy the same things pretty much, but he is married with a beautiful family. He is in a business that he is constantly surrounded by temptation or the ugliness of sin. But he always encourages me by how he deals with those things, even if he fails, he learns from it and goes forward. But he also stands of what God has placed in his heart. Another friend, looking at him is a big ol' country boy that is married with a beautiful family that is a mechanic on semi-trucks. But when he speaks of God, the discipline that has been embedded in him, I can't help but think, "how is it that a guy like this is a man of God? How can he teach me anything?" But the truth is that Chad and Josh both have taught me alot in my walk.

 Now the older generation has taught me quite a few things as well. I have talked to the older men on a few occasions on how to deal with sexual temptation and what they did to overcome it. They have encouraged me on how to deal with those things, feed on the Word of God, get into my prayer closet, take on the accountability of your actions and ask for help when you need it. It's okay to talk to the older generation. We should always feel free to receive the advice or counsel when we need it. These are great times of fellowship.

 But here recently, I have been encouraged by the way some of the men in our church have been allowing God to get on them, and for them to soak in His Presence. As a singer on the Praise and Worship team, there are times that I see people that are drawing in on the Presence of God. I saw one in particular one night when another man of God was just basking in His Presence. Chad was simply standing there and soaking in the love and joy of God. If you look at Chad, he's a construction worker with a beautiful family as well. Chad is tall, couple of tattoos and very quiet most of the time. But when he got into the Presence of God that night, he was like a child that was being embraced by His Father. He just took Him in.

 Throughout the Old and New Testament, the definition of man has never changed. The responsibilities have not changed. The calling of God that has been put on the lives of men have not changed. The only thing that has changed within men, is the men. Nothing else. Men of God should encourage one another in all things. But we should just stop there. We should encourage those that are lost in the things of God. Alot of us are around other people that need witnessing to or encouragement. The Disciples of Jesus prayed for "boldness" when they went out and ministering to the people. As men of God, we should be encouraged and chase after such an example.

 So how do we encourage one another?

 My thought is this. Our lives for one should be an example. The greatest form of encouragement is the life that we live according to God. Men today are so burdened by the things of life today, that you can see it when they come to church. Some choose to feed on it and some let it go. Those are the men that you need to encourage in the things of God. Telling them to release those burdens and cast off those cares. Show them how to deal with things they way God would want you to deal with them. But first and foremost, Seek God on the care. Get into your prayer closet. He is our "safe refuge, strong tower, my hiding place." Encourage them to praise God not only in the good times, but in the bad times. The enemy wants nothing more than the men of God to fall away from Him for the mere fact that it will not only destroy them, but their family as well. Most men today would kill a person if someone harmed their family in away. The same should go when it comes to dealing with the devil. He is out to destroy everything that God has blessed your life, your family and friends with.

 Men of God, it is time to rise up and defend the Gospel. Proclaim and encourage the things of God to one another and to the lost. He is our God to share with the world, with each other and our family. This is not the time to be greedy and keep Him to ourselves. It is time to "spread the love."  This is the time to seek and devour the goodness of God. Have the "God-like Boldness" today that the Disciples had back in the day. I have one last thing to say on this.

 Men, our lives, families and friends are being attacked by an invisible enemy. He is there to destroy everything that God has blessed us with. Defend your faith, your family and your God with every ounce of your being. Satan isn't going to stop attacking us. We should never stop defending what God has given and promised us.

1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

 We have the power and ability to overcome these attacks.

 But are you willing to use it?

 That is the question...

The Tattoo of Revelation...

 I have to admit that there are many things in my life that I find to be addicting. Movies, food and so much more. But there is one that I have always loved getting from the time that I got my first one.

 Tattoos!!!

 I don't know why they are so addictive, but from the time that I got my first one, I was hooked. It cracks me up because my little sister got one before I did. I was jealous!!! But when I was stationed in California, I knew that it would be just a matter of time before I got one. My very first tattoo was Marvin the Martian with a Pearl Jam lyric around it. It has a meaning to me personally, like everyone of my other tattoos. But then I got one tattoo that has caused my some pain and joy in the same breath. It's on my right forearm with a Cross with the verse "Isaiah 53:5" inscribed across it.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,


he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

 When I got this tattoo, I just really got the revelation about healing that Christ had provided for me at the Cross. I wanted a reminder of what He did for me on that Glorious Day. Some would see that as a "weird way to remember", but it was very special and important today. I had a friend go with me so that he could see what it was like. I looked at it, and it was exactly what I wanted. So after awhile, people would start asking me what it was, what it meant and what did it mean to me. That tattoo would lead to some great and horrible conversations. Mostly, it was great moments of sowing a seed into someone that may not know about the Cross of Christ. Now, tattoos are not "biblical" in the eyes of God. Our body is a temple that Houses the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit." We should treat our bodies in such a way that is honoring to our Father. Obviously, I have not. But that doesn't mean God is mad at me. I just have a really colorful temple. But this tattoo has caused me to fight for what I believe in as well.

 When I started working at the Baristo Bar, they had a policy that no tattoos were to be displayed due to being offensive. I understood the rule and did my best to follow it. But there were times that I didn't and it caused some trouble for me when it came to the point of me getting fired over it. Now, in my mind, a tattoo is the last thing that I would fire a person over. But this amongst other things, was just the icing on the cake. I cried, moaned and complained to get my job back and after a week and a half, I was back working. Since then, I have followed the rules to the top. But when people see that my arm is covered, they always ask what it is. That is where the good and bad conversations. Some people believe it and receive it. Some do not. But over time, things just died down.


 That was until a couple of months ago...


 I was informed that the company had produced some T-shirts that endorsed a specific group of people, whose lifestyle I have fought long and hard to get away from. When I lived the "alternative lifestyle", it was everything that consumed and became an important part of me. But when I got born-again, I fought and died to that old-self. It still haunts me at times, but I fight to stay away from that lifestyle. I don't hate gay people for what they are doing. I hate what kind of person that it had made me at the time. I can never go back to that ever again. So when the company started producing the shirts, I got angry. I mean here is a company that hires people for their "diversity" and yet they put restrictions of that diversity in the name of being "offenseful." Now the same company is telling me that I have to support a "group of diverse people", and make a way to be supportive. Really?


 Here's a question. If there was a reformed alcoholic that had been clean and sober for a couple of years, would you take him to a brewery and then ask him to help you serve it to others?

 I became very angered to the fact that the company wanted me to hide my faith and support another. Then it became clear to me. This is "fighting the good fight of faith." Never have I fought so hard to stand up for what I believe to be right and true. Never have I had to take so many beating by co-workers, customers and more simply because of what I believe. Jesus said "if they hate you, it's because they hated me first." Most people don't want to talk about their faith. It's very personal and powerful to most. To me, it's very personal! And at times, it can get ugly! We are faced with the same things that the Disciples faced early into their ministry. Persecution, ridicule and death. I pray that it doesn't come to that, but the truth is that most people are willing to die for what they believed in. Jesus did. Why wouldn't I do the same thing that He did for me?

 The Truth is Worth dying for if you are willing to make it real not only to the people, but to yourself. Until you have that revelation of how powerful the Word of God is,  you will always question if it is real. And when it comes to that point, then you won't have any problem standing up for what is true. You will start operating your life, your business and your family and friends on a different level that can only bring you joy and peace. I battle alot of times of the Word. There are alot of things that I hate about it because it points out my faults. But that is revelation or correction that I need to know about. My Pastor always says something that I don't agree with. But He preaches from the Bible. The Bible is never wrong. NEVER!!! We just say that it is!!!

 Revelation is a great way to become free from strongholds, bondage, sickness and alot more. When people ask of my tattoo, I reveal to them the power and meaning behind the verse. They may not get it at the time, but the chew on it for awhile. Whether the swallow it or not is up to them.  When I first got saved, the biggest revelation I got was that Pontius Pilot didn't want to crucify Jesus. But, he bowed under pressure from religious leaders and the higher government. Had Pontious not crucified Christ, he himself would have been fired or killed. He didn't stand up for what was true and right. Today, many people are like that. We talk about Christ, but alot of us really don't defend Him. Why are you willing to lay your life down for someone, but not a person that gave you life.

 I have no regrets in getting any of my tattoos. All of them hold a story that is very close and personal to my heart. But when you get a revelation of who you are in Christ, how loved and special you really are, then that opens up your heart to receive so much more of the things of God. It's like when someone tells you a secert.

 The look on your face is pure shock of either joy or sadness. You rejoice or cry.

 With God, there is only love and peace when He whispers that into your heart.......

 Get Revelation...