Opening the Box (Proceed with Caution)

In a time where abortions are an everyday norm and aborted fetuses are picked through and sold for parts, this blog called, Opening the Box (Proceed with Caution) from a dear friend in Colorado is a refreshingly beautiful picture of the sanctity of life, the simple faith of the redeemed, and the loving grace of a God who is sovereign and good.

Read the beautiful words of a heart exposed, which reveals the faithfulness and glory of God in the sufferings and joys of this life.  I pray that you will read this blog and that it will warm, encourage, and remind your heart of steadfast truth.  If this blog blesses you, share it with others who may have experienced loss, need to be reminded of the beauty of life, even in the womb, or need assurances that God is indeed good and working throughout our sufferings and our greatest joys.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”  Jeremiah 1:5

Here Comes the Boom

Tonight, my wife and I watched the movie Here Comes the Boom.  Here Comes the Boom is about a teacher who decides to fight in MMA fighting to try and raise the money needed to save the music program and music teach at the school he teaches.  I personally am not a big fan of MMA and UFC fighting but in this movie I was moved in a way I didn't expect.  We live in a world today that does everything to strip the masculine from the man.

Within this movie, one of the MMA teachers quotes Genesis 32:24 while sitting down to dinner with other fighters.   He tells the story of how Jacob wrestled with God all night even to the point of receiving a dislocated hip and because of his tenacity, he received God's respect.  Through watching this movie, I was reminded that men are designed to be warriors.  I am not saying that all men should engage in MMA or even that you are not a man if you are unwilling to fight physically.  The fight men were created to be a part of is the fight for what is right.  In Here Comes the Boom, the main character has to do this through actual fighting.  

It does not matter if you consider yourself a fighter or not.  I am here to say that I believe all men are engaged in a battle everyday.  The enemy has done an excellent job providing distractions, diversions, and lies that keep us from realizing the fight we are in.  I contend though that all men are in a battle every minute of their lives.  Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  No matter whether you are a Christian or not, every single man on this planet is engaged in a battle.  

We are in a battle for our souls and the souls of those around us.  Why do you think that movies like Gladiator, Braveheart, Remembering the Titans, Saving Private Ryan, Die Hard, Rambo, Here Comes the Boom, and so many others elicit such a strong emotion within almost every man's heart.  We were meant to fight.  We are meant to be engage in a battle for good.  Many of the most passionate men in this world have found a passion worth fighting for whether good or evil.  Living for Jesus Christ is not something that is supposed to signify only going to church each sunday, wearing a suit, saying a prayer before a meal, and trying to live with more integrity than the next guy.  Living for Christ demands that you give your whole life over to him and live such a passionate warrior life for sharing his gospel that you are even willing to give your own life if necessary.

Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends John 15:13.  Many men today wouldn't lay down their life for Jesus, more less their friends, family, or anyone else.  Selfishness and pride may bring success in this world but it will most certainly bring death in the next.  WWI and WWII are wars that many men still love to learn about.  Why? Maybe because  it was about men who were willing to sacrifice everything for righteousness, for justice, for freedom.  Isn't that what America used to stand for?  Isn't that why we used to be the best country in the world?  Our values used to be centered on God on Christ.  

Men I encourage you to take an honest look at your life and ask yourself who you have been living for.  Having you been ignoring the assault on your soul and the loved ones around you or having you been waging war with the enemy and your own sinful heart to bring truth and the gospel into this lost and dying world?  Have you been hiding behind the tv, video games, pornography, sports, job, music, cars, and more as an escape from having to truly live as a man of integrity that can bring change to the world around you?  Are you seeking the easy money, easy job, easy life, and easy choices over doing the hard things that set a man a part for Christ?  

I personally struggle with all these things each day.  There are many days that I feel as though the warrior has been all but beat out of me.  I feel weak.  I feel tired.  I struggle for purpose.  During these times I reach out to Christ and His scripture.  He gives me strength.  He reminds me who I am.  Like Peter, he reminds me that I can be the rock on which He is building the church.  Like Paul, He shows me that I am never too far gone for Him to transform me into a warrior for his kingdom.  Like Jacob, he wrestles with me to remind me who I really am and why I was created so I can rekindle the fight He instilled in my soul.  

We need to rekindle our warrior souls.  We need to revive our fight for righteousness in Christ.  There are so many things in this world worth us standing up and fighting for.  Men we need to fight for our sons.  We need to fight for the purity of our daughters.  We need to fight for the lost souls around us.  We need to fight for those locked in slavery with no voice or way to freedom.  We need to fight for the orphans who have never known what it feels like to be loved.  We need to fight for little girls, young ladies, and women who have been sold into sexual slavery and prostitution.  We need to fight for the billions starving and dying due to lack of food and medicine.  Yes, men there is many things in this world worth fighting for, even dying for.    

The tagline in the movie poster says, "No one will fight for his students like Mr. Voss."  No will fight for all these aforementioned people like you.  WIll you allow Christ to show you the man he created you to be.  I hope this blog inspires you and compels you to get out of your seat and get into a cause.  Here Comes the Boom for Christ!

In Christ,

Greg Ivey

Striving to be a True Man

This past week I turned thirty years old and upon entering a new decade of my life, I took some time to survey the last decade.  As a man, husband, and now father, I have struggled with my role and responsibilities as a leader of my home.  I have not been the top money earner most of our marriage.  I feel like I have dropped the ball as spiritual head of the household more times that I would like to acknowledge.  I also have not always been the husband I should've been or even wanted to be.  To be honest, I have much room for improvement.

Tonight, we watched the movie Hope Springs and I was convicted by some of the marital issues dealt with in the movie.  Though I did not start my marriage well, I would like to get to the end of my life knowing that I loved my wife and children well.  Everyday truly feels like a battle.  There are so many distractions in life seeking to steal our time, love, and attention.  There are so many excuses of why not to lead well, love well, or work hard.  I don't want to be one of those men with a laundry list of excuses for why I was not the man I should've been.

I spent the last year of my life striving to live differently than I had before.  I have worked hard to be faithful in my job, faithful to love my wife well, faithful in preparing to become a dad, faithful in pursuing ministry, and faithful in writing this blog.  I can tell you that there have been many days that I failed at each one of these pursuits and yet there were many more days where I held true in being faithful.  Throughout this time of growing into the man I am suppose to be I learned that I cannot become that man without seeking the one who created me.

How can I truly understand who I am as a man if I never seek the God who created men?  How can I truly understand what it means to be a husband unless I learn from the one who created marriage?  How can I truly understand what it means to be faithful in accomplishing the task before me unless I understand what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross?  The answer is that I can't.  In order to become the man I want to be, I have to seek Christ.

Unfortunately, as men, many times our downfall is that culture tells us we have to become men on our own and we believe them.  The stereotype is that men never need to ask directions.  We also fall prey to the stereotype that we don't need anyone correcting or reproofing us.  Men are capable of overcoming any struggle, situation, or problem, on their own.  We are man hear us roar.  Sadly these lies are exactly why so many men have no idea what it means to be a man of Christ.

Contrary to popular belief, becoming a man requires the humbleness to be teachable.  Being a true man requires the willingness to submit and even fall to your knees in seeking direction from God.  Being a true man requires loving those around you in a way that breaks your own pride while healing the hearts of the ones you love.  Being a true man requires admitting your mistakes, asking for forgiveness, and turning from your area of folly.  Being a true man is hard.  Being a true man requires courage.  Being a true man, like Jesus, is probably the hardest challenge a man will ever face and yet being a true man is what we are all called to be.

As I enter this new decade of my life, I will strive to be a true man in Christ.  I love the movie Courageous and believe that all men should have to watch it.  I believe that the men in Courageous have figured out the path of being true men.  I have included the closing speech of Courageous because I believe it lays out so well what it means to be a true man in Christ.  I pray that if you are a man who is reading this blog tonight, that your heart would be stirred to be the man outlined in this speech.

Blessings,

Greg  

Mother's Day Challenge to Fathers

My glowing wife.

Men may you give your wives and mothers the best Mother's Day they have ever known this year.  There are two types of mothers in this world: the ones who hate or are indifferent to Mother's Day and the ones who look forward to it every year.  A mother's reaction to Mother's Day is directly related to the response of her family and especially her spouse.  As one who is about to become a father and is excited to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife, I have really being thinking about things I can do to celebrate and encourage her this Mother's Day and for Mother's Days to come.  I want my wife to know she is loved and appreciated starting with this Mother's Day and each consecutive Mother's Day for the rest of her life.

Mother's day southern tradition: a red rose for a live mother and a white rose for a mother passed on.

I thought back to the Mother's Days of my youth.  As I think back to those days, I consider some of the things that made Mother's Day special for my mom.  We always dressed our best on Mother's Day and we wore a red rose as a southern tribute to our mother.   In the south you do not forget mothers on Mother's Day in the church.  As a child, I remember dad taking care of breakfast, letting mom pick her favorite restaurant, and each of us getting her gifts of our love.  Though I can't say that we as children always did a great job honoring my mother on Mother's Day, I can confidently say that my dad did and worked hard to teach us to also.

Mother's day in Appomattox, VA

Looking back at the examples in my own life and through the examples of others in my life, I have learned the significance the husband plays in making a mother feel truly appreciated on Mother's Day.  It is not the mother's job to teach her children to appreciate her but in fact her husband's.  The father is the one who, through his example, teaches his children to appreciate their mother.  This is not something that is accomplished through just one day of the year but through an example that is given every single day of the year.

Mother's day in Williamsburg, VA

Our children are watching us men.  They see every kind or hard word we give to our wives; they see our acts of affection and when we ignore our wives; and they learn how to love or hate their mothers through us.  Proverbs 31:28, "Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her."  This only happens if we fulfill the second part of this verse men.  Ephesians 5:25-30 says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,  because we are members of his body."     

Glowing again

Men tonight I ask, have you being loving your wife and the mother of your children in a way that sanctifies her, presents her as holy and without blemish, and with a love that is equal to a love for yourself?  If not, I hope you will take time to examine the scripture, ask forgiveness of your wife and children for not loving your wife the way you should, and take the steps to become the husband and father the Bible calls you to be.  It is time we step up and live Courageously in loving our wives and families.  It is time we truly honor our wives on this Mother's Day.

No explanation needed.

For those of you who had father's who never taught you to truly love and respect your mother or had no father at all, I hope you will spend time reading Proverbs 31.  I hope you will not look at Proverbs 31 as a way to identify all the traits your mother may not have but as a way to understand how you are supposed to treat your mother with respect and love.  Ways to do this can be as easy as calling her,  taking her out to eat, or even as simply as just spending time with her.  I hope you will take genuine steps this Mother's day to show your mother you truly love her. 

Happy Mother's day!

Blessings,

Greg

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist

Hope Unquenched. Hope Undeterred.

My glowing pregnant wife and I

There have been many times in my life when I have not understood what the Lord is doing.  I have spent many hours wondering if I made wrong choices or missed certain callings.  Did I not listen to Him as He led?  Was I supposed to take another direction?  Did He lead me here to this place or is He just making the best of my own mishandling of His will?  For those of you who believe in complete sovereignty, I am sure you are saying that I am exactly where I should be because I can never be outside of God's sovereignty but there are times I just don't know.

Me and close brother in Christ

I feel so very deeply in my heart that my life should be immersed in active, full time ministry and missions.  My every moment should be lived reaching, teaching, and preaching the gospel of my Savior to the lost and the fold.  My heart desires to be in Spain with my brother, his wife, and their daughter to sweep the nation of Spain for Christ.  My heart desire to sing His praises at the top of my lungs with the fullness and completeness of my soul.  I am never more at peace than when I am in direct ministry for my Lord.  I have never seen my wife more at peace than when I am leading for the Lord and we are sharing in ministry together.

My wife and I ministering to migrant children

For the past couple weeks, my wife and I have been taking birthing classes.  As I consider this tiny life that is about to be here in our arms, I consider who I am and who I want to be to my child.  I spend hours thinking about the witness I am going to give to my son and future children.  Will he see a man who was 100% sold out for Christ or a man who always desired to be 100% sold out for Christ?  Will he see a father who loved and led his mother with the love and leadership of Jesus or will he see a man who never quite loved his mother the way the Bible leads me to love her?

Worshipping on a youth trip

I look at the debt we have acquired through student loans, mortgage, car loans, and more.  I keep wondering how we are ever going to climb out of this debt we are in.  We have worked hard to climb out of poor financial choices made early in our marriage and yet we have so much farther still to go.  I want so much to live in full time ministry and yet there are so many times that I feel I will never escape this burden I'm buried under.  Am I using this burden as an excuse or is this burden being used to teach me complete faith in Him?

Me with a couple of the horses at my job

I don't in anyway want to minimize the many amazing things God has put in my life.  I am so thankful to be at the job I am at.  They have been a life saver to me in the way they have loved me, taught me, and enabled me to be a part of ministry while also learning service.  I am so thankful to have remembered what it means to truly worship again through my job.  I feel like I have been able to worship freely and completely before Jesus for the first time outside of the piano in my home through leading chapel.

My son Samuel

I am so thankful for the unexpected blessing of a young adult ministry I never even dreamed of.  The Lord has blessed me with young adults who truly want to live for Him.  I have been so inspired by their commitment to learning and growing in their walks with Jesus.  I have been blessed by the conversations I have been privileged to have with them.  I have been touched by getting a glimpse of the mighty way God has been working through each of them.  I have been challenged by the opportunity to touch hearts that are distant from Him.

Oh the family pictures of yore

I am thankful for a church that honors God in their music, their preaching, and in their love.  My wife and I have had a hard time finding a church that met our needs since we moved here.  I am thankful for what we learned from each church since we have moved here but my wife and I have been missing out on the love and fellowship of people in our life station.  It is so wonderful to relate with someone who understands where you are and being able to also share a common love of Jesus with them.  I have enjoyed learning, fellowshipping, and growing throughout the short time we have been at this new church.

My wife's family

Finally I am incredibly thankful for my wife, who is carrying our son, and the wonderful love she has showered over me.  I shutter to imagine what my life would've been without her.  She has made me a better man in Christ through her strong faithfulness, love, and grace.  She is going to be the most wonderful mother to our child and I am so thankful that we are embarking on this adventure together.  I am also thankful for the wonderful brothers in Christ the Lord has surrounded me with.  I never believed that I would ever meet a friend who loves me the way these brothers do.  I honestly never believed brothers like this could exist but God showed me His love through them.  I also am so thankful for a Godly family that prays for us, encourages us, and actively loves on us.  I would not be here to day or even writing this blog if it were not for my family.  They raised me in the truth of Jesus and are the ones who laid the foundation for me being the man I am today.  I can't imagine my life without each one of these dear people that constantly remind me of the love God has bathed me with.

My wife and I with my best friend and his wife

I want to end this blog praising God because He is surely good!  I am thankful for every opportunity I have to proclaim His name and I am hopeful that one day I will have the opportunity to minister for Him in full-time ministry and missions.  I look forward to the day that I will get to minister next to my brother in Christ in Spain.  I look forward to the opportunity to preach and worship within a church the Lord has lead me to or given me the opportunity to speak in.  Until the day these hopes come to fruition, I will continue to be faithful to Him daily.  I will continue to be thankful for each opportunity He gives me to grow, to lead, and to minister.

Blessings,

Greg

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist

The Deep Healing Waters of Jesus

I started my day like any other.  I woke up, got ready for work, and arrived on time.  I had plenty of things to do today and spent the morning trying to take care of the many tasks on my roster.  As the morning continued to slip away, I decided to go down to the kitchen to get some water.  I noticed worship music gentling calling from the living room.  I drank my water and continued to work on the tasks I had inside the house.  I passed the living room multiple times as I checked the furnace filters, the thermostats, and changed some light bulbs.

As I went past the living room, I noticed that more people than usual were attending the worship chapel and each person was doing something different as they enjoyed the music and connected with Christ.  Each time I passed the living room, I felt a draw to join in.  I frequently join in the chapel sessions but not the worship sessions.  So i continued my work trying to ignore the longing that was compelling me to join.

After about 20 minutes of attempting to ignore the desire of my heart, I decided to quietly slip into the living room, sit down, and write in my notebook as I enjoyed the worship album playing in the room.  As I sat down and began to write, a flood of emotion flowed from my heart.  My heart began to pour out onto the notebook in the form of a prayer.  I had not talked with God for a few days maybe even a few weeks. It was time and my heart knew exactly what I needed to say.

My heart had been drawing me to join the worship.  My heart had been longing to reconnect with my Lord.  The Holy Spirit knew my need though I myself had not perceived it or maybe worse had been running from it.  To help deepen and explain the significance of today, I want to explain my daily routine at work for the past few weeks.

I have spent quite a lot of time outside mowing, trimming, weeding, mulching, and so much more.  During this time, I put on my headphones, which are hooked up to my iPhone, and listen to podcast sermons from pastors I respect and admire and Christian music I enjoy.  I have probably listened to over 30 hours of sermons in the last week on Jesus and walking an authentic Christian life.  Now I can't say that I didn't not pray or speak to God in conviction during some of these sermons but I can say that I did not humble myself and give to God all I had been holding in my heart.  The silence of my blog recently has spoken to this condition in my heart.

When I sat down in that worship, I finally took the time to connect with where I was with Christ and was able, through the Holy Spirit, to identify my desperate need to reconcile with Jesus and lay my burdens, worries, and struggles down before Him.  As I sat there quietly in the back of the living room, I was able to truly pour out my broken and contrite heart before the Lord.

The Lord helped to facilitate my healing even further through my best friend, Jono, who spoke even deeper into the need of my heart through the daily texts we share.  I opened up and confessed also to my best friend and accountability partner the state of my heart and my need.  We both dove deeply into our desires to serve and live passionately for Christ.

Through this whole process, I found a peace I have not felt in a while.  I was able to breathe deeply and fully in the certainty and joy of Christ.  I could feel the Lord reconnect my heart into Himself.  I could feel my heart submit to His reign.  The rest of my day has been filled with the peace and joy of knowing that I have a God who knows my heart's need so much better than I do.  I can rest in the knowledge that my Lord will lead me to still waters whether I know I need them or not.

Where is your heart with Jesus tonight?  Have you been listening to all the Christian songs, reading the Christian books, intently enjoying the Christian sermons, and living a good looking Christian life and yet still finding your heart distant from Jesus?  Sometimes we can cover over exactly what we need by filling our lives with all these things and yet not humbling ourselves before the Lord.  Have you laid your heart, your sins, and your burdens at the feet of Jesus tonight?  Don't hesitate to do it tonight.  The cool waters of our Lord are abundant and sweet!  Don't resist the call of the Holy Spirit who is drawing you to make your path straight tonight.  Dive in my brother and sister.  Dive in.

As a closer, I would love to hear from you about how the Lord has drawn you to himself recently.  I would love to hear ways that you connect with Jesus daily.  I would love to here how the Lord used this blog to restore your heart today.  Feel free to comment on the blog or on my Facebook account.  I would just love to be able to share in the many way Jesus has spoken to, blessed, and uplifted each of my readers.

Blessings,

Greg

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist

Iron Sharpens Iron, Men

Tonight, I write a challenge to all men.  I challenge you to step up into the roles God has laid out for you.  Men it is time we begin to walk in purity and lead for Christ in our daily lives.  I believe it is incredibly important to be able to share an accountability partnership with another brother in Christ.  No matter who you are, I know you struggle with sin, temptation, and being the man God has called you to be in some way or fashion.

As in the relationship Jonathan and David shared, men are to count on each other, trust each other with their life, and be able to count on the other to help them through their struggles.  The phrase, "no man is an island" is so true.  Other examples of men working together to strengthen each other in times of struggle and empower each other to reach the world for Christ, is displayed in both the disciples and the many colleagues Paul had.

There is nothing like being able to spend one on one time in Christ with another brother.  My accountability partner and I love to go mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and tackling essentially anything outdoors and adventure related.  During our time of adventure, we also get opportunities to check on our brother's heart, walk, and life.  There are so many things that God has taught each one of us that we are able to share with each other.  Many times though we promise to pray for the other trusting that the Lord will work through each struggle we face.

When men choose to make a commitment to develop a relationship of iron sharpening iron, an opportunity to change the world is formed.  When you have the support of a mentor, accountability partner, and/or brother in Christ, you can trust that you will be able to overcome anything this world can throw at you because of your relationship with Christ and partnership on earth.  There truly is strength in numbers and strength in shared experiences.

I know we as men tend to keep to ourselves and avoid any possibility of having to be open or vulnerable, especially with another man.  I hope, as men of Christ, we can humble ourselves enough to realize we need the help of other brothers in Christ to excel in reaching the world for Christ.  If you have any questions about how to do this, where to start, or why a partnership like this is worthwhile, feel free to email or comment me.  I would love to talk with you and share what I have learned through my own accountability partnership.

Here are some other great articles on accountability partners:

• Christian Accountability
• Men of Integrity
• Pure Intimacy

Blessings,

Greg

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist

A Piece of Me

At my job, we have chapel on Tuesdays for our clients and employees.  Today's chapel, was about our own stories that make up who we are.  The speaker did an activity where we wrote down one word descriptions of our story and linked them together.  It was so amazing to see how so many words written by others could apply to our own stories also.  By the end of the chapel, we had a multi-link chain of our life stories one word at a time.  The three words I used throughout the activity was grace, darkness, and redeemed.

My whole life has been covered by grace though I have to say there were times I wouldn't have been able to see it.  I am a preacher's kid.  I tell most people that I have been in the church since before I was born.  My family did a wonderful job of raising me with love, teaching me the Bible, who Jesus is, and how to live a life that honors Him.  I remember being at church every time the doors were open.  When I was a teenager, I would even run the sound for dad at some of the weddings and funerals performed at the church.

Though my parents did a wonderful job of raising me, they couldn't protect me from all of the temptations and sins of this world.  Many of the struggles I faced in my life were not due to a failure on their part but a lack of judgment and wisdom on my part.  There were just certain challenges I chose, pridefully, to face on my own.  I praise God that I never had any problems with alcohol or drugs but there were definitely areas I struggled with throughout my teenage years and beyond.  

I struggled greatly with being a "two face," which for me was living for Jesus when I was at church and home and then living for the world when I was not.  I was greatly immersed in secular music, tv, and practices most behind my parents back through the homes of friends around me.  I learned to cuss on the bus in kindergarden.  We went to a school system that had all ages on the same bus.  I struggled greatly with the language, stories, and concepts I learned on the bus and in school for essentially my whole time in school.  I look back and shutter at the things I said, thought, and did during those years in grade school.  It took me many years of submitting all these things to Jesus and changing what I allowed to filled my head and mouth.  The phrase, "garbage in equals garbage out" is so true.

During a move to a new town when I was around ten years old, I was introduced to pornography.  I essentially became addicted to this horrifying realm of the devil for my full teenage life and well into my twenties.  It did not help that my generation was the first to fully interact with the computer and a new thing called the internet.  I grew up in a time when parental controls were nonexistent on the computer and content was infinitely accessible.  This served to feed my curiosity and drew me deeper into darkness and sin than I ever wanted to go.  I suffered greatly from this time in my life and looking back I can see the pain I caused to myself, my family, my friends, and my wife.  

During those teenage and college years I continued my 'two face' living of portraying the perfect preachers son who had it all together while sinking deeper and deeper into sin behind locked doors.  The devil had a firm grip on my life and yet I thought that I was okay.  I could answer any Biblical question you gave me and I knew who Jesus is and what He did for me.  I believed I was saved and had "rededicated" my life many times to make sure.  My heart was so deceived and the devil had me believing  I could live for two worlds without consequences.  

Well about five years ago, God brought me to a place where I met a man who I refer to now as my brother.  The two of us were much alike in the struggles with sin we faced and our desire to be free from them to fully honor and minister for Jesus.  We instantly became best friends and accountability partners.  Through prayer, accountability, and a fervent resolve to vanquish the sin that was destroying our lives, we were able to begin the difficult and painful walk to freedom.  God's grace redeemed us.  He utilized our friendship to provide encouragement and tough talks when needed.  He taught us how to walk in Him through our times hiking, biking, boating, and talking deeply about His word and how He was working on our hearts individually.  Through this time, Jesus taught us both how to passionately love Him and live for fully live for Him.

There is so much more to my story and the many ways that God has moved through it but what I am most proud of is to be able to say that Jesus has brought me freedom from the bondage I once endured.  For the longest time, I believed that certain temptations and addictions could not be broken but must be endured for the full length of my life.  I now can see that Philippians 4:13 is true!  Psalm 103:12 is absolutely true!  God's promises are true! 

I honestly don't know where your heart is tonight.  Maybe you are the one who is tired of hearing about God and Jesus because you have been running from Him so long.  Maybe you are like I was and have been in the church your whole life and yet secretly you are up to your eyeballs in sin and finally ready to acknowledge that you are far from Jesus and want to ask Him in your heart for real.  Maybe you have been missing something your whole life and have just never knew how to fill that void.  Maybe you feel that you are just to gone for Jesus to love you.  

I am here to say that you can never run to far away from Jesus for Him to reach you.  You can never fall to far down for Him to be able to pick you up.  You can never sin to much to be redeemed.  Jesus' salvation is offered not because of what right you've earned but what He has freely given (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Jesus is waiting for you to open your heart to Him today (Revelation 3:20).  Jesus will give you the Holy Spirit, which will be there to guide you, teach you, and help you walk the road back to purity in Him (John 14:15-31).        

I felt I needed to offer part of my own story tonight.  There are many parts of it I am ashamed of and yet through these times of darkness I have found my Savior, a brother, and a strength I have never known.  Jesus truly can redeem all things for good for those who walk in Him (Romans 8:28).  I know He has for me and I look forward to how He will continue to allow me to minister and reach our to the world for Him.  I pray that if you do not know Jesus, you would accept Him today.  I pray that if you know Jesus but are mired deeply in sin, you would seek His forgiveness and begin a right and real relationship with Him today.  Please know that I am always willing to talk, pray, or help in anyway I can. 

Blessings,

Greg  

 

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist

Lies of the Devil

One day last summer my best friend and I, while sitting in the cafeteria of the IUPUI campus, wrote this list of what we believe to be the biggest lies from the devil men are deceived by.

1) That we don't have an escape from temptation and sin.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)
2) That we don't have to fight to stay pure and keep from sinning.  (Ephesians 6:12 )
3) That we should not have to endure trials to build character and mature.  (James 1:12)
4) That we are only hurting ourselves when we fall prey to sin.  (Courageous Website offers great resources addressing this lie)
5) That being free from sin as a Christian is easy.  (1 Corinthians 9:24)
6) That if we aren't instantly sinless, we are a failure or without Jesus. (Justification and Sanctification)
7) That pornography doesn't hurt anyone and is not wrong. (Philippians 4:8, Matthew 5:28, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Whenever I struggle in my daily walk, I look back at these lies to center myself in the truth of Jesus.  I would love to hear input from each of you on what you think of these lies.  If you agree with them or disagree.  Also I would love to know if you have other lies from the devil you have identified to help strengthen your walk and keep you aligned in the narrow way of Jesus.

I think of Pilgrims progress as an example of the importance of identifying and avoiding the Devil's and world's lies.  Whenever Christian took his eyes off of the road he was to travel, usually it was because he was lured off the road by a deception.  Many times the consequences of being led astray had high costs for Christian and his travelers.  I leave you with Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, 
   for everything you do flows from it."

Blessings,

Greg

Beautiful Weekend

Man what a weekend!  My wife and I had great fun setting up and rearranging what will be our little boy's room.  We enjoyed shopping and looking at all the cool furniture, clothing, and accessories.  We had a great time brainstorming about what colors to choose, what theme to do, where we want the furniture, and so much more.  The 3d ultrasound has really given us quite a bit of excitement for the coming of our little man.

On Sunday, we went to a new church and truly had a great time!  It was so fun to go to Sunday school and spend time with people our age engaged in deep bible study.  We have missed a connection like this for so long.  We enjoyed Sunday school, the worship, the message, and even getting to go out to eat with new friends.  Though it is difficult not having a church home right now, we are enjoying the blessings of meeting new people and attending new churches.

Sunday night my friend, Mike, was able to come up and celebrate the Super Bowl with us.  We had a great time of fellowship, playing video games, laughing at the commercials, screaming at the teams, and stuffing ourselves with all types of goodies.  What a wonderful game to watch together too.  The game was a nail biter until the very last second and that is exactly the way I like it!  It was so great to spend time with him before he goes back to NC to return to his marine duty. When you have a friend who no longer lives near you, you truly begin to cherish the time you get with them.  Through the past few years, the friendship that I Mike and I share, as brother in Christ, has deepened greatly and I am so thankful for that.

This is what I learned from my weekend.  I learned how much I desperately miss intense bible study.  I learned how important it is to have friends your own age and life stage.  I learned that I can be okay with just hymns if they are done well.  I learned that Call of Duty is much easier with clear communication and one person leading.  I learned that our world thinks way to much of itself and material products through the many Super Bowl commercials (a no brainer there).  I learned that penalties and mistakes really do win or lose a game.  I even learned that how a room is arranged truly does matter to the functionality of the room. The two most important thing I learned this weekend though is how wonderful a mother my wife is going to be to our little boy and how important God's providence, through cherished friends, new and uncertain situations, and His constant movement in my heart, is in my everyday life.

Blessings,

Greg

Primary Fear

As most of you know this year is election year.  For those who are staunch republicans, I sure many of you have been watching the GOP primaries, debates, and news about the candidates closely.  There seems to be more at stake in our nation than ever before.  We seem to be at such an important cross roads where so many good and bad things could happen by the decisions our leaders make in Washington.  I think most would agree that this is no ordinary election.  Who wins and what they believe matters.

I have tried very hard this year to learn about the GOP candidates and even the president.  I believe it is important to vote and to be informed.  I have to say though I have been greatly discouraged by the candidates I have to choose from.  This GOP race and presidential election have a line from Courageous running through my head saying, "Where are you men of courage?"

What happen to the men of character?  The men who believed in their country and stood solidly in their belief of Jesus.  Where are the men who are connected to all the people of our nation not just the rich or the poor?  Where are the men who have lived the life of the average American and the men who understand the true needs of the people?  Where are the men who are not owned by the many interest groups of the world but live with integrity and are willing to go against the grain for their convictions?

All of these questions are on my heart when I look at the current political landscape of our country but also as I look at the religious landscape.  I believe that the movie, Courageous, is both timely and an essential must see in today's climate.  We live in a world that is reaping the results of cowardly and absent men.  We are living in a world where the devoutly Christian man with integrity, honor, passion, and fervor seems to be an endangered species.  I am afraid until we regain these Courageous men in our areas of leadership that the world will continue this downward spiral.

I pray that courageous and honorable men would stand up and fight for position in the world again.  I pray that they would fill our congress, statehouses, and churches.  I pray there would be a revival and change in this world for Jesus.  I pray that we would learn to live and work in unity again under Jesus Christ's reign.  I pray that the devil's grip on this nation would be destroyed and fall away.

Please take this blog post exactly as it is.  Not as a political argument.  Not as something meant for confrontation or judgment.  Not as something to disparage our country.  This post is simply the cry of my heart for a leader I can depend on and believe in.  A desire for men I can be proud of as leaders of our country.  My prayer is that we would become one nation under the one and only Christian God again.  My prayer is that we would receive the blessing of God again and be a blessing for God to the world.  This is my desire, hearts cry, and prayers.

1 Timothy 3:1-4, "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,"

Blessings,

Greg

Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, 
   to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon^[a] his shoulder,
   and his name shall be called^[b]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 


This year I truly hope we will get to know Jesus as the prince of peace.  It seems to me that each year violence is becoming more prevalent, hate is showing itself in new ways, and we seem to be finding new reasons to consider war.  I pray this Christmas we can look to peace across the world.  I pray that their will be peace in each person's home, each person's family gathering, and I pray that their will be peace in each one of our hearts.  Merry Christmas.


Blessings,


Greg

Resting in Christ

A picture of the beach in Florida by Jim Ivey

Tonight my body hurts all over from the end of a five day work stretch, which involved heavy lifting and moving, painting a room, and many of the other weekly task I perform.  Needless to say, I am really looking forward to my day off tomorrow.  I hope that I can be productive by cleaning up the house, finishing up gifts for Christmas, and especially taking a little bit of much needed relaxation and healing in Christ.  I know it seems that hard work develops the muscles, stamina, and character that makes us stronger but actually without rest none of these can happen.

Both the medical world and the Bible support this idea.  The medical world has done experiments and discovered that we actually grow muscle when we are resting not when we are actually working out.  The work out itself actually creates micro tears in our muscles and while we are resting is when they are repaired and made stronger.  In the beginning of the Bible we see God creating the world and after he finished creation he decided to rest on the seventh day.  If the God of the universe who needs no rest decided to rest on the seventh day, wouldn't you think it would be wise for us to do the same?

In the world we live in many of us take no time to rest.  We continue to go on and on slowly working ourselves into a shambles.  Many of us are over stressed, over worked, over tired, and under appreciated.  This is especially true for those in the ministry.  It is incredible to me that people in the church believe their ministers should respond to their every beck and call.  A minister is just like any other person and needs time with their family, time to relax, and time to develop their relationship with Jesus.

We all need to take more time for our God, ourselves, and our families.  I know many of you could give me a million reasons why you couldn't possibly take a day of rest and I'm sure they would all seem like perfectly sensible reasons.  My question to you is: do you really want to get to the end of your life when you finally realize how precious your time and life were and regret all the times you chose not to take care of yourself and your family?  If we are not taking care of ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually, how can we expect to fully live to our full potential?  Living to our full potential in Christ requires each of us to take the time to heal and recover from the demands of this world.

I hope you will take some time to heal this week.  Sit down and breathe without fully guilty because as you do you are honoring God design for you.  Spend some time in the never ending, overflowing, completely refreshing living water of Christ.  Like my blog Painting My Heart a Fresh talked about you need to allow the Lord to heal and repair the damage you have done to yourself.  Let him smooth away the stresses, demands, and disappointments of this world.  In Christ you will alway have what you need to live this life to the fullest in Him.  All you have to do is take the time to allow Jesus to renew you and refill you with all you need for those six other days of the week.

Blessings,

Greg

Don't Relax in Your Faith

Today I had the day off because my wife and I both had doctor's appointments we needed to go to with only one car.  I also have to work this weekend so my boss wanted me to take the day off to break up the schedule so I wouldn't be working 10 days straight.  I am so thankful that I had a break today because my back had really tightened up last night and I needed a day to allow the muscles to let go and allow me to do my job to the best of my ability.

After my wife and I finished all of our doctors appointments, I decided to take a muscle relaxer to help encourage my back to return to normal.  I know that a muscle relaxer can make you drowsy but I was not prepared for how drowsy I would feel the rest of the day.  A couple hours after taking the pill I decided to take a nap but I did not want to wake up after taking it.  I felt an intense desire to sleep.  I literally had to force myself to get up and start moving.

The rest of my evening has been one long struggle to stay awake so that I can get normal sleep tonight.  I definitely do not believe I will be taking a muscle relaxer during the day again even if I am off work with no where to go.  I do not like the feeling of my energy being drained from me.  I also do not like having to focus to keep my attention on things.

As I sit here still in my muscle relaxer stupor, I can't help but think about how my walk with Jesus feels like this sometimes.  Sometimes I struggle to stay close with Jesus.  I feel like I have no strength to walk in Him.  I feel like my mind focuses on everything but Him.  Have you ever been there?  Has the distraction of work, school, holidays, family, friends, tv, and music caused you to struggle in your walk with Christ?  Have you ever considered that maybe like my muscle relaxers these things are used by the devil to lull you away from a passionate walk with Jesus?

Unlike the muscle relaxer, the devil only has power over us when we give it to him.  We allow ourselves to walk off the narrow path.  We allow ourselves to be distracted by the many things of this world.  We take our eyes off Jesus.  The devil cannot make us do any of these things.  As followers of Jesus, the devil has no power over us.  James 1:13-14 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."


We allow ourselves to be pulled away from Christ.  We allow the devil to have power over us.  1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."  As I had mentioned in my blog yesterday, we already know that we can do all things through Christ in Philippians 4:13.  The power we have against the devil is fully shown through John 16:33 where Jesus tells the disciples, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."  


So if you are sleepily struggling in your faith, take heart because Jesus can help deliver you from any struggle you are facing.  He is strong enough to deal with any situation you find yourself in.  He is strong enough to overcome the devil's hold on you.  Just completely trust and lean upon Him (Proverbs 3:5).  Put your complete faith and assurance in Him and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:6).  


Blessings,


Greg

Sufficient Indeed!

You know, pain is a funny thing.  Pain can affect you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  Sometimes pain can be to much to bear and other times pain can be something tolerated for a lifetime.  Pain can be caused by our own actions, the actions of others, and the actions of no one.  Pain is something none of us wants to experience and yet we are united through the pain we have all carried.  


I have suffered from a lot of pain in the last few years in the form of tendonitis and tight muscles.  Much of my suffering has been difficult for my doctor to fix.  I find myself managing the pain by dealing with it till the point that I can no longer handle it.  Some of my pain has been with me for more than half of my life now.  Other pains I have experienced, have lasted only short but intense moments.  


I have begged and pleading, like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, for God to remove these thorns from my flesh and yet I feel like I have received the same answer Paul did, "My grace is sufficient for you."  I have to admit that I have not wanted to accept God's answer at times.  I don't want His grace to only be sufficient.  I want to be healed.  But I have realized the danger and error of these thoughts.  Without God's grace, my state of pain doesn't matter because ultimately I would never be with God.


It is easy for me to only focus on the pain I am experiencing and forget about the pain the Trinity has endured from me.  Jesus died on the cross because of my sin.  The Father can't even be in my presence in my sin  And I know that I have grieved the Holy Spirit in the addiction of my sins at times.  I can't even imagine the pain and betrayal God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit must feel each time I sin.  My pain is nothing in the grand scheme of things.  


Does this make my pain it any less real?  Does this make it any less intrusive?  I would say no but there is a peace and assurance that come from knowing that I will not experience this pain for all of eternity.  In Revelation 21:4 it says, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."  Even Paul who asked for the thorn to be removed from his flesh said this in Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."


If you are feeling pain tonight, no matter what kind, know that there is hope.  Know that it is temporary.  Know that there is a place where it will be no more.  As far as I know, there is no promise that we will make it through this life without pain as Christians.  Even Philippians 4:13 which says, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me,"  promises we will be given all the strength we need to handle this life but does not promise it will be easy.  So also know that the Lord will always, always, always give you the strength to handle the pain even if He sees fit to not remove it from you.  I exhort you to hang in there, trust Jesus, and know that God's grace truly is sufficient for all you will face in this life.  I hope in this you will find peace.


Blessings,


Greg