Need Courage?

The true measure of a man’s courage is not determined by how he responds to a situation in which he is given no choice but to act; it is determined by how he responds when he is given a choice.

For a Christian who believes God, courage is spiritual, it is intestinal and it is fortitude; that is, it is strength of mind that comes from the gut empowered by the spirit of God through Jesus Christ. It is the energy of your belief in God’s Word’s of Truth, the energy of your trust in God’s power and presence, the energy of your conviction in God’s faithfulness and justice.

Courage is not a feeling. In fact, when doing that which one would describe as courageous you will seldom “feel” courageous — if anything, you may feel just the opposite. The times that I have been what would be defined as courageous I was no more aware of being courageous than I was of breathing; I just simply did what I needed to do regardless of the opposition.

A man of courage does not seek the assurance of a courageous feeling nor does he seek reward for his courageous deeds. The courageous man would honestly ask, “How can I rely on a feeling that does not exist? And why would I seek glory for doing that which need must be done?”

The courageous man sees the need and makes a decision to act regardless of the opposition. He makes his choice based solely on the need to act and does not stop to consider the enemy nor the potential cost. He may acknowledge the reality of the adversary before him; he will even size him up, as he should. But when all is said and done the data he gathers will not dissuade him from acting because the need to act has voided all other options. The data will simply help him choose his next step. That step will always be a step forward into direct conflict with the opposition. It will move him onward and do that which needs to be done regardless of the odds against him or that he may risk all.

This man of courage, firmly rooted in his resolution, grows in stature, head and shoulder above his adversary striking terror in their hearts. His eyes remain solely fixed on the victory to be had and not on the enemy that stands in his way. When his foes look up at him and attempt to distract or scare him he does not lower his eyes to their gaze or his ear to their taunts for his focus remains locked onto his Mighty Father and God who stands on the opposite shore of victory. The reality is that this conqueror’s steadfast gaze, like a mirror, reflects his adversary’s stare and deflects it to face the True God and His son Jesus Christ who is the devil’s longtime nemesis. Once the devil has seen your focus and looked upon the Face of his Assured Defeat he will react in fear. Before the mighty man of courage all obstacles and would-be-tyrants crumble at his trust in the One True God.

-Journal Notes
December 3, 2006
Geoff Dunn ©

The Institutionalization of Sin

The current American legislative and judicial growth and expansion of government can be summed up with the phrase, “the institutionalization of sin.” It is driven by the progressive movement, the sciences, pseudo-sciences, popular opinion based on 10-second sound bites, fear-mongering and the modern montage of do-good religion. Liberals, moderates and conservatives are all involved. Good intentions are its compass. However, its direction always points south, away from God and His Word.

Our representatives in the various governmental bodies are giving legal approval and protection to many of the vices of mankind. Driven by a core belief that these vices cannot be overcome, they are giving them license to thrive (but always on conditions set by the state). Some of these are gambling, excessive and destructive free speech and sexual perversion. This is the accommodation of sin believing that it can be rendered harmless if kept in a cage as if it were a lion in a zoo. That might work if, like the lion, we had no direct contact with them.

Religion used to be the compass that determined morals. Today, practically speaking, the government has taken the place of religion. Preachers taught that vices were simply wrong and should be avoided altogether. This was based on their understanding of their religious texts and writings. Government has replaced this moral guidance with their own set of laws mostly based on scientific studies which have determined that vices are inherent in human nature (and to that extent, they are right) and are allowable as long as they do no harm to others (which conclusion is wrong, regardless of the senses evidence, because it does not take the long view of things).

All of this is done based on a belief that men can collectively control individual action by the outward coercion of law rather than rely on a lifestyle controlled inwardly by a deep seated sense of right and wrong. The reality is that religion failed because it relied on this outward influence and government will also do so in time.

This continual forward movement is being done exclusive of God or in spite of Him. Our government institutions have gone so far as to write Him off as powerless and even non-existent. Many men believe that if the Almighty exists at all, He has little interest and influence in the world and so they must step in. The truth is that God has little overriding influence and control over the collective actions of a community or nation. Where He does have tremendous influence is in the choices made by individuals who then can act collectively.

Many Christians feel powerless to change the tide of this progressive movement to institutionalize sin. However, they base that on observations of things on a grand scale. What they fail to recognize is the power inherent within them to affect change through individual righteous actions, prayer, and an expectation to be in the right place at the right time and to say the timely thing, speaking the truth from His Word in love.

Beyond this movement that institutionalizes sin, government has also set itself up as the arbiter of morals and correct action. Where they cannot enact laws to control behavior they use their power to influence it. Among these “morals” are the anti-smoking and anti-drinking campaigns. Preachers used to rail against these from the pulpit; today the government does it through the media. Preachers used the authority of Scripture; the government uses the authority of science and popular opinion.

I recently read that the city council of Atlantic City, New Jersey has banned smoking in all restaurants and bars. Except, that is, in the casinos. This is what experts today call “situational ethics.” I call it corrupt. I call it pragmatic bowing to the tyranny of special interests. It is decision making driven by the love of money rather than principle and constitutional law. On the one hand the politicians have bowed to the anti-smoking lobby while also bowing to the power of the casino. At one time we protected private property rights in this country, now the politicians protect their own turf at the expense of another man’s.

Every man is born with a sin-nature which is a corrupt propensity to do that which is against the nature of God. Laws, regardless of their source or the authority behind them, will never erase that nature because it is inherent within man. Accommodating it by legal recognition and control will only serve to incubate and prosper this corrupt nature. Attempting to selectively suppress this nature where it is deemed destructive will have the same effect (as the Atlantic City politicians have so clearly demonstrated).

The only hope for mankind is for individuals to return to God and humbly accept the atonement of Christ. The only true deliverance from this corrupt sin nature is to replace and overcome it with the righteous nature of Christ by confessing Christ as your lord and believing God raised him from the dead (Romans 10: 9 and 10). In doing this, a man or woman receives the new nature which can then prevail over the old nature as the individual lives according to the principles of God’s Word. Attempting to “manage” the old nature through compromise, accommodation and law is doomed to failure.

Romans 8:3 and 4
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
(New American Standard version)

Possessing Our Spiritual inheritance

I recently discovered a wonderful book by W. Graham Scroggie, D.D. named, "The Land and Life of Rest - Studies in the Book of Joshua." He does a wonderful job of comparing the conquering of the land of Canaan when Joshua led Israel with the accomplishments of Christ and our position in Christ in the heavenlies. Here are a few quotes:

"The inheritance, which is the sum total of blessing, is ours by God's gift, but the possession is that much of the inheritance which we make our own... What is ours should become ours. What is possible should become actual. What is implicit should become explicit. What is potential should become potent."

"What historically was the land of rest, spiritually is the life of rest. To the Israelites the sphere of rest was a place, but to us it is a Person, "in Christ in heavenly places" (Eph. 1:3)...Their sphere had boundaries, but ours has none. Their enrichment was temporary, but ours is eternal."

He then goes on to show the principles illustrated in Joshua that will help you make what is already yours spiritually a reality in your life and walk with God. I highly recommend you order a copy.

You can order it for $4.00 + shipping through this link: http://www.kingsleypress.com/bible_study_commentaries.php?PHPSESSID=19d766229e2091a7a5e52e9417209ca9

God bless and have a wonderful holiday...

Passion and Reason

I have lived a part of my life where passion and feelings ruled my decisions.
I have also lived a part of my life where reason alone dictated my choices.
I don’t recommend you try to live by either alone.

Passion and reason must be co-regents in the court of a man or woman’s life. To live by passion alone is to steer blindly into the reefs of foolishness. To live by reason is to aimlessly drift on a still and lonely sea.

Reason scans the horizon, smells the air, tests the wind and sets course by the North Star. Passion, as reason’s companion, provides the drive to sail on through the gales of life and maintains a firm grip on the ship’s wheel. Together, passion and reason steer the course leading home.

Getting to the Root of the Problem - Introduction

The following is the first in a series which will be posted every few days. If you would like the full text immediately please contact me at my email address. It will be forwarded in MS Word format.

The last year has been the greatest year of my life and several recent events have brought these events into clear focus. I believe that you may be blessed by what I have to share

Many years ago, when I first heard the Bible, God’s Word, I was drawn to it because of the great power it promised. God’s Word taught me (among many other things) that Jesus Christ came that I could have an abundant life now, that I could be more than a conqueror in every situation, that I could have every need met in life, that I could have perfect health, great joy, peace and love in my life, and that I could help people in a powerful and dynamic way.

Yet, as I had walked the Word these many years, I had failed to see many of these promises of God come into full fruition in my life. Had I grown in the Word? Certainly, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this today. But the great power of God was still not completely evident in parts of my life and in other parts, not in evidence at all. That was simply wrong and must be corrected.

Now is God’s Word not true? You can draw your own conclusions but the flaw was not in God’s Word — I believe it’s true even if it never comes to pass — but the flaw was my failure to apply the Word as it was taught to me. Rather than believing it in totality I had rationalized my failure into unbelief.

As I pondered my life I saw that I had done many of the right things through the years — I confessed the Word mentally and verbally every day. I studied the Word and fellowshipped with believers regularly. I ministered the Word to people and operated the nine manifestations. I abundantly shared to move the Word. But doing all these things had only given me mediocre results when held against the standard of God’s Word.

Now, some Christians are OK with that and will maintain status quo. I, however, had determined in my heart that I would see the Word live just as it is described in God’s Word. I made a renewed determination to reign in life by the power of Jesus Christ regardless of my past failures.

If you, too, would like to do the same then read on. I believe this will open your eyes to a major flaw in doctrine and practice that has caused the Word to not live up to its billing in many believers’ lives.
More to come

As a Man Thinketh...

Many years ago I met a man named Harley who grew up in Colorado. He explained how he wasted 40 minutes everyday in traffic since it took him 30 minutes to cover 8 miles each way. He dreaded going to work because he hated his job. He dreaded going home because his family was so ungrateful. He worked long hours and the breaks were short. The pay was low and his boss unfair. He knew he deserved better but no one seemed to notice him. He had worked at this job for 9 months and they had refused to give him a raise even though his expenses exceeded his income — the boss just didn’t seem to care. His family always complained that they didn’t have enough money. Life, in general, was miserable for him.

Several days after hearing Harley’s story I met Pete. He told me how he had to drive through rush hour every day but he enjoyed it because he had time to think and would listen to his favorite CD’s or to some talk radio. He was very thankful for his job because he was able to earn far more than he ever would in his native country. He told me how he loved his boss because he always made sure he had overtime work. “I am able to put aside a little every week for my kid’s college, send some to my mom back home and still take my wife out once a month,” he said with a big grin. The company was good to him and provided his family with health care and a 401K. He’d been there 2 years and earned 2 raises and the company had just enrolled him in management training. He was a very happy man.

The amazing thing is that both of these men worked at the same place as grill chefs flipping hamburgers all day.

Harley and Pete were very similar. Both were in their early 30’s, married with 3 children, rented their homes and drove similar cars. Both had graduated high school and neither had started married life out with much. The only difference was where they had come from. Harley had grown up in a stable middle class home in America and his parents provided well for him. Pete, on the other hand, was one of 5 children raised by a single mother (his father died in an accident when Pete was 8 years old) and grew up in poverty in Mexico, knowing hunger and lack.

The only real difference in Pete and Harley was their attitude. This goes to illustrate the truth from Proverbs 23:7a, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Each man had deep seated beliefs or thoughts which were built in their heart during their upbringing. You would think Harley would have been the more thankful since his upbringing was comfortable while Pete could have been resentful because he had a rough childhood. However, it was just the opposite.

Pete had a positive filter through which he viewed his life and the filter was colored with thankfulness and humility.

Harley had a negative filter through which he viewed his life and his filter was tinted with envy and pride.

Both had been dealt the same hand in life. Both had played their cards. Pete turned his hand into a winner while Harley turned his into a loser.

How are you playing your cards?

Proverbs 12:25: “If there is anxiety in a man’s mind let him quash it, and turn it into joy with a good word.” — Tanakh Version

Journal Notes, December 4, 2005
Geoff Dunn
© 2005

A Mountain Above the Forest

A Mountain Above the Forest
Have you ever heard someone say, “You can’t see the forest through the trees!” Or how about, “It’s hard to remember the objective is to drain the swamp when you’re up to your elbows in alligators”? Maybe you’ve said them yourself.

My response to these statements is, “Try climbing up onto higher ground.”

Why do I say that? Consider this…

On the wind driven sailing ships of old the captain constantly monitored his position to maintain his course. The sailors who tended the sails and rigging didn’t worry about it; the ship’s cook didn’t worry about it. Unfortunately it’s not the same in life — we don’t have someone to maintain our life’s course and someone else to tend the sails. We are, at the same time, both captain and sailor on our ship and we have to do all the jobs. Unfortunately most people spend so much time tending sails, swabbing the deck and cooking the meals they neglect to monitor their position and maintain a course of their choosing. Most just drift through life and let the current take them where it will. When some finally arrive at a destination they exclaim, “This isn’t where I wanted to go!” Many others end up shipwrecked and loudly yell, “This isn’t fair!” Often they blame others for making them crash.

You are both captain and sailor on the ocean of life and you, and only you, determine where you go — whether by choosing and maintaining your course or by letting the currents of life take you where they will. Either way you will still have to do the work of the sailor. The difference is that some get where they intend and most end up somewhere they didn’t want to go.

One of the vital differences between successful people and failures is how much time (if any) they spend in planning and reflective thought. Success does not come easily nor is it a matter of luck or fate. You determine your luck and your fate. People who plan make their own luck by being in the places where opportunity arises. People who plan and reflect determine their own fate by controlling the paths they take and avoiding those that lead nowhere or to disaster.

A lot of people take time everyday to read a newspaper or watch the news. But I ask you how much of what you read and see there has any real affect on your life? I’d say less than 1%.

Many people take a lot of time every day for small talk and complaining. They have a tendency (dare I say “lust”?) to jabber about some recent horrible car accident or murder. Thoreau once said that he read about one murder in his life and figured that was all he needed to know. Reading about another would not improve his life but it might make his life more miserable. He was not being callous or uncaring, just simply smart. Why dwell on something that you have no power to affect especially when its effect on you can be so negatively powerful?

Failures spend 99% of their time doing and 1% planning (forget about reflective thought — they’re too busy). On the other hand it has been observed that people who succeed spend 20% of their time planning and reflecting and 80% of their time doing. Because of their planning and reflective thought, they easily accomplish far more in the 80% of time left than the failure that devotes 99% of his or her time exclusively to doing.

Failures complain about being buried all the time. They complain that they can’t see the forest through the trees. They moan about the alligators eating them. They talk about how they work so hard and earn so little.

Successful people plan and have time to play golf and read a book. They take time everyday to figuratively climb the mountain and view the entire forest. They never get eaten by alligators. They love their work and it is easy for them and they earn a lot.

Which would rather be — a failure or a success? It’s up to you.

Break the cycle of endless doing and steal the time you need to plan and reflect. Remember, you are both captain and sailor — as captain invest time in planning and reflection; as sailor invest time carrying out your captain’s plans. You will be richly rewarded.

Remember the man on top of the mountain always sees the forest because he is above the trees...and he never gets eaten by alligators.

- Journal notes
September 22, 2005
By Geoff Dunn
© 2005