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Monday, August 31, 2015

100 years from now...Will it matter?


100 years from now...Will it matter?



  • Will anyone have read this post? 
  • Will I remember that argument? 
  • Will I care if I made money?
  • Will I care what kind of car I drove? 
  • Will anything I did on this planet matter? 
  • Will I ever have learned the point of this experiment called earth?
  • Will I have gotten to know another human being... really know them?
  • Will have I spent some of those years in my cabin in the woods, reflecting on life's mysteries?
  • Will I run out of questions to post today?


If I could gain the perspective of 100 years from now, and channel that into today... maybe I would know what to do next... what mission is critical and what mission should be shelved...

They say hindsight is 20-20... can I get some of that and put into foresight?

Here's hoping...

#StressReduced 

#PrioritiesAligned


Your Turn:


What do you do when you need a glass of perspective?

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

A solution to being irritated and mad at God, from Psalms 4




*This post is a little closer to home than usual... but I promised transparency. I hope you get something out of it. This came from my meditations this evening on Psalms 4.



Lately... Oh the past 30-35 years... I've been irritated at God. 


Why you ask? Being born. 


It sounds odd at first, coming from someone who is pursing LIFE. But my bent, my default if you will, during times of idleness or pause, is to be mad at God. Ever since my earliest days as a child I wanted to leave earth for my home in heaven. I could not understand why we must stay on this rotten planet.

I often find myself remembering a scene from one of my favorite movies:

Tombstone (1993) IMDB:
Wyatt Earp: What makes a man like Ringo, Doc? ..makes him do the things he does?
Doc Holliday: A man like Ringo has got a great empty hole, right through the middle of him. He can never kill enough, or steal enough, or inflict enough pain to ever fill it.
Wyatt Earp: What does he need?
Doc Holliday: Revenge.
Wyatt Earp: For what?
Doc Holliday: Bein' born.



I feel like Doc Holliday sometimes, in that I know Ringo well because a part of me (however small) is Ringo. I've simply chosen to put that "old man" to death in Jesus. Nevertheless, the old man whispers to me from time to time, especially when I'm tired and worn out.

I may not have killed anyone, or stolen anything... but I've inflicted pain. We all have, as sinners in a broken world. We inflict pain on the ones closest to us, as we operate out of self-defensive postures and broken sinful natures.

My past (especially the one from before I rededicated my life to Jesus in 2002) is riddled with broken hearts, broken promises, and burned bridges.

Without Jesus... I'm just a less violent Ringo...

We all, as sinners cause pain in the life's of others.

Hurt people, hurt people. 

But even though I put that old man to death, and I live a new life in Christ Jesus, I still find myself angry at God.

Why?

For being born.

Why?

For the record: No... I'm not suicidal.

I'm not looking for ways cause my own death. I'm just irritated that I have to stay. Kind of wish He'd come back already and take us home!

This life is TOUGH sometimes...

  • There are my own emotions to process. 
  • Other peoples emotions to process. 
  • The older you get the more responsibilities you get. There's a mortgage, car note, lawn to mow... 
  • ...and just when you are caught up, something else breaks or needs your attention. 


Frankly... I'm not finding a lot to stay here for most days. I felt that way as a young child, and never stopped feeling that way. There are moments, seasons, where I am so engaged in one thing or another that I forget... but in idle moments it comes back.

Why should I have to stay here, when I know there is something better on the other side? Why must I put up with this crazy stupid world?

*(Notice the amount of focus on "Me", "Myself", and "I" in those statements, we'll address that in a moment.)

It's one thing for someone to do something that makes you feel angry. That's easy enough to forgive and move on from.

But what about if you are angry at God?

Which brings me to Psalms 4: The answer to being angry at God


Psalms 4

1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! 2O men,a how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? 
Selah 
3But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. 
4Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. 
Selah 
5Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. 
6There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!” 
7You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. 8In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.


As I've been pondering Psalms 4 tonight, here are my take aways.


  • Jesus is my Righteousness. 
    • He has delivered me from times of confusion and distress countless times, more often than I even recognize. 
    • It's when I forget this, that I allow the enemy to confuse my mind and emotions.
  • I was set apart through Grace, and through Grace He hears me. Every time. 
    • There is no room for doubt on this point. 
    • I can never feel as though my prayers hit the wall or ceiling and fell deaf. 
    • My Father ALWAYS hears me!!!!!!!

  • I was set apart for His purposes. 
    • Depression only works when you are focused on self. Hence the "I" statements earlier.
    • The moment you realize, accept, AND engage with the idea that God has a purpose and a plan for your life, depression cannot operate. 
    • The more deeply you are focused on others, the less you have time, room, or mental real estate for self.
    • In reverse, the more focused you are on self, the less you are spending your mental real estate on others.
    • "Others" and "Self" are mutually exclusive propositions.

  • HOW can I be angry without sinning? How can I be angry at God, without sinning?

    • First: He knows. He can handle it.
      • He's God... kind of in the job description.
      • He's LOVE personified. He doesn't care that you are angry at Him. He wants to talk to you about it so you can move past it.
      • You're not God. You can't fix what is broken inside of you. You can't make it right inside of you. Only he can. 
      • Like in A.A., admit you are powerless to change, and that will begin the process of letting Him enact the change. 
You can and must participate in the change, but you cannot change yourself. 

    • Next: Tell Him.
      • There's no point in trying to ignore the feeling, or pretend it's not there. 
      • He knows. 
      • Get is out, let him know how you feel. 
    • Ask: What lie am I believing right now?
      • Any feeling that didn't come from Him is a result of a lie (however subconscious) you are believing. 
      • Click (here) for a refresher on Strong Hold Cycles, and lies.

  • Be Still - Meditate
    • Once you admit to God you've been angry at him, and you've asked him about the lies... 
    • Be Still and Meditate.
    • Meditate means to speak to yourself softly, repeat, murmur, pray... continuing to keep your focus on Him. 
    • It's more about listening and receiving, than speaking and putting information out. Most modern prayer consists of the prayer doing 90-100% of the talking. True biblical meditation would be the opposite. Letting GOD do 90-100% of the talking, you just be still, listen for his voice. 
    • He may speak words, phrases, sentences... or he may speak in dreams, images, visions, ideas, seeing one thing and another, then seeing how they connect.
    • Just as a Zip File is a quick download that must be unpacked... the meditation downloads from HolySpirit often come quickly, but need time to unpack in the hearer. 
    • This is the key to being angry and sinning not... Let him work it out. 
  • HOW can I learn to trust God? 
    • Same way... the result of this type of being still, and meditating is a developing trust in God. 
    • Once you begin to hear, you choose to trust it. As your hearing turns into instructions, you choose to obey it. 
    • As your hearing gets clearer, and your obeying gets more intuitive... the result is a trust in God. 
  • Result: Joy and Peace
    • This process will lead to Joy and Peace.
    • Conversely, if you are lacking Joy and/or Peace, this is a sure sign you haven't been spending time Being Still and Meditating. 
    • Red Light: Let this be a dashboard indicator for your life.
    • Lack of Joy/Peace = Lack of Meditation/Being Still
  • Warning: You will experience resistance. 
    • There is a strong probability that you will start this meditation and get discouraged because you don't hear right away... or distracted so you get up to write a blog post...
    • This is because you have a real enemy who hates you, and doesn't want you to get close to God.
    • If at first you don't succeed... try, try, again.
    • This is about process, not destinations or check lists.
    • You don't develop a friendship, work collaboration, or romantic relationship in a single meeting. You might have the seed of one planted during a mere five minute meeting, but it will not blossom and grow without continual meetings to follow. 

So it is with God... You will gain more from a five minute meeting every day, than a 35 minute meeting once a week. 

Your turn to share:


What did you hear from God today, while reading Psalms 4 and/or this post?

Comment on this post, or Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe , Google +DarrellWolfe, Facebook DarrellGWolfe, Etc...

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Sunday, August 16, 2015

My Career vs My Calling


Why am I here? Me, not just us... but me. Why am I here?


So this morning, Pastor Robert (@GatewayPeople), spoke about calling and purpose. I wrote down the following notes:


  • 1 Sam 16 
  • 2 Sam 15 
  • Romans 1:1 
  • Acts 13:36 



  • Don’t confuse goals and purpose. 
  • Purpose never changes, goals do. 



If you understand your life purpose, it will set context (if not direction) for your goals.

If you are getting bored, it is a signal that you lack of clarity about purpose. Maybe you fulfilled your current goals, and you need to seek God about new ones?

So how do I get clear on my purpose and my goals? Jesus... HE is my shepherd, and only He can clue me into either.

Habakkuk 2 - The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith

1I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.   
2And the LORD answered me: 
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Habakkuk set himself apart, to get the vision… then he wrote it down and made it plain.

Notice, the vision didn't come while he was eating potato chips, watching the latest Blacklist episode. It came because he set himself apart to see what God would say. If we back up one chapter, we see the book starts with Habakkuk complaining about the way things are (in life/wold around him).

It was only after he set himself apart, with the intention to hear, that he saw a vision to write down. So often we talk about finding your vision and mission statement, and getting it on paper so it gets and stays clear.

But that is step three.

Hearing/Seeing is step two.

Setting yourself up to hear/see is step one.

Why should I get clear on my purpose? 



  • What will change or be different in the world, because you were here?



Lets be honest... I'd rather not be here. On this planet. It's hot, the grass clipping make my arms itch, people are rude, and ruder by the day. There really isn't much point to being here if it's all about me. I have a home (s) in heaven.

Once I leave, there is a mansion, and a cabin, waiting for me. I will never be too hot, or too cold, or too hungry. There will be people I can serve, and people I can spend decades with exploring the universe.

I am so heavenly minded... that if it were just about me... I'd have left already. This planet sucks.

BUT....

It's not about me. It's about others. There could be people dying and going to hell, unless I fulfill my calling. There could be others that will go to heaven, but live bound on this earth to sin and death until then... unless I fulfill my calling.

My wife and kids, demand I stay to fulfill my calling to them. Who knows... maybe my only real calling is to build them up into who they need to be, so that they can change the world?

Bottom line... I must pursue my calling. Does that mean getting a better position at work? Maybe... promotions are nice, but they are under the realm of goals, not calling.

Your purpose is not your position.



My calling has functioned in me my whole life. I was, am, and always will be a teacher, with a pastors heart. Even in my days of wild living, outside of God's will, I was trying to get my fellow sinners saved.

Every job I've worked (26 +/- job titles, and in at least five distinct industries), I've been like the team coach, team mentor, team pastor.

So if my purpose is not tied to my job title, or even industry, than what is my purpose?


Your purpose is your pursuit.



What do I dream about? What do I do when no-one pays me to do it? What can't I stop doing, even when I try?

Paul, in Romans 1, sites three levels:


  • General (All Christians) 
    • Chosen to serve Jesus 
  • Specific (Position-Title) 
    • Called to Apostle 
  • Unique (Purpose)
    • Paul's brand was self evident in any situation. He was separated to the gospel. 


When he was just barely saved he was out reasoning with the men in the synagogues. When he was exiled, he was learning and prayer about his message. When he was a deacon, he was living it. When he was a prophet, and money courier, he was living it. When he eventually became an Apostle... he kept living it. Apostle ship was an outgrowth of the calling inside of him all along.

For my part:

  • General (All Christians)
    • I am a spirit filled believer
  • Specific (Position-Title)
    • Team Lead / Coach
    • Writer/Author
    • Servant/Greeter

  • Unique (Purpose)
    • Purpose - I am a shepherd/leader

My life has scriptures:


I am called lead the Distressed, In-Debt, and Discontent (2 Sam 22:1-3), into a life of Good Success, by Meditating on the Word of God (Josh 1:8), helping them become mighty through God (2 Sam 23:8 & 2 Cor 10:4), pulling down strongholds! 

I help the:


  • Distressed find peace
  • Debt-bound find prosperity
  • Discontent find purpose


Your Turn:

You are: 
  • Believer (if not click here): I believe in Jesus!
  • Job Titles (past, present, future): My job title is:
  • Purpose (only you know): My purpose is...

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*
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Sunday, August 9, 2015

The Good Shepherd | The Rod and Staff Comfort Me - Reflections on Psalms 23


Reflecting on my favorite Psalm, and what it means for me today (08/09/15). 



Flock of sheep



I can recite bible verses, paraphrase whole sections, and break down the theological implications of many scriptures. I can cross references ideas and ideologies. But the only section of scripture that I have put to memory in it's entirety, it Psalms 23. This Psalm I can quote from the heart.

I'm not sure why. It's the most popular Psalm sure. It ranks up with the most quoted bible verses. But why did I memorize this one? For that matter, why do so many others? What is so timeless about this piece of God's Word, so transcendent?


Psalm 23 English Standard Version  

The LORD Is My Shepherd A Psalm of David. 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Today I was pondering this verse and I got stuck on the life of a shepherd, and the meaning of the Rod and Staff. So I started digging around and the following is what I found. Most of this was not new to me, but some of it was. And all of it felt important, so I thought I would share it with you.

All my life I've heard sheep referred to as stupid. As though only stupid people can belong to Jesus. "The foolish things confound the wise". So that got me wondering...


Flock Mentality - Are Stupid Sheep?


"Stupid" sheep: 
Due to their strong flocking instinct and failure to act independently of one another, sheep have been universally branded "stupid." But sheep are not stupid. Their only protection from predators is to band together and follow the sheep in front of them. If a predator is threatening the flock, this is not the time to act independently. Sheep 101

Do you know why Satan roams about like a roaring lion? If you have ever seen video documentaries of lion attacks, two things become apparent.


  1. Lions are actually scared of large groups
  2. ...and individuals make better targets. 

So what the lions do, is run, roar, and circle the herd until they can get one separated from the group.
Once they separate the individual, the lions can attach that one until it is dead.

Sheep are not stupid, flocking is a method designed by God to keep them safe. The sheep who are the most vulnerable to attack are the loners. This is why Satan works so hard to perpetuate the half-truth that you don't need to go to Church to be saved.

It's half-true, because you technically don't. Being in a Church building or being part of a group calling itself Church, doesn't make you a born again believer; anymore than being in a garage makes you a car.

You were meant to be a part of a flock.


Yet, being in a group of believers is part of God's design. You were not designed to be alone, and all desires to be alone as a way of life are lies of the enemy; intended to single you out and kill you. You were designed to be led by older sheep, while you lead the younger ones. You were designed to receive first (from God and older sheep), and give second (to sheep and would be sheep). Without both of these in place, you are vulnerable at best, and dying at worst.

Unless you are physically incapable (prison, sickness, prisoner of war, etc), you are disobedient to avoid gathering together with other believers on a regular basis (Heb 10:25). Meeting with a few friends who are believers isn't the whole picture either. We were meant to belong to a flock and be led by a shepherd.

A Pastor (Latin for shepherd) is one of five official roles given by God as a gift to his people in order to equip them for ministry (Eph 4:11-12). The role of the Pastor is to work as an under-shepherd for The Shepherd (Jesus) to tend and care for the sheep.

However, although a Pastor is important, a church service once a week does not a flock make. Flocks live together, eat, sleep, work, play, move through life... together.

If you are going to church services once a week, and then leaving out the front door without ever really knowing anyone, you are not part of that flock. You are a re-curring visitor. You may be "A" sheep. You may belong to Jesus. But you are not part of a flock, until you are part of a flock.

The benefit of the flock is primarily for protection. Man is a triune being (Spirit, Soul and Body), so we will be attacked on all three levels. However, the primary way mankind interacts on this planet is through the soul (Mind, Will, Emotions).  Most of the battle for our lives takes place in the Mind, Will and Emotions (spiritual battle or spiritual warfare).

Therefore, when we gather together with other believers, who are aware of this battle; we can be open, honest, and vulnerable with them. For someone like me, a self-described loner, this is scary. I've avoided groups, gatherings, friends, like a plague all my life. And I've lived in various levels of defeat all my life.

I know from experience that all of my best breakthroughs in life have come from opening up to other people and allowing them in. But most of my biggest hurts and pains came from this as well, so I shut off again.

Today I was reminded again that I need people, specifically older Godly men, around me. So that still small voice telling me to get into a men's group.... the one I've been ignoring... decided to speak through a man I know and respect, since I was ignoring the voice directly. It's time to get into a flock. The deeper I am flocked, the safer (spiritually) my life will be.


Shepherd Defined:


A shepherd or sheepherder is a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards herds of sheep. The word stems from an amalgam of sheep herder... The term "Pastor", originally the Latin word for "shepherd", is now used solely to denote the clergy of most Christian denominations.

Jesus is MY shepherd. My Pastor. My Leader. My Guide. And I am his sheep. There are many sheep in his flock, and all of them know His voice. Even when I am weary, or I wander into some trouble, or get lost along the way... I never stop being HIS sheep.

But why do I have such a hard time trusting Him? Unlike others I know, I CANNOT pretend not to know him, or that He doesn't exist. I KNOW Him. I've known him inside of me from a young age. I've heard him speak, I've seen him move.

And once, a long time ago, I saw him with my own physical eyes, in the sky on a throne in the clouds, surrounded by angels. He was looking directly at me. Even though He was far away, I could see his face and eyes up close. He didn't speak audibly, but the message he gave was internally downloaded. I think it's still un-zipping in my spiritual hard drive to date. The crux was: I Love You.

Yet... the experiences of my life have left me internally wounded... not quite healed. I am like a dog in a corner licking my wounds, but when the vet comes to tend to the wound I lash out.

Which leads me to a rumor I've heard all my life in churches about shepherds...


Would a good shepherd break a sheep's leg? 


There is a commonly-held belief that shepherds in Biblical times would break the legs of lambs that constantly wandered away. According to the "story," the shepherd would then set the broken leg and carry the lamb on his shoulders until the leg healed, after which time the lamb would remain by the shepherd's side for the rest of its life. While there is no way to know for certain what Biblical shepherds did, there is no such story in the Bible, and to do so would be cruel and impractical.
Sheep 101


After further reflection... this is RIDICULOUS!

Only Satan would spread a stupid rumor like this. The idea that God would break your leg to teach you something, and it would make you closer to Him is stupid. I can't think of a single example in science, history, or my own experiences; in which an abuser was a benefit to the abused.

Sure, there are examples in science of an abuse victim clinging to the abuser, defending them even. But this was never considered to be healthy normal behavior. It's commonly known as:

Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm syndrome can be seen as a form of traumatic bonding, which does not necessarily require a hostage scenario, but which describes "strong emotional ties that develop between two persons where one person intermittently harasses, beats, threatens, abuses, or intimidates the other."[4]

It's theoretically possible that some shepherd somewhere did this at some time. But it was NOT a Good Shepherd. It was an evil shepherd, a lazy one.

The very idea that a shepherd would break the leg of a sheep, in order to ensure it doesn't run away it an idea that evokes ideas control and abuse. There is a spirit that embodies this, but it is not God.

Satan has been perpetuating Spiritual Stockholm Syndrome for ages in the Church.

Spiritual Stockholm Syndrome

"God did this (insert horrible thing here) to teach me or bring Himself glory." (LIE)

He has convinced many that God is going to break their leg to teach them a lesson. Or, kill their child, take their job, or do some other horrible thing to make them more spiritual. Jesus made it clear that Satan is the abuser, the thief; who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10), but that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives LIFE and LIFE more and more abundantly.

Jesus has never caused a bad thing in your life. Never. Nor has he "allowed" a bad thing to teach you something. Never.

There are bad things that happen. They happen to good people, bad people, great people.

Why do bad things happen? 

Because Satan Sucks! Pure, simple. Satan hates all humans, and he wants to kill us all. But not before he steals and destroys first. The only reason the entire earth of humanity isn't dead is because God's grace is holding back the full onslaught of Satan's will to kill.

Jesus is the GOOD Shepherd:


  • Bad Happens: Blame Satan, every time. 
  • Good Happens (or badness is stopped): Blame God, every time. 


What the the tools of the good shepherd?


The Crook: A Hooked Staff


The shepherd's crook is an important albeit primitive device used by shepherds. Sheep can feed on rough pasture which is unsuitable for cattle or agriculture, including mountainous terrain. Seasonal herding along mountainous routes gave rise to what are now known as drovers' roads. A strong, multi-purpose stick can be used for balance, examining dangerous undergrowth and for defence against attack by predators.

The staff is the internationally recognized symbol of the shepherd. It is one of the two tools seen on the coffin of King Tut:


King Tut with Crook and Flail


King Tut with Crook and Flail

The crook (heka) and flail (nekhakha) were originally the attributes of the Ancient Egyptian god Osiris that became insignia of pharaonic authority.[1] The shepherd's crook stood for kingship and the flail for the fertility of the land.[1] 
A flail is an agricultural tool used for threshing to separate grains from their husks.


The curved staff is a tool that is used by the shepherd to lean on, gently prod sheep into the right path, rescue them from sticky situations, and pull them close to him.

As I was studying the tools of the shepherd I came across a great Q&A post that explained the two tools of the Rod and Staff.

From a Q&A Post:


Keller lists several purposes for the shorter, heavier rod: 
  • As a club or throwing stick to defend against predators. 
  • For disciplining wayward sheep. 
  • To assist in examining and counting individuals in the flock. 
The staff serves different purposes: 
  • Rounding up sheep into a flock. 
  • Guiding sheep by applying pressure to an individual's flank. 
  • Extricating sheep from bad situations.

The article referenced is by Phillip Keller, a Christadelphian author. One of the paradox's of my life, is that I simultaneously want to correct everyone's broken theology, yet learn from those with views that differ from my own. Hence, the moniker "Recovering Religiholic". I've come to realize that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved. There is no theology test to get into heaven. We'll all be corrected about one thing or another when we get there. And so it is here, although I'm confused by some of the theology of this group, I'm intrigued by the personal insight Keller brings to this topic.

Keller seams to have spent a lot of time personal time with African Shepherds, and provides a unique view of the use of these tools:

Interesting Psalms 23 Commentary "Rod and Staff"


In the Middle East the shepherd carries only a rod and staff. Some of my most vivid boyhood recollections are those of watching the African herdsmen shepherding their stock with only a long slender stick and a rough "knob-kerrie" in their hands. These are the common and universal equipment of the primitive sheepman. 

Wiki: The Rod, in Africa, is known as a Knobkierie


A Knobkierie, also spelled knobkerrie, knopkierie or knobkerry, is a form of club used mainly in Southern and Eastern Africa. Typically they have a large knob at one end and can be used for throwing at animals in hunting or for clubbing an enemy's head.[1] The knobkierie is carved from a branch thick enough for the knob, with the rest being whittled down to create the shaft.


Keller goes on to say:

Each shepherd boy, from the time he first starts to tend his father's flock, takes special pride in the selection of a rod and staff exactly suited to his own size and strength. He goes into the bush and selects a young sapling which is dug from the ground. This is carved and whittled down with great care and patience. The enlarged base of the sapling where its trunk joins the roots is shaped into a smooth, rounded head of hard wood. The sapling itself is shaped to exactly fit the owner's hand. After he completes it, the shepherd boy spends hours practicing with this club, leaning how to throw it with amazing speed and accuracy. It becomes his main weapon of defense for both himself and his sheep. ...the rod, in fact, was an extension of the owner's own right arm. It stood as a symbol of his strength, his power, his authority in any serious situation. 
There is a second dimension in which the rod is used by the shepherd for the welfare of his sheep -- namely that of discipline. The club is used for this purpose perhaps more than any other. If the shepherd saw a sheep wandering away from its own, or approaching poisonous weeds, or getting too close to danger of one sort or another, the club would go whistling through the air to send the wayward animal scurrying back to the bunch. 
This meant not only coming under the owner's control and authority, but also to be subject to his most careful, intimate and firsthand examination. A sheep that passed "under the rod" was one which had been counted and looked over with great care to make sure all was well with it. 
The staff is also used for guiding sheep. Again and again I have seen a shepherd use his staff to guide his sheep gently into a new path or through some gate or along dangerous, difficult routes. He does not use it actually to beat the beast. Rather, the tip of the long slender stick is laid gently against the animal's side and the pressure applied guides the sheep in the way the owner wants it to go. Thus the sheep is reassured of its proper path.

So the rod was never meant to harm the sheep physically in ANY way. The most it may have done in the form of correction, was to go whistling through the air as a warning to the sheep to get back to the flock.

The Lord is MY Shepherd... I shall not want. His Rod is used to protect me from enemies, and warn me of danger. His staff is used to pull me out of the trouble I get myself into, and nudge me in the right direction.

Now that sounds like the Jesus I've known all these years.


Conclusion:


The Lord if my Good Shepherd. He has never intended my any harm. I should learn to trust him more. If I am feeling the need to keep my distance from him, and from his flock; that is the work of the enemy selling me a lie. Any desire to run from the flock or the shepherd is the result of a lie of the enemy. I should stop, run to Jesus, and ask him to reveal that lie, and remove/replace it with His Truth.


Your Turn:


 What's your favorite part of Psalms 23 (today) and what does it mean to you (right now)? 

Comment on this post, or Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe , Google +DarrellWolfe, Facebook DarrellGWolfe, Etc...


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*** Announcement *** I've stated a separate blog/journal dedicated to my study of End Times Prophecy. There will be intermittent postings, as time allows. I just wrote a long article on understand where we are in history in light of the Jewish Holidays. If you want to check it out Click Here. ***


By Darrell Wolfe




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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Have you ever stopped to look at today, in light of eternity?



The mind of God is fascinating. 


We are so quick to put Him into our religious box. We are so quick to say the Truth is X or Y; when He has said nothing definitive on the topic. Tonight I came across this awesome website where you can start with today, and see it in light of today, this month, year, century, this past 11,500 years, the past 6.5 billion years.... Etc. It really puts things in perspective.


Image of timeline. Today in light of the last 11,500 years. http://hereistoday.com
Attribution: http://hereistoday.com

This got me thinking:


2 Peter 3:8 | But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 
Psalm 90:4 | A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.


Phil Vischer, creator of Veggie Tales and What's in the Bible with Buck Denver, has a great podcast. He and his entourage of friends and guests take on topics from wild to profound, and make us think about our Christian Faith in a more real and meaningful way. And no guest helps bring this about more than the frequent guest John Walton (here).

On many of the podcasts in which John Walton guest hosted, the topic of creation came up. John is a professor of Old Testament Studies for Wheaton College. He makes a compelling case for the idea that the bible does not necessarily rule out an old earth, or evolution. For today's purposes, I'll let you listen to him yourself (here) if you want to know more. The bottom line, is that he is neither for nor against a young earth, old earth, etc. He merely states that the text was never designed to answer that question, and any assertion that it does is presumption on the part of the reader.

I digress....

All of this ran through my mind and led me to this point:


  • 11,500 years ago, God is. 
  • 1.5 million years ago, God is. 
  • 8 billion years ago, God is. 


TODAY feels so big to me. 


TODAY feels more heavy than yesterday, and more pressing than tomorrow. TODAY... is overwhelming.

But in the experience of God, today isn't even the blink of an eye. Yet despite this, God is interested in today. In fact, God is more aware of how today will affect my next 100 years than I could even imagine. Today a serial killer is making the decision to kill for the first time. Today a sinner is making the decision to accept forgiveness and spend eternity with God. Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

Today I will either work toward my tomorrow, or perpetuate my past. Tweet That

I think I will take a few moments today, and spend it with the one who is currently in the past, present, and future at the same time. I'll get a glimpse of His perspective, and see what insights that might bring.

Your Turn:


What will you do today?



Comment on this post, or Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe , Google +DarrellWolfe, Facebook DarrellGWolfe, Etc...


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By Darrell Wolfe








Sunday, August 2, 2015

The Glow Test: How I can know if I'm spending enough time with Jesus, without being religious.


It's not often that I make a whole post based on the message from Church. But today's message was timely for me, as I hope it will be for you too! If you want to see the message, (click here) for Sunday 08/02/15, GatewayPeople.Com.


Why are we here? 


My Calling... What is the calling of all believers? 


We are called saints. 1 Corinthians 1:2. Luke 9 and Mark 3 show us that we are called to be with Him; then as a result, we can go.

What are we called to go do?

People are triune beings. We are Spirit, Soul and Body. Jesus came to help people. Therefore, He helped them Spirit, Soul, and Body. So should we. When he sent his disciples (of which you and I are now) he gave them a three prong mission:
  1. Preach the Kingdom
    1. Spirit - We are born again spiritually first. We are translated from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. 
  2. Heal the sick
    1. Body - Healing rebukes the attack of the devil, and just the effects of this fallen world, in our bodies. 
  3. Cast out demons
    1. Soul - The soul is Mind, Will, and Emotions. These are the areas that the devils spend their most energy attacking us. They confuse our minds, drain and stress our emotions,  and bring our will into captivity, causing us to do things we don't want to do. 
    2. We cast out the power of devils, and free the Mind, Will, and Emotions to do the will of God. 

There are three areas we can focus on, to gain the life God planned for us.

1. Knowing

An extension chord can be plugged in to many devices, but if the source end is not plugged into the wall, the devices will not work. In the same way, if the chord is plugged into the source, the same power will flow into all of the devices. There is no power in the chord, unless the chord is plugged into the source of the power.

If you are lacking power in your life today... this is where you need to start. This doesn't mean just going to church, opening the bible for "study", or praying memorized prayers for 30 minutes a day. All of these are fine if they help you. But this is about knowing HIM. Getting into his presence, in a more real and intimate way than you would your own spouse.

If you aren't being intimate with Jesus... you are missing the primary part of the Christian LIFE.

2. Growing


The vine (Jesus) is plugged into the root (God the Father), with power (HolySpirit) running through him. We are the branches (Church) on the vine (Jesus). We will bear fruit if, and only if, we remain attached to the vine.

We all ought to be growing in grace, and bearing fruit. If I can't point to the fruit in my life as evidence of my walk with Jesus... I'm in trouble. We ought to desire the Word of God, as babies desire milk. Constantly, and unashamedly.


3. Glowing


As a glow-in-the-dark toy only works after being exposed to light, and the moon only lights as it reflects the sun... so we too ought to be glowing with the presence of God. Moses, when he came down the mountain, was glowing so much that he hid his face from the crowd.

A woman is intimate with her husband, and life is conceived inside of her. Very often, it shows on her face without anyone saying anything about it. She is glowing.

So we too, will glow after having LIFE conceived in us when we spend time with Jesus, our husband.

I haven't felt like I was glowing in a long time. This is a direct red flag. It means I've been away from the light long enough, for my glow to wear off.

This is going to be, hereafter, called my Glow Test. If I'm not glowing, my fruit is dry, because I haven't spent time with Him. Not with religion, or rituals... with Him.

That was my take away today.

Your Turn:

Hey... how do you know when you have lost your glow? 


Comment on this post to tell me, I'd like to learn from you.


*Bible References:
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Comment on this post, or Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe , Google +DarrellWolfe, Facebook DarrellGWolfe, Etc...


By Darrell Wolfe



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