The Father's Drawing Board

An Inheritance

Praise to the God and Father of Jesus Christ, the Lord almighty, for he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing through Jesus. We can't even understand what incredible things he has provided for us in the spiritual sense. As far as we know, it costs God nothing to give us nice things; God chose to give us His everything: His son. God yearns for us— the little sniveling, dirty rebels that we are—to be holy and blameless in His sight. Out of love, he meant for us to become sons and daughters through Jesus, in accordance to his pleasure and will. He wills for us to be his children. Can you comprehend what that means? In this day and age, the idea of an inheritance is lessened by our culture. God wants for us to receive everything that he has given to Jesus. We share in Christ’s inheritance. So then how can we complain if we have every possible blessing coming to us?

It brings God pleasure to bless us. Have you ever thought of God looking at you and your life with all your baggage, your junk, and your ups and downs, and then saying, "I want to be generous to you. I long to give to you just what would make you happy--not because you deserve it, but because there's something about who I am that would bring me infinite joy to express that kind of generosity to you." Although it's true that God's plans do not always work out in the ways we would prefer, it is amazing how often we focus on the relatively few difficult circumstances of our lives and tend to forget his repeated, loving acts of deliverance that occur so regularly. We get the love that Jesus gets; take some time to reflect on what that means.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, because of God’s incredible grace that He chooses to lavish us with. With all His wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure. What a blessing that is! We don’t have to wonder what God requires from us. He has made it clear! He doesn’t let us wander around trying to appease any sort of god we can dream up; he reveals himself to us. That alone is a blessing. Be He goes further: not only did he shows us what he requires, but he allows us to achieve this impossible task through Jesus Christ. He is bringing all things in heaven and earth into unity under our incredible king, Jesus Christ. Do you know God’s will for your life? It is not so much what you are supposed to do, but who you are supposed to be. He shows us in His word; He shows us through Jesus.

How do I know if I am doing this right?

Many times we begin to panic, wondering if our actions are according to his will. Am I supposed to go there? Am I supposed to work here? Am I supposed to date this person? Am I supposed to be a part of this church? Am I supposed to eat this ham sandwich? Are my curtains supposed to be green or red? Too often we feel like we need confirmation for every single action we take. There is a difference between listening to God and trying to fill in the silence with His voice.

The Father’s Drawing Board

Perhaps an analogy will help. With any analogy, it will break down in parts, but I think this idea makes a good point:

            The Father gives his child a piece of paper and some drawing utensils. He wants his child to draw him something. The child responds “What should I draw? What colors should I use? Can I use this shape? Are there certain colors you like better than others? Can I ask someone else how to do it?  How much time do I have to draw?” But the thing is, the Father is not nearly as concerned as what the child draws, but instead his motivation behind drawing it. No matter what the child draws, the Father is going to slap that thing on the fridge and say it is the best picture He has ever seen. As long as the child does not start drawing on the walls or drawing on other people, or stabbing the dog with the pencil, the Father will be pleased. As long as the child draws for the Father and not to become the next big artist or impress the kid across the room, the Father will be delighted.

Maybe we need to stop worrying about exactly what we are doing and start making something beautiful for our Father with the materials He has given us.

We are children with a mission

Not only have we been chosen to be his children, but he has a plan for our lives such that we could live for his praise, the only reason worth living. You were included with Christ when you heard the good news and came alive. When you believed, you were marked in Christ by a seal; that seal is the Holy Spirit that He has promised. The Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance until God redeems everything and we are finally, wholly, and completely His.

Dear blog reader, I give thanks for all that you do and you are in my prayers, whoever you may be. I keep asking that that God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation through these words, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart would be opened to the hope that he has called you to. I pray for his glorious inheritance and his great power to be a part of your life. This power is the same power that brought Jesus up from the dead; let that power pour out of your life. Jesus is the King of everything here, there and everywhere; now, back then, and upcoming… Let us worship Him with our lives!

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Gossip, Judgment and Restoration

Restore Gently

Often we see faults (or what we think are faults) in our friends. We are better at seeing the sins in our community than we are at the sins in our self. That is why community is so important. On the other hand, there can be a lot to someone or some situation that we have no idea about. So how do we proceed? How do we challenge the ones we love? If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourself, or you may also be tempted. You may be tempted to judge and condemn them. You may be tempted to partake in the same sin they have committed. You may be tempted to put them down so that you will feel better about yourself. Truth cannot travel faster than love. You should restore them gently. If you rebuke a fool, he/she will despise you, but if you rebuke a wise person, they will love you.

Gossip is rampant and can quickly destroy a tight-knit community. Ask yourself before you speak: "Will these words build up the person I am about to speak about or tear them down?" Too often, we assume our words will do no harm. If your words about those around you do not encourage, uplift and restore those around you, regardless if that person is near or not, then you must control your tongue. I speak from experience, for far too often my tongue has created problems and the pride in my heart has hurt those around me. You will do well to always analyze you intentions for every word you say, every action to do, and every thought you have. If you fail, be quick to apologize and quick to be humble.

Test Yourself

Before we go off and try to point out other people's flaws (let's not search for faults, but let conviction come as needed), we should test our own actions.  Do you have the wisdom, the experience and the right relationship to speak truth into their life? Yes? Restore them gently. No? Pray for them and find someone who can. Test Yourself. Then, they can take pride in how God has taught them, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each person should carry their own load. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Nevertheless, the one who receives good instruction in the world should share all good things with their instructor.

The Reaper

Do not let anyone else tell you differently: God cannot be mocked. It's not that people won't try; it's that he is unable to be mocked. Whatever you do, you will reap the consequences. If you live your life satisfying the flesh, then you will be rewarded with the fruit of the flesh, which is destruction. If you live your life to satisfy the Spirit, you will be rewarded with the fruit of the Spirit, which will bring eternal life.

“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” -C.S. Lewis-

Don't Be Weary

Therefore, do not be weary in doing good. It is your job to love God and to love those around you (EVERYONE). Love does not fail. Love is not self-seeking. Love does not give up or tire. Are you loving? Or are you merely loving yourself and serving others? If we will continue to do good, we will reap a harvest, both in this time and in the time to come. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, which we do every day, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the our family of Christ. Be sure not to treat those who are merely acquaintances better than those who dearly love you. Community starts at you and goes outward. Do good to those nearest; then do good to those just a little bit farther out, while still doing good to those nearest; then continue on until everyone in your life can feel God's love shine resplendently from your life!

May we never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to us, and us to the world. All that matters is that we are a new creation. From now on, let no one cause us trouble, for we bear on our body the body the marks of Jesus.

May your words affirm always. May your actions be true. May you do good relentlessly. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit! Amen.

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Juicy Fruit

Freedom (Braveheart voice)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free! Stand firm and do not let yourselves become slaves to anything other than righteousness. You are going to be a slave to something, might as well chain yourself to the God of all, the gracious Father. The beautiful paradox is that once we becomes slaves to Christ, we are more free than we could ever imagine. Once we give Christ what we call our "self", we become more ourselves than ever. We are free from the law; we are free to do good works. You can not earn your salvation.

Play the role
But sometimes we act a certain way. Have you ever thought "that's the way that Christians are supposed to act, so I am going to do that so I really know I am saved"? Don't you know that Christ has set us free for the purpose of serving Him? We are not working in order to pay off a debt, the debt has been payed for us. We do not work in order to be saved from ourselves; we are saved from ourselves so that we may have the opportunity to take part in the Kingdom of God (here and now, not when we die). For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ, neither this ritual nor that, neither this denomination nor that, neither this ideology nor that has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love! 

Life by the Spirit
You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled if you will do this one thing "Love your neighbor as you do yourself" (and more!). If we bite and devour each other, through ill intentions, gossip, jealousy, slander, or any sort of talk that does not build up the other whether they are around or not, we will be destroyed by each other. Watch how you speak of others. Words spoke this world into being. Words have more power than you know. Choose your words wisely. May your words bring light in to this world and bless those even if they don't hear them.

Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other. You can't simply do both, but you must either do one or the other. If you are led by the Holy Spirit, you are truly free.

Feed the Spirit
What do you struggle with? Sexual immorality? Impurity and Debauchery? Idolatry? Witchcraft even? Hatred? Discord with others (roommates, family, friends)? Jealousy? Fits of rage? Selfish Ambition? Dissension? Cliques? Judging People? Envy? Drunkenness? Sex? anything of the sort? When you do these things you feed the flesh and starve the Spirit. It is like owning a dog and a wolf, one good and the other bad. If feed the wolf (the flesh) it will grow big and strong and tear up the house and your dog. But if you feed the dog, it will grow big and strong and defend you from the wolf. You cannot simply feed both and hope the good dog win; it will not. You must starve the flesh and feed the Spirit. If you feed the Spirit, you will bear the fruit of the Spirit

Juicy Fruit
This fruit nurtures and satisfies, both you and others. This fruit as all the nutrients for Godly living: love for all around you, joy in times of blessing and trouble, peace that transcend all understanding, patience that endures and period of waiting or trial, kindness that blesses the nations, goodness that gives grace to the brokenhearted, faithfulness that always pulls through, gentleness that comforts the hurt, and self-control that keeps your footing sure and your path straight towards Jesus. Against this fruit, there is now condemnation. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified and completely killed the flesh with its passions and selfish ambitions. Let this fruit grow by the power of the Spirit and nurture and delight all those around you. Can your friends see your fruit? Your family? Are you supernaturally peaceful? Are you more generous than those without the Spirit? More patient? More accepting and more kind? If God is in you, then people should be able to tell.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

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From Death to Life

Grace and peace to you from God, who is our Father. He's our Father! Take some time to reflect on that. If I could fully understand the first two words of the Lord's prayer "Our Father", it would change my outlook on everything. Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ, who is our Lord. Our Lord (the king of everything) gave HIMSELF for our sins tor rescue us from this present state of evil that the world finds itself in, according to the will of God the Father. May the glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen!

No other Gospel
Sometimes I am astonished at how people who claim to follow the God, the one and only thing that can truly satisfy, will so quickly turn to trust things that will fail them. The gospel is not of human origin; it is from above. Yet we find ourselves putting our trust in human ideas. I did not receive the gospel because I was taught it. If that were the case, then I would be a Pavlovian religious nut reduced to a certain set of reflexes and beliefs (and at one time, I was). No. I received Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, who lifted the veil from my eyes and made me see! Praise the Lord! The gospel doesn't make bad people good, it makes dead people alive! If only you could see who I was before Christ saved me. I was lost in my sin, stuck in selfishness, trapped in a state of no satisfaction. Physically, I had everything I could ever want, but nothing filled the God-sized whole in my heart. But God, by his immeasurable grace, revealed himself in fullness and truth, shattering my hard heart and breaking my pride down. Praise the Lord. How can I have such passion for Him? He saved me! How can I give all my life--time, money, love, relationships, success, etc--to him? He saved me! HE saved me! He saved ME! He SAVED me! What delightful humility and undeserved blessing.

Friends, I once was lost, but now I am found in Christ. I was so judgmental. I was full of conceit. I was greedy, only wishing to accrue more and more for myself and no one else. I was broken in sexual sin, pornography, and the worst of lustful mental appetites. I was consumed with the American dream. The amount of selfishness was a monster who consumed and consumed. Perhaps the worst part is that for most of my life, I was known as the good Christian who did everything right. I was the king of hypocrites. I used Christ's name to advance my own agenda and work with my own power, all the while, spitting on the cross and living my life in an ocean of sin. I tell you all of this, shamelessly, first so that you may see the degree of my salvation, and second, because it no longer defines me. I have been set free. NO. I was dead and am now alive! I am willing to mention this on the internet, in permanence, for anyone to see, such that I can testify to the grace of God. Some of you reading this may have just met me, others have known me for years.

But all that matters is that I am identified with Christ in death, so that I am also identified with him in life.

Perhaps you need to remember just how Christ saved you. Perhaps you need to be saved by Christ. Perhaps you need to confess the darkness in your past. Perhaps you need to celebrate the freedom from your sin. If you are with Christ, you have an insurmountable joy, if you will only choose to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, because you have been freed. It is for freedom that He set you free. If you are without Christ, you are not living life as it was meant to be. 

Whatever the case, let us rejoice that Christ is alive and we can be too!

Want to know more about my story? Just ask me. Want to know more about Christ? Just ask me! 

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Boys Who Can Shave

There is an epidemic of adolescence in our culture today. For most of human history, a male would go through two phases: boy, then man. But somehow we have come to the point where guys of all ages have gotten stuck between boy and man. They are merely boys who can shave. You see it everywhere, from college to "mid-life crisis-es"; American boys have not become men.

When I was a boy, I talked like a boy, I thought like a boy, I reasoned like a boy. When I became a man, I put childish and boyish ways behind me. A lot of guys fight the transition from boy to man because they despise responsibility. Enabling this type of guy are a legion of moms and girlfriends who pay his bills, pick up his mess, lend him their cars, and keep him supplied with alcohol and a steady diet of snacks. Men are supposed to be producers, not just consumers. You are defined by the legacy, the life, and the fruit that come out of you, not by what you take in. But most guys are just consumers: alcohol, video games, sports, women... The shaving boyhood of today lives in a perpetual yearning for Christmas morning. No thing can satisfy. Instead, a man is to reflect the truth, goodness, love, and mercy of Jesus, his God and Savior. He is the glory of God.

Man toys and video games and all those things aren't inherently bad. The problem is when those are prevalent, predominant, and preeminent in a man's life. Men are to be creators and cultivators. God is a creator and cultivator and you were made in the image of him. Be a giver, not a taker.  Stop looking for the path of least resistance and start running down the path of greatest glory to God and good to others because that is what Jesus, the real Man, did.

Tough and Tender
Being a man is about tough and tender. We are to be tough in defending the weak and fighting for justice and mercy. We are to be tough in defending truth and taking care of our loved ones. We are to be tough against injustice, hard-hardheartedness, and foolishness. We are to be tough in carving out safety and protection for women and children in a world that abuses them.

We are to be tender in comforting the hurting, encouraging the downcast, and teaching the young and inexperienced. We are to be tender with our wives (for those who have them), loving them as Christ loved the Church. We are to be tender with children, showing them love and building them up. We are to be tender with those who are broken by their sin and needing godly counsel and help.

Jesus was tough enough to go to the cross and Jesus was tender enough to weep over the death of His friend.

But boys who can shave are one, or the other, or neither. 

Tough Chauvinists
 
"No Sissy Stuff" Sam believes that being a man is simply being the opposite of a woman. He lacks emotion other than anger used for bullying and intimidation because other emotions are a sign of weakness. He is not very verbal because he has little interest in opening up or getting drawn into a deep conversation with his wife, girlfriend, family or friends because he is selfish. And he is not physically affectionate with anyone except when he wants sex. To him, affection is effeminate and sex is a masculine activity more akin to hunting, scoring, or conquering. He needs to learn that being a man is not opposite of being a woman, but instead that both are made in the image of God and express the same emotion in masculine and feminine ways.

Success-And-Status Stewart  believes that being a man is about what you have and do rather than  who you are and how you serve. Like a foolish ex-jock, this fellow is forever talking about and consumed by any score keeping that he can use to show his superiority to others: the beauty of his wife, his strength, appearance, health, car, income, degree, skills, university, children's performance, and possessions.You never have to ask this guy what his latest victory is, because he'll make sure you know what a winner he is.

"Give 'Em Hell" Hank thinks men are solely warriors, brawlers, and tough guys. He is prone to a short temper, and his family (wife/girlfriend especially) and friends are often afraid of upsetting him and the wrath he or she may endure. The simplest way to understand this guy is that he is a controlling bully. Bullying has worked for him, so he feels no need to change. He's been able, for the most part, to get through life finding weaker people who avoid conflict and exploiting them. His family feels no connection to him and his companion is left with the horrible choices of leaving the fool, sticking around and fighting back like a man, or shutting her mouth and doing what she is told, like a pet.

"I'm the Boss" Bob love to be in authority and tell others what to do, but he hates being under authority and doing what he is told. Wherever he is, he appoints himself King; when he can't be the boss, he throws a fit. You can find Bob going church to church looking for a pastor dumb enough to take orders from him. Bob's wife is often a weary woman and his children either despise him or parrot him, both of which are tragedies.

The problem with these blockhead tough chauvinists includes how they read the bible. When they read about being the head of their families, they miss all the other parts about repentance, friendship, love, humility, and being like Jesus. They love the part about women submitting, but are blind to their more challenging purpose to love their wife as Christ loves the church. They treat women as property. They do not know that fiddling with the King's daughters will bring them  inconceivable wrath.

Tender Cowards
The opposite of tough chauvinists are tender cowards. These are the kind of guys that are too soft, too amiable, and too effeminate.


Little-Boy Larry never grew up. He tends to be disorganized and has a hard time getting his life together for an extended time. Getting and keeping a job is always tough for him because he's not very ambitious and he finds that ongoing responsibilities tend to get in the way of his hobbies and friends. He's immature; his interests and mannerisms are those of a boy. Unable to pay his bills or look after himself, he tends to borrow money from other people who keep an eye on him like an adult to a child. Women are attracted to him the way a mother is attracted to a helpless baby.

Sturdy-Oak Owen goes to work and comes home, cuts the grass, mends the fence, pays the bills, turns on the tv, and checks out. He is physically present but emotionally absent. He enjoys getting lost in meaningless entertainment and can't stand the idea of talking to someone head on. He fills his time with menial tasks: studying, working on his car, the internet, yardwork. He is always doing something other than connecting with his family and friends. He may have buddies that he enjoys , but only when they are doing mindless activities. He does not hug anyone. He does not speak unless necessary. He's ultimately a coward afraid of being emotionally involved with anyone.

Hyper-Spiritual Henry is the guy with all the Christian T-shirts and bumper stickers, always listening to the latest trendy christian music and reading the trendiest book out there. He embarrasses his friends and family, not because he represents Christ, but because he is emotionally unreal. People don't want to come around him because they fear they will get stuck in an episode of "Ned Flanders and the jolly jumping christian conversations". Everything has to be connected to some out of context bible verse, theological position, or strange spiritual lesson. He does not disciple people; he condemns them for not being a good American Christian. Henry doesn't understand sacrifice. He doesn't understand when to mourn and when to rejoice. He tells people who are suffering the latest advice rather then listening and comforting them in their troubles. He Jesus Jukes people out of their shoes for fun, rather than rebuking with love. He has no perseverance and he is self-righteous.

Good-Time Gary is super fun, the life of the party, and a really nice guy, so no one ever really puts a finger in his chest when they need to. He is funny; he is charming; he is winsome; he is entertaining. There's always a crowd of people around him. Everybody likes him. He gets along with everybody and here's the key: everybody likes him, but nobody respects him. He makes everything a joke. He can't hold a job, can't pay his bills, can't get out of bed in the morning, can't follow through with commitment, can't stay organized, can't see anything through to completion. He'll draw a crowd, but they won't follow him because he isn't going anywhere. The wife of Gary grows tired of the everything is funny and cute charade. She wants a king of a man she can depend on and not a court jester for her husband.


None of these guys are the kind of men Jesus wants us to be. The key to understanding masculinity is Jesus Christ. Jesus was tough with the religious blockheads, false teachers, the proud and the bullies. Jesus was tender with the women, children, the suffering, and humble. Additionally, Jesus took responsibility for Himself. He worked a job for the first thirty years of His life, swinging the hammer as a carpenter. He also took responsibility for us on the cross, where he substituted Himself and died in the place of our sins. My sins are my fault, not Jesus', yet he made them his responsibility. Jesus takes things that weren't His fault and fixes them. He does not whine or complain. He does not complain that life isn't fair or condemn. He saw injustice, crime, pride, pain and evil and he did something about it. He gave his life for others in every sense possible or conceivable.

You may not be physically strong. But if you are rightly tough and tender, and you take responsibility for yourself and others, then you are truly a man's man, and by grace you are being conformed into a man like the perfect God-man, Jesus Christ. Men lovingly, humbly and sacrificially lead by being a blessing and taking responsibility for not only himself but also for others.

"Men are like trucks: they drive smoother and straighter with a load. Adolescence delays this load carrying indefinitely. wise men know this and load themselves up early in life to get their education, careers, families, and ministries started as soon as possible because it gives them a good head start on the fools. So load yourself up. Take responsibility for yourself. Take responsibility for your community. Take responsibility for your church. Take responsibility for your company. Take responsibility for your city. Real men don't look for other men, organizations, and government to carry their load. Real men carry their own load"


This post was heavily inspired by the teaching of Mark Driscoll.

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