Hunger Games – The Arrow Preacher

I Volunteer As Tribute.

One of the first things we are told in the military is never volunteer for anything. To volunteer in the military is usually a recipe for disaster. Usually to offer your time means some horrible thankless job that you’d regret being apart of. Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Even when it look rough, or horrible to give your personal time even when it looks like you won’t get anything out of it, to sacrifice for the greater good is something we’re called to do. Proverbs 11:24 “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”

I heard a story recently of a love offering at my church for two families who were in dire need. While collecting the offering a member of one of the families put money into the offering plate. No matter the circumstance we should remember to give. I myself have struggled with that concept. I am always hesitant to give cash when I am not getting any. I can honestly say I have failed in my call to give. Giving is about loving. No matter if you give money, or time, or hospitality, follow 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done in love.”

I can only hope that as time moves forward my unwillingness to give is forgiven and in time I can change my attitude about giving, and see what happens. As for giving there is more then one way to give. I may not have been overly giving as of late financially, but I do believe my willingness to give my time to teach the gospel accounts for something. A few months ago one of my subordinates didn’t have the funds needed to get himself lunch at work. At the time I knew I didn’t have the cash, or the money in my checking account so I chose to put it on my credit card. I got my officer lunch and even though I knew it meant I wouldn’t get anything, I was happy that my officer was fed and happy. My time in the service even though short taught me to always take care of your soldiers. As a follower of Christ I believe God is the same way. I believe God always takes care of his Children, especially the ones who fight for him. Back in September I swore to be a Soldier for Christ and to teach and preach the Gospel. As I have always had a soldiers mentality, I believe this has been my calling all along. I felt a calling towards the Bible all my life but I ran from it. It appears we are to go through training before we take our place. The Lord wants us to volunteer to be a soldier. It may take time but if God wants us to serve, He’ll have his way, one way or another. No real use fighting it, the pain and trials that we go through prepare us for our mission.

To serve the Lord is an honorable calling, and I feel honored yet not worthy to do so. I hope and pray at the very least this Blog is pleasing to Him. It doesn’t seem prudent to run away from a calling. I consider what would have been like had King David run away from his calling to be King. I consider the same for George Washington, or Neal Armstrong. How vastly different our history would be if any one of our influential individuals in history denied their calling.

So to wrap up, in the words of Katniss Everdeen “I Volunteer as Tribute” speaking to God of course. To volunteer for a cause greater then oneself is an honorable one. Ministry is no different then law enforcement and medical response services. To serve is to give.

What’s On Your Duty Belt?

The other day I was asked if I had a Letherman on my belt (affectionately known as the bat belt). Sadly I hadn’t yet picked one up to be an accessory. The man whom I’d been having a very nice conversation with had to walk a mile to the Walgreen’s down the street. This saddened me. I always prided myself on being prepared for as many things in my day as I could. That night on my way home I was so convicted to change that I stopped at Walmart on my way home and I picked up a new utility tool. I found one to fit my needs at $10.00. I felt good about that and didn’t hesitate to put it in the cart. Two days later another family needed a screwdriver and his time I was able to come to their rescue. I see our walk with Christ to be similar.

When we face problems in our walk through Christianity we’ll often face these trials and it’s important to have the right knowledge, the right scripture, the right weapon the right tool for the right job.

Having the right tool however isn’t just enough, you have to be able to know how to use that tool to be able to use it effectively. If you had a saw and you didn’t know how to use it as a carpenter that wouldn’t do you very much good. If you had a chainsaw you needed to cut down a tree but you had no idea how you might cut down the tree and have it fall on you or you might cut down the tree and have a go through your window or you might get lucky and it might fall exactly where you wanted to but you have to have knowledge of how to use the tools and not just have them.

The tempting of Jesus:

Matthew 4:1-11

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

It’s not just having the Bible as a weapon on your belt. You must know how to use it when the time comes. Knowing the Bible is there for you is great, but when tempted do you know what scripture to read? Do you know what the teachings are? Jesus knew exactly what to say to Satan to turn him away. Satan knows scripture, he knows the Holy word of the Lord, but he will try to tempt you, try to trick you to false doctrine. If you aren’t educated on scripture what chance do you have against Satan who knows it all? You must not just have a Bible, you must know your Bible, you must read it, and study it. There’s a scene in the Hunger Games the 1^st one where Katniss is up in a tree and the Careers try to use the bow to shoot her down. Every one of them missed because they didn’t know how to use it. Another example is ‘The Book of Eli’. Eli’s mission is to get the ‘book’ west. Carnegie a town overlord knew what the Bible was and wanted to use it as a weapon. In the movie Eli was protected by the Holy Spirit and he knew he would be protected by God.

In every situation we find ourselves in we can ask ourselves a few questions. First, is what I’m about to do to glorify God or myself? And second if I ask my pastors advice on this would they approve? If the answers to either of those are yourself or no, chances are you shouldn’t be doing it. This world will tempt you with all manner of promises of joy and satisfaction, but in every circumstance nothing is new under the sun. Anything you think you may face today can usually be found in scripture.

Know your Bible, be able to fight off the Tempter when He comes knocking at your door. Be able to use scripture when you have to make hard choices. Be able to use scripture when you must defend your faith. 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” When the day comes to stand trial amongst men stand ready and rebuke any claim made against you with scripture. Then you will truly have the Armor of God on your Duty Belt.

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